The following day the ship approached the golden mist with in the sky. Many sky continents were everywhere. Land in the air is not really unusual within this world, though land protected by mist was another story. The ship landed at the closet one. Within the ship, Filo and Kytes were jumping up and down, fully excited. Auda knew no one but her and Tomaj slept.
"This has to be it!" Filo yelled.
"The legend!" Kytes yelled back.
"The undiscovered sky continent!"
Penelo walked to the children. Auda had her own thoughts. Children shouldn't be out being pirates. However they were orphans, and such they were tougher than they have to be in order for them to even make it, with and without a war going on. Kytes was a master of ga spells after all.
Penelo looked at them, "Well, we're in quite a mess now aren't we?"
"It's not our fault. The ship started moving all by itself." Filo defended.
Vaan looked at Penelo. "Don't worry. I can fly the airship, no problem."
Penelo hmphed. "You're certainly confident."
"At least I finally managed to get our 'guest' under control." Tomaj walked onto the scene. He led everyone onto the bridge. In the middle, Ba'Gamnan was tied up with a certain type of rope. "So, what's the plan, Vaan?"
"You made Vaan in charge?" Auda asked.
"Why not? I don't see anything wrong with that. Do you?" Tomaj asked back.
Auda shook her head. "Vaan's old enough."
Vaan nodded his head. "First things first. Our airship needs a name. No self-respecting band of sky pirates has a ship without a name."
"Yeah!" Filo jumped. "It's bad luck!"
"But since when are we a band of sky pirates?" Kytes had to ask.
Vaan shook his head. "This is the adventure you've always wanted, right? That's good enough for me! Now to think of a name... The Galbana. Whaddaya think?"
"It's perfect!" Filo yelled.
Auda smiled lightly, "That's sweet Vaan."
"You remember?" He asked.
"How could I not? I have it tattooed to me."
Vaan ran up and pointed outside. "Now that that's settled, we've got a sky continent to explore!"
Filo and Kytes jumped up and down. "Aye-aye!" They yelled. The air ship went to a small island, and landed on a flat spot. Filo started to jump once again, while everyone was looking around. Ba'Gamnan was jumping as well. Though his jumping wasn't due to excitement, it was more on the fact of him trying to get free of Tomaj's bonds.
"We're here. All ashore!" Vaan yelled.
"Aye-aye!" Filo yelled.
"Am I the only one having second thoughts?" Kytes asked.
Filo ran over to hit him.
Auda shook her head. "Shouldn't hit you know. Having cold feet is normal. Kytes, you are a natural at magick. You got this." She reassured.
"Thank you Auda." He spoke.
Tomaj walked over to Ba'Gamnan. "I suppose I'll stay here, keep an eye on the ship and our scaly stowaway."
Ba'Gamnan stopped his jumping, surprised.
"Thanks, Tomaj." Vaan spoke.
"I'll stay too." Auda , still feeling like she hasn't had enough to sleep. "I know how much trouble this one baganna can cause."
"All right, Thanks Auda." Vaan, Filo, and Kytes started to leave. The baganna began jumping again.
Penelo stepped forward. "Wait! Just one thing before we go." The rest of the travel party looked back at her. "I want each of you to promise you'll do something for me."
"What kind of promise?" Vaan asked.
"I want you all to think about what it means to be a sky pirate. Being a sky pirate isn't all thrill and adventure, you know."
"It's not?" Filo asked looking over at Kytes. Kytes shares her confusion face.
"Not exactly." Vaan took over. "It's something we had a lot of time to think about when we were helping Ashe fight the Empire."
"If you know the answer already, why won't you just tell us?"
"It's the kinda thing you have to figure out for yourself."
Kytes jumped, giving off an impatient look. "Aww, c'mon, Vaan! Give us just a little hint, please?"
Auda giggled lightly.
"Well, I guess a little hint couldn't hurt. Part of being a sky pirate is hunting for treasure."
"Hunting for treasure? That's it?" Filo asked.
"It's a start."
"We can't just tell you." Auda shook her head. "Every person has a different answer, since everyone is different."
"You are a sky-pirate too?" Kytes asked.
"Technically no." She shook her head. "Besides, my fiancé is a judge… that would be awkward." She laughed off.
Penelo looked at the group. "Kytes, Filo, Tomaj. I want you all to promise me you'll think about it, okay?"
Kytes went to Penelo, getting an idea. "I know! We can all write down our ideas in a log as we go along."
Tomaj ran over from Ba'Gamnan. "I never even wanted to be a sky pirate."
"Um...no?" Filo doesn't like that idea.
Penelo gave that famous angry look.
"I mean, uh… sure?"
"Then we're agreed. Everyone will keep a log until we get back to Rabanastre."
"Right." Tomaj spoke.
"Yes ma'am."
Auda shook her head. "You want me to do logs to?"
"Yes please." Penelo answered.
"All right,"
Penelo looked at Vaan, "That includes you, too, Vaan."
"What!?"
"All right, all right." Vaan ran over, "If Penelo's finished, then...let's go!" He took off, with everyone else. Auda and Tomaj stayed on the bridge over looking Ba'Gamnan.
Vaan and everyone returned with a new guy name Llyud. He was a red head who had red wings. She looked at him. Then she looked at Vaan. "What happened exactly?"
"He needed our help, so we are helping him. Sky pirates are going around and causing trouble."
"Ah, the real greedy pirates, not the freedom fighter pirates. Enough said." Auda had a quick dizzy spell. She stopped, and shook her head.
"Auda?"
"Nothing to worry about." She dismissed. "Must not have enough sleep."
"Don't let her fool you." Tomaj spoke next. "She napped while you were gone, leaving me alone with our 'guest.'"
"Are you okay?" Penelo sounded worried. She put her hand on the older female's forehead. "You have a slight temperature. I think you might be sick."
"I feel fine, I'm just tired." Auda had protested. She then moved to Penelo's ear. "My time is soon." She spoke softly, so only she could hear.
"I see. Well, rest up anyways. It shouldn't take you out like this."
"Eh, has been lately." She shrugged off.
Penelo shook her head. "If you knew you should have waited before visiting."
"I wanted fun before it hit." She laughed off. "Penelo you worry too much. I know what to do. Really go focus on keeping Kytes and Filo safe eh?"
After Vaan kinda explain things to Tomaj they were off.
"What are you doing?" Auda asked Tomaj, while he was working with some wires and some rope within the open area of the ship.
"I'm working on a permanent solution for Ba'Gaman."
"Huh, from here it really looks like you enjoy tying people up." She joked.
"Oh haha." He mocked laughed. "What of you?"
"I was just teasing." She shook her head. "Anyways, how will it work?"
"If he misbehaves it will shock him."
"Yeah, you really must like being in control." She teased again.
"Is that a problem?"
"Didn't say it was. Touchy, touchy, dear old Tomaj. Say, can I ask you something?"
"And that would be what exactly?"
Auda leaned against the wall, looking over at baganna who was tied up all the way in the bridge. "Basch is super busy, and lately within the last weeks he hasn't been well. He seems as tired as I am now. I find it hard to bring up how lonely I have felt within the Empire. I really have no friends there, and so what if Larsa cleared my name, it didn't change how they view me. Some have showed that they feel for me, but as long as it doesn't change their life they couldn't care less. I fear that if we do have kids that they would be unhappy as I when I grew up in the Empire."
"What is your question?"
"What should I do?"
Tomaj shook his head. "That's really up to you. You have a lot to think about from the sounds of it. Though you are in a relationship, and that means you will have to talk to him. Have you guys talked about children?"
"He more than I." Auda glanced away. "I want to wait until he can be Basch again, but in reality I don't think that would be possible. I think he would always stay Gabranth. That way the world would think Gabranth is alive, and that Larsa would always be protected."
"Nothing wrong in wanting children to know who their real parent is. Has he really thought through the sacrifices your relationship has taken for the sake of the Empire? You left that life just to go back to it. Is it really something you can go back to? I think you are tired just because your body finally feels as though it can rest from the stress you had."
"Perhaps." She looked at the sky.
"Stay at Rabanstre with us."
"Excuse me? Tomaj…"
"You don't have to give me answer now. But an answer will be due when the adventure is over. What you pick then, know that you won't be alone. You will always have a friend in me."
"Why would you ask me to return?"
"Because you sound unhappy, and I believe we all can make you happy."
"Right… I'm gonna nap again." Before she went to her room, she went to the bridge and looked at the logbook. Not much was written in it of course. Tomaj was the last to write something in. She picked up something to write with. 'I have no idea what to write in here Penelo. I'm very tired, and bored. I want to be out there where the action is. This better go away! ~ Auda.' With that she went off to her bedroom.
Auda walked back out. Tomaj had a smirk on his face. "Auda! Perfect timing, want to see it in action? Go provoke Ba'Gamnan for me."
Auda rolled her eyes. "Are they still out?" She asked walking to the bridge with him.
"They returned for a little bit, but they are off again. Do not worry, they wish you well."
"How can we let children go of being sky pirates? I mean really…"
"Kytes and Filo are tough. They have Vaan and Penelo with them. They really have grown over the past year."
"It doesn't set well with their age."
"You went and got yourself a mother bone." Tomaj teased. "They faced more than most adults, all because they are on their own. Even with our help, they had to face being alone…"
"I can relate." She sighed, "Time for them to learn." She walked in. "Yo Ba'Gamnan. What's up lizard1 boy?"
"Lizard?!" He jumped up, "Don't you know better you racist hume?" Ba'Gamnan had the thing Tomaj working on around his mouth. A muzzle, but didn't work in shutting him up.
Tomaj whistled. Electricity went through his muzzle and into his body. "Behave. Not bad for a day's work huh? What says you Auda?"
"I think you have a bondage fantasy." She rolled her eyes. "You made me provoke him for that?"
"Why not? You gotta help out too you know, can't just sleep though the adventure."
Auda walked out of the bridge and into the sky area. "I'm starting to think something is wrong…" She looked away.
"Some illness?"
"No… Liking your stress idea however. What do you plan with him?"
"Let him loose, and follow. Gotta show Vaan, and why not during a battle."
"Have fun. I'll watch the airship for you then."
"Going for another nap?"
"No, I should stay awake until dark."
Everyone had returned to the airship. Kytes ran to Auda, "You know what Tomaj did?"
Auda nodded her head, and followed him inside to the bridge. "I know. Unsure how to feel about that."
"I don't know if I should trust it."
Auda started laughing, "It will be fine."
"Oh, we have to go to the temple. Do you want to come with? I haven't got to see you in action yet."
She shook her head. "I would like to know why I'm always tired lately."
"I hope you get your answer soon."
Vaan walked to Filo, "Being a sky pirate everything you thought it'd be?"
" I'll say!" She yelled. They all arrived at the bridge of the Galbana. They must need a breather.
"All that hard work and practice down in Lowtown really paid off."
"It sure did! I told those scurvy landlubbers it would!"
"Too bad we couldn't bring more of the old crew along."
Filo laughed. " He he he. They'll just have to wait for the next time!"
Vaan went to Kytes and Auda. He looked restless. "Auda, feeling any better?"
"Nope." She shook her head. "Getting irradiated at how it won't go away yet. I want to be where the action is you know. I don't do well sitting around watching Tomaj work on whatever pet project he picked to do. And I really don't want him to pull me into them."
"Hearing you tell us about your adventures is one thing, but doing the adventuring is kinda scary." Kytes admitted.
Vaan looked at him. "Aw, c'mon. You're having fun, aren't you?"
"I guess... But I've never really been much for fighting. What if something really big attacks us?"
"Then just be glad we'll be facing it together."
"Right, Vaan! Just promise me you'll try not to get us in too much trouble, okay?"
Auda laughed.
Vaan then went to Tomaj. Tomaj had one of his famous smirks on. "I told you you'd be glad to have me along. That trinket was worth every gil."
"Trinket? You mean the muzzle you've got wrapped around Ba'Gamnan's snout? What did you buy that for in the first place?" Vaan had asked.
"Sorry, I can't be giving our trade secrets."
"Whatever you say, Tomaj."
Auda started laughing again. "I know why he bought it in the first place."
"Not a word you." Tomaj stepped forward.
"Or you got more of your toys to stop me?" She had to ask. She walked closer.
"Toys?" Kytes asked.
"Adult conversation mind you." Tomaj looked at the boy.
Auda rolled her eyes.
"Anyways, have you seen the size of the sky saloon on this ship? There must be some use we can put it to."
"Is that what that room is called?" Auda asked, thinking of that big space.
"You don't know airships much do you?"
"Nope."
"Then I'll guess I'll teach you."
"Oh hail the great teacher Tomaj." She teased again.
Auda started to feel strange, well stranger. She stood in the bridge alone. Tomaj went out again after giving her first airship lesson. She didn't know what was going on. Her breasts were so tender, but they usually are at this time of the month. Maybe she was just starting late, and her body is giving her a warning? She didn't know. She was still tired, and nothing helped. Perhaps she should talk to Penelo. The party came back on in a hurry.
Everyone stood around and got themselves some rest. Vaan was the first to break the silence. "So what do you know about these 'auraliths,' Llyud?"
"The auraliths are the root of the power that sustains our world. It is said there are three such crystals." The agyel looked at the front of the airship, looking at the sky. "Their story begins many thousands of years ago, when the Eternal created this land. His proper name is Feolthanos the Eternal. When He created Lemures, He used the three auraliths to create a barrier to protect us. Feolthanos lives even now, standing watch over Lemures, sheltering us from harm."
Filo shook her head. "No way... How can he still be alive after thousands of years?"
"He is the Eternal. He knows not death."
"I'm starting to see a pattern here. Balthier said the Cache of Glabados was supposed to have a connection with the eternal..." Vaan thought.
"Is something wrong?" Flyud asked.
"No, but we better get moving. You wanna keep the auraliths safe from the Judge of Wings, don'tcha?"
"The auraliths hold the power of the Eternal. They are the very foundation of Lemures. They must be protected at all costs. The Judge of Wings means to bring down the eternal...or replace Him."
"Anybody trying to become a god got his armor on too tight, if you ask me."
"Many beings are after power." Auda folded her arms, "This Judge of Wings is no different."
"Do you know where any of the auraliths are?" Penelo asked.
"One, yes."
Vaan had a new look of determination. "Then all we have to do is make sure we get to it before they do! Where to, Llyud?"
"A great cloudstone rises from the island to the west. The auralith is there."
Vaan held the cache in his hand. "Let's see what the Galbana's got!" The airship went off.
Auda walked to the sky saloon. Tomaj soon followed her. "I'm getting ideas." Tomaj spoke. "I will need help."
"Oh?" She asked with her curiosity peeked.
"Shops. They will need upgraded content, and I still need to make some sort of living to. Plus it would keep me from being bored. What do you say?"
"Count me in. I don't know what shops you want. You have access to your contacts all the way up here?"
"I always have contacts somewhere."
"Well of course, wouldn't be a good street ear otherwise." She looked at the fountain in the middle. "I think we should at least have a café, food made to order."
"That we can do. I take it your hungry?"
"I have craving for some good old deep fried cockatrice."
Tomaj had to laugh.
Even if you just want to provoke someone, do not use racial slurs like Auda had done. Lizard is racial slur giving what the sage reports said within FFXII when you beat a certain number of monsters.
