A/N~ first of all, I am so sorry. In Word, I always separated the different scenarios with a squiggly line, but I JUST realized that it doesn't appear when I publish them on fan fiction. Here I was, wondering why you guys were getting confused all the time when I changed storylines…Anyways, I went back and put in a divider. Never occurred to me that I could do that before. So the 'making enemies' chapter was pretty much a mess. Fixed it…thanks for all your support even though i was an idiot! XP The chapters will be coming a little faster after this.


I sunk into a waxed-down chair in front of a single person table. In fact, it was the only one that stood on the small patio set in front of the boat house. I watched Jules from a distance, waving my bag of pine chops fiercely in a man's face, yelling back at the larger man. I'd never seen Jules so angry before. I'd seen him frustrated many a time, usually at me, but genuine anger was a first.

Surprisingly, Jules bounded back to me with a smile on his tanned face.

"Jus' in time. My shipments are coming in on the next boat, but yours is about to leave."

"Mine?" I repeated, somewhat awed. We'd only just gotten to this port. A warm drink sat half-drank on the table, an inch or so from my fingers.

"To the Port of Balfonhiem. Largest trove of pirates- sea and sky, in Ivalice, I swear it."

"So…You think Fran would have gone there?" He shrugged.

"Dunno. But if yer' looking for a new ship, then that's the place to give it a start." Angry, bellowing voices sounded from down the beach. Jules looked over his shoulder, and yelled back.

"Give us a minute ye' big arse! Gaia…" He shook his head. "Anyways, time for you to get off." I hurried to my feet.

"And you're going to wait here, I assume?"

"You assume right." Jules mocked with a grin. "Here." He tossed me a fine pine chop- the best I had with me.

"Uhm- but this is yours now." I protested. I did want it though- I'd used them all my life. I felt like they were a necessity. But I didn't plan to return to Archadia anytime soon either. They were of no value anywhere else…

"Keep it in case. Never know when you'll need to sneak back inside." The pirates down shore gave a fierce, impatient yell.

"All right! Thank you Jules. I doubt I would have ever gotten out if it weren't for you." He grinned slyly.

"Bloody damn, Ffamran, yer' going to make me cry. Go get her."

I waved at Jules from the deck, with the pirates shaking their heads behind me. The pirates let the sails loose, and the white canvas sprung down before the mast like a viera's hair tumbling down her back.

My arm stopped halfway in a wave.

Her.

Her…?

Did Jules mean the airship…or the woman?

Either way, I planned to reunite myself with both of them.


I had been to the Port of Balfonhiem once before, on vacation. We'd only gone because my mother was still with us, and she demanded a family excursion. It was as if she was trying to bind us into a family, despite the obvious impossibility of it, she never quit. I wish I could remember her better.

I hadn't been that amazed by the port then, but now…

I was in awe.

This was the kind of atmosphere that I thrived in. Ladies walked the streets by the dozen, in loose clothing that displayed their sun-tanned backs and muscular legs. I was instantly drawn to them unlike the women in Archadia. These ladies were strong, and untamed, making their livings by the ocean side.

And among these throngs of sailor girls were the Amazons; the viera. There were quite a few here compared to other cities, most likely due to all the congregation of airships and such. I noticed a single viera sitting over the boardwalk, with her long, dark legs dangling above the water. Much like…

No, never approach a lone viera.

Instead of asking her, I veered off. I chose to approach a seemingly young, though one could never tell age by apperance, pair of viera. They walked closely side-to-side, to the point where their arms touched. One had dyed her ivory locks brown, and cut it into a short ponytail. The other, shorter one still wore her hair white, and somewhat long. It was uncommon to see two different hair colors, I noticed. If they walked in pairs, they either had their hair bleached, or not at all. Viera loved to match.

Shrugging to myself, I stepped to the side of them.

"Excuse me, but I am in need of your…keen eye and memory for a moment. Would you spare the time?" They exchanged a glance, the white-haired viera startled. The taller of the two spoke up.

"What is it you wish to ask us?" I silently sighed, even though her tone was harsh, she had not yet rejected me.

"An…acquaintance of mine came through this port before me, and now I have lost her. She is a viera, with long white hair. About this high." I raised my hand a foot above my head.

"You seek a viera with long white hair?" The shorter viera asked. I was pleasantly surprised by her voice.

"Not just any viera. The certain one who stole my airship." The two tall creatures exchanged a somewhat amused glance. …Of course, I could have guessed that they would find it funny.

"I see now. You are the unpredictable hume she spoke of." The shorter viera said, in a subtle humorous tone. Fran had used the same voice with me before, so i recognized it.

"She? You've met Fran?" I asked.

"Only for a moment." She continued. "But she was kind enough for me to do her the favor of denying you her location." It took me a moment to reword and process her response, but I was ultimately displeased with what I deciphered.

"Denying- she's the one who stole my airship!" I protested.

"I think the contrary." The taller said, stepping between us. "Now, you have wasted enough of our time. If you truly wish to find her, look yourself." With that, the taller viera ushered off her younger acquaintance and passed me by.

"I…" I let my thought trail off, as if it was only a sigh, a smart choice. The taller viera paused and looked back at me, as if daring me to speak again. When she finally looked away, I realized how I'd been holding my breath.

My best chance of finding the airship, and consequently Fran, was to go to the place where airships congregated. The Aerodrome sat against the waves. No runway except for the expanse of waves and open-sky hangers. Convenient that the airships hovered. And hovering they were.

Tens of airships floated in place above the dome, anchored to the pier by massive coils. Dozens of skypirates were snapping at each other from on the ground, each arguing over a different aspect of the same situation.

An airship had been stolen, which was one of the most upsetting things in such a place, with such people.

It was all the same heated discussion. Though they only seemed to touch the subject briefly before turning the flames once more on who they believe who is the culprit and for what reasons. I kept hearing the words 'bangaa' and 'headhunters', but neither applied to whom I was searching for, so i quickly dismissed them.

Among the throngs of sleeveless muscle-men was a single moogle, jumping up and down excitedly. He appeared to be trying to join in on the conversations, but the pirates quickly disregarded his high-pitched pleas for attention. His red pom-pom dropped over his face, and his ears followed. My face softened into an expression of pity at the sight. I knew a great many moggles from Dr. Ranshal, and it was always a sad sight to see one so upset.

"Cheer up, old chap, there will be plenty of excitement later." I bent down as I walked to pat him on the shoulder. Instead, the moogle cried out and leapt onto my arm.

"Ffamran! Thank the gods you're here, kupo!" I initially let out a yell, but calmed myself before i flung teh creature away.

"Ah…Nono?" The jumpsuit-clad moogle did not lessen his grip. For a creature of such small stature, his grip was steely! "What has gotten into you? And why are you here in the first place, you should be back in-"

"They took Fran!" He wailed. "They're trying to use her as bait for you, kupo!"

"Fran?" I put my knees to the ground and dislodged the moogle from my sleeve. "You know where she is?"

"No, kupo, not anymore. I came here with her on the airship, but…" The poor creature sniffled, wiping at his tiny eyes. "When I came to finish the airship, these awful headhunters jumped out and stuffed me into a rucksack. And when Fran came back, they took her too…kupo…" I put my hands on his shoulder, urging him to look at me.

"Nono, please. Where are they now?"

"I don't…oh, well, they mentioned Bhujerba before Fran arrived, kupo. They said," The moogle adapted a rasping voice and continued, "Aye, the skycities would be the best place of all. Best place to wait 'n pounce when 'e shows up." Nono burst into sobs. "Fran told me to run, and I did! I left her alone with those awful lizards!" I leaned away, blinking rapidly as a rush of warm sea air dried my eyes.

"And…you said they were using her as bait for me?" Nono nodded.

"They were looking for you in the first place." I looked to the side in confusion.

"Why on Ivalice would headhunters…"

The kind of trick my father would play. I should have guessed that my little show would have reparations. Each time I ran away, the punishments became more severe. But headhunters? They had a reputation for their aggressive nature. Aggressive and stubborn. It wouldn't be surprising if they dragged me back to him by my-

A different thought struck me entirely.

Fran was with them now.

I ground my teeth together.

"All she does is cause me trouble…" I muttered. Nono looked up from his sobs.

"Kupo?" I stood, dusting off my sleeve from wher eteh moogle had wrinkled it.

"…I'll need a new airship."

"Y-You're going after her?" He stuttered in awe.

"I suppose I am, Nono."

"B-But, Ffamran!" He protested, though he obviously wanted me to go after her. "We need…how do you plan to rescue her?" I cracked my knuckles and resumed my walk into the aerodrome.

"A plan you say?" My lips curled into somewhat of a grin or grimace. "I'll think of one, later."


I glared through the doors as they slammed closed before me, until the line of light thinned and disappeared across my face. Their rasping voices died away as they left me alone, walking further down the airship. Once their voices died away to incoherent muttering, I tightened my eyes shut and sighed. I stroked the palm of my hand over my sore cheek, keeping my face firmly stoic.

Headhunters did not like it when you chose to resist. They also did not like to repeat instructions to captives. When both of these irksome behaviors occurred at the same time, it only further upset them.

That was why I now had a bruise on my cheek.

I suppressed another sigh, and returned to my feet. My ears brushed the short ceiling, and I ducked before my head smacked against the roof as well. They had locked me away in the broom closet. How hospitable. In my many years, I'd know of captors to treat their hostages similar to honored guests. Or at least give them a proper room to wait out their sentence. But no, these were headhunters that lacked any form of class. How one could satisfy their life by such an occupation was beyond me. But I doubted they were ever satisfied.

Satisfaction…I wonder if I would recognize the feeling. How many years had it been, since I felt such a pleasure? On the contrary, it had only been hours ago. The first spark of success I'd lighted, when the airship took off from the grounds of Old Archadia and I finally took flight.

A smile snuck up onto my face, which I quickly smoothed away.

Why was such emotion always short-lived? Or more likely, it was just my nature.

When one had such longevity, time shortens. Pleasure last only so long…pain swiftly subsides. Nothing fazes me for a prolonged amount of time. And it was an empty feeling.

Such were reasons that I was just as satisfied with myself as those headhunters.