-1
Hello! I'm SageofAges729! Nice to meet you!
This is my second attempt at this particular story. I have the ideas, just not sure about the order and how to write them down. Please bear with me. I'll gabber more after the story, but for now, please enjoy! Oh, and don't worry, you'll see the main characters from the show pop up next chapter.
This is the only disclaimer I'll do for the story: I don't own Naruto, only Senya, and whatever characters and concepts I create.
Summery: An ancient clan is dying off, and in their desperation, they seal a young child. Forced into hibernation for over a thousand years, she wakes to find the world has changed. Shinobi have replaced soldiers, clans she once knew have evolved and changed names. Worst of all, the revered Tailed Beasts, guardians of the world, have are now feared and hated. Can she learn how to blend in this new world and survive it's dangers?
Prologue: The Sealing
"We are dying."
That was the elder's solemn announcement as he talked to the couple in front of him.
"We must seal her away if this clan is to survive," the elderly man persisted. He was in his sixties, sad gray eyes looking at the two before him. He went bald years ago due to his heavy burden as head of the family, several scars across his face, thanks to the recent war that threatened the peace of his country. He was laying on a bed, from a plague that had struck nearly the entire family. It was fortunate though that the virus did not spread easily, but even so, the kingdom had quarantined the entire compound.
"But, why our daughter?" the woman chocked out, already knowing the answer. Her pale skin contrasted her raven hair. Green eyes, swimming in tears, shone brightly in the dim room. She was beautiful, except for the sores that the plague inflicted on her.
"If anyone, a child can escape the traitor's wrath," the old man said sadly. "She has not yet been infected, and her access to the House's power is great. She has a higher chance of survival."
The woman sobbed silently, her tears falling like a pitiful rain.
"Please calm down Senara," the man next to her said gently. "You know Senya can tell when you cry. You don't want her to worry, do you? Besides, if things keep getting worse, she'll suffer more than we are now. It's for the best." The man speaking was tall, and built like a tank. His fiery red hair, a rarity in these parts, was cooled by his wintry blue eyes. He was not yet infected by the plague, but it was only a matter of time.
"…alright," the woman known as Senara said shakily. "Alright."
"Then it's decided," the elder nodded.
"Where will she be sealed?" the man asked, his voice hard in an effort to mask the pain.
"At the Grave of the Dragons," the elder responded with a heavy voice. "I think, Dethshar, it is the best place."
"I see," Dethshar said. 'So he wants us to watch her, even in death…'
"And what of the war?"
"The king will have to fight the rebels without us. I'm afraid that the House of Draco will be in no shape to stop it. It is now up to the Houses of Vulpes, Lupus, and Scorpio."
"Damn the traitor…" Dethshar cursed.
"Mama, Papa!" a child's voice rang out. "It's Neri! He's not moving!"
A little girl, about nine years old, ran into the room, panting heavily. She had curly red hair, and bright green eyes clouded with worry. She wore a shirt and shorts, boys clothes actually. Her shirt had no back, leaving it bare. One could wing like markings that covered her back in a simple yet graceful pattern. In her arms, a small calico kitten lay there, absolutely still.
"Senya, you know better than to come barging in and not pay your respects to the elder," Dethshar gently admonished, as if he weren't just talking about his daughter's fate.
"Oh…I'm sorry Lord Koras," she bowed to the old man, the dead cat clutched tightly to her chest.
"It's all right Senya," Koras smiled at his granddaughter. "Now, what's wrong with little Neri?"
"He won't move," she said, kneeling next to the elder and gently setting down the cat.
After a moment, Koras said sadly, "I'm afraid he's moved on."
Senya's face clouded with sadness. "You mean, like Torren?" she asked sadly.
He nodded, remembering the girl's pain when her cousin died. Torren was like an older brother to her, watching out for her and generally keeping her out of trouble. He helped her recover from the loss of her uncle, who had betrayed the clan two years ago. When Torren died in the war, Senya nearly collapsed. It took her half a year to recover from that grievous blow.
"No, he won't," the man shook his head. "Go and give him a burial, I'm sure he'll appreciate in the afterworld."
Senya nodded, sniffling slightly. "I-I'll put him next to the lilies. He always liked those." She scooped the kitted in her arms, bowed to Koras, then ran out.
"…We, the mighty Dragon clan as some know us, have been reduced to sealing a child in hopes that she'll live through these times of death," the elder said quietly
Dethshar didn't respond, and neither did Senara. Finally, Dethshar asked, "When?"
"It will commence tonight."
[-xxxxx-
A procession slowly treaded the ancient path that lead to the Grave of the Dragons. At the front was Lord Koras, head of the family. Dressed in elaborate robes for this, he had summoned all his strength to be here tonight. With him was little Senya, who was in a simple summer robe, her parents behind them.
"Lord Koras?" she looked up at him. "What's going on?"
"We are conducting a ceremony," he responded.
"Oh…" she remained quiet, but didn't like the gloomy atmosphere that went with this particular ceremony.
The procession followed the path as it wound up the lone mountain. It finally stopped at a shrine carved from marble stone. Twin dragon carvings guarded the door. The door swung inward soundlessly, but one could almost hear a deep rumble from these doors.
It was dark inside but torches lit at the presence of the people. At the center of the room, a lotus bud, carved from an unknown white material, stood. Behind it was a massive statue of the Dragon Matriarch, the goddess of the clan. A massive dragon with eight tails, each enabling her to control the eight elements. Surrounding her were eight gems, each representing the same elements. Fire, water, wind, earth, metal, lighting, light, and darkness. A ruby, a sapphire, an emerald, a topaz, a titanium ore cut as a gem, an aquamarine, a diamond, and an onyx respectively.
"Behold the Lotus of Rest," Koras said gravely. "Left behind by our ancestor and the founder of our House, this was to be used if our clan was in danger of extinction. We were to choose the most worthy and powerful of our clan, and seal the chosen into the lotus to sleep until awoken.
"The time to choose is upon us. Thanks to the traitor, the House of Draco, which has been standing for over a thousand years, is in danger of becoming lost to the flows of time. To stop this, I have chosen the one to bring our clan past this time of death and destruction."
Eight high priests who haven't been killed by disease took their positions around the lotus, each wearing a different mask to represent their mastery of an element. Combining their spiritual energies, they brought the stone lotus to life as it bloomed.
"Senya, please step forward," Koras said.
She did apprehensively. She had no idea what was going on. Did they have time to afford for this ceremony? What about the war? What about the sick people?
"Senya is our only hope," Koras addressed his family. "As the most promising child in centuries, she is the most suitable candidate."
Suitable candidate? Wait, extinction? The clan was going to be extinct? That's when it hit her.
'The Lotus of Rest puts a person into hibernation,' she recalled in her lessons. 'They're putting me to sleep…?' She found herself pulled into the carved flower, right in the center of it.
"Rest well Senya," Koras said. "We will pray for you. And we will watch over you. Always."
"Mama! Papa!" she cried out, becoming scared. She saw her mother crying, and found herself crying too. The lotus began closing around her, and she began to panic. Even as she tried to stop it, she suddenly found herself involuntarily awakening her gift. Her eyes burned as they changed from green to golden, her pupils slitting like a cat's. Her canines became longer like fangs, her nails elongating into claws. Pain erupted form her back as the markings shifted, wings coming out of her flesh. She bit back a cry, curling up tightly into a ball. She became more and more drowsy, and by the time the seal was finished, Senya was put into complete hibernation.
As soon as the priests were finished, they each fell. One by one they died, succumbing to the plague's effects.
"Give them a proper burial," the old man said sadly. "I'm afraid we'll be joining them soon enough."
AN: Well, any good? No significant changes, but I think it's ok. This is what I pretty much imagined, so I hope you like it. Please send your reviews, I'll be extremely grateful. Good or bad, I need to know your opinion. Thanks as always!