Author's Note:

Ryu: *shaking head* Rio... what happened to the uncomplicated plot? You know the one where Saturos loves Jenna, Jenna loves Saturos, Saturos dies, Jenna becomes a Dark Mage to resurrect him, sappy love seen and everyone's happy?

Rio: Ummm... it died?

Ryu: Try again.

Rio: I forgot about it?

Ryu: No.

Rio: It grew up, got married, and had kids?

Ryu: 0.o Well at least that was original...

Rio: Yea... but on a sadder note I feel compelled to dedicate this to my Great Uncle who died last night of heart failure. I would ask all readers, no matter what their religion, to pray for the soul of my Great Uncle. It would mean a lot.

Ryu: Enjoy the chapter everyone!


Fantasies of the Open Mind

Chapter Twelve: The Ties of the Mercury Clan


Alex looked at Mia as if he couldn't see her. "It is common to use that spell in Prox, so that they can continue training without pain caused previously in training." His voice was low, as if the words did not want to come out but were being forced to.

Mia would have started at his tone, but by now she was used to this new Alex. She tried. At every lighthouse she had tried to reach the Alex that she had known. Now she knew it would be impossible.

He had hurt her, Alex could see it. The blue eyes, usually so full of light, were dulled and subdued. But he could no longer show compassion. Not now. Not after what he had done. So Alex left, footsteps echoing as the grew fainter.

Isaac, Garet, and Ivan were all looking worriedly at Mia.

"Are you all right?" Ivan finally asked.

"I'll be okay." Mia's voice shook but was otherwise calm.

Jenna, who was closest to the group looked at Isaac questioningly.

"She's been trying to get Alex to talk to her. Apparently they were very close." Isaac whispered, half forgetting that he was supposed to be opposing them. He seemed to remember and turned to Felix. "I'll take the Mars Star back now."

"You'll have to take that up with Karst." Felix murmured, getting to his feet and helping Picard stand.

"Karst?" Even Picard looked at Felix strangely.

"Yes. She stole it when we the lighthouse was lit." Felix murmured.

"She could see in that haze..." Picard said flatly. "Proxians never cease to amaze me."

Jenna heard an "That's the idea," coming from the amused Proxian ghost behind her. She would have laughed but she since no one else could see Saturos she did not respond.

"What are we going to do now?" Ivan asked Isaac, his features reminding Felix of Sheba when the girl asked him what they were going to do.

"We are going to talk." Isaac looked at Felix as if challenging him to deny it. "Since neither of us are in much of a position to stop Karst and Agatio right now anyway, you are going to explain what happened here and what exactly is going on."

Felix nodded, "We'll meet you in Contigo."

Isaac smiled and nodded, walking with Garet, Ivan, and Mia to the elevator that would take them down the Lighthouse.

"Shall we go then?" Picard asked.

"We have to get Kraden from the Ruins too." Sheba reminding as the three of them started walking back to the elevator.

Jenna frowned, walking in the opposite direction that the adepts had gone. She did not have to go far down the Lighthouse to find what she was looking for.

"Why did I have a feeling you would want to talk to me, Jenna?"

Jenna looked up into mischievous dark blue eyes and smiled ironically. "Maybe because I have been meaning to talk to you since you left that letter for me at the Inn."

Alex raised an eyebrow, blinking as Jenna slapped him. "And may I ask what that was for?"

"You knew didn't you! You knew all about how Saturos's soul would be trapped in the pendant and yet did you give me the slightest clue that it was so? No, you did not! You let me carry on thinking that he was dead!"

Alex raised an eyebrow. "He is dead Jenna."

"You know what I mean!"

He smiled. "Because I wanted you to figure it out yourself. If you were not a Dark Mage than nothing would have come of it, but since you are you were able to figure it out."

Jenna backed down. Alex did have a point, she realized. "Okay next thing. What did you do with Agatio and Karst?"

"Not much actually. I just revived them and let them go on their way to Prox."

"Why in the name of Hades did you do that?"

"Because if they can light the beacon then your quest is over. Wouldn't you like to just be able to observe the world, Jenna? Wouldn't Felix like to finally be free of this curse he bears, the responsibility he carries on he shoulders? You all can get a chance to relax on this journey instead of having to fight against time."

Jenna frowned, thinking. Then she smiled. "I hadn't thought of that Alex." Then she looked at Alex as if inspecting him. "So if our quest is... well over. Then isn't yours as well? Then you could make amends with Mia."

"I don't need you prying into my life, Jenna." The cocky Alex had given way to the reserved and guilty Alex again. "What I did is unacceptable among the Mercury Clan, something that can never be forgiven."

Jenna looked pointedly at Alex. "Alex, you yourself have already proven that what everyone thought was the limits in the Mercury Clan are inaccurate, to say the least. And I know for a fact that Mia would forgive you."

"Really?" sarcastic and cocky Alex was back in control.

"Yes really. Think about it. Why else would she make sure to try at every time she sees you to contact you, get through to you. Man, Alex if you can't see that she loves you then you must be going blind."

Alex's face clouded. That was the problem wasn't it? Suddenly he wished that Saturos hadn't died. The elder Proxian was the only one he had revealed his plans to (even then it was in the form of sketchy references, but Saturos would have understood it anyway). "Jenna, is Saturos with you now?" Jenna nodded. "May I speak with him?"

Jenna raised an eyebrow. "How would you expect to do that?"

"I heard it was an ability Dark Mages possessed." Alex stated as Nuitari explained to Jenna that Dark Mages were able to act as channels of communication between the ghosts and the living, and that it was a simple, painless, process.

Jenna nodded and felt a strange numbing sensation on her neck. Her eyes closed and when they opened again they were blood red, eyes that Alex would recognize anywhere.

"What is it you wanted to talk about Alex?" The mouth that moved was Jenna's but the voice that spoke was Saturos's.

"You haven't been listening to our conversation?" Alex was slightly amused. It was unlike Saturos to behave this way.

"You thought I wasn't?" Saturos's voice changed from sarcastic to serious, and Alex knew that if Saturos was in his own body he would have just sighed. "You know how I felt about that plan of yours Alex, so what do you want me to say? Forget your emotions in your power-hungry rage? Or give up your search for power and satisfy your heart?"

"I don't know." came Alex's reply.

"You can't have both, Alex. You knew that someday you would have to choose between Power and Love."

"But I already did! I thought I had chosen already. I chose when I betrayed my clan, Mia, everything I stood for."

"Then Mercury must not agree with your choice, Alex, if he is giving you another chance at choosing."

Alex looked up to see Jenna's eyes close and reopen as their normal color. Saturos's words had struck home though. Why else would he have been given the chance to change his path, if he was really destined to follow power? Mercury, I hope I'm doing what you want, Alex thought.

"All right Jenna. Lead the way."

Jenna smiled and the two walked off towards the elevator and Contigo.


Isaac, Garet, Mia, and Ivan had all listened carefully as Picard, now fully recovered from the mental and physical shock earlier, related all the Lemurians thought about the world and the Lighthouses and such. Picard, Felix, Ivan, Isaac, Garet, Sheba, and Mia, had all listened as Kraden described the Ruins which were west of Contigo and agreed that there was no real reason that he could not stay in Contigo and continue his research. They had all wished him well and assured him that they were not upset that he would be leaving them.

But the one thing that no one really understood was... where was Jenna? But there question was answered as the Dark Mage opened the door to the house they were staying in. "You might have met in a easier spot to find," she grumbled, standing in the doorway, one arm seemed to be holding on to something outside.

"Where were you?" Felix's looked at Jenna with the suspicious look that only a older sibling could put to full use.

"Don't worry I was perfectly safe." Jenna avoided the question entirely as only little siblings could.

Felix snorted, not believing her. Seen only by Jenna the ghosts glared at Felix who dared to suggest that their guarded would not be safe in their presence.

"Yes, I was very well guarded." Jenna grinned and Felix began to feel that something was going on.

"There's something you're not telling us, isn't there?" Felix's eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Yup." Jenna walked a bit into the room and everyone saw that someone else was behind her.

"With all due respect Jenna... have you lost your mind?" was the first thing out of anyone's mouth, but more specifically Garet's mouth.

"Water beats fire any day. "Alex smirked at Garet who was still recovering from shock.

"I think there's something we're missing." Isaac stated smartly. Grinning Jenna revealed what Alex had said about the quest. Mainly, that it was over.




"MY SHIP! WHAT HAVE YOU HEATHENS DONE TO MY SHIP?"

Everyone, that is Felix, Isaac, Ivan, Sheba, Mia, Alex, Garet, Jenna, Lunitari, Solinari, Nuitari, and Saturos, were looking at the Lemurian with various degrees of shock, amazement, amusement, and fear. Be specific? Ivan, Garet, and Lunitari were starting to feel a bit afraid of the sailor. Mia, Sheba, and Saturos were shocked. Felix, Isaac, and Solinari were amazed. And Alex, Jenna, and Nuitari were amused. Many of them had taken to looking between the the sailor and his ship... a ship that now looked a bit different than when they had left.

Large wings had been added to the ship, contraptions of wood with dragon hide stretched over the frame. Hey, at least the hide was died blue.

Picard stalked through the groups of people, heading for his room on board the ship. Everyone made way for the angry Lemurian, who did not stop walking until he had boarded the ship and disappeared out of sight.

Felix watched him go with different emotions passing through him. Finally he shrugged and walked up to the nearest villager. "Mind explaining the... things attached to the ship?"

He was deferred to one of the elders who stood a bit shaken after the Lemurian's outburst.

"It is a legend you see. We didn't want to cause any troubles kind sirs, we just were following what we were told to do."

"Which was?" Isaac prompted, joining Felix next to the elder.

"We were to attach wings to the ship of those who lit the Jupiter Lighthouse. We were not going to but then a Jupiter Adept that we knew came and said that we must do as told. She just left."

Isaac and Garet exchanged looks.

"Master Hama?"

"That's what I was thinking."

"We are very sorry if we have offended sirs-"

"Hey Felix!" Felix turned to look at Jenna who was inspecting the wings. "These are really cool! I bet we could use these to make the ship fly!"

The elder turned to Felix. "That is what they are for sirs. That is why we are here sirs, we wanted to see the ship fly with the legendary wings."

Jenna, meanwhile had moved to the front of the ship. Conversing with her familiars she now shrugged and called on the powers of the Hover Jade.

Villagers stood in awe as the ship rose, wings unfurling. Jenna looked around, satisfied and waved at Felix from the ship. Her brother sighed and lead the way to the ship.

"Isaac! Are one of you Isaac?" Heads turned to see a villager running up to them.

"What did you do this time?" Ivan wanted to know but just received a look from the stoic adept.

"I bring a message from Master Hemmet, sir."

"Hemmet?" Ivan looked at the messenger in surprise.

"Yes. He expressed his dismay that you did not stop in Kalay so he could thank you, so he sent this gift in thanks."

Isaac found himself presented with a tiny chest which was sealed shut. "Please tell Master Hemmet thank you from all of us."

The messenger nodded, bowed, and moved back into the crowd.

Turning back to Felix, Isaac rejoined the others on the ship, which was still floating.




Author's Note:

Rio: *runs and hides behind Ryu*

Ryu: What are you doing?

Rio: *whispering* Shush! Don't let her hear you! She'll kill me!

Ryu: *catches on to what Rio is blabbering about* Ohhh. Rio... you are one dead author! UmbrielBluethorn is going to kill you.

Rio: *nodnod*

Ryu: Yup, you had better make piece with yourself because you'll be going to the pearly gates soon...

Rio: No! I'm to young to die!

Ryu: You should have thought of that when you didn't get to Aqua Rock.

Rio: Hey, I thought you supported me!

Ryu: It's something called "self- preservation".

Rio: *sees UmbrielBluethorn approaching with a sharp and pointy object* No! Let me explain! You see, if I did get to Aqua Rock it would have to be some short blob type thing! I need more time to think about it, and, and, this way you get a whole chapter of Alex/Mia instead of some little thing at the end of this chapter. And I did start the Alex/Mia, I did! *points to chapter* See? Please don't kill me! *goes back to hiding*

Ryu: ^.^ Well, while Rio begs for her life... Thank you to all Reviewers. As said before: you all make the world go 'round!