Inside the ruined Prima Vista, just like Baku had speculated. Monsters had entered through the harpoon cracks of the airship and were trying to run amok. Because the ship was still the base of the Tantalus, at least, until formulating a plan to escape the Evil Forest. Blank and Cinna were ordered to dispatch the fiends before they could make a monsters' nest within the Prima Vista. At the same time, there were still smaller fires that had not yet been extinguished by the rain outside and so both Blank and Cinna had to improvise. Blank would dispose of the fiends whilst Cinna would use his Hammer like a fan to blow away the small fires before they could grow larger.
"Phew! I think...this should be the last of the fires, brother." says Cinna, wiping sweat off his forehead. "Yeah, same here with these demons..." says Blank, destroying the last malicious creature in sight. "...Say Blank, you think...Zidane will be okay?" says Cinna, still concerned about how Zidane had rushed off earlier. "Sigh, you're still on that? listen to yourself Cinna. We're the Tantalus and the Tantalus can make-do, with or without a few crew members onboard. You hear me?" says Blank, wiping blood off his sword before sheathing it upon his back. "Yeah I know that bro, but...we're also family! I don't like it when one of our own does something completely all by themselves..." says Cinna, holding his Hammer in both hands, showing a caring side to himself.
"...Ha, I think with a face like that would people have trouble believing you in earnest." says Blank, comically mocking Cinna's face. "!? H-HEY! don't mock the rugged look! men like me kill to have such a dashingly handsome face! I mean. Do you know how long it takes for me to grow facial hair!? "mumble", "mumble"." Cinna starts going on a comical tirade, thinking that Blank is listening to him...but in actuality is not. "...Speaking of one of our own...we still haven't found Ruby yet. Where IS she? is she trying to give me a heart attack or something!? … just. Please be safe Ruby..." says Blank, as he prays in mental thought for the safety...of his girlfriend Ruby. Of whom had last been seen backstage of I Want to Be Your Canary whilst everything was going down back at Alexandria...
…Ruby herself...was shown, still at the kingdom! fortunately. She had not been identified to be one of the culprits that kidnapped princess Garnet. Seen at the local pub of the castle town, Ruby recalls towards herself how circumstances led her at this current venue. "...Aw shucks. Well, this is some fine how-do-you-do I've gotten myself into. I was just cheering away at the princess' performance in the role that I was supposed to take charge with. And then, all of a sudden. Just when it was nearing the climax...some perv steals me away backstage! he somehow snuck aboard the Prima Vista. Thankfully I gave him a one-two that he most surely regrets at this point. But wouldn't you know it!? that failed excuse for a Romeo just ditches me in town where I gave him the boot! I mean for goodness' sake. Surely a PROPER gentleman would know when to escort a gorgeous gal-I mean, a lady like me back to where he stole her away. Instead, he just drops me on the side and leaves things ending just like that! the absolute nerve! well. He sure hadn't got anything on my honeybunny Blank, that's for sure. What was that loser's name again? Alleyway something...oh whatever! at any rate. I'm now stuck in enemy territory! aren't the guys gonna come back for me one day!? I'm a damsel in distress here! what about my one and only Blank!? I know I nag at him constantly...but. That's only cause I love him and even more! Blank...please. Come back for me...I...I need you." says Ruby.
Placing her hands upon her heart, Ruby starts to worry about what to do next at this point. Suddenly-"...Hey there pretty lady, you lost or something? now don't worry. I ain't trying to pull the moves with ya or something. It just ain't in my nature to leave a beautiful dame on the side-lines. You appear to be a strong willed sort of woman, so don't let life get you down when you can still get lemons. Know what I mean?" says the owner of the local pub, trying to encourage Ruby to never give up. "Y-Yea I know that much. Though I..." says Ruby, unable to make a proper reply without thinking up an equally proper answer. "...Well tell you what? there's actually a part-time job here for waitress, hostess and barmaid altogether. I'll set up an apartment flat here for ya and if you decide to accept the job, you'll earn nice hefty pay that can go towards spending on something big. I hear my old pal Dante is thinking of selling his bar on the other side of town. So maybe you could buy that place once you have enough of a huge pay-check. Sound good? the apartment offer won't depend on if you accept the job or not by the way, call it looking out for a beauty when I see one heh. Though I do expect working in earnest here, no shrugging off at the side of the bar. What do you think? a good deal? yay or nay?" says the owner of the pub.
"...Hmm. Alright! you got yourself a deal pops! you know, though I can't help but feel complimented by the flattery. You remind me of a certain monkey that I know...he's a bit of a ladies' man too, just so you know." says Ruby, being reminded of Zidane, thanks to the pub owner complimenting Ruby on her beautiful looks. "Y-You don't say, h-heh. Can't honestly tell if that's a good thing or not." says the owner, knowing that particular comment could go either ways. Ruby merely replies with a giggle "...Hehe, trade secret I'm afraid, "owner"." says Ruby, effective immediately welcoming her new role, as a waitress, hostess and barmaid altogether by "teasing" the pub owner. The owner blushes before making a both bashful and prudish reply. "H-Hey, cut it out! what are you trying to do young lady, give me a heart attack!?" says the owner, nearly dropping a pub glass mug in comical fashion. "May-be." says Ruby simply, because of the owner's comment about heart attack...she is reminded of Blank.
"Blank. For now, I'll get by however I can. I won't let things end here for me...I've decided. Until I reunite with y'all again someday...I'm going to pursue a dream. A dream...of becoming a Playwright! I just know that I can accomplish it. You wouldn't say no to that dream, would you Blank? no...I know that you wouldn't. I mean, after all...I AM the gal that you fell head over heels for, right? hehe." says Ruby, walking outside the pub entrance and looking up towards the night sky, filled with stars. As she prays for Blank's safety elsewhere...back at the Evil Forest. Somehow able to sense Ruby's resolve...Blank smiles to himself, content. "H-Huh? what's wrong Blank? you're eerily smiling." says Cinna, finishing his mumbling. "...What do you mean "eerily"? anyways, you were saying?" says Blank, not having heard a single word that Cinna said. Causing the latter to sigh in exasperation at Blank being carefree...the Chapter closes off back at the kingdom of Alexandria with showing Alleyway Jack...suffering in comical immense pain.
"...T-That blue haired country bumpkin of a woman! doesn't she know!? there are some places...a person JUST-DOES-NOT kick! !? OWIE!" says Alleyway Jack, even though he already separated from Ruby much earlier on...he could still feel her personal sting...OUCH.
TO BE CONTINUED.
