~Chapter 3- Icy Cave~

The Masked One walked through the cold mountains with Cook until they came upon that cave covered with a sheet of ice. The boy motioned Cook towards the cave, "Can you get through it?"

Cook walked to the sheet of ice and placed his hand upon it, "I should be able to. What's in here that you want so bad anyway?"

"That isn't any of your concern. After you help me get it, you're free to do whatever you want," The boy spat.

Cook cracked his neck, "Whatever you say, boss!"

The orange-tinted Mecarne flexed his arm, and his hand started to glow with heat. The Masked Boy impatiently tapped his foot as Cook built up heat, but soon enough, the ice thawed away until the mouth of the cave was clear.

The Masked One floated through the air, and the two entered inside. The walls of the cave were covered in ice and frost, and the tendrils of his mask wriggled more violently as he went. He used its signal to dowse his way to the orb.

When the Masked Boy turned a corner confidently, Cook asked, "How do you know where you're going?"

"You ask too many questions," The boy answered curtly.

Soon, the Masked Boy could see a faint light. He turned a corner and found a large open area supported with several rock columns. At the center was a blue orb suspended in the air.

The boy groaned. He was hoping he'd find a red one and complete his set, but instead, he found another blue orb. It was practically worthless.

"What is that?" Cook asked.

"My prize. You're free to go now," The boy responded glumly.

He approached the floating orb. All this effort was for nothing. He felt heat building behind him. A burst of flames spiraled towards his back but he anticipated that Cook's greed would get the better of him. The Masked One flew through the air out of the way of Cook's fireball.

Cook flexed his arm and formed another sphere of fire at his fingertips and launched it at the boy. But the Masked One dodged it while flying towards the Mecarne. Before Cook had time to react, he delivered a powerful kick to his jaw. He fell to the ground unconscious.

"Idiot," The Masked Kid said. He turned and palmed the blue orb. He expected the mask's tendrils to become calm, but they continued to wriggle. In the past, the resonance would cease as soon as an orb was in his possession, but now they continued as if there was another nearby. Could there be another here?

He heard steps echoing through the cave behind him, and he hid behind a rock column. A black-haired boy in a snow coat entered the area. It was Aero, all alone. Based on the mask's resonance, it was safe to say that Aero held the red orb. The final piece. The Masked Boy smiled. As if by an act of providence, fate had delivered the final orb to him.

Aero kneeled down next to the unconscious Cook, and the Masked One revealed himself, "We really need to stop meeting like this, Aero."

Aero stood defensively, "What happened to him?"

"He tried to take what was mine. For a supposedly powerful criminal, he's pretty weak," The Masked One continued, "What are you here for?"

"For him. I'm bringing him back to the prison."

From behind his mask, the boy smiled, "How about a trade then? I'll let you take Cook, and you give me that red orb you have on you."

Aero paused for a moment, "Nah. I think I'll keep the orb and take Cook."

"Why are you being stingy? What do you even want the orb for? It's useless on its own!"

"You stole from Oopa's village, broke Cook out of prison, and I'm pretty sure you stole the Fighting Academy's orb too. Whatever you want with it can't be good."

The Masked One groaned, "I'm not asking again. Hand it over, Aero!"

Aero defiantly smirked and took a fighting stance, "Come get it."

The Masked One's eyes sharpened. They fought several times before, but the last time they did, Aero won. But, he took that loss to heart and pushed himself. He wouldn't lose again.

The boy lunged his hand forward with a pointed finger, and a thin beam of purple light burst from it. Aero dodged as if he anticipated it.

"You're going to have to learn some new tricks!" Aero shouted, punching the air and delivering his own red burst of light at the Masked Boy.

The two dodged each other's Focus attacks, red and purple light danced through the cave, striking the walls and rock columns but never each other.

Aero charged forward and engaged the boy at close range, throwing several thoughtful punches. The Masked One floated through the air to evade the strikes before delivering his own kick to Aero's ribs. He reeled back and gripped his side before coming in again more ferociously.

Aero's offense was relentless, and eventually, it broke through the Masked Boy's guard, and he landed a blow to his stomach.

The Masked Boy jumped back and Aero bounded at him through the air, leaving himself wide open. The Masked One kicked Aero aside and knocked him cleanly through one of the rock columns of the area. But it didn't seem to phase him. Aero was back on his feet in seconds.

When the boy tried to fly out of reach, Aero gripped his ankle, swung him around, and tossed him through another rock column. The Masked Boy stopped himself in the air before he could collide with the wall. In moments, Aero was bounding at him again. He jumped out of the way as Aero plunged his fist into the icy wall.

The two continued to fight, with Aero staying on the offense while the Masked One sought to dodge and counter. They bounded around the icy cave that served as their arena. A carefully placed strike to Aero's face left him with a bloody nose, while the kick he followed up with bruised the Masked Boy's side.

The Masked One delivered a powerful Focus Burst towards Aero, alighting the entire room purple. Aero jumped out of the way of the light, and it careened towards another rock column. Moments before it struck, he realized he made a terrible mistake. The column crumbled, and a tremor ran through the entire cave.

A crack ran through the ceiling over them and began to collapse. The two rushed to escape the cave, but debris had already fallen in their way. The next moments were a blur. The ceiling debris shattered the ground beneath their feet, and the two did everything they could to avoid being crushed. Aero grabbed Cook, threw him over his shoulder, and maneuvered the collapsing cave.

Soon, all light that had run through the tunnel disappeared, and all became quiet. The Masked One flexed his hand and an orb of purple light formed. The entire ceiling had given way, and the only way out was completely obstructed by the debris. Aero and Cook were alive; at least they weren't crushed. The three were trapped.