Author's note: Ever have that feeling when all your friends abandon you? Yeah, I'm feeling like that right now.

Warnings: Violence, but nothing too bad

Disclaimer: I own nothing but minor OC's excluding Zireria and Tenionia

I was looking for a breath of life,

A little touch of heavenly light,

But all the choirs in my head sing,

No, oh, oh, oh

(Palace of Egypt)

A lone guard walked the halls of the palace, the spear in his hand tapping against the cold stone ground. The wind howled furiously outside, scattering dust into the halls. He coughed, covering his mouth with his arm.

"Are you alright there, Abasi?"

Abasi turned to see Lady Tenionia walking towards him, her long white dress flowing behind her. He bowed respectfully to her, his eyes to the floor. "It is nothing I can't handle, princess," his eyes did not leave the floor. "May I ask what you are still doing up?"

Tenionia nodded. "I came to get a basin of water. Princess Teana is having pains."

"What? Should I call for a healer?"

Tenionia smiled, shaking her head. "No, the baby is just getting restless. I think it's almost time."

"Oh, I see."

Tenionia was about to say something more, but a scream from the throne room stopped her. She and Abasi exchanged glances and rushed towards the sound, only to see one of the maids, a young girl named Ahura standing in the center, blood pouring from a sword in her back, the tip pointing from her stomach. Blood dripped down her chin and her mouthed formed a small oh, as if she were trying to say something.

"Abasi, Lady Tenionia," she gasped. "Run...it's...a...trap..."

The figure behind her pulled out the sword, ignoring the fact that that the girl's body crashed to the floor with a harsh thump. Tenionia narrowed her eyes, light magic building up in her hands. "Who are you?" she growled. "Show yourself!"

A woman with long, straight, black hair stepped out from the shadows, dressed in battle gear and a sword that dripped with crimson blood. "Hello sister," Zireria sneered. "I told you I would come."

"Zireria!"

Zireria smirked. "How have you been?" she looked around the room, seeing more guards and Isis enter the room. "It appears you were ready for me. I congrajulate you on that."

Tenionia muttered something, the magic in her hands building until it formed an armor around her body. "Leave Zireria!" the magic started to glow, almost to the point where it was blinding. "I will not allow you to attack right now, not while Lady Teana is having pains."

Zireria's eyes widened, the smirk growing. "So the little brat is finally arriving into this world?" she gave a cruel laugh, raising the hairs of several guards in the palace. "Maybe I should pay little Merope a visit."

"You will not go near her!"

Amon stepped forward, his sword raised to Tenionia's chin. "I do not believe you are in any position to be making any threats, Princess."

"Neither are you!"

Amon turned his head to see Isis standing behind him, a blade pressed to the small of his back. Her turquoise eyes gleamed in the firelight, making them look cold. Zireria hissed, black shadows gathering in her palms. "Step away from him, you little bitch!"

Isis shook her head. "Then make him step away from Lady Tenionia."

Amon smirked, his hand twitching before he swung around and back handed Isis with the back of his hand. Figures moved after that, soldiers taking on the Teornan guards without hesitation. Tenionia rushed to Isis' aid, but a strong pull pushed her back, sending her flying into the wall with a harsh crack. She cried out as her right arm cracked due to the impact. "Zireria, sister," she hissed. "Stop!"

"It's too late for that now," Zireria whipped her face with a black whip made from her magic. "Get up and fight!"

Tenionia stared at the ground, glaring down as it as the white magic gathered back into her hands, her eyes flashing. "If it's a fight you want," she growled, staggering up and her eyes glowing. "Then it's a fight you will get!"

She held her palms toward her sister, the white magic slamming her sister into the wall. Zireria growled, pushing two of her own soldiers off of her as she strode back towards her sister, the whip gathering again. "It seems you've grown weaker," she snarled. "You'll be easier to take down now."

Teniona made the magic form into a white sword, running towards her sister as Zireria did the same. Their magic blades crashed into one another, repeating over and over again. Out of the corner of her eye, Tenionia could see Isis holding her own against Amon, her necklace providing visions of all the moves he would make. Amon was a strong fighter, she would give him that, but she could see that Isis knew that as well.

"Pay attention!"

Another strong wave of dark magic hit her across the face, sending her flying on her back. She ground, coughing up blood as Zireria sauntered over, the black sword planted towards her chest.

"It seems a shame to have to kill you too," the older woman smirked. "You have the same look mother had when I killed her."

Tenionia growled. "I may have lost my fond feelings of her, but I will not allow you to mock her death!"

"And what will you do to stop me?"

Tenionia let a sad look cross her face as she held her palm up towards her sister. "Then I must kill you. As much as it pains me to do so, if it is what I must do, then I will do it!"

She waved her hand, chanting out a spell as the white magic engulfed Zireria like a box. It only held her for a minute, for soon black cracks began to appear before the magic burst into dust. Tenionia flinched, seeing her sister even angrier than before. "Is that all you've got?" Zireria laughed, her black eyes shinning with an insane glow. "I expected better from you! And you claim to be the most powerful light magician in the land!"

Tenionia hissed. "I do not claim anything! I am what I am and I know what I know. You know I'm not one for boasting. I thought you knew that better than anyone!"

Zireria's eyes seemed to darken even further. "Don't you ever, try to tell me what I know," she hurled a ball of black magic. "You know nothing about me!"

She nearly avoided the blast, using her magic to create a shield. She knew that blood was running down the side of her face, but she did not care. No one's appearance mattered. All except for one. And with that one appearance, she screamed out.

"TEANA! GET OUT OF HERE!"

"Ahh!"

Teana clutched her abdomen in pain, sweat pouring down her face. The pains were coming even faster, to the point where she thought her body would split into two. Tenionia had been in her room, but had quickly left when the pains had started. That was around two hours ago. The dial next to her table said it was thirty minutes past nine. Where was her friend? She had promised to return quickly.

"Ahh!" the pain hit again, this time even harder as she tried to stand up. "Oh Hera please help me!"

She practically dragged herself into the throne room, wondering where all the noise was coming from. She stood in the arch way, her face as pale as death and cold sweat slipped off her brow to the bottom of her chin, slipping down like rain off a leaf. Tenionia spotted her from her spot against Zireria, and her face contorted with horror.

"TEANA! GET OUT OF HERE!"

Zireria let out another laugh, gathering more shadow magic into her hands and hurling it at Teana. Tenionia let out a scream of fear, knowing full well that she wouldn't reach Teana in time. Another wave of pain hit again, and she slumped to the ground, the beam of shadow magic coming even quicker.

"TEANA!"

"Merope..."

Teana opened her eyes. She was surrounded by silver; warm and rich. She blinked, her ice colored eyes trying to take in where she was. "Am I dead?" she asked herself outloud. "Am I in Hades?"

"No, my sweet child."

She gasped, and the image of her mother appeared. She looked younger, healthier. As if all those years of labor had not taken its toll on her. Teana stood up, hugging her mother tightly. "Mother," she whispered. "How? Why?"

Her mother stroked her hair, tilting her chin to look at her. "I saved you at the last minute. You are not dead, but your physical body is here, here in this void of time and space."

Teana stared at her. "That doesn't make much sense."

"I know, but you have to try and understand, my sweet Merope," she sighed. "It's time I tell you something. Something I should have told you years ago."

"What?"

Her mother sighed. "I have been watching you for a long time since my departure. My suspicions have been confimed as of late. You, as of now, are the last carrier of Etherion."

Teana stepped back. "How do you know of this power?"

A bitter smile crossed her mother's complection. "Because Merope, I have Etherion in me as well. Even though I walk the land of Elysian, the power still resides in me, though it is dormant," she crossed her arms over her lap. "Your father did not know I had the dangerous magic in me until my final days. Even though your father was a cruel tyrant at times, I did love him very much. Though my life was in danger, I still loved him."

"How did you know I have this power?"

"I was suspicious of it when you were a child. No one else noticed, but I did. I looked for the signs in all my children. Maia didn't have it, nor did Electra, Taygete, Alcyone, Celaeno, or Sterope. Neither did Atlas, for that fact, but out of seven daughters, you inherited it."

Teana wrapped her arms around her shoulders. "But the magic is dangerous. My friend Tenionia even said so."

Her mother shook her head. "You are not dangerous, Merope. The magic may be dangerous, but that does not make you dangerous. Or even evil for that matter. I know my own daughter, and she is not evil."

Teana smiled. "Thank you."

The older woman nodded. "Now, it's time for you to return to the battle field," she held a finger to Teana's lips. "I know you don't think you're ready to embrace the power, but now isn't the time to be doubtful. Your friends need your help."

Teana frowned, placing a hand on her abdomen. "Will my son inherit the power?"

"That I do not know. There may be a chance that your sisters' children inherit it, but I am not sure. Perhaps, there is a chance."

She sighed, narrowing her eyes. "Alright," she began, taking a deep breath. "I'll fight for my friends, but I have no idea how to control or use my powers. Did you ever use yours?"

Her mother frowned. "I never used them much when I was alive" she noted the look on her daughter's face with consideration. "But I did know how to control it."

"How? How can you teach me how to control it with so little time?"

"By giving you my memories of the power. I give you my knowledge."

She took Teana by the arms, bringing her closer towards her. She placed her right hand on Teana's left shoulder, and her left hand on Teana's forhead. Teana closed her eyes, noticing the silver glow that shined faintly around them. They stood there for several minutes, and her mother's eyes had begun to glow silver.

"Merope, open your eyes."

And Teana opened her eyes.

"TEANA!"

Tenionia watched as the shadow magic surrounded Teana, and the only thing she could do was sink to her knees, her head in her hands. This was her fault. All her fault! She should have told Teana to stay put and now...now, her friend was most likely dead.

"Tenionia! Look!"

She looked up, hearing Mana call out to her. She looked up, her dark eyes widening at the scene. The shadow that had surrounded Teana was beginning to bubble, and its of it were beginning to disappear. The magic rippled one last time before a powerful blast of silver ripped it apart, dispelling the magic away. As the magic disappeared, she could see her friend standing in the center of it. Her eyes were not blue anymore, but a pure shade of silver.

"Teana?" she whispered, rising on shaky legs. "Are you?"

Teana turned to her. "Stay back, Tenionia."

Zireria growled. "So the Etherion user finally decides to use her magic," black magic began to form again. "Let's see what you've got, little girl."

She rushed forward, the magic gathering into a new shape. All Teana did was hold up her right palm, shooting out an invisible force that knocked Zireria off her feet. The dark haired woman growled. "Nice, but is that all you can do?"

Teana just stared passively at her. "You should have taken your sister's advice," she closed her eyes, giving a deep sigh. "You should have ran when you had the chance."

All Zireria did was stare at the girl with a mixture of emotions ranging from fear, confusion, and then pure rage. Teana left her hands at her sides, her palms upwards as she called out. "I ask for the assistance of Gaea! The mother of the titans and giants!"

The palace rumbled, causing everything to shake and tear apart. Everyone cried out as they lost their balance, clutching onto whoever, or whatever they could find to support them. The silver emanating off Teana's body seemed to be gathering behind her. The magic gathered to the form of a woman, or it appeared to be anyway. It towered over all of them by at least fifteen ft. and stared down at them with silver eyes.

"This is Gaea, one of the first archons," Teana said outloud. "I have channeled the Etherion inside me to open a doorway for Gaea to enter."

"That explains everything," Isis murmured. "It makes sense now."

Zireria growled, turning to Amon. "Attack! Now!"

"M'lady, I'm not sure that is so wise."

Zireria curled her upper lip. "Defying your queen's orders. Amon?" her voice had dropped dangerously low and she turned back to Teana. "If they won't take care of you, I will do it myself!"

She ran towards the archon, who stared down at the tiny queen dismissively. The archon stepped forward, waving her hand and knocking Zireria into the wall with a harsh crack. The Teornan guards just stared as their queen slumped to the ground. Amon was the only one who reacted; quickly rushing forward and gathering her in his arms. "Fall back!" he commanded. "Fall back!"

The soldiers ran out of the room as fast as they could, not even pausing to look back at the archon that had gathered. The silver aura from Teana vanished soon after that, along with the archon she had summoned. Abasi quickly caught her, pressing hand to her wrist. "She's alive," he said after a few minutes.

Teana opened her eyes shortly afterwards, blinking up at her friends wearily. "What happened?"

"You just summoned the archon Gaea," Mana answered back simply. "It was pretty cool."

"Indeed," Isis started. "How did you manage to do that? How could you control it?"

Teana stared at her hands. "My mother...she came to me and said that she had Etherion," she looked to Tenionia's shocked face. "It makes sense. The last user died a year ago, and my mother died a year ago."

The estranged princess frowned. "Yes, that is true, but," she trailed off. "Did you kill my sister?"

"I don't know. I didn't really think on killing her, but if I did, I am sorry, Tenionia."

Tenionia just shook her head. "That doesn't matter right now, what matters that is that you are alright and that your son is fine," she pressed a hand to her abdomen. "We need to get you to bed."

Teana nodded, a small smile forming on her face, but it quickly vanished. Her friends stared at her in confusion, wondering why it had vanished so quickly. She glanced down at her abdomen, seeing a puddle of water forming.

"Everyone," she started in a quiet voice. "My water just broke."

Review please! Song is the same as the last time! Longest chapter yet! Almost 3,000 words