The New Kid
Chapter 10
Jenna: We're back again!
Sheba: With chapter 10!
Ivan: Were you trying to rhyme? :: to himself :: …not a very good job at it…
Sheba: Pretty neat, huh?
Ivan: …I'm saying nothing.
Yuja: ARGH! Stupid anime songs keep getting stuck in my head!
Isaac: And they all have Japanese lyrics, too. That probably doubles the annoyance rating.
Yuja: No joke. What's scary is that I'm actually starting to catch and somewhat understand some words. Though it's not too hard to understand the lyrics in one of the catchiest tunes on this CD. All they say is "Esca Flowne" over and over again. Annoying…but catchy.
Isaac: You really are hopeless.
Yuja: Whatever. Jenna? Would you please?
Jenna: Yuja doesn't own Golden Sun.
NOTICE: If my explanation of Adepts in this chapter should insult or offend anyone, then I ask that you don't go ranting and raving at me about how wrong I am or anything. If you should find anything here that upsets you, feel free to simply press the "Back" button on your Internet window and read someone else's story. Thank you.
"There is no agony like bearing an untold story inside you." – Zora Neale Hurston
----------
The glow faded and Ivan sat back, his breathing slightly heavier and feeling a bit ill from using so much energy. He had never read a mind that way before.
"Back so soon?" Ivan looked around to see Sheba beside him, smiling. Then a puzzled expression replaced the smile. "What is it?"
Ivan grinned. "Don't ever let me do that again."
Isaac stirred in front of them and finally opened his eyes, staring up at the ceiling. "That was new," he mumbled before carefully sitting up. His head was feeling a bit sore, but otherwise he was fine.
Ivan laughed. "You're telling me!"
Sheba crossed her arms. "Would either of you mind filling us in on the joke?"
"Us?" Isaac glanced around for the first time and almost fell back over when he saw the faces of Felix, Jenna, and Mia all staring at him. Garet was behind them, but he was looking elsewhere. Isaac had almost completely forgotten that they were all at Ivan's house. No. Correction: he had forgotten they were at Ivan's.
"Aw, c'mon Sheba. I was actually inside someone else's dreams. I've never done it before, and the first mind I really enter is Isaac's! And let me tell you, that's a lesson on Psynergy management on it's own. Ow!" Sheba had smacked him on the side of the head. Ivan rubbed the spot. "What was that for?"
Isaac could have sworn that Sheba's left eyebrow was actually twitching as she spoke. "This – is – not – a – game," she said slowly, carefully pronouncing each syllable. "You of all people should know that, Ivan."
Ivan lowered his gaze, looking a bit hurt. "Fine. Sorry." He looked back at her again. "So, just how much did you explain?"
"Four elements. Psynergy. I think she covered it well enough," said Felix, counting on his fingers. "She decided to hold the full history lesson until Isaac was awake." Isaac's face reddened some.
"First off, was there anything in that dream that needs sharing?" questioned Sheba.
Ivan shook his head. "Not really. It was just memories for the most part." The image of the blue haired man with the glasses flashed across his mind, but Ivan decided it wasn't so important for the moment. "But how much is left of your 'lessons'?"
"Hmm, perhaps I can paraphrase what I've already covered." Sheba thought for a moment. "Well, Ivan probably already told you how he and I have powers like yours." Isaac nodded. "Good. Those powers are called Psynergy."
"Psy-what?"
"Psychic energy, or Psynergy for short," explained Ivan quickly before Sheba continued.
" It's an ancient power that few possess anymore these days. Those that do are known as Adepts. Every Adept can use the Psynergy for one of the four elements. With me so far?" Isaac nodded, not having much of a clue as to what Sheba was saying.
"Jupiter Adepts, like Ivan and myself, have Wind Psynergy. We can control the wind and air and read minds. Stronger Wind Adepts can also, at times, see into the future. Next are the Mars Adepts, who control fire and can move objects with their mind. Then, Mercury controls water and can heal. That's what Mia is. And last but not least, Venus Adepts can move objects with their mind more easily than Mars Adepts, control the earth elements, and possess some healing abilities. That's what we believe you are."
Isaac was silent for a moment, trying to absorb the information. Control the earth? Yeah, that sounded pretty much like him. However, before he could say anything, Ivan chimed in.
"There's a catch, Sheba. Isaac here's had his Psynergy since he was seven."
Sheba looked at him with a puzzled glance. "Seven?"
Ivan nodded. "He started an earthquake when he 12. Not that he could control it much, though."
"What is up with you and my age?" asked Isaac. "I mean, it's not like it matters really."
"Actually, Isaac, it does. Most Adepts don't start acquiring Psynergy until the mid-teens. Jupiter Adepts are basically the only exception."
"So I got an early start. It's no big deal." Sheba and Ivan exchanged glances, but neither chose to push the subject.
"If there are so many kinds of Adepts, then why is the Tolbi guy and Menardi after Isaac so much?" asked Felix casually, arms folded behind his head as he leaned against the couch Jenna was still sitting on.
"I'm afraid neither of us know that answer, Felix," replied Sheba, shaking her head sadly.
"You have to realize, though, Adepts have been subject to many legends and superstitions over the years," added Ivan. "It wouldn't surprise me if that man had found a story or legend that he thinks might help him in some extreme way."
"Superstitions and legends? I've never heard or read anything that mentioned Adepts or Psynergy," said Jenna.
Sheba was the one to answer again. "That's because most tales that might use such terms are ancient and are lost for the rest of time. The title of 'Adept' has been substituted by many other names throughout history.
"At one time, almost every person on this planet was an Adept. But then, war broke out among the four Clans. In a desperate attempt to save the world and mankind, the four leaders sealed away Psynergy. The elemental powers gradually faded from there, and Adepts became less and less common. Eventually, the Adepts were outnumbered, and the 'normal' humans began to see them more as rogues and bad omens than as friends. The 'Normals', as Ivan and I call them, forgot their ancestry."
"Things pretty much fell apart from there. Witches; Wizards; Mages; Seers; Sorcerers; Hermits; those are only a few of the titles we Adepts became known as over time," added Ivan.
"In their attempt to save the world, it's possible the four leaders only aided in the destruction. Ancient civilizations fell to ruin or simply vanished. The gift of Psynergy became both a blessing and a curse. It's human nature to fear the unknown, and the non-Psynergy could never understand those with Psynergy. The Adept race was pushed away and, in some cases, entire communities were wiped out. In the name of all that was good, innocent human beings were murdered, just because people couldn't see past the fear and misunderstanding. How is that for a lesson in humanity for you?"
No one spoke for a while, trying both to absorb Sheba's history lesson and, in Isaac's case more than the others, to understand Sheba. From her tone, he was starting to think that the girl had suffered such things at some point in her young life. After his father's death, Isaac had lost confidence in himself and had withdrawn from the people around him. Sheba, however, seemed like a person who had lost faith in mankind, period. He had noticed earlier that she and Ivan were rarely seen apart, and Sheba's voice almost always carried a bitter or unconcerned tone.
"The rest of the legend is basically a blur," said Ivan, breaking the silence. "There's a part about some things called the 'Elemental Stars' and the four 'Elemental Lighthouses', but over the several millennia, the Lighthouses have vanished and the Stars have disappeared as well, if they even existed. It's possible the Stars and Lighthouses were nothing more than an ancient fairy-tale. If they did exist and were actually ever found, then the Lighthouses could be re-lit and Alchemy could be unleashed again, but every version of the story also warns of what could happen if such a thing happened."
"Like?" asked Jenna from her seat, letting her legs swing a bit and almost threatening to kick her brother.
"Earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, fires, blizzards, wars, the death of the very earth itself. Tell me when to stop, 'cause I can go on for hours."
"Um, that's okay," she gulped. "I get the idea."
Isaac had a strange sense that he had missed something important in what Ivan and Sheba had said, something that would explain his current situation, but he just couldn't put his finger on it. He briefly glanced at everyone, hoping that something there would make everything click into place, but all that happened was him noticing Garet, who still refused to make eye contact with him.
----------
Ivan's parents didn't get home until almost 2 that afternoon. By then, every one had left, except Sheba who had decided to stick around. Once the others were gone, a silence fell over the two as they sat on opposite couches. They were both thinking of the same thing.
"I guess you sensed it too?" said Ivan after a while.
Sheba nodded. "More than ever." More silence.
"Do you think we should say something?"
Sheba slowly shook her head no. "What good would it do? It would be better if they didn't constantly worry about him. Of course, I think they already do."
Another pause. Ivan leaned back. "Every time I see him, it gets stronger."
"He's a powerful Adept with a lot of potential. I'm amazed nobody's come for him yet."
"They're just biding their time. But there's a definite shadow hanging over him."
"Perhaps that legend we found is really starting to take place."
"And here I had hoped it was just a story." Ivan stared up at the ceiling. "I just wish it didn't have to happen to him. He's been through enough already."
Sheba let out a sigh. "There's nothing to be done. Not right now, at least." Ivan opened his mouth to say something, but Sheba answered him before he could speak. "Neither of them."
And that was that for the conversation. They sat on in silence until the subject was changed and Mr. and Mrs. Hammet arrived soon after.
----------
Isaac walked along the trail that meandered through the park, his hands in his large jean pockets and his head lowered. He couldn't stop thinking about that dream. And then Ivan and Sheba had acted like his age was some big deal.
Dad!
Isaac shook his head to rid it of the young voice. He had the annoying feeling that he had missed something. He now remembered the blue haired guy, but there was something else there. After all, the earthquake caused by him had stopped. So what caused the last tremor that set off the rockslide? Something just didn't fit in. It didn't add up.
The Adept had been moving in a sort of "auto pilot" mode, not really paying attention to where his feet took him until he found himself turning into the section where he and the others usually hung out. And over to the left side where the two benches were set back to back was Garet, arms crossed and staring out at the open area.
Isaac hesitated. He worried that Garet was mad at him or something. He hadn't looked at Isaac all morning and had hardly said a word. The Adept started to take a step back, but the whispers were starting up again, this time seeming to come from the bushes and vines that lined the fencing. What was strange was that Isaac was starting to understand the sounds, and they were coaxing him further into the area. Reluctantly, Isaac obeyed.
Garet looked up at the sound of nearing footsteps. Isaac stopped a yard or so away.
"Hey."
"Hey." Garet's voice had a sad, heavy sound to it.
"Mind if I take a seat?"
Garet shrugged. "Help yourself."
Isaac sat at the right end of the bench, the opposite end from Garet, and an awkward silence began. Finally, Isaac took a deep breath. "Sorry."
Garet kept staring forward. "For what?"
"I just get the feeling you're mad at me or something. If it's about the nightmares, then-."
"It's not the nightmares." It was Garet's turn to sigh now. "Well, I guess that's part of it, but I'm not mad at you."
"Then what's wrong?"
"My parents." Garet looked up at the sky. "It's always the same. Sometimes, I wonder if they even realize they have two sons."
"But, what about the cookies? Mia and Jenna said your mom made those?"
"That's what they think. I just don't bother to correct them. It's actually one of our older neighbors that makes them."
"And the dogwood tree?"
"Oh, that was for the garden all right, but it's not really mom's. She's never around to really look at it anyway. Aaron and I just thought we needed something more colorful near the back door. He picked out the tree type, actually. Spent an entire afternoon looking through field guides and web sites just to pick out perhaps one of the simplest trees of all." Garet grinned sadly at the memory.
"You're really close to Aaron, aren't you?"
"Yeah. I'm pretty much all he's got, and I could easily say the same about him for me, if it weren't for you and the others being there."
Isaac laughed softly. "I could say the same about myself. I don't know where I'd be if I hadn't met you guys." There was a pause, but this one was a relaxed pause, not strained like before. "So you aren't mad at me?"
"Well, you did tell us that you were sleeping fine, so I'm a little peeved that you didn't tell us you were having nightmares again."
"It's not like I completely lied. That was only the second nightmare I've had since staying over at your house. The first was Thursday night. I don't know why it started back up again, though."
"Just what were you dreaming about, anyway?"
"Just random memories, really. But, I keep thinking that I missed something. Something important."
"Important how?"
Isaac thought for a moment. "Important like, what happened to my dad. There's something else there, I just can't find it. Maybe that's why I keep reliving it all in my dreams." He brought his left hand up to his right arm to massage the burn spot.
"You okay?"
"Yeah. It's just been stinging again lately. I-I feel like, well, like something's coming. I don't know what it is, but I just have this bad feeling. It probably has to do with that Tolbi guy. It has been awhile since Menardi last came around."
"Well, whatever it is, don't you worry. None of us are about to let them take you away."
Isaac hesitated. He knew Garet wouldn't agree with what he would ask next, but he had to at least try. "Garet, I want you to promise me something."
"Yeah? What?"
"I-I want you to promise that, when they do come for me, you and the others won't get in their way-"
"What? You can't be serious! We won't let them hurt you, Isaac, so you can forget us just standing back while whoever takes you away!"
Isaac bit his lip, suddenly finding his shoes to be very interesting. "Garet, please. I just can't stand the thought of anyone else getting hurt, least of all any of you guys. Just promise me you won't get involved."
"I can't do that, Isaac."
"Garet-."
"No. I can't and won't do it." Garet suddenly stood, looking hurt by his friend's request. "How could you think we would all just go along with something like that? You're one of us now, whether you realize it or not."
Isaac stared up at his friend sadly and finally stood as well. "I do realize it," he said quietly, not looking Garet in the eye. He turned and started to leave the way he came, adding in a near whisper that Garet almost didn't hear behind him, "And that's what scares me."
Garet stood frozen, feeling both hurt and stunned. After a few seconds, he struggled to find his voice again. "I-Isaac." The named teenager stopped. "You don't have to do this alone. We want to help you every step of the way."
There was another pause before Isaac turned back to his friend, his eyes reflecting a sorrow and weariness that was starting to reemerge within him. "You truly want to help me?" Garet nodded. "Then don't get hurt. Enough people have been hurt because of me, and I don't want it to happen to you or the others." He turned and started walking again, his hands in his pockets.
"Things will work out for the best, Isaac," called Garet after him. "They always do. You just have to give them a chance."
----------
A/N: I decided to turn the end of this chapter into a song fic. I saw the Shrek 2 movie 3 times (with 3 different groups), and the last time I realized this certain song would fit almost perfectly in this part of the story.
Jenna: Yuja doesn't own "I Need Some Sleep" by the Eels from the Shrek 2 soundtrack.
Yuja: Um, yeah, what she said.
----------
Isaac couldn't fall asleep. Everything he had heard that morning ran through his mind in a mixed confusion. Then he kept remembering his conversation with Garet. In trying to protect Garet, he had only succeeded in perhaps hurting him more.
Isaac rolled over in his bed, his eyes falling on the picture of him and his father that was on his chest of drawers. He let out a slow, quiet sigh. With the help of his new friends, Isaac was doing far better than he had before, but the faint hint of guilt and self doubt continued to linger in the back of his mind. Giving up, Isaac swung himself out of bed and walked over to the drawers, picking up the picture.
I need some sleep
You can't go on like this
I tried counting sheep
But there's one I always miss
Five years. Five long years of loneliness and seclusion, and now, now he had friends that were willing to help him fight the ones who hunted him. The feeling of guilt tugged at his thoughts. What if he lost them too? How could he possibly live with himself if they got hurt because of him?
Everyone says I'm getting down too low
Everyone says "You just gotta let it go"
You just gotta let it go
You just gotta let it go
Isaac put the picture back in place and started walking around the dark room, the only light being the reflection from the moon shining in through his window and casting silver rectangles on the carpeted floor.
In the name of all that was good, innocent human beings were murdered, just because people couldn't see past the fear and misunderstanding.
He knew that feeling all too well. After all, it had been because of the rumors and misunderstandings surrounding him and his father's death that had brought him closer to his own death. Not physically, but psychologically. He had been on the verge of collapse not too long ago.
I need some sleep
Time to put the old horse down
I'm in too deep
And the wheels keep spinnin' 'round
How often had he just wanted to end it? Just to end it all and not hurt anymore. But then, he had so much to go on for. For starters, he was all his mother had left. Dora and Kyle had been almost inseparable, and he would never forget his mother's reaction when she first realized that the person she had planned to share the rest of her life with was gone. Gone. As simple as that. No warning. No good-bye. Not even a body to mourn over or bury. Just…gone.
Everyone says I'm gettin' down too low
Everyone says "You just gotta let it go"
You just gotta let it go
You just gotta let it go
He came back to the picture of his dad. His mom had packed the pictures for the move. Originally, Isaac hadn't kept pictures of his deceased father in his room. His mother, however, had purposely packed a few photos in with the rest of Isaac's. Oh well. What did it really matter?
Just gotta let it go
Garet's voice echoed in his mind. Things will work out for the best, Isaac. They always do. You just have to give them a chance. Work out for the best? How could it work out for the best now?
You just gotta let it go
He crawled back into bed and, after a while, finally drifted off to sleep. And once again, the nightmares struck with a vengeance.
Just gotta let it go
----------
Isaac: Yep. You're hopeless.
Yuja: That bad, huh?
Isaac: Song fics are probably not your specialty. I'll leave it at that.
Jenna: Stop playing that music!!
Yuja: What? I did change it!
Jenna: No. I said "stop." Not "switch from Esca Flowne music to Myst 3: Exile music".
Yuja: But I've got the theatrical trailer for that game stuck in my head with the music!! C'mon. It's an AWESOME game!!! Sure, I'm stuck at the end and trapped in an abandoned Age with a raving lunatic armed with a stone mallet, but it's still my favorite computer game series!! Fine, I'll swap it to the Yu-Gi-Oh movie soundtrack. Those "Shadow Games" and "Step Up" songs are getting stuck in my head too.
Isaac: Like I said-
Yuja: Don't finish that if you value your life, Isaac. WHEEEE!!! Only one or two more chapters before the REAL fun begins! Next chapter will hopefully tie up some loose ends that need explaining before this story can move on.