Welcome to Gaia! ::

Kairi relaxed a little more when Naminé laughed and gave her a reassuring smile, promising everything was going to be fine. The Princess knew that perfectly well, but she couldn't help but worry. The petite blonde then spoke the the crimsonette again, but this time through their link. She told Kairi that once everything was settled with Lakayna they'd go to see Kairi's parents and everything would be okay there as well, and that no matter what she'd be with her. The Princess was comforted by her Other's words. "Thank you Naminé," Kairi thought to her, squeezing her hand as she did so, "That means everything to me." She smiled at Naminé before turning toward the beach just in time to see Lakayna fly through the portal Hikari had created.

Once Lakayna had gone through the portal it disappeared, and a smaller one reappeared on the ground for the others. Hikari motioned for Sora and Axel to go through which they did. After them the silver-haired girl told the red head and the blonde it was their turn. "Right." Kairi nodded to Hikari. She ever so slightly tightened her grip on Naminé and then the two walked forward. A second later they were engulfed in darkness as the entered the portal. The Somebody and Nobody held on to each other and kept walking, no stopping or turning back, and after a few moments they emerged onto what appeared to be a snowy mountain. Kairi blinked at the sudden brightness. The snow was so white and bright compared to the darkness they had just traveled through. At this moment the Princess would have let go of Naminé, but the moment they had entered the Land of Dragons Kairi began shivering. Her usual dress was perfect for the Islands, where it was always warm, but here in a place surround by snow Kairi was freezing. Having lived most of her life on that tropical paradise, the red head had never felt this cold in her entire life. She was sure Naminé felt the same way.

The Princess clung to Naminé trying to stay warm, hoping she wasn't squeezing the poor blonde to death, as she looked around. Before the two girls stood Lakayna, Axel, and Sora. A moment later Riku and lastly Hikari came through the portal, which closed behind the silvernettes. The crimsonette was glad that they had all made it though fine. "So, what do we do now?" Kairi asked the group through chattering teeth, wishing she hadn't been stupid and dressed for the occasion better.

"Hmm okay," Kairi, who was still trying stay warm by clinging to Naminé, replied when Lakayna answered her question, "And when we find these two halves and make the object whole again, it will help you regain your human form?" The crimsonette shivered then looked around and said, "Well we better start looking then. We're already here in the mountains so maybe we should look for the half that's high on the mountain's peak first? Or should we split up? Some of us go look for the half that's on the mountain, and the rest of us go look for the half that's in the Imperial City. That's one idea. What do you guys think we should do?" Kairi asked the group again.

Lakayna sighed softly.
"It would be faster, that's true enough," she said in response to the idea, "But you wouldn't know where to look. The city is very large, and it could be hidden anywhere within it. I'm not even sure what either half of the statues looks like..."

Hikari sighed as they discussed just how they were supposed to get the object they were going to obtain. "Look, don't you know anyone around here who might know what the object is? Mulan, Shang, or someone?" she asked in a flat tone.

Axel thought for a moment. "Hey, Lakayna. What about that Mushu guy you told me about earlier?"

Lakayna looked first to Riku and nodded in understanding.
"You're right. I don't know how kindly either the encampment at the foot of the mountains or the city would take to seeing me."
Her eyes turned breifly towards the Imperial City; which could been clearly seen from where they stood in the mountains far above it. The female dragon's eyes then turned back towards Hikari, Axel and the others.
"I'm sure there is someone who'll know. Mushu might know. He's probably with Mulan now, acting as her gaurdian. Where they are I don't know," Lakayna said, trying to respond to all the questions at once.

(hey riku's twin, when do you plan on having Mushu come in?)

Sora thought for a minute. "Mushu lives near the Imperial City I think. I haven't seen him since we fought that Heartless at the Emperor's palace though. Still, I would imagine that Mulan would be at the training camp at the base of the mountains. Where ever Mulan is, Mushu wouldn't be too far behind. How about you come with me, Kairi?" he asked.


Hikari nodded. "Mushu. That's the little dragon whose heart I couldn't take. He turned into a spirit stone," she mused. "I think there's an old cave where we can stay at until you bring back Mushu, Sora. We'll stay there so no one freezes to death."

"Good. I can't take this snow much longer," Axel complained, his arms folded tightly around his chest. This was Vexen's perfect environment, not his.