Author's Note: Well, I added in a little plot twist. There's only a few chapters left in the story however, but from this point on the story heads in a different direction, and I hope you enjoy it. There's another plot twist on the way, however. :)

Oh, and I haven't said this before, but obviously I don't own Golden Sun or any of its characters. I've just heard that I'm supposed to put in a disclaimer.

Chapter Fourteen

Isaac set to work immediately. With his newfound powers, he wrought a great tower at the center of Weyard, raising the earth itself to build its walls high. It cast a great shadow over the entire world, high above all else, the very peak of it touching the heavens. At the very top floor Isaac effortlessly created a throne room, perfect in every way, where his mind wove tapestries to covered the walls. Below, the many floors served different purposes, with a deep dungeon that nearly reached the center of the earth. In that dungeon lay evils unknown to all but Isaac, whose knowledge had become seemingly limitless due to the possession of Alchemy. The construction of the tower took only three months.

Ascending the stairs of his tower of a thousand floors, Isaac sat upon his great throne, and he named himself God of Weyard. He set upon his brow a crown of many jewels.

From his position he looked over the entire earth, knowing that it was his now. He was pleased with what he now owned. He looked upon the world with a sick pleasure, knowing that all were at his command now.

Isaac enslaved the peoples of Weyard, and he unleashed demons from his dungeon to enforce his will upon the people. He tortured them for his own glee, laughing at their pain and misery.

But still, deep within his black heart, a shred of him cried out for help. It denied that this was the right thing for himself, and felt trapped, buried underneath hatred and shadow.

At night, Isaac would be tortured by horrid nightmares, ones of fear and loathing, where he fled an ominous darkness that threatened his existence. He suppressed the nightmares, casting them aside as nothing.

Isaac sat for a long time upon his throne, and often found himself deep in thought. As time passed on, the tortures of the innocent no longer entertained him. Thoughts wandered to memories of times with his former comrades, of his great journey to the lighthouses, and of his epic battle with Alex. He had done all of those things for the purpose of good…but now he had turned to darkness.

No, he thought. This was the right thing to do. This power belongs to me, because I fought for it. It is mine and mine alone.

Isaac slammed his fist on the armrest of his throne, smashing it to pieces. Then why the hell do I keep thinking of them? he thought lividly. My power is limitless! WHY AM I STILL UNSATISFIED?

"Perhaps I have answers to your queries," said a voice.

Isaac looked up and saw the Felix standing at the end of the hallway. "What?" asked Isaac. "Why are you here? You are dead!"

"Am I?" asked Felix calmly. "No…this person is dead…but I am not."

Isaac was confused, seeing no one else in the room. "What are you talking about?" he demanded.

Felix grinned wickedly, then placed his hand on his own face. He ripped it off, his face simply a mask, revealing his face as that of Alex.

"Alex?" asked Isaac. "But you're dead as well! I don't get…I really don't."

"Confused?" asked Alex. He then put out his arm, and Felix and the Wise One walked into the room.

"I get it…" said Isaac. "You've come to haunt me, ghosts? Get away from me – I have no need for you."

"You have become blind in your own greed," said Alex. "We three are simply facades…you do not see Alex, Felix, and the Wise One before you."

"Then who do I see?" asked Isaac.

A great yellow eye opened behind the three specters, and then another. A gaping black pit was behind them, and then massive jaws opened wide, devouring all three spirits.

Isaac felt fear coursing through his veins. This shadow seemed familiar…the one from his dreams…

Dark mist swirled everywhere, finally forming into a massive black beast, with wicked yellow eyes, a gaping jaw lined with jagged teeth, the great black head with a broad snout and a great black mane streaming behind. The beast's body was a swirling mess, almost feline-like, covered in twisted spikes, with great hellish wings sprouting out. Giant paws were at the end of the thick, muscular legs, with claws that stretched seven feet long. The beast's tail was a serpent, a great snapping jaw at the end, constantly hungry.

"What are you?" cried Isaac.

"I am the demon that has hidden within you for the last little while," the beast explained, with a booming voice that sent chills down the spine of Isaac. "You almost fell for my little illusions there."

"You haven't answered my question," Isaac said through gritted teeth, his fists clenched tightly. "I am God of Weyard! GET OUT OF MY TOWER BEFORE I KILL YOU!"

"I'm afraid you can't do that," replied the demon. "You made me what I am today – mightier than you."

"Where did you come from?" questioned Isaac.

"I thought Alchemy had given you limitless knowledge," said the demon with a sadistic grin. "You see, I once dwelt deep beneath Weyard, banished long ago by the Summon Spirits of Weyard in an ancient war long ago. Catastrophe cast a seal upon me, banishing me beneath Mt. Aleph. I dwelt there for six thousand years."

"What set you loose?" asked Isaac.

"For long I remained beneath the mountain," said the demon. "Nameless, I was weak and alone, gone completely mad. But when Alchemy was at last unleashed upon Weyard, the mountain crumbled, and deep into the pit fell a certain Mercury Adept you name Alex. I remained in secret from him, and there he dwelt, filled with hatred for you. I saw him as the perfect host – he was completely consumed in hatred and greed, exactly what I thrive on. I stole through and hid within his body, and as his hatred grew greater I grew more powerful, and I saw this as an opportunity at last to be free again. Alex's malice broke the seal that Catastrophe had placed upon me, and my power was able to be free. I invested strength within him, allowing him to climb from the pit and set about his journey. He was a better host than I expected – he possessed a quarter of the Golden Sun. I didn't even need to let him know about the might of the Djinn. Anyway, With his elevating hate and malice I grew stronger and stronger.

"At last the time came, when you and he squared off. I remained confident that my power would allow Alex to claim victory, and when I learned he held the Mercury Star I knew that victory was at hand. However, you fought back with greater tenacity than I first believed – and it soon came to my attention that you would defeat him. And so I fled his body near the end, realizing that Alex would be unable to finish the job. I entered your body, setting upon myself the mantle of the dead Felix, and I helped you kill that power hungry wretch. I gained even more power than when Alex was my host. I leeched off of your Alchemy, until finally I became stronger than you. Now I am here to overthrow you and take my rightful place as God of Weyard."

Isaac rose to his feet, and he felt very different. He felt as if set free from shackles. He was no longer consumed by the demon, now back to his former state. He was wracked with guilt, hating himself for allowing the demon to take control of him, and hating himself for committing the terrible deeds he had done. He had returned to his right mind, for the demon was completely purged from his body now. However, that demon, having grown stronger and possessing much of Weyard's Alchemy, now stood before him, threatening his life.

"No…" said Isaac. He brought forth his great golden sword. "You can't take this throne…I must set straight what I have done. I will destroy you just as I did to Alex – evil will not control Weyard as long as I live! AS SOON AS I KILL YOU I WILL TEAR DOWN THIS TOWER AND ALL OF ITS WICKEDNESS!"

The demon grinned, his great fangs glistening. "It's too late," he said. "I have taken too much of your power. It's nearly gone…and your actions are what brought about Weyard's fate. I am the rightful God of Weyard!"

A single tear rolled down Isaac's cheek. He was paralyzed with fear, unable to stare the beast directly in the eye. It advanced toward him, poisoning everything it touched. Its eyes pierced Isaac's mind, and Isaac fell to his knees, letting out a loud cry. He shook violently, and the demon let out a hoarse laugh at his cowering victim.

"You think to destroy me when you can't even stand?" asked the beast. "DIE!"

The demon pounced, disease and pestilence surrounding it, and it aimed a swing right at Isaac. Isaac rose to his feet, and he swung the great golden sword upward, aiming it at the belly of the fiend. The acidic flesh of the beast dissolved the sword instantly, and Isaac clutched his hand, crying out in agony, the darkness searing his flesh. He stepped back, and the beast swatting him aside with his monstrous paw. Isaac slammed into a wall, and the beast grabbed Isaac, tearing his wings from his back. Isaac cried out, blood streaming down his back, and then the beast tossed Isaac aside, smashing him through a window. Isaac fell through the air, falling from the top of the very tower he built, plunging toward his death.

The demon reared back his head and cast out a horrid laugh. "WEYARD IS MINE NOW!" he yelled. "AT LAST, IT IS MINE! I AM THE GOD OF WEYARD!"

Isaac fell toward the earth, afflicted with pain and suffering. He closed his eyes and waited for his life to end.