The waves were turning, growing stronger around them as all the boats began to move toward one another. From the hulls of the Arean ships, long slender barrels moved out, aiming at the Bessie.

“AHAHAHAA!” Will’s Uncle laughed. “Load the guns Bessie!” he called.

“LOADING GUNS” came the electronic voice. The Captain grinned.

“We’re actually taking them on!” Tella shouted happily, “Those Areans think no one can oppose them, well, we’re about to prove them wrong!”

“Aye Lass, that’s the spirit!” the captain laughed. A single low ‘fump’ sounded. It was the sound of an Arean cannon firing.  Will grimaced.

“That’s our warning shot.” He muttered.

“The next one will be for real.” Collin said.

“Dunnot be afraid!” the captain assured them, “I’ve taken on fleets much bigger than this with Bessie, back in the good old days. Alright Bessie, lets show them what’s we’ve got. FIRE!” he shouted. The whole boat was filled with a loud whirring sound as systems popped on. Their pitch increased, growing higher and higher until-

FA-FUMP!

With that sound the lights in Bessie flickered, the systems winking and beeping, staticing over and then dying. Within moments, they were left once again in darkness. A few moments of silence passed until they heard the captain laugh, embarrassed sounding.

“Eheehe… Well… Bessie has been out of action for nearly twenty years… You canno’ expect her to work perfectly… Ehehe…”

“What do you mean?!” Tella squeaked, “You mean… We… We’ve broken down?”

“Eh, well,” the captain stuttered, “To put it simply… Yes.”

“Did we even shoot at them?” Demus asked.

“Hmm… Well. No. I don’t think so.” The captain said.

“Uncle!” Will cried, “We have to get out of here! They’re going to kill us!”

“Now dunno’ panic Will. Huh, you’re high strung today aren’t ya lad?” the captain said. Demus gazed out the windows, rocking nervously back and forth on his heels.

“We won’t last long…” he muttered.

“Huh!” Tella growled, rushing to the door. “I’m not taking this laying down! Come on! Let’s get out there and put of a wall. We can still use magic!”

“But magic won’t last long against fire power like that.” Will said. Tella smiled.

“Not usually, but your forgetting something! Come on wanderer, we can use your staff to intensify the power of our spells since it’s a talisman!”

“I… I suppose so…” the wanderer said, moving toward the door.

“That might just work.” Demus agreed, following the out on the deck.

“But how long can we hold them off?” Collin asked also going out.

“Come on Will!” Tella shouted, “Get out here! You’re a talisman too! We can use you!” she said. Will sighed going out on the deck.

“Jeez, don’t talk about me like I’m ammunition.” He said scratching his head.

“Alright, Wanderer, you hold that staff up, Demus, you help me focus the energy, Collin you too, Will, you stand kind of in the middle and let us channel the magic through you and the staff.”

“You’re going to use me as a channeling object?!” Will cried. Tella nodded.

“But I’ll explode! Not everyone can channel magic through them like Collin! You’ll kill me!”

“Fine.” Tella growled, “Be a wimp.” Will moved off away from them.

“Sorry guys, I think I’ll sit this one out…”

“Well then, lets get this wall up!” Tella shouted holding her staff before her and twirling it once. She spoke a single work loudly and lit the end of her staff. Tella then jerked the staff into the air and projected a transparent wall around the boat. The wanderer lifted her staff and touched the end to Tella’s adding to the wall’s power. Demus pulled out a small dagger from his belt and held it up as well. Collin, finding that he could not reach up far enough to add his power to his friends bit his lip in frustration. Will laughed and drug a small crate over to him. Collin muttered a thank you and climbed up on it, holding his hand out to grasp the ends of the staves. It was like sticking your hand into a powerful blast of water; it was hard not to let the force of it knock your hand away. Collin gritted his teeth in strain trying to keep his hand steady. Almost unconsciously he lifted his other hand to his chest, locking his fingers around the bulge in his shirt, which was of course the Mirror he had taken from Mahito. The others were much to busy to notice, except for Demus, who happen to glance over and see the bulge in Collin’s shirt glowing slightly. He blinked in surprise, frowning but had to turn back to the wall they were creating because it was about that time when the first of the Arean missiles were launched at their boat. The little balls of fire plunged against the slightly glowing transparent wall they had created, and bounced off, sizzling into the water. Will cheered, jumping up.

“Yeah! You guys just try it! Ha!” he shouted. Tella turned to him.

“Will, tell your uncle we need to get out of here! Our wall may be good, but it won’t hold up forever.” She said. Will nodded, running off.

“Uncle-” he called.

“Way ahead of ya boy!” the captain said, pulling on the wheel hard and opening the sails. “We’re getting out of here!” Will nodded and started to run back out to his friends when a voice said loudly in his head,

I leave for one minute and look at the mess you people have gotten yourselves into! What’s going on?! Fairien shouted.

“The war ships.” Will said. “They saw us and now their coming after us.”

Huh. Living up to your reputation of trying to get yourself killed I see. Fairien said. Will growled.

“Look it wasn’t my idea! We were just-”

“Will lad!” the captain called behind him. Will jumped, having forgotten his uncle for the moment. His uncle shook his head, “Lad, its not good form to talk to yourself. Makes the ladies wonder it does.” He said grinning. Will felt his face flush as he nodded.

“Y-Yeah…” he said, and quickly escaped out onto the deck.

At least I never get board with you around…Fairien said amiably. Will rolled his eyes.

“So anyway, think you could help us out a little?” he asked quietly.

Possibly… Fairien said. You guys trying to get to Terrebia?

“Yeah.” Will said.

Alright. Fairien replied. I’ll see what I can do.

More balls of fire were hitting the wall, coming quicker now and in greater numbers. Tella, Demus, Collin and the wanderer stood together in silence, concentrating. Though they did not speak they knew what lay in each others mind: They weren’t moving quickly enough. The wall would be over powered before they got away. Nonetheless, they did not falter, keeping the wall as strong as possible for as long as possible.

Will grinned as he felt the wind pick up. The waves around them turned, falling now in one direction, pushed along by the wind. Overhead, the clouds drifted in quickly, twisting around and darkening.

“Here we go.” Will murmured.

“Wooo!” the captain shouted, feeling the sudden wind at their back, “Hang on everyone!” Bessie rushed forward as the wind caught the sails wrenching them ahead. They were moving quickly away from the Arean boats, which were fast becoming mere specks on the horizon. The others stared in amazement.

“Look at us go!” Tella shouted.

“How in the world are going to so quickly?” Collin gasped.

“And the Arean boats can’t even catch up.” Demus observed.

“This is unreal.” The wanderer said shaking her head. Slowly, they all turned to Will. Will blinked guiltily.

“What?” he asked. Tella laughed.

“Thanks Fairien!” she shouted.

“Hey, I don’t get any thanks?” Will asked scowling. Tella gazed at him a moment, then quickly darted forward and kissed him on the cheek. Will jumped slightly in surprise as Tella drew back, laughed and ran off. Will blinked, lifting his hand to his cheek and grinned.

Great. Now you’re going to have that silly grin on your face the rest of the day. Fairien said.

“Oh shut up.” Will muttered happily. 

“Eh! Everyone!” the captain shouted from inside the steering room. “Look up ahead tell me what you see!”

“It’s Betamy!” Tella shouted from the other side of the deck. “It’s the coast!”

“Alright! We’ll be there in no time!” the wanderer said.

Will… Fairien said slowly. Will blinked at his suddenly serious tone.

What is it? he asked.

Minerva… She’s there… She’s already in Terrebia… Waiting for me. Fairien’s voice shivered.

Are you alright? Will asked.

Yes.

“I see the docks, that’s Verca up ahead.” Collin said. “and there on the shore, that must be the Betamy army…” he squinted, “Jeez it’s small… Makes me wonder why Area hasn’t already taken this place.”

“Oh shut up!” Tella growled. “We may not have many people in out army, but the ones we do have are really something! I can’t believe the Chancellor would order them to their deaths like this… Placing them right on the beach… Idiot.”

“Alright, here we come,” the captain shouted as they drew near the dock, “Keep all yourselves in an upright position as we crash into the dock because this bully wind won’t slow down! Grab onto something lads and lasses! This could be a bit rough!”

 

The solders on the beach sat idly watching the sea. They were dressed in their formal military uniforms, a dark green and black suit that was comfortable and easy to maneuver in. One of the watchers paused frowning.

“There’s a boat coming up… fast.” The alerted his commander. The commander looked out.

“Strange. Just a small fishing boat… Wonder what it’s doing out here…”

“Sir… That’s the BSS Bessie.” Said one of the younger soldier squinting to see the name printed on the side. The commander paled.

“The Bessie… My God… Well that explains enough… Any of you boys ever worked near the harbor?” a few nodded knowingly. The commander nodded.

“Yep.” He said and took his position at the head of the beach.

Bessie rushed in toward the shore, drawing the attention of any of the solders that had not already seen her. Quickly they assembled, running over to meet the Bessie, with their weapons drawn.

“This dock is closed!” One of the men shouted.

“Whaaaaaaaaaat?!” the captain shouted back as they still careened toward the shore.

“I said- Hey! Bloody- Stop! Stop! STOP!!!” the solder shouted. The men around him stepped back, as they watched the ship, which seemed to have no intention of stopping, rush towards them.

“Get back!” someone yelled. The men ran, shouting as the Bessie bore down on them. Her hull hit the sand, and bounced, flying through the air a few feet and crashing back down, spraying sand and debris in her wake. The captain laughed, watching the angry and confused faces of the Betamians.

“Eh, sorry ‘bout that.” He said. “Sometimes you just have to ride the wind.”

“You trying to kill us you idiot?” the commander shouted, growing red in the face. “You could have taken down your sail!!”

“Sir,” one of the other soldiers said softly, “What should we do with them?”

“Nothing right now.” The commander said. “Don’t worry about him. It’s Captain Kapino. Just… Don’t worry about it…” he said rubbing his head.

“We can’t just do nothing!” a soldier with dark brown hair said.

“Yeah! They are trespassing!” another chimed in, “We ordered this dock closed! In fact this whole area has been evacuated!” he grinned darkly looking up at the captain, “You know why? The Areans is invading finally. We’re all going to die, and you too now! Bet you didn’t know they was coming, did you?!”

“We most certainly did know!” Tella shouted, appearing on the deck, scowling down on them. The soldiers jumped back. “And you are not going to die!” she finished, jumping down from Bessie’s deck and landing on the sand in front of them.

“Princess?” the commander asked looking at her.

“Yes. Now I assume all of you-”

“Princess? Is it really you?” the commander asked suspiciously. “You look much too grubby to be the princess.” Tella growled, biting her lip in annoyance.

“You’d be grubby too if you had done nothing but walk and fight for three months!” she shouted. “Of course its me! You know it’s me! Have you forgotten who your talking to?!” the commander blinked and bowed slightly.

“Sorry. It’s just that the Chancellor declared you dead.” He said. Tella rolled her eyes.

“And your going to believe him?” she asked. The commander shrugged.

“He is the one running Betamy right now… All we can do is listen to him.”

“Well, not any more. I’m back.” Tella said. “I certainly would have thought twice about leaving if I thought they’d put him in charge.” She shook her head and sighed. “Right then. First thing lets get your men in a better place.”

“Excuse me Miss, but we can only take military orders form the Chancellor.” The commander said. Tella paused and nodded slowly.

“Yes I know.” She said. “But do you want to let the Areans have Betamy that easily? The least we can do is give them a bit of trouble. Besides,” Tella said, “You can look at this two ways: If we win, the Chancellor won’t be concerned with who ordered what. He’ll be too busy grabbing all the credit for himself, and won’t want to admit that I gave the order anyway. The other outcome is of course, we lose- then we die and it then it wouldn’t matter anymore, but at least we will have lasted a little while and put up a fight… So you see, either way no one’s going to care if you disregard the Chancellor’s orders… And I think you’ll agree that this plan you’ve been given to follow, lacks a little strategy… so what do you say, eh?” Tella asked. The Commander studied her a moment then nodded slowly.

“Alright Madam.” He said. “I have no objections. So then, where would you like to lead this army?”

Tella grinned.

 

 

“Jeeze, she’s in her element down there, isn’t she?” the wanderer asked as they looked down on Tella and the Commander as they made their plans.

“I always knew Tella had to have some talent…” Collin said, “The fact that it involves clever ways to slaughter people doesn’t surprise me.”

“You’ve got to think, Tella spent most of her life trapped in one room with nothing to do but play games in her head.” Demus said. “That gives her an advantage.”

“Weird.” Will said, pulling his arms behind his head and looking at the sky.

“You’re one to talk.” The wanderer said. Will rolled his eyes. Tella began to shout orders to the troops, moving them to various locations. One division was to go the bushes, another was to move farther into the woods, but most we to go up onto the hill where they would be invisible until the Areans moved out of their boats.

“When they start coming, then we attack for real!” Tella said, “All the other prior attacks will be staged to give them the impression that the whole army is down in the valley and on the shore…”

“Hey Tella!” Will shouted. Tella glared up at him. “Where do we go?” he asked. Tella closed her eyes and smiled.

“We’re all on the hill. Using everything we’ve got against the Areans.” She smiled and shouted to the troops, “If we do this right men, Betamy will be safe at long last!” they cheered heartily and began to quickly move into their positions.

“Hey, lass, what do we do with Bessie?” the captain asked. Tella paused.

“Captain…” she said. “I’m afraid the Areans will be here very soon… And Bessie… Well… she’s kind of grounded right here in the battle field and it would take a long time for her to be moved so…” The captain frowned angrily.

“Lass, you telling me to abandon ship? Abandon Bessie?” he shouted. Tella shrugged.

“It’s that or your life sir.” She said. “Come on guys. Let’s go.” With that she began to walk off up the hill. The Captain paused, looking down at the steering wheel. Collin shrugged and jumped off, as did Demus and the wanderer. They began to follow Tella up the hill.

“Uncle?” Will asked. The captain looked up at Will and smiled.

“Go on boy. You’re friends are awaitin’.” He said.

“Uncle, you’re not staying are you?” Will asked. “The Areans will be here any minute!” the Captain shrugged.

“I cannot leave Bessie. You know that.” He said. “A Captain goes down with his ship.”

“But you won’t be going down!” Will shouted helplessly, “The Areans will just come and…” he trailed off, looking away. “Uncle come on… We can rebuild Bessie. As it is, she’s nearly destroyed; the bottom is almost torn out!” Captain Kapino looked out at the horizon.

“You need to be off Will.” he said quietly. “I can see em.”

“I’m stay.” Will said stubbornly.

Will? Fairien said, sounding taken aback, Will, what are you doing?!

“I can’t leave you here!” Will said.

“Aye, aye…” the captain lead Will out on the deck. Will followed anxiously. 

“Uncle…?” he asked. The captain laughed.

“Be off with you lad. You’ve got a ways to go in this world. A ways to go.” He brought his hand up to pat Will on the back, but instead hit him, hard enough to send Will toppling over the rail and into the sand chest first. He let out a cry of surprise and pain as he fell and landed. There was a moment’s pause before Will moved, groaning. He cursed under his breath and pulled his self up into a sitting position and looked upward. His uncle gazed down at him, then slowly, moved his eyes past Will, looking behind him. Will blinked, and turned. Fairien stood behind him, looking up at the Captain.

“Take care of ‘im.” The Captain said and turned, disappearing inside the steering room. Will gasped and shot up about to shout, but he was cut off, as the first missile hit the beach. The ground shook, making Will lose his balance and fall sideways. He stopped himself from falling and jerked himself, back up, still intent on the boat.

“Uncle!” he shouted, “Uncle-Ah!” he was cut off as someone grabbed him roughly from behind and pulled him back.

“Fairien!” he shouted, “What are you doing?! Let go!”

“Will…” Fairien said softly, and with that the world slid into darkness.

 

They were almost up the side of the cliff that overlooked the bay when they heard the first explosion. They turned, looking down the beach in silence. The wanderer blinked, turning all around.

“Where’s Will?” she said suddenly wide-eyed. The rest of the group stopped.

“Will can’t ever just stay out of trouble, can he?” Collin said angrily and cursed.

“He wasn’t behind you?!” Tella shouted to the wanderer.

“I-I thought he was…”

“And the Captain isn’t here either.” Demus said stepping forward.

“He must have stayed behind, and Will stayed with him.” Collin said.

“He’s on the beach?!” Tella shouted rushing forward. “We have to get him!”

“Princess!” the Commander stepped forward and grabbed her arm. “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you go down there.”

“But he… Will is going to die!” she shouted. “This is my fault! I assumed that-”

“We need to get up to the top madam. If we don’t hurry, they’ll see up on this ridge, and all of our plans will be ruined.” The commander said quietly. Tella blinked and looked helplessly down toward the beach. Her eyes moved up and met the wanderer’s. The stared at each other a moment, then the wanderer nodded once, quickly. Tella dipped her head, slightly in acknowledgment. They both understood.

“Have faith in him Tella.” Demus said. “He always seems to get through these things. And remember, he has Fairien Bayard with him as well.” he said. Tella sighed.

“As I remember, Fairien was much better at getting people into trouble than out of trouble…”

“Madam…”

“Yes Commander let’s go. Full march.” She said, turning away.  The wanderer has slowly made her way apart from the crowd and now turned, making sure no one saw her, and ran back down the trail.