"Ships in the water! Sending fishing dories if need be, I care not. Glossair engines are as good to us as sky to a fish. Leave what boats have foundered. I need souls saved, not driftwood!" I step to the side to allow Reddas's rushing pirates pass by as he barks commands. Upon seeing our group approach, he sighs, straightening. "Our armada ran afoul of bad water near the Ridorana Cataract. All engines stopped asudden, becalmed. Trouble with a Mist thick as death, it seems." Reddas shakes his head, retreating to his desk as we near him. "Those seas are jagd. I expected airship trouble, not a fleet foundering midst the waves." Rubbing his bald head, he kicks his feet up on the table before him. "Tell me what happened at Giruvegan. From the lay of your eyes and the desperation in your tone last night, Highness, I measure all did not go well."
Ashe steps forth, shoulders slumped with the weight of a thousand worlds. However, she's stubborn as ever, chin lifted high and steps long and confident.
"Cid was false—as you feared," Ashe replies firmly. "But we may have caught a glimpse of his true intent. We may now know what it is that Cid searches for." Carefully, she pieces the story of the Occuria and their words together for him, with the occasional remark from Vaan. The pirate hums, putting his feet on the ground and slouching his seat.
"So the deifacted nethicite was only a fragment? And these Occuria—I know not, and care to know even less."
"If we strike the Sun-cryst with the Sword of Kings, no new Stone may be born," Fran suggests, cocking her head to the side. "We say the Sun-cryst is the source of all nethicite's power. If we break that, the Dusk Shard may find its power drained." She rests a hand on her hip, sighing. "As for the manufacted nethicite, who can say?"
"There is another way," Balthier adds, staring defiantly at Reddas. "We use the Treaty-Blade to cut a new Stone from the Cryst, use that to fight the Dusk Shard and the manufacted stones."
"Would you like the know the best use of nethicite?" Reddas retorts, straightening in his seat and narrowing his eyes on the sky pirate.
"Do enlighten us," I scoff half-heartedly, arms crossed.
"Will or nill, I'll tell you," he replies, waving his hand dramatically. "You pick it up, and throw it away." Vaan sighs, turning to a rather unamused Balthier.
"Either way, we have to find this Sun-cryst first, right? Don't we?" The boy faces me sharply, excited as he recalls our directions. "Across the sea… In a tower on a distant shore… Reddas?"
"Familiar words, Vaan," Reddas muses. "I saw something of the sort written in some documents I chanced upon during my visit to Draklor. The Naldoan Sea, the Ridorana Cataract, and the Pharos lighthouse. I sent my fleet to fish out the truth behind those words… and caught trouble."
"Then the proof is ours," Basch replies. "This lighthouse on the Naldoan Sea is the tower on the distant shore. The strong Mist the becalmed your ships is a grimmer—yet clearer—sign than any we might hope for. The Sun-cryst is there."
"All well and good," Balthier huffs, pushing off the edge of the cabin he's been slumped against. "But how do we get there? Those seas are in jagd, as I recall."
"Try putting this one in your ship. 'Tis a skystone made to resist jagd." Reddas stands, tossing a small stone to Balthier, who catches it easily, frowning. My stomach twists and Balthier scowls.
"More spoils from the Draklor labs, is it? This has Adamar written all over it."
"Yeah, Shae did say her partner invented something like that a long time ago, didn't she?" Vaan recalls.
"Yes, I did," I frown, stepping forward to eye the stone. "Reddas, where did you get this?"
"That is of no importance," Reddas brushes me off.
"Why not use it yourself?" Balthier demands.
"That's just the thing. My ship's a Bhujerban model—it will not work. But it should fit the Strahl, and then she'll fly in jagd." Reddas turns to Ashe. "My lady, I would accompany Your Highness, if you do not object."
"I am in your care," Ashe nods, despite Balthier's disapproving scowl. "But, tell me one thing: why do so much for us?" Without a second thought, Reddas replies.
"The Nabudis Deadlands."
"Nabudis… was your home?"
"No, but a memory forever burned in my heart." Reddas hangs his head, shame clear in his eyes as he stares at the wooden planks of his rocking ship. Balthier catches my eye in the slightest glimpse and turns in silence, leaving. I sigh, shaking my head and step forward.
"Well, whatever it is that's burned that place into your heart, I wish it well in its attempt to construct a stronger man."
"As do I, if that is grief's true intention," Reddas replies in a low voice, straightening. "Let's be off, then."
The familiar rumble of the Strahl's engines vibrates through the soles of my boots as I take a seat behind Fran. Vaan sits beside me, watching the two pirates prepare the airship for flight with fascination. Reddas sits behind Balthier, staring out the front window with a glint in his eye. With a sudden jerk, the ship lurches from the aerodrome to the sky, rattling her way into the clouds.
"It seems Nono slacked on these last few repairs," Balthier mutters, gripping the controls to the ship and pulling sharply. Fran flashes a scowl, brow furrowed.
"He had plenty of time, didn't he?" I ask, raising my voice to be heard over the ship's lively roar.
"Far too much time, if you ask me," he replies. The Strahl slows and Balthier huffs, looking thoroughly irritated.
"It will take twice as long at this speed," Fran points out, frowning when he stands and rubs his face tiredly.
"I'm aware, Fran," the young man snaps. His partner turns her eyes back to the control panel. "There must be something wrong with an engine."
"Perhaps a skystone was knocked out of place?" I suggest, leaping to my feet and nearly toppling over when the ship shudders. "Stay here and help Fran; I'll go check it out."
"Look, Shae, I know you're a genius when it comes to machinery, but the Strahl's a bit different than the Imperial tin cans you've manned," Balthier retorts, brushing past me. Fran shakes her head, refusing to look back at me when she speaks.
"I'll be alright, Shae."
"Then at least show Vaan the ropes," I call over my shoulder, following the irate pirate into the belly of the airship—a piece I've never seen before. Balthier's stride is long and quick and hard to keep pace with. I duck away from a hot pipe, cringing when a shot of steam hisses by my head. What sort of scrap-heap is this? "What's with the renovations?"
"I was remodeling her when I got caught up in the midst of this," Balthier replies stiffly, stopping abruptly before a tangle of pipes, rotating gears, puffing steam, and trembling motors. With a deep-set frown, he rests on hand on his hip and scratches at his face with the other, eyes narrowed. "And now Nono's gone and messed her all up in the process of putting her back together. He's about to get a firm talking to, that's for sure."
"She's a beaut," I laugh lightly, tapping a hot pipe and shuffling over to his side to peer into the set of gears spinning before him. "But only externally, I suppose."
"Is that so? How's the Castean been, then, Darling?"
"Oh, shut it, Bunansa," I scoff, leaning over the wobbling mechanics. "Actually, I was hoping you might help me with that after all this. You know, the design process and all." Shit… Keeping him around even after you friendzone him, Shera? What sort of plan is this? I roll up my sleeves, taking a deep breath of the nostalgic scent of an engine room, and cautiously reach toward the glint in the corner of the set of pistons to my right.
"Really?" Balthier replies dryly, arching an eyebrow. "From what I've heard, you won't be needing any help with design—that's more your specialty, isn't it?" I fight a cringe, hesitating when I feel the heat radiating off the rotating steel. How do I tell him it's all an excuse to keep him around a bit longer? "I'll see what Fran and I are up once we're through with Vayne. How's that?"
"Deal," I breathe out, pulling the small object free with a quick flick of my wrist. Balthier frowns, stepping closer to see the cause of all his worries as I wipe the sweat from my forehead. I can blame my reddened face on the heat. The gears and pistons right themselves and the Strahl's shudders turn to contented purrs.
"A bracelet?" Balthier scoffs, plunking the bent, twisted band of silver from my fingers. I laugh, leaning back against a clear portion of the wall. "That was all?"
"Y'know, I once had to land the Castean for the very same problem. Except it was my own bracelet, I suppose. I don't have the privilege of a moogle crew." Shaking my head, I offer a slight smile. "And Dern stood around being useless just like you did."
"Useless?" Balthier raises an eyebrow, lowering the bracelet. "Did you expect me to help somehow? I figured I would be in the way."
"Funny that you told me off for trying to help mere minutes ago, and yet here I am solving all your problems," I reply smugly.
"You cause more than you solve," the pirate retorts, tucking the scrap metal away. "I'll return this to the crew later, I suppose."
"What a good captain," I snort. "Why are you so sweaty?"
"It's this blasted heat," Balthier huffs, shaking his head. An unreadable expression flickers across his face and he shakes his head, fighting a slight smile as he reaches over to take hold of my braid. "Though, I suppose I could find another reason."
"Yeah?" I reply, grinning and reaching forward to smooth his vest. "What would that be, Leading Man?"
"Must I spell everything out?" he mutters, rolling his eyes in mock irritation, though he looks quite happy when I close the gap between us, fingers twisted in the loose fabric of his white shirt. Stepping forward, Balthier reaches upward with one arm to find some sort of stability, never once pulling away. I reach a hand up to the nape of his neck to pull him further down, shuddering when his fingers trace my back beneath my shirt. Mumbling something unintelligible, Balthier pulls away from my lips to trace a line of kisses down my jaw, trailing down to the side of my neck. Goosebumps break out across my skin and I gingerly brush my fingers through his cropped hair, wondering if—
"Shit!" Balthier hisses, jerking away and waving his hand with a wince.
"What's wrong?" I frown, staring down at his palm when he quits his flailing. His skin is an angry red, burnt by the heated metal of a pipe he grabbed blindly. "Damn, Balthier, how'd you pull that one off?"
"I'm not entirely sure," he mutters, shaking his head. After a moment, he straightens, glancing down at me. "I suppose we should get back to the others before they come looking."
"That'd be the best course of action," I agree, crossing my arms. Balthier chuckles, pressing a final kiss to my lips before leading the way out.
"I suppose we'll have to keep that on pause until next time, Shera."
"Not if you can't get my name right, you ass."
"Right, right. My apologies, Highness."
"Balthier."
We clear the heated room and head back to the cockpit, red-faced, sweaty, and quiet. Vaan leaves Balthier's seat to sit beside me again, raising an eyebrow when he looks between the two of us.
"You guys find the problem?"
"Yeah, I did," I nod, wiping the sweat off my face. "Didn't take too long."
"Yeah?"
"… Yes?"
"Why'd it take so long for you guys to come back, then?"
"Vaan," I groan, slouching in my seat and hitting the boy's shoulder when he laughs.
"What? I'm just saying, it looks like you screwed more than an engine."
"Vaan, if you don't—"
"I would appreciate it if you wouldn't assume such things, Vaan," Balthier cuts in, glancing over at the boy. "I would never dare to make my dear Strahl jealous. Besides, that engine room's as dangerous as any other; Shae wouldn't be interested."
"Okay," I scoff, rolling my eyes. "Why don't you show the kid your hand, then? I wasn't the one who chickened out."
"Wait, you guys were gonna…?" Penelo trails off, face tinting pink. Ashe shakes her head as Reddas chuckles beside her.
"Why am I not surprised in the least?" the sea pirate asks, laughing. "Young love will thrive in the oddest places."
"Okay, old man," I scoff. "Calm down. I only meant that nothing would've happened because Balthier burned his hand, the idiot."
"I'm quite alright, thank you," Balthier sniffs. "Now, sit down properly. We're picking up speed."
"Whoa," Vaan gushes, gaping up at the sandy stone tower that rises high over the rest of this miniscule island far off the coast of Balfonheim. I nearly lose my balance when I drop onto the shore, brushing my hair from eyes and watching the waves crash as the wind picks up.
"My apologies," Balthier says over the deafening sound of rushing water coming from the falls pouring over the edge of the cliff this place rests on, straightening the cuffs of his sleeves. "I couldn't land us any closer."
"It's close enough for me," Vaan replies, joining Basch and Penelo on the edge of the cliff to take in the view.
"A tower on distant shore," Fran murmurs, eyeing the enormous structure as she drives the Strahl's anchor into the ground. "And about its peak, a piercing Mist."
"And in that Mist, the Sun-cryst waits," Ashe finishes, hands clutched over her chest.
"My Lady," Reddas cuts in. "Your words still sound of doubt. Pray you reach your answer, ere we the Sun-cryst."
"And?" Ashe turns to face him, defiance tracing her frown. "Should I choose revenge, what then?"
"Then your woe shall be your own," the pirate replies simply, walking past her to approach the entrance. With that, the others follow him in silence. I head toward Vaan, hoping to ask a simple, biting question. The authority in Balthier's voice when he calls the boy over lets the question slip my mind and I frown, watching Vaan head toward the waiting pirate.
"Yeah?" the thief asks. Balthier puts his thumbs through the belt loops in his pants and looks out at the rippling sea.
"If something untoward should happen to me, you're taking the Strahl." Balthier turns on his heels and starts to follow the rest of the party. I shake my head, chasing after the two. What is he on about?
"Untoward?" Vaan repeats. "What's this about?"
"I am the leading man," Balthier responds simply. "Might need to do something heroic. Don't worry, I'll teach you what Fran hasn't yet." Vaan frowns at me, shrugging. I catch up to his side, anxiously twisting the metal of my gauntlet.
"What do you mean by heroic?"
"Now, Shera, it's not ladylike to eavesdrop," comes my mocking reply. And that's that; the pirate takes long strides to rejoin the group, leaving us behind.
"Damn that man," I hiss under my breath. Vaan scratches the back of his head.
"What do you think he's worried about facing? Would something so bad really happen?"
"He's afraid of facing himself," I scoff, crossing my arms. "I doubt anything will happen, Vaan, he's just taking precautions because he's worried about his father."
"I thought he hated Doctor Cid."
"He does. He's worried about what his old man might pull."
"Oh. Okay." Vaan's silent for a minute longer as we pass into the wall of ancient stone buildings that stand empty at the foot of the tower. Rubble litters the sandy paths that but through to the huge staircase that heads up to the base of the tower and bits of pottery and bones stick up from between waves of the grains. Penelo walks alongside Fran and Ashe, flashing a grin when she catches my eye. "Why do you think… he'd give the Strahl to me?"
"You're a young man with big aspirations of sky pirating," I shrug. "You need to start somewhere."
"Yeah, but I thought you two were close?"
"… Not exactly. Besides, I have the Castean. Once we're through with all this, I'll start piecing her back together. I could never leave Dern's masterpiece to rust away in the desert."
"I guess not," Vaan sighs, kicking a spray of sand into the air and watching it fall. "I still don't get it, y'know? Are you guys just toying with each other or what?"
"Not everything is so clear-cut," I laugh gently, ruffling his hair. "Especially when it comes to people. I hate to admit it, but Balthier's hard to read. I'm sure he merely sees me as a bit of fun in the boring patches, so I'm doing well to keep my reservations."
"I think the problem is that you both think like that," Vaan scoffs, beaming and shoving my hand away. "Even the leading man's scared of heartbreak, yeah?"
"Perhaps," I shake my head. In a world where that man could have anything if he said pretty please? I honestly doubt it.
I found a character creator and made a lovely reference of Shae if you're interested: autumn810/art/Shera-Castean-Solidor-777831578?ga_submit_new=10%3A1545536447
I also made one for Dern: autumn810/art/Dern-777832367?ga_submit_new=10%3A1545536733
And another for Jonan. Someone help: autumn810/art/Jonan-777832523?ga_submit_new=10%3A1545536812&ga_type=edit&ga_changes=1