Sunlit Skies

[Serah]

Sunlit Skies

[/size][/center]

Serah looked around her, she was standing in some sort of forest area, where were they? She looked back at Noel who was dusting off the yellow glowing dust left over from travelling through the Historia Crux.
“Are we in The Sunleth Waterscape?” she asked him, she had often heard tales about this place when she was travelling, people whose friends had been and even people who had journeyed here themselves.
It was apparently a monster harbour, and many different species made their homes here, great! Just what Serah needed, another monster filled landscape, would they ever just be able to find Cuis without making unwanted stops? The sun was streaming through the gaps in the leaves, shining down on the tree branch that Noel and Serah had landed on, the tree branches were the pathways through the forest, unless you wanted to risk the ground, who knows what monsters lived below where the sun shone? The trees were kept in a permanent state of autumn colours, they lost their vibrancy when the fal’ Cie of Cocoon died, though in Serah’s eyes the colour and life never left, the trees were glowing in golden, orange and red leaves, the strength of the colours were blindingly bright, Serah spun around her arms outstretched, whirling the falling leaves around her body, trapped in the wind that she was creating.
“This place is great!” she called over her shoulder to Noel, her smile was spread across her face, exposing her pure white teeth,
“This is one of the only side-tracked destinations we’ve had where I have actually enjoyed where we have turned up!” though Serah could not forget the dangers that lay concealed beneath them, where the sun’s rays did not touch, down in the darkness lived fearsome monsters that would not be enjoyable to meet. They had best stick to the pathways that the branches made for them.

[/size][/center]

[Illusion]

Noel looked back at Serah and grinned.

"Beautiful place, I must admit." he said. "Just be careful, because you never know what might be down there." Noel poined downwards into the deep darkness far below the branch-paths. He knew without doubt that all sorts of different monsters could be down there, waiting for the chance to strike...

"Anyhow...how's about some exploring?" Noel suggested after a moment. "As long as we stay out of the darkness we should be alright, and...hey, what's that?" Noel pointed past Serah. In a shadow, there was a figure moving. The figure appeared to be nearly 6 feet tall, thin, and...dressed in a black dress?

"Hey, it's a PERSON!" Noel cried. "Hey!" The figure in the shadows jumped. They stepped into the light. The girl had very pale skin and was dressed entirely in black, and in clothes that looked very expensive somehow. Whoever she was had black hair as well, and deep brown eyes that looked to be filled with fear. Around the girl's neck was a glowing blue crystal pendant like nothing Noel had ever seen. What was more, the girl looked completely TERRIFIED.

"It's ok...uh, whateveryournameis." Noel said, as gently as he could manage. "We're not gonna hurt you." The girl clearly didn't believe him. She took a step backwards, shaking like a leaf.

"What should I do?" she whispered. Noel frowned.

"What?" he asked. But he realised that the girl was not addressing the question to him, but to the necklace she was wearing? It was crazy. But the next minute the girl had turned and started running away at full speed.

"Hey, wait up!" Noel called after them, giving chase. "We didn't mean to scare you!"

[/size][/center]

[Serah]

Serah watched as the girl took flight, she pulled her crossbow from her back in case of any unintended monster attacks,
“Wait up!” she cried after the fleeing figure, “we didn’t mean to scare you come back!” Serah ran as fast as she dared over the branched,
“Whoa!” she waved her arms around as she tripped over a branch, “Noel! Help!” she screamed, her crossbow got flung across the branch and slid across until it hit the trunk, Serah however fell down, she was holding onto the branch for dear life, she was slipping, she couldn’t reach her crossbow, if she fell, she would fall into the unknown pit of monsters below, which would be there considering how much noise Serah had just made they would definitely know of her presence, she was falling, she must have let go,
THUMP
She landed on the ground below which was soft because of the moss that covered it,
“Ouch” Serah rubbed her head, the forest around her was lit in glows of different colours mainly greens and purples, she could no longer see the tree tops or the sun.
“Noel, save me” she whispered to herself, wrapping her hand tightly around the necklace at her neck.

[/size][/center]

[Illusion]

Noel skidded to a halt, looking down to where Serah had landed. He rolled his eyes.

"Not again." he muttered. "How many times have I saved you now? Must be something in the thirties now..." Noel sighed, but of course he knew he would have to save Serah. Before he could move, however, he noticed that the person who he had apparently scared had stopped and was looking down at Serah. She glanceed at Noel, nervously. Then she spoke; it was in a timid voice, one of someone who wasn't used to speaking to others.

"D...d....do you need m-m-my help?" she stammered. "I c-could help...if you want me to..." Noel could see that the girl was unbelieveably shy. He smiled.

"You can help if you want." he said. "But don't push yourself too far." The girl gave the faintest of smiles.

"Thanks." she whispered, though she seemed to be talking as much to her glowing crystal necklace as she was to Noel. There then came a flash of light and the girl transformed into what looked like a black panther with wings. Noel stumbled backwards.

"Woah..." he gasped. The girl walked over to him and knelt on her front legs.

"Hop on." she said. "It'll be easier to rescue your friend this way." Noel did as instructed and the two flew down to Serah.

"it's alright, Serah." Noel said. "She wants to help us."

[/size][/center]

[Serah]

Serah could hardly believe what she was witnessing Noel was sitting on what appeared to be a monster of some description. Serah tried to think about where they could have come across such a creature. As the only way Noel would be allowed to sit on a monsters’ back was if he had captured it using a summoning crystal.
“Noel what is that?” she gasped, she was scared definitely, and she could hear the screeches of other monsters approaching.
“Noel please tell me you brought my crossbow, I’m gonna need it” she sighed in dismay as she saw that Noel’s hands were empty, “It must still be up in the tree, Noel I need it. Now!” Serah was panicking she needed her crossbow, they were all in danger and even Noel couldn’t take all of the Waterscape’s monsters down by himself,
“May the crystals save us!” Serah held her necklace ever tighter, she was trying to climb up the trunk to get back to her weapon, but it was no use, the only way up was to exit the Waterscape and re-enter via the branch pathways, by that time Noel and the monster would probably have fallen.
“Give me a leg-up” Serah instructed, but she knew that it would not help, if only there was a way to reach the branch.

[/size][/center]

[Illusion]

Jasmine decided it best to speak.

"If I may, miss..." she said, quietly. "My name is Jasmine. I ran away from you before because I am scared of others harming me...I have no people skills, you might say." She chuckled a little, but somewhat nervously.

"Anyway...I'm awfully sorry for any trouble I caused you. Um...I could give you some help up to the branch if you'd like." she went on. She knealt down on her front legs, indicating for Serah to get on. "Hurry, please, miss. We don't have time to waste!"

"Serah, I really do think she's here to help us." Noel began. He was about to say something else when they heard an inhuman screech from some distance away.

"I'm scared..." Jasmine whispered, quietly. "Please, miss, let me help you. It's the least I can do." Fear danced in Jasmine's deep brown eyes, and it was obvious that although she wanted to help she was still terrified.

[/size][/center]

[Serah]

Serah looked unsure she was not certain if she could trust this talking monster that had suddenly appeared from nowhere, she decided that she had no choice, if she wanted to reach her weapon she would have to accept the monsters’ help.
“Ok then, but hurry” Serah ran over towards her, she tried to find the best way to mount her, she decided on the Chocobo approach, throwing her legs either side of its huge body, she held on tightly, wrapping her arms around her neck.
“Just make it fast I have a fear of flying” she shut her eyes and hoped that it would be over soon, it was as quick as jumping, one moment she was sitting on her back on the floor of the Waterscape and the next she was back on her branch in the tree. Ungracefully, Serah dismounted, she ran over to her Crossbow, which was in fact a transformed Moogle and picked it up.
“Ok we need to go and help Noel” Serah winced as she heard more screeches, she mounted the monster again and they flew down through the darkness and back to Noel, Serah hoped that he was alright.

[/size][/center]

[Illusion]

Jasmine flexed her wings and performed a nose-dive through the air, spreading her wings out to catch an updraft before hitting the ground and then landing softly. Jasmine then knealt on her front legs and tucked in her wings so that Serah could dismount.

"Serah, reckon we should ask our new friend here to fly us out?" Noel asked. Then he looked at Jasmine, who was shaking. "But if you don't want to, Jasmine...I think that was your name...then it's ok." A thought struck Noel.

"Hang on a minute...who the heck are you anyway? And I don't just mean your name." he said, his eyes narrowing a little. Jasmine was obviously scared and took a few steps backwards.

"My name is Jasmine Brogan...I can shapeshift, I'm terrified of interacting with others...and my only possession is this necklace." Jasmine stammered, gesturing with a paw to her glowing blue crystal pendant. "I know it'll sound crazy but it speaks to me...I can hear a voice within it...but I don't know what it is...do you?"

[/size][/center]

[Serah]

Before Serah had time to respond something burst out of the undergrowth, it was a Tonberry, it was not too hard to deal with a solitary Tonberry and Serah quickly shot it dead, but when there was one there was always more, and gatherings of Tonberry’s attracted bigger and more dangerous predators.
“Noel, I think we’re in danger, your new friend over here can only carry one person at a time, so you go first and I’ll catch up!” Serah forced Noel over towards the waiting Jasmine.
“Just take him now!” she shouted at Jasmine, she could be quite frightening as the children that Serah taught knew.
Fitting another arrow into the shooting compartment on her crossbow she forced Noel onto Jasmine’s back,
“You have to go, now!” Serah ordered, another Tonberry arrived, waving it’s knife at the party,
“HYYAAA!” Serah fired her missiles at it, shooting it dead where it stood, more were pouring in, Serah had to shoot faster, Noel was still sitting on Jasmine’s back,
“Take him!” she shouted at the winged panther.

[/size][/center]

[Illusion]

Jasmine was terrified. She screamed, but instead of screaming her voice came out as a roar. Making sure that Noel was still on her back, she took flight. She made sure that they were at a safe height and she landed on a branch. Noel dismounted and looked down at Serah.

"She told me to rescue you first." Jasmine whispered. She cowered away as if expecting to be hit. Looking at the way she covered her face with her wings, Noel realised that Jasmine really DID think that Noel was going to hit her.

"It's alright. You did the, uh...right thing." Noel said, as soothingly as possible. Jasmine looked up at him, then glanced at her crystal necklace. It flashed brighter twice and she nodded to herself.

"I'll go get your friend now." she said. She hesitated. "What if I'm attacked...should I fight back?" Noel rested a hand on her feline shoulder.

"You'll be fine! Those monsters will be nothing compared to your strength and agility." he told her. "You just need to be brave." Jasmine looked up at him. The necklace around her neck flashed again. Jasmine nodded.

"Alright." she said. She then launched herself from the branch and nose-dived towards a monster creeping up behind Serah. With an almighty roar she came down upon the monster. She slashed at it with her claws and then hurled it over her shoulder by grabing one of its limbs in her mouth.

"Hurry, miss! I can fly you out!" Jasmine said, urgently. The crystal charm around her neck flashed again. The voice from inside it sounded in Jasmine's head.

GOOD WORK!

Jasmine glowed with pride inside. She didn't know whether or not anyone could hear the voice inside the bizarre crystal she had. She didn't even know what it was.

[/size][/center]

[Serah]

Serah nodded her head, she quickly shot some more Tonberry’s and then ran to the waiting winged panther,
“Get me out of here!” she shouted, she mounted Jasmine, swinging her legs over her sides.
They took off and swooped up through the dark until they reached the sunlight again, they landed on the branch where Noel was standing,
“Noel!” Serah dismounted Jasmine and ran over to the brunette boy standing on the branch, he looked worried, Serah swung her arms around him,
“Thank the Crystals that you’re alright!” she realised that she was still holding him, she let go and turned to face Jasmine.
“Uh.. thanks for not arguing with me back there” she nodded her head appreciatively, she had thought that if Jasmine had not of flown off with Noel than the youth would have refused to leave, and they would almost certainly of died in the undergrowth, there are only so many Tonberry’s that two people can take on before they get exhausted, and because they breed at such a rapid pace the flow of numbers would have been never-ending.
{OOC this is a Tonberry}

[/size]
[/center]

[Illusion]

Jasmine nodded. She would have blushed if it was possible for a black winged panther to blush.

"It's no trouble...I didn't dare argue with you, anyway, miss." Jasmine said. "I usually get beaten up if I ever argue with anyone, and I was scared already...so..." Jasmine trailed off, with a cough. She ran her claws along in front of where she was standing and then looked up at Serah and Noel.

"Um...may I please ask you a question?" Jasmine asked, nervously. Noel nodded.

"Of course, Jasmine." he said, smiling. He tried to sound as reassuring as possible. Jasmine took in a deep breath and then used a front paw to gesture to the glowing crystal around her neck.

"Can you tell me what this is?" Jasmine asked. "I've had it for a long time...but I still don't know what it is. It speaks to me...I swear to it, when I wear it I can hear a voice within it...please don't hurt me if I sound crazy." Jasmine cowered briefly, then stepped forward. She held her head high.

"Please...if you touch it, then you might hear the voice within it." she said. "Or do you already know what it is?"

[/size][/center]

[Serah]

Serah stepped forward and placed her hands on the necklace, gently cupping it,
“I-I hear it” she gasped, she let go of the necklace and put her hands to her head,
“I- I’m having visions Noel” she gasped, every time that Serah had visions they shortened her lifespan. “I heard it, it was the voice of a fal ‘Cie” she told him, “It was a fal ‘Cie it was talking to me, that’s not possible Noel! They’re all dead! We were there when they died!” Serah was almost in hysterics now; she couldn’t believe what was happening.
“Get that thing away from me!” she shouted pointing at the necklace around Jasmine’s feline neck, “It makes me have visions, I hate visions being forced upon me, you know what they do to me Noel!” she shouted in Noel’s direction, “Don’t touch it, only the Crystals will know what it’ll do to you” Serah was scared, she wrapped her own hands around the necklace around her own neck. And softly, and inaudibly she whispered, ‘Hope I’m scared’

[/size][/center]

[Illusion]

Jasmine was shocked. She stepped back and cowered again, her wings in front of her face.

"I'm so so sorry...I didn't know anything like that would happen..." she squeaked, starting to become terrified again. However, just as she spoke, her winged panther form became enveloped in light. It seemed to melt away until Jasmine's pale-skinned human form was there. She was sitting with her arms over her head. It was evident from the sobbing sounds she made that she was crying.

"Serah..." Noel began, softly. "Look at her. Look at Jasmine. She's so...scared. I wonder why?" Jasmine did not look up, nor make any attempt to move. She cupped her face in her hands.

"My...necklace..." Jasmine stammered, quietly. "What is it? Is it dangerous? Can it...hurt me?" Jasmine sniffed a little and cried again, softly. She didn't like making a spectacle of herself but she couldn't help it.

"Serah...I think Jasmine needs our help." Noel said, quietly. "I think we should tell her what that necklace is...and what it can do."

[/size][/center]

[Serah]

Serah was suddenly enraged, “How come you’re taking her side? Noel I just HAD A VISION does that mean nothing to you?” she felt like she had been punched in the stomach, “If Hope was here he’d be making sure I was ok, yes Jasmine or whatever her name is might be harbouring the world’s most wanted necklace but it took a portion of my life away! That’s not coming back!” Serah felt betrayed, she walked across the branch, “Have fun with Jasmine, she’s now the only friend you’ve got!” Serah instantly regretted saying these words, she was still friends with Noel, and she actually needed him, he was the only person around who could travel the Historia Crux, Serah walked the branch pathways all the way until she reached the edge of the Waterscape forests, she turned around and walked a little way back down the branches, then she sat down, she took out a piece of paper from inside her corset, she carried on her person at all time, with shaking hands she unfolded it,

[/size]
Dear Serah
I hope you are well, everything’s been fine down here lately, I miss you, when are you coming back? Yesterday I was looking through some old pictures and I found one of us as kids, it reminded me of the time that I let you have a go of my boomerang, you felt so proud of yourself, I remember as you caught it after killing those monsters you seemed so happy, like you were untouchable, and at that moment in time, you were, I won’t be able to write very often anymore, I’ve been promoted, so I guess that’s good news! I’ll try and send some, but the Mognet here is usually used to deliver important messages, and though these messages may be important to us, they are not generally considered important here. I miss you Serah, I really miss you.[/center]

Hope.

[/font][/size]

Serah cried as she folded the piece of paper back up again, she held it in her hands, “I miss you too Hope, I miss you so much” the sound of her tears echoed through the forest.

[/size][/center]