There were three things Takahashi Ono treasured the most. His beloved granddaughter Kagami, his daughter Umi and his secret library in the basement. Yes, it's a library despite its current state. Takahashi would go there on his breaks, or whenever he felt like it which in turn pissed Shujin off to no end since he's usually MIA during work. It was Takahashi's safe place; somewhere where he could relax. Today was no different.
He spent an hour or so in the kitchen, doing his usual business before sneaking off into the basement. Now, why would he place a cramped, stuffy (not) library 3rd on his list and not say Shujin or his ex-wife (he does care for her but not as fondly as 1 and 2)? To be honest, it was the only connection to his past, a past he cherishes but also regrets. He didn't want to forget, so he goes there to reminiscence on his youth.
However, his routine would go array today, for he couldn't input his secret code. The wall has been busted by what he presumed to be a sledgehammer. The old man makes use of his old bones, rushes to the other end of the tunnel hoping that his precious library wasn't tarnished by a burglar. Even as his imagination goes all over the place, his senses know there could only be one person who would trespass into his sanctuary.
And there she is.
His library is in complete ruin, that is if you've grown accustomed to its typical state. There, amidst the mess, is Kagami, holding the important piece he's been tasked to protect.
"Kagami? What on earth are you doing?" He calls out to his granddaughter.
To his surprise, the girl breaks into a giggling fit. "I'm taking back what's mine, dear Oiji-san."
He cautiously walks over to Kagami, knowing something is wrong. "Now, Kagami, you don't want to play with that thing."
The girl stares directly at her grandfather, her eyes glowing bright red. Something is definitely amiss, and it isn't in a normal sense.
"Why would I play with just a piece of crystal? Unless it's something greater than what it seems."
No. It can't be. They couldn't have known he had it! That is if…no!
"Kagami please, whatever they did to you, fight it! I'm your Oiji-san!" He cries out. He couldn't let them take Kagami away from him. He can't go through this again.
"Yes, you are my Oiji-san but they will give me what I want." Growing tired of this conversation, Kagami blasts Ono with a fire attack knocking him into one of the shelves. All the books come cascading under him and there was no movement afterwards. Kagami heads into the hallway. She looks back at the mess then turning her gaze to the pile of books burying her grandfather.
"Goodbye, and I'm sorry."
Jessica leads Mark to her back porch, now embraced with the chilly autumn breeze again, despite the sun's rays shining down on them. Jessica makes sure to pull up the curtains of the garden windows – her mother was a snooper, trying to catch Jessica in any act of intimacy when Mark's around. Her father didn't care much for Mark, but her mother was all over him – his charms got to her mother as well despite the weird creepy age gap.
The couple sit by the patio. Mark couldn't help but gaze at the splendour before him.
He whistles. "I knew your parents were high-class, but I didn't think they were this high-class."
The Herleins garden was tip-top, the flower beds neatly organized, sectioned into different types of greenery and flowers. It looked like something straight from a fairy tale.
"You're not the first to say that," Jessica says, breaking the short silence. She's used to people's reactions to her parent's 'livelihood' but she couldn't help but be peeved at their shock. Her parents are slightly above the middle-class food chain, it's not like she's a millionaire and flaunting Gucci. "This was all Mrs Tripp. It might not seem like it, but our garden used to be a jungle before she helped out."
"Really? Your mom doesn't strike me as the messy type. She's quite lovely. You take after her."
Jessica lightly swats at Mark. "I do not!"
"You so do! I can see it now, you and me living in a posh neighbourhood with our two children."
"What? You can see the future now?"
Mark grins slyly. "I can't technically say I do but my sister did say I was good at predicting things."
Jessica caresses Mark's knee, feeling more at ease. "Well, whatever predictions you have, you better keep to yourself. Wouldn't want to change the course of history now, would we?"
"Whatever you say. " Mark seals the deal with a kiss, then another one till Jessica pulls back, reminding him not to be too affectionate when her parents are around. Not that they minded on one condition that wasn't too steamy, but the second-hand embarrassment is too much for Jessica to bear.
Mark shifts the topic. "About last night, where did you guys head off too?"
Jessica bites her tongue. The stress from saving the Gorm and Nick's condition, Jessica had forgotten to come up with a reliable excuse. "Um…you know important club stuff. Us four had a thing back ages ago…we had unfinished business to attend." She didn't like lying to her boyfriend but technically she wasn't lying – just being a little vague.
Mark gives her a look as if suggesting more was going on. But he doesn't press her on her reasonings for leaving, nope, but he wasn't letting go of the topic. "Yeah, just so you know, I was looking everywhere for you when Zane showed up. You left your phone with Gina and I had no way to call you." Jessica circles Mark's knee, apologising for leaving him. But Mark isn't done yet.
"You mom told me you showed up home just now. Jess, it's probably not my business to pry but where did you go?"
Jessica couldn't lie to him. Darn his cute puppy eyes! "I know it sounds bad, but I was at Toby's place." Mark visibly sighed in disappointment which encouraged Jessica to dispel any misconceptions. "It was with good reasoning! Nick came down with something and Toby was freaking out over him. Lucas was there too! I swear nothing weird happened!"
He didn't want to outright say he doesn't like her hanging around Toby but it was just that. She's never stayed over his place for the night – it feels wrong for her to do so with Toby. Damn, now he understands what Jessica felt about Kagami. "I believe you Jess; I do but it's not that I don't trust you it's just…Toby. I-"
Jessica cups Mark's cheeks, making sure he's looking straight into her eyes. "Mark, there is absolutely nothing going on between me and Toby. We are just friends."
Mark sighs. He should have more faith in Jessica. "…I'm so stupid for doubting you, Jess."
"Don't be. I know how you guys are like." Breaking her rule for once, Jessica kisses Mark's cheek. That shouldn't be so bad if her mother is indeed watching.
Mark attempts to alleviate the mood. "Wanna head out together? I know it's early and all, but we can walk around the park for an hour or so." Mark suggests.
Jessica grimaces. Of course, this couldn't be easy.
"Wait, you're heading back there, aren't you?" Mark takes Jessica's silence as a 'yes'. Mark stands up. "I'm coming with you."
"No!" Jessica stops Mark. "You can't! It'll be awkward and Nick, he needs peace and quiet to rest!" She and the guys still have some Gorm business left unattended. She couldn't involve Mark with this.
"Jessica, I'm going no matter what. Nick wouldn't mind a fifth party member."
Sixth, including Razzle, Jessica corrects in her mind.
Mark grabs Jessica's hand, already making up his mind. But Jessica doesn't move, stuck in place.
"Jessica, really. I'm gonna go with or without you." Mark says but Jessica doesn't comment. She's literally frozen like she sees a ghost. "Jessica?"
No comment.
For Jessica, she's hit with a wave of energy. Travelling alongside the waves were flashes of images or memories, Jessica wasn't sure. But one thing was evident from these images, Kagami, she's a Lord of Nature. The red orb, flashing through her mind, Kagami with bright crimson eyes with the orb – there's something off about her. She's endangered. Then her own orb comes to mind. The wind – Jessica could feel the wind more clearly than ever before. She felt light, almost lifting off the ground – like she could fly, for a second she thought she'd spread wings and soar to the sky. Then more colours – winds – collide together into one bright light – Supreme Luminous' light.
"The lord of everlasting fire. Save her."
"JESSICA!"
Jessica opens her eyes, though it feels like her eyes were already open. Mark is right there in front of her, a tight grasp on her shoulders. It hurt. "Ouch!" she winces.
"Jess, are you okay?! You zoned out for a second and I didn't know what to do!"
"Yes, I'm fine." Jessica pulls out of Mark's grasp, trying to make sense of what's going on.
"I think you should go back inside. You probably didn't get enough sleep." Mark leads Jessica back inside but Jessica breaks out of Mark's hold.
"The wind. It's off."
"The wind? What the -" No time to think, Jessica darts past Mark. Something was wrong with her, and Mark doesn't like it one bit.
And Mark was right, something was wrong. Kagami, the lava gormiti have her. And for some reason, Jessica could hear the wind – it was speaking to her, telling her these words. She had to go to the Tripp's house now. If she could sense this premonition then so could the others.
Flamma was already clearing everything from the store once Kagami came waltzing in, flicking the piece with a grin on her face.
"Kagami, you got the piece! Well done!" Flamma compliments, wanting to make small talk with the girl, though her actual intent is to make sure she's okay. She's still not over how nonchalant Vestalt and Anchor were back there.
"It was surprisingly easy. I thought Oiji-san would put up more of a fight." Kagami giggles.
"You didn't kill him, did you?"
Kagami taps her finger to her cheek in thought. "I don't know. At least I don't hope so. Oh well." Kagami waves Flamma off, wanting to deliver the piece to Vestalt.
Flamma looked on ahead, lost in thought. Was it okay to go on living like this?
Kagami goes to the room where her 'rebirth' took place. The piece burns her flesh slightly now with the orb within its reach. Vestalt was there too, placing the book back into its glass confines.
"Got what you needed, commander." Kagami voices
Vestalt turns to face her, unable to hide the joy as she animatedly joins Kagami's side, quick with praises. "You're as diligent as ever, Kagami. Now complete the orb."
"You don't have to tell me twice." Kagami walks up to the orb. All the power in her grasp and she'd only have to insert the piece into the hole. Her rebirth will be complete.
She shifts the piece in place, and the whole room is blinded in a great white light. Vestalt goes to shield her eyes but Kagami refuses to hide. She wanted to see the orb, her orb in its full glory. The power that she needs to turn into a gormiti.
"Urgh!" Kagami clutches her head. Images start flowing to her mind. Of the Lords of Nature and Supreme Luminous. Suddenly, the light hurt, burning to her chest like an awful rash.
"Kagami! What's wrong?" Vestalt hurries to Kagami's side, the light already dying down.
"My head…it's spinning- "Kagami could make out before fainting, lying limp in Vestalt's arms. Vestalt sets Kagami down – her part in the story done.
"Commander!" Anchor calls from the entrance followed by Flamma. "I saw a glowing light! Is everything okay?" Anchor didn't get his answer; he didn't need too.
"The orb is completed at last!" Vestalt says, ignoring Anchor's concern. She grabs the orb, in awe at what she's beholding. The long-lost orb, now reformed and in her hands. To think this day would come.
Flamma drives her attention to the limp Kagami resting by the shelves. Worry drowns her once more.
Vestalt thrusts the orb to the sky. "The eye of life – do as I say. Open a portal to Gorm!" she shouts. Red lightning shoots from the sky, striking the orb. Anchor and Flamma both flinch, with Flamma falling to her knees. The lightning struck a hole into the ceiling and Flamma had to frown. She knew their time on Earth would be short, but she doesn't want to go back to Volcano Mountain. Not there, not with Anchor who would stand by and let Kagami get hurt.
The sky above the bookstore turns dark. Stormy clouds swirling above following a circular motion.
"YES! YES!" Vestalt cackles madly. Vestalt never showed too much emotion before but this time it scared Flamma. She was enjoying this; she was never the one to go crazy.
But as the orb shone brightly, so did Vestalt's fingertips then her whole hand went ablaze.
"Urk!" She drops the orb, nursing her burnt arm. The clouds swirl away, and the light of the morning sun shines through the hole. The orb rolls down to Flamma's knees, Anchor rushes to his commander.
For once, a power even Vestalt couldn't handle.
"Commander! Commander, talk to me!" Anchor calls, one look at her hand and Anchor was taken aback. Her hand was burnt to the crisp, a small ash piles already building below her.
"I'm alright Anchor," Vestalt says between the pain. "I've dealt with much worse than this." Vestalt mentally curses to herself, she was so close to bringing her plans to fruition but not all hope is lost.
"Shit! Does this mean we're stuck here?" Anchor curses.
"Not quite," Vestalt says, now eyeing the sleeping girl. "Kagami's role isn't done just yet." Kagami is the lord of nature and the fire orb is now hers. If anyone can open a portal to Gorm, it must be her.
Toby strolls into the living room, soda can in hand and jumps onto the sofa beside Nick. Lucas and Nick both enjoy their breakfast, oat cereal watching the news on their parent's new plasma TV. Four years and Nick still isn't tired of watching the news in the morning. Toby retained his disdain for it all this time anyways.
"Who wants to bet the last of dad's crepes on Jessica making out with Mark again?" Toby says in vigour.
Nick rolls his eyes, digging into his cereal.
"Toby, Jessica's been gone for an hour. She'll come back. "Lucas replies to Toby, having finished his bowl of cereal and now setting it down on the counter.
"How nice it must be to fall in love," Razzle comments to himself. He's a dinosaur and the last of his kind, meaning that he couldn't find a nice dino-female to settle down with. The feeling and ecstasy of being in love, he'd have to ask Jessica all about it when she comes back.
Toby takes a sip of his soda. "There's nothing nice about being in love. You practically become another person – a love zombie. It's gross." That night when Mark chomped Jessica's neck – ugh. Toby still can't stand the sight. Mark was the predator and Jessica was the prey and it didn't sit well with Toby. Jessica's never the prey, she's the hunter, she's in charge and she'd never let anyone walk around her; take control of her. That, that person back there wasn't Jessica, not the one he grew up with. That scene disgusted Toby to his core, he wished he hadn't seen that – wanting to burn the image to the ground.
And then there's Kagami. Poor Kagami. She was all over him, begging him to kiss her like she was in the Sahara Desert and he's the only one who had access to water.
Last night was one big Love Apocalypse.
"Girls don't make any sense at all. Once they fall for a guy, they become desperate braindead love zombies. We're all better off being single."
"Toby, when did you become a love guru?" Nick coos between a smirk, nudging his brother.
"Ew, never! "
"You know, it would be nice to have someone like you." Lucas comments, eyes drifting to the emptied bowl on the table. "Someone who truly cares about you. I never really thought much about it, but I would like to get married someday and have a kid with somebody I truly love."
The brothers shoot deadpan glances at each other. Lucas is still completely obvious to his not-so-secret admirer. If Lucas truly wants to settle down with someone, at least he has a contender on his list.
"Yeah, you're right. I think we all want to marry someone someday." Nick's thoughts trail to Kagami. Nick would like to believe there were infinite realities and in one of them, he and Kagami would be dating, possibly marry each other in the future. In this reality, it would be impossible and downright wrong but in a different reality, they were meant to be. "To have that first kiss, that first date, that first..." Nick's face shades to a bright color of crimson at the thought that just occurred.
"Not me, dude!" Toby perks up, distracting Nick from his lewd thoughts. "I'm never going to get married. Single for life! No way the love sickness is getting to me!"
Lucas gets up from the sofa, taking his bowl to the kitchen. "Since Toby wants to die alone, we're ending the conversation here. I gotta go back home."
"Okay, first – not cool. Second, dude, what about the Gorm?"
"I gotta go to church tomorrow and I can't disgrace the lord's presence with my sleepiness."
Toby mentally facepalms. Not to discredit Lucas' faith or anything, but is he seriously prioritising a nonmandatory religious ritual over the fate of the world?
"Call me if anything strange happens," Lucas says before heading off.
Nick salutes Lucas and Razzle snuggles himself upon a pillow.
Toby facepalms this time. "Seriously? You're not the least bit concerned about the Gorm after what happened yesterday?"
Nick takes another mouthful of his cereal before answering Toby. "Of course, but there's nothing we can do."
"We have the old sage on our side. He'll know what to do." Razzle adds
Toby takes another chug of his soda. Hopefully, nothing crazy happens in the Gorm in the meantime.
Lucas walks out of the Tripp's residency and met with the bright sunlight of the morning. He was still sleepy and glad he'd be back in his bed. He might sleep in for today. He was going to face a mouthful from his mother if he's late for church.
Lucas stops in his tracks. He could make out a man in the distance. He was hurt, hunched down supporting his body with the edge of a fence. Lucas headed straight towards the man, his primary instinct to help him. On further inspection, the man was none other than Mr Ono.
The two made eye contact and upon seeing Lucas, Mr Ono reach out to grasp him. He almost loses his footing, but Lucas dives in to support him.
"Mr Ono, stay put, I'm going to call an ambulance!" Lucas puts Mr Ono to rest by the fence, searching his pockets for his phone. Mr Ono was decked with small bruises all over, but his abdomen must've been the source of his pain – he was clutching it tightly.
Mr Ono reached out for Lucas' hand, preventing him from dialling the ambulance. "Take me to the Tripp's house." He croaks.
"Mr Ono, sir, you're in pain! You need an ambulance!" Lucas didn't know what Mr. Ono was thinking. Was he delusional because of the pain?
"The Gorm…" Mr Ono utters and that sends Lucas on red alert. "The Gorm…Kagami, you need to save my granddaughter!"
"How do you know about the Gorm! And Kagami, is- is she in danger?!" Now grasping the information, Mr Ono's injury isn't an accident, no, it was an attack.
Mr Ono tightly clutches Lucas' shoulder, trying to get up. "We don't have time. Take me to your friends now!"
Lucas didn't say a word, already obliging to Mr Ono's request. Lucas would have to apologise to his mother later. Together, they trudge to the Tripp's house, Lucas bursting the door open (Toby left it unlocked again.) calling for the brother, ignoring the rasp of his throat.
Toby comes through first, ready to rejuvenate his debate with Lucas till he sees the state of him and Mr Ono. He helps Lucas bring the old man to the living room. Eventually, Nick joins them, helping Ono perch his feet on the sofa.
"We need to call an ambulance" Nick voices. Before Lucas can stop him, Mr Ono does Lucas' job for him.
"Kagami, my granddaughter, I fear the lava gormiti have gotten her."
Lucas was unfazed already getting the news prior but Nick and Toby, though they had their suspicions, for Ono to confirm them, nonetheless the fact that the lava gormiti, Magor, got her – that sent the boys adrift.
"Where is she?! Tell me, where is she?!" Nick shook the old man's shoulders violently, throwing courteousness out the window. Just when he thought Kagami was safe – what the hell was this old man doing?
"I don't know."
Lucas pulls Nick away from the older man.
"What do you know about the gorm?" Toby gets straight to the point.
"That doesn't matter, Toby. Kagami's in danger! We gotta help her!" Nick cries.
At this point, no need for hiding, Razzle reveals himself to Ono. Ono, unfazed by the dino, instead smiles solemnly at him. "Razzle, you've finally hatched from your egg."
That stuns all the guys, including Razzle.
"Razzle, you know Mr Ono?" Lucas asks.
Razzle shakes his head. "No iota, kid. I'm as confused as you lot."
"I knew something was up about him." Toby voices. Kagami's book – it definitely was from the primal pad. Mr Ono must've gotten his hands on it, he must've entered the primal pad at one point. And him scurrying around Toby's home with that weird smile – he's known about the Gorm all along. "How can we trust this guy? We don't know his agenda or how he knows about the Gorm?"
"Toby! He's Kagami's grandfather! Of course, we can trust him!" Nick says.
Lucas cups his chin. "But isn't it weird. He knew something was amiss in Gorm and he came to us. He -"
"Yes, I've known for a long time you were the Lords of Nature." Mr Ono perches up from the sofa. "I'll tell you everything I know, just please save my granddaughter," Ono begs.
"We're listening." Toby folds his arms. Though he appears to have no interest, he indeed is intrigued in Mr Ono's knowledge.
Mr Ono takes a deep breath. "It started back when I was your age. I, too, was a Lord of Nature, though not really."
"What do you mean?" Toby asks.
"Let him speak!" Nick chastises, then looking at Ono gesturing to him to proceed.
"There was a prophecy of the return of the lords of nature. That would be you guys. However, things didn't go according to fate. The fire gormiti, they sprung to action sooner than destiny predicted. You weren't born yet and so the Gorm needed new heroes to take your place."
"That's where you come in," Lucas adds.
"Yes. Me and my friends – we weren't the chosen Lords, but we had a certain connection to the elements. One that allowed us to use your orbs to transform into Lords." Ono's voice sunk when he mentioned his friends – something Lucas caught on to.
"You said the fire gormiti sprung to action sooner than destiny predicted. What do you mean by that?" Nick poses.
"We'd have to go back further in time for that. The orbs, there were originally five orbs, - the missing orb, the fire orb."
Even that was news to Razzle. He never heard of a fifth orb.
"In the great war, the final evolution as some would say, a rift was opened. Four orbs were sent to earth but the fire gormiti kept the fire orb. It was that orb that altered the course of destiny."
Toby has to sit down, pure shock at the information at hand. There was a fifth orb; does that mean there's a fifth lord of nature? That doesn't make sense, aren't the lava gormiti the bad guys? How can there be a lord of fire?
"My friends and I, we fought the fire gormiti lead by their powerful, cunning leader."
"Magmion?" Nick peaks.
Ono shakes his head, further stunning the boys. "No, this one, he was much more dangerous than Magmion. Ignis, the Hellbringer."
Toby finally breaks his silence. "How come we've never heard of this guy before? We've read all the tomes in the primal pad and nothing mentions this 'Ignis'!"
"This is a first I'm hearing about this too." Razzle chirps in.
"We, my friends and I, we put a stop to Ignis in a great battle. A void opened to an alternate dimension. The fire orb was shattered in that battle, sucked into the void along with Ignis and many other fire gormiti and…" Ono trails off. He couldn't complete his sentence, the memories too painful to bear. "My final mission as a lord of nature, was to protect a piece of the orb. I wasn't to let it reach the hands of the lava gormiti." Ono sniffs, shielding his face from the teens. "But I failed."
"Are you insinuating…" Nick starts.
"That the Lava gormiti are trying to reconstruct the orb?" Razzle finishes.
Mr Ono ducks his head under his hands. "Kagami came into my secret library, today. She found it before, yesterday by accident but now I'm not so sure."
Nick thinks back to his conversation with Kagami yesterday. The primal pad, she found out about the primal pad from Mr Ono! And their argument, it must've been about what she discovered in her grandfather's library.
"But today, she was different. Her eyes were glowing red and she was actively looking, searching for the piece. She attacked me with a fire bolt. I don't know how but I think the lava gormiti are lurking in Venture Falls. And somehow, they got to Kagami, brainwashed her and gave her these powers."
"I told you! I told you something was up in Gorm!" Yeah, Kagami's brainwashed and in potential danger but damn it let Toby have his 'I told you so' moment. Though he didn't expect the problem to be on Earth, but still. All this time, the lava gormiti were under their noses.
The others ignored Toby; the situation didn't call for them to satisfy his instincts.
"What I don't understand is how did they get to Earth in the first place." Razzle comments.
"We got our orbs back, they shouldn't be able to get to Earth unless there's something else…" Lucas gestures to Mr Ono, wondering if he had any idea how they travelled to Earth. But Ono shook his head.
"When did you last see Kagami? Was there anything off about her before she attacked you?" Nick asks Mr Ono.
"She was fine in the morning. She told me she was off to see these people that owned a bookstore. Somewhere in…the outskirts of the city." Suddenly, his and Nick's heads clicked.
"We need to search any and all bookstores in Venture falls. Any that opened recently could be a big hint."
Before Nick could race for his laptop, he freezes. Toby looks at him perplexed. "Dude, stop standing around, we gotta - " Toby freezes too, feeling the sensation of warm waves hitting his entire body. Even Lucas stopped and stares off to space.
"Oh no, this isn't good," Razzle says.
"What's going on?" Mr Ono comments, knowing that this is somehow related to the Gorm, but he didn't know what exactly.
Finally, Nick speaks up, "I-I can feel it. The orb." His voice cracks with surprise. "It's completed."
Ono doesn't want to believe what Nick said but, he also had a premonition that it must've been the case.
"Not only that." Toby voices, all boys glance at each other to confirm what they saw. "I think we found our fifth lord of nature."
A/N: Another chapter, another big info dump. Idk if any of you were expecting Ono to be a former lord of nature but hey it's out there now. Which Lord of nature? It's been hinted already.
More crazy stuff next week. see ya'll then.
I haven't said this in a while but I appreciate people reading this and leaving comments. I just wrote this story more so for myself but for other people to enjoy this and are glad something like this exists, it really helps. So, thank you all so much for that.