A/N: Thank you so much for your support, Palin1. You help inspire me to write and work hard at my writing. Well, I don't have much more to say, so on with the story!

Disclaimer: I do not own anyone in this story but Sarah. Sorry Jonny, next time. 

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Chapter 7: Finding the Power Within

By: Ks-Starshne

Sarah watched over her left shoulder as the Quests and Bannons had their hands tied behind their backs, surrounded by men holding guns at them. Across their faces she observed an array of emotion: fear, anger, worry, determination, opposition, encouragement. Watching as their emotions flickered back and forth, she forced herself to look back into the face of their common foe.

"Let them go," she said calmly. "I'm the one who has what you want. I'll tell you everything I know."

"Oh, but I don't believe you," Surd replied. "Once you have told me all I want to know, maybe then we can discuss their release, but for now they make for a rather nice. . . persuasion, don't you think?"

"You sicken me," Sarah spat at him.

"Just tell me what I want to know!" he barked.

"Don't yell at her, you slime!" Jonny called out

"Silence you brat! This doesn't concern you." Surd turned back to Sarah. "Tell me!"

"Sarah can't tell you what she doesn't know!" Jonny tried to explain.

He didn't know what had happened in his absence. He didn't realize how wrong he was. Surd knew, though. He could see the change in her eyes. They no longer held the blind fear of confusion they had held when she first arrived. They were now masked. She was hiding something. Surd knew it, and he was going to find out what it was.

"Julia!" beckoned Surd. "Bring the brat boy over here. I think the girl needs incentive."

Julia roughly pulled Jonny away from the rest of the group amid their threats and pleas to stop. Cocking her gun, she placed it at Jonny's temple. "Feel like talking now?" she growled.

Sarah's eyes darted from Jonny to the gun to Surd. Her hands once more resting on her necklace, Sarah gathered her strength. "I came for the simple reason that I wished I could."

"Not good enough girl," hissed Surd.

"Wait!" Sarah cried out, afraid he might order something rash. "Let me explain." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, clearing her thoughts and centering her resolve. She could feel her strength gathering near her heart, just below the surface of her skin where her necklace lay. "The woman who gave me this necklace told me that because it was my hearts strongest desire to find adventure, the necklace granted my wish."

"So all the power is in the necklace, is it? If that is all you have to do, I don't even have to bother traveling dimensions, . . . yet, that is. I can easily wish for my old healthy body again! Bring it over here!" Surd ordered.

"Sarah, don't! You can't let him have all that power!" Jonny yelled.

With barely a glance at her friends being held hostage, Sarah ripped the jewelry from around her neck and walked forward to place it in Surds hand. As the necklace left her touch, she seemed to feel a lurch in her chest. It didn't feel right.

'I had no choice,' she thought to herself as a tear traced her cheek. She looked at Jonny with watery eyes, "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"I've got it!" Surd cried. "Now to see if it really works."

"You said you'd let them go if I told you!" Sarah said.

"Not just yet," Surd remarked. "How do I know you told the truth? First for a little test." Looking at the necklace, Surd called out, "I wish I were once again young, healthy, and free from this paralyzed body!"

Silence dominated the room as all eyes turned to Surd. Everyone waited to see what would happen. When nothing happened, they watched to see how he planned to retaliate for her obvious lie.

"It didn't work!" he screamed. "You lied!"

Sara glared at him. "I never lie. I told you it worked for me because the wish was my heartfelt desire. My heart never wished for you to regain your past form and the magic of the necklace could care less what your cold heart wants."

Rage burned in Surds eyes. "Kill them!" he cried out. "Kill them all!"

"I don't think so!" Race stated. While everyone had been watching the scene between Sarah and Surd at the center of the room, Race had apparently been unobserved as he worked at the ropes that bound him. Using his own methods, Hadji had done the same. Together they had freed Jessie and Dr. Quest. Now the group ran full force at Surd and Julia, knowing they had to get to Jonny and Sarah before it was too late.

The room was suddenly a mass of confusion. Surds men fought Jonny's group who in turn fought back. Race had reached Jonny before Julia had time to use her gun. Quickly knocking the gun out of her hands, he knocked her unconscious with one punch. Race untied Jonny and ran to help Sarah only to come to a sudden halt as his eyes grew wide with shock. Soon most everyone had stopped their fighting to turn in her direction and see what was going on. Nobody knew what was happening, not even Sarah.

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Sarah was filled with fear as she heard Surd order all of them to be killed. Fear was quickly replaced by anger, though. She realized that even if she didn't get out alive, her work wasn't done. She had to teach Surd a lesson. Nobody messes with Sarah Wilkins' friends.

She didn't know what was happening when it started. A glow began to form near her heart, where the necklace would have rested had she still been wearing it. The glow was, in fact, the same she saw when the necklace granted her wishes before. This time, however, the glow was ten times as bright and held a palpable power within it. Sarah now understood why it was so important that the wishes were her hearts desire. It was because while the necklace opened her eyes to it, it was always her heart that was capable of fulfilling her wishes. Sarah closed her eyes and let herself believe that this time she could do it, she could make her own wish come true. She believed in herself. She had found her faith.