A/N Hi, thanks for taking notice of my small fic over here.
I'm not really that much of a writer, plus English is not really my preferred language... so I could only hope it's good enough.
And, yeah, this is mudshipping. I know it's not canon. And that's why I've decided to write about it, not being canon and all that. :)

Enjoy!


Chapter I - Almost Dusk

The unusually harsh gusts of wind scattered in Isaac's room, knocking down his familiar artifact, the once famous 'Sol Blade'. It was quite a gloomy morning for springtime, as Isaac, still half-asleep, was awakened by the noise his sword made... and probably the loud voice of Garet, chatting with his mom just outside their temporary home in Kalay. After all, the ravages that was once Vale was beyond repair. And now, the previous residents sought refuge amongst the neighboring Kalay and Vault.

He lifted the feeling of fatigue as he rose from his bed. Sluggishly, he had a change of clothes before going down the creaky, wooden stairs to see what's with the commotion outside. Quiet mornings are slowly turning out to be a thing of the past in Isaac's book.

"Morning, mum." Isaac partially raised his right hand up in greeting and smiled. "Who were you talking with, earlier? I thought I heard Garet's voice." He covered his mouth after he yawned, remembering Dora's long and harsh lectures about proper manners.

Dora comically pointed at the fleeting image of Garet, already at the horizon, running. "He was apologizing this earliest of mornings." she giggled, making fun of Garet's reaction to Isaac's footfalls down the stairs. "He told me he had other 'stuff' to do so he can't go with you to Imil today."

Isaac had his eyebrows crossed after a painfully lame excuse. "Stuff?" He sarcastically asked.

"Oh, don't take it so hard, dear. You know Garet. He always has stuff to do." She gently pinched Isaac's shoulder. "You don't really need to go to Imil at once, dear. You can wait 'til Garet settles whatever it is, so - cough, cough…. erhm."

The dreaded sound of his mom's sickness was clearly heard while Isaac silently clenched his fists and looked away. They were supposed to go to Imil for the precious Herme's Water, a possible remedy for her condition. And now the trip is on the verge of being postponed, he couldn't help but feel responsible if his mom's illness gets worse.

"I have to leave today, Ma. It's for your own sake." Isaac uttered with pleading eyes directly at her, begging to go to Imil. He slowly turned his back on her as she made his way towards their house.

"Oh hush, Isaac." Dora suddenly quipped. "You just want to see that pretty girl, hmm, what was her name?.. Oh, that's right - Mia! Now I get it.."

He was quickly stopped in his tracks. Feeling a bit ashamed that Mia, the azure-haired girl that amazingly aided them in their quest, was really part of his trip to Imil, Isaac was quick to defend himself while trying hard not to show the tinge of red, blossoming up in his cheeks.

"Mom, I'm doing this for you! And how many times do I have to tell you that we're just friends?"

Dora simply laughed. "Isaac, you're my son. I know when you're telling the truth, and I know when you're telling something else. Okay? And besides, I know you're tired of all the rebuilding that's happening here so take this opportunity to rest up."

Isaac knew her mom was right. She's right about him being tired, fatigued and all that, and she's right that Mia is a darn good reason reason that drives him to make the trip this instant.


Hours after breakfast, the clouds are still looming aimlessly at the concrete colored skies above Kalay. Though, it's a usual morning for the residents, bar the weather - carpentry was most noticeable in the outskirts where Kyle and his family lives, and add the many refugees of Vale. It seemed to be another normal day for everyone, except Isaac.

"Mom, Dad, I'm leaving." he shouted in a dignified tone. He looked towards the direction of his parents, who were sitting down before the dinner table, talking. "I brought plenty of vials and containers for the water so we'd have backups of supply in the event that we need it again."

Isaac, eager to start his travel, rushed to his mom and dad to give them an assuring hug. It seems like the tragic events that happened from a year ago taught Isaac how fragile and uncertain a human's life is. At one point of his life, he believed that his father was crushed by a titanic boulder that fell from Mt. Aleph, and now, being with his whole family after a string of fated events makes him feel that he was reborn of some sort - miraculously erasing nightmares from the past.

Dora took long enough to let go from her son's embrace. "I told you earlier, Isaac, you don't really have to leave today." Dora grumbled. "You're just as stubborn as your father."

"Hey, don't drag me into this." His father hastily commented.

Isaac lets out a deep sigh, an eerie mix of sadness, fatigue and uncertainty. "I'm gonna be alright. I'll make sure that I'm back after 3 days… Make that 2 days if I happen to hitch a ride from caravans." he said with a playful, but forced grin. But as he was opening the door, Kyle suddenly spoke with a fatherly tone and called his attention.

"Son, are you sure you're ready? .. and not forgetting anything?" He stood up and slowly walked in Isaac's direction.

Isaac wondered what his dad was talking about. "Of course, I'm ready, Dad. And what am I forgetting? I think I brought my Catch Beads this time..." he sarcastically replied.

Kyle glanced at his wife and both of them shook their head in a worried manner.

"Your Sol Blade. You left it upstairs. It's not like you to forget an essential tool." he reminded his bewildered son.

Reaching for his back where his blades are usually strapped, he realized that, indeed, he failed to notice that it was missing. Painting an appalled face, up he goes, to his room while trying to figure out why he forgot his trusty weapon. As his dad said, it's not like Isaac, the lad that tends to remember even trivial matters, irresponsibly go out to the wilderness without a tool to protect him.

Upstairs, while he was desperate to find out the reason for his unusual memory gap, a bizarre predicament ensued.

Out of nowhere, a sudden jolt of pain hammered his head. It was so intense that it floored him the moment it struck, as he gripped his head with his two hands in agony. His eyes were shut tight but vivid, distorted images were flashing vigorously in his mind. And when the pain finally subsided, all he could do was stand up, breathe heavily, and ponder what the hell just happened.

"What on heavens just happened? It's as if someone with a tremendous level of psyenergy casted Mindbreaker on me."

Isaac didn't dwell that long after the pain was magically gone, like someone or something stopped channeling a destructive spell directed in his mind. Nevertheless, he picked up his sword, strapped it on his back and slowly headed downstairs again.

"I'm leaving.. for the second time." Isaac muttered before dashing out, probably to avoid another setback from his parents... or worse - a sermon. His parents could only watch from afar. His steadfast words and unfaltering perseverance to go to Imil was unquestionable - but his frail and overworked body is.


Dusk was on its way to settle in, as the afternoon heat slowly fades away. The pink glow of the sky struck the dusty road to Vault, languidly wavering as the hours move on.

It was getting dark.

Isaac smartly took the main road, though longer, to avoid the stray and not to mention aggressive creatures around. And after a peaceful but physically challenging travel, he finally saw Vault in the horizon.

He gingerly wiped the sweat on his forehead with his yellow scarf and continued to tread the path towards the town. His every step drained bits of energy from his already tired frame, and when he actually arrived in the town, he was dying for an elixir or two. It wasn't really long ago since he last came to these familiar sceneries and surely enough, he still knew the place quite well. Any refreshments would do, really, but there's a certain store here that he remembers from his travels and Isaac's clearly a patron of the said establishment.

He quickly went to the small boutique for supplies and beverages and planned to spend the night at the local inn, where Isaac, Garet and Ivan were still considered heroes after catching the thieves.

Man, it feels like ages since I've been here.

He stood outside the cheeky looking store as memories of their travels erupted like a silent stream. His golden hair was leisurely stroked with his tired hand, maybe a gesture of waking up from his reverie, and finally barges in the front door.

A familiar scent tickled his senses.

Hovering at the fine quantities of beverages the store offers, he was quick to spot his favorite herbal tea and rashly decided that he'd buy 2 so he won't worry about his almost insatiable thirst when walking.

To the counter he goes, balancing his drinks while at the same time, trying to shovel some change in his pocket. And then it hit him. And the hit was darn hard.

That familiar scent.
Those glowing turquoise locks.
And her pair of mesmerizing sapphire eyes.

His heart skipped a beat, as if an angel from heavens shrouded him with an aura of epiphany.

"...Mia?"

.. and it only took a quick, but solemn glance, and all the familiar warm sensations came rushing back in.