HOO RAH! Yeah, it's me, SirGecko, back again with chapter 18. Yes, I know quite a few of you have been waiting for this, so here it is.
First, I'd like to thank my reviewers, once again. Your support is, as always, greatly appreciated.
Now, for a disclaimer. I DO NOT OWN GOLDEN SUN. If I did, well, there'd be movies made out of the best GS fics on this site.
Okay, now onto talk about chapter 18. Yes, it's the third big battle between Karst, Agatio, and Alex = vs = Isaac and company. This will be intense. Maybe not very, it's your call, but it will be intense. Packed with 7 1/3 pages of action . . . OW! . . . My ice gecko told me to stop acting like an advertiser . . . and for once, I'm gonna listen without challenging them to a duel.
Now, onto chapter 18!
Chapter 18: No Chance
"That is it then," said Karst, turning her back on the brilliant red swirl of Mars energy that was hovering over the well. "We have no more business here. Let's go."
"But, what about Isaac and the others?" said Agatio. "What should we do with them?"
"Ignore them!" snapped Karst. "If we leave now, then we can beat them to the Sol Lighthouse just as easily, and finish this quest without their interference."
"But they are a threat," said Agatio. "A dangerous one. This is the place where we could take them down, Karst! We are at the Mars Lighthouse! They cannot win against us; we are the most powerful warriors in Prox!"
"I know that, and I want to get them out of our way too, but sometimes you have to use brains rather than brawn, Agatio!" said Karst angrily. "I know we could defeat them here. We are Mars Adepts, and even I am hot from the searing heat of both the lighthouse and the plateau. Overall, do you really think it a wise decision to fight Isaac and the others?"
"Well . . . I guess you're right, once again," said Agatio, in a defeated tone of voice. "Let's go. I bet Alex is getting a little impatient with us."
"You're not going anywhere," said a voice behind them that they knew all to well by now.
Isaac was walking towards them, with the rest of his followers behind him. They all had their weapons out, and were looking more determined than Karst or Agatio had ever seen them. It was hotter than Isaac and company had ever experienced before, enough to make you drip sweat in bullets constantly. But, this only made Karst laugh.
"You are such fools," she said, drawing out her scythe. "We were not going to fight you, and just move on to the Sol Lighthouse to finish this, but if a fight is what you want, then a fight is what you'll get!"
"We are at the Mars Lighthouse," said Agatio. "We are twice as powerful as we'd normally be, maybe even more. And you still wish to challenge us?"
"Yes," said Solaris. "I know it seems foolish, but with experience comes knowledge, and with knowledge comes power. I need not remind you that Sol Adepts are also fueled by this lighthouse?"
"But by only half as much!" said Agatio gleefully. "So, little brother of Saturos, you will die by the tip of my Sol Blade!"
These few words caught everybody off guard. Agatio drew out a sword equal to that in size and shape of Solaris's, only this one had an orange tint to it. Garet stared open-mouthed at the blade, and when Isaac looked over at him, he could see the longing in his face.
"I take it Solaris has told you of my skill with this blade?" said Agatio happily.
"He has," said Isaac. "But it doesn't block Psynergy, as I recall!"
"Where's Alex?" asked Mia.
"He hung back, and is waiting at the bottom of the lighthouse," explained Karst. "He wisely chose not to fight here, since he knew that he would probably be defeated if he were double-teamed."
"Coward," said Lunora.
"Fools!" snapped Agatio.
And so the battle began. Isaac, Garet, and Solaris engaged Agatio, and Mia, Ivan, and Lunora took on Karst. It was decided that it would be an even match of sorts, since the Proxians were not to be defeated easily.
The lighthouse seemed to give Karst and Agatio more than elemental strength. Both were able to dodge and/or block three opposing weapons, and land dangerously close blows on one of their opponents with the sword. It had everybody as alert as could be.
Karst was the first to cast psynergy. She knocked Ivan back, and then cast Supernova on him, Mia, and Lunora. It was the hottest moment of their life, twice as hot as the peak temperature in the Lamarkan Desert that they had crossed so long ago.
When it was finally all over, all three had raw patches on their faces and black marks all over their exposed skin and clothing. Their outer garments were charred, and it was all that Ivan, Lunora, and Mia could do to remain standing.
"Oh, I am on fire!" quipped Karst gleefully.
She then lunged at Lunora, and made a vertical slice through the air right at her. Karst's aim was true. The scythe sunk to the handle straight into her left hip. Lunora screamed with pain and dropped to the ground, which caused the scythe to slide out of her soft, pale skin. She weakly put her hands over the slice in her side, a dark stream of red liquid oozing between her long, slender fingers. She lay back, sweating harder than ever, and passed out.
Ivan leaped forward to hold Karst off for as long as he could while Mia bent over Lunora to try and heal her wounds. She was able to stop the flow of blood, but that didn't replace what she'd lost. She looked paler than ever and she remained unconscious, her breath sharp and ragged.
Ivan had his work cut out for him as he fought Karst. She, having gained knowledge of Ivan agility and tactics, was now untouchable. Ivan spent almost all of his time dodging, and when he was able to make an attack, it usually missed or was blocked by Karst.
"You have skill, Ivan," said Karst. "But not enough to best both me and this lighthouse!"
"I'll fight you until you run out of energy, Karst," said Ivan angrily. "You stabbed Lunora. You'll pay for this."
"Oh, so what if she was the first to go?" said Karst scornfully. "You'll be soon to follow, little boy. I could easily cast a psynergy that will make you wither and shrivel like a leaf on a fall day. Is that what you want?"
"You won't be saying that when I'm the last one left standing," said Ivan, dodging a swing of Karst's scythe.
"Excuse me, but I think that I'll be the one left standing at this lighthouse," said Karst. "I am of the Fire Clan of the North! And you, Ivan . . . are dead!"
And with that, she cast Fiery Blast on Ivan. The psynergy blew him back, away from Karst. Ivan crashed to the floor of the Mars Lighthouse, just managing to keep his sword in such a position that he wouldn't land on it. That was the last thing he would do in this battle. Bleeding from the raw patches of skin on his face, he lay motionless, the blood dripping onto the stone of the lighthouse occasionally.
"Ah. Two down, one to go!" said Karst, swing her scythe casually. "Mia, are you next?"
"I surrender," said Mia, putting down her staff and backing away from Karst.
"N-no, Mia," came a weak voice from the ground. It was Lunora. "You must fight, even if you know you'll lose."
"Lunora, I know when to quit," said Mia. "I have the least fighting ability of all of us, I'm at my opposing lighthouse, and my opponent is at her same lighthouse? I have no chance. No, I'm not going to fight her."
"Well, Mia, if t-that's your decision, then I c-cant argue," rasped Lunora, and she passed out again.
"That's the first smart thing I've heard from any of you," said Karst. "You ought to be recognized for that."
"You're right, I did say that I wouldn't fight you," said Mia, getting up and picking up her staff. Karst got in a ready position for battle, just in case. "But that doesn't mean I'm not going to help the others in their fight against Agatio!"
And before Karst could do anything to stop her, Mia sprinted off towards where Agatio, Isaac, Garet, and Solaris were doing battle. Amazingly, none of them had fallen yet, as both Garet and Solaris were able to withstand the searing heat somewhat. But, Isaac looked pretty close to going down.
"I'm here, Isaac," said Mia, casting Pure Ply on him. "Need any help?"
"Anything, good to see you Mia," said Isaac, not taking his eyes off Agatio or any of his maneuvers. "How are the others?"
"See for yourself. I'll hold off Agatio," said Mia.
Isaac looked over to where the other battle had taken place. He saw Lunora unconscious with a small pool of drying blood at her side, and Ivan, looking like he just stepped out of Hell. Then he saw Karst, making her way swiftly over to Agatio. Isaac knew now that it was a four-on-two battle. He braced himself for a double onslaught.
"Well, I see you took care of Ivan and Lunora," said Agatio casually to Karst as she stepped by his side. Agatio was swinging the Sol Blade as if it were made of nothing but the lightest metal known to man. "Excellent. Now defeating these four should be no problem."
"Well, we'll see about that," said Solaris, and he cast Sunbeam on Karst and Agatio. They reeled back as the energy hit them, but soon came back into the fray, swing their weapons like nothing had happened.
Isaac had never fought a tougher battle. Both Karst and Agatio were at the height of their power, psynergy limitless, power at maximum. Isaac didn't see any way to win the fight. He cared about his Djinn too much to risk them in battle, but risks and chance were all he had now.
"Flint! Go get Karst!" said Isaac.
"You got it boss!" came a determined squeak from under his tunic.
An orangish-brown streak came flying out from Isaac and smacked hard into Karst. The small little Djinni was actually able to knock Karst off her feet. Solaris leapt forward, ready to drive his Sol Blade straight into Karst's heart. But a now-familiar handle came up and knocked his sword out from his hands.
An equal sword had stopped his own, and Solaris's Sol Blade flew ten feet into the air, and plunged downward. He tried to warn Mia, but she didn't move out of the way in time. The blade pointed straight downward, and embedded itself in Mia's right foot. She screamed with shock and pain, dropping her staff with a clatter, and dropped to the ground, clutching her injured foot.
"No!" shouted Solaris. "That was not supposed to happen! I'm so sorry Mia!"
"It's not your fault!" said Mia through gritted teeth.
"Wow, a double whammy!" said Agatio. "I admit . . . I've forgotten how good I was with this blade!"
"Thanks, Agatio," said Karst, getting to her feet and brushing herself off casually. "Now, if I'm correct, don't we have some business to finish?"
"That we do!" said Agatio, and he raised his sword in a ready position.
"Solaris! I need to help Mia! Take Karst for me, and I'll be there as soon as I can!" said Isaac, bending down towards Mia.
"You got it, Isaac," said Solaris, and he left Garet to deal with Agatio while he engaged Karst.
Isaac got on his knees, hotter than he'd ever been in his life, and cast Potent Cure on her foot. The wound healed itself, but Isaac knew without a doubt that Mia would not be walking on that foot for a day at least.
"I'm okay, Isaac," lied Mia. "Honestly. Go back and help Solaris and Garet."
"No, I have more important things to take care of first," said Isaac. "Let's see if we can't fix up that foot."
"Thank you Isaac," said Mia gratefully.
She held out a bloody hand to Isaac, who took it, and helped her to her one good foot. She and Isaac hobbled over to the steps leading up to the swirling ball of Mars energy, with Isaac's assistance, of course, and sat down upon them.
"Will you be okay here?" said Isaac, helping her sit without injuring herself.
"As okay as I'll ever be," said Mia, as cheerfully as she could muster. "But you really should get back there and help the others."
"I will, I just wanted to get you out of the way, so you don't get hurt even more," said Isaac.
Mia smiled at him, and then reached up and pulled Isaac's head towards her own. She gave him a soft, sweet kiss, the tip of her tongue tracing Isaac's lips. Isaac broke it off rather quickly though, because even though he wanted to keep going until he ran out of breath, he had to help Solaris and Garet fight Karst and Agatio, before they joined Ivan and Lunora on the ground.
"Go then, before it's too late," said Mia. "I'll . . . just wait here."
"Right," said Isaac. He ran off to join Garet and Solaris.
The fight was more difficult now with the loss of Mia. Isaac shot a few clay spires at both Karst and Agatio as he ran back into the battle, but they were both able to block the spires, shattering them to dust.
"Dammit!" said Isaac. "Nothing's getting through to these guys."
"Too much for you?" said Agatio happily, fending off a blow from Garet's giant Axe. "Then, let's end this now! Megiddo!"
Isaac and Garet looked around, but stopped when they saw the horrified look on Solaris's face. He pointed upward, and Isaac and Garet followed his direction. Their mouths dropped.
A humongous meteor, larger than the swirl of Mars Energy over the Mars Lighthouse's well, was hurtling itself downward towards Isaac, Garet, and Solaris, a long, evil-looking tail of swirling flame following its course. Isaac, Garet, and Solaris didn't even have time to dodge. The impact came soon afterwards, followed by Mia's scream of surprise.
The explosion knocked all three back towards the edge of the lighthouse; they rolled and rolled on the ground until they were all able to hang onto the ground with their fingers, scraping the tips of their fingers raw, using their last spurt of energy. After coming to a halt, they didn't move again. They were conscious, but only just. They didn't have enough energy to move a leg, let alone stand.
"Well, that was quite a simple, decided battle, Karst," said Agatio, sighing deeply.
"Yes, very," said Karst. "And it was thanks largely in part to this lighthouse, not to mention our knowledge of their fighting style."
"Now, since we have them at our mercy, I think we should just finish them off," said Agatio.
"A sound plan, Agatio," nodded Karst. "I think Alex will be most pleased when he hears that we have disposed of the opposition. So, she picked up her scythe in a battle position, and made her way over towards Mia.
Mia sat there, hardly moving, watching with somewhat frightened eyes as Karst approached her, scythe stained red with Lunora's blood. Finally, she saw Karst stop in front of her.
"You have breathed your last breath, Mia of Imil," she said seriously. "I'll see you in Hell!"
Mia braced herself, waiting to feel the warm metal pierce her flesh, the white-hot pain that she would feel, then the cloudiness . . . she closed her eyes, waiting . . . and waiting . . .
She heard a scream of pain, but it was not her own. That sound, that unearthly scream could never come from her mouth. She opened her eyes, and saw Karst lying on the ground, moaning in agony. And yet there was no blood.
But then she saw them. Eight little Mercury Djinn had rammed themselves full-force into Karst's chest. They zoomed around both Mia and Karst, and were standing by for a summon. Mia breathed a sigh of relief.
Over where Agatio was, Lunora had just woken up, to see Agatio standing over her, with the Sol Blade . . . the Sol Blade?! What the Hell . . . only Solaris had the blade! But then, she remembered . . . oh, how remembering caused the pain to her head right now . . . but she remembered that the other Sol Blade had been lost in the Mars Lighthouse. Agatio must have found it.
"Well, Lunora, rightfully Alex should be ending your miserable life," said Agatio. "But, since he is absent . . . I will do so for him. It's time to say goodbye!"
But then, she saw eight silvery Djinn fly from her person, and smash themselves head-on into Agatio. Agatio, stunned by this new attack, fell backward . . . and the Sol Blade flew out of his hands, and landed ten feet away, skidding towards Garet.
Garet heard metal scraping against the stone, moving in his direction. So, using all his remaining strength, he opened his eyes and lifted his head, just enough to see a sword skidding in his direction. Blindly, by instinct, he threw out his hand and tried to stop the sword. Luckily for him, he timed his grab so that a second later, he was holding onto the hilt of the second Sol Blade. He felt its energy, and it seemed to rejuvenate his own slightly. He couldn't believe his luck. The Sol Blade was his unless Agatio claimed it back, by force. But he seemed preoccupied at the moment.
Agatio struggled to his feet, but he didn't get very far. Lunora had sat up as well, wincing with pain and raised her arms to the heavens. She cried out her last hope for survival.
"I summon Io!" she shouted. But then, she heard Mia's voice as well. And she seemed to be calling a God of her own.
"I summon Boreas!" Mia cried.
And that is where the tides of the battle turned. Or so they thought. Just before the embers began to erupt under Agatio, and just before the humongous shards of ice from the heavens began to fall, Karst and Agatio disappeared, and the summons missed altogether. But, the important thing was that they were gone. Lunora's and Mia's Djinn had saved all of their lives.
"Lunora!" shouted Mia. She was hopping over to her on her one good foot. "Are you okay?"
"I am, sort of. But Ivan, Garet, Isaac, and Solaris aren't," said Lunora. "You heal them up. Then, we can try and make our way out of here."
Mia hobbled over to Isaac first, and cast Pure Ply on him, to get a bit of his energy back. When Isaac responded in a manner that Mia knew meant he was strong enough to stand with assistance, she helped him gingerly to his feet, and checked him over thoroughly.
"I'm okay Mia . . . now," said Isaac, grabbing one of her saintly hands and kissing it gently. He still had hand-prints of Mia's on his cheek, the prints outlined in her own blood, but he didn't have the energy yet to wipe them off.
"Let's go tend to the others," he suggested. "It looks like they took quite a beating. Even more than us . . . and especially Ivan."
"I'm going to take care of Ivan," said Mia, looking back as she hopped towards Ivan. "You're right. He looks the worst out of all of you."
"Good. You're the best healer, and he needs the best care," said Isaac. "I'll tend to Garet and Solaris."
He got up, gingerly looking at his raw, red arms. The searing wind that blew now was making the stinging on his arms almost unbearable, enough to tear him up. But, he went over and cast Potent Cure on Garet, and helped him to his feet. His exposed skin was also raw, except for his face, which he smartly covered with his arm.
"Hey, Isaac!" said Garet excitedly, practically bouncing up and down as soon as he was helped to his feet. But Isaac was busy reviving Solaris. "Look! Everybody!"
Everybody who was revived turned; Ivan still remained motionless. They all felt their mouths drop as Garet revealed the Sol Blade.
"Guess who's got the second Sol Blade!" he said excitedly.
"Well, Garet, now we've got this whole Sol thing down pat, don't we?" chuckled Solaris from the ground.
"Hell yeah!" cheered Garet. "We have the Sol Blades!"
"Whoa, isn't that sweet?" said a new weak voice.
Ivan had finally woken up. He had red, raw patches on his face and hands, and his Kikuichimonji hilt was stained with blood form his own burned hands. He lifted his head slowly, and stared at the blade.
"I think Ivan's awake," said Lunora happily.
She got to her feet and, limping badly on the leg of the same side which she was stabbed on, helped Ivan to his feet. Ivan looked horrible. He had raw patches all over his face, and his hands were red, not only with blood, but also with raw skin. Lunora kissed his raw hand as she helped him up.
"Well, now that we look like we've walked through the fires of Hell," said Isaac. "I don't think we'll be going anywhere."
"At least get us off the top of this lighthouse," said Solaris, panting. "If I'm not gonna die from the battle, then I'll overheat."
Isaac nodded, and as soon as everybody was ready, he cast Retreat, and that took them to the bottom of the lighthouse. They welcomed the cooler, but still hot temperature with gratefulness, arms open to the angry sky.
All knew that they were in no shape to travel so, with great difficulty, they stripped themselves from as much clothing and armor as they could without being naked, and collapsed form exhaustion on the cold stone floor of the lighthouse. They didn't even care about the striking lightning 100 feet away . . .
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Well, they survived . . . but only just. They really got their butts kicked this time . . . oh well. At least they're alive.
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