I'm so sorry for the lateness of this chapter! I spent two days solid getting past a certain point (I blame unexpected visitors during the holidays – Rhiannon tried to kill me by taking me cycling!) Anyway, despite being late, I don't really like this chapter – there's a dream sequence in the middle which I like the idea of, but don't think I wrote it well enough!

I don't own Pokèmon, Tales of Symphonia, Final Fantasy X or any of their related characters…I do own Agorned, Nia, Aria, Aderyn, Pasqua, Latto and random filler background characters that aren't even named.

The family wound its way slowly up the lonely, desolate, windy range of hills named the Black Mountains. It had dark, near black, bracken growing in vast clumps on the hill, which they were either forced to skirt around or wade through. Aria assumed the bracken gave the mountain range its name, but her mother said the bracken hadn't always been that dark, and that the whole range of hills had been a dry, sandy straw-yellow.

Aria couldn't help but shiver at the strong mountain winds that seemed to penetrate all of her layers of clothes and steal her body's warmth. The wind bit at her skin with icy teeth, even with her attempts to hide behind her mother.

Led by Nia, they took narrow tarmac tracks and stepped gingerly over cattle grids, until Aria was perfectly sure that they were lost in the barren countryside. Occasionally, Nia stopped, listening to something inaudible to her daughter, then – presumably using whatever she'd heard – left the road to cut across stony, squelching fields. Aria was about to tell her mother that they were lost, and that they should turn back while they still had a vague sense of direction left, when a large grey bird dove from the skies above, landing on Nia's outstretched arm.

The bird gave a satisfied screech as Nia ran her fingers quickly over his feathers, checking for any injuries.

"You're right, you have almost healed," she told the bird. "Let's see how strong your wings are."

The raptor flapped its wings so powerfully that his body would have been lifted off its temporary perch if it weren't for his powerful talons gripping Nia's arm.

"Doesn't that hurt?" Aria wondered – the skin on her mother's arm looked taught under the bird's grip.

"Not really. I'm used to real pain – this is only a little discomfort."

"Can you lead us to the sanctuary, please? I need to talk to Aderyn."

The falcon flapped his way into the air, and although it took a lot of flapping and effort to get up there, once at a comfortable height, he could glide easily and almost effortlessly, with only the smallest movements of his wingtips and tail to steer.

They followed the bird up the rise until a few large wooden cabins came into view. Birds of all descriptions circled this place, landing on its roofs or thoughtfully placed perches. None of them seemed to be there against their own free will, despite there being many birds that would normally prey upon each other.

Nia rushed forward with barely contained excitement – she would finally be reunited with her own family…after all these years…

On of the cabin's doors opened, revealing a woman in her mid-eighties. She was quite lean, despite her age, with snow-white curly hair and piercing green eyes. She had the look of someone who had once looked very beautiful, and her face was refusing to lose those last few shreds of beauty. She smiled broadly, giving her granddaughter a firm hug.

"I'm back," Nia said weakly, returning the hug.

"I know. I…we all missed you."

When they broke apart, both Kratos and Aria felt awkward, not quite knowing what to do or say.

"You'd all better come in – this pollution can't be doing you much good."

While they all entered the smallest cabin without hesitation, Nia argued with this.

"I actually feel alright – I think I could survive here just by breathing with all the sulphur in the atmosphere. After all, it's flammable, so I don't need to refuel on other materials…"

"And what about everyone else?"

Kratos gave a small noise at this. "I stopped breathing within the first two minutes of being here."

Nia seemed to remember her place after that. "I'm so sorry! Kratos, Aria, this is Aderyn Jones, my grandmother. Grandma, this is Kratos, my husband, and Aria, our daughter."

"It's very nice to meet you both," the old woman said, showing no surprise at finding she had a great-granddaughter. "Aria, were you alright walking in this world?"

"I thought the air was disgusting in the first few seconds, but it got clearer… wait, you know we're from another world?" Aria asked, shocked.

Nia smiled. "I made a filter that allowed only a thirty odd percent oxygen mix in to her lungs, but kept out impurities. Not too difficult when I've been practising using my power over the air when Aria wouldn't notice," she said to her grandmother. Then, to her daughter, "She has the same powers over fire and air I do, including being able to travel between worlds."

"I haven't practised as well as you have, though, Nia. You are far stronger than I ever was at these things. I wouldn't have dared mess with the air for that long, especially air that was entering someone's lungs. I would have been too terrified to keep it up for longer than five minutes."

"Well, when life gives me a problem, I like to be able to sort it quickly and on my own," Nia said.

"Even though you don't have to deal with everything on your own," Kratos reminded her.

"I know…I still like to be independent, though."

"So, what have you been doing for all this time?"

"We've been happy. I never thought I'd get to say that, not at one point, where it looked like everyone was either dead or dying…where my friends were fighting against each other…" Nia cast a glance over at her husband, whom was obviously recalling the same events, as he winced. "But now…everything seems to be alright. It was a shock to come back and find that mum had d-died, but…it was an accident. No one was to blame. It was a…normal…death."

Aderyn nodded slowly, a sombre expression on her face. "At first, when I heard, I feared it was the Genwyns, despite you not being here, but there's no trace of them…"

"Unfortunately, we've found them. Or at least Naois – she's working at Aria's school. However, she doesn't seem to know about Aria, or isn't interested if she does know…" Nia trailed off, slightly uncertain.

"…and she's still going to that school?" Aderyn asked incredulously. "You can't be thinking it'd be safe for her?.."

" Aria wouldn't forgive me if I forced her to leave the school now. It's the most exclusive school where we live, definitely, but possibly in the whole of that world…she couldn't get a chance like this anywhere else. Besides, remember when you were fourteen? You – with only Stephen's granddad for any kind of help – had regular clashes with the Genwyn family, and you're still alive. So am I, come to think about it. She can look after herself – she's promised me."

"But you wouldn't put her in danger…not when it can be avoided…"

"It would seem more suspicious if Aria were to leave her school now," Kratos pointed out. All three of the females looked to him to explain.

"Currently, Aria has a place in an extremely good school. You can't buy a place in it; you have to have a certain level of ability. Once in that school, no parent would withdraw their child from there, and doing so would cause questions to be asked, correct?"

Aderyn shifted uncomfortably under this logic. "I won't say any more on the topic. Besides, I have some important things you should know."

An unsettling atmosphere fell over the family; they knew this would impact on them already, without knowing why.

"This world is dying. It was doomed from the second Stephen died."

"…Explain."

"The Jones family and Atkinson family exist to keep this world in balance. That is why we come into our powers naturally, at the age of twelve. Everyone has a power, yet it rarely awakens. And nobody, in any world has an elemental power, apart from our family."

"I know all this," Nia muttered impatiently. "Other worlds keep in balance through other methods. The world Aria was born in has the legendary dogs and birds, as well as the Regi's; Symphonia has its Summon Spirits; and Hyrule has its sages. There is a 'balance' for every single world in existence."

"Therefore, if one of the bloodlines that form the balance ends, then the world will die, from the chaos formed by the elements."

"Stephen may be dead, Grandma…but his bloodline isn't. He has a son."

"What? But he was only…"

"Fourteen, fifteen when he died."

"But…"

"I think it'd be a bit hypocritical of us to say anything," Nia muttered with a meaningful glare towards her grandmother – who was remarkably young for a great-grandmother…

"…So…there is still someone left of the Atkinsons?"

"Yes, he goes to school with Aria. Did you say his name was Haru?"

"Yes," Aria answered, before attempting – and failing – to stifle a large yawn.

"I think the second thing I wanted to talk about will have to wait – it looks like someone's getting sleepy," Aderyn said in a singsong voice.

Aria didn't bother to argue – noticing that outside, the sky was growing steadily darker – she just nodded instead.

"There's a small guest room down the hallway on the right. The bathroom's at the end of the corridor – no en suites, I'm afraid, but you'll just have to live with that," Aderyn told her great-granddaughter.

"No, that's fine. Thank you."

Aria wasn't allowed to escape to bed before receiving an awkward hug from her great-grandmother, then, she hugged her father and mother with earnest.

She was lying in a small, yet comfortable bed barely five minutes later, wondering to herself, and Draigas curled beside her, what would tomorrow bring? After all, this was a strange world that her mother called home…

The bed was extremely comfortable, and Aria felt she was going to sink into it. Then she realised that she wasn't sinking – she was flying. Flying high above a beautiful landscape she couldn't quite see…and above her, her mother and great-grandmother were flying too. She strained to get higher – to reach the rest of her family, but the more she tried, the more she fell. She plummeted to the ground, then through it, sinking towards a hot planet's core. She felt her dream self disintegrate under the intense heat – it was then that she realised that this was in fact a dream, yet try as she might, she couldn't wake up.

She became tiny fragments of molten lava and circled the world's core, now at peace with the terrific heat. She drifted up, out of the core, and for a second, feared she'd cool down and become rock in the many layers of the planet. Yet she kept drifting upwards until she was in the open air again, drifting across the wind. And she saw so much drifting as dust.

In a dilapidated shed, a girl with cat ears and a feline tail was trying to warm herself on a tiny fire made of sticks and dry leaves, with a Vulpix nestled against her and a kitten curled into her lap. Aria drifted on, to find a boy being injected with an unknown substance, and a shivering, terrified Eevee in a cage nearby.

She found a tall, lonely girl driven to solitude merely because there was no one else…yet, out of a hazy fog, a girl with her constant Poochyena companion relieved the loneliness. Then, a fish stood alone in a crowd of jeering people, a girl was separated by a prison of clouds…then, images began to flash faster.

A soulless girl, an injured boy, blood on hands, blood on skin…

Aria was crying – she wanted to wake up! Why couldn't she wake up?! Suddenly, she did wake, thanks to Draigas noticing her restless sleeping. Aria realised that she had been crying even as she awoke, and she held the dragon close to her. Everything felt like blood – when she closed her eyes, a crimson fog enveloped them. There was a slight smell of dry blood – she could almost taste it in the air. Aria shook with her tears, she couldn't even remember the dream, now its details were disappearing in her fully awake mind, but she knew it was drenched in misery and pain and she didn't ever want to sleep again, not if that's what she would dream…

All three adults seemed surprised to see her awake so early.

"The sun hasn't really risen, yet," Nia said gently, to explain their reactions.

"Mum, this world is just…odd…" Aria complained weakly.

Aria had decided to blame the nightmare on her location, in this world, as it made the most sense.

"Everything just feels dull and lifeless and dead here compared to home…it scares me."

"I know," her mother sighed sympathetically. "I always got the feeling that this world was crazy and…wrong, even before travelling to other worlds."

"Which brings us rather nicely to what I was trying to say last night," Aderyn interrupted. "The government is planning something. I'm not sure what, but there have been odd events lately. People disappearing, people that never existed appearing…of course, most people don't even notice this, as they rarely go outside, let alone find out what's happening in their neighbourhood. I've also been monitoring internal government messages."

"Grandma, when did you get all hi-tech? When I left, you didn't even have the Internet!" Nia asked in surprise.

"I just had to learn, like everyone else. Otherwise, you can't get a message to anyone these days. Anyway, take a look at this."

Aderyn handed a sheet of printed out paper to Nia, and Aria shot to her mother's side to read over her shoulder.

"Subjects received. Transportation to site five-zero-seven-nine imminent. Will send once confirmation is received…" Nia read. "This could mean anything, though…"

"Read this one before you dismiss me," Aderyn said firmly, handing another sheet of paper over.

"Resistance met during transportation. Subjects zero-five-nine to zero-six-eight terminated, also five civilians injured. Silencing needed for civilians."

"Terminated?" Aria asked with a shaking voice – Draigas had wound round her arm, squeezing gently to reassure her already scared trainer.

"…Killed…nine of them were killed…"

"Whatever they're doing – they want to keep it secret."

"But this could look a lot worse than it is…" Nia attempted to argue, but her own uncertainty showed in her voice.

"I saw Desian reports that were more comforting," Kratos said bluntly. "This has bad news written all over it."

"Desians?" Aria asked, confused, as she accepted the offer of toast for breakfast.

Nia took it upon herself to explain. "In your father's home world, they were an organization of…bad people…"

"That's a bit simple, isn't it? Categorising someone into good or bad so quickly…"

Nia sighed. "Well, they were a group of half-elves whom enslaved humans in order to produce power-enhancing stones. In their defence, they were horribly discriminated against by humans before, during and after this… In any case, we're losing sight of the current issue…"

"Even if we do establish what is going on, how are we going to stop it?" Kratos asked practically.

"With a bit of force, and some stealth," Aderyn answered, matter-of-factly.

It was then that Aria was perfectly sure: her whole family was crazy! She had barely woken up – from a terrifying dream, no less – and already they were on the subject of corrupt governments and an old age pensioner had got it into her head that she'd be the one to bring back justice. This was utter madness!

Aria sighed – she should have been ready for something like this from the moment that her mother revealed she was from another world…

"We need a location that we can actually recognise, to begin with," Kratos said tiredly – maybe Aria wasn't the only one to think this was mad…

"By hacking into multiple transmissions, I have the coordinates of the sites they're using tonight. One of them is the old quarry – remember, we used to walk the dogs up there…"

"Yes, I remember. It stopped being a quarry before I was born and it was made an area of special scientific interest. When I left, there was at least one peregrine falcon nesting there, and nature was slowly reclaiming the rocky soil…it was one of the few places that I liked here…" Nia said nostalgically.

"It was closed to the public two years ago, although no one noticed or complained – it was too far to go without needing a face mask from the nearest villages, so no one ever went there. Whatever they're planning happens at noon today…"

"Noon? But all this is happening in broad daylight…"

"Which, in these times, is just as safe and secret as midnight."

"We should intercept it – whatever they're trying to transport. Find out what's happening from the inside," Kratos suggested.

"It depends. We need to survey the place, first, and see what is possible to do."

Nia's logic shook Aria – she'd never heard her mother plan out things in this way. She had always been aware that her mother had had a life before she was born, but it was only now that she truly wondered what had happened during her life…

Aria ate a quick breakfast – Nia and Aderyn didn't eat, and Kratos chose not to – before setting off. It took them ten minutes to get to the ex-quarry, using an old, run down car that belonged to Aderyn. The ride down the bumpy mountain made Aria quite queasy – she was used to catching the bus from one side of the island to another, but her island was relatively flat, and the buses didn't attempt to go round narrow corners at break-neck speeds. They parked a short walk away, as parking right outside the quarry would definitely give them away.

It was far too quiet – birds, if they still lived here, didn't sing, and nothing dared to rustle the leaves of trees, not even the wind. This illustrated Aria's point about this world perfectly – it just seemed hollow, and dead. They came to a large metal mesh gate that blocked the path into the quarry.

First, Nia and Aderyn examined the gate, wondering if the best way in would be perhaps to melt the lock, or a patch in the mesh. They were reminded, though, that they wanted to remain unknown, and they'd have to repair the gate so it looked exactly the same as it did now. While this was easy enough for Nia, at least, it would take time, and this was something they didn't have a lot of, with two hours until the arrival time.

Five minutes of searching revealed a path through the bushes at the side of the fence.

"Some fortified entrance this is," Nia scoffed.

"Like I said, they wouldn't be expecting anyone to go poking around these days. And if they did, they'd take one look at the padlock and go. People are so close-minded these days, and with no resolve to finish what they start…"

Needless to say, they snuck in through the bushes, taking care to leave them as they were found so they didn't arouse any suspicions. Once inside, Nia tapped everyone's shoulders, and pointed at a camera built into the rock face. They should stay out of sight of that, and keep an eye out for any more. They crept along, using trees and rocks for cover.

Aria silently thanked her taste in clothes – she was comfortable, warm and wasn't going to trip over, which is more than most teenagers would be able to say if thrust into her situation. This was especially apparent when having to skirt around a small, shallow pond over some large boulders, while still staying small against the rock to stay hidden. Eventually, the path led to a large, circular rock face that reached up for ages – a very big and echoing dead end.

"Now what?" Aria whispered, and even her low whisper rang against the rock face.

"Follow and be quiet," her father intoned bluntly, giving Aria the impression that he was used to giving orders in harsh conditions.

They climbed part of the way up the rock face, Aria feeling very exposed and felt as if she were about to fall off the smooth surface with barely any handholds. They perched on a ledge hidden in shadow and hoped they wouldn't be seen. It seemed they were just in time – barely a minute after they'd scrambled up there, there was the loud noise of engines drawing closer. They sounded big, and when they drew into view, it was seen that the engines belonged to vast lorries.

The lorries reversed into the clearing, leaving very little clearance on either side. What room there might be to escape was guarded by figures dressed solely in black. They wore some form of plastic-looking armour over long black tops. Not an inch of their skin was exposed to the air; they wore great, black boots, leather gloves, a high-necked top, a mask over their lower faces, and what looked like a motorcycle helmet with a visor. The only way to distinguish them apart was height.

Apart from black, these figures wore a lot of weapons. A heavy looking gun was strapped to each of their backs, everyone of them carried smaller guns on holsters worn at the knee, hip and under the arm. Aria began to wonder how they managed to walk.

"Any major changes in warfare since I've been gone?" Nia asked her grandmother quietly.

"Still using bullets, as far as I know. They may be faster and more accurate than before, though."

"Thanks. I have a feeling we'll need to ambush them. Aria – stay here. I don't want you to move from this spot, got it?"

Aria was about to argue, but a glare from all three adults silenced her. They were probably going to pull the too young, too weak or too inexperienced card on her – she knew to keep her mouth shut. Besides, did she really want to volunteer to do something that could, very quickly, get her killed?

"Good. We'll be fine – we're used to things like this. You aren't. And the last thing we need is to be looking over our shoulders during a fight. You do understand, right?"

Aria nodded, she understood – she was useless, in this situation, at least, and if she forced herself to be useful, she'd only become a burden.

The backs of the lorries were being undone, and humans without facemasks were being forced out.

To Aria, the stench of blood thickened – without facemasks, these people would have serious damage to their lungs, if not die, within a couple of hours. Everyone of the people were trying hard not to cough, because it would draw attention to themselves. All of the people being offloaded were wearing casual clothing, and everyone had some form of large hat on their head, whether it was a headscarf, a newsboy cap or a turban.

One of the people gave into a fit of violent coughs, and the precariously balanced turban on his head fell to the floor, revealing a pair of cat-like ears – just like Ebony. Aria gasped in recognition of the feature, just as a gun was fired at the man. Everyone below screamed – yet Aria couldn't see where the bullet had penetrated. And then she noticed it, hovering barely five centimetres from his head. She knew – instinctively – that her mother had stopped it.

All three adults jumped off their perch, free-falling down to the ground below. They landed as softly as a feather – no doubt because of the two women's power over air. A fast and ferocious battle ensued – intense fire shot from one end of the rocky quarry to the other, the loud sounds of gunshots echoed around the stony walls, and those with cat-ears ducked to the ground, trying to find shelter from the fighting. But far more impressive than all of this was Kratos. He was moving so quickly; he was almost impossible to track, except if one kept their eyes on the flashing metal of his blade as he felled enemies in an instant.

The fight barely lasted a minute, but for that full minute, Aria was wide eyed at the ease in which her parent's dispatched the guards. Slowly, the cat-eared people lifted themselves off the ground, staring at Nia, Aderyn and Kratos.

The adults scanned the area quickly, in case of any more trouble, before deciding that it was safe.

"Aria, jump down," Nia said, in a tone that promised she'd be safe.

Aria knew she would be alright, having seen her parents do much the same thing, yet she could help looking down at the ground and shrinking back from the edge. However, something pushed her from behind, and she went flying forwards. Aria glared at Draigas – who had obviously pushed her. Draigas merely gave a dragon's grin back and enjoyed the flight.

Aria had to admit – she was enjoying this. She was falling far more slowly than her parents had, earlier, and landed, if anything, softer than they had. On landing, though, she could smell burnt flesh and blood.

"Mum!" she shouted, giving her a tearful hug.

"It's okay. I told you we'd be alright, didn't I?"

"You could have been hurt…"

"They were rather weak opponents," Kratos said.

"I had no idea you could fight like that, Dad…"

"I still stay in practice," he admitted.

But something plagued Aria's mind. "Why were they rounding up Neko-jin?" she wondered, and every one of the cat people flinched, including one who was putting his turban back on.

All the adults looked at Aria.

"You've come across one of us before?" a woman with soft brown hair and wearing pale blue clothes asked quietly.

"One of my friends at school," Aria mumbled shyly.

She was aware of all the eyes in the quarry on her, and she didn't like the attention.

"I suppose we owe you thanks, and an explanation," a handsome young man with bottle green ears and tail to the adults.

"No thanks are needed, although I have to admit I am curious to how you ended up like this…"

"The Neko-jin originate from Agorned, another world-"

"Why does everything seem to start with Agorned?" Nia wondered to herself.

"I'm sure you know that it was the Agornedians who first learnt to use their demons to travel between worlds. So, people from Agorned have been able to influence many worlds."

Nia nodded, as if this made sense to her. To Aria, though, it was yet another episode of her parent's confusing past, and she'd now given up trying to understand it all.

"Once, there were two races in Agorned, us, the Neko-jin, and humans. Our people were traditionally fishing people, although, in time, we became hired assassins. After all, we naturally possess good balance and agility, and brilliant eyesight in the dark. However, you can't be in a line of work like that without acquiring some enemies, and eventually, the majority of us were forced to leave Agorned. Those that were left lived peaceably, and did nothing to provoke the humans, some even going as far to fall in love with humans and start families among them.

"But for us, chased out of our home, we lived a nomadic life, together in groups. We would travel from world to world, living off the land and having as little contact with the native inhabitants as possible. And normally, there wasn't a problem. It was only in this world…we were captured, for no reason and brought here. Who knows what they'd have done to us, if you hadn't intervened …"

"On behalf of the people of this world, I am gravely sorry," Nia said solemnly. "I can only guess at why they've done this. My people tend to fear what they don't understand, and they've never seen Neko-jin before, my guess is that they wanted to study your anatomy to see how you are different…"

"Why would they need so many of us, though?"

"Again, they fear what they don't understand. They wouldn't let you go around unchecked, so they captured you all. I don't think you'll be safe in this world. I'd leave now, if I were you," Nia advised.

The man nodded. "Alright everyone – we'll meet up in world seventeen 'a', alright?"

Most of the cat people disappeared, but a couple stayed behind.

"The Neko-jin you know – what is her name?"

"Ebony," Aria said slowly.

"Must be my sister's child – she always did say she liked the name Ebony…" one of the Neko-jin said.

"If you're her family, how come she's all on her own?" Aria asked, with a quiet anger that she'd inherited from her mother.

"I don't know for sure. We lost my sister on the way through a particularly dangerous world, and we assumed she was dead. But she's the only one it could be… We don't know what's happened to her since then. Could you perhaps tell us where your friend is?"

"I don't think she'd like that," Aria insisted quietly. "To her, you look like you've abandoned her. I don't think she could forgive you, even if she knew the truth. And she's been looking after herself for so long – she doesn't want help. I'll pass on a message, if you want."

"Just tell her she's not alone, and that we'll wait in world seventeen 'a' for a few months. If she doesn't want to come…well, that's her choice."

"Excuse me," Nia interrupted. "What is world seventeen 'a'? I don't normally assign numbers and letters to worlds, and I'm not sure Ebony would understand."

"Oh, of course. It's known as Spira to its inhabitants, does that help?"

"Yes – hang on, how is Ebony meant to search Spira on her own? It's a big place…"

"She can follow her nose."

And with that, the reminder of the Neko-jin filed away.

"We'd better be heading home, too," Nia said with a sigh. "Otherwise Aria will never wake up in time for school tomorrow."

"Hey!" Aria protested, only to be ignored.

"Well, feel free to visit any time – you know where I live," Aderyn said, enveloping everyone – even Kratos – in a hug, in that way that only old people can seem to get away with.

Aria and her parents left reality and so ended a rather mixed and confusing weekend.

With my opening and ending ramblings, this has come to thirteen pages (over 5 thousand words…longest chapter!). Anyway, we're just about at the end of Aria's sequence! The next chapter will be very short – probably just a fluffy moment, maybe a small battle (any suggestions, send them in a review!)

Can you please review? The most disappointing thing for me is hearing that someone has read this, and then, when I ask him or her why I haven't had a review, they say 'I couldn't be bothered.' It's only an extra minute, if that, so please, make a stressed authoress happy!