Sorry! I keep forgetting to write a new chapter so here's and EXTRA long one.

Chapter 5: Sparring

Five

Ha! You think that was a cliff hanger! Pssht, yeah, I totally can't take this one, lonely, Mog. Naturally, I read his mind, and when I see that he is alone I walk over and snap his neck before he can say 'Setràkus Ra'.

"Well, now that we got that under control, let's go home."

I stock away with Six trailing behind, silent.

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?" Nine screams once we've told him about the Mog. "You could have gotten hurt or worse, he could have had reinforcements!"

"Okay, Einstein, first of all I can handle more than all of you, COMBINED. And second of all, I can read minds, do you really think I'm stupid enough not to check to see if he had reinforcements?"

He sighed, "Fine, but we might have to leave."

"Why? I'm tired of running, I say that we keep training then end this once and for all."

"We tried that, it didn't work!" Nine says exasperated.

"Yeah, well you didn't have me then."

He stays silent, as if he ran out of excuses.

"Well, that's decided," John said. "You guys get some rest, I'll take first watch."

"I'll stay up too," I decided. "I can't sleep right now."

John looks grateful for the company.

"Have fun, you two." Nine is already back to his smug self.

For the first twenty minutes we just sat there awkwardly, it was when I saw that he looked like he wanted to ask something that I spoke.

"What?"

"What do you mean 'what'?

"You obviously want to ask me something?"

"I have two questions. First, what's your story?"

I give him the same version I gave Six, and he had the same reaction: puzzled.

"Does that mean that your Cêpan is still alive?"

"Huh, I never thought of that, I always wondered how I got that globe. Your second question?"

"I can guess that you manipulate minds and that's how you did the Setràkus Ra thing, but is that really what you look like?"

I sigh and shift myself into the real me, same green eyes, but with my natural red hair. John looks a little shocked.

"I just always liked blonde hair better."

"Your hair looks pretty like it is now," He says, then realized that the comment could be taken the wrong way and blushed. "I-I mean, you should wear it like that, we are all Loric, we are the same, we don't care."

"Thanks, maybe I should."

"Umm, can I ask you one more thing?"

"Yes, then trivia time is over."

"Will you teach me?"

"Teach you what?"

"How to fight. I know how to fight, but I think I could learn more."

"Sure, when do you want to start?"

"Anytime, as long as it's not cutting into my sleep time."

I laugh, then realized I haven't done so in years.

"We can spar tomorrow."

"It's a done deal, let's go wake up Nine. It's his turn for second watch."

Four

I wake up at seven, and walk in the kitchen, still wearing just my boxers. I start to make some coffee when someone says,

"Well, I sure didn't interrupt your beauty sleep, I think you could use some more."

I turn and see Five standing there, making pancakes.

"Looks like you took my advice." I say, noticing her red hair and tugging on a strand.

"Ha!" She says and slugs me in the stomach "lightly".

"Ow!" I double over and groan.

"I missed something, didn't I?" Adam says.

"Hey! You're awake!" I try to sound enthusiastic, but it doesn't work.

"John?"

"Yes?"

"Go wake up the others, tell them breakfast is ready."

"Why can't you?" I whine.

"Because I'm making breakfast, now go."

Five

We hold a "group meeting" in the kitchen while everyone wolfs down their pancakes.

"So, we should start training today. I understand you have a training room, Nine?"

"Yes. Wait weren't you blonde?"

"Yeah, but this is my real hair color. We should use the training room and spar."

"Oh, yeah, well the thing is, I may have, sort of, broke it."

I sigh.

"We should get someone to fix it. Sam, Malcom and Nine, you do that. We'll spar in the meantime."

"Wait," Sam said. "I want to spar."

"You guys okay on your own?" I nod at Malcom and Nine.

"Yeah." Malcom says.

"Alright, let's go."

When we arrive at the training room I am impressed at how useful it could be.

"Okay, Adam you're with Six, Marina you're with Eight, Ella you're with Sam, and John you're with me."

They take this as an order, without objection. I turn and look at John, he doesn't look happy.

"What?" I ask. "I thought you wanted to spar today."

"Yeah, but I didn't want to be publicly humiliated!"

"Are you gonna cry all day or can we spar already?"

He sighs in defeat.

"So do you want me to take it easy on you or should I actually try?"

"Show me no mercy, then they can't tease me."

"They can and will, but whatever you say!" I yell with glee.

We face each other. I wait for him to attack. He does, aiming a fist towards my face. I duck, step inside his guard, and shove him backwards lightly. He flies back five feet. I guess I don't know my own strength. John picks himself up and lights his Lumen. He creates a fireball and lobs it at me. I concentrate and turn my skin invulnerable. I look up to gloat and see him right in front of me. He then proceeds to tackle me.

I look up suddenly full of rage. Without thinking I turn myself into someone, someone that I don't know. I bet my life to the Mogs that it's someone John knows, judging by his expression and I know that I've just crossed a line.

I quickly jump up, run out of the room and up to the roof. I look over the ledge to the city below.

"Five." Someone says from behind me.

I'd know that voice anywhere, it's the voice of someone that I have betrayed, John Smith. I turn and apologize.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, John."

"Five, look at me, it's fine, I asked you to show no mercy, and you didn't."

"No it's not okay, I crossed a major line back there."

He places his hands on my shoulders and is about to say something when:

I'm a bystander in a memory.

I see John drag himself over to a man who is lying bloodied on a hill. John takes the man into his arms and begins to cry in a way that one only does for a relative.

"I'm here," John says.

The man tries to smile.

"I'm so sorry Henri." he says. "I'm so sorry. We should have left when you wanted to."

"Shh," Henri whispers. "It's not your fault."

"I'm so sorry."

"You did great. You did so great. I always knew you would."

"We have to get you to the school. Sam could be there."

"Listen to me, John. Everything, everything you need to know, it's all in the Chest. The letter."

"It's not over. We can still make it."

John shakes Henri.

"Coming here to Paradise, it wasn't by chance." Paradise? Really? Why is it so gloomy then? The man continues. "Read the letter."

"Henri." John says, wiping the blood off of Henri's chin.

"You are Lorien's Legacy, John. You and the others. The only hope the planet has left. The secrets, the Chest, John."

"We'll make it back together, Henri. Me and you, I promise."

"Be strong. This war…Can win… Find the others… Six… The power of…"

John looks around and I hear something roaring in the distance.

"I wouldn't have missed a second of it, kiddo. Not for the whole world." And with that Henri takes his last breath.

I am suddenly back in the future with John calling my name. The world is spinning…then I fall backwards, over the edge of the roof and black out.

I know I wanted to make this a Four xSix story but now I think I want to make it a Four x Five story. Take the poll on my profile with what you like.