~Chapter 4- Trapped~

Aero rushed to the debris of rocks obstructing their path and begins tossing them aside. At least until there was another tremor when he pulled the wrong rock out.

"Careful!" The Masked Boy shouted, "This is all your fault! If you stopped being difficult and gave me the orb, everything would've been fine! We didn't have to fight!"

"My fault!? You're always the one picking fights!" Aero shouted back.

The Masked One shook his head and looked around their environment. Aero eyed the purple orb of light that was floating just above his hand.

"How are you making that light anyways? I've never seen anyone maintain Focus like that."

"Focus light? You really don't know how to make one?"

Aero shook his head. The Masked One casted the orb of purple light towards a wall. He flexed his hand and formed another one, "It's a pretty low energy technique. Where I'm from, it's pretty much a necessity to learn how to make one."

Aero watched carefully as the Masked Boy created his Focus Light and attempted to make his own. He formed a red orb that quickly dissipated.

"Don't pump too much energy into it. If you do it right, it should maintain its form, and the light will sustain itself."

Aero tried again. This time the orb maintained its light, although it was rather small in comparison to the Masked One's. Aero and the Masked Boy heard a groan in the room. It was Cook waking from the blow he was dealt.

"What's going on?" Cook groaned, looking around the nearly pitch dark room. His eyes sharpened as he spotted Aero, "What're you doing here?"

"I'm here to bring you back to prison," Aero responded.

The Masked Boy said, "There was a cave-in. Don't do anything too crazy, or it might collapse even more."

Cook procured a wick of flame at his fingertips for light, "How is it that I keep running into you strong kids?"

"Well, we can't fight now. Might as well try and look for a way out," The Masked One said.

The three explored what little space they had, hoping to find a way out. Aero rubbed his arms in an attempt to keep himself warm. He created another Focus Light, this time matching the Masked Boy's.

"You said where you're from, everyone uses this ability? Where are you from exactly?" Aero asked.

He paused before answering, "The Lands of Ranuulo."

"Where's that?"

The Masked Boy scoffed, "You should know. You were born there. Both of us were."

Aero shook his head, "I'm not sure about that."

"Your dad kept a lot from you, didn't he?" He responded.

"Okay, how do you know about me and my dad?" Aero asked, "You seemed to know me when we first met too."

"We have other things to worry about right now, Aero."

Aero is quiet for mere seconds before asking another question, "You said you were gathering these orbs to reunite with those you care about. Where are they?"

"You don't need to know about that."

"And what about that mask? Your face isn't scarred or anything. Why do you wear it?"

"That's none of your business."

"And what's your name anyways? We've fought so many times, but I still have no clue what to call you."

"Shut up! Geez, you're annoying!" The Masked Boy snapped.

Cook groaned, "I'm going to die trapped in here with you kids, aren't I?"

The Masked Kid placed a hand on a wall, "I'm going to fire a focus beam through the wall, see how thick it is. That shouldn't compromise its integrity."

"Go for it."

The boy pointed his finger at the wall and a beam of purple light struck it, slowly drilling into the wall. But when he stopped, it still hadn't gotten through it all, "That's not good."

"Worst case scenario, we could try to force our way outside." Aero said pensively, "It'd be risky; we'd only want to try that if we have no other option.

"There is a way that we could definitely get out..." The Masked One began, "If a complete set of orbs are completed, they can be used to imbue the user with more power. At least, they're supposed to. With that, I'm sure we could break free."

"No way! You're just trying to get the orb again. I definitely don't want to give you something like that."

"I don't want to do that either... From what I know, a completed power orb can only be used once. I don't want to waste it here," The Masked Boy tapped his foot, "We have to find another way. Maybe, if we split up, we'll find something."

The three splintered off in the dark and cold cave, hoping to find something, but there was no clear way out. Aero circled around to try and find the others. When he heard the Masked Boy's voice, he followed it, but there was another voice with him. It wasn't Cook. It was an unfamiliar voice.

"Figured I'd see you again," The Masked One spoke just loudly enough for Aero to hear.

"How are things proceeding, young one?" The unfamiliar voice said.

"I'm close. I'll be able to break through the barrier soon, thanks to this mask."

"Remember that things may not proceed as you expect. But you are on the correct path."

Aero turned a corner and found the Masked One speaking to a thin red-haired man with closed eyes and an eerie grin. But as soon as Aero spotted the man, he seemed to disappear. As if he blinked out of existence.

"Who was that!?" Aero asked.

The Masked One turned to him, "Who was who?"

"That guy you were talking to! He was standing right there!"

The Masked Boy shrugged, "No one else is here, Aero."

"I heard you two talking to each other!"

"I was just talking to myself. Let's keep looking."