Gah! School's gonna start soon! I'm gonna die!
Of course I must thank you, the reviewers!
Flowers of Moss: I know the feeling. You like what somebody writes, but you can't think of anything brilliant to say. Just one of those days.
The Rain Child: I read Unrequited and I loved it! I only recently started reading some of your other works, but I really do like what you write! Hey, if Lost in Despair started reviewing this I might die from happiness! I'm so glad he put up Cooking Lessons on his account. I thought that story was hilarious and I was mad when it got taken off ff.net. But yeah, you are one of my favorite writers. I just get so absorbed in reading, or writing fanfiction I always forget who I want to add to my favorites. So, in your honor, I'm going to add you to my favorites as soon as this chapter is finished, so I won't forget.
Shadowthewindadept: Don't worry about it! I'm just glad you like it.
Wolf129: It was my dream for a long time to write a Golden Sun fic, but didn't really like any of my other stories enough to put them up. This one was different. I just felt that I *must* post it. And I'm glad I did!
Suh: Thanks *again* for the advice. I'm going to be more mindful that. I do tend to get repetitive. Sheba smiles an awful lot in this story though. I don't know why. And you're right about the RPG pairings, it's always hero/quiet girl and sidekick/girl with a quick temper. I never noticed that before!
Wild Fox of the Wasteland: I love Felix/Sheba. Be prepared for lots of WAFF(warm and fuzzy feelings) with Felix and Sheba. That is when Isaac isn't there telling Sheba she's strange.
Flame Angel: Wow! I'm flattered! You added me to your favorites, and you e-mailed me! I feel so special! Thank you! ^_^
masteradept: Something like that might happen. I can't really say right now.
Void: I had a feeling you would! ^_^
Here's chapter nine!
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Chapter Nine: When Evil Gains a Face
Jenna was walking in a large, fire scorched field. She saw a stone tablet in the distance. Her instincts told her to go toward it. She started running to the stone apparatus as fast as she could. As she drew closer she could make out strange markings on the tablet. She finally was close enough to touch it. She ran her fingers over the neatly cut carvings. The letters glowed and the tablet became transparent. On the other side, Isaac was standing, his hand adjacent to hers. As the tablet completely disappeared, their hands met. Jenna suddenly felt weak and she fell to her knees. Isaac knelt by her side and wrapped his arms around her. They both looked on as a minatour stood before them with a scythe. He kneeled before them.
"I am at your command," the minatour said, "I am the might of earth enflamed. I am Zagan"
***
Jenna woke with a start. 'That was a strange dream,' she thought as she brushed back her ruddy bangs, from her moist forehead. 'What was that thing called?' she mused as she went to her mirror, 'I wonder what my dream meant...' She had only gotten home from capturing the Mercury clan's territory last night, and she was still a little tired and a bit stressed. Garet had really been acting strange. He took Princess Mia home with him, saying something along the lines of he wanted a pretty little pet. He was starting to worry her.
"Garet may be a little rough around the edges, but I don't think he's that rough," Jenna said out loud. Her djinni were jumping all around her room. Jenna laughed a little.
"What's the matter guys?" she said, "You all just got home from a war, you should be relaxing."
Cannon jumped up and down. It was fairly obvious he was trying to tell her something, but didn't know how to communicate it to her correctly.
"What?" she said in confusion. Cannon sighed exasperatedly and began to use a little fire psynergy to form letters on a sheet of paper lying on Jenna's desk. Jenna squinted her eyes trying to discern what he was spelling.
"Z...A...G...A..." Jenna said, watching the letters from on the paper. Suddenly, she realized what he was trying to spell. Her eyes widened in fear, "Zagan? Ist that what you're trying to spell?"
Cannon nodded. Jenna shook her head. That was the creature from her dream. What did it all mean?
***
Mia held her throbbing head. Her vision was a little blurry and she blinked her eyes a bit to get focused. She then tried to remember where she was. Last thing she remembered, she was fighting Prince Garet, and then everything went black. She looked at her surroundings. She was lying on a bed, which was still made. Mia's eyes widened as she looked down at her hands. They were chained. She yelped in surprise as she realized was wearing a different set of clothes, and her wound had been patched up.
"What's going on?" she asked as she grabbed her head, which was beginning to spin. She crawled out of the bed and started to wander around the room she was in. The walls were adorned with huge swords, axes and maces. She ran her fingers over them. 'There's only one person who could possibly lift these,' Mia mused, 'and I'm hoping my nightmare isn't a reality. Please don't tell me I'm—'
Someone entered the room and broke her train of thought. A little boy with fiery red hair bounded in and started to circle around her.
"She's so pretty, when she's awake!" he cried, "Right, Garet!"
Mia was afraid to turn around and face the dragon prince. She clutched her sleeves trying not to allow her disgust to show too much. 'Did he...?'
"I don't know," Garet said, "Now she has free reign to yell at me for taking over her clan."
Mia spun around quickly. Disbelief was etched all over her features as she stared Garet in the eye.
"You...what?" she asked slowly.
"You heard correctly, dear princess. We took over the territory of the Mercury clan," Garet repeated leaning his smirking face closer to hers. Mia gave him a quick shove. She began to pace the floor desperately, much to Garet's amusement.
"Are the children safe? What about my people!" Mia cried. Garet watched her for a few minutes. It was obvious he was having way too much fun watching the enemy princess look distressed. She stopped her pacing rather abruptly and turned to him angrily.
"What did you do to my family! Why did you take me!" the Mercurian princess yelled, "And what in the name of the Wise One did you do to me while I was unconscious!"
"If your talking about those children you were with, they're unharmed, I think. I took you because I wanted to, and I didn't do anything to you while you were knocked out," Garet replied, "I have no reason to lie to you. Not now anyway."
Mia sat down on the bed. She wasn't quite sure how to react. Part of her wanted to kill Garet right then and there, and the other part of her just wanted to curl up and cry. Garet's brother was still staring at her with wondering eyes. She looked at him with disdain. The younger boy didn't seem to notice, and he gave her a big, toothy smile. Mia hadn't realized that dragon teeth could look so sharp and scary, even if they only belonged to a child. She suddenly didn't feel to well.
"I've got stuff to do, Aaron, you're coming with me," Garet said as he started to head for the door.
"Aw, Garet do I have to? I want to spend more time with Mia," Aaron whined. Garet crossed his arms angrily.
"Go to the weapons room now, I'll meat you there," he said firmly. The younger dragon-boy sighed and left the room. Garet glanced back at Mia, who was still in a daze.
"Jenna's going to come up and bring you something to eat," he said. Mia didn't respond but continued staring at nothing in particular. Garet shrugged his shoulders exited the room, leaving Mia alone. She stared at the wall in utter disbelief. The blue-haired girl took a deep breath, sat on the edge of the bed, closed her eyes and rubbed her temples.
"This is not happening. I haven't been dragged up north to the territory of the Mars clan. My kingdom has not been taken over by bloodthirsty fiends. I am not in chains and forced to stay in Prince Garet's room. I am not his personal pet mermaid. This is all a horrible dream and when I open my eyes I will be in my room and nothing bad has happened," she said to herself. She then opened her eyes and sighed when she realized mind over matter doesn't always work. Her thoughts were interrupted by a red haired dragon girl coming in with a tray full of food.
"Hi, nice to see you again, Mia," she chirped. That statement had Mia a little confused.
"'See you again?' What do you mean by that?" Mia inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"You probably don't remember me, I'm Jenna. I beat you over the head with my staff," she said sheepishly and placed the tray on a table, "Sorry about that."
The blue haired girl felt her eye twitch as she began to grind her teeth. 'I'm going to strangle you!' she screamed internally, 'Wait, did she just say sorry?' Mia gave her a puzzled look, "Why are you apologizing?"
"Gah!" Jenna slapped her forehead, "Isaac still has an influence over me! He always used to apologize to the enemy after the war was through! Now I do the same thing! Stupid boy!"
"Isaac? You mean, Isaac from Vale?"
Jenna nodded.
"How do you know him?" Mia asked. The two sat down at the table and the Mercurian princess surveyed what food she was given.
"He and I were best friends until he booted me out of the Venus clan," she said with sadness hanging on the air.
"You mean you're Princess Jenna?" Mia asked. Jenna nodded with a solemn look.
"Then if you're a princess, why are you bringing me food. Shouldn't a servant do that?"
Jenna smiled brightly, "Being a victim of all these wars like you, I feel bad. You're here against your will, and frankly, so am I."
Mia had never thought of it that way. She had always been told that dragons were just beastly lizard people out to kill and hurt people. She never thought of her greatest enemies as being victims like she was. Looking across the table at this dragon-girl who was near tears made her look at everything differently. 'What are we really trying to accomplish in fighting each other?' she thought to herself, 'Are we just setting up more pain and heartache for the next generation?'
"You're not hurt or anything are you?" Jenna asked suddenly, interrupting her musings. Mia shook her head.
"I've known Garet for a while, and I know he wouldn't do anything too drastic if you know what I mean," Jenna said, winking at her. Mia's face got red and she tried to chase away the bad images that flooded her mind. She ate some of the food that was in front of her, to try and take her mind off of it. 'Please tell me this isn't happening...' she told herself over and over. Jenna got up, and motioned for Mia to follow her.
"You're going to be here for a while, so why don't I show you around?" Jenna said. The blue haired girl nodded and the two quitted the room.
***
Garet could feel his sister's eyes boring holes into his back. They had never gotten along very well and bringing home the enemy princess didn't make her too happy.
"Your keeping this mermaid as a pet, makes the other eligible women of our nation have second thoughts about marrying into the royal family," Kay said, annoyance hanging on every word. Garet rolled his eyes and turned face her.
"I'm only going to keep her for a little while, I haven't even done anything to her," he snapped back. His sister only narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms.
"You may not do anything, but it still looks questionable," she mumbled, "Why is she here anyway?"
"Because I want her here!"
The red haired girl stared at him and shook her head. Kay turned her back to him, "Garet, you're worrying me. Why do you have to do this to yourself? Set yourself up for mockery and misery? I can't always be there to stand up for you."
Garet's angry gaze softened and he put his hand on his sister's shoulder.
"I can take care of myself now, you don't have to worry anymore."
Kay's look softened, "I hope so."
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Garet's "pet mermaid" doesn't want to be kept, people are drawing conclusions and the world is at war! Not to mention what's going to happen when King Hydros finds out what happened, and where his daughter is...Hmm...next chapter is about a variety of things dealing with Sheba's kidnapping and of course Isaac's strange, reoccurring dream regarding Zagan. Review please, or I'll send Menardi to torture you. Okay, maybe not, but please review?
Chapter Ten: Purple Rain