Disclaimer: bla-bla, de blaaaaaaaa blaaaaaaaa!

Hello all my little SoA'ians! I was originally gonna make Drachma's story 2 chapters, (you can tell I really, really didn't exactly plan it out much) but it's no where near finished and I might even have to end it with 4 chapters (puh. I havn't planned it very well have I?)

Welcome be
to chapter three
o.o;
you're supposed to shout "boy"
and say it with joy! o.@;;...

...awww forget it

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Chapter 3

Marlen ran into the room with a Nasrean basket and crammed Drachma's things into it.

"You must leave now!" she ordered him, now shoving the basket into his chest. "There is a small boat at the docks. It's bage with a orange curl, you can't miss it. It's not much but..." she combed her hair with her hand, lowering her eyes. She looked up at him again "I have put some food, fuel and supplies inside. I hid the gold in the small pot near the room with the bed in it. It will be enough to get you back on your feet... take the boat and go quickly."

"Marlen, you're coming with me!" said Drachma, grabbing her wrist.

"No no! I can't! I have to stay here and help the injured. It's my duty... it's my country..."

"Marlen..."

"No Drachma! I want to come but I can't... and there is a part of me that wants to stay here anyway. Please, just go!"

"How will I repay you?"

"You don't have to Drachma, just go! Please!" Drachma spotted tears in the corners of her eyes.

Drachma sighed. He took her hands.

"Marlen, you are the bravest woman I've ever met. You want to stay for your country... I respect that..." Drachma spoke softly. Marlen smiled.

"Thankyou for everything that you've done for me..." He held his hands to her cheeks and kissed her forehead. He then hurried out of the door where he paused and said "One day I will repay you."

"Maybe we'll meet again?"

"We will marlen." Drachma hurried out of the little town towards the docks where he saw the little boat that had been left for him.

Marlen lay still in the little room. "May the Red Moon light your path Drachma..."

*********

All those many years ago, had been the birth of his poisoned life. He held his son's box of feathers high in the air, over the deck of the Delphinius.

Four figures stood behind him, three of whom meant so much to him, although he didn't show it.

One, a tall young captain. His name was Vyse, although he had always adressed him as "boy". He had scruffy brown hair and a handsome face. He wore a glass eye-patch across one eye, and under the other, sat a scar. He wore blue and a baggy, brown belt.

The secound figure, belonged to a young woman, with flaming re-hair, held in gravity defying pigtails. She usually wore a loud face but was now holding a serious expression. She wore a yellow dress with a big, blue belt. This girl was Aika, the one who always saw past his bad-tempered face.

The third, was Fina. The only remaining Silvite alive. She had a sweet, child-like face which held two, notcable green eyes. She wore a long white dress with strange patterns of gold. Hovering just beside her blonde head was Cupil, a morphable silver creature.

There was a fourth figure, Enrique. Drachma didn't know much about him, except that he was the Prince of Valua and Drachma thought a damn sensible Prince too as he had run away from Valua to fight against the evil and greed of his mother, alongside the Blue Rogues. He had sky-blue eyes and curtained blonde hair. He wore Silver armor across his chest and shoulders, and a small hat rested on his head.

Drachma's eyes remained fixed on the small box. So much had happened since that day he woke up in Maramba. The war between Valua and Nasr had long stopped. He bought a new ship and called it The Little Jack. He found the Archwhale, he named Rhaknam but had been distracted by Vyse and Aika's sailboat. He'd rescued them, been persuaded by them to go to Valua. He went to Valua, bought himself a Harpoon Cannon which he had hoped to use on Rhaknam. He was then dragged off into the catacombs running beneath Valua and helped defeat the executioner, to save Vyse and Aika's friends and family. He then met Fina who together with Vyse and Aika, persuaded him to go and search the world for the moon crystals. He agreed, thinking that he would eventually find Rhaknam by doing this. Drachma sighed. He went to Maramba, abandoned the three there, scared of finding out the fate of his friend, Marlen. He decided to come back and rescue them after seeing them standing under a huge red monster, which turned out to be a Gigas. He defeated one of valua's admirals, Belleza, and saved the world from the Red Gigas. Then, he was dragged off to Ixa-taka, where he ventured through the lost city of Rixis, defeated another Valuan admiral, De Loco, and also defeated the green Gigas who was called upon by the betraying king of Ixa- taka. He then went back to North Ocean where he defeated Gordo, who afterwards decided to open a Bistro. He went to Valua. Saw the mist. Hid in a cavern. Found Rhaknam and that Ramirez was himself, trying to dispose of the Archwhale. He shot at Rhaknam. The Little Jack had taken serious damage, so he put Vyse, Aika and Fina on his only lifeboats. The Archwhale dragged him away from Ramirez, who was plummeting cannon balls upon him. He ended up in the Lands of Ice. Discovered that Rhaknam was dying. Realised that he had been wrong. He thought he was dreaming when he saw Vyse, Aika and Fina at the bottom of Glacia. Fina told him about the purple Gigas... realised Rhaknam was the purple Gigas... why he had been wondering the skies ever since the rains of distruction... that it was his fault that Rhaknam has destroyed the ship. He decided to pay his last respects to Rhaknam by staying with him...

He just wished that he could tell them that the adventures he experienced with them, were at the best time of his life. Drachma's memorys stabbed him, but he could not cry. He had no tears left. This was the only way left for him to let it all go.

He gently opened the lid and all the beautiful coloured feathers fluttered into the wind. There was a beautiful display of featers of all kinds. He held the box until all the feathers had gone, and gently flopped the lid back on.

He lowered his arm and slowly turned to the four teenagers behind him. "I...I won't be travelling with you any more kids..." said Drachma softly. Aika looked as though she was about to burst into tears. Fina gave Drachma an understanding look.

"I dedicated my life to avenging my son... and my crew... I wasted my life. I've got to start over. It's not easy to do that at my age..."

Aika turned to Vyse "Vyse.. are we going to let the Capn' do this... we've already lost him once, I don't think I can do that again..."

There was a pause and Vyse finally said "Aika, we should let him go. He's got to sort this out... I can't imagine what he's going through right now..."

"Thank you boy..."

Aika became very upset with this. Vyse had noticed so he slid his arm around her waist. Aika accepted the act of comfort and did the same. Fina just gave Drachma an admiring look.

But after another uncomfortable pause Vyse's face brightened up.

"Capn'... you know when you said that when Rhaknam dragged you and The Little Jack all the way here... and you stayed here all alone with Rhaknam..?" Vyse asked, beaming.

Drachma nodded.

"Well you weren't alone..." Drachma was puzzled, so Vyse continued "Capn', we were with you all along. As long as we're in the same sky, we'll always be together... we're still sailing the same sky, breathing the same air..."

Drachma smiled. Vyse had always been so positive and optimystic about everything, he was always able to cheer people up. He chuckled at the memory of when Vyse had managed to cheer Aika up after she had lost a Looper carrying four moonberrys after performing Omega Phsyclone. Vyse was a great man and he was expecting great things from him. He didn't at all doubt that this young group would one day save the world from the Valuans.

"Thank you kids..." Aika then went up to Drachma and put her arms around him "I'll miss you Capn'" she said softly. Drachma placed his huge hand on Aika's back when Fina also ran up to Drachma and threw her arms around him. Aika turned her head to Vyse.

"Come on Vyse." she grinned "The Capn' loves you too!" she said in a teasing, soppy voice.

"Heh heh! Why you little..." he walked up to the rest. "Group hug!" said Vyse mimicking Aika's voice, squeezing everyone that was under his arm's grasp. Fina giggled.

"Oh come on Enrique! Surely you have still got some team spirit?" called Vyse. Enrique walked towards the mass of bodies and Aika's strong arm pulled him onto the heap. Drachma chuckled.

"I'd be careful if I were you Aika..." said Vyse. "Don't really want you to get into a fight with Moegi ya know 'cos bruises don't suit princesses." Enrique went scarlet.

"Ha! You cheek!" Aika slapped Vyse on the back of his head.

"Hey! Why you little..." Vyse and Aika began a game of poking and slapping each other across the head, and when Aika pulled back Vyse's goggle and slapped it back... "Ha! Now you are going to pay..."

Drachma laughed. Vyse and Aika had always been so amusing together.

They all finally let go of each other and Drachma made his way to The Little Jack.

When Drachma was on the deck of his own ship, he was still facing the four youths on the Delphinius's deck.

"Goodbye..." said Drachma as his ship slowly accelerated, leading away from his young friends.

Fina waved in her usual shy way and her face began to flood with tears. Vyse looked at Drachma and inclined his head. Drachma did the same back. Aika began waving her arms violently.

"We'll never forget you! Make sure you come and visit us on Crescent Isle!" cried Aika.

The Delphinius slowly grew smaller and smaller and finally, he saw the four walk inside their ship. He did the same.

He plodded to the deck and took the old-fashioned wheel in one hand. He stood there and thought for a long time, until the sky was tinted red. After, he worked out that he still needed to think things through more thorougly, and he wanted to settle down somewhere quiet. I could go and spend the rest of my time fishing, like before... that would be nice... he thought to himself. But before any of this, he wanted to do something else...

"There's just one more thing I want to do..." he whispered more to The Little Jack than to himself.

And so, The Little Jack sailed into the Red Sky.

*********

Coming soon,Chapter 4 (well actually, I can't decide whether I should call it the 4th chapter, the last chapter, or the epilogue... I guess it's sorta all of 'em :D! oooooh! Well I tried to do a cliffhanger OK?!? (well, heh heh, it put me on the edge of my seat and I'm the b****y author!! ha ha!)