Gentle Moonlight

Chapter 8

Jenna felt dread gush through her heart and into her blood, sweeping all thoughts from her mind. Her head felt light and heavy at once, almost as though it were an airtight box applied to too much pressure. The diary... was in the hands of a crazy old woman!?

Mirthful cackles erupted from the cottage.

Cringing, Jenna motioned for the plucky blonds to follow her. They crouched on their hands and knees, scrambling along anxiously.

Sheba supposed that Isaac and the others were probably at the vessel by then, probing Mia for their whereabouts. She squirmed at the thought. Sheba, Jenna, and Ivan had been acting awfully suspicious... Particularly concerning Felix. Combing hair away from her face, Sheba inched along behind Ivan. "So, what's the plan?" she choked out.

"We need someone to get in there and make a diversion while the other two get the journal and move out." Jenna's breath fogged up the cold air, winding up from her mouth and coiling like a snake in the air. She turned to focus on Ivan. "Who volunteers for a distraction?" Sheba glared at him as well.

Ivan edged away from the stony pairs of eyes. "Um... How about we do rock, paper, scissors?"


"I'll get you for this..."

The door opened slowly to reveal a weathered book clutched in the hands of an equally weathered woman. The white hairs clinging to her head were drawn into a bun that she wore like a tiara, and she had a look of energy that shone even as she read. She intimidated poor little Ivan. Without lifting her pebble eyes from the book, she asked floppily, "Felix, again?"

Ivan coughed and shifted into position uneasily. "Uh, no..." He scratched his head in embarrassment, then quickly withdrew his fingers in revulsion. 'Crazy Jenna and her stupid ideas... and when was the last time she washed!?'

She lifted her eyes from the book reluctantly, but they widened when she beheld Ivan. Jenna's cloak, turned inside-out, clung to Ivan and rippled to his boots, obscuring the extremely thick soles that helped him several more inches up into the air. He struggled not to totter as he bowed as formally as he could, and not to let the hastily-made auburn wig of Jenna's locks drop from its precarious perch atop his head. Fortunately, the cloak's hood sheltered most of the poorly made hairpiece and also covered most of his face. Despite the obvious touches of youth that intruded on his features, he gave the appearance of being a very handsome young chap.

Needless to say, the diary slipped carelessly from the old woman's grasp. "Mars... Great Mars and balls of fire, what brought you here, stranger? Are you with traveling Felix and his friends?"

He extended his hands to hold her craggy, wrinkled ones, his cloak sweeping across the floor and casting a shadow over the forms of two scurrying girls. As he brought her hands to his lips, Ivan smiled charmingly. In his mind, he told Sheba crossly, 'This is sick! Tell Jenna I'm going to kill her when this is over!' Only her laughs echoed in his mind as a reply.

"No, ma'am, I'm from down south, Contigo." 'Not entirely a lie...' "I was wondering if—"

"Frank, you have to see this! Oh my, come, come warm yourself by the fire. Take off that stuffy cloak, dear." She began to yank Ivan's arm, directing him away from the door.

"Excuse me, ma'am, but I'd rather keep my cloak on."

She frowned as he lurched into the house, clutching the cape to his chest. "Ah," she rasped with realization, "so you're being mysterious — one of those tall, dark, and handsome types!" Giggling like a teenager, she picked up the book and closed the door. "Let me introduce you to my husband."

Unnoticed by all, two shadows flitted along the wall behind them, silent as shade.

"Frank, Frank, wake up!" the lady moved to the sleeping shape of the old man and started poking him with a scrawny finger. "We have a visitor, you know." He stirred slightly, grunting and scratching his rear. Drowsily removing himself from his rocking chair, Frank opened one eye to peer at the tall visitor before him. Ivan smiled delightedly, holding out a gloved hand to him.

"..." Frank said mutely, still recovering from his earlier conversation, partly awake and somehow shaking the "brunette's" hand, "... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...?"

"Oh, you don't have to worry about competing with this sweet young pup," Emma crowed. "Not unless you die soon, of course..."

Chuckling good-naturedly, he asked, "... ... ... ... ... ... ...? ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..."

"Actually, I'm fif— uuuh, finally turning nineteen in a few months." Ivan lowered his voice smoothly, aiming for a mature sound.

"Goodness, you're the same age as Felix!" Emma and her chicken clucked. "He came in here not too long ago, actually. Says he's been traveling with eight people on a ship. I don't think he described anyone like you though... They may be still out there, if you're curious." She put the diary down on a bed, which was already occupied by the chicken, and took her seat by the fire. "Come, warm yourself! What is it that you need, dear?"

Fortunately, the old couple had their backs turned unsuspectingly to the bed, but Ivan could still see them as he stood tensely. Watching the girls scuttle beneath the edges of the colorful bedspread, he began, "Well... You see..." The fire sputtered ember, unnerving him. "I..."

'Tell them that you're looking for your girlfriend!' Sheba's voice broke into his mind without warning, while Jenna's arm protruded from the blankets.

"I'm looking for my friend. Uh, girlfriend."

"Really?" Emma's smile turned into a thin line of disappointment. "Well, you are a very attractive man. Makes sense that you'd be taken."

Ivan beamed.'This is probably the first time in my life anyone's ever called me a man! All those torturous months of being the tag-a-long, the scrawny fighter, the useless clairvoyant — they're shattered!'

'You're so weird, Ivan. No one's ever called me a woman and I'm not complaining.' He could hear the dryness in Sheba's mental grumbles clearly. Ivan chose to ignore her.

"So, who's the angel?" Emma inquired, bringing him back to reality.

Ivan faltered. "Uuuh.. Her name's... Sh-Sheba?" he wheezed. He tugged the hood further down.

'WHAT!? You're such a moron! Sheba? What were you thinking? Stupid...' Ivan couldn't discern whether this thought was Sheba's or his own.

Emma pursed her lips. "The Elements know she's a lucky girl! Visit me when you break up..."

He nodded slowly.

'What!? WHAT!? WHAT!? What in Weyard was that, Ivan?! Why did you say my name?! What were you thinking? What were you thinking...? I'm going to...you... I...' Sheba's voice tapered off as she raged.

Quiet laughter shook Jenna's hand, which was grabbing at the bed sheets. Soon it moved close to Mia's journal, passing over crusty chicken feet. Her fingers eventually touched the book's tattered cover and Jenna snatched it recklessly. Then, from under the bed, she lifted the blanket and mouthed to Ivan "let's go."

Meanwhile Emma rambled on with a story that had started without Ivan even realizing it. "That one was a Proxian if I ever saw one. But I'm not sure if you should try sailing up to that village... There are huge glaciers blocking the path. If you want to cross the glaciers of the Northern Sea, you'll need these magma ball items... I think Felix mentioned something about retrieving them. Now, would you like some nice warm tea? Sometimes I add elixir to it, so it's sweet as well as rejuvenating."

"Oh, I'm fine," refused Ivan. "I'd just like to show you my thanks for taking the trouble to let me in here. If you would please close your eyes momentarily..." He nodded slightly to Jenna.

"Oh, a surprise! I'm flattered." Eagerly, she closed her sharp eyes with a grin and folded her hands on her lap. Frank did so as well, but with less enthusiasm. As she waited a few rustles sounded and a chill coursed through the room, but that was all.

Several minutes later, the couple was still waiting. It was silent. "...Can we open our eyes, now?"

No answer.

"Hello? I'm just going to peek..." Her eyelids flapped up to let her little eyes survey the room. "He's... gone. That nice young man is gone! And I didn't even catch his name!"


Victoriously, the trio marched towards Piers' ship. The wind at their backs helped them along and the pale sun shone on their faces. The sun seemed glad to rule the heavens once more as it parted the thick clouds. Now that the diary was safe, the worries and anxiety of the small group seemed to blow away like the snowflakes of winter. Ivan and Jenna chattered away, though Sheba remained quiet.

Finally Ivan had tore off the wig and bestowed it upon its true owner. She accepted the thing with a touch of sorrow, patting the shredded hair that had left her with only a stumpy ponytail. Experimentally, Jenna pulled her ribbon out. Her hair was now barely longer than Sheba's, as it dusted along her shoulders when she moved her head.

"What do you think Garet will say?" she asked.

"He'll probably like it. Besides," Ivan said with a devious smile, "when it's not sticking up, his hair is probably as long as yours is."

She laughed, "And Isaac's is a mop!"

"Isaac's what?"

Mia, Isaac, and Felix were huddled near the ship, which was not far away, bundled up in blue Lemurian blankets. They watched Sheba, Ivan, and Jenna with slight irritation as the wind puffed into their faces. They didn't seem to be too happy out in the cold. "Isaac is what?" Mia repeated.

Jenna and Ivan exchanged glances, then Sheba spoke up. "Isaac's is the top."

"His what?" the blue-haired healer questioned quickly as she stood up.

"His fighting stance. Don't you agree that it's very pleasing to look at, Mia?" Sheba said smoothly.

All of the seventeen-year-olds present reddened in embarrassment, but Felix's jaw dropped. "Sh-Sheba..."

Shocked understanding registered on Sheba's face. "Wait...no, Felix! I didn't mean it like that!"

"..."

Gazing at Felix one moment, the next Sheba was firmly twisting Ivan's ear. "Jenna, don't worry about it, I'm settling this misunderstanding myself! Ivan, come on!" Sheba wrenched his ear forward violently with one hand as she clutched the fabric of Felix's sleeve in the other. "Hurry up, boys." The steaming girl stomped into the ship, the stares of the remaining three following incredulously.

"What was that all about?" Isaac ventured into the silence.

Jenna shrugged. "Uh, no clue... But she's starting to remind me of me."

"Um. That's scary."

"Yeah, I know."


Yugi: Okay, WOOOOOW, I haven't updated this story in over four years! I started this thing in 2003, years ago, and I'm still not finished with it! Yay me! I mean, don't hurt me!

Well, I realize that it's been awhile, but hopefully people will still read a story like this (is it just me or do people not read Golden Sun fanfics anymore?) and gimme gimme gimme reviews. If I'm really lucky, I'll be able to finish this. I loved this story when I started writing it, and as I was editing the previous chapters these last few days, I started to realize why.

You're probably also asking, GAWD WHY OH WHY!?

Uh, because there are love triangles?

Yeah. So, I do realize that I have posted chapter eight before, but I'm doing it again to cheat and remind people that I still exist. Yay for cheaters! And existence! Yay!

Anywho, you know the drill. I give you applesauce, you give me reviews. Righty? Righto!