Chapter Twelve: Elemental Strength

Zane could feel the tension in the room growing thicker as the seconds ticked by. Whether his hunch was correct or not, the android felt as if this sudden development was his fault. The serpent from the Traveler's Port had seemed very suspicious of him. Maybe he had voiced his concerns to others and the message had been divulged to Emperor Pythor himself.

He was considering going to talk with the Serpentine, to try and find a way out of this mess. There had to be a way to keep his newly found friends safe from his master's clutches while also protecting himself from any punishment. Sensei Wu was right, he was having difficulty determining exactly where his loyalties lie. You are vital to this group, proclaimed a voice in the back of his mind. Betrayal is a dangerous game to play. You have already done it once to the Serpentine. Are you truly willing to do it again with these people?

"Training, Sensei?" the android questioned slowly, seeing the combination of anger and fear clear on his companions' faces. "Is it wise to have us throw ourselves into the fray so soon?" Sensei Wu had just finished explaining not too long ago that, out of everyone, he was the only one that stood a fighting chance against the Serpentine in a battle. There was an overwhelming sense of obligation that surrounded him now. He needed to protect the same people who had protected him. Zane's eyes briefly drifted over to Lloyd, the boy clad in green. If he truly was the Golden Master, then he needed to be protected most of all.

"Training indeed. When one is in a real battle, they tend to work a little harder than if they were to simply train with dummies filled with hay." Sensei looked around the room, his eyes lingering on each of his students, making sure that the seriousness of the situation was truly implanted upon them. "This is your first test. I have already said that you all have wonderful abilities flowing through your bodies. If you want to have any chance of surviving, you must unlock them and soon."

"Wait a minute, wait a minute," Jay waved his hands in the air, his voice rising to a higher pitch than normal. "Not too long ago you said we'd all die if we faced the Serpentine, except for the bot over there. Now you're telling us to face the Serpentine? I thought you were gonna help us survive!"

"It does seem kind of stupid to send us on a suicide mission..." Cole said, studying the old man. "But, at the same time, I would really love to unlock these 'abilities' you speak of."

The blacksmith felt a cocky smirk form as he crossed his arms over his chest. Even though he was apprehensive of the enemies approaching, he completely agreed with Cole. If they were supposed to have elemental powers, he wanted to try and use them as soon as possible. His conscious mind flashed back to when he had burned the merchant back at the edge of the forest or when he had just ran out onto the beach and felt his skin heating up in conjunction with his temper. Maybe if they could learn how to get a good handle on their powers quickly, they would all stand a good chance against the Serpentine.

A renewed feeling of confidence budded within Kai. "If you can teach us how to use our special abilities, I'm sure we can take down the Serpentine," the brunet grinned, receiving a frightful glance from Jay in the process. "Just tell us what to do...Sensei."

"I'm glad to find this new attitude in you, Kai," Sensei stated, walking towards the temple's doors and pushing them open. The Serpentine ships had now docked on the beach and the soldiers were slowly pouring out onto the sand. "Zane, I think you should try first. Now remember, if you fail, every one of your new friends will take a step closer to death. So focus."

Zane nodded, walking forward in order to stand beside Sensei Wu. "I understand. Tell me what I must do."

"First, close your eyes." Zane obeyed without hesitation. "Now, I want you to think about the time you spent with the Serpentine."

Zane thought. They had always used him as no more than a weapon. He might have been powerful, but Zane had always been treated like the lowest of the low. Emperor Pythor had never cared enough to treat him as some sort of equal.

"And now, think about the short time you've spent with your new friends."

Jay standing up for him. Protecting him. The others listening to his advice. Being treated as someone instead of something. The memories were brief, but they were powerful.

"Now tell me, Zane, who are you?"

"I am me. I am Zane," the robot's voice shook. "I am not a weapon. I am a shield. I will protect all of those who deserve it."

Zane heard a small gasp from Jay's mouth. Amazed murmurs from the young Golden Master.

"Now, open your eyes."

He obeyed. Before him stood a thick wall of ice. It cloaked the whole temple, creating a thick barrier that separated them from the Serpentine. It was impossible. It was illogical. Yet, it was real. "I...I created this?"

"Indeed," the elderly man replied with a kind smile, his light blue eyes resting upon the wavering forms of the Serpentine through the ice as they marched closer. "You have resilient inner strength and this is only a mere representation of that. Of course, this barrier is just one of many things you can create or use with your elemental abilities. With practice and focus, you will master endless possibilities." Turning on his heel to face his other students, Sensei Wu stroked his cascading beard. "This does not just apply to Zane. Power like this exists within each and every one of you."

It was absolutely amazing! Jay was bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet, feeling the familiar sensation of adrenaline pounding in his veins. Zane was so cool...no pun intended. He knew he had not been crazy when he had decided to save the android from the vines back in the forest. "Me next, me next, Sensei!" the puppeteer chirped, grinning. "What can I do? Can I make stuff like that too?"

Kai scoffed lightly at Jay's utter excitement. He recalled the man immobilizing and somehow fixing Zane back in the forest, the small sparks that had leapt off of his hands in the process. "The most you could probably do is just shock someone, make their hair stand on end," the blacksmith said.

"Then he'd never have to shock you," Cole mused, glancing over at the blacksmith and his intricately spiked hair style. "Your hair stands on end without Jay's help."

"Oh haha, I forgot how to laugh..." Kai growled, rolling his eyes.

The Serpentine began to pound on the ice, aiming to break through. The barrier was thick enough to hold them back, but it wouldn't last for long. The island's heat had already begun to melt away the ice and, with each second, the Serpentine got closer to their target.

Ignoring the commotion, Sensei Wu turned towards Jay. "Yes. You have the ability to do amazing things, just like Zane has been kind enough to demonstrate."

"Show me, show me!" Jay shrieked childishly. "Should I close my eyes too?"

"Yes, please."

Still bouncing, Jay closed his eyes. He bit his lip, trying to hold back a nervous chuckle that had formed in the back of his throat. "I'm ready."

"Tell me, Jay, do you like yourself?"

"I..." Slowly, the puppeteer stopped moving. He realized how utterly ridiculous he must have looked, acting like a four year old in a candy store. "Not really."

"Why is that?"

"We already went through this, Sensei. Do I have-"

"Why is that?"

"I'm obnoxious. I talk too much. I'm afraid of everything. I act like a kid most of the time. I know it annoys people. It annoys me too. There are always random bursts of energy that spasm through my body. They make me want to run around, act like an idiot, or chatter endlessly about something stupid. I hate it. I have to..." Jay cleared his throat, suddenly feeling a bit weak. "I have to push it away."

"Why?"

Jay sighed. "Because I have to grow up, try to be normal..."

"You don't have to be normal, Jay. The innocent energy that flows within you is what makes you you. There is no other Jay. Why attempt to be average when you can show the world how special you truly are?"

"Because..." Jay frowned. Why? What did it matter to him what other people thought? What did it matter if everyone thought he was annoying and immature? It was who he was. He didn't have to change any of that. Not for anyone. He always felt happy when he allowed the energy inside him to escape, so why hold it back?

Jay opened his eyes, too impatient to wait for Sensei's order. "I don't have to be average! It's okay to be me!"

The Serpentine burst through the ice, waving sharp swords that glinted dangerously in the sun. The puppeteer turned towards them, smirking. There was no fear in him. He raised his arms, aiming them towards the Serpentine. A large wave of electricity shot from them, forcing the snakes to fly backwards. "I am me and it's awesome!"

This was actually happening. Cole felt his eyes widen as the serpents continued to advance. Jay was handling some of them with his newly found powers, but they were coming in what appeared to be endless droves. Even if Sensei Wu could teach them all about their special abilities, would they still be able to get out of this?

"Full of doubt?" The merchant tore himself away from his thoughts to see the elderly man raising a greying eyebrow. "I see it plain as day, written across your entire face, Cole." Despite this, Cole tried to look around his newly appointed teacher to see how everyone else was fairing against the Serpentine. Jay seemed content enough and Zane was holding his own perfectly, just as Sensei had said he would. The brief flash of light reflecting off of his shurikens was all that the merchant could make out as Zane parried a few attacks. "You must focus," Sensei Wu continued, demanding Cole's full attention.

He nodded in response. "Yeah, I doubt we're actually going to make it out of this mess," the merchant confessed reluctantly. "I'm wondering if I'm actually cut out for this. What if I can't use any powers? I don't want to let everyone down..."

"You must stop entertaining the very idea of disappointment," Sensei Wu stated gravely. "Close your eyes and concentrate." Sighing slightly, Cole obliged Sensei Wu's orders and shut his eyes tightly, the sounds of the fight around him intensifying. "You are stronger than you believe, Cole. Both physically and mentally. Instead of worrying about what could happen, you must take the reins and decide what will happen."

Just hearing this from the wise man, Cole felt a bit lighter. It was an odd sensation, like strings that had been tying him down had suddenly been cut. He had always been focused on disappointing others too much, especially his father. If he was going to worry about silly things like that now, he was never going to go anywhere in life. Cole had friends now, friends that were going to support him. He could rely on them. He had to believe that they would make it out of this.

Opening his eyes, the merchant saw that Sensei Wu was no longer in front of him, but a few serpents were. They were poised, ready to strike without mercy, and Cole instinctively stomped his right foot against the tiled floor of the temple. The ground quivered underneath of him and a wide crack snaked its way out from where his limb had made impact with the ground, exploding into fragments that sent the Serpentine cowering backwards. "Whoa..." the raven-haired man mouthed.

"Join the party, Cole!" Jay chuckled, shocking a few more snakes. "Isn't this great?"

Cole nodded, smiling. "Y-Yeah! It's...pretty fun."

Kai looked at the beach, watching as more Serpentine climbed out of the ships and onto the sand. He looked at his companions, who were each now battling the snakes with their respective elemental powers. Kai then turned towards Sensei Wu, his eyes filled with anticipation. "Are you going to show me how to unlock my abilities now? They'll need my help if we're every going to make it out of this."

"Impatience can turn into recklessness," Sensei Wu chided, lightly tapping the blacksmith with his wooden staff. "Recklessness can lead to mistakes and mistakes can be fatal." He watched as Kai's face fell slightly at this statement. "As I said earlier, you have a bright flame that burns within you, Kai. It is very powerful and motivating, but you have to learn how to harness it properly. Like a true fire, your powers could possibly be destructive if not used correctly. It is important that you of all people calm your mind and keep yourself in check."

Keep himself in check and calm his mind? There was fighting going on all around him! Kai opened his mouth to try and argue with the old man, but a harsh glance kept him silent. Without even being instructed to do so, the blacksmith was already closing his eyes, focusing solely on the breath entering and leaving his lungs. Keep calm. Keep focused. The clanging of weapons and garbled shouts from the Serpentine faded into obscurity as Kai just thought about the power that existed inside of him. He was gifted with this, just like the others around him. Chosen especially for this. A hero. With one final breath, Kai's eyes snapped open and he felt as if he had a new sense of clarity. It was easy to be impulsive and let the fire control him, but truly controlling the fire made it more powerful.

There was a small whimper from behind him and the brunet gazed back to see Lloyd being approached by two sword wielding serpents. Without wasting a single second, Kai jumped towards them, wedging himself in between the Golden Master and the enemies. "You'll touch him over my dead body," he stated forcefully, crossing his arms out in front of him before sweeping them out to the sides. Flames erupted from out of nowhere and the Serpentine skittered backwards, their eyes wide as they watched the metal of their blades glow a warm orange. "You okay, kid? Kai asked tentatively, a small smile spreading across his face. That had been much cooler than he thought it would be.

"Yeah," Lloyd nodded, trying to calm his heartbeat. "I'm fine, but...there's so many of them."

Kai turned to look, trotting over to where his companions were fighting. Lloyd was right. There were too many Serpentine. For every one that fell, three more seemed to take their place. Their elemental powers definitely gave them a fighting chance, but Kai wasn't liking the odds.

Sensei Wu watched his students, smiling with pride. They hadn't even come close to tapping into the full potential of their powers, but it was a start. They had done it far faster than he thought possible, but he could see it wouldn't be enough. It was time for him to step in.

"Zane, Cole, Jay, Kai!" he shouted, his voice ringing louder than the sounds of battle. "Retreat to your ship. Take Lloyd with you. Protect him. Nurture his strength. I will deal with the Serpentine."

Lloyd felt a lump grow in his throat. There was no way the old man would be able to take all the Serpentine at once. They would destroy him and Lloyd would lose one of the few people that had been kind to him. He was the Golden Master, was he not? Then why couldn't he fight like the others? Why was he still not strong enough to protect those around him? He ran towards Sensei Wu, childishly pulling on his arm. "What are you planning to do? We can't leave you. Teach me how to fight! We can stop them!"

He saw the pain that flashed in his nephew's brilliant, green eyes. Earlier, after conversing with the spirit of his brother, Sensei Wu had been considering divulging to Lloyd that they were, in fact, family. Now he would not get the chance. It would influence Lloyd's choice in a negative way. Of course, there really was no choice that had to be made. Lloyd was the Golden Master and he had to leave the island now while there was still a chance to. "It's not that simple," the elderly man said in a firm tone, ripping his arm from the boy's grip. "You are the most powerful of them all. It would take you more than just a few minutes of concentration to truly tap into the abilities that lie within you. The others have but a mere grasp of what they can truly accomplish, but they will teach you."

No. It just didn't make any sense. Sensei Wu was the wise man that lived in the Temple of Light. He was the teacher. "Please," Lloyd begged, unable to leave the elderly man's side. "Try to teach me something. I-I can get it. I'll learn really quickly. I can help you..."

"The many are greater than the few," Sensei Wu stated, his expression stern. "Sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the greater good. You must leave now! You have a destiny to fulfill. I can buy you enough time to start heading back to the mainland."

Lloyd was going to interject, but strong arms grabbed him from behind. The former slave gasped as Cole threw him over his shoulder and started sprinting towards the front doors, pushing past hissing serpents, with the others following close behind. "No," the Golden Master shouted, pounding his fists against the merchant's back as the man that had been so kind to him grew smaller, being swallowed up by a circle of warriors. "Take me back," Lloyd argued, feeling the uncomfortable sensation of fresh tears welling up in his eyes. "I can try to help him!"

"No can do," Cole replied, his breathing labored. "He told us to get out of here and that's exactly what we're gonna do."