Golden Sun

Era of Alchemy

Authors Note: I've personally deleted this old version of my story, since it was both poorly written, and not being worked on. The title and general plot will remain the same, I am simply re-writing it, starting with the first chapter.

Update: To all, who read this story before, I would appreciate a review of some sort. I never liked to work on a story that got no reviews.

Disclaimer: I do not own Golden Sun, Golden Sun: The Lost Age, or any of its names, characters, places, etc. Camelot owns all of which, respectfully.

Chapter 1

Nemesis

Vale.

Such a quiet, and peaceful village. The sacred Mount Aleph was almost its official symbol, and guardian of the Elemental Stars.

That place is long-gone, however.

Crushed by the heal of fate.

Along with the guardian mountain, its protector, Vale, was sucked down into the earth along with it.

Yet all was not lost. Everyone in Vale had managed to escape before the great mountain shrunk into the earth.

Everyone, except for an unfortunate Water Adept.

All of these thoughts raced through Isaac's head, as he stood out upon a small plateau in Vault, which overlooked much of the general area. With arms crossed in front of him, he surveyed the area out below him.

In the distance, what used to be his hometown was now a giant crater, surrounded by crevices and boulders. The once lush green fields, which the town was built upon, had all but faded, now coated with ash, dirt, and decay. Though he had heard rumors of plans being made for a new Vale to be created, Isaac new the new Vale would never be the same.

Not for him. Not for anyone, for that matter.

Elsewhere, Felix was settled upon the roof of the Vault inn. Though his view was not as good as that of Isaac's, he could still see the ruined land which used to be his home. It wasn't easy, having so many people crammed into this small town. The very name 'Vault' made Felix cringe. When there was no more room—which was quite often – people went south, to stay in Kaley.

Much had happened in the last year.

Felix, Isaac, Garret, and Jenna were among the many whom chose to stay in Vault, with the remainder of their families. Kraden had also agreed to stay to continue his research on Alchemy.

Sheba had stayed for a while, but eventually left to return to Lalivero.

Ivan returned to Kaley, at Master Hammet's side, but was soon reported to have left for Contigo.

Mia also stayed in Vault with the others, but also left thereafter. Many believe she returned to Imil to continue her job as a healer.

Piers left shortly after the fight at Mars Lighthouse. His boat has vanished, and his whereabouts remain a mystery.

Wherever his friends were, Felix knew they were safe. All of them had grown so powerful in such a short time, it surprised even him. The Venus adept stood, catching his balance just before he fell off of the roof. The sun was beginning to set, shades of yellow, orange, and pink tinting the star-spangled sky. It was a beautiful sight.

In the distance, Felix could see his younger sibling, Jenna, heading into a house on the outcroppings of Vault. A few extra houses were built for the Vale survivors, but still things were crowded.

Felix's family had to share the two-floored house with Garret's family. Why it couldn't be Isaac's, he did not know. Garet's family was rather large, and the Fire adept's snoring often kept him from sleeping. Still, he would deal with it for a time. He couldn't leave his sister alone… again.

Scents of dinner being cooked had drifted throughout the entire town, a sure-fire signal for all to come in for the night. This is exactly what Felix and Isaac did, climbing down from their respected getaway locations, each returning to their own houses in Vault.

(Post-Rift in time: two hours later.)

It was now late, much of Vault had turned in for the night. One by one, the lights went out in different houses.

Since his family was much smaller than the others, Isaac stayed in the Vault inn. The adept was sprawled out in a bed upstairs, set beside in open window. Outside, the stars twinkled brightly, as if singing a symphony for the heroes whom saved the world from total destruction.

Memories of past adventures came to mind, preventing him from sleeping. First, he thought of Jenna. The cinnamon-haired girl of his dreams. Since they grew up together, it was no surprise he had taken a 'fancy' to her. But he also knew Felix would never allow it. This was no time for romance, anyway.

Then came thoughts of his other child-hood friend, Garret. Knowing him, he didn't care to be cramped into his small village with his entire family. Garret was the type of guy who would lay out in the sun all day, not wanting to be disturbed. And if he ever was, the poor fool who did intrude on his space would be blasted with a wall of flames.

Isaac had no idea of the creeping figure that stood just outside the inn of which he slept in. Then again, no one in Vault had known. It was late, and an eerie fog had rolled through the area. Anyone not inside the gates would be in for a long and dangerous night, as creatures liked to stalk the fields when there was fog.

This figure stood no taller or shorter than any normal-sized man, his entire being cloaked by a long, thick brown traveling robe. A hood was pulled over his face, showing nothing underneath but darkness. This figure crouched downward, slightly arching forward, before he leapt upward, and through an open window.

Thankfully, no one was in the room the being chose to leap into. Or, so he had thought. After landing with the faintest of sounds, he looked to one corner of the room, seeing the innkeeper and his wife curled together in a hammock.

They were not the ones he was after, so he whisked from the room, stealthily, silently. Turning, he crept through the darkness, until he had passed another door, which he slowly peered around the corner to gaze into. A stray lock of turquoise hair fell from the darkness, as he spotted his target.

There lay Isaac, lightly arched around his pillow, having succumbed to his weary state, and was sleeping soundly. The cloaked one could tell it was him, from the familiar colored hair which was lit up by the moonlight.

"Soon, I will possess the whole of Alchemy…" Hissed the cloaked one, as he turned the corner and started into the room.

(Pre-Rift in time: noontime of that same day.)

Alex lay flat against what felt like solid stone. His body ached, and he could not see, or move. There was nothing in the entire world but darkness, and pain.

"I lost everything… everything I had dreamed of.." The adept choked, barely able to speak.

The air was so close, wherever he was. He could muster only enough strength to open his eyes, and even then he saw nothing. Only his own figure, glowing silently in the dark.

"Damn that Isaac… he stole my dreams from me. Ironic that this hell will be my grave…" Again he spoke into the black, and again closed his eyes, ready to let the unknown take him.

But suddenly, a spark twinged in his right hand, causing the adept to cringe only slightly. Again opening his eyes, Alex could see rings of silver circling his palm, and a small orb of light gathering in his hand. He had forgotten that he still possessed the energy of the Stone of Sages.

How could he have forgotten in the first place?

"Alchemy… I had forgotten about it." Pausing, the blue-haired one turned his head upwards to stare into the dark. "Perhaps I can escape after all…"

This thought excited him. He would not be confined to the pits of the earth, like the Wise One had thought. He would escape, and hunt down the very fools who thought he was gone. And with Alchemy at his side, there was no way he could be defeated. True that he was bested in a sense by the Wise One, but Isaac and his friends were NOT the Wise One.

So how could he lose?

Outstretching his right arm, Alex curled his gloved hands into a fist, the circling rings around his arm now moving around his whole body. With a brief shout, Alex threw his palm outwards, his fingers opening up once again. A bright light left Alex blind for a moment, but he could see a beam of silver shooting upwards. It seemed to go on, and on.

"Am I really that far underground?" He thought to himself, but still waited.

The light quickly faded, and all was dark once again. A pause followed, then all was shattered as a loud clap, and a rough shake of the ground made Alex fall to his back once again.

High above, Alex could see with his own optics, the earth opening up, being ripped aside by the beam of energy. Light spilled into the crater, which he was trapped in, and this was a sign that he would soon be freed. Another silver beam swooped downward, this time heading right for Alex. Sensing danger, he had wanted to move, but found that he still could not. His legs refused to budge.

It was then that he realized, he was not being attacked. Rather, this ray of light was pulling him off of the ground, and towards the light. Alex simply laid still, watching as the light came closer, and closer.

"Alchemy will be mine!"

(Present Time)

Now the figure stood just over Isaac's bed, a gloved palm being outstretched toward his face. "I could end your sad life right now…" Again the cloaked one whispered through the darkness of his hood. But then retreated his hand back into hiding.

"No… that wouldn't be very honorable… It is not the warrior's way, after all…" The cloaked form then took a few steps backwards. "Besides… I want you to meet… someone." With that being said, the shadow leapt once again into the air, this time going through Isaac's open window. Curious that the entire time he made not one sound. Landing just outside in a crouched position, the form let his robe part backwards, just enough to see more of the turquoise sea which covered his face, and a pair of solid white-glowing eyes.

"Soon, Isaac. Very soon." He had said against the mist.

The sun would be rising in a matter of mere hours, but he wasn't going to wait. He planned on waking Isaac from his slumber, so that he could deal with him alone.

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