Chapter 23: Sailing As We Fly...
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        "So, with no flying machine, how are we supposed to GET to the
Coliseum?" Setzer asked, fairly impatient.  The fiends were poring over
their map, scratching their heads and making a big deal out of the
situation.
        "It's easy!" Kary exclaimed. "We'll take a boat, that's all!"
        "This town doesn't have a port," Setzer said, with an edge to his
voice.
        Kary thought a moment.  "So what? We don't need one!"
        "So where are we gonna find a boat?" Lich asked ominously.
        "We'll make one!" Tiamat volunteered enthusiastically.  "There's
plenty of material lying around town!"  She looked from face to face,
seeking approval, but found only looks of disbelief.
        "I suppose it's possible..." Setzer said doubtfully.
        Kraken had been choosing not to speak for the last few minutes, as
he was busy blowing his nose on a rag.  "We could swib..."  It took a few
minutes for the others to realize what he had said.  When they all had it
figured out, they tactfully ignored it.
        "WAIT A MINUTE!" Lich blurted, slamming his fist into his other
palm.  "Setzer, is it possible that we could use parts from the Imperial
Airship wreckage?  With such materials already constructed, we could,
feasibly, assemble such a craft!"  Nods and words of agreement was the
general reaction.
        "Hmmm..." Setzer thought a moment.  He'd been assembling a lot of
crafts lately, and was getting fairly tired of it.  "I suppose, if we all
worked together."
        "Great!" Tiamat exclaimed, patting Setzer on the head.  He winced
in response, a result of his recent run-in with Cecil.  "Oh..." Tiamat
said, realizing.  "Sorry..."
        
        *            *            *            *            *
        
        In a short time, the fiends were busy pillaging the ruins of the
Imperial Death-Flock.  Setzer sat on a nearby hill, working out the plans
of how to make a well-constructed, but not too fancy boat.  He crossed out
some of his added extras, and added a few others elsewhere.  "Just enough
to get us to the Coliseum, that's all we need..."
        Kraken came walking up the hillside, his arms full of parts for
them to rework into a sailing device of sorts.  "Say, Setzer," he began,
nasal passages slightly clearer than before.  Not before coughing, he
continued: "Who is Cecil, adyway?"
        "Cecil?" Setzer replied.  "Well, he was a friend of mine, I think.
He's kinda gone berzerk, I guess."  He rubbed his head for emphasis.
        "I'd like to beet hib sobeday..." Kraken made motions pertaining
to a few swift punches in various places, and added a few sound effects to
boot. "POW!  WHAP!"  Setzer gulped, and went back to his plans.
        
        *            *            *            *            *
        
        It was a few days later when the craft was finally finished.  It
didn't look like much at first glance, but it held many people, and was
quite nice when inspected closely.  "Finally!"  Tiamat said, wiping her
forehead.  "I thought we'd never finish..."
        "That didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would!" Setzer
said, satisfied with his latest work.  The fiends all exchanged tired
glances.
        "Let's get going," Kary said as she streched, cat style.  "I'm
tired, and I'd like to get outta this boring old town."
        "This is the loggest we've ever stayed in a city..." Kraken
commented, his nose nearly clear.  "Let's leave before we settle down."
        Tiamat smiled and whispered something in Kraken's ear, and a glare
flashed across his face.  "...just kidding..." she added.
        "Well, in any case, we'd best get this thing into the water..." 
With that, she took the entire sailing craft in both hands, hoisted it
above her head, and began walking South, to the nearest coast.
        'I'll never get used to that...' Setzer thought as he watched the
dainty looking fire fiend carry the large, and heavy boat singlehandedly. 
'I mean, Sabin was strong, but she could take his head off with a single
punch!'  He began following Kary, as if she even knew where she was going.
        
        *            *            *            *            *
        
        Within the hour, the boat had been placed in the sea.  At first,
the going was slow, but once the wind kicked up, the party was well on its
way.  The craft was sturdy, waterproof, and very seaworthy.  It had an
open top, and a large mast protruded from the boat's center.  The craft
could easily fit up to ten people within it's base, so there was plenty of
room to just lay back, and look at the sky.  The main body of the boat was
constructed of the remains of an airship hull, making it extremely
durable.  The craft, in its entirity, looked quite a lot like a child's
toy boat magnified fifty times.
        Evening was about to commence, in all its beauty.  The sun had
just sunk over the horizon, giving the sea the same red hue it had
possessed during Kefka's mad reign.  The wind was blowing to the
north-northeast, which would take them to the Coliseum's area easily by
the break of day, or at most two days from then.  Kraken, upon the
insistence of Tiamat, had gone to sleep for the reason of his health. 
Kary was still sitting awake, and Lich was still as ominous as ever,
keeping a watch over the ever tumultuous sea.  Tiamat was preparing for a
good night's rest under the main sail.  Setzer sat watching the ever
vigilant guardians of the sky, the stars.
        Kary let out a sigh.  She thought of Garland, being all the way
across the world... It didn't seem right that he and the fiends should be
separate.  'I wonder if he could really be in love with that... tyrant...'
        As if reading her mind by telepathy, Setzer spoke up.  "Where is
Garland, exactly?" he inquired.
        Kary was silent for a moment as she stared at the sky. 
"...Doma..." she said at last.  "I think he was kidnapped..."
        "Kidnapped, eh?"  Setzer couldn't deny that the term "kid" was
definitely appropriate in such a situation.  He smiled, then looked down
at his feet, and let out a saddened sigh.
        "What about you?"  Kary asked him.  "What's on your mind, hon?" 
She looked at him warmly, awaiting a reply.
        "Oh..." Setzer thought a minute.  "Nothing, really."  He cast his
eyes upon the open sea, so everchanging, so random.  'A lot like she
was...'  he thought.
        "You need another hug?"  Kary asked, edging closer to the pained
gambler.
        "Yeah," he replied, tears welling in his eyes.  She gave him a
big, friendly hug, which he gratefully recieved, although it really didn't
help.  "Thanks..." he said in response.
        "Hey now, none of that..."  Lich said, staring vigilantly ahead. 
He had chosen to remain in his human form, because it was much easier to
strike a "vigilant watchman" pose with flesh.
        "Maybe you need a hug, too..." Kary joked.  Lich only glared in
response.  Of course he needed a hug, but why would he admit it?
        "Go to sleep," Lich said.  "We'll need plenty of rest for the
festivities later."  It was a long, restful night on the open sea.