Whee, now we get to do the hard chapter. _ This is the one I'm getting writer's block on, because I don't know exactly what's going to happen in it. Gotta kinda bridge the two main parts of the story...

I'm thinking this won't get too long... just a few more chapters. Though that could change. And yes, I'm now Jupiter Sprite. There were two Jupiter Girls on ff.net, and I prefer this to "Jupiter Girl1".

Hey Ivan? Where are you? Get over here and do the disclaimer! *long silence* Come ON! ::sighs and snaps fingers::

Ivan: ::appearing in a puff of smoke with a bump:: Ow! ::pouts:: She doesn't own Golden Sun - why do the authors always make US say these things, they're perfectly capable of doing it themselves!

::smiling sweetly:: We always hurt the ones we love, Ivan. You can go back to Sheba now.

Ivan: YOU'VE BEEN SPYING ON ME AGAIN!!!

Heheheheh... ^^;

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Pain bombarded all parts of Sheba's body as the cave walls rained down on her. A blow to the head nearly knocked her senseless...

Red light flashed before her eyes as searing fire was spewed in all directions...

She watched in horror as his eyes widened... He moaned softly as he staggered, then fell...

She ran her fingers through his hair...

His breathing was painfully shallow...

Sunlight... she opened her eyes slowly and saw the dusty wooden ceiling of her room at the inn. Where...?

Then she remembered last night. Groaning, she pulled herself to a sitting position, trying to ignore the way her head was throbbing painfully. She gingerly lowered herself to the floor and stood, wavering slightly before she recovered her balance.

Something caught her attention. Straining her ears, she heard voices from downstairs.

"Garet, don't eat everything! Some of this is for Sheba, you know!" The Jupiter Adept in question smiled faintly as she registered the familiar sound of Jenna's scolding. There was a muffled reply from Garet, most likely obstructed by the food in his mouth.

More voices drifted up to her. "We're going to make you pay for more if you eat her share!" Sheba recognized Ivan's teasing voice. Isaac interjected something, to which Garet mumbled another reply. Isaac chuckled, and Ivan gave a moan of exasperation.

Sheba's eyes widened. Something about that last sound sent chills down her spine. Images flashed before her eyes as they were pulled from her dreams. She shivered, although it was quite warm in her room. When would this stop?

Shaking her head, she began to head downstairs, toward the voices. She had never had premonitions before - what proof was there that she was now? They were just dreams...

Sheba reached the main room of the inn and really smiled at what she saw. Garet was sitting at a table piled with empty dishes, looking up at Jenna with pleading eyes, whining. Isaac and Picard looked on in amusement while Felix and Mia sat at a different table, deep in their own conversation and completely ignoring the whole thing.

"But Jenna, I'm hungry! Just a little more..." Garet had on the most innocent face he was capable of, but it didn't sway Jenna.

"No, Garet," she told him firmly. Despite her hard tone, there was an amused light in her eyes. "That food," she said, motioning to Ivan, who guarded a full breakfast plate, "is Sheba's. We are not getting any more for you - you've had more than enough." She turned to where Sheba stood, unnoticed. "There you are! You'd better salvage your food."

"Eat it fast," Ivan advised cheerfully, handing her the plate. Sheba obliged. She was starving.

Garet sighed. "All right, I give up." Jenna whacked him playfully over the head. "Ow! What was that for?"

"For fun," Jenna replied with a laugh. Another pointless argument ensued.

Ivan stood beside Sheba as she finished the food on her plate. "Are you feeling all right? You look kind of..." He paused, searching for words. "worn out."

She smiled half-heartedly as she stacked her empty dish on top of the rest. "I'm all right... I've just been having weird dreams, that's all."

"The same one as before?"

Sheba's face took on a look of concentration. "I'm not sure... but... I'll be fine. You don't have to worry about me."

At that moment, a familiar face popped around the doorframe. "Ah! Felix! You and your friends must listen to this!" The scholar continued to chatter excitedly as he hurried across the room to where the group was gathered. Garet gave a rather obvious groan and dropped his head to the table. Isaac stepped on his foot.

"Uh, actually, Kraden..." Felix trailed. The others could practically hear the gears turning in his head. "I mean, we'd love to hear about it, but the healer wanted us to meet somebody this morning. We were just about to leave." There was an awkward silence for a moment before the whole group started talking at once.

"Oh, yeah, I almost forgot about that..."

"We'd better get going..."

"Sorry, Kraden. Another time..."

"We'll see you later!"

There was temporary chaos in the room as the Adepts hurried to clear the table and escape the inn; then, not actually knowing where they were going, stood around awkwardly waiting for Felix.

"I am sure there will be time another day," Picard offered consolingly as he followed the others out the door. Kraden, however, had found another victim. Sheba had to stop herself from laughing as she watched the scholar animatedly relating something to the innkeeper, who was nodding and trying to look interested.

"Good thinking, Felix," Mia said breathlessly once they were far enough away from the inn. "I thought we were doomed for a moment there."

"Actually," he replied, "that wasn't a lie. We're supposed to meet up with that man from yesterday - I just hadn't planned to leave quite yet."

Isaac frowned slightly. "What are we needed for this time?"

Felix shrugged. "I don't know - probably something about that monster. Isn't that always where our missions seem to lead?"

"Too true, Felix," Sheba answered. "So where are we headed? The sanctum?"

Felix didn't have to respond, because a voice was already calling to them from the sanctum doors. They hurried forward as the healer led them inside.

Once indoors, they found Felix's words to be true - the same man was sitting on a bench, waiting for them. Introductions were made - the man's name was Kobii, and he had been working on the rebuilding of Vale when he was attacked.

Felix frowned as he listened to the man's story. "So... you found the monster in a cave? I don't remember any caves in that area..."

Kobii nodded. "Many new surprises have been uncovered since the rising of the Golden Sun. Some speculate that Mount Aleph's collapse created access to many unexplored places in Vale."

"How did you find the cave?" Mia questioned.

"My friend and I were just walking to our work site as usual when I spotted an opening I hadn't seen before. We decided to see what it was - I guess we hoped to find some treasure or something, I don't know." He shrugged. "Instead, we found a monster."

"What did it look like?" Ivan asked.

"Well, I didn't get much time to look at it - and even if I had, it was too dark most of the time to tell. I reckon it must have been dark-colored, because all I could see were two big, red, flaming eyes."

Something in Sheba's memory stirred...

"The room lit up for a minute as it attacked, but it fired the beam almost immediately. I suppose you'll be wanting to know what the attack looked like... truth is, I can't recall much. It seemed bright and blinding at the time, but it was all dark colors. It surrounded me completely... that's the last thing I remember. My buddy said it faded and I stood there a moment before I fell. Then the room went dark again - he didn't see any more of the beast than I did."

Garet sighed. "I suppose we're being asked to get rid of this monster."

Kobii frowned. "Not necessarily... it would be a huge risk to your safety, so Vale can't ask it of you. But seeing as how we know this thing's awake and dangerous, construction can't really continue..."

The group exchanged weary glances. This didn't sound like too much fun...

"Just thought my information might be of some use..." Kobii inclined his head slightly and stood. "I'd best be going."

"The same goes for us," Felix said as the group rose, "especially if we're going to do something about this..."

The Adepts filed out the door, each thinking their own thoughts about the ordeal that had been presented to them. None of them were pleasant.

"All right... when are we going to find this thing?" Jenna asked grimly once they were back at the inn.

"Well... it doesn't sound like too much of an immediate threat," Isaac mused. "I think we can all get a good night's sleep and stock up on supplies before we do this thing."

Mia stood. "All right - I'm going to head out to the shops and stock up on some things - we don't know what we're up against yet, so we'd better be safe."

"It might be best if all of us check our supplies to be sure we're not missing anything vital," Picard suggested as Mia began to leave. "I know for a fact I'm running low on water of life..."

The preparations continued throughout the afternoon. When everyone was satisfied they would have all they needed, the Adepts rested, regaining their energy, then migrated to Felix's room to discuss battle strategy. This wasn't very successful, since none of them knew for sure what they would be combatting. In the end, they decided to head to bed early and wished each other good night.

Sheba did not sleep well. Over and over she watched the darkness hit. Over and over she watched him fall.

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Hum... I think I'm done with this chappy. I'd better go to bed.

Unfortunately for all you wonderful readers, I am finishing this in Maine, with (insert dramatic music here) no internet connection! The horror! So, even though this was done on the 23rd, I couldn't post till now. I'm sorry, I'm sorry! You know I'm a slow updater. ^_^;

Please review! I hope that wasn't too short a chapter...