Disclaimer: I obviously still don't own Golden Sun.

"Our replacement never arrived, but we're shoving off just the same," announced Kaja. We were down with the rowers, a burly-looking bunch of men in green and red bandannas.

"What about the sea monsters?" one of them, wearing a green bandanna, asked. "Who's going to protect the ship?"

"That'll be me, Ouranos, and Sean on deck, and..." He turned to us, prompting.

"Isaac, Garet, Ivan, and Mia protecting all of you," I answered.

Another green bandanna snickered. "They're just kids! Do you think we can really depend on 'em?"

Garet glared at them indignantly and started to say something. Mia shushed him.

Kaja smiled, seeing their antics. "Yes, Isaac and his friends have seen more combat then I have. There's nothing to worry about with them."
One sailor wearing a red bandanna winked at us. "I trust your judgement, Kaja."

"And what will you do if any of you becomes incapacitated?" Kaja demanded.

The first sailor looked unsure. "I don't know!"

"A passenger will help row the ship," he supplied. The rowers didn't look convinced. Hastily, Kaja assured them, "Don't worry about it! I had a word with the passengers."

The second green bandanna thought about this for a moment. "Wait a minute...who'll give the order?"

"Good point..." Kaja looked thoughtful. "Isaac, you and your crew should select the replacements."
I exchanged a look with the others. Garet didn't look thrilled. Ivan seemed thoughtful. Mia smiled when I caught her eye. "Yes, sir."

"Rowing requires teamwork," piped up another red bandanna-wearing rower. "Be sure to balance the two teams." How could we do that, I thought, when we don't know your strength?

"That's right," agreed the first green bandanna to speak. "If we're not balanced, we won't make much progress."

Kaja nodded. "I trust you'll all do your best."
He left, climbing the stairs, and motioned for us to do the same. "If the rowers call, you rush down there as fast as you can, okay?"

I could feel the ship begin to take off as we settled in the passenger deck. Ivan immediately began chattering to the Sanctum healer onboard. Mia wandered off to talk to the cook, leaving Garet and me leaning against the wall.

My stomach lurched. The steady rocking of the boat didn't bode well for my lunch. A few minutes into the queasy ride, I heard a sound of someone yelling from above. I tensed, ready despite my sickening feelings to rush down the steps if it was a monster.

"Arrgh!" That was the cry that signaled us. Without a glance at the others, I dashed down the steps.

"Monsters belowdecks!" someone cried.

Three strange monsters, slimy, similar to ones we'd met in caves before, were lined up on one side. A fallen rower lay collapsed, and the remaining sailors were lined up on the other side. A sailor with chattering teeth cried out, "Isaac! Take care of these beasts and save my mates!"

The four of us dashed forth as one.

"Garet, do Fever!"

We didn't know how tough these things were. Flint popped up next to me to be my adviser. "Sap!"
I gave him a strange look. "Sap? He's scared of his own shadow!"
"Just do it!" he urged.

Sap?

Y-you want m-me to fight The Djinni sounded incredulous. A second later he zipped out and attacked the middle monster. It collapsed easily. Strangely, I could feel my strength returning. "You were great!" I called out. "Ivan, um...Smog!"

"Oh, my, a ship," he said dully. "It'll crash and hit the rocks for sure, or get pillaged by-"
"Smog! Just attack already!" I shouted. The Djinni complied, blinding one of the monsters. It hissed and slipped forward. It grasped Mia in its tentacles...

"Get your hands off her!" Garet yelled, bringing his heavy axe down on the roots of the tentacles. It shrieked and slid out of the ship on an oar, surrendering.

The remaining one slithered over to me and let loose a putrid-smelling goo onto me. It seeped into me painfully. "Sleet," I barely whispered out.

But Mia heard. Grumbling, Sleet attacked the monster, ending the battle.

I gasped and collapsed. Mia rushed to my side. "Ply!" she nearly shouted. I felt some of my health being restored. "And cure the poison!" I felt Psynergy leave her.

Amazed, I looked up. "You couldn't do that before!"
She smiled. "I figured it was worth a try. I...sort of...I lost Nyunpa's ring. I realized it when we were on the passenger deck."

I nodded. "I'm sure glad you just got that in time."

"Hey, are you okay?" Kaja called.

I sat up. Garet and Ivan were leaning against the wall, breathing hard. Mia got up to join them and I stumbled to my feet. "I'm fine."

Kaja glanced around the room. "We're missing an oarsman!" He rushed over to the unconscious man and scooped him up like he weighed no more than a baby. "Isaac, go ask a passenger to row, okay?"
I nodded. Back on the passenger deck, we moved from person to person. The woman who'd first told me of Tolbi laughed. "You're not seriously considering making me an oarsman, are you?"
I shrugged. "It depends."

"I found someone!" Garet called. He was standing next to a red-haired young man. The four of us stepped down the stairs again.

The man unhappily took his place among the oarsmen, and Kaja, Mia, Garet, Ivan, and I climbed the stairs again. I felt the ship lurch off again, and I sat on a box, trying to calm my stomach.

I poked Ivan, next to me. "Do you have a book?"
He shrugged. "I've already read it. Here," Ivan handed me the book.

I took it gratefully, thanked him, and began reading.

The History of Tolbi, the title read.

I opened the first page. Tolbi was founded around one hundred and fifty years ago, by Lord Babi. Babi...wasn't he the lord now? But that was impossible! The current one must be a descendant. It must be a family name, I assured myself.

Tolbi is famous for its games, including the Lucky Slots, which takes the famous and once rare game tickets that can also be used in Contigo. Contigo? That was where Ivan was from!

Another famous game is the Lucky Springs. Is everything lucky there? You throw coins or still-rare lucky medals into the pool to win money and prizes. Sounds good!

Dice is another popular game in Tolbi. Toss 'em! Double, triple, or quadruple your money! Dice? What are they? I wondered.

And of course, the famous Colosso. Tolbi is home of the greatest tournament ever, Colosso, king of all games. People from all over Gondowan and Angara come to see warriors solve puzzles with their wit and battle with their strength! For more on Colosso, turn to page 22.

Lord Babi

Lord Babi was born in places unknown, in a year he refuses to reveal, on the first of February. He personally started Colosso. Babi is known for his love of games and tournaments.

Rumors declare that Babi never grows any older. This cannot be confirmed. Never grows any older?

Babi was the youngest of seven children. All of his six older siblings, five sisters and one brother, are now deceased. Not much is known about his childhood, but in his younger years he traveled all over Weyard!

Lord Babi has an obsessive interest in Alchemy. Interest in Alchemy? Never grows older? Might he be an Adept? The Stone of the Sages provides eternal life...

Babi has alchemists from all over Weyard working tirelessly on finding the Stone of the Sages. He has taken a few orphaned children under his wing in hope they will become alchemists for him. One such child was...

I squinted. The name of the child was blurred by an ink stain. I poured a little water from my canteen onto my finger and rubbed it over the name. It cleared the first letter. "K".

"Arrgh!" Sighing, I put the book down and raced down the steps once more.

A/N: I'd really appreciate it if you'd just click the review button...