WR: Lots of arguing in this chapter

Fina felt utter anguish. How could it have ended like this? She had barely spoken, even to Farran. The news of her Father's death had hit her hard. How could it not? She had adored and looked up to her father with utter devotion when she was tiny. Perhaps it was due to the fact that Ramirez had lifted her from her mother's torn womb with his bare hands… Perhaps it was because during the first two years of her life, it had been him who had raised her, doted upon her, and protected her from all the evil things of the world. She had a vague memory of one night when she had experienced a nightmare, and she had wailed for an hour, ignoring Belle's attempts to calm her. Only did she quiet when her father entered and lifted her from her small cot. The rest of that night he had sat before a fire, with her cradled in his lap. He had not uttered one word of comfort, he had let her weep, and finally settle in his protecting embrace.

Now, knowing he was dead… It was more than she could bare. True, she loved her mother dearly. They shared so many qualities, and could sit and talk for hours of men, sailing, food, and all manner of things. But, she had always shared one extra special bond with her father. Something secret, a small devotion of silent love which was always between them. How she had adored him. She had left him after a furious argument. Anger and passion driving her to flee, and now, she would never see him again, never be able to say sorry for throwing off his protection without a care.

She now lay alone on the little bed she had so often shared with Farran. She had locked the door and ignored the occasional knocks from either her brother, or her love. She could only be alone with her grief. Tears did not seem to satisfy her, but she shed them all the same, burying her face in the rough pillow. She felt a sickening shame engulf her; shame that she had not parted with her beloved father on better terms.

"Daddy…." She whispered into the sheets, more tears squeezing from under her closed lids. "I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry. I should.. I should never have given you cause.. to be so ashamed of me." Her throat tightened painfully as she sobbed loudly, her body trembled with emotion, and sorrow gripped her tightly in its unforgiving fist.

"You never made me ashamed…"

She gasped, and glanced around the cabin. There was no one there, but she could almost swear that she had heard his voice, so close, but yet.. it had echoed as if reaching her from an unimaginable distance. Sitting up, she blinked the tears from her eyes, her heart pounding.

"Dad..?" She ventured meekly, feeling foolish for speaking to an empty space. Silence answered her, and she felt a chill go down her spine. Closing her eyes she listened intently, she heard the rumbling of the engines, the sweep of the oars, she heard her brother mumbling to Galcian, she heard Farran sighing in his solitude with Marius.

Then she heard a whisper, as if it was carried on the wind. Her skin tingled, and she felt a tug at her soul. She was dully aware of her body falling limply to the sheets, her body succumbing to a deep sleep. She found herself stood on the deck of a ship. It was huge, and she knew it well. Monocreos, her father's flag ship. She started when a cold hand touched her shoulder. Spinning around she came face to face with the emerald eyes of Ramirez.

Tears filled her eyes, and she threw her arms around his neck.

"Daddy!!" She cried, uncaring for her childish behaviour, no doubt he would scold her for being so pathetic. But his arms encircled her and he crushed his only daughter to him in a surprising display of affection. She sobbed against him, he smelled of home.

"I thought.. I thought you were.."

"Dead?" he cut in, "I am."

She blinked up at him, and he smiled sadly at her.

"I don't know why, but it seems I am able to speak to you in this manner, Fina." He said. His voice echoed strangely, his skin was paler than usual and he was cold to the touch.

"So.. you.. your really gone?" She closed her eyes and shook her head. "I'm so sorry Dad.. I .. I never meant to.."

He hushed her.

"Fina, I am very proud of you." He said. "You are a strong young woman, with a mind and heart of your own. However, I'm not entirely sure I approve of you being in love with the spawn of Celeste."

She did not reply to this at first. She sighed and leaned against her father.

"What do we do now?" She mumbled. "How do we win?"

He shook his head.

"The man who supposedly saved your mother, was my killer. He dragged her into a dream world, not unlike I have done to you, and altered her perception on things. He will kill Marco and his family, and take your brothers place on the throne, and my place at your mother's side." He looked at her, her young face twisted in anguish that one of her age, should not have to suffer. His thumb brushed a tear stain from her cheek. "I know of your unique connection with the boy, you must train yourselves in this new magic, it will come in very useful." His presence slowly began to fade, and she gradually became aware of her back pressed into the sheets of her bed. She reached out desperately.

"Daddy.. please don't go yet!" She breathed desperately.

"I will be watching, child. Tell your brother.. he still holds the power of the Moons in his hands… Continue to make me proud.."

She awoke, and gasped in a few sharp breathes. Blinking she sat up and glanced around her quiet cabin, her heart pounding. She couldn't believe it, she could still feel the echo of his embrace and she smiled softly to herself.

Her father's last words stayed with her. The power of the Moons? She shook her head, she did not understand what he meant by that. But she drew herself swiftly to her feet, and flung open the door to the cabin. Farran, who sat with his back against the ship rails, Marius at his feet glanced up and went straight to her. His face was wrought with concern.

"Fina.." He mumbled, his hands gently, grasping her shoulders, preparing to draw her into a comforting embrace at the first sign of sadness. She smiled warmly at him.

"I'm alright Farran." She said, taking one of his hands in her own and kissing his knuckles. "Really I am. But I must find my brother."

She started towards the captains cabin, and was about to knock when she heard raised voices.

"Well if you will not go there, then give us a life boat, and we shall go alone!!" Her brother was shouting.

"I can't do that!! Fina and Farran must be trained!!" Xin's voice was also angry, and now Galcian's cut in.

"What makes you think you have a choice in what happens to the princess now that we have found her?!"

Fina shook her head, and ran her hand through her black stubble before barging into the room, followed by a bewildered Farran.

The room quieted at her entrance. All three men were on their feet, and they turned and watched her step through the door.

Vyse's eyes carried a frown when he saw her enter with the dark haired boy. He had been informed of the boy's heritage, and an instant dislike for him had settled. He had after all once tried to kill the mother of this youth, and was sure that any brat of her's could bring no good.

"Stop this pointless arguing!" Fina snapped. She kicked the door shut behind the pair of them and glared at the men. The brief meeting with her father had done something to restore her old confidence, almost how she had been in Soltis.

"Xin is right. Me and Farran need to develop our skills." She said, but continued to speak when her brother's mouth opened to object. "But my brother is also right. We need to return to Soltis, which is where I assume you were speaking of before I entered, as soon as possible. Our friend's lives are in danger."

"Well what do you suggest little Princess?" Xin asked with a sneer.

"Address Fina properly, Father!" Snapped Farran, calling Xin by this name for the first time. But it was said coldly, with no affection.

"You should try and follow your own advice Runt!" Snarled Vyse.

"Stop!!" Fina shouted. Her anger at these men was building. Why did they always insist on fighting and arguing over such small things. Her eyes met her brother's.

"Vyse.. Father.. he said.. he said to tell you. You still hold the power of the Moons in your hands."

He blinked.

"Fina, what are you talking about!?"

"He came to my Vyse!" She snapped. "Just moments ago… he.. he's really gone.. I don't know how, but he spoke to me, and he told me to tell you.."

"Zelos.." breathed Vyse, cutting across his sister as realisation dawned on him. "I still control the silver Gigas!"

Galcian grinned.

"We will take back the Tower with ease then!" He said.

"No…" Muttered Fina. "That will not help Mother…"

"Then what do you suggest?!" Snapped her brother, feeling a prickling resentment that their father had deigned to speak to his younger sister, and not him. She blinked at him, before she shook her shorn head in defeat.

"I don't know…"

"Father." Farran said, meeting the icy eyes of the man with his own. "Can you train us?"

The occupants of the cabin turned to look at Xin. The captain barked a short, mirthless laugh, before shaking his head.

"Sorry Boy, but no I can't."

"What?!" Growled Galcian.

Xin narrowed his eyes at the young Marshall.

"Sir," He said coldly, "I am a sailor, not a Mage."

"Then how did you plan to teach them, if we had not discovered you?" Vyse asked.

"Let me remind you Emperor, you did not discover us, we brought you here." He said scathingly. "And as to your question, I planned to take them into Deep Sky, of course." He replied with a smirk. "There are magic workers who have studied the Prophecy and ancient Magic almost religiously. It was to these Mages I planned on taking them." He glanced at Fina. "Another reason for shearing you. Hair such as yours is uncommon in the Dark Kingdom, and would attract the attention of the Royal Embassy, in Alezmueres. Until now, you had been their main priority."

He looked at the occupants of the room that were glaring at him with a mixture of resentment and fury, he stared back at them, uncaring.

"Then.. we have to go into Deep Sky." Muttered Fina.

Vyse looked at her with pain in his eyes.

"But what about.."

"Vyse… Come and walk with me.." She said, cutting across him.

Reluctantly he followed his sister to the door and out onto the decks, leaving the remaining three men in an uncomfortable silence.

Outside the cool wind whisked around them, snatching at Vyse's platinum hair, he looked sadly at his sister, who's locks had once been her crowning glory. They strode to the rail, and looked below at the pale clouds that drifted below them, shining brilliantly under the Silver Moon which illuminated the night sky above them.

"Fina... How can you even think of going into Deep Sky?" He breathed, turning to her. "Father.. he.. he is dead. You think he came and spoke to you, but he is still dead!"

"I think nothing!" She snapped at him. "I don't know why, but he was able to draw my soul into a dream world.. much like the one Mother suffered. He spoke to me…and there is nothing to debate on that subject!"

"But still, Mother.. she is still in danger. This mad man has her and our friends, who are to be executed within a few hours. Not to mention that Syna is still within the tower! She is pregnant Fina! I can't just vanish into Deep Sky with you and hope these Mages will work a miracle!! Not when I have a child growing within my Fiancée."

"Vyse you don't understand!" She breathed, closing her eyes against the threatening tears. "You don't know… this power that I feel when me and Farran are one… I know that if we learned to control and understand it… we could accomplish anything we desired. I could feel the very fabric of the world in my grasp.. mine for the shaping. If I learned all I needed to, I could fix everything. I could go back, all the way back and stop Father being killed. I could save Mother!! You need to trust me!" she put her hand on his arm, and willed him to believe her.

"You do not need me for that…" he mumbled. "I can't.. I have to go back to the Tower, and take Syna, Marco and his family, and Mother away from there!"

"Of course I need you Vyse!" She said, her voice breaking. "You are my brother.. You have only just found me again, our father is dead, and our mother doesn't know us.. we need each other now more than ever."

He hung his head. She looked at him sorrowfully.. how would she feel if Farran was in danger, and she could do nothing?

"Syna is a clever woman, she is canny and wise. She knows your heart, and how much you love our parents. She will find a way out.."

"What about Marco, Tatina and Vurg?" He asked coldly.

She sobbed.

"Please Vyse! Don't do this to me! You think I'm not already aware of them?! Vurg is my dearest friend! But what could we do?! I am no longer recognisable, and you are a fugitive in your own Empire!! We would just end up getting ourselves killed! Vyse, we have this chance to try and save everything… We cannot throw it away!"

He looked at her. His lavender eyes were full of anguish. The face of his beloved Bride flashed before him, as he slowly nodded.

"Then we go to Deep Sky."

Marco was brought out of his restless slumber as the shackles about his wrists, which held him in a perpetually upright position, loosened, and he was able to slide to the cold floor. For a moment he could not summon the strength to open his eyes, but a soft female voice whispered to him.

"Stay calm General, just relax." For a moment his heart leapt, thinking that Aika had regained herself somehow.

He felt a small Sacri spell embrace him, and was able to crack open his eyes. He was met with the tanned skin, and dark hair of the emperor's Bride. She smiled softly at him.

"You should start to feel stronger as time goes by." She said kindly, and helped him to his feet.

Marco saw that Tatina and Vurg were already freed, and felt his heart wilt in relief. He cared nothing for his own life, but those of his wife and son.. he would defend to the death.

"Thank you Empress." He breathed, bowing his head to her.

"Marco, I am not an Empress yet… and now Vyse has been blamed for the death of Ramirez.. . I doubt I will ever get the chance to Marry him." Her voice cracked a little, before she straightened her shoulders and blinked the threatening tears away. "But now you must run. Get to the docks and take a ship to somewhere far away." She said.

"But you must come with us, My Lady." He said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

She shook her head and stepped away.

"I can't.. not yet. I can't leave Soltis. For one thing, I have no where else to go, and if I did leave, then Vyse would never know where to find me. As far as I am aware, this man who has control of Aika does not know who I am. As far as they are aware.. I am nothing but a serving girl…" She looked at him. "You must go.. now."

Marco trembled with indecision. How could he walk away, leaving the Emperor's bride here within the clutches of the man who had killed Ramirez?

"That was an Order General!" She snapped, seeing his reluctance. "Go now before we are all caught and killed! Get your family away!"

Marco leaned forward and hissed her forehead.

"May the Moons watch over you My Lady." He whispered, before he whisked past her. The three were gone in seconds and Syna breathed a sigh of relief. She had instantly left the rooms she shared with Vyse when she had heard the news, knowing that if she was found there, she would probably be killed. Now she had a few meagre belongings, a photo print of her and Vyse, a bag of gold, some jewellery from her mother, and some clothes. She could not leave Soltis.. not yet, she had to wait for Vyse, but she could not stay in the Tower. She could not die! She allowed her hand to rest on her abdomen.. they could not die.

Galcian shook Vyse by the hand.

"I am sorry my friend." He said again. The Emperor smiled and shook his head.

"Do not be. I could not ask you to come with us."

Galcian sighed.

"I would of course, under different circumstances, gladly accompany you. But two days ago I was given a daughter, and I still have a continent to run. I will try and spread positive propaganda in your favour Vyse. But I must return to my family."

The friends embraced momentarily. They stood on the deck of the dread Ship, a small lifeboat stood ready to take the Marshall ashore to Sailor's Island, where his own ship still waited. The Marshall bowed low to Fina, before grinning at her and ruffling her spiked hair, coarse and knotted due to the pitch.

"It is good to see you safe and well again Princess. I wish you the best of luck."

She smiled and nodded.

"Send my love to Belle, Galcian." She said.

The young man nodded briefly to Farran before turning and boarding the ship. The three of them, along with Xin and Jace, watched the small ship vanish into the gloom. The Emperor then turned to the captain.

"I wish to share a cabin with my sister, can that be arranged?" he asked.

Jace chuckled and shook his head, and Xin smirked.

"Your sister is already happily settled in a cabin shared with my son." He said, nodding at the pair who stood side by side, blushing furiously. Vyse's face darkened and he rounded on his sister.

"Fina! What are you thinking!?" he shouted. "Have you shared more than a room with this boy!? Let me remind you his is Celeste's son! Do you remember what she tried to do to us and our family?! Not to mention it has been intended that you and Vurg wed when you come of age!"

Farran glanced at Fina, pain registered on his face. She was betrothed?

"Don't you dare say things like that to me Vyse!" She shouted, her eyes shining with rage. "Vurg is my friend, but you know as well as I do that I was never going to marry him, no matter what father said, not to mention that he is 12 years old, and should not even be bothered with the thought of marriage!! And as for Celeste, she has nothing to do with him! She did not raise him and he is nothing like her!"

Vyse ignored her and glared at Farran.

"How does it feel?" he asked with a sneer. "How does it feel to fuck Royalty!?"

"Vyse!" Shouted Fina. Her brother had barely ever sworn in his life, and certainly not within her hearing. "Do not dare to speak to him like that, you have no right!"

Farran cocked his head and smiled softly, his blue eyes cold, not replying to the Emperor.

"By the Moons Vyse, I am almost fifteen, Farran is sixteen! We have done nothing!"

Silence descended upon them, Jace and Xin watching the battle between the siblings with interest. For a moment it looked like Vyse may continue to argue, but eventually he seemed to deflate. He cast one last distasteful look at Farran, before muttering.

"Very well, it seems I will need a cabin for one."

Jace chuckled.

"Well that's certainly one way of comin' to an agreement." He said.

Eventually Fina and Farran were left alone on the Deck. Xin and Jace had led Vyse away to a room while they made their flight down into Deep Sky. He looked down at her, and ran a finger over her cheek.

"When we are both of age.." He murmured to her. "Will you bind yourself to me?" The quiet question held within it a silent hope, and a secret promise of a life together. Fina smiled softly.

"It will be two years before I am seventeen. Will you wait for me?"

"I would wait a millennia for you."

She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his briefly, for the first time.

"Then, yes, I will."

The ship shifted beneath them, and they each felt the familiar pull at their stomachs which signalled a descent.

"Come," He said, taking her hand and drawing her in the direction of their small cabin. "It's a long flight to the Dark City, so I suggest we get some rest."

3 Years Later

He mumbled incoherently as sleep slowly lifted from his consciousness. Blue eyes opened to behold the dull stone ceiling, he was so used to. The air of the room was cool as always, and he concentrated on the warmth of the bed, and the heat given off by the body that shared it with him. He rolled onto his side, and looked at her. Her back was to him, black hair played over the pillow like a satin sheet. Her smooth skin showed the path of her spine as it dove beneath the sheets, whispering of the further enticements which lay hidden from his eyes. She stirred slightly and rolled onto her back, bringing the sight of her bare chest into his line of vision. To add to his pleasure at this, her breasts responded to the chill air surrounding them, hardening. He shook his head in despair as heat tore through him, and he moaned slightly at the sight of her. Smiling to himself, he reached out, pulling the covers up over her nakedness. Feeling his touch, her eyes opened as wakefulness grasped her. Those gorgeous emerald flecked eyes met with his own.

"You looked a little cold…" he mumbled to her. She glanced under the sheets at herself and laughed.

"Perhaps I was just excited." She said, smiling coyly at him.

He leaned forward and captured her lips in a passionate kiss. When they finally parted for want of air, she could still feel his mouth smouldering against her own.

"I love you too.." She breathed.

He chuckled and rolled above her, propping himself up on an elbow he allowed his other hand to work its way down her side and over her hips. She giggled as he pushed his knee between her legs, moving them apart.

The couple were startled as there was a loud bang on their door.

"Boy get off the girl! Aysra is already waiting for you!"

He growled and ignored the voice, allowing his mouth to dip to her glorious chest. Within moments the knocks came again, and when there was still no reply, to door banged open.

She cried out and tried to turn away from the tall blue eyed man stood in the doorway. However, the man above her forced her to look at him as he continued his ministrations upon her.

"Get out Old Man, I'm busy." He muttered, keeping his eyes on her's.

Xin narrowed his eyes at the pair. Fina was bright red and had her eyes closed, and his son moved above her, ignoring his father's presence.

"It is not wise to make a Mage wait." The pirate hissed.

"And it is not wise to interrupt me and my wife when we are involved in the Carnal side of marriage." He growled. "Now get out!" he snapped over his shoulder.

Xin glared at the pair for a second longer before he turned and stormed out.

When he was gone, Fina shook her head and let her hands cover her face in embarrassment.

Farran chuckled and ran a finger over her chin.

"Hey.." he murmured.

"I can't believe you just did that.." She said, her voice muffled by her hands.

He chuckled and nipped at her ear lobe, his hand diving between her legs, earning a gasp.

"You seem to have gotten quite excited over it."

She took her hands away and tried to give him a withering glare, attempting to ignore his skilled fingers, and failing poorly. After he had worked an orgasm out of her, he made love to her swiftly, the passion between them a raging inferno. She clawed at his back, her neck arched, as he moved strongly against her.

Eventually satisfied, he slipped out of bed and reached for his clothes, and glanced at her over his broad shoulder. She lay on her side smiling at him, only half covered, her skin flushed and covered with a light sheen of sweat, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

"How did I ever come to have a husband like you?" She breathed, looking at him with utter adoration.

He laughed and pulled on a linen shirt.

"Because I saw you at a slave auction and thought you had a nice ass, so I bought you." He replied. The pillow hit him in the back of the head, earning another chuckle out of him.

In compatible and happy silence the pair dressed. Over their linen shirts they wore waistcoats of stiff black leather, which was matched by the thigh high boots. On their bottom half they wore close fitting trousers which would allow them to move easily.

Fina drew a hand through her shoulder length black hair, it was as smooth as silk. She had changed her hair colour by use of the magic between her and Farran as soon as she had learned how. At least this way, she would not have to rub pitch though her hair every month. She tied it at the base of her neck and turned to her handsome husband.

"Well you heard Xin, Aysra is already waiting." She said.

He slipped his arms around her and kissed her brow.

"I would make a thousand Mages wait for an eternity if it meant I could stay in bed with you forever."

She laughed in response.

"Come on, she will already be angry for having to wait this long. I don't think she was expecting the 'Chosen Ones of the Prophecy' to be this late to rise from their bed."

WR: Ok!! Well now, that has kind of answered a few of the Q's I posed at the end of the last chapter.. sort of. Ok, so three long years have gone by. How is Aika faring with dead-Vyse? And how is young Vyse doing? What has happened to Marco and Syna and people like that:D Aww and Fina and Farran are married! Anyway, Bye for now, there won't be another update for.. hmm.. probably not till around October, due to the fact that I have exams, and then I'm going to Costa Rica for three months to do a conservation project with Sea Turtles…. So yeah, but I'll give you a few clues to what is to come:

Young Vyse – serving as a soldier in the Dark Kingdom Army.

Aika – HAS HAD VYSE'S BABY!

Zelos will come into use.

An Update on Rami and dead-Fina

Something bad has happened to Marco 

And Syna was pregnant too.. what happened to that?

Anyway.. lol, see u in October XD