Chapter Twenty

A Disaster on a Hill

The gang stepped out of the gate and were half asleep, except for Seala.

"Ah! I'm back! I cannot believe this!" Seala cheered.

"Välkommen till Sverige. Njut av din vistelse." A man said.

"Tack." Seala said.

The gang walked down the hall, Seala in the lead. Gibson walked faster to catch up with Seala. When he did, Gibson tapped on Seala's shoulder.

"What was that back there?" Gibson asked.

"What? With the 'Welcome to Sweden. Enjoy your visit.' and the Thank you I said?"

"Oh, is that what you said?" Gibson questioned.

"Yes…I need to teach you how to speak Swedish."

"Why would I need to speak Swedish if I've got you?" Gibson asked putting his arm around Seala's waist.

Seala blushed and giggled a little.

"I am so glad they made up." Melodie said.

"Yeah…I guess having that Harold guy come with her to the ball was pretty stupid, huh Melodie?…Oops, slip of the tongue." Gizmo giggled.

"Nice going loud mouth." Elella said.

"Sorry. I can't help it sometimes."

"Wait a second…Seala had a guy bring her to the ball just to make Gibson jealous?" Chiro asked.

"We didn't know she was going to, but when she told us the plan at the ball, before you showed up, we couldn't stop it from there." Melodie said.

"Seala's tricky when she wants to be." Elella added.

"Anyways…hey Seala?"

"Yes Gizmo?"

"What are we doing in Sweden anyways?"

"Well…I thought we could go skiing, and then go to the Stockholm Globe Arena tonight. Then spend the night in a hotel and get on the plane tomorrow for our next stop."

"Um…we don't know how to ski." Chiro pointed out.

"Oh it's so easy. We'll teach ya." Carbon said.

"Yeah. So totally easy." Elella said.

Up on the ski mountain…

"Carbon! Come on already!" Blaze shouted.

"I'm coming!" Carbon shouted back from inside the changing room.

Carbon stepped out of the girls' changing room. She was wearing a purple snowsuit, white boots and gloves, and a pair of yellow snow-goggles. She also had a purple with gold colored lightening strips, outlined in white, snowboard.

"I thought you were skiing with us, kiddette." Sprx said.

"I'm not a skier, I'm snowboarder." Carbon said.

"She's better at it." Seala added.

"See ya at the bottom. Oh, and remember this is just the starter hill." Carbon pointed out before boarding down the hill.

"I'm not sure if I want to go down now." Chiro said.

"Aw…come on. It's easy. Just follow me…and Elella…shut up." Seala said.

"What? I wasn't going to say anything."

"Yes you were."

"I just going to warn them about the snow creature."

"Snow c-c-creature?" Otto questioned.

"Don't listen to her. She's making it up just to scare you." Gizmo said.

"I am not!"

"Elella, I've had it with you. Knock it off!" Gizmo shouted.

Everyone fell silent to Gizmo's sudden outburst.

"Um…Gizmo…you feeling alright?" Seala asked.

"Just fine. Why do you ask?" Gizmo asked.

"Um…you just yelled at Elella."

"Oh…sorry Elella. I don't know what's gotta into me lately."

"It's okay Giz. Let's just get going, kay?"

"Okay."

"Seala, if you would?" Melodie said.

"Right, so just follow my feet and you'll be just fine."

"And if we don't?" Sprx asked.

"Let's just say you'll be having snow for lunch."

Then Seala started down the hill with the others following. The HF was a little wobbly to start but then got the hang of it.

"Hey…this is sorta fun." Chiro said.

"I told you it was easy. Now…how about going a little faster?" Seala asked.

"How?" Nova asked.

"Using these." Seala said holding up the picks she had. "Watch me."

Then Seala used the picks to ski faster. Everyone else followed.

"Wow…I never thought I'd actually get this." Sprx said.

"I told you it was easy!" Seala shouted back.

After ten minutes, everyone made it down the hill.

"That was great you guys!" Elella shouted.

"That was great! You got it quicker than we did." Gizmo said.

"Hey! There you are!" Carbon shouted running over.

Carbon tripped over her feet and went face first in the snow. Chiro tried to run over, but tripped over his skies.

"Nice job you two! Ha! Face full of snow!" Elella laughed.

"Ha-ha-ha Elella! But you know…the thing about snow is that you can throw it!" Carbon shouted before throwing a snowball at Elella, hitting her square in the face.

"Now that's funny." Chiro laughed.

"Here…try it out." Carbon said handing a snowboard to Chiro.

It was orange with green, black, and white swirls all over it.

"Hey…cool board. Thanks."

"Come on. It's all about balance." Carbon said before boarding down the hill.

Chiro followed her and he jumped over her head.

"Yeah-Whoo! That was awesome!" Chiro shouted.

"Way to go Chiro!" Then Carbon stopped. "That was better than me." Carbon said to herself.

"Hey Carbon! Come on! Let's go! This is awesome!" Chiro shouted from a little ways down the hill.

"Coming!" Carbon shouted back, sadness lacing her voice.

Carbon stopped where Chiro was waiting.

"Hey…you okay? You seem upset."

"I'm okay. Just not feeling too good."

"Wanna stop for now?"

"No way…let's go. I'll be okay."

Carbon and Chiro started down the hill again, neck and neck. Carbon started to slow down a bit before falling forward and rolling down the hill.

"Carbon! Holy Shuggazoom." Chiro snowboarded down the hill as fast as he could and stopped where Carbon did. He unbuckled his snowboard and ran over to Carbon. "Carbon? Wake up."

Carbon groaned a little before opening her eyes a little.

"Chiro?"

"Oh thank goodness. Okay…just lay still. I'm gonna call Gibson and Seala, okay?" Then Chiro actived his communicator. "Chiro to Gibson and Seala…come in."

"Chiro? Are you okay?" Seala's voice came over the communicator.

"Carbon fainted and fell down the hill. I think we're at the bottom. She needs help…fast. Where are you two?"

"We see you. We'll be there soon." Gibson said.

"Okay…Chiro out." Then Chiro hung up and got to his feet. He saw the others and started waving his hands in the air.

The others stopped where Chiro and Carbon were and unbuckled their skies. Seala and Gibson ran over to Carbon.

"Chiro…are you okay?" Antauri asked.

"I'm fine. It's Carbon I'd be worried about."

"What happened to her?" Melodie asked.

"I don't know. We were having a blast, boarding down the hill, when she just fell forward and rolled down the hill here." Chiro explained.

Melodie looked so worried, as well as Elella. Elella looked more aggravated than worried but that was her expression of being worried, Chiro knew it. Chiro walked over to her and rested a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey kid." Elella said.

"Hey…don't worry about Carbon. She'll be fine, I know it."

"I'm not worried about that. I'm worried that…I won't be there if something does happen to her. I think of that every time she gets hurt." Elella said.

"You will always be there."

"I won't always be able to protect her though."

"I know. And you won't always have to."

"I know kid."

"Come on…Let's help Seala and Gibson get her to the cabin lodge."

"Okay…" Elella said.

The two walked over and gently helped carry Carbon to the lodge. When they got there, the four set Carbon on a couch and Seala covered Carbon with a blanket.

"She'll be okay…right? Right?" Elella asked.

"Elella…she'll be just fine. She just had a faint spell. Carbon just needs some rest…that is all." Seala said.

"I'm worried."

"Come here." Seala said hugging Elella.

Elella started to cry.

"What's up with Elella?" Sprx asked.

"She's worried about Carbon." Chiro answered.

"It's understandable. I mean…the two have been together through everything." Nova said.

"Yeah…but I can't believe how worried she is." Chiro said.

"Elella's got a soft spot when it comes to her family." Blaze said.

Chiro couldn't help but feel something sinking in his stomach. Then he coughed, hard.

"Hey kid…you okay?" Sprx asked.

"I don't know. I feel weird all of a sudden."

"Come on…let's sit you down buddy." Otto said.

Chiro sat down on a seat and then held his head.

"Chiro…what's wrong?" Antauri asked.

"I'm feeling too good Antauri. What's happening to me?"

"Gibson!" Antauri called over. Gibson started to walk over when Chiro fell forward, onto the ground. "Chiro!"

That's when Gibson ran over and looked over Chiro.

"It looks like whatever hit Carbon hit Chiro as well."

"But what hit them is the question." Melodie added.

Inside Chiro's subconscious…

Chiro started to wake up and started to sit up off the ground. He stood up after a minute.

"Hello? Guys?…Sprx? Antauri? Nova? Anyone?" Chiro called. No one answered. "Oh great." Then there was some talking, light, almost faint. "Hey…who's there?"

"Help me! Electra! Ah!" Then there was the smell of smoke. Chiro whipped around and started to see fire.

Chiro turned around and saw a faint outline of two little kids.

"Electra! Help us!" He could hear his little voice.

"I'm in my…memories." Chiro said.

Then the two kids came in view. It was him and Carbon sitting on the bed in his old house, he was holding Carbon close.

"Chiro, I'm scared!"

"It's gonna be okay Carbon. Electra will save us."

"I hope so."

Then a piece of wood fell out of the roof, making the two scream in horror. Then Elella flew in the room. She landed on the bed.

"I've got'cha guys! Hold on to me tight!" Elella shouted.

The two little kids held onto Elella. She flew them downstairs and the view changed.

"I'm outside the house?" Chiro questioned.

"I'll take him now." A fireman said.

"No! He's my responsibility! I have to protect them both! The mother told me too!" Elella shouted holding the two.

"I'm sorry…but I have to take at least one of them. Come here little guy."

"No…Chiro! Don't leave!" Carbon shouted.

"I feel like I have to…"

"No, you don't. I'm your big sister. Stay with me."

Then the fireman shocked Elella in the back and she passed out.

"Come with me little guy."

"Goodbye Carbon. Stay with Elella always. Promise me."

"I-I promise. When are you coming back?"

"He won't be."

"Chiro?"

"We'll see each other…some day."

Then Chiro followed the fireman and left the two alone. Carbon hugged Elella and cried so hard. That's when everything started to disappear, Chiro could see reality coming back to him. Then he woke up with a scare.

"Carbon!" Chiro shouted.

"I'm right here, Chiro."

Chiro starred at Carbon for a second, then hugged her.

"I'm sorry! I am so sorry!" Chiro shouted.

"Chiro? Are you feeling alright?" Antauri asked.

Chiro let go of Carbon and looked at Antauri.

"No…I'm not." Chiro stood up. "You two lied to me about what happened!" Chiro shouted pointing at Elella and Carbon.

"Chiro? What are you talking about? What happened?" Carbon asked.

"The night we were separated."

"But Elella didn't lie. She told the truth. Right Elella? Elella?"

"I guess I left out a few details…but it was for your safety."

"What safety?"

"Those firemen…they weren't real firemen."

"Elella…did you lie to us?" Carbon asked.

"Like I said…for your safety."

"Wait, if those firemen weren't really firemen…then who were they?" Chiro asked.

"They worked for Skeleton Queen. Human formless that worked for her. I didn't find out until one night, one of the firemen attacked Carbon."

"That fireman worked for her?"

Elella nodded. Carbon fell on a seat and shivered.

"Carbon? What's wrong?" Chiro asked.

"She had him…I can't believe it."

"What? What happened?"

"Chiro…Carbon was hurt physically years ago." Elella said.

"What do you mean by…physically?" Sprx asked.

"I mean…this one fireman…I went to get some food for us, when Carbon and I lived off the streets, I came back a few minutes later and Carbon had beaten and…"

"And what?" Nova asked.

"She was, what'd you say it was again Seala?" Elella asked.

"Child molestation."

"It was a good thing I got back when I did. The guy was about stab her, when I shocked him and he turned into hot pink ooze."

"Carbon…is this true?" Chiro asked.

Carbon nodded and started to cry. Chiro hugged her tightly and let her cry.

"Ever since I found out who had an army of ooze that color, I vowed to stop her at all costs." Elella said, clenching her fist.

"And we will." Sprx said.

"Yeah…for Carbon, right?" Gizmo asked.

"Yeah." Chiro said.

Then he noticed Carbon fell asleep again.

"I guess our plans for tonight are ruined." Seala said sitting down.

"Why don't you guys go ahead? I'll stay with Carbon, watch over her tonight." Chiro said.

"I'll stay with ya kid." Sprx said.

"I'm not leaving the kiddette either." Elella said.

"Then you three will watch Carbon in the room until we get back." Melodie said.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Nova asked.

"We'll be fine. No worries Nova." Sprx said.

Sprx kissed Nova before they left. Nova blushed a little before leaving with the others.

"Hey Nova…you alright? Your face is turning redder than Sprx's fur." Gizmo said.

"What? Oh yeah. I'm okay." Nova said quickly.

"Are you sure?" Otto asked.

"Will you guys stop worrying? I'm fine."

"Just got a kiss from Sprx huh?" Gizmo asked.

"How'd you know?"

"I have a talent for knowing things about love."

"It's true. She found out about me like-liking Gibson back on Planet Zon."

"But Sprx found out first." Gizmo pointed out.

"Sprx?" Nova questioned.

"That's right. He talked to me about Gibson and told me to tell Gibson how I felt."

"That's what he told me." Gibson said.

"Looks like he hooked you two up good." Gizmo said.

"So Seala…what are we doing?" Jin asked.

"Well…it's sort of a surprise for you, but we're going to the Stockholm Globe Arena."

"And what's going on there is the surprise?" Jinmay asked.

Seala nodded.

Back at the Hotel Room…

Carbon was sleeping in a bed, Chiro was sitting on a bed next to her. Elella was sitting on Carbon's bed, brushing Carbon's hair. Sprx was laying at the end of Chiro's bed. They were watching TV quietly, so not to wake up Carbon.

"Hey kid…you're pretty quiet. You okay?" Sprx asked.

"Yeah…sorta."

"Sorta?"

"It's just…I can't believe how much Carbon's been through. If only I didn't leave them that day."

"Oh come on kid. It wasn't you."

"But what if it was?"

"Then it was mine too…I wasn't there either."

"I know. But we don't know what happened to you so you have an excuse."

"So do you…what's your point?"

"I had the chose of staying or leaving with that fireman."

"And you chose to leave…forget about it kid." Elella said.

"Elella…you're the big sister here. Why didn't you just run away with Carbon and I?"

"I couldn't kid. Carrying you two out of the house was hard enough. Most of my energy cells were gone already."

"So when you woke up…what'd you do?"

"I-I took Carbon to the ally and had her hide in a cardboard box while I went to get supplies. That was-was the night it happened."

The boys fell quiet, so did Elella. After a while, the three fell asleep and the Seala peeked in the room.

"Aw…they're asleep." Seala said.

Everyone walked in, in their original forms.

"I wonder how long they've been asleep." Jin said, sitting next to Carbon.

"No! Ah!" Chiro started screaming.

Followed by Sprx.

"They're having a nightmare. We gotta wake them up." Nova said.

"Chiro, Sprx…wake up. It is only a nightmare. Wake up. Wake up." Antauri said.

After a few minutes, the two stopped screaming and started to wake up.

"Sprx? Are you okay?" Nova asked.

"Nova? Oh hey guys. When'd you get back?" Sprx asked.

"How was the Arena?" Chiro added.

"Seala ice skated for fun and got an encore from the audience. She was great." Nova answered. "What about your night?"

"Chiro and I, we watched TV. Elella watched Carbon sleep. We talked a bit, but nothing big."

"What was your nightmare about?" Nova asked.

"How'd you know about that?" Chiro asked.

"We came in right before you two started screaming in your sleep."

Sprx and Chiro looked at their sisters, and looked upset.

"They're fine. And they will be now that you two are reunited with them." Melodie said.

"I'm glad we found you guys on Planet Zon." Chiro said.

"Yeah…or we may have never gotten through these crazy adventures." Sprx said.

"Crazy…yet fun, right?" Gizmo said.

"Yeah…it is pretty fun so far." Jinmay said.

"You weren't even in them." Chiro pointed out.

"Good point but Carbon and I, we talk."

Me: What up readers! Sorry for the long update. Crazy week. Vacation, babysitting two little girls, homework…what else?

Gizmo: And taking care of me.

Me: That's right. Mandra struck Gizmo while we were gone and we had to help her out. Anyways…updating soon, no questions, but a quiz it has to be from your memory.

What was the original story Elella had told Chiro and Carbon about the day they were separated?

Bye! Say bye guys.

Otto and Gizmo: Bye guys.