[Sea of Time]

I won't give up writing though. I looking to start work in sportswriting, try my hand at some non-fiction stuff, then if I get a good original idea, I'll write another fiction story.

[TheEnglishman]

I think a sequel to this would have been a bad idea really. It's very rare for sequels to work so I guess it's good that you aren't doing anymore.

[Hotshot101]

Tell me about it. Although with his writing you would never know.

[TheEnglishman]

Well a sequel wouldn't carry any real big surprises would it? There wouldn't be any 'Alex isn't dead!' suprises as they would have been used up in the first story.

[Sea of Time]

I'm sure the conclusion I have in mind will leave most of you satisfied.

[Legendary Dragon of Golden Sun]

Sea_of_Time, on Jan 25 2007, 08:21 AM, said:

I'm sure the conclusion I have in mind will leave most of you satisfied.

That's fine, and it is a shame you are giving up fanfiction. This is excellant! I might have to check out another one after this.

[Mars Djinni]

Surprise, SoT. You've won the Best Fanfic Writer award, therefore you get to have your topic pinned. Congrats.

[Toasty]

Now if only FD and I had come up with our fanfic earlier......Ah, well, congrats on winning SoT, you deserved it. :)

[Sea of Time]

Oh sweet! How long will it be pinned for?

[Sea of Time]

Here's Chapter 36, finished just a few minutes ago.

~

Chapter 36

Spirit.

The word resounded in Alex’s ears as he turned his back on Sheba’s motionless body. The vision she had given him had been delivered in a shocking manner, and Alex kept playing it over and over in his head. Burning passion, living inside the essence, the contents of the vision seemed cryptic and made little sense. But that last word, spirit, it had been delivered in such a way to give him hope.

As Alex reached the staircase he took one look back at Sheba. She would wake up, she would strengthen, and Isaac would come for her. Sheba’s future was bright, and as Alex turned away, his last hope was that he had not tampered with that.

Alex took the stairs two at a time. It was so strange, how his emotions seemed to jump around uncontrollably. In a short time he had gone from fury to intense grief and now to excitement. But he felt now that he was in control of his future. He would leave Tolbi behind, but there were many things to attend to first.

First, he had to find Maskah. He felt a pang of guilt for leaving at the peak of the empire’s power. And even though it was an empire he did not want, he still didn’t want to see it crumble immediately. He was still proud of what he had built and wanted to see it guarded to the end. For that, he needed to give a visit to his right hand man.

On the main floor, he found the door to Maskah’s quarters of the castle. This part of the castle was once living space for the many visitors Babi would allow inside. But the dozen beds had been taken out, and as Alex entered the room he took in what it had become.

Like the rest of the castle, the walls had been turned to polished white stone. It was a large room, but very much empty. The only piece of furniture in the room was an old wooden desk in the center of the room. The desk was laden with old pieces of parchment, strewn all over its surface. Behind the desk, in an equally old chair, sat Maskah.

At the sight of Alex’s entrance, Maskah quickly stood up and inclined his head slightly as a sign of respect, “Master.”

“Maskah,” Alex replied. He knew that the primary objective of this conversation would be to give Maskah complete control of the troops and the prisoners without revealing his intent to desert the empire he had worked so hard to build. Cautiously, Alex began, “I am here to reward you, Maskah,”

Maskah, surprised by this, inclined his head again, “Thank you master. May I ask what for?”

“Well, I wanted to reward you for stopping the meddlesome young adept from escaping. But more so, I wanted to reward you for your service. You have done quite well.”

Once again Maskah inclined his head, “Thank you master. I live only to serve.”

Alex nodded, “Maskah, I am giving you control of Tolbi’s soldiers. I am also giving you responsibility for the prisoners in the dungeons. I have matters of my own to attend to.”

Maskah’s eyes opened wide and gleamed at Alex’s reward, “Master, I thank you greatly. I will not fail you.”

Alex pretended not to notice him, “I am going to deal with the remaining adepts. You understand, don’t you?”

Maskah nodded, but it made no sense to him. He made his thoughts vocal, “But aren’t we setting a trap for the four coming to Kalay?”

Alex side-stepped the question, answering him in a dangerous tone, “Dare you question me, Maskah? The plan is still in effect. That is why I am giving you control of the troops. But I have a plan of my own to…slow them down.”

“Yes, master. I trust your word,” Maskah replied, returning to obedience.

“Good,” Alex turned to the door, but as he opened it a thought struck him and he turned back, “Maskah, one more thing. In the throne room there is a body of a blue-haired girl. Bury her outside the castle.”

Maskah inclined his head for the last time, “It will be done.”

Alex turned away from him and spoke the last words he would speak to Maskah, “Attend to that now.” He left the room, and strode back towards the dungeons. Now he needed to speak to Piers. He needed to tell someone his true intentions were, and who better than a fellow water adept?

Someone had to know, and surely Piers would not tell Maskah. Alex did not quite understand why he felt he had to tell someone, but it felt right. And really, it did not matter as long as Maskah did not know.

Alex entered the staircase again, this time getting out at the first level of cells. He knew that Maskah would move Piers to the abandoned set of cells on the first level and sure enough, Piers was there in a cell near the middle of the row.

At the sight of Alex, Piers jumped up and ran to the bars. He was clearly furious, “What have you done with Mia!?!” he screamed in distress.

Alex answered calmly, “She is dead.” He was bothered by the ease in which he said her name, but decided to keep his emotions in check, something he had not done in a long time.

Piers just stared at him for a moment, his eyes wet and still angry, “You…how could you?”

Alex expected this kind of reaction from Piers, who was clearly a loyal friend, “I assure you, I share the grievance you feel. Her death was a lamentable accident.”

Piers’ nostrils flared, a single tear falling down his cheek, “Of course you would say that, you son of a bitch,” he spat, resentment in every word.

Alex was taken aback by Piers’ words and just continued, “Piers, I do not come here to fight you, nor do I come here to try to console you for Mia’s death. I come to deliver a message and a token of peace.”

Alex drew his sword, which always was attached to his belt. He took it with both hands and spoke while looking down at it, “This is the Hydros Blade. It is one of a kind and can only be forged from a water stone found deep beneath the Western Sea. It is my blade, I have had it since I left Prox with Saturos and Menardi,” he then passed the blade through the bars, offering it to Piers, “I give it to you as a sign of peace. I know it will not heal the wound caused by Mia’s death, but I hope it will cool your anger just enough to hear my message.”

Piers just stared at him incredulously, amazed that Alex actually expected him to take this sword. He did not want to take it, he wanted to cause Alex as much pain as was possible. His anger was indescribable. But he knew that he could not harm Alex on his own. He would get his revenge, or so he hoped. But now was not the time nor the place. So, without words, he took the sword and without a belt, placed it on the floor of the cell.

Alex began again, “I am leaving Piers.”

Piers, who was looking down at the spectacular blade, looked up, “What?”

“I am telling you because I believe Isaac will come for you. I will not stop him, I am leaving Tolbi forever.”

Piers could not believe what he was hearing, “You’re…leaving?” He didn’t know this man well, but from what had transpired over the past year he expected Alex to at least stay and fight.

Alex continued, pretending not to hear Piers, “When Isaac asks where I am, tell him I have left. Tell him not to pursue me.”

“He will follow you to the death,” Piers retorted, “and I will follow him. You do not expect us to forgive you, do you?”

“I do not expect forgiveness. I am here only to deliver a message. And it has been delivered,” Alex turned his back to Piers, “tell Isaac what I said. And keep the sword. I won’t be needing it.”

And with that, he walked away. Piers watched from his cell as the man who had caused so much pain simply left. As he turned back into the cell, his thoughts turned to Mia and he was taken with sorrow. She was dead.

Alex walked briskly out of the dungeons. It was time to leave this place. The last thing he needed to do was grab a few things from the throne room and make sure that Mia had been taken care of.

He followed the stone hallway upstairs to the throne room, no sign of Maskah. He walked quickly into the throne room, composed but excited. Maskah was not in the throne room, and neither was Mia. It had been taken care of. Alex secretly hoped that she would get a proper burial. She was a good spirit, and certainly it was the least she deserved.

He turned left and went down a short staircase to his sleeping quarters. Babi had once slept here, and so did all the leaders of Tolbi at one point. It was Alex’s now and entering the room, he expected to see it empty. But he had forgotten the orders he had given mere hours ago. In all his preparation, he had forgotten one man.

Felix lay on his back on Alex’s bed, deep in slumber.

Alex had completely forgotten about Felix. His initial plan was to have Felix wake imprisoned in a part of the castle no one expected him to be. But all of Alex’s initial plans had been thrown out with Mia’s death.

He stood over the bed, looking down at the still body before him.

What do I do with Felix?

He could easily put him in a cell and have him wake there. But something stopped him from doing this. He thought about the history he shared with Felix. It had been a long and strange trip. Even when his spite for the adepts had reached a peak, he still had a sense of reverance for Felix.

Alex had always admired Felix’s sense of leadership. They both had been alone for most of their lives, solitary figures in very different worlds. But Felix, at Mars Lighthouse five years ago, had proven an unwavering sense of leadership over the other seven adepts in his party. It was this leadership and the ability for it to bring the others together that allowed the adepts to defeat the fabled Doom Dragon. It was this leadership that had set Felix apart in Alex’s eyes.

For some reason, he did not want to let Felix out of his control. Alex was about to leave on a journey of discovery, a journey that could begin a new life for himself. Felix’s life had been dictated by the doubt he felt inside himself, his self-consciousness. He was in dire need of a new direction.

It came to Alex then, but the idea did not shock him. Rather, the idea seemed right, it seemed inevitable. He would take Felix with him. He would give Felix a new start.

And when he awoke, he would be on a ship drifting on the Great Sea.

Alex considered it a gift. No one knew better than him the conflict that Felix felt in his heart and mind.

Deep inside, both of them did not want to be part of the war developing between Tolbi and the remaining adepts. The war itself was not pure, no petty social or economic benefits would come from it. They would leave this place, be free of the conflict.

Alex reached out and picked Felix up, putting him into his own arms. He was not too heavy and luckily Alex was stronger than the average man. Alex could carry him to the ship. His own Lemurian ship.

They would travel the ocean. Alex needed to find himself. It was time to get out. And Alex turned his back on the room he had kept for the past year. Felix in his arms, he turned his back on everything he once knew. Excited and inspired by a new beginning, Alex’s face broke into a genuine smile.

It was time to leave

~

Outside the castle, Maskah stood with the body of Mia in his arms. His order was to bury here. But he had no such intention of doing so.

He was about to send a message to Isaac.

~

[Platinum Sun]

This is pretty cool! I've never thought of humanizing Alex as much as you have. The connection between him and Felix was a very original idea. And that part with Maskah's betrayal at the end was one of those great OMGWTF? moments that makes you really anxious for the next chapter.

[Toasty]

Yeah, I didn't expect to see that, but I guess it explains why the party saw her dead body. I wonder what exactly will happen to Felix. Will he coninue to travel with Alex? Or go back to Isaac and the rest?

[Sea of Time]

Well when he wakes up, that question will certainly still be effect. For now, it would appear he's with Alex. [/mysterious]

[FlamingDuck]

Wait...Alex will put him on the ship he's going to be sailing on, or just some random one?

Good chapter, though.

[Sea of Time]

The ship he's sailing on, hence the "Alex is taking Felix with him."

[FlamingDuck]

Sea of Time said:

And when he awoke, he would be on a ship drifting on the Great Sea.

I dunno, I saw that and figured he would just be off in the middle of nowhere. Alone...so alone...

[Toasty]

He could always call up CDW on his cell phone and order a laptop, but what would be the fun in that?

Anyway, 'tis another great chapter, and even though our comic relief fanfic is drawing all your readers away, it's always nice to get back to the real world a more serious fanfic that actually has a plotline.

[Sea of Time]

Here's Chapter 37, of a most serious and not comedic fanfic. *scares away the comedy crowd*

~

Chapter 37

The ground of Contigo was the product of hundreds of years of dry weather. It was mostly clay, providing unexpected comfort for the weary feet of the priests guarding Anemos Sanctum. In the rare patch of tan soil, the odd blade of grass, as brown as the ground around it, could be seen. Near the front of the town, at the entrance, the grass began to get a lighter shade of tan as the land turned from clay to forest. That tan grass, appearing dead in the midday sun, carried a great weight on this day. It carried the red burden of human blood. Mia’s blood.

Isaac could not get himself up. He simply kneeled there and took in the sick sight before him. He wanted to look away, wanted to run far from the dry accursed ground. It felt like a punch in the face. Only moments after Isaac’s greatest moment of confidence, he was here allowing the profound images of his friend’s dead body to sink into his sub-conscious.

He had feared this day. He feared the day that he would open his eyes and find one of his friends, a member of his party, dead. He had hoped they would all die in their sleep, after they all had grown older. But in the back of his mind, he knew that it could not happen. Alex would never have let them enter Tolbi unscathed. But here they were, hundreds of fathoms away from Tolbi, and already two of his best friends were dead.

Wanting to let out some of the intense pain he felt, he reached out and snatched the piece of parchment on the end of the stake. This undoubtably was the directions sent to them from Alex. He opened it up, and found a familiar scrawl. Maskah’s.

It was then that Isaac felt the other three around him. They too could not move, simply standing there, shocked by the sight before them. He heard a sob from Jenna. But he could not face them. He just kneeled there, holding the note in clenched hands, watching a tear fall onto the sheet. It was wrong, all wrong. They were supposed to face Alex together, all eight of them. But now Mia was dead before them, and Felix’s body had been taken.

He looked back at the sheet. The ink had been smudged by his tear, but it was still legible. He could not read it aloud, so he read it to himself, trying with difficulty to let the words sink in.

Isaac,

Nothing has changed since our last meeting. As promised, this message has been delivered to you in Contigo. I hope that the method in which this letter was presented is an awakening to my master’s true intent. But onto the instructions.

My master still expects your prompt arrival to Tolbi. But first, a conference will be needed in Kalay. We require a discussion concerning the state of your fellow adepts and your kidnapped families.

You will meet me in Kalay. My master will meet with you at that time. You have three days. If you do not arrive at that time, more casualties will be necessary.

Expecting your prompt arrival,

Maskah

The instructions, trustworthy or not, were very straight-forward. The one surprise was the news concerning their families. Perhaps it was a slip of the mind, perhaps it was put there on purpose, but Maskah had told them in this letter that their families of Vale were still alive. For Isaac, it was but a glimmer of hope in a moment of his life that was still dominated by loss.

He turned away from Mia’s horrific body, not able to look at it any longer. He faced the other three, whose faces were pale after what they had seen. He did not know what to say to them, what he could do to console them. So he didn’t. “Our families are alive,” he spoke simply, not surprised by the crack in his voice.

Their faces did not change. Garet raised his head a touch, but that was the only answer Isaac would get.

Next to him, Jenna was still staring at the body before her, unable to look away. She broke her stare for a moment and looked at Isaac, her eyes begging for answers, “Why?” she asked, her voice quiet and weak.

Isaac felt her need for answers and tried his best to give her one, “Alex is trying to intimidate us. He knows our weakness, the attachment we feel towards each other. He is cruelly exploiting that. Mia is…” he gulped, not wanting to say it, not wanting to finalize it with his words, “Mia is dead.”

His speech of sorts did not raise any heads. But it did make them remember, remember the great young woman that Mia was in life. In that moment of reflection, there was a silence that could not be broken. No one made eye contact with each other, they all kept their heads bowed, remembering her poise in battle, her infectious smile.

It seemed to last forever, but Ivan broke the quiet with a solemn statement, “She deserves a proper burial.”

Isaac looked up at Ivan, and their eyes met. His eyes were wet and Isaac felt pity for Ivan, who everyone forgot was younger than the others. But his suggestion was a good one, and Isaac whole-heartedly agreed. “We should,” he said, nodding. The others seemed to agree as well.

And in silence, they approached Mia. Without words, they took the wooden stake out of Mia, and Jenna closed her still-open wounds with psynergy. It was gruesome work, but it was work for a purpose. It was as if Isaac was not there, he was off in the past, when she had been in their party, fighting as their formidable healer. She had been a great friend, and Isaac would never forget how she had saved his life on many occasions.

~

After several minutes that felt like hours, Garet had completed digging a grave with a shovel they had found in the inn. Jenna and Ivan had prepared the body. They would bury her in front of the storied town, a town where their party had experienced many highs and many lows.

Slowly, Garet and Isaac lowered her into the hole in the ground.

Feeling the need to say something, Isaac looked around at the three somber faces surrounding him and said weakly, “I’m going to say something,” as the attention turned to him he felt his voice grow stronger, “I’m not just saying it to you though…I’m saying it to her as well,” he paused for a moment, wanting to choose exactly the right words, “…I know not all of our party is here, but that was not by our choice. He made the decision to break us apart, to hurt our morale and our strength in numbers. Then, he threatened us by killing her…” he gulped as he looked down at Mia’s body, now six feet below him, “Who knows what he’s done with Piers or Sheba. But I for one do not want to find out. We have to go to Tolbi, now, and stop this madness. With this…detour, we’ve given Alex time to prepare, time that we did not have to give him. He will be expecting us now, and we will have to beat him under those circumstances…I want you all to know…he has not broken my morale.”

The words seemed uplifting, even to the man who had spoken them. They all knew that this horrible act could not stop them, they had to continue, and not look back until their job was done.

Isaac turned to face the east. It would be a long journey until they arrived at Kalay. He hoped in his heart that they all would be ready for who waited for them there.

~

[Platinum Sun]

I wish I had a webcam. That way you could see the intense stare with which I read this entire chapter. I know it dosn't sound like much, but I figured it was worth mentioning because that was the manifestation that all the emotions that thie chapter stirred took. Interpret it as you will. Excellent work.

[Toasty]

I can see it now, Zombie Mia! Back from the dead to avenge her death! And probably end up sleeping with Alex!......Yeah.

Another great chapter, though I disaprove of the death of Mia.

[Hirosho]

SoT I have to say This is Awesome..,Your Writing Skills are, Awesome.

[FlamingDuck]

Man, Maskah is one evil little guy.

Excellent chapter.

[Sea of Time]

Platinum Sun, on Feb 18 2007, 08:23 PM, said:

I wish I had a webcam. That way you could see the intense stare with which I read this entire chapter. I know it dosn't sound like much, but I figured it was worth mentioning because that was the manifestation that all the emotions that thie chapter stirred took. Interpret it as you will. Excellent work.

I take that as a compliment because that means you couldn't stop reading, though I see how I could be insulted. You weren't blown away.

[Platinum Sun]

Sometimes I don't need to be blown away. At some points in the story you need to bring the readers to their knees. They'll thank you for it later.

[Sea of Time]

That registered as disturbing in my mind, but I'm sure that's not how you meant it.

I hope the last few chapters are as good as you guys think they would be. But first, suspense building chapters!

[Platinum Sun]

Sea_of_Time, on Feb 19 2007, 03:18 PM, said:

That registered as disturbing in my mind, but I'm sure that's not how you meant it.

I get that reaction from a lot of people, and not just on forums. In such situations you have two options, take it as a compliment and keep doing what you're doing, or I could just keep talking until you understand me. (You really don't want to open that pandora's box. I'd reccomend option 1.)

[Sea of Time]

I will take it as a compliment because reading your compliments is a trip my brain doesn't like taking.

[Sea of Time]

Comments that are supposed to make me comment on your livejournal don't count! Let that be a lesson to all of you, only heartfelt comments that you really mean will be accepted here. Or the price of....banishment....or something.

Oh what the hell, here's Chapter 38.

~

Chapter 38

One day passed.

Isaac stood at the helm of the ship, looking out at the open sea. He felt calm in that moment. Little had happened since their party left Contigo and Mia. The attitude had been extremely somber up to this point, with very little discussion on any topic. But they had begun traveling the path set for them. They were in the middle of the Great Western Sea, about three quarters of the way from Atteka to Gondowan. They first had to get to the western coast of Gondowan, then follow the coast north until they reached a small opening of land where they could get out of the ship and complete their journey to Kalay. They were close, Isaac felt it. Close to the end.

But they had one last subject to discuss before they reached their dock point at Gondowan. In his heart, Isaac did not really think that traveling directly to Kalay would prove to be that smart of a decision. He wanted to get there by another route, to make sure that Maskah or Alex had not set a trap for them. He had an idea, but he wanted to share it with the others to make sure it was a good one. Isaac left the helm and headed towards the inside, where the others were already.

He passed the wheel of the ship, steering itself towards Gondowan. Isaac couldn’t surpress a smile as he thought about Piers and how he had put aside so much effort in making this ship special. And Isaac knew that after this was all over, Piers would get his ship back.

Isaac entered the inside of the ship, where Garet and Ivan were facing each other at the table, appearing to be in silent conversation. “Hey,” said Isaac casually, breaking the silence, “Do you guys know where Jenna is?”

“She’s in one of the rooms,” answered Ivan, “she said she needed time to think.”

Isaac wasn’t really surprised as he turned to Garet and asked, “Do you think you could get her for me? I kind of had something I wanted to discuss.”

Garet, however, did not move, only looking back at Isaac and replying, “Maybe you should…”

Ivan piped in, as if this had been something the two of them had discussed, “She’s been really distraught since Contigo. She wants to spend all her time alone.”

Garet shook his head, “I’ve never seen her like this.”

It was then that Isaac realized that through all that had happened, he had not considered nor spent enough time with jenna. He had been so distracted by trying to be the leader, he had just passed off the emotions of his significant other as the ‘party’s morale’. He knew now that he had to talk to her, he had to set things straight.

“I’ll go talk to her…” said Isaac firmly, “Will you guys be here when I get back?”

“I hope so,” answered Garet, with the slightest of smirks.

Isaac almost smiled, but somehow he couldn’t. He simply walked past the table and towards the small staircase leading to the rooms below. When he reached the hallway, sure enough Jenna was behind the first door he tried.

She was on the bed, lying on her back, just staring distracted at the ceiling. Her eyes and face were red, she had clearly been crying. At Isaac’s arrival, she turned over and faced him, whispering a soft, “Hi.”

“Hey,” answered Isaac comfortingly, still standing in the doorway, “Can I come in?”

She just nodded her head.

Isaac didn’t know quite where to start as he sat down at the foot of her bed but he figured the words would find their way of coming out, “…I realize I haven’t invested as much time in us lately…but I want to make it up to you. I think I know what’s been bothering you, so why don’t you say it?”

“It’s Felix…” she answered, her voice faulting, “I can’t believe he’s gone.”

Isaac had not forgotten Felix, and could understand what Jenna felt. He was her brother, and although Isaac did not exactly know what it felt like to lose a brother, he knew what it felt like to lose family. “I know it’s hard, but we have to move on. We have to beat this.”

Jenna was still reluctant though, “I know we do. But he’s my brother and I thought…I thought he’d always be there for me.”

Isaac didn’t quite know what to say, “I know,” he answered simply.

Isaac simply stared at the floor, feeling her gaze burning on his lowered head. He knew she was looking for support, but it was support he had never known how to give. He himself had not dealt with so much loss in so little time, and he knew how Jenna felt. He just couldn’t translate his thoughts into words.

Jenna spoke again in a curious tone, almost accusing in her delivery, “You’re just like he was. He…he could never deal in those tough situations where swords had no meaning.”

Isaac looked up, surprised at this. He remembered what Sheba had told him, how being the leader had changed Felix as a person. Was that happening to him? He certainly felt different, the pressure of having to deliver was almost too much to bear. But he refused to believe this, refused to believe he was becoming Felix. Jenna was in grief, she was supposed to say things like this. Isaac had to bring her back down to earth now, “I know it’s tough for you to deal,” he said roughly, knowing full well he sould be more comforting, “but we need to move on. Now come on upstairs, we need to talk about what we’re doing next.”

Jenna just looked at him, with an almost incredulous look. Isaac knew now he was different, but it was not for the worst. He had to be a strong leader, he had to plan for victory, and nobody would or could stop him.

He stood up and walked to the door. Not hearing her following footsteps, he turned back to her, “Come on. We’re all waiting for you.” He was surprised by the tone in his voice, he didn’t think he would sound this agitated given the situation. But what was more surprising still is that Jenna responded, standing up and walking out the door before him. But there was no eye contact. Isaac knew now that he had made a grievous mistake, he had sacrificed their relationship for the good of the party. Yet, it almost felt right. Like it was necessary, part of the plan. Feeling somewhat relieved by this resolution, he followed Jenna out the door and back upstairs, where the others were still waiting.

As they appeared, Garet and Ivan slowly raised their headds, automatically looking at Jenna, who was still clearly downtrodden. The two of them approached the table, but not before Isaac grabbed a large scroll and brought it to the table with him.

With all four of them around the table, Isaac knew it was time to discuss his plan. He unrolled the scroll to reveal a map of Weyard, “Alright,” he sighed, “I guess we have to talk about exactly how we’re going to go about doing this.”

He was not given the courtesy of an expression of interest so he chose to continue, “The letter giving us directions to Tolbi put us on a path towards Kalay. But I feel like right now is not the time we want to start trusting Alex. So we need a backup plan, to avoid any trap they may have set for us.”

“Sounds good…” mumbled Ivan.

“Any ideas?” asked Garet unenthusiastically.

Annoyed by their lack of interest, Isaac answered, “I did, actually. We could avoid Kalay altogether by traveling to the Gondowan Caves south of the city. We can regroup there and make a choice, whether to storm Tolbi or walk into a guarded Kalay.”

The others just nodded sullenly.

With annoyance boiling over, Isaac said angrily, “You know, you guys could show at least a little enthusiasm. The hardest part of our quest is still ahead of us and even though we’ve been through tough times, we need to focus on the road ahead.”

Ivan answered, “Don’t you get it? Two of our friends are dead. And you’re trying to push us ahead like nothing’s happened.”

Isaac was really peeved now. First they showed a lack of interest at his idea and now they question his leadership? He had to set the story straight, right now, “As long as you follow me, you should know that I’m not going to look at yesterday. I’m going to focus on today and tomorrow. In my mind, nothing has happened.” He knew it sounded wrong, and that it would be interpreted to sound like he didn’t care. But he could not correct himself now so he turned on his heel and walked out of the room, back onto the deck.

He looked out at the horizon, the Sun setting after what had proved to be a costly day. Isaac thought about what he had said, to Jenna and to the others. He had not meant to say those things, yet they seemed to flow out of him. Perhaps all this leadership was going to his head, perhaps he really was becoming more like Felix was. Confusion setting in as he watched the fiery Sun dissolve in the sky, he looked back to the sparkling water.

Who have I become?

~

[Platinum Sun]

Wow that's deep stuff. ("Situations where swords have no meaning" = pure genius.) I've never really thought of how the pressure could get to Issac like that, but I can understand the rest of the party's reluctnace to simply forge ahead. Now Isaac faces enemies from within, if I thought it were possible, I'd say that the prospects of the situation have gotten even more bleak.

[Sea of Time]

More work for the fans, because really it's all for you guys. *tear*

~

Chapter 39

Isaac looked out onto the promising horizon, with the Sun rising to his right as the ship finally came in sight of Tolbi. It was in the distance as Isaac gazed to the east, but it was within his line of vision. Although almost nothing was visible from this distance as the ship hugged the coast, Isaac could make out something that did nothing to raise his already low spirits. The city of Tolbi was clearly no longer a large town on the shores of the Karagol Sea. From what Isaac could see, the city had expanded in every direction. The old buildings were barely visible over the hundreds of tents, no doubt filled with well-equipped soldiers. Isaac stopped to consider Alex’s motives as he stared at the city in wonder. All this had been built for the simple purpose of finishing off the remaining adepts. It almost seemed like Alex was over-doing it.

It was Alex’s obviously deep desire for revenge that feared Isaac. It appeared he would stop at nothing to kill all of them and become the sole power over Weyard. Isaac wondered if the others were as worried as he was and whether they were aware of just how little confidence Isaac now had.

There was one thing that Isaac knew though, and that was if they were going to overcome the odds, if the four of them were going to defeat a thousand soldiers, they had to be together. He knew his communication skills were questioned after last night, but if the others were to see that he was leading by example, they all would be better off.

In the quiet of the morning, Isaac heard the creak of a door behind him and turned around to see Garet, stony-faced and bleary-eyed. Their eyes met and Garet mumbled, “G’mornin’”

“Hey,” Isaac answered as Garet walked up next to him.

They both stood there in silence looking out at the mist over the water. Seemingly rejuvenated, Garet broke the silence, “I can’t believe I got any sleep last night. With all the stuff that’s happened I really shouldn’t be able to, you know?”

Isaac looked over at Garet curiously. After last night, he didn’t expect Garet to talk to him, much less look to strike up a conversation. Looking back out at the water, Isaac answered, “I know. It’s tough for me too.”

Garet looked over at Isaac, “I knever expected it to be like this. Just the four of us.”

“Yeah,” Isaac answered, pausing for a moment, “but I guess this is the way it has to be.”

Garet nodded and it was quiet once again. The ship, still hugging the coast, started turning right. They were coming close to their docking point. The two of them just looked out at the water, not knowing what to talk about after all the trying events of the past few days. Once again, it was Garet who broke the silence, “Look,” he said, pausing, “what you said last night. I understand where you’re coming from. It’s got to be tough being the leader after all of this, with all of us still depressed. I want you to know I’m behind you, no matter what.”

Isaac looked at his best friend strangely. He knew what he should be feeling at this time. He was supposed to be thankful, thankful for having such an understanding friend. Yet, this wasn’t how he felt. He was almost insulted by how Garet felt like he understood what Isaac was going through. The pressure, the desire to defeat his enemies, Garet had no idea what that felt like. There was no way he could understand. Isaac just stared at Garet for a moment, wanting to say what he felt, wanting to explode with all the emotion he was holding in. But in the end, he held it down for a little while longer and said absently, “Thanks.”

Garet smiled at him, “That’s what friends are for, right?” he said, patting Isaac on the shoulder, “I’ll go wake the others up. It looks like we’re just about there.”

And with that, he turned and walked back inside, leaving Isaac alone with his thoughts once again.

It was so strange for him to feel like this, unable to find good in the closest moments between him and his best friend. He really was changing, whether he liked it or not. The important part would be not to let any of his emotion slip into words, he had to keep it in no matter what.

As he came to this silent conclusion, he was joined on deck by the other three, with a smiling Garet leading a bleary-eyed Jenna and Ivan. Isaac turned around to meet them, “Hey guys,” he said quietly.

Jenna smiled sleepily and Ivan nodded, unable to supress a yawn. “Where are we?” asked Ivan, stretching.

“Actually, we’re just about ready to dock. If you want, you guys could start preparing yourselves. We’ve got a long journey yet on foot before the Gondowan Caves,” Isaac answered, glad someone was showing interest.

Ivan nodded at this and with one look our at the quiet sea, turned back inside to get ready. Jenna followed, and Isaac noticed she was not making eye contact with him. He wanted to make things right but knew this was neither the time nor the place.

Garet, clearly already ready for what was ahead of them, stayed on the dock with Isaac, staring out at the blue sea with his hands on his hips. He shook his head, “It never gets old, does it. It’s just as beautiful as the first time.”

Isaac chuckled, “Remember Garet, the ocean is much bigger than the Karagol Sea.”

Garet looked back at him and rolled his eyes, “You know that was a one time mistake. I was young and unaware!”

Isaac smiled, looking back out at the water, “I know. But it does look pretty funny looking back.”

Garet smirked, “Oh, and you never made a mistake?”

Isaac laughed, “Garet, you should know me better than that! I am the definition of perfect.”

There was a pause, and then they both laughed, glad to share a playful moment on the eve of their greatest journey yet.

Then, without warning, the ship came to a swift halt, the front grinding up onto what could only be land. Isaac and Garet shared a quick look of curiosity before running to the front of the ship. Sure enough, they had found land. It was their docking point.

They had arrived.

~

[Platinum Sun]

Isaac's inner conflicts are very relevent to the situation. A percieved lack of the capacity for empathy from those around you is often a great divide within a group. It's common for someone to think that no one knows how they feel after they have suffered a great loss or are facing a divisive impasse in their life. (Or both in this case...) What no one seems to understand is that we all feel the same emotions. Everyone experiences loss and grief, and we always have since the human mind first advanced enough to perceive emotional pain.

It's very egotistical to think that your own feelings are an unprecidented senation even in the context of the vast and storied history of human emotion. Emotions are the same pallate for everyone. We all feel the same ways, just as we all see in the same colors. Saying that no one feels the way you do is like saying that when you look at the sky, you see it as bluer than everyone else.

This has made me face some grave impasses of perception myself. Like, was what I just said profound, or just really emo? Now that I read my own words over and let this sink in a little, and meditate on the meaning of what has been said, I find myself trying to decide if I should go write an memoir, or go buy some pot...

I don't know if anything I've just said will help you, but this is what Chapter 39 made me think about and that's and important dimension to think about in your writing. In any case, this needed to be said, and I would never have forgiven myself for going to bed without writing something down here. Speaking of which, holy crap it's 11:30! Ah, well tomorrow is Saturday. I'll just sleep through a few cartoons.

Here's hoping that someone took something away from this. :huh:

[Sea of Time]

Well I try to portray real human emotions in my story, and I use the emotion to spice up otherwise boring chapters, even if I may blow them a little out of proportion. You can't blame me for wanting drama though.

[Toasty]

I've gotten so used to comedy stuff, that everything else seems boring. Either that, or I've finally realised how pointless my life is. Either way, my judgement is seriously hindered when commenting from now on. I'm actually quite curious to see what's going to happen next though.

[Sea of Time]

Yeah, don't read my fanfic when under the influence of sugar, drugs, or comedy, because you probably will find it boring.

[Sea of Time]

Well, here's Chapter 40. It's very long, so it's wide open to an extremely long PS constructive critique. *shrug*

~

Chapter 40

It was somewhat of a relief to be here, in this spot. With their ship docked, they were finally ready to start their journey on foot. Their docking point, as Isaac had purposefully made it, was in a more obscure part of Gondowan. Directly north of them, past a set of mountains, was the town of Loho. Before them was a path leading east, passing north of Tolbi and following the northern coast of the Karagol Sea. It would eventually lead them to the Gondowan Caves, where they could regroup before sneaking their way into Kalay.

Isaac looked up at the afternoon sun and remembered ominously that they did only have three days to get to Kalay, or another of their friends would die. It was not a hopeful thought, but considering it had only taken them one day to get to this point, they were doing quite well. The test was still ahead of them however, and Isaac wondered how much time they would really have to ‘regroup’.

In an instant, he was brought back to the present by Garet, who was calling for him from the already-lowered railing. “Do you have everything?” he asked loudly, “Because we should probably get started, right?”

Isaac was more insulted by the question than he should have been. Once again, Garet was out of line. In Isaac’s mind, he was in no position to even question Isaac’s readiness. But once again, he held his emotion in check and walked up to Garet, giving a quick, “Yeah, I’m ready.”

All four of them met at the railing. Jenna, even now, had her head down, not making eye contact with anyone. Isaac wasn’t much concerned with her at the moment. More of him was looking forward to actually getting to Kalay to face off against Alex once and for all. They had to get this over, sooner rather than later, and if nobody would follow him he would do it alone.

They all stood there for a moment before Isaac took the lead, saying, “Alright, we have to travel quickly from here on in. So don’t take anything you don’t need. A weapon is all you should need.”

Everyone nodded and Isaac finished with turning his back on them, “Let’s go.” They all got off the ship one by one, almost eager to have their feet on land again. Isaac touched ground first and his legs immediately wobbled a little as they always did. But as soon as the wobbling stopped, Isaac took off, walking quickly and with purpose. He felt the others behind him and smirked knowing that they all shared his sense of determination.

Three hours passed, and the scenery did not change much. They were now on a path, marked with small stones, leading them east. To the south of them was the omnipresence of Tolbi, looming large in their eyes and in their minds. They had not yet reached the coast of the Karagol Sea, as Isaac had hoped they would. He was still in the lead, keeping a quick pace for the others.

Nobody had said anything, but Garet did after a while, “Isaac,” he beckoned.

Isaac turned around, walking backwards, not even dreaming of stopping, “Yeah?” Part of him didn’t even want to listen because Garet’s tone told him all he needed to know about what he was about to ask.

“I think we need to stop for a while,” he said, in a tone that seeked unwilling pity, “Jenna’s really starting to worry me.”

Isaac knew it was coming, knew that eventually the others would prove to be weaker than him. His answer was prepared, “Garet, you have to understand the importance of getting to Kalay quickly. A stop now could separate life from death for Sheba or Piers.”

Still trying to keep up with Ivan and a depressed Jenna at his heels, Garet answered, “Getting there quickly won’t matter if we’re dead tired, Isaac, don’t you get it?”

Annoyance boiling over, Isaac replied sarcastically, “Oh yes Garet, I ‘get it’. I get that you would rather see your friends dead and be rested than be ‘tired’,” he wanted to make short of this conversation, Garet was really starting to anger him, “I will not concern myself with this topic any longer. You will follow me until I choose to stop.”

He didn’t get a response and that was good enough. His message had been received.

The day passed by as they began to follow the coast of a much less spectacular Karagol Sea. Isaac maintained his pace as dusk approached. He felt himself repeatedly looking south, trying to get a good view of Tolbi. As time passed, more of him just wanted to abandon the group and finish the quest, storm Tolbi, and kill the countless soldiers by himself. But he kept his path, traveling east, his desire to keep his captured allies alive surpassing all others.

Behind him, the others still followed. But as the day wore on, and Isaac kept his quick pace, he felt Garet fall one step, then two, then three steps behind him. He had no idea how the other two were doing, nor did he care. Every inch of his being wanted to get to Gondowan Caves as quickly as possible.

The evening sun beat down on him relentlessly as he continued to walk. He could feel himself sweating, but he would not slow down for heat or fatigue, he was bent on getting there, nothing would…

“Isaac!” screamed a voice behind him.

Isaac heard the voice but did not stop. The sun had started to go down and they were almost there, so close…

“Isaac! Stop!” cried the voice, becoming more desperate and more distant.

Isaac recognized the voice, it was Jenna. He was intrigued, Jenna had not spoken since the ship, but he was not intrigued enough to stop.

The voice started to cry, but Isaac only sped up, actually jogging now. He was so close…

Suddenly, out of nowhere, Isaac felt a hand grab his collar, stopping him for a moment. Annoyed by this hinderance, Isaac turned around to fight back. What he saw was Garet, still holding onto his shirt. Isaac was shocked by what he saw as he looked back. Garet was drenched in sweat, and looked angry. Behind him in the distance was a kneeling Ivan with a crying Jenna.

Garet, who had obviously ran to catch up, was trying to catch his breath, doubled over, perspiration dripping on the tan grass below them. Isaac just stood there, wanting to turn around and continue, but also wanting to stay here, frozen in shock at what he had done.

Garet finally looked up at him, and asked incredulously, “Are…you…crazy?”, still trying to catch his breath.

Isaac didn’t know what to answer, but the words just came out, “We’re…so…close.”

Garet just stared at him, as if looking at a different person, “Jenna…just collapsed…and you’re married…do you even care?”

Isaac didn’t answer.

“We need to stop now,” Garet said definitely, “if you want to go, go on ahead. But you’re giving yourself the same fate as Felix if you do,” he looked at Isaac for a second before continuing, “I don’t know what’s happened to you, but you’re not the Isaac I knew.”

The words hurt and Isaac felt the truth hit him square in the chest. The pressure, the singling out, this all was making him into what Felix was, what Sheba had warned against. He had done everything he swore he wouldn’t. His confession seemed to pour out of him, “It was being the leader, the pressure was so much…I’m so sorry,” he said, shaking his head.

Garet kneeled down, looking Isaac straight in the eyes, “I’ve only had the best of intentions with my suggestions. And you have to know I’m telling the honest truth when I give this one. All four of us, we’re in this together. Just because you call the shots doesn’t mean that the pressure’s on you. Trust me.”

Isaac looked back at him and nodded, thankful for the suggestion and the presence of such a sure friend. His world had been moving so fast and now it has just stopped. He took a deep breath and straightened up, asking Garet, “What happened to Jenna?”

“She just collapsed a while back,” he answered, “we were all exhausted, but she hasn’t been right all day.”

Isaac nodded, and started to walk back. In his mind, he was still confused. How could the pressure be so great that he singled himself out, lashed out at his closest friends, and abandoned them for a common goal? It was a scary thought and he understood now what Felix had been going through leading up to Shaman Village, because now he had gone through the same. But Felix had never looked back, never stopped to see the struggles behind him. Isaac was haunted as he thought of what could have happened if he never looked back, would he have suffered the same fate as Felix?

They walked up to Jenna, who was curled up on the ground, Ivan kneeling over her. He looked up at Isaac cautiously, also giving the look of unfamiliarity. Isaac leaned over her and he could hear sobbing. He tried to get her to respond, “Jenna…It’s me…I’m sorry.”

She didn’t respond but the sobbing ceased.

“I know I was wrong. You were right, I was becoming possessed. I was becoming him. I’m sorry,” Isaac pleaded, genuinely sorry now for how he had blown her off back at the ship.

Jenna uncurled herself and sat up, cross-legged, still looking at the ground, her eyes wet.

Isaac knew she was listening now and, knowing why she had become depressed, tried to console her in the only way he knew how, “I know you mourn for Felix and for Mia. I know that you do not trust me like you used to. But if you follow me, and we do this together, we can put an end to our sufferings and go home with our families. Our time to mourn can be then,” he sincerely hoped she understood him, “Do you trust me enough to follow? I promise that as long as I live, nobody else will die.”

Jenna looked up at this and their eyes met for the first time in days. He smiled and she immediately knew that he was telling the truth, “I trust you. I will follow if you lead.”

Isaac smiled sincerely, “I’ll do my best,” outstretching his hand to help her up. They all stood there for a moment. All tension was gone and Isaac formally apologized, “I’m sorry for how I’ve been over the past few days. The deaths have taken a toll on me as well, and I hope you understand.”

The others nodded and Isaac was grateful for their forgiveness. He looked up at the darkening sky and then around at their surroundings. The Karagol Sea was behind them now and the mountains were ahead. In the mountains was the Gondowan Caves. They were very close now, but Isaac knew they had to stop for the night after what they all had just gone through.

“Let’s stop here for the night,” said Isaac, “we will have a full day ahead of us and I know that none of us can travel any more tonight.”

The others let out a quiet sigh of relief and Isaac knew they were relieved. It did not take them long to set up for the night. They shared some dried meat and water from Ivan’s pack and, immediately drowsy, used their packs as make-shift pillows.

Isaac had not slept for two nights and knew the second his head hit the pillow that he didn’t stand a chance. Slowly his eyes closed, his mind free of the conflict that had haunted him, and he fell asleep.

~

The morning came too quickly after Isaac’s dreamless sleep. His eyes opened to the morning Sun and the sweet smell of lake-water from the west. He stretched, sat up, and was met by the sight of all the others, already packing up.

Startled, Isaac jumped up and looked inquisitively at a packing Jenna. She smiled sweetly at him, greeting him with an enthusiastic, “Good morning!”

Still disoriented, Isaac rubbed his eyes, “How long have you been up?” he asked, looking at Garet and Ivan who were off a few yards away, already ready to start.

“I’ve only been up about ten minutes,” she answered, smiling, “but I pack quickly.”

Isaac smiled sleepily, “Very good.” He turned to his own pack which, although somewhat flattened, was all ready to go. He picked it up and turned to Jenna, “I guess we can start?”

“Yeah,” she answered, pushing back her hair as she finished packing, “I think I’m ready.”

Isaac walked over to where the other two were. They too seemed to be in good spirits.

Garet met him with his usual humour, “Finally up are you?”

Isaac grinned, “And ready to go. We should get started.”

And so they were off. They walked together, since the path had become easier to follow. Isaac felt his change of heart set in. The pressure to lead was still there, but he knew now that there was no way he could finish the quest without the others’ support and strength. He was grateful for having them at the time he needed them most.

It was not a long journey, following the mountains. By the time the sun was directly above them, the single mountain with the caves was in sight. Of course, they would be using the north entrance. Isaac didn’t think they could stay for long, but they needed time to rest, and they needed a definite plan for the next few days.

Finally, they arrived. The dark entrance did nothing to reveal the inside of the cave. Isaac went in first and the others followed close behind. Isaac squinted as he went in, trying to see something in the pitch darkness. Soon all four of them were there, their eyes adjusting to the dark. It was not long before the four exhausted bodies were able to fully take in their surroundings. Immediately, they saw something unexpected. In the dark, several men who looked like soldiers were sitting on the cold ground.

They were not the only ones occupying this cave.

~

[Platinum Sun]

Sea_of_Time, on Feb 28 2007, 06:11 PM, said:

Well, here's Chapter 40. It's very long, so it's wide open to an extremely long PS constructive critique.

You should know by now that I don't need an invitation.

Sea_of_Time, on Feb 28 2007, 06:11 PM, said:

They had to get this over, sooner rather than later, and if nobody would follow him he would do it alone.

That, was like being kicked in the face by a bucket of icewater. Good job!

Sea_of_Time, on Feb 28 2007, 06:11 PM, said:

He looked up at Isaac cautiously, also giving the lack of unfamiliarity.

I'm thinking you meant "look."

Overall, quite good. The situation seems slightly less hopeless now that Isaac has conquered his inner demons. And I see you've adopted on of my time-honored tactics, the in-your-face suspenseful ending of audience-enrapturing of doom +4. Excellent use of a most ancient and powerful technique.

[Sea of Time]

My mistake on the typo. It has been changed. And thanks for continuing to read and review, it is much appreciated.

[FlamingDuck]

Very nice three chapters. I sometimes feel like Isaac in ch 40, except without the leadership and turmoil. In other words, I get ticked off at my friends a lot.

[Sea of Time]

I think, as I'm writing this now, that we're finally in the true final stretch. It should get pretty exciting if I do this right.

[Alex the Adept]

I :( this story! Keep it up!

[Sea of Time]

I'm not sure if you actually read it, judging by your apparent ADD...but thanks anyway. Nice short chapter for you lazy readers (or fans of Mr. T's fanfic) out there.

~

Chapter 41

It had promised itself it would not get involved. To tamper in the affairs of humans was not in its nature. It had promised this five years ago atop the Mars Lighthouse.

But now things were escalating quickly. A final battle was nigh and it wanted to get involved.

The Wise One knew the second that Alex proved to have survived the collapse of Mt. Aleph that Weyard was in trouble. Alex, since his first breath, had been the most determined young adept it had ever seen. He had even managed to awake the long-lost prisoner, Maskah, who even The Wise One had forgotten about over time. But they had proven to be a dangerous pairing, and Maskah was still a threat to the adepts.

It had seen Alex’s change of heart coming. Love had always been his weakness, especially for the one young adept Mia. But after her imminent death, Alex was doomed to give up. And now he was off in the sea searching for himself. The ship would drift with Alex and Felix until Alex truly understood what his life meant.

As for Isaac, The Wise One had always known the young adept was special. Even without discovering his long-hidden power, he was a strong force, stronger than he knew. But he would be tested one last time against Maskah.

The Wise One’s nature was to appear when the elemental balance of Weyard is being disrupted. And the current conflict was created by humans. With infinite wisdom, it’s decision was final.

It would not get involved.

~

[Platinum Sun]

I wish my short chapters had anything remotely close to that kind of significance...

[FlamingDuck]

Wait...weren't you the one who said that the Wise One was a lame character? Or was that someone else.

Anyway, that chapter was very easy to read. I think I've been hanging out in my fanfic thread too long...

[Sea of Time]

It was me who said he was a lame character. But what better segway could I make than involve a character who had not yet been mentioned?

[Toasty]

Luckily for you, that was short enough for me to read. =D

Very good chapter, despite it's shortness. It kinda sheds light on what we may expect from Isaac in his comming battle.

[Sea of Time]

I haven't done any writing in a long time. However, I have finished Chapter 42 on paper and personally, I really like it. It's a couple days from being ready here, but I hope you'll feel the same.

[Sea of Time]

Chapter 42

Cool waves splashed up against the side of the ship. The afternoon sun loomed large above the expanse of the sea. The water reflected the light, shimmering calmly and beautifully. The soft scent of salt water rose up from the sea, subtle but not forgotten. It was quiet. And in that moment, Alex felt it was perfect.

He had taken off from Tolbi, put Felix in his own quarters underneath, and was now drifting quietly in the south of the Great Western Sea. There was not a piece of land as far as the eye could see. It was so different from anything Alex had ever felt or seen.

His whole life there had been that drive, that sense of purpose that kept him always on the move. From Imil to Prox and from Prox to everywhere else in Weyard, he had always been moving. And now his whole world had stopped and once again, he was very much alone.

But it felt good. This release from pressure is something he had always seeked. He sighed as he looked out at the sea and smiled.

To be honest, he had had his doubts about this entire decision and process. He had seen it as a kind of go-between for life and death. And he still felt very much the same now, there was no way he would spend the rest of his life adrift. He was much too alive for that.

As for Felix, the young earth adept was only a week away from waking up from his deadly coma. Alex wasn’t sure how the young man would react but would treat it as anything he would these days. He would take it as it comes.

Alex squinted up at the sun as he leaned on the rail of the ship. This whole situation was nothing like the purgatory he had expected it to be. He was very much alive and the perfectness was very much real.

Yet, the predicament continually came up in his mind. He could not now go back to the mainland, he had done too much to damage Weyard to do that now. He could not stay adrift in this ship for the rest of his life either. The imminent decision of how he would spend the rest of his days came to his mind again.

As he looked down at the water, he remembered Mia again. He could not and would not ever forget her. She had been the only thing in his life that had ever mattered. And he knew now that she was in a better place. He smiled as he remembered the better, more playful times they had shared at Mercury Lighthouse. She had been such a great friend…his only true friend.

His thoughts then turned to Isaac. Although he had spent the last five years in contempt with the other young earth adept, he knew now what a noble person Isaac really was. He had always known that if the day came when they battled, no matter how strong Alex was, Isaac would have turned out victorious. His determination and understanding were his greatest strengths, two things Alex had never truly had. Alex had been determined at one point, yes, but there was a great difference between the obsession he had felt and the noble determination he desired. Isaac had been a better man than him, and Alex acknowledged that now.

And as the warm sun beat down on the back of his neck, it came to him. He had known it all along but the conclusion was there now. His life had already been written for him. The last page had been turned, and there was no way that he could go back now to rewrite any of it. The reputation he had left behind, the way others would think of him, none of that could be changed now. But all that mattered, and what came to him in that moment was the greatest of epiphanies. He was now at peace with himself. His life had been lived, and he was at peace with how it had passed. And now there was one last step to take, one last hurdle he had to go over. And he no longer feared it.

He no longer feared death.

It was a unique moment. He knew that he had always had the power to choose when and where. But he had always feared the decision, or rather the outcome of the decision. But this was only natural.

He understood now that what he had done with the first half of his life was irreversible, no matter how hard he tried in the second half to change it. He could drift on the sea forever, remembering the past and the mistakes he made. Or he can pass on to another life, and start again.

He looked out at the sea. Perfection had been something he had always seeked from himself, whether that be through physical or mental training. But this was a different kind of perfection. This was the perfection of feeling at peace with yourself without any fears. And it felt great.

Alex turned west and nodded, smiling. He even knew how he would end it all, it felt as if he had always known. The curiosity he felt about the Gaia Falls, the true edge of Weyard, had intrigued him many times during his life. Sailing off the falls would be his last, and bravest act.

Smiling, Alex left the deck of the ship and went inside. He had not forgotten Felix, of course. And he knew that there had been a reason he had taken the young man. And after the revelation, Alex now knew that Felix would have to live the same fate as Alex. They were too similar, and they had come too far together to be seperated now. Now Alex could truly give Felix a new life, one better than the one he had lived.

Going back out to the deck, Alex grabbed the ship’s wheel and turned it until the ship faced due west. Even now, he could see the falls in the distance. He had been close to them all along, as if they had drawn him there.

The Gaia Falls roared louder as the ship came closer. The water around the ship began to lose its shimmering calmness, and became white froth. Alex only stood at the helm, smiling. He was not scared in the least.

The roar grew louder still as the ship began to move faster, taken by the current, the falls beckoning. Alex looked straight up as the sun shone brighter than ever.

He was there now. This was the end. Without fear and without regret.

Talking to no one but himself, unable to hear himself over the roar of the falls, Alex let out a silent, “Thank you.”

Ahead of him, the water was disappearing into black. Alex put his hands into the air, and took a deep breath.

And then he fell…

~

[Toasty]

Hmm. Interesting. I skipped a little bit in the middle, but I got the basis of it. The cliffhanger at the end is pretty good. It leaves the reader feeling like they know what'll happen, but at the same time staying on their toes incase something else occurs.

[Sea of Time]

If you're not going to read the whole chapter, I'd appreciate it if you didn't attempt to make a comment.

[PDM]

Hahahaha.

"*Reading reading reading* Let's try something new! *Skips two paragraphs* :D *Reading reading reading*"

You need to keep writing, SoT. x_X

[Platinum Sun]

SoT, on Mar 12 2007, 12:58 PM, said:

This release from pressure is something he had always seeked.

The proper past perfect tense is 'saught.' Yay for ub3r nitpickyness!

Otherwise I very much like it. I'll admit to overusing 'classic evil' in my depictions of Alex, and you've given him a real soul. Not to mention all the directions you could take this in now that you've crossed over the mysterious barrier of Gaia Falls.

[FlamingDuck]

ZOMG! teh alex is teh committing teh suicide! OH NOES!

Noobishness aside, that was a pretty good chapter. I've always wanted someone to fall off Gaia Falls, and Alex seems a pretty good guy to do it. sucks for Felix, though. I suppose they don't have to die...They could find a chest with, like, the Apocalypse Briar inside, only equippable by N'davinedagbons. Then they set off on a quest for a pronunciation guide to learn how to say...that.

[Sea of Time]

That post pretty much summed up why I read your chapters and not Mr. T's.

[FlamingDuck]

Aww, thanks. Speaking of which, I should probably be writing that right now, because no one wants to buy me an extra couple days by putting in a random chapter. Ah well...*wink wink nudge nudge*

[Sea of Time]

I'm not getting involved. I've got my own fanfic to work on.

[Alex the Adept]

I love this! Compared to yours mine is a waste of time, b/c it's piece of crap!

[Toasty]

Sea_of_Time, on Mar 13 2007, 03:17 PM, said:

That post pretty much summed up why I read your chapters and not Mr. T's.

Hey, I read your fanfic too. And I read all of that last chapter thankyaverymuch.

[Mikey09]

Hey there SoT. Ive been grounded for a long time and ive just managed to get back to reading ur fanfic. It's still one of the best I've read. But I do have one question? How can they go over Gaia Falls if the falls stopped.......falling? Not sure how to put that but I hope you get what I'm asking. Really good story. Can't wait for the next chapter.

[Platinum Sun]

Gaia falls didn't dry up with the release of Alchemy. They just stopped erroding the planet into nothingness.

[Alex the Adept]

This is very good. I hope Chapter 43 is coming soon! :D

[Mikey09]

Thanks PS. Can't wait for Chapter 43.

[Sea of Time]

Glad to have you back reading, Mikey. I got a lot of writing finished last night and should have Chapter 43 up before the end of the day.

[Sea of Time]

Chapter 43

Not a sound was made as the adepts stood there, shocked at what they saw. The cave itself was much darker than Isaac had remembered it, as the constant dripping became the only ambience for their confusion. The source of the triviality lay with the dozens of soldiers, alive but unmoving, sitting cross-legged on the ground in front of them.

Isaac was bewildered to say the least. He had expected this place to have two or three patrolling soldiers to protect it. Yet he had also hoped that Tolbi’s hand had not yet reached this far. What was more bewildering though was that the soldiers had not jumped into attack at the sight of the adepts. And as Isaac looked closer, he noticed that the helmets on these soldiers did not match the design of Tolbi’s, like the ones they had faced in Lemuria. These appeared to resemble the design of Kalay.

Isaac felt the other three around him take a few nervous steps back. A couple of the soldiers raised their heads to notice their visitors. Isaac, of all things, did not feel afraid in that moment. These soldiers were not products of Alex, or they would have attacked without mercy. Perhaps these men of Kalay could be reasoned with.

Isaac raised his hand as the others continued moving back, and softly spoke, “Wait.”

The others stopped. Isaac looked around. The soldiers were scattered, all seemingly crest-fallen, with their eyes to the ground. Their armour was pierced in places, and their faces were dirty. Isaac, confident that his assumption was correct, took a few steps forward and addressed the soldiers, “My name is Isaac, from Vale. I am traveling with the business to oppose Tolbi. Who is the leader of this party?”

For a moment, there was no response. There was a murmur among a few of the men, speaking silently to each other, a few more of them looking up at Isaac. Then, finally one of the soldiers, a burly man with shaggy brown hair, stood up and approached Isaac. He appeared to be the strongest of the group, but also the most battle-worn. The armour on his chest was dented, and he wore a bandage around his left arm, which was dyed red at the bicep.

Isaac did not falter as the man came up to him and spoke in a deep voice, “Well, young Isaac, if that is your name, it would appear that our business is similar,” he then smirked, and his hand moved to the hilt of his sword, “and yet I do not trust you. How can one so young as you come so far, yet be so unscathed? How can I know you are not a spy of Iodem’s, sent to kill me and my party?”

Isaac took a step forward so he and the man were within striking range, and quickly drew his blade. The Sol Blade seemed to shine in the dark and the man took a step back, clearly shocked at what he saw. Isaac answered in a tone that demanded reverance, “Has my name not yet reached your ears? Did you not know that it was my party that lit the lighthouses five years ago, returning Alchemy to its former state?” at this, the man’s expression turned to surprise, and Isaac continued, “Yes, I am that Isaac whom you have heard of before, and I come not as a spy, but as one who prepares to shake the foundations of Tolbi’s empire. Whether you be with me or against me, you will not stand in my way.”

The man, still shocked, stood silent for a moment, and then answered, stuttering, “Isaac…my name is Katar, and I am one who would have your allegiance.”

Isaac now needed more information to fully trust this man, “Tell me Katar, how did you and your party come to be so battle-worn? And why have you come to this place?” he asked as he put his Sol Blade back in its sheath.

Katar suddenly looked very somber as he answered, “My party was once the strongest military force in Kalay. I was the captain of this force, a force that numbered 114 able-bodied men. We trained daily, and fought under the same flag as Tolbi. We were joint cities, we marched together, we died together. Then, we received word from Lord Hammett that Tolbi wished to overthrow Suhalla. Lord Hammett left us to question Iodem in Tolbi, since this overthrow didn’t seem to be the wisest of choices. Weeks passed as Hammett remained on the other side of the Karagol. I was the leader of the city during this time…it was a nerve-racking time for me. Tolbi was growing stronger, and its shadow loomed large over Kalay,” Katar sighed, “Finally, the city received a letter from Iodem saying the joint city treaty had been disposed and Kalay was overthrown.”

“We received a similar letter,” interrupted Isaac, intrigued by Katar’s story, “How did you respond?”

Katar gave a smile and continued, “I had been the leader of Kalay’s forces for many years. I was confident our group of trained soldiers could defeat any force. After Lord Hammett failed to return, I knew he had been killed. So, with false confidence, I decided to challenge Tolbi for the control of my city. I gave Iodem my response, and prepared my soldiers for battle. I was headstrong. I thought he would have a week before Tolbi’s military would arrive. They came in two days.”

Isaac was now considering himself lucky to have found a man who knew so much, although he was disheartened at the news of Hammett’s death. He had a sudden flashback to that dream he had had so long ago. Alex had killed Iodem, and Iodem had done his ‘master’s’ bidding. Was killing Hammett Alex’s bidding? Isaac snapped back to reality, remembering Katar’s story and beckoned for him to continue, “What happened?”

Katar sighed once again, “Our forces as a city numbered two hundred. However Tolbi attacked with surprise and a thousand capable soldiers. We tried to fight them and for a while, we did well. But then the Tolbi soldiers started using psynergy. I had not expected this, and as our numbers dwindled, as I fought for my life, I ordered our troops to retreat,” he then motioned to the other men scattered around the cave, “We came to these caves, all fourteen of us, giving up Kalay to Tolbi in the process. We have been here in hiding ever since.”

Isaac nodded and put a hand on Katar’s shoulder, “Your tale is a sad one. But you fought bravely, and should be proud of that.”

Katar looked up at him, “You said you wish to take down Tolbi’s empire. But what hope do you have with only four of you? Tolbi has only become stronger in the year since our battle. Their numbers have grown. Your chances are slim.”

“We realize the odds are not with us,” Isaac answered, “but we are not yet up to storming Tolbi. We have been summoned to Kalay, where we will battle a foe beyond mere man. It is there where we will be judged.”

Katar looked up at Isaac hopefully, “Will you then be taking Kalay back as a sovereign city?”

“If we defeat our foe, than we will still have to face the soldiers that now inhabit the city. We may need support to do this,” Isaac answered.

“It has been one year since our battle,” said Katar resolutely, “some wounds still have not, nor will they ever heal. But I have prayed every day that I can once again see my beloved city free once again. I would die protecting it, and I will gladly die to take it back,” he looked back at his soldiers, “We will fight with you in Kalay. We will fight under Kalay’s flag one final time.”

Isaac smiled, “Your allegiance is appreciated. I will lead you to your hometown and we will take it back together.”

They shook hands with a strong grip and Isaac introduced the other members of his own party, “This is Garet, Jenna, and Ivan. They are my friends and they have battled beside me through all my journeys.”

Katar smiled and shook hands with each of them, “Well met, young adepts,” he then turned back to Isaac, “Now come, we have much planning to discuss.”

The five of them entered the cave together, preparing to fight under one flag, the flag of the free world.

~

[Platinum Sun]

Now that's what I'm talkin' about! Let's get down to some good old-fashioned city storming! Ooh rah!

[Sea of Time]

This and the next few chapters are what they call the best part of the "rising action". Guess what the climax will be.

More on the way!

[Sea of Time]

As promised, here's Chapter 44.

~

Chapter 44

The Gondowan Caves had never been all that memorable for Isaac. They were simple, with only three rooms. The back room was floating in ankle-high water, dirty water that had sat there stagnant for hundreds of years. Yet today, in that back room, there was a certain excitement. And unlike the first two times Isaac had been through these caves, he felt as if something worth remembering would happen today.

The four adepts and Katar, the leader of Kalay’s military, sat down in a dry area of that back room. There was no awkward silence as Isaac started the discussion immediately and with purpose, “My party once numbered eight, but through two deaths and two kidnappings, we now are only four. According to Alex, who has assumed control of Tolbi, we have two days to arrive in Kalay, or another one will die. So our time is clearly limited, and we must decide on our path quickly and decisively.”

Katar nodded, “I too know the meaning of haste. But what of this Alex? I have not heard his name before.”

Garet answered him, clearly feeling the need to speak, “Alex is behind all of what you have experienced, all the evil that has come from Tolbi. It was not Iodem’s will that had Suhalla and Kalay overthrown, but Alex’s. He is a strong water adept and can impose his desires on anyone he wishes.”

“Ah,” answered Katar, “so he is the foe of which you spoke before. He is the one we will meet in battle.”

“He is not the only one,” piped in Ivan, “there is another, Maskah, who has wind psynergy that is deadly to even the strongest of mortals. It was Maskah who kidnapped our other party members.”

“Two strong adepts on top of the military force already existing in Tolbi?” remarked Katar, “Surely this lessens our odds even further.”

“But we must fight,” answered Isaac, “for the good of Weyard and for those who are already dead.”

“So…” started Katar slowly, “my men have already proven they can put up a fight against the soldiers of Tolbi. If Alex assumes you four will be arriving alone, that means my group will have the element of surprise.”

Isaac interjected, “I will not ask you to fight beside me, since our target is Maskah and he is beyond any of your men.”

“I can help you in only one way then,” answered Katar, “I can aggressively attack the soldiers with my men, keeping them at bay while you battle Maskah. I’m not sure if it will make your battle easier, but if it works, you will be attacked on one side, and not all four.”

“That’s a good plan,” said Isaac as the others nodded, “in order to surprise the enemy though, you will have to enter the battle after the four of us.”

“That can be done,” answered Katar.

Isaac stood up and the others did the same, “We are finished then. How long until you will be ready to leave here?”

“It is early afternoon now, but my men travel light. We can be ready by nightfall,” he retorted.

“Excellent. The four of us have our own preparations, so we will meet you outside at dusk,” Isaac said, beckoning to the others.

Katar left to address his men, leaving the four of them alone. Isaac took a deep breath and spoke, “Alright, what do we all think about what we’re about to do?”

Jenna was the first to answer him, “Well…I am concerned that we may not be able to defeat Maskah with the group we have now. I mean…we didn’t do it the first time, how could we possibly do it now?”

Isaac nodded and gave the best response he could, “All I am leaning on right now is the confidence that we can defeat this foe, as we have all the others. And this time, we will not be caught unaware. We know exactly what we will be facing, and that certainly is an advantage.”

Ivan, who had been somewhat silent, added, “But what about Alex? Katar was right, defeating two powerful adepts will be a tall order, impossible even!”

Isaac smirked and answered, “I actually believe that we will not be meeting Alex in Kalay. It would be unwise for him and his second to leave Tolbi together, leaving the city in nobody’s guard. He will send Maskah to defeat us, but will not leave his throne, not yet.”

“But what if you’re wrong?” interrupted Ivan, “What if he is in Kalay?”

Isaac, with complete confidence, gave his final answer, “I know Alex too well by now. He will not be in Kalay, I guarantee it.”

Garet resolutely stood up at this finality, “Well I have no concerns. All I want now is to get a second chance at killing that old man.”

Isaac stood up, grinning, “Just trust me, all of you, and I promise you that we will be victorious when the red sun rises.”

And with that, they turned and left the back room. The front hall was now empty. Katar and his soldiers had clearly gone outside to prepare.

For the rest of that afternoon, Isaac prepared for battle. As he sat there, looking at the Sol Blade that was once Felix’s, he remembered the better times. He remembered Vale, his family, his friends. As the dark of the outside cast pitch black into the cave, Isaac stood up, putting the blade back in its sheath.

Those better times will be ours again.

With resolution and confidence, he left the cave. The cool night breeze coming off the Karagol hit his eager cheeks and he knew, now more than ever, he was ready.

~

[FlamingDuck]

OUR FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM![/braveheart]

Woo, some angry-soldier-ambush action!

[Alex the Adept]

I read the last two chapters, and this fic is the best!

[Platinum Sun]

It's like Thermopylae meets Fire Emblem. I like it. Facing tremendous odds and fighting anyway. This truly is the stuff of legends.

[Ironsight]

yah, it took me like 6 hours to read what you've done so far. but it was realy worth it. NOW HURRY UP WITH THE NEXT CHAPTER ALREADY!!!!

[Sea of Time]

Ask and ye shall receive! Here's Chapter 45.

~

Chapter 45

The white stone and green trees of Kalay had not lost any of their beauty, even with the evil times that had come across the city. Yet today there was a shadow growing over the city that had nothing to do with the hundreds of soldiers that now inhabited its streets. A storm was coming in from the north, the rain clouds dimming all light over the city.

Kalay remained silent in those early hours of morning. It was an eerie silence, as the wind rustled the trees without notice. There was no noisy preparation for battle, no cheerful conversation, no battle fires. There were only tents. And although the men inside those tents had woken up much earlier, they made no noise. The sound of thunder boomed off in the distance. A storm was coming.

And as the wind began to howl, the tents began to billow, a lone figure stood in the silence. His robes were gray, not white, on this day, reflecting the change of weather. Maskah knew that this was not the only storm arriving on this day. He had already been informed that Isaac approached the city from the east. And standing alone, in the rising tension, he was ready.

It had been three days since Alex’s departure from Tolbi. And without any word, any news of his whereabouts, Maskah now knew that he did not plan to return. It had been expected. Alex had yet to learn true wisdom, he was too young. And now, with only one leader, all of Tolbi was at Maskah’s command.

With years beyond measure and immeasurable strength, Maskah knew that the wise decision would have been for Alex to stay. There had never been an empire as strong as this in Weyard’s history. And with two leaders, they would have stood as an unbeatable force. Bringing water and wind together, they could have made the perfect storm. With military and wit, they would have had Weyard in submission. But it would not be that way.

Maskah, once the servant, now the master, would face all comers alone. It would be as it had always been. For thousands of years, he rotted beneath Anemos, generations passing above him. He was alone then, training ceaselessly to become the strongest adept Weyard had ever seen. Now, finally, he had his chance to prove it.

To defeat Isaac and the other three would bring about his ultimate retribution. With the adepts dead, there would be nobody left to challenge his throne. He could have all of Weyard at his command. Alex was not needed, nor wanted. Maskah would defeat the adepts himself, just as easily as he had the first time.

The crack of thunder sounded again, this time not in the distance, but directly over the town. The sun had not yet shown its face on this day, nor would it.

Maskah had all the confidence in the world. He was one day away from truly becoming ruler of all things, and with the weather on his side, he would be victorious. He would kill the four free adepts on the battlefield, than return to Tolbi and slaughter the two that remained. He had to rid himself of them, like some sort of infestation.

When Isaac arrived here, he would find the way to victory shut. In his way would stand five hundred soldiers. And if they did not kill him, Maskah would.

Maskah clenched his fists. The wind howled louder than ever and, at long last, the rain began to fall. The first drop hit Maskah’s cheek, and he knew that it was time.

Maskah turned around to face the dozens of tents, billowing in the wind. Standing strong, Maskah bellowed into the rain, “Come out, soldiers of Tolbi! Form the line!”

As if waiting for this command, the soldiers came out immediately, one by one. They walked in single file, each of them wearing the armour and helmet of Tolbi. At one time these soldiers had been good, standing to defend Lalivero and Tolbi from harm. Now no thoughts entered their mind, they lived only to serve. Almost robotically, they formed the line at the entrance of the city. The clanking of armour ceased as the soldiers found their positions.

And now Maskah stood there, in front of the five hundred that inhabited Kalay, brimming with confidence. In a final address, to prepare himself and the soldiers, he bellowed strongly, “Men of Tolbi, a storm arrives on this day! Four adepts come to Kalay looking to take it back and destroy all we have achieved! For their intent, they must be killed!” he looked in the eyes of the soldiers and added menacingly, “Failure will not be tolerated.”

All that needed saying had been said. This army had been bred for the battle on the horizon. The force created in Tolbi would not be broken.

The storm had arrived.

And for the adepts, there would be no sunrise.

~

There may be a little while until the next chapter, but I promise it will be worth the wait.

[FlamingDuck]

Its like the first part of Gladiator meets Braveheart meets 300, flip flopped. But if the soldiers are really brainwashed, do they need a motivational speech?

EDIT: Holy crap, this may or may not be post 600.

[Platinum Sun]

I'm gonna go ahead and cue up the music from that hugegantic battle scene in Narnia. Yeah, that fits it. Bring on the bomber gryphons!

[Sea of Time]

FlamingDuck, on Mar 23 2007, 04:14 PM, said:

Its like the first part of Gladiator meets Braveheart meets 300, flip flopped. But if the soldiers are really brainwashed, do they need a motivational speech?

Hell no, but don't you like a little added drama before the story's climax?

[Ironsight]

FD has a point, maskah could just say "ok now go kill those guys over there" and they would do it without a speech (or a warning for that matter), but the storm and the speech both added to the suspence.

also, i think it has more of a Lord of the Rings kind of thing going on, with Narnia battle music of course!

now quick! go find peter and the others to get the unicorns and centaures ready, so we may fly into battle and drop explosive flower petals on the wicked witch of the west!! *battle for Narnia music in backround*

[Alex the Adept]

Of course we do! But if they have nothing on their minds but to serve, what'll they eat? Won't they die of starvation?

Please, bring Chapter 46 soon!

[Sea of Time]

Here's the last chapter for a few days, but it's much earlier than I thought it would be!

~

Chapter 46

The path leading north to Kalay was becoming increasingly difficult as the adepts fought the strong wind and rain. The weather had not been this unfavorable in Angara for a very long time. Yet, today, the four of them would have to overcome this trial. They would have to overcome it because today was the deadline, the last day. They would arrive in Kalay to meet with Maskah, and defeat all that stood between them.

Isaac kept his head down, pushing forward through the gusting winds. He squinted at the other three keeping stride with him. They too were grimacing, with the rain hitting their faces and the wind howling. Thunder cracked ahead of them, above Kalay.

Isaac knew that it was no mystery of what waited there for them. Countless soldiers, more than they had ever seen. And Maskah, leading them on, no doubt having only revenge on his mind.

He took a short look behind him. There was no sign of Katar, as he had expected. They had agreed that Katar’s men would arrive an hour behind Isaac. The four of them would fight on their own, hopefully able to hold their positions. Katar would enter with surprise and then would be when they would break through Tolbi’s wall of men. It was the only plan they had, and Isaac prayed it would work.

It was slow going, but still they inched closer to Kalay. Unable to keep his head up for more than a second, Isaac had no idea what they were walking into.

This rain may turn out to be a disadvantage.

Isaac tried to think of a psynergy that could help him see, and thinking of one, he turned to Ivan on his right. He yelled over the howling winds, “Ivan! Use Reveal and tell me what you see!”

Ivan squinted back at him, his long hair sopping wet, and nodded in acknowledgment. He closed his eyes, his brow furrowed, and turned north. A purple haze appeared around his body as his expression turned to that of intense focus. They all stopped walking for a moment, waiting for Ivan.

After a moment, Ivan opened his eyes, the purple haze disappearing. Isaac, his hand cupped over his eyes, called out, “What did you see?”

Ivan turned away from the north and yelled in answer, “There is a line of men at the entrance! Their numbers, I can’t tell! I see no sign of Maskah!”

Isaac had almost expected this. Maskah would guard himself behind a wall of men. The adepts’ plan had been to engage in two separate battles. Yet now it appeared there would only be one. If they defeated the soldiers, they would earn their right to battle Maskah.

He called out to the others, “They are ready for us! Draw your weapons! We will have to kill the soldiers first!”

He knew that these soldiers were once good-hearted men. But he would not, could not show any mercy in killing them. He drew his Sol Blade, ready to face what was ahead of them.

Beside him, Garet drew his Excalibur. The wide blade had proved to have fearsome strength in battle, and Garet had wielded it well. Jenna and Ivan both drew their Tisiphone Edge. The light, nimble blade looked kingly with its crimson handle. And although it did not appear strong, they all knew it masked a strong unleash, one not to underestimate.

They looked around at each other, weapons out and ready. This battle would be their defining moment. Their chance to prove their strength against numbers. And their chance to reclaim the city that had long stood as a symbol of nature and beauty in its architecture.

Isaac nodded at each of them, smiling. And turning north, he set off. The others kept stride with him, faces resolute and confident.

As they approached, the shadow of the city blocked the rain and the wind. And for the first time, Isaac saw the gate that Ivan had seen.

In front of them stood, not one line of men, but dozens. The city was not visible behind the countless helmets, each of them emblazoned with Tolbi’s mark. Isaac’s heart skipped a beat, but he did not stop.

With the other three beside him, he started to run. Holding out his blade, he ignored the wind, ignored the rain, and rushed the soldiers before him. The soldiers drew weapons of their own, spears longer than any blade.

Beside Isaac, Garet came out of nowhere and as Isaac watched in surprise, Garet hit the line first, hitting a spear aside with Excalibur and plunging the blade into a soldier’s stomach.

Turning the other way as he ran, a bewildered Isaac watched as Ivan hit the line next. The Tisiphone Edge let out a high-pitched howl, still audible over the howling winds. Side-stepping a spear, Ivan held the blade in front of him as a translucent goddess appeared behind him. With an extravagant bow, the goddess shot three arrows at the soldier in front of Ivan, crippling the man behind the helmet.

Finally, Isaac hit the line. With a strong, circling stroke, he gruesomely beheaded a soldier, and cut the knee of another. Behind him, he heard Jenna’s voice over the wind, yelling the psynergy for all to hear, “Searing Beam!” Isaac had no time to notice the effects of the attack, as he plunged the Sol Blade into two more soldiers. He, Garet, and Ivan were now surrounded by enemy soldiers.

It was as intense as Isaac had imagined it. Ducking to dodge a spear, he swung his blade powerfully through the leg of another soldier. Recovering to his full height, feeling soldiers coming from all sides, he raised his palm, a tan light emitting from it, and yelled, “Stone Spire!” The soldiers coming at him immediately were hit by a barrage of huge, sharp rocks. With a chance to get his bearings, he frantically looked around.

He was no longer able to see his friends. There were so many soldiers for such a small city, and with more coming at him, he had no chance to worry about the others. He would just have to hope for the best.

Rushing at the soldier coming at him, he raised his palm and yelled, “Oddysey!” Out of nowhere, three human-sized swords hit the soldier, knocking him back, dead. Continuing to attack, Isaac gave another soldier no chance to fight back as he put all his strength behind another swing at the neck, beheading another. Feeling a soldier coming from behind him, he ducked and turned quickly, sticking the now red Sol Blade in the approaching soldier’s ribs.

As he tried to pull his blade out of the man, he felt resistance. The man, not yet dead, yelled in pain as Isaac tried desperately to retain his blade. Feeling another soldier approaching, Isaac abandoned the man for a moment, raising his palm again, “Quake Sphere!” An intense earthquake knocked three nearby soldiers off their feet, giving Isaac a chance to turn back to the man. Frantically, he pushed the man to the ground, putting his foot on the man’s chest. Isaac grabbed the hilt of the stuck blade and, looking at the man, the pleading eyes told him all he needed to know.

This will be painful.

With a tremendous pull , he slipped the blade out from the man’s ribs. There was a horrible squelching noise and the man screamed in pain, but Isaac had his blade back. He put the man out of his misery, slitting his throat and turned back to the battle.

He was running on pure adrenaline. His perception of reality had been reduced to the simplest of forms. Any approaching soldier had to die, no matter what. Looking quickly left, he saw Garet, fighting off several soldiers. He did not have long to look though, as another soldier advanced on his right. Turning, Isaac rushed at the man and the group forming behind him. But before he could attack, the man raised his palm, a blue light coming from it. Expecting this eventuality, Isaac raised his own palm. But before he had time to speak, a jet of water hit him in the chest, knocking the wind out of him. He caught his breath quickly however, and resorting to brute strength, he stabbed the soldier in the thigh, sending him to the ground.

Panting, he turned and saw two more soldiers coming at him. Giving them no time to use psynergy, he rushed at them, summoning another Oddysey to kill one, and cutting the other in the stomach.

Before he had time to recover, another soldier stood in front of him. He had not seen this one coming and before he could swing his blade, he felt the soldier’s spear pierce his left shoulder. Yelling in agony, he used his right hand to strike the man’s throat. The man fell, and the spear came out.

The pain was unbearable. He dropped his blade, and held his left shoulder. Quickly, he called on a healing psynergy, a tan light emitting from his right palm, “Cure,” he muttered breathlessly. Immediately, the wound closed, but the pain was still there.

Nevertheless, Isaac picked up his blade to face several soldiers drawing near. Out of breath, he realized how tired the mayhem had made him.

Stumbling with pain from his shoulder, Isaac ran at the soldiers. He desperately swung the Sol Blade, killing one of them. But at the same time, he felt a spear graze his back, cutting him. Crying in pain again, Isaac tried to ignore it, killing the attacker. He turned towards an impending soldier, but was pushed to the ground by another.

On his back with four soldiers above him, his blade kicked aside, he knew he was forfeited. Desperate with this unforseen fate, he yelled in frustration.

This was not how it was meant to end.

~

[Platinum Sun]

Woah... Bummer. Isaac dying is bad, but he did it all cool and braveheart style. It was all... uh, gimme a sec.

*Chugs coffie*

Ahh, much better.
The 'few heroes Vs. innumerable masses of nameless soldiers' is a classic angle. You pulled it off well and I'm waiting to see the outcome no matter how long it takes.

[Ironsight]

i saw 300 today, and this is pretty much the same thing. people dieng easily, enemies being cut into like a hot knife though butter.and then the hero dies in the glory of battle in all that gory mess.
why doesnt the sol balde unleash its own sommon? that could take out at least a dozen soldiers at a time.

[FlamingDuck]

Yup, totally called that. Sort of. Anyway, it was a tad bit gory, but good.

[Sea of Time]

DarkSword, on Mar 24 2007, 11:24 PM, said:

i saw 300 today, and this is pretty much the same thing. people dieng easily, enemies being cut into like a hot knife though butter.and then the hero dies in the glory of battle in all that gory mess.
why doesnt the sol balde unleash its own sommon? that could take out at least a dozen soldiers at a time.

I knew it was going to come up that this part of my fanfic resembled 300. But I promise you that I had this part of the story thought up from the beginning, Isaac playing the part of hero by defeating all sorts of soldiers, Alex's bred army. My timing is horrible, I know, but I assure that little to none of the previous and chapters to come are inspired by 300.

Still, I have to see that movie. It looks amazing.

And the Sol Blade? You'll just have to wait and see.

[Mikey09]

Another extremely good set of chapters. You have the makings of a true author I think. Always using good detail but never too much at one time. And you don't really have any "corny" lines. You've made your own story instead of using someone else's ideas. And I think its different than 300 (although I have seen the movie and it was really good). Anyway I'll stop inflating your ego. Keep up the good work.

[Sea of Time]

I'm gonna finish up Chapter 47 after school today, right after I do some well-deserved music shopping. *thumbs up* Look for it before the end of the night.

[Platinum Sun]

I saw 300 yesterday. It was an awesome movie, but now that I've actually seen it, I don't think its as easily comparable to this fic as I thought it was. Anyways, new chapter ahoy!

[Sea of Time]

Sorry for the wait. But as promised, here's Chapter 47.

~

Chapter 47

A fog was beginning to settle over Kalay. The wind had died down, but the rain fell ceaselessly, keeping the growing battlefield wet and muddy. On the ground, an all-out war had begun at the arrival of the four adepts.

Maskah cursed under his breath as the fog made it increasingly difficult for him to see what was happening on the ground. He was on a rooftop, providing a birds-eye view to the imminent death of the adepts.

At first, they had done exceedingly well, killing more soldiers than Maskah had expected. But now they were tiring, the ceaseless attack wearing on them. It was only a matter of time before they would be dead, and Maskah could return to Tolbi to finish the business.

He squinted, trying to see through the fog. Unable to make out anything but the men’s figures, he pointed his right palm at the battlefield below. As the purple haze formed around him, he was able to use Reveal to see what was going on.

Scanning through the hundreds of soldiers, he tried to find the four lone figures. Then, one by one, he spotted Garet, Jenna, and Ivan, all surprisingly still armed and fighting.

But where is Isaac?

Looking desperately left and right, Maskah tried to find him. The sea of helmets made it difficult, but there was one gap in the sea. And that was where Maskah saw him. Isaac was on his back, his blade cast aside, a spear at his neck. Knowing that Isaac was the strongest of the group, Maskah’s heart almost skipped a beat. He had not expected such good fortune this early in the fight. He watched and waited eagerly for the soldier to finish Isaac off, to kill him. But something else caught his eye. His gaze turned quickly south and what he saw made his jaw drop.

From the south came twenty soldiers, their armour white, men of Kalay.

They have returned?

Maskah knew that these soldiers had been driven out a year ago. Why would they return? Were they with the adepts? Frantic with shock, Maskah ran to the edge of the rooftop, forgetting about Isaac, bellowing, “Kill the soldiers! Kill them at the gate!”

Turning around, he headed for the staircase. There was no way that he would lose now, not to some ragtag bunch of soldiers. It was time to get involved.

~

Isaac lay there in the mud with a spear at his neck. He had let his friends down. He had not done Felix justice. And now he was prematurely forfeited, without being given a chance to show his leadership. Feeling the pressure increase on his throat, he closed his eyes. He was going to die.

Then, just as Isaac accepted his fate, he heard a voice on the wind, Maskah’s voice. Isaac could not make out what was said, but he heard the word ‘soldiers’ and felt the pressure on his throat lessen.

Seizing the opportunity, he quickly rolled over, and reached between a soldier’s legs, grabbing the Sol Blade. He cut the man’s leg, sending him to the ground. Hearing the voice stop, Isaac jumped to his feet, watching incredulously as the soldiers around him turned south, ignoring him.

From the gate, he heard a battle cry and immediately recognized the voice. It was Katar. The men of Kalay had returned to their city.

Turning north, Isaac was brought back to reality as dozens of soldiers walked towards him, brandishing spears, heading towards the gate. Isaac took out his own blade, ready to face all comers.

But before he could run out to meet them, he heard a familiar voice to his left. He turned quickly to face Garet, who was running to meet him.

Isaac loudly said in greeting, “They’re here!”

“I know!” answered Garet, “Jenna and Ivan are fine!”

“Why are you here?” asked Isaac, noticing Garet’s stained Excalibur.

“We must fight through to the north!” Garet replied quickly, turning to face the impending soldiers, “We have to get to Maskah! Katar will take care of the rest!”

Isaac nodded, turning north, “Then let us fight, and strike fear into Maskah’s heart of stone.”

Garet grinned and together they ran out to meet the line of soldiers ahead of them. They hit the line quickly and with strength, dodging spears, and plunging their blades into whatever they saw.

Feeling a renewed sense of meaning and responsibility, Isaac fought like never before. Ducking under two spears at once, he grabbed a soldier’s leg, tripping him and in the same motion, cutting into another soldier’s stomach. With a second of relief, he raised his palm, yelling out, “Stone Spire!” crushing the three soldiers in front of him.

He had figured out the key to defeating these soldiers. They were only formidable if they were given time to use psynergy. Otherwise, their skills with a spear were extremely limited.

However, their skill had been enough to injure him, and the more he swung the heavy blade, the more the pain in his shoulder seared. He could heal himself of this pain, all he needed was a little time. He turned to his left, Garet was a few feet away, still fighting his heart out. Isaac, quickly dodging another spear aimed for his head, called out, “Garet! Cover for me!”

Garet nodded, and immediately came to Isaac’s side, slicing through two imposing soldiers. Isaac, grateful for the time, put his hand to his left shoulder again, muttering, “Potent Cure.” The tan light coming from his hand seemed to feed life force back into him. The pain in his shoulder was gone, and without recoil, he lifted his Sol Blade high above his head, and swung hard at the helmet of an approaching soldier. The sound of metal on metal resounded as the soldier fell to the ground from the blow.

With a second to look around, Isaac tried to interpret the state of their invasion. What he noticed first was that they had fought their way past the gate and were now surrounded by houses and buildings with low rooftops. Most of the remaining soldiers, and there were many of them, were still at the gate, trying to fight off Katar and his men. Isaac looked up at a rooftop next to him and quickly came up with an idea, one that would help Katar and the adepts finish the battle.

Isaac turned to Garet, who also was no longer in combat. “Hey,” he started, grabbing his friend’s attention, “if we can get up to those rooftops, we can use psynergy to reinforce the gate and help Katar.”

Garet looked up at the flat rooftops and nodded, “But what about Ivan and Jenna?”

“We should be able to see where they are,” Isaac answered, “they will come up after us.”

Garet nodded again, and sheathing their weapons, they ran off to find the entrance to the nearest building. It was two stories, and would probably provide a better view to the battle. There were two or three soldiers blocking their path, but they did not last long, as Isaac and Garet used quick psynergy to finish them. Finally, they found the entrance. The door was unlocked and they let themselves in. The first floor was empty, and impeccably clean. The furnishings were not strewn about, as Isaac had expected them to be. Things were neat and tidy, giving no signs of the wartime that was upon the city.

Quickly, they found the ladder. They climbed past the empty second floor and onto the rooftop. As the rain fell on him once again, Isaac noticed for the first time the fog that had set over Kalay. It was thick and as Isaac walked to the southern edge of the rooftop, he found it difficult to see what was happening at the gate.

Garet walked up next to him, squinting into the fog and the rain, “How are we supposed to help them when we can’t see what’s happening?”

Isaac silently agreed. All he could see was what was directly beneath the building, which was only a few soldiers, scurrying towards the gate. “To use psynergy now would be too risky,” he answered, “Katar, Ivan, and Jenna are still down there. We can’t run the risk of hurting them.”

They stood there on the edge of the rooftop, somewhat disheartened by this turn of events. Garet, even in the face of such adversity, seemed calm when he asked, “So what do we do?”

Isaac paused before replying, “Well, it appears we have three options. We can stay here until the fog clears, we can re-enter the battle to help the other three, or we can go try to find Maskah.”

“I don’t like the last choice,” retorted Garet immediately, “we’ll need all of us to defeat Maskah. And staying up here idly just isn’t a good idea with our friends down there.”

“Then let’s re-enter the fray. I can do a lot more damage before I am spent,” said Isaac with confidence.

“As can I,” Garet replied, smiling.

Isaac opened his mouth to voice some kind of finality, but before he could say anything, another voice came from behind them, “Oh, you won’t be going anywhere, my friends.”

Isaac whipped around, and even in the fog he could make out who had said it, who had joined them on the rooftop.

In the rain stood a man in grey robes, anger spread across his face.

~

[Platinum Sun]

This is totally sweet. Every plan has to almost fail like six times to make it interesting, and you're working your way up to that. I hope to see more soon.

[Ironsight]

wow. this is pretty good stuff. the fog gives it a sort of epic battle theme.

by the way, im pretty good at predicting the ending of stories. im pretty sure about how this will end to. ill shut up about it though before i give away any hints

[Sea of Time]

I was reading through the beginning half of this story and realized how far I've come with my mechanics! Things can only get better, and as most of you may have realized, the end is just around the corner.

After the story is finished, I will release an edited version of the entire story on FF.net, so watch for that.

Chapter 48 is finished and on its way, check for it later on today.

[Sea of Time]

I've started the edits, and continued writing as well. Here is Chapter 48.

~

Chapter 48

In the wave of evil that had crashed over Weyard, there appeared to be a loss of innocence. Even in the far corners of the world, there was a stir. There were no innocent ears when it came to the word that had spread, word that Tolbi’s empire would soon control Weyard in its entirety. Word had also spread that the eight adepts who had saved Weyard from a different fate five years before were off again, fighting for sovereignty in a conflict-ridden world. Yes, innocence was hard to come by these days. But not all creatures suffered such a fate.

In a tree, lost in the forests surrounding Kalay, sat a small sparrow. Continually ruffling its feathers from the rain, uncomfortable in the wind, it had decided just to stay at home on this day, and wait out this ruthless storm.

In Kalay, though, not all could simply wait out such a storm. It was, simply put, fate that a storm of such ferocity would come on this day, the day where all would be decided. So many had been involved in Tolbi’s affairs over the past year. So many innocent, and some guilty, lives had been lost.

But on this day, on a rooftop in the centre of Kalay, there were only three. Two young men and an older one.

The sparrow ruffled its feathers again, and shook its head, trying to rid itself of the rain. But it was all in vain. Innocent or not, no creature would escape this storm.

~

In a way, Ivan was having quite a lucky day. His Tisiphone Edge, as strong as it already was, had unleashed a total of nine times, killing fifteen soldiers. He had not been touched by the enemy, and felt no tiring in his young bones. With elusive quickness, he jumped to dodge a low jab, and for the tenth time that day, a goddess appeared behind him, firing several arrows into the surrounding soldiers.

Ivan looked around, trying to see through the thickening fog. The rain had not ceased, in fact it seemed to be falling harder now. To his left, he saw who he was looking for. Jenna too, was fighting off a group of soldiers, using fire psynergy with strength and grace.

Ivan had not seen Garet since he left to find Isaac, who nobody had seen since they entered the battle. He assumed they were both alright though. They were strong, and would surely break through to the north.

Ivan and Jenna were still at the gate, fighting off the dwindling numbers of soldiers. Katar’s men had done more than anyone could have expected. Even without psynergy, they fought strongly and efficiently, killing all in their path.

Tolbi’s soldiers had numbered near five hundred in the beginning, by Ivan’s estimations. Now, even in the fog, Ivan knew that there were less than fifty.

It would not be long now before the battle on this front would be over. And then, it would be Maskah who was afraid. Wherever he was, wherever he was hiding, they would drag him out, and finish him once and for all.

~

But Maskah was not hiding. Above the battlefield, out of the sight of anyone else, stood Maskah, facing Isaac and Garet. He had cornered them here, given them no chance to escape. In his mind, he knew exactly how this would turn out.

My soldiers could not do their job, but I will not fail.

He would kill the strongest of the eight here, unbeknownst to anyone on the battlefield. Nobody could interfere now.

Today truly is a thousand years in the making.

~

Isaac faced Maskah. Things had not turned out the way he had planned, but that did not mean he would back down. He would take out this secondary force, and send a powerful message to Alex.

“You have arrived then,” said Maskah, taking a step forward so they could see him more clearly through the fog, “you have made the deadline. I am impressed.”

Isaac, feeling anger all over again, sneered, “I don’t need your approval, snake.”

Maskah frowned at this, “I was merely communicating my appreciation. Let’s not be so informal so early in our conversation.”

Isaac was somewhat surprised by how freely and sarcastically the words were coming from his mouth. When they last fought, Maskah had seemed robotic, referring to Alex constantly as ‘my master’. Shaking off this strange feeling, Isaac returned the comment, “You have now killed two of my party members, and kidnapped two others. I will call you whatever I feel like.”

Maskah gave a slight grin, “Well, I am not here to trade insults anyway. We have business…”

Isaac interrupted him, “Where is Alex? Your letter promised he would be here.”

Maskah, silent for a moment, answered in a serious tone, “You will be saddened to know that Alex has deserted Tolbi. He is no longer leader of the city.”

Isaac wouldn’t believe it. After all he had done, Alex wouldn’t simply leave the city. There was no way. “You lie,” Isaac replied silently.

Maskah’s face once again communicated an obvious seriousness, “I do not. Three days ago, after he killed the blue-haired girl, he abandoned the city. He took the Lemurian ship.”

Isaac shook his head, looking at the ground. This news was unbelievable. Alex was gone.

Maskah continued, “Now, before I get interrupted again…our business,” he paused for a moment, “As newly appointed leader of Tolbi, my proposition to you is this. I will release your friends and your family, and you will surrender the continent of Angara and return to Vale whence you came,” he smiled, his eyes meeting Isaac’s, “Do you accept?”

Maskah’s proposition registered but did not sink in. Isaac almost felt now that the journey they had set out to fulfill could never come to fruition now. They could not complete this thing without ridding the world of Alex. Now their chief enemy was out on the sea, out of Isaac’s reach.

Still, the immediate reality was that they now had to face Maskah. Isaac put aside his shock for when he had time for it, and gave Maskah his planned response, “No deal we make can bring back the ones you have killed, my friends who are dead.”

Maskah gave a strange, knowing smile, not the one of anger Isaac was expecting. Very coy, he replied, “I’m afraid you are mistaken, Isaac. I have killed nobody.”

The lie stung Isaac, this was a subject he would not joke about. Through gritted teeth, he said, “If you are a man, you will admit to your actions.”

“I am not lying,” answered Maskah, “your friend, Mia, was not killed by me, but by Alex. And Felix, as lifeless as he seemed, is not yet dead.”

Once again, Isaac was shocked. Atop Trial Road, Felix had appeared dead for so long as they battled Maskah. But as he listened to his enemy’s words, he knew that Maskah told the truth this time.

Which means Felix is alive!

Felix, then, had been kidnapped alive along with the other three and was assumably in captivity with Sheba and Piers. It was bittersweet news, although exciting. Bittersweet because if Isaac did not defeat Maskah here in Kalay, they would have failed Felix for the last time.

He now had even more reason to finish this now, to rid the world of its leading evil. He looked Maskah in the eye and said, “Even if you haven’t killed anyone, that does not grant you innocence. We have not come here to barter with you or discuss other’s affairs. We have come here to rid Kalay of you and your army.”

Maskah gave an uncharacteristic chuckle, “I did not think for a second that you would accept my agreement, Isaac. I have brought you here to kill you, and for no other reason.”

Isaac was not fazed, “It has come down to this then,” he said, drawing his blood-stained weapon. Besides him, a silently determined Garet did the same.

Maskah smiled, taking another step forward, “It certainly has. Here, in Kalay, I will defeat you just as I did in Shaman Village. And this time, I will not show mercy and leave you alive,” his expression quickly turned to anger, “and all the world will remember this day as the day the mighty adepts fell.”

~

At the gate, Ivan shook his head fervently, getting the sopping hair out of his eyes. The fog had thickened even further, making it impossible to see even the closest object. Needing to know what was happening around him, he raised his palm, a purple haze forming around his body. Muttering, “Reveal,” he was finally able to see the extent of the damage.

The ground was littered with the bodies of soldiers, from the gate to the buildings. To his left stood a solemn Jenna, leaning on her sword, clearly exhausted. Off in the distance was Katar with four or five of his men, staying within visibility of each other.

No others were left standing.

And as exhausted as he was, Ivan was able to come to the incredible realization of what they had done. They had won the battle. The army of Tolbi had been broken.

Leaving the surreal visibility of Reveal, Ivan walked to where he had seen Jenna. Swimming through the fog, he saw her, and their eyes met. In a shared moment of celebration, they hugged. Breaking the embrace, Ivan said gleefully, “It’s over. We won!”

Jenna gave a tired smile, sagging a little under the weight of Ivan’s conclusion, “Yes.”

Looking at Jenna, he suddenly remembered the other two. Glee turning to concern, he asked, “Have you seen Isaac or Garet?”

Jenna shook her head, “I just assumed they were alright. I can’t see a thing through this fog.”

With growing worries, Ivan realized that he had not seen either of the other two when he had used Reveal only moments ago. Quickly, he raised his palm again, and said aloud, “Reveal.”

With renewed visibility, he looked around, not able to see them anywhere near the gate, nor among the bodies. His gaze turning north, he was met by emptiness, an abandoned city. There was nothing among the buildings at the north end of Kalay. But something on one of the rooftops caught his eye. Looking quickly up two stories, his wandering eyes were met by an unexpected sight.

On the rooftop stood Isaac and Garet, but what terrified Ivan in that moment was who they were facing atop the building. Appearing confident in the rain, wind, and fog stood Maskah, facing the two cornered adepts.

~

[Platinum Sun]

That sparrow thing was freaking awesome! I wish I could do something like that. I'm always kind of to-the-point when I open a scene. That really added gravity to the moment that held onto me throughout the chapter.
And now the heroes of the world shall ascend to the place of their final battle;
Atop a mound of corpses

Drama is fun Wheeeeee! ;)

[Ironsight]

PS i thought my computor broke when i saw your signeture. NOT COOL.
anyways, i was wondering were the hec Ivan and Jenna were during this battle. cant think of anythings else right ow, its like, 11:30 here.

Will Ivan and Jenna make it in time to help Isaac and Garet? Will Isaac and Garet be able to defeat Maskah? Will somebody PLEASE put a leash on FD!? Only time will tell on the next, Golden Sun: A Tainted War
*dramatic music in backround*

[Sea of Time]

Thanks for that DarkSword, and I think I made it pretty obvious that Ivan and Jenna are on the battlefield, and Isaac and Garet are not.

Anyways, here is the longest chapter of the entire story, and hopefully it will satisfy most of you. Enjoy.

~

Chapter 49

It was mid-afternoon, but there was no sun over Kalay to dictate the hour. The weather that had hit the city with such force the night before seemed only to be intensifying. Warm winds were starting to whip up again, and the rising humidity only made the fog thicken. And all the while, the rain continued to fall. Small streams had formed in the mud, flowing quickly around bodies towards the gate, trying to escape the city as fast as possible.

Though the city had been deafening only hours ago, an intense silence had fallen back over Kalay. The soldiers of Tolbi, those that had come to defend Kalay, lay dead on the battlefield. Huddled near the gate were Katar and the four men who had survived, all tending to their fresh wounds. It was an eerie scene. The silence of a battle not yet completed lay heavy on the hearts of the few survivors. All seemed completed, but there was no celebration.

There could be no celebration now for Ivan, who in the silence muttered, “Reveal,” as he walked quickly and blindly north. One task still remained for the four adepts, and as Ivan side-stepped a body, he realized how awry their plan had gone. Ivan and Jenna were now racing north, realizing the predicament they had put their friends in by splitting up. Isaac and Garet had been cornered by their one remaining enemy, the formidable Maskah.

With renewed vision, Ivan ran harder than he ever had. He could see the building ahead of him, the one on which he had seen Isaac and Garet. With Jenna on his heels, Ivan cried over the wind and rain, “It’s up ahead!”

A confused Jenna tried to keep up. She had not been given the distinction of seeing what Ivan had, but his quick portrayal had scared her. Maskah had taken advantage of the chaos formed by the battle, trapping her two friends atop a building. Gasping for breath, she responded, “Did you see if they were in combat yet?”

Ivan, not turning around, kept his eyes on the scene forming ahead of him. It did not appear that anyone had attacked yet, “No!” he yelled in response, “They’re still talking!”

Finally reaching the building, Ivan tried to explain in the fog, “It’s this one!” Hurrying, thankful for the visibility, he found the entrance. The door into the house had been blown off, and the wind howled louder than ever as he entered the building with Jenna at his side. Brushing the wet hair out of his sweaty face, Ivan looked left and right frantically. There was no ladder, no staircase leading to the next floor. Cursing, Ivan turned to Jenna, “He took the ladder!”

In shock and with adrenaline pumping through her veins, Jenna gave a quick response, “There has to be a way up!?”

Ivan ran past her towards the door, answering loudly over the returning winds, “Maybe there’s a way up outside!”

Running outside, Jenna once again right behind him, Ivan followed the perimeter of the building. Rain pelting his face, he turned the first corner and saw nothing. Unable to see what was going on above him through the fog, Ivan still heard faint voices. But as he turned the second corner, he was distracted by an unexpected sight.

Ivan came to a full halt with Jenna beside him as he realized what he was looking at. In the rain, a cut on his forehead, lying on his back, was Garet. Eyes closed, his brow furrowed, it was painfully obvious that he had been knocked unconscious.

~

“…and the world will remember this day as the day the mighty adepts fell.”

Isaac ignored his enemy’s words, staring down Maskah with a determined look. He had been waiting for this moment for weeks, and so much had transpired that only intensified his hate for the man before him. Even without the other two, he still had Garet beside him. It was all he had, and all he needed.

He turned to his left to share a final word with his friend but was surprised once again by Garet’s eagerness and determination. Just as he had hit the line, Garet already had his Excalibur drawn and had started to rush Maskah. Without thinking to attack, Isaac only watched as the series of events unfolded before him. Garet wound up to attack, swinging the blade high above his head, but two steps from Maskah, he stopped in his tracks. Seemingly unable to move, Garet stood in attacking position, frozen. Taking one step forward, Maskah spoke to Garet faintly and scornfully, “My business is not with you.”

Quickly pointing his right palm at Garet, a thick purple haze forming around the two of them, Maskah bellowed, “Gyre Gust!” A sudden blast of wind formed out of nowhere, striking an immobile, defenceless Garet in the chest. The powerful gust knocked Garet off his feet, and Isaac could only watch as Garet sailed past him, off of the rooftop and out of sight, plunging into the fog.

Trying to comprehend what had just happened, Isaac looked back into the determined eyes of Maskah. Without Garet, he had been left alone to face the old man, one on one. Coming to terms with his situation, he became disgusted with Maskah’s plan to single him out. He spat at the man before him, speaking with utter distain, “You coward.”

Without flinching, Maskah smirked, “Isaac,” he retorted with an equally disgusted tone, “the valiant leader. When your friends find you dead, they will be lost,” he gave a throaty laugh, taking a step forward, “Your plan has failed, Isaac. Without your friends, you will die at my hands. Nobody can save you now.”

Isaac, letting his actions speak for him, drew his Sol Blade. With anger seething through him, he channeled all of it into his blade. And in a triumphant moment, he raised the blade above his head and through the gusts of wind and rain, it emitted a high-pitched howl.

Feeling the pure strength and energy of the sword fill him, he watched as the clouds above them turned black and red, the captivating sight piercing the fog. And with a roar, from the cloud burst a meteor, fire burning from its tail. It was the culmination of the Sol Blade’s true potential, Megiddo. The fiery meteor fell from the sky, roaring towards the building. Closing his eyes, Isaac heard the deafening crash as it hit Maskah.

Opening his eyes to a building now laced with fire, Isaac was somewhat surprised to see Maskah down on one knee, not defeated, but damaged. Isaac put the blade back in its sheath. He had not expected such luck so early in the fight. Maskah had been impenetrable the last time they had faced. But Isaac had also not used such a potent attack last time.

Declaring over the winds to his wounded foe, Isaac said strongly, “I will not die today. Your time has come, Maskah. You do not fear me as you should.”

But as he said these words, Isaac watched in shock as an aura of psynergy formed around the kneeling Maskah. A haze circled him, and condensing before Isaac’s eyes, the haze became beads of purple liquid. As if attracted to the wounded man, the beads of liquid seeped into his body, hitting his bare skin and disappearing. Isaac watched in horror as the rejuvenated Maskah rose back to his feet.

Smirking once again at Isaac’s shock, Maskah answered with authority, “One thousand years I have lived and feared nobody, defeating foes far more powerful than yourself,” his smirk turned to a look of hatred, “my time is far from over, Isaac.”

He had healed himself without any effort.

Even after Isaac’s most potent of attacks, Maskah was not harmed. Reeling, Isaac couldn’t think of what to do. His mind was full of memories, words from his friends, but none of them made sense now. None of them mattered. His arsenal had been cast aside, he had nothing without the other seven at his side.

And with only his armour for defence, he was now at Maskah’s mercy.

~

Ivan, in a frenzy, shook Garet violently, trying to find some sign of life. Jenna’s hand was at her wounded friend’s forehead, desperately using healing psynergy. Her brow furrowed, she used her free hand to grab Garet’s wrist, feeling his pulse. “He is not dead,” she commented, still focused on healing him.

Leaving Garet, Ivan looked up, unable to see the rooftop through the fog, “He must have fallen,” he answered, “and Isaac is still up there.”

He was not provided a response to this conclusion, as a loud gasp came from Garet, whose eyes had finally opened.

A relieved Jenna hugged her childhood friend, “Garet!”

Confused, Garet sat up, taking in what he could from his surroundings. “What happened?” he asked to no one in particular, his gaze still interpreting where he was.

“You fell,” answered Ivan, whose attention returned to Garet, “do you remember how it happened?”

Garet turned to face Ivan and gave him a puzzled look,” Me…and Isaac, we went up to see the situation but…Maskah cornered us…he gave us a mediocre peace treaty that Isaac didn’t accept, then…” he paused for a moment, “then I attacked him, and that’s the last thing I remem…”

But before he could finish his sentence, a loud roar came from above them. For the first time, the fog had disappeared and the clouds turned a strange black and red. Then, shooting from the clouds, came a huge meteor.

His eyes wide with fascination, Garet said inaudibly, “Megiddo…”

The enormous ball of rock and fire shot towards the building and the three watched in excitement as it hit with a deafening crash. Then, as quickly as it had left, the fog returned. The attack was over.

Excited, Jenna declared, “He’s okay!”

Ivan, not deterred, frowned, “But there’s no way he can beat Maskah on his own.”

Garet stood up for the first time, his eyes still sparkling from witnessing the attack, “All we can do now is believe in Isaac. He can do it, I know it.”

Ivan opened his mouth to respond but was drowned out by a loud clap of thunder. Frozen with sudden fear, Ivan realized where the thunder had come from.

Directly over the building.

~

Isaac stood there on the brink, on the very edge of the rooftop. He had no attacks to use against Maskah now, and as he stood there, he desperately tried to think of one.

But Maskah, tasting Isaac’s fear, took advantage of his indecision, “This is the end, Isaac,” he declared, taking a step forward, “your story has come to a finish.”

He raised his palm high into the air, a purple haze forming once again around his entire body. And Isaac could only watch as the inevitable words came from his mouth, “Storm Surge!!”

As the voice boomed the words, Isaac felt all fight leave him, his fate had been sealed. Thunder clapped faintly from far away. But ceaselessly the thunder boomed, louder and louder, closer and closer. Isaac did not put his hands to his ears this time, he could take the sound. Finally, the thunder clapped directly over him with volume that crushed his eardrums. Above him, a cloud darker than the rest had formed, a thunderhead. Thunder continuing, the tornado came down quickly and with force. It pinned Isaac to the rooftop, the wind crushing him. The noise was excruciating, the howling winds, the ever-strengthening thunder.

Finally, the tornado dissipated, and lying weak on the ground, on hands and knees, Isaac knew full well what came next.

~

At the gate to Kalay, Katar was witnessing an incredible sight.

His journey to Kalay had been quite an adventure, with the rain in his face every step of the way. He had arrived with so much adrenaline and had done as much damage as he could. With Ivan and Jenna helping him, he and his men had defeated the remaining soldiers. Many of his remaining men had died, but their burial would be an honourable one, they had died protecting their city from the greatest of evils.

But now Katar’s story was finished. Sitting with his back to the stone wall, he watched the buildings to the north of him with wonder. The fog had thinned just enough to allow him vision to the spectacular battle that had begun between the adepts and Maskah. A meteor, greater than anything Maskah had seen, and now an incredible thunderhead had formed above the building.

Katar closed his eyes, praying that the adepts were winning, and that they would defeat this final foe. His men had come so far, had faced so much in the year since their defeat here. They needed their city, just as much as Katar did.

Opening his eyes, something in the west turned his gaze. Standing up, he saw something he could not believe, something unexpected.

A beacon of hope.

Breaking through the clouds, the wind, the rain, in the western sky, the sun finally shone through, bringing the light of day to the grey city.

It was a sign, the tides had turned, and his gaze turning back to the north, Katar knew that only the best could come from this new hope.

~

This attack, this incredible psynergy, had defeated Isaac once before. And it was about to do it again. The tornado had weakened, it was the foreshadowing to the climax of the attack, the thunderbolt, stronger than anything summoned by the heavens.

In that final moment before it hit, weak and face down on stone, Isaac’s life flashed before his eyes. His childhood, learning psynergy from Kraden, their first quest. Their misjudging of Felix, the epic battle atop Mars Lighthouse. More clearly, this quest came before his eyes, and he realized how far they had come. From Vale, around the world, to this point. And yet, with this attack, he was failing all the people he had meant to save. His family, he would never see any of them again. They would live the rest of their lives in poverty. Felix, who was not yet dead, Isaac had failed to bring him home. Piers, Sheba, they would never again see the light of day. Garet, Jenna, Ivan, the three who had come so far with him. They were doomed to the same fate as him.

He realized that by giving up his life to Maskah’s final attack, he was sacrificing the hope of not only these people, but the entire world. All eight of the adepts had saved Weyard five years ago, but on this day, it was only Isaac. All the weight was on his shoulders.

Closing his eyes, the realization of the need to be strong proved to be overwhelming. And then blindingly, in his mind, the image of the Golden Sun came to him. It had been so beautiful on that day. The lights, the lights of the four elements, powered the Sun, creating Alchemy over the town where he had grown up. As Isaac envisioned that Sun, it seemed that his entire life was bottled inside it.

He had created it. They had made it strong. And now the world could reap its rewards. But all their work would be in vain if Isaac were defeated on this day. Tolbi would suffocate the world, imprisoning all those with free will, ridding all of their sovereignty.

Isaac could feel the thunderhead swelling above him, but as it did, the Golden Sun only grew in his mind. It became larger, until it encompassed every one of his thoughts. It became everything.

In that moment of true inspiration, Isaac realized what he had been fighting for, what life truly meant. The Golden Sun, its ability to give humanity a chance to be extraordinary, its creation of pure essence, was the reason for life on Weyard.

On Mars Lighthouse five years ago, Isaac had been infused with that power. And now, for the first time, he felt himself become stronger, he felt it become part of him. He realized his role, to be the saviour of this world, to protect it from man’s greed.

Opening his eyes, he impulsively turned to look west. Over the horizon, miles in the distance, was the sun. It broke through the fog and the rain, splitting the clouds. Isaac knew it was his beacon. It was his time.

In the moment of his epiphany, Isaac lost himself to the Golden Sun’s power. Raising his hands to the sky, he felt an orb of light form around him. He felt the thunderbolt come down, the climax of Maskah’s attack crashing through the air above him. But hitting the orb around him, it fizzled out above his head.

Standing strong, Isaac was now Weyard’s remaining beacon of hope. And he would not be denied this moment. Alchemy would protect him, the Golden Sun would infuse his strength.

Keeping his arms raised, he looked straight in the sky and watched as the thunderhead above him burst, revealing the sunlight. The fog disintegrated, rain and wind disappearing. And for the first time since their arrival, Kalay was given a clear day.

Isaac then turned to Maskah. “Your reign of evil is over, Maskah,” he declared strongly. And with the final words, he pointed his right palm at Maskah, a brilliant light forming around him. Feeling more strength flow through him than ever before, pure energy coarsing through his blood, his hand went instinctively to the hilt of his Sol Blade. He drew it, and the blade shone brilliantly in his hand, emitting a fierce light.

Isaac closed his eyes, the words coming to him effortlessly, “Sol,” he whispered. And, focusing on the blade, he opened his eyes. At his words, the Sol Blade let out a hiss and became lit with flames, appearing as fiery as the sun itself.

Brandishing the infused blade, he walked towards Maskah. The orb glowing around him, he knew he looked different in the eyes of his enemy. All had turned on the man before him, and his time had run out.

This power was the one that Alex so greatly desired, the power to change the fabric of humanity, to change the course of time. Isaac had found it inside him, in his time of greatest need.

Isaac flourished the Sol Blade as he approached Maskah, who was frozen by the triumphant sight before him. Before Maskah stood a different greatness, one that stood on a pillar above all others. His life had been forfeited by a superior cause and he accepted it.

And with one triumphant, regal motion, Isaac erased one thousand years of history with one swing, taking the Sol Blade and sticking it directly into Maskah’s heart.

In shock, Maskah looked at Isaac and then down at the blade that had pierced him. Without warning, the blade burst into fierce flames, burning Maskah from the inside. With the pain and hopelessness of it all, almost in slow motion, Maskah fell backwards. Collapsing to the ground, the old man crumpled under the righteous fire of the Golden Sun.

And without noise, his motion ceased. Lying on his back in the city he had tried to defend, the flames died, and he passed away.

~

[Ironsight]

HOLY SHIZNAT!!!! ISAAC JUST WENT PUNISHER ON MASKAH!!!
way cool ending. definitly worth the wait :D

[DarkSword rates this FanFic: 5/5]

[TheEnglishman]

Nice description of that fight. Very grand way for Maskah to exit the story.
I assume there will be some sort of epilogue for Chapter 50?

[Split Infinity]

You've reached the end already? I might actually read the rest of the chapters now.

Next post #500!

[Sea of Time]

Haha, I've got a few more chapters to go, it's called falling action. But I'm really glad you guys came back to enjoy the climax of the story. Much appreciated!

[Mikey09]

I have to say that that was one of the greatest chapters in your story. An excellent job on your story SoT.

[FlamingDuck]

*claps*

Very nice. A few more de nu mont(sp?)[/fancy english terms] chapters, and it'll be over? Anyway. Very nice fanfic.

[Sea of Time]

Chapter 50

Angara and Gondowan had long stood as companions. Although sharing borders had much to do with this, it was also the great friendship between its two major cities, Kalay and Tolbi. With the Karagol Sea separating them, their leaders had always been close. This alliance, however, had been tampered with over the past year. With the poisoning of Iodem’s mind, and Hammett’s death, relations had soured. As Tolbi grew, Kalay diminished, standing as an afterthought to the growing empire spreading across the world. Those who defended the city were driven out, vowing never to return.

But change can never be avoided, and a promise like the one Katar made a year ago was rarely kept. The men of Kalay needed only a nudge and inspiration to return, they had remained loyal to the city.

And why not? Kalay was one of the most beautiful cities in all of Weyard. The summers were long, the green trees growing wide and deep. White flowers laced the vine that covered the buildings, giving ode to nature’s beauty. Mountains stood tall on the horizon to the west and north of the city. Men who grew up here know the loyalty that is common in these lands.

And pride swelled in Katar’s heart as he took in the sight before him. The clouds had disappeared, the sun had returned, and his city was illuminated with the promise of freedom. Above him, a swift sparrow landed in a tall tree, coming out of its nest and searching for food.

Katar turned to his men, who, despite their wounds, were standing up beside him, taking in the magnificent sight of their liberated city. Overflowing with joy, Katar’s words came to him with inspiration, “The battle of Kalay is over my friends,” he turned north, where in the distance he saw a lone, shining figure atop the building, “and the adepts have returned our city to us.”

~

Looking down at Maskah’s lifeless body, Isaac felt all adrenaline leave him. He pulled his cooling blade from Maskah with ease, returning it to his sheath with a sigh. It was over. And keeping his word, Isaac had set Weyard free.

It was almost surreal, how the past hour had transpired. His true ability, the one that had been hidden for so long, had come to him in his time of greatest need. He had harnessed the power of the sun, infusing his psynergy with brilliant light and fire.

But his job was finished now and at that moment, he wanted nothing more than to see his friends again. Squinting in the renewed brightness, Isaac realized that the ladder had been taken, stealing his easy way back to the ground. Forced to use an alternative route, Isaac raised his palm, muttering, “Retreat.” Closing his eyes, he felt the strange sensation of having the ground pulled out from under him. But as quickly as the sensation began, it ended. And opening his eyes, Isaac found himself at the doorway to the building.

Leaving the house, Isaac was greeted by three familiar faces. There was a moment where they all stared at one another, not sure of what to say. So much had happened today that none of them would forget, and nobody knew where to start. But a sweeping feeling of joy came through Isaac at the sight of them, and he smiled.

Immediately, the other three smiled and Jenna broke the silence, “Oh Isaac, we saw everything…”

“You were incredible,” commented Garet, finishing her sentence for her.

Isaac nodded, feeling somewhat pleased with himself. Judging by their looks, they could not believe what he had done either. “It’s over now,” he said assuredly, “Maskah has been defeated.”

And with the pristine, clear sky above him, he approached them and embraced each of them in turn. The feeling of relief was so great, so genuine, it almost weakened Isaac to consider that their long journey had been completed. So much had led up to this, so much determination, so much grief. It all made him want this moment to last forever. The feeling of victory washed over him, making him swell with joy.

But as he looked silently at his three friends, those who had traveled with him through everything, he realized that there was one more person he wanted to see. Turning to the south, Isaac smiled again and beckoned to the others, “Follow me.”

They began walking and as if reading his mind, Ivan commented, “We owe Katar much thanks for what he has done. We could not have broken Tolbi’s army without him and his men.”

Isaac nodded in response. These were his thoughts exactly. He had to thank Katar, for following him without question, and granting his manpower to Isaac’s cause. As the battlefield came into view, Isaac saw for the first time the extent of the damages. Bodies lay everywhere, strewn in the mud. Helmets were cast aside, spears in heaps across the field. Isaac leaned down and picked up one of the helmets, Tolbi’s symbol splashed across the front. Looking inside it, he noticed a small, white flower in the bottom. Picking the flower out and holding it in his palm, he knew it was a sign. Kalay was already on the mend, and would not suffer long from the events of this day.

Looking towards the gate, Isaac saw who he was looking for. Katar, his hands on his hips, looking back at the approaching adepts, a smile across his face. Isaac grinned at him, and stepping over bodies, he walked up to the new leader of Kalay.

Katar was the first to speak, “You have returned victorious, Isaac!”

Isaac smiled and nodded, “Yes. Maskah has been defeated.”

“Will you be leaving for Tolbi?” he asked, “Does Alex remain a threat?”

Isaac paused for a moment, “We will leave for Tolbi, but not to find Alex. Alex has abandoned Tolbi, leaving it unguarded.”

Judging by the lack of surprise on the adepts’ side, it appeared that Garet had already delivered this news. Katar, however, grinned even wider, “This is great news!”

Isaac, smiling at the man’s joy, continued, “We will go there to defeat any remaining soldiers, and then release our friends from captivity,” he paused again, “But first, Katar, I must extend my thanks to you, for fighting beside me through this great battle.”

Katar extended his hand, “It is I who should be thanking you!” answered Katar, shaking his hand, “You have given us our city back! And for that, I will forever be in your debt.”

Isaac was not surprised, these men of Kalay were honourable indeed. “Let’s just say our scores are settled,” replied Isaac, “But let this battle be a sign of the alliance between the adepts of Vale and the men of Kalay.”

Katar smiled and nodded, “So be it.”

Isaac looked around at the three next to him, “It is time for us to be going, Katar. You have been our greatest ally, and we cannot thank you enough.”

Katar answered, “Let good fortune travel with all of you. Kalay will always remember what you have done here today.”

Isaac nodded and shook hands with him again. And with a wave, the adepts gave their farewell. With the other three behind him, Isaac set off, leaving the gate and Kalay behind him.

“So are we finally going to Tolbi?” asked Garet from behind.

“Yes,” answered Isaac, “we will free Sheba, Piers, and Felix, get back our families, and manage the city’s affairs before returning home.”

“Home…” repeated Jenna, who was now walking beside Isaac. It was obvious that she too felt the relief of a completed journey. They all did.

Turning west, Isaac realized how late in the day it had become. The sun was darkening, and starting to disappear behind a red sky. Realizing how tired he was, Isaac yawned and spoke, “We should rest at the Gondowan Caves. I’m exhausted.”

He was sure the others felt the same. It was the end of a great day, one that would live in stories forever.

The day that Weyard was freed.

~

[TheEnglishman]

Yay it's all happy now!
50 chapters? Doubt I could do that much!

[Mikey09]

another great chapter.......but i hope thats not the end.

[Sea of Time]

I'll tell you when it's the end, don't worry about that.

[Platinum Sun]

Didja miss me?!

Thisissototallysweetwiththefireandthepowerofpurelightandthepowpowzingandthedeath
fthepeoplewhoweredoingthebadstuffw00t!

I think that this thing needs a theme song!

It could be like:
Wackacha Wackacha Wackacha bawowow Wackacha Wackacha TAINTED WAR THEME SONG! Aroooooo! A bum BUM! Wackacha Wackacha Wackacha!

I can't wait to see what happened to Alex and Felix. If they do indeed still exsist...

[Mikey09]

yea ive really been wantin to see wat happened to alex and felix. i hope u put out a chapter on them. or a paragraph. watever makes u happy. ur the author.

[Folcon]

i have been reading this over the last few days and i must admit, you got serious skills. you should consider pursuing a carrier as an author. i bet you could hi it big. i can't wait to read the next chapter when it comes out.

[Sea of Time]

That's a great compliment, and I am considering journalism as a possible career opportunity.

However, concerning the story, I have been really busy with school and a magazine project due for the end of the month. I've had zero time to work on the story, and hopefully will get back into it before the ideas for endings leave my head.

[Folcon]

well summer break is about to start. hope to see more then or when ever you put it up. paitence is a vertue as the saying goes.

[Alex the Adept]

I love this fic. It's educational too! (In Golden Sun part anyway, but still cool!)

[Toasty]

Sea_of_Time, on May 5 2007, 06:39 PM, said:

That's a great compliment, and I am considering journalism as a possible career opportunity.

However, concerning the story, I have been really busy with school and a magazine project due for the end of the month. I've had zero time to work on the story, and hopefully will get back into it before the ideas for endings leave my head.

If you do ever sign up for an interview, be prepared for harsh criticizm. I think you're a great author, but a lot of places are reminiscent of Simon from American Idol if you know what I mean.

Regarding the fic, I'm amazed at how long this is. 50 chapters is definately a lot, and I look foreard to seeing what's going on with Felix and Alex.

[Folcon]

i've ben wondering that too. Felixis too to really kill off. i still wish you hadn't killed off Mia, but that's, what's the term, creative licensing?

[Sea of Time]

The next chapter is finally here! Enjoy.

~

Chapter 51

The night was quiet in the relative comfort of the Gondowan Caves. They were empty now, all signs of life having left the previous night. Near the back, around a small fire that had long since been extinguished, the adepts slept in peace for the first time in weeks.

Isaac slept deeply and dreamlessly, no visions of the past or future entering his clear head. It was a moment of sanctity, the first he had experienced since leaving Vale.

Outside, the moon reflected off of the Karagol Sea, illuminating the cool waves in white. The tall pines and evergreens rustled in the warm wind, which had calmed considerably. All was peaceful and quiet on the Karagol, but to the south, Tolbi was bustling with activity, even at the given hour.

In the city, the soldiers were active for the first time in weeks. Fires burned high on the outskirts, giving light without hurting anything. Tents were being taken down everywhere by the once loyal soldiers. Other soldiers were leaving in bunches, traveling east to their homes in Lalivero. They had been freed from their slavery, their minds no longer controlled by those that had led them.

This act, the one they were finishing now, was not a rebel one. The soldiers were working feverishly to return the city to what it had been before Alex’s arrival. They had realized quietly that Iodem was dead, leaving Tolbi without a leader. But banding together, those soldiers originally from Tolbi worked hard on their beloved city. The others, those who had been taken from Indra and Lalivero, were heading home, longing to see their families once again.

Interactions between the working soldiers were friendly, but all felt bittersweet about what they had done over the past year. Although not iin control of their action, they were aware of what they had done. They had killed innocent townsfolk across Gondowan, in Suhalla and Naribwe, even in Kibombo, whose people had been caught completely off guard. These emotional scars could never be healed, and forgiveness was not guaranteed. But there was only one thing on the soldiers’ minds as the morning sun arrived in the east, they were free now.

A few miles away, Isaac stirred at the light that had entered the cave’s entry. His eyes bleary, he sat up slowly. It was dawn, he had slept through the entire night. Refreshed, he jumped to his feet as the others around him stirred for the first time.

Rolling onto his back, his eyes still shut, Garet mumbled, “Shut up Isaac!”

Isaac laughed, “Get up Garet! You can sleep again when we get home.”

Yawning, Ivan and Jenna sat up without a word. Jenna’s eyes strayed to the outside, squinting into the light of the morning. Garet, however, had rolled over and was snoring obnoxiously.

Isaac sighed, and held out his right palm, “Quake,” he said, almost inaudibly. Without warning, the ground underneath Garet started to shake violently, sending him jumping to his feet.

“Ouch!” he proclaimed, holding his lower back, Jenna and Ivan both laughing at his expense, “What was that for?”

“I said get up!” laughed Isaac, “It’s time to go.”

Sighing loudly, Garet grabbed his pack sharply and glared at Isaac. Isaac could see the suppressed smile though, and knew his friend was kidding.

They all grabbed their packs and started to walk slowly, still somewhat sleepy. Leaving at the opposite exit, the adepts found themselves squinting in the brilliant light of morning, now just east of Tolbi.

Isaac smiled as the sun warmed his face. It was refreshing to have a beautiful day greet you after a long sleep. Following the mountain range to their right, Isaac headed towards the east. They could not yet see the city, but Isaac knew what to expect, and was on his guard.

Looking ahead of them on the path, though, he saw something he did not expect. A group of soldiers, helmetless, heading in their direction. Isaac stopped, holding his hand up as a warning to the others behind him. Putting his hand to the hilt of his blade, he was stopped as he noticed something strange about the approaching men. They appeared to be talking to each other, indeed Isaac could hear their voices from where he was. They were all smiling and laughing as well.

Isaac realized that neither the men in Lemuria or the soldiers in Kalay acted this way, and as they came closer, Isaac found himself shouting, “Who goes there?”

The men suddenly stopped laughing and walked up to the adepts, “We should be asking the same of you!” answered the one in the lead, who looked strangely at Jenna.

“My name is Isaac…” said Isaac, noticing the change in the man’s gaze, “have you met Jenna before?”

As if a lightbulb went off in the man’s head, he answered, “Jenna! Yes! Our group saw her for a fleeting moment as she and an old man left Venus Lighthouse six years ago,” he then laughed heartily, “if my memory is as good as I hope it is!”

Jenna took a step forward, “You were one of the soldiers who Alex fought?”

The man smiled as he remembered, “The blue-haired one? Yes, it was him.”

Jenna turned to Isaac, “Isaac, these are not men of Tolbi. They are from Lalivero.”

Isaac was surprised by this, but before he could say anything, the man spoke, “Ah, I’m afraid I have to correct you, Jenna. I was indeed a soldier of Tolbi over the past year, as we all were,” he motioned to the seven men behind him, “We were under the control of a greybeard man, forcing us to do things we should not. But we have been freed, and are now returning home.”

Isaac smiled at this news. It was as he had hoped then. Without the influence of Alex and Maskah, the soldiers of Tolbi could return to normal form. Wanting to fill this friendly man in, Isaac gave his own news, “Our party has just come from Kalay, where a great battle was fought. The greybeard man who controlled you, Maskah, is now dead.”

The man’s look changed to curiosity, and turned to one of the men behind him. They shared a similar look before the leader turned back to Isaac, “My friend here said that yesterday he looked south to Kalay and saw a brilliant light. He said the light broke open the clouds and dried the rain. Did you see it while you were in Kalay?”

Ivan answered before Isaac could say anything, “Isaac was responsible for that light. It was the only way Maskah could have been defeated.”

“Incredible!” proclaimed the man, “So you are responsible for our freedom?”

Isaac nodded, “It would appear so.”

The man’s smile widened, “Then some thanks is in order!” he extended his hand to Isaac,” My name is Ashton, and I am very glad to meet the acquaintance of one as strong as yourself, Isaac.”

Isaac shook Ashton’s hand, “It is good to see a friendly face, at any rate.”

Ashton gave him a knowing look, “If you are headed in the direction of Tolbi, you will find many friendly faces. We are glad to be free, and they will be even happier to see the man responsible.”

Isaac nodded, “Any gratification is much appreciated.”

Ashton gestured behind him, in the direction of Tolbi, “Do you need an escort? We would be more than happy to take you back to Tolbi if you need us to.”

Isaac appreciated the generosity, but firmly shook his head, “You are already well on your way home. I would not want you to turn back now.”

Ashton smiled, “You are very generous, Isaac. I hope our paths will cross again.”

“As do I,” answered Isaac, “Good luck in your journey home.”

Ashton nodded at all four of them, “It was good to meet all of you. I will be sure to tell those in Lalivero of your story. It will not be forgotten,” he then turned to face east, “But for now, this is goodbye.”

Isaac shook hands with him again, “Goodbye Ashton and good luck to all of you.”

Isaac watched as the group of men walked away. It seemed that he had entered a different world, separate from the one that had antagonized him over the course of this journey. It appeared things were finally going back to the way they should be, back to normal. He then turned back to the east, and without a word, set off again in the direction of Tolbi.

It was not long before the long-awaited city came into view. And beholding the sight before them, all four of them stopped in wonder. It was very different from the dismal sight that Isaac had seen only days before. The tents had been taken down, the majestic walls of Tolbi’s buildings in plain view once again. In the center of the town stood the Colosseum, its white stone reflecting the pale sun. And all around the city, new life was springing up where the soldiers had trampled it only days before. These soldiers could be seen now scurrying around Tolbi, restoring the city that Babi had envisioned.

Garet took a step forward, “Well this is certainly a pleasant surprise.”

Staring at the city still, Jenna answered, “It’s magnificent, just like it used to be.”

Isaac silently agreed. Even with Ashton’s warning, nothing could have prepared him for the change that had literally happened overnight. The city he had seen from the ship was gone, and it was clear that Alex’s influence had been eradicated. As he looked at Tolbi, more than ever he wanted the rest of his party beside him. Felix, Sheba, and Piers; it would be so good to see them again.

And the afternoon sun above him told Isaac that he didn’t have to wait long.

~

[TheEnglishman]

Yay! Pats on the back for everyone! Is this the end or is there something more to come?

[Sea of Time]

Sea_of_Time, on Apr 14 2007, 04:09 PM, said:

I'll tell you when it's the end, don't worry about that.

[TheEnglishman]

Well to be fair that post was made all the way back in April. Looking forward to the rest then!

[Platinum Sun]

It's good to see that you're still going. It seems like there's something that I was going to work on this week but never got around to...

*Gets puppy eyes from ATS*

Ah, whatever it is, I'll do it later.

[Sea of Time]

Chapter 52

Piers’ sleep was dreamless, just as it had been for the last three nights. After his encounter with Maskah, he had been moved to a different cell block, away from Sheba. Lonely and anxious, he was starting to doubt that Isaac would ever come for him. The situation was hopeless, Maskah seemed much too stong for even their full party, and without four adepts, Isaac didn’t stand a chance.

His internal clock told him that it was night, but he could not sleep. Wincing, he opened his eyes to look at the black ceiling above him. The pain in his back had only worsened in the three nights he had spent on the stone floor of his cell. But grimacing, he sat up anyway. His eyes automatically moved to the only thing visible in the darkness around him, the Hydros Blade. Piers’ conversation with Alex still seemed somewhat surreal. Alex had not appeared villanous at all, rather he seemed inspired and excited. But it was Alex’s actions that still could not penetrate Piers’ conscious. He had killed Mia, and Piers knew one fact remained true. Mia was gone. And then Alex had delivered the news. He was leaving Tolbi, abandoning the city he had worked so hard to build. Piers shook his head in the dark, still looking at the Hydros Blade, trying to convince himself that Alex, the man they had pursued across Weyard, was now out of their reach.

Reality seemed estranged to Piers. He was now alone, separate from the party he had traveled with, a party he had no current knowledge of. Questions racked his mind. Was Isaac even alive? What of the other three? And what had happened to Felix after Shaman Village?

As these questions pestered and consumed him, a blinding light appeared suddenly from the distant doorway, filling the hallway with light for the first time in three days. Squinting, Piers tried to find the source of the light. A sudden fear came to him. Had Maskah returned? Had he come to finish off the prisoners? Ignoring the pain in his back, Piers grabbed the Hydros Blade and jumped to his feet, retreating to the corner of his cell. He would be ready for any and all comers. He would not go down without a fight.

On the other side of the hallway, he saw the shadow of an approaching figure. It appeared that the figure was not in robes, but was wearing a helmet. Mind racing, Piers guessed that Maskah had sent soldiers to do his dirty work. Gritting his teeth, Piers called out, “Who goes there?”

A man’s voice answered him from the hallway, “A soldier of Tolbi,” the shadow of the man stopped in his tracks, “and I come in peace, not to harm you or your friends.”

Piers silently scoffed at the soldier’s obvious lie. With a newfound sense of confidence, he called out in response, “What, does your master expect me to give myself up that easily?”

The soldier, still standing at a fair distance, answered, “I do not think you understand Piers, I no longer have a master. Tolbi has entered an age of freedom.”

Piers could not believe it, but there seemed to be truth in the soldier’s voice, “What do you mean an age of freedom, what has become of Maskah?”

“The graybeard man has been defeated,” answered the soldier as he approached Piers’ cell, “he was killed in Kalay by a great force.”

A great force…could it be Isaac?

Piers slowly moved to the bars of his cell, now trusting the intruding soldier, “Tell me,” he started slowly, “have you seen or heard of a man named Isaac in your city?”

The soldier took another step forward, and Piers could see the man’s face for the first time. He was smiling. “I have, Piers. It was Isaac who sent for me to release you. He is waiting for you now.”

Piers’ heart skipped a beat. Isaac was here in Tolbi! Putting his hands on the bars, excited, he asked, “Who is with him? Were there others?”

The soldier’s smile remained intact, “Yes. There was a red-haired girl and boy, Jenna and Garet. Then there was a shorter blonde one, Ivan. Another one of my kin is releasing Sheba as we speak.”

It was as if he was floating above the clouds. It was real. All the fighting, all the hardships, all of that was now over. Weyard had been freed. Piers smiled genuinely for the first time in weeks, “Well let’s not keep them waiting then!”

And returning the smile, the soldier approached the cell, key in hand, and opened the heavy lock that had been placed there three nights before. As the cell door swung open, the man continued to speak, “My name is Morley, by the way.”

Piers picked the Hydros Blade off of the ground and walked out of the cell, grinning and replying, “It’s great to meet you, Morley.”

“I was born and raised in Tolbi,” Morley said proudly, “and if you’ll follow me, I’ll lead you to the man who saved my life and my city.”

~

Isaac was trying to soak it all in, but was having more of a difficult time than he had anticipated. He was in the throne room of the castle that was once Babi’s. He was seated at the back of the room, with the other three in identical chairs beside him. In front of them were three of Tolbi’s soldiers, all of whom were giving their account of what had transpired in Tolbi since Alex’s arrival. All of the information was intriguing, but none of it surprising. Isaac, through word of mouth, had learned of all of Alex’s public actions. Now somewhat impatient with this old news, Isaac felt the need to interrupt the soldiers’ constant flow of words.

“…and so Alex told me to lock up Piers in a cell, telling me that he would deal with the adept later…”

“Hold on…” Isaac tried to be as amiable as possible, “when did you say we were going to see the other three again?”

The soldier on the left answered politely, “My colleague Morley will return with your kin any minute now.”

Just as the words were said, the door of the throne room swung open and three figures entered the room. One of them was a soldier, but the other two were people Isaac had long waited to see. The soldier, Morley stepped out of the way and called another soldier over to him. Isaac immediately stood up at the sight of his two friends. Piers was there, looking somewhat battered with a cut on his cheek. He was holding a long blue sword that Isaac had never seen before. And Sheba was also there, looking more healthy than Isaac had ever seen her. Emotion welled up inside Isaac as he looked upon the faces he had traveled half a world to see. Without a word, he walked up and embraced each of them in turn. The other three followed suit behind him.

After all the greetings were through, Isaac took a step back and looked each of them in the eye. He let out a sigh of relief, “It’s so good to see both of you again.”

Piers smiled sincerely and responded, “I hear that great things have happened since our last conversation.”

Isaac smiled and was about to answer before Garet cut him off with a loud sigh, “Don’t make us tell this story for the hundredth time.”

At this comment, everyone in the throne room laughed and Isaac chuckled while replying, “You both will hear the story before you leave here, I’m sure,” his eyes were once again drawn to the blade in Piers’ hand, “I have not seen this blade before. Where did you come across it?”

Piers looked down at the blade and then back up at Isaac, “I suppose I will have to tell my story before you tell yours…”

But before Piers could give his account, one of the soldiers, Morley, stepped between the two reunited parties. “I don’t mean to interject,” he started, looking specifically at Isaac, “but I have some bad news concerning your friend Felix.”

Isaac suddenly realized how blind he had been. With growing concern, he interuppted, “Where is Felix?”

Morley frowned and responded, “I’m afraid he’s not in the castle. In fact, my men could not find him anywhere in the city.”

Looking quickly to his right at Jenna, Isaac saw the identical look of shock that was spread across his face, “But we were told that he was alive and in captivity, here in this castle!”

One of the other soldiers nodded, “Indeed that was true. I was the one who placed him in the mayor’s quarters.”

Morley, who had been looking at the other soldier, looked back at Isaac, “He was not in the mayor’s quarters, nor was he anywhere else we expected him to be.”

Isaac was now frantic with despair. He had been on enough of an up and down journey to this point. It was supposed to be over. And Felix was supposed to be there with them, celebrating in victory, “Did you check everywhere? Are you sure he’s not in the city?”

Morley shook his head, “I’m sorry. We have scoured this city to the fullest extent. He is gone.”

Suddenly confused, Isaac couldn’t understand how Felix could just disappear into thin air. He had to be somewhere, if not here, then somewhere in Weyard. More questions came to his mind, but before he could ask anything, Morley continued after a long pause.

“If he was taken from here…” he started, obviously sorting out his thoughts, “then there is only one possible culprit…”

The answer was so obvious, so simple. Only one man had left the city since Felix was captured. Only one man knew Felix’s location at all times. With sudden realization, Isaac breathed, “Alex.”

Piers took a step forward, “Two days ago, Alex came to me while I was in my cell. He left me this sword, but he also left a message,” he turned to Isaac, “he told me that he was leaving Tolbi and…and he told me that you, Isaac, cannot follow him.”

Isaac turned to Piers, surprised, “Is this your account…what else did he say?”

“That was it,” answered Piers, “after that, he just left. I never saw him again.”

Isaac knew now what he had to do. He didn’t care what Alex had or hadn’t said to try and sway him. He would pursue Alex, to the end of the world. He took a step towards the door, “I don’t care what he says. We have to pursue him. We have to get Felix back.”

He didn’t care that he was fatigued. He didn’t care that Tolbi’s men expected all of them to stay. His friend was in danger, and they had to save Felix. But as he made up his mind, a female voice spoke for the first time. It was Sheba.

“Isaac…I’m afraid that’s impossible.”

~

[Toasty]

You should turn this into a book, sell it, and get a lawyer to keep Ninty of your back for stealing one of their franchises.

[FlamingDuck]

Drama drama drama...I guess Mia is totally dead then? No wimpy comebacks?

[Platinum Sun]

She is dead and buried dude, cuz SoT has got the balls to whack someone for real yo!

[Toasty]

No, she'll come back as a really hot and sexy zombie, and go off with Garet.....somewhere.

[Legendary Dragon of Golden Sun]

omfg! How long has it been since i was last here?

Finally i found my way back here. Somehow i was not able to log in every time i came. Luckily I figured out my username so its all good. I'm back ppl! Sorry that i have not been around.

Ok I have caught up from where i left off, I am impressed indeed how this story has turned out. I love it, SOT you have done a good job so far.

I still am saddened with the death of Mia from before though. But the way you have made it dramatic in the characters is by far excellant. Isaac brought the death of Massah like no other with the Golden Sun.

I wonder if Mia could come back to life. It could be possible.

I think you should introduce a monster, another foe. Maybe seeing as Alex is haunted by the many demons that he becomes those demons combined.

[Sea of Time]

After much time off, I'm back and ready to finish this thing. I can confirm that after this chapter (53), there will be two more. Then it's done. In the meantime, enjoy 53.

~

Chapter 53

The determination Isaac felt seemed to falter as he heard Sheba speak from behind him. He had expected all five of the others to be completely agreeable to the undertaking of returning Felix to his home. And he had not expected Sheba to speak up, especially at this time.

He turned around quickly at her words, “What do you mean impossible?”

Sheba took a step towards Isaac, “I too have seen Alex since my capture. He came to me before he left this city, and I fully remember our encounter, even if my mind was still at war.”

Isaac looked at her incredulously, “You met with Alex? Why haven’t you spoken of this before?”

Sheba was not fazed at all, “I had to let you come to your decision by yourself. I did not want to disclose my information until the right time.”

Isaac was both angry and curious, “And what information is that?”

“Alex came to me depressed and confused, that much was very clear by the state of his mind. He came to my cell with a request, a request to look into his future. To see what road lay ahead of him. I agreed, knowing that if I were to see his future, I would be granted access to his mind. I would be able to see Alex’s past, present, and future.”

Isaac was more than surprised, “So you saw his mind…what did you see?”

Sheba inhaled slightly, “I saw an immense sadness when I entered his mind. The depression was consuming, and as I looked at his memory, I immediately saw why. I watched him kill Mia, I watched it from his eyes, the brutal savagery. He had used an ancient psynergy to kill her, something I have never seen before. But he had not wanted her to die, he still loved her just as he had so many years before. And I realized then why he had come to me. He no longer wanted to be in Tolbi, he wanted to leave and forget all about Mia. So he wanted to see what was ahead of him, to know how it all would end.”

“And you…” Isaac was motionless, “you saw Alex’s future?”

“I did. But that is not all I saw. Through Alex, I saw Felix’s future. They were the same, Alex and Felix, their futures somehow intertwined.”

In utter silence, Isaac opened his mouth and immediately closed it again. He did not want to speak. He had to hear what Sheba had to say. And she continued.

“…I saw a Lemurian ship sailing a calm Western Sea. Alex was leaning over the edge, Felix was motionless in the cabin. Suddenly the waves started to take the ship. It started to pull the ship towards the Falls at the end of the world. Then my vision went black. All I could see was Alex, his arms outstretched, falling. And then…” she paused and faltered, looking unsure, “..th-that was all I saw.”

Isaac finally spoke at Sheba’s conclusion, “What does this mean?”

Sheba did not answer for a moment, but eventually spoke, “I looked into Alex’s future and I saw death. I believe he took Felix with him,” she paused, taking a deep, shuddering breath, “You cannot pursue them…because they are both dead.”

Isaac felt faint. He knew Sheba was right, when she had full presence of mind, she was never wrong. But he had been so hopeful when he heard Felix was still alive. He had sworn to get him back. But now, the intense sadness had returned. Felix was dead. And this time, there was no way to get him back.

Sheba spoke again, “I’m sorry, Isaac. That’s why it is impossible.”

Isaac blinked away the tears, “I understand. Thank you.” He looked to his right again, and he saw the rest of his party. They were all clearly devastated, their feelings once again united by loss. Isaac’s eyes turned from them, unable to take their sorrow.

At the back of the throne room, there was a gallery window that looked out onto the beautiful Karagol Sea. Beyond the sea, Isaac saw Angara, the rolling hills and plains of his homeland. And on the horizon, Isaac saw the ocean. As he took in the view, Isaac, through watery eyes, saw Weyard as he had never seen it. This land had suffered so much loss, so much tribulation. And yet, through the deaths of those close to him and those he had never met, Weyard had once again become a land of opportunity. Felix may have left them, but with him he had taken the last evil remaining in the world.

Everything happens for a reason. Felix died to save Weyard.

And as Isaac looked once again towards Angara and his hometown, far in the distance hidden by mountains, he knew in his sadness what it was time to do. It was time to go home.

Isaac looked back at the five adepts beside him, “It is time then…for us to return to Vale.”

At his words they all looked up as if the word ‘home’ was foreign to them. Then out of the corner of the room, Morley approached Isaac once again. His voice was filled with pity and remorse, “I am sorry for your loss, Isaac. But there is one more thing I must show you before you leave here.”

Isaac wondered what more bad news could be given, and solemnly nodded.

As if reading his mind, Morley continued, “I think that this discovery will be much more pleasant, though.”

So Isaac, feeling a little more reassured, beckoned for the other five to follow as Morley led them out of the throne room. Isaac glanced one more time out the gallery window, and knew that fate had brought them here. Fate had presented this situation. And fate would lead them home.

Morley led them down the stairs to the main floor. As he walked, his voice carried to all the adepts’ waiting ears, “I will be leading you to the Colosseum. There you will find what you’ve been looking for.” And so, true to his word, he led them out of the castle and into the city plaza. It appeared just as it had five years before, the fountain flowing and reflecting the sun overhead, the townspeople setting up their stands, getting ready to start sales once again. Noticing their wandering eyes, Morley spoke once again, “This city has been through a lot in the past year,” he then laughed, “but Colosso is in two weeks and our city’s residents have no intention of cancelling it!”

Isaac watched as women and men alike set up food stands, psychic booths, and game tents all around the plaza. He smiled and shared their feeling of resurgence, nothing could break down the tradition of a city if its people are willing to uphold it.

Ahead of them, the Colosseum grew closer and closer, its immense size daunting to any tourist. Isaac looked upon the massive stone structure with awe, no less impresse than he was on the first day he saw it. Ahead of them, Morley pushed open the gates, ushering them into the clay arena. In the centre of the empty stadium was a group of people, dressed in simple clothing, all of them turning to look at the newcomers.

Isaac smiled at the familiar faces. They were the released prisoners, those taken from the towns of Vault and Vale. And in the front of the group stood three people Isaac thought he would never see again. Isaac was filled with sudden emotion as he walked quickly towards the short woman with sandy hair, the tall brown-haired man, and the baby in the woman’s arms, wrapped tightly in a blanket.

He felt Jenna beside him as they approached his family. Her arm was around his as she repeated between tears, “My baby…”

Finally they stood face to face. Without a word, Doris handed the baby carefully to Jenna, whispering quietly, “He’s yours now.” Then she slowly turned to Isaac, looking him in the eyes for a moment before silently beginning to cry. “Oh Isaac!” she exclaimed, running up to him and hugging him tightly, “Thank you…thank you so much.”

Isaac returned the hug, filled with happiness at the sight of his mother, “I’m so glad you’re alright Mom.”

Beside her, Kyle took a step forward, smiling at Isaac, “We owe you our lives, Isaac. If you had come any later, Alex would have had us all killed.”

Isaac turned to his father, nodding, “Lucky for us, Alex has deserted Tolbi and will not be killing anyone else.”

Doris suddenly turned serious and pulled back from Isaac’s hug, “Isaac, why isn’t the whole party here? Where are Felix and Mia?”

Isaac felt his heart turn again as he thought of his fallen comrades. He turned to Jenna, communicating without words for her to tell his family the bad news. With Grant in her arms, she nodded, turning to look Doris and Kyle in the eyes.

“Our journey has taken us to every corner of the world, and sadly we faced an opponent stronger than ourselves. Mia and Felix were both taken from us by Maskah, the man who imprisoned you. Alex killed Mia here in Tolbi, and then took Felix with him as he killed himself on the Western Sea,” tears started to roll from her swollen eyes, as she spoke Felix’s name, “I’m sorry but both Mia and Felix are dead.”

Kyle and Doris both let out silent gasps. Kyle had turned pale at Jenna’s words. Doris covered her mouth with her hand, whispering, “That can’t be…”

The silence suffocated them for a moment before Isaac decided it was right for him to speak up, “We were forced to bury Mia outside of Contigo. As for Felix, his body is far out of our reach now.”

“That’s horrible,” croaked Kyle, as he turned his pale face to Jenna, “I’m so sorry, Jenna. Felix was such a great man, and I’m sure an incredible brother.”

Jenna nodded, sniffling, “He would’ve wanted to die the way he did, I think. He loved the unknown, and now going over the Falls will be his final adventure.”

“So that means…” continued Kyle, “That Alex is dead? He went over the Falls as well?”

Isaac nodded slowly, “After he killed Mia, Alex was filled with remorse and decided to leave Tolbi. He took Felix with him and while on the Western Sea, he decided to take his own life and take his ship over the Gaia Falls.”

“Poor Mia,” whispered Doris, still clearly in shock, “I thought she was a lovely young lady, after getting to know her following the Golden Sun’s rising.”

“She had been incredible for us during the first part of our journey,” replied Isaac, “she was so optimistic, even at the darkest times.”

“Well when we return to Vale, we will have a proper funeral for both Mia and Felix,” said Kyle strongly, “It’s only fair to give such great young adepts a fitting send-off.”

Jenna sniffed and looked up from Grant to smile at Kyle, “That’s a great idea. Felix would have wanted that.”

“And I’m sure the people of Imil will want to attend and give their respects to Mia,” added Isaac, thinking out loud, still feeling strange as he accepted the deaths of his two friends.

There was a moment of silence as the four of them remembered the lost adepts. Isaac looked around and saw the rest of his party, spread out and conversing with the other villagers from Vale and Vault. They were all together now, with no evil to rip them apart and capture them. It was reassuring for Isaac. The journey had been long and difficult, but for it to finally come to this point, where he can be with his family in peace, was a great accomplishment.

“Well, Isaac,” said Doris quietly with a small smile, “are you ready to rebuild Vale again?”

Isaac smiled back at her as he remembered the next challenge ahead of them. With their hometown in ashes, Vale would need to be built again from the ground up, just as it had five years before, “Of course I’m ready. Home is home, and I know that all of us are willing to help get the town back into shape before we go our separate ways.”

Jenna turned to look at the other four, Ivan, Piers and Sheba with the mayor of Vault, and Garet off to the side with his family. For the first time since she had heard Sheba’s story, she felt at ease. They were all together now, and they had done what they set out to do. With her child in her arms, this is all she could have asked for.

If only Felix had been here with me…

Suddenly realizing that the silence was growing between the four of them, she turned around to face them, “We should get the others together. I don’t know about how you guys feel, but I know that just seeing Vale again, whether it’s livable or not, will lift my spirits considerably.”

They all nodded, and Kyle smiled, “I certainly agree with that. Anything better than a prison cell sounds good right about now.”

They all smiled at this, and Isaac turned around and led them back to where the others were. In no time at all, he had the townspeople and the adepts ready at the gate. There was only one plan they could follow. They would walk to Vault, leave the people from that town, and then continue to Vale. Both towns needed rebuilding, but since it had been done once, this was definitely not an impossible task.

Morley reappeared again to open the gates for them, and pulling Isaac aside one last time, he shook his hand one last time and said, “Thank you again for all you have done, Isaac. I’m sorry about your losses, and if you ever need any consolation or just a place to visit, Tolbi is always open to you and all of your party. I have prepared a ship at the Docks to take you all home, I hope you will find it comfortable.”

Isaac nodded and returned his enthusiastic smile, “I appreciate that, and I thank you for freeing my family and also for returning this town to its former state. I’m sure you have a great future ahead of you.”

Morley nodded and gestured towards the Karagol Sea, “And now I will send you home. Goodbye and good luck, brave adepts!”

The six of them leading the way all exchanged this statement with goodbyes of their own, and turning to the road ahead of them, they started off towards home.

Isaac led them out of the town and slowly but surely, they followed the gravel path towards the Docks. From here, the Karagol Sea looked huge, with the sun glinting and reflecting off the water, the blue mixing perfectly with the bright green trees lining the coast, and the brown grass that surrounded them. In the distance to his left and right, mountains lined the horizon, guarding Angara from the rest of the world. As he realized their security, Isaac remembered that this was their haven. Here they were safe from any harm, safe from the rest of the world. The picturesque scene in front of him reminded him of home, and the intense longing in his heart returned as he remembered Vale.

They had come across the world to this point. They had traveled both oceans, lost two of their party, and defeated a seemingly impossible foe. And it was all for this moment. He was with his family and friends, the people he had grown up with and the people who had become his second family. Even when the six of them would go their separate ways, they could never truly be apart. They would always be brought together by their experiences. This journey had been a great test of their friendship. They had been separated, captured, and killed. And yet here they were, binded by loss, trust, and the belief that Weyard’s peace is something that’s worth fighting for.

Weyard was safe now. Isaac knew that as long as he lived, that peace would reign this world he had grown to love. All the evils of his generation had been eradicated. The world was now in the hands of the wise, with no possible interference.

And now they were headed home, to the place it had all began. It seemed like a lifetime ago when he had read that letter from Tolbi in town square. They had come full circle. But during this journey, they had learned more about the world, and more about themselves. They had learned new strengths, and been subjected to new weaknesses. But they had shown in the end, that they had what it takes to defeat even the strongest evil. Now, in mere hours, they would be in Vale. And although it would take a while for normality to set in, just the simple fact of being home would be enough for the six of them.

And taking in the sight of Angara one last time, then looking around at the smiling faces on those around him, Isaac couldn’t help but swell with joy.

~

[Folcon]

Very nicly written. This sounds like a good point for it to end, but if there are two more chapters, then they better be good.

[Legendary Dragon of Golden Sun]

Well I must admit, a nice finishing conclusion there but, like you said there is 2 more chapters remaining so my guess is something is going to happen before its home-free for our adepts. Good job SOT, I wondered when the next chapter would come along. *whistles* certainly been a long time since I was last here. But I had problems logging in but that's all fixed now.

[Sea of Time]

Chapter 54

One year later…

Isaac took one look around the room and slowly sat down in the chair behind him. He slumped back into the chair, looking at the contents of the desk before him. It was an old cherry desk, dusty from lack of use, but still with a hint of shine underneath. There were a few letters strewn across the desk, the scrawl different on each one of them. They were in no particular order, and there were not very many of them. They were just there, waiting for someone to file them or simply read them. Isaac suddenly felt very alone as he looked at the many scrawls on those simple pieces of paper.

This old room held so many memories. Isaac sighed as his eyes strayed from the desk. The foggy window let in a stream of sunlight, illuminating the creaky floorboards that Isaac had once hidden many treasures under. The light spread across the room and revealed the tall bookshelf, looming large above all the other furniture in the room. The books of Alchemy were there, just as they had been for twenty years. Isaac remembered Kraden, the man who had tought him all he knew. They had shared many things, and although Kraden had been old enough to be his grandfather, Isaac always viewed him as another friend.

Kraden would have wanted to be there. He would’ve wanted to see what I’ve become.

Isaac knew that after defeating Maskah, he had become something greater. More than he had been before. He had realized his ability, the one that had been granted to him by the Wise One, the power that had been entrusted to him. Yet the ability had made him feel different. Ever since he had resettled in Vale and returned to living in peace, he had felt more on edge. It was like a constant adrenaline, he always wanted to use the power, always wanting to unleash it one more time. He would walk around the town for hours, talking with anyone he could find. He would go for runs in the morning, just to keep his mind off the power and keep his body working. If he sat down in one place for too long, he would start getting a nervous twitch. It was unsettling. He was constantly reliving that moment.

The Sol Blade erupts into flames. I raise it above my head and plunge it into Maskah’s heart. He falls to his knees and gasps. And then he falls to the ground in a heap, dead.

So much had transpired in the year since Maskah had died. When their party had returned to Vale, they immediately set to work rebuilding it. Through a tremendous amount of work, they were able to resurrect the town again, renewing it just as Isaac had remembered it. It was almost like nothing had changed. It was somewhat eerie, but also reassuring. After Vale’s reconstruction had been completed, Isaac had had to say farewell to many of his friends, all of them returning to their respective homes. Ivan had left for Contigo, wanting to return to Hamma and continue to grow as a Jupiter adept. Piers had left in the night, taking the ship and returning to the seas. Isaac had noticed Piers grow apart from the other five towards the end of the rebuilding process. He too missed Mia’s presence, and Isaac knew that her death affected him more than anyone else. And Sheba, rather than returning to Lalivero and Faran, set out to journey the world. She wanted to learn more about Weyard, and to continue her insights into human behaviour. She had become very smart, but was always looking for ways to improve her intellect.

As for Garet, he found a woman. Her name was Janice. She was originally from Kalay, but after Garet visited the city and met her, she agreed to return home with him. They were planning on becoming married early next year. Isaac knew they could only be happy together, he had never seen Garet more sure of anything in his life.

Isaac and Jenna had settled down in a new house, along with Grant. They were always busy raising their child, who was catapulting into the realm of toddler right before their eyes. Garet would often visit them and comment on Grant’s growth, he was quite a healthy size for his age. But Isaac would always be proud of his son, and would always love him no matter what.

Since the departure of the other three, life had been quiet in Vale. Isaac would often return here, to his old house to visit his parents and to visit with his old memories. It helped him keep his mind off of Sol’s power. He knew in his heart he would never again get a chance to use his abilities. His time was over now.

He stood up as he came to this conclusion. He had saved the world. He had taken the last evil and banished it off of the very edges of Weyard. Now he would grow old in peace, with a loving family and many faithful friends. Part of him did not want this to be his ending, but he would accept it.

A map of Weyard was fixed to his wall. He looked at it and took in the massive size of the world. Yet here he was, he had changed its entirety. He had made it better. From Vale to Prox, the many peoples of this world could now get into their beds every night knowing that when they woke up, they would not have to worry about their lives being at risk. They would not have to worry about unknown powers kidnapping women and children from their homes. They could be completely at peace. They could carry on with their lives as they always had.

Weyard had been saved. Its people had been saved. And Isaac’s time was now over. For six years he had led his friends around the world, fighting for the side of good in two separate quests. Both of them had taken a toll, and both of them had been a success. Now their party was no longer needed. Isaac would step down and let peace take reign over this world.

And under the common flag of unity and trust, its future would be long and prosperous.

~

One chapter to go.

[Folcon]

Wow. What more can I say. This story could realy make a good GS3.

[Legendary Dragon of Golden Sun]

escout, on Sep 26 2007, 03:32 AM, said:

Wow. What more can I say. This story could realy make a good GS3.

Indeed, I look forward to the final chapter.

[Sea of Time]

At last, the story is finished. Before I get all sentimental and stuff, here's the final chapter, or more appropriately...the epilogue.

~

Epilogue

“You will live…outside of reality…outside of pain…inside the essence, the emotions.”

A familiar voice rang in his ears. But who was it?

“Spirit.”

He had never heard these words before. Why were they haunting him now? He tried to open his eyes, tried to see where the words were coming from. But his eyes stayed shut. All around him was white, the blank landscape running by him at tremendous speeds.

He was falling. Falling through nothing.

Where am I?

But he could not open his eyes to find out. All he could see was white behind his eyelids. Not the black of blindness, but a reassuring white. Still he fell.

A pit in his stomach grew as he felt himself speeding up as he fell. He felt himself twisting, turning in the air.

If it is air.

The last thing he remembered…what did he remember? He had no memory, no recollection of anything before this. He wanted to open his eyes to look at himself, to try to find some identity. But still he could not.

The wind around him burned his ears as he sped up still. When would he find ground?

Am I going to die?

As the thought of death entered him, a blinding heat entered his body. The flame seemed to burn his flesh and enter his very being.

What’s happening to me?

But he did not scream in pain as he felt the flame enter his body. He felt almost at peace, even though he was experiencing tremendous pain. He turned and twisted in the air, always speeding up.

This flame, this burning, entered his mind. Behind his closed eyelids, he saw the sun, feeling its heat, watching the rivulets stream from it. The sun grew in his mind and as it did, he slowed down. He continued to fall, but he was no longer falling so fast. He could not understand what was happening, but all he knew was the feeling was right. This was good.

He continued to slow down…coming closer to his destination. He knew now that there was a destination, somewhere he had to stop. He knew nothing about this place, all he knew was he belonged there. The flame was extinguished. He did not feel its pain.

His body stopped twisting and turning, and he moved to a standing position. And then he stopped. He felt solid ground under his feet.

And his eyes opened.

Before him was an endless field. There were no trees, no plants, only an endless flat plain of grass. There was no sun shining overhead, yet the plain was perfectly lit. He turned around in a full circle, and the field was on all sides of him. He could see no horizon, only white in the distance.

This is my destination.

He looked down at himself. He was clothed in a clean brown shirt, with heavy pants and black boots. Around his back was a green cape.

And as he looked at himself, he remembered his identity. Who he was.

I am Felix.

His past was still lost to him, he could not remember anything before this moment. But he knew this was where he was supposed to be.

Suddenly, a feeling of boundless energy entered him and following its direction he set off at a jog in the direction he was facing. He had no idea what he would find, but he felt no tire in his legs as he increased his pace to a run. In fact, he did not feel himself tire at all.

So he continued to run through the grassy plain. The grass was a perfect green. Every blade identical. Every blade perfect. As he ran, he heard those words in his mind again.

“Outside of pain…inside the essence…the emotions.”

That voice…that voice had known this place. He had found it himself. But the voice had known about it before him. The idea was intriguing but Felix didn’t feel downtrodden at all as he continued to run.

He looked ahead of him and saw an object in the distance. It was impossible to miss and as he ran closer he realized what it was.

It was a ship.

The ship was on the grass, its head facing Felix as he ran. Still Felix ran closer. Something was there waiting for him.

It was a decorated ship, clearly crafted by the fine makers. It was perfectly clean and the metal helm reflected the white above him.

Finally he slowed down and approached the ship without caution. He knew this was right. He had to be here.

He went to the right side of the ship and where the ornate railing would have been, he found a man. The man who stood there just stared at him as Felix stared back. He had not expected to find another man here, it seemed like such an empty place.

This was my place.

He recognized the man before him though. The blue hair, blue eyes, the piercing stare. Yes, this man’s name was Alex. He remembered this man…although he could not remember for what purpose.

“Felix…” said Alex slowly.

Felix nodded slowly, Alex apparently recognized him too.

“Felix, we have arrived.”

He was right. They had arrived. At where he did not know, but that was immaterial. This entire place was perfect, nothing could possibly go wrong here.

“Yes, we have reached our destination,” replied Felix firmly, “But what is this place called?”

Alex looked around with a thoughtful gaze for a few minutes, then turned back to Felix, a sincere smile on his face, “This place is the final frontier for all mankind. The one world that exists in our minds, the world where our thoughts travel to when we are in need. But we only come here in death. The material world, Weyard, is gone.”

Felix listened to every word and savoured it like honey on his tongue. He was speaking the truth. And it was beautiful.

“I have explored this world,” continued Alex, “And there are others like you and I, adepts from Weyard’s past. Those who have given their physical bodies for nobility and peace. They have stayed here and are eternally happy.”

Felix then remembered his other friends, the seven adepts he left behind on Weyard. As he thought of them, he did not miss them, nor did he long for them, but he felt enough curiosity to bring them up, “What of the other seven? What of Isaac’s party?”

Alex smiled, “Do not miss them, Felix, for they will be here when their time comes as well. We have earned our right to be here, we have taken power and controlled it for both ourselves and those around us. Now we exist eternally in this spirit, forever bound by our past and our future.”

Felix looked around, the fields sprawling out before his eyes. In the distance, a forest could be seen clinging to the horizon. A world of discovery lay out before him, and he couldn’t wait to explore it for himself. He felt like a child again, his innocence returned to him in this perfect world. Without a care, he would continue to live in this world, to live inside his emotions.

Like water from a bubbling spring, Felix’s happiness in that moment was pure. No other thought entered his mind as he asked one final question, “What is this place called, Alex?”

Alex looked at him with curiosity for a moment, then turned to the ship.

“You have come here over the Gaia Falls, Felix, to a place that is above any name. Yet the people here have given it a simple one,” answered Alex with a smile and a long sweeping gesture at the land around them.

“This is Treyana, and Felix, I welcome you with all my heart.”

~

[Folcon]

Wow. That is a nice ending SoT. It made the wait worth it. So, when are you going to start your next story, if there is another?

[Ironsight]

Agreed, this is one of the best fanfics I've ever read before. Great ending SoT. Great story overall. NOt much more I can say with out repeating myself and everyone else.

escout, on Nov 19 2007, 12:24 PM, said:

Wow. That is a nice ending SoT. It made the wait worth it. So, when are you going to start your next story, if there is another?

I'm pretty sure he said this was his last one

[Sea of Time]

Yes, as far as fanfiction goes, this is most likely the last one I ever do. I may start a new work of fiction, I may not. What I do know is that my passion lies in non-fiction and writing on world events. That's what made this story so difficult to finish, because my writing styles have changed in the past year or so.

Anyways, I just want to thank everyone who read this story, from Me111 and Eugine at the beginning to escout and legendary dragon at the end, and everyone in between. Thank you for keeping me going on this and making sure I saw it through.

If I find spare time, I'll be working on re-mastering and re-working this fanfic and posting it on fanfiction.net. If I do this, I'll post updates right here so you guys can be the first to see it.

Thank you again.

[TheEnglishman]

Aww that's alright buddy, it's been a pleasure reading it.

[Legendary Dragon of Golden Sun]

Sea of Time, on Nov 21 2007, 03:18 AM, said:

Yes, as far as fanfiction goes, this is most likely the last one I ever do. I may start a new work of fiction, I may not. What I do know is that my passion lies in non-fiction and writing on world events. That's what made this story so difficult to finish, because my writing styles have changed in the past year or so.

Anyways, I just want to thank everyone who read this story, from Me111 and Eugine at the beginning to escout and legendary dragon at the end, and everyone in between. Thank you for keeping me going on this and making sure I saw it through.

If I find spare time, I'll be working on re-mastering and re-working this fanfic and posting it on fanfiction.net. If I do this, I'll post updates right here so you guys can be the first to see it.

Thank you again.

Aww thanks mate. Yeah it's no problem. This was indeed an excellant fanfiction to read and the ending was good. So basically it's what you might call Heaven is Triyana (or whatever the name of it was where Gaia Falls ends).

I think it was a great story and kept me reading until I had to wait for the next chapter to load up. But I was not so hassled. I knew you would finish it in the end and you did. Congratulations SOT. You have come far in writing up this fanfic. This is the one and only I have read relating to Golden Sun 3 and is an impressive job. A worthy story to read. Well done SOT.

[The Sea King]

I can't say no to a fan fic. :D

[Platinum Sun]

I can't believe that it took me so long to get around to reading this. I immediately regretted not doing it sooner. You've made death into less of an end, and more of a beginning. The start to an ultimate peace for all time. I salute you.

[Drizzy Drake]

Damn, took you 2 years to finish. Only read up to chapter 2. Good so far.

[Folcon]

and how far into the story are you?

[Drizzy Drake]

*Points to last post*

Chapter 2.

[Sea of Time]

Hopefully you get into it, because the writing quality goes up as I get older. I really dislike the dialogue in the first ten chapters, I find it lame. The edited version that'll be on FF.net kills off some of it.

[Folcon]

you could put the edited chapters in here too you know.

[Eugine]

Gio is reading the entire Fanfiction x.x

[Gio]

Yes I am reading the entire thing. I have to stop for right now because I have to give my eyes a rest. I am at chapter 37 right now and it only took me about an hour.

[Sea of Time]

Very good! I hope you enjoy the rest of it! :lol:

[Ironsight]

This fanfic is special because it's the reason I registered here.
*tear*

[Folcon]

same here. I really liked it. I took me about a week to read it all the way through because I had school and other stuff, but I enjoyed it.

[Ironsight]

I think it took me about two or three days worth of reading to finish. Well worth it though.

[Gio]

Well I just finished the story and might I say that it is one of the best stories I have ever read. I really enjoyed SoT. It was well worth the time put into reading it.

[TheEnglishman]

It's weird to think that this began only a few months after I joined. Crazy.

[Sea of Time]

Yes, it's been a long, strange trip. Until I can think up a good original storyline, you guys can keep up with my writing by reading my commentary blog. The link is on my profile, and it'll keep up with current events in sports, music, politics, and the like.

Also, I'm going to start work on posting the story to FF.net. Stay tuned. =)

[ZephyrAnalea]

let's see, I started reading this story before my parents left for the gym, which was around six, and it's midnight now, so.. It took six straight hours to read this from start to finish.
I have to go to school tomorrow so I won't leave a critique, but I do congradulate you on writing such a captivating story that could make me lose all sense of time. I must say, this has to be the best GS fanfic I've ever read.
Goodnight!

[ColumMcClelland]

what ive been doing is finding all the chapters and putting them in a Notepad document so i can read them all at once on my PSP, im on chapter 22, and well its great. could of give Felix a more heroic death to tell the truth. i would rather not have him die.. its to sad... haha if Piers dies i will stop reading haha

anyway congrats

btw 76758 words thats alota words

[Split Infinity]

If you think that's a lot, try reading Dawn & Dusk.

[ColumMcClelland]

is it as good as this story?. i will look into this, i never liked reading but damn im only of fanfic.com or something and got a few more story's its like a craven to read now

i aint gonna read them till i finish this story first

chapter 36 am on

any suggestions on whats the best golden sun fics?

[Swedishfish]

hmm...for once i'm actully enjoying a fanfic!

[Sea of Time]

Thanks a lot! I hope you enjoy the rest of it =)

[Drizzy Drake]

hes baaaaaaaaaack.

[David]

I just read this entire thing in one sitting...not sure how long it took me...I'll say maybe 5 hours?

I have to say that this is honestly the best fanfic I've ever read. The best parts were when you were addressing Alex, Felix, and Gaia Falls, both before, during, and after the final plummet. As a Creative Writer at a school for artists, I salute you and bow to your prowess.

[Sea of Time]

Thanks so much David. I'm at university write now looking to major in english. Who knows what'll happen next, but this story will always mark the first time I completed a major literary work, as unoriginal as fanfiction may be.

[David]

Wow, that's so cool. I want to major in English as well, or maybe journalism. Something that will give me experience in writing so that I stand a chance of getting published.

And yeah, I know what you mean. I can't say that I've ever finished writing anything longer than 8 pages or so before, let alone something this massive. Nice job. :)

[Drizzy Drake]

Sea, when you get all big and famous, I'm gonna sell the link to your fanfic on ebay. :).

[Neo]

SoT, amazing fanfiction. I cannot say I have read all chapters. But I will. Maybe a bit stupid, but I also read the last 3 chapters, and I must say; what an ending! Really great. An open ending, yet a closed book. It's over, but there is so much more that can be told. And that is where you left us with only our imagination. That's something I always love about stories.

You have put up an amazing story here. I myself have started many stories, but never got to finish them, as at a certain point I did not like the story anymore. You managed to finish the story, even though your interests have changed, as you said.

My deepest respect for you, SoT! Oh, and may I ask, how many pages is the complete story if you put them all in one document? I'd really like to know that!

[Sea of Time]

I believe the grand total was about 375 in MS Word, definitely a time commitment! But I hold firm that even though it's fanfiction, it was worth my time and stands as a springboard for a possible future in writing.

It's always really great to see overly positive feedback from a veteran member. Thanks a million Neo!

[Sea of Time]

At long last, after hours of editing and hours of being too lazy to put the edited copy up, this story has been completed with a few revisions that I believed needed to be done.

The storyline has not changed at all, and this completed version can be found at fanfiction.net here or you can see it (currently in progress) at GSR's Fanfictions area here.

Thanks again to anyone who's ever supported me, especially your motivational reviews that have given me the drive to finish and continue this story and hopefully a future in writing.

I hope that when you read this, you feel as I did writing this, recalling the great game that Golden Sun was, and mark the possibilities that a third book could have realized.

Enjoy! And never be afraid to leave further comments here in this topic.