Before the Storm
The tension in the air was impossible to ignore.
Even as they trained, as they strengthened their abilities, something loomed over them—unseen, yet undeniable.
The Earth Gem and Golden Crystal had granted them new strength. But power alone wasn’t enough.
They needed to be ready.
Pushing the Limits
Syaoran and Reiko stood back-to-back, their energy weaving together as they pushed the Earth Gem to its next threshold.
Cracks spread across the ground at their feet—not destruction, but transformation.
A single thought, a shift of their will, and the earth responded. Roots emerged, stone reshaped, the very land bending to their command.
Yue hovered above, silver eyes sharp. “You’re getting stronger.”
Syaoran smirked. “We don’t have a choice.”
Reiko nodded. “We have to push past our limits before the enemy does.”
Yue’s expression darkened, but he said nothing. He knew they were right.
Endymion’s Trial
Across the field, Endymion stood alone.
He held the Golden Crystal in his hands, its warm light steady. But inside him, the storm raged.
There is more, the crystal seemed to whisper. But do you dare claim it?
He closed his eyes, drawing on the magic—letting it flood through him.
Light erupted around him, forming golden armor across his body. A shield of energy expanded outward, protecting him from an unseen attack.
But then—the shadows fought back.
Black tendrils twisted through the edges of his magic. The remnants of Metallia’s corruption, still lingering.
Endymion’s breath caught. He clenched his fists, forcing the darkness down.
Not this time.
Not ever again.
Kunzite watched in silence. Good, he thought. He’s learning.
But was it fast enough?
A Shattered Sky
The wind shifted.
The clouds above twisted unnaturally, a pulse of foreign energy rippling through the air.
Reiko tensed. “Did you feel that?”
Syaoran turned sharply. “Something’s coming.”
Tranquility stepped forward, eyes narrowed. “No. Someone is coming.”
The storm broke.
And with it, the enemy finally revealed itself.
The Enemy Moves
The sky was still shattered when they arrived.
A ripple in the air—like a wound torn through reality—split open above the training grounds.
From within, figures emerged. Cloaked in darkness, their presence sent a shiver through the bond.
A warning. A threat.
They had been found.
The Harbingers of Metallia
The first figure stepped forward, draped in midnight robes, golden embroidery forming unnatural symbols across the fabric. Their voice was like silk over steel.
“You have meddled in forces beyond your understanding.”
Reiko felt the Earth Gem thrum against her palm. “We understand enough.”
The second figure, taller, voice a whisper against the wind. “Then you know what is coming.”
Syaoran’s eyes narrowed. “We’re ready.”
The third figure, smaller, more fluid, tilted their head. “Are you?”
A flick of their hand—dark energy lashed out, striking toward Endymion.
The Golden Crystal flared to life.
Light and shadow clashed, the force of the impact shaking the ground beneath them. Endymion gritted his teeth, pushing back, but the pressure was immense.
This wasn’t just an attack.
This was a test.
The Warning
The figures did not press forward.
Instead, they simply watched. Observed. Studied.
“You hold the Earth’s will in your hands.” The first figure gestured toward Syaoran and Reiko. “And you…” Their eyes slid to Endymion. “You still fight what you’ve become.”
Endymion’s jaw tightened. “I know who I am.”
A chuckle. “Do you?”
For a moment, silence stretched between them.
Then, the second figure raised their hand. “Metallia’s arrival is inevitable. You stand in her path.”
Tranquility’s voice was cold. “Then we’ll stop her.”
The third figure smiled. “We shall see.”
With that, the air ripped once more, the figures stepping back into the void—vanishing as suddenly as they had come.
The storm faded. The sky settled.
But the threat remained.
Because now, they knew.
The final battle was drawing closer.
And there was no turning back.
Before the Storm
The training grounds were silent.
Not with peace, but with waiting.
The Harbingers had left them with a warning, but it was more than that. It was a challenge. A promise.
Metallia was coming.
And they had little time to prepare.
Strength in Unity
Syaoran and Reiko stood side by side, the Earth Gem between them. It pulsed with power, responding to their will, their connection.
Reiko exhaled, stretching out her senses. “It’s stabilizing.”
Syaoran nodded. “But not enough.”
Terra was powerful, but it had awakened too soon. They could wield it, but not yet with precision. If they weren’t careful, it could consume them.
Across the field, Endymion clenched the Golden Crystal in his hand. The warmth of its light warred with the dark energy still buried inside him.
Kunzite watched him carefully. “You need to stop hesitating.”
Endymion’s grip tightened. “I’m not hesitating.”
“Then use it.”
The Golden Crystal flared in his palm, sending a wave of golden light across the field. For a moment, the darkness retreated, bending under its power.
But it did not disappear.
It was waiting.
Endymion lowered his hand, his expression unreadable. “I need more time.”
Kunzite’s eyes were sharp. “Time is running out.”
Preparing for War
Clow had already begun reinforcing the protections around Hogwarts. The bond gave them strength, but it also made them vulnerable.
If one of them fell—if Terra fell—Metallia would seize control of everything.
Tranquility stood at the edge of the courtyard, watching the moon hang low in the sky. He could feel Reiko’s presence even before she spoke.
“You’re thinking too much.”
He smirked, tilting his head toward her. “And you’re not thinking enough.”
She rolled her eyes, leaning against the stone railing. “We’ve fought impossible battles before.”
“Not like this.”
She was quiet for a moment. Then, her fingers brushed his.
“No matter what happens, we’ll face it together.”
Their bond pulsed between them, steady and unbreakable.
Tranquility turned to look at her, the weight of everything settling in his chest.
“…Yeah. We will.”
The Calm Before the Chaos
The night stretched on, heavy with expectation.
Tomorrow, their training would continue.
Tomorrow, they would push their limits further.
Because the battle was coming.
And they would not be unprepared.
The Awakening of Terra
The air in the training grounds was thick with energy, crackling with the raw power of the group. It had been days since the ceremony, and the changes in each of them were undeniable. Terra’s influence had shifted everything.
Syaoran and Reiko stood side by side, their connection to Terra growing stronger every day. The Earth Gem, crystallized during their training, was a constant presence between them, humming with power. Every movement, every thought, was in sync. Their bond wasn’t just a symbol—it was a living, breathing force that made them Terra’s first heirs.
But it was Endymion who stood at the edge of the field, his gaze far off as he struggled to understand his own transformation.
His power is not as it was, Kunzite had said earlier, and Endymion could feel it. His magic pulsed with a deeper energy, something tied to the Earth, but not quite the same as Syaoran and Reiko's. The Earth Gem, a crystallized fragment of their power, had no place in him—it was the Golden Crystal that had become his anchor.
The Golden Crystal, passed down through generations of the Earth Kingdom, was meant to control and channel the overwhelming power of its heir. But now, as Endymion stood in the center of the training ground, his connection to it felt more vital than ever. The Crystal was not only a guide—it was the key to mastering the new force within him.
With a deep breath, Endymion closed his eyes, feeling the Crystal pulse at his chest. He focused, allowing the energy to flow through him, to connect with the Earth’s power that had been twisted in his veins.
"Focus," Kunzite’s voice broke through his concentration, calm but firm. "If you don’t master it soon, it will overwhelm you."
Endymion nodded, feeling the pressure building within him. The Crystal's glow flickered, offering him the stability he so desperately needed. But even now, the magic was dark, chaotic—far more potent than he had ever felt before.
He felt it then—the weight of the Earth itself. Not just Terra’s power, but the very essence of the Earth Kingdom. The bond, though still distant from the twins’, was now tethered to him more deeply than ever before.
He summoned the power, shaping it with his will. Slowly, he began to control the magic, forcing it into a tighter, more stable flow.
"I… can feel it," Endymion muttered, a mixture of relief and unease in his voice.
Kunzite watched him, arms crossed. "Good. But it’s not enough to simply feel it. You must command it."
Endymion’s eyes narrowed, the Golden Crystal pulsing brightly in his chest. He could feel the earth beneath him, the roots of ancient trees, the weight of mountains—and within that, his own strength rising. It was as if the Earth was responding to him, calling to him as its rightful heir.
With a deep exhale, Endymion raised his hand, feeling the magic swirl around him, wrapping his fingers in the energy of the Earth. The power surged, the air thickening with it.
Syaoran and Reiko, standing nearby, watched in silence. The Earth Gem hummed, its connection to them stronger than ever. They could feel the stirrings of Endymion’s power, a force tied to Terra’s past but also to his future as the heir of the Earth Kingdom.
"We’ve trained to control Terra’s power together," Reiko whispered to Syaoran. "But Endymion… he’s different. His connection is deeper—stronger, in some ways."
Syaoran nodded, his gaze focused on Endymion. "It’s the Golden Crystal. It’s the anchor he needs to keep his power in check. Without it, he could easily be consumed."
Endymion’s magic flared once more, swirling with dark energy, before suddenly settling, like a storm that had passed. His breathing was heavy, but he stood tall, the power now contained within him.
"It’s working," Endymion said, his voice steady but laced with exhaustion. "But it’s not perfect."
Kunzite gave a nod of approval. "Perfection comes with time. You’re learning to control it. But remember, it’s not just about mastering the magic. It’s about knowing who you are, Endymion. The Earth Kingdom doesn’t just call to you—it recognizes you. The Golden Crystal was forged for you, and it’s the key to controlling everything you feel inside."
Endymion looked down at the Golden Crystal, its light flickering like a heartbeat in his chest. "I understand. I’ll learn to control it. For the Earth Kingdom."
As the last remnants of magic settled, the group gathered around him. There was still much to learn, much to control, but they were on the right path. Together, they would face the challenges ahead—stronger than before.
And Endymion, with the Golden Crystal at his side, would lead them all into the unknown future of the Earth Kingdom.