Gust: *rolls eyes* Kadevi does not own Golden Sun. And she never will.
Kadevi: Shush! No one needs to know that. Oh, by the way, sometime in the near future I'll be going over the past chapters and editing them slightly – not the main ideas, but some of the more minor details. Nothing too important will be edited, but I'll be changing a few things, and just thought I'd let you know.
I'd also like to apologize for the extremely long delay between chapters. I don't think I need to explain why – but hopefully, you'll be satisfied with this chapter. I'm making this extra-long for you, even though I should be doing my Trig homework right now!
NOTE:: Time will start moving faster somewhere near the end of the chapter... make sure you read the italics, they indicate the time!! If you don't, you may just become sorely confused.
NOTE:: [September 27, 2003] Sorry for the long delay!! I've been busy... thank you so much for coming back and reading!! I apologize for the lengthy wait I made for you... I hope this chapter somewhat makes it up to you!!
Is Vale in danger?
Forge: I don't like to reveal things, but yes, as you can most probably see. Everything seems to pointing to that eventuality.
Will you call the blue-haired Lemurian "Picard" or "Piers?"
Kadevi: I KNOW that Piers is the American name, but... even writing it down is painful. -_- Nintendo and Camelot had serious issues when they decided to name him Piers. Insane. Due to my own preferences, I will call him "Picard." And if you decide to flame about this... well, I don't mind in the least, but at least give me a few GOOD reasons why calling him Picard is totally and completely wrong.
SHORT CHAPTER!! What's wrong with you?!
Quartz: Unfortunately, Kadevi was very busy during that time, and she needed a vague chapter to formulate the next plot-forming element in BtLR.
Fizz: Quartz! It's good to finally have female Djinni company. ^_^ She's a new muse. Came to help me out with the... other... Djinn over there...
*Flint and Forge can be seen arguing with squeaks, whistles, and lots of jumping up and down*
Is this going to be an Isaac/Jenna fic? Will you please make this Isaac/Mia?
Flint: *sigh* We've gone over this before. But I'll go over it again. Kadevi does not wish to indulge us in what the pairings are going to be for this fanfiction. All she told us (and we're her muses!) was that we might be surprised. Hmph. And also, she wouldn't pair two people together that she didn't want together... so, asking her to make a fanfiction a specific shipping isn't going to help you at all, unless she asks for your opinions. ^_^; sorry.
Are you going to be writing another fanfiction?
Quartz: *smile* Yes she is. Perhaps a sequel to this one, and definitely an adventure story that is very lightly based on this Chinese drama that ended a few months back, and then who knows after that? Although I know she has many fanfictions planned for everyone.
Forge: *eyeing Quartz* One things for sure, Kadevi doesn't plan on leaving the GS section anytime soon.
WHERE'S PICARD?!
Fizz: *laughter* He'll be either in this chapter, or the next two. He'll be here soon, Akiko!!
-_- Jenna is sort of... annoying...
Kadevi: Sorry about that. But her personality might shift a little later, so... yeah.
What are Radament's reasons for attacking Angara & Lemuria?
Fizz: Actually, I can answer that question! See, the thing is- *Kadevi whispers something to Fizz*... Actually, you know what, I'm not going to tell you!! Now Kadevi wants everyone to wait... ^_^;
10 – Midwinter Troubles
He stared into the bowl of water, watching intently as images silently flashed by, glimmering and shining under the brilliance of Luna. This was ancient magic – magic nearly completely forgotten by everyone, even those Lemurians so bent on tradition and the old ways back home. He'd had to pull this favor of going to Angara out of Conservato and the other senators with his teeth and fingernails. Not that he usually listened to them anyway, but he didn't want to leave Picard in a bind when he left, being both his friend and guard, after all.
Anyway – this was ancient magic he was using. Difficult to perform and requiring both Psynergy and total concentration to make sense of so many random images, this spell of water-seers left many who tried it drained and exhausted for days. However, Alex was one of the few who'd been able to perform it... at Picard's request, secretly. Conservato would somehow manage to use this little bit of foreseeing to his advantage, no doubt about it, if it was ever let out that Alex could do this little trick with ease.
When he was done, he stood up, freezing up the water inside the bowl and depositing the block into one of the potted plants in his room. The attack was coming soon – very soon. Perhaps the prince, the advisors, and the monarchs already suspected? Hopefully they did, for if he warned them he would likely be thrown into prison for even suggesting such a thing – he was not blind to the fact that Felix held great influence with the king, and that Felix showed steadfast animosity towards him. Not that it would be difficult to get out, mind you, but it would make quite a muddle of his preparations.
The worst part about this attack was its taking place near the holidays, especially such a major one as Midwinter. There would be a great festival day after the morrow in the city of Vale, and banquets and a dance lasting long into the night both tomorrow and on Midwinter's Day. If the Radaeans decided to attack then... so many people might be injured, possibly even killed in what they planned. Would it be a takeover similar to what had happened in Lemuria, years ago? Or would they only slaughter anyone and everyone in their path, in order wreak havoc and destroy the peace currently occupying the continent?
Radaeans, if for some odd coincidence, seemed to have such a repeated incident throughout their past – raids, attacks, and even once before a small invasion on a western settlement near what was thought to be the end of the world in the Great Western Sea. 'Destroyers of the peace,' one particular king in Radaean past had called himself and his country. Alex, seated back on the chair again, tapped his temple. He needed something to jog his memory – there was some particular significance in that...
He sighed about an hour later, rubbing his forehead in frustration. This sitting about was getting him nowhere. In fact, it was giving him a headache. He'd best go somewhere else before he gave up on thinking about it. Storing the thought in the back of his mind, Alex yawned as he walked onto his balcony, then disappeared into thin air, leaving a puddle of water in his wake.
"This is all your fault you know," the woman whispered resentfully to her companion.
"MY fault?! You were the one who assured me there was no one tracking us!"
"And YOU were the one who insisted that no one would figure out our whereabouts!" She hissed back.
He sighed and turned his eyes to the ceiling of the room they currently occupied. "I still think this is your fault we finally got found out."
"I completely disagree with you on that. On a different note though, they're going to want to know why we've been... you know-"
"Sister!" The red-head slammed open the door and rushed to the aforementioned person. "I want to know why you never told us where you were! After a YEAR, I'm sure the coast was clear enough for you to contact us!" She snapped.
Another man strolled into the room, one who nearly cleared the door frame and had to shift his body slightly in order to squeeze himself into the cabin. "Now, now, Karst, I'm sure your sister and Saturos have a reasonable explanation to their lack of communication," Agatio said gruffly, bowing in deference to the elder princess of Radament.
"We DO have a reasonable explanation for our extraordinarily long absence – but I want to know why you had your grunts truss us up and gag us as if we were ordinary prisoners and criminals!" Menardi spat out, jumping to her feet and glaring at Karst. One week ago, strolling to the local market, they'd been dragged into an alley and knocked unconscious. Later, she and Saturos had awoken to a luxurious cabin similar to this one, in the respect that it was the captain's quarters in a Radaean ship. They'd been given no explanation to why they were tied to chairs and had their limbs bound, but at least their hands were freed twice everyday for a meal. Excluding those few moments though, they had had ropes binding their wrists and ankles together for almost an entire week.
Out on their ship with the fleet, Karst hadn't heard that her sister and friend had been found until she docked at an obscure port quite a ways north of Harbor Vale, where they and the people who'd found them were waiting for them. Then, Karst had immediately ordered the ropes burned and Menardi and Saturos moved to her own private ship while she oversaw preparations. Only then had she run back into her quarters and found Menardi and Saturos griping their way through a detailed explanation of their capture.
Cowed by her sister's dominant presence, Karst tried not to show her slight tinge of anxiety. "It wasn't ME who tied you up, it was my men! I didn't even know you were here until they came and told us when we docked," she retorted.
Saturos pulled at a lank clump of his steel-blue hair. "So you gave them orders beforehand that we were to be treated this way upon discovery?" He drawled lazily, lounging back in his chair – quite a change from his demeanor earlier, when he had been arguing with Menardi. Now he was imperturbable, unshakably calm and unfazed by the two other Radaeans.
Agatio stepped forward menacingly, eyes flashing dangerously. "Watch how you speak to the second princess of Radament," he warned, a huge fist going to the equally huge sword that never left his side.
Saturos smiled languidly and stood. "As I recall, Chief of Arms, First Guard of the First Princess has a higher rank than the second princess. I, more older and experienced then you rash young ones-" He motioned to both Karst and Agatio, then turned around, causing Agatio's eyes to flame in anger and Karst to ball up her fist indignantly, "Know things that neither of you would deign to keep up with, let alone care about."
"Our absence," Menardi continued smoothly, "Is due only to the fact that, while we were sailing west, we thought to perhaps embark on a mission of intelligence and spy on Angara, rich in both ores, minerals, and Psynergetic healing properties. We did not send notice, for, entrenched in the palace as we were, it would have been difficult to send out any letter, coded or not, that could make it unsuspectingly past the inspectors who censor the mail there."
Karst narrowed her eyes at her sister. "One year, Menardi! I do not speak of simply a week, but an entire TWELVE months when you were gone with no notice and no word back to us! The country was in turmoil until the Assembly deemed it fitting that I, your younger sister, rule in your absence."
Menardi merely turned her back slightly to her younger sibling. "There were many variables and factors that influenced our decision to keep a low profile in Angara. Should any suspicion be aroused towards the servants, Saturos and I would be the first to be pointed at – and if our origins were found to be Radaean, after what happened in Lemuria... we would have been put in prison. That would be infinitely worse than being away from Radament for one or two years, would you not agree?"
Still angry at her sister's haughty manner, Karst merely nodded and elbowed Agatio when he did not do the same.
"I understand," she said stiffly.
...
Silence.
"So, what was this plan you were obviously planning to launch upon Angara?" Saturos monotonously intoned.
Now this is something that I know something about, Karst thought, still miffed of the way Menardi had spoken to her.
"Well, this is what I thought we should do. This will take place... Midwinter's Eve..."
He was wandering aimlessly through the halls again.
Ivan, with a contemplative frown on his face, was thinking about the Radaean threat yet again.
Then again, had reason to suspect, and reason to brood. With Radament so close to Angara's capital (relatively close as compared to, say, Lemuria, anyway), they needed all the warning they could get of imminent battles. No war for – years – had probably dulled the blades of the Angarans, who had most likely forgotten now how harsh war treated both the countries involved and the people. If there were war... the death toll would be unbelievable. And with the elemental Mars alignment, Radaeans were much better suited to battle Psynergy than Angarans, most of whom had earth-based attacks like the Gondowans. No one knew whether Hesperians would come to their aid... and Gondowan wasn't to be counted on in this situation. Just getting up past the Kibombo Mountains and the mountains between those and the true mainland of Gondowan was a one or two-month task in itself. To march all the way up to Vale... a half year, at best. If war were to come (and everyone hoped not, though they knew better than to do so), they could not hope to receive help from Gondowan in time. By the time the G.L.A.D., or the Gondowan Liberation Army of Defense, would supposedly reach Vale and the other important cities of Angara, they would be occupied and controlled by Radament's notorious military force.
What would they do? What could they do? Angara was one of the most peaceful civilized continents in the world, with an army that had been lounging calmly in their barracks, doing nothing but wenching and gambling for the past few decades. The Radaeans would come, but one thing that might very possibly work was...
He was so preoccupied he ran straight into Garet.
Or rather, he was run straight over by Garet. One minute, he was thinking gloomily about a possible war, and the next he found himself flat on his back, staring up at the stone ceiling with a most tingling sensation of pain in his head. Maybe a wild Gryphon had just flown into him...? No, he was in the palace. Yes, the palace, and it was two days before Midwinter. Everything seemed so much brighter than he last thought, and the only thing he could remember right now was that Jupiter Adepts held the power of fire... Or was it water?
Garet, on the meanwhile, was still strolling merrily down the hall, thinking about the practice duel Felix had proposed just a little while ago, at breakfast. I wonder if I'll beat him this time, Garet wondered. He has always beat me, but it is partly because he has the lighter sword, the lighter body, and the faster speed. All you have to do, Garet, is keep him off balance with your superior strength. Suppose he allows a Psynergy battle this time as well? Now that would be interesting... I would swing like this, blast like that with a light rain of fire, then perhaps rush him head-on so it would push him backwards?
When he stopped, the gears started whirring in his head. "Wait... didn't I see Ivan just now?" He wondered aloud.
It was at that moment Mia wandered around the same corner. Of course, she didn't make the same mistake as Garet did and trample over the poor Jupiter Adept.
"Ivan! Oh, are you alright? Garet, what did you do, use him as your carpet?!" She scolded, hurrying over to the flattened young mage. Garet turned, and finally saw Ivan's stretched-out body on the ground. This won't be good...
Mia carefully sat up the smaller Adept, checking his body for injuries and his head particularly for a concussion. "Well, your bones don't seem to be broken Ivan, but you have a slight bump here..." Mia muttered calmly, gently running her fingers through Ivan's hair to feel his skull.
"Alright, I'll just do a light healing spell so you can think clearly again, Ivan," Mia said in concern. Her gentle, quiet voice immediately calmed the other two, and as the small fairy waved its wand over Ivan, he noticeably rid himself of the dazed fog in his eyes. As soon as that was over with, he angrily turned to the guard.
"What did you think you were doing, running over me like that?!" Ivan fumed, standing up indignantly. At Ivan's loud voice, Garet stood as well, easily a head higher than the mage.
"I wasn't off dreaming about your precious mage, anyway!" Garet retorted, hands balling up.
"At least I have a sense of direction and don't trample over everyone in my path!" Ivan's voice went shrill in volume and intensity.
"I could step on you right now!"
"You want to try?!"
"Baby!"
"Ape!"
"Midget!!"
"Oaf!!"
"G-"
SPLASH!!In the time span of less than a second, both arguing Adepts wore sopping wet clothes that dripped water onto the ground, forming a sizeable puddle beneath their feet. Immediately, the hall quieted, the single sound being the dripping of water on stone. Both Garet and Ivan could only stare at each other through clumps of wet hair, astonished at each other's sudden difference in appearance, and when they finally got over the initial shock, they turned slowly to Mia. She was watching them with a bemused expression on her face, unsmiling but a hint of one tugging at her lips.
"Now... if you boys have finished your friendly debate, I'd like to go riding for a bit. It's such a beautiful day outside, and I'd like to breathe some of that crisp winter air." She started moving away, but when she heard no footsteps, she stopped and glanced both. The sight made her break into a smile.
"Oh, please... you two deserved the Douse!"
Ivan and Garet continued staring at her with overcast looks, water rolling down their faces and hair heavy with moisture. Consequently, their clothes were equally as wet, darkened as a result of the water. But...
She sighed and beckoned towards them. "Come on... I'll relent this once and dry your things out." With a little more cheer, both picked up their feet and followed her, squishing noises and a trail of water following their every footstep.
Early Morning, Midwinter's Eve
Darting from shadow to shadow, they were careful not to attract attention under the cover of dark morning. Carefully, carefully... they had to get themselves back into the palace with no trouble. Well, hopefully no trouble, anyway.
Saturos carefully slid around a corner of a building, watching the left for any passersby. As soon as he assured himself that everything was clear, he pulled up his hand, but stopped.
There was something else nearby... he checked the right.
Nothing.
He signaled to Menardi behind him, and the crept out from the cover of shadows into the dim moonlight. This would be their most vulnerable spot... out in the open, just before reaching the back door of the castle.
Nobody.
I must be getting paranoid about things... Saturos thought dismissively to himself.
He had no time to react to the sudden blackness that engulfed him.
Evening, Midwinter's Eve
"Driver... are we almost there?!" The man demanded.
"Hold your horses, my lord," the man snapped back. "We're caught in evening and after-hours traffic. And on Midwinter's Eve, no less!! Only you would have us rushing off to the capital on the busiest day of the busiest and most crowded season of the year." The driver cursed someone else as he struggled to creep his way up through the crowded and packed streets of Vale. Some urgency, always... never got to enjoy his holidays.
The other twisted his mouth to keep in some choice words. He would have a chat with the driver later. Now, there was pressing business. That his most trusted and most important workers should disappear... was not a reassuring thought.
Isaac glanced at himself in the mirror. He was almost ready. The scarf was flowing right now... it had taken a mere ten minutes to tie it securely and tightly, the motions were so ritual for him. Neat blue tunic, new white trousers. He leaned in closer to poke at his hair.
"Messing with the hair again, Isaac?"
"Yes, I am. It doesn't seem to like staying flat... If I'd had to join the Guard like you, Garet, my hair would never have passed the uniform inspection," he laughed, rolling his blue eyes up to see. It would take a miracle to keep his hair like his father's.
"Mine almost didn't," Garet laughed, joining Isaac in front of the mirror. His hair was ramrod straight, and looking as much like a fireplace as hair could. Russet-red always did look good on him. On a crisp new uniform, it made him look serious and important too. He adjusted his scabbard. Tonight, he would be taking half-shifts in the garden with some of the other Guards.
Of course, he would still have time to visit the others while they were at the grand Midwinter's Eve celebration. Maybe...
NO! Remember, Garet, you don't like her?! She's no lady... Garet snapped out of his trance. "What'd you say, Isaac?"
His friend sighed in exasperation. "Always the listener, weren't you? No, I was just asking if on one of your breaks you'd be willing to keep Jenna company while I mingle with the guests and political people. You two didn't break out into any Psynergy duels while I was with Mia, so I'm assuming that you had somewhat of a good time," he continued, bending down to lace up his boots.
Garet didn't say anything, but as soon as Isaac got up again and looked at the expression on the Mars Adept's face, he laughed.
This is great, just great.
Saturos ground his teeth as he glared at wall across from him.
We just had to get thrown into prison, didn't we?