Chapter Five: Battle Training Begins
Malachite swung the sword at Zoey. Zoey blocked it like he had showed her. She was getting pretty good with the sword. Beryl had said she could participate in battle under the condition that she completed a certain number of hours practicing each day.
"Time's up for today," Malachite announced. She was wearing him out. She now seemed to have an endless supply of energy and a passion for sword- fighting. "Let's go back to the castle. It's time for dinner."
Zoey didn't want to stop. But she was getting tired, and she knew she hd to listen to what her teacher said, so she prepared for teleport. "Race you!" she shouted, sounding more like a little kid than a general-in-training. She teleported away and arrived at the castle seconds before Malachite.
Malachite shook his head in amusement, then teleported to the castle.
*************
Later that night, Zoey was up in her room, practicing with various spells. It was silent, so she could hear the knock that came at the door.
Malachite answered the door to find Nephlite standing there. He looked as if he'd been in a fight.
"Nephlite?" Malachite was surprised to him. "What happened?"
"Well, if the Obsidian Army wants to take over, they'll need to improve security."
Malachite held the door open for Nephlite to enter. Upstairs, Zoey heard another voice. She silently went to the top of the stairs, where she could see, but they couldn't see her.
"Obsidianite is serious about getting that Crystal of Azurite. He'll do whatever he has to to get it. We need to prepare our armies for any attacks."
"Did you hear any of their plans?"
"No. But I think they will be returning soon. That little girl you're training is in danger."
"Nani?" Malachite was very angry when he heard this. "Are you sure?"
"Well he ordered a soldier to 'find the copper-haired girl and bring her to the Obsidian Palace.' Isn't that solid proof?"
Malachite ignored Nephlite's tone of voice. "When did he say that?"
"Right before I escaped, he sent a bunch of youma to the Negaverse."
"Why didn't you say that before?" Malachite was slightly upset at the Second General. "That's important information and you should have given it to me when you first got here!"
Zoey slowly backed away from the stairs and back to her room. She backed straight into one of Obsidianite's youma!
"Malachite!" Zoey cried out as loud as possible. "Help! Malach-"
The youma clapped a hand over her mouth. Malachite had heard her scream from downstairs and teleported up to her, making it just as the youma was preparing for teleport. Zoey conjured an ice crystal and sent it at the youma with force. The youma jumped back avoiding the crystal but releasing Zoey. Zoey conjured her ice sword and swung it at the youma, missing it as the youma teleported away.
"Wh-what was that thing?"
"One of Obsdidianite's youma." Malachite answered. "Are you hurt?"
"No, just scared." Zoey replied. "What if that thing comes back?"
"I'll put a locking spell around the castle so no one will be able to get in."
"I'm going to see the Queen." Nephlite said. Without another word or permission to leave from his superior, Nephlite was gone.
*************
Zoey couldn't sleep that night, locking spell or not. Everytime she nearly fell asleep, she heard some noise or saw some shadow and she was wide awake again. Eventually, she fell into a deep and seemingly dreamless sleep.
"Wake up," a voice commanded, shaking her shoulder. "Wake up, Zoycite."
Zoey opened her eyes. "What time is it?"
"Seven in the morning. You were supposed to be up an hour ago. I only let you sleep since you were up all night."
"I couldn't sleep," she admitted. She got up and took one of her uniforms out of the closet.
"I'll wait for you downstairs," Malachite said, heading towaards the door. "You'll have to eat breakfast as fast as you can, you've got five hours today, no exceptions."
The last thing she wanted that day was five hours. She wouldn't be able to concentrate.
When they got to the Training Field, they wasted no time. About thirty minutes into practice, Nephlite showed up.
"Need something Nephlite?" the First General asked, wanting Nephlite's reason for showing up.
"I came to see what's so special about the little general-in-training that Obsidianite wants her captured for his kingdom. She couldn't possibly have very good battle skills yet, since she's still in training and all."
His comment was met with a glare from the general-in-training.
"Zoycite is learning quickly. In no time, she will be of great value to the Negaverse."
Zoey wore a small, smug smile on her face as she conjured her sword. "Care to find out for yourself?"
"As a matter of fact, I do." In a flash of light, Nephlite had conjured his own sword and taken the first swing at the First General's student. Zoey dodged quickly, jumping up at least two or three feet above her opponent's head. She swung downward only to have her sword knocked away.
"Great value, huh?" Nephlite smirked. Zoey landed on her feet from her mid- air position.
"It's not over yet!" Zoey declared. Four small ice shards were sent Nephlite's way. Dodging the attack, he laughed at her attempt.
Zoey flung another crystal shard his way, shortening a few strands of Nephlite's hair.
"Why, you little-" The Second General growled angrily. He shoved her to the ground before she could evade him. She grabbed the sword that lay forgotten on the ground, just as Nephlite made a downward swinging motion with his own sword. She was able to block it in time, holding off his attack.
Nephlite hd to admit the little girl was pretty strong. She did have potential. And he hated her for it. It hadn't been that easy for him when he first started training. Malachite was too nice to her. His own teacher, no longer in the Negaverse, had been cruel and inconsiderate. He was jealous of the little rat!
He didn't think Malachite would care for his student the way he knew he did. He'd always seen his superior as cold and uncaring, yet it was easy to see that he cared for the young girl. No one cared for anyone but themselves in the Negaverse. That was the way it had always been, the way it was always supposed to stay.
Zoey was losing her strength to hold the sword against Nephlite's. If she didn't do something fast, she'd lose.
In the chamber where the Crystal of Azurite was held, the Crystal lit up blinking with blinding light.
With sudden burst of overwhelming power, Nephlite was brought down, Zoey's sword illuminated in the same blinding light. Zoey stood, staring at the sword in her hands with confusion. What was happening?
"Zoycite, are you okay? What happened?"
The crystal's power was too much for her. Zoey collapsed to the ground, the sword loosing it's glow and vanishing.
"Zoycite!"
"What the hell was that?" Nephlite asked. "The little brat overpowered me!"
"Zoycite, are you okay?" Malachite asked again, still not getting an answer.
"I-I don't know what happened. I...The sword.....The crys-" she stopped herself from mentioning the Crystal in front of Nephlite.
"What?"
Zoey shook her head. "Nothing."
*************
In the Earth Realm, Sora wandered around the park. How long has it been? Things just didn't seem right without Zoey around. Everything seemed pointless. Without meaning. No purpose.
Sighing, the dark haired girl headed for home. Where was Zoey? No doubt the mysterious stranger had been true to his promise and had come back for her. But now what? She didn't know where exactly Zoey had been taken.
"Onegai, be okay, Zoey-chan." Sora whispered. "I will find you. And I will not give up."
Sora walked up the front steps and into the house. Her mom was in the kitchen making dinner. For the past few nights, her mom had fixed something that was her 'favorite.' Everyone, even at school was treating her differently. As if someone had died. As if she needed special treatment. She didn't want any of it. No one had died! Nothing was wrong! Zoey would come home and then everything would be fine! The same as it was before!
At least she hoped so.
Up in her room, she stared out the window. The sky was a mixture of pink and orange and yellow. She wondered if her friend could see it too.
*************
The next morning, Zoey was ready on the Training Field. She hadn't had another vision since the incident with the Crystal of Azurite.
She only practiced sword fighting that day, and Nephlite didn't show up, much to her surprise. She couldn't help but wonder if he was afraid to come back after the sword incident. It was almost funny. But it wasn't. Nothing was funny anymore. Nothing was worth laughing at. In fact, Zoey wasn't sure she remembered the last time she had laughed. Or if she even remembered how to.
That's sad. I don't even remember how to laugh, Zoey thought to herself.
"What are you going to do?" The voice cut in on her thoughts.
"Huh? G-gomen, I didn't hear the instructions," Zoey admitted, lowering her head.
"The situation: You're surrounded by the enemy with no way out. What are you going to do?"
"Jump up and attack from above?"
"Demonstrate."
"Yes, sir." Zoey jumped into the air, hovering at least seven or eight feet above ground. A shower of small ice shards sprayed the area below her, the shards vanishing after they hit something.
"Good." Malachite gave a slight nod. "You're doing great."
"Honto?"
"Yes. I wouldn't lie."
They continued to practice, perfecting flaws and going over things that had already been perfected. By the end of the day, Zoey was exhausted.
*************
A general who appeared to be in his early twenties sat alone in a dungeon in another kingdom. Leaning back against the wall, he sighed. Maybe the other generals forgot about him. Maybe they just didn't care. Maybe they'd never come and he'd be left to suffer alone.
He always seemed to be alone. No matter what. And it didn't matter to him. He liked it that way. Most of the time.
He ran one hand through his short, wavy blond hair. He just didn't care about anything anymore. He saw no point in caring.
"Malachite?" Zoey asked, standing awkwardly in the doorway of the study. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Come in, Zoycite. What is it?"
Zoey entered the room. "C-can I go to the Earth Realm? For a little while? Just to visit a friend? Onegai?"
Malachite slowly shook his head. "Gomen nasai, Zoycite. You can't."
Zoey bit her lower lip. "May I ask why not?"
"The Queen would not allow it," Malachite replied simply.
"Okay then," Zoey stood, trying to hide her diappointment. "Sorry if I bothered you."
"Don't go just yet," Malachite stood also. "Obsidianite has been too quiet too long. Something might be up and I can't let you leave our kingdom."
"Wouldn't it be safer on Earth than here where attacks are more likely to happen?"
"We need you here with Jedite still in their kingdom. I'm sorry, I'd let you go if I could."
"I wouldn't be gone for long. Not even one day. Onegai? Just this once?
"No, I'm sorry. I can't let you go."
"Okay. I understand." Zoey turned to leave.
"I really am sorry," Malachite apologized before Zoey left the room.
*************
Zoey sat up in her room alone, despite the fact that it was the middle of the night.
I've pretty much been alone since I've been here, she thought. Malachite didn't count. Sure, he'd been nice to her, but it wasn't the same without Sora. Sora was her only friend. Always there when she needed her, always there to listen, always there. Now she wasn't there, and now Zoey couldn't help but feel lonely without her friend around.
Then, there was the whole identity thing. She truly wasn't sure what exactly her name was these days. For as long as she could remember, she'd been called Zoey. Now most everyone called her Zoycite. Sort of like Zoey, but with the added '-cite' and not so much emphasis on the 'y.' Was it a sort of odd coincidence? Her mother loved gemstones and minerals and had named her daughter Zoey, after the mineral zoisite. And now she was called Zoycite. But if her mind didn't decieve her, she recalled Malachite had called her Zoey at least once before....
Then, there was Malachite. She had mixed feelings about him. When she had first met him, she felt as if she'd known him from somewhere before. She felt sort of strange around him. Anytime they were on the Training Field, she wanted nothing more than to do well and impress him. But why? Why did she want so badly to impress him?
She let herself fall face first onto her bed. "Too much to think about. I think my brain is overheating," her voice was muffled by the pillow her face was buried in. So confusing...everything was so confusing.
"Zoycite!"
Zoey growled slightly. She had a headache, the last thing she wanted was to have to get up. She didn't want to move at all, but she somehow managaed to get up without falling and even make it to the stairs without dying first.
"Yes?"
"Come down here."
Tired from not having any sleep so far that night, she made it downstairs without collapsing. It had been long, tiring day on the Training Field. Lack of sleep didn't help that at all.
Malachite was the one who had called her down, but he wasn't alone. Nephlite was with him. Zoey was too tired to wonder what he was doing there. She bowed her head slightly in respect. Malachite stepped toward her, holding a sword in one hand. He had a sort of odd expression on his face that Zoey couldn't read.
Zoey stepped back. "Wh-what's going on?" Her eyes went from the sword to Nephlite's face to Malachite's face. She couldn't read either of their expressions. Something was wrong. "T-tell me. Please." She tried to back away again, but for some reason, she stayed where she was. What was going on? Something was definitely wrong. "Tell me!"
Malachite swung the sword at Zoey. Zoey blocked it like he had showed her. She was getting pretty good with the sword. Beryl had said she could participate in battle under the condition that she completed a certain number of hours practicing each day.
"Time's up for today," Malachite announced. She was wearing him out. She now seemed to have an endless supply of energy and a passion for sword- fighting. "Let's go back to the castle. It's time for dinner."
Zoey didn't want to stop. But she was getting tired, and she knew she hd to listen to what her teacher said, so she prepared for teleport. "Race you!" she shouted, sounding more like a little kid than a general-in-training. She teleported away and arrived at the castle seconds before Malachite.
Malachite shook his head in amusement, then teleported to the castle.
*************
Later that night, Zoey was up in her room, practicing with various spells. It was silent, so she could hear the knock that came at the door.
Malachite answered the door to find Nephlite standing there. He looked as if he'd been in a fight.
"Nephlite?" Malachite was surprised to him. "What happened?"
"Well, if the Obsidian Army wants to take over, they'll need to improve security."
Malachite held the door open for Nephlite to enter. Upstairs, Zoey heard another voice. She silently went to the top of the stairs, where she could see, but they couldn't see her.
"Obsidianite is serious about getting that Crystal of Azurite. He'll do whatever he has to to get it. We need to prepare our armies for any attacks."
"Did you hear any of their plans?"
"No. But I think they will be returning soon. That little girl you're training is in danger."
"Nani?" Malachite was very angry when he heard this. "Are you sure?"
"Well he ordered a soldier to 'find the copper-haired girl and bring her to the Obsidian Palace.' Isn't that solid proof?"
Malachite ignored Nephlite's tone of voice. "When did he say that?"
"Right before I escaped, he sent a bunch of youma to the Negaverse."
"Why didn't you say that before?" Malachite was slightly upset at the Second General. "That's important information and you should have given it to me when you first got here!"
Zoey slowly backed away from the stairs and back to her room. She backed straight into one of Obsidianite's youma!
"Malachite!" Zoey cried out as loud as possible. "Help! Malach-"
The youma clapped a hand over her mouth. Malachite had heard her scream from downstairs and teleported up to her, making it just as the youma was preparing for teleport. Zoey conjured an ice crystal and sent it at the youma with force. The youma jumped back avoiding the crystal but releasing Zoey. Zoey conjured her ice sword and swung it at the youma, missing it as the youma teleported away.
"Wh-what was that thing?"
"One of Obsdidianite's youma." Malachite answered. "Are you hurt?"
"No, just scared." Zoey replied. "What if that thing comes back?"
"I'll put a locking spell around the castle so no one will be able to get in."
"I'm going to see the Queen." Nephlite said. Without another word or permission to leave from his superior, Nephlite was gone.
*************
Zoey couldn't sleep that night, locking spell or not. Everytime she nearly fell asleep, she heard some noise or saw some shadow and she was wide awake again. Eventually, she fell into a deep and seemingly dreamless sleep.
"Wake up," a voice commanded, shaking her shoulder. "Wake up, Zoycite."
Zoey opened her eyes. "What time is it?"
"Seven in the morning. You were supposed to be up an hour ago. I only let you sleep since you were up all night."
"I couldn't sleep," she admitted. She got up and took one of her uniforms out of the closet.
"I'll wait for you downstairs," Malachite said, heading towaards the door. "You'll have to eat breakfast as fast as you can, you've got five hours today, no exceptions."
The last thing she wanted that day was five hours. She wouldn't be able to concentrate.
When they got to the Training Field, they wasted no time. About thirty minutes into practice, Nephlite showed up.
"Need something Nephlite?" the First General asked, wanting Nephlite's reason for showing up.
"I came to see what's so special about the little general-in-training that Obsidianite wants her captured for his kingdom. She couldn't possibly have very good battle skills yet, since she's still in training and all."
His comment was met with a glare from the general-in-training.
"Zoycite is learning quickly. In no time, she will be of great value to the Negaverse."
Zoey wore a small, smug smile on her face as she conjured her sword. "Care to find out for yourself?"
"As a matter of fact, I do." In a flash of light, Nephlite had conjured his own sword and taken the first swing at the First General's student. Zoey dodged quickly, jumping up at least two or three feet above her opponent's head. She swung downward only to have her sword knocked away.
"Great value, huh?" Nephlite smirked. Zoey landed on her feet from her mid- air position.
"It's not over yet!" Zoey declared. Four small ice shards were sent Nephlite's way. Dodging the attack, he laughed at her attempt.
Zoey flung another crystal shard his way, shortening a few strands of Nephlite's hair.
"Why, you little-" The Second General growled angrily. He shoved her to the ground before she could evade him. She grabbed the sword that lay forgotten on the ground, just as Nephlite made a downward swinging motion with his own sword. She was able to block it in time, holding off his attack.
Nephlite hd to admit the little girl was pretty strong. She did have potential. And he hated her for it. It hadn't been that easy for him when he first started training. Malachite was too nice to her. His own teacher, no longer in the Negaverse, had been cruel and inconsiderate. He was jealous of the little rat!
He didn't think Malachite would care for his student the way he knew he did. He'd always seen his superior as cold and uncaring, yet it was easy to see that he cared for the young girl. No one cared for anyone but themselves in the Negaverse. That was the way it had always been, the way it was always supposed to stay.
Zoey was losing her strength to hold the sword against Nephlite's. If she didn't do something fast, she'd lose.
In the chamber where the Crystal of Azurite was held, the Crystal lit up blinking with blinding light.
With sudden burst of overwhelming power, Nephlite was brought down, Zoey's sword illuminated in the same blinding light. Zoey stood, staring at the sword in her hands with confusion. What was happening?
"Zoycite, are you okay? What happened?"
The crystal's power was too much for her. Zoey collapsed to the ground, the sword loosing it's glow and vanishing.
"Zoycite!"
"What the hell was that?" Nephlite asked. "The little brat overpowered me!"
"Zoycite, are you okay?" Malachite asked again, still not getting an answer.
"I-I don't know what happened. I...The sword.....The crys-" she stopped herself from mentioning the Crystal in front of Nephlite.
"What?"
Zoey shook her head. "Nothing."
*************
In the Earth Realm, Sora wandered around the park. How long has it been? Things just didn't seem right without Zoey around. Everything seemed pointless. Without meaning. No purpose.
Sighing, the dark haired girl headed for home. Where was Zoey? No doubt the mysterious stranger had been true to his promise and had come back for her. But now what? She didn't know where exactly Zoey had been taken.
"Onegai, be okay, Zoey-chan." Sora whispered. "I will find you. And I will not give up."
Sora walked up the front steps and into the house. Her mom was in the kitchen making dinner. For the past few nights, her mom had fixed something that was her 'favorite.' Everyone, even at school was treating her differently. As if someone had died. As if she needed special treatment. She didn't want any of it. No one had died! Nothing was wrong! Zoey would come home and then everything would be fine! The same as it was before!
At least she hoped so.
Up in her room, she stared out the window. The sky was a mixture of pink and orange and yellow. She wondered if her friend could see it too.
*************
The next morning, Zoey was ready on the Training Field. She hadn't had another vision since the incident with the Crystal of Azurite.
She only practiced sword fighting that day, and Nephlite didn't show up, much to her surprise. She couldn't help but wonder if he was afraid to come back after the sword incident. It was almost funny. But it wasn't. Nothing was funny anymore. Nothing was worth laughing at. In fact, Zoey wasn't sure she remembered the last time she had laughed. Or if she even remembered how to.
That's sad. I don't even remember how to laugh, Zoey thought to herself.
"What are you going to do?" The voice cut in on her thoughts.
"Huh? G-gomen, I didn't hear the instructions," Zoey admitted, lowering her head.
"The situation: You're surrounded by the enemy with no way out. What are you going to do?"
"Jump up and attack from above?"
"Demonstrate."
"Yes, sir." Zoey jumped into the air, hovering at least seven or eight feet above ground. A shower of small ice shards sprayed the area below her, the shards vanishing after they hit something.
"Good." Malachite gave a slight nod. "You're doing great."
"Honto?"
"Yes. I wouldn't lie."
They continued to practice, perfecting flaws and going over things that had already been perfected. By the end of the day, Zoey was exhausted.
*************
A general who appeared to be in his early twenties sat alone in a dungeon in another kingdom. Leaning back against the wall, he sighed. Maybe the other generals forgot about him. Maybe they just didn't care. Maybe they'd never come and he'd be left to suffer alone.
He always seemed to be alone. No matter what. And it didn't matter to him. He liked it that way. Most of the time.
He ran one hand through his short, wavy blond hair. He just didn't care about anything anymore. He saw no point in caring.
"Malachite?" Zoey asked, standing awkwardly in the doorway of the study. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Come in, Zoycite. What is it?"
Zoey entered the room. "C-can I go to the Earth Realm? For a little while? Just to visit a friend? Onegai?"
Malachite slowly shook his head. "Gomen nasai, Zoycite. You can't."
Zoey bit her lower lip. "May I ask why not?"
"The Queen would not allow it," Malachite replied simply.
"Okay then," Zoey stood, trying to hide her diappointment. "Sorry if I bothered you."
"Don't go just yet," Malachite stood also. "Obsidianite has been too quiet too long. Something might be up and I can't let you leave our kingdom."
"Wouldn't it be safer on Earth than here where attacks are more likely to happen?"
"We need you here with Jedite still in their kingdom. I'm sorry, I'd let you go if I could."
"I wouldn't be gone for long. Not even one day. Onegai? Just this once?
"No, I'm sorry. I can't let you go."
"Okay. I understand." Zoey turned to leave.
"I really am sorry," Malachite apologized before Zoey left the room.
*************
Zoey sat up in her room alone, despite the fact that it was the middle of the night.
I've pretty much been alone since I've been here, she thought. Malachite didn't count. Sure, he'd been nice to her, but it wasn't the same without Sora. Sora was her only friend. Always there when she needed her, always there to listen, always there. Now she wasn't there, and now Zoey couldn't help but feel lonely without her friend around.
Then, there was the whole identity thing. She truly wasn't sure what exactly her name was these days. For as long as she could remember, she'd been called Zoey. Now most everyone called her Zoycite. Sort of like Zoey, but with the added '-cite' and not so much emphasis on the 'y.' Was it a sort of odd coincidence? Her mother loved gemstones and minerals and had named her daughter Zoey, after the mineral zoisite. And now she was called Zoycite. But if her mind didn't decieve her, she recalled Malachite had called her Zoey at least once before....
Then, there was Malachite. She had mixed feelings about him. When she had first met him, she felt as if she'd known him from somewhere before. She felt sort of strange around him. Anytime they were on the Training Field, she wanted nothing more than to do well and impress him. But why? Why did she want so badly to impress him?
She let herself fall face first onto her bed. "Too much to think about. I think my brain is overheating," her voice was muffled by the pillow her face was buried in. So confusing...everything was so confusing.
"Zoycite!"
Zoey growled slightly. She had a headache, the last thing she wanted was to have to get up. She didn't want to move at all, but she somehow managaed to get up without falling and even make it to the stairs without dying first.
"Yes?"
"Come down here."
Tired from not having any sleep so far that night, she made it downstairs without collapsing. It had been long, tiring day on the Training Field. Lack of sleep didn't help that at all.
Malachite was the one who had called her down, but he wasn't alone. Nephlite was with him. Zoey was too tired to wonder what he was doing there. She bowed her head slightly in respect. Malachite stepped toward her, holding a sword in one hand. He had a sort of odd expression on his face that Zoey couldn't read.
Zoey stepped back. "Wh-what's going on?" Her eyes went from the sword to Nephlite's face to Malachite's face. She couldn't read either of their expressions. Something was wrong. "T-tell me. Please." She tried to back away again, but for some reason, she stayed where she was. What was going on? Something was definitely wrong. "Tell me!"