Author's Notes

Hi all, this is another Clem written chapter! This one is a little short but I felt it was good to end it when it could.

Aztec 13 - Indeed you were right! Good job there! There are some interesting bits of history between some of the characters actually. I'm glad you liked the little reference ^^ You have interesting ideas there!

lordgemini - I'm glad you enjoyed it mostly! Yeah I can see why the Bridgette change stuff can come off as a little weird, especially given the time but I enjoyed the little throwback

Guest - Yeah I enjoy being able to explore the theme of "Staying" vs "Leaving" I'm glad you're enjoying it all!

Hope you enjoy this chapter ^^

A2C8

Leonard couldn't see anything. He could hear the constant bubbling and flowing of water.

He could hear muffled voices from a distance. He couldn't make out what the voices were saying though.

Everything felt weaker and weaker. He tried to open his eyes but all he could feel on his eyelids was pressure.

He couldn't breathe, he could feel water continuously enter his nose. He tried to block it with his hands but he felt too weak to move.

He was alone with his thoughts. Seconds felt like days.

Is this it…

He let his thoughts simply drift away as he fell into deep and deep darkness.

…

…

He could feel something against his mouth. It felt rough. At instinct, he suddenly coughed and opened his eyes wide.

"Gah! What what?" All he could see was the face of Geoff looking down at him with the others looking from a distance.

"Dude! You ok?" Geoff looked at him concerned.

Leonard kept coughing up a bit of water. "Gh… This is not where the water spells are supposed to come from." He blinked and looked at Geoff. "You.. you saved me. Thank you, great hero of the wizard," he coughed a bit more and gave a goofy smirk.

Geoff got up and smiled at him. "Glad to see you're all good dude. Just please, don't run next time."

"I'm sorry. Noted." He looked down a bit.

Dwayne walked over. "Leonard! You're ok! I'm so glad!" He smiled brightly at him.

"Yeah, we were worried man." Trent looked relieved. "I feel we should call it an early day. After all that."

Noah walked over. "Glad to see you're fine."

"Thank you guys" Leonard smiled.

Bridgette was at the pool edge. "Yeah, I don't think it'll be a good idea to swim now. We should give you a bit of a break."

Leonard shook his head.

"Oh? You want to swim still?" Bridgette blinked.

"You don't have to man. It's ok" Trent reassured him.

Leonard shook his head again. "I'm going in. I want to face this fear. I won't let a hiccup stop me. If I can take down a beast, I can take the beast that is water" Leonard looked very determined. He stood up.

"Son shouldn't you at least wait a bit just in case." Dwayne looked a little concerned.

Leonard shook his head a third time. "I must do this." He walked and jumped. "Cannonball!" He formed a sphere with his body and landed straight into the pool. The water splashed all over Noah.

"D-dude!" Noah groaned.

Trent laughed.

Leonard popped his head up from the pool. "Wow, it's not so bad." he smiled.

"Room for one more?" Trent ran and jumped into the pool, more splashes hit Noah.

"Guys… seriously!" Noah groaned more and moved to a new spot.

"Woohoo!" Dwayne also jumped in. The splash also hitting Noah.

"Gahah!" Noah was clenching his fists as water dripped off his now wet clothes and body. "Just my luck…"

Trent popped his head out of the water and chuckled at Noah. "Come on man, you might as well come in now considering you're already wet!"

"Pfft n-no." Noah shivered a bit. "I-i think i-I'm going to head home."

"Awh don't be like that son" Dwayne looked a little sad. "Come on enjoy yourself" He smiled.

"No thanks." He frowned and walked off.

"What's with him?" Dwayne looked at Trent.

"That's just Noah." Trent rolled his eyes a little.

"You must have a bit of history huh? Being in the same season and everything" Dwayne said.

"Not really actually. He got eliminated early, he wasn't in Action and I wasn't in World Tour." Trent blinked. "Really we barely interacted. I can't even remember if we truly even spoke a word to each other before now actually" He laughed a bit. "Most I know about him is stuff Gwen and others have said."

"Oh speaking of Gwen, I wanted to ask how you were doing actually" Dwayne looked at him. "I know how it feels to be worried for someone who's currently lost"

Trent looked at him. "Honestly, I'm a bit sad and worried but worrying about it won't change anything" He smiled. "I'm just grateful to have you guys around you know? I don't know what I'd do if I was by myself."

Dwayne smiled "I'm glad to hear it, let's hope we find Junior and Gwen then"

Trent smirked. "Of course."

"And then you can finally confess your feelings to her" He chuckled.

"Oh stop it with that" Trent frowned and splashed water at him.

"Hey! Hahaha!" Dwayne laughed and splashed back.

They started to have a bit of a splash fight.

Dwayne swam back and splashed large amounts of water at Trent.

Trent covered his face and started aimlessly splashing in any direction, some water was hitting the others in the pool.

"Take that and that!" Dwayne shouted. "Hahaha!" He used his feet to splash.

"Dudes! You're splashing the other guests, calm it down" Geoff said from the lifeguard stand.

The duo stopped.

"Oh sorry man" Trent laughed.

"Sorry!" Dwayne joined in on the laughter.

Trent looked over to Leonard. "Oh, looks like he's making some progress."

Dwayne glanced over.

"Woahhhh…this is nice." Leonard was moving his arms and legs against the water as if simulating swimming as Bridgette held him up with one hand.

"You're doing well Leonard" She smiled.

"Thank you fish woman" He looked very determined and went faster.

"It's Bridgette… and don't go too heavy now" The water splashed at Trent and Dwayne.

"Hey!" Trent chuckled and splashed at Leonard.

"Gah! Fish woman! Hold me! Prepare for battle, turn me away from them!" Leonard smirked.

Bridgette giggled. "On it." She turned him.

"Oh no," Dwayne said as he tried to swim away.

"Oh man," Trent's eyes widened.

"Water surge!" He splashed his legs and splashed heavy amounts of water on the duo.

"Ah!" Trent got completely engulfed by water.

"Victory!" Leonard laughed.

Trent popped his head out. "Woah that was powerful" He laughed. "You ok Dwayne?"

Dwayne was floating on the water dazed out. "A-all good hahahaha…"

Meanwhile, Noah was walking back, water was dripping off him. He grumbled a bit.

I really need a shower or something… I could get a cold.

He looked at the shops nearby and saw a potion store.

It was a brick store with clean glass windows which displayed many different varieties of potions.

Hm. Well, they have potions on many things, maybe they have something to warm me up. Plus I could ask about the invisibility potion.

He opened the door and walked in, water continued to drip on the floor a bit.

The store owner was a blue old man with a long white beard and elf-like ears, he looked at Noah and frowned a little.

"Hey, you're getting water all over my carpet."

"Oh. Sorry" Noah blinked. "I just needed to ask something."

"What is it? And please make it quick, I don't want my floor to be drenched." He frowned a bit more.

"Two things. Do you have invisibility potions and second do you have a potion that can heat me up? Or just something to dry these clothes."

The man went into deep thought and stroked his beard a bit. "No on both. Sorry. Now please leave."

Noah frowned a bit. "Are they like impossible to make or what?"

"They require ingredients which are hard or dangerous to find yes. That's why not many potion shops in the world have them." The man answered.

"Well, can I know the recipe? Maybe I could make it myself" Noah said.

The man went into a chuckle. "Hahah! Like you could make it yourself boy. You'd have to be some strong warrior to get some of the ingredients and you" He inspected Noah's body. "Definitely are no warrior."

Noah frowned. "Wow. So not going to give me the recipe huh? I see no harm in giving me it."

"Look." The man looked at him directly. "Prove yourself and I'll give you it."

"Of course this whole thing isn't as easy as just giving it to me." Noah snarked and sighed. "Fine. What do you want from me?"

"Get me a dragon horn."

"A… Dragon horn?" He blinked.

"Yeah. A horn from a dragon." The man reiterated.

"Oh really? I thought of a horn from a cat." Noah frowned.

"Don't get smart with me boy. I can just refuse the recipe instead." The man glared.

"Fine fine. I'll go get you this… dragon horn. Where are dragons even found?" Noah asked.

The man shrugged. "No idea. That's what you need to find out."

"Of course," Noah grumbled a little. "Why do you need one anyway?"

"It's an ingredient for a potion I'm making, I won't tell you the details. Now please leave once again. You already know what I want." The man motioned for Noah to leave.

"Right right. On it." Noah walked out of the store.

A dragon horn. How are we supposed to take down a dragon?

Meanwhile back at the pool, Leonard was swimming around while holding onto a pool noodle.

"It feels like I truly have the power of water!" Leonard grinned.

"It's good at helping you swim with confidence since you have something keeping you up, just work on your technique ok?" Bridgette smiled.

"Alright!" Leonard moved his arms in a swimming motion and proceeded to move around the pool. He suddenly swam into someone. "Oouf!"

"Oi watch it!" An overweight blue man growled at him.

"Gah! I appeared to have invaded in your space, my apologies." Leonard timidly swam away as fast as he could.

"Watch out there Leonard, there are still people in the pool" Bridgette gave a small laugh.

"Damn beasts! Ghh!" Leonard frowned and swam a bit. "I think I'm ready."

"Are you sure?" Bridgette asked.

"Yes, I feel confident to try, I think…" He blinked and swam over. "So… what do I do?"

"I'll pick you up and we'll go from there ok?"

He nodded allowed her to pick him up again.

She could feel Leonard shivering a bit in fear.

"I think you can do it Leonard" She smiled.

"I-i don't know," He said nervously as he stared at his reflection in the water.

"It'll be fine, I'm right nearby if anything goes wrong but I know you can do it, trust me" She smiled reassuringly at him.

"Yeah you can do it, man," Trent said from outside the pool. He was drying himself off with a towel.

"You goo!" Dwayne smiled as he rooted for him from the other side of the pool.

Leonard was breathing heavily. "O-ok. I'll try." He looked a little worried.

"Just go for as long as you can. There's no pressure here. Little or big, it'll be an improvement." She smiled more.

Leonard nodded and looked ahead. He sighed.

"When you want to go, just say and I'll let go."

"Ok." Leonard stared into the distance.

The wait felt like forever. It reminded him of when he was underwater, each second felt like hours. He felt nervous and intense, his heart raced as fast as lightning.

…

"Go."

Bridgette let go of him. He could feel water surround his body, he felt panic go through him.

Come on… come on! Ah! Ah!

He struggled and frantically moved his arms around, he started to sink.

No no!

"You can do it, Leonard!" Dwayne shouted.

Bridgette looked prepared to have to grab him.

Something clicked in Leonard's mind as he remembered some of the things Bridgette taught him.

Ok. ok! Let's go-go

He started moving his arms in a breaststroke. He successfully starts moving.

"Go Leonard go!" Dwayne shouted more.

"He's really doing it" Trent smiled.

Bridgette smiled.

Leonard continued for about 3 meters. "H-hey i'm doing it! Haha!" He suddenly started to sink. "Ah-" went under.

Bridgette suddenly went under to grab him and pull him up.

"Gah!" Leonard coughed a bit. "D-did I fail?"

"Of course not, you did well for the first time" She smiled. "I think that's enough for today, do come back tomorrow though so we can train more. Good job Leonard"

Leonard smiled and nodded. "Thank you so much fish wo- I mean Bridgette"

She helped Leonard get back to the edge and he got out.

"Great job dude!" Geoff was seen getting off his lifeguard tower.

"Oh, thanks! Protector of the pool!" He smiled.

He approached and pointed at the 3. "You three, for Leonard's great performance, I'm taking you guys out for dinner. My treat."

"Wow, you sure?" Trent asked.

"Of course! It's a celebration after all, plus it'll be nice to catch up especially with you Trent" He grinned.

"Sounds good" Trent smiled.

"Woo! Food!" Dwayne swam over and got out.

"Woah, man!" Trench chuckled a little.

"What?" Dwayne tilted his head.

"You seem to resemble a dried grape." Leonard inspected.

"Oh," Dwayne went a bit red.

"Looks like the water did a number on you" Geoff chuckled and looked at Bridgette. "You coming, babe?"

She shook her head. "I think it'll be nice for you to catch up by yourself" She smiled.

He nodded. "Alright, you guys go get changed and I'll meet you outside the pool area ok?" He walked off.

The boys headed into the changing room and got into their regular clothes.

They got out and headed to the front pool entrance. They saw Geoff there chilling by the fence.

"Hey dudes!" Geoff waved. "Ready then? I know a great place!"

"Shouldn't we get Noah first?" Trent asked.

"Eh. He doesn't seem like the type to enjoy such events. I don't want to burden him"

"That's true," Trent said and put his hand to his chin. "Well, I suppose we can just go without him, no harm really"

Leonard nodded. "He didn't see me swim anyway! Hmph."

"Now now guys, remember he's still a friend" Dwayne raised his arms a bit and his stomach suddenly grumbled. "Though I'm very hungry right now."

"Really wish this place had phones, it would be easier to contact him" Trent frowned.

"You get used to it after the 2nd year" Geoff laughed a little and started to walk. "We can invite him next time, it'll be fine"

The guys nodded and followed.

"So what kind of place are we going to?" Dwayne asked.

"Oh, you'll see. Trust me it's awesome"