The door opened like something from a space movie.

It was a little scary in the purplish landscape; any light that managed to creak through the chokable clouds gleamed greedily off the surface.

"The Terra is too big to explode; there isn't enough crystal energy in the Atmos to fill it to full." It was a statement of reassurance, but Piper didn't sound that confident.

"Maybe someone lives here that could help us." Stork said hopefully, he didn't want to go too far from his Condor.

Finn stared in a shocked horror at the seamless ground, "How exactly?"

"A house hollowed out of the crystal, I don't know!"

"Hey. Let's not get angry at each other, we have to keep moving." Aerrow soothed, he glanced at Lypix, "How you holding up Junko?"

"I'm okay, she's not that heavy." Lypix's head lolled slightly on his shoulders.

"Well be careful with her." He asked. Piper's response was to scowl.

She'd been contemplating Lypix's strange behaviour since they'd returned. She seemed to flinch whenever Aerrow paid her a compliment, something that would have made her smile before, and was always watching them as if something was going to happen. What made it worse was that Lypix would not tell Piper what had happened to her. Did Lypix know she was going to die? Or was it something worse?

"How far do you think we're going to have to walk?" Finn moaned as he held his arm painfully.

"I don't know for certain, but only at least two miles of the Terra, then who knows in the wastelands?" Piper replied, still stuck in her own thoughts.

"And you told me to leave my Condor." Stork growled, he hated walking.

Aerrow sighed until Junko pointed ahead, "Look, there's the edge."

They approached and glanced over, the sharp cliff face of jagged purple glass. "How do we get down?" Finn asked, thinking mainly about the injuries that hindered their progress.

"There's a steep path look."

"Lypix! You're awake!" Aerrow responded.

She blushed, "Yes."

"Would you like me to put you down?" Junko asked.

"No thank you, it's only my head that's feeling better."

"What exactly hurts?" Finn asked rather curious.

She smiled to herself, "It feels like I suddenly haven't got a body. But it's also like my mind is extremely clear, more so than it ever has been."

"What exactly does that mean?" Stork moaned.

"I don't know, bu- Watch out!" Lypix yelled as another ship grazed across the surface of the Terra, also receiving several small explosions as smaller crystals were dislodged and absorbed the energy around them. It was another Cyclonion one, but this time it did not hit the ground as hard.

"We've got to get moving." Aerrow hurried, "We don't have much time."

00

Lypix looked around, the walls extended high to the ceiling, where banners hung with the Cyclonion insignia. So that was where she was. Cyclonia.

"Dark Ace!" The mechanical voice Lypix had come to know and revolt, called.

"Yes Master Cyclonis?" That was something Lypix noticed, he never called her plain Master.

"I want to know your feelings on that Crystal Angel."

To Lypix's studious eyes, she noticed his tough chest constrict slightly. "What about her?" The response was calm, but she saw a seething urge to protect behind his eyes.

"A piece of Literature has come to my attention that seems to denounce her claim to even be a crystal angel. In which case, she is of no use to us."

Lypix didn't react, she saw his head whirl with emotion, he really was an interesting thing to watch. "But Cyclonis, they all still think she is their leader. Surely that is something."

Cyclonis slammed her hand on the small table by her side. "God Damn it Dark Ace! You are becoming weak! Exactly like you were before! If this behaviour continues, I will have to dismiss you from my service."

He bowed his head, "I am sorry Cyclonis. I will see what I can do."

Lypix stepped to stand beside him, she touched his shoulder even though he didn't know she was there. "Don't DA" She whispered, "I will make sure you don't die. Just..."

"Just what Lypix?"

Lypix snapped her head up, the scene had changed, it was only Cyclonis there now, staring at her weakened figure. Lypix inhaled sharply.

"Oh yes. I know." The cold voice smiled maliciously.

"What is it that you seem to know?"

"I know that he is some sort of weakness to you. They both are." She caressed an oblivion crystal, something Lypix ignored.

Lypix scoffed, "They mean nothing to me."

Cyclonis raised an eyebrow, "Oh, is that so? I wasn't aware you were such a cold person."

Lypix lifted her head slightly, "Don't play games with me Cyclonis. What do you want?"

Cyclonis studied Lypix's face, "You are an imposter, defiantly no descendant of Crispin as we first thought."

"So sue me."

Cyclonis continued, "You are of no use to us. I want you to know that I do not want the Dark Ace to marry you, now or ever."

Lypix grinned, "And this is bad news?"

Cyclonis returned to a happy narrowing of the eyes, "But I didn't say he wouldn't force himself upon you." She started to walk a circle into the nameless room, "He is quite obsessed, I am not really in a position to stop him."

"You? The so called master of evil?"

"Well..." She looked up "I can't really let him go, he knows too much. " She sighed, "No, assassination would be the only remaining option."

Lypix snarled, "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because..." She grinned, "I know he will choose you eventually. I just want you to know that his life is at stake if you don't join us as well."

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Oops! Sorry everyone, this was meant to be up yesterday!