The Scyther dove back into that small pond.
~~~~~
"So what was that gem Yusei had around his neck?" I asked Crystal. I decided that if anyone would know, she would.
"That was the Rainbow Gem. It grants the wearer--as long as he or she is the one it chose--elemental powers."
~~~~~
There was something about this Scyther that just seemed... evil. I looked in the direction it was taking me, and we were already at the base of a volcano.
~~~~~
"What kinds of elemental powers?" I asked.
~~~~~
The scyther easily floated up the volcano's side. When he was above the mouth of the volcano, he let go of me, weighted down by a small piece of lead so that I couldn't escape even if I could survive the lava.
~~~~~
"It depends on the situation, really," Crystal said.
~~~~~
I was going to fall into the lava. There was no avoiding that. It would burn. It would kill me. But I never had the cowardice to close my eyes. As I neared the lava's surface, the gem--wrapped in the lead--glowed. The block of lead melted off.
~~~~~
"It gives the wearer the ability to resist extreme temperatures..."
~~~~~
I hit the surface of the lava. But it didn't burn. It was warm, but not uncomfortably.
~~~~~
"...breathe and see under water or lava..."
~~~~~
Surprisingly, in fact, a bubble of pure oxygen formed around my mouth. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't shake it. The lava itself just looked like orange water, and it didn't hurt to try to look through it.
~~~~~
"...and even the ability to control (to an extent) the element most abundant in the wearer's area!"
~~~~~
I lifted my paws. The lava rose. I kicked back and forth. I rose in the lava. It seemed to just respond to my movements. When I got out, it traced a path from my nose, over the top of my head, down my back, and to the tip of my tail. It also swirled up the sides of each of my legs.
~~~~~
"That sounds so cool!" I said.
"Oh, it is, trust me. You just have to be able to control yourself while doing it," she said.
~~~~~
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