Child of Time (11 page)

Kiyan met Ray, Addy, Fred and Jeremy at the lake.
Jeremy had already made the surface of the lake as smooth as a
mirror. The five were soon swimming and playing in the water
enjoying themselves. Kiyan tried a new technique of manipulating
the water that both Jeremy and Kiyan had learned a day or so ago.
It involved repelling the water in the lake from the water in their
bodies. The desired result was that they could levitate over water
and bend from the air above it. Kiyan had already figured out how
to bend a shell of water around him and repel the lake water from
that. The result was not levitation but the ability to slide across
the lake at remarkable speeds. It was like when a drop of water
sets on the surface without being absorbed. The boys found with a
little tweaking and shaping they were able to increase their speed
even more. The natural result were water races that sped around the
lake. Kiyan was accused of cheating when he did a little
firebending and created a layer of super-heated steam between his
bubble and the surface of the lake. Friction was nearly eliminated
and Jeremy was soon left behind.

Kiyan saw Theo waiting on the beach when he returned
back to where Fred and Addy were waiting. He had gotten used to
being the only one that could see Theo most of the time. There were
times when Theo had shown himself to Corban to offer assistance on
occasion or when he was talking to Kendra. For the most part
Kiyan’s father liked to remain invisible.

Theo waited for Kiyan to come to a stop at the shore
before congratulating Kiyan on his discovery. “You might even be
able to water form soon at this rate. It took me years to figure
out how to bend multiple elements at the same time.”

Kiyan could tell something was bothering Theo. “You
seem worried about something, what is it?”

“The war might be coming sooner than we had
anticipated.” Theo responded. “We have never been able to trace our
own paths in time because we don’t exist in the same time flow as
everything else. We are able to see the probable futures and some
of the things that happen around us. Something is different now,
the futures are changing and we can't see why.”

After Theo disappeared Kiyan thought about the
warning he had delivered. The ascendants were worried. That was
new, they seemed to be prepared for most everything before it
happened. Whatever it was Kiyan was sure they would figure it
out.

After breakfast Kiyan prepared for the days lessons.
Meeting Ray at the shore of the lake Kiyan saw he was already
getting late. Ray shifted into his flying form and they were soon
winging their way toward the falls. The water almost turned aside
without Kiyan having to make a move and they were soon landed on
the training platform.

“Draxos and DC have some things they needed to take
care of so Fred and Kiyan are going to work on life bending today
and Jeremy will finish up his training of ice bending before the
end of the day in all likelihood.” The group was soon at the top of
the cliffs with the use of the gravity tubes and setting about
their tasks.

Kiyan had gotten used to life bending and didn't even
have to concentrate any more in order to see the life energy
flowing around him. Making plants change into what he wanted them
to be was difficult. It took him most of the morning to grow plants
from the seeds that he had been given and change them into the
assigned shapes. He let the energy from the surrounding area flow
into a seed, then he watched as it sprouted and grew into a blade
of grass. Kiyan fed energy into the blade until it began to swell
and grow, soon it was a small tree. Other times he was supposed to
take what would become a tree and make it into a flower.

“That's pretty good Kiyan.” Theo interrupted, “Watch
this.” Theo began showing Kiyan a memory. Kiyan watched as Theo
connected with a seed and began to feed energy into it. I grew much
like Kiyan's but faster, what had taken Kiyan an hour took Theo
mere seconds. In another few seconds the tree swelled into a forest
giant, crackling and groaning as it grew. After reaching a lofty
stature, Theo began to make changes at a level that Kiyan couldn't
see but could feel with Theo's help. The tree shifted until it
began to glow visibly, a few more moments and it was a majestic
glow wood. Theo suddenly stopped playing the memory and Kiyan felt
a note of alarm from him.

Kiyan refocused on the present. Casting his senses
around he felt Kendra and Carlisle who seemed disturbed as well.
Looking up into the sky he felt the same thing he had before but
this time it was much stronger, strong enough he was able to define
it. The feeling of intense hatred, an emotion that though alien to
him was familiar somehow. Something he had sensed before but long
ago. The name Dark One was associated with the strong emotion that
Kiyan could feel getting stronger.

Looking into the sky Kiyan saw tiny specks of light
growing brighter. Soon hundreds of them filled the sky, He
recognized them from the dream. The realization of what would
happen next hit Kiyan before he saw the smaller lights detach from
the large lights. He watched in horror as one of the smaller lights
remained in its place and grew larger. Realizing that it was headed
at his location shocked Kiyan into action.

He summoned all his strength and grasped the earth
around him, hurling it with all his strength at the light advanced
at him. The boulders collided and the light flashed as bright as
the sun then went out. Kiyan sank to the ground weakened from the
exertion. The earth around him was shredded. Another light began
streaking toward them. Theo appeared a moment before impact and
constructed a barrier of energy before it struck.

A moment later a wave of energy launched from Samtan
moving faster than any of them could see. It destroyed all the
smaller lights as it struck. Some of the larger lights appeared to
disintegrate as they were struck. Kiyan felt Kendra shift into
energy and race into the sky, he watched as she touched some of the
lights with her energy. Flashes of light marked her touch. He could
feel her rage as the sky was lit with her wrath. Kiyan surges in
the energy around him as Prometheus erupted into energy and joined
Kendra in the sky.

Kiyan felt regenerating energy surging through him
from Kendra and Prometheus. There was a wave of heat from Corban as
he shifted into a fire elemental. Kiyan saw the creatures then.
Lizard like beings with yellow razors like teeth and claws. They
reeked of hatred and disgust. Corban struck first. There was a
flash as Corban erupted into an inferno and engulfed dozens of the
creatures. Jeremy and Fred began to move bending earth and water at
the creatures as fast as they could. Addy grew thorns and plates in
a flash and began shooting spikes at any creature that dared
approach the group. Ray grabbed one of the drakken when it got too
close tossing it at another drakken. Kiyan blasted another one with
a flame. Adrenaline combined with the flow of energy from his
parents overtook Kiyan. Left and right he struck at the invaders.
Soon the landscape surrounding them was littered with the dead and
dying drakken.

There was just too many of them. More of them were
appearing out of thin air. Kiyan and Jeremy ice bent in unison and
a row of drakken left this life leaving icy statues in their wake.
Assailed with the emotions of the drakken Kiyan had an idea. He
twisted his thoughts with theirs and sent them at the drakken. He
felt their crude minds melt under the torrent of emotion. Unable to
stand the alien thoughts several dozen drakken dropped. Even more
were crazed in terror and turned on their allies in an attempt to
escape.

Kiyan began to think the battle was futile.
“Young
avatar, allow me to help.”
Kiyan felt the Keeper take control
of his body, the energy flooding his being. The skills of years
flowed through him. With a flick of his wrist he sent a dozen
drakken flying. With another flick another dozen burst into flames,
a twist and a bolt of lightning scorched a few more. The group
began pushing the drakken back with their combined attacks. Dozens
fell to the earth as Fred manipulated the ground to his will,
explosions from Corban thinned their numbers and several drakken
were frozen in various shapes of attack by Jeremy. Addy was a
whirlwind of destruction as she danced and sliced, dodged and shot
spikes at her opponents. Ray swung his trunks and trampled any
foolish drakken that drew near him. There were signs of the strife
present on all. Jeremy was limping and Fred had a nasty gash on a
cheek. Ray looked the worst. His hide had been scored deeply and
blood flowed freely.

They advanced toward the village until the drakken
took a different tactic. Ray was the first to fall when he shielded
Kiyan from the first barrage of plasma blasts. Corban blasted back
and tried to form a shield around them. The next assault claimed
Addy as she tried to protect Fred. Corban absorbed most of the next
blast but one shot was all it took to make Jeremy falter and fall.
His life blood pouring through a seared wound in his chest.

Rage coursed through Kiyan and a hundred drakken
turned to ash. There was still more and another barrage from the
drakken claimed Fred. Pain was a distant sensation as Kiyan surged
onward. The mental cries as the villagers being slaughtered seared
his mind. A blue dragon swept over them and attempted to grab Kiyan
but was driven off by fire from hundreds of weapons. Before being
driven back into the sky the dragon breathed cold fire into the
ranks of drakken. The dragon was not alone in the skies above
Loomis. There were several wreaking havoc on the drakken. The
drakken that were struck were turned into ice sculptures. There was
an explosion as Corban dissipated and scorched a hundred drakken.
Prometheus appeared and tried to defend Kiyan. Theo blasted holes
in the lines of drakken then turned to Kiyan and tried to heal him.
The healing energy seemed to have no effect on Kiyan's injuries.
Too much energy was flowing through Kiyan.

“There is only one thing that can be done Kiyan and
you know what it is. Before you go one gift for you. Ray will be
much more capable of protect you. Tell us and repair the future.”
The familiar sensation of time beginning to break down engulfed
Kiyan. He was able to dodge the blasts of plasma as they slowed
down. The flaming orbs of plasma slowed and finally stopped. The
burning was growing so Kiyan reached out and touched the drakken on
Thane. There was barely a change in the flow as Kiyan channeled
energy into the drakken, he felt thousands of drakken turn to ash
at his touch.

Finding no more drakken on Thane he reached out to
Samtan, after their initial attack they had been overwhelmed with
drakken. The wasted lives of countless humans numbed Kiyan's mind,
the drakken must be gone. Horrific slaughter met Kiyan’s senses no
matter where he turned. Here and there benders were holding out. On
Samtan a small fleet of fighters were trying to hold back the
constant flood of oncoming drakken. These fighters were supported
by dozens of dragons. The fighters were having as much effect
holding back the drakken as a sieve has of holding back water.
Kiyan reached out with fire and touched the multitude of drakken.
They hardly abated the growing energy as they were vaporized.
Feeling like he was burning up he reached out and touched the fleet
of ships in orbit, tearing them apart. There was more of them,
Kiyan could feel their minds. He followed the emotions of hatred
and found thousands more ships approaching. A sizzle and they were
no more. Millions of drakken fell victim to Kiyan’s rage.

Reaching out farther than he had ever before Kiyan
followed the polluted trail to a hole ripped in the fabric of
space. A place where the flow of time and space was damaged, a void
of all energy. Burning white hot now he channeled the energy into
the hole watching it shrink as it absorbed the energy. The hole
soon was gone and the anomaly faded from space and time. The portal
used to invade this universe was no more. As the overwhelming
sensations faded Kiyan felt the horror of the situation for the
first time, he had killed hundreds of thousands of drakken over
hundreds of light years with a thought.

-----------

Theo watched as Kiyan practiced his firebending. He
was getting quite good at it. Uncovering some memories helped but
Kiyan was naturally talented. He was able to pick up concepts and
put them into practice faster than even Theo could remember himself
being able to. Kendra joined Theo as Kiyan blasted a pillar of rock
that Fred had bent up.

“Kendra is it just me or is Kiyan's bursts getting
hotter?” Theo was noticing a disparity in what Kiyan should be able
to do and what was happening. Kendra was about to respond when the
pillar melted into a puddle of lava. Kiyan looked confused and
surprised for a moment at the sudden increase in power he
exhibited. The look of confusion gave way to a look of grim
determination. Kendra and Theo were forced back for a moment by the
waves of heat that began to emanate from Kiyan. Both of the
ascended shielded the others present from the inferno that bloomed
around Kiyan.

Everyone watched in surprise as Kiyan reached out a
tendril of energy and linked with Ray. Energy enveloped Ray and he
began shining nearly as bright as Kiyan. Kendra and Theo tried to
link with Kiyan even as the forms of Kiyan and Ray began to melt
into flames. The energy being released was enormous, the likes of
which only Theo and Kendra had ever witnessed. When the flames
began to die down Corban, Theo and Kendra rushed into the inferno
looking for Kiyan. To their surprise they were met with snarls from
a large dragon. Scales that glittered like diamonds but were black
as night covered the dragon stood over the glowing form of Kiyan.
Corban began calming the flames and soon had them put out but the
dragon remained over Kiyan preventing anyone from touching him.