Episode 3: Em'brace The History

Zack just looked at Brace with a curious expression on his face, while crossing his arms as if he's not in the mood for excuses. He had so many questions to ask her, and knowing her, it would be a long time for her to explain everything. First off, why on earth, or wherever he was at the time, would he enter some strange world where bracelets control the elements? Second, why was Matsu, or the apparation earliar after Brace? And lastly, what the heck is the apparition that is now stuck in Zack's body? He looked at Brace who seemed to keep looking at the ground at her side, not wanting to answer. She knew though that she would have to either way, so there wasn't any point in hiding it. With a great sigh, which Zack looked more closely at, he started paying full attention to her as she was going to talk.

"In this world, there are many diffrent elements that control the balances here." Brace started. "There are many diffrent kinds of elements, but the most common are fire, water, earth, air, light, and dark. Each element also has a diffrent kind of diety, and theres a diffrent diety for the same element in each bracelet." Zack grew a bit surprised at this as he looked at his bracelet. My bracelet has a diety inside of it? Zack said in his mind.

"Of course you have a diety in your bracelet idiot." His reflection said again, causing Zack to grow an irritated look.

"Stay out of my head!" He shouted to the lake. Zack and Brace looked back though as they heard Matsu getting up, walking over to them.

"Will you two keep it down? I'm trying to sleep." Matsu said, rubbing his eyes. He sat down near Brace and Zack, seeing how something was going on.

"Oh, sorry Matsu. I'm just telling Zack about the history of these bracelets." Brace replied.

"And speaking of annoyances, what should we call you anyway?" Zack asked his reflection.

"Most people call me Jeris...or at least others like me..." He started, before Zack turned his back on him. Thanks for the info, ignoring you now. Zack said in his mind. "Hey!" Jeris shouted angrily.

"So you were saying Brace?" Zack asked, trying to get back on track.

"As I was saying, of those six dieties, there is another that is known as the Godess of the Balance, seeing how she originally created the six dieties to control all the other balances. The six dieties were also given forms and shape, seeing how they would need to watch over their land in the precense of danger. The dragon was the diety of fire. The Hydra, also known as the serpent of the sea, water, kinda obvious with the word sea in it. A dragonhawk, which is said to be a legendary hawk with the ability of lightning and the size of a dragon, is the diety of wind. The light element is said to be that of many mystical pure creatures. The shadow is sorta like the light, having an array of different deities as it's element." Brace said, before Matsu cut her off.

"And my personal favorite..." Matsu started, before showing his bracelet again. "The golem, the diety of rock."

"Anyway, the diety of light and the diety of darkness are said to be very diffrent dieties." Brace said, causing Zack to look curious.

"What makes them so diffrent?" He asked.

"They're diffrent elements dumb ass." Jeris replied.

"Shut up!" He shouted, splashing the water.

"Well, obviously of course, each element has a power over diffrent elements, as well as a weakness to that element. For example, fire is weak against water, whereas fire is stronger against earth." Brace said, causing Zack to look weridly.

"Wait, you mean to tell me the only reason I won was because my element was stronger than earth?" Zack said, feeling a little disspointed in knowing he was almost defeated by someone weaker than him.

"Hehe, actually you were almost defeated by me. I will admit though for someone who never used a bracelet before, you did catch me by surprise." Jeris said, crossing his arms. "If you didn't knock Matsu out so hard, I'd stll be possesing him."

"So in other words...I was almost defeated by a weakling..." Zack said, lowering his eyes as he looked at him.

"Hey!" Jeris shouted. Matsu and Brace laughed a bit.

"Anyway, the thing about the light element and the darkness element is that both of them aren't weak against the other four elements, nor are they stronger. The only ones their stronger against is each other, as well as being weaker than the other." Brace said.

"Huh." Zack said. He was starting to find this a little interesting. Deities, Goddesses, elements? This was really starting to get on Zack's interest. But what he wanted to know is what all of them had to do with this "wish stone" that Jeris mentioned before. He didn't even know, although he was sure Brace was going to tell him eventually, what the heck a wish stone is. Even though he sure he knew what it does, given the name, he still questioned what it would look like or where he would get it. He snapped back into consious as he looked back at Brace, seeing what else she had to say.

"So...what happened to this Godess thing?" He asked. Brace just looked to the side again as a upset look took over. She sighed depressingly as she looked back at Zack.

"The Goddess gave each balance a job to do, as well as putting it in charge of that world to safeguard. For awhile, this turned out pretty good. But that all changed one day when each of the balances lost control. They started attacking one another, each one stronger against a foe, and weaker against a different foe. The only two balances that managed not to lose control was the light and the dark elements. They proposed a truce in order to maintain the other balances, and stop the fighting. No one really knows how they did it, but the Goddess herself gave them a very powerful stone, which is of course the wish stone. But that didn't last long. It turned out after awhile, the dark balance was the one who started the war, and it did it so it could get the wish stone."

"Hurray for darkness!" Jeris shouted.

"Shut up!" Zack replied. He looked back at Brace curiously. "So what happened after? What happened to all the other balances and the Goddess thing?" Brace just shook her head.

"No one knows for sure. But because of the wishstone, the dark balance wished for ultimate power, and for the Goddess to be banished to the living world. As a Goddess, she can't do anything if she's in physical form, and therefore, was unable to stop the dark." Zack's eyes widened at what she just said. He started to find it rather weird why it's always the dark side that's evil.

"Why is it never a dark side that's good?" Jeris asked, annoyed.

"Huh, murdering people and theivery...that's a good qeustion." Zack said, sarcastically.

"Anyway, the only problem the dark balance had was the light was given a wish stone too. Seeing how they were unable to make a wish agianst darkness, being a peaceful balance, they refused to rise up against the dark elements, so long as they don't do anything to harm the others. The agreement was made, and for some strange reason, since then the dark element has left the planet, and no ones seen it for thousands of years." Brace said.

"Wow...that's pretty interesting." Zack said, sounding impressed. He raised an eyebrow as he heard Brace giggle. "What's so funny?"

"Well, like you said, it's just a story. No one really knows if it's all true." Brace said.

"Of course it's true you dumbass. Why else would we be gone for so long?" Jeris asked. Brace just looked to the side a little dissopointingly. Zack looked back at Jeris in anger. Why the heck couldn't he just make this stupid apparation disappear, and not be bothered by him again? Besides, there was no reason for him to be picking on Brace, seeing how Zack already messed up his plans earliar.

"Hey, knock it off Jeris!" Zack shouted.

"It's ok." Brace said. Zack looked at her a bit confusingly. What did she mean it was ok? He said to himself. She shouldn't let people pick on her for no reason, and not even do something to fight back about it. "What he said is partially true, the dark balance has been gone for who knows how long. I was more surprised than anything when I saw him come out of Matsu's body."

"And I swear I'll get payback!" Matsu said angrilly, punching his fists together. Jeris just stuck his tounge out at Matsu, causing Zack and Brace to chuckle a little.

"So how are you going to help me get back to my world by doing this?" Zack asked, still confused.

"Wow, you still haven't figured it out yet? You really are stupid."

"I said SHUT UP!" Brace just chuckled again.

"I'm surprised you haven't even realized it yet." Brace said, causing Zack to look at her questionably.

"Realized what?" Brace just pulled back the sleeve on her tunic, causing Zack to go white eyed. She had a golden bracelet too, only on the ends of it, they looked more like a halo with beams connecting to each other. In the center of it was a pure white diamond, that still seemed to shine, even with the fact it was night.

"Y-Y-Your..." Zack said, who was too surprised to say anything else.

"Yup, I'm one of the citizens who descend from the light balance." Brace said happily. Zack was speechless. He had no idea he was travling with a desendant of the light balance, even though he didn't even know anything about balances or deities for that matter. Still, it did seem kinda interesting to him. He was also happy to realize this, because he pretty much figured out the rest for himself.

"So, if I returned you to your home, you'd think they give me the wish stone?" Zack asked curiously.

"Mm hm!" Brace said happily. "Even though I doubt they'd give it right away, I doubt they would turn down a fellow helper of the light balance."

"But didn't you say they were going to use it in case the dark balance attack?"

"Well, that's why it'll take them a few days to make up their minds, but I'm pretty sure they'll still be ok with it. Besides, if they get the other balances to help, there's no way the dark balance will stand a chance." Brace said, trying to sound positive. Zack knew what he had to do now. Bring the girl back, convince them to let him use the stone, and then he can leave out of this place. He nodded sure of himself as he stood, squeezing his fist.

"Ok, then let's go. I'll get you back just as I promised." Zack said, sounding confident.

"You really are an idiot aren't you?" Jeris said. Normally Zack would yell shut up, but from being overly annoyed from saying it too often, he decided to let it slide this time. He just moaned as he rubbed his head, getting annoyed with him.

"Ok, why do you think I'm an idiot?" Zack asked.

"Hello? I've been in your mind dude. I know what you know, and FYI, this planet is ten times bigger than that of earth." Zack's mouth dropped from what he just said. Ten times bigger?! He stammered to himself. He thought this place would be at least the same size as earth, if anything mabye a tiny bit bigger. But ten times it's size. He looked back at Brace, with an annoyed, twitchy-eyed expreression. Brace just felt a sweat drop behind her as she chuckled sarcastically.

"I...uhh thought earth was the same size..." Brace said. Zack just collapsed on his back in disbelief, shockd that he'd have to go through so much more...no, ten times more, than he would have to do back at his world.

"Either way, we can't go anywhere till morning." Matsu said, looking into the woods. Zack looked at him confusingly as he saw Matsu staring all around the forest.

"Why not?" Zack asked.

"Well lets see idiot...if they're not going in the woods at night, mabey it means..." Jeris started before sarcastically gasping. "Mabey theres something in the forest!" He said sarcastically. Zack just grew an annoyed look as he looked at Brace.

"Are you sure theres no way to get him to shut up?" Zack asked. Brace sighed.

"Unfortunately, he won't go away unless there's daylight out. Anyway, the reason we're not going anymore is to avoid the

wisps." Brace said, looking at the forest like Matsu was. Zack was completely confused as of now.

"What's a 'wisp'?" He asked.

"It happened during the war." Jeris said. Zack looked at him questionably, surprised he hadn't made any smart mouth comment about him not knowing.

"What are you talking about?"

"The balance war dingus. During it a lot of people got killed from it. Usually, they all ascend, or go to the afterlife as we call it, but because of the bracelets people have strong spiritual connections to the place where they died. Not many people know about it, and some still have hatred for others that live today." Jeris replied. Zack didn't know, or expect that. He knew that people died and everything, but the least he would expect is for people to come from the afterlife, and hold grudges against the places they died.

"But if the war was going on, people would know that they would die, right?" Zack asked.

"Of course they would."

"So then why would they still be angry?"

"Because before anyone could pass on the info that the dark balance, which rules might I add, they thought they were fighting to protect their homes, while figuring out before ascending that they were mere pawns in some game of chess." Zack looked a bit surprised, forgetting about that. Having people use you as a mere pawn in any type of situation is the worst thing he could have thought of. No one should put other people as pawns, not without some sort of reward for their efforts. He looked back though as he heard Brace gasping.

"What's wro…" Zack tried to say, before Brace covered his mouth with her hand.

"Shhh!" She shushed, looking back at the forest. As she took her hands off, Zack looked back to see some strange glowing light getting closer. When it got closer, it appeared to take the shape of a blue glowing flame, still burning and moving on it's own. He started to get nervous though as the flame got closer to them. Zack didn't even know what to do, seeing a dead soul for the first time, or a wisp in this matter. To him it was more like a ghost, although based off what he saw on TV, he expected it to have an actual form than being a flame.

"Hi." The flame spoke, causing Zack to grow really surprised. By the sound of it, it sounded like a little girl's voice, echoing a bit through the flames. He looked at Brace curiously as he heard her sigh.

"False alarm, it's only girl." Brace said. Matsu breathed deeply, holding his breath the hold time because, aside from the fact he was scared, he didn't want to make any kind of sound.

"False alarm? Weren't you panicking about her being here just a few seconds ago?" Zack asked.

"Normally, if it was an elemental soul, then yes. But children don't get their bracelets until they get to the age of about ten, or if they pass the academy." Brace replied. Zack grew an even more curious look, as well as confused.

"Academy?"

"It's a place for people to learn how to use elements idiot." Jeris replied, obviously being followed by Zack's glare.

"You know, I'm really getting sick of you."

"Well if you stopped asking stupid questions then I wouldn't!"

"Hey, you know what I know remember? Then you should know I don't know what the heck your talking about!" Zack yelled. As the two argued, the spirit flame turned around, looking at Brace, confusedly.

"Why is this guy arguing with his reflection?" The wisp asked. Brace just scratched her head.

"Apparently he's not from this world, or at least according to him. He also apparently got possessed by some weird apparition, and now his possessor is in his reflection at night."

"Huh…" The wisp said curiously, looking back at the two who were still bickering.

"Look, as far as I know, we should both agree that I don't know anything here, and you stop calling me stupid."

"I can't dingus." Jeris replied. Zack moaned as he heard wouldn't stop. Worse yet, Zack was getting really tired, and really annoyed with his apparition.

"And why, might I ask, can't you?"

"Hey, I'm a shadow elemental. It's not in my nature. Besides, I'm only stating the truth."

As they continued to argue, Matsu 's eyes widened as he looked over the forest. Coming a bit slowly, but surely, he could see the sun starting to rise. He cheered as he could start to see the sun. It was at that time that Brace looked back, seeing the sun starting to rise as well. She smiled as she tapped Zack on the shoulders, who grew a grin as he saw the sun coming up. When he looked back at the lake, he grew a bit surprised to see his reflection was normal agian, but then again condition was until the sun rises. He squeezed his fist, satisfied that his reflection was gone.

"Yes! Woohoo!" He cheered.

"Uhh...Zack..." Brace said, looking under his feet. When he looked down, he grew a confused look when he saw he had two shadows.

"Oh what the..." He stopped though as he noticed the wisp was gone. "Hey, were'd the girl wisp thing go?"

"They're only out during the night. They can't manifest in the sunlight." Brace said. Zack just shrugged a bit, agreeing about the fact it made somewhat of sense. Although it would be nice to know where she still went.

"Ok then, what's the plan on from here?" Zack asked.

"First we head to the town closest to here. I wanna get some supplies for the long trip ahead of us. Then we're going to be travling underwater." Brace said, using her fingers to count off what they would have to do.

"Cool! How are we going to do that?" Zack asked, interested.

"I don't know." Brace replied, followed by the thud of Zack landing on the ground in disoppointment. He hopped back to his feet, wanting answers.

"Then how are we going to travel? And why do we have to go underwater?" Zack asked.

"Well I do suppose we could always trable above water..." Brace started, looking like she was in thought.

"So what's the problem then?"

"Problem is theres a large mountain over it. If we travled through it, it would take practically a month."

"Ahh." Zack moaned.

"Well how are we suppose to go underwater?"

"I got a brother back at the town. I can ask him to help us." Matsu replied.

"Does he have a submarine?"

"I think so. But theres only enough for two people..." Matsu replied disoppointingly. Brace and Zack looked down, thinking about what to do. They didn't know how to pilot a sub, but Zack needed to go with Brace, and Brace needed to get home. Seeing the expression on their faces, Matsu sighed as he made a decision. "Huff fine. You two can go." Matsu said, causing Brace and Zack to reply with surprised faces. "We got an autopilot setting on it. But I suppose you could use it...." Matsu was cut off when Brace hugged him tightly.

"Thanks Matsu, your the best." Brace replied. Matsu blushed as he rubbed his head.

"Ah...shucks..." Matsu replied. Zack grew irritated, seeing them getting off track. He gave a sarcastic cough, reminding them that they were going off subject.

"Anyway..." Brace started. "Even after the underwater travle we need to cross a desert."

"Ah great, and me without my sunscreen." Zack joked, irritantly.

"But before we do any of that..." , Brace started, putting high emphasis on any, "We need to find you a tutor." Brace said, pointing at Zack. Zack grew a confused look on his face.

"What?! Why the hell do I need a tutor? " Zack stammered. He did have techniacally a good point. He kept thinking to himself why he needed one. Before the incident seven years ago, he was actually very smart for a tenth grader, already at a pre-collage level. His GPA was high as well, mostly because after the incident, he home schooled himself on computers around towns he's visited in the world.

"Ok, knowing you, I think I got a good idea of what your thinking of, and no, not a kind of educational school tutor." Brace said, getting a confused look from Zack.

"Then what kind of tutor are you talking about?"

"An elemental teacher. No offense but your not really the best when it comes to figuring out how to use your bracelet." Brace said, remembering his fight with Matsu. She remembered all the times he reacted to something weird, like why his own hand was on fire, and just putting his flaming hand in front of him when the thorns were attacking him, which incinerated. And he almost got killed if he didn't flail his arms like a mad man, almost getting impaled by the incoming stalagmites.

"What? No way! I kicked Matsu's butt before and I can do it anytime!" Zack shouted. He started to feel nervous though as he forgot Matsu was there, and he could feel his angry glare behind his back.

"You almost got killed idiot. You have a bettter chance of dying before we even get out of the forest! By the way, Matsu. What town is your brother in?" Brace asked. Matsu looked like he was starring into thought for a minute before answering.

"He should be at Kelika village." Matsu asnwered, causing Brace to look at him surprised.

"Kelika? That's three towns over!" Brace said, a bit disoppointed. Zack just felt like falling to the ground in disoppointment, thinking he would never get home. "On the other hand, Yustinola Village is outside the forest, and I heard the tutors there were very very good." Brace said.

"Don't I get a say in this!?" Zack stammered, not wanting to do this at all.

"Not unless you wanna die." Brace said. Zack just grunted as he glared at her. He scuffed to himself as he sat down, cross legged, and crossing his arms. Brace just moaned irritated at his childish act. "Now what are you doing?"

"I'm not leaving until you agree not to give me a tutor." Zack said. As he looked back, he saw Brace looking at him annoyed, before growing a slight grin that caused him to get a nervous look. It only increased as he saw her whispering something into Matsu's ears. When she was done Matsu nodded as he stepped in front of her, starring right at Zack strangely.

"Um...hi?" Zack said nervously, hoping he wasn't still mad about what Zack said earliar. Matsu just continued to stare for a few seconds, then raised his fist. In a brown flash from his bracelet, Zack gasped as he was suddenly wrapped around, not in vines, but very hard piles of stone that seemed to just wrap around him as if he was a magnet. As Zack fell on his back, Matsu picked him up, and carried him over his shoulders as Matsu and Brace began walking through the woods. "Hey! Put me down before I kick your asses!" He shouted, kicking his feet which were the only thing not wrapped around in stone, aside from his head.

"If you can get out of there before we reach town, we won't get a tutor." Brace said, giggling a bit victoriously.

"Matsu! Matsu! Put me down and get this stuff off of me!" Zack kept shouting. His eyes then widened a bit as he smirked, trying to use his bracelet. Luckily, or at least to him, he managed to get the fire started. But he started screaming a bit as he burnt himself. "Owww!"

"That's solid rock man. Just heating it up yourself won't help you much." Matsu said, continuing to carry him. Zack just continued to moan as he knew he would never get out of this mess. Unknown to them though, as they kept walking through the woods, a mysterious shadow in the pushes was looking at them, watching their every move.....