Away from the chaos in Volcano Mountain, Magmion stands by a sole mountain peak, tapping his feet in worrisome anticipation. Obscurio had set the whole thing up and, of course, Magmion was left to do the dirty work – hiring a mercenary to do the deed to cover their tracks. Now Magmion anxiously waited for the mercenary to tell him the results. If they failed, Magmion couldn't bear to face his lord. His punishment would be too severe since he and Obscurio practically disobeyed their master's orders. Oh, how Magmion wished of returning to the old days of when he was the ruler of Volcano Mountain and everyone would bow down to him.

A shifting presence makes itself aware to Magmion. Slithering to the bare rock of the surface, it forms into an all so familiar shape.

"The Anonymous Multiform."

He was a fickle one. Given his name, he always lurked in the shadows – not desiring any unnecessary attention to himself. Magmion knew he'd be the perfect candidate.

"I did my job. Now, where's my reward?" The shapeshifting gormiti says, desiring to move on to his next appointment unbothered.

"Wait a second! How did it go? Was the mission successful?!"

"I opened the gate and let those things go as you asked. What happened next – I have no clue. I left immediately as you asked."

Magmion breathes a sigh of relief. His side of the bargain was dealt and done with. All Obscurio had to do is convince Magor.

"Now where's my reward?" The anonymous multiform asks again.

Magmion tosses a bag filled with ancient gormiti artefacts to the fire gormiti. The anonymous multiform inspects the contents, making sure Magmion doesn't pull a fast one on him.

"So, about those monsters you lot in Volcano Mountain keep locked up -"

"This wasn't part of our agreement." Both parties got what they wanted. Magmion isn't about to divulge any more to the crafty gormiti. Obscurio and himself already committed treason – he wasn't about to risk it with someone like the anonymous multiform.

"Okay, I get it. Top secret. You know where to find me then." With that, the anonymous multiform disappears into thin air. He could still be lurking around – Magmion wasn't so sure. The Anonymous Multiform was neither evil nor good. He did his job and left it at that. Magmion had to be careful around him. But one thing's for certain is that he needs to get back to Volcano Mountain. Standing around here for any longer would be suspicious.

"You can't be serious!?"

Vestalt slams her fists hard onto the cold steel table, not giving a damn about courteousness.

"Consider this a motivation booster," Magor says from the communication crystal as cool as ever. "Time is ticking, Vestalt. I won't be so thoughtful next time."

From the edge of the hologram, Vestalt could make out Obscurio in the background. That bastard had a smirk on his face. No doubt about it, the escape of the shades was his doing. Vestalt should've known Obscurio would pull something like this whilst she's away. The communication crystal shuts off, dimming the once lit room.

As Vestalt exits the room, she's met with the faces of Flamma and Anchor. She can't blame them for snooping. They're playing the numbers game - her against Obscurio. She had to complete the orb before Obscurio could sway Magor away from her.

"Sorry, Commander, this was Flamma's idea." Anchor apologises.

Flamma scoffs in disbelief. "If I remember correctly, I didn't ask you to come with me."

"Enough." That shuts the duo up. Vestalt didn't have time for their usual banter. Kagami must get that piece of the orb. But there is one pitfall – her relation to Takahashi Ono. "I might have an idea to bring Kagami to our side, but I'll need your input Flamma."

In response, the woman in question's eyes bulge wide open. Yes, she's the spell genius of the group but to be tasked with anything concerning the book? Never in a million light years did she think this day would come. Vestalt walks past them, hoping the duo would get the memo to follow her lead. "I'm presuming you already know what went down in Volcano Mountain. It won't be long until the lords of nature are involved."

They head to the room where the book lies, going through the procedure of removing the surplus of locks blocking their paths. Inside the circular, frankly blood-curdling room, Vestalt removes the glass case, freeing the book from its confines. Flamma takes a step back, not wanting to be even an inch closer to the book. It wasn't just because it turned all those fire gormiti into faceless grotesque monsters. Something about its aura – Flamma found it toxic, almost hard to breathe; sucking the life out of her.

But her commander signals her to come closer and with a push from Anchor she's now within touching range from the accursed book. She had to resist the urge to vomit.

"Here." Vestalt points to a page of the book. "A curse to have anyone pledge complete obedience to you. Level 4."

Vestalt had told Flamma and Anchor how the book worked. Spells or curses were broken into levels from 1 to 10. Casting Spells from the book required something from the user, they weren't sure what but there is something taken. Like some sort of backcast to the user. 1 to 4 would turn you into a shade – a walking zombie to be precise. 4 to 7 you'd become a monster the size of an elephant. Finally, the accursed levels 8, 9 and 10. The most powerful spells, such as bringing one back from the dead or to travel back in time. So powerful that those pages are left blank, with only a few chosen by the book itself to see.

To open a portal to earth and Tartarus – that was a level 7 spell. However, a curse wouldn't work all the time.

"But you know what'll happen if you use the book, Commander," Flamma warns.

"Yes, I know. I can't afford to turn berserk again. That's why I have a plan." Vestalt turns to a different page.

Flamma tries to make out the readings. "Convert negative emotions to energy..." Flamma put two and two together. Vestalt nods her way, having come up with the same conclusion. Now it's Anchor's turn to be left in the dark.

"So, if I'm getting this right. You're gonna use this spell to cancel out the effects of the other one?" Flamma asks, still unsure.

"I don't get it." Anchor voices. "Won't it double the effects instead?" Anchor never questions the Commander but this time, something about her plan just didn't sit well with the gormiti. Vestalt is different. She wouldn't turn into a shade from using the level 1 to 7 spells. However, she does go berserk for a while depending on the level. They couldn't risk it.

"Do you remember the last time I used a spell from the book," Vestalt says.

How could Flamma and Anchor forget? It was her worst episode to date. Through opening a portal to Tartarus, Vestalt went wild as usual except she went full-on shade. She was like that for weeks and Magor and co. didn't think she'd return to her normal form at all. Luckily, she proved them wrong. But whenever she used the book, her episodes would get worst and Vestalt knew there would be a time where she wouldn't be able to return to her senses.

She continues. "I felt like I lost control, something was taken from me. My will, myself…I can't describe it but I could feel it… something was taken." Reliving that memory was frightening for Vestalt. She was aware of all that had happened, but she wasn't herself. "I know this is a mere hypothesis but that girl…Kagami, she has a lot of built up anger from her past. We can amplify it, channel it somehow and allow the book to take that instead." It's risky, Vestalt knew, but what other choice does she have?

Anchor breathes a heavy sigh. This is dangerous. They're never done this before, and they all knew how fickle the book can be. "Say, it doesn't work, and something awful happens to the girl, we lose her. What next?"

"Then we'll go on an all-out attack on Shinzuku. Cover be damned."

Kagami stares, mouth gaped open at the display. Somehow Kagami found herself in a messy, cramped study. Old torn up pages scatter the room, stuck to walls with brown duct tape. Heaps of books stacked upon each other; dust spread all over. Kagami had to sneeze more than once. But what shocked Kagami most is the wall staring right in front of her.

Who would've thought, her Oiji-san is a major conspiracy theorist?

Coloured notes, maps, pictures, news articles, anything conceivable plastered on the wall connected with bright red tape. Having closely inspected the wall, Kagami's heart could've bounced out of her body.

Her eyes dart left to right, up and down, doing somersaults as she takes in this overabundance of information.

Venture Falls to Gorm. Magor circled into bright red matter. 'RETURN IN 2010?' written beside him. The Tripp's house with the big block capital letters 'PRIMAL PAD' ruining its lovely image; the centre of this weird wall. The red tape spans out from the house, marking news articles about strange world phenomena from 2008 to late 2010. Kagami's gaze bolts to the apex of the wall. 'RETURN OF THE LORDS OF NATURE' splattered in the same red ink.

"What is this?"

Dazed by the information overload, Kagami leans on a nearby book pile for support. He knew, Oiji-san knew all this time - Gorm was real and he hid it from her. She catches another news article on top of the book pile. 'CASSIDY ORIGO – 24 – MISSING FROM VENTURE FALLS' Kagami plucks the article from the pile, intrigued by the girl in the photo. For some reason, that goofy but also bright smile reminds Kagami of her Oiji-san's smile.

The beating sensation comes back. Kagami faces to her right, amongst another pile of stacked books. The piece – it's there. The girl rushes to the stack, rummaging through the pile until she comes across a book. There's nothing special about it, another gorm book. However, Kagami felt betrayed. Her Oiji-san did, in fact, have more Gorm books but never shared them with her. Did he truly not trust her?

She opens the book, and there behold to her is the final piece of the orb, shining ever brightly. The pages were cut up into a shape of a square, acting as a box for the piece. About to pick up the piece, something falls out of the book. A picture. Kagami goes to pick it up and gasps. It's Cassidy albeit younger than the picture in the article. Posing with her were three other boys – one resembling her Oiji-san in his wedding photos.

"KAGAMI!"

Kagami couldn't find any words – too overridden in emotions. The old man strides up to her causing her to flinch. In this situation, she couldn't make out his reaction and Kagami didn't know what to make of these feelings. Instead, he barges to the book, clasping it shut – tugging it to his chest as if that was his precious granddaughter and not her.

"Kagami, you need to leave," Ono says coldly – scrambling around the dust-filled room.

But Kagami had had enough. She's tired of the adults around treating her like a baby, a robot with no thoughts or emotions of her own.

"No."

Ono sighs. "Come on, Kagami. I can make you those dumplings you always liked as a child." He gently grabs her shoulders, scooting her out of the vicinity with that goofy smile on his face.

Did he really expect her to comply and pretend this crazy room doesn't exist? Does he really think that little of her? It sickens Kagami to the core.

"No!" Kagami puts her foot down. No more, she's done with the cryptic act. "Oji-san, you said Gorm was just a fairy tale – a story from when you were a child." She motions to the wall. "What is all of this? All these books? Primal pad? Magor's return?"

Ono lightly tugs Kagami away from the board. But Kagami's having none of it.

"LET ME GO!" She pushes her grandfather away and he stumbles to the ground, hitting his head on a stack of books. They crash down to the floor, triggering a domino effect, messing the already dirty room. Kagami gasps, placing her hands on her mouth. She didn't mean to hurt her Oiji-san but she's too out of it to apologise.

Ono sits there on the ground, knowing Kagami wouldn't cooperate until he explains himself. He grimaces for a change thinking of how to approach the topic. "I know this is hard for you Kagami, but I need you to trust me."

"How can I trust you when you keep something like this from me!?" Tears well up in Kagami's eyes and she mentally curses at herself. This wasn't the time to be crying. Kagami cautiously reaches out to her grandfather. At least, after seeing all this, things could change between him and her. They can finally go back to the way things used to be. He'd tell her more about Gorm and she can finally tell him about her powers. Things were turning for the better now, with Toby and Vestalt. So maybe, just maybe her relationship with her grandfather can finally make amends.

The tears fall to her wrists, but she didn't care. She hasn't shown this side of herself to Oiji-san before. The lost, scared girl.

"Oiji-san, please. No more secrets. You can trust me." She sobs out. Grasping his hand, she lets out a smile, begging him to confide in her like he once did for her.

Alas, she's met with dead eyes.

"I'm sorry, Kagami."

Kagami lowers her head. For the longest time, Oiji-san was the only one she could confide in when it came to the scary world of adults telling her what to do, how to act. He was her saviour in some way. She'd tell him everything. She trusted him wholeheartedly and she thought he trusted her too. But she was wrong.

Sadness boils into anger as she grabs her grandfather's collar. "Why…"

She thought he'd be different. He wouldn't turn out like the other adults. Oh, how much of a fool she was.

"WHY?! WHY CAN'T YOU TRUST ME?!"

Ono stays silent.

Kagami drops her hold, heated energy sapped from her. "Is it because I'm a bastard child?"

Ono's quick to brush her tears off. "No..no, Kagami it isn't like that!"

Kagami slaps his hand away.

"It is! I've heard how you've talked to oka-san! She wouldn't have married that man if I wasn't born! Brainwashed by his money and power!" Kagami chokes out in a blubbering mess. Shujin and Oiji-san never confronted her about it as it was a hard topic to discuss but she knew. She was a mistake, unwanted. Oiji-san has been trying for years to get her mother to divorce her father but she's in too deep. And it's all thanks to Kagami.

"I know, you lost Oka-san because of me."

Not giving Ono time to react, Kagami runs off going to the only place that could mend her fragile heart.

She didn't need Oiji-san anymore. So what if she's a mistake? She had a true calling. Gorm needs her. Vestalt needs her. With Vestalt, she had a purpose. Through Vestalt, Kagami felt stronger. The woman always knew how to make her feel better.

But when Kagami arrived at the bookstore, the door was locked.

'Sorry we're closed for the day'

Kagami sinks down to the ground. Now what is she going to do? She couldn't go back to Oiji-san, not after all that. Plus, Shujin's off with Kinkaede. Looks like she's homeless for the night.

Kagami tries to think of the positives. Sleeping outside couldn't be that bad, right? She could watch the stars from the park as she drifts into sleep. And she could use her powers to warm herself if it gets too chilly.

Her stomach rumbles.

Who's she kidding. She didn't want to stay the night outside. She's tired, sad and hungry. All she had with her is her phone.

Her phone!

Vestalt is out of the list but there's still someone else Kagami could stay with. She dials up the number, crossing two fingers in hopes they'd respond.

"Hello?" the person responds from the other end, sending butterflies to her stomach.

Building up the courage, she speaks.

"Um…Toby. Is it okay if I stay with you tonight?"

Toby fiddles with his controller, enjoying his time playing Final Fantasy X remastered for the PlayStation 3. He's gotten quite into the game, sinking many hours into 100%-ing the game. Planning on kicking back and relaxing for the weekend, wanting to beat the game by then before he decides on his next time with Kagami. More specifically, he was thinking of how best to approach the topic of the book he'd borrowed from her.

Kagami…

Somehow Toby's been unable to stop thinking about her since their conversation at the school garden. Though Toby prides himself on not being as dense as Lucas, he's still unsure if Kagami had feelings for him or not.

A cutscene pops up on his screen and the boy sets down his controller, seeing fit to focus his thoughts on the actual story of the game and not Kagami. Nonetheless, that failed miserably as he couldn't help but see the equivalence to his own situation to the game.

Kagami's an awful a lot like the female lead in this scene. Both at their lowest point, their goals and hopes shattered. The male lead, or himself, would cheer her up with his witty jokes and cheery nature. They were complete strangers at first and through a rather dumb circumstance – not so dumb for the characters in the game – they became good friends. Could they become lovers one day?

No, stupid Toby, don't think that!

The female lead sobs as soft violin music starts in the background, followed by vocals. The male lead leans in for a kiss as they both drop to the depths of the lake, enjoying their time together as lovers.

The image of Toby together with Kagami in a romantic embrace pops in the teen's head.

"Toby…" she'd bemoan, the trepidations of her heart pounding through her chest – vibrating to his own ribcage.

"Kagami…" he'd breathe, only mere millimetres away from the sweet Havana that would be her rose-coloured lips.

"Ew! What's wrong with me?!" Toby smacks himself silly.

He pauses the game, grimacing over his lewd thoughts.

Though being the fine age of 17, intimacy with a girl never crossed the teen's mind until now. And, frankly, it grossed him out. He didn't want to think of these thoughts but every now and again they'd pop up randomly.

Does Kagami like him like that? It seems that way but does he reciprocate her feelings? That, Toby had no clue.

It's nice, having someone who likes you for who you are but the thought of dating, for some reason, scared the boy. Seeing how Jessica turned out after dating Mark. Distancing herself from the group – pretending Gorm doesn't exist – Toby doesn't want to become that. He doesn't want to change.

He cares for Kagami... he really does but he needs space. It's a weird feeling but he's scared of falling in love with her. But right now, he's all she has. So, he'll find out, outright ask her about her connection to Gorm – stick her with someone else, Jenny maybe, then slowly wring himself out. That way he can stop these lewd ideas showing up in his mind about her.

Nick knocks on his half-opened door before entering. Of course, his goodie-two-shoes brother has to knock first.

Toby smirks. "I thought you weren't speaking to me?"

Nick's still mad over the presentations and elected to give Toby the silent treatment. It didn't bother Toby really. He knew Nick would stop eventually but he didn't think it'd be this quick.

"Mom and Dad are out for the weekend. Told me it's your turn to take out the trash." Nick says nonchalantly.

Nick spots an old looking book at Toby's desk. Toby's never the one to read anything other than comics. "Did Kagami get you hooked on reading?" Nick probes. The suspense has been killing him and he needed to know how close Toby's relationship is to Kagami, even if it hurt.

"I guess you could say that. But, no, it's Kagami's book."

That instantly prompts Nick to delve into the book, only to find out it's another Gorm book. Toby probably got it from the primal pad. "Haha, very funny."

Toby sighs. He's been meaning to tell his friends about Kagami's book but Jessica's always out screwing with Mark and Nick? He wouldn't listen. He did get some progress with Lucas as he was going to show him the book after beating Final Fantasy.

"No, dude, I'm serious! Kagami had that book in her room when I went to her room to drop off her bag!"

"Wait. Why did she let you in her room?" They wouldn't. No, Kagami isn't like the other girls. She would never do the forbidden – she's too pure for thoughts of lust, let alone have some random guy she hardly knows in her room.

"She didn't! Some angry Japanese guy let me in. She was asleep!"

"So not only did you not apologise to her, you stole her book?!"

"I did apologise to her! Just not then! And it's not stealing. I'm…borrowing it."

Nick resists the urge to facepalm. How? The bespectacled teen couldn't fathom a universe where Kagami would date such a guy. Nick chuckles to himself, having come up with an idea to break the duo up.

"What's so funny?" Toby questions, not liking this side of Nick.

"When she finds out you took her book, she'll be pissed!"

This time it was Toby's turn to laugh. Oh, poor Nick. He truly doesn't know Kagami. "I don't know about that, bro. Kagami's pretty smitten with me."

"Enough with the jokes, Toby. I know Kagami. She'd never fall for someone like you."

If Nick wasn't his brother, he'd so kick him out of his room. No, scratch that. Because Nick's his brother, he wants to kick him out. It's not Toby's place to say but damn, how blind can Nick be?

"What do you mean by 'someone like me', huh?"

"For one, Kagami's amazing, smart, humble, the prime definition of a saint and you…well, you…"

"Say it." Toby dares. He knows what Nick's thinking. Toby's an idiot, useless, untrustworthy, the opposite of the perfect student.

"Toby."

"Say it! I'm useless! A waste of space!"

"Toby, stop!"

But Toby doesn't stop. He's sick and tired of being compared to others. Why can't anyone accept him for himself? But what pissed him off the most is Nick's constant praise of Kagami. He sees how she hates it, why can't Nick? Seeing how hurt Kagami is by being perfect, her genuine smile the times they've hung out, heck her having a crush on Toby in the first place. Nick's the one who doesn't understand Kagami at all.

"I don't care! But Kagami - Kagami isn't the saint you say she is!"

"Kagami doesn't have anything to do with this!"

Jesus, why does he have to be so thick-headed?

"Yes, she does Nick! Why don't you open your eyes!"

"Screw this. I'm done." Not taking any more of Toby's idiocy, Nick leaves making sure to slam the door shut on the way out.

Toby kicks a nearby box, needing to get his frustration over his brother out of his system. It sickened Toby to the core whenever Nick acts as if he's superior just because he's the supposed 'good' brother. Toby's the oldest, he's the one who should have the upper hand. Yet it feels like nobody respects him at all. Except for one person.

His phone ringtone alarms the boy and he looks at his screen. What good timing, Kagami's calling him.

"Hello?"

"Um…Toby." The girl pauses, hesitant on continuing. "Is it okay if I stay with you tonight?"

The most shit-eating grin finds its way on Toby's face. Conflicting emotions be damned. Nick's always had the higher ground in everything the brothers do, but this time, there's one thing Toby had that Nick wouldn't even be able to grasp. That's Kagami.

"Sure! Mom and Dad are gone for the weekend so you can totally stay tonight."

"Really?! Thank you, Toby! I don't know what I'd do without you!"

Toby was anxious, spending time with a girl who might have a crush on him in his own home but the desire to teach Nick a lesson was so much more gratifying than anything else now. If he had to seduce the girl further to open his brother's eyes, then so be it.

An earth gormiti comes running down the worn-down staircase, eager to meet the almighty Bullrock. The entire earth nation went through a crazy panic as some sort of creature unbeknownst to them came crashing down onto their villages, destroying the new structures they worked so hard to build. He was the designated messenger and his workload sky-rocketed ever since this creature showed up. Why can't the others understand he couldn't be at two places at once?!

"Bullrock, sir!" he says, knocking the gates open. Bullrock seems to be in a meeting of some sorts with the other important earth gormiti.

"Ah, it's the messenger. Any updates, lad?"

"Yes, bad news." The young earth gormiti catches his breath. "The civilians are fine but the monster…some say they spotted it heading to the abandoned mines."

Gasps ring out across the room.

"The abandoned mines, you say? Isn't that place cursed?!" one earth gormiti probes.

"We can't send our troops there!" another warns.

Bullrock sighs, knowing only one solution to their problem. "Then we'll have to count on the lords of nature to help."

"But, Bullrock! Nobody has seen the lords of nature in four years! What makes you think they'll come to our aid?" a different earth gormiti brings up.

"They'll come. I'm sure of it." To be honest, Bullrock wasn't sure if the Lords of Nature would come. For one, they had no way to contact them. He just hoped, that maybe somehow, they'd get the message.

Though up in the clouds, far away from the island of Gorm, the Old Sage was watching from the temple of light.

"It's been a long four years of tranquillity but alas, I sense dark forces in the works." He tells his fellow companion, a small dinosaur named Razzle.

"But Old Sage, sir, do you really think the kids are up for it? For all I know, they've probably forgotten all about Gorm and I don't think they'd be so happy seeing me all of a sudden." Razzle voices his concerns.

"Don't fret, Razzle. The young lords will return. To make sure of it, I'll be sending you back to Earth. Find the lords and bring them here."

Razzle gulps. How would the kids react to seeing him? What would they look like – all grown up? The small dino didn't want to tell the Old Sage, but he was hesitant in meeting up with them again. For one, they hadn't seen him in a long while, of course they'd be angry. Nonetheless, he had to put his feelings to the side. The Gorm is in trouble – they need the Lords of Nature.

"Don't worry, Old Sage. I'll bring them back here!"

A/N: Here's it for chapter 12. These a/n's are gonna get much shorter as there's not much to say since I'm already in chapter 13 mode. Speaking of chapter 13, there's going to be a mix of everything - romance, drama, plot - so stick around for next week's chapter - Brother's Conflict.