Disclaimer: Golden Sun belongs to Nintendo and Camelot.

I'd like to thank everyone that reviewed last chapter. You make me happy. Also, yellowfairy07001 asked a question: why didn't Ivan MindRead Snowflake? Well, that's a good question. I'd have to say it's because that would mean actually touching the cat. The only time Ivan came in contact with Snowflake, he was a little too preoccupied, if you catch my drift. Well, on to the chapter!

The next day arrived much too quickly. Isaac woke up just as the sun was rising in the sky. He dressed quickly and slipped downstairs, hoping to leave the house without Snowflake spotting him. He and the others had planned a meeting for that afternoon, but he didn't want to spend any more time than he had to around Snowflake.

"Isaac? Why are you up so early?" Isaac was startled to see Mia sitting at his kitchen table, still in her nightgown, sipping a cup of tea.

"Uh, um... I could ask you the same question!" Isaac said. He crossed over to Mia and put his hand on her shoulder. "Frankly, Mia, it's just not healthy. I suggest you finish your tea and go back to sleep."

"Isaac, are you mad at me?" Mia asked, looking upset. "It seems like you and the others are avoiding me."

Isaac flinched. Any moment now, she'd hit him with the puppy dog eyes, and he would spill the beans about Snowflake and their plans. He quickly decided to assuage her fears before that happened.

"Us? Avoiding you? Why, don't be silly," Isaac said quickly. "Didn't Jenna and the others come over for tea yesterday? And we were all at Garet's house for dinner last night."

"I- I guess that's true," Mia said, sounding relieved.

"Er, hey," Isaac said, a thought having just occurred to him, "Where's Snowflake?"

"Oh, she wanted out," said Mia. "She woke me up and led me to the door, so I let her go outside."

"I see," said Isaac. He hoped he wouldn't run into Snowflake on his way to Garet's house. Just then, though, twin shrieks rent the early morning air.

"That sounded like it came from Garet's house!" exclaimed Isaac. He ran out of his house with Mia following, still in her nightgown.

-!-!-!-

Garet's backyard was host to a tragic sight. Kay was crouched by her flowerbeds, tears running down her face. The reason was obvious: the flowers she'd tended so carefully for years were all either eaten or trampled. Aaron, too, was crying. He was holding an empty birdcage in his arms. Garet was talking to his little brother, trying to console him, when Isaac and Mia arrived at the scene.

"Mia!" Kay called. She wiped her eyes on her sleeve and stalked toward the other girl. "That mangy cat of yours did this!"

Mia looked shocked. "What? Snowflake?"
"Yeah, Snowflake," Kay said. "And it ate Aaron's birds, too!"

"Snowflake wouldn't-" Mia started, but Kay cut her off.

"I saw it happen! I got up early to garden, and I saw Snowflake knock the cage open and chase the birds around the yard, including through my garden, before it ate them. I ran outside, but the cat ran away. Good thing for it, too," said Kay, "because otherwise I would have brained it with my watering can!"

Mia was cowed by Kay's tirade. Then she sighed and said, "I'm sorry, Kay. I know you put a lot of work into your garden. And, Aaron, I'm sorry about your birds. I'm sure they're in a better place now." Isaac wasn't sure if he would consider Snowflake's stomach a "better place", but he was happy that Mia seemed to be coming around to the fact that Snowflake was in fact demon spawn. Garet caught his glance and smiled, apparently thinking along the same lines as Isaac.

"Meow!" Snowflake marched up to Mia and deposited a dead mouse at her feet. Snowflake rubbed against her owner's legs and purred.

"Aw, did you bring that for me?" Mia said to Snowflake, picking up the kitten and cradling it in her arms. Isaac noted that Kay was growing angry again. It wasn't hard to see because her face was red and she was clenching her fists at her sides. Isaac sighed to himself. That darned cat had spoiled everything.

Isaac sidled over to Garet. "I think you might want to take Kay inside before she gets too much angrier," Isaac told Garet in a whisper. "Tell her she can come to our meeting this afternoon." Garet nodded and guided his sister inside, Aaron following.

"Mia, I think you should take Snowflake back to my house before she causes any more trouble," Isaac said. "I'll stay here and try to patch things up with Kay and Aaron." Mia nodded and walked back to Isaac's house with Snowflake cradled in her arms. Isaac stared after her, shook his head, then went inside Garet's house.

-!-!-!-

"I call this meeting of the Anti-Snowflake Society to order!" Jenna said when they were all assembled in Garet's bedroom.

"Since when were we the 'Anti-Snowflake Society'?" Felix asked.

"Since right now," said Jenna, with a shrug. "But that's not the point. The point is that Snowflake must be stopped."

"Maybe we can convince Mia to get rid of her," Isaac said half-heartedly.

Sheba snorted. "And you actually think that will work? You can try it, but you'll fail."
"Way to be positive, Sheba," Isaac grumbled, but he knew she was right.

"I have an idea," Kay said. She stared intently at a corner of the ceiling, concentrating. "What if there was some way we could make Snowflake docile enough to dispose of? Some sort of trap. With- with a drugged, um, piece of fish!"

"Hey, yeah!" said Garet, picking up his sister's train of thought. "We drug the little rodent, and when it's asleep, we sling it in the river."

"Good idea," said Isaac, "but what will we tell Mia? Unless we admit to drowning the cat, there's no way we could know what had happened to it."

"We set a dog on it," Piers said. "Yes, a vicious animal that would make short work of the defenseless cat."

"No, that would be mean!" Aaron spoke for the first time. "You can't do that to the kitty. It wouldn't be right."

"Aaron, Snowflake ate your birds," Ivan reminded the boy.

"Yeah, and that was mean, too. But I don't want the kitty to go through the same thing," Aaron said.

"I guess he's right," Isaac said. "We need to get rid of Snowflake, but there is no reason to be excessively brutal. I like your idea about drugging it, Kay, but let's see if we can come up with anything better first."

The Adepts, along with Kay and Aaron, thought in silence for several minutes.

"I'm stumped," admitted Isaac eventually. "Did anyone else think of anything?"

"Nope," Sheba said.

"I wish there was someone we could ask for advice," Jenna said.

"Yes," said Piers. "But who do we know who is as evil and cunning as Snowflake?"

"Alex!" exclaimed Ivan.

"Yeah," said Sheba. "Too bad he's dead, though."

"Haven't you ever read any comic books?" Jenna asked her. "Evil guys never die. They just disappear so that they can make a comeback and get revenge on their enemies." The window shattered as Alex dove through it. "Case in point right there," Jenna said.
"Ah hah! I have you now, Isaac!" Alex said. "You shan't escape me now!"

"Alex, good to see you," Isaac said. "You're just the man we wanted to talk to."

"I am?" Alex asked, looking a little confused. "Look, I'm a bit busy now. I have to kill you, claim the last part of the Golden Sun, and take over Weyard. Can it wait?"

"I don't think so." Isaac shook his head sadly. "We've been having a little trouble with evil, and we thought you could help us. Birds of a feather, you know."

"I resent that," Alex said. "I'm not evil; I'm more ... amoral, I suppose."

"Yeah, whatever. We need your help."

Ivan took over the explanation. "You see, two days ago, Mia bought a kitten from this crazy cat lady. The kitten, hereinafter called Snowflake, is an insane, demonic creature who wants to kill us all. We're at a loss about what to do."

"What's in it for me?" Alex asked, examining his nails in a disinterested fashion.

"Uh... Group huddle!" Isaac called, and everyone except Alex stepped out of Garet's bedroom. "What can we give him, guys?"

"Well, you could let him kill you for the Golden Sun," Sheba suggested. The others glared at her. "What? It's a viable solution." She rolled her eyes. "I was just joking, anyway."

"Is he still fixated on Mia?" Jenna wondered. "Maybe we could, I dunno, offer him dirty pictures of her."

"How exactly would we get dirty pictures of Mia?" Ivan asked.

"Are you volunteering?" Jenna asked him, teasingly.

"No dirty pictures," Isaac said. "But you're right, Jenna, we could use his Mia obsession to our advantage. But what of hers to give him?"

The revelation hit them all like an epiphany from heaven. "We give him Snowflake," Piers breathed.

"Yes, it's perfect," said Felix excitedly. Then his expression cooled. "We already told Alex that Snowflake's evil, though. How will we get him to take her?"

"We'll think of something," Garet said. "We could, um, oh, I know! We drug Snowflake like we

planned before, with Alex's help. Then we put her in a sack to throw her in the river. But, while Alex isn't looking, we switch the sack for one with a rock in it. We chuck the rock, then tell Alex we'll give him his payment when we get back here to my house. Then we give him the sack with the unconscious Snowflake."

"He'll still realize we gave him Snowflake, though," Kay said impatiently. "Even if he doesn't check what it is before he leaves, he'll come back if he sees that we gave him Snowflake."

Isaac glanced into Garet's bedroom. Alex was still there, flipping through an issue of Ninja Adventure Squad. "Well, let's think about this," Isaac said. "There has to be a way."

"I have an idea," Aaron said. They all looked at him. "What?" he said, sounding slightly irritated. "I'm just little; I'm not stupid." He held up a sheet of paper that was covered in diagrams and writing. "It's all here."

"Let me see that," Ivan said. He took the paper from Aaron and read it. "The kid's a genius," Ivan said finally. "It should work perfectly." He turned to Isaac. "Tell Alex that we want him to go talk to Mia about Snowflake, and that we're still working on a suitable reward. Also, tell him that we'll arrange a meeting for him and Mia in a private place so that no one will try to arrest him or something." Ivan turned to Aaron. "Is that right?" Aaron nodded. "Okay, Isaac, go tell him."

Isaac went and relayed the message to Alex. Out in the hall, Ivan, with Aaron's help, dispatched the rest of the Adepts to their various tasks. "Jenna, Garet, Sheba, I want you guys to go and get a hold of Snowflake. Stop by the Sanctum and ask them for something to drug Snowflake with. Piers, you go with Kay and Felix. Aaron and I will help get you ready."

Isaac re-entered the hall. "Isaac," Ivan said, "You keep an eye on Alex. As far as he knows, we're securing a meeting place and getting Mia to come. You keep Alex in Garet's room until we send for you. Now, does everyone know what they're doing?" The others nodded. "Good. Let's go. Good luck, everyone!"

Team Meteorite

"... So, you see, Great Healer, I wanted to learn more about the healing arts," Jenna said. "I can use some healing spells, and I want to hone my skills so that I can help my friends out. What do you say?" Looking over the Great Healer's shoulder, she saw Sheba climb into the Sanctum through the window.

"Well, Jenna, that sounds just fine. Let me talk to the other healers; maybe one of them could train you." The Great Healer started to turn around. Jenna grabbed his arm.

"No! I, uh, I mean, I would really like it if you trained me. I couldn't go wrong there, could I?" She cast Sheba a desperate look. The Jupiter Adept got the hint and began scanning the shelves of healing items, looking for some sort of opiate with which to drug Snowflake.
"Very well, Jenna," said the Great Healer. "Before we delve into the intricacies of healing Psynergy, we must meditate on the true purpose of a healer. There are several principles involved..." Jenna tuned out the Great Healer and watched Sheba instead. The other girl had looked over two shelves and was on a third. Jenna bit her lip nervously. Every second, their chance of getting caught increased. At least Garet was loitering outside to distract anyone who might try and enter the Sanctum. Finally, though, Sheba selected a bottle and put it in the sack she'd brought. She dropped the sack out the Sanctum's window, then jumped out herself. Jenna allowed herself an inward sigh of relief. She began listening to the Great Healer again just as he finished up his little speech. "And those are the principles one must know and follow if one truly wishes to learn the healing arts."

"Well, you know what, I'll have to think about it," Jenna said. "But right now, I've gotta go. Bye!" She hurried out of the Sanctum, leaving the Great Healer confused.

Team Sun

"So... how're things?"

"Aside from being trapped under a frickin' mountain until quite recently, quite well. How about

you?"

"Oh, I'm doing okay, except for this whole Snowflake thing."

"Well, life's like that. Ya gotta take things in stride."

"True."

"You mind passing me issue eighteen?"

"Here. You a comic book fan?"

"Not particularly, but this one looks interesting."

"It is. I have every issue."

"Must be an impressive collection."

"Oh, yeah, definitely."

"..."
"... I'll just let you get back to reading."

"'Kay."

Team Flower Power

"Kay, why'd you have to go and pick a dumb name like 'Flower Power'?" Aaron whined.

"Shut up, Aaron," Kay said through gritted teeth. "This is hard enough without you complaining. Piers, come here. Suck it up and take it like a man."

"Surely you see the irony in that statement," Piers remarked dryly. "You ask me to 'take it like a man' while you make me dress in drag!"

"Piers, it's the only way to get rid of Snowflake," Ivan said. "Someone has to do this, and you look the most like Mia."

"It's not the only way," Piers argued. "I suggested killing the little beast right off. And I look like Mia? Just because we have the same hair color doesn't mean we're twins."

"Don't worry, Piers, we'll give you chest padding," said Felix. He held up two small decorative pillows. "These should work." Piers looked ready to cry.

"Okay, Piers, I've found something that should fit you. Try this on." Piers hesitantly accepted the dress from Kay. Felix gave Piers the pillows, earning him a glare. Piers stepped into the closet to put on the dress. After about five minutes, he finally stepped back out.

"Don't you dare laugh," Piers warned them. There were many stifled giggles, but no one actually laughed. "Will this work?" Piers asked them.

The others looked him over. Piers wore his hair up in a high ponytail like Mia did, and the dress seemed to fit him, even with the pillows stuffed down the front. Except for his masculine face, he was able to pull off looking like a woman.

"Except for your face, everything looks fine," said Kay, "I'll just need my makeup." Piers looked pained, but he allowed Kay to attack him with eyelash curlers, mascara, and other bits of makeup. Finally, she finished.

"Well," said Ivan, looking Piers over, "You're not a dead ringer, but you'll do. Hopefully Alex will think Mia has changed since he last saw her."

"Okay, guys," Aaron said. "I'm going to go and see where team Meteorite and team Sun are at. I'll be back soon. Then we can move on to the next phase of the plan." He sped out of the room. The others were left to wait until he returned.

Team Meteorite

Garet, Jenna, and Sheba sat in a tree overlooking Isaac's house. In the grass near the foot of the tree sat a piece of fish that contained some sleeping draught. The three Adepts were waiting for Snowflake to eat it. Unfortunately for them, they'd been waiting for a half an hour, and sitting in a tree for that long was not a very comfortable way for them to pass the time.

"My butt hurts!" Garet groaned. "When will that dang cat get here?"

"If I knew, I'd tell you," Sheba snapped.

"Hey!" Jenna hissed. "Here she comes!"

"Who, Mia?"

"No, stupid, Snowflake."

They sat and watched as the kitten prowled around the yard. Snowflake stopped and sniffed the air. She trotted over to the drugged fish and sniffed it suspiciously. The three Adepts held their breath. Snowflake poked at the fish with her claw. Garet began turning blue from lack of oxygen. Finally, Snowflake gulped down the tidbit. Garet let out a wheezy breath.

"Idiot," Sheba muttered. "You could have breathed."

Garet glared at her, but Jenna smacked both of them. "Guys, keep an eye on Snowflake. Look! The drug is already taking effect." It was true. Snowflake was wandering around the yard in a slow, drunken fashion. She collapsed suddenly. "Now's our chance!" Jenna urged. "Come on!" They jumped down from the tree. Sheba scooped up the unconscious kitten and threw it in a sack. "Let's go. Team," she snickered, "Flower Power will be waiting for us."

When they got to Garet's house, Aaron met them at the door."Wait here," he said. "Piers is ready; I'll go get my team." Aaron bounded up the stairs and returned a minute later with Piers, Felix, Ivan, and Kay.

"Bwahahaha!" Garet burst out in hysterical laughter upon seeing Piers. Piers clenched his teeth and hit Garet with a Glacier attack.

"Hey!" said Kay. "No Psynergy in the house." Piers pretended not to hear her.

"Ow..."

"Okay, everyone," Ivan said. "Let's go find a meeting place for Alex and Mia."

"There's a grove of trees on the other side of the river," Jenna said. "Let's go there."
"Sounds good," Ivan said. "Aaron, give us about ten minutes, then tell Isaac and Alex, excuse me, Team Sun, to meet us there. Got it?"

"Yeah," said Aaron. "Good luck!" He saluted Ivan, who saluted him back with a straight face, then went upstairs.

"All right, everyone," Ivan said. "Let's go!"

Thanks for reading! Please review. Until next time, everyone!