"We're not leaving anyone behind." Abby said, not even letting Ryou speak his own words.

"We're going back to headquarters," Alena said, she motioned everyone to form another circle. Ryou, carrying Rye in his arms, Nina and Kaye held onto his shoulders, to make sure he'd teleport with them.

They were finally going back to headquarters, they were finally- why are they heading back to headquarters?

"Hey wait why—." But before Kaye could finish her question, she scene shifted before their very eyes. Everything came to a blur, the background changed, they were back. Their entrance must have caused a lot of commotion, for they were there only for five seconds and Aina and Darah had appeared in the door way, both wide eyed. They glanced at Fine and the four, then turned their attention to Abby, Mae and Alena.

They stepped closer to them, then without warning, pulled the three into a tight hug.

"You three, you're alive!" Aina said through tears.

"It's been two years. How did you ever live?" Darah asked. They tried to free themselves from their grasp, there would be time for catching up later, right now, Rye was still bleeding freely.

"They got the five crystals," Mae said as they freed themselves from Aina and Darah. "But not without coming across trouble." They turned their attention to Rye. Aina and Darah stepped forward immediately, no word was mentioned as they carried Rye out of the room and into the infirmary, leaving her crystal behind with Ryou. Just then, Dumbledore came in, as he saw Abby, Alena and Aina, he smiled and nodded, he did the same to the four.

"You may go to your rooms and rest for now," he said addressing Kaye, Ryou, Fine and Nina. "Right now I need to have a word with you three-, oh and Abigail, there is some chocolate in the other room if you would-." Abby didn't wait for the sentence to be completed, she barged out of the room in a second, came back in a second, cradling an arm full of chocolate. Dumbledore issued the others to go to their rooms, they went hesitantly, they wanted to listen in, they wanted to know what was so important, why they couldn't stay but most of all, they wanted to visit Rye. But they were too tired to argue, before they knew it, they were in front of the doors to their rooms, the very rooms where they first spent, training here. Where they first discovered they were different, it seemed like such a long time ago now.

One thing was stuck in all of their minds, why were they here? Sasha could be out, looking for the final crystal, no, not could, she is. Why aren't they doing anything about it?

Their thoughts quickly shifted into dreams, they fell asleep as soon as they hit their beds.

They woke up the next morning, not early, but not late. It was only nine am. They decided to sit by Rye's bed in the infirmary, wait for her to wake up at least until lunch time.

"So why do you think we're back here?" Fine asked. Awkwardly, Fine was sitting beside Ryou on the right side of Rye's bed, Nina and Kaye on the other side.

"Maybe we're going to undergo more training," Nina guessed. "You know, to make sure we're ready to face Sasha."

Rye was stirring, she slowly opened her eyes and looked at each of them, one by one, stopping last at Ryou. She took a deep breath, and fell back asleep.

"What if Rye's not well by the time we're going to leave?"

They were eating in the dining room, it was lunch time. They ate in silence, Rye was still in the infirmary. She was asleep the whole time the four were there. She only stirred once or twice, that was it. Ryou had given the fire crystal to Abby, Mae and Alena, along with the other crystals. Dumbledore cleared his throat.

"I suppose you four are wondering why you are back here." He said, addressing Nina, Ryou, Fine and Kaye. They nodded, they wanted to know. They stopped eating and focused on what Dumbledore had to say next.

"There has been a change of plans – no, let me finish explaining first," he said as he saw Kaye's mouth open. "As you can see, we are joined by three more of my former recruits," he said, now addressing Abby, Alena and Mae. They nodded again.

"And there is only one more crystal, am I correct?" The four nodded once more. "And you don't know the whereabouts of this one, am I right?" They nodded, their necks were starting to ache from all the nodding.

"That is because," the children leaned in closer. "You will not be able to retrieve it."

They stared at him, lost for words. Not be able to retrieve it? How are they going to beat Sasha now? Dumbledore saw the confused looks on their faces, and explained further.

"I did say something about you five not being able to get it," he began. "But I didn't say anything about Mae, Alena and Abby not being able to get the crystal." He paused.

"So they're going with us?" Nina asked.

Dumbledore chuckled. "No, children," they looked more confused now, if they weren't going with them, how are they to stop Sasha? "They, are going with out you." He said. Their mouths stayed open, shocked. So this is it, this is where it ended? Rye in the infirmary, others continuing their mission for them?

"I must admit, this was my first plan. You five would get the first five crystals, and then I, along with Aina and Darah would get the last," he paused again, "you were never to face Sasha in the first place, it is much too dangerous."

"But we've faced her before!" Nina argued.

"No, Nina. Those were merely her minions, Ten Men and demons. Sasha is a hundred times worse than those two put together." Aina said.

"But we can handle it!" Fine complained.

"I will not risk any of you getting into more danger." Dumbledore said, his voice sounded stern.

"But this is not fair!" Ryou complained. "Alena, Mae and Abby are only what, one or two years older than me! How come I can't come?" Ryou argued childishly. Kaye kicked him from under the table, they wanted to come as much as he did.

"They have more experience than you, their powers are more developed!" Darah put in. The four were losing the battle, this would really be the end then.

"But they were stuck in a cave for two years!" Nina argued, which backfired on her immediately.

"And they survived those two years!" Aina said.

This lunch wasn't gonna end pretty. Everyone was talking at the same now, everyone was standing up, arguing to the person who dared deny their logic. Dumbledore took a deep breath. They fell silent, they sat back down again.

"That is enough arguing," he said loudly. "I know I am soon to regret this decision." He paused. They looked at Dumbledore. They knew what was coming, they didn't believe it, even the four didn't believe it. "But, you four may help Abby, Mae and Alena." He closed his eyes. The children cheered.

"WHAT!" Abby, Mae, Alena, Aina and Darah said in unison as they stood up.

Just then Rye came into the room, she looked tired, but she was strong enough to stand up and walk. Ryou came to her aid, hugged her tight.
"Not too tight, can't breathe. Still hurts." She said, and Ryou immediately let go. They sat back at the dining table to let Rye eat, and to hear more of what Dumbledore has to say.

"I know what you are thinking, Darah," he said, his eyes still closed. "But you two have said so yourself, you've seen this five in battle, I have seen them in training with my very own eyes." The five grew more anxious now, they had won the battle, they were going to Elantya with Abby, Mae and Alena, whether they liked it or not.

"And," he added as soon as Aina opened her mouth to protest. "I am sure Mae, Abby and Alena need all the help they could get, isn't that right?" He eyed the three, as if saying nod or else. They hesitantly nodded.

"Then it is settled," he finally said. "The eight of you are to leave in search of the next crystal tomorrow morning, before the sun comes out." The four jumped up and cheered, though it seemed ironic, they were cheering because they would face their own deaths soon. Rye just stared at them, she still had no clue of what was going on.

"We'll explain later." Nina said to Rye as they sat back down, continuing their supposedly calm lunch.

They spent the afternoon in Rye and Ryou's room with Abby, Alena and Mae. Rye was asleep in her bed, she needed a lot of energy for what they were to face, and where they were to go.

"So where is this crystal located exactly?" Fine asked as they gathered around on the floor of the room. The three looked at each other, as if they didn't even want to say the name of the place, as if it had a taboo…

"Well," Alena began hesitantly. "The fondamentale crystal is located…" she trailed off…

"Is located?" The four asked.

"…is located in Sasha's thoughts!" Mae blurted out in one breath. The four stared at them, not really understanding what they were saying. In Sasha's thoughts? Then the crystal is only a part of her imagination? Kaye thought to herself.

"No, it is not only part of her imagination." Alena said. "It is put their, because Sasha is the one who owns it."

"How are we gonna get it then?" Ryou asked, this was all bizarre. "It's not like we can enter her mind or something!" He said, waving his hands in the air, he resembled a monkey reaching up to a banana in a tree… The three looked at each other again.

"If you think that, then I am sure you haven't fully explored headquarters." Abby said. Of course they didn't fully explore headquarters, there wasn't even time.

"There is this room, with crystals similar to these," Alena said, indicating the crystals in the middle of their circle. "When people, specifically children with the elements, step into the room, the crystals will light, will charge up, and open a portal."

"That portal, leading into her mind, Sasha's mind." Mae continued for Abby.

"Wait," Fine said, she wasn't quite getting all this. "So if we enter Sasha's mind she'll be able to see us, right?"

"Yes, and she can think of anything, any creature, any trap, anything she wants to appear out of no where, anything to stop us form getting the crystal." Alena explained. The children gulped, they didn't dare think of what lays in store for them in Sasha's thoughts…

"When we enter the portal, we're part of her thoughts now too, right?" Nina asked, she regretted asking immediately when she heard the answer.

"Yes, so she can do anything to us as well, cut us up, slice us in half, burn us, turn us into monkeys." Mae explained.

They soon regretted the argument they had made with Dumbledore at lunch. This didn't seem much of a joy ride… They sat in silence for a minute, absorbing what Abby, Mae and Alena had just told them. That they would soon be entering someone's diabolical mind.

"That is why we need to move quick," Mae said to break the silence, "if something goes wrong, if any of us dies, you five have to swear, you will keep looking, no turning back, get the crystal, and get out.".

That didn't really cheer them up much. That made them feel worse, what if someone did die? The three had just recently seen their first sunlight in two years, and now, they were going to face their own deaths.

In the remaining hours, Abby, Alena and Mae taught them how to open and close the portal, in case they wouldn't make it out with them. They would have to close the portal immediately after they enter, or some of Sasha's thoughts might materialize into real things, they didn't want that to happen.

By dinner time, Rye had fully recovered and the others had filled her in. She nearly fainted as Ryou gave her the last details of their next task. They ate dinner in deadly silence. Tomorrow they would leave the safety of headquarters again, taking its place, would be the mind of their very own enemy.

They woke up next morning, fully rested, prepared for the day ahead of them. They headed to the crystal room Abby was talking about. They entered, the five were again, wide eyed. The room resembled the cave in so many ways, the walls were lined with crystals, the ceiling, like the dining room's, enchanted to mimic the sky outside. Five crystals were set in a circle, slowly, they started to glow. One glowed red, the other ocean blue, the other green, the other sky blue and the last, crystal clear but glowing as bright as the others.

A portal had appeared in the middle of the room, they took a deep breath, stepped forward, and entered the mind of Sasha, closing their door back to safety behind them.