With help from Centime and his family, the Little Jack was being patched up good as new. Raven had wondered where Judith had ran off to, even though Yuri was the last to see her he would only say that she found something interesting to pursue for now. Rita seemed convinced, noting how the Krityans are easily swayed by things that interest them.

While waiting for the Little Jack to be fixed Vyse agreed to a request from Hans. When the young Air Pirate managed to get himself his own ship he would recruit Hans to be his ship's engineer. Before setting out for the North Ocean, Drachma made sure the Jack was supplied for the journey back to Valua.

Still waiting for the ship Estelle finally brought the subject back up, "Yuri. You wanted to tell us the story about Repede and Little Wolf. Do you mind sharing it now?"

"Now's a good a time as any. Well Valua really doesn't send any patrols through Lower City other than for tax collecting. Little Wolf decided since how poor and feeble many of Lower City citizens were he was going to carve a place for himself as top dog. This was all before I moved back with Repede and by then Little Wolf had the entire city under his paw."

Karol couldn't believe it. "A dog ruling over people? Someone had to have been able to do something."

Repede started to bark as though he was retelling the events before Yuri started talking again, "Nope. Little Wolf got all of the animals in line first and once his dominance over then was clear he turned his attention on the people. He demanded tributes of food be given to him and his pack so they wouldn't destroy their livelihood or homes. When Repede went after them he challenged Little Wolf into a duel for control. Little Wolf was arrogant and accepted Repede's challenge, but Little Wolf was a cheater. Instead of being a one on one duel Little Wolf had his two top lieutenants join him. Yet even against those odds, Repede wouldn't back down and he beat all three just the same. With Little Wolf beaten none of the other animals were willing to take his bullying anymore and so he and the few still loyal to him fled Valua."

Aika was impressed. "Repede sure is something. But do you really think Repede did that out of a sense of justice or was it more of a dog dominance thing?"

Repede started to bark at Aika before he snarled. "Now you just insulted him. Repede fought Little Wolf because he wasn't going to stand by and watch innocents be oppressed. You might have to fight Repede now to make amends." Repede drew out his dagger, ready to go.

"Sorry Repede. I guess I wasn't thinking when I said that."

As the band of pirates prepared to journey north, Judith found Duke watching them from afar. Judith had donned her armor again. "That was rather unusual of you uncle. I've never seen you interacting with the people before."

"That was because I had no need. Valua and Nasr are close to repeating the same mistakes as their ancestors. If Nasr had any knowledge or information regarding the Gigas then they too would be hunting for the Moon Crystals and causing even more destruction."

"And yet you don't seem to think that about Vyse and his group."

Duke continued to watch these children playing around, despite the danger and power they now hold. "Pirates hold no interest in anything but themselves and their greed. And yet in spite of that, they hold the best chance at ensuring Valua and the Silver Civilization cannot obtain the Moon Crystals."

Judith knew that the Moon Crystals controlled a respective Gigas, and she knew the truth about the Rains of Destruction, the real threat brought forth by the six Moon Crystals. "Too bad we can't tell them that no one will be able to open the seal to Yeligar."

"They will learn soon enough."

"If it's not too much trouble uncle, do you think I could continue to following them? To continue watching over Fina for you."

"If you wish. But from a distance. I will then resume the search for Plergoth in your stead. The roaming Gigas could not have gotten far from when you last spotted him."

As Duke and Khroma left, Ba'ul started to wonder if it was really alright to leave the hunt for Plergoth to watch over the others while they're in Valua.

"There shouldn't be too much of a concern. The North Ocean has a few settled Valuan islands, but very little Armada presence. We should be fine."

Their safety wasn't Ba'ul's main concern, though also voicing it just the same. His concerns were where they left the hunt for Plergoth and where he might have flown off to now.

Judith started to rub Ba'ul's side, "If you'd prefer, we can keep high in the cloud cover so we don't get into too much trouble."

Not like the giant thunderstorm over Valua was any safer than regular Valuan airspace, but at least it kept them out of sight from the Valuans and their cannons. Ba'ul though quickly asked if this sudden change of plans had anything to do with the Valuan boy with long hair. Judith didn't say a word, though her thoughts were reaching out to Ba'ul just the same for him to understand.

Flying north, Vyse made several more discoveries to sell to the Sailor's Guild including the fabled Will o' Wisps much to Aika's disapproval and a confirmed the existence of the legendary Tricylone and the many ships who fell victim to its unmanageable winds. But now they were going to enter rougher skies soon enough.

Gregorio finished reading Sodia and Flynn's report on the situation in Ixa'taka before the return of Admirals Alfonso and De Loco. Gregorio's face did not show any particular emotion when he turned to them. "You do realize what you are saying in these reports?"

Flynn knelt down, arm across his chest and head down, "Admiral, whatever action you wish to take, know that the Lieutenant and Witcher were only following my orders and any punishment should solely fall upon my person only."

Gregorio did not say a word, though he walked up to Flynn. "If Prince Enrique or Princess Estellise had known of the slavery in Ixa'taka they would have demanded an audience with the Empress to change that. But it would seem that the Air Pirates were capable of ruining the mining operation just the same. For now however we can't submit this report as is, not without destroying your career."

"Admiral?"

"I will change your reports and deliver them. For now we wait until orders call us into action. Please go to the Princess' room to not arouse any suspicion. I will be waiting for you on the Auriga."

As Flynn left he wasn't sure what to do now, his conflict coming from his sense of justice and how unjust De Loco was allowed to be with non-Valuan citizens. For now his focus was on getting Estellise back safely.

Flying around North Ocean was a red ship with painted eyes and mouth to slightly resemble an arcwhale with spikes, black sails and ten cannons. Inside said ship at a single table was a wide spread of gourmet dishes, exotic wines and perfectly golden beasts, all waiting to be consumed by a very fat bald man with a Dali mustache, "Cold Ocean starfish soup, Valuan chicken with onion sauce, and a mountain of flying fish! This is wonderful!" stuffing his mouth with big mouthfuls, "The ship that we hit yesterday really had some great food on board!"

"Captain Gordo!" the helmsman called out, "A ship armed with a gigantic harpoon has been sighted off the port side!"

Gordo stopped eating, his curiosity peaked, "I see…good, good! Another ship full of goodies is there for the taking! I'll take on anyone if I think they have good food on board." He then jabbed his fork into the fish he was eating, ready to finish what was left, "I really hope they have something that goes good with fish…"

"Vyse! There's a ship heading right for us. And they're Black Pirates."

"I know that flag…" Drachma was looking to the red ship's Jolly Roger of a pig face in a sailor's hat with a mustache and the crossed bones replaced with a fork and knife. "It belongs to a pirate named Gordo. He's known as the Gourmet Pirate."

Raven snapped his fingers remembering the name now, "Right. Tubby over there almost never fires those cannons because he's afraid of destroying the ship's food. He does just about anything for a good meal. Strange to say the least, but like other Black Pirates, Gordo's got a pretty decent sized bounty on that round head of his."

"Strange or not, he's getting awfully close…"

Before they could respond Gordo's ship managed to hook anchors to bind them together as the boarding ramp was placed down. Karol was worried as he saw the large and fat pirate come aboard with three of his chefs. "They're boarding us!"

Yuri looked a little excited, "They're challenging us to hand to hand combat?"

Vyse seemed to agree with Yuri, "Well, while they're here, we might as well kick their butts…"

Due to the enemy ship's greater size and weight there was no point in trying to pull free without damaging the Little Jack in the process. Besides, boarding actions demanded a response for Air Pirates.

As the others walked down the stairs Rita grabbed Estelle and Fina's shoulders stopping them, "And where do you two think you're going?"

"We're going to help repel Gordo."

"Oh no you're not. Fina, you're a Silvite, we need you to translate any other Silvite writings in the future. And you Estelle, as Princess of Valua and a Child of the Full Moon we can't risk your safety against some Black Pirates who are out for a meal."

"I suppose…" Estelle gasped, "…Wait!" grabbing Rita's hands.

"What's the matter?"

"Could you repeat what you just said?" shaking Rita's hands in excitement.

Rita wasn't sure what part she meant so she summed it up, "I said, you and Fina were too valuable to risk in a fight against a pig of a pirate."

"No, during it! About me!"

Rita now knew what she was talking about, looking away for a moment hoping she didn't mean, "Es…telle?"

Estelle all the more ecstatic now as she held Fina's hand now as she started to shake them, "Yes! You finally called me Estelle! I've got to go tell everyone!"

"…Oh, well…heh heh…" Rita though snapped herself out of her embarrassment, grabbing Estelle, "Wait! After the battle…maybe."

Fina chuckled, "Well Rita is not someone who seems to like to appear soft, but deep down it seems she does genuinely care."

"I…I care! I've cared this whole time!"

Gordo the Round was armed with his dining utensils as his entourage of chefs wearing purple uniforms were wielding frying pans. Since they specialized in cooking, and Red magic would be particularly useful for them to have, both in the kitchen and in a fight. Aika quickly enveloped their side with her Delta Shield, nullifying the magic of the chefs for a time.

As the flames from the three chefs died down, Yuri and Vyse both rushed at two of them. Instead of pummeling the chefs the two swordsmen were surprised by how well the chefs could handle their skillets to protect themselves.

As Drachma occupied the third chef with his fist, Gordo started to stare at Repede in a rather funny way. "I've never had huskra meat before. But I have a receipt that claims that if one flambéed the meat properly it can become a meal fit for the Nasultan."

Yuri kicked the chef in the groin, "You are not eating Repede, you fat tub of lard!" Repede rushed at Gordo with his dagger, but Gordo managed to block part of the slash with his knife. Still Repede managed to cut a portion of the bib stuffed around the neck of his jacket.

Drachma slammed his metal fist into the pan, pushing as hard as he could. He glanced over his left, motioning his eye to Karol. Karol got the message, sneaking around the chef before clobbering him with one of his massive hammers, crushing his hat.

Aika tossed her boomerang now to distract Gordo, giving Repede another opening and removing the fork from the rounded pirate's hand. Raven fired an arrow to dislodge the knife, "Ya see that?! All me!"

Vyse called back, "Right Raven, and you didn't have any help at all."

"Well, Mr. Vyse the Bold, a pirate of your renowned doesn't need help then."

During the confusion of his falling comrades and the side discussion between Raven and Vyse, Vyse tripped the chef he was confronting with the blunt end of his longer cutlass before proceeding to elbow drop the poor man. Vyse quickly picked himself back up only to find Yuri and Repede holding the fat Gordo up against the mast with their blades.

Gordo held his hands up laughing, "I give up… You and your crew fought well…" Repede back off a bit, though Yuri was keeping Gordo pinned. Vyse though had Yuri ease off a bit. "Your name was Vyse, right? I don't think I've ever seen you in North Ocean before."

"This is the first time we've ever been to North Ocean… For now, we're riding aboard Captain Drachma's ship, the Little Jack…"

"Drachma?" Gordo looked with surprise, searching for Drachma, "Wait… Drachma, were you ever in North Ocean before?"

The old man wearily gazed down to Gordo, "…What if I was?"

"Then it is you!" Gordo seemed all the more excited now, "I've heard all about you! You're the sailor that is chasing the arcwhale, Rhaknam. If I remember correctly," he moved closer to Drachma, "it was to avenge your son, right?"

"Enough!" Drachma punched the mast, leaving a sizable indent of his mechanical hand while rocking both ships. "I don't know what stories you've been hearin', but I suggest you keep them to yourself. And unless you want to me to throw you overboard, you should get off my ship."

"Aah…that's quite alright…we'll be going now…" Gordo helped up one of his chefs as the other limped away dragging the unconscious fellow.

Aika, Karol and Vyse seemed to have a flabbergasted look on their faces, something noticed by Drachma. "And what are you staring at?! Are you going to stand there all day? Get back up to the bridge before I throw YOU overboard!" Drachma punched the mast again, though it didn't leave an impact it was enough to rattle them.

Everyone stiffened as they shouted "Yes sir!" then running back inside with Repede walking behind them.

Raven didn't seem as phased, still there. "You know, these kids aren't all that bad. Maybe you should lighten up a tad with 'em."

Drachma huffed at Raven's suggestion as the swindler walked back inside. Drachma though had other thoughts on mind, "Rhaknam…"

Continuing along the area, the clouds started to get darker as land started to open up, "Looks like we've reached Valuan airspace." Vyse glanced off to Fina, "So, this is where the Yellow Crystal is hidden, right?"

"Yes. It is sealed somewhere in these lands, along with the Yellow Gigas."

"Considering how much trouble we've caused the Valuans already, we should be extra careful." Yuri started to pet Repede, "Most of us have a target on us yelling shot on sight."

Aika didn't seem all that concerned, "We'll be fine. Isn't that right, Cap'n?" Drachma didn't say a word, lost in his own thoughts. "…Cap'n? What's wrong?"

"Ah…um…nothing. I'm sorry…were you saying something?"

"Nothing really. It wasn't anything important."

This rather unusual behavior from Drachma had the others concerned, though it may have something to do with his original hunt for Rhaknam being brought up again after so long.

As they ventured toward Valua they stumbled upon an abandoned lighthouse. Yuri seemed impressed, "I didn't know Valua used to expand so far north."

"Yes, during the original exploration of the continent, this ancient ruin was converted to serve as a lighthouse for returning vessels to the Northern Valuan settlements. But as time passed and energy conservation became a concern, Valua's cities shifted to the south for the more profitable trade routes. I read that in a book."

"It's a wonder no one has tried to gut it for all its worth."

"It already has." Rita nonchalantly answering Raven's open thought. "When Valua closed itself in to what we know it as today, researchers occasionally were sent out here to study and return with everything they could. It was rather clever for the ancient Valuans to repurpose these ruins from an energy output system into a functioning lighthouse."

Karol looked to the ruins, "What do you mean energy output system?"

"From what little notes I have found, or had access to, depending on who you ask, this tower is the remains of a Yellow Civilization refueling station. More specifically the portion that the ships would dock with to transfer the energy. I never found evidence that the fueling tanks survived the cataclysm. Though I know the soldiers ordered to follow us around during these type of explorations don't usually like it, well other researchers anyway. I've come here out this way a few times already on my own."

"Sounds like we're playing in your backyard, Rita. So why don't you be our guide out here."

Rita wasn't interested, "Hey, isn't that why Fina is here? The Silvites know where the Moon Crystals are hidden, we just have to retrieve them."

Drachma wasn't their only concern now. As they continued into Valuan airspace Estelle started to feel sick once more and her coughing fits returned.

"Estelle!" Yuri caught her before she collapsed.

Rita rushed to Estelle's side, "So that's why you've always been so sick. It wasn't because you were born with a weak immunity, it was because you are a Child of the Full Moon."

Karol was in a panic, "What do we do?!"

"Relax. She hasn't gotten sick, not in the traditional sense. I can't say this is absolute without more data to back me, but whatever has caused Estelle to appear so weak before has to do with her being a Child of the Full Moon. Perhaps the Gigas of the Yellow Civilization isn't as dormant as the others."

Fina didn't seem so sure. "No, that's impossible. The Silver Mages put the Yellow Gigas to sleep before they sealed it away."

"Then care to give another explanation as to why Valua has had select members of the royal family seem so sickly in the past? If a Child of the Full Moon can manipulate a Gigas through the Moon Crystal, what's to say the Gigas can't call back?"

Raven seemed rather skeptical too, "Are you trying to say that them Gigas are more than just monstrous killing machines built from long ago?"

"Having seen the Red and Green Gigas firsthand, I don't believe we can simply view the Gigas as simply machine constructs. They were based off of creatures or…" Rita didn't want to say what she was thinking now, but even so, "I just think the reason why Estelle has become and why she was always so sickly back in the Palace has to do with her connection to the Moon Crystals as a Child of the Full Moon."

Raven quickly countered, "If that's the case then the entire royal family should be full of nothin' but sick people. Yet Empress Teodora and the prince seem to be in perfect health."

Rita had an answer for that as well, "It possible that whatever makes a person a Child of the Full Moon has simply been relatively weak these past few generations. Estelle somehow managed to get the bulk of it. Or the seal that holds the Gigas in dormancy is starting to lose power. There are too many variables and not enough data to narrow it down."

A/N: That lighthouse was a converted ruin and the Valuans abandoned it but you'd think more people would have remember it, though it also depends on how long ago Valua had abandoned the place for a second time, like another place I know. And now I get to talk a bit more about Estelle's 'condition'.