Another Day to Live Through
Written for Knightblazer 88 By Yoshimi TakahashiSummary: Felix is scorned by his fellow Valeans for "betraying" their sacred teachings. This fic follows him as he goes through yet another day to live through . . . .
Rating: PG for violence.
A/N: This fic shall shock and amaze you, because Yoshimi Gakusha Takahashi, King of Random Humour, has actually written angst. Yes, that's right. Angst. I know I was darn surprised when I read the fic! It's a terrific fic, though, even if it's probably as rare as Midnight C writing Valeshipping. It's hard to see either happening, but one of them came true (and no, not the Valeshipping!).
The reviews . . . .
Daito Dei Gratia: Mmph. Actually, it was very hard to write that Valeshipping fic and I wasn't so happy with the way it turned out . . . sorry Daito. I really don't like Valeshipping. Felix probably would be more open to Jenna and Isaac marrying than if Garet and Jenna became a couple. And yes, Menardi is very well . . . .
Menardi: No thanks to you! I still haven't gotten over when you cut me in two! Tricks like that should be saved for second-rate magic shows, thank you very much!
Akachi: No, stale bread, especially of the baguette/French variety, is very dangerous. You must fear it. ^_~ I'm glad you liked this, even though you, like me, are a Mudshipper. And I'll send you the list of requested fics either later tonight or tomorrow. Really.
Kevin C: I'm glad you think the OSP and this are different enough . . . I've been kind of sweating over it. Yeah, I had fun writing Felix's big brother-ness. He's always amusing. And that's a toned-down version of what I think about Alex.
I never kill off the Proxians in any fic, ever, because they're my favourite characters, and I wouldn't be much of a Proxshipper if I did that, would I? *coughs and glances at Empress Dotdotdot and jedigurl2001*
turophile: Felix/Sheba is currently known as Lighthouseshipping, although someone suggested "Fateshipping" and on Triad's site, they call it "Oppositeshipping." I use Lighthouseshipping, because . . . well, I'm in the habit of doing so. Felix/Sheba is probably the clearest way to go. And how are you a Windshipper and a Lighthouseshipper at the same time? Most people are at extreme ends of either spectrum (like me or EchoKazul). And Valeshipping and Mudshipping? Boy, you're openminded!
My dictionary and spellchecker both accepted "illumining," so I suppose it's a word, after all. And let's just hope the "One Shot Panoply" people think the same way. They have powerful people on their side, like Midnight C, Triad Orion, and Azusasan!
MercuryAdept: Thanks! Your opinion seems to be the general consensus, really.
Yoshimi Takahashi: Yeah, I thought Jenna would be the impatient type. Mia would probably still be in the same romantic mood, but Jenna, now . . . . ^_^ And I only wish that I was as sure as you that Menardi and Saturos are alive in the Golden Sun games . . . .
"If only he knew . . . ." means whatever you want it to. Take it how you would like. And you're the one who's updating now, Yosh . . . . . . . . imi.
Void: Welcome back! You want another Mudshipping? Those are HARD, because every single plot in the world for this pairing has been used! Why not something easy, like Karst/Ivan? Just kidding. I'll add your request to the list. I'm doing this for the puppy, you know! (Kidding again)
oBsCuReDoblivion13: No offence, but your name's a pain to write. I'm glad you think that this isn't too much like "The Golden Sun One Shot Panoply," and I also like that you liked the fic! ^_^
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Wow, eight reviews on a fic I don't think is overly good? Thanks everyone! *is very happy*
Well, here's Yoshimi's fic! Enjoy it, because I sure did!
*****
A/N: Okay, I'm not sure whether this is exactly what Knightblazer 88 wanted, since I didn't spend too much time on the actual part he requested. I got too involved in the resolving of the problem. If this isn't good enough, Knightblazer 88, I can try again later.
Okay, I'm borrowing stuff from other people's fanfictions, such as Daito Dei Gratia's idea of the lighthouse cycle in Petition of Repetition, Vyctori's idea on Saturos and Menardi's marital status in Blaze, and a small mention of a character from Triad Orion's Golden Sun: The Trials of Destiny, among other things. Also, due to the fact that Knightblazer 88's profile does not contain pairings supported, I just put in my own. Sorry, Knightblazer 88.
Okay, I used okay too much. *sweatdrop*
Please give me some constructive criticism. This is my first time writing something like this, and I'm planning on writing an entire fanfiction like this, so I'd like some help. Thank you!
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Felix woke up to what he would have said before was a beautiful day. Now, however, it was just another day to live through.
Rising from his bed, he strapped on his sword, Excalibur, and dragged his feet across his cluttered floor. Before, his room had always been (to Jenna's jealousy) neat as a pin. Now, he no longer cared.
Downstairs, he found himself to be the first one up. He grabbed some breakfast and began chewing. At the same time, he was chewing over his problem in his brain, as he did every morning. And, as was typical, he came up with no viable solution. It would be another long day.
He got up from the table. He adjusted his Erinyes Tunic. Piers had been curious why he needed such armour now that they were done their quest, and why the Xylion Armour, which was much better, didn't suffice.
He didn't have the heart to tell Piers that he needed unnoticeable armour for everyday life.
Throwing a cloak on to hide his sword and a pack to carry extra items, he left the safety of the house to enter the dangerous streets of the reconstructed Vale.
***
Felix took the busier streets on his way to Sol Sanctum. Even though the crowds seemed to find a way to jostle him while effectively cutting him off from their lives, he shuddered to think what would happen if he was found on a back street. There, small groups taunted him, sometimes even throwing Psynergy at him. He had no way to defend himself, because once, when he had lashed out at them with a Quake that was barely enough to knock them off their feet, the story grew until he had cast Grand Gaia and had to be beaten back before he tried to stab them all.
Shoving memories of the mob that had gathered, he trudged his way through the crowd, being held up more than anyone else. He had survived that night, barely, and it was now forgotten in the wave of other threats, bullying, and general unpleasantness.
The Valeans could not seem to remember him leading one of the groups that saved the world. They could not recall him lighting the last two lighthouses. All they could remember was that he had travelled with two "half-daemons" and having betrayed Vale's trust.
He knew that not all of them had been mean to him, but it did not matter. Those who did nothing to him did nothing with him. He was effectively alone, he mused as he climbed down to the sunken Sol Sanctum. His friends, although unwittingly, had nearly left him alone, too.
Isaac, despite good intentions at first, was now nearly always locked in his room, writing letters to Ivan, Piers, Sheba, and Mia, only exiting, mainly, to read a new letter to the rest of them, concentrating on what concerned them all. It had been hard on the young leader when half of his group, and half of Felix's, whom he had grown close to, were no longer in Vale. Anyone entering Isaac's room would be set upon by an avalanche of scrunched up letter drafts. Most of them, for some reason, made their way towards Imil . . .
Kraden was also busy writing, but it was a book. He was writing a complete record of their journeys, so the only time he came out to talk was to interview the companions.
Sheba, for a while had been one of his most steadfast companions. Having opted to live in Vale instead of returning to Lalivero, she had been the least busy of all of them, finding time to chatter away to each of them in turn. However, the knowledge that she did not know her origins had eaten away at her. One day, she had disappeared with only a note, saying that she was going to find her true home. Piers, who had visited often in between attempts to return home, had gone after her to protect her, saying that trying to get into Lemuria was like banging his head against a brick wall; noisy, painful, and pointless.
Ivan and Mia, having returned to Contigo and Imil respectively, had more trouble arranging transport. Ivan, Isaac had reported, was having trouble fitting in, because everyone thought of him as the great hero; therefore sacrosanct, untouchable. Mia was finding more requests for her medical aid. She once commented that she needed "someone like Isaac to deal with those who were just trying to use fake illnesses to see her." Dora had to lock Isaac in the closet for several days before he stopped trying to go and do just that.
His friends in Prox were busy. Saturos and Menardi were too busy (too lovey-dovey, in Jenna's opinion) to visit, so they only wrote occasionally. They were too busy with their new married life (and Saturos didn't trust the pregnant Menardi to go even three feet from the house, which infuriated Menardi to no end). Karst was never one for letters, and Agatio . . .he wasn't sure if the big warrior could even put a quill to paper.
Jenna was often his only comfort, but he didn't tell her of his troubles. She was too happy (however she found happiness dating the Oaf was beyond him) for him to burden her with his troubles. All of them were. They were happy, and he was not. He would have to learn to accept that.
Pushing aside a statue and entering the tunnel that was known only to Saturos, Menardi, Isaac, Jenna, Garet, and himself, he sighed.
He would just have to live through his days.
Alone.
***
Isaac ran along, carrying fluttering papers along in his arms. He nearly dropped one page in the mud, but Jenna caught it.
"Jenna!" Isaac chattered excitedly. "Sheba wrote a letter! She wants us to know that she's found some crazy inventor from Tolbi that's trying to invent a flying machine! She wants Felix to know . . ." Isaac's voice died away when he caught a look at Jenna's face. "What's wrong?"
Jenna bit her lip. "Felix has disappeared again. He's been doing this every day now, and it's starting to worry me. So I've sent Garet to see whether he can find where he went."
"You sent Garet?" Isaac nearly dropped his bundle of letters.
"You'd be surprised at his tracking skills," Jenna replied. "But he's taking a while . . ." She frowned, and then placed two fingers between her lips and blew.
After Isaac's eardrums stopped ringing from the sound, he heard the fast, thumping footsteps of Garet.
Rubbing his ears, Garet asked, "What is it, honey bunch?"
"Did you find Felix, sweetiekins?" Jenna asked, ignoring Isaac's gagging sound.
"Yes, dearest," Garet replied, glaring at Isaac. "He went to the sunken Sol Sanctum."
"He did?" Jenna asked, surprised. "But, after Mt Aleph sinking into the ground, it's been dangerous!"
"I know." Garet looked grim. "There have been reports of the place being haunted . . ."
Jenna snorted. "Don't tell me you believe in all that junk!"
"After our journey," Isaac remarked quietly. "I don't know what to believe. I'll just write a note to my mother so they'll know where we're gone . . . in case we don't come back."
Jenna shuddered involuntarily. There was something in the way he said it that sounded all too much like a premonition.
***
Felix was leaning back against the cold, stone walls of Sol Sanctum. In the dark, he had very little to occupy his time besides keeping his weapons in condition.
There! A soft glow emanated from farther down the passage. It had an almost palpable aura that reminded him of . . .
Could it be . . .Alex?
He knew he would have to find out. His hand on Excalibur, he inched forward towards the light. The aura grew stronger. It reminded him somewhat of Alex, but there was something . . .different about this, but he didn't know what. Just one more corner, and he should meet it. Just another step . . .he turned the corner.
He came face to face with the glow. It was too fuzzy to make out what it was, although it was vaguely human-shaped.
After a slight hesitation, Felix hazarded a guess. "Are you--Alex?"
"No. But that is not far." As the shape spoke, it grew in better and better focus. "I am Grentril Fanthran. I, like Alex, lusted after the power of Alchemy. One thousand years ago, when the lighthouses were lit last time, I climbed Mt Aleph. I sought the power to rule the world, the gift endless life . . . and, like Alex, my plans were thwarted by the Wise One."
Felix now could see the outlines of a transparent man who was floating nearby, clutching a long, wicked-looking sword in one hand.
"But I will have my revenge against it," the voice continued. "From here, the very centre of Alchemy's power, I shall destroy the Wise One's chosen people, starting with Vale and the heroes there. Starting with you!"
Grentril dived at Felix. Felix, knowing he wouldn't be fast enough, began to draw Excalibur. He backed up and tripped. Grentril missed, soaring above him. Bringing his sword into position, the spirit dived at Felix.
A wall of woven flames sprang into being between them. Grentril checked his flight, floating before it.
Felix, rising to his feet, turned to see Piers, the Fire Brand blazing brightly down the dark corridor, driving the darkness back. Sheba, standing next to him, brought her staff up. It shone purple as she unleashed Nirvana's power.
The ghost dropped to the ground as the swirling balls of light circled their way down the passage, but Grentril was back up in a moment.
"Where did you guys come from?" Felix asked, rushing up to join them.
"Sheba had a premonition that you'd need help," Piers told him cheerfully, maintaining the fire separating the two groups.
"I also saw--" Sheba began, but she was interrupted by a cry from Piers.
The ghost was glowing a fierce blue. Light of Mercury flooded half the chamber, shattering Purgatory's wall. Grentril was chuckling cruelly.
"Fools, all of you," he murmured nastily. The echoes picked up the soft sound very clearly. "In the centre of Alchemy's power, I will not be held back by you."
The spirit landed, his sword held in front of itself. He brought his hand up and brought forth Mercury fire. It raced at them as they prepared to launch a Psynergetic counter-attack. Sheba raised her hand to deliver a Spark Plasma, but before she could, a purple and black sword pierced through the fire and barely missed the ghost.
"I guess we got here just in time to join the party!" Garet grinned cockily. "Just let us finish the job for you. Our pleasure."
"Might we know what happened, Felix?" Isaac asked.
Garet swung his blackly glowing Darksword again, banishing the light as he marched forward to engage Grentril. He was joined by two dragons of blue flame sent by Jenna's glowing Masamune.
Felix quickly explained as the spirit prepared itself for the assault.
"All these Alchemy people seem to be Mercury," Jenna remarked. "No offence, Piers."
"Um . . . I wouldn't be too sure," Isaac remarked, pointing.
The ghost had been thrown back by the first dragon, but the next he blasted with Mars flames. The red fire fell to the ground, surrounding Garet. Garet began swinging his sword to cut a path through the fire, but the ghost just fed them.
"Froth Spiral!"
Mia, pointing her Lachesis' Rule down the hall, sent the bubbles driving down on the fire, allowing a wet (and rather unhappy) Garet to come back to the room.
"I saw your note, Isaac-chan!" Mia called, joining the little group that had huddled in a corner.
"This is just like old times!" Garet exclaimed, swinging his Darksword into his attack position. "All we need now is Ivan!"
"You mean me?" Ivan's voice came from the entrance. Ivan stepped out into the corridor, pocketed the teleport lapis, and raised a hand. "Spark Plasma!"
The ghost dived around the bolts of plasma, avoiding many of them. He soared down the hallway, aiming for the solitary Ivan. Ivan blocked with Phaeton's Blade, but he was driven back by Grentril.
Suddenly, a blue blur sped out and stood between them, lashing out with a red sword. Saturos drove the ghost away from Ivan.
"I brought them with me," Ivan explained, winded, as Karst, Menardi, and Agatio rushed into the chamber. "I had an idea that they'd be needed."
The ghost floated backwards, glared at them, and began to waft away.
"We can't let it get away!" Felix exclaimed. "It wants to destroy all of Vale . . . and all of us!"
They raced down the hallway, after the speeding ghost. At last, they came into a large room, filled with rubble. The mark of Sol had crumbled mostly away on the wall. The spirit floated up nearby it.
"Foolish mortals," he began in the traditional fashion of evil people. "Welcome to my realm. This is where my Alchemy powers stem from. You shall die here! Now!"
Grentril brought his sword upwards and pointed it towards them, its blade shining a deep purple. Sparks flew down from it to the group, causing explosions wherever they hit.
Out of the torrent of sparks, a woman raced up, striking at the violet light with long pieces of cloth. Mia used her Lachesis' Rule, now glowing a soft, light blue, to bat away the sparks that tried to hit her. The unleashed Apocalypse struck out at the ghost.
Grentril flew backwards, and then unleashed waves of Jupiter light at it. To everyone's shock, the unleash was thrown backwards and disappeared.
"Fools! Fools, all of you!" Grentril bellowed. "After receiving Alchemy, I was blessed with power beyond all of you!"
"Want to bet?" Jenna shouted, raising a hand. "Searing Beam!"
Grentril responded with a beam of Mercury essence. The two beams struck each other and exploded. Grentril then fired another Mercury beam at Jenna, throwing her against the wall.
Felix quickly cast a Potent Cure as Ivan smote Grentril with a Destruct Ray. Grentril was able to weather it, however, and turned Jupiter powers back at him. Isaac brought up Granite to shield him as Piers marched forward.
Piers swung the glowing Fire Brand towards Grentril, attempting to catch the ghost in the Purgatory. Grentril surrounded himself with a blue glow, stopping Purgatory from hurting him.
Sheba then struck the ghost with Tempest, gathering up the fires of Purgatory to create a fire tornado. Menardi sent a Dragon Fume up the length of the tornado to strike at the ghost. Jenna fuelled the firestorm with a Searing Beam, and Karst added a Supernova. Saturos brought a Pyroclasm down its length, while Agatio kept it all together with a Cage spell.
For a moment, they thought that nothing could survive the inferno that they had cooked up. Then it glowed blue and shattered, scattering fire, wind, and water to the dismayed combatants. Grentril, glowing blue, smashed Mercury light into Jenna. She flew back into a boulder with a sickening crack.
"Jenna!" Garet roared. "You--you--" With a roar, Garet swung his sword, blazing with dark light, at the spirit. He struck again and again, unleashing Acheron's Grief nearly each time.
"Garet!" Isaac called frantically. "You're going to overexert yourself!"
Garet seemed unable to hear the warning, swinging his glowing Darksword at Grentril. He seemed almost invulnerable. Then, with a slight gasp, he collapsed, his sword dropping from his hands. He had put too much energy into his sword.
Grentril turned back to the rest of them and was hit by half a dozen Psynergy attacks, having been stored since Garet had started, held back in fear of hurting Garet. He blocked them all with a Venus-coloured shield, then retaliated with Jupiter fire. The attacking force scattered under its relentless assault.
"What are we to do?" Felix asked in a whispered conference.
"I think," Menardi replied. "That I could do something if we could get ol' floaty here distracted."
Ivan hefted Phaeton's Blade. "Just leave that to me."
Ivan used Zephyr and sped, a small blur, at Grentril. He jumped, Phaeton's Blade blazing white in his hands. He dropped down, blade first, at the spirit. Grentril swatted him away with a blast of Venus. Ivan smashed into the wall with a thud.
Grentril, still involved with Ivan, didn't notice Menardi until she had already unleashed Death Size. Karst, seeing her sister's plan, also hit the spirit with a Death Scythe. The two sisters landed, confident that that must have finished him.
Mercury essence streamed down onto them and froze them where they stood. "Fools," the spirit, who seemed to like the word 'fool', said scornfully. "What will that do to me? I have already tasted death. The Reaper has no control over me now. But as for you . . ."
The spirit didn't get to finish his sentence. Saturos had already brought his sword and struck. Grentril blocked it and sent his sword around for a counter. Saturos nimbly dodged the blow and struck. Grentril somehow was fast enough to counter it and strike again. Saturos blocked it grimly, sending a Pyroclasm out at the same time. Grentril, with a motion, blasted Saturos clean across the room with Mercury fire.
Grentril suddenly was blasted with a Megacool. It hesitated for half a second, and then sent Mars essence to its source. Piers tried to take out Shade to block that, but Grentril put up a hand.
"None of that. Djinn Storm!" Grentril blasted them all with a Djinn Storm.
Mia blocked the fire with a Froth Spiral, but Grentril merely struck at her with the same stuff. Piers, with his sword ablaze, sliced downwards at Grentril, but he just dodged it and sent Mars fire at him.
"Felix, we've got to warn Vale to evacuate!" Isaac shouted.
Felix swallowed down his memories of the things done by some of the townsfolk. "Agreed!"
"You three get out of here," Agatio called. "I'll keep him busy."
"But . . ." Isaac hesitated.
"We've got to go!" Sheba urged, already halfway to the entrance.
The three raced off. Grentril, seeing them, went after them, but Agatio stood in the hallway entrance.
"Meteor Blow!" Agatio bellowed.
The strongest, and most destructive, Mars attack raced down.
"He's going to bring the cave down on his own head!" Felix exclaimed with horror.
"Just run!" Agatio called over his shoulder, freezing the spirit in place with a Cage.
The meteor from the heavens exploded into the cave. It collapsed under its weight, falling down on the two figures that were in the hallway. Isaac, Felix, and Sheba barely were able to dive out before the hallway collapsed on them.
Sheba stopped and looked back. "It must be over."
"Who knows?" Isaac responded, striding forward. "Whatever's happened, we need someone to get our friends out of there."
"Those that survived," Felix muttered darkly.
Sheba turned, frowning slightly. "Felix, you don't th--"
"SHEBA! GET OUT OF THERE!" Felix bellowed.
Sheba started. Felix never shouted! Then she turned and gasped.
The rocks, glowing bright with Venus powers, were falling off to one side as Grentril arose from the ruins of the tunnel.
"The fool thought he could defeat me that way . . ." he murmured, almost pensively. "As likely as not, he paid his very life for that mistake . . .as you soon will."
"Felix, Sheba, warn the town!" Isaac called over his shoulder as he ran up, Sol Blade in hand. "I'll keep him occupied."
"But . . ." Felix began.
"Are you a hero or not?" Isaac bellowed. "Your first duty is to the people! Now run!"
Felix took off in one direction as Sheba took another.
'But they have not been kind to me . . .you have, my friend . . .' Felix thought as he scampered off.
***
Isaac looked at the floating spirit. It was either him and all that he had known and loved, or this ghost who had already broken humankind's trust . . .the decision was a snap to make.
Isaac sent up a wave of Stone Spires. They burned up as they hit the shield of Mars flames erected by Grentril.
"You have seen your friends perish at my hands," Grentril said softly. "And still you choose to defy me. How pathetic."
"My friends did not perish at your hands!" Isaac responded in a shout.
"True . . .in a way." Grentril smiled malevolently.
"What do you mean?" Isaac asked, hiding his now glowing hands behind his back.
"They were suitably weakened by me that they probably died in the collapse of the cave." The man gestured uninterestedly. "I suppose that it would be more precise to say that that fool who made the cave collapse was the cause of their untimely--"
Grentril roared in rage as the Venus light of Grand Gaia ripped through him. He glowed a bright purple, dispelling the Venus light with Jupiter powers. He rocketed down at the boy and grabbed him by his collar.
"You--" Grentril's breath came in raggedly. "Never expected you to be so dishonourable to not give a cry of challenge before--" Grentil, seeming uninterested in even finishing his sentence, flung Isaac back and unleashed Jupiter essence on Isaac's prone form. After a long moment, Grentril relented.
"Fool," Grentril spat. "Your death would have been relatively painless had it not been for your defiance. Now look at you. You--" He stopped and stared.
Isaac began slowly, precariously, to stand. His breath coming in painfully, his voice strained, he began to speak.
"You . . ." Isaac swore at the ghost. "You wouldn't know . . .what its like . . .to fight for those you love. It gives you . . ." Isaac gasped and nearly was unable to continue. "strength when you least expect it. Now . . .for my friends . . .for Mia . . ." His words were coming out at only a whisper now. "Megiddo."
His Sol Blade glowing a fierce white, he pointed it at the ghost, sending the sunlike ball of flames at him.
Isaac collapsed from the effort. He looked up, pained, and saw that Grentril had put out a hand, stopping Megiddo's might. The spirit looked thoughtful.
"Interesting," he murmured. "I never would have thought . . .but despite all this, you will perish anyway."
The ghost placed both hands behind the ball.
"You fool," he whispered.
Then he unleashed its might.
***
Felix raced along the main road of Vale.
"Everyone, evacuate!" he shouted in warning. "Disaster is coming!" He knew that he sounded like a false prophet, but he couldn't think of another way to say it.
"What's that?" "Evacuation?" "Oh, it's just that demon-servant, Felix." "Creating a ruckus as usual." "Just ignore him."
The villagers were ignoring him. Felix felt he should have known.
"Listen!" he shouted. "Someone with the powers of Alchemy is coming from Sol Sanctum, and you'll all be dead if you stay much longer!"
Many ignored him, but a few scattered people began to leave the area, heading in the direction of Vault with some belongings packed roughly into a rucksack, but they were too few. Dora, Kyle, and the Sanctum residents came up.
"Felix, where's Isaac?" Dora asked, clutching the note that Isaac had left behind.
"No time to explain," Felix told her quickly.
"But . . ." Kyle protested.
"Your life is at stake, staying here! Leave now!" The wind had picked up, making Felix's scarf billow behind him. A storm was rolling up, with the flash of lightning and the roll of thunder in the background. Felix thought briefly that he must make a sight. He had the sudden urge to yell 'Doom is upon us!' or something.
The Great Healer shivered, but not from the cold wind. He remembered a storm like this once before . . .when Mt. Aleph sunk into the ground, because someone had taken . . .
"Alchemy!" the Great Healer boomed, in a panic. "The storms are responding to its call!"
"Demon-servant, what have you done to our Great Healer?" an apprentice frowned. "Have you possessed him with--"
"You fools, I am talking of my own free will!" the Great Healer took the apprentice by the collar. "Do you not remember the night when Mt. Aleph sank into the ground?"
"Great Healer, you're babbling . . ." a voice called from the crowd.
"You fools!" It was not the Great Healer's voice that boomed this.
Surrounded in the quintessence of Alchemy, Grentril descended onto the ground near Felix and the villagers.
***
"You fools!"
Sheba darted through the crowd. The voice of Grentril rang clear down the valley, freezing the villagers gathered to make their way to the safety of Vault.
"Move!" she screamed at them as she scrambled towards the sound of the voice. She knew, through her powers, that Felix was in danger--more danger than even the battle with Dullahan.
She slipped once, sprawling in the mud formed by the driving rain. She spent no time down, springing back up, soaking wet all through and muddy down her front. She had to reach Felix. She had to.
Before it was too late.
***
Felix drew Excalibur and turned to face his opponent, who was still glowing with Alchemy.
"Demon-child!" one villager called angrily. "Have you brought disaster down on us?"
The spectre grinned eerily, still bathed in Alchemy. "It is not he who will bring disaster down on you!" Yelling the last word, he pointed at the villager.
The villager looked shocked as the light of Alchemy lifted him up, flinging him towards a cliff. He smashed into the cliff with a cry.
"Fools, all of you," Grentril murmured. "Maybe this lesson will stick." With that, he intensified the light surrounding the villager, who yelled almost inhuman cries.
Suddenly, Grentril was beset by three purple swords that danced around him, slashing several times before he was able to drop the villager and react.
"You." Grentril turned to face Felix. Felix was holding Excalibur high, shining its purple light down on the entire crowd. "Why do you care if he lives or dies? He would have killed you and called you trash. I saw it in his mind. Why?"
"Because I am a hero, and that is what I do," Felix said, eyes downcast slightly. "As Isaac reminded me, a hero's purpose is to help the people. It does not matter who those people are, how they live, or what they think of you. Even at the sacrifice of your own happiness, a hero lives to save the land and its people, no matter whether they like you or not."
"Hmm. Very noble." Grentril smiled maliciously. "Heroics didn't help Isaac. He lasted longer than anyone had before, but like the rest, he fell. As you will do now!"
Grentril roared as he blasted a beam of Alchemy towards Felix. Felix prepared to counter it when a small, muddy form leapt in between. Grentril stopped in shock.
Sheba dropped to the ground, completely overwhelmed.
"Sheba! NOOOOOO!" The cry raked Felix's throat as he tore towards her, catching her in his arms before she fell. "Sheba," Felix asked hoarsely. "Why?"
Sheba opened her mouth to speak, but she closed her eyes and went limp.
"NOOOO! Sheba, don't go . . ." Felix's voice died away in a sob.
"And now, to finish this oh so happy ending," Grentril said with glee. "A Psynergy Seal the likes of which you've never fought against."
The archaic symbol of the seal was spelled out in the golden light of Alchemy, so powerful that it snapped his sword in two. Felix nearly didn't notice it in his grief. He didn't care anymore.
"You're finished, Felix." Grentril spoke as if it was a foregone conclusion. "No Psynergy, no sword, no Djinn, no friends, no hope. You have nothing left!"
'I do have nothing left,' Felix thought emotionlessly.
~Is that what you think, Felix?~
Felix didn't even bother to look around for the one responsible for the sagely mind voice.
~Your friends haven't left you, and neither has your hope. Look around. They are all around you.~
Felix looked up into two warm brown eyes.
"Jenna?" he breathed. Then he paused. She looked more ethereal.
"I'm not a ghost, if that is what you are thinking," Jenna told him calmly.
"Then . . ." Felix began.
"You think too much, Felix," Agatio's voice came from the air beside him.
"That's usually a good trait," Ivan's quiet voice broke in. "But now's not the time."
"If you're not ghosts . . ." Felix tried again.
"Felix."
Felix looked into the kind red eyes of Saturos. Saturos breathed on him. The warm breath came on his face.
"That is not the breath of a ghost, is it?" Saturos asked him softly.
Felix shook his head mutely.
"We're here to help you beat this one," Menardi's ghostly form gestured at Grentril.
"So, just get up and beat this guy into the middle of next week!" Karst's voice encouraged.
Garet, as usual, had something to say too. "Kick his otherworldly butt!"
"You can do it," Mia's soft voice came.
"But, if I fail . . ." Felix said, almost unable to be heard.
"We won't let you," Isaac's voice promised.
"We're here to help you, Felix," Pier's voice told him. "As long as you will let us."
Felix hesitated, still unsure. He looked downwards.
"Felix, I'm here for you."
Felix looked back up.
"Sheba?" he breathed.
Sheba smiled back at him.
Felix looked around at their wraithlike forms. They were waiting for him, standing between him and Grentril.
"Let's do it."
***
"And now," Grentril shouted, having heard none of the conversation. "To finish what I started one thousand years ago when I took Alchemy the first time." Raising his hands over his head, he summoned a ball of light. Then he froze.
Over the sound of the shattering Psynergy seal, he stammered, "It's not . . .it's not possible!"
Felix stood, his eyes overshadowed. "You think I have nothing left. My friends haven't left me, and they are not dead."
"They are!" Grentril shouted angrily.
~They are not.~
Grentril froze, hearing the elderly mind voice that Felix had heard before.
~Can you not admit that you have been defeated once again?~
Grentril shook his fist at the thin air. "I have not!"
~You are making me regret not allowing the Wise One to interfere with the actions of humankind.~
Felix, too, froze. "If you commanded the Wise One, then you must be . . ."
~Felix. Fight.~
Grentril, an insane look in his eyes, drew back a hand to throw his Alchemy, shouted in defiance, "You shall never defeat me!"
Felix hesitated again. His friends had all failed to even scratch Grentril's surface. How could he, alone, possibly win.
~But you aren't alone.~
"Felix, we're here," his friends chorused.
"You can do it," Sheba told him.
~Trust in yourself, and your friends, and fight.~
Felix drew his right arm upwards. He felt nearly overwhelming power race up his arm and out of his hand. He looked up and started.
"It's not possible!" Grentril wailed.
Felix took the sword that he had just forged of pure Alchemy, and walked up to Grentril. Grentril tried to blast him with Alchemy, but Felix just cut it in half. Grentril found himself looking in Felix's deep brown eyes, at this moment as cold as ice and steel.
"Die," Felix said venomously.
Felix raised the glowing sword and cut downwards.
***
No one truly knew what happened that day. Most decided that Felix had used the light of Venus to forge the sword, but a few, like the Great Healer, still wondered. Many wondered who Grentril truly was, not believing him to be a ghost of an Alchemist, but a monster who was just more powerful than most.
However, all agreed that it was Felix, no longer known as the demon-servant or the evil breaker of Vale's sacred teachings. He was the hero who had, against all odds and despite the hatred shown by them, saved the village and all its people.
Most people agreed that, standing behind Felix was an old, cloaked figure, who had placed a hand on Felix's shoulder when all looked the most dark. Many searched to find this "traveller," "sage," or "wandering Psynergist." No one was successful. Some believed that it was a spirit Felix had conjured up to help. Some just didn't know what to think. Only the wise Great Healer made one suggestion, viewed as too radical to be true.
The figure, he said, bore an eerie resemblance to the statue of Fate in the temple.
End
~ * * * ~
Vyctori: That was a LONG one-shot, Yoshimi! Also, it's a good thing this isn't multiple chapters, because there were some cliffhangers in here worthy of Triad Orion. Oy . . . .
Menardi: *looks affronted* I can't believe the nerve of that Yoshimi!
Vyctori: What's wrong, Menny?
Menardi: He had the nerve to suggest that I wasn't indestructible! Me!
Vyctori: *pats Menardi's shoulder* Well, Gentril was juiced up on Alchemy, you know.
Menardi: It doesn't matter! I would have been able to kick his butt any day!
Vyctori: *not really listening* Uh-huh.
Menardi: Anyway, you lot had better review, or I'll prove how indestructible I really am!
Vyctori: Just hope that Dotdotdot-chan remembers to review if she's reading this, because she's the only person I've met so far who has been able to take you in a fight. [A/N: See "The Lighter Side of Darkness." Ahem]
Menardi: Huh! I hope she does show up! We need a rematch, and this time, I'm not going to lose!
Vyctori: *who has seen Dotdotdot in Scary-Overworked-College-Student Mode* Riiiight.