Chapter Thirteen

Isaac lowered the massive blade, and it turned to dust, scattered by the breeze. He fell to his knees, panting hard, and he was exhausted. However, he was victorious, and the wicked Alex had been brought to justice at last.

He looked up and saw Garet, Ivan, Mia, Piers, Sheba, and Jenna running toward him, calling his name and celebrating his great victory. "That was awesome!" Garet said. "I knew you could do it, Isaac!"

Isaac grinned. "It wasn't just me," said he. "I could feel Felix with me…maybe. I don't know, I'm just guessing that it was Felix that helped me."

Jenna turned her face and tried to hide her tears, saddened once again at the death of her brother.

"Anyway, there's one thing left to do," said Isaac. "I've got one last mission before all of this is finished. I have to take Alex's Alchemy and raise it into the sky so the Golden Sun can be completed."

The others watched as Isaac beat his wings and took flight, and he flew toward the great shining orb of blue and lilac Alchemy, the orb that hung where Alex had been slain. There was the complete Mercury and Jupiter Alchemy of Weyard, and combined with Isaac's Venus and Mars Alchemy the Golden Sun would be completed and risen high.

Isaac flew up to the orb, and he examined it, and suddenly he realized its great beauty. He understood its power, having witnessed Alex use it in their great battle.

Isaac reached out to the orb, but then paused, his hand directly over it. He realized its great power…and…

"With complete Alchemy, I could achieve what Alex wished," said Isaac darkly, and he felt himself being succumbed to greed, but he did not fight it. "I risked my life; I threw everything I had at him to save Weyard. Why should the useless citizens of Weyard, the ones that did nothing to save it…why should they feel the light of the Golden Sun? Why should they bask in the glory of a free world, a peaceful life, when they did nothing to earn it?"

Isaac examined the shining orb closely. "I fought for it," he said. "It can be mine…it should be mine! I deserve it! I fought with all of my might for this Alchemy - IT SHOULD BE MINE!"

Isaac clenched his fists, and he felt the darkness overcoming him, the greed and malice that now filled his mind, poisoning his thoughts. It felt as if a demon had overcome him, one that controlled his thoughts, turned his will to evil…

"Alex wanted to raise his own dark empire," said Isaac. "However, he was too weak for his ambition – he wasn't good enough for it! But now I can possess all of Weyard's Alchemy…AND I SHALL CREATE A KINGDOM GREATER THAN ALEX COULD EVER HAVE IMAGINED!"

Twisted by shadow, filled with crazed ideas, Isaac put out his hands, and he grabbed the shining orb, taking in its energies, feeling as the wind and waters joined his earth and flame.

The others watched from the ground below as Isaac took in the Wind and Water Alchemy. "What's he doing?" asked Piers. "Wasn't he supposed to release his Alchemy and invoke the Golden Sun?"

"It's as if…he's claiming Alchemy for himself…" said Sheba.

"No!" roared Garet. "He wouldn't do that! I've known Isaac for too long – he wouldn't do something so foolhardy!"

Tears welled up in the eyes of Mia. "How can we assume something like this of him?' she asked. "He has fought so hard to save everyone, and now we suspect him like a common criminal?"

Isaac took in the remaining Alchemy, and at last it was complete. He reared back his head and let out a loud cry, and he underwent yet another transformation. He gained two more sets of wings, now with six great wings spanning the skies. His armor became thicker, shining with renewed golden light, and he gained a giant golden sword that was sheathed on his back. He appeared truly angelic, shining in the skies.

"Good job, Isaac!" called Ivan. "Now bring forth the Golden Sun! Bring it so that Weyard can enjoy the Golden Age of Prosperity!"

Isaac, surrounded in a golden aura, dropped down to the earth, landing gently on his feet. "The Golden Age?" asked he. "Why would I bring that upon such undeserving simpletons? They did nothing so they shall receive nothing!"

"What are you saying?" demanded Mia, and two great drops rolled down the sides of her face. "Isaac…?"

"I'm saying that I will not allow such fools to inherit the power of the earth!" roared Isaac. "THIS POWER IS MINE, AND IT BELONGS TO ME!"

"You're sounding like Alex!" accused Piers. "Are you going to try to create your own race too, like that idiot?"

"Alex was weak," replied Isaac. "If he wanted an empire so greatly he should have fought harder for one. I will rule this world now, for I hold all four elements, all of the world's powers, at my very fingertips."

Garet shook his head. "I didn't believe that my best friend would do this," said he. "I can't believe that you lived as such an honorable person, that you fought for what you believed in, but now you're just going to throw it all away?"

"I am throwing away nothing," said Isaac. "I have realized that there is more to the world than fighting for it. There is conquering it, which I shall do swiftly."

Garet drew his axe. "NO! GARET! DON'T DO IT!" shrieked Mia, weeping uncontrollably now.

"I have no choice," replied Garet. "We can't let this happen – I don't care that you were my best friend, Isaac, no one will conquer Weyard – NO ONE!"

Piers drew his axe and stood beside Garet. "I am at your side, good friend!" he said. "I have lived many years, and I have met many people. Everyone should be free, and I won't let you take that freedom away!"

Isaac laughed dryly. "You oppose me now?" he demanded. "You're all weak! I have grown into something far more than any of you shall ever be!"

"Enough of this," replied Garet. "COME ON!"

Garet and Piers charged toward Isaac, but Isaac put out his hand and split the earth beneath their feet. Both warriors tumbled into the crevasse beneath them.

Ivan, Sheba, and Jenna whipped out their staffs. "You're nuts, Isaac!" yelled Ivan. "I can't believe you're doing this! You were once a good friend, but now we have no choice!"

All three Adepts struck their staffs together, and a great beacon of red and blue light shot forth. Isaac drew his golden sword and swung it, shattering the beacon and scattering the energies. He then raised his arm and lightning struck all three Adepts, causing them to collapse to the ground unconscious.

Mia was shaking uncontrollably, her face soaked with tears. "What's the matter, my love?" asked Isaac, stepping toward her. "Did you not love me? You know what – you can be my queen! We can rule Weyard together! What do you say?"

Mia stared into Isaac's eyes, and saw that they shone red, completely bloodshot. "You're…not Isaac anymore…" she sobbed. "The Isaac I knew was kind and just…YOU'RE A MONSTER!"

"A monster?" asked Isaac. "Well, I guess you just passed on your offer to rule Weyard alongside me. But it doesn't matter, for all shall bow at my knee in due time." He then thrust out his arm and fired a stream of flame that singed Mia, and she fell to the ground in a heap.

Isaac looked around at his former comrades, all of them fallen. "Was that it?" he demanded. "I was too good for the likes of you…but there is no time to waste. I have an empire to create."

Isaac took flight and left the scene of his deadly crime. He had become completely corrupted, blinded by his holding of absolute power…and now there was no end to his wicked strength.