A/N: trigger warning for later this chapter, r**e. It's not written with specifics, but what I wrote hints that that's what happened to Phoenix. You might wanna skip this chapter if that kind of thing triggers bad feelings. I'll give you the summary of this chapter. The heroes follow Brokkr to his mine and go through memories of people to find out who unalived Wizard Y.

Basically it's most like Mianitian Isles episode 75, except the perpetrator isn't Gandus, obviously lol. It was Darkness, go figure. Then the Wizard of Memories suggests watching Phoenix's memories. They saw the zombie invasion when she was 13. Turns out is wasn't really her fault. Darkness summoned the zombies, but she figured it was kind of still her fault by proxy because Darkness was trying to off her after overhearing Dianite read the prophecy out loud to himself in the open.

Everything bad that happens leads back to Darkness, huh? Well, that's how it is with villains. Second memory they watched was how she figured out she liked women as well. Then the third memory is why I say you shouldn't read if you're sensitive to r**e writing or hints of it. Next chapter won't have it though. Hang in there reader. You got this. ~hugs you, if you accept hugs~

Chapter 44

He explained everything, giving more details than he did in my vision dream, but hey. Visions don't usually give all the details.

"Of course we'll help you," I said.

"Thank you High Priestess. If you'll follow me, we'll get to the mines where the unforgivable deed happened." All of us but Dec followed him quite a ways to what I could only call a giant tear in the Earth. There was also a lot of black. What is it? Brokkr led us down this giant tear and to the bottom. There was a pit behind us and what we were standing on looked more like metal scaffolding. "The asteroid above has been giving off weird signals." Oh, that's why there was black stuff. An asteroid hit. "I need you all to pass me one thing each. Your elytras." We looked at each other. "No dillydallying. Give me them, it will kill you if you don't." A small look of alarm passed on my face. That decided it for us. We handed them over to him. He led us down the scaffolding, which also had minecart tracks along it when we got to a certain point. As we reached the end, there was a fairly big door in front of us and paths left and right of it.

"Jeez, this place is humongous," Gandus observed, amazed. Brokkr used some kind of magic to open it up. Ah, locked by magic, nice.

"Be warned, this dead body is of one of power. This individual was a powerful magic user in life. I'm also unsure of how long this body has been here," Brokkr warned. I looked at Gandus. Surely she might know this being. I wonder if it was one of the wizards she trained under before going rogue? When the door was opened, we all went in. This place is very factory like and on the table in front of us was the body. Gandus went over to it.

"I recognize this person! Wizard Y!"

"Oh no... Well, we'll figure out who did it. Let's look around. We might find some clues," I suggested.

"There's a dagger here!" Karl announced after a couple minutes. We went over to him.

"If only we had a way of knowing who wielded this."

"There is a way. The Hall of Memories. I can take you to its entryway, but only the Wizard of Memories can allow you access and show you what you need to know," Brokkr said. I looked to him.

"Take us there." He inclined his head.

"Very well." He led us to the entryway of the Hall of Memories and there we were met by who I assume is the Wizard of Memories.

"Welcome. I heard you need to find a killer. I can help you. Follow me and don't touch anything. I will let the memories play when I am ready." He seemed like a quiet, yet fierce dude. I don't think any of us would like to cross him. We all nodded and followed him to the first memory. Through all the memories, we learned a lot about Wizards X, Y, and Z. We even saw when Gandus went to Ianite for help and we also saw when Gandus' and Hermod's marriage fell apart. I put an arm around Gandus' shoulders in comfort. She just scoffed. I chuckled, of course she wouldn't be too bothered.

Her thoughts right now are probably, 'I don't need him' or something along those lines. We saw Hrodi and Thronar get granted their long life by the Wizards. So it seems they don't naturally have a long life as Builders as we all thought, then. Huh. The final memory we saw was Darkness trying to get to Wizard Y. Of course he'd want to try and get a powerful wizard on his side again, now that he'd lost Gandus. Wizard Y stood his ground and sadly got killed for it. Darkness is really out of control now. We really need to take him down. The Olympics can't come soon enough.

"So, it was Darkness. Shouldn't really be surprised, but it was really cool seeing all these memories. The break-up seemed to have been a bit messy, eh Gandus?" Tom asked in not the most tact way.

"Whatever, it's over. Move on." I gave Tom the smallest look and hugged Gandus briefly.

"We really need to reign in the Darkness now. He's gone too far. We all need to train for the Olympics. I've been doing my best to. You four need to as well."

"We've been training High Priestess, don't worry," Karl assured. Tom, Sparky, and Gandus nodded in agreement.

"Alright. Good."

"High Priestess, eh? May we look at your memories?" I squirmed a little. I'm not so sure.

"Depends... which ones?" Gandus smirked. She knows why I'm uncomfortable.

"Don't worry High Priestess. Your private things will stay private."

"Good, thank you."

"Phoenix? What are you so afraid of getting out?" Tom asked, suspicious. I blushed.

"None of your business, zombie."

"Ooo, doing the deed with Ianite?" Karl teased. This time I could feel Ianite's embarrassment as well as my own. (A/N: not the right word, but idk what other word there is) I'm sure she's blushing all over again, as my own blush deepened.

"Shut up!"

"Guys, come on. That's none of your business. Lay off," Sparky advocated, putting an arm around my shoulders. "Besides, I don't wanna know about my goddess' or my sister's night life." I looked at him, surprised.

"Sister? You consider me a sister?"

"Well, yeah. You're dating Ianite, and are a lesbian, so I have no chance. I've decided you'll be a sister to me instead." I smiled wide.

"Thanks Sparky! You can be my brother then. Gandus' too." Gandus grinned and inclined her head, saying she approves. Sparky smiled gently. "So, what are we waiting for? Let's see what memories this guy has waiting for us." We followed the Wizard of Memories to another area. When we arrived, the curtain came down and it was of my home village. It was the night of the zombie attack. Why this again? I just got over it. I looked closely, I was in the window, staring off into the distance over the ocean. It wasn't that dark yet, the sun had just disappeared below the horizon. I saw myself go away, most likely to bed to sleep.

"Nix, look," Gandus pointed. I looked where she was pointing at. Darkness!

"What?!" Darkness summoned zombies, enough to desecrate the whole village.

"That should take care of the prophesied one. Dianite should know better than to read that prophecy out loud to himself in the open. You never know who is out there, lurking in the shadows."

"So it wasn't me that triggered the zombie attack, it was Darkness! Well... me still, but only by proxy, but I had no control. I didn't know I was the prophesied High Priestess. Well fuck... I have no reason to feel guilty about the destruction of my village anymore. So Darkness tried to off me, eh? A 13 year old no less! Hmph. Well, I'll let him know that he messed with the wrong person. I'll kick his ass to hell and back. When we get back, I'm gonna practice my soulfire and soul magic powers. He'll never know what hit him."

"Well, at least that's one thing off your mind, huh Nix?" I nodded at Sparky. The memory changed. It was when I was 19. I knew because it told us. I was travelling from island to island I got to this one island and burrowed into a cliff wall and placed my bed. I went out to the opening of my cave. I people watched, making sure no one saw me as I went to the farmer's crops. I was very stealthy. I probably still could be if I tried. I gathered carrots and replanted the ones I took. I snuck my way back to the cave and ducked into it. I looked out again and saw someone. The look on my face was curiosity.

"Wow, she's pretty..." I looked surprised to hear myself say that. "I... Do I like females? I could totally see myself with her, if I ever was brave enough to come out of hiding and if she was nice. I'm sure she is."

"So this is where I figured that I am into females. I didn't really figure out I wasn't into men yet at this point. I think something happens later in my life that made me swear off men forever." Everyone looked at me, curious. "You might see it if the Wizard of Memories shows it. It'll be new again for me too." The memory changed. The age above the memory now said '24'. I think this is the one. I was sneaking about, like I always do, this time in an alley. This village was one of the bigger villages I'd been to. I'd been caught off guard by a couple of guys.

"Oi! What you doin' sneakin' around?" one of them asked. I got defensive.

"Trying to stay out of everyone's way, what's it to you?"

"You don't gotta talk like that to us, sweet cheeks," (A/N: I felt gross typing that out. ew...) the other one said.

"What are you, from the 70's? Get with the times 'grandpa'." We all chuckled at my past self's fiestyness.

"If I'm a 'grandpa', as you say, then it's rude to speak to your elders that way."

"So? You're being weird, and I don't really appreciate it. So why don't the both of you just skedaddle on out of here and leave me be?"

"Go Nix," everyone said, impressed with how past me was getting on.

"Yeah well, obviously things aren't gonna go well... Just keep watching." This memory is starting to come back to me, it isn't pretty...

"No, I don't think we will." I felt everyone become on edge. I became on edge too. I'm also about to relive that awful experience and why I dislike men so much. Thankfully I do have some men in my life now who are actually decent. The whole reason why I was ok with Sparky when I first met him? I'd blocked that alleyway experience out of my mind, but kept the whole, 'I'm not into men' thing in my mind. Plus, he saved my life. He won his way into being a friend with that. I will forever be grateful to him. Back to the memory though, the guys came closer. One grabbed my arm while the other forced himself on me and pinned me against the wall. I heard gasps from the others and I felt the gods' horror.

Especially Ianite's. The me in the memory tried so hard to get them off, but they had their way with me. After it was all over, I was left laying on the ground. I was fuming. I righted all my clothes and glared in the direction they went. During the night, I bathed in a pond. It was that time that I broke down crying. I remember how I felt. I felt filthy. I felt like no one could love me if they knew what happened... My face as I watched myself crying was that of defiance. Don't get me wrong, I'm silently crying after seeing this again, but this time, I'm stronger. I have friends, a sister, and a girlfriend who are here to support me. Unlike back then. I felt someone hug me. It was Gandus.

"I'm sorry you went through that Nix. I wish I could have been there with you. I'd have kicked their asses for doing that shit to you. Actually, as soon as they laid a hand on you, they'd be on the ground begging for mercy." I chuckled and hugged her back.

"I don't doubt it sis."

"Did you ever... with the two of them... how do you not have a child?" Karl asked hesitantly.

"Good question. I guess the Lucky part of my nickname came in clutch there. Plus, I don't think it was fate that I get a kid anyway, so thank fuck."

"What, you don't want kids?" Tom asked.

"Not particularly... they can be brats and I'm not for that."

"Fair enough," Gandus said.

"Is this it, Wizard?"

"There is more to this memory that they need to see." I was confused but we kept watching. I got out of the pond, the guys were very embarrassed at the clothe-less me, but they're doing their best to look respectively. They looked away when I unclothed, but they didn't know that they'd be seeing a whole thing. Despite the seriousness of this situation, I don't know why I felt like joking,

"Getting quite the show, eh boys?" They all gave me looks and I smiled sheepishly. They sighed and shook their heads, but they gave a sympathy smile at me trying to lighten the mood. I even felt Gandus', Mianite's, and Dianite's exasperatedness. Ianite was more, 'Why is she like this right now?' about my comment.

"Filthy... desecrated... not worth loving..." I looked to my past self and sighed. Yup, seems like the Wizard is showing this. Memory me sat on the ground on top of my shirt. No way was I sitting on the dirt with a bare behind. Thankfully I was in a solitary area. No civilization to found anywhere near me. I drew my knees to my chest and hugged them. "No one will want me if they knew I went through this awful thing... especially that special first love... my virginity taken for nothing! It was supposed to be this great feeling with my first. Instead it was some fucking delinquent assholes who didn't give a damn about their actions... I'm swearing off men... I fucking swear, if one wants to be with me, too fucking bad. I'm only into women now. Fuck having a boyfriend... ever..." I spat bitterly on the ground next to me.

I looked up to the sky and glared at the night sky. Of course I'd bounce back to anger. It's most of what I knew since the zombie fiasco. Bitter toward the world and what it threw at me since I'd been alone. I stood and shouted at the sky, "What do you want from me, huh?! Why are you being so cruel to me?! What did I ever do to deserve this?!" The stars just glittered innocently. I growled and turned my back. I laid on the ground shortly afterward, seeming not to care in that moment. I curled into a ball and closed my eyes. "Let me forget this ever happened... I never want to remember this... never..." We all were shocked to see soul particles surround me after I said that and enter my head. Huh, that's how I forgot. Soul magic!

"So that's how I forgot so easily. Seems like my soul magic showed even before I knew I had it. I wonder if that's how I forgot about the zombie invasion?" Something in me told me that was correct. "Hmm... Interesting. Seems like some kind of tragedy triggers the soul magic to forget it. Though, what good did it do if I'm seeing and remembering them again? Why do I need to remember these again?"

"Probably to come to grips with what happened to you and grow stronger for it," Sparky suggested.

"Not so sure I could ever come to grips with at least that alleyway bullshit... that was just..." I growled, frustrated. Sparky put a hand on my shoulder, or tried to. I flinched away. He looked sad about that. I sighed. "I'm sorry Sparky... I know you're good. You and the other guys in this group have proven that time and again. This memory though... it brought up bad times. You even saved my life too! See how fucked up that memory made me now? Even though I know you're a decent human being! Just imagine how I'd be if I hadn't forgotten! Wizard, why the fuck?!"

"It's as Sparklez said. So you may come to grips with what happened and grow stronger for it. It will take time, but you can do it Phoenix. You are a strong woman. You go through these trials because you can take them. In the moment, it may feel like you can't, but look at how much stronger you became after learning about what happened to your village. You're High Priestess. You've become emotionally stronger, though you fall back sometimes, you bounce right back. What happened when you were imprisoned by Darkness, you only had one reliving of it so far. So see? You're getting stronger. You can get through this Phoenix. We all believe in you." A very hearty chorus of agreement sounded from everyone. I smiled a small smile. Sparky held his arms out hesitantly. I grinned and hugged him.

"Thanks guys. I appreciate your support." I let go of Sparky and stood back. "And yeah, I guess you're right, Wizard. I have become stronger. I'm the High Priestess. I need to be strong. Especially for my goddess. She needs me to be. Her presence still has more turmoil than peace... I need, and want, to fix that. She needs to have more peace. I feel for her. I've had more turmoil than peace in my life too, after that zombie invasion. Seems we're similar in that. Though that's not something to be proud of... at least she's not alone in this group with that." The others nodded. "Is this all, Wizard?" He nodded.

"We are done here. You all may leave and let Brokkr know who done it." We nodded and thanked the Wizard, leaving for the way we came.

'Nix, are you actually ok?' Ianite asked.

'I will be... Don't worry about me, my love.' I felt Ianite's doubt. We got back to Brokkr and relayed to him what we found out.

"Darkness... of course... Seems he's getting out of control. Please heroes, take him down."

"Oh, we will. Trust me." He nodded at me.

"I believe in you High Priestess." I inclined my head and went to the shoreline. I sat on the dock and hung my legs over the side. I felt exhausted and I didn't even do any exercising. Ianite appeared and sat next to me. I leaned against her immediately.

"Ianite... do you still love me now that you have learned the truth?" I felt her become appalled at that question.

"Of course I still love you, Nix! And what you said in that memory about being filthy, desecrated, and unworthy of love is wrong. That's something that you couldn't control. Those two were just... as you said, 'assholes'." I looked at her, extreme surprise on my face. "Yes, I swore as a goddess, but there's no way else to describe those miscreants. I hope justice caught up to them." I nodded. I hope so too... She held me close to her.

"Ugh, I feel like I need a shower after seeing that again..."

"Would you like to go home?" I nodded.

"Can Gandus stay somewhere else tonight? Though I dunno where. Maybe Sparky's tower. I'm sure that would be ok with him and her."

"Yeah, let's go ask them." We stood and went over to the group.

"Sparky, can Gandus stay over night at your tower? Gandus, do you mind?"

"I don't mind, Nix. I had a feeling you'd want some alone time with Ianite tonight, after what got revealed." Gandus hugged me.

"I don't mind having Gandus over for the night. I won't be there, but she's welcome to anything she needs. You know I've got a surplus of stuff." I grinned.

"You do, and thank you both. I'll see you all tomorrow." They smiled at me and bade me a good night as Ianite teleported away. I hugged Sparky again before being teleported off back home.

A/N: damn, longest chapter I've ever wrote. Then again, heavy topics. See you next chapter.