Disclaimer: I do not own Golden Sun.

I woke up suddenly. Garet was yawning. "'Morning," he greeted sleepily, reminding me of Mist.

"Good morning," I replied. Colosso was today!

"Good morning!" called Ivan.

"Good morning," agreed Mia.

"C'mon, let's go!" Garet decided.

I practically bounced out of the room, humming a lively tune. It'd turned out that Babi offered rest in his extra rooms for Colosso participants. We'd spent the night there, as the inn was full.

I bounded out, whistling now. The soldiers sent me a disapproving look, but I didn't care. The others caught up to me. We reached the colosseum.

"Hey, you're Isaac!" exclaimed a guard brightly.

I nodded. "Isaac, Garet, Ivan, and Mia, that's us."

"You're kidding," another said weakly. "That's Isaac? The one Babi hand-picked?"

I shot him a glare. "I've seen a lot of combat. Just ask anybody who came here by way of the Tolbi ship."

Another one, ignoring me, turned to the second, muttering, "He's just a kid! What does Babi think Colosso is? A playground?"

I was starting to feel very angry. "I'm not a kid! I'm seventeen!" I snapped.

"Putting him in the finals is an insult to everyone who cleared the trials!" agreed another.

"You want to fight?" I challenged angrily.

Mia put a hand on my shoulder. "Isaac-" I jerked away.

"Oh, come off it, Mia." Garet agreed. "He's insulting us!"

The first soldier turned to the others. "Don't you people have faith in Babi? Babi wouldn't let him into the finals just to repay a favor!"

"I guess you're right," agreed the one who'd called me a kid.

The first one turned to us. "All of the Colosso participants go to the waiting room, okay? This way, please."

We followed them.

When we finally reached our destination, I looked around appreciatively.

The guard waiting for us shot a dirty look at the others. "You, scat! This is for Isaac only."
"Huh? Isaac's the only one entering the finals?" Ivan asked, sounding remarkably like Garet.

"The warriors entered in the finals must go alone," he added firmly.

"But why Isaac?" Mia demanded, starting to sound upset. I gave her a strange look. She was a healer, not a warrior! Of course she fought, too, but it was Garet and me...

"Yeah! Why Isaac?" challenged Garet. I sent him a helpless look. I couldn't help it!

He responded with a curt nod.

"That is what Babi wanted," another soldier told us.

"But I wanted to enter, too!" whined Garet.

"We aren't accepting any more entries," another informed us sternly.

Garet started stiffening up. Ivan didn't look too happy himself, and Mia looked furious. "This isn't fa-" she started.

The guards cut her off. "We aren't accepting any more entries. Master Isaac, please prepare yourself. You cannot bring any items with you. Remove your pack and give it to your friends."
I pulled off my pack reluctantly and handed it to Garet. Ivan looked at me with sad eyes. "I guess all you can do is get it over with, Isaac."

I nodded. I was sad my friends couldn't continue...but I was in Colosso!

Meanwhile, Mia was comforting Garet gently. "I know you want to enter, too, but there's nothing we can do!"

Garet immediately turned to glare at her. "This is crazy! Isaac won't survive against those Colosso warriors!"

I shot him a glare Jenna would have been proud of. "What are you talking about? Of course I will!"

Quietly, Ivan, who seemed the least upset, added, "If you want to win, Isaac, you'll have to use Psynergy."
I looked at him, taken aback. "Of course I will!"

"Wait a minute...what did Babi say we're supposed to do while Isaac's competing?" Ivan wondered.

One of the soldiers overheard this. "We've made a slight exception. You can cheer him on from the stage."
A slow, mischievous grin spread across Ivan's face.

"If everything is settled, we'll take you there." the soldier added.

"Umm, can't Isaac see the stages, too?" ventured Ivan.

"I don't see the harm in it," decided one soldier. "I'll give you a tour of the arena. Let's go!"

While he was leading us, I poked Ivan. "What are you planning?"
He just smiled mysteriously and turned back to the others, whispering secretively. A minute later, we reached it.

"This is the site of the first finals battle," our soldier guide called over his shoulder.

"So this is where warriors test their mettle against each other," murmured Mia, trying to gather as much information on Colosso as possible.

"Well, no, it's actually more than that." the soldier explained. "The warriors are racing to get here first and get the best equipment. Warriors enter the finals without any of their own equipment, as you know. Please look over there." We did. "That is the starting point of the first stage of the finals. You must get through several stages before you reach the arena. The chests along the way contain useful items. Over there is the battle arena. You can get weapons or armor in the arena, too, but one is weaker. The first one there can claim the stronger equipment for themselves. Also, you can keep the equipment you get here in the next match. Understand?"
I nodded. "Yes, sir."

Mia pointed to the first stage. "Let's hear about that one."
"You'll have to ask the attendant," advised the soldier.

"This is stage one of the first finals match," announced the attendant, sounding glad to have something to do. "They call this the rock challenge. Warriors must create steps they can use to get through here."
Mia inspected the stage for a moment, finally smiling. "Garet, why don't you cheer here?" she asked with a secretive wink.

He looked confused but then nodded. "Okay."

The attendant moved out of the way, letting Garet in. After that, we heard about all the other stages. Ivan decided to cheer in the second, "the pipeworks", and Mia in the third, "the broken bridge".

I returned alone to the soldier, feeling a little lonely. I was led to a room with the rest of the participants. I felt out of place. I walked over to my circle and inspected my opponents. Then I remembered the golem I'd beaten so easily. I remembered Saturos.

I grinned. This was going to be easy.

Dong! The bell rang, announcing the start of Colosso. The others started through. I strode through last, confidently.

A stone pillar easily allowed me entry to the next stage. I jumped on a platform and continued through. Next was the broken bridge.

I spotted a small green vine and deftly grabbed it. I climbed up it and dashed on. I rolled across the lake on the log, picked up the iron shield, and waited for my opponent. This was easy!

Finally he appeared, wearing a gold-colored helmet.

I grinned. Me against one Psynergy-less warrior? Flint!

Taken aback, the warrior stumbled, almost falling off the platform. The audience gasped. Flint rocketed back to me, hiding in my hair. The warrior, recovering, slashed at me.

I parried his blow almost completely with my sword. He slashed again. "Azart! Remember that name, Isaac! Azart, the champion!"
I laughed. "I see you've already learned the name of the real champion." In my mind, I called for Sap.

Azart stumbled again, cursing. I saw a mother out of the corner of my eye cover her young girl's ears.

Azart struck me. I rubbed my cut arm. I deserved that for letting my attention wonder. It immediately healed. He attacked again.

"Ramses!" I muttered. The giant hand pummeled him. He angrily hit me again.

I waved a hand over my injuries, effortlessly healing them. Set! sang Flint.

Great! Go! I mentally shouted.

Azart was getting more used to my Djinn. He tossed a small item at me, and I found myself on fire!

I batted it out, healing myself again. I'm set...but please don't send me out there to the scary...

Azart plunged his sword in the air again, narrowly missing Flint nestled in my hair. Sap unwillingly zoomed out. Azart stumbled and fell.

The crowd cheered. "Isaac, Isaac, Isaac!"

I stood there, drinking in the praise. I had won.