Chapter 1
Heroes of Arcadia
On the deck of the Delphinus.
"It's over" called Aika to Vyse, Fina and Enrique, a smile rising on her upon her face.
"Yes, it is" whispered Fina hiding her face from her friends, a tear pricking her emerald eyes as she stared over at the silver moon.
Enrique smiled in relief that the day had ended well on their part.
"We defeated Zelos" cheered Vyse giving Aika a hi-five.
"What is that" yelled Enrique, but before Vyse, Aika and Fina could look up the Delphinus shook vigorously as a large silver sphere hit the metal framework of the deck leaving a large crater in it.
The sphere morphed into a twisted silver figure with long arms but no legs were present. It seemed to just hover above the ground. It turned around to face them and all four of them were shocked to see Ramirez' crippled body welded into it.
"Ramirez?!" Vyse yelled, anger displayed all over his face, his muscles flinched as he reached for his cutlasses.
"Wrong again Rogue, I am the almighty Zelos. I am no longer the one you call Ramirez. He sacrificed himself to awaken me" Ramirez smiled, although it had somewhat become more bitter causing a shiver to flow up Vyse' spine. Drawing a shimmering silver blade from Ramirez' sheath and pointing it towards Vyse Zelos called in an eerie voice "Prepare to fight rogue."
"Bring it on" Vyse' responded as he drew forth his Volrik blade and cutlass and pointing them towards Ramirez' unearthly body.
"Your confidence will be your downfall," came Zelos cold hearted reply, "but it will just make it more pleasurable for me to see your lifeless corpse lay at my feet."
"Are you gonna make the first move or shall I?" roared Vyse, unable to control his anger any longer.
Ramirez chuckled, with an eerie look on his face as he raised his head to stare Vyse eye to eye... "Now you shall feel the wrath of Zelos! You shall suffer for all eternity!!! Zelos will feast on your souls!"
And with that Ramirez turned to face Fina and yelled "hargh, come to me Fina, come to the dark side. Silver Nightmare" Fina looked horrified by what he had just said so much that she did not see the strings that ran along the floor of the ship, coming towards her.
Her body became taught as the strings took effect on her body and she was cast into darkness only to return to the deck of the Delphinus but the loving features on her face had faded. She turned to face Vyse who was looking towards her and cast 'Lunar Glyph' pressuring his body into stone. He called out to her his arm extended before he gave into the spells power.
"Fina snap out of it!" yelled Aika across the deck "Ramirez is only using you!"
The attack wore off and Fina stood her eyes cast upon what she had been ordered to do. She quickly regained her thoughts telling herself it was not her fault Ramirez who had used her body to hurt the others; there was nothing she could do about it.
But one thing she could do was heal Vyse, quickly before Ramirez noticed that she had recovered she cast 'Curia' on her friend. Vyse collapsed to the floor trying to get his breath Fina knelt down and helped him up.
"Good to have you back," he whispered smiling up at her.
Vyse got up onto his feet and the two exchanged smiles before Vyse turned his concentration to Ramirez who was busy fighting Enrique and Aika. He stood behind him and yelled "Let this end!"
Ramirez was quickly alerted by Vyse voice and turned to face him. But it was too late Vyse had already begun to attack with 'Pirates Wrath'. All Ramirez could do was roar in agony as he felt the immense pain rack his body as the Blue Rogue's blades pierced his body in swift precision. He could not believe the speed in which he attacked and there was no way he could counter it.
Aika seeing that the group was injured from Ramirez' previous attacks quickly cast 'Sacrum' on the group whilst Enrique pulled an 'Aura of Valour' out of his pockets and cast it above his head.
Vyse upon realizing this called "Now's are chance to strike whilst he's down." Quickly the four stood in the four compass points around Ramirez' paining body, not knowing what was going to happen next.
"Prophecy" called Vyse "In dire need" he yelled casting his blade into the middle of the four over Ramirez' body.
"We call fourth" came Aika's triumphant reply as she cast her boomerang into the centre, next to Vyse'.
"The power" replied Enrique in a much more subtle tone as he placed his sword next to the two childhood companions' weapons.
"Of the ancients" called Fina a serious look upon her brow as she guided Cupil to join the others possessions that were cast upwards above Ramirez.
"To battle our foe" called Vyse a bright emerging at the peak of their weapons.
Their bodies began to head towards the Silver moon leading the attack was Enrique who was followed closely by the two girls and finally by Vyse who had been demoted to stay in last for this certain part of the attack. Their bodies broke down into concentrated forms of light and embodied themselves in the silver moon which was now under their command. The ground began to rumble as the moon headed towards the Delphinus on a collision course. Ramirez' could only stare in horror as he saw the gigantic moon heading towards him, there was no way to escape this attack, for its radius was just too big.
A source of pure light engulfed Ramirez body, he screamed in pain until it suddenly halted and the sound was not again heard. The four separated their bodies from the silver moon as it headed back into the sky, and returned to the deck of the Delphinus which had surprisingly not been in any way damaged by the attack.
All that remained of Ramirez and Zelos was the crater that they had made earlier and a small silver crystal that lay helplessly on the floor of the deck.
"It's finally over" murmured Fina; the four of them were now joined by Gilder and Drachma who had watched the assault from the bridge.
Vyse walked over to the small silver crystal and picked it up he held it in the palm of his hand and turned to face Fina and said.
"Fina, Ramirez lived in the skies and died in the skies," he smiled and continued to say "We sailors. when one of us dies it is customary to return the body to the sky. Would you mind if we did the same for Ramirez?"
Fina smiled at Vyse and nodded.
"No, please go ahead."
Vyse walked to the side of the deck and looked down at the small crystal in his hand and said "Ramirez may you rest in peace."
And with that Vyse threw the stone over the edge of the Delphinus, the small stone jingling as it escaped out of his grasp and made its way out towards the sky.
The crews' attention was diverted when the large rumbling sounds of Soltis breaking up caught their attention. The continent began to slowly make its way back into the deep sky of which it had come from.
The Delphinus hovered above the wreckage and watched it as it fell into the grasp of eternal darkness once more. Fina clutched onto the bars of the ship and watched her ancestors' home sink below the clouds. "Soltis! It's gone," whispered Aika as she and Vyse moved closer towards Fina.
Fina closed her eyes and tears began to prick her delicate eyes as she whispered.
"Goodbye Ramirez.." The wind gently blowing in her face.
The trio looked down at the vortex until Aika turned around and alerted their attention.
"Well what's next.?" she asked smiling at the others "We've already sailed around the world. and there's no use for the moon crystals anymore."
Vyse smiled at what she had said and replied:
"Since when did we need a reason to sail Aika? We're still young. Who knows what kind of trouble we can still get ourselves into?"
Aika placed her elbow on Vyse shoulder grinning, saying:
"Hahaha so Captain Vyse. where do we go from here?" she said nudging him slightly.
Fina cleared her throat and the two stared at her expectantly.
"Vyse, Aika" she muttered "I have something to ask of you both."
She smiled and looked up blushing slightly.
"I would be honored if you would let me continue to sail with you."
Vyse looked at her and smiled.
"We wouldn't have it any other way." he admitted...
Aika leaped towards Fina her arms open and hugged her tightly before they joined hands and lifted them up to reach each others face, and Aika blurted:
"Of course you can sail with us Fina!!!"
"Thank you," replied Fina nodding and smiling at her friend.
Gilder then Interrupted with a wry smile on his face.
"Well, well. it's all so touching."
Aika and Fina turned to face them one hand still clasped in each others grasp.
"Why don't you all come with us?" asked Aika. Gilder grinned sheepishly, "doesn't sound like such a bad idea, but I should probably return to my ship. My men are probably going crazy without me." A cheeky grin still on his face. "I'll return to the Claudia and continue my search for," he paused, "the good life."
Drachma then said "I've decided I want to be a fisherman again, I want to live my life in peace out of respect for Jack.. and for Rhaknam.
Vyse turned to face the Valuan Prince and said "So Enrique what do you want to do?"
Enrique placed his hand across his chest and lent slightly forward and said "I must return to Valua, someone needs to organize the survivors and start rebuilding," a smile perched on his face.
The trio nodded at the requests of their allies and Vyse said still smiling.
"I understand.. Good luck everyone!"
A familiar voice belonging to Daigo called.
"Hey what about us?"
The trio looked up to see the fleet of ships under Vyse' control.
A feminine voice from the Primrose then called:
"Yes, what about us? Aren't we your friends, too? Why should they get all the attention?"
Centime stood at the lookout tower of the Iron Clad. He smiled and said,
"Clara please, we just saved the World together. can't you just enjoy the moment?"
Captain Dyne on board the Albatross II turned to face Vyse and said,
"Son I be honored if you called me Dad from now on."
Gordo interrupted as he sat in his ship in front of the dining table.
"Hey where can we get some food around here?"
Baltor on board the Blackbeard II laughed in agreement with Gordo,
"Aye! The big guy has a point! I think this calls for a party!"
Back on the deck of Delphinus' Vyse said laughing.
"Hahaha, I never thought I'd agree with Baltor." Vyse laughed.
And with that Vyse lifted his hand, a serious look upon his face as he yelled smiling.
"Alright everyone back to Crescent Isle for the biggest feast in history!"
"Aye, Aye!" came the overwhelming reply.
All of the fleet headed northeast to Crescent Isle, the Delphinus leading it, as they headed toward the sunset.
The next morning it was a beautiful day on Crescent Isle for a wedding. Moegi and Enrique exchanged vows. Two weeks past and the world slowly begun to get itself back on its feet, giving hope to the people of it to keep going. All was peaceful above the clouds, friends were reunited, cities were rebuilt and hearts were mended.
*******
But underneath the white clouds in the land where light cannot reach the sleeping continent of Soltis, an unearthly being and its host slowly began to regain their strength. The host despising what he had become. Pain struck their bodies once more and the being bellowed out "LUNA!!" in a deathly voice holding its silver arm in the air, fist clenched, as he screamed in agony as he was again struck a murderous blow, and flopped over unconscious.
Heroes of Arcadia
On the deck of the Delphinus.
"It's over" called Aika to Vyse, Fina and Enrique, a smile rising on her upon her face.
"Yes, it is" whispered Fina hiding her face from her friends, a tear pricking her emerald eyes as she stared over at the silver moon.
Enrique smiled in relief that the day had ended well on their part.
"We defeated Zelos" cheered Vyse giving Aika a hi-five.
"What is that" yelled Enrique, but before Vyse, Aika and Fina could look up the Delphinus shook vigorously as a large silver sphere hit the metal framework of the deck leaving a large crater in it.
The sphere morphed into a twisted silver figure with long arms but no legs were present. It seemed to just hover above the ground. It turned around to face them and all four of them were shocked to see Ramirez' crippled body welded into it.
"Ramirez?!" Vyse yelled, anger displayed all over his face, his muscles flinched as he reached for his cutlasses.
"Wrong again Rogue, I am the almighty Zelos. I am no longer the one you call Ramirez. He sacrificed himself to awaken me" Ramirez smiled, although it had somewhat become more bitter causing a shiver to flow up Vyse' spine. Drawing a shimmering silver blade from Ramirez' sheath and pointing it towards Vyse Zelos called in an eerie voice "Prepare to fight rogue."
"Bring it on" Vyse' responded as he drew forth his Volrik blade and cutlass and pointing them towards Ramirez' unearthly body.
"Your confidence will be your downfall," came Zelos cold hearted reply, "but it will just make it more pleasurable for me to see your lifeless corpse lay at my feet."
"Are you gonna make the first move or shall I?" roared Vyse, unable to control his anger any longer.
Ramirez chuckled, with an eerie look on his face as he raised his head to stare Vyse eye to eye... "Now you shall feel the wrath of Zelos! You shall suffer for all eternity!!! Zelos will feast on your souls!"
And with that Ramirez turned to face Fina and yelled "hargh, come to me Fina, come to the dark side. Silver Nightmare" Fina looked horrified by what he had just said so much that she did not see the strings that ran along the floor of the ship, coming towards her.
Her body became taught as the strings took effect on her body and she was cast into darkness only to return to the deck of the Delphinus but the loving features on her face had faded. She turned to face Vyse who was looking towards her and cast 'Lunar Glyph' pressuring his body into stone. He called out to her his arm extended before he gave into the spells power.
"Fina snap out of it!" yelled Aika across the deck "Ramirez is only using you!"
The attack wore off and Fina stood her eyes cast upon what she had been ordered to do. She quickly regained her thoughts telling herself it was not her fault Ramirez who had used her body to hurt the others; there was nothing she could do about it.
But one thing she could do was heal Vyse, quickly before Ramirez noticed that she had recovered she cast 'Curia' on her friend. Vyse collapsed to the floor trying to get his breath Fina knelt down and helped him up.
"Good to have you back," he whispered smiling up at her.
Vyse got up onto his feet and the two exchanged smiles before Vyse turned his concentration to Ramirez who was busy fighting Enrique and Aika. He stood behind him and yelled "Let this end!"
Ramirez was quickly alerted by Vyse voice and turned to face him. But it was too late Vyse had already begun to attack with 'Pirates Wrath'. All Ramirez could do was roar in agony as he felt the immense pain rack his body as the Blue Rogue's blades pierced his body in swift precision. He could not believe the speed in which he attacked and there was no way he could counter it.
Aika seeing that the group was injured from Ramirez' previous attacks quickly cast 'Sacrum' on the group whilst Enrique pulled an 'Aura of Valour' out of his pockets and cast it above his head.
Vyse upon realizing this called "Now's are chance to strike whilst he's down." Quickly the four stood in the four compass points around Ramirez' paining body, not knowing what was going to happen next.
"Prophecy" called Vyse "In dire need" he yelled casting his blade into the middle of the four over Ramirez' body.
"We call fourth" came Aika's triumphant reply as she cast her boomerang into the centre, next to Vyse'.
"The power" replied Enrique in a much more subtle tone as he placed his sword next to the two childhood companions' weapons.
"Of the ancients" called Fina a serious look upon her brow as she guided Cupil to join the others possessions that were cast upwards above Ramirez.
"To battle our foe" called Vyse a bright emerging at the peak of their weapons.
Their bodies began to head towards the Silver moon leading the attack was Enrique who was followed closely by the two girls and finally by Vyse who had been demoted to stay in last for this certain part of the attack. Their bodies broke down into concentrated forms of light and embodied themselves in the silver moon which was now under their command. The ground began to rumble as the moon headed towards the Delphinus on a collision course. Ramirez' could only stare in horror as he saw the gigantic moon heading towards him, there was no way to escape this attack, for its radius was just too big.
A source of pure light engulfed Ramirez body, he screamed in pain until it suddenly halted and the sound was not again heard. The four separated their bodies from the silver moon as it headed back into the sky, and returned to the deck of the Delphinus which had surprisingly not been in any way damaged by the attack.
All that remained of Ramirez and Zelos was the crater that they had made earlier and a small silver crystal that lay helplessly on the floor of the deck.
"It's finally over" murmured Fina; the four of them were now joined by Gilder and Drachma who had watched the assault from the bridge.
Vyse walked over to the small silver crystal and picked it up he held it in the palm of his hand and turned to face Fina and said.
"Fina, Ramirez lived in the skies and died in the skies," he smiled and continued to say "We sailors. when one of us dies it is customary to return the body to the sky. Would you mind if we did the same for Ramirez?"
Fina smiled at Vyse and nodded.
"No, please go ahead."
Vyse walked to the side of the deck and looked down at the small crystal in his hand and said "Ramirez may you rest in peace."
And with that Vyse threw the stone over the edge of the Delphinus, the small stone jingling as it escaped out of his grasp and made its way out towards the sky.
The crews' attention was diverted when the large rumbling sounds of Soltis breaking up caught their attention. The continent began to slowly make its way back into the deep sky of which it had come from.
The Delphinus hovered above the wreckage and watched it as it fell into the grasp of eternal darkness once more. Fina clutched onto the bars of the ship and watched her ancestors' home sink below the clouds. "Soltis! It's gone," whispered Aika as she and Vyse moved closer towards Fina.
Fina closed her eyes and tears began to prick her delicate eyes as she whispered.
"Goodbye Ramirez.." The wind gently blowing in her face.
The trio looked down at the vortex until Aika turned around and alerted their attention.
"Well what's next.?" she asked smiling at the others "We've already sailed around the world. and there's no use for the moon crystals anymore."
Vyse smiled at what she had said and replied:
"Since when did we need a reason to sail Aika? We're still young. Who knows what kind of trouble we can still get ourselves into?"
Aika placed her elbow on Vyse shoulder grinning, saying:
"Hahaha so Captain Vyse. where do we go from here?" she said nudging him slightly.
Fina cleared her throat and the two stared at her expectantly.
"Vyse, Aika" she muttered "I have something to ask of you both."
She smiled and looked up blushing slightly.
"I would be honored if you would let me continue to sail with you."
Vyse looked at her and smiled.
"We wouldn't have it any other way." he admitted...
Aika leaped towards Fina her arms open and hugged her tightly before they joined hands and lifted them up to reach each others face, and Aika blurted:
"Of course you can sail with us Fina!!!"
"Thank you," replied Fina nodding and smiling at her friend.
Gilder then Interrupted with a wry smile on his face.
"Well, well. it's all so touching."
Aika and Fina turned to face them one hand still clasped in each others grasp.
"Why don't you all come with us?" asked Aika. Gilder grinned sheepishly, "doesn't sound like such a bad idea, but I should probably return to my ship. My men are probably going crazy without me." A cheeky grin still on his face. "I'll return to the Claudia and continue my search for," he paused, "the good life."
Drachma then said "I've decided I want to be a fisherman again, I want to live my life in peace out of respect for Jack.. and for Rhaknam.
Vyse turned to face the Valuan Prince and said "So Enrique what do you want to do?"
Enrique placed his hand across his chest and lent slightly forward and said "I must return to Valua, someone needs to organize the survivors and start rebuilding," a smile perched on his face.
The trio nodded at the requests of their allies and Vyse said still smiling.
"I understand.. Good luck everyone!"
A familiar voice belonging to Daigo called.
"Hey what about us?"
The trio looked up to see the fleet of ships under Vyse' control.
A feminine voice from the Primrose then called:
"Yes, what about us? Aren't we your friends, too? Why should they get all the attention?"
Centime stood at the lookout tower of the Iron Clad. He smiled and said,
"Clara please, we just saved the World together. can't you just enjoy the moment?"
Captain Dyne on board the Albatross II turned to face Vyse and said,
"Son I be honored if you called me Dad from now on."
Gordo interrupted as he sat in his ship in front of the dining table.
"Hey where can we get some food around here?"
Baltor on board the Blackbeard II laughed in agreement with Gordo,
"Aye! The big guy has a point! I think this calls for a party!"
Back on the deck of Delphinus' Vyse said laughing.
"Hahaha, I never thought I'd agree with Baltor." Vyse laughed.
And with that Vyse lifted his hand, a serious look upon his face as he yelled smiling.
"Alright everyone back to Crescent Isle for the biggest feast in history!"
"Aye, Aye!" came the overwhelming reply.
All of the fleet headed northeast to Crescent Isle, the Delphinus leading it, as they headed toward the sunset.
The next morning it was a beautiful day on Crescent Isle for a wedding. Moegi and Enrique exchanged vows. Two weeks past and the world slowly begun to get itself back on its feet, giving hope to the people of it to keep going. All was peaceful above the clouds, friends were reunited, cities were rebuilt and hearts were mended.
*******
But underneath the white clouds in the land where light cannot reach the sleeping continent of Soltis, an unearthly being and its host slowly began to regain their strength. The host despising what he had become. Pain struck their bodies once more and the being bellowed out "LUNA!!" in a deathly voice holding its silver arm in the air, fist clenched, as he screamed in agony as he was again struck a murderous blow, and flopped over unconscious.
