Hidden Powers

Diamond in the Rough

Zedaph and Layla had gone their separate ways when they reached the floating capital. Her to the market, and him the council. Ever since he had returned to his home dimension, the council of Aether had wanted him to update them monthly on the condition of the stone. They hadn't taken it away from him yet, but after last meeting, it sounded as if they wanted it for "observation".

Zedaph flew among his kind, miraculously not bumping into anyone. Traffic was so thick in the central district, it was a wonder no one crashed.

"Morning Zed!" A paperboy called out. Checking his watch, Zedaph flew over to the young Elther.

"How are you Zing?" An unspoken agreement passed between them and they landed on the less crowded ground.

"Have you seen the news?" Zing asked him eagerly holding out a holo-tablet. Big words stood out from the rest.

"Unrest in the Nether?" Zed frowned at the headline before handing it back.

"Yeah!" Zing nodded his head with rapid strokes. "Apparently some guy named Tango challenged the king. He turned into a phoenix, and you know how rare that is!" The kid was speaking so fast it was hard to keep up with him. At the name Tango, Zedaph felt himself grow dizzy. "Then he killed the king, which made him the king, but he left with some Overworlders and then left Fireren in charge of the kingdom. She is also a phoenix, can you believe the odds?"

Zedaph nodded faintly, but he wasn't really listening. "You said his name was Tango?" He interrupted.

"Yeah, that's what the article says," Zing frowned. "You okay, Zed?"

"I'm fine." Zedaph turned and flew away, heading for the market. The council could wait, Layla needed to know about this.

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"Your old friend Tango did what now?" Disbelief and concern warred across Layla's face after Zedaph told her what he had learned. Distant shouts could be heard, but neither of them were paying too much attention.

"I wonder whats gotten into him," Zed trailed off. When the commotion got closer, he turned his head.

"Please, I need to see Zedaph!"

Layla glanced at her husband and nudged him forward. "Go."

One of the guards growled at the hidden speaker. "Zedaph isn't here. You aren't welcome here either."

Zedaph walked up the guard and tapped his shoulder. When the disgruntled Elther turned his head, Zed spoke. "Heard my name, can I be of any help?"

"No," The guard growled gruffly. Zedaph, slightly displeased, continued speaking.

"You must be mistaken good sir. These are my friends, and I must help them."

"You're friends with three Netherites, one Endite and two humans?"

"Three... Netherites?" Zedaph faltered, hoping he wasn't letting criminals into the city under his name. "Let me see them."

The guard complied, and he motioned for the crowd to disperse. When the Elthers had flown out of the way, it revealed the scraggly group of intruders. Tango was standing up front, proudly holding his firey red phoenix wings in a tense position and his tail nearly touched the ground. Behind him, two men, one with a mustache, had dragon wings. Zedaph recognized Xisuma, but not the tall human beside him.

"Why did you bring Netherites?" Zedaph confronted Tango.

"Nice to see you too Zedaph." Tango wasn't known for answering questions when asked.

Zedaph simply sighed and motioned for the guards to leave his friends alone. "Come with me. I take it we have a lot to talk about?"

Tango nodded and talked to the Netherite without a dragon tail. "We are ready to go through the portal."

Layla had pushed through the crowd at this point and planted herself next to Zedaph.

"Who is she?" Tango asked Zedaph, studying her in a friendly way.

"Layla is my wife." Zedaph hooked his arm around hers.

Tango simply shook his head and grinned. "Good to hear you started a family, Zed."

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"I expected the welcome to be unfriendly, but I never expected it to be this bad." Tango rubbed one of his feathers on his wings. Everyone was sitting on the various couches and chairs of Zed and Layla's cottage.

"The council is trying to pass a law that no Netherites are to come to this dimension. Even disguised ones."

"You figured it out then?" Tango let his wing slide back into place.

"It's not like you to push the limits when it comes to inter-dimensional travel." Zedaph shook his head and pulled one of his legs up onto the couch he was sitting on. "So who are they?"

Tango smiled as the two disguised Netherites grumbled beside him.

"I'm Mumbo, surprised you don't remember me with my mustache."

"Grian," The other one replied, holding his wings in a way that reminded Zed of an experienced flier.

"Sorry I didn't recognize you Mumbo. You don't exactly look familiar." Zedaph paused, weighing the situation. "So why are you all here?"

Xisuma replied from where his small figure was wrapped up in a chair. "The poison is taking over, taking control of our camera men and a few of our friends. It wants the stones, and the only way to defeat it is to unite the stones." Xisuma's mask was off, since the air of the Aether was pure and healing. Fear twinkled in his sapphire eyes as he delivered that last part. "Everyone either was or is a guardian or protector of the stones."

Tango took over as Xisuma sank back into the chair. "I have the Nether Stone, Mumbo the Overworld Stone-"

"Squeal!" Mumbo blushed as another pig spawned, only making Zedaph frown in confusion.

Tango shook his head with a smile and continued. "Right on time Mumbo. Xisuma has the void stone, Iskall is a protector of the knowledge. You have the Aether Stone, which is why we came here."

Zedaph sank back and pressed his fingers to his temples. "What about Grian and the other guy?"

"Xequla?" Tango turned his head towards the silent man. "It's complicated."

"Uh-huh."

Xequla narrowed his eyes, but still remained silent. Zedaph gathered his thoughts and tried to measure the situation.

"You want me to leave my wife and kids with no support, when the council is about to take my stone away so you can unite the stones?" He knew he was being selfish, but he had a family to support. Who knew what the council would do to his family if he left with the stone.

Tango was clever though, so he knew how to persuade Zedaph to join them. "Your family won't have a life if you don't help us. Plus, why would you want to have the stone taken away from you? I let my king do it, and I deeply regret it."

"Very well then." Zedaph sighed and got up. "I shall come with you. But on one condition."

"Name it." Tango promptly replied.

"You fix the time continuum."