(A/N: WHEW!!! Okay, SO sorry this has taken an insanely long time to finally post. I know, I know. I've been slacking on my fan author duties of posting, but let me state my case! My darling little brother decided that he would steal my CD drive, and put it in his computer. Little did he realize, he was so rough that he damaged my computer and lost whatever was on there. FORTUNATELY, I had this document on MY zip disk.

Unfortunately, there was no zip drive on any other computer within my reach! SOB!! However, jedigrl2001 was wise and wreaked havoc upon her brother's computer to get the zip disk installed on his computer.

UNFORTUNATELY, I was also in a musical and have been stuck in this STUPID BUILDING for over thirteen hours daily. That's like working overtime without being paid. It's fun . . . but not for thirteen hours. HOWEVER, it came to pass, that jedigrl2001 finished the musical, and finally posted.

I know I have gotten a BUTT-LOAD of reviews! I have been feeling so guilty for not being able to post. But now that I've finally recovered all my stuff, I can finally post. I will review the past reviews as soon as I post again. I'M SO SORRY!! BUT I LOVE YOU ALL AND I'VE GOTTEN YOUR REVIEWS ON E-MAIL!!!

(A/N on the A/N: ... Okay, wrote the above and below earlier part today. I was able to access the internet . . . but not post, yet. grr... -- # . . . And its already 7:17 MST. But, as a plus, I GOT THE REVIEWS! They're at the end for those who care to read! And yes, I respond to EVERYONE. Check and see if you don't believe me . . . unless, that . . . er, is that you, uh, just sent in the review as I'm writing it... In that case, you'll have to wait for next time.)

This piece is ENORMOUS and starting to feel real heavy. This piece gets darker with every post, so hopefully we'll be just past Final Scene-ish area by the time we reach the final post . . . the final post sniff that's so hard to think about. But for those who are freaking, don't worry; I've already got the sequel planned. . But here is this piece. Finally going through the desert, and this time, I kept in the small features of the desert, and gathered what I could from the ambushed soldiers. Here we go, read and I'll just shut up now. Enjoy! )

Part Nineteen: Barren Air

Saturos stood at the top of a long plateau, looking down on the barren brown wasteland they called Gondowan.

Menardi sighed next to him. "That must be the next town down in that ravine."

Saturos nodded, glancing at the map. "Suhalla . . ."

Menardi watched him as he started down the outcropping. "We should stop there for the night, shouldn't we?" she asked quietly.

Saturos shook his head, dropping down onto another layer of rock below, then holding his hand up to help her down. "We don't have time."

"We have to make camp sometime," Menardi warned him, hopping down beside him.

Saturos sighed. "We'll reach Suhalla long before sundown. We'd be wasting daylight."

Menardi shook her head. "But Alex said that—"

Saturos silenced her with a look. She sighed, glaring at him slightly as he started away from her. He slid down a bit of rock, landing cat-like on a pile of fine red sand, looking up at Menardi. She followed the path he'd taken, hardly arousing a cloud on her landing. Saturos had already started away without her. She groaned. "Saturos?"

"What?" he asked, almost a mumble.

"Stop moving," she said quietly. "For just a moment, relax—"

"I can't relax!" he shouted, rounding on her. "How can I relax when I know that hardly a day behind me is a boy who could bring about the entire destruction of Prox? Of Weyard! Relax, Menardi? I can't relax! I'm carrying the fate of the world on my shoulders—!"

"That's only because you won't share it!" she suddenly exploded. Saturos looked at her, taken aback by her rage. She took in a deep breath, but the tear had already curled from her eye down her cheek.

Saturos sighed. "Menardi . . ."

She pushed his hand away and quickly flicked the drop from her cheek. "Don't," she mumbled, turning her back on him and starting away.

He groaned. "Now what?" he asked, a little more harshly than he meant to.

She turned to him. "Don't give me that."

"Give you what?"

"That tone. Like you haven't done anything wrong."

"But I haven't!"

She began away, Saturos sighing and hurrying after her. "Wait, Menardi . . . just . . ." He reached for her hand. "Just talk to me—"

"I sick of talking!" she snapped, tearing away from him. "Every time I try to talk with you, we end up fighting!"

Saturos frowned. "That isn't true."

"Yes, it is!" she said, her voice rising in pitch as she collapsed against the side of the rock. She slid down, sitting in the sand and letting out a weak sigh of angst. She ran her hands through her now unruly hair, looking up at Saturos, water lining the bottoms of her eyes. "I don't know what's happened to you, Saturos."

"Nothing's happened to me," he murmured, walking and taking a seat beside her. He tries to put his arm around her

She shrugged away his hand from her shoulder. "You're wrong . . . you've been different ever since we left Tolbi."

Saturos sighed. "Menardi, you know why I've been troubled. Isaac and his group—"

"This isn't just about them!" Menardi said, shoving herself to her feet and rounding on him. "Saturos, there's something wrong. Not with you, but with all of us. It's almost like . . ." She sighed, pressing a cold hand to her hot face. "Like we're rotting away from the inside."

Saturos stared at her. "I don't understand."

Menardi sighed, folding her arms around her waist. "I don't know how to explain it."

"Well, I can't fix what I don't know about," Saturos said with an exasperated laugh.

She sighed, her mouth going through the motions. She let out a slight growl in her throat. "It's just all of us!" she finally sputtered. "When we first started out, we . . . there was something there that we had . . . that's gone now." She fell quiet. "It's been gone since . . ." She sighed.

"Since we left Mercury Lighthouse."

Saturos took in a deep breath through his nose. "When Alex saw that girl of his . . . Mia, he started to . . . change—"

"It wasn't just Alex, Saturos," Menardi said curtly.

Saturos looked at her roughly. "I'm just being cautious."

"But mistrusting Alex?" Menardi said. "Saturos, he knows those beacons need to be lit as much as we do. Why would he betray us?"

"I don't know," Saturos said. "All I know is something has changed inside of him; something that moved him. It is no longer there . . . it's as though his heart had changed."

"Are you a mind reader now?" Menardi asked with a slight sneer, raising an eyebrow.

"I never said I was," Saturos said. "I'm only telling you what I've felt being around him. He doesn't seem sincere anymore."

"Why wouldn't he be?"

Saturos sighed, brushing the hair from his face. "Look, I've been trying. I really have. But Alex seems to be constantly belittling me, or trying to take charge, or—"

"It doesn't matter who's in charge," Menardi said quietly. "You need to stop thinking about this like that."

Saturos sighed, shaking his head. "You aren't understanding me. I-I don't want to let my guard down."

Menardi shook her head, standing and walking away from him.

"Menardi," Saturos said slowly moving to his feet. "Menardi, wait . . ." She reluctantly stopped, hardly glancing over her shoulder at him. Saturos looked at her desperately. "You have to trust me on this."

"On what?" she said quietly. "That Alex is planning to kill us all for some alternate plan to take over the world?"

Saturos groaned, running a hand through his hair. "No, that's not it. It . . ." He took in a deep breath through his nose, closing his eyes. "It isn't so much Alex," he quietly confessed

Menardi paused, turned and looked at him oddly. "What?"

"Alex isn't what is keeping me so much on edge," Saturos repeated flatly.

Menardi frowned. "Is it Isaac?"

Saturos shook his head.

"Then what is it."

Saturos swallowed. "The lighthouse."

"What lighthouse?" Menardi asked.

Saturos sighed. "Venus. The closer I get, the more I feel that . . ." He motioned helplessly with his hand. "That we're running toward some . . . something larger than we can handle. Larger than you, larger than me or Alex or Felix. All of us." He sighed, shaking his head. "Something isn't right, Menardi."

She eyed the ground, slowly stepping toward him. She rested her hand on the Venus and Jupiter Stars, still attached to her belt. "Maybe it's us," she murmured.

Saturos shook his head, taking her forearms. "We're doing the right thing," he said quietly, pulling her close. "And we're doing it for the right reasons." He bristled slightly, clenched his teeth. "Even if Isaac and his little band doesn't think so—"

Menardi winced. "Saturos . . ."

Saturos looked down at her. "Yes?"

She swallowed, finally bringing herself to look up into his eyes. "Do you truly feel that we will fight them?"

Saturos waited a long moment. "Yes," he quietly murmured.

"When?"

He swallowed. "If not before we reach the lighthouse, then perhaps there."

Menardi quietly cursed, leaning her head forward against his chest and shutting her eyes. She tried to slow her breath, to push down the sobs that were rushing up her throat, but they escaped in small struggled bursts. She shook her head. "This is too much . . ."

"It is too much for anyone," Saturos murmured.

Menardi pulled away and pressed a hand to her face, taking in deep breaths to calm herself. She finally slowed her breathing, managed to regain some composure. She looked at him, sighing, "Saturos, what are we supposed to do? This task is impossible . . ."

"I know," he murmured, shutting his eyes, leaning his forehead against hers.

"We don't even have a Jupiter Adept," she murmured with a bitter laugh.

Saturos sighed, holding her tightly. "I kn—"

"Then what must we do?" she whispered, almost panicking. "We are opposed at every turn."

Saturos's breathing shook slightly as he struggled to maintain his serenity. Menardi felt his body go rigid under her hands. She could feel the rage moving under his skin. He took in a sharp breath. "If only Isaac and his companion had died in that foolish eruption, we would have had no problems to begin with."

Menardi shut her eyes tightly. "We have no idea what he's done to our reputation in towns we've already visited."

"He may even go ahead of us and ruin our chance of passing through anywhere else," Saturos growled quietly.

Menardi pulled back, glanced at Saturos. "This boy . . . he is strong?"

Saturos lifted his chin. "A worthy opponent, but then again . . ." He shrugged. "We are no longer at Mercury Lighthouse."

Menardi nodded. "And the Venus Lighthouse will refill our power."

"True," Saturos murmured.

Menardi paused thoughtfully, her jaw tense and eyes focused. She felt a slight warmth in her chest as the thought came, an expansion of emotion within her. She breathed in deeply. "We have only thus far lit one of the four beacons." Her she felt that rage in her moving as she'd felt it in Saturos. Her jaw set as she shut her eyes tightly. Her breathing slowed to a ragged, controlled breath. "I will not have Karst, Agatio, Puelle, or anyone else dear to me involved in this."

Saturos frowned slightly. "What are you saying?"

Menardi lifted her chin high, looking at Saturos calmly, though the intensity flickered in her eyes. "Saturos . . . we cannot afford to risk having this Isaac ruining our single chance to do this."

Saturos looked at her, curious from the tone she'd used.

Menardi turned her face away slightly and gave him a sidelong glance. "Perhaps this Isaac is a problem best eliminated early on in our campaign."

Saturos nodded slowly. "Anyone who stands against us is best eliminated early on."

Menardi took in a breath, shaking in anticipation. "We could not afford to lose."

"We won't," Saturos said firmly, pulling her close.

Menardi sighed, contented for a moment. She paused. she pulled back and looked at Saturos. "What about Felix?"

Saturos's jaw set. "Felix will have to make a choice. We can do nothing but hope it is the right one."

"And Alex?"

Saturos sneered. "Alex pretends to be stronger than he really is. If he does prove disloyal to our cause, it will be no difficult task in removing him." Saturos's eyes suddenly flickered with the fire Menardi recognized now in her own self. His jaw set. "Alexim of Imil has been a thorn in my side for long enough."

He stepped back, holding her by her forearms. He nodded at her slightly. "We can't tell either of them. They both care too much for Isaac and his companions. At this point, we can't afford to take any risks."

Menardi nodded. "We'll take the quickest path to the lighthouse, stay one step ahead of Isaac and his little group."

"Even if it means cutting down anything . . . or anyone that is standing in our way," Saturos murmured darkly. He stepped away, offering her his hand. "Come. We'll be missed at camp."

"You don't think I'm trying to kill you all, do you?"

Felix looked up, startled by the sudden question. He saw Alex, lounging in the meager shade of a rock, eyeing his canteen silently. "What?" he stammered. "Well . . . no, I guess not—"

"If anything, it would be Saturos who is the dangerous one in our group," Alex said quietly, examining the inside of the flask before taking a long sip. He lowered it with a grateful sigh. He let out a sudden laugh. "Saturos . . . he thinks he's so strong and powerful . . ." He looked at Felix with a slight grin. "He's no better than any of us are."

Felix said nothing.

Alex sat up completely, looking at him intently. "Felix," he said softly. "Mark my words: Saturos will be trouble before our task is complete . . ." He looked at his canteen again. "Both of those damn Proxinians will."

Felix looked over where Jenna was catnapping beneath a stone outcropping on the canyon wall and Kraden dozed slightly. "Menardi doesn't get angry like Saturos does," Felix murmured, watching them.

Alex lifted his chin, motioning to Jenna. "Look at your sister," he murmured. He looked at Felix raising an eyebrow. "You care for her . . . don't you?"

Felix paused, confused. "What? Of course I do. But what does th—"

"If I recall, Menardi threatened to kill her not too far back," Alex commented casually.

Felix frowned. His breathing slowed. "Menardi? She . . . what—?"

"Back at Mercury Lighthouse," Alex said softly. "She told Jenna she'd make her pay. Told you to keep her in line if you wanted to keep her from harm."

Felix's breathing picked up as he shook his head. "N-no . . . That was when they were on bad terms. Jenna and Menardi get along now. They . . . they don't—"

"Don't tell me you actually trust them," Alex said, frowning slightly.

"What do you mean?"

Alex stood walking to where Felix sat and took a seat beside him. He glanced at the boy. "Did you know that Saturos threatened my life?"

Felix let out a slight breath of nervous air. "Wha—n-no . . . Saturos wouldn't—"

"You don't think so?" Alex asked. When Felix looked at him fearfully he chuckled slightly to himself. He glanced at his canteen. "Oh, no . . . I don't suppose you would think so. After all, the way they talk about you—"

"Talk about me?" Felix asked.

Alex smiled slightly, his tongue running over his bottom teeth. "You know, he . . . He talks about you more as though you're an animal, rather than a person."

Felix felt something inside of him ache. He struggled to breathe. "He . . . he what—?"

"They both do," Alex murmured. "They seem to have you wrapped around their finger. Almost like a child and a dog. Of course they don't treat you badly. When you train an animal, you praise it, reward it, make it feel that it is loved. That way it doesn't turn on you wh—"

"He said that?" Felix asked, his face portraying his horror.

Alex looked at him, his face falling. "Why . . . yes. Felix, I . . . I thought you knew. Thought you at least had some idea—"

"No!" Felix gasped quietly. "No, he . . ." He pressed a hand to his forehead. "Saturos has always been like—"

"A father?" Alex pinged helpfully. "An . . . oh, how did he put it? Older brother? That's how he imagined you would feel. 'If he only knew,' he kept laughing."

Felix eyed the ground.

Alex leaned toward him, looking around and lowering his voice to a whisper. "You should hear what they say about Jenna."

Felix tensed, said nothing as Alex motioned at the young girl with his head. "They think she's slowing us down . . . think both of them are slowing us down." He smiled slightly. "They wanted to find some way to . . . ease our burden, I believe they said."

Felix looked at him. "Saturos and Menardi wouldn't—"

"I never said they would," Alex said, quickly raising his hand in defense. "I'm only telling you what I heard." He shook his head, sighing. "Oh, Felix, Felix . . . I only hope you don't put your trust in the wrong place . . ." He looked at Felix, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "It could have everlasting repercussions."

Felix looked up as Saturos and Menardi returned, walking briskly. Saturos grabbed a sack, lying against a rock, looking at Felix. He kicked his boot lightly. "Come, Felix," he said, motioning. "We have only a little further to the village."

Alex looked at Felix who was suddenly distraught. He watched Saturos as he walked away, then carefully picked himself up, dusting off the red sand that clung to him. He glanced at Alex who raised an eyebrow at him then walked past him, following after Saturos.

Menardi nudged Jenna with the toe of her boot. "Up, Jenna," she murmured softly, then turned and followed after Saturos, dryly remarking, "We wouldn't want you to be left behind."

Felix eyed the two doubtfully, swallowing in attempt to wet his throat, but his mouth was strangely dry.

Saturos was still at the lead when they walking into the meager excuse for a town. Only three small buildings: an armory, a hospice, and a worn excuse for an inn. The other homes hardly constituted as buildings, great piles of weathered brick that looked ready to collapse at any moment.

Saturos motioned with his head at the center of the town, a small, rusting pump that ran to the underground well. "Come on," he said, starting over, the others trickling after him. "I don't want to have anyone without water when we pass through the desert." He waited until Menardi had opened her canteen and nodded at him. He began pumping, glancing up at the sky as he did.

"We should be crossing the desert by the time nightfalls," he said quietly as Menardi switched her canteen with his, waiting for it to fill. "It should be easier that way."

"Besides," Kraden said. "We do have a Water Adept with us."

Saturos glanced at Alex momentarily, both pairs of eyes flashing in challenge. He went back to his pumping, Felix now filling his and Jenna's flasks. "True," he said dryly. "But I'd rather not depend on a single source. It can prove unreliable."

Alex stepped up to the pump, eyeing Saturos with pure malice. "Pardon?" Alex growled as pleasantly as possible through his teeth.

Saturos didn't even flinch. "Nothing, Alex," he murmured, returning to pumping.

Sheba weakly fought against the woven bonds that tied her wrists and arms behind her back. She was gagged tightly at the mouth and blindfolded too tightly across the face. Raw sores had begun to form where the rope rubbed against her skin, and her head and body ached horribly. She hardly dared to sleep. During the day she was made to walk alongside the horses like a common pack animal, carrying what leftover gear couldn't be stuffed on the horses backs. And by night . . .

She struggled violently, but they always won. And the less she struggled, the less she was beaten. The soldiers of Tolbi all knew that were strong enough to take any city by force, then why not her? She had tried to run away once the first night, when her legs allowed her to move without pain. She escaped from the tent, still blindfolded and bound, blindly wandering through the desert. They had caught her again, beat her for her insolence in addition to her punishment. They made her carry a great deal more than the amount she should have been carrying. Many times that day she felt more that she was being dragged by the horse than actually walking beside it.

But she would have rathered such a punishment as that.

She could hear the soldiers outside of the tent, drinking and gambling. Their speech was slurred from the heavy alcohol and lack of sleep. Sometimes, like the second night, they drank enough that they hardly bothered her at all. But other nights, their gambling wasn't enough.

Sheba had tried screaming before, even though it was muffled by the gag. One of the guards rudely reminded her that they were the only people for miles around. She felt as though they had been wandering for much longer than they should have been. With horses, they could have easily reached Lalivero in three or four days. She didn't need to be told. She already knew they were taking their time.

She winced at the sound of one of the men breaking a bottle of ale against a stone, heard the door of the tent ruffle open. She kept her breathing slow. She would not give them the satisfaction of a sob.

Felix held up the torch to the map Saturos had flattened against a large stone. He glanced up at the sky, high above the canyon walls. "But if we took the path into the eastern canyon, we should nearly be to the southern pass."

Menardi sighed, shaking her head. "We're lost."

"No," Saturos murmured. "Just confused for the moment. Now when did you say we turned into the path here?"

Felix shook his head. "I didn't say that."

Saturos looked at him harshly. "But I thought you told me—"

"No," Felix insisted quickly. "I said nothing."

"This never would have happened if we had simply camped near the canyon like I suggested, Saturos," Alex growled irritably.

Saturos rounded on him. "Well, Alexim, if you have any ideas that won't lead to our certain destruction, I'd be willing to hear them."

"Perhaps we should camp the night," Alex said curtly.

"And risk meeting up with our little group of friends?" Saturos asked dryly.

Kraden stepped between the two, taking the torch from Felix and pointing at the map. "I think we should go a little farther and see if we can find the marker for this southern passage into the lower valley. Hmm?"

Alex glowered at Saturos as he silently nodded. "That will be fine, Kraden," he murmured.

Felix began folding up the map as Kraden led the way into the darkness of the canyon. He headed the group, Saturos falling just behind him, Menardi and Jenna taking up the rear with another torch.

They had been walking for long enough that Saturos was ready to, himself, suggest camping for the night, when they rounded the corner into a large opening. The vast star-filled sky lay open above the mouth of the canyon and in the corner, a small camp was set up.

"Who in their right minds would camp in a place like this?" Menardi asked.

Saturos squinted. "I don't know . . . best not to bother them."

Felix stepped up next to Saturos, matching his stride. "Why don't we stop and ask them where we are?"

"We don't know them," Saturos said. "The last thing we need is to expose ourselves to someone who could tell Isaac and those others where we—"

"They're Tolbi guards," Alex said, watching the group.

Saturos frowned. "How can you tell?"

Alex shrugged. "The armor for one. The second?" He grinned slightly. "They're all as drunk as fools the moment they're away from their posts."

"All the more reason not to speak to them," Saturos said. "Drunken men can be dangerous."

Felix paused, glancing at Saturos. "I could go over there."

Saturos stopped. He turned to look at Felix. "What?"

"I could go over there and ask for directions," Felix said quietly. "They'd be less likely to remember me than a Proxinian or a Imilian. And Kraden can't go, because he worked for Babi. They might know him."

Kraden nodded. "The boy does have a point."

Saturos sighed, frowned slightly and gave a harsh nod. "Go. We'll stand here . . . just in case anything should happen," he added quietly.

Felix gave a curt nod, jogging over toward the camp. Saturos took in a deep breath as a slight night breeze whisked past his face, stirring his hair. Menardi stepped up beside Saturos. "Are you sure that was wise? Sending him to speak to Tolbi guards?"

"Felix is no fool," Saturos murmured. "He'll cover our tracks as best he can."

"What if things should turn for the worst?"

Saturos gave a slight laugh. "They already are at their worst, Menardi."

Felix carefully approached the camp, calm and casual. The fire has begun to smolder, and not one of the men seemed sober enough to realize they should put another log on. One of the soldiers, a corn-haired man with an unruly beard, tinted with grey, pressed a bottle sloppily to his lips, tilting his head back as Felix cleared his throat. "Excuse me?"

The men all stopped, gaping at him in confusion. The blonde motioned to him with his bottle. "Eh, wha you wan', boy?"

Another sniffed, wiping his nose with his sleeve. "Ca't you shee 'at we're . . . busy?"

The other men began to laugh as Felix swallowed hard. "I . . . I apologize. It's just . . ." He glanced back at Saturos and the others nervously. He turned to the inebriated guards again, his clothes ruffling slightly from the breeze. "My caravan has become confused, you see . . . We're trying to find the path into the Southern Canyon."

One of the guards grinned toothily at him, his eyes glazed with stupor. "Ca't 'elp you there . . . boy. We don' gots no map."

"Hey, Jacques," the blonde hiccupped. "Don' Nael havah map?"

"Yeah," another guard muttered. "He knows where we are . . ."

"He's busy, kid," a dark-haired guard laughed, the others chuckling drunkenly. "You'll 'ave to come back . . . lay-der."

Felix glanced back at Saturos, swallowing. "Pardon, sirs, but this is a little urgent."

The dark-haired guard looked shocked. He stumbled to his feet, walking toward Felix threateningly. "You contradictin' me, boy? I told you, the boss is busy."

Felix stepped back as the man drew closer. "I-I'm sorry. I only meant that—"

"There ya go again!" the man growled. "Con'trickin' me! You know what I oghta do ta you?"

Felix held his hands out, trying to ward the man away. "Listen, sir, I-I didn't mean for—"

"Don' push me!" the man growled furiously, weakly slapping away Felix's hands from in front of him. "You . . . pushy little brat." He poked at Felix's chest with his bottle, spilling a little on his chest. "You come 'round here, thinkin' you bedder than us?" He sniffed, taking a long gulp from his bottle. "I show you who . . . bedder."

Felix blanched at the guard thrust his bottle against a rock shattering it. He swallowed. "No, sir," he stammered as the other guards laughed, the one before him closing in. "You don't understand. I—"

The door of the ten flung itself open, a man coming out and quickly pushing it shut behind him. He pulled his belt on, clasping it. His dark eyes surveyed the group levelly. "Sounds like a damn pack of wolves fighting over a scrap out here," he growled. Felix could tell by the way the man carried himself that he was quite sober. From the look of him, he seemed to be the leader. He glanced at Felix, then at the guard that was hassling him. "Anyone want to tell me what happened here?"

The dark haired turned to him, pointing at Felix. "This kid come barginto our camp, an' stars tellin' us—"

"I was asking the boy," the guard murmured quietly.

The guard paused, looking at Felix and stumbling over to his earlier spot. The blonde guard began to laugh, pointing at the dark-haired. "The cap'n tol' youda—"

"Raeol," the man snapped. He looked at Felix, stepping past his men and holding his hand out to Felix who took it. "My apologies, boy. My men have been . . ." He smiled slightly, looking at the guards who began to giggle. "Celebrating." He looked back at Felix, putting both hands behind his back. "I'm Tanael," he said quietly, yet loud enough to be heard over the desert wind. "Whatever you need I'm sure I can provide for you."

Felix sighed gratefully. "Thank you, sir," he said. He motioned behind himself with one hand at the group. "My caravan has become inexorably lost, and we were wondering if you could point us in the right direction for the Southern Cany—"

The man smiled, held up a hand. "Don't worry. Let me grab my map and I'll show you where you need to go."

Felix nodded gratefully as the man hurried into his tent, pulling the door shut behind him. He came back out, a map and compass in his hands. He gave a knowing glance to one of the guards who moved to sit right in front of the entryway. Tanael nodded at Felix as he spread the map out on a stone near the fire. Felix crouched down next to him.

"Now, if you look, we're about here," he said, pointing to a small outcropping.

"Oh," Felix gasped. "That explains everything! We thought we were here—"

"No wonder you're so confused," the man chuckled. "Now, if you follow this curve down into the path here, you should see a large outcropping that looks like a—"

Felix's ears pricked up as a sharp noise came from inside the tent. He glanced at the tent, everyone falling silent. He looked at Tanael who was suddenly tense. "What was that?"

"Wind," Tanael said quickly, his hair stirring around his face as he glared at Felix. He sniffed slightly. "Probably a storm coming up. Now, as I was saying, you'll come to an outcropping resembling a wolf. When you reach that, you'll turn— "

Another sound, a high whine though not so much as an animal's would be. Felix frowned, looking at the tent. "That doesn't sound like the wind."

Tanael watched him worriedly, his jaw tight. He looked at his men, one of whom nodded and moved to pick up his weapon. Tanael looked at Felix. "Well, what else could it be?"

"It sounded like . . ." Felix frowned. "Like a person—"

"Don't be foolish," Tanael growled, holding down the map as the wind began picking up slightly. "Now, by that time, you should reach—"

Felix heard it again. He stood, looking at the tent. He started toward it, Tanael stepping in front of him, and a few of the other men rising. Felix swallowed hard. "I'm sorry, sirs, but that sound is not the wind."

Tanael rose, looking at Felix challengingly. "Then perhaps it is none of your business."

Felix glanced over Tanael's shoulder as the sound came again, one of the men rising. "I'll shuddher up," he growled lightly, going into the tent.

Tanael looked at Felix hard as the shouting continued until the sound of a blow cracked inside the tent. Crying ensued along with the sounds of a quiet struggle. The captain sighed. "Perhaps you'd better leave."

"Not until you tell me what's going on," Felix murmured shakily.

Tanael lifted his chin proudly, his eyes darkening. "I don't have to tell you anything, boy."

"What is in—"

"Look," Tanael growled, grabbing Felix's shirt and yanking him close. "I don't care who you are. If you aren't going to leave, then I'm going to have to make you leave."

Felix tried to break away, but the captain shoved him back against the large stone. Felix felt a sharp pain enter his head as it slammed against the rock. He opened his eyes right as the captain flung his fist at Felix's gut. He doubled over, letting out a quiet curse from the pain as he dropped to his knees. Tanael scoffed slightly, his men behind him laughing and cheering as he kicked the boy.

Felix could taste the blood in his mouth by the time the second kick had landed in his stomach. He coughed it up, trying to breathe, but the wind was knocked out of him. The man kicked him over, onto his side where he lay. After a moment, he tried to get up, stopping when he saw the pair of boots in front of him. "Come on, brat," he growled. "Get up."

Felix weakly struggled, his elbows shaking as he pulled himself up. The man kicked him again. "Get up, damn it!"

Felix felt the movement above him, looked up and saw the reaction of Tanael's face as the blade was thrust sharply in front of it. Felix heard the wind whistling around his ears, heard just over the strength of a whisper, "You touch him one more time, I will slit you from throat to navel."

Tanael stepped back, his clothes whipping around from the suddenly rapid wind. Felix felt a strong hand grab his, helping him to his feet. Felix looked at Saturos, angrily staring at the suddenly worried Tanael. He glanced at Felix, nodded at him. "You alright?"

Felix reached up, touching the corner of his mouth, pulling back a finger covered in red. He hardly nodded, wiping his hand on his pants. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Saturos handed Felix to Alex, who helped him reorient himself, as he approached the head captain. The man stumbled backwards, holding up his hands. "My Lord Merchant," he stammered, suddenly pale. "This has all been a very big mista—"

"You and your men would be so bold as to attack a young boy for asking for directions?" Saturos growled, grabbing the man by the collar and holding his blade against the man's throat. "I'd heard of the legendary valor of the guards of Tolbi," he sneered dryly. "But never for once had I thought—"

"He was trying to rob us!" the man insisted, gasping as Saturos lifted him off the ground.

"Do you honestly think I don't know my own companion better than that?!" he roared over the wind, which had suddenly grown quite strong. The other guards scrambled away fearfully, leaving their whimpering commander to fend for himself.

Alex looked at Felix as he pressed a hand to his forehead, shaking off his nausea. "Are you alright?"

"Fine," Felix coughed, shielding his eyes as the sand began to beat against his face. The little tent near the camp began to beat itself furiously against the wind, the door fluttering opened and closed. Felix squinted as Alex suddenly let go, looking upwards in horror. Felix watched carefully as he saw inside the tent once again. He gasped. "There's someone inside that tent," he gasped, hurrying over toward the camp, despite the shouting of Tanael.

"Oh, my . . ." Alex murmured, looking up as the winds suddenly grew worse.

Saturos shook the man roughly. "And if you ever, ever—"

"Saturos?" Alex gasped as Felix stumbled through the camp toward the tent.

"What?" he growled, looking over his shoulder at the four who were staring upwards in terror.

Alex pointed. "Look!"

Saturos dropped the captain who scrambled to his feet staring up at the storm with Saturos. The Proxinian's heart stopped. "Oh, my—"

Felix hurried into the tiny tent, pulling down the pile of crates that blocked the figure tied to the tent's post, frantically jumping over and pulling out his knife. He froze.

It was a girl.

He heard shouting outside, hurriedly dropping to his knees and beginning to cut at the bonds on the girl's wrists, tied at the top of the pole, over her head. She gave a quiet scream beneath the gag, Felix quickly trying to quiet her. He reached down for the blindfold. "It's alright," he cooed quietly. "It's alright . . . I'm not here to hurt you."

He pulled the blindfold off, the folds of fabric impressed into her skin as bruises. Her green eyes looked at him fearfully, then curiously. He touched her cheek gently, then reach up and continued working on the bonds on her wrists. He felt the girl shaking slightly as she silently cried, letting him work. He looked at the rope, wondering why his knife hadn't cut through yet, seeing that he had only made a small indentation into the surface. He frowned, pressing harder.

Felix looked up in shock as the doorway flung itself open, Saturos scrambling over to where he sat by the girl. "Felix!" he gasped, freezing instantly as he saw the young woman strapped to the pole.

"She's hurt," Felix stammered, cutting at the rope, but not seeming to make any progress. "We need to—"

"It's too late!" Saturos said, grabbing for Felix's arm. "Leave her—!"

"What?" Felix gasped, pulling away. "I can't!"

Saturos glared at him. "Felix, we don't have any time!"

"I won't leave her here!" he shouted back, focusing all of his attention on the rope.

Saturos growled deeply in his throat, slamming a furious hand on one of the crates. He pulled out his own dagger, jumping over the crates. The girl looked up at him fearfully as he shoved Felix out of his way and began working on the rope. "You get her elbows," he barked quickly.

Felix quickly cut through the single band of thin cording just as Saturos finished the top. He pulled the girl up, pushing her at Felix as he flung a box out of their path. He looked at Felix who was holding the girl who was staring up at him in a mix of fear and awe. Saturos felt his impatience surge through him. "Felix! Now!!"

Felix quickly scooped the fragile girl up in his arms, hurrying through the doorway as Saturos held it open. He froze, looking up into the storm as Alex and Menardi struggled against the wind. "What in the . . ."

Menardi gasped as the enormous creature lunged at her, growling ferociously. She swung out with her scythe, scratching the beast cleanly across it's left eye. It withdrew, screeching in rage as she scrambled backward behind a rock for shelter. She tried to breath, but the sand seemed to buffet her at every turn. She fumbled for her headband, pulling it down to cover her mouth.

"Menardi?!" Alex shouted at her from a nearby stone.

"Nothing!" she yelled back, her entire body trembling from the adrenaline that rushed through her. "It's too strong!"

Alex cursed. "Use your psynergy!" he roared.

She glared at him, looking at the others in the group that had tried to hide under a rock for protection. "I tried!" She looked back at the beast who was frantically combing the sand for her. "It does nothing! Only seems to make him angrier!"

Alex cursed, watching the beast momentarily until it seemed safe. He darted from his shelter toward Menardi, diving behind the rock with her. Kraden rushed over only a mere moment later. They looked at her, Alex breathing heavily through his sleeve which he pressed to his face. "Are you injured?"

"No," Menardi murmured. "Not yet."

"And you and Jenna?" he asked Kraden.

"Well enough," he called through his collar. "But if this storm continues, that won't last for much longer." He glanced at Menardi. "Your psynergy only seems to be irritating it."

"I know," Menardi sighed tiredly. "And I can't take down something of that size by hand and weapon alone."

Alex sighed. "There's nothing you can do to stop this beast?"

Menardi glared at him furiously. "I've tried everything! What else can I do?"

Alex stared up at the beast as it let out a ferocious roar, the storm intensifying. He groaned to himself, stepping forward.

Kraden grabbed his arm. "Are you mad?" he stammered. "You're no warrior! You're only a—"

Alex slapped him away, stepping aside and shouldering past Menardi, pushing her toward Kraden. She watched him, confused as he glanced around the rock at the beast. "Alex?" she gasped. "What do you think you're—"

"Don't say a word," he growled. "I'm just as strong as any of you."

"But you're a healer!" Kraden argued.

"Do we seem to have much of a choice?" Alex growled. "Fire seems to aggravate its powers, and weapons alone can't take down a beast of that size."

Menardi frowned, glancing at a very nervous Kraden. "Then what do we—"

"I saw a cave on the far side of the eastern wall," he said quickly as the beast drew closer. He looked at her. "When I give the word, you both get Jenna and run toward that cavern, understood?"

Menardi looked at him desperately. "But, Alex—!"

Alex looked up, suddenly tense. "Go! Now!!"

Alex shoved her out of the way, scrambling back in shock as the dragon-creature slammed it's hand against the rock, shattering it. Alex put up both hands as a strong gust of air hurried past him along with small shards of stone that cut deep into his skin. He looked up at the beast, suddenly lunging forward at him, all teeth bared. Alex rolled to the side as its hand plunged into the sand where he would have been standing. The beast as it tossed its head roaring furiously as it missed.

Alex quickly moved to one side, rushing to the nearest rock and diving underneath it for coverage. If he could only stall until the others had made it to safety, then he could use his powers to bring himself to the cave. But as the sounds of the heavy pounding of reptilian footsteps drew closer, he knew his time was running out.

He managed to step just out of reach of the massive paw that swung at him, but not out of reach of the talons. He let out a shout as one cut deep across his chest, shredding his tunic nearly in half. He stumbled backward from the shock, losing his balance and falling flat on his back against the sand.

He shut his eyes to block out the pain, forcing himself to look up as the dragon towered over him. His heart stopped beating for several moments. All he could hear was the wind rushing around his body and the thunder crackling in the distance, making veins through the clouds. As though in slow motion, he saw the massive paw hurdling down at him. He knew that his companions were not yet safe, knew that the Elemental Stars were still in danger of destruction. He looked up, seeing the flash of ebony claws and made a moment's decision. He took in a deep breath.

He thrust his hands up, letting out a loud yell as the water flowed from his hands up toward the great beast's face. He shut his eyes, awaiting the sudden pain that he knew would follow, but was surprised when none came. He slowly opened his eyes, seeing the beast frantically clawing at it's wet face. The storm began to slow, something in Alex setting into place. He gasped.

The beast was weakened by water.

He looked down at his hands then back at the creature who was still scratching itself, skin bleeding from beneath it's well-plated scales. He held his hands up, calling forth more water. The creature let out an ear-splitting yowl as the water slammed into it the scales from its face falling as though the skin that held it had melted away.

He smiled to himself, strengthening the attack, feeling his power grow as the beast screamed again. Alex smiled again as the scream grew in pitch, thrust his hand forward, calling the psynergy again, and again. His blood rushed each time he heard that scream. He began to long for it, calling more and more power to him as the creature's screams continued.

The great dragon roared, stumbling backward and falling to the sand, frantically scratching at its face. The motions began to stop slowly as the creature's yowl died. The storm had almost entirely ceased as Alex walked toward the creature laying in the sand, its breathing slowing. Alex detected a slight rasp when it inhaled, its breathing low and ragged. Most of it's neck and upper body were bloodied, as though the skin had been melted away by some great heat.

The beast looked up at him with one large yellow eye as he neared, its nostrils kicking up clouds of fine red sand as its breathing quickened. Alex stepped close to it, too weak to struggle, looking down at it. He reached out.

The creature shied away with a quiet yowl. Alex started slightly, afraid it would stand and face him again. He watched it, stepping forward again and nearing the massive jaw of the beast.

It crooned at him quietly as he touched the jaw, his hand covered in the thick, red-violet the creature bled. He watched the creature thoughtfully as its breathing relaxed. He looked at his hands in a strange sort of awe. He had done this. He, a healer, had brought down a beast so great even the so-called powerful Proxinians could not bring it to it's knees.

This was true power, he now understood; holding life in one hand and death in the other. As a healer, he had only believed it was being able to restore life, but now, he saw he could also take it away. He sighed softly, tensing.

He had been underestimating himself.

Saturos had been underestimating him.

They all had.

Alex grit his teeth, touching the creature again, suddenly aching with rage. "A mistake they will not make again," he murmured to himself as his hand began to glow.

(A/N: That's a wrap. Yes, I know, bad spot to leave off at. I'll post ASAP. As for the reviews, here they are:

Gilly: Thanks. I just hope I can keep my sanity long enough to finish writing this story. Jk! I will finish it. Even if I lose my mind while doing it. I mean, hey, I have to find something to do until they release GS3 . . . crosses fingers and mutters darkly: they better release GS3...

Demonslayer: Sorry the post wasn't as quick as it should have been. We've had some MAJOR computer issues. sigh Technology, can't live with it, can't live without it. Hopefully things don't go too far down hill in the story. The last thing I need it for everyone to get so upset that Saturos starts attempting to kill himself. Alex . . . well, maybe that would work with his character.

fan fic lover: I paused when I saw you were on chapter one. So, you prolly won't see this for a while. Hopefully, I'll have won you over to the dark side by this point! warning: this has absolutely nothing to do with Golden Sun: GO SEE STAR WARS Ep. III!! opens May in a theatre near you. ::blushblush:: Sorry bout that. It's cause I said dark side.

HaWk98: Wow! You've reviewed multiple times. reads clip of last one BLUSH Shakespeare? I wouldn't say as good as Shakespeare, but thank you for the compliment. If you're a Shakespeare fan, by now you'll have seen the IagoAlex mentioning. Good stuff. Thanks!

Pata Hikari: sigh of relief Well, thank you for telling me my characters are believable. That is a relief. My biggest fear is going to be coming up, because I've had so much of the good in the bad guys shown, and now I just have to show how they're becoming evil enough that they're the way they are in the last cut scene. crosses fingers

Proxiniangirl: blush Thank you profusely! I'm glad I'm able to give people what they want. I'd like to go into writing, so I'm kinda trying out my hand here where there's no money to be lost . . . or had. shrug But I'm writing about characters I love! I just need to figure out a way to write my own characters so I love them as much as already created ones. blush Thank you!

Libby: You've been reading for weeks? Wow, very impressive. I'm glad you liked it enough to keep coming back. Good to know the characters are believable. That's two! yay!!! Thank you for reviewing!

Dekra Dentao: Wow, you read for a while. I hope you've kept reading to this point so you can see this. THANK YOU FOR READING!!!

Hiei17: Let's see if I can remember w/o my GBA... There's Lunpa, and he had a son Donpa, and I'm pretty sure both of them were noble. But if I remember, I think that it was Dodonpa that was the bad thief. Easily, I think that Pier's best friend in Felix's group is Felix. I think that now that Felix has suddenly been shoved to the front of the line for leadship, he gets a little nervous. I've always thought Piers is an 'older brother' type to Felix, a little like Saturos is when they first started out. (For anyone else reading this, no, I am NOT pro FelixPiers! Grr...) As for his past, well . . . You'll just have to wait for me to write that fic, won't you?

Master of Reality: lmao, I suppose you would be a Sheba fanboy. But how could you not like her? She's so spunky! In the sequel, I'm going to have Agatio threaten her (ie: pick her up and yell noisily) and she's gonna bite him. That just seemed like something she'd do. I've always been one for the gladitorial stuff, too. How can you be a gamer and not have a little bloodlust in you. HECK YES, SHEBA AND FELIX PAIRED KICK BUTT!! Glad to know I'm not the only one here that thinks so. crosses fingers Let's just hope everyone else agrees.

Xanda: Ooh, sorry this update took so long. Hopefully it was worth it, huh? No prob reviewing your stuff! I'm just glad it was so good! As for Alex, you just wait and see what more he's going to be up to. MWAHAHAHAahem . . . sorry.

WhitterZ: I luv Saturos as well! Why else would he be our dashing leading man . And yes, the more I write Alex's character, the less I like him. But then again, I didn't start feeling for him until GSLost Age at the Jupiter Lighthouse. This was really weird but, read his mind in there! Holy Moly! I was blown away!! That's where I got the whole idea of Alex liking Mia! He has his own little moments. If you read all of his thoughts, there has to be something going on behind those luscious aqua locks... Heck yes, Saturos and Menardi will love each other! They have to! It wouldn't be good if they didn't! Besides, I think the cutscenes show them as still being close by the end. Only problem is they only trust each other... Hmm. This could get interesting. Yay! I'm glad you agree with my green-eye theory! Ivan might have purple eyes, but Sheba too? I'm not buying it. Yeah, it was a little rushed. This one has kinda sat on a back burner for a while, so hopefully it will seem a little more premeditated.

Karst-Blazen: ... wow, I think I must have put you into a coma by that review! . Glad to know you like it. BTW, gotta love the name. Very good choice.

::end of reviews::

It is now 8:00 MST on November 26, and I will attempt to post. crosses fingers Please, ff.n, don't be stupid tonight. Wish me luck. Hopefully this will be posted. Here we go...)