-Ch. 4 Fire and Ice-

After the group marched their way for hours with few stops and breaks, the gates of Rain City could be seen far off in the distance. The characters were just relieved to know that they were close to their destination. Then as they began to set off, Basil signaled them to stop.

Silence…

A twig from the branches above cracked. Basil vanished before they could look back at him. A masked soldier fell with blood streaking form the cold body. Basil leaped down.

"Who is he?" Davis questioned.

"He's one of Roval's dark assassins."

"But they never travel alone," Melody informed.

"I'm aware," the administrator informed as he eyed the area around him.

Then from out of the bushes came the twelve other warriors and Ridacus of the Thunder. "Hand it over Basil. I know the guru gave you the stone."

"What? No grand entrance?"

"This is where you stand? Your loyalty never was firm." The two stood motionless like having a war in their minds, imagining how to kill each other. Basil then eyed the teen girl behind him. Melody knew what he was asking.

"Come on, follow me," She signaled the children to the gates. They began to run to the city. As a small squad of the enemies ran after the kids and the ninja student who lead them, the protagonists were blocked by both Jackson and Davis prepared for battle. The assassins were ready as well. Each drew his blade, while Jackson formed his disks and Davis pulled out his staff.

The two powerful warriors continued to stare each other down, until the thunder general set out a wave of force toward the administrator, who dodged the blow and appeared behind the man. But as punched the man in the gut, he transformed into a bolt of thunder above his old friend. He rushed toward the earth and knocked Basil's unprotect back. As quickly as he could recover, he was kicked back to the ground with brutal strength.

Basil pushed himself up while a mighty force came to overcome the energy he had left, but was stopped by the small sword pulled from Basil's belt. He then stepped though his shadow and appeared behind the thunder manipulator and held the knife barely touching his throat keeping him from moving.

"Give it up. You can't go anywhere. It's over."

"Not for long." An enormous bolt of electricity stormed though the administrator, and with nothing he could do to stop the pain so Basil dropped unconscious.

Jackson continued to throw his disks, missing most of his targets. And Davis fought off as many as he could which was also few. Meanwhile Melody was stopped by the fleet of ninjas.

"Go!" She sent the kids ahead to their safety as she pulled out the kunai she had hidden. Melody blocked each blade that came toward her. The three grouped together back to back protecting one another as best as they could, but Davis was struck by a warrior and landed a couple of yards away.

"Stop," Ridacus then ensnared Jackson and Melody in a cage of electricity. Then the king of thunder strutted toward the struggling teen he had knocked away; he gripped Davis's shoulders, handed him to his men, and checked the boy's palm to find the gem that had been implanted. "You. You have the stone."

Ridacus drew the dagger strapped to his arm and held it up to remove the prize he longed for. As he lifted his knife to strike the hand, fire emerged from the black stone and forced the attackers away. Ridacus leaped at Davis who lifted his hand in defense and a fireball emerged against the enemy. "Curses! He's already began to discover its power. I must destroy him while I still can."

He threw a lightning bolt at the defender. Davis raised his fist in hopes of another burst of flame, but instead of intense heat, frozen wind formed a wall of ice that stopped the strike.

After realizing what happened, he motioned his hand forward and the ice wall moved into the leader. He tried to lift himself up from the icy pieces, but slipped back to the ground. Ridacus formed his body into the lightning and disappeared in a boom of thunder.

"I'll be back!" The voice called from multiple sides. The trap vanished from around the other two and Basil arrived in his shadow.

"What just happened?" Basil asked.

"I'll explain after we get into the city."