===

Aika grinned at the pages. She really loved how her parents acted. They were everything that she could ever imagine: smart, adventurous, determined…

She sniffed slightly as she pushed the journal away from her. She brushed her eyes against her arm, feeling the cold wetness. Now's not the time, Aika, she told herself. She picked up the journal again.

"This stuff isn't going to help me at all. I need to find something more…helpful…" She flipped through the pages, explaining her birth and the few on how she and Vyse were the world's most monstrous children and landed to a part that read:

"…I could see my young Aika running around the room in a circle and called out to her. She didn't even look up at me; she was too busy with her task. I moved forward and tried to pick her up, but to my horror, my hand passed through her body, as if she were a ghost, or I was the ghost…I don't know what made me think of the prophecy then…it's been three years since I even thought about it. After getting Aika, all healthy, I thought that it was nothing more than Armada BS…

…I woke up soon after that, hearing my husband's snore, and I was somewhat comforted. I got up, went to my dear Aika's room and spent the rest of the night staring at her angelic face. I vow that I will never let anything happen to her nor my husband…"

===

Lake smiled as she heard her husband enter the kitchen and plop himself on the counter beside her cooking. He gave her a lopsided grin and a peck on her forehead. "What is that horrible smell?"

"Why, honey," Lake began with her best confused smile, "I think it's you."

Raven gave her a playful smack to the shoulder and Lake tried to return it; however, much to her annoyance, Raven kept dodging her attack. She missed once again when they heard a small yawn from behind them.

Distracted, Raven turned around and saw his little eight year old girl holding onto the frame of the door. Her large eyes were staring up at him and his mother. Then, a sudden smirk brightened up her face. Raven felt a slightly painful pinch on his shoulder and turned to stare at his wife. "You're both against me!" he said accusingly and pointed a shaky finger at his wife and at his child.

"Ha, ha!" Aika clapped her hands, "Mama got you, Daddy!"

"She did, did she?" Raven hissed, although he had a grin on his face. "Well…" he slithered up to his daughter and grabbed her by the mid section, tickling her. "We just have to get her back, now, don't we?"

He carried Aika toward her mother and he and his daughter began to tickle the helpless Lake. Laughter echoed throughout the entire house until the ground began to tremble. Immediately, the family stopped, listening intently to the noises outside.

They heard Dyne's muffled screaming for all the young women and children to hide out in the underground. They heard Rain's soft and reassuring voice, cutting through the panic and calming everyone. They heard a bunch of feet pitter pattering across the dirt floors outside their home.

Suddenly, their door slammed open and Vyse, dark haired with a chipped tooth, popped his head inside. He ran immediately toward Aika and began pulling on her arm. "You've gotta see this. It's awesome!" he said.

Aika looked back at her parents and pleaded, "Can I go? PLEASE?! PLEASE?! PLEASE?! PLEASE?!"

Lake, who was too busy wondering what was going on, missed the slight wink that her husband gave the children. They were immediately out the door in a second.

Lake unglued herself from the floor and went to her room. She grabbed a few weapons while her brow furrowed and her mouth tightened. She, in other words, was angry.

Raven went to follow her, making sure his league of weapons were secure all around him. When he finally caught up with his wife, he made her slow down her steps and said, "We should find out what's happening first before we bash stuff in."

Lake nodded, her grip loosening on her weapon and her face starting to relax. "Fine," she said thoughtfully.

They both left the house and found Dyne a few minutes later. His hand was around Vyse's collar as Vyse struggled to keep moving forward. Aika was pulling on Vyse's arm, trying to help her friend escape.

"And what exactly is going on here?" Raven asked as he stopped by his daughter.

"We saw explosions on Shrine Island!" Aika said. "It was huge!"

"Explosions?" Lake arched an eyebrow and looked at Dyne. "What happened?"

Dyne shook his head in exasperation. Holding his son at bay and thinking were really difficult to do at once. "One of our parties was investigating Shrine Island when a Black Pirate ship boarded. We need to assemble the team and go help our friends."

"Black Pirates? What are they doing in our area? They usually stay around Nasr or any port with gold."

Dyne bit his lip in worry. "I don't know. However, I do recognize the flag that waves on the ship." He fished in the pocket of his pants with his free hand and handed it over to Raven.

Raven arched an eyebrow as he stared at the scope. "Why are do you keep this in there?" Before Dyne could stutter out an answer, Raven took the scope and focused it on the ship. The slight intake of his breath caused Lake to steal the scope and check out the situation for herself.

"It's the same pirates that took our families long ago," she whispered and handed the scope back to Dyne. "Well they aren't getting any closer to this place, are they? This can't be an option!"

Dyne finally let his son go and the boy scrambled up to the edge of the island trying to gain a better look. Aika followed close behind him and gasped as they saw another explosion. Why exactly a ship was attacking an island, they didn't know, but it appeared to fascinate the two.

Meanwhile, Lake was staring at Dyne, waiting for him to talk. Her foot was lightly tapping on the ground and her arms were crossed. A frown worried her face and her eyes dared him to keep quiet.

Raven interrupted. "I've heard rumors of how strong they are now, how the immobilized quickly for a mere Black Pirate crew. Someone wants revenge, don't they?" When Dyne didn't answer Raven moved forward and grasped his long time friend's shoulder. "We have to do it, Dyne, there's no other choice."

Dyne exhaled and nodded slowly. "I don't like it, Raven."

"Excuse me, men? Could you start talking some sense so the audience--" she pointed to herself, "can understand?"

Raven smiled weakly at his wife. "Well, the Black Pirate ship has stronger weapons than we carry and the head person is a strategist. The only way we can beat him is if we come up with some sort of diversion, making him think we have a stronger force and it divides his attention up between the real fighters and the diversionists…someone could even board and rig everything on their ship…"

"But what would our diversion be?" she asked.

Both men stared at each other for a moment. "I guess," Raven replied, "I would have to be it."

"What?" Lake cried out causing the two children, who were enamored with the light display, to turn around and stare at the adults. "You can't be serious!"

"Look, Lake, Raven is the best with screwing around with engines. He can cause a large noise or explosion or whatever in order for the Black Pirates to turn the other way. Then one of our best people can cause damage within the ship, right? It would give us the edge we need to defeat them."

"And who's dumb enough as well as smart enough to go into a ship full of deranged Black Pirates, kick the crap out of their weaponry after sneaking in, then hopefully make an exit without getting their arses blown off?"

Both men stared at her, their eyes twinkling with plea.

"Now you're just out of it. I have a daughter. A DAUGHTER that I have to look out for. I left that crap behind long ago! And there's no telling what could go wrong--"

"But Lake, this is why we do this. We have to keep our daughter safe, from them," Raven interjected. He could see his wife's eyes flicker at the thought and she bowed her head slightly. She didn't like the risk that she would be taking, especially after the whole dream she had last night. It really freaked her out.

Her eyes wandered to her child, her lovely child with her eyes so bright and full of laughter and happiness. She couldn't let anyone rid the world of her Aika. She still didn't feel right about this, but if she had to do this, she would.

Slugging both Dyne and Raven in the arm, she spat out, "Smart men my eye. If you were really geniuses, you would figure out something less dangerous!"

"So, does that mean you'll do it?"

Lake hesitated in her speech before she let out a quiet, "Bastards," followed by a nod.

===

Aika turned the page. There was only one left and it only carried one line. She read it thoughtfully, wondering how this could ever help her:

It wasn't that long when I decided that I should leave her behind. My Aika, my little love. I knew that this time, I would never come back and I'd miss the chance to see her grow old. I'd never see her fall in love, or see her first real raid…but to save her, I had to leave…we had to leave…

Suddenly, she felt a lurch followed by Fina's call. "Aika, we're back on Pirate Isle. Come on out of there and say hi to Dyne and Rain!"

Aika stared at the book. How could there be no more? How come there wasn't any information on how she and Vyse could stay together? How come she felt more lost than when she first started reading the journal? Did she miss something?

She flipped the pages back, never going to wedding nights, and read a passage that she had skipped.

It was from her father:

Sometimes, I never really think about how hard life can be. I have a daughter now, a lovely daughter with a face like an angels, but the courage, determination and skill that can rival any man…or anyone (maybe not her mother). Even though she's only six, I already know the type of woman that she will be. I'll be proud of her no matter what…I guess I'm already proud of her.

Aika paused over those words as her door opened and Fina entered. "Come on," Fina said cheerfully, "We have to go and greet Vyse's parents."

Aika's head turned slightly. Vyse's parents…they would know the truth behind everything…

Aika stood up and followed Fina to the exit of the ship. Whatever happened, she would not let Vyse leave her behind or let some prophecy beat her down. She would fight with the courage, determination and skill her father had mentioned…

She felt as if she were ready to face the world.