Mike AZ 2 here, I guess I am a bit lax at updating, but here's the next chapter.

Disclaimer: I had absolutly nothing to do with the creation of Grimoire of the Rift. If I did, there probably would've been an alternative ending for Luso.

Chapter 11: Intermission

Shortly after the skirmish at the mirror castle, Luso and the others returned to camp. The brunette showed the spheres to Lezaford.

The old wizard spoke" You did it, Luso."

" It wasn't easy, but I got the spheres. Now what do I do?" said Luso.

Lezaford replied" Brenda, The witch of the fens, can craft the tome for you, Luso. She has her own tent not far from here."

Luso thanked the old mage and went to visit Brenda.

The Viera Sorceress met with Luso outside" It has been too long."

" Yes ma'am. Actually, I need to have something crafted" said Luso.

" I have heard about the Starflare Tome from Lezaford, you have the spheres I presume?" spoke Brenda.

Luso handed Brenda the spheres then said" So what do I owe you?"

" Have you forgotten? You need not trouble yourself or me with such trivialities" said Brenda in an exasperated tone.

Luso flushed" sorry, I'll keep quiet about it."

Brenda nodded then said" This may take a while, so come back later."

" Okay then, bye" said Luso and he left the tent.

After wondering a bit, Luso found Vaan.

" Hey, are there any new missions, Vaan?" inquired Luso.

The blond sky pirate shook his head" Not that I know of, we have the day off. Rozarria's armies apparently rivaled that of Archadia's before the war for Dalmasca's freedom."

Just then, Penelo approached Luso" Hey, Luso. your aunt wants to talk with you at her tent."

" Okay" said Luso.

The young brunette went to his aunt's tent, where May stood outside.

" You wanted to talk with me about something Aunt May?" asked Luso.

May responded" How are you getting along so far? Things have been dangerous here."

Luso responded" Okay, though I don't know if I can say the same for Dorek, he was a good friend and classmate."

" Even friends are capable of betrayal sometimes. So what did you think about me while we lived together? I'm not sure you'll think of me much after you grow up and move out of my house, since I was constantly bossing you around" sighed May

Luso shook his head" Oh, you weren't really that bossy. I probably deserved it most of the time."

" You weren't terrible in any way, everyone has their faults. You were such a dead ringer for my brother. He was quite the daredevil sometimes" said May.

" I never once complained about you, Aunt May. You were the only family I ever knew since my parents had died, and I liked you a little" said Luso with a smile.

May shrugged" The first year or less we lived together, you were still only five or six. I sometimes got a little drunk, still getting over my brother's and my sister in law's deaths in an accident, but I was still conscious enough to not let you catch my bad drinking habit, because I love you. Also, I was really protective of you since we were the only members of our family left."

" What were my parents like?" inquired Luso.

May replied" You're barely old enough to fully understand, but I suppose I should tell you now. I became a bit distant since my brother married, I was a bit jealous since I was the youngest child in my family. And whenever my brother got too far in some of his antics, I would always take the blame. My own father was somewhat strict, but I still loved him and the rest of my family. I hardly spoke much with your mother though, she was a busy woman."

" I never imagined how much I would be like my dad" said Luso.

" Neither of us ever saw him again since you were six, I think. I did my best to help with your upbringing, though I'd say my sister was much better at that sort of thing then me" said May.

" I appreciated it, even though we were both a bit stubborn. What did you think about Adelle by the way?" said Luso.

His aunt thought for a moment, then said" I don't know her as well as you do right now. But you seam to have made some good friends in this world. I think she and that man she and I talked a bit about, Cid, were kind of a positive influence on you."

" You know, I didn't trust Cid at first when I first came to Ivalice, but didn't have much choice when he and I faced a chicken-like monster called Klesta, but we worked together after that to find a way for me to return home. What did you think of the different tribes in this world though? I figured you would be surprised" said Luso.

" Most of them might seem strange, but as you get older you learn never to judge a book by it's cover. At any rate, what else would you like to discuss with me?" inquired May.

As Luso and his Aunt May were having their heart-to-heart chat, Adelle was at the opposite side of the camp, gazing at the clouds.

Cid glanced at her then said" Is there anything on your mind?"

" Kind of, what do you care anyway? You never liked me at first now that I think about it" quipped Adelle.

Cid grunted, then said" I know, I was so mad when you first cheated Luso and I out of a deal on our first encounter."

The pink haired girl was silent as she continued to stare at the sky.

" Doesn't having Luso back make you happy?" piped Rodrick, who was passing by while patrolling the exterior of the army's campsite.

Adelle flushed, then said" I was surprised when I saw him appearing near Camoa. I missed him, but that really isn't any of your business you know."

Cid addressed Rodrick" You'd best get back on patrol. We don't get paid for doing nothing."

" Yes sir, right away" said Rodrick.

The next couple of hours went by as Luso waited for Brenda to complete the Stareflare Tome. Eventually, Adelle spoke with her friend" Hey, Luso. The Witch of the Fens is nearly finished crafting the Stareflare Tome, let's go see her."

" Okay" said Luso.

The pair went over to Brenda's tent, where the Viera witch waited for them.

The woman spoke" I have finished creating the tome you need. Here you go."

Luso was presented with a gold leather tome with a star engraved on the cover. He opened the book to see what is inside and said" Amazing, so this magick is the strongest ever created?"

" It is the only thing that can counteract the Dark Grimoire's magick. Once you learn the spell, you will be able to cast it whenever you are in need" said Brenda.

" Thanks" said Luso.

Adelle smiled" Now we can kick that madman out of Ivalice!"

Luso shrugged" No doubt, though I somehow doubt that infiltrating Rozarria will be easy."

" Rozarria has stronger defenses around the capital, Queen Ashelia and Emperor Larsa's campaign may take a long time yet" said Brenda.

" How do you know about Rozarria?" chirped Adelle.

Brenda sighed, then said" I'd rather not talk about it, but that country is as big as Archadia. I know this because I traveled some before settling down at the Fens on Ordalia."

Just then, Cid approached Luso and Adelle" Luso, Adelle, we've got another strategy session to attend."

" Be right there, Cid" said Luso.

Adelle addressed Brenda" Thanks for the tome."

" I require no thanks, but I appreciate it anyway" said Brenda.

Luso, Cid and Adelle returned to the command tent where Vaan, Penelo, Ashe, Larsa and Al-Cid were sitting.

Al-Cid spoke" Rozarria's defenses get harder to overcome as we advance, the capital itself has not only the Rozarrian Royal Guard, but the Emperor himself and our quarry Dorek."

" Is there any way we can arrange a cease-fire with Rozarria?" spoke Ashe.

Larsa thought for a moment, then replied" Due to Archadia's involvement, a peace talk may not be entirely pleasant. Archadia and Rozarria are bitter rivals you know."

" Are you still with us? We're fighting your father after all, a father and son shouldn't have to fight each other" said Penelo.

Al-Cid was somber as he spoke" I might have some regrets, but I do this for the good of our nations."

" What is our next mission?" spoke Vaan.

Al-Cid replied" Rozarria lies west of here, but it would be foolish to go any further without fortifying our defenses at Dalmasca and Jylland, as some of my country's regiments may eventually counterattack."

" Here's what we'll do then. A small team of Archadian and Dalmascan soldiers led by Prince Xander of Rozarria will be stationed at Rebanastre to protect it, Judge Zargabaath's fleet will patrol the skies above it" said Larsa.

" What about Jylland?" inquired Luso.

Al-Cid said" I do not think Jylland will be captured again, Rozarria itself is so vast that the main forces have their hands full."

Ashe nodded" Then it is settled, though it will take more time to prepare for our assault. We will depart within a week after we organize our defenses."

Luso turned to address Adelle" Want to go for a walk?"

" Sure" said Adelle, smiling.

" Don't wonder too far from the camp" said Cid.

" We won't" said Luso.

Meanwhile, at Rozarria's imperial palace, Emperor Luther had summoned Dorek to his throne" Are you certain you know what you're doing? Jylland was liberated from what my spies told me, not only that, but some of my family has turned against me."

Dorek replied" Just messing around here and there, I will soon show Luso who is the best. Even if he got the Starflare spell, he has not as much experience as me in the arcane arts."

" I hope you are powerful enough to back your mouth" said a nearby Rozarrian general with dark hair and brown eyes.

" General Lucius, you will remain silent" said Luther.

Lucius sighed" Sorry your highness."

The emperor then turned angrily towards Dorek" You backed me while I send for my forces to invade the eastern lands of Ivalice, and for what?"

" Would you like to know? Wait and see, soon I will gain the power of the rift. Even if Dalmasca, Archadia and their allies make it to the capital, we can win with the power of the Dark Grimoire" retorted Dorek.

Luther sighed" Even so, Archadia's Emperor Larsa Solidor and Dalmasca's Queen Ashelia Dalmasca cast a very grim eye on duplicity, violence and dishonesty. I shudder to think what might happen to my country since we attacked for supposedly no reason."

Dorek replied calmly" I have taken some measures to deplete the allied army as much as possible before they reach this castle. They will surely fall into my trap."

" I hope so for my kingdom's sake" said Luther.

Dorek turned around and left the throne room.

General Lucius spoke with the emperor" Are you certain he can be trusted? That insufferable Dorek is a complete mystery to everyone, he's more dangerous then Archadia and Dalmasca."

Luther replied" I wanted to expand my borders a bit, but made enemies with Jylland in the process. As for Dorek, we can do nothing about him. Have a spy keep an eye on Dorek if you wish, but he will likely catch wind of that. You may head to your quarters."

The general nodded" Yes, your highness."

Luther thought as he sat on his throne" Al-Cid, Blair, Priscilla, I hope you'll forgive me. This war was the result of my weakness."

Back at Jylland, the heroes were spending the week preparing for the upcoming battle.

It had been three days since the meeting and the creation of the Stareflare Tome, Luso was spending as much time with Adelle as he could.

Adelle spoke to her friend" Luso, are you still going back home again after this is settled?"

" Maybe, though sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't have left. Ivalice is a bit better then my world, but I had to leave" said the brunette.

" Clan Gully was temporarily disbanded after Khamja's defeat and Ilua's death three years ago. Cid eventually reorganized our clan two years later, while I was beginning to think I'd never see you again" said pink haired woman.

Luso responded" I missed you too, but I had other things on my mind as well. Anyway, how is Khamja still around after we destroyed its leaders anyway?"

Adelle thought for a moment, then said" I wish I knew. I would have expected them to disband since their organization is in shambles, but it looks like we might face Khamja's remnants soon."

" Yeah, and now that I think of our adventure, it seems like old times so far" smiled Luso.

Adelle smirked" You bet. It was nice to finally see you again."

" Yeah, me too" said Luso.

The pair watched the clouds go by for a while then headed back to the campsite.

There, they ran into Vaan and Penelo at their tent.

The male blond sky pirate spoke" Hey, I never got to congratulate you in the tournament back in Dalmasca."

" Well, thanks, it was the second time I crossed swords with you. Or was it the first?"

Adelle rolled her eyes" The first time, those imposter's didn't count."

Penelo piped up" Well, we should rest up for today. From what I heard, we will eventually head west to confront the Rozarrian imperial army."

" Do you think we can win? An army sounds like it would be on a whole other level then a organized war clan" said Luso.

Penelo rolled her eyes" Don't insult Dalmasca and Archadia's resources."

" Sorry. Anyway, why did you become a pirate?" inquired Luso.

Vaan replied" It's a long story, though mostly it was for freedom and adventure. Not all sky pirates are bad, though the good ones are few and far between."

Penelo spoke" Well anyway, we really should turn in. Otherwise we might not all survive the battle at Rozarria."

" Got it" said Luso.

The four of them settled in at nightfall. As he fell asleep, Luso started to think about choosing between a new life in Ivalice or return to his home again.

Unknown to the armies of Dalmasca, Archadia, and the Rozarrian rebels, Dorek was hatching a plan to completely obliterate them as they neared the Rozarrian capital.

Finally got this chapter finished. I hope no one minds if I take my time to finish this fic, though it could be months at this rate.

Again, I know most of the chapters to this fic are short, but I am doing my best to expand on the story.

Anyway, please feel free to review.