Chapter 12 Shark Infested Waters
Two more months had now passed since they now lived on the island for one and two months already. The weather always stayed warm due to the fact the weather never changed since they were surrounded by the ocean. No one had ever bothered them either. Now, Mel'feir knew that he only had three to four months left with the bears that he had seen grow up before his eyes. They were more than his friends, the bond he shared with them was very close. They felt like they were his children always making sure that they stayed out of trouble. He was especially glad now that they had become full fledged caring guardians. He had a sense of accomplishment. Kind of like the feeling that you get when you put a big project together piece by piece by yourself and actually finish the project. But Mel'feir knew that he had one last task that he had to accomplish. He had to find the other bears that were like them. He had sensed a year back some place on the continent when he was at Purity Corp, but that feeling never was felt again. Mel'feir concluded that these bears of similar life forms must have been their only for a temporary visit and left because even if Iillyana managed to get her dirty hands on them and captured them, Mel'feir would have sensed their presence. So Mel'feir gave very strict orders for the bears to never leave the island and that they were to wait for him while he left the island in search for their new future family because he didn't want the bears that he loved so much and put some much work into to be left alone after he was gone. All three of the bears obviously protested but to no avail. Mel'feir had told all of the three cubs everything concerning his situation and that he had to go back to his own world. Naturally they were all concerned, but this hit Aqua bear the hardest since he loved Mel'feir like a close friend. He cried and cried before Mel'feir left and afterwords with Zoey and Redemptionheart embracing Aqua for a long time before he couldn't cry any more. It had now been two months since Mel'feir had left and they didn't hear a word from him since. But the three bears remained obedient and never left the island although it was very hard. Especially for Redemptionheart since she wanted to become a nurse/doctor someday and wanted to check some schools in Australia so that she could go to school and fulfill her dream.
Aqua bear however wondered further and further away from the island with his dolphin family and neglected training with Zoey as the ocean became more like a natural second home to him. He was swimming with the dolphins early one morning getting up before his other two friends even woke up. The reason was because he had talked to the leader of the dolphin pod about a power that they wished to bestow on him since he had become accepted as one of the pod members of their family. None of them could inherit that power since they didn't possess magical abilities like Aqua bear which was a requirement in order to possess this gift they wanted to so eagerly give him. But he was warned about the grave dangers of the deep and that if he wanted it, he would have to set off on his own to prove himself not only to the rest of his pod, but to all of the dolphins around the seven oceans. If successful, not only would he inherit the power, he would also gain considerable respect from all dolphins around the world. The pod held a meeting last night with Aqua bear as he sat on one of the dolphins as they briefed him in the night before. It went something like this.
"So Aqua," Replied the leader of the dolphin pod. "In order for you to receive this power, you must set out on your own in shark infested waters in order to touch the pink crystal at the bottom of the sea buried deep in a cavern in the caves below." Aqua shook with fear because he knew all too well what sharks were capable of. "Although we'd love to come with you, it is way too much of a danger since their are too many sharks, more than our small pod can handle. Also, this crystal only reveals itself once every seventy seven years waiting for the one to claim its power! So if you want this power, you must make a decision now before this day ends. What is your decision?"
"What kind of powers does that pink crystal have?" Inquired Aqua bear as he eyes the leader swimming in from of him to his right.
"It is rumored to have all the ancient strength, kindness, history of the ancient dolphins, as well as untold powers that only a magic user like yourself can use. It is said, that these powers can set the world on fire!" Replied the twelve foot male dolphin as he swam past Aqua bear for a second time. Aqua bear rubbed his chin deep in thought. "But if you don't want too, that's fine too and we will think of you as no less as one of our family."
"Thank you." Smiled Aqua bear as he still held his chin deep in thought.
"So what's your decision?" Inquired the leader.
"I have decided to pursue it," Replied Aqua bear. All the dolphins cheered! They weren't sure if Aqua bear was ready for the challenge although he showed considerable progress in learning how to swim with them amongst other things. "When do I begin?"
"You'll begin at first light tomorrow morning." Instructed the leader as they gave Aqua bear a ride back to the island and concluded their meeting.
Well, it was now the next morning and Aqua was escorted out to the forbidden area otherwise known as, the shark's habitat! Now the time would come for Aqua's quest that to begin to determine his destiny with great power, or what could be, his final resting place! His pod just reached what is considered to be the border of, 'the forbidden area'. The pod stopped in the area and consulted with Aqua bear one last time.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Inquired his dolphin mom which took care of him as if he was their own son. "Its not too late to turn back if you want too!"
"Mom, I'll be fine," Replied Aqua bravely as he jumped into the water from his mother's back and surfaced to the top. "Besides, I must inherit those powers! Think of the good that I could do with those powers!" Shouted the cub excitedly as he raised his fist into the air for feeling.
"Alright, but be careful Aqua," Warned his mom. "We await your triumphant return by the island!"
"Its time to go," Replied another eleven foot male dolphin which Aqua called dad as he turned and faced his son proudly. "Make us proud son! We know you can do it! Now go get that gym!" Aqua bid them farewell waving his paw as they headed back in the direction from which they came. 'Well, looks like its just me now!' Aqua thought to himself as he swam in the direction of the forbidden area where several sharks awaited his arrival to decide his faith.
Aqua now swam for about fifteen minutes on his own and didn't see any signs of sharks. Aqua still shivered with fear as doubtful thoughts entered his head as if put their by another entity. Aqua managed to wrestle those dreadful thoughts down as he encouraged himself. "Be brave Aqua! Your a caring guardian now!" He said to himself as he continue to navigate underwater in the darkened seas below. "Now, where could that crystal be?" Thought Aqua bear to himself as he consistently would come up for breath once every three minutes and headed back down underwater searching for the pink crystal.
As the bears woke up back on the island, Redemptionheart was the first to notice Aqua was gone.
"Zoey, have you seen Aqua?" Inquired the multicolored bear.
"No, have you?" Zoey asked back.
"I bet he's out swimming with his dolphin family." Yawned Redemptionheart as she sat and stretched out her arms.
"Yeah your right," Replied Zoey. "Let's go fishing! I'm sure will see him sooner or later!"
"That's a great idea," Concurred Redemptionheart as she stood up. "Let's go!" Both of the bears took off from the cave and ran to the beach.
Now, Aqua just concluded that since he hadn't come across the pink jewel, he assumed that it must have been in another area. So he casted a short speed spell good for five minutes swimming across the water on the surface effortlessly like a dolphin at about twenty knots until his speed spell warded off. He was breathing steadily. Although he was in the greatest shape of his life, he had to took a moment to recover but knew he couldn't wait too long because of the dangers of the sharks that the dolphins had told him about. He took a deep breath before he plunged underneath the water. As he looked around, he stopped in the water lying still, as he saw hundreds of sharks. Fear crept into him and he almost panicked but managed to take control of his fears thanks to the training exercises that Mel'feir gave him to control his fears. Aqua looked around him at these magnificent beasts wondering why none of them weren't swimming around him. Then it struck him that these sharks were sleeping. All creatures need sleep, no matter whether they live in the ocean or on land. 'I better get the #$# out of here!' Thought Aqua bear as he was about to go back up to the surface to leave. Just then, a unexpected brightness hit his eyes. As he glared around trying to find the source, he noticed that it was coming from the bottom of the ocean. He looked down but couldn't get a good look at the source. Despite his fear, he swam towards the source carefully avoiding the motionless sharks gracefully. After about a minute of working his way around the sharks, he saw the source of the light. It looked huge from the light that was imminating off of it. 'Could this be the pink crystal?' Thought Aqua bear to himself as he narrowed his eyes and swam even closer to it. Sure enough, although it was imminating white, it was indeed the pink crystal. It stood their with nothing support it from underneath, it seemed to float from its own magical aura. However, as Aqua was about to swim to it to touch it, he stopped when he saw a huge black shark that lay motionless just over the top of it just inches away from the crystal, with another shark of the same species that swam underneath it and just as close to the crystal as the other one. Aqua new that he had to be really careful, or danger and death wouldn't be only a hard beat away. He was about to touch it until something else now bothered him, his lungs were beginning to burn and knew that he had to go to the surface for a fresh breath of air lest he drown. So he shot himself up to the surface trying not to touch any of the sharks. He picked his speed up though because his lungs were now really beginning to burn as he was about half way to the surface. 'I should have took a breath of air before I came down to investigate!' He grumbled to himself as he now only had one quarter of the way left to go. Just when he thought he was clear of all sharks, he picked up the pace and didn't see one of the shark bodies as he bumped into it hard. The shark shot away as if with a yelp away from Aqua bear as it started to bump into the other sharks. Aqua bear now knew that he was in big trouble as he continued his way to the surface and shot up and took a deep breath of fresh air.
"Dolphin speed!" He shouted as he raised his hands above his head which both glowed a bright Aqua blue. The spell took a second to take effect, and he sweated every moment of it since he saw several dorsal fins cutting through the water towards him. "Oh bear this doesn't look good!" He commented to himself just as the speed spell took full effect as he dove underneath the water dodging past a shark that tried to take a bite out if his side. As he looked around, he saw several sharks swimming around him like alligators anticipating when to attack him next. He shot himself downwards avoiding several of sharks trying to cut off his path. Aqua swam with amazing speed as he was now halfway across to his target. After he successfully avoided all of the sharks, he now stood just a few feet away from the jewel as he had now came to a complete stop. For some reason, he had a bad feeling about this as if he shouldn't touch that jewel, as he began having second thoughts, the decision was made for him as he saw three eighteen foot long sharks making their way towards him. Aqua made up his mind and determined that some bad feeling wasn't going to stop him now. He was too close too fulfilling not his dreams, but the dreams of all the other dolphins as well. So he made his way towards the jewel and touched it. A low loud rumble from the jewel caused vibrations sending sound waves across the ocean. Then Aqua turned to face his oncoming attackers but noticed that they were perfectly still as if frozen in time. He looked around and all of the other sharks were also still. After he was sure that all of the sharks were frozen, he turned his attention to the jewel which was now glowing a dim pink. 'What in the ocean is going on here?' Thought Aqua bear to himself as he continued to look at the jewel. Then, a small circle in the glow began to materialize an image of some sort. As Aqua looked on curiously, the image finally materialized to a face of a white albino dolphin. It looked right at Aqua and smiled.
"I have waited so long for you!" Replied the dolphin in its native tongue which Aqua understood perfectly.
"Huh? You mean you were waiting for me? Why?" Replied Aqua bear back.
"For the one worthy to receive the power of all the ancient dolphin's that's why," Replied the dolphin in a female tone of voice as it smiled at Aqua bear. "Listen, I don't have much time. Since you braved the waters to touch the pink crystal, I find you worthy to inherit its full power. Never again will this be done, so when you have your children, you must choose an air to pass on these powers!"
"My children?" Asked Aqua bear confused.
"You'll understand everything in time," Smiled the dolphin at its predecessor. "Now with the authority given to me as the ancient protector of the jewel, I hereby pass on the power of the ancient dolphins to its new inheritor! Aqua bear, touch the jewel!" Commanded the albino dolphin. As if in a trans and made a zombie to do the jewels bitting, he reached out with his hand and touched the jewel. Bright light surrounded Aqua bear engulfing him in the light. Aqua bear was now awakened by searing pain all over his body that shot from his legs upwards towards his arms. He felt like he was on fire and screamed out from the pain.
"Ahhhh! I never should have gone on this stupid jewel quest!" He mused to himself with his eyes closed shut with his legs shaking violently from the surge of power going through his body. After what felt like an eternity, he was finally able to pull his paw away from the jewel as the light stopped engulfing him as everything turned back to normal. But when he looked in the direction of the jewel, it wasn't pink but clear. Aqua lifted up his paw as he now saw blue lightning cackling in his hand. Then he saw the jewel brake into hundreds of pieces. He looked around him and saw the sharks slowly returning to life. "I better get outta here before I become a shark dinner!" Replied the bear as he dashed across the sharks effortlessly avoiding them. But he stopped all of a sudden, as he was now surrounded by all the sharks. "What the heck! Sharks don't work together like that!" As if understanding him, he saw one of the sharks smiling at him in a menacing manner. 'Dolphin fire!' Said a voice in his head. "What?" Aqua said to himself. 'Use the powers of the ancients! Stretch out with your hands cupped together and shout, dolphin fire!' Instructed the voice in his head. Not knowing what else to do, by faith he cupped his hands together, aimed at a cluster of sharks, and shouted as he thrusted his arms forward,"Dolphin Fire!" Red energy came bursting out and hit one of the sharks head engulfing the beast on fire as if it was lit by a blow torch. The sharks cried out in pain as they retreated away from him. Aqua turned and faced the other sharks; but before he could say or do anything, they all dispersed away from him. Aqua lowered his arms and came to the surface and took a deep breath of fresh air. "Whew! That was interesting!" Shouted the bear to himself. "Now its time to head for home!" He took a deep breath and shot underneath the water at about thirty knots an hour back to his dolphin family and friends on the island. "Wait'll Zoey and Redemptionheart get a load of this!" He chuckled to himself as he now planned on challenging Zoey to another saber duel, but wasn't going to tell her when he planned to surprise her with his new powers.
I hope that didn't sound to corny. Please R&R and tell me what you think.