Chapter 16: Meeting Lightning

Takabi and Kairas opened the doors to the Garnet Station. Each boy looked around, before glancing each other's suits and nearly laughing at how ridiculous they felt. The golden badge on their coat pocket shined brightly when they stepped forward towards Jade's office, and upon opening it, were greeted by Jade's wide eyes.

"Finally. Your shift couldn't come fast enough."

"What's wrong," Kairas asked him, stepping further in. Takabi closed the door behind them and took his place next to his brother.

"Just got word," He took a deep inhale, as if he was out of breath, "From the Water Kingdom department. One of the officers down below spotted our suspect."

Kairas crossed his arms. "The Gem? Why did you wait for us then?"

"I want you both to go get him. He's too dangerous for any simple Dragon."

"Can you fill me in on what he did to make himself a criminal though?" Takabi asked. "I just need a reason to want to capture someone."

Jade took a minute, before shutting his eyes and speaking calmly. "He's wanted for the murder of his family."

Kairas visibly stiffened.

Takabi glanced at his twin, noting the sudden rush of anger and swelling on Mana in his body.

"Water Kingdom. How do we get there," Kairas asked.

"Follow the river in the trees. The calmness will lead you down below the surface." Jade leaned back in his seat. "Once inside, you guys will have free reign. As long as you don't cause too much damage, do whatever it takes to bring him in." He paused, looking at his fingers gripping his pants. "Or bring him down."

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Water Kingdom.

The safe haven for Water Dragons and any seeking refuge from the above world. Descending into this region gave the boys a visual they weren't expecting.

It was massive, and colored everlasting shades of blue, from very deep to very bright. Lights illuminated the underground roads, highlighting the path ahead towards the main castle and everything around it.

It was hard to see, but many Dragons littered the walkways and roads, going about their lives. Some retained human form, while others let their Dragon side free and flew about the open space above. Their heavy wings sent massive waves of air rushing down on any underneath them, but it was relaxing to feel.

"If Lukas was smart, he would stick close to any exits in his downtime," Kairas said. "In case he needed to make a clean getaway." The boy's green eyes glowing faintly, he looked at his twin and jabbed his side. "Ask the Dragons in the sky. I'll check the ground and we'll meet up in around an hour or two in front of the castle."

"Who put you in charge," Takabi asked teasingly, before his wings sprouted from his back and he took off.

Kairas watched his brother soar into the distance, before he broke into a fast run along the road. With his current speed, he reached the Kingdom in under a minute, dashing by pedestrians faster than they could see.

If Lukas was truly a Gem holder, he knew what to look for. Oddly colored hair and eyes, and anyone who stood out from the crowd. Seeing as how everyone had bluish colored hair, eyes and scales, and Aqua already had the blue gem, this new guy should stick out like a sore thumb.

How long had it been since Jade fought him? His wounds shouldn't have healed, not completely without his Gem.

Kairas leapt onto one of the streetlamps and looked around. "Wish I knew what he looked like. That'd narrow things down easy." He crouched, resting his arms on his knees. "This place is almost as big as Scarlivia. Gonna take ages to track this guy down in human form, and if his Gem isn't active, I can't sense him."

The boy thought hard. Ideas that came to him were quickly dismissed. Truthfully, it could've been possible to activate his own Gem and draw Lukas out that way, but he wanted to get to the boy before Takabi did. His competitive nature made his reasoning stubborn, and he refused to allow his brother one up him now.

A trash can tipped over across the street. Kairas shot his eyes over towards it, searching around. A crowd of people were opening a path, bright yellow dashing through. Kairas raised his eyebrow, before leaping off the lamp and racing along the wall. He kept pace with a streak of yellow, eyes locked on his target despite its speed.

Faster and faster it moved, until it was a bolt of yellow lightning and soaring upwards into the air. Kairas' eyes went wide, his white wings shooting from his back and stretching free. Once he leapt, he flew after the bolt of lightning, closing in on its trail.

"STOP!"

It kept going, even faster at his words. Gritting his teeth, Kairas nosedived down, swiping his hand upward for a slide of black ice to erupt on top of one of the buildings below. Coming down like a comet, his feet connected with the ice, and momentum carried him forward until he went flying back into the air, wings stretched even wider as he closed in on the lightning.

Missing his mark by a few mere inches, Kairas spun around, then brought his elbow down hard, charged with a bit of mana and connected.

The bolt cried out, and shot downwards into the lake in Water Kingdom's park. Kairas watched as something fizzled under the liquid surface and a body crawled out, before landing softly a few moments after, his wings fading away in particles of light. Stepping towards the surface, his eyes fell on wet yellow locks of hair. Slowly, the boy stirred, and yellow eyes looked up at Kairas.

"Are you Lukas," He asked.

Fear took hold. Lukas jumped to his feet, throwing a powered punch. Kairas caught his knuckles, hand shaking faintly. "Nice. You've got some power."

Lukas roared loudly, throwing another fist that Kairas dodged. Punch after punch, the boy grew frustrated that none of his attacks were landing. Baring his fangs, he sped around, attempting to trip Kairas. Instead, the Fallen Angel flipped, connecting a heavy fist to Lukas' cheek, dazing the boy severely. He stumbled back and dropped to a knee, wheezing hard for fresh air and to stabilize his shaking brain.

"We both know you can't outrun me, and that punch just now erased any chances of beating me head on." Kairas crossed his arms. "I'm sorry. You're young, but I have to take you in for the murder of your relatives."

Lukas chuckled weakly, raising his eyes at Kairas. "You… Know nothing…"

"Oh yeah," He asked, kneeling down. "Then enlighten me."

About to speak, Lukas' yellow eyes went wide. He looked around frantically, hands slamming against the dirt as if trying to find something. "The water! The water, where is it!"

"Water?"

"I had a container of lightning! It…. It had Grandpa's water in it!"

"If it was made of lightning, it's gone now kid. Pretty sure the lake ate it up," Kairas explained.

Lukas' shoulders slumped. The air picked up in a soft breeze, before he uttered, "But… But that means… I can't help Grandpa…" Lightning slowly leaked from his pores.

Yellow scales coated his face, running down his sides, heavy breathing filling the air.

"How dare you… You… You KILLED MY GRANDPA!" At his words, a vortex of electricity erupted around him, shooting high into the air and through the soil above. Kairas leapt back, watching in awe at the display of power. It was then he sensed it.

The power of a Gem, crying out in agony. Pain.

Held in, locked away, months of torment and pain.

"What's going on," Takabi's voice came as he landed next to Kairas.

"Nothing I can't handle. Stay out of my way, Takabi."

"GRANDPA!" Lukas screeched, scaled wings shooting from his back, bones cracking as a Dragon's tail slipped from his pants. He turned around, eyes glowing, before he charged at Kairas, grabbing him faster than either boy could react, crashing through tree after tree.

The electricity sent a heavy surge through Kairas' muscles, disrupting his thoughts from his brain. Lukas brought his head back, slamming it into Kairas' face, breaking his nose and causing blood to spew. Relentlessly, Lukas slammed scaled knuckle after scaled knuckle into his face, roaring out in hate with each connecting punch.

Kairas kept an eye open, gripping Lukas' wrists and flipping back, before kicking and sending the boy into the air and landing on all fours, sliding back until he hit a brick wall.

"This brat," Kairas muttered as Lukas came back down.

Blocking Lukas' attack, the impact ripped the concrete apart and caused the building to collapse. They stood in a crater, before splitting apart and exchanging blurry punches and kicks. Each attack that connected made the ground cave in more and more, to the point that they reached a hundred feet lower than Water Kingdom's surface.

Kairas' irritation grew, patience slowly leaving his brain in place for anger. Lukas was closing the gap in power between them, his rage willing forth more and more power. At the rate he was going, he would lose control like Kairas did a while ago.

The idea solidified his reasoning, and he leapt into the air, dashing higher and higher until he escaped the crater. Clenching his muscle, he released a powered yell, voice echoing as his skin turned white and hair shot down to his lower back. Feather wings burst wide, black and green aura dancing upwards from his feet.

Without hesitation, Lukas charged after him, eyes burning with an uncontrolled rage.

The corner of Kairas' lips rose in a smirk. Extending his hand and opening his palm, he exhaled, a ball of mana striking Lukas' face. Stunned at the display, Kairas took that chance to release a barrage of bolts that struck each of his limbs. On the final blast, Lukas flew backwards, striking the top of an old rundown factory. Kairas lowered himself slightly, keeping in the air, watching Lukas struggle to rise to his feet.

Mana built up in his palm, the sphere quickly engorging itself. Coldness ran down the air, a chill gripping Lukas' spine as he looked up at Kairas.

He was afraid. Terrified, of the Fallen Angel who watched him.

"A shame you have no control over your powers. I could've at least helped your grandfather."

"Kai, stop it!" Takabi yelled at his twin, soaring towards him.

Shrugging off his brother's words, he brought his palm upwards, increasing the size of the ball, before tossing it downwards. The magic expanded into a massive boulder of energetic black ice. The closer it got to Lukas, the more everything around the boy froze over. He raised his palm, knees planted firmly in place.

Death. That was what he was facing.

Fortunately for him, it was not his time that day.

Kairas and Takabi flicked their eyes aside, three streaks of air rushing in front of Kairas' attack. It stopped short, erupting into a cloud of nothing.

Takabi, blinking in confusion, floating next to his brother and asked, "Did you do that?"

"No."

From the mist, rose petals rushed into the air and around the two. They watched with a sense of curiosity and wariness. It wasn't until the first cut on Takabi's shoulder that they realized the truth of the flowers. They stopped in the air, tips aiming at the duo and crystalizing. The storm rained down, slashing the boys' bodies like butter. Each petal tore through muscle and bone, blood spewing in the air and raining down in a red mist.

Their wings gave way, and they fell head first towards the concrete. With his blurry vision, Takabi looked at one of his wounds, unwillingly drinking in his injuries and pain. No steam rose from the blood or cuts. His eyes went wide, and with his weakened grip, he grabbed Kairas, kicking off the nearby wall and sliding on the concrete.

"We're not healing!?"

The ground ripped apart. Soil and rock flew into the air in a thick stream, before slapping the two aside. The earthly spell surged after Kairas, burrowing underground before coming back up and striking his spine, snapping it, numbness rushing through his body as he hit the ground in a pile of dirt and returned to his human state.

"Kairas!"

A massive light ripped away the darkness of the Water Kingdom subsurface. All eyes fell on the spectacle, many dropping their jaws in shock. Takabi's eyes adjusted to the ever growing light, and when he spotted a Golden sun rising into the air, he all but froze. "You… Gotta be fucking kidding me…"

"So it's true," One of the attackers began. "Your little group has touched down here, Takabi."

"Who the hell are you," He spat out in anger. "Coming out of nowhere and attacking us!"

"My acquaintances' names are of no concern to you, Yamishito. I, on the other hand…" Out of the shadows came a woman of immense beauty.

Her golden silk dress hugged her curves perfectly, hair tied up in a bun with messy curls at the side of her face. Her eyes were relaxed, as if distant from the current situation. Gold drenched her eyes and hair, an unrefined and untouched shine glistening from every part of her being. Her palms were together, Golden aura raised high around her. "You may address me as Flor Dorada of the Kult. I accommodate your strength, for having caused us so much trouble."

"Fuck off, you old hag! Get out of our way and give us Lukas!"

"I am afraid I cannot allow you to take this boy. Like all of us, he has a great destiny and I am here to guide him to that. You are welcome to join us, and I gladly will help you prevail in conquest."

Takabi grit his teeth, willing his White Gem active. As his tattoos coated his body, he noticed how his wounds, which refused to heal before, did so without hesitation. He wasn't sure if it was because of the Gem or some other reason, but currently, he didn't care.

"Flor, do not waste anymore time on him. He's a lost cause," Came a second voice. It was one Takabi hadn't heard in years. Young still, untouched by age, but holding a strong bitterness in each word. Stepping through the smoke, Rosey pink hair and eyes greeted Takabi. His body held lean muscle, and he was dressed in an orange jumpsuit and open toed boots. His skin looked oily, and a thin goatee touched his chin.

Kairas picked his head up weakly, studying the features, before his eyes went wide. Willing his Black Gem forth, his wounds vanished almost instantly, and he stood on both feet. "What the hell… You…. You should be dead."

Takabi's throat felt dry. He took a step forward, blinking, "What are you doing, Riki…"

"Riki?" He asked, craning his head. "Sorry, you have me confused with someone else. I am Astar." Rose petals danced around his fingers, until he raised them into the air, and they merged with the Golden sun overhead, altering it to hold a shade of pink. "Not that you'll live long enough to remember it."

"Both of us combined have enough mana to erase Galaxies at the flick of a wrist. Luckily, this planet is durable to withstand that somehow. Quite possibly, because of the Gem it protected." Flor looked back at Lukas.

The boy was quaking in his spot, flicking his eyes between both groups. She saw the weakness in his will, but determination to do whatever it took to help his grandfather. Thus, a wicked scheme brewed.

"You wish to help him, yes?"

"H..Help?" He blinked. "Grandpa? You mean my Grandpa?!" His voice grew desperate.

"They seek to take you away from him. This is not something you wish for, is it?" Flor spoke softly. "Help us. Join us, and I personally will save your Grandpa from an untimely death."

"I…" He looked at Takabi. They locked eyes for a moment, before Lukas' glowed with a surging strength. He stood, electricity brewing around his body, scales taking a bolt like pattern. As the skin around his eyes cracked audibly, he raised his palms high, channeling mana into the already enhanced artificial sun. "I'll do anything to help my Grandpa!"

"Excellent. The honor is all yours then, child."

With a cry, Lukas threw his palms downward. The sun moved, fast, racing towards Takabi and Kairas. The boys merely watched in awe, before they willed their powers forth and fired. The magics touched, and while the sun stopped its charge, it did not cease its detonation, for from within the safety of Scarlivia, an eruption could be felt.

The planet quaked, in intensity, in fear. To the north, all eyes watched, a pillar of Golden rose light reached beyond the skies, ceasing moments after it started.

Nana and Jewel looked up, blinking from the cafe they chose to have lunch at. Without warning, two objects crashed into the soil in the center of the road nearby. Getting up and investigating, the girls' eyes went wide, tears beginning to spill before they jumped down into the crater, cradling the broken bodies of Takabi and Kairas.

Both boys, unmoving and unconscious. Half of Takabi's mouth had been erased, leaving the left side of his teeth visible. His hair blocked out his closed eyes, blood pouring from the deep gashes along his arms and legs.

Kairas had a hole in his chest, just narrowly missing his heart and caving in a lung. The bones in his limbs felt shattered, and chest barely rose in strained, desperate breaths.

"What the hell are you all just standing around for," Nana spat out with a hoarse throat at the crowd that surrounded them. "Get them a FUCKING DOCTOR!!"