Chapter 10: Can I Be Your Memory?
"Man! It's about time we got off that flight!" a young boy commented as he stretched his arms above his head. He smiled brightly, dimples forming in his cheeks adding innocence to his cherubic smile.
"Sydney, we weren't flying that long," another boy commented as he pulled off his silver bucket hat and scratched his head before replacing it. He gave Sydney a peaceful smile when the little boy pouted.
"Ah, don't ruin his attitude, Noah." A boy who looked exactly like Noah, except for his black and blond Mohawk, stumbled over carrying baggage under his arms. "The last thing we need is for Syd to be upset."
"Actually, the last thing we need is for you to destroy our things, Pat." The three young boys turned around as a teenage boy and a man walked over to them, papers were in their hands. "The car's waiting outside. All we need is the address for the house."
"I got it right here, Julius," Sydney said as he patted his pocket and smiled at the teenager. Julius ruffled Sydney's hair as he giggled a little. "Uncle Christian, can we see the dolphin show today? Please? Please?" he stuck out his lower lip and widened his sky blue eyes to form an innocent face.
"Sydney, don't forget the real reason we're here," the man, addressed as Christian, told him before lifting a bag's strap over his shoulder and looking down at the piece of paper. "Come on." He led the group of boys through the throngs of people leaving the airport and entering the airport to get to their car. Once he reached the rental car, Patrick, Noah, and Sydney fought over who got to sit in the front seat.
"Here I thought the fighting was done," Julius commented as he rubbed his forehead. He could feel a headache forming. Being the oldest of the family he was used to their fighting, but he thought they would stop by now. Patrick and Noah he expected would be over their arguing, especially since they were thirteen, but he let them go at it. It was just their way of expressing their love for each other. It was inevitable seeing as they were complete opposites.
Sydney, being eight, loved to be the center of attention, which he always got because he deemed himself the cute and innocent one and strived to flaunt it. Being a self-proclaimed genius also helped him out in many situations. He could easily outsmart one of them to get the front seat.
"No way, suckers, I get shotgun," Julius said as he shoved the boys to the back of the car, ignoring their groans. "There's a TV back there." Instantly, the three boys jumped into the back of the car.
"Thanks." Christian smiled at his oldest nephew.
"No problem. I'm sure you were tired of their fighting too," Julius replied before getting into the car. Christian pulled out of the parking lot and merged into the traffic on the busy streets of Australia. Sydney kept his nose pressed against the window as he looked out at the familiar landscape he called home before. Of course, he was only one at the time and he didn't remember that much about it, but he always dreamed of coming back. He didn't want it to be because of their current situation, but he was glad that they were there nonetheless.
After twenty minutes of driving around they turned into a neighborhood. "Now, look for a jeep," Sydney instructed as he folded the piece of paper that was in his hands. "Whatever driveway has a jeep is their house."
"Someone else could have a jeep, Syd," Noah pointed out.
"Yes, but I checked to make sure they were the only ones," he replied. "Wait, that's it!" He practically shouted as he leaned forward and pointed between Julius's and Christian's heads. Christian pulled into the driveway behind the jeep and the five boys got out of the car, stretching.
"Are you sure? There's no jeep," Patrick pointed out.
"It's the same address," Noah said as he looked over Sydney's shoulder. Sydney looked back and forth between the paper and the house number before confirming Noah's statement with a nod. Julius looked around before lifting the doormat and finding a key.
"They never were that bright about keys," he muttered before unlocking the door. "Get your stuff and put it in. I'll go and see if I can find out where they are."
"Let me come," Sydney said eagerly as he helped pull suitcases out of the back of the car.
"Ok Syd, but you have to do as I say."
Once everyone was in the house Julius jumped into the driver's seat. He waited for Sydney to buckle up before pulling out of the driveway. He drove into town, thinking of a place to go to find some high schoolers. With Sydney's smarts he was able to find out where his sisters attended school. They should've known that it would only be a matter of time before they got Sydney on their tail.
"So this is the JuiceNet Café," Sydney muttered to himself as he pushed the beads aside and the two boys stepped into the café. "Ooh, banana smoothie!" He cheered before walking towards the counter. Julius grabbed him by the back of the shirt and pulled him back towards himself. "Whaaaat?" He whined.
"No food. Not yet," Julius replied. "We have to find where Riley and Rhuben are."
"I could've told you that," Sydney said with a scoff. "They're at Mako Island."
"How come you didn't say anything before?" Julius asked through clenched teeth.
"You didn't ask," Sydney replied cheekily. "Can I get my smoothie now?"
----
"Is it safe to go? We've been standing here for five minutes," Rikki asked as she crossed her arms and walked over to Riley and Rhuben who were standing by the mouth of the cave.
"No, we're going to make you wait because we love your complaining," Rhuben replied sarcastically as she rolled her eyes. "It must've been a false alarm," she said more to Riley than anyone else.
"That's what's weird. We're never wrong about that," Riley commented thoughtfully. "We might as well leave."
"What about the water?" Cleo questioned. Riley let out a breath and held out her hand. A stream of fire conjured a few inches away from her palm and hit the waterfall, causing smoke to rise as a split formed.
"No, you idiot!" Crystal hissed as she slapped Riley's arm away. Riley glared at her. "Dr. Denman's here! She could see it and come rushing over here!"
"Ok, what do you propose we do, oh smart one?"
Crystal smiled as an icy breeze blew behind them. Emma suddenly shrieked and backed away from a tiger that had appeared in the middle of the cave. He stepped forward, directly behind the waterfall, and blew gently. The waterfall pulled to the sides, like the blinds to a curtain. "Thanks," Crystal said as she patted his head. He nodded before disappearing. "What?" She asked when she noticed, Cleo, Rikki, and Emma looking up at her.
"What was that?" Cleo demanded.
"My guardian," Crystal replied. "Oh, we forgot to mention. Every Elemental has a guardian to protect them. They have a beast form and a human form. They really come in handy in sticky situations. Come on. Out you go."
"Dr. Denman knows about the Moon Pool. What if she finds out about how to work it?" Emma asked without moving.
"We can change her memory," Rhuben replied simply before walking out of the cave, stepping on the now dry stones of the bottom of the pool.
"What? How? Is it some potion you make up?" Cleo asked as she stepped forward.
"Uh, no," Riley replied. "We can just do it. We can change Charlotte's memory if you want."
"There has to be a catch," Emma said suspiciously as the three girls stepped out of the cave. Once they were on the grass the water continued to fall normally.
"There is," Crystal replied. "They can get selective parts of their memory back if it's triggered right. Also, the only way it will work is if we place the 'spell' I guess you can call it...in their drink. This will be easy. Denman's boat has to be here. We can sneak on, mess up her drink, and leave. Charlotte we can hit at school." She turned to face Emma, Cleo, and Rikki who had weary looks on their faces. "It will return your lives to normal for a while. Well, as normal as it can get with you being fish."
"Let's just get out of here. I'm going to miss my date with Lewis," Cleo sighed as they began walking towards the shore.
"We wouldn't want that to happen," Rikki muttered sarcastically.
Riley led the way back to the beach, looking over her shoulder from time to time. She, Rhuben, and Crystal got onto their WaveRunners as Cleo, Rikki, and Emma dove into the ocean. They followed the WaveRunners to Dr. Denman's boat. Riley pulled up right by the ladder and grabbed the bottom rung. She swung pulled herself up as the other girls floated by the boat, waiting anxiously.
"Make it fast," Rhuben hissed.
"I'm not Patrick," Riley hissed back as she climbed up the ladder with inhuman speed. They could hear her feet tapping the deck before they faded away quickly. Rhuben tapped her fingers against the handles impatiently as she looked around. She squeezed her eyes shut when she felt pain in her chest. She gripped the handlebars so hard her knuckles turned white. Crystal looked over at her out of the corner of her eye. Rhuben nodded slightly without opening her eyes, letting Crystal know that she had everything under control.
"Ok, we're good," Riley said as she slid down the ladder and landed on her WaveRunner, groaning with pain. "Let's move it." Cleo, Rikki, and Emma sped ahead as the others moved at slightly slower pace behind them. They followed the girls' wake all the way back to the docks. "Hmm? It's only five thirty," Riley muttered as they tied their WaveRunners to the dock.
"I have to go meet Lewis," Cleo said excitedly as she clasped her hands together. "I'll see you later." She gave them a small wave before skipping off happily.
"Suddenly I feel ill," Rikki commented as she held her stomach.
"I was thinking the same thing," Riley admitted.
"Let's go to the JuiceNet," Emma suggested. "I can get you something for free."
"Free is my favorite word!" Crystal cheered as she punched her fist into the air. Riley grunted as she followed the other girls inside. Something told her that she shouldn't go in there but she ignored it and kept going. "Uh-oh," Crystal muttered.
"Oh no," Riley and Rhuben whispered.
"It's about time! Sydney practically drank his weight in smoothie," Julius commented as he pushed back his chair and walked over to the girls, pulling them into a bone-crushing hug as Emma and Rikki watched in confusion.
"And you let him? Those things are filled with sugar!" Riley said as she rushed over to the smiling boy who was kicking his legs back and forth, sipping through a straw.
"Julius, let go!" Rhuben said as she shoved her older brother away. "How'd you find us?" She demanded.
"Sydney," he replied with an eye roll. "Did you really think that he couldn't track you? Please." He scoffed.
"Julius, these are our friends Emma and Rikki," Crystal suddenly spoke up. "Emma, Rikki, this is Julius, one of my cousins and Riley's and Rhuben's oldest brother. Over there is Sydney, my youngest cousin and their youngest brother."
"Nice to meet you," Emma said politely as she shook Julius's hand. He nodded as he shook their hands. "What're you doin' here? I mean, you said you had to track them so I'm assuming you weren't here before."
"We're here to make sure these two don't do anything stupid-" Julius jerked his thumbs in Riley's and Rhuben's directions. "-and bring her-" he pointed at Crystal "-down with them."
"Wait, why isn't she accused of doing something stupid? Ever?" Rhuben asked angrily.
Julius merely laughed. "You amuse me, lil' sis. So what're you doing back here?"
"Long story short, we're stopping Dr. Denman," Crystal replied as they walked over to the table. "Actually, we stopped Dr. Denman. At least for a while." Hopefully.
A/N: Don't think that's the last of Dr. Denman and Charlotte, you so know that it's not. Hahaha. Thanks for the wait; I hope you liked this chapter. More characters mean more drama. The boys (aka Ash, Zane, Nate, Byron, and Lewis) will have more screen time, don't worry. So will Charlotte, even though i hate her. Please review. ~Crystal