(A/N: Wow! Lotsa reviews! We'll take it from the top and then I'll tell you the plans for this post. (I thought I'd get it up a little faster than normal since everyone hates the cliffhangers ^_~)
Bob N' Cat:
Yeah, sorry about those cliffhangers. I just hate it when I go to school with people I give the printed copy to. **rubs her bruised shoulder from being hit so many times by rabid fan-girls** owie...
Vyctori:
No worries on the reviews! I've been busy, too. Once I figure out how to get past all the block on the school computers, I'm going to review so many stories! *sigh* BTW, you won't believe what they've blocked now... I tried to get onto Golden Sun Anonymous the other day, and a big screen came up. I tried a billion other sites that said the same thing... THEY'VE BLOCKED VIDEO GAME SITES AT CHHS!!! *sobs uncontrollably* The monsters!! We're sending in a group complaint, so maybe we can get that lifted. We're doing the petition thing, but Worlton rarely listens... *sigh*
I came up with the Alex-sensing-Mia thing from the first part of the Mercury Lighthouse. When you first get there, Mia says something about her sensing that there is someone there. I was like, Is that a power? So, to be fair, I gave it to Alex. Besides, those two are really close, so I don't doubt they could have sensed each other anyway.
Neways, I looked at the last post again... *blushes* I can't believe how many typos there are!! But I'm going to do some revising. I just had another idea for Alex and complicating his character... MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Yeah, the "Great Saturos" line just doesn't do it. I might edit it out, cause it makes him way out of character. Kinda like the end of the battle with Ivan asking Saturos very placidly, "What did you mean by duhduhduhduhduh?" Sorry, do you really think that would happen?! Saturos and Alex just roll over, play dead and give out all the answers in the world? Oh, yeah, I'm gonna do some MAJOR editing on that scene...
Sora:
Most definitely! Kit-Kats rule!!
I feel kinda weird, cuz I'm starting to get attached to Kraden. He's turning into the sweet caring grandpa type. I get the sudden sinking feeling Camelot's gonna kill him off in the next game! (They've killed off all the other good characters, or at least we think they have... O.o) sorry it was so short, but I'm glad to finally gotten it up. There will be a revised chapter going up with or after this post, so, it should be a little longer next time. This one should be VERY lengthy when I'm through with it. And, of course, Alex will become very complicated very quickly. We Alex fan-girls tend to like that, no? ^_~
Nintendo Gamer:
Very nice name! It's kinda like a "getting-to-the-point" type of name. Sorry about the cliffhanger. Looks like you and Bob N' Cat are in the same boat. But don't worry. I won't leave this one in a cliff hanger.
Eternal Outcast:
Yay! Another Kraden fan! Kraden's character is turning out much better than I'd even expected. I think it's because he plays such a major role in 'Lost Age' and I wanted him to make that same sort of impression in the original on the other side of the story.
Well, we'll get to the fic. I'm writing quickly, but expect this one to be very long, and maybe a little violent when the battle between Saturos and the others... (Not like Satty's gonna go hacking off arms or anything, as much as I may like that.. ^___^) Nah, I'm pretty sure all the characters from g_sun 1 had both arms in g_sun 2... Drat! j/k!
Since I am doing some major work on the first part of that scene, there will be a lot of add-ins. I'm trying to write Isaac's character from the dialogue we got from g_sunII:LA. He seems to be that "ideal" hero sort of guy, you know, heart of gold and all that cliche stuff. But I think the main character from g_sunI might be the ones to really shine in this fic. Remember, weak-stomached shouldn't read this, but it isn't any worse than an episode of Indiana Jones or anything. Enjoy! ^_~ )
Part Fourteen: Hidden Spectator
"Let me go!" Jenna screamed shrilly, tugging at Menardi's grip on her arm as the platform reached the bottom. (A/N: I know you were all hoping for Saturos, but I have to make you wait a little longer. ^_^ Just like Ryan Seacrest on 'American Idol*atry*,' ne?) Menardi was a little shocked as the girl broke one arm free and swung at her again, Menardi grabbing her arm sharply and pulling it under and up, causing Jenna to nearly shout in pain.
"Menardi! Stop it!" Felix pleaded running over.
"I must agree with, Felix, Madame," Kraden said quickly. "This is quite uncalled for!"
"The second I let her go she's going to run back to those boys and we'll never get the Mars Star!" Menardi shouted back, not budging an inch on the issue.
"No, she won't!" Felix argued.
"Yes, I will!" Jenna screamed, trying to break away, causing her and Menardi to almost trip and fall down the stairs. Menardi caught her balance, but fell just a little off on her footing. She managed the pin Jenna to the wall with her body to keep them both from falling, but the shock had to have hurt the girl a little, though Jenna would never say so.
"Menardi!" Felix gasped, but Menardi wouldn't hear it. This time Jenna was going to hear her out whether she liked it or not.
"Listen, Jenna," Menardi roared into the girl's ear, pressing harder against her as Jenna tried to move. "Have I ever struck you? Not stood up for you? Abused either you or Kraden?"
Jenna didn't reply.
Menardi sighed through her teeth. "Well, I can tell you the answer is no. Saturos and I have been nothing but cordial and kind! Do you think we had to stop at any inns? Stay at any nice places? Buy you two food or rooms?"
"Let me go!" Jenna shouted.
"No!" Menardi shouted back. "You're getting frustrated because you know I'm right! You think we're in this just to make your life miserable? Just because we're all mean, horrible people out to destroy the world? Let me tell you a little something that might surprise you, girlie! The world is destroying itself!"
"You're lying!" Jenna yelled, beginning to sob.
"Menardi," Felix murmured.
"Why?!" Menardi said, almost insane with the rage she was feeling. "You think I'm making all this up? You think I left my home, my family, for nothing? You think I just wanted to stir up trouble in your little town? Here's a little shock for you, Jenna: I never wanted to leave! But I knew I didn't have a choice! Some of us have destinies we never wanted to begin with, but you have to do it or else everything falls out of balance!"
"You're going to destroy the world!" Jenna sobbed angrily, cheek pressed to the wall. "You're going to kill everyone if you light these lighthouses!"
"That's a lie!" Menardi shouted furiously, tears running down her cheeks as well. "Everyone will die if we don't! Everything we know points to that!"
"I don't believe you!"
Menardi whipped her from the wall to face Kraden, thrusting the girl toward him, holding her arms tightly to her sides. "What about him? Will you believe him?!"
Kraden paled slightly, shaking his hands warily. "Please, don't bring me into this..."
"Tell her, Kraden," Menardi barked. "Tell her what you told us!"
"Tell me what?" Jenna asked quietly.
"We all just need to start walking and get some fresh air," Kraden said, trying to avoid the question. He stepped toward the stairway, but Felix stepped forward to meet him, stopping him. Kraden sighed desperately. "Felix..."
"Tell her what you knew, Kraden!" Menardi shouted.
Kraden eyed the ground. "I..."
"Kraden," Felix said. "Please?"
"No!" Kraden softly hissed. "I can't! Not to her!"
Menardi's eyes narrowed, still holding Jenna tightly. "Kraden!"
"I won't say anything," Kraden said, raising his voice just a little.
"Kraden!" Menardi shouted. "Did you or did you not have the intention of lighting the lighthouses as well?!"
"Yes! I did!" Kraden suddenly roared, spinning around to the two young woman, his robe rustling slightly with his anger. A long silence rose in the air as Jenna stared at him, taken aback by this new information.
"You what?" she asked tinily, her eyes filling with tears.
"Menardi has been telling you the truth, Jenna," Kraden said softly, rubbing his hands together almost nervously. "Weyard is dying, and it is because Alchemy has been sealed away."
"You wanted to do exactly what they are doing?!" Jenna almost shouted, but it came out more of a sorrowing squeak. Her eyes dripped water as she squeezed her eyes shut then opened them again.
Kraden shook his head, stepping to the girl. "Jenna, I have been studying Alchemy for years now, almost my entire life. I've read almost every document there is on the old civilizations and the current. Do you honestly believe the people of Imil could have built this lighthouse as they are now? Of course not. The world is not only fading physically, but culturally. How many times has there been famines in Vale?"
"Several," Jenna muttered. "But that has nothing to do with-"
"And how many of the books have rotted and decayed and had to be thrown away. Your friend Garet's grandfather was the mayor, so you must know something about-"
"A lot, okay!?" Jenna shouted, glaring at him. "But... but this has nothing to do with this! I-it's just a coincidence! The Elder has always said that Alchemy released would be terrible! Th-that it would bring destruction and death a-and all sorts of horrible things!"
"I don't doubt he's wrong, Jenna," Menardi said, using a much softer tone than before. "With Alchemy restored, there will be more Adepts with greater power, and with greater power, comes greater lust and greater greed..."
"People are the only danger and death that Alchemy will unleash," Kraden murmured. "But that will be civilization's choice, not ours."
"But the Wise One," Jenna sniffed, still not able to take all this in. "He-he said that-"
"I understand this is a lot to take in," Menardi said softly, finally releasing Jenna's arms, turning her toward her. Jenna suddenly broke into sobs, Menardi sighing and pulling Jenna closer to her. "It was a lot for Felix at first, too. But... you have to believe that we're telling the truth."
"But how can I know?" Jenna asked softly.
Felix came up to them, putting a hand on Jenna's shoulder. "Jenna, trust me. I haven't changed into someone else since I left. But I do have different beliefs. Don't be stubborn about this when I know that you know what we're saying is true."
"But what about Garet and Isaac?" Jenna asked, wiping her face with the back of her hand.
"We don't want to fight them," Felix sighed. "All we want is the Mars Star."
"But what if they try to fight us?" Jenna asked.
"We won't think about that right now," Menardi said, pulling the girl back and looking her in the eye. "Listen to me, Jenna. I did not leave my family and become and outcast from my mother to come to something I don't believe is right. I came because I didn't want my little sister or my friends to have to go and do what I wouldn't go and do. I didn't want either Agatio and Karst to suffer because I wasn't strong enough to pull through."
"But what if the world does end when we light the other beacons?" Jenna asked.
Menardi sighed. "The world is dying anyway." She gave Jenna a half-smile. "We'd just be helping it along." Jenna chuckled lightly, then became somber again. Menardi put a finger under her chin, tilting her face up to look at her. "Now listen, Jenna, just give us a chance. If by the time we lit the next beacon you don't agree with us, we'll let you go."
"But the Mars Star," Jenna started.
Menardi held up a hand. "We'd find some way to get it. Just keep your mind open and see if you don't feel the same way the rest of us do."
Jenna sniffed slightly, but managed a nod.
Kraden sighed, rubbing his arms to revive a little warmth. "I hate to break the mood, but we should probably get out of the range of battle in case one of the other group breaks past Saturos and tries to get back the Elemental Stars."
"He's probably right," Felix quietly agreed.
Menardi nodded. "We'll take the path south of Imil. I don't think it would do us well to run into those there after we've just lit the beacon. We're supposed to meet Saturos at Bilbin."
"And those thieves are supposed to meet us there," Felix added.
"Right," Menardi murmured. "I'd almost forgotten."
"We'd best leave before that platform returns to the top of the Aerie," Kraden said, looking dubiously at the panel.
"I agree," Menardi said. "Let's hurry."
They began down the staircase, she casting a quick glance up the side of the lighthouse to the unseeable top. Her heart caught in her throat as worry sent a jolt of cold through her fingertips. She could only hope Saturos would be safe.
"You alright?"
Menardi jumped as Felix put a hand on her shoulder, looking at her worriedly.
Menardi patted her friend's hand and nodded. "I'm fine," she murmured. Felix nodded and the two began hurriedly down the stairs. She looked up again and sighed. "Please be safe," she whispered to herself, then rushed to follow Felix and the others.
* * *
Isaac jumped backward as Saturos swung angrily at him. Garet jumped forward, meeting Saturos's blade with his own. Saturos savagely kicked him in the gut, sending the boy sprawling backward on the marble floor and into the wall. Saturos turned again toward Isaac when a sharp pain entered his wrist, he looked down to where a thin line of blood was running across his hand. He looked over at the young boy Ivan who had his hand raised in a psynergy summoning way.
Saturos forgot momentarily the pain he had felt when trying to summon his power earlier, and quickly raised his hand, calling a volley of fire from his hand, sending a rain of flames at the group. Isaac quickly raised a shield to defend himself while the girl, Mia, grabbed the young boy and leapt toward Garet, casting water psynergy around them to protect them from the searing blow.
Although the power had worked, it still sent a sudden shock of pain into Saturos's hand. He shook it as though to relieve the pain, but it didn't alleviate it at all. He held the sword in one hand for the moment, the hand on his bad arm, still tightly bandaged by Alex, temporarily palliated, but no where near healed.
His sword met again with Isaac's, the young man the nearest to him of their group. Saturos pressed his long blade forward, the boy's short sword buckling slightly under his strength. Saturos ignored the pain of his other hand and clasped it to the sword's hilt, doubling the strength and sending the boy to one knee. Saturos pushed forward, bringing their swords out of a lock and with a sharp kick, sent Isaac off balance and falling down the stairs.
Saturos was about to jump down after the boy when a pain shot through his bad shoulder. He looked down to see a sharp, thin icicle sticking out from the skin, grabbing it with the other hand and jerking it free, breaking the shard upon the ground, glaring at the girl who stared defiantly back at him.
Saturos didn't bother to wipe the blood from his arm as he stepped to the girl, fury driving him. He swung at her, stopped as a thin, elven rapier was raised to meet him, the Wind Adept's violet eyes glaring at Saturos angrily. Saturos used his psynergy to toss the boy aside without another thought, raising his sword again to bring it down upon the girl, but was stopped by a warm sensation on the back of his neck.
The young Fire Adept was standing behind Saturos, clearly trying to summon forth some sort of fire psynergy, now holding his hand and realizing it didn't affect another Fire Adept. Saturos was glad to know that it wasn't only his psynergy that was suffering at the lighthouse, but furious that the boy had tried to attack him. He swung at him, Garet ducking and sidestepping to draw out his sword. Saturos kicked the boy's feet out from under him, sending him to the ground, sensing the girl's movements moments before it would have been too late.
He turned and his sword clanged against the girl's staff, her eyes flashing angrily as they fought. Saturos pushed her backward against the wall, but the girl sent a burst of frost flying into his eyes, blinding him momentarily as he stumbled backward, reaching up and swiping away ice from his stinging eyes. The youngest boy tried to attack him again, attempting to take him down by jumping on his back. Saturos found this more annoying than painful, save that the boy's elbow had slammed into the wound on his shoulder. He bent forward and flung the child off his shoulders, barreling him into Mia, who caught him and fell back against the wall, both a little stunned.
Saturos blinked away the last of the ice just as Isaac attacked again from the side, Saturos jabbing forward after blocking and managing to get the boy in his upper arm, cutting through part of the sleeve and drawing forth the red, human blood. Proxinian's bled much darker, Saturos remembered from when they had rescued Felix years ago. He just had forgotten over the time.
Isaac dropped his shield and grabbed at his shoulder, continuing by fighting with one hand. Saturos blocked two wild swings at his chest, but missed the third which struck him a deep blow in his shoulder where the metal pauldron and the breastplate failed to meet; stabbing deep into his injured soldier. Saturos bit back a curse, looking up at Isaac who grinned slightly, triumphantly.
Saturos felt his face twist slightly in anger as he swung out, smashing against the boy's sword with such fury, Isaac, too, thought it might shatter. He was strong, he knew, but he was beginning to get the feeling that he might not be able to win this battle alone.
Where in the name of the Gods was Alex?
* * *
Alex watched the fight from behind the beacon, watched as Mia was pushed back by Saturos and shot frost in his eyes. Not exactly fighting fair, but Alex's grandfather had always taught them to do what was necessary to protect the lighthouse. She was only doing what she thought was right.
What he once thought was right, he reminded himself. What his grandfather thought was right....
'But it was wrong!' he wanted to scream. Weyard was dying. Everything was dying; people in Imil, grandfathers, mothers, cousins, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, friends, enemies, everyone was dying. Saturos was dying. Mia was dying.
He was dying.
Alex clenched his fist. He wouldn't die like his grandfather had. He refused to. He refused to go down a dark path quietly as though he was somehow relieved or happy to die, to be rid of life. He had so much left that he wanted to do! So much that no mortal man could hope to complete it in a single lifetime. He wanted more than just a single lifetime. He wanted three, no, four. He wanted one-hundred lifetimes, eternal lifetimes. He had to have them all. He wouldn't let himself be outlived. Wouldn't let himself be bested.
But, Mia...
He looked over at where Saturos was fighting off the young man, Isaac. Why had Mia come here? Alex thought angrily. Why had she followed them in attempt to stop them? Clearly, it had not worked. They had lit the beacon now and that was all that mattered, not Mia, not Saturos, not the salvation of Weyard. All that mattered was that he was one step closer to immortality.
Immortality and endless power, he reminded himself. Alex still failed to see how this could possible be wrong , lighting the lighthouses and gaining all this power. If Alchemy really were such a bad thing, the Wise One could have stopped all of us from leaving the cave, Alex continually assured himself whenever he heard something whisper that he was committing a grievous sin. But there was nothing he could tell his heart when it spoke about Mia. When he thought of her, he knew where he should have stood on this issue, no matter what his personal feelings. His grandfather had passed the role of protector to Mia and to Alex. Regardless of the power to be gained in lighting the beacons, he knew this was...
Alex exhaled sharply, shaking his head and thinking to himself what a fool he was. Morality was not what the point of their mission was. They were here to save Weyard. It didn't matter if he profited a little in doing so along the way, now, did it?
The sharp clang of Saturos's sword against the other boy's brought Alex back to the moment. He looked over as Saturos blasted fire psynergy at the boy and the younger one, Ivan, jumped forward to meet him. Saturos's wounded arm was held tightly to his body as he continued to fight with only one hand. He was tiring quickly, for the sword was made heavy enough that it needed two hands to properly wield. Alex sighed as Saturos pushed the child back again. It looked as though he would need to interfere. He began to step forward then came to an immediate stop.
Mia had leapt into the fray just as Alex had planned to reveal himself. He was frozen. His fingertips had lead weighing them down and his feet were one in the marble flooring. He couldn't fight, not Mia.
Saturos cried out softly as Mia smashed her staff into his arm, the wounded shoulder, again. Alex winced. He had to help Saturos. They couldn't complete this quest without their leader.
But he wouldn't fight Mia.
Alex stood there, watching as Saturos was pushed backwards by his opponents. Alex knew he had to help him, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He wouldn't raise his dagger against Mia, or rather, he couldn't. Saturos sent a quick, frantic glance in Alex's direction, looking away as another assault pressed forward against him. Alex turned his back on the battle, side-stepping behind a statue and pressing his head against the ample folds of it's marble robe. He couldn't fight. Not like this.
* * *
Saturos stepped out of the way as Isaac swung at him again. He knew Alex must have seen him that time. So why wasn't he coming out to help him fight? Saturos understood at that point that he was on his own again. This time there was no Menardi or Felix to save him, nor would Alex bother to come and help him. He was among wolves again, but no one would come now.
Saturos blindly swung out at Isaac, the young man jumping backwards to avoid him then rushing forward to meet his blows, Saturos moved to block a sword thrust toward his abdomen, but he underestimated the boy's speed.
Saturos could feel the cold between the warm muscle tissue, cleanly rent in two. Before he even had time to think, his hand had traveled down to wear the blade entered just below his rib cage. He looked down, shocked as blood began to run over his fingertips and the tip of the sword through the cracked breastplate.
No one in the group spoke, but a soft breath of air was taken as the dark, liquid, nearly black, coursed out of the hole, staining Isaac's silver blade. The young man held back a gasp, staring at the sword, still breathing heavily. He gave the hilt a slight jerk, ripping it from Saturos's belly, leaving the Proxinian gently fingering the sliver of space cut into the heavy metal.
It started in his fingers then spread up his arms and to his face. A wave of cold nausea swept over Saturos, his eyes fluttering slightly. He swooned, not even feeling as his knees crashed to the ground and he fell forward with a metallic burst, armor quivering from the force of the drop. He felt the marble, warm against his frozen cheek as he stared blankly out at a passing cloud that had covered the sun just behind the pairs of feet in front of him.
He could hear the young ones talking excitedly in the background. They didn't realize that it was not their victory, not really. But then again, who would have thought that Mercury Lighthouse held such great power?
Saturos closed his eyes and let his cheek sink into the grooves of the marble floor, his tense body beginning to relax, giving into cold stone. "If only my psynergy were at it's full power," he coughed softly to himself.
The laughing and the cheering stopped as the group turned.
Isaac sighed deeply, almost regretfully. "By the elements he's still alive..."
Mia looked frantically from Isaac to Garet. "Well... what do we do?"
"We can't let him live," Garet said to Isaac softly, trying not to let Saturos hear him. "He'd go back to Menardi and Felix and just come and try to kill us again."
"I would have succeeded," Saturos said softly, coughing blood onto the clean white stone tile. "If not for the lighthouse..."
"What do you mean?" asked Ivan softly.
"I..." Saturos shut his eyes tightly, his body going tense again as he buckled in half from a jolt of pain in his abdomen. "I meant nothing."
"He's no good to us if he's not going to talk," Garet said, both he and Isaac turning away from the battle.
"We can't just kill him," Isaac argued.
"We have to," Garet said. "Don't we want to save Jenna?"
Saturos listened as the Isaac-boy's breathing became slower. "I..."
"I hate to go through with this, but I must agree with Garet," Ivan whispered. "We must kill him while there is no one to protect him."
Mia stared at Saturos's still figure for a long while before pressing a hand against her pale, pink lips and hurrying to the edge of the aerie, muffling a soft sob.
"Mia, what is it?" Isaac asked.
The girl turned around, hand still pressed to her mouth, sobbing quietly. She fanned a single breeze at her eyes then lowered her hand to her chest. "I don't have the stomach for these kinds of things," Mia hissed through a tight throat. "I'm a healer, not a fighter..."
"I don't want to do this either, Mia," Garet said softly, kicking at the ground. "But he's too dangerous to take as a hostage, he won't tell us what he knows, and it's too risky to let him live."
"Isn't there any way to spare him?" Mia asked, sniffing softly.
This was far too much for so young a girl to take in all in one day, Saturos thought, even as he lay there in pain. He knew what it was like, beginning the day a child and ending it far more grown than he wanted to be. Like the day back at Sol Sanctum. He could relate with the girl's feelings. He didn't hold any aggression toward her or any of her companions, but-as is was for their own group- it would be too risky for them to be allowed to live.
Saturos could almost feel Isaac's eyes burning upon his face. Isaac was just the same as he was, almost the same age as Saturos had been when he'd first gone to Sol Sanctum. He was so young then, over three years ago. It would be choice like this that would make or break Isaac's campaign, Saturos knew. In a way, he hoped that Isaac wouldn't break it, hoped that he would become a strong leader. He would have been a wonderful person, if only he was fighting on the right side.
Saturos felt a soft gust of air as the boy dropped to one knee by his head. He managed to relax just enough to slit his eyes open and look up at him. Isaac swallowed hard, his tan skin now gone the color of frost covered peaches, entering a shade of sickly grey. His gloved hand trembled sightly, not much, but just enough for Saturos to sense it, the way it made tiny ripples in the air.
Isaac pressed on hand flat on the floor to steady himself from collapsing, then took in a deep breath and shakily let it out. Then, he spoke.
* * *
"If you will answer our questions and swear that you will not try to light the beacons anymore, we will let you live," Isaac said softly.
Alex still peered out from behind the beacon, not wanting to move, not wanting to confront Mia again. She already knew that he was there, but he didn't want to have to tell her why. Mia wasn't like him. She wouldn't understand it. Wouldn't accept it.
He couldn't go on this way. Alex hated himself for this, both because of his feelings for Mia and his feelings about this mission. They were out to save Weyard, and if Mia was going to stand in his way, then she was an enemy.
Is this really right then? Alex asked himself. If I am willing to make this my decision, then is it right? What if I choose wrong?
Then you choose wrong. The obvious answer, he knew, but one he was not content with. He wanted to know if whether or not he was on the winning side, not necessarily the right side, but the winning side.
"I will not answer nor will I swear anything," Saturos coughed, blood staining the corner of his silver-skinned lips.
Isaac stood again, looking up at the sky and cursing softly. The other boy, Garet, came up to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "We have no choice, Isaac. We have to."
No time left, Alex realized. Time to choose.
"There has to be another way," Isaac hissed to his friend, frustrated.
Alex could feel a bead of sweat running down the back of his neck, exposed to the cold air and chilling his dampening skin.
"We'll do it quickly and be done with it," Garet replied softly.
Alex blinked sweat from his eye and let out a sharp breath, a cloud hanging in front of his mouth until it was dissolved by sunlight.
Isaac turned away, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword. "You do it, Garet." He glanced back at his friend, almost apologetically. "I don't think I can."
Alex felt his mouth go dry like a hot, empty pan. His licked his lips repeatedly, trying to make up his mind, whose side was he on? His ears tingled as the metallic rush of a blade coming from its sheath severed the air. He didn't have any more time.
Was it Weyard or Imil?
The beacons or the lighthouse?
Mia or Saturos?
"Garet..."
"He won't tell us anything, Mia. We have to do this."
Alex suddenly felt a sudden burst of energy. He could feel it growing stronger with every breath of its being. It was Saturos's life force. It was still weak, too weak to move, let alone stand. Alex could have simply left him, and he knew that, but he wouldn't let himself become a traitor. He knew if he was to help Saturos, he would need more time.
A half-moment of indecision and Alex had made his choice. "I shall tell you what he means..."
He still stood behind the beacon, back turned again to the people on the other side. Even not looking at Mia, he could feel her reaction, how her heart skipped a beat and her breath faltered. She nearly dropped the staff, but recovered, holding onto it with tighter grip.
That voice, she was thinking to herself. Could it be?
Alex took a deep breath, shutting his eyes. "Iris, forgive me," he murmured, and stepped out from his hiding place. Garet quickly stepped away from Saturos, Isaac turning around to face him, the four suddenly tense again. Mia pushed her way to the front, her blue eyes filled with fear.
Or was it tears?
"Alex?" she breathed almost silently. Alex could feel her searching his mind for clues, for answers. He quickly put up a wall. She couldn't be allowed to know. Allowed to know that he felt one way about her, but he felt just as strongly in the other direction, and was made to by this task. This damn task of lighting the Elemental Lighthouses. What a savior I am, he thought bitterly.
Mia stared at him in disbelief. She knew he was blocking her out. Alex stepped toward Saturos's still form, crumpled on the ground, blood of thick red, nearly black, spilling out from beneath him. He looked back up at Mia, holding his hands in front of him, staring at her blankly. "It's been a while, Mia."
Mia nearly flushed with something to the effect of anger. He could feel her panicking, frantically searching him for answers, but he still blocked her out. Finally, in an exasperated moment, she simply blurted, "Alex... do you realize what you've done?!"
Alex let out a sharp breath through his nose, smiling. "Of course," he said blankly, looking at the glowing beacon beside him. He stared at it for a long while, then looked back at Mia, speaking his mind to her. "I have freed a great power that has long been sealed away..." He forced himself to smile at the pained expression that came over Mia's face, forced himself to show he didn't care for her so she would never know he did. "Mercury," he whispered naming their clan. He shook his head and looked back at the beacon. "The lighthouse of water.... What a mighty force..."
Mia stared at him, her jaw gone slack. She searched for several moments to try to find words. Stepping forward and clutching her staff tightly, she said, "Alex you... Are you mad?!"
Alex looked toward Mia again, keeping his face blank. "No, Mia," he said softly. "Don't you understand?" She looked at him, afraid and clearly confused. Alex sighed, motioning at the beacon with one hand. "The lighthouse granted you great power during your battle with Saturos." He looked at her intensely, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't you feel it?"
Isaac stepped forward, standing behind Mia and looking at her desperately. "Don't listen," he whispered. "He's trying to trick us..."
"No... It's true..." she said softly. She looked back at Isaac, almost apologizing for admitting it. "I could use my power without ever depleting it."
"Don't you see," Alex said before Isaac could intercede, stepping toward Mia. "The Mercury Lighthouse supplied you with limitless psynergy."
"Psynergy?" Mia echoed. "Is that where my power comes from?"
"You're an Adept, Mia,"Isaac said.
Garet looked taken aback. "What? You knew this all along and you didn't tell us?"
"An Adept?" Mia asked quietly.
"Enough with the pretense, Alex," Isaac said, stepping in front of Mia protectively.
"Yes," Ivan echoed. "Tell us, Alex... Why wasn't Saturos able to use his full power?"
Alex looked away from Mia at the minute boy standing beside Garet, looking dangerously interested and curious. "Ah, yes," Alex said, reminded of his promise to explain to them and his need to stall for Saturos. He stepped over Saturos's body to keep the others from detecting his recovering life force. "I shall explain it all. Saturos, you see, is aligned with Mars, the clan of fire."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Isaac snapped.
Alex glared at him. Isaac's curt mood was only because of his feelings for Mia. Alex could sense the boy had them as well. His lips pressed into a tight line as he explained, "Fire and water are opposing elements." He leaned in staring at Isaac maliciously. "His full power was bound by the Water psynergy of the lighthouse."
"What are you trying to say?" Isaac demanded.
Alex raised up his hands in surrender, though on his face were etched lines of challenge. "I've said nothing."
"Didn't Saturos know that he would be weakened?" Ivan asked.
Alex waved impatiently with one hand as he turned his back on them. "Of course he knew... However..." Alex nudged Saturos's hand with his boot, Saturos weakly twitching a finger. Alex then knew he wasn't ready yet. He needed more time. "He failed to appreciate the power of this lighthouse... as did I..."
"Is that why we were able to defeat Saturos?" Garet asked. "He was weakened?"
Alex shook his head. "No," he lied. "There is more too it. I stood by, watching your battle from afar..."
Ivan blinked. "You were watching us?"
"And you didn't even help your companion," Isaac scoffed softly. "Typical."
Alex wanted to drive his fist into the boy's jaw. He managed to clench his teeth and hiss, "No, I did not help Saturos because I was certain he would win."
"But you were wrong," Garet said pointedly.
Alex sighed, tossing his hands helplessly. "You have become such great fighters in a short time," he said, though he didn't believe it himself.
"Alex..."
Alex looked down at the Proxinian at his feet, trying to push himself up with one hand, balancing on his elbow. Alex quickly stooped to the ground, taking Saturos's arm and putting it over his shoulder, blood staining his clothes and hair as he straightened and lifted his friend off the ground. "Can you stand?" he asked
"Yes," Saturos coughed.
"Walk?"
"Hardly," he reluctantly admitted.
"Don't try, then," Alex said, then jokingly added, "I don't want to treat you for over-use injury later."
The group stirred angrily.
"Saturos is up again?!" Ivan gasped. "But we beat him!"
Alex looked at Saturos and let out a light laugh. "Beaten? Never," he smirked.
"I lost to this lighthouse, not to you," Saturos added, holding a bloody hand to his stomach.
"He couldn't even move a few seconds ago!" Isaac shouted in disbelief.
Alex smiled as Saturos faltered momentarily, Alex helping him to regain his balance. "I was merely stalling you until Saturos regained enough of his strength." The two stumbled backward a step, catching themselves, or more Alex catching Saturos. The Proxinian was in worse shape than he wanted to admit. "Come, we shall leave," he told Saturos, the two turning and beginning to hobble toward the stairs.
"You were just buying time?" Mia repeated in shock. She hit the bottom of her staff against the tile. "That's not fair, Alex!"
"We can't let Saturos escape," Garet said to Isaac, the two brandishing weapons and stepping forward. Alex turned around again, grabbing his dagger with his free hand and pointing it menacingly at the two. "And just what are you going to do?" Alex challenged softly, backing away though the two boys had stopped stepping forward. "Will you... 'finish him off?'"
Isaac looked at Alex, suddenly a little unsure. He glanced at the ground nervously, then back up at Alex. "We have to," he said helplessly.
Alex looked at Saturos, then back to Isaac. "If that is the case, you'll have to fight me as well." He sneered at Isaac threateningly. "I've seen how you fight," he murmured, the tossed his head in disgust. "You cannot hope to win."
"However," Saturos added, barely able to lift his head. "You are welcome to believe whatever you want to believe."
Alex shut his eyes and focused on a spot at the bottom of the stairs. When he opened his eyes again, he and Saturos stood at the bottom of the stairs. He looked at Saturos. "Are you alright?"
"A little shaken," Saturos winced. "But I'll be fine."
"Stop trying to play the hero," Alex said dryly, though a smile pulled at the corner of his mouth.
They looked up above their heads to see the group now leaning over the edge of the upper aerie, staring down at them.
"He warped again!" gasped Garet.
"Again?" Mia asked, looking at the boy. "He's done that before?"
"Back in Sol Sanctum," Isaac quickly explained.
"That psynergy," Ivan murmured, referring to the warp. "Does that mean Mia can use it?"
"No, it's impossible," Mia murmured, staring at Alex in disbelief. "Even Alex didn't have this kind of power before."
Alex looked at her blankly, taking in a shaky breath to compose himself. "Well... I can't stay the same old Alex you knew forever..." A soft rumbling of stone on stone came from the side of the aerie, the platform risen back up from the bottom. Alex sneered up at the group, more specifically, Isaac. "Well, it seems my ride has returned while we were speaking. And so, I bid you adeiu."
Ivan grabbed Isaac's arm, shaking it roughly. "Isaac! Saturos still has the Elemental Stars!"
"That's right!" Garet said. "We can't let them leave now!"
"Oh," Alex commented dryly. "You want to take the Elemental Stars from Saturos?"
"We won't let you take them with you," Isaac boomed.
Alex's lips pressed into an angry frown, but Saturos spoke before he could. "That's too bad. Menardi has them. You'll have to ask her, though I doubt she'll let them go as easily as you think."
"That reminds me," Alex said, his face lighting up with remembrance. "Do you still have the Mars Star?"
Isaac's hand shot to the silver bag hanging from his belt. "You're not getting it, if that's what your asking!"
Alex smiled. "I appreciate your honesty." Again, he closed his eyes and they warped, back to the platform Menardi and the others had gone down. He looked back at Isaac who was staring at him coldly. He called out to him with a booming voice. "I suppose you'll be willing to pursue us for the Elemental Stars?"
"Of course," Isaac replied cooly. "And we'll fight you if we must."
Alex lips curled into an evil smile. "I look forward to it. I shall see you soon, then. Goodbye."
Saturos's eyes darkened and he murmured. "I shall look forward to our next battle."
The platform then began sliding down the lighthouse, Saturos nearly collapsing from weakness. Alex held him up with all the strength he could muster. "You mustn't give up now. You'll regain your strength the further away we get from the lighthouse."
"Then I should hope we are in Bilbin by tomorrow morning," Saturos whispered tightly, pain scorching his sides.
"With luck, my friend," Alex sighed. "With luck..."
(A/N: The end. Yay. Sorry, I'm tired and it's late, but I finished it. I know it isn't as quick as many would have liked it, but I went as fast as inspiration allowed. It's strange. It wasn't until actually writing this fic that I started to become pro-Isaac:: Mia. I thought it would add more depth to both Alex and Isaac. Mia's awfully sensitive, and both boys are protective. Additionally, if Alex and Isaac ever end up having to fight each other in the next Golden Sun game, it will add a lot more anger to their fight from both sides. I'll write the next chapter quickly, and things should be getting more interesting with Saturos and Menardi. Yes, Vyctori, there will be plenty of gush in the next one. ^__^ I want to introduce Sheba and go into detail of why and how she was kidnaped. She's one of my fav characters. ^_~ One more thing, Felix and Jenna are going to start getting along. Slowly but surely. I think Menardi finally knocked some sense into that girl's thick skull. ^_^
I think that's all the plans I've made for the next fic. Until then, R&R