Okay, peoplez! I'm finally getting off my lazy bum and writing! (Various boos are heard from the next room)
Core: (Mutters) Darn.
Aroma and Steam: YOU'D BETTER FINISH WRITING THIS UPDATE, YOU KNOW!
I know.
Aroma and Steam: YOU JUST KILLED OFF ALL THE GOOD GUYS IN THREE PARAGRAPHS!!!!!!!!
Hehehe...
Aroma, Steam and Core: DIE!!!! (cover me in a pile of dead slugs)
(muffled) What is with all these dead slugs?
Reader Response Stuffish Things:
Gasp! I got six reviews, not two! Yay!
Libby: (Gulp) I'm ninja-proofing my window...
Isaac's Girlfriend: (Also gulp) Um... Glad you like it.
Kit: Yeah, I just figured out that asterisks (The six pointed starry thing, also known as Shift-8) don't appear, so it doesn't show the scene changes. Sorry! I'll use something else this chapter. (Takes dead slug)
Spastic Djinn: Nice name. Anyway, (innocently) why's everyone so mad that I'm killing everyone? Core: I wonder.
Black Demon567: Thanks! Ohhh... so now I'm a (beep)! Yay! Steam: Freak.
Xanda: I take it you like Felix and Picard. Thanks!
Is it a bad thing when you get two people threatening to kill you and the others sobbing over the loss of their Adepts?
Core: It means you suck as a writer.
Steam and Aroma: Agreed.
(Sob) Thanks for the vote of confidence.
Quote of the Update: "Yeah, plenty of players on our server now, I feel so warm and fuzzy inside. No... wait, that's a hair ball " PussInBoots, XaosRO server GM (ex), Ragnarok Online.
Core: Who?
Never mind.
In other news, I've decided to make additions to the author's notes at the beginning/end of each chapter. In addition to the new Quote of the Update (I have no idea if there's a regular interval for each update), I'm adding a Reader's Challenge at the end. Basically, I try to get you faithful (or not so faithful) reviewers to find an example or two for a commonly used character trait, such as Felix being the "You can't date" over-protective older brother to Jenna. Things like that get really old after a while. If you find a good example, I'll quote your review and list your name in the "Last Update's Readers Challenge" section.
Steam: That was long.
I know.
And, without further ado... The story!!!
Okay, once again, the story key.
"..." : Talking,
'...' : Thinking,
# : See bottom of page for reference.
IMPORTANT NOTICE!!!!!!!!!
This story has been renamed as "Blessing of Mercury." "Golden Sun: Underworld" was just a name so that I could post without having to actually think of a name.
Aroma: Lazy lazy lazy.
Note: The Adepts don't know they're dead. (Looks back) Man, does that sound stupid or what?
Note2: I am not an Imilshipper, although it might seem like it in this chapter.
Chapter Two: Assault
(Alex's POV)
Regret. Sometimes, I wish I hadn't made that decision. The decision that changed my life, starting on that snowy day. The decision to pursue the ultimate power: the essence of Alchemy. Leaving behind those I loved, to join those I despised. And in the end, I betrayed them all.
And for what? All the work, all the secrecy, all the traveling. What do I have now? Nothing. I'm starting to think that I should have stayed in Imil, with my family and with Mia. Stayed as the guardian of the Mercury Lighthouse. I had friends, money, and happiness. Now I have nothing.
I just brought Isaac and his friends here, with me. They will wreak vengeance once they find me. Maybe I should have left them as they were, happy in the flourishing world of Weyard.
If I had gained that power, the power to rule the world, what would come of it? Endless life. True, I would not die. But after all I hated had gone, flowing along the river of time while I fought the current, what would be the point? Victory, but at what cost? I had heard that immortality had its price. Perhaps it was good that I was denied that power.
No. Too many maybes. Too much indecision. And at a time like this, can I afford to have second thoughts?
(End Alex's POV)
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The bodies of the eight Adepts lay on the ground, silent. Slowly, a warm wind came, blowing the fallen leaves. One by one, rustling golden leaves covered the bodies, nothing remaining visible except for a long, yellow scarf, blowing in the breeze.
A man rushed by on a horse, galloping north, unaware of the scarf that blended in so well with the leaves around it.
The mayor of Vale, Garet's elderly grandfather, looked shocked when he heard the news. "They haven't arrived yet?"
The messenger shook his head. "No, sir," he replied, "We expected them to enter Vault two days ago. At least, if the left on schedule."
"Strange..." The mayor frowned. "They left last Saturday—five days ago. They're skilled adventurers; it shouldn't take them long. Are you sure you didn't pass them on your way here?"
The messenger sighed, dispirited by the news. "I'm positive. There is only one road leading from Vale to Vault, and they weren't on it."
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Isaac groaned. 'Man, that was seriously weird, with the storm and all...'
Beside him, Picard stirred from unconsciousness. Sighing, he muttered something incoherent and opened his eyes. Slowly, he and Isaac got to their feet. Leaves showered off them, slowly drifting down to the damp, cold ground. The trees were almost bare, proof that winter was finally setting in.
After waiting half an hour, Isaac noticed that the others were waking up. "You guys okay?"
Sheba stifled a giggle as Garet stood up, leaves impaled on his hair. "What?" asked Garet.
Ivan grinned. "Nothing."
"Hey! Guys!" The three turned to see the others already leaving. "Hurry up! We still have to get to Vault!"
Picard frowned. Something about this was strange... He shook off the feeling. 'This is the same as usual...' He walked off, unaware of the silence of the birds and beasts.
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Alex, Saturos, and Menardi trudged toward the distant town of Bilibin. Having crossed the Goma Range, they were leaving the thick forest at the foot of the mountains.
"Hey, Alex?" Alex turned to look at Menardi.
"Yes?"
"What exactly were you doing on Mount Aleph? I mean, we heard you chanting something, and then an earthquake hit."
"Yeah—you aren't a Venus Adept," Saturos agreed.
Alex sighed inwardly. "Well, I guess the Djinn's out of the bag. I was—" He stopped sharply, drawing in a breath.
"What's the matter, Al—" Menardi froze, staring straight ahead out of the forest at Bilibin.
Hundreds of bright flashes of white light emitted from various parts of the city.
Saturos elbowed past the two and jumped into a nearby tree. From his vantage point, he could see all. And it was not good. Bodies appeared where the light had been. Some of them gasping for air, others with burn marks on their bodies.
"What the hell is happening?"
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(Ten minutes earlier, in Weyard.)
Four figures stood on the hill overlooking the palace, all robed in black, hoods shadowing their faces. The first one spoke with a deep voice. "So, this is the famous city of Bilibin."
The second laughed harshly. "Famous, indeed. And what happens here today will be even more famous."
The third spoke softly. "Finally. A chance to destroy the pathetic town, an insult to the past."
"Yes," the fourth growled. "Time to assault: Quake Sphere!" he called.
A child wandered past the well and sat in the shade of the statue in the middle of Bilibin. Suddenly, he heard a voice. "Quake Sphere!" it called. The child gasped as the ground around him shook violently. Turning, he made a dash for his house.
"Deluge!" an attacker called. Water washed past the palace, inundating the streets and slamming fleeing citizens into walls and houses.
"Jack!" The child's mother screamed his name as she saw the statue topple towards him. A third attacker leapt off the cliff behind her. Landing at a run, she unsheathed her sword and clove the mother in two.
Jack stumbled as the ground shook again, falling flat on his back. He stared with wide eyes as the statue of a woman grew huge in his vision.
The last attacker laughed as he viewed the chaos. "This village is done for." He chuckled again and raised his hand. "Inferno!"
Fifteen flaming balls flew out of his hand, striking houses. Quickly, the fire spread with the help of the third's Whirlwind. A young girl let loose a shriek as a fireball slammed into her back. Screaming, she sank to the ground, clothes and skin burning. She fell silent as a bolt of lightning from the stormy sky hit her.
Lord McCoy and his wife rushed out of the burning palace, bumping into all four assailants. "What—what are you doing? Why are you attacking us?" he stammered.
The Mars Adept laughed cruelly. "We have no need to reveal our intentions to the likes of you, fool." He hefted his sword.
"No! Please," Lord McCoy pleaded, getting on his knees with his wife. "Please, spare my life! You can take anything you want, our money, our food, anything! Just please, don't kill me!"
The Mars Adept chuckled. "We do not like cowards. People like you who offer up their allies to save their own skin."
The Jupiter Adept agreed. "He's right." Raising a bloodstained sword, the Adept swung at neck height at the two kneeling figures.
Screaming, the rest of the villagers fled for the burning gates. "Oh, I don't think so, vermin," said the Mercury Adept coldly. "Glacier!" Shards of ice flew to the entrance, blocking it off from escape. The villagers turned to behold the four assailants stalking over to them.
"The ice will last for twenty minutes. Do you think you can last that long?" said the Venus Adept, patronizingly.
A man stepped forwards. "Scum! How dare you attack our village! I will defend it with my last breath!" He drew a sword, half rusted and charred.
The Mars Adept drew his broadsword. "Your last breath. Well, fool, that might be a lot sooner than you think."
Stepping forwards, he slashed at the defiant man, who barely managed to parry. The villager's sword was cleaved in half, both halves falling to the ground. "No..." gasped the man.
Stepping next to the man, the Jupiter Adept plunged her sword deep into the man's stomach. Startled, the villagers stepped back.
"You had no hope. All of you!" the Mars Adept roared. "And now, you are all doomed!" Laughing, all four raised their right hands.
"Pyroclasm!"
"Destruct Ray!"
"Grand Gaia!"
"Freeze Prism!"
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People, was that depressing enough?
Steam: ENOUGH?
Aroma: WHAT IS WITH YOU AND KILLING PEOPLE?
Core: Hehehehehe... Burn, BURN! Hehehehehe...
Steam/Aroma: That was so sad...
Oh, good. Was it dramatic enough?
Steam/Aroma: (Sniff) You killed them all just for drama?
No, it's plot.
Core: You have a lousy plot.
Reader's Challenge:
In almost all the humor/romance (that's both, not either) fics, I've noticed that Felix is the over-protective brother of Jenna. He hates Garet because he (Garet) and Jenna hook up. Now, Felix only talks in Sol Sanctum, on the tops of the Mercury and Venus Lighthouses, and in the epilogue to The Lost Age when they see destroyed Vale. Now, is there a SINGLE thing he says that shows that he is romantically over-protective to ANYONE, let alone Jenna? Prove, if possible.
On the Subject of Updates:
People, I'm not one of those obsessive writers who write like five thousand words every day. I'm not saying that's bad, (We need lotsa updates) but I just don't write that much. I'll try to post something every month. Every update will be more than two thousand words, guaranteed.
I last updated the 6th of September, and it's the 2nd of October. About a month. However, I didn't start writing until the 27th of September. I need motivation, you see.
Read and Review! Two updates until I get double digits, baby! Oh yeah!
P.S. I'm really pathetic. The third chapter of the story, and I've already planned the entire plotline for this story. And its sequel.
Core: A sequel? Dang.
-Caster of Chaos