The Moonflow~

(From "D'jose Temple~")
*The rails eventually level out, and surprisingly, the speed slows as well, just in time for the entire tram to pass under a large glass dome. Visible through it is a large, open lake, filled with a wide variety of marine life and sunken structures that look hundreds of years old*
Yuna: It's... beautiful....
Rikku: It's... pretty...~
Paine: It's... ruins.

Mana: *eyes widen as she takes everything in* Huwaaaaaah...~!

Sugar: Isn't this... the Moonflow?
Yuna: Hey, it is, isn't it?
Rikku: But... he said we'd be dropped off at the dock-
*Just as Rikku says it, the trail makes an abrupt U-turn and begins going back the same way they came*
Rikku: HE JUST MADE THE TRACK GO THIS FAR TO TURN AROUND ON ITSELF!?
Paine: He's a stickler for aesthetics, I guess.

Mana: *giggly from the rush* It really is like a rollercoaster~! *looks to Sugar* Huh, Sugar~? ^w^

*Sugar pops a little bit at being addressed*
Sugar: Y-yeah! It's not as scary being high up, and it's beautiful too~
*The tracks eventually lead the tram-train back underground, and the speed slows to a halt in another tunnel loading bay similar to the one they started in. In the bay taking Gippal's place at the controls is a....[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] that waves to them in what looks like lazy enthusiasm*
: Ish ebuilly body okay?

Mana: *raises her hand energetically and happily* I'm okay~!

Rikku: Breathing!
Paine: Barely.
Sugar: I-I'm okay...
Yuna: It seems like we're all alright.
: Belly good. Belly good.
*Rikku saunters to the creature suspiciously*
Rikku: So Gippal hired the Hypello that works at Moonflow to do his dirty work?!
Hypello: Gippal hired me for belly good price. Belly good.
Paine: Oh yeah? What was that?
Hypello: "Shoopuf-mounted andi-fiend misshile-cannons"
*Rikku faceplants with the floor*
Rikku: HE GAVE A HYPELLO SOMETHING THAT DANGEROUS!?

Mana: *tilts her head curiously as she addresses the "Hypello"* What exactly is that? And did he already give it to you?

Hypello: Ish a protecshun for ze Shoopuf~
Rikku: Why would you need so much protection for a Shoopuf?!
Paine: Because of you.
*Rikku makes an odd noise and scratches her cheek*
Rikku: O-oh yeah.... Sorry about that Yunie...
*Yuna giggles*
Yuna: It's fine Rikku, I already told you I forgave you.
*Sugar clearly has no idea what they're talking about. The Hypello is likewise obvlivious*

Mana: *tilts her head from side to side in confusion* ...?

*Unfortunately, neither of the trio elaborates this noodle incident any further*
Yuna: Anyways, we were wondering if we could ride the Shoopuf across the Moonflow?
Hypello: A, yesh. Ride ze Shoopuf, it ish ready to ride~
*The Hypello turns from the controls*
Hypello: Jusht follow me, yesh?
*He begins walking.... at a very sluggish pace, though the way he moves, it'd seem like he were at his normal speed. Yuna and Rikku sweatdrop*

Mana: *sweatdrops* ... *looks to Rikku, Yuna, and Paine* I suppose this is a good time to mention that we left Whip behind?

Rikku: ....Oh yeah, we did, didn't we?
*Yuna looks around*
Yuna: ...I thought he was following us...
Paine: He's still at the Rest Stop at Mi'hien.
Yuna: You knew?
Paine: I thought that was the plan.
Rikku: Well, whatever~ He'll catch up, maybe~
Sugar: H-how can you all be so nonchalant!?

Mana: *also begins to look worried* I don't know if we should leave him there... Whip has a bad habit of getting into trouble. *her look turns annoyed* He also has a high level of skill for destroying hotels. I don't want to think of what kind of destruction he could achieve here...

Paine: We're too far to go back for him.
*Yuna seems concerned as well*
Yuna: I... suppose... but I don't like the idea of leaving him behind...
Rikku: It's not like we can fly back and pick him up.
Paine: Especially since he sunk the airship.
Sugar: H-he helped find it too...
Rikku: This happened last time too, didn't it? With that cute fox boy~
Yuna: Howl, right?
Paine: That kid that had us tied to a wall with vines?
*Yuna and Rikku sweatdrop*
Yuna: W-well, he did some good too...
Rikku: Yeah, and his tail was so fluffy~!
Yuna: -
Paine: I think we've gotten off track.
*They both stop*
Yuna: ...Oh, right.
Rikku: ...Well, like I said, he can catch up. We've got shoopuf to ride~!
*Sugar tries to intervene*
Sugar: B-but-
*Rikku snatches Mana's arm again*
Rikku: C'mon Mana! You gotta see the shoopuf~!
*Without waiting for her permission, she once again drags her off, leaving Sugar slightly dazed*

Mana: *waves a sign that reads "Sorry!" and has an accompaniment of what's supposedly a doodle of her, but it's hard to tell where the hat begins and the eyes end*

*Both Paine and Yuna shake their heads*
Paine: Some people never grow out of childish things...
Yuna: Maybe that's not such a bad thing. ^v^;
*Yuna motions to Sugar*
Yuna: Come on Sugar, let's catch up.
*Yuna and Paine both follow after Rikku and Mana, leaving a concerned Sugar next to the Hypello*
Hypello: ....Riiiide ze shoopuf?

*The stairway leads directly into the bright daylight, where a [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] stretches out, littered with large "fields" of water flowers that spout beautiful pyres of light. However, the largest attraction are the[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]*
Rikku: SHOOOPUF~!
*Letting go of Mana, Rikku dashes to a distance of only a few meters away from the giant creatures, hopping in place and squealing all about*

Mana: *squeals along with Rikku and mimics her actions* THEY'RE ADORABLE!!! *she reenacts the chocobo incident in which she simply flies into the sky and tackles the shoopuf*

*The shoopuf doesn't even notice the tiny mobian clinging to it and continues drinking from the lake. The Hypello in charge of the shoopuf, however, is not so neutral about it*
Hypello: What do you shink you're doing? Pleashe don't agigibilate ze shoopuf!
*The Hypello waves its hands sluggishly in the air at Mana*

Mana: *gives the Hypello the innocent kitty eyes* But... I'm just hugging it. *throws in the pouting lip for an extra attempt of effect*

Hypello: No no no! Get downsh from zer!
*Oblivious to Mana, the Hypello continues to try and wave Mana down. Soon, Paine, Yuna, and Sugar come by as well*
Yuna: Wow... the shoopuf never seem to get any smaller, no matter how much older I get~!
Paine: ....Hm.
Sugar: M-Mana! Watch out!
*Too little, too late, the shoopuf's trunk suddenly wraps around Mana, holding her tightly enough to lift her without squeezing painfully*

Mana: *giggles brightly* Helloooo shoopuf, you adorable elephant animal~! *she continues to beam at the shoopuf, not at all worried about being crushed*

*The shoopuf lifts Mana all the way up to its massive head and lies her there, before tilting its head forward and sliding her all the way down its trunk and into the water. Sugar seems more worried than amused*
Sugar: Ah! B-be careful!

Yuna: I remember when I used to do that~

Mana: *resurfaces, giggling like a little girl as she clings to the shoopuf's trunk* Again~! Again~!

*The shoopuf is more than happy to oblige, picking Mana up again and putting her back on its head*

Paine: Can we stop wasting time here?
Rikku: Come on Paine! Haven't you ever had any fun?
Paine: Not without a sword and a few fiends.
Yuna: Let her enjoy herself, Paine~
*Paine hums in annoyance and crosses her arms*
Paine: Can we at least schedule a ride?
Hypello: Shoopuf for ride, yesh?
*The Hypello appears behind Paine, though she doesn't respond at all. Rikku, however, hops into Yuna's arms, whom sweatdrops*