CL: Well...this is it...the final chapter...then an epilogue and everything's
over. So since the reviews have piled up I'd better do some review
responses.
Isaac: About time!!! It's been nearly four months!
CL: I've been busy. Still am. Not to mention after this story is finished I won't be doing much writing anymore on ff.net. At all. Reviews, yes, but that's all.
Isaac: What!? I mean...yay!
Felix: Right...Review Responses!
Kyarorain: It's been a while. Shh! Don't tell anyone that's where I got the idea!!! Sort of...when you have three younger siblings you have no TV freedom in choosing. Weyard, huh? I could've sworn it was Weyward, after checking my stupid book and everything...as for the question...you'll have to see...
Wolfy 129: Thanks! I agree, Isaac/Jenna is by far the coolest pairing out there!
The 8BTFreek: Hey hey! I'm glad you like it so much! Now you can make up for all those reviews I give you!
Destiny Smasher('s many reviews): (1)Kyle is bitter in the parent way...okay...parents are like that...if something happens to their child they can tend to blame the friends...or at least that's what my parents have done in the past. (3) Yay! Compliments! (5) See, things are coming together! (6) Yes, Jars of Clay. The have to wasn't Isaac talking about Jenna, it was him saying Ivan needs to answer him. If that doesn't satisfy you, the only other explanation for the phrase is to tell Jenna a certain truth... (8) you'll see...
Mikaa: Did I say something about removing it...oops...well...maybe not this one...glad you care.
Xeaeros: Like the phrase, do you? Took me a while to figure it out considering I don't really know Spanish that well...
Merric: Okay, okay! On with the disclaimer and story!
Dom: CL doesn't own Golden Sun, some guys in Japan do. She did create us kids though...and the storyline...and the sorta-villians.
CL: Sorta-villians? I should coin that phrase...
Ivan: *cough* On with the final chapter!!!
~*~*~*~*~*~
Part III, Chapter III
Of Unrequited,
Written By: A Christian Loser
~*~*~*~*~*~
The week following Jasmine's birthday was slow in passing. Picard had decided to go on a trip to revisit some of the places they had all visited, and Ivan had gone to see his sister, Hamma. The two strangers who were staying in Vale had thrown around a string of gossip over where they hailed from, but most if it was ignored, especially the possibility of them being strong Adepts. After all, they were helpful in town and never caused trouble. How silly townspeople can be!
~*~*~*~
Meanwhile, these two 'helpful' teens were taking a walk near Kraden's former residence—the old man had gone back to Tolbi to help Iodem stabilize things. While both seemed a little agitated, they had refrained from arguing and instead calmly sat down to adjust the minor details of their plan. Of course, that could only last so long.
"I still don't see why we can't just ask for help." Moira muttered under her breath, which unfortunately did not manage to escape and already stressed Kentar.
"Because they'd never listen!" He spat back before returning to scorching the plan in the ground so that they could review it.
A defeated Moira sighed and leaned over to help, the two adjusting details here and there, until what seemed to be a fool-proof plan stood before them in the dirt-at least until Moira used Growth to cover it up and destroy the etchings. They both stood in unison. They were expected to help with someone's roof soon, and people might talk if they were late—after all, they were still considered strangers, having yet to tell where they were from and their real names. For now, they were merely Ana and Matthew, and not a couple as the innkeeper had thought, but brother and sister.
~*~*~*~
"Bye Mom! Bye Dad!" an excited Jasmine called out as she ran out the door to go to lessons. Once children turned eight, they were expected to have lessons with the mayor in order to learn more about psynergy and the sacred laws of Vale that still remained in the elderly man's memory. Neither parent answered her good-bye as she was already a house down or so, and knew she'd never hear them anyways.
Upstairs, Jenna finished pulling her brown hair back near the nape of her neck and pulled on her shoes, what with Merric and Owen gone to lessons too, Mia and Sheba would need plenty of help with Neal, Dom, and Mary. Besides, without Jasmine around the house it was too quiet for the Mars Adept's liking‚ and Mia and Sheba were welcome company compared to an empty house. Downstairs she could hear Isaac raiding their pantry for an apple before he went to help Garet, and Felix with reinforcing the barrier that protected Vale from anything the remains of Mt. Aleph might throw at the small village. Even with Vault's added alliance, the small town wanted to be sure they were safe.
~*~*~*~
Ivan felt as if his mind would explode. He knew some of Hamma's training would be hard, but this, this was impossible! Viewing someone all the way across Angara was insane! And then, just as a picture began to appear, it was gone, replaced by a vision, disturbing and chaotic. While nothing seen was clearing, its meaning was impossible to miss—Vale was in danger! Amethyst eyes abruptly opened as the tired Jupiter Adept quickly explained to his sister what he'd seen.
"Oh Ivan, there's no time...we can't possibly get to Vale fast enough, even with Picard's help."
"Yes we can! I still have this!" He exclaimed, showing her the Teleport Lapis*, "Come on!" Grabbing her hand, he equipped the lapis and summoned the familiar powers of Jupiter to take him to Lemuria—Picard's first stop on his year-long journey.
SPLASH!
"Ivan! Couldn't you have at least landed us on the island?" Hamma sputtered indignantly as they pulled themselves up onto the docks.
"Sorry, I've never had to teleport to a faraway place without the ship before. Especially Lemuria." Ivan argued back, "And anyways, there's Picard's ship! Come on, he can't be too far!"
And in fact, he was very close indeed—at that moment he entered the dock after having said his farewells. The very obviously surprised Mercury Adept quickly recognized Ivan and joined the brother and sister.
"Ivan? What are you doing—"
"No time! We have to help everyone!" Ivan quickly interrupted, pulling the confused Lemurian onto his ship and casting Teleport again...but nothing was happening!
"We have plenty of time," Picard answered nervously, "Until we leave Lemuria you can't use psynergy. Conservato's new rule for us. Now, I suggest you begin talking."
"Ivan had a vision involving Vale. Evidently they are going to be in danger and we need to get there." Hamma explained calmly to a still shocked Picard, careful to keep her face blank. After all, this wasn't the time to notice he now looked about the same age as her, and...
"So that's why he seemed so distressed." Picard commented, giving Hamma a quick grin, "He always did get like that when he had bad visions."
"Really? He's never been like that in front of me." Hamma told him, trying to keep her mind on the task at hand.
"Garet was a large factor usually." He joked, and then added, "I guess I'll go tell Ivan he can use Teleport now—"
But Ivan was way ahead of them. Even now the blue sea was dissipating and the hills around Vale loomed over them.
"Come on!" Already Ivan had managed to disembark and was pulling the two Adepts along with him.
~*~*~*~
Sheba suddenly felt a wave of cold wash over her. Something was going to happen. Something terrible. But how to prevent it...and as soon as the vision came she began to smile and the cold left.
"Jenna?"
"Hmm?"
"Don't you think we should go see if the barrier's done yet? It's been a long time."
"Sure, why not? What do you think Mia?"
"Of course, they're probably long done and think we're too calm now to do anything about it." Mia joked, a mischievous grin appearing on her face.
"Ha!" Jenna laughed, and then added, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"A prank?" Sheba asked, "Why not?"
Laughing, and with all three children taking naps, the three women left Mia's house to go check on everyone.
~*~*~*~
"Welcome back!"
"Yeah, but, why are Ivan and Hamma wet?" Garet added to Isaac's welcome as they sat down on some stumps near the completed barrier.
"Ivan's teleporting skills are a little rusty." Hamma commented dryly as she wrung out her long lavender hair.
"I already told you I'm sorry!" Ivan whined, and then changed the subject, "How's everyone else doing?"
"They're fine, just—" Garet stopped mid-sentence to find himself shivering with the water that had been doused over his stump. Isaac started to laugh, but then found his stump was burning underneath him.
Felix by now was hanging onto a branch about twenty feet above the ground.
"Slacking, are you?" Jenna commented, now the one who was laughing.
"And then leaving us to sit around bored?" Sheba added. Mia was too busy scolding Garet to bother anyone else.
Felix and Isaac of course, were not pleased and Garet was frightened. Picard could only shake his head and whisper to Hamma,
"If that's what being married is like, it certainly seems better to be single." Hamma turned a little pink, but added,
"I don't know; it looks like they don't get bored for very long." Ivan just grinned at all four conversations and waited for Felix to let go and for the other two to regain composure before he commented,
"That's great and all, but you need to help me find some people I'm looking for. Two Adepts. I think they could cause trouble."
"Sure, but I doubt anyone from Vale is going to cause any severe trouble," Felix finally answered, before Garet interrupted,
"Except for our wives," This of course earned him another strong Douse.
"Seriously! We really need to find these people! Come on, let's split up, I'll go with Garet and Mia, Felix can go with Sheba, Isaac with Jenna, and Hamma can go with Picard." The other eight nodded, as it seemed logical enough and followed Ivan's orders, but not before Ivan managed to pull Isaac aside to tell him,
"You can tell her if you want, whenever you're ready." Isaac's blue eyes lit up, but he managed to keep his voice quiet, "Really?"
"Yes. It's time." Giving Isaac a nod, Ivan went to join Garet and Mia in the search.
~*~*~*~
"What was that all about, huh?"
"What are you talking about Jenna, I didn't say anything."
"Duh, I meant what you and Ivan were being all secretive about." Jenna answered, rolling her eyes and giving him a glare. Isaac scratched his head and gave a small laugh,
"Oh, uh, that. It's no big deal, really."
"Isaac..."
"All right, all right! See there's something I've kind of been wanting to tell you..."
"So tell me then. We've been married for nearly nine years!" Jenna stopped. Nine years? Had it really been that long?
"Well, I—"
A shock rang through Vale. Both Adepts lost their balance and fell to the ground. The two watched with horrified eyes as a dark cloud of smoke from the direction of the plaza. Isaac quickly stood, and, pulling Jenna along with him, raced for Vale's plaza.
~*~*~*~
"I said where are they!" Kentar roared, and a quivering blacksmith pointed towards the river, where all nine of the Adepts had grouped, all of them armed. The enraged Mars Adept turned away from the poor smith and created a ring of fire fifty feet in diameter, the villagers quickly running from the area.
"Now!" He ordered, and Moira nodded, sending jagged rocks up where the flames were once the nine Adepts entered the ring to fight them off. Felix spoke first, calling out to the two,
"Stop it! Why are you attacking Vale?"
"It is your fault! You have brought this destruction upon yourselves!" Kentar yelled back, his skin almost tinted red with Mars' Fury. Moira stood a little off, but wore an expression of pure rage.
"But we have done nothing!" Mia sputtered, utterly confused. "Exactly! You have allowed the rest of the world to run unchecked, worrying about your own happiness! For this you must pay the price!" Moira finally spoke up, her voice louder than Kentar had ever heard before.
And with that the battle began. Kentar unleashed a staggering Dragon Fume, massive enough to injure Isaac, Garet, Ivan, and Mia with equal severity. Had they been anyone else but the eight heroes, they would have been knocked out into a coma. Angered by the move, Mia quickly unleashed her strongest Tundra, literally dousing Kentar's flames momentarily, but only until Moira cast a Potent Cure that restored him back to better fighting condition. For the moment the two parties were a stalemate while the next strategy was planned.
~*~*~*~
Dora knew immediately something was wrong when she saw the smoke go up. Knowing that her son's friends would be the ones involved, she and Kyle, as well and Garet's and Jenna and Felix's parents were soon at Garet's spacious house, the three youngest children still sleeping through the chaos around them. They were quickly joined by Neal, Jasmine, and Owen, as well as the mayor. Silently she begged the powers of Venus to keep her son and his friends safe, after so many years—it wasn't fair to make them fight like they once did! Jasmine crawled into her grandmother's lap and whispered to Dora, "Where's Mom and Daddy?"
Dora gave her granddaughter a weak smile and a hug, and whispered back, "They're going to help with the trouble, they'll be home soon, don't worry."
~*~*~*~
"Mother Gaia!"
"Spark Plasma!"
"Cool Aura!"
"Boreas! I summon you!"
Felix, Sheba, Jenna, and Picard stood fighting while Hamma helped to heal the others. Though tired, none had gone down, and neither enemy seemed to be weakening by much.
"Potent Cure!"
As the glowing golden energy raced into his veins Kentar raised his long broadsword, the blade glowing red as he successfully slashed at Jenna's arm, cutting down to the bone before pulling away..
"Garet! Go in for Jenna!" Felix yelled, trying to keep his concern for his sister from affecting his fighting strength.
The two switched, and Jenna stood closely next to Isaac, wincing as his cold hands touched her arm and the skin sewed back together, leaving a small thin scratch where the deep cut had been. Though a long cut along his head trickled blood, he ignored the injury and continued to heal a heavily wounded Ivan.
"Enough!" Felix finally shouted as he saw the two teens begin to grow weary, "Charon! I summon you! Come to our aide!"
~*~*~*~
The sky grew black outside of the house. Jasmine felt scared, but wasn't about to admit it, even if no one would say anything now, she knew Merric and Owen would never let her live it down afterwards. Instead she closed her eyes tight and wished her mom and dad were there.
~*~*~*~
The pain was immense, worse than anything either Moira or Kentar had ever experienced before. With a scream Moira fell to her knees, soon joined by a bitter Kentar. As if this wasn't enough, both Adepts felt the cold kiss of Felix and Garet's blades to their necks. 'As if we're not defeated already. We're not Proxans, after all!' She thought bitterly, wait for the death stroke to come, but it never did. Instead the brown-haired one asked coldly,
"What are your names?"
"M-Moira, and" She winced; the pain of merely speaking was sent shocks through her body, "K-Kentar." All went black and she fell away from the blade, brown hair becoming thick with mud Mia and Picard's psynergy spells had caused. Kentar managed a glare that could have frozen fire and fell back into the ground as well.
~*~*~*~
"Isaac?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you feeling okay?"
"Considering we haven't fought in a battle that difficult in several years...fine. Why?"
"You're bleeding." Jenna murmured, and cast Aura on the wound, the warm spell flowing through her husband.
"I guess I was. Thank you, I feel a little better now." Isaac told her, shifting a sleeping Jasmine in his arms.
It was decided the two attackers would stay locked in Garet's house, and that Neal, Owen, and Mary would spend the night at Isaac's. Jenna cradled little Mary in her arms, and a yawning Neal asked,
"Are we almost there?"
"I'm tired too," Owen complained, then whispered to Neal, "How come Jasmine doesn't have to walk back too?"
Neal glared and whispered back, "'Cause she's the girl."
"And asleep." Jenna added as she opened the door for the two embarrassed boys and Isaac.
~*~*~*~
~Ivan?~
~Huh? What is it Hamma?~
~Did your vision come out how you wanted?~
~So far, yes.~
~That is good.~
~Good night, sister.~
~Night Ivan.~
~*~*~*~
Sheba stifled a yawn as she snuggled closer to Felix, who was sound asleep. It had been a long day, but things were turning out just fine.
~*~*~*~
Moira blearily opened her eyes to see blue eyes staring straight at her, oddly enough they were filled with worry. Every bone in her body ached from their lost battle. They had failed.
"I'm sorry Kentar."
"It's not your fault. With eight against two, there was no hope of winning, even though they are older now." Kentar murmured. She opened her eyes again and noticed he had somehow managed to sit up.
"I told them everything. The blue-haired woman, Mia, I think, says we'll be forgiven, if we leave once we're healed." He added, hanging his head in shame.
"But will they send help?"
"Yes, they see no reason why not to send us the elixir Master Kraden created."
"Master Kraden? The boy of legends?"
"He's a boy no longer, but an old man. He and the blonde Jupiter Adept woman; they're from our land."
"So things will solve themselves, it seems."
"Yes."
"Is Ayelle—"
"Gone? No. The Jupiter Adept man, he contacted her. They assumed we were dead, and well, she is married now..."
"I'm sorry."
"I know. Go back to sleep." He told her, his voice firm, but no longer cold.
He watched sadly, almost desperately as she fell back into sleep's embrace, but was not worried. After all, besides time, sleep is possibly a wound of the soul's best healer
~*~*~*~*~*~
*I think it's a Lapis; I can't remember. Let me know if that's right, please!
CL: Well, that was long. Took me hours to write it! So if I don't get reviews, you'll never know the end! I want fifteen reviews for this chapter, minimum before I update!!! And I mean it!!!
Isaac: About time!!! It's been nearly four months!
CL: I've been busy. Still am. Not to mention after this story is finished I won't be doing much writing anymore on ff.net. At all. Reviews, yes, but that's all.
Isaac: What!? I mean...yay!
Felix: Right...Review Responses!
Kyarorain: It's been a while. Shh! Don't tell anyone that's where I got the idea!!! Sort of...when you have three younger siblings you have no TV freedom in choosing. Weyard, huh? I could've sworn it was Weyward, after checking my stupid book and everything...as for the question...you'll have to see...
Wolfy 129: Thanks! I agree, Isaac/Jenna is by far the coolest pairing out there!
The 8BTFreek: Hey hey! I'm glad you like it so much! Now you can make up for all those reviews I give you!
Destiny Smasher('s many reviews): (1)Kyle is bitter in the parent way...okay...parents are like that...if something happens to their child they can tend to blame the friends...or at least that's what my parents have done in the past. (3) Yay! Compliments! (5) See, things are coming together! (6) Yes, Jars of Clay. The have to wasn't Isaac talking about Jenna, it was him saying Ivan needs to answer him. If that doesn't satisfy you, the only other explanation for the phrase is to tell Jenna a certain truth... (8) you'll see...
Mikaa: Did I say something about removing it...oops...well...maybe not this one...glad you care.
Xeaeros: Like the phrase, do you? Took me a while to figure it out considering I don't really know Spanish that well...
Merric: Okay, okay! On with the disclaimer and story!
Dom: CL doesn't own Golden Sun, some guys in Japan do. She did create us kids though...and the storyline...and the sorta-villians.
CL: Sorta-villians? I should coin that phrase...
Ivan: *cough* On with the final chapter!!!
~*~*~*~*~*~
Part III, Chapter III
Of Unrequited,
Written By: A Christian Loser
~*~*~*~*~*~
The week following Jasmine's birthday was slow in passing. Picard had decided to go on a trip to revisit some of the places they had all visited, and Ivan had gone to see his sister, Hamma. The two strangers who were staying in Vale had thrown around a string of gossip over where they hailed from, but most if it was ignored, especially the possibility of them being strong Adepts. After all, they were helpful in town and never caused trouble. How silly townspeople can be!
~*~*~*~
Meanwhile, these two 'helpful' teens were taking a walk near Kraden's former residence—the old man had gone back to Tolbi to help Iodem stabilize things. While both seemed a little agitated, they had refrained from arguing and instead calmly sat down to adjust the minor details of their plan. Of course, that could only last so long.
"I still don't see why we can't just ask for help." Moira muttered under her breath, which unfortunately did not manage to escape and already stressed Kentar.
"Because they'd never listen!" He spat back before returning to scorching the plan in the ground so that they could review it.
A defeated Moira sighed and leaned over to help, the two adjusting details here and there, until what seemed to be a fool-proof plan stood before them in the dirt-at least until Moira used Growth to cover it up and destroy the etchings. They both stood in unison. They were expected to help with someone's roof soon, and people might talk if they were late—after all, they were still considered strangers, having yet to tell where they were from and their real names. For now, they were merely Ana and Matthew, and not a couple as the innkeeper had thought, but brother and sister.
~*~*~*~
"Bye Mom! Bye Dad!" an excited Jasmine called out as she ran out the door to go to lessons. Once children turned eight, they were expected to have lessons with the mayor in order to learn more about psynergy and the sacred laws of Vale that still remained in the elderly man's memory. Neither parent answered her good-bye as she was already a house down or so, and knew she'd never hear them anyways.
Upstairs, Jenna finished pulling her brown hair back near the nape of her neck and pulled on her shoes, what with Merric and Owen gone to lessons too, Mia and Sheba would need plenty of help with Neal, Dom, and Mary. Besides, without Jasmine around the house it was too quiet for the Mars Adept's liking‚ and Mia and Sheba were welcome company compared to an empty house. Downstairs she could hear Isaac raiding their pantry for an apple before he went to help Garet, and Felix with reinforcing the barrier that protected Vale from anything the remains of Mt. Aleph might throw at the small village. Even with Vault's added alliance, the small town wanted to be sure they were safe.
~*~*~*~
Ivan felt as if his mind would explode. He knew some of Hamma's training would be hard, but this, this was impossible! Viewing someone all the way across Angara was insane! And then, just as a picture began to appear, it was gone, replaced by a vision, disturbing and chaotic. While nothing seen was clearing, its meaning was impossible to miss—Vale was in danger! Amethyst eyes abruptly opened as the tired Jupiter Adept quickly explained to his sister what he'd seen.
"Oh Ivan, there's no time...we can't possibly get to Vale fast enough, even with Picard's help."
"Yes we can! I still have this!" He exclaimed, showing her the Teleport Lapis*, "Come on!" Grabbing her hand, he equipped the lapis and summoned the familiar powers of Jupiter to take him to Lemuria—Picard's first stop on his year-long journey.
SPLASH!
"Ivan! Couldn't you have at least landed us on the island?" Hamma sputtered indignantly as they pulled themselves up onto the docks.
"Sorry, I've never had to teleport to a faraway place without the ship before. Especially Lemuria." Ivan argued back, "And anyways, there's Picard's ship! Come on, he can't be too far!"
And in fact, he was very close indeed—at that moment he entered the dock after having said his farewells. The very obviously surprised Mercury Adept quickly recognized Ivan and joined the brother and sister.
"Ivan? What are you doing—"
"No time! We have to help everyone!" Ivan quickly interrupted, pulling the confused Lemurian onto his ship and casting Teleport again...but nothing was happening!
"We have plenty of time," Picard answered nervously, "Until we leave Lemuria you can't use psynergy. Conservato's new rule for us. Now, I suggest you begin talking."
"Ivan had a vision involving Vale. Evidently they are going to be in danger and we need to get there." Hamma explained calmly to a still shocked Picard, careful to keep her face blank. After all, this wasn't the time to notice he now looked about the same age as her, and...
"So that's why he seemed so distressed." Picard commented, giving Hamma a quick grin, "He always did get like that when he had bad visions."
"Really? He's never been like that in front of me." Hamma told him, trying to keep her mind on the task at hand.
"Garet was a large factor usually." He joked, and then added, "I guess I'll go tell Ivan he can use Teleport now—"
But Ivan was way ahead of them. Even now the blue sea was dissipating and the hills around Vale loomed over them.
"Come on!" Already Ivan had managed to disembark and was pulling the two Adepts along with him.
~*~*~*~
Sheba suddenly felt a wave of cold wash over her. Something was going to happen. Something terrible. But how to prevent it...and as soon as the vision came she began to smile and the cold left.
"Jenna?"
"Hmm?"
"Don't you think we should go see if the barrier's done yet? It's been a long time."
"Sure, why not? What do you think Mia?"
"Of course, they're probably long done and think we're too calm now to do anything about it." Mia joked, a mischievous grin appearing on her face.
"Ha!" Jenna laughed, and then added, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"A prank?" Sheba asked, "Why not?"
Laughing, and with all three children taking naps, the three women left Mia's house to go check on everyone.
~*~*~*~
"Welcome back!"
"Yeah, but, why are Ivan and Hamma wet?" Garet added to Isaac's welcome as they sat down on some stumps near the completed barrier.
"Ivan's teleporting skills are a little rusty." Hamma commented dryly as she wrung out her long lavender hair.
"I already told you I'm sorry!" Ivan whined, and then changed the subject, "How's everyone else doing?"
"They're fine, just—" Garet stopped mid-sentence to find himself shivering with the water that had been doused over his stump. Isaac started to laugh, but then found his stump was burning underneath him.
Felix by now was hanging onto a branch about twenty feet above the ground.
"Slacking, are you?" Jenna commented, now the one who was laughing.
"And then leaving us to sit around bored?" Sheba added. Mia was too busy scolding Garet to bother anyone else.
Felix and Isaac of course, were not pleased and Garet was frightened. Picard could only shake his head and whisper to Hamma,
"If that's what being married is like, it certainly seems better to be single." Hamma turned a little pink, but added,
"I don't know; it looks like they don't get bored for very long." Ivan just grinned at all four conversations and waited for Felix to let go and for the other two to regain composure before he commented,
"That's great and all, but you need to help me find some people I'm looking for. Two Adepts. I think they could cause trouble."
"Sure, but I doubt anyone from Vale is going to cause any severe trouble," Felix finally answered, before Garet interrupted,
"Except for our wives," This of course earned him another strong Douse.
"Seriously! We really need to find these people! Come on, let's split up, I'll go with Garet and Mia, Felix can go with Sheba, Isaac with Jenna, and Hamma can go with Picard." The other eight nodded, as it seemed logical enough and followed Ivan's orders, but not before Ivan managed to pull Isaac aside to tell him,
"You can tell her if you want, whenever you're ready." Isaac's blue eyes lit up, but he managed to keep his voice quiet, "Really?"
"Yes. It's time." Giving Isaac a nod, Ivan went to join Garet and Mia in the search.
~*~*~*~
"What was that all about, huh?"
"What are you talking about Jenna, I didn't say anything."
"Duh, I meant what you and Ivan were being all secretive about." Jenna answered, rolling her eyes and giving him a glare. Isaac scratched his head and gave a small laugh,
"Oh, uh, that. It's no big deal, really."
"Isaac..."
"All right, all right! See there's something I've kind of been wanting to tell you..."
"So tell me then. We've been married for nearly nine years!" Jenna stopped. Nine years? Had it really been that long?
"Well, I—"
A shock rang through Vale. Both Adepts lost their balance and fell to the ground. The two watched with horrified eyes as a dark cloud of smoke from the direction of the plaza. Isaac quickly stood, and, pulling Jenna along with him, raced for Vale's plaza.
~*~*~*~
"I said where are they!" Kentar roared, and a quivering blacksmith pointed towards the river, where all nine of the Adepts had grouped, all of them armed. The enraged Mars Adept turned away from the poor smith and created a ring of fire fifty feet in diameter, the villagers quickly running from the area.
"Now!" He ordered, and Moira nodded, sending jagged rocks up where the flames were once the nine Adepts entered the ring to fight them off. Felix spoke first, calling out to the two,
"Stop it! Why are you attacking Vale?"
"It is your fault! You have brought this destruction upon yourselves!" Kentar yelled back, his skin almost tinted red with Mars' Fury. Moira stood a little off, but wore an expression of pure rage.
"But we have done nothing!" Mia sputtered, utterly confused. "Exactly! You have allowed the rest of the world to run unchecked, worrying about your own happiness! For this you must pay the price!" Moira finally spoke up, her voice louder than Kentar had ever heard before.
And with that the battle began. Kentar unleashed a staggering Dragon Fume, massive enough to injure Isaac, Garet, Ivan, and Mia with equal severity. Had they been anyone else but the eight heroes, they would have been knocked out into a coma. Angered by the move, Mia quickly unleashed her strongest Tundra, literally dousing Kentar's flames momentarily, but only until Moira cast a Potent Cure that restored him back to better fighting condition. For the moment the two parties were a stalemate while the next strategy was planned.
~*~*~*~
Dora knew immediately something was wrong when she saw the smoke go up. Knowing that her son's friends would be the ones involved, she and Kyle, as well and Garet's and Jenna and Felix's parents were soon at Garet's spacious house, the three youngest children still sleeping through the chaos around them. They were quickly joined by Neal, Jasmine, and Owen, as well as the mayor. Silently she begged the powers of Venus to keep her son and his friends safe, after so many years—it wasn't fair to make them fight like they once did! Jasmine crawled into her grandmother's lap and whispered to Dora, "Where's Mom and Daddy?"
Dora gave her granddaughter a weak smile and a hug, and whispered back, "They're going to help with the trouble, they'll be home soon, don't worry."
~*~*~*~
"Mother Gaia!"
"Spark Plasma!"
"Cool Aura!"
"Boreas! I summon you!"
Felix, Sheba, Jenna, and Picard stood fighting while Hamma helped to heal the others. Though tired, none had gone down, and neither enemy seemed to be weakening by much.
"Potent Cure!"
As the glowing golden energy raced into his veins Kentar raised his long broadsword, the blade glowing red as he successfully slashed at Jenna's arm, cutting down to the bone before pulling away..
"Garet! Go in for Jenna!" Felix yelled, trying to keep his concern for his sister from affecting his fighting strength.
The two switched, and Jenna stood closely next to Isaac, wincing as his cold hands touched her arm and the skin sewed back together, leaving a small thin scratch where the deep cut had been. Though a long cut along his head trickled blood, he ignored the injury and continued to heal a heavily wounded Ivan.
"Enough!" Felix finally shouted as he saw the two teens begin to grow weary, "Charon! I summon you! Come to our aide!"
~*~*~*~
The sky grew black outside of the house. Jasmine felt scared, but wasn't about to admit it, even if no one would say anything now, she knew Merric and Owen would never let her live it down afterwards. Instead she closed her eyes tight and wished her mom and dad were there.
~*~*~*~
The pain was immense, worse than anything either Moira or Kentar had ever experienced before. With a scream Moira fell to her knees, soon joined by a bitter Kentar. As if this wasn't enough, both Adepts felt the cold kiss of Felix and Garet's blades to their necks. 'As if we're not defeated already. We're not Proxans, after all!' She thought bitterly, wait for the death stroke to come, but it never did. Instead the brown-haired one asked coldly,
"What are your names?"
"M-Moira, and" She winced; the pain of merely speaking was sent shocks through her body, "K-Kentar." All went black and she fell away from the blade, brown hair becoming thick with mud Mia and Picard's psynergy spells had caused. Kentar managed a glare that could have frozen fire and fell back into the ground as well.
~*~*~*~
"Isaac?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you feeling okay?"
"Considering we haven't fought in a battle that difficult in several years...fine. Why?"
"You're bleeding." Jenna murmured, and cast Aura on the wound, the warm spell flowing through her husband.
"I guess I was. Thank you, I feel a little better now." Isaac told her, shifting a sleeping Jasmine in his arms.
It was decided the two attackers would stay locked in Garet's house, and that Neal, Owen, and Mary would spend the night at Isaac's. Jenna cradled little Mary in her arms, and a yawning Neal asked,
"Are we almost there?"
"I'm tired too," Owen complained, then whispered to Neal, "How come Jasmine doesn't have to walk back too?"
Neal glared and whispered back, "'Cause she's the girl."
"And asleep." Jenna added as she opened the door for the two embarrassed boys and Isaac.
~*~*~*~
~Ivan?~
~Huh? What is it Hamma?~
~Did your vision come out how you wanted?~
~So far, yes.~
~That is good.~
~Good night, sister.~
~Night Ivan.~
~*~*~*~
Sheba stifled a yawn as she snuggled closer to Felix, who was sound asleep. It had been a long day, but things were turning out just fine.
~*~*~*~
Moira blearily opened her eyes to see blue eyes staring straight at her, oddly enough they were filled with worry. Every bone in her body ached from their lost battle. They had failed.
"I'm sorry Kentar."
"It's not your fault. With eight against two, there was no hope of winning, even though they are older now." Kentar murmured. She opened her eyes again and noticed he had somehow managed to sit up.
"I told them everything. The blue-haired woman, Mia, I think, says we'll be forgiven, if we leave once we're healed." He added, hanging his head in shame.
"But will they send help?"
"Yes, they see no reason why not to send us the elixir Master Kraden created."
"Master Kraden? The boy of legends?"
"He's a boy no longer, but an old man. He and the blonde Jupiter Adept woman; they're from our land."
"So things will solve themselves, it seems."
"Yes."
"Is Ayelle—"
"Gone? No. The Jupiter Adept man, he contacted her. They assumed we were dead, and well, she is married now..."
"I'm sorry."
"I know. Go back to sleep." He told her, his voice firm, but no longer cold.
He watched sadly, almost desperately as she fell back into sleep's embrace, but was not worried. After all, besides time, sleep is possibly a wound of the soul's best healer
~*~*~*~*~*~
*I think it's a Lapis; I can't remember. Let me know if that's right, please!
CL: Well, that was long. Took me hours to write it! So if I don't get reviews, you'll never know the end! I want fifteen reviews for this chapter, minimum before I update!!! And I mean it!!!