Elementals: Book 3: The Dark World

Chapter Seventeen

Asher shook himself dry as he stepped into the work room, coating Angus in another layer of Water, he shielded his eyes and wiped himself dry with the towel draped around his shoulders.

"Have a good swim, you two?" Stacey asked, looking up from her raised station.

"It was really nice to relax for a bit," Ash replied. "Angus showed me this really cool program with a waterfall."

"You should dry yourself off and get back to work Angus, we're picking something up," Stacey replied as she focussed back on the digital map that was displayed on her table.

"What's up?" The man asked as he dried his hair off and approached the station with Ash.

"We're picking up a large Power surge coming from Zuka's village."

"What does that mean?" Ash asked, placing his paws to get a better view.

"Stacey," Tayla's voice came from one of the stations to their left. "Something is here, in the building."

As Stacey stepped down to examine whatever it was that Tayla was picking up, Asher felt a familiar presence enter his mind.

"Ash, be ready."

The Drago-wolf turned and saw Gabe standing beside him, a worried look on his face.

"For what?"

"Get somewhere open, we're coming in hot."

"Wait what?" Ash spoke aloud.

"Ash?" Angus looked at him confused.

Before he could explain, Ash leapt over the main table and bounded to the long room the team had used as to eat their meals and converse about their breakthroughs. As he entered the room, he barged into the large table and toppled it over against the wall, causing a commotion.

"Ash! What is going on?!" Stacey exclaimed as her and her team looked over from the doorway.

"Gabe! Link us! Now!" He spoke towards the ceiling, ignoring her.

Ash closed his eyes and felt his entire world shift, now he was no longer in the Agency, safe and protected. Now, as he opened his eyes and examined the dark purple paws he had, he realized the severity of his team's situation.

Mari and Kunai were battling hard against the beast of a hybrid, trying to swat and deflect the giant boulders and Earthen attacks that were launched at them from the front, while Braxton used his Powers to keep King from being drowned by Brooklyn. Jinx protected the team from any of Arctyc's attacks that came too close, and Jay and Elena were bouncing around helping any of them as Sky hadn't joined the fight, instead he was trying his hardest to stop it all. Dusk stood behind the fighting, next to Anarchy, with Cookie slumped over his shoulders.

"I have him!" Anarchy called as he watched on. Flicking his paw out and creating a Portal that seemed to have Asher on the other end. The Drago-wolf was pulled back to reality as he watched Dusk clamber through the Portal with King and Mari at his side. Gasps were heard from behind Ash, but he didn't take notice, instead he bounded forwards through the Portal and launched a Fireball at Charcoal as he was about to clamp down on Tsubaki.

"Ash!" His boyfriend exclaimed.

"Through the Portal! Now!" He raised his paws and slammed them down, using a large burst of Power to create a wall of Fire around them, cutting off Zuka and his team. He watched as everyone turned tail and ram through the Portal before he followed, as he neared the Portal, he turned and dispersed the wall. Zuka casually strolled through it with his team intact. Ash and Sky locked eyes for a moment, Asher's begging Sky to follow them. The Snow Leopard simply turned and lowered his head towards Zuka. So that was it. He had made his choice. Something wrapped around Asher and pulled him back through the Portal before closing behind them. Ash couldn't help but break down into Anarchy's chest, balling his eyes out as Sky had made his choice, and it was to break his heart.