What's this? A new chapter? Signs of life? Yes, I am back with more of my regurgitated excrement for writing! smelly dance

Actually I finally made an in-depth plan for this story so I hope it's okay Tell me what you think.


The airship ride to Forgotten Continent was much like the one to Burmecia, except with a lot more loud exhaling from a 'wrong-done' Marcus. Blank, as he had hoped, managed to pick up a few travel activities from the Burmecian gift shops. Mr 163 sat maniacally scribbling crayon onto a children's colouring book, seemingly oblivious that it was all for nothing when he took out the black, which obliterated every other colour. Motoko had stopped crying before they boarded the ship, and after a brief visit to the ladies' she looked fine again.

She sat across from Blank, both locked in a brutal match of checkers. Well as brutal as checkers can get, which normally isn't much, but halfway through the game Motoko threw a black counter at Blank, hitting him in the eye.

He emerged from the bathroom ten minutes later with an angry look in one eye and a swollen, painful look in the other. Motoko smiled sheepishly. He forfeited the match under the premises of "impaired vision", and instead they ended up talking animatedly for the rest of the journey. Blank was surprised that he enjoyed himself despite his swollen eye, but more so by how much he had come to like the once stony-faced Motoko.

They were alerted of their imminent arrival by a squawking Mr 163, who bounded to the opposite row of seats, peering excitedly out of the aircraft window whilst simultaneously crushing Marcus.

"Look! Look! It's enormous! I bet about a thousand Mage Villages could fit in there..." He whispered the last words, pressed up against the glass, condensation forming and evaporating with each breath.

In the years after Terra's threat was removed, along with the Mist that had for so long bred hate and fear in Gaia's people, the importance of continents beyond that of the Mist Continent had been realised. With the rapid changes that had occurred, no-one had taken the time to think about how important Zidane's discoveries might have been, but now all four Continents of Gaia had established strong links.

Queen Garnet had been the first to take steps to reach out, and soon many others followed, the fear and inhibitions swept from their minds by bold leadership. Airship ports were set up around the world, cultures and magic were traded, and Gaians ventured further into the world with the dying population of even the most formidable mist creatures.

Much of the Forgotten Continent was still unexplored, but Seaways Canyon, being the most accessible jut on the eastern coast of the land, was rapidly populated. What started as a simple, albeit sturdily built port for ships (often in transit between the Mist Continent and Lost Continent), soon expanded into a sprawling dock for both air and sea ships. Seaways was soon constituted of several cities, becoming as thriving as Lindblum in its intercontinental trade.

"Yo! I'm sat here! Would you mind getting the off me!" Mr 163 jumped back hurriedly at Marcus' flailing fists.

They reached Seaways Airship port and exited the aircraft, but Mr 163 still kept at a safe distance from Marcus, and unfortunately for Blank, was attempting to use him as a human barricade.

"You don't have to hold my arm so tight do you?" The black mage lowered his head diffidently, loosening his grip. Motoko drew level with blank and walked alongside him.

"So where are we headed now on this expedition?" She eyed him bluntly and then continued, "I discerned this wasn't a vacation when I spotted the weapons you carry...never mind the fact we're in Forgotten Continent." Blank froze, but Motoko smiled disarmingly and he was put at ease by the fact she wasn't the least bit angry.

"I was always jealous of Zidane's tales of adventure," she explained, "He'd tell me about virtue and bravery, then force me to stay in the Black Mage Village. 'People would jump at the chance to take advantage of a young girl like you!'" she said impersonating Zidane, shaking her hand in a way that was uncannily identical to his manner. Motoko smiled brightly at Blank. "But you aren't so bad."

"Uh, me? Hey, I'm not as great as you think..."

"You stayed by me though. You did that..." She looked away at the towering buildings and warehouses of Seaways, and Blank felt the pit of his stomach lurch as he remembered how he had contemplated leaving her back in Burmecia. He changed the subject quickly.

"Well, we're traveling up the mountains near where the fabled city of Oeilivert is meant to be."

"Oeilivert," Motoko paused, "I remember Zidane talking about it. It's a long way off, he used an airship to get there. But I doubt there are any traveling there now."

"There aren't. We're gonna have to find other means of transport..."

"Transport! Man needs transport? Transport from me!" They turned around to see an enthusiastic Qu motioning to himself and smiling.

"Uh, well we have, erm, 'prior engagements' to see to so..." Blank interjected quickly, but the Qu was not deterred.

"No no! Qon Qon heard carrot-top say transport. Me give transport. Me go anywhere! For price. Frogs need price now. Wasn't like before. Now yumyum cost price!" He seemed indignant on this topic. "Me Qon Qon. This way to transport!" He waddled off and Blank was about to use his chance to get away when Mr 163 dragged him along, surprisingly strong for a black mage.

"A Qu! A real-life Qu!"

Blank groaned.