Lift off!

The captain of the Kunzite Kraken gestures towards her vessel with a hand sweeping high through the air as she repeats, "Everyone else back on the ship! Everyone else back on the ship!" to send her crew away before launch. Each of them return, except for Mole along with herself, who stay to help--the former being her lead engineer, so it's to be expected. Captain Silver herself doesn't know all that much about magical technology. Meanwhile, all of your crew comes together on the deck and awaits what's to come.

"Brace yourselves," you say, grasping the mast beside you. "There's no telling what'll happen. If it starts to drip, I don't want anyone falling overboard. Hey, Gwyn. Where are Nelli and Anyana? We don't want to leave them behind."

"Right over this way," answers Gwynevere.

Next to her is a barrel full of water, but that's not all that's inside. A pair of peering eyes peak out from the top, though what's most noticeable is the glowing bulb dangling from a stem on her forehead. Anyana sits in her container, though she doesn't seem unhappy by it. She glances about with a patient smile upon her face and her bow wedged in at her side, garbed in the same leather breastplate she normally wears. Behind it, keeping it steady, is Nelli the jellymaid. Her grip doesn't leave the rim of the barrel for even a moment, and she nods to her mistress in understanding.

Meanwhile, Mole has already retreated back down the ladder.

The chains that attach your ship to the other are loosened, and the tentacles whirr back up into the air. Your sails are unfurled, and they immediately fill with a mighty gust of wind. At this, the entire ship rocks, and for just a moment, you worry you're going to sink like a stone.

Perching at the edge of the hatch, Captain Silver calls down. "Are you ready, Mole?"

"Just about!" returns her voice. Hardly a few moments pass though before she follows up with, "All right, counting down!"

You turn your gaze in a circle around you to make certain everyone is prepared, and as you do, you feel a sudden soft squish up against your chest. Two tall, fluffy ears nearly block your vision, and you look down to see a head of lilac hair. She snuggles her bunny body up against you, with arms around to your back which grasp on tight. After a moment, her adorable gaze peers up into yours with pink in her cheeks.

"I'm not sure if that's the most solid way to brace yourself, but that's all right. I'll keep you safe," you say softly.

Those words causes the colour in her cheeks to spread quite quickly. "I know."

Amara than comes in from the side, slipping an arm beneath yours as she pulls herself into a warm embrace. "And I will keep you two safe as best as I can."

The more we do this, the more we'll all go flying off together, but I don't exactly want to say no either. I'm not going to pretend this isn't nice.

Then finally, Niki wraps her arms around all of you, pinning you easily to the mast. "And I'll protect all three!" she boasts, though she likely could back up those words with action. Her grip actually does work as an effective brace. That is to say, as long as she holds onto something else if the launch of the ship goes south. Otherwise all of you will tumble away in a big ball.

"Three," counts Mole. "Two. One. And here we go!"

You hear the arcane engine hum to life. The deck vibrates faintly. Nothing seems to happen at first. It feels like you're lifting off into the air, but it seems to just be the wind picking up, and the ocean tides churning wildly against the port side.

"... Is it working?" you ask, mostly beneath your breath.

Mole climbs her way back up the ladder. Upon reaching the top, she grasps her damp, loose top and fans herself, teasing quite an alarming amount of her bare, dripping wet tits beneath it. She no longer has her tools in-hand, though her eyes are covered entirely by the goggles she did have on her forehead. After running her hands back through her messy, dirty hair, she sighs. "It's been a long time since I've been on an airship," she speaks aloud, though it seems she's doing so to herself."

"Mole!" Captain Silver calls out in an attempt to grab her attention. "Is it working or not?"

"Hm? Wait, what do you mean?"

"What do you mean what do you mean?"

She gestures a hand all around her. "It's working right now."

You suddenly hear the sound of water rushing down off the entire bottom half of the ship. It's difficult to tell at first just looking at the horizon, but when your eyes turn to the Kunzite Kraken, you notice it descending. Of course the opposite is true. You're rising! You look around in wonder, as do your friends, as the old, cracked ship no longer worries about the sea in its hull. The clouds can now become your ocean. It doesn't take long before the keel of the ship is a few dozen feet up from the surface of the water. It isn't all that high yet, though all three girls release you from their grasp, and you proceed together to stare off the starboard railing.

"We're flying! We're flying!" Eva bounces in celebration.

"I've never seen something like this before," mutters Anastasia. She moves with **** caution, but makes her way slowly to the same edge to cast her eyes downward.

"To be fair," Ariusia comments. "Everything seems to be a new experience for you. Varat must be so boring."

"W-Wait. Have you been on an airship before?"

"Well, no."

With surprising stealth, Vyzia steps her way up behind you, and then reaches out to grip the railing to your right. She stares out towards the horizon in silent thought. You can imagine what's going through her mind in terms of flight. You look to her, but she doesn't respond with even a glance of her own.

Her harpy companion flutters up to perch on the edge. "Mmm. The wind up here somehow feels fresher."

Mole pulls back up her goggles. "All right. So who wants to come with me so I can give them a crash course on how to operate this stuff? At least enough to get you home. As much as I'd like to stay and do it, because you've got yourselves some... amazing machinery, I have a ship of my own to return to."

"Aw. Are you going to miss them?" Captain Silver asks. "Is our ship not good enough for you anymore?"

"Oh shush. The Kunzite Kraken will always be my true love."

"Well, I'm sure she'd be fine with you having some fun on the side."

You raise your hand. "I should probably know, so I'll come."

Eva flails her hands wildly in the air. "Oh, pick me! I know about magic stuff, and uhm, well I've always wanted to drive an airship."

Meanwhile, Tom makes his way over. He waves to grab your attention. "I wouldn't mind knowing a thing or two. I mean to be frank, I'd like to pull my weight more. If something goes wrong, I'd love to be able to help fix it. So maybe I can be your helmsman for now."

Mole offers a thumbs-up. "All righty. Well, you three. Follow me!"