The following week at the Stargazer Academy was filled with excitement and anticipation. Professor Maxwell had made an announcement that sent ripples of curiosity through the students. They were going on a field trip to the Nocopo ruins in Antarctica. It was an opportunity none of them wanted to miss, a chance to explore the ancient civilization their powers were connected to. A few weeks later, the group found themselves on an expedition to Antarctica, standing before the fabled Leoht ruins. The air was frigid, and the ancient city lay buried beneath layers of ice and snow, its secrets waiting to be uncovered. The group huddled together, their breath forming clouds in the icy air. Mote flitted around them, his ethereal form shimmering with excitement.

"We've come a long way to study this place," the professor said, his voice resolute. "Let's stick together and be cautious and respectful. We don't know what we might find down here."

Eary took a gulp and ventured deeper into the ruins, guided by the faint glow of the prismatic crystals that adorned the ancient city's structures. Mei and Calvin combined powers to create a sustainable climate barrier which clashed with the eerie atmosphere. As they explored, each group member couldn't help but feel the weight of history pressing down on them. They soon found a clearing among the frozen debris. Alice and Denby, with her telekinetic abilities and his super strength, moved aside debris for the party to set up camp.

Each of the students and soldiers were given specific task by the professor. Eary was paired with Decan to search for Nocopo artifacts.

"Looks like we got lucky, being paired together and all," Decan said smoothly.

"Looks like your luck power is in full swing, I'd say," Eary replied grinning.

"Alright you two love birds, let's get a move on. We've been givin' the most important job of all," Mote said as he materialized and took the lead.

"What's that, Mote?" Decan inquired curiously.

"Lootin', kids! A time honored past time, it is. So get to mozeyin'," Mote replied dismissively.

Decan and Eary smiled at the moteling's antics as they ventured deeper into the frigid ruins.

The were vast and every step they took felt more foreboding than the last. Decan's lucky powers guided them to various artifacts, each holding a piece of Leoht's history. Eary couldn't help but marvel at the intricate craftsmanship of the objects they discovered, their beauty juxtaposed against the frozen world surrounding them.

Mote suddenly manifested in a flash of blue light, quietly observing from Eary's shoulder so as not to be seen or heard.

"Can you feel that, short stuff?" Mote asked as he blindly flew into the darkness.

Eary quickly pursued after the moteling with Decan close behind. When they finally caught up with Mote, he could not believe his eyes. Standing next to Mote was a slightly smaller, red and white moteling. They couldn't hide their astonishment as Eary and Decan approached the pair. The presence of another moteling in these ancient ruins was unexpected, and it raised countless questions. Eary knelt down, extending a hand toward the red and white moteling. It was slightly smaller than Mote, with vibrant colors against the icy surroundings.

"Who are you?" Eary asked softly, his voice filled with curiosity.

The red and white moteling regarded Eary with bright, inquisitive eyes.

"I am Anu," she replied in a gentle, melodic voice. "Of the moteling tribe. We have watched over these ruins for eons, hidden from those who would seek to disturb their secrets."

"Hey now, toots! We ain't no run-o-the-mill trespassers, here. I'm a motha fuckin' moteling like you, babe!" Mote exclaimed as he then quickly turned his attention to Eary. "Sweet guess on my species name. Of course they would be named after me."

"Indeed, Mote," Anu replied in minor annoyance. "You're presence has been... missed."

"Of course it has!" Mote replied earnestly. "By the way, ya don't got some sort of fix for memory loss, do ya?"

Anu let out a great sigh before replying. "Are you under the spell of another of your legendary blackouts?"

"Now is that anyway to talk to your name sake, toots? I'm like, what, king around this hole or somethin'?" Mote stated smugly.

"You were actually removed from your station as king." Anu replied sternly.

Mote's jaw dropped in astonishment.

"How the fuck do ya remove king Mote from the motelings? What is this, Roseanne?" Mote protested.

Eary shook his head in disapproval before whispering to Mote,

"The injustice of it all."

"Hell yes it is! A travesty! Who the fuck is king now? Take me to 'em! I'm gonna kick the shit out of that little bitch!" Mote ranted.

"Hmm. We need to purify you, Mote. Come with me, I will take you to the chamber of purity," Anu said.

"Chamber of purity? What kind of hokey shit is that?" Mote replied.

"It is the chamber containing the moss we survive on. It was a sacred gift to our people. It provides sustenance and prudence," Anu said in an angelic hum.

Mote fell silent. Eary could fell the frigid antarctic atmosphere plummet lower as the blue moteling's expression stayed in a state of suspended horror. Anu hovered in serenity, blissfully unaware. After a minute, Decan poked Mote with his finger. The moteling let out a sudden and large gasp, to which the two teens and red moteling jumped back.

"Oh... Oh..." Mote dramatically stated. "Kid, I just had the most fucked up dream of my life, I tell ya."

He casually said while smiling in relief to see Eary. His tempo changed drastically at the sight of Anu, to which he began to scream in panic.

"He has always been like this," Anu stated exhaustively. "Ever since after we got married."

The news made Mote scream even harder as he frantically crawled into Eary's coat. Anu's reaction was clear as she crossed her little paws.

"Get out here, now!" Anu demanded harshly.

Mote sheepishly stuck an ear and an eye out of Eary's jacket. He replied,

"Sorry toots, ya got the wrong critter. The name's 'Note'. I'm a noteling. Easy mistake actually. I ain't nearly old enough to be your dead-beat husband, no ma'am. I was actually created by this kids dad usin' magic and shit on his hamster. But ya are pretty cute, so no judge. But seein' as im only bringing up bad memories for ya... "Mote said before being pulled out of Eary's coat by the ear.

"Enough!" Anu said in anger as she yanked her delinquent mate from his hiding place. "It has been too many moons since you've been away. Is this about Tina?"

"Who?" Mote replied in confusion.

"You know of the one of which I speak! Her mass and tentacles were always your true weakness," Anu said in grief.

"Wait! I ain't into hentai. So ya got the wrong Mote. But if I was ya man, no eldritch horror would hold a candle to ya," Mote said smoothly.

Anu waived him on and vanished into the darkness. Mote was clearly shaken by the experience.

"Wait! Come back! I must know more... can I get your number," he called out into the darkness in vain.

Mote returned to his hiding place on Eary's shoulder. Faint mumblings about 'disgusting moss' and 'hot Anu' could be heard as the two carefully collected the artifacts they had collected and made haste back to camp.

As evening descended upon the Nocopo ruins, the group gathered around a campfire. They laid the artifacts out for Professor Maxwell. They gathered around as he studied the objects with great interest.

"These artifacts seem to resonate within the same light field as our powers do," Maxwell said. "Although faint, they still posses enchantments of various effects."

Mote, floating nearby, hissed softly to Eary. "There's somethin'... strange nearby."

The ground trembled beneath their feet, and a deafening roar echoed through the ruins. Emerging from the darkness was a massive, walking jug statue. Its eyes glowed with malevolent energy. Waves of darkness radiated from it, threatening to consume everything in their path.

Their battle against the malevolent jug statue was fierce and unrelenting. Eary and his friends fought valiantly, using their unique abilities in harmony to defend themselves and overcome the enigmatic foe. Mote, the mischievous moteling, darted around the battlefield, spitting acid and unleashing his ethereal powers. But even with their combined efforts, the walking jug seemed invulnerable to their attacks. Eary's white flames danced around him as he summoned their power.

"We need to find a way to break through its defenses!" Sakile commanded among the chaos.

Mei's created a scorching barrier around the group to protect them from the jug's dark energy attacks.

"Keep it up, everyone!" Calvin screamed, channeling gusts of air to disrupt the statue's movements.

Alice focused her telekinetic powers, attempting to immobilize the creature, while Denby and Sakile struck at it with all their strength. But the jug statue's durability was astonishing. It shrugged off their attacks, leaving the group frustrated and exhausted. It seemed as though they were at an impasse, unable to penetrate the darkness that shielded their enemy. Just as their hope wavered, Alice had a revelation. She concentrated, using her telekinetic powers, she lifted the prismatic crystals that adorned the ruins' structures. With a burst of effort, she hurled them at the walking jug, each crystal striking with pinpoint accuracy. The prismatic crystals emitted brilliant beams of light upon impact, piercing through the darkness that enveloped the creature. The statue let out a deafening roar of agony as the light seared its form. Eary seized the opportunity, his white flames burning even brighter. He focused his powers, directing a powerful surge of energy toward the weakened statue. The light engulfed it, disintegrating the darkness that had bound it together. With a final, thunderous explosion, the walking jug statue shattered into countless pieces, its malevolent energy dissipating into the air. The group stood victorious, panting but triumphant. As the ruins fell silent again.

"We did it!" Mei announced cheerily.

The expedition party nodded in agreement and sighed in relief, their bonds as friends and comrades growing stronger with each challenge they faced. A soft voice spoke from the shadows as they were catching their breath.

"Impressive, indeed."

They turned to find Professor Maxwell emerging from the darkness, his eyes gleaming with approval.

"You've proven yourselves capable, and you've unlocked many secrets of this ancient place."

"Professor," Eary said, "do you know more about the Nocopo? What happened to them?"

The professor nodded, a knowing smile on his face. "The Nocopo were indeed remarkable... and mysterious. The true nature of their downfall is still yet unknown."

"And what about our abilities?" Mei asked. "How are we generating them?"

Professor Maxwell's eyes twinkled. "Your D.N.A.," Maxwell said. "The Nocopo were comprised of three sister races to humanity. Interbreeding is possible but rare. It is more than likely that you are all descended from a unique bloodline of the Nocopo. Which is where your powers are from, Ms. Wong."

Mote's ears again rose in unseen alert, "What's that?" He muttered as he flew off towards a darkened corner near the edge of the camp.

A great rumbling could be heard as rock and ice shattered and fell to the ground in all directions. Numerous statues sprang to life and were erupting from their icy sleep. They emerged in towering fashion, and in great numbers. Each wielding a stone weapon and an unnaturally limber stone body. When the shock wore off, Sakile commanded,

"Run, now,"

Panic set in as the team ran full sprint from the ancient guardians. Crashing of ice and stone erupted from all directions as the awakening statuary began to catch up. A large stone spear-man landed hard beside the fleeing party. The resulting impact knocked Eary to his feet. He quickly rolled to safety only to find a reaching stone hand descending upon him. A quick flash of blue light and the hand recoiled instantly. Eary got to his feet while Decan and Luke pulled him to safety. He glanced back in horror to find the little moteling taking on eight statues at once with more closing in.

"Mote!" Eary cried as he was pulled away.

The crumbling rock and ice of the cave signified another danger.

"Cave-in!"

Eary heard a voice scream as he was carried away. He watched as the stones fell in front of the path back to Mote. Small glimmers of blue light could be seen before the darkness over took the spectacle.

They regrouped with the professor who had already packed.

"We need to return to the surface! Follow me!" He called out.

In a swirl of chaos, Eary was dragged to the surface. His friends rallied around him, his grief obvious. To all but the professor, that was.

"Goodbye, Mote," Eary whispered out the window as the craft ascended to return to Bright Hope.