This is officially the longest fic I've ever written, and I'm thanking all of my reviewers for one hundred reviews. throws confetti Good for me!
Kadevi: I'm glad you like it!
Wild Fox of the Wasteland: I updated!
Suh: Yes, there's a connection. It's great.
Tesla also known as God: I did!
Dark Ice Dragon: There's going to be a lot of tension and conflict…that's all I can say right now! XD
Dark Star Dragon: le sigh I'm still a little wary about Mia…but if you want a story that will definitely be a Piers/Mia, wait until I post my story "The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner." The first chapter is halfway done too!
Wolfy129: And the conflict will only get more and more intense! =)
Hyper Basketcase: Don't worry, I wrote most of this story while I was on a caffeine buzz anyway, so I understand. I'm glad you liked it.
Jupiter Sprite: They won't kill each other, I like them both too much. Yes, it's Ivan/Feizhi. I don't know who made me start liking it, but I like it!
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Chapter 16: I'm Blue
Piers blinked his eyes just to be sure his they were not deceiving him. Mia was actually in front of him, alive even though she didn't look too well. Piers headed straight for his princess, ignoring the looks of death that the dragon holding her was giving him. He took her frail looking hand in his.
"Mia..." he said with a dreamlike tone in his voice. She smiled gently and squeezed his hand slightly.
"Piers," she whispered. Garet narrowed his eyes at the scene. He was finally meeting the Piers that Mia held in such high regard. At first glance, Piers did seem to be a refined and noble person, which made the dragon prince seem more barbaric than usual.
"Garet, if it's not too much trouble, I'm going to go visit my father, he's in lower Lemuria. I'll be fine, Piers will take care of me," she said.
"It's fine, I don't care," the Martian prince replied mechanically, "You really should be asking Felix these kinds of questions."
Felix nodded his approval. Piers then held out his arms.
"Well?" he said. Garet glared back.
"Well, what?" the dragon prince snapped.
"May I carry Mia?" the blue haired man asked narrowing his icy blue eyes. Garet reluctantly placed Mia in his arms.
"Piers, can you do me a favor?" the Mercurian princess inquired, "Can you allow my friends to stay in the palace?"
Piers nodded. "We're heading that way anyway," he said. The group followed the Mercurians as they made their way through the crowded docks toward the palace. They waltzed past the guards and made it safely into the palace walls.
"You guys hang out here, until I come back," Mia said and waved. Garet stared after them for while. Jenna watched him nervously.
"Garet?" she asked. He turned and walked away.
"I'm fine," he blurted as left the room. Jenna sighed and shook her head. Garet's behavior was really starting to worry her. The dragon girl's worries were cut short by an excited squeal.
"Sheba!" a winged girl with purple hair chirped. She crushed the young oracle in a hug. The two instantly took to a fit of giggles as a blonde boy with wings came in soon after.
"Did you get your heart's desire yet, Feizhi?" Sheba inquired. Feizhi winked.
"Not yet, but I'm almost there," the older girl replied. They started to laugh harder.
"Introduce us to your friends," Feizhi said playfully.
"This is Felix and Isaac, you know them I'm sure," Sheba said as she motioned toward the two she mentioned.
"All too well," Ivan muttered as he glared at Isaac.
"And this is Jenna," she started, "Garet is wandering off somewhere, and Mia is going to visit her father."
Feizhi waved to all who were present
"So, you guys are starting on your journey?" the purple haired angel asked.
"Yes we are," Felix answered. Feizhi paced around idly.
"Would you like Ivan and I to help?" she asked.
"Wait, I didn't agree to anything, why are you dragging me into this?" Ivan yelled. Feizhi fluttered her eyelashes a little.
"I wanted someone to protect me, I was hoping you would," she said sulkily. Ivan rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, why don't you ask Isaac, I'm sure he'd be more than willing to be your body guard," he replied. Isaac looked confused, how did he end up in the middle of the argument.
"We'll help you," Feizhi said as she turned to leave the room. Ivan narrowed his eyes and followed her out the door.
"Why did you do that?" he snapped. Feizhi ignored him and continued down the hallway.
"I don't care if you go on a perilous journey with Isaac, but you don't have to drag me into it!" the angered prince cried to the winged girl. She continued walking down the hall.
"You care if I go," she said calmly. Ivan ran after her.
"All right, fine, it's no use lying to you, you know everything, I do care if you leave. I don't want you to go," he admitted. Feizhi stopped and turned.
"So come with us," she pleaded, "We'll need your help."
"I don't know why you want me to come anyway, you only want to be with Isaac," Ivan muttered.
"Is that what you think this is all about? Ivan, I have absolutely no interest in Isaac romantically at all," Feizhi said solemnly.
"You don't? Then, what—" Ivan began.
"There's more to my wanting to go than a mere infatuation," she said softly, "I'm needed to help save the world, and so are you."
Ivan was silent for a while.
"I'll come," he answered finally. Feizhi smiled and continued down the hall.
"Fei, wait!" he called after her. She turned to him.
"If you don't like Isaac, why did you keep talking about him?" Ivan asked. The winged girl smiled.
"I was only trying to make you jealous," she said with a smile. Ivan stared after her in confusion. Why would she want to do that?
Mia had taken refuge in her favorite chair in the library. Down the hall she could hear the muffled whispers of Piers and her cousins. The Mercurian princess smiled as Megan and Justin swam to her upon their entering the library. She had missed them terribly while she was gone. Piers silently leaned against the shelves as he watched them from a far.
"Mia, Mia, were the dragons scary?" Megan asked as she clutched Mia's waist. Mia patted her golden locks.
"No, they weren't," she replied calmly.
"But Mia, that really big dragon was scary, his eyes glowed all yellow and stuff when we saw him," Justin protested as he snuggled under Mia's arm. The princess shook her head.
"He's not that scary," Mia said as she drew him close. The door to the library opened to reveal the only person who'd been more worried about Mia than either Piers or the children, King Hydros. He came in silently, staring at the wisp of a daughter that sat in the chair before him. She gazed up at him, her blue eyes never wavering, feeling a sudden inner calm.
"Mia," her father whispered as he crushed her in a hug. She smiled serenely and hugged him back. King Hydros drew away suddenly and grasped her thin shoulders.
"Did he hurt you?" he asked pensively. Mia shook her head.
"It's a miracle that you survived this long," Piers said, "I've known others who'd been taken captive, and they—"
Piers grew silent and his gold eyes held an unspeakable sorrow.
"Piers…" Mia said quietly. Right after he had first become admiral, Piers' mother had been taken captive to Martian territory; she didn't even survive two weeks.
"It's just good to have you back Princess," he said with a grin.
"I'm glad to be back to, life as a personal pet mermaid is not for me," Mia said laughing a little. Piers' face grew blank.
"What did you say?" he inquired.
"Prince Garet wanted to keep me as his pet mermaid, so he kept me chained up in his room a lot," Mia answered, "But Jenna—"
Without another word Piers left the room.
"Piers, stop!" Mia protested. She could find no strength in her body to allow her to swim after him. Garet was in trouble, she knew it.
Garet paced the halls solemnly. He had never worried so much about anything in his life. As if hearing constantly about Piers and how perfect he was wasn't enough, now he was actually here, with Mia, alone. Mia was the Martian prince's polar opposite and that's why he was so attracted to her. The Mercurain princess had grace, patience, serenity, and a sarcastic whit that made him grin from ear to ear. She didn't command attention, but at the same time you could tell she was expecting it, and she got it, more than she could ever ask for. Losing Mia to someone who was equally as perfect as she, made Garet feel hopelessly inferior. His depressed musings were interrupted by booted footsteps coming in his direction down the hall. Garet turned sullenly towards the source of the noise. It was Piers. He narrowed his eyes and looked away. This was the last thing he needed, to get in an argument with Piers. It would only succeed in making Mia even more sick and worried than she already was.
"Garet," the blue haired man said icily. The prince nodded slightly acknowledging the Admiral's presence. Without another moment, he found himself eye to eye with Piers. The blue-haired man had taken him by collar and pulled him so he would be eye level with him.
"Mia is not your personal whore," he said, hatred dripping off of every word. Garet felt his rage skyrocket.
"How dare you say something like that! I would never touch Mia!" the Martian prince growled.
"Liar! Why was she kept in chains in your room?" the blue haired man inquired. Garet was silent for a few moments.
"I…I didn't want her to leave!" he snapped.
"Why? Because you didn't knock her up yet?" Piers yelled. Garet couldn't control his anger any longer. Without another moment's notice, he landed a fierce punch in Piers' stomach. The admiral was sent reeling backwards clutching his stomach. When Piers regained his composure, he lunged for the giant dragon, knocking him to the ground. Mia had not been exaggerating when she said Piers could rival Garet in strength. He landed a few harsh blows in Garet's jaw. The dragon prince snarled as he shoved Piers off of him. Before Piers could fully recover from the last blow, Garet had his large, leathery claw wrapped tightly about his throat.
"All I have to do is say one word, and you'll erupt in flames," the Martian prince snarled as his pupils narrowed, revealing a more beastly side to him. He bared his fangs angrily.
"Garet! No!" a familiar voice cried out. Mia came staggering down the hall, leaning on the wall for support. His face went blank for a moment as she came closer. Her face was flushed from running.
"Garet, please let him go," she pleaded gently as she grabbed his arm, "Please."
Tears were already sliding down her cheeks as she gazed up at him sorrowfully. He closed his eyes and placed Piers on the ground. Mia rushed to Piers' side as he gasped for air. Garet walked away sullenly. Nothing could ever compare to the hurt he felt now, knowing that he had caused Mia more suffering. As he retired to his room he collapsed face first into the pillows and wallowed in shame and guilt until he fell asleep.
Mia sighed as she collapsed into her bed. It felt so good to be home, even if it'd only be for a few days. Something bothered her, though; she hadn't seen Alex at all. She wondered where he was. Usually he would take advantage of the situation and spout flowery words. She shrugged off her curiosity and tried to get comfortable, beneath her sheets. Sleep didn't come easy, however, the Mercurian princess lay awake worrying about Piers and Garet. They were both bent on having her, and she must choose which one she cared for more. It felt so unfair. All of a sudden there was a loud crash outside her window. She reluctantly crawled out of her bed and opened the glass panes to investigate. Mia gasped when she saw a very tired Alex was clinging to her window frame.
"What are you doing here?" she inquired as she stared to help him in. He dropped a blue orb in front of her.
"The Mercury Star, keep it safe," Alex panted. Mia held the Star carefully. In a small flash of blue light, she suddenly felt energetic. Alex panted and leaned against a wall.
"Mia, you have to go, now," he said. She nodded and pulled out a small bag and shoved numerous objects in it. She finished just as a dark, finned figure broke through the glass window. Mia in desperation grabbed Alex's arm and rushed out of her room. As she hurried down the hall, she ran headlong into Piers.
"Mia, I—" he began.
"Piers, there's no time, as your princess I order you to pack your bags and meet me at the docks in fifteen minutes," she commanded. Piers nodded and left for his room.
"Mia, go ahead, I'll hold it off so you two can leave," Alex said.
"No Alex, you're injured, I can't do that to you," the blue haired princess said franticly. A high pitched wail was heard in the background.
"Oh my god," she mumbled. The advisor gave her a fierce shove.
"Go!" he cried. The princess hurried down the dark passage ways towards upper Lemuria. She had to warn the others, they weren't safe here.
Ivan was rudely awoken by Feizhi shoving him out of his bed. She was dressed and ready to go, while Ivan leered at her with his sleepy purple eyes.
"What?" he asked groggily.
"We have to go," she whispered, "It's not safe."
"What do you mean it's not safe?" Ivan inquired. Before Feizhi could explain, there was a loud knock on the door.
"Who is it?" Ivan called.
"Sheba and Felix," Sheba called back. Feizhi opened the door. The two of them were dressed, making Ivan feel unprepared.
"Are you ready to leave?" Sheba asked of Feizhi. The older girl nodded.
"What's going on?" Ivan cried.
"Lower Lemuria is under attack," Felix answered.
"Mia has the Mercury Star and is going to get Garet," Feizhi said, "And Isaac heard you two wake up and he's getting Jenna. Piers is coming also."
"Everyone's covered, let's go!" Felix said.
"The sea is a cruel mistress," a voice whispered, "But you know that now, don't you?"
Garet lay listlessly in the water as a million pale, finned figures swam around him. The only heat he felt was from the sun. The unusually golden sun.
"Don't you remember? We'll steal your soul," the voice continued, "We'll keep you with us in the cold dark sea."
The dragon prince shivered. The cold he felt was overwhelming. He felt icy fingers gripping his shoulders as a pale face framed with blue hair came into view.
"Garet!" the creature called softly. The blue hair felt like water as it cascaded across his face.
"Garet!" it called again, slightly louder.
"GARET!" Mia cried at the top of her lungs. Garet's eyes shot open as he came face to face with Mia, who was soaking wet and trying to wake him.
"We have to go," she said quickly, "Alex gave me the Mercury Star and now we're under attack."
Garet didn't need to be told twice he leapt out of his bed and scooped up his bag and his wide sword.
"Are you ready?" Mia asked. The dragon prince nodded. The two of them rushed out of the castle and onto the silent streets of upper Lemuria. Loud, high pitched wails echoed through the misty night.
"What is that sound?" Garet inquired.
"Whales," Mia answered, "The shadow soldiers are using them to draw out the possessor of the Mercury Star."
As they reached the docks, Mia could see Piers waiting for her. Garet narrowed his eyes as he came into view. When they finally stood together Mia sighed and shook her head.
"Now look you two, I don't want any trouble, you hear?" she said sternly. The two nodded in unison and they boarded the boat. By the time the shadow soldiers realized that the Mercury Star was no longer in Lemuria, the group was already long gone.
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The Mars and Mercury Stars are in the possession of our heroes. Ivan, Feizhi and Piers have joined the fight and we have yet to find out why the Wise One wants the lighthouses to be lit, and who the mysterious old man is. Next chapter we will document the search for the Venus Star. Hope you continue reading!
Next Chapter: I'm Your Venus