Author's note: Hey there

Author's note: Hey there! Thanks for your reviews, I've decided to update quicker this time. xD Please read and review! Enjoy

Chapter 9

Separate ways

"Heh…I lived up to father's wishes. And…you Claude," Ariette said. Claude stroked her hair.

"Yeah. Now we can figure out a way to get home," Claude said. Ariette smiled and rested a little. Mayor Narl came in.

"Thank you…all of you. Now we can rest in peace, knowing they are gone. We will now make all the alterations and get Expel back into orbit. Nede, of course, can no longer keep going. This will take our last energy," Mayor Narl explained. Rena walked forward.

"But! What about Nede? We can't let Nede go in Expel's expense," Rena said. Narl shook his head.

"Nede has been going long enough. It is only bad luck that didn't allow us to find another planet to move onto. Whether we brought back Expel or not, Nede will still only last so much longer…I'd give it another year or two…This way we are doing a good deed, it is the little we could do to make up for all the planets which have fallen under the victim of the ten wise men. So, don't worry about us. Noel, Chisato. I wish for you to join Claude and his friends. So that atleast our legacy lives on for a little while longer," Narl said.

He walked over to the giant spherical object. He turned back towards everyone.

"Now, I don't think I could get very far without all the components. And I'm sure they won't sell for much either. So if you please?" Narl asked, in a light mood. The thieving trio returned the parts, lightly slapping Narl's back jokingly. Narl reassembled the device.

"Would young Master Leon come here? Maybe you would like to help activate this? For future reference in your experiments?" Narl asked. Leon stepped forward proudly.

"Yes, I certainly would," Leon replied.

"Now, with a bit of luck, some other Nedians from this planet will be transported randomly along to Expel too. I have set the preferences and it will open the force field surrounding Energy Nede, allowing safe passage for all who get transported…Everyone has known for a while about this apocalypse. For about five years now. So that is why you see no children in this place. Just adults. A good reasoning, I believe. I believe everything is in order. All of you need to step into this area here," Narl said.

Everyone grouped together in the space specified and waited for the transaction. The ground started shaking and parts of the wall was cracking and breaking. The last thing they saw before leaving the planet was Narl waving happily at them. They saw almost complete darkness, with stars and pretty colours shining off in the distance. All those who had not seen anything past their own planet gasped in amazement. Claude squeezed the hands of the two girls most important to him, as they both smiled at the fact that they were going home.

"Wow, darlings, what a view! Looks like one whole trove of treasure," Celine said, clinging to Aniki's arm.

"Yeah, maybe we could steal it. It'd make a lot of money," Aniki commented. Celine hit him in the arm and laughed. They eventually landed and found themselves in Shingo Forest.

"Wow. Where our adventure first began, eh, Rena?" Claude asked. Rena looked up at him and nodded.

Celine and Aniki walked out of the group.

"Well, darlings. Now that that is all over, I guess we'll be parting ways. Just make sure you guys keep in touch. Come Ryo and Juro. We have treasure to find. Maybe we will set up a help group…I know! We'll commission as a group who does errands and jobs for people, at a small cost," Celine said.

"Yeah, but how're we gonna get money to survive before we start getting paid?" Ryo asked.

"Hahaha, I have all the money we need to start of with, so don't worry about it darlings," Celine replied. They waltzed off, all linking arms.

Ashton looked at Precis.

"Sooo…do you wanna go get something to eat?" Ashton asked. Precis took hold of his hand.

"Yeah, but can we go visit the old man first? I haven't seen him in AGES," Precis replied. They happily walked off. Bowman walked a bit outwards.

"Hey, Noel. How 'bout I show you around? There's a great cave near Linga that, once we rid it of monsters, will be full of animals," Bowman asked. Noel stepped forward.

"Thank you for your invitation. I will gladly accept your generous offer," Noel replied.

"Aww, c'mon. Hang loose, man. We need to take you to a bar full of ladies," Bowman said, dragging Noel by the arm.

"Uh, um. I think I change my mind. Noooooo, help me!" Noel shouted, as he was dragged off.

"…Bowman, do you need a hand getting rid of the monsters?" Dias asked. Bowman stopped and returned.

"Hmmmm. Sure! We could do with your strength," Bowman replied. Dias nodded and walked up to Rena. He rubbed her head and wished her the best of luck.

"You take care of Rena. Maybe next time we meet, we can finish off our battle," Dias said, turning around and walking off, with Chisato excitedly saying that she smelt a story in the making.

"You bet we will and don't worry about Rena," Claude shouted back. Dias put a hand up in recognition. Opera and Ernest walked up to Claude.

"May we be so bold as to ask for a ride home? When you manage to find rescue, that is," Opera asked. Claude nodded.

"First, let's go say hello to Rena's mother and then we need to take Leon home," Claude said. They all nodded and walked through into Arlia. Through the whole time, Leon looked down. They reached Rena's home and said hello to Westa. Rena asked her mother for her permission to travel with Claude. Westa agreed and they happily set out for Lacour Castle. They saw that, on entering the town of the Kingdom of Lacour, everything seemed normal and hectic as usual. A girl with long brown hair came up to Claude.

"Hey, are you one of the ones who saved the universe? And who saved Nede's dignity?" The girl asked. They realised the girl had pointy ears, much like Rena's.

"Hey, so some of you guys made it here! That's great to hear," Opera said.

"Yeah, the great mayor Narl and the other town mayors came together and talked it through. They used all their powers and granted a spell that would transport all the Nedians who could survive in another environment, in a different place and all those who were not adamant on dying in their homes. I'm so glad I got to meet you guys. It's a shame you couldn't see the real Nede. In history class, we saw that it was so beautiful. Well, as one of the remaining Nedians, I will keep our race going!" The girl said. She shook everyone's hand and ran off.

Claude expressed how pleased he was to see that some of the Nedians managed to escape their fate.

"Hahaha, again, if I ever come across fate, I'm gonna beat 'em bloody," Opera laughed. Ernest laughed along with her. They headed over to the castle and requested an audience, just to let the King know what was going on.

"Ah, Leon. You have made it back safely. So, I hear the Sorcery Globe has gone. And even more astonishingly is the news of the cities of El being back to normal, as if nothing had happened! And all the towns of Lacour and Cross which were damaged during the Sorcery Globe incident have been restored," King Lacour said. Claude and Rena expressed their relief that everything was back to normal and explained what had happened-leaving nothing out.

"So, as you can tell, there will be refugees from Nede spread across the globe," Claude finished.

"Worry yourself not. They will be very welcome here," King Lacour said. Claude and Rena finished up and they were greeted by the arrival of Leon's parents.

"Mama, papa! I missed you so much! I knew you would be alright," Leon said, hugging his parents. Claude and Rena looked at each other and laughed.

Claude walked up to Leon and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, I'm glad your parents are alright. I wish you well and we promise to come visit you. But now, we must leave," Claude said, turning for the door.

"Big brother! Wait!" Leon shouted, running up to Claude and holding onto him.

"What is it Leon?" Claude asked. Leon cried into Claude's jacket.

"I don't want you to leave me! I want to go where you go and see the place you came from. I want to see everything," Leon cried. Claude rubbed Leon's head.

"But it's different and dangerous. You might get hurt-," Claude started.

"Don't you dare say that I'm too young. Big sister is going with you. I wanna come too," Leon said. It struck Claude, as Leon started talking differently, that he was not being his usual proper self. Claude rubbed Leon's head some more.

"Ok, Leon. But as long as it's alright with your parents," Claude said. Leon cheered up a little and talked with his parents. Opera walked up to Claude and told him he did the right thing. Ernest sighed, wondering if it was a good idea taking two people from backwater planets to other places. Leon came running back to them looking all happy and they set off.

Claude got out his communicator and dialled a number for the Earth Federation.

"Hello? Who is this?" A woman's voice asked.

"I am Claude C. Kenni, son of Ronnixis J. Kenni. I need a ship to come and pick me up from Expel, co-ordinates 144443-556736-992273. It is a backwater planet. I have one other Earthling, two Tetrageniots, a Nedian-Expellian and a Fellpool-Expellian with me," Claude answered.

"That's right, isn't it? I was wondering why little Leon looked so different! He's a Fellpool," Opera said. Leon looked from Claude to Opera in confusion.

"What do you mean? 'Fellpool'? I am from Expel!" Leon said.

"Look kid, there's lots of explaining that needs to be done. First we need to get a ship home," Ernest said.

"Kenni? You mean-? You're alive? Thank heavens. We thought we had lost the both of you. Well, I need all of your friend's names, so I can put it in a database," the woman said.

"Ariette M. Kenni, Opera Vectra, Ernest Reviede, Rena Lanford and Leon D. S. Geeste," Claude said. A few minutes later, he closed his communicator and sat down on the grass.

They stayed in the castle that night, as Leon's guests. Claude sat in Rena's room and they talked.

"So, Rena…are you sure you're willing and ready to travel to distant and strange new places?" Claude asked. Rena nodded.

"I want to see new places. And wherever you go, I will go. I don't want to lose you again," Rena replied. Claude told her not to be silly and Claude kissed her good night before leaving the room for his own room. Leon calmly packed some things in a small bag for the journey and everything. Ariette sat in her room, feeling down. She brought out a picture she had of herself and Claude, when they were seniors in high school. Her face was full of colour and her yellow hair was the same as Claude's hair, only longer. At that point, it was only part way down her back. She remembered how she once dared him to dress up as her and go into high school, while she dressed as him. They fooled everyone and managed to keep that forever a secret. But now she was alone; her favourite person was now besotted with another girl. She cried, as she realised the bond they shared was breaking and that she will never be happy again.

She got up and walked out of the castle. Down the streets and out of the city. She saw a cliff, the water slowly brushing against the cliff edge. Sharp rocks stood at the bottom of the water, directly under where she was standing. She stared at them. She took a step forward. Before she could take another step, something grabbed the back of her nightgown gently.

"Please don't. It's not worth it. You'll only break big brother's heart," Leon said from behind her. She spun around and there stood Leon, looking down.

"I saw you leave your room. I…knew what you were thinking. It's the same thing I feel, only your pain is bigger. You're twins, huh?" Leon said. Ariette's eyes filled up with tears and she put her sleeve to her eyes, crying gently. She fell to the ground and onto her knees. Leon went to his knees and put his tiny arms around her.

"It's alright. There's nothing wrong in sharing your feelings. Please, let's go inside and we can talk about this," Leon said. Ariette nodded and Leon led her back in by the hand. They sat in Ariette's room and Ariette spilled all her worries and fears. Leon listened to her all the way through.

"Yes. I understand. Although I have not had a twin or even a sibling myself, having Claude, Rena and now you, Ariette, in my life, has made me a better person. You guys are like my older brother and sisters. You guys are lucky, to be twins, to share problems with and to be with each other, having a good time. I was always in the lab, testing some new theory out. I guess that's why I'm such a brat. Big brother Claude and Big sister Rena were so brave and stood up to the enemy. And big sister Ariette too! Look at the way you took that guy out. I had to be persuaded and threatened into battle. I was useless. But my friends helped me out. That's why I think that, even though Claude has Rena now, he will always be there for you and I will be there. So will Ashton and the others. I learned a lot from those guys. They say that there is no I in team," Leon said.

"…But without friendship, nothing will be solved," Ariette completed in a quiet voice. She sighed and lay back on the bed.

"Thanks Leon. I really appreciate it. You know? Claude said to me, as he was carrying me all the way to the top of the tower, that he had some wonderful friends and that they would all make me welcome. I never thought that you'd be this nice. I thought Claude was a goner for a bit there. Trust him to try to go into the light," Ariette sighed. Leon wished her a goodnight and returned to his room.

Morning came and everyone gathered outside the city. After half an hour of waiting, a large ship came down and transported them up.

"WOW! Look at this thing, it's so shiny," Leon said, running off and looking around the ship, with Ariette going along with him to keep an eye on him. They didn't get far, as they were stopped by some people in blue uniforms.

"Miss. Ariette! We're so glad to see you're safe," one of them said.

"Yeah, I managed to get off of there with some help and met Claude and these guys along the way," Ariette said.

"But what happened to your hair?" The other one asked.

"Oh. I was…experimented on and my hair went this colour," Ariette said, sounding upset. Leon saw this and strode up to the man.

"What has it got to do with you, huh? Gentlemen are supposed to say 'I like your new hairstyle' not 'what happened to you hair?' You are being egotistic and ignorant, not taking into account that you might hurt a lady's feelings by such a question," Leon said. The man looked shocked. The woman elbowed him.

"Yeah, Ryan. You're insulting the late commodore's daughter. Even a cute little kid can point that out," the woman said. Ryan apologised and Ariette mildly accepted it. They were taken into a lounge, were they all sat down and the woman started talking to them.

"I'm Joanne. But you may call me Jo. I welcome you to our ship and hope your time away from Earth has not been too stressful," Joanne said. Claude declined this statement and asked if his mother knew about his father. She nodded.

"Oh, could we stop at Tetragene? Opera and Ernest are hoping to go home but they didn't have a ship left to power," Claude asked. Joanne nodded and told them to make themselves at home. Opera and Ernest went into a deep discussion about what they were going to do next and Claude and Rena cuddled together. Leon and Ariette decided to wander around the ship. Ariette told Leon all about what room was what and what each of the things did. Leon was fascinated and said that he wouldn't mind making one of these things. After what seemed like such a short time, due to everyone's interests in each other or of the fascinating components of the ship and the hyper galactic warp speed the ship was set to, they reached Tetragene: planet of the multi-coloured and of simplicity. Tetragene was one of the most developed planets around, but due to their like of tradition and beauty, it was not much different to 20th Century Earth, which Earth had surpassed in appearance a century ago.