On the Streets of Pravoka (Open)

It was a beautiful day in the harbor city of Pravoka. The winds were just right and they carried the distinctive salty tang of the ocean as they swept across the lands.

Telira LeNaen stood at the rail of her newly completed Airship and took a deep breath, surprised for a moment by how strange it smelled to her. This was her home; this should be familiar to her… and yet… she knew now that it wasn't truly her home. That it had never really been her home. Not, at least, until the will of the Crystals changed everything for her.

So much was becoming clear to her, in the recesses of her mind. So many memories filtered into her awareness from where they'd been hidden by the sacrifice that she and her friends had willingly made for the good of a world… that wasn't even theirs by birth.

She could remember, now, in painful detail, the revelation that she and her friends had been pulled from their worlds into this one by the Crystals, called there for the express purpose of saving the world and breaking the cycle that Garland and the Four Beasts had set into motion. Their names still escaped her memory… but she supposed names didn't matter much. For all she knew the name "Telira" was one which the Crystals had fabricated for her upon their bringing her here.

They'd saved the world, as they'd been called to do, and then their memories had been wiped clean and they'd been sent back to wherever the six of them had come from. And thus far only she had been pulled back into this world.

That was the great secret, though, that there had truly been six of them called forward, though because of the endless cycles they'd endured only four walked together at any one time. Each cycle two remained in stasis, awaiting the next and the story played out again and again and again, until at last they weakened the chain enough to break it and set them all free again.

Free, but alone, and Telira still ached for the friends she'd lost. Friends, and more than friends.

A thin whimpering cry interrupted her thoughts and she turned away from the railing and towards a basket that lay on the deck, a basket that carried her most carefully guarded treasure of all… her newborn twins. She knelt down and picked up the fussing girl even as her brother slept peacefully still in the basket.

She still didn't know who had given them to her, but she knew that they hadn't gotten the icy-blue color of their hair from her. They had her eyes, though, brilliantly green like the Wind Shard that she wore. Once she knew that her momma was holding her, little Brenna settled down again, chewing on her fist.

Soren was waiting for her as she settled her daughter back in the basket and then activated the weak levitation enchantment on it so that it could float beside her as she walked, always within her hand's reach. He shook his head slightly, unable to banish the nagging feeling that something was about to happen… but who was he to argue with Tel when she wanted to walk the streets of her old home town with her children at her side?

The crew finished securing the airship to the dock and the gangplank lowered so that Tel, Soren, and the babies could disembark into the city proper.

“This has to be the most arse backwards world we have ever been to,” said a blue haired male dressed in a black vest and pants. He sighed slightly as he ran the controls of the ship, the sensors detecting almost next to nothing to technology or advanced structures. It still amazed him that, for all the advances that Spira had made, that some worlds still hadn't advanced to the modern age. Timber for houses and only the most basic of motors for transportation...why were they even here again?

“Yeah, I know, but that's why we're here. Perhaps we can set up a trade route, or even just learn more about this place,” said the captain of the Calamity, which was burning through the sky with its Wheel of Fate. He was lean and moderate in height, dressed in a simple black top and slacks with fingerless gloves. Nothing to amazing looking except for the soft fur that covered his entire body, the feline eyes and ears, with a twitching cat tail behind him.

Gohrick looked over the sensors as well and mentally held back his own sigh. This world really didn't have much to offer, and while Cypherous and himself had split, they still had a deep friendship with each other, and he would consider himself a poor friend if he didn't help out the new World Leader from time to time. That included working on trade routes. After all, he was still the Head of Trade and Information Exchanges...or some nonsense like that. Some honorary title, but a title nonetheless.

“Just set us down outside of the town. We don't need a repeat of Midgar again,” he said, before heading to his room. The damn, half crazed military had all but shot them out of the air for no reason. Judging from what he saw though, it seemed like some martial law was in effect. It wouldn't surprise him, seeing as their Leaders had all vanished or been killed. Leave it up to people to control with force at first chance.

Once in his room, he heard over the intercom that the ship was coming in for a final approach. He grabbed his Black Ninja Armor and donned it with a practiced ease. It had been quite a few months since he had gotten it, and almost just as long as he had last seen his dear friend. He missed her deeply, but between work and training, he barely had time to even breathe...This was work. He sighed, before the weapons in his room turned black, slowly melting down and flowing towards him as he secured his Inkwell. The ink swirled around him before flowing into the well as he made his way out of his room.

“Alright kids, Daddy needs to go down and see what the real situation is...you know the rules. Emergency number is on the fridge, bedtime is at 10, and I want my ship still in one piece when I get back.”

“Oac Tyt” came the cool voice of Dria, the red haired Al Bhed woman who could only give a light smirk as Gohrick passed her.

“Your in charge, you know the drill.”

“Oac”

Gohrick gave a smirk before heading down to the transport grapple, the only way on or off the ship from the ground. He took at look at the computer in his paw. Pravoka. Now why did that name ring a bell? He shrugged his shoulders as the transport dropped down to terra firma, shaking it from his mind as his legs absorbed the shock from the landing. It was about a two mile walk to the village/city, so he started off with a casual walk.

'Let's hope this isn't all a waste of time,' he thought, moving the hood of his jacket over his head with his tail wrapping around his waist, keeping his identity as a Mithra hidden for now.

Telira walked with one hand on the floating basket as she looked around at the city that she had once called home. It felt like it was so very long ago that she was just a child taking up a sword to patrol the streets because someone had to do it.

She'd been all of twelve years old.

But she had to wonder how much of her memories were fabricated by the Crystals as a means of allowing her to fit into this world and how much she had actually lived through. And then there was the question of whether or not it really mattered. The memories shaped her outlook, made her who she was.

She glanced down at the twins beside her and had to smile at them. Brenna was chewing on her fist, but Aeric looked back at her with a calmness that seemed odd from a child so small. But who was she to question the natures of her children? The only clues she had as to the identity of the man who gave them to her... were in those traits that did not come from her.

Soren watched the crowd, nervous for the safety of his newborn clan, and he spotted the black-garbed stranger before Tel did.

"Tel," he murmured softly, "black robes, hood up, walks strangely for a Pravokan."

Tel glanced up and softly chuckled to herself. "He's from one of the other worlds, Soren, that's all. Probably here for sightseeing. We seem to get a lot of those from the more advanced worlds. I believe they find our way of life simple and restful."

He'd seen the other worlds at her side and he had to admit that the World of One, for all the chaos that travelers brought with them... was a lot less dangerous than a few others he could name.

Tel smiled. "I want to meet him, see what he thinks of our world." She walked over to the stranger with the basket floating beside her with her precious children inside. Still, she wasn't stupid. She put herself between them and the black-robed man... at least until she knew for certain that he wasn't going to be a threat to them.

Gohrick didn't bother to stick to the shadows considering the wide range that the locals were giving him. Mentally sighing about his lack of what could be considered 'normal clothing', he made the best of it, taking in the sights of the village/city. It was small compared to many of the places he had visited, even the small villages of his home world could give this place a run for its money. The locals were dressed in simple cloth with the exceptions of the guards, who were dressed in dull looking armor.

'Probably iron if I had to guess,' he thought, before continuing down the dirt and cobblestone 'road'. His cool blue eyes kept a sharp eye out for anyone wanting to cause him trouble when they caught sight of a couple seemingly making a beeline for him. His head tilted slightly, watching the woman with long, curly hair and the much shorter male.

'Much too short for a Hume...perhaps a Dwarf?' once more he thought, but continued his stride, seemingly walking right towards the pair himself. He had no fear on his shadowed features, not that they could be made out under his hood, and his posture displayed his own confidence. While he wasn't a battle hardened veteran by any means, he was no longer the wet behind the ears feline either.

The air seemed to pick up as the two 'groups' continued to grow closer to each other, and he had a slight smirk on his maw. Seemed there was very little to worry about after all, least from what the wind was telling him. There were little ones in tow behind the woman who carried a similar scent. Her young ones. The male had a very earthen scent, further pushing the Dwarf race to a stronger possibility.

As the trio converged, Gohrick made a simple bow of his head, his paws still hidden within the pockets of his jacket. He slowed down his walking and even seemed to pause a bit. If they were going to speak with him, now was their chance, least he would continue on his walk as if it never happened.

Seeing the man slow to a pause, Tel took the opportunity presented. "Good day, traveler, I trust you find the city of Pravoka to your liking?"

The city guards had taken to watching the man as he passed, uncertain of his peaceable intentions given the tensions between the outworlders and those who wished to "protect the way of life we all know and love". Telira, herself, wasn't really surprised by any of the reactions. Change was difficult for some, more difficult than for others. It was a natural reaction, to want to keep change from happening.

It wasn't possible, but it was an understandable reaction.

In any event, once she spoke up to greet him, the guards watched more carefully. If anything were to happen they would have to act quickly, but on the other hand, this was the Champion of the Crystals. It was assumed that she could protect herself at need.

She smiled pleasantly at him, showing no signs of distrust, only the natural caution of a new mother with her children so close at hand.

Gohrick came to a complete stop as her voice rang in his ears, his hooded gaze turning to face her. He had a small smile on his maw, but once again, it couldn't be seen. If he was more sure his race wouldn't cause panic, or he wouldn't be mistaken for a monster, he wouldn't bother with such a secretive outfit. Still, he was far from rude, and gave a slight shrug of his shoulders.

“It is...quaint. Quiet. And highly suspicious of any new comers from what I have seen. But hospitable enough. I am to assume you are a local and, by the way the guards are acting, someone of importance or very well liked in this city/village,” he said, his voice calm with a gentle hint of amusement. He gave a look around before he elaborated more on his answer.

“Pravoka seems...rather lacking in advancements...I've yet to see such a place that was so...simple. Granted, I don't mean to sound arrogant or rude in my observations,” he admitted, giving another slight shrug.

Telira chuckled softly. "Yes, Pravoka would seem backwards in comparison to some of the great harbor cities of other worlds. Even by our standards it's not the most advanced city, but it is the one I called home for a great many years." She glanced around at some of the shops and merchants and passers by and sighed sadly.

"Yes, there is a sizable faction within our cultures that fear change and the uncertainty which comes with it. It's a natural reaction, I'm afraid, but one I wish to ameliorate as much as possible. Whether we like it or not, change has come to our world and there is no option other than accepting that fact. We do not have to abandon who and what we are, but we do have to accept that nothing will be exactly the same as it was ever again."

She started slightly, and blushed. "I'm sorry, I neglected to introduce myself. Please forgive my rudeness. I'm Lady Telira LeNaen, the Champion of the Crystals... and the head of the world government."

Gohrick didn't have much more to say on the lack of advancement; anymore and it would cross the line to insulting. He did nod his head though as she elaborated on his own thoughts about how simple the city/village was.

When she further explained what was going on, he found it hard to wrap his mind around. “Hm, quite the opposite is happening on other worlds. On Spira, ships are leaving and exploring these new to us worlds, finding out what is out there and incorporating them into our society...others are finding refuge from persecution in the new worlds, either justified or legal...I agree with you though. Nothing will ever be the same again. Personally, I think it might be for the better. The worlds were becoming stagnate, and advances were halting everywhere...This might be the kick start everyone needed,” he said softly, before giving her a faint smile under his hood.

“No need to apologize. Captain Gohrick Trisona of the Calamity, Head of Transportation and Trade for Spira...or some fancy title like that,” he said with a chuckle, before holding his paw out without thinking about it in the form of a hand shake.

Telira nodded at Gohrick's introduction. "If I remember correctly from my travels, though, Spira had already had to deal with the conflict between nostalgia for the ways of the past and those who wish to embrace the future... I believe the two factions were called..." she paused for a moment, searching her memories, "New Yevon and... the Youth League."

She smiled, pleased with the fact that she could recall such details. "We have similar factions here, but we are only now being faced with that challenge. There are some who embrace the possibility that contact with other worlds creates. They just aren't as... potentially dangerous as the other. Most people simply want to be left alone to live their lives as they see fit. The challenge is allowing them to do so while keeping in check those who would impose their beliefs on their neighbors."

She looked around at the city. "I believe as you do, that there is opportunity for progress and development for all worlds. I believe that the simple values of the World of One can do much good in other worlds. That we have discovered that sometimes the biggest toys and the fanciest magic leave the soul empty and hungering even more for what... things cannot give. And I believe that the advancements of other worlds can help us do what we do best even better."

She sighed. "But it is not easy to find a balance between the wisdom of the past and the advancements of the future."

Gohrick actually laughed when she brought up the two factions that had once been warring on Spira.
“Ah yes, a bunch of old fanatical geezers and trigger happy children. It was a complete mess...and was slowly coming to a new war. Glad Cypher managed to stomp that out when he did...” he said with a smirk, before nodding his head.

“It is a balance. It's not easy by a long shot. But it is possible. And your right...there are some things that not even the more advanced machines can do...bring peace to the soul. But there is nothing others can do for that either. That is a personal quest everyone must go on,” he said with the voice of someone who had made that trip several times.

He paused before he spoke again, before staring into her eyes with his own cool blues, showing the feline eyes. “And what you say, it is something you truly believe in? Is it something you would fight for...order the lives of men away for? I ask this, not because of any threats or misdeeds, but there are those that would use this as a new way for war...Already on Spira, several sub branches had to be...eliminated. Is this something you would do as well?” he asked, truly curious. He hadn't had a chance to meet many world leaders other than Shade. He was curious on her take on all of this and what she would do for her beliefs.

Yuffie was getting tired. She now didn't want to run around working for WRO, sure it was for a good cause but she honestly believes that there is someone else that could do all the work she has been doing. What the young ninja wants is to save the world one little step at a time when a threat like a man with a long sword and silver hair appears or when a meteor wants to destory the world. Not for when some silly little gang wants to play a game of wannabe Turks or when someone just wants to attempt to mess with the world for the heck of it. So, the woman decided to do something. As she sits away from her homeworld. Right now on a desk in her homeworld is a envelope; within it a letter of resignation from WRO written by Yuffie. She almost did it without being seen too, but unfortunately was caught by one of the people working in WRO while attempting to leave quietly. This person like many in the organization, knew who she was and asked if she was going to finally act like a Princess of Wutai. Yuffie only shook her head and laughed in response then continued to go on.

Presently, Yuffie could feel another heave within her stomach which she knew all too well would bring up nothing but some sort of body fluid for everyone to see. She had already emptied out her stomach and in the process showed everyone what she ate before she stepped onto the airship. Yuffie does her best to avoid getting on the airships but to get to the location she wanted to go to she knew she had no other choice. Quickly, the woman grabbed another bag which unfortunately was told had once been a stomach to some living thing. Yuffie felt a bit bad for the creature who she was now just tossing feelings of nausea into only to have those feelings come back and the process happening again in a seemingly endless cycle until the ninja finally got off the hunk of metal.

Now, with the ordeal being over, before the next cycle Yuffie's mind flashes to a previous time still on her homeworld before she left.

The young ninja had almost left the WRO person behind eating a bit of her dust. Though she stopped when they let out a slight chuckle. Then saying in a tone that screamed out they knew exactly what's going on, suggested she go to a city. A city....in a whole different world, before giving her a slight tip as to how to get there. Yuffie does wish that the person had informed her that she was going to get there via airship, she had discovered that fact only after she went through a door in a room on the airship then found herself looking at rows upon rows of seats. A frown with a feeling of dread came over the woman. Immediately, she attempted to get off the airship only to have a too jolly crew member push the ninja down (Seemingly with ease) then strap her in before asking questions as to where she was going. Through clenched teeth she told him of her location.

"Pravoka! We're right over her!" Yelled a voice on an intercom. Yuffie sighed now finally able to get off the ship. "This is your stop young lady." Said a familar voice, Yuffie turned rembering that the jolly crew member was still beside her. He then easily picked her up. The ninja was not pleased with this and began to squirm. "Hey! What are you doing? Put me down! I walk can by myself you know." The man only chuckled a bit as he continued to carry Yuffie through many different rooms and corridors until they stopped in one big dimly lit room.

The young ninja was glad when the man finally put her down but a perplexed looked appeared on her face when she saw his hands blurring and a sudden weight on her back. "It'll take care of everything. When it beeps be prepared to land on your feet." Be prepared to land on your feet? What? Yuffie thought. "What do you mean by-" The man brought down a lever, the floor below Yuffie's feet soon gave away. The woman soon realized quickly that she was falling in the air. OH MY GAWD! I'M GOING TO DIE!!! She screamed in her head, while in reality she was just silently screaming. Yuffie thought she heard the man cackle in the distant, "We said we'd bring you to Pravoka not that we'll land you in it." Yuffie could see a town below, the ground rapidly coming closer she closed her eyes not wanting to see a herself becoming a ninja pancake. Soon, she heard a beeping noise then she could feel her fall slowing down. The woman opened her eyes just in time to feel her feet landing on the ground.

Her heart still pounding, Yuffie decided to scan the area as she took off the thing off her back. Her surroundings was certainly different than from what she was used to, the ninja noticed that the level technology in Pravoka was not as high as it is in her world. This brought a nice strong feeling that she couldn't place her finger on for awhile then came to an answer. Home. She thought. This place had reminded her about Wutai before it became all cheesy and touristy. She sighed, it was awhile since she had felt that strong feeling. Sure she would feel a feeling like it whenever she saw Wutai but it just wasn't as strong as it was before and she knew that if Wutai was exactly like this place the feeling would be stronger. Suddenly, these feelings were interrupted the moment she felt something smack her head, making her faceplant to the stoney ground. Her forgotten luggage had caught up to her.

Gohrick's question caught Telira off-guard, for all that she should have expected it. It was a legitimate question, between those struggling with the burdens and choices that only those in leadership truly understand, where lives are weighed in balance against each other.

She fell silent considering the question with all the seriousness it deserved. "I... I am very lucky. We have not yet identified any of these groups as having the ability to put words to actions and put the safety of others at risk. There has been property damage, and threatening words said, and those have been dealt with according to laws that already exist." She sighed. "But it is escalating and I fear that I have to make that choice soon."

She glanced at her children in the basket. "Time was, I would go personally to deal with those who needed dealing with. I'm not a bureaucrat. I'm... I'm accustomed to being the one person with a sword doing what whole armies cannot. I no longer have that freedom, and so if such action is taken... I will be asking another's hand to be wielding the blade, even though the thought of... of outright assassination sticks in my craw."

She was about to say more, when the sudden arrival of a young woman falling from the sky interrupted them. Tel whirled at the sound, reaching by reflex for a weapon she wasn't carrying, much to her chagrin, and looked at the new arrival, trying very hard not to laugh at the way her luggage hit her in the back of the head.

Soren did chuckle, though, as he walked over and offered a hand to help the young woman up. "Welcome to Pravoka, youngling. I take it that you had to make an unexpected disembarking from that airship?"

Gohrick listened carefully to Telira's answer to his question, his posture not giving away any of his thoughts. What she considered luck, he considered a lack of intelligence in the sense of not knowing everything that was going on. Not knowing the source of the problem, the root of the cause, simply made for the group in question to have an easier time keeping their activities in the dark. Chase two hares and you won't catch one. Cause chaos everywhere...

Still, not everything was in such black and white as Cypherous liked to see it. He knew himself that there were plenty of shades of gray, and more than one way to rule a ship. As she continued to speak of her own situation, Gohrick only gave a few slight nods. While she seemed nice enough, a leader that wasn't willing to pick up the blade, but pass it on to someone else...wasn't truly fit to lead. Still, perhaps he had been hanging out with Cypher far too much. He was biased in his initial opinion, and he knew it well enough not to say anything about it at the moment.

“We all lead in the way that works bests in our own eyes...Sorry if I seemed too forward, but I do seem to have a horrible case of morbid curiosity,” he said with a smile in his voice. He opened his maw to say more when his ears twitched under his hood. What was that odd noise? It sounded like...

His eyes dashed to the right just as a woman suddenly landed in front of them. He saw Telira reaching for a phantom weapon, while his own paw moved behind his back and over his inkwell which started to bubble slightly. Friend or foe, he couldn't tell at the moment...at least not till the luggage came crashing down into the woman's head. He paused and stared at the scene for a moment, before joining in the Dwarven's slight chuckling as he realized what had just happened.

“Psh, scum like that give all sky pirates a bad name...” he said, looking up and seeing the passing ship, shaking his head, his face now only partially covered by the hood, reveling the fur on his chin and throat.

Bala was staring out of an inn window. She had been given the choice of going back to Spira quite some time ago, but she still was not sure what action she wished to take. That guy he was...strange, to put it lightly, but the girl...she was nice. Her mouth set in a firm line as movement caught her attention.

It's that girl...huh. The young Guado stepped out of her room in a few easy strides. She bowed politely to the innkeeper before exiting the inn. She approached the woman, who she believed was named Telira, and nodded politely. "Hello, I think we have met before--it's me, Bala, if you remember." Her eyes flicked to the man standing next to her, managing to suppress a gasp. She bowed deeply, flushing at her mistake. "I'm sorry, sir."

The samurai noted a falling shadow and watched as a woman fell from the sky. The man noted that the woman made sky pirates look bad. There was a strange sensation rising in Bala's being. Her demeanor suddenly became very cold, when she looked at the woman who fell from the sky, her sea-green eyes were icy and harsh. "Honor-less..." the word issued forth in a quiet growl.

What have we learned today Yuffie? The ninja thought in her head. To always ask to be dropped off on the ground-never assume. Her head throbbed a lot and she could taste the earthy taste of dirt in her mouth.
Somewhere, not too distant she heard someone say. "Welcome to Pravoka, youngling. I take it that you had to make an unexpected disembarking from that airship?" Slowly, the woman spat out the dirt from her mouth before putting both hands on the ground then sitting up. Immediately she looked for the person who said that, Yuffie didn't need to look far. Right there she could see a man standing there offering his hand to her. The ninja just looked at the hand for awhile before deciding to stand up by herself.

"Definitely," She began. "Unexpected, especially for the price they had me pay." The woman crossed her arms and pouted. Then, Looking up at the sky, she cursed in her head at the airship that wasn't there anymore. I want my money back! She demanded.
Her focus quickly turned to the man, her pout now disappeared. "Is there an inn here?" Then looking around the place she could see that there were more people nearby. The ones that really stood out was a woman with an icy look in her eyes and a man-person(?)-furry standing on two feet living thing that she had never seen before in her life or anything familar. Yuffie thought for a second she had lost her mind, especially since she could've sworn that they had said something not too long ago. They had said something about scum, Yuffie wasn't too sure she wasn't entirely listening. Then, without realizing it she just stared at the person while questions popped in her head. Were they part of this planet? Did they really speak? Were they some sort of experiment or were they just born that way? Do they get angry if someone pulls on their tail? She answered that question herself, well of course they would get angry!

Bala sighed. The person who dropped from the sky seemed to be a little...ditzy. Her sea-green eyes lost some of their chill, and she decided that maybe this person wouldn't be too bad. Her body bent forward slightly in a respectful bow. "My name is Bala Choukichi, and I just came from an inn. It's that way." Her kimono sleeve covered her hand, but she managed to point the direction in which the inn was located.

"Would you like an escort?" The words had slipped from her mouth almost naturally, and she had a hard time hiding her blush that had crept up onto her cheeks.

Telira noticed the arrival of the Guado girl that she'd met that day on the World of Five and smiled welcomingly to her. She was always glad to renew acquaintances with those she'd met on her travels. And this particular, very sincere and intent young woman was one she had taken an instant liking to...

In spite of the fact that their meeting had taken place before she realized that she had her children growing within her.

She bowed her head to the girl. "It's good to see you again. I trust your path has been a smooth one?"

Soren chuckled at Yuffie. "Yeah, sometimes you gotta watch people real close or things end up going bad quickly." He looked around. "There's an inn right over there, youngling, if you're interested in it."

Just then the noise and the chaos of so many people meeting and talking all at once became very upsetting for one particular individual and Brenna set off a howling cry that could make the clouds tremble. Which, of course, started her brother crying. Telira sighed and reached into the basket and lifted her daughter into her arms, rocking her to quiet the overwhelmed girl.

Soren kept an eye out as the little one quieted to a slight whimper. Once Brenna quieted, Aeric did as well, falling back asleep quickly.

Tel merely smiled and blushed softly at her daughter's attention-grab.