The Mirror Series

Compiled by Michael Mackay

A compilation of the works of Michael Mackay

It all started many, many years ago, in the year 2002BC. This is a story of what happened in the present-day (2005AD) when I saw an old, cracked mirror lying by the roadside. As my dad was a glassworker, I thought he might be able to fix it. Oh, sorry, I did not even introduce myself; I am Kokoro, and I come from Scotland, but that latter part of information is not very relevant. Anyway, my dad inserted a completely new frame of glass into the mirror, but an unearthly green glow seemed to emanate from the looking glass. Intrigued, I bent forward over the cold surface, and a shimmering portal appeared in the dead centre of the glass. I reached forth a trembling finger, and touched the swirling vortex. Immediately, I felt my feet leave the ground as I was literally pitched forward into a world of dazzling colour. A while later, I felt my feet connect with solid ground again. I was back in my bedroom...or was I?

An immense tornado started wreaking havoc upon my room. Before long, I saw my things being whipped away by the ferocious whirlwind. A harsh, grating voice came out of the tornado's eye. "So thou art the one," it hissed. The sound of that voice struck fear's deathly touch upon my soul. However, I gathered my remaining courage, and spoke in a trembling voice.

"W-who are you?"

"I am the god of the infernal nether-regions. Ratul's my name. Thou hast been put on this earth to pit thy puny strength against mine! Remember my name, as though it is the crack of doom, the name of Ratul!" The evil divinity then vanished, leaving a dagger behind with its point broken off. Ratul's voice erupted from the hilt. "Don't make me laugh! Thou dost truly think that can help thee beat the God of Hell? I look forward to our meeting with even greater certainty of victory now! But, it is more enjoyable to kill a foe that knows his whole strength. Thou wert chosen by Destiny, now thou dost indeed come to certain death. Thou art honoured beyond all others to fall by my hand!" Then, the voice died away, leaving an oppressive cold upon the room.

This time, however, that dread voice did not fill me with terror, but with a sense of power beyond anything I had yet experienced. For I suddenly knew who I was. I strode out onto the street...and found that I had been hurled back to antiquity.
"If I'm expected to fight Ratul himself, I'll need a decent sword." I thought, and, amazingly, I found a massive bronze broadsword slung diagonally across my back, and a bronze dagger at my waist. Then, a glowing nebulous figure appeared in front of me.

"I am thy spirit, Lord Kokoro. No, thy future spirit, a thing of power. Thou canst not hope to defeat the Lord of Hell alone. There are others chosen by destiny, and they too can use the same Psynergetic power that thou dost possess," explained the shimmering figure.

"Psynergetic power?" I asked, totally bewildered.

"Yes. That mental energy that thou used to obtain thy weapons was called Psynergy by the peoples of old. That adjective did indeed form from that word."

"Okay. What are the limits of this power?" I asked.

"In ancient Japan, that power was named Ki, which means "power of the mind". There is also a similar power named Chi, which means "power of the body". Physical energy has limits, but mental energy is indeed limitless. Be warned though, thine enemies dost possess Psynergy also." With that, the glowing apparition vanished.

I walked on for several more leagues, until I saw someone make a tree fall without being anywhere near it. That sight tingled a long awaited instinct, and I suddenly knew that I had just witnessed overt Psynergy. He was a 15-year-old named Ivan, who armed himself with two twin scimitars and a slim katana with Kikuichimonji engraved above the hilt. It didn't take much persuasion for him to join me, as his family had been killed by the evil God. We hadn't gone far when we were waylaid by ruffians, looking to steal our gold and weapons. Ivan took one quick look at the men, and then swept out his twin scimitars. I stretched out my hand, and willed a blob of incandescent flame into my hand. I threw it into the air, and it exploded. Ivan spotted that we were in danger, and willed nuclear shields on our arms. Meanwhile, my fireball had formed several meteorites. However, our shields did their job, and the meteors were deflected. I discarded my shield, and whipped out my broadsword. My meteors had done their job; the rascals noticed almost immediately that they were out of their league and ran.

"Nice fight," commented Ivan, grinning wolfishly.

We continued on for a week, and then we spotted a massive fireball terrorizing a nearby village. This was no ordinary fire, though, as it seemed enveloped in a shadow blacker than night. We both recognized the shadow immediately.

"Ratul!" I yelled. Ivan's eyes went as hard as agates and his face turned as bleak and inexorable as the sea. His hand moved involuntarily towards his Kikuichimonji Sword. I willed the legendary sword Excalibur into my hand, and stood, braced, for a sudden attack.
"Hail, Kokoro," said Ratul monotonously. "Well done. Where didst thou find this Psynergetic youth?" Ivan's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword. "Apologies, but we have to delay our battle again. Neither of us have the full fellowship. We will meet again, and for the last time!" He streaked up to the clouds, and was gone.

Suddenly, something a rainstorm that was undoubtedly Psynergetic began to douse the pyre. It originated from a woman named Kira that joined our company without question. Since she had little skill in attack Psynergy, Ivan gave her the Crystal Rod, which he willed out of nothingness. He explained that it was a weapon producing Psynergy, as was his Kikuichimonji, and that it once belonged to the Queen of Angara, Layana.

We rode on for another month, then we saw a demolitionist with his back to us, blowing houses apart with an all-too-familiar shadow. He turned and we saw his gleaming red eyes. Ivan raised Kikuichimonji and a spirit of pure fire leapt from the blade, but Ratul turned it aside, then vanished.

"He got away again," commented Ivan sadly, re-sheathing Kikuichimonji.

"I suppose," I replied, sheathing Excalibur.

"Hail and well met," I spun to find my future spirit again. "Thou hast skillfully recruited most of thy allies. However, Ratul is gaining power in Hell itself. There is a portal in Mount Olympus to that dread place. Thy 4th companion is waiting there. Go! May the power of the eighth God protect you!" At this moment, he began to glow with a light equal to the oppressive shadow of the God of Shadow. I looked at my spirit with awe, no, not my spirit, the God of Light. On the way to Mt. Olympus, we were waylaid by Ratul's monsters. There were massive orcs, immense dragons and other creatures that I won't mention, in case this document falls into the hands of children. I swept Excalibur from its sheath, and drove it into the chest of a nearby orc and jerked it free. Out the corner of my eye, I saw Ivan moving his sword at twice the speed of light. We were outnumbered badly, but our Psynergy gave us the edge, especially my Ragnarok, which drove a blade forged with fire into the enemy ranks. After the enemy generals had been dispersed, the rest broke and ran.

At Mt. Olympus, we met Gerald, a Psynergy-user. He joined us with his dark katana, Masamune, as we went through the portal...

We resurfaced in Ratul's palace...and he was waiting.

"Well, we have finally met. Well done, thou hast skilfully recruited the men that will aid thee in our looming battle. Hail and farewell, fools!" he scoffed, even as his arm lashed back and he swung a massive blow at my head. Excalibur came whistling out of its sheath, and caught Ratul's in mid-air. A shower of sparks cascaded down onto the floor. Ratul raised his hand and snapped his fingers twice. A whole army of Acromantulas (massive spiders) came scuttling out of a nearby door. I yelled a quick warning to my allies, and turned back to my adversary divinity. The physical battle was good enough, but the psychological battle was even more titanic. Gerald's Masamune was causing vast discord among the enemy. I now saw that I had the upper hand, and pushed Ratul back, swinging Excalibur with all my strength. Ratul stepped back and lowered his sword; the traditional proposition that we stop for long enough to catch our breath. Ratul took the opportunity to will a sword of shadow in his hand and a shield of fire on his arm.

"Art thou ready?" I asked through gritted teeth. Already I felt strength, like a warm soup was creeping through into my heart.

"Any time thou art," Ratul replied, clanging his visor shut. The fight continued for a few hours, while the Acromantula army was slowly decimated. When the last Acromantula died, my allies ground their weapons and stood, watching grimly. "I have no wish to kill thee, boy," said Ratul, almost pleading, "Yield, and I wilt spare thy life." And then I understood. Ratul was not trying to kill me, but was striving instead to force me to submit. The driving need of the Shadow God was for dominion. This was where the real struggle between us lay!

I raised my sword in a defiant salute, and continued. Eventually, my sword pierced Ratul through and through. Ratul gasped, and reached inside his tunic for a vial that glowed with the light of the sun. He poured it upon the dreadful wound Excalibur had opened. I gasped as I saw the gash close, sealing its blood inside. Ratul looked at me, his eyes burning with a terrible hatred. I swept my sword up in salute, and stepped back, waiting for my enemy to rise. He staggered to his feet, and performed the immensely complex Divider Psynergy. He split his spirit into four forms: a dragon, a musketeer, an orc and, of course, himself. Gerald carried out a duel with the musketeer, Kira the dragon and Ivan the orc. I gathered up my remaining strength, and aimed a swing at the Shadow God's head. Ratul easily blocked it, and then emitted a bloodcurdling scream; his musketeer form had been slain. Spurred on to new heights, I went all-out, sporting numerous stinging wounds and only defending in direst need, and swinging Excalibur at twice the speed of light.

Finally, forced into one last defence, Ratul dropped his sword and clasped his shield of fire in both hands. I thrust Excalibur through under his shield and into his immortal body. The Shadow God stiffened, and fell to his knees. One glance told me the wound was mortal and could not be healed, as it had pierced his very heart.

"You fought well." I said quietly to the stricken God. "I have respect for you. Hail and farewell."

Ratul's voice was only a whisper as he replied,

"Hail and farewell, Kokoro." From the departing spirit of the dead God, came a loud, unbearably despairing wail.