Hey there, another chapter is on its way. I guess I was getting a bit too creative with the disclaimers. Two more OCs are going to be introduced, here. Probably the last ones, I hope I'm not using too many since so far there are about twenty four canon Golden Sun series protagonists, only eight of which are playable in Dark Dawn since that game focuses on the descendants of the Warriors of Vale.
Just so you know, this is mostly filler. The plot is getting just a bit more complicated, so please bear with me.
Disclaimer: Golden Sun and its characters, locations, etc. were created by Nintendo/Camelot.
Chapter XV: Unexpected Allies
The three ships docked at a port which was just ahead. Isaac and his group ate a small breakfast of fish and fruit after resting for the night. The three groups disembarked and strode into the port, which was strangely quiet to most of their ears.
"This place is secretive, no doubt about that. But why is it so quiet?" murmured Eoleo.
Isaac glanced around"We'll have to speak to the people to gather information one way or another about the Athena Sanctum's approximate whereabouts. Hm."
"Hold, I sense multiple footsteps" warned Sveta, using her senses.
"I was wondering what was keeping the welcoming committee" said Tyrell.
A squad of Tua Warriors showed up, one of them spoke"Intruders, halt! You are trespassing onto Imperial territory."
"So you're not going to shoot just yet? Cowards" remarked Eoleo.
The soldier who had spoken retorted"My squad is under orders not to let outsiders into the empire. Return to your own lands, this is your only warning."
"Fireball!" Tyrell blasted the lead soldier.
The remaining soldiers furiously retaliated, firing at the group. Ivan, Isaac and Karis used their psynergies to shield their allies while Matthew, Amiti, Felix and Sveta dealt with the soldiers with their psynergy.
"Why are outsiders unwelcome, here?" frowned Himi as she watched the fight end.
"That's another mystery we'll find out, sooner or later. But for now, we need information. This land is more than likely unknown to anyone who hasn't been here" Isaac led the group deeper into the port town.
"Considering out big of a group we have, we'd best split into three parties" spoke Florianna.
Isaac nodded his approval"That would give us better maneuverability. Matthew and I will both form a team of eight. If we're lucky, we won't run into too much trouble with the Tuaparang Military."
"Florianna, Kenneth, Alexa, Nowell, Patricia and I will go to find the town exit and clear enemy soldiers if we see any. That should give the rest of you safe passage" acknowledged Takeru.
The other Warriors of Vale grouped up with Isaac as Rief, Eoleo, Himi, Amiti, Eoleo, Sveta, Tyrell and Karis elected to go with Matthew. Felix grunted"If anyone runs into too much trouble, this will be the last time any of us chooses our own group."
Jenna playfully punched her brother's arm"Oh, don't worry so much."
Matthew's group went to the left side of the port town while Isaac took his group to the right. The younger blond Venus Adept glanced at the surroundings, people seemed to be going about their business, but a few families were seen congregating in alleyways.
"What's with the gloom and doom?" frowned Eoleo.
"Sadly, the Tuaparang Empyror cares very little about his subjects and rules with an iron fist, or so I heart" whispered Himi.
A bunette man in his late twenties clad in a similar outfit to other Tua Warriors approached as he was scouting the area"Hey, where did you guys come from? Those clothes suggest that you are from outside this forsaken place."
"Who are you?" Matthew made to put his hand on the Sol Blade's handle.
The man grinned"Heh. I like your guts. The name's Caeden, Lieutenant of the Tua Third Platoon. Or so it was before we defected. You wouldn't happen to be Commander Blados and Commander Chalis' killers, would you? Heard about it from that hag, Relena."
"Why do you insult your own allies? And no, Alex drained them of their Psynergies. Have you heard of him?" spoke Amiti, warily.
"This is going to be hard to explain, but not everyone in this militaristic nation agrees with our Empyror's policies. And relax, I'm not gonna arrest you guys. But no, I can't quite say I heard of Alex" shrugged the man.
"So why are you speaking to us?" asked Karis.
Caeden replied"There are Adepts among both the Emypror's loyalists and in the Resistance. But only one Adept sided with the Resistance, she's been attempting for the past three years to undermine and overthrow the current regime and make Tuaparang and Weyard a better place. She believes the other nations could benefit from our Technology, what with the Golden Sun having a serious effect on Weyard's landscape."
"A simple plan for simple minds, I highly doubt anyone will trust Tuaparang, even if it should change" said Sveta, softly before speaking"Why were the news of a revolt kept a secret from the outside world if there is one happening? I'd have thought no one would dare challenge the High Empyoror until my comrades and I met Prince Takeru of Nihan."
"We kept it quiet so that no one would suspect anything. But enough talk, I must ask that you follow me, the Empyror's loyalists are on to me" replied the soldier.
"There he is!" a voice shouted, several dark clad Tua Warriors rushed at them from a nearby alleyway, startling any nearby townspeople.
"Speak of the devil" Caeden whipped out a pair of twin pistols and started firing at the oncoming soldiers. A couple of them ducked and fired back, barely nicking Caeden's shoulder.
Matthew raced to heal Caeden while Amiti, Karis, Tyrell and Eoleo took out the remaining hostile soldiers. with their psynergies. Matthew addressed Caeden after healing him"Where's this Resistance?"
Caeden looked around before whispering"In the Umbra Ruins, deep in the Caverns within Mount Tua to the northeast. We resistance members are few, but we strive to make our nation a better place, hence the revolution. Under the current circumstances, the economy will eventually collapse. This kingdom will destroy itself, wasting large numbers of Gold solely on research and the military."
"Wow, the resistance sounds very organized. But wouldn't it put further strain on the empire's economy?" frowned Karis.
"No big deal, some of us go pilfer money from the Imperial treasury, we have inside help with that. But are you coming or not? I need to report back to my boss."
Matthew squared his shoulders"All that sounds good, but my friends and I are looking for Athena Sanctum. Is that in the Tuaparang Empire?"
"I've never been there, but it lies to the west of the Tuaparang Capital. Or so I heard" shrugged Caeden.
"We'll go with you, then" said Matthew, turning to one of the Fire Adepts in his group"Tyrell, could you go let my dad know?"
"No problem" Tyrell raced to find Isaac.
"There are more of you?" inquired Caeden.
Karis nodded"Prince Takeru of Yamata has been trying to find a way to save Weyard, and is determined to stop whatever the Empyror plans to do with the Silver Eclipse. We brought our parents, siblings and some allies along for the journey. But how did you know of us?"
"News travels fast, here. We hadn't imagined there were people outside Tuaparang who could overcome the Dark Adepts who sided with the Imperial Loyalists. Ordinary people, advanced weapons or no, stand little chance against Adepts" said Caeden, heading to the north exit of town. Matthew's group proceeded to follow him until the others caught up.
"What's this I hear about Tuaparang facing a revolution?" inquired Takeru.
"Not everyone in this country is a bad person. My name is Caeden. Tuaparang's conditions are... poor for lack of a better word, only the imperial capital remains prosperous. But a rebellion has been established to change that" the soldier addressed the rest of the group who caught up at the exit of town.
"Can we trust you? Tuaparang and the other nations aren't exactly friends" spoke Florianna.
"I don't blame you if you don't. So anyway, we need to go northeast. The Unbra Ruins is the resistance's hideout" said Caeden, quietly so that no one overheard them.
The group headed out of the city, keeping an eye out for monsters and Tuaparang soldiers who might attack them. Upon crossing into the middle of the brownish landscape where little grass grows, they heard gunfire in the distance.
"Oh no, the Empyror must have found out" Caeden rushed ahead. The others followed him to what appeared to be a battle between two groups of armored Tua Warriors. Leading a group on the right was a young woman with a scarlet shade of red held up in a ponytail. She had a greenish skirt and black blouse. The group on the left was charging relentlessly.
"So its true" remarked Takeru.
Caeden stopped and rushed to the red-haired woman's side"Lady Alexandra, what happened?"
The woman sighed as she cast a ball of darkness at a Tua Loyalist"There was a spy amongst us, the Empyror's men have us outnumbered."
"I brought help" said Caeden, turning back to the Adepts"Please help us."
"Guess we don't have a choice" Matthew readied his blade and cast Quake at the group on the left side of the battlefield. More of the Tua Warriors on the left spotted him and charged.
"Oddessy!" "Liquifer!" Isaac and Garet blasted two Tua Warriors before having to dodge bullets. Amiti, Karis and Jenna threw their Psynergy into the mix while Florianna, Alexa, Takeru and Patricia darted into the main body of the left group of Tua Warriors, taking them off guard a little.
"Oh? I don't think so" said the leader of the Tua Loyalists, throwing a grenade at a couple Kalay Soldiers. Two of the Beastman soldiers replaced their fallen comrades and darted at the leader, only to get blasted.
The red-haired newcomer cast a Black wave of energy, blowing back several Tua loyalists before rushing to the aid of Florianna's group, puzzled someone would dare try to attack Tuaparang from the outside.
Felix, Josh, Sonja and Piers beat back a couple Tua Warriors before nearly being blasted by the enemy leader's grenade. Irritated, Felix turned into sand, snuck up behind the Tua leader and morphed back to his human form, stabbing the attacker in the back.
"Not the Corporal, let's get out of here" grumbled a Tua loyalist, running for it. The remaining enemies ran off, some of them being intercepted by Isaac, Felix, Karis and Matthew and dispatched.
The woman, Alexandra spoke to the Adepts"Thank you for your aid, I fear I would've lost. Only a few Tua Warriors sided with me, most remain loyal to the High Empyror. And you are?"
"I'm Matthew. My companions and I are here to look for the Athena Sanctum and save the world from the Mourning Moon and the Silver Eclipse" said Matthew.
Alexandra blinked"Ah. So you came to save our realm? I thought no one else cared about this country. You see, most families and the shops aren't getting enough compensation from Empyror Lancelot. He was a good man, once."
"The Empyror? A good guy? How would that be possible?" asked Matthew.
"I do not know, that was twenty years ago. But let's go inside and we'll talk" said Alexandra.
The group entered the Umbra Ruins, which happened to look like a crumbling fortress. Matthew looked around"This place looks like its falling apart."
"True, but we only left the outside this way to throw off the Empyror's loyalists. No one would suspect a seemingly crumbling fortress to be the base of a band of rebels" said Alexandra, heading inside. The interior was in surprisingly good shape, with a brownish rug and stone corridors and such. They entered the study, which was towards the very back of the fortress.
"So" Alexandra sat in a chair behind a desk in the room"Could you tell me about the Mourning Moon? I only know stories of the dreaded Silver Eclipse, no doubt the Empyror has heard of it, too."
Isaac spoke up"The deadly Mourning Moon is supposedly tied to the Psynergy Vortexes which popped up in random areas of the western regions of Angara, though one had briefly appeared in Morgal."
"I see. And those vortexes are deadly, I hear?" asked Alexandra, surprised.
Ivan nodded"Yes and no, Adepts and highly susceptible to the effects of the vortexes. Should an Adept get too close to one, he or she will lose all of their Psynergy."
"We still don't know the exact source, and I was convinced someone was after the Wise One who lives in the Sol Sanctum" chimed Isaac.
"I will do everything in my power to help you with your quest, whatever that may be. But I fear I must ask for your aid, Empyror Lancelot, or Darkheart Vong as people now call him, has still three powerful adepts at his command: Fenrir Blaze, Relena and High Commander Torang. I even hear that Proxians are being held captive in the castle. What's more, our citizens are suffering because of the lack of compensation and equal share of salaries" said Alexandra, grimly.
"We'll do what we can, for it is the duty of my fellow Adepts and I to look after the world. I hear that the Athena Sanctum lies to the west" said Isaac.
Alexandra nodded"Yes, but it is surrounded by a mountain range that can only be entered through a cave beyond the capital's western gate. The capital is heavily guarded."
Florianna spoke"What if we created a diversion? We empty their armies, a small team of eight can sneak over to the Athena Sanctum."
"Matthew's group would be highly capable of such a feet, they have proven themselves against the dangers of the Grave Eclipse. I don't like that plan, but it may be our only chance" said Isaac.
"Well, what the hey? We can do anything" grinned Tyrell.
"I don't think Torang and Relena will take kindly to us, either way. They will likely take part in facing us, and didn't you say your members are few?" asked Amiti.
"We're a slippery group, and it was thanks to all of you I survived the day" said Alexandra.
"So if Tyrell, Karis, Rief, Sveta, Amiti, Himi, Eoleo and I are going, will there be enough of us left to survive a fight against the Imperials at their capital?" asked Matthew.
Sveta smiled reassuringly at Matthew"I imagine you've read the Sol saga a few times before? Felix and Isaac's groups have survived worse from what I read."
"We just need to concentrate on finding our way to the Athena Sanctum" acknowledged Amiti.
Matthew smiled"You're right, so when should we leave?"
Alexandra spoke"The best time would be at dawn, we'd best rest up. The Tua army, including the few soldiers I have with me, tend to lower their guard a bit. Their enhanced vision helmets strain their eyes, so they take off their helmets for a brief rest."
"Then the operation will begin at dawn" acknowledged Takeru.
"I should go with Matthew, too. Torang's name rings a bell in my head, somehow. So if you don't mind, I'd like to tag along" requested Florianna.
"I'm coming, too" said Alexa.
"Count me in" chimed Kenneth.
"Eleven people in all... Well, the more the merrier" said Karis, smiling.
Alexandra spoke"There are spare chambers on the second floor of the fortress. I hope the lodgings will prove adequate for your preparations."
"Thank you for your hospitality. I was surprised to hear that there are people in the empire who would be willing to aid us" said Takeru.
Alexandra nodded understandingly"I can understand your surprise. And more people should rally to the cause if this one victory puts a dent in the empire's plans, and I heard rumors that Torang and Relana are up to something at the Athena Sanctum, so I would recommend caution when going there. Oh, and this fortress has an automated security system, so we should be safe while we sleep."
The group dispersed to the second floor. Matthew addressed Sveta"Once the Athena Sanctum has been cleared and The Empyror has been stopped, would you... I dunno, like to go out with me?"
"I would be honored, let us make a promise. Should we both survive, I will accept your invitation" smiled Sveta.
Another chapter is ready, the next one should have more action. So far, I tried to squeeze in a Matthew/Sveta moment here, and a Karis/Amiti in the previous chapter if anyone hasn't seen it, yet.
I realize there wouldn't necessarily be a revolution in Tuaparang in a actual Golden Sun 4, but I would like to imagine there are people in that country who don't agree with their Empyror's policies. That might not match Golden Sun 4 if it ever comes out, just so you know.
As always, please feel free to review.