I altered Bikke's dialogue here. It's just...cannon balls of steel really? Anyway, enjoy!
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Saria woke up to the gentle nudging of Leon and Ailith woke up to Erick kicking her gently awake. Leon smiled at Saria and helped her up.
"Yo. Wake up." Erick said in a stern voice. Ailith nodded and got up in a sluggish manner while yawning.
"Why can't you be more like him?" Ailith teased. Erick laughed and held out his hand, helping Ailith up.
"You really like him don't you?" Erick said, teasing Ailith. "Never thought you'd be one to like guys like him."
"Huh? What, no!" Ailith said, her face turning red. Erick laughed and patted her on the back.
"It's alright! Your secret's safe with me! Besides, Leon told me something while you two were taking a bath. He told me somethinggg!" Erick playfully said while glancing at Leon who was glaring at him. "Hahahaha! Okay, okay fine!" Erick laughed. They all ate a hearty breakfast and moved along, continuing their travels to Pravoka. Within a two hours time they were there and the village was full of pirates that kept the villagers in their homes. They went into the Inn and stayed there for their lunchtime.
"Wow, I had no idea it was this bad..." Saria said, looking around at the miserable people. Even the waitress and bartender were sad.
"Try to keep your voices down. We don't want the pirates to know about us." Leon whispered while eating his sausage and eggs. The three of them nodded and quietly ate their meals.
~O~O~
After they rested for a good two or so hours, they questioned the villagers and found out where Bikke was.
"Thanks Hope. You were a big help. Don't worry, we'll free everyone here." Leon reassured the little boy with silver hair and his mother, who also had silver hair. They left to the very far end of the town, where they could see Bikke and other pirates conversing about something.
"Hah. We might as well burn this town. Then people here would know better than to shame me!" Bikke said while drinking. "Hmm? What's this?" He said as he noticed the four approaching.
"Let this town go Bikke." Leon demanded.
"Hmph. You have nerve to be talking like that to a man of my standing, you lowly dogs. State your name and maybe I'll have you a fast death." Bikke hissed as he glared at them. However, Leon stood in front, unaffected and unmoved by both Bikke and his pirates. "Hmph. Lowly dogs can't even get an order right. Take them out boys." Bikke demanded and the pirates began to surround them.
"Guys!" Leon demanded and they all got out their weapons. Saria got her hammer out and Erick got his knives out. The pirates lunged forward. Leon blocked a pirate's attack with his shield, while kicking another in the face and slashing yet another with his sword. Saria put a defensive barrier up on all of them while dodging the pirates who were attacking her and countering with swings from her hammer. Erick was having an easy time attacking multiple pirates with his knives and his magic. While Ailith was having the time of her life, dodging and countering the pirates attacks.
"Too slow!" Ailith taunted as the pirate missed her and she placed a good kick in his face, sending him flying. Another tried to swing his sword at her but she only grabbed his hand and threw him, sending him crashing towards the other pirates. They all stopped for a while to just watch her fight and easily throw around the men who were much bigger than she was. Leon, Saria, and Bikke watched in amazement as she had the time of her life knocking all the pirates out. Erick was not so surprised however, as he saw her do the same things to the poor summons of Master Sarda, so he just sat back and watched.
"You can do better than that!" She said pulling another pirate closer to her with her left arm and sending him flying the opposite direction with her right. Soon enough all the pirates were knocked unconscious. "Aww. That's it? Well, hope I didn't do too much damage." She said, looking at one who was knocked out cold. Just then, Leon turned toward the Bikke and smiled a polite smile.
"Heh. Well?" Leon said.
"You! DAMMIT! Fine, I'll leave again!" Bikke said as he fell toward the floor, tears flowing down his cheeks. The villagers cheered and one of them came up to Bikke and leaned down until they were face to face.
"You don't need to leave Bikke, this place isn't the same anymore. You can build anew here! Leave behind your pirate legacy and start anew! Here in Pravoka!" The man said, offering his hand to Bikke. "You don't need to live with a title that was destroyed a long time ago. Leave it behind, we could use someone like you and your men here."
"...I...Fine...I was starting to get old anyway." Bikke said, grabbing the man's hand and getting up. "I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused. I promise I'll make it up to you all." He said. "Travellers...have my ship...It's...I won't need it anymore. Just take it, here's the key to all of the rooms. Just...wait for them to wake up and unpack their things." Bikke said gesturing to the unconscious pirates. They all looked at Ailith who gave a sheepish smile.
~ On top of a distant house ~
"Hmph. That's a noble end. Didn't actually think you'd do that." Amilia said, watching from the top of a house in the distance.
"Yeah but...that Pirate Lord needs to let go of his already shattered reputation. It's no use holding on to a reputation you can't get back." Claude said, also watching.
~ Meanwhile at the Pravokan Inn ~
"What...who convinced you that? Who told you about my legacy?" Bikke asked the man, who treated all of them to some drinks.
"A man in red. He didn't say his name, but he told us your story." The man explained and the five of them listened. Ailith was shocked and Saria smiled gently at her, while putting her hand on top of Ailith's reassuringly. "He told us about your legacy as a Pirate Lord and how your defeat by our hands, well, more of Garland's really, ended it forever. So this time, we'll offer you this, to make up for all the shame we put you through." The man explained, Bikke was astonished.
"Can you explain this man? How did he look like?" Bikke asked.
"Did he...by any chance, have silver eyes and hair and...maybe fair skin?" Ailith asked, while trying not to turn red, but failing miserably.
"Yes, do you know him?" The man asked. The two boys turned toward Ailith who hid behind Saria. The both of them looked suspiciously at her, Erick especially.
"No. No she doesn't. She just saw him in the distance when we entered Pravoka." Saria explained holding Ailith's hand.
"By my beard! That...that bastard..." Bikke laughed happily. "Travellers, thank you. I couldn't have started anew without you defeating me. Thank you." He said and they nodded. Bikke held out his hand and Leon shook it firmly.
~ Somewhere in the distance ~
"It'll be time soon. I'm sorry it can't be you." Claude said to Amilia, who was gazing at her siblings happy faces. "Are you listening to me?"
"What?" She said, her expression suddenly changing to a glare when she took her eyes off Leon and Saria. Claude just silently laughed to himself.
"I said, I'm sorry you have to be the one who has to hide." Claude said facing away from her.
"I...Well, thanks but as long as they can be safe. I'll do anything, even stay away from them for the rest of my life if I have to...Yes, that does bother me but Saria and Leon do know who I am. It's crucial they find out at the right time. So I'll be okay. Thanks for your concern." Amilia said, her voice changing into a softer one. Claude looked at her as she watched Leon and Saria, her expression changing to one of longing and her eyes becoming softer.
~ Back at Pravoka ~
"Yeah...There she is. She should be able to take you anywhere, you fancy." Bikke said as they went to the docks and they saw a huge ship, with sails that had the mark of a dragon between crossed swords and golden linings. "You'll be with them now honey. I'm sure they'll take good care of you, don't worry...I...I'll be happy here." Bikke said as he patted the ship, the four of them looked at him. "Heh, sorry. Old habits as a pirate ya know? She...She was kind of a big part in my legacy as a Pirate Lord...won me many victories she did...You'll take good care of her won't ya?" He asked as he handed them the key to the front door and gate of the ship.
"Don't worry. We'll make sure nothing happens to her." Leon said reassuringly.
"Hahaha. It's funny if you think about it. Cause if we do let something happen to the ship, then we'll be stranded in the ocean." Erick laughed to himself. The last of the pirates took their baggage off and cleaned the inside of the ship. Then they escorted the Warriors to the ship and put the luggage in. The pirates left the ship and the Warriors waved goodbye.
"Take good care of her lads." Bikke said as he looked back one more time, before seeing the ship sail away. "Good night...My beloved legacy." He said, as he turned away and walked towards Pravoka.
"Boss...How are they supposed to sail her with only four people in?" One of the pirates said and then there was a silence.
"BWAHAHAHAHA!" Bikke and the other pirates burst out laughing.
**~ At the Ship ~
"Wow, this really is a big ship. Oh. By the way, do you guys have any clue on where we're supposed to go next?" Saria asked. Then all of their eyes widened and they were left with mouths agape.
"No. No we don't...NO WE DON'T!" Leon finally lost his composure as a calm, and stern leader and tried to jump off the ship. Erick burst out laughing and only levitated him above the water.
"And so ends the tale of the four Warriors!" Ailith and Saria laughed as Erick put Leon back to the ship.
"Oh. Blargh!" Leon said as a piece of paper flew into his mouth. "There is a sleeping prince at Elfheim which is just south of Cornelia. Please kiss him and wake the sleeping beauty up." Leon's eyes widened. "Saria. Come look at this." Leon said and they all drew closer to him. Upon seeing the paper, Saria's eyes widened and her mouth was left agape.
"Oh my gosh...that's Amilia's writing..." Saria said and Ailith looked at her, shocked.
"Saria...She's alive." Ailith said with a happy face and then she hugged Saria. Saria pulled her into a tight hug and Leon and Erick were left wondering what the fudge was going on. More so Erick than Leon because Erick didn't know who Amilia was, but Leon was also confused because Ailith knew who their sister was.
"Wait who's Amilia?" Erick asked.
"How does she know about Amilia?" Leon asked.
"WHO THE HELL IS AMILIA!?" Erick yelled, and they laughed.
"Come, I'll tell you the story." Saria said, and they went into the ship. Leon prepared some snacks for them to eat while Saria told them.
~ Someplace above them ~
"Looks like they found your paper." Claude asked, holding the reins of the dragon that he summoned and that they were currently riding on.
"This so beats an airship Romeo." Amilia said, enjoying the strong wind that was blowing in her face and the clouds that were brushing on her skin.
"Stop calling me that." Claude said, irritated. "Thanks, but summoning magic isn't such a big deal. This is just a common friend of mine anyway. It's not like I summoned the King of Dragons Bahamut." He said.
"Maybe for you it's not. Most mages can't even summon living creatures yet, cause they haven't discovered it yet. Hahaha. It's amazing what you can learn in the Labyrinth." Amilia said, while lying down. She watched the sky fly by before her and smiled.
"Alright, I'll be going now. You take the reins." He said, handing her the reins. "Whenever you ride a dragon always stay right here, or at their back." Claude said, pointing to the point right between the neck and the back.
"Never stay here." He said, pointing just below it. "Got it?" He asked and she nodded.
"I'll be fine Romeo. Just worry about yourself." She said taking the reins. He rolled his eyes and then jumped off. Then after a good two or so, minutes of falling, his eyes glowed a faint blue. He clicked his fingers and his body surged a faint blue light. Then he landed gracefully and without a sound in a kneeling position, with one hand in front of him for balance. Then he waited for a bit, but not before soaking himself with water.
~ Back at the ship ~
"Huh. Didn't know we all had so much in common." Leon said, putting butter and honey over his freshly baked bread.
"Yeah." Erick said, eating his bread stuffed with strawberry jam. "It's...kind of hard to believe, given the position we're in now." He stated.
"You noticed." Saria said, drinking her tea with a pleased face. "Everyone. What are the chances that we were left alive on that day? What are the chances, given where we are now?"
"You have a point...but...Then what does this mean? Where are we supposed to go now? What about the crystals?" Leon said.
"I know your confusion Leon, but I think that things will unravel whatever we do. We can't let the earth rot, it's our mission as Warriors...Hah, our destiny, if you may. However, because of that, we have to restore the crystals...and that...I think will unravel a lot of things as we go on our journey." Saria said.
Outside Claude waited with his arms crossed, then, he snapped his fingers and a loud bang came from them. Then he lied down and started to rub his behind. They all jumped when they heard a loud thud on the deck of the ship and they all went out and into the deck.
"What the hell?" Erick exclaimed as they ran up and saw a man in red, rubbing his behind. "Sorry let me change that. What the fuck?" He said.
"OH OW! IT HURTS!" Claude said in a melodramatic and very fake way. From above Amilia frowned at him, she wanted to slap him for trying to be so obvious. Ailith's eyes widened when she saw him and she turned all red, Saria looked at her and held her hand reassuringly.
"Oh kind strangers please help me! It hurts!" Claude said, with a pleading look in his silver eyes. Amilia frowned and threw the finger at him. He glanced at Ailith who then looked away.
"Explain yourself. Why are you here? How did you get here? You're the one who led us to the King's castle, so what business do you have being out at sea?" Leon demanded. "Answer me stranger."
"I was exploring an underwater shrine. However, I was defeated by the monsters there. I was knocked unconscious and before I knew it, I was drifting on the water, and saw your boat. So I...I climbed up and got on it, but. I'm still weak from the battle of the monsters..." Claude said now in a convincing tone. Amilia sighed, finally he was actually being discreet. "I'm terribly sorry for...for entering your ship without permission. I am a wanderer you see, so any dungeon unknown I will be there." Claude said, and Leon helped him up. "Oh, you were the ones the King talked about...the legends...The Warriors of Light! Please, oh please. May I come with you on your journey? I won't be a burden I promise!" Claude happily said, holding Leon's hand. Leon didn't see his eyes glow a faint light and before they knew it, they all thought it was a good idea. Well, except for Ailith.
"I...I don't see why not. Fine sure, we could use someone like you." Leon and Erick agreed. Saria reassured Ailith and she kept quiet.
"Welcome aboard...?" Leon said, gesturing for him to give his name.
"My name is Claude Rilliane K." He said while smiling a polite and handsome smile.
"Alright, even though you're not a crystal-bearer, you can still be part of our party. Nice to meet you Claude." Leon said as he, Erick, and Claude shook hands. They went inside and showed him a room where he could stay. They all ate a hearty meal and soon enough, they could see the shores of Elfheim.
** Yes, that happened to me during the first playthrough. I was like, what the hell am I supposed to do now? Then I stumbled upon Crescent Lake, and that...was absolute hell. Because my party was only like...level 15 or 14, well, some level bellow 20 and I went to Crescent Lake...CRESCENT LAKE. Argh, that was rage.
Claude's name is pronounced Rili-an, by the way.