Before you jump into this, you should know that this is the sequel and conclusion to my other story, 'The First Fall'. It will make almost no sense if you haven't read it. Also, there will be no third book. Together with 'The First Fall', the two books cover almost every character and plot line introduced in the games. All of the main sixteen heroes have chapters written from their perspective. The story covers the Anemos, the ancient history of Weyard, a massive war that spreads across Weyard, the mysteries of the Tuaparang, the psynergy vortexes, and of course, Alex. I tried my best to tie everything into a cohesive story, while introducing some new concepts and characters. I hope the two books bring the saga to a satisfying conclusion.
I've been writing this for a while and it's about three quarters finished. I'm starting to publish chapters now with the hope that this will motivate me to finish by November 29, 2020, the tenth year anniversary of the North America release of Dark Dawn. I'm going to try to be publishing two to three chapters a week. All together there will be around 70 chapters, but they're all quite short.
If you've already read 'The First Fall' but forget what happened, I'll include a recap below. Please don't read this if you haven't read 'The First Fall' yet!
Finally, thanks a lot for taking the time to read! I really hope you enjoy it.
Scroll down for the recap.
A lot of these events happen simultaneously but I've split it up by major storylines to keep it easier to follow.
Matthew, Karis, and Tyrell return home
'The First Fall' begins with Matthew, Karis, and Tyrell returning to the Lookout Cabin after the Grave Eclipse has ended. They find Garet there, but Isaac is missing. During Matthew's journey, he had frequent visions of the Wise One being in danger (this was actually inspired by Isaac's dialogue in 'Dark Dawn'). After the Eclipse ended, Isaac went out on his own to find the Wise One in Sol Sanctum.
When Matthew and his friends arrive, they join with Garet and head out across the Mount Aleph Crater to find Isaac. There, they encounter Takeru, the samurai son of Susa and Kushinada, and brother of Himi. He had traveled all the way across Weyard to find and save Isaac after Himi had a premonition of him in danger (again, this is lifted straight from 'Dark Dawn'). Takeru found Isaac unconscious and was caring for him. Nothing the party could do could bring Isaac back, but Takeru suggested they bring him to Himi, who could use her Third Eye ability to understand just what was ailing Isaac.
At this point, Matthew decided that he needed to fulfill his father's mission of finding the Wise One. He took the newly repaired soarwing, and flew to Sol Sanctum. Since the soarwing could only take one person, the rest of the party decided to take Isaac to Yamata City, where Himi could hopefully heal him.
The Sanan Invasion begins
Shortly after the events of Dark Dawn, Eoleo the pirate stopped at Tonfon on his trip home. There he witnessed the assassination of Emperor Unan at the hands of a mysterious assassin. Eoleo chased the assassin through the city, but couldn't catch him. Soon after, the tyrant King Wo arrived with his army. In tow, they had the body of a Morgal beastman who they claimed to be the assassin. King Wo urged the people to wage an immediate war against the Beastman, and claimed to be the only one able to lead them to victory. The majority of the Sanans agreed, and Wo was named the new Emperor. Eoleo's ship was burned by Wo's men, so he fled the city on horseback.
The pirate headed to Ayuthay, to seek the help of Amiti. He arrived in the city shortly after the death of King Paithos, and the coronation of Amiti. Amiti mustered an army of willing Ayuthayns, and began the march north to come to Queen Sveta and Morgal's aid. They attempted to send messenger birds to warn Sveta, but they were all shot down over the Khiren Highlands, which the Sanans controlled.
Under the veil of secrecy, the Sanan fleet struck Belinsk in the night,, and completely overwhelmed the city. A Sanan general named Ban-Jei led the invasion. Ryu Kou, an old ally of Matthew's, acted as captain of the invading force, having been manipulated by the lies of Emperor Wo. During the attack, Queen Sveta was taken captive.
Ruy Kou led an army of Sanans to the Khiren Highlands, with Queen Sveta as a hostage. There they encountered the Ayuthayan army, and with the threat of killing Sveta, they ordered Amiti to stop in his tracks. As proof, they gave Amiti Sveta's Umbra Gear. Amiti and Eoleo had no other choice then to stop the forward march. The army made camp on the Khiren Highlands.
At this point, Sveta encountered an unlikely ally. Felix, who had been missing for years, broke her out of the Sanan camp. Felix had become a wanderer, traveling Weyard protecting the citizens against the dark power of Luna, which included the Tuaparang's powers, and the vortexes. Years before the story, he found a mountain in Tundaria, at the southern tip of Weyard. Inside of it was Luna Sanctum, the opposite and equal of Sol Sanctum. There he encountered a map which showed all of Weyard, and where the threats of Luna's power loomed. He spent his life finding and dispelling these threats. One such threat was the Grave Eclipse. During this cataclysm, Felix followed behind Matthew's group, ready to jump in if he was needed. Yet, he had grown afraid of people, especially those that had been close to him. He was afraid they would hate him for abandoning them, so he never made direct contact with Matthew.
When he found the Sanan camp on the Khiren Glacier, he had been on his way to the distant Northern Wastes. The map in Luna Sanctum had shown him a greater threat in the north than any he had yet encountered. He decided he had to come out of hiding and save Sveta, because no one else would. Together they escaped the glacier, with Ryu Kou's help. The Sanan repented of his deeds, and died to secure safe passage for Felix and Sveta. Felix continued northwards, while Sveta made her way towards Kolima Forest. She had been called there by visions, just like the ones Felix had been called by almost all of his life. It was a struggle for her to choose to leave Morgal under the Sanan occupation, but in the end she was convinced that the Waelda of the woods, Tret and Laurel, would only call her if it was of the utmost importance.
Mei-Da, a commander of the Sanan army who sympathized with Amiti, revealed to him and Eoleo that Sveta had escaped. With no hostage, the Sanans were forced to retreat north, and the Ayuthayan army continued their march towards Belinsk, where they would attempt to liberate the city from the Sanan occupiers.
Matthew journeys to Sol Sanctum and beyond
After separating from Karis, Tyrell, Garet, and Takeru, Matthew headed for Sol Sanctum. When he made it there, he found the Wise One had already been destroyed. By who or what, he could not tell. He also found a secret room within the Sanctum, where he found a massive mural of Weyard and the elements. He saw a man guarding all of Weyard with two arms. With one arm, he protected against the power of Sol, and with the other he protected against the power of Luna.
When Matthew attempted to leave the Sanctum, he was ambushed by a group of Tuarapang soldiers. They were led by a large man with a dark axe named Palos. He learned from Palos that Blados and Chalis were rebels against the Tuaparang High Empyror. Using the soarwing, Matthew escaped their clutches by flying out of the sanctum.
The Tuaparang pursued in a flying ship. But Matthew was saved by another ship called the Canary, and the Tuaparang were driven away. On the Canary Matthew learned that his saviours were Anemos. WIth them was Sheba, a Warrior of Vale who Matthew had known only from stories. Matthew also met two men there, Ezio who was a good friend of Sheba's, and Rego who was a part of another faction of Anemos called the Burgandy. Against Sheba's wishes, Rego took Matthew as a captive.
They brought Matthew back to the city of Anemos where their leader, Callen, put him in a prison. He learned that the Burgandy were an elite group of families who ruled Anemos as an oligarchy. They were intensely isolationist and were led by a woman named Callen. Sheba, being of the opinion that Anemos should rejoin Weyard, was in conflict with them constantly. Matthew also learned that she had found the Anemos after years of searching, and was accepted as a lost member of their race.
Meanwhile, Sheba encountered her Aunt Riza for the first time. Finally, she learned of her true heritage. She was born on Anemos, and her birth had matched all the signs of an ancient prophecy. She was believed to be Yegelos' heir, the one destined to wield the Darkguard, a mythical shield, and defeat the Moon King Reborn. The Moon King was an ancient tyrant who at one point had ruled over Anemos. The prophecy stated that he would be reborn, and that Sheba would defeat him.
Because of this, the Burgandies demanded to be given Sheba in order to train her in their ways, as a part of their secret army. Sheba's parents dismissed this, knowing that those trained by the Burgandies were brainwashed into servitude. Instead, they used Jupiter Psynergy to send her floating down to Weyard, far from the Burgandies reach. There, she was found and raised by Faran of Lalivero. In retribution, Sheba's parents were executed.
Sheba became determined to fulfill her prophecy and defeat the Moon King Reborn, who most believed to be the High Empyror of the Tuaparang. Knowing about the prophecy, the High Empyror attacked Anemos in a massive invasion, hoping to kill the one prophesied to defeat him. Using the attack as a distraction, Sheba freed Matthew from the cells. Sheba knew the lost city of the Tuaparang was somewhere in the Northern Wastes, but she didn't know exactly. So she sent Matthew to find a map to the city of the Tuaparang, which was located in an evil shrine dedicated to the ancient Moon King.
Sheba followed the prophecy to find the Darkguard. Callen attempted to stop her, not believing her worthy of the prophecy. At the last second, Rego, one of Callen's soldiers who had been nearly brainwashed, changed sides and killed Callen. He let Sheba go with the darkguard. With Ezios, Sheba got on board the Canary and attempted to confront the High Empyror. But her ship was crippled by Palos, and sent careening towards Weyard. Matthew escaped the city also, using his soarwing, but was separated from Sheba. Just before Sheba was out of range, her Aunt Riza sent her a message telepathically. Riza told Sheba that Matthew had found the map to the Tuaparang, and that he would meet her in Imil. Together they could use the map and Darkguard to find and defeat the Tuaparang.
The Battle of Kalay and the Billibin Rebellion
After Matthew left on the soarwing to find the Wise One, Garet led Karis, Tyrell, and Takeru towards Kalay. There, they hoped to get a ship and head for Yamata City, where Himi could save Isaac. Along the way, they encountered Patcher, who revealed that Kalay and Tolbi were now at war, Tolbi being the aggressor.
In Kalay, the group met up with Ivan and Jenna, along with Jenna's daughter and Matthew's sister Beth. They learned that Tolbi had the control of monsters, that they mastered with mysteriou torches of red light. King Iodem had styled himself an Emperor and was no longer communicating with Hammet of Kalay. No one knew what his motives were. The adepts decided that they could not all go to Yamata City, because Kalay was in imminent danger. It was decided that Garet, Jenna, and Takeru would take Isaac to Yamata City. In their company was Ophelia, a Kalayan ship captain, and her crew.
The rest, which included Karis, Tyrell, Ivan, and Beth, would protect Kalay from invasion. The attack came sooner than anyone thought, and the city was overwhelmed by monsters. Karis and Tyrell escaped, but Ivan and Beth were taken prisoner by the Tolbi forces. Lord Hammet died in the battle. Karis and Tyrell met up with Carver and a few other leaders from Kalay and Goma. Together they decided that children and those who could not fight should go to various fortresses to weather the storm. They went to Lunpa and Patcher's Place.
Those that could fight headed towards Bilibin in order to ask for help. Bilibin had stone walls and towers, and would be a stronger defense than any of the other fortresses. Their goal was to secure Lord McCoy's help and have the refugees travel to Bilibin. Since McCoy was dangerous, it was decided that the able bodied people would go there first, which included Karis and Tyrell.
In between Carver's Camp and Bilibin, was Grey Brook Pass, the only way through the mountains. There Karis and Tyrell encountered some new friends, Penny and Yakub. They were a part of a Bilibinese rebel group that was striving against McCoy's tyranny and mistreatment of the beastmen. The group was led by a fighter named Anderjack. Anderjack had been a lumberjack who fell in love with and married a beastwoman. When McCoy's men found out, Anderjack's wife was executed. In response, Anderjack led a rebellion.
Having a common cause with Anderjack, to take Bilibin, Karis and Tyrell joined forces with him. Together the rebels won a key battle against Lord McCoys son. There, to their immense surprise, they met up with Matthew who had just crash landed his soarwing nearby after the Tuarparang's attack on Anemos. His mission was to meet Sheba in Imil, but he couldn't travel to Imil until McCoy was dealt with. So the three friends helped Anderjack take back Bilibin. Lord McCoy was taken prisoner and Lady McCoy was killed by one of her servants. Their daughter, Margaret, encouraged the rebel takeover and named Anderjack the new king of Bilibin. Messengers were sent to the refugees of Goma that Bilibin was now a safe place to go.
Karis, Tyrell, and Matthew learned that the road forward for Matthew towards Imil was still blocked. The Sanan army had taken almost all of Morgal. Anderjack and Margaret, desiring to right their Bilibin's wrongs against Morgal, mustered an army to try and liberate Morgal. The adepts together with their new friends marched forward.
Mia's journey to the Northern Wastes
Shortly after Rief arrived home in Imil, after his quest to end the Grave Eclipse, Alex arrived in Imil. He had a mysterious conversation with Mia, where he indicated that he wanted to save Weyard from itself. Meanwhile, Megan, a member of the Mercury clan had been lost for days somewhere near the Mercury Lighthouse. Mia set out to find her. While she was gone and against her wishes, Rief set out with Kraden and his friend Lycus to track and capture Alex.
Mia found Megan in dire condition near a Psynergy Vortex. Unexpected help came to her from Chalis the Tuaparang. After Megan was well enough to head back for Imil, Mia decided to follow Chalis, desiring to stop her from whatever evil doing was next. Mia followed Chalis to the Northern Wastes, where danger yet again forced them to act as allies. Eventually, Mia learned that Chalis was working against the High Empyror of Tuaparang to stop some great calamity. That's why they had tried to activate the Apollo's Lens, to try and use it as a weapon against the High Empyror's plotting. It was even why they started the Grave Eclipse, because they believed they needed to do that first, before they could access the Lens. Mia also learned that Spados had died shortly after the Apollo's Lens fired, and their ship crash landed in the mountains. The two agreed to work as allies, but on the way to Tuaparag Chalis betrayed Mia.
Mia was captured and held captive in the ancient city of the Tuaparang, where she learned that Chalis was actually the one who had assassinated Unan, as a part of a deal with Wo. In exchange she was granted safe passage by ship to the north. In her cell, Mia met the High Empyror and learned that he had been activating an ancient dark machine called the Umbra Machine, which he intended to use to wield Luna's power and take over Weyard. The machine was a great tunnel into the side of edge Weyard, that worked by harnessing the Luna power of the abyss that surrounded Weyard.
Mia witnessed the High Empyor activating the Umbra Machine, as a part of a great ceremony where almost all the Tuaraparang were a part of. Chalis, who had only betrayed Mia to gain the Empyror's trust, attempted to stop him at the last second, but was thrown off the machine to her presumed death. The Empyror, or Moon King Reborn, successfully powered up his ancient machine, and with it he wielded the full power of the abyss.
Rief and Kraden travel to Mount Roc
After their departure from Imil, Rief and Kraden tracked Alex all the way across Morgal, with the help of their friend Lycus' help, who was an expert tracker. During their journey, the Sanan invasion of Morgal commenced, but the three travelers were able to evade the major battles.
They tracked Alex all the way to Mount Roc, where they witnessed him collecting Magma Shards from the carcass of the Mountain Roc. They learned that Alex was headed back to the Alchemy Dynamo below Belinsk for mysterious purposes. Unsure of what to do, they used a magic messenger bird to find Isaac and send him a message. Knowing that he contained a part of the Golden Sun, along with Alex, they believed that he was the only one able to stop Alex from whatever new evil purposes he had.
Garet and Jenna sail to Yamata City to save Isaac
Shortly after Garet, Jenna, Isaac, Takeru, and Captain Ophelia's departure from Kalay, they encountered a mysteriou spirit on the ocean. It was a tall figure covered in fog. Other than this, the journey was uneventful and the group made it to Yamata City where Susa and Kushinada graciously hosted them.
Himi worked for days on trying to heal Isaac. She discovered that the problem was a vortex that had actually started inside Isaac's chest. The only way he was surviving was because of the Golden Sun fragment within him. During his coma, Isaac experienced visions of the ancient past, of eight heroes who sealed the elements to stop a massive war between an emperor named Apollo, and a tyrant named the Moon King.
Through his visions, he discovered that the Wise One was created by these heroes to act as a warden over Weyard while it was in its dark age. His purpose was to wait until the time was right, and then find new heroes to release the elements once again. Once his purpose was over, the power that the heroes gave him was drained and he ceased to exist. Isaac also learned that the purpose of the Golden Sun was to ease the transition that the release of the elements would cause. It was meant to stop the earthquakes and vortexes. That plan was changed when Alex attempted to seize some of the Golden Sun for himself. The Wise One decided that he had to imbue some of the Golden Sun's power into Isaac so that he stood a chance against Alex.
When Himi finished healing Isaac, the hero of Vale awoke with renewed purpose. He knew he had to stop Alex with the power of the Golden Sun, and to then release the Golden Sun back into Weyard, so that the earth could heal. Shortly after his awakening, the messenger bird from Kraden and Rief arrived, letting Isaac know that Alex would be in Belinsk. Isaac, Jenna, and Garet immediately set out to defeat him.
Takeru decided to go with Isaac, and Himi left with some friends to try and find the meaning behind the fog spirit that had been plaguing the Eastern Sea. Himi successfully found the spirit, who she learned was an ancient devout general of the evil Emperor Apollo. The spirit was called the Fog Princess, and now desired to find Apollo Reborn, who she would follow to war.
The Heroes of Vale venture to the underground Dynamo
When Isaac made it to the depths of the dynamo, they found Alex was nowhere to be seen. Instead they found Lycus there, who led them to Belinsk's under-lair, claiming there was a danger there that Isaac needed to stop. Without warning, the Imilian abandoned them, and Isaac and his friends had accidentally activated a well of power that was about to explode beneath Belinsk. It was the power of Apollo's Lens that had been used to deactivate the Ecipse, now stored inside the dynamo reading to blow.
Alex's plan all along had been to activate the Eclipse, in order to start the Lens, in order to use it to stop the Eclipse, so that its power would be stored inside the Dynamo. Then he would draw Isaac to the dynamo, so that Isaac would accidentally unleash its power and be killed in the explosion. In this way, Alex planned to rid Weyard of his chief rival. He manipulated the young man Lycus into helping him, and intentionally drew Rief and Kraden to Mount Roc. There, he was made sure that his 'plans' were overheard, so that Isaac would be sent to the dynamo.
The plan worked perfectly, and Isaac accidentally unleashed the dynamo's explosive force, thinking that he was stopping Alex's plan. Isaac used his Golden Sun powers to hold the explosion at bay, and made the others retreat. Garet and Jenna saved everyone in the city from death, and once they were far enough away, the city was destroyed. Isaac gave his life to save everyone, Sanan occupiers and beasman alike. Upon his death, his portion of the Golden Sun went back into the earth and began a process of healing.
Garet and Jenna returned to a beastman camp west of the city.
The Battle of Ard Mezza
Meanwhile, Karis, Matthew, Tyrell, and the Bilibin army encountered a Sanan army lead by Ban-Jei on the plains of Morgal. A beastman army under Sveta's General Roman came to Bilibin's aid, and the Battle of Ard Mezza took place. Roman and Ban-Jei killed eachother in one on one combat.
Snow began to fall as Alex arrived on the battlefield. He revealed to Matthew his plan to destroy Isaac, and that it had been a success. Enraged, the two engaged in combat. Just as the battle began tipping in the Sanans favours, horns were heard from the south. King Amiti's army of Ayuthayans arrived just in time, and the Sanans were routed. Alex escaped.
After the battle, a major blizzard trapped the combined army at the site of the battle. Winter had begun to rage. The adepts tried to determine where they would go next. Privately, Matthew decided that he would head to Imil alone, unwilling to bring his friends into the treacherous north in the heart of winter. The morning that the snow subsided, Matthew headed north alone. Only realizing he was gone hours later, his friends pursued.
Ivan is captured
After the Battle of Kalay, Ivan and Matthew's little sister Beth were captured by Tolbi soldiers. The two warriors ended up in separate groups. On the path to Tolbi, Ivan's group was ambushed by a group of rebels called the Rakers. Sean and Ouranos, the warriors of Colosso, were among them. After being saved, the Rakers helped a disguised Ivan secretly enter Tolbi.
He was met by a surprise, when Piers approached him, also in disguise. Similar to Ivan, Piers had also been captured by the Tolbi soldiers and saved by the Rakers. This had occurred earlier on in the story, when Piers was traveling north to drop Nowell off in Imil. Unfortunately, Nowell was not saved by the rakers, and now shared a jail cell with Beth.
Seeking help to save Beth and Nowell, the two companions met up with Sophia, an undercover gardener at the palace of Iodem and the leader of the Rakers. Sophia, unwilling to trust Ivan and Piers just yet, tasked them with infiltrating Iodem's palace and discover how the Tolbi soldiers are controlling the beasts.
Ivan and Piers follow through with the plan, and as disguised guards they witness a secret meeting between Iodem and his wife-to-be, Princess Tanela of Lalivero. Piers quickly discovers that Iodem has been taking the Lemurian draught, which is known to make non-Lemurians behave erratically. Before they can get any more information, a mysterious third guest arrives at the meeting. It becomes clear to the two warriors that this mysterious man has been pulling Iodem's strings all along. Just as they start to realize who the mystery man is, Alex reveals himself to them. Having sensed their presence, the tyrant sends a psynergetic attack at them.
The beginning of a new era
'The First Fall' ends with Bilibin under the new leadership of Anderjack. Morgal has been liberated, but it's capital city destroyed and its queen missing. Emperor Wo still rules Sana with an iron fist. Worse yet, the evil Empyror has activated his dark machine, and Alex is plotting to take over all of Weyard through his servant Iodem. Tolbi's monster army covers all of Gondowan and half of Angara. Matthew and Sheba are headed to Imil to meet, and unbeknownst to them Felix is headed in the same direction, with the same purpose: to destroy the Empyror and his machine. Mia is being held captive by the Tuaparang. Karis, Tyrell, Amiti, and Eoleo have begun to pursue their friend Matthew. Jenna and Garet are reeling from the death of Isaac, while Ivan and Piers are being attacked by Alex in the heart of his new empire.