Within Pirate Isle, the crew was repairing the damages on the Little Jack and resupplying her, Fina talked about Cupil's preferred food of chams, small Moon Stone fragments. After that little bit Vyse spoke with his parents about their plans, and they were both prepared for his desire to leave the Isle.

With those heartfelt moments, they were ready to board the Little Jack, though Fina took another moment to express her gratitude, "Thank you all so much for rescuing me from the Valuans. I hope that I will be able to repay all of you, someday."

Dyne smiled to her, "Just worry about keeping those Moon Crystals out of the hands of the Valuans. And Vyse, we're all counting on you too."

"Don't worry Dad. I won't let you down! Well… I guess we should get going…"

Aika smiled, "We'll be back soon! Bye Cap'n! Bye everyone!" waving to the rest of the crew watching.

Fina stopped them, "Vyse…Karol…Aika… Are you sure you want to do this?"

Vyse assured her with his carefree smile, "Fina, there's no way we can turn this down."

Yuri had a bag of things he bought from the base, "If half of the things you told us about Gigas are true, then we can't allow the Valuan's to get their greedy hands on them."

"We're the only ones that can stop them. And…" Vyse turning to the Little Jack, "well, to be completely honest… I've always wanted to sail the world. And this is my chance… Moon Crystals, lost cities, strange lands… I want to see them all with my own eyes! This is my chance to find out what's really out there."

Aika nodded, "Fina, you couldn't stop us from going, even if you tried. This is the kind of adventure that Air Pirates dream of. If we passed this up, we'd regret it for the rest of our lives."

Karol was hesitant, but after Aika nudged him, he yelled, "That's right! It wouldn't be right for us to let you go on your own."

"I understand. Thank you! Thank you all!"

Estelle bowed, "Of course. We cannot allow such devastating and destructive power fall in the wrong hands."

Yuri looked to the Blue Rogue flag, "So, we have any ideas where to begin the search for the Crystals or do we wander the skies aimlessly?"

Fina took a moment to think, "Well, according to the ancient legends, there should be a Moon Crystal hidden in the lands under each of the moons. The closest one from here are…hmm…the Yellow Moon of Valua…and the Red Moon of Nasr."

Yuri scoffed, "Right, like the Valuans will just let us march back into their territory looking for the Moon Crystal."

Dyne nodded in agreement, "If you go east from here you'll reach Nasr. With a normal ship, you'd probably never make it through the stone reefs on the way… But," Dyne looked back to the Little Jack, "now that the Little Jack is equipped with a Harpoon Cannon, you've got a pretty good chance of making it through."

Vyse nodded, "Sounds like a plan. We're heading east to Nasr and we're going to get that Red Moon Crystal."

Drachma was already getting his ship ready, "We've been standing round here long enough. Let's get going."

Everyone started to board the ship, Vyse stopping to wave to the others, "Well… Dad, I guess it's time to say goodbye."

"Remember everything I've taught you… Make us proud, son…" Vyse nodded, and continued onto the ship. Fina stopped and bowed to Dyne and Vyse's mother before joining the others. The secret passage opened and the Little Jack set off toward Nasr.

Along the way a couple of monsters latched themselves onto the deck of the ship. Vyse was getting ready to clear them off, or he was until Karol noticed something off, "Hey, where's Yuri?"

Yuri and Repede had both worked their way to the deck already, Yuri's sword unsheathed and Repede stashing his unlit smoking pipe into his sheath as the dog bit down onto the handle of the dagger. Yuri looked to Repede, nodding to the dog as he rushed out first cutting down three of the boarders with one slash each, the first was a relatively basic slash but he followed up with a twirl of his blade to distract the monster before quickly dispatching it and the third one he kicked to allow himself time for his spin and slash downward. Yuri came to a halt as the other monsters moved closer to him. Repede jumped over Yuri, attacking the monster with the dagger and knocking one of them off with a swipe of his tail.

And like that the two of them wiped out the monster and returned to the bridge. As the two returned, Karol and Estelle ran over to Yuri, "Wow Yuri that was awesome!"

"Indeed. The way you handle your sword is nothing like how my brother or our teacher have ever used a blade, especially when you let go of it and twirled the sword in the air."

Karol then looked to Repede, as he was about to lie down in the corner, "Hey Yuri, I don't understand Repede. He's a dog, with claws and fangs, but he uses weapons?"

Repede snarled, barking at Karol. Yuri looked back as Karol hid behind him, "Yeah, I guess dogs do usually fight with claws and fangs?"

Estelle however was confused, "Huh? But Repede's a dog, isn't he?"

Repede started barking again, "Repede is Repede."

Aika stopped him, "Huh? That doesn't make any sense!"

Repede was barking fiercely now, though it wasn't aggressive barking, more like a show of power. "Whatever he is, Repede doesn't think of himself as a dog. That's why he uses weapons and items. But that's not to say that he thinks of himself as a human, either."

Vyse half smiled, "…I don't think we really understand… But he seems very proud."

Repede barked loudly once more, "Yep! So show him some respect!"

"...Hey, Yuri," Karol tugging on his pant leg, "Are you translating what Repede's saying?"

Yuri looked back to Repede, "Nah, it's just your imagination."

They made a pit stop at Sailor's Island, and Vyse found a rather unpleasant surprise, someone calling himself the Angel of Death had left a Black Spot for him and a location to meet. Upon their arrival to the location they found a small blue ship with purple sails waiting as it moored itself closer to them. Drachma kept to the wheel with Estelle and Fina since this was Air Pirate matters.

Yuri was about to do the same thing, however Repede wanted to go as well. Everyone gathered onto the deck as a mysterious girl jumped aboard. "You're the one that put out that Black Spot and called me out here?"

"Yes, you are correct. You've been quite the popular Air Pirate around these parts lately, you know. However, I cannot sit idly while Air Pirates fly the skies freely and do as they please!" The young lady was slender in black leather tights with the toes of her boots covered by large metal blades as she carried a scythe at was about a foot faller than her, with a blue Moon Stone blade and a blue tassel tied to the end. Her hair was silver-streaked black hair that was tied into three ponytails that looked more like spines of a monster, all three dyed icy blue to match her cold eyes. "My name is Piastol. I am a bounty hunter… And I specialize in finishing off Air Pirates! I am feared amongst even the most hardened Air Pirates. They have dubbed me…the Angel of Death! And the Angel has come for you, Vyse!"

A scraggy brown fur wolf-like dog jumped down from Piastol's ship, "So that why you wanted to join," Yuri holding Repede back, "The Little Wolf found a new home." Little Wolf started to howl now, as Repede was ready to charge at him.

Vyse turned to Karol and Aika, "Wow…imagine that! We've actually become famous enough to have real bounty hunters come after us."

Aika slugged his arm, "Oh grow up, Vyse! It's not a good thing when bounty hunters start coming after you!"

Karol unfortunately shaking in his boots, "Especially ones called 'The Angel of Death'!"

Piastol closed her eyes, "You seem…confident. Perhaps you truly are as strong as they say. I suppose this is why you've been able to stand toe to toe with Valua." Piastol twirled her scythe in the air, ready for battle, "However, you are still just an Air Pirate! I'll send you and your mangy crew to the bottom of the clouds!"

Yuri drew out his blade, tossing the sheath into a bucket. "Leave Little Wolf to Repede," Repede himself was drawing out his dagger now as well, "Piastol is our only enemy here."

Piastol and Little Wolf wasted no time now, rushing off to attack their opponents, Repede holding off Little Wolf as Vyse blocked Piastol's scythe for Karol. Yuri tried to slash at her, but Piastol was too quick, pulling back and twirling her scythe to confuse them while she tossed a pair of knifes at them. Aika managed to block the throwing knives with her boomerang before anyone was hurt by it. Repede was keeping Little Wolf back with his dagger, something that this dog was not finding easy to overcome.

Yuri tried to decapitate Piastol, but the bounty hunter was too fast, her scar on her left check was evident of that. Piastol tossed a knife at Yuri, who blocked it with the hilt of his sword, pushing him back with the butt end of her scythe. Repede tried to rush over to help, but Little Wolf cut him off, snapping at him.

With the new distance, Piastol rushed at Yuri, faking a slash only to jump up into the air ready to strike. Yuri managed to block her scythe, but Piastol was determined, swinging herself to strike at him with the metal talons on her feet. Yuri pushed her back, losing a few strands of hair and getting a cut on his face.

"Yuri!" Estelle wanted to help, and she was about to run out there too but Drachma stopped her. "What are you doing? They need help!"

"They'll be fine."

"But…"

Drachma released Estelle, "Do you have no faith in them? Do you believe that they're going to die here and now?"

"I…" Estelle clasped her hands together, praying.

"They won't fall here. They have too much they want to do, and they won't let a bounty hunter stop them."

Fina agreed, walking to Estelle's side, "I'm certain they will defeat her. And we can help them after the battle."

"Right," Estelle smiling now, though she was still hoping for everyone's safety.

Yuri managed to get past Piastol's scythe, getting a solid punch into her stomach and Vyse, using the blunt side of his swords, slashed at her. Repede slapped Little Wolf hard with his tail before ramming his head into Little Wolf's underjaw.

The fight was over, the bounty hunter and her dog were defeated. Down on one knee, Piastol was doing everything to continue the fight, but she couldn't. "How…how could this be?! How could I lose to a lowly Air Pirate?!"

"I'm sorry, but I'm a tad too young to die just yet. Come back in…maybe 50 or 60 years? I might be ready to keel over by then. But in the meantime," Vyse turned to his friends, "we're gonna continue sailing." Vyse continued to smile, even as he looked down to Piastol, "I think it's time for you to get back to your own ship."

Piastol snarled with disappointment, but it wasn't until she was about to pick herself back up did she notice something, staring at Vyse's face. "That scar…the one on your cheek! And your goggles!"

"…Huh? What're you mumbling about now?"

"It…it can't be! No…I'd recognize you anywhere! It is you!" Piastol picked herself up as though she had not lost yet, "As I have told you, I am known across the skies as the Angel of Death. I swear upon that cursed name that I will hunt you down and finish you off." Piastol threw her finger out toward Vyse, "I will find you again…and your deaths I shall bring!" Little Wolf was standing next to her now, "Until then, I will let you live. However, the next time we meet, it will be the end of you!"

Piastol and Little Wolf jumped back to their ship and sailed away. Karol looked to Yuri and Vyse, "What was that all about?"

Yuri sheathed his sword, "Don't ask me. Our beef is with Little Wolf. Mr. Popular over there is the one you should be askink."

Before Vyse could even say a thing, Estelle rushed over to Yuri, "You're all hurt. Let me heal you." The magic circle appeared as usual with a magic user, however Yuri noticed something strange, quickly grabbing Estelle's arm to get a better look at her Moon Stone.

Estelle quickly pulled her hand way in fear, covering the Moon Stone from sight. Yuri quickly looked away, keeping his eyes from view, "Hey, I'm sorry…I'd never seen a Moon Stone like that before. I wasn't thinking…"

"That's really all it was?"

"That's really all it was. I'm feeling better now. Thanks." Yuri knew something was wrong, but he wasn't going to get the others involved, especially if it's as he suspects.

An explosion rocked the little inn as smoke spewed out the window of only one room, the room rented out to the Valuan researchers, Rita Mordio and Witcher. Witcher rushed back into the room, stumbling through the clutter Rita managed to accumulate in a month's time out in this desert town. Apparently the blast came from a running experiment Rita had left unsupervised and she herself was fast asleep as if nothing had happened.

"You…!" though Witcher tried to get her attention, she wasn't moving from her bed. "This is the last straw Rita! I've had enough of this, working as your lapdog! You make me do all of the hard work, send me out into the desert and all you do is sleep here in the inn!" Rita was still asleep as Witcher continued his rant, "Let's see how you do without me there to do all of your dirty work!" Witcher grabbed some of the research and his personal belongings before matching out toward the docks to find the first merchant ship back to Valua.

After the door slammed, Rita looked over to the door, falling back into bed, "Witcher keep it down…the experiment hasn't finished setting…" and with that she returned to sleep.

The Little Jack flew closer to the continent of Nasr and there were a few awestruck faces, "Wow! There's nothing here but sand!"

"So this is a desert…" Vyse turned to Yuri and Karol, "I've heard sailors talk about them before, but it's my first time actually seeing one."

"Now that you mention it, I've heard sailors talking about them, too," Aika looking to the sands, "They said that Nasr deserts are so hot, If you walk around in the sun too long your hair catches on fire! Everyone carries buckets of water around with them so they can put their friends' hair out. And then…"

Estelle looked worried, though Yuri shrugged it off, "I'm sure it's not that bad. Otherwise people wouldn't be able to live out here."

Karol looked somewhat relieved, "Y-yeah… people…people don't just burst into flames because of the sun…"

Vyse couldn't help but laugh, "Oh, come on, Aika… you don't actually believe those crazy stories. Sometimes I wonder what goes on in that head of yours."

Aika looked annoyed, "Don't come crying to me when your head bursts into flames… That glass-eye patch you wear will intensify the sun's rays and fry your brain." Aika started to smile again, "I'm just kidding, Vyse. It's just a story that I heard long time ago. I didn't really believe it either…" laughing weakly, "But you can't be too careful."

"Although…" Yuri hid an evil grin on his face, "I do know of this one guy from the Armada," looking to Karol and Aika, "he wore his armor all day and night while on tour of Nasr, not trusting the locals with his life or the dangers of the wildlife. What happened was that his armor acted like an oven and cooked him slowly every minute he was outside. Then one day when we opened his armor all we found were ashes."

Karol was scared and Aika looked nervous, though Estelle looked to Yuri somewhat confused, "Flynn never talked about you ever going to Nasr. In fact to have been anywhere near Nasr you'd have to have to be a merchant or have been a member of the Valuan Armada prior to the beginning Valua-Nasr War."

"Yuri!" Yuri looked away again, annoyed that Estelle had to ruin that.

Despite Yuri's attempt at humor, Fina looked rather determined, "The Moon Stones that fall from the Red Moon give off a great deal of heat. It's too hot for most plants to survive. Because of this, the lands of Nasr have been reduced to a barren wasteland."

"I see…" Vyse couldn't imagine how the Nasr people have coped, "There isn't much down there besides sand and rock. The Red Moon Crystal should be hidden somewhere in the desert, right?"

"That's right, Vyse. It is buried deep within the ancient Temple of Pyrynn."

"An ancient temple?" that's all Aika needed to get hyped, grabbing Fina's shoulders from behind, "I'll bet there's all kinds of treasure in there! Maybe some gold and gems and magic stuff and nice clothes, and…and… stuff. If we find a bunch of treasure…we'll be rich! We can go buy whatever we want! What's the first thing you'd buy, Fina?"

Fina looked to Aika, confused once more, "B…buy?… Ummm…Um… What does that mean…exactly?"

"What?! Fina…you don't know what that means?!"

Even Estelle looked shocked at this revelation from Fina, "I…I'm terribly sorry. I've never seen the rest of the world before but even I know…"

"You don't need to look very far to find a shop…Everyone buys stuff… It's…it's normal," Yuri looked a little annoyed at having two 'shelter' princesses. At least Estelle didn't seem as shutout as Fina.

Aika pat Fina's shoulder, "Well, Fina, you really don't get out much, do you?"

Karol was holding out a map, "According to the map, there's a city nearby called Maramba. Let's go there first."

Drachma couldn't really keep up with their youth, "I'm too old for this…"

A/N: For the Vesperia familiars, anyone who has actually completed the 'Marking Territory' side story, I'll try to add a bit more about Little Wolf later on. On to Nasr and a sleeping mage.