Headon, guardian of the first floor gazed silently at the carvings on walls of the small cavern he called home which was left behind by his own creator. " So much has changed. " He uttered quietly to himself as he smiled up dryly at the carvings, knowing that once again a great change would soon come to the place he has watched over for what seemed like an eternity.
Headon's dry smile soon turned into what once could call amusement as he reminisced on what had transpired not long ago. A chuckle almost escaped the ancient creature's mouth as he thought of the selfish young girl and her valiant friend who was chasing after her with all his might.
" Such silly children, " he uttered dauntingly, knowing that they had no idea what awaited them.
For several moments the guardian just smiled to himself as he wondered where fate would take them both until darkening and foreboding chills invaded his very soul itself. It was a feeling he knew well, even though it was something that happened only a handful of times in his long life.
And with a slight turn of his head, his theory of what was going on proved to be true. The shinsoo on his entire floor began stir and soon a body was beginning to materialize on the floor. " Another one ? " He pondered incredulously. So many Irregulars hadn't come in so close together since the ten warriors.
After quickly getting over his initial shock, Headon began to survey this new irregular. Though he couldn't get a good look at the child's face as it was lying face down on the ground but he was easily able to pick up other obvious traits.
This new irregular seemed to be a male youth dressed in a black cloak with the physical appearance of someone in their teen years, he had snow white hair and seemed to have a strange aura about him. Even though he was clearly there, this child didn't seem to have any presence at all.
" How odd... I wonder what you have to bring to the tower child ", Headon said inwardly as the newcomer began to stir. Quickly, he decided to cloak himself with shinsoo so he could carefully observe the new irregular for a few seconds.
" Ugh, my head... where am I ", the irregular said as he picked himself up from the ground revealing a young pale face which was highlighted by green eyes that seemed to glow with a sense of melancholy in the poorly lit room.
Headon carefully watched the young man as he quietly rose from the ground and instantly took notice of the carving on the wall. For awhile the youth stood ghostly still and watched the walls as if he were entranced. " Hmmm. He seems like a thoughtful one " , he thought as he deciding to make his presence known, Headon stepped out from the veil of shinsoo he created and began to speaking in his usual welcoming yet amused voice.
" Wondrous aren't they ? Sometimes I too find myself hypnotized by them myself ", sadly the reaction Headon was expecting turned to be the exact opposite as the child yelled the word ' ghost ' at him in a shocked tone before turning around and launching a small green blast of shinsoo at him.
"Ghost? No matter, I'll just block it", he thought as he easily created a shield of shinsoo. but once again the irregular shocked him as the green blast the child fired at him seemingly ate right through his shield.
" Impossible ", the guardian muttered quietly to himself as he effortlessly swatted the odd green energy away with his staff. Though he expected the energy to bounce away upon making contact with his ancient staff, it however just hung onto it in a gooey form. " …...Interesting ", he said aloud as he investigated the strange goo.
Unfortunately , he didn't have much time as the newcomer seemed to be gathering more of that strange energy at him. Headon instantly went into diplomatic mode, wanting to calm down this new irregular. Not because he was afraid or anything, it would just be a shame if he had to harm such an interesting irregular.
"Dear child, there is no need to attack me. Trust me when I say I mean you no harm."
The irregular just stared at him cautiously for a few moments before dispersing that odd energy he was threatening Headon with. " Hmmmmm. it seems to be part of his body itself ", Headon observed as the energy seemed to disappear into the youth's body.
" So, you're really not a ghost ? "
Headon just chuckled amusedly as he heard the question before replying, " No my dear irregular, I assure you that I'm no a ghost... Besides ghosts don't actually exist in a physical sense. "
" Not true, they definitely do.", the irregular huffed out petulantly, obviously having a different point of view on the matter.
" Well, I suppose I'll just have to take your word for it child. Now I believe introduction are in order. I am Headon, Guardian of the first floor of the tower. It's lovely to meet you honored irregular. ", He said majestically before performing a curt bow.
" Tower ? " the unnamed irregular repeated outwardly in a haunted voice as several emotions flashed within his eyes.
" Are you okay Mr...? ", Headon questioned as he gazed at his guest. For awhile the question went unanswered until the person in question gathered his thought and answered in a slightly hollowed voice.
" Daniel... Danny Fenton and I'm for asking . I apologize if I worried you. "
Though Headon gazed at his guest with sympathetic eyes, though deep down inside he was anything but. Why should he pity someone he barely knew ? People suffer, that's just a well known fact of life within the tower. Why exactly should he care about one child's pain ?
" Well , I graciously welcome into the tower. "
" Tower ? What exactly is the tower ? "
" Wonderful question Mr. Fenton ! The tower is many things. It's a place where dreams come true and where gods are born, yo- "
" Gods !? " , Danny sputtered out interrupting Headon's speech.
" Oh ? Are interested in Gods Mr. Fenton ? ", Headon questioned
" Well... only if they have the power to bring the dead back to life. " , the irregular said quietly. His voice slightly being above a whisper.
For several seconds Headon feigned the act of thinking before bursting out saying ," Ahhh ! "
" So you do know someone !? Please allow me to meet them ! "
" Well I suppose I could help you meet that group of people but that would be unfair to the rest of the inhabitants of the tower . As a guardian of the tower, I must maintain absolute neutrality afterall ..." Headon stated slightly amused at his own words as he carefully watched the new irregular ponder his words. " But if you climb the tower I'm sure you meet such powerful beings or who knows you might be able to attain the power you seek yourself because everything exists at the top of the tower "
" Everything ? ", Danny asked skeptically. " Honestly, this sounds like a bad scam... But if it's even the smallest chance that it's possible I'll do it."
" Are you sure ? The process of climbing the tower is a dark and dangerous road. Not many can truly get to the top, most die on the journey. Some even say that it's an impossible goal. Are you sure you wish to take part Mr. Fenton ? I'd hate for a nice young man like you to lose your life in the attempt. "
" Don't worry Mr. Headon. Even if everyone tells me it's impossible, I'll make it possible. So please allow me to try, I'll do anything. "
" Okay Mr. Fenton, I'll give you a chance to go up the tower. But before we start, I have something for you. ", Headon said as he pulled out a small orb seemingly out of no where and allowed it to float over towards Danny.
" That is a pocket, it's a nifty device used within the tower that comes with several useful functions . Though one of the most important one for people climbing the tower would be the translator. Not everyone within the tower will be able to understand you as I do, so the pocket will automatically translate any language to your own. So if you'd please, just give it a slight touch with your finger to activate it. "
Quickly doing as he was told, Danny activated the pocket becoming slightly shocked at how the dark orb instantly lit up brightly before turning back to it dull dark color.
" Wonderful, now if you could repeat the words ' invisible mode ' the pocket will be obscured from sight and if you do the opposite the pocket will appear again "
" Wow... Amazing ", Danny said aloud obviously impressed with how high tech things seemed to be in the tower
" Yes, it's is quite amazing. Now I believe that we're able to press on with your testing process Mr. Fenton."
" Test ? As in math test ?", Danny questioned .
" Haha, oh no Mr. Fenton, today we will not be testing your mathematical capabilities. We'll just be taking a standard test which is required within the tower to continue climbing."
Danny sighed in deep relief as if a math test could be the worst thing possible. " Phew ! You scared me for a moment. I can't even pass high school calculus without a massive study session . I don't even want to think about having to attempt whatever crazy tower math you guys have. "
Headon just silently swallowed his amusement at the child's words before raising his hand causing one of the walls raise revealing the largest fish Danny had ever seen in his entire life. " This my dear boy is a white steel eel. It's one of the many creatures of the tower.", Headon paused letting the irregular get a good sight of the shinheuh.
" Now lets begin. I think I'll give you a rather simple test since your visit was quite unexpected . If you look closely within the tank behind the steel eel there's a balloon that was popped not long ago. If you can bring me back the deflated balloon within three minutes I'll send you up. Though please be careful Mr. Fenton, for some odd reason my pet seems to be in a rather nasty mood today. ", the Rabbit voiced out as he smiled to himself.
" Simple my butt. " the Irregular said to himself as watched the odd looking Rabbit creature who was now standing off to the side watching intently at scene that was about to unfold.
Taking a final deep breath to prepare himself for his battle , Danny began to float mid air and then took off flying towards the steel eel with impressive speed. Oddly enough as the irregular speed picked up, his legs began to fuse's together and began to take form of a tail.
" Oho ! That's an interesting skill. It seems that this one is nothing like the other two. But let's see if he can get pass the eel with his speed. ", Headon voiced out loud, slightly intrigued at the towers newest irregular's skill set.
Headon was quite perplexed as he watched Danny fly right into the jaws of the large shineuh. " That was uh... very anticlimactic. ", he said as the steel eel snapped it's mouth shut cruelly. Then suddenly the irregular emerged from the body of the white steel eel completely unharmed, looking transparent.
By the time the eel had figured out what had occurred, Danny had already picked up the deflated balloon and was already on his way back.
Headon just narrowed his eyes, judging the abilities being displayed by this strange new irregular. Having traveled all over the tower collecting regulars and testing other irregulars who were chosen by the tower had caused him to be quite knowledgeable about special powers and unique abilities. But the ones he were being shown today had to definitely be some of the most fascinating.
" Irregulars truly are wonders. I sincerely welcome you into the tower child ", the guardian thought to himself as he watched Danny cross the threshold, cementing his victory in rather stunning time.
" My, my, my. You sure are something . As we agreed, I shall now send you up to the next floor. I wish you luck on your journey across the tower. ", and with a swipe of his staff the irregulars body began to be covered with the same blue hue he was engorged in when he entered the first floor not to long ago and with a flash of light he was gone.
For only god knows how long, Headon just stood there pondering what exactly would become of the three children he sent up to climb the tower today. All three of them unaware of the unknown fate the tower has chosen for them. Though even he did not know what was in store for them, what he did know was that with three new irregulars climbing the tower at the same time, surely unprecedented things will be occurring soon.
" Well I suppose even I'll have to wait and see what happens ", he said to himself, his voice echoing within the room until another voice joined it.
" Well I wonder what has happened to thou that has cause you to speak such cryptic words ", said an unknown voice.
" Ahh, it's you. I have an interesting story for you if you'd like to here it. ", the only response Headon received was an amused chuckle that vibrated into the room.
Updated 6/20/16