KaRath: I'm back with no questions for Flint. Heh, at this rate, the corner needs to be shut down.

Flint: D:

Matthew: D:

KaRath: I don't want the readers to remedy this because adjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjanc

Matthew: Did you have to hit the author again Flint?

Flint: His explanations are redundant. Send questions before I become removed from this fanfiction!

Matthew: Please remember to read and review. Thank you!

KaRath:

Flint: … I'll wipe the drool off the keyboard.

### Chapter Seven - Amends

Karis, Matthew and Sveta's journey to Kalay was without incident. Any monster that vaguely thought of attacking them were scared off by Matthew's big sword AND the fact that he was accompanied by a green-haired girl who looked like she could utterly devastate them with her mystical powers (I'm sorry, when was the last time YOU saw a green-haired girl?) and a beastgirl who looked like she could demolish them with HER BARE HANDS. That said, all the monsters kept themselves far, far away from the three, preventing the three from grinding and gold farming.

After the lengthy trip, they finally arrived in their hometown, where they headed towards the mansion where they all lived. [KaRath: I think it's going to be much, much simpler if everyone lived in one place BECAUSE otherwise they would get lost :)]

Matthew considered being a badass and kicking the door down, which was immediately destroyed by the thought of his mother on a fire-breathing rampage. He gulped and decided to take the much more sensible option: knocking.

Sheba opened the door and grinned at the sight of the three. "Good to see you three. Come inside, most of the others are already here."

Matthew, Karis and Sveta walked inside, took off their weapons and shoes, and headed towards the main living room. Isaac, Jenna, Garet, Mia, Ivan, Sheba, Nowell, Rief, Amiti and Tyrell were all waiting for them and greeted them. Tyrell, Amiti and Rief managed to come over and have a small celebration, but it was business from there on in.

"Alright, we're still missing two people right Matthew?" Isaac asked. Matthew nodded, and Karis piped up. "We're missing Eoleo, Brigg's son, as well as Himi." She said.

"What's the plan now?" Jenna asked.

"We need to find those two, and then we need to find Matthew's shadow." Ivan stated.

"Oh, that's good, because then you would all be finished."

Everyone tensed up and drew their weapons, then remembered sheepishly that all the weapons were left at the entrance of the house.

Matthew's Shadow was standing there with Eoleo and Himi unconscious in one of his arms. Wow, he's pretty strong, Matthew thought.

"Hello again Matthew. Good to see that you're still fine after… our altercation. And of course, the lovely Karis." The Shadow dropped Himi and Eoleo on the couch as he walked towards Matthew.

Isaac and Jenna had returned from the entrance of the house and tossed everyone their weapons. "Come on guys, now is not the time to be distracted!" He yelled. "Everyone, take him down!"

The Shadow smirked at this. "If anyone could actually damage me, I'll give them a medal."

"Then prepare for a presentation!" Tyrell and Garet both yelled at the same time and cast Liquefier.

Although the Liquefier directly hit the target, nothing happened. "What…" Tyrell and Garet merely stood in shock, and were both then hit by Liquefiers.

Matthew was in shock. What the hell? How could his Shadow…

"Use Mars psyenergy? It's called Reflection," he told Matthew.

"Matthew, don't be goaded!" Jenna yelled at her son. Jenna and Sheba charged forward to attack with their sword shorts.

The Shadow simply moved through them and took them down with a simple touch to the nerve in the neck.

"Oh come on, this is ridiculous," Ivan stared in shock. "HOW THE HELL CAN YOU MOVE FASTER THAN A WIND ADEPT?"

The Shadow shrugged. "Try coming at me all at once."

Isaac, Mia, Ivan, Rief, Nowell, Amiti and Sveta all charged at the Shadow, but the Shadow eloquently moved through all of them and brought them crashing down to the ground.

It was only Matthew and Karis, and they knew it was hopeless.

While all the others could only watch, the Shadow moved closer towards Matthew. "You know, you're such a dirty, dirty person."

Matthew was confused. "What?"

The Shadow laughed. "Understandably, you're a teenage guy with normal hormones. But come on… how could you betray Sveta just like that?"

Sveta coughed. "What… do… you… mean?" She asked feebly.

"Matthew didn't even bother moving. Or more like…" The Shadow walked closer and closer, but Matthew couldn't move an inch.

"I won't let you." The Shadow moved to touch Matthew's cheek, but Karis's blade prevented that.

"You… bastard!" Karis spitted. "I won't let you touch him!"

"Touching… but you'll be the first to be punished, Lady Karis," the Shadow mocked. Karis charged at the Shadow, but once again, she was neutralised by a graceful manoeuvrer by him.

"Stop it, Alex!"

The Shadow stopped. "How did you…"

"It was blatantly obvious." Matthew now understood why he felt paralysed and how his "shadow" could have used Mercury psyenergy.

"Oh, you bastard…" Mia whispered.

Alex dropped the illusion, and let everyone see him in his full glory.

Alex walked towards Mia and picked her up by one hand. "I'll take my leave before some other people enter. They're about to come."

Matthew broke the curse of immobility and charged at Alex. Alex laughed and swatted Matthew away. "And of course, the son of my nemesis…"

To find he didn't actually swat away Matthew. "What?"

"Over here."

Matthew plunged the Sol Blade into Alex's shoulder.

###

"One of these days Isaac, we'll settle our score. We'll settle our score."

If Felix and Picard didn't walk in then… no-one would know what would have happened. After the injury to his shoulder, he picked Matthew up with one hand and tossed him into the corner, fracturing his arm.

"An arm for an arm, and an eye for an eye," he said to Matthew.

Alex picked up Karis and Mia. "I'm off. One of these days Isaac…"

###

"POW POW PICARD!" A bunch of fangirls were screaming their heads off outside the mansion.

"Thank god for those fences," Felix grumbled.

After the incident, everyone was treated by Felix, and they headed up to bed. They were all in a state of shock, except for Jenna, Matthew, Ivan, Sheba, Felix and Picard, who were currently in a discussion downstairs.

"POW POW PICARD!"

"I don't think anyone can actually get any sleep tonight…" Felix sighed.

Jenna hugged her brother, and he hugged her back. "It's good to have you back Felix, right when we need you." She also walked over and hugged the Lemurian. "It's also good to have you back, Picard."

Sheba was dozing off in Ivan's lap. "How did Alex become so powerful? He manhandled us like we were pathetic creatures not even worthy of saving the universe." Ivan muttered sadly.

"And took away Mia and… and… Karis…" Matthew murmured.

"It's not your fault Matthew," Picard reassured him.

"I don't mean to doubt your abilities Matthew, but Alex… he demolished us. And we've had thirty years of experience." Felix piped up.

"Thank you Uncle," Matthew thanked Felix. Felix was right, he shouldn't feel bad because Mia and …

I promise, I will rescue you Karis. I will rescue you.

###

"Fuck you Alex! I'm not doing anything for you ever again!" Mia screamed.

Alex narrowed his eyes. "Can you please listen to my explanation Mia…"

"NO!" She tried biting Alex, but was stopped short by the rope he employed.

###

Karis was startled awake by the door opening. Alex walked in. Karis swung herself so she was sitting on the bed. "What's going on? Where's Mia?"

"She's… still bitter about my betrayal… and no doubt, she has a good reason. But I need to explain myself to someone, and I hope you can listen to me, Karis."

Karis thought about it, and agreed. "Alright, might as well."

"I want to make amends for my crimes committed those thirty years ago. And as the world is being destroyed, I need to repair it."

"What?" Karis was curious.

"The world is heading towards destruction, and the Apollo Lens is one tool necessary to stop it from occurring."

###

Matthew swung his sword again and again at the barrier Granite had set. He would practice until his speed was perfect, his swordsmanship was perfect, and his psyenergy perfect. He needed to beat Alex, and he knew that he was the one with the closest chance. His parents were getting on with age (even though his mother still looked like a twenty-four year old and acted like a seventeen year old sometimes) and would find it harder to regain their touch. After the one thousandth strokes, he shifted towards agility training. By doing suicides, he hoped he could become faster. He wanted to vomit and give up, but he pushed forward. I need to become stronger.

"POW POW PICARD!" The moment was officially spoiled by the fangirls.

###End Chapter 7 – Amends

KaRath: Alex was a good/bad/neutral/bad/good guy? It's so confusing and clichéd.

Flint: Talk about it.

KaRath: I'm still not forgiving you for hitting me in the head again.

Flint: (whistling innocently)

Matthew: And there ends the chapter, with me trying to tank up.

Jenna: Awww, isn't that cute, my son is becoming stronger for a girl!

Isaac: It reminds me of… us. Haha, remember why our quest started again?

Jenna: Aww… Isaac… (Passionate making out)

KaRath, Matthew and Flint: … well, read and review please…

KaRath: Pretty much, I'll update once every weekend because of schoolwork etc.