Disclaimer: I do not own Skies of Arcadia, or any of the characters in the game. A few characters in the fan fiction, however, are mine! Neener neener pumpkin eater!
Chapter 1: Moon
Landing
"Vyse!" The shriek of Fina's voice made Vyse jump out of bed.
"What? Fina! Calm down, what's wrong?" Fina's hand was on her chest, as if she ran as fast as she could.
"Vyse….The moon…..Look." Vyse walked outside and looked up into the sky.
"What!"
The look on Vyse's face was pure astonishment. "The red moon,
it's glowing."
Vyse ran out to the peak of Crescent Isle.
There was Aika, watching the moon's glow intensify.
"Vyse," Aika said, pointing out towards Nasrad, "The Moon is sending of a ray of red light down near Nasrad. We should check it out!" Vyse stood there, still starring at the red moon. "Vyse… C'mon" Aika ran down to the Delphinus with Vyse not far behind.
When Aika and Vyse
arrived, Fina was waiting onboard the Delphinus.
"Lawrence!
Start her up!" Aika screamed. Suddenly, the cracking of the engine
began, and the Delphinus' propellers began to spin. Everyone on
board, Vyse started to ease the Delphinus out of the base. As soon as
they were clear, Vyse went full speed towards the beam.
"Look!" Aika shouted, "The light is forming."
"Get ready everybody." As Vyse said this, a smile ran across his face, and his eyes glistened with a light that had long been forgotten. The Delphinus slowed to ¼ speed, and Vyse motioned Lawrence to take the helm. Vyse ran out down towards the lifeboats, took one and left towards the ball of light.
"I can't let him go
alone," Aika ran towards the door, "Fina, stay here on the
Delphinus, we'll signal if anything goes wrong." Knowing it
would be useless to take another life boat, Aika ran towards the
deck. Aika ran into Tika'Taka, who was coming off break, and one of
the braids in her hair ripped on Tika'Taka's arrows. Aika ran out
on the deck to the railing and saw Vyse's lifeboat slowly coming
out. Aika backed up, took a deep breath, ran and jumped over the
railing of the Delphinus. "VYSE!" She screamed as she pulled
out the other braid. Vyse just then looked up and saw Aika, with her
long, beautiful hair flying about. Vyse stared up at her, with the
same smile on his face. He tried to catch her, but she came too fast
and they both fell over. Vyse went to lift Aika off of him, but Aika
gripped onto Vyse's shirt. "Don't leave without me again…"
Aika's voice was soft. And there they lay, for only a while, Aika
and Vyse embracing on a lifeboat headed for a light.
After a
minute or two, Aika got off Vyse, and they both looked over as the
light began to intensify even more. Then, without warning, the light
exploded, incinerating the lifeboat and bits of clothing off Aika and
Vyse.
"GAHH!" an unfamiliar voice screamed out from the smoke. And there, standing on the air itself was Aika, Vyse and an unknown human, covered in a red light.
"Aika, did you bring
you're boomerang?" Vyse said, lifting Aika off the "ground."
The look on Aika's face answered his question. "It's O.K. I can
take this guy by myself."
Vyse readied his Sky Fang, and once
again, the smile on his face and the glimmer in his eye were
visible.
"Vyse, look." Aika pointed downwards, and, surely enough, was a surface that had the same rough feeling as the Delphinus, but a clear surface, almost invisible to the naked eye. Vyse just laughed. It seemed as if the upcoming battle had him occupied completely. Vyse jumped at the figure, but the figure dodged. Vyse attacked again, the figure dodged again. Growing angry, Vyse turned around and gave a horizontal slash that slightly connected. It was then that the light faded and the figure could be seen. It was a boy, about the same age as Vyse. The boy had red hair, spiked up at the front, wearing a white t-shirt and a red vest. Vyse was coming in for another attack, when the boy looked at him. The boy drew his sword, and the two swords connected. The Delphinus started to close in as the battled ensued. Vyse was about to finish his pirate's wrath, the boy stuck out his hand, and balls of fire surrounded Vyse.
"VYSE!' Fina's voice shook the skies. Looking back, Aika could see the expression on Fina's face. Tears streamed down Fina's cheeks, as Vyse was assaulted by the boy's blast. Slowly, Vyse fell down to the floor. Aika and Fina only watched as the boy blasted Vyse with an attack quite similar to Pyri.
"Vyse! Get up, please!" Aika ran to Vyse, and started to drag him away.
"Vyse?" The boy starred down at Aika holding Vyse. "Those names… they sound so familiar." Aika starred up at the boy, and picked up Vyse's Sky Fang.
"You…" Aika speaks, with her voice quivering, "Who are you? Why did you come and attack us?" Aika ran at the boy, dragging the Sky Fang behind her. A sudden light circled the space beneath him, and the red light which encased the boy from before returned.
"My name is Shoryu... Remember it." Suddenly the light exploded once again, and Shoryu was gone. The floor revealed itself to be one of the floating isles of Nasr, and the sandy winds began to blow once again. Aika sighed, and turned around to see Vyse, who was just getting up, and sighed again.
"Aika, get ready to head to Ixa'Taka, prepare yourself for battle, I have a feeling the same thing is happening to the other moons as well, and I would like to check it out." Vyse grabs onto the railing of the Delphinus, and Aika climbs up after Vyse.
After the small battle, Vyse returns to his quarters back home at Crescent Isle. "Wow," Vyse says to himself, "I haven't really had a descent fight since Ramirez, I must be out of shape. Maybe if there is another one of these… people… at Ixa'Taka… I'll be ready." The smirk once again crossed Vyse's face.
"Vyse…" Fina peaked in from the door, "Can I please talk to you? It's about the incident earlier today, and your decision about going to Ixa'Taka"
"Fina," Vyse starts to speak, but looks up and is stopped by Fina's tears.
"Vyse, we almost lost you today. Your injuries are not yet healed, and you are already getting ready to fight again. I can't let you! Aika and I are worried about you, you've been acting so different recently, and you seem distracted." Vyse wiped a tear from Fina's eye.
"Fina… you're right. I have been distracted recently. After the battle with Ramirez, we haven't really had any decent fights. I know that's not all a Blue Rouge is, but, my desire for sailing has gone without the danger, or the excitement. At Ixa'Taka, I will be ready. And I hope you and Aika will be by my side," Through that whole speech, Vyse was starring at the mirror in his quarters, and Fina staring down at the floor, trying to hold back a river of tears, " Please Fina, be by my side, with you and Aika there, nothing is impossible." Fina walked out the door and ran quickly to her quarters. She held the tears as long as she could, and as she ran to her quarters, the crew on Crescent Isle were all watching.
Fina sat on her bed with her head in her hands, crying about what she had just heard, and because one whom she cares deeply for is acting totally different then what he usually does.
"I've been waiting for you master Fina," A voice that had been in Fina's head since the frightful event earlier that day. Fina looked at the door, and there was Shoryu, the cause of her pain… Vyse's pain.
"Wha… what do you want?" Fina spoke, trying to stiffen out her creaky voice from crying.
"I want whatever you want master Fina," Shoryu knelt down with his right arm over his heart, as if in a salute.
"What do you mean? And why are you calling me "master Fina"?" Fina stood up and started towards the door, just as Shoryu stood up aswell.
"I am the essence of the Red moon, and I serve the one who called forth Recumen." Shoryu took a bow to Fina.
"But it was Belleza who summoned Recumen, not me." Fina looked more into the conversation now.
"But Belleza is dead, so my service went to the one of whom Belleza trusted most, Lord Galcian."
"And Galcian is dead too. So it would move on to who Galcian trusted most…" Fina's eyes widened as she spoke the name of the one she once called friend. "Ramirez?"
"And then to whom Ramirez trusted most. First was Galcian, but he is dead, and his second person with the highest trust would be you, Lady Fina, and that is why I am here," Shoryu put his hand on Fina's shoulder, "Ramirez wishes you goodbye, from the deepest of his soul." Fina's eyes stared to well full of tears again.
" He said that? Ramirez…" Fina looked over at the mirror. "I'm… I'm sorry Ramirez, I couldn't save you." Fina broke out in tears. Suddenly a knock was at the door.
"Fina? Are you ready to travel to Ixa'Taka?" Aika said, peering in through the crack of the doorway.
" I'm on my way Aika, tell Vyse to wait a moment," Fina replied, refusing to meet Aika's gaze. Aika merely giggled and left the room. " She didn't notice you?" Fina spoke silently, incase of people listening in.
" It would be wise to hurry to Vyse's side, he is waiting for you.," Shoryu began, " and I would like to meet him again. He was a formidable opponent."
"Vyse…" Fina walked out the door, with Shoryu following behind.
The Delphinus was all prepared to go when Fina walked on. "Vyse… I have something to show you." Fina said, as she opened the door to allow Shoryu to enter.
"Fina?" Vyse spoke in sudden shock, "It's him! Shoryu!" Vyse drew his Cutlass, but Fina ran in the way.
"Vyse, no! He is my… our ally," Vyse just stared at Fina, "I'll explain on the way to Ixa'taka." Vyse nodded and took the helm, easing the Delphinus out of Crescent Isle. Heading east for a fast route, they soon noticed the green moon, the same as always. Just before they broke Ixa'takan air space, they were halted by the King's flagship.
"All access to Ixa'Taka is prohibited due to the king's funeral. Please turn back, or state your pass code." An Ixa'takan was standing on the deck of the flagship.
"The green moon, it is about to form," Shoryu said to Fina, "We should hurry if we are to encounter the essence of Grendel." Vyse looked back at Shoryu.
"Essence of Grendel, the Giga?" Vyse asked. Shoryu nodded. "Okay, you're going to explain this to me, short and sweet!" Fina told Vyse the whole story. " Okay then, we shouldn't be worrying about this moon, Grendel was summoned by the King."
"Who is now dead," Aika added, "I say we still check it out, maybe we could get him on our side, because who knows who could have summoned Yeligar, Rhaknam and what about… Zelos?"
"Ramirez… Then wouldn't his guardian go to Fina like you?" Vyse said.
"Unfortunately, I am unsure of what is to happen in that case. Fina can only have one loyal follower." Shoryu sat down on the Captain's chair, but quickly got up due to Fina's orders.
"Alright then, let's check it out quickly. Aika, Fina and I will take a lifeboat to Rixis, Shoryu, you stay here and send a flare if anything happens." Vyse began to walk out the door. Shoryu looked as if he was about to protest, but Fina shook her head.
Vyse and co. flew towards Rixis, but the gates were closed. "It looks like someone sealed of the entrance to Rixis. We shouldn't force our way in, it is the King's funeral. We should head to Horteka." As Vyse said this, Fina and Aika ran onto the life boat and the gang flew to Horteka.
Shoryu paced back and forth, worried about Fina. He looked out towards the moon, waiting for it to begin its 'transformation'.
"When is the funeral?" Shoryu asked the Ixa'takan on the King's flagship.
"Today. I'm actually leaving to go attend it now." The Ixa'takan replied.
"Could I accompany you along with my Ixa'takan friend, Tika'Taka?" Shoryu said, just itching to get out of the Delphinus.
"Tika'Taka? Hmm, alright, please accompany me to the King's funeral." Shoryu ran down to the life boat dock with Tika'Taka. The two of them followed the King's flagship as the sun began to set behind the mountains, and a bright green light began to form around the Green moon…
Author's Note: What do you think. Pretty good? Craptacular? Well, it is gunna be a long adventure, so it'll get better.