Vanessa smiles at Mario, and goes to the resteraunt.

"How may I help you?" The hostess asks.

Mario goes with her and gives a nod. "Yes, a table for two, please."

"Right this way." The woman says, and leads them to a table in the center of some empty tables. She puts two menu's on the table. "A waiter will be right with you."

Vanessa sits, and looks at her menu.

Mario thanks the maitre'd and sits down as well, looking at the menu. "Wow, so many options. Any idea what you want to eat?"

She shrugs. "Everything looks good." She says. "I might get the ratatouille."

"Hm, I might get that as well," Mario states.

She nods, and puts down her menu. "So, how long have you been a knight?" She asks.

"A little over three years," Mario says. "And how long have you had an interest in cooking?"

"Since my parents bought me the easy-bake oven." Vanessa said before chuckling.

A waitress came to the table then. "Hi I'm Isabelle and I'll be your waitress tonight. Can I get you some drinks?"

"Can I just have some water with a lemon on the side please?" Vanessa asks.

The waitress nods and writes it down. "And for you sir?"

"Same thing, if that would be alright," Mario answers.

*The waitress nods and writes it down. "I'll be right back with your drinks and to take your orders."

Vanessa shuts her menu as the waitress leaves. "Mom taught me how to cook with the real oven after I tried to make french fries in the easy-bake oven."

"I see," Mario says. "Well, it sounds like you had a fun childhood."

She nods. The waitress returns then, and puts down the water. "Are you ready or should I come back to take your order?"

"I think we're ready." Vanessa says. "Can I get the ratatouille?"

The waitress nods, writes it down and turns to Mario. "And for you?"

"I'll also get the ratatouille please," Mario states.

"Alright, your order will be out shortly." She says after jotting down his order. She then heads to the kitchen.

"So...are you originally from Radiant Garden?" Vanessa asks.

Mario is silent as he shakes his head. "No. I come from Destiny Isle, but...even then, I can't say that it's where I truly come from. I was born on another world, one even I don't know, and from what evidence there is, I was born just before a Heartless invasion of the world. Only one person survived the crisis, and he's sitting right here."

"Oh Mario....I'm sorry, I didn't know." Vanessa says.

"It's fine," Mario states as he takes a sip of his water. "There wasn't any way you could have known. I don't even think my personal file lists it."

"I see." Vanessa says. She sips her water.

Mario nods. "And have you lived in Radiant Garden all your life?"

Vanessa shakes her head. "I was originally from Twilight Town, I moved to Radiant Garden when I got the job at the new resteraunt." Vanessa says.

"Ah, I see," Mario states. "I remember Twilight Town. The sunsets there are always beautiful."

"Yea, my friends and I used to sit atop the clock tower and eat Salty-sweet ice cream." Vanessa says.

"Yeah, I do that sometimes with Xildus," Mario states. "He seems to enjoy it a lot."

"Xildus is that Chocobo wearing the Nobody cloak, right? I've seen him around." Vanessa says.

Mario nods. "Yeah, he's been a friend of mine for a while. You can say we have a history together."

Vanessa smiles. "I saw he had a symbol on his collar. Is he a Knight as well?" She asks.

Mario nods. "Yeah, and a royal messenger as well."

Vanessa smiles, and takes a sip of her water.

A few minutes later, the ratatoullie arrives. Vanessa smiles. "Ah, cooked to perfection." She says, before taking a bite.

Mario takes a bite as well. "Mmmm...delicious."

"Indeed, their chef knows what thier doing." Vanessa says, taking another bite.

Mario nods as he finishes the ratatouille. "Yeah. I want to give my compliments to the chef."

Vanessa fisihes her as well. "As do I."

Mario's phone rings then. The caller I.D. says it Riku.

"Go ahead, I'll wait." Vanessa says.

Mario nods and turns away, answering his phone. "Yeah?"

"Mario....I'm sorry to disturb you...but Sora...he's gone, Mario." Riku says in a sad voice. "We need you home as soon as possible."

Mario is silent, in a state of shock. "...What? He's...he's gone?" Mario pauses, looking down in dispair before closing his eyes. "...Alright...I'll be there in a few minutes." He is silent as he hangs up. "...Vanessa, I'm sorry, but I have to go...royal matters have come up...I'll have someone come to take you back to Maelstrom," he states as he leaves some money to pay for the meal and walks toward the door to open a portal.

Vanessa watches Mario leave, and she can't help but feel that something terrible happened. She walks twords him. "Mario, did something happen?" She asks.

Mario is silent, pausing just outside the door. "...Sora...he's gone..." Saying nothing more, he opens the portal and steps through, heading to Radiant Garden.

{Mario to Radiant Garden}

Vanessa gasps covering her mouth in shock. She would have followed Mario, but the portal shut before she could.