(The camera turns on after a long time to reveal the Clan Highwind Base once again bustling with activity as the clan went about their business. Marco was seen going over some forms as he passed by Gantz, whom was sitting at the table and writing in his journal. Issac passed by a few seconds later, looking over one of his katana's as he sharpened them with a brick of mythril. As everything went on however on, one didn't pass by.)

Roland: Hmmm... (He appeared to be reading a book as he passed... However his eyes were taken off of his novel when he noticed Gantz busily writing away in his journal, stopping to think a little every few seconds before getting back to work a second later.) More work on your novella Gantz?

Gantz: Yep.

Roland: (Chuckles.) It does the old heart good sometimes, knowing that youth isn't wasted on the young like this. (He marked his place in the book he had been reading and took a seat next to the paladin.) So, where are you in your storyline? I understand before we left on our trip to Rabanastre that you were writing chapters meant specifically to define us, your family, as people. Where are you on that?

Gantz: (Smiles.) I'm on Luna's chapter... (Frowns again.) But I'm at a loss on what to do... It surprises me that I know so little about Luna.

Roland: That is why we are here. (He looks over his work.) You know... I happen to know a story about Luna you could use for your journal. It was during that very same time-frame. She had told me of this experience as we were traveling to-

Gantz: SPOILER ALERT! (That succeeds in startling Roland.) Sorry old man, but we're not that far along yet.

Roland: R-Right... Sorry. But... Please refrain from doing that again...

Gantz: Sorry... (Thinks a moment.) Well, if you know this story about Luna... (Looks to him expectantly.) Why don't you tell me the story, and I'll make note of it as you go?

Roland: Hmmm... An interesting proposal. (Smiles.) But I suppose that will help you along, so don't mind if I do. (He clears his throat.) When you're ready.

Gantz: Gotcha. (Leans forward and prepares a pen.) And go.

Roland: Hmhmhmhmhm... Let me see... It was during the Great Land Festival so long ago. Luna was busily going about her job as clans and mercs of all shapes and sizes conversed...

(The journal glows as the camera zooms into it.)

Chapter 1.c

The Camoa Brave

The Prancing Chocobo bustled with activity as clans, bounty hunters, mercenaries, various other warriors and customers went about their eating, drinking or merry-making. No-one could really fault them for it honestly, since they had plenty of reason. The date of the Great Land Festival was drawing nearer and nearer with each hour passed and, for many, the festival had started early just for the sake of merry-makers that came early to help with the set-up.

At one table in particular, a clan of a particular ranking could be seen deep in discussion… Though really, no-one paid them any mind as they continued partying. This clan WAS Clan Dip after all.

Some more talking occurred before the young hume Soldier of Clan Dip stood up from his seat, looking a little red in the face for some reason or another. The action appeared to be supported by his clan mates, another Hume, two Viera and a Moogle, all of them motioning him to go to the front bar in with confidence granting smiles. He smiled himself briefly before, he walked stiffly over to a stool at said bar and sat himself down. For a long hard moment, he just sat there, fiddling with the collar of his uniform in nervousness, knowing what was about to happen…

"Uh… Ex… Excuse me."

Luna, whom had been running the bar, turned to see the young man. She herself had been changed out of her Green Mage robes and was now in her old bar maid uniform; an outfit with short sleeves that was light blue in color complete with a tan skirt and a brown apron to help keep the ensemble clean. "Oh! Hello there sir." Her rabbit like ears appeared relaxed and leaning back a bit, a sure sign meaning she was at ease. "What can I do for you?"

The Clan Dip member cleared his throat, looking a mite nervous. It had been hard enough just walking up to the bar and greeting the most recent object of his affections. Trying to strike up a conversation was another thing entirely. "Uh… Well…." He stuttered a little, sweating beside himself. "I was… I was j-just… Wondering…" Luna tilted her head, her rabbit ears twitching up in confusion. "Well… You know… It'll soon be the day of the G-Great Land Festival… And I was…. Well, I was just sorta hoping that… If you don't-"

"Outta the way, ya ssscrawny runt."

The soldier only had time to jump in surprise at the interruption, before he was roughly SHOVED clean off the stool by a big scaley hand. He performed a perfect faceplant, which prompted him to groan in pain and massage his poor bruised nose. With the tenacity that could be attributed to the low ranking but stubborn clan Dip, he was back on his feet in a second. "Hey!" He was quick to whirl around to take a look at the obvious Bangaa that had just stolen his seat. "I was sitting in that st-" He stopped DEAD when he saw just WHO he was addressing. "St-st-sto-st-stoo-st-stoo-stoo-"

The nervous gibbering was well warranted really. Said Bangaa appeared young in age, but was still very intimidating in stature and appearance, commonplace for Bangaa. The reptile was a dusty orange color wearing Gladiator armor sans the job classes renowned metal face mask. However the lack of mask allowed the Clan Dip soldier and indeed every other patron in the pub to get a load of the bangaa's large amount of body art, from the multiple piercings (To the many lining his bottom snout and the ring in his forked tongue) to the numerous tattoos that looked to be of Celtic design, many on his face, some on his uncovered shoulders, and many people had no doubts that the tattoos would cover a good amount of his body under the armor.

"Ya got ssssomethin' ta sssay ta me PUNK?"

…..

"Uh… NO! Of course not-hehehe-! You can keep the seat, I don't even like the seat, and so many people like that seat-" 'THUD' went the Bangaa's fist as it pounded its opposite's palm…. Needless to say, the soldier tripped over his own feet trying to get away.

With that done, the tattooed bangaa scoffed at the man before sitting back down on the stool and holding up a hand for a drink. "Pfff… Wimp."

"Ah Jhalel… Still picking on lower rank clans are we?"

It looked like hearing this set the reptile off something fierce as he rounded about to the Viera behind the counter….. However, imagine everyone's surprise when, instead of watching the Bangaa SLUG the daylights out of the bar-maid, he instead nearly dropped his jaw. "L-Luna? Isss that you?"

Luna rolled her eyes at the street punk Bangaa as she poured a glass of sake and placed it on the bar. "Very much so." She said with a strict, almost distasteful monotone. "How have you been keeping, Jhalel?"

At first, this didn't seem to process for the Bangaa as he looked at Luna with wide eyes. A few seconds later however, the look of surprise broke even and a wide smile appeared in it's place. "Luna! By Maduin'sss beard, look at ya! You've grown sssinccce I've lassst ssseen ya!" He picked up the tankard Luna left him and downed it within seconds. "And may I jussst sssay, the yearsss have DEFINITELY been kind to you. A Diamond in the Rough, ya are. A Beauty amidssst the wasstesss."

This compliment did elicit a blush, but otherwise seemed to have the opposite desired effect to what Jhalel had in mind. Her frown was prominent as she continued looking at him, unamused. "Thank you Jhalel. But you should keep such compliments to yourself. I'm no longer a member of the Camoa Braves and, as of currently, my life is better off due to it."

Jhalel had a curious expression on his face… At least until understanding crossed him. "Don't tell me yer ssstill sssore at me." He set the tankard down on the bar as he continued. "Come now Luna. Tough deccisssion-making isss what bein' a leader isss all about, you know that. What happened, happened because it had to."

Her expression was neutral as Luna took the tankard and proceeded to clean it, turning her back to Jhalel. "Be that as it may, your… 'Decisions' were not well favored. Some of them only served to make me wonder more and more why you were picked as the leader." She put the tankard away, and pulled out a bottle of sake. "You certainly did nothing to deserve it. You always did like to bully people."

The Bangaa shook his head at this. "We all have our sssob sstoriesss… I'm jusst sssorry I played a negative role in your'sss…" Luna merely rolled her eyes at this…

Before jumping a couple feet into the air, when she felt a hand graze her backside, squeaking a little in surprise. When she turned back around, she found that Jhalel's hand was there reaching over the bar but pulling back. The Bangaa's expression seemed sincere. "Come on Luna. Give a guy a chanccce. We usssed to get along real well didn't we? Why don't you give us another try? You're too tough a spellblade and too good a street brawler to be wastin' your talents here in a bar."

…..

SMACK!

Jhalel's head was jerked to one side, wincing and hurt at the apparent mark Luna's slap had left on his face. The entire restaurant meanwhile turned to see the scene surprise evident and building when they beheld Luna's expression, which resembled one of very much past expired patience. "ONE: This job isn't a waste, it's a pleasure. I get to meet people, help people in their hurt if they have any. TWO: I'm already a member of another clan that treats me better. THREE: I also already have a boyfriend that treats me with more love and respect then you can ever claim to have. FOUR: YOU'RE A JERK, and FIVE: You had better think TWICE before touching me again. I'm not that 15 year old runaway rebel child anymore. I may have had patience for this kind of debauchery before 4 years ago, but I don't now. Not in the SLIGHTEST."

…..

The silence that followed brought a kind of satisfaction to Luna as she poured Jhalel another glass of Sake and then simply walked off. Another gentleman, hume by race, awaited her there, looking to be just as surprised as everyone else.

Then there came a grumble as Jhalel dumped his drink onto the floor, dropped the tankard along with it and left in a huff… And the Clan Dip soldier from before let out a hard sigh from where he sat, looking greatly disappointed. Likely from one specific piece of Luna's earlier points more than anything else.

"Very impressive young lady." Came the gentleman Luna was serving, as he rubbed his bearded chin. "Standing up to that ruffian like that? That was truly very impressive indeed. Very well done." Luna gave him his tankard of some non-alcoholic drink as the man chortled.

"He isn't a ruffian, you know." That caught his attention as the man looked to her. "Jhalel I mean… He's just… Lost, that's all." She sighed. "Lost just like I was once."

She then lifted her hand to look at a silver bracelet around her wrist… One that Issac had given to her, she remembered with a fond smile.

"But he'll find his way one day… I know I did."

(The book flashes again as Gantz finishes writing down everything he had heard from Roland.)

Gantz: ... Wow... I wonder what Luna's story is with Jhalel? It sounds like they were good friends back in the day.

Roland: (Sighs.) None but Luna truely knows the tale... Perhaps Issac knows, but that is only because the two are so close. (He smiled a bit.) I myself? I know bits and pieces of the story.

Gantz: Hmmm... I wonder what it is she's got to hide?

Roland: Let us not delve. We all know Luna, city Viera though she is, she was raised strictly following the code of the 'Green Word', the ancient laws of the Viera.

Gantz: (Thinks about this, having heard of the 'Green Word' before.) Isn't that the law that forbids Viera from leaving the woods?

Roland: 'Never leave the woods' is only one of the few Viera laws. (Chuckles as he picks up a book.) It is one of the big ones yes, but Luna knowledge on the Green Word, you see, is purposefully incomplete. There's no reason to uphold that most vital rule since she was raised outside of the woods. (He turns and looks to the fourth wall.) Some of you may be curious as to why she bothers... Well that is just the way Viera are, inside the wood or out, they are a deeply spiritual people. Always have been, always will be.

(That surprises Gantz as he grins.)

Gantz: So you knew? (He motions to the fourth wall as he said this.)

Roland: Rosaline mentioned it to me. (Chortles.) I figured if I should ever be featured in these 'afterwords' of yours, I could do my best to educate your readers on the ways of Ivalice.

Gantz: Well... You won't bore them to death right?

Roland: I make no promises... But I will endeavor not to, if it means that much to you.

Gantz: Hahaha, thanks dude, that'd be appreciated. (He looks to the Fourth Wall himself.) Well with that said, we hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! I know it took a while, but rest assured, the wait during the Thanksgiving break will well be worth it. (Gives a Peace Sign.) R&R People!

Roland: Until next we meet. (He nods to the Fourth wall.) The world of Ivalice is a land of many mysteries... And we look forward to you sharing with us our own experiences.

(And with that Roland lifted the book up and continued reading, while Gantz got back to work on his journal...)