(A/N: Lazy. More at end. Shut up i will. You read. R&R, por favor.)

Part 20: Overpowered

"This changes everything, you know."

"Yes."

"Well?"

". . . Things were never meant to be this complicated."

"It isn't a choice, Menardi. It is something that must be done."

"But you told Felix—"

"I know . . ."

"I just hope he understands."

"He'll have to."

------

Felix followed close behind Saturos, feeling his way over the dark, roughly carved paths that led down the side of the great plateau. The day had seemed longer than most. Longer even than, perhaps, the day of the flood in Vale. He didn't remember waking, or walking the long distance up the canyon to the plateau. It was no longer important. He didn't remember how long they had been walking since the event. The thought was still too fresh in his mind; the knowledge of the event.

He dragged his feet as he walked, keeping in step behind his mentor, eyes focused on the bright violet center of Saturos's torch. He could hear Sheba's footsteps close behind him, her hand warm in his as he led them downward. He could almost see the tops of the trees in the canyons as the path began to level. They were near the lighthouse. Felix knew he should have felt relieved, but his stomach was still tight. It had ever since he realized it.

He glanced at the back of Saturos's head, holding Sheba's hand a little more tightly. Had he noticed? Had Menardi? He secretly told himself no, but he already knew he was lying. Behind his back, he switched his hands with Sheba, rubbing the first on his sleeve. Why was he sweating?

"Are you alright?"

He'd started at the young girl's voice. "Mm."

"You're shaking."

"Just tired from today, that's all."

"Is it?"

He didn't turn to look at the girl. He only pressed his free hand against the rocky wall as they felt their way down.

She squeezed his hand lightly. "Watch your step."

------

It had been early in the day. The sun had passed its highest point and they had already started up the plateau. Saturos had led the group, Alex alongside him. Felix felt that something had changed about Alex. He was moderately pensive, and overall pleasant, almost the same Alex Felix remembered from their first encounter in Imil. But something seemed . . . off-center about him. Something from within the change had not been right.

Felix had stayed up the night before with Saturos, both awaiting any word from Alex. Kraden was silently treating the young girl's wounds. It wouldn't be until long after high moon that Alex finally appeared over the dune, wounded and covered in blood. But it was not entirely his own blood.

His arms were covered up to his elbows in grease-thick black, caking and drying on his fair skin. It was splattered across his face and stained his tunic, the great gash across his chest where a large scar could be seen.

Conversation was sparse. Saturos had inquired, and Alex had replied that he had slain the beast. No one bothered to ask how or why. Alex's breathing was labored, and the wound on his belly still trickling lightly to mix with the black. They brought him to an already exhausted Kraden, who silently, with Jenna's help, tended to his injuries.

They left at dawn.

------

Saturos and Menardi had led the group up toward the crown of the plateau, speaking quietly to one another, as not to let their thoughts be heard.

"This might be one of our only chances," Saturos said quietly.

Menardi glanced back at the others, morning heat already causing them to sweat. She sighed. "They won't have it."

"It doesn't matter at this point," Saturos said. "We're running out of time. Besides, that boy had the rod."

"We don't know if that is the Rod of Hesperia," Menardi said softly. "It could just be a stick—"

"Either way, we need a Jupiter Adept, and soon," Saturos said. "You know as well as I that the Adept must open the path to the lighthouse willingly."

"And if the boy will not consent?" Menardi asked. "Won't all this planning be for naught?"

"That is why we must take him now," Saturos said softly.

Menardi shook her head. "It is too risky."

"A risk we must take," Saturos hissed, keeping his voice low.

Menardi took in a deep breath, speaking in a whisper. "The boy . . . Ivan." She glanced at Saturos. "He won't come of his own accord."

Saturos's jaw tensed. "Then we make him come."

"And his companions?"

"We deal with them quickly."

Menardi glanced at him. "I thought you didn't want to fight Isaac."

"We do what we must, Menardi."

"But what about Felix? And Alex? Saturos, they would never agree to this."

Saturos sighed. "They need to realize that for our cause to succeed, sacrifices must be made."

"But those children are their friends—"

"They can't afford to let their feelings get in the w—"

"Saturos!" Menardi gasped, looking at him intensely. "Listen to yourself. This isn't who you are."

"It's who I have to be, Menardi," Saturos said calmly.

"We said we wouldn't bring anyone who wasn't involved into this," Menardi hissed. "We promised Puelle—"

"They became involved once they decided to follow us," Saturos growled. He sighed tiredly, shaking his head. "We aren't going to hurt the boy, Menardi. After all, we will need him alive." He sighed. "And we need that rod."

"Isaac won't turn the boy over easily," Menardi said quietly. "And we cannot depend on Felix or Alex to help us . . ." She eyed the ground. "We will be out numbered."

"Isaac may be strong, but he lacks conviction," Saturos said softly. "I learned that at Mercury Lighthouse. He won't kill us."

"He may have changed by now," Menardi said.

Saturos took in a deep breath through his nose. "Then we will have to hope he hasn't." He glanced behind them, lowering his voice again. "Once we have opened a path to the Aerie, we will send the others to the peninsula at Idejima. Then we will wait for Isaac and his companions at the Aerie."

"And if we fail?"

"We won't fail."

"But what if—"

"We won't fail."

-----

Felix kept his eyes forward and his breathing steady as their path began to level out. Warped vines and dead brown trees littered the way and offered little shade as the sun reached it's highest point.

"You never told me your name."

Felix paused, glancing behind him at the young girl, the one he'd rescued. He cleared his throat and went back to climbing. "It's not important."

"Yes, it is. You saved my life."

Felix didn't look back at her, but his step faltered slightly. "Felix," he murmured. "My name is Felix."

"Were you the one from my dream?"

This made Felix stop, stifling a laugh as he glanced at her. "What?"

"The one I'm supposed to follow?" she asked quietly. She looked toward the front of the group, Saturos and Menardi. "Your caravan . . . you are on a great quest, aren't you?"

Felix stopped, startled. He frowned as the girl walked in front of him, leaving him to ponder for a moment. "What?" he asked, hurrying after her.

She didn't look at him, only stared into the sky. "I had a dream once that the world was dying," she said softly. "I was falling from the sky into a great abyss. But someone caught me." She looked at him. "I think that was you."

Felix struggled to breathe, and finally managed a silent, "who are you?"

The girl smiled slightly to herself. "Lord Faran and his family calls me Sheba. I don't know if I have another name or not."

"Another name?" Felix asked.

Sheba sighed. "I don't know my parents. Lord Faran found me . . ." She smiled slightly. "He said I fell from the sky, but . . . I don't know if that it true. You know how loved ones exaggerate."

Felix chuckled lightly. He glanced at her. "What were you doing out in the middle of the desert with a group like that? Did they attack your town?"

Sheba stiffened. "They were supposed to be returning me home," she said, her mood darkening.

"Returning you home?" Felix asked. "From where?"

Sheba shivered slightly, shaking her head to clear her thoughts. "I'd rather not talk about it. All that matters is that I'm not going back." She smiled inwardly. "I'm going home."

"Home?" Felix asked. "Where is home?"

"Lalivero," Sheba said softly. She frowned a little. "Isn't that where you are going?"

Felix shook his head, suddenly confused. "No. I've never even heard of that place."

"But, then . . . where are you going?" Sheba asked.

Felix opened his mouth to speak, but stopped himself. He glanced at Saturos and Menardi and swallowed. "I don't think I can tell you."

"Why not?"

"I just don't think I can."

Sheba eyed the ground for a moment. She reached out and grabbed Felix's forearm.

Felix stiffened. "Hey, what are you—"

"The lighthouse?" Sheba murmured, letting go of his arm. She looked up at him fearfully. "What are you doing at the lighthouse?"

Felix stared at her in shock. "What? I-I didn't say we—"

"My dream," Sheba murmured. "The world is dying, isn't it?"

Felix struggled to shake his head. "No . . ."

"Then why are you here?" Sheba asked, quickly becoming flustered.

"Sheba," Felix said softly.

"No," she murmured. "Tell me truly; is the world dying?"

Felix took in a deep breath, staring at the young girl who had suddenly become very intense. He swallowed. "Yes. Weyard is dying."

"And you are trying to save it," Sheba said softly.

Felix nodded. "Yes."

Sheba nodded slowly to herself. "Then it is like my dream. Only . . ." She frowned and looked at Felix.

"Only what?" he asked.

She shook her head. "I'm not needed here."

"What do you mean?"

Sheba pursed her lips. "In my dream, I was needed so badly, I would have been kept against my will." She looked at Felix. "Only, I'm not needed here."

Felix paused. "Well, you are wanted here . . ." When the girl looked up at him, he suddenly flushed terribly. "Wh-what I meant was . . . well, you are good company."

Sheba smiled. "Thank you, but I think I might have been wrong.."

"About what?"" Felix asked.

Sheba sighed. "About you being in my dream. I shouldn't have said the things I did . . . I'm sorry."

Felix could only frown as the suddenly disquieted girl raised her pace.

-----

"Halt! Who goes there?"

Saturos stopped, staring at the two sentries in front of them, standing guard over a thin passageway, a small shrine carved into the mountain behind them. Saturos could tell by their armor they were Tolbi Guardsmen. But what would their kind be doing this far out in Eastern Gondowan?

He lifted his hands in warding. "We don't want any trouble. We are just a group of weary travelers."

"Travelers to where?" the other guard demanded.

Saturos's mouth began to form the words, but he stopped. He couldn't tell them they were traveling to the Lighthouse. He fumbled for an explanation, finding none.

"Uh . . . Lalivero?"

Saturos turned to see Felix standing just behind him.

The first guard frowned and turned his gaze on the boy. "What business have your kind in Lalivero?"

Saturos looked at Felix, expecting him to answer.

Felix licked his lips. "Uh, we have to . . . that is, we, uh . . ." Then he remembered. "We are escorts for the young daughter of Lord Faran."

"No!" Sheba hissed at Felix.

"Faran's kid? Not that Sheba-girl?" the first guard asked tentatively.

Upon Felix's nod, Saturos cleared his throat. "Yes," he murmured as Felix turned to Sheba, offering his hand and pulling the girl to stand in front of him. "We are escorting her back to Lalivero."

"Lord Tanael was Sheba's assigned escort," the second guard murmured.

Saturos stiffened at the memory of the night before. "Yes, well, Lord Tanael has suffered some . . . complications. We have taken his charge upon ourselves."

"Do you have such notification from Lord Tanael?" he asked.

Saturos shrugged, motioning to Sheba. "We have the child. Isn't that enough?"

The first guard drew his sword. "Turn over the girl and all your weapons. You are all under arrest."

"Under arrest?" Kraden echoed worriedly, looking at Saturos.

"For what?" Menardi demanded.

"We don't recognize your authority," the guard said. "Word with us was that the little Gondowan brat wasn't due to come through until next week."

Felix stiffened as he gently pushed Sheba behind him, stepping to his master's side. "So, that was why they were taking their time," he whispered to Saturos.

"Don't worry," Saturos whispered back. "They won't get her back. After all . . ." He glanced at Felix with a slight smile. "We are her escorts, aren't we?"

"Don't make this hard on yourselves," the guard murmured. "We can do this peacefully, or we can be a little more difficult. Now I'll ask you again." The guard pointed his sword at Sheba. "Give us the girl."

"No," Menardi said levelly.

The two guards laughed, looking at one another and back at the group. "Do you really think you're any match for the warriors of Tolbi?"

"Do you wish to find out?" Saturos asked calmly.

Felix started as a firm grasp wrapped around his wrist. He turned. "Sheba? Wha—"

"You can't fight them!" she pleaded quietly.

"Felix?" Saturos hissed.

"Sheba," Felix murmured. "Not now—"

"They are Tolbi Elitesmen!" she said hurriedly. "You are no match for them! They're dangerous!"

"Felix," Saturos said, anger darkening his tone.

Felix swallowed. He pushed the young girl behind them again with his forearm. "Keep back Sheba."

"Felix, stop!" she whispered urgently. "Don't fight them! They hav—"

"Kraden," Saturos snapped. "Hold her back." He watched as Felix stepped up into the line again between himself and Menardi. "That was uncalled for Felix."

"But she—"

"Will you give us the girl or not?" the guard growled, temper shortening.

Menardi groaned. "This isn't the time, you two."

"Nor the place."

They all turned to see Alex step up with them.

"Alex?" Saturos asked.

"We're a team, aren't we?" he asked, staring at the two. "Shall we fight as one?"

Saturos glanced at Menardi who sighed. "We always welcome the help, Alex. But you are sure you're well enough?"

"We'll see soon enough, won't we?" he asked, smiling slightly to himself. "You still have the Elemental Stars, don't you Saturos?"

Saturos frowned. "Yes . . . why—?"

"Just reminding you not to let them fall into the wrong hands," he said quietly. "Let's be careful. Now shall we?"

"This should be quick work," Menardi whispered to Saturos.

Saturos nodded, turning his gaze to the guardsmen. "If you want the girl, come for her!"

The first guard sighed, reaching up with his free hand and shutting the facemask of his full helm. Felix's grip tightened on his sword. He could feel himself sweating beneath his gloves.

"They're only men," Saturos said softly.

Felix nodded as the first of the men charged at them.

Menardi quickly thrust out her hand, focusing her energy at the guard. The air burst into flame in a thick pillar at the first man. He stopped in his path as the fire hit him head on. Their vision went white for a moment, Felix shielding his eyes in shock. The light faded, and he lowered his hand.

The guard stood where he had been standing before, his blade in hand, now glowing with red heat. The last of the fire drifted into the sword before it returned to the silvery hew it had been before.

Felix frowned. "What the . . ."

Saturos took in a sudden breath. "Alex?"

"The sword," the Imilian murmured. "It absorbed all her psynergy."

Saturos swallowed. "That could complicate things—"

"Get down!"

Felix felt himself hit the dirt as a great force tackled his middle. He felt heat on his back, hot wind ripping at his clothing. He sat up, finding his cloak singed. Sheba pushed herself to her knees and looked hurriedly at Saturos, whom she'd also knocked to the ground.

The Proxinian stared at the guard in shock. "Did he just—"

"I tried to tell you!" she shouted furiously.

"Tell us what?" Felix asked.

"Their swords," Sheba said. "Lord Babi's alchemists made them. They take the energy used against them and use it against the summoners."

"Summoner?" Felix asked.

"Adept," Saturos translated, rising. "That means we can't use our psyner—" Saturos paled. "Alex, stop!"

The Mercury Adept had already summoned the ice attack. The second guard stepped forward, blocking it with his blade. A steady stream of white seemed to be gravitating to the blade until all was absorbed. The guard smiled at his sword, glowing with a pale blue light. He pointed it at Menardi.

Without a word, Saturos leapt forward.

Felix scrambled to his feet. "Saturos, n—!"

But Menardi was falling, shoved to the ground. And Saturos's crippled frame was already in the air. There was no cry of pain, no scream. Only movement, then sound. He was flung backward, covered in a fine, pale frost. He hit a large boulder with a quiet thud, slid down the dirt path and out of their reach. Felix watched, heart in his throat as Saturos weakly tried to push himself to his feet. He fell back against the dirt with a quiet gasp.

The first guard pushed back his facemask, stepping forward. "Well, now . . . that should do it. We aren't going to ask you again. Now, give us the girl."

Menardi struggled for breath. She found it only as she realized . . .. "Felix, don't—!"

The Venus Adept was on his feet, already calling at the earth. The first guard looked down, stunned as thorned vines suddenly lashed out at his feet, wrapping themselves around his ankles, as well as his companion's only a moment later.

"Get them, now!" Felix shouted furiously at Menardi.

She had no time to think. She withdrew her scythe and charged.

Alex followed just behind her, pulling out his dagger.

-----

Felix focused all of his thoughts, his anger, into the earth, let them tighten themselves around his enemies. It wasn't enough for him to hold the guards down. He wanted more. He wanted to kill them. He felt his body jar forward in an instantaneous pain. His power was growing . . . growing . . .

The first guard was knotted up in vines by the time Alex reached him, and had only to send a finishing blow to the man.

The second guard, however, was fairing better.

Menardi swung out at the man with her scythe, but he had seen her. He quickly deflected it, then spun, taking his blade with him and slicing cleanly through three sharp vines. He continued to block her assaults with seeming ease, as well as ward off the branches. Menardi began her attack, a clear swing at last. But she sensed . . .

She quickly swerved her blade to slice through the vines that had slashed out at her, jumped back to avoid another. She cast a quick glance back at Felix. The boy was shaking terribly, his hands filled with green light. Vines came faster now, no longer directed at enemies. No longer directed at anything.

Felix was losing control.

Kraden managed to pull Jenna behind a rock as a massive root ripped up from the ground they had only then stood upon. The girl, Sheba, scrambled to her feet as more erupted around them, and Felix's shaking grew worse. The ground trembled as stones began to shake themselves loose from the mountain passage. Felix let out a quiet cry, and the shaking doubled.

Menardi turned away from the guard, all wrapped in vines. She raced toward the Valean boy. "Fel—!"

A strong force slammed against the back of her neck. Everything went dark and she hit the ground without making a noise.

Alex smiled to himself, turning his dagger over in his hand. "Nothing personal, Menardi."

He strode away from the battle, away from the guard, already dead from the earthen assault, away from a convulsing Felix, and toward where Saturos lay, very still on the trembling ground.

He kicked the Proxinian over onto his back, nudging the mythril bags with the toe of his boot. He knelt on one knee, pulling the two from Saturos's belt. He weighed them in his hands, smiled to himself. His hand tightened around his dagger as the earth around him shook violently. "My apologies, Saturos . . . but you're getting to be a little too dangerous."

He poised the blade over the Proxinian's chest. Once Felix returned to his senses and Menardi came to, things would be in his hands, and no one would be the wiser. Felix had lost control of his powers, and accidents did happen, after all. They would be one Lighthouse closer to Alchemy's return, two steps closer to the Golden Sun, and be one Proxinian less. He pulled the blade back to strike.

A vine leapt out of the ground, sending Alex, the dagger, and the elemental stars flying across the plateau. Alex landed flat on his back with a groan before losing all sense, and submitting to black.

-----

Felix couldn't feel anything anymore. Each time, he had been taught to harness his psynergy, use it as a tool, feel its presence like a constant companion. It was no longer a presence he felt, but it was not an absence. It was too much.

The connection with alchemy had gone from a small thread, to a gaping hole from which all of alchemy itself roared out, and Felix could only watch himself drown. It was as though he was no longer inside of himself. He knew he was shaking, he could feel the cold moisture from his skin rushing down his face. He felt the panic and the sugar of adrenaline, yet he was helpless to stop it.

He could feel the land, feel each fiber of his being as it tore itself upward from the dirt, as though his very soul would explode, unable to contain such power. No one person was meant to have so much; this much.

Felix was still not inside himself as the wind began blowing softly. He was still powerless. He wanted to stop it, stop his power, but he couldn't. It was strong. Too strong. He was no longer controlling it. It was controlling. It made him afraid.

And that fear made his power grow.

The skies darkened, the air grew moist. Clouds covered the sun. Felix struggled to open his eyes. He was still in the earth, reaching out of the dust, because he had no other choice. He saw Sheba in front of him, her back to him, arms stretched up to the sky. Why are you still here, Sheba? Why aren't you running?

He felt a reply. I will not run.

Felix felt his mouth let out a tiny cry. It was not himself, it seemed. Someone he might have been three years ago, a little boy in a little village. Earth screamed around his body. Hsi arms ached, yet he could not feel them. He felt only the ground. The pain grew, spread to his chest. It burned. He had been right.

He was going to explode.

-----

Menardi blinked her eyes open as the soft touch of rain on her face came. She tasted dry dirt and blood in her mouth, coughing lightly as she pushed herself up. She looked up at the rain, quickly turning the ground to mud below her hands. Hadn't the sky been clear? Then she recalled . . .

Felix.

She scrambled to her feet spinning around. Her blonde hair landed with a soft slap on her face. She pushed it from her eyes as she ran toward Felix. She stopped upon a flash, a sudden branch of fire from the sky.

Lightning.

She saw Felix's body give a sharp movement. His entire body stiffened. His eyes opened in horrified shock, and his jaw went slack. The vines around them all dropped lifelessly to the muddying ground. Lifeless as the Adept.

Menardi's mind was already spinning, her heart was already in her throat, choking her. Lightning? On such a clear day from such an empty sky? It wasn't possible.

"Felix!"

Sheba turned, catching the boy as he fell forward. She was hardly able to support his weight as she half lowered him to the ground, half dropped him. She cradled his head in her lap, frantically pushing the dark, wet hair from his face, trying to shake consciousness into the boy. Menardi took in a deep breath. The lightning had not simply come from no where. It had not even come from the sky.

A light breeze picked up as thunder quietly growled in the distance. The young girl, shook Felix, his body rigid, yet lifeless in her arms. A sudden cough and his body lurched to the side, holding his chest, knees pulled to his middle. Menardi could only stare in shock as the boy's coughing grew worse, crying in silent gratitude as the rain continued to pour.

-----

Neither spoke for a long moment.

"It was an accident—"

"I know, Felix."

" . . . I'm sorry."

"Sorry doesn't help anyone when we're all dead," Saturos said quietly. He pulled the damp cloth away from his mouth. The bleeding had stopped. He sighed, looking at the boy who was staring at the ground. "Felix, I know you were only doing what you thought was right. But that sort of power . . ." He shook his head. "You had no idea how to control it. You could have gotten us all killed! Gotten yourself killed!"

Felix sniffed lightly, rubbed his nose.

Saturos sighed tiredly, waving him away with the bloody towel. "Go now. We'll be leaving soon."

Felix slowly rose from the rock he sat on, stumbling toward the pile of supplies. Saturos watched him until Menardi came, sitting in front of him.

"I found them," she murmured, handing him the two, small mythril bags.

He opened each, examining both stones. "Where were they?"

"All the way toward the end of the path," she murmured as he slipped the two stars back into their bags. "How are they?"

"No damage done," he said. He glanced up. "And you?"

"Mild bruise on the back of my head," she said with a shrug. "Alex was hit as well."

"I can't believe Felix would be so reckless," Saturos muttered darkly. "I thought I had taught him better than that—"

"He was only trying to protect you," Menardi murmured.

"He could have killed us all," Saturos said roughly. "You saw the blow Alex took to his gut. If you had taken a blow like that to the head . . ." He swallowed hard, reaching out and taking her hand.

Menardi squeezed his hand lightly. "Don't think of it like that."

"We are supposed to be fighting our enemies, not our friends," he sighed. "I just want Felix to be safe once we're gone."

They both sat in silent thought for a long moment.

"Gone?" Menardi asked with a slight smile.

Saturos laughed softly to himself. "Well, not gone but . . . when he returns to Vale and . . . we return to Prox."

"You don't think he'll come visit us?" Menardi grinned.

"I think he will," Saturos said quietly.

Menardi took in a deep breath through her nose. "Do you think we could even live in Prox?" She squeezed his hand. "After all, Agatio is bound to be very angry."

Saturos shrugged. "Maybe we'll move in with Felix."

Menardi laughed quietly with him, staring at their hands, fingers intertwined. She cleared her throat. "It has been . . . so long since I have heard you laughing."

Saturos's face grew tired. "There has not been much to laugh about as of late. Hardly anything to even smile about."

Menardi nodded slowly. She stiffened as she remembered. "Saturos, there is something I need to tell you."

Saturos nodded.

"It's about the girl."

He frowned. "Jenna?"

"No, the other . . . Sheba . . ."

-----

Saturos rubbed his hands together nervously. "You're sure?"

"Absolutely certain," Menardi murmured.

Saturos leaned back taking in a deep breath. "A Jupiter Adept right under our very noses, and we hadn't even sensed . . ." He trailed off as he stared at the ground.

Menardi leaned against the rock Saturos sat near. "She saved him, you know. If she hadn't done what she did, Felix would be—"

"I know," Saturos said. He stared at the ground for a long time before finally meeting Menardi's gaze. "This changes everything, you know."

She sighed. "Yes."

"Well?"

She swallowed hard. "Things were never meant to be this complicated."

"It isn't a choice, Menardi," Saturos said quietly. "It is something that must be done."

Menardi frowned. "But you told Felix—"

"I know," Saturos said, cutting her off quickly. He glanced in the direction of the boy, the girl beside him. He shook his head. "I just hope he understands."

-----

The sky was still as Saturos finally stopped at the edge of the forest. The edges were trimmed with pinks and oranges. It was nearly dawn. He pointed at the ivory and umber tower on the horizon.

"There," he murmured. "Venus Lighthouse." He glanced back at the others. "We're almost there."

"And once we're done, we can escort you to Lalivero, like we promised," Felix said, looking at Sheba.

She slowly nodded. "Yes."

Felix glanced at Saturos, but he wouldn't look at him. Only stared at the girl before finally turning back to the path. "Come. We have much to do."

(A/N: Yeah, I know, no Author's note up there. I knew everyone was going to murder me, since this took so long, but here is the thing. My laptop is dead. I had this entire chapter ready, primed and ready for ff.n, and it died. It still won't boot. If you don't believe me, I'll post the old one if I ever get it recovered.

Actually, I am really pleased with this one. The first one did not have a plot at all like this AT ALL. I like this a lot more, because I feel that Sheba is more of the prophetess we get to hear that she is to the Lalivero . . . ians? Anyway, she and Felix have a much more realistic bond to each other, much more instantaneous-realistic, at least.

For all those wondering about reviews, another update: without a laptop, I have no internet access. Yes, so posts will be sporadic until Christmas Break is over. I hope to have another chapter up ASAP, so be on the look out. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I DON't LOVE YOU ALL; IE: Sora, Hiei17, Libby, Proxiniangirl, Xanda, WhitterZ, MoR, and xZero84x!!! You will be reviewed . . . I mean . . . your reviews will be reviewed? Or . . . something.

Also, if you like the idea of my fics, and want to see similar ones, or if you don't like my writing style (. . . then why have you read this far?! Don't you have a life?!?) You can go check out Vyctori's "Blaze", and Empress Dotdotdot's "The Lighter Side of Darkness." Go scatter hence! Away with you! Merry Christmas, Kwaanza, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, and . . . aw, the heck with it: Happy Holidays you freaks!!!!)