Navigation 7: Lost

            Darkness was everywhere as the four travelers entered the ruins. An evil presence was eminent, and lurking. Holding out her hand, Celes used a light spell to help everyone safely walk around.

            "Let's go deeper into the ruins, past where Dr. Leon was," Sara replied.

            After minutes of crawling through the dark corridors, they found the catacombs. However, what they found was a horrid sight. There were skeletons everywhere near some strange altar. And in the far corner of the damp, dark room was a similar object to what Sara had seen earlier. It looked like it had some ancient written language on it. All of a sudden, Sara's pendant began to glow, pulsating with the strange object. She remembered Jana's words to not go near something like it. But whatever it was made out of responded to her pendant. Perhaps it could be a clue to her past! Quickly, Sara ran towards it.

            "What a strange language. Perhaps I can understand it a little…"she said.

            "Sara, be careful," Leo said. "This place reeks of evil."

            With small hands, Sara gently touched the object. No sooner had she placed her fingers on the runic inscription, it emanated a green glow that spread around her form.

            "CONFIRMATION…COMPLETE…TELEPORTATION IN 3…2…"

            "Wha?" Sara backed away, eyes widening.

            "1…" A bright flash of light filled the room. Sara's scream could be heard as her small form faded right in front of her friends' eyes. When the light itself faded, she was gone.

            "S…Sara!" Celes cried.

            "Where'd she go?" Chris asked.

            "Sara!" Leo called.

            "She's definitely gone! I don't feel her aura anywhere!" Celes cried.

            "We have to tell the King and Queen immediately! Perhaps mother may know the source since it seems like it is heraldry," Chris replied.

            "Or ask Jana or Mr. Claude…they may know," Leo chimed in on the conversation.

~*~*~

            Birds were singing while a warm, gentle breeze blew. There was a smell of recently bloomed flowers. Sara lay on the soft green grass. This was not the Shingo Forest! Or Expel for that matter! However, where ever she was, felt vaguely familiar.

            Pushing her body upwards, Sara moved into a sitting position. Her eyes looked around at the beautiful forest surrounding her. The sky was so blue! That feeling crept into her heart again. Sara finally came to the conclusion: she had been there before!

            "Momma took me here a few times…because we had both loved the forest. This…this is the Outer Walls of Paradise," she said to herself. "Mother…" As hard as Sara tried, she could not remember what her mother looked like. When Sara stood up, her slightly pointed ears twitched, sensing another. "Who's there?"

            The figure came out from the trees. She had red hair, done in an extremely long braid. Her ears were also distinctively pointed. She looked at Sara for what it seemed like forever.

            "Are you…Rena Lanford?" the woman asked.

            "No. Where am I?" Sara asked.

            "The Outer Walls of Paradise on planet New Nede. It was Lady Rena's favorite place to be when she came here with her family…" the woman replied. "Who are you? And why are you here?"

            "My name is Sara. I'm from Arlia village on planet Expel. And I have no idea why I am here. I was at the Mountain Palace ruins a few minutes ago," she replied.

            "Expel? That's impossible! We haven't had visitors for ages from Expel!" the woman exclaimed.

            "I didn't mean to visit…but…I."

            "And you ending up here says a lot. Please come with me to Central City to talk with the mayor," the woman said.

            "Oh…ok…will he help me get home?" Sara asked.

            "Perhaps…by the way, my name is Kano," the woman replied, leading her back to town.

~*~*~

            "So, Gabriel has been foolishly captured by those mortals. No matter…eh?" the man was interrupted.

            "My lord, that strong force you felt earlier! It's on this planet now!" one of the servants cried.

            "Is that so…" was the dark reply. "Where?" He then waved his hand over a crystal-like ball. "Central City…hmm…yes…now what is this force I sense?"

            Deep blue eyes widened in fear; Rena's blue eyes. She had felt it as well when the strong one appeared on New Nede.

            "A mere girl?! And she is half-Nedian and half-Earth human. What a chore!" his laugh echoed.

            "Sara…my Sara…" Rena softly replied. "How?"

~*~*~*

            "And you say that you do not know how you got here?" Mayor Narl, now quite the aged man, asked.

            "Not at all, sir. But I seem to sense a familiar bond to this place," Sara replied politely, sitting down on the chair offered.

            "Well, my child, you are most definitely half-Nedian," he paused, noting her striking resemblance to a now legendary heroine. His nearly blind eyes widened in disbelief. "It can't be!"

            "What?" Sara asked.

            "Mayor Narl, you are pale! Please sit down," Kano replied, rushing to his aid.

            "Sara, do you remember anything about your parents?" he asked.

            "Not really. I have this pendant, and when I arrived here, I remembered my mother taking me to the forest as a child."

            "Might I see your pendant?" Narl asked. Sara nodded, taking it out. After examining it, Narl's eyes widened. "How strange."

            "What is strange, old man?" a vile looking, winged man approached.

            "Leave this place, Diablo," Narl commanded.

            "Not without that girl," he said, pointing to Sara.

            As a proud member of the Nedian race, Mayor Narl knew that he could not let Voltren, the leader of some strange movement to resurrect the Ten Wise Men, and his minions get their hands on the mysterious girl, Sara, or her pendant. "Kano, take Sara to see you know who!"

            Nodding her head reluctantly, Kano grabbed Sara's hand and ran towards the teleportation device and flipped a switch to change destinations. Mayor Narl attempted to hold off Diablo. Within moments, the two women disappeared.

            "Whatever your lord is plotting, he will be stopped!" Narl cried as he battled the winged man.

            "It is too late for you, old man! New Nede will become like its original planet was, unstoppable. And no one can do a thing to stop Lord Voltren!" Diablo swung a hard blow, knocking the old man down.

            "Let him know, that heroes have already stepped forward and his days are numbered…." Narl retorted before a loud crashing noise could be heard.

            Within seconds of that loud crash heard throughout New Nede, Sara and Kano appeared inside what looked like a cozy, warm hut. It was Noel Chandler's house.

            "Master Noel?" Kano called.

            "What is it, Kano? Oh! A visitor!" Noel appeared, somewhat aged, but nevertheless as positive as ever. He smiled warmly.

            "Diablo attacked Central City looking for this girl," Kano said.

            "My name is…"

            "Sara…" Noel replied, coming closer to them. He instantly could feel her familiar aura.

            "How do you…know my name?" she asked.

            "You visited very often when you were little, Sara, with your parents," Noel replied. "Do you remember them?"

            "Not much. My memory is quite blank before Aunt Westa found me in the Shingo Forest on planet Expel," she replied. "But please tell me, Mr. Noel, about my parents."

A/N: Sorry, again for the delay. School keeps me busy, but trust me, there are a few chapters still to come!