Chapter Five: Guardian Rescue: Air
Within seconds, the boys were at the area where Hay Lin was.
"Now where are we?", Nigel asked looking up at the dark cloud in the sky.
"Look around you, man.", Angelo said.
After looking around at the rice patty fields, they knew where they were.
"China.", they send together grinning.
"You know, we're getting to see most of the world, looking for the girls.", Nigel said.
"We can look around, later.", Eric said as he began to move forward. "Right now, we have to find Hay Lin!"
"Someones on a mission.", Nigel said following Eric.
"When it's Taranee we're saving, you'll be the same way, man.", Angelo joked as they walked in the direction the dark cloud was coming from..
Soon, they came to a mountain trail. It was a long steep journey, but they knew they had to take it. Some parts were narrow, while other parts were to rocky and dangerous for most people. The boys pressed on only stopped once to eat the meal, Yan Lin fixed for them.
"So do you guys think they'll be anymore than those minions up there?", Angelo asked before biting into his egg roll.
"Who knows, man.", Eric said drinking his tea. "All I know is, I'm personally going to break the crystal shell Hay Lin's trapped in!"
"Well you have to, dude.", Nigel replied. "From what Grandpa Joe said, we have to break the crystal shell of the Guardian of the same element. "I broke Cornelia out. Just like you have to be the one to break out Hay Lin."
"And when we go after Taranee, I'll be the one breaking her out.", Angelo added. "I think Irma and Will can be broken out by any of us. I'm not sure."
"My question is, why does your grandfather want us to call him, Grandpa Joe?", Eric asked.
"That's just how he is.", Angelo answered, putting his trash away. "Come on. We still got a long way to go."
After cleaning up their trash, they continued on their way up the mountian path. Soon, they were close to the source of the dark cloud, as they neared a cliff.
Once they were at the area, they were heading for, they stood behind a group of rocks to check things out. They then saw a huge temple being guarded by a group of Shadow Minions in samurai armour.
"I think they got an upgrade.", Nigel said looking around the area. "I'm guessing that Hay Lin's in that temple."
"I think you're right.", Angelo agreed looking up at the beam of energy coming from out of the temples ceiling. "So, should we sneak in or just go rushing through?"
"Wind Dragon Armour!", Eric shouted jumping into battle.
"That answers that.", Angelo said grabbing his Dragon Pendant. "Fire Dragon Armour!"
"Guess so.", Nigel grinned doing the same. "Earth Dragon Armour!"
Once armoured up, they joined Eric in battle.
"Star Shield!", Eric said calling fourth his weapon.
"Star Blade!", Angelo said summoning his weapon.
"Star Fist!", Nigel said calling fourth his weapon.
The three Dragon Knights began plowing through the armoured shadow minions. After some time, they soon came to two large armoured shadow minions with large swords.
"We don't got time for this!", Nigel said jumping at one of them. "Star Fist Buster!"
Nigel struck down one of the large minions in one blow, while Angelo and Eric took out the other one. Soon, they were in the temple ready to fight the next Shadow General. But when they looked around, no one was there. The only thing there was the crystal shell holding Hay Lin.
"This looks familiar.", Nigel said.
"And like last time, they're waiting for us to make the first move.", Angelo said.
"Not this time!", a female voice yelled.
Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a spark of energy, came at them, from along the ground. It made contact, sending them flying against the wall.
"That really hurt!", Angelo said as they slowly fell to the floor.
"That hurt even more.", Eric said as they got to their feet.
"There's more where that came from, Dragon Knights!", the voice declared.
Then, in a swirl of black mist, like with Shadoo, a woman dressed in black armour appeared. She had green eyes, and black hair that went down to her shoulders, with tanned skin. In her right hand was a red bo staff.
"I take it you're one of the Shadow Generals?", Nigel asked.
"You are correct!", she said standing firm. "I am Shadow General, Shadina!"
"Well, Shadina, you know why we're here.", Angelo replied stepping forward.
"Yes I do.", Shadina replied taking a fighting stance. "And like Shadoo, I won't go down without a fight!"
"Then let's end this, now!", Eric said charging towards Shadina.
"I couldn't agree more!", Shadina yelled charging towards Eric.
Eric then threw his Star Shield at Shadnia, hoping to get the first blow in. But, just as it got near her, Shadina caught it with one hand.
"Whoa!", Angelo and Nigel said witnessing what happened.
Shadina then swung her Bo staff, hitting Eric, sending him flying towards the left wall. She then threw his Star Shield at him, pressing him into the wall even more.
"Eric!", Angel and Nigel shouted as then ran towards him.
But, they were cut off when Shadina jumped in front of them, blocking their way.
"Don't forget about little old me.", she grinned as she took she fighting stance.
"My turn!", Angelo said charging at her.
Hoping to knock her to the side, Angelo swung his Star Blade at her left side. Shadina blocked the attack with her staff.
"What the....?!", Angelo questioned as he noticed that she didn't even flinch.
"Not so strong, are you?", Shadina grinned with a smirk.
Shadnia then roundhouse kicked Angelo past Nigel, landing on the floor sliding a few feet.
"Ow.", Angelo said slowly getting to his feet.
Nigel then took his chance and swung his Star Fist at Shadina.
"Try this on for size!", Nigel yelled as he swung at her.
But, Shadina simply stopped the attack by palming the Star Fist.
"Is that all you have?!", she questioned as she side kick him to the right.
Nigel landed and tumbled a few feet near the crystal Hay Lin was in.
"Well that hurt.", Nigel grunted as he slowly got to his feet.
"Can't give up!", Eric said pulling himself out of the wall he was knocked into. "I have to save Hay Lin!"
"We hear ya, Eric.", Angelo said taking a stance with his Star Blade.
"We'll take this Shadow General down, and get your girl out of here.", Nigel said ready to fight.
"Do you think you three can beat me?!", Shadina laughed.
"Dragon Quake Spark!", Nigel yelled as he struck the floor, with his Star Fist, sending a spark of energy towards Shadina.
Once it made contact with her, she went flying into the air. Eric then noticed the look of fear on her face.
"Nice move man!", Eric said as he threw his Star Shield at Shadina. "You got her scared!"
"No! I must get back to the floor!", Shadina said softly as she dodged the Star Shield and landed back on the floor.
'Did I hear her right?!', Eric thought to himself as he caught his Star Shield.
The three Dragon Knights charged at Shadina, ready to take her down. But she was able to block their attacks and knock them back.
"Let's see how you like this!", Shadina said with a smirk as she raised her bo staff. "Shadow Wave Burst!"
Shadina then slammed the end of he bo staff to the ground, sending a powerful shock wave through out the area of the temple, sending the boys flying back. As the dust cleared, Shadina stood before the three Dragon Knights thinking she had won. The Dragon Knight gathered together, trying to think of away to beat her.
"I don't believe this!", Angelo said. "She's able to stand her ground, everytime we attack!"
"It's like hitting stone!", Nigel replied. "Almost like she rooted to the ground!"
"That's because she is!", Eric said figuring something out.
"Come again?", Angelo said.
"Every time we attacked her, she was able to block it without even flinching.", Eric explained.
"We already know that, man.", Angelo replied.
"Well when Nigel did his Dragon Quake Spark, Shadina was scared for her life, and wanted to get back onto the ground quick!", Eric continued to explain.
"Point being?", Angelo questioned.
"What if her being on the ground is what makes her so powerful?", Eric asked.
"Good theory, but we need to test it.", Angelo said. "Think you can do another Dragon Quake Spark, Nigel?"
"Sure, but she'll see it coming.", Nigel replied.
"Leave that to me.", Angelo said. "But once in the air, it'll be up to you to hit her hard, Eric."
"To get Hay Lin out of here, I'll hit her good!", Eric said ready to do what he had to do.
"Give up now, Dragon Knights, and Lord Shadon may have a place for you in his royal court!", Shadina said taking her fighting stance. "Keep fighting, and you'll end up in the afterlife!"
"We'll see about that!", Angelo said as he ran at her. "I'm going to make you feel some pain!"
"You can try", she grinned.
Angelo charged at her ready to attack, but when he was close enough to Shadina, he jumped over her as she prepared to block his attack.
"What the........?!", Shadina questioned as Angelo landed behind her.
Angelo then came at her, hoping she would turn around to block his attack. And sure enough, she did.
"Trying to catch me off guard, huh?!", Shadina asked as she stood her ground. "Now matter how hard you try, I'll block all of your attacks!"
"That's what I was hoping for!", Angelo said with a smirk.
"Huh?!", Shadina questioned.
"Dragon Quake Spark!", Nigel yelled as he struck the ground, sending a spark of energy towards Shadina and Angelo.
"Not this time!", Shadina said as she began to move to the right.
"Oh no you don't!", Angelo said as he grabbed her arm, keeping her where she was. "You're staying right here!"
"Fool!", she yelled at Angelo. "You'll be hit too!"
"It'll be worth it, to see you get yours!", Angelo said holding her in place.
"Let me go!", Shadina demanded, trying to pull herself away from Angelo's grip. "I said, let go!"
"Sure.", Angelo said as he let go the split second the spark of energy was close.
"NO!", Shadina shouted as they were hit by the Nigel's attack.
As Shadina was sent flying into the air, Angelo was sent flying against the wall. He quickly recovered, and jumped towards Shadina with his Star Blade a blaze.
"I must get back to the ground!", Shadina exclaimed in fear.
"Not this time!", Angelo said as he was near her. "We know your secret!"
Angelo then began to slash at her with his Star Blade, cutting her armour three times.
"My armour!", Shadina yelled as she hit the ceiling of the temple.
"Do you thing, Eric!", Angelo said as he landed on the ground.
Suddenly, Eric's Star Shield began to glow. And just like Nigel, he knew what to do. Eric then stood right where Shadine was going to fall, and started to spin around and around. Soon he made a small twister of wind, that kept Shadina in the air.
"I can not lose!", Shadina proclaimed. "Not here! Not now!"
"Star Shield Twister!", Eric yelled as he threw his glowing Star Shield up into the twister.
Once inside the twister, the Star Shield began to bounce of the inner walls of the twister. And each time it did, the Star Shield struck Shadina. At first it was slow. But soon it started to speed up as it bounced off the twister's inner walls. Each blow was damaging the armour over and over.
"Hey Nigel.", said Angelo to his friend. "Let's crack this crystal!"
Angelo first to thrust his Star Blade into the crystal, making a nice crack in it.
"My turn!", Nigel said running towards the crystal. "Star Fist Buster!"
Once Nigel struck it, with his Star Fist glowing, the crack got even larger.
"Now we just have to wait or Eric give the final blow.", Angelo said as they watched Eric's assult on Shadina.
As the Star Shield was still hitting Shadina, Eric could see that she was finished. He then jumped into the twister.
"What the heck?!", Angelo said as he and Nigel saw Eric jump into the twister.
"What's he doing?!", Nigel questioned.
"No clue, man.", Angelo said as they looked on.
Once in the twister, Eric began to run along the walls of the twister. Once he was close to Shadina, he caught his Star Shield and did a back-flip kick, sending Shadina crashing to the ground. On his way down, Eric threw his still glowing Star Shield at the crystal Hay Lin was in. Once it hit, the crystal started to crack and break apart, until it finally shattered, freeing Hay Lin. Eric then caught his Star Shield and landed next to Hay Lin.
"Hay Lin!", Eric exclaimed as he scooped her up in his arms.
Shadina then slowly got to her feet, as peices of her armour began to fall off. Suddenly, like Shadoo, Shadina started to glow as the temple started to shake roughly.
"Well, this looks familiar!", Nigel said as he punched a falling piece of ceiling with his Star Fist.
"Only this time, we're in the temple!", Angelo said as he slashed at another piece of ceiling with his Star Blade.
"To think I lost to you three fools!", Shadina snapped. "But, at least you'll go when I go!"
"I don't think so!", Nigel countered as he ran towards Shadina. "You won't be taking us out with you!"
Nigel then uppercuts Shadina into the air, giving the others the opening they needed to get out of the temple. Shadina landed in the middle of the temple floor, just as the Dragon Knights exited the building, with Hay Lin in Eric's arms.
"Now I see why you lost to them, Shadoo.", Shadina said as she got to her feet. "They truely are Dragon Knights. I fear for the other four Shadow Generals."
Shadina then dropped to her knees as the glow got brighter and brighter.
"They just may be the challenge Lord Shadon craves for.", Shadina said before she blew up.
The knights looked to see the temple collapse. They looked up to see the dark clouds fade away.
"Well, that was hard.", Angelo said with a grin.
"That's two Shadow Generals down and four to go.", Nigel said wiping sweat from his brow.
"And two of the girls saved.", Eric added still holding Hay Lin.
"And like before, the Shadow Minions are gone from the area.", Angelo said looking around. "I think they don't like the light much."
"Well, that's good to hear.", Eric said. "Now that we're done here, I say we go home."
"I second that.", Angelo said pulling out the locating gem letting it float in the air in front of them. "Take us home please."
And in a flash of light, they were gone. Back at the Vanders' home, every one there was wondering how the boys were doing.
"I wonder how they're doing.", Cornelia said pacing back and forth on the living room floor.
"Calm down Cornelia.", Uncle John said. "They'll be fine.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Vanders, but I'm just worried about Hay Lin.", she replied.
"We all are Cornelia.", Yan Lin replied. "But, you have to have faith that the boys will bring her back safe and sound."
"I just wish, they got back soon.", Cornelia said.
Suddenly, in a flash of light, the boys appeared with Hay Lin in Eric's arms.
"Wow! Talk about wishful thinking.", Cornelia said.
A/N: Wishful thinking in deed. Now two Guardians are safe, and another area is free of the dark clouds. Who will be the next Guardian to be rescued?
Please review.