Dragon Warriors IIII
A Hero's Tale
Chapter I: Sukei's Worst Birthday
"Sukei it's time to wake up! I know it's your birthday today but that doesn't mean you can sleep it away." Hearing his mom's voice and feeling her shaking him softly finally woke Sukei, who opened his deep violet eyes lazily as he used one of his hands to move his dark, unruly emerald hair away from his face. As soon as he woke up his mom handed a lunch box and told him, "It's about time you woke up! Now I want you to give this to your father, can you do that for me?"
"Yeah, yeah, but I have to change first," Sukei answered sleepily as he got up from bed. When his mom left his room he started to go into his new pair of clothes for beginner soldiers given to him by one of the warriors that visit his village from time to time. He didn't put it on immediately though; he wanted some fresh air to wake him up fully for a new day in his same old village. Sukei opened one of his windows and smiled a little when he saw the beautiful scenery; from the tall trees and the sparkling waterfall to the small villagers and its mighty mountains that seemed to protect the people, it was beautiful. But Sukei sighed a little as he looked at the sky, unable to see much because of the mountains themselves. "They always have to do too good with their job," Sukei sighed as he stared at the mountains again. He walked away from the window and went back to his clothes to get ready. Just as he took off his shirt, he heard someone at the window say in mock awe, "Wow! You'll look just like a real soldier with that on you!"
"And this is the reason why we should close our windows." Sukei didn't even need turn his head to know it was his elf friend, Celius; she did this to him ever since they were kids. Knowing she was at the window, Sukei simply told her, "Do you do this to every guy in the village?"
"Nah, I just do it to my best friend," Celius said playfully to him; she was lying comfortably on the wooden window frame as usual.
Sukei still didn't turn around but he could just see her grass green hair moving at the slightest breeze along with her pure white tunic. Her cheerful light blue eyes seemed to stare into him in a way he was never able to understand. But that didn't change the fact that she was a girl and he was a boy. Sure, he didn't really care if she saw him; they change clothes in front of each other practically every day. But the last time they were caught, Sukei's dad gave them a REALLY long lecture about 'common decency between men and women'. Celius joked that they technically weren't 'man and woman' until they were 18-year-olds. But Sukei didn't want to deal with his dad today. "I'm honored. Now will you turn around already!?"
As soon as she covered her eyes Sukei started to put his clothes on. "You can open your eyes now, but do you seriously have to do that and on my birthday," Sukei asked Celius with a sigh.
"Well, if I didn't do this to you I wouldn't have got to draw this wonderful picture of you when your angry," Celius said, showing him a drawn picture of himself. Terrified that she had been drawing him the whole time he quickly went to snatch it from her, only to see her leap from his window back to the ground and ran off with it. "Are all elves like this," Sukei thought to himself as he quickly grabbed his wooden swords and went outside to meet up with his friend. When he went outside he saw Celius lying quietly in a pile of flowers. Startled to see that she wasn't doing much a fight like she usually would, he walked toward her and opened his mouth. "No I'm not sick. I was just thinking about something," Celius answered before he could say anything.
"Why don't you tell me about it? It'll help if you tell someone," Sukei answered as he joined her. He didn't really mind listening to her problems; in fact, he was proud that he was the only person that Celius would tell her problems to.
"Well, it's just...um, y'know...it's just... Sukei do you like the village life," Celius blurted out quickly; she seemed anxious for some reason.
Sukei was very quiet when she asked him this but sighed in the end. "Well, life around the village is pretty relaxing but I really want to go to the outside world. I want to know how it feels to travel to different places, seeing different people, meeting new friends, and fighting alongside them. I even imagine the day when all my friends go back to where they come from and how sad I'll feel to see them go. But in the end one of them, just one, will come back to me and stay by my side till the end." His content look slowly seemed to sadden after a thought. "But whenever I try to leave this place the soldiers keep stopping me and bringing me back. Why won't they let me go? I feel like a caged dragon or something here," Sukei answered sadly.
"Don't worry Sukei, you're time will come soon I'm sure of it," Celius told him cheerfully, patting his back encouragingly.
"I hope you're right. I can't stand being treated like a little kid for one more second."
Celius was a little quiet from that remark but decided to change the subject before they got too deep on the subject. "Oh, by the way Sukei, aren't you supposed to be doing something," Celius asked him with a smirk.
Sukei jumped up in panic and began to run. "Oh man! I forgot to give Dad his lunch! See you later Celius!"
Before he left Celius called out to him, "Hey Sukei! I hope we can stay friends forever!"
"Don't you worry about that! We'll always be friends right to the end," Was the light-hearted answer that he gave as he ran nimbly off. As soon as he left Celius said softly to herself, "I'm apologizing for the village when I say that we are all sorry that we made you feel caged up. But we do it to protect you from the outside. But today you will get your wish but in a way that will bring you pain. After all, it's in the cards..."
"Here Pops! Sorry if it's a little cold," Sukei said sheepishly, quickly handing the lunch to his father, a large, grizzly man that was the chief of the village.
"Late again? Sukei, you were playing around with Celius weren't you," His father sighed as he opened the lunch; it seemed to be impossible that his son was going to mature at all. It worried him a little at times.
"Well, it wasn't exactly playing, we were just talking. Besides, I think I've out grown playing by now. I'm a man, a big, strong man," Sukei answered proudly.
"Well, the "big, strong man" should go to Mage right now. He said he wants to teach you one last thing before your ceremony," His father said as he tried to cuff Sukei across the head just as he always tried to do to him when he was younger. To his surprise, Sukei swiftly sped to the side, even faster than he had always done when he was a child, yelling as he ran away, "You might wanna lose some of that buffalo fat Dad 'cause your starting to get slower!"
"Don't you start giving me a lecture, Sukei! I was the one who raised you!"
"Yeah, but I'm the one who overpowered you since I was a kid," Came Sukei's response and he swiftly leapt toward Mage's house. Mage was an old, wise sage who lived in the small village and Sukei's tutor of magic and monsters ever since he was a child. Of all the people of the village that Sukei had befriended, most of his loyalty and friendship was turned toward the kind, soft spoken sage, who had always used to baby-sit Sukei and Celius when they were younger, who were the only children in the village in the first place. When he reached Mage the sage quickly started to teach him one of the most powerful magic in the world, Zap. Sukei tried and tried to conquer the magic but being a high leveled form of it, Mage suggested that Sukei should continue training on it tomorrow. "Do not feel discouraged, Sukei. I was expecting too much of you to conquer Zap in one day. Even the most advanced wizards have a hard time controlling Zap itself," Mage told him gently as he watched Sukei glare grumpily at his hands.
"But I really wanted to control it! Especially with the ceremony coming up soon," Sukei told Mage, looking at the old man's ancient face and long, white beard that he tossed over his shoulder so he wouldn't trip.
"Ah, the Destiny Ceremony, when children do the trials to prove that they have finally reached adulthood and have what it takes to face the ordeals of the outside world. You've really have come of age, haven't you," Mage said with a smile, noticing how much Sukei has grown over the years.
"Yeah, I'm finally 18. I'm gonna miss the village life but the world's calling for me to travel around it. I'll make sure to come visit every now and then and you'll see just how much stronger I really will become over my travels. Well, see you later Mage. Make sure to come to my ceremony okay," Sukei said he ran home, waving good-bye to his old friend. Mage looked gravely at the eager boy as he ran off, saying with sadness, "I am sorry to say, with a very heavy heart, I will not be able to attend your ceremony, young one. But I will watch you grow from different ordeals..."
"Sukei, dinner time," Sukei's mom called as Sukei came into the house.
"Thank you God! I'm so hungry I could eat a buffalo," Sukei said as he sat down, getting ready to eat, secretly putting some food away for two of his friends. But before he could get ready to eat the warrior Cail, Sukei's teacher in swordsmanship, burst into the room, yelling, "Rose! They are monsters attacking! They're surrounding the village from every corner!"
"Well, looks like my trials are about to begin earlier than expected," Sukei said seriously as he started to take out his wooden swords. But his mom stopped him, putting her hand in the way. Then she turned to Cail and said, "I know exactly what they came for. You must take Sukei to the underground refuge. It is time." The soldier looked at her, nodded his head solemnly, and without warning, grabbed Sukei's hand, taking him secretly to the refuge. When Sukei was outside he was horrified at the sight he saw. Monsters were appearing from every corner fighting one on one with both villagers and soldiers, many bodies of both humans and monsters lying lifeless on the ground. Sukei, now worried about Celius and Mage, started to squirm and fidget, struggling to get loose from the soldier, shouting," Let me go, Cail! Let me go! I have to help protect the village! I have to fight!"
Now Cail turned around and shouted back," They are not fighting to protect the village, Sukei! They are fighting to protect you! You are the world's only hope! You have to live!" But Sukei still struggled to get loose, even though he knew the soldier's grasp was too strong, not allowing him to get free. Now Sukei's shouts of anger were turning into cries of pain, watching helplessly as many of the villagers died before his own eyes. As he and the soldier reached the entrance to the underground refuge he saw his father standing nearby. At the sight of his father he cried helplessly to him, "Pop what's going on!? Why have monsters entered the village and attacked!? How am I the world's only hope!? Please Pop; I don't understand this at all!"
His father looked silently at his son, tears running down his face. Finally he got his son in a long hug, saying between his sobs," I'm sorry Sukei! I'm sorry you were giving such a burden in life! But the truth is that your mother and I are not your real parents! You were born to save this world; it's in your blood, a heritage given to you by your real father himself! We of the village were given the role to protect you, raise you, and train you for the trials that you would be given! I'm sorry I haven't told you this sooner! Good-bye, my Hero son." Before Sukei could respond he was pulled by the soldier, taken to the refuge, and put in the shelter. "You are the last hope. No matter what you must live." With that he left Sukei all alone in the shelter. He whimpered silently to himself, hearing the sounds of war above him. After a while Celius suddenly appeared in the shelter. The sight of her alright was joy in his eyes and he was about to give her a hug but she stopped him. "Sukei, I just want to say thank you for all the memories. You are like a brother to me. In return you must do me one last favor. You have to live and follow your destiny no matter what, okay?" Sukei eyes began to water up all over again but he nodded. Seeing this, Celius gave him one last hug, though it felt a little urgent and rushed, and before his eyes transformed into the prefect copy of him. Mage appeared beside her, took one last look at Sukei, and they left outside to the battle. At first all he heard was the clashing of swords and shields as the villagers fought their best to protect Sukei, which he understood only a bit and then there was silence. Deathly, terrifying silence until he heard a monster say, "Necrosarro! We have destroyed the Hero!"
"Good. With him dead, there will be no stop to the resurrection of the Lord of Darkness," came the voice that Sukei assumed belonged to Necrosarro. As soon the steps of the monsters left Sukei ran outside. He saw mostly all the houses in ruins and the villagers starting to disappear to the spirit world, their bodies turning into specks lights and vanishing before his eyes, their blood fading away as well. Sukei quickly started to look around until he saw Mage, Cail, and Celius, who were side by side, as they were starting to disappear. "Sukei, you must follow your destiny. You were born as the Hero of prophecy that will prevent the rebirth of the Lord of Darkness. We would have told you this when you were older and a bit stronger but the monsters have found you before we could make you into a stronger Hero. But you must endure and move forward on your quest. If you don't follow your destiny the world is doomed to be destroyed," Were the sage's last words and he disappeared.
"Hey Sukei, listen to me." Sukei turned his attention to Cail and nearly shed tears at the sight once powerful warrior and mentor covered in blood and very weakened; it was obvious that he was going to disappear too. Cail saw the younger male trying to hold back tears and smirked widely. "And here I thought I trained a boy who kept shouting his head off about "Getting out of this village no matter what!" I don't want you sniveling over my death; I'm dying with the pride of a warrior and the fact I just saved the world's only hope just makes me even cockier." Cail paused for a minute and gave Sukei a rare gentle smile. "Seriously, don't cry though; I really am happy I was able to protect you at least; everyone else is too. Just make sure to give them all a good beating for yours truly! Knock'em dead, Kid!" Cail gave him one last proud smile as he disappeared; Sukei could still hear the brash laughter Cail let out as he had completely went away.
Sukei walked slowly to Celius and place his hand on Celius's cheek softly; he could tell that she was going to go away as well. "Celius-"
Celius gently place her hand over Sukei's before he could continue. She closed her eyes gently and smiled a little weakly as her soft hand stroked Sukei's smooth hand gently. Celius opened her eyes and looked at Sukei with her calm light blue eyes with an expression the he knew; it showed no regret about what she did. She actually looked happy. "Goodbye...Sukei...I'm...so...happy...I was...able to...protect you...to the end." Celius gave Sukei a serene smile as she disappeared with Mage and Cail; she disappeared from his fingertips like a mist.
"No! Don't leave me Mage! Don't leave me alone Celius! Please guys, come back!" Finally Sukei fell on his knees, slamming his fist to the ground, begging Mage, Cail, Celius, anyone to return. But in the end they didn't. When he was finally able to pull himself a little together he started to look around, hoping that some miracle had spared the lives of his other two friends. "Sukei! You're alive!" He turned around and to his relief, saw Demon Fang, a wolf monster that he had protected even when he attacked Sukei, and Hoji, a Slime that was wounded badly by another monster and left to die, come his way. They were both monsters he was secretly taking care that bonded with him and decided to stay by his side to the end even if he was a human, which most monsters felt were natural enemies. Sukei, too happy for words to see that they were alive, got them both in his arms. "What happened? The village is in ruins and we thought we saw you die! Weren't you stabbed in the heart with Necrosarro's scepter," Came Hoji as Demon nodded in agreement. Sukei looked sadly at them and at his home, not knowing what to tell them. Finally he stood up and said to them, "Let's go. I have to fulfill my destiny." Not questioning his sudden motive they followed obediently right behind Sukei, leaving their beloved, annihilated home behind them in sorrow...
They started to walk through the forest, avoiding the monsters the best they could, sliding down the slopes to reach the exit of the mountain guarded village. Sukei never really gave a thought about how well the village was covered but now he could see just how high the mountains were and how he couldn't see a single gap. He got so interested in how well the mountains covered the village that he didn't realize that he had walked into someone's house until he heard a dog barking. "Hey! What are ya thinkin', goin' into people's houses without gettin' permission," Yelled a stocky man.
"I-I'm so sorry Mister! I-I d-didn't mean to," Sukei said anxiously as he and his monsters did an apologic bow to him.
The man looked at Sukei for a long time and then asked gruffly, "What happened, kid?"
"Oh nothing! I just decided to leave the village now when I was done with my trials," Sukei lied.
Now the man glared darkly at him, "Don't you go lyin' to me, Boy! Your clothes are pretty ragged and ya look too much worn out for someone who had supposedly did the trials. If my memory serves me correctly they wouldn't let anyone go through with the trials if it gets that dangerous!"
"But-"
"Warrior Vow #1: Lyin' is the first part of thievery, honesty is the first step to true respect!" Tell me the truth, what really happened," the man asked again. Sukei sighed heavily and, knowing that he couldn't hide the truth any longer, told him all he could about what happened to the village. But when he went up to the part when his friends had said their last farewells a lump suddenly appeared in his throat and he couldn't say anymore. The man looked quietly at Sukei and suddenly pointed at the pots. "Ya see those pots? There's a pair of twin broad swords in one, half-plate armor in another, and a dragon scale shield in the last one." Then he pointed at the bed. "You can take them in the mornin'. But for now get some rest. I don't wanna find out that ya died out there because you were so reckless." So when the man blew out the candle Sukei went silently in the bed, Hoji and Demon resting tiredly at the edge of the bed. Before he was truly asleep his thoughts kept him awake. "I don't know what I should do, no one has really told me and I don't have a place to go either. But for him to destroy with my village without mercy... I'll defeat this Necrosarro no matter what." When he had truly fallen asleep the man went to him, looking at the boy with calm, gentle eyes. Then he said with a wry smile, "Looks like the monsters were growin' restless and tried to take him out at a young age. That's low even for them, but he will still have to be the one who will save the world. Too bad it has to start now at such a young age. Poor kid." Then he looked up at the sky. "I hope you plan on helping him, Zandar! He won't stand a chance against the Lord of Darkness alone! If you asked me I think the world's fate just got worse. A lot worse..."
That's it for now! I could use some info on the Dragon Warrior 4 game if you don't mind either; I want to if I missed anything that I should put in. Oh, and some reviews; Good or bad, they are always motivating. Especially when they give advice.
Sukei: Yeah, you need a lot with that ID
ID: Don't make me hurt Sukei! I could take you out of the story in a matter of minutes
Sukei: You can. But you won't.
ID: And what makes you so sure?
Sukei: I'm the main character. You can't continue the story without me.
ID:...Wipe that smug look off you face and tell them the name of the next chapter. Jerk.
Sukei: I win. Well look into the story for the next chapter "The Fortune-Teller and the Dancer! Meet the Twins!..." Wait a minute, these are girls aren't they!?
ID: Haha, Payback is a Bi-
Sukei: No swearing! It's a kid's story! Besides, you'll get in trouble. Again.
ID: Whatever, just please review! See ya later!
Sukei: Why girls though!? Just take me out of the story if it's like that!
ID: ...What the heck is it with some heroes and girls?