Author's Notes
Woah a new chapter so soon? Honestly didn't expect to write so much in a day! But here we are! Enjoy guys! Clem out!
Aztec 13 - No more waiting now ^^ I'm hoping you're enjoying all these questions coming to your head!
TheMoonIsCheese - We'll find out soon enough!
lordgemini - Sorry if things seem a little repetitive, hope this episode at least advanced things along for you ^^
The gang walked into the arena, Akio turned and looked at the group.
"Well, this is day 2 now. Let's make the best of it." He smiled.
Dwayne nodded. "Yess let's do this!" He cheered on.
Noah blinked, feeling regret for what he's about to go through.
Trent walked and sat on the sidelines.
"This shall be a week of great prosperity!" Leonard shouted as he entered the main arena.
Akio smiled. "Well let's get on it."
Day 2
Noah was holding his rapier, swinging at a dodging Akio.
"Noah Noah." Akio frowned. "It's a rapier. Slashing won't be that effective, you have to stab."
Noah groaned a bit. "If you say so." He started stabbing at him, the stabs came off slowly. "Gh..!" He felt already exhausted.
"You ok there Noah?" Trent asked, a bit concerned.
"Ghhh…" Noah kept breathing hard.
Akio sighed and signalled to stop. "Stamina still an issue huh?"
Noah nodded. "Always has been…"
Akio raised an eyebrow. "Well. I feel your biggest issue is stamina so… let's train that then." he held out his hand. "Pass over the rapier."
"Um. alright." Noah passed it over.
"Now" Akio looked more serious. "Start doing jogs around the arena."
"W-what?" Noah blinked.
"You heard me, start jogging. We got to get that heart going, the blood pumping. Cardio is a great way to increase stamina, it'll be horrible today but in the future, it'll get easier and easier, five laps and then rest and drink some water then repeat, for the whole day."
"T-the whole day?" Noah's eyes widened.
"The whole day. Until training for everyone else is done." Akio looked at him seriously.
"I… I don't think that's healthy." Noah frowned.
"Did I stutter?" Akio frowned back.
"Quite the attitude change there," Noah commented as he started a jog.
"You can do it, Noah!" Shouted Dwayne from the distance.
"Show the mortals!" Leonard cheered.
"It's for the best of you." Akio's frown turned into a smile.
"I-i hate thiss!" Noah complained.
"It's good for you!" Akio smiled.
"This is definitely n-not my forte!" He shouted.
"Hey man, if you keep talking, you'll tire yourself out more!" Trent shouted.
"Oh, I know what will get you going more, Imagine a pizza! Great ham and pineapple one!" Dwayne smiled.
"I would never eat such a pizza!" Noah frowned. "Disgusting!"
"Hey! Don't insult Hawaiian." Dwayne pouted.
"Ghhh!" Noah collapsed on the ground again.
Akio chuckled a bit and walked over to provide some water. "Only 7 more hours, you got time." He smiled.
"A… are you trying t-to kill me." Noah groaned and sipped some of the water Akio provided.
"No, but, no pain, no gain you know? That's what my mother always said." Akio smiled.
"O-of course Leshawna taught you t-that." Noah groaned and got up. "Can I at least walk the first lap?"
"hmmm… fine but only for today." Akio smiled.
"Oh, how generous." Noah frowned and started walking.
"You'll get there!" Akio smiled.
Day 3
Noah was jogging around the arena, it appears Akio gave him the same orders.
"Making him go another day?" Dwayne asked.
Akio nodded. "The more the better."
They glanced at Noah who was already getting a bit tired out.
"N-need… r-rest…"
"1 more lap Noah!" Akio shouted.
"Guuyhhh!" He struggled and jogged.
Akio then turned to Dwayne. "Now. Let's continue your training then." He pointed at some target boards on the side of the arena that was set up.
Dwayne got out his bow and closed one of his eyes. He had part of his tongue out as he aimed at the targets.
Akio watched carefully.
Dwayne shot an arrow and it hit the outer edge of the board.
Akio started clapping. "Wow, you hit the board this time! Well done."
"Thank you" Dwayne smiled. "I had been working on things at home as well, just some 'homework' you may say" he chuckled to himself.
Trent smiled from the sidelines.
"Ok now." Akio stood near still. "Aim for me, again." he suddenly turned into stone.
Dwayne looked nervous again.
"Don't worry dude! He won't get hurt!" Trent shouted.
"I-i know... gh… just getting memories again…" He sighed and aimed at Akio, his hands were shaking.
"Think of them as something evil! Like geese!" Leonard shouted
"B-but... I like geese!" Dwayne cried out.
"Something else then!" Leonard shouted.
"Ermm.. uh…" Dwayne thought for a moment.
Dwayne was thinking of himself in the kitchen getting out some laundry.
"Ah…" he smiled as he put the washing into the basket.
"huh…" He blinked and rubbed his eyes for a moment. "What the…" He glanced at the shirts in the washing pile. He lifted up a shirt.
It was Grey.
"Grey… this is my white shirt… what the…" He frowned and dug through his washing until he found a black pair of trousers in the pile.
"Gh.. my… my whites! They are ruined! GahhH!"
Dwayne looked very mad and then suddenly fired straight at Akio. "WHO MADE IT SO WHITE CLOTHES GET TARNISHED BY THE FAINTEST OF THINGS!" He shouted as he shot more arrows straight at Akio.
Trent blinked. "What."
"Yessss!" Leonard smiled.
After a few seconds, Dwayne was out of arrows, he was breathing hard.
"Gh… I'm… I'm done." He breathed in and out.
Akio suddenly moved again. "Wow that was something, good job" He smiled and looked at the arrows that bounced off him. "Good accuracy too."
"I… I didn't know I had it in me." Dwayne blinked.
"Well, we always discover new things about ourselves" Akio walked over. "We just need to get that confidence away from pure anger and just have it be part of your actual self."
Dwayne nodded. "I'll try"
"Good," Akio smirked.
"Uh, what was that about the clothes?" Trent raised an eyebrow.
"Well… uh… bad memories ok?" Dwayne blinked. "Now…" He smirked and picked up some arrows. "It's aiming time."
"GODDAMN YOU BLACK TROUSERSSS!" Dwayne was heard shouting as he fires more and more.
Trent blinked.
This is going to be a long day.
Day 4
Noah was jogging around the arena again, he seemed to be improving however, he isn't getting as tired now.
"Gh.. gh… Well, this… this is something gahh!" Noah continued jogging.
"Good job Noah!" Akio shouted, he then watched as Dwayne was firing arrows at targets and even target dummies that look like people.
Dwayne seemed still a bit nervous about firing but was getting better.
"Keep at it, Dwayne!" Akio smiled.
"Thank you!" Dwayne fired an arrow. "I HATE WHEN MY SHIRTS TURN GREY!"
"C-Can you please hush!" Noah groaned.
"Sorry, bud! But it's the only way I can do it right now." Dwayne smiled before firing again.
Trent was playing some music from the sidelines.
"As we continue to trainnnn we shall continue againnnn~" Trent sang.
Leonard smirked and was reading his spellbook. "Ah what things to train…"
Akio looked over to Leonard. "So what are you planning to do today?"
"Hmmm, I want to practice my lightning spells… My primary element is electricity after all." He stood up.
Akio nodded. "I'm not as well versed in magic but I can help whenever I can."
"Actually…" Leonard stroked his beard. "I need you for something"
"Oh?" Akio blinked. "What do you need?"
Leonard pointed to the middle of the arena. "Stand there."
Akio blinked. "uh oh." He walked over to the exact spot Leonard pointed to. "Should I be invincible or…"
Leonard shook his head. "No, I need you mortal." He started flipping pages. "where is it…"
"Looking for a spell?" Akio asked.
"Mhm… This is one thing I've been looking forward to" He smirked as he found the spell. "Ahah! Ok." He pointed at the book. "Be prepared oh great trainer Akio."
Akio stood his guard a bit. "What do you have for me."
"Ok!" He smirked. "Sonum tonitrui magni!" He shouted as energy formed around him, he suddenly moved his hands forward at Akio, lightning shot from his hands but it just kinda fizzled out.
Leonard blinked. "oh."
Akio blinked too.
"Oh great lightning wizardddd You appear to be in a little muck! But I'm sure Akio will make sure you are unstuuuuck!~" Trent sang.
Leonard frowned. "What could be wrong…"
Akio watched him. "You know my father always said about ancient techniques in you guy's world. Stuff like meditation could help with energy and balance."
"Hmmm, so you're saying I must meditate to gain better power?" Leonard tilted his head.
"Possibly. Always worth a try. Maybe you need more mental training than actual physical training." Akio said.
"Hmm.." Leonard stroked his beard. "So how may one meditate exactly?"
Akio thought for a moment. "I believe one just needs to sit, relax and clear their head."
"Ah… I can chill and relax then!" Leonard smirked and ran up to Trent. "Trent, i require your assistance."
"What do you neeeeed, maybe I'll conceeedeeee!" Trent sang.
"Y-y-you're stretching y-your rhymes!" Noah shouted as he ran still. "Gahhh."
Trent smirked.
"I require your tunes, can you provide a light soothing tune as I meditate?" Leonard asked.
"I suppose I can yes."
Leonard clapped his hands. "Great!" He sat by Trent and closed his eyes. "And now… I relax…"
Trent nodded and started playing a soft tune with the guitar.
Trent chuckled to himself a little. "Hope I don't accidentally cause an explosion with a soft song."
"ah… now to clear the mind…" Leonard thought for a moment.
As he tried to clear his mind, all he could think of is dolphins, his family and his time on Total Drama, those thoughts started slowly clearing away.
Good… now… just… clear the mind…
His thoughts slowly started going into a shade of pink. Before he knew it, all he saw was a woman in a princess outfit.
It's… her.
He felt his cheeks go into a bit of a blush as he thought of her, memories of his time with her on the newest season started arising.
He shook his head.
Focus.
He inhaled and exhaled.
It's… time….
He slowly went into a clear and meditated mind.
Akio watched as Leonard started meditating, he then glanced at Dwayne who was still firing at the dummies and Noah who continued to run.
I feel this is going to go well.
Day 7
Noah was finally jogging at regular human ability. "W-wow it's been a while."
Akio watched as Noah cleared the 5 laps without breaking much sweat this time, though eventually, he started tiring out and slowing down.
"Ok, water time!" Akio said.
Noah shook his head. "I feel I don't need it anymore" He smirked.
Akio frowned. "Don't get too cocky, even the most athletic people need water." He walked over and gave him a bottle.
"ok ok." He drank some. "ah… that actually tastes very good. Is this just tap water?"
Akio shook his head. "No, it's water from the lake."
Noah frowned. "Y-you mean the same lake with… all the fish and stuff including where they… defecate..." Noah frowned more.
"Oh, yeah" Akio smiled.
Noah tried his best not to throw up. "T-thank you." He breathed heavy.
Akio smiled and then looked over at Dwayne, he was confidently firing now.
"Yesss!" Dwayne smiled as he shot more arrows, he then just fired with air. "Oh, no more haha!" He chuckled a bit.
"You're getting very good now!" Akio smiled.
"Yeah, It's great! I could fire for hours!" Dwayne said
"Don't stress yourself too much though! You're still human and older." Akio chuckled.
"Ah, it'll be fine!" Dwayne bent down to grab an arrow. "Ack!" He held his back. "T-there goes my back…"
"You ok?" Akio asked.
"I… I just need to sit down." He walked off to sit down by Trent.
Akio sweatdropped at the scene, he then watched Leonard looking at his spellbook.
"Ok… Now… I'm ready" He stood up and pointed at Akio. "I'm coming for you!" He smirked and then shouted "Sonum tonitrui magni!" Suddenly a larger amount of energy came out and blasted Akio.
"GAhh!" Akio fell to the ground.
Trent's eyes widened. "W-Woah dude you ok?"
Noah stopped and looked at Akio. "The hell?"
Dwayne glanced over. "Do we need a doctor?"
Leonard looked worried and guilty.
After a moment Akio coughed and looked up "A-all good" He chuckled a bit.
"Oh, that's good" Leonard smiled.
Akio smiled and watched as they continued their training.
Akio poured some tea as they sat around the table. "Be happy guys! You finished your training!" Akio smiled.
"Yesss!" Dwayne cheered as he sat down.
"Good job guys." Trent smiled as he relaxed with them.
"Eh…" Noah blinked.
"Oh? what's up, Sir Noah?" Leonard asked.
"I just feel we could've had more time, I only learnt how to run properly and built up my stamina, I still am not the best fighter…" Noah frowned.
"Even if I gave you a year of training, you truly won't be able to fight effectively until you do it in the real world, every fight is different after all, this training is simply to fix up the faults you guys have. Now with those faults having obvious solutions, you can now build those up as you continue on your adventure" Akio smiled. "Think of it as the foundation, you guys have bright futures."
"Well said man." Trent smiled. "You guys sure improved since the start, I watched you all do great!"
"Thank you Trent" Dwayne sipped some tea. "I just hope it's enough to get that horn."
"Speaking of the dragon horn, when are you guys planning to go fight?" Akio asked.
"Tomorrow," Noah said.
"Wait what." Trent looked at him. "We never agreed to that."
"I'm aware, but I thought it would be good to do it now, while our training is fresh and we are still in a bit of a rush after all, especially with that shapeshifter, we could use the training from the fight," Noah said.
"You sound very confident that you're going to win there" Akio smiled. "Positive thinking is always good."
"Yes, I'm sure we will do it." Leonard sipped some tea. "I just need to recharge via meditation beforehand and I'm sure my attacks will go well!"
Noah looked down a bit.
"What's up son?" Dwayne asked.
"I'm… unsure about our victory, I still don't know how to properly unlock my powers."
Dwayne frowned. "Hey, I know we will get there bud." He patted his shoulder.
"I guess." Noah blinked.
"Hey don't get down now," Akio said. "Enjoy your night guys, go have an early rest, you have a dragon to fight tomorrow!"
"Indeed!" Leonard got up. "Many thanks, Akio, have these as payment!" He went through his pocket and got out some rocks.
"uh…" Akio raised an eyebrow. "Rocks?"
"Not just any rocks, enchanted rocks! They shall bless you with good fortune." Leonard smiled.
Noah just raised an eyebrow and got up.
"Oh uh… thank you" Akio sweatdropped and took them.
I'm pretty sure these are just random rocks…
"Anyway, thank you again Akio, we'll visit again sometime!" Dwayne got up.
"Of course!" Akio smiled and put the rocks in his pocket. "I'd love to have you guys around again."
"Maybe next time we'll see Harold and Leshawna as well," Trent said as he got up. "I'm excited to see them."
"I'm sure they will love to see you too," Akio said.
"They seem lovely from what you guys said" Dwayne smiled and finished his tea. "Ah… love the tea!"
Akio chuckled a bit and got up. "Well, I'll see you guys out." He walked to the entrance and opened it. The gang walked out.
"See you later guys!" Akio waved as they left.
The masked individual was watching the boys leave.
It seems their training is done… Now I'm curious to see what their results are.
Something buzzed on their hip.
huh…
They grabbed a pager that was on their hip and looked at it, as soon as they read it, they smirked and looked directly at Noah.
So we found her… Splendid.
Meanwhile, Scarlett was writing and thinking away in her little lab.
Gh… there must be a way to beat them…
She frowned.
Come on… come on….
Suddenly she heard a shatter and almost fell off her chair. "Ah!"
She looked in the direction of the sound and saw that there was broken glass on the floor.
What the…
She frowned and silently went into one of her draws and got out a dagger.
Hmmm…
She glanced at a broken window that was inside of her lab.
Hmmm definitely human sh-
"Hello."
Her eyes widened and she jumped as she heard the voice. Fear went down her neck, she felt like she could tremble any second. She looked back and saw him, Ezekiel, standing there.
She couldn't even raise a blade to him, all the memories kept flowing back to her, she felt weak, she thought this was it. Her life was ending here.
Ezekiel smirked a bit. "If I wanted to kill you, I would've done it already. So chill eh."
"W-what do you want." Scarlett managed to ask in a whisper.
"It seems I'm not the only one with an eye on your little group." Zeke looked at her.
"O-ok?" Scarlett looked a bit confused.
"I'm just here to give a warning eh. Don't trust the masked man." Zeke stated.
"A-and why a-are you telling me this? Why w-warn when you w-want me dead." Scarlett frowned.
"Because." He dusted off himself a bit. "It's a nice way to stick it to him." He smirked.
"w-why should I e-even believe you." Scarlett glared.
"You don't have to eh. but, I'm sure the thought will be there." He started to climb out of the window.
"W-wait…" Scarlett demanded.
"Hm?" Zeke looked back.
"W-what does he want w-with us." She asked.
"Well. Not you eh. Apparently one of your allies has a connection to a person which the man wants hold of. I'm not sure on the details yet, but I suspect someone may have a very… very valuable power." Zeke's smirk turned serious. "And I'm going to try my best to stop him at all costs. Because… he's been a thorn for a long time." Zeke jumped out and dashed out.
"w-wait!" Scarlett pleaded but watched as he disappeared.
Scarlett stood there, still shivering a bit.
T-this is getting much deeper than I thought…
As the four walked, Noah sighed a bit.
"Hm? Something still up?" Trent asked.
"This is going to be a hard reality guys but… There was something I needed to say." Noah said.
"Oh? what is it, son?" Dwayne asked.
"You can tell us young one," Leonard said.
"Well… Ever since I and Trent saw those graves in the graveyard I've just been thinking really… Like we could really die quite easily here. We are about to go into a big fight you know? I feel we should still be cautious, tomorrow could be our last day." Noah said.
"hm…" Trent thought for a moment. "Well. Even if that's the case, let's make the best out of the time we do have then" He smiled.
"How can you be so optimistic here? It's a dragon fight." Noah sighed.
Dwayne shrugged. "Hey, I'm nervous but being nervous and worrying won't stop anything you know, got to try our best son! Think of what happens if we do succeed, one step closer to getting out!" Dwayne smiled.
"Trueee!" Leonard smiled. "Don't worry, I'll set up a spell to make sure nothing kills us tomorrow" Leonard smirked.
"Thank you, Leonard!" Dwayne smiled.
"I guess so…" Noah looked down a bit.
Dwayne gave a reassuring smile. "Bud, don't give up now, you still got your girl to look forward to!"
Noah let a bit of air out. "Fair… Not very good at this sad thing not going to lie."
"Even the happiest of wizards get sad sometimes Sir Noah," Leonard said. "I'll be sure to give you the best of happiness spells."
"They have those?" Dwayne looked impressed.
"Of course," Leonard smirked.
Noah gave a tiny smile at the two's interaction.
Trent looked at him sombrely. "It'll be ok. How about once we get that horn and come back, we all go out for some drinks and food? My treat!"
"You don't need to do that. Plus, you don't exactly have money." Noah raised an eyebrow.
"I'll uh… come up with something" Trent chuckled.
"Scarlett probably," Noah mumbled. "At least this time we won't get scammed."
"True yeah" Trent chuckled a bit more. He then wrapped an arm around Noah. "You're alright dude, know that ok? We didn't have much connection on Island but, you're cool." Trent smiled.
Noah sighed and gave a tiny smile.
"Yeah, you guys are great!" Dwayne said.
"You indeed make amazing allies." Leonard smiled.
Noah walked and embraced the moment a bit.
"Thank you, guys and good luck for tomorrow."