New Allies; New Techniques

"Your arm should be healed in a couple of days thanks to that nurses' healing magic." Mr. Toruga said as he turned Riba's arm, which was once more confined to a cast, to examine it.

"But I need to be better now! What if Thea comes back?" Riba protested and sat upright in his bed.

"Relax, you've done enough." Mr. Toruga growled and pushed Riba back down.

Mr. Toruga had a funny way of presenting concern, forcefully keeping Riba down to make sure he healed. It was equivalent to slapping someone and exclaiming, "GET BETTER I CARE ABOUT YOU".

Riba couldn't help but grin brightly as Mr. Toruga grumbled and yanked the blanket up to Riba's shoulders.

"Come down to breakfast when you're ready ok?" He said, softly this time, and got up to leave.

"Thaaanks~" Riba called after him in a silly voice.

Mr. Toruga scoffed and disappeared out the door. The village had already begun to undergo repairs, as if the attacks were of natural occurrence. Just the thought of this was rather sorrowful. Light smoke rose off the city, less dense and intoxicating as the previous night, but still visible and a solid reminder of the hell they had to endure. Kara purred and rubbed against Riba's cast as gently as possible to express her concern, and Riba whistled for her to hop onto his shoulder. Once he was finished stroking her head, he got up and went to leave. The dining area was brimful with people, the generality of them were there on account of their homes being destroyed. This just caused Riba to become more miserable. Surprisingly he was able to spot Korra, Gareth and Mr. Toruga through the sea of people, and joined them as they ate.

"Morning." Gareth and Mr. Toruga said simultaneously, looking at each other the moment they did.

Korra remained silent, but not in the angry manner she usually was in. Riba sat down and began to spread jam on a piece of bread.

"Sooo...now what?" Riba asked, taking a bite.

"We can go home right? We won!" Gareth cheered, sitting upright.

"No we didn't! Weren't you listening? Thea's going to recover and once she does she's coming back!" Korra snapped at him, causing him to pout and slink back down.

"Korra's right. Thea will return and we need to be ready when she does." Mr. Toruga nodded.

"Well, as you said we're capable of protecting ourselves, we can take her on." Riba said, banging his left hand on the table.

"Don't get cocky. Thea isn't a force to be reckoned with. She's dangerous."

"Well, how can we prepare for this...?" Gareth asked quietly.

Mr. Toruga closed his eyes to think. Then opened his eyes.

"You three arrived after she had used it, but there is a technique she uses that it rather powerful."

The three leaned closer.

"It's like my duplication technique. It's called 'Duplication Storm'."

"Isn't that a technique that allows the user to create a GROUP of duplicates?" Korra asked.

"Eight, to be exact. Well done Korra." Mr. Toruga praised her.

Riba frowned and looked over to her.

"What's so special about that?" He asked rather dumbly, and instantly knew he'd regret it.

It was already blatantly obvious as to why such magic was powerful.

"You could be surrounded by fakes while the real one attacks among them, or from a distance."

"Oh..."

"Luckily there is a Technique known as, 'Mystery Revealed'. It transmits a large shockwave that deactivates ANY Mystery Class technique." Mr. Toruga spoke up once more.

"Oh no...we have to learn it don't we...?" Gareth groaned, crestfallen.

"If there's a Strike Class cave here, yes." Mr. Toruga replied complacently.

~o~

The man laughed as the people ran in fear, bruised and bloody, some struggling to keep on and others collapsing from blood loss."

"How wonderful master~ Seeing people run in fear makes me all giddy!~"

"That's not what matters. What matters is getting to Runeswick."

"Lucky for you, this is the last village on the way~ Next stop, Runeswick~"

"Excellent."

~o~

After the group had filled their stomachs and were ready for the day, they headed out to the disastrous down awaiting them. Construction was underway in every direction they looked. Korra eyed it sorrowfully.

'This must happen all the time...' She thought to herself with a frown.

"Are we going to ask someone around here?" Gareth asked, tugging on Mr. Toruga's sleeve like a lost child.

He nodded in response and approached a dejected and weary looking man.

"Hello, sorry to bother you sir. My comrades and I are looking for your Ancient Caves. Do you happen to have any Strike Class caves here?"

'So sophisticated!' The kids thought simultaneously.

The man looked up, disinterest surging through him.

"Yeah.." He sighed tediously and pointed, "...that way."

"Can you bring us there?"

He sighed, irritated, and nodded.

"Sure..."

"Jeez, what a square..." Riba whispered to Korra with a wink.

To his surprise, she giggled, but proceeded to blush and turn away, considering his attempt a failure once again.

"So, what's your business in Mosu..?" The man asked in an attempt to seem less like a wet blanket.

"We're here on official Warrior business."

'Could they be here because...?" The man began to notion to himself.

After a silent walk, they arrived near the outskirts of the city, the Strike Class cave loomed over them.

"Here you are..."

"Thank you. Go on, head in and learn Mystery Revealed."

"Ok! Wish us luck!" Korra smiled.

"Good luck." He replied flatly but curved his lips into a small grin.

The three waved and dissapeared into the darkness of the cave.

"Those are some nice kids you got there..." The man sighed.

"The best kids." Mr. Toruga beamed.