Chapter 3

Sprx's POV

"Fight it, Gibson!" Nova said aloud. "We're your family, and friends! You used to fight AGAINST Skeleton King!"

"That was a long time ago! Now I work for the ultimate ruler!" Gibson yelled. "The Skeleton King will become the most powerful being of all creation! And I will be his right hand man, ready to follow his orders! Even if it means destroying YOU!"

I quickly jumped in front of Nova to block Gibson's attack. I loved her so much; it was as if my feelings for her took over my body. Once I felt the stinging pain in my body, seeing her alright made me feel no regrets.

"Sprx!" She shouted. "Are you alright?"

"Never felt better." I winced as I said that. Nova began to cry.

"Why would you do something so stupid!" She asked through quick sobs.

"Trust me, I can do worse." I replied.

"Aw…how sweet." Gibson smirked as he grabbed Nova and pulled his drill to the side of her head. "Now hand over the skull, or I fire a spin shocker directly at her battery, resulting in an overcharge that will fry her circuitry completely!"

"Speak monkey, jerk!" I yelled back as I slowly stood up.

"The big shutdown!" My blue brother hissed.

"Don't do it, Sprx!" Nova yelled. "It's our job to protect Shuggazoom!"

"I know, Nova! I know…" I said. Then I picked up the skull and tossed it to Gibson. "But I love you more."

Gibson picked up the skull with his tail, and then he thrust Nova forward and shot at her back. She fell forward and cried out in agony.

"NOVA!" I yelled as I went over to her side. She looked up at me.

"I'm sorry Sprx." She said, still crying from when I was hit before.

"You didn't do anything wrong." I told her. Then I kissed her on the lips before she passed out. Now I was furious.

"YOU MONSTER!" I roared. "You said if I gave her the skull you wouldn't do it!"

"Relax Sparky!" He said with a grin that I wanted to smack of his ugly face. "She's just knocked out so nobody can help you try to stop me as I bring back Skeleton King."

I pulled out my magnets, but I didn't fire at him.

"Gibson! You're my brother!" I barked. "You're supposed to help us protect Shuggazoom! We fight together! You and I fly the fist rockets! You're the scientist who helps us when we're injured or sick! You do all those experiments to help us! Remember?"

Suddenly, Gibson's expression changed from an evil mischievous smile to pure anger.

"So now you care." He whispered.

"What?" I asked him.

"SO NOW YOU CARE!" He put his drills away and punched me with his bare fists.

"What's wrong with you!" I asked.

"What's wrong with YOU!" He replied. Then he punched me in the face again. "All this time, you've done nothing but put me down!"

He punched me again.

"You sleep through the science lectures I work so hard on to put together!"

He punched me again.

"You insult me any chance you get!"

He punched me again.

"You try to look better than me in every way!"

He punched me again.

"You don't thank me for anything I've done for you!"

He punched me again.

"I've done so many things! I've stayed up all night working on my projects! I've skipped meals just to work to help the team and Shuggazoom! I've tried so hard to help, and you've flown around the city and played around, not showing any appreciation for me… but all of a sudden I've turned to the side of Skeleton King and hurt your precious Nova…AND NOW YOU CARE!"

I thought about this as he continued.

"I'm sick of your stupid jokes!"

His punches were getting weaker and weaker.

"I'm sick of you making fun of me!"

I just stared at him as he hit me again and again.

"I'm sick of you getting as much attention from us all, and then when it's my turn to speak; you push me aside and ignore me!"

Now his eyes were filling up with tears.

"I'M SICK OF IT S-P-R-X-77! I'M SICK OF IT ALL! I'M SICK OF IT! SICK OF IT! SICK OF IT!" Every time he repeated himself, his punches got slower and weaker. I realized that the ice crystal of vengeance not only made him darker, but the vengeance part of him was strengthening his emotions towards me. Now he's letting it all go because he's mad at everything I've done to him. And he's right. I have been a bit of a jerk.

Finally he fell to his knees. His punches didn't hurt anymore, and he must have known it. His breaths became long sobs that I could just barely hear. I took this opportunity to use whatever power primate I had in me to change him back to normal. The green aura glowed around me and went to Gibson's body. I watched as he shouted in pain and the darkness could be clearly seen leaving his soul. When it was all over he fell to the ground. His eyes were glowing green, and he turned back to normal. His teeth were no longer fangs. His eyes were the normal circular shape as before. He slowly began to get up.

"Ugh, where…where am I?" He asked as he sat up.

"The pit of doom." I replied.

Gibson looked around, and he was in shock at what he saw. The rest of the team, and Mandarin and Valina were lying unconscious on the floor. The Skeleton Kings skull was behind his back.

"What happened?" He turned to me and asked.

"After you grabbed the Ice Crystal of Vengeance…you turned evil and almost helped Valina and Mandarin resurrect Skeleton King, but I was just able to stop you." I told him. Then I helped him up to his feet as he gazed in horror at the terrible things he had done.

"I…I can't believe it." He said. "How could I have been so foolish? Why didn't I realize what would happen if I grabbed the essence? Now…I've hurt everyone…and…" He buried his face in his hands.

"I'm sorry, Gibson." I said.

"What? Why are you sorry, Sprx? I was the one who…"

"No, Gibson. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I've always been such a big jerk. I'm sorry that I always insult you and sleep through your lectures and stuff. You work really hard for us, and…I've never shown you my appreciation before. I'm sorry…ok?"

Gibson stared at me wide eyed. He was still crying over what he did before…but he looked happy to see that I finally thanked him for the hard work he did for the team. Then I wrapped my arms around him and gave him a brotherly hug.

I've seen enough. I thought to myself. I would rather take the blame and fight the war than this. Even though Skeleton King is gone, everyone was nearly killed. I don't think anybody deserves to feel the kind of guilt Gibson has right now. I want to go back.

Then I saw that bright light again, and I started to feel dizzy. Gibson vanished from my arms and I collapsed. Everything went black.

XoxLaterxox

"Sprx, are you ok?" Chiro asked me.

"I-I'm fine kid." I replied. "What happened?"

"You were upset about the Fire of Hate incident and ran outside. Gibson found you lying on the ground unconscious." Nova said.

"You should be fine right now." I looked to see Gibson smiling at me. "I think you're still a little woozy from when we used the Power Primate to return you back to normal. Just try to sit and relax a little and you should be fine."

"Thanks Gibson." I said. "I really appreciate you helping me like that."

"You're welcome Sprx." Gibson said, surprised I didn't call him Brain strain or something else.

I then knew that it was fate for me to grab the Fire of Hate and turn to the side of darkness for a short amount of time. I can't take it all back and change it, because sometimes changing the past isn't always a good thing. It was only destiny.

"Alright team!" Chiro said. We all lined up by his side. "This is it! HYPERFORCE GO!"