CFB: Well, I went looking through all of my old files the other day and came across this story I had written like, two years ago. It was the very first story I ever finished, and I hadn't seen it in so long I thought I had lost it. But no, here it is! Sure, it needed some editing and a massive revamp, but now it's time to actually post it. Here, I present Guardian Towers, which is atually my first fanfic ever, and my first for Hamtaro, obviously. God I miss that show.

Disclaimer: I don't own Hamtaro or any of it's characters. But I do own my OCs and all other concepts used in this story not directly related to the original Hamtaro show.

Summary: When legends come true, frienships are put to the ultimate test. When secrets are about to be revealed, the thin line between saving yourself and saving those you love becomes deadly. When the ham-hams meet a new hamster in the bushes one fine summer day, they naturally want to be her friend. But she is harboring a secret that could ultimately decide the fate of the hamster world, and she's not telling anyone. When legends are unearthed and an evil hamster begins stalking the ham-hams, something will occur that will change their lives forever. But is it for the better or for the worse? Meanwhile, Laura is struggling with the fact Travis may be taken by another girl, and realizes growing up is far more difficult than she ever imagined. Light romance.

Enjoy! Read and review please. Constructive criticism is welcome. Flames don't bother me, I just ignore them.

Prologue: Horizon

It came when the sun was a mere slit over the dark horizon, and the sky was still dark with hints of pink, a beautiful sunrise in the making. Night was fading, and only a few stars still glimmered visibly high above the heavens. Somewhere, beyond the reaches of humanity, a tall, gray, tower stood on top of a lush green hill, casting a colorless and dull appearance over the once captivating scenery. Even the bright, crimson slice of the sun, peeking over the rim of the world, was dulled by the dull, deadened atmosphere clinging to the hill and it's monstrosity. Dark ivy wound its way up the sides of the sturdy structure, made of a fine, though crumbling grey stone.

It was clearly not human made. Whoever, or whatever had made it had abandoned it, left it to face the elements. Leaving it so no one would ever visit it's stairways or gaze out at the stupendous view from the very top ever again. Until someone, or something, ascended the long spiral stairs to the top of the tower for their own misguided purpose, many years after it's last occupant was wiped off the earth.

At the very top of the faded stone tower was a small hamster. He was grinning, not a kind, cheery smile, but more like he knew some malicious secret. His rose red eyes glinted evilly, relfecting the emerging sun as he stared at it unblinkingly, and his pink nose was wrinkled in a permanent, disapproving scowl. Though a beautiful shade of crimson, his eyes pierced like daggers through the heart. He had come to the tower for a reason. A reason very close to his dark, misled heart. The moment he had longed for almost his entire life was finally here, and his blood was racing as he waited impatiently for the time his destiny would arrive.

"...It will begin soon."

Breaking the silence of the early morn, he spoke in a deep voice with an edge of anxiousness to it. His ears were dark brown, his arms a fiery shade of burning mahogany, and his teeth were more like a cat's than a hamster's, nearly perfectly chiseled fangs. A black cloak adorned his broad shoulders, and the villainous grin was still playing on his face, unchanging.

"It can't be long now...I will soon have absolute power..." He laughed, a high, evil laugh that contrasted sharply with his low voice, up into the far-reaching sky.

Head tilted back, staring straight up at the brightening dawn sky, he began to recite something. His voice resonated across the top of the empty tower, and the gentle breeze rustling his fur carried it over the bounding hills that reached for miles around.

"As dawn rises, from its home and prison in the fabled Waters of Eternity, the Guardian of all hamsterkind will emerge, flying on broad wings to meet the one hamster destined to carry it's supreme power. The burden of greatness shall fall upon the Chosen One, and, as one, they will save hamsterkind from turmoil once more."

His words were deep and strong, and seemed to hold an air of mystery to them. Bringing his eyes to the rising sun again, he said, clapping his paws together, "Finally, the legend is coming true! The Guardian is coming, and I will be here to take its power! I will be the one who takes control over all of hamsterkind!"

Carried away by his fantasies, he walked to the edge of the tower and peered over across the field. Nothing civilized as far as the eye could see, just the very tower he was standing on, and the decomposing ruins of the once great Hamwallian Empire below, nestled in a small, dying valley. Grasping the edge of the tower in his quivering paws, he said, "If the legend is true, it will fly over this tower to search for the Chosen One, a hamster that it will possess and merge with." He narrowed his eyes until they glinted with the light of the coming day.

"...Unlimited power. The Guardian has unlimited power. And with its glorious powers I will rule over the entire hamster world!"

Heart pounding a mile a minute, he continued to stare out over the side of the tower and into the distance, waiting anxiously for the power he was sure would soon be his.

At that very moment, in a far away and hazy place unknown to all beings, human and otherwise, a mystical, winged beast, trapped in a blue-tinged bubble hovering over an immense crystal pool, opened it's icy cerulean eyes for the second time.

And as it's intimidating eyes fluttered open, the bubble trapping it popped, and the liberated beast flapped its sleek black wings to prevent itself from falling into the crystal waters, as if it had been flying for years. The wind generated by it's wings sent ripples across the clear, still pool, and a sweet, soft musical rang in the air. And as that note played, the beast knew it had a job to do. With that, it opened it's wolflike jaws and roared. No sound came, but its silent roar still shook the water in the pool mercilessly, and the music chiming in the air was muted.

With it's wings churning, the beast took off towards its destiny, out of the mystic place haunted by mist, through a portal of light, and down into the spreading dawn on the land called earth. It just knew, instinctively, that somewhere down there, just waiting for it, was a hamster who would accept the great duty that would befall the both of them. Shortly, one young hamster would meet their destiny.

As it flew away, one soft raven feather landed gently on the calm crystal waters, but made no ripples.

On the ancient tower, the power-hungry hamster was still waiting, only now he was growing more and more impatient. The sky was now lightening even more, and it appeared that the Guardian was either late or not coming at all. Dawn was fading, and the time for the Guardian to arrive was ticking away...

He grew slightly nervous. Maybe the legend was not true. Back home, hundreds of miles away, no one had believed in the legend but he, inciting him to set out on his own, on a mission to prove his whole clan wrong. But...could he be the wrong one? No...he couldn't be wrong. The legend stated clearly that the hundredth anniversary of the fall of Hamwall, the guardian would rise again. He had left the Dark Lands just to prove that the legend existed. Returning an empty-handed failure was not an option, lest he face even more humiliation.

He could not fail! It was simply not on his agenda.

Just when he was about to begin pacing, he saw a speck just over the golden horizon, speeding swiftly towards him and the fated tower. His ruby eyes widened with stunned realization. He knew exactly what it was. "Yes!" He crowed victoriously. The speck took on a more definitive shape as it came closer, faster and faster, and soon he was able to see it in all of it's glory.

It was about the size of a small hawk, radiating an air of intimidation. Resembling a miniature wolf from the tip's of it's snow white ears to it's black pawpads, it had large, fierce fangs giving it a vicious appearance. Midnight black markings extended from it's piercing eyes, jutting down to the sides of it's elegant, snowy face. Beautiful and broad black raven wings were flapping ferociously, propelling it forward ever-faster, the sleek feathers catching the light of new morning. It's long, slender legs were peaked with claws, sharp and menacing, curling in toward it's body for flight. It's tail was long and ribbon-like, dark blue in color, whipping out behind it as it flew.

Its eyes were a startling ice blue, cold and severe, yet burning with a thirst for life, and staring straight ahead in steady silence. Those powerful eyes almost made the hamster want to look away, or cower in a corner like a coward, but he had waited a majority of his life for the moment he met this creature face to face, and he wasn't going to let the beast's glacial gaze prevent him from that moment.

"It's beautiful …" The hamster sighed, his eyes staring unbelievingly at the speedily approaching beast, a twinkle of awe in his red eyes.

The Guardian. The Guardian was here, in the flesh and fur, searching for it's Chosen One, the only hamster in the world it was compatible with. The hamster on the tower was certain that the one the Guardian was searching for was him. He possessed all the right qualities. He had to be the one, he had to.

"It's here!" The hamster yelled, demeanor changing from one of awe to one of malicious excitement. "The legend proves true! I will reign supreme!" He greedily clapped his paws together, laughing happily in that strange, evil way.

The Guardian sped ever closer, and with every inch it flew the hamster grew more and more excited. He climbed up onto the ledge of the tower, spread his arms out wide, and bellowed as loud as his hamster voice would go.

"Come to me my power!! Come to me, Guardian, your Chosen One!" Eyes glinting, he stared at the wonderful sight, just waiting for the moment it would possess him, he was surely powerful enough...worthy enough...

He could feel it approaching, it's immense power, and it made his paws shake. All of it's beauty, it's power, it's wonder...It was less that five feet away now. Crimson fire met frigid ice. And then...

It was gone in a whirl of feathers and fur, right past the tower.

With a burst of wind he was blown off his perch, landing hard on the tower's top, stone meeting his tender flesh. The sheer power of the Guardian's wings and speed had taken his breath away, and he staggered to his feet, gasping. Cold realization sunk in, and his rose-colored eyes widened in horro. He dashed to the side of the tower and screaming after the creature disappearing rapidly into the horizon. "Wait!!! You've made a mistake you big brute! I am the one you seek! I am your Chosen One!" His voice broke off as the Guardian left his sight, gone over the hills and vanishing into the distance.

Anger swept over him as he balled his paws into tight fists, hot tears streaming down his face. The hamster now knew the legend was true, indeed. But he had not been the Chosen One mentioned in the ancient text. He had been so sure the one meant to carry the strength of the Guardian was he, and that strength would become his destiny, but no, it was meant for someone else. Was there any more powerful than he? Was there someone more deserving than he? He had not believed so, until now. He couldn't believe it. He had spent countless days trying to convince his kind that the legends were true, suffering their taunts and teasing, only to be shunned by the legend he had defended and believed so faithfully in. He had traveled endless miles, through snow and heat and rain, to be turned away.

Infuriated and humiliated, he opened his mouth wide and screamed, a vain attempt to relieve his anger.

"NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!"

Replacing his anger came hatred, as the tears flowed freely down his enraged face. How dare the Guardian toss him away, like some worthless heap of garbage! After all of his dreams and hopes, he was rewarded with nothing. This was not right. It was all wrong, and he would have to be the one to reverse it. Voice quivering with fury, he made a vow. "I will not stand for any other hamster but me to have that power. I may not have been the Chosen One, but I will make sure that I get the power I deserve! I will have the power of the Guardian beast! You hear me, Guardian?!" He hollered into the morning sky, along the path the Guardian had taken.

"Your power will be mine!"

The tears stopped abruptly as he pounded a fist on the ledge furiously. However, his shoulders relaxed, and he grinned maliciously, saying, "It does not matter now. I will find the Chosen One someday, even if it takes me eons to search. For the time being however, it is time to plam. The Guardian may not have chosen me, but I will have it's strength no matter what. I will not tolerate this injustice. Soon...I will reign." His mood changing completely, the hamster laughed his horrid laugh and his cape billowed in the breeze.

"It is my destiny to achieve great power. Or my name is not Spyke of the Dark Lands."

With a now serious, focused look on his furry face, the hamster, Spyke, headed for the spiral staircase that would lead him to the ground. He had a tough task ahead of him, but he would make sure to succeed. He would make sure to obtain the power he so rightfully earned. And no hamster, not even this Chosen One, whoever they were, would stand in his way.

Meanwhile, several miles away, one young hamster achieved destiny.

Love it? Hate it? I would like to know whether or not I should continue with this. I already have the whole thing done, so updates should be fast. All I have to do is edit.

Thanks for reading! Review please!