Altered Tundra

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Jaakuna blinked in disbelief. He knew that Levi was evil, but he didn't even once to think about that she could possibly be working with Zodiark or even for him. That truly and genuinely surprised him. Then again, he did notice some type of black and blue cloud-like explosion in the distance when they touched ground in Balfonheim, so perhaps it had to do with that. Even still, Jaakuna found it really hard to believe. "Are you sure?" JAakuna asked Wesley.

"I'm not sure about anything regarding her and Zodiark, but when she confronted us in The Pharos, there were black tendrils, which has been come to be the proof of ZOdiark. So, I guess what I'm saying is that yes, I'm sure." Wesley said.

Jaakuna would then hear Nadeline mention that their next course of action would be to get the final esper. Jaakuna wasn't book smart, but he could have sworn there was one other missing. "Okay, I'm not the smartest tool in the shed, but wasn't there another we have to find?" JAakuna asked.

Wesley nodded. "Famfrit, The Darkening Cloud. However, if that one has yet to be claimed, it's too late. He, like my own, was also found in The Pharos." Wesley would state. "As if someone had gotten him before or after the explosion happened, is unknown to me."

Jaakuna thought about everything and on the mention of Giruvegan, he was brought back to when Zodiark first worked his way into their lives. "Giruvegan.." He shuttered. "I get chills just thinking about it." Jaakuna admitted, "but I guess we have no choice." He said, "IRIS, set a course for Giruvegan or at least somewhere very close by to it."

"Yes, Master Jaakuna!"

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Even though Jaakuna didn't want to, he had to bid farewell to his two good friends, WEndy and Lannit. Wesley and Savayna even seemed to be slightly disappointed, but after going to his mother's house and telling her about everything that happened(lots of crying happened), he was just ready to say goodbye to Balfonheim and hello to wherever the hell that they were going to go. Eventually when they said goodbye to the duo, the party would head to the aerodome. The walk to it was more or less quiet, at least on the Wesley and Nadeline front. They still were angry at each other; or at least, one of them was angry at the other.

When they entered the Ifrit, they would all sit down at the table and Jaakuna would ask IRIS to set a course for Archades. At the very least, if they wanted to, they could meet up with Lannit and Wendy there and even Jaakuna would visit his father. Gods know he needed some time with him. As he thought about seeing his father again, Jaakuna, as well as everyone else, would hear Nadeline and Emiri exchanging words about how she truly didn't remember anything aside form what she's been told and the obvious base info she seemed to retain.

Wesley looked at everyone and he tried his best not to gaze too long at Nadeline as no doubt she was still pretty pissed off at him. "Jaakuna, Grant — there's something you need to know." Wesley said.

Jaakuna looked at Wesley. "Oh?"

"Zodiark and Levi — I have suspicions that they're working together."

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Instnatly, Savayna got all red on her face. It wasn't not secret that her and Grant were an item, but to so casually state it and even more so, to say it in such a way made Savayna perk down, her eyes down, arms in center, and head down. Though, after a few seconds, she would curl up her fists. "Oh Grant darling~" She would cheerfully sing as she whacked him aside the head...hard. Afterwards(no doubt a yelp from Grant), Savayna would then kiss her baby's head after she had whacked it pretty damn hard. "There, there — all better."

As JAakuna raised an eyebrow, he just ignored Savayna for the time being and looked at everyone else. "We should get out of here. Lots of stuff to talk about and not really wanting to do it here." Jaakuna suggested as he would motion everyone to follow him out and to the Aerodome.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

As Emiri and Jaakuna just looked at each other with such gleeful bliss, Nadeline would come in and ruin the moment. First, she would say Jaakuna's name as if to confirm it was him. Then, she would go on about how Emiri would be so happy and then she started going on about how dare him show his face around here. Obviously it was the alcohol talking and it would be evident as she would start whining and just doing all sorts of shit like foot-stomping. Jaakuna couldn't help but notice that Emiri was slightly frightened and she would ask who the woman was and Grant would reveal to her who she was and Jaakuna laughed as Emiri made the comment about how she wasn't acting like a princess.

"Come on now, Nadeline. Let's go home, you're obviously drunk." Jaakuna said as he would try to get her to come with him, but she refused obviously.

As Jaakuna just couldn't help but look at Nadeline as she went off about how she was furious with everyone about keeping secrets, though she only mentioned the guys, which meant that she found out about how Jaakuna made Grant and Wesley promise that they wouldn't tell their respective woman about Emiri's power. it didn't help that the alcohol in her system was making it even worse, more so than how she normally would be. By the time that Nadeline had started punching GRant's shoulder, Jaakuna just shook his head at how sad Nadeline was being.

As Jaakuna was about to say something he just looked around to see if anyone was watching(they were), he would catch some familiar faces in the entrance to the bar. "Well finally you got here." Jaakuna would speak aloud.

"JAAKIE!!!!" Lannit instantly started to run and jumped to tacklehug Jaakuna, whom in which would raise his leg up and Lannit's face would meet Jaakuna's foot, which caused him to be sent flying out of the club, to which Wendy and the others would simply sidestep him.

"My poor honey."
"More like dumbass."
"A pity"

Wendy, Savayna, and Wesley respectively said as they just shook their head at Lannit and they noticed Jaakuna over by Emiri, Grant, and Nadeline. Savayna was happy to see Nadeline, but WEsley turned his head in shame. No doubt that Nadeline was still incredibly mad at him.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

On the very instant that Emiri would ask if Trish was his woman, Jaakuna looked back at her. "Oh gods no. This tramp isn't my woman." Jaakuna said as he suddenly heard the words of Trish.

"What do you mean Tramp? I have all the dignity in the world!" She proclaimed.

"No you don't. You have slept with everyone in this bar." Jaakuna responded harshly.

After they went a few rounds of verbal insults, Nadeline would attempt to go at them, but that's when Grant would swoop in and not allow her to do as such. Jaakuna noticed that this was a big mess and he knew it was Kaleb's fault. That guy was always starting up trouble for the females. Fortuneately for everyone, Grant calmed down Nadeline, only to see that she was not entirely pleased. Jaakuna sighed and he just looked at everyone around. "What are you all gawking at!? The show's over. Go back to your drinking." Jaakuna ordered as he would yell at the top of his voice, and everyone would do as they were told, even Trish; though based on her mannerisms, she wasn't happy at all.

Turning to Emiri, Jaakuna spoke. "You're the only one for me, Emiri. Trish over there is not my woman and Nadeline here is definitely not my woman; too high-maintenance." JAakuna joked lightly.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

When the trio would arrive at White Cap, they would be stopped as a guy came flying out and landed right in front of them. Of course this alarmed them and as both Emiri and Grant would ask the guy what exactly was happened, he would respond by saying that it was a bar fight of course. Jaakuna shook his head at that, but the man also would make a mention about a blonde woman. On that note, Jaakuna thought of Savayna. She was the only one who would openly start a bar fight. Then, he said something that Jaakuna nearly lost it on. He mentioned Kaleb. Jaakuna knew Kaleb all too well and if he was mixed in this, then he must’ve made the wrong move.

Grant would look at Emiri telling her stay outside while he went in. Jaakuna knew that was a bad idea. A guy like Grant doesn’t stand a chance. As Jaakuna would go inside, he would pull Emiri’s arm with him. “Don’t worry, you’ll be safe with me, but Grant, on the other hand..” Jaakuna said to Emiri as he was really worried that Grant wouldn’t be able to handle himself.

As Jaakuna with Emiri went inside, instantly everyone gave him a look. It took a few seconds for them to realize who he was and they instantly stepped aside. Jaakuna would see that Grant forced himself through the crowd. Jaakuna would simply walk to the crowd. Unlike Grant who had to force himself through, Jaakuna just walked up and everyone would gasp in surprise and step aside, making way for Jaakuna and Emiri. Jaakuna, however, was surprised to see, as was Grant, Nadeline fighting a brown-haired woman. Jaakuna just shook his head.

Jaakuna stepped forward, only to release Emiri’s hand right when she was beside Grant, and he would pull off the woman that was on top of Nadeline. “Seriously Trish..” Jaakuna said as he had the brown-haired woman shirt, raising her up off the ground and he would gently toss her a foot to the other direction.

“Who fucking dares to thr--” Trish said as she shook her head and saw Jaakuna. “Oh, Jaakuna, I had no idea you were in town. Is this woman yours?”

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Just as Nadeline had done, Wesley too said nothing. However, unlike her, he stayed where he was. He would just see her storm off. Obviously she wasn’t happy at what Wesley had said. Or perhaps she decided to call it quits in fear that one of them might say something that they probably would regret saying.

Wesley would then walk out of the lair and instantly was confronted by Savayna, Lannit, and Wendy, all with eyes of curiosity. Wesley just sighed. “Not now guys.” Wesley simply said.

Savayna let out a comedic gasp as if insulted(not really). “C’mon Wesley, we heard it all.” Savayna said trying to persuade Wesley to tell her.

“I SAID NOT NOW!” Wesley instantly snapped back.

Savayna stepped back. She knew that Wesley and Nadeline had a huge argument. She just didn’t know that it was that bad. She knew that Wesley only snapped in such a way that he just did when things were dire. At least, that’s what she would imagine from a guy like him.

Lannit and Wendy just looked as Wesley just went along his way. “I hope that they can work it out.” Wendy would state as she looked at Lannit. “Me too honey, me too.”

---

As the trio went about their way in Balfonheim, Jaakuna would notice quite a few familiar faces as they would just say hello to him. Obviously Jaakuna was a well-known name around in Balfonheim. He did visit Balfonheim a lot back when he was a teenager, so it was no surprise that he would be instantly recognized. Thankfully for Jaakuna, the pirates could care less on whether or not he was a former disgraced prince or whatever.

“We should go to White Cap. If anything, we’ll be able to get some intel of the latest rumors around town.” Jaakuna said as he would lead Emiri and Grant to the port’s local bar.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

She did not just say what I think she did? Wesley was completely taken back by Nadeline’s comparison of Wesley to Levi. No, that wasn’t even the worst part of it all. She could compare him to whoever she wanted to and Wesley would have at least accepted that. No, it was the fact that she said that Levi never lied to her. That was pretty much saying that everything that had happened between the two of them, from the good, the great, and even the slightly bad, that just cause of this one lie — granted it was a huge one — it was all thrown out of the window. That was what got Wesley a little more annoyed than he was beforehand.

Wesley just looked at her. He clearly had an irritated expression on his face, not even sure what he could say that wouldn’t make things worse than they already were, but he was going to at least try. “You really think that I had any choice in the matter? Actually, don’t answer that, cause I did.” Wesley said in raised voice. “I chose not to tell you cause my honor code demanded me to do so, but I can’t expect you to understand that. No, you can’t even begin to understand it.” It was Wesley’s turn to let off some of his own frustration. “You want to know how I felt when Jaakuna not only told us about Emiri’s condition, but about what he did back in Nabudis?” Wesley would rhetorically ask her. “I wanted to refuse right then and there even after I promised. I wanted to tell him that despite my honor as a Dalmascan man, that I wouldn’t keep his secret, but I didn’t. Instead, I suffered in my own silence.” Wesley said as his voice was damn well near the levels that Nadeline’s had taken.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

As Emiri asked what Balfonheim was like, Grant would explain that it pretty much a pirate town, which she was right. Jaakuna has always ventured to Balfonheim when he had the time. It always brought him back to a place where he wasn’t judged for being the crown prince of Archades. Plus, since two of his oldest friends had very strong ties to Balfonheim, it really made it easy for him to have reasons to come to that place. Emiri would state that she didn’t need protection as she could handle herself. Jaakuna just smiled at her. Her old self was coming back.

“Well, then let’s go.” Jaakuna said as he would lead both of them to the Beaming Station.

---

In the past, Wesley adored when Nadeline would let her anger take control. He always loved seeing her show that she had a backbone, but some day he knew that it would come back to bite him in the ass and it seemed that the day had arrived as it was the current one. “I wasn’t even trying to do that.” Wesley would respond, trying to keep what little calmness he had left. He just looked at her. “What is this all about, really? I find it hard to believe that this is just about me not telling you about the promise that I made to Jaakuna.” Wesley asked as he knew he was already treading on thin ice. “This couldn’t perhaps also be about the fact that, only by marriage, Levi is my aunt, could it?”

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

“So, what you thought was admirable is now corrupted?” Wesley just didn’t understand where Nadeline’s logic was coming from. He understood that she was angry at him and she had all the rights to be, but one thing she failed to realize was that Wesley, no matter how hard he would try, he can never turn off his honor. Or as she called it, his corrupted honor. He is a man that will always live by his word. If a man doesn’t have his word, he has nothing.

“So, what would you rather me do? Break every single promise I have gave my word to keep? I’m sorry Nadeline, but I just can’t do that. To break my word, to go against my honor would to go against everything that I stand for.” Wesley said with raised voice and arms moving around in representation of his raised voice. “You’re absolutely right. I did keep the truth from you, but it was on the request of a dear friend who was in so much guilt-ridden pain.” Wesley told her. “Forgive me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t the original reason why you fell for me cause I kept my word and didn’t break it no matter what the circumstances were? Or has that changed?“ Wesley would ask, as he was trying to make his case.

---

“MAster Jaakuna, Master Grant, and Lady Emiri! We have arrived at Balfonheim Port!”

“Thank you IRIS!” As Jaakuna thanked Iris, he would look and Emiri and Grant. They had arrived at their destination and now all they needed to do was to find the others.