A/N: Sorry it was so long. Right after i got home from Grenada, my whole family packed up and went on vacation in Maine for a while. So, I haven't been home to write at all. But, I'm back, and I have another chapter for you! Cheer folks! We're about 3/4 of the way done! Only 3 more chapters after this! I'm soo happy! Ok, enough talk. Read!

Disclaimer: DUH! Read the story, ok? (Is anyone else getting bored with the disclaimers?)

Chapter 9

'Merry Christmas,'

or

the receiving of the Elemental gifts

School the next day seemed to drag on forever for Lan. He couldn't wait to see what Aureole's surprise was. Ms. Mari finally wearied of trying to keep Lan's mind on class, and ignored him that day. Lan puzzled over the surprise all day, trying to decide what it could be. Would it be one big surprise for the entire team? Or something smaller? Maybe it was some new weapon to fight the bad guys with. Or . . .

"Lan!" Maylu called, right next to his ear. Lan's eyes shot open, and he blinked rapidly.

"What. . .?" he asked, groggily.

"The bell rang three minutes ago! School's over!" Lan's eyes got wide. Now he could see what the surprise was! He grabbed his belongings and was out the door at lightning speed. Maylu sighed. Lan was usually slower than a turtle regarding any kind of work, unless there was something fun in it for him. She grabbed her bag and left as well.

Outside the school gates, a tall young man stood. His shiny white-blonde hair flowed to his waist, and his calm blue eyes scanned the schoolyard. His face brightened, however, when he saw the four youngsters coming out of the school.

"Hello there," he said with a smile as they approached him.

"Aureole?" Lan asked. The tall young man bore a striking resemblance to the elder Keeper of Light.

"Yes, although normally I answer to Adriel when I'm not transformed. The rest of the team is waiting in the park." The four students followed the young man over to the park. There, six teens awaited them, seated on the grass. A limo parked close by and Chaud and Anetta got out, then walked over to them. Aureole smiled. "Great, we're all here, " he said. "All right everyone. Let's transform!"

The thirteen senshi pulled out their various transformation items, and called out the magical phrases. With a whirlwind of elements, they stood, transformed on the grass. Then, the older Sentinels sat in a half circle around Aureole, and each of the younger senshi sat in front of their teachers. Aureole faced them.

"As you may have noticed, the enemy is getting more ruthless and powerful. They are attacking every day in greater numbers. If this continues, you six will not be able to fight these monsters. Already they are getting to be too strong for you. That is why you need these." He placed his palms together in front of him, then pulled them apart to reveal a golden globe of light. After a few moments, the light solidified, and began to take shape. A coil of what seemed to be rope appeared. However, when Aureole grabbed it, they realized that it was a glowing whip. He held it up, and continued. "Radiance, this is your gift. It is the Light Whip. With this gift, your powers will increase. Also, you will gain a access to your full abilities. That means more attacks, and stronger ones as well. It can be used as an actual weapon." Radiance stood up and received the whip, then sat down.

"Next," Aureole said, placing his hands together and pulling them apart as before. A pink globe appeared in his hands, then lengthened into a long stick. It was a golden wand with pink bands around the shaft, each band studded with a piece of pink quartz. A pink gem decorated the bottom of the wand. At the top of the wand, there was a clear pink heart, which the gold bands surrounded. An oval piece of pink quartz was set in the center of the heart. "Amore, this is yours. This is the Crystal Heart Wand. It increases your powers, and expands your attacks. You'll be able to heal people as well." Amore took her wand and returned to her spot.

"Third," he began, creating a silver globe which stretched even longer than Amore's. This one became a silver katana, which seemed to send a chill through the air around it. Tiny chips of ice swirled through the air around it. "Glacier, this is yours, the Ice Katana. It is made of pure ice and will give you more power and attacks. It can also, like Lan's, be used as an actual weapon." Glacier accepted the sword with reverence and sat down.

"Now," Aureole continued. He created a light blue globe which solidified into a light blue crystal bow and arrows. It was strung with a tendril of air. He held it in his hands and held it out to Zephyr. "This Air Bow is yours, Zephyr. It may look frail, but it is not. It is actually very strong. The arrow will go where you wish, and rarely misses. It works as a magical weapon and a real weapon. You will gain a power boost and new attack set when using this." Zephyr took the bow, which seemed to settle into her hand like it was meant to be there.

"Fifth," he said, creating a bronze globe. This one created a large, heavy hammer. It was made of bronze and copper, mounted on a thick shaft and etched with many designs. "Crag, this Earth Hammer belongs to you. It is heavy and powerful. It can smash almost anything, as well as moving the earth. It can boost your powers and attacks. It also can be an actual weapon."

"Cool!" Crag said as he took the hammer.

"Finally," he said. "Oasis." He created a globe of green energy, which formed into a wooden boomerang. Green vines wrapped themselves around its surface, and two green gems were placed at either end. He handed it to the young Senshi. "This is your Oak Boomerang. It is a powerful weapon which can be used for physical attacks as well as magical attacks. It can sprout vines to entangle your foes and gains more power when it is among wood like this." Oasis received the boomerang and returned to her seat. "Bear these gifts well, Sentinels. They will be useful in your battles. Protect them."

"Aure, shouldn't we allow them to test them before we set them loose?" Thunder asked, her golden eyes glinting with amusement. Aureole laughed.

"Yes. I have a course already set up for just that purpose. Follow me." He led the way to a clearing set up with many dummies and targets. "We will test your new powers here. Radiance, we'll start with you." Radiance nodded and stepped forewards, clutching the whip. "Focus your mind, and wait for the words." Radiance took a deep breath, and suddenly, words came into his head.

"Radiant" he shouted, spinning, holding the whip in his right hand. He brought his right hand over his head as he spun. "Light Whip Encircle!" he completed, snapping the whip forewards. It wrapped around one of the dummies, tightening until the dummy snapped in two.

"Excellent!" Tsunami cried with a loud cheer. The others stared at him, and he blushed and hung his head. "Sorry . . ."

/That was GREAT, Lan/ Megaman said with joy in his voice. /You're really getting the hang of this/

Thanks, Megaman! Lan replied. Now it was Amore's turn. She faced another dummy, and held her wand nervously.

"Amore Crystal Prism Storm!" she shouted, holding her wand over her head, then twirling and holding the wand out horizontally towards the dummy. A flurry of tiny crystals and prisms flashed through the air, reflecting every bit of light, and smashed the dummy into dust. She gasped. "That was really strong!"

/Because you're strong, Maylu/ Roll replied, cheering her on. /And now you're even more powerful/

"You're starting to get good at being a superhero," Thunder assured. Maylu blushed and stepped back for Chaud. Chaud held the katana in front of his face, focusing on the words to use. Then, he leaped forewards.

"Glacier Katana Crush!" he shouted, a silvery-white glow surrounding the blade. He made a swipe at the dummy as he leaped towards it, and landed on the other side. The dummy at first seemed intact, then it split into four pieces, cut in an x shape.

/Amazingly well handled, Master Chaud./ Protoman said, a touch of a smile in his voice. Chaud smiled.

Almost as good as you, eh?

"Your kendo lessons are paying off!" Blaze said. "Maybe one day you'll be as good as me!" Chaud ignored the good-natured jibe as he returned to the line of Senshi at the back of the training course. Zephyr stepped over to a target.

"Summer Storm Blast!" she shouted. A handful of wind and moisture gathered around her arrowhead, creating a small storm. Small sparks and clouds clung to the crystal arrow. Then, she pulled back the string and loosed the arrow, letting the crystalline shaft whiz through the air. It hit the target right in the center of the bull's-eye. The look of stunned surprise on her face was replaced almost immediately with a look of smug satisfaction as she returned to the line.

/Excellent shooting Miss Yai/ Glyde commented.

Well, of course. What else did you expect of a genius like me? she asked haughtily.

"Good job, as good as any warrior," Nova assured.

Now, it was Crag's turn to try. He held up his hammer and prepared to attack. "Atlas World Shaking Quake!" he shouted, leaping into the air, performing an aerial somersault and smashing the ground with the hammer when he landed. A giant tremor shot through the ground, and demolished the dummy. "Awright!" Crag said. "Top that you guys!"

/Go Dex/ cheered Gutsman.

"Congratulations," Hurricane said with a smirk. "We'll make a Senshi of you yet." Crag glared at her.

Oasis approached the final dummy with care. Her heart was pounding. She hoped that she would be able to discover her attack. As she worried, the words came into her head. "Viney Boomerang Trap!" she shouted, spinning around several times, then releasing the boomerang. It shot to the dummy, releasing several vines, and it crushed the dummy into dust. The boomerang returned to her hand.

"Excellent!" Ivy shouted, hugging her student. "You're getting so good!" Oasis smiled, her confidence restored. Now she was sure that she would be able to be as good a soldier as the others.

After a few minutes of everyone talking at once, Amore posed a question to Aureole. "Um, what are we supposed to do with the items when they're not needed? We can't exactly carry them around with us."

"An excellent question, Amore," Aureole said. "They can be sent to a sort of limbo until they're needed. Just focus on sending them away." The Sentinels did as he said.

"But how do we get them back?" Radiance asked.

"Even easier. Just imagine the item in your hand." Radiance closed his eyes and concentrated, and as quick as could be, the whip was in his hand. He smiled, and then practiced sending it away and calling it again, until he could do it with ease.

"All right, then" Nova said. "I think it's time the children go home. I'm sure they have homework, and we shouldn't keep them from it. We'll get in contact with you to tell you when to meet next. Everyone, de-transform." They all did, and soon were headed home.

"This is awesome!" Lan crowed. Maylu smiled, used to her emotional friend's outbursts.

"Yeah, it really is. I feel like a real superhero now," she replied. I'm just getting kinda nervous, she thought. There's got to be some power behind all these monsters. Are we going to have to fight it ourselves? I don't know if we're up to it . . .I guess time will answer that question . . .

YAY! I got the Ninth chappie done! Now we only have three more to go! And the next one . . . . is gonna be exciting! Ok, I need your reviews! Tell me what you think! I really love your reviews! And I will see ya'll next chapter. Bye1