*Third POV*

Wanikiya opened his eyes and saw that he was descending into darkness. The only light he could make it came from above, cyan light, the same color as the Great Gracier's prana as well as his own.

Am I dead? Is this how it ends? I never had a chance to make much of myself... though perhaps this is what I deserve, for allowing my best friend to get swallowed into darkness. No, this isn't death. Instead I'm being swallowed. Lei, soon we won't be too different. I hope that you won't fall to darkness again.

The Wahkanian prince closed his eyes again.

Sorry little brother, seems like we won't be able to play like I had promised. Sorry Zelde, Nahimana, for failing to control my spirit.

"Wanikiya!" a voice called out.

The prince's eyes shot wide open. The voice kept calling out to him in despair. He reached out toward the increasingly distant light. It pulsated, dimming then brightening before repeating the cycle.

"Fight it!" the voice cried. "Don't give in!"

He let out a grunt and used all of his will power to propel his body across the thick, watery substance. His arms cut through the gelatin-like liquid, pushing him higher and higher, causing the light to come closer too, as if it were but a reflection of him.

Suddenly he felt something warm behind him and the strange sea dissolved. He found himself staring at the start of the first trail up the mountain.

"Calm down, Wanikiya," a voice called out. He turned around and saw Nahimana embracing him tightly. Shadows danced around her.

"Nahimana. Why are you here? Weren't you going with Tahoma someplace?" he asked, startled. He gasped as he noticed the chunks of ice around her arms and legs.

Nahimana winced. "I was on my way there, but then I felt a powerful aura radiating from here so I came as fast as I could." Her shadows danced around the two. "Let's get out of here, before this aura devours both of us."

The shadows completely cocooned them. Once they faded, they were no longer at the base of the mountain, rather they were in the beach.

"Nahimana? Wanikiya?" Hikaru said, gazing back. The brunette was kneeled on a white as snow sand dune, his clothes completely drenched in sweat. "You're covered in ice."

Dark tendrils broke through the ice around Nahimana's hands and feet. "I'll be fine. Do not worry."

Yen who was coming at him with an invisible sword stopped her attack at the last moment. "What happened to the meeting and the hike?" she questioned.

Nahimana took a deep breath, the air was so much crisper than at the mountain. "I simply came to help Master Wanikiya. You two didn't feel it?"

Hikaru put a hand against his chin and tilted his head at her. "Hmm. Ahh!" He nodded. "Yeah, actually. For a brief moment there was a spike of energy radiating from Mt. Ankatu. So, the cause was connected to you, Wani?"

The Wahkanian prince averted his eyes. "Yes, I, I couldn't control my power. I tried to ascend the mountain to be able to gain some dominance over it, but simply taking one step caused it to instead take me over."

Hikaru crawled over to him and put a hand on the ice. "This ice, it won't melt..."

"Hmm?" Nahimana said, tilting her head at him. "Are you accelerating the ice's decomposition?"

"Yes, but it doesn't seem to be working."

Nahimana stared at her hands which were shivering. In fact, her entire being was shaking. "It won't work. This ice can't be melted by the sun so no matter how much time you add to the ice's age, it won't change its size. Normal flames are likewise useless."

"Just like water attacks were largely useless on Zelde," Yen said, staring at the ice curiously.

"Then we'll need to see Zelde," Wanikiya said, wincing as Nahimana used her tendrils to break the ice around him. "Just like my ice can calm her flames, her fire can melt my ice."

Yen turned around and surveyed the horizon of the beach. "She should be here soon. She said she'll be bringing with her some other people."

"Other people?"

"Hey!" said a pair of black haired, grayish, blue-eyed twins as they jumped down the cliff parallel to the beach and sea. They were Tasunke and Tashunka, dorm mates of Tahoma, Orion, and Yuzuki.

Nahimana gasped. "You two?"

"Hey!" Tahoma said, waving from the top of the cliff. He was wearing blue shorts and an unbuttoned flower-print shirt, revealing his slim figure. "Seems you got yourself into some trouble."

"Tsk, tsk," Kun said, standing next to Tahoma. He had an impish smiled on his face. "Nahi is always getting into trouble for someone who loves to nag at me for doing so."

"Shut up you two!" Nahimana yelled. "It's not funny."

"I agree," Wanikiya said, giving them a serious look. "Nahimana saved me."

Kun put his hands behind his back and sighed. "I understand what happened now. So you were the cause of that spike up in the holy mountain."

"Yeah, yeah, that's awesome genius, now where is Zelde?" Nahimana asked.

"She's in Stella," Yuzuki said, walking to the edge of the cliff to join Tahoma and Kun. She sat down at the edge and glanced back. "She went to get Orion and a few others."

"What's going on here?" a familiar voice called out.

Tahoma smiled without even turning to see who it was. "Hey, cousin. Nice of you to join us."

Ayawamat glared at him. "Is this some sort of party? You know how much I hate parties."

"Come on, Aya!" a female voice called. It was a face that Wanikiya hadn't seen in months, Sokw. Ayawamat's best friend. Ayawamat grumbled as a Sokw hugged him. "Don't be such a loner."

The young man rolled his eyes. "Hating large gatherings doesn't make on a loner. I simply rather be back home, training or playing with Muna."

Sokw let go of him and giggled. "You're such a sis-con."

Ayawamat grumbled. "Whatever."

"Well, your brother is heading here with her and your younger brother either way," she said, grinning.

"Hota is?" Ayawamat asked.

"That's right," Yuzuki said, nodding. "Orion should also be heading here as well along with two others. I also got word that Lei is coming." She smiled at the last part.

Ayawamat narrowed his eyes. "Right, the two guys you love and I hate, yippee!"

"I don't love Orion!" Yuzuki said, putting her hands on her hips.

"So you admit to liking Lei, huh?" Sokw asked, giggling. "Either way, both seem to be wimps. I can't wait to see Lei again, it's been a good while since I last gave him a good thrashing."

Yuzuki walked behind her. Her long fingernails were directed at Sokw's neck. "Listen here, I don't take kindly to those who hurt Lei. Also, he is far stronger than when you last saw him."

"What about Nyima?" Wanikiya asked.

"Oh, her? She's with Lei according to my brother," Yuzuki said, stepping away from a frightened Sokw. She grumbled. "Currently they're traveling with Adela and Iah. Nyima and Lei should be taking Mina's teleportation crystal here."

"I see," Ayawamat said, sighing. "I will challenge that loser to a match as soon as I see him." He turned his back to them. "Anyway, I'm out of here."

"Wait, before you leave, do any of you know why we are all being gathered here?" Wanikiya asked.

Tahoma nodded. "Yes. We are here to determine who will represent Wahkan at the games. Your father called us here. He will also be coming."

Wanikiya lowered his head. Father is on his way here? Why didn't he tell me about this reunion? Does he think I'm incapable of representing Wahkan?

The prince punched the sand around him, freezing it.

Damn it, even in my own father's eyes, I am but a insignificant wimp. Perhaps I would've been better off allowing the power to consume me...

He shook his head. No, I must not think that way. I have to gain power though my own hard work, else it won't truly be my own strength but that of Grand Glacier.

Nahimana patted him on the back before glancing up at Tahoma and Kun. "What about our meeting?" she asked, wincing between words due to the lingering ice burns.

"We have no choice but to delay it again. Plus the other three have already taken care of their special task," Kun said, grinning.

"Special task?" Hikaru asked.

"You big mouths!" Nahimana yelled at Kun and Tahoma. She rose from the white sand and pushed herself up. "Well, guess we wait for the others to arrive."

Ayawamat sighed once more. "I guess I got no choice but to wait."

"Pretty much," Sokw said, leaning on his right shoulder. He moved away, causing her to almost fall. "Hey!"

"You're too close."

Sokw's face reddened. "Why the sudden change in attitude? You didn't usually mind, at least not earlier."

Ayawamat glanced over at Yen. "That was because I was too lazy to say anything."

Wanikiya smiled slightly. Seems like we're in for an interesting few weeks.  Hopefully I will be strong enough to join the national team... He placed his hand against his chest. The spirit had yet to fully recede back to its usual place.

**Solar Note: Hope you've enjoyed the chapter :3. I ended up finishing this several hours later than I wanted, but I still got it out for the 22nd month anniversary of when I joined this site and first published book one of this series ;). I plan to do something special for the 23rd and the 2nd year anniversaries so look forward to it :3 ;).

For those who might have forgotten who Sokw is, she first made her debut all the way back in 'Episode 29: Results' of NM during the exam arc xD. 

So, what do you think will become of Wanikiya? Think that Great Glacier will consume him yet? Also, who do you think will be part of the line up for the games?**