PortalHopers-Alternate Reality

FOREWORD

In Portal Hoppers we know that Elenrod, Brock, and Crystal stayed on the alien planet. Dirk and Squall went back to earth accompanied by the alien Leah. Ryu and Rain went with Element to his ship to fight off the invaders and train some more. What would have happened though if everyone originally from earth returned to earth? What kind of challenges would they face returning back to the normal gravity and customs of earth? That is what this story is about. It is not a sequel it is a what if story. A way things could have turned out. Maybe in a different dimension or time. Enjoy!


CHAPTER ONE
Home At Last

The portal opened and Element gave us a choice. Three actually. We could go home, stay on the planet which we call Shikira, or we could go with him, to space and fight the invaders. We decided to take a vote. The decision was unanimous. We were going home. I walked up to Element and said, “We are going home. We have been away for at least three years and we need to get back. We may not look it, in fact we haven’t aged a day but we have gotten stronger. We are faster and smarter, all thanks to people that are mostly dead now. We want to leave all those memories here.”

Element nodded and said, “I understand. Oh and just so you know, When you get to earth you will still age, however you will stop when you hit twenty one. Unless you are killed by something you will live forever. Those are the effects of the neo water. So good luck to you.” He shook his head and said, “Oh I almost forgot. You know the neo crystals I gave Ryu earlier. They were blue and one use only. Well I have a new one for each of you. This one is white and will change color to suit you but you can use it as many times as you need to. I may need you help some day in the future so don’t let your skills drop. I know it will be hard to find a place to train on earth but you will manage. You will come back through the portal about three seconds after you left, so you will be traveling back thought time as well as space. Good bye for now.”

I stood there facing the portal. I turned and took one last look at Shikara. I watched all of my friends go though one by one. Dirk, Squall, Elenrod, Brock, Crystal, and lastly Rain. She paused before she went through and said, “See you on the other side.” She winked and stepped though. I looked at the swirling blue energy and stepped though. It was different this time. It was like I was going down a long water slide. It even felt like I was being splashed with water. I looked down and my old clothes were splashing on to me and the old ones peeled off and shoved themselves into a backpack I didn’t even know I had. I landed on my feet and looked around. I saw all my friends there skipping and jumping for joy. I realized I still had my Katana in my hand and looked in my backpack and found a pouch for it so that it was completely concealed. A tube of cloth on the side.  

I dropped my bag and ran over to the others. They were all laughing and smiling. Rain was standing there and she came over and gave me a hug. She said, “I am so glad to be home.”

“I am to.” I said, “Now we don’t have to worry about being killed every time we turn around.”

She just smiled and looked into my eyes. I felt sucked in and we just stood there in the embrace for a while until Dirk saw us and yelled, “I told you guys, they are so into each other. I knew it.”

We quickly detangled ourselves from each other and blushed up a storm. Then I looked up and saw Lancestanding there. I stood in a state of shock. Lancewas dead, I saw him die on the battlefield. I walked up to him and said, “How are you alive I saw you die with my own two eyes?”

Lancesmiled and said, “A portal erupted underneath me right before the cave trolls were on top of me. I slipped through and ended up here.”

I thought for a moment, this must be Elements doing. He must be able to control time as well as space. I shook it off and was just glad that he was home safe. Just then the parents came walking around the corner. My dad came up and said, “Why did you guys stop? I said you could keep going.”

“I just figured we would wait for you here.” Was my reply. “Oh and here.” I reached into my pocket and surprisingly found the map. “You can lead the rest of the way. It jangles my nerves.” My dad just laughed and shook his head. He walked up and got the line into motion. That was one of the best camping trips I ever had.



CHAPTER TWO
Getting Back To Normal Life

It is my senior year in high school. Squall, Dell, and Dirk are juniors. Elenrod is a sophomore and Rain, Brock, and Crystal are freshmen. The whole crew is in high school. With new abilities and new strength how will we cope I wonder? We had nearly three months to get our powers under control. Now we have to work in real life.

Mom came in and woke me up. “Go get in the shower.” She said. “Its time for school.”

I walked through the hall to the bathroom and took a shower. I came in and dressed in my blue jeans and white T-shirt. I had a checkered flannel shirt over the T-shirt unbuttoned and with the sleeves unbuttoned. I had on a brown leather woven belt with a brass belt buckle. I had on dark blue vans for shoes and my weighted S hat. I had on my two weighted bracelets I made and the belt was weighted. I walked out to the kitchen. I ate two toaster waffles and was done. I never needed to wear my contacts again from the first exposure to neo water. So I was ready with time to spare. I walked out to the bus stop and waited for the bus. Nathan came out about two minuets later and we began to toss some energy back and forth. (I taught him how to use it after I got back. He is almost as good as some of us now.) He missed catching the energy and it hit the ground in the driveway. There was a loud explosion and it left a two-foot crater in the ground. Oh great what a way to start the first day of school. With someone finding out my abilities. So I ran over and shoved some dirt into the hole and spread some gravel over it. I did all this in about seven seconds. Then I waited for about three more minuets and the bus came and took Nathan and me to school.

When we got there Nathan went to the middle school and I walked over to the high school. I met up with Squall, Dell, and Dirk in the commons area and we headed to our first period. By some careful planning and class shuffling we made sure that the group that was on Shikara were all in our first period. We all had weight training. We went and dressed down and walked to the weight room. Elenrod and Brockwere already at there station and we walked over to ours. Then Rain and Crystal came in. Crystal put on a CD of Green Day and we began to “work out”. All that we were really doing was stretching our mussels. Brockwalked up to me and said, “Even if we put all the weights in the weight room on the bar each one of us could do it easily one hundred times.” He seemed frustrated so I said, “I will have all of you come over to my house and work out okay. Element told us to keep in shape.”

Brockfrowned and I could tell he did not like holding back his power. Truth be told I didn’t like to hold back mine either. But what can we do? After weight training we went though our other two classes. Everyone got split up for those but when lunch came around we all had first lunch. Everyone ate at the same table. The group from Shikara was like a family now we all looked out for each other.

Then about two weeks into school someone picked a fight with Brockat lunch. A senior came up and started bad mouthing him. We all waited to see what Brockwould do. I was proud of him when he just said, “I don’t need to fight you to know I am better than you. You are nothing to me.” He turned and started to walk away. Then the senior came up and spun Brockaround. The senior gave Brocka right cross that would have lain him out if he wasn’t as strong as he was. Brockjust went with it and the senior stood there just holding his hand with a look of dismay on his face. Brocklooked at him without a scratch on his face. Brocksaid, “You know you shouldn’t have done that. I am going to have to hurt you now.”

Brockcreated an energy attack about the size of a ball of a ball-point pen. It glowed brightly and the senior stood there shaking. The crowd around gasped as Brockthrew the energy at the senior. The senior flew fifteen feet back and hit the wall. As he slid to the ground Brockcalmly walked away. No one ever caught him because all the kids were to scared to snake on him.

I walked up to him and said, “What are you doing? You can’t do that to people. We can’t show or tell people who or what we are.”

He spun around and said in a dark tone, “He brought it on himself. I had nothing to do with it. I wanted to get into a fight my freshmen year anyway. It wasn’t as gratifying though. There was no challenge.”

I shook my head and readjusted my hat on my head. Sighing I walked over to Dirk and we busted out the hacky sack and started hacking. Nothing more important happened until we got to my house.

We got to my house and we all went into the weight room. Element had taught me how to increase the gravity in any given place so I increased the gravity to eighty times earth gravity for a warm up. We all worked out for an hour and then their parents came and picked them up. Even though they could have easily flown home. Little did I know that the next day would prove to be eventful, one of the most since I returned to earth.


CHAPTER THREE
A New Adversary Arises

I got up the next morning and headed to school. I walked into the commons and saw Rain and Crystal sitting there. I noticed that there was a new kid there talking to them. From the way Rain looked at me I could see that the attention was unwanted. The kid was about five foot six inches tall. He had jet-black hair clipped short and spiked up. and he had the most pricing ice blue eyes I had ever seen. He had nice tan skin and a pure white smile. I walked up and said, “Hey Rain, Crystal how are you doing?”

Rain looked at me and said, “ This guy will not leave us alone. I asked him to go away but he won’t leave.”

I looked around and asked, “Where is Brock, shouldn’t he be here?”

Crystal said, “He’s faking sick.”

Just then the guy came up and stepped right in-between Rain and me. And he asked quite forcibly, “So are you going to go out with me or not?”

I looked at her in shock and she said to the kid, “I already told you Flint. No I will not go out with you.”

He leaned in and grabbed her arm. He whispered, “You had better say yes if you know what is good for you.”

She wrinkled her face up in pain and said, “Stop it Flint. You’re hurting me!”

That’s when I stepped in. I didn’t know how strong he was but I knew he had to be on a level with me and Squall to hurt Rain. I broke his arm away and said, “Hey. Lay off. She told you she wasn’t interested. That should be good enough for you.”

He looked at me with a smirk and said, “What, are you her boyfriend or something? What are you going to do shrimp?”

I said, “Think of me as her big brother because he isn’t here today. But you can trust me, even if I can’t kick your butt which I seriously doubt, I know he can. Stay away from her. If you don’t you will have one angry senior, three angry juniors, one angry sophomore, and one angry freshman all ready to rip out your throat.”

At that he backed away looking back and forth. He turned to leave and said over his shoulder, “This isn’t over shrimp.”

As he walked away I shot back; “Dude I’m only two inches shorter than you. Are you blind or something?”
He just continued to walk away and disappeared around the corner. Crystal and Rain came over and said thanks. Just then the bell rang so we headed over to our first period. When we got there I told Squall, Dell, Dirk, and Elenrod what happened.

Squall said, “He’s just some punk. Did Rain actually say he hurt her or are you sure that it wasn’t part of the act? Don’t let him get on your nerves. There is no one on this planet that can even come close to us in strength. So stop freakn’ out.”

“Okay” I said, “I guess your right.” Then I went on with my “work out”. As I lifted the weights I thought to myself I wonder if Rain was really hurt or if it was just part of the act. I guess I will have to talk to her about it. Then I noticed that I was doing multiple reps of my “max” and I stopped just in time as the teacher walked over.

I saw Flint in our lunch. I thought this is going to be trouble when Brockgets back. I am going to have to make sure I tell him I have taken care of it. I don’t want him fighting that guy. I think he is at least as strong as Crystal is. Oh well we will see what tomorrow brings.

I got home and did my homework, mowed the lawn, and went to sleep. I had a dream about Flint. He was at Brockand Rain’s house and was fighting Brock. Then I heard “Someone stop the fighting. Stop them. Our secret will be discovered.” I saw Brockpower up a huge energy blast and prepare to fire. Just before he let it go I awoke in a cold sweat. Then I felt a soft rumble in the ground and the glass bottles in my window sill began to rattle softly, almost like a small earthquake. Then I knew that the dream was not a dream. I quickly got dressed all in black and grabbed my Katana. Something I hopped I would never have to use to kill again. I put on a bracelet that Element had given to me. We had each gotten one. It was a copy of our fighting clothes made with armor in them. So all we had to do was press the top button and we had our old fighting clothes from Shikara. The bottom one changed us back to whatever we had on before. I hooked on my Katana and flew to Brockand Rain’s house.

In the air I put on the sunglasses that I made on Elements planet. They allowed me to see the energy and power level of my opponent. As I came close to Brock’s house I saw his familiar energy along with Rain’s. Then I saw the strange energy of our opponent, it was completely black. His power level was off the chart and I made Element’s energy and power level the top. I knew that Brockalone was over his head. I thought maybe if Rain and I joined in we could defeat him. However it would be close and one of us would probably die. I was not willing to loose another one of my friends so I didn’t know what to do. Heak I didn’t even know what Flint’s true motives were. As I touched down I took off my sunglasses and pushed the top button to my bracelet. As I flew by Rain I said, “Get yours and Brock’s bracelets and weapons.”

I came up to the fight from underneath and swung up with my sword. Then Flint materialized a sword in his right hand and parried my blow. He didn’t just create an energy sword, this was cold hard steel, or whatever it was. Brockdropped back and took a breather while I took on flint with a sword. Flint had a black rapier. He used it with such skill I was having a hard time defending against him. Then Brockand Rain flew up with their swords and armor clothes. The fight began in earnest. We all went into a power struggle and Flint broke us off just as Squall, Dell, and Dirk entered the scene. They came in flying with their swords drawn and their bracelets activated. Elenrod was leading them with an energy arrow knocked in his bow. He let it fly and it just shattered against a shield Flint created. I saw that this was going to get seen so I created a giant energy blast that blinded everyone. While they were all floating there in the air I said, “Come with me. I will create a dome somewhere not noticeable and we will finish this there.”

Flint flew right up to my face and said through clenched teeth, “Fine with me shrimp. Lead the way. You all will get killed anyway.”

As we began to fly away Crystal came up and joined the crew. I was glad for all the help we could get. We were going to need it. I created a portal were it was outside space-time so when we walked in time stopped for us on the outside. I created this dome down by the river. We all walked in and I asked Flint, “Okay, how do you want to do this? One at a time or all at once?”

He looked at us all with our weapons and said, “One at a time. I want to see who is the best before I kill them.”

So we began. The neo crystals around our necks glowed with our colors. Mine was a brilliant shining gold, Rain’s was neon orange, Crystal’s was silver, Brock’s was red, Squall’s was blue, Dells was brown, Dirk’s was white, and Elenrod’s was a soft green.

Crystal started out the fight. She came in with her two blades and began whirling and slashing. They locked blades and Flint threw her across the dome and she slammed into a wall. She slid to the ground and then flew right at Flint. Flint created an energy shield and the energy wrapped itself around her blades. As soon as they were all covered he flung the shield into the wall and the blades stuck there. Flint walked up and calmly slit Crystal’s throat. She fell to the ground and as her neo crystal healed her got up and crawled away to the edge.

Next up was Elenrod. He came in and started slashing with his blades on his bow immediately. But Flint’s rapier was to quick for the bow, he just kept blocking all the blows. So Elenrod began to use his twin blades. He was as fast as I had ever seen him. He had gotten better since he had gotten back to earth. However Flint was still blocking all his blows and so Elenrod tried a different tactic. Elenrod tapped right behind Flint and swung his sword. But flint was not there. Flint reappeared above us all. Flint said, “I did not know that there were humans this advanced on earth. I realise now this will be more fun than I thought.”

Elenrod flew straight up at him and that was his mistake. Flint shot an energy blast right down Elenrod’s throat. Elenrod slammed right into the ground, shattering the tiles, shuddered, and went unconsious. I flew over and set him over by Crystal and said to her, “Watch him and make sure nothing happens to him.” She nodded and I flew back over to the other group.

Next up was Dell. We all thought he had the advantage. He tapped right up to Flint and began to fight with him. He brought his duel bladed sword around and was spinning and flipping. He had adopted a strange and unique fighting style. However it was not enough to make him win. Flint out tapped him and slammed the hilt of his sword into his head. Lancefell to the ground and went unconscious. Crystal flew over and got him. Flint said, “When am I going to get a challenge here? I want to do more than warm up.”

Dirk stepped up and said, “Your warm up ends now.” As he drew his saber out of its sheath and stepped toward Flint. I figured that Dirk and I were the only ones that could match Flint for speed and technique. Dirk came in low and worked his way up Flint finding some weaknesses. I thought he had not found one so he backed off and went defensive. Then when Flint thrust at him Dirk made his move. As Flint’s sword came at him Dirk sidestepped to his left and hit Flint’s sword on the flat of the blade with his hand. Dirk slashed Flint deeply on his right side. Flint just looked up and smiled. The slash was oozing a dark green almost black and it was as thick as maple syrup. It ran down his side and Flint created another sword in his left hand. Dirk swallowed and readied himself for the attack. Flint came in moving so fast that I could almost not keep track of him. Dirk began to parry the twin black blades. Then the left one found his leg and the right found his side. Dirk fell to the ground and dropped his sword. Crystal flew over and brought him over to the other side of the dome.

Flint stood and his side was already scabbed over and he said, “Good game, but not good enough. Who’s next?” Rain stepped forward with both blades extended in a attack form. Flint scoffed and said, “You really intend to fight me? You could have been something great. Though now I think that you will do just about as well if not worse than the rest of your friends.” As soon as the last word left his lips Rain tapped in front of him in her first transformation (still human), and punched him. She gave him a hard right cross and he took three steps back. Then she said, “Never underestimate me. It will be the last mistake you make!” Then the fight began in earnest. Tapping and spinning in the air. Meanwhile I said to Squall and Brock, “Listen we are going to have to take him at full strength if we want to win. All three of us as soon as she looses, if she looses.”

She was winning until he slammed her into the wall. She slid down and rested against the tilled surface. Then with what seemed like her last bit of strength she stood up and looked at him. With a blast of wind and energy she became her true self, in all her golden glory. Her fingernails glowed as bright as the sun and her Kodachi glowed brightly. She powered an energy blast and fired it straight at Flint. He tried to block it but his shield weakened, wavered, and broke. Flint flew against the dome wall and the whole structure shook. As Flint stood up he said, “I was hoping for a good fight and I guess I will get one. You are truly a fighter of great caliber Rain. I am sorry it had to end this way. A black mist swarmed around his hand and arm, swirling towards Rain. It engulfed her and threw her up to the ceiling.

As Rain was engulfed in the black mist I nodded to Squall and Brock. They nodded back, and we all transformed. I turned into my true self in all my golden strength. Squall’s mussels bulged and his blonde hair grew back in spikes down to his waist and his eyes glowed teal. Brock’s hair turned black with red tips and he had red eyes. He also increased in size dramatically.

We rushed flint and I slashed the mist with my Katana. As I was doing that Squall and Brockwent after Flint. The black mist evaporated and I caught Rain as she was falling. She was alive, barely. She was suffocating in there. I brought her down and set her next to Crystal and I flew back into the foray. Squall and Brockwere being hard pressed to keep up with the swift strikes that Flint was able to unleash with his rapier. I dashed in and began to help. The fight was going nowhere I could block all of Flint’s attacks but Squall and Brockcould not hit him with their slower attacks. We were locked in a power struggle, all three of us against Flint When I noticed an extremely high-energy reading coming toward the dome. I saw a light glowing through the wall getting larger and larger. Just then I screamed, “Duck, Get out of the way!”

I yelled just in time because Element in his true form came smashing through the dome wall. He grabbed Flint by the neck and slammed him to the ground, breaking several tiles in the process. Then Element built up a huge energy attack and blasted Flints head with it. I was disgusted to see that there was no head left. Then a new one popped out and began to grow. Only it was not a human head. The head turned black and more elongated than a human head. Flint grew in height and the human skin burst off of him. Flint was now an invader. His legs bent back in an unnatural way and the knees were the opposite of human anatomy. Element just looked at him and created a maul in his hand and said, “Good fun, good fun!”

Flint said, “So we finally meet in person Element. It will be a great honor within my people to bring back your head. Shall we?”

Element dashed in and swung his maul. Flint flung himself over the maul and sliced at the wooden hilt expecting it to go straight through. However there was a clang and his sword bounced right off. This threw him off balance and he stumbled away. Element took that chance and hit Flint in the back of the head with his maul.

As they continued to fight I put on my sunglasses and they automatically adjusted to Element’s new power readings. The chart had to fully re-calibrate itself! He had grown so much stronger than the last time I had seen him. As I was thinking this Flint fell to the ground and Element stood over him. Element created a huge energy ball and it completely engulfed Flint. When the light subsided there was no trace of Flint. Element had totally disintegrated him. Element turned to me and said, “That was a good warm up. What has been going on with you guys? Do you want to go to my ship to get something to eat and drink?”



CHAPTER FOUR
He’s Back

“Wha-.” Was all I could manage to say. Between his dramatic entrance and the easy defeat of Flint who we had a hard time with I was stunned and so were my friends. Element just laughed and said, “Come up to my ship. I will explain everything there.”

So we followed Element up to his ship. As we were going up he formed and energy ball in his hand that was green. Well this is new I thought. The energy flew up and hit a circle on his ship. The green spread out and softened into a white and dissipated into a hole. I thought Wow I need to learn how to do that.

We flew through the hole and settled down on the floor. We walked into a room with blue carpet and yellow chairs that looked like hollowed out spheres. The walls were fish tanks with flowing ice blue water and some fish I had never seen before. Element sat down in one of the seats and motioned with his hands and said, “Sit down. Make yourselves comfortable. This is going to be a long talk.”

“It started just after you left. Fortunately for you Earth is on the other side of the galaxy. I have been fighting invaders just like that one for this whole year so far. There are so many they are over running the galaxy. We have no means of combating that much. There are three other races helping. Their names are not important right now. What is important is that Earth is the last free inhabited world. I know for a fact that the human’s weapons are not capable of fending them off. We are the last line of defense. My ship is faster than the invader’s ships so I got here about a month ahead of them. We have a month to train.”

Dirk looked around and said, “So what are we going to do?”

All heads turned to me. I looked around and said, “What? Do you want me to make the decision?”

Squall said, “Yes we want you to make the decision. You have not led us astray this far. I think you will choose the right one.”

“Okay.” I said, “Let me think about it for a while. Element lets take a walk.”

We walked out of the room and the doors closed shut behind us. I walked forward with Element in silence for a while. Then I said, “Its worse than you said. Am I right?”

“Yes.”

“So what are we dealing with here? How many?”

“Last count, to many. We honestly have no idea. There is no way to tell.”
“So basically were screwed.”

“Not true. I took out one of them and you will be able to as well if you train.”

I looked at him and asked, “What do they do with the planets that they take over, and what about the inhabitants once they are defeated?

“To them you are not defeated unless you are all dead.”

“Oh.” I said.

I looked up and realized we had walked in a circle. We were back at the doors. I walked in and said, “I have made up my mind. We will train with Element.”

Brockjumped up and said, “All right. Just let me go get some stuff form home.”

We all decided it would be a good idea so we went home and grabbed some stuff. Then we flew back and began our training.


CHAPTER FIVE
Train Harder!



“Train harder.” I thought that those words were the only words that Element could say. We trained for the first four weeks of September. We started out at a hundred g’s. Then we slowly increased until we were training at three hundred and fifty. Learning to control our energy better and fine tuning our fighting skills.

Then Element brought us all into a room and said, “Time for graduation. You have to fight me. I am going to warn you though; I am not going to hold back. Who’s first?”

Brockstepped forward and Element nodded. Element said, “Follow me.” They walked into a room and the door shut. We heard nothing for the longest time and then there was a huge explosion. After about ten minuets Element stepped out and said, “Who’s next?” Squall stepped forward and this was repeated until it was just Rain and I standing in the hall. Element came out and said, “This time you have no choice. Rain is first.” I sat out in the hall and waited. There was the same huge explosion and a little while latter Element came out and I asked, “Is everyone okay? What about Rain?” Element was unusually silent as we walked into the room. He stopped and let me pass through first. I turned to wait for him and was met with a fist in the face. Then blackness.

I awoke to find myself tied to a chair. The room was dark then a spotlight illuminated an invader in his true form. The body of a scorpion and torso and head of a human. The hands and arms were just about the same but the fingers ended in points and looked just like tinny knifes. As I was taking this all in I noticed that to my horror, it held Rain in its left hand, gripping her skull as you would a ball. It looked at me and grinned a grin so sadistically evil that it made my skin crawl. Then it formed its hand into a flat blade. I struggled at my bonds, going through my half way transformation, full transformation, my true self, and transformed inside my true self. Still I could not break the bonds and the chair would not move. Then the invader plunged its hand into Rain’s back and though her chest. It pulled its hand back and dropped her in a puddle of blood.

I was going to burst with fury. Then my eyes clouded over and became a dark black color. Ridges grew out of my head, coming up from right above my hairline they stuck about six inches above the top of my head. They were the same black color as my eyes with a silver lining on the edges. The rest of my hair slicked back with the ridges and my bangs grew out over my eyes. Then finally I felt a great surge of power and a bulge at my back. Dragon wings sprouted and the bonds could no longer hold me. I stood and realized that I was covered in the gleaming silver armor of a samurai. I broke free and flew right to the invader and punched him as hard as I could. Then I felt the ground shudder and the invader rippled and faded out of view. It was replaced with a wall, and all my friends including Rain walked in through the door.  
I stood there slack jawed and asked, “What just happened? What is this?” I pointed to my eyes and the armor. “What was the invader doing on the ship? Or was that just a hologram? Element why did you do that?”

Element held up his hands and said, “Hold on now. One question at a time. First off that transformation is the second to last transformation for you and Rain. The final for the others. Brockstepped forward and thrust his head back, wings sprouted out of his back that were blood red. His hair and eyes also transformed into the same color as the wings. Squall was blue, Elenrod was white, Dirk was green, Lancewas black, and Crystal was teal. Rain was the same as I with the ridges and the coloring. She and I were the only ones with armor built in though. I smiled and thought to myself, Look at Rain she looks so good in that outfit, God the others look ready to kill someone. Then I felt something I had never felt before. Like a soft ribbon being put in one ear and pulled out the other and the words, Well I am glad you like my outfit I don’t think I can change it. And you are right about the others. Shh, don’t look so surprised and don’t tell them that we can do this just yet. I was surprised but I guess I managed to keep a straight face. I powered down and walked over to Rain. I gave her the biggest hug of my life, turned, and said to Element with words colder than the vacuum of space, “If you ever play with my mind or hers like that again I will kill you.”

He smiled and said, “We won’t have time for that. Get back to earth. They’re here. The invaders are here. You are the only thing that stands between this planet and oblivion. I will work on some of there fleet in space so don’t count on me for help. Go, but know that the whole world rests on your shoulders.”

   Just before we jumped out of the ship I turned to everyone and took in their faces. Took a moment to reflect on how lucky we were up to this point. I sighed and said to all, “I want to see all of you back alive. I know we are going to be scattered all over the world so take care of yourselves.” All the others jumped out and I watched them fall transforming with their wings and heading off. I transformed and began the fall to earth, and the battle that awaited me there.



CHAPTER SIX
The Last Evil Reveals Itself

I touched down on earth in the middle of my hometown of Granite Falls. For some reason the invaders had decided to send a ship there. I set down and found that I was early. I had beaten the invaders to the city everyone was still out in the open. Now every one was staring at me. Then one of my friends from school recognized me from the scar I had on my lip from snow boarding. Bruce walked up and said, “Dude, is that you Ryu? What happened to you and where did you get those wings?”

Bruce was out with his girlfriend Danielle and their kid Ki. I told Bruce, “Listen to me. I want you to go home and bar yourself in your hose and get out the biggest gun you have. There are invaders coming from outer space and I am here to stop them. And Yes I am human, well half anyway.”

Bruce and Danielle looked at me and then Bruce nodded and said, “Thanks for the heads up.” Then he smiled and said; “Cool wings get me some.”

That’s when I spotted the first invader in granite. I pulled out my Katana and Bruce pulled out a nine-millimeter pistol. He began shooting at it as I was flying in a beeline for it. The bullets distracted it long enough for me to cut it into pieces so that it couldn’t move anymore. I looked at him as he was shoving Ki into his car seat. He looked at me and said, “Going into the army has its perks.” Then he drove away with Ki and Danielle.

As soon as they crested the hill more invaders came in and it started to get real bad, lots of screaming and fires. I took out at least thirty invaders individually until I found that the town was lost. I could not detect any more life signs within the city so if flew up and incinerated the town with an energy blast. From there I flew to Seattle only to find that we were getting our butts handed to us there to. So I called up Element and asked, “What’s your status up there? How’s it going?”

Element said, “I am getting hammered. We need to find the mother ship or at least their command vessel. Then we can take out their leader and they will be in chaos.”

“Well work on it and when you find the leader come pick us up cause were getting our butts kicked down here. Ryu out.”

I set down and began to fight the invaders in Seattle. I was so out numbered. I was just about to have to tap to get out of there when I felt lightheaded. Then everything went black and I opened my eyes to all my friends on Elements ship.

“What the heck just happened? Am I dead?” I asked. Element shook his head and said, “No Ryu you are not dead. What happened is I transported you to my ship like they do on Star Trek, well something like that. I found the mother ship and we are going to destroy it. I need all of your help.”
I stepped forward and said, “I’m in. What about you people?” Then one by one they all agreed to help. As we were prepping in Elements war room the screen came on and it was a picture of an alien race that I had never seen before. It was almost human in format but the ears went to a point like Elenrod’s when he was in his transformation. It had large black oval eyes. And white skin with red hair. Its voice was like a flood rushing through a canyon toward you. It said, “My name is Naktuk. I am the leader of the invaders. They are my creation and children. How dare you kill them? I challenge you to fight me, the strongest being in this universe.”

At that I saw Element bristle and grit his teeth. Naktuk continued, “Fly in to my ship if you dare. Face me with your puny powers.” We all looked at each other and Element said, “Let’s go. Make sure you grab your crystal necklaces. We’re going to need them.”

Rain, Element and I discarded all of our weighted clothes and changed into some that Element had created for us. It was the same thing just without weighing several tons. Then we flew to the ship and landed in the docking bay.

CHAPTER SIX
The Beginning of the End

There were lights dancing in front of us and we decided to follow them. There was nothing else to do. Eventually they led us to the center of the ship. There was a huge circular room with a platform in the middle. We all flew to the platform and then Naktuk just appeared. He even caught Element by surprise. Naktuk said, “I have not had good fun in a long time. I want to make this last. I will fight you one at a time.” He pointed to Crystal and said, “You first.”

She showed no fear other than the slight twitch as she grabbed her two arm blades. She did not wait for him to begin the fight, she flew straight at him and powered up as she went. She slammed her blades straight at his chest and he waved his hand and created an energy shield. Then without a moments hesitation he slammed the energy sheild into Crystal’s head. She fell to the ground senseless. Naktuck laughed and a sword appeared in his hand, a horribly curved and pointed blade. He brought the sword down and Dirk parried the blow with his sword. He stood there with his wings extended and energy pouring out of his body. Dirk threw Naktuck’s sword aside and made a direct thrust to Naktuck’s stomach. Naktuck parried the blow and gave Dirk a right cross across the jaw. It threw Dirk back and made his lip bleed.

Naktuck stood and looked quizzically at Dirk and said, “ I never knew that humans were capable of this transformation. I was surprised when I sensed your energy but now it has doubled. Good its time to have some fun.”

Then he was upon Dirk slicing and dicing with his evil blade. Even in his transformed state he was having a hard time keeping up with Naktuck. As they were fighting Naktuck put his hand out toward Dirk palm out. Then blackness came out of his hand and engulfed Dirk. It tightened and tightened until he looked like a stick. Then Squall couldn’t take it any more and he snapped. His hair grew back down his back and turned a golden color with blue streaks. His eyes turned blue and his wings turned blue but the veins were gold. He drew out his sword and it grew to as tall as he was. He spread his wings and took off. Squall cut straight through the blackness, it fell and Squall flew down and caught Dirk and grabbed Crystal to the side of the arena. Then he stood up and heard Naktuck was clapping.

Squall tuned around and Naktuck said, “I am impressed. You have the highest energy level yet. And you succeeded in rescuing your friends. Now fight me!” With those words Naktuck flew streight at Squall.

Squall lost it. I think that he finally broke through. He flew right at Naktuck. Then he changed tactics. He powered up a huge energy blast and fired it at Naktuck. Naktuck didn’t even have time to create a shield. He took that blast full to his head. He fell to the ground and twitched. Then he got up and looked at Squall through hate filled eyes. Then he shot up and blasted Squall in the stomach with his sword hilt and then smashed it into the side of Squall’s head. Squall’s crystal went dark and shattered. He lay there barley breathing.

Dell’s eyes went completely black. And his black wings sprouted. Then he flew straight at Naktuck. He had the advantage of a duel-bladed sword and speed but Naktuck had power. Naktuck threw the most enormous energy blast at Lanceand toasted him right there. He fell to the floor burnt and scarred.

I looked at Elenrod and he nodded. I tapped and caught Lancebefore he hit the ground and then got Squall. I put them next to the others. The count was four so far. Crystal, Dirk, Squall, and Dell. I had a feeling that Elenrod had met his match. While I was getting Squall and LanceElenrod shot arrows and flew toward Naktuck with his bow ready Slashing and fighting as hard as he could he glowed white and looked like a star fighting Naktuck. But even a star was not enough to beat Naktuck. Elenrod spun and Naktuck tapped around to his back and slashed him down the back with his sword. Elenrod’s crystal poured all of its energy into him and grew dark and shattered. Elenrod fell to the ground healing as he went. He landed with a scratch on his back. He got up and walked away and collapsed just before he got back to Brock. Brockturned cold and looked at Naktuck in a way I had never seen him look before. Brockwas all business, there was almost no Brockleft. His eyes turned red and he shot his blood red wings out his back. Heat blew off his skin as he turned red, completely.

I looked at Element and said, “What the heck is that?”

Element said, “He is changing. I have never seen or heard of anything like this before. Lets wait and watch.”

I asked, “How can we beat this guy? I think that he has an ace in the hole because he is not scared of you at all, and he should be.”

Element said, “I don’t know. He is strong, stronger than anyone I have ever faced before. Lets see what happens.”


CHAPTER EIGHT
The End of a Journey

Brockscreamed and nozzles came out of his body about two inches across. Two on his chest two on his arms and two on his sides. Black serrated chains with weights on the end shot out of the nozzles. Brockwas controlling the chains with his mind. The chains wrapped around Naktuck and began sawing through him. Then he lay in pices on the floor and dripping off of the chains. As the last drop came off the chains. Naktuck began literally pulling himself together. He asked the question, “Where do you think that they get there vitality from?”

Then Naktuck fired an energy blast at Brockthat was not enough to take him out but it stayed on him like napalm and kept burning until he lost conciseness. Then the flames went out. I began to step forward my eyes turning gold but Element put his arm out and said, “This is pointless. Why are we fighting?”

Naktuck said, “I know that they are fighting to save there planet, but I think that you have long given that up as your world. But I think that you will fight for this.”

Naktuck stepped aside and doors opened. Trin was locked in energy bonds and Element’s face went white. He stood there mouth agape and then looked at Naktuck and said, “Let her go now and I will make your death quick and painless.”

Naktuck laughed and said, “I don’t think so. I want to fight the strongest being in the universe. Lets see who wins. If you or one of your two friends win then I will stop this forever and you get the girl. But if I win you will all be dead so I can do what I want, sound fair?”

Naktuck smiled and Element took off his cape and I felt the room drain of energy accept for our bodies. Then Element transformed into the most stunning display I have ever seen. He threw off his cape and flew in to Naktuck. As he flew he changed to a shimmering shifting blue. Then feathered wings came out his back. Even I had not seen that coming. I felt a new power I had never felt before and realized it was coming from Element. I felt strange like I was about to power up myself. I thought Wow this is weird. I wonder what is going on. What do you think Rain? Well I think that Element is projecting his feelings to all of us and that is why we want to power up with him. Oh, well we need to stay back okay. Gotcha!

As he was flying Element called forth his maul and smashed it right into Naktuck. Naktuck flew right into the wall and the whole ship rippled with the force of his landing. He slid to the ground and said, “That was good. You have more power than the rest. I can see now that you are an Elemenetal.”

Naktuck wiped blood off his lip, matiralised his sword and said, “Shall we?”

He flew straight at Element. The two of them fought and Element seemed to have the upper hand. Then energy began to crackle around Naktuck. He shot energy out of his hand and singed Elements clothes but Element didn’t even slow down. He got brighter and brighter until we could barely look at him. He looked like a star fighting Naktuck. However Naktuck seemed to turn black and the light around him seemed to diminish. Naktuck looked like a wraith. The fight lasted only for about three minuets longer. Then Element threw his maul at Naktuck. It smashed into his face and he slid down the wall again. Then Element powered up the largest energy ball I had ever seen. It took up almost the whole room. Then it shrunk until it was only about a millimeter in diameter. Element shot that ball at Naktuck and it entered him without a scratch. Then Naktuck screamed, turned into a writhing ball of energy, and exploded. Element flew over to Trin and snapped her bonds with no problem. Trin did a transformation just like Elements accept she turned green with glowing yellow eyes. Element brought his head down and kissed her deeply. Then their kiss was cut short by an evil laugh.

Something was in the corner. It stepped out and it was a giant invader. Just like the one in Elements training simulation for me, accept bigger. It stood about 24 feet high and with its tail it was 50 feet long. It spoke saying, “Element, very good. You have potential to become the greatest in the universe. The claim that my creation just made to you. However he is a little egotistical. I am the strongest. I spawned the invaders that you have come to hate. And I now will kill you. You are the only thing that could stop me from taking over the universe. Prepare yourself.”

Element and Trin looked at each other and leapt apart just as the invader fired an energy beam out of one of its claws. I looked at Rain and said, “I think that Element and Trin have it all wrapped up here. We should get the others to the ship.”

She nodded and said, “Good idea. But we need to come and check on Element and Trin before we leave.”

We got all of our comrades and put them in the quick healers in the medical Bay of Elements ship. Then on our walk back we felt the ship shudder and we decided that we should run and see what was going on. When we got into the room we looked in dismay.

Element was pinned under one of the invaders claws. Trin was under one of its feet. I knew that I was not as strong as Element or even Trin but I found myself powering up anyway. I screamed in rage and found that I could power up almost as far as Element and I wasn’t even in my Elemental form yet. Then I transformed into my true self and my hair changed to the same silver color as my eyes and grew back down to my waist. Rain did the same thing as me and we began to communicate throug thoughts. We took off moving as one through the air. I let loose some of the most powerfull energy blasts known to mankind. They pounded the invader and he dropped Element and stepped off of Trin. They both stepped back and looking in awe as we took the monster down. We both landed in front of the invader I was facing Element and Rain was facing Trin. We placed our hands together and created an energy ball. The crystal on our shirts glowed white and changed the normal yellow color of energy into a blinding pure white. We all threw our heads back and threw the ball at the exact same time. The ball flew up and fell back upon the four of us. However when the light faded there were only two standing there. The giant invader stood there and laughed. He said, “You killed two of your own in that pathetic attack.”

Then when Element spoke it was with both of our voices melted together. “You are wrong. We have fused. A technique used by the ancient Elementals. We are now twice as strong as we were before. So bring it on.”

We flew streight at the Giant invader. It began to shoot at us with lasers from its eyes claws and tail. Then Element (Ryu) and Trin (Rain) powered up a huge energy blast at the exatct same time. They were on opposite ends of the invader. They both let the energy loose and they came together in the middle of the invader. The invader fell to the ground, nothing but a smoldering pile of blue ashes. We parted and Rain and I shook our heads. I said, "That was weird. Lets not do that again.”

Everyone aggread and we began to head for the ship. Then I thought of something. I said, “Element come with me. Rain, Trin, go get the ship warmed up.”

Element asked, “What do you have in mind?”

“Fireworks”, was all I said.
       
Element shruged and followed me. We found the main reactor core and I had Element use his ability to create things to make a large nuculer device. We set it next to the reactor on a timer of two minuets.

We ran back to the ship and said, “Go now! Hurry!”

The ship broke away from the docking bay and shot off into space. The bomb went off and the whole ship just disintegrated. The shock wave rattled us but nothing was hurt badly. As we were flying to earth I said, “I hope that I never have to fight again. I can’t wait to get back to earth.”

   Rain smiled and said, “Amen. I want some peace and quiet with my best friends.”

“You know” I said, “We are going to have to do a lot of rebuilding when we get back. Granite Falls is in shambles not to mention Seattle and New York. I don’t even want to think about Tokyo.”

Element said, “Think about it you and your friends could rebuild the world. After I drop you off I will see if I can get the other races to help bring materials and support.”

I said, “There must be more like us.” Referring to Element, Trin, Rain, and I. “I think that we should find them and see if they are willing to train. That would be a good way to get the earth back on its feet.

As we discussed this the blue green of earth was getting bigger. So we sailed back to earth on the solar winds.

THE END