(A/N: Soooooooo Sorry! DON'T KILL ME! At least let me explain first…

Okay, here's what happened. My laptop breaks, yes? Well, I decided to move everything to my Dad's old (old as in ancient) Sony Viao Space. Wouldn't you know my luck? I get everything there, and suddenly, it decides it's time for it to pass on. Yes, the Sony broke.

There was much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, as I was forced to work at a very slow pace, starting THIS fic all the way over at the beginning! Not only that, I was working on my brother's computer… Yeah, anyone with a little bro who is also a gamer should understand what I mean. Oh, sure, he'd let me on… Just whenever he wasn't playing Diablo. (Note: this was almost never. He stays up till midnight sometimes playing… not that this is bad )

Then, a miracle occurred. My Laptop returned to me! WITH A BIGGER HARDDRIVE! Daddy bought me presents as well as a fixed computer, i.e.: a JUMPDRIVE! (Yay, jumpdrive!) AND WIRELESS INTERNET FOR MY LAPTOP! No more dial up for me! The best present in a long time, for sure… And that means…

REVIEWS OF REVIEWS! Yay! They'll be at the end. I'll let you get straight to the story.

Note: This is where things will really get messy, and the group will begin to fall apart. This was something I'd been thinking of for a long time, because in the scene at the end of GS: I, Felix doesn't seem to be on good terms with Saturos and Menardi. There needed to be a deterioration of their friendship, and a reasoning of why he would return for Sheba, let alone jump off a lighthouse for her. BTW; thanks to Sora for giving me a descent race-name for those of Lalivero. I would have done something like Lalivero-ians, or something.

Last thing, my updates might be weird. If I haven't said it before, I'm a vocalist, and I'm training for Opera. I have a huge competition that spans these next three months, so my teacher's working me to death. That means one extra hour to vocal study, one hour away from free time. Not that I'll never post again. I WILL finish this one. Trust me.

So, here it is. RR! Enjoy!)

Part 22: Fallen

Sheba rose from the tent she slept in with the two she now knew to be called Jenna and Menardi. Jenna, she had learned, was quite talkative, and once started, it was difficult to make her stop. Menardi on the other hand was more of a pensive woman. She was, however, much older than Sheba, by at least five years, and didn't pay much heed to Sheba. She'd spoken to her once after the episode with Felix, vaguely thanked her for helping him, but hadn't said much since.

Sheba took in a deep breath as she emerged from the tent and stretched her hands high over her head. They were not far off from Lalivero now. She had begun to recognize a few of the details, the river, the stones. It seemed many more months than it had been since she had last seen them.

She sighed and stared at the waning moon. The air here was thick with the scent of ocean and dust, the smell of the quarries near the lighthouse. She hugged her middle and shut her eyes, imagining playing on the beach with her younger brothers again.

She stopped. Her eyes opened and her head turned. Someone else was awake.

Felix.

She turned to the river, walking toward the grassy bank where Felix lay, feet in the water, face turned to the moon. She smiled as she neared, sat cross-legged beside him and watched him for a long moment. She cleared her throat. "Couldn't sleep?"

Felix's eyes opened immediately. His entire being was instantly awake, alert. His eyes shot to her sharply, then softened. His body relaxed and he shut his eyes again. "What are you doing up?" he asked.

Sheba shrugged, hugging her knees to her chest. "Warm night. Couldn't sleep."

Felix smiled slightly, eyes still closed. "Aren't you used to this sort of weather?"

"No," she confessed, drawing in the dirt with one toe. "I guess the weather of Tolbi is still too fresh." She sighed. "It was cold there. The mountains made it that way, I suppose." She looked at Felix. "What about you? What is it like where you come from?"

Felix glanced at her for a moment; he opened his mouth to respond, then stopped. He cleared his throat and turned his gaze at the sky. "Cold, I suppose."

Sheba laughed. "You suppose? You aren't sure?"

He said nothing.

Sheba frowned. "Did … Have I said something I oughtn't?"

Felix took in a deep breath through his nose. "It isn't you."

"What then?"

Still silence.

Sheba sighed, pushed herself toward him slightly. "Felix, something troubles you."

"No."

"Yes, it does," she said softly. "Why won't you tell me?"

"It isn't important," he said, rolling away from her.

Sheba stared at his back. She reached out, stopped. She felt she shouldn't. She paused a moment took a deep breath and set her hand on his arm. "If it is not important … why are you here, Felix?"

He glanced at her over his shoulder, confused.

"Please, Felix," she murmured. "I only want to help you."

Felix turned his face from her again, stared at the ground. He silently drew in the dirt with his free hand. "It's my friend," he said reluctantly. "I'm just … worried about him."

"Who is it?" Sheba asked.

Felix sniffed lightly. "Just … someone I've known for a very long time."

Sheba frowned. "The tall one? Saturos?"

Felix chuckled lightly. "No, not Saturos. Saturos can take care of himself."

Sheba's nose wrinkled. "Take care of himself? What do you mean—?"

"It's Isaac that should be worried," Felix said darkly, sitting up. He hugged his knees to his chest. He sighed. "He shouldn't have followed us."

Sheba frowned. "Isaac? He is the one from your village?"

Felix looked at her, surprised. "You know him?"

Sheba shook her head, her pale hair rustling against her face. "No, but Jenna has spoken of him. And of another boy. Garet, I believe he was called."

Felix looked at the river, sighing. "What else has she said?"

Sheba gave him a sidelong look. "Only that she is worried for you."

Felix rested his chin against his knees. "Me?" he scoffed lightly. "Why is she wasting her time worrying about me?"

Sheba frowned. "I do not think it a waste. You are her brother."

Felix sighed. "I was … I'm not sure who I am now."

"Who does this Isaac think you are?"

Felix laughed bitterly. "A world-killer. A destroyer. Something along those lines."

Sheba turned her head to one side. "And are you?'

"Of course not," Felix said, almost offended at the suggestion.

She looked back toward the camp. "And Saturos? What is he?"

Felix lifted his chin proudly. "He's going to be a savior. Just because no one can see it yet, doesn't mean we aren't doing the right thing."

"Saving the world?" Sheba asked wryly.

Felix sighed. "It doesn't seem so grand a task as you make it sound."

Sheba shrugged. "A mountain is only stones until they all fall into place and become one. Through small and simple means are great things brought to pass."

Felix smiled. "This journey has been anything but simple."

They fell quiet for a long moment, staring at the stars, blurred in the riverbed.

Sheba swallowed. "When … you are finished with your quest, you will come back, won't you?"

Felix looked at her, frowned. "What?"

"When you've done all that you've needed to," Sheba said softly. "Will you come back? Tell me of your journey?"

Felix cleared his throat and eyed the ground. "I … would suppose."

Sheba slowly nodded.

"You aren't coming with us?" Felix asked softly.

Sheba swallowed. "I … can't."

"Can't or won't?"

Sheba looked at him sadly. "I'm still waiting for destiny, Felix." She sighed. "I'm still trying to find out who I am …" She shook her head. "I can't act until I know what I'm supposed to do."

Felix took in a deep breath. "What if you're supposed to come with us?"

Sheba looked at him. "I thought we talked about this before."

"What if you're wrong?" he murmured.

Sheba's eyes narrowed. "My dreams are never wrong."

Felix sighed, pushing a long strand of fallen hair behind his ear. "That isn't what I meant."

"I know," Sheba said, eyeing the ground. " … I'm sorry."

Felix swallowed. "It's just …" He looked down, pausing a moment before setting his hand on hers. "It's been nice having someone around. Someone to talk to, you know?"

Sheba stared at her hand, Felix's lying on top, fingers intertwined with hers. She smiled. "I know." She sighed. "I think I will miss that."

Felix nodded, looking up at the stars. "So will I."

She cleared her throat. 'You don't have to go with them."

Felix shook his head, laughed slightly. "Yes, I do." He gave her a sidelong look. "And you have a destiny to wait for."

Sheba took in a deep breath, hung her head. "I'm sorry."

"You shouldn't be," Felix murmured. "We all have our own trials."

Sheba nodded slowly. "Only …" She looked at Felix. "I felt so sure that my trials would be your trials. I felt that when I first met you."

Felix sighed thoughtfully. "Well, we can't be right all the time."

Sheba fell into quiet thought, resting her head against Felix's shoulder. And for the first time in many days, Felix felt at peace.

-

Saturos awoke with a gasp. He looked frantically around his suddenly dark, alien surroundings. He looked down at his bare chest, felt at his ribcage; clean, dampened only by slight perspiration.

Saturos blew out a long breath. He weakly scratched the back of his neck, as he looked about again. The tent. The wilderness. He shook his head, quietly cursing to himself. Another nightmare. The same as it had been the last three nights that he had managed to sleep. He looked about the tent. Felix lay on the far end of the tent, his breathing soft and steady, Kraden just across from the boy, and Alex by doorway, deep in sleep; Saturos still sensed his aura, as strong as it was when the Imilian was conscious.

He kicked off the blankets, a fine woven cloth given to them by Master Nyunpa. Saturos frowned as he grabbed for his tunic, pulling it over his head. That seemed so long ago now, so far away. He wondered for a moment what had become of Nyunpa, but stopped. He already knew what had become of Master Nyunpa. The old man had predicted it long before their arrival.

Saturos stepped over Alex and pushed open the door to the tent, into the morning, thick with mist from the sea. What would his own fate be, he wondered. He looked down again at the telltale scars of his last visit to the lighthouse. He ran his fingers over them, smooth raised bumps against his skin. His shook his head, warding off the memory of his visions.

Dreams, Saturos corrected himself. He frowned. Why had he thought of them as visions? Dreams were typically dreams, nothing more. The gift of foresight was not one usually given to the Adepts of Mars. That was reserved for those of Jupiter. But that didn't make the dreams any less terrible.

He started slightly as two strong, cool hands slid around his neck. He sighed, reached up and took one of them, hanging his head. "Good morning."

"You're troubled," Menardi murmured.

Saturos scoffed slightly. "Merely nervous. I'd assumed we would have a confrontation at the lighthouse for a Jupiter Adept, but fate seems to have bestowed a gift on us."

"The girl?" Menardi asked softly.

Saturos let out a long breath. "Now, I'm afraid I may have lagged too long through the plateau on that assumption." He looked over his shoulder at Menardi. "I fear they might catch us."

Menardi rubbed the heels of her hands over his shoulders, falling briefly into silence. "You worry too much."

"I have reason."

Menardi frowned, her fingers working on his muscles. "You're so tense. More than I've seen you bef …"

Saturos shrugged her hands off, walking toward the river. He ran his hands over his face, rubbed his eyes. "I haven't slept well."

Menardi raised an eyebrow. "You've hardly allowed yourself to sleep." She stepped toward him. "You're anxious—"

"Cautious," Saturos said curtly. "There's a difference."

Menardi rested her hand on his shoulder. "Is there?"

Saturos took in a deep breath. "There is something I've been meaning to speak with you about."

"What?"

"We discussed it earlier, the others leaving for Idejima…"

"But we aren't fighting Isaac anymore," Menardi murmured. "Doesn't that mean we don't need—"

"When the time comes, I want you to take the others to," Saturos said, staring out at the hills, the ocean.

Menardi frowned. She removed her hand, staring at the back of his head in something along the lines of disbelief. "What?" she demanded quietly.

"We don't know what might happen," Saturos said, over his shoulder. He rubbed his hands together, looking back toward the sea. "Our records spoke of it, so did Alex's; some of the lighthouses' violent reactions." He paused. "We don't know if this is one of the lighthouses our records spoke of. I don't want to take that chance."

"You don't want to take that chance?" Menardi growled angrily. "What about what I want?"

"I know what you would want," Saturos said, his voice level. "That's why I've intervened." He took in a long breath. "That is why you and Alex will be taking Jenna, Kraden, and the girl to Idejima when we've opened a path to the Aerie."

Menardi grabbed his shoulder roughly, turning him to face her. "Don't you do this to me, Saturos. Don't you dare."

Saturos's eyes narrowed. "I am trying to protect you."

"From what!" Menardi exploded. "Saturos, those documents are ancient! We don't know how accurate they are!"

"Exactly," Saturos said, grabbing her by her arms. "All the more reason for me to ask you to—"

"You need my help up there, Saturos," Menardi said hurriedly. "You know you do."

"Felix will be with me."

"He is only a boy," Menardi argued.

Saturos frowned. "He is strong."

"Not strong enough," Menardi pressed, looking him directly in the eye. "Saturos, you are knowingly putting yourself in danger again." She swallowed. "I almost lost you once to a lighthouse. Please don't ask me to do so again… not when I could stop it."

Saturos stared at her for a long moment in silence. He sighed. "Menardi, if anything were to happen to you… I—" He cut himself short, trying to down the lump that had suddenly risen in his throat. He turned his gaze to the ground, trying to speak, and again, failing.

Menardi pursed her lips, rubbing his arms tenderly. "Saturos, the same is true for me. If you came to harm because I was not able to act…" She took in a deep breath. "I don't know that Prox would be enough to motivate me to continue with this."

"Don't say that," Saturos said sharply, giving her a rough shake. "No matter what happens, we must continue on. This isn't only about Prox, Menardi."

"I know," she said, staring at the ground. "I didn't mean to imply…" She sighed, shaking her head. "But you can't simply send me away! Not when I could save you."

Saturos stared at her in shock. "What?"

Menardi swallowed hard. "Saturos, I was sent as a guardian. I must protect you no matter what the—"

"What do you mean by you could save me?" Saturos demanded softly.

Menardi swallowed. "Saturos, let me stand by you. I fear…" Tears rushed along the bottom of her eyes. She leaned her head back, not willing to let them fall. "I fear I may lose you if I don't."

"You will not lose me, Menardi," Saturos said quietly.

Menardi shook her head vigorously. "No, Saturos. You don't understand—"

"Menardi, I would rather I die and be certain that you live," Saturos said.

"And I say that I will stand with you!" Menardi shouted furiously, her grip tightening on his arms. "Why can you not be content with that!" She took in several deep breaths, trying to calm herself, brushed her hand over the tear that fell, clearing it from her cheek. She stared at him, swallowing hard. "Saturos, please. Just let me do this."

Saturos clenched his teeth, the lump rising again. He shook his head roughly. "I won't let you die for me, Mena—"

"Please," Menardi pressed, holding his arms tightly. "Don't ask me why. Be content… for once, let me lead you." She stared at him intensely. "Please."

Saturos took her in his arms, taking in a sharp breath. He pressed his cheek to her hair, letting it catch the tears that were suddenly falling. "Menardi, please don't do this."

"You are stronger than I am, Saturos," Menardi whispered, her voice trembling. "You always were. If you were to die, all in me would go with you. But you are stronger than that. You are the core of our fellowship… our leader—"

"I won't allow you to become my sacrificial lamb," Saturos hissed, his throat tight.

"You never asked for me to," Menardi murmured. "This is something I have felt a long while, Saturos. Your path is unclear, but I know mine…" She took in a shaky breath. "I do not think I will be returning to Prox for a long, long while."

Saturos took in a sharp breath. "Don't say that—"

"What? Don't you feel it, too?" She took in a deep breath. "Whether it is here or Jupiter or Mars, fate has determined that neither of us should see our home again."

"Then why are we fighting for this?" Saturos quietly murmured.

Menardi swallowed. "Because it is right." Menardi pulled back, looking toward the camp. She turned back to him, smiling sadly. "The others are waking."

Saturos opened his mouth to speak, but she covered it with her hand.

"Don't," she murmured. "This may not be the end of our time, Saturos… but I will stand beside you when you light that beacon… whether you wish it or not." She balanced herself on her toes and kissed him lightly. "Go now," she said softly into his ear. "We don't want to waste the day."

Saturos let her slip from his arms, suddenly intangible. He watched her for a long, disbelieving moment. He stepped forward and called out to her.

"Menardi!"

She turned.

"You will stand by me. I can't change that." He paused. "But I will stand by you as well. I will not lose you to fate willingly."

Menardi smiled sadly, unmoved from her spot.

Saturos swallowed hard, turned his back to her and faced the river. He knelt by the water and splashed the water on his face, a sudden cold shock. He pushed his fingers over his eyes and sighed. He stared for a long moment into his shattered reflection in the river, pushed himself to one knee then the other and started toward the tent.

-

"There."

Saturos looked out at the hill the girl had pointed to. It was a small town, if one could call it even that. It was a gathering of buildings, worn by age and weather, surrounded by thinning walls of orange adobe. Rickety wooden watchtowers stood on each of the four ends of the town, but they appeared empty, as though out of use for quite some time. In the center of the town, however, a great obelisk rose up. It seemed out of place in the small village, decorated in gold and jewels. It, too, was worn, but seemed to be standing a little stronger than the surrounding elements. And behind it loomed the great frame of Babi Lighthouse.

"What can we expect?" Saturos asked, not taking his eyes off the sight.

"Tolbi Guardsmen," Sheba said.

Menardi frowned. "Tolbi?"

"My people have been under military rule ever since Lord Babi commenced building," Sheba said quietly, leaning against a tree in the grove they peered from. "My father hasn't liked it, but our militia is no match for their men."

"Anything else?"

"There aren't many men here," Sheba replied. "A few of the Tolbi Elite, like the ones we encountered on the plateau, but that is all." She looked at Saturos. "That is everything I know."

Saturos nodded thoughtfully, scratching under his chin as he stared at the town. "And how far from Lalivero is the lighthouse."

"Hardly a mile," Sheba said. "They built directly over the ruins, right along the coast."

"That's not wise," Menardi commented dryly. "One tremor and that whole tower could get taken into the ocean."

"Not with the way these scholars have been building it," Sheba said softly. "They take everything into account. They even tore out the foundation when they saw it was a weakly formed stone." She looked up at the lighthouse frame. "They wanted it to stand on its own foundation, not the ruins… not the ground."

Saturos grinned wryly. "Some sort of moral point, I suppose?"

"More than that, if Mathias was on the production staff," Kraden said quietly. "Where I was skilled in lore and alchemy, he was in architecture." He swallowed hard. "He was brilliant."

Saturos said nothing as he began up the long dirt path to Lalivero. He shouldered past Menardi, muttering darkly, "He was on the wrong side." He sighed. "Come on," he announced to the others. We haven't got all day."

-

Vera looked up as the trapdoor that led to the rooftop opened with a soft click. It swung fully up. One little boy slowly lowered himself down the makeshift ladder, followed by his brother, only two years older than the first. Both boys were only tiny frames and tan skin, drowned by their shirts and unkempt hair.

Vera turned back to her sewing, pushing the needle through the pale red fabric as the last of the group came down from the roof, shutting the door behind him. "See anything today?" she asked quietly.

"No," the first boy answered.

Faran sighed, stepping off of the ladder. "Boys, why don't you go to your rooms and play for a while?"

The youngest turned. "But we need to get ready for Sh—"

"Obey your father, boys," Vera said softly over her hands.

The elder let out a quiet groan. "Come on, Ghyo," he murmured, taking his younger brother's hand. "I won three new marbles from Martian yesterday. I'll show you them if you…"

Vera watched as Faran crossed the room, walking to the pail of water and pulling out the ladle. He first doused the back of his neck, face, and then, refilling the scoop, took a long drink. Vera sighed. "Nothing, then?"

Faran finished his drink. "Nothing but a group of travelers."

"Not her?"

"Not Tolbi guardsmen," he said softly, replacing the ladle in the pail. He sighed, leaning on the counter. "Maybe I was wrong."

"Wrong?"

"No, I was wrong. I just thought…" He let out a long breath, his body tense. He glanced at his wife. "I never should have let them take her."

"Faran…"

"No, my father always told me the Tolbi were not to be trusted." He looked back at the wall. "I just… thought I knew better… that I would be the exception."

"You were avoiding a war," Vera said pointedly, returning her eyes to her sewing.

"That's no excuse," Faran murmured as he rubbed the back of his neck tiredly. "She's our daughter."

Vera sighed. "Blaming yourself helps no one."

"But she should have been home by now," Faran said. "We passed Babi's quota over three months ago."

"Perhaps she'll be here tomorrow," Vera said with a slight smile.

"And if not?" Faran asked softly over his shoulder. "What then? Lord Babi knows our men are no match for his."

"Once that tower of his is built he'll leave us alone," Vera said firmly. "And until it is built he can't do anything to Sheba."

Faran frowned. "What?"

"If anything were to happen to Sheba who knows what would happen to the tower," She replied quietly. "You know the sort of loyalty our men have to her." She shrugged. "Besides, I'm quite certain that Sheba would be able to get out of any situation without trouble."

"She's not all-powerful, Vera," Faran murmured. "Just unique."

"She's more than that," she replied. "And you know it."

"She's small," Faran argued. "A thin, weightless build. If she didn't have time to use her powers—"

"Faran," Vera sighed, setting her sewing to one side. "Stop analyzing everything to death." She walked up behind him, wrapping her arms around his middle and resting her head on his back. "You still pray, don't you?"

"Of course I do," he murmured. "Every night… and I visit the shrine whenever I am able to come away from the site—"

"Then that should be enough for you," she laughed quietly. She paused a moment, listening to his breathing. "She was never ours, Faran. They will not let her come to harm."

Faran laughed softly. "I wish I had your faith."

"You do," she smiled, pulling away as he turned to face her. "You just don't know it yet."

Faran smiled. "What would I do without—" He suddenly froze, his head turning to the window.

Vera frowned. "Faran? …what is it?"

Faran didn't look at her and he set her to one side gently. "Stay here."

Vera watched in confusion as he crossed the room. He paused at the table, glancing down at the dagger in its leather sheath. He stepped to the table, hiding it from Vera's eyes and sliding it toward him. He latched it to his belt and started to the door.

Vera stepped forward. "Faran?"

He looked at her momentarily, smiling nervously. "I'll only be a moment."

She swallowed hard, but managed a nod.

Faran returned the gesture, and opened the door. He shut it behind him just as he heard the first scream. He broke out into a solid sprint, breaking into the plaza where the men and women were frantically scrambling from the area. He rushed toward where the crowd seemed to be pouring from. He stopped cold at the small pond that surrounded the obelisk at the entrance.

Half of the adobe wall was shattered. One guard lay in the wreckage and the second was held by a tall, massive man; no, not a man. His skin was silver, blue markings around the eyes. Another stood beside him, a female of the same, red markings and all. A sizeable group stood behind him, waiting patiently as the leader quietly demanded something of the guard. The guard whimpered a minute answer, one that did not please the leader to any degree. He thrust the guard to the ground and held out palm.

Faran covered his eyes at the searing light and sudden cry. The brightness faded as quickly as it had come, but the sounds of the guard did not. Smoke curled up from below the ruins of the wall. The marked-one said nothing as he lowered his hand. He swiftly clenched it into a fist.

The foot of the guard twitched slightly, and the moaning stopped.

He looked back at the group, grabbing a small figure, a slender young girl. Faran stiffened.

Sheba.

The marked one demanded something. She resisted, tried to pull away. His grip tightened and she cried out. He shoved her in front of him, and his female poised her scythe. She paused for a moment, then began into the city.

Faran stiffened. The plaza was empty now as the group started into the town. He sidestepped behind the obelisk, staying in its shadow and watching the group in secret. They drew closer, close enough to hear.

"Quickly," the marked-one snapped.

Faran watched as they walked straight through the town to the gates of the city, and started toward the ruins. He swallowed hard, waiting until they were out of sight, then reluctantly, he followed.

-

"There," Sheba murmured. "That's the entrance to the tower."

Saturos glanced at her. "And the ruins?"

"I don't know," she murmured. "They built on top of them, so… I suppose the only way to managed access would be to break through the floor or some—"

"Halt!"

Saturos paused, turning. Two Tolbi Guardsmen and three Laliverans stood behind them. Tolbi Guards already had their weapons drawn, and the Laliveran workmen carried picks and shovels.

Alex sighed. "Not this again."

The first guard stepped forward. "You are under the arrest of the province of Tolbi for trespassing on his Lordship's Private grounds. Will you compl—?"

Before anyone could move, Menardi raised her hand. The guard's hands flew to his neck, dropping his weapons as he gasped for air. He struggled violently as the air came in sharp hisses. His face grew red, dark and violet in color, then pale. The struggling and the breathing had stopped.

She tossed the guard's body away, a girl and her ragdoll, it seemed. It was all too easy for her. She looked at Saturos, who drew his sword and stepped forward toward the group. "I would advise you stand down, gentlemen."

The three workers all looked at the standing Tolbi guard, who only struggled for words for a moment before dropping his things and running down the construction pit and out of sight.

Saturos raised an eyebrow at the Laliverans.

The first man swallowed hard. "Let the girl go." His hands were shaking, but he did not move. The other two, held fast to their weapons, although they took a slow step backward.

Sheba shook her head, stepping forward, but Felix held her back. "Krone, don't…"

"Just walk away," Saturos said levelly.

"Not until you give us Sheba," the one she had addressed growled.

Saturos clenched his teeth. "If you will not move, then you will be moved." He lifted his hand and aimed it at the men.

"No!"

Theyoung girlgrabbed at the man's arm just as a torrent of flames issued forth. They hit the ground, deflected from their targets. The flames spun out wildly in every direction. Alex stepped forward, casting a light psynergy to stop the flames as Saturos quickly called it back. The men were already running by the time Saturos had assured there was no remaining danger. He looked down at Sheba who was beaming, quite proud of herself. She turned to look at him as he grabbed a handful of her tunic and shoved her, sending her tumbling across the ground, kicking up thick clouds of dust. She was coughing as the dust cleared and Saturos stepped toward her.

He grabbed the girl by her wrist, yanking her to her feet. "Ignorant little brat!" he roared furiously. "Do you have any idea what you could have—!"

"They are my people!" she shouted back in the same tone, wriggling in his grasp. "I can't just let you slaughter them because they are doing what they think is ri—" The words faded into a struggled cry as Saturos twisted her wrist downward.

Felix stepped forward as she let out a tiny gasp. "Saturos, stop it!"

Sheba bit her lip as Saturos turned his grip a little more. "What?" he taunted darkly. "All your bravery gone after that little show?"

"Saturos, stop!" Felix shouted.

"Braver than you," Sheba murmured. She gasped, falling to one knee as Saturos twisted further.

Saturos leaned in, his eyes burning on Sheba. "I could break your wrist, you know," he whispered menacingly. "Snap it clean in two."

"Then do it," she managed, staring up at him. Her eyes were watering, but Saturos knew she wouldn't give.

Perhaps he needed to introduce her to humility.

He turned his wrist in just the right position, felt the bones grind under his touch. A cry rumbled low in Sheba's throat, suddenly turning to anger. It was too fast for Saturos to have avoided it. She struck out with her other hand, her fingernails diving for the skin near his eye.

Saturos shoved her to the ground with a shout, pulling back and pressing the heel of his hand to his wounded eye. Sheba stared back in shock as he stared at his hand, three clear lines carved across his eye. He rounded on her, drew his hand back. "You little—!"

Sheba winced, covered her face with her arm. She heard the blow land, but felt nothing. Her muscles stiffened and she smelt the electric air, but it was not her own. She lowered her hand.

Felix stood over her, staring at his hands in shock. Saturos was on the ground, looking up at Felix. His eyes were wide and a thin line of blood ran from the corner of his mouth. His tongue ran over the line of red in disbelief, tasting the blood and coming to the moment. He looked at Felix in shock as he pushed himself up with one elbow.

Felix stammered for words. He looked at his hands, at Saturos, then the ground. Saturos was already standing, his back to Felix, wiping the blood from his face, then spitting a mouthful into the dirt.

Felix tried to swallow the lump in his throat. For the first time in many years, he sounded young. "Saturos… I… I-I didn't mean—"

Saturos turned, anger taking over his features again. He said nothing. His gaze was enough to silence Felix. Felix shied away as Saturos shouldered past him, toward Menardi. "Let's go," he growled to her softly. "Before he turns on us, too."

Felix watched as Saturos strode forward, Menardi casting one horrified look back at Felix before following. Felix looked at Jenna. Even she looked frightened. Sheba scrambled to her feet, and fell back into the group between Jenna and Kraden. Alex was the only one to pause as Felix stood in pure shock.

He looked up at the Imilian. "Alex… I… This wasn't supposed to—"

"I know," Alex murmured.

Felix realized he was trembling. He took in a deep breath, trying to control his own body again. "I didn't mean to—"

"It isn't you, Felix," Alex murmured with a shrug, starting to follow the others. "It is him."

Felix frowned, watching for a long moment as Alex walked away in silence. He sighed to himself, shaking his head. Resting a hand on the hilt of his blade, he hurried to catch up with the others.

(A/N: Next problem, I have only a very vague idea of where I'm going from here. Like I know what is going to happen, just not how I'm going to get there. Let's just say I have a lovely little plot twist for you all… yes, another one. Let's just say Isaac accounts of two of the three battles Saturos and Menardi will encounter at the Venus lighthouse.

And now, after FOREVERS of waiting, here it is: your reviews.

Aya- Angel of Mars: Hope you got my e-mail, cause I did write ya! I never saw a reply, so I was worried I might have sent it to some random person on the internet… that would have been really weird! lol! If not, tell me, and I'll see if I can't resend it.

Azalee: Don't worry, I love Alex, too! He's going to get all the bad rap in this one, but Saturos and Menardi's deaths kinda shake him up a little. He gets redeemed in the sequel… well, mostly redeemed. We all know what happened in GS: II…

Moonjump: Just started and your first review was of the final chapter? You must be a really fast reader! Thanks!

Lord Slasher… and WhitterZ: I'm afraid you're both only half right. (cackling like a maniacal fangirl…) Saturos is darker now, but this chapter is the darkest he gets. He was a very dark in this one, not EVIL, but dark. After all, he has his motives, but I won't let him go the way of Darth Vader. Fortunately, he redeems himself in the end, and his nervous, anger is going to be explained, hopefully in the next fic. So, weep not! Saturos will die good!

Spirit Seer: I owe you a big thank you! You reviewed for every chapter in the whole story! Even I don't have that kind of patience! THANK YOU! Hopefully I'll post soon, neh?

Sora: Whoreship? Lmao! That's my new favorite word! Yay! You were in a play? Wow, who'da known I'd bump into another fangirl/actress! Congrats on landing the lead! What play was it? NE-ways, you've reviewed a lot, and I should say more, but I'm anxious to get this up! I'll try to e-mail you… or something. Maybe I'll just see if I can't find some sort of Alex-plushie online and send it.

Pata Hikari: I saw the comment about the Felix and Sheba interaction, got about halfway through the fic, and decided to add the beginning scene. Felix and Sheba needed at least a LITTLE sap, right? So, it was you that got that in there! Hope you liked it.

Master of Reality: Thanks for the review. Hopefully, after this, I can also do some Zelda stuff. (crosses fingers) BTW, I dunno if you've read it or not, but you should check it out: Zelda: The Ocarina of Time by Arxane, I think is the name. Hiei 17 got me hooked, but it's a mother-big piece, and a good one at that. So go for it, for sure, if you're a Zelda fan

Proxinian Girl: Thanks, I just hope I can keep the tension up as the chapters go. My biggest fear is that people are going to get to the end of this fic and say… that's it? So, hopefully, I'll keep you in suspense up to the last drop!

Hiei 17: I bet Felix regrets it all the time. Like, you know how he was up there when they actually die. That's a big burden to carry around, esp. for someone who's only, what? 18? All that what-if, and worrying if he could have stopped it. That's one of the biggest things that bugged me about GS: II. I wrote down the script, and I really would have liked to have seen so much more in the scene where we first see Karst. I think she would have a much bigger reaction to Felix, but she seems all dark and moody. That drove me nuts, because I think she'd be happy to see Felix, because her sister should have been somewhere close. Then she could get moody later. As for Lord Babi and Lemuria, I'm thinking they got in the same sort of way Piers got out. The wave must have carried them all the way into the caverns. The only thing then would be, how did he get out? I dunno, maybe Neptune goes back to sleep? Either way, I really want to work on this idea of mine. It wouldn't be as long as this one, but I hope to do it after I've finished this. I'll definitely tell you when I start it.

Libby: Now that my laptop is resurrected, I'll be able to get on more. Hopefully, that will mean more updates more quickly! Now it isn't up to my Dad!

Arvana: It's okay, Kingdom Hearts is a WAY good game, too. I'm definitely going to follow this one up, I just don't know when. I probably won't start a sequel until a month or so after this on is done, that way I can do, maybe two chapters a month. I'm hoping to become a more steady writer, but, then again, I've said that, like, seven billion times.

And that's all folks! Watch for the update! RR por favor! (just por you, Hiei ))