Alone, Chapter 2

By Mr-Mikul, Sandshipper!

So this is a Chapter 2 of Alone, which focuses on Felix and what he thinks about Sheba after Jupiter is lit and Sheba tells everyone why she wanted to come along with Felix and co in the first place. I decided to do this after the first part was put onto a few peoples Alert Listings, and I had wanted to try it out a while ago so I came up with this part rather quickly.

So here we go with Felix's Chapter. Enjoy this chapter people.

It was a windy day on the continent of Atteka, and there was a winged ship departing for the frozen town of Prox. The legendary Jupiter Lighthouse had been lit, and the Adepts upon the ship were off to save Weyard from destruction. While most of the crew were lounging inside the ship, there was one adept that was outside thinking about recent events and a dear friend of his.

'Sheba… I hope you'll be ok.' Felix thought with a sigh. 'I know that you hoped to find out about your family here, but it's come to nothing. After being taken to Tolbi, being kidnapped, falling off of Venus Lighthouse as well as this, I'm surprised that you've somehow kept yourself going. You're usually a bright sneaky person that speaks her mind.' A small smile appeared on Felix's face. 'And you delight in causing trouble from time to time…'

Karst had just left Madra, vowing revenge on Isaac for the death of Menardi.

"There goes one obsessed woman." Piers commented.

"And I thought that Saturos and Menardi had issues. But now Isaac's life is in danger, and we can't exactly tell him about Karst." Sheba said.

"But why not" Piers asked, confusion showing on his face.

"Because Isaac and his friends want to stop us from lighting the beacons." Kraden said. "And they would likely fight us if it means stopping us."

"But Jenna… aren't you and Isaac an item? Couldn't you, do something, to convince him not to fight?" Sheba asked with a sly grin on her face.

"I-I… We're not an item Sheba! It's not like that!! Not… really." Jenna snapped with a blush forming on her face. "Stupid Sheba…" Sheba's grin only got bigger as Jenna couldn't hide the embarrassment on her face.

While Felix didn't say anything about it, he could only hide a smile as Sheba managed to get some…sensitive information out of Jenna. Jenna had told him that Isaac and her became close after Felix was taken to Prox, but he didn't know that they were that close. He knew that it wasn't his decision for who Jenna would fall for, but he knew that Isaac would be well suited for her.

'And you also tried to get Piers to tell us his age, although he managed to keep that one to himself.' Felix thought with a small laugh. He couldn't help but think back to when he had first met Sheba in the Suhalla Desert.

'It was like yesterday when I heard Menardi yelling at you, clearly not caring about what you were going through. I felt angry at Menardi because she had broken the promise that she and Saturos made, but I saw you and I felt sad for what you were being put through.'

'Despite the fact that you had been kidnapped again, we became friends quite quickly. We understood each other, rarely needing many words to tell each other how we were feeling. It really helped having an empathetic Jupiter Adept for a friend when I was troubled about my family and friends. I told her of why I was travelling with Saturos and Menardi, and she spoke about her own past.'

It was a late night just before Saturos and Menardi were going to make the climb up Venus Lighthouse, and Felix and Sheba were talking while said Mars Adepts were making sure that the surrounding area was safe for the group. Sheba wanted to know a bit more about Felix, so she started asking a couple of questions about him.

"So um, Felix, why are you here travelling with Saturos and Menardi? From what I see you're nothing like them." Sheba asked, with curiosity in her eyes. Felix looked a bit uneasy, not sure if he should tell Sheba why, he didn't want to burden her with his own problems. But there was also something about her. Something that told him he could tell Sheba why and that she would understand what he was going through. Felix took a breath and told her.

"I'm here because Saturos and Menardi saved my life three years ago, as well as my parent's lives, so I'm travelling with them to settle my debt to them. While my parents should be safe in Prox, they are being held hostage to ensure that I stay loyal to Saturos and Menardi. If I don't help them light the beacons, they'll be…" Felix stopped there, unable to think of what could happen if he failed. Sheba put a hand of hers on his arm. Felix turned to face her, and the look in her eyes showed that she knew what he was going through.

"You're worried about them, aren't you Felix?" Sheba said. Felix nodded.

"I am. While I know that they should be ok where they are, I worry sometimes that something might happen to them, something that has nothing to do with the people of Prox. It scares me Sheba." Sheba gave Felix a small smile.

"I understand how you feel Felix. I was taken away from my hometown of Lalivero by Babi of Tolbi, so that construction of the 'Babi Lighthouse' would not be delayed. It was a horrible time for me. I was worried sick about my foster parents. All I could do is hope each day that they'll be ok. I'm sure that your parents will be ok too Felix." Felix nodded uncertainly and kept speaking.

"On top of that, there are two childhood friends of mine that are chasing after us. They are trying to stop us from lighting the beacons. I'd rather not have to face them, but I fear that if we meet we'll be forced to fight. The beacons must be lit, and if it means I have to kill them, I will. But if I do that I-I… I'd…"

Again Felix didn't want to imagine what it would do to him, or what the death of Isaac would do to Jenna. Sheba felt the pain that was troubling Felix, and she did the only thing she could to comfort him. She gave him a hug as he half-sobbed about what how he would feel if he were forced to kill his childhood friends. She felt tears of her own fall as she remembered everything that had led her to that moment. Felix put an arm around Sheba, hanging on to the only thing that was of any comfort to him in his moment of despair.

'I'll never be able to forget the day when you fell off of Venus Lighthouse. It was the scariest moment of my life. I knew that jumping off the lighthouse could kill me; but I was determined to save you, no matter what would happen to me. You had been through so much already, I felt that you deserved to live and be happy again, so I came down after you…'

"NO! Sheba! Grab hold of my hand!" I strained to get my hand close enough so you could get up, but I just couldn't get there. Your grip was slipping and you were panicking.

"I CAN'T!!" I was scared that you might fall, if you didn't get up. You didn't deserve this. I could feel the fear and frustration building up inside of me.

"You have to TRY! You'll fall if you don't try harder!" You were losing part of your grip and you saw what was happening at the bottom of the lighthouse.

"Look below Felix, the foundations of the lighthouse are crumbling!!" I couldn't believe what I saw, it looked like the Lighthouse was ready to fall apart and become nothing but ruins upon a tortured landscape.

"Why is this happening? Is it to protect the lighthouse itself??" I saw that it wouldn't be long before you fell off, and you were crying.

"I'm slipping Felix, I-I can't hold on for much longer…" I couldn't bear to see you like that. I wanted to do more to save you, but I couldn't stretch any further without falling myself. I was crying at the thought of you dying.

"NO! Sheba, please don't do this, try and hold on, please don't die…" For some strange reason you smiled for me before letting go.

"Good-bye Felix and thank you. For everything…" I was confused for a moment, why would you thank me? I had broken my promise to protect you and failed to keep you safe from harm. But you fell after that. I yelled out;

"SHEBA! I WON'T LET YOU DIE!!" before desperation took over and I jumped off of the aerie in a mad attempt to save your life. I saw you reach for me and I reached out for you but I just couldn't get to you in time. You hit the water a few seconds before I did. Somehow I managed to survive the shock of diving into the water. I dived after you and pulled you up to the surface.

Thankfully the light of Venus Lighthouse was protecting me. I was still feeling the effects of the lit beacon, and I knew somehow that Idejima was floating towards us. I managed to swim there and bring us to shore, before exhaustion claimed me. Before I blacked out, I felt relief that you would be safe, that I had saved you from a fate that you didn't deserve…

'We were lucky that we both survived the fall. We started talking a bit more often to each other; although Jenna and Kraden didn't notice. We travelled all over Osenia. Our travels finally led us to Garoh after discovering the secrets of Airs Rock. We made friends with the clan leader, Maha. As thanks for what we told him, we were treated to some of their ceremonial music.'

"Brother, don't be such a stick in the mud!" Jenna complained.

"Jenna. We don't have the time. Between proving Piers' innocence, exploring Air's Rock, and making our way back to Madra, the whole tour has taken far too much time." Felix dryly replied.

"I'm with Jenna here Felix." Kraden mentioned. "I don't want to miss hearing a hidden society's ceremonial music that no one outside of this village has heard. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. Staying here some 30 minutes isn't going to hurt Felix."

"Yeah Felix, it's only 30 minutes, so can we please stay and hear the music?" Sheba pleaded, giving a 'puppy eyed' look at Felix, who somehow changed his mind. Felix knew he couldn't resist that look.

"Fine, we'll stay and listen to their ceremonial music, but this had better be good…" Felix grumbled as he sat down with the others as the music played.

30 minutes later on, the music stopped playing. Felix was sitting there, in silent awe of what he heard. Sheba had her eyes closed, listening to the song with her heart. Kraden was mulling over how the music he just heard compared to the music he had heard from other places. Jenna was on the verge of tears, the song reminding her of the friend that she should have been with if it weren't for Saturos and Menardi.

Kraden was the first to get up and speak.

"That… was the most moving song I've ever heard in my life." He said. Sheba nodded and spoke for herself as well as Felix.

"The music is so deep and moving. It makes me think of all the sad and lonely times that I've had. And it's the same for Felix here." Sheba commented. Felix simply nodded in agreement, wondering how she knew that.

"Yes, it makes me miss my friend Isaac, who I haven't seen in months even more than what I did before." Jenna said, wiping a tear away from her eye.

The elder who had led the playing of the music smiled a sad smile.

"Yes, it does make us think of how we are outcasts to the world, and that we are not like anyone else in Weyard. So we have to stick together." Her smile brightened a little. "But now because of you, we know that there are other people like us out there, with abilities and powers different from most people of Weyard. We thank you for showing us this. If you ever pass by, please do come visit us again, you will be welcome."

Felix's group bowed in thanks, mentioning that they would return when they could and then made their way out of Garoh.

'Hearing the music of Garoh reminded me that we both shared a bittersweet childhood. I finally saw why we understood each other so well. We were both outcasts and loners, just like the people of Garoh. I knew then that you had become a beloved friend to me because of that music. I still hear it in my dreams sometimes. If it weren't for you pleading to stay a while longer, I would have likely walked off on my own back to Madra. And I'd be a little less wise, not to mention hungry and lost.' Felix thought with a rueful smile on his face.

At this point Sheba had come out from inside the ship, hoping to find Felix. He was still lost in thought, so he didn't see Sheba come up to him.

"Felix, what are you doing out here? It's getting cold." Sheba asked; her eyes full of worry. Felix came back to reality, and turned to speak to Sheba.

"I've been thinking about what we've been through these last few months. It's been one massive adventure." Felix said. He took a breath before saying; "And I've been thinking about you. I've been worrying that you're still upset about not finding your blood family after we lit Jupiter Lighthouse... Are you going to be ok?" Sheba blushed slightly; touched by the concern in Felix's voice; but she didn't turn away. Sheba nodded before speaking.

"I think I will be. I've made many new friends on this journey, and I've seen so many new things over our adventure. It's somehow turned out better than I could have hoped. But then again I still don't know who my parents are… I thought that I'd finally know who they are… b-but it didn't happen." Sheba started sobbing, but she kept talking through the tears. "I just wanted to have a real family Felix…just to know that my real mother and father loved me. It isn't fair! It still hurts…" Felix brought a grieving Sheba into his arms, and did what he could to comfort her.

"I know how you feel in a way Sheba." Felix said, gently lifting her face so she could look into his eyes. "Before I found Jenna in Sol Sanctum, I was often worrying about where she was and if she was ok. I know the pain in not knowing about your family and if they're ok. It ate me up on the inside for a long time. But I'm here for you Sheba. No matter what it takes, I'll do my best to make sure that you're ok. I care about you to much to see you so sad." Felix gently rubbed Sheba's back as she kept crying.

"Thank you Felix, it means a lot to me to hear you say that. Please Felix, stay with me. I don't want to be alone again." Sheba said as she tightened her grip on Felix.

To his surprise, Felix could feel the pain that was hurting Sheba, just as she had felt his pain before Venus Lighthouse was lit. He also knew it was his turn to look after Sheba while she was grieving for the family that she may never know about. He also realised that his feelings for her were much deeper than what he could imagine.

'I never knew that seeing her smile meant so much to me, and that I could grow to love her.' Felix pondered as he enjoyed the warmth of Sheba being so close to him. 'If we somehow survive the trip to Mars Lighthouse, I'll ask her to stay with me in Vale.'

'I-I heard that Felix.' Sheba said in his mind. Felix looked at her in shock, wondering how this had happened without him knowing. But Sheba looked just as surprised as he was.

'But… how could you hear what I'm thinking Sheba? You weren't reading my mind when I was thinking of asking you to stay in Vale. I don't get it.' Felix thought. But he kept the conversation between them in his mind. It was strange, unusual. But it was comfortable at the same time.

'When you were feeling the pain that I felt, I could hear your thoughts without using mind read. Felix; I think that we've been sharing our emotions and our thoughts.' Sheba said in awe.

'But why is this happening to us now Sheba?' Felix asked.

'We've always been close.' Sheba said. 'We've never had to say much to understand each other. We've been through similar experiences, and we opened up to each other quickly. To me this just feels like the next step, bringing us a little bit closer.' Felix nodded, sensing the same thing that Sheba did.

'Perhaps the lighting of Jupiter Lighthouse had something to do with it. But…I want you to know Felix… I feel the same way about you. I'll come and stay with you in Vale when this adventure is over, and your family is safe.' Sheba said, a small smile forming on her face. 'Now let's go inside, it won't help us if you get a cold from staying outside for too long.' Felix could only return the smile Sheba gave him as he went below deck with the young woman that he had come to love.

Fin

Phew! It's 1:28am as I finished this chapter. I wanted to add the 'shared thoughts' bit at the end, as it makes the relationship between Felix and Sheba more empathetic. Felix and Sheba have both had sad and isolated childhoods, so they understand what the other person goes through. That is why I'm so fond of Lighthouseshipping/Sandshipping.

Read and Review if you like this chapter! Don't pass that review button by, I would like to know WHY you liked it!