It's almost the end :(

Yes, only three or four more chapters and I'll have finished one of the best stories I've ever written.

But then you've got the joys of Legends of Arcadian Skies to look forward to, premiering sometime towards the end of November

Anywho, on to kinda like part three of this small four partBlue Roguestory arch, and it's snowing! WHO HOO!

BLUE ROUGE DAYS

A month later, and life on Pirate Isle was pretty much the same, save for one added character, and the fact it was snowing. Well it was the middle of the Winter Luna Cycle after all.

Carlos had grown accustomed to his new life. He lived peacefully in the village. He had shed his armour, which now stood with his weapons on a purpose built stand in his home. Now he usually wore something along the lines of his black uniform top, as well as light blue trousers and a pair of knee high brown leather boots Vyse's mother had made specially for him.

He also usually wore a dark blue waistcoat of sorts he borrowed from Captain Dyne, as well as a small red scarf around his neck that Vyse had given him as a welcoming present.

With nothing better to do on the tiny island, Carlos could usually be found on the Albatross, trying to enhance her one way or another, or sometimes in the vegetable garden making sure it was ready for next seasons planting. Most of the evenings however, you would find the Valuan turned Blue Rogue up on Lookout Island, reading up on the news of the war While Vyse and Aika sat together watching the sunset.

To his surprise, the War with Nasr seemed to be tipping in Valua's favour once again. They had retaken most of their Mid-Ocean colonies, including Sailor's Isle, (Which, to Carlos's disgust, was now controlled by Alfonso and the First Fleet) and were slowly pushing the Nasreans back towards the South Dannel Strait.

Apparently though, Nasr forces in North Ocean seemed to be building up, if the reports stolen from Valua were anything to say about it.

But Valua's concerns didn't trouble Carlos as much as they used too. For him, the world was as large as the island. The Blue Rogues had grown accustomed to him. Often would they casually chat to him over the garden's fence, or compare battle stories in the Tavern. If you stepped on to the island today, and only knew Carlos from reputation only, you wouldn't be able to pick him out of the crowd.

For him, the war was far away, and not his problem, not that he could do a lot even if it was his problem.

Today he stood on his front porch, decked out in a long sleeved green wax jacket, shovelling the white stuff off his doorstep.

He had never seen snow before. The Dark Rift usually blew down hot air from Nasr down to Esperanza, making it impossible for temperatures to reach zero, and Valua always had thunderclouds above it, and thunder and snow didn't mix.

Carlos smiled as he watched some of the younger children playing in the snow with Vyse's pet Huskra, laughing as the purple canine keeping falling into the deep snowdrifts.

At this time of year most of this part of Mid-Ocean was covered in ice and snow, thanks to an unusual increase in the wind from South Ocean, catapulting cold air up from the Lands of Ice. People from the southern Sky rift that separated South Ocean from Mid to Sailor's Isle, usually started their day by shovelling the semi frozen water from their houses and shops front door.

Carlos sighed as he shovelled another lot of snow from the doorway, before setting it just inside the door and decided to take a walk over to Vyse's house.

After knocking promptly on the door, he let himself in, knowing full well the family would be up and running getting ready for the day.

"Good morning Captain Dyne," he said brightly as the Captain brushed past him, a chart of the local area under one arm.

"Morning Carlos," Dyne grunted in reply.

Carlos blinked at the slight edge of harshness in his voice. He glanced around the room, just as Mrs Elena Dyne rushed past him, giving him a one armed hug around the waist and a kiss on the cheek as she went. Out of everybody on the island, Elena treated Carlos the most like family.

"Good Morning Carlos dear," she said with a smile as she began slicing the bread she had been carrying under her arm.

"Morning Elena," Carlos glanced over his shoulder at Dyne as he walked over to the small kitchen area, "Is something wrong with the captain? He seems a bit on edge,"

Elena scoffed, "Oh don't mind him, he's just worried that's all. A message arrived from our contact on Sailor's Island this morning. Apparently half the Third Fleet docked there this morning, their going to be searching for something around here, and Lance just wants to make sure none of their flight paths come near here, don't worry yourself."

Carlos nodded, his mind wondering what the Empire would be searching for in Mid-Ocean.

"Carlos? Would you be a dear and wake Aika and Vyse for me while I prepare the toast?"

Carlos smiled, "Sure thing, it would be my pleasure,"

"Such a nice young man," Mrs Dyne thought to herself as she stuck the first two slices of bread over the fire, "Such a shame he's not here of his own free will,"

Carlos knew what it was like on days like these. You were so warm and snug in your bed you didn't want to get up. There had been many a day when he was on the streets that he had felt so safe and secure in Belleza's arms that he hadn't wanted to move.

As he climbed the ladder up into the attic where Vyse's room was, he smiled slightly at the scene before him.

Before him were two beds, each containing one teen, both curled up tight in their bed sheets.

Carlos decided that Vyse would take the honour of waking up first.

"Vyse? Vyse? Hey Vyse!"

With a flick to the nose on the last one, The young Rogue blinked his eyes in confusion.

He looked up blearily only to see his friend looming over him.

"Carlos?" he asked groggily, "what are you doing up here?"

Carlos smiled down at him, "Time get up kid, it's breakfast."

Vyse scowled before turning away, "Can you wake me up when it's warmer?"

Carlos smiled, before sitting on the end of the bed, creating a small piece of fire magic on the end of his finger. Not enough to burn Vyse, but just enough to get the boy out of bed.

"YEOWWW!"

Faster than a speeding bullet, Vyse leapt out of bed, hopping fromfoot to foot, "Alright, alright, I'm up," he fixed the older teen with a death glare, "Sheesh, you can't take a joke can you?"

Carlos smirked, "Belleza often told me that. Now get down stairs while I wake sleeping beauty from her eternal slumber,"

Vyse slowly clambered down the ladder into the main part of the house, muttering something about Valuans having no sense of humour as he went.

Carlos smiled as he sat down at the foot of Aika's bed. He knew full well that she was awake. Not even Aika was that heavy a sleeper.

"Rise and shine Aika," he said softly as he gently shook her awake, "It's a beautiful day, and Elena's making toast!"

Aika grunted and turned over, but Carlos saw the mischievous smile on her face as she did so.

The former soldier gave a sigh.

"Come on Aika," Carlos shook her a little harder, "Or Vyse will eat all the toast, and his mom make such good toast."

Aika groaned again and rolled onto her front, her face buried into the pillow.

"Five more minutes," he barely heard from the cushion.

Carlos wasn't impressed. In a last ditch attempt, he put his arms around her and dragged her out of bed.

"Come on, play nice," he muttered.

"Is it me, or did it just get warmer in here?" Aika mumbled groggily as she cuddled up to his chest, smiling contentedly.

Carlos sighed as she refused to move, "Do I have to get a snowball?"

Aika opened her eyes slightly, looking amused, "You'd really hit little old me with a snowball?"

"Let me think about that…" he pretended to think for a minute before, "Yes,"

Aika didn't look impressed, "nice,"

WHUMP!

Carlos was suddenly attacked from behind as Aika brought a pillow crashing down on his head.

"OW!" he shoved her off as she bust into a fit of laughter, "What was that for?"

Aika tried to contain her giggles, "For the snowball you're going to throw a me when I least expect it!" she laughed.

Carlos tried to stay angry with her, but couldn't help the small smirk escape his lips.

"Get dressed you," he called over his shoulder as he swung over the top of the ladder, "Or I'll give you a snowball fight you'll never forget!"

He laughter echoed down with him as he got down to the main floor, only to bump headlong in to Dyne.

"Ah, Carlos, there you are," his face looked a little worried, which, to say the least, was cause for concern, "Can I…talk with you in my office…now?"

Dyne was strangely silent as they headed down to the underground port office. Carlos followed without a word as the Captain opened the door and headed over to his desk.

"Carlos," he began uneasily, "What do you know of the H.M.S. Lynx?"

"The Lynx?" Carlos blinked, "It was my last posting before I came here. Renown class cruiser. Eight secondary cannons, four on either side…three main cannons, one of which doubles up as one of those new Magic Cannons Deloco developed…four torpedo tubes…last I heard was stationed with the Third Fleet at…the colony of Veloria…in North Ocean…I think. Why do you ask?"

Dyne sighed grimly as he lay out a chart on the desk.

"I received word from a contact on Sailor's Isle that the Lynx as well as five Spectre Class vessels recently docked at Sailor's Island. According to him, they're about to embark on a search for something, he thinks a body of an officer the Captain of the Lynx had a close relationship with."

It didn't take long to figure out what he meant, "My body?"

"We believe so," Dyne traced an imaginary line which curved from Sailor's Island and went through several other islands, including Pirate Isle, before going back to the Trade colony turned Valuan outpost, "This is the search pattern the Lynx will be taking, the other five Spectre ships are going in similar patterns around Mid-Ocean. We believe that they are going around Islands trying to find out if anyone has seen or recovered your body, but seeing your alive and living here, when the Lynx arrives they will no doubt ask questions as to why you haven't made contact with them."

Carlos pondered this for a few moments, "Perhaps I could hide down here until they leave?"

Dyne shook his head, "No, they might decide we're not telling the truth and start turning this place upside-down," he looked thoughtfully at the young man for a moment, "I think you're time with us is growing short son."

Carlos blinked in surprise as the Captain continued.

"The best thing to do is return you to the Empire. When the Lynx arrives in two days time, Elena will say that we're a peaceful, self-reliant village with no links to anybody outside. She'll say that you were blown onto the island but couldn't leave because we had no way off getting you off, or getting a message to Valua."

"Hmm…" Carlos seemed to have lapsed into silence, "What about what you said about not being able to let me go in case I ratted you out?"

Dyne smirked, "When the Lynx arrives, I won't be here. The village will just look like the peaceful place it's supposed to be. Besides, it's the entire crew of a vessel verses one sixteen year old officer. Whose gonna believe you?"

Carlos smiled, "Good point,"

"Then it's settled," Dyne nodded grimly, "Despite being Valuan, you've done a lot to help us Carlos. I'm sure we'll all miss you,"

Carlos nodded, "And I hope you don't take this the wrong way Captain, but let us hope, we never meet again, or if we do, it's not at opposite ends of a cannon."

Carlos sat on the bench on Lookout Island, gazing out over the sunset the next day, brooding.

This was his last day here. The last time he would be able to watch the sunset from the Island, perhaps even the last time he would see the sun.

He couldn't deny it, he was going to miss this place. He was going to miss tending to the garden, or chatting to the other Rogues in the Tavern. It had become a kind of paradise to him, and he realised a part of him didn't want to leave.

"Carlos?"

the young commander looked over at the ladder, only to see Aika standing there, her face a mixture of worry and sadness.

"Cap'n Dyne told the whole village what's gonna happen tomorrow, I thought I might find you up here."

Carlos did his best to smile, "Hey Aika. Yeah, it's true. I'm leaving the island."

Aika seemed slightly uncomfortable. She slowly sidled up to the bench, before gazing shyly at him, "Can I sit down?"

Carlos dusted the snow from the bench beside him, "it's not a crime," he muttered dully.

Aika plonked down immediately, following his gaze out to the slowly sinking sun.

"Beautiful isn't it?" she murmured.

"Yeah," Carlos said half-heartedly, "Great,"

Another tense silence followed.

"Carlos?" Aika started to nudge closer to him, "I need to ask you a question, but I'm afraid it might hurt our friendship,"

"You better make it quick then," Carlos cast a side-ways smirk at her, "I might not be around much longer,"

Aika tried to return the smirk, only to fail and look down at her shoes, "I um…Do I…no that's not right…do you…like me?" she asked.

"Yeah of course I like you," Carlos gave her an encouraging smile, "We wouldn't be friends otherwise,"

"No, that's not what I meant," Aika looked up at him, her eyes shining with a mixture of fear and hope, "I mean do you like me?"

"Oh," Carlos looked uncomfortably down at the ground, before standing up and walking a few paces forward, "That kind of like,"

He stared out at the sunset again, not daring to turn to see her face.

"I don't want to answer," he said quietly, "because of what I become tomorrow,"

Aika stood and lay a hand on his shoulder, "I…don't understand…"

Carlos turned around, grasping her firmly by the shoulders.

"Don't you see? Tomorrow I'll become a Valuan again, your enemy. If I gave you the answer you want, then it will affect you if we ever meet in battle."
Aika looked down, "Oh, I never thought of it that way," she mumbled.

Carlos's face softened, before gently raising her face you he could look into her eyes.

"There are plenty of other fish in the sky Aika," he said with a encouraging smile on his face, "Ones who are much better then I am. Ones who aren't your enemy."

Aika looked on the verge of crying.

"It's not fair," she sobbed.

Carlos hesitated for a moment, before pulling her in close.

"Life doesn't seem fair when you're thirteen," he said gently as he rocked her, "But you've got your whole life ahead of you. You'll find the right man eventually."
He felt Aika nod against his chest, clinging to his jacket as though it was a matter of life and death. As the sun went down, the two stood there, enclosed in embrace, each knowing that this would be the last moment they would have together, and both knowing in their hearts, what the answer to Aika's question was.

Wasn't that sad?

Why was it snowing you ask? I like snow, I think it's romantic and mushy weather. It seemed perfect for the story.

Anyway, R&R, or just read, I don't mind.

Next week: Belleza returns...again.