I think I can manage my work and fanfic writing...we'll have to see...And there is this boy in my school...He's just like Garet only with brown hair. It's scary.

Thank you:

Deth Star Apocolypse: Thank you for all the nice things you said! I'm not sure what to do about my tendency to character switch...I'll try and make it less confusing.

Suh: Thanks as usual. ^_^ I know last chapter was short. This one is a bit longer, hopefully the later chapters will be even longer, there's a lot of stuff to cover and explain. God, I sound like a teacher. And you're right about the dialogue. It didn't sound quite right to me. I like this chapter better anyway.

Void: Sorry. Please bear with me!

Wild Fox of the Wasteland: Thank you! They piled on as much homework as they could this year, and I'm going nuts trying to work on the HTML for my website and trying to finish this in between assignments.

Flowers of Moss: Saturos better start liking romance after this chapter! Yes, Felix/Sheba is great.

Wolfy129: I'm doing the best I can! Hope you like this!

Flame Angel: Balancing Chemisrty and Algebra II homework is hard! But I got this fic up anyway

Shadowthewindadept: I know it was short...I'm embarrassed by it. I like to write long chapters!

Enjoy chapter eleven!

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Chapter 11: Behind the Scenes

            Agatio, Karst, Saturos and Menardi sat at the table in their private fortress. They were waiting for Alex and Kraden to show up and give the status on their nations. They also were waiting for Hsu of the Jupiter who, although he was often caught up with other issues, but never missed a meeting. The door opened and revealed the three afore mentioned men. Alex rushed ahead of the other two, with an angry look etched on his face. He slammed his hand on the table.

            "What the hell did Garet do to Mia?" he demanded to know. Menardi shrugged.

            "Apparently nothing. I didn't hear anything coming from his room the past few nights, if you catch my drift" she replied, "Is the Mercury star out of reach?"

            "Yes," Alex answered sullenly. He took a seat next to her and propped his boots on the table. Kraden sat down next to Alex and casually cleaned his glasses.

            "The Venus star is secured," he said, nonchalantly.

            "I don't have good news," Hsu said slowly. Saturos stood up.

            "Don't tell me..." he said, "In all the mix up with Sheba someone managed to find the Jupiter star?"

            Hsu hung his head, "Yes."

            "But they haven't lit the lighthouse on the eastern corner of the world?" Karst asked.

            "No, not yet," Hsu said, "I dispatched one of our mercenaries to slow them down. One of you has to stop them and get it back."

            Agatio sighed and said, "I'll do it, I won't be long." He got up immediately and strapped on his sword. Karst stood up and went after him. She gently put her hand on his large, blue shoulder.

            "Be careful," she said softly. The blue dragon nodded and left. Karst took her seat beside Saturos once more.

            "Is everything going as Sheba said it would?" Alex asked Kraden, "Did she tell Felix his destiny?"

            "Yes," Kraden replied, "And he seems to be taking it well."

            "He might try to alert the clan to the danger," Menardi mentioned. Saturos shook his head.

            "The old man would never let him," he told the dragon-woman sitting next to him.

            "That creepy old man..." Alex said, "No offense to you Kraden, but he's just a little off."

            "Yes, and he is so consumed with the prospect of living forever, he can't see the danger that he's putting everyone else in," Kraden said, adding to Alex's point.

            "If only I could tell Mia about all this without endangering her..."

            "Every time we meet, it's always 'Mia this...' and 'Mia that…' can you talk about something else?" Saturos yelled. Alex only grinned evilly.

            "Mia may never be mine, but she still is dear to me, I want to do this to protect her," Alex said, "I never was a good fighter, so working strategically is better for me."

            Saturos snaked his arm around Menardi's shoulders, "Well I love Menardi and she won't let me protect her, so I guess we're kind of in the same boat."

            Alex shook his head and rolled his eyes. Menardi felt her cheeks turn pink.

            "When we're alone you'd never say things like that," she mumbled. Karst giggled and Saturos whispered something in Menardi's ear. The dragon- woman's face turned a deeper shade of rouge. Alex closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.

            "Will you two quit it!" he snapped. Karst only started laughing harder. Kraden calmly dismissed the meeting and said that they would meet again next week.

***

            Mia and Jenna were sitting in the garden when Karst and Menardi returned from the meeting. The two girls stopped what they were doing and waved to them. The sisters waved back and walked over to them.

            "Menardi are you okay? You look a little flushed," Jenna commented. Menardi shook her head vigorously, and Karst snickered.

            "What are you two doing?" Menardi asked.

            Jenna grinned, "Just giving Mia a little advice on how to deal with everybody's favorite seven foot tall dragon."

            Menardi simply nodded and waved good-bye. Karst followed her sister into the palace.

            "Menardi, is it true that Mercurians can't survive without water?" the younger girl asked. Menardi nodded yes.

            "How long do you think it will be until Princess Mia gives out?" Karst asked the older girl.

            "It won't be much longer. I'm surprised Princess Mia has survived so far. Most Mercurians don't last long without water. A week at most, and she's been here for twice that length."

            "She's a very disciplined person, I guess even if she was feeling sick she wouldn't say anything. Speaking of which you're not feeling all that well yourself," the younger girl noted, "You were throwing up this morning and Saturos came down to breakfast without you. What's the matter?"

            Menardi felt her face turn deep red and managed to stammer, "N-nothing's wrong! Nothing at all!"

            "Are you—"

            Karst was cut off by an enraged Garet storming down the hall. She had never seen him this angry, she guessed he had another argument with his parents about Mia. As soon as he was out of hearing range, Karst leaned toward her sister and whispered, "Why does he insist upon keeping her? Is this part of Sheba's prophecy?"

            "I'm not exactly sure," Menardi replied, "Garet has been acting strange lately. Saturos should talk to him, he doesn't listen to anybody. There has to be one person he's willing to listen to."

            Karst smirked, "Besides Mia."

            "He does seem to hang on her every word," Menardi added with a giggle.

            "Anyway back to my original question, are you—"

            The younger dragon-girl was once again interrupted, this time by Saturos.

            "Menardi, we have to talk," he said calmly. Menardi nodded and took a deep breath. The two disappeared down the hall leaving Karst alone.

            "My sister and her husband. I'll never understand them," she sighed and retreated to her room.

***

            In the calm of twilight, Jenna sighed and stared up at the stars. It was a peaceful night, just like the one before she was taken away from her family...and Isaac. She felt her cheeks rouge a little as she thought of him.

            "My dear Isaac, what made you change? Why did you hurt me so?" she asked. She closed her brown eyes and sighed as memories flooded back to her.

~~~

            As the dying light of the sun spilled through the stained glass windows in the grand hall of the palace two teenagers were kneeling on an imaginary starting line. The red haired girl and the blonde boy were ready to leap into a sprint as soon as she finished uttering the words.

            "Ready...Set...GO!" she cried. The two started running at breakneck speed down the hallways of the palace. It was the daily custom of the two and if they didn't race the day was unfulfilled. They zoomed past servants and annoyed family members. The only things that existed for those few minutes were them and their daily course. Jenna and Isaac didn't stop running until they came to the respective finishing line, the tree in the middle of the courtyard. The two racers slammed their palms on the smooth bark and cried, "I win!" at the same time. The two glared at each other for a few seconds and then they burst out laughing. Jenna sat down on a nearby bench.

            "Really, what's more important to you, winning, or me?" Jenna asked playfully. Isaac tapped his head a few times.

            "Hmm...you want the truth?"

            "Yes," the red-head huffed.

            "You, of course."

            Jenna smiled, "I'll give you extra points for telling me what I wanted to hear."

            Isaac put his arm around her, "It's the truth."

            Jenna raised an eyebrow, "Really? You expect me to just melt into your arms after that?"

            "No...I expected that after this."

            Without another warning his lips were on hers. Before Jenna could really start to savor the moment it was over and the two were faced with a very annoyed and flushed older brother. Felix let out an embarrassed cough.

            "Isaac, please refrain from kissing my sister," he ordered. Jenna gave her brother a sad puppy face.

            "You're just jealous because no one's kissed you yet," she muttered. This caused her brother to blush even more.

            "Isaac, my father wants to see the two of us in the throne room, you can talk to Jenna later," he said sternly. Jenna waved to her brother and her friend. That was the last time she saw him all day. The events of the next day would be a turning point in her life.

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Yeah, a brief flashback. It will be finished eventually. Soon, I promise. Uh...yeah, I'm working on a website so I can put up fanart for this fic soon. Review please. I just love reviews. Almost as much as email.

Next Chapter: Wrath of Poseidon