Creature Changers

Back with the tenth chapter! Would it be asking too much if I say I want my review count to shoot past 105 this time? ;

The poll for Mudshipping or Valeshipping will continue until the 30th: http/ daidairo. 250free. com/ GSPoll. html Some people say that they cannot access the page. I'm sorry, I know not why, so I will be counting the votes in reviews from chapter 9 onwards as well as the votes sent to me via email until the poll finishes. Please only vote once! No cheating!

Statistics as of 26 September 2005: Mudshipping---10 votes Valeshipping---5 votes

I'd like to add, everyone who mentioned the djinn were concentrating on Zagan. Did anyone even notice that I could make Ground use his ability? And I hadn't planned it when I chose Ground and Flint.

Also, people have complained that my days are too weird. So as of this chapter, they're switching back to English. I'll edit the previous chapters as soon as I can.

Disclaimer: I don't own Golden Sun. I own this plot. No, I don't own the Golden Sun plot either, that belongs to Camelot. And no, Camelot is not a farm with a plot of land. Can you imagine Isaac as a carrot in a field? Old man Camelot had a farm, G-S-G-S-O! And on his farm there were some djinn, E-I-E-I-O! With a 'beep beep' here and a 'beep beep' there... GBA knows only how to beep! Old man Camelot had a farm, G-S-G-S-O!

...Pardon the lameness. I just like changing lyrics of songs.

EDIT: I made a mistake about Zagan, so I changed it. Scroll down to see!

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Mercury Gold: Yes, it's Zagan. I didn't actually intend to have GS related stuff here, but then I thought, why not? There won't be any psynergy, considering the way I've developed the story, unless I really am a good writer and can spin webs of imagination. But I doubt it. ; I'm adding your vote to the list!

Kodoku: XD I still like my cliffhangers, even if they are predictable. So I don't think I'll be giving up on them just yet. Thank you for voting, everyday I check the results and I realise that this fic is probably going to be Mudshipping. But it's not decided till 30th!

crazybutfun: Djinn are all cute! I'm glad you like it!

raitei: I'm sorry, I know I talk too much. You see, everytime a reviewer says something, I don't just cast it aside. I do think through it and reply, you see. I treat reviews like the readers' comments, so the more they talk, the more I reply! I'm trying to cut down on my speech now. Or not, since technically you guys don't hear my voice. Thank you for suggesting people come, but I wouldn't want votes in which people just vote their pairings without even knowing what my fic is about. I want genuine feedback from the people who are still reading this fic. I notice that the hit count has really lowered... Zagan, by the way, is summoned by one Venus and one Mars, not Jupiter. About the tiredness... well, Golden Sun doesn't actually tell us what time it is. Walking on the world map triggers recovery at the same time, so who knows how much recovery time is needed? I decided that if the djinn weren't badly affected by summons, they would use summons multiple times. And given that in real life, we don't have depleting hit points, rather we have lifes that are easily taken, I didn't think multiple summons would be a good idea. In fact, Zagan could have KILLED. And we certainly don't want that. Yet... (sighs at spoiler) The Mediator is up all right, but I'm having a bit of trouble over the Japanese names. No one knows what they are! I'm going to have to translate, I see... As for Mia, you'll have to read on! ... Look, I talk too much.

The Shadowess: (sweatdrops) Go easy on your hair! I must say I share similar tastes where bishies are concerned... XD I'm not sure if I'll have much angsty. I usually go for the happy parts... I aim to touch on most genres in some way or other, of course, but I can't guarantee they'll be good. You better not name the fic, but I will agree that bad fics can cause wrinkles, hard attacks, and falling hair.

guy: Thank you for the compliment! You didn't mention this as a vote, so I'll take it you already voted on the poll.

Shiny Milotic: Yes, I do choir. In Howl's words, "I love choir, but choir doesn't love me". (mopes) Thank you for the juice!

Yuja: I suppose you're right, but I do try to please other people if I can. Or as many as I can. The address doesn't show, but you sent me that email, so I went. It's been very helpful, and I agree that in Egyptian lore, sphinxes are known as male. However, Golden Sun has always been working closely with Greek and Roman mythology, and I intend to take my information from that. From what I know, and I think the website mentioned it as well, in Greek mythology, sphinxes are mostly female. So... let's just say that Garet and friends do not know about Egyptian myths! XD Thank you for the website, I visited nearly every page I could! Thank you!

savinglifelessness: Thank you for the review! I hope this one is good!

Princess Viv: There there, you don't have to feel sorry for Isaac! I love him too, and I don't intend to be too evil to him. At least, not until he cracks. But enough to show how good he really is. Agree? XD I also know that I'm missing a lot of details. I want to work on it, but... I will try, seriously I will!

A MErcury adept: Double reviews, and identical ones? (raises eyebrows) The others... might have djinn. I've said before that I didn't plan this, so they might appear later, maybe. I know what Iris is, or rather who, and I didn't find her so hard to get, in fact I had a fun time fighting Dullahan, and... I don't think Iris will show up in summons. (Big hint here!)

blackarrow92: I'll take your vote! Thank you for your support!

...Wow, considerable cut down in review responses. But still too much, isn't it...?

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Chapter 10: Freaky Friday... Not freaky, just 'Strange'

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"Proceed." The black gates swung open. Isaac entered and headed for the assembly area.

He had thought about the djinn all night. Ground insisted that they knew nothing about the lion they had summoned. Or sticking the crystal to the ground.

Seeing that he had a few seconds before the first bell went, he raced up to the third level where the library was. Dumping his bag outside, he went in and looked around.

The books in the libraries were sorted into shelves by topic, then the names of authors. Isaac headed for the shelf that said "Medieval".

The shelf was rather empty. Most of the books concentrated on old history, about knights and wars. When the bell rang, Isaac hastily picked up the likeliest one, entitled "Old Legends" and ran to the counter.

When he arrived at the assembly area, the classes were already gathered. Under the disapproving eye of several teachers, he joined 9A.

"... they will begin next week. New students, including transfer students, there will be an orientation for clubs tomorrow in school, at ten o'clock in the morning," Kraden said clearly. "You can choose which club you wish to go, but if, for example, in soccer, the teacher decides that you are not suitable, you will not argue back. Instead, you will join something more suitable."

Clubs. Isaac made a note to remind Dora about having to go to school on a Saturday.

"You may leave for your first lesson."

A firm hand came down hard on Isaac's shoulder. He turned and saw dark brown eyes staring at him.

"What happened yesterday?" Felix's voice was soft.

"Didn't Jenna explain?" Isaac asked, feeling slightly awkward at the expressionless look on his face.

"Yes, she did. But she was slightly hysterical yesterday, and I couldn't get much from her. Tell me what happened."

Isaac sighed. He picked up his bag.

"Jenna and I encountered robbers," he said quietly. "We were instructed not to change outside school, and not to attack people who could not change."

"So you sat there and let the robbers steal."

"That's not it!" Isaac argued. "The djinn..."

"The djinn helped you. That much I gathered. But does that mean that if the djinn weren't there, those robbers would have gotten away with robbery, and maybe worse?" Felix's eyes were still kept expressionless, but anger was evident.

"..."

"Isaac Gaia. Do you remember what I told you when I fought off Briggs?" Felix asked. Isaac nodded slowly. He knew what Felix was saying. He knew deep down, that he had been a coward. He knew that Felix was disappointed in him.

"I was weak. I just sat back and let the djinn fight." He met Felix's eyes. "I promise that it won't happen next time. Next time, I will use my own power to protect myself. As well as those close to me."

Staring back at him, Felix nodded slowly. He smiled. "I know you will. You acknowledged that you were wrong, and you know what you must do. I will acknowledge that you are intelligent. Continue to, ah, search for happiness in sense."

Isaac grinned, remembering the principal's words on the first day of school. Felix waved and turned. Another hand slammed down on him.

"What did Felix want?" Garet asked cheerfully.

"To bring me to my senses," Isaac replied. He felt a deep sense of respect for the older student.

"Eh?"

Isaac laughed. "Never mind. What do we have first?"

"Physical Education. We're doing swimming today, so we're supposed to change and then meet at the pool," Garet replied in a know-it-all voice. "You did bring the suit included in the shopping list, didn't you? The students who forget are told to forget about participating too."

"Yes, I brought it. No, it's not the 'shopping' list. And why?"

"Why what?" Garet began to steer Isaac to the toilets nearest to the pool.

"Why are the punishments for forgetfulness like that?"

"Because our suits are extremely modest. Have you looked at it?" As Isaac shook his head, Garet chuckled. "The punishments are for girls who turn up in bikinis. The boys can't concentrate if they're there. They're also for guys who turn up in trunks. The girls can't concentrate if they're there."

"Oh." Isaac wanted to laugh. Seeing 'physical education' in the timetable, he had put in the entire set for PE. It included the swimsuit, shorts, two T-shirts, a pair of goggles and a pair of thick, long socks. He pulled out the suit and stared at it quizzically. It resembled a scuba diving suit, except that it was much shorter.

"Disgustingly weird, and we all look like squids in them," Garet said, entering a cubicle.

"It can't be that bad."

"It is! I don't like swimming myself. I don't like water," Garet grumbled from inside his cubicle. "I don't like cold stuff."

"So you're a fire guy?" Isaac changed himself swiftly and stared in the full length mirror in the cubicle. (Whaa... the school is soooo rich!)

"Uh huh. A fireman, if you'll excuse the pun," Garet replied.

"That's not much of a pun, unless your dream career is to be a firefighter," Isaac chuckled as he decided that he didn't look too bad. He opened the door and found Garet pulling off his socks and shoes. Sitting down, he did the same.

"Nah. Firefighters use water. I want to be a knight."

"A... what?"

"You know, like those in the oldern days?" Garet said brightly. "They used to go round rescuing princesses and slaying dragons."

Isaac sprang up with his bag on his back. His eyebrows shot up.

"Might I remind you, Garet, that I'm a dragon myself?"

Garet froze. He looked up. Then he laughed.

"OH I SEE. AHAHAHAHAHHAHAH!"

"Garet, it's not funny!" Isaac shook his head. "I'm the only dragon I've seen so far."

"Come to think of it," Garet stopped laughing. "I haven't seen any other dragons either. But it can't be just because of the mythical thing, because I know more than three people who are tabby cats."

He stood up with his bag.

"Don't worry, the dragon was a statue of speech."

"A figure," Isaac corrected.

"I mean, I'll be the good guy going around slaying the bad guys.""Like a policeman?"

"... I suppose."

The rest of the class had already changed and were sitting by the pool. To Isaac's surprise, there were twenty unfamiliar faces next to his class. Seeing his confused face, Garet launched into an explanation as they sat down.

"Due to the lack of teachers around, two classes sometimes have to share lessons," he said. "Looks like Mr Federastin Alhod will be shared with them from now on."

A tall, tanned, muscular man walked up to them. He had bright blond hair that looked bleached and contrasted with his dark skin. He wore dark purple goggles that seemed to double as shades, and dressed in a black swimsuit similar to the students' blue ones.

"9A and 8A! Today, you'll be doing swimming!" he yelled. When the students just stared at him, his face twisted into a pout. A pout that looked extremely petty. "You're supposed to say yay."

"No one ever does. Not until Mr Alhod tells them to," Garet whispered, grinning. "Everyone wants to see that pig-like pout..."

Indeed, most of the students were giggling away. Isaac swallowed his laughter and kept a straight face.

"Let's try it again. 9A and 8A! For today, we'll be doing swimming!"

"YAAAAAYYYY!" Joash jumped into the air with a yell. As he landed, he knocked Dave into the pool. Dave yelled and went under.

Mr Alhod yelled too. "All right, students! This is where you see a demonstration of life saving! Watch carefully, for you'll be learning something similar!" He leapt into the pool with a neat, professional dive. As Dave popped up, sputtering and treading water, Mr Alhod grabbed him firmly under the chin.

"HEY HEY HEY! LEMME GO!" Dave screeched. The two classes were laughing hard by then. Dave obviously did not need saving, but Mr Alhod made a big show of swimming with only one arm, and keeping Dave's head above water level. His hand kept a tight grip on the struggling chairman, so when Dave was finally hauled onto ground, he was nearly unconscious. Not from being drowned; rather from being strangled.

"See, this is how you do it!" Mr Alhod demonstrated proudly. He raised one of Dave's arms up high, then brought it down to his side. Then up again, and down. "This helps to bring air back into his lungs. And then, of course, there's the CPR..."

Isaac shook with silent laughter. Dave sat up immediately, screaming.

"NONONONONO! MR ALHOD, I'M FINE! I'M FIIIINNNNNNEEEEE! I DON'T NEED CPR!"

"Oh, he looks alive," Mr Alhod looked pleased. He beamed at the student. "You see, when a person is saved by a professional, like me, they don't get much water in their lungs and they don't need CPR! Dave Nicholas was saved because of my superb skills!"

"Liar," Dave muttered, his face crimson. He glared daggers at Joash. Isaac knew he had a stitch in the side. The peals of laughter and gasps of breath told him that nearly everyone else had the same problem.

"Well, now," Mr Alhod said cheerily as the laughter was toned down, "shall we begin our lesson? I want to see how good you people are in the water! So get in there and swim!"

Still laughing quietly, the students hopped into the crystal clear pool. The water was warm and inviting (Hah! As if! All the pools I visit have cold water!) and delightfully deep.

Isaac had not swam for more than half a year, and was relieved when he entered the water and did not drown. Remembering how the water felt, he swam his way back to the surface and broke clear of the silver barrier between air and water. As he shook the water from his ears, he felt something clutch at his legs. The next moment, he was underwater.

One leg gave Garet's arm a kick. The other leg struggled to get back to the surface.

"I have no wish to receive CPR from Mr Alhod," Isaac informed him, panting slightly. Garet grinned.

"And if the one to save you is a girl?" he asked. Isaac stared at him. "Aw, don't pretend you don't know what I'm saying."

Isaac didn't have to pretend; he was clueless. Garet shook his head, still grinning, then grabbed Isaac and turned him around to look at several female members from 8A. They were giggling nonstop.

"Did you see the way his golden hair flopped into his eyes?"

"Ohh, yes! He looks so cute with wet hair!"

"And his eyes are sooo dreamy! Like the colour of the sea!"

"Wish they didn't have this swimsuit! How do you think he'll look in nothing but trunks?"

More giggles. Garet swung Isaac round to face him.

"Well?" he demanded. "Which one do you like?"

"What are you talking about?" Isaac demanded back at him. Garet sighed noisily and rolled his eyes.

"You're not very bright. Which guy around here looks like the one they described?"

Isaac scanned the water. The only ones who fitted both hair and eyes were females.

"Um, none?" Isaac said. Garet sighed again, his face fitted with a you-are-so-dumb-it's-amazing look.

"Take a look in the water!" he insisted. Isaac looked down. Golden hair and blue eyes stared back at him puzzledly. Then Isaac kicked himself.

"Get it? YOU'RE the only guy here with golden hair and 'eyes like the colour of the sea'," Garet said, mimicking a high pitched voice. Isaac knew from Garet's grinning face that his face was the colour of tomatoes, and he quickly swam to another side of the pool. Once there, however, he could hear Mr Alhod talking.

"Nonsense, my dear! If you can't swim, you should learn!" he said.

"I can swim, but... I don't want to swim today," a soft voice replied. Isaac looked up.

The student that Mr Alhod was talking to was a girl from 8A. She had bright blue hair that looked similar to Piers', and aqua eyes that resembled ice. Her expression was icelike as well, and her pale skin seemed to be radiating of rays that said don't-bother-me-and-I-won't-bother-you.

"Excuse me? It's part of curriculum," Mr Alhod said sternly. "You have to give a valid reason, like if you're sick. Then you need a doctor's certificate. If you fear water, you should learn to get over it."

"No, that's not it. I just... can't swim today. I can't... tell you my reason. I don't want to lie," the girl replied quietly. Isaac knew what the ice showed. Determined, straightforward, and honest.

"Nevertheless, unless you have a medical problem, you are expected to learn swimming," Mr Alhod insisted. A forced look enter the girl's eyes. Isaac saw different expressions pass through the eyes. Many that he could not identify. But there was definitely a trace of fear.

A phobia of water?

"Now please stop wasting time and get into the water," Mr Alhod ordered. The girl nodded. The look on her face had changed to one of I-have-no-choice. Strangely enough, she did not show resentment towards Mr Alhod. Slowly, she stepped to the pool and lowered herself in with her hands.

Isaac wondered who this girl was. Her face now showed concentration. Then something glimmered. Isaac blinked. Through the ripples on the surface of the pool, he could see something shimmering. Something silvery blue.

Just as sudden as it appeared, it disappeared. Isaac stared in confusion at the spot where the girl had gone underwater.

What was that?

He continued staring at the girl. Her eyes was still filled with concentration as she treaded water gracefully. There was nothing wrong with her swimming; she must have swam before.

Mr Alhod had also gotten into the water, and was yelling for his students to go closer. Isaac watched the girl, confused, as she moved. Wolf whistles sounded from several boys, but she did not notice. Either that, or she ignored them. Then a familiar hand, wetter than before, whacked Isaac's poor shoulder for the third time that morning.

"She caught your eye?" Garet asked. He grinned. "She is a pretty one, and you'll probably come up against a lot of competition if you want to chase her."

Isaac frowned at Garet crossly. This time he needed no explanation. "I do not like that girl. It's just that..."

His voice trailed off. How was he supposed to explain the strange glimmer?

"Just that?"

"...I don't know how to explain," Isaac ended lamely.

"Hah! That's what they all say!" Garet said triumphantly.

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"You are five minutes late," Mr Hunter said sternly.

"We had swimming lessons earlier," Rachel explained, handing him a note. Mr Hunter plucked the wet piece of paper from her. His eyebrows twitched.

"Mr Alhod... I see..."

Muffled giggles broke out. Mr Hunter threw the note into a plastic bin and turned to face the board.

"Today, we're going to start Review Writing."

'Review Writing' was printed on the board in clean, neat writing.

"We're going to start with Movie Reviews."

'Movie Review' appeared in the same neat writing. All the alphabets were roughly the same size, and looked happily fat and bloated.

"If he's going to write down everything, why bother saying them?" Joash muttered.

Chuckles.

Isaac opened the dusty book. The first page showed a chalky like picture of the sun and the moon. He flipped through the other pages. Every alternate one had a colourful picture. He scanned through the pages and finally stopped at one.

The picture was one of a rearing lion. Identical to the creature that had appeared the previous nights.

Isaac read the description quickly.

Zagan is the keeper of beasts. He commands the elements of fire and earth. He is one of the Grand Gods, and ruled with justice under the Creators.

That was all the book had to offer. The rest of the paragraph concentrated on how Zagan helped many of his underlings.

"Grand Gods...? Creators?"

"You're not supposed to be reading that!" Rachel hissed. Isaac turned, surprised. Rachel pointed at a red tag on the book.

"Books with red tags aren't allowed to be touched unless a teacher gives permission," Rachel explained. She lifted the book out of Isaac's hands. "I'm afraid I'll have to take this back."

Isaac sighed. "I understand." He sat up and tried to pay attention to Movie Reviews. But the words on the book kept floating back to him.

The bell finally rang.

"Finally!" Garet opened his locker with a sigh. "I can't stand another moment of trying to learn how to say that Nemo was fun. I KNOW Nemo is fun, and I KNOW I should say Nemo is fun, but please. Words to describe Nemo as fun... This teacher is way weird."

"He's all right," Isaac said absently. He checked his watch. "Garet?"

"Hm?"

"Does Kraden have a class now?"

Garet stared at him, an eyebrow raised in curiousity. "I think he's taking Jenna now."

"Okay. You go on to the canteen, I know you need the food!" Isaac waved as he turned and went off.

"Why, you cheeky little..." Garet laughed. He shook his head, grinning. "Already he knows me well."

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"Creature creature."

"Changer changer," Isaac replied. The hall doors swung back. Kraden stared at him, then smiled.

"Come to see my students?"

"Uh, no, actually I..."

Isaac's comment was cut off as he was dragged into the hall. Immediately he was faced with bright, red eyes. Jumping back with a 'whoa', he stared.

It was a panther. A red one. Its short, thick fur was red, its eyes were red, and its claws resembled rubies. Flames rose up from either side of the panther it what seemed like wings. A single blood red ruby sat on its head.

"That's Jenna," Kraden informed, smiling. Isaac was stunned.

"Jenna!"

"Her creature's beautiful, don't you think?" an unfamiliar voice asked.

Isaac turned towards the source of the voice. He saw nothing but several golden threads.

"Hm?"

Kraden coughed. "Isaac, slightly... short."

Isaac adjusted his sight range by looking down. "Oh no, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to insult..."

Purple eyes. Filled with knowledge and quietness.

And bitterness.

"You are...?"

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This time the cliffhanger is extremely predictable. I'm leaving it there because I want to continue throwing cliffhangers in, but I'm sure everyone can guess who Isaac is speaking to.

Till next time, and please review! (hints for 105 plus)

Daidairo