Golden Sun: The Age of Light
By: Mokona-Midoki
Chapter Twelve
Author's Note: Thanks so much for your continued reading of this! I apologize profusely at not getting it updated sooner. Writer's block combined with school, finals, and other things have kept me from getting it done sooner.
Disclaimer: All characters except for the gods belong to me. Golden Sun does not. If it did, I wouldn't be writing fanfiction about it.
Noa watched Kenda and her father from the deck of the ship.
Kenda stood proud and tall, her head lifted high, and her mouth set. She would not back down.
Not ten feet away, her father stood just as proud, if not a little taller. With his staff held in one hand, he was just as imposing and awe-inspiring as she remembered. But she refused to let it scare her.
Neither would back down, and neither would give quarter.
"Why have you come?"
Kenda almost snorted. "I think it should be obvious. My crew and I have just escaped from near death and require medical aid, rest, and provisions. I think a more appropriate question would be why have you closed the passage? I am Kibombo, and thus have the right to enter the village."
He nodded. "While this is true, your crew is not. They have no right, and therefore will not be allowed to enter."
Kenda bristled. "If they were with anyone else from the village, then there would be no problem. It is because of me that you deny them entrance!"
Her father said nothing.
"Amon, your quarrel is with me, not my crew. Do not seal their fate because of that! You are the witchdoctor, it is your duty!"
Now he drew himself up imperiously. "It is my duty to protect my village from threats!"
"You believe me to be a threat? You believe I wish to harm the village? I am your daughter! You know I would never do that."
"I do not know you. You are not my daughter." He said this last sentence bitterly.
Kenda's jaw went tight, and she swallowed hard.
Suddenly, a new voice rang out. "Perhaps she is not your daughter, but she is mine. She and her crew have the right to enter."
Kenda and her father stiffened, and turned. Noa looked behind them to see a tall regal woman dressed in greens and browns standing at the edge of the jungle. She strode forward, her dark hair and skin almost glowing in the warm sun. Noa had never met a queen, but she was sure that this woman was one. From her head to her toes she was awe-inspiring.
"Kesia." Kenda's father acknowledged the woman. "Why are you here?"
"I heard that my eldest daughter had returned. I have come to bring her home."
"That is all well, but do you truly mean to bring these, outsiders into Kibombo?"
"If it is a question of their heritage, Adem, then I claim every single one as my own. They are my family, and they will enter." She paused. When he didn't say anything she continued. "By your silence, I take it you accept this and will grant them asylum."
Adem's face hardened. "Very well. Do what you wish." He turned away. "Grant them entrance." He told the guards in clipped tones. Without another word or glance, he strode back into the jungle.
As soon as he had left, Kenda looked over to the woman who Noa surmised to be her mother.
"You did not have to do that, Aman."
Kesia shook her head. "That is the first thing you say to me after how long?" She sighed. "You were always a frank child." Kesia held out her arms. "You have been gone to long this time, my Kenda."
Kenda went to her mother, and was encircled by her embrace. "Forgive me, Aman."
"You have come back, Kenda. There is nothing to forgive."
--
Not two hours later Kenda and Kesia led the way through the jungle followed by Lynna, Noa, who carried Peregrine, Qing Yuan, who was still out on a stretcher being supported by two guards, and the guard named Rio who was carrying a very embarrassed Troy.
Introductions had been made all around, everybody being quite interested in Noa as they had met few people from beyond Gondowan. The guards had been a bit wary of Peregrine thinking that he was some sort of wraith, which he found hilarious, but after being assured by Kenda that he was as normal as they were, they had set off through the thick lush jungle.
The going was slow, but Noa didn't mind. She was constantly in awe of her surroundings. It was not to say that Anemos had no forests of its own. It did, and they were large affairs, but never in her life had Noa seen this many vibrant shades of green all in just one area.
They finally came out of the jungle and onto a mountain path that led up through the forested peaks until they came to a staircase guarded by two more warriors. Accompanied by the guards, Kesia, and Kenda, they were able to easily pass through the checkpoint, and the four after that.
This all seems a little extreme. Noa remarked in her mind to Peregrine.
You must remember Noa, the Kimbombo have to do this in order to protect themselves. There are many who wish for the power that the Kibombo protect. Ah, It seems we have reached the village proper.
Noa looked up, and sure enough between two sheer cliffs she could see the shapes of buildings, and smoke from fires rising into the clear blue sky.
As they got closer Noa could see that the village was ringed in tall, thick, wooden pillars that had shapes, and designs carved into them. She turned towards Kenda, who had fallen back a bit as they neared the village.
"Kenda, what are those pillars?"
Kenda looked over and smiled. "Oh, those. Those are the spirit pillars. They're said to house the spirits of our ancestors. They drive off evil spirits who would wish the village harm."
"Does it work?"
Kenda shrugged. "I don't know. I mean, nothing has ever happened to prove that they don't work." By now, they had reached the entrance to the village. Following Kenda, Noa stepped through the line of pillars. Almost at once, she felt an alien presence in her mind. It was just a slight brush, and then it was gone, but she could feel its presence all around her still.
She glanced down at Peregrine. Did you feel that?
I did.
What was it?
Well, we have entered into the realm of the Great Gabomba. Surely he would want to see if we can be trusted.
Then, he's real?
What else could it have been? But anyway, we will know soon enough.
"Noa? Is everything alright?"
Noa started and blinked. Kenda and the others had stopped and turned back towards her.
"Ah, sorry. I uh…spaced out for a moment there." She quickly caught up with the others, suddenly becoming very aware of just how many people were staring at her. It seemed as if the entire village had turned out to watch them enter.
Lynna giggled softly. "Kinda makes you nervous, huh?"
"What?"
"Everybody staring like that! But don't worry. They've probably just never seen someone with hair like yours."
They suddenly stopped in front of one of the larger homes in the village. It was like the others being brown clay with a thatched roof, but had two stories instead of one.
Kesia turned to them. "This is our house. You all may stay here for the time be-." She was suddenly cut off by a yell from inside the house.
"KENDA!!!"
Kenda's head jerked up just in time to see a young girl no older than ten or eleven barrel out through the doorway.
Before Kenda could so much as move out of the way, the girl tackled her, throwing her small arms around Kenda's waist and nearly knocking her off her feet. She began speaking so quickly it was hard to make out her words.
"Kenda! You're back! Kenda I missed you so much! Did you miss me? Kaia said you weren't coming back, but I knew she was lying! Keb's here too! Where have you been? Why didn't you send word you were coming? What's going on? Are you hurt? Did you bring me anything?"
Kenda grinned and clapped her hand over the girl's mouth, silencing her somewhat. "Nika! Slow down! I can't understand you!" She took her hand away and wrapped her arms around the girl. "Now, yes. I did miss you."
Nika smiled so big Noa thought that her face would split. She let go, still clutching Kenda's hand. "I'm so glad you're here Kenda! We saw your ship on the cliffs!"
Kenda raised her eyebrows. "You're not allowed up there."
Nika pouted. "Well yeah, but me and Keb were exploring!"
"Keb and I." A boy, who Noa assumed to be Keb, had now exited through the doorway as well.
It was then that the girl noticed Noa and Peregrine watching her. Her brown eyes went wide at the sight of them. She shrieked and quickly maneuvered herself so that Kenda was between her and the two Jupiter adepts.
"Demon! It's a wraith! It's a lich! Kenda there's a lich! Quick! Do some-"
She was quickly silenced by her mother who rapped her forehead with her knuckles.
"Teranika! How dare you say such awful things to our guest!"
Teranika looked up at her mother, tears in her eyes and her hands on her forehead. "But Ama, he's-"
Her mother once again cut her off. "That boy is no more a wraith than you or I. He has been through more then you could imagine! On top of that, he is our honored guest, and deserves your respect."
Surprising them all, it was Peregrine who spoke up next. "Please, it is alright."
Both Teranika and Kesia looked at him.
"She is a child and should not be punished for assuming I am a wraith. I have been called much worse in the past. It is actually a bit refreshing to hear someone treat me with so kind a name."
Nika blinked. She had obviously not been expecting him to say that. "So…you…you're not angry?"
"Of course not."
There was an awkward silence from Nika before Keb interrupted.
"Will you be staying here, Kenda?"
Kenda nodded. "Yes, as will my crew." She looked up at her mother. "Will we be using the extra room for them?"
In answer, Kesia strode forward and opened the flap that served as a door. "Yes, there should be enough space for them. Welcome to our home."
--
Through the hazy darkness that swamped his mind, Qing Yuan was at first aware of the pain. It was a fiery dull throb that bit deep into his back and stayed there, refusing to leave. It wasn't unbearable, but he couldn't remember exactly quite how he had come by it. His brain wasn't working correctly, and his memory was hazy and blank.
He could smell earth, which probably meant he was on the ground, and smoke close by, so either someone was cooking something, or Lynna had accidentally set something or someone on fire. Struggling to figure out which it was, he forced his heavy eyelids to open, and found himself staring blearily at someone's right foot. It was presumably either Troy or Lynna's since the skin was unusually pale. He assumed Lynna, since he could spot the spiky black circle of foreign script and the small perfect sun that encircled the pale ankle that the foot was attached to. Even though he wasn't thinking quite straight, he did at least remember that Troy's tattoo was on his left ankle.
Qing Yuan put his hands flat on the ground and tried to sit up, but his back throbbed painfully, and he fell back down, his head thudding into the dirt.
At this noise, Lynna's foot shifted, and then pulled out of his view for a few seconds before her pale skinned, blue-eyed face replaced it. When she saw his eyes focus on her, she grinned. "Captain! You're awake!"
At this pronouncement, Troy's voice entered in from behind Qing Yuan. "What? Is that idiot really awake?"
Qing Yuan took offence to that remark, but at the moment, the best comeback he could make was a sort of groan.
Lynna continued on, ignoring her brother. "We were so worried! Troy was too, don't believe him. We didn't know if you would make it! Kenda will be so happy! Noa too! Oh, but Noa's not here right now, she went outside with Peregrine!" She paused here to breathe, but was cut off by Troy.
"Lynna, maybe you should go find Kenda and tell her that he's awake."
Lynna beamed in the direction of her brother's voice. "That's a great idea!" She levered herself up and disappeared, calling the first mate's name.
"Kenda! Kenda! He's awake! He's not dead!"
There was silence for a few moments, until Qing Yuan collected his voice. "…Troy?"
"Yeah?"
"Wh…What happened?"
There was a sigh. "You really want to know?"
"Troy, I can hardly twitch without feeling pain, I don't recognize where I am, and for all intents and purposes, I'm sure I should be dead. So yes. I really want to know." Qing Yuan grumbled into the floor.
"Alright, alright, no need to snap at me." The gunner paused, collecting his thoughts before he began. "Basically, you were knocked out and from what we can tell, whipped until your back could no longer be recognized as such."
That particular memory returned to Qing Yuan and he groaned. "I hate pirates."
"Thanks. Anyway, after that, they put Lynna, Kenda, and I into a cell, and Noa into a separate one. Noa used her psyenergy to break out, and then put some guards to sleep before she came to get us. We then got you, and Peregrine."
"Who's Peregrine?"
"An adept Wayde was keeping. Apparently, he's a Jupiter adept like Noa. That's how Wayde found us. He's in pretty bad shape."
It was then that they heard footsteps, and then Lynna's cheerful voice.
"Yeah I'm sure he's awake! Come on, just come see for yourself!"
At that moment, Kenda and Lynna entered into the room.
Qing Yuan levered himself up so that he could see his crew, his back throbbing in protest as he did so.
Lynna and Troy had both changed into the pale blue shorts and white shirts of their bed clothes, the pale shades making them seem even more colorless than usual. Neither of them seemed to be worse for the wear, although Troy's ankle and neck were bandaged. Kenda, on the other hand, had let her hair down and was dressed in vibrant greens and deep browns, while gold glittered at her wrists and ankles.
All three looked at him with a mixture of relief and worry on their faces.
He grinned up at them. "Morning. Miss anything important, did I?"
Lynna grinned back, while Troy rolled his eyes, and Kenda's face took on an expression that quite clearly stated that she was resisting the urge to kick him.
"I see you're awake." She snapped back.
Qing Yuan felt his grin slip ever so slightly, before he hitched it back into place. She was NOT happy with him. "And I see that we're in Kibombo. I'm assuming that something happened while I was out."
They all looked at each other, trading silent glances. It was finally Kenda who spoke. "Wayde's dead."
His mouth dropped open. Whatever he had been expecting, it was not that. "Dead? As in….dead?"
Kenda nodded.
"But…how?"
Once again, they were all silent. "Lynna, take Troy outside."
Lynna nodded, and going over to her twin, hauled him carefully to his feet, before slinging one of his arms around her neck. Troy, for once, didn't protest as he was led outside.
After they had left, Qing Yuan looked back up to his first mate, one eyebrow cocked in question.
Kenda sighed, and slumped down against the wall.
"Atalanta appeared and helped us escape."
It took a minute for the entirety of this phrase to sink into Qing Yuan's brain.
"Atalanta? Wait a minute….THE Atalanta? The Heavenly Huntress who flies through the skies?! THAT Atalanta?!"
She glared at him. "Yes that Atalanta! Who did you think I was talking about?!"
"Certainly not her! The goddess Atalanta?!"
"YES!!"
"But how?" He simply could not wrap his mind around it. Goddess's did not simply appear on the mortal plane and go about saving people. It just didn't happen. Not in real life anyways.
"I'm not sure…but…I think it was Noa."
"Noa?"
Kenda quickly explained the remainder of what had happened. Qing Yuan stayed quiet, listening to her. Finally, when she had finished, she looked at him, a serious expression on her face. "I think…that we're in a far more serious predicament then we bargained for."
Qing Yuan nodded his agreement. "I think you're right."
--
Footnotes: So they FINALLY get to Kibombo. Most of Kenda's family is introduced, as well as the drama behind that. And it looks like Noa has some explaining to do…Also, on a TOTALLY random note, I am so psyched for the new Golden Sun game!!! Has anybody else seen the art for it? They have a macho wind mage with an axe!!! It defies all logic in this world! I am convinced he is related to Garret in some way, shape, or form.
Mountain Pass: Like I stated earlier, Kibombo is a pain in the butt to get to.
Spirit pillars: I made these up. They are in the game, but their purpose is unknown.
Troy and Lynna's tattoo's-They got these before they left Kalt Island. Basically, it's a prayer to the gods of fire written in the language of Prox. It is in two double lines that meet at the front of their ankle where there is a sun inscribed. (Kalt being so close to Prox shares its language.) They have no special purpose.
Character Profiles
Ellora
Full name-Ellora la Solana de Anila
Age-19
Adept-Jupiter Adept
Element-Wind
Hair-Gold, waist length, usually kept in a thick braid or left loose
Eyes-Purple-blue
Height-5'10
Hometown-Anemos on the continent of Atteka
Family-Younger Sisters (Noa and Ivira)
Hobby-Bird watching
Outfit-She usually wears a purple dress with long but loose sleeves. It flares out a bit from the waist, and has lacing up one side of it. She wears purple slippers. She has another more 'priestly' looking dress for when she's performing her duties as priestess.
Inspiration/Origin of Character-Ellora is Noa's mother figure. She's the one who stays at home and worries over Noa as she goes adventuring out across the land. She cares for her sister's deeply, and hates it when she can't watch over them. Anyway, she is rather the stereotypical lady who waits at home for the hero to return. She can still kick butt though, no problems there. She is very perceptive, a trait I based off my mother. (She knows all!) Ellora will show up again, just not any time soon. Her body type and coloring is based off of Ivan, Sheba, and Hama from the games.
Ivira
Full name-Ivira la Solana de Anila
Age-14
Adept-Jupiter Adept
Element-Wind
Hair-Gold, mid back length (she's growing it out.) Usually keeps it loose or pulled back
Eyes-Purple-blue
Height-5'2 ½
Hometown-Anemos on the continent of Atteka
Family-Elder Sisters (Ellora and Noa)
Hobby-Spying and eavesdropping
Outfit-Ivira likes blue better than purple, so her outfit is mostly done with shades of blue. She wears a dark blue under dress, and a lighter blue over dress which has no sleeves and goes over the head, and falls down the front and the back. It is trimmed in silver colored cord, and her belt is silver as well. Her shoes are brown leather.
Inspiration/Origin of Character-Ivira is the troublesome younger sibling who Noa watches out for. Ivira looks up to both of her elder sisters, and wants to be like them someday. Ivira is the child who can't keep her nose out of other people's business. She is not based off any real person, but simply walked in one day and demanded to be written about. Ivira will play a larger role in the story's future, but is still stuck on the other side of the world at the moment. (She hates that.) Her body type and coloring is based off Ivan, Sheba, and Hama from the games.
Summoning and the Gods 101
Hosted by: Noa, Megaera, Eris, and Atalanta
Noa: *Standing on a stage, microphone in hand.* Hello, welcome to Summing and the Gods 101. The purpose of this dialogue is to explain how summoning, and communications with the Gods works in GS: Age of Light. With me to present today are the three goddesses who have appeared the most in the story so far: Megaera, Eris, and Atalanta.
*Megaera and Atalanta appear in a gust of wind.*
Megaera: Due to the number of questions she has received, Mokona-Midoki has decided to more fully explain the subject.
Atalanta: Thanks for joining us!
Noa: Uh, where's Eris?
Megaera: *Rolls her eyes* She said she had more important things to do than regale the audience with boring facts that don't concern her.
Atalanta: In other words she skipped.
Noa: Ah. I see. Well then, moving on. *Pulls out a poster board and places it on a stand.* There are a few basic rules to this whole deal.
Megaera: Rule #1: Gods are not allowed to mess in the mortal realm unless invited.
Atalanta: Meaning, we must be summoned by a mortal.
Megaera: This rule can be bent, but with pretty bad consequences to the god or goddess in question.
Noa: So then how did Eris communicate with Wayde? He didn't summon her.
Eris: *Appears in a burst of fire, smirking.* I will answer that question!
Megaera: I thought you were skipping on this? Something about watching a volcano blow up?
Eris: Well I heard my name, and I couldn't help but come! Anyway, as far as Wayde goes, I am his patron goddess. So he worships me! *Other three roll eyes.*
Atalanta: A god or goddess hears their name whenever someone prays to them.
Eris: I could communicate to him through his dreams because the realm of dreams is much closer to the Ethereal than the mortal realm.
Noa: Rule #2: A mortal cannot summon a god unless the god gives the mortal permission.
Atalanta: We, the gods of Jupiter, gave Noa permission to summon us when she needed us. So she can call on any of us whenever she wants.
Eris: However, she couldn't summon me because I am a god of Mars and haven't given her permission.
Megaera: When a mortal summons a god, they use their psyenergy to contact the god and create a path to the mortal realm.
Atalanta: Otherwise the god cannot descend. If we have enough power, we can descend on our own, but it takes a massive amount of energy, and we dislike to do it.
Eris: Therefore, a god cannot be summoned by someone who has no psyenergy.
Noa: Okay, I think that's all. Thanks for coming today guys.
Megaera: No problem. Just finish the quest in a timely manner. Like today.
Noa: Heh heh, right. See you later!
Atalanta: Thanks for coming!
Eris: Now where'd I leave that volcano?