What goes on next

"Alright, take one step at a time," Alex said, "Don't think too hard and let it come naturally to you. The more you practice the easier it will be."

Vito and Terra were currently practicing how to move while controlling the life force within them, allowing it to flow from one body part to another.

Each time they took a step they would pose out one foot and arm in a different direction from each other and try to get the energy to flow in both places at once. Terra was having an easier time managing than Alex expected him to have. Vito on the other hand was much slower but was still making impressive progress despite the time he started at.

"Maybe we should have got Dawn to be the rival instead of Vito," the Earth spoke softly in the form of wind as it brushed against his ear.

"Don't be silly now," Alex said, "It was never a competition about who could do it better, this was only meant to give Terra a reason to not fall behind. He has a competitive nature in him."

"You only want Dawn after what happened recently back at the aquarium."

Alex was now reminiscing about the moment he was called and informed about the incident in the aquarium.

****

"Alex, I need to speak with you, it's urgent! It's about Dawn!"

Alex was feeling tense, the Earth had suddenly called on him like this without any warning despite knowing that it would leave his body unattended and vulnerable. For it to do this, it had to have been important.

"Earth, what's wrong? What is the situation?" he asked with his hand stretched out trying to calm down the tree.

The tree that was on the hill violently shook in place as some of its leaves fell down, the air felt heavy and humid making it hard for a normal person to breathe correctly, the clouds were grey and filled with rain and the entire hill itself felt like it was about to commence an earthquake.

"Dawn! DAWN!!! He-h-he, he learned life force control!!!!!" The tree said excitedly!

The clouds now began to clear up and the wind loosened and felt more refreshening. The sunlight was brightly shining upon Alex and the ground felt softer to the touch. The tree was still shaking violently but it became apparent that it wasn't out of fear, but excitement.

Alex could not believe this, he was called here out of the blue because the Earth was excited to tell him this. 'Could it not wait?'

"Alright, I'll be taking my leave now, make sure to tell me the rest later, Okay?," Alex said as he turned around and waved goodbye.

"Waiiit! Alex!! This is Important!!!" The tree whined and crossed its branches together. It was clearly upset that Alex was leaving.

"You barely even come here anymore and whenever you do it's always business or training those two boys. We don't spend time like we used to.."

"I am busy, that's why!" Alex replied half annoyed because his body was left standing in a hallway completely vulnerable. Even if he was in a secure position, he wouldn't wish to leave himself open like that.

"I said not to just pull me in like you used to. And you did it anyway for this? It's not a bad thing but it is also something that could wait. I am going back to my work now."

"Alex, wait!" The tree stopped him once more and the wind felt heavy once more. Alex stopped to listen and begged on the inside that this wasn't just another show that the tree was putting on.

"You need to know the reason why Dawn learned lifeforce control. You need to know what triggered it," the tree said.

The tree went on to explain to Alex everything that it felt, it could not simply take over the body of a representative but it could feel when they were in pain and would provide healing to stop that pain. And sometimes it would try to make them conquer it.

After Alex had heard of what happened he realized that this matter was far more serious than ever. "Of all times for it to try to make a move, it had to try now? I guess with the world ending it would be fitting for us to experience two apocalypses at once."

"I will have Minty close down the Aquarium. No one is allowed to go there anymore. Not until I make some changes the the location of that thing."

"It can't escape but, I won't take any chances. I didn't even know it could create smoke like that in the first place, but I am glad to know that you stopped it. If I am correct, it won't be making another move like that since it took a heavy blow from the first one."

The tree behind Alex looked to be morphing as its branches twisted and turned with each other and its old leaves fell down to the ground. Immediately after, new leaves were sprouting out, and a cheery blossom flower had fallen from its branch onto Alex's shoulder.

"Do you think we should tell them about it?" the tree asked.

"Eventually there will be a time when we have to. But for now, let us focus on one situation at a time and the greater between the two, we need Terra to win that tournament and come home safely. Otherwise, there won't be anything left for us to tell them about," Alex said.

"Alex, I understand what you have said, but there is one problem," the tree said.

"And what might that be?" he asked.

"We can't shut down the Aquarium, Timmy is in there!" the tree shook its leaves again.

"Timmy?" Alex asked confused.

"Timmy the shark! I just told you this! We need to at least get him out of there, maybe get him his own fish bowl or move him to Dawn's room so they can sleep together at night." The tree went on and on with suggestions until Alex finally stopped it.

"Wait, let me get this straight, you are talking about a fish?" he asked.

"Yes!! And not just any fish, Timmy the Shark! Keep up!"

Alex stared at the tree for 5 seconds hoping that it was joking but after receiving no such confirmation he turned around and opened a portal back to his body.

"Don't you ever change Earth, you are adorable," he said as he walked through.

"Alex!!" the tree shook in shock, "Don't just compliment me and leave, come back here!! We need to talk about Timmy!"

But before it could stop him Alex had already gone.

****

In an office room lying down on a bed, Sasha was carefully watching the unconscious body of Alex. For some reason, if he was taken away while his eyes were still open then he wouldn't close them no matter how much time had passed.

Sasha poked Alex's face to see if there truly would be no reaction.

*Poke.*

"Mhm." *Poke, poke."

"Mhmm." *poke, poke, poke, poke, pok-*

Alex opened his eyes right as she was about to poke him again and this scared her so much she jumped back downwards and landed on her butt while simultaneously breaking her clipboard.

"Ooww, don't scare me like that," she said as she picked up her broken clipboard. "At least the glasses are still safe," she smiled.

Alex didn't even bother questioning this, he was far too used to it by now. "How long was I gone for?"

"1 hour and 15 minutes" she responded while fixing her composure. Mainly her hair.

"At least it wasn't too long. This time. Let us get back to work, we have much to do. We need this building finished as soon as possible."

"And one more thing put Minty on the phone, tell her it's urgent."

****

"Alright, you both have done very well. That will conclude today's training. Now what I want the two of you to do is to start practicing to do this outside of here. That is far harder than doing it in here. I will check in on you to see what type of progress you will make."

Vito and Terra had agreed to do this and were now on their way back to the base. Leaving Alex and the tree alone together again.

"So about Timmy, I already have the perfect fish tank we can put him in, he is going to love it."

"Earth," Alex said, "We can't put a shark in a boy's bedroom."

"But why not!?" the tree cried as it shook its leaves.

"Because it is unorthodox. And he has roommates mind you, how will they feel about a shark sleeping right next to them?" Alex asked.

"They wouldn't mind Alex! And what if something happens to him? That shark loves Dawn, I could feel it. Why must we separate those who love each other?" the tree asked.

"Even if it does, nothing bad is going to happen to it, you know that the thing in there doesn't feast on animals and the glass that is around there would prevent the smoke from touching them. And besides, with what just happened I am not confident enough to allow anyone else but myself to go down there."

"And I am not confident enough to go back down there again. Not yet. You know what happened last time I was near it." Alex had clenched his fist as his hand was shaking. This place was one of the only places where Alex would comfortably show his weakest state.

The tree that was behind him had bent over and gave him a back hug. "I am sorry that you are not the representative anymore, if you were then I would have liked to comfort you in a way better than this one, but this is all I can do. Alex."

"It's okay," Alex said. "You've done enough for me. Don't you think it is time that you start to pay attention to your new representative? I won't be here forever and you know that. And if all goes well, then I will be able to rest sooner than I had planned to."

Alex and the tree remained quiet and allowed for the wind to be the only source of sound between them. After staring at the sky for some time, Alex decided it was time to leave, he didn't have time to take a break yet. He would only rest when he was certain that he would not be needed anymore.

'Minty should be going on a mission with them starting tomorrow. I just hope she won't be too rough with them,' he thought to himself.