Chapter 25

The Lost Airship

Squall and Rinoa stood up and walked over towards their Amazon friends. Both wore sad expressions across their faces, heads bent low. As they reached Tennetra and Shaltwan, they looked up from the ground. Rinoa was first to speak.

"Tennetra…Shaltwan…It's time for us to go. We need to head back home. Every one is probably worried sick about us…" She closed her eyes, trying to hold back tears. "I'll…I'll miss you two!" She sank to the brown soil, letting her tears free.

Tennetra and Shaltwan immediately ran forward and threw their arms around her in a hug, trying to comfort her as best as they could. "Oh, Rinoa! Please don't be so upset. We'll miss you, too. Just remember, you can always come back or maybe even we could visit you in your lands!" Tennetra said.

"I'm glad we got to know you! You're a great friend. Thank you so much for everything you've done for us and our people…especially for Makita. We will tell her all that you did as she grows older to understand more about our history and your part in it." Shaltwan said with tears flowing down her face, too.

Squall stood there and watched. He wasn't really sure what to do. He was the only guy there while three girls were crying their eyes out. He thought quietly to himself, "I do feel sorry for them, I mean they are friends and now we have to leave…"

The girls finally released each other and stood up, brushing their hands across their faces to rid themselves of their tears.

"I'll never forget you!" Rinoa said, her voice trembling.

"As will we…" The Amazons replied. They smiled and looked over at Squall. "We also want to thank you for all your assistance. You will always be welcomed in this village."

Squall bowed his head, thanking them silently. "Before you leave, we have a gift that will help you on your way home…" The two women started to walk off, turning around to gesture them to follow. "Please come with us…"

Rinoa and Squall stared after them for a moment, but were soon to follow. They walked for what felt like a few miles, but stopped just before a large volcano. The Amazons turned to face the couple.

"This is Mount Kentura, it is dead now, so don't worry about it going off." It was huge, its peak reaching high into the sky for thousands of feet. "Your gift awaits, hidden inside…" Tennetra said mysteriously.

"Inside? You mean inside the volcano?" Rinoa asked curiously. Shaltwan nodded her head. Without another word, they walked into a small opening in the side, hidden by a large bush of tropical flowers.

Rinoa gasped when she entered the cave inside the volcano. "Wow…this is unbelievable!" The room was lit by hundreds, maybe even thousands of torches. Exquisite curtains hung around the walls, which had ancient paintings on them from the generations before. Golden trinkets and coins lay along the sides, shining in the firelight.

"Gold? Where did it come from?" Squall asked Tennetra.

"Long before we were born, there was a ship that came here to this island. They tried to destroy us, but we fought back with strong forces! In the end we were victorious, so we claimed their treasures…"

The group walked deeper and deeper into the cave, the light becoming less and less. Shaltwan grabbed a nearby torch on the wall and held it up so they could see the rest of the way, for down here there was no longer any light.

"Where are we going?" Rinoa asked them, beginning to shiver. She hadn't realized how cold the cave was without the warm glow from the torches.

"You will see in a moment…" They had come to a stop, before a large door. Tennetra lifted her hand from her side and placed it on the door. Then she began to speak words of another language. Suddenly the ground began to shake and rumble. Rinoa held herself up against the wall to keep from falling over. The door before them opened, slowly revealing, more darkness.

"In here your gift is resting, until you use it…" Tennetra said walking forwards, Shaltwan carrying the torch just behind her. Rinoa and Squall walked cautiously in, groping the walls, so as to not run into anything.

"We're here!" Tennetra suddenly yelled. Just then, hundreds of torches burst into life, lighting the dark room and casting shadows on the walls. "Here is the gift we present to you!" She said excitedly.

Rinoa and Squall stood there, their mouths hanging open in shock. Before them, in the middle of the room, was a humongous airship. It was silver with gold letters encrypted all along the sides of it. "Your giving that…to us?" Squall said, his eyes huge.

Shaltwan smiled. "You deserve it. You have saved every one here from Queen Morgana, it's the least we can to do repay you. Besides, we have no use for it."

"How did this thing even get here?" Rinoa asked in amazement.

Tennetra walked forward to stand next to Rinoa. "We are not quite sure ourselves. Only ourselves and Makita knew about it. We discovered it together about four years ago. We had been exploring around the volcano when she found the entrance into it. When we went inside, there was the gold and hand paintings, then as we continued farther on we came to a mysterious door. By reading the history on the walls, we were able to decipher the code to get in here. It's been like this ever since. None of us have ever touched it or gone inside…"

Squall walked up to the airship and examined it. "There should be a key…" He said while beginning to search around.

"Oh, sorry! I'll get the key!" Shaltwan said quickly. She walked towards another wall and said something, then a small block moved away to reveal a key on a red cushion. "Here you are…" She walked over to Squall and placed it gently in the palm of his hand.

"Thanks…" He slowly moved to the door on the airship and placed the golden key in the lock. When he turned it, a keypad appeared next to him, asking for a password. "Anyone here know the password?" He asked.

"Yes…" Tennetra came forward and typed strange words on the keypad. There was the sound of confirmation and then the door slid open.

"How did you know that?" Squall asked curiously.

"There was a riddle in the cave messages. I finally figured out the answer to it a few years ago. It revealed the password needed for it to operate…"

"You'll have to tell me then so that I can get in…"

"I will. Don't worry!" Tennetra said starting to laugh.

They walked onward into the passage. The inside of the airship was huge. The ceiling was about twenty feet high, large windows all along its walls. In the room a little ways ahead was the controls. The pilot seat was tall and decorated elaborately with gold, rubies encrusted in the top. The buttons on the control panel were all different colors.

Squall walked to the pilot's chair and sat down to exam the controls further. Looking closely, he saw one small red button that was covered in dust. Slowly he lifted his hand, pressing it down with his index finger. Suddenly a bright light filtered throughout the room. Squall closed his eyes, shutting out the light. Seconds later he opened them again only to see a hologram standing in the room.

It was woman. She had long brown hair, blue eyes, and tanned skin. Her skirt went to her feet and her top hugged her tightly, showing off her strong, muscular arms and stomach. Her clothing was a rich dark blue, a golden crown on her head. Squall sat there, his mouth open.

"I wonder what Squall's doing?" Rinoa said quietly to herself. She walked forward into the control room, followed by Tennetra. As they walked in together, they stopped before the hologram, eyes wide. The hologram turned to face the group of people now in the room and began to speak.

"I welcome you to the Argona airship. I am Queen Markana. I ruled the kingdom known as Argona, until it fell. That's when I came here. I created the legendary warriors, the beautiful, the strong, and the wise. The Amazons! My own dear child is the first…my dear Makita!"

Everyone in the room gasped. They couldn't believe what they were hearing. They just listened.

"Although, she was the first, she did not become the first to live an Amazon life. I cast her into a silent slumber for one hundred years. For I knew one day, a great destiny would unfold for my darling daughter. This airship belongs to me, and my people. If anyone is listening to this, I ask of you to please, protect my dear Makita. I am no longer alive myself, so as my gift to you, use this airship in your journey."

"I don't believe it!" Tennetra whispered quietly. "That's Makita's mother! My mother! We all descended from her! That's why we're here alive today!" Tears began to fall down her cheeks.

"My dear children…do not be sad, for this is the day of a new beginning, of a new chapter of you lives. You must fight for your kingdom, your people, and your friends. I am always with you. There are many battles that lie ahead in the future, but you will be ready to face them…"

The hologram began to flicker. It was loosing power. Soon, the queen would be gone…forever.

"I only have a short time left. My prayers are with you all. Protect the world and keep the evil out of the light. Always stand by your friends and trust in one another. The fate of the planet and life itself depends on it."

"Before I go…I have one last wish. I wish to tell my other three darling daughters, how much I love them. My dear Tennetra, you were a strong little girl when you were younger, but then I had to cast you into an enchanted slumber as well as the others. Shaltwan was always smiling and wanting to make friends. Reliquan always wanted attention and leadership. I love you all my darling daughters. I'm with you always and forever in your hearts…"

With those last words said, the holographic image disappeared. No one spoke. Shaltwan was beside Tennetra, her head bent low, crying. Tears fell from their faces to the floor.

"We had been there beside her before…when we were younger…if only we remembered! She saved us. That was the time in which the evil sorceress arose and destroyed our people. She must have fought along with everyone else and been destroyed! She did all of that…for us…"

Rinoa knelt down beside the two girls and placed her hands on their shoulders to try and calm them. "It's okay. Don't be hurt or upset. She did a noble thing. She gave up her own life, which is the ultimate sacrifice. We should not feel pity and sorrow for her. Her heart was strong, she was brave, and never gave up her dreams…"

"Rinoa…" Squall said in a low voice. Rinoa looked across the room at him and closed her eyes.

"She would not want them to go on like this. She wants them to be happy and fulfill their life to its fullest. Her dream is for them to protect the beautiful place she created and the people. She lives happily now…"

Tennetra looked deeply at Rinoa. Her tears began to lessen.

"She's watching over you everyday…" Rinoa said gently. Tennetra picked herself up off the floor and stood up tall.

"You're right…We have to be strong for her. She was strong and brave. We shall follow in her footsteps and help protect her dreams…Right Shaltwan?"

Shaltwan wiped her tears away from her blue eyes. Slowly, she drew herself up straight as well. "Yes…of course. We will make our mother, the ruler of the Amazons, proud!"

Rinoa smiled at them. Tennetra then said something else in their language. The sound of a roaring engine came to life. The ship began to tremble and shake. The controls lit up and computer screens of maps materialized onto screens.

"The ship is now ready to fly. Please take it and do whatever you chose. It is yours…" Tennetra bowed down slightly. "We are in your debt for saving us and the world."

"Thank you…" Squall said. "I still need one more thing though…"

"What's that?" She asked him.

Squall scratched the back of his head. "I need to know the words you spoke so I can start the ship…"

"Oh, that's right! Well, how about this. What if Shaltwan were to go with you?"

"What!" Rinoa and Squall yelled at the same time.

Shaltwan looked a little shocked as well. Tennetra just smiled, and then she turned to face her sister. "Shaltwan, I know you have always dreamed of seeing the world…now is your chance!"

"I have to protect Makita though! It's my duty as an Amazon!" She said in a whisper.

"There are many others who can protect her. Besides, you can come back anytime you want. There will always be a place for you here. Plus, then you could tell us of your travels and adventures!"

The blonde was silent for a few minutes, letting all these details go through her mind one at a time. Finally, she looked up. "Do you really mean it? It would really be alright?"

"Of course!"

"Oh, thank you Tennetra! You are truly a great warrior and sister! I will never forget this. One day I will repay you!" She jumped forward and hugged Tennetra in a sisterly embrace.

"It's settled then. I shall stay here on the island to guard my people while Shaltwan journeys with you back to your homeland! She will be able to start the ship."

"Sounds good to me." Squall replied. Rinoa nodded in agreement.

"Well, I guess this is good-bye…" Tennetra said, a sad tone taking over.

"No it's not!" Rinoa said with a large grin. "We'll see each other again before you know it!"

"Your right!" A smile lifted up across her face. "Good-bye then. You are all welcome here at anytime. I wish you luck on your travels!" With that said, she turned on her heel and walked out the door. They watched out the large windows till they saw her standing inside the cave, just beside the airship.

"Let's get this thing moving!" Shaltwan said. She jumped into the pilot's seat and pressed some buttons, causing the ship to shake even more. They felt it begin to hover above the ground. With one last look, Rinoa waved at Tennetra. Then the roof above opened slowly, daylight filtering through the darkness. Within seconds, the ship was a tiny speck in the light blue sky.

"Good luck my friends! I hope you make it back safely!" Then Tennetra walked out of the room and locked it with her secret codes of Amazon.

Note: There's still more to come…