This is a short chapter, but the next is going to be another long one. Sorry it took so long. We had some really, really bad weather and I haven't been able to get on. If you know where I am now, please don't stalk me.

Disclaimer: I don't own Storm Hawks, Nerd Corps does. Vanessa really owns most of the plot and Kezzywezzy25 owns some of it. I own my OCs.

Previously on Finding Perfection…

The Riders del Celio, not including Alejandro of course, team with the Storm Hawks to search for Alejandro. When they finally find him on an abandoned terra, he unveils that he is forming a plan, and the Dark Ace is involved.

I sat up and stared into the pond, worried. What did Alejandro mean by his plan? What did it have to do with Ace? Tears fell down my face. I felt so helpless. Ace was in trouble, and I couldn't help him.

"There is hope." A gentle voice said. I looked up to see a lady dressed all in white. It was Curia.

"Curia! What do you mean there's hope?" I asked.

"Don't you remember when Ace was falling to the wastelands and that mysterious light saved him?" Curia asked.

"Of course. I don't think I'll ever forget that. I thought I was going to lose him…" I said, looking down sadly.

"Do you know what that light was?" Curia asked.

"No… Was it you?" I asked.

"No. It was you."

"Me? But I was watching the entire thing!"

"It was your care for him. You had such a strong will to keep him alive that the Land of the Deceased reflected that will. This is the only land where those who have passed can still communicate with the living world. You can even affect it if the will is strong enough." Curia said. (A/N: I know its cheesy! Be nice!)

"So you're saying that, if I keep an eye on him, I may be able to save Ace?" I asked.

"Yes. You're a smart girl, but watch out for Nicosia…"

"Sister! You are not welcome here!" Nicosia's voice rang through the air.

"Hide, Alexis! Keep yourself safe so you can help Ace when the time comes. I believe that Alejandro plans to…" Curia suddenly vanished.

"What? Curia, wait! Alejandro plans to what?" I called.

"Hide, Alexis! Stay safe!" I sighed and quickly ran away. Curia would have to wait. I ran into town and knocked desperately on someone's door.

The door slowly opened and a woman peered out. "What do you want?" She asked timidly.

"I need a place to hide…" I began.

"Wait. You're that Alexis girl. Nicosia warned us about you! She said that if we were seen with you, horrible things would happen! You must leave now!" The woman told me.

"What? Please, she's after me…"

"Get away from my home now! Nicosia!" The woman screamed. Her shriek was like a banshee. The town was crumbling apart. I screamed in fright and ran back to the woods.

"Where is she?" I heard Nicosia demanding.

"She ran into the woods."

"Why didn't you hold her here?"

"You said horrible things would happen if we were seen with her."

"Fool!" Nicosia screamed. I closed my eyes and dropped to my knees behind a tree when I heard the woman's blood curdling scream. I tried covering my ears, but it didn't block out the horrible sound.

After it finally stopped, I quietly set out in the woods. I kept a watch over my surroundings. Nicosia couldn't find me or Ace would be doomed… I think. I didn't really know the plan, but just in case! I heard some leaves shudder and his behind a tree.

I stayed for a couple of minutes and Nicosia almost silently floated by. I held my breath. She paused a few feet from my hiding place. "I can sense you, Alexis. Come out and I'll make your boyfriends death painless."

I almost yelled out. They're going to kill him! Why? Nicosia slowly moved on. I wasn't stupid. I waited until I was sure she was gone. I stepped out. Where was my next demon? If I faced it, I could hide out near the Pond of the Living until Alejandro got to Ace. I wouldn't have to worry about anything.

I traveled through the forest, keeping an eye out for Nicosia. I was looking behind me when I ran into someone. "No." I whispered, turning to face Nicosia. Wait… It wasn't Nicosia. I sighed in relief. It was Alejandro. He was my next demon?

The demon looked at me expectantly. "Um… Alejandro. I know your plan. I just want to say… please. Please, please, please don't do it. I can forgive you for killing me. You thought you were doing the right thing. I will never forgive you if you kill Ace. Don't. I'm begging you. All will be forgiven as long as you don't kill Ace."

"The message will be sent." The demon unexpectedly cut me off and disappeared.

"What…?"

"Alexis." I turned to face the direction that the angry hiss had come from. It was Nicosia. I stepped back, but Nicosia raised her hand and created a boundary around us. I couldn't escape.

"What do you want?" I demanded.

"Don't try to save the Dark Ace." She said.

"Why would I not try to save him?" I exclaimed in disbelief.

"His death will be painless and then he'll be with you. I'll even shorten his sentence so that you can leave together. You'll be together for the rest of your life." Nicosia promised.

"It wouldn't be the same. We'd never be able to go to Terra Neon, where we had our first kiss. We'd never revisit Terra Perfection. I'd never see the Storm Hawks again." I listed.

"You don't need all that material stuff. It will… disguise your love for one another." Nicosia said.

I snorted and said, "Disguise our love? Why are you so desperate to keep me here anyway? Tell the truth." I commanded.

"Fine. There's no harm in you knowing. The more people in the Land of the Deceased, whether they're still here or not, the more power I have. If they get their lives back, I lose some of my power. Once I get enough power from here, I'll be able to take over the Land of the Living as well. You won't have to worry about that, my dear. You and the Dark Ace will be long gone by then. So what do you say? Truce?" She asked.

"No! The people here are terrified of you! Is that how you plan to rule? If the Atmosians won't bow down to Master Cyclonis, they won't bow down to you." I told her.

"Why do you care?" Nicosia demanded.

"I'm not a witch. I'm a caring person." I hissed.

"Well, it's going to happen whether you want it to or not. This will be a lot easier if you just accept it."

"I don't have to accept anything!" I cried.

"Yes, you have a lot to accept." Nicosia told me.

"Name something."

"You have to accept that you're dead." Nicosia said.

I frowned and said, "List two more."

"You have to accept that the Dark Ace is going to die, and that you're not going back to your life on earth." Nicosia said.

My frown deepened as I said, "One more."

"I'm going to take over the living world, no matter who tries to stop me." Nicosia said.

"Dammit!" I cried as she smirked at the enormous "burn" she had just inflicted upon me.

Nicosia began to lead me away. "Why can't I go to the Pond of the Living?" I asked her.

"You don't want to watch the Dark Ace die, do you? The death of a loved one is such a horrible thing to see." Nicosia told me.

"I want to make sure that Alejandro does it painlessly, like you promised! If he does… I won't bother you anymore. Ace and I will leave and we'll be out of your hair. You'll be free to rule." I told her, hanging my head in shame.

"Trust me. It will be painless."

"Why should I trust you?"

"You shouldn't!" A voice warned. I turned, as did Nicosia.

"Sister. I've been searching for you for many years." Nicosia hissed to Curia.

Curia calmly held up a hand and light radiated from it. Nicosia hissed and covered her eyes. "Run, Alexis! The Pond of the Living is protected! Go there!" Curia yelled to me.

"What about you?" I asked.

"I'll be okay. Just go! Atmos needs you! Stop Nicosia's plan!" I nodded frantically and ran through the woods. There was a bright flash behind me, then silence.

I broke through to the Pond of the Living and broke into sobs. "I've gotten two people eternally punished today. First that woman and now the only person who has ever helped me here. Curia." I continued to sob.

I was safe here. Curia said so. I was safe to rest. I took a deep breath, calming myself. I promised Curia that I would stop Nicosia, and that's exactly what I planned to do. I crossed to the Pond of the Living and said, "Show me Alejandro."

5 reviews- June 8th

4 reviews- June 22nd

3 reviews- July 6th

2 reviews- July 20th

1 review- August 3rd

The wait times got longer because I don't know when I'll be around a computer next. Five reviews is that date or earlier and I'll usually update immediately when I get six reviews.