Okay I started this ahead of time because my sister coming in town soon and I know I wouldn't be doing any work when she gets here. So I needed to get it done ahead of time. We are getting very close now. But I'm sure you guys know that by now. How close to the end we are truly getting. It's very close but I can't say for sure how many more chapters they're will really be. We will just have to wait and see!

Chapter 33: Price of the Trade

All across this threatening sky…

The wind felt as if it was stronger flying the sky like this, I wonder why that is?

Full of tales of danger and war…

This was started to get to me, I thought as I closed my eyes.

I heard the thunder, a distant thunder, and the wind begins to take form…

…This wasn't helping at all. It was starting to piss me off. How long…would this keep going on?

Rushing through, it breaks through the clouds…calling out to time's open door. The scars of history will be a mystery. Spread your wings, it's time to soar!

"Damnit Virginia, Stop that damn singing!" I quickly yelled to her. I couldn't stand to her another word! "Alright…gees…" Virginia said glaring toward me. Gees?! She was the one, doing the bad singing! Not me! She should say gees to her self!

And with the guiding hand we'll fly back through the corridors of time; to find the key and unlock our destiny.

I could only hope we would be back to Laxisland soon. Or I will shoot her. But…believe it or not; it wasn't half bad flying in the sky like this.

Spread your wings…

I shook my head a bit. I needed to claim down. I just felt more angry then normal. Was it because…you're missing?

Together tattered wings unfurl. Through freedom changing our world; with the bell of the owl to follow secure.

"I mean it…I will shoot you. If you keep that damn singing up!" I quickly yelled toward her. "Fine! Gees!" Virginia yelled back to me.

I hate singing…I thought as I growled to my self. I was glad soon after that we landed a little outside of Laxisland. Then we made are way back inside the town. "I wonder…if Maya saw us missing…" Clive whispered. "What do you mean?" Virginia asked. "…uh we never told her, we left town remember?" Gallows asked. "Oh yeah, I guess we didn't." Virginia said with a nervous laugh. All three of us felt sweat drop roll down the back of are heads. I tell you she had to be blonde when she was little. That's the only answer.

"I hope…she isn't angry." Virginia whispered quietly. "…if she even knew we left…" I whispered to my self. "Let's to check the tavern to see, if Maya and her team are still there." Virginia said as she looked to the three of us. We slowly nodded to her and followed her inside the tavern. Soon after we entered we saw Maya sitting at a table and Todd looking like he was in a worry.

"Please Milady…I believe you should take a break from drinking now." Todd said to her in a claim manner. "No, I'll say when I'm done! And I'm far from being done! Got that?" She asked him. "…Very well." Todd said with a sigh.

"It's appears your having a bit of trouble on your hands." Clive spoke up to Todd. "Indeed I am…and welcome back." Todd said as he smiled toward us. "Uh, thanks?" Gallows whispered. "Sorry for taking so long, to come back here." Virginia apology. "It's alright. Think nothing of it. Just a bit ago young master got a lead about an old factor on an island close by boot hill. He when to get some more items; Then we plan to leave right away. If that's alright with you?" Todd asked. "Yes, that's fine!" Virginia spoke up for us. Todd slowly nodded. "Will Maya be ready…and alright to leave?" Clive asked looking a bit worried. "Yes, she will be fine. No need to worry. It is my job to worry about things like this." Todd said.

Then the door to the tavern opened. "We're back!" Alfred said as him self and shady entered. "I see that, welcome back young master." Todd said welcoming Alfred back. "Thanks, I got everything so we can leave—oh! You guys are back as well!" Alfred said as he smiled toward us. "Yeah." Gallows said nodding toward the boy. "Good, now that we know where they maybe. Let's hope she's there as well." Alfred said nodding to him self. "So…you don't know for sure…if she's there?" Clive asked. "No. but a lot of weird rumors are from there too. So for all we know this could be a wild geese chase." Shady spoke up. "So…could be all or nothing huh?" Clive asked.

"Yeah, that's it pretty much." Maya spoke up. We all turned to look at her. "But for now, without much information…this is all we have to go on. And one lead is better then none." Maya pointed out. "Uh…true I guess." I said with a sigh. "But even if she doesn't end up being there…no worries! I'm not one to give up, that easy! We will find her, one way or another!" Maya said as she nodded to her self. "Yeah, you're right Maya! We will find her…one way or another! So let's go!" Virginia yelled. With that the eight of us left Laxisland.

Back at the Demon's base…

"How…is it coming…Malik?" Siegfried asked him as he keeps on searching file after file. "It is still going to take some time to find what we are looking for. We did…store so much information in her after all…" Malik said with a sigh. "What kind of other information did you store within her?" Siegfried asked. "The kind of information that shouldn't fall into the wrong hands. But to think…we would need it again." Lee halt said with a laugh. "…Malik you really should hurry up before her power takes control of her. If…it does who knows what may happen to us." Melody pointed out.

"Yes I know. You really worry far too much, Melody." Malik said as he shook his head a bit. "…Fear? To show fear over this so called power of the little princess. It much be a powerful force." Siegfried whispered with a grin across his face. "Indeed it is…her power awoke when she saw something…back in Yggdrasil. Then years ago…" Lee halt said remembering back. "Is there…really time for a flash back Lee halt?" Melody asked. "Well we need something to do…waiting for Malik to find what we are looking for." Lee halt added in. "Yes that is very true. Please continue." Siegfried was willing to listen. "Yes, sire."

"It happened…then years ago in Yggdrasil. No wait…12 years ago. I believe the little princess was Five years old at the time…" Lee halt said thinking about it. "…we seven we're still working on the new life-form that would soon be born. Filgaia sample as we called him. His code name was Adam Kadmon." Lee halt said as the flash back came.

"Its readings are up today…" Elliot whispered as he quickly started to write them down. "…Sara was speaking to the sample." Werner spoke up. "Ah, I see. It always reacts to her. Even if…it doesn't really have a form so far." Elliot started to wonder if the whole project was hopeless. "…We can't give up, Elliot we have come too far! Even those before us…" Werner started to say. "Yes, I know your right. After all…Sara was born without coming out of a woman. She was the first human born without a woman needed to be present!" Elliot nodded to him self. He knew the fruits of they're research we're paying off slowly.

"Yes…that's true." Werner didn't look too happy. "…Werner?" Elliot asked. "…Is it wrong to regret this?" Werner asked. "…No, your not wrong but. You know it's a bit late to be regretting this now." Elliot whispered to Werner. I know…" Werner whispered back. "…She's health and happy. So…you shouldn't have anything to regret right?" Elliot asked. "She just…looks so much like Ekatrina…" Werner had a worried look come across his face. "I see…you're worried what Lee halt may try to do to her." Elliot said. He could only watch him nod back to him.

"This whole thing…was Lee halt's idea to start with." Werner whispered as he worried about his daughter. "…He was always obsessed over Ekatrina so it only makes sense…he would be obsessed over her daughter that looks very much like her." Elliot said as Werner glared toward him. "…you're not helping." Werner whispered as he still glared toward him. "I'm sorry…" Elliot apology. "…What about me?" Lee halt asked as he entered the room. "Not a thing." Elliot quickly said. "Yeah, I'm sure." Lee halt said with a grin. Werner wanted him no where by his daughter; let alone any of his family.

But at one time…the two of them had been best friends. But now looking at them…one wouldn't know this. They're friendship quickly fell apart when they both met a woman called Ekatrina. She was a farm hand who had been working on Werner's brother's farm. But as soon as Werner and Lee halt both met the young woman. They both fell for her hard. A friendship so easier fell apart when the two met one woman. And now…even after Ekatrina's passing away. The two of them were still at it.

"…What is it you need Lee halt?" Werner quickly asked. "Need? Nothing I just came to see how are sample is doing today." Lee halt said as he started toward the tube the sample was in. "Lee halt…you know that isn't your job. It's mine to watch how the sample is doing." Elliot spoke up. "Yes, I know that. But…what's wrong with wanting to see how the fruit of are research is coming?" Lee halt asked. "Nothing wrong with that but…you shouldn't have left your station, Lee halt." Elliot quickly said eyeing him. "…What are you? The boss now?" Lee halt asked. "No…I'm not saying that Lee halt. I'm just saying…all seven of us were hand picked for a reason. Because only each one of us could do the job were assign too." Elliot quickly said as the door to the lab quickly opened.

"What now?" lee halt asked as he saw two drifters standing in the door away staring toward them. "Drifters…?" Werner asked. "We finally found you!" One of them drifters quickly yelled. "…found? What is it…you want here?" Werner asked. "Want? Don't play dumb with us! Stop this non-cent research on new life-forms…or we will take yours lives!" A drifter yelled as he pointed his arms toward the three.

"…You can't be…serious…" Lee halt whispered. "We are dead serious! Your research will never help! It will only hurt the planet in the long run!" The other drifter yelled. "…hurt? Can't you understand? We are trying to save the planet from the path it is on!" Elliot quickly said. "It's too late! The path the planet's on now can't be stopped! Nothing can save it! So…stop everything now! It's all meaningless!" The first drifter yelled again. "…No, we have come too far to give up now! We are even getting…" Elliot started to say but was cut off bye one of the drifters.

"…that tube…?! Something's in it! They have gone this far, this quickly?!" The second drifter quickly said. "We much destroy it then! It's the only thing we can do now!" The first drifter yelled as he pointed his arms toward it. Elliot quickly stepped in front of it. "No! I will not let you destroy the Filgaia Sample!" Elliot yelled to the drifters. "Elliot!" Werner yelled to him. "Don't be stupid! Move out of the way!" The second drifter yelled. "No! I will not! We have put too much time and research to get this far! I will not let you destroy all we have worked for!" Elliot yelled.

It was a stand still. As the silver hair man named Elliot stood in front of the sample protecting it as the other two drifters pointed they're arms toward him. IT felt like forever before one made a move. "…what do we do? Do we kill this guy, to complete the goal?" The second drifter asked the first one. "Don't be stupid! We don't have a chose now! We have too! If we have to kill one person to destroy they're research…then it can't be helped!" The first drifter quickly said. "Elliot please just move! We can start over!" Werner quickly said. "No…I don't want that! I want a world my son can live in peacefully! And for that…I have to protect the sample!" Elliot yelled.

"Elliot…" Werner whispered. "You want the same thing for Lady…so please don't try to stop me, Werner." Elliot whispered as he closed his eyes. "You're a fool!" The fist drifter yelled. "…you leave us…no chose…" the second drifter whispered as the two fired. Elliot quickly closed his eyes as he head they're shots go off.

But…he never met his end. Before the last second he heard a voice yell to him. "Father, no!" Elliot's eyes shot open as he saw his young son standing in front of him as a human shield. "…J-Jet?" Elliot asked. The young silver hair boy couldn't answer him. But even from the back Elliot could see blood falling form his body.

"Jet!" Elliot quickly yelled as the small boy's body slowly fell backwards. "Jet! Can you hear me?! Answer me if you can!" Elliot quickly yelled after catching his son blood covered body. "F-Father…?" Jet asked weakly. "Don't talk! Save…your strength!" Elliot cried to the young boy. "…I'm sorry father. But…I-I couldn't just stand there and watch you do that." Young jet apology to his father. "It's okay! It's okay! Just stay with me!" Elliot cried.

"What the hell is a child doing in a place like this?" The first drifter asked. "I don't know…they're should only be those seven here…not children…" The second drifter whispered to the other one. "…He got in the way. If that foolish haven't got in the way. We could have killed that man along with the sample." The first drifter said with a long sigh. "Oh well…that child will not live much longer from the bullets." The first drifter quickly said. "How hell…can you act this way after shooting someone?!" Elliot yelled glaring up toward them. "Elliot careful!" Werner warned him. Elliot watched as the arms quickly pointed toward him.

"You should do as your friend says. You should be careful…after all we are the ones with the weapons here." The first drifter said with a grin across his face. "But…isn't are goal just to destroy the sample they made?" The second drifter asked. "Yes, but think. If we leave them alive…they could always make a new sample. So killing them…would make sure the sample is never made again." The first drifter said with a grin across his face.

Back then…I thought I would die that day those two crazy drifters came. But…somehow luck had been on my side. But…I also saw her power awake that day as well.

"Jet…!!" A young girl's voice yelled. All of us quickly looked toward the door. "Sara, run!" Werner quickly yelled to the young girl. "Another child?" The first drifter asked. "L-Lady?" Elliot asked looking toward young Sara in shock. "Why…why isn't Jet moving?" Young Sara quiet asked. Elliot didn't have the will to answer the young girl. How could he tell her, her friend had been killed?

That when the stupid drifters spoke up to her. And how her powers did awake. A dark power that took control of her; her powers awakens out of angry toward her friend's death. Her power came from her human emotions.

"He's dead." The first drifter quickly told young Sara. "D-dead?" Sara asked. "That's right…and if you're not careful you will be as well." The first drifter said eyeing the young girl. "No! please! Leave her out of this!" Werner quickly spoke up. "You better keep quiet! Or something will happen to the young girl!" The first drifter yelled toward Werner.

"Dead…" Young Sara voice whispered. We all turned to look toward her. "…what?" The second drifter asked. "…he's dead. He's dead?" young Sara asked her self. "…Lady?" Lee halt asked. "…you killed him, didn't you?" Young Sara asked as her eyes started to change color. "…So what if I did." The first drifter spoke up to her. "You…you killed him. You-You killed him!" Young Sara yelled as energy surrounded her body.

Were all shocked that day when we saw lady's dark power awakens. A power that had been hidden cent the day she was born.

"…hehe to think. Her human emotions awaken her dark power." Siegfried said. "Yes, human emotions can do so many things to one person. But then…it awakens a deadly power." Lee halt said with a laugh. "I don't mean to…interpreter but I found the data I was looking for." Malik spoke up. "Yeah, good open it and put it on the screen." Siegfried quickly said. "Yes, sire." Malik said as the file started to load.

"Lee halt…we should tie her down before she going crazy." Melody spoke up. "Yes, your right let's do that." Lee halt said as he helped Melody tie the young Princess to the metal bed. "But even like this…who knows how long it will hold." Melody whispered. "Very true." Lee halt said with a nod. "What if we could gain control of this power of her?" Siegfried spoke up.

"Sire?" Lee halt asked. "If her power is as deadly as you tell it is…I wish to make use of it." Siegfried quickly said. "Yes…I understand my lord. But without a controller she would turn against us as well." Melody said sounding worried. "…We could us the ray of light; her arms to control her. But we would still need a power sort for it to work." Malik spoke up. "We can use the Teardrop." Siegfried said. "What? But don't we need the Teardrop to power…" Lee halt started to ask. "That Teardrop has unlimited energy. IT can be used for many things. It would work for that as well right?" Siegfried asked. "Yes, without a problem. I'm sure it would work we just need to know its location now." Lee halt said as malik spoke up to them.

"Alright, it's loaded its coming on screen now." Malik said as the four stared toward the screen. "…hehe of all places." Siegfried said with a laugh. "Should we head there my lord?" Melody asked. "No…let them do the dirty work for us." Siegfried said with a laugh.

Everything is falling into place now. Soon…everything will be ready.

A bit later outside of Laxisland…

As soon as we got outside Maya and her team stared up toward Lombardia. Well…can't blame them. I mean seeing a living dragon. "Umm…this is Lombardia." Virginia said as she felt sweat roll down her face. "Do you wish to go somewhere? Virginia Maxwell?" Lombardia asked. "Yes! We are heading north! So please take us that way!" Virginia yelled up to her. "As you wish." Lombardia said as she turned into her flying self.

"D-dragon? A-Dragon?" Maya asked her self out of shock. "…let's get on milady." Todd said helping Maya into Lombardia. We soon followed onto Lombardia after them. Soon we started flying north toward Boot hill. But soon we saw a building on some land before the town. Virginia told Lombardia to land so we could check it out. Then soon after that we entered the Dissection Facility.

"So this is where she was taken…" Alfred said out loud. "Do not fret, Master Alfred." Todd told him. "I promise to do all I can to rescue the young Lady. Because of her Milady is safe. I do owe her." Todd said as he bowed toward Alfred. "Yeah…we need to teach them a thing or two. Kidnapping a girl is as low as one can go. And I can't leave this be." Maya said as she nodded to her self. "…thank you, Maya." Virginia whispered to her. "I told you! Don't thank me! And I'm not doing this for you!" Maya quickly said. "Yeah, I know. But still thanks." Virginia said as she smiled toward her. "Well let's get going…" I growled to my self.

With that we started on are way heading north into a door ahead of us. Then into a door a bit east. In this room we found a huge block. So Clive put on his mighty gloves and moved the block to make a bridge we could walk across; then we headed across the new made bridge and headed into the door there; Then headed a bit east into another door. We headed past three cells in this room and found a weird door at the end. "…Please let me take care of it." Todd said as he started toward the door. "Go ahead." Maya spoke up. Todd nodded to him self and cut the door in half then looked toward us. "Good job, let's hurry on." Maya said as she nodded toward us.

Then we headed into the door in front of us. We then headed a bit southwest and into a door. In this room we saw two levels from far away. We headed up a path away and stopped by the second level then gallows used his steady doll to hit the first level and then the wall blocking the path when down. And we headed into the door ahead of us. In this room we found another weird door. Alfred looked around. He saw a lever on a very top platform. "That lever looks suspicious…shady, if you would!" Alfred said looking to the flying cat. Shady then fly up to where the lever was. Shady then pulled the lever as a wall started to fall toward him. He quickly breathes fire to stop it. Then the door ahead of us opened and we headed inside. We found two heavy blocks in this room. Clive moved them to make a bridge. Then Virginia used her Gale crest to get us to the other side of the room. Then we headed a bit north where a door was and headed inside.

We found three cells in this room as well. We just headed north and entered a door at the end. We then entered a big room. Virginia found a book in the middle of the room. "This is!" Virginia cried. "What is it, leader?" Clive asked. "This…book Sara had been holding for me from the Train." Virginia said staring at Disaster Girl of the wasteland. If she had been holding that…then she had been here after all. We would surely find something at the end of this place. I knew that for sure. But what that something was I had no idea at the time.

We looked forward to see another weird door in front of us. Alfred made his way to it. Alfred placed a bomb then we backed away from the door. The seal on the door broke and it opened. We then headed inside the door. "Dead end?" Virginia asked looking around confused. We could only see broken machines no matter where we looked. And a very huge screen ahead of us. Alfred headed up to a small machine on the right side of the room. "Hmm? I wonder what this does? I think a picture's being transmitted…wait, let me see if I can bring it up…" Alfred said hitting some buttons.

Then Siegfried appeared on the screen. "Whaaaaaaahhh!" Alfred yelled as soon as he appeared on it. We all stood back a bit. "How nice to see you again, Mortals…" Siegfried said with a grin. "S-S-Siegfried…" Virginia said glaring toward the demon lord. "You remembered my name. I am honored…Mmm…" Siegfried said eyeing Virginia. "Is Sara…safe?" Virginia asked in a yell. "Of course she is…However that may all change depending on your action." Siegfried said.

Just hearing him says that much made me worry. What was he up too now? What was he after? "Let us commence the Negotiation; you get me the Teardrop in exchange for the young lady." Siegfried quickly said.

So…they still didn't have the Teardrop. But why did they want us to get it for them? "So you wanna play dirty, huh? But the thing is, we don't know where the Teardrop is. The negotiation stops here!" Virginia said not wishing to have over that Gem. "That is not a problem. She had revealed everything." Siegfried told us. That didn't even make sense! She didn't know any thing about the Teardrop! Specially its location!

"That's bull shit!" I spoke up. "oh? Is it boy?" Siegfried asked. "She doesn't know a thing about it! She would have told us if she did!" I yelled toward him. "Well that is a different matter. Lost information hidden from her self. There was no way for her to know." Siegfried said. Hidden from her self? That didn't even make any sense! "But as I was saying…The fact is she did tell us. Even if it was against her will." Siegfried said with a grin. "The light Tear shatters to pieces as it builds power and becomes a memory. The memory lies in the heart forever; in the Ruin of Memory." Siegfried told us.

So it had been in that ruin after all. "How in the world…did?!" Maya started to ask. Siegfried ignored her voice. "I look forward to receiving the Teardrop…" Siegfried said then the screen turned off. "SARA!" Virginia yelled, but it was too late.

Sara had information not even her self knew about. I didn't understand that at all. How in the world…could that even happen? Let alone Siegfried was acting like she was a thing not a person!

"…We have to find the Teardrop." Virginia whispered. "Leader are you alright?" Clive asked looking worried. "…I'll be fine. I'll be better when I know Sara's really alright. But about that information…" Virginia said. "Yeah, it mentions ruins of memory; Right in your face." Gallows said looking unsure about the information. "Think it's a trap?" I asked. "This information isn't a rumor that has recently started floating around. I really think this lead is genuine and reliable." Alfred spoke up. "Okay…we're been in there before, but we might have missed something…let's head to the ruins of memory to find the Teardrop!" Virginia yelled.

Alfred nodded toward his sister. Then she nodded back to him. "I'm sorry, but would it be all right if you go on ahead? I need to prepare something before the exchange take place. So, we can't go there just now…" Alfred told us. "All right, but hurry, we'll meet you inside the ruins of memory." Virginia told them.

With that Maya and her team left us. What did they need to do? Whose knows? But one thing was for sure.

Just handing over the Teardrop to the demons wasn't a good idea on any level even if it's to save her. I think I am beginning to understand more. About the chose I have to make. And I have a feeling I will have to do it very soon.