Spiritus Ignis, Ventus Spiritus, Aqua Spiritus, it's time to return home. The booming voice of Spiritus Telluris rang through each of their minds, Ignis raised her head:
"Home? It is time for us to return home? But the mortal world needs us!" Ignis argued, her anger causing sparks to explode in different directions.
"Calm yourself Ignis, we'll each leave them with something, some part of us, so that they can continue to live. Besides Telluris is right, it's time for us to go…" Ventus soothed in her whisper.
"Yeah right! You only want to go home because you want to fly around without worrying about humans seeing you!" Ignis shouted, causing even more sparks to fly.
"That's not true Ignis! You know I love this world!!"
"Sure," Ignis snarled sarcastically, "and that's why you made a tornado yesterday and destroyed half of the North Village!"
"I can't help loving a bit of destructive violence every once in a while!! And only when I am bored! Did you know the other day I kept a nice easy breeze going through their village and none of the kids, not ONE, came out and played! No one even flew their kites! I got lonely and bored! Besides, all of us cause destruction! You start wildfires quite often, you know!" Ventus retorted, flying closer to Ignis's face.
"Yes, I have anger issues and can't always control my flames, but at least I-"
"That's enough." Aqua's clear voice cut them off. Neither of them moved or dared say another word. They had known Aqua since before the beginning of time, and he rarely if ever- spoke. "I've been watching the reflections again… The stars and moon have shared a deep secret with me."
"That's what happens when you spend too much time underwater," Ignis grumbled. Ignoring him Aqua continued:
"Something terrible will happen to us if we don't return home."
"Aq, I believe you and all but, well sometimes you can be a little deceiving with your words. So what exactly did you see?" Ventus questioned carefully.
"Venny, you know I only tell what I can."
"No, you tell me what you want!" Ignis snarled whirling to face Aqua.
"Always with the best interests of my friends in mind." Aqua snorted, raising his head high above the other two.
"Sorry Aq, I just- leaving them all this soon makes me uneasy… It feels like something is coming and I don't want to abandon anyone before it hits" Ignis responded letting her tail droop.
"I've seen what you mean Iggy, all the humans will be okay… Everything will be okay." Aqua's whisper reminding Ventus immediately of how deceiving an undertow could be.
"That's rather vague, Aq. What are you hiding?" Venny questioned flying over Iggy to land near Aq's hoof. But it was too late, Aq had returned to his normal silent self. Venny and Iggy both sighed, the both constantly whished Aq would speak to them more often. Aq knew that too, but today was not the first time he had wished more than anything he could share a secret with his friends. Deep down they all knew it was Aq's job.
"C'mon let's give the people our gifts and get out of here." Ignis sighed heading towards the village. It took them no time at all to reach the village below where Leader Harthnam was already waiting.
"Something wrong?" Leader Harthnam questioned when the spirits approached.
"Nothing," Iggy sighed letting her tail droop, "it's just time that the three of us return home." Neither Ignis nor Ventus detected the masked horror on Leader Harthnam's face, but Aqua did and immediately he tenses; prepared for the battle to come.
"That's horrible news! What will the village do without you?" He cried desperately.
"Don't fear Harthnam, each of us will leave a gift to help the village," Venny smiled in her weird falcon way.
"I," Iggy drew out, "am leaving you with this band, which is infused with my magic." Iggy dropped the strange leather band that bore a strange resemblance to a dog collar.
"Hey! Move your wolfy butt! I want to give him my gift! Laughing Iggy moved to the side so that Venny could fly closer. "I am leaving you with this feather! Also infused with my magic!" Venny giggled, dropping the feather at Leader's feet. They all turned to Aq. Aq met Iggy's gaze first, then Venny's, and finally Harthnam's. He closed his eyes, my dear sisters, he thought, I do love you both very much. He opened his eyes once more, studying the three faces around him. His sisters were so happy to go home, so happy the world wouldn't be left in chaos without them, but Harthnam's eyes showed only fake enthusiasm. Aq knew that this man, the Leader of this village, was filled with nothing but hate.
"Bolt," Aq said directly to Venny who immediately lost her smile.
"What? Aq-" Venny started.
"Three-jump." Aq cut Venny off to speak to Iggy who was as confused as Venny. Harthnam's eyes narrowed on Aq, knowing he was up to something. "I'll follow behind, I just need some time." Venny and Iggy nodded their heads, they still didn't understand but they trusted their brother. With one mighty thrust of her wings, Venny shot into the sky disappearing within a second into The Other. Moving so fast she looked like a bolt of lightning. As soon as she vanished Iggy took off running and on her third stride she jumped and vanished into The Other.
I will follow behind, Aq thought, I just need some time… I'll find a way, no matter how long it takes. With the disappearance of two spirits, it was like a flip was switched in the village. Harthnam began yelling, Village people swarmed into the streets, and Aq began to run. He ran straight through the village heading towards the awaiting ocean, his portal to The Other. He didn't make it far before the villagers crowded him, throwing ropes and anything else they could to keep him contained. He had to prance back and forth to avoid crushing those who got too close.
Aq had seen this coming, only in his vision, his sisters had been captured too. Each of them is forever bound to the Mortal World. He couldn't let that happen, a million times over he would choose his sibling's freedom over his. And just as he foresaw Harthnam approached him, carrying nothing but a simple leather bridle… Yet Aq knew the bridle wasn't as simple as it seemed and as soon as it touched his face he knew he wouldn't be able to break it. It had been infused with magic as old as him and magic new enough he hadn't felt it before. He was trapped here.