Turning to Stone 4: New Leaders (Rewritten)

Chapter 9: The Fight

"So where are we going anyway? What's a Wubbox? Are we gonna fight?" Pik, being just awakened, was full of questions. The electricity she was made of must have given her plenty of energy.

"We're going to Earth Island. A Wubbox is a monster like Jolthead or Ephex over there, but the one controlling Earth Island is kinda evil. Yes, we're gonna fight." Ailura explained.

"Are they the bad guys? Are we gonna beat them up?" Pik balanced on one hand to hold the other up into a fist. "Yes, they are, and yes, if we don't get beat up first." Ailura answered.

The storms of Wublin Island were soon left behind, revealing a sunset that lit up the sky with orange. Ephex managed to get everyone settled down, although Pik and Xander proved to be a bit difficult. Eventually, everyone except Ailura, Ephex, and Basilio were asleep.

"Hey Aliura?" Ephex whispered. Basilio was all the way at the front of the ship. He wouldn't hear if they talked quietly. The Ghazt tore her gaze away from the sunset to look at them. "If we don't make it out alive, I just want you to know that I love you."

She grabbed their hand, giving it a squeeze. "We have to make it out alive. For them." Ailura pointed to the sleeping future leaders, most of them in a big "cuddle pile". "But I love you too." She butted her head against them.

They watched the sun set until the stars appeared, pointing out constellations until they both agreed they needed to sleep.

----

Skyship travel may have been one of the fastest and most reliable forms of transportation between islands, but it still took quite a while to get to Earth Island.

Jerrick had gone through nearly every book he'd brought with him, although he didn't bring that much. Jolthead had taken over the steering wheel after they nearly tore apart the ship looking for something to mess with and take apart and rebuild. Basilio nearly tore the ship apart by ramming his head into it.

Everyone was starting to get cranky, and the hot air wasn't helping. Wait, hot air? Ailura looked out the side of the ship, but all she could see was smoke.

"Why is it so hot?" Bertilda whined. "Earth Island is known for its exceptionally hot temperatures. Despite this, Cold elementals are able to thrive just fine. However, Water-" Jerrick began, but he was cut off with a "Shut up, Jerrick!" from Bertilda.

Suddenly, a voice rang out, followed by a loud bang. "Fire!" The ship was hit, and it began to rapidly plummet. "They must have seen us! Everyone, get together!" Ailura called. She gathered them all up in the middle of the ship, huddling tightly as their vessel smashed onto the ground of Earth Island.

When she opened her eyes, not even realizing she had closed them in the first place, she saw the skyship was broken badly. The front was smashed, although the back half remained upright.

The second thing she saw, or rather didn't see, was the children. Basilio, Jolthead, and Ephex were around her, but the future leaders had disappeared.

"Well, there goes all our hard work." Jolthead mumbled, looking dejectedly at the remains of the ship. "Not the time!" Ailura hissed, the hot air combined with the awful situation making her feel even worse. Her fur bristled and anxiety rose up within her chest again.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"

Gullit had moved from his spot behind the castle, instead standing on the main part of the island. It was the first time Ailura had gotten a look at him, he was bigger than the castle itself. Ephex grabbed her hand, but she hardly noticed, unable to look away.

"Seize them!" Gullit roared, and a swarm of Humbugs rushed forwards to deal with the intruders. Ailura could hardly see anything beyond the green and yellow, feeling Ephex being torn away from her. "No!" She shouted, but before she could say much else, she felt something stabbing into her. Pain shot throughout her whole body. Their poison. Of course. ...Or I guess it's venom, because they're injecting it into me. She thought about Jerrick, about Xander, about the other leaders as her head hit the ground.