"That may be true, but at least I can't use my powers for bad,"

On the far hill, Kai opened his eyes to see that Ray had left him dinner by his side. The earth ruler said nothing and he appreciated it, eating in silence and watching the waves of the ocean hit the rocks below. He was quite a ways away from the others who now rested in the forest to rest, but he preferred the solitude. He'd used a great deal of energy getting to this place with a little air manipulation and now he was exhausted, not to mention the cold swim he had on arrival. He wouldn't admit it, but he couldn't swim and yet he didn't fear the water. It was rare for him to see the worldwide liquid and he enjoyed the scenery as if he'd never see it again. The earth was always so full of life, but this very thing kept him away. This trip was a nice reminder of why he inhabited the desert and ruled over the dead.

The tides came rushing in, splashing up higher and higher. Before Kai could react, an immense wave hit the hill then grew overhead to fall upon him. It smothered him, striking him with great pressure and pushed him to the ground that he tried to stand from. The current slowed and reversed, returning to the sea and dragging Kai with it. The water dragged him down, rocks scraping his body as he silently sunk to the bottom. All he felt was the cold darkness and thought nothing of his life.

Water, air and earth called for the fire, but Kai was nowhere to be found the next morning. Not even Tyson could locate him, their search stretching until noon that day. They had no choice to give up their search and continue getting rid of as much water as they possibly could. Winter was coming a few days and there was no time to waste on finding someone who they assumed was slaking off. Tyson couldn't believe this and was more worried than the others, but even that seemed to rub off on them.

By the third day, they were all very worried about the fire ruler who hadn't even left them a message. The water wasn't completely drained, but winter was coming fast which left them little time to search for him. The sun was less and less visible as the days went by.

One day, winter came, but so did a great flood of water. Max was overwhelmed with the same size waves that Kai had been drowned by and couldn't stop them from breaking through their dams. Tyson brought Ray and Max up to higher lands, the mountain being the safest place he could see. The earth ruler sobbed quietly as his habitat was drowned, water flowing in and rising more and more. They watched as people scurried like ants away from the water and heading in the same direction as they were. Tyson put a comforting hand on Ray's shoulder then on Max' who felt horrible for letting them down. Tyson hoped he could reassure them, but Ray spoke before him.

"I have to make sure my people are on safe grounds," Ray said silently, jumping down from the mountain like a cougar.

"What have I done?" Max mumbled guiltily.

"It's not your fault. The source of this catastrophe lies in the unknown," Tyson assured using words he rarely used. The wind picked up suddenly, chilling them to the bone. Winter was coming fast and it wasn't good.

"I'd better get the coats," Max said, also leaving to get to their reserves. Before he could go far, the earth trembled violently. Both looked up at the mountain that began to crack. It spurt a few sparks then exploded with a cry. Tyson grabbed Max and held him protectively as the earth rebelled against the cold. Magma flew out, heating the rapidly cooling earth.

"Come on!" Tyson yelled over the noise, lifting Max in the air with him before they'd be burnt alive. Rocks and lava dropped everywhere, burning what was let of vegetation and intoxicating the water.

"The water! The water!" Max gasped, pulling away from Tyson to try and save whatever water they could, but luckily Tyson held him tight.

"You can't!" Tyson told him, holding him well as he search for the earth ruler.

Ray coughed and gasped as he ran behind his people. He'd told them to run for the desert and if it weren't for the eruption they would have refused. He knew they would be alright from then on and returned to the burning forests. Luckily, Max and Tyson found him before he collapsed from lack of oxygen.

"Ray!" Tyson called from above. He lifted the earth ruler into the air with them and took a safe distance from the volcano. Ray coughed some more, clearing his lungs from the smoke. His face was smudged from the ashes and so were his clothes, but that didn't stop Max from holding him in his arms. Ray returned the embrace, trying to accept this reality that hurt them so. The forest was burning, the land was flooded and the ocean was black; they only had the people left and without a home, they wondered what they could do.

"The earth is trying to balance itself," Ray said watching the horror with them. "The earth is freezing because of the water so the core is covering its body with lava to reheat itself. It's destroying its inhabitants in the process and poisoning the water,"

"What are we going to do? Winter is coming and the humidity will keep things cold until spring. Will the earth keep erupting until there is nothing left?" Max asked, hoping someone had a positive answer.

"She'll know what to do to keep herself alive, but from our part, we have to care for ourselves," Ray assured, referring to mother nature and mother earth.

"Where could Kai be?" Tyson wondered, watching the lava continue to cover the earth.

"The demon is gone," a voice said from behind them. They all turned to see a redhead with blue eyes and wearing all white.

"Tala," Tyson said, his darker eyes narrowed.

"Hell has frozen over; winter is here to stay," he smirked maniacally as the ground began to frost before their eyes.

"You can't fight the volcano's fury," Tyson said fearlessly.

"Alone, perhaps not, but with the habitants of the abyss, their souls can grant my wish of total control," he replied, the sounds of tortured cries rising from the ground. The earth beneath their feet froze quickly, spreading like wildfire. The three rulers watched the ice stretch to reach the lava, but as expected, the hot liquid couldn't be stopped.

"Ha! You see! Kai's soul won't be overpowered!" Tyson said proudly.

"Don't get too excited, my army has only begun to appear," Tala chuckled, letting whatever power come on its own. Crying souls came by the thousands, getting louder and louder until their corpses popped out of the ground. They marched forth towards the lava and this time, the lava was slowing down. Tala lifted one arm and sent an icy wind that stopped the flow completely. As more corpses came, the more the lava froze.

"Stop it! We'll never see spring again if you keep this up!" Ray cried, trying to use the ground to keep the zombies away from the lava. They stopped moving, but their body chill kept going. The ice rose until it was covering most of the mountain.

"Don't do this Tala!" Tyson pleaded, pushing the zombies away with his powerful wind currents. The lost souls kept going though, the air ruler completely outnumbered.

Max was concentrating, trying to bring the water that was forming ice away from the Great Mountain, but to no avail.

"Kai! Get the hell out here!" Tyson yelled angrily, still trying to push away the living dead. His voice echoed over them, but nothing came. The mountain was consumed by the ice and winter set itself in to stay.

"Where is he?" Max asked, starting to see his breath in the cold air.

"He's frozen with the rest of hell. Follow me," Tala instructed. They hesitantly stopped resisting their enemy's invincible army and followed. They went away from the sounds of the moaning and tormented cries, leaving the corpses that now rested on the frozen earth waiting for the snow to cover them in a soft white blanket.

"You mean to say that you've captured him," Ray almost growled at the redhead.

"I suppose…" Tala shrugged, uncaring.

"Then release him and everything will go back to normal and we can each have our seasons again," Max said, his innocence showing.

"I don't want to worry you little Maxie, but your little pep talk isn't going to help you any," he replied sweetly as they stepped into a damp cave. It was very icy and soon it became very steep and curved. Tala slide down and the others followed with a little worry. Tyson and Ray were expecting a trap, but Max couldn't help supporting a huge grin as they slid down the ice slide.

"Whee!" He squealed as they swirled around. Tyson cringed, holding onto Ray behind him who held Tyson in return while Max was behind them having fun despite their situation.

Tala slid onto the horizontal surface and rose to his feet as the other three did the same. Tyson and Ray slid to a stop and rose, whipping their butts from the slide that gave them a nip of frost bite. Max, on the other hand, came to a halt still giggling from the joy ride.

"Are we going to slide some more?" Max asked with a grin.

"When winter takes complete control you can slide all you want around the mountains," Tala replied with a soft smile. The ice ruler kept walking across the ice and into a presentable room with clay walls and decent furniture. "This is my temple,"

"The three rulers slipped and tripped over each other until they stepped foot in the temple. They looked around and Ray rushed across it to one corner. Max and Tyson looked over to see the earth ruler staring at Kai.

"Kai! What happened to him?" Tyson gasped, not taking his eyes off the frozen fire ruler. He looked to be frozen just as he was sinking, his body curved and his clothes were torn and wavy.

"I've caught him in his own vulnerable state," Tala explained. "Just as Kai needs the sun, the sun needs Kai and no longer will the sun rise after this day. The moon will be the new god who will bring in the water and the land is mine to control," he said to his guests. "You'll follow me and aid the a people to adapt or you'll end up just like your precious Kai,"

"You sound like you're threatening us," Ray replied.

"Pardon my rudeness; you can offer to help me or you can be frozen statues for the rest of your days," Tala smiled, making it sound charming.

"You can't do this; everything will die if you keep any of us locked away," Max urged.

"Quite the contrary, but it won't matter soon enough. So will you join me or trap yourselves? Here?"

"You can forget it!" Tyson growled, stepping up.

"I'll join you Tala," Ray said, a little over a whisper.

"What?!" Tyson gasped, turning to the earth ruler in shock.

"I know this is wrong, but my people need me," Ray explained, staring once more at the frozen fire ruler as if hoping to be forgiven.

"But-"

"I'll help Ray," Max agreed.

"Maxie!"

"Sorry Ty," the blond frowned. "You stay here with Kai,"

"So that's it? You guys are letting this guy win! What about justice and balance of the elements? We're the symbols of life! I won't let this happen!" Tyson said clenching his teeth.

"Very well," Tala smirked, sending an icy wind on Tyson who pushed it back. "It's time you went back to sleep air ruler," Tala used both arms, sending a strong and cold current at Tyson who couldn't fight it. He was sent back, hitting Kai's frozen confinement and froze there too, being consumer by the ice until it was over his head.