Someday, somehow
I'm gonna make it all right but not right now,
I know you're wondering when.
(You're the only one who knows that)
Someday, somehow,
I'm gonna make it all right but not right now,
I know you're wondering when.

Alex himself traveled south, wandering from place to place as to learn more of the lighthouses. Growing stronger as he went. Some day... yes, someday he would have his revenge on the normal people. Revenge for his parents, revenge on the people who'd changed Mia, revenge on all those who made him who he was. He'd been outcast, thrown aside, by enough people.

As fate would have it, he stumbled into a camp one night. One camp that would change his life forever and possibly claim it one day. Whether it was a mistake or not is not for me to tell. You'd have to ask Alex himself.

"Who's there!" A man stood up from the small cooking fire and lit the surrounding trees a blaze.

"Settle, fellow adepts." Alex jumped back and used douse to calm the flames. "I meant not to startle you."

"Saturos, he's a water adept. Ask him what he wants." A woman whispered to her male companion.

"What did you intend on doing, sneaking up on us?"

"I had no intention of finding you at all."

"What are you doing out this late, little boy?" Menardi stood arrogantly.

"What are you doing out here yourself, Vault isn't too far." Alex came back with.

"That is enough, we do not need to speak to you. If I were you I'd continue to where ever you were headed and forget about us before a fight starts." Felix stood as well.

"Felix, you set a great example. Children can't keep their mouths shut. We'll have to deal with this one first." Saturos reached for his sword.

"Wait, Saturos, don't we need a mercury adept for the mercury lighthouse?"

"We'll kidnap that healer in Imil that everyone was talking about- granted we don't find one in Vale."

"You plan on lighting mercury lighthouse, do you?" Alex smirked. "Why fight against someone with common interests? The healer of Imil- Mia is her name. I know her, yes, I know her well. I wish my revenge on her for what she did to my family. A revenge I can only get by firing that very beacon." He stopped, not knowing if they already knew of the power released by the golden sun. "And to see Alchemy restored to the world. The golden age of man restored. Lest our world wither away." He knew his skills, his sharp persuasive tongue. He knew they would accept.

He knew he was lying too. He didn't care for a world full of adepts. Though, to rule such a grand world with the power of the golden sun, to have the mercury clan restored. Yes... maybe this might suit his fancy after all. He could destroy those who'd killed his parents as well...

Everyone was silent for a while. Finally, Saturos snorted. "Fine, you can come."

"I'm sure you won't regret it." He bowed. "My name is Alex."

"Saturos, Menardi, and Felix." Saturos pointed.

"Pleasure, I'm sure." The water adept grinned.

They traveled for quite some time to find information on Sol Sanctum. Finding nothing new, They went to the scholar Kraden who had been sent to Vale for the purpose to study the sanctum.

"I shall catch up to you later then?" The small party was discussing the plan. Saturos and Menardi would go to the scholar and force him to tell them the secrets of the sanctum.

Felix would see if he could find a way into the sanctum seeing as he knew Vale best.

Alex would be near to help if trouble arrived, keeping an eye on both teams and ready to jump from the shadows to startle anyone who opposed.

It seemed a sound plan, at least until the scholar refused every attempt of milking information.

"I have business with someone else." Was all he would say. Thus as you should know, everyone has heard Isaac's story thus I shall tell as little of it as the plot may allow, for this story is Alex's not Isaac's.

While this occurred, Alex was busying himself watching over Imil from a mountain peak. As close as he felt to Mia, he couldn't forget his cause. Mia had forgotten him and she's recognize him once he'd lit the lighthouse.

"I had better check on those reckless fools..." He mumbled as he teleported into the sanctum in time to hear them discussing something about hostages and stars. Luckily, he was good to coming to a conclusion that someone had beaten them to the stars etc.

He transmitted himself in front of a boy with red hair who you know as Garet Jerra. "Will you allow me to take those stars off of your hands?" (note: Genki had my game at this point. I don't have the exact quotes.)

"Alex, you're late!" Menardi scolded.

Alex ignored her, taking the stars from Garet. He could feel their powers already. The stones themselves were this strong... what about the lighthouses, it would make one wonder.

"I fear I must apologize in advance, but you're missing one." The burning sensation of the Mars star inside its bag was missing.

"You told us to give you the stars, now let Jenna and Kraden go!" Garet protested.

"We told you to give us ALL of the stars. Now fetch the last one."

"You want us to get the Mars star?"

"Didn't you hear me?" He nodded. "Unless you want your friends to be hurt." Alex returned to the others. It was then he understood fully. It was clear why the boy would want to protect such a jewel. Jenna's long hair pulled back, that wide-eyed childish look... She resembled someone reasonably.

Mia...

The name echoed through the frozen contours of the man's heart, deepening the crack of dull pain that had plagued him for almost a year now.

Suddenly the ground shook.

"What's happening?!" Saturos shouted above the commotion.

"Where'd the water go?!" Kraden panicked.

"What's that!" Jenna pointed to a giant floating boulder with a single large eye.

They finally came to the conclusion that they'd take Jenna and Kraden with them and leave Isaac, Garet, and the mars star behind.

"Perhaps we shall meet again." Were his last words before following his fellows and hostages out.

Once regrouped outside, the six traveled to Imil. Well, avoiding the town as requested and heading to the lighthouse directly.

-&-

Ame: Hah n-n; I forgot about the bits of Jenna&Alex. But it's just because Jenna reminds him so much of Mia.

Alna: (Grins) I can't wait ti-

Ame: (covers mouth) o-o; Oh, and I mixed horoscope 'science' into the mix XD I guess I should leave that to the part I just wrote in part 4 chapter 2. –gah- it's so cold here this time of year...

Alex: I thought Ma-

Ame: SHHHH!!! Why is everyone trying to- OK! moving on... I'm building a special present and a public apology to my good friend Yui n-n; She just keeps buying me things and takes me along on all her family vacations- and I keep leaving her behind on ours T-T So now I'm off to her house! More edits later! (14. 11. 04, 1:42 PM)