February 5th, 1974

:This is going to be so much fun!: Angelique bubbled as she stared in the mirror between two of the bunk beds, carefully applying mascara to her already thick, dark eyelashes, her colorful red floral knee-length dress swishing a little.

Minxia, sitting on Angelique's bottom bunk, did not roll her eyes, but she did smile. :You just like the excuse to dress up,: she teased her roommate.

:And why not?: Angelique asked. :How often do we get to go to a luau on a beach in ancient ruins… full of cute boys?:

:This would be a first,: Minxia admitted, and she wasn't at all against the idea really, even if she wasn't interested in flirting with the college boys that were much more likely who Angelique was hoping to flirt with even though she had to know she didn't have a chance of catching their attention at her age. :Though I think I'm looking forward to the dancing more.: She had heard that the music was supposed to be fabulous, and the food too, though that wasn't as much of an interest to her as the culture.

:Well yes, that too,: Angelique grinned, and a couple of the other girls giggled. :Oh, please, Minx. I know you're dying to dance with *someone.*:

:Who, Grandpa Al?: Minxia quipped in reply.

:Well if you want to,: Angelique shrugged. :I meant Thrakos.:

:Is it a crime to dance with your friends?: Minxia asked flatly, a twinge of irritation at Angelique's implicative tone.

:It is if you're not romantically interested in the single, very attractive son of the President,: Angelique replied as if this much should be obvious.

:I don't care who his family is any more than he cares who mine is,: Minxia replied. :After all, Mom's a Xingese princess. So what's the big deal?:

:Yeah, you really don't get it.: Angelique didn't mean to be mean but, as Minxia realized from time to time, her best friend didn't really get it either, because while her family was well off, a lot of it was based on business, not birthright. If not for the marriage contract that had declared that Minxia and her siblings were out of the line of succession unless something happened to all of her cousins first, than she would also be a princess in more than lineage. But, that had little to nothing to do with her everyday life, and likely never would.

But Thrakos was one of her few friends who really did get it, even though his family wasn't technically any kind of royalty. But his father was President, and his grandfather had once been President, even with someone in between, so he had a better idea than anyone else.

:It's just about having fun,: Minxia pointed out. :Besides, Thrakos has been drooling over Rakaela just like all the other boys.: This did put a sour note on her thoughts again just because it bugged her. She did think Thrakos was cute, and friendly, and fun to be around even when he was aggravating. She also thought he was better than acting as much of a fool as he looked inclined to be on this trip. What was up with boys anyway?

:There is that.: Angelique looked less pleased by this proposition, but not for long, as she finished and straightened up. :Well, let's go!:

Minxia followed Angelique and the others out and down towards the beach, where –under a group of palm trees, she could see a fire pit, lots of torches, tables, and hear the sound of large drums already beating a catchy rhythm. This particular night was meant to be part of the field trip, but it was not technically part of the dig, unless you counted the fact that everyone taking part was part of the dig, with the true locals doing the music, the dancing, and the cooking too.

She had to admit when they got there, that there were an awful lot of good looking men –of a wide variety of ages- sitting around mostly in Cretan shorts and maybe a t-shirt. All that digging did not make for lazy, out of shape men. In comparison, some of their classmates did seem a little lacking, though none of them were bad looking themselves either. But she knew that much from physical education.

:There you are girls!: Rakaela was beaming at them, and Minxia noted for the first time that the older girl, along with the other few women on the dig, were wearing long, loosely woven skirts over their swimsuits and sun dresses. :It's time for a dance lesson. Who's in?:

A swarm of girls surged forward, and even Minxia had to admit her interest was piqued, especially when she realized that Grandma Elicia was with the other women. :I didn't know you knew how to dance like this,: she commented to her Grandmother.

:I don't,: Elicia chuckled. :But Winry did the last time she and Ed came on vacation, and she said it was a blast.:

Well, wow. Minxia grinned and stepped up between Angelique and her grandmother, and just hoped she didn't make a fool out of herself, trying to shake her hips like that and not look stupid. She wasn't nearly as curvy as some of her classmates, and she knew that would make a difference.

The boys seemed far more interested in trying out the huge drums than the traditional dancing, not that Minxia was at all surprised and really, she was relieved. At the moment they weren't really watching the girls except with the occasional glance of amusement.

Or at least, they weren't paying that much attention until the girls had finished being taught basic individual moves, and Rakaela called out :Hit it!: And the three experienced drummers started in, and Minxia swallowed her nerves and followed along, just hoping she didn't look stupid. She wasn't uncoordinated, but this was a lot more… feminine, than what she was used to doing, especially in public. Being a generally trendy dresser did not make her flashy!

Thankfully there was no whistling or calling out from the guys, though when they finished she understood why; Grandpa Al was standing off to one side, eyeing the boys dangerously, as if just daring them to say anything even remotely inappropriate about their classmates.

Minxia made a mental note to kiss her Grandpa later.

:And now,: Paulo called out. :Let's eat!:

It was immediately evident to Minxia why the dance lessons had been before the meal; there was a huge pit-roast pig, stuffed with now well-cooked fruits and local vegetables, and the whole thing was delicious.

:I don't see how anyone's going to be able to move to do any more dancing,: she commented jokingly to Thrakos, as they sat a bit later, sprawled on beach towels licking ice cream cones.

Thrakos groaned in agreement, but he grinned. :Oh we'll find it somewhere. After all, they promised more normal dance music later. One of the guys here apparently plays a mean guitar and knows a lot of rock songs.:

Indeed, it wasn't long before the festivities had turned into a much more typical teenage dance party.

Not that Minxia particularly felt like dancing. Neither did Thrakos apparently, since he didn't budge from the towel beside hers through the first two songs.
:Not in a dancing mood?: she finally asked him.

:Not really,: he admitted with a chuckle. :Hey, some of the guys and I found this awesome tide pool earlier. You want to see? It should still be there. Tide's out.:

:Sure!: That sounded far more fun than watching Angelique trying to flirt with older men, or dancing the rest of their class into the ground. She stood up and followed Thrakos as they cut out of the circle of light, through the trees, and out the other side onto an expanse of beach that ran along the ever-rising cliff that the remains of the city went half-way up, instead of where they plummeted into the ocean's depths.

Minxia followed Thrakos over several rocky places, until a few minutes later, when a shallow expanse, maybe three feet deep, spread out before her in the rocks and sand. In the bright moonlight, she could see several sea creatures moving through the surprisingly clear water. :This is fabulous!: She dropped down on her stomach and peered over the edge, getting a good view of the animals in the water. There were starfish, and a small sea urchin. :Oh, look, a jellyfish!:

:Hey, Minx?:

:What?: she asked, resisting the urge to touch the jellyfish. :It's just a little one, and it's not even one of the aggressive ones.:

:I wasn't talking about the jellyfish.:

:Then what do you want?: Minxia sat up and turned to look over her shoulder, to find that Thrakos had crouched down beside her, but he wasn't looking at the water. His eyes were boring straight into hers with a surprisingly intense gaze. Her stomach flipped, and she realized then that they were all alone on that stretch of beach and she could barely hear the music in the distance, it was overwhelmed by the sound of the surf.

Thrakos swallowed and his eyes flicked elsewhere for a moment before he looked back at her, his expression far more normal, if slightly awkward. :I ah… well I wanted to talk to you about… something. But I don't want to make things awkward so-:

A moment later his lips were on hers and Minxia had stopped breathing. Kissing? They were kissing! She was cognizant only of that for a moment, and then that he tasted like pineapple and soda, and he was warm, and she had to grab him to keep from falling over into the pool of water in surprise.

It lasted only seconds, but as soon as it broke, Minxia stared up at him, and Thrakos looked as stunned by his impulsive actions as she was. He almost dropped her as he sat back and she let go. :I ah… so much for not making things weird.:

:I'll say.: Minxia sat up on her knees and turned to face him, trying to ignore the heavy pounding of her heart. :Want to tell me why?:

:Why? Isn't that obvious?: Thrakos looked nonplussed. :I like you, Minx. You're fun, and pretty, and easy to get along with. I mean, we're already friends it's just… it's so easy with you.:

Easy? :Just what does that mean?:

Thrakos blushed in the moonlight but went on, flustered. :I mean it's just… natural. It's so easy to talk to you, and I can figure you out. I know what you're going to think of something usually, or what you'll say, and you don't confuse me or play games like other girls. I mean, I can say something completely innocuous and it'll set Angelique off. But you… you're not like that. You're already one of my best friends. I just… I feel like maybe there's more to it on my end. I was… I was hoping maybe you liked me back, you know, as more than just a guy. But," he rambled on, not giving her room to cut in edgewise, "I don't want things to get weird, or different or… complicated. I mean, I like what we have. I just thought we could build on that, cause I like that it's different, and easy, and not…:

:Full of bad teen drama?: Minxia suggested, finding her tongue at last.

Thrakos blinked, then he chuckled, looking a little relieved. :Yeah, basically. So, what do you say? Will you go out with me? You know, as more than friends?:

Minxia looked up into those dark eyes, that good looking face… and smacked him hard with the palm of her hand.

:Oww! What was that for?: Thrakos' own hand flew to his face, eyes watering as he stared at her in disbelief.

:If you like me, why the heck have you been staring at Rakaela ever since we got here?: Minxia stared him in the eyes, daring him to try and weasel out of that one.

:Because I was trying not to stare at you!: he retorted, sounding hurt and exasperated. :I didn't want to be, you know, too obvious in public. In case you didn't like me… like that. And because I'm male… and stupid.: The last one was almost a question.

:At least you're honest,: Minxia finally grumbled begrudgingly. :And yes, you're definitely male and stupid,: she added for good measure. Inside though, everything was running a mile a minute. Thrakos liked her? He liked her! :But… yeah, I do like you,: she finally admitted, more softly.

:You do?: Thrakos' face lit up with relief and Minxia was glad to see that the mark on his face from her slap seemed to be fading quickly. She hadn't been trying to do real damage after all.

:Like you said,: she smiled. :It's easy, and I don't really want things to change much either." She leaned forward and slid her arms around his neck. :But this… this I could get used to.: And she leaned in closer and kissed him again.

Aldon nearly threw the paper into the fireplace as he wadded it up. He did pitch it across the room. However, it missed the fire and bounced across the floor, where it rolled up against a fuzzy sock covered foot.

"More bad news?" Cassie asked, her tone gentle as she came and sat down next to him on the couch.

"More bad political opinion columns," Aldon admitted with a growl. "Who believes all this trash anyway? I haven't said a word against Ron outside of professional policy and position debates. So where is all this slander coming from anyway?" He had thought that he and Cassie were well liked, certainly he couldn't think of anyone in Resembool he'd count as an antagonist. Until now. "I certainly haven't insulted his wife's clothing."

"Did it say that?" Cassie looked startled and almost reached for the paper.

"Don't bother," Aldon stayed her with a hand on her shoulder, and then pulled her close against his side, needing her calming influence before his temper got the better of him. "It's all misdirection, rumor, opinion… nothing factual at all, and they don't want to talk about the real facts anywhere in that paper lately." He was beginning to consider cancelling their subscription, except the kids still enjoyed the weekend comics section, and he did like the news, when it wasn't ripping him apart over things that had never happened. Worse was when there were statements attacking Cassie. Those he couldn't stand. He didn't want to tell her that the comments about insulting Marilla Causworth's clothes had been about her.

Apparently he didn't have to. Cassie ran her hand along his arm. "Anyone who matters knows better, Don. This is Resembool. We know almost everyone in the area. Only new folks, or folks who don't know us are going to believe anything at all outside the truth. Don't let it bother you. A few rabble rousers aren't going to change the opinions of an entire town. Especially not one as stubborn as this one."

"Even when what they say is all over the papers?" Aldon growled, but he let himself be placated. Her hands felt good.

"Even then," Cassie snuggled against him and then kissed his cheek. "The harder they argue against you, the more scared they obviously are, whoever they are."

Aldon sighed. "I know. I just… what does Rilla have against you anyway?" That was what he didn't get. He hadn't thought the women really knew each other much, let alone had reason to disagree before this.

"I think she just wants to be the wife of the mayor." Cassie shrugged. "She cares about power and positioning, and I don't think she really 'gets' this country life."

"And you don't want to be the wife of the mayor?"

Cassie chuckled. "I'm already your wife, whether you're mayor or not. And that's all I need."

February 6th, 1974

:So how was it?: Angelique whispered for the thousandth time that morning, only this time Minxia could not pretend to ignore her, since they were mostly alone on their little spot of the dock, putting on their gear before climbing on the boat to go out to the dive site.

:Oh about eight inches long... and really wet,: Minxia retorted as she slipped on her swim fins.

Angelique's expression was worth it. :Eww!:

:Get your mind out of the gutter, Angelique. It was a jellyfish.: Minxia rolled her eyes, and hoped her friend would drop the subject, even though she knew realistically that wasn't going to happen. Ever since she and Thrakos had returned to the party the night before, Angelique had been watching them, and she had been bugging Minxia for details ever since.

:I wasn't asking about what you said you saw in that tidal pool!: Angelique whispered though if she had been speaking louder it would have been more of a wail of impatience at being thwarted. :You kissed! I know it. Now tell me, how was it? Are you guys dating now? What's going on?:

:All right everyone!: Alphonse shouted from the ramp from the dock to the ship. :Get on board! The ruins won't wait forever.:

There was a chorus of good natured groans from the students going on today's dive. Not everyone was going at once, but the lucky ones had to face it by getting up early after the previous night's entertainment.

Minxia had never been happier to be interrupted by her grandfather during a private conversation. She stood up and made her way onto the boat. Keeping things private for a while was going to be much tougher than she had thought. She just hoped her friend would stop hounding her, or she would succeed in making things weirder!

So far, this morning, the only thing weird to Minxia was how normal things were. Thrakos had been himself at breakfast. And other than a couple of glances she had caught, and the fact he didn't avert his eyes –and he hadn't been staring at Rakaela's chest across the room- he was just himself, and they had joked at the table as usual.

If not for those couple of glances, she might have thought kissing him last night under the moon by the tide pool a figment of a very overactive imagination.

It only took a few minutes to get everyone on board, given only ten of the twenty students and Grandpa Al were going on this particular trip. And they were going out on the boat with Paoulo and one of the other archaeologists, Arrus Xanthas, who was also their diving expert, which made for a crew of only thirteen people.

As the small ship, powered by motor and big enough to fit them all with relative ease on the decks and in chairs, moved out over the waves, Minxia settled down in a seat near the prow, where she could see easily where they were going, even if it meant getting hit with salty spray.

Someone moved in close beside her, and she almost told them to get their own space, when she saw that it was Thrakos. Instead, she edged over to make a little more room. :Incredible, isn't it?: she asked, having to talk a bit louder to be heard over the motor thrumming beneath them and the surge of the sea and the wind whipping past.

:I like boats,: Thrakos grinned but he shrugged. :Remind me to take you out on ours sometime if you like the sea this much.:

Minxia could only imagine what the Argyros family boat looked like. :Where do you go sailing?: she asked curiously. It wasn't something Thrakos had spoken of before.

:It's usually in dock at Pylos, so we could go on a weekend,: Thrakos explained as he made the offer. :We've got some smaller sailing craft inland, for lake and river enjoyment, but I think you'd like the yacht.:

:I'd offer to take you on my uncle's yacht, but Xing is pretty far from here,: Minxia returned with a teasing smile.

Thrakos' tan cheeks reddened slightly. :Sorry. Bragging?:

:Not really.: Minxia dared to give his hand a small squeeze. No one else was close enough to hear, and most of them seemed to be talking amongst themselves, watching the ocean, and otherwise not paying attention. Even Grandpa was talking to Arrus, who was driving the boat.

:Oh good.: Thrakos returned the squeeze and looked slightly relieved, as if it was an affirmation that he hadn't imagined last night either. It was enough for them both.

After about twenty minutes of sailing out to sea and a bit south, Damon cut the engine on the boat and had the boys help heft the anchor. :All right,: he spoke up and everyone finally got quiet, eager anticipation stilling even the chattiest teenage tongues. :You've all passed the basic safety and knowledge tests. We're going to be staying in a reasonably well-defined area. We're currently at anchor right above the largest pillar in the ruins below. It's an easy landmark to find.:

:Even underwater?: Shaun, one of their classmates, called out with a laugh.

Arrus nodded, not looking particularly amused. :You will choose a partner, and stick with your diving partner at all times. One of us, either Paoulo or myself, will be here with the boat at all times. If you have a problem, surface if you can. If not, signal.:

Minxia hoped they wouldn't need the waterproof signal lights they all had on them. She looked at Thrakos, whose grin said he had no intention of buddying up with anybody else.

Fortunately no one seemed to find this at all odd. Though Minxia was sure Grandpa Al was giving them occasional sidelong glances. Minxia purposefully ignored them and worried about her mask, air tank, and hoses. When she and Thrakos had checked each other's equipment and their own, they waited their turn to enter the water.

Minxia braced –more emotionally than physically- for her first dive in deep open water. But the moment the water closed over her head, and she opened her eyes, and started breathing properly through her mask, the entire world outside her limited field of vision was too fascinating to worry about being nervous.

She hadn't quite grasped just how big Malathos had been, especially for an ancient city. Even knowing they were diving at the farthest outreach of the city –what had once been the beach front property- did not make it any less impressive. The columns here were huge, as if they had held up the sky more than buildings. There was an amphitheater in the distance, though she did not think swimming that far from the boat would be wise. She looked up, and through the mottled blue-green and moving splotches of light and dark, she could see the boat as a distorted blur on top of the water, and the anchor hanging down to the sand and silt below, right next to the largest pillar, as promised.

Minxia was in a hurry and yet she wanted everything to last forever, so she could have time to see it all without rushing. She and Thrakos wove their way through a small sea of columns and down to the old submerged road bed leading down the main thoroughfare of Malathos, the long road that had curved from the top of the hill on which they had been digging, in a slow curve northward, then westward as it stepped down the long gone hills and into the sea, and all the way down here, to what had once been a district of merchant's stalls and entertainments.

Oh my gosh! She almost squealed aloud as a shadow drifted past below, and Minxia realized she was looking at a shark. She glanced around sharply for Thrakos, who was also watching the shark. He met her eyes, and he looked like he was smiling.

Minxia looked down again, and realized the shark was skirting the ocean floor, and there was more than one of them, but they were staying low. She tried to think about what she knew of the sharks here, and realized that they were almost certainly nurse sharks.

Certainly if they were more dangerous Thrakos would look worried. Instead, he took her hand and swam downwards.
Heart pounding in her ears, Minxia followed him down, grateful that he didn't take her too close. They stopped far enough above them that the sharks did not seem bothered by their presence.

Minxia couldn't stop smiling as she watched a small swarm of baby sharks following a mother nurse shark around. They swam through the ruins as naturally as if they had always lived there. Of course, she thought to herself, these sharks always had. They had no way of remembering when this area was land, inhabited by people instead of fish.

There were several other schools of fish sailing between the kelp beds and the pillars, some down low, others out in open water.
The sheer amount of life under the ocean continued to impress her.

A flash in the water caught her attention, and she and Thrakos looked to their left, where she could see Grandpa Al using a mirror as a signal. It was a prearranged signal, and the two students swam towards it to the gathering point.

As they approached, Minxia wondered what specifically her grandfather wanted them all to look at, given he couldn't exactly give an educational lecture underwater. Though she smiled at the idea of watching him try.

What they found was the first of the underwater excavation areas; a building whose roof had been broken centuries back, likely in the initial destruction of the city. Yet the piles of stones beside it were far too well organized, and clear of debris and growth, to have naturally moved that way. Clearly they had moved recently. Minxia could see immediately why they had started here as well, when they swam down into the interior which was, thankfully, shark free.

There were several large rooms but the primary one, which appeared to have had a vaulted ceiling, and several antechambers, appeared almost to be a miniature palace. Minxia began to wonder, as she realized the layout was not unlike the one studied in their book that covered the larger palace, still up at the top of the hill, if this was where the kings of Malathos had hosted parties when they held their sporting events. A much closer location to stay in within the city than all the way up the hill; closer to the events and the parties.

It looked like there were some things about people that just didn't change much.

Minxia could have stayed down for hours, but their air tanks wouldn't last that long. So she explored as much as she could before the signal came to go back to the surface.

Regretfully, Minxia followed Thrakos back up to the surface…

And came up to find the sky much darker than she remembered, and the waves far choppier than the calm waters below.

"Everybody on board!" Arrus Xanthas was shouting as he, Paoulo, and Grandpa Al helped the high school students clamber back over the sides and onto the ship. "Storm incoming."

"Like we couldn't see that," Thrakos commented near at hand as he helped Minxia get her mask off. "This isn't good," he added unnecessarily as the boat tossed and bounced on the choppy surface.

Minxia shook her head and held on as Arrus at the wheel turned the ship about and began to cut through the waters towards the distant shoreline. She watched her grandpa counting heads, and saw Angelique huddled between two of the boys further back along the deck.

Lightning split the blackening sky overhead, and Minxia squeaked in surprise. Normally, she wasn't afraid of storms. But she'd never been caught out on the water in one, and as an alchemist the one thing she was painfully aware of was that they were a sitting target for lightning strikes.

"Hey, easy there."

She felt Thrakos' arm go around her, and sheepishly she peeked out from where she had buried her face in his chest. "Sorry. I just… electricity, water…"

"It'll be all right," Thrakos replied, though he looked pale, she thought.

Minxia glanced at Grandpa Al, and only at the look of intense concentration on his face did she feel relieved. Why hadn't she thought about it? If he could, there was no way Alphonse Elric would let their boat be struck by lightning. Surely so skilled an alchemist could divert something like that… right? In truth, she wasn't sure. And she felt worse for her lack of experience.

Thunder crashed and she snuggled closer against the strong, comforting warmth –however damp- that was Thrakos. The sooner they got to shore, the better.