Author's Note

Li: Wow! Two chapters within three days of each other! I'm on a roll!

Roy: This is her Easter present to all of you.

Li: Yep! Here is part one of the story's awesome climax! Everything will be resolved in the next two chapters! Happy Easter!

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Chapter Nine: Torture

At the lighthouse. That was where the climax of everything would be. That was what Tori kept telling himself, as they ascended the red marble stairs into the lighthouse. Alex would pay, for kidnapping his sister, for hurting Aria, and for just being so selfish as to try and rule the world.

As they entered the lighthouse, Aria never left Tori's side. She could feel Alex's presence, stronger than ever, and it frightened her. Alerai and Lief walked side-by-side, each drawing strength from his friend's presence, as well as that of Vincent, who was walking behind them. Saturan and Jasmine looked around curiously, as this was their elemental lighthouse, the source of their Mars powers. And Piers walked beside Lehran, who felt calmed with him there.

They entered the room that split off to the four towers. The teleport rune still adorned the center of the floor, and the glowing pictures on the walls represented each element.

"Fish... With cold courage, they ruled the water." Piers murmured.

"Dragons... Burning with might, they ruled the fires." Saturan and Jasmine said.

"Mankind... With the power of wisdom, they ruled the earth." Tori whispered

"Birds... On the wings of truth, they ruled the winds." Lief and Lehran intoned.

"Wolves... Singing to the night, they ruled the forests." Vincent added, even though there was no picture or tower for him. Alerai and Aria looked up at the images, before saying, "Luna and Sol... With unbreakable will, they won the day."

"Very bold of you, to say that."

They turned, and saw Alex standing behind them, on the teleport rune. Alexei stood at his side, looking small and frightened.

"Alex!" Tori yelled. "Give me back my sister!"

"She isn't hurt." Alex said. Looking at the group, he said, "Aria, come and get her."

The silver-haired Moon Adept stared at him, wide-eyed. Tori stepped protectively in front of her. "Why her?"

Alex offered no explanation, instead saying, "I swear to you on my honor as a member of the Mercury Clan, your friends will all leave this place alive. As well as your sister. So, are you coming, Aria?"

"I'll do it." she whispered to Tori. "His Mercurial honor is one of the only things he still holds sacred." Even though Tori didn't like it, Aria walked forward. She reached out and took Alexei's hand. "Go on. Go back to your brother."

Alexei hurried past, to be swept up into Tori's embrace. He put her down, and said, "Vincent, watch her, would you?" Then he turned his attention back to Aria.

She was getting ready to come back over. Shooting one last puzzled glance at Alex, she started forward. Alex reached out and grabbed her arm.

"No, no..." he said softly, mockingly.

"Alex!" Tori yelled. "You swore! You said my friends would leave alive!"

Alex smirked. "I said friends. Aria is, if I'm not mistaken, your girlfriend. Totally different situation. And I said nothing about girlfriends. Or you, for that matter."

Aria trembled in his grip. Alex smiled coldly at her, and Tori started forward angrily. Alex pulled a crystal dagger from his tunic, holding it up for Tori to see before pressing it to Aria's throat. Tori stopped.

"If you want to save her, come to the beacon." Alex said, warping. He was gone, taking Aria with him.

"We need Teleport!" Tori roared. "Now!"

"There's a Teleport Lapis in the village." Piers said. "The mayor has it..."

"Go get it. Alerai, come on. You can warp both of us, right?"

"Yes..."

"Tori, it's too dangerous!" Saturan said.

"I don't care. I'm going after Aria. Come on, Alerai." Alerai seized Tori's hand, and warped both of them. The others stared for a moment, then Piers sighed.

"I guess we have to go now. Come on."

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Tori and Alerai climbed the stairs to the beacon. Alex stood there, his knife still against Aria's throat.

"Let her go, Alex. We're here." Alerai said.

"Yes. Let her go before we beat your face in." Tori added.

"Such violence." Alex said lazily. "I guess your parents never taught you to control your tempers." He shifted the knife, gently rubbing the flat of the blade against the tender skin of her neck. Aria was trembling, feeling the knife going in lazy circles, knowing that Alex would eventually tire of his game and kill her.

Perhaps Tori sensed this too, because he said sharply, "We're here, Alex. Now what do you want?"

"Want? Why, the Golden Sun, of course. You, young Torian, have part of it, when the whole thing should belong to me." Alex said.

"Who decreed that?" Tori asked. "Obviously the Wise One decided that my dad deserved part of it, or I wouldn't have any now."

"You know," Alex said quietly. "It's been protecting you. Otherwise you would have failed long before now. I have corrupted all other Psynergy, so that people are hurt if they try to use it. I've even gotten your parents, and the Lemurians. But your piece of the Golden Sun has protected you and your companions."

Tori was unsure what to say to that. Alex smirked, looking to Alerai.

"And Alerai," he said. "All those people, the ones you believe to be your enemies... I asked them to chase you and hunt you. I thought that if you were frightened enough, you would come back and beg to be protected. But you're braver than I thought. I commend you."

Alerai was in shock. "You... tricked us? You... you lied to us!" he yelled. "Give me back my sister!"

"Oh, Alerai. You're still too demanding for your own good." Alex said. He called on Psynergy, saying, "Bind." It hit the two boys, who had no time to counter, and blocked their Psynergy. "Lash." Ropes sprang from nowhere and bound them, pinning their legs together and arms to their sides. Aria cried out, seeing the two people she cared for most made absolutely helpless. Alex laughed, pulling her over to Tori.

"Now, Aria..." he said reasonably. "Do me one favor, and I'll let you go."

"What, Alex?" she said hesitantly.

He handed her the knife, and indicated Tori. "Kill him." Aria froze, horror making her face pale.

"Alex..." she whimpered.

"Do it. Or I will kill your brother." Alex said calmly. "Then they both will die. This way, at least your brother will live..."

Aria stared at the knife, then at Tori, then at Alerai. How could she? Choose between her brother, her own family, or the person she had come to care for more than anything or anyone else? Who was she to decide who lived and who died. She couldn't!

Alerai struggled to his knees. "That's torture, Alex!" he yelled. "Stop!" It hurt him to see his sister, being torn apart by the magnitude of the choice. "Please, stop!"

Alex ignored him, focusing on the frightened Moon Adept. He reached down, taking her wrist in a firm grip. "Allow me to help you with that..." He moved her hand, the one holding the knife, towards Tori.

"No! No..." she cried, jerking her hand away. She threw the knife over the side of the lighthouse. Alex stood, looking down at her with contempt.

"Very well. It seems you have made your decision. By refusing me now, you have doomed them both." He raised a hand, glowing blue, towards Alerai.

"No, Alex." Alex turned and saw Piers, Vincent, Lief, Lehran, Jasmine, and Saturan standing behind him. "Leave them be."

"Hello, Piers. I remember you." Alex laughed. "On yet another quest, are you? I suppose a bit of excitement makes life in Lemuria less dull."

"I'm not going to live in Lemuria anymore." Piers told him. "I found something else to live for."

"Really?" Alex said. "I gave up love for power, you know."

"Yes, and you broke Mia's heart to do it." Piers snapped. "You don't understand love. You only see it as a tool you can use to manipulate others. Like poor Aria."

Saturan hurried forward, pulling Alerai over and untying him. The Sun Adept sprang up, whirling to face Alex. "Alex, you've hurt us too many times to be forgiven. Prepare to meet your doom!"

"I'd like to see you try."

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Li: One more chapter and the epilogue, and we're done! I feel so proud! (grabs Roy and starts spinning around in a victory dance)

Voice of Reason: You still haven't studied for your history test!

Li: Quit ruining my moment! Fanfiction before school! See you next time, readers! Oh, and a review wouldn't hurt!