Written by Joshua David Tarwater
Special Thanks - @Cutegirlmayra
Illustration - SmilesFPS (SmilesFPS www.twitter.com)
Logo Design - Xenoko (XenokoYT www.twitter.com)

♪ ~ [Landlords ~ Masoyoshi Soken ~ Heavensward: FINAL FANTASY XIV Original Soundtrack]

          ~Up here among the clouds and wrecked ships the last thing I really expected to find were people. I mean, I love people and having the chance to meet new people is always exciting, I was just surprised when Sonic and I started seeing them up here in the clouds.

          ~There haven’t been a lot of them. Mostly just small groups of scavengers. Unlike Sonic and I though who have been making the light line highways, the people we’ve seen have been using airships that look like they’ve been smashed together from the wreckage of the Engineer’s airships. They aren’t flying the Engineers’ flag though, so they must not be with them. That fact has made it difficult to decide whether to approach them or not.

          ~The last time that creep Yolk made his presence known he said he was going to make the Engineers mine and Sonic’s allies. But that means they would be helping us out against their will, and it would be awful to ask for their help like that. But whenever Yolk has been mind controlling people up to this point, we’ve had to run from them as they’ve tried to capture us. Since the Red Gear Ring in my eye is active, and I can see the one around the planet that share’s Yolk’s name, I know they should be brainwashed. Yet, I haven’t talked to anyone besides Sonic for a while and I want to see what Yolk is doing to these people. Of course, Sonic is against it though.~

         “And now I’m surprised,” Sonic admittedly guardedly as he crossed his arms and began to tap his foot.

A small village made from scrapped airships.
Lodgings made from scrapped cabins and balloon housings.
Giant propellers and fans churning at the clouds.
Snow caught in large boilers becoming steam clouds.
A myriad of people all partaking in the upkeep of the “ship”.
Yoluku watching through snow and cloud from on high.

         An old goat sat down on a bench made of pipe and slumped against his staff as he looked at Rosy. Bolts of lightning captured by lightning rods distracted the hedgehog girl while Sonic eyed the disinterested scavengers wearily.

         “I suppose it makes sense. You are Lord Yoluku’s enemy, and you his Medium. You must expect us to try and capture you for him. A fine jest I suppose.”

         “So, the jerk is getting his kicks from watching us be confused,” Sonic surmised, only to be met with a shrug from the elderly goat.

         “I cannot presume to know the thoughts of the gods. I am no medium, only an old man whose experience helps keep the people in his care safe.”

         “But are you… I mean…Ooh~!” Rosy grew flustered and fed up, unsure how to ask someone if they were being mind controlled. “That creep has been doing nothing but making things hard on us!”

         “Perhaps it is due to you being a Medium,” the old goat suggested.

         “Wha- What do you mean?” Rosy asked, her curiosity being genuinely piqued.

         “I’d be careful listening to him Amy,” Sonic warned, the tension in his body starting to build. Tension that was met with laughter from the old goat.

         “Truly, you two have been met harshly by the trials of the gods. I suppose as Lord Yoluku’s enemy though it is only natural. But I wonder, what god do you serve who would challenge Lord Yoluku. Perhaps one of the machine gods of lore, or maybe even one of the sacred beasts.”

         “Try no one,” Sonic answered defiantly and placed his hands on his hips. “My only master is the wind that blows free. I go where I want, living life my own way. No one tells me what to do.”

         “Sonic…,” Rosy sighed, lost somewhere between marveling and swooning over Sonic’s steadfast dedication to his way of life and wondering if the old goat deserved to face his ire. Deciding he did not, she spoke up past her admiration. “I don’t think he was trying to be mean or anything, and I don’t think they really mean us any harm. I mean look at this village. They don’t have any autogolems or any way to hold us here, no less any way to try and take us to Yolk. They just kind of seem like victims of him picking on us.”

         “Is that how it looks,” the old goat mussed, a hint of laughter under his breath. “Do you consider yourself a victim of the whims of the gods as well then, Medium?”

         “Huh?” Rosy tilted her head curiously. “What do you mean.”

         “If not Lord Yoluku, we would dedicate ourselves to another as we make our way through the Zones, doing our best to survive. The wisdom and guidance of whichever god’s domain we have found ourselves in has always been how we have survived. Subjecting ourselves to their whims and demands is only natural in turn. I would think as a Medium you would understand that.”

         “I…,” Rosy started, but trailed off, the feeling of her tarot card case in the shoulder puff of her leotard distracting her.

          ~I didn’t think our time spent in that village would be so confusing. But I guess it’s because I never really thought about it before. What does it mean to listen to the gods? And what about all the other mystical forces in the world I convene with through my dousing and fortune telling. Do I need to repay them with more than thanks for all the help they’ve provided me, and is Yolk actually capable of being good?

         ~Ooh~! It’s not helping at all thinking about it!~

         “Amy!” Sonic called out after Rosy as she leapt from a highway of glowing geometric lines to a mountain of piled up airships. She did not stop to look back until she used Sonic’s speed as best as she could to spiral her way to the top right after a bolt of lightning melted it.

         Stubbornly maintaining her balance as the snow that fell all around her melted on the molten spire, Rosy thrust her balled up hands down at her side and leaned over forwards to look down at Sonic while thrusting her hips up irritably.

         “Soni~c!” Rosy whined, her cheeks puffing up with her frustrations. “I don’t like being confused, and I’m thinking it’s because of my memories being gone that I am.”

         “You’re not letting what that old goat say bother you still, are you?” Sonic asked with a sigh and held out a hand as he shrugged exasperatedly. “Last time I checked, you enjoyed fortune telling because it was fun, and you liked trying to figure out what it all meant and how it came together.”

         “Well, that’s just the problem Sonic!” Rosy continued with her tantrum. “That creep Yolk also does whatever he wants to have fun. But if the forces that influence the fortunes and signs I read want to be paid back, or are just having fun then it makes them–”

         *SLAP*

         “A-Amy?” Sonic stuttered with surprise as Rosy smashed her face between her hands. She wore the biggest most ridiculous frown Sonic had ever seen her wear as her still puffed-up cheeks fully deformed her face. Then she started laughing with the largest smile and confused Sonic that much more.

         “A-Amy?” he repeated, not sure what was about to happen next.

         “Ooh~! I’m such a big dummy,” Rosy laughed and spun about on one foot with her arms spread wide. “If they’re helping me out it must be because they want to, and that I can make it fun for them too is wonderful~♥

         “It’s not like they’re hurting anyone like that creep,” Rosy huffed as she stopped and looked up at Yoluku through the snow, clouds, and lightning. Then she hopped down and rejoined Sonic, taking advantage of his confusion and taking his hand in hers. “Besides, I already know there are lots of bad forces out there. I’ve been using my cards for what feels like forever, so of course I know. Silly me letting Yolk get in my head and confuse me.”

         “Well, as long as you’re feeling better,” Sonic conceded to Rosy’s suddenly good mood and looked away, scratching at the back of his head with his free hand while a sweat drop ran down the side of his face.

         “You’re so sweet Sonic~♥” Rosy squealed happily and started bouncing up and down. “Worrying about me and making sure I’m okay~♥”

         “I mean, of course I would–,” Sonic started and caught himself, Rosy’s eyes widening and started to sparkle. “What I mean is of course I’ll look out for one of my friends. Anyone really who looks upset like you did.”

         “Tee-hee~♥” Rosy giggled and tilted her head to the side to try and get a better look at Sonic’s face. He did his best to look away, but with Rosy still holding his hand it was getting awkward.

         “Let’s just get going again and find that Red Gear Ring so we can be sure Yolk can’t hurt these people any more than he has.”

         “You’re so cute when you’re nervous like this Sonic~♥”

         “Who said I’m nervous,” Sonic hid one reaction behind another and sighed as he pulled his hand away from Rosy and turned back towards the glowing line highway they had been on before their little detour for Rosy’s tantrum.

         “You don’t have to hide it,” Rosy continued to tease Sonic as he stretched to prepare to resume his running, seemingly ignoring her antics now. “It’s fun seeing a vulnerable side to you~♥”

         “Whatever,” Sonic waved it off, his typically cool demeanor fully restored, as though he had never acted any differently. Rosy pouted a moment, but soon resumed smiling and chased after Sonic as they returned to their trip through the Zone.

         ~Tee-hee~♥ Sonic really is so sweet. But I finally saw it! Ooh~! It was so hard not teasing him about it though. But if I did, he would have denied anything and I probably would have lost my temper. That would have been horrible of me after he went through the trouble to try and cheer me up. It’s better that we focus on destroying the Red Gear Ring too so we can save the people living in this Zone from Yolk.

         ~But I’m not going to forget it. Sonic talking about me and my fortune telling. Eee~♥ He really has been paying attention! I’m so happy and can hardly believe I finally saw a crack in Sonic’s wall! I’m so excited and can’t wait to see what he shows me in the future.

          ~Tee-hee~♥ Maybe I should check my own fortune to figure out when he will.

          ~Nah! It’s more fun not knowing!~