IHTP Ch5

Sorry I haven’t updated in so long! My computer went boom the weekend I was gonna update, so I didn’t get a chance….
Revealing more about Kristy! Hey, where the heck did her staff go? I love her cute clueless innocence in this chapter. I’m surprised I didn’t make Alex rub off on anyone. Kristy’s a smart girl! Hehe. And Ann reflects me a little when she calls Kristy cute. What more can I say?
Chapter 5: The Journey Begins
The group headed towards Cid’s workshop. Kristy walked her usual walk, looking childish, innocent, and absent-minded. She looked up at Chris, who was beside her talking to Ann. She smiled, then she walked a bit faster, catching up to Alex.
“Why do you curse so much?” She asked.
“Why the heck do you care?”
“What about all the slang?”
“Bug off, cat.”
“I’m a Neko, nya.”
“Mm? The hell is that?”
“My species!”
“Yeah, well, screw you. I’m human. I was born human and was raised human, nothing to it.”
“So what happened to your world?”
“I dunno. It feels like something outta a video game. One day I’m normal as can be, the next day life’s a living hell. It’s all ‘cause of some freakin’ weird dream that I have a Keyblade, and some Heartless are out and ruining my life.”
“What’s a vid-ee-yo game, nya?”
“Oh come on!” Alex dragged his hand down his face. “Never mind.” Kristy looked at him, cocking her head, then she went over and talked to Yuffie. “Damn kid. They’ve got cat ears, cat tails, magic, for crying out freakin’ loud, and they have no sense of technology except for lights. Geez.”
When the group arrived at the shop, Yuffie called out, “Yo Cid! Ya here?”
“What is it now?” The blond man named Cid appeared, looking a bit grumpy.
“There’s another Keybearer. We’re sending them to other worlds, so they need a ship.” Leon said.
“What? Okay, well, I’ll see what I can do. Give me an hour, tops.”
“Why don’t we explain their mission?” Aerith asked Leon.
“Good idea.”
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“Got it. Go to the worlds, find the Keyhole, seal it, and get out of there.”
“And we can’t disturb the world order.” Kristy reminded Alex.
“I know, I know. You don’t hafta tell me twice.”
“We’ll contact you every now and then to see how you’re doing. If you run into Sora and the others, work with them.” Leon said. “You’ve got a little time left. Go stock up on potions or something.” With that his group left first district.
“Nya! I already have everything I need!” Kristy said proudly to no one in particular.
“Potions? What the hell?”
“Oh… I know! I’ll tell you about all the magic stuff since you seem dumb!”
“What was that?” Alex glared at the innocent Kristy.
They went off, and Ann and Chris were alone. “The little cat kid is kind of cute, huh, Chris? Isn’t it cool that they get to have an adventure?”
“Uh… Ann… I’m going with them.”
“What? Cool! We’ll get to go on an adventure now, too! All that playing will pay off!”
“Ann, I’m going. This isn’t a game. Things are a lot more difficult now.”
“What are you talking about? A new challenge never hurt anyone!”
“Ann, you don’t understand! I’m going… without you. I always want you with me, but not this time, okay? I need you to stay here with Leon and the others. They’ll take care of you.”
“Chris, I can fight too! I’m not a weak little girl like those stereotypes! Let me go with you, please!”
“Ann, you can’t!” Chris yelled at her, blinking away tears. “I want you to stay here so you’ll be safe! If you’re with me, I never know what will happen. I don’t know if I’ll let my guard down and you get hurt. I’ll never forgive myself if you get hurt because of me! I can’t promise your safety.”
“Chris! What if you get hurt!? How will I know!? Don’t think you’re the only person here, I matter too! I want to be there to protect you! So let me protect you!”
Chris was shocked. He had never heard Ann talk like this before… in a long time. His shoulders slumped, he looked down to the ground. Ann grinned a little. She thought he had given in, that she would be able to go.
“I’m sorry, Ann.” It was Ann’s turn to be surprised. She watched as he removed the locket that hung around his neck and gave it to her.
Why did he do that? He always wears this. It’s the most precious thing in the world to him… wait, why is it precious…?
“Keep it safe. It’s my promise that I’ll return. I’ll come back for you, then we can go home… together.”
“Chris…” Ann stared at him, at the locket in her palm, then she looked up, her face angry and her eyes holding back tears. “I’m still coming!”
“Stop being so stubborn!” Chris was getting frustrated. “Look, as much as I would like you to come, it’s not my decision!” He calmed. Arguing was getting them nowhere, and it was leading to something Chris was going to regret—if Ann begrudged him.
“…I don’t ever want to leave your side, so keep that locket for me. Since we’ll be apart, we can become lonely. If we ever feel lonely… all we have to do is look up to the stars. Every place shares the same sky.” How much it pained him to say those words again. The last words exchanged during the promise night. He said it to the Ann he loved when he was a child. And now he was saying to a new Ann, one who still managed to capture his heart, no matter how much she changed.
Ann felt something in her heart when those words were spoken. There was something familiar about them. What was it that hit her so hard?
“Hey, Chris! Time to go!” Kristy called, she and Alex had just gotten back.
“Promise me you’ll stay safe. Please.” Chris begged in a whisper, then said to her, “I’ll be going now.”
Ann wanted to say something, but chocked on her own words. She nodded once and was left standing there as Chris walked away.
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Just as they boarded the ship and took off with Kristy in the pilot’s seat, they saw another ship land. “That must be the other Keybearer’s ship.” Kristy commented.
“Why the hell do you get to drive? Do you even have a freakin’ driver’s license?” Alex asked, bored as he sat slumped in his own seat behind his other two teammates.
“I know how to operate the Gummi ship, that’s why. So unless you can tell me something I don’t know, be quiet, please, nya.” The Neko said, chin up.
“Okay. You don’t know what a driver’s license is.” Kristy was silent, dumbfounded.
“It’s something you need to drive a vehicle. I doubt you even have one, Alex.” Chris stated, he was sitting in the co-pilot’s seat. It was Alex’s turn to be silent. “…So how do you drive this… Gummi ship, Kristy?”
“Hey!” Cid’s face was projected onto the window in front of them. All three nearly jumped in surprise. “You kids alright? You know how to fly?”
“Yes sir! I was about to teach these guys how to operate this ship, nya.” Kristy saluted cheerfully.
“Good. You do know where you’re going, right?” There was silence, again. “You don’t have a navigation Gummi, so I’d suggest you keep an eye out.”
“Then get your face off the freakin’ screen, pops! We can’t see anything!”
“Don’t call me pops!”
“Hey, Cid, don’t worry! I’ve got it all covered! We don’t need sight to see a world, nya.” Kristy grinned.
“How so, magi-cat?”
“Well, I was working on a project before we left, nya. She’s operational so we can use her. I never thought I’d be using her though, I was going to give her to the other Keybearer when I first heard he arrived, but now I can use her on my journey, nya!” She took off her hat as she was explaining, and everyone watched curiously as she reached into it and pulled out a small white cat with blue eyes and set it on the ground. It was an adult, everyone could tell despite its abnormally small size, and it had a blue bow collar around its neck with a bell on it.
“Huh. I always wondered where you carried everything.” Cid commented. Chris nodded, wondering if the hat was enchanted with some sort of magical spell.
“A cat? Another cat?” Alex glared at it, “How the hell is that supposed to help on this road trip?”
“It’s not a road trip, it’s a journey to save the worlds.” Everyone but Kristy looked around, looking for the owner of the new adult female voice.
“Who said that?” Chris wondered.
“I did,” The white cat jumped up onto the ledge of the controls table, sitting down on it. Everyone stared at it, Kristy grinned.
“This is Mary Belle. Belle is a genetically enhanced feline with the mind of a super-computer, nya.” Kristy explained.
“So I suppose she’s going to be your navigator?” Cid asked, and without waiting for an answer he said, “Good. You’re all settled. Good luck.” With that the projection disappeared.
Chris stared at Mary Belle. “Are you some sort of scientist, Kristy? Because where I come from only mad scientists mess with animals….”
“Nope. Mary Belle landed at Traverse with me, nya. I just happened to understand Cat,” Kristy said proudly, “and she told me she was willing to be part of my project. My project was to enhance animals so that they could be as intelligent as humans and Nekos. I couldn’t do it at first because I came to love Belle, nya, so I couldn’t use her for the project until I knew the spell I cast would work without any negative side effects. When I heard about the Keybearer, I adjusted the spell enough to make her into a living database, which was actually more advanced than I had originally anticipated. The only side effect I see is size reduction in the test subject, nya. It isn’t all that bad and it’s a better spell then what I wanted at first, nya.”
“Wow. You must be really smart, Kristy.” Chris complimented.
“Teacher would be proud.” Kristy smiled toothily.
“The next worlds won’t show up for a while. I suggest you all sit back and relax.” Mary Belle said, switching from a processing trance where her eyes reflected many numbers and letters to normal tiny talking cat, her snow-white tail swishing behind her. “Auto pilot is set on.” She added.
“Why don’t we get to know each other? If we’re going on a journey together.” Chris suggested.
“Why not? Besides, you two look interesting, nya.” Kristy purred, getting into a comfortable position, not unlike Mary Belle’s.“Oh hell… Get ready for the most boring grandma tales of my life….” The wielder of the Keyblade mumbled, clearly uninterested in talking about himself.
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Wow. Ann and Chris in an argument! I had fun writing that. They care SO much about each other! Then Chris decides to leave ;;. As Cassie calls it, it be a twisted romance! …yeah… did I just spoil something? I’m not sure…
Gummi ships! I love the dialogue that takes place when they first take off. And introducing the last journey-long character! (Drum-roll) Maaaaary Belle! I love Belle. She’s so cool. If only I could draw her correctly, like what I envision in my head!
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