The Nasrean sun had finally come out of it's hiding, bringing with it yet another beautiful day. Vyse awoke from his slumber, almost forgetting what had transpired the night before. Aika was in the bathroom freshening up, as Fina tended to the fireplace.
"Good morning Fina," Vyse said, as he continued to rub the sleep from his eyes.
"Morning, Vyse. Coffee?" Fina asked, holding up the newly brewed pot of java. Of course Vyse wanted some, he couldn't be flying the Dawn home half-asleep, could he?
"Morning VYSE!!" Aika shouted, tackling Vyse onto the bed, causing him to spill the coffee all over the pearl white sheets. Vyse, as Aika kneeled over his body as if she had just conquered him, remained silent, letting his cherry red face express his feelings.
"Aika, will you be so kind as to get off of me!?" Vyse growled through his clenched teeth.
"Sorry Vyse," Aika responded, trying hard to contain her laughter, "but you were just so wide open. I couldn't help it!"
Fina giggled at the pair, as they wrestled over the bed. Overwhelmed by the moment, Fina decided to jump in to, leaping onto Aika's back as she held Vyse in a choke hold. As they continued to gambol, the three eventually lay in the center of the room, Vyse in the middle, embracing Aika and Fina in his arms.
As he lay there, coddling the two most important people in his life, he knew that these feeling couldn't and wouldn't last forever. He feared the day that'd he eventually have to express his true feelings for one of them, and he knew that it would ravage the amazing relationship they had the three had came to construct. For the moment, however, he would lay their, letting himself become absorbed in the sheer bliss of the divine moment.
The peace was abruptly shattered, however, by an intrusive knock on their hotel room door. Aika slipped out of Vyse's grip and got up to answer the visitor.
She opened the door to see the innkeeper standing their, with a young couple behind him.
"I apologize for the intrusion, but I have recently received new customers who request asylum, and I'm going to have to ask you to leave as soon as possible. I'm sorry if this will cause any inconvenient."
The group didn't mind that much. They hadn't packed any luggage, so within minutes they were already out the door.
As they walked through the central courtyard, they seemed to be alienated from the Nasr citizens. No one would dare speak to them, but instead cast demonic glares in their direction.
"Is it just me, Vyse, or is everybody looking at us funny?" Fina inquired, as she looked around at her surroundings. People were eying at the trio, their stares as cold as death. It seems that they saw Vyse as an enemy after what had happened with Anakin the night before.
"I'll explain it to you later. Right now I think we should focus on leaving here as soon as possible."
As they made their way to the docks, things only got worse. The locals pelted them with garbage as they made their way to the Dawn.
"Vyse the Legend, HA!" one shouted, as he tossed a bittermelon in their direction, "your just a government puppet! You are blind to the truth!"
As much as Vyse would have liked to stifle their jeers, he simply kept moving, holding Fina and Aika as if he was protecting them the salvo of items hurled their way.
"Positions, everyone!" Vyse shouted, as he ran up to the bridge, "Let's get this baby started up so we can get out of here!"
The crew was quick to comply, and soon they were jetting off into the blue, leaving the invective and enmity of the crowd behind them.
"Vyse, what the hell did you do?" Aika started, with her inquisitive eyes that
always seemed to get answers, "You sure seemed to have stirred up some hatred from the townsfolk."
Vyse simply closed his eyes, his head facing towards the controls in front of him. He simply didn't want to talk about his assembly with Vera. His heart was still racing with fear on what would inevitably spawn from his actions, and for now he wished to stay focused on the present. He knew though that eventually he'd have to divulge the events that occurred, but not now, not yet.
"I'm sorry Aika, but I can't tell you. I need more time to think. Perhaps another time."
Aika just gave her disappointed look, as she hunches her whole body forward with her mouth slightly opened. Her curiosity was going to kill her over this. She just simply nodded, knowing it would only upset Vyse if she asked for an explanation.
They're exchange was interrupted, however, by a large blast from nearby. The three were quickly on the ground, their balance shattered immediately as the Dawn shook wildly.
"Status report, now!" Vyse yelled, as he climbed back up to the wheel.
"Explosion on the starboard side. Half our cannons are offline. Black pirates, 3 o'clock!" Aika shouted, as she frantically searched the skies nearby.
"Th..that flag, it can't be! Ewwww, it's Vigoro! Why won't that creep leave us alone!?"
"Okay, people, battle stations immediately!" Vyse commanded, as he did his signature wheel spin. "This creep will sleep in deep sky tonight!"
"Captain Vigoro, we seemed to have taken our enemies completely by surprise. Most of their firepower was taken off line by our opening salvo, not to mention the overall damage dealt to the hull." Vigoro's vise captain wore a tattered blue shirt, as he gave a salute to his superior.
"Resume the assault, but limit fire to the sails and engine. I wish to slow them down so we may prepare for boarding." Vigoro stopped, as he tied his skull-cross bandana across his head. "Don't worry Red; you'll be mine soon enough!"
For Vyse, and co., the situation wasn't getting any better. Their sails were nearly obliterated, and their remaining firepower was not making a large enough impact to keep Vigoro at bay. If this continued, they'd be sitting among wreckage by the battle's end.
"Engine power down to 40%, Vyse," Fina started, trying to show that she could be a valuable contributor on the bridge.
"Enemy fire has stopped, however. I...I don't understand. Why would they simply stop?" Fina asked, as she frantically tried to make sense of the situation.
"I'm not sure Fina," Vyse started, trying to gather himself. He had seen many a battle in his lifetime, but never before had he had his back against the wall like this. The situation was new to him, and he felt as if he was losing control of the moment, his crew, and especially, himself. "It's possible that they....quickly! We must get on deck! They're trying to board us!"
They quickly scrambled outside, as the ship's alarms hollered throughout the halls.
"Look!" Aika shouted, pointing to the starboard side. Vigoro, flanked by 4 of his crewmates, stood upon their lifeboat, weaving in and out of the Dawn's fire as they hurtled towards the trio.
As the small boarding craft rode above their heads, the foes jumped onto the deck, Vigoro with his cannon at the ready.
"Heh, Vyse, I'm disappointed in you. I expected a much better fight from you. No matter, at least now I'll have the chance to strike you down myself."
"Vyse, can we please get this over with?" Aika asked, her eyes opened wide, showing her anger and frustration, "I'd like to be the one to throw this creep overboard."
"Heh, still as spunky as ever. That's why I love ya Red." Vigoro complimented, as he undressed her with his eyes. "Let's just go back to my ship, make some noise." Vigoro finished the comment with a wink, his goons laughing in the background.
"WHY YOU LITTLE!" Aika screamed; her face swelling with rage that must surely have come from the deepest bowels of hell.
"Peace, Aika." Fina spoke calmly, her hand lightly perched upon Aika's shoulder, "You must be calm, or he'll easily defeat you."
"Enough talk, Vigoro!" Vyse threatened, drawing his blades, "This ends here!"
Vyse quickly charged strait ahead, his power surging through his veins. As he charged at his enemies, Vigoro' comrades dispersed towards Aika and Fina, leaving a one on one battle between the leaders of their respective sides.
"Heh, 2 weak little girls. Easy pickin's my friends." The leader of Vigoro's goons drew his sword, as his comrades followed in unison. "Don't worry ladies, this won't take long."
"You're right, it won't," Aika cockily remarked. "Should we, Fina?" Aika asked, still with the confident smile covering her complexion. Fina simply nodded, knowing what Aika was getting at.
The duo both lifted their right hands, palms outstretched towards the poor weaklings. Their eyes were closed as they focused on tapping into the vast power of the moons.. As the wretches crept forward, they felt a sharp wind blowing them back. They soon found themselves unable to move forward and were soon being pushed back.
"Wha...what is this! Y...you witches! What are you doing!?" The goons' eyes showed the fear that controlled them, as they struggled to even stand.
"Heh, me and Fina here have been working on this little trick, and you guys are the perfect test subjects." Aika replied, trying to focus her power into the upcoming finale.
They finally summoned their strength, and shouted in perfect unison, "Blue moon! Grant us your power!" At that very moment, the winds intensified, and the cronies were blown every which way. They all were left unconscious along the deck; their clothes greatly tattered from the razor winds they endured.
"Wow, that was actually rather fun, Aika!" Fina said with delight, as the adrenaline in her continued to pump relentlessly.
"I knew that you'd like it." Aika replied, trying to suppress her laughter, "We'll have to do it again sometime. But right now we need to help Vyse!"
"Ahhhhhhhhh! Damn you, Vyse!" The scream came from Vigoro, reeling from the force of Vyse's blow. Vyse simply kept his position, his blade still surging with power.
"Face it, Vigoro; you're no match for me on my own ship!" Vyse's sheer strength took Vigoro aback, but he was not one to surrender.
"Heh, you're a good fighter ," Vigoro stated, in between heavy pants, "but you're know match for my cannon! You'll soon be nothting but a small pile of ashes."
"Oh shut it, you creep!" Aika screamed, as she lunged at the oaf, boomerang at the ready.
"You know Red; you're sexy when you're angry." Vigoro simply readied his back hand, and smacked Aika clear out of the air.
"Grrrr, you bastard!" Aika yelled, wiping the blood from her upper lip as she lay against the side of the deck.
"Normally, Vyse, I'd take you little girlfriends here and simply leave, but after what they did to my comrades, they need a little lesson." At that moment, Vigoro leaped into the air, soaring above the group.
"It's time to pay, witch!" Vigoro, readying his cannon, fired, not at Vyse, his sworn rival, nor Aika, the one whom he seeked as his own, but at Fina, who simply shook in fear as the cannon blast hurtled towards her.
"Fina, NOOOOOOOOOO!" Vyse screamed, as he tried to grasp the sight in front of him. Smoke and embers covered the area where Fina stood.
Vyse and Aika simply were at a loss for words. They couldn't believe it. It couldn't be true, could it? She must be alive, right?! Right?!
"Hurts, doesn't it Vyse? To lose someone close to you? I knew it would do more damage to you If I simply attacked her. Much easier, as well." Vigoro simply blew the smoke from his cannon, almost signaling his victory.
Aika was in hysterics, as she stared at the smoke and ash. "Fi...Fina! N..no! I...I can't lose you! I.. I...wha..wha..wait!" Aika finally stood up, and pointed at the zone of the cannon's impact.
She indeed saw something. From underneath the clearing smog, a strong light shined bright. The smoke finally dispersed, uncovering a girl surrounded by a dome of silver light, holding on tightly to a small bracelet on her right arm."
"FINA!" Aika proclaimed happily, as she threw herself over her. "I knew you couldn't' die like that! I knew it!"
Fina simply stood their, panting heavily. She had just cheated death escaping by the skin of her teeth. She'd have to be more careful in the future, lest she endures the horrible faith she barely evaded.
Vigoro simply stood silently, shaking his head in disbelief. Somehow, however, he knew once the blow was struck, that it was simply too good to be true. He knew now that the tide of the battle had at last fully turned against him, and he knew that he must find an escape. It may be cowardly, but it was definitely a better alternative then being a lifeless corpse littering the Dawn's deck.
"Looks like your strategy didn't work out, did it?" Vyse remarked angrily, pointing his cutlass at Vigoro, "You picked the wrong girl to attack, a mistake you won't live to regret!"
The girls moved into position behind Vyse, as his Vorlik blade surged with power.
"Blue Rogues! ATTACK!" Vyse shouted, as the group moved into their attack formation. "It ends here Vigoro! Your pirating days are over!"
Vigoro didn't say a word, but instead loaded his cannon using ammunition foreign to that he was accustomed to using. He simply aimed at the center of the group, a confident smirk dominating his countenance.
"You may have won today, Vyse, but I wouldn't get to confident. I will one day best you, this I promise."
With that, he fired towards the group, but oddly enough, an explosion did not ensue. Instead, a cloud of smoke consumed the group, as they struggled to breathe.
"Cough...cough...what is this! Vyse said, still gasping for air through the smog that bounded them.
"WEVLUM!" Fina summoned her powers as she used the vigor of the blue moon to disperse the surrounding smokescreen.
"Ummmmmm, Vyse, we seem to be alone here." Fina stated quizzically, as she surveyed the deck, "Where did he go?"
The three looked around in confusion, unaware of Vigoro's whereabouts. The silence was broken by the sound of a small moonstone engine off of the starboard side.
There he stood, riding one of his boarding crafts, his two remaining comrades thrown over his shoulders.
"Alas, Vyse, it would seem that you and your friends have yet again bested me." Vigoro shouted, as he continued to sport his signature smug smile. "I promise you this: we shall meet again, and I shall make Red my own."
"That's right, run you coward!" Aika yelled out, enraptured to see the part company with the arrogant slime ball. "You haven't seen the last of us either, you slimy, perverted, monster!"
Vigoro's lifeboat sped towards his stagnant airship, his crew ready for his arrival.
"Come on girls, we need to get back to our base as quickly as possible." Vyse said, as he at long last sheathed his cutlasses. "With all the damage the Dawn sustained in the battle, I'm surprised we're still flying. We need to make repairs ASAP."
The group scurried up to the bridge, and was soon on their way. They moved at a sluggish rate, as the damaged engine hemorrhaged fuel as they struggled to push forward.
Vyse was simply too far lost in thought to pay any heed to anything around him. He had made enemies out of any entire nation, and his ship would need weeks of repair to safely sail again. It seemed the world was against him, and he struggled not to be crushed by the foreboding fears that pervaded his mind. At the same time, however, he was happy. The thrill of battle, the excitement as he triumphed above all odds, this is what drove him. This is who he was, and he would have it no other way.
"Creasant Isle in range, Vyse" Aika informed him, as she applied Sacres crystals to Fina's slightly burnt arm.
"Commence docking sequence, and be ready to drop anchor" Vyse commanded. Usually on his trips back home he'd be simply happy to just be home, but this time was different. He was grateful to still be breathing, and to see the blue skies for another day. He felt lucky to still be alive.