The Truth is Painful

A Sandshipping fic created by your superhero, Leoshi!

!Disclaimer! I do not, nor will I ever, own the games or anything related to it – with the exception of this story and all chapters within…and the Sol Blade. Now, I'm going into this obvious corner to hide from more lawyers. Don't tell anyone!

Last time, on The Truth is Painful, Felix got his head bitten off by Sheba. All because he had to open his mouth. Now, Felix and Vale's mayor will soon leave for Kalay.

Be happy that Piers figures in to the story! This chapter will start off just as Felix and the mayor hit the road.

Chapter 4: The Water Adept

'Felix must be very interested in the ground,' the mayor reasoned. 'He's barely looked up since we left…'

This trip down to Kalay seemed to be getting longer to Felix. In fact, he could swear he had seen the exact same pebble over four times now…and the same twig…as well as the same patch of grass on the side of the road.

He was oblivious to the fact he was kicking that very pebble, the road was littered with broken twigs from the storm, and that only one type of grass grew near this road.

Vale's mayor couldn't stand the silence. He decided to open up a conversation. The subject? Jenna. She hadn't gone with them as he had thought. It was odd.

"Er, Felix? Sorry to interrupt this conversation we're having," he began, his voice a mix of humor and sarcasm, "but do you know where your sister had gotten to? It was my understanding that she would be accompanying us this morning…?"

The miserable boy glanced up for a second, his thoughts broken and rerouted to his missing sister. "I'm not sure myself, sir. She wasn't in her room this morning when I went to wake her up. My guess is that she went on ahead, or something to that nature."

After he managed his sentence out, he lowered his eyes again, willing himself to think back to earlier that morning, replaying the confrontation between Sheba and himself again and again. ((AN: I have a comment on this at the end of the chapter.))

"Hmm…maybe…" the older man muttered, feeling pity for the boy. The most he had heard between the Jupiter and Venus Adepts was her yelling "…it don't you understand?" After that sudden outburst, he strained to listen to any more conversation – his checking of his trip supplies momentarily forgotten – but only head retreating footsteps going down the hallway and up the stairs. He soon found out that it was Felix, going to get his sword and satchel of healing herbs. Ever since then, Felix was downcast, apparently engrossed in a thrilling, silent conversation between himself and the road. Having lived through a few days like that himself, the mayor knew that Felix wouldn't say a word on the matter for some time; possibly even later that night.

He scoffed quietly to himself. 'Human nature…man's worst enemy.'

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The remainder of the trip to Kalay continued without event or any words. Only the occasional long, saddening sigh from the confused boy, and cough or two from the older man.

'I still don't understand why she should be mad at me! I didn't do anything extremely wrong!' Felix mind shouted at him.

'She wasn't able to sleep for two nights; it's natural for someone to be a bit…touchy…after that,' another part of his mind argued.

'Still, I don't see how me not telling her about Piers until the last minute would give her a reason to bite my head off.'

'Think about it. Thoughts and curiosity are what have been keeping her up for the last two nights…thoughts the two of you discussed earlier. Also, she didn't know or didn't understand why you would want to surprise her like you intended, and she was upset enough to be angry with you for it. You're a likely target.'

'Well…hmm…'

'Give her some time alone to sort things out, and be sure to apologize to her for any wrongdoing when you see her later.'

Felix sighed lightly again. 'I'm hesitant to see her.'

"Ah, welcome, friends! Good to see you!"

Ivan came bounding up to greet Felix and Garet's grandfather, and it wasn't long before Felix found himself in Kalay's motel. They stayed for a good half-hour to rest before setting South again. During that time, Felix tried his best to put aside his conflicting emotions and enjoy time with his friends. It worked, because he left the motel with a wide grin and a young Ivan on their heels.

"Well, this is a nice change," the older man remarked, once they had left the town's gates.

The young Adept looked up, and nodded. "Isn't it? I'm trying to make the best out of this trip."

Ivan had to make a comment. "Good. I hate seeing friends sad. It tears me up."

"Typical Ivan," Felix remarked, soon receiving a small bonk on the head from Ivan's staff. Felix rounded on him, mock shouting.

"Have you been talking with Jenna lately, by any chance?!?"

"…Maybe," Ivan evaded.

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"Clear the way! Stay back, away from the pier! Ship coming in!"

All of the less-than-many villagers backed away from the dock as they were commanded to do, gazing as the large, winged ship coasted into the bay. It eventually stopped, and a lone Lemurian emerged, holding a large, black orb in his hand. He smiled at the trio of his friends waiting for him, and quickly walked across the pier.

"Welcome back to Gondowan, my friend," the mayor spoke, taking Piers' hand warmly. Soon, Felix and Ivan followed suit.

"It's good to be here. It feels like it's been so long! Ivan, have you grown?" Piers asked, unintentionally squatting down slightly.

"Well…maybe. I sure hope so; people aren't scared of a small Wind Adept anymore."

"Anymore? What happened?"

Ivan scoffed as the memory flooded in. "Some kids in Kalay have been getting in trouble, and the town cannot count on me to scare them straight anymore. They're nearly as tall as I am. It sucks."

Laughter erupted from Piers as Ivan finished. "Heheh! Don't worry, I'm sure you'll persuade them with a little…shocking…truth about life, eh?" he said, indicating a bit of lightning involvement. Ivan chuckled a bit at his reply.

"Alright, guys…not to ruin a good reunion, but I would very much like to see a good bed and some other friends I know. Where's Jenna and Sheba? Couldn't they make it?"

"…We'll see, Piers…we'll see…" Vale's mayor put in, trying to avert a sensitive subject for Felix.

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It wasn't until they were more than halfway up the road back to Vault that Felix decided to speak his thoughts. He had been mulling over several interesting facts for the last hour or so, many of his opinions being shot down by logic from his conscience. He had finally found the right words to begin the subject and it took him a mere second to decide whom he would converse with.

"Piers, I'd like to speak with you, if you don't mind…?"

The Lemurian was slightly taken aback by Felix's formality, but only replied with a "Hmm?"

"I…Well, something happened early this morning…between Sheba and I…"

Piers blinked, waiting for something more. Felix was still having a bit of difficulty forming the sentences he wanted. A sigh was released from his lips before he continued.

"It…it seems she finds it very important to know about important subjects…"

The Mercury Adept waited patiently. "…And?"

"Yeah, very important…it's pretty important to her," Felix faltered.

More waiting.

"I…" Another sigh, this time exasperated. "I- well, nobody told her about you coming to visit today…"

Piers was a little surprised, since he knew Felix had always been a good leader, and being one required everyone to know everything they might be interested in. True, Felix had withheld information upon Kraden's request, but the group was always informed well before the information was direly important.

"This is a problem, I suppose?" he asked.

Felix's head dropped, once again seeming interested in the dirt road. "…Yeah…she shouted at me for it…"

"Did she get informed at all? Did everyone else know?" Piers continued his questions, although he had a reasonable – and most likely, deathly accurate – answer to them already.

"Yes, and yes. But…"

Piers' patience thinned out. "Felix, please stop faltering. You obviously want to talk – else you wouldn't have come to me. Now, what is this 'but' about?"

The unfortunate Venus Adept stopped suddenly, lifting his head to look at the sky. "Well, yes, she was told of your arrival…mere moments before the mayor and I left. And yes, just about everyone else knew about, and they held back the subject upon my request."

Piers, who had stopped alongside him, nearly did a double take (only so that he gazed at Felix through the corner of his eye as he was told about the mere moments, then snapped his head to stare as he said "upon my request"). "Wh-what? Upon your request? I…ugh…forgive me, I must restrain myself from shouting at you as well."

"Gee, don't I feel better," Felix drawled.

The Water Adept continued, his small amount of anger in check. "I mean not to depress you any more than you make yourself be by dwelling on this yourself. I only hope you know that it's wrong to ask people to not tell one of your closest friends something important! Imagine…oh, Kalay being raided by loyalists of Dodonpa, and a Kalayan manages to escape the raid group and make it to Vault to inform you. He tells you about the attack, the burning of the village, and – regretfully – the kidnapping of Ivan. Would it be right to ask that Kalayan to inform your friends, but not to mention that Ivan has been trapped? Would you keep that blow from them?"

"What are you saying, man? Of course not!" Felix cried, appalled that one of his friends, especially Piers of all people, would play a scenario like that. "Besides, it's not even the same situation as the one I'm in now!"

"It's the same principle," Piers defended.

A few tense seconds passed between the two of them before Felix jogged to catch up with Ivan and Garet's father. Piers made up ground as well, and – much to Felix's dismay – continued.

"Listen, my friend, surely you will have a chance to speak with Sheba later today. Take that opportunity and make amends for your mistake. Offer something to make it up to her. Be a friend, not a sore."

Felix, once again, sighed. "Piers, I appreciate your advice, but you're making me regret asking for it in the first place. I'm thinking I might have been better off searching for a solution myself."

"Wars cannot be won by one man alone," the Lemurian retorted. "Wars are won by battles, battles are won by swords, and swords are held by men. You will appreciate my help – trust me."

As he finished, Sol reached mid-afternoon, and the small party of four stepped into the gates of Vault.

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At this time, Piers became swamped with familiar friends, faces, and other hopefuls. He was greeted beyond counting, and was being led to a comfortable chair in the main room of the inn. He gladly told various short stories about Lemuria and his own travels, albeit forced to tell.

The whereabouts of Jenna were soon discovered. She was found talking with Isaac, as she normally does now, and she spoke of how, to avoid waking up early, she stole away to a second-floor room as everyone else retired for the night. She explained how she "had a headache that night," and wanted to sleep it away.

After some time, Sheba revealed herself from her room. She had been asleep for more than Felix's trip to and from the Karagol pier, and was smiling at everyone who was greeting her. She waved at Piers as he did, laughed at a trio of kids chasing each other around her, and soon found Felix. He was caught off-guard, speaking with his sister about what she could have done instead of switching rooms the previous night.

"I hope your offer to help in any way you can is still available, because I need whatever you can give. Come outside, Felix; we must talk."

Sheba has whispered this to her friend, standing on her toes to reach his ear. His mind instantly swam with many thoughts, but he followed her outside nonetheless. Once the warm air had hit them, Sheba flung herself in a tight, apologetic embrace with Felix. She began to sputter out one apology after another as the inn door finally closed. He had managed to – reluctantly – pry her off of him as she spoke her eleventh "Gods, I'm sorry!"

"Sheba- wait, Sheba…you can stop now!"

Though she did cease her myriad apologies, she had begun to sob lightly, holding back yet another set of tears. Felix gently guided her over to a bench resting outside a nearby building, coaxing her to sit and calm down. After a few deep, relaxing breaths, Sheba turned her head to face him, muttering "I'm sorry."

"I know, Sheba. It's all right; it's accepted. I'm glad you came to me today, friend."

After another quick hug she initiated, they began to talk.

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"So, what can I do, Sheba?"

Her head lifted from its' position of rest in her hands, and she looked at Felix with a confused look. "What? What do you…"

"I mean, what can I do to make this up to you? I've caused you a lot of trouble over the last couple of nights; I must make things right again," he explained. Apparently, Piers' words had struck a chord within Felix. Although embarrassed to ask this of Sheba, he knew it would help both of them – Sheba can ask whatever she wanted, and Felix's mind would be put at ease.

Of course, Sheba couldn't think of anything to ask for – not anything that she was ready for, anyway, although she really wanted that something.

"Hmm," Felix murmured, thinking of anything he could offer. Just like Sheba, his first thought was something he was too shy to ask for. Another idea stuck out, though, and it seemed to fit well with the situation. He looked at her for a moment, apprehensive, and asked.

"What if…say, I help you…find out your history?"

A puzzled look from Sheba was his response. It was a few tense seconds before Felix decided to elaborate.

"I mean…help you find your blood family, and why you appeared in Lalivero, and where you really hail from, and…well…"

Sheba raised a hand to stop him. When he finally did, she sincerely smiled for the first time that day. It was quite obvious that she liked the idea. She nodded, and thus caused Felix to grin as well.

"Sounds like a…good idea, Felix."

All he could do was smile sheepishly at her.

Sheba giggled once, and continued. "I'll go tell the others; I'm sure they're eager for some travel, also!"

She rose out of her place on the bench, but was held back. Felix had shot his hand out and grasped her arm to stop her. When he received a confused look, he explained.

"Sheba, I…I just want this trip…to be…well, I want just the two of us…going…"

He released her arm, but she didn't leave. Rather, she continued her perplexed look as he lowered his head in embarrassment. Cocking and eyebrow, she placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Well, Felix…that's a good idea, too."

"What? You…you agree?" he asked, lifting his head.

She giggled a bit more, causing Felix to become warm in the cheeks. "Absolutely," she added. "I'm all for it. It…means a lot to me that you're doing this, Felix."

"Uh…well, I felt it was best. I had to make things right. I still have to, really," he said, before he could stop himself.

End chapter 4

Author's comments: With the past night forgiven and all anger forgotten, a new adventure for Felix and Sheba may begin. I bet y'all have been waiting for this a long while, huh? Sorry for the delayed update, but there was a lot of things going on – school, band, friends, etc. Plus, I was really discouraged while writing this, because it seemed so dull! Again, sorry for the wait. Hopefully, the next installments will come sooner.

For my comment on Felix's mood earlier in the story, it more like a comment on human nature. Why is it that we are comfortable being miserable? If something happens to us that makes us feel horrible, why do we dwell on it? We admit we feel devastated, heartbroken, and miserable, yet we'll do what we can to continue to feel this way until something interrupts us. I think it's ridiculous, really.

Kalayan: A resident of Kalay.

Anyway, let's continue. Next chapter: the story really begins! Sheba and Felix begin their search in the Jupiter Lighthouse, hoping to find something they may have overlooked while lighting it.