Disclaimer: I do NOT own "Laputa: Castle In The Sky". That is property of Studio Ghibli. ALSO, some of the poems contained in this fic are NOT mine. Those poems will be identified either within story or at the end. And now, our featured presentation.

PLATINUM (Q PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS:

A "LAPUTA: CASTLE IN THE SKY" FANFICTION

HERITAGE… DANGEROUS HERITAGE

(Be sure to read the prologue. Just checking.)

CHAPTER 1: SO IT BEGINS.

I all alone roam the skies

Watching Earth as time passes by.

Laputa floats on in the deep skies. Its trees never dying, its animals forever playing. Its final functional robot, the Gardener, tends to every square inch of the gardens. The giant Volucite Crystal protects and gives live to everything in it. Without its weaponry system, Laputa has become a big, floating garden, and the search for it has diminished to a halt. If everything stays fine, Laputa could become but a legend in a book…

Except not everything stayed fine…

It was one quiet, clear night, and everyone was getting ready to eat. Then, an almost silent burst filled the sky and illuminated the earth for a few seconds. The people that witnessed this got alarmed and alerted the authorities. The army immediately started investigating.

Laputa struggled to keep itself in the air, but the Crystal grew too weak because of the burst. So the mythical land went down. Slowly and smoothly, Laputa floated down. And it went on until it landed very close to a shore in the middle of nowhere. The Gardener, sensing something was wrong, started checking the garden and its surroundings. The robot went all the way to the roots, now on a similar level than the garden itself. While checking around, the robot found something sparkling with the rays of the sun. It then felt compelled to leave his post and search for help in the only ones it could trust.

So the robot went on its way, with his fox-squirrel friends accompanying it. They crossed the small body of water to get to shore. The robot walked without a rest, across fields, rivers, towns, becoming a fascination for all kids who saw them and a wonder to the people of said towns. Never once did the robot slowed pace or gave in into distractions, no matter how much kids bugged and clinged, or adults blocked the ways of the weird attraction. Occasionally looking down at the found item in its hand, the robot kept on walking to the horizon.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- < p class="MsoNormal">[Groans] [picture a bright light here]

Nurse: Finally, you're up.

Sheeta: What… Where am I?

Nurse: You're at the doctor's office, Sheeta. You were brought here after you fainted from exhaustion.

Sheeta: Oh… Hey! You're… Nurse Jenny!

N. Jenny: Glad you still remember us, Sheeta. I mean, after 3 ½ years, we thought we got rid of you.

[Sheeta giggles]

N. Jenny: Now what would go and make you lose your energy like that? Was it that cute boy outside?

Sheeta: You mean Pazu? [Blushes slightly]

N. Jenny: Come on, girl, you can talk to me. We're among family, you know.

Sheeta: Well, to be honest…

Meanwhile, Pazu, Louie and Shalulu are sitting in the waiting room reading… eh… the news, (Well, come up with a something else they'd print over at 190X) when suddenly…

[Shrill, high-pitched scream]

Shalulu & Louie: [GASP]

Pazu: Sheeta!

The pirates tried to bring down the door (read: TRIED), the Pazu opened it to help… Sheeta… and the nurse… giggling? (Kinda defeats the purpose.)

Pazu: Huh?

N. Jenny: [Clears throat] Well, I'm gonna tell the doctor you're up. Then he'll check you up and surely you can go. [leaves]

So Sheeta and Pazu are left alone in the room. Rather uneasy.

Pazu: So… you feel OK?

Sheeta: Yes, I'm ok. Ehh, Pazu?

Pazu: Yes?

Sheeta: After they release me, can we go?

Pazu: Go, as in, back to your house?

Sheeta: No. Go back to Miner's Town.

(A/N: I don't think Pazu's hometown has a name, so I'll just call it Miner's Town. Now we return.)

Pazu: Whoa, wait, I… Don't you it being back here?

Sheeta: Well, yes, but… Eventually you have to go back there, and… I feel like I need to go too. [Motions him to get closer] Besides, some of these people are really creepy.

Pazu: Creepier than the weird kid with the boil?

Sheeta: WAY creepier.

They both looked at each other, and just started to laugh. Right the, the doctor comes in.

Dr. Tanako: Well, I´m glad to see you in a god mood, ehh… [Looks at the papers. He's new, ok?] Sheeta. Good news, maybe? Now, if your friend would excuse us, we could have another set of good news soon.

So Pazu stepped out. Soon Sheeta was checked out of the hospital, and soon thereafter [After Dola and the boys went… eh… sightseeing] they left to Miner's Town. No sooner have they been dropped off that the people went to greet them.

Sid the miner: Hey, Pazu! Sheeta! How was the trip?

Sheeta: T'was a great experience! [Trips, but is catched by Pazu] I´m ok.

Pazu: Watch it. We don't want you fall out like the last time.

(A/N: I'll be calling the Boss' wife "Izumi". If you know her real name, let me know. Thanks.)

Izumi: Oh, my! Sheeta, are you ok? Are you hurt?

Sheeta: I'm ok! I just got dizzy. That's all.

Izumi: Well, we're not taking any risks. I know of an old family recipe that'll perk you right up.

Sheeta was about to leave with Izumi, when something caught her attention.

Boss: Hey, Pazu!

Pazu: Yea, boss, what is it?

Boss: While you were gone a new guy settled in, and I gave him work on the mines.

Then a guy comes out of the croud. He looks about Pazu's age, but much more handsome, with long, blonde locks, and a smile to make girls swoon. (Go on, girls, swoon.) Sheeta couldn't help but become entranced by the new guy's hotness!

New options, new chances,

New ways of entrancements.

New life, go new places,

Explore territory.

At last monotony

Feels like it has been shattered,

A new franchise entered,

End of monopoly.

Boss: His name is Galion, and he'll be working with us from now on.

Izumi: So, Sheeta, what… Stop staring! It´s not polite!

Maude: But, you gotta admit, mom. He is hot!

Sheeta twitches, then quickly turns and looks away.

Galion: You must be Pazu. I've heard loads about you, and I hope we can become friends.

Galion stretched his arm to shake hands with Pazu, who hesitated a bit, but heartedly returned the shake.

Pazu: Ok. Welcome then, Galion. You know, you should meet Sheeta. She's around here somewhere… Oh, hey, Sheeta!

Sheeta is found next to the boss' wife, looking anywhere but towards them. She even hesitated to look when she was called. Even when she reacted, she barely took a step forward to get noticed, barely able to keep composture, especially when the new heartthrob got hold of her hand and kissed it.

Galion: My, what have I done so the heavens decide to bless me with such a beautiful sight?

Sheeta tried, but couldn't help but blush at the adulation. Pazu, as he witnessed this, took a step forward, but then all wrong thoughts were erased and he just dismissed it as a first time encounter type of thing.

Sheeta: Well, ahem… I'm… eh… welcome, and… Hope you enjoy your stay. If there's anything you need, I could be of service. (Why did I just say that?)

Maude: {To Sheeta}Smooth…

Izumi: Quiet, child!

After introfuctions were made, the people went to the local restaurant, and ate a hearty dinner and enjoyed a show, of which Sheeta was sometimes part of.

Sid: Hey, Sheeta! Come on up and recite one of those poems of yours.

Audience: Yeah, come on, Sheeta!

Sheeta: Oh, ok. [takes out a poem book form her bag and goes onstage, opens the book on a random page and begins.]

"Roses (1)" By Robert Anthony

Roses have thorns
thorns make a sting
stings 'nuff to cry
cry of my ill

ill of my life
things worse than you
worse than our time
where ev'rywhere's blue

I'm not depressed
I'm just down some
maybe 'twas that
last cup of rum

Not in my will
but what to do?
clouds keep moving
ocean's still blue.

Audience: [Cheering]

Markus: Even though I didn't understood what that meant, she delivers it like nothing else.

After dinner, everyone retreated to their respective homes. It was then when Sheeta found out that Galion had moved on the second floor of the house in front of her, and his window was exactly in front of hers. She closed her clear white curtains, sat on her table, wrote a note so she wouldn't forget, and then changed to her pajamas and went to sleep.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- < p class="MsoNormal">

Through the night, the Gardener kept walking, more carefully because the fox-squirrels were sleeping on top of it, but still never stopping. It has been 5 days already, a feat that would make even the strongest of men tire. Close by was the army, never too close as to draw attention, but vigilant, with guns drawn if the robot dared take a step in false. And so it stayed all night long.

At daybreak, the fox-squirrels woke up. The robot opened up its fist slightly, then shut it quickly. After that, it looked around at the animals, and beeped at them. The small pack started squealing exited and running around their mechanical friend, as if overjoyed. Feeling that their journey was reaching its end, the Gardener and the fox-squirrels set the pace and started to make their way around this canyon-like formation.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- < p class="MsoNormal">

Afternoon already, and the morning has passed without much incident. Kyle tripping and landing his face on the burning-hot pie he was carrying was the top of the news today thus far. It was funny at the moment, at least.

At noon, Sheeta went to the mines to bring Pazu some food. Under some convincing by Galion, though, Sheeta decided to stay. She also offered some help on a surprisingly successful mining season. Well, after 3 ½ years of living in that town, she knew how to make many of these mining tools and machines work. Pazu was always an exelent teacher in that subject, and after finding out Sheeta wasn't afraid of greasing her hands, (something he was pleasantly surprise about) he went on to the more complicated stuff.

Anyway, (Tell me when I'm rambling) Sheeta sat down, getting some rest as the miners kept working. Just then, a high-pitched squealing was heard getting closer to the mines. Sheeta listened closely as the squealing got closer and louder. And it hit her: someone was squealing her name repeatedly.

Boss: Maude! What are you doing?

Maude: Sheeta! Sheeta! Sheeta! Sheeta! Sheeta! Sheeta! Sheeta! Sheeta! Sheeta! Sheeta! Sheeta! Sheeta! Sheeta! Sheeta! Sheeta! Sheeta! Sheeta! Sheeta! Sheeta! Sheeta! Sheeta! Sheeta! There's a strange brown tall thing standing in front of our house.

Sheeta: What?

Maude: Yeah, it's true! That thing came with a group of these. [Shows the fox-squirrel that was riding in her bag]

Sheeta gasped. There was only one other place she had seen that kind of animal before. Quickly getting out of her seat, she started shouting frantically for Pazu. When he came into view, Sheeta grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out without much of an explanation. Whatever it was, the other miners wanted to figure out what could be the biggest mews since the theft of week's worth of mining work, about a yeat ago.

Boss: Hey! Where are you…? What do you thi…? Stop right there, we…! I'm warning y…!

The workers ignored the boss' warnings, and sped out to town. The boss was left alone. With his daughter.

Maude: So, uh… Can I keep it?

The boss just looked at Maude, then the animal, then back to Maude.

Boss: Go ask your mom.

There was a giant turmoil at town. Everything was at a standstill. A new unexpected guest had arrived, stopping in front of the boss' house It wasn't human at all, and some doubted it was even a living thing. Just then Sheeta and Pazu arrive, followed by the mass of miners. Upon making her way to the house, Sheeta gasped and stood there almost petrified. A robot from Laputa stood in front of her, as if waiting for her. The robot looks down to Sheeta and salutes her, it its language.

{BEEP}

{BEEP}

{BEEP}

Sheeta: Wh… What happened? Why are you here?

The robot looked around a bit, then he focused back on Sheeta, and beeped at her. Then he stretched his arm at her and opened his fist, revealing the item he found around Laputa. Sheeta's eyes went wide open, and a trembling hand reached for the robot's hand, which contained…

Sheeta: M… My… C… C… C… Crystal.

End of chapter 1

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Sorry for the delay after the prologue, but it's the 1st time I try hard at a non-comedy fest, so bear with me, please. Chapter 2 is underway, so it may be here in a month. Maybe.

JCM 2oo4