I do not own Golden Sun. It belongs to Camelot, Nintendo, and its other respective owners. This story focuses on a gay pairing and includes minor straight pairings, so don't read if you don't want to. It's also rated M because of some later chapters I have in mind, so don't read if you're not supposed to.

~o~o~o~

The Decision

A young boy wandered alone through a dense forest, mind full of recent events. Events that left a very difficult decision before him.

There's no way I'm getting into Lunpa, thought the youth as he brushed his blond hair out of his brilliant purple eyes. The place is a veritable fortress, so it'd be suicide to try to sneak into it alone...and with the bridge to the south broken, I can't even travel back to Kaylay.

"So I'm not really abandoning anything," Ivan reasoned aloud to the empty forest, as he walked through the golden beams of sunlight fanning through the leaves. "Isaac has a mission ahead of him that's both important and dangerous. It's the least I can do to lend a hand to try to help out the world."

It's only because I want to be with him, though, a part of him kept saying. I shouldn't be abandoning my master for him. I should have tried harder. I shouldn't have let my feelings for Isaac get in the way.

"No… No…" Ivan said, shaking his head. "My feelings did not get in the way! I simply have no other option right now."

Regardless of what kind of options I have, the reason why I'm not waiting around in Vault for the bridge to be fixed is because of Isaac, another side of him reasoned. I can't deny that simple fact.

"Fine. But this is the best option, even if I didn't have these feelings. I can't help Master Hammet, I can't return home, and simply sitting around Vault won't do anything good for anyone," Ivan debated.

If I follow Isaac, I might never get a chance to free my master, he argued back.

Ivan sighed. Everything had gotten more complicated since the Shaman Rod had been stolen. When Isaac and Garet had come through the door that day, Ivan had barely been able to suppress his awe at the other youth's beauty. There had been a few times while the three had been working together that Ivan had almost been caught staring at something far lower than Isaac's face. It was almost easier being away from Isaac, yet Ivan wanted nothing more to be with him again.

"Well, it's always possible that I can come back someday, but I won't ever get a chance to be with Isaac again," Ivan reasoned.

There are other fish in the sea, his conscious countered.

"But Isaac is not a fish, nor are we in the sea!" Ivan retorted aloud. Suddenly he chuckled. The argument he was having with himself was growing absurd. What was he? Schizophrenic?

Enough of this silly indecision, Ivan finally decided. I know what I have to do. In the end, my choices are to wait in Vault for who knows how long, or catch up with Isaac. Neither option helps my master, so Lady Layana will have to handle that particular situation. My decision can be based solely on my own feelings, and not only does Isaac's quest warrant help, but I would also be happier travelling with Isaac than waiting around."

With that to settle his doubts about leaving his Master, Ivan quickened his pace to catch up to the other two adepts. He had made his decision.

Isaac, here I come, he thought, then grinned slightly at the images that particular phrase invoked in his mind.

~o~o~o~

Sorry that it's rather short, but making a conversation with himself any longer just seemed strange. I'll try to get the next chapter out more quickly to compensate.

Also, thanks go to Ark Navy for betaing this chapter after the initial publication in order to update it.