Alchemy Destinies
By: The Digital One
I knew my last chapter stunk, so I'm making it up by /trying/ to make a better chapter. I can't believe my story was on the second page. Anyway, in this chapter, Jenna begins obtains the power of Mars. Isaac and Garet don't learn it until the sequel of Alchemy Destinies (duh). I'm also adding a little section about Luke's clan (yes, about time.)
---
Chapter Seven: The Scapegoat
"Okay… try to focus your mind and body…" Kraden said silently.
"Mmfmm…" Isaac said in a pained expression.
"Come on… you can do it…"
"Damn it, I've been trying to do this for… a long time! It's easier said than done!" Isaac opened his eyes, which were filled with anger.
"Whoa, calm down, man," Garet said.
"…"
"Haha, you guys think you can learn psynergy at this rate?" Jenna scoffed.
"Of course we can!" Isaac said, walking toward Jenna. Sweat was trickling down his face.
"Yea, calm down, Isaac…" Kraden said. "Jenna is far more advanced in this art…"
Isaac scowled. "So?" He spat. Isaac got a book from Kraden's shelf, and pretended to read it.
"Well… want to watch me study?" Kraden said, trying to change the subject.
"… Umm, no, thank you, though… Jenna and I will go now. Isaac, are you coming?" Garet looked toward Isaac 'reading' his book, which was upside down.
"Sure," he said in a dead voice. Isaac hastily shoved the book back in the shelf, and walked outside the door.
"Why is this so hard?" Isaac scowled. Garet shrugged.
"Do girls learn this faster?" Garet said. Jenna smiled.
"Probably…"
"Well, they might not... take the time to do this! Yea!" Garet said, trying to make up an excuse.
"…"
It has been a month since Kraden came to Vale to teach psynergy to others. Isaac, Garet, and Jenna quickly swiped lessons from Kraden, and succeeded. Of course, learning psynergy was no pushover.
---
"So… what are you guys going to do today?" Isaac asked.
Garet shrugged, and looked up into the sky. "Doesn't that look like a goat?" Garet pointed up at a shapeless cloud. Isaac nodded slowly.
"Uh huh… well, anyway, do you guys want to see how Gary's doing? I heard he knows psynergy…" Jenna said softly.
"Big whoop, your brother knows psynergy, we can see him," Garet remarked.
"Aww, but Jenna wants to see him!" Isaac said playfully. Jenna's face turned into a crimson color, and looked away.
"Isaac…" Jenna replied in a sheepish way. Isaac forced a smile, and winked at Garet.
"Okay, we'll see him, Garet, wanna come?"
"Sure," Garet said hollowly, with a tone of envy in his voice.
---
After a short distance of walking, they arrived at Gary's house. They could hear soft talking.
"Aww… aren't you the cutest boy?" A voice cooed. Another voice giggled. Isaac caught Garet's eye, and they tried to remain silent. Jenna rolled her eyes, and knocked on the door. They immediately heard the same voice whining.
"Aww, don't cry, dumpling! It's just someone at the door…" A young man with blonde hair smoothed out on his head answered the door.
"Hey, Gary…" Isaac said. He tried looking in the house to see what was crying.
"You have a baby?" Garet asked.
"Yes, I just got married after the baby was born," Gary said bitterly. Garet smiled, and looked at Jenna. Jenna's expression didn't change.
"… In fact, would you like to baby sit him until nighttime? I need to go out of town…"
"Where's your wife?" Jenna asked. Jenna was taken aback by the sudden plea of babysitting his baby. Did he… predict that they were coming?
"We're going somewhere together. Please? Please?"
"Of course we can!" Jenna instantly said. "Right, Garet?"
Garet smiled. "Umm, sorry, I need to… help my sister with her …garden today! Yea... that's it…"
"Your sister has a garden?" Isaac said, smiling.
Garet gave Isaac a look that could have pierced a diamond. "Yea… remember, the winner of … that gardening… contest?" Garet said in a low voice.
"Uh… yea? Is your sister even in to--"
"Right… I'm terribly sorry, Jenna…" Garet said. He smiled at Jenna, and ran away.
"Meh, see if I care," Jenna said bitterly. "Isaac, please?" Jenna's purple eyes bored into Isaac's face, wide with plea. That look made Isaac's heart skip a beat.
"Uhh… sure…" Isaac said without thinking.
"THANK YOU ISAAC!" Jenna suddenly said. She picked up the bald baby, and started humming a hymn loudly. Isaac scowled, and sat down on the nearest chair.
"You know, I better go—"
"Why do you need to go?" Jenna said, clutching the giggling baby.
"I… I… umm, need to eat dinner," Isaac said quickly.
"I can cook something!" Jenna said. "Remember how you said you liked my food?"
Isaac remembered the occasion too well. For Garet's birthday, Jenna cooked something "special" for him, meatloaf. Garet always ate anything he could set his eyes on, but he couldn't swallow a spoonful of Jenna's meatloaf. Isaac couldn't bear the taste either, so he held his breath while finishing the meat. Isaac had to drink a lot of water later to wash away the bitter aftertaste.
"Umm… no thank you, Jenna…" Isaac said.
"Oh, come on… I've improved!" Jenna said, giving Isaac the same look. Isaac scowled.
"Okay…" Isaac said slowly. He looked at the baby Jenna was soothing, and forced a smile.
"Koo chee chah!" Isaac said in a high voice. The baby giggled. Isaac could hear some pans rattling in the other room.
"… Curses…" Isaac could hear Jenna exclaim. Isaac chuckled to himself, and started playing with the baby.
---
"Where did he go?" Dora sobbed. Kyle frowned, and shrugged.
"Isaac should be inside the village…" Kyle said.
"But… but what if… what if he isn't?" Dora cried.
Kyle closed his eyes, and sighed. "Isaac isn't that kind of person. I know my son more than anyone would, maybe even you, Dora. He wouldn't wander out of the village… even to elope. Unless…"
"What if… he's dead?" Dora screamed. "Oh no, I better go tell the mayor…"
"Don't worry, Dora. I'll ask Garet."
---
"Umm, I think he's… umm, I dunno…" Garet fumbled over his words, for no particular reason.
Kyle nodded. "Thank you, Garet…" Garet couldn't tell if that was supposed to be sarcastic.
Garet frowned. Where Jenna and Isaac okay? Garet decided to check. Besides, he hoped Isaac wasn't flirting with Jenna all by himself…
---
"Is it any good?" Jenna had a spoonful of green vegetables mashed up into a nice pulp. Isaac smiled weakly, as he tried to force his mouth open for another bite.
"Mmm…" he said dully while he was forcing down his food. Isaac was surprised to see Jenna eat it without flinching.
"Isn't this—"
KNOCK. KNOCK. Isaac sighed with relief. As the baby messily ate his food, Isaac ran up to answer the door. He was hoping it was Gary.
Unfortunately, when Isaac opened the door, Garet's head popped up.
"Isaac? Your parents are searching for you!" Garet hissed loudly.
"…"
"What are you doing?"
"Ummm, baby-sitting?"
"Anything else?"
"Eating."
"Eating?"
"Yea."
"… Her food?"
"Yea."
"You've got to be kidding me…"
"Well, do I have any other choice? I'm hungry, anyway."
"I can predict how it tastes like by your breath. It isn't pleasant."
"Garet…"
"Isaac?" Jenna came running up to the door, holding the giggling baby. "Oh, hi…" Jenna said darkly at Garet. It was obvious she was mad at him for not helping her.
"Oh, hi, sweet heart." Garet said in a disarming voice.
"Shut up," Jenna said darkly.
"Look, Isaac, you need to go. Your parents are dead worried about you," Garet said, ignoring Jenna's heavy face. "What about your parents, Jenna?"
"Felix is taking care of the house while my parents are going out to trade with people in Lunpa and Vault. That's probably why Gary is gone."
"Are you sure you can handle the baby all through the night?" Isaac asked.
"Maybe, but can't you guys keep me company?" Jenna asked, with the same look on her face. Isaac quickly looked away.
"I'd love to, Jenna… but… I need to go home. It's probably really late," Isaac quickly ran out of Gary's house, into the fresh air.
"… Okay, Jenna…" Garet said. "My family is out to trade too, and Anna's sleeping. So, why not?"
---
"What was that about, Alex?" Megan asked curiously.
"That was a load of… pardon my French… bullshit. Pfeh, wise tree. Give me a break, just 'cause we're strange doesn't mean we're gullible," Lars growled.
"Why were we in that forest, anyway?" Alex asked.
"We wanted to find food," Megan said.
"I did smell something coming from upstairs…" Lars said.
"Huh?" Alex and Megan said simultaneously.
"I mean food."
"Why don't we check it out, mm?"
"Why not?"
"…"
"… So…"
"Where are we?" Alex finally piped up and asked.
"You know… Alex… I really don't know," Megan faced Lars, who tried not to look at them.
"Now what do we do? Roast vermin and bats to eat?" Alex sneered.
"I'm not hungry anymore, but I'm tired…" Lars finally commented.
"Do you want to sleep in a forest with mad trees telling people they're evil?" Megan asked.
"Okay, let's find our way then!" Lars said annoyingly. "Alex, you lead…"
"Why me?" Alex moaned.
"Because… because you'll make the best leader," Megan made up.
"Oh, is that why you chose Luke over me?"
"… C'mon, let's go… we don' need your help anyway."
"Okay, I'm coming!"
---
Mia was sitting in the dark hotel room, huddled on one of the hard cots, watching her brother, Luke, lighting up the fire place. She could hear noises from outside, and she scented a strange odor.
"I hate this place," Mia said to break the silence.
"Live life to the fullest extent," Luke said, panting.
"… Where's Alex?"
"Alex? Dunno, probably in his room with Lars and Megan. Damn it…"
"'S wrong?" Fizz popped out of Mia's cloak, which was on the floor.
"Go away," Luke said. Suddenly, something was rumbling.
"W-what was… what was that?" Mia asked after the rumbling subsided.
"Dunno… let's see if we're all safe!" Luke abandoned the fireplace, and went across the hallway to Alex's room.
"Shit…"
"What?" Mia asked. She hoped Alex was okay…
"Mia, stay here, no matter what! I need to find them!"
"Huh?"
"Alex and his friends aren't in their room. I need to find them!" Luke put on his cloak, and ran out the door.
"Don't get yourself in trouble, Luke…" Mia said, sitting on the bed, as the rumbling began again.
That was the last time Mia ever saw her brother.
---
Garet was lying on the couch, snoring loudly. Gary's child was sleeping in Jenna's lap, while Jenna looked miserably out the window. She could sense something bad happening. Of course, she highly doubted her own thought, but she still couldn't sleep.
"Ah!" Garet suddenly bolted up, yelling. This frightened Jenna and also made the baby awake.
"Garet! What the hell is your problem?" Jenna exclaimed.
"I dunno…"
"Bad dream?" Jenna yelled over the crying child.
"No, I don't remember having a bad dream… huh? Why is it all of a sudden so cold?" Garet took a blanket, and wrapped himself around it.
"I do feel a little cold. Let me check it out…" Jenna opened the door, and saw something she ever seen before; cold, white sludge covered the ground. Jenna touched the substance and it melted in her hand.
"Frosted water?"
"Close the door, Jenna! I'm freezing!" Garet exclaimed.
Jenna slammed the door, and went deeper outside. Though she knew it was cold, it felt warm.
"Jenna…" Isaac, with a bright yellow scarf, came running toward her.
"Do you know what's happening?" Jenna asked. Isaac's eyes were barely open, but he looked alert.
"I don't know what this … stuff is. But I think it's a warning of something."
"Cold weather?"
"Perhaps."
"Why are you outside?" Jenna asked Isaac.
"My parents were afraid, and I thought I could check out what's happening, Jenna, what about you?"
But Jenna didn't pay any attention. She saw something glowing zoom around the sky.
"Jenna?"
"Huh, oh, yea, what is it?"
Isaac's eyes were a little bit wider. "Nothing, forget it… … Do you… feel that?"
"Feel what?" Jenna looked around, and stared back into Isaac's face.
"Something rumbling," Isaac looked around the ground as if there was a huge poisonous snake about to bite him.
"No…"
Suddenly, the orange glow halted, and faded into a figure of a small, swift character.
Torch was floating in the air, in back of Isaac.
---
I hope this leaves a cliffhanger for you guys. Anyway, stay tuned for more chapters.
By: The Digital One
I knew my last chapter stunk, so I'm making it up by /trying/ to make a better chapter. I can't believe my story was on the second page. Anyway, in this chapter, Jenna begins obtains the power of Mars. Isaac and Garet don't learn it until the sequel of Alchemy Destinies (duh). I'm also adding a little section about Luke's clan (yes, about time.)
---
Chapter Seven: The Scapegoat
"Okay… try to focus your mind and body…" Kraden said silently.
"Mmfmm…" Isaac said in a pained expression.
"Come on… you can do it…"
"Damn it, I've been trying to do this for… a long time! It's easier said than done!" Isaac opened his eyes, which were filled with anger.
"Whoa, calm down, man," Garet said.
"…"
"Haha, you guys think you can learn psynergy at this rate?" Jenna scoffed.
"Of course we can!" Isaac said, walking toward Jenna. Sweat was trickling down his face.
"Yea, calm down, Isaac…" Kraden said. "Jenna is far more advanced in this art…"
Isaac scowled. "So?" He spat. Isaac got a book from Kraden's shelf, and pretended to read it.
"Well… want to watch me study?" Kraden said, trying to change the subject.
"… Umm, no, thank you, though… Jenna and I will go now. Isaac, are you coming?" Garet looked toward Isaac 'reading' his book, which was upside down.
"Sure," he said in a dead voice. Isaac hastily shoved the book back in the shelf, and walked outside the door.
"Why is this so hard?" Isaac scowled. Garet shrugged.
"Do girls learn this faster?" Garet said. Jenna smiled.
"Probably…"
"Well, they might not... take the time to do this! Yea!" Garet said, trying to make up an excuse.
"…"
It has been a month since Kraden came to Vale to teach psynergy to others. Isaac, Garet, and Jenna quickly swiped lessons from Kraden, and succeeded. Of course, learning psynergy was no pushover.
---
"So… what are you guys going to do today?" Isaac asked.
Garet shrugged, and looked up into the sky. "Doesn't that look like a goat?" Garet pointed up at a shapeless cloud. Isaac nodded slowly.
"Uh huh… well, anyway, do you guys want to see how Gary's doing? I heard he knows psynergy…" Jenna said softly.
"Big whoop, your brother knows psynergy, we can see him," Garet remarked.
"Aww, but Jenna wants to see him!" Isaac said playfully. Jenna's face turned into a crimson color, and looked away.
"Isaac…" Jenna replied in a sheepish way. Isaac forced a smile, and winked at Garet.
"Okay, we'll see him, Garet, wanna come?"
"Sure," Garet said hollowly, with a tone of envy in his voice.
---
After a short distance of walking, they arrived at Gary's house. They could hear soft talking.
"Aww… aren't you the cutest boy?" A voice cooed. Another voice giggled. Isaac caught Garet's eye, and they tried to remain silent. Jenna rolled her eyes, and knocked on the door. They immediately heard the same voice whining.
"Aww, don't cry, dumpling! It's just someone at the door…" A young man with blonde hair smoothed out on his head answered the door.
"Hey, Gary…" Isaac said. He tried looking in the house to see what was crying.
"You have a baby?" Garet asked.
"Yes, I just got married after the baby was born," Gary said bitterly. Garet smiled, and looked at Jenna. Jenna's expression didn't change.
"… In fact, would you like to baby sit him until nighttime? I need to go out of town…"
"Where's your wife?" Jenna asked. Jenna was taken aback by the sudden plea of babysitting his baby. Did he… predict that they were coming?
"We're going somewhere together. Please? Please?"
"Of course we can!" Jenna instantly said. "Right, Garet?"
Garet smiled. "Umm, sorry, I need to… help my sister with her …garden today! Yea... that's it…"
"Your sister has a garden?" Isaac said, smiling.
Garet gave Isaac a look that could have pierced a diamond. "Yea… remember, the winner of … that gardening… contest?" Garet said in a low voice.
"Uh… yea? Is your sister even in to--"
"Right… I'm terribly sorry, Jenna…" Garet said. He smiled at Jenna, and ran away.
"Meh, see if I care," Jenna said bitterly. "Isaac, please?" Jenna's purple eyes bored into Isaac's face, wide with plea. That look made Isaac's heart skip a beat.
"Uhh… sure…" Isaac said without thinking.
"THANK YOU ISAAC!" Jenna suddenly said. She picked up the bald baby, and started humming a hymn loudly. Isaac scowled, and sat down on the nearest chair.
"You know, I better go—"
"Why do you need to go?" Jenna said, clutching the giggling baby.
"I… I… umm, need to eat dinner," Isaac said quickly.
"I can cook something!" Jenna said. "Remember how you said you liked my food?"
Isaac remembered the occasion too well. For Garet's birthday, Jenna cooked something "special" for him, meatloaf. Garet always ate anything he could set his eyes on, but he couldn't swallow a spoonful of Jenna's meatloaf. Isaac couldn't bear the taste either, so he held his breath while finishing the meat. Isaac had to drink a lot of water later to wash away the bitter aftertaste.
"Umm… no thank you, Jenna…" Isaac said.
"Oh, come on… I've improved!" Jenna said, giving Isaac the same look. Isaac scowled.
"Okay…" Isaac said slowly. He looked at the baby Jenna was soothing, and forced a smile.
"Koo chee chah!" Isaac said in a high voice. The baby giggled. Isaac could hear some pans rattling in the other room.
"… Curses…" Isaac could hear Jenna exclaim. Isaac chuckled to himself, and started playing with the baby.
---
"Where did he go?" Dora sobbed. Kyle frowned, and shrugged.
"Isaac should be inside the village…" Kyle said.
"But… but what if… what if he isn't?" Dora cried.
Kyle closed his eyes, and sighed. "Isaac isn't that kind of person. I know my son more than anyone would, maybe even you, Dora. He wouldn't wander out of the village… even to elope. Unless…"
"What if… he's dead?" Dora screamed. "Oh no, I better go tell the mayor…"
"Don't worry, Dora. I'll ask Garet."
---
"Umm, I think he's… umm, I dunno…" Garet fumbled over his words, for no particular reason.
Kyle nodded. "Thank you, Garet…" Garet couldn't tell if that was supposed to be sarcastic.
Garet frowned. Where Jenna and Isaac okay? Garet decided to check. Besides, he hoped Isaac wasn't flirting with Jenna all by himself…
---
"Is it any good?" Jenna had a spoonful of green vegetables mashed up into a nice pulp. Isaac smiled weakly, as he tried to force his mouth open for another bite.
"Mmm…" he said dully while he was forcing down his food. Isaac was surprised to see Jenna eat it without flinching.
"Isn't this—"
KNOCK. KNOCK. Isaac sighed with relief. As the baby messily ate his food, Isaac ran up to answer the door. He was hoping it was Gary.
Unfortunately, when Isaac opened the door, Garet's head popped up.
"Isaac? Your parents are searching for you!" Garet hissed loudly.
"…"
"What are you doing?"
"Ummm, baby-sitting?"
"Anything else?"
"Eating."
"Eating?"
"Yea."
"… Her food?"
"Yea."
"You've got to be kidding me…"
"Well, do I have any other choice? I'm hungry, anyway."
"I can predict how it tastes like by your breath. It isn't pleasant."
"Garet…"
"Isaac?" Jenna came running up to the door, holding the giggling baby. "Oh, hi…" Jenna said darkly at Garet. It was obvious she was mad at him for not helping her.
"Oh, hi, sweet heart." Garet said in a disarming voice.
"Shut up," Jenna said darkly.
"Look, Isaac, you need to go. Your parents are dead worried about you," Garet said, ignoring Jenna's heavy face. "What about your parents, Jenna?"
"Felix is taking care of the house while my parents are going out to trade with people in Lunpa and Vault. That's probably why Gary is gone."
"Are you sure you can handle the baby all through the night?" Isaac asked.
"Maybe, but can't you guys keep me company?" Jenna asked, with the same look on her face. Isaac quickly looked away.
"I'd love to, Jenna… but… I need to go home. It's probably really late," Isaac quickly ran out of Gary's house, into the fresh air.
"… Okay, Jenna…" Garet said. "My family is out to trade too, and Anna's sleeping. So, why not?"
---
"What was that about, Alex?" Megan asked curiously.
"That was a load of… pardon my French… bullshit. Pfeh, wise tree. Give me a break, just 'cause we're strange doesn't mean we're gullible," Lars growled.
"Why were we in that forest, anyway?" Alex asked.
"We wanted to find food," Megan said.
"I did smell something coming from upstairs…" Lars said.
"Huh?" Alex and Megan said simultaneously.
"I mean food."
"Why don't we check it out, mm?"
"Why not?"
"…"
"… So…"
"Where are we?" Alex finally piped up and asked.
"You know… Alex… I really don't know," Megan faced Lars, who tried not to look at them.
"Now what do we do? Roast vermin and bats to eat?" Alex sneered.
"I'm not hungry anymore, but I'm tired…" Lars finally commented.
"Do you want to sleep in a forest with mad trees telling people they're evil?" Megan asked.
"Okay, let's find our way then!" Lars said annoyingly. "Alex, you lead…"
"Why me?" Alex moaned.
"Because… because you'll make the best leader," Megan made up.
"Oh, is that why you chose Luke over me?"
"… C'mon, let's go… we don' need your help anyway."
"Okay, I'm coming!"
---
Mia was sitting in the dark hotel room, huddled on one of the hard cots, watching her brother, Luke, lighting up the fire place. She could hear noises from outside, and she scented a strange odor.
"I hate this place," Mia said to break the silence.
"Live life to the fullest extent," Luke said, panting.
"… Where's Alex?"
"Alex? Dunno, probably in his room with Lars and Megan. Damn it…"
"'S wrong?" Fizz popped out of Mia's cloak, which was on the floor.
"Go away," Luke said. Suddenly, something was rumbling.
"W-what was… what was that?" Mia asked after the rumbling subsided.
"Dunno… let's see if we're all safe!" Luke abandoned the fireplace, and went across the hallway to Alex's room.
"Shit…"
"What?" Mia asked. She hoped Alex was okay…
"Mia, stay here, no matter what! I need to find them!"
"Huh?"
"Alex and his friends aren't in their room. I need to find them!" Luke put on his cloak, and ran out the door.
"Don't get yourself in trouble, Luke…" Mia said, sitting on the bed, as the rumbling began again.
That was the last time Mia ever saw her brother.
---
Garet was lying on the couch, snoring loudly. Gary's child was sleeping in Jenna's lap, while Jenna looked miserably out the window. She could sense something bad happening. Of course, she highly doubted her own thought, but she still couldn't sleep.
"Ah!" Garet suddenly bolted up, yelling. This frightened Jenna and also made the baby awake.
"Garet! What the hell is your problem?" Jenna exclaimed.
"I dunno…"
"Bad dream?" Jenna yelled over the crying child.
"No, I don't remember having a bad dream… huh? Why is it all of a sudden so cold?" Garet took a blanket, and wrapped himself around it.
"I do feel a little cold. Let me check it out…" Jenna opened the door, and saw something she ever seen before; cold, white sludge covered the ground. Jenna touched the substance and it melted in her hand.
"Frosted water?"
"Close the door, Jenna! I'm freezing!" Garet exclaimed.
Jenna slammed the door, and went deeper outside. Though she knew it was cold, it felt warm.
"Jenna…" Isaac, with a bright yellow scarf, came running toward her.
"Do you know what's happening?" Jenna asked. Isaac's eyes were barely open, but he looked alert.
"I don't know what this … stuff is. But I think it's a warning of something."
"Cold weather?"
"Perhaps."
"Why are you outside?" Jenna asked Isaac.
"My parents were afraid, and I thought I could check out what's happening, Jenna, what about you?"
But Jenna didn't pay any attention. She saw something glowing zoom around the sky.
"Jenna?"
"Huh, oh, yea, what is it?"
Isaac's eyes were a little bit wider. "Nothing, forget it… … Do you… feel that?"
"Feel what?" Jenna looked around, and stared back into Isaac's face.
"Something rumbling," Isaac looked around the ground as if there was a huge poisonous snake about to bite him.
"No…"
Suddenly, the orange glow halted, and faded into a figure of a small, swift character.
Torch was floating in the air, in back of Isaac.
---
I hope this leaves a cliffhanger for you guys. Anyway, stay tuned for more chapters.