(A/N: My Castle in the Sky fic has begun. I'm sorry for those of you that have been waiting for it, but I had a little trouble pulling a plot together. This story probably won't be as long as my other Ghibli stories, but I still think it's going t0o be a good one. But I'll let you be the judge of that. So enjoy the first chapter.)

Disclaimer: I own nothing

"CASTLE IN THE SKY 2: RETURN TO LAPUTA"

Chapter 1: Searching for Dola

The boss, as most people called him, raised an eyebrow at his strange guests. It wasn't everyday that people looking like this came around. Especially their leader. They were definitely not from around here. Everyone knew each other around here, and these folks had never been seen by him or anyone else.

"You must be talking about Pazu." The boss replied.

The leader of the group of strange folk just shrugged. "If he was the one involved with the Dola Gang a 6 years ago." She said.

This woman, Avalon she said was her name, who was seemingly the leader, was definitely the weirdest of the bunch. She must have had a bad accident considering the condition she was in. Her right arm and left leg were made of metal and she had a patch over her right eye. If the boss was honest, she creeped him out. Her 5 companions raised his suspicions as well, but at least they were whole.

"What do you want with Pazu?" the boss asked.

Avalon just waved it off. "We just have some questions for him. We're trying to find the Dola Gang, and according to our sources he's been in contact with them."

The boss considered this for a moment. He remembered the Dola Gang. How could he forget after all the trouble that they caused? But according to Pazu, they were good people, although the boss wasn't so sure. Still, if it was the Dola Gang that these people were after, then Pazu would be the one to decide what to tell them.

"He lives over there with his girlfriend." He replied, pointing to the road that led to Pazu's house. "It's that house up there on there on the hill."

Avalon nodded. "Thank you for your time, sir. With any luck he'll be able to tell us where the Dola Gang is."

She turned to leave, motioning for her comrades to follow her. They headed up to the house the boss showed them and knocked on the door. After a few seconds of waiting, the door opened and a woman of 19 with long brown hair made into pigtails opened the door.

"Yes, may I help you?" she asked kindly, not seeming to care about Avalon's appearance in the least.

Avalon smiled. "Hello dear, is there someone here named Pazu?"

The woman nodded. "Yes, is there a problem?"

Avalon shook her head. "No, not at all. We would just like to speak to him for little while, if that is alright."

"Oh yes, please come in. My name is Sheeta."

Avalon nodded as she and her companions entered the house. "Nice to meet you, Sheeta. I am Avalon. These men are my crew; Don, Janus, Boris, Kouji, and my brother, Ray."

"Nice to meet you." said Sheeta. "Please, make yourselves comfortable. I'll go get Pazu."

She retreated out of the room, leaving her guests alone. Avalon and the others did just what Sheeta said and made themselves comfortable while they waited. Not too long later, Sheeta returned with a boy the same age as her.

"Hi there." Pazu greeted warmly. "I'm Pazu. What can I do for you?"

Avalon smiled. "Simply answer a few questions. You see, we're looking for the Dola Gang and were told that you know about them."

Both Pazu and Sheeta frowned before sharing a look. "Why would you want to know about them?" Sheeta asked.

"You're not cops or anything, are you?" asked Pazu.

Avalon and the others laughed. "No, no, nothing like that." Laughed Avalon. "We are friends with Dola. In fact, we're pirates ourselves."

Pazu and Sheeta looked surprised. "Really?" said Pazu. "You're pirates?"

"Of course." Said Avalon. "I met Dola years ago. There's always been a friendly rivalry between us to see who can get the treasure first. Dola can get quite competitive."

Sheeta snickered. "I'll say."

"So you've noticed." Said Avalon with a chuckle. "How long have you known Dola and her boys?"

"About 6 years now." Pazu replied. "They come and visit every so often, but we haven't seen them in 4 years."

Avalon frown. "So long? Darn. I was hoping you had known where they were."

"You know how they are, sis." Ray replied. "Always on the move. Finish one job and go right to another."

Avalon chuckled and nodded. "Yes, that's true. But I wonder if they ever found Laputa."

Sheeta and Pazu gasped. "You know about Laputa?" asked Pazu.

Avalon looked surprised that he asked. "But of course, dear boy. I told you that there's a friendly rivalry between Dola and I. For the past 7 years, she and I have been searching for Laputa to claim its treasures. I'm at a loss of what to do though. I've reached a dead end." She paused for a moment. "That's never happened before."

Pazu chuckled. "Sorry to rain on your parade, but she beat you 6 years ago."

"What?" gasped Avalon and her 5 comrades.

"Yeah, we found Laputa 6 years ago."

Ray raised an eyebrow. "We?"

Sheeta nodded. "Yes, we were with Dola when Laputa was discovered."

Avalon crossed her arms. "Rats, beaten again. How on earth did she find it? Can you tell us?"

"It's a long story." Said Pazu.

Avalon shrugged. "Well, we're beaten, so we have nothing to do. Besides, I like long stories."

Ray snorted. "Yeah, she does." He muttered, earning him a glare from his sister.

Pazu and Sheeta told them the story of how they discovered Laputa. There was no longer a reason to worry about the floating castle being found since the aetherium crystal was gone and could no longer point to Laputa's location. And even if Laputa was found again, its dangerous technology was destroyed and could no longer do any damage. So they had no problem revealing Laputa's secrets. They wanted to get as many believers as possible so everyone knew that Pazu's father was no lier.

Avalon and the others listened to the whole story. They gasped when they found out about Muska, a.k.a. Romuska Palo Ul Laputa, and his intentions to use Laputa's power to take over the world. They were also equally as shocked to discover that Sheeta was also Princess Lucita Toel Ul Laputa, though the teens left out the part of how the aetherium crystal only worked for her, just as a precaution And they looked more than relieved to find out that Muska had been defeated and Laputa's technology destroyed. When their story was finished, Avalon and the others literally had their mouths hanging open.

"That was quite a tale." Said Ray.

"I'll say." Avalon agreed. "But does that mean that Dola didn't get the treasure?"

"Oh no, they got a few handfuls." Pazu replied. "But yes, there was still lots more."

Avalon raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you want any?"

Pazu shrugged. "No, not really. Besides," he took Sheeta's hand, "I got the best thing Laputa has to offer."

Sheeta smiled and gave his hand a squeeze. "And I got the best thing the rest of the world has to offer."

Avalon snickered. "You two are so sweet. Sometimes I wish I could find someone for myself. But I'm not the kind of person to settle down. I need adventure. There's no room for romance in my life." She sighed and shook her head. "But I'm getting off topic. Forgive me. I'm 44 years old and I'm already rambling on like an old crone."

"You do that a lot." One of her men said.

Avalon glared at him. "Watch it or you'll walk the plank!" she snapped.

"Easy, sis." Said Ray.

Avalon took a calming breath. "Yes, I'm sorry." She turned back to Pazu and Sheeta. "So, would any of you happen to know where Dola is?"

Pazu and Sheeta shared a look. "Well, we don't really know. They normally just stay in their ship." Said Pazu.

"I thought you said it was destroyed." Said Avalon, remembering the part of their story of how the Tiger Moth was shot own by Goliath.

"They got another one." Sheeta replied. "That's what they used the treasure for."

Avalon tapped her chin. "Hmm, well, we won't be able to find them if they're flying. But we may be able to find them at one other place. They can't stay in the air all the time."

"Then they'll only be in one other place." Said Ray.

Avalon nodded. "That's right, Smuggler's Paradise."

Pazu and Sheeta looked confused.

"Smuggler's Paradise?" Pazu repeated.

"What's that?" asked Sheeta.

Avalon smirked. "Of course you wouldn't know about it. Smuggler's Paradise is a place for, as the government would call it, scum like us. It's a place only people such as Dola and I know of. Dola stops there all the time. Perhaps she's there now. And if she's not, we'll ask around, maybe get some clues as to where she went." She got up to leave, her crew mimicking her. "Thank you Pazu, Princess Lucita."

Sheeta turned red. "Please, call me Sheeta."

Avalon nodded. "Very well, Sheeta. Thank you for your time."

"No problem." Said Pazu. "Hope you find them."

"Say hi for us." Said Sheeta.

Avalon paused and looked at the two teens, seeming to be considering something. Then she smiled. "You know what, why don't you two come with us?"

"What?" exclaimed Pazu and Sheeta in surprise.

Avalon laughed at the looks on their faces. "Well, after that story you just told, we could use people like you. What do you say? You'll get to see Dola and her boys again. But we won't be able to take you on our next job. We'll bring you back right before we head out, or perhaps Dola can give you a ride. Either way, what do you say?"

Pazu and Sheeta looked at each other, thinking. "What do you say, Sheeta?" Pazu asked. "Up for another adventure?"

Sheeta smiled. "I wouldn't mind some adventure. And it would be great to see Dola and the others again."

Pazu nodded in agreement. "I agree. The boss can handle a few days without me." He turned back to Avalon. "Ok, we're in."

Avalon clamped her hands together. "Excellent. Let's go."

"Right now?"

Avalon nodded. "We're on a busy schedule. Don't worry, we have everything you'll need on our airship. Can you be ready in 5 minutes?"

"Uh… sure, I guess."

"Alright, we'll meet you outside. BUT, remember one thing, this is no vacation. On my ship everyone pulls their own weight."

With that she left them to get ready.

"Wow, she is a lot like Dola." Said Sheeta.

(A/N: Pazu and Sheeta are off on another adventure to find Dola and her boys. Will they find them at this place called Smuggler's Paradise? There will be a lot more coming. By the way, who likes Avalon? She's practically another Dola, but you'll learn more about her and her crew later. Also, there will be answers to questions that weren't given in the movie, along with the characters' pasts revealed. So stay tuned for more and let me no what you think