I know some people speculate that Ivan and Sheba might be related (it certainly is possible given their mysterious pasts). Well, as of this writing, that's just a theory with no evidence to back it up. If we later on discover that the two of them actually are related, just remember that for the sake of this story, they are not, I repeat, absolutely NOT related in any way at all.
With that reminder clearly enforced, here's where things stand: this begins a few weeks after the end of "Embers." The whole crew (Isaac, Mia, Garet, Jenna, Ivan, Sheba, Felix and Picard) is trying to find the missing Kraden (maybe Alex too), as well as locate the Mars Lighthouse to light the final beacon. If anything else is unclear in this, chances are it's a reference to one of the other three parts in my "Romance Saga." All set then? Let's get this thing started!
Disclaimer: All hail the great and powerful Camelot, creator of Golden Sun, the most magnificent RPG ever made! Now can we get the Lost Age a little sooner please?
*Sparks*
"Garet, get back here!" Jenna shouted as she ran across the deck with a frying pan in hand.
"Not on your life!" came her target's reply.
"What are those two up to now?" Picard asked, watching the two Mars Adepts from where he stood on the bridge.
"Your guess is as good as mine," Isaac sighed. "For just one day, I'd like peace and quiet on this ship. Just one day."
"But where's the fun in that?" Picard chirped. "You don't give your fiery friends enough credit. They're all the entertainment one could ever need."
Felix came up the stairs to join them, looking rather put out. "What in the name of Venus does my sister see in that buffoon?" he muttered.
"Do you know what that's all about?" Isaac asked.
"Jenna was making lunch down in the galley and Garet thought it would go faster if they used Psynergy to cook it. But the idiot of course overdid it and set part of the ship as well as Jenna's hair on fire!"
"No wonder she's upset," Picard said. Isaac just groaned, knowing full well that was something that would happen to Garet.
"Lucky thing your girlfriend was nearby or else we'd all be in flames right now," Felix added. "As it is, Jenna lost about two inches of her hair, and she's mad as a hornet about it."
"And I suppose lunch is ruined as well?" said Picard.
"Not unless you like yours extra, extra crispy," Felix replied.
"That tears it then," the Lemurian said with a nod. "Garet's not allowed anywhere near the galley ever again. It's not bad enough he eats most of the food, but now he has to ruin it for the rest of us as well."
"I apologize," said Isaac wearily.
"Some things never change, do they?" Felix inquired. "If I had one coin for every time you've apologized for Garet, I would be a very, very wealthy guy."
"Jenna, Jenna I'm sorry!" Garet pleaded. "Don't hurt me!"
"You ruined my hair!" she accused, stepping on his back and brandishing the frying pan. "Do you even know how long it's going to take for me to fix the singed ends? For it to grow back?"
Garet gulped, trying to think of a way to get out of this precarious situation. "I'm sorry, Jenna! I'll never do it again, I swear!"
"You ruined my hair!"
"Oh, that could never happen," he said quickly. "Your hair's always perfect, singed at the ends or not!"
Jenna studied him a moment. "Are you pulling my leg?"
"No, not for a minute! Nothing could ever make you ugly, Jenna. You're the prettiest Mars Adept there is!"
She lowered the arm holding the frying pan and sighed, then chuckled. "I give up. You're so utterly pathetic that I can't stay mad at you for very long."
Garet wasn't sure whether or not that was a good thing. Still, he was relieved that she wasn't threatening him with the frying pan anymore. He rose and smiled sheepishly at her. "Am I off the hook then?"
Jenna smirked then drew him into a kiss. When they parted, she took the frying pan and smacked him in the shoulder with it. "Now you are," she said. And she walked back towards the galley.
Garet massaged his injured shoulder and walked towards the bridge. "That girl…why do I put up with her?"
"Because she has you wrapped around her little finger," Isaac said.
"Because if you break her heart I'll break your face!" Felix added, sounding all too serious.
"Right," said Garet, a tad of nervousness in his voice. He decided to change the subject. "How much longer till we make landfall again, Isaac?"
"Soon," he replied. "Very soon. We'll be back in Hesperia within two days."
"Do we really have to go find Kraden?" Garet asked.
"Yes!" Isaac said. "We can't leave him wandering around by himself. Who knows what kind of trouble he could get into?"
"That old man is a magnet for problems," Felix agreed. "He's worse than a little kid with the way he's always getting in people's faces and demanding information. I have to wonder how he's managed to live so long."
Isaac tried to suppress his laughter. It wasn't very nice to be talking about their teacher this way, but so much of it was true. "Then it's our job to protect him from himself," was all he said.
"Forget the fact that we'll have to deal with him in very close quarters," Garet muttered. "It sucks to be one of the good guys sometimes."
A figure moved across the main deck, whitish robes and long blue hair billowing in the sea breeze. It took all of a nanosecond for Isaac to slip away from the others and out onto the deck to join her.
"Back to the little woman again?" Garet teased. "You're such a sucker, Isaac."
"No more than you are," Isaac called back. Garet scowled at this, not wanting to admit to himself how true that comment was.
Picard smiled. "We should consider recruiting more female Adepts to assist us. Wouldn't you agree, Felix?"
Felix shrugged. "I have enough on my mind without having to concern myself with the opposite sex." He walked away towards the stern.
"Hard to believe he's Jenna's brother," Garet said. "He's so…so…"
"He's what we Lemurians usually refer to as a 'cold fish.'"
"Yeah, that's it!"
They looked back at Isaac and Mia, who were standing hand in hand at the bow talking. "Mia has Isaac," Picard began. "Jenna has you. I have to wonder if Sheba has anyone special in her life."
Garet thought a moment, considering this. "That's a good question. Sheba's always been a mystery to me. She doesn't seem to favor anyone in particular."
"Where is she anyway? I haven't seen either her or Ivan since this morning."
"I wouldn't worry. It's not like they can go very far."
Sheba was, in fact, sitting just above them on one of the higher decks of the ship. She stared out at the vast expanse of blue before them, letting the wind pull her blonde hairs in each and every direction. She seemed completely lost in thought.
Something is coming, she said to herself. I can feel it in the winds. Something is waiting for us when we reach land again.
Do you think it an ill omen? another voice said to her mind. She turned her head and looked upwards at the only one capable of invading her thoughts this way. Ivan sat down beside her. Using their Mind Read ability, the two of them could have long conversations without ever speaking a word. Only members of the Jupiter Clan could have such a unique bond.
Then you feel it too, don't you Ivan? she asked.
Yes. I can't tell if it's good or bad, though. I was wondering if you were having better luck.
No, unfortunately. If I were a little older and more experienced, perhaps then this wouldn't elude me.
Ivan nodded in agreement. The power to predict and sense the future grew stronger with time, but both of them were still too young to have fully developed this skill.
It always makes me uneasy when I can't tell for sure, Ivan confessed.
Me too. It's not Agatio and Karst--that much I'm sure of. I would recognize their power.
Then it's either a new friend…or foe.
Sheba diverted her attention to the main deck below, not wishing to fuss over something she couldn't control. Besides, she had complete faith in her abilities and those of the others. They'd come this far--it seemed nothing could stop them now. Not when there was such a good balance among them: brute strength, sharp minds, powerful offensive Psynergy, miraculous healing abilities, and strong leadership to guide them. The eight of them made for an excellent troupe of Adepts. Her eyes traveled towards the Venus and Mercury Adepts standing hand in hand at the bow. She smiled to herself.
"Look at those two," Ivan said aloud. "I swear--there's way too much of this lovey-dovey stuff going on around here these days. As if Isaac and Mia weren't bad enough, now Garet and Jenna are at it too!"
"I think it's rather cute," said Sheba. "Don't be such a stick in the mud. Just because you don't have a girlfriend doesn't mean you should ruin it for the others."
He shrugged. "It's not jealousy, just a matter of practicality. I mean, we're on a quest to save our kind from dying out. We can't get caught up in our love lives with something like that hanging over us constantly."
Sheba stared at him a moment. She'd never known Ivan to be that cynical. "Are you all right?"
"Fine. Why do you ask?"
"Nothing. Forget it." She resumed watching Isaac and Mia as they kissed. How wonderful it must be to fall so completely in love. Would she ever feel something like that?
"Lunch is ready!" Jenna called. "And you'll be pleased to know that Garet didn't help me with it this time!"
"Hey!" Garet exclaimed indignantly. "I was only trying to help!"
"His kind of help is a dangerous thing," Ivan said. Sheba giggled. "Hungry?"
"A little, yes," she replied. He helped her up and they headed to the galley together. But as Sheba walked, she couldn't help but feel that something really was different about Ivan.
He seems colder these days, she said to herself, being careful to shield her thoughts so he wouldn't accidentally hear them. I hope nothing's actually wrong with him. He's the only one I've ever met who's just like me. He's the only one who understands.
"Sheba?" Ivan questioned. "Is something wrong? You seem…distant all of a sudden."
"No, it's nothing," she said with a forced smile. "I just don't like knowing something's coming and not knowing precisely what."
He nodded in understanding. "Well, no use fretting about it. I'm sure the eight of us can handle whatever we come across."
"Last one down there has to do the dishes!" Garet declared as he shoved by the two Jupiter Adepts. Ivan took off after him.
"That's not fair, Garet!" he cried. "Get back here!"
Sheba smiled. Maybe I'm just overreacting. Everything will be fine as long as we're all together. I'm certain of that.
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Ah, it feels good to be back in my usual element. I was beginning to miss it! ^_^ I know this isn't much of a beginning, but it was a good way to get the ball rolling.
By the way, I should mention that the title of this story comes from the opening theme song to Slayers TRY. If you haven't heard Megumi Hayashibara sing, you're missing out on something amazing! (Note to self: stop listening to so much anime music! It's doing weird things to your brain, Midnight!)
All right, I'm done--you may review now!