A Stormy Tale | A Go Jetters Crossover Fanfiction

Chapter 4: Freedom?

Xuli's POV:

Another piece of the Academy whizzed past me, barely missing my head. I was trying my best to navigate through the never-ending junk pile of an ocean, but the water seemed to have other plans.

It threw me in all directions, smashing me into anything it had taken: building pieces, one of JetPad's boosters, cars from goodness knows how far away and more. But I had to keep going. Tala was counting on me.

A powerful blast from the tsunami sent me flying towards an old pitchfork, but I quickly (and only just) managed to avoid it. If I hadn't, then I would have probably met a rather painful end.

Cautiously, I started making my way forward, going against the pushes of the water and keeping an eye out for our friend. My lungs were starting to protest a little now, but Tala's would have been much worse.

Just the sheer amount of debris down there shocked me. It wasn't just building pieces and cars. There were trees, fish both alive and dead, skeletons, rubbish bins and their contents, fences, you name it. I felt a knot start to form in my stomach as one of the Vroomster's headlights appeared in front of me.

Then, I saw a little spec in the distance. I swam closer, but then suddenly I was dragged into a powerful current. I tried to get out, but it was so strong and fast that I ended up going past the thing, or rather person, I had seen.

Tala!

Poor her. She was trapped between two pieces of the Academy wall, and couldn't get out. And even worse, she was fading quickly. Too quickly for my liking. I had to get out fast. But I didn't know how.

Then, I saw a car without a door. I swam over to it and clung to its hood in the hopes of it being pulled away from the current.

Thankfully, the tsunami did yank it out, dragging me with it. I quickly let go, just before it smashed head over heels (er, hood over back lights) into a big sawblade which probably belonged to a lumberjack. The blade sliced through the car, embedding itself in it. That could have been me if I didn't let go, I thought to myself.

I was snapped out of my thoughts at the sight of Tala. She was slowly getting weaker, and her eyelids were threatening to close for good. I knew that the clock was ticking. There wasn't much time left before she drowned, and I didn't want to just stand around, waiting for it to happen.

I swam over to Tala as fast as I could and started jerking at the wall pieces trapping her. They started to come loose, and after about 10 pulls, they came apart and she was free. I wrapped one arm around her chest and started making for the surface.

By now, Tala had gone completely limp and her eyes slowly drooped shut. My lungs were screaming for air, and I was feeling weaker by the second. If I didn't hurry up and find some land, then we'd both be toast.

Just when I thought we were done for, two pieces of land appeared. I was about to reach for the first one, but the water jerked us away from it. I only just managed to grab onto the second, smaller one. Using the little strength I had, I pulled on the ledge and eventually managed to break the surface.

No one's POV:

Xuli dragged Tala onto the shore, coughing and gasping for breath. She quickly laid the cadet down and started doing CPR. After a few chest compressions, Tala started coughing as well and slowly opened her eyes.

Tala's POV:

I gasped as air started filling my lungs. My eyes ached as I slowly opened them to see who had saved me from what I thought would be my death. Although my vision was blurry, I just managed to make out:

"XULI!?"

"Hey Tala." she answered. "You OK?"

"Y-you came for me? But, why?"

"Well, it's not like I'd leave you to drown just because I was scared. It's what friends are for."

I couldn't agree more. I got up and took a look at where we were. The Academy cliff was nowhere in sight, and the small ledge we were on had nothing but a tree on it. But there was a bigger one not too far away with lots of people on it. I wonder how they found out about the tsunami, I thought.

My thoughts were interrupted by a CRACK! that sounded in my ears. Xuli and I looked down, and there was a small crack in the ground. I gulped. This meant if we didn't get off now, the ledge would collapse and we'd fall in. And I didn't think Xuli had enough energy left in her to pull off another stunt like the one from barely 10 seconds ago.

"Tala, we're going to have to find a way off. And fast." Xuli whispered. I nodded and started climbing the tree that was there with us. Xuli followed me, but just as she started climbing, she winced and hissed in pain, collapsing on the ground.

I looked down at her and shouted "Xuli!" "Don't worry about me." she replied, scrambling back onto her feet. "Keep trying to find a way off. I'll catch up."

"Listen, Xuli. You've clearly hurt yourself, and you're not moving until I find a way onto the bigger land piece."

But she started climbing anyway, despite the immense pain she must have been experiencing.

When I was about halfway, I pulled on one of the branches and it bent down a lot, but when I let go, it sprang back into place. Somehow.

"Tala?" Xuli called from right behind me. "Get on that branch now."

"But...why?"

"Just do it. Please." I complied and sat on it.

Xuli then climbed up to my level and standing on another branch, pulled the spring one back. I was rather uncertain where this was going, but I didn't like the feeling it gave me.

"Uh, Xuli?"

"On the count of three, let go."

"But we're halfway up a tree!"

"Exactly."

I started quivering as Xuli started slowly counting.

"One..."

I heard another CRACK! as the ledge we were on threatened to split in two.

"Two..."

I was so terrified I started shaking. I was about to tell Xuli to stop when...

"Three!"

FWOOM!

SNAP!

The branch swung forward, launching me off into the air. I screamed as I started plummeting down towards the water. Thankfully, the branch had been strong enough to send me to the bigger, safe former-hill-now-island. I was caught by the people there before I could hit the ground and hurt myself.

I looked back at Xuli. She was still up the tree, holding to its trunk with one hand and the now broken spring branch in the other.

She quickly slid down the tree and stumbled as she hit the ground. Suddenly the small ledge shifted slightly. She looked at me with sad eyes before...

CRACK!

The ledge finally collapsed, pulling Xuli under with it.

"XULI NOOOOOOO!!!"

I honestly couldn't believe it. Xuli. Back in the tsunami. Injured this time. I thought to myself If she barely managed to survive when she was fine, then I don't think I can say the same for when she can't use one of her legs properly...

What have I done...

Yes, I'm that evil. What on Earth is Xuli going to do now...*crafty smile appears on my face*