Part 19
The wave was coming closer and closer to them. Kayo looked at Virgil and he nodded. While Virgil punched at the wave, sending his own but much smaller one at it to try and break it Kayo remembered what Eos had done. She focused her thoughts on getting the air as cold as she could. She reached her hand out and started unleashing freezing cold winds. The Lightning Spirit used his lightning to blow up parts of the wave and Volcano tried to use his flames to vaporize it. He whistled loudly and they could all hear the roar from Fritzy as she came around the corner again and charged at wave, blowing fire at it. Gordon, Scott, Alan, Penny and Parker watched in awe. Alan had to save Fischler once again when the bird started making its way to the waterline. Fischler's death wish seemed to have increased dramatically during this whole quest. Alan put him in his bag and closed it, trapping the bird inside. He looked up again and noticed that there was nothing left of the big wave. He also saw Fuse and Havoc right in front of them. Havoc was smirking at them while Fuse looked a little guilty.
"We meet again Kayo", Havoc said with a cocky smirk on her face. "What you gonna do this time?"
"Kick your sorry asses", Kayo said and smirked back. "This time I'm prepared."
"Oh? You think your new little friends could hel-" She got no further before a lightning bolt hit her from above, sending her crashing into the shallow water. Kayo turned around and noticed the Mechanic looking quite pleased with himself. Had he not thrown that? Another huge shadow fell over them.
"Aw no not again", Fuse groaned and used the staff to incase himself in a earth coffin. Just as he did more lightning rained from the sky. Kayo looked up and saw the source of it now. A huge bird hovered above them. It looked like a giant eagle, way more giant than her hawk or eagle form. It was almost as big as Fritzy! Its feathers sparkled with lightning and when it screeched lightning rained from the sky, hitting at Fuse and Havoc over and over again.
"Good boy Sentinel!" The Mechanic called to the bird. Fritzy huffed and joined the bird. She started blowing fire at the earth coffin Fuse was hiding in. Sentinel focused on Havoc. She had to dodge and roll and dive to get out of the way. Parker, Gordon and Alan sniggered at it. Scott didn't take his eyes of either of their enemies. He did not trust them and he remembered what Kayo had told them.
"Fuse!" Havoc shouted. "Use the spirits!"
"Right!" Fuse exclaimed and his little "coffin" exploded when he raised his staff.
"Prepare yourselves boys!" Kayo shouted as the staff shone and three beams of light escaped and started taking form. The water image Fuse created had no legs, instead it had a long tail and fin. Its upper body appeared human but he could not make out what it looked like because the creature wore a chest plate, pauldrons and a helmet that covered its face except for the glowing eyes. On the arms it wore gauntlets that were spiky and the tips of the fingers on the gauntlets looked like claws. In its hand it created a spiky trident.
"Is that… John?" Alan asked and Kayo nodded.
"Fuse has corrupted his spirit", she said.
Next to John appeared another creature. It appeared to be made of earth and wood. The wood creating some kind of armor made by twisted branches. The earth made up most of the body. The eyes shown in a green light and it was much bigger than the water image, even though its face looked much calmer.
"I take it that used to be your father?" Virgil asked and Kayo nodded and then she gasped when the last image took shape. It was that of a small girl, she looked no older than six. Her hair stood right up, creating a twister on her head while the rest of her body appeared to be only mist. Her eyes shone in a pale indigo color.
"Eos…" Kayo whispered.
"Hmph", The Mechanic said. "Is that all? Volcano."
"Yes?" Questa asked.
"Destroy air and earth… I'll handle the water one."
"Right!" Questa said and took on step forward and threw a fireball at the earth image and another one at the air one. The earth one roared in fear but the water one dove forward and used its powers to block both of the balls. The Mechanic flung a lightning at it, but the earth one stepped forward and blocked it. The Mechanic growled. The water image looked around and its gaze landed on Penny, Parker and Sherbet. With a furious shriek it went at them, its tail slithering over the ground like a snake. Penny swung with her sword but the blade just cut straight through the water. Parker tried to kick it but nothing happened. Sherbet jumped at it and went straight through, coming out wet on the other side. Gordon grabbed a rock and flung it at the water image… nearly hitting Penny as the rock went straight through. The water image turned to him and growled. Th earth one went for Scott, Virgil and Alan. It rammed its huge fists at them and the brothers had to jump aside. Kayo dove straight at Havoc, transforming into a shark as she did. Havoc squeaked and tried to swim to safety. The wind spirit took off into the air to fight Fritzy and Sentinel. That left Fuse alone with the Mechanic, Questa and Fischler, who had managed to escape Alan's bag again. The bird kept pecking the ground though and the two spirits took no notice of him. The battle was on.
Gordon ran up the volcanic hill with the water image following closely behind him. He had upset it by throwing mud at it. The mud had been wet so it did not go through the water image and now it had an ugly brown stain on its chest. In rage it had charged him and he turned and ran. Not because he was scared, no. He figured that if they would have a chance against these things they had to split them up and Gordon would gladly lead the water one far away so that Questa could torch the other two.
"For a slithering snake John you are quite fast", Gordon teased and dodged a water jet aimed at his face. "Geez you have no sense of humor!"
"They have no sense of anything", Penny called in annoyance. She, Parker and Sherbet were pursing the water image to assist Gordon if he needed it. Gordon ignored her for now, he was fully focusing on where he put his feet. He could feel the ground getting hotter and hotter and he knew he was getting dangerously close to a crevice that he hoped contained lava. He knew the air around volcanoes were dangerous so he could not go much further. Then he saw a small crack where hot air seemed to seep out. He rushed in that direction but stayed safely from the crack. He would only get one shot at this. The water image came at him. Gordon stopped running and turned to glare at the water image. It stopped as well, gripping its trident tightly and growling at him. Gordon raised his fists but then lowered them again.
"John", he said and the image growled more. "I know you're in there."
"You can't reason with it!" Penny shouted but Gordon ignored her. He noticed Parker sneak behind a few rocks but gave it no thought.
"John… I… I've seen dark before, but not like this", he gestured for the water image. "This is cold, this is empty, this is numb. The life I knew is over, the lights are out… Hello, darkness, I'm ready to succumb. I… those memories they showed that I follow you around, I always have." The water image growled again. "But you've gone to a place I cannot find. This grief has a gravity, it pulls me down… But a tiny voice whispers in my mind: 'You are lost, hope is gone, but you must go on and do the next right thing'."
"Ah ah ah", he heard on the wind and the water image looked in the direction of the voice as well.
"Can there be a day beyond this night?" Gordon went on. "I don't know anymore what is true, I can't find my direction, I'm all alone… The only star that guided me was you." The water image lowered the trident and looked a little less hostile. Penny stared. Gordon grinned and went on.
"How to rise from the floor?", he asked. "But it's not you I'm rising for… Just do the next right thing. Take a step", he stepped towards the water image. "Step again", another one. "It is all that I can to do… The next right thing. I won't look too far ahead", he was closing in now. "It's too much for me to take. But break it down to this next breath, this next step… This next choice is one that I can make." He was right in front of the corrupted image of his brother. "So I'll walk through this night, stumbling blindly toward the light and do the next right thing. And, with it done, what comes then? When it's clear that everything will never be the same again then I'll make the choice to hear that voice and do the next right thing." He locked eyes with his brother's image. "Do you know what that is? The next right thing?" The image looked at the trident in its hands and then at Gordon. "I know you're in there… big… big brother. From what I've seen… from what I've been shown this…" he gestured for the image. "This isn't you." He carefully reached out a hand towards the image's chest, where the heart should be. "To guide and protect Kayo said… that's your job remember? And… and you know this in your heart. You know me." He let his hand rest against the water and locked gaze with his brother. "J-Johnny… please." The water image opened its mouth… and then it screamed in pain. Gordon jumped back as a blade was pushed through it and then pulled back. The water image spun around and was about to use its trident, but it was too late. Parker swung his sword and cut the head off. The water image exploded into tiny pieces.
"No!" Gordon shouted and looked at the water which as no vaporizing around them. He looked at Parker's blade and saw that it was searing hot.
"Come now Mihster Gordon", he said. "We 'ave to rejoin tha foight." Penny nodded at her bodyguard and the two ran down the volcano again.
"Ah ah ah…" Gordon heard on the wind and nodded.
"I can her you", he said. "I get it… I'll fight as long as you fight too."
Scott pushed Alan aside when the huge fist came sailing towards them, he then jumped back himself and the fist crashed into the ground between them. Scott rolled onto his feet and looked up. The earth imaged kept hitting at them, well him and Alan. They were distracting it while Virgil attacked it with water from the ocean. Not that it had much of an effect, it kept knocking the image over but not much else. But anything was better than nothing. Alan picked up rocks and started hurtling them against the head of the image. He hit each time and the image growled in anger. It was as deep guttural growl that made Alan's skin crawl but he ignored it. He kept pelting it with rocks, distracting it. While he did that Scott pulled his sword and charged the image. He hacked away at it with all his strength, but the wooden armor would not budge. Virgil tried to use the water to crush said armor but it only appeared to make the creature stronger.
"This isn't working!" he shouted.
"Well we must do something!" Alan asked and jumped out of reach for the beast.
"I suggest a change of tactics!" Scott called. "Virg! Switch places with Questa!"
"Got it!" Virgil called and took off running along the beach. He saw Questa, the Mechanic and Fischler fighting with Fuse. Well Fischler wasn't really fighting, how had he gotten out of Alan's bag anyway!? Virgil ignored it and scooped the bird up. Just as Fuse was about to ram his fist into Questa's face Virgil used his borrowed powers to have the water Fuse was standing in pull him off his feet. The Mechanic and Questa stared at him and Virgil joined them.
"Questa", Virgil panted. "Earth… you… I… take… from… here…"
"Got it", Questa said and started striding off in the direction Virgil had come from. Fuse got up and glared at Virgil.
"Who in Lalotai are you?" Fuse spat.
"I am Virgil of Tracy Island", Virgil growled and balled his hand into a fist. "I sail across the waves to protect the remaining Elementals. Aided by my friends and family I sail. The Ocean Spirit has blessed me and I am here to take what does not belong to you and set the Elementals free."
"Souls", The Mechanic said.
"Pardon?" Fuse and Virgil said at the same time.
"Souls. I resent the term Elemental. I am a Soul, not an Elemental. Now can we get back to why we are here?"
"Right", Virgil said and smirked and with a wave of his hand a wave appeared and pulled Fuse back into the water, underneath the surface.
"Interesting", the Mechanic said. "Look my element is your enemy but we can also be allied."
"How do you mean?"
"Just keep pumping water at that imbecile and let me do my thing."
"Ok", Virgil said and did as the Mechanic said. He kept the water hitting Fuse as soon as Fuse broke the surface. The Mechanic smirked and his eyes turned orange, then lighting shot out from his arms and hit Fuse. Fuse screamed in agony as the water made the lightning even stronger. But he was not the only one. Havoc did as well… and Kayo. Kayo transformed and took to the sky, only to dodge when the air image tried to take her head off with a sharp icy wind. Kayo dove out of the way and headed for the Mechanic and Virgil.
"A little warning next time!" she yelled as she transformed. Above them they heard a shriek of pain when the air image was lit on fire. Fritzy kept blowing flames at it and Sentinel left, he needed to recharge amongst the clouds. The Mechanic smiled proudly at him. Then there was a roar and huge flames rose towards the sky as Questa lit the earth image on fire. Fuse and Havoc got onto the shore, twitching and groaning in pain. Kayo smirked as the rest of her team joined her on the beach. Gordon looked a little upset, she would have to look into that later. She put her hands on her hips and looked at Fuse and Havoc.
"Time to give up", she said. "You are outnumbered and outmatched."
"No we ain't!" Havoc shouted. "Fuse!"
"What?" he asked.
"Do something!"
"What should I do?"
"Use that staff! You have their powers remember!"
"Oi lass easy", Questa said. "That's no way to act just because you-"
"Fuse!"
"Oh right!" Fuse said and before anyone could stop him he raised the staff and a huge wave rose up from the sea and headed straight for Questa.
"No!" the Mechanic shouted but it was too late. Questa's screams of agony made Kayo's skin crawl and Questa staggered around, covering his face as if he had, no pun intended, been burnt. The watched as his red hair turned grey and his tan skin ashen. Fritzy screamed in rage and dove towards them. Her aim was to lit her friend on fire again. Fuse turned his powers on her instead and conjured up a spear made of wood and sent it at her.
"No Fritzy!" Questa whimpered as the spear hit her and she crashed into the ocean. "FRITZY!" Scott growled and charged. He jumped at Fuse and punched him in the face so hard the demidevil stumbled back… and dropped the staff into the ocean. Gordon gasped and dove into the ocean to get it. Havoc noticed as well and started swimming. Scott kept pounding on Fuse, overcome with rage. All the rage that had been building since their home had been destroyed suddenly came out. The rage of knowing that this man stole his brother and all memories associated with him from Scott and the others. That he did it again with air and earth and the pain it caused Kayo to be the only one remembering. The pain he put her and Scott's brothers through was more than he could take. His rage was like a volcano erupting. It was hot and dangerous. His fist ached from all the punches, but he did not care. His blood was on fire. But he did not care. His eyes saw red, but he embraced it. All he wanted was for this bastard to feel the same pain they had all been feeling.
"Scott", a gentle voice whispered in his mind. "Scott stop."
"Never", Scott growled as he kept going.
"Please… you are better than he is."
"I don't care."
"Don't let it overtake you."
"It isn't."
"It is. Can't you see what you are doing?"
"I'm just getting revenge!"
"And when has revenge ever been a solution?"
"When", Scott looked up and stopped speaking, stopped punching, stopped doing what he was doing. He was surrounded by only darkness. He looked around. He couldn't see anyone, not even Fuse. He got up and looked around.
"What the Lalotai", Scott asked and looked around himself. "Hello?"
"Hello", that soft voice replied again and Scott turned around. He saw nothing.
"Who are you?" Scott asked hesitantly.
"In your heart you know who I am", the voice replied and Scott twirled around again. This time he saw who he was talking to. The young man was taller than him, not by much though. He was slimmer than Scott, his muscles built in a different way. His hair was ginger, his skin pale and his green-blue eyes were soft and gentle.
"John", Scott concluded and the man nodded. "Why are you here?"
"Someone told me that my job is to guide and protect", John replied. "So that is what I am doing. You may not remember it Scott but we have been in this situation before, albeit we were much younger."
"What?"
"I was just a tiny little squirt and you my big brother", John replied. "You were sure I had been hiding things from you because I kept coming home with bruises. I kept deflecting your questions, telling you it was nothing. So you followed me the next day. You saw the reason for the bruises. Some of the boys your age were making fun of me… hurting me. You saw red and charged them."
"That was Gordon", Scott said and John shook his head.
"No that was me."
"I broke the boy's nose… and jaw."
"And dislocated his shoulder and broke his ankle."
"He deserved it for hurting Go… my brother."
"Maybe but remember the aftermath? The kids of our village were scared of you."
"For a very long time… I really would not have made a good chief."
"You would, with the right advisor."
"Yes… Virgil always had a soothing effect on me."
"Yes… so how do you think the others will watch you now when your fiery rage has been unleashed?"
"Virgil will be disappointed… Gordon and Alan worried and a little scared. Kayo disappointed and I really don't care how the others will feel."
"Are you sure?"
"Probably not… but… but he deserved it!"
"Maybe but you are better than that Scott."
"I don't know if I am. I… I am just so angry all the time. These people destroyed our home! They took it away from us! They took you away from us! We can't even remember you! They stole our memories and my memories of my brothers are my most precious treasure! They stole that for me and… and I might never get them back! Penelope said that there is no way of saving you from that staff once you are inside of it! This is a quest we won't succeed in! It's… it's hopeless!" He fell to his knees. "It's hopeless. I'm just a man… how can I fight demidevils and nature itself? I… I can't do it… it's hopeless." He felt tears go down his cheeks and sobs rack his body. "It's all so hopeless Johnny!" He was on his hands and knees now, sobbing. He felt a cold hand on his back and sobbed even harder when he felt his brother hug him. Scott sat up and wrapped his arms around John, crying into his shoulder. John played with his hair and rocked him gently.
"It's not hopeless Scott", he said.
"How can you say that… I don't know where to go from here." Scott sobbed. "It's so dark."
"I'll be your candle on the water", John replied. "My love for you will always burn. I know you're lost and drifting but the clouds are lifting. Don't give up, you have somewhere to turn."
"But I can't remember you… how can you guide me?"
"I'll be your candle on the water, 'till every wave is warm and bright. My soul is there beside you let this candle guide you. Soon you'll see a golden stream of light." John pushed him back slightly so that they could lock gazes. He put his hands on Scott's cheeks and wiped his tears with his thumbs.
"A cold and friendless tide has found you", John continued. "But don't let the stormy darkness pull you down. I'll paint a ray of hope around you, circling in the air, lighted by a prayer."
"John…"
"I'll be your candle on the water this flame inside of me will grow." He got up and pulled Scott up as well. "Keep holding on, you'll make it, here's my hand, so take it. Look for me reaching out to show as sure as rivers flow I'll never let you go."
"John?" Scott asked as his brother started fading away.
"I'll never let you go."
"John? No!"
"I'll never let you go."
Scott stared at the spot where his brother had been and soon he realized he could hear sounds again… waves hitting the sand. Shouting. His name being shouted. He closed his eyes and when he opened them again he was once again back at the volcanic island, straddling Fuse's chest and his fist raised above the demidevil to strike again. Hands were around his wrist, Virgil's. He knew it was. Scott looked at Fuse. The demidevil groaned in pain beneath him. Scott hurriedly got off the demidevil and then rushed over to Questa.
"You okay Questa?" he asked. The spirit looked at him and gripped Scott's wrist. Scott hissed at the burning feeling on his skin.
"Easy… does it…" Questa whispered and closed his eyes. Scott got up and turned to Virgil. Virgil was white in the face, worried. Scott carefully pulled his brother into a hug and Virgil relaxed.
"I got it!" they heard from the ocean and saw Gordon swim towards them as fast as he could. Havoc was closing in on him.
"Oh no you don't!" Virgil spat and waved his hand and the water dragged Gordon forwards and away from her. Gordon yelped as he was moved forward so fast he got sent through the air. Scott and Virgil caught him and he grinned. He held the staff above his head in triumph.
"I got it!" he yelled again.
"Good job Gordon!" Alan said.
"Good, get that thing away from here!" the Mechanic shouted and took aim at Havoc, sending her out at sea again. He was standing over Questa now, protecting him. Questa was still ashen and cold, looking close to death. There was still no sign of his dragon either. Kayo decided to go save it, she transformed into a fish and dove into the ocean. Maybe she could find it. Fuse was slowly getting up.
"Y-you can't have it", he said as he staggered around. "That thing… I… I need it."
"You only need it to bring pain and misery!" Scott yelled. "You can't have it!"
"No… I… I don't want that…" Fuse looked at the water he was standing in. He balled his hands into tight fists. "I don't… just… just give it."
"No", Gordon said.
"Please."
"Never!"
"You can't use it… it's… bound."
"I don't care I will never let you use it again!"
"You must or the fire one will die."
"What!?" Gordon turned to where Questa was laying in the sand. True the fire spirit looked weak.
"He took on too much water…"
"And who's fault is that!?" Scott yelled.
"I didn't really think it through…"
"Well we don't care!" Alan yelled. "You can't have it back!"
"Fine I tried to ask nicely…" Fuse raised his hand and looked at the staff. "Come to me."
Gordon looked confused, then he felt how the staff started vibrating in his hands. He clung to it tightly when he felt it pull towards Fuse. His feet slid over the ground. Scott and Virgil grabbed hold of him and hung on. But it did not seem to work. Alan hurried over and joined them too.
"Don't let go boys!" Penny shouted and hurried over with Parker, grabbing the staff as well. Fuse focused even more, he needed that staff. He needed it! He could not let these mortals have it! He pulled harder, but they held on tighter. Then he noticed something. That stupid bird that kept following the brothers came walking towards him.
"Fischler!?" Alan screamed and let go of the staff and ran towards the bird. Fuse smirked and aimed a kick at it. "NO!" But before Fuse's foot could hit the bird the area got enveloped in light. Fuse stumbled back but so did his opponents. Gordon felt the staff slip from his fingers.
"NO!" he shouted and tried to grab it but he couldn't see! It was too bright. Out at sea Kayo surfaced again and saw the orb of light that trapped everyone on the beach. She had not been able to find the dragon and it pained her. She started swimming towards the shore and noticed Havoc doing the same. Kayo crawled onto shore but her path was blocked by the Mechanic.
"Stop", he told her. "You can't go in there or you will be blinded as well."
"But I have to go, all my friends are there and the staff!"
"We better stay back."
"What is this?"
"The Light."
"You mean the Light Spirit? They're here?"
"Of course. Didn't you know, all four remaining spirits were here? Now there's only three left."
"What do you…" Kayo trailed off when she saw the red light in the middle of the golden light. She looked around for Questa but could not see him! As soon as the red light faded… the volcano started erupting.
"We need to go!" she yelled. "Help me find my friends!"
"No… last time I helped you bad things happened."
"I know and I'm sorry. But please let me make it up to you. Help me save my friends."
"No, you find them while I hold the demidevils back."
"I can't just leave you here with them, what if they take you too? Come with us instead!"
"I'd be just swapping one master for another. If I hold them off and then leave I don't have to serve anyone."
"There won't be many places for you to hide."
"The Hood made me do things that I now regret. I deserve to run away and be alone forever."
"Listen to yourself, you were made to do those things. The Hood was the devil, not you."
"No I won't go with you", the Mechanic said. "And I won't go with his Chaos Crew. It seems you failed…" He looked at something behind Kayo and she turned around and saw Havoc approaching them. "All of you."
"Well we never sai' you 'ad to come with us now", Havoc said and smirked. The earth shook more and the volcano started spitting out huge hot stones towards them. Kayo jumped aside and stared at the Mechanic while Fuse dove into the light.
"We need to get off this island before it blows", Kayo shouted over the roar of the volcano. The Mechanic looked up at it and then he looked at Kayo. He nodded and started charging up his lightning. "What are you doing?" Kayo asked and he grabbed her arm and stomped onto the ground. When he did lightning went into the ground and into the light orb, it started cracking.
"Only some of us here are worth saving", the Mechanic replied. "And it's not me."
"Wait! Don't do this! You can make a difference! The world depends on it!"
The Mechanic looked at her and then flung her as hard as he could. Just as an orange light left the light orb. It missed him, but he knew it would not do so again. Kayo felt something tug at her midsection and looked down. The lightning that the Mechanic had created was tied around her middle and as she flew through the air it dragged her friends with her. She landed in the water near their boat and when she hit the surface the lightning disappeared and her friends fell in with her. When they broke the surface they all swam for the boat as they watched lightning rain down on the volcanic island as well as lava and fire raining down on it. Kayo, Scott and Virgil climbed onto the boat. Virgil then used his burrowed powers to pull the rest of their friends onto the boat. As soon as everyone was up, including Fischler and Sherbet Virgil told Kayo to get the wind blowing.
"Get us away from here!" he shouted and she nodded and within seconds they could no longer see the volcanic islands. Kayo looked at the water and tears slipped down her face. She had failed again.
TBC Sorry for the long wait, I have been busy at work.