Title: Spiritual Elements

Author: mangazgal

Rating: PG-13 (for occasional swearing and subjects such as suicide)

Genre: Fantasy/Romance

Summary: AU Four stars, four kingdoms-very simple. So why does everyone want to change that? Future Isaac/Mia, Garet/Jenna, Felix/Sheba

Disclaimer: To see the full disclaimer, see the prelude. Golden Sun belongs to Camelot and Nintendo. This is a fanfiction, written solely for entertainment.

A/N: This is my second fanfiction, thank you for taking the time to read it! All reviews and criticisms are greatly appreciated, thanks especially to my first two lovely reviews. You guys sure know how to make an author feel loved. I hope you enjoy this chapter as well.

Chapter 1

"I cannot believe you tricked me like that Garet! Telling me that you needed me to scout the border because of an enemy threat," a girl scowled as she walked next to Garet along a small path on the palace grounds. "What if you got hurt while I was away?"

"But I did not," Garet said with a small smile. "Lighten up, Kirin. You are too serious."

Garet still had a sleepy look across his face, but he was still as cheery as he was the night before. This time, though, he had painstakingly managed to slick his hair down smoothly, although the occasional strand still threatened to pop up. He was dressed richly in a short-sleeved red shirt of silk that matched the fire in his own eyes. It had patterns sewn in with golden thread that twinkled in the sunlight, showing the fiery flames of fire and a golden sun across the front. His pants were plainer of a simple brown color, but up on the sides were the same patterns that decorated his shirt. The clothing gave him a simple, regal look that would have made him looked unapproachable if he didn't have such a pleasant look on his face. He had an amiable personality that could make even the most serious people smile. Not surprisingly, the girl besides him smiled despite herself.

"Why do you keep doing that?" Kirin grinned, her dark blue eyes, almost black in color, twinkling. "I am trying to be serious and reprimand you, but you just made me smile and forgive you. What is that?"

"A gift?" Garet said with a shrug.

"A curse," Kirin said with the shake of her head. "I will be the laughing stock of all the guards."

"Tch," Garet scoffed lightly. "I doubt it. You are one of the best, not to mention one of the prettiest."

Kirin smacked him across the head. "Garet!"

"Ow!" he cried as he rubbed his head. "You can get in trouble for that."

"But you never say anything anyway," Kirin said with a playful smirk.

"Now, now, now, young lady," Garet scolded. "Hitting a young prince? And what are your reasons? Because he pays you a compliment that is very true?"

"Stop with the flattery," Kirin laughed.

Although she denied it, the compliment was quite true. If it weren't for her skills, she would not have been able to become the young prince's personal bodyguard. It was her diligence, and perhaps maybe a little due to her elfin blood, that brought her up to such a prestigious ranking at such a young age, wearing the long, red flowing shirt and dark cuffed pants that was the outfit of a high-ranking warrior. A gold-chain was around her waist with a variety of swords and weapons hooked on. Her long ears and graceful build was the only hint of her elfin heritage, although she did not know her own personal history. However, she never let her unknown parents bother her. She grew up in the palace almost like a sister to Garet, and being his personal guard could not have made her happier.

"What do you have to do today?" Kirin asked.

"I am not quite sure myself. I am sure that I will have to meet with father today to discuss about what happened last night in full details and get a lecture in return. I am concerned, however," Garet said with a frown, "that the story will not help in the meeting they have later today with the Mercury Kingdom. Negotiations have never gone well, and this latest incident will not make it go any better."

"Why were they here last night?" Kirin wondered out loud. "I wished you didn't send me away."

"They would not have been able to touch a single one of my hair," Garet assured her. "I told the guards to just keep watch and come in if I am in danger. I am pretty sure they are after the Mars Elemental Star. I am not sure why-"

"Garet! Why did you let them escape then? The Star is what fuels our kingdom and allows us to use Psynergy." As if to demonstrate, Kirin summoned a couple of fireballs, juggling them expertly with one hand. "Attempting to steal it is not some petty robbery, it's a direct threat to our kingdom."

Garet sighed. "That is exactly why I didn't want you to stay here. This will just worsen the relation between the Mercury and Mars Kingdoms. A new queen has come to the throne, and this is the chance to start a new alliance. I do not want such an event ruin that chance."

"If you caught them, they could be exchanged for the price of peace," Kirin pointed out.

Garet rolled his eyes as he pulled her dark purplish blue hair playfully. "Silly. That will be forcing them because we have hostages. I would not want to see a forced peace," Garet said disgusted. "Then the Mercurians would hate us even more, especially because they were forced into it. That is even worse."

"No wonder the king and queen would not allow you to join these diplomatic meetings," Kirin laughed. "You're much too kind to become a politician of any sort."

Garet groaned. "Do not even begin to mention it. They are sure to not understand. They don't agree with my point of view of the situation. Father and mother will have a fit when they hear the truth. Which is why," he said dramatically, "I asked King Kyle and Queen Dora to visit."

"Garet! You cannot just call the king and queen of Venus away from their royal duties to drag them into the affairs between the Mars and Mercury Kingdoms!"

"You know as well as I do that King Kyle and Queen Dora are just as concerned as we are with the peace between the fire and water kingdom. Why should we not invite them to listen? Surely a mediator would help."

"Do you learn anything about modern politics? You are going completely against the policy of the Mars Kingdom. Your parents won't be thrilled when they find out you dragged the Venus Kingdom into this, no matter how friendly our relation is with them."

"Oh, stop talking about it. This is making my head hurt," Garet complained as he clutched his head pitifully.

"Just when you start getting philosophical, you…" Kirin trailed off.

"I what?" Garet asked, eyeing his guard curiously.

Kirin had frozen in her tracks as she glanced from side to side before jumping up into a tree lining the walkway. Garet was about to ask just what in the name of Djinni was she doing when he heard the noise himself; the soft pitter-patter of fallen hoof beats could be heard nearby. An even softer scuffle that was almost impossible for Garet to hear himself, although he had no doubt his elfish friend could, of someone scaling up the palace wall put him on guard. He still stood in the middle of the walkway, but every muscle was tensed in anticipation.

Suddenly, a yellow blur leaped over the palace wall. Kirin immediately jumped down to tackle whoever that was so bold to trespass into the royal palace, gaining the upper hand. However, as if she was some mere toy, she was easily flipped over and pinned down.

"Kirin, as much as I like you, I'm afraid my loyalty to my prince overrides any relations shared between you and me." The air resounded with the clarity and strength in the speaker's gentle voice. The man had long black hair that cascaded around his shoulders with equally dark eyes that still managed to stand out against his tanned skin.

"Ramses?" Kirin cried startled.

"Well, I knew you two liked each other, but really, how could you hide such a promising relationship from me, Ramses?" someone chuckled amusingly as he stepped out from the tree. "And while we are at it, perhaps you would be so kind as to take your hands off Miss Kirin until a more appropriate time permits you to be more, how should I say it, intimate?"

"But, I," the dark haired man protested.

"Get off!" Kirin shouted, red with embarrassment, kicking the man off her.

"Isaac! Long time no see," Garet called out in greetings to his long time friend.

"It is good to see you again, as well, Garet," Isaac replied warmly. "I hope you and your family are well."

"Never better," Garet grinned. "But answer me something, Isaac."

"What is it?"

"Tell me, just when and how did you hide behind my trees?" Garet asked, eyeing his friend carefully. His golden robes, which were detailed in a deeper colored gold thread with the designs of vines, trees, and a golden sun, were only slightly mused, despite the three hours ride over from the Venus Kingdom and hiding in his garden.

"I slipped behind the trees only seconds before Kirin leaped into the tree, and Ramses played as my decoy. As for the question of how, honestly Garet, what did you expect from me, the prince of Venus?"

Garet shook his head. "It is good to see that you have not changed."

Almost a year had gone by since Garet had last seen Isaac. Pressing business of the kingdom often got in the way from any visiting between the two friends. Because they were both seventeen, more and more time had to be spent on learning more about the kingdom they would one day inherit. Yet, over the course of a year, Isaac had not changed one bit, Garet mused to himself amusingly. Isaac still had the same bright blue eyes that, unlike the Mercurians and their oceanic eyes, were like a piece of the blue sky. He was still shorter than Garet, which Garet noted gleefully, although he had grown over the year to only be about half a head shorter rather than a whole head. His golden hair had grown longer, but was still neatly combed and pulled back.

'He really has not changed a bit,' Garet thought with a smile.

"What are you smiling about?" Kirin muttered a little angrily as she stood next to her prince once more, shooting angry glances now and then at Ramses. Ramses, however, was oblivious to all of this as he straightened out his golden robes, which resembled Isaac's except it was less intricately designed, and smothered the creases in his pale brown pants. None of this, of course, escaped Isaac's piercing glance, and he, too, smiled as this bickering between Ramses and Kirin reminded him of days that seemed so long ago.

"Now, what was so urgent that you need to drag the Venus Kingdom into the Mars's affair?" Isaac asked his friend, wondering about what other troubles could possibly be about now.

"You came just in time," Garet sighed as he remembered the reason for Isaac's sudden arrival. "But wait, where is the rest of your train? I'm sure that you did not come here with only Ramses."

Isaac smiled sheepishly. "You know I despise these formal parading around. I had one of my servants take my place as I rushed over first. They should arrive in another hour or so. That leaves plenty of time for you to explain what is going on these days here in the Mars Kingdom."

 "How is it that you are always one step ahead of me?" Garet wondered out loud.

 "A gift?" Isaac said with a shrug.

"A curse," Garet, Kirin, and Ramses chimed in at the same time.

The four of them burst into laughter as Garet began to beckon Isaac to follow him as he expressed his concerns.

* * * * *

Isaac frowned as he sipped his tea. He had rushed over without eating breakfast, so his friend urged him to sit at one of the palace grounds many tables and help himself to a mid-morning tea. He placed his cup down gently and nodded to one of the servants that were hovering around.

"That is all, thank you," he told her politely. He watched as the servant left and then turned back to his friend.

"You know that the peace between the Mars and Mercury Kingdoms has always been a concern of the Venus Kingdom," Isaac began slowly. "But, it is not our place to interfere with the businesses of other kingdoms."

"I do not understand why you cannot help," Garet protested. "You will not be interfering, you will only be a mediator."

"Garet, you must understand that it is not that I am unwilling to help. The Venus Kingdom will always support the efforts for peace. However, we cannot get involved, especially at a time like this. The peace between the four kingdoms has been fragile everything the beginning of the First Alliance. Even then, the peace was held because of a bigger threat of foreign countries. If I should join the meeting today and urge for peace, the Mercurians will believe that the Mars and Venus Kingdoms are allying together against them. That will bring about war."

"But is the chance of war greater than the possible chance of peace? It is a risk, but without a risk, nothing can be accomplished!" Garet exclaimed, standing up.

"Garet, please, calm down," Isaac said gently, his calm eyes piercing into the fire of Garet's agitated ones.

 Garet sighed as he sank back down into his seat. "I'm sorry," he muttered.

"I won't deny that the luring possibility of a stronger peace is enticing, but the chances of war are just as great and results devastating. I cannot do it."

Garet laughed softly, almost sardonically. "Somehow, I knew all of this would come to naught."

Isaac shook his head sadly, biting his lower lip. "I am sorry, Garet. I know how much this means to you."

"What means so much to you, Garet?" a voice called from behind.

Garet leaped up and whirled around in surprise. "Father, mother!"

Isaac rose from his seat more calmly, and walked before the king and queen. He knelt down to one knee, bowing his head in respect. "Aa, King Galian and Queen Felicia, it is a pleasure to see you both again. It has been a while now, but if I may have the audacity of saying, King Galian, you seem to have grown younger during the year. And Queen Felicia, if it is possible, you have grown more ravishing than ever. I can see why the very flowers themselves seem to pale in comparison to your radiant beauty." With this, Isaac gracefully stood up, bowing to both of them.

"Prince Isaac, your tongue has grown to be that of a flatterer," the king said with a smile.

"But it's impossible to be a flatterer when one is telling the truth," Isaac replied back smoothly.

The queen laughed softly into her hands. "Garet, you must learn to be as charming as Prince Isaac. Otherwise, he'll lure all of the maidens in our kingdom to his own."

Garet moaned inwardly as he watch Isaac charm over his parents once again. How he does it he will never know. It seriously must be some sort of curse.

"Prince Isaac, what brings you over to our humble kingdom so unexpectedly? I know you did not come all this way to shower us with your eloquent charisma," King Galian said good-humoredly, breaking Garet out of his train of thought.

Garet panicked as he shook his head ferociously at Isaac, trying to send him a mental note to not say the real reason for his business. However, Isaac didn't seem to see him at all. Garet grimaced, as he waited for the long lecture he'll get, for last night and this.

"Why, it's to see Prince Garet again. It has been so long since I have last seen him. Unfortunately, due to problems we have been having at home, I haven't been able to visit earlier. Also, Lord Felix has been pining to see the fair Lady Jenna, his lovely sister, again. I'm sure this meant so much to Prince Garet." Isaac smiled, giving a Garet a wink. Garet merely fumed silently as he realized that all his worries were for naught.

"Aa, Lord Felix will be coming as well? That's wonderful. Lady Jenna will have quite a surprise," Queen Felicia smiled.

Just then, trumpets heralded their welcome to a guest approaching the castle.

"That must be them," King Galian said. "Wonderful. I must hurry and gr-"

"You cannot just charge into the king's private garden! He is presently pressed with other business. You'll have to wait!" a guard shouted.

"I did not come all the way here to wait! I have more pressing business with the king than any other frivolous things he has to do. I demand to see him!" a female's voice filled the air.

"Oh my," Queen Felicia said, her hands covering her mouth out of surprise.

"Who is so rude to impose themselves like this?" King Galian said sternly.

One of the palace guards rushed over. "Your Highness, some female has come pushing through our guards demanding to see you."

"Tell her to come some other time. Today I am busy."

"We tried to tell her that, but she refuses to listen."

"Who is she?"

"She said she was-"

"The princess of the Mercury Kingdom!" a third voice interjected.

Everyone in the garden turned to see a lithe, petit, azure colored hair female standing there, dressed in a soft blue silk dress, a cross look across the face.

'It is she!' Garet realized in shock. 'The girl from the night before!'

~To be continued