I'm not sure whether I'll continue this fic after posting this chapter. I guess I'll have to wait until after the nineteenth of this month before I know whether its safe to post another chapter or not after this one. Oh, and I had to delete that author note in case you're wondering. Didn't belong there as an actual chapter, anyway.
By that above paragraph, I was talking about SOPA. I understand wanting to prevent online piracy, but what would that have to do with fanfiction? That doesn't make any sense. I read about SOPA and signed the petition to help stop it, anyway.
But anyway, enough of my rant about that SOPA junk.
Sveta: On a happier note, this next chapter is up. It may have a plot twist in it. Please remember that Golden Sun and its characters, etc. were created by Nintendo/Camelot. The author of this fic claims no part of it. Only the plot, original locations perhaps and OCs belong to the author.
Matthew: We hope you enjoy this chapter (Happy Emoticon)
Chapter XVI: The Athena Sanctum
Matthew and his group of eleven woke early to meet with Alexandra for one last piece of information. The red-haired Tuaparang woman spoke"Good morning. The others are still assembling, but you should be able to sneak into the capital at this time."
Matthew's group thanked their ally and left the fortress, starting for the capital. Sveta grimaced as she glanced at the battle-worn landscape of the Tua Plains, thinking'How many times have the two factions in the empire clashed?'
They crossed the plains until they could see a marble black wall with a stone gate barring the way into the city. Karis turned to address her companions"We should wait for the others."
"Agreed, the plan may not work right, otherwise" acknowledged Amiti.
Matthew nodded and proceeded to help Florianna and Kenneth prepare breakfast for their group. The group of eleven sat in silence, eating fruit and some leftover Sweet and Sour Pork they'd brought along.
"Mother, was there something between you and Torang? You said his name rang a bell in your memory, or something like that" Karis asked, politely.
Florianna thought for a moment"It was twenty two years ago, he was a Proxian Mercenary traveling with his younger brother. My father hired him as a bodyguard to protect me and my mother as we moved to Kalay. My mother didn't agree with the Queen of Bilibin's methods of 'helping' to expand the kingdom. Lord McCoy was wrapped around her finger, more or less. We became close companions along the way, but Torang left to join an army amassing in a hidden empire once I was safely in Kalay, Tuaparang was only beginning to emerge from the shadows."
"Were you friends?" asked Himi.
"Not exactly, he only cared about glory and fame, something I eventually discovered. How lucky it was I fell in love with Ivan instead of him. But eventually, Tuaparang tried to directly invade Kalay, much like the battle that took place the other day. I fought him and his invasion force off with some help from Jenna, Isaac, Ivan and Felix. It was a hard struggle, even with the Warriors of Vale backing me. Torang and I challenged each other to a duel then, which I barely won. Not bad for a non adept such as myself, I suppose" shrugged Florianna.
They finished their breakfast and were cleaning up when Isaac and the other Warriors of Vale caught up. Caeden, Alexandra and the Tua Revolutionaries backed them up. Alexandra said"It won't be easy for you to leave the capital, even if this strategy works."
"We're prepared for the worst" acknowledged Amiti.
Matthew turned to the gates leading into the city and cast Quake. The gate cracked a little, just enough for Karis to finish the job with Tornado.
"Huh?" A Tua Warrior patrolling the area near the gate turned to address the group"You'll pay for that you little Brats!" Pulling out his communicator, the soldier contacted his comrades"The Rebels and the Warriors of Vale are at our gates!"
Garet silenced the soldier with Liquifer while Matthew's group snuck into the outskirts of the Tuaparang Imperial City.
"Heh, that was easy so far" grinned Tyrell as his group made their way through the outskirts to the inner city.
"We don't know what's up ahead. Look!" Kenneth spotted what appeared to be a regiment of Tua Warriors charging for the gate.
"Let's hide before they see us. We don't have infinite Psynergy" Matthew led his group to the bushes over on one side of the outskirts.
Isaac, Alexandra and Caeden stood at the front of their group. The gate soon opened to reveal a host of not only Tua Warriors, but mechanical Mech monsters. Alexandra shrugged"I was wondering where they keep their robots."
"Those machines shouldn't pose a threat" grunted Felix.
The Adepts in the group stepped forward a bit. Jenna, Garet, Mia and Piers shot some Psynergy into the approaching enemy force. Some of them retaliated with bullets, which were blocked when Isaac summoned Brick to shield his allies.
Caeden led some of the revolutionary soldiers against a group of Tua Loyalists that tried to sneak up from the sides. Isaac and his group drew their weapons as their enemies nearly got too close to use Psynergy.
"Heh, is that all that got?" grinned one of the Beastman soldiers, regretting it when a Tua Warrior ambushed him. A Kalay guard helped the beastman fight off his attacker.
"Don't let your guard down, stay sharp" Isaac said to his group as he ran a Tua Warrior through before casting Quake on a few Mechs.
"They're wising up" gulped a Tua Warrior as he got blasted by a water spell from Piers.
"Still a lot more to go, their loyalists are many" shrugged Caeden, hurling a grenade into a group of Tua Loyalists.
Matthew's group entered the interior of the capital, taking note of the wary looks and shabby outfits of the townspeople. Tyrell shrugged"Man, what's with this country's gloom and doom?"
"They're likely on edge. And there's the fact that their Empyror rules with an iron fist" said Sveta as they headed to the center of town.
A guard spotted them on the way"Halt. What business do you outsiders have in Tuan?"
"We wish to see the ruins to the west" explained Amiti.
The guard shrugged"Hm. I don't care regardless, just don't cause trouble. But the Empyror is headed that way, too. Commanders Vong and Relena are there, as well. Don't get in their way."
Florianna coolly knocked out the guard quickly "Silly guy, that's just what we're going to do. But I wonder why the Empyror himself would be in those ruins..."
The group headed west, taking further note of the sad state of the people in the imperial capital. Some families were poor, while very few were rich. They cane to a checkpoint, which was guarded by an automated camera and what appeared to be laser beams. A guard stood in front"What business have you?"
"We're here to see your boss, Buckethead" Tyrell summoned a fireball and blasted the Soldier. The man staggered and angrily pressed a button on a compact device next to him.
"Quake!" Matthew broke the machine and knocked out the guard, avoiding a laser as one shot at him.
Sveta noticed a crack in the gate and rushed at it, kicking the door open. The group continued on until they came to what looked like a cliff with no visible entrance. Himi inspected the cliff face with her Psynergy, revealing a cave entrance.
"Whoa, that's the way to the sanctum?" exclaimed Tyrell.
"Let's find out, I'll take point for a bit" said Kenneth.
The group proceeded through a narrow cave, encountering a few killer bats and snakes, which they exterminated easily. The passage was dim, save for the lit torches lining the walls.
"For an empire with such incredible technology, we've seen little of it. I suppose that's to be expected" remarked Himi.
Alexa nodded"So it seems."
"Hey, that might just be the place" Matthew pointed at the end of a larger cavern, a stone structure was there. Getting closer, Matthew saw a sign near the entrance"Hm. The first room of the sanctum is pitch black, according to this sign. But if we use Fire Psynergy, we could find our way."
"Wait" Sveta glanced at her hands to see a ball of light forming.
"How are you doing that?" Rief glanced at the Beastman Queen.
"Must be more of that Light Psynergy. I will take point" said Sveta, entering. The rest of the group followed. They walked down a slope deep into the sanctum, the lighting grew dimmer until the room was almost pitch black.
Rief adjusted his glasses"This is a bit deteriorating."
The ball of light in Sveta's hand rose above the group, providing just enough light for them to see what was directly ahead. Sveta saw a torch bracket in a corner of the room"Tyrell, use your Fireball on the bracket."
"Right" The Fire Adept cast his fireball on the bracket, which lit up the room to a dim lighting.
"I see some stairs" Matthew went up a flight of steps to another floor. The rest of the group followed, lighting more torches. The next room was a neon shade of green, much to their surprise. A walkway was built above what seemed to be a large chasm.
"This place is beautiful" breathed Karis.
"Hm. I'd love to study this phenomenon. But now is not the time" mussed Rief, gazing at the unusual lighting.
They carefully crossed the walkway to another ledge on the opposite side of the room. Matthew saw a small ledge with a door above it, and used growth to summon a vine for them to climb. They went through to another large room, which consisted of a large stretch of water separating two platforms.
"That's even more unusual, but then, most of the ruins we've been to have puzzles and obstacles that could only be cleared by Adepts, but even then, certain types of psynergy were required for some areas" said Rief.
Amiti calmly cast Ice Snap on the water, creating an ice bridge they used to cross. The ice was beginning to melt here and there, which forced Amiti and Rief to work together to support their allies with their Psynergy. By the time they reached the other side, Sveta and Karis had to administer an elixir to both of their comrades.
"Hm. Where to you think this goes?" Kenneth glanced at a trail on the face of a cliff.
"Let's find out" Matthew found a sprout and grew a vine with Growth.
They climbed the vine onto a ledge with another door waiting for them. They climbed another set of stairs which was on the other side of the door, gazing at the greyish brick walls that surrounded the staircases.
"Guys" Sveta stopped for a moment"I sense great power nearby, perhaps Torang is waiting for us there."
"Roger that" Florianna took the lead. The top of the stairs had a large pair of stone doors, which they used to enter a large chamber with a half-moon shaped stone altar at its end. Matthew went to check it, finding a circular hole at the altar's base.
"Well done, you made it past those tricky puzzles the ancients set up. I'd expect no less from the children of the Warriors of Vale, that's what you all are, no? And if you are wondering, there was a hidden passage that led directly to this chamber" said a sinister-sounding voice.
The group turned to see a man with blond hair, green eyes and a black and purple outfit with a purple cape. Matthew put a hand on his sword"Who are you?"
The man, who is in his mid thirties, spoke"Is it not customary to tell your names to a stranger, first? Humph. Well, I care not about your manners, I am Lancelot Del Noire Tua, the nine-hundredth king of the Tuaparang Empire. I can't believe my soldiers couldn't stop such a puny group of Adepts, but no matter. I suppose I owe that to those meddlesome rebels and Arcanus."
"What is the High Empyror of Tuaparang doing here? That's awfully bold of you to confront us by yourself" remarked Florianna.
"His highness is not alone" Torang and Relena emerged from the shadowy corners of the room. Matthew bit back a swear, trying to keep his composure when facing two of the Empire's commanders as well as the Empyror.
Lancelot let out a twisted smile as he addressed Matthew"According to 'Arcanus', you seem to have found what was stolen from these ruins: The Starlight Pearl. If he is correct, you have walked into my trap, and I will overlook his treachery."
"Why do you still work with Alex? It looked like he betrayed you at the Apollo Sanctum through revealing his identity in front of Blados and Chalis" inquired Amiti.
Lancelot chuckled darkly"Arcanus is indeed a fickle creature, but he has his uses. Torang, Relena, give these 'children' a taste of your combined might. I have business to attend to. I do not feel like dealing with these insects, myself at the moment. And now, I will have that which I need to activate the Silver Eclipse!"
"Insects, you say? Don't make me laugh" scoffed Eoleo.
Lancelot raised his hand and summoned a dark vortex, hitting Matthew and sucking something out of his rucksack. To their horror, it was the Starlight Pearl. The High Empyror cackled"Oh, how easy that was."
Matthew angrily charged at Lancelot with his Sol Blade, only to be intercepted with a horizontal slash by Torang. Sveta healed Matthew, while Tyrell flung a fireball at Torang. Torang deflected it and lunged, only to be intercepted by Florianna's blade.
"Humph. You must be that weak little girl from a long time ago" Torang addressed the Kalay Guard Captain.
Florianna back flipped and readied her blade"I am not the weak child from before, Torang. Why do you serve the empire, anyway?"
Torang laughed"Is that not pitifully obvious? I aid the strong and able, which no doubt your mother was. And now, by some twisted irony, you stand before me with that little saber in your hands."
"Don't underestimate me, Torang" growled Florianna"I will take that Starlight Pearl into custody once more."
"Do not think you can steal it just as easily, I know what you've done, knowing the orb's true nature. You sold it to Hammet, who hid it in the ruins. Now your failure is complete, don't think you'll get within a hair's breath of my Empyror. Even if you can, his power would easily crush you" sneered the Imperial High Commander. Lancelot had since snuck towards the altar, where he stopped to watch the fight.
Relena shot forth dark lightning at Karis, Amiti and Himi. Eoleo through a Fiery Wall at Relena, staggering her for a moment long enough for Himi to blast Relena with Quake. Kenneth and Alexa charged forward with their weapons, but were blasted back by a Dark Wall.
Torang lunged at Florianna with a thrust, which the Kalay Captain dodged and retaliated with a slash. Torang blocked and kicked at Florianna. Florianna staggered and blocked a vertical slash, retaliating with a series of thrusts. Torang dodged those and threw a Dark Vortex, staggering Florianna.
"Tornado!" "Deluge!" "Growth!" Matthew, Karis and Amiti's Psynergies knocked Torang back. The High Commander retaliated with a Dark Wall spell, staggering the three Adepts. Rief shot back with Deluge, which was countered by Dark Vortex.
"Hold it right there" Tyrell and Eoleo turned their attention to the High Empyror while Torang and Relena were occupied and lunged with their weapons, only for the High Empyror to knock them back with black thunder. Himi tried to cast her Psynergy to strike at their opponent, who quickly summoned a double-edged blade and slashed at Himi, knocking her back.
"Pathetic fools" smirked Lancelot, turning to insert the pearl into the altar, unlocking a nearby door. The man coolly entered it, eyes set on a mechanism at the room's side. 'Think what the Eclipse will do to their insignificant rebellion' he thought.
The three Adepts had staggered and rushed to go after him again. Himi paused to cast Heal on herself.
"It is futile" snarled Relena, summoning a swarm of dark-coated magic daggers and raining them down on Karis, Amiti and Florianna. Matthew hurried to cast Heal on his companions while Sveta knocked Torang back with a jump kick.
Karis recovered from the blast and struck at Relena with a Tornado, knocking the Tuaparang Captain down. Matthew and Florianna backed Sveta up, triple-teaming Torang. The infuriated High Commander tossed a Dark Aura Ball at the three, driving them back. Matthew readied his Sol Blade and cast its Meggido on Torang, knocking him back.
"Tornado!" "Deluge!" Karis and Amiti cast one more spell each on the two Tuaparang leaders, flattening them.
"Where did Lancelot go? And where are Tyrell, Himi and Eoelo?" Amiti looked around.
"There's another chamber next to the altar" Sveta noted.
Matthew proceeded to walk towards it, only for the room to start shaking and knock him down for a moment. Sveta tensed, fearing the worst.
"I have a bad feeling about this" whimpered Karis.
Just then, over two dozen Tua Warriors entered the chamber, accompanied by a familiar blue-haired man. The man smirked"You all exceeded my expectations. All of Tuaparang and Angara shall fall under the power of Silver."
Matthew was shocked"What do you mean, Alex? The Wise One said that the Psynergy Vortexes can be blotted out by whatever power lies in this sanctum."
Alex smiled darkly"Negative Anti-Psynergy energy can indeed be contained by the power within this place. But it makes the more positive side of Psynergy all the more powerful, the Sun will be eclipsed by the Silver Moon, which can also be summoned from the Alchemy stored within the Athena Sanctum. This, and the Grave Eclipse, were the work of those ancient fools from way back then. With the Golden Sun power, and the Silver Eclipse, I shall be unstoppable. Haniel's Ark will rise."
"Haniel's Ark?" Himi asked, puzzled.
"It is an ancient vessel sealed away by Alchemy, before Alchemy itself was sealed away, according to the legends at the very least. The Ark itself contains the knowledge of the Ancients, and holds one of Alchemy's secrets. Together with the three great powers, Weyard shall be mine" chuckled Alex.
"But what about our deal, Alex? And why do you wish to conquer Weyard?" inquired Amiti.
"Ah. Amiti. So like your mother, perhaps you'd be able to handle the truth. You resemble me, yet your heart seems to bear much the same qualities of your mother" Alex spoke, walking towards the Ayuthayian Prince.
'What is Alex talking about?' Sveta thought, pondering whether she should try to use Spirit Sense.
"Alex, do you mean to say... That you are... My father?" Amiti gasped.
Alex nodded"I had no clue that Veriti bore a child until we discussed it back at Kalay. Amiti, like it or not, we are blood. I loved Veriti very much, yet I had not fully abandoned my old ambition."
Amiti stood there, shocked to silence for a moment"But then, why are you so driven to bring Weyard to its knees?"
"All I ever desired was omnipotent power. Yes, my heart had gone soft during my time with Veriti, but I still intend to cleanse this repulsive world and renew it in my image. This time, not even the Wise One can stop me" smiled Alex.
The roof above slid open to reveal the sky. A large canon rose from an opening in the ground in the center of the room. The canon let loose a ball of silvery energy, which skyrocketed into the air. A dreadful silver circle began to form around the sun, turning the sky very light gray.
Alex cackled"The Grave Eclipse is nothing compared to it. The Silver Eclipse has started."
"Arcanus, that was my idea. You will pay for your earlier betrayal" Lancelot had reentered the room, shocked to see him among the Tua Warriors. Addressing the warriors, The High Empyror ordered"Arrest him!"
Alex shook his head, laughing"Your High Commander has betrayed you."
One of the Tua Warriors nodded"Forgive me my king, we no longer follow your orders."
"What!?" exclaimed the Empyror.
Alex summoned forth a tidal wave and threw it at most of the room's occupants, knocking them down"Say hello to an upgraded form of the Deluge Spell. Can't stop that, can you?"
Amiti coughed and got back up and faced Alex"You are indeed powerful."
Alex stepped forward"Join me, Amiti. I fear your friends will no longer trust you, now that they know of our relation."
"I would rather fall in battle with honor" Amtii replied.
Torang summoned forth a paralyzing dark mist, freezing most of Matthew's group and their allies"Your usefulness has ended. Fear not however, you won't be executed immediately. First, you'll stew in a special cell in the castle dungeon."
"Isaac and his group could still save us if he finds out, you won't get away with it" shot Karis.
Amiti stood next to the green-haired Wind Adept, even as the mist paralyzed him"We'll figure out a way out of this together, Karis."
"You cherish this girl, Amiti? So be it, you are both coming with me. And I am sure your friends are well occupied by the main force of the Tua military, but they'll all face the brunt of the eclipse, anyway" said Alex, signaling Torang to bind Karis and Amiti's hands. The remaining Tua Warriors made to arrest the rest of Matthew's group.
From behind the door, Himi had peaked long enough to see what was going on and withdrew. She, Tyrell and Eoleo had been knocked out for a moment. The Champa pirate addressed her"What now?"
"I say we kick a**" said Tyrell.
"We cannot defeat Alex by ourselves, but we can slow down the eclipse by taking back the Starlight Pearl and save everyone. I suspect they will take Matthew and the others to the Tuaparang Palace, wherever that is" said Himi, closing her eyes in concentration as she began sending a telepathic message to Isaac.
The High Empyror removed his paralyzes and blasted a couple of his traitorous guards with a gun he carried, turning his attention to Alex"That's twice you betrayed me. For that, prepare to be sent to a deep sleep."
"Oh? Try it, then" said Alex, summoning forth a barrage of icicles, sending them at Lancelot.
Lancelot cut down the icicles with his dual blade and rushed at Alex, only to be hit by a spout of water conjured by the Mercury Adept. Torang approached his former ruler and stabbed him"Farewell, Lord Lancelot."
The Empyror gasped in pain before using the last of his strength to engulf himself in a shadowy barrier"That won't be the last you see of me. I'll get my revenge on both you and this Matthew."
Alex snorted"Foolish excuse for an emperor, you cannot match me, now."
As Matthew and the rest of his group who were captured were led away, Sveta summoned an extra ounce of her strength and broke her chains, knocking down her captors before escaping to the back chamber.
"Now what?" frowned Torang.
"Let her go, they're no match for our increased power. Tuaparang is now yours, you may call yourself Emperor" sneered Alex.
Torang nodded"That I shall do."
Okay, finally got a chapter up. Oh, and in case anyone gets upset by some of these scenes, I felt that I had to spice things up a little. It would be unbelievable if the heroes kept winning every battle. Isaac, Eoleo, Sveta, Tyrell, and Himi take center stage in the next chapter, though Matthew's group will still show up. I just hope this story still makes sense.
Oh, and I sort of wanted Alex and Amiti to have a kind of Darth Vader/Luke Skywalker fling as father and son, as I might have mentioned before. I realize that the Tuaparang Empyror might be bad clear through in the fourth Golden Sun, but I thought he should have a reason to act the way he supposedly does, Dark Dawn doesn't say much about his personality.