Hillo. Above the clouds by me... that is all.

Disclaimer: I do not own Skies of Arcadia

Above the clouds

Three years…is it long enough to wait for a miracle? It was for me. I couldn't help missing him. So I did the only thing I could. I decided to go after him. But I should probably start at the beginning…

Dear Blue rogues,

I guess by now you guys have realized that I've left (Aika probably barged in to my room, ready to kill). I took a small crew and the smallest ship I could. I wish I could have said goodbye…but I won't say I'm sorry. Maybe in time you could understand. Island life isn't right for me. I wish I could have settled down like Fina and Enrique…but I need to sail the skies. I need it to live. Be back soon! I'll miss you.

Sincerely, your captain,

Vyse

…That was what we found in his room, on a made bed, with a small bag. It was addressed to me. In it was a note in Vyse's writing

Aika, you need this more than I. But you'll need a lens! Be good!

Inside Vyse had put his old eye patch frame, hanging from a piece of leather.

There was uproar the night I told Fina and Enrique that I was going after him. They didn't want to lose me too. But later that night they both understood. So I'm taking the 'Jewel' and a small crew and I'm gonna go look for him. I'll drag him back kicking and screaming if I have to!

"VYSE! Time for breakfast! Get up, get up, get up!" Vyse groaned at the voice rising from the stairs, flipping on his side. He heard his door open and an all too familiar voice spoke, "Vyse! You're still asleep? We have to ride today! I'll get Mama up here." she threatened. His curtains opened and light was sent streaming across his face. He reached an arm up to block the sun. "Gmm ud mater." he mumbled.

"What?"

"I said I'd get up later."

"Nope. You have to have breakfast and then we're going riding. You're riding Star."

"All right. You win. I'll get up."

"I love winning!" Vyse opened one eye to look at the young girl, always so bouncy. She smiled at him. She was more different then most of his other friends-how long had it been since he thought of them? She wore a long pink skirt and a brown apron. Her black hair in two long pigtails, though her hair usually fell out of them. She was only 18 but already the top rider in town. She had vibrant red eyes that sparkled constantly, even when she fought. Though in this place there wasn't much use for that. This place was peaceful. Sonna turned and walked out, leaving Vyse to get up and down stairs.

After breakfast Vyse walked through town with Sonna, heading for the docks, saying hello to people from the village and his own men who were on their way to the ship. "That reminds me. How is your ship? Is it still damaged bad? You've been working on it for almost 2 ½ years now!"

"Ah. We had a small problem with the engine…it uh…exploded…again."

"That old thing! I'm telling you, you should hock it for a new one!"

"I know, I know. But I don't think your technology is up to snuff. You know you don't have many ships up here." she stuck her tongue out at me.

"We're fine up here. You know those legends you tell us, about the old world? And those brave people who one time saved the world by fighting those Gigas?"

"Yeah."

"Well those legends…we have them here too. But ours are about your world. Who live below the clouds, with steel and electricity. We live above the clouds, far from the dangers of your world."

"I know Sonna. I know."

By now they had reached the docks. Sonna grabbed his hand and pulled him up a ramp as fast as she could, laughing, forgetting the conversation. She ran to a large man at the end of the ramp. "Ton! We need Star and Minory." He put his lips to a cone next to him and yelled the names; the message came out below the island to the place where they kept them. A few seconds later a large form was rising over the horizon. A second later a large whale was floating at the side of the dock. Sonna grinned wide and ran forward. "Good morning Minory!"

Minory (the whale) made a loud noise. Vyse stood back and watched Sonna.

Sonna smiled and ran towards the whale that floated down a bit and she landed on his back. Her legs were on either side of her, her hands pressed against the whale's back. "Hurry Vyse!" and with that she pressed a palm against the whales back. It obediently turned away from the island, heading in to the sky, clear as can be-far above the clouds.

A few moments later another whale appeared, smaller than the other. This one was Star, domestic born and smaller than Sonna's, which had come from the wild. Vyse smiled, "Hello Star. Sleep well?" A low moan from the whale. Vyse jumped off the dock, landing on the whale's back, though he was standing. He plopped down, his legs on either side of him, just like Sonna. He too went out towards the sky. He noticed that there were a lot of people out today. But only a few hours after they came out Sonna stopped, her head dropping down. She pressed her knee into the side of the whale and it flipped over until she was parallel to the clouds below them. Then she looked up and smiled. "It's gonna rain. It's gonna pour…Yippee! Let's go Vyse!" Here the water vapor was pulled from the sky above and came down to the clouds, hitting them on its way. They had no lightning, just thunder.

2 hours later

The rain had started about an hour ago, but already it was pouring. Vyse was soaked through and it was hard to see through the rain. He didn't like riding in the rain. It was like sailing in the rain, just with no gauges or navigation. But the people surrounding him seemed not to worry. On the contrary they seemed to like the rain. Or at least they seemed to be having the time of their lives, whooping and soaring like madmen. Vyse put a hand to his glass eye patch, adjusting it till he could see well.

Then he saw something that made his blood run cold. A ship was out in the middle of the sky, not far from him, being pitched and whipped about by the winds or lack there of. Up here the air was thin, making it hard to fly airships, this he knew from experience. Then something else caught his eye. One of the ships sails was whipping in the air, the line had broken. Vyse acted quickly. He called to Sonna and pointed, she turned and started yelling, but Vyse didn't hear what she said. He was already flying towards the ship with everything he was. He flew, pushing Star onward. Suddenly he saw a flash of color on the mast of the broken sail. A flash of orange before the sail whipped in front of it. He noticed quickly what was happening when the sail started to go taught. The figure was tying the rope down! Suddenly the sail moved and he knew it was tied down. He could barely see the orange figure stand. He watched the figure turn and then it jumped, swan diving into a crowd of men who caught it. A cheer reached his ears, but then another sound and then the crew turned to stare at him. It was uproar, people screaming and turning the boat, but this accomplished nothing but making them sink more. Vyse whipped around, screaming to Sonna. Two whales showed up on either side of the boat and cradled it between them, they were unmanned. The crew screamed louder than before. But Vyse didn't care, he needed to go help. But then he noticed something else, the orange figure was on the side of the boat. He watched the figure leap off the side of the boat, towards the whales. It landed on one and he saw her start to hit it with something, the whale moaned and pulled away from the boat, angry and hurt. "No. STAR! HURRY!" the whale the figure had hit spun around in circles and he watched the inexperienced flyer start to fall and on her way down was hit by the spinning fin. Vyse was really moving now and as soon as he was close enough to where she had fallen he jumped. Skydiving threw the air at a high speed. He was closing in on the figure, ignoring the pain he felt at the change in air pressure. He flew one arm out and it-by some miracle- locked around her waist. He saw Star coming up below him and flipped around, landing hard on his hand and knees (the other hand holding her). He collapsed on to the whale's back and spoke as clearly as he could against the incoming darkness, "Let's go home Star." And he looked down at the girl in his arms; he moved her strangely familiar orange hair and looked down on her soft face and even further to what was around her neck. A strap of leather holding the frame of an eyepiece. And then the darkness came and he could no longer keep his consciousness.

When the darkness lifted the first thing Aika felt was pain. Horrible spirit-crushing pain. The next thing, even before her own scream came, was someone yelling.

"Stay with us, Vyse!"

"Let me go! Help her! Help her! Let me see her!"

"Put her under!"

"Don't you dare!"

"Put her under, we have to take care of Vyse first! He's all that matters!"

"Don't you touch her! You- what are you doing! Don't you dare hold her down like that! Don't touch her!"

Her eye's slid open to stare at that boy across the room from her. There was blood and he was screaming and pulling away from the men restraining him. He was going completely insane. When he noticed that her eyes were open he screamed to her. "AIKA! AIKA!" She watched him for another moment and noticed a girl in pink with tears in her eyes; she also had a needle in her hand and seemed very far away. But a moment later she felt a prick and the world went dark.

"…Ka…Aika…?"

Slowly light flooded into her line of vision. Then something else, a glint of silver, a mop of brown hair. "Vy…se…?"

"Aika!" Her vision had cleared and she could now clearly see him. His hair was longer now and his eye patch was different along with the rest of his clothes, he was bandaged up tightly, but it was him. It was Vyse sitting on the edge of the bed she was in. Tears came up into her eye's. "Vyse!" She sat up quickly and threw her arms around his neck. She gave a small sob. "It's really you! I found you, I found you! You look so different but it's you!"

"Aika! Aika! Calm Down. You need to stay calm ok? You're not well-"

Knock, Knock. "Can we come in now?"

"Yeah! Come on in! She's awake now." Aika's crew came into the room, all smiles. "Hey captain!" "How are you feeling?" "Did you hear about the whales?" "Isn't it amazing!"

"Hold on guys. One at a time." Aika said with a giggle. It was then that Aika noticed a shy-looking girl stuck in the back of the crowd. She was wearing big brown gloves to match the apron over her pink dress.

"Ok guys, calm down. You're not well either and you'll tire her out. She needs her rest."

"Ah, Vyse."

"Ha-ha. Go on. You can see her later"

"All right. Bye Captain!" Aika gave a wave as they left. She saw the girl try to follow them out but Vyse called to her.

"Wait here with me Sonna."

"Ah! All right."

"Aika? This is my friend Sonna."

"Nice to meet you."

Aika nodded, "Ditto."

"Di--"

"That means 'same'." Vyse explained to Sonna. The girl smiled and nodded.

Ok well this is it. I'll try to upload quickly.