23 Chapter 23: The Hiatus

"Axel!" 6 screamed jumping onto Axel. After he was convinced his leg had healed 6 tried to make Axel bend over, resulting in an awkward struggle of 6 slamming his hands into Axles back.

"It's ok Axel" laughed "I still have a spine" he said bending up and down

"I just can't believe it man! Are you really healed?" 6 asked

"Yeah" Axel said relieved "I don't know how but somehow I regained my body"

"Woooooohhhhhhoooooooooooo yehhhhh" cried Lily.

"Huh I guess your head is harder than lead!" B exclaimed.

Everyone was expressing their relief, everyone except Lance Nozuka that was.

"This…. Is beyond Reason!" "This isn't natural… even for a Shifter! Energy cannot be created or destroyed? So how in the heck did every bone in his body heal, or rather regenerate!?" Lance thought.

As Axel went around hugging each of his companions, Lance stood in cognitive dissonance trying to figure out how Axel had recovered.

"Was my prognosis wrong? I heard he had power over water? Not healing Injuries! No it doesn't matter! Even if his power had literally been regenerative healing, he was completely incapacitated! He had no time to heal! Further... Even if he had healing powers…. for his healing powers to be at such a high level when he hadn't even awoken them doesn't make any sense at all! No matter how I go about this, things just don't make sense… but then again…

Lance looked up at Axel.

The chatter in the circle fell quiet as the two came into contact.

"You really had me there that one time…. you told me you were ready to die... but it looks like you went through quite a lot in order to survive didn't you?" Lance remarked

"That's right" Axel said confidently "I can't die yet, not until I fulfill our promise!"

Lance let out a sigh of relief.

"Just as I thought, the person I'm talking to truly is Axel; it isn't an imposter, it would seem that logic and reason didn't apply to this guy after all."

"Guys... I called you here not just to see that I'm alive and well... But also to express my gratitude" Axel said bowing his head "Thank you guys so much for taking care of me! I really appreciate it! What you guys did was brave and courageous and I am forever in your debt!"

"Brave? Courageous? Aren't those the words you should be using to describe yourself?" Asked Lily

"What are you talking about?" Axel asked

"Have you forgotten the events that brought us there in the first place?" Lily said

"You stood up for me even with no power with no way of fighting back…." 6 began

"And it was an opponent who I myself probably woulda lost too... for that one Ax you get serious props from me!" B said fist bumping him.

"Yeah man what you did was moving... and it's sad to say that if the shoe was switched I don't think I could have done this good a job ... or done it at all!" Reggie admitted.

"Yeah it goes without saying Axel, if it wasn't for you I wouldn't be here, if anyone is thankful it's me!" 6 said.

After all was said and done, everyone's eyes turned to Lance, the only one who hadn't weighed in on the situation.

"Hmphhhh" he said admitting defeat, "Fine I'll admit it, I won't stand here and try to deny it" Lance said crossing his arms.

"You were able to look despair in the eyes and given every opportunity to run you went on knowing your life was on the line. So do you still know what it means? Have you figured out what it's like to have your life on the line and fight?" Lance asked.

"Yeh I have, you were right. Before that moment, everything else I had been through seemed easy...I learned full on exactly what it means to put your life on the line…" Axel said scratching his head.

"But that doesn't mean I don't want to fulfill our promise!" Axel said, extending out his fist. "Let's make that pledge once again! You said to speak with my fist right? Then let's settle it with a fist bump!" Axel said grinning

Lance carefully examined Axel hand contemplating if he should bump it. Seeing the unforgiving stars of his peers he reluctantly extended his out as well, meeting Axel's.

"Heh I'm impressed" "You're definitely not a loser anymore." Lance said

"Thanks man that comes with that means a lot coming from you."

"Yeah you did a pretty good job… for a weakling" Lance said dropping his hands.

"What!" Axel said getting in Lances face. "Who are you calling a weakling?

"You couldn't handle two little teenage Shifters? And you want to be in the SPA? Are you kidding me? Lance laughed.

"What you're still a teenager to yourself! Are you telling me that YOU could have done better?"

"Tsk I could have done way better!"

"Then what was holding you back?"

"My main priority was making sure you stayed alive! Or did you forget about that?" Lance said scoffing.

Axel began to sigh looking down at the ground, there was nothing he could say back.

"Besides, I didn't want to waste my time fighting weaklings HAHAH" Lance laughed

Axel shook his fist in frustration. Why did Lance always act like he was better? Remembering what his brother said earlier Axel regained his confidence smugly smirking at Lance.

"Well, laugh all you want because I'm not going to be a "weakling" for much longer!" Axel declared.

"Huh?" said Lance

"I'm going all the way to the badlands to train for the next month! And when I come back I'll be stronger than you could ever imagine!"

"You really think you can catch up to me in one month of training?" "Ax you're not still dreaming are you?" Lance said laughing.

"Listen you bagpiping wind douche, I'm not gonna sit here and let you trash talk A man who just had his vertebrae-" Reggie said.

"Stay out of this Reggie! This is between me and him!" Axel answered.

Reggie gasped at Axel in shock.

"That's their relationship" 6 answered.

"Hmph! You're all talk! All you do is come after everything's over and give some kind of speech? HAHA who do you think you are!" Axel and Lance continued their argument in the background.

"You can't see it right now but Lance is keeping him focused on the next big thing, he's already forgotten about the tragedy that unfolded, and how he wasn't strong enough to protect himself. He's recovered his physical wounds, but the psychological trauma hasn't left him just yet. Lance is making sure he doesn't concentrate on that.

"How do you know he's not just being an asshole?" Reggie said belligerently.

"Did you see it back then when Axel was injured? Deep down I think Lance really-"

"What does it matter? You can train for a year 3 years 5 years 20 years and you'll never catch up to me!" Lance said crossing his arms.

"Oh yeah? How can you say that? You've got no idea what I'm capable of, I mean 2 days ago I didn't even have powers!!" Axel said grinning.

"Oh yeh? Well I'll be damned if I let that happen! For every day you spend training, I'll make sure to train twice as hard making sure you never catch up! In fact I'm not going to waste any time I'm off to rain right now!"

And with that Lance made his exit starting to walk on the path that lead out of the valley.

"You know what?" Axel said placing his hands on his hips "Me too! I'm not going to waste any more time talking! I've done enough of that… It's time for action! I'll see you guys in a month!"

"Sounds good to me, I can't have a long conversation without punching something anyway! Catcha in a month!" B said.

"Hey you guys think you can just leave me behind!" Lily said still in the center. "And everyone had just got back together too! ERRRG! Fine I'm not going to train… but I'm not going to school either!" She said taking her leave.

"What? You're not going to be there either? Everybody's ditching now? Fine I'm not going either!" Reggie said.

And with that each one of the friends took off in their own direction. The determination of getting stronger burned as they all made their way out of the valley.

"Wait!" Axel said.

After he had traveled a few feet, Axel had stopped walking. One by one the friends halted in their tracks reevaluating their positions.

"I definitely don't want to change anything I said….. But can we not leave on this note? After all we all just got together and it'll be quite some time before we all see each other again." Axel said

The group stood in silence with no one courageous enough to turn around and make the first step.

"We've been through a lot these last few days, and the last thing you want to do is get weaker from it, but you don't know when your last day is going to be…"Axel said clearing his throat "So if were gonna say goodbye…Let's do it on a good note! The last time I almost died… I didn't get the chance!" Axel laughed nervously. He walked back to the center of the trail where they had stood earlier with the others still standing with their backs turned.

"Alright! Let's bring it in guys" Reggie cheered, "We can't just leave Ax hanging can we?"

"Yehhh lets Huddle up!" Axel yelled.

"Aweeee yehh now we're talking!" Lily said beaming.

"Hey wise ass weren't you listening!" B said grabbing Lance by the by the neck and dragging him back to the huddle."

"Like I want to be a part of this nonsense!" Lance bickered.

"Alright guys, it's going to be a long time before we see each other A lot can change in a month. Before we go… Can you guys do me a favor? I want to know what the most important trait you have is!" Axel said.

"Hmmm why do you want to ask us that?" 6 asked.

"Well look around! Were all so different we don't really know much about each other!" Axel said laughing. "I think maybe this will help us do that."

"Let's start with you Lance what do you think?" Axel asked.

"Hmph" Lance said letting out a sigh "To me its values. Everyone has an invisible code of ethics that they follow, things that are sacred to them. I feel like the only thing that separates the good from the evil are values! If you understand how much a life is worth it becomes impossible to take one. For me if you don't have that you're not a Shifter, you're just a monster!"

"Someone who's made of false values will never understand real value," Axel said winking at Reggie.

"What?" Lance said looking at the two of them as they started chucking.

"Hehe its nothing" Axel laughed "Well what about you be what do you think B?"

"That's easy Strength!" "And I don't mean literally being strong physically, I mean being able to get up no matter how hard you hit! That's what's most important!"

"But what If you got hit by yourself B? Would you be able to stand up then?" Reggie asked sarcastically.

"Of course I woul….Hmmm… Yaknow what? I... I don't know!??? She said perplexed.

"Well what about you Reggie!" Axel asked laughing.

"Imagination!" Reggie said spreading out his arms.

"Being able to create new things, always being one step ahead, innovation is what this world is built on! Without technology and the imaginative minds behind it we wouldn't have any of the things we have today! Without imagination the world becomes Mr. Mqcue's chemistry class, and so does a person! Being able to use the cards life deals you the best you can, imagination is what's most important to me.

"Well what about you!" Axel asked 6.

"Friendship! Friendship is the most important thing! With the right friends you can sail any sea and weather any storm! Without it, the simplest things become impossible and with it hardest things become easy! Well that's what I've read on it anyway…" he admitted

"Lily?" Axel asked

"I… I thought this was obvious?" "Knowledge is power! Haven't you guys ever heard of that?"

"No, where did you get that from?" Axel said scratching his head along with the rest of the group.

"Honestly you guys should read a book sometime! It's an old saying they used to say in the ancient world, the one that existed way before ours did. I mean think about it you can't even tell the difference between your friends and your enemies without the power of knowledge, that's why knowledge is the most important."

"I see!" Axel said nodding his head

"I think I understand you guys a little better now!" He said exclaiming

"Wait a minute, what's your most important trait Ax!? Lily asked

"Yeah Mr. Know-it-all why do you even ask this question" Lance barked out.

"I wanted to see what keeps each one of you guys going… what you guys truly want. Right now I've come to a really good place and overcome many battles thanks to what was keeping the game going, so I wondered if it was the same for you guys."

"So what is it that you truly want? What is it that keeps you going?" 6 asked.

"Its dreams… dreams are what keep me going. I can have all the knowledge in the world but if I don't have somewhere to apply then what's the point?"

"Values are things I would gladly die for… but as for living… I can't imagine using just a code of ethics to justify my existence…"

"I could be super strong. Even become the strongest person on the planet but if I don't have anything to protect what's the point?"

"Imagination is great but without discipline and without a personal vision, it never takes form"

"And as for friends, friends are truly a source of strength that I cannot argue against. Without you guys… I wouldn't be here… but not everyone has friends! What does someone do when all their friends die?

Everyone was silent. For a moment there they wondered, what would they have done if Axel had died?

"Dreams never die! They last forever! And if you believe in them enough... They become real! After all, I'm standing here with you guys right now! Isn't that proof enough!

A silence passed over the group but it was a warm one. Each of them were grinning ear to ear in silent agreement with Axel's last statement. Axel getting his powers, then being snapped in half and now being able laugh and joke among them was much more than a dream come true.

"I see, so that's your answer" Lance said

"Yeah" Axel said

"Can't say I'm surprised" Reggie said laughing

"No definitely not surprised about that one" Lily laughed agreeing

"He Easy for someone who spends every day sleeping to say!" Lance scoffed

They all had a good laugh at that one.

"Alright Guys let's count to three and after that we'll say "Uhhhh…" Axel said looking around "What should we say!"

"Ha-ha how about one love!" Reggie said putting his hand into the center of the circle.

"We all have different dreams, goals and views, but at the end of the day it's love that keeps us all together one heart that beats for all of us!" Reggie said.

"Haha sweet Reg I like it! Where'd you come up with that?"

"It wasn't me, it was a saying a musical artist from the pre-shift era used. He's the one who inspired me to get these dreads!" Reggie said shaking his head.

"Alright one love on three then!" Axel said.

"One Strength!" B said putting her hand in the center of the circle.

"One knowledge!" Lily said putting her hand in.

"One Imagination!" Reggie said placing his hand over Lily's.

"One Heart!" 6 said placing his hand next

Axel and Lance were in a deadlock.

"You can't force me to do this!" Lance seemed to say with his arrogant stare

"One ARROGANT AIRHEAD!" B said slamming down Lances hand into the Pile!

"Wait what the-"Lance said trying to get his hand out of the pile

"Ha-ha ONE DREAM!" Axel said finishing the pile

"On 3"

"1, 2, 3,"

"One Love!"!

The group split apart and one by one the teens turned their backs and walked their separate paths. As everybody went their separate ways, 6 stopped Axel.

"Wait Ax" 6 said. "A month is a really long time, are you saying I can't visit you? Why don't we just train together?"

Axel turned around giving 6 a surprisingly stern look. "6 I'm not doing this because its fun... this is a challenge and right now we're not really friends, we're rivals." Axel said giving 6 a challenging look of intimidation.

"Think about it… If we were to be soaking up the Sun every day together while we train would that really be fair to everybody else?" Axel explained

"No… you're right" 6 admitted "But I don't want to be your rival! I don't want to fight against you to become stronger!"

"Well then don't fight against me! There's four other people in our group right? Just pick one of them!"

"How am I supposed to pick someone that I want to be stronger than, I don't want to become stronger than anybody I just want to be me!"

"Okay…. how about this, do you ever want to get saved by Lance ever again?"

6's eyes begin to burst open with blue flames as they covered the entirety of his body.

"Not like that, no… not ever again."

"Good, so I'll see you in a month then."

"Yeaaaah…" 6 said smiling "I guess so."

"And Ax…. Thanks for everything I really mean it."

"Thanks to you too Tristan."

6 grabbed his head as a memory flashed through his eyes.

"Tristan! NOOOO STOP THIS!!!!"

"You're not my real parents! You lied to me!"

"Oh did you not like the parents I provided for you? Then I will take them away!"

"NOOOOOO!!!"

"Dieeeeee!

"Why are you crying boy? Your parents, well your fake parents have failed you… I am the only one who understands…"

"They were all I had… You made them lie and then you killed them! I hate you!!!"

"Hahahaha live and let die my boy, live and let die"

"6 are you ok man?" Axel said watching as 6 grabbed his head.

"Yeh… I'm fine" 6 said "But can you stop calling me Tristan it's kinda weird?"

Axel scratched his chin. It was weird but for some reason he didn't even notice he had done that.

"Ever since that dream…" he thought

"Sorry…" Axel blushed "But do you honestly like 6 a number better?"

"Yeh!" 6 exclaimed "It was the nickname you gave me! I liked it then and I like it now!" 6 said smiling.

"Hehe alright then I'll see you in a month 6!"

"You got it Ax!" 6 said "By that time I'll have a secret handshake ready for us!"

"I look forward to it!" Axel said taking his leave.