Heh, this chapter was supposed to be up earlier this week but my precious computer decided to crash, taking everything, including my fanfics, with it. T_T Lucky thing I have a fairly decent memory and managed to rewrite this part relatively quickly. If I didn't know better, I'd swear there's some great conspiracy to keep me from writing this story!
Be aware that Felix's explanation is only my own personal guess. I'm sure it's not right, but I honestly don't care. I'd much rather wait and find out everything myself when the Lost Age comes out than go find a bunch of spoilers. Where's the fun in that? ^_^
*Unions*
It was impossible to tell how many Gryphons were in the flock as the three were surrounded in a whirlwind of green feathers. The monstrous bird-like creatures let out ear-piercing shrieks, making it next to impossible to concentrate on fighting the horde. Jenna, having lost her weapon in the battle against the giant Thunder Lizard, focused only on sending out searing balls of flame to keep the Gryphons at bay. Felix and Garet drew their swords and started cutting a swath through the creatures.
"Take this you feathered freaks!" Garet cried as he hacked off the wing in his face. The wing's owner shrieked and let loose a Twin Beaks attack. The razor-sharp projectiles nicked Garet's arms and his cheek, but that was hardly enough to slow him down. He quickly stabbed the beast, rendering it to ashes, and moved on to the next Gryphon.
Felix leaped high into the air, coming to land on the back of one of the bird creatures. He cut its throat and jumped to the back of the next one and repeated, nimbly using the backs of the Gryphons as stepping stones the whole way. After killing a sixth one, however, the rest of them got wise to his plan and converged around him as he made another flying leap. A fury of feather-shaped projectiles came at him full tilt. Felix quickly countered with Clay Spire, but the Venus Psynergy was nothing to the Gryphons. He couldn't dodge the onslaught in time and crashed to the ground, bleeding in several places. Jenna went to his side but he was already rising and casting Cure on his wounds.
"Are you all right?" she asked.
"Yes, but we've got trouble." More Gryphons were flying in from further above in a seemingly endless swarm. Garet backed away from the growing flock to join his two companions.
"For every one we destroy two more come out to fight!" he exclaimed.
"We must've stumbled into their nesting grounds," said Jenna fearfully. "We can't beat all of them by ourselves!"
"Then I suggest we retreat," Felix said.
"How are we supposed to do that, smart guy?" Garet inquired. "We're surrounded!"
The Gryphons charged in for their hapless prey with a loud cry. Jenna latched on to Garet and prepared for the expected nasty demise. But then the sky suddenly darkened and a flash bolt of electricity hit the swarm with deadly accuracy. The Gryphons howled loud enough to shake the heavens, and as they were forced to scatter, the heroes were allowed to see the source of the offensive blast.
"Ivan!" Garet cried in relief. "I never thought I'd be this glad to see you!"
"You can't stay out of trouble for a moment, can you?" Ivan questioned jokingly. He looked to where the Gryphons were regrouping. "Brace yourselves--here they come again." He lifted his staff and cast Shine Plasma, deep frying a pair of the unruly creatures. The rest circled in the sky and started dive-bombing back towards the four.
Jenna sent out another barrage of fireballs, burning one to a crisp. Felix and Garet jumped back into the fray with their swords, and as Garet sliced a Gryphon in half, he spotted the rest of the missing crew fighting the horde as well. Mia was blasting them with waves of jagged icicles while Sheba had moved over to Ivan and they both used their most powerful attacks together. The Gryphons dropped like flies against the electrifying might of Jupiter. And as Garet took another hit from a Twin Beaks attack, he immediately felt a familiar power heal him.
"Having fun yet?" Isaac asked.
"What took you so long?" Garet questioned back with a grin.
Isaac grinned in return. The Gaia Blade turned red as he charged it with Bane's power. He leaped and stabbed one of the birds and a few moments later it sputtered and dissolved to ashes, the poison having done its job. The sound of more lightening bolts followed by pained Gryphon shrieks echoed from behind and the battle abruptly ended. The remaining half-dozen creatures flew away, not wishing to end up like the rest of their flock.
"What a relief," Jenna sighed. "You guys have perfect timing."
"Naturally," Ivan said confidently.
"Are you two all right?" Mia asked. "We were really worried."
"It was mutual," Jenna replied. "We didn't think we'd ever see any of you again!"
Garet scowled. "Didn't you trust my tracking skills at all?"
"Garet, this is you we're talking about here," said Jenna with a wide smile. Everyone except Garet laughed.
"Where have you been this whole time?" he asked to change the subject.
"We were with Picard," Isaac answered, motioning to the Lemurian who had previously gone unnoticed by the Mars Adepts. "He rescued us from Karst and Agatio but apparently didn't notice you two since you were buried under the ruins. I see that neither of your hard heads were damaged too greatly from that."
"Hey!" Jenna and Garet exclaimed together indignantly.
"We struck out to find you this morning," said Sheba. "Since you hadn't come to us, we thought we'd come to you instead."
"And we were on our way to meet up with you before the Gryphons attacked," Jenna said. "Felix came along to guide us."
Felix didn't flinch at the hard looks being given to him by Picard, Garet, Isaac, Ivan and Sheba. He simply crossed his arms and stared right back at them emotionlessly. Mia partially hid herself behind Isaac so she wouldn't have to meet the gaze. Even though his eyes looked completely neutral, they left her very uneasy.
"They told you, didn't they Picard?" Felix questioned after a few silent minutes. "About everything I've done?"
"Yes," Picard replied. "You have quite a bit of explaining to do, my friend. Why would you want to light the Lighthouse flames? And what in Mercury's name possessed you to trade Lady Mia to the Fire Clan?"
"They had the Jupiter Star," said Felix plainly. "I could not allow those people to keep such an important object, and they wouldn't give it to me unless they got something of great value in return. I'm not proud of what I did, but sometimes sacrifices must be made to serve a greater good."
"And that rationale is supposed to make everything all right, huh?" Isaac inquired, approaching Felix. "You have a lot of nerve trying to talk your way out of something so criminal. You knew full well what those monsters would do to Mia and you went and gave her to them anyway." He tightened his fists and suddenly decked Felix right in the face, knocking him down. And much like Garet had earlier, he took his sword and stuck the tip of it right at Felix's throat.
"Isaac!" Jenna called. "Please don't!"
"Stay out of this, Jenna," said Isaac in an unusually harsh tone. It stunned the others into silence. He turned back to Felix, his blue eyes looking ready to exact revenge.
"Do you finally have the guts to do it?" Felix asked. "I distinctly remember you getting me into a similar position at the Jupiter Lighthouse and you couldn't do it then. Something tells me that hasn't changed."
"Is this some kind of game to you?" Isaac demanded angrily. "Do you enjoy hurting people or is that another thing you're 'not proud' of?"
Felix kept his face straight. "For what it's worth, Isaac, I truly am sorry for putting you and your friends through all of this. It was never my intention to hurt or involve any of you in this mess. Things just got out of control. And I am glad to see that you managed to rescue your friend from Agatio's people. Knowing you they got a taste of what they deserved."
Isaac pressed his blade a little further. "Everything in me is screaming to cut your throat. I hope you know that."
"I don't doubt it. And I can't say I don't deserve to be punished for some of the things I've done. But you have to believe me when I say that it was all to attain a much bigger goal. In all the years you've known me, have I ever lied about something important?"
"No, but I don't think you're the same Felix I remember from years ago."
"Perhaps I'm not. But then, I'm not the only one who's changed." He held Isaac's gaze. "If you're going to do it, just get it over with. Put an end to this insanity and go back home to Vale. Do it if it's what you truly want."
There was a brief silence as the two Venus Adepts stayed locked in their gaze. The point of the Gaia Blade trembled in hesitation but didn't move away from its target. And then a hand lit upon Isaac's left shoulder.
"Let him go, Isaac," Mia said softly. "This isn't right."
"You really believe that after what he did to you?" Isaac inquired, turning to her. "You really want him to go unpunished for that?"
Mia shook her head. "Not like this. This isn't your way, Isaac."
Isaac turned back to Felix, still unsure of what he wanted to do. He gripped his sword tighter and thrust it forward…into the ground. As mad as he was, killing Felix still wouldn't accomplish anything. Jenna would be without her only family and he'd have to live with the deed for the rest of his life. The past couldn't be changed anyway, so why did it matter? Mia was safe now. Slowly, he withdrew the Gaia Blade and slipped it into his scabbard, backing a few steps away. Mia hugged him as Felix rose and the others, particularly Jenna, sighed in relief.
"Thank you, Isaac," Jenna said.
"Only a truly gallant man can spare the life of his enemy," Picard agreed.
"There are still a lot of unanswered questions though," said Ivan. "Do you intend to continue keeping us in the dark about your plans, Felix, or will you finally reveal what all of this about?"
"Yeah, you're not off the hook yet," Garet added. "Either come clean now or we'll haul your butt to the nearest jailhouse and leave you there!"
Felix actually cracked a small smile. "I suppose I can live with that. Where would you like me to start?"
"Perhaps the Lighthouse business," Picard suggested. "Why is there a need to ignite the flames? That power was sealed away long ago for a reason. Unleashing Alchemy could destroy the world!"
"It is true that Alchemy is a dangerous force," Felix began. "But it's only dangerous if it's misused. Long ago that power flowed freely throughout the world, giving birth to the various races of Adepts."
"Because Psynergy is rooted in Alchemy," Sheba said.
"Right," Felix nodded. "Our ancestors were the guardians of that power and everything was peaceful among the races. It was only when one small tribe of greedy Mars Adepts tried to usurp Alchemy's power that everyone realized how dangerous it could be."
"That must've been Agatio's clan," said Ivan. "I can't imagine any other group wanting to do such a thing."
"It remains a great bitterness in the Fire Clan to this day," Felix said. "Saturos couldn't stop raving about it during the three years I was with him. Our ancestors sealed away Alchemy in order to prevent the Fire Clan from gaining the unlimited power they wanted. They hid the Elemental Stars in Sol Sanctum where no one would ever be able to find them--at least in theory. The Adept tribes were scattered across the world to guard the Lighthouses, Sol Sanctum, and the ancient secrets. But of course, a lot of things get lost with time no matter how hard one tries to remember."
Picard nodded in agreement. "Not even the oldest citizens of Lemuria were around in the days when Alchemy was free. That was a very long time ago. Some say it was the pinnacle of our civilization."
"It was," Felix continued. "Ever since Alchemy was sealed away, the Adept races have slowly been dying off. Without Alchemy, the very root of our talents, people like us will eventually cease to be born."
There was a long pause as everyone absorbed this. No more Adepts? What kind of place would the world be without Psynergy users? It seemed impossible to imagine.
"So you're trying to light the flames so our bloodlines won't die out, is that it?" Isaac asked.
"Yes," said Felix. "Alchemy is our life-blood. Without it, the clans of Venus, Mars, Mercury and Jupiter will all die out, never to return. We all know we're the only ones capable of maintaining order in this world. If we cease to exist, all of the knowledge about the Lighthouses and Psynergy will go with us. We can't let that happen! If ordinary people are left to guide Alchemy, what else can ensue but war, pestilence and an endless struggle for power? There must be knowledgeable Adepts around to guard that power and ensure that it isn't misused."
"But what about the Fire Clan?" Jenna asked. "It's obvious that they have no intention of protecting that power but only of using it for their own selfish ambitions."
"And the Wise One," Garet added. "If Alchemy is so darn important, why did it want us to stop you?"
"The Wise One is the appointed guardian of the Stars," Felix explained. "It exists only to make sure that the Lighthouses are never re-ignited. I have a feeling we may have to fight it if we wish to light the Mars Beacon." He bit his lower lip at the thought. "As for Agatio, we just have to make sure he and his people are out of the picture."
"Easier said than done," said Ivan.
"Why didn't you tell us this before?" Isaac asked. "Instead of slinking around and acting like you were in with Saturos and Menardi?"
"I wasn't sure you'd understand. I only stayed with them to watch out for Jenna and Kraden. My intention was to get rid of them before they had the chance to light the last beacon." He cracked another rare smile. "You did the hard part for me."
Isaac smiled very slightly. "You owe us then." He rifled through his pockets and pulled out the Mythril bag containing the Mars Star. "If I don't cooperate, you'll be meaning to take this from me, correct?"
"Nothing will stop me from saving our future," Felix replied. "Not even you, Isaac."
"Then that leaves me with only one choice," said Isaac. He put the Mars Star away again. "I will have to help you."
"Are you serious?" Garet demanded. "How do we know he's telling the truth? This could just be some crazy story he made up to get the Mars Star!"
Sheba's eyes glowed a moment. "No, Garet. He's telling the truth as he knows it. The Adepts will die out if the flames are not lit, and if we don't do it, Agatio certainly will. We cannot allow that power to fall into the Fire Clan's possession."
"Agreed," Ivan added. "Perhaps it would be wise to put our differences aside for the time being."
"Please, Garet?" Jenna questioned with pleading eyes. He sighed in resignation, realizing he was outnumbered. And he never could resist that particular look from Jenna.
"Then it's settled," said Picard. "Where do we go from here?"
"You have a ship, don't you?" Felix said. "I think I know the way to the Mars Lighthouse, but we must cross the sea."
"I thought you had one too?" Ivan questioned.
"It was destroyed during a storm a few weeks ago. I've been stranded alone here ever since until I met up with Picard. That's also how I got separated from Alex. I don't know what happened to him, but I'm sure he survived. He has many talents."
"Alex must've known of your plans, then," said Mia quietly. "Then he really did light the Mercury Beacon for his clan…" She suddenly felt a little guilty at how she'd thought of him since that day.
"Yes," Felix said. "Alex and I were plotting to turn against Saturos and Menardi when the time was right."
"Say Felix," Jenna began. "Whatever happened to Kraden?"
Felix blushed in embarrassment. "Well, he was with us for awhile, but we sort of lost track of him when the Fire Clan ambushed us and stole the Jupiter Star. The old man's probably wandering around Hesperia annoying random people with his questions."
Jenna, Garet and Isaac groaned in understanding, since their teacher had the habit of droning on endlessly when he got excited. "That's another errand we'll have to run, I suppose," said Isaac.
"Maybe it's for the best that he's not here," Garet said. "Kraden always did give me a headache."
"That's just because you never understood anything he said," Jenna retorted.
"I did too!" Garet scowled. "I'm not a complete moron!"
"Only a partial one," she said with a laugh. He grumbled audibly and she pecked him on the cheek. "Don't worry, Garet. I wouldn't want you any other way."
"Looks like those two did spend some quality time together," Mia whispered in Isaac's ear.
"Indeed." He looked at her thoughtfully. "Are you all right with this, Mia? Being around Felix isn't going to make you too uneasy, is it?"
She shook her head. "I'll be fine. I'm with you, Isaac. That's all I need."
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If you think this is the end you'll have a surprise coming your way! ^_^