Chapter 6

Clean Water

After the group had been running in the forest for a while, they came across a peaceful meadow, with a calm river flowing through it. Flowers were blooming all around, accompanying the tall, thick grass.

They realized Jenny had been left behind. They decided to relax and wait for a while to see if she would catch up. No one had seen her being carried away on a horse. As the group continued waiting, they began to feel that the worse had happened.

Although Summer was worried, she was beginning to feel side-tracked. She looked out into the beautiful river.

"Guys… look!" She exclaimed, pointing to the water. "Look at this river! It's beautiful!"

"Yes, it is," Marina said, kneeling to soak her hands. "It reminds me of the river that was in my back yard when I lived in the countryside. It was the same river that… well… that I got my powers."

"Do you guys see what's in it now?" Summer asked.

"Uh… no." Chijo hesitated.

"Exactly!" Summer pointed at Chijo, before turning back to the river. "No empty cans, no trash, no dead fishes! Just plain, clear, beautiful water!" She inhaled through her nose as Chijo skipped a rock into the water.

"Nature!" Summer breathed out. "I love it! It makes me wanna…migrate or something."

Marina snickered. "Humans don't migrate, birds do!"

"You know what I mean," Summer retorted.

"I still don't understand something." Jane walked forward. "How did you guys get powers?"

"Two words," Chijo said. "Element Supreme."

"Huh?" Darcey tilted her head.

"Agent Hill might have mentioned that." Thor said.

"A long time ago, there was an old lab, filled with well-meaning scientists." Summer said, turning to the group and finally turned away from the river. "They were trying to look for a cure for cancer… instead, they discovered something else. And a gang called The Titans wanted to consider it. However, the scientists fought them, and the lab was destroyed in a fire. And the remains of this chemical they created were lost, buried, or destroyed." Summer paused for a moment. She took a deep breath before she continued. "I was only five when it happened…" She said, looking down at her hands. "The chemical was mixing in with the flames… I was supposed to let my dad know dinner was ready…and… I guess… I stood too close to the flames…"

"Were you burned?" Jane asked, eyes filled with concern.

"No," Summer replied. "Worse. I got sick from the chemical, for a week. The first week of kindergarten. And after, my life has never been normal. I can make fire from my hands, control fire…"

"And…?" Chijo's eyes lit up. He raised his eyebrows expectantly.

"And…" Summer sighed and rolled her eyes. "I can eat fire…"

"She can eat fire!" Chijo pointed and laughed loudly at Summer.

"Don't laugh, Mister 'I ate dirt as a kid, and now I eat rocks!'"

"For your information, I was playing in the dirt." Chijo replied, still smiling.

"Element Supreme is the chemical." Marina explained, standing and shaking water off her hands. "When the lab was destroyed, and the chemical lost, it ended up in our yards. Before Chijo lived in Manhattan, his family lived in the countryside as well. He liked to play in the dirt, and he noticed a small pool of mud, which is his favorite. He came down with a cold for a week. And after…started eating rocks."

"But he can also control plants!" Jane pointed out.

"Thank you!" Chijo shouted.

"And rocks." Summer added. "Those are heavier, why don't you use those guys more often?"

"I use them only when I have to!" Chijo defended.

"And what about you?" Jane asked Marina. "You mentioned a river in your back yard… what happened?"

"I loved sticking my hands in it… and then one day I noticed a strange color in it. But it was too late to pull out my hands without it taking effect. I also was sick for a week…and then I could control water, and turn into water. As time went on, and we all lived in the city, Master Kaizen helped each of us learn to control our powers."

"So, if I'm getting all this right…" Jane said. "Your powers are based off the element that you touch, blended with the Element Supreme chemical."

"That's what we think." Chijo said. "Especially when Joey got his powers."

"Joey…" Jane gasped. "That's right, he was flying… how?"

"It was an accident." Summer replied. "People were uncovering the buried remains and destroying them. We wanted to take a look at it, and figure out who we are. But then… we came across the Titans, and… it spilled on a fan and splattered all over Joey."

"We quickly washed him off, thinking he would have powers like mine." Marina added. "But the wind is his element. And every day, he comes closer to discovering his full potential."

"You think he's the most powerful over all of you?" Thor asked.

"He gets stronger every day." Marina said. "You of all people should know how strong the wind is. And dangerous."

"Does… Jenny have powers?" Jane asked.

"No," Summer replied.

"How come she never told me any of this?" Jane asked, eyes seemed to be filled with betrayal.

"Well…" Summer thought for a moment. "She hasn't told her Grandma, or her Aunt Alice, or Lala… and Joey found out by accident. She doesn't want to drag anyone else into her mess…"

"But why?" Jane asked.

"I think you should ask her that yourself." Summer replied. "For now, let's focus on finding her-"

Suddenly, an arrow flew past them, hitting a nearby tree. The team and Thor stood in front of Jane and Darcey, ready to protect them.

A small group of men and women stood across the meadow, their bows at the ready. For a moment, no one moved.

"Wait!" A voice cried out. "Wait! That's Thor! Don't shoot!" Hogun stepped out and ran to stand in front of his friend. "They mean no harm!" He turned to the team and eyed Darcey. He walked toward her and reached with both hands towards her face.

"Hey whoa!" Darcey backed away. "I don't kiss on the first date sir!"

"Darcey, give it a rest!" Jane said.

"Don't be afraid." Hogun said, slowly removing Darcey's glasses. "You look… very much like the other mortal."

"The other mortal?" Darcey repeated, eyes full of hope.

"You mean… Jenny?" Summer asked before jumping up and down for joy.

~jb~

The group was escorted through the woods by Hogun's men. Thor walked beside his old friend.

"Tell me," Thor said. "Who is it that attacks your realm?"

"They are strangers from another realm." Hogun replied. "We are not sure where they come from. But they call themselves The Long Fang. Their leader, being named Long Fang."

"He sounds conceited." Thor said. "And how have things been in Asgard?"

Hogun hesitated before answering. "Thor… your brother, he…"

"I know." Thor replied. "He died with honor… had he received a proper burial?"

"Actually, he…" Hogun paused again. "He is alive, and he saved your father." Hogun explained to Thor everything that had happened. How Loki helped Odin by disguising himself, and how he had fallen ill when Odin had awoken from sleep, and now Loki was leading armies to aid Vanaheim in their battle against the Long Fang.

"It was Loki who saved your mortal friend." Hogun said. "And I've never seen him so… obligated to help a mortal before."

"Do you think he's planning anything?" Thor asked. "Using her to defeat me?"

"His intention isn't quite clear." Hogun replied. "But… I feel it may be for a better cause."

"Hogun!" One of the maiden warriors cried out, looking over a small valley. She turned to him, eyes filled with panic. "The village!" Everyone could see Long Fang members were running towards the village. Some buildings were on fire, and people were being chased around and slaughtered.

Summer, Chijo, and Marina cried out in unison. "Jenny!"

I'm a little into Fairytail, so I thought it would be awesome if someone could eat fire and fight with fire…being a pyromaniac myself. Go Natsu!

I hope you enjoyed. Leave a review.