Raven removed her hands then looked at him with worried eyes. Skipper could see the compassion inside her as she glanced at him.
“I’ll do that, Raven,” he said nonchalantly.
She smiled gloomily then vanished. Skipper looked to the looked down at the floor and groaned. He had to get better for everyone. He had to increase his control if was going to start to control this power. Skipper closed his eyes and began mediating once more.
****
Jenny walked with her friends, Danielle, Kelsy, Zalika and Billy. They all talked amongst each other as they walked down the street. Skipper stood on the other side and watched her talk happily to the others. He stuck his hands in his pocket and sauntered the other direction then turned to see Raven. Jenny turned around and saw Skipper run down the other way. Her eyes sadden a little, for she hadn’t see much of him at school. She wanted to see him, but he always seemed to vanish. Their time was limited, but she growing to care for him.
She turned back to her friends and walked down the path. The dance was coming up in the next few days and she thought maybe she could see him there. Danielle, Kelsy and Zalika continued to talk to her. Billy caught her attention and they continued to talk amongst each other.
Skipper turned to see Raven and walked with her. Jenny felt some envy for the other girl who was starting to hang around Skipper. Jenny looked back to see them and saw them nowhere in sight.
****
The waters moved back and forth on the boat. The stars shined high in the sky as the boat rocked. Skipper looked around him and looked inside the boat to see Aquarian staring at him.
“Aquarian? What am I doing here once more?” Skipper requested.
Aquarian observed the rocky sea and let out a breath, “Skipper, we keep meeting here as I want to make sure you understand your fate and everyone else.”
Skipper laughed a little and drew Aquarian’s attention to him, “I already have chosen. I have seen what my powers can do in real time.”
Aquarian blinked his eyes in confusion. The boat continued to rock and Skipper glanced toward the sky. He had a faraway look in his eyes as he studied the atmosphere. He had long understood that Aquarian had come to his dreams and wanted to convince him.
“I choose to help you in this war. I know this is going to be a battle. I am joining because I can see that my powers can hurt people. I need to get it under control and face the facts that I am not normal. I don’t know of my destiny, Aquarian. I’m scared, but I’m willing to slowly understand it if I can control what’s in front of me first.” Skipper said modestly.
Skipper thought of his family, friends, Raven and Jenny. He wanted to protect the people he cared about. His decision was based on achieving his goal of being more responsible to understand himself entirely. There were things he didn’t comprehend and needed answers himself.
Aquarian smiled for the boy had chosen to protect those and gather some intellect to realize the gravity of the situation. “I can see your point. I am glad you chose on your own. Humans have free will. Your choice was the most important thing.”
Skipper nodded then grinned for he had the respect of the zodiac guardian, “thank you, Aquarian.”
Both men looked at one with renewed respect for the stage was set and it appeared that they were on the same stage. Aquarian wouldn’t reveal everything to Skipper for it was too soon. He needed to show Skipper slowly. Many celestial manners were too much for mortals, but in small doses were well deserved, Aquarian thought.
“Your welcome, Skipper. I will be helping you in the fight,” Aquarian stood up and held a water bearer in his hands.
He moved his hands together and sized it to the size of a pendent. Aquarian placed the pendent into Skipper’s hands.
Skipper looked at his hand to see the gleaming water bearer jug, “what is this?”
Aquarian’s eyes burned as he looked at Skipper’s hands. “This will help you connect to me. I will be able to reach out to you in any plane. Only use this when it is necessary. I will contact you in your dreams as usual, but I am sending someone to come get you soon.”
“Get me soon?” Skipper inquired putting the pendent away.
“I know you are training with Raven, but with your agreement, it will be a matter of time before the group finds you. They are already on the move,” Aquarian gestured then disappeared.
Skipper looked up at the moving sky and sighed. He was doing this for the ones he loved. His life was becoming more difficult and unparalleled as it was leading him to other places. He was beginning to slowly understand that things were bigger than himself.
****
Tommen sauntered to his locker and pulled out a few books. He glanced around at the kids talking and glancing at one another. He closed his locker and Zeke stood next to it. He yelped then accidently dropped his books.
“Don’t do that, Zeke,” Tommen said panting.
Zeke leaned against the locker and watched Tommen with red tints in his eyes, “have you seen Skipper today?”
Tommen picked up his books then frowned at Zeke, “no.”
Zeke witnessed around the hall and balled his fist, “I wanted to ask him something important and haven’t been able to find him.”
“Look Zeke, I’m sure Skipper will turn up. We live in a small town, don’t you know?” Tommen rolled his eyes looking up at Zeke.
Zeke huffed then strolled off. He stuck his hands in his pocket for he was upset at Skipper. Skipper disappeared and Zeke needed some answers as to what happened that day. Tommen glanced at Zeke and scowled at him as the boy left. Sparkles of red energy filtered through his eyes.
****
Fate and Destiny continued to weave through the golden lines as they saw the reflection of Tommen and Zeke begin to emerge.
“It would appear that the lines of these two are close at hand,” Fate said quietly.
“My dear sister the time is already coming, but it will be the decision that will plague them from the child of prophesy who will make one of them emerge,” Destiny exclaimed.
“The champion is almost close at hand. He will challenge the child of prophesy,” Fate said to Destiny.
“The time is unyielding and the direction of the galaxy rests in the decision of that awakening between the two.” Destiny extracted.
In the darkness, Pisces listened to both Fate and Destiny. He smiled for the collection of time and power was coming close and the war would begin soon.
****
Energy poured through Raven as she shot balls of energy at Skipper. He began to dodge from the sides as Raven continued her onslaught of attacking Skipper. She resounded as he began to moved faster. Skipper continued to pant as he moved away from her blasts. Raven’s hair flared to life as she moved faster at him. Skipper yelled back at Raven and pushed her power into the wall. Small rocks and metal pieces flew at her as she fell back into the wall. She yelled out as she hit it hard.
The energy continued to crackle and Skipper felt the power pull deep within him. He looked at Raven as she began to move from the wall and use her energy like a crackling whip against him. The debris and items began to move back toward him. Skipper pushed back and a barrier formed around him. He sighed as he felt the area around tempered. His eyes began to spark and the energy pulled deep within him. Skipper raised his hands up and felt Raven call her power from within. They both glanced at each other for dominance before Raven pulled herself from the wall then moved her hands in a circular rotation and pushed Skipper back into the wall hard.
He cried out then looked up at Raven’s shining, elegant and bright energy. She extended her hand to him and smiled.
“You’re getting better,” she flatly said to him.
He peered up at her and smirked briefly, “thanks.”
Skipper took her hand and she patted his back, “you’re increasing in power and it is showing in your channeling. I think you still need to learn the basics.”
He si
ghed for he had more to go but it was a starting point. Skipper did want to excel quickly for he wanted to protect something that was important him. He was needing to move beyond the invisible. He had to do something that was going to be even more protective. He thought back to Jenny, his family and friends that all had a special place in his life. He needed to show himself that it was for them. Skipper thought to what Aquarian had told him that life was important.
Raven moved away from him and grinned. She went into a fighting stance and watched him. She could tell the new position would weigh on him, but it was her mission to get him ready. She wanted him focused and ready. He had a world to save.
“Ready?” she asked him.
Skipper smirked and positioned himself into a fighting stance. “As ready as I will ever be.”
****
Hans glanced through the windows looking outward over a massive city. He turned to his fellow members in the room and looked back for he was going to control over the fragmented group that was once before. He turned to see other members in the room and laughed as they raised their glasses. He became one of the members to know that the Celic Group would rise up. Hans wanted to take an existing group and make it proud once more, for he had wanted to have control. He watched all the others before him faltered by not achieving something greater than themselves. He would take this belief and expand on it.
He believed in the leader Pisces and wanted to look into the last bit of what the Celic Group had. Hans felt inspired as he looked at the others who believed in the Celic Group. He remembered some dire beliefs of what the Celic Group had achieved. He believed the group had more information on that Pisces had left with his followers. Hans became devout to know that his mission was to find what was the balance of the child of prophesy. He grinned for destiny and time would reward him in the end for Pisces would come to be proud of his grand follower. The other people in the group, grinned for they believed in Hans to lead them into the age of returning to Pisces and not Aquarian.
Chapter Nine
The training with Raven was making Skipper more aware of his surrounding and how was interacting with people. He started to see things that he had never seen before and realized the truth slowly in what he was seeing through Aquarian. He was starting to become more powerful and focused in his training day by day. He was learning more importantly how to focus. Skipper was trying to balance his decision to stay normal even though he wasn’t and remember his destiny. He would see Jenny sometime during the morning, but remained focused on the task at hand. He felt himself withdrawn from Zeke as he didn’t know how to approach his friend.
Skipper needed some time away from his best friend, for he felt a choice was going to become between them. Skipper was beginning to see the hidden meanings in what Raven was showing him. He sighed as he blocked an energy ball from her. His energy was flooding through him. He was having a better range in control overall but he was far from what Raven would tell him.
****
Much of previous Light Group had fallen away and Dash retriggered a renaissance within the branches. Though he was moving through the seams, before he took control back. Other rogues began to take note on the upheaval and walk away from the company entirely to free themselves, though working with the Light Group no one was safe, for leaving was not an option. Dash had made his strive to control the entirety of the corporation within a set time. He sneered at the rogues that were becoming messy. To gain control and the presence over the other groups, he began the executive order to destroy and threats.
Though he was pulling as the new leader, Dash had brought his own ideals as to search for the missing parts and to establish the new Light Group as to make him more in reverence slowly over what Pisces had built behind his own personal group. He grinned for he would be in the place of Pisces with the new group very slowly for all to see. Dash wouldn’t align himself just yet. He wanted to concentrate on the doorways to Saturn where he felt the strength of the Light Group. Dash looked out the window and saw that the rogues would falter but a few he would watch their progress as to see what they would do.
****
Aquarian sat in a meditative state overlooking the stars. He closed his eyes and felt a disturbing presence. He turned his head and looked in the direction to see the emblem of Pisces on a cloth approaching him.
“Why are you in my realm again, Pisces?” Aquarian questioned him.
Pisces stepped down on the steps and clapped his hands. “My age will be becoming once more. I know that I will be winning this war. Your battles will become meaningless. I will rule over you all. I have done so much. I have been moving beyond Aries’s age and so forth back.”
Aquarian gradually got up and glowered at the zodiac, “what changed in your brother to do us so wrong?”
“I will covet what I desire most. I will have everything I will need. You will surely find out my master plan at some point. The other zodiacs will soon find out enough. I have been resonating such things long before. Perhaps, one day you will find out what I have been pushing all along.” Pisces glared.
“When the fight for the planes come, I will see you on the battlefield,” Aquarian said threateningly.
“Aquarian, no need to have it now, for I will be watching. I know how you want to save your beautiful age. Your age is meant to inspire and stay strong but in reality, it will be for not. Mark my words, Aquarian, I shall come and rule all over this galaxy.” Pisces’ voice grew louder.
Aquarian narrowed his eyes at Pisces, “you won’t. I will stop you here. I will stop you and destroy you.”
“Your champion isn’t strong enough, nor can he handle the followers. Only then once he has bridged the ended conflict would I even look at him. There is too much to be done. I will have my way.” Pisces lured Aquarian.
“Then why are you here to tell me this? Why don’t you go and connect with your followers?” Aquarian rumbled.
“I haven’t been able to communicate with them, Aquarian. My age has passed; nonetheless, I can see what they do. I like taunting you. Once my champion arrives and bares the symbol then I will be able to communicate. He or she will be found. I will see to it that the awakening will be found. There will be a bittersweet ending for all of the world.” Pisces bickered with Aquarian.
Aquarian crossed his arms and glowered. “You don’t hold everything, Pisces and the other zodiacs will come into this knowledge, but until then you should be afraid as I gain more power in my age, you will have a hollow channel through your champion.”
Pisces narrowed his eyes for Aquarian was right. He could do nothing but wait for he had a small channel, for reaching into another age was forbidden. All magics and celestial presence was over once the new guardian arrived. Pisces had no more power and had to wait. He disappeared into the shadows and Pisces looked onto the earth. He feared that the champion of Pisces would appear.
****
Skipper opened the door to his room to see Zeke sitting on his bed. Zeke glared at his friend.
“Where have you been? I haven’t seen you in school. I’ve been worried sick,” Zeke gestured.
Skipper closed the door behind himself. He sighed looking at his friend, “I’ve been with Raven. I’ve been kind of hanging out with her. She has been showing me some things.”
“What?” Zeke retorted, “why are you hanging out with that crazy chick?”
Skipper shook his head and walked over to the window. He peered out the window and exhaled worryingly for Zeke was asking something he didn’t even fully understand himself. He was coping with his training and powers. A lot was weighing on him for he was trying to place everything in the right category. He needed more time and didn’t really have it.
“I can’t really tell you, Zeke, but I’m learning new things that are important to me. I’m changing,” Skipper’s eyes began to spark, then closed his eyes feeling the pulls of his gifts.
He sighed and focused clearly. The glow in his eyes disappeared.
Skipper was changing and over the last few days felt the training beginning to help him as he learning to control his bursts of powers.
Zeke got off the bed and went to Skipper turning him around harshly. “I don’t understand. I want to know what happened that day. You vanished before me. I didn’t know where you went. I’ve been worried sick. I’ve been looking for you and I don’t really see you.”
“Is it happening again?” Zeke stood back in distress, “are you losing control again?”
Skipper stared at his friend, “no.”
“It’s happening again. You’re turning away from being normal. You’re normal, Skipper. You don’t need to be special. I was the only one who cared about you being normal. Everyone else gave up on you.” Zeke probed.
“We are friends. You’re my friend. Why are you talking crazy?” Skipper said frustrated.
Zeke waved his hands around. “Everyone told me not to be your friend afterwards, but I didn’t care. I wanted my friend back, yet I kept thinking in the back of my head if you would ever revert. Come on Skipper, you don’t need to hang around Raven to make you special. I don’t want you special in that way. Just be the normal Skipper I know.”
Skipper glanced at Zeke for who he was for the first time. He felt upset, betrayed, angry at the boy before him. He didn’t think that Zeke would be a hypocrite. Zeke had just told Skipper he was friends with only to make him normal. Zeke narrowed his eyes at Skipper.
“I wanted you to be normal with me. I don’t or need a special friend. Is that all too hard to say?” Zeke shrugged.
“So, what are you telling me?” Skipper asked despondently.
“It’s either Raven or me,” Zeke ordered.
“That’s not fair. Why do I have to choose between the both of you?” Skipper argued.
The Aquarian Age Chronicles: The Lost Aquarian, #1 Page 9
