(A/N: Yea! Another part! *is pleased* It's a lot shorter than some of my other posts, but deal with it. At least I'm posting, right? ^____^

Now for the readers:

Corrina: I'm so-o sorry! Your review has been up since my last post, and I didn't respond because I forgot your name! But I am VERY happy to know I've converted someone! I think when I played through, I hated them too, but they kind grew on me... like moss ^_^

Sora: That was soooooo weird! My nick-name in theatre is Kit-Kat! BIZARRE!!! And for the questions you had, I imagine Alex to be a few months, maybe a year older than Saturos and Menardi. I just think their too smart to be outwitted by someone younger than them and I was going from the official instead of facial art. His face looks about ten... it's weird... And the other question, Mia and Alex ARE NOT related. That would just be icky. But she was kinda found on their doorstep or something, and raise by Alex's grandfather, Alexim. So they care about each other like brother and sister, but... they prolly like each other much more than that, right?

Bob'n'cat: At least I think that's who reviewed... if it's not... I'm SOOOOO sorry! **I'm not online right now, so I'm going from memory...** Thank you for enjoying it! I'm really glad you like it!

Well, we'll skip the crap and get to the story, okay? Enjoy! ^_~)

Part 13:

Aerie

Saturos and the others traced the line of beach up toward Mercury Lighthouse. At the front of it, between the stairways that graced it on either side, was a large fountain, long dried up from the looks of it. Snow rested on the bottom from past storms, and the faucet at the front of the fountain had cobwebs up inside of it.

"What's this supposed to be?" asked Jenna as they walked up toward the lighthouse.

"The Fountain of Healing," Alex replied, his hand brushing a stone pillar, words carved in ancient lettering on the top. "Water of Hermes: It brings rejuvenation to all that lives."

"Is that what that says?" Saturos pondered aloud as Alex climbed one of the stairways on the right side of the fountain.

"I've had it memorized since I was a little boy," Alex murmured. "Grandfather used to say that if the lighthouse was ever lit, the sickness would no longer be, but the world would fall into chaos."

"Is that the reason you finally decided to come with us?" Menardi asked him as they began to follow him up the stairs.

Alex said nothing for a while, then he quietly said, "Yes, I suppose that is part of the reason."

The stairs they climbed up to the ornate, blue-stoned tower were crumbling, and up by the large archway into the lighthouse, were gaping holes on either side. The tall proud statues that had been on either side of the doorway were crumbling, one entirely gone save the feet at the bottom. The other's eyes had been wind-worn blind, and its face no longer had the detail it had a year ago.

"I don't remember the lighthouse being in this bad of an upkeep when we were last here," Felix said to Alex.

"That's because it wasn't," Alex echoed.

"What do you think happened?" Saturos asked.

"The lack of alchemy," Kraden said. "I'd bet my life on it."

"How can you be so sure?" Saturos asked.

"If alchemy sealed was killing Weyard, do you think the places of the most powerful alchemy would be spared?" Kraden asked. He shook his head. "It would only be accurate that the lighthouses will begin to fade away as well."

"And water is the most eroding of the four elements," Alex added. "It will be in the worst condition of any of the lighthouses."

"Then we'd better not waste any time," Saturos said shortly and stepped through the doorway. "Alex," he called without looking back. "We wouldn't want anyone to follow us."

Alex smiled slightly as the others entered the lighthouse. "Quite right," he said softly. He entered, last of the group, then turned toward the doorway. Using his psynergy, he dragged the larger of the two statues in front of the door, the set a curse upon the doorway. A flash of radiant white light, and Alex had assure that no one save Mercury Clan members would or could follow them.

He only hoped that Mia wouldn't do anything rash...

* * *

The group gathered around the large pit at the lighthouse aerie, surrounded by four statues similar to those seen in Sol Sanctum. No one said anything for sometime, just looked down into the gaping hole.

"This is it," Saturos said quietly to the group. "The first beacon."

"I do wish we had time for a speech, I really do," Alex said dryly, "however, it seems we are being followed."

"Followed?" asked Menardi. "By whom?"

Alex closed his eyes momentarily, then opened them again. "Mia and three others."

"Isaac," Jenna said almost silently, tossing a triumphant smile at Saturos and her brother.

Saturos frowned. "How close behind us?" he asked.

"I don't know," Alex replied. "But close enough to cause a threat."

"Then we'd best light the beacon and be on our way," Saturos said shortly. "Menardi..."

Menardi nodded, reaching for her belt and untying one of the silver bags hanging at her waist. She slid the mouth of the bag open, loosening the drawstring, and tipping it upside down over her palm, dropping the shining blue stone into her hand. It was light as breathing and warm to the touch. It seemed almost a shame to toss away such a beautiful gem, she thought to herself, but on the other hand, maybe that was one of the ancient sages' motives.

She stepped up to the pit, looking once more at the stone, then down into the abyss, then, turning her palm over, she dropped the stone down the shaft. Everyone watched it, heard it clink once against the stone walls as it clamored downward. She stood watching it when Saturos grabbed her arm, gently pulling her back.

"Stand down," he instructed the group quietly. "We don't know what will happen when it lights."

They stood for a long moment, holding their breath and staring into the pit. Finally, the quiet sound of running water came from somewhere far below.

"Do you hear that?" Jenna murmured aloud, but was quickly cut off as Alex hissed for her to be quiet. The sound grew louder until it seemed like a waterfall roaring on top of them, water and light all around, blinding sound and deafening sight. Finally, after a moment of nothing but water, their vision cleared and a large, round beacon sat atop the hole, hovering inches above it.

Saturos sighed as Alex reached out to the beacon, touching it lightly and pulling back wet fingertips. "We've lit the first beacon."

"Only three more to go," Felix said dryly, then added, "We'd better get out of here before we're spotted."

"I agree with Felix," Alex said softly. "We'd best be off."

Saturos nodded in agreement, looking to Menardi who took Jenna's arm and started to escort her to a platform at the other side of the lighthouse. Powered by psynergy, it would lower them to the ground, sparing the thought of going all the way back through the lighthouse again. Felix and Kraden stepped in front of her, starting toward the lighthouse panel. There wasn't much room, only enough for the four of them to squeeze on safely. They followed the small white-stone path toward the panel, Menardi passing Jenna off to Felix and Felix helping her onto the panel, already helped the old alchemist up to it.

Alex stood by the beacon at the rear end, Saturos looking at him. "Amazing, isn' t it?" he murmured aloud.

"Yes," Alex replied dazedly. "Yes, it is."

"We don't have time to admire it long, Alex," Saturos pressed again. "You said so yourself."

"Yes," he said softly. "I did, didn't I?" He looked over at Saturos. "Do you know what this means? It means that for the first time in thousands of years, no one will die of the sickness in Imil."

"This is exactly what you wanted, isn't it?" Saturos said, smiling slightly.

Not exactly, Alex thought to himself, but instead, said, "Yes... I suppose it is."

"Does that mean you're done with us?" Saturos asked catiously.

Alex looked over at him, a little shocked. "What?"

"Now that you have what you want, you're finished with our quest?"

"Don't be foolish," Alex admonished softly. "I came along because I believe in this quest." He looked at Saturos, smiling slightly. "Not because I thought I could have my way momentarily, then give it all up."

Saturos smiled. "That's good to hear."

"Yes," Alex murmured, staring back at the beacon. "You know that now this is lit, your psynergy will be weakened?"

"What?" Saturos almost laughed, unsure it he had hear correctly.

"Nothing," Alex said softly. He looked for a long while at the beacon. "Absolutely nothing."

Suddenly, Jenna began to wriggle under Felix's hold, her eyes looking over to the panel on the other side of the lighthouse. Four figures appeared, all of which Felix recognized; the girl Alex had introduced them to earlier, the boy they had met while traveling with Lord Hammet, and the other two boys....

Jenna opened her mouth as though to call out to them, but Felix quickly clapped a hand tightly over her mouth, stopping her. She twisted violently, trying to break loose his hand, but finally, getting her upper lip just a little free bit deep into Felix's index finger, causing him to shout a nearly drop her.

Jenna scrambled forward, Menardi catching her and holding her back as she screamed, "Isaac! Garet!"

The other group had crossed all the way to the beacon, standing on the side opposite of Saturos and Alex, the two hidden from their view.

"You see what trouble she's caused now?" Menardi hissed at Felix angrily.

"I tried to stop her," he insisted, staring at his bleeding finger. "She bit me!"

"Who are they?" she asked, looking over again. Suddenly, her face bloomed with understanding. "Is that..."

"Yes," Felix sighed. "It's them."

The tall blonde boy from Sol Sanctum rushed to the edge, calling out to Menardi and the others. "Hold it right there, Felix!"

Felix couldn't help but smirk. Didn't Isaac really want to challenge him? "So," Felix boomed dryly, looking at his past friend contemptuously. "It's you, Isaac!"

"Those kids are still alive?" Menardi asked, quite shocked to Felix. He nodded.

"It's definitely them."

Menardi frowned, brought back to the moment as Jenna tried again to shake her off, Menardi having to pull her wrist back tightly, causing her to gasp in pain. "You came all this way to save Jenna and Kraden?" she demanded of the leader of the group.

"That's not all!" Isaac shouted as Garet stepped up as well.

"We're here for the Elemental Stars!" the boy added.

Jenna looked up at Menardi triumphantly, though she was at her mercy. "See," she muttered. "I told you they'd come."

"Hush!" Menardi barked, looking over at Felix. "In other words, they've come to stop us..." She looked back over at the four on the other side of the aerie. "It's your call, Felix."

Felix stared at Isaac for a long moment, then sighed, "We can't let that happen."

"Then we have no choice," Menardi said softly. "Let's take care of them now before they can do any harm."

Felix nodded, grabbing a still struggling Jenna and pushing her behind him, reaching to the hilt of his sword.

"Isaac..." Jenna whined softly.

Menardi took the staff, unsheathing the scythe and stepping forward, Felix at her heels.

"Wait, Menardi!"

Both Felix and Menardi froze, looking over at the beacon where Saturos stepped out from behind the light.

Menardi let out half a sigh of relief. "Oh, Saturos," she murmured. "They want to-"

"I heard everything," Saturos assured her, turning back toward Isaac and the others. He shook his head, almost confused at their presence. "They were lucky enough to survive the eruption of Mount Aleph." The one called Garet drew his sword, stepping forward but was stopped short by Isaac, who grabbed his shoulder, holding him back. Nevertheless he, too, stared hatefully at Saturos who glowered back at the young man.

"You have endured so much, and now you want to throw your lives away?" he asked the young man, almost pleading with him not to enter this battle.

Isaac stared back at his with keen blue eyes, his lips pulled into a taut, disapproving line. "We cannot allow you to leave here with the Elemental Stars or Jenna and Kraden," he said shortly. He lifted his chin and added, "And we'll die before we'll let that happen again."

Saturos's lips twitched slightly in anger as he stared at the group. "Fine," he growled. "If that is your wish, prepared to have it granted. He reached down and took the sword from the hilt, stepping toward the group that stepped backward slightly at his approach.

Menardi watched him gingerly holding up his sword. She knew his arm hadn't fully healed, and even though he hid it well, he still walked with a slight limp. He couldn't fight them alone. Surely he had to know that. She had always know that Saturos could handle himself, but for the first time in so long, she was frightened for him.

"Saturos!" she called out, he looking over his shoulder at her. She took a shaky breath, and asked, "Are you going to fight them... alone?"

Saturos turned back, responding to her, but not looking at her. "Menardi, I can't expect you to leave our hostages and help me, can I?"

Menardi bit her lip. He was being stubborn about this again. She tried to think of someway to object, but as usual, he was right. "That's true..." she murmured.

"Besides," Saturos added, looking at Isaac challengingly. "I want to see how much their powers have developed."

'Don't be a fool!' Menardi wanted to scream. Saturos knew he hadn't completely healed. They had to put on new bandages this morning. He couldn't take on all three of this group, no matter how weak they were, and hope to win. She looked at the back of the beacon where Alex stood, simply watching, unnoticed by anyone in the group. She knew Alex had never been much for battles, but Saturos needed his help. She silently prayed that he would come out of hiding and protect Saturos, but Alex remained unmoved.

Typical, she thought bitterly, still not trusting the Water Adept as fully as Saturos. She looked at Saturos with the hope that he would turn around and reconsider, but he continued in silence. Menardi sighed deeply, almost desperately. "Are you sure about this, Saturos?"

She saw his shoulders stiffen angrily. He always hated when people reminded him that she was stronger than he was. He hated to be underestimated, and most of all, he hated being coddled and hidden from danger when he wanted to face it. Menardi understood this, but this was more than the Elder not telling him something; this was a fight by himself against four youth. Besides, how would Felix react if Saturos did win? It would have been better for her and Felix to attack the youth. Then Felix could blame no one but himself.

But Saturos didn't see that.

"Saturos?" she whispered, wanting him to answer her.

"Leave me be!" he snapped angrily. "Head for the next lighthouse..." When Menardi didn't move, Saturos looked over his shoulder, shouting, "now!"

Menardi sighed. He was being foolish, but she could do nothing more to convince him. He was on his own again. Just like the wolves...

Menardi turned back toward the platform, Felix stepping back so she could walk on. Just as she was about to reach it, Jenna grabbed her staff and walked forward briskly, standing in front of Menardi as though to say, 'move.' Menardi knew what she wanted. She wanted to stop Saturos from fighting her friends.

Menardi slowly shook her head, stepping forward. "Come here, child..."

Jenna shook her head, stepping to the edge. Menardi stepped to meet her, not willing to let her pass.

"Move," Jenna hissed between her teeth.

Menardi red eyes glowed with anger. "Do you mean to defy me if I do not?" she asked in soft reprimand, thinking that would force the girl to back down.

But Jenna wouldn't hear it. She barreled into Menardi, Menardi holding her tightly, not willing to let her go. The two struggled, Jenna slamming the bottom of her staff in Menardi jaw, Menardi furiously tossing her back onto the platform furiously, aiming her scythe at the girl's throat.

"Menardi-!" gasped Felix.

"Hush!" she snapped. She held the scythe with one hand, reaching up toward her lower lip and touching the blood that was there. She tensed, glaring at Jenna. "I should teach you a lesson, child, but..." She stopped midsentence as Felix came over quickly, putting a hand on her shoulder. He didn't say a word, but she knew what he wanted. She drew back the scythe, standing it upright in front of her, looking at Jenna while addressing Felix. "Felix," she said quietly, "I'd get your sister to obey me... if you hope to keep her from harm."

Felix's face was tense, but his eyes told Menardi that he agreed with what she was saying. He walked over to Jenna, giving her a hand to help her up. She smiled and took it, thinking her brother, having not responded, was on her side.

"Jenna, please..." Felix said softly, looking at her in a way that left no room for arguement. "Just do as she says for now."

Jenna looked at him as though she'd been shattered. She loved and trusted her brother, but... "Felix..." she whined softly.

"It's alright, Jenna," Kraden said quietly, trying to comfort her. He extended his hand toward her, hoping to get her back to the platform so they could leave. She sent an betrayed glance at her brother, then took Kraden's hand and stepped back.

Felix sighed and turned to Menardi apologetically. He looked over at the group who was now staring at him in shock. Felix could read Isaac's face perfectly. He finally knew that the Felix they'd known had died in that flood. He was wiser now.

'But are you happy?' Isaac seemed to say. 'Are you proud of yourself now, Felix?'

Felix didn't verbally respond. Of course he was happy, wasn't he? He was saving Weyard, no matter what Isaac thought. That was worth sacrificing himself for... worth dying for.

'But is it worth sacrificing Jenna?' Isaac's eyes asked.

Felix turned his back on them, walking to Menardi and looking at her blankly. "Isaac and Garet shouldn't have come after us," he said softly.

"I'm sorry, Isaac... Garet..." Jenna murmured as Kraden held her like a grandfather comforting his granddaughter.

Menardi still didn't agree with leaving Saturos, but he would hear of nothing else. She stepping forward, cupping her hands and calling out to him, "I'm counting on you!"

"Isaac! Garet!" shouted Kraden as the platform began to move down. "Don't die!"

* * *

So now it was all up to him, Saturos thought to himself. Kraden's last words hadn't been to warn Isaac and Garet, he knew, but to encourage him. Kraden was still attached to his young students, but he still wouldn't let them know who's side he was really on. Thankfully, Felix wasn't that way.

Or is he? thought Saturos. He shook off the thought as Kraden's call echoed against the marble walls and statues and leapt into the clouds overhead and faded. The platform began to slide out of view, the red haired one shaking free of Isaac and shouting out to his friends.

"Jenna! Kraden!"

Saturos stepped forward to block his path, brandishing his blade and stopping the boy short. "If you want to get to them, you'll have to get through me first!"

"No!" the girl who Alex had introduced them to earlier, Mia, stepped forward, pulling Garet back. She shoved her staff at Saturos the crystal at the end glowing slightly as she and Garet stepped to the group. "Get back!" she ordered the Proxinian.

Saturos couldn't help but laugh. He hadn't expected them to be this afraid of him. "What's the matter?"

Garet began to whisper to the group, trying not to let him hear what he was saying. The boy, Ivan, nodded and began to whisper as well, Saturos catching the last of his statement, "We have to match his strength."

"Match me?" he asked, almost shocked. He scoffed in his throat looking at the group and lifting his sword up. "You think you can match the great Saturos?"

"We have to try!" Isaac shouted at him.

Saturos shook his head slowly, staring at them angrily. He'd half hoped they would back down. "Ship of fools," he murmured softly. "Fine then. I'll just teach you all a lesson!" He stepped toward them, starting with his other hand to summon some Mars psynergy. A sharp pain jolted through him, causing him to gasp in pain and stumble back. He stared at his hand, then looked back at the beacon.

'You know that now this is lit, your psynergy will be weakened?' Alex had said that, hadn't he? No, it wasn't possible," Saturos thought. And even so, he could still defeat them.

"I must finish this quickly," he murmured to himself. He turned back to the group, swinging at Isaac. "Come on, fools!"

(A/N: Mwahahahahahahahaha!!!!! I love cliff hangers! That's right. You'll have to tune in next time to see what happens. Maybe I'll be even more evil and go to Menardi and the others and leave you in suspense over poor Saturos! ... nah, I'm not that evil. Well, R&R, enjoy, and all that good stuff! Don't do anything I would, and enjoy! ^_^ )