After a... how long was I away? I dunno—well, anyway; here's the next chapter. Reaching to the Cosmos...

Wow, I thought this chapter was going to be longer...

And... yes; this is the Cosmo quest. It's a little different from the actual game-play...
Why have I decided to make chapter five Cosmo? I've delayed it long enough for one, and... I don't know where else, or what else, to do. I think the characters have gotten quite close...

Sunlight was shining through my window as I slowly opened my eyes to see. I groaned, and rubbed my eyes as I sat up and eyed the area.
"Huh?" I murmured, sounding confused. "How in the name of..."

...I was in my room. But; I fell asleep on the roof. Reminding me of that; where did Elazul wander off to this time?! Agh, he really is worse than Pearl!!
"Huh...? Elazul?" I muttered, standing up and walking towards the stairs. Suddenly; I felt something—an uneasiness in my gut.
Never has my gut lied to me; something bad was going to happen.
I remembered Gaeus' words, and felt a shiver shoot up my spine—I shook my head, and ignored it.
"I'm paranoid." I thought, narrowing my eyes and hugging my arms. "What could possibly go wrong?"

Only seconds later would I realize that bad things would happen today...

"Miss Terra!!" Bud screamed, running towards the stairs.
"Terra!!" Lisa screamed out as well, running after Bud.
I stared at the twins at the bottom of the stairs, and raised an eye brow; the nervous feeling in my gut worsened as I walked downstairs towards them.
"Miss Terra—Pearl's missing!!" Bud cried out.
"Mister Elazul told us to get you..." Lisa added.

The feeling in my gut just getting worse. Pearl was gone, and Elazul wanted me? How odd. I nodded, then narrowed my eyes.
"Alright! Where is he...?" I asked, kneeling down to the twins. "Why'd he ask for me?"

Bud gave a serious look, and Lisa did the same.
"Well, Elazul said 'You are the only one he can trust,' and—" Bud began to say.
"—that he needs your help, badly!!" Lisa finished.
"He's outside." The twins said in unison.

I was silent... then dashed towards the door. I grabbed my sword, and narrowed my eyes.

— —— Outside —— —

Once I stepped outside, I seen the teal-haired, brash Knight pacing in front of my house. His eyes reflected worry... this was not normal for him—Elazul never gave this look before. He was giving a look of fear, a look of pure terror.
I'd laugh, normally, but I didn't want to right now; if Elazul was scared, than something bad was going on.

"Elazul?" I asked, extending my hand out to him; as if ready to comfort him. "Is... what's going on?"
Elazul looked at me with nervous eyes—which was kinda scary, seeming as his eyes were usually piercing, and cold...
"Have you seen Pearl?" Elazul asked, sounding rather concerned.
"N-No, I haven't..." I replied. My heart quickened its pace; and the feeling in my stomach worsened.
"Oh no—th-then..." Elazul stuttered, turning away and staring at something in his hand. "This note means...!"

A... note? No; he couldn't possibly mean what I think he means...! "What note?!" I suddenly yelled, turning Elazul to face me. I stared right into his eyes... only to see fear reflecting in his.

There was then a moment of silence. A blood-chilling silence...

"Oh, Goddess no..." I winced, backing away from Elazul a few steps. "Y-You don't mean... Sandra!!"
"I'm... afraid so." Elazul answered. "Sandra took her to the Mekiv Cav—"

He let out a gasp as I did something unthinkable; I grabbed him by the arms, and glared into his eyes. My heart quickened its pace once more.
"Lets go, then! I'm not sure about you—but I'm not letting another of the Jumi die!!" I yelled, releasing Elazul and running towards the exit of my house.

"Terra, wait...!" Elazul yelled, grabbing my arm. I turned my head to him, and blinked.
"What is it?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"There's something... oh, nevermind." Elazul answered. He stared at the ground.

The two of us then ran towards the Mekiv Caverns...

— —— World Map —— —

As we ran towards the Mekiv Caverns, which weren't that far from Domina, I glanced at Elazul while I ran.
"We've got to hurry...! Its not just another Jumi's life on the line—i-its Pearl's life!" I stated, feeling myself run in front of Elazul.

Thoughts began to race through my mind; what if one of us died here? What if this was a trap, to kill both Elazul and Pearl—what would I do? I felt a lump growing in my throat at the thought of losing them. Life... just wouldn't be worth it if anything happened to them.
My pace began to slow, until I was trailing behind Elazul...

Suddenly, without paying attention, I felt myself bump into Elazul; he had stopped, and seemed to have turned to face me.

"Sorry!" I instantly cried out. I growled; I really did need to pay better attention to things, didn't I?
"Terra, are you alright?" Elazul asked out of the blue. I was silent, then looked at him curiously.
"Just fine—why do you care?" I replied. I paused, then blinked.

Did Elazul realize how scared I was? Did he see my fear? Tch, why does he care, anyway? Maybe he doesn't... maybe he's curious.
"Argh, just—nevermind! Lets hurry up!" Elazul snapped, turning away and running towards the caverns.

I swiftly followed. I felt myself smile... but, the feeling in my gut just wouldn't vanish.

— —— Inside the Mekiv Caverns -After searching- —— —

Me and Elazul were now standing in front of each other. A few feet behind him, was a strange man...

I looked up at Elazul, and narrowed my eyes. "Elazul..." I whispered, feeling uneasy about this. I looked down, then felt a strong hand gently lift my chin to see my eyes.

"Terra—are you alright? You've been acting odd lately." Elazul said. He suddenly smirked; as if trying to reassure me of something. "Although, I never thought you could get any stranger."
"Hey!!" I cried out. I suddenly went silent...

Then, I began to laugh. I was trying not to show my fear.

"O-Oh... l-lets just go!" I said, walking towards the room behind the strange man.
"Be careful... Sandra is planning something sinister." I heard the man say. My eyes widened.
"Wh-What?!" I cried out, looking at the man. Elazul's core then flashed, as it did before hand. I looked over at him, and frowned...

"Never has my core been this clouded..." Elazul said, sounding unsure of what to do now. I wish I could prevent whatever bad things were ahead of us... but, I know that isn't possible.

Without much hesitation, the two of us ran into the room.

— —— Final Room —— —

Me and Elazul walked into the room, seeing Pearl and Sandra inside... what was going on??

"Do you now understand your purpose, Pearl? Do you remember who you are?" Sandra asked Pearl, crossing her arms.
"I-I..." Pearl stuttered.

"Pearl!" Elazul yelled out, running towards her.
"Elazul!!" Pearl cried out, not moving an inch. "T-Terra...!"
"Let her go, Sandra!!" I yelled out, lifting my blade.

Sandra chuckled. She was now laughing. Laughing at me! She looked at me, and rolled her eyes.
"Tsk, tsk, Terra... I expected so much more from you." Sandra said, shaking her head and then flicking the hair out of her face.

I growled, and then glared; I tried to be as fearsome as I could be.

"I don't want to impress you—you disgust me!" I yelled, narrowing my eyes. I held the hilt of my blade tighter from rage.
"I disgust you?" Sandra said. She tilted her head, then smirked. "You and the Jumi disgust me..."
"How dare you...!!" I scowled. The nerve this woman had; facing me, saying that I and the Jumi disgust her, while she kills the Jumi for their cores!

"Terra, why is it that you always help Elazul?" Sandra suddenly asked.
"He's my friend, that's why!" I spat at Sandra, through gritted teeth.
"Just a friend?" Sandra asked me. Sandra suddenly laughed, then scoffed, "You're falling for him, aren't you, Terra?"

My cheeks reddened; as if...! Elazul wasn't my type; besides, aren't such relationships forbidden? A Jumi and a Human...

"What?! No!!" I yelled, my face glowing a bright crimson.
"W-What?! That's..." Elazul stuttered, sounding a more than little surprised. "That's..."
"Prove it." Sandra said. She turned to Elazul, and took out a razor-sharp card. "Lets see... does he even care about you, Terra?"

Suddenly; I heard something soar through the air, and graze my cheek. I gasped, then fell backwards in surprise; I put my hand to my cheek, feeling warm liquid and a slight throbbing pain.

"Wh-wha..." I whispered; my eyes growing large. I got up to my knees; recovering from the slight shock I just endured. "Agh..."
"Terra!!" Elazul yelled. He ran over to me. "Are you alright...?!"
"There—an image worthy of a failed Knight." Sandra scoffed, letting out a laugh. "A beauty ruined by a scar."
"A-A failed Knight..." I whispered, staring at the ground and remembering how I received that status.
"Yes... that's right—you left Esmeralda to die, Terra." Sandra said, lifting her arm to throw another card. "You let your 'Guardian' die, Terra!! That is why you disgust me!!"

"Shut up!!" Elazul snapped; I then felt the same strong hand that pulled my up from the side of the house take my hand and help me up. "You killed Esmeralda, Sandra—it was never Terra's fault!!"

Elazul then took out his blade, and looked at me with rather sympathetic eyes.
"Stay back, Terra—Pearl is my Guardian..." Elazul said, gently pushing me out of the way, and walking in front of me. He then went into a battle position. "It is my duty to save her!!"

I was silent; blood from the scratch Sandra had scarred my face before-hand was sliding down my cheek. My heart was beating roughly against my chest as I watched Elazul face Sandra fearlessly.

"E-Elazul..." I thought, my eyes growing wide has my heart beat quickened. Suddenly, I seen Sandra take out another card, and pull it back.

Instantly; Gaeus' words entered my mind—my worst fear... Elazul was going to get hurt, wasn't he? I snapped out of thought, and tried to warn my dear friend.

"Elazul, look out!!" I cried out—but... I was a second too late. I seen the card fly in mid-air; too quickly for Elazul to react.
"Agh!!" I heard Elazul yell before he fell to his knees. I seen him cringing—where had he been hit?

Without another thought, I ran to his side. My blood ran cold when I seen injury; it was but a scratch... but where it was hurt me so much...

"Elazul, your...!" I cried out, not able to finish my sentence. He was near collapsing from pain and weakness. I felt... horrible. "Your—!!"
"Aww, how sad; Elazul's precious core has a scratch on it!" Sandra said, with a harsh laugh.
"Elazul...!!" Pearl cried out, running towards his side as well; I glanced at her with shocked and hurt eyes...

I wasn't his Guardian. I wasn't his Knight. I was but a friend... but, I wasn't leaving his side now! Not unless I had to. I felt Elazul falling, and did my best to keep him sitting up; I was scared—what if he died? I felt the tears coming; but fought them off.

"So, Pearl—will you cry? Cry some tears for your Knight, Pearl!!" Sandra yelled; giving a cruel smirk.
Pearl was silent for a few moments... then looked up.
"I can't cry... but, please..." Pearl said, shutting her eyes and clenching her fists together. "Give me the strength to fight!!"

Suddenly; in a flowery-pinkish light—Pearl transformed before our very eyes.
"Pearl...!?" Elazul managed to wince.
"Wh-what..." I whispered, my jaw dropping.

There before us, was the Knight we seen at the Tower of Leires so long ago...

"B-Bl...Blackpearl!!" Sandra cried out, stepping back a few steps.
"Yes, Sandra—do you want to fight me?" 'Blackpearl' said, giving a stern glare.
"Tch...!! T-Take this!!" Sandra yelled, running off and summoning her little 'pet', the Jewel Beast.

I looked up at the beast, then back at Elazul... I looked at him fearfully. "You... please stay here..." I whispered. Elazul just grimaced. I got up, and turned away. "I'm sorry... Elazul..."

I then ran towards the Beast with Blackpearl; and the fight began. I couldn't get over how much I had failed my friend.
"I'm so sorry, my dear friend..."

Thank you for reading this chapter. And, once again; I'll do my best to get the sixth chapter up.