Author's Notes

Hi All! New chap here! Nothing much to say here today! Just enjoy! ^^

Aztec 13 - I'm glad you enjoyed the humour here! Plenty of things happening at the moment which I'm glad is keeping the excitement up! And quite the wild idea there! You do come up with some fun things ^^

Fodini Cyan - I love cliffhangers~ hehe

lordgemini - Yay for fast chapter! I'm glad I'm keeping the curiosity going ^^

Guest - I'm glad you enjoyed the continuity, guess we will see here ^^

Trent blinked and rubbed his eyes and stared at the girl in front of him.

"I-is that really you Gwen?" He tried to contain a smile.

The girl looked at him. She looked exactly like Gwen, even wearing the same outfit. She blinked at him.

"Trent?" She said, She even sounded like her.

"I-it's.. It's really you isn't it?" Trent's eyes were watering a little.

Suddenly Gwen got up.

"I… I got to go" She started running off.

"H-hey!" Trent jumped up and chased after her.

He watched as she ran across town, taking many corners and purposely trying to get him to lose her trail.

He followed in desperation.

Why is she running away… what happened…

Gwen took a turn and hid behind a small crevice in one of the buildings. She sighed and stood nervously as she watched Trent run past and continue on ahead.

Once he was out of her sight, she ran off in the other direction.

Trent took a moment until he realised that the trail to her was lost.

"Where…" He looked around worried.

I lost her…

He tried his best to observe the area, just to check if she was still around.

He saw someone sweeping the street and walked up to them.

"Sir, did you see a goth girl run past here?" Trent asked.

"Sorry, I didn't see anyone run past." He said as he continued to sweep.

"A-are you sure?" Trent looked a little agitated.

The man nodded. "I didn't see anyone."

"Gh… alright... Thanks." Trent sighed in defeat.

I don't get it… why would she run away. Did I do something wrong… or is something happening…

He walked and sat down.

I… miss her so much.

He tried his best not to break down in a few tears.

The sweeper walked over. "Hey. It'll be ok. It may be a rainy day for you, but the sun will come back." He smiled a little.

Trent gave a little chuckle. "Heh, thanks. I just need a little time alone if that's ok"

The man nodded. "I'm sure that girl will be found. Be patient." The man smiled and walked off.

Trent sighed and sat for a moment just thinking.

Maybe… that wasn't Gwen…

Could've been a girl that looked like her.

A clone maybe?

A disguise?

Or maybe it was her…

He sighed and stood up.

I shouldn't get too deep into this for now. I should tell the others about it.

He walked off.

The three were walking to the other side of town.

"Ooh I wonder who will be training us," Dwayne said.

"Perhaps it will be someone who we are aquatinted with." Leonard suspected.

"Eh. I have a feeling that we won't find that many more people we know here." Noah blinked.

"Why not?" Dwayne looked at him curiously.

"Well, this world is big so if everyone got sent here in different places, surely there can't be too many people in this area right?" Noah questioned.

"Hmmm well, I saw that Dawn girl nearby on my travels in the past. Perhaps we should ask the witch about who she has seen so far." Leonard suggested.

"Huh…" Noah blinked. "That's actually not a bad idea, we haven't actually asked her who she has seen, we can do that later I guess."

They walked along and saw in the distance a large dojo-like building.

"Woah a dojo! I've only seen these things in the movies!" Dwayne smiled and ran over to have a better look.

"It feels out of place doesn't it?" Noah blinked.

"It reminds me of my many times training with the father wizard. When he would take me to learn what the ancients called… Karate. However, I found better interest in the art of magic even after acquiring an item called a 'blue belt'." Leonard said.

"Father… wizard?" Noah blinked.

"The one who raised me into the wizard I am today" He smiled.

"So your dad?" Noah blinked.

Leonard sighed. "That's what you non-magic folk call them, yes." Leonard walked.

"But i…" Noah frowned. "Oh forget it…" He followed.

Noah watched as sakura petals flew around with the light wind.

"It reminds me of those Asian cartoons Junior watches," Dwayne smiled sadly.

"It's called Anime," Noah spoke.

"Bless you, Noah," Dwayne smiled.

Noah just raised an eyebrow and then inspected the area.

"This is very Japanese inspired," Noah commented.

"Wow that's a very fancy door" Dwayne inspected the door to the inside of the dojo.

"It's called shoji actually. It's basically a divider for traditional Japanese architecture." Noah said.

"Wow you know a lot about the far lands" Leonard looked impressed.

"Well… I study." Noah blinked.

And not because of my crippling anime addiction.

They knocked on the 'door' and a few footsteps were heard.

"Well, at least we know someone is in." Noah blinked.

The Shoji slides open and a skinny man wearing a navy blue robe was seen. He had light brown skin, black eyes, long ginger hair and glasses.

"Harold?" Noah blinked.

"Harold?" The man tilted his head. "Oh, you mean my father." He smiled. "Gosh, people do say we look alike huh? I'm Akio."

"Wait wait. Father?!" Noah's eyes widened.

"Woah love the robes," Dwayne commented. "Are they comfy?"

"I bet they have many enchanting bonuses," Leonard said.

"They are very comfy actually," Akio smiled.

Noah frowned at the two. "Are we really going to ignore the fact that he just said Harold is his dad?"

"Honestly, if you didn't mention the Harold connection, I wouldn't have known they even looked like him," Dwayne chuckled. "We didn't really meet."

"Mhm," Leonard nodded.

"Right. I forgot." Noah blinked and looked back at Akio. "I feel we need an explanation here."

"Uhhh you didn't exactly tell me who you guys are heh" Akio sweatdropped.

"Oh right. I'm Noah. I competed on Total Drama with him."

"Oh. You're Noah. Nice to meet you" Akio bowed a little bit and then looked at Dwayne and Leonard. "And you guys?"

"I'm Dwayne! Hey there!" Dwayne smiled.

"I am the grand wizard of all of time and space, Leonard the magnificent!" Leonard shouted.

"Gosh well, nice to meet you Mr wizard." Akio smiled. "How about you guys come in and relax and we can talk ok?" He walked in.

The three followed.

There was a kotatsu in the middle of the room they were in. Akio motioned them to sit down around it. "Would any of you like some tea?"

"Oh please!" Dwayne smiled. "No milk."

Leonard shakes his head. "I'll just have water if you have any."

Noah blinked. "Eh. Any tea is fine for me."

Akio nodded and walked off, the boys proceeded to sit down. Noah sat down cross-legged while Leonard kneeled. Dwayne was struggling to keep comfortable.

"Gah… It's hard to be on the ground…" Dwayne struggled.

"That's why you use a pillow." Noah looked at the pillow by him.

"Oh." Dwayne grabbed it and relaxed on it. "Ah… so much better."

Noah looked around, it was a pretty clean and simple dojo. It had a mix of furniture and ancient-looking items. "It feels more like a home than a training area here."

"Maybe there's an area for training," Dwayne smiled.

"Maybe… if there is, it's probably out back then." Noah blinked.

Akio was seen walking in and placing the tea on the kotatsu. "Here you go guys" He smiled and sat with them. "So… what are you here for?"

"We want to be trained in the art of the fight!" Leonard smirked.

Akio blinked with a bit of silence afterwards. "So… you want training in fighting?" He asked.

"Yeah, a bit of this and that" Dwayne tried his best to make swinging motions.

"Oh, with weapons like swords?" Akio said.

"Well swords for Noah, I'm more for the bow." He smiled.

"I see… and you?" He looked at Leonard.

"Oh, I don't need training from you, I can just practice my magic" He smiled as he got his spellbook out.

Noah blinked.

Where does he even keep that spellbook?

"Oh, nice. So you must've been affected by the light as well." He said.

"Oh, you know about that?" Dwayne questioned.

"Of course. My parents were affected after all. They have their own powers too." He smiled.

Noah thought of something. "What about you? Do you have any powers?"

Akio sipped on some tea. "I do."

"Oooo! What kind?" Dwayne's eyes sparkled.

"I'll demonstrate." Akio stood up. "Come." He walked into the back room.

The boys looked at each other and then got up and followed along.

When they entered the backroom they saw a massive dirt area, nicely constructed and rectangle-shaped. It was basically like a little arena.

"Ah, so this is where we would train?" Noah said.

"Yes." Akio walked onto the field. "Now go ahead. Use your sword against me.

"Wait, like right now?" Noah blinked.

Akio nodded. "I'll be fine don't worry."

"Uh… ok." Noah grabbed his rapier and went for a stab.

Akio stood still and suddenly his whole body went grey. As soon as Noah stabbed him it just bounced off.

"!" Noah stepped back. "Jeez what was that?"

"Woahhh that was cool!" Dwayne smiled.

"Such incredible power…" Leonard said.

He moved and suddenly the grey body disappeared. "Basically, whenever I stand incredibly still, I'm complete invincible until I move."

"Wow! That must be such a strong power" Dwayne's eyes sparkled.

"Eh," Noah said. "I mean… You can't do much while like that, you still can't do much damage."

"Gosh yeah, but with enough fighting techniques, you can stand a good chance at least" Akio smirked. "Which I currently have over you guys."

"True…" Leonard scratched his chin.

"So, you'll help us?" Noah asked.

Akio nodded. "Sure, what do you need exactly trained on with your sword."

"Uh…" Noah blinked. "Probably being able to handle it… the basics mostly. We don't really have much time so the simple stuff is fine."

"Noted" Akio smiled.

"So should we come back tomorrow then?" Noah said.

"Tomorrow? We can do it right now" Akio smiled.

"Uh..." Noah blinked.

"Ooh, I like the sound of that!" Dwayne said as he got his bow out. "I can train so much"

"eh.. sure ok" Noah shrugged.

Leonard walked and got his water. "I'll be observing your abilities" he smirked.

"Right." Noah looked back at Akio. "Are you going to teach us at the same time or..."

"Hmmm, I think ill start with you first Noah and then Dwayne after, sound ok?" Akio asked.

The two nodded. Dwayne walked and sat next to Leonard. "Oooo I'm sooo excited!"

"I can feel it from here," Leonard said.

Akio walked back into the main area of the dojo and grabbed a sword which was displayed on a wall. "Here we go." It was a katana.

"Ooo samurai sword!" Dwayne smiled.

Noah blinked. "Uh, you're using that?"

"Well, I need to show you how my technique works" he smirked.

"How did you learn all this anyway" Noah raised an eyebrow.

"No more questions for now." Akio got into a battle stance. "Engarde."

Noah blinked. "Wait.. you're fighting me directly?"

Akio nodded. "Now get out your blade"

Noah grabbed and got out his rapier into some kind of stance. "Great... Just great... I'm going to die aren't I?"

"Don't worry, I don't intend to hurt, only train." Akio ran over and swung his blade.

The blade hit Noah on the arm but only a light graze, still enough to cut, however.

"Gah!" Noah winced and backed off. "You cut me!"

Akio looked at him and smirked. "Well, it is a fight." He dashed over and swung at him again.

"Ghh!" Noah used his rapier to block.

"I see you've learnt a little bit at least." Akio smiled.

"M-mostly due to my previous fights…" Noah already was losing a bit of breath.

"Now, here we go!" Akio swung again.

Noah just ran around the field.

Akio sighed and chased him. "Come on!"

"Oh no, this is looking a little rough." Dwayne looked worried.

"I'm sure Noah has a plan" Leonard smiled still.

Noah just collapsed halfway around the field, exhausted. "Gha.. I give up… uncle or whatever.. I don't know, j-just s-stop, Jesus..."

Akio stopped by him. "I see…"

"What…" Noah frowned as he struggled to breathe.

"I think I've learnt enough," Akio said.

"What." Noah blinked.

"I was simply seeing what skill level you were at," Akio explained.

"I-i could've just told you." Noah groaned.

Akio shook his head. "I wanted to see it in action. It's much easier to get a true view of what skill level you are at if I see you in the actual field." Akio smiled. "I must say, you have decent blocking skills already, your stamina definitely needs work though."

"I-i've never had good stamina." Noah finally got up.

"Well I'm here to change that, with such a short time I can't guarantee you'll have the best stamina ever, but definitely better than before" Akio smiled.

"I'm done for now." Noah groaned and walked to where the others are.

"How long are you intending to train for anyway?" Akio asked.

"Eh... I think a week will do if that's ok?" Noah said.

"Well, I can do that, it'll be intense though, we can do that tomorrow though." Akio smiled.

Noah nodded. "Ok."

"So is it my turn now?" Dwayne said excitedly.

Akio nodded.

"Yay!" Dwayne ran down with his bow and arrow. "Ok! What do I do?"

"Well for today as I did with Noah. I just need to see your abilities." Akio smiled. "So." Akio walked to the other side of the field. "Aim for me." He stood still and suddenly became invincible.

"Erm…" Dwayne looked a bit worried. "Are you sure? I don't want to hurt you!" He shouted.

Silence.

"Hey!"

Silence.

"He can't speak because he will become vulnerable," Noah said.

"Ah… target practice" Leonard spoke to himself.

Dwayne nodded and nervously held his bow towards Akio. "Thank got those documentaries also showed me how to hold a bow and arrow."

"How many did you watch?" Leonard asked.

"I don't even know" Dwayne nervously chuckled.

Dwayne's hands were shaking. He could feel sweat going down his forehead. He looked at Akio and let go of the arrow.

The arrow flopped to the ground right in front of Dwayne.

"Oh." Dwayne blinked.

"A little more power Dwayne," Noah hid a small smirk.

"Right." Dwayne nodded and tried again, he felt the same nervousness and fired, this time it shot in the opposite direction. "eeeP"

"Jeez dude." Noah frowned.

"Y-yeah I just don't feel comfortable aiming this at someone…" Dwayne looked a bit worried.

Akio suddenly moved and changed back. "Ah, so your issue is more your nerves than anything else? You're scared to fight anyone?"

"I-i guess.." Dwayne looked down.

"You did fine fighting that blue intern." Noah blinked.

"Yeah, but they were fighting us! I… I don't want to even risk hurting anyone if I don't need to…" Dwayne looked down more.

Akio walked over and smiled reassuringly at him. "Don't worry, I'll make sure your aim and nerves get better." he suddenly clapped his hands. "Alrighttt well I think that's enough for the intro today."

"Hmm ok. So meet you back here tomorrow then?" Noah got up.

"Sounds good, tomorrow morning at any time, I should be awake." Akio smiled and escorted the gang to the front.

Leonard smiled. "We'll see ya!" Leonard walked out.

"Byee!" Dwayne walked.

Noah was about to walk out but thought of something. "Before we go… Just two more questions."

"Hmm sure," Akio smiled.

"Who's your mother?" Noah blinked.

"Ah, I believe you know her as Leshawna."

Noah's eyes widened. "Wow… good for him to be honest, and the second question…" Noah looked a little nervous.

"Oh?"

"Are they… alive?" Noah asked.

Akio gave a smile. "They indeed are."

Noah looked a bit relieved and walked. "Thanks." He caught up with the others.

"What was all that back there?" Dwayne asked.

"Harold and Leshawna are alive," Noah said.

"Oh really?" Leonard questioned.

Noah nodded.

Looks like we know of more survivors.

Trent walked through the infirmary door.

"Scarlett!" Trent looked a little out of breath.

"Eh?" Scarlett looked up from her book, she had a stack of 20 books all read by her.

"I… I saw her." Trent said.

"Saw…?" Scarlett's expression changed.

"I… I saw Gwen. She's here." Trent gave a bit of a smile.

"I…" Scarlett was shaking a bit.

"Scarlett?" Trent looked at her a little worried. "Are you ok?"

She stood up. "Are you sure… it was her?" She asked.

Trent frowned a little. "What do you mean?"

Suddenly she grabbed him and pinned him to the wall. "I said ARE YOU SURE IT WAS HER?" Her voice was breaking, Trent could feel panic in her voice. She was shaking.

"I-i I don't truly know! It looked like her though! And sounded like her!" Trent nervously spoke.

"That.. that isn't enough!" She let go and crouched down, holding her head. "Gahh!"

"S-Scarlett! W-what is wrong?" Trent asked.

"They… They could be back!"