Sheeta watched the clouds move by aimlessly. Again, they were heading to Laputa. And again, they were being chased.

She sighed, holding the etherium crystal in her hands. I caused all this mess. If it hadn't been for Laputa or me, we wouldn't be in so much trouble.

"I know you're feeling guilty about what's happening right now, Sheeta, but without us the world would have gotten its greedy hands on the technology that powers Laputa," Gizato said. "At least now, we have a chance to get to Laputa first and stop everything before it starts."

Pazu briefly turned from the instruments. "How can we do that? How can we keep Laputa from the government?"

"Laputa has something else than a simple Destroy spell – an entire self-destruct system. Instead of taking out the bottom with the knowledge and weapons system, it completely and utterly destroys the castle. I hope we will never use it." Gizato's voice was grim.

"But what interest does the government have in Laputa now?"

"They're very interested in taking the pure etherium core that powers it, but I suspect the general is up to his dirty tricks again."

Sheeta took immediate notice of this comment. "How so?"

"Well, I think he's after an ancient artifact in the main castle – some called a Prophecy Gate. Legend has it that it is an even greater weapon than the castle itself. No-one knows how though – it's carved up of rows upon rows of blocks of an unknown substance, each with an individual letter on it that makes no sense – unfortunately, a puzzle. And I was never good at puzzles."

-------

The powerful, demonic creature sensed an unusual energy. Turning from its current prey, it flew through the air towards Laputa.

-------

The general held a smoking gun. Below him were several bodies. He stepped over them to the commander. "Don't worry, I won't kill you like I did these scientist fools," He said casually. "They're just little non-government pests. They're somehow convinced that when activated, the Prophecy Ring has enough power to destroy this world."

-------

Night fell. Sheeta's eyes slowly opened, a little groggy from the little rest she had.

A dark shape grabbed her attention. "Gizato, something's out there!" She called.

Turning his head out the window beside him, Gizato noticed it as well. "Oh, crap," He muttered. "The Leviathan. Pazu? PAZU!"

The young engineer snapped from his sleep. "Uh, yeah, what?"

"Keep an eye on the engine level! I don't want it going past red!"

"Roger!"

Gizato pressed down hard on the accelerator. He pulled a lever, the engines powering faster.

Soon they were at full power.

A flaming blur flashed past him. He ignored it, knowing what it was.

-------

"Fire on the creature," The general ordered.

All powerful cannons started blazing, their shells smacking into the creature.

-------

The creature howled, seemingly in pain.

But it was not. It was simply annoyed. In reality, it was just shrugging off the shells as if they were little pieces of paper.

It turned around, grabbing a shell. Burning with fury, it threw the shell back at the ship.

-------

The ship shook violently, but the general never wavered. "Keep all cannons firing on that creature," He ordered. "Then send fighters out to engage that smaller ship down there."

-------

Several small planes started flying towards them. Gizato groaned. He turned the stick, the ship instantly responding and ducking into the thick clouds.

-------

Heavy gunfire punctured the clouds. The ship was nowhere to be seen, and the fighters ducked in after it.