A bluenette woman walked out onto the deck of her ship, noting that her crew were all sitting around talking and drinking either sparkling cider or alcohol depending on their ages. She was glad they were all in high spirits. She wandered across the deck to stand next to a blackette in a purple hood, the 17 year old turning to bow to her. "Shukun."

"Evening, Jamil." She smiled a little, the blackette always acknowledging her presence when she arrived on the scene. She had inherited this crew from its former owner some months before, but it was still odd to her. She wasn't used to her role, so her crew told her. But all the same, it was hers now… this ship, and this crew. She was Captain now. Her sharp violet eyes stared blankly out at the town as the lights began to dim. She smiled as a certain red-head erune recalled his fire magic to dim the ship's lights as well.

"Elmott, you should send up some fireworks too." A blonde teen grinned.

"Don't be an idiot, Spark Boy." Another boy with a hood replied. "That'd ruin the show, if Elmott stole the spotlight."

"Che… just saying… Danchou, you agree right?"

"Feather, if Elmott wanted to, he could construct his own show another time, ne?" She turned to him, sighing. "And Ayer's right. We don't want to ruin the show for the townspeople, do we?" she added, the blonde noting the quirk of her eyebrow.

"Ah… guess not." Feather grinned, rubbing the back of his neck as Ayer crossed his arms and leaned back against the cabin wall on deck with a smug look on his face.

"Kehkeh, getting scolded by Danchou." Elmott walked by to put his staff away as the last of the lights started going out.

"It's really a wonder we managed to help them fend off all those monsters… what were they thinking, setting up that factory in the middle of the forest where the monsters might be breeding?" a harvin in red asked, sitting atop the stairs to the upper deck.

"Must have been a precaution to keep the explosives away from the town?" A taupe haired boy with purple robes smiled. "After all, it would be dangerous to keep so much too near a place that does all this smithing and all, right? Vermeil-san?"

"Even so, Johann… they know their forest has monsters… they should have built it underground… or at least with a proper pathway…" the harvin replied.

"Haha, always thinking so far ahead." Johann nodded.

"It's starting…" The blonde twig of an erune stated in almost a whisper, but everyone seemed to hear him just fine, turning their attention to the blackened night sky. The bluenette captain turned to the sky as well, her glasses catching the light as the first fireworks flew up, screaming into the night air before booming into fabulous flowers and balls of light, the designs making the crew smile.

"Beautiful…" she said, turning to see as Jamil stared up at the fireworks in fascination, watching his eyes widen when a really elaborate firework went off. She was glad that he was getting to experience this, since he'd mentioned that rarely ever would he get to see such a display and enjoy it. "Jamil…? Do you like the fireworks?" she asked, the boy nodding, turning to her with a small but dazzling smile on his lips. It made her blush, seeing him happy like this over something so small.

"They're incredible, Rizusa-sama…" he leaned over the railing to watch more, the woman smiling wider when she realized he'd said her name instead of using his normal "shukun" or "princess" or anything of the like.

"I'm glad…" She said, smiling as she took a quick glance across the faces of the rest of her crew, who were all enjoying the display as well.

"Rizusa-sama…" she turned back to Jamil as he said her name again. "Happy New Year…"

"Happy new year, Jamil." She replied, not wanting to be anywhere else. This was the only place she wanted to be. This was where she belonged now… this was home to her. But a thought crossed her mind, one that made her wonder. 'I hope Emira's doing alright…' she thought as she watched the fireworks display till the end. Tomorrow they'd take off again to another port… to another job.

'So is the life of a skyfarer.' Rizusa's eyes widened as she thought she heard a voice, turning around to search for HIM. But it was soon drowned out by the fireworks.

"Shukun?" she turned to Jamil, who seemed a little worried for her.

"Sorry… thought I heard something." She smiled, turning back to the fireworks. She scolded herself, knowing that he hadn't been around in a long while… but still she could hear his voice. She didn't like that it still haunted her.

"… If you're sure." He replied softly, watching the fireworks with her, but noting that she indeed looked bothered. But he wouldn't press the matter. She kept it to herself for a reason, so he didn't want to bother her about it and make her unhappy. He let her lean on his arm as she began to tire, smiling a little as she almost dozed off against his shoulder. Hopefully she'd get a good night's sleep and start the new year without all the things that had been holding her back.

Meanwhile, on Zinkenstill, a girl stood staring up at the sky. Her soft purple eyes caught the light of the small firework display, but her expression was dull. It had been 2 years since she'd come to live on the small island, and she still wasn't quite sure why she was here. "Oi, Emira!" the girl jumped, turning to see a familiar orange and red little dragon with a grin and a big apple flying over. "C'mon, smile. It's New Years!" he handed her the apple. "I brought that for you." He added, Emira smiling as she noticed his brunette friend walk over and take a seat next to her. "Ne, Gran?"

"Right." He nodded, noting Emira still looking sad. "You okay?"

"I… guess it's odd… watching fireworks like this when it feels like I've got nothing to celebrate." She muttered softly, Gran staring at her a little, hoping she'd feel better soon. She'd started living there on Zinkenstill a while ago, but she refused to say anything about why she moved to such a small place or who left her there by herself. He remembered seeing the ship that brought her, but that was all since they didn't stay long enough for anyone to ask. The old house close to his belonged to her grandparents, and she had the key to prove it. And she seemed adept enough at the skills she needed to be out here alone, too. Cooking, hunting monsters, finding mushrooms and berries in the forest.

"Well you're gonna have to make a wish in about 5 minutes, so better think of somethin'!" Vyrn interrupted Gran's train of thought, but he didn't mind. He always wondered about stuff like this, especially since Emira never wanted to talk about it herself.

"Hehe, okay okay, Vyrn." Gran sighed at his friend, knowing Emira was probably in no mood for wishing. But she nodded, taking a bite of the apple they'd brought her. He sat in silence, watching Emira stare at the fireworks before he noticed her eyes get wide, turning to see the finale of the show. "Ready to make that wish, Emira?"

"… Yeah." She smiled a little, closing her eyes and folding her hands in a prayer-like motion, Gran smiling at her. He saw her mumble something, but he didn't hear it because of the large booming fireworks. He wondered what she wished for, but he didn't ask. He knew what he wanted… to go find his father on Estalucia. He turned to Emira and grinned wide, making her stare at him as she tilted her head in confusion.

"Happy New Year, Emira." He told her, the girl smiling a little at him. And it wasn't a fake one this time, either… wasn't sad… it was a smile.

"Happy New Year, Gran." She replied, turning back to see what she thought was a star shoot across the sky, smiling a little wider. "And may your wish come true." She added, Vyrn and Gran grinning, glad that Emira seemed a little happier at least. And hopefully the new year would bring better times, too.

A certain brunette lieutenant of the Erste Empire's army sighed to herself, staring up at the sky as fireworks went off. She wanted to enact her plan now, but this was no time for it… there were too many people. She'd have to wait. The ship would drop the extra people and cargo off at the next port before making a roundabout over some small islands. That was where she could make this plan work. She just hoped that things would go well. 'Lyria… I'll get you out soon.' She thought, the fireworks exploding in colorful shapes and designs nothing compared to the blaze of determination in the young woman's heart. She had to make this work… she just had to.

Chapter 1: Eve of the New Year

END

((Happy New Year! I'm staring off with a new Fanfic, so I hope you all enjoy~

Next time I'll have some background, this was just the startup to see if anyone's interested~ I'll do my best to keep up with posting in the New Year~

-Winter Cheshire))