InsaneJournal

(untitled), Kingdom Hearts, Cloud
Author: jlsigman
Rating: G
Word count: 404
Prompt: October 2: Kingdom Hearts, Cloud: shapechange – Orcas are called “sea wolves,” so he didn’t know why he was so surprised on Atlantica.
A/N: My apologies for the lateness.


There was a pile of things to be returned to Atlantica, found as Hollow Bastion's residents cleaned out both Maleficent's and Ansem's former castles. While most of it was small – tiny pearls originally stuck to an aquatic Heartless's shell or bits of shell that caught the eye of a Nobody – there were some real treasures that had to be transported to the realm somehow.

“I guess we can get Sora and Riku to take it next time they're here,” Cloud said, carefully guarding the more important pieces from the treasure-mad Gullwing faeries.

“That's silly,” Aerith declared, “They have their own lives, they don't need to run out here just to being our shipping service. We can do it ourselves.”

Cloud suddenly felt like he was missing some knowledge that was well known to everyone else. Again. “We can?” he finally asked, trying not to sound sullen. It was his own fault for being so absent, he knew that.

“Oh, yes, Cid has a gummi ship,” she nodded. “He's been making it from parts left over from his old Twilight Town shop and some plans Geppetto left behind.”

He nodded, then glared over her shoulder. “Tell him to get that thing warmed up,” he said, shifting into a battle stance. “Those three are getting more determined by the day.”

Aerith looked over her shoulder, sighed, and headed for Cid's place as fast as she could.

*****

“Absolutely not!”

Cloud and Aerith blinked at the older man. “Why wouldn't you want to come, Cid?” Aerith had the courage to ask.

There was a drawled mutter of curses for a reply.

“Look,” Cloud said, at his wit's end after the last battle with the Gullwings. “You don't have to come down there, just fly us there, OK? Unless you want Aerith piloting - “

“ABSOLUTELY NOT!”

*****

Aerith would be beautiful, no matter where she went, but here she was breathtaking. Her hair floated around her, her tail a shimmered pale white/green. She caught on to swimming quickly and was soon chasing Sebastion around the grotto.

Cloud hung back, still getting used to the change. He sighed as he carefully touched his new appendage, feeling the precise line between black and white. He didn't know why he was so surprised, considering his own wolf motif. But he was a bit worried that showing himself as an orca might not be the most diplomatic way to renew relations with Atlantica.