Chapter 4

"Genis…" Lloyd began.

"Noooo!" Genis screamed, "I know she's dead and nothing you say can change that!" Tears started to roll down his face. "Presea…" He fell to his knees and clutched the axe tight. "Why did you have to leave?"

Everyone silently decided to leave him be for a while. They all slowly started to walk away, all of them with an ache in their heart. They had lost a dear friend.

They worked until the sunset, removing rocks. They found many dead bodies, but no live ones.

Finally, the saw it.

The large crack.

"What could have made that?" Colette gasped.

"I don't know, but whatever it is it has immense power." Raine said.

Lloyd approached the crack and kneeled down on one leg. He stared down into the never-ending darkness and wondered how far it went.

Genis suddenly appeared behind them. "I've… I've done my share of crying," his voice was hoarse from the sobbing.

Everyone turned around to see Genis, still holding tightly to Presea's axe.

"Genis," Lloyd began, "You should keep that axe, as a memento of…" he paused, "Presea."

Colette gave Genis a reassuring smile, but his expression didn't change, "You guys," he began, "If Presea's gone, then Regal probably is too."

Everyone blinked at Genis' cold reasoning.

"There's no reason for one of them to leave Altamaria, besides, they don't have Rheairds. Let's go make a grave for them, it's getting dark." He slowly trotted away.

The three followed him without a word. They had to agree with them, they couldn't deny it any longer.

Presea and Regal were both dead.

Gone forever.

Out of their lives.

And will never return, ever, ever again…

Far away, on another continent, a female ninja was training a group of young children the famous Igaguri style. The class was all wearing red training outfits.

"Alright, class!" She boomed.

Everyone stopped and turned toward their instructor.

"Everyone has done exceptionally well today. Class is over for today-"

Abruptly a large crash was heard outside.

Sheena quickly went alert. "Class, stay inside! I'm going to take a look what's happening outside."

"Yes, maam!" the children replied in chorus, although there was nervousness in their voices.

Sheena quickly ran slide the wooden door open. She ran with incredible speed outside and looked around. What she saw made we step back and gasp. In front of her were many houses up in flame. The fire quickly spread from building to building because of the wood. People were seen running from houses: Mothers carrying their children, men quickly bringing precious belongings outside to avoid the fire.

Suddenly, the house behind her caught in flame, then erupted with a boom. It was the house that contained the children.

"Everyone," Sheena commanded, trying to sound as strong as she could, "Evacuate Mizuho! Hurry!" She ran into nearby houses to check if there were still people inside, she had to save as many people as she could. Ignore what just happened, she thought, there's nothing you can do about it. Worry about who you can save now.

People started running toward the village exit.

But something very strange happened as people were making their way out.

A dark cloud appeared in front of the group and started turning. "Revenge…" it groaned. A large laser appeared below the cloud and sprung toward the ground. A large explosion appeared, follow by many rocks flying into the air. The people didn't even have time to scream, it ended in less than a moment.

Sheena had heard the large sound and ran back outside, she sadly couldn't find anyone inside. She gasped in horror when she saw the rubble. She looked around and then came to a sad realization that the whole village was under the rubble.

"Grandpa… everyone…"

"You…" a familiar voice began.

Sheena spun around and saw the cloud. "It's you! I saw you the other day! I- I wasn't imaging it after all!" She started to glare at it. "You're the one who killed the people of my village! I'm going to avenge them no matter what!" She pulled out her cards and charged at the cloud.

"You… It's you… another one…" Two red glowing "eyes" appeared on the cloud.

Sheena looked into the eyes and stopped. She saw all of her friends. "What?" she gasped. "How do you know all of us?"

"You… will die…"

"Mithos…?" Her eyes widened and she started to sway back and forth. I can't believe it! You can't be Mithos… you-you're… I… ahh!" she groaned. "Whatever! I'm not just going to sit around and do nothing! I'm going to have my revenge no matter who or what you are!" She began to charge at the cloud. She leaped over the rubble with grace and soared toward the cloud. "Die!" She swung her card at the cloud.

But it just went through… like thin air.

But Sheena didn't pause, she was enraged and just kept trying to hit the cloud. But in the end it was all in vain.

Then, the cloud shot another laser out at Sheena. But Sheena was too fast for it, she bounded out of the way and landed on a pile of rocks. "Too slow!" she taunted.

But then, the laser turned right and went right toward her, like a lock-on missile.

She gasped, but managed to avoid the laser barely. However, it hit the pile of rocks under her, causing it to fly up and land… right on top of Sheena.

The dust rose and settled, and not another movement was seen.

"It's not enough…." The cloud groaned, "they all will die…" and it evaporated into thin air.

Slowly, a rock started to shift aside. A hand came out of the pile and pulled aside another rock. It slide down the hill and hit the ground with a thump. Sheena arouse from the pile, scarred and bruised. Her hair was pulled down, and her clothes were ripped. She wiped a trickle of blood from her forehead. "At least I'm alive," she grumbled. She looked around… "I'm sorry… Grandpa…" she whispered solemnly.

Suddenly, she fell to her knees coughing. "Heh, maybe I'm a little more beat-up then I thought." She coughed some more. "I have to tell the others… Let's see, I'll start at Meltokio." And suddenly, she disappeared in a puff of smoke.