Here I am with another chapter. I hope the plot twist hasn't been too much of a surprise so far. If there's anything that doesn't make any sense, I'll try harder to explain some of the things in this fic. This chapter's title may be subject to change, as I had no idea what to call it. So far, this chapter's title matches the title of this fic, but that can be changed if needed.
This chapter's pretty action-packed, by the way.
Disclaimer: The Golden Sun series was created by Nintento/Camelot along with its characters, locations etc.
Chapter XVII: Silver Eclipse
Isaac, the other Warriors of Vale and their allies fought their hardest, barely managing to put a dent in the military might of Tuaparang's loyalists. Takeru, Alexandra and Caeden were tiring as they fought a group of Tua Warriors and one of their commanders.
"Look, up there!" cried a voice, one of the Beastman warriors had spotted what appeared to be a silver ball of energy forming around the sun. The sky turned grayish, and rays of light fell upon the battlefield. Some of them fell upon the Tua Loyalists and some of the defectors, turning them into silver humanoids. Worst of all, unknown monsters shaped like pure silver shadows began to emerge.
"What in the world is that eclipse? Are Matthew, Karis and Tyrell okay? Did something..." groaned Garet.
"I am perplexed though as well, the Wise One didn't anticipate this" said Isaac.
The remaining Tua Warriors ceased fighting to attack the monsters alongside Takeru, Patricia, Kenneth, Alexandra, Caeden and Alexa. The Warriors of Vale hurried to back them up as well, bashing back the strange new monsters as they ruthlessly struck. Josh and Sonja pitched in to help Felix as he fought off a Silver Shade.
Isaac fought off a couple of the mutated Tua Warriors and turned his attention to the capital. Addressing Felix and the others, he said"If something's happened to Matthew, I can save him as long as he's still alive. Who's coming with me?"
"I am" said Ivan standing by his friend.
"Humph, count me in" grunted Garet.
Mia walked over to Isaac"Let's do it."
"The rest of us will deal with the monsters. Good luck" said Alexandra.
"Count us in, Isaac" Jenna, Sonja and Josh went to stand near Isaac's group.
Felix cut down another monster before addressing Isaac"Good luck storming Tuaparang's capital, we have no idea what they're capable of."
Isaac nodded, and led his group towards the capital, fighting off two silver shelled monsters. The going was brutal as they walked, as Silver Dusk monsters ambushed them along the way.
"I had a dream kind of like this, Himi warned me about the eclipse that's going on right now" Josh addressed Isaac.
The veteran Venus Adept was surprised"What? I see. So if you saw this in your dream, perhaps it is the eclipse. Perhaps not though, we have little information about it."
Isaac's group headed into the capital, which was in complete chaos. Monsters roamed the streets as civilians rushed to the relative safety of their homes. Jenna, Isaac and Garet rushed at the nearest group of monsters, attacking with both weapons and Psynergy. Tua Warriors were also fighting the monsters, but they were at a numerical disadvantage.
"Liquifer!" "Grand Gia!" Isaac and Garet's spells shot down two silver monsters as the group strode into the center of the chaos. A massive Silver Dragon was wrecking havoc at the center while fighting off Tua Warriors with little effect.
"Oddessy!" Isaac cast his strongest Psynergy, staggering the dragon. The monster angrily directed a burst of flame at the Adepts. Mia healed her comrades as they fought the monster.
Just then, a blur struck the dragon and staggered it. The figure rushed the monster with a flurry of blows and finished it with a swift Slap Psynergy to the neck. The monster fell from the sheer impact.
"Are you faring okay?" Sveta addressed Isaac.
"Yes, thank you for your intervention. Did something happen to Matthew?" asked the Venus Adept, recognizing her after a second.
The Beastman Queen grimly replied"A trap had awaited us in the Athena Sanctum, Alex has unleashed the Silver Eclipse, despite our efforts to stop him and the High Empyror. The Empyror is severely wounded, so I doubt he'll be a threat, now. However, many of our group have been captured by High Commander Vong's men."
Ivan's eyes widened"So we were tricked. Do you know where Torang is taking his prisoners?"
"I suspect they may be headed for the Tuaparang Imperial palace, let us hurry. And what's more, Karis and Amiti have been taken prisoner separately by Alex, loathe that I am to say it" said Sveta.
Ivan swore under his breath while Josh spoke up"Couldn't you save them?"
"I am no fool, Alex possesses such immense power for a Mercury Adept, I could sense that I'd be no match for him on my own. To confront both Alex and Torang would've been suicidal" said Sveta.
Isaac nodded in acknowledgement"Discretion is oftentimes the better part of valor, I can understand what you're saying. Let us hurry."
"You lot going to the palace?" A Tua Warrior approached.
Sveta turned to face the soldier"What have you heard?"
The soldier replied"I heard everything. High Commander Torang has gone mad, hasn't he? I heard he was in cahoots with the rogue, Arcanus. But I didn't wish to believe it. The palace is to the northeast of here. I'll have my men hold off the rest of the monsters that have attacked the city."
"That's pretty nice for a Tua Warrior, but thank you" said Jenna.
Isaac's group hurried away from the center of the city in the direction the soldier had pointed out. They fought past a few more monsters until they came to the metallic gates of a three-story citadel. Isaac took note of a motion sensor installed just above the gate.
"The Tuaparang must have this place under tight guard, they'd be fools not to" remarked Ivan.
Sveta used her Spirit Sense to inspect their surroundings before speaking"It would help if we can become invisible. I can easily keep my distance, but I cannot rescue Matthew, alone."
"Ah. That reminds me" Isaac focused his Psynergy on himself and his group, temporarily making their bodies transparent.
"Invisibility psynergy, again. Reminds us of when we snuck into Lunpa Fortress" remarked Mia.
Isaac calmly moved into range of the sensor and used his psynergy to push a nearby button, opening the gate. The group cautiously headed in, unknowing of what to expect.
Tyrell, Himi and Eoleo carefully trailed their enemies and their captors back through Athena Sanctum, using a passage they had not used before. Tyrell had to be held back by Eoleo a few times as the younger Mars Adept was tempted to just rush the Tua force.
"So if this is the secret passage that led into the sanctum, perhaps there was another way from the capital itself, somewhere" Himi mussed.
"Where could that be?" asked Eoleo.
"I have no idea, but we're about to find out" Himi led her group through the passage, still keeping their distance from the Tua Warriors.
The passage went on until they came into a large room with a marble ceiling, stone walls and velvet blue carpets. There was a door with a strange device to the south of their location.
"Piece of cake, now where could they be taking Matthew?" frowned Tyrell.
"Still don't know" Himi walked over to the device and pressed a solitary red button, opening the adjacent door. The three walked cautiously in, taking notice of the occasional Tua Warrior patrolling the corridors.
"We're still in the capital all right, but which building would this be?" frowned Eoleo.
"The Tua Imperial Palace... I heard stories of this infamous place. It is supposed to be the main stronghold and governmental building of the Tuaparang Empire. This place reeks of secrets" said Himi, still leading.
They walked down a corridor on the left-hand side of the hall, sneaking up on a Tua Warrior and proceeding to pound the living daylights out of him. Tyrell looked around"Is there anyone else here who'd like to be next?"
"Let's not antagonize them" Himi walked further down the corridor, leading her group. As they got to the main hall, they saw a door seemingly open on its own accord, Isaac's group entered.
Tyrell grinned"You brought the calvary right on time, kitty dog."
Sveta took a deep breath"You know my name and I suggest you use it, Tyrell. Lest I chase you all the way back to Kalay in a cloud of wind."
"Heh, just kidding" shrugged the Fire Adept.
Isaac looked around"Hm. I sense movement to our left, let's go. Himi, Eoleo, Tyrell, how were you able to escape on your own?"
"We hid from Alex's group. The High Empyror is probably dead meat now, contrary to what he said" replied Tyrell.
Himi frowned"No, Tyrell. I don't think so, somehow. His life force has considerably weakened, but I suspect we'll somehow see him again. For good or ill, both Alex and Lancelot have their parts to play in all this, but I could be mistaken."
The group headed left, sneaking up and taking down three more guards as they came to a stairwell that led downwards. Sveta braced herself"I sense it, Matthew and most of the other captives are held down there."
"Let's bust them out" Tyrell rushed downstairs.
The rest of the group cautiously followed, making light conversation. Soon, they came to a large chamber with multiple cell doors on the sides. Tyrell glanced around"Now what?"
"Let's open them all. I've got this" said Isaac.
"Quake!" One of the doors shook and broke apart. Matthew walked out"Man, those Tua guys were too stupid to suppress my Psynergy, you'd think they'd have that kind of technology. Dad, Sveta, Tyrell, are you there?"
"It looks like you didn't need help, Matthew. Still, it never hurts" said Isaac, relieved to see his son.
Sveta walked to another door and kicked it down, heading in to free Florianna and Kenneth. Jenna burnt down another wooden door and set free Alexa, Rief, and Nowell. The others got the rest of the doors taken care of and the prisoners freed. Among the freed prisoners were Proxians.
"Thank you, Isaac" said Kenneth.
"Not a problem. But where are Karis and Amiti?" Isaac glanced around.
"There's an airship hanger on the third floor of the castle, or so I heard Alex say when he took Amiti and Karis somewhere else. There's still a chance to save them, though it may be a slim one" said Rief, urgently.
Isaac turned around, addressing the others"Kenneth, Alexa, you two should probably take the Proxians back to Alexandra's base. The rest of us will go find Karis and Amiti. But there may be monsters on the way."
"We'll do our best. And thanks again for your aid, we were imprisoned for noncooperation when we rebelled against the Tuaparang slavers" acknowledged a Proxian fire Adept.
"It is our duty to look after the world, no thanks is necessary" said Ivan.
Isaac led his group out of the dungeons. Kenneth, Alexa and the Proxians began to leave the castle while their companions searched the first floor of the Tua Palace until they reached the second floor.
"Hey!" Several Tua Warriors intercepted"Don't think we didn't see your little rescue through the Security Cameras. We had them hidden from view."
"Out of the way!" Garet threw a Fire Wall, knocking down the Tuas.
The group went past the burnt bodies of the guards that met them and headed down a couple more corridors until they reached the second floor's central hall. Torang stood in front of the northernmost door, smiling darkly"This pathetic ruse of yours is over, now you will meet your end."
"You were a fool to think we could easily be defeated by such a simple trap" said Florianna, challengingly.
"Careful now, I have usurped the High Empyror's position from Lancelot, I care not about his feeble attempt to save himself. Even if he can revive himself, Arcanus is close to becoming the most powerful adept in Weyard. I doubt even the legendary Warriors of Vale stand a chance against him, now" smiled Torang, summoning forth more Tua Warriors.
"We'll see about that" challenged Garet.
"Alex is being unpredictable as always, I see" remarked Jenna.
"We haven't got time for this. We have to find Karis and Amiti" groaned Tyrell.
"If Alex is indeed Amiti's father, I doubt he'll do anything drastic. He strikes me as an honorable Adept, even if he is a villain" reminded Sveta.
Matthew readied himself"I'll take some of our group and go after Alex."
Isaac nodded"Go ahead."
"Heh. Infernal Tornado!" A flaming hurricane appeared and decimated the Tua Warriors in the room. Before the group's eyes, Fenrir Blaze came walking into the room"Heard the High Empyror has been done in, is that true?"
"We don't know either, and get the heck out of our way, Blaze!" yelled Tyrell.
"Why do you care? The Empire doesn't care about its citizens" frowned Sveta.
Blaze grinned"Heh, don't misunderstand, I'm still a hundred-percent loyal to Lord Lancelot. I was just playing along. Arcanus is nothing but an Adept with delusions of grandeur, I could easily kill him if I wanted. But it'd be more fun to challenge you guys once more."
Torang drew his blade"Fenrir, haven't you heard? I had been after the emyror's crown since I joined, if you will not give me your loyalty, you're dead."
"I hereby place you deceased as well, High Commander" Fenrir summoned forth a fireball and smote Torang, rendering him unconscious.
Isaac drew his sword"Matthew, take your group and go after Alex. The rest of us will hold the line here and catch up, later."
Matthew nodded and led his group through the right-hand corridor, Sveta used her spirit sense and tracking Psynergy to help find the right path as they left. Furious, the Tua Warriors divided to either pursue Matthew's group or challenge Isaac's.
"Cold Snap!" Mia directed her Psynergy at Fenrir, who countered with a flaming wall. Garet rushed at Fenrir with his battle axe, only to be slashed by the rogue Fire Adept's scythe. Mia hurried over to heal Garet while Josh and Sonja cast support Psynergy spells on Isaac, Garet, Jenna, Ivan and Mia.
Fenrir swung his scythe in a wide arc, prompting Isaac and Jenna to duck. Fenrir then stood back and summoned forth a searing wall of fire. Mia hurried to block the blaze with Water Psynergy, while Ivan blasted a few Tua Warriors aside with Tornado.
"Ready to give up?" Garet attempted to blast Fenrir with Fireball, only for Fenrir to jump over and bring his Scythe downward. Garet rolled out of the way while Isaac took the opportunity to blast Fenrir with Oddessy.
"You cannot defeat me that easy" Fenrir sneered, calling forth another torrent of fire, knocking Isaac's group back. Annoyed, Garet charged with his axe and barely managed to block when Fenrir swung his scythe downward.
"Deluge!" Mia cast her spell on Fenrir, staggering him enough for Isaac to get in a blow with his sword. Fenrir jumped back and cast a double fireball, knocking Mia and Isaac back. Sonja and Josh quickly cast Tornado and Growth, staggering Fenrir again.
"Oddessy!" "Liquifer!" "Deluge!" Mia, Isaac and Garet cast their Psynergies, pelting Fenrir with a torrent of powerful Psynergy.
Staggering and gasping as his life began to flash, Fenrir gasped"I have underestimated you..." With that, Fenrir teleported away. Isaac helped Ivan, Josh and Sonja fight off the remaining Tua Warriors in the room.
"Think that's the last of Fenrir?" asked Jenna.
"He could've teleported elsewhere, but we've no time to pursue. Let's hurry away before Torang recovers" said Isaac, leading his group to go meet up with Matthew's.
Back in Athena Sanctum, the Empyror Lancelot grinned as he channeled more dark power into his body, healing most of his injuries as he thought'Beware, Alex. And beware, Isaac. I'm going to come after you all, soon enough.'
A ball of dark energy began to engulf the man and expand beyond Athena Sanctum as if to absorb the very essence of the Alchemy in the Tuaparang Empire.
Fenrir gasped as he made it to the dock where a large airship was docked"They may have defeated me twice... But perhaps I can drag Arcanus down with me by destroying this ship."
"Oh? And where did you leave poor Torang?" Relena appeared.
"Captain Relena... Torang is near the throne room. But no matter" Fenrir began summoning one last fire wall.
"I don't think so" Alex walked down from the ramp leading up to the airship"Fenrir Blaze, your usefulness is outlived, regardless if your rightful master still lives or not. Now, you'll have to be ended, here."
Fenrir channeled his fire wall at Alex, who coolly used Deluge to put out the fire and summoned a barrage of razor-sharp icicles"Behold my enhanced Psynergy."
"What?" Fenrir gasped.
Alex shot the icicles at Fenrir, impaling him. The Mercury Adept grinned"The Tuaparang Empire is finished either way, all that's left is for me to become one with the power contained inside Haniel's Ark."
Karis and Amiti watched from the deck of the airship, hands bound so they could not break free. Karis bit her lip in thought for a moment"Amiti, think you can break us out?"
"I'm just as powerless as you, but perhaps an opportunity will present itself" shrugged the Ayuthayian prince.
Back at the dock, Fenrir Blaze opened his mouth as to speak once more, barely able to as he let go of his life"Arcanus... Y-you dastard..."
"Spare me your final insult, Blaze" said Alex, turning to go back onto the airship. Relena meanwhile had gone back to find Torang.
This fic is getting to be quite dark, not too dark I hope. Sorry if its turning out that way and I hope I didn't make my OC Fenrir Blaze's death too gruesome, I might have to increase the rating, otherwise. The next chapter ought to focus on the group's efforts to find a way to stop the Silver Eclipse, I won't say more due to spoilers.
By the way, character deaths so far are mostly the OCs'. But I might kill off another canon character for this story, but we'll see. I'm not comfortable knocking off canon characters though, I must upset someone.
Please feel free to review.