I have nothing to say in these notes right now, except a reminder that I had nothing to do with the development of the Final Fantasy series. Square copyrighted and created it.

Chapter 20: The Earth Shrine

Vaan, Luso and the rest of their company departed the Feywood and headed northwest towards Balfonheim in the Galbana.

" So how will we convince Rikken?" spoke Penelo.

Vaan replied" I already thought of it, but it shouldn't be difficult. Though to be honest, I do owe him some things."

" What do you owe this 'Rikken'?" inquired Luso.

" He challenged Vaan to a duel once and charged for it" said Kytes.

" What? I didn't think pirates did that to other pirates" said Luso.

Penelo sighed" Life as a Sky pirate is a very ruthless and dangerous path."

" Yeah, what she said. But being a pirate doesn't mean you have to be evil, it's about being free. Baltheir and I never hurt the innocent if it could be avoided" said Vaan.

" I'm still getting the hang of how things work in Ivalice , but everything here is not so realistic unlike my world" said May.

Vaan landed the ship in Balfonheim's Private Airships hanger and disembarked, accompanied by Penelo, Baltheir, Fran, Luso and Adelle.

Once there, the group went to look for Rikken at Reddas' old residence.

When they neared the gates of the manor, a voice said" Ahoy! Long time no see, Vaan!"

Vaan recognized the voice's owner when a familiar trio: A Bangaa and two humes approached" Rikken! Raz! Elza! Great to see you again!"

" Yeah, I never could forget you, so how's it going?" said the black haired pirate.

" Great, Peneloand I are on another quest. Do you know anything about the Earth Shrine?" inquired the blond.

Rikkenfrowned" Hunting legendary treasure are you? I happened upon an old legend myself but thought it was all poppycock. Well at least until I tried to raid the Forbidden Shrine several years ago."

Penelo sighed" Will you quit dodging the subject?"

Elza spoke up" Legends are just that, but far to the southeast of Balfonheim is an old ruin."

" Now that you mention it, I acquired a map from Archadia which revealed the general location of each hidden ruin. I can't tell you too much, because knowing you and Rikken, you two would've swiped the treasures for yourselves" said Vaan.

" Hmph! I see you're still an amateur. I'm no fool, those treasures are well guarded, I usually prefer little to no trouble" said Rikken.

Vaan smirked" So you do know something."

Rikken responded" So what if I did? I am a sky pirate after all."

Baltheir interjected" The treasure may yet be worth it, but we won't let you have it."

" If you insist on pestering me like that, I will challenge you Vaan" said Rikken.

" Wait! You can't have a duel here!" cried Luso.

Elza sighed at Rikken's antics and said" Rikken, you don't always have to be ruthless you know."

Rikken turned sharply to his crew" Did you say something?"

" We can do it later, but can you tell me anything else?" interjected Vaan.

Raz, who had been siilent till now, spoke" What else can we tell? It's not like we all believe that legend's real."

" I don't think we can get anymore information out of these three" sighed Penelo.

" I agree" said Adelle.

Rikken sighed" Well what more can I say? Now as we are talking, Vaan, I believe you owe me another two hundred gil."

Luso indignantly retorted" why should we have to pay? People usually get something in return when they use their money!"

" I see that you've got a sharp wit there, boy, but do not forget who you be dealing with right now" said Elza.

Vaan reached into his pocket and handed the gil over to Rikken" Well thanks a lot."

Elza nodded" It was good to see you again, Vaan."

As the group left, Adelle spoke to Luso" So why did you blow your top off like that, Luso?"

" I guess that guy just ticked me off a bit, is information really something that can be legitimately sold?" said the brunette.

Penelo addressed the pair" You're lucky Rikken isn't as cutthroat as he looks."

" That's just the way Sky Pirates typically are" said Fran.

Back on the Galbana, Vaan spoke to Ashe" We have a lead, apparently there is a ruin southeast of here."

" Then that's where we shall look" said the queen.

The group sailed their ship in the direction that Rikken had told Vaan.

Soon, they came upon a small island with a dome-like building.

" Could this be it?" wondered Adelle.

" Only one way to find out" said Vaan.

They landed the ship and went into the Sky Saloon to discuss who should go on this mission.

Mewt spoke up" I've been here for some time, as a scholar, I am curious as to what the shrine's like."

Samantha frowned" No offense, pops, but aren't you getting a bit old?"

" Age has nothing to do with it" said Basch.

" Perhaps you'd care to lead this time, Mewt?" inquired Ashe.

Mewt shook his head" Luso can lead, he's grown a lot since I last met him. I will simply accompany Luso."

May addressed Mewt" Might I have a chance to come along as well? I hate fighting, but I learnt a few white magick spells during our visit here in Ivalice that should help."

" So it's just the three of you, then?" asked Samantha.

Mewt smiled as his daughter" Of course not, you and Ryan can come if you wish."

" We will" said Ryan.

Adelle stood up" I think I shall go too."

The six left the airship and entered the ruin.

The inside was brown and green, like that of a forest.

" Such as dreary place" remarked Samantha.

Mewt interjected" Let's just get moving, but we do need to be careful about it."

The group carried on deep into the shrine until they came onto a pathway littered with avalanching boulders.

" I'd think I've been watching too much Indiana Jones if I had not known that Ivalice is a different world then Luso's and mine, not to mention that I haven't seen that series" said Ryan.

" This place is loaded with defense magick, let's try to find a way to stop the boulders" said Adelle.

Mewt spotted a doorway to the right and said" In here, quick!"

The group entered the side room and found a switch. Guarding it was a pair of Earth Wyrms.

" I hate those 'Occuria' already" groaned Samantha.

" I've got it covered, Starflare!" shouted Luso.

The spell obliterated one wyrm, but the other retaliated with petrifying breath, which Luso dodged.

Ryan quickly tossed a shuriken at the wyrm, causing it to rear in pain.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Mewt banished the wyrm with 'Holy' magick.

Luso pressed the switch and said" Does this do anything about the trap outside?"

" Let's find out" replied May.

The group went out, and sure enough, the holes which the boulders came out of were closed.

Luso shrugged" I guess this is it."

" Let's press on" said Mewt.

The team climbed some stairs that were up ahead to another floor.

There, an evil voice said" Intruders, didn't anticipate you'd make it this far."

" Who's there?" said Adelle.

A thin skeletal creature cloaked in black materialized from the shadows" I guard the Earth Altar which lays in the room ahead, but you'll not get the rune crystal so easily."

" Tell me, what are you?" said Luso, drawing his blade.

The creature spoke" The cursed Occurians created me. I used to be a hume, I am the Shadow Lich, my soul was put into this cursed body."

" Enough, foul creature! You cannot stop us!" said Mewt.

The Shadow Lich summoned a group of Zombies and said" Try me."

Luso and his team charged at the monsters.

The fight was tiring, the zombies kept on coming.

Luso was getting irritated" I had enough of this bad sci-fi, horror movie reject! Starflare!"

The spell blew away the zombies and blasted the Lich backward.

" This is not done yet, boy!" hissed the Shadow Lich, transforming into a humongous Earth Dragon.

Adelle flinched" No wonder Rikken stayed away from this place."

Samantha pulled out a grenade and tossed it at the monster, but it was blown out of the sky by the monster's fiery breath.

" Enough messing around, we've got to get serious ourselves" said Mewt.

Luso nodded" Let's get into formation."

Adelle and Samantha stood in the back with May, while Ryan, Luso and Mewt stood in front.

" That won't help you" laughed the monster, casting earth spells at the group.

The group dodged, but Mewt and May were nicked.

Ryan angrily tossed a shuriken at the Earth Dragon, which embedded itself into it's thick skin.

As the monster hissed in pain, Adelle and Luso cast their attack spells.

The Earth Dragon blasted more fire, causing the team to dodge more frequently.

" All we did is make it mad so far" said Luso.

Mewt sighed as May cast heal spells on herself and him" I'm getting tired of this, myself. Luso, while Adelle and Samantha distract it, strike at the heart!"

" Got it" said Luso, drawing his sword.

Adelle cast 'Lennart' and Samantha took out her blaster and shot at the demon.

The infuriated beast threw more fire at the two spellcasters while Luso rolled underneath the dragon and skewered the demon.

The monster cried out in pain as it was engulfed in a fiery pillar and became a tomb.

May exorcised it with a simple Cure spell.

" That did it" said Ryan.

" The crystal rune is just ahead" said Mewt.

Luso nodded and went to the next room with Adelle.

Inside was the altar with a brown rune gemstone.

" This is it" breathed Adelle.

Luso nodded and retrieved the rune crystal. The pair then left the room.

Outside, Mewt said" So we have all four then?"

" Yes" said Luso.

" Well, let's head back to the airship" chirped Adelle.

The group filed from the Shrine and returned to the Galbana.

At the Shadow Fortress, Dorek was in thought.

Kelvax entered the room and spoke with him" Clan Gully has probably found all four Rune Crystals by now."

" Never mind that, I have a trump card at my disposal. But for the heck of it, I had dispatched some of the posessed Rozarrian soldiers to Balfonheim a week ago. They are in for a nasty surprise" said the other man.

" But why bother? Surely with your power we can win this" inquired the dark knight.

Dorek replied" Preparations here require my full attention."

Back on the airship, the group made ready to depart for the Forbidden Shrine where the Grimoire of Light was said to be.

But along the way, Kytes called to Vaan" Hey! Look down below us!"

" What?" Vaan sharply turned the ship so that he could look out at Balfonheim.

" Rikken, Raz and Elza are in trouble" said Llyud.

" That town was originally a haven for Sky Pirates, they might be all right" shrugged Baltheir.

" Dorek is an insane fool" said Ryan.

Vaan quickly pulled the airship into the Private Hanger of Balfonheim and said" I don't know who is attacking, we have to protect the town."

" We still can't all go, some of us have to guard the airship" said Basch.

Vaan, Luso, Adelle, Penelo, Balthier, Fran, Ashe and Basch left the ship to protect Balfonheim.

There, Ashe was astronished" What are Rozarrian soldiers doing here?"

" Beats me, let's take them out" said Vaan.

The group defeated the enemies ahead and rushed to Rikken's place.

There, Rikken, Raz and Elza were combating a group of elite soldiers, but were losing.

" Doggoit! This is not my day" groaned Rikken.

" Need any backup?" shouted Vaan as his group approached.

" About time" said Raz.

The leader of the enemy group shrugged" You fools don't scare me, I am Jerveck! Elite Lieutenant of Rozarria!"

" These guys are definately under control" said Vaan, drawin his sword.

A sinister voice snarled" Forget about us?"

A group of Bangaa bounty hunters appeared.

Baltheir was not the least bit surprised" I was wondering what was keeping them."

" What are Ba'Gamnan and his gang doing here? We have not heard from them since Lemeres!" said Penelo.

Jerveck sneered" Ha! He was rotting in his cell when Dorek pressganged this headhunter and his gang. They are now slaves to darkness"

" Now that you mention it, those four have the exact same devices that Tomaj used on Ba'gamnan once" said Vaan.

" First Rozarrian Soldiers and now bounty hunters, this just got worse" said Baltheir.

" Baltheir! You are going down for sure this time!" snarled Ba'Gamnan.

Rikken stabbed Jerveck in the back" Never underestimate a sky pirate."

" Ack! Rikken, you... dirty... Rat!..."

The Rozarrian general fell dead.

" I guess that takes care of one problem" said Baltheir.

The group drew their weapons.

Ba'Gamnan sneered" There may not be another meeting next time."

Vaan turned to his team" Let's take care of this lizard once and for all!"

Ba'Gamnan drew his Ba'Gamsaw and charged alongside the rest of his gang Bawagi, Rinok and Gijuk.

While Rikken, Raz and Elza were helping Ashe and Basch mop of the rest of the Rozarrian soldiers in Balfonheim, Vaan and the others took on the bangaa headhunters.

Fran shot down Gjuk while Adelle and Luso dueled Rinok and Bawagi.

Vaan and Baltheir faced off against Ba'Gamnan.

The evil bounty hunter snarled" Now both Master and Apprentice shall fall once and for all."

" We'll see about that!" said Vaan, engaging Ba'Gamnan in a melee duel.

Baltheir took the opprotunity to fire a bullet at Ba'Gamnan's forehead, but the headhunter dodged" You'll not get me that easily."

Vaan launched a powerful Pyroclasm blast at the bangaa bounty hunter, singeing Ba'gamnan's scales.

The bounty hunter charged again only to clash his weapon against Basch's blade as the black clad judge and his group had recently finished off the Rozarrian soldiers that attacked Balfonheim.

" Judge Gabranth? It can't be!" said Ba'Gamnan.

" You are under arrest again" said Basch.

Ba'Gamnan snarled" You won't get me that easily!"

Nearby, Luso managed to knock off Bawagi, while Adelle finished off Rinok with a mighty 'Lennart' blast.

" Do you think we should help the others?" wondered the Heritor.

" You don't have to say anything about that" said Luso, heading over to where Vaan, Basch, Baltheir and Ashe were fighting Ba'Gamnan.

Vaan smiled at Luso" Perfect timing there."

Several more Sky Pirates suddenly entered the area.

" Those three worthless fools minions of mine weren't the only ones under my command" snarled Ba'Gamnan.

Vaan sighed" You just don't get it, do you?"

" Let's show 'em what we're made of" said Adelle.

" Pyroclasm!" "Lennart!" "Starflare!"

The enemy sky pirates were wiped out, while Ba'Gamnan staggered, weakened.

Baltheir smirked" Ready to give up?"

" N-never" gasped the bounty hunter, making one last final, but clumsy, lunge at his nemesis.

The brunette sky pirate coolly shot the headhunter, causing him to stumble and crash on the hard ground, cold.

Vaan breathed" That guy never gives up."

" Yeah" said Fran.

Rikken shrugged" Even so, his corpse only nets half the bounty, I think."

The group turned over Ba'Gamnan and Bawagi to the Balfonheim authorities after healing the injuries and gathered at the Aerodrome after burning the other two headhunters' bodies way outside of Balfonheim.

Ashe turned towards Rikken" I guess this is good bye again. I hope Balfonheim didn't suffer too much."

" All in a day's work, Reddas would've been ashamed if he saw all that. No one was hurt thanks to you. Now I ask if Elza, Raz and I can come with you for a while" said the dark haired pirate.

" What's the catch this time?" said Vaan.

Rikken shrugged" I may be a sky pirate like you, but in honor of Reddas' memory, I must ensure that Balfonheim forever remains peaceful. Besides, I have a bone to pick with this 'Dorek' guy. Getting greedy now won't do me good, I'll just put it on me tab."

Ashe smiled" Then welcome aboard, though this war won't last much longer."

" Regardless, I would be good to see a smile on everyone's faces once more" said Rikken.

Elza sighed" Well, can't turn back now."

Ashe shrugged" Well, we should head to Rebanastre to drop off a few of our allies before heading to the Forbidden Shrine."

Vaan nodded" Yeah, if we cram too many people on board the Galbana, it might fall from the sky."

Vaan's group and their new allies took off in their ship and headed for Rebanastre.

Quite a long chapter, huh? Sorry if any of the characters seemed OOC. The next chapter may be shorter, but I'll see. Oh, and before anyone goes flaming me for killing off any characters, well, I can't think of anything to say about it, I probably deserve it.

Please feel free to review.