Disclaimer: I don't own Golden Sun.

A/N: Happy 2007, everyone! Hope you have a good one.

Lord Destroyer, it is a little hard, but I have a list that I work on. I don't just come up with them as they meet them. Also, some of them just pop out obviously (like Flint). Also, some of the things they do give them their personalities (e.g., Mist).

I woke up bright and early that morning...in Vale. I was in my own room, in my own bed, and for a moment I forgot all about the quest.

I was trying to decide whether to keep laying in bed until lunchtime or whether to seek out Jenna and Garet. I rolled over, contemplating my indecision. I felt exhausted, but no doubt that Jenna and Garet would get into some kind of trouble without me.

Sometimes I hate being the responsible one.

I rolled back over and climbed out of bed sleepily. And it was then that I saw the axe laying beside my bed. I glanced up to see my pack hanging on the wall. And I was rushed back to reality.

Jenna was gone. We had left Vale to rescue her. Her brother was alive.

I felt an inexplicable urge to cry, but I held back the tears. Jenna hates crying. She wouldn't want me to cry because she's kidnapped. She'd want me to go after her.

I carefully walked down our stairs, avoiding the third to the bottom which I knew creaked. Mother was laying in bed, and I didn't want to disturb her. "Kyle...don't go..." she murmured in her sleep.

Had she heard me? True, I wasn't my father, but Mother always said we looked so much alike. And if she was feverish...

"Goodbye, Mother," I whispered, easing the door open and slipping out of it.

I almost ran into Ivan.

"I'm sorry!" he exclaimed. I held a finger on my lips. He nodded.

When we were a safe distance away, I asked him, "So where are Garet and Mia?" The other three had all spent the night at Garet's-no need to go to the inn. Kay was happy to share with Mia, and Ivan roomed with Aaron.

Ivan shrugged. "Garet's probably still asleep, and I think Mia is, too."

We crept up to Garet's house, not wanting to wake them, either. But when I opened the door, I came face-to-face with Garet. Or really face-to-shoulder, because he's a good bit taller than I am.

He, incredibly, looked wide-awake.

"G-good morning, Garet." I stammered.

He grinned. "I know, you're thinking, 'Why didn't he sleep late?' Well, it was all Aaron's fault! Hey! Ivan...did you have anything to do with it?"
Ivan shook his head hastily. "I left your house very early in the morning."

Garet shrugged. "Anyway, Aaron asked Mia and Kay to help and they said yes..."
"Help what?" I asked.

"Help wake me up...at four thirty!" Garet answered.

"Four thirty?" Ivan and I repeated in unison.

"Four thirty," Garet confirmed. "And listen to how they did it. First, they danced around the room making as much noise as possible. Then Mia used some sort of water Psynergy, and then Kay fire Psynergy. And then Aaron started shaking my bed back and forth."
I could imagine that picture clearly, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"It's not funny!" he protested indignantly. "I suppose if you'd have been there you would have helped, wouldn't you?"

I refused to answer.

"Anyway, do you want some breakfast?" he continued.

I hadn't realized how hungry I was until he said that. "Sure!"

He led us inside to the table. Mia and Kay were still laughing, apparently about the wake-Garet-up trick.

"Mia, I thought you were supposed to be a gentle healer and all that stuff!" I accused.

She looked guilty. "I am! I just..." Her voice trailed back into laughter.

Shaking my head, I took my seat next to Garet. Ivan slid into the seat next to me. Jenna's seat. I felt that feeling of betrayal again. But I knew that Kay sat there every day that Jenna hadn't come.

Trying to shake the feeling off, I stared down at my plate. Luckily, it wasn't just Garet who had a large appetite in their family. The helpings were huge.

I dug in ravenously. But I still couldn't help but think of my kidnapped friend. Why had I wanted to come home, again? Memories of Jenna haunted me everywhere I went in Vale. This was where Jenna, Garet, and I had explored. This was Jenna's favorite place to be. This was Jenna's house. This was Jenna's grandparents' house where she'd lived since the storm. This was Jenna's seat. Jenna's garden. Jenna's...

I could stand it no longer, even thinking of her birthday present I planned to try to give to her at the next lighthouse. I finished quickly and left Garet's house. I waited at the border of Vale for the others.

While they were gone, I fingered the unfinished gift. It wouldn't be her birthday for a while, but I was sure that Jenna wouldn't mind.

As soon as the others arrived I led the way out of Vale silently.

"I just realized something!" Ivan said suddenly. "It's my birthday."
"Happy birthday!" I called back.

"Happy birthday!" Garet and Mia echoed.

"I'm sorry I didn't get you anything, but I didn't know when your birthday was," I apologized.

"It's all right. It's not my real birthday, anyway. I wonder if Master Hama knows when my real birthday is."

Mia replied, "Maybe. How do you think she knows you, anyway?"

"I don't know. Perhaps she was a friend of my parents," he suggested.

"Or maybe she's your cousin," Garet put in.

I was struggling with my decision whether to mention my theory or not. She could be his cousin, too. Master Hama didn't have to be Ivan's sister.

Ivan himself saved me from that decision. "I wonder how Hsu is."
I sighed. "I wish we could check on him-"

"But we're not going into that desert again," the others chorused.

I sent them exasperated looks. "I know! And I don't particularly want to go through Mogall Forest again. There's nothing we can do."

"You're right," Garet agreed. "By the way, when's lunch?"
This time it was Mia's turn to send an exasperated look. "We just ate breakfast!"

"But I've been up since four thirty, thanks to you." he shot back.

I stepped in. "I'm hungry, too, but let's at least get to Vault first."

We walked on in silence. I was lost in my memories.

"Isaac!" Garet called. "Isaac!"

We were playing a new game, Hide and go Seek. Garet was, obviously, Seeking. I kept as quiet as I could.

I could hear rustling noises as he searched for me. I kept still.

"You don't have a chance!" he shouted. I was hiding the one place he'd never look-underwater.

I surfaced for a gulp of air, hoping he wouldn't see me. I dived back under.

"Isaac!" he called. I heard him leap onto the platform holding the Psynergy Stone. I kept still and quiet, but my lungs felt like they were going to explode.

I surfaced. Garet saw me.

"Gotcha!" he cried happily.

"Have you gotten Jenna yet?" I wanted to know.

He shook his head. "No. You're the first one."
I nodded. "That means I get to search with you."

We crept along, looking for anywhere where Jenna might be. "Jenna?" I called.

I heard a rustling noise. A Druminat nut fell on my head. "Jenna, I know you're in that tree!" I shouted. "I've found you!"

I heard a sigh and she climbed down. "I just couldn't help it!" she giggled...

"Isaac!" Garet called. "Isaac!"
"You already found me!" I snapped, before I realized that I had been daydreaming. "Um...what is it?"

"Vault!" he declared.

I looked at the buildings. Familiar, yet not as familiar as Vale. I welcomed this familiar feeling, and stepped inside Vault.

A/N: Short, I know.

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