CHAPTER TWELVE

The Guardian Comes Out

Part 1

"So, what do we have planned for the guys today?" Patrick questioned as he sat on the roof of the Palm Woods, stretching. "I think they have to go to Rocque Records again today." He paused. "Whatever that is."

"Well, knowing Koto and the others they're going to come back again soon." Rhuben commented, lying on her back, angling her face towards the sun. "Because we all know that Core hates to lose, thus making it that he will keep sending them out. So for now we're just going to wait."

"What will we do if Koto and the others do come back?" Sydney asked as he opened his big blue eyes and pulled up his sunglasses. "We can't fight them ourselves because the guys need to have more practice. But I'm afraid that they're not ready."

"We won't know until we let them try." Noah pointed out as he shielded his face from the wind that was staring to blow. "And we may have to jump in and help them at some point. So we should be ready ourselves."

"Then that means that it's a gym day," Riley concluded as she placed her hands on her hips and turned to face her siblings, choosing to stand on the roof as the others were sitting or lying down. "Let's get going, we can go back to watching them later." She looked around before jumping to the ground, landing on her feet, her siblings doing the same.

Rhuben hurried and caught up with her sister. "You felt it didn't you?"

"I'm guessing you did too?"

"Yeah."

"We're going to have to keep a good eye on them, but right now I'm thinking that they're fine. So we're going to the gym." Rhuben stopped and raised an eyebrow as she stared at her sister. "I don't mean a public gym."

"Making sure."

"So, what are we doing today?" Carlos asked as he slid down the swirly slide and moved to go to the top again. He grinned as he leaned against the banister as he looked down at his friends. "More element stuff?"

"Am I the only one that's slightly worried over the fact that his element is fire?" Logan asked as he turned to Kendall and James. They nodded in reply. "Good, I thought it was just me." He smirked. "Who knows, one day he's going to suddenly burst into flames and set the Palm Woods on fire."

"I wouldn't put it past him." Kendall laughed as he looked at his watch. "I'm not sure what you guys are doing today, but I'm hanging out with Katie as soon as she gets back from the mall with my mom."

"If she went to the mall with your mom, what are you going to do to top that?" James asked as he looked up from his magazine, he was studying a Cuda product ad. "I mean, they're women and they're at a mall. In girl world nothing beats a mall."

"I'll think of something." Kendall replied, rolling his eyes. "Besides, we haven't hung out in a while so, I thought that it would be a good idea if we spend the day together." He paused and looked at his friends. "While we're gone you have to make sure that mom doesn't find out about our powers."

"God it," Logan replied with a nod.

"Yep." Carlos agreed.

"James?" Kendall asked and the three of them turned to their friend who was currently sniffing a sample of the new Cuda cologne. "James!"

"What?" James snapped his head up in annoyance. "Yes, fine, I won't let them know, gosh!" with that, he went back to his magazine. As soon as he finished, a strong gust of wind ripped through the room, knocking Kendall and Logan out of their chairs and sent Carlos into a wall. James' eyes widened as the wind died down and Kendall and Logan slowly got up, glaring at their friend. "Did do that?" James squeaked.

"Hey, we're back!" Mrs. Knight called as she entered the apartment arms filled with bags. Katie walked up behind her, holding one or two bags less than what her mom has.

"Where did you get the money to pay for all of that?" Carlos questioned as they set their bags down. "Because I'm almost positive that we haven't even got our paycheck yet."

"Oh, didn't mom tell you?" Katie grinned as she slid off a pair of designer sunglasses. "I got the part in a new TV show, and we pretty much just spent most of my first paycheck on this stuff." She smiled as she held up her bags for emphasis.

"Really?" Logan looked impressed. "What's the show about?"

"I'm playing the little sister of a girl who is a famous Popstar." Katie replied and wrinkled her nose. "I'll admit I wasn't thrilled with the idea at first, but when they changed my character to fit my personality, I couldn't say no."

"So are you saying that you still don't want to hang out, baby sis?" Kendall asked as he took his mom's bags from her and moved them to her room. Katie instantly lit up, more than the news of her getting the part.

"No way, I'm so ready to go!" she replied with a grin and then paused. "Where are we going?"

"Anywhere you want." Kendall replied as he patted his sister on the shoulder. "As long as you mention me in your acceptance speech of a daytime Emmy award."

"Deal." Katie replied and the two did their secret handshake before heading back out of the apartment. "Bye guys!"

"Later!" Carlos shouted back, waving enthusiastically. He gasped and his eyes widened when his arm burst into flames.

Logan noticed and grabbed Mrs. Knight's shoulders as she started to turn to him. He started to babble something unintelligible as James hurried up to the swirly slide to help Carlos put out the fire on his arm. Carlos continued to wave it around as James tried to grab it, ending up hitting James in the face. James then started to freak out, hoping that his face didn't get burned.

"What's going on boys?" Mrs. Knight asked as she tried to turn to them again. She sniffed the air and started to look around frantically. "Do I smell smoke?"

"NO!" Logan laughed nervously. "We were…uh, we got fireworks from some fans," he thought quickly for an excuse. "And so we thought that it would be cool to set them off, and that's what you smell."

"Then wouldn't that be gunpowder?" Mrs. Knight asked in confusion.

"You would think that," Logan was laughing a lot now, and that made him sound like a hyena. "But these fireworks used gasoline…and that's why you smell the fire…apparently they're illegal in the state of California, so we promise not to do it again." He added as he looked up at Carlos and James.

Carlos turned to Logan and waved an arm, his shirt was smoldering and it had been burnt away up to his shoulder, but at least the fire was out. James was standing beside him, looking into a compact mirror and making sure that his face wasn't burned too badly.

"You better not," Mrs. Knight replied and then looked at Carlos and James. "But I think that Carlos might have gotten a little too close to one of them."

"Story of my life." Logan muttered in reply as Mrs. Knight turned and walked to her room.

"Kendall, let's go down to the beach and make a sandcastle!" Katie declared as she leaned over the railing of the pier, eating an ice cream cone. Kendall laughed when he saw how enthusiastic and hyper that Katie was being. "Can we please?"

"Sure, after you're done with your ice cream, I don't want you dropping it and demanding me to get you another one." Kendall replied as he tossed his empty milkshake cup into a trash can, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"I wouldn't do that," Katie replied as she turned to her brother and batted her eyelashes. "I would just demand you to take me shopping for more clothes and electronic stuff."

"I think this possible fame is already getting to your head." Kendall noted. "But I'm still proud of you, baby sis."

"When are you not?" Katie replied teasingly.

"Just finish your ice cream."

Katie giggled in reply before doing as she was told. She loved hanging out with her brother. He wasn't like any other older brother; he always brought her around even when he was hanging out with his friends. He didn't let her feel left out, and he always supported her on whatever she was doing. She was so thrilled that she now got a part on a TV show, that way that she had something in common with her brother, being famous. Sure, she might not be able to see him as much as she wants to now, but it'll be worth.

Katie slowly stared to frown as she looked over at her brother, who was staring out at the ocean water as the waves broke onto the beach. She knew that he was hiding something, and it was bothering her that she couldn't figure out what it was. The two of them told each other everything, so it was hurting her a little bit that he wouldn't tell her what was going on.

'Might as well ask him about it now,' Katie thought as she finished up her ice cream and wiped her hands on her napkin. 'There's no better chance of doing it?'

"Kendall?" she stated and then waited as she got his attention. "What aren't you telling me?"

Kendall looked genuinely confused. "What do you mean?" he turned to face her, looking concerned.

"I mean, we don't hide anything from each other, Kendall." Katie replied seriously. "So what are you hiding from me?"

"I'm not-"

"I'm not stupid, big bro." Katie shook her head, her brown hair hitting her in the face. "So don't treat me like I am. Where do you and the guys go everyday when you're not at Rocque Records or at the Pool or talking to your friends?"

"Katie…I…" Kendall sighed as he rubbed his forehead. "I can't tell you."

"Kendall!" Katie was sincerely shocked. "Why can't you tell me?"

"Because," Kendall looked apologetic. "I really can't, and trust me, if I could, I would tell you in a heartbeat." He added as he placed a hand on his sister's shoulder and squeezed it gently. Katie rolled her eyes and turned away. "Katie?" Katie started to walk away, arms crossed over her chest. "Katie, come on." He stated to follow her and then froze when he felt something. "Oh no." he muttered under his breath, recognizing what the feeling was. "Katie! Stop!"

"I'm not listening, Kendall!" Katie shouted back in reply, holding her hands over his ears.

"Katie, I'm serious!" Kendall shouted as he raced after her.

After a lot of practice with the Jacksons, he could sense whenever one of the five of them, or his friends, were getting closer. It was a warm feeling that something was coming to help him, but this feeling was cold and felt that it wanted to hurt Kendall…or Katie…

All of a sudden, that feeling seemed to move faster, as if it was getting closer and closer.

"Katie, watch out!" Kendall shouted and dove forward, grabbing his sister around the waist and jumping high into the air. As soon as they had moved from the pier there was a crashing sound down below them as the people and bird around them slowly stopped moving. "This must have been what Logan was talking about." He muttered to himself.

Katie looked down at the ground, realizing that she was high in the air, and then looked up at Kendall with wide eyes.

Kendall easily landed on the roof of a cotton candy stand and looked at where he was just standing to see Koto standing there, brushing his blonde hair out of his face. His green eyes trailed on Kendall and they narrowed dangerously.

"I'm just letting you know, you're not going to get out of here in one piece," Koto snarled as he cracked his knuckles. "You or your little sister."

'How did he know that?' Katie thought to herself, holding onto her brother for dear life.

"Leave my sister out of this; I'm going to protect her with my life!" Kendall shouted back.

"Oh well," Koto shrugged. "Both of you are going to die then." He jumped into the air and headed towards them, turning into a wolf as he did a flip. His mouth was open wide in a snarl as he got closer.

Kendall was frozen there, eyes wide with fright. He knew that he had to move so he could protect his sister, but his feel wouldn't allow him to get out of the way. Finally he just squeezed his eyes shut and turned to the side, moving Katie away from the path of Koto and waited for the pain.

He heard Koto's yelp of pain and opened his eyes and turned back, just in time to see Koto falling backwards. He did one back flip and turned back into a human, landing on his feet when he hit the ground.

Kendall and Katie gasped when they saw a cheetah covered in armor standing in front of the two of them, glowing a light blue. It turned its head and looked over at the siblings.

"Don't worry Master," he said to Kendall. "I'll protect you."

A/N: So, I decided to Wow, I'm sorry that these chapters are so short, usually I'm good with writing longs ones, but for this story they seem to be shorter than the 10-15 pages I usually write. I hope you guys are enjoying it anyway. Thanks for reading.

-Riley