Golden Sun: The Sands of Time.

Chapter 4: Expedition

Puelle nodded slowly as Isaac finished explaining their current mission. "I see. You wish to travel over Gaia Cliffs and face an unknown threat in that region. Rather foolhardy, in my opinion, but seeing as you were the ones to ignite Mar's fire, I assume you'd be best suited to the task."

Isaac grinned back. 'Yes, I'd assume so. Now, if I may, I'd like to see to our ship." Leaving the mayor's home, he was met with a snowball to the face. Shaking his head, he spotted the figure of Ivan ducking around the corner of a house, accompanied by a peal of laughter.

Deciding that it would take far too much time and effort to chase down the speedy Wind Adept, he headed for the ship on the outskirts of town.

" Can Ivan take ANYTHING seriously?" He muttered to himself. He was always the one to make the dumb wisecracks in battle, always the one who tried to cheer them up. All good traits, he decided. Ivan was an invaluable, if slightly annoying, member of the party. Isaac had never regretted the decision to allow Ivan to join him back outside the Goma range a year ago. Seemed that it was paying off now.

On the Ship…

Picard groaned softly as he shifted yet another crate aside and onto the ship. All of these crates contained rather valuable, (not to mention heavy) supplies, and he wasn't blessed with the gift of moving them along the ground through use of Psynergy, nor did he currently possess the Carry Stone. Thus, he was forced to resort to using the old-fashioned method of moving them by sheer strength, something that the mercury adept hated with a passion.

"Need a hand?" Alex appeared by his side, a slight smirk on his face. Flexing his hand, he invocated the Move spell and slid a second crate onto the ship to join the first.

Picard turned to Alex, question marks in his eyes. Alex replied with a simple answer " When I absorbed the Golden Sun's powers, I also inherited ability to use several simple spells of each element. Nothing so amazing such as casting Grand Gaia, but enough."

"Yes, I bet that you're just so proud of yourself, aren't you, Alex?" Alex closed his eyes, willing himself not to rise to the bait. " You use all of us, then betray everything the Mercury Clan ever stood for, then now you send us all off on a one-way trip to Mercury knows where!"

Alex slumped tiredly as he turned to regard the person that had insulted him. Mia, of course. She had managed to sneak up behind them while he had been preoccupied. "Mia, please-"

He never got any further. A hand connected with his cheek, causing him to stagger backwards a few steps. Turning to regard his fellow member of the Mercury Clan, he replied, the tiniest bit of anger seeping through his normally calm voice. "Mia, how long are you going to keep beating a dead horse? I already apologized for my actions, which were not even of evil intent in the first place! If you have any valid reason for your animosity towards me, I'd urge you to speak out now."

Mia advanced on him, fire in her eyes. He could see her hand holding onto the nebula wand twitch, ready to raise up and bring it down onto his head when-

"That's enough!" Isaac and Felix's commanding voices shot through the cold air. Advancing on the trio standing there, Isaac sighed before turning to Mia. "I thought I could trust you to stop starting fights with Alex. All through our journey from Vale, you've been picking squabbles and fights with Alex over the most ridiculous things. Unless you want our entire group to split apart, I suggest you keep silent, and out of Alex's way."

Mia seemed about to reply with a cutting remark before throwing her hands into the air in a gesture of exasperation before stomping back into ship.

Alex considered Mia's fast retreating form a moment. "She certainly has some pent-up feelings concerning my actions."

Felix snorted derisively beside him. " What'd you expect? Of all the people here, she's the one you had the deepest ties to. I don't think you should expect flowers or anything of that sort from her.

"Duly noted." Alex replied, before turning back to aid Picard, who had ignored just about the entire exchange with a "none-of-MY-business" look on his face, and instead spent the time lugging up the crates.

The Lemurian ship was a beauty. Controlled by the powers of the black orb, it had never required such petty things as the winds to power it. Thus, such things as masts and sails were completely unnecessary and foreign to the ship. Until recently, at any rate. Garet had cooked up some half-baked scheme to outfit a mast onto it. Picard had agreed, albeit reluctantly, and had the mast inserted onto the ship, complete with rigging and a lookout spot. The latter of which Ivan was extremely grateful for at the moment.

Sheba leaned over the railing, looking down at the scene far below her. Then, sneaking a glance at the tiny mop of golden hair that had popped out from a barrel beside her, she chuckled to herself before turning back to the view.

Immediately, the Jupiter adept within the barrel reacted rather indignantly to the chuckling, yelling at Sheba about what exactly was so funny. Deciding to skip past the explanation of just how ridiculous he currently looked, she settled for describing the scene below her.

"Alex just got slapped by Mia. Can't say I feel too sorry for him."

"You told me that already." Came the muffled voice from the barrel. "What else?"

"You now, I'm not even sure why I'm doing this for you. Based on the treatment I'm getting? You should be thanking me I even allow you a glimpse of the outside world from that barrel."

The mop of hair pushed itself slightly further out, revealing the amethyst eyes partly covered by the messy hair. "Okay, okay. Is Isaac there?"

"Nope, no sign of…. Wait a sec, there he is! He's coming over with Felix!"

With a quick "meep!", the hair vanished completely into the barrel. Several minutes later, a voice inquired " Um… how is it?"

"Seems all right. Doesn't look too much like he's trying to hunt down and murder the person who hurled a snowball at him."

At this, Ivan started to climb out of the barrel cautiously. Until, that is, Sheba said :" Oh, wait! He's looking around! He's drawn his sword! I think he's looking for you!"

In an instant, he had once again vanished into the barrel, fearing for his life. Seconds later, the fear was broken by the sound of merry laughter coming from the only other person on the crow's nest.

Popping his head out, and crossing both arms over the barrel, he pouted at Sheba, still laughing away. "You're evil, you know that?"

His only response was the laughter increasing in volume.

Isaac was currently at the helm of the ship, concentrating on making it hover and keeping it afloat in the air. This also included the job of steering the ship, and ensuring that it didn't crash into the mountains. Their mastery of the Hover Jade had allowed them to fly higher than the trees, and thus they no longer proved to be a barrier. He could already see Gaia cliffs on the horizon, just past the Mars lighthouse.

"Is it just me, or is the land larger?" Garet looked out past the Lighthouse, at the void. It seemed to him that there was more land than last time.

"Not just you." Alex replied. "With the release of Alchemy, the world is healing itself. Slowly, but surely. That is why we need to stop the warriors before they come to this side of the void and rampage Weyard."

Garet rolled his eyes. "Gee, imagine that. Weyard in another do-or-die situation and it's US who goes and does the work again. How surprising."

"Am I supposed to respond to that?"

"No, I'm just ranting."

"Ah."

Jenna was currently in the galley, whipping up a meal for the rest of the crew. She had no idea where that huge pack stuffed to the brim with food had come from, but never let it be said that she was one to look a gift horse on the mouth. Mia was beside her, silently aiding in her task.

"Maybe you should try getting the Hover Jade from Isaac for a while." She opined at Mia.

"Hm? Why?" Mia lifted her head long enough to glance at Jenna before returning to work.

"Because your spirits could sure use some lifting. C'mon, Mia. What's troubling you so much? You're usually the upbeat one of the group."

Mia sighed. Would there be no end to this? She looked up, a bit of anger flashing in her eyes. "If you must know-" She never got any further. The ship shook suddenly, pitching the two females across the galley, and into a wall.

"Owww…." Jenna massaged a swelling lump on her head and grimaced as she noted that it was bleeding too. Casting Aura on herself, she staggered to her feet. "C'mon, Mia. We gotta find out what's going on here." Helping the unsteady Mercury adept to her feet, she took off down the hallway when the ship shook again, once again knocking the both of them off their feet. Something is terribly wrong here…

At the helm of the ship, things weren't much better. They had just recently passed over the edge of the world, and had been traveling smoothly when without warning; the ship had shuddered, and temporarily distracted Isaac. Righting himself, he had just begun to regain control of the stricken vessel when it shook again. "Alex!" Isaac yelled. "What's going on here?"

Alex shook his head. "I've never seen this before! It's some kind of electrical storm! We have to get out of this!"

Picard whirled from his position under the mast. "What? You mean just turn back?"

"No." Despite the windstorm that had enveloped them, Alex remained calm. "We must press onward as quickly as possible. The sooner we're out of this, the sooner we'll be on safe ground."

Isaac nodded, no trace of fear or panic in his eyes. "Right. Then, the rest of you, get belowdecks. You'll be safer there. "

Garet stood, battling the howling winds. "And you? You're not thinking of just staying here, are you?"

Isaac shook his head. "I don't have any choice. The ship needs someone up here to ensure it doesn't stop floating."

Garet sighed, then walked over to Isaac. "Then let me do it."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm bigger and sturdier, right? That means it'll be harder for the winds to knock me over. Let me do it."

Isaac looked over at his determined friend. "Are you sure about this?"

"Duh. Now move over."

Reluctantly, Isaac relinquished control of the Hover Jade. Stepping into place, Garet began focusing, halting the ship's progress into the endless void. With a nod of encouragement, the rest filed into the doorway.

Huddled together for what seemed an eternity, it seemed a while before Isaac started. "Where's Ivan and Sheba?"

Jenna's brow furrowed in concentration, before gasping. "I-I saw them climbing the mast just now…"

Without another word, Isaac turned and headed out of the room.

"You think it's safe to climb down the rigging?"

Ivan stared down. "No. It's shaking like a leaf. If we take one wrong move, we're doomed. I'd rather stay up here."

Sheba sighed resignedly. Ivan looked around, before hissing to her "Keep low. Less chance of the wind blowing us off."

Nodding, she was about to crouch when the ship shook violently again, throwing her off balance. Before she knew it, she was dangerously close to the railing, practically teetering on the edge.

"Hang on!" Ivan yelled. He started for her, only to be blown back by a monstrous blast of wind. Forced to the other side of the Crow's nest, he slowly began to move closer to her, step by step.

Sheba's eyes widened as another gust smashed into her, with enough force to lift her up and over the guardrail. Desperately, her arms flailed out-

And caught the edge of the railing! But there was no time for relief. She was still suspended in the air, much like a flag flapping in the wind. And her strength could not last forever. She had to give, sooner or later. And when she did…… She gulped. Best not to think about that.

At the bottom of the rigging, Isaac peered up. He could see the faint outline of Sheba dangling from the lookout tower. It was only a matter of time before her strength gave out. Cursing to himself, he slowly began to climb the ropes that led up to the lookout post.

Sheba was close to exhaustion. The hurricane winds had sliced into her constantly, their edges tinged with cold. She could barely keep her eyes open against the howling gusts, and her strength was all but spent. Slowly, she lifted her head to see Ivan still resolutely battling the gales to get to her. But it was no use.

"Ivan" She whispered. She didn't need to do anymore. His head snapped up, and he yelled back at her.

"Just hold on! I'm coming!"

Sheba shook her head. "I can't hold on anymore, Ivan. I'm sorry."

"No!" Ivan eyes blazed with a strange intensity, and he started for her with renewed effort. But it was too late… too late… Her mind flashed back to the day… at the Venus Lighthouse. So much like that time. But now… of she fell, there would be no cushion of water to protect her. She would fall forever into the endless void, into death… Slowly, her fingers uncurled, and she began to slide.

"SHEBA!" She heard Ivan's horrified cry, and a second later, something snagged onto her billowing cloak. Twisting her head, she could see that Ivan had leapt out of the crow's nest, but not so far that he couldn't grab the railing with one hand. With the other, he now held on to the edges of her cloak.

"Sheba, listen to me!" Ivan commanded. "You have to climb up the cloak, and grab my arm, you hear me?! Come on!"

Sheba shook her head. She was so tired. She just wanted to sleep. But… if Ivan could make this herculean effort for her, why couldn't she respond? Slowly, fingers numbed with cold reached out, grasping the feathery material. Inch by inch, she pulled herself closer to Ivan's outstretched arm. It seemed a mile away. Then, she felt warm hands grab hers. Gathering up her strength, she used his arm as a ladder, scrambling up it, to wrap her hands around him.

Ivan was exhausted, both physically and mentally. He could feel Sheba's body pressing against his, and that provided some temporary comfort, but his arm that was clinging to the lookout post was threatening to give way any second now. Resolutely, he dug his fingers into the wood. He couldn't let go. Not while Sheba still depended on him.

"Sheba." Ivan glanced down at his friend. She rolled tired eyes towards him. "Sheba, you have to reach for the crows nest yourself. If you put any more weight on my left arm, I won't be able to hold on. You can do it, Sheba."

Nodding, she reached her arms out and grasped the edge of the railing again. Using all the strength he could afford, Ivan boosted her, allowing her to tumble over the edge into an exhausted heap. Now his turn. He was about to swing his other hand over to aid himself when the ship shook again. His arm, unable to hold on any longer, finally gave way. Allowing his body to fly free into the abyss.

At least I saved Sheba. These thoughts were all that occupied his mind as he began the long, slow fall to his doom. But an instant later, he felt a strange force grab onto him, and yank him back. Then, he flew straight into the waiting arms of Isaac.

"What do you know?" Isaac grinned slightly. "You're light enough to Catch." Ivan barely managed to flash a tiny thumbs-up in Isaac's direction before collapsing into an unconscious pile on top of Sheba.