Chapter 18: The Training
The students arrived in the Section Anima room and get ready for bed. In Kyoko and Finn's room, Finn was ready for bed. He saw Kyoko jumping up and down to her bed.
Finn: Uh, should we get sleep early for tomorrow?
Kyoko: I know, I'm just excited.
Finn: What about?
Kyoko looked at Finn and gave Finn a smile that she is telling him that tomorrow will be the day that will never forget.
Oh...you'll see...
...And you might like it...
The next day, the students arrived at The Divine Library to start 9's training.
Aliana went down to the stimulation room along with 9.
Aliana: When Bridget became my student, she train herself with out my help. Because of that, I'm going to have a hard time to train you. So you have to listen to me.
9: *solemnly*...Yes miss.
Aliana asked 9 to transform. He followed what Aliana says. She set the stimulation room into a cemetery. This causes 9 to have a strange memory in his head that made him dizzy.
Aliana: Don't even try to fight it, Elijah.
9: *kneels to the ground* Wha...
Aliana: This is the first lesson in controlling Bridget's power. Never fight what is inside your head. If you fight it, the power won't be strong enough to release its energy against an opponent.
9: But why?
Aliana: Because your powers were different from the others, Elijah. Their emotions were sometimes focused in sadness and anger from their inheritors. And Bridget didn't have like that emotion unlike the others. You can use your powers in anger, yes, but that would be abusing your power. *holds 9's hand* You have to use your memories, any memories at all. And don't fight your memories, you have to let it all out.
Aliana let go of 9's hand. And went to a tree that is slightly far away from 9.
9 took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The memories were flowing to his head like numerous pictures flashing in his eyes. Those pictures weren't pretty. Those pictures were from Bridget's memory. From the day of her birthday...to the day of her death. He tried to ignore them, but those memories were so painful. He hold his head with his hands, struggling to stop those horrible memories.
The students in the stimulation room were watching 9. They watched it in horror. Dib was trembling in fear. And then he snapped.
Dib: I CAN'T TAKE IT ANY LONGER! *went to the door*
Kyoko: Hey! What the heck are you doing?!
Dib: *opens the door but it was locked* Trying to save Elijah!
Finn: Ms. Divino said that we can't disturb Elijah's training.
Dib: But I can't stand watching him suffer like that!
Mickey: But Dib we have to trust Aliana. She know what she is doing. *looks to the window* Elijah needs this. He had to do it if he want to use Bridget's powers.
Dib knew that Mickey is right. He looked to the window and watch 9 suffers the pain in his head.
Aliana: You have to let it go, Elijah!
9: *groans in pain* I...I can't!
Aliana: Let it go!
9: *eyes turned blurry* I...I...I...
I'm here for you...
A light of green came flowing on the ground. Aliana looked to 9. He wasn't in pain anymore, more like he was sleeping peacefully while standing on the ground. The students were shocked at 9's state.
Then all of a sudden, the ground formed a light of a strange alchemy symbol around 9. A mist of green came out from the ground and float around 9 like a cocoon. The light then scatters as 9's cloak turned into a butterfly wing. The light went passed through Aliana and the students (The light is able to pass the strong glass of the stimulation room). It felt good like the cool breeze of air went to them.
When it was over, 9 opened his eyes. And smiled to Aliana.
The next day, Aliana trained 9 how to fight with a staff. He still has a trouble in using it because 9's staff still has a 'mind of its own'.
Aliana: This is quite normal for Bridget. She said that controlling it was like an umbrella was flying in the strongest wind in the west. You have to use the staff whatever it's taking you.
9: But what if it didn't take me to a good place?
Aliana: Take some drastic measures.
Suddenly, the staff begin to move by itself again. It was indeed moved like an umbrella flying to the strongest wind in the west. 9 didn't fight with the staff, but he was a little scared of where his staff would do to him. But then he got used to control it. He tried some fighting moves with the staff...Until he accidentally blast the students with his power. The blast just went pass across their faces. They were petrified.
Finn: *to 9* Uh...maybe you should work on blasting.
9: *smiles sheepishly* Sorry...
Next, Aliana and the students were now located to the highest mountain. 9 looked down to the cliff. The view was quite...hard to look from the top. The city is so small like doll houses were gathered into a city.
9: Ms. Divino, why are we here?
Aliana: This is to test your cloak as transportation. Your cloak has the ability to make you fly by releasing *pointing to 9's cloak* those 'wings' on your back. Activate your cloak if you are willing to.
9: *looked down to the cliff again* Why should we start at the highest?
Aliana: If we start in the lowest, your cloak might activate when you already slammed to the ground. This would give you some time to activate your 'wings'.
Mickey: Don't worry, Elijah. When you can't activate in any second close to the ground, Tails will use his powers to slow down your fall.
Tails: But...you still have to brace for impact. Sometimes gravity is hard to control in the day.
9 felt that he was shaking. But he tried to calm himself down. The students and Aliana were waiting for 9 to fly. But for some reason he didn't jump or fly. Wonder why? Kyoko can't wait for any longer. She walked silently for 9. She stopped and look at 9, whose eyes were still closed from concentration. She went behind his back...
And pushed him off the cliff. The students were shocked at what Kyoko did to 9. Finn is outraged by Kyoko.
Finn: What the heck, Kyoko?! Why did you do that to him.
Kyoko: Don't look at me. *gestures to Aliana* She told me to do it.
Mickey: *to Aliana* You told Kyoko to push Elijah off?!
Aliana: Don't worry. By the end of 25 seconds, *to Tails* slow his fall immediately.
Lettuce: Are you sure he's going to make it in time?
Kyoko: I think he will.
Dib: Why are you so positive when Elijah is going to fall to his death?!
Meanwhile, 9 is heard screaming from his fall. He didn't know that SOMEONE would push him off the cliff! What can he do now?
9 closed his eyes and concentrate. It was already 29 seconds before the fall and Tails was racing against time to slow the gravity. Tails summoned his baton and sends some moon sediments to slow 9's fall. But it wasn't enough. 9 was almost to the ground until...
His cloak sprang up, activated his wings. 9 opened his eyes as his feet came close to the ground. When his feet is set on the ground, a force made him flew up in a speed. He flew pass to Tails who was surprised at what he sees. 9 set his feet and flew up higher. And now he was bouncing to the sky with a trail of a strange symbol with him.
When he finally landed to the ground, he stared at the students (Including Tails who just came back). Aliana grew a strange smile on her face.
The students were at the park after that day. Aliana came to the students with Bridget's book.
Aliana: *to 9* I'm surprised that you already mastered Bridget's powers without my assistance. So now you will have a test. You have to apply your learning altogether and defeat...them.
Aliana pointed to the direction of the students. 9 turned around and saw them already transformed. He was shocked to see that he had to fight them. But none of the students were surprised. They already knew that they are going to fight 9.
Finn: *to Kyoko* So this is the thing you've been excited last night.
Kyoko: I know right? I can't wait to fight someone in our team.
Finn: But remember Kyoko, this is a training for Elijah. Not some fight unlike last year.
Kyoko: Yeah, yeah. I already know that *crosses fingers behind her back, smirks
The students went in their battle stance. 9 readied his staff. The battle began when the students charged 9 in the same time.
It was quite a fierce battle. It's not even like a sparing anymore and yet it was. The students had a lot of experience years ago, 9 was just a first timer. But they didn't underestimate 9. With a quite 'powerful' ability, he can be hard to fight. Especially having a staff that has a 'mind on its own'.
Lettuce, Mickey and Tails were already down first. Followed by Mordecai, Dib and Phineas were next.
Finn and Kyoko were left until Finn was blasted by 9's staff (Except that 9 didn't do it in purpose). Kyoko was the only one left...not so good for 9. Kyoko was one of the strongest member of the group. With her ability to transform into a magical girl with a spear that she use it rapidly, 9 would be dead by now.
Aliana: So the battle came into two. This would be exciting.
Kyoko: *points her machete to 9* It's you and me, Elijah Oppenheimer. No one would help you but yourself. So you had to be by yourself or else you would be be dead. Got it?
9: *nods*
Kyoko: Well then. *holds her hand out with a ring in her middle finger* Give me your best shot!
A red light came out of her ring and everything was in bright red. 9 covered his eyes to see what's happening when all of a sudden a spear came out of the light. 9 managed to block its attack with his staff. He then saw Kyoko wearing different clothes with a gem attached on her chest.
Kyoko kept on attacking while 9 blocks eyery attack. But he wasn't expected to be hit with a chain. The spear was like a chain, attacking 9 in every angle no matter how 9 dodged Kyoko's spear. He can be hit from behind or wrapped up and send him from a tree or the ground. 9 is already exhausted from the battle. He couldn't even strike.
Kyoko give 9 a final strike of her spear, sending 9's staff to the air and fall to the ground and disappears. Then Kyoko used her spear into a chain and chained 9 up while a tree is impaled by Kyoko's spear.
Kyoko pulled her chain up. The chain became tight from 9, especially the chain also wrapped his neck that constricts him.
She is disappointed from what's happening right now.
Kyoko: *pulls her chain* I don't believe this. Come on, ragdoll! You want to help us, right? Is that what Bridget told you? Of course she was. Think about Bridget, Elijah! Don't you want to make her proud? Don't you want to give Bridget justice for her?
Remembering Bridget was painful for 9. Especially Kyoko kept on saying her name. But Kyoko had a point. If he want to help the others and Bridget, he had to...fight.
You can do it...
9's arm glows. 9 used his strength to break free from the chains. He pound his feet to the ground as a green shockwave came. Kyoko was surprised by that attack. She saw 9 free from the chain with his staff on his hand.
Kyoko: *smirks* Now that's what I'm talking about.
She then charged 9 again, this time 9 is able to concentrate Kyoko's attacks. The battle raged on that it even now took airborne.
Kyoko was about to strike 9 in the air. Until 9 pressed his hands to Kyoko's chest. He sends a powerful blast to Kyoko. She was thrown from the air and lay motionless from the ground.
9 was speechless. So was his classmates...Except Finn who went to Kyoko in concern.
Aliana: Well done, Elijah.
9: Oh...um...*looked to Kyoko, then to Aliana* Was she hurt?
Aliana: Don't worry. She's going to be-
Finn: Not okay!
Aliana: Mr. Mertens, what are you talking about?
Finn: *points to Kyoko* Look!
Aliana and the students went to Kyoko's body. They gasped in horror. By the time 9 came to Kyoko. He now noticed what's happening to Kyoko and why Finn was so mad at 9.
The red gem that was attached on Kyoko's chest was missing.