Disclaimer: Don't own GS. : (

A/N: Very short, I know. But I need to start the next part with the next day!

I have recently edited some of this. Hope you like it!

Garet, seeing the line of people, gulped. "Uh-oh...it's Grandpa and the others. Should we go back up?"

"No. They may be angry, but at least they're not as bad as a volcano." At least, I thought to myself, my mother isn't. Garet's family were known for their tempers. Especially his sister Kay.

"Garet!" called Aaron.

"Isaac!" cried Mother.

"You're safe!" exclaimed the head healer.

"Both of you, come over here!" ordered Garet's grandfather.

We carefully approached them.

"Where have you been?" demanded the mayor.

"What happened?" asked the main healer.

"It's a long story," I explained.

"Weren't Jenna and Kraden with you?" asked Mother.

"Yes," I admitted. "They were kidnapped."

"By whom?" questioned the mayor.

"Saturos and Menardi! We went there to make sure what they said was true and then the Wise One came along and they took Jenna and Kraden and they had Felix! And there was a guy named Alex, too, and they're going to try to light the lighthouses, they have the Stars except they don't have the Mars Star, Isaac has that and they caused the storm three years ago!" Garet said in one breath.

"This is all very complicated." noted the healer. "We'll need you to tell us exactly what happened on the mountain. Enter the sactum, both of you."

The healer led the way into the Sanctum, and we told them our story.

"We had no idea-the true sanctum..." breathed the mayor when we had finished.

Mother looked worried. "And Jenna and Kraden...they're prisoners?"

"Yes, we couldn't save them." I confirmed.

"They've been taken against their will-how awful!" Mother exclaimed!

One of the healers asked, "Do you think they can be saved?"

"Yes." At least I hope so, I added silently. Maybe...no, Isaac. Don't think that.

"Jenna's brother will protect them, right?"

"Yeah," I said. I hope so. I really, really, hope so.

Garet's grandfather inquired of the healer, "What is it? You have been very quiet."

"It's like you're a thousand miles away." agreed Mother.

The healer answered, "That hovering stone...I have seen it in my dreams. In my mind's eye, it appeared again just now and spoke to me."
"You saw it just now?" asked Garet.

"It must be the Wise One, the guardian of the Elemental Stars. It told me what happened to you in Sol Sanctum."

"Will the volcano destroy Vale?" wondered Mother.

The healer used Psynergy. "It is impossible to stop the eruption now."

"Will Vale be..." started another healer.

"Vale will be safe." the healer assured us.

He used the Psynergy again and trembled.

"What's the matter, Great Healer?" asked the mayor.

"The village will be destroyed, won't it?" Mother asked.

"Something more dreadful than the destruction of Vale looms ahead." he intoned.

"What could be worse?" wondered Garet, voicing my thoughts.

"A terrible power," the healer told us mysteriously. "The Elemental Star gems house incredible power."
"And Vale has been guarding these gems?" asked the mayor.

"Yes. The Elemental Lighthouses will set that power upon Weyard." he said darkly. "Once the power of those gems has been released on the world..." He let his voice drift off.

"The Wise One wants us to get the Stars back, doesn't he?"

The healer shook his head, surprising us all. I began to wonder if the rock was the Wise One, because what he'd said seemed awfully like he wanted us to retrieve them.

"The world is ours, to save or destroy." continued the healer. "Our inaction may bring about its destruction."

"What a pity..." said the mayor. That's the understatement of all time, I thought wryly.

"We cannot hope for salvation." said the healer firmly. "We must save ourselves."

Everyone was quiet for a long time. Then Mother asked, "Then what can we do?"

The healer slowly walked to the middle of the room, just in front of us. He inclined his head slightly to indicate Garet and me. I gulped.

"Acquiring the Elemental Stars is their fate alone."

Mother looked very worried. "Are you suggesting we place the fate of the world in the hands of Isaac and Garet?"

"Garet is only a child." protested his grandfather. "You can't expect him to bear such a burden."

"The Wise One has spoken." said the healer simply. "Each of you shares responsibility for this. Now, each of you must make your own decision!"

Garet looked stricken. "I don't know what to do. Isaac, you decide."

"Isaac, will you accept responsibility for the fate of the land?"

I braced myself, and tried to sound brave. This was one of the times I hated being the responsible one. "Yes." I said quietly. "Yes, I will."

"You accept?" asked Garet incredulously. "Oh, Isaac, you can't mean it."

"You chose to leave the decision to Isaac." the mayor said sternly. "There shall be no further discussion."

"Wise One, these two have accepted your quest."

The Wise One suddenly appeared in the chamber. "You two are quite brave to take on this quest. I shall be watching you."

He faded away.

"What did the Wise One say?" asked the mayor eagerly.

"Felix must unlock the power." the healer said. "Find the lighthouses...You'll have the guidance of the Elemental Star..."

We all nodded, awaiting his next commands. Nothing.

"Um...then what?" wondered Garet.

The healer looked puzzled.

"What should they do there?" clarified Mother.

He still seemed confused.

"Surely, that cannot be all the advice you can offer them, Great Healer!" protested the mayor.

The healer thought about it for a second.

"Seek the elementals-the Djinn. They will prove useful." Right, I thought, that's a lot of help. I don't even know what a Djinni looks like!

"Isn't there anything else?" prompted Garet.

"That is all."

"That's it! Isn't there anything else you can tell them?" demanded Garet's grandfather.

"That is all, Mayor." The healer said firmly. "I leave it up to you, Isaac and Garet."

He exited the Sanctum. Everyone was silent, and there was tension in the air. Finally, one of the healers stuttered, "Isn't i-it about time to...uh, meditate?"

The other healer looked confused. Then it dawned on him. "Oh yeah! Meditation! Let's go!"

They left together.

"Well, what good are those guys?" complained the mayor. "Sending children off with no help or direction..."

"I agree," broke in Mother. "But...they didn't give us any other choice."

"Well, when should they go?" demanded the mayor.

"It doesn't sound like we can afford to wait." Mother said.

"Tomorrow, then?" proposed the mayor.

I exchanged a scared glance with Garet. He gulped. Please say no, I begged Mother silently. Please, please, please...

"Tomorrow? Yes." she pronounced.

Tomorrow? No! No! But...to save Jenna, to save the world...I would do it.

"Isaac, come on." Mother ordered, ruffling my hair. "You need a very good night's sleep. I'll pack for you, don't worry about that."

I nodded resignedly. Tomorrow...