"Kagami!" Nick leaps upright in the bathtub reaching, searching for Kagami. He's soaking wet, breathing deep huffs of air. A glowing light emits from his chest. Looking down he stares bewildered. His shirt, unbuttoned, revealed his orb fused into his chest, burning brightly. Small cracks of light exude from the orb, like lighting scars. Nick only caught a glimpse before the orb sinks into his chest. The scars disappear too, as if they weren't there in the first place.
"Nick, are you okay?" a voice calls from Nick's right, followed by a hand to his shoulder. Nick jumps at the touch, peering to his side. It's Lucas with Razzle on his shoulder. Nick's breathing calms down, taking in more of his environment. He's back in the cabinet, surrounded with worried blurred faces from Lucas, Razzle, Mr. Ono and the Old Sage.
Nick flinches as a sudden light shines directly into his eyes. "Hey!"
"He's responsive, doesn't seem to be any problems." Eliza states matter of factly, turning off her flashlight.
"How long have I been out? " Nick asks. Lucas hands him his glasses, giving him a better look at the cabinet and the others.
"2 hours, 44 minutes and 26 seconds. 56 minutes and 15 seconds longer than Lucas if you're wondering." Eliza answers deadpan as ever, going back to care for Jessica and Toby.
'Almost 3 hours.'
Nick bits the bottom of his lip. "What about Jessica and Toby?" Nick asks, unanimously turning to the other bathtubs. Unfortunately, both his friends were still unconsciously, floating in those cold tubs.
His prideful side is glad he came out second (first would have been nice) but seeing his friend and brother lying there didn't stop him from worrying.
"Your friends are fine at the moment." Eliza kinda answers Nick's question. "There hasn't been any significant changes."
Lucas offers a hand to Nick. Nick accepts, pulling himself out of the cold bathwater with Lucas's help. "Don't stress about it, Nick." Lucas offers words of encouragement. "We made it out okay. They can too."
Old Sage steps up to Nick, also adding in his own words. "Don't worry, young lord. Your friends will break through this predicament."
"Yeah…" Nick quietly agrees. Though Nick doesn't fully understand how he got out, it seemed he was losing the battle all along, but Jessica and Toby are different. They can handle themselves.
"Why don't you head for fresh air?" Razzle suggests. "Being cooped up here isn't gonna do you any better."
"Here." Mr. Ono offers Nick a towel. "Go out and get some fresh air. Eliza, the Old Sage and I won't let anything bad happen to Toby and Jessica."
Nick concedes. After his ordeal in the desert with Kagami and Adam, he could use some fresh air. He really needs to sit down and process his thoughts after all that's happened.
Lucas, Nick, and Razzle head out to the door, but Nick stops. Adam. There's something he has to tell Mr. Ono.
"Mr. Ono, uh sir?" He calls out to the older man.
"Hm?" the older man turns to face Nick.
"Don't let go of your desires. Keep them close. That's what Adam told me to tell you."
Let me tell you, Nick hasn't really interacted much with Mr. Ono, despite being close to Kagami for nearly 2 years. This is the most he's talked to the guy, so Nick doesn't have much to go on. But Nick could tell through his shocked expression that there was a tinge of sadness, of hurt.
The older man seems ready to pounce on the younger. Whether physically or just throw a bunch of questions at him. No, he resists and calms himself down. "Thank you."
Nick and Lucas head outside.
But the older man couldn't help but ponder. If Nick had meet Adam while unconscious does that mean Lucas met her too?
The horses surround Toby, taunting him as they huddle closer. But their little intimidation act doesn't scare Toby, no. It exhilarates him, pumping him up with adrenaline. Toby smirks. This was going to be a quick fight.
"Mighty Tentacles!" Toby's hair grows out, wrapping long tentacles around the horses.
"Thanks for making my job easier but hasta la vista!" Toby smashes the horses into each other, and they disperse into particles.
The sea remains silent. Toby pauses, his arm cannon out and ready in case of another attack. And still, all that remains is silence. Toby shifts his cannon back to his hand. Next thing is finding that boy, he's Toby's only lead anyways.
"Wind attack!"
A force shoots at Toby's back, catching him off guard.
That attack…
Jessica!" he turns to the source. It's just a vast sea of blue. No, he was sure it was her. Not just by the attack, her voice too. It was all too familiar.
"Bark blast!"
A fist shoots out at Toby. He dodges swiftly. Luckily being on edge from the last attack helps.
"Lucas!" Toby shouts for his friend. Lucas is nowhere to be seen. Now, he's being played around with.
Toby pauses. Another attack is surely to come. He had to catch the perpetrator in the act.
Someone's coming behind him. Toby swerves left; a fist almost collided with his head. "Jackpot!"
He grabs the fist, pulling his assailant close. He trips the attacker from the back, granting an opening to throw him over.
Getting a good look at him, Toby gasps. It's Nick all right in his gormiti form. But that wasn't what shocked Toby. This Nick, he's made out of water. Water-Nick grunts, pushing Toby away before regaining his posture.
The gig up, the others reveal themselves. Water-humanoid (or gormiti-noid, darn Nick is getting to him!) figures of Jessica and Lucas.
Toby's overcome with a weird sense of Deja-vu. They all stand in position waiting for either one to attack. The horses were one thing, but to send out duplicate versions of his friends to attack him? Was it one of those things where the enemy tries to get to him emotionally or something? Cause it isn't working.
"Rock Storm!" Nick shoots his rock splitters. Toby cartwheels away, donning a smirk. 3 against 1? Whatever, he'll prove just why he's the strongest lord of nature.
"Jungle Attack!" Lucas grabs Toby with his vines. Uh – oh. He twirls Toby round and round, almost causing the boy to throw up, before tossing him above. Thinking that was the end of it, Toby doesn't register Jessica and she lands a solid lightning bolt on him. Tumbling downwards, Nick's there to halt his fall, inclosing him in a tight bear hug.
Toby will admit, maybe he was a bit too cocky in thinking he could take on all his friends at once.
Can't blame him, he's been in this situation before.
Jessica and Lucas stand side by side, readying a combo attack. No time to regret his initial cockiness, Toby had to figure out how to get out of this stitch.
Toby transforms his hands into two water cannons and shoots. Not only does the force of the attack send both Nick and him backwards, startling Nick into releasing his hold on Toby, it also counter- attacks Jessica and Lucas' attack causing a burst of bubbles. Using that as a distraction, Toby pins his brother's hands behind his back, transforming his canon into a lobster claw, aiming it to his brother's neck.
Using his brother as bait may be a low move but he isn't the real Nick so it doesn't count. Keeping his brother hostage should mean the others would stop attacking. They wouldn't hurt one of their own, right?
"Flying feathers launch!" Jessica's feathers pierce Nick's chest, and he burst into bubbles. That answered Toby's question.
Nick gone, Jessica and Lucas prepare for attempt #2 of their combo attack. Toby's prepared to attack back but something was tugging at his legs. Looking down it's –
"Nick?!" Toby yells in shock. No wonder not-Jessica shot him, not because she's a heartless copy but because they can't be destroyed.
"Lightning bolt/Bark blast." Toby, distracted by the new revelation, gave Jessica and Lucas a clear shot at him.
"Nrgh!" Toby is left paralysed for a second by the attack. The static electricity still running through his bones. There's no use in fighting back. They're made of water which means whatever he throws at them, they'll come back like it was a slight whack on the arm.
Toby widens his eyes. They're made out of water and he can control water!
His friends all rush at him, a 3-combo attack that wouldn't be fulfilled.
Toby places a hand on his temple. "Mind over water!" he shouts, and they all stop unanimously. They all grunt and whine, trying to move but Toby's hold on them is just too strong.
"Wow. That was lowkey kinda awesome!" Toby compliments himself.
Yet, it wasn't the time to celebrate. When he used his powers, Toby felt it. A fourth presence.
"Show yourself!" Toby shouts, searching all around him until he hits a spot. Right there from the corner of his left eye. Obscured but a clear ripple in the ocean. It wasn't natural.
"Aqua blasts!" Not giving his assailant time to react, Toby shoots at his target. He was right. The soft grunt gave it away.
No longer having an excuse to hide, the mysterious 4th guest reveals itself. He was the same as the others, a gormiti water figure but he isn't someone Toby knows. Toby had never seen this gormiti in his life.
"Sword Fish slash!" The gormiti doesn't hesitate to attack Toby given the chance, Toby expecting the
gesture summons his shell shield in response.
This guy's a water gormiti. And Toby's about to learn another thing about this mysterious water
gormiti.
"Mind over water!" the water gormiti calls. He can use the same powers as Toby. Toby gulps already
foreseeing the next part.
Not-Jessica, Lucas and Nick break free of their hold, already charging at Toby.
Toby pushes the water gormiti with his shield. With him out of the way Toby transforms his shield into his lobster claw, catching Nick's arm before he could swing at him. Toby's other arm blocks Lucas' hammer. Distracted, Jessica launches a lightning bolt attack, the others jolting away as it hits Toby.
Paralysed again, Toby is defenceless against other attacks for a mere couple of seconds. And his enemies take advantage of those precious seconds.
"Super deep freeze!" the water gormiti yells, encasing Toby in a block of ice from his neck to his feet.
The weight of the ice sinks Toby further to the depths of the sea, his friends stand back, all staring.
They're not fighting back and Toby knew that spells bad news for him. The new water gormiti had another trick up his sleeve. One Toby couldn't have had predicted at all.
The water gormiti raises a hand to the sky. "Dark waves!" he calls and a deep purple dispels from his hand. The crystal blue of the waters are dyed a deep sinister purple.
Toby's lungs give out, choking on the water before he holds his breath. The mysterious numero 4 made it so Toby couldn't breathe underwater and he's currently sinking deeper to the depths. At this rate, Toby's a goner…
The fresh air and the nice warmth of the setting sun gave room for Nick to process what had happened in his mind. By the orbs, that was a bad idea. Nick wasn't acting like himself at all. Too ruled by emotions, he lashed out on his brother and beat the living crap out of Adam.
Nick was particularly ashamed of himself for what he did to Adam. The guy wasn't the real Adam but didn't detract that what Nick did was just awful. He pounced on the poor guy like a fierce rhino. Nick didn't think he had it in himself to do anything like that. Whilst he acknowledges what he did was improper, Nick doesn't feel bad at all. In fact, he'd gladly do it again. He did it for Kagami after all.
Oh yeah, and he tried to kiss Kagami. Nick's thoughts paused for a second. 'Holy shit I tried to kiss Kagami.'
Praise the orbs, he didn't voice his thought out loud.
The deed wasn't done, and Nick didn't know if he should be glad or upset he didn't get to kiss the fake version of Kagami. What is he thinking, of course he should be glad it didn't happen! Kagami is his friend, his best friend! At least in his eyes she is. Wanting to kiss your best friend isn't normal. Unless he likes Kagami?
No.
No.
Bad Nick.
Don't entertain the idea. Kagami's out of his league, there's no point in trying. Regardless she already has too much on her plate, she has no time for boys.
But his thoughts return to that scene. They were so close before he woke up. The smell of her strawberry shampoo. The warmth of her arms around his neck, the fast pace rises and falls of her chest as he leaned in, the hot outward breaths she took. And most of all, those lips. So plum, so enticing, so… inviting. She was like chocolate, one bite and the honey-like caramel would melt into his mouth, mixing with the chocolate. No, not caramel, Kagami was more strawberry, strawberry dipped into a soothing bowl of melted chocolate. Made him crave for more, an addiction he couldn't defeat. If he was just a little faster, then - No.
Stop Nick.
Don't think about how you want to go back.
Don't think how good it felt to almost kiss Kagami.
Ugh, those words. 'Kiss' and 'Kagami'. Those shouldn't go well together. But they do, by the orbs. they do.
"Noooo…" Nick lets out a sad puppy whine, hands massaging his overloaded temple.
"You doing alright, Nick? " Lucas poses, quite concerned over Nick's demeanour. Nick shoots up straight. "Y-yeah, totally!"
Lucas and Razzle scooches closer to Nick. "So…"
…
"Hmmm….?" Lucas and Razzle both hum, sliding much closer to Nick.
"What?" Nick questions, generally confused as to what they are insinuating.
"Let it out, kid! What happened back there?!" Razzle bursts out, the curiosity eating away at him.
Lucas had already divulged his own experience, Nick was half listening, still bothered by Kagami.
Nick couldn't tell them what happened out of second-hand embarrassment. He tried to kiss Kagami!
Even Lucas isn't that dense to know what that means!
Nick lets out a breathy laugh. Kagami, she's special. She doesn't need to be with anyone. She's just perfect on her own. Nonetheless, that doesn't burn out Nick's desire to kiss her, be intimate.
"Earth to Nick!" Razzle waves his tiny claws up to Nick's face, the dino having perched up on Nick's head, without him noticing.
"Are you really okay Nick?" Lucas probes. He didn't think it's anything physical but something's weighing on Nick's mind. Could it be something bad happened while Nick was under? Or maybe –
"Does it have something to do with Kagami?" Lucas asks, but once that name was mouthed, Nick stiffens like a statue.
"Isn't she Nick's girlfri-"
"She's NOT my girlfriend!" Nick stands, cutting Razzle off. He'd rather not have it spoken to existence.
Lucas puts his hands up. "Okay, dude, relax." Lucas sets a hand on Nick's shoulder, bringing him back to the steps of the cabinet.
"Sorry, it's just…" Nick lets out a sigh as he tries to apologise but he couldn't tell them.
"I get it, you don't have to explain."
Both Nick and Razzle stare at Lucas, bewildered. He gets it. So Lucas isn't that dense when it comes to romance!
"The orb must've been playing mind-tricks on you about Kagami. Don't stress out about it, we'll get her back. We all know she means that much to you."
…okay, Lucas is still dense. All is good, Nick doesn't have to explain what happened with Kagami.
A certain tingling sensation protrudes throughout Nick's entire body. Like a jolt of energy or a fight
or flight response. But for some reason, Nick could sense it, there is something wrong with the Gorm. He couldn't explain why but he just knows something's up there, in the earth nation.
"Something's wrong with the earth nation." Nick voices out loud.
"You can feel it too?" Lucas asks Nick, already confirming his thoughts. Nick nods his head.
"This must be the power of your orbs. I'm going to be put out of a job now, aren't I?" Razzle says, now contemplating the end of his job. Now that the kids can sense the danger for themselves, they won't need him reminding them anymore. Not that he did much the last time they fought in Gorm.
The ground shakes for a few seconds as if an earthquake is about to erupt, cutting whatever discussion about Razzle's role short. The shaking wasn't too violent, nonetheless it's noticeable.
"My gut's telling me that wasn't a normal earthquake," Lucas says, already eyeing Nick who shares the same sentiment.
Not too coincidentally, the door flings open behind them by the Old Sage. That means he must've felt it too.
"There's trouble in the Gorm." Nick poses in a half statement – half question.
The Old Sage answers Nick's half question. "The earth nation is being attacked by the lava gormiti." "
The lava gormiti haven't done anything in nearly 4 years! Why act now?!" Razzle questions in panic.
"Must be that monster. That's the only reason I can think of." Lucas contemplates.
"Then we have to go and stop 'em!" Nick says. They can't let the lava goons terrorize the earth gormiti. And maybe, as much that it'd hurt to see, Kagami would be there. He'd have a chance to get her back.
"I will gate you to gorm." The Old Sage states.
"Okay then, let's go! Can't wait to test out my new powers." Lucas shouts in amusement. Razzle perches on his shoulder. He wasn't going to miss out on the fight either.
"May the tides be in your favour."
And with a flash, the guys and Razzle were whisked away to Gorm.
Toby paces back and forth in front of the coach's office. He's been sitting on his decision to leave the swim team for a while, but Toby's decided that today would be the day he'd officially quit the team.
He knows, he should've discussed it first with his parents, but Toby could already predict their response. They'd be all over him either in anger or disappointment or both. Whether he told them beforehand or they find out about it later, that would be their response. Better to get this done than dwell on it some more.
Right when Toby's about to knock on the door, someone from the other side unlocks it. Now Toby's face to face with his swim coach, Coach Bolton.
Coach Bolton jumps a little, startled by Toby's sudden appearance. "Toby? You had my heart racing for a second."
"Sorry about that, Coach…" Toby apologises, his shoulders hunched forward. He had nowhere to hide.
"Is there something you want to discuss?" Coach Bolton questions, already sensing something's troubling Toby. The boy wasn't his usually energetic self.
Toby just nods and Coach Bolton takes it to invite Toby into his office, directing the boy to a seat before seating himself on his desk.
"Is this about me giving the freestyle to Assim? I've told you this before, Toby but team meetings are mandatory. You're the best at freestyle but if you're not gonna be a team player then I'll have to axe you."
Honestly, Toby could've cared less that Assim took his spot in the freestyle for nationals. Maybe a year ago, he'd be boiling in rage but now? He felt empty. "Yeah…um Coach…I quit." Toby holds his breath.
"Toby, if this is some sort of protest -"
"No, it's not. I'm glad Assim's swimming in my place. I'm just not into swimming anymore." Toby's better but Assim is pretty good as well.
Coach Bolton sighs, leaping from his desk, he threads back to his chair. He fiddles with the whistle around his neck. He does that a lot when he's deep in thought.
Toby didn't really plan what to say after he dropped the ball. Coach Bolton wasn't the meanest teacher of the bunch, that'd go to Ms. McGurk. Nevertheless, he is strict and when you piss him off, he will light a fire in your ass. Trust Toby, he's been on the receiving end countless times.
However, Coach Bolton's anger was different from the others. Toby could tell, he was hard on him and the team because he wants them to improve - 'reach their potential.' As the coach would put it. The coach sighs, eyeing his whistle before speaking up. "Toby, are you sure of your decision?"
"Yeah, I'm sure." Toby, states matter of fact. This wasn't a willy nilly decision he came up with on a whim. He seriously pondered over it, which is something he hardly does.
Coach Bolton rests a hand on his chin before bellowing a deep sigh. "Okay."
"Okay...?" Toby re-emphasizes, surprised by the Coach's lack of reaction.
The coach gets up from his chair, now positioning himself over to the front of his desk, closer to Toby. "Toby, can you tell me why you're quitting the team?"
How would Toby explain? Everything feels like it's going too fast. Jessica's got a boyfriend, Nick's got a new best friend in Kagami, Lucas is…doing his own thing. Things are changing, moving too fast. It's supposed to be the four of them together and as cliché as it is, together forever, but now they're apart. Heck, even Toby's moved on as well. Too busy with the swim team and classes. Hell, he got a B in the European History test last week. How did he do that?! Toby wasn't the smart one, that's Nick's thing. Not only that, Coach Bolton and his parents are already in talks of a potential swimming scholarship for him. It's all too crazy, too much.
Too fast.
"I- I know I'm good and all, but I don't want to be Toby, the all-star swimmer. That's just not me." It wasn't the total truth but it's a total lie either. Toby dumbed down his reasonings, that's all. Coach Bolton is great, but Toby wasn't comfortable enough to fully open up to the coach. He wasn't his counsellor, not that Toby needed one.
The coach claps his hands together. "I'm sorry you feel that way, Toby. You're free to leave."
"Wait, aren't you going to give me the speech on how I'm wasting my potential and swimming was the best thing that ever happened to me? Not to toot my own horn but I am the best on the team."
Coach Bolton is as competitive as Toby is, in fact, a lot worse. Or better, depending on the circumstances. The school has one of the best swim teams in the country since Coach Bolton showed up, there's absolutely no way he's gonna give up his best that easily.
The coach chuckles. "I'm not letting you go, Toby. Think of it as a break."
"Huh?"
"You'll take a break to sort out your thoughts and come back when you're ready."
Did the coach just twist his words? "No Coach, I'm quitting for good. I'm not coming back." The coach in response lets out a bellowed laugh.
"Oh, you'll come back Toby. I know you will."
Toby raised an eyebrow. This has gotta be some weird tactic to get him back, Toby was sure of it.
Catching on to Toby's confusion, Coach Bolton explains further. "You see, Toby, you were meant for the pool. I cannot explain it but you're a fish in the water, it's your natural element. It's where you belong."
Toby scrunches his brows and subconsciously pulls back from the Coach. Nice compliment. Totally has nothing to do with him being the lord of water, that's what Toby hopes. He'll hand it to the coach; he pays close attention to these things...
The coach gets up, pacing back and forth, his thoughts too erratic to sit by idly. "Toby, you are water." The coach points at the boy and then makes a circular motion with his hands. "Water can't die. It changes, loops into another state. You know the water cycle from biology. Water adapts, grows, changes, and eventually, it goes back to being- well water."
"Thanks, coach, but I don't get how water changing has anything to do with me quitting the team." Toby couldn't help but point out. Nice analogy there coach, but still, it made no sense. And no, Toby doesn't know the water cycle.
"Toby, you are like water. You'll go, change, learn and come back to the swim team a better man. There's a reason why water is associated with wisdom after all."
"Thanks for putting in so much faith in me, but I don't think I'll come back." Toby bluntly states.
"You will. You'll see."
It's nice that the coach believes in him, but it's wasted effort. When he knows it, Toby will have already graduated. He really shouldn't set up himself for major disappointment. Or maybe by then the coach would get on his knees and beg him to return. Now that'd be weird.
Toby sinks further and further into the depths of the ocean. The block of ice confining his body chills his every being, not helped by the lowering temperatures of the water. His friends and that other water gormiti, mere specks then blink into nothingness.
"Water, it adapts, changes then loops back into its original state. Water can't die." Words from his former swim coach circle his mind. It was a strange thought to pop up in his head, given that he's about to drown to his death, but it made sense in a way. And it gave Toby an idea. Another stupid idea but it's something.
Toby's heartbeat falls to a slower rhythm, either because he has calmed down or the freezing waters. Then, feeling his heart has reached a comfortable steady beat, he focuses on the ice, visualizing it warping into water. Back to its liquid state. This would be easy as pie for a lava gormiti. Nonetheless Toby's a water gormiti, a lord. He should be able to control water's state too.
'Remember what Coach Bolton said about water. It changes.'
The frozen block melts, slowly creeping upwards to his head. Toby smirks to himself. Who would've thought, Coach Bolton's advice would help him here of all places?
Mr. Ono perches himself onto a single chair at the edge of the room. The Old Sage had already informed him and Eliza of trouble in Gorm. Another attack from the Lava gormiti in the earth nation. The boys had already left to deal with the situation.
He clutches his hands, when Kagami reaches his thoughts. By the orbs, he prays for her safety. He thought leaving her out of the whole Gorm business would be protecting her but no, destiny had to play the role of the trickster and choose her out of the billions living on earth, as the heir to the wretched lava gormiti. Was this some sort of curse over what happened those years ago? For failing to save 'her'?
"Old Sage, Mr. Ono. I need you to see this." Eliza says, snapping Mr. Ono out of his thought. The slight intonation of her voice – that doesn't sound like good news.
They rush to Eliza's side, her standing next to Toby's bathtub. Mr. Ono feels his heart plummet in anxiety, his breath already sharp.
This is what happened to Adam.
There, on Toby's chest, a crystal-like substance protrudes from his body. The substance spreads slowly, his chest the epicentre, like cracks on a stone crevasse.
Nick experienced it too, but he woke up before it could get any worse. With Toby, there are no signs he's about to wake up.
"His pulse rate has slowed down to 24 beats per minute. Should we be concerned?" Eliza asks both the Old Sage and Mr. Ono.
"We should wait a little longer." The Old Sage says.
Ono couldn't help but let out a loud huff. He disagreed with the Old Sage's decision, but he wasn't looking to pick a fight.
"5 minutes. If he doesn't wake up, then you'll remove the orb." Ono proposes to the Old Sage. Though he didn't want to start a fight, he won't stand by and leave Toby in harm's way. If things seem to get worse, Toby and Jessica's safety were more important. Not to discredit the two, but they have already 2 other lords of nature ready for battle. It wasn't worth the risk.
"You'll have my word. We'll wait five minutes." The Old Sage agrees.
Eliza pulls out her stopwatch. "I've already started the timer. I'll notify you when the 5 minutes are up." Eliza looks down at the boy. The crystal continues to spread across his body. "I may not know much about the Gorm and magic, but the situation doesn't look to improve any time soon."
"Give him time, Eliza. The young lord will make it out." The Old sage reassures.
It's not like Mr. Ono doesn't believe in Toby but the situation is just that dangerous. But still, a little speck in Ono hopes that Toby will wake up soon.
The water-noid gormiti stare down at the last spot Toby was seen, before plummeting to the depths of the ocean. The mysterious water gormiti bellows out a sigh, not one out of relief, but the disappointment. He has a solemn look in his eyes, his gaze still drawn to that spot. He sheaths his fish-shaped sword, fashioning his regular arm.
''I thought you'd be better than this, Toby." He says to himself.
The water gormiti finally releases his gaze from that point, turning his back completely towards it. The others turn to him, awaiting orders.
Then from those depths, a splash of water hits the water gormiti away from the group. It takes some time for the mysterious fellow to come to his surroundings and gets a good look at his assailant.
Unbeknownst to anyone, the corners of his mouth uproot.
It's Toby, coated in a pure watery substance. Toby had converted his ice constraints into a liquid shield acting as an oxygen tank for him to breath. The water gormiti had completely underestimated Toby. To his knowledge, Toby shouldn't be able to do that, but he did.
'This guy really does have a strong conviction.'
The water-noid lords of nature all rush out to attack Toby. Though Toby doesn't budge. Toby swirls and the coat of water surrounding him swooshes out onto his friends. Toby mumbles something and immediately, his friends freeze into frozen statues.
The water gormiti had to give it to him. He claps for Toby which in turn garners a confused glance from the boy.
"You gave up your protection to take down your friends. Seriously, Toby, I'm impressed." The water gormiti - Toby had a ton of questions for him, like why it is now that he's speaking to him, but since he gave up his water cloak, he's back to holding his breath. "I shouldn't have doubted you. Now I can see you're a worthy opponent."
The water gormiti rushes at Toby, not giving him time to react, his swordfish already above his head for a downward slash. Toby summons his sea-shield and the power of the water gormiti's attack reverberates, forcing him to step back. Not losing the momentum, he swirls in an arc and hits Toby's lower calf.
"Urk!" Toby grunts. The water gormiti reaches for his head, but Toby's reflexes prove faster. The lord grabs his arm, another reaches for his fish sword. The two gormiti wrestle with each other, arms and hand entangled into a spaghetti dish.
"Any more tricks up your sleeve?" the water gormiti questions, his swordfish pointed narrowly close to Toby's chest.
"Hm! Super deep freeze!" Toby gurgles, the water gormiti's hand and sword partially frozen before he kicks Toby away.
He stares at his hands. His right hand is stuck in an arched position thanks to Toby. Only the tip of his swordfish is frozen, not losing its sharp edge.
Toby summons his tentacles, wrapping them around the water gormiti. The mysterious fellow couldn't use his swordfish anymore, but he could tell Toby's strength is draining. His hold wasn't strong enough. It'll only be a couple more seconds till he's out.
'Time to put him out of his misery.'
Instead of breaking free from Toby's hold, which he 100% could've done, he rushes at the boy, startling him. Before Toby could summon anything else, the gormiti lands a major, solid kick to Toby's chest
"Ugh!" On instinct Toby gasps and he struggles with the sudden intake of water. 'Air!' he screams in his mind.
But the water gormiti isn't done. He had to finish this once and for all. With a clear hit, the water gormiti pierces Toby's chest with his swordfish.
Toby's eyes bulge to the widest they've ever been. He's been impaled. It takes him a minute to process the fact. He lets out a few short croaks before dissipating into bubbles.
The water gormiti sheaths his swordfish back to his regular arm. He sighs, petting the frozen block of his arm. A solemn scowl on his features.
"I really was the bad guy in this, wasn't I," he says to himself.
The water gormiti couldn't be down on himself. For he saw a slight ripple in the waters. He didn't think much of it until it starts to morph into a series of bubbles. These bubbles grew in clumps, forming an unusual shape. No, not unusual but human, almost like a gormiti.
The water gormiti paused in confusion but smiles.
The watery-form takes a solid muscled form. Toby, now back in action, transforms his arms into water cannons. "Super deep freeze!" he shouts and the water gormiti smiles. He raises his hands in defeat and takes the attack. In his frozen form, his smile still intact.
"I did it." Toby huffs. "I won." Toby's world spins, feeling his vision go awry as he too follows his frozen adversary to the depths of the ocean.
"5 minutes are done. Mr. Tripp doesn't show any signs of awakening." Eliza clicks her stopwatch to a halt. It's an unfortunate situation to be put in, moreso for Lady G's sake. Having all four kids awaken to their true potential would've been so much better than 3.
Mr. Ono once again gets up from his seat to check on Toby. Like Eliza said, he hasn't woken up. And his condition doesn't seem to be improving either.
"Ms. Herleins doesn't appear to be doing well either." Eliza had to comment, staring at the girl. Though no crystal-like substance has appeared, Jessica's face is scrunched up, as if she were in pain. Underneath her eyelids, her eyes dart left and right rapidly like she was stuck in a nightmare.
Mr. Ono grimaces. He knows Toby would be disappointed but it's for the best. "Can we wait a little longer?" the Old Sage suggests.
Mr. Ono grimaces at what the Old Sage said, confusion taking over before composing himself. "No, we have to remove the orb now. He's getting worse."
"Yes but he's not in critical condition. If we wait a little longer than -"
"No!" Mr. Ono shouts. His hands shake. "You said 5 minutes. We can't risk it any further."
"But-"
"Do you really want to put this boy in the same position as Adam?! Or has your absence clouded your memory?"
The Old Sage opens his mouth to speak but backs down, casting his gaze to the floor. Mr. Ono clasp his hands together, trying to prevent the shaking. Eliza looks at the two, either unsure of what to say or unbothered by the argument.
Toby grunts and whatever bad-blood between Mr. Ono and Old Sage is put on hold. The older males rush to Toby's bathtub as the boy continues to wince in pain.
"This isn't good." Mr. Ono comments, his hands shaking even violently. The quiet winces turn into louder apparent groans. The crystal substance accelerates, almost enveloping his entire body.
Sudden flashes of Adam appear in Mr. Ono's mind and his breath sharpens. The room wobbles in his view. He takes a step back from the bathtub, blinking in hopes that the wobbling will go away.
"Is there something wrong, Mr. Ono?" Eliza asks, bringing Mr. Ono back to reality.
He shakes his head. "No, I'm fine." He takes a deep breath, hand on his heart in hopes of relaxing himself. He turns to the Old Sage. "You have to remove the orb from him before it's too late."
Before the Old Sage can respond, Eliza interjects. "The crystal is turning black in colour. I agree with Mr. Ono, the orb needs to be removed."
As Eliza said, from the epicentre the once blue transforms to black, travelling outwards until likely the whole substance is black.
"If it must be done." The Old Sage spreads his arms out in front of the bathtub.
"Wait! Look!" Eliza calls. She points to the crystals. The black colour fades and the crystal glows a faint blue. "Could this be a sign he's getting better?" Eliza poses to the elderly men, both not having a direct answer to Eliza.
They continue to watch. Alongside the glow, the protruding crystal markings slider like water slowly back to the epicentre. Eliza carefully reaches out to grasp Toby's arm, checking his pulse.
Toby shoots his eyes open, sitting up from his bathtub in pure shock. Eliza pulls away, her eyebrows raised before returning her neutral expression. Toby takes shallow breathes, coughing and hacking as if he had drowned. Mr. Ono goes to pat him on the back in hopes to help.
"You're okay Toby. You're in the cabinet now. You're safe." Mr. Ono reassures. Toby's breathing slowly returns to normal, having stopped coughing. The glowing crystal is no more, having quickly shrunk into his body.
Eliza passes a water bottle to Toby. "Here, would this help with your coughing?"
Toby passes on the offer. "Thanks, but I really don't want to be near water right now."
Mr. Ono and the Old Sage help Toby onto his feet and out of the bathtub. It took a while for Toby to get to his bearings, still in shock over almost drowning twice. That is until he spotted two empty bathtubs to his right.
"Nick and Lucas, are they - "
"They're fine. They made it out." Mr. Ono reassures and Toby bellows a sigh of relief.
"There's trouble in the earth nation. Nick and Lucas went out to investigate." The Old Sage catches Toby up.
"What about Jessica?" Toby asks, eyeing her bathtub. He invisibly sulks seeing her still floating unconscious.
The Old Sage and Mr. Ono trade solemn looks too, unable to bring up the girl. Eliza, unfazed, gladly does it for them. "Ms. Herleins shows signs of a struggle. Also, I've looked underneath her shirt. A crystal substance has appeared on her chest. A lighter blue compared to Mr. Tripp's."
Ignoring his exhaustion, Toby races to Jessica's bathtub. Jessica groans, turning her head left and right. Toby reaches for her hands, holding them tightly into his.
'Come on, Jessica.' Toby pleads to himself. 'You can do this; I know you can.'
It sucks. If Toby could, he'd absolutely go inside her mind and help her. But this was Jessica's mission and hers alone. All Toby could do is wait and hope someone hears his silent prayers.
A/N : How long has it been since the last update?
Yeah I'm not dead nor do I intend to quit! In fact, this chapter was sitting in my doc manager for about 2 months. I totally forgot about it cause Uni has been a real pain in the behind.
Next chapter is going up next week. That doesn't mean there will be regular updates (even though I have drafts up to chapter 32 written). My mental health has been down the gutter lately and completely worn out any drive to write at the moment. I will pick up the story again, I just need a mental health break from writing. Thanks for being understanding.
See you next week for the chapter 24! It's a Jessica centred.
