Sealed Fates

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A/N: It's hard to start a chapter in the dark. Literally.

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By some miracle unknown to the trio, they managed to make their way through the darkness in a somewhat effective manner. With the careful guidance of Raine, they managed to stay together and arrive at the seal within a half an hour.

Of course, in the darkness it felt like days.

She brought their group to a halt, and smiled with glee. "Do you see it?" she asked breathlessly, "The seal! We've finally foun—"

Somehow Zelos was able to accurately place his hand over her mouth, "That's not the seal, Raine. I think you're just delusional."

Sheena was just about ready to object when she thought over what he'd said—not so much what he had said though as to how he had said it. Likewise, Raine seemed to catch on. "Oh, yes, I'm sorry. Let's keep looking then." She felt his locks brush her shoulder in an approving nod as he let go of her.

What they stood before was, without a doubt, the seal they had sought. It was unnaturally immense, a swirling abyss of greens, blues, yellows—any and all hues perceivable to the naked eye. Unlike everywhere else, the silence was audible; that is to say, they could tell when there was a silence between them and not just the deafness that stretched for galaxies.

Raine was the first to approach the seal. The smiles of each one of them grew even wider as they noticed for the first time in what seemed like years, they could see one another again. Even if it was just shadowy outlines, it was better than nothing.

"I don't believe it!" beamed Zelos, "Hey, Sheena! How many fingers am I holding up?"

She squinted to identify three solid figures. "Three... and a half?"

"Hehehe, sharp as ever."

"Alright, enough of that." Raine said, turning to Sheena, "I presume you know how to deal with seals such as this?"

Keeping her eyes locked on the seal, she replied professionally, "I'm not familiar with these types of seals exactly, but that doesn't mean it's anything I can't do."

Raine felt only half-relieved. "As much as optimism can help the situation," she went on, more serious now. "I'm afraid I'll need to know you completely know what you're doing before we proceed. This is just too risky to leave in the hands of a 'maybe' or 'probably'."

"Well, all I really need to know is where it leads, and what it does when it comes into contact with something physical." Sheena shrugged, "If I know that, it's a simple matter to seal it successfully."

The Professor nodded, smiling, "In that case, I'm fairly sure it leads to the Mana Tree. Going through the portal would surely put you atop the branches."

"Fairly sure?" Zelos teased, "I'm afraid we'll need to know one-hundred percent instead of a fairly sure."

"Well then, would you like to be the physical evidence sent through the portal?" she suggested heatedly, hardly one who liked being profitably contradicted.

The tables had turned suddenly on him, how typical. As always though, he managed to pull something smooth out of nowhere and cover his pride. "Sure. Assure me a safe return, and I'll do it." he grinned slyly, "Of course, if that's too much to ask for, I can always replace that for a kiss or two from one of you lovely ladies..."

After awkward glances were exchanged between the two, Sheena began hesitantly removing the bow around her waist. His eyes widened, "Whoa now, what're you doin'? A kiss will suffice—for now anyway—we'll save that for later, huh?"

She glared daggers at him, visibly offended. "I am not one of your cheap floozies! Now get your mind out of the gutter and untie your headband."

"My headband?" he blinked, "What for?"

Beyond flustered was an understatement for the ninja right now. "Just give it to me!"

"Okay, okay, keep your pants o—Ah, uh, didn't mean... um, habit. Sorry. Here, headband." Said Zelos sheepishly. It was completely unlike him to withdraw a comment like that, but with these two, he really didn't want to push his luck. After all, he had learned how evilly vindictive angry women could be and considering the fact that his life could possibly lie in their hands within the next couple minutes, he found the common sense to just shut his mouth.

"There." Sheena affirmed, tightening the knot between the two strands of fabric as taut as they would go. "This knot can never come undone unless I do it myself. Now, Zelos, take this end and wrap it around your hand once and grip it with your life."

He nodded solemnly and grabbed the loose end of his headband, doing just as she instructed. She went on, "Raine, you and I will be the anchors to the Spirit World. Unless we get any signals before a minute is up—that is, two quick yanks on this—we'll reel you in. Whatever you do, do not let go!"

As the anchors fixed their grips on their end, Raine advised him. "While you're there, take in all the observations you can, without straying too far of course."

"Gotcha."

Sheena looked to him, "We're ready over here. You know what you have to do, so we're ready whenever you are."

He stared down the portal for a brief moment before turning back to them nonchalantly. "Regardless of whether I get outta this in one piece or not, I still expect at least one kiss from the botha you, hear?" With his will being said, he dove fearlessly into the swirling abyss.

The makeshift rope failed to pull taut. "You realize," Raine began hesitantly, "That this could easily snap?"

"You got any better ideas?" she mumbled; there was no response.

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"Genis! Colette!"

All conversation ceased as the two turned to see Presea and Regal burst through the door hurriedly. Genis poked his head over the back of his arm chair while

Colette perked up, looking around the arm chair. Genis was the first to recognize the urgency in their voice, "What's wrong? Did you find him? What happened?"

Regal answered in his usual calm, collected voice. "We did not find Lloyd, instead, we met up with Zelos..."

"What?" Colette blinked, "But he, and Sheena and Raine, are supposed to be investigating the Tower of Salvation."

"That's exactly it," he said, being very cautious towards his choice of words. "He appeared to us in an... unnatural way."

Finally putting two and two together, the young half-elf started to feel queasy with apprehension. "What about Raine?" he asked, trying to hide his fear, "Did he say anything about Raine?"

"No—but that's a good thing." Presea added in quickly. Continuing, "All he said—really, all that he was able to say—was that they couldn't catch Lloyd and were trapped."

"Actually," Regal corrected, "When asked on whether it was Lloyd who had done that he said he didn't know. It could very well be someone, or something, else."

"True," she admitted.

Often with fear can come anger, and though Genis was never usual one to wield a high temper, he wasn't one for small talk when someone he loved was at risk as they bickered. "Right now it doesn't matter who did it! What we need to know is where they are being held and how we can get them out!" Once everyone turned their attention to him, he went on to say, "First off, does anyone know anyway we could contact them?"

When no one else came forward, Regal said, "There is one probable way."

"Anything!"

He nodded and pulled out a small circular object. The object beeped at his touch, its screen flashing with words. "This," he said searching through a list of names. "Is a handheld locator, every aristocrat in Tethe'alla is given one and must carry it with them at all times under penalty of the law. So if Zelos' is anywhere in our world, we might be able to find him."

"It's definitely worth a shot!" Colette beamed optimistically, then turned to Genis. "Don't worry, Genis. I'm sure we'll find them."

"...Here it is, 'Zelos C. Wilder, Chosen of Mana'." Everyone crowded around the Duke as he hit the 'Locate' button, waiting anxiously.

Searching... Searching...

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Post-Note Now that this chapter is finished, I would like to direct your attention to my other coveted story: Prisoner of War. If you like stories like Sealed Fates, but want one that's more romance inclined, then I ask you please give my other storya try. Please, it's what I've put my heart and soul into. As always, it's a story of love and resillience in the darkest of situations where there's a twist around every corner and nothing as it seems.

Summary for Prisoner of War: (AU) For centuries, Mizuho and Iselia lived peacefully together, hidden away from the warring states. However, when Sheena fails to make a pact with Volt, many are killed and the location of their villages is exposed. Meltokio, the current powerhouse of the world, seizes the villages and takes the survivors as slaves. Except for Sheena, who Zelos takes an unusual liking to...