After a ruthless hour of walking in a cavern, Bullrock allows his knees to rest. The long protruding pillars creates a maze of some sorts, making finding the way out near impossible. There was nothing outstanding about the cavern, it didn't have a name! To balance the dark and dullness, the corroded surface supplies a host of light rays beaming down on the crooked ground from the sun. They dance, bringing the whole cavern to life. Bullrock puts away his map. He would've been lost for sure without it, rattling his head numb on the multitude of paths to take. Doubtlessly, it made a perfect place to host a secret meeting.
A shadow emerges from one of the weaker pillars, nearly on the brink of collapse. "You're alone, I presume." The red figure asks.
"Yes, no one has followed me. I made sure of it." Bullrock replies.
"Good! It wouldn't do the mighty Bullrock any good to be seen in cahoots with a nasty fire gormiti."
Bullrock sighs. "I know full well the consequences of our agreement. Though, I do recall it was your faction that reached out to me first, Lavor."
"And you were kind enough to accept our offer." Lavor emerges from his hiding place, rearing his volcano shaped head for the almighty Bullrock to see.
"Know that I did it for the sake of my people. I still don't trust your kind." Though he's had some sort of alliance with Lavor, it doesn't mean he could trust him. Lavor has done his fair share of destruction amongst the Gorm. Bullrock doesn't know where the sudden change of heart came from but whatever he and his faction has in store, he couldn't keep them to their own devices. They were fire gormiti after all. "Enough of this meagre chat. You know why I'm here."
"The monster incident."
"You said Magor was staying quiet for the time being." Bullrock states in an almost accusing tone.
"He is. Word from our spy is the whole thing was an accident but my time at Volcano Mountain says otherwise."
"You're suggesting this was the work of someone else in Volcano Mountain?"
"You're quick, but we have more problems in our hands than some random wannabe troublemaker. " Lavor compliments. He slumps his shoulders with the upcoming news. "You probably won't like what I'm about to say."
Bullrock crosses his shoulders. If it's something that could jeopardise the Gorm and his people, he must know.
"Our spy had other information, one that isn't so calming. Vestalt's back and with the fire orb restored at that." Bullrock gasps.
"And that's not the worst info."
"What could be worse than that?" Bullrock questions, though quickly regrets asking.
"Vestalt brought along a new Lord of Nature to join her ranks. The lord of fire."
"A new lord? But isn't Magor the lord? Hmm…does that explain his loss of power…" Bullrock ruminates to himself. Lavor was right, he didn't like what he heard. He expected Vestalt to return as did Lavor, yet they weren't expecting her so soon, nonetheless bringing along a lord of nature. Combining those monsters into the mix, Bullrock couldn't help but feel dejected. He stayed quiet at the request of the faction Leader, but now he quietly laments his decision. They could've prevented this if they'd stormed Volcano Mountain whilst they had the upper hand, but Diamantes' report gives Bullrock reason to doubt. Has the Gorm already been lost?
"Don't worry." Another voice beckons from the shadows.
Bullrock and Lavor were startled by the appearance of another but they soon recognized that intonation.
"L-leader!" Lavor stutters. He didn't think he'd be followed by her.
The Alliance leader steps into the light. "The lords of nature will rise to the occasion and they'll have us at their side when the time is right."
"Hmph, I hope you're right on this one." Bullrock comments.
"I don't hope, I believe. Believe the light will soon cast away the darkness plaguing the Gorm." The fire gormiti stares at the sky.
A mighty roar echoes from the depths of Volcano Mountain, rattling the plains of fire territory.
Enough to rival a tsunami, the earth gormiti far off in the earth lands stop mid-ploughing to react. The fiery pits of Volcano Mountain dance lively, spitting molten rock out from its core. This was Magor's rage at its finest.
"You imbeciles! Must I have to do everything myself!" Magor spits in a fit of red rage, lava currents flowing wildly in his lair.
"N-no sir…" Armageddon stutters. "B-but your orders were to scout the earthlands and watch, not to interfere."
"And now the earth gormiti have the beast captive! Was that my orders too? Or are you suggesting my hearing faded alongside my strength?" Magor spits.
Armageddon quickly learnt to shut his mouth. Magor beams at him looking livid. He takes on the appearance of a beast from a never-ending nightmare, one you'd never wake from.
"No…not at all!" Armageddon corrects himself. Thankfully with Vestalt gone, he wouldn't have to worry about turning into a horrible beast as punishment for angering his master. However, Magor's unnerving presence could send anyone, even Obscurio to his knees. Speaking of Obscurio, he comes to Armageddon's defense.
"What he means is that we'll retrieve the beast immediately!"
Magor relaxes, too prideful to acknowledge he doesn't have the strength to continue his tantrum. Obscurio uses this opportunity to test his luck. "Though there is some good to come from this."
Magor shoots Obscurio an annoyed grimace.
"We know the Lords of Nature are weak. They were successful in capturing the shade, but they struggled. Now imagine them against an army of shades in their current state. Victory will be ours!"
Magor shifts his gaze, no longer annoyed. Obscurio tucks in a cackle. With Vestalt busy in earth, she can't pour any of her nonsense into Magor's head. Things will finally have order, regardless if she comes back or not. If she doesn't, well good riddance. Vestalt was a pain in the behind to begin with.
Magor's eyes widen, gaze now fixed somewhere right behind Obscurio. Armageddon and Obscurio turn to his gaze and they too were shocked beyond belief.
Obscurio was never one to show a sign of weakness but he found himself caught off guard today. He gaped widely at the figure, unable to hide his utter shock. "V-vestalt!?" he chokes. She shouldn't be here! Not now!
"The orb! Where is the orb?!" Magor begs, arms outreached like a child craving a new toy.
Vestalt smiles, keeping cool and calm. Obscurio grits his teeth. That didn't go unnoticed to Vestalt. "I've got something better than the orb."
That was her cue to show off her present to Magor. His, Armaggedon and Obscurio's reactions didn't disappoint. Another gormiti reveals itself to Magor. A fire gormiti but no normal fire gormiti. Dawning purple armour, long flowing pink hair and red marks glowing through her armour, what caught everyone's eye wasn't her alluring appearance. No, it was the orb, the reconstructed fire orb, embedded right into her chest.
"I'd like to introduce you to our lord of nature."
Jessica slowly flutters her eyes open, adjusting to the bright Saturn glow shining down on her. She struggles to recall the last few minutes before awakening. The vague image of the nice cottage in the sky, pink clouds that taste of marshmallows. Wasn't she busy baking cake with Mr. Ruffles?
"Ugh…"
Jessica hoists herself up to a sitting position. The pink walls were a dead giveaway that she's in her bedroom. There were no other walls in her home with that color. A soft, fuzzy sensation is felt on her hand. Upon locking her gaze at the culprit, what she gets in return are black beads staring right back at her.
'Mr. Ruffles...' Jessica sighs, picking up her stuffed friend. "Our party must've been a dream huh?" she asks the bear sadly. Her companion stares without a word. Jessica sulks.
The birds, the lava gormiti, Kagami… the events of yesterday were coming back to her. Her grip on Mr. Ruffles hardens, her hands shaking. A sense of dread weights around her and no matter how much she wished; she couldn't return to her party in the sky.
She and the guys had to head to Mr. Ono's restaurant today and with the box still hidden in her closet. At least, she hopes it's still there…however, the likelihood of it disappearing after 4 years in its spot is lower than her joining the newspaper club. Jessica ambles to her closet, her hands shaking in hesitation. Her mind tells them to reach for the handle, but her hands won't respond. This is akin to signing a life-changing contract; a contract she can never take back once the ink hits the paper.
'Enough of this!'
Jessica slaps her cheeks. If she wastes any more time, Toby will be at her throat again claiming she's 'locking tongues' with Mark. Either way, it wasn't like her to back down. In a quick response, Jessica swings the doors wide open, digging right into her precious clothes, (though making sure not to be so rough with them, some are expensive after all). She stumbles across the box, exactly where it was when she had last seen it those weeks ago.
Jessica brings the box out from the dark, a first for it to bask in the clear sunlight in 4 years. She fiddles with the padlock, turning the dials until a faint 'click' is heard.
'5909'
5th September 2009
Some would say it was cliché to use the date when she first got her powers as the code to her box. But it was a special date and it made sense to use it.
Lifting the lid of the box, Jessica's heart jumps a little. Resting on a soft sheet, the air orb lies in the exact same state it was 4 years ago. Jessica hoped in those years of inactivity it would regain its glow. But to any regular person, they'd mistake it as an ordinary glass orb, nudges and cracks all over from Magor's dark magic.
She closes the box, clipping the lock in.
"We're really going back to Gorm then, huh?"
Lucas makes a mad dash towards Shinzuku. He curses to himself. After everything that happened yesterday, he didn't think to set up his alarm. Thankfully it was a Sunday, and when his mother didn't see him downstairs decked out with his church wear alongside his sleepy father, she knew something was up. It wasn't enough that Lucas woke up so late but coming up with a formidable excuse as to why he couldn't attend, now that was the hard part. If his dad wasn't there Lucas wouldn't be able to make it to Shinzuku, and then there'd be the inevitable angry calls from Nick. With Kagami gone, all four lords needed to be present.
He spots his friends in a distance. Surprisingly Jessica is with them, making him the last to arrive. Toby waves at him frivolously to hurry.
Toby starts acting weird, scooting closer to Lucas, looking back and forth for anything suspicious before whispering in a low voice. "Did you bring it?"
Lucas stares at Toby dumbfounded. "Dude…no need to be secretive. There's barely anyone around."
"But what if there's spies around? Like that old lady in the bookstore." Toby, being overtly more suspicious than anyone else, eyes an old man walking his dog. They make eye contact, and the man raises an eyebrow, utterly confused as to why this teenager is staring at me funny. Toby hardens his gaze, prompting the man to turn around and leave.
Nick walks right past Toby and Lucas, opening the door to the restaurant. His burnt fingers are wrapped in bandages. "I don't know what's going on in volcano mountain but whatever it is, they won't do something as reckless as attack us in public."
Nick tightens his hold. Every millisecond since the forest, Kagami has been in his mind. Whoever these new gormiti are, they've been lurking in Venture Falls right under their noses and lured Kagami into their schemes with pure manipulation. Using a tactic like that, they're not the fire gormiti they've faced before. They won't attack now, he's at least sure of that but when? That would be soon, but how far is soon?
The teens head into the restaurant. Since it's still early in the morning so there weren't many people, just a few adults and older people, maybe three or four. They completely bypass the front of the shop, heading straight to the kitchen.
When they returned to Mr. Ono to bring him the bad news, he had told them to come into the basement and to bring their orbs. Clearly the man knew much more than he let on.
"If you know something we don't, then please tell us now!" Nick directs at Mr. Ono, startling the already exhausted three. It wasn't like Nick to speak up to an adult. He was more of an ass-kisser when it came to the older generation.
Mr. Ono looked solemnly at Nick. He was already old, but the sour news aged him by 20 years. "You kids need to rest. We'll pick things up from tomorrow."
And he staggered away. Lucas and Jessica rushed out, intent on helping get him to a doctor.
Stepping into the kitchen, the teens were surprised none of the staff tried to stop them. Mr. Ono had mentioned a back door leading to the basement somewhere to their left. Jessica's the first to find the door, pointing it out to the guys.
"OI!"
They all freeze, knowing that it was meant for them. Toby, in particular, is shaken. He recognises that thick, angry Japanese accent, it's been jammed into the focal point of his brain ever since he went to return Kagami's bag.
'Please don't let him come here! Please don't let him come here…' Toby chants to himself, hoping that it'll somehow ward him away. He turns almost robotically to see if his chants indeed worked. No wasn't the answer he wanted but expected.
The older man storms towards them like an angry bulldozer ready to tear them to shreds with looks alone. Toby hides behind Lucas, hoping the older man doesn't recognise him from before. That doesn't go as planned either, he gets a good look at each one of them and when his sharp, tiger-like gaze lands on Toby, he goes from rabid bulldog to just plain annoyed jaded man. Seems like he too didn't want to deal with the situation.
"If you're here for Kagami then leave. She's not here."
The teens don't say a word, mostly out of fear they'll anger him some more. Everyone knows about the head chef that lives with Kagami and her grandfather, but they never factored him into the whole mess. Does he know as much as Mr. Ono or is he just a regular bystander?
Thankfully Mr. Ono was there to save the day, coming out from the basement. Somehow the head chef does the impossible, he looks as pissed off as what's possible to a regular human, all in a split second at the sight of Mr. Ono. The embodiment of if looks could kill.
"These kids are with me." Mr. Ono says with his typical weird smile. How can Mr. Ono be okay when the head chef wants to murder him? Not only that but he snapped back to goofy weird grandfather really quick after what happened yesterday.
"Either he's high or he's a really good actor," Toby whispers to the group.
"Tsk." No words to say, Shujin heads off to his duties. Lucas could tell that whatever is going on between him and Mr. Ono it had to do with Kagami's sudden departure.
"Does he know about Kagami and the Gorm?" Lucas asks as the crew makes their way down the steps to the basement.
Mr. Ono gives a weary laugh. "Oh no, he knows nothing of the Gorm. I told him Kagami went back to Japan. A request from her father." Mr. Ono could sense the kids' curiosity to Shujin's attitude towards him. "Uh, Kagami's relationship with her parents is, let's say, complicated if you're wondering why Shujin is so mad. Don't worry, he's not always like that. Most of the time he's just tired." He laughs once more, trying to lift the mood. It did the opposite.
Boxes filled the basement to the brim, giving it a sense of a cramped stuffy collectors room without the immense plastic captain Gecko dolls. The chilliness wasn't doing the basement any favours either. One whiff of that fish aroma had Jessica pinching her nose. Lucas and Nick tried to ignore the stench out of politeness, but the strength of the smell is just that great. Even Toby's eyes twitched at the stench. He's the lord of water but that doesn't mean he delves in the smell of dead fish.
Mr. Ono pats one of the rock walls, pushing one of the blocking into the wall and out comes a small gizmo right beside it. Ono starts pressing buttons and though Nick didn't want to be rude to see what exactly he's typing he could make a 'CA' …. on the tiny screen.
The wall collapses down, revealing a long hollow path.
"Hmm, so we're not the only ones with a secret hideout," Toby mumbles under his breath, following Mr. Ono and the others to whatever lies ahead.
To Toby and an extent, the others, they were let down when they reached the end of the passage. A messy stuffed library that desperately needs cleaning. (this is an old man with secrets, don't blame the others for getting their hopes up) The only thing of interest is the conspiracy map on the wall, not so much of a conspiracy when everyone knows the full picture. Oh, and not forgetting the Old Sage and Razzle beat them to it and arrived early, waiting eagerly for the heroes. Mr. Ono is the last to join them, having gone to shut the passageway.
One by one the teens take off their bag packs, unzipping and placing their orbs on the round counter in the centre. The old sage is unfazed yet disappointed, the orbs hadn't restored their strength. Not even a spark of glow present in each one. Razzle hops onto the counter, knocking on one of the orbs trying to trigger something. Nada.
Toby breaks the silence. "So, what's next?"
Mr. Ono, flipping back to his serious persona, looks to the Old Sage first. He locks his hands on the table, hours of contemplation written on his weary face. The Old Sage nods in silent agreement.
He was unsure, that much Lucas could tell.
Mr. Ono takes a gulp air. The words weren't coming to him.
"Yesterday, you said Kagami absorbed the fire orb and transformed into a Gormiti." Mr. Ono starts, wrapping his head around how to explain his thoughts to the kids.
"Yeah! And she completely put out the other fire gormiti's attack!" Toby adds.
"If she didn't intervene, we would've been goners!" Jessica includes.
Nick's eyes land upon his bandaged hand. Kagami hasn't completely fallen off the dark side. Nick clasps his hands tight. The aches from the two last battles hadn't left.
Mr. Ono continues. "Back when I was a lord, my companion did the same and I believe you can too."
They all gasp, wide eyed.
"We can still transform to lords?!" Lucas asks.
"Much better and stronger lords than you've ever been before." The old sage cuts in. "You'll be consuming the literal life essence of Gorm itself. You'll truly be one with your element…no, you'll become your element. Transformed in ways you've never imagined."
Jessica lightens up. "That means we can stop the lava gormiti from whatever plans they've got up their sleeves!"
"Sweet!" Toby comments delighted at the prospect of gaining new powers.
"We can save Kagami!" Nick says. They still have a chance to save Kagami, he won't waste it this time.
"You shouldn't be celebrating!" Mr. Ono chastises, anger that rivals Shujin's rage apparent in his vocals. "Absorbing the elemental essence itself is dangerous! Your bodies will drastically change, you wouldn't even be able to call yourselves human anymore! Are you willing to take the risk? I won't put it on you if you decide to leave right now."
"Of course, I'm willing to take the risk!" Nick shoots back. "I won't leave Kagami behind! I'm bringing her back no matter what, even if it means casting my humanity away!"
"Kagami did it just fine. I don't see why we can't either." Toby adds.
"Listen to Ono's words. Your orbs are still corrupted with dark magic." The old sage warns.
"And from the looks of it, they don't seem to be getting any better. We don't know what would happen or if it'd even work!" Razzle frets, pacing up and down in a panic.
"I don't care! I'm not going to run away when there's a chance I can do something!" Nick says.
"We're with you bro." Toby complies and Lucas nods.
Jessica stays silent.
Mr. Ono breathes a heavy sigh. It's not that he doesn't want them to go save his granddaughter, he's not stupid. Even with the old sage, there's not much Mr. Ono can do. He's old and powerless. Regardless, he isn't about letting children fight his battles for him. They don't understand the weight of their decision. He isn't going to let them go out and make a rash decision and hurt themselves. No, not again, not this time.
Never.
However, it's their decision to make, but they need to think carefully. "If you're truly adamant about proceeding with this, then come back here tomorrow."
"What?" All the boys say in unison.
"Tomorrow?!" Toby shouts in disbelief.
"Excuse me sir, but we didn't come out here just for small talk and do nothing." Lucas reasons, not wanting to come across rude but also disagreeing with Mr. Ono.
"We need to prepare. What you're about to do is going to affect your bodies. You already have a high affinity with your elements, but you need to be in the right mental headspace and there are many other factors. You need to rest, seriously this time. Clear your minds and body before tomorrow after school." Mr. Ono, already stating his piece, heads off to the exist. "Seriously consider your decision. This isn't up for debate."
"Damnit!" Nick swears under his breath. That didn't go unheard from Toby already cooing at his pure angel of a brother, swearing under his breath to an old senile man. Nick didn't stay to entertain Toby, following in Mr. Ono's footsteps, trudging to the hallway.
"I've placed a magic forcefield around the area. Those with corrupted hearts cannot enter. Your orbs will be safe here." The Old sage eases.
Lucas breathes. "That's good to hear."
The Old Sage continues, "However, do consider Mr. Ono's words. He's coming from a place of many experiences and unfortunately, many tragedies. That is all." The old sage pulls another one of his disappearing acts, going back to the temple of light, presumably keeping tabs on the lava gormiti.
That leaves four.
"I know exactly what I'm doing today! League of Legends for 9 straight hours!" Toby says, holding up his thumbs as if fiddling with a Gameboy controller.
Lucas rolls his eyes. "You're going to pollute your mind playing games for that long. You need to meditate; be one with nature."
"That may be how you relax but for me, I need some stimulation."
"Toby, that's not how it works!"
The boys continue their discussion, completely forgetting Jessica as she hauls her bag on her shoulder. She scrunches her eyebrows, a hard expression attached to her pretty features.
"What's with the gloomy expression, Jessica?" Razzle asks, her downward face and slumped shoulders being a dead giveaway.
Jessica picks up Razzle from the ground. "Razzle, if you had to become something else, something entirely different, giving up what defines you as you, would you do it?"
"Hmmm…well it depends on the context. What would I change too? Is it something bad?"
"Ah…never mind." Just as Jessica is about to leave, tiny claws hold her back.
"Don't worry about tomorrow, Jessica. Mr. Ono, the old sage and I won't let anything bad happen to you!"
Jessica smiles, placing a small kiss on the dino's head. "Thank you, Razzle. I believe you'll keep me safe."
However, it wasn't that Jessica was afraid, she's been through too much to be afraid. But to cast her humanity away? That, she wasn't sure she wanted to do.
A/N: I'm not dead, just very, very busy.
Sorry for the long wait, a lot of stuff going on (stuck in assignment hell- thanks college) and I couldn't really do much with the fic. I ain't giving up on the fic, just need to wait until I'm not bombarded with school work.
Anyways here's the start of part 2. More crazy stuff gonna happened and ya'll ain't prepared for what I've got in store (more angst). Still very busy so next update will probably be around December to early January.
See ya'll then.
