CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Aaron looked around to be sure the coast was clear before tugging on his sister's hand and leading her into an empty room. Judging by the angle the sound of footsteps reached his ears, he could tell Sydney was on the far side of the room, pacing back and forth with an empty space on the floor in front of him. The footsteps continued for a few seconds then stopped and Aaron got a clear mental picture of an expression of impatience on his cousin's face.

"It took me a little bit to make sure no one noticed us leaving," he explained before Sydney could say anything. "Besides, I think this would be hard to explain to everyone else when we can't exactly explain it ourselves."

"I can," Sydney replied, sounding affronted. "Though I can't imagine what the backlash would be for keeping it a quiet for so long. I did have good reasoning though."

"Good reason for what?" Crystal asked. She dropped her hand from Aaron's and crossed her arms over her chest as she regarded her youngest cousin. He chewed his lower lip, suddenly appearing his age of eleven years old, caught doing something he shouldn't have been doing. "What's going on, Syd?"

He was silent for a long moment, twisting the tip of his shoe into the ground. He didn't go as far as to stick out his lower lip and twiddle his thumbs as most kids would when they were trying to appear innocent, but it was enough. Aaron understood the hesitation, this was something that would either really help her or hurt her beyond recognition. Besides, afterwards it was bound to be a big conversation for debate once the others found out. "I wanted to give you your birthday present," Sydney finally said.

A light smile stretched across Crystal's face. "I already told Cody…I don't need a gift."

"You'll want this one."

Sydney cleared his throat before holding out his hand. There was a bright flash of light and his staff appeared in his hands. There was another flash of light and SpiritSaru appeared at Sydney's side, crouching quietly behind his ward. If anything was to happen, as working with spirits turned out to be as precarious as dealing with darkness, he was ready to be there for backup. After letting out another slow breath, Sydney closed his eyes, encircling his staff with his hands. A solid blue aura appeared around the spirit Elemental and the bright blue gem at the tip of his staff became encased in light that erupted from the ground beneath him. The light started to swirl and spin around each other, arching and curving as the seconds passed to create the shape of a magic circle. Once more, when the last lines of light came together, a white figure started to slide out from within the magic circle.

Sydney opened his eyes and spun his staff around his palm as the light faded. Aaron turned to Crystal and reached out, lightly pressing his pal against her arm. He could feel her shaking, hear her ragged breaths and could tell what her expression was one of wonder, happiness, and maybe a little bit of dismay? Though he couldn't be quite sure.

"Mom," she said, taking in the sight of Kristin Manning, who smiled down at her daughter.

"Happy Birthday, baby," Kristin said to her. Crystal gently reached out her hand and gently reached out her fingers towards her mother. Startled, feeling the warmth of her mother's hand, she quickly brought it back as if burned. "I know this may be hard to understand, but it's so great to see you."

"It's good to see you too, Mom," Crystal said. She took a few steps closer to her mother and allowed her hand to rest on her mother's wrist. Her fingers closed over the bracelet her mother wore, bringing her fingers over the stones that were embedded into the leather. "I don't…I don't understand, I…"

"Sweetie, all you need to know is that I've been watching you throughout all of this," Kristin said. She reached up and cupped Crystal's cheeks in her hands. The ice elemental flinched at the touch, not out of fear, but out of pure emotion. Tears immediately escaped from her eyes as she did her best to stay calm, sucking in deep breaths every few seconds, a light whimper coming from her mouth as she did so. "You and your father. And…if I could explain everything right now, I would. But I want you to know that things will get better soon and that you, Zack, Cody, and the others will do great things as you have done since everything started."

"You know about Zack and Cody?"

"I know about a lot of things Cryssie," Kristin said. She then gave her daughter a sad smile. "And I wish I could explain it to you. But I can't. Not right now. Now's not the time, and I hope you're not angry with me when you do." She shifted her eyes towards Sydney and Aaron. "The boys can do it better than I can, but please don't be angry with them either. It was imperative that things were kept quiet for a while."

"I had to keep it from my brother's and sister's too," Sydney explained. He lowered his gaze. "And from everyone else. They were finally able to do what they needed to do, and they're making their way back now. Still, it had to be something none of us mentioned."

Aaron spoke up. "The only reason I know is because…well, because of the somewhat power I have. We know I'm not an elemental but…I can feel things about Earth and the Element World that no one else can. I can…sort of see things. Just like I knew about the cores of Earth and the Element World and that it was the reason for the collapse. And then this came up…" he trailed off.

The ice elemental dropped her hand from her mother's grasp and took a step back. She placed her hands on her hips, pressing her lips firmly together. Lowering her gaze to the floor, she tried to take in everything that was being told to her, how her mother was there, how she could feel her. It had been something she yearned for, for years. She cried for months after she had gone to bed, crying for her mother to come to her room and comfort her as every kid was accustomed to. Her father was there to do it, but it was different; there were many things kids went to their father's for but they were born from their mother, having taken in that bond even long before they were birthed to life, and was something that would always be held onto no matter how much children have aged.

She remembered growing up, being aware there was a void that her father could never fill no matter how hard he tried to be there for her. In many ways it was her mother that had kept their family together; as much as Crystal loved and adored her father, he had tendencies to fold in on himself and focus on his work to the point of exhaustion. Things had gotten better once Aaron joined their family, but there was still that portion missing. It was her motivation when working with her powers and trying to understand everything about the Elementals, a testament to Kristin's life in some way. The longer Crystal harnessed her powers and worked on the, even before her move to Boston, she felt she was closer to her mother in some strange way.

Now, she was more confused than ever. "I don't understand," she finally murmured.

"Well, there's a simple explanation," Sydney said. He nodded over at Aaron who grabbed onto Crystal's hand and held it tightly. He needed to be there in case she reacted as badly to the news as Sydney had when he first found out.

"Crys," Aaron said slowly, to his sister. "They're not dead. Your Mom…Uncle Reed and Aunt Renee…they're alive."

"That's not possible."

"Yes, it is."

Crystal turned back to her mother, her eyebrows lowering. She winced as the sounds of squealing breaks, screaming, and a crashing metal and glass entered her head, the memories of the crash that had claimed her mother's life and injured her years before. It was something she was unable to push from her mind no matter how hard she tried. He mind swirled, picturing year after year without her mother around and now.

"I'm sorry I can't explain it any further than they have," Kristin whispered, able to sense her daughter's anxiety. "There is no time, but please know that I haven't stopped loving you or your father and I haven't ever stopped thinking about you."

"I love you, too, Mom," Crystal mumbled, as if unable to form words. "It's just…I don't…"

"I promise I will see you soon, I will explain everything, but it's time to go." Kristin pressed her palms together. "There is a reason all of this has happened the way it did, I…we…couldn't let anyone know what was happening because of Uriel. He made us unable to do a lot of things, but it's all going to end soon. Especially now that the Oracle Element is in your possession."

"How did you know about—"

"—I have to go," Kristin repeated. She gave her daughter another smile before slowly fading. Aaron went over to Sydney and placed a hand on his shoulder. He felt his cousin trembling under his hand and he let out a light sigh. He felt the familiar tingling in his hand as his power manifested, and the spirit Elemental immediately calmed down.

"You knew?" Crystal asked. "This whole time?"

"I told you, it's something we weren't supposed to say," Aaron replied. He tilted his head to the side as he thought of the best way to explain it. He hadn't even been told what was going on when he first found out. It was more like a feeling, a feeling that would sometimes give him visions or ideas of what was happening on another side of the world or in the Element World. He had no idea how it was happening, but it was something he managed to recognize when it started and used to his advantage. "If we did, this wouldn't have happened. We wouldn't have come to the Element World, we wouldn't have figured out the Oracle Element, the Book of Esme, or Mother Nature and Father Time. This was supposed to happen."

"One way or another," Sydney added.

Even though he couldn't see her, Aaron knew Crystal was giving them a skeptical look if not one of indignation. He understood that. He had kept the secret about her mother—though she would be considered his mother as well—from her and their cousins for so long, but it wasn't as if he and Sydney hadn't had things kept from him before—when Sydney was placed in their care while his siblings raced off to do…whatever it was they were doing when they left the SS Tipton the first time. But they had done the same with Zack, Cody, Maddie, Max, and Tapeworm all from the very beginning, kept things secret and made sure they only knew what they would be able to handle knowing, and things worked out well there.

That's the point of being a team, isn't it? Aaron thought. Trusting each other. Even if we have to trust when someone else is keeping something quiet. He started to say something else, and then stopped when an image of Mother Nature appeared in his head. He could see it in complete color, watching as she seemed to be…gazing over the kingdom? He couldn't see the other side of the vision exactly, not even when he tried to turn around. His feet were rooted to the floor but he could still see Mother Nature clearly. Then the vision faded and it was replaced with one of Earth.

He understood it instantly.

"What?" Crystal asked her brother, suddenly kneeling by his side. He hadn't heard her approach him and jumped slightly when she placed her hands on his shoulders. The way she held him, however, he could tell she didn't hold any ill-will towards her. Him fingers lightly grasped him, yet firmly held him into place, much like a mother trying to explain something to her child, trying to explain something that would sit with him for the rest of his or her life, molding and shaping him as time went on. "What did you see?"

"Mother Nature," he replied. "She wants to see us. She's sending us home."

The Elementals stood in front of Mother Nature, Father Time, Geneva, and Gattaca as they looked down upon the warriors that had spent the passing years protecting their home and the invisible home they had only just recently managed to travel to. They were able to see how their guardians lived, how things paralleled and rivaled society on Earth, how intertwined both worlds were. And yet, time didn't stand still and it was the moment they had all waited for, to go back to Earth and finish things off once and for all. They had gone through battles with each other, protected the Kingdom, and seen how they reacted towards the attacks that had come from those still under Uriel's power.

She knew these were the ones that were going to do what hadn't been done before, what had been tried and failed. The prophecy wouldn't be fulfilled until they were back on Earth and facing Uriel for the last time, she had faith in them. She just hoped they had faith in themselves.

"It is time for you to return from where you came," Mother Nature explained, her voice echoing around the high ceilinged room. "To finally do what has been told in stories of old time. Uriel has done a great disservice to the Element World and to our kingdom when he attacked Father Time, myself, and our children. We banished him to a place where he thought he wouldn't have access to his powers but we have been proven wrong. We knew there were to be two of the strongest powers we have ever come across but didn't know when it was to happen."

"Then we watched as Uriel started this attack, first doing his best to killing our world and your world, where we banished him," Father Time said. He placed his hands behind his back and glanced over at his wife before regarding the elementals once more. "We were unable to use our forces to get to him and bring him back because of the havoc he was wreaking on our planet as well. We watched as he stalked you all, trying to take control when the chance came as he was aware of your power before we were aware. Then at fourteen years of age the two strongest elementals of your time has awakened and we knew the prophecy had a chance of coming true."

Zack and Cody turned away from Mother Nature and looked at each other. They had heard it many times before, of prophecies, or stories of what was going on within the Element World, of being targets because of the powers they had yet to exhibit. They remembered how they first started understanding their responsibility; using their excess powers to their advantage when having fun, doing chores, or playing pranks. Zack was able to do everything he had ever dreamed of doing as he read through comics and watched superheroes on movie screens, Cody, on the other hand, recognized the scientific advancements that were going on and continued his academic studies while keeping it form those who were out of the loop. They remembered how hard they tried to hide the presence of their guardians from their mother before they finally revealed them to her. How many days they continuously lived a double life while they fought Wingz Corp as hard as they could.

Their lives began to separate and they became Elementals more than they were humans; consistently wondering what was going to be revealed to them, who was going to be targeted next, and how long it would take before that threat was eliminated. Now this was to be something they either accomplished or would fight their hardest until the end.

"It wasn't until we knew of the prophecy that we were able to prepare, and that day has come," Mother Nature said one more. She clapped her hands and the Book of Esme suddenly appeared in front of her. "The prophecy has come through this book and only those that have the ability to hold it are the ones that are able to utilize it. Bailey has exhibited the ability to control the use of the Book of Esme and shall bring it with you on your journey. The Oracle Element of which the Element Stones have been carved from are under your possession and will aid you as well." As she said that, the Oracle Element shot out from Julius' hands and hovered over the Book of Esme, glowing as Mother Nature opened the book and flipped through pages. "It is now that you all will be awakened to your true potential."

Geneva and Gattaca moved to stand on either side of their parents and watched as the Oracle Element continued to glow, causing the book to glow as well. Then the four Elemental deities all started to chant the same incantation, the words of a mystical origin that the rest of them couldn't place. They continued to say it over and over again and the book and the Oracle Element continued to illuminate. Finally, Mother Nature lifted her gaze towards the Elementals once more.

"Would the Elementals of Water and Ice please step forward?" She called. Cody glanced over at Crystal before the two did as they were told. "Call out your weapons." Once again Cody and Crystal did as they were told, calling out 'Water of the Soul' and 'Cyclone Valkyrie' which unleashed their staff and hunting bow. "Precipio quod apparet in mundo virtute aqua et glacie Element!"

With that, there was an illumination of light that encompassed Cody and Crystal. The two Elementals watched as their weapons elongated and changed shape. Once the light faded and their weapons returned to their hands, they noticed that their clothes had changed as well. Cody's staff had transformed from a simple elongated pole with a bright blue gem at the top to what appeared to be a trident with a gem connecting the points together accompanied by blue swirls along the length of the staff, giving it the appearance of running water. Crystal's hunting bow had transformed so that three arrows were able to be strung within them rather than the one she had before, the front of which housing spikes that appeared like ice crystals glinting in the light around them. Their clothes had changed as well as Cody's sweatshirt and jeans transformed into that of what appeared to be medieval armor with blue and water accents to it, along with a blue cloak overtop and Crystal's changed to that of a blue sleeveless trench coat overtop a chest plate that stretched down to her hips, and protective armor festooned around her spandex covered legs to her brown boots, on her arm was a quiver that spring loaded arrows to be placed within her bow.

"The power of the Element World has been granted to you," she explained once the light faded. "Please allow it to protect you as you go on to defeat the threat that has been presented upon your home." Crystal and Cody nodded and stepped back in line as Mother Nature turned to Bailey. "As the medium to the Element World, a lot of power has been bestowed upon you, I do not believe you will take that responsibility lightly." She said a different phrase than that was bestowed upon Cody and Crystal and her clothes changed to a billowy, white, two piece tunic, her hair gently blowing around her face. "You will do great things with the Book of Esme under your control."

"Thank you," Bailey said quietly. "I'll do my best."

"Geneva and Gattaca will see you throw everything you need and will aid you in every way they can," Father Time added. He turned to his son and daughter and nodded at the two of them before they nodded back and appeared down by Bailey's side. They placed their hands on her shoulders before lying dormant within her body once more.

"Will the Fire Elementals please step forward and raise our weapons?" Zack and Riley did as they were told and as Mother Nature said her incantation one more time, Zack's sword and Riley's chain sickle morphed. Zack's sword turned into a heavy sword, the blade created by waves of fire, while Riley's chain sickle turned into scythe blades that were attached to the forearms of her battle suit.

The process followed with the rest of the Elementals; Rhuben's heavy sword expanded in size until it was about five times her height and weight—which she maneuvered with ease—and pulsated with black and purple darkness accents, Patrick's scythe transformed into a lightning spear, Sydney's staff morphed into what resembled an elven staff similar to those used in works much like the Lord of the Rings, Noah's hammer transformed into a mighty battle axe, and Tapeworm's daggers morphed together into a shield that was given to him. Maddie and Julius, who had not received weapons when they had first awakened, had their outfits changed along with the rest of the Elementals, which Mother Nature noted will come to them as soon as they tapped into a significant portion of their powers within battle.

"It's now time for you to go back to Earth!" Mother Nature raised her arms. "Where you will face a tough battle. Even tougher than anything you have ever faced before. There will be times where you wish to give up, but please be reminded that you have the Element World backing you up as well as those that are aiding you on Earth."

"Do you think we'll be able to come back?" Cody asked, taking a step towards her. "After this is all over?"

"Don't fret over us," Father Time gently chided. "We have enough that we can handle on our own; we do not want to cloud your judgment with the well-being of our world."

"We thank you for all of the help that you've given us," Zack agreed. He bowed to the two figures, his friends following suit. "We wouldn't be able to go this far without you."

Mother Nature and Father Time smiled down at them, much like proud parents would. She then allowed the Book of Esme and the Oracle Element to be returned to Julius and Bailey before she turned to Father Time and grasped his hands. The two closed their eyes and concentrated on their power and within seconds the Elementals were gone, sent back down to Earth and where their destinies awaited.

A/N: Finally, things pick up again with the next chapter as they're all back on Earth (the next few chapters get a better look as to what each of the battle outfits looks like, as the change of weapons were more important overall). As I have said in on Twitter, I plan on having this story done with 50 chapters, especially as things will pick up pace, though that doesn't mean it'll stay ending at 50 chapters, it depends on how things work out. But sine I'm done with my Flash story, I'm moving this story to its slot to be updated every Monday so that means more frequent updates to this story.

As I have said before I do have ideas for two sequels to this, but I dunno if I'm going to write them anytime soon. Not to mention the re-write of the Home series. And then there are the element-free slozac and slod story ideas I have (not to mention one-shots) so I'll be writing in this fandom for a while though there are other stories in other fandoms I've been putting off a bit.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Cheers,

-Riles