Eva attempted to drive through a huge sandstorm, but the winds kept pushing against her, wanting to take the star-racer and its riders with it. Jordan climbed into the cockpit and placed his arms over Eva's, helping her steer.
"There's a temple still standing over there!" Jordan shouted "Let's go there.
"Right," Eva nodded, flying against the wind.
The sandstorm had subsided so Eva, Jordan, and Rick stood at the doorway to the temple, looking at the vast desert.
"Everything's gone…" Eva whispered. "The temples, the trees, the animals, the racers, even…" she trailed off, not wanting to say it.
"We're still here, there's hope," Jordan smiled. Rick could tell that it was half-hearted.
"Even…" Eva closed her eyes, and brought her knees to her chest. "Even…Aikka…"
"Don't say that little mouse" Rick sighed, sitting next to her. "The prince has some pretty strong magic, I'm sure he can survive something like this."
"No…I heard it…I heard the sadness in his voice when he spoke to me," Eva whispered, "and I saw it…I saw the tear that slid down his cheek," Eva whispered, her shoulders shaking. "He knew he probably wasn't going to make it, and he told me to keep racing and stop Kross."
"Eva, let it go, it's not your fault," Jordan told her, grabbing her shoulders. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure he's fine."
"Aikka protected you until the very end, that's what he was supposed to do. He also made sure that you won in order to save the galaxy," Rick told her.
"But it is my fault! Don't you see that?" Eva shouted, standing up. "If I hadn't have walked out on that ceremony to go find Aikka, none of this would be happening! This is my fault! Mine and no one else's!" Tears dripped down her tears as she glared at the two of them.
"Hey, no one put as much heart and soul into this race as you did," Jordan assured her.
"You followed your heart; can anyone say that that was a bad decision? You just wanted to know if the prince was alright, that's what anyone would have done if they were in the same position as you," Rick told her. Eva sniffed and her shoulders shook. She let out a cry and jumped on Jordan, hugging him.
"Don't worry, it'll be alright," Jordan smiled, rubbing her back.
Don walked away from the sight of his daughter, not wanting to see it anymore. He walked past Stan and Koji, who were trying to get the sand out of the Arrow III. He entered a small room and opened his suitcase, calling the president. "Mr. President, I'm so glad that I could reach you. I have much to tell you…" Don told the man. The president was hunched forward, staring at his hands. "Mr. President, can you hear me?" Another hologram entered the room.
"The Crog Armada has regrouped! Everyone fall back immediately, fall back!" The general shouted, before disappearing.
"Mr. President…what's happening?" Don asked, staring at the depressed man. Another hologram appeared.
"Earth Defense 1 to Central Command, Crog cruiser spotted off Venus. Awaiting your instructions."
"Earth Defense 3 we've got more over here, no eight! Eleven! They're coming from everywhere! It's an entire armada! Where's our fleet? We need help!"
"Mr. President!" Don shouted. The three men got cut off, the call ending.
"Did you get your connection sir?" Stan asked, walking into the room.
"No…I couldn't get through…" Don lied, closing the suitcase, "must be the storm."
Eva and her two knights sat at the doorway, still staring at the sand. Rick looked up in the sky and hummed.
"What is that…?" he muttered. Eva and Jordan looked up at the sky and saw a black figure shaped like a wide 'v'.
"That sound…" Eva muttered "It's G'dar!" She gasped and ran into the temple and quickly ran up the steps, ignoring her two protectors.
"Eva! Get back here! It could be a trick!" Rick shouted, chasing after her. Eva ran out to the little catwalk on the upper level of the temple.
"G'dar!" She cheered, running up to the giant beetle. G'dar screeched and took a few steps back, revealing the bruised prince. "Aikka!" Eva gasped, running over to the prince. She kneeled down next to him, and examined him. "Aikka…please speak to me…" Eva begged, stroking his cheek.
"…e…v…a…" Aikka whispered weakly.
"Aikka!" Eva gasped, hugging him. "Aikka, you're okay!" She kissed his cheek and held him close.
"How is he?" Eva asked as Stan and her father walked out of the office like room.
"He's fine, he'll be alright," Don assured her.
"Poor kid was dehydrated, all he need was a little water," Stan smiled. "He'll be fine." Eva sighed in relief.
"Why don't you go see him little mouse," Rick suggested.
"Do you think it's alright?" Eva asked.
"Yeah, the injuries weren't too bad, he's well enough to have a visitor," Stan nodded. Eva pulled the curtains back, and looked at the prince, lying helpless on the table. She slowly walked over to the table, and placed a hand over Aikka's.
"Aikka…can you hear me?" Eva whispered. Aikka's eyes twitched and he turned his head, opening his eyes to look at her.
"Eva…you're alright," he whispered. He sat up and groaned.
"Aikka! You have to rest!" Eva protested.
"No, we cannot rest," Aikka groaned, taking Eva's hand in his. "We have no time. If we do not hurry, then Canaletto will take the powers of the Avatar."
"How did you know about Canaletto…?" Eva asked, pushing him back. Aikka sighed and lay down. The rest of the team walked into the room, looking at the two.
"When G'dar rescued me from falling, I quickly headed back to the flying temple. But I could tell that something was not right. At first, I had feared Kross had won the last race," Aikka whispered. "But the truth was much more insidious. I caught Satis as he was falling out of the temple. He told me that he destroyed the pyramid of power in order to prevent Canaletto from gaining the powers of the Avatar. He then told me that there was a similar pyramid, in the Temple of Heart. That is why I have come for you, to crown you the Avatar," Aikka told her.
"I can't!" Eva protested, backing up. "I can't do it! Look at all the harm I've caused already."
"You did not destroy the flying temple, Eva," Aikka groaned, sitting up. "It was Canaletto's evil magic. You are the only one that can stop him now. Eva, you are the new Avatar," he told her, kneeling down. "I put my bow…and my sword, at your service."
"I can't…" Eva whispered. "How am I supposed to do this? I'm only fifteen! I-!" She was cut off when Aikka swiftly stood up and covered her lips with his own.
"I believe in you," Aikka smiled, stroking her cheek. Eva looked up at him and nodded.
"Alright…I'll do it…" she whispered. "I won't run away."
Don Wei watched his daughter in shock. He closed his eyes and tightened his fists, a single tear sliding down his face.
"How is she?" Eva asked, staring up at the Arrow III.
"The boosters are totaled…" Koji answered, "But the Whizzing Arrow III will fly."
"You ready?" Eva asked, turning to Jordan.
"I was born ready," the gunner smirked. "Let's teach this magician a few new tricks!"
"I'm going too," Rick announced.
"No way," Eva protested.
"And why not?" Rick asked, "It's my job to protect you. I promised your dad that I would keep an eye on you. And Maya as well."
"It's too dangerous," Eva answered.
"Little mouse, I'm ten years older than you, I can make my own decisions," Rick told her.
"What if your nerves act up?" Eva asked him, making him freeze. "This will be a very stressful thing, you might make yourself worse."
"You will not be going," Don told him, walking into the makeshift hangar. "She's right. You're lucky that you can even use your arms; do you really want to push it by going into battle? Wasn't it torture enough when you found out that you could never race again?"
"Fine," Rick sighed. "Damn…"
"And you two," Don glared, at Aikka and Jordan. "Take care of my daughter."
"We will do our best, sir," Jordan smiled.
"We won't let any harm come to her," Aikka assured him.
"Eva…be careful," Don told her. "I love you."
"I love you too, dad," Eva smiled. Don nodded and kissed her forehead. He walked away quickly, not wanting her to see him cry.
"Eva, we must get going," Aikka told her.
"Alright," Eva nodded, turning towards the ship. Aikka turned the opposite way and walked towards his beetle. The star-racer rose into the air and Eva looked over at her father, who was shielding his eyes. He lifted them for a moment, revealing his tears. Eva took a deep breath and drove out of the temple, Aikka followed close behind. "Don't worry dad. I'll come back to you, one way or another."
The racers flew through the ruined planet, keeping an eye out. G'dar begun screeching and Jordan growled.
"Look out! We've got company!" Jordan warned. O shot out of the ground, the wings of the organic ship flapping. Jordan aimed the turret and Aikka prepared a bow. The wings of O's ship formed together, making a stretched out oval. He floated to the side and Eva growled, passing him. Once Aikka passed, O flew after them. Jordan growled and aimed his turret, keeping O in range. "One wrong blink and you're going down pal."
"Looks like we got here first," Eva smiled, flying towards the staircase. O paused at the center of the arena.
"That's a good boy," Jordan glared "Now stay right there and I'll bring you back a treat when we're done." Eva and Aikka landed in front of the staircase. The princess opened the glass to the cockpit.
"This is it!"
"We should get going," Aikka suggested. O screeched loudly and Eva and Aikka watched in shock as the two creatures at the door to the temple glowed, one black and one white. The two pilots quickly raised their racers into the air.
"I know Canaletto paid you big for this, you dirty double crosser!" Jordan shouted, shooting at O. The black and white creatures pulled out of the wall, swiping at Eva and Aikka.
"What on earth is that thing? "Eva shouted, dodging the skinny black arms.
"Um sekai nourama terra ubarar!" Aikka chanted, releasing an arrow. The creature shrieked in pain and turned towards Aikka, slowly swinging his arms at the prince and his beetle. Aikka flew away and the creature followed him. Eva turned towards the white creature and gasped, flying away. The white giant gave chase, trying to grab Eva. Eva lifted the star-racer up and flew over the giant's head.
"Head for the temple door Eva!" Jordan shouted. Eva looked back at Aikka before steeling her eyes and turning towards the door.
"We'll have to crash land at the top of the stairs if we want to have any chance of making it."
"Go for it, partner!" Jordan shouted. Eva flew along the stair case, avoiding the giant. The racer crashed a flight below the door.
"Jordan! Abandon ship!" Eva screamed, as a white fist came towards the ship. She jumped out of the cockpit, and Jordan tumbled out of the racer, a gun in his hand. He ran away from Eva and began shooting at the giant.
"Go to the door! I'll keep him busy!" Jordan shouted at her.
"I won't leave you behind!" Eva protested.
"Just go!" Jordan shouted. Eva nodded and ran up the stairs. "I may not be a prince, but I was chosen to be your knight. And I care about you just the same…" Jordan growled, shooting the white giant.
O screeched loudly and his bio ship transformed, turning into a combat ready form with limbs. O grabbed the white giant and held him in place. The black giant walked away from Aikka to attack O. While the two giants were distracted, Aikka and Jordan quickly raced to Eva, who was almost at the door. G'dar flew above the staircase and pausing for a moment to let his rider off. Aikka jumped off, falling several feet into the stone staircase. He groaned as he slid down a few steps.
"Aikka!" Eva gasped, running down the steps. Jordan followed her and they both helped the prince. They looked over at the three warring creatures to find the two giants piercing their arms into O. They raced inside, not looking back. An explosion went off behind them, the force of it knocking them down. The three turned around as soon as it was over. There was a deep crater in the middle of the arena; both O and the giants were missing.
"I guess O was a good guy after all…" Jordan muttered.
"Then that can only mean one thing," Eva gasped, turning to face Aikka.
"He's here," Aikka nodded. "Canaletto is waiting for us." The two boys looked at each other and nodded.
"Let's get going," Jordan muttered, standing up. Eva stood up quickly and helped Aikka.
"Is your ankle okay?" she asked.
"Fine," Aikka nodded. "Besides, we have bigger things to worry about now." He muttered, turning towards the inside of the tunnel.