Voila! The missing pieces are found
The dark night sky loomed above like a turbulent canvas, streaked with the electric fury of lightning. Jagged bolts carved their path across the heavens, followed by the deep, rolling growl of thunder that reverberated through the air. It was a phenomenon that felt all too familiar yet undeniably alarming, as if the storm had chosen this very spot to unleash its wrath upon the students below.
Amidst the chaos, the four Montenegro brothers formed an instinctive barrier, shielding the ladies from the relentless strikes of lightning. As the electrifying flashes illuminated their faces, the girls couldn't help but be captivated. They marveled at the brothers' extraordinary abilities, realizing these were no ordinary men.
Teresa, however, felt a stirring suspicion rise within her, remembering the mysterious condition of Tristan and the centaur she had encountered previously. Her instincts told her there was more to this story.
"Ladies, do not panic. You are all safe!" Dominic's voice cut through the tension, steady and reassuring.
"The four of you are extraordinary," Ingrid exclaimed, her eyes wide with wonder. "You possess unbelievable power!"
"Oh no! The lightning never stops attacking us!" Maria shouted, glancing up at the sky. "Why are we the targets?" "Hold on, Ms. Maria…" Rainier urged, trying to maintain calm.
"Tristan," Teresa said, narrowing her gaze. "This isn't just a coincidence, is it? You have something to do with this trouble." Tristan hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line, choosing silence over confession.
Kaeli stepped forward, determination etched on her face. "Everyone, let me try something. This is supernatural versus supernatural. I'm sure you won't be surprised…"
"What do you mean, Kaeli?" Ingrid asked, curious yet cautious.
Kaeli was the final hero in their group, embodying the essence of the air jewel. Her presence radiated an aura of resolve as she prepared to confront the tempest. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, calming her mind and body. Slowly, she lifted her hands, drawing upon a force that surged from within. As she concentrated, a powerful gust of wind erupted from her palms, pushing against the invisible barrier. Kaeli focused her energy, determined to counter the relentless storm. The winds swirled around them, intercepting the lightning strikes and gradually dispersing the heavy clouds above. But the effort was immense. Just as the storm began to relent, Kaeli collapsed to the ground, unconscious, having exhausted every ounce of her strength.
"Kaeli!" Everyone shouted, fear and worry lacing their voices as the scene unfolded. While the three brothers remained with Ingrid, Maria, and Teresa, Gabriel rushed to Kaeli's side, his expression resolute.
"Don't worry," he assured them, kneeling beside Kaeli. "She might be weak from losing control of her power, but I can heal and restore her." Maria turned to Teresa, her eyes wide. "Like us, Kaeli also had a jewel."
"I believe these powers come with responsibilities," Teresa replied thoughtfully. "That's why we felt threatened from the start. We might be the reason this unusual phenomenon is happening."
Ingrid nodded, her gaze shifting to the stone she had kept hidden. "I feel the same way. To add to the three of you, I also have a jewel."
She revealed her stone, a brilliant fire jewel shimmering in the dim light.
"Whooah… I can't believe this!" Maria exclaimed, astonished. "Kaeli! So you have that stone as well?" Ingrid asked, her voice rising with excitement.
"Yeah, I kept it hidden because I didn't want to scare anyone," Ingrid admitted, a hint of relief washing over her. At that moment, a sinister laugh echoed through the air, chilling them to the bone. It came from Dominic, whose expression had morphed into something unsettling.
"MMMMHHHHHMMM… HAHAHAHA… HAHAHA…" he cackled, his eyes glowing a menacing red. "Boys… Our mission is complete… They are now here… The four jewels…"
Tristan's voice took on a chilling edge. "We need the four jewels, ladies…" Kaeli stepped back, panic flooding her heart. "What? You helped us first, then you became traitors? What's wrong with you guys?!"
"Everyone, watch out!" Teresa shouted, her instincts kicking in. "Something is wrong with them! We can't hand over our jewels!" The tension crackled in the air, the girls' hearts racing as they stood together, determined not to yield to the brothers who had once been their allies.
An unsettling memory flooded Teresa's mind as she locked eyes with the brothers' evil red glare and heard their haunting laughter. The vague images resurfaced - those were the same beasts she and Maria had encountered in the cave.
"Now I know," she gasped, her voice trembling with anger and fear. "You were the ones who tried to reclaim our jewels before!"
"Indeed, we were!" Gabriel admitted, a sinister smirk spreading across his face.
"Ladies, we won't harm you if you cooperate with us!" Rainier added, his tone deceptively smooth, as if trying to lure them into a trap.
The girls exchanged determined glances, refusing to yield. Sensing their defiance, the Montenegro brothers raised their right hands, summoning their powers. Suddenly, hand-sized gems materialized in their palms, radiating an intense brilliance that outshone the girls' jewels. The atmosphere crackled with energy as the brothers displayed their true abilities.
To the girls' horror and awe, they watched as their jewels began to levitate towards the boys. It was then they realized that their smaller gems perfectly matched the larger stones held by the Montenegro brothers. Teresa's jewel connected with Tristan's, Maria's with Rainier's, Kaeli's with Gabriel's, and Ingrid's with Dominic's.
"No!" Teresa cried, desperation creeping into her voice.
"It's true," Maria added, panic rising. "Our jewels fit theirs. No wonder they need them so badly!"
Ingrid clenched her fists, frustration boiling within her. "Small things really matter, don't they?"
Kaeli's brow furrowed in realization. "This completes their stones. What now?"
Teresa took a deep breath, determination igniting her spirit. "We must get them back before it's too late! I doubt they'll use this power for good!"
With resolve, Teresa charged toward the brothers, her heart racing. "Teresa, no!" the others shouted in unison, their voices echoing with urgency.
But Teresa was undeterred. As she prepared to strike, an invisible barrier repelled her, throwing her back hard against the ground. She landed with a thud, pain jolting through her body, but her determination burned brighter than ever.
"Arrgghhh!" Teresa groaned, clutching her side where she had landed.
Maria rushed to her side, concern etched on her face. "Are you alright?" "I don't think we can just let them win in this predicament," Kaeli said, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "But we feel so helpless!"
Ingrid pointed to the sky, her eyes wide. "Look… the stones are intact!" The four gems, now complete, radiated an overwhelming energy that threatened to unleash a catastrophic force. Just as it seemed they would be engulfed in destruction, a figure appeared in an instant, standing between the girls and the oncoming attack. Who was this mysterious savior?
Dressed in a loose brown t-shirt and black denim pants, the man conjured a barrier to shield the girls. As he did, he utilized his time-freezing ability to temporarily halt the impending chaos.
The girls, initially frozen in fear, shifted their stances, curiosity overcoming their trepidation. Who had saved them? As time stood still, the figure turned toward them, his face lit with a warm smile.
"It's been a while… How are you, my ladies?"
Maria and Teresa gasped in unison, "Michael!"
Ingrid's eyes widened in recognition. "Oh, you both know him? I've seen you before. So, you are Michael!"
Kaeli breathed a sigh of relief. "You're here! Thank goodness!"
Maria's voice quivered with gratitude. "We are saved! We owe you our lives. I thought we were destined for the heavens." She wiped away tears, feeling a wave of relief wash over her.
Teresa frowned, her determination resurfacing. "But what about those four who stole our jewels?" Ingrid nodded in agreement. "Yeah… we need to defeat them to get our jewels back."
Michael raised a hand, his expression calm yet serious. "Relax, my girls… They're supposed to be your comrades. However, they are under the influence and control of someone far more powerful than I."
Maria raised an eyebrow, skepticism lacing her voice. "What? If they were really our enemies, then what a waste of their existence!"
Teresa's brow furrowed with concern. "What are those gems for? If we each have a spare part, why do they need them so badly? Who are these people?"
Michael sighed, sensing their urgency. "I know you have many questions, but I can't give you simple answers. We don't have enough time. The time-freezing ability I have will only last for an hour."
"It's okay," Teresa replied, steeling herself.
Michael opened the barrier, his tone firm yet encouraging. "All of you, immediately retrieve those gems!"
The girls hesitated, uncertainty flickering in their eyes, but Michael's unwavering confidence reassured them. With determination reigniting within them, they relented and hurriedly reached for the gems one by one.
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