Disclaimer: I own nothing.

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Chapter Nine (Sheba Speaks):

They dodged the busy streets, careful not to get lost.  The glimpses of Anemos they saw were incredible.  This was possible the biggest city they had ever seen.  It was easily half of Angara! They came upon an inn that had the unfamiliar design of an architect.  They walked in.  Apparently the town had seen better days, for everything seemed grand at first glance, but a look closer and you would wince in disgust.  The innkeeper almost had a heart attack when he looked up.  Anemos had never had more than five travelers, and that was over a thousand years ago.  But lo and behold! Here were ten people walking in.  He was about to speak up when the fabled man at the front spoke up.

"It's okay," Sir Arthur smiled knowingly, "They're with me." The innkeeper nodded and pretended to go back to his business.  What else could you say to one of King Arthur's reputation? He watched them at the corner of his eye with renewed interest.  If King Arthur was with them, they sure as hell weren't ordinary travelers.  Maybe they were merchants from China.  No, that couldn't be right.  The Chinese have never visited Anemos before.  He had no idea what they looked like.  All they knew was that the Chinese were getting to be quite advanced, despite everyone else failing.  Maybe the Chinese had blue hair and stern yellow eyes like that boy over there.  Or perhaps they had flaming red hair raised into spikes with huge giants for bodies.  Either way, he tilted his head a little, trying to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"So…" Sheba started, looking at everyone in turn for a moment.  Her gaze lingered on Felix, but then it continued to circulate.  "What are you doing here?"

"What are we doing here?" Felix said incredulously, meeting Sheba's curious gaze with his own outraged one.  "We're here to save the world!"

"Again?" Sheba sighed.  This really was getting old.  Save the world from total annihalation.  Make the decision that might cause the destruction of mankind or the last chance for life.  Yep, she heard this before once she had fell off Venus Lighthouse.  "You've already saved the world.  You lit the lighthouses and stopped Gaia Falls from eroding Weyard.  You did your job, finished what you came to do." She said grumpily, "Now go home."

Felix was dumbfounded.  Sheba and he were finally reunited and all Sheba could say was that she wanted them packing? "What… what…" He stuttered, hatred beyond words.

"I believe," Kraden stepped in, while Jenna pulled her brother back.  "That Felix and I have not had our say." Sheba responded by not answering.  That meant that she wanted Kraden to go on.  "It is true we saved Weyard from destruction by Gaia Falls, but we have not saved Weyard completely."

"If you're talking about the bandits…" Sheba interrupted the old man.  "Going to Anemos won't solve that. Go back to Weyard and take care of it.  Being here won't solve anything."

"I beg to differ, Sheba," Piers argued.  "I believe that we being in Anemos is a vital part of saving Weyard once more."

Sir Arthur, who had remained silent until now was quite interested in the exchange.  "Am I correct in assuming that these people come from where you originated, Sheba?"

"No." Sheba said fiercely, "Yes." She couldn't make her mind, "In a sense.  I grew up in Weyard, the entire world below Anemos, but I'm positive I was born here."

"Yes." Arthur agreed, "The resemblance with you and the other citizens is remarkable.  I agree with you."

"Anyway." Sheba continued.  "About four years ago, Felix was taken hostage by Proxians along with his parents and Isaac's father" She pointed Isaac and Felix out.  "Saturos and Menardi were their names.  They sought to gather the elemental stars, but failed, because one of their men triggered a trap, which sent a boulder crashing to Vale.  It was thought that the boulder killed Felix's parents and Isaac's father, but it was actually Saturos and Menardi who took them."

"And?" Sir Arthur was confused.  "What does that have to do with saving the world?"

"Well," Sheba clarified, "a year ago, Isaac, Jenna, Garet, and Kraden discovered the elemental stars using the information they pieced together from a conversation with Saturos and Menardi." She pointed out the four.  "Saturos, Menardi, and Felix waited for them and took the stars along with their friend Alex.  However, it started a reaction with Mount Aleph.  The volcano was going to erupt, and Isaac and Garet couldn't escape in time."

"What about Kraden and Jenna?" Sir Arthur asked.

"They were taken hostage by Saturos and Menardi as well." Sheba said sadly.

"Those two sound like cowards!" Sir Arthur growled.  "Just wait until they come to Anemos, I will turn them inside out!"

"That's not possible," Isaac sighed guiltily.  "We killed them atop Venus Lighthouse." Sir Arthur was wide eyed.  Did he just say Venus Lighthouse? He decided, siding with his better judgment, to let Sheba continue.

"It was at that very cave that the Wise One gave them the mission to retrieve the Elemental Stars and take the Mars Star they had.  This was because lighting the lighthouses could cause the destruction of Weyard!"

"But you said you lit them!" Sir Arthur reasoned.  "You caused the destruction of your own world?"

"No." Isaac denied, "The alternative is worse.  By lighting the lighthouses, we stopped Gaia Falls from eating away Weyard, thus saving it in the process.  The Wise One was afraid that once Alchemy was unleashed, mankind would destroy itself."

"Ah," Sir Arthur said, "I see.  I would've done the same, but boy what a choice.  Save the world and let mankind destroy itself, or let Gaia Falls destroy mankind."

"Precisely," Kraden confirmed.  "Please continue, Sheba."

"Anyway," Sheba continued.  "I was not involved at the time, but somehow, Isaac and Garet, on their new quest, managed to find another adept at Vault who was in dire need of their help.  He joined them after a while.  His name was Ivan." Sheba pointed to the other blonde adept.  "They headed east from there, to Bilibin, and north to Imil, where they made a startling discovery that Alex, one of their enemies used to live there.  They also found Mia, who joined their party once she knew she could not tackle Mercury Lighthouse and its intruders alone.  Mercury Lighthouse was stationed near Imil."

"I see…" Sir Arthur said as he looked at the blue-haired girl with the warm smile.  "Continue."

"The four continued to pursue Saturos, Menardi, Alex, Jenna, Kraden, and Felix all throughout Angara after Mercury Lighthouse was lit.  As they headed towards Tolbi, they heard rumors of me being kidnapped, which gave them further reason to pursue Saturos and Menardi.  They did so, but a battle broke out atop Venus Lighthouse.  After the smoke had cleared, Saturos and Menardi had been defeated."

"Good for you!" Sir Arthur congratulated.

"They weren't dead yet," Isaac whispered grumpily.  "They should've told us their intentions… we would've helped them."

"No, Isaac." Kraden smiled sadly while Sir Arthur looked at him in confusion.  "Helping them would've gone against the values Vale taught you to hold dear.  You would not have helped them simply because it was the Wise One that sent you on a mission."  Isaac nodded unsure.

"Saturos and Menardi took the Venus Star and leaped into the lighthouse, falling what seemed to be forever.  After a moment, the Venus Lighthouse lit, cracking the continent and seperating the land of Idejima.  Everyone had escaped there, except for Felix and Sheba who managed to stay behind.  Sheba lost her balance and held on desperately, about to fall.  Felix tried to help her, but to no avail.  She fell off Venus Lighthouse."

"Good Lord!" Sir Arthur was taken aback.  "Then?"

"Felix jumped after her." Isaac said simply, recalling the events of that day.  Sir Arthur looked to Felix and looked to him in what seemed like respect.  "I believe Sheba can take it from here.  I don't know what happened to them afterwards."

Sheba cleared her throat, blinking away the tears in her eyes.  She remembered Felix's dive so vividly, seeing his serious face try to catch her in mid air.  The fall seemed like forever, but they made it.  "Felix dragged me to Idejima.  I was unconscious." She looked at Arthur, failing to hide the tears that had managed to roll down her cheek.  She didn't care.  What Felix did was brave and thoughtlessly noble.  She hugged Felix hard then thought to herself… he could've died! She pushed him off her and decked him in the face.  "You could've died!" She raged.  Felix smiled weakly.

"You're welcome." He muttered.

"With Kraden, Jenna, and Felix, we ran from Isaac and his group, afraid that a fight would break out.  Nothing much happened until Piers joined our group.  We used his ship to venture into the seas, running from Isaac.  They caught up to us on top of Jupiter Lighthouse.  They were tricked by a new band of Proxians.  Menardi's sister Karst and her mate Agatio.  Isaac's party lost miserably.  We came in then, and spared their lives.  As soon as we got our issues settled in Contigo, we banded together and headed for Mars Lighthouse.  We lit the top with plenty of difficulty."

"Yes." Sir Arthur told them, "Sheba has already filled me in on the battles you fought on your quest." He paused as if in deep thought.  "Although I didn't completely believe it until you almost single-handedly defeated Zeus! Still… that still doesn't explain why you're here… from your version of events, you've already saved your world.  Why come to Terra?"

Sheba looked to them as well, no doubt having realized that, too.  "Yeah." She agreed.  "Why are you guys here? I know I'm here because I've come to look for my past."

Everyone's eyes hardened thinking of Alex.  Damn him, Felix thought.  If he hadn't been so clumsy, Alex could be dead now, and this whole mess wouldn't have happened.  He could've ended it all in Vale.  Isaac, knowing what his comrade was thinking, shook his head.  "You couldn't have done anything, Felix." His face tensed up.  "Would we have permitted this world to suffer the fate we've fought so hard to prevent in Weyard?"

Sheba and Sir Arthur were alarmed.  "What?" They said at the same time.

This time, Felix spoke up.  "After you disappeared, Sheba, a lot of things happened.  Alchemy still threatened everything, even Vale.  Weird things started happening, and Kraden thought Mount Aleph was the source.  Jenna, Kraden, and I investigated to find Alex battered as if he was in a fight.  We fought him, thinking we could win, but he got away, but managed to kidnap Kraden."

Sheba was shocked.  "What did you do?"

"Of course, we gathered everyone we could and followed him to Lunpa.  There, we got seperated.  Dodonpa lured us to believe that he was on our side now.  We pursued Alex on one of his ships.  We were also supposed to meet the others at Gondowan Passage."

"And?" Sheba asked curiously.

"We didn't get that far.  He was about to escape into the Sea of Time when the others were passing.  Isaac managed to signal them.  We caught Alex and brought him back to Lunpa.  Our mistake."

Sheba stood up straight.  "What do you mean? Weren't you supposed to catch him?"

"Yeah," Felix answered.  "But we shouldn't have entrusted him to Dodonpa.  It was all an elaborate trap.  Alex needed to be caught so that he could tell us what was happening without us getting suspicious.  Right after I went out to go tell the others, he escaped using the back door.  He had help too.  Dodonpa's a filthy, lying, bag of ass."

"He got away?" Sheba asked a little unnecessarily.

"Yeah…" Felix nodded, "He got away.  I tried to catch him, but I was too slow.  That's why we're here now."

"You still haven't told us why you're here exactly." Sir Arthur interrupted.

"We're here because Gaia Falls has stopped eating Weyard away…" Kraden paused, "And has started to feast on Terra."

"What?" Sir Arthur bolted up, sending his chair skidding backward.  "Are you telling me that the threat of Gaia Falls isn't over?"

"Far from over." Isaac smiled weakly.  "It's eating away Terra twice as fast as it did in Weyard.  Luna's lighthouses need to be lit."

"Luna's lighthouses?" Sheba was confused, but Sir Arthur cleared his throat.

"I believe I might be able to shed some light on this subject." He stated.

"Good." Kraden smiled, "Most of the things we know have been from your daughter Deirdre." Piers gulped.

"Deirdre?" Sir Arthur paused.  "So… you've been to London? It's been a while since I left, I wonder how my daughter is taking it."

"She didn't seem too worried." Piers spoke.  "She's convinced that you'll come back with another heroic feat to add to your reputation."

"Hmmm…" Sir Arthur paused.  "There are three lighthouses that I know in Terra, however, I do suspect that there is a fourth.  It may be concealed in the fog to the north."

"You are quite correct," Kraden nodded.  "Saturn Lighthouse is indeed hidden in the far reaches of the north."

"We call it the Arctic." Sir Arthur chuckled.  "I don't know of any settlements there.  Perhaps one day I shall journey there."

"Perhaps." Kraden laughed merrily.

"Legend tells us through fairy tales of warriors coming from far off lands.  They will come to Terra one day after proving their own world that they are its heroes.  Together, along with Terra's own band of heroes, they will overcome the great threat that clouds everything." Sir Arthur paused.  "The writing on London's own catacombs describe the obstacles along the way.  Poseidon, some kind of fused dragon, two identical dragons, and a dragon with three heads that was dubbed Doom Dragon.  But most distinctly was the flying ship they traveled in."

"That does sound an awful bit like us." Kraden observed.  "Piers's ship was left in London, though, but what about these lighthouses? What do you know about them?

Sir Arthur shook his head.  "I'm afraid not much is known about the lighthouses.  The things I know are what the villages near them tell me.  I travel a lot."

"Well, chances are, you know more about them than we do." Kraden laughed.

Sir Arthur chuckled.  "Yes I suppose so." He cleared his throat.  "The four lighthouses have always been in Terra.  A thousand years ago, during some kind of Lost Age, the light on top of them diminished.  As soon as it diminished, the whole world turned to shreds.  There was a huge earthquake that lasted for a long time, and after it ended, everything seemed perfectly fine, but… it seemed the towns we had traveled to in the past have ceased to exist!"

Kraden nodded.  "Yes, I believe that was when Gaia Falls was born."

Sir Arthur agreed.  "Yes.  The walls outside of Neptune Lighthouse tell us that an obstacle fused of Neptune and Mercury will cause a rift between both worlds.  This seemed to confuse me until I heard your story, especially since I didn't know what Mercury was."

Kraden was shocked.  "Of… of course! I'm sorry, King—"

"Sir Arthur's fine." Sir Arthur interrupted.

"Yes… but… okay… in our world, we always thought that everything was divided into four elements, each with their own lighthouse.  There are Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars Adepts.  But recently, we've found out about special kinds of adepts."

"What's the difference between all these adepts?" Sir Arthur wondered.

"Mercury Adepts have their powers based on water, as does Neptune's.  Venus's powers come from the Earth, as does Uranus.  Mars Adepts have powers of fire, but as does Saturn.  And Jupiter… well, they can read minds!"

"And I assume that Pluto Adepts can as well?" Sir Arthur asked.

"Precisely." Kraden nodded.

"My daughter is aligned with Pluto, did you know?" Sir Arthur informed them.

"Yes, we knew." Kraden said.  "We offered her a spot in our party, but she declined."

"I believe my absence in London had something to do with it." Sir Arthur told them sadly.  "I fear I've deprived my daughter the joys of childhood."

"I hardly think that lighting the lighthouses is designated as a normal joy of childhood." Kraden joked.

Sir Arthur smiled brightly.  "Yes, I suppose you're right." He looked to the rest of the group.  "I have my own business to attend to.  If you're headed to Neptune Lighthouse, then Sheba can lead you in the right direction." Everyone nodded and looked to Sheba as Sir Arthur started to walk away.  He took out several gold coins from his pouch and planted them on the innkeeper's desk, who fell back as he noticed he'd almost been caught trying to eavesdrop.

Sheba sighed.  "Yes, I can help.  Good day, Sir Arthur." He waved to them and walked out the door.

"Now Sheba," Kraden said curiously.  "Last we heard of you, you headed south in search of Anemos.  You've found it, but how?"

"I looked for answers near Contigo.  I even asked help from Hamma at one point.  I was able to get a ship in Madra and borrowed a ship.  My efforts were useless, as I didn't discover anything about how to get to Anemos.  I did manage to uncover some remains of the old city.  It was an extension of the ruins.  I headed back to Madra, disappointed.  "I went to Lalivero, masquerading as just another traveler.  As I ventured into its catacombs…"

"Catacombs? Lalivero has no catacombs!" Jenna interrupted.

Sheba frowned.  "Travelers are not permitted to venture through it.  It's also too dangerous.  I only managed to sneak in.  Without my powerful psyenergy, djinni, and special items, I could not have made it." She paused letting the info sink in to Jenna, who, she hoped, wouldn't interrupt so rudely later on.  "I ventured to the catacombs, and using the Cyclone Chip I obtained in Madra's own catacombs, I was able to venture deeper into it.  I came to a circular room, surrounded by light, which brought me east of here.  When I awoke, Sir Arthur was tending to me, claiming that I had appeared in the gateway with him.  He told me I was in Anemos, and I was with him since."

"And you've found out everything you could?" Kraden asked.

"From Anemos, yes.  I was gifted with psyenergy when I was a baby.  Somehow I managed to drop off the cliffs and land on Lalivero.  How I survived, I do not know."

"Hey, Isaac." Garet whispered.  "Doesn't this kind of thing sound familiar? Using psyenergy only when we need it?"

Isaac thought for a moment, recalling their adventure so long ago.  Tret Tree had tried to paralyze them with his psyenergy, but theirs protected them.  "Yes." He responded.  "Sheba, I think your psyenergy saved you." Everyone was taken aback.

"I see…" Sheba thought rapidly.  "I think that you being here isn't a coincidence.  My past can wait.  I want to go with you."

Everyone grinned, including Kraden, and especially Felix.  "Sheba." Kraden informed, "I think that now that we have been to Anemos, and into the world which you should've known of a long time ago, we will uncover your past much quicker."

Sheba smiled.  "I hope so." She looked seriously at the rest of them.  "So… our next adventure, huh?"

"Yep." Garet said proudly. They started out the inn nodding to the innkeeper, acknowledging his shocked face.  They stopped as they were out the door, looking around then back to Sheba.

 "So what're we waiting for?" Sheba grinned.  "Onward! To Neptune Lighthouse!" She ran breathlessly to the east, past the busy streets, with the others trailing after her.