Right, so first off -
-FlintDjinn and Fukachi no Rin- Thanks so much for reading! Hopefully the insanity I've got coming will live up to your expectations. Hope ya enjoy!
I'm still trying to find a good mix between action and plot, with any luck I should find some in the coming chapters...
DISCLAIMER: I still own absolutely nothing.
Again, please R&R (actually not again, I forgot to put that one in last time haha.)
Golden Sun
Curse Aether
Angara - New Vale - Two weeks later
Two blades, one as vibrant as the sun and another litterally aflame clashed in a burning 'x'. Sweat beaded on both men's brows as they locked their weapons. The spiky haired Mars Adept's mouth looked up in a grin as he used his larger weight to pressure through the thinner man's defense. With a heave, Garet sent Felix flying back several yards, "Inferno!" he yelled as several fireballs materialized in the palm of his gloved hand and flew for the staggered swordsman.
Felix merely grinned as the psynergetic attack made for him. At the last moment, he unleashed Granite – using the Venus Djinn's abilities to stop Inferno in its tracks. But the master of Sol Blade wasn't done there. With speed born from countless battles, he quickly cast Grand Gaia before Garet's feet. The Mars Adept was barely able to cast Protect before being knocked senseless to the ground.
"Liqui-"he began, but was cut off by Sol Blade's point resting cleanly on his tunic. Felix smiled as he removed the would-be killing blow and helped Garet to his feet.
"That's twice in a row - you owe me dinner at the Inn." Felix triumphantly chimed. Garet's shoulders slumped, mirroring the motion of his lips. He was beginning to run low on coins. These "sparing matches" would be better if we didn't place bets all the time…
The two males dusted themselves off and headed down the beaten path towards New Vale's inn. Along the way they were joined by Mia and Sheba, dressed in similar ankle-length dresses of light fabric and each sporting a pair of working gloves - it had been their turn that day of the week to assist in the construction of New Vale. Felix wordlessly acknowledged how close Mia strode next to Garet, and the glances that passed between them. A smile came over the older Adept's face; despite their opposite personalities, the Mercury and Mars Adepts had managed to find comfort in each other's company. To Felix, it was a new occurrence, having only seen Garet's selflessness at the Jupiter Lighthouse, knowing nothing of the hardships of the trip they endured before their respective group's fateful meeting.
"Let's hurry up! Ivan and Piers already beat us to the Inn!" Sheba said while motioning to the blonde Sorcerer and the aqua haired Admiral talking before the newly built Inn. The group managed to catch parts of their conversation as it came to a close.
"I don't know, Piers. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to take up that bet with Sheba…she can read minds like me you know." Ivan began with a shake of the head.
"I highly doubt that, Ivan. I mean, I have spoken with Jenna about him but she never really seemed interested in him." Piers answered while leaning up against the wall. Ivan, who was leaning there right next to him with arms crossed, shook his head and grinned.
"You mean…she wasn't interested in talking about the subject." was the smug reply that came from the young Jupiter Adept. Piers cocked an aqua brow at the statement but dropped the subject as the two groups melded, but mainly because Felix was drawing near - the Lemurian was well aware of the brunette's sense of duty to protect his baby sister. Looking to their faces in turn, Piers counted all but two.
"Where are Isaac and Jenna?" He began, but lightly nudged Ivan before finishing, "…ah, but since you have all the answers, Master Shaman, you must know." A grin appeared on Ivan's face as he cast his spell, looking for Isaac and Jenna's Psynergy signatures. In the two years since Mars Lighthouse, Ivan's control over alchemy, particularly Jupiter Psynergy had increased intensely, even to the point where he could sense the thoughts of beings several leagues distant. Master Hama would be proud.
"I've found them. They're coming this way but…" he trailed off, looking directly at Felix to say in a sing-song tone, "…you won't like it!" Felix took on an ominous expression as he guessed at the outcome. Subconsciously, his right hand strayed to the hilt of Sol Blade.
"Whoa, no need for overkill. They're just holding hands." Sheba said while nudging Felix with a playful punch to the arm. Ivan gave his fellow Wind Adept a look akin to being denied a chance of fun. Between him, Sheba, Jenna, and Garet, they had the most mischievous streak in all Weyard. Still, when it came to Felix…a few quick smirks was a far more acceptable reward instead of a brotherly Megiddo.
Sure enough, Jenna and Isaac rounded a bend and approached the group of gathered Adepts, their hands were linked as promised, and Felix calmed down, sort of. Jenna gave her older brother a look, while Isaac strained to keep his gaze from seeing where the older swordsman's itching hand was, ready to pull out Sol Blade and separate the two in the most literal sense of the word. The others though, they had smiles on their faces. Garet and Mia smiled and exchanged a couple glances, while Piers sighed a little bit. Ivan caught Sheba's gaze, mutual grins appeared on their faces.
"Well, are we going to have dinner, or what?" Jenna finally said with hands on her hips. The tension dropped as Felix joined the group in laughter and they moved into the Inn. Sheba hung back with Piers and nudged the Lemurian's side.
"I believe that's ten coins you owe me." Sheba said with a knowing nod. Piers sighed again and chuckled a bit.
"The next time I cast a bet, it won't be with you. If it weren't for that fact that you were a Wind Adept, I'd say you cheated" The pair exchanged a few playful shoves before heading in as well.
Angara - New Vale Inn - That Night
Laughter, music, and eating filled the Inn as many Valeans settled down after a long day of work. Piers looked around the room. This small enclave, though weary from numerous trials and days of labor, had managed to bring the room to life. He could not say the same for his homeland, where there was a city full of people, but even their multitude would make even the most windless days on the Eastern OR Western Sea seem vibrant and lively. Then again, he did not know if that spark of life had come back with Alchemy's release. The last time he'd seen his homeland was during his quest with Felix. Since then he'd become an exile from Lemuria, not fit to call himself a Lemurian, cast out by Conservato and the Senate, for the sake of Weyard. So engrossed was Piers by his reverie, that he failed to notice the entrance of a similarly clad, blue-haired male.
Felix caught the newcomer's sweeping gaze, guessing that he was looking from something - or someone. Like Piers, the Venus Adept had kept his silence while the others had their fun, he was content to sit back and wordlessly enjoy the company. What he lacked in speech, he more than made up for in perceptiveness. His brown-eyed gaze followed the newcomer's search, and narrowed when it found its mark. With a light tap on Pier's shoulder, the Lemurian brought the focus of attention of the entire room to him.
"Is you name Piers, Captain of the Wings of Anemos?" said the newcomer, his posture poker straight. Piers looked up, and immediately noticed the obvious similarity between their appearances.
"It is. Who…would like to know?" the Mercury user finally answered.
"His Highness, King Hydros, requests your presence at the Palace. My name is Riven" the aqua haired messenger then revealed a roll of paper and handed it to Pier's open palm. Without reading it, he looked up again with a question in his expression.
"Last time I checked, I was banished by Conservato. Have I been given amnesty?" The messenger regarded Piers for a split second and looked up once more, resuming his perfect posture.
"Nay, you were not given amnesty by the Senate, because they know nothing of this mission." The Mariner dropped his jaw a little and opened up the letter. It held information already relayed by the messenger; it called for Piers and his group to return to Lemuria with all speed. It called for them to come prepared for anything; which meant one thing: a fight was ahead. He noted though that only Hydros' and Lunpa's signatures were inscribed at the bottom of the parchment. The Lemurians caught each other's gazes, with Piers asking first, "What is going on?"
"I know not." the other answered with the shake of an aqua head of hair. "My instructions were to retrieve you and make all haste to the Palace. If I recall correctly, his Highness called it a desperate situation…" Ivan and Sheba caught the thoughts running through each of their minds. Felix took both their gazes and shook his head; whatever needed to be known by the rest of the group should be said freely instead of being taken. Piers saw the exchange and slowly stood.
"I am sorry for the inconvenience. Maybe you all should read this." he started and passed the note around. Different expressions came over the Adepts as they read the message. Isaac, Jenna, and Garet's shoulders slumped; they had thought life was finally beginning to slow down. Mia, Sheba, and Ivan, the more understanding members at the table, merely nodded their heads and looked to Felix for the final word. He read it and reread it twice over. After a deep breath, he looked them all over.
"We'll need some time to prepare our gear." He started, first looking to Isaac then to the messenger. A nod from the Lemurian was all the confirmation he needed.
"Alright, let's get ready then. We'll meet back here in one hour." said Isaac, clapping his hands together. Jenna caught his hand and squeezed it slightly, a gesture that brought a smile to her fellow Valean's face. Adepts, in a collective effort, cleaned their table and quietly left the Inn, despite having the eyes of the entire room on them.