//------------------------------//
// Adventure: Water Water 
// Story: My Own Wings 
// by Tatsurou 
//------------------------------//

The glowing gem the Lightfoot carried, on closer examination, turned out to be a Fire Gem, a Krazoa artifact that stored fire energy for use in powering various mechanisms.  Remembering Shabunga's warning, Fox left it in Sunset's care to avoid it interacting with his new lightning magic, or vice versa.

Under the assumption that the Sharpclaws did not place siege weaponry randomly or pointlessly, Fox directed the group to the temple-like structure at the center of the Cape.  Fox's Hologuise granted access to the interior, where they found a chamber filled with water.  "Okay...this place could be difficult to maneuver," he murmured as he looked around.

"Over there!"  Sunset pointed firmly to a platform just above the water level.  "There's a staff switch there."  Sunset had taken to referring to the controls that lacked a lever - which Fox circumvented by jamming the staff into and using it as one - by that name.  "I'd bet it controls the water level in here.  If you stay up there and manipulate it, I can figure out where to put the Fire Gem."

"Good thinking," Fox agreed, starting to take a step forward.  He paused when he noticed sparks on his metal leg covers.  "That's going to be a problem," he muttered, mentally trying to figure out how to touch the Spellstone in his pack with his feet.

"You probably shouldn't feed too much of your magic build-up into the Spellstone, Dad," Sunset warned nervously.  "I mean, Shabunga did say we had to hurry before it ate you..."  Fox frowned irritably as he glared at the sparking energy.

"It's too bad you can't use it for a speed boost or something," Tricky offered facetiously.  "Then you could run across the water too fast to get wet."

Fox rubbed his chin thoughtfully.  "I doubt I could move my legs that fast even with magic.  But as for propelling myself..."  He looked up at the switch, braced the staff in his arms, crouched...and lunged.

Lightning erupted from his legs as he launched across the gap, the staff sticking in the staff switch to stop his forward momentum.  He gently set his feet down on the platform as he positioned himself to work the water level.  "Whenever you're ready, Sunset!" he called out happily.

"...so awesome..." Tricky breathed excitedly.  Sunset could only nod in agreement.

As it turned out, the switch in question controlled the water flow elsewhere, rather than inside the structure itself.  Rather than try to zap across the water again, Fox let Sunset investigate.  It turned out it shut off a waterfall to one side of the structure, opening a hidden alcove that could only be reached by swimming.  Inside, a winding path led to a relief carving of a Krazoa face that had another Fire Gem in it, wreathed in flames.  Sunset quickly removed it...which caused the water above to flood into the chamber she was in, emptying the upper chamber and leading her to an opening lower down on the outside of the temple.

Sunset then rejoined Fox and Tricky in the main chamber, where two more relief carvings could be seen with a door between them, these lacking in gems.  Sunset quickly placed the Gems in the carvings, but nothing happened.  "That's...odd," she murmured thoughtfully.  After a time, the one on the left began to glow.  "Okay...that's a start..."

"Sunset!" Tricky called out.  "Only one of the eyes is open!"  He jerked his head to indicate the front of the temple...which on closer inspection was a large Krazoa relief carving, with one of the eyes overgrown with vines.

Grinning, Sunset sent a burst of flames into the vines, reducing them to char...and causing the other Gem to glow as the sun's light touched it.  The door promptly slid open.

The path into the Ocean Temple had plentiful water, and the stone walls were grey and covered with carvings...and green moss.  This exited out into a hidden alcove of sand, waterfalls, small pools of water...and the massive Temple itself, soaring to the top of the enclosed area, a vision in marble and glass, some of the 'pillars' actually solid water constructs that continuously flowed in defiance of natural law.

As they approached the structure, Sunset felt herself getting...heavier.  "This feels...ugh..."  She reached up one hand to rub her head, trying a minor healing spell to fix the issue...and found her magical energy greatly reduced.  "Wha...?"

"Sunset, are you okay?" Fox asked worriedly, turning to check on her.

"My magic...it's...low," Sunset explained in confusion.

"Like how it was super high at the Volcano Force Point Temple, but the other way around?" Tricky asked curiously.

Sunset nodded thoughtfully.  "Yeah...exactly like that..."  She managed a smile.  "At least I know what it is.  Come on, let's go."

While Fox was worried about letting Sunset continue when she was feeling weak, he could see the determination in her eyes.  Beyond that, there were three very good reasons to have her keep going in an area where her magic was artificially weakened.  First, leaving her alone in such an area was just asking Sharpclaw forces to catch her for General Scales.  Second, it would be good for her to learn how to function without magic, in order to teach her not to rely on it so much.  And finally, the Ocean Force Point Temple was bound to be as full of water puzzles as the Volcano Force Point Temple had been of fire puzzles, and it would be very frustrating to get most of the way in only to have to turn around just because Fox started sparking at the wrong time.  "Alright then," he allowed finally.  "Let's go."  Seeing Sunset grin excitedly up at him, Fox was glad he made the choice he had.

The group quickly clambered up to the top of the Temple's outside - with Sunset carrying Tricky on her back, rather than in her magic - and opened the door to the interior with the Spellstone.  Once everyone was braced to go inside, they walked through the gate and into wonder.