Warning: This chapter contains violence, blood, character death and some adult themes.

Full Circle

Ven finished writing down the last word of the letter that she had been writing before setting the pen down on the desk. The words were heavy, and now that they were out and on paper, it felt as if a weight had been lifted off of her shoulders.

A shadow of a smile grew on her lips as she looked over at Shion playing on the floor nearby with Zoar. He was being forced to play dolls with the little Queen, much to his disapproval. Shion seemed to be having so much fun, a rare thing to see these days.

It had been a year since she and the others returned to their own time. The war with the Ancestral Witches was on the cusp of reaching Terra and Ven was worried that she would have to send her little sister away yet again. The poor little girl had lost so much already; it would be a shame to take away her home. Ven knew that one day she would but was hoping that it was still some time off in the future.

As she leaned back thinking about the time that she had spent with Flora, a few tears began to flow down her cheeks, thoughts of the friends that she had lost because of this war coming to her mind. But she also knew there was a better world out there, that her sister would be safe. Somehow this would all be worth it in the end. Or so she hoped.

Just after stopping the rebellion of Gavin, all hell broke loose. A guard stormed into Ven's office, his face white and taut, startling Shion who had so peacefully been playing. All eyes were on him as Ven signaled him to speak. They were all eager to know what was so upsetting.

"Ma'am," he saluted. "A Mayday signal had just been received from a Red Fountain ship leaving Terra. It is believed enemy forces have shot it down."

Ven's heart sank into the bottom of her stomach. She felt physically sick and trembled as she rose. "No. No, no, no, no." Tears edged at her eyes, but she didn't let them fall. She had to stay strong for her people. "Do you know where the ship landed?"

"Over the Mesa Valley. We have a recovery team headed out there right now Ma'am."

Ven nodded at the man to take his leave, and so he did, rushing off to relay some other horrific news. But there was no more time to waste. She needed to save her friends.

"Zoar, watch over Shion. I need to go."

She didn't even wait to hear his response. Sprinting out of the castle, Ven rushed outside and whistled for Freefall, body going at a million miles per hour. She couldn't slow down, not when lives were at stake.

"Wait," a voice called out, causing Ven to see James rushing toward her dressed in full Red Fountain battle regalia, "I'm coming with you."

"No," Ven insisted. "I can get there faster alone."

"I said I am coming with," James said as he looked up into Ven's face, his usually kind eyes now iced over in fierce persistence. "They're my teammates."

Ven spun on him, tears threatening to spill once more, "And I said no! I can't risk losing you too." His face grew softer and he reached for her arm, pulling her in closer to him. She immediately began to calm in his embrace and showed no protest as he raised her face to his.

"Ven, can you stop trying to be the hero for once and let me help you? Despite what you think, I can take care of myself," he joked, causing her to laugh just a little.

Crumbling into his will, she let him come with her. "Fine, hop on."

She pulled him up on Freefall, ready to take off before another voice stopped them.

"What about the rest of us?" Daphne asked from below, her voice full of worry as well.

"Stay here," Ven instructed. "We don't have enough room for everyone. Besides I think Shion would like the company." Daphne nodded and bid Ven farewell.

The journey there was quick and quiet, both James and Ven too afraid to voice their fears, too panicked to voice their hopes. It was as if they were flying on egg shells all the way to the ship, and Ven prayed that everything would be alright. When they arrived they found the ship in bad shape, mutilated beyond recognition in a mass of silver scrap piled high on the side of a mase. Ven cried out right then and there, knowing that what lied inside would not be what they wanted. James led Ven through the wreckage, and as the two entered the cockpit, they found two of the boys slumped over in their chairs unmoving. Shaking, Ven quickly made her way over to Malachi to check for a pulse, and when she could not find one, she turned to see tears falling from James's eyes. She moved over to Trace, the dark-skinned Specialist who had always made them smile, and found that he had no pulse as well. The happy boy would smile no more.

She knew that both Eli and Daniel were dead as soon as she saw their twisted bodies lying against the front windshield of the ship, blood covering their once pristine uniforms. She had no idea were Zeus or Aero were, she had a feeing that the same fates had befell them as well. She couldn't contain her self anymore; she was too overcome in silent grief. She leaned over against the shattered remains of the cockpit and sobbed, the tears falling in trails to the floor. A primal roar filled the ship as James fell to his knees, hitting his hand against the floor. The sounds of his grief proceeded to break her heart further, and she sank to the ground with him, grasping for something to tell her that she was alive, that everything was going to be okay. Ven took a step toward James but stopped when she heard him scream out again, flinching away from her. His eyes were red and full of hate, but it didn't stop Ven. She moved until he was in her arms, and she held him as he sobbed, their pain echoing off of their friend's burial grounds. They stayed like that for what felt like an eternity.

After she had calmed James and left him alone once more, she checked the back of the ship, finding both Aero and Zeus dead in the process. She was numbed to this by now, accepting of the fact that she would never get to see her friends laugh and joke anymore. Even the blood that pooled on the floor wasn't enough to faze her. She buried her grief with James moments previous. There was no more time to be sad.

Ven made her way back into the cockpit to find James slowly placing his friends on the floor of the ship. She just stood and watched him silently telling his friend their goodbye for the last time. She led him off the ship and he followed mutely. Outside again, she heard Freefall wailing, and followed the source of the cries to the forest. She could see the trees burning, a path being carved out of the woods, and she knew they had little time left to waste. Soon, the witch's armies would be at the castle steps, and she would not leave Shion unprotected.

But her friends needed a burial. It was disrespectful to leave the dead exposed to the world, and her friends had died like heroes. So, using up her limited strength, she cast a fire charm that Sola had taught her over the ship. It flickered to life, the metal warping and sputtering as the flames coated over the walls. She let her friend's burn in a funeral pyre, the most ancient and respected of rights, and James reached over to squeeze her hand in appreciation. Ven returned his gesture with a look of solemn understanding, and together they mounted Freefall and left back for the palace.

Tears started to fill her eyes, realizing that she was not looking forwards to telling her friends what happened to their boyfriends.

Back inside her office, Ven placed the letter into an envelope, sealing it shut with hot wax, the seal of Terra pressed prominently onto the creamy paper in a bold red. Without really realizing it, she then stood up, causing both Zoar and Shion to look at her.

"Ma'am?" Zoar asked.

"Zoar, would you take this letter to Ms. Faragonda at Alfea?"

"Yes my Queen," Zoar replied as he stood up, gingerly taking the letter from the his Queens fingers.

"Tell her to give this to Flora. She'll know what it means."

"Flora?" Zoar asked, "This letter in not for the Headmistress of your school?"

"No," Ven replied as she shook her head, "It is for my sister; it is just telling her how things are going."

"Okay," Zoar replied, "I will do as you say."

Zoar walked over and bowed to his Queen before leaving the room, a gesture Ven reciprocated out of appreaciation. Ven then walked over to her little sister and bent down lifting her up off of the floor. With Shion in her arms she walked outside to see Zoar flying off into the distance.

"Where Zoar going?" Shion asked.

"He's just delivering a letter for me," Ven answered, "He'll be back soon."

"Ok," Shion said as she looked at the shrinking dot of Zoar.

"You like him don't you?" Ven asked looking down at the young girl.

Shion looked up at Ven and smiled before giggling. A loud explosion caused both queens to turn their heads to see a large fire now burning in the forest around the castle. This was it; the attack had begun. Before Ven could say anything, Caspian and Tidus rushed outside to the veranda where their sisters were standing.

"Quickly! Come inside!" Caspian urged them. The girls ran into Ven's office and Tidus slammed the doors shut behind them, locking all the windows in the process.

"What's going on?" Ven askd. "It's started, hasn't it?"

"Yes. The Witches are attacking." Tidus replied, his whole body tense and on alert.

"We need to get Shion out of here." Caspian announced, and all of them agreed. They ran out into the halls, narrowly missing a giant flaming boulder that shattered the office in two.

Harmony and Ariel were happy that they were allowed to come and visit the Water Nation. They both loved the beaches; they were so relaxing, and it was honestly really hard to find peace in a war time. They were having fun doing nothing until they heard a loud explosion in the distance, the repercussions vibrating the whole beach. They could hear people screaming in the distance, and saw all the birds flying far away from what was sure to be nothing but trouble.

"What's going on?" Harmony asked her eyes wide in fear.

"I don't know, but we better get to the castle. We'll be safer there," Ariel replied, gathering up her things. Harmony ran out of the water to help her friend, but was thrown back by a powerful blast that knocked her on her back.

"Harmony!" she cried, running to help the girl, but was thrown back by a similar blast, rolling across the beach like a rag doll.

"Where do you two think you're going?" A sinister voice asked from behind the two fairies, watching them as they tried to get up.

Both turned to see a man with fiery ginger hair and gray eyes smiling wickedly at them. He was obviously of his time, wearing some sort of Victorian era jacket and vest, but it didn't make him any less dangerous. The girl could tell he was trouble by the malice in his eyes, the way he studied them like prey. For now, he was just standing a few good feet in front of them, but both girls knew he wouldn't stay stationary for long.

"Who are you?" Harmony asked him, careful to keep her guard up as she moved.

"You can call me Valtor." The man said as he bowed toward the two fairies, flourishing every move.

"What do you want with us?" Ariel continued, not won by this man's show.

"Not much, just some fun," Valtor replied as he shot another blast of energy at the two girls. This time, they were ready, and easily dodged his attack.

"Enchantix!" Ariel and Harmony yelled out as the two jumped to avoid his increasing assaults.

A ball of light wrapped around both girls causing Valtor to cover his eyes and stumble backwards. When the light retreated and he was able to look at them, a smirk appeared on his face.

Ariel and Harmony had transformed, both now wearing the marks of Enchantix fairies. They flew up into the sky, their powerful butterfly wings propelling them forward. They thought they were sure to win if they kept the higher ground.

The smirk on Valtor's face turned into a twisted smile. Not even flinching a muscle, he began to rise in front of them, clouds of blue and black smoke raising him up to their level. The girls looked on in horror obviously he was much more powerful than they had expected. He raised his hands to the sky and lightning flashed from all angles, striking the water at his command. He smiled at them manically before changing his target, directing all his voltage at Ariel. The blue fairy fell limply into the water, her body not resurfacing.

"I am going to knock that smile off your face." Harmony yelled as she charged at Valtor, anger bubbling in her chest.

Valtor unleashed another blast of energy toward her but Harmony was on hyper-drive. She swerved past the lightning and blasted Valtor right in the chest with her own attack, sending him spiraling through the sky. With him distracted, she turned just in time to see her friend's head bob up from the waves. Diving, she sped towards Ariel, pulling her up from the electrified water. She could feel her own body buzz with energy, the sensation painful, but she didn't stop until she had Ariel in her arms. She could hear her breathe, but she knew that they weren't safe yet. Harmony flew her unconscious friend to the crags, laying her out on dry land to recuperate.

"You should not have taken your eyes off of me." Valtor hissed from right beside Harmony, smacking her backwards. She fell into the sharp jetties, the razor-sharp edges cutting into her skin, making her bleed. She gasped at the sting of the salt water in her wounds, but yet she got up to protect her friend from this mad man. As she spun to face him, he vanished from sight. Harmony was nervous now, her body like an exposed nerve, hyper-sensitive and over focused. It was as if a dark cloud of gloom had settled over her, and she didn't know what to do.

Harmony turned just in time to see him with his hand lifted right at her head, his eyes glaring into her soul. He could smell her fear and she knew it. She was powerless, her last attack draining most of her energy. She knew that if he released an attack of his own that she would not be able to defend herself. She cowered away, throwing up a weak shield that he immediately broke with the back of his hand. She cowered in front of him, crawling away from his fury. She was going to die; se knew it. He began to laugh as he drove his perfectly poised hand into her face. She was startled by the slap; she could taste the metal of blood in her mouth, but still she would not face him. She would not fight back. It was as if she were paralyzed by him, unable to move in his presence.

"Oh don't worry," Valtor whispered into Harmony's ears, "I am not going to kill either of you." A new smile appeared on his face as he noticed the worry appear in her eyes, "But what I do plan to do to you is so much worse."

Harmony curled into herself as she watched as the hand in front of her face begin to glow. A cackle escaped from Valtor's lips as he released the spell into her head, letting her mind become his. He absorbed her whole being, her everything, and most of all, the information vital to his masters. He let go of the fairy after the spell was finished and watched as she fell to the sand below, her body transformed back to her normal form. He knew she would never transform ever again. And what a shame; she was such a beautiful fairy. He cackled before vanishing in a flash of lightning, leaving the two fairies alone and unconscious on the sand.

Moments later, Ariel's eyes fluttered and she immediately began to sputter out water, her chest tight from all the salt she had consumed. As she gathered the strength to sit up, she looked to see her friend sitting not too far away. Slowly and painfully getting up, she looked around to see fires in the distance and that Valtor had mysteriously disappeared.

Hobbling, she walked over to her friend who sat with a glazed look about her opened eyes, her attention fixed on the horizon. Ariel had a sinking feeling that her friend was dead, but as she reached for a pulse, she felt it slowly but steadily throbbing in her wrist.

"Oh thank God!" she sighed, leaning over, hands on her knees. "Come on, we have to get you out of here..."

She waved her arm, mustering up as much magic as she could without killing herself, conjuring up a portal. She didn't know where it would take them, but it would be far away from that cursed beach. She bent over and threw Harmony over her shoulders. Thank goodness she was light or else Ariel would've collapsed right then and there. Dragging her across the sand, she threw them into the portal head-first.

It was like vertigo, the feeling of being squeezed through a tiny fold in time and space was excruciating, but it only lasted a second. As soon as they were in, the girls were thrown out and onto the stone floor of a building very, very far away. Coughing, Ariel got up to check on Harmony, who looked like she survived the trip as well. She was even starting to stir, sitting up on her own and rubbing her head.

"Harmony are you okay?" Ariel asked as she placed a hand on her friends shoulder. Harmony looked bewildered, completely unaware of her surroundings. What had Valtor done to her?

Harmony looked up into Ariel's eyes, and Ariel was left aghast.

"Who is Harmony?" her friend asked her. "And who are you?"

Ven was breathing heavily as she ran through the halls of the castle; she could hear the sounds of the battle taking place outside the building as it shook from another attack. Had she not left the office sooner, they would have already been dead, and now it seems that they all might end up fried anyway. She could not believe that the dragons had turned on them, even her own Freefall. Both Tidus and Caspian had been severely hurt while protecting her and Shion from her former companion's wrath.

She pulled Shion closer to her body as she stopped and looked back at her brothers; tears began to flow from her eyes as Tidus ripped part of his shirt to tie to the large gash that was on his left leg. She could see that Caspian was having a hard time seeing out of the eye that was being filled with blood from the cut above it. She knew that the dragons had sharp talons, but this was just brutal.

"Wen? Was? Wi? Was happening?" Shion asked, terror evident in her small face.

"It's going to be fine," Ven reassured her younger sister with a smile before turning to look back at the others, "Are you sure that you want to split up?"

"We will be fine," Caspian said as he tried to wipe some of the blood from his eye. Just get Shion to safety. Once Terra has fallen they will be attacking Domino; Daphne has said that she will be taking Sera away to safety." He smiled a reassuring smile at his sister before leaning against the wall, "One day Sera and our little Shion will meet again. I'm sure that together they will reestablish Terra and Domino."

"You're making it sound like we won't-" Tidus began to say but was cut off by Ven.

"It's the truth; Terra has already fallen," she confirmed, "I love you two. I'll come back to help once Shion is safe."

Caspian and Tidus nodded before the sounds of growling could be heard in the distance. Ven watched as her two brothers created their swords and prepared for the horrors that were coming. Turning from them and rushing down the corridor. Tears freely flowed from her eyes not knowing if they would still be living when she returned.

After watching Ven and Shion run out of sight down the hall, both Caspian and Tidus turned to face the sound of whatever was coming down the hall. Soon a shape came out of the darkness. A figure in red armor riding what looked like a Terra dragon, only it was darker in color and more menacing.

It had larger scales and claws with large head horns and a tail that ended with two over size scales that had a blade like appearance. The dark blue almost black body had the build that was very muscular and cat like. The two brothers stood their ground as the rider rode up to the.

"We're not letting you go any further," Caspian said.

"Hump! Oh really?" Came the deep voice of the rider from under the helmet. "This world has fallen; you have no hope in stopping me from getting to the girl. So step aside, so that you may live to serve me."

Tidus looked into the glowing eyes of the rider, "We said this is as far as you go."

The armored man thought for a moment, "So be it." He replied.

The man dismounted and stepped up to the dragons head, stroking the side of its face. "Kill these two and find me." With that, he stepped back and the dragon roared before lunging at Caspian.

The young King jumped to the side fast enough that only the front of his shirt was torn away when it made a swipe at him with one of its claws. Using this chance, Tidus made to attack its unprotected back. With all his might he jumped up and brought the sword down and across the beasts back hoping to bring this fight to an end quickly, so that they could stop the armored man who continued on down the hallway saying over his shoulder, "Don't be to long Kreborg, I want this done quickly."

What happened next was hard to believe. The place where the sword struck, the scales were barely nicked. As he landed on his feet and the dragon sprang back away from them and roared again in defiance.

"Watch out, the scales on the back are too tough for swords." Tidus yelled.

After making sure that it was only his shirt and not flesh that was damaged, he looked over at Tidus, "I noticed."

"I got an idea, just be ready," Caspian yelled after a moments thought.

The young King then took a tighter grip of his sword and charged at the dragon with it at the ready. When he was close and the dragon lunged at him, he dodged to the side and shoved the blade between the horns and the back of its head. Still holding on to the hilt, he leaped and flipped over to the other side of its body twisting the head and body over with him, exposing the beast's belly. "Now!" he yelled to Tidus.

Realizing what was happening, the dragon flicked the end of its tail splitting the two large scales at the end into twin knives and before Tidus could get within striking distance, it impaled him through the chest killing him instantly.

After removing its tail tip out of its latest kill, the beast rolled head over heel with the sword still lodged under its horns. Wrenching the weapon out of Caspian's hands with its flip over, he could only watch as the dragon reached up and pulled the sword from behind its horns and flung it to the side. Watching for where it would land, he now noticed the body of his younger brother lying lifeless on the ground.

"No!" Caspian yelled as tears sprang to his eyes.

The dragon slowly stalked up to him, backing him into a corner where he could not escape. Knowing that this was the end, Caspian closed his eyes and prayed that Ven was able to get their sister to safety before the man in the armor found them. Seconds later, in one clean swipe the beast eviscerated its next kill.

Running down the halls Ven could hear the echoes of her two brothers confronting whatever it was that was following them. She could hear a deeper voice speaking to them, but couldn't make out what it was saying. There were too many explosions to hear clearly. Then she heard a roar that sent an icy chill through her body, one that shattered her confidence, and a moment later, another bone chilling roar made its way to her ears. She felt better knowing that they were still alive for now.

Soon she heard a yell for "Now!" Then silence. The soul wrenching "No!" that followed afterwards made Ven want to fall to her knees, her whole body shutting down as she numbly carried Shion to safety. This was too much loss for even a strong heart like hers to take. Shion looked up toe see tears flowing from her sister's eyes when she felt a couple fall on her head, not understanding what had just happened.

Still, they ran and ran, not stopping for anything. Ven's whole purpose now was to save Shion, and then, finally, she could rest from this hell. Ven turned into her destination; she stopped in front of a stone circle in the middle of the large open room, and placed her sister down on the floor. With no other exits other then the door that they had entered from, she knew this would be her last stand. It was finally beginning to feel real.

Trembling she reached down and placed her hands on Shion's tiny shoulders. Ven knew that if this worked Shion would have a wonderful life with friends, but Ven would never get to see it. She would miss so much of her baby sister's life that it made her soul ache, but this had to be done. This was where she had to say farewell to Shion and creat Flora in her place.

"Know that whatever happens to me, Cas and Ti, that we love you. With daddy and our uncles gone, we have to fight to save everyone now."

"I wanna hep," Shion replied.

"You're a little young for that right now," Ven replied while smiling sadly, more tears falling from her cheeks. "So you're going to go to a nice place with lots of plants. You'll love it."

"But, I wanna stay with wou," Shion cried as she hugged her sisters legs.

"I know you do," Ven cried. This was so much harder then she ever though possible. "But you can't. I promise that me, Cas or Ti will find you again one day, but in the mean time you keep an eye out for Sera. Daphne told Cas that if Domino suffers the same fate as Terra then she will be sending Sera there with you."

"Awright," Shion replied as she slowly let go of her sister, the idea of a friend slightly comforting.

"One more thing, no mentioning Terra, or me, or our brother's okay?" Ven stated, "and your name is Flora now, got it?"

"Flora?" Shion replied with an unsure voice.

A wicked laugh echoed through the room, cutting their goodbyes short. Immediately Ven formed a sword in her hand before turning to face the intruder. He was surely not who she was expecting to face.

"High Queen, it is a pleasure to finally meet you," The intruder greeted smirking evilly under his red helmet, his face shadowed from her sight. He advanced slowly on her, and Ven pushed Shion back into the circle, starting up the portal device. It flickered to life, the circle flickering with white light.

Ven quickly turned toward Shion, begging her to jump and save her life. "Flora, get through that portal now."

Shion looked at her sister with tears in her eyes before jumping through, disappearing from Terra forever.

'Good at least one of us will survive.' Ven thought before turning to look at the armored man. Now she could die in peace knowing that her work was done.

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