Hidy hay! I'm back. This chapter has the potential to be a little gloomy or dramatic.
Dormouse: THANKYOU! I WUB YOU! YOU ARE REVIEWING! YAY! Uh...I'm not sure I ever specified that the powers only last two days...they have them all the time...it's just that my patience is zero so I'm not real good at making them fight on the last day!
Normal: storyline
"Italics": Thoughts/Telepathy between Gilchrist and Ponting
Also, there is a VERY IMPORTANT NOTE at the end of the chapter. THIS IS VITAL TO READ BECAUSE OF WHAT IT CONCERNS.
Chapter Four: The South African Five
'Ah-ahhhh…'
The three "tall ones" as they were called by their team-mates stretched their legs. Matt, Dizzy, Pigeon and Kasper all groaned. The fourteen-hour flight from Perth to Johannesburg, South Africa, had been exhausting, mainly because they had left Perth in the morning and, flying west, it had become like a never-ending day. But now they had landed, and they were much happier, for they loved South Africa. It was a wildly exotic place for them to visit, though even the smaller players were feeling the pinch. They were there for a Three Test series against South Africa.
Usually they wouldn't be worried, but now that they knew what some of them were, they were distinctly more wary.
Brad was jogging one day when he bumped into AB de Villiers, the young Proteas (A/N: South Africa) wicketkeeper-batsman, whom the Proteas claimed to be their answer to Adam Gilchrist. AB seemed friendly, though he didn't stay long for a chat. Maybe it was because there were hordes of fans after him. Whatever the reason, Brad became distinctly suspicious when he thought he saw, albeit faintly, a Charter Mark on his forehead. He decided not to say anything; maybe de Villiers came from the Old Kingdom.
The First Test passed without incident, and the Six wondered at this, but they were perfectly aware that it might be a trap, although they all had a fleeting thought that maybe Chlorr had overlooked South Africa. However, in the Second Test, that theory was blown right out the window.
Shane Watsonwas just walking out to bat, and Adam was patiently waiting at the crease. Ricky was silently watching through binoculars, annoyed at his own rash dismissal. But all of a sudden that was the last thing on his mind. He focused quickly, not on Gilly but behind him. There was AB de Villiers, keeping gloves glowing with Charter Marks (though of course Ricky could not see them). What Ricky could see, however, was the Charter Mark on de Villiers forehead glowing. He could also see Adam's glowing freziedly, attempting to alert him to the danger. Adam had not heeded it. With no time to lose, Ricky sent his mind, shaped like a probe, hurtling like an arrow straight at Adam. He nearly made Adam fall over with the intensity of the Telepathy, but thankfully, Adam's mind recognised the urgency and let him in.
"Adam?" "Punter? What is it?" "Look behind you! AB de Villiers is inhabited!" "You're sure?" "Yes." "Right. You must -" They were painfully cut short when de Villiers turned his gloves into a pair of flying razor discs and flung them straight at Shane. Luckily, Watto saw them coming, and twisted out of the way, only getting a slash from them. He turned to see them hurtling back at him, and a Charter Mark of protection blossomed at his fingers. The discs fell to the ground as gloves, useless. But now de Villiers had revealed himself, and Charter Marks blazed about him. Quick as a flash, Shane raced to his vice-captain, knowing that separation would cost them dear. Adam had already taken his helmet off. Shane joined him. Charter Marks sparkled about them, revealing the tunics and cloaks, mail and boots. Charter-spelled swords were drawn from what looked like bats, but were really nothing of the sort. AB called on Shaun Pollock to help him, or rather, Shaurael, and Adam and Shane were swiftly engaged in one-on-one combat with the pair, swords flashing about them.
"Gilly!" "Punter, in case you couldn't tell, I'm fighting for my life here. I don't need distractions. What is it?" "What do you want the others to do?" "Ask Damien if he can do long-range healing." The conversation was broken while Rick relayed this query. "Sorry Gilly, Marto can't. What now?" "Just a second, I'm trying to think, but it's not easy when you're in a sword-fight and have someone else in your head. Well, Watto being Watto, he'll fight to the bitter end. But he won't last long with that injury. Send out JL. Ta." The connection was broken. Rick turned. 'Justin?' 'Yeah?' 'Adam needs your help. You must help Shane.' 'I'm off, then.'
Adam's Telepathy thundered back into Rick's mind. "Rick!""We have got to find a less painful way of getting each other's attention in a hurry. What?" "Can you send for Brad? We should have brought him anyway, but if all Five reveal themselves before he gets here, we're screwed." "Will do."
Rick swiftly sent a messenger to the team hotel for Brad. Brad raced swiftly back, hoping against hope that he wasn't needed just yet.
It turned out that sending out Justin was not necessarily a wise move, because all that did was have them call out Nerael, inhabiting the body of Andre Nel, to fight with them. Grimaces all round. Matt charged out to help, but all that did was force them to reveal Smael, hiding in the body of Graeme Smith. Now it was a race against time. Could Hoggy make it to the ground before the Fifth spirit revealed himself? Damien sat there quietly, gripping his sword. If Hoggy didn't make it, or if one fell, he would fight, regardless of what Lirael had said. But inwardly he prayed. Come on Hoggy, we need you.
Matt looked wearily around. His spirits lifted a little when he saw that none of the other players were moving, shocked. He quickly returned to the battle, but saw Brad, on his flying board, clear the top of the stadium.
Then Lance Klusener began to laugh hysterically and uncontrollably. Charter Marks glowed on his skin. The four warriors noticed this with despair, as Hoggy was still some way off. Klusener, or Klael, joined the circle.
Brad looked down and gasped. Watto had collapsed from blood loss and now Adam, Matt and Justin were fighting desperately. He urged the board on.
Klusener was grinning wickedly at Adam, their swords locked together in viscous combat. Then Klusener opened his hand and released a spell of remembering. Before anyone could counter the spell, it wound its way into Adam's temples. He collapsed. Now Matt and Justin were fighting and casting spells of protection alternately. Damien rushed out but Lirael's voice in his head stopped him short. "You must not reveal yourself!" Damien tried to ignore this, but his limbs wouldn't respond and he suspected Lirael had cast a spell on him to stop him revealing himself. He yelled out in frustration; his friends were out there, and he couldn't help!
Adam opened his eyes. He was out there on the Wanderers ground. He turned about. The date on the scoreboard read March 2002. He looked around, frowning. There in the crowd were banners that had caused him no end of grief. Who's the father of your child? It was Slater, Slater! (A/N: This was a rumour that went round in 2002. Details later) Pain seared through his heart again at the memory. But a new memory surfaced, something that had never been in his mind before. Slater rose up before him, laughing maniacally. 'Oh, Adam, you fool. You believed that Harrison really was yours! You fool! Of course he's mine. Melanie and I have known things about each other that you could only dream about! Fool! Fool! Gilchrist the Fool!' The pain had become unbearable. Suddenly Rick walked in. He threw Slater down. 'Adam! This isn't real, and you know it! This never happened. You must wake, you must help Justin and Matt. Wake, Adam! And remember truly; you are Harrison's father!
Adam sat bolt upright. Justin sighed with relief, although there were tears leaking down his cheeks. Suddenly Adam threw Klusener to the ground, the tip of his sword at his throat. 'You bastard…you bastard…you…you tried to…' 'Oh, that hurt, didn't it, Clayr brat? Mwahaha. Well, maybe I should do it more often. You weak little fool.' Adam was shaking with rage. The tip of his sword actually cut his skin, and the sight of a few drops of blood brought him back to himself. He sheathed his sword, but filled his lungs and blew such a blast upon Saraneth that everyone quailed. The sheer power of his anger was enough to bind, then walk Klael, but not the others, for he was nearly spent.
All at once the tune of Saraneth floated down from above, mingling and lifting Adam's note. Swiftly Justin joined in, embroidering the tune. Matt took a great breath and sounded Kibeth. The remaining four spirits left, shrieking uselessly, and Hoggy floated on his flying board down to the ground.
At last Damien's muscles unlocked and he was able to go to them. Charter Marks were already blossoming at his fingertips as he sped out to them. First, he wound the spells onto Shane, then Justin and Matt. He wound gently some pain-relieving spells through Adam's temples, and they headed back, casting their spells of forgetting.
Something unusual greeted their return, however... Punter had collapsed! Damien swiftly plucked more Marks from the Charter and Rick returned to consciousness. And suddenly Adam knew.
'It wasn't me, was it? You came into my mind to shake free Klael's spell!' 'I did. I could feel your mental turmoil and tried to help.' 'Thankyou. The use of the Gift could become a very useful asset during a fight.' And once again, Australia won the Tests.
VERY VERY IMPORTANT NOTE:
In 2002, a rumour circulated via email. This rumour claimed that the real father of Adam Gilchrist's son, Harrison, was not Gilchrist but Michael Slater. However, this was completely untrue. SLATER WAS COMPLETELY INNOCENT. The illusion of otherwise WAS CREATED BY KLAEL to implant in Gilchrist's mind, drive him to the brink of despair, and render him useless. I repeat: SLATER WAS INNOCENT. THE "MEMORY" WAS CREATED BY KLAEL.
Happier note: Yay! Another chapter! Iam pleased. But I will be even more so if you review!
Who should be the most powerful (and as such last) enemy? New Zealand or England? Review your answer! (If you don't I'll have to flip a coin)
Next Chapter: A loooooong winter'sbreak! And now, it is time for a tour of Sri Lanka...
PS If Australia winning all the time seems monotonous, you must remember that currently there is no team in the world that can beat us without the help of rain or pitch-doctoring.