By morning, our heroes are saying their goodbye to Captain Pete. "Thank you again, Captain." bows Faeda, as they stand by the docks. "Anytime, love." he bows. "Will we see again?" asks Adie. "I hope not." mutters Galen. "Sure!" smiles the Captain, "If you ever have an deal to make with the sea again, I will be here!" "Then let's not deal with the sea." frowns Oar, Galen laughs in agreement.

Captain Pete: "Don't be a prat. It's not my fault you were chinned with a few rocks." (>_<)
Galen: (o_o)
Oar: "What?! You're the one who were throwing them!!!" W('O')W
Adie: (;^_^)
Captain Pete: "I don't know what you mean... Who would throw rocks in a fight?" (o_O)
Galen: "Crazy old man! You did!" (;u_u)
Captain Pete: "I did? ...I don't remember..." (O_o)
Adie: "Geez, Louise..." (-_-)
Captain Pete: "The name's 'Pete', love." (;^_^)
Adie: "I know! It's just an expression!" (u_u)
Faeda: "Adie... stop playing with the crazy man..." (;^_^)

"Yah," agrees Edeline, "Besides, we better get moving. Howlingrift is a long while from here." "It was nice meeting you, Captain Pete!" waves Faeda. "You take care, now." he winked, then headed of towards his boat, singing a tune. "What a strange man." sighs Adie. "Hmm?" grins Edeline, "You really did like him, huh?" "What?" blush Adie, "Did not!" "He's no Galen." whispers Faeda to the girls. Edeline blushed and Adie blushes harder, as Vi and Faeda giggle.
"Huh?" frowns Galen, "What are you girls whispering about?" "Nothing!" they all said, quickly. "Weird." frowns Galen. "It's a female thing." shrugs Oar. "And what would you know about it!" huffed Adie, "You've never been around other humans, only monsters!" "True." nods Oar, "But you forget, I do read books. And normally, when a female -or a group of females- start to giggle, it's usually over a boy."

Adie: (o_o)
Edeline: (*^_^*)
Oar: "I'm right, aren't I?" (-_-)
Faeda: *giggles* (;^_^)
Vi: *snickers* "Um... let's change the subject." (^_^)
Galen: "Wait... you girls aren't going 'ga-ga' over that stupid Captain, are you?" (u_u)
Faeda: "Of course not... You're the only guy for us, Galen!" (^_-)
Galen: "T...That's not funny..." (*-_-*)
Edeline: "Wow! Are you blushing, Galen?" (o_o)
Galen: "NO!!!" W('O')W

All silliness aside, our heroes stop by the stables, to get their horses. Faeda rides with Galen, Adie with Edeline, and Oar with Vi. They were will on their way to Howlingrift, crossing the plains at top speed. By mid-afternoon, they've decided to take a break by a river, so the horses may drink. Adie looks Faeda way, looking away quickly every time Faeda notices her, while pretending to be interested in her beef-jerky snack. "What is it, Adie?" asks Faeda, after the fifth peek.
"Oh," waves Adie, "It's nothing..." "You look as if you have a question." nods Faeda. "Um..." says Adie, nervously, "You don't have to answer it, it's none of my business, I know!" "What is it?" Faeda asks, now impatient. "Uh..." smiles Adie, still nervous, "I wanted to know about that Key..." "Oh," smiles Faeda, taking the Key from her gown, "The Key Of Songs!" She let the Key go and it floated in mid-air, using it's tiny angel-like wings.

Adie: "Ah... that's amazing..." (*_*)
Galen: "What does it do?" (o_O)
Oar: "I was wondering that myself..." (-_-)
Edeline: "It looks powerful." (^_^)
Faeda: "Well..." (;^_^)
Vi: "Perhaps you can explain later..." (>_>)
Faeda: "Don't be silly, Vi. Why not explain now?" (^_^)
Vi: (>_>)
Oar: "Why do you keep staring at me, Vi?" (-_-)
Faeda: "Heh... pay no attention, Oar. Vi's just being silly." (;^_^)
Vi: (u_u)
Oar: "No, I understand. She doesn't trust me. That's too bad. We've made a deal, remember? I get to learn about the seer's quest, in exchange for safe passage." (-_-)
Vi: "Yes, I know. But I believe that was an unwise decision." (u_u)

Things were now a little awkward, but Faeda quickly livens it up with a cheerful, "This Key is magical!" "Really?" asks Adie, "What spells can it use?" "Only one." nods Faeda, "And a most powerful spell of all spells!" "What's that?" asks Galen, sitting closer to get a better view of the floating Key. "Well," explains Faeda, "It has the power to unlock the gates to The Golden Soul." "The Golden Soul?" asks Galen, "Where have I heard that name before?" "It was The Ever Hills." reminds Edeline, "Sonya was looking for it."
"Yeah," remembers Adie, "That's right! Hey... what's The Golden Soul?" "It is a mighty conduit," offers Vi, "The link between the light and darkness. It is guarded behind mystical gates, created by The Guardians Of Light." "Yes," nods Faeda, "With the Key, once it's complete, I am to go to the Hidden Temple and unlock the gates. With the Golden Soul, I will put the order of light and darkness back in place." "Interesting." nods Oar, "There are a lot of safeguards to prevent accidents." Vi frowns, uneasy with the amount of information Oar now knows.

Galen: "You mean, you're not going to wipe out darkness, completely?" (o_O)
Faeda: "Oh, my! No! That would be dangerous and cruel!" (o_o)
Galen: "What?" (O_o)
Vi: "You see, there is a bit of darkness in every creature. And some creatures have more darkness, than others. If Faeda should eliminate all darkness, every creature would die... or at least, part of their soul would." (-_-)
Adie: "Yikes!" (o_o)
Galen: "But... would that really be all that bad? I mean, so what if the bad people die? And as for the dark parts of good people, let that part of the soul die too! Then we'll be a hundred percent good people." (^_^)
Faeda: "Um... it's not that simple, Galen." (;^_^)
Vi: "Even that statement is full of darkness. 'Let the bad people die'... 'so what'? If Faeda was to destroy all darkness, the part of you that feels that way, would die. And isn't that the part of your soul that makes you YOU?" (;^_^)

"Well..." thought Galen, "I..." "I see," nods Edeline, "If all darkness was destroyed, we'd be nothing more than lifeless puppets. Happy puppets, though?" "How would you know?" says Oar, "Without pain, what would you compare happiness to? If happiness is the only feeling you know, would you really feel it?" "Ack!" frowns Adie, "My brain hurts from all of this philosophy! Let's talk about something else!" Faeda giggles, Edeline and Galen is in deep thought, Oar and Vi stay silent.
"Well," sighs Faeda, "There are many theories, about the importance of darkness and light. Many may be true, others not. But, what I know is, that the Guardians do not wish me to destroy darkness, just put it back in it's place." "Therefore," says Oar, "The threat of darkness taking over will be resolved and life will continue as usual." "Yes." nods Faeda. "Monsters will remain." frowns Galen, "And so will suffering and sadness." "There's also the lives of the innocent," adds Edeline, "And the joyous times. Don't forget that, Galen. So... we're not saving the world completely from all darkness. But we are protecting what we do have. Isn't that worth the fight?"

Faeda: "I believe so!" (^_^)
Adie: "So do I!" (^_-)
Galen: "Yeah, me too... but a new utopia sounds better." o(^_-)O
Edeline: "You're such a dork, Galen." (u_u)
Galen: "Don't call me a 'dork'!!!" W('O')W
Edeline: "Fine... moron..." (-_-)
Galen: "Are you looking for a fight?!" W('O')W
Adie: "Ooh... you shouldn't fight girls!" (^_-)
Edeline: "What are you taking about? I fight Galen all the time... and always win." (^_-)
Galen: "You little liar! You NEVER win!" W('O')W

Edeline punches Galen in the back of his head, causing him to hit the ground, face first." "See?" grins Edeline, "I always win." "That was a sucker-punch." whines Galen. "Wow," gasps Adie, "Remind me to never get on your bad side, Edeline!" Vi and Faeda chuckled. "Hmm," says Oar, helping Galen off the ground, "If you were more in control with your anger, you'd fair better." "That was a sucker-punch!" growls Galen. "Even so," shrugs Oar, "If you weren't too busy flailing around and screaming like a mad-man, you'd see her movements in time to duck. After all you are a Monk and should have that skill." "Oh, shut up!" snaps Galen.
"We should move on." nods Vi, "We have rested long enough." "Yeah," nods Adie, "Now that I know more about the Key, I feel better about this quest." "Wait," says Faeda, "You were having second thoughts, Adie?" "No," she waves, "Nothing like that. I was just wondering why the Key was SO important and what was the point of finding these shards." "Sounds like second thought to me." nods Edeline. Adie blushed. "No," smiles Faeda, putting away the Key, "Sounds like curiosity... just like our new friend has. Maybe it's catchy!"

Oar: (-_-)
Adie: "Heh... well, I hope I don't catch his winning personality!" (;^_^)
Edeline: "Yeah... you don't say much, Oar, do you?" (o_O)
Oar: "Why should I?" (-_-)
Adie: "Oh, I don't know... just to be friendly." (;^_^)
Oar: (-_-)
Galen: "Leave him alone... He's a guy. And us guys rarely talk, unlike you chatty girls." (^_-)
Edeline: "Hmm... You're always running your mouth, Galen... what does that make you?" (^_^)
Adie: *snicker* (;^_^)
Faeda: "Ah-ha-ha-ha!" (^o^)
Galen: "Shut up, Edeline!" W('O')W

They've packed up their camp, hopped on their horses, and make their way towards Howlingrift. By nightfall, our heroes have made a camp ten miles away from the town. "It's best to sleep now," nods Galen, "Than trying to reach the place by later tonight." "Yeah," sighs Adie, "I'm tired now." Everyone lays in the cool grassy field and stare at the stars. "Faeda," says Adie, after a while, "What do you think the Golden Soul looks like?" "I don't know." she answers, "But I bet it will look more magical than the Key."
After a while... everyone falls asleep. Faeda is still awake, watching the Key hover in mid-air. "Faeda?" whispers Adie, half asleep. "Yes?" nods Faeda, quickly putting the Key away. "I believe you can do it." says Adie, "If you can't save Serenity... no one can." "Thank you, Adie." smiles Faeda, as her friend drifts off to sleep...