Shadows Swarm

*Lilith, Thiera, & Roatha land & dismiss their Gliders & armor.*

L"We should probably fill each other in. For starters, the Organization controls Radiant Garden. Or, rather, its computer system. We were attacked by both a Heartless & the castle's security system. Right now, we can't do anything about it. Even if we could get close enough to deactivate it, the AI in charge would just turn it back on."

*She gestures to Roatha, Azuma, & Hitomi.*

L"These 3 tell me that he's called Avici, he looks like Senthose, & after somehow obtaining a Keyblade, he basically wiped the floor with them."

T"We didn't really fare any better. Senthose got there before us, too. He stole Princess Aurora's heart, so we were unable to heal her. Maleficent, the witch who cursed her, just left for another world."
================================
N"Let's kill what's left of these Heartless & land over there."

*He points to Radiant Garden.*

*So Artexi gets to work doing that*
===
*Safian goes and rubs her head against Mortal's leg*

Monu:<My mother also disappeared.>

Azuma: "Princess Aurora?"

"That's horrible," Mortal said, crouching down to give Safian a hug. She then looked back at Lilith, "I'm, uh, not the best when it comes to computers and that kind of stuff, but couldn't you just cut the power to Radiant Garden to get rid of their electronics? Oh, and Princess Aurora was the sleeping princess we tried to wake up with a kiss."

--

Noct heads for Radiant Garden.

L"We wouldn't even know where they get their power. Plus, I'm sure they have back-up generators. Not to mention that the security might fry our butts before we even get there."

T"Is it really that bad?"

L"It's a pretty dangerous system. You pretty much have to be flying at all times, in order to avoid it. Plus, they actually went inside of the computer."

*She points her thumb at Roatha & friends.*

L"...Which means that the things in there might be able to get out."

R"Avici has a whole...program army. Ships, tanks, you name it."
======================================
*Clearly not giving a fuck about secrecy, Nero lands right in the middle of town square & dismisses his Glider & armor. A muttering crowd starts to gather, but a man quickly pushes through the throng.*

<Outta the way, ya dumbshits! Hey, kid, you an' that ship just came from space, didn't ya?>

"Maybe."

<Shit! Don't give me none of your GODDAMN SASS, BOY! Just answer the damn question!>

*Nero takes a couple of steps back, raising his hands defensively.*

"Okay! Yes! Calm down, Grandpa!"

<I ain't that old, pipsqueak! ...Hell are you all lookin' at?! Mind yer own damn business!>

*The man starts recklessly swinging his spear around, prompting the crowd to disperse.*

Monu:<That sounds like something we would have to tackle together once we become stronger.>

*Safian purrs*
---
*Artexi lands near Nero*

<What's going on old dude?>

Taiyo: "Um....where's Euryale?"

Azuma: "Sounds like there's a few things that need doing."

Mortal was halfway through a thought about Avici, and his army when Taiyo's question derailed her, "She was being tutored by Master Psyche when we left. Perhaps we can go see how she is doing."

--

Noct landed as well, "You're always so quick to make new friends."

L"She'd probably be in the training hall. I have to go to the library to research Heartless."
===============================
<I'm not--oh, whatever. Name's Cid. My dream is to be the first man in space. Or it was, until you fuckers apparently messed that up.>

N"Well, to be fair, you could still be the first man from THIS WORLD in space."

<You're from another world? Why would you tell me that?>

N"No point in trying to hold anything back now."

Taiyo buggers off to the training hall.

Azuma: "Class dismissed then?"

Artexi:<We've never actually been to "space" so...>
===
Monu:<I do believe so.>

*Safian does whatever Mortal decides to do*

Noct looks at Artexi, then points to the sky, "We were just going through an asteroid field. That doesn't seem like 'space' to you?" She actually air quotes the word 'space'.

--

Mortal stands up, and says, "I'm going to go see Euryale." And so she trails a few steps behind Taiyo.

L"I should think that some of you would want to contribute to the investigation, but whatever."

*And so Lilith heads into the library. Roatha looks to Thiera & shrugs.*

R"Should we follow Captain Guilt Trip?"

T"Be nice."
===================================
*Inside of the training hall, Binah is sitting on her big chair while Euryale is breathing heavily, repeatedly bashing a dummy upside the head with wide strikes from her Keyblade. She finishes up by bashing it from head to toe, also creating a stone spike that destroys it. Then she leans on her keyblade & wipes her brow.*

Binah<You should consider conserving your energy.>

E"I'm still...not used...to being...on land.... I need to...finish before...they outmaneuver...me...."
==================================
N"So how were you going to get there?"

Cid<I make airships. I'm an ace pilot. There's no one better for the job, really. Just been looking for materials that can escape the atmosphere. I think I've finally got somethin' with the Gummi Blocks. Just need enough to finish the hull & a strong enough engine, & I should be golden.>

N"...And the spear is for what, fighting aliens?"

Cid<Smartass...somethin' like that. There was a big ol' monster out here earlier, but nobody knew what it was. By the time I got around to kick its ass, they told me that it was killed by more space invaders. Thought they were full of shit until I met you twerps.>

"Hello Master Psyche," Mortal said before turning to see Euryale. She stood there looking at Euryale, hot, panting, full of power, toned, and tanned body glistening in the light, "...and Euryale... I... I think I need to take a seat..." Mortal began looking for a place to sit while fanning herself.

--

"Any idea what these other invaders were after?" Noct asked, "Also, we're not invaders. We're, uh, travelers."

Artexi:<Yeah. we're completely friendly.>
---
*Monu follows Lilith to the library*
===
*Safian licks her paws*

Noctis chuckled at that, then coughed to cover it, but couldn't fully clear away her smirk, "Sorry. I, uh, remembered something funny."

The two go to the library then.

===================================

Taiyo: "That was so cool!"

*There is only the floor. There is a trio of thrones, the middle of which Binah is sitting in, but they are reserved for Keyblade Masters. Euryale regards them curiously.*

E"...Thank you?"

Binah<Greetings. I'm glad that you've returned safely.>
==================================
*In the library, they are greeted by 3 stout, elderly women in monochrome dresses of red, green, & blue, dressed like stereotypical witches, but also floating with small fairy wings. Lilith's Keyblade appears in her hand & she points it at the trio, who jerk backwards.*

L"Who are you, & what are you doing here?"

Red<Flora.>

Green<Fauna.>

Blue<Merryweather. We're like Princess Aurora's parents.>

Fauna<And friends of Master Yen Sid.>

Flora<And are you always so hostile towards guests?>

*Lilith dismisses her Keyblade. Running a hand down her braid, she sighs.*

L"I'm sorry. It's a tense situation. What do you want?"

Merryweather<We want to help you help the Princess. We think we know where her heart might be.>

L"Doesn't Master Yen Sid have a student? Why didn't you tell him?"

Fauna<He went on a trip. To the Realm of Darkness.>

L"...What? Why would he want to go there? How would he even get there?"

*They shrug.*

Flora<Anyway, Maleficent has been traveling to a world far in the north. We don't know exactly where or why.>
=====================================
Cid<I just told you they were gone when I got there! Don't you pay any attention, you dumbshit?>

N"But why are you being so friendly to us?"

Cid<That doesn't fucking matter! The point is, you help me, I help you?>

N"Yeah, right, what would we need your help for?"

Cid<Your airship's a piece of shit.>

N"Well, fuck you too, buddy."

Cid<Ya can't tell me that ya haven't noticed. It was all scratched up when you flew in. You could barely keep it steady. And you clearly don't have enough weapons to deal with whatever's out there, up in the sea of stars.>

"You don't need to see someone to have enough information to answer my question," Noct said, "Then again, why should I bother bickering with you? I'm the one casually living your dream."

--

Mortal snapped out of her day dream and turned to Binah, "Thank you, Master Psyche." She then looked to Euryale and smiled, "It is nice to see you again, Euryale. We're back, so now we can spend time together like we said we would."

Azuma: "Any idea what could be up there? Or if we can find an answer around here?"

===================================

Taiyo: "Right."

Taiyo does not recall Mortal being involved. Or most of the first arc, really.

Flora<I'm afraid we don't know.>

L"Thank you for the information. We'll get on the case as soon as we can."

*She gives a little bow & heads off towards the back of the library, talking to a Moogle at a desk.*
==============================
Binah<Don't you have other worlds to visit yet?>
==============================
Cid<Cocky shit...ain't gonna be living it for very long, without my help.>

*Cid draws a cigarette from the pack strapped to his head & lights it, taking a drag.*

N"And how can you help?"

Cid<You don't know shit about shit, do you? Never even stopped to pick up any Gummi Blocks that you found, I bet.>

N"And why would we do that?"

Cid<Because they stick to shit like glue, ya fuckin' dumbass! If ya get me some, I can use my extras to fix your little...space scooters, or whatever.>

N"Keyblade Gliders."

Cid<I don't give a damn.>

Taiyo: "The others are in the library looking into that. We stopped by to check on Euryale."

*Monu bows to the fairies*

<Excuse me, have you happened to see my mother around recently?>
===
Artexi:<Um, ok?>
===
*Safian knocks against Mortal's hand with her head*

Mortal gestured towards Taiyo with one hand, absentmindedly petting Safian with the other, "What Taiyo said is right. I suspect we'll be heading not only to other worlds, but revisiting the one's we've already been to eventually as well. We were met with resistance, and obstacles as we journeyed." She then looked at Euryale and smiled, before looking back to Binah, "That is why I came here. If we don't have much time before we leave again, then I'd like to spend it getting to know Euryale better."

--

"That isn't very fair," Noct said, taking a mocking tone, "Why should we listen to you about Gummi cubes when you don't even care about what we have to say?"

*Cid folds his arms & turns away.*

Cid<It's a simple deal. You don't like it, find somebody else to do it.>

N"You know, he's got a point. I don't think that Senthose knows about this yet. So, right now, this old guy is the only one who knows how to modify Gliders."
=================================
Binah<Then perhaps you should bring her with you. She is ready to move on to field training, & teaching is a duty of a Keyblade Master, so it would make for a valid part of the test.>
=================================
Merryweather<Why, no, I'm afraid we left the world a few weeks ago, to help Master Yen Sid.>

Flora<Why, did something happen?>

*Meanwhile, the Moogle gives Lilith a dirty old book with a big old Heartless Emblem on the front. She takes it to a table & starts thumbing through it.*