Chapter 65-Team Noah's Sixth Member, Part Two

"God….I feel like shit…" Khione groans.

"Same…" Ana groans as well.

"It's because you ate all that food…" Mary replies with an awkward chuckle.

The two women groan.

"Anyways, where's Gaia?"  I ask as the five of us exit the motel.

But before anyone can answer, we hear some banging noise, and we turn to where we heard the noise, seeing that off in the distance, Gaia and Rocko are busy rebuilding Rocky Eats together.

"I suppose we should go help them out," Old-Man F smirks, and the five of us head on over.

"I TOLD YOU, IT SHOULD GO THIS WAY!"

"NO, IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE THIS!"

The SECOND that we head on over to Gaia and Rocko, we find…that they are ALREADY arguing.

"This early…" I sigh.

Gaia notices us, then storms on over, causing me to flinch.

"Wh-what did we do?!"  Mary cries.

"Fuckin' old-man…" Gaia grumbles as he stops before us, then shoves some hammers and nails into our hands.

"Come on, you're helping," Gaia orders, causing us to sigh as Gaia leads us over to the construction site.

A few days come and go, and after MUCH hard work…the new Rocky Eats has been finished!

Standing three stories tall and six thousand square feet…is the new Rocky Eats!

"Didn't we…over do it?"  Khione asks.

"Nah, this is perfect!"  Rocko exclaims as he stares up at the marvelous, fancy looking building beforehand, "FINALLY…we have indoor seating!"

"Thank you, you kids," Rocko says as he turns around to face the five of us, "Thanks to your help…my dream has not entered its second stride."

"Ahh…no problem," I reply as I sheepishly rub the back of my neck, "Using our E-Chargers for construction was actually pretty fun!"

"Yeah, and it made for great training!"  Ana adds.

"I feel like I learned a lot," Mary chimes in.

"No doubt, the five of us are MUCh stronger than when we first entered the Land of Earth," Old-Man F smirks.

Rocko holds a hand out to me, and I take it, and the two of us shake.

"Now, Gaia…?"  Rocko begins to say as he turns around to face his pupil.

"Yeah…?"  Gaia asks as his face brightens.

"WHAT ARE YOU STILL DOING HERE, GET THE HELL OUT?!"

"HUH?!"  Gaia recoils.

"EVER SINCE THE DAY WE'VE MET, YOU'VE BEEN TRAILING ME LIKE A LOST PUPPY!  DON'T YOU KNOW WHEN AN OLD MAN WANTS SOME PEACE AND QUIET?!"

Gaia growls.

"SCREW YOU, OLD MAN!"  Gaia snaps, then storms off.

But as Gaia storms away, Rocko can't help but to wear to the sky and laugh.

Gaia sniffles, and wipes his nose, then lets out a sad laugh, as well.

The rest of us smile.

And so…Team Noah has OFFICIALLY recruited our sixth member.

"Rocko…thank you," I say one last time, as I turn to face the old man.

"No problem," Rocko nods, "Now go!  Go after Gaia!  The world needs your help!"

"Right!"  I nod back, before turning to my friends, "Guys…let's go!"

"Yeah!"  Everyone cheers.

And as the six of us climb down Mount Gia one final time…the adventure resumes.

…

"Well…this is boring," Gaia sighs.

Currently, the now-six members of Team Noah are making our way through the desert wasteland.  However, Gaia just ISN'T having it.

"Whaaaat?"  I gasp, "This is the best part!  Hanging with friends, getting our steps in, seeing new sighs…I LOVE adventuring!"

"Seeing…new sights…?"  Gaia asks, "All I see is sand."

"Yeah, well…the new sights will come," I reply.

"And one more thing-" Gaia continues as he pushes his glasses up on his nose, and stares down at us, "I don't quite consider you lot my friends.  For now…we're business partners.  That's all."

"And allies?"  I ask.

"Comrades?"  Mary chimes in.

"Yes," Gaia sighs, "Allies and comrades.  Who fight together."

"Don't worry!"  I exclaim with a happy smirk, "We'll change your mind about us, eventually!"

Gaia cringes.

"Well you know what MY favorite part of adventuring is-?"  Khione begins to say.

"Training?"  Old-Man F giddily asks.

"ERR…that too…" Khione answers.

Old-Man F sighs.

"I just LOVE when night falls, and we set up our tents, and eat and watch the stars together!"  Khione exclaims as she spins around to face the rest of us and claps her hands together.

"Yeah, and now that we have Gaia, that part will, well…BECOME A LOT BETTER!"  Ana excitedly exclaims as she places both hands on Khione's shoulders.

Gaia looks up to the sky and sighs.

"Well…the sun will start setting soon, maybe I should get cooking," he says, "It'll be nightfall by the time we finish getting ready."

"YES!"  Khione and Ana cheer.

"I suppose an early dinner won't be the worst thing in the world," Old-Man F smirks, "We HAVE been doing a lot of fighting, lately."

"Alright, team!"  I boom as I clap my hands together, "Then let's-"

Gaia cuts me off.

"YOU-!"  Gaia barks as he jabs his spoon-wand at Mary, causing the small girl to flinch.

"M-me…?"  Mary whimpers.

"YES, YOU!"  Gaia barks, "SET UP OUR TENTS!"

"Y-yes, sir!"  Mary stammers, then hustles away to begin her assigned task.

"H-huh…?"  I ask.

"-AND YOU-" Gaia continues as he jabs his spoon towards Khione, "SET UP THE TABLE!

  "Um…okay," Khione shrugs as she raises an eyebrow at Gaia, but Khione goes off to do what she was told either way.

"-AND YOU-!"  Gaia continues as he jabs his spoon towards me, but before Gaia can finish, I reach up and lower his spoon down with one finger.

"Uh…it looks like you've forgotten, Gaia-" I begin to say, "But I'M the leader here."

"Oh, that's right," Gaia replies as he lowers his spoon, "I just get a little…PREOCCUPIED, when I cook."

"Like Mary when she heals people…" Ana shudders.

"It's just so easy to forget that you're the leader, is all-" Gaia continues as he turns away from me and begins prepping dinner.

"How come," I ask with a small smirk, "Is it because I'm such a kind and easy going leader?"

"Nah," Gaia answers, with his back still faced towards me, "It's because you're so weak."

I blink.

"Huh…?"

"Well I'M clearly the strongest on the team, and the Old SandMan is no slouch, easier, as my fellow Earth Charger," Gaia begins to explain.

"HEY!"  Old-Man F snaps.

"And Anemoi is strong too, as an E-Charger of one of the original four elements," Gaia continues.

"Oh, You can just call me ANA!"  Ana chimes in as she holds a hand up.

Gaia turns and peers over his shoulder at Ana.

"No."

Gaia then turns back to his cooking.

"Eh…?"  Ana grunts as she lowers a hand.

"And that Mary girl is an EXCELLENT healer," Gaia continues, "And Khione, too, with good offensive potential, to bout.  You…you're just…LACKLUSTER."

"LACKLUSTER?!"  I cry as I stomp towards Gaia and roll up my sleeve, "I'll show YOU lackluster!"

"There's only one thing I love more than cooking," Gaia growls as he spins around to face me, then aims his spoon towards me, "FIGHTING."

I stare up at Gaia and growl, while Gaia stares down at me, growling as well.

"Gentleman, PLEASE!"  Ana exclaims as she jumps in between the two of us, "We're on a team, we shouldn't be fighting!"

"YOU'RE ONE TO TALK!"  Gaia and I simultaneously snap.

"Fair point," Ana sighs, "But either way…we should be getting along, not arguing!"

"Gaia, why don't we finish making dinner, and then…we'll introduce ourselves to you over a fine meal!"  Ana continues as she turns to face Gaia.

Gaia continues staring me down.

Gaia then sighs.

"Fine," he says, then turns around to continue cooking dinner.

I sigh, then take a step back, as well.