(A/N: Okie, it's done with! I think this is the fastest post I've ever done! Wow! Now, I didn't exactly lie last time, but I said that it would finally meet up with the game. It did to a point, but now we're finally officially here! Expect this fic to be EXTREMELY long. I use all of the original dialogue for the scenes plus a little of my own embellishment, in case anyone was wondering, or recognized the scene with Saturos and Menardi confronting Isaac and Co. Well, grab a drink, some snacks, pack a lunch, dinner, and maybe breakfast, and read on! This one's a long one, but I won't cut any part of this chapter. We'll finally get the Elemental Stars and go on our merry little way! It's too intense to make everybody wait! ... tho obviously if you're reading this, you must have played the game which means you already know what happens... ^^; Ah, me... Well, here you go! Enjoy! ^_~ )
Part 8: Past and Present
Saturos led the group down the hall, Felix and Menardi close at his heels.
"Odd," he murmured, running his hand along the wall.
"What's odd?" asked Felix.
"This was one of the pathways that was damaged during our first visit here," Saturos said, looking back at Felix.
"Why is that strange?" Felix asked.
"Because it was entirely caved in," Menardi said. "But it isn't any more..."
"Maybe someone came up and repaired it," Felix suggested.
"No," Saturos said. "They don't allow anyone up here. Not even many of the healers have been up here, let alone let into the sanctum."
"So then how was it fixed?" Felix asked.
Saturos lifted his hand from the wall, confused. "That's what I'm wondering."
"Someone else is here."
Saturos, Menardi and Felix all spun around to see Alex following them. Menardi, not realizing who it was, had already drawn her scythe, the blade aimed at his chest. Alex sighed and pushed it away as the other three let out a breath of relief.
"Where have you been?" Saturos asked quietly.
"About," Alex answered shortly, walking to stand beside Saturos. "There are others here, Saturos."
"We know," Menardi said. "Kraden and three children."
"Was this part of our plan?" Alex asked.
"Not originally," Saturos said.
"Then why are they here?" asked Alex. "I thought you two went to get Kraden to get him to show us the path into the Elemental Star Room."
"He didn't know anything."
"What?" Felix asked.
"He hasn't even seen the Luna and Sol Rooms," Menardi said softly.
Alex shook his head and cursed. "That complicates things."
"No," Saturos said. "No, it doesn't. Not really..."
"Well, how are we supposed to get the stars with four witnesses here?" Alex said haughtily. When Saturos didn't answer, he said, "You see? It does complicate things. It complicates them considerably."
"Perhaps they won't find the Luna and Sol Rooms," Saturos snapped back at him. "They don't know this place like I do. It's practically a labyrinth, and they can't teleport like you can."
"Still," Alex said softly. "I'm not sure I like the idea of us doing this while other eyes may see us-"
"We may not have a choice," Saturos snapped. "I am not leaving this sanctum until the elemental stars are in my hands."
Alex looked at Saturos a good long moment before letting out a long sigh. "Fine," he said finally. "I'll meet you at the Luna and Sol Rooms momentarily." And as quickly as he appeared, the man vanished in a swirl of water.
"I hate it when he does that," Menardi spat bitterly.
"We're not far from the rooms," Saturos said hurriedly. "Come on."
* * *
Saturos hurried up the corridor, walking quickly on the stone. He looked back at his companions speaking softly. "There's no path to the Elemental Star Room open, so the other group is probably lost somewhere inside. Now hurry, the Sol Room is just in-"
Saturos halted as he reached the stone archway leading into the Sol Room.
"What is it?" Menardi asked as she reached his side.
"I thought this was suppose to be the Sol Room, Saturos," Felix said quietly.
"It was!" Saturos insisted. "At least... I remember it was."
"I know it was," Menardi said. "But it's changed."
"That's ridiculous," Saturos sighed. "How could something carved into stone possibly chang-"
"Isaac! Hurry down here! See what's happened!"
Saturos and the others quickly rushed out of the room, hiding in the hallway again in the shadows cast by the room's faint glow.
"What is it Kraden?" asked a voice.
"Look! The symbol on the floor! It's changed from Luna to Sol!"
"So?" asked the second voice.
"Hurry, Isaac!" Kraden's voice came. "Let's look around here some more."
Saturos barely glimpsed around the corner, staying in the shadows as Kraden, Isaac, Garet, and Jenna hurried into the Sol- now Luna- Room.
"The symbol here changed, too!" Jenna gasped.
"Something else down here must have changed," Kraden said to himself. "Let's see if we can't find it..."
"Kraden," Isaac murmured, wandering over to the wall. He pointed to a small hole where a bright light was shining through, casting a tiny pillar across the floor. "Was this here before?"
Kraden pushed his glasses up over the bridge of his nose, coming closer to examine the wall. "Why, no. I don't believe so..."
"What?" Garet asked, then plunged his finger into the hole. "This?"
Suddenly a bright hole of light appeared, radiating out from the hole. Before the young man could withdraw his finger, he had been sucked in the portal.
"What the?!" Isaac exclaimed, jumping back.
"Garet!" Jenna gasped.
Kraden clapped his hands giddily. "This is marvelous!" he said to himself, then turning to shake Isaac, shouted, "We found it! We found it!"
"Ouch! Hey! Ooh! Kraden! Found- hey! Stop! Kraden!" Isaac screamed, finally prying the old man's hands off him. "What are you talking about?!"
"Isn't it wonderful?!" Kraden asked ecstatically.
Isaac stared at the old man in disbelief. "My friend was just sucked into that thing," he said, pointing to the portal, "and you think it's wonderful?!"
"Don't you see?" Kraden said hurriedly. "It's the path to the Elemental Star Room!"
Jenna raised an eyebrow. "The what-?"
"Hurry!" Kraden said, and dove into the light.
"Wait a second! Kraden" Isaac called after the old man. "H-how do we know if this thing's safe?!"
"Come on, Isaac," Jenna sighed, grabbing his arm. "I guess we're going to have to go in after them."
The two stepped into the light and were gone.
"Oh, no..." Saturos murmured.
Menardi looked at him. "Don't tell me... Things have gotten complicated?" Saturos nodded. Menardi cursed angrily and slapped her hand on the marble floor. "I hate it when Alex is right!"
"It's too late to turn back now," Saturos said, standing. "We have no choice but to go in after them."
"But they'll see us!" Felix gasped. "They'll come after us! Do you really think-"
"They won't have any idea where to follow us to," Saturos said quickly. "And besides, we're not leaving without those stars. Now, come on!" he said, hurrying into the room. "Here's our chance."
Menardi and Felix followed Saturos into the room when Felix paused.
"Wait," he said. The two Proxinians turned and looked at him. "What about Alex?"
"What about Alex?" Saturos echoed.
"He was going to meet us here," Felix said. "We can't just leave them."
"We don't have any time to spare," Saturos argued. "That portal could close at any moment!"
"Then Alex would be locked out," Felix stated pointedly.
Menardi frowned. "Is that a bad thing?"
"We may need him there as well," Felix said. "We can't afford to leave him out."
Saturos cursed, knowing that the boy was right. "Well, Felix," he said. "What do you suggest?"
"The portal probably stays open for a certain amount of time after someone enters," Felix began to explain. "So I could stay out here until Alex comes."
"And if he doesn't?" Menardi asked.
"He can stay out here for a few minutes, waiting to see if Alex shows up," Saturos said, finally consenting. "But if he doesn't, then come and join us immediately."
"I will," said Felix.
Saturos sighed and stepped up to the light, staring at it worriedly. "Ready?" he asked Menardi who stood behind him.
"Ready as you are," she said, not looking at all nervous to be wandering into a portal that they weren't even sure where it led.
Saturos swallowed hard and gave a sharp nod. Then he stepped into the light.
* * *
Saturos landed hard on his stomach into a thick green dirt on a large plateau. He knelt and began to brush himself off when something forced him to the ground again, giving a soft 'oof!' Saturos groaned as Menardi hurriedly got off of him, murmuring over and over again how sorry she was, and if he was okay.
Saturos lifted himself to his feet, quickly pressing a hand to her mouth and pulling her back into the shadows just as Kraden walked by in front of them.
"Careful Isaac! I don't want either you or Garet slipping!"
"We won't!"
Saturos tried to quietly brush the dirt off his chest, hiding behind a large turquoise rock that glowed softly in the darkness around them. Saturos looked up to see a cloudless sky full of multi-colored stars. Green rocks floated up above a sea of clear, glass-like water, reflecting the stars above. The air around them was thick with darkness, but the vibrant green rocks around them glowed with a faint blue-greenish hue, casting a faint aura around them. Even the dust Saturos brush off of his clothing glowed, creating a bright cloud as he brushed himself off.
"Are you alright?" Menardi asked him quickly.
"I'm fine," Saturos said, glad it was dark. His cheeks were burning violently with a blush.
"Good," Menardi said, peeking around the corner of the stone. "Why... If they aren't getting the stars themselves!" Menardi gasped.
"What?" Saturos asked, looking out from behind the stone.
"Look," Menardi said, pointing to a nearby pillar of rock. A tall, white marble statue stood on the pillar, holding a small blue orb of light. The boy, Garet, held a metallic silver colored bag in one hand, and with his other, gently nudged the star into the bag. He handed it to Isaac who quickly tightened the string and put it on his belt.
Menardi ducked back behind the rock, looking at Saturos. "They're stealing the stars!"
Saturos let out a mild chuckle. "Why would they be taking them? They don't even know what they're for."
"Good job, boys!" Kraden called out to them. "Now go and get the others!"
"Kraden," Jenna laughed. "You're as giddy as a school girl..."
Menardi looked at Saturos, as though to say, 'I told you so.' Saturos looked around the Elemental Star Room frantically. "What? Th-they can't take them! They don't know what to do with them! What is Kraden going to do? Study them?"
"I don't know," Menardi murmured, "but we can't allow them to take them."
"Right," Saturos whispered. "Now's our chance, while those boys aren't watching."
Menardi nodded, grabbing her scythe and releasing the blade. Saturos began to reach for his sword, but then remembered what had happened earlier, and decided better against it. He only stood, withdrawing the small, Proxinian dagger from his ankle, then nodded to Menardi to move.
Neither the elder nor the young girl noticed as they drew near. Saturos held the dagger tightly, hoping he wouldn't be forced to use it.
"Pardon us, Master Kraden," Saturos murmured quietly.
The old man turned around, surprised to see a blade pointed at his chest, nearly touching his tunic. His wrinkled face and unusually kind blue eyes looked stunned, if not a little bit panicked. "You," he murmured, obviously remembering them from the cottage.
At this, Jenna spun around, finding the blade of the scythe pressed to her throat. Her dark cherry-brown eyes looked frightened as she followed the blade up to the scythe's wielder. Menardi looked at her, feeling a lump rise in her throat. Now she knew why Saturos had not drawn his sword. But it was too late. She had already started down this path. She could not show weakness, not now. "I don't want to have to hurt you, little girl," she said quietly, though Jenna didn't hear her, too startled over the sharp blade at her neck.
"Leave her be," Kraden said to Saturos, glancing over at Jenna. "She is no part of-"
"I'm afraid you made her a part of this, Master Kraden," Saturos said quietly. "But don't worry. No one will be hurt if you all just co-operate."
"Kraden! Jenna!"
Saturos and Menardi looked over where the two boys stood near the statue that had recently held the Jupiter Star. They were looking at Saturos and Menardi worriedly. Garet began to run toward the next pillar when Menardi pushed the blade closer to Jenna's neck, the girl gasping. "Not a step, more!" she shouted, freezing him instantly in his path. Menardi looked at Saturos.
"It looks like they've spotted us," he sighed bitterly.
Menardi clenched her teeth. "I thought we'd be safe until they'd gotten all of the Elemental Stars."
"You..." Kraden gasped, staring at Saturos. "You mean to steal the Elemental Stars!"
Saturos almost laughed. "Master Kraden," he grinned, shaking his head. "Are you calling us thieves?"
Menardi smiled slightly as well. "As I recall, aren't you the one who began to steal the Elemental Stars?" She moved her scythe from Jenna's neck and grabbed a handful of the girl's tunic. "Go over to the old man," she said, giving her a slight push.
She stumbled into Kraden who caught her carefully, Jenna now watching as Saturos stepped in front of them and Menardi behind, holding her scythe. She tried not to look frightened, trying to sound brave as she demanded, "What will you do with us once you have the stars?"
"I'm sure they'll do us in once they have no more need of us," Kraden whispered to the girl, glaring at Saturos.
"Relax," came a voice from behind them.
Menardi glanced over her shoulder to see Felix walking toward them. He must have given up on the hope of Alex's arrival. He walked past Menardi and the two, standing next to Saturos. "You will not be hurt," he said to the old man and the girl. Then looking at Saturos added, "That was our agreement, was it not?"
Saturos looked worriedly at their two hostages, and said, "That all depends on how well they co-operate."
Felix seemed to panic a moment, not expecting this answer from his Master. He was about to protest when Menardi cut in. "They'll be safe as long as they hand over the Elemental Stars." Felix turned to look at her, the Proxinian raising her eyebrows in question. "Isn't that enough?" she asked him, as though questioning his loyalty.
"We won't hurt anyone without cause, Felix," Saturos said to the boy quietly. "But remember why we do this, Felix. This is for Prox. This is for Weyard. And we will not leave sol Sanctum without the Elemental Stars, and we will have those stars, no matter what the cost, understood?"
Felix nodded. He understood, but that did not make him feel any better. It wasn't only that he was hesitant to take a life, but that these lives belonged to some of his childhood friends.
No...
Not his friends.
Some other Felix's friends. Some other Felix that he had once been in a distant time with a family he once knew as his own. He no longer belonged to that past, nor did he belong in his family anymore. Saturos and Menardi was the only family he had, and the only past he would look to.
He watched as Saturos stepped forward to the edge of the stone plateau. "You heard us!" he called to the boys. "If you wish to save your friends then give us the Elemental Stars!"
The two boys began to talk amongst themselves. After a while, Menardi grew impatient and shouted, "Do you accept our terms?"
Felix watched as Isaac turned, his blonde hair hanging in his cold blue eyes. He stared at them with such hatred. It almost frightened Felix. Isaac had grown so much in the short three years he'd been gone. So had Garet, and Jenna.
And so had he.
Garet and Isaac whispered again to each other, Isaac giving a sharp nod and then shouting, "you will not have them!"
Saturos was about to admonish the boy, when Kraden shouted out. "That a boy, Isaac! You must not give them the Elemental Stars!"
Saturos, in a moment of anger drew his sword, pointing it at the two who immediately silenced.
"Saturos," Felix murmured worriedly, but Saturos did not hear him.
"Why would you deny us?" he demanded of the two boys, then turned back to the two others, placing his sword under Jenna's chin and forcing her to look up at him. "Don't you want your friends to be safe?"
"Get your hands off of Jenna!" Garet screamed out, rushing forward.
"Don't you?!" Saturos shouted furiously, turning back to the boys. He looked back at the two, then with a sigh, lowered his sword.
"What kind of guarantee do we have once they've given you the Elemental Stars?" Kraden asked.
Saturos paused, then looked at Felix. They had not been expecting this question. Felix shrugged, unable to think of a guarantee of some sort, then the two looked at Menardi in question. "I have one," she murmured.
"What?" Saturos asked.
Menardi bit her lower lip, reluctant to mention the guarantee.
"What is it, Menardi?" asked Felix quietly.
Menardi sighed. "You will have to remove your mask," she said, just loud enough for the two boys to hear.
Though no one saw, Felix paled terribly underneath the plaster mask he wore. "But th-that... That means..." His heart leaped up into his throat. This wasn't part of their agreement. He couldn't allow for the people of his past to find that it was he, Felix, who held his own sister captive. What sort of a person would they take him for? He couldn't allow for his past life and his present life to finally merge and become one, not yet. It would be too painful. It would hurt too much.
"Ah! Of course," Saturos said softly. "It's a fine idea." Saturos motioned with his hand to Felix. "He will be our guarantee." Saturos looked at Felix, waiting for him to move. Felix couldn't even lift his fingers up to his mask. His hands felt heavy, as though his fingers were made of lead. Looking at Saturos desperately, he shook his head. Saturos sighed softly, looking at the boy, sorrow in his eyes. "Under the circumstances we have little choice," he said quietly.
Felix tried to speak, but found no words to plead his case. He finally managed to bleat a tiny, "I can't."
"Felix!" Saturos hissed softly. "Remove your mask! Now!"
Felix swallowed hard, reaching up toward the mask. He brushed it, only to quickly lower his hand in worry. He vigorously shook his head of long brown-cherry hair.
Menardi looked at Saturos, obviously thinking the same thing she was.
Puelle had been right.
Menardi sighed, looking at the boy intensely. "What's the matter, Felix?" Menardi said, emphasizing his name. "Don't you want them to feel safe?"
"Saturos," Felix pleaded softly.
Saturos shook his head. "We have to, Felix," he whispered.
"Felix," Kraden murmured softly to Jenna. "Wasn't that the name of your brother?"
Jenna looked at the masked man, Felix feeling the pain in her eyes sting him. She looked so lonely. Her eyes had lost the sparkle he'd remembered from their childhood. They were now empty. Empty and lonely.
Her eyes searched the mask, unable to find any trace of Felix, the brother she once knew. She stepped back toward Kraden, the only safe place around her, she felt. "But that accident," Jenna whispered. "M-my brother... he-"
No. Felix didn't want to hear it. He didn't want to hear how his entire family was crushed by the boulder. He didn't want to remember how it felt to die. He didn't want to hear how she thought they were all killed in the flood. That was the life he had left. But now, he had to help Prox. He didn't want to hear Jenna's story; he couldn't face his past, but the only way to stop her was to face his past. After a moment of indecision, he spat out:
"I'll do it!"
Saturos and Menardi looked at him in shock, surprised at the intensity in his voice. Felix looked at Saturos and nodded. "I'll take off my mask."
Felix could feel as all eyes were placed upon him. The weight was nearly unbearable. He was about to turn back, run back into the portal and away from this place of his past. But, no... He had come this far. He could no longer turn away, and he knew that. He took in a shaky breath, turning his back on Jenna, Kraden, Menardi, Saturos, Isaac and Garet. He lifted his hands to his face, curling them around the edges of the mask. It was strangely cold beneath his touch, freezing his fingers, telling him he must continue. It was the only way. He had been running from his past for so long, and now it had caught up with him. He only wished it could have been in some other way.
Gripping the cold plaster edges in his hands, he took in a quick breath of anticipation. This was the moment. His moment.
He gave the mask a sharp tug, the soft breeze rushing to his face, drying the little sweat on his skin. It was off. He felt his heart race and a cold thrill race up his spine. Tightening his muscles in conviction, he slowly turned around to face his past; no longer through eye holes and behind a wall. It was face to face.
And the regret came fast.
"It's..." Jenna began, her tan face gone horribly pale. Her eyes filled with tears as her chest rose and fell, she struggling to keep breathing. She tried to shake her head, but was unable to move it. She stepped further back into the protection of Kraden's arms, her eyes wide and full of fear. She spoke again, shaking her head violently. "It's not possible!" Felix swallowed hard, taking a step forward, Saturos not moving to stop him. Felix neared Jenna, reaching out toward her, pausing.
"Is he..." came the soft murmur from the boys in the distance.
Isaac.
Felix felt his heart lighten with the burden of secrecy gone. He felt the longing to be with his sister again, the feeling he had drowned out from his soul, suddenly resurface. He wanted to go back all along, he realized, but now he understood he could never go back. Too many things had happened. All he could do was tell her what happened, but even if she accepted him, he would never be able to return.
"I know I've caused you much grief, Jenna," he whispered, she staring at his hand as the fingertips barely brushed her shoulder. Felix smiled a little at the warmth of his little sister's body. It was good to see her again. But he could not go back. All he could do was...
He looked over his shoulder to Saturos, smiling at him, Saturos's face unchanging, neutral to the reunion. Felix turned his glance to Menardi, sighing.
"It was a miracle I survived that day..." he whispered, almost to himself.
"We are the ones who saved him," Saturos announced to Jenna, hoping to gain a little of the girl's trust. Jenna didn't hear him. She only continued to look at the hand, her own moving away from her body as thought to take it.
"I've been with them ever since..." he told her, watching as her fingertips neared his, they nearly touching. He sighed, continuing to talk, not sure if she listened. "I've experienced... a lot." He reached out to take Jenna's hand, wanting to feel her warmth again beneath his touch. Jenna suddenly recoiled her hand away, clasping it against her chest and staring at Felix, her gaze clouded as she stared at Felix strangely. She didn't know him, Felix realized. He was not Felix to her. He was no longer anything to her. He was her past, and that would be all he could ever be. He listened intently as she spoke.
"Why?" she asked tinily. Felix's eyebrows dropped, looking at his sister in curiosity.
"What?"
"Why?" Jenna repeated, her eyes filling with tears, stepping backward, away from this alien claiming to be her brother. She looked up at him with the same eyes, the ones that saw him as a stranger. Her eyes were empty toward him. She didn't know him, and still she wanted to know who he was. Or perhaps why he was. He felt a pang of sorrow as she whimpered to him, her eyes suddenly recognizing him. "Why did you leave me all alone..."
"Jenna..." he said softly, feeling the front of his eyes hurting from the lowered eyebrows. Her face changed as she finally recognized him.
"My own brother..." she whispered softly, her face becoming hazed with anger. She suddenly screamed at him, her face contorting with the rage she felt, no longer able to contain it. "I thought you were dead!"
Felix was stung by her words, a soft pain following each beat of his heart as he attempted to make sense of what he already knew. He opened his mouth to speak but was quickly cut off.
"Save this teary reunion for later," Saturos murmured to Felix, seeming a little upset with Jenna for the harshness of her words.
"That's right," Menardi quietly agreed. "The Elemental Stars come first."
Felix looked at Jenna one last time until she finally looked away, pressing her lips tightly together. She refused to speak to him again. Felix resumed his strong stance. Though they now knew who he used to be, he needed to now show them he'd changed. Looking at Saturos, he gave a sharp nod.
Saturos smiled slightly. He was glad to see Felix was taking this all so well. "Is this acceptable?" he asked the two boys. "Felix would never allow us to harm you... or his sister."
"Felix will be our guarantee," Menardi said. "Now bring us the Elemental Stars."
The two boys quickly discussed the issue, Isaac not seeming willing enough to let the stars go without a fight. Garet grabbed the stars from the boy, pushing him backward. He hurriedly jumped onto the next pillar, starting toward the plateau on which they stood. A sudden splash of water near frightened Garet off of the stone, but luckily, a hand shot out and grabbed his tunic, pulling him forward so he regained his balance.
"Would you permit me to relieve you of those Elemental Stars?" Alex asked Garet cordially.
Saturos sighed at the sudden appearance of their fourth companion. "Oh, Alex," he called out. "You're late."
"My deepest regrets, Saturos," Alex said with a slight shrug. "But it could not be helped."
"No matter," Saturos sighed, though it was clear Menardi didn't entirely agree with him. He looked at Garet who was unsure whether or not to give the man the stars. "Alex is another of our companions," he explained quickly. "Hand the stones to him."
Garet slowly edged toward Alex, muttering darkly under his breath, "All that work for this?"
Garet handed him the bags, all made of the finest woven mythril. Each bag was heavy with a star the size of a small melon. Though they were slightly large, they seemed not to weigh anything. Alex quickly opened each bag, examining the contents, surprised.
"One, two, three..." he counted again, the same total coming about. He sighed, attaching the bags to his belt and nodding at Garet. "I'm afraid I must apologize in advance, for you will be bringing us the remaining Elemental Star as well." With that, Alex levitated himself into the air, starting toward Saturos. Garet suddenly realized that Saturos had made no move to free either Jenna or Kraden.
"Hey! Wait a second!" Garet shouted. Alex turned at the sound of the boy's voice, looking down at him questioningly. "You want us to grab the other one for you, too?
"Oh," Alex said. "Did you not understand me?"
Garet clenched his fists angrily. "You said you'd free Jenna as soon as we gave you the Elemental Stars," he snapped angrily, then glared at Saturos in the distance. "You promised..."
Alex sent a questioning glance Saturos's way. If Saturos had made a promise, it wouldn't do him well to break it. But Saturos slowly shook his head. "No, my friend," he said. "We want you to bring us ALL the Elemental Stars."
"Now stop grumbling and bring us that last star," Menardi added, a rough edge to her voice. Felix looked at her in confusion. This wasn't like her. In fact, none of them were acting like they should have been, he noted.
"Thank you for your co-operation," Alex said shortly, nodding at Garet. "We'll be waiting for the rest."
Alex levitated over to Saturos and the others, Saturos greeting him with a nod.
"Good work, Alex," he said as Menardi came closer.
"Saturos..." she said worriedly. "What about what happened last time?"
"What?"
"Three years ago," Menardi murmured, not willing to say anymore than that.
Saturos shook his head. "We're already in the Elemental Star Room," he assure her quietly. "What could go wrong?"
"What do you mean?" Alex asked, giving them a side-long glance.
Saturos glanced at Alex then looked back where the boys were grabbing for the stones. "Nothing... It's nothing."
"What happened three years ago?" Felix whispered to Menardi.
"The flood," she said shortly.
"Other than the flood."
Menardi looked at him, then looked away. "I'm not even sure."
"Nothing happened," Saturos growled, not willing to remember that day.
Kraden began to calmly recite as he watched the boys reach the pillar with the stars, "Terrible retribution for those who take the stars-"
Felix frowned. "Terrible retribution-?"
"Quiet!" Saturos snapped, getting irritated by the old man. "The last thing any of us need is more of your old village mythology."
Saturos folded his arms across his chest, looking to where Isaac and Garet stood, poised near the statues with a mythril bag ready in hand. Garet held the bag open under the statue's hands, the star casting a soft glow across his face in red. Isaac reached over the arms of the statue, then positioning his hand, tapped it into the bag. Garet drew the drawstring tight, then held it in the air for the others to see.
Saturos looked around quickly, not sure what to expect. He, too, had heard all of the tales about the horrible things that would happen if the Elemental Stars were ever disturbed: tales of the Guardian of Weyard, and fire and brimstone. So he waited, and waited...
But nothing came.
Menardi looked at him questioningly. After a moment, Saturos finally nodded. It was safe. Nothing had happened. He looked over at the boys, "Come and bring us the final star!" he called.
Then it began.
It was so quiet one might not have noticed it, but the ground was trembling also. Isaac and Garet stepped away from the edge of the stone as it shook slightly. Then as quickly as it began, it ended.
Menardi looked at Saturos. "Di-did you just-"
Another rumble, louder and more violent than the first, then silence again.
"Hurry with those stars!" Saturos shouted at the two boys, but they didn't mov. Both Isaac and Garet were frozen, looking around the cavern frantically.
The rumble began a final time, but this time, it did not stop.
"Saturos," Menardi murmured as the rumble grew louder.
"It will pass," Saturos said surely, not so much as to comfort Menardi as to comfort himself. He no longer sounded as sure, an knowing that frightened Felix a little. What in the name of the elements was going on?
The rumbling grew louder, filling their ears until it felt like it would burst. It ended with a loud crash like that of a thousand thunders, shaking the ground violently. On of the pillars near by toppled over as a large stalagmite fell, hitting it. Saturos looked up, no longer to see a star-filled sky. A piece was missing, a large area of red rock showing where the piece of sky had crumbled from. Another piece fell, the once beautiful room destroying itself.
"What's the matter?" Menardi murmured, her voice filled with confusion. "What happened?"
A wild jolt threw them all to their knees as the quaking grew worse. "No," Saturos hissed to himself. "Not again!"
"Again?" Felix asked, shouting over the rumbling.
The stone they stood on jerked at a rough angle, the shock of the force causing Jenna to begin rolling down the stone.
"Jenna!" Felix cried out. No longer afraid for his own life, Felix slid down the rock toward his sister.
"Felix!" Saturos shouted.
Felix didn't hear. He made it to the edge of the stone almost the same moment as his sister. He wedged his foot against a large rock, then grabbed his sister's hand. Jenna hung just barely off the edge, too frightened to scream, but not so much as not to move. With a grunt, Felix tried to pull her back up onto the stone, but he wasn't strong enough. He wasn't half as strong as Menardi or Saturos. Even Alex with his slender figure was much stronger than he was.
"Felix, I'm slipping!" Jenna cried.
"Don't let go!" Felix shouted, feeling her fingertips slowly sliding from his grasp. One hand dropped down, Jenna letting out a soft cry of fear.
"Felix!"
"Don't let go, Jenna," he shouted, trying to pull harder. Every muscle in his body was strained. He couldn't hold her for much longer. He felt her little finger slid from his hands. He tried to hold tighter, only to feel her slipping much faster than before. Then,
Saturos's hand reached out just as Jenna slipped from Felix. His arm wrapped around the rock, and the other hand holding Jenna's wrist. He began to pull her up. Felix grabbed her other hand as she swung it up, clawing at the ground frantically. Jenna scurried into her brother's arms, all three breathing hard.
"Are you alright?" Felix breathed.
"The water," Jenna said, pointing down below them. "The water's gone..."
"Saturos!" screamed Alex, he Menardi and Kraden still kneeling where they'd been before. "We have to get out of here!"
"But the star!" Saturos shouted.
"Without the energy of the Elemental Stars, this chamber will collapse!" Alex shouted. "I'm not lying, Saturos!"
"We can't just leave!" he yelled back. "Not without the Mars Star!"
Finally the shaking stopped.
"It's over," Menardi whispered, looking at Alex who was helping Kraden to his feet. He extended a hand to her and lifted her up. "But what was it?" she asked.
Alex sighed. "I'm not sure, but we'd better get out of here before we find out."
Saturos looked at Felix, breathing hard. "You okay?"
Felix breathlessly nodded.
Saturos smiled slightly at the boy's reaction. "Well then, let's-"
"What is that?!" Jenna shouted, pointing at the ground below the stone pillars. Saturos stood, looking over the edge toward where the thing lay; it looked like a huge rock, floating near where the Mars Star's statue had been. Suddenly, it opened it's one great eye and blinked.
Felix jumped to his feet, Jenna in his arms as Saturos slowly rose. "No," he murmured to himself. "There's no way..."
"Could it be..." Kraden said quietly.
Alex's eyes narrowed as the large thing's eye scanned the area, it's gaze stopping on Isaac and Garet. Alex confirmed what was in all their minds.
"The Wise One," he whispered, staring at the stone, hardly able to contain his emotions. "Such power... Incredible."
"Wow..." Jenna murmured tinily.
"It must be the guardian of the Elemental Stars," Saturos said quietly.
"This doesn't look good," Felix said, backing up from the edge, starting back toward the group. "M-maybe we should get out of here while we still can."
Saturos nodded, but Menardi obviously did not agree with Felix. "But we still need the Mars Star!" she shouted, pointing in the distance where the boys would be. She looked in that direction longingly. "We can't leave it behind..."
Saturos looked at Alex, hoping to get a final vote of the group's intentions. Alex folded his arms, a thoughtful look coming over his face. He closed his eyes to ponder for a moment, then, opening them, he softly said, "I agree with Felix."
Menardi's jaw went slack in shock. "What?"
"We're no match for a guardian of any sort," Alex said matter-of-factly. "It would be committing suicide." Alex looked over at Saturos and gave a helpless shrug. "However, it's your choice, Saturos."
Saturos let out sigh, nodding slightly. "Yes... The Mars Star will have to wait for another day." He motioned to the group with his head. "Let's get out of here, before-"
"What about Isaac and Garet?!" Jenna said urgently, her voice rising in pitch at her increasing anxiety. She looked at Saturos, her eyes pleading. "You can't just leave them here!"
Felix and Saturos exchanged a glance. Felix looked just as stressed as Jenna for his old friends to be trapped with seemingly no way out. Saturos couldn't hold his friend's desperate gaze. It was true the two boys had the Mars Star. If they were unable to get the star, the lighthouse would not be lit. However, it they died in the process of getting the star-that could be later acquired for the price of now- they would lose all hope of the lighthouses even being lit.
Saturos stared at the two boys for a long moment, then turned to Felix, grabbing his forearm, "Forget about them," he said, more asking him than telling him. He looked over at the two boys, then helplessly shrugged. "They won't make it out alive."
The group nodded and began to ready themselves to go. Menardi quickly crossed to Saturos, looking extremely worried. "But, Saturos," she whispered. "There's still a chance that they might survive..." The other two Adepts looked up at this. Menardi had brought up a very good point. Saturos was almost tempted to ask what they'd do if they did escape? Come after them?
The thought nearly made him smile, but he bit it down and said, "Anything it possible... So, what do you suggest we do?" Menardi lowered her eyes.
So, Saturos thought to himself, she, too, has no plan in this regard. The two Proxinians found themselves looking over at Jenna and Kraden, the two humans hurriedly discussing how to best help their friends and escape in one piece now that they were no longer held hostage. Felix now stood over there also, though Jenna was trying her best to pay him no heed.
Alex suddenly stepped up and joined the group, looking thoughtfully at Jenna. After a moment, he nodded. "I have a plan."
"What?" Saturos asked, looking at him.
Alex motioned with one hand to the old man and the girl. "We take this Jenna with us," he said softly. Saturos gave him a look as though he were crazy. He couldn't break a promise to Felix! He wouldn't!
"No," Saturos said, shaking his head. "No, there has to be another way."
Alex turned his body to entirely face Saturos, explaining his reasoning. "If those boys survive, they'll want her back..." Alex looked over at Jenna ponderingly. "And if they want her back, they'll bring the Mars Star."
"Puelle said not to bring anyone who wasn't already involved," Menardi snapped. "He said not to spill nor spoil any innocent blood-"
"Regardless," Alex said, cutting her off, "Kraden must come with us. He is too deeply connected to all of this. Alex looked at Saturos with a confident look Saturos would agree.
Saturos said nothing for a while, then, knowing there was no other choice, he slowly nodded, "Excellent idea, Alex," he said quietly and not at all enthusiastically.
Alex clapped him on the shoulder to offer a little support, "Saturos," he pressed, Felix finally . "This is all we're doing! We'll just take Jenna along with Kraden, and by so doing-"
"W-wait a second..." Felix stammered as he walked over to the group. "A-Alex, are y-are you breaking the promise we made before we left?" Jenna and Kraden looked over at the group. They heard what Felix said, but they weren't quite sure what it meant for them.
Alex looked at Felix, eyes cold as ice. "Conditions have changed since we made that promise," Alex said, pushing past Felix toward the others.
Felix, usually the one to back down from a fight, shook his head. "No..." he murmured. Alex didn't stop. Felix reached out, grabbing Alex's arm tightly, stopping him in his tracks. "No!" he said, more firmly this time. "Jenna's no part of this! I won't let you hurt her!"
"Felix," Saturos murmured, touching the boy's shoulder. Felix's grip loosened as Kraden stepped forward, looking at Saturos desperately
"Do what you want with me," he said quickly. "Just let Jenna go!"
Felix looked at Saturos. His brown eyes were full of concern. Saturos looked to Kraden, sadly, shaking his head. "Your bravery speaks well of you, Old Man," Saturos said quietly. "But you cannot help Jenna now."
Menardi stepped to Felix, grabbing his forearm in an attempt to comfort him. "If we leave Jenna, she will surely die," she said, trying to give a small margin of justification to their actions. She shook Felix slightly to try to get him to look at her. "Is that what you want... Felix?" she said quietly.
Another jolt jostled the cave. Alex looked impatiently at Felix, "Perhaps we ought continue this elsewhere, Felix," he said. His eyes left no room for debate.
Felix looked over at Saturos who only sighed and started toward Jenna and Kraden.
"Felix," Jenna whimpered as Saturos neared them. Felix stepped forward, but Alex grabbed his arm.
"Please," he asked calmly, "can we go now?"
Saturos and Menardi had their eyes on Felix as well. Feeling overly pressured by Alex, Felix sighed bitterly. "Do as you will," he said, eyeing the ground.
"Thank you," Alex whispered genuinely to Felix and patting his shoulder.
Menardi nodded slowly, putting her arm on the girl's shoulders and guiding her toward the large golden gate that would lead them back to the real world. "Let's make haste," she said, looking back at Saturos and the others. Jenna accidently stumbled over a rock, Menardi hurrying to help her regain her balance, putting her hand on Jenna's back.
"Hey!" Felix shouted, stepping forward, only restrained as Alex put a hand on his arm. "Don't push my sister!"
Menardi frowned, looking at Felix in shock. "What?" she murmured, then her anger spiked, "Who do you think you're talking to? You owe us your life!"
"Menardi," Saturos said warningly. Menardi glanced over at Saturos who shook his head curtly. She quieted a little, looking a Felix, trying to hid that she had been stung by his accusation.
Saturos sighed, trying to relax himself, and turned to Kraden, nodding at him. "Master Kraden," he said, motioning with his hand to the door, "you will be joining us, of course."
Kraden and Saturos stepped first into the light disappearing into the realm they came from. Menardi followed them, thinking Jenna was right behind her. Felix gasped as the room shook violently again, it suddenly getting worse than even before.
He looked over at Jenna, "we need to hurry, Jenna."
Jenna looked back over her should timidly at Felix and Alex, then over toward Isaac and Garet. Suddenly, giving no sign of her intentions, she rushed over to the edge, Alex holding her back. "Isaac! Garet! Don't die!" she shouted, struggling against Alex to get closer to her friends.
"Jenna!" shouted Garet, Isaac trying to restrain him.
"Come on, young one!" Alex grunted, pushing her toward the gate. Jenna looked angrily at him, then finally walked into the light. Alex was about to follow when he realized that Felix was still staring at the two boys.
He sighed, stepping up to stand beside Felix. "The Mars Star," he murmured thoughtfully. "It's a pity we have to leave it..." He looked at Felix, smiling slightly. "But perhaps we'll be seeing it soon." He finished hopefully and looked at Felix. The young man knew it was time to leave.
"Perhaps," Felix finally murmured, turning away from the boys. He stepped toward the light slowly. "Let's get going," he said, hoping that travel would work his anxiety out of him. He stepped first, Alex pausing to look over at the boys once more. He sighed, and then he, too, stepped into the light.
(A/N: Now I'm done. I think by far this is my favorite chapter. Even using the original dialogue, it's clear that they ARE NOT the bad guys in this story. I really like how Alex was portrayed. Though after playing through GS: Lost Age, I developed a kinda loathing for Alex, I thought that it was probably more of a front he put up. If you read his mind (whenever he lets you, that it) you can tell he actually does have feelings, which makes it very difficult for me to write him as a pure bad guy. Saturos's character also came out very well. He seems to be a lot more uptight about all their doing, trying to do the best he can as a young leader, and Alex kinda uses that to his advantage. Foolish Alex. Grr... But, as one of my personal favorite bad guy actors, Christopher Lee, once said, "I don't play bad guys, I play real people." (For all those who don't know, Christopher Lee was Saruman the White in LOTR, as well as Count Dooku in Star Wars: Episode Two. **fangirl in her kicks into high gear.** Yay Star Wars! ^_^**is happy** ^_^ Well, I hope you enjoyed it. This is my favorite so far to have written. I'll update soon as I can. Until then, R&R! Not to mention come back for my updates! ^_~ Luvs and such!)