Welcome to Gaia! ::

{James : Train : Dining Car}

James' smile widened yet again as her smile seemed to become more genuine, less timid at least he thought so. He was still greatly relieved though that she had agreed to let the past become the past and move on. He wanted to start a conversation with her, to find out more about her. That was often what people did when they became friends. What to talk about though? he seemed lost in thought for a moment until he got an idea.

"So your weapon is a flute... Seems like an interesting one do you actually play an instrument aside from the flute?"

Music was something that most people didn't mind sharing. He would be sure to tell her about her musical exploits as well if she was curious.

[ Seymour : LoD : Running Through the City ]

"Do not bother, young nin, your human ineptitude will only slow me down- go back and check on the others, some may still be injured," Seymour called out to Yuffie, having slowed down just enough to stay on pace with her and give her that message before once again jolting off, beginning to wind through the city streets and leave the young woman behind- if she even bothered trying to keep up, she'd lose him anyway in a matter of moments.

[ Sora ; Zexion ; Merlin ; Enchantress : Lounge Car ]

As Joe made his rather heartfelt comment before walking away, Merlin watched after the young man with a rather solemn glance before paying attention to the others. They'd all made their final farewells, it seemed.

"They're worn thin. Still need time to process it," the Nobody spoke up from one of the booths, glancing between the unconscious body in Silver's arms (he was the only one actually capable of carrying her- he'd be back in a few moments) and Merlin.

"Geez, I... can't even imagine," Sora muttered, sitting on one of the small tables between a set of booths, just looking at Rae. "When I thought Goofy had died two years ago, I was pretty angry, but... they actually watched her..."

"I'll have the Enchantress fill me in back at the castle," Merlin said with a soft, reassuring smile (or, rather, an attempted one). "We'll keep her body in stasis, just in case they do let the heart fall. Do keep an eye on them, Sora- few people are as resilient as you."

With a brief nod from the Keyblade wielder (he might have been more enthusiastic if he knew what 'resilient' meant...), Merlin poofed away with the Enchantress, Silver, and Rachel's body. A few moments later, Silver returned, and with a heaving sigh, the captain went back into the Kitchen.

[ Ajora : The Flying Dutchman ]

Ajora chuckled at Kuro's question, which revealed a rather devious smirk. "Ah, there are any number of ways to stop them from interfering. I've made some... friends over the past few hours. They'll be supplying us with the opportunity to get all of the bratlings under our thumbs," he explained, leaning against the nearby wall; Celia remained oddly stiff, as if at attention and waiting for orders. "Well, all but Kyla- it seems the group split up, and one group went to the Land of Dragons to follow the trail of the Missing Mouse Monarch. Not to worry, though, it'll all fall into place. Actually~!"

He quickly craned his neck to face the others, an intrigued smile on his face.

"If anyone's bored, they could go pick up Cutler Beckett from Port Royal. The guy who leads the East India Trading Company thingy?" he said, grinning somewhat. "You know, the guy in the movie who wanted the Heart. He's still a vital part of the story, so I'll need him here for a time. I can send Celia, though, if you'd rather stay...?"

[[Armored Louis : LOD : Cityscape Retreat]]

Louis ran through the streets, the guado and ninja tight on his heels. A short chuckle escaped the helmet as he peered back for a moment, then his running changed, moving spiratically from one side of the street to the other. Wherever footfalls landed, a paper thin layer of ice remained. A few moments later, spears of ice would blast out holding shape for a few minutes then vaporize.

Louis then took the chase up from the crowded streets to the walls. He launched from the floor propelling himself like a bullet from a gun by use of a swiftly summoned pillar beneath his feet. He spun in the air, waving his hands around himself wildly while he flew like a mad conductor, summoning sheets of ice from the walls, turning the previously harmless walkway into a deadly maze of razor sharp edges. All in order to deter and delay his pursuers.


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[[Louis : The Train : Stable Car]]

Louis smiled as he listened to Dawn's story, and thought back on his own pets back home, specifically one that deeply resembled these chocobos.

Louis gave Dawn room to move forward and pet the chocobo. A slight nod, giving her the go ahead. He then left her for a moment to stroll along the other stalls, looking at their name plates, and scratching several on the forehead. Eventually he found one without a nameplate on its stall. He looked at it with interest. Its colors looked familiar, a reminder of a phantom dream. With brown feathers and jet black legs, a tail that faded into the same black as the legs, another spot, unusual for most chocobo was the feathered mane colored like the other odd parts of the chocobo giving it a feral look, and a white spot on the forehead shaped like a diamond. He stood staring at it for quite a bit before a name came to his head. In a whisper he spoke, "Jessie..."

The chocobo's attention shot up, and it looked him right in the eye. Those eyes... Louis thought, staring into the eyes of the bird, They look just like his his... Louis leaned in closer, staring into the eyes. Louis was deep in concentration, staring a this bird when suddenly, it leaned forward, opening its mouth, releasing a thick, slimy tongue that ran right up the side of his neck and over his ear. Louis reeled back, but not because a chocobo just licked him... or rather that THIS chocobo just licked him.

What the?! How could it? Why would it? It couldn't be... it isn't possible. Why would he be here? Why would he be this? That's not a horse. It's a chocobo! Louis stared as the bird shifted closer to the door, sticking its nose down towards his pockets, asking habitually for a treat.

Louis looked around and found a bag at the base of the door, half empty, You little sneak... you've always been too smart for your own good. Louis reached down and picked out a small peppermint candy, and held it out. A smile spreading slowly, holding it up to the chocobo, but hiding it beneath a closed fist. He laughed as the bird licked the back of his hand incessantly and half way up his arm, "Alright alright!" He flipped his hand over and let his feathered friend gobble up the snack, as well as lick his palm for any hint or trace left.

Louis scratched him under the chin and smiled whole heartedly. The nameplate above the stall shimmered and wrote out the name of his former horse, Jessie.

{James : Train : Dining Car}

James watched as Jenny sidestepped and slid into one of the booths. He would join her momentarily but before that he made his way over to the refrigerator and pulled out two bottles of ramune soda. An orange for himself and he didn't really pay attention to which one he grabbed for the Time Mage. He slid into the seat across from her and placing the bottle in front of her as he listened to her speak. When she had finished he went through the procedure of opening the bottle, the familiar popping sound ringing through the dining car as the seal was broken and took a small drink before nodding his head in understanding.

"Ah I see, I know that feeling too. I had been involved with music, both vocal and instrumental since the fourth grade. I was in choir as it was mandatory in our school and I took up the trumpet in band. I stayed in the school honor choirs through the sixth grade and the trumpet through eighth grade. Outside of school I was also involved in a choral arts society in my city and joined the most well known choir called Bel Canto. I stayed with Bel Canto, traveling the world during our tours for three years. Through my sophomore year of High School and I stopped playing musical instruments entirely, after my sophomore year I joined the A Capella Choir with my high school for my Junior year and then after that year I stopped doing anything musical."

He paused for a minute, realizing that he had given a lot of detail but not really saying how the feelings were related. So he decided he would get to the point.

"Anyway, after two years I felt as though something was missing, I missed the musical challenge that I had always felt during my years in choir and band. A friend of mine showed me a video where someone was playing an ocarina. I had known about it through Legend of Zelda of course, but I didn't realize it was real. Immediately I got excited and ordered one. I have been learning songs by ear and recording them since."

[Alan :: LoD :: Throne Room]

Alan afforded himself a smile. Things were definitely looking up. Apparently, he wasn't a captive, the Emperor wasn't angry about the ceiling, and was, in fact, apologetic for . . . something. Either way, Alan figured that the odds of his experiencing a Chinese Imperial Feast in this lifetime had just increased exponentially.

It would probably be best, Alan reflected, to allow those of his companions who understood the situation to address the Emperor first - they apparently had something important to ask. So, Alan fell silent. He glanced around the room, especially at Jon, trying to see if anyone would give him a cue as to how to act. No one was bowing or kneeling, he noticed. Probably because this was Fantasy Ancient China. In Historical Ancient China, such rudeness would never have been tolerated. Either way, Alan remained standing, but bowed his head. It seemed like the minimal show of respect.

As soon as his companions had spoken, Alan would ask the Emperor for a change of clothes, something to shave with, and food. He wouldn't be so bold as to outright ask for a feast, but he had the feeling that the Emperor might think of the idea on his own. Then, once things had settled down, he'd ask the others - especially Jon - what was going on. They probably knew far more than he did.

Finding a friend alive - and others from Earth - was incredibly heartening to Alan. He didn't much fancy the idea of being the last survivor of a dead world. Also, it gave him hope that he would find his other friends alive.

Of course, that's assuming anyone died at all . . . which I don't know. The 'illusion' hypothesis is still very much on the table.