Pushing further on into the cave, Bartz, Galuf and Reina reached another dark tunnel after fighting off another wave of bats. Tired and weary of the threat of danger, when they saw light at the end of the passage a collective sigh of relief was breathed by the three. Slipping through the dark tunnel they heard voices up a head. Placing his finger over his lips whilst looking at the other two, Bartz stepped forwards, out of the tunnel and into the clearing. There was only a narrow gap, wide enough for one person at a time to slip through, but beyond it lay a larger clearing which seemed to be bustling with activity. Stepping into the well lit area, he noticed some black fabric hanging from the wall but the build up of mould and monster muck across it made it hard to see what was on it. Walking to the right, he motioned Galuf and Reina to join him. As his new companions made it out, they leaned against the wall and listened. They could hear water below them sloshing around something and voices all talking in an odd accent. They had stumbled into a base of some sorts.

Galuf: "Do you think that ship is here?"

Reina: "It has to be, there was nowhere else it could have went"

Bartz tried to listen carefully over the hushed voices of his companions. Something about this place didn't seem quite right. As he strained his ears to hear better, he peeked round the corner, through the narrow gap and quickly pulled his head back. The man he had saw earlier activating the switch was there. Getting a clearer look, a wave of panic overcame him. The man in the purple bandana had a cutlass styled sword hanging from his waist, along with his tattered clothes, black flags hanging up and presumably a large ship, this wasn't just any base. Looking to his two companions who wore a puzzled expression on their faces as they saw his pale face he took a deep breath and composed himself.

Bartz: "We've stumbled through the back door to a base... And its not good!"

Reina: "Why?"

Bartz looked up at the black fabric hanging from the wall, he could see it clearer now and everything fell into place. The large faded skull and crossbones smiled back down at him.

Bartz: "This is a pirate's hideout... So that means the ship we saw... Was a pirate ship!"

Reina's face was expressionless at first. Suddenly her face lit up, almost like someone had lit a lantern in her mind. Clearing her throat she looked to Bartz and Galuf and with an almost naive and innocent expression shocked them both.

Reina: "I wonder... Think we could get a ride?"

Bartz and Galuf jumped back with shock at the suggestion. Looking at each other bewildered and then at Reina with the same expression, Bartz shook his head and pointed to the flag above them. Still talking in a hushed tone, trying not to give away their position or the fact they were intruders in a pirates hidden cave he spoke to Reina.

Bartz: "Uhh... These are PIRATES we're talking about here!"

Galuf : "Well then... I guess we'll just have to stowaway on the ship or steal it for ourselves then!"

Bartz turned to look at Galuf who sported a big smirk on his face. Bartz stood there looking at Galuf, then to Reina who seemed to nod in agreement with him. Placing the palm of his hand on his forehead and exhaling in a dramatic fashion he looked to Galuf once more.

Bartz: "I give up, I'm outnumbered here! You're more daring than you look though old man"

Galuf laughed off the back-handed compliment before the three of them nodded to each other once more. They were going to steal a pirate ship from under the noses of pirates, in their own base. What could possibly go wrong?

=...=...=

It must have been near nightfall by the time they made their move. Slipping out from the ledge where they had camped out to watch the movement of the pirates and to try and see what they were up against if things turned sour, Bartz, Galuf and Reina moved forwards. Gently tiptoeing their way across the open expanse, past barrels piled up high against rocks and half opened crates filled full with what they could only assume were supplies for long sea voyages, they made it to the gangway. Reina and Galuf didn't seem too bothered about the lack of activity around them as they happily walked towards the ship but Bartz was more apprehensive about it. It was quiet, almost too quiet. Trying to dismiss his nagging thoughts, he followed them up on board the boat. The three of them walked towards the wheel at the back of the ship and stood there at it. Placing his hand on the wheel and giving it a nudge, Bartz was confused as to why there was no response. Reina and Galuf stood either side of him, looking at him and wondering what was going on.

Galuf: "Bartz... What's wrong?"

Bartz: "It's no use, it won't move at all"

Reina looked almost defeated as she saw Bartz and Galuf struggle to shift the large wooden wheel. Her one shot at getting to the Wind Shrine was fading away, much like the wind was itself. As she closed her eyes for a moment a sharp, angry voice startled them all.

"An Jus' Whaddya think You're doing?!"

The three travellers looked up from their position at the back of the ship with a look of panic on their faces. Stood there on the deck with a sword drawn was a purple haired, slightly feminine looking Pirate. Wearing a pale blue tunic with a green cloak slung over his shoulders and knee high dark brown leather boots, the Captain of the pirate crew was flanked by five of his biggest, most intimidating looking men. Covered in tattoo's, scars and sporting big beards, all had their cutlasses drawn and were ready to rumble. Bartz went to put his hand on the handle of his sword but Galuf shook his head. They were outnumbered two to one and any attempt to fight could end badly.

"I'll give ye dogs credit though. You've got stones! Bold as brass, comin' in 'ere, sneaking round and tryin t' steal me ship! 'Fraid it won't be happenin"

The Captain swung his sword as the five men moved forwards to draw level with him and to form a line across the deck. As Bartz looked over the back of the ship, into the dark, murky water of the cove, he tried to plain their escape but to Galuf and his surprise, Reina ran forwards towards the pirates with her arms up in the air.

Reina: " I am Tycoon's Princess Lenna. I apologise for trying to steal your ship like that"

Bartz and Galuf exchanged shocked glances, much like the pirate crew did.

Bartz: "Tycoon's..."

Galuf: "Princess?"

Lenna: "Please, lend me your ship. I have to get to the Wind Shrine, my father is in grave danger!"

The pirate Captain looked at her men and they all nodded. Lenna looked relieved for a moment, thinking her lineage and status had got them a ride to their destination but her hopes were dashed as the pirate Captain let out a hearty laugh.

"Princess Tycoon eh? You're gonna be worth a lot! Men, get 'em"

The pirates all nodded and shouted in unison

"Aye Cap'n Faris!"

Bartz and Galuf jumped down and moved alongside Lenna as the burly pirates advanced on them. They knew they were outnumbered, but they couldn't just let them capture Lenna without a fight. Drawing their weapons, they stood either side of Lenna who stepped forwards, towards Captain Faris.

Lenna: "Please, I beg of you"

Putting her hands to her chest and gesturing in a sign of humility, Lenna nudged her pendant which fell from its usual hidden spot. The pendant was a sign of the Tycoonian royal family. It was polished silver with a wind drake engraved into it. As the light reflected off of the pendant, Faris held her sword up, signalling her men to stop their advance. She had seen that pendant before and secretly, it unsettled her.

Faris: " ...That pendant... Men, keep 'em locked up"

"Aye Cap'n"

The crewmen advanced on Bartz who threw down his sword, Galuf did the same with his knife and both men held their arms up. Lenna made eye contact with Faris one more time. Her eyes pleaded with the pirate Captain but it was no use as the crew took the three invaders down into the brig.

=...=...=

The three of them were in a dimly lit room. Tight ropes bound their wrists behind their backs and their ankles were in shackles. Prisoner's to a band of pirates, Bartz sat down against the wall next to Lenna and looked at her. Her head was hung low and her hair draped across her face, hiding her tears and look of disappointment. When he first met the young woman, he could tell something wasn't right with her and how she hesitated when telling him her name, but Princess or not, deception or not, he promised to help her and that's what he planned to do... somehow. Racking his brain, trying to come up with a solution to get them out of the confines of the ship and one step closer to freedom, Bartz closed his eyes and tried to come up with a plan, but Galuf who was storming around the small room was making it hard for him to focus.

Galuf: "This is great! Who the heck said we should steal this thing anyway?"

Bartz laughed loudly, getting the attention of Galuf who turned round to face him.

Bartz: "I believe it was YOUR idea old man!"

Galuf's face went white after being called out on the botched ship theft attempt. Quickly moving to the other side of their holding room, Galuf leaned against the wall and fell back on the one thing he knew he could use to get out of this situation.

Galuf: "Ouch, my head... I can't remember anything..."

Bartz sighed.

Bartz: "Convenient!"

Lenna let out a slight laugh from the corner of the room. She lifted her head up and shook it, letting her fringe move out the way of her face. Her cheeks were tear stained, her eyes a little red around the edges but she wasn't crying anymore. Bartz looked at her and smiled.

Bartz: "That was some shock! Reina is actually Princess Lenna of Tycoon?"

Lenna: "I'm sorry, I wasn't intending to hide it..."

Bartz: "So why use a different name then? And why were you headed towards the Wind Shrine alone?"

Lenna sighed. She looked up to the ceiling as she spoke.

Lenna: "I use the name Reina when I can sneak out of the castle, the moment someone hears Lenna mentioned, the guards come running to usher me back into safety. I figured if I told you who I was, sooner or later the castle's guards would come looking for me"

Bartz: "I'll be honest, I didn't even know Tycoon had a Princess, your identity would have been safe with me"

Galuf laughed over in the corner of the room.

Galuf: "Smooth, trying the moves whilst she's tied up and can't go anywhere. You've got some determination boy"

Bartz looked at Galuf with a stare which if it could kill, would have done. Galuf chuckled to himself as Lenna ignored the teasing between the men and continued with her story.

Lenna: "My father is at the Wind Shrine. When the wind dropped off like that and kept stopping... I thought something bad must have happened. I escaped from the castle and was on my way towards the shrine when that meteor fell from the sky"

Bartz didn't reply, he simply nodded to her as she closed her eyes. He was happy that she had shared that with him, but at the same time, if he'd have known she was a Princess, they could have tried a different approach, especially one not involving pirates. He glanced across the room to Galuf who had nodded off and shrugged his shoulders. Seeing that he was now the only one awake, he too closed his eyes and tried to get to sleep.

In the other room below deck, Faris sat at his table. His cabin was lit by a small lantern on the oak furniture in front of him and the faint orange glow brought out a small metallic gleam. In both his hands he held a silver pendant. Running his fingers over it, he felt the groves of the picture engraved into it - a wind drake. It was exactly like Princess Lenna's, right down to the last little detail. Setting it down on the table, the purple haired pirate took his hair out of the pony tail he kept it in and ran his fingers through it, spreading his long hair out again. Shaking his head and sighing he looked down at the pendant once more.

Faris: "Why would the Princess of Tycoon have the same pendant as me?"

Listening to the water sloshing around the hull of the ship, Faris picked up the pendant and put it back round his neck. He stood up, pushing away from the table and held the pendant in his hand, letting the gleam from its polished surface sparkle in his eyes.

Faris: "She said her father is at the Wind Shrine..."

Tucking the pendant away underneath his shirt, the pirate walked towards the door of his cabin. Opening it, he shut it firmly behind him as he stepped through and walked out towards the deck. It was a clear night sky and there was no one around. Faris always took the night watch on his ship, he let the crew rest as during the day, they did all the heavy lifting. Walking along to the rail on the starboard side, he leaned over and looked into the water, reflecting the stars from the night sky.

Faris: "I have to find out... Tomorrow, we set sail for the Wind Shrine..."

=...=...=

The morning sun was intense to the eyes of Bartz, Lenna and Galuf as the crew brought them up on deck. Standing ahead of them was Faris, flanked by the rest of his crew. As the three shielded their eyes from the sun, they heard a commotion ahead of them. Faris had just informed the crew they were setting sail for the Wind Shrine. One of the pirates who brought the travellers up to the deck spoke. His voice was gruff and slightly croaky, probably due to the big scar running across his throat.

Pirate: "Cap'n, what we gonna do with these?"

Gesturing to Bartz, Lenna and Galuf, the pirate held one hand on his cutlass, ready to strike them down if needed. Bartz closed his eyes and took a deep breath whilst Lenna simply looked straight at Faris, watching the captain and waiting for his orders.

Faris: "...Untie their ropes!"

The crew and the prisoners all looked at each other in shock. Lenna's face lit up with a slight smile whilst Galuf sported a grin from ear to ear. Bartz on the other hand kept his eyes closed. He was trying to concentrate and work out what was going on exactly.

Faris: "Hurry up ya bunch o' no good varmints!"

The pirate crew collectively shouted 'Aye!" and set to work. The robes binding their wrists were cut and the shackles on their legs unlocked. All were cast aside and the pirates moved, allowing the three to step forward, shake their limbs out and get some movement back. Lenna stepped forward first. Approaching the captain she looked him in the eyes and spoke.

Lenna: "Why?"

Faris: "I'm gonna lend you a hand here, that good enough for ya? Crew, get ready to set sail.. We're off to the Wind Shrine"

The pirate crew exchanged glances. They didn't understand why but none of them were bold enough to challenge their captain's orders.

Faris: "You rats even listening to me? Answer me!"

Pirates: "A...AYE AYE CAP'N"

The pirates scrambled into action, unmooring the ship, pushing away from the dock and taking their usual positions across the deck with one of them acrobatically climbing up the mast to take his usual place in the crow's nest. Lenna stepped forwards and walked towards Faris who stood at the front of the ship.

Lenna: "Thank you Captain... But I have to know one thing... With the wind stopped, how will we move the ship?"

Faris let out a laugh and looked at the Princess.

Faris: "You really wanna know?"

Faris pointed towards the front of the ship prompting Galuf and Bartz to join Lenna. As they peered over the side, Faris put his fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly.

Faris: "SYLDRA! C'mon an Introduce ye'self!"

There was a sudden jerking motion from the front of the ship. All the pirates remained perfectly still, used to the movement of the vessel, but Bartz, Lenna and Galuf stumbled, holding on to the side rail for balance much to the amusement of the pirates. From the waters in front of the ship there was an almighty crashing noise followed by a loud roar. The three travellers leaned over the rails and looked down into the water. There was a massive sea serpent attached to a harness at the front of the ship. It had greyish-blue skin and green scales on its ears. Its fangs were brilliant white and its eyes a pale yellow colour. It turned its head to look up at the ship and let out another roar before it submerged itself.

Faris: "Meet Syldra, the last member o' our crew. We grew up together so we're practically brothers!"

Letting out a hearty laugh at the shocked passengers, Faris nodded to them and then to the crew. Standing on the front of the ship, he raised his sword into the air, the sunlight reflected off its edge as he pointed it forwards.

Faris: "We're off! Set sail to the Wind Shrine men"

Pirates: "AYE AYE CAP'N!"

The ship lurched forwards with an almighty heave as they disembarked. As the ship sailed out of the cove towards the open sea ahead of them, Faris left the wheel to her first mate.

Faris: "I'm goin' below deck. Wake me when we reach the Wind Shrine or if we run into any trouble"

The pirate nodded and took the wheel as his captain headed down below deck. At the front of the ship, Lenna held her pendant tightly in her hands. Looking ahead to the horizon she whispered to herself.

"Father, I'm coming!"

=...=...=

The Wind Shrine was located on the north shore of the inland sea. It was in a forest located in the middle of a valley, surrounded by high mountains. As the ship approached it, Faris surfaced from below the decks. Wearing a floor length leather duster coat with the arms cut off, he re-adjusted the sword in his belt. In his hand he carried a bag.

Faris: "Princess! You and your companions will be needin' these if you're gonna get to the shrine"

Lenna, Galuf and Bartz walked towards the pirate who dumped the canvas sack on the floor. As it rolled open they looked at its contents - it was their weapons. Reaching down, Bartz picked up his sword and stuck it through his belt again. Lenna grabbed her mother's dagger and Galuf looked down confused. He could only see his leather cap.

Faris: "Old timer... You're no use with a little knife like that. I've got a real weapon for you."

Reaching into his coat, the pirate captain pulled out a sword similar to that of Bartz. It was a standard sword, a little blemished from constant fighting but it was no issue to the old man who took it in his hand and carefully ran his fingers along the edges of it. Satisfied with its weight and condition, he nodded and put it in his belt.

Faris: "There's the coast. We'll drop anchor and one o' me men will take us to the shore"

Lenna looked at Faris with a confused look on her face.

Lenna: "Us?"

Faris: "I told ye I would help. With no wind, we're the only ship on the sea which can sail, and that means we've got no one to plunder on the waves. Our lively hood depends on the wind. I'd be a poor excuse of a Captain if I were to take ye to the Shrine and get no answers for me crew"

Lenna nodded at the pirate and turned back to the horizon, watching as the coast came into view.