Chapter 18

Together We Fight

Jenna cringed and leaned heavily on Felix from where they were crouched near the wall. The mists in the chamber before them hadn't settled in the least, creating an impenetrable wall between them, their friends, and Babi. She closed her eyes and buried her face against her brother, weathering through the power of Mercury as it assaulted her mind, making everything ache. Felix tightened his arm around her protectively as her world continued to spin.

"Isn't there anything we can do, Magesty?" Lunpa asked. Jenna cracked one eye open to look at Hydros. The Ancient King looked grim as his golden eyes scanned the thick blanket of mist, much like the shroud around Lemuria and the Sea of Time. His eyes seemed too look inward as he stood unmoving for a moment more. Lunpa moving as if too repeat the question before the King's focus returned and he shook his head.

"No, Lunpa." He said sullenly. "This is, by my guess, Piers' final test. I doubt if even Mia is of any help to him now." The already low mood took another sever drop, moral reaching an all-time low among the eight, or at the moment, six, Adepts.

Jenna felt Felix shift against her as he pulled off his scarf and wrapped it around her. She was a bit confused for a moment, until he settled down again and she realized she was shivering.

"You don't look so good, Garet." Ivan commented, moving over to where the other Mars-Adept was shivering in a corner.

"It-It's just, chilly… that's a-all." He managed, teeth chattering. Isaac glanced over at his friend.

"Garet, your lips are going blue! It isn't that cold down here..." Isaac sounded concerned "You were fine in Imil and Mercury-Lighthouse before." Sheba walked over and crouched down next to Jenna to look over her friend.

"Jenna, you weren't reacting like this in Prox or Tundaria," The Jupiter Adept said softly, worry creeping into her emerald eyes. Felix reached down and took one of her hands, his eyes widened slightly as she noticed how warm he felt.

"I-I'm fine." She stuttered. Jenna tried to ignore her teeth chattering as she curled up against her brother a bit more. Felix had always been warm, ever since they'd been little. It came from him being connected with Weyar, but he was always the one who got cold. Not her. She was like mum, she was the Mars-Adept, Mars-Adepts didn't get cold. Felix didn't look convinced by her statement though.

"You're freezing, we need to get you out of here." He said sternly, his eyes darting to where Garet was in a similar state. "Both of you." Regardless of the nausea that hit her, Jenna shook her head at the suggestion.

"W-we can't leave Mia and Piers d-down here, F-Felix." She stuttered, "T-They might be i-injured when they get out. T-They'll need s-some one here t-to help t-them..." Jenna was forced to close her eyes again as her vision became clouded, it felt like ice was running through her veins. She wrapped her arms around Felix, knowing it would only steel his resolve to take her back, but not caring as she seemed unable to keep herself warm.

Dimly, Jenna tried to focus her energy on herself, hoping a burst of fire would help her retain some of her resistance. But as she reached out for her psynergy, all she found was more pain that made her world spin even faster. Felix sensed what she was trying, and when she failed he rubbed her arms and it was his energy instead which wrapped itself around her.

The warmth helped her regain the feeling in her limbs, but as soon as she tried to move a bit, her head spun and she was forced back down with a groan. Only a few minutes later her legs began going numb again.

Jenna curled up against her brother again, and heard the other talking. She couldn't hear what it was though, but she was startled as Felix moved again to stand. This time though, he helped her to her feet as well, wrapping one arm around her to steady her. Jenna looked over at where Isaac was helping Garet as well.

"B-But Felix, w-we can't go..." She protested. But Felix didn't waver as the group started moving. Jenna stumbled a few times before she was able to force her legs to move properly. Felix keeping that one arm around her the whole time, making sure she didn't fall.

Jenna looked back as the doors fell out of sight,

'Let them be okay...' She thought.

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Mia watched from the mists as the others vanished around the bed, heading back to Lemuria. She felt guilty for playing on Jenna and Garet's weakness to Water, but at least it was getting them out of the Lighthouse.

She let out a relieved sigh as she turned back to the sanctum. There were so many things she couldn't describe at the moment, foremost in her mind being the fact that she wasn't just hiding in the mists, she was a part of them. Mia shook her head as she looked into the chamber, feeling a bit confused as she couldn't see all the way through.

'It doesn't matter, I'll just go through.' She thought with a nod. Mia took a step forward, and felt her toe bump against something solid. She blinked and kicked at whatever it was, looking down she could see nothing in front of her foot. She reached out so that she ran up against it again, then, looking straight ahead, she reached up and placed one hand in front of her. Her hand came into contact with something solid and cold, like ice.

'A wall?' She thought, confused as she ran her hand across whatever was in front of her. Bringing up her other hand, Mia tried to push against the barrier. Trying to ignore the fear the bubbled up as she rammed her shoulder against it, trying to break through. Mia felt her eyes widen as she backed up a step, searching for a way through.

Her breath caught in her throat as she felt her back run up against something solid. Mia spun and placed her hands out, feeling them hit another invisible wall.

'What's going on?' She thought franticly, trapped in the doorway and not able to move either way through it. This couldn't be Piers; she could possibly understand him blocking her from re-entering the chamber, but barricading her way out as well?

Mia turned as she felt a tingle down her spine, eyes searching the small space. Some how, she knew what was coming.

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Piers crouched behind the statue of Luna, keeping one ear open to the movements of his opponent. His head was beginning to pound as he summed up the strength to rocket more water into the air, maintaining the walls of mist, blanketing the space. It was getting harder and harder to maintain his focus, where was Mia?

"I can feel you weakening, Boy." Babi spoke clearly. Piers could sense the other man standing in the center of the chamber, turning slowly in an attempt to feel Piers out of hiding. "No man can hold that power alone, where did the young woman go?" Piers could almost feel the smile creeping into his voice, "Did you send her away, Piers? Perhaps, out past the Chamber walls? Silly boy... You should have taken the time to study that prophecy a bit more. Once she's left, she can't get back in."

Piers scowled, trying not to heed the other man's voice. He knew Babi; this was one of his mind games. Babi sighed.

"You know the power will kill you, don't you, Boy?" Babi asked, "No mortal can wield it without succumbing to death. Not even Lemurians, who, by many, are considered Immortal."

'What, is he suggesting I die now and let him rule the world? I think not.' Piers thought bitterly. He cringed as it felt like he was doused in water, trying to smother his power to make sure the Trident did not pick up on him.

"Yes, your people are considered Immortal, Boy, they live so long, few realize that you can die, and naturally as well." Babi said, almost casually, "When was the last time you drank from the fountain in the heart of the city, Piers?" He asked, his voice like velvet as it took on a slightly different tone, to his memory, this was the first time Piers had heard Babi call him by his name. He hated the sound of it.

"It's like a drug, Boy, I know you feel it. Your body craving the fountains water more and more with each passing day. You're used to drinking some whenever you feel a slight bit parched, and you've been cut off." Piers clenched his teeth, forcing himself to remain hidden as that icy feel returned. "How long has it been? Four months? Five? A whole year even?" He questioned, "You need more of it; that was one of the many things you needed when you returned to the city." He stated clearly "You didn't realize it, did you? How your thirst has been growing these past few months, how the water in your cup just couldn't satisfy you. You felt it, you must have."

Piers swallowed nervously, pushing back the other man's words as he fought to keep his mind straight, tried to ignore the incessant pounding in his head. He just had to hold out until Mia returned, and then it would get easier. He just had to hold out until she came back.

'Mia, what's going on?'

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"You did this." Mia said, voice hard, her words met with a shrill laughter. The water Deity from that crystal maze forming in the screens of mist. White eyes regarded her a moment.

"You didn't think you could get rid of me, did you?" She questioned in that harsh voice, and Mia simply glared at her,

"Let me in." She demanded, the Deity shrugged over-dramatically.

"No can-do." She said in a ho-hum sort of voice, smirking as she gestured to where the walls stood, Mia thought she saw something shimmer in the pale light. "He has his test to complete, you can't interfere. Not with this part, it's a simple idea really. You see, Luna has no doubts about him succeeding in his trials, but Sol isn't so convinced." Mia blinked, was she talking about the Sol and Luna? The gods of the Sun and the Moon? Impossible.

"So? What does that have to do with anything?" She asked, pushing aside her confusion. The Deity smirked again, giving out a secretive giggle.

"See, both of them want him to succeed, they get all sentimental about hurting people of a pure heart and all that." She said simply, Mia felt her eye-brows creep up at this, but forced them back down. The Imp-like creature didn't wait for a reply before continuing.

"They want to give Piers a bit of an incentive to win, like his life isn't enough," she added sarcastically, before continuing "So they asked me to figure out something appropriate." Mia felt her anger rising slightly, not trusting the Deity in the least. Unable to forget her words in the Cavern, or how she had thrown Piers and her into that, pit, or whatever it had been. She glared darkly as the Sprite looked intrigued by her reactions. She gestured to the walls with one blue hand,

"If Piers survives and everything, you are free to go on your merry way, if he doesn't," She grinned mischievously, "Then you stay." Mia blinked,

"What?" She asked in disbelief.

"If he dies," the Spirit said, taking on a taunting tone, "Then. You. Stay. Here. Right here. Right in between these two walls, to help guard the Sanctum." She grinned as Mia felt her eyes widening. Fear working its way into her system as she tried to see past the mists, they seemed to part and Mia was able to see Babi turning around in circles, taking in the whole chamber. Mia placed her hands against the wall as she heard the Spirit's voice one last time as she vanished.

"Forever."

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"Come now, Boy, I know you can't keep this up much longer." Babi said coyly, Piers cringed as that iciness just wouldn't let up this time.

'Mia... where are you?' He thought. A dull ache pulsing through him, causing his head to spin as he was swamped with nausea. He bit back a groan that could give him away. It was becoming harder and harder to ignore Babi's words, as Piers felt the power running through him ebbing away slightly. 'I can't hold out, I need you to help me, Mia...'

"Do you know what it is that binds you to defeat in this match, Lad?" Babi asked in a regal tone. "It is your unwillingness to move on. In the face of such awesome strength, all within your grasp, you will not let go of this empty life you live. The power within you is too much for your earthen form. It will devour your essence and leave nothing but an empty shell in your place."

'Mia...'

Piers squeezed his eyes shut, opening them again to try and rid his vision of the dots floating past his eyes. He was caught off-guard by the Trident's powers this time, and cringed as he somehow felt Babi's contempt. He'd found him, Piers cursed himself as he suddenly found his legs cased in ice. He couldn't explain why though, even the simplest forms of thought seemed to elude him.

He looked up as Babi rounded the corner of the Goddess's Statue, the Trident still held loosely in one hand. His grin pulling tightly at the skin around his aged face, dark eyes alight as he had his pray, and goal, within grasp.

"You cannot be a God, with the body of a Man, Piers." He said simply, using the middle prong of the Trident to prop Piers' head up. The Mariner glared up at him defiantly, readying his power for what he knew would be his last jump.

"You're wrong." He said hoarsely, hating how weak he sounded, "You can't be a God, if all you want is to be a Man."

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"Piers!" Mia screamed, pounding on the wall as he just seemed to appear on his hands and knees on one of the islands in the center of the Chamber. She knew he couldn't hear her as he tried to move away. Only to have his strength give out, and he collapsed to the ground.

Tears streamed down her face as Babi reappeared from where he had disappeared behind Luna's Statue. He looked over Piers' feeble attempts to escape for a moment in interest before he made his way down to the embankment. He moved through the shallow waters to get to the small island where Piers had yet to stand up.

"No! Piers, behind you! Get up! Please, Piers, just get up!" She sobbed. Mia felt fire flare across her shoulder as she rammed her fist into the wall. She was rocketed back-wards a few feet until she collided into the second one. This one made it feel as if she had been stuck by Lightning. Electricity fired through her, forcing her vision to black out for a moment before she collapsed to the ground.

"No..." She sobbed, her right shoulder burning as she forced herself up. She struggled to her feet. One hand clutched at her wound, Ignoring the sharp pain and hot blood pouring down her arm. It was deep, and painful, but not mortal.

"Leave him alone!" She screamed as Babi kicked Piers a few times where he lay. Each time his foot coming contact sending a spasm through him. Mia screamed as what felt like wires cut into her ankles. Forcing her to the ground again. She sobbed un-controllably as she saw Piers manage to roll over slightly, but do little more. Something unseen seemed to be causing him pain aside from Babi's attacks. Mia watched as Piers' eyes drifted over to the doors, her breath caught as she saw his eyes widen slightly.

'H-he can see me?' She thought past the pain, reaching out her bloody hand to rest it against the barrier trying to find some way through. There had to be a way. She screamed again as there was a slice across her back. She felt her cloak being shredded as she was repeatedly whipped.

"PIERS!" She screamed again, his eyes were wide in terror as he watched her torture. Babi looked at the door as well, trying to see what had caught his attention. His eyes moved across the doors, but saw nothing.

Mia tried to reach one hand out to him, she screamed as she felt fire across her cheek. Flung her hand to her face, but it did nothing. Mia felt the skin under her hand splitting open, could feel more blood coating her hand. She understood now what was happening. Every time she tried to reach out she was hurt. Every time there was nothing she could do.

It was something she was becoming used to...

Like when Piers had been asleep, she hadn't been able to help him.

And when he'd been in pain before that, there had been nothing she could do.

And now, she could see it in his eyes, now she was the cause of his pain...

'I don't care.' She thought to herself, unable to stop from shaking in pain, her body screaming for an end. 'I don't care about the pain I feel, Piers, you have to get through this...'

"Piers!" She shouted, her voice faltering, "Piers you can't give up now! Please! D-Don't let him win!"

She threw herself forwards, screaming in agony as she felt something clamp around her neck. It felt like metal, and it was hot enough that it scalded her neck. It jerked her up. Pulling her back against the barrier behind her. Mia screamed her throat raw as it felt like thousands of sharp needles imbedded themselves in her flesh. She was breathless. Tears steaming down her face and neck as the clothing over her heart burst into flames. And Mia felt a red-hot iron slamming down on her.

Everything went black.

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"MIA!" Piers screamed, Babi searched the cavern, he couldn't see what Piers could, But he'd heard the scream. Hell, even a deaf man would have heard the pain in it, it was that raw.

So to Piers, who watched the small amount of blood trickled past Mia's lips, saw the flames over her heart die. Leaving only a blackened; bleeding patch, marring her skin. Who could only watch as her bloody, beaten body collapsed lifelessly to the ground. It was hell, in all its blackest, most unforgiving forms. He'd thought pain had been with him in the darkness, and it had, but it still paled to the grief running through him now.

'Not again... No… no, no, no... I can't loose you again...' He thought numbly, feeling the power coursing through him tearing him away.

Something snapped.

Too much.

Everyone has their breaking point, everyone, and Piers had found his. His tears dried, his lips pulled back into a snarl. He looked over himself in disgust, was this really all he was? Was this all that was left of him? Some poor soul to spend the rest of eternity wallowing in self-pity and shame? No. No, there was more.

"It seems you are all alone now, Lad." Piers felt his anger, no, his rage soar. He noticed a shard of stone next to him, about as long as his hand, with a long pointed edge. Piers didn't feel the pain in his mind, or body. He pushed it all away. A part of him reasoned that it was probably him finally slipping, but even that small portion didn't care.

Enough was enough.

He knew what he had to do.

Piers snatched the shard off of the pearly white stone, flipping onto his back to glare up into his opponent's eyes. Babi was taken aback by his sudden movements, the Trident he had held poised, going slack for a brief instant.To long for Babi.

Piers lashed out, slashing at his attacker's legs. Only able to graze the surface of the man's shin. Babi cursed and glanced down at the shallow wound, it was just deep enough to draw blood.

'Pathetic.' He thought with a sneer.

'Perfect.' Piers thought. He took old of the power slipping away from him; he wouldn't need much for this. He climbed up into a crouch, throwing his hands up in attack, the moment he did so the water in the nearest canal surged up, dousing Babi in an enraged torrent. They drained away quickly, leaving Babi still standing strong.

"What was that?" Babi shouted mockingly, feeling the water retreating swiftly, he broke into laughter. "This is your final move? Getting me wet?" He laughed, prancing around to show that he was fine, an insane smile painted over his. In his show, he failed to notice what Piers was doing.

"Do you know what blood is made of?" Piers asked softly, glaring up at his opponent, allowing his rage to come through his eyes and voice. Babi stopped and met his eyes.

"What do you-?" Babi was cut off; he made a strangled sound as his eyes went wide in disbelief. He glanced down in shock, the wet stone beneath him covered in his own blood. Piers watched in contempt as Babi swayed slightly, stumbling around as he tried to remain standing. Failing, and falling to his knees, breathing hard.

"Y-You can't... No, you aren't a-a killer..." he choked, Piers narrowed his eyes in disgust.

"No," he said simply, "but I don't believe I should allow the water in your blood to fuel you on. So I'm taking it back." Piers concentrated on the water that had seeped into the small cut on Babi's leg, using it to turn the man's own blood against him. Piers pulled it out, all of it, every last drop. One drop for every moment of torment he or Mia had every felt because of him. And the others, and the many people Babi had hurt in his lifetime. Piers' parents, his uncle, Hydros, Lunpa, even the people of Lalivero. All in all, it added up to a lot of blood.

Piers let the power he held fall away, looking over the massive amounts of blood surrounding Babi's corpse. Piers was still on his knees as he tried to gain the strength to stand. He couldn't.

So he crawled, he didn't care how he got there, how he made his way to the doors.

To Mia.

He pulled his weakening form to where he had seen her. For a moment as he came up, he saw nothing. He reached out to where he had seen her, he felt his hand run up against something hard, like a wall that blocked him. He pushed against it, not willing to believe he would be blocked by this, his anger faded swiftly as he found no way through.

'No, Mia...' he thought, feeling defeated, his vision kept blacking out. He cursed the power he could still feel, willing it away from him.

It wouldn't go.

"Mia..." He said, hoarsely, "Mia... where are you? ...I know you're here... Mia..."

"Let me." He couldn't remember the voice, he knew he'd heard it before, haunting him, torturing him... It held none of that cruelness now.

The wall fell away, like the mists that had long since settled down. There she was. Piers could have screamed when he saw her, but he didn't have the strength to. He pulled himself over to her. They were both soaking wet, he didn't care of course.

Gently, oh so gently, he rolled her over, careful of her shoulder, and her back, and, and of everything. He felt tears forming and felt no shame as he couldn't stop them. He could feel no warmth coming from her beaten form as he let himself down next to her. Piers wrapped one arm around her gently, holding her softly against his chest. He didn't have the strength to heal her. His tears bitter as he placed a soft kiss on her forehead, and settled down with her.

He could hardly think,

Breathing was hard,

He couldn't feel her pulse,

He just let his grief carry him away.