2018-09-11: An Empress Rethroned
- Cutscene: An Empress Rethroned
- Cast: Layna Manydays
- Where: Silver Coast
- Date: September 11th, 2018
- Summary: A long awaited desire is finally realized, as a landlocked ship is returned to the sea.
While Layna Manydays was on Lunar, her crew had not been idle. Though there was no word on their Captain's whereabouts, they had the utmost faith in her. They knew she would return, and so, preparations had been made.
Where there was once a hill on the Silver Coast entombing the Captain's beloved Ruby Empress, there was now a sturdy frame keeping her steady as they worked. A wheeled base had been constructed around her hull, set to roll down a series of rails leading straight to the sea.
Everything was ready in place...except for the most important piece of all.
Captain Manydays herself.
But then, that changed. Layna Manydays had returned with her friends, bringing with her stories and warnings. And so, it came time for the Empress to be returned to its rightful place.
The entire crew had gathered to witness this event - they would not miss it for the world. They watched from a careful and safe distance away, for there was always the chance of something going wrong when one was working with heavy machinery. To move a ship of that size, they needed Gears.
Two Gears had been chosen for the task: Layna's Gear, the VALS-4 Corsair, and Talise's Gear, Alexander. Off to the side was the unnamed Gear typically used by Victoria, the Lead Artillerist. Its task was primarily to keep an eye on the situation, and be ready to intervene just in case things started to go off the rails...figuratively or literally.
"Alright, let's start by getting this frame off, aye?" Layna said, switching on her communications. Very delicately, the frame surrounding the Ruby Empress was removed. They could always reuse it for other purposes later. No need to waste good wood. "...Okay, lookin' good! Now let's give 'er a good push, nice an' steady, aye?"
The crew was completely silent, their breaths held as the Gears began to push the ship slowly and carefully down the rails toward the sea.
It was a long distance away - there were a lot of opportunities for things to go wrong, but everyone followed along quietly as the massive machines began to push.
Slowly and steadily, the Ruby Empress went down the rails. The wheeled device at her base stood strong, bearing her weight admirably.
Eventually, the sea was in visible distance. ...But they were not done yet.
"Alright, this is gonna be the tricky part. We're gonna have to give her a /lift/ - just a tad, aye? Steady now!" Layna called out. The Ruby Empress was pushed closer. The rails carried her into the sea, but they could only go so far. Now it was up to the Gears. They lifted in tandem, shifting the ship as they moved. The wheeled device at her base gave way, breaking in two...but that was how it was meant to go - it had already done its task.
Carefully the Empress was maneuvered, until it was just right...and then set down into the sea.
For a brief moment, Layna held her breath. Certainly /something/ must've gone wrong, right? They'd have to do /something/ else next.
...No.
The ship rested there, proudly in the sea. Flaunting her glory, like an ousted empress resuming her crown and her throne. This was where she was meant to be, where she belonged - on the sea, not rotting away in a sanddune.
Things began to feel a little more right in the world.
A massive, deafening cheer went up from Layna's crew. Their joy and excitement could be heard - could be /felt/ far around. Some said that it echoed even to Lacour.
In the cockpit of the Corsair Layna leaned back, shutting her eyes tight.
It had felt like an eternity since she and her crew had been spirited away to Filgaia, their ship jammed into the side of a hill like a cruel diety's joke.
But now.
Now.
There she was. The sunlight reflected off of the ocean's surface caused the red of the Empress's hull to shimmer like the gem she was named after. The Ruby Empress's full magnificence was on display for the first time in a long, long time.
Within the Corsair's cockpit Layna removed her hat, placing it over her heart. In contrast to her crew's fierce roars of elation, Layna was completely silent.
She let herself sink back into her seat, letting go of the controls...and smiled.
Layna was content, in a manner she had not felt in quite some time.