Arelyn and Bren sat outside the Neverseen base. The entire building had felt like it was a creature from you nightmares, and they had agreed to get out before they came up with a plan. Alright. Time for a murderer and a ten year old son of Hephestus to take down an organization that's lasted for years and that a person who was created to take them down couldn't do. How hard could it be?

"So," Bren started, "We need to find a Neverseen base that actually has people, we need not get rid of the people, and then everything is ok?"

"Pretty much," Arelyn replied, "Only problem is that we have no idea where they're at."

"You were with them. Don't you know where all their bases are?"

"Unfortunately no. Just maybe 6 in the Forbidden Cities and 2 here, not counting this one." She gestured at the base behind them, "And I usually was only here for maybe half a day to be briefed or to fight the good guys. So I couldn't tell you anything except that they're likely in the Lost Cities so they can take over whenever. Word travels faster here than it would if you had to get information from the Lost Cities to the Forbidden Cities, or vise versa."

" ...Where do the Councillors live?"

Arelyn shrugged, "Honestly, I haven't been here long enough to know. I just know that they work in Eternalia. Why?"

"If the Neverseen want to take over, wouldn't they want to keep an eye on their targets? If I were leading them, I'd make the base close to where the Councillors spend most of their time. Then, it'd be easier to publicly take them out."

"That's... Actually genius."

Bren smiled, "It's common sense."

"Then I have none of that. Now we just have to figure out where they are exactly..."

"You know of any bases near Eternalia?"

Arelyn shook her head, "Just one near the entrance to Atlantis, and another just out basically in the middle of nowhere. Makes it easier to hide them."

"So we'll have to find one?"

Arelyn thought for a moment, "Or we can ask someone else who has a good idea of where one is." She pulled out her pathfinder, "Ready for another trip?"

_________________________

"Nothing against you," Bren noted as Arelyn put the pathfinder away, "But if we wanted to talk to someone, why didn't we just call them, or something?"

"We don't have phones, we have imparters. And I destroyed mine after I ran away from the Neverseen, since I didn't want any angry people talking to me while I tried to hide."

"As in the Neverseen?"

"As in anyone. Neverseen, my father, my brother, the parents of the two people who died, any of their friends, and pretty much everyone in existence."

"Fair."

Arelyn dumped a vial into the water, and suddenly they were standing at the entrance to Atlantis. A large whirlpool. Bren didn't look excited to jump into it, but Arelyn grabbed his hand. "We can jump in together." She told him with a smile, though she wasn't exactly ecstatic to go in either. Electricity and water didn't really mix, even she wouldn't be using her ability at all. Fire and water didn't mix either, and Bren couldn't really control his ability yet, so he probably had more reason to be afraid than she did.

Before either of them could change their mind, Arelyn jumped into the whirlpool. They fell into the water, dropping through the force fields and landing landing on a large sponge. The description "it feels like being licked by a pack of kittens, minus the kitten breath" was very accurate. All the water from the whirlpool was absorbed by the sponge, and soon she was completely dry. She looked over and found Bren still holding her hand and staring at her with wide eyes. "See?" She told him, sliding off the sponge and pulling him off with her, "That wasn't terrible."

"Wasn't great either," Bren mumbled, causing Arelyn to laugh.

The two of them started walking through the city, which was packed with all kinds of elves. Bren looked around at everything with an ever growing curious expression, taking in the sights of the underwater city. "How do we know whoever you're looking for is even here?" Bren asked as another elf walked past.

"We don't. But, even if we don't find them, we can still look for clues in the Neverseen base here," Arelyn lowered her voice and pulled the hood of her cloak over her head, shading her face.

"Why are you wearing that again?"

"People here don't like me either. I'm just glad they aren't perceptive enough to see the white seams on my sleeve that were used to see on the symbol."

"Wow. Why do so many people not like you?"

"I told you, I got their Moonlark killed. Why else?"

"Well, people die. It's not just your fault."

"You can believe that if you'd like." Arelyn's eyes darted around the streets. She needed to find her. Even if she wasn't there.

"Are you ever going to tell me who you're looking for?" Bren asked.

"I'll tell you when we find her."

"That's a 'no,' I'm guessing?"

Arelyn smiled, "That's a 'later,' not a 'no.' Come on." She waved him down a different path, which lead to the fountain in the middle of the city. It was definitely an important landmark in Atlantis, but Arelyn had no clue what it was called. Maybe she'll be near here... Arelyn thought as she approached it.

For maybe the first time ever, Arelyn had good luck with no help from fortune cookies or goddesses. The person she was looking for was standing near the fountain, talking with another elf she didn't recognize, which was probably for the better. If she didn't recognize them, they probably didn't know her.

Arelyn had never met Marella Redek, but she knew who she was. Marella had done a lot for the Lost Cities since Sophie and Dex died, and almost everyone knew who she was for more than being a pyrokinetic now. She was almost like a new Moonlark, in a way, or a 13th councillor. She addressed the Councillors with the elves' needs, she led small missions to find and destroy Neverseen bases, she recruited many people to the Black Swan, and a lot more. It was surprising that the girl had any free time at all.

Marella noticed the two of them approaching as the other person she had been talking to left. When they stopped, she frowned, "Who exactly would you be?"

Arelyn pulled her hood back slightly, lighting up her face, "I'm Tempest," she told her quietly, "And I need your help."

Marella's expression lightened, "Tempest? As in the one who warned Sophie of the monsters?"

"If you mean the one who got her killed, along with Dex, then yes."

"What do you need?"

"Do you know of any Neverseen bases in Eternalia?"

Marella thought for a bit, "There might be one, but I'm not sure. You're going after them?" Arelyn nodded and she continued, "Who's helping you? You can't just go after the Neverseen alone."

Arelyn looked towards Bren, who was standing shyly behind her. "This is Bren," she told Marella with a smile. She lowered her voice to a whisper as she waved him over, "He's a pyrokinetic."

Marella's eyes widened, "Really?" She kept her eyes on Bren as he came closer, as if she were waiting for him to burst into flame then and there.

Bren looked at Marella like she was dangerous. Arelyn knelt over and spoke quietly to him, "It's ok. She can control fire too. You can trust her."

"What do you need me to do?" Marella asked Arelyn as she stood again.

"If you can tell me where a Neverseen base near Eternalia is, I can go deal with that. And Bren hasn't been trained yet."

Marella grinned, "I already told you what I know about the Neverseen bases, but I'd be more than willing to help him out a bit."

Arelyn smiled slightly, "Ok. Meet back at the entrance in... 2 hours?"

"You got it." Marella held out her hand to Bren, who hesitated.

"She's going to help you," Arelyn whispered, "She won't hurt you."

Bren slowly grabbed her hand and they walked back towards the weird bubbles that led back to the surface. Taking a deep breath, Arelyn walked towards the place she remembered a base being here in Atlantis. There were quite a few in each area of the Lost Cities, but she only knew of one that could still possibly be in use.

Walking behind a large building, she pushed over a big grate. There weren't many in the Lost Cities at all, so many of them led to Neverseen bases, though there was one time where Arelyn had convinced Alvar and Gethen that a different grate was the entrance. They were mad, to say the least, though some of the others had a good laugh.

Slipping into the opening under the grate, she landed on a floor made of solid stone. For no reason in particular, most of the Neverseen bases were really earthen, as if they were trying to distance themselves from elven luxury. It was kind of annoying to some, but, as someone who'd spent most of their time in the Forbidden Cities, Arelyn didn't mind.

Carefully she walked through the base, looking for any maps she could use to find a base in Eternalia. The base was extremely familiar, and she almost felt like she was back about a year ago when she spent a ton of time here. Each turn brought back old memories she'd rather forget.

Arelyn came to a stop in the main room. Whenever she was told to stay at a base, this was normally where most of her time was spent. Prying around the base of the table, she searched for anything; a map, imparter, spyball, anything. Unfortunately, she found nothing.

As she sighed and out her hand down on the table, an invisible arm wrapped around her neck. At first she was startled, but when she realized what was happening, she relaxed. She elbowed the space where she assumed a body would be, and slipped free when the attacker's grip loosened. She summoned lightning into her hands, but she knew she wouldn't have to use it. If her attacker was who she thought it was, the sight of her lightning alone would stop his attack.

"What do you want, Alvar?" She asked, letting the energy dim, but not die.

Alvar sighed as he reappeared, "You're not supposed to be here."

"And attacking me was supposed to change that? That was a really bad attack, by the way."

"Thanks. And no, but it would've made my job a bit easier."

"And what would that job be? Kill me? Find what I'm looking for before I do? See if this base is available to come back to?"

Alvar shook his head, "We all have the same job; Take out the Phoenix."

Arelyn frowned and let the lightning in her hands flare up again, "Don't you dare even come close to him."

Alvar chuckled, "So you know him? How'd you figure it out? We were told he'd be killed before you learned. "

"By who? Tyche?"

"Does it matter? All we need to worry about was that it was wrong."

"And why'd you come here?"

"I saw you come in. Simple. The real question, however, is why are you here?"

"I'm looking for something. Simple."

"So you are trying to take us down. Why? You joined us before."

"Yeah. To save my brother's life! I don't think that makes a very good impression." Arelyn pointed out.

"Well, each to his own. But I can't let you just leave on my watch."

"Then how about you tell me where Gisela and the rest are hiding? You walk out and away. I'll come out later. That way you never saw me leave."

"That's a really stupid idea."

"But at least it's an idea."

Alvar sighed, "Can't you just come with me to the base, tell Gisela where the Phoenix is, and then be willing to die?"

"How about you rethink your sentence and come up with your own answer?"

"Look, I'm sorry. But, if I want them to trust me, I have to do this."

"No you don't! If you help me take out the Neverseen, you don't need to follow Gisela's plans, or kill people, or anything else! Please!"

"Gale, listen. The Neverseen are the only ones who'll take me in-"

"Because you betrayed everyone else! Alvar, if you just left, we can take them out! They won't kill anyone else! Just think of the possibilities!"

"No, Gale, I want you think about it. You can't tell me the Neverseen didn't give you a home. A family."

"You're right. I can't. But it wasn't a very nice family. It was a family that consisted of murderers and the ignored. I'd rather have a family like Sophie's. And you can't tell me you've never wanted that, too."

"I had a family like Sophie's. And I lost it."

"Alvar. You didn't lose it. You gave it up. I can help you get it back." Arelyn pleaded.

"Tell that to Fitz. He'll always hate me."

"Not if we convince him otherwise! You can still go back!"

"Will you ever go back? Back to living in that little hidden room in the Shores of Solace?"

"No. I have a new home. But that doesn't mean I've lost my family. Come on, Alvar! Please!"

Alvar looked at the floor, "Behind the Councillors' building. There's another grate. It's better hidden than this one. You go through the grate, there's another door. That's where Gisela is. If you want to catch her, you'd better go fast."

Arelyn smiled, "Thank you, Alvar."

"Hold on. I just did something for you. You need to do something for me." He looked her straight in the eyes, and they said everything Arelyn needed to know.

"No. No, I can't."

"Please, Gale! If you don't kill me, they will. I'd rather die by your hand than theirs."

"Alvar, I can't! I'm not a murderer!"

"I know. But the others are. If I leave without you, only for you to come back, I'd be killed right then and there. I don't want to die on their side of the battle field. Please!"

Arelyn tried to stop the tears in her eyes from falling, "Alvar-"

"Please. Arelyn, please."

Her hands shook as she raised one towards him, "Will you forgive me for this?" Her voice was barely more than a whisper.

Alvar smiled, "Always."

Everything went by in a blur. Energy shooting from her fingers, Alvar falling to the ground in a lifeless heap, Arelyn grabbing one of his hairs and walking out. Never. She thought as she pulled the hood up over her head and let her tears freely fall, I'm never killing a friend again.

_____________________________

"Come on, Bren." Arelyn grabbed his hand. They we're standing right where Marella had said they'd be, waiting for her.

"You figured it out?"

"Yeah."

"You don't sound very happy."

"Knowledge comes at a price," she looked at Marella, "Thank you."

Marella smiled, "Of course! Anytime!"

Arelyn forced a smile, "I'll remember that ." She pulled out a clear pathfinder and turned the crystal on the top.

"So we are going to Eternalia?"

"Yep." She held the pathfinder to the light, have one final smile to Marella, and stepped into the pathfinder's beam.

______________________

Eternalia was bigger than Arelyn had expected. Bigger and more sparkly. But she didn't have time to admire it right now. She had to find Gisela.

The Councillors' building was pretty easy to spot with its large, green walls. Leading Bren behind it, she paused when no grate stood out blatantly among the green grass, "Bren, can you help me look for a grate?"

"Like that one?" Bren hadn't even hesitated to point it out, and started walking towards it. Carefully he lifted the grate out of it's home in the ground, "Are they down there?"

"I think so. I'll go down first." Without waiting for his reply, Arelyn dropped down. After helping Bren down as well, she looked around. The opening they'd landed in liked much nicer than some of the other bases she'd been at. Maybe they've been planning on staying here a while. A long while.

"Come on, Bren. We're almost there."

"How do you know?"

"It doesn't matter. Let's get this over with."

Arelyn led the way through the halls. They were pretty similar to the other bases, which made her ultimate goal approach all the more fast. Soon, they were standing outside a large, intricately designed door.

"Ready?" Arelyn asked, glancing over at Bren.

Bren grinned and small flames formed in his hands. Marella obviously taught him a lot. "Let's go."

Arelyn kicked the door open to the room on the other side. She smoothed out her tunic as the people around the table stared. Grinning, lighting formed in her hands and she laughed, "Hello again." This is for you, Alvar.

Yes!! I did it! I updated both days!! And I'm going to try to finish this story today, and then no more Kotlc/Hoo fanfiction for me! Hope you enjoyed this chapter,and I'll see y'all later! Bye!