Hello again!
I know, it's only been 15 minutes since I submitted my story, but come on! I was bored silly during the three day waiting period...
Jenna: My pet dove here would like to let you know that he doesn't own Golden Sun! Or Golden Sun 2!
WHO'S YOUR PET DOVE? Be careful, or I might kill you off...even if that ruins the Valeshipping. I'll probably kill Isaac off too, then.
Isaac: Wha? I'm just standing here!
Isaac blinked a bead of sweat out of his eyes. It was hot, too hot to be natural. Magma sloshed around the bottom of each pillar, and falling would lead to a quick, certain death.
He beckoned Jenna to follow, hopefully not to both of their deaths.
Felix studied the pattern to the Gale Comet, while Sheba tapped her foot impatiently behind him.
"Got it!" he exclaimed, jumping. "North, north, west, south, east, north, and north again."
"All right!" Sheba called, already ahead of him. He admired her courage…and she was…
He shook his head clear of daydreams and followed. He took out his axe, just in case he fell and had to save himself.
Alex was still getting his head cleared out. It was a year since the affair on top of Mt. Aleph, but he still felt traces of that evil and malice.
He grimaced, and reminded himself that the past was the past. Hopefully, he wouldn't go on another damned crusade.
Mia tugged at his hand, urging him on. He smiled at her, and she grinned back, them jumped onto the final platform. He followed.
Kraden floated over Ivan, encouraging and giving directions. They made it to the final terrace without trouble.
The comets, already in mythril bags, rested at the top of four giant, spiked Psynergy stones. Jenna was already climbing to get the Pyro Comet, Ivan, the Gale Comet, Felix, the Terra Comet, along with Mia and Alex both getting the Tundra Comet.
Whether by fate or luck, all four laid hands upon the comets at the same time. (Mia beat Alex to it)
That exact second, two men and two women burst in the door. Also, as soon as the four comets were removed, huge pillars of lava erupted from the ground.
The Wise One shouted in mind-speak. Comet holders! Converge at the overgrown pillar! Use your Psynergy to move it. Behind is a back door out. You will be taken to the tunnel behind Vale.
Those that do not have the comets, you must protect them. I will do what I can to stop those four Adepts, but you must fight them. Say goodbye now. Kraden, wait for them at the Vale Gates.
The Wise One shone with Psynergetic light, and pillars of rock and lava rose in front of the four standing at the doors.
Isaac glanced around, and then jumped to leave with a simple "good luck" to Jenna.
Alex squinted at what now looked suspiciously like a Colosso arena. Then, he joined Isaac behind the wall of magma.
Garet simply said, "Say hello to the others for me, will ya, Ivan?" Before joining Alex and Isaac, Felix looked at Sheba, and suddenly found himself at a loss for words. She was going to battle those four, and he still…
She shook her head, and smiled mockingly. She only said "Nothing to say before I whip some evil idiot butt, Felix?" before heading off to join the others.
The Wise One settled the wall of magma, lava, and rocks. The four faced each other calmly.
Suddenly, walls of magma separated each one into solo battles. Isaac stood facing a stern-faced, dark-haired man of about 25, approximately 5 years older than him.
He muttered, "Granite?"
A small pop and the djinn was at his side. "Yeah?"
"Barrier me up, could you?"
"Sure thing. Hey, that guy looks tough. Don't let your guard down. Gimme a holler if you need a summon."
"Thanks, man."
"Hey, It's what I'm made for."
The djinn's barrier solidified, then faded into nothingness as Isaac prepared himself.
Somehow, he knew the name of his enemy. Kilos. Nobody told him, he simply knew.
His attacker grinned devilishly, and raised his axe far above his head. Light filtered around him, and rocks bathed in an eerie golden light erupted from the ground, Grand Gaia's power intensified by the lava underneath the sanctum.
Isaac took the blow without batting an eyelash. His leg was busted, no doubt about that, but he'd gone through worse.
Now, the big decision was whether to heal himself or attack. On a total scale, he knew he was down to maybe 50 health - another Grand Gaia would finish him off.
Still, he knew his own powers, if not his enemy's. He decided to test his enemy and hope for the best.
Concentrating, he went through the procedure he knew so well - Odyssey. As expected, two smaller blades pierced his enemy before a massive cutting edge penetrated through the body and sliced open the left shoulder.
Let him hit me after that, Isaac thought grimly, fighting off his pain.
Much to his surprise, his opponent's wounds healed before his eyes. Grinning wolfishly, Kilos raised his axe and brought it down upon him.
Isaac's barrier saved him the humiliation of falling after two blows. He then Potent Cured himself, and told Ground to hold his foe.
Damn, how am I supposed to break his barrier? I can fight if I can't hit him.
The answer came to him by accident. As his opponent was raising his axe again, Isaac rose to parry, not expecting to actually hit him.
Kilos withdrew, snarling.
The battle went easily after that. Isaac got the feeling that his opponent was holding back, but that was better than getting smashed.
Still, he was glad there was only one.
When the finishing blow came, Isaac was surprised when the corpse simply disappeared.
An android, Isaac. The Wise One told him telepathically. The real one is far, far away, safe. You will face more of these, stronger ones, and finally the masters at the end of your pursuit. If you had went after them first, and not the lighthouses, they would have been mush weaker. But then, so would you.
Isaac grinned inwardly, forgetting that The Wise One could read minds. Was the ancient floating eyeball developing a sense of humor?
Go now. The others are waiting.
"Ahem!" Kraden attempted to gain their attention. Failing, he sighed and considered the current situation.
Those four were much stronger, maybe even than the Doom Dragon. Kraden shivered at the mere memory of it. Ugh.
At least Alex, Sheba, and Garet had returned, each telling how the people were actually androids.
Alex had made short work of his opponent. Sheba had the longest battle so far.
And Isaac was still in there, somewhere.
The reason Isaac had not come out was that he had to navigate walls of molten rock to discover the way out. It must have taken him more than an hour, because the sun had almost set when he came out.
Felix had thrown away his axe and picked up the Sol Blade again. Jenna had a Tisiphone Edge and Ivan had the Musamune. Isaac had his Excalibur, and Piers had the Fire Brand. Garet took the Gaia's axe. Sheba had her Lachesis' Rule, and Mia had her Rising Mace.
Everyone seemed surprised to see him walk out in one piece. He was first brought to this fact when a voice called, "Hey! He's alive!" and dumped freezing water on his head.
"Garet, don't you know that dumping water on people is rude?" Isaac grinned as he kicked Garet hard, making him double over with pain.
Kraden spoke. "All right. Are we all ready?"
Conversations were held, then everyone consented.
Kraden offered some advice. "I suggest you visit either Briggs's grandmother in Champa or the blacksmith in Yallam to upgrade your weapons. You'll probably need the stronger ones."
"Okay. Let's go."
Didja like it? I know, it's still getting out of intro stage, but bear with me here!
Oh, and romantic things to come...very soon, I promise! (Mudshipping fans, I suggest you LEAVE, right now. You'd want to kill me, and thats would be bad, wouldn't it?)