Kigaru turned around. Sure enough, Cole had slipped into view while she was too busy hiding…but how? He must have escaped Pythor's grasp, but how? And how did he manage to find her already? None of it made any sense, yet there he was, leaning against the wall with the scribbled hieroglyphics.

"Cole," Kigaru stated.

"Kigaru," Cole said, straightening up. "I found you at last."

"I know," Kigaru said.

"It took me several hours, given the dense jungle and rough terrain, but following after the vipers sure made my work quick," Cole said.

"Oh, it did," Kigaru said.

"I should have figured you would be here. After all, aren't ancient ruins your favorite place to be? They're full of adventure and discovery, sometimes. I know. I've seen many of them myself, although the journey usually resulted in a firefight."

"That's nice of you."

"Alright, Kigaru, drop the poker face. What's up?"

"The sky."

"Har. Har. But seriously, what's wrong? You obviously have something on your mind."

"You shouldn't be here."

"Nonsense. I came to rescue you."

"I don't need rescued."

"Not anymore, you don't. You managed to conceal yourself quite well."

"It's called form."

"I know what it is, Kigaru. I'm not as stupid as you think I might be. I know the element of form, or at least what it does. But how did you learn to harness it?"

"Nothing much, just a little bit of homeschooling."

"A little bit of what?"

"Homeschooling…you know, school at home…quite a revolutionary concept, really. A pity no one uses it much these days."

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"You flunked music school, right?"

"What can I say? I was always an awful singer," Cole chuckled. "I let my fist whistle the melody for me."

"You let others teach you to sing," Kigaru said with a wink.

"And that's a problem," Cole questioned. "Sure, my teachers scared the birds away with their Gregorian chants and awful rock musician impressions, but they know singing. I don't."

"You would, if you taught yourself."

"Har. Har. To think I can teach myself how to sing. Trust me. I tried. All I got was a broken mirror, and the fury of Jay armed with an alarm clock…Wait a second. Did you teach yourself how to use form?"

"Now you understand."

"But…but that's impossible. No one discovers their powers on their own. They go through mentorship and training first, so they can learn to control their powers."

"You learned from Master Wu."

"That I did. He's the best teacher around."

"If he is the best, then why does he hold you back?"

"He does no such thing! Don't you dare accuse him of hiding secrets. He knows what is best for us, and he reveals the truth on his own schedule. I just learn to roll along with it and don't ask questions."

"That's naïve of you then. You know what's best for you better than anyone, yet you let yourself submit to limitations. No wonder you didn't unlock the full potential of your power."

"I unlocked my true potential, unlike you. You still don't grasp the truth."

"I'm not as naïve as you think. Why do you think I'm in the middle of nowhere? I've come to find myself…my true potential…alone."

"Too dangerous. Forcing it only results in failure…and a whole lot of itching. Trust me. I've been there."

"But I have succeeded. I have discovered form, and I will soon have the others as well. And when I unlock them all, it will be a beautiful masterpiece, the strokes of a master, the touch of only the most perfect artist."

"You're delusional."

"I'm a visionary. I can see what you're too blind to see- the future."

"Alright, Kigaru. Enough of this nonsense. You're coming with me."

"Over my dead body," Kigaru said. "You think you're wise, that you will teach me well. I've seen the future. My training will only hasten the return of darkness."

"Don't make me fight you," Cole sighed.

"Too late for that," Kigaru grumbled.

"Very well then," Cole shrugged. "Don't cry to me when your head gets bruised. You asked for it."

Cole stomped the ground, causing it to pop out a chunk of hard brick and dirt. Like a hulk, he lifted it out of the ground, then launched it into Kigaru. The rock exploded upon impact, and thousands of tiny peddles scattered about the ground. But Kigaru remained standing in her spot, a small bruise oozing on her head.

"Well done," Kigaru smiled. "I now have a bruise."

"You…you didn't flinch," Cole gasped. "Even Lloyd or Master Wu flew backwards a few feet."

"I know something you don't know," Kigaru quoted.

"Don't quote The Merchant Bride," Cole sighed. "It makes for lousy fights that way."

"I'm gifted in more than form," Kigaru shrugged.

Kigaru lifted her arms. The bricks on the ground rose off the ground, floating upward until they were just over Kigaru's shoulders. Then she flung her arms forward, launching the bricks like projectiles at Cole.

"Oh, shoot," Cole gasped, jumping and rolling about.

"Stop moving," Kigaru grumbled. "You're making me miss."

"That's the point," Cole said, catching a brick and launching it back at Kigaru. "Besides, bricks are for babies. Try something a bit more impressive."

"Like this," Kigaru smiled.

Kigaru glanced toward the jungle. With glee, she watched as the trees uprooted themselves, then spun violently toward Cole like giant projectiles. Several struck Cole on the chest, but they shattered upon impact into splinters.

"Oof," Cole gasped. "That stung a bit."

"Is that not enough," Kigaru screeched. She picked up a boulder, then launched it at Cole.

"Whoa, there, take it easy," Cole laughed, punching the boulder into pieces. "Throwing a tantrum won't get you anywhere. Why don't you calm down and come with me like a civilized person?"

"Not a chance," Kigaru growled.

"Have it your way," Cole sighed.

Cole picked up a boulder, readying his arm to launch it into Kigaru's head. But just as his arm started flinging the rock forward, his shoulder cracked, causing him to drop it instead. He collapsed to the ground, gritting his teeth as his shoulders unexpectedly started turning blue. Then he screeched in pain, as searing headaches punctured the brain and paralyzed his body.

"You…you…you know mind too," Cole whimpered.

"What's the matter," Kigaru mocked. "Got a bad migraine?"

"You play dirty," Cole grumbled, glaring at Kigaru.

"I do what it takes to win," Kigaru snapped.

"Leave me alone," Cole yelled, launching a rock at Kigaru.

The rock struck Kigaru straight on the head, launching her backward into the jungle. Several trees collapsed upon impact, concealing her in a thick blanket of branches and leaves.

"I…I…I will find you," Cole gasped, before he collapsed to the ground in a fitful slumber.

"You won't find me that easily again," Kigaru sighed.