Chapter 16: Powers...and Stalkers?

Morning came and Pinggoy asked their boss if they could have the day off. Their boss agreed and they should return by the next day. Ramch suggested that they go to the hot spring that he saw one day while buying their food. It was near a sleeping volcano and about a half a kilometer of walk from the inn.

"Now, who wants to go to the hot spring?"

"I don’t want to go!"

"Raffy! It is a sleeping volcano! It couldn't harm a fly!"

"Still, it's a volcano."

"Don't be such a baby. Come on!"

After a lot of convincing from his friends, Raffy finally agreed to come. On the way to the spring, Joed told them about what Giovanni and the spirit of earth told him.

"No way! So we get to have powers just like you do?"

"Yup. Maybe Ramch you will get fire or ice."

"No way. Mine is going to be cooler. Besides, I want to have lightning and thunder."

"Okay. Anyway, the minion said that the Witch Quirella sent him. And she ordered him to kill me."

"So Joed, how about showing us your powers?"

"Sure Paolo."

Joed waved his hands over some grass and it grew up to his height.

"That was so cool! I wonder if I could have your powers and cover myself with beautiful flowers so I will be like Queen of the Earth."

"Pinggoy, you haven't seen anything yet...Velvet Earth."

Then he slowly sank into the earth beneath him. Then after a few seconds rose back up.

"Wow! I cannot wait to get my powers. Maybe my power is Flower Power."

"No it's not."

"I know! I'm just kidding. It should be one of the statues that we saw in the temple. Since yours is already taken, there's only seven left."

The gang talked about what powers they want as a guardian as they headed for the hot spring.

"So how about you Ramch, what powers would you like? I already got mine."

"I like to have lightning or thunder with matching darkness. So I will have...like...dark lightning."

"That is so ironic. Lightning, from its name, is light. And you would like it to be dark? That's twisted."

"So what? I like lightning and darkness. How about you Paolo, what powers would you like?"

"Well, I would like to have ice powers. I can freeze anything I want. Maybe I can even make ice sculptures."

"How lame."

"Right, mine's lame while yours is 'dark lightning', please."

"Stop it you two. I would like to share what I like to have."

"We don't care Francis."

"Like I care about your 'dark lightning' Ramch."

"Why does everyone contradicts what I like?"

"Because it's weird. Anyway, I would like to have the power of wind so I can fly. And I can make tornados that can take Raffy to a far off place."

"Hey, what did I do to you for you to do that to me?"

"Nothing, I just want to do it. And besides, I do not like you. You're no good of a son."

"Since when did I become your son, Francis?"

"After I married TJ and we had our honeymoon at Boracay."

"Eww...that's gross."

"I had enough of this what-powers-would-you-like-to-have moment. Are we there yet Ramch?"

"It's just up ahead."

Then something behind the gang moved and caught Addison's attention.

"Hey guys, did you see something?"

"No. Whatever it is I think it's just some animal."

"Yeah right Ramch, a weird animal. Hello? We are in another world. Whatever it was, it wasn't 'just some animal'."

"Whatever Pinggoy. Addison, stop being so paranoid. Relax a little. We're almost there."

"All right. I will try to relax. Besides, we've got Joed here to protect us...hehehe."

As the gang headed for the hot spring, they do not know that they are being followed by an evil creature. One of them does not know that he is going to be the next guardian in line.

Chapter 15: An Evil Plot

After defeating Giovanni, a bracelet appeared on the wrist of Joed. On it, the word "EARTH" was engraved.

"So now I must sit on this throne."

Joed sat down carrying Truffles with him. A bright flash of light appeared in front of him and in the next second, he was back at the backyard of the inn.

"Now that was freaky. Is that a dream or not?"

Joed remembered the bracelet that appeared on his wrist and looked at it. It was there indeed and the events he thought he dreamt were real.

"So I am now the Earth Guardian. I must tell them! But first I should return Truffles to her owner."

Joed returned the dog to her owner and received 200 Raon as a reward. After this, he waited for the customers to sleep and he asked Raffy to meet him at the backyard.

"Raffy, you won't believe what happened to me this morning."

"You rescued a dog and earned 200 Raon extra. I think that would be enough for one week of food. Food here is very cheap you know. Pinggoy and I asked around and found out that a loaf of bread costs about 20 Raon. It is so cheap."

"Really? No, there is something else that happened to me this morning."

"What is it?"

"I got the power of the earth guardian. Actually, I am the Earth Guardian!"

"No way! Prove it, show me your powers."

"Honestly speaking, I really don't know how it works. This morning I defeated a Minion of the Witch Quirella. I really have these wonderful powers. I just don't know how to work them."

"Okay, try thinking. Look at the vine over there. Think that it is growing. Try it, maybe it'll grow."

"Okay, here goes."

With little effort at all, Joed made the vine move and grow towards them.

"Wow. So you really have powers now."

"Yeah, but that's only half of what I've found out today. We better get some sleep and I'll tell all about it to the gang tomorrow."

"You're right. It is already dark. Let's go in and get some sleep."

Meanwhile as the gang slept, far beyond the mountains of Frell, an evil plot is talking place.

"Your highness. Giovanni has failed and was killed by the first guardian."

"Is that so? He was no good anyway. His soul wasn't even enough for those powers."

"What should we do now your highness?"

"Vladimir, watch them carefully. Observe their every move. As my Minion of Fire, it is your duty to eliminate the Fire Guardian and capture his powers."

"Why can't I just kill him now?"

"You fool. The spirits choose the guardians. You wait for him to get the power of the fire guardian then kill him."

"Yes your highness."

"Take this potion. A drop will make you invisible for hours."

"Yes your highness. I shall leave now."

"Soon Frella, I shall be Queen of Frell. And you shall bow down to me as your new Queen."

Chapter 14: Giovanni, the Minion of Earth

Joed came out of the cocoon different. He had an armor made of leaves but is very strong. He had gloves and shoes that were made by the vines that grew out of the armor. His hair was long and tied to a knot.

"Oh my god. So...I really am the earth guardian?"

"Yes. Now go out and sit on the throne so the Queen will get stronger. When all the guardians are awake, she will become strong again and defeat Quirella."

Joed never expected the surprise waiting for him outside the room.

"Congratulations. So you are the Earth Guardian."

"Yes. I am indeed the Earth Guardian. And may I know who you are?"

The man stood up and turned around so Joed can see his face.

"I am Giovanni. I am one of the minions of QQ."

"Xyrus? Is that you? What are you doing here?"

"Who is Xyrus? My name is Giovanni, Minion of Earth."

"So you also have earth powers? Where did you get them?"

"QQ gave them to me in change for my soul and service."

"QQ? Who is that? And why did he send you to me?"

"QQ is Queen Quirella. And she has sent me to destroy you."

"I thought it was Queen Frella who rules the land not Quirella?"

"Not for long. Now get ready to be destroyed."

Joed has no idea what kind of abilities Giovanni has. All he knows is that he looks exactly like Xyrus Bongalos and he has earth powers.

"Wait. This is not fair. I just got my powers and do not know how to use them."

"That's too bad…for you. Now get ready to perish."

Unfortunately, for Giovanni, he has no idea how strong the guardian powers are.

"Stalactic Wrath!" Shouted Giovanni as Joed ran to hide from him. However, he was too slow to run from the stalactite spikes that were about to hit him. Then, a voice from his head told him what to do.

"Velvet Earth..." Whispered Joed as the stalactite spikes were about to hit him. Suddenly, Joed fell into the earth like diving into water and evaded the spikes.

"Where did you go? And how did you know that spell?"

"I don't know how, I...I just heard this voice in my head that told me what to do."

"Well it's not going to happen again...Seismic Wave!"

As Giovanni waved his hand, a giant wave of earth grew up high and hurdled towards Joed.

"This isn't good. I need to do something. Maybe I can think of something. Wait, if the spell I did before let me pass through anything made of earth, maybe it can work with this. It's worth a try...Velvet Earth!"

As the pile of rocks and earth was about to fall on Joed he just had enough time to say the spell and passed through the waves of rocks.

"All right! It worked! Now it is my turn to attack you. Stalactic Wrath!"

As he said the words, Joed waited for something to happen but nothing did.

"What happened? Why isn't it working? It worked for you and we both have the same kind of powers."

"Don't you get it? Your powers are made to do good while mine is made for evil. We may have the same kind of powers but it doesn’t mean that we have exactly the same capabilities."

"This is not fair."

"Life is not fair kid."

"Would you kindly spare my life then?"

"You're about to die guardian...Imperial Earthquake!"

The earth around Joed tossed and crumbled. The earth was about to swallow him when suddenly, the voice came back inside Joed's head and whispered something.

"I’m not going to give up that easily Giovanni...Tree of Millennia."

While saying the spell the voice gave to Joed, he raised his hand and waved it at Giovanni.

The quake around Joed stopped and at first, silence fell. After a few seconds, it started to quake again below Joed's feet.

"Looks like your spell backfired."

"Just wait and see..."

As it quaked below him, leaves started to grow below him.

"What is this? What are you doing?"

After a few leaves, a tree started to grow. It grew and grew until Joed can touch the roof of the cavern.

"Now, you are the one who is going to die Giovanni..."

"What are you going to do?"

Joed took seeds from the leaves of the tree and threw it at Giovanni.

"Seeds? Is that all you've got?"

"Seed of Silence!"

Suddenly, Giovanni felt weaker.

"What's happening? I'm growing weaker. What have you done?"

"Look at the seeds."

When Giovanni saw the seeds, it was starting to grow. The more the seeds grow the weaker Giovanni gets.

"The seeds are absorbing my life energy. That was unexpected. I shouldn't have under-estimated you."

"You shouldn't have."

Slowly, the seeds grow into a tree as Giovanni was turning into nothing but ashes.

"Awesome! I love being a guardian!"

Chapter 13: Joed, the Earth Guardian

Behind the door was a very large room filled with different kinds of plants and trees.

"What in the world are these?"

Then the throne glowed to a bright green and a voice echoed all throughout the cave.

"Joed, I have chosen you to be the one to own the power of the Earth Guardian…"

"W...Who are you? Wha...What are you?"

"I am the spirit of the earth. The Queen appointed us spirits to choose the right creature to possess the powers of the guardians."

"I thought that we were supposed to awaken the guardians. Fairy Anna did not tell us that we would possess the powers of these guardians."

"The guardians are just a mere legend that was misunderstood for thousands of years."

"So what exactly are these guardians and what do they do?"

"These guardians are the creatures themselves.'"

"So you mean that I am the Earth Guardian."

"Not yet. You have to go through an obstacle in order for you to obtain the power of earth."

"Well...okay. So, what will I do to obtain this power?"

"You have to enter that door and choose the right plant that contains the power of the guardian. Now go and choose wisely."

"Wait...what happens to me when I choose the wrong plant?"

"You will die!"

"Okay...I think I have nothing to lose except my life."

Joed went inside the room to examine the plants.

"Wow, this place looks like it has all the different species of plants in the world. This world and our world that is."

The room was filled with different kinds of plants. There were the different types of roses, daisies and orchids. There were the canopy trees, shrubs and grass. There was a large pond were there were water lilies and different kinds of water plants.

"This place is really cool. Now, better start looking for that plant."

Joed, having no idea whatsoever which plant is the one, decided to talk to the plants.

"Are you the plant...guess not. How about you...definitely not. Darn it, this is hard. I have absolutely no idea which plant is which."

Then he heard Truffles barking at one of the plants.

"Hey girl. What is it?"

The plant Truffles was barking at was a dead plant. It has blue and white petals with a red stem. It was in a pot and was at the corner of the room.

"Stop it. Stop barking Truffles! This plant is dead. Hey, this is not a plant from our world. It is so beautiful, too bad that it is dead. I wonder if I could bring it back too life."

He took the plant and brought it to the pond to water it. Joed does not know that plants from Frell grow a lot faster than plants from Earth.

"Here. I think that should do it. Why is it in the corner anyway?"

While Joed was wondering why it was the only plant that was dead, the plant he watered is now slowly blooming.

"Whoa...now that is some fast-growing plant."

The plant bloomed beautifully. Then it glowed of the color green and spitted out different colors of light.

"Congratulations. Now you have proven to me that you are indeed worthy of being the Earth Guardian. You showed compassion to a dead plant. You showed hope even though you see it was dead. Now you shall have the power of the guardian."

After the spirit said these words, the plant Joed was holding suddenly grew vines and started to wrap all around his body. After he was wrapped in a cocoon, the petals of the plant flew off and spun around him. After some time, the petals moved faster and one by one sliced the cocoon open.

"Now, Joed, you have the powers of the Earth Guardian. Use it to protect nature and all the creatures within it."

After the petals sliced the cocoon, it slowly opened revealing to Frell its first guardian. Joed, the Earth Guardian.