(A/N: I know, I know, my New Years resolution was to update every week. So I figured it might be a good idea to do the right thing, and as with every other resolution, break it... jk. Well, we'll get right to the reviewer, then go straight to the story:



Wolfy129-

I'm so-o sorry! I'm actually a huge animal lover, too. It's just that I didn't exactly see the little mage gnomes and toadstools as intimidating. Wolves just have that majestic grace to them, and I thought they'd be perfect for an intense scene like that. If you want it changed, I could have Saturos and the wolves go frolicking through a meadow of flowers... No? I didn't think so either. I just won't have them fight wolves next time. Cute faces you typed, btw!



Sora-

Yay! Someone who knows about Iago! Great play, Othello. King Lear does give him a pretty good run. I don't know. Maybe it was a photo finish or maybe a tie. ^_~ But if you think his character was complex already, this chapter nearly made my head explode. He's getting WAY hard to write! ;_; But it's still fun.



Sora G. Silverwind-

I'm glad you've enjoyed it! It's nice to have Alex be so complex! I think I'm actually an avid Alex fan too... ~^_^~ *blushes* And it's nice to see I've converted yet another to Pro-Proxinian mayhem! ^_^ *is please*



Vyctori-

I thought you like the Menardi goes kick @$$ part. It's my personal favorite too. This chapter might upset ya, (no Proxshipping yet.) But as soon as their out of the lighthouse, I think I'm going to turn up the heat. Nothing 'R' or really even 'PG13' rated, but it's only SO obvious those two are a couple. ^_^ I suppose the reason I put that thing about the Shaman rod in there was because it was driving me nuts! The guys need a freaking motive or they wouldn't have taken the stick! What are they going to do? Sell it? Hunt with it? And yes, Hammet was very... Hammet-y. I imagine him as a Santa Claus type-a-guy.

Kevin C-

It was really hard to use the real dialogue and still portray the characters in a good light, esspecially the 'don't push my sister' thing. I still think my explanation is a little corny, but it worked. It should be even harder when it comes to the Venus Lighthouse scene, even the Mercury scene. But I'll try. Glad you liked it! ^_^



Lyon-

Thank's for reviewing! Even a little line or a few words makes me happy! ^_^



oBsCuReDoblivion13-

First off, awesome screen name! Second off, YAY! Another Proxshipper! ^_^ *is pleased*



fredde184-

Saturos is probably at the top of my list too along w/ Felix! ^__^ *pauses, and looks around warily* Oh, crud. I hope Vyctori and Menardi didn't hear that...



Empress Dotdotdot-

See! It is possible to like Proxinians and Alex... I think. I guess we'll find out in the next Golden Sun, ne? BTW, has anyone got any word on when it's due out?



Evo355-

Hey, if you like my fic, read the ones by Vyctori and Empress Dotdotdot, 'Blaze,' and 'Lighter Side of Darkness.' If you liked mine, you'll like theirs... Gosh, we three are becoming like some sort of unholy triumvirate... Little scary, huh, guys?



Well, I think that wraps it up! Enjoy, and since I typed this one really fast, expect many amusing typos... Enjoy! ^_^ )





Part 12:

The Old Alchemist







They had stopped only momentarily in Bilbin to get warmer clothing for Jenna and Kraden as they were heading north, and potions at one of the small shop to further treat Saturos's wounds. Saturos thought it was odd how much the different apothecaries looked alike. All that he had ever seen had been female and looked almost exactly like one another. (A/N: LMAO! Sorry! *wipes eyes of laughter tears* I had to throw that in there somewhere... Anyway...)

"We're almost there," announced Saturos as they reached the top of the hill. His other companions joined him, looking down into a shallow valley with a frozen lake at one end and a small village with a towering lighthouse at the other.

"Home," Alex sighed aloud. "It's good to see it again after all this time."

"I understand exactly how you feel, Alex," Saturos sighed. He knew what it was like to be gone from home for months and years at a time, then to finally come back, see the places you knew and those you were friends with. Yes, he knew exactly how Alex must be feeling.

"How could you live out here?" Jenna demanded. "It's freezing!"

No one responded, but Felix looked back at her and let out an exasperated sigh. Leave it to Jenna to kill a mood.

Alex didn't seem to much care, but Felix noticed that he was like that most of the time anyway. He could be in the most desperate situation with no time to even think and he would look more calm than if he'd been lying on a beach somewhere in the Eastern Sea. Felix wasn't sure whether to admire him for his cool and calm composure, or to be worried that he wasn't more attentive. He knew that under that calm facade, Alex's mind was running like clockwork, some mess of gears and smoke spinning around in rapid, organized chaos. In a way, that frightened Felix. You could never tell what Alex was thinking. And whenever Alex got close to telling any of them, he would suddenly go quiet. He'd put up that mask again, and hide himself from them.

Felix hated him for that. He'd never been good at hiding his emotions. He wore his heart on his sleeve at all times, emotions openly exposed to the world. If only he could be like Alex and hid what he was really thinking. Saturos once told him it was a gift to be able to express himself. He said that he had always had trouble with finding the right words to say. Felix wanted to tell him he never tried to find words. They all just came out before he could stop them. And if he didn't just say it, his stomach lurched painfully, like when he was sick, and just like when he was sick, he couldn't stop his body from letting the words go, most of the time in all the wrong ways.

Like when I got in that fight with Saturos, Felix thought bitterly. He'd gotten ahead of himself. He just felt so betrayed that Saturos hadn't shared all of his thoughts with him. Since Felix was so used to sharing everything with everyone, it never really occurred to him that others didn't speak all of their feelings quite so openly.

"It's been about a year, hasn't it?"

Felix was brought back to the moment by Menardi speaking.

"Nearly," Alex answered. "You came just as the sickness was beginning to die down..." He looked at the town and let out a heavy sigh. "We've come at the season it's usually at it's worst at." He pulled his bag back over his shoulder and looked at Saturos. "We shouldn't stay here long. The longer we do, the more likely it is we'll catch the sickness."

Saturos nodded, then motioned with his head to the rest of the group. He didn't have to say anything more. They'd stood looking at the village for long enough by now. It was time to go there.





Saturos could smell the sickness in the town the moment he passed through the gates. Even Felix, whose senses were much duller than his superior's could feel it.

"There's no children out," Jenna murmured quietly, pulling her scarf more around her neck.

Alex sighed, turning his face away from the group. "That's most likely because there are none left."

"And this happens every year?" asked Menardi solemnly.

Alex nodded. "It takes many of the elderly..." He paused and lowered his voice, looking back at the group. "And nearly all of the children." He began walking up the trail toward the sanctum, speaking to them quietly. "Every year it has been getting worse and worse. More are dying. Eventually, it would wipe out our entire village... But not anymore."

Felix was about to ask what he meant, but they were interrupted by a door a few homes down bursting open, a young woman, perhaps Jenna's age, coming out with another woman, a mother probably, standing in the doorway, talking quietly. Children's cries came from inside the house and the woman's eyes were red, like she'd been reading by candlelight for too long.

"Here, keep these," the girl said, pressing a bag of herbs into the woman's palm. Using her other hand, she closed the mother's fingers over the package. "Give them to Thomas and the baby in about six hours. If the fever returns before then, come and find me, but I'm supposed to go and help Mariahn and Jehmes." The girl lowered her eyes, and said quietly, "their eldest boy has just caught the sickness."

The mother shook her head sadly and wiped a few tears from her eyes. She looked at the girl trying to find some words to express gratitude, or maybe sorrow, but she found none, and simply pulled the girl into a tight embrace. "Coatlicue bless you, Mia."

"Thank you," Mia said softly, then quickly added, "And may she fly to your house in your hour of need." The mother nodded as she broke away, wiping tears from her face. She went back inside and closed the door, waving at Mia once more before it shut. The girl sighed, turning away from them, starting down the road when Alex finally spoke up.

"Mia?"

The girl turned around, quickly wiping a tear from her eye. "Yes," she began, before she'd even saw them. She stopped suddenly as she realized who it was. "Alex?" she gasped quietly.

Before he could respond, the girl had rushed over and tackled him around his neck, laughing joyously. He spun her around once, then put her back down. She pulled him back, patting his arms underneath the thick blue material of his shirt. Her gloved hands reached up to grab his chin, feeling his face, his cheeks, his hair. She looked ready to cry.

"By the elements... It really is you."

Alex smiled. Saturos hadn't seen him smile in ages. The young Mercury Adept put his hands over hers and took them holding them gladly. "Yes, I'm back."

Mia glanced swiftly over his shoulder at the others. She did a slight double-take at Saturos and Menardi's odd looks, not something they weren't already accustomed to, but was accommodating nonetheless. "You brought friends... More than when you left if I recall," she said quietly to Alex.

"My companions?" Alex said glancing over his shoulder. "Yes, we have added two more to our group."

"Not by our choice of course," Jenna felt inspired to add. Felix elbowed her lightly and she chuckled dryly. Mia laughed lightly as well, though more out of confusion of whether or not the girl was actually serious.

Alex quickly drew her attention away, taking her forearms and talking softly. "You'll have to excuse Jenna. We've traveled far, and she's most likely tired," he explained.

Mia's eyes widened. "Oh, how rude of me!" she gasped almost to herself. "That should have been my first concern!" She started back down the path toward the front of the village. "We just built that cottage at the front of the village. It's not quite an inn, since we hardly ever have any visitors save the occasional pilgrim, off to see the four lighthouses," Mia joked quietly with Alex. "You know how that is. But there are more than enough rooms for you all."

"And food?" asked Jenna hopefully, getting another elbow from her elder brother.

Menardi, ever gracious, began, "We wouldn't want to impose-"

"Oh, you're not imposing," Mia said quickly. "It would be an honor to host to any of Alex's friends."

The reached the house, a small red cottage with a green heart painted on the wooden door at the front. Mia opened the door wide, letting them in. The room was dark, the candles on the mantle and on the hanging chandelier melted low and long gone out. A thin layer of dust was on the table as Saturos ran his finger over it, then brushed the bottom of a brass candlestick.

Mia walked toward the fireplace, tossing log from a small pile onto the fireplace. "I'm sorry it's a little dusty," she said hurriedly. "No one been in here in so long."

"It's alright," Saturos said. "We're just glad to have a place to stay."

Mia's hands searched the mantle. "Now where did I put that flint..." she murmured to herself. Saturos looked at the fireplace, still not lit. It seemed as though they wouldn't have a fire started until Mia found her tools. Casually, he cleared his throat and a bright, golden flame burst onto the wood, shimmering brightly.

Alex whipped around, sending him a furious glare as Mia murmured, "Well, would you look at that..." She put back the flint she'd found, shaking her head. "I guess I don't need this after all... What could've caused that, do you think?" she asked Alex who turned from Saturos, still a little flustered.

"Uh... must be the weather," he said hurriedly, then turned back to Saturos.

"What?" the Proxinian chuckled.

"Well, I have a few more stops to make today," Mia said, starting for the door. "Beds are upstairs and blankets are in the hall closet. Make yourselves at home."

"Thank you, Mia," Alex called after her.

The door shut behind her and the group set about to settling in.

"I get a bed by a window!" Jenna shouted as she rushed up the stairs. Menardi sighed and tossed her hands up in the air, setting every candle in the house alight while Kraden dropped his things on the floor, then sunk into a great easy chair near the fireplace. The other four gathered around the table, Alex withdrawing one of his scrolls and spreading it wide.

"Well, we're here," Saturos sighed, setting the candlestick on the edge of the scroll to hold it open. "Now what?"

"We'll head out to the lighthouse tomorrow," Alex said softly. "I think we could all use a little rest from that journey."

"Undoubtedly," Saturos echoed, smoothing the old parchment. "So what do we need to do in order to light the lighthouse? I'm assuming we can't just waltz up to the Aerie and toss the star in."

"Of course not," Alex chuckled mildly. "The builders were much smarter than that." He pointed to a layout of the lighthouse, detailed on the scroll in sea-colored ink. "First, it talks about 'honoring the heart of The Goddess,' or at least that's the closest translation I can give you."

"What does it mean?" Saturos murmured softly.

"I don't know," Alex commented dryly. "Perhaps that's why they call it a puzzle-"

"I meant do you have any ideas as to what we would do to honor the heart of 'The Goddess?'" Saturos asked irritably, drumming his fingers on the table.

"Not yet," Alex sighed.

"Maybe you'll have a better idea once we get into the lighthouse," Menardi said.

"Perhaps," Alex responded with a nod.

"Is there anything else?" asked Saturos.

Alex pointed to a chamber in the upper section of the lighthouse. "Here... something about the ' Goddess of Rainbows.'"

Felix raised an eyebrow. "'Goddess of Rainbows?'"

Alex glared back at him. "As I said, that's the closest translation I can give you."

"He who honors the heart of Goddess shall stand at the center of all, like a swan at the-"

"What?" Alex asked, turning to the old man standing behind him.

Kraden leaned over his shoulder, pointing at the first part of the lighthouse. "See, right there. That's what it translates to."

The four companions looked at each other little confused. "Right," Saturos said, slowly nodding his head. He and Alex leaned their shoulders toward each other, trying to block Kraden's view, lowering their voice to talk.

"Anyway," Alex sighed. "I think it probably means that we have to offer a sacrifice of some sort."

"Sacrifice?" Felix said, a little shocked.

"Not like an animal sacrifice or anything," Alex quickly assured him. "Just something like bring so many of a certain herb, or a self concocted potion. Something of that sort."

"Maybe we have to bring a swan," Menardi said dryly, running a hand through her hair.

"It's talking about your psynergy."

Everyone sighed again and turned toward Kraden, not looking particularly pleased.

He shied away a little, but then stepped forward between Saturos and Menardi's chairs, pointing at the room again. "They have this in every lighthouse," he told them anxiously, like a little boy explaining how his favorite toy worked.

"Have what?" asked Felix.

"Rooms where you prove that you are of the chosen clan that lighthouse represents. Like this one; Mercury is water. So the Water Adept among you must prove he is a Water Adept."

"And you know this how?" Saturos asked to the old man.

"I've studied scrolls similar to these since I was a young boy in Lord Babi's palace, thank you," Kraden said, a little agitated. "I've noticed rooms like these in each of the lighthouses, though Mars Lighthouse is a little more complex. There's always at least one room where psynergy, or at least I suppose it must be psynergy, unique to the element must be used to reach the Aerie."

Alex scoffed lightly. "I doubt your translations are anywhere near to the truth about what we really need to do in the lighthouses."

"I doubt that," Kraden snapped, pushing his glasses back over the bridge of his nose. "I would bet that if you alone were to try and enter, say, Venus Lighthouse, you wouldn't be able to because you control the power of water, not earth."

"I highly doubt tha-"

"Wait a moment," Saturos murmured aloud. "That would make sense."

"What would?" asked Felix.

Menardi had already figured it out. "That's why we couldn't get into the lighthouse at Contigo," she said, slamming her hand angrily on the table. "None of us were Wind Adepts!"

"That would make sense," Felix said.

"Are you saying that this old Alchemist, who doesn't even control the power of psynergy, would be more knowledgeable about Mercury Lighthouse than I, who have served as it's protector for years?" Alex demanded.

Felix nodded. "That sounds about right."

"It's absurd!" Alex snapped, glaring at him.

"It never crossed your mind it might be true?" Saturos echoed.

"He isn't even an Adept!" Alex blurted.

Kraden sighed. "And I suppose that means I can never study Alchemy or make any suggestions about it at all, correct?"

"Really, Alex," Menardi sighed, glaring at him. "You aren't exactly being fair. You aren't all powerful and wise, you know."

Alex said nothing, but sat back in his seat, grumbling to himself.

"What else do you think about Alchemy?" Saturos asked Kraden, mildly curious.

The old man's eyes lit up. He grabbed a small, three-legged stool from near the fire and pulled it at the table where the Adepts had moved to make room for him. "Well," he said, taking off the small pair of bifocals and cleaning them on the edge of his robe. "After what I've studied, I think that the lack of Alchemy is actually, literally, strangling and killing Weyard."

"You think it's shrinking," Saturos said, almost as excited as Kraden himself.

"More than that," Kraden said quickly. "It's disintegrating, eating it self to get what it lacks in the power of Alchemy. I've looked at maps dated back to one thousand years ago, compared to modern maps, and the continents seem significantly smaller."

"And in order to save Weyard..." Saturos began.

"The lighthouses must be rekindled," Kraden finished, beaming.

"This is exactly what our hypothesis was!" Saturos said, almost ecstatic that he wasn't the only one who thought so.

"So you were in Vale for more than just a short pilgrimage," Menardi said, a little stunned.

Kraden flushed slightly. "Well, I admit, I did need some help in getting the stars. An old man like myself can't be running around in alternate dimensions... Not at my age!"

"So Isaac, Garet, and Jenna," Saturos said. "You had them help you."

"You used them," Felix said softly.

Everyone paused to look over at Felix.

"Beg pardon?" asked Kraden.

"You used them!" Felix said standing, a little more irritated now. "They don't have the same beliefs as you, Kraden! They think they're practically damned for what they've helped you do! Jenna could have died! Isaac and Garet already are dead!"

"Felix," Saturos said quietly, trying to calm him.

"No!" Felix said. "Don't you realize it's your fault they're dead! Nothing could have survived that blast!"

"I think you underestimate your friends, Felix," Kraden said quietly.

"I think you overestimated them," Felix said, still a little shocked. "You could've gotten Jenna killed, just like Isaac and Garet, and they never would have known what for! You can't just get people to help you without their permission! It's not right!"

"What was I to do?" Kraden asked, standing and looking at Felix cooly. "Allow the world around me to rot and die? They would never have helped me, let alone spoken to me, if they had known why I hoped to climb Mount Aleph."

"We could have done it all on our own," Felix said.

"How was I to know you were coming?" Kraden asked. "Really, Felix, you must understand my situation. Besides, I didn't expect the mountain to react the way it did. I didn't mean for anyone to get hurt. They may not even be hurt!"

"I doubt that," Felix snapped back, sitting down again. "Either way, the people of Vale know without a doubt those stars are gone..." He shook his head. "I'm just afraid of what's going to happen when I go back... They'll never believe why I did it... Why I helped you guys."

Saturos sighed, looking at Felix brother-like. "Felix," he sighed. "You'll just have to accept what they believe. We were in the same position as Kraden was. We went in there, not really knowing what to expect. It would be better for just a few to perish than for an entire world to dwindle away."

"That doesn't make it right," Felix murmured.

"Maybe not," Saturos said. "But it is the truth. Think of all the people in Prox you've helped to save. People in Imil or to the far South... Think of all the good we've done... Kraden's done. And we did managed to save your sister."

"Yeah," Felix murmured.

"That doesn't mean we don't feel sorry for whatever happened to your friends," Menardi quickly assured him. "But Saturos is right. Others will live because of their sacrifice."

"Let's just hope we don't have to make any other such sacrifices on this journey," Alex said quietly.

"Amen," Kraden murmured reverently.

Felix sighed deeply, lowering his eyes. "I'm sorry, Master Kraden."

"Don't be," Kraden said softly. "I'm sure were I in your shoes I would have had the same reaction."

Alex sighed, reaching out and smoothing the scroll again. "Can we get back to business now?"

"Yes," Saturos said with a slight nod. Kraden stood, starting away from the table and back to his easy chair. "Master Sage," Saturos called after him. Kraden turned. "We would appreciate your input."

Kraden quickly hobbled back to the stool and sat down again and the four along with the old alchemist began laying out their plans.





* * *



The next morning, everyone awoke to the smell of sweet, spiced porridge and eggs. Mia and a little girl named Megan from the sanctum had come to make them breakfast. Everyone gathered around a long rectangular table the two girls had brought in, eating large spoonfuls of the porridge, tearing into warm rolls, or shoveling egg down their throats.

Alex poked at his food tiredly. He wasn't hungry. He couldn't say exactly why. Well, the truth was, he knew why, but he couldn't tell any of his companions. He doubted any of them would understand.

He stood from the table, took his plate and started for the small kitchen at the back of the house through another door. He nearly ran over little Megan who was running toward the table with another large bowl of porridge. He laughed quietly, starting to the sink where Mia stood, sleeves of a long white tunic rolled high above her elbows scrubbing a large pot she'd cooked porridge in. She wore a plain, simple blue skirt, her thick, winter robe hanging on a hook on the other side of the room. Alex set his dish in the sink, taking up a damp sponge to scrub the remnants from his plate.

"Did you enjoy your breakfast?" Mia asked without looking up from her cleaning.

If I had eaten, maybe, Alex thought, but kept it to himself. "It was wonderful," he murmured.

Mia sighed, smiling to herself as she scrubbed the pot. "It's so good to have you back at last. The sickness has hit us harder this year than it did last year, and you remember how bad that was. It's so good to finally have someone back to help with the-"

"We'll be leaving in a little while, Mia," Alex said almost silently.

Mia looked up from the sink. She said nothing for a moment as their eyes met. Slowly, she nodded and turned back to the pot, murmuring a tiny, "oh." She began scrubbing again. "You aren't staying."

Alex set his plate in the sink with a slight clatter, Mia wincing. "Look, I'm sorry, Mia," he said, a little angry that she was making him feel bad again. It was just like when he left her the first time. He knew she wasn't trying to make him feel guilty. It was just Mia's way. But it infuriated him that this would be so difficult for him. He wanted to just shout at her, somehow neutralize the feelings between them, but he couldn't find any words. Not only couldn't he find them, he didn't want to completely severe himself from her. He wasn't ready.

He thought he had already cut himself off to her, but he remained, a single thread caught onto the memory of her. He could break it at will, but he had tied himself too tightly to her. He didn't want to let it go.

Mia nodded at last, taking in his words. "I understand," she said, almost silently. "It's just that... well, I hoped I could-"

"I can't stay, Mia," Alex cut in. "It's just that simple."

Mia still didn't look up. "I don't think so. "You're trying to hide something from me, Alex." Alex opened his mouth to object, but she continued, "and don't try to deny it. You were the same way when you left." She set the pot down. Her sea eyes were full of sadness, not anger. She set one hand, soap suds up to her elbow, upon her waist, looking at him. "Do you really think I don't know you so well, Alex? I decided then not to question you, but I am truly beginning to worry about you. You didn't even know these people when they first arrived, and you left on a whim. You didn't even tell me what for-"

"I know them now, don't I?" Alex said, his voice rising a little. Mia turned away, starting to scrub the dishes again. Alex sighed. "Mia, look, I'm not trying to avoid you, or make you feel bad, it's just-"

"What then, Alex?" Mia demanded, her anger beginning to surface. "Trying to protect me? I am no longer a child, Alex. I am almost eighteen years old!"

"That doesn't mean you have the right to know everything!" Alex shot back.

"Then what don't I have a right to know, Alex?" she demanded. "Answer me that? You are hiding something from me; you just admitted it." She paused, turning away, wiping her hands on a rag. "It's just..." She sighed deeply, setting the rag on the wooden counter, hugging her waist. "I'm worried for you, Alex... I'm worried you gotten yourself in over your head, like that year with Grandfather..."

"Can we please not bring him into this," Alex said softly.

"No," Mia said, turning back to him. "Don't you remember? The year we went to Colosso? You tried to help some boys get their money back from a group of robbers-"

"Stop it, Mia," Alex murmured.

"And Grandfather had to come and save you! Don't you remember?"

"Of course, I remember!" Alex snapped at her, stepping forward. "You think I haven't tried to forget that? How embarrassing it was to have to be rescued by my own grandfather... I was shamed in front almost every youth in Tolbi!"

"Is your pride so important?!" Mia shouted. "Was that any reason for you and Grandfather to get into that huge argument? You two hardly ever talked after that!"

Alex sighed bitterly and turned away, not willing to talk to her any further.

Mia stepped forward, grasping his arms from behind, sighing softly. "I'm not saying you weren't doing what was right, Alex. I'm just afraid that you've bitten off more than you can chew."

"But I haven't," Alex said over his shoulder.

"You didn't think so then, either," Mia replied. "Look at where you are now. In a similar situation, perhaps? Don't make me just leave you to whatever it is that you're doing, Alex. If you're in trouble, if you need my help, let me help-"

"I don't need you, Mia," Alex said, turning around and taking her forearms. "But the villagers do. I can't drag you into this; I don't want to drag you into this."

"Into what?" Mia asked desperately.

Alex sighed. "Mia..." He shook his head. "I can't tell you yet, but I promise that one day, hopefully one day soon, when all is done, I will tell you."

"You swear it?" Mia said, looking at him intensely.

"Yes," Alex said softly. "I swear it."

Mia looked at him, held his gaze for a long moment, then finally eyed the ground. "Alright, then."

"Thank you, Mia," Alex murmured, and kissed her forehead. He paused for a moment as she looked back up at him, slight tears in her eyes. He could feel the thread he had connected himself to her with grow taut and shorter. He didn't want to leave. He didn't want to lie to her. He opened his mouth, ready to blurt out everything he knew, when...

"Alex?"

Alex let go of Mia, turning around to face the door. Saturos stood, looking at him curiously. "It's time to go."

"Yes, of course," Alex said hurriedly. "Time to go."

He let Mia go, hurrying toward the door.

"Alex," she called out softly.

He turned, looking at her.

"Don't..." She swallowed hard. "Don't get hurt, alright?"

"I won't," he said softly. He grabbed at the doorknob, starting to pull it open.

"Alex!"

He turned just in time to be barreled into by her, she tackling him hard with a tight embrace. He held her back, not wanting to let her go. He knew by then she was more dear to him than a little sister, something much deeper.

"I love you," he heard her whisper from where her face was buried in the thick material of his tunic.

Alex tried to find the words to respond. He reached for them, but found only dry air. He licked his lips, barely able to murmur his response, "I need to go."

He said nothing more, pushed her arms from his waist, hurrying out the door and toward where his companions were waiting for him. Mia, only seconds later, stumbled out of the kitchen, leaning against the doorframe for support. She watched him longingly for a long moment, hoping he would turn back and repeat the words she just said to him.

But Alex didn't even look back, just grabbed his things and went out the door, Saturos, Menardi and the others soon following, leaving Megan and Mia to clean up the mess. Megan ran to the door, waving and shouting goodbyes as they left the village. Mia went back into the kitchen and began to scrub the pot again.

Megan rushed into the room, her tiny nose, peeking over the counter into the sink. "Mia, are you okay?" she asked.

"Fine, why?"

"You didn't come with me to say goodbye." Mia sighed, wiping a tear from her cheek. "Are you crying, Mia?" Megan asked.

"Smoke from cooking," Mia lied softly. "It hurts my eyes."





(A/N: Whoo-hoo! Turned out better than I'd hoped for! Mia and Alex fans should be pleased. This just makes Alex's character all the more complex I think. Well, I'll try to update faster next time. So until then, keep R&Ring! Buh-bye! Enjoy! ^_~ )



(BTW: anyone who has the Disney channel, watch for the upcoming movie 'On the Mat' or 'Down On the Mat' or something. I don't remember what he called in. My buddy Yoder, one of our tradition *amen* boys, has a fairly good-sized role in it. But no claiming, ladies. He's got a girlfriend. No, it's not me...)