Disclaimer: I still don't own Golden Sun.

Something red...a fire? I blinked. Garet's face swam into view. I blinked again. He turned away. "He's awake."

Mia, Ivan, and Garet crowded around me. I realized I was in a bed, back in Babi's palace.

"What happened?" I asked woozily. "Colosso?"
Garet rolled his eyed. "Colosso? Duh! That ended a while ago! You passed out! You've been asleep all night! You won, you know that, right?"
I vaguely remembered winning. "Of course I did!"

"Yes, you did fight brilliantly," Mia started. She turned to Garet. "Maybe you ought to tell him...be gentle, all right?"
Garet nodded solemnly. "Um, Isaac, we sort of...we helped you."
"What?" I practically jumped out of bed. "You helped me? What did you do?"
Ivan blushed. "Lots of stuff. I Froze two ice pillars-Garet lent me his frost jewel. I also filled a scale with Douse. I took it from your pack."
"And I Moved that stone pillar you hopped over in the first round," Garet put in. "Plus, I shortened one of the log-rolling puzzles and broke the conveyor belt."
"I used Psynergy to grow that vine you grabbed," admitted Mia. "And I used Halt on a couple of people moving the machinery. I'm really sorry, Isaac. We just wanted you to win, and since we couldn't participate..."
"It was my idea." Ivan added. "I'm sorry."
"Me too," agreed Garet. "But they really should have let us in."
"Why didn't you tell me before?" I asked. "And why are you telling me now?"
"We didn't tell you before because...well...you thought you were doing it...by yourself, and we didn't want to burst your bubble, you know. But then you started getting...um, really..." Mia's voice trailed off.
"Really cocky," I put in. "I'm sorry, guys. I know I was a pain today."

"You mean yesterday." Garet corrected.

"Right, yesterday," I amended.

"Are you okay now?" Ivan asked.

I considered for a moment. I had certainly recovered in body, but what they had said had really shaken me. I scolded myself mentally. "Yes,"
"He'd better be all right after sleeping this long! Sheesh!" Garet complained.

I grinned. I was glad Colosso was over and we were all back to normal.

"By the way, Lord Babi said he wanted to see you," Mia added.

I groaned. "Okay, I guess I can get up now." I heaved myself out of the comfortable bed.

I could hear the Djinn chattering in my head. I decided not to bother to tell them to be quiet, even though Quartz was complaining about me fiercely. I deserved it.

We walked to Babi's throne room. Iodem was waiting next to him.

"I've been waiting for you and your companions, Isaac!" Iodem greeted enthusiasticly.

Babi nodded his head to acknowledge us. "I have been waiting here to speak to you."

"It's hard to talk when you're so far away...come here." Iodem ordered.

We cautiously walked in front of them. Surely Iodem knew this was bad manners?

"The battles at Colosso were spectacular!" Babi declared, winking at me. I smiled.

"It was most rewarding to see Lord Babi's favored warrior steal the day," agreed Iodem.

Babi turned slowly but regally. "Iodem, bring him the victor's prize."

I started. Prize? I'd never heard anything about a prize!

Iodem nodded. "Yes, m'lord, right away." He reached behind the green throne and retrieved an object I couldn't see. He handed it to Babi solemnly. Babi in turn placed it in my hands.

It was a red cap shaped like a mushroom. Smiling, I lifted it up and placed it on Garet's head instead. "The real victor." I declared.

"Incidentally, Isaac, are you feeling better now?" Babi asked.

I started to nod my head then thought the better of it. "Yes."

"Ah, the recuperative powers of youth!" marvelled Iodem. "And after such fierce battling!"

Babi, with a small smirk, turned back to Iodem. "Who could expect less from the warriors that rescued me?" Warriors? So he knew the others had helped me!

"Enough with the flattery," Garet said loudly. Mia and Ivan looked scandalized and so did Iodem. I stifled a laugh. If you want diplomacy, get Ivan or Mia, but if you want blunt, straightforward, honest answers, go to Garet. "Let's get to the point. Why were we summoned?"

"Such insolence!" snarled Iodem. "Who do you think you are to speak to m'lord so?"

"Let it be, Iodem." Babi commanded. "There are other ways to judge a man."

Iodem nodded but glared sullenly at Garet when Babi turned his back. He reminded me of a young child who hadn't gotten his way. "We intended to thank you and your companions for saving Lord Babi, Isaac." Iodem said, clearly deciding to pretend Garet had never spoken. "But it would seem that gratitude is not enough."
"I have disclosed everything to Iodem," Babi confided.
"What do you mean by everything?" asked Ivan suspiciously, reminding me of his Djinni Zephyr.

"You do wish to know more about Lemuria, correct?" Babi arched an eyebrow.

"Yes." I answered.

"Your desire is as plain as day," Babi informed me.

"I have just seen Psynergy for the first time," breathed Iodem. "It is an awesome power..."

"I used my cloak ball," Babi explained.

"No one else could see it, but I knew Isaac's tournament was..." Iodem paused, choosing a word. "...strange. I thought it unlikely that you would fight using such power."

I felt my cheeks go red. Did Iodem think Psynergy was cheating?

"No need to be ashamed, Isaac," Babi assured me, glaring at Iodem. "Psynergy is also a warrior's power. When I first learned of your power, I was shocked. I thought you might be true Lemurians!"

Mia flinched. "You have mentioned Lemuria many times, Lord Babi. What is it?"
"It is the city of an ancient people, lying far out at sea." Babi intoned. "Many years ago, about the time of the great flood, I went to Lemuria. The great flood struck while I was traveling with Lunpa."
I didn't need to hear Ivan gasp, Mia let out an "ooh", or Garet stiffen. I knew that name.

"Lunpa the righteous thief?" repeated Ivan.

"I know it is hard to believe," Babi admitted. "It happened a hundred years ago."

Iodem blinked. "You mean...those rumors...are true?"

Garet nudged me. "Remember when Kraden mentioned the Stone of the Sages? Do you think that's what did it?"
I shook my head. "I don't think so..."

"So you've even heard of the Stone of the Sages," Babi pondered. "I'm afraid I don't have it."
I smirked at Garet.

"It is the draught of Lemuria that has allowed me to live so long," Babi continued.

"Draught of Lemuria?" Mia repeated, sounding puzzled.

"It is a magical draught once taken by those who lived in Lemuria," he explained.

"Just drinking it stops you from aging?" Ivan asked.

"Hmm..." Babi considered. "It would be...more accurate to say it slows the aging process. There is death in Lemuria...but it only come to those whose senses have failed from centuries of use."

"Do the Lemurians use Psynergy?" I asked curiously, at the same time Ivan said, "You have that draught, Lord Babi, that's why you've lived so long!"

Babi nodded.

"And become wealthy enough to rule Tolbi?" ventured Ivan.

"What are you getting at?" Babi demanded.

"What is your purpose in making everyone study Alchemy?" Ivan asked. I suddenly remembered Ivan's book.

"I'm starting to wonder myself," growled Iodem. "What do you hope to gain?"

"Ah...if I had attained true immortality, there would be no need for all this research," Babi told us.

"I'm not sure I understand." stated Iodem.

"I had precious little draught and I am running out," Babi said plainly. "You all saw it! There was but little left in the cave! It will run out any day now, and when it does, my life is...at its end."

Iodem's eyes widened. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?" he wailed. "We must hurry to Lemuria!" He dashed by me, clearly ready to order the ships to set off that very minute.

"It is pointless," Babi called.

Iodem stopped and turned. "What on Weyard do you mean? Pointless?"

"We cannot find Lemuria." Babi told him.

Iodem returned to his earlier position. "But you just said that it lies far out at sea. If we search the seas, we'll find it!"

"Pointless," repeated Babi. "I have sent many ships in the past. And still I failed."
"Why'd you collapse in the cave if you had more draught?" interjected Garet.

"I have been rationing it. I waited too long between drinks," Babi explained.

"Trying to make it last longer," Mia supplied.

"I overexerted myself trying to find the missing land. And...I want you four to find Lemuria."
That sure wasn't what I had expected.

"I have not been able to locate Lemuria by sea, but perhaps by air..." Babi trailed off as he saw four mouths hanging wide open. "I can hide it no longer. I have built Babi Lighthouse to see if I can find Lemuria at sea! Of course, there's more to it than that. We've spotted something in the ocean southeast of the lighthouse where Lemuria should be."

"Something dangerous no doubt," I said resignedly.

"What, monsters? We can handle them!" Garet argued.

"However, no sailor has been able to keep his bearings at sea. The currents shift there, subtly changing a ship's direction. The lighthouse will help them keep their bearings. I crossed the sea in a Lemurian ship. I am hoping you can sail it!" Babi exclaimed.

"Why us?" Mia wondered. "You've got whole armies of soldiers ready and willing to do as you bid! Why us?"

"None of them have Psynergy," he answered simply.

Psynergy. All our problems and solutions seemed to stem somehow from it. We had it. So did Babi...sort of. So did many others.

"Wait, what does Psynergy have to do with sailing a ship?" Garet demanded.

"One must have Psynergy to sail this ship!" Babi explained.

"You're an Adept!" Ivan exclaimed.

Babi looked a little sheepish. "Indeed, I learned to used a little Psynergy during my stay in Lemuria. With what I'd learned, I was able to guide the ship."

"What should we do?" whispered Garet urgently.

"We'll do it, of course." I answered loudly so Babi could hear. "But our own quest comes first. We must save Jenna!"

"Jenna?" Babi questioned.

"A...a friend of ours. We need to go to Venus Lighthouse to save her," I explained.

Babi clapped his hands excitedly. "This is perfect! We must also go to Venus Lighthouse! Isaac, you shall go to Venus Lighthouse with Iodem!"

"Why?" I demanded. I trusted Babi and Iodem, but our own quest must come first. We were not the subjects of his realm! He couldn't order us around like that!

"Do not worry," he comforted. "You can take care of your own business first. Then, please, search for Lemuria! Is that acceptable?"
"Yes," I answered, not bothering with the "m'lord". He couldn't order us around.

"I am most grateful!" Babi declared. "Why don't you all meet at the Gondowan Passage?"
Iodem nodded, and so did we. He passed us, already on his way. Babi himself pardoned himself and left for his quarters.

Ivan poked me. "Isaac...his cloak ball...don't you think we could maybe use it?"
"You're right! Let's try!"

And we went down to speak with Babi once more.