Golden Sun: Nightmares

Ack! I can't believe I left you all hanging! And after you all gave me such nice reviews to my story! *Sniff* I'm so sorry! Okay, now read on, and you can all give a big smack across the head for leaving you all hanging at the end of the chapter.

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Chapter 9 "Normal."

Suddenly, there was a huge explosion, which left Mia's ears ringing painfully. She looked up, and saw Isaac leap back, and unsheathe his Sol Blade. "What was that?" Mia heard Jenna ask loudly. She looked around wildly, but she couldn't find the person who cast the spell, but there was a large crater right where Isaac had just been previously standing.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Alex's face go from a calm, confident face, to a face filled with a mixture of both fear and surprise. His face then went to one that showed he was now thinking. It was then that she wished she could read minds.

She felt someone watching him, and looked up, and saw Isaac standing over her. His eyes shone brightly and coldly, making her feel like her insides were turning into ice. He took up the hilt in both hands, and prepared to thrust the sword into Mia's neck.

Mia closed her eyes, prepared for the blow, not caring if she died now. Just as long as it was painless…She snapped her eyes open when she heard a small thud in front of her, and saw someone who she didn't think she was going to see in a long time.

"Garet…?!" Mia heard Sheba exclaim loudly. Isaac's eyes widened with both surprise and recognition, but couldn't stop his sword from coming down on Garet. But Garet was ready. He quickly pushed Mia out of the way, and unsheathed his Hestia Blade, and deflected the blow. The clang of metal against metal resounded around the Aerie, and Mia could actually feel wind come from the force of the swords hitting each other.

"Garet…" Isaac growled, thrusting his sword harder towards Garet's heart, but Garet suddenly twisted his sword around, and made Isaac lose his balance. The tip of Isaac's Sol Blade grazed Garet's cheek, but Garet ignored it, and leapt up while Isaac's guard was down.

Garet pointed his palm towards the ground underneath Isaac, and shouted, "Pyroclasm!" The ground cracked, and exploded underneath Isaac's feet. Four columns of lava erupted, and swept Isaac into the air. They soon disappeared, and flung Isaac to the ground again with a sickening crash.

"Garet?" Mia whispered quietly, her voice cracking with fear. He turned, and it was unmistakable. It was Garet. His red eyes were the same, and his brown hair was spiked up as it was always. "What are you doing here? How did you get here?"

"Easy!" Garet said calmly, despite the situation. "The Wise One brought me here."

"The Wise One?" Mia asked, her brow knotting into a frown. "But the Wise One is under Alex's spell! We even read your mind to see that!" Garet shook his head. "No. The Wise One is normal. It's Isaac who's gone all nutty. As soon as I was better, I went into Sol Sanctum to see if this was true, but all I found was the Wise One locked up in a room that blocked his Psynergy.

"As it turns out, Alex knew that a person who holds all of Alchemy, will eventually go mad with the power. But this wouldn't take place until a year from which Alchemy was embued to the person. So Alex planned to sneak into Sol Sanctum, lock up the Wise One in a room that blocked his Psynergy, and he planned to force Isaac to ignite the Celestial Lighthouse and make him ruler of the world. What Alex said was a lie. Everything that Isaac did now, he did on his own accord."

"But how did Alex force Isaac to light the Celestial Lighthouse?" Mia asked. Garet frowned. "I have no idea, but we have a problem on our hands right now." Isaac was getting up, his body slightly burned by the lava, but he looked like he could still go on. "Flash." Garet said absently, holding out his hand.

A tiny creature leapt out, with bright blue eyes. It had bright red scales, and a fluffy orange and yellow tail. Flash leapt into the air, and circled around all of them. Crimson fire exploded from the ground, and surrounded them, but despite the fire crackling around them, they could see everything that was going on.

Isaac glared at Garet, and said, "I'm surprised you survived that attack in Vale, Garet…" Then Isaac let out a laugh. "I'm even more surprised a person like you was able to all that without falling flat on your face."

Garet glared back with icy eyes, and then laughed as well. "It's surprising that someone like you could be controlled so easily by a little taste of power. It's very surprising to see you like this Isaac."

Isaac smirked, and muttered something under his breath. Before they knew it, the fires surrounding them flickered and then slowly died away, leaving them totally exposed to any attacks. "Wha-?" exclaimed Jenna, seeing a small point of red light floating back towards Garet. "What just happened?"

Garet growled softly in his throat, and Mia heard him mutter, "Stupid Djinn drain…" Isaac smiled, and thrust his sword into the ground. The marble cracked, and then something exploded from the ground.

They looked in horror as a large figure dressed in black slowly climbed out of the ground. Large black wings sprouted out, and lifted towards the heavens. Crimson eyes opened, and then a loud roaring came out of the creature's mouth, showing long teeth. Then everything went silent as black feathers quietly fluttered around them.

Isaac slowly stood, and smiled at the creature as it grew to its full height. It was a large black dragon, which stared at them with blazing red eyes. It opened its mouth, and all of them expected another roar, but instead, silver light gathered in its mouth, and then it blasted the whole Aerie with silver light.

"Watch out!" Picard yelled, sending out Shade to protect them. As soon as the light touched the shield, there was a large explosion. Even though they were protected by the shields, there was enough wind to push them all to the ground.

After the smoke cleared, the whole shield had shattered, and Shade was lying in Picard's hand. "I'm sorry." It said softly before disappearing into Picard's body. "Damn!" Garet hissed under his breath, seeing as they no longer had any protection.

Isaac jumped onto the dragon's shoulder, and said, "Finish them."

The dragon roared, and snapped at them with long teeth. Its head crashed into the floor, shaking the very foundations of the lighthouse. It gathered purple fire in its jaws, and let it erupt all around them. They prepared themselves for the inevitable, when a large fountain of water sprung up all around them, and shielded them from the fire.

They saw Alex standing with his hand outstretched, and though he was trying to conceal it, it was still faintly glowing. "Enough of this." He said, glaring up at Isaac. "Light the lighthouse." Alex demanded.

Isaac glared at Alex a little longer, and leapt down, the dragon slowly disappearing in black smoke. "You don't want them to attack me while I'm lighting the lighthouse, do you? It would be better to kill them now, before they do anymore damage to our cause."

"I'll take care of them." Alex said, unsheathing his Indigo Blade. "You just get to lighting the lighthouse." Isaac sheathed his Sol Blade, and turned towards the hole in the middle of the Aerie.

Picard made a move to stop him, but Isaac flung him away with a mere flick of his hand; Isaac had produced a strong wind, that flung Picard towards the edge where he lay unmoving. Garet looked towards Isaac, who was slowly making his way to light the Clestial Lighthouse.

"Mia…" Garet muttered out of the corner of his mouth to Mia. "You have to try and stop him." Mia stared at Garet with a small look of surprise. "Me?! But I won't be able to do anything! I barely got out of the last encounter with him! If you hadn't come to help me, then I wouldn't even be talking to you!"

Garet stared deeply into Mia's eyes. "You're the only Isaac would probably listen to! You're probably the only one who can bring him back to his senses! You're the only one who's captured his heart!"

Mia's eyes widened, and a small blush crept onto her cheeks. Captured his heart? Had she really…She thought Isaac wouldn't even think twice about her, but hearing Garet say that… "I…" Mia stammered, looking at Isaac. There was only one way to find out. "Okay. I'll do it. Keep Alex distracted, and I'll go over there, and try and get Isaac back to normal."

Garet smiled, and gave Mia a small pat on the shoulder. "I knew you would!" With that, he brandished his Hestia Blade, and swept it towards Alex. The sound of metal against metal washed over the Aerie, and while that happened, Mia ran towards Isaac.

Isaac didn't seem to notice her, until she appeared in front of him, her arms outstretched, as though she was trying to protect the Celestial Lighthouse. Isaac stopped, and smirked in amusement. "Trying to be brave?"

She growled, and said, "I won't allow you to go any further! If you even move, I'll give you such a beating, you won't be recognizable!" Isaac let out a cold laugh, and said, "I doubt that. You won't even raise your weapon to face me."

Mia froze at her words. It was true. She would never think of trying to fight Isaac, not just because his Psynergy was stronger, but because she didn't want to hurt the one she loved…

She was cut off from her thoughts when she felt strong fingers wrap around her throat. She let out a gasp of surprise, and upon instinct, brought her hands up to Isaac's wrist. His grip tightened, and his face was just inches from her own face. "That's the problem with you." He hissed. "You think too much with your heart, and not enough with your brain. Power isn't obtained by helping others. You only get it by being ruthless, by fighting your way to the top."

"That's not true!" Mia gasped, trying to loosen Isaac's grip, but it was in vain. "The Isaac I knew wouldn't even think of hurting people to get his way, or to get power!"

"The Isaac you once knew is gone forever!" Isaac growled, bringing Mia's face closer to his own, so that his own nose just scraped Mia's own nose. "He's gone, and your going to have to live with the one you see in front of you." His eyes bore into her, and his grip tightened even more. "But I'll spare you the pain." He said finally after a few moments of silence.

He walked forward, and held Mia over the hole leading into the very core of Weyard. "Isaac…!" Mia gasped out, desperate to find any single thread of the Isaac she knew and loved. "Please! You're doing the wrong thing! Alex wants to rule alone! He'll get rid of you the first chance he gets!"

At this, Isaac let out another laugh. "Do you believe that I'm doing what Alex wants? He believes that I'm doing what he wants, but in reality, I'm not. I'm doing this for myself, and not for others."

"But think of all the lives that have been sacrificed just to get what you want!"

"Ah…I don't care about them. All I care about is getting power, and I don't care if a few lives have to be destroyed on the way."

Mia looked franticly out of the corner of her eyes, but she knew there was nothing she could do. "I think that's enough talk." Isaac said in a whispered voice. "It's time to end this."

Isaac held her over the hole, and said, looking straight into Mia's eyes. "Good-bye Mia." He let go, and Mia fell with a small cry of fear. The instinct to grab something when you fall, made her arm lash out, and grab a hold of anything. When she felt her hand grasp something, she closed her fist, and held on tight.

It was then when she stopped, and opened her eyes. She looked at her hand, and saw yellow material spilling over her hand. Isaac-?!

She looked up towards the entrance of the hole, and saw Isaac's own form dangling from the edge. His fingers barely hung onto the edge, and he could see he was struggling to pull himself up, but it was impossible with her own weight adding to his weight.

"Hang on Isaac!" called a voice. Mia looked up, and saw Jenna looking down at them, and outstretching her hand towards Isaac. He glared at her, and finally took it, and with the help of Jenna, was able to pull himself up, along with Mia.

As soon as he was over the edge, and Mia was hanging onto the edge, Isaac leaped on, grabbed a hold of Jenna's neck, and pushed her onto the ground. "You fool…!" he hissed, smirking down at Jenna, as she struggled to breathe. "This could have been your chance to be rid of me once and for all! As I said, compassion leads to weakness."

Sheba and Ivan sent each other the same message, and both of them prepared to cast a Spark Plasma. Isaac glared at them, his eyes glowing briefly, and before any of them knew it, both Sheba and Ivan were blasted to opposite ends of the Aerie.

"I…Isaac…!" Jenna gasped, wincing as his fingers bruised her neck. "You have to stop! Please…! Only you can fix what was done…!"

"I don't care about those people!" Isaac said, frowning at Jenna. "I have everything I need! I don't need any pathetic people, or friends that need protecting!" Mia pulled herself up, and just in time to see Isaac about to drive his Sol Blade into Jenna's heart.

"No!" Mia shouted, her expression turning to worry. "Don't Isaac!"

"That is enough!" boomed a misty, yet angry voice. A large explosion caught Isaac off guard, and sent him off of Jenna. Mia crawled towards Jenna, and cast a quick Ply. "Thanks." Jenna said huskily, rubbing her sore neck.

"What was that?" asked Mia loudly, searching every corner of the Aerie. First she saw Felix struggling to sit up, then she saw Garet standing over Alex, who's face was half covered in blood. Then she saw Picard, helping both Sheba and Ivan up from the floor. From what Mia was seeing, no one had caused the explosion.

"What is the meaning of this?" boomed the voice again, making Mia's ears hurt. "I gave you Alchemy's true power to help others! Not to cause destruction and death!" Mia saw Isaac slowly sit up. He glared at the rock floating in front of him. "I'm not listening to you!" Isaac spat, staring at the Wise One with a hard face.

"You are a fool to let such power go to your head! I was stupid to let you even hold such power. I thought you were different Isaac, but I was wrong. You are like all the fools in this world who let power go to their heads, and allow it to blind them from the truth."

At this statement, Mia was surprised to see Isaac bow his head, as though he was shamed by what he had done. But it was short lived, because Isaac slowly stood up, and then spat at the Wise One, "You are the fool!"

Isaac then attempted to drive his sword into the Wise One's eye, but he shut it, allowing his body to glow with white Psynergetic rings. Isaac, unprotected by the blow, was blown towards the edge, but he managed to flip over, and land on the floor, just inches from the edge.

Isaac was panting, his eyes shining with anger, and what looked like defeat. His body was battered, and bruised, blood slowly beginning to crust from wounds he had sustained. The Wise One was preparing to send Isaac off the edge, when Mia, before she knew it, was running towards Isaac, and standing in front of him.

"Don't!" Mia screamed, desperate. She didn't want to lose another… "Stop! Isaac is a really good person! If you give him another chance, he won't disappoint you again! I'll make sure of it! Please! Just don't hurt him!"

The Psynergy surrounding the Wise One slowly faded away. Mia turned towards Isaac, who was staring at her through wide eyes. "What…Why did you do that…?" he asked, as though he was completely clueless as to why Mia put herself in danger for him. Mia smiled, and knelt down in front of Isaac, and said, "I didn't want to see you hurt…"

"I…" Isaac looked to the floor. What were these feelings coursing through his body…? And why did he suddenly feel a rush of gratitude towards her…? Mia placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "Now do you see that compassion isn't a weakness…?"

Suddenly, before Mia knew it, Isaac had pulled her into his arms. He clung tightly to her, and Mia couldn't help but blush when her head rested on his chest. "Mia…" he whispered, closing his eyes, and taking in the scent of Mia's hair. "I'm so sorry…I don't know what came over me…"

Mia looked into Isaac's eyes, and noticed that they were back to their normal colour of cerulean. "Isaac." Mia said, wrapping her own arms around Isaac. "I forgive you. I know you didn't mean to do any of the things you did. You just weren't thinking straight…And…I…I love you Isaac…"

Mia felt him cling tighter. "I…I love you too, Mia…" She felt Isaac become rigid all of a sudden, and Mia looked into Isaac's eyes, concerned. "What's wrong?" Isaac didn't pay attention, but rather, pushed Mia to the ground, and pull out his Sol Blade. Mia looked up, and saw Alex clash blades with Isaac.

"Look who's back!" Alex smirked at Isaac, pushing against him with all his might. Isaac pushed back, and answered back, smiling, "That's right! I'm not helping you anymore!" With this said, Isaac shoved Alex-hard-in the stomach, and drove his Sol Blade through Alex.

Alex's body went rigid with pain, and a little trail of blood leaked out from the corner of his mouth. Isaac, thinking Alex was dead, was starting to relax, when Alex suddenly smiled. "You think this is going to be the end…? I'll be able to make a new plan, and get your powers once and for all!" Alex let out a horrid laugh, but Isaac, being so disgusted with Alex's saying, pushed Alex towards the hole, and let him fall. They never even heard Alex's body hit the ground.

"Is he dead?" asked Jenna, stepping up beside Isaac. Isaac looked down the hole, and nodded his head. "I think so."

"Hey man!" Garet said, stepping up to Isaac, and slapping him on the back. "It's great to have you back!" Isaac smiled. "It's great to be back." Mia walked up to Isaac, and hugged him. "I'm glad you're back, Isaac." Isaac hugged her back. "I'm glad to be back with you."

"Isaac. There is still work to be done." The Wise One said, floating over the hole. Isaac nodded, and stepped back from Mia. "Hold hands with all of them, and pool your Psynergy to me, and I will do the rest." Isaac grasped Mia's hand, and Mia tightened her hold, as though afraid she would lose him again if she let go.

The Wise One closed his eye, and they all felt some of their Psynergy leaving their bodies, and start to form a sphere in front of the Wise One. The colours of all the elements combined, and slowly, they took on the startling colour of white. The sphere started its slow descent into the well of the Aerie, and then, with a short rumble of the earth, it was over.

They opened their eyes, and found everything to be the same it was before the lighthouse was lit. "Nothing changed." Garet said. "Of course not, stupid!" Jenna said, smacking Garet playfully on the head. "It's only Weyard that's supposed to rebuild itself. Not the lighthouses or the villages."

"How was I supposed to know?" asked Garet, rubbing where Jenna had hit him. "I was stuck in a bed for 4 days, for crying out loud!" Jenna, unexpectedly, hugged him. "I know, you big oaf."

Sheba looked over the ledge of the lighthouse, and exclaimed, "Hey! Weyard is rebuilding itself!" They rushed to where Sheba was, and saw, that indeed, Weyard was rebuilding itself. Pieces of land that had disappeared over the ledge ions ago, were floating to the edges of the land, and slowly reforming.

Mia came up around Isaac, and hugged him tightly. "Everything is going to the look the same it did 100 years ago…" Isaac smiled. "Yeah…Finally…Everything is normal…"

…=The End…=

Fury: Yay! Now I get to beat you! *Starts to hit Mercury*

Ow! Why'd you hit me twice?

Fury: One was for leaving this chapter for so long, and the other was for making the ending so cheesy! *Hits her even harder*

Fury: Seeing as Mercury is kinda dead for now, I'll do the review responses, now.

Review Responses:

Net Strife: I have to agree with you. She DID end that last chapter short, didn't she? Let's see what others have to say. "HEAR, HEAR!" Seee?

Windflame: I hope she made it slow, and painful enough for your taste. (Personally, I think she should made Isaac cut off his head, or something. But that's' just MY opinion. It doesn't count. I'm just a muse.)

Capito Celcior: Mercury tried her best to use the ideas you all sent in, changing a lot of ideas she had to make you all happy. And Mercury is always happy to answer your reviews. (But please. Never give her any ideas, because she scares me when she gets an idea…)

Dragoon Knight: I JUST GOT MY PAYCHECK, AND I'M RARING TO GO! Give me the bet, and I'll go with it. BUT I WARN YOU! I will NOT lose.

Void: I agree with you, in whole. And Mercury wants you to judge and see if she really did give away the story by asking that question in the last chapter.

Yagami: Alex, hmmm….?

QueenDragonGoddess: Mercury hopes you like what she wrote. It's not really a fight with Isaac, but it's close enough, no?

Procne: Quote= "I don't want it to end either, but it's the way it goes. Everything has an ending." This is what Mercury wrote down, and wanted me to say to your review. I personally, don't give a damn.

Kyarorain: Felix isn't dead. Happy? And yes, I will take the cookie! *Happy*

JohnDude: Mercury says thank you. And she says that she doesn't appreciate people calling her a pinhead, and a moron, but since you apoligized, and said that her story was good, she forgives you. And she says she's sorry she didn't get this up sooner.

Cloud-123: Mercury says, "Thanks"

Fury: Wow. Even I didn't think you had so many fans! But since Mercury is still dead, I'll say the good bye for both of us. Oh! She also wants me to say to wait for an epilogue! Bye!

^…FURY…^