A/N Whee, another story floating out of my mixed-up head. Well, it's a Valeshipping (by far my favorite) and again, it's complete, since it was going to be a one-shot but ended up getting too long.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Nintendo and Camelot, but the plot is mine!

It was night. The last glimmers of red on the sea far away had faded, and the temperature dropped, as it always did when the sun went down, to frigid lows in the mountains of Atteka. The moon overhead was shining dimly, its waxing crescent form still a thin sliver, but at the top of Jupiter Lighthouse that light was not needed, for the aerie was bright enough.

It had been lit! The people of Contigo stared in wonder at the glowing purple star that was too close to the earth, nestled in the mountains and making the air vibrate with power. Winds swirled around the town, taking hats, scarves, and leaves with it. The earth was still feeling slight tremors that were strong enough topple vases, knock over books on a shelf, spill the soup in a cooking pot.

The people who had lit it were standing there still, having accustomed to the blinding glow of the Jupiter Star and the Psynergy that now surrounded it. It had been difficult for them, reaching this point, and they had finally achieved it, after many battles, many complicated puzzles, many different problems that kept popping up and distracting them from their mission. They should have been happy, having only Mars Lighthouse left.

But they weren't completely happy.

They stood beside the giant hole into the depths of which the Jupiter Star, then only a tiny sphere of violet crystal, had descended, then risen again as a whirling mass of light, wind, and Psynergy. Felix was trying to shield both Jenna and Sheba at the same time, aided by Piers. They stared at the group of people their age that stood on the steps below them, blocking their way out.

"All right, Felix!" Isaac yelled. His eyes were flashing, though he appeared worn – as he should be, from the recent battle with Karst and Agatio that had almost taken his life and that of Ivan. "We want to know what's going on!" Behind him, Garet stood, looking equally angry, even as Mia touched his arm and whispered to calm down. Ivan, too, looked exhausted, but less so than the rest; the Psynergy being released from the Jupiter Star was probably strengthening his power.

Felix said nothing, so Kraden spoke up. "It's all quite complicated, Isaac. There are a number of… extenuating circumstances."

"Like what?" Isaac directed his words at Kraden, but he watched Felix intently. "What could justify trying to unleash a deadly force that was sealed away for a reason? What could justify stealing the Elemental Stars that kept Mt. Aleph safe, triggering a volcano that endangers your entire hometown?" His eyes flicked to Jenna, softened for a moment, then hardened again. "What could justify kidnapping your own sister?"

"Isaac," Jenna whispered.

Ivan stepped forward. "Look, I don't think any of us are in any shape for another fight right now." Mia sighed, relieved, but Isaac did not seem to agree.

"No, Ivan. We have to settle this." His voice was cold. "Now."

"No!" Jenna cried. There was anguish in her tone and on her face. "Don't – Isaac – Felix, please…"

Felix gazed at Isaac for a moment, then nodded, and drew his sword. "I ask you one thing, Isaac," he said quietly.

"What?" Isaac's blade was already out, glittering in the light of the Star.

Felix looked around at them all, his eyes resting on each one in turn – Jenna, tears in her eyes; Sheba, worry touching her forehead; Mia and Garet, one angry, the other unhappy; Ivan, looking afraid; and Piers, who sadly seemed to understand that this had to happen. "I ask that you and I fight alone. We need not involve the others." His eyes locked onto Isaac's. "This battle is between you and me."

"Very well, but now I ask one thing of you. This fight will decide the whole thing. This," Isaac said, and bit his lip before going on. "This will be a fight to the finish."

"No!" Jenna started forward, but Felix held out an arm to stop her.

"I accept."

Isaac ascended the steps, and as he did, Sheba and Piers went down to join Mia, Garet, Kraden, and Ivan. Jenna remained where she was, glancing from Isaac to Felix. Her brother touched her shoulder gently.

"Jenna… go with Sheba. It'll be all right…"

"Felix, you died once! I don't want that to happen ever again!" Her voice broke. "I don't want to be alone again… and Isaac…"

He hugged her gently. "I know… but if one of us goes, you'll always have the other. I know that Isaac will always protect you – as he did for the last three years, when I wasn't there. And it will work the other way around, as well." Felix released her, and straightened. "Stay with Sheba and the others for now, all right?"

No, not all right, Jenna wanted to say, but she didn't. She pressed her lips together, smothering a sob that had risen up in her throat, and walked toward the steps. At the top she turned. "If either if you dies," she threatened, "I'm going to be really mad!"

That was the Jenna that everyone knew. They all relaxed – just a bit – and turned their attention back to Felix and Isaac.

Felix was shifting into fighting stance, as was Isaac. Their swords reflected the light and made it brighter, it seemed, throwing a glare into the eyes of the watchers. Each opponent measured the other carefully. Felix was taller and heavier than the lithe Isaac, but Isaac would be faster – and he was more experienced at swordplay, though Felix was older.

"All right, when I count to three, we begin." A slight quiver in his voice betrayed the fact that he was not entirely as confident and resolved as he seemed. "One.

"Two.

"Three."

As he said the last word, he attacked, instantly launching into a series of arcs and swings with the sword. Felix blocked them all and parried the last one, driving forward a counter attack with a force that made Isaac flinch as he stopped it. The younger boy whirled around and feinted to the right. Felix fell for it, but twisted to avoid the attack at his left. They were evenly matched so far.

Piers blinked and squinted at the two. "I don't believe Felix is really trying," he murmured to Sheba, careful not to let Jenna hear.

Sheba turned, startled. "What do you mean?"

"I mean he's ignoring the openings that Isaac is letting through. He's obviously holding off well, but he seems to be only attacking when he knows Isaac can block it. They're both very good, but I know Felix, and I know he could be doing better."

Sheba's eyes widened, and she hoped Jenna hadn't heard.

Jenna had heard. She stiffened. Why would Felix be holding back? Did he not want to win? It was bad enough that she would have to lose one of them – and now it looked like she knew which one that was. And it wouldn't even be a real fight, not if he wasn't trying! She blinked away more tears, and tried to swallow until the lump in her throat was gone. The ring of steel against more steel was hurting her head – she wanted to leave, to go back to her home in Vale, back to her warm bed where she didn't have to go on endless adventures trying to save the world –

The clashing sound stopped, and she raised her head. Had it ended? Who had won? Maybe she didn't want to look… But it hadn't quite ended, though it was very close to. No one was dead yet, no blood had been spilled. Of course, what was happening made her gasp in horror.

The heels of Isaac's leather boots were braced against the edge, but they were barely taking his weight. They didn't need to – he was leaning backwards off the aerie floor, and the only thing that saved him was that his sword was hooked around that of Felix, holding him up. If it slipped, or if Felix turned his blade just a little, Isaac would fall, fall into the darkness that shrouded the lighthouse's base. Isaac's teeth were clenched, and he was using all of his strength to hold on, to keep their hilts locked so that he would not fall. It depended on Felix now – Isaac was not strong enough to pull himself out of this position.

"What are you waiting for, Felix?" Isaac said softly. "It's your move." He met Jenna's eyes for a brief moment, and seemed to be saying something. But before she could catch that message, it was gone, for he had looked back at Felix. His arms visibly trembled with the strain – obviously he couldn't hold himself like this much longer.

Felix took a step back, bringing Isaac with him, bringing the younger boy to safety. "It would be a pity," he said just as softly, "if the only reason I could claim victory would be that you tripped and fell off the lighthouse."

They both grinned for a moment, and it was like old times, when the three of them – Garet, Felix, and Isaac – had spent their time sneaking into the inn and sampling the ale, playing tricks on Jenna, helping Hikat forging the swords to sell in the shop. Then the smile disappeared, and they were both serious again.

Once Isaac was clear, they shifted their grips on their sword and circled, pacing and mirroring each others' steps. Both were breathing heavily by now, doubly weary from battling Karst and Agatio.

They leapt forward in that same instant, swords meeting with another loud clang. It was several moments of that complicated dance called swordplay, several more moments of agony for Jenna.

And then Felix's sword was gone, and the tip of Isaac's blade was hovering an inch away from his nose.

Felix steadily looked at his (former?) best friend. "You win."

"You would allow man to destroy all of Weyard… all of us," Isaac said, his voice quivering uncertainly. "You have to be stopped."

The dark-haired one nodded. "I know that you believe it so. And maybe you're right." He smiled suddenly, his last smile. "We'll see, won't we?"

"'We?'" said Isaac. There was pain on his face, but he didn't hesitate, for he knew that he wouldn't be able to finish it if he did. The thoughts that had been suppressed until now would finally burst into his head; already they had begun to penetrate his consciousness. Thoughts that referred to when the Wise One had given him this task, had told him it was his destiny to stop the Alchemy from releasing itself again. Thoughts that reminded him of unimportant, carefree days from the past; how often had they stood in this position with sticks instead of swords, mock battles that ended in laughter and feigned groans of agony? It was so much like it had been so long ago – only now, they did have real, sharp blades, and when the blade touched bare skin it meant a cut, with real blood, instead of a mere, quickly healing bruise. All these thoughts were about to break loose, and stop him from completing his task. He raised his sword.

Mia and Sheba hugged Jenna tight. "Don't look, Jenna," Sheba said, her tears leaking out of scrunched-up eyes. "Don't look…"

The three girls turned away, and did not hear Felix scream.

A/N Didn't spend as much time on this one as on the other one, since this one isn't going to be turned in for a grade... tell me if it needs work! Sobs Poor Felix...