Chapter 3: Airborne
"We are above the Mosphoran Highwaste now Vaan, we are nearly there" Penelo said. "I know, but something has been bothering me when we first flew over the Salikawoods" Vaan replied. "What's up then?" Kytes asked. "We are being followed" Vaan said with a straight face. "FOLLOWED!" they all yelled. "Why would we be followed?" Filo asked in panic. "Don't worry I'll shake them off soon enough, they can't match the speed of the Destiny" Vaan said while smiling at the others. sigh I hope your right Vaan" Penelo said.
After hovering above the Mosphoran Highwaste the Destiny is almost near the Dalmasca Estersand when suddenly an airship appears before them.
"Erm... Vaan… I think we have a problem" Penelo said. Vaan swallowed and knew that there was no escape possible. "You guys… get ready we are going down... if I don't land the ship they will shoot us down". "What Vaan think! What about the box!" Kytes said. "As soon as we land we hide into one of the caves in the Mosphoran Highwaste, is that clear?" Vaan said. "Aye sir!" They replied. "Filo, please take the box with you, if something should happen just leave it, your life and ours is more valuable then that stupid box" Vaan said. "Ok I got it, let's go..." Filo said.
Vaan was just landing the airship when the other two airships started to land too. "Filo did you notice the emblem on the sides of those ships? They don't seem familiar to me..." Kytes said. "No I haven't seen them before either" Filo responded. "Guys, stop talking we are about to land, get ready to run." Vaan interrupted.
The Destiny landed near some caves in the Mosphoran Highwaste and the team rushed out to find shelter. Both of the following airships landed near the team's ship, inspecting it on the inside.
Soldier1:"It isn't here boss!" "Then go look for it your knucklehead" the boss replied. "Ok sir, where should we look first?" said the soldier. "Where do you think! In our ship?" the boss answered. "But boss how could the box be in our..?" BANG the boss interrupted the soldier and banged with the end of his sword on the back of his helmet. "Are you this dumb!? In the caves of course! What did you expect!" the boss said agitated. "rr… right away sir..." the soldier replied. sigh "what do I have to do with you guys" the boss said.
"Guys keep running or they will catch up" Vaan said. "Right let's get deeper into the cave guys" Penelo said. After walking some while the team rests up a bit. "I hope we are far enough now..." Kytes said "Wait SHH! I hear footsteps" Vaan whispered "ARG they should be around here!" the boss said. Woof!! Woof!! "What is it doggy did you smell something" the boss said. "WE ARE SPOTTED RUN GUYS!" Vaan yelled. The team started running with behind them the boss, two soldiers and a wary wolf. "VAAN! IT'S A DEAD END!" Kytes yelled. "Then there is no other way, prepare for battle" Vaan said.
Kytes began casting his "Flare" spell. "Hold them off Vaan it takes a while to load" he said. "Don't worry ill fight them off" Vaan replied. He drew his sword and rushed toward the soldiers. Slash! Slash! "Show me what you got!" Vaan said when a soldier dropped down on his knees. The boss looked at the soldier which was on his knees and looked at the other. "Well, go on attack" he said. After a bit of hesitating the soldier picked up his blade and rushed towards Vaan. "IT'S READY!" WHOOOOS! the charging soldier was caught in a huge fireball surrounding him. "What is this" he yelled! "Haha, welcome to my Flare spell" Kytes laughed. "If you want something done, you got to do it yourself" the boss said. He raised his hand and a strange aura was gathering around it. "Watch out guys!" Penelo said. The boss laughed… "Goodbye". "What!" said Vaan. As Vaan replied to the Boss a strange aura surrounded them all. "ESUNAGA!".
A strange light filled the room with a smoothening smell.
"What! A brat like you knows Esunaga?" the boss yelled. "Yes I do, and you know what I also know?" Penelo said. "Well tell me!" the boss asked. "HOLY!" the boss was surrounded in a white light. While talking you could not see the boss, the holy spell Penelo casted was really strong, everyone knew that but even so the boss continued speaking. "So, guess I have to get serious". "What that didn't even hurt him!" Vaan said. All of the sudden the boss drew his sword and in eyewink everyone lay on the ground. "Aaah! The box Filo!" Vaan yelled. Filo did not respond. Vaan looked around and saw the others where unconscious. "I won't forgive you!" he yelled and rushed to the boss which was still holding his sword. "Don't worry, you'll get your time, just not now, brat!" after saying these words the boss lifted his hand. "Disable" he said. After hearing that Vaan could not move. "Blast you! Using such magic against me!" Vaan said. "It does not matter as long as I have this box, none of you can hurt me" the boss replied. After that the boss to getter with his dog vanished into thin air. "What the!" Vaan yelled.
After the disable was over Vaan rushed towards his companions. "Kytes are you ok?" Kytes did not respond. "Filo? Hey Filo come on stop kidding…" Vaan realized it had no use "Penelo not you too right!" Neither Penelo nor the others did respond. Vaan fell on the ground crying. Guys... GUYS… GUYS!!
Who was this strange man? What gave him these dark powers? Why did they want the box so badly? And what about the others? You will see, in the next chapter "Explanations"