Chapter 3: What a wonderful start

“What are you--can we PLEASE get going?” H.R.H's grand entrance was pretty much ignored by room's population, all except for one knight. The blonde politely stood as she stepped in, his manners not leaving him since way back. The princess glanced around the room with a look of disgust, then finding the head of the captain, cleared her throat. The brunette turned his head and nodded.

“G'mornin', princess.”

“If your finished, I think we should leave and get this over with.” This trip to the Lhusu Mines was beginning to become a hassle, and slowly it was wearing down on Ashe's nerves. Soon after leaving Rabanastre, Fran demands they land the Strahl for maintenance purposes. Thus, they have been sitting in the middle of the Estersand, waiting to get into the sky again. And so far, the princess has witnessed the viera doing anything but what she is supposed to do.

“Are we not ready?” Silence was a reply to her question, as Fran stood up and brushed past the girl without a word.

“Yes, yes.” Balthier reassured the confused princess with a smile, and raised to his feet. Ashe noticed the stain on his pants, sighed at his idiocy, and left to her courters. Finally Basch returned to his seat, as he was standing the whole time, and glanced behind him. The two blonde orphans were placed at their table, whispering softly to each other.

“What's gotten into her?” The boy tilts his head towards the door, indicating he was speaking of H.R.H. Across from him, Penelo shakes her head in reply. A knock sounds at the door as the captain was signaling for everyone's attention.

“We will be taking off soon. Best get comfortable.” Sending a wink in the girl's direction, and ignoring the scowl he got from her, he left to change his coffee stained trousers for fresh ones. The room got awfully quiet, so the blonde knight stood up and nodded towards the children. Penelo watched silently as the man left. Eager to watch Balthier and Fran operating the Strahl once more, Vaan dashed out of the room before the girl even noticed him gone.

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After a few minutes, as Basch was having “troubles” with his seat, everyone was settled in. The captain asked if anyone had to go to the washroom, smiled at the ladies, and shooed Vaan off his shoulder. Then, with a few clicks of buttons and a pull of a lever, the ship's engine roared and they began to rise.

“Hey Balthier, what's that button?” The blonde pointed over the man's shoulder at a blinking switch, only to get his hand swatted away.

“An irrelevant one. Would you kindly sit down?” As the boy sat down, Fran suddenly started pressing what seemed as every button and switch available on the dashboard. A loud cough echoed, sending a jolt throughout the ship. Then silence.

“Wha--” Vaan stood up again, only to be thrown back as the Strahl began to tip. People began flying across the room to one side, the sky pirate yelling at them to level it out. The viera and himself shouting out codes and orders to one another. They were falling. Falling faster and faster, and then... impact.

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“Everyone have all their limbs?” The brunette glanced behind him at the pile of bodies collected between the seats. Vaan had ended up at the very back of the room, flat on his stomach. Basch was sitting exactly how he was before, besides the fact that he had a blonde girl sprawled across his lap. He helped her to the seat beside him, checking for injuries. The princess jumped out of no-where and glared at the two in front.

“What just happened?!”

“Fran.” Balthier said no more and his partner was already out the door. He turned to princess Ashe and shrugged. She sighed and sat down, massaging her temples. Vaan took this as an opportunity and jumped into the co-pilot's sit.

“Don't touch anything.” The sky pirate got up, walked past the knight and the girl, and stopped. Penelo had her hand to her head, rocking slightly. Basch was asking her if he could have a look, but she just pushed his hand away.

“I'm fine, just dazed.” She forced a small smile, Balthier placed a hand on the knight's shoulder.

“Get this girl to bed... Vaan I said don't touch anything. That means, don't touch anything.” Ashe goes to open her mouth, but he stops her. “We will get this thing up and running. Just go drink some tea, comb your hair, or whatever you do in the meantime.” Then leaving, he trips over his own feet, cursing loudly down the hall.

Ashe quickly takes the pilot seat, glancing over the dead dashboard, Vaan watching her curiously. She reaches for a button, but the boy pulls her hand away.

“If I can't touch anything, you can't.” With another sigh, the princess leans back, softly mumbling to herself. Vaan looks behind him at Basch trying to help the stubborn girl. She was refusing his help, and getting up on her own, stumbles to the door.

“Hey Penelo, you al--” And thump, she walks right into the wall beside the doorway. After a curse or two, Basch grabs her by the shoulders and guides her out to her courters. Turning back, Ashe was already pressing random switches.

“Hey!” The blonde swats her hand away, and she returns to pouting.