Part Two:

Tradition

Melima awoke with a start to the sound of glass breaking and someone screaming. Hardly a moment had passed before she reached out and lit a candle with her fingertip, grabbing hold of it and rushing down the hall. In one smooth movement, she grabbed the doorknob, twisted, and shoved her shoulder into the door. Pain shot through her arm as she stumbled back.

The door was blocked.

Behind the door, all was silent.

Melima tried the door again, but it wouldn't budge. Something scraped across the floor with each push, but it was large and heavy. She pressed her eye against the slivered opening of the door, but the darkness was full. She stepped back, running toward the door and barreling into it with her shoulder.

Glass and wood flew across the room, clattering to a stop as Melima forced the candle in front of her. The room smelled heavily of foreign perfumes. The vapors were strong, forcing the sleeve of her nightgown over her mouth as she looked around the room. The full-length mirror lay shattered on the floor, its heavy wooden frame torn in pieces. She shone the light on the first bed, Karst's.

Empty.

"Karst?" she gasped, rushing toward the beds. She scrambled over the bed, staring at the small girl lying between them, red eyes lulled to the ceiling, her hands pressed against her face. Melima set the candle on the nightstand set between the beds, grabbing for Karst's arm and shaking her. "Karst," she breathed. "Karst, wake up… wake up!" She pulled away as her hand touched something wet on Karst's hand. She grabbed for the candle, looking at her palms.

Red, dark and full smeared across her fingers, up her neck and across her face. Broad shapes had been traced over her eyes, down her chin. She wasn't moving anymore. She wasn't even breathing.

Melima scrambled away from the girl, tearing down the hall to her front door. She stumbled out into the snow, barefoot, screaming into the night and hoping someone heard.

The Elder walked as fast as his limp would allow, into the home and up the stairs. He followed the sounds of movement down the hall, and walked into the fully-lit room. Puelle stood by the wall, his hands on the shoulders of a terribly pale Melima.

The Elder glanced over to the bed, where Agatio stood over Karst. His hands glowed, and were pressed against her bosom. After a moment, he leaned over her, tilting her jaw back, and breathing into her mouth. Her chest rose, fell again as his hands pressed to her chest and began glowing again. Still, the girl was motionless.

The Elder turned to Puelle. "What happened?"

Puelle swallowed hard as he glanced at Melima. Her jaw set hard and she shook her head. He sighed. "She awoke to screaming. When she arrived, she found Karst on the floor between Menardi and her bed, her hands all cut up." He glanced at Karst. "She wasn't breathing." He swallowed hard. "She hasn't been breathing for the last ten minutes."

The Elder looked at Agatio, performing the old healing techniques. Karst's chest rose and fell again, but remained still. He rubbed his hands together, generating heat between them and pressed them back against her chest.

The Elder swallowed. "Agatio, it is finished."

He shook his head. "No."

"She is gone, Agatio," he replied quietly as his hands glowed brighter. "She's been gone for several minutes now."

"Then why can I still feel the warmth of Mars in her body?" Agatio murmured distractedly, pressing his mouth to hers and breathing out.

The Elder swallowed. "Agatio, she—"

Karst's body suddenly lurched, coughing violently as Agatio leaned back. The Elder and Puelle could only stare as Melima let out a sudden sob. The sobs turned to grateful laughter as she slid to her knees, throwing her arms to the sky and praising the Gods.

Agatio touched her face as her breathing began to slow. "Are you alright?"

Karst was trembling. "I don't know."

"What happened?" the Elder asked.

She shook her head, pressed a hand to her head. "I don't remember… I—" She stopped and pulled her hand away from her face, seeing the dried blood on her palms, the scars.

Agatio grabbed both her hands, focusing his energy once again. "Don't worry, you're going to be fine. Now tell us, what do you remember?"

Karst stared at her hands, wrapped in Agatio's, a warm, pale light passing over them. "I remember…" She swallowed. "I was getting ready for bed. I lit the incense just as you told me," she said, glancing at The Elder. "I went to bed, and… I dreamed?"

"You don't recall?" Puelle asked.

"No," Karst said, looking up. "I remember. I was atop a tower, made all of stone. Green and white. My sister was there. Saturos, too. They were fighting something… Someone? They were hurt. There was light… all around them. It made them strong, but something…" She shut her eyes tightly. "Something happened. Something terrible. There was a monster, and screaming… The light just kept getting brighter, then… it was gone. And… Saturos and Menardi…"

"What happened?" The Elder asked quietly. "Who won the battle?"

Karst shut her eyes tightly. "I don't remember."

"That's alright," Agatio said softly. "You did wonderfully, Karst." He looked up at Melima, nodded at the mirror, shattered on the floor. "Did she do that?"

Melima nodded. "She knocked it in front of the door. I almost couldn't get in."

"You must have cut your hands on the glass," Puelle murmured.

Karst swallowed. "Must have."

"If the incense did not help her, then we'd best check on Anne and Charles," the Elder murmured. He nodded at Melima. "Keep her awake and alert at all costs until we summon for her."

The shaking woman hardly nodded, hugging herself tightly around the middle.

"You should wash up while you wait, Karst," The Elder said, turning to her. "I'm certain you don't want to walk around the rest of the day like that."

Karst reached up, touched the blood that was scrawled on her face. "Yeah…"

The Elder looked at Puelle and Agatio. "We'd best move quickly. If Anne's dreams also have not ended, we don't have much time before something very similar will happen."

The three bid Melima and Karst a good evening, though the eastern sky was beginning to pale. They rushed into the snowy morning, huddled into a close group.

"What do you think now, Elder?" Agatio asked quietly, his breathing hanging in the air in front of him.

"I'm more inclined to know what you think, Agatio," he replied. "You share a bond with that family that I do not… what do you feel?"

Agatio sighed. "I think Menardi is in trouble, and that Karst has become a conduit for all that negative energy. I believe it is a sign."

"A sign?" Puelle asked with a slight laugh. "You mean like a message?"

Agatio nodded. "I think she is trying to contact us through Karst. Let us know that something is wrong. They need help."

"And why do you think it is Menardi?" The Elder asked. "Negative energy can come from anywhere and fester inside a being. Why should it be Menardi?"

"Because, Elder," Agatio said, starting up the stairs to the temporary quarters. "Those bloodmarks on Karst's face are her sister's clan markings."

The small Lemurian house echoed with the slamming of the upstairs door. The dishes on the table shook as two hands pushed against it, lifting the woman to her feet. "Piers!" she screamed. "Don't you dare storm away from me like that, Piers! Come back here this instant!"

"Calm down, Cascata," her brother, Troy, murmured from his seat in the corner. "Yelling won't make it better."

"He's acting like a child," she grumbled, beginning to clear the table. "I state my opinion for one moment, and—"

"You didn't even let him speak, Cata," Troy said.

Cascata rounded on him, pointing. "Don't you dare take his side, Troy. Not again."

Troy sighed. "I'm not going to try to be the voice of reason again, but wouldn't it be wise to at least consider what His Majesty has requested of Piers?"

"King Hydros requests too much of Piers," she murmured, taking the plates to the sink. "He requested too much of his father."

"Placido served honorably," Troy said, frowning. "I would think you should be proud."

"Proud of what?" Cascata asked dryly, looking up from the dishes. "Proud that he fought honorably? Lived honorably? Then died honorably after being shot in the back by a common thief?"

"Babi was anything but common, Cata," Troy said. "We were fooled. We all were. Placido was no more at fault than any of us—"

"He killed him, Troy," Cascata said. "Shot him in the back with one of Cordell's weapons."

"That was over one-hundred years ago, Cata," Troy said, standing. "Look around you! Your son has grown up."

Cascata shook her head, began scrubbing the dishes angrily.

Troy sighed. "Cata, one of these days, you're going to see Piers as I see him; a brilliant young man, a man who has grown into such a strong, wonderful being... so much like his father." He folded his arms across his chest staring at her for a long moment.. "Maybe that is why there is so much distance between you two."

Cascata turned, frowning at him. "You should hold your tongue, Brother."

"You should consider what King Hydros told Piers. If he is right about—"

"If he is right and Conservato caught even a hint of their intentions, Piers would be exiled before you could sneeze," she said, turning back to her dishes. "Conservato and his precious Senate. Elected by the people, controlled by rich. And you know he's constantly searching for a reason to punish him." She sighed. "The last thing Piers needs is for the reason to be dropped right into Conservato's lap."

"But if Hydros is right, and Weyard is dying—"

"Let it die," Cascata muttered darkly. "I won't have my son go kill himself trying to save the world like his father."

Troy shook his head. "I think you need to reconsider—"

"I thinkyou shouldleave," Cascata murmured.

Troy took in a deep breath through his nose, gave a sharp nod. "Alright… Good afternoon, Cata."

The woman said nothing.

Troy sighed as he ran a hand through his short-cropped aquamarine hair and started for the door. He shut it behind him, hands on his hips as he stood on the front doorstep, shaking his head. He looked up at the sound of rustling bushes. At the above window was a well-fashioned rope made from bedsheets. Dangling from said rope, was a tall, well-built Lemurian boy, feet brushing the tops of the bushes as he lowered himself down.

Troy smiled. "Does your mother know about this?"

"Do you think she suspects?" Piers asked, not looking at him as he dropped to the ground and made his way around the bush.

Troy sighed. "She's too busy doing dishes to suspect anything," he said, watching the young man grab his sack, thrown from the window into the bush, and starting down the streets, into the thick city crowd. "Piers, where are you going?"

Piers didn't answer, or so much as look over his shoulder.

Troy let out a groan, starting toward the streets. "Piers! Come back h—"

The man stopped on his heels as a massive man stepped in front of him. Just taller than him, but twice as wide, the older gentlemen nodded at him. "Good afternoon, Master Troy."

Troy nodded, managed a bittersweet smile. "Senator Conservato," he muttered, trying to shoulder past.

He stepped into the man's path. "In a hurry, are we?" the man asked dryly, his face unchanged as his adjusted his spectacles.

Troy shifted his weight, folded his arms across his chest. "Not at all, Senator. Did you need something?"

"Not particularly," the senator replied as he tucked his papers and a few books under his arm. "I suppose I should ask how Cascata is."

"She is well," Troy said looking over the man's shoulder in attempt to find Piers in the massive plaza below.

"Glad to hear it," Conservato said. "And that troublesome nephew of yours?"

"Piers is doing well also," Troy said, bristling slightly.

"Again, I am glad to hear it," the senator continued in his monotone drawl. "Rumor has it that he was called to speak with Hydros today along with the pirate Lunpa—"

"Lunpa is not a pirate any longer, and you are more than aware of this," Troy said flatly.

"Names are names, Master Troy, I meant nothing," Conservato said, allowing himself a slight grin. "I was just curious as to why His Majesty would call the former Admiral's son and the… former Pirate Admiral of Angara and Gondowan into a private, closed-door session."

Troy shrugged. "I would suppose it would be to discuss something without being plagued by screaming old men who throw books and laws around the room at each other."

Conservato's eyes narrowed. "Sarcasm does not sit well with me, Master Troy."

"No sarcasm intended, Senator," Troy said. "If they discussed anything outside of the common fare, I am certain I have no idea what it would have been."

Conservato's long face morphed into a scowl. "There are too many secrets floating about recently. If you think you can keep them hidden for much longer, Master Troy, you and your family are far mistaken—"

Troy's voice was low and intense. "If you continue to harass my nephew for what happened to Rosaline—"

"I put no blame where blame does no belong," Conservato snapped.

"Babi shot both Rosa and Placido as he made his escape from Lemuria," Troy hissed. "Everyone knows it was Babi that killed your daughter. To even think Piers was involved in her murder, his own fiancée—"

"As I recall, she went looking for Piers with his father because he had failed to arrive at the wedding," Conservato growled.

"He was trying to help Lunpa stop Babi!" Troy gasped.

"There is no evidence to support that," Conservato said flatly, leaning back. "For all we know, Lunpa and Piers were in league with Babi."

Troy shook his head. "Senator, if you don't leave my sister and her family alone, I swear to you, I'll—"

"Is that a threat, Master Troy?" Conservato said, his pale green eyes suddenly narrow. "I don't think those in the Senate would take kindly to hearing the Uncle of a suspected revolutionary—"

"Revolutionary?" Troy said with a laugh. "Piers? I doubt it."

"Then clearly you have not heard the things Hydros has been suggesting to the council," Conservato said softly. His lips twitched into a thin sneer. "Good day, Master Troy."

Troy stared as the man walked away, lips pursed in disgust. He shook his head, looking down in to the plaza. Piers would have been long gone by now, lost in the massive throng. However, Troy had a feeling he already knew where he would be going.

Piers' strong hands worked quickly over the knots, pulling them loose and tossing the rope up, over the side of the boat, then turned to the next one. His mind was burning, jaw clenched and set even after all this time.

His mother refused to support him, and his uncle had sat in the corner, speechless the entire time. If she knew he was at the docks at this very moment, Piers had no doubt she would skin him alive. But he had a map tucked in his back pocket and the keystone to his ship in his bag; enough provisions for the next few days and a handful of crystalline cash.

He pulled the final knot loose, tossing the rope on deck and starting for the gangplank.

"Where you off to?"

Piers froze, turning to see his Uncle Troy standing on the dock not far from him. He shifted his weight. "Going fishing."

Troy raised an eyebrow. "Awful big boat for a casual fisherman."

Piers looked at him, his golden eyes narrow. "I'm going whether or not you give me your permission."

Troy laughed. "Piers, you're almost three-hundred now, almost of manhood. I don't think I have the right to tell you what you can and cannot do."

Piers folded his arms across his chest. "I wish my mother felt the same way."

Troy stepped toward him. "Piers, you know your mother loves you."

Piers sighed. "Love has nothing to do with this," he said, starting back up the gangplank, Troy following close behind. "I'm worried about Lemuria."

"We all are," Troy said, stopping as he reached the deck. "Ever since Babi took the entire stash of elixir…" He frowned. "Piers, is this the wisest thing to do? What if you were to get ill? Or sick? Piers, you could die—"

"Immortality isn't all it is famed to be, Uncle," Piers said softly, unlatching the crank for the anchor. "Besides, if what Hydros says is true?" He sighed. "We will all be experiencing a very, very short eternity."

Troy shifted his weight. "I don't know about this, Piers. Weyard dying, the world shrinking… elements vanishing. It doesn't seem possible—"

"That's because of this cage we've been living in our whole lives," Piers said. "Lemuria is perfect; the people, the land, the sea. But outside…" He looked down a massive stone cavern, dark and narrow. "Troy, even Lunpa and Babi couldn't believe the way we live. Our inventions, our society…" He shook his head angrily, starting to turn the crank. "And thanks to Conservato and his barrage of asinine laws, no Lemurian has ever stepped outside of Lemuria. At least not for the last few-hundred years."

"Piers," Troy murmured. "You're young and impressionable. What if the King is wrong?"

"Then my trip will be short," Piers said, beginning to turn the heavy crank.

"But why send you?" Troy asked. "You're still a boy. Why not send Cordell? He knows much about map making. He has all the right tools, and—"

"We already spoke," Piers said in a brief grunt. "Everything I need is in my bag."

Troy made a face. "Piers, you haven't even said a word to your mother—"

"Mother doesn't need to know," he said, looking up and wiping his brow with the back of his hand. "Besides, if I even breathed a word of this, she would pitch such a fit that Conservato would get wind of this and order us all under house arrest for the next three-hundred years."

Troy grinned. "I ran into his grace this afternoon."

Piers started slightly, looking at his uncle worriedly. "Does he suspe—"

"Not a thing," Troy murmured. "Nothing outside the usual."

Pier was silent for a long time. He leaned against the crank, letting out a sharp sigh. "I tried to save them…"

Troy nodded. "I know… Lord Babi had us fooled. Never in my life had I expected that he would have…"

Piers shook his head, long blue hair brushing the tops of his shoulders, only pulled half away from his face. "It doesn't matter anymore. It is past." He looked up, golden eyes blazing. "I have a chance now to right everything wrong I've ever done. If Hydros is right… and if I can bring back proof to the Senate… to Conservato—"

Troy frowned. "Is that why you're doing this?"

Piers said nothing, went back to turning the crank.

Troy sighed. "Piers, what happened all those years ago was not your fault. No one thinks you were responsible for what happened with Rosa… to Placido… You know that, don't you?"

The boy wouldn't so much as look at him. "If I can do this right… if I can prove King Hydros is right about the elemental sealing…" He shook his head. "Then maybe things will finally start to change. Maybe the Senate will start to listen to us again…" He looked up, his eyes blazing. "Maybe things will start to change."

"And you think you are the one who has tochange everything?" Troy murmured. "By yourself?"

Piers said nothing.

Troy shook his head, walked to where Piers was struggling with the crank. He stood beside him, and began helping him turn the crank. When he saw Piers frowning at him, he sighed. "Look, I haven't lived for seven hundred years to not be able to see that you're exactly like your father, and no matter what I say now, nothing is going to change your mind." He glanced at him as they both turned the crank, smiled slightly. "I'm proud of you, Piers… We both are; Cata and me." He let out a groan as they went back to turning the crank. "And your mother is going to kill me and probably you when she finds out about this."

Piers smiled faintly. "Thank you, Uncle."

Troy grinned. "Your quite welcome, Nephew."

They both started as the crank snapped into place, refusing to budge any further. Troy leaned away from the crank, stepping back to look at his nephew. He slowly nodded, put his hand on Pier's shoulder, patted it lightly. "Be safe."

"Always," Piers said softly as his uncle started away from the boat. Troy started down the glankplank, Piers stepping to the edge of the deck. "Uncle Troy," he called down.

The Lemurian turned.

Piers swallowed. "Take care of my mother… please."

Troy nodded. "Of course."

Piers smiled sadly, fingered the trigger that rose the gangplank, sliding into the side of the ship, almost unnoticeable. He walked toward the front of the ship, staring at the console. He set the gem into the ornately carved wood, the images of sea-creatures and warriors suddenly brightening the deck in pale blue light. He looked once more at where his uncle stood on the end of the deck, staring as the ship pulled forward.

Piers flipped a few switches, changing the course to an automatic memory of the caverns, glancing again at his Uncle, frantically waving from the deck. Pier's chest swelled. He rushed to the end of the ship, standing on the very edge of the dock and cupping his hands over his mouth. "Tell my mother that I love her!" he shouted.

Anne awoke the next morning to the pale sunlight pouring through the window of both her and Charles' bedroom. She stretched lazily as she looked across the room to where the incense was still burning. She breathed deeply and smiled, grabbed for her robe. She quickly tied it over her nightdress, brushing her hair from her face as she walked into the main area of the home, stopping the moment she opened the door.

Sitting at the table with Charles and Kyle were the Elder, Puelle, and Agatio. She frowned, pulling her robe tightly around her.

"Anne," the Elder said, looking up. "Please, come in. Don't be shy."

Shy? She thought bitterly. You come into my home to find me only in a nightdress and robe and then ask me to not be shy?

"How did you sleep?" Charles asked.

Anne swallowed hard, stepping into the room and taking the seat beside Charles. "I slept wonderfully," she said.

"No nightmares?" Puelle prompted. "No bad dreams?"

"No," Anne said, unable to resist a smile. "Nothing of the sort… in fact, I had a wonderful dream about the ocean... it was calm and beautiful. I dreamed that Jenna and Felix were there, lying on the shore and laughing…" She sighed. "Whatever is in that bottle, Elder, it certainly does it's job."

"Yes," the Elder said, stroking his beard. "That is the problem, isn't it?"

"Problem?" Charles asked.

The Elder nodded. "She was not supposed to dream. The incense produces a dreamless state—"

"Yet both Karst and Anne dreamt this past evening," Puelle finished softly.

Anne frowned. "Then I'm still having visions?"

"They aren't visions, persay," Puelle quickly stammered. "They are… premonitions. The energy between bloodlines can sometimes connect them. Karst to her sister, you to Felix."

"Then he's still in trouble?" Anne murmured.

"No," the Elder said. "If anything, your dreams tells us that Felix is safe."

Charles and Anne sighed, her hands reaching for his and squeezing hard.

"We don't know what is happening here," Puelle continued. "But if there is one thing we can be certain of, it is that something has happened to our little group of four."

"What are we going to do?" Anne asked.

Puelle glanced at the Elder who was shaking his head. He looked up sadly, began stroking his beard again. "We don't know."

Agatio was pacing in front of the fireplace as Puelle and the Elder sat in thoughtful silence. He stopped suddenly, looking up. "Something must be done," he said softly.

Puelle sighed. "There is nothing we can do, Agatio," he said. "Fall is coming to a close, and winter will strike fast and hard this year. There is no safe-passage out of our docks… not without the focus of a full Mars Adept—"

"I am a full Mars Adept," Agatio said anxiously, folding his arms across his chest.

The Elder shook his head. "We don't even know where to begin looking."

"The Lighthouses," he retorted. "They were in Karst's dreams."

"We don't know what has happened," the Elder continued. "What if the lighthouses have become unsafe—?"

"I don't care!" Agatio suddenly shouted. "I'm not going to sit here, idly by, while Menardi and the others suffer! For every reason you give me that we should not assist them, I can give you twenty more why we should!"

"Agatio," the Elder murmured. "I think you need to get some rest."

"I don't need rest," he growled. "I need a ship."

Puelle shook his head. "We will not give you one. Even if they are in trouble, the chances of you making it out of these frozen waters alive is scarce. We can't even send the fishermen out any longer."

"Ice can be melted," Agatio said.

"And your psynergy would be exhausted before you could make it into decent waters," Puelle said, his eyes narrowing as his temper grew.

"Then I'll take the Northern Path toward Imil," he said flatly.

"There is no more Northern Path," the Elder murmured. "Gaia Falls has eaten the entire passage away. To even think of navigating it would be suicide."

Agatio's jaw set. "Then give me a team of men. We'll go through the Southern Route, melt the ice, and—"

"We are not going to send another team of men to be killed," Puelle growled. "After the Sol Sanctum incident three years ago no one would volunteer, anyway."

"Then I'll go alone!" Agatio snapped. "I won't remain here while Menardi is in danger!"

"We don't know that she is!" Puelle shouted.

"I don't care!"

"We do!" Puelle roared, shoving himself to his feet. "This is a desperate time, Agatio! We don't have the support of the Oniat people and without their help, we are going to need all the Adepts we have to help protect Mars Lighthouse! By the time the other three beacons are lit, Gaia Falls will be so accelerated it will take all our energy to keep them at bay. If we lose the lighthouse—"

"If something has gone wrong with Menardi and the others, then that will be the least of our concerns!" Agatio said with an angry laugh. "What if they are hurt? What if they can't finish lighting the beacons?"

"What if we send you out?" Puelle asked. "What if you do somehow manage to make it past the glaciers, the pirates, the sea beasts? What if you do find them, and they are alive and well? What if you go with them to light the Jupiter Beacon? What if we call for all Adepts to help hold back Gaia Falls, and we are one short? What if Mars Lighthouse falls into Oblivion because you were not here to help us?" His red eyes were blazing. "Agatio, we are going to be short Adepts as it is. And it is a three day sail from safe waters to the Jupiter Lighthouse, not including the navigation through the icy channels."

Agatio's face was still strong, rebellious lines etched into his face. "You can't keep me here forever."

"Agatio," Puelle said, voice low and thin. "If you so much as step outside Proxinian Boarders I will not hesitate to see you exiled permenantly." Agatio turned on his heel, storming toward the door. "Did you hear me, Agatio!" Puelle shouted after him. "You will be disgraced and exiled! Agatio!"

But the door had already slammed shut.

Agatio started into the snowy evening, his face flushed with rage.

"Hey! Agatio, wait!"

He didn't turn as a pair of hurried footsteps rushed through the snow. Karst appeared at his side. "I said, wait," she repeated herself, almost running to keep up with his long stride.

"I'm not in the mood Karst," he growled.

"I heard what you were talking about there," she continued as though she hadn't heard.

Agatio frowned. "You heard that?"

"You were only screaming," she murmured, giving him a side-long glance. "I want you to know that I agree with you."

"Glad to hear it," Agatio muttered darkly. "Unfortunately, I doubt you can influence their opinion."

Karst suddenly stopped in the snow. "Do you want my help or not?"

Agatio rounded on her. "Why would I want the help of a little girl?"

"I'm sixteen," Karst growled, baring her fangs.

"You don't even have your clan marks yet," he snapped back.

"Marks don't mean anything," she said. "I'm just as strong as most of the full female Adepts here."

"You flatter yourself, Karst," Agatio purred angrily, starting away. "Go home. Your mother must be worried sick."

"My mother is asleep," Karst said, hurrying after him.

"Then she will be even more concerned when she awakes to find you missing," Agatio muttered, quickening his step.

Karst groaned, matching his pace with her own. "Would you stop for a moment!" she growled. "I just wanted to talk—"

"There is nothing for us to discuss," Agatio snapped.

Karst reached into the bag thrown over her shoulder, dug around, then pulled the object and held it in front of his face. "Not even this?"

Agatio stopped dead in his tracks. An obsidian orb hung in the air in front of his eyes, the key to activating their ships. "Karst," he breathed. "Where did you—"

"No touching," she growled as he grabbed for it. She pulled it out of reach and put it back into her bag.

Agatio frowned at her. "How did you get that?"

"I tried to talk to the Elder today after lessons," she murmured as she buckled her bag shut. "They aren't going to do anything."

"I know," Agatio said.

"I broke the lock onthe Adept's Chest when he went to go talk to another student," she said. "I smuggled it out in my bag."

"You stole from the Elder?" Agatio breathed. "Karst, that's grounds for exile—"

"So is this," she murmured, running a hand through her hair. It suddenly occurred to Agatio that her hair was not braided. In fact, it had all been cropped away. It was shorter than his own hair. Her bright red eyes were flashing as she patted her bag. "So is stealing Adept armor from the Elder's home. I'm leaving. Tonight."

"Leaving for where?" Agatio asked.

"Venus Lighthouse," she said. "I took some of the books from the Elder's shelf. The pictures in them are just like what I saw in my dream. If something has happened to Menardi, that's where she'll be."

Agatio stared at her. "So, why are you telling me this? If I went to the Elder—"

"But you won't," Karst said, stepping toward him. "You won't, because you're as worried about Menardi as I am…" She set a hand on her bag. "And I'm the only chance you'll ever have of getting a boat."

"And if I refuse?" Agatio asked.

Karst brushed her hair from her eyes. "Then tomorrow comes, and I am exiled… and you get to explain how that all happened to Menardi when she returns. If she returns."

Agatio allowed himself a slight grin. "You seem to have meditated on this plan for a long time, Karst."

"I couldn't do this on my own," she said roughly. "I wasn't stupid enough to think for one moment that I could. I knew I was going to need someone's help… and I knew it would be yours."

Agatio sighed, looking at the girl. She looked suddenly older in the silent snow and dim light from the streetlamps. He looked out at the docks, then back at the girl. "I'll meet you at the dock in one hour."

A ghost of a smile flickered across Karst's face. "Thank you, Agatio."

"No, Karst," Agatio said softly, his eyes suddenly fierce. "Thank you."

Piers sighed angrily as he looked up at a rock he had passed seven times before. He pulled the map from his pocket again, looking it over, tracing it with his finger repeatedly, the same lines he'd made.

If he was following the map to the exact letter, why was he stuck going in circles?

"Moon, Sun, Star," he grumbled, looking around frantically, but in the darkness, he couldn't see anything. He smoothed the map out on the deck beneath him, settling the lantern on the corner, trying to figure where he'd gone wrong.

It had been several minutes, and he was starting to doze when a loud sound came from beneath him. Piers started from the catnap, looking around the ship frantically. When he saw nothing, he pressed a hand to his face and groaned. For a single moment, he considered going home.

The growl came again, echoing on the rocks around him. This time Piers was on his feet, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. He grabbed for the lantern, swung it in a wide arc around him. The sea was dark and empty save the stones and shadows.

Piers sighed, lowering the lantern and shaking his head. "I must be out of my—"

Water rose from the black ocean, suddenly glowing with a brilliant light. The boat arched upward with the wave, climbing, climbing. A massive creature rose from the sea, growling as his arms flailed about. His fists rose up as Pier's ship landed with a crash against the water. Piers was scrambling toward the ship's controls, cursing quietly as he grabbed the wheel.

He stared up in horror at the creature, almost man-like, the Sea Guardian, Poseidon. His fists towered for stories over Piers, and he could only stare as the tore downward toward the ocean. Piers pushed away from the controls, making a beeline for the cabin. No sooner had he reached it entrance then the sound of roaring water came behind him. He slammed the door shut, started for the stairs, but something was wrong.

The wood was creaking all around him, water suddenly flooding the cabin area. The floor was the ceiling, and the ceiling the floor. He tried to swim, but something jarred the ship violently. His head suddenly ached, hands flailing in the water for the back of his skull. Red began to cloud the water around him, but everything had already gone dark.

"Ready? Pull!"

Isaac and Ivan grunted, hands wrapped around the thick fishnet Faran had given them when they left. They heaved the massive net onto the boat, surprised to find only six tiny fish flailing about frantically in the net.

Mia grinned from where she sat, reading a book by candlelight. "The great fishers Ivan and Isaac."

"You have a better idea?" Isaac asked with a smile.

"No," she smiled, turning the page. "It's far more interesting watching you two fumble around with that monstrous net."

"Well, at least we have dinner now," Ivan sighed, untangling the net and grabbing the fish.

"Alright," Isaac sighed. "Hey, Garet! You got that fruit?"

Garet hopped down from the raised stern of the ship, carrying a bucket filled to the brim with fruit. "Got it," he said, tossing a band of orange and brown beads back to Isaac. "Those bead Dora sent really have come in handy."

Isaac sighed, slipping it back over his wrist. "Yeah."

"So what's for dinner?" Garet asked, setting the bucket down and stepping toward them.

"We decided to go for a little change, tonight," Isaac grinned, nodding down.

"You caught guppies," Garet laughed, raising an eyebrow.

Ivan held one up. "It isn't that small. Ow!" he dropped the motionless fish with a start, staring at his finger as it began to bleed.

Mia rose, setting her book down to mark her place. "Watch the scales," she said as she pulled out her dagger and hurried toward them. "Gracious," she murmured, picking up the fish, beginning to gut and clean it. "You'd think you'd never caught a fish before."

The three looked at each other, before laughing nervously. "Yeah, imagine that," Isaac said.

"Yeah, Isaac and I have caught tons of fish before," Garet said with a shrug.

Mia glanced up at him. "So you know how to ready a fish for cooking."

Garet licked his lower lip thoughtfully. "Are you kidding?" he laughed, despite Isaac staring at him, wide-eyed. "Of course I do!"

"Good," she said, turning back to the fish. "Then you can help me."

Garet swallowed, looking at Isaac who was shaking his head. "Uh, okay," he murmured. "Sure… help you clean the fish…" He dropped to one knee, pulling out his dagger. Mia had already finished with the first fish, shaking the last of the ruby innards onto the deck as Garet's eyes widened. She set down the fillet, and glanced at Garet. "Alright. Let's see you do it."

Garet nodded. "Okay… first you, uh… pick up the fish," he said. "Then you…" He stared at the massive eyes of the fish in his hands, glanced over at Mia, already half-way finished with the second fish. She glanced at him, her eyes focused on him for a long time. She raised an eyebrow as he swallowed. "You don't have a bloody clue what you're doing, do you?"

Garet looked at her, smiling guiltily as she grabbed the fish from him, and began to gut it. She sighed. "Why don't you go get the pans in the lower cabin, be of some use?"

Garet's face fell. His mouth hung open as he stumbled to speak. "O-okay. I can do that."

"Then go get them, please," Mia said, finishing with the fish.

Garet gnawed on his lower lip, slowly nodding. "Fine. I'll be back."

Isaac watched his friend walk away, down toward the cabin. There was no limp, but his pride had been severely wounded. He nudged Ivan with his elbow. "Hey, why don't you go help him."

Ivan nodded, and scurried after Garet as Isaac leaned against the rail. He stared at Mia, her hands working quickly with the fish, almost entirely finished. "That was uncalled for."

"What was?"

"That," Isaac repeated, motioning to where Ivan was running.

Mia sighed. "I don't take kindly to liars," she murmured.

"He wasn't lying—"

"Then what was he doing, Isaac?" Mia asked, looking up. "He told me he knew how to gut and clean a fish."

"He was just trying to—"

"I don't care," Mia said flatly, finishing the last fish before calling up her water psynergy to rinse them and her hands. "Small lies lead to larger lies."

"Okay," Isaac said with a bitter laugh. "Now you're not talking about Garet, anymore… are you?"

Mia stared at him for a moment. She shook her head, wiping her soaked hands on her skirt. "I don't know what you're talking about—"

"Alex," Isaac said as she started away from him. He shifted his weight as Mia stopped dead in her tracks. "You're being rough with Garet because of what happened with you and Alex—"

"Alex was like my brother," she growled, rounding on him. "We grew up in the same home. His grandfather raised me, raised us… trained us. He was my closest friend."

"He was more than that," Isaac murmured softly.

Mia lifted her chin. "That is none of your business."

Isaac shook his head. "Look, Garet isn't a bad guy, alright? He might not be the sharpest sword in the shop, but he's got a heart of gold. He's just trying to watch out for us…" Isaac shrugged, sticking his hands in his pockets. "Mia, Garet… he—"

"I know," Mia sighed, facing the railing. "He's fond of me."

Isaac frowned. "You… you knew?"

Mia smiled, turning from where she stood. "You sound surprised."

Isaac chuckled nervously. "Oh, it's not that, it's just…" He shrugged. "I'm just curious to know how you figured…"

Mia laughed. "Isaac, even in my own culture when a boy has an obnoxious tendency of making a fool of himself whenever a certain girl approaches him, it typically means he is fond of her."

Isaac made a face, laughing. "Yeah, that… that pretty much hits the nail on the head, doesn't it?"

Mia grinned, turning her eyes to the ground.

Isaac shifted his weight slightly. "So… in your culture… how does a boy tell that a girl is…" He shrugged. "Fond of him? Is she obnoxious?"

"Oh, never," Mia said with laugh, eyes still on the ground watching her toe trace a lazy circle on the deck. "No, quite the opposite. She avoids this boy at all costs, because she is afraid if he comes too close, he might hear her heart racing… She is afraid to look into his eyes, because he might see the affection in hers. She is afraid to let him touch her hand, because he might feel her trembling." She glanced up. "She's afraid to be herself, because…" She swallowed hard, stepping toward him. "Because she may not be everything he wants her to be."

Isaac's pulse quickened as Mia suddenly bridged the gap between them. Their chests were touching, breathing soft and low. Mia's head tilted slightly and she leaned forward. Isaac stiffened as her lips passed over his, stayed on them for a long while. She moved closer, the heat of her suddenly overbearing as she kissed him again. Isaac broke away, taking in a shaky breath and stepping back.

Mia's eyes were open again, watching him as he took a few more precautionary steps backward.

Isaac shut his eyes tight for a moment, trying to stop his head from spinning. "Mia, I…" He looked at her. "I…"

Mia suddenly nodded, eyes on the ground again. "It's because of Jenna… isn't it?"

Isaac sighed. "Mia, I'm sorry..."

Mia shook her head, smiling sadly. She looked up at the sky, blinking several times. Her eyes were glistening. "Don't be," she said softly. She suddenly turned away, her hand frantically passing under her eyes. Her voice was soft and level, but her hands were trembling. "I'd… best be retiring for the evening… Goodnight, Isaac."

"Mia, wait," Isaac said, stepping toward her as she rushed away. His hand reached out for hers, but he grabbed only air. She ran into the cabin, shouldering past Garet and disappeared down the stairs, leaving Garet to fumbled for the pans she'd knocked from his arms. He stopped, turning around and calling her name down the stairs, but no reply came. Garet glanced up, walked to the door of the cabin, leaving the pans on the floor. He frowned at Isaac. "Is she okay? What happened?"

"I don't know," Isaac said. "One minute we were talking, and the next…" He shrugged helplessly.

Garet smiled slightly. "That's women for you."

Isaac sighed, running a hand through his blonde hair. "Yeah. Garet, I—"

The two suddenly stopped, turning to face the ocean.

Garet frowned, walked onto the deck. "D'you hear that?"

"Yeah," Isaac murmured. "Sounds like… like—"

"Like the river back home," Garet said stepping to the starboard side of the boat, looking out. "What is it?"

Isaac started toward him. "Maybe it's a whale."

Garet shook his head. "I don't think whales sound like that."

The two stared out onto the moonless sea, stars blinking up at them from the surface and sky. A dark cloud cut into the sky, rising over the entire horizon. The sound grew louder, louder, and the cloud became larger with every passing moment.

Garet frowned. "Do you s…" He squinted and grabbed for the telescope, holding it up against his eye. After a moment, he paled, looked at his companion.

"What?" Isaac asked.

Garet handed him the telescope, which Isaac promptly held up to his eye. His jaw dropped. "Oh, no."

(A/N: Cliff-hangers, love-triangles, plot twists… oh, how do I love thee? Let me counteth the ways.

But seriously, folks, I really do love to end on such notes. Of course, the curveball of this chapter was sending Piers/Picard into the mix. Sorry, I can't stand calling him Picard due to the fact that my next-door-neighbors are die-hard Star Trek fans. (I can't stand Star Trek. LONG LIVE STAR WARS!)

Well, I have a favor for everyone who reads. Even if all your review says is, "yup." Or, "sure." DOES THE SECTION INVOLVING PIERS AND HIS FAMILY MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL? I know at least one of you will get it, ie: Hiei17, because I've always planned to do a backstory on Piers. Before anyone jumps on me, in my opinion, Pier's is about 21 or so "real years." In Lemuria, 300 is not very old, though I'm sure everyone blinked several times to hear that. Hopefully I dropped enough hints in those sections for you to have a brief idea of what has happened, and more will be revealed as the story goes on.

As for the Lost Age Novel, it's coming. I'll probably post it in a few days. And if I don't, feel free to send me flowers and beg… or harass me… but flowers work better

Also, rumor has it, I can't review reviewers reviews here any more… (blinkblink) Wow, say that nine times fast. So if you want a reply, you'll have to sign in. This is the last chapter I will review r… well, you know.

Li the Twilight Knight: lol, don't worry about a thing. Alex will be joining us shortly… VERY shortly, in fact, since the tidal wave has just hit. In fact, he will be the first person to be featured in the next chapter. I love to hate Alex. It brings me so much joy! I'm thinking seriously I want to do a third story. I made a list of everything I have written that can be used. A few: Saturos and Menardi (what happened?), Anne's having a baby but she's also been possessed by a dragon spirit the Wise One forced upon them (so what effect might this having on the baby's alignment… or is it BABIES! GASP!), and a lovely plot twist with Piers. No he isn't evil! It's much better than that. AND, of course, my favorite twist; what was the hand Garet said he felt a top Mars Lighthouse? Why did he freak out, and why didn't anyone else feel anything? Yeah, now I get to let you mull over that for a while. I'll be over here, smiling evilly.

Chibby/libby: Don't worry, I giggled when I saw the new spellcheck button. Don't worry about keeping up. I'm more worried about ME being about to keep up! Hopefully this one goes a little faster than the last one.

TS: Unfortunately, you're right. They don't really care about Saturos' death, which really sucks, since Saturos is the bomb-diggety-yo. But yes, these two are going to have a really rough time.

Teschio: I'm glad my voice hasn't changed that much since the original. It is definitely a relief to hear that. There's just so much of a feeling to Prox that needs to be captured, and when I first started, I couldn't, which is why I went back and revised the first two chapters of TTOE first. I think maybe that's why it feels the same. I just hope it continues to feel the same. I'm going to be juggling four stories at once! Alex, Karst and Agatio, Isaac and Co., and Piers (to a point). Fortunately, Piers and Isaac's group get shifted to the GSLAN after a while, but that means readers will need to migrate.

Mia the Water Alchemist: I'm gonna take a shot in the dark and say Mia's one of your favorite characters. Hopefully I do her justice. I don't really like Mia that much, nor Garet, but they are growing on me. I don't have to like them, I just have to get them in character. Out of curiosity, which do you approve of? The Isaac-Mia pairing, or Garet-Mia pairing, because as of now, I've got no idea what I plan to do.

Shiny Milotic: They're such a pain to find! It kicks my butt every time! If I can catch one, I know just what to do, I just need to be able to. Maybe I'll just have to use a Master Ball, after all.

Xanda: I'm more inclined to Felix and Co., too. But this is a TTOEs story. Hmm… I wonder if when I do my sequel to the sequel if I'll do a TTOE for that… hmm. Actually, the more I write this, the more I wish I could just shove them both together. But they are both going to be so massive. I needed them to be separate projects. I PROMISE Felix's stuff will be coming up soon in GSLAN. It's almost ready.

Chibi Senshi of Saturn: GASP! My friends sometimes call me Kate! That makes us ALMOST sisters! Okay, total fangirl moment. Sorry about that. I'm glad you liked the original. (Gosh that feels good to say.) I hope you like the sequel (GOSH that feels good to say!) even more!

Hiei17: It is official. We need to set up a chat time for us. We'll figure something out. I've always kinda liked Ivan. I don't really like anyone else in the original group but him, because he's so young. Fourteen, and he goes through so much in so short a time. He has to grow up a lot, but everyone in the group definitely is overprotective of him. That'll really be brought out at Jupiter Lighthouse. I can't wait to write that scene in this story! Sure, it will be fun in GSLAN, but here, I get to do it through Isaac and Ivan's eyes and simultaneously through Agatio and Karst's. Meeting her sister's murderer. OH THE TENSION!

MoR: I'm glad I was able to do Isaac and Co. pretty well. They've got to be a really tight-knit group, especially with everything they've been through. I almost want to go back and do a first Golden Sun novel, but there are so many good ones. (nudgenudge…)

Noi: lol, I'm not a Mrs. Yet. Not by a long shot, but I'm glad my style sounds that mature. At least until the next scene with Garet in it. That's neat! Your friend recommended this to you? Wow. That sure makes me feel a lot better about myself. There are going to be some changes in TTOE, but if there are any major shifts, I'll make sure to make note there and here in this story.

Well, that's everyone. Once again, this is the last time I can reply to you here, so go get yourself an account, and sign your reviews! Or at least leave a forwarding address.

Well, expect the next chapter within the next two weeks, and expect Golden Sun: The Lost Age; A Novel to be posted in a few days. Ciao!)