Chapter 1

It was a late summer evening in the beautiful state of Montana. The town where my story takes place is already fast asleep. That is, except for me. My name is Caity Sphere. I'm a 15 year old girl that has many passions, such as music, anime, reading, and, most of all, video games, especially Mario games.

My best friends and I love anime so much that we call ourselves The Anime Brigade. The seven of us But, I think I'll start this story the night before it all happened. It kinda went like this:

I was under my covers with my flashlight, reading my favorite book "The many adventures of the Super Mario Brothers". And you know, being the obsessed fan that I was, I had already read through the book three times, but, to tell you the truth, it never got old. The thought of being able to go to a completely different world, busting up bad guys, and saving the person you loved just seemed so…I guess amazing is the word I would use. Well, anyway, back to the book, I just so happened to be reading the most important part when the light bulb in my flashlight burned out.

Ugh!" I thought, "I was just getting to the best part." Fortunately for me, I knew my dad kept an extra flashlight up on top of the refrigerator, so quietly, I got up from my warm, comfy covers and tiptoed to the kitchen. When I got to the fridge, I reached up to try to grab the flashlight. I managed to get my hand around it, but when I tried to get it down, everything that was around the flashlight fell off the top of the fridge and down onto the hard wood floor, causing a lot of noise. I held my breath, hoping beyond hope that nobody heard that. But, a stern, but loving, voice coming from behind me proved me wrong.

"Caity, what are you doing?"

"Mom" I mentally sighed, "Why me? Why now? Ugh, I was so close too!" I thought while I turned around to face her. "Hi Mom."

"Why are you up so late? And why do you have that flashlight in your hand?" My mom spat questions out faster than a golf ball shooter.

It was then that I realized that I still had the flashlight in my hand, and I hurriedly tried to hide it behind my back, but it was too late. I saw the look of realization flash across my mom's face and I knew I'd been caught. You see, my bed time was 10'o'clock (yes, I still have a bed time during summer vacation.) and that had been HOURS AGO.

"Have you been reading under the covers again?"

I hung my head, knowing I was defeated. "Yes." I barely whispered.

I heard my mom sigh. "Sweetie, this is the third time this week that you've stayed up past your bedtime. I'm sorry to have to do this, but I'm going to have to ask you to give me the flashlight."

Reluctantly, I held out my hand to give it to her. She took it and pointed a finger toward my room. Giving a stern look, she told me, "Now go to bed." Then her face softened, "Besides, don't you have a meeting with your friends tomorrow?"

I almost freaked out right there in the kitchen. I had COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN about our meeting tomorrow. Every Friday, we would meet at the clubhouse in my backyard. It had absolutely slipped my mind tomorrow was Friday when I had gone to bed, so I hurriedly said good night to my mom, and rushed into my room, eager to get to sleep.

But, if I had known it was going to be the last time I was going to be sleeping in my bed, I would've clutched my Mario and Luigi plushies like the end of the world.

*In an unknown place*

A lone figure rushes through a torch lit hallway, his left claw clutching a worn out scroll which looked like it had seen better days. He was running toward the giant red door at the end. He stops just before he runs into the door and frantically knocks on it with his right clawed hand repeatedly.

"ENTER." A booming voice calls from inside the room where the door leads. The figure hesitates for a moment, and then pushes open the door.

The room was dimly lit and lava could be seen flowing through cracks in the walls. It smelt of sulfur and partly rotting flesh. A pile of bones was laying menacingly in a corner. And, in the middle of all this, sitting on an elaborately decorated throne, was a person…per say. The person was royalty, but the only way you would know that is by the crown on his head, which lay on a tangle of flaming red hair. Amidst the mess of hair, two sharp horns protruded out of his skull. His eyes were blood red, and if you looked deep within, you could tell that this person had seen a lot of bloodshed, mostly of his own doing. His claws are stained with blood and ripped flesh, some of it recent. The scowl on his face clearly showed that this king was not in a good mood. His presence itself spread fear and terror into the hearts of those who see him.

The figure that stood in the door trembled in fear, afraid that his king would put this anger out on him.

The king finally broke the silence that had settled between the two beings. "Ah, my most trusted advisor. I suspect you have some news for me…"

"I do, My Liege. But I fear it is not good news." The figure said, all the while approaching the throne.

"Well, come on then, Spit it out!" The king exclaimed, his patience thinning.

"Yes, Yes, of course My Liege. I have been doing some research about a legend that I heard of recently and it appears I may have found something that you should know." the figure said, unraveling the scroll for the royal to see.

"Well?"

"From what the legend says, when the world is thrown into darkness, stones of great power will be bestowed upon 7 otherworldly warriors. The warriors will then expel the darkness back from whence it came. The 7 warriors will be protectors of the world from farther crisis."

The King frowned, "And this concerns me because…?"

"My lord, I fear that when it says they will protect the world, I'm afraid that will mean they will challenge your empire, especially since you want to take over this world."

"Well, then, you do have a point. What do you suggest we do?"

"Well, I just so happen to know whom these 'otherworldly warriors' are. Here are their names." The figure said, taking a piece of crumbled up paper out of its pocket and handing it to the king. The royal looked over the paper, an evil grin starting to appear upon his face.

"Well?" the figure asked, his voice filled with anticipation.

The king motions for the advisor to leave.

The advisor turned to go, but the voice of his King halted him.

"Oh, and one more thing." The King said to his advisor.

"Yes?"

The King stands up from his throne, a menacing grin creeping onto his face. "Call my children to come in here. I have a job for them to do."