A/N: It's nearly 10 at night and I realize I've done absolutely nothing worth while all day… ah well, I did get this chapter finished, I guess that's doing something.
Jade: That doesn't count, you wrote this during school! You've done nothing but read stuff on funny junk.com since you got home!

MT: That's not entirely true! Don't forget, I also watched .hack//GIFT…

Jade: *rolls eyes* you're worthless

MT: But that's what's fun about me! Hey, what's this…? *discovered Monopoly board*

Jade: Oh no…. This can't go anywhere good.

Zidane: *pops in* Uhh, I think everyone came here to read the new chapter…

MT: Of coarse! On with the chapter! (and about the bug… don't ask, and please no flamez, it's meant to be a "what the HELL?" moment ^^'' I was on a sugar high)
Jade: Yaay -.- *waves little flags unenthusiastically*

***Jade's P.O.V***

"Zidane," I said, throwing open the door, " Get in here, it's Vivi."

Vivi followed the mages around as they worked on the ship's engines, trying desperately to speak to them.

"More of these guys, huh?" Zidane asked.

I nodded and tried to call Vivi over. After trying to get through to them a while longer to no avail, he relented, and came back over to stand next to me.

I scooped the little mage up in my arms.

"So, were you able to talk to any of them?" Zidane asked.

"No…" The little mage responded on the verge of tears, "It's like… they don't even… see me at all…"

"Vivi…" Dagger soothed.

"I tried…again and again… but they wont even turn around."

I hugged him, "It's ok, Vivi, I bet they're just so busy with the ship… maybe they'll say 'hi' once we land."

I forced a smile; this was a pathetic lie. I knew the other black mages wouldn't be landing with us.

"Well," Zidane said, "I'd better turn this ship around before we end up in Alexandria."

"Right," I started, "I'll stay here with Vivi."

Dagger nodded, "So will I."

Zidane jumped up the ladder leading up to the deck, and a few moments, the ship jolted, nearly knocking me off my feet.

"Looks like we're on a straight course for Lindblum," I said smiling down at the mage cradled in my arms, " Want to go upstairs for some fresh air?"

What I really mean by the question was, 'Can we please get out of this stinking hell-hole of an engine room?'

Dagger hadn't said much in a while- of which I was grateful for- and she continued her silence as the three of us made our way up to the main deck.

The view from the air was amazing! My breath caught in my throat as I looked down. We passed over Misted forests, clear mountain-tops- and in the distance I could make out South Gate. It wasn't called the 'Grand Citadel' for nothing!

"Vivi, isn't it pretty?" I asked, looking back over my shoulder at him.

Vivi was standing in the middle of the deck, looking down at the creaky floor boards.

"What's the matter?" I asked moving over to him.

"Oh," he replied glancing up at me with his gleaming yellow eyes, " I-it's nothing. I just get a little sick on airships.

***3rd person***

Somewhere, not far off, a happy little bug was flying around. "Buz, buz, buz…" (translation: What a beautiful day…)

"Yeah," Jade replied, "I know what you mean- this old ship could make even an experienced flyer sick."

"Buzz, buzz, buzz…" (The sun feels so nice…)

Jade sighed contentedly, looking again at the view and felt the wind blow her hair from her face.

"Buzz, buzz, bu-" (This is the best day of my li-!)

Jade fell to the deck, coughing and sputtering, and Vivi ran over to see if she was alright.

"S-swallowed…bug…" She gasped, and the little mage stiffened a giggle.

She quickly stood up and tried to regain her composure and coughed once more.

"That was not funny," she teased, "I could have died."

The two laughed until Jade heard something land behind her…

***Jade's P.O.V***

…Black Waltz 3- just the thing to ruin my good mood. I grabbed Vivi's hand and stepped back slowly. The Black Waltz zapped us with a small thunder spell- just enough to knock me off my feet.

"So No. 2 was defeated by a small child! You're no match against my power!" His voice was cold and reminded me of gravel, "Stand back while I eliminate this child!"

Five or six of the mages from the cabin rushed out, forming a barrier between us and the Waltz. I grabbed Vivi and ran to the safety of the cabin where Dagger, Zidane and Steiner were watching the mage's strange behavior.

"Vivi, stay here, ok?" I instructed, turning to go back.

"Jade, what are you doing!?" Zidane asked.

"Those mages are protecting us! I'm not gonna just sit here and watch them get pounded!"

He sighed heavily, turning to Dagger, "I need you to steer the ship, do you think you can do it?"

She nodded, and Zidane and I dashed out to face the Waltz. Unfortunately, we were too late; it had already unleashed an extremely powerful thunder spell on the mages.

Zidane and I were forced back by the spell's intensity, and I hit my head on a wooden crate.

Glass from the cabin's window rained down on me, cutting my arms as I tried to cover my head.

The electricity ran rampant, exploding the barrels that contained the newly produced mages, sending them flying overboard.

I heard Vivi cry out from inside, and stiffened a scream myself.

The Black Waltz stood like a conductor at the bow of the cargo ship, his yellow eyes narrowing into sinister slits.

Vivi ran out, followed by Steiner.

"Can you stand?" Zidane asked, offering an outstretched hand.

"Yeah, I'm alright," I answered, taking his hand.

"Dagger!" he called, "You're in charge, it's not too late to turn back! You can go back to the castle or cross South Gate into Lindblum. It's your choice!"

"But don't crash and get us killed!" I threw in, running to join Vivi and Steiner.

"Why…? Why would you do such a thing!?" Vivi cried, "Weren't they your friends!?"

"You fool. Do I look like some lowly black mage soldier?" It answered coldly.

"You bastard!" I screamed, my voice higher pitched than I had intended, "You…you bastard!"

No. 3 simply laughed, "Kwahahaha! Worry not about them: many more are being produced even now!"
"They-" I stuttered, my face turning red with anger, " They were alive!"

It seemed taken aback by that statement, and retorted angrily, "Alive? We were created to destroy! To follow orders! How can you claim that we are alive?"

It cackled looking down at me, "I'd be more worried about yourself right now, since you're all going to die!"

A/N: Go to jail! Do not pass Go! Do not collect $200! Do not- _0

Jade: -_-;; this is what I have to put up with…

MT: *throws the scotty dog game piece at her*

Jade: *twitch* kill me now

Black Waltz 3: Kwahahaha! At once!

MT: *Throws the thimble game piece at him*

BW #3: *blink blink* o.O

Vivi: Reviewers review! ^_^