Chapter 14: Disaster Strikes

We made our way back to the temple as quick as we could; the sun was rising faster than we were walking. I snickered as I looked over to Zeik, having a devious idea.

FWAP!

"Oww!" hollered Zeik, "what was that for?" I laughed and continued to make my way to the temple, not looking back. My tail stung from the impact with Zeik's hard skull.

"Hey!" he called after me, "slow down, I'm a little tired." I heeded him and slowed down, albeit reluctantly, since we were so close to the temple. When Zeik finally caught up with me, he smiled and wacked me in the back of my skull with his tail as well.

"Ow," I whined, "I guess you were right, that does hurt." He nodded at me, with a look of 'I-told-you-so' in his eyes. I smiled at him, and then shuddered as a cold breeze blew over me and Zeik. The warm summer morning suddenly got gloomy as clouds began to travel into view.

"I think we should hurry," Zeik said ominously, "looks like some bad weather is coming in." I agreed and we took flight, both of us a little scared of the sudden change of weather.

"So glad of you to join us today, young dragons," said Chronicler as we flew in through the window, "may I ask why you were both so late?" I struggled to find an answer yet again, but Zeik found one first.

"No," he said firmly, "not this time, this was a personal matter that Ashe does not wish to mention." I was horrified and fascinated at the same time from Zeik's response, it was so straight-forward. The Chronicler was taken aback at Zeik's brashness, and it was all I could do not to laugh at the expression he gave Zeik.

"Very well," Chronicler said, "then let's start our training for today." I smiled as those words gave me comfort. Training, the time when I felt the safest.

"Today you will be working on your ability to gain power from each other," Chronicler continued, "because if you can learn to master this skill, you can defeat almost any opponent." Zeik and I looked at each other, totally confused by that piece of info. Zeik was the first to speak up.

"Gain power…from each other?" he questioned, "………………………..HOW DOES THAT WORK!?" He made a what-the-eff face as he said that. I chuckled at the almost perfect display of that face. The Chronicler then spoke up.

"You see, young dragons," he said, "You two have a special bond that very few dragons are able to make." I turned away and blushed, hoping that the Chronicler didn't know of my affection towards Zeik. Zeik also turned away, and I could hear his unsteady breathing.

He must be embarrassed too, I thought to myself, this couldn't be any more perfect, he likes me as well. I smiled inwardly, and then went back to listen to the Chronicler's explanation of this so-called 'bond' we had.

"You see," he said, "when you are both in close proximity; you can gain power from the very presence of each other. The bond you two share can make you more powerful than you could ever imagine." At this, Zeik spoke up.

"Pfff," he scoffed, "I don't know, I can imagine quite a bit." I flicked the tip of his wing with the flat of my tail-blade, scolding him for being so rude.

"What I think he means, master," I said, being sure to remember to call the teacher by his proper name, "is that we are already very powerful, so how can we get more powerful?" Chronicler smiled at this, apparently finding my ignorance amusing.

"Young Ashe," he said politely, "you really don't understand the true power of love, do you?" My eyes shot open, my face felt like it was on fire, my heart skipped what seemed to be a minutes worth of beats, my breath was caught in my throat, I could only stare at Chronicler in absolute horror.

Did he REALLY just say that? I asked myself, what do I say? I stayed locked in that position, eyes glued to Chronicler, for at least a minute. Finally, I found my voice.

"WHAAAAAAAAAT?!?!" I screeched out, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?!" I could hardly think, I was totally embarrassed, and I was beyond any comprehension of anything except the dragon in front of me.

"What I mean is," Chronicler calmly began, "that the love you two share for each other is where you will draw your power from." I felt it before it happened, I knew I was going to faint. My eyes rolled back into my head, and then I passed out.

Moments later, I felt a sharp pain in my tail. I shot up in pain, seeing that it was a rock that was rolled onto my tail. I shook my head, clearing the fuzzy out of my mind. I blinked and saw an almost identical scene to what I fainted to. The only difference was that Zeik avoided eye contact.

"How long was I out?" I asked nobody in particular.

"About a minute, Ashe," Chronicler chuckled, "Zeik here just made a rock roll onto your tail and up you came." I still felt the pounding in my chest and the heat in my cheeks, but I chose to ignore it. I wanted to start the training.

"Thanks Zeik," I said, but he just mumbled. I frowned at him, but he still didn't see it.

"Can we start training now?" he asked Chronicler, who nodded and walked into the middle of the room.

"Ok," said Chronicler, "first, let's start by closing our eyes and letting our minds go blank." I waited until Zeik closed his eyes, and then I did the same. I felt my mind clearing, rather quickly.

"Good," Chronicler said calmly, "now, think of the single most powerful memory of each other, let it fill you up, let it become part of you, let it spread over every inch of your body." I thought of us in the clearing, lying there, all alone. I felt something inside of me tingle, and then I felt that same sensation spread over my entire body.

"You are ready," Chronicler said, "now, unleash that feeling out in a single burst, and put every ounce of your strength into it." I did as I was told, releasing the built up power. Wind mixed with time in a devastating combo, slowing my surroundings and sending a gale-force wind swirling around me. I had never felt so much power, so much intensity, ever before in my life; it was exhilarating.

"Well done Ashe!" Chronicler hollered over the howling wind, still moving as though the time wasn't slowed. "Very good, now, clear your mind again to stop the fury; you don't want to drain your powers." I obeyed, taking a deep breath and letting my mind go blank. I felt a similar tingling, but this time it receded rather than spread. I felt the wind die down and time speed back up as the fury ended.

"Very good, now we wait and see if Zeik can manage this as well," Chronicler said with a serious look on his face. I nodded and turned to look at Zeik, noticing how concentrated he was. I felt, rather than saw, the room get darker, and shivered, but I paid it no mind. I saw that Zeik's tightly clenched eyelids had begun to form tears at the corners, and a smile inched across his face. His eyes suddenly shot open as he released his fury, sending bright bursts of light shooting from his body. I shielded my eyes, fearing blindness, but I felt pure inside, like the evil was being purged from my body.

"Oh no," Chronicler rasped out in a tone that sent cold shivers down my spine. I suddenly realized that something was wrong; the beams of light seemed to get brighter and closer together, as if Zeik was losing control. That pure feeling suddenly wasn't there anymore; it was being changed into evil again. Then…a laugh echoed around the room, one filled with malice and hate.

"MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! AT LONG LAST, I HAVE RETURNED!" I would've recognized that voice anywhere.

Malefor had returned… and he wanted revenge.

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