Of Wind and Fire

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story follows no particular episode of the series. Though there are references to the episodes entitled Beast of the Temple, The Hate Canal and Missing Linka.*

After defeating the poluting powers of Hoggish Greedly, Doctor Blight and Luten Plunder, the Planeteers were not merely tired, they were exhausted. It's a good thing this ship has an autpilot. said Gi, the pilot. This meant that even she could get some rest. Though they were all able to take a nap, when the Geo-cruiser touched downn on Hope Island, the Planeteers couldn't wait to get to bed.

They had been together as a team for three years and during that time, they had begun to trust each other, especially with certain secrets. For example, Gi confided in Linka that she had recently taken to sleeping in the nude.

Linka awoke with a fright and bolted upright in bed. She had just had a nightmare and as evidence, wore a panicked expression on her lovely face. Surprisingly, her screaming did not wake Gi.

Rather than go back to sleep and risk replaying the nightmare, she got up. Out of habit, she picked up her Wind ring and slipped it on. After putting on a pair of slippers, she left the girls' bungalow.

As she walked, the ocean breeze made the hem of her nightgown flutter a little. She walked over to the obstacle course and made her way to the monkey bars. Though she couldn't see her hand in front of her face, she could just barely make out the silhouette of the climbing wall and moved toward it. Upon reaching the wall, she sat down at the foot of it. After a few minutes, she laid down and closed her eyes. As if on cue, the moon went behind the clouds.

Linka's eyes opened and she sat upright, when she heard a noise. Thinking that one of the eco-villains or some kind of monster had invaded the island, she rose to her feet and readied her ring, determined to literally blow the intruder away. All she could currently hear was the surf meeting the shore. Since the moon was still behind the clouds, she shouldn't have been able to see a thing, but she did see a small orange spec of light. And that spec of light came closer...and closer...and closer. "W-who is there?" she asked, barely above a whisper. Just then, the moon came out from behind the clouds and she found herself staring at Wheeler, a look of genuine concern on his face.


Earlier that night...

Wheeler was tossing and turning in his sleep, deep in the throes of a nightmare. In the dream, he and the other Planeteers were attempting to stop Duke Nukem from fortifying himself with radiation. Specificly, Gamma radiation. Failing yet again to do it themselves, they summoned Captain Planet. However, even the eco-superhero couldn't stop Nukem this time. They all watched in horror, as Linka was vaporized before their very eyes. Wheeler's eyes shot open and he immediately sat up in bed. He was sweating as if he'd just run the New York Marathon. Instead of going back to sleep, he decided to take a stroll, to clear his head. Out of habit, he picked up his Fire ring and put it on. After putting on a pair of slippers, left the boys' bungalow. He saw some one leaving the girls' bungalow, but couldn't tell if it was Gi or Linka.

At first, he thought that he'd talk to Gaia about his nightmare and began walking in the direction of the Crystal Chamber. However, almost in mid-step, he decided against this, not wanting to disturb her and began walking toward the obstacle course. Using his ring as a mini torch, he reached the obstacle course, just as the moon went behind the clouds. Though he could only see a few feet in front of him, he made his way to the monkey bars. He began walking in the general direction of the climbing wall and got very close to it, when he heard some one ask "W-who is there?" barely above a whisper. Suddenly, the moon emerged from behind the clouds and he found that he was staring at Linka. The look on her face was a mixture of fear and determination. Her ring was aimed directly at him.

Upon recognization, her facial expression changed and she lowered her ring.

"Wheeler!" Oh bozhe moy! You scared me!

"Sorry about that,"

"What are you doing out here?"

"Had a nightmare. Couldn't sleep. So, I took a stroll. You?"

"I too had a nightmare, my friend. And I too decided to go for a walk."

"Ya know, it might help if you talk about this nightmare."

"Da, da, I know." she said.

After a brief pause, Linka began to recant her nightmare.

"Well, we were returning home from another successful mission, when Verminous Scum suddenly appeared behind us and shot down the Geo-cruiser."

"Scum huh? That dirty son of a -"

"Wheeler please! After the water landing, Ma-ti used his Heart ring to summon a school of dolphins and they took us to a nearby island. Thinking that you had somehow preceded us to the island, we began to search for you. We searched the entire Island, but could find no trace of you. Then Gaia appeared and confirmed our worst fears and definately mine, when she told us that you...you...y-you...oh Wheeler!"

Wheeler held his trembling fellow Planeteer and let her cry on his shoulder. After a few minutes, Linka cried herself to sleep. He gently laid her down, brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead. He then stretched and slowly yawned, before snuggling down beside her and drifting off to sleep.

To Be Continued.