Disclaimer: As I’m sure you guessed, Golden Sun does not belong to me, but the characters from this fanfic do. I hope you like it, and please read and review. Ideas, criticism, whatever. Yup.

Golden Sun: Age of Darkness

A Prelude

“Many many years ago, before king Oscur, before grandmamy, and before grandmamy’s grandmamy the light of Alchemy shone all over Weyard. It was a time known as the Golden Age. Through their Alchemy adepts were able to create brilliance. They lived in peace and harmony, with the power they possessed lighting the way.”

“Why isn’t it like that anymore mommy?” The little girl asked, sitting on her mother’s lap. Around her, sat her family: a tall man with sandy hair over a face cracked with many trials and pale brown eyes that no longer shone, but lay glazed over and dead, a wizened old woman with gray silk flowing behind her as she rocked along to the crackle of the fireplace, a boy who was ready to be a man, although not yet a teen, whose face echoed his father’s except for the eyes that still darted slowly around the room, only tired. The young girl herself had brilliantly gold eyes that flashed brightly as the weathered story told itself once more. She sat in her mother’s lap and embrace. Her mother was also fully alive, sparking the fires of a story so beaten it seemed impossible that it could ignite so gracefully to the girl. Now though, she thought carefully before answering.

“These adepts had amazing powers. They were very—special.”

“Like me!” squealed the girl in delight, quite pleased with herself.

“Yes, just like you.” The mother replied. In the background the boy groaned in disgust at his sister, feeling both exasperated and envious at the same time.

“Unfortunately,” she continued, “wherever there is a source of great power, there are people who try to take advantage of it. When this happened 4 brave warriors locked away the powers of alchemy.”

The little girl gasped and her brother groaned again, but got closer, also as eager to hear the same story.

“Those ancient civilizations slowly began to wane and disappear and so a new group of heroes came about. They found out that it was the lack of alchemy that destroyed those earlier civilizations and would eventually destroy Weyard.”

Outside a soft plumping noise began and eventually turned into the clamoring of a storm.

“Then what happened mommy?”

“Well everything seemed fine until King Lufiz and his eldest son, Prince Blite, died. King Lufiz had taken our lands and helped to create one society of peace. Many people, however, were angry. They were expecting the blessings of alchemy to spread much farther than they did. So with King Lufiz’s death came about the reign of his youngest son. Well, young Shadi was much too young to lead, so Oscur came to power. Then people began to disappear. First it was Shadi himself, then adepts around the kingdom. Eventually “King” Oscur began his cleanse and purge policy. He himself was a Jupiter adept, and I know you won’t understand since your only 8 years old, but he began to convince people that any other adept, besides himself, was evil.

“I’m not evil am I, mama.”

“Of course not, but people are scared of Oscur and his new ‘protection agency.’” She said. After a short pause she went on. “… Hannah, I told the Jonas’ that young Edward’s hand was burned on the stove.”

“Mommy…” the youngster began, confused with the sudden shift in subject.

“Hannah, me and your daddy, and grandmamy, and Gidy love you very much…”

“Mommy…?”

“Hannah—I want you to promise me that you’ll never use your powers…”

“But mommy! I told Edward I was sorry…”

“Hannah we can’t risk anyone finding out.”

“Mommy…, but I’ll be careful mommy…”

“I’m sorry Hannah, but we forbid you from using your psynergy. It’s too dangerous.”

“Mommy!” the girl cried, crestfallen as she realized that the story wasn’t going to end the same way that night. “Mommy…” she whispered, eyes glistening in their final tears. “I promise. I won’t do anything to get you or daddy in trouble.”

“That’s my girl.” Her mother replied, tears slowly rolling down the length of her face. “Now, why don’t you-“

Suddenly a crash fell from outside. As they all turned they saw a man in official clothes barge in followed by several armed men.

“May we help you?” The father asked, instantly between his family and the protection agency.

“We’ve come for a Hannah Welles. She has been reported as an adept.”

“There must be some mistake…”

“There’s no mistake sir. Hand us the girl and your sentence will be- lessened.”

“Sentence?”

“For aiding an adept-scum.”

“Aiding an… you mean raising my daughter?” he spit at the soldiers. “Is that a crime now?”

“If she’s an adept.”

“Daddy?”

“Quiet, honey, these guys can’t take you from us. Gladys, take her upstairs. Ma, you take Gideon.”

“But Mitchell” the mother protested.

“Go!”

“Sir, I’m afraid this will not look good on your record.”

“You are not taking my daughter!” he shouted ready to protect his family at all costs.

“I’m afraid that this isn’t your choice Mr. Welles. Glen!” he called signaling over a man from the soldiers. “Take car of this guy, eh?”

“Gladly.” He answered, his cropped red hair Streaked with a few gray hairs.

“No…” the father spluttered, fully aware of what was happening.

“Serpent Fume!”

Outside of the house, the storm kept it’s pace and oversaw the pain and destruction. The howls of the wind joined the cries of anguish from inside. Smoke filled the air and no one came to investigate. One light from a single house came on. From it a small face appeared. Mrs. Jonas, quiet and fearful, looked on with a dreadful look of confusion and fear. She closed her eyes and turned off the light.

From the ruins of the house came one last man, carrying a boy with sandy hair. The echo of his father in every way; down to the deadened eyes.

“What will we do with him?”

“Take him. Maybe Oscur will have some use for him.”

They all made their way back in silence. No one would ask questions. No one would dare. It was the custom and the norm.