Maya and Sapphire fell out into the shimmering, rainbow hallway inside the Portae.

"MAYA!" Sapphire screamed, jumping to her feet, "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?"

Maya got to her feet quickly. "It seemed like the best option," she replied.

"Just let me decide which option is the 'best,' before you do something crazy again!" Sapphire snapped.

"Why should I let you decide?" Maya demanded.

"Let's see..." Sapphire trailed off, "Reason one, it's you're fault we're in this jam in the first place; reason two, I am the one with the IQ of approximately 150; reason three, I am the smartest person in our Bigas; reason four-"

"Are you done bragging yet?" Maya interrupted, "Because I stopped listening after you said 'let's.'"

Sapphire scowled. "Glad to know I'm appreciated," she snarled.

"At the moment, no, but if I ever need someone with an excessively large ego, I'll let you know," Maya retorted.

"You don't need my ego," Sapphire replied sassily, "Yours is big enough for the both of us."

"So is your sass," Maya shot back.

"Oh, you're one to talk," Sapphire growled, "Last time I checked, your picture is in the dictionary next to the word 'sass.'"

"Who even reads dictionaries anymore?" Maya inquired, "Except brainiacs like you, of course."

"At least I have a brain, unlike some people I know," Sapphire answered snarkily.

"Brains aren't everything, you know," Maya snapped, "I have much more important qualities than brains."

"Really?" Sapphire asked doubtfully, "I never noticed. They can't possibly be that important."

"Oh, they're important, alright," Maya replied, "Very important."

Maya held out her hand, and a ball of orange flames appeared in her palm.

Sapphire mimicked the motion, summoning an orb of deep blue water.

The two girls glared at each other, each daring the other to strike first.

Maya eventually cracked, lunging at Sapphire with a fist covered in fire. Sapphire readied her orb of water for a counter attack.

However, before either attack could land, a piercing alarm rang through the hall.

Both girls ceased their attacks instantly and hunted for the source of the blaring noise. It didn't take long- the screens on their watches were flashing, meaning that someone was calling them.

Maya tapped on her watch, answering the call. A brunette girl with stern, amber eyes popped up on the screen.

"You two jokers better come back here and clean up this mess!" the brunette ordered, fury blazing in her eyes.

Both girls visibly flinched.

"S- sicilia," Sapphire stammered, "Wh- what a surprise!"

"Weren't expecting you to call," Maya stated, plastering on a nervous grin, "How are you?"

"Oh, I'm just fine," Sicilia replied, "I just came to check on the Portae, and I found this!" Sicilia turned the camera to face a cluster of fallen trees.

"It appears that some people had a battle here and didn't bother to clean up and replant the trees!" Sicilia exclaimed angrily.

"Arguably, that is normally your job," Sapphire stated.

"I'm not the clean up crew," Sicilia growled, "And you two need to start showing more respect for nature. Starting now. So get over here and clean up!"

"Hey, what time is it?" Sapphire suddenly asked.

"Three in the afternoon," Sicilia replied, "Why?"

"Oh... kitty litter..." Sapphire mumbled, "My parents are going to kill me when I get back home."

"That's one thing I agree with," Maya noted, "As long as Sicilia doesn't kill us first."

"What are you two talking about?" Sicilia asked, "And where are you? I've never seen any place that looks like that."

Sapphire glanced back at the rainbow corridor. "Uh, those are..." she trailed off, searching for a cover- up, but being unable to find one.

"How about you move the tree in front of the Portae, then we'll tell you?" Maya suggested, noticing the Portae she and Sapphire had come through near by.

"WHAT?!" Sapphire shouted, "BUT-"

Maya shoved her aside. "So, do we have a deal?" Maya inquired.

Sicilia observed Maya skeptically. "Sure?" she answered uncertainly.

A crashing sound was heard from the screen, the Sicilia stated, "It's cleared. Now, where are you?"

"I'll show you!" Maya exclaimed.

"Maya, this isn't a good-" Sapphire started to explain, but Maya grabbed her and pulled her into the Portae that lead back to their home.

Sapphire and Maya came out of the Portae, balancing on the fallen trees.

Sapphire promptly lost her balance and yelped as her feet slipped from the log. She crashed to the ground, getting leaves and twigs caught in her hair on the way down.

Maya watched, laughing, maintaining perfect balance on the slippery log.

Sicilia watched on, amazed. To her, Sapphire and Maya had appeared from thin air.

"MAYA!" Sapphire screamed, jumping to her feet, "THAT WAS NOT COOL!"

"What are you going to do?" Maya taunted.

"That's enough!" Sicilia exclaimed, coming to her senses, "Would someone please explain what's going on?"

"You see-" Maya started to explain, but Sapphire knocked her off the log mid- sentence.

"You've done enough already," Sapphire stated, "Let me explain."

Sapphire turned her attention to Sicilia. "We got called to defend the Portae at three this morning. It went like it normally does- Filios attacking, that stuff. However, there were some... complications, and we ended up blocked into the Portae."

"Is that all?" Sicilia pressed.

"Ye-" Sapphire started, only to be interrupted by Maya.

"We went to another world through a different Portae!" Maya exclaimed.

Sapphire smacked her forehead in frustration as a look of shock crossed Sicilia's face.

"Y-you.. you did WHAT?!" she shouted.

"Went through another Portae," Maya stated, "And we saw to other Elementalists!"

Sapphire eyed the look of pure shock and horror on Sicilia's face. "Well, there goes any hope of getting out of this mess alive," she sighed, sitting on the ground resignedly.

The group sat quietly for several minuets, until the silence was broken by the meowing of a cat.

The three girls turned and watched a sandy ginger cat strut up to Sicilia.

"Mintha," Sicilia greeted the cat, "There you are! I was wondering what had happened to you."

Mintha meowed, glancing over at Maya and Sapphire. The two shifted uncomfortably under the cat's gaze.

"Those two supposedly went through the Portae," Sicilia explained, "And they claim that they met other Elementalists on the other side."

The feline meowed again, and gazed at Maya and Sapphire with disapproval. Sicilia bent down and whispered something to her.

Maya glanced over at Sapphire. "It's always so weird to watch her talk to that cat," she whispered.

"I agree," Sapphire replied quietly, "And Mintha doesn't ever seem to be fond of people. Except Sicilia."

"Yes, that's a great idea," Sicilia stated, as she turned to face Maya and Sapphire.

"What?" Maya and Sapphire chorused.

"Mintha has suggested that we take this to the next Coetus, when the Councilium meets," Sicila stated.

"But the Councilium is meeting today!" Sapphire exclaimed.

"Exactly," Sicilia replied, "We will be able to solve this quickly and professionally."

"But-" Maya started, before Sicilia cut her off.

"No buts about it," she stated sternly.

"Uh, Sicilia," Sapphire mumbled, "Well, we kinda need to go home first..."

Sicilia glanced at Sapphire. "Why?" she inquired.

"You see, to us, we were call out a three in the morning, and we've only been out about..."

"An hour," Maya interrupted, "We have been around for about an hour."

"But it's obviously much later than four in the morning," Sapphire explained, "which means-"

"We've been missing all day!" Maya finished, earning her a glare from Sapphire.

"That's ridiculous," Sicilia stated, rolling her eyes, "You just want to get out of the Coetus."

"It's true!" Maya insisted.

"And I suppose you battled a dragon while riding on a pink, fluffy unicorn who was dancing on a rainbow, too," Sicilia stated sarcastically.

"Ask our parents," Sappire encouraged.

"I will, after the Coetus. You will be going, if I have to drag you to back myself."

"But-" Maya started.

Mintha tackled Maya to the ground, interrupting her mid- sentence.

"Coetus it is, then!" Maya exclaimed. Mintha hopped off her and walked over to Sicilia.

"Let's go, Sapphire!" Maya stated cheerfully, grabbing the Aqua Elementalist and dragging her in the direction of the meeting place with Sicilia and Mintha trailing close behind.

*~*~*

The meeting place of the Coetus was in the Oradux's house. The Oradux were regional leaders, who ruled over about three to five local Bigas. They, in turn, were commanded by Agrdux, who ruled over entire countries. In the United States alone, there were probably about 700 Oradux, all workers for the country's Agrdux.

The Oradux, a girl named Eliza Lyles, lives in a extremely richy- rich neighborhood. People say she actually bought her way to Oradux status instead of earning it. And with her attitude, the theroy wasn't terribly far- fetched.

Three local Bigas were present at this meeting. The first Bigas consisted of Sicilia, Maya, Sapphire, and Brisa, a Aeris Elementalist. The second was Aquamarine, an Aqua, Snow, a Glacies, Zelda, a Fulgus, Jacob, a Lux. The final group was composed of Kenneth, an Aeris, Eva, a Lux, Sora, and Aeris, and Anna, a Terra.

Of course, it didn't take too long for things to get out of hand.

"SAPPHIRE! MAYA!" she screamed, "YOU'VE DONE IT AGAIN!!!"

"It was all Sapphire's fault, I swear!" Maya exclaimed.

"Way to be supportive, crazed pryo," Sapphire grumbled.

"Better than being a psychopathic hydro!"

"You're the psycho, miss yandere!"

"One online quiz! Just one! And at least I don't hide my feelings, unlike you, tsundere!"

"I'm a kuudere! KUUdere! There's a difference!"

"Shut up, both of you! No one cares about your complete failure in romance, because looking at you two, it's obvious why!" Eliza snarled.

"I have a boyfriend, you pompous jerk!" Maya snapped back.

"And I don't want that baggage in my life! I've got more than enough handling that one!" Sapphire added.

"AT LEAST I DON'T GO JUMPING INTO PORTAES!" she shouted, "And if it were up to me, I'd have had you punted to the prison with all the Filios."

Maya blinked in momentary confusion. "What do you mean? Isn't this entire decision yours?"

"You violated a major law," Eliza stated, "So it's the Agrdux's job to deal with you two headaches."

"The Agrdux?" Sapphire inquired.

"Shot! The Agrdux is going to get involved?!" Maya exclaimed.

"Yep! So let's kindly go meet him, shall we?" Eliza stated, the malice clear in her voice.

She got up and left the table, indicating that Sapphire and Maya should follow her. The two grudgingly complied, and the door to the conference room slammed shut behind them.

*~*~*

"Well, that was eventful," Kenneth stated when the doors closed.

"Yeah, but you have to admit, their arguments are pretty funny!" Aquamarine replied.

"What could those two have done to get into such big trouble?" Sora wondered aloud, "Brisa, do you know?"

"No clue. Sicilia, you know, right? After all, you drug them here." Brisa stated.

Sicilia sighed. "Those two were sent on a mission at three this morning. Apparently there were Filios reported in our area."

The assembly nodded. Filios were a common nuisance.

"Did they loose or something?" Eva inquired, "If so, I will personally kick that jerk's butt."

"I'm pretty sure everyone in this room would agree with you on that point," Snow stated, "But they wouldn't be in so much trouble if they had been defeated, right?"

"True," Sicilia stated, "They fought them off."

"What Elements were they?" Kenneth inquired.

"From the looks of the combat area, one was most certainly a Faenum. The others would be difficult to identify, because they left behind no distinguishable marks."

"That would leave only three options, correct?" Jacob stated, "Another Ignis or Aqua's attacks would have blended in with Sapphire and Garnet's attacks, and Lux are notorious for their attacks, which leave no trace."

"How do we know it was more than one Filios?" Zelda inquired, "It could have just been a Faenum."

"The report status said Filios, and the alerts are too accurate to miscalculate something like that," Eva replied, "Besides, had it just been one, they wouldn't have called both Sapphire and Maya."

"Yes, that is all truly interesting, but it doesn't really matter," Sicilia stated, waving the comments aside dismissively, "The point is, after the battle, which caused mass destruction, as usual, they were forced to flee into the Portae."

"WHAT?!?!" the entire assembly shouted, falling into disarray as everyone started speaking at once.

Sicilia and Jacob tried to calm everyone down, but to no avail. The volume continued to climb as everyone tried to speak over each other.

"EVERYONE BE QUIET!" Brisa screamed, standing up.

The room was instantly silent, so silent, in fact, you could hear faint snippets of the conversation deeper in the mansion. This was more due to shock than anything else. Brisa rarely lost her temper, although when she did she was as fierce as a wild cat.

Brisa took a deep breath, then let it out. She sat down and looked expectantly at Sicilia to continue her story.

"Well," Sicilia stated, still somewhat shocked at Brisa's outburst, "I'm not sure about this part of the story, but Maya claims that she and Sapphire traveled through the Portae to another place, where they encountered other Elementalists, before returning here after I cleared the Portae."

Everyone was silent as the ending of the story sunk in.

It was Jacob who eventually broke the silence. "If this story is true, then they deserve whatever punishment they receive."

Eva angrily slammed the table. "How can you say that? What if they get sent to that place Eliza was talking about? Or what if they're stripped of their powers? Will you still say that then?"

"Natural balance is more important than anything," Jacob replied, "They disrupted the balance, they will pay the price."

"That sounds really cruel," Aquamarine observed, "They had no choice, right?"

"I agree with that. Although, if I were to guess, they wouldn't go to the extreme of killing them. The most that will happen is them getting stripped of their powers. Of course, I doubt they will do that, because that leaves their Bigas minus two people, and recruiting others would take sometime."

"That's true," Anna admitted, "although I'm not sure exactly how much I agree with Jacob."

"They might be suspended until they are needed, or they could be forced to work more," Kenneth noted.

"Aw, lighten up, Ken- chan!" Sora stated.

"I TOLD YOU NOT TO CALL ME THAT!!" Kenneth shouted as Sora giggled at his outburst.

"This is a new situation, and we really won't know what to expect until it's solved," Brisa stated.

Nods of agreement came from the gathered Elementalists.

The door at the end of the conference room suddenly burst open. Everyone turned their attention to the sudden disturbance and found Eliza there, looking mightily ticked off. Her hair appeared to be somewhat singed and the faint smell of something burn filled the air.

"Get out, losers," she snarled, "This meeting is over."

With that, she slammed the door closed behind her, leaving a perplexed assembly sitting in the giant conference room.

*~*~*

~Author's note

I'm BAAAAACK!!!!!

Now, be honest, how many of you forgot about this book?

I know, I haven't updated it in... *starts to count but gives up after twenty*

A LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time, but hey, I'm back now, so we should all be happy! Yay!

Oh, and I updated the cast list, so everyone should be one there, unless I forgot someone (which wouldn't be too surprising). So if I did (or if I got something wrong), please tell me!

Also, one thing that caused me to have so much trouble updating this was because I had a hard time keeping all the characters straight, initially. However, I figured out a system to prevent me from messing up anyone's character too much, so yay! Also, if I did get something wrong about your character, please tell me so that way I can fix it!

OH, and I haven't had time to fully edit this, so if you see and grammar or spelling mistakes, please tell me! (Grammarly still isn't working right... ;-; )

So, I think that's everything... Well, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Please vote, comment, and I'll see you all in the next Author's note!