Destiny Stealer
A Samurai Jack Fanfic by SJO
(Note: I don't own Samurai Jack, and forgive me if this is politically incorrect. In fact, it's probably horribly wrong, as far as political correctness goes. I tried to do some research, but I couldn't find a lot of information. I really don't want to offend anybody. This is largely based on one of my favorite America legends. I'm doing some of my own twists on that legend, inspired by Mike Oldfield's Incantations, and I'm mixing in just a trace of fact too. I know this is sorta anachronistic, but so have been a lot of things on the show.)
This was the day he had waited for all his life, the day he would claim his manhood and his destiny. They feasted on his own kill, and now his fellow warriors danced around a huge bonfire. He watched with anticipation, and a little fear. Since the day of his birth, he knew what this would lead to. It was a huge, dangerous task. He knew it should have been done long ago. He didn't know how he would do it, but he was sure that now the spirits would show the way.
Soon, everything was quiet. It was time for him to face the fire alone. He stepped forward and looked into the flames. For a while, nothing happened. Then, the clouds of smoke formed into what looked like a man. The flames reflected his red skin.
"So," said the spirit said, "you are ready to reach manhood."
"Yes," the warrior replied. "I have learned many things from my father of how to become a warrior. Now, I am ready to hear from you, great spirits, how to claim my destiny. Show me, how do I defeat the Great Shadow?"
"Yes, we know this is the destiny we put upon you, but before we reveal to you how to claim it, you must prove yourself in a quest."
The warrior didn't like this. He had been in lesser quests all his life, and the Great Shadow needed to be destroyed sooner rather than later. He was crushing the tribe's ancient ways of life and depriving them of their resources. Rumors in the wind whispered that he would soon make them slaves. Yet, if the wise spirits of the earth believe the warrior was not yet ready, he found no reason to argue. "What do you wish for me to do?"
"Look into the flame," the spirit instructed. The warrior did so. In the heart of the flames, he could see an unclear figure of white. "You must go to a land that you do not know, far across the waters, and seek this figure out. He is not a man. He is an evil spirit. He has deceived many saying that he has the power to destroy the Great Shadow, but be warned. If he succeeds, the world will be ruled by an evil that is ten times darker than the Great Shadow."
As the warrior looked closer into the flame, he could see the figure more clearly. It was a pale man carrying a sword. He could almost see him striking at him with a sword. "He does look evil. How do I defeat this evil spirit?"
"This will help you." The spirit handed the warrior a cloud of smoke. As it blew away in the warrior's hands, it turned into a tomahawk. "It has the power to destroy this evil spirit and leave the path open for you to take on the Great Shadow. Do not forget all that you have learned."
The spirit of the vision began to fade, and as he did the warrior held up his tomahawk to the sky. "Yes. My heart is pure! My quest is noble! And I have been trained well in the ways of the warrior all of my life! This destiny stealer will not be able to defeat me."
Several weeks later, Jack was celebrating in a village far away. He had just helped them become free from their most dangerous enemies. He wanted to move on, but they begged him to stay for a feast held in his honor. It had been a long time since he had a decent meal, so he accepted. It turned out quite wild, the whole city celebrating in the streets. Jack sat next to the mayor of the city and enjoyed the festival and the food. Suddenly, a shrill voice cut through the noise.
"Samurai Jack!"
Everyone went silent, giving the festival an eerie feel. "Who speaks?" Jack called out. No one made any kind of answer. "I am listening. Speak again!"
"Beware little light!" the voice called back.
Jack wasn't sure if he heard right. He turned to the mayor. "Do you know who this is?"
"I believe so. He claims to be a soothsayer."
"Bring him before me, please. I want to see him."
Officials in the crowd pushed the man up to Jack. He was a middle-aged man with worn out clothes, and he had a distant look of terror in his eyes.
"Speak to me again," Jack implored him.
"Beware little light," the soothsayer repeated.
"What little light? Why should I fear it?"
"I can only say what I am permitted to say. Beware little light."
"Thank you. I will try." The man disappeared back into the crowd, and the festival hesitantly resumed. Jack turned to the mayor again. "Can this man be trusted?"
"It is hard to say. He has predicted many attacks against out city, but he is not always right. He is not usually this mysterious. We think he has an informant. Don't worry about it so much, Jack. Let us celebrate now."
"For tomorrow, I shall die," Jack said quietly. He left early.
Jack couldn't understand. Normally, light was his best friend. It kept him warm at night and guided his way. Now he was lost in a dark forest, concerned of what the warning could mean. Could a small spark in the night set a fire to the forest? Would he see a small light in the distance, consider it harmless, and wake with a bounty hunter at his throat? Jack almost dismissed these thoughts. He was not that stupid. But then he thought about great leaders whose pride caused them to let their guard down at such prophetic warnings. What did this prophet mean?
There were little lights in the sky--the stars. They were harmless. But then Jack spotted some streak across the sky. One could fall right on top of him. He looked up to the sky with uncertainty.
A tiny light flashed in front of him, breaking him out of his stargaze. A little beetle was flying around his face, blinking a light in front of his eyes. He caught the firefly and looked it over. It had been a long time since he last saw fireflies. He assumed it was harmless and let it go. Several fireflies twinkled before him.
Then he saw a tiny light at his feet coming from under the dirt. Jack looked down at the blinking light, his hand on the sword. A little rodent's head popped out. It looked like that creature he first saw in the desert with Ikra, but it had what appeared to be a third eye in the middle of his forehead that glowed. The rodent dug out of the ground and rubbed its neck around Jack's ankle, purring. Jack knelt down to investigate further. The rodent blinked its huge, non-glowing eyes and smiled. As it held up its head, Jack saw it had something tied around his neck. The rodent seemed to be offering it to him. Jack took it off. There was a tiny box that grew into a rectangular pad in his hand. Jack examined it and understood. "Jill!"
Jill was his little friend whom Aku caused to be lost from her village. Jack helped her find it again. Unfortunately, Aku's attack killed Jill's father, and she wanted Jack to stay as her new father. Jack knew he could not, but he agreed with Jill's mother to write letters to her on occasion. This must be the first letter from her. Nice, inconspicuous way of sending it, too. Jack rushed to a clearing to read the letter in the moonlight. The rodent's glowing eye helped also.
Dear Jack,
Hi! How are you? Guess what? I had a birthday party the other day! Now, I'm five! I got a lot of books, and a pretty dolly! I'm gonna be starting school soon. I can't wait! Maybe then I'll be able to write you letters instead of Mommy. I'm already starting to read a little. I miss Daddy. Mom said the Monster got him, but she says I'll see him again one day. I hope the Monster doesn't get you. I don't think he will. Hey, I got an uncle who has a big house called a mansion. He's a principal at a big school called college. He wants to meet you sometime. He told me to tell you that if you ever want a place to stop for a while, he'll be glad to have you. And his house is really neat, because it's so big. We can play hide-and-seek there. Well, I gotta go. It's my bedtime.
Love,
Jill
Jack was glad to hear from his friend again. So, she's going to school now? He thought that maybe he should try to teach her some Japanese.
Then Jack heard a sound. Jack looked up to see he was being watched. The rodent's glowing eye illuminated the stranger. He was a warrior with red skin spying on Jack from a tree. He had wild, black hair flowing down his shoulders, and a few smudges of war paint accented his eyes. He wore animal skins only from the waist down. In his right hand was a crude weapon, made from a rock and a stick. He looked about as old as Jack, maybe a little younger. As Jack made eye contact with him, the stranger glared. With a high-pitched, almost yodeling war cry, he leapt at Jack
Jack quickly dodged and drew his sword. He was certain at first that this was another bounty hunter out to collect two googolplexes on his hide. Yet, somehow, when he looked in the warrior's eyes, he hesitated. Jack couldn't explain it, but he just knew this wasn't his enemy. He used his sword to try to force the warrior's crude weapon out of his hand, but the warrior wouldn't let go.
"Who are you?" Jack asked as they tussled.
"You know who I am. I am the one you seek to destroy." His voice was also smooth and young, but was filled with anger.
Surely not, Jack thought. "You are not Aku!"
"Speak no more! I will not have you clouding my mind, as you have so many others!"
Jack continued to attempt to dodge the warrior's attacks, but once the weapon struck his side. It created quite a scrape. "Why do you fight me? Do you just want the reward, like everyone else?"
"There is more riding on this than money."
The warrior struck his weapon off a rock and created a few sparks. The sparks hit a few sticks, and made a torch. Jack backed off. The little light! He knew that in the end it would be fire. What did this maniac intend to do? Would he set the whole forest on fire?
"Does a little fire scare you, spirit?" the warrior sneered.
"I was warned earlier. 'Beware little light.'"
"You have been right to heed this warning. I am Little Light."
Jack looked up, showing he didn't understand.
"Yes. Little Light is my name. On the night of my birth, several fireflies flew above my bed. The shaman said it was a sign from the spirits that I would be a light in the face of darkness, that I would be destined to defeat the Great Shadow. But now you seek to take this destiny away from me. I will not have this, you thief, you evil spirit, you destiny stealer!"
So, that was it. This warrior just didn't want Jack to steal his thunder. Knowing this, Jack dodged and blocked Little Light's attacks, but he refused to fight back. He kept trying to think, where had he heard of this kind of warrior before? He remembered as they got out of the forest and into a bare meadow. Jack calmly stepped back, sheathed his sword, sat down "Indian-style," put his palms together as if in prayer, and gently closed his eyes.
Little Light looked at him in disbelief. "Are you a coward, ghost? Stand up and fight me!" Little Light threw his makeshift torch in front of Jack.
Jack, without opening his eyes, replied, "If all you seek is to destroy me, I will not stop you."
Little Light scoffed. "I know a trap when I see one."
Jack opened his eyes and looked sternly at the warrior. He took his sword and tossed it aside. "Do you trust me now? I give you my word. I will not raise a hand against you."
Little Light still didn't look sure, but he came toward the samurai, his tomahawk raised high above his head. Before he could strike, Jack looked up. "But first, I must say that I am ashamed at what has happened to you and your people."
Little Light's eyes flashed in anger. "HOW DARE YOU INSULT MY PEOPLE? We are great warriors, brave, strong, and true! No man dares oppose us!"
"I do not deny this. I question not what has happened to your skills as warriors, but your hearts."
"What do you know about us?"
"Very little, I confess. You are the first one I have ever seen. But when I was young, a tale reached my ears of a warrior like you, a man name Hiawatha. He was the leader of a tribe of warriors who called themselves the Iroquois. They were, undoubtedly, great warriors, but they were cruel and ruthless. They always fought with other tribes. Their fighting was out of control, and their hearts were ripe for Aku. But when Hiawatha became chief, he did not want his three daughters to live in the midst of war. He came to the Iroquois' enemies and made peace. They formed a strong league. Now, they fought together for good, to protect their children. But the Iroquois League did not come without a terrible price. Hiawatha paid with the lives of his three daughters."
"Do you further insult me by telling me the story I have heard from birth? Hiawatha is my ancestor! I know what happened to him!"
Jack was silent for a while. He was trying to remember the story for himself. The tale he heard was that an evil chief had opposed Hiawatha's decision. So, he hatched an evil plan. He first pretended to discuss the decision peacefully with Hiawatha, but when the evil chief left, Hiawatha found his eldest daughter dead, causes unknown. The evil chief came a second time and talked with Hiawatha. Once again, when the evil chief left, Hiawatha found his middle daughter dead, causes unknown. The evil chief promised to come again, but he did not.
Jack often imagined this awful part of the story. As Hiawatha waited, his youngest daughter was bathing in the river. That afternoon, a beautiful bird flew above the village. Its feathers were every brilliant color one can imagine, and its song was hypnotizing. This mysterious bird captivated everyone in the village. Suddenly, an arrow flew out of nowhere. Maybe the first one missed. It put everyone on edge, wondering who would have the heart to shoot such a beauty. Another arrow flew, once again missing the bird. Now, the entire village was concerned. Finally, an arrow shot the bird right in the heart. It fell out of the sky and right toward the river. All the villagers ran toward where the bird was falling. Jack never knew why. Perhaps they wanted to see it one last time, or maybe they wanted to confront the cold-hearted hunter. At any rate, the daughter was done with her bathing and was heading back home. Maybe she saw the villagers running toward her, and she tried to run away but tripped over a root. Maybe Hiawatha opened the door of his wigwam (or whatever he lived in) to see what was happening and cried in desperation for the people to stop. It was too late. The villagers trampled the youngest daughter to death. Neither the bird nor the hunter were ever found.
The story went on to say that Hiawatha mourned his daughters' deaths for several days. He came out to the river to grieve one afternoon. Four birds saw his pain and lifted the river by its four corners. Hiawatha gathered shells from the riverbed and made them into beads. He made three strings of these beads, in memory of his daughters.
Little Light was obviously getting restless. "Why do you bring up this story, spirit? What is the point?"
Jack stared at him, hoping he would understand. "The point is Hiawatha did not lose heart, even in the face of adversity. He made sure that the Iroquois League continued, and it became stronger. They continued for years of harmony, pushing the Great Shadow's hate away. Then, the Great Shadow tore them asunder."
"What is that to you?" Little Light cried in fury. "Yes, the Great Shadow broke the league apart centuries ago! Yes, the Great Shadow worked through the hearts of greedy men to drive us far from our lands to a wasted desert! Yes, he continues to make us miserable; he will probably make us his slaves one day! But what is that to you? You claim you will destroy him and bring peace to the world, but you will make the world ten times more evil than it was before!"
Jack could not stand it anymore. He leapt to his feet and looked Little Light straight in the eye. "Why? Just because I seek to destroy him as much as you do? This is not right! Do you not see? If I were in your place, if I met a warrior who was also chosen to defeat Aku or the Great Shadow or whatever it is, I would have fought with him! We would start the League anew! I have heard proverbs all my life. 'Two are better than one, because if they fall one will lift the other up, but woe to him who falls alone.' 'In unity, there is strength.' 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.' Yet, I look at what you have done tonight, and I see all of this betrayed! For you wish to destroy me, only because we have the same goal! You come to me with hate in your heart and fight me for the sake of fighting, like the Iroquois before Hiawatha's leadership! What has Aku done to you?"
Jack never took his eyes off the warrior, but now his vision was blurred with tears. Little Light looked as though Jack's words were sinking in. Jack took a deep breath and sat down again. "If you wish to destroy me, do it. Slaughter me like the evil chief slaughtered Hiawatha's daughters. But if you are truly the descendent of Hiawatha, I would be honored to join your league."
Little Light looked at Jack, pondering what he had told him. He looked confused, but then his face filled with determination. He gave out another piercing war cry and lifted the tomahawk above his head. Jack cried out in disbelief and fear. He shut his tightly a felt a sharp whoosh in the air.
But he did not feel a blade. He opened his eyes to see the tomahawk just to his right side. Little Light was breathing heavily while grabbing the handle. Jack thought he saw a couple of tears fall from the warrior's eyes onto the ground. Then, Little Light composed himself and extended his hand to Jack. He said something in his own language, but somehow Jack understood in his heart what it was.
"Stand, brother."
Jack took Little Light's hand, and he helped Jack up. They shook hands. This was a new gesture to Jack, but he knew this was the way to seal the League with the warrior. "I knew you would choose the right way," Jack said quietly.
"Yes, your words were true, but there is something I do not understand. I was told through a vision about you. The spirits told me you were evil, that your only purpose was to steal my destiny. The spirits do not lie."
Jack did not know how to answer, but suddenly a cold wind came through, nearly putting out Little Light's torch. Jack knew what was going on, but Little Light was filled with fear. The shadows gathered and turned into--
"AKU!"
"This is the Great Shadow?"
"Yes," Aku said. "What is the matter, little man? Are you surprised to see me?" Suddenly, Aku disappeared and a large cloud of smoke billowed from what was left of Little Light's fire and turned into the form of a man. "Or me?" the man said darkly.
Little Light could not believe it. "It's the spirit I saw in my vision!"
"Yes," Aku said through the false spirit. "Your people have been a thorn in my side for 'many moons.'" Aku chuckled as though the stereotypical phrase amused him. Little Light tried to come at the demon, but Jack held him back. "Ever since that ridiculous league your forefathers put together, I have sought to break you, to tear apart your tribes. I nearly succeeded so many years ago. Did you not know? Let me show you. Behold!" The spirit held out his arms and transformed into a lovely bird. Its body was red, but it's tail feathers were every color of the rainbow. It sang a haunting song as it soared above their heads. Little Light was so transfixed, it seemed everything in the world disappeared except for that bird. Jack nearly fell into such a trance, but then he remembered what the bird really was.
"You were the bird?" Jack cried.
"More than that," Aku's voice said out of nowhere. "I was the evil chief. I was the archer." Jack could see their silhouettes beyond the bird as Aku spoke of them. "It was the greatest magical feat of my entire life. It led an entire village astray, but the leader was stronger than I had imagined. I tried to kill Hiawatha, but every time he evaded death somehow. I led him to the river as the bird and was certain he drowned, but he came back and roused and army. I transformed into a bear and fought with him until I was sure he was dead, but even then he returned to fight me. Then, some strange presence drove me away. Something was with Hiawatha, making him stronger. But no such power will save you now!"
"Wrong! Now we are working together, and we will stop you!" Jack picked up his sword again, and they went after Aku. Little Light kept throwing his tomahawk, but it continued to miss. In fact, it kept trying to hit Jack.
Aku smirked at Little Light's efforts. "Having problems with your weapon? You forget, I gave it to you. It was meant to destroy the samurai that you believed is an evil spirit."
"You are right!" Little Light realized. "It will not work against a real spirit. Never mind, I have other weapons." Little Light picked up his torch and flung it at Aku, but it did no good. Aku struck at the warrior and injured him greatly.
Jack came to his aid. "What can I do?" Little Light said weakly. "I have nothing to fight the Great Shadow now. He will overtake me."
Jack put his hand on Little Light's shoulder. "Trust your people. Remember your ancestors. They will not let you down. My people do not forsake me. If your heart is pure, they will come through for you."
Little Light looked as though he did not completely understand, but he looked up at the sky. He started to sing something in his language. This time, Jack did not try to understand. He knew this was between Little Light and the spirits. Aku was sneering at their piety and looked as though he was preparing to attack fast and hard.
Suddenly, a screech tore through the night air. A hawk swooped down before the two warriors and dropped something from its beak. Little Light quickly caught it. They were beads--four strings of them. The warriors' eyes grew wide. These must be the fabled strings of beads that Hiawatha made, but what was the fourth?
Aku looked at them in shock as well. "NO! IT CANNOT BE! THAT PRESENCE! IT HAS RETURNED, AND IT IS STRONGER!"
Jack could feel it too. He thought he could even hear singing all around him. He and Little Light charged together and attacked Aku at the same instant. The demon screamed and vanished.
"We destroyed him?" Little Light asked.
"No. He merely retreated. You shall probably see him again soon, but it is unusual that he left without a threat."
Jack looked up to see that the sun just now rising over the horizon. Jack and Little Light walked together in silence as morning was breaking. Finally, Little Light said, "You never told me your name."
"Jack," the samurai answered.
Little Light looked straight at him. "From now on among my people, you shall be called White Fire. Your righteousness and truth will blaze against the Great Shadow and cause him to vanish away."
"I cannot come with you to your people. I am on a quest of my own."
"I was not expecting you to, but I must return to my people. You have shown me that I have much to learn still. I will try to better my skills not as a skillful warrior but as a trustworthy leader. When the time is right, I shall have a true vision, and the spirits will show me how they wish for me to destroy the Great Shadow. And now, White Fire, take this." Little Light handed him a string of beads. "Always keep this with you on your journey, and remember we are brothers now. If you keep in your heart that we are a league, our destinies shall never be stolen."
Jack bowed to Little Light, and the warrior also solemnly nodded. Thus, they parted company. Jack looked at the string of beads in his hand and smiled. "I will remember." He put it into his robe. As he looked up into the sky, he thought he could see through the strange formation of the clouds the face of an Iroquois chief looking down on him.
THE END
A Samurai Jack Fanfic by SJO
(Note: I don't own Samurai Jack, and forgive me if this is politically incorrect. In fact, it's probably horribly wrong, as far as political correctness goes. I tried to do some research, but I couldn't find a lot of information. I really don't want to offend anybody. This is largely based on one of my favorite America legends. I'm doing some of my own twists on that legend, inspired by Mike Oldfield's Incantations, and I'm mixing in just a trace of fact too. I know this is sorta anachronistic, but so have been a lot of things on the show.)
This was the day he had waited for all his life, the day he would claim his manhood and his destiny. They feasted on his own kill, and now his fellow warriors danced around a huge bonfire. He watched with anticipation, and a little fear. Since the day of his birth, he knew what this would lead to. It was a huge, dangerous task. He knew it should have been done long ago. He didn't know how he would do it, but he was sure that now the spirits would show the way.
Soon, everything was quiet. It was time for him to face the fire alone. He stepped forward and looked into the flames. For a while, nothing happened. Then, the clouds of smoke formed into what looked like a man. The flames reflected his red skin.
"So," said the spirit said, "you are ready to reach manhood."
"Yes," the warrior replied. "I have learned many things from my father of how to become a warrior. Now, I am ready to hear from you, great spirits, how to claim my destiny. Show me, how do I defeat the Great Shadow?"
"Yes, we know this is the destiny we put upon you, but before we reveal to you how to claim it, you must prove yourself in a quest."
The warrior didn't like this. He had been in lesser quests all his life, and the Great Shadow needed to be destroyed sooner rather than later. He was crushing the tribe's ancient ways of life and depriving them of their resources. Rumors in the wind whispered that he would soon make them slaves. Yet, if the wise spirits of the earth believe the warrior was not yet ready, he found no reason to argue. "What do you wish for me to do?"
"Look into the flame," the spirit instructed. The warrior did so. In the heart of the flames, he could see an unclear figure of white. "You must go to a land that you do not know, far across the waters, and seek this figure out. He is not a man. He is an evil spirit. He has deceived many saying that he has the power to destroy the Great Shadow, but be warned. If he succeeds, the world will be ruled by an evil that is ten times darker than the Great Shadow."
As the warrior looked closer into the flame, he could see the figure more clearly. It was a pale man carrying a sword. He could almost see him striking at him with a sword. "He does look evil. How do I defeat this evil spirit?"
"This will help you." The spirit handed the warrior a cloud of smoke. As it blew away in the warrior's hands, it turned into a tomahawk. "It has the power to destroy this evil spirit and leave the path open for you to take on the Great Shadow. Do not forget all that you have learned."
The spirit of the vision began to fade, and as he did the warrior held up his tomahawk to the sky. "Yes. My heart is pure! My quest is noble! And I have been trained well in the ways of the warrior all of my life! This destiny stealer will not be able to defeat me."
Several weeks later, Jack was celebrating in a village far away. He had just helped them become free from their most dangerous enemies. He wanted to move on, but they begged him to stay for a feast held in his honor. It had been a long time since he had a decent meal, so he accepted. It turned out quite wild, the whole city celebrating in the streets. Jack sat next to the mayor of the city and enjoyed the festival and the food. Suddenly, a shrill voice cut through the noise.
"Samurai Jack!"
Everyone went silent, giving the festival an eerie feel. "Who speaks?" Jack called out. No one made any kind of answer. "I am listening. Speak again!"
"Beware little light!" the voice called back.
Jack wasn't sure if he heard right. He turned to the mayor. "Do you know who this is?"
"I believe so. He claims to be a soothsayer."
"Bring him before me, please. I want to see him."
Officials in the crowd pushed the man up to Jack. He was a middle-aged man with worn out clothes, and he had a distant look of terror in his eyes.
"Speak to me again," Jack implored him.
"Beware little light," the soothsayer repeated.
"What little light? Why should I fear it?"
"I can only say what I am permitted to say. Beware little light."
"Thank you. I will try." The man disappeared back into the crowd, and the festival hesitantly resumed. Jack turned to the mayor again. "Can this man be trusted?"
"It is hard to say. He has predicted many attacks against out city, but he is not always right. He is not usually this mysterious. We think he has an informant. Don't worry about it so much, Jack. Let us celebrate now."
"For tomorrow, I shall die," Jack said quietly. He left early.
Jack couldn't understand. Normally, light was his best friend. It kept him warm at night and guided his way. Now he was lost in a dark forest, concerned of what the warning could mean. Could a small spark in the night set a fire to the forest? Would he see a small light in the distance, consider it harmless, and wake with a bounty hunter at his throat? Jack almost dismissed these thoughts. He was not that stupid. But then he thought about great leaders whose pride caused them to let their guard down at such prophetic warnings. What did this prophet mean?
There were little lights in the sky--the stars. They were harmless. But then Jack spotted some streak across the sky. One could fall right on top of him. He looked up to the sky with uncertainty.
A tiny light flashed in front of him, breaking him out of his stargaze. A little beetle was flying around his face, blinking a light in front of his eyes. He caught the firefly and looked it over. It had been a long time since he last saw fireflies. He assumed it was harmless and let it go. Several fireflies twinkled before him.
Then he saw a tiny light at his feet coming from under the dirt. Jack looked down at the blinking light, his hand on the sword. A little rodent's head popped out. It looked like that creature he first saw in the desert with Ikra, but it had what appeared to be a third eye in the middle of his forehead that glowed. The rodent dug out of the ground and rubbed its neck around Jack's ankle, purring. Jack knelt down to investigate further. The rodent blinked its huge, non-glowing eyes and smiled. As it held up its head, Jack saw it had something tied around his neck. The rodent seemed to be offering it to him. Jack took it off. There was a tiny box that grew into a rectangular pad in his hand. Jack examined it and understood. "Jill!"
Jill was his little friend whom Aku caused to be lost from her village. Jack helped her find it again. Unfortunately, Aku's attack killed Jill's father, and she wanted Jack to stay as her new father. Jack knew he could not, but he agreed with Jill's mother to write letters to her on occasion. This must be the first letter from her. Nice, inconspicuous way of sending it, too. Jack rushed to a clearing to read the letter in the moonlight. The rodent's glowing eye helped also.
Dear Jack,
Hi! How are you? Guess what? I had a birthday party the other day! Now, I'm five! I got a lot of books, and a pretty dolly! I'm gonna be starting school soon. I can't wait! Maybe then I'll be able to write you letters instead of Mommy. I'm already starting to read a little. I miss Daddy. Mom said the Monster got him, but she says I'll see him again one day. I hope the Monster doesn't get you. I don't think he will. Hey, I got an uncle who has a big house called a mansion. He's a principal at a big school called college. He wants to meet you sometime. He told me to tell you that if you ever want a place to stop for a while, he'll be glad to have you. And his house is really neat, because it's so big. We can play hide-and-seek there. Well, I gotta go. It's my bedtime.
Love,
Jill
Jack was glad to hear from his friend again. So, she's going to school now? He thought that maybe he should try to teach her some Japanese.
Then Jack heard a sound. Jack looked up to see he was being watched. The rodent's glowing eye illuminated the stranger. He was a warrior with red skin spying on Jack from a tree. He had wild, black hair flowing down his shoulders, and a few smudges of war paint accented his eyes. He wore animal skins only from the waist down. In his right hand was a crude weapon, made from a rock and a stick. He looked about as old as Jack, maybe a little younger. As Jack made eye contact with him, the stranger glared. With a high-pitched, almost yodeling war cry, he leapt at Jack
Jack quickly dodged and drew his sword. He was certain at first that this was another bounty hunter out to collect two googolplexes on his hide. Yet, somehow, when he looked in the warrior's eyes, he hesitated. Jack couldn't explain it, but he just knew this wasn't his enemy. He used his sword to try to force the warrior's crude weapon out of his hand, but the warrior wouldn't let go.
"Who are you?" Jack asked as they tussled.
"You know who I am. I am the one you seek to destroy." His voice was also smooth and young, but was filled with anger.
Surely not, Jack thought. "You are not Aku!"
"Speak no more! I will not have you clouding my mind, as you have so many others!"
Jack continued to attempt to dodge the warrior's attacks, but once the weapon struck his side. It created quite a scrape. "Why do you fight me? Do you just want the reward, like everyone else?"
"There is more riding on this than money."
The warrior struck his weapon off a rock and created a few sparks. The sparks hit a few sticks, and made a torch. Jack backed off. The little light! He knew that in the end it would be fire. What did this maniac intend to do? Would he set the whole forest on fire?
"Does a little fire scare you, spirit?" the warrior sneered.
"I was warned earlier. 'Beware little light.'"
"You have been right to heed this warning. I am Little Light."
Jack looked up, showing he didn't understand.
"Yes. Little Light is my name. On the night of my birth, several fireflies flew above my bed. The shaman said it was a sign from the spirits that I would be a light in the face of darkness, that I would be destined to defeat the Great Shadow. But now you seek to take this destiny away from me. I will not have this, you thief, you evil spirit, you destiny stealer!"
So, that was it. This warrior just didn't want Jack to steal his thunder. Knowing this, Jack dodged and blocked Little Light's attacks, but he refused to fight back. He kept trying to think, where had he heard of this kind of warrior before? He remembered as they got out of the forest and into a bare meadow. Jack calmly stepped back, sheathed his sword, sat down "Indian-style," put his palms together as if in prayer, and gently closed his eyes.
Little Light looked at him in disbelief. "Are you a coward, ghost? Stand up and fight me!" Little Light threw his makeshift torch in front of Jack.
Jack, without opening his eyes, replied, "If all you seek is to destroy me, I will not stop you."
Little Light scoffed. "I know a trap when I see one."
Jack opened his eyes and looked sternly at the warrior. He took his sword and tossed it aside. "Do you trust me now? I give you my word. I will not raise a hand against you."
Little Light still didn't look sure, but he came toward the samurai, his tomahawk raised high above his head. Before he could strike, Jack looked up. "But first, I must say that I am ashamed at what has happened to you and your people."
Little Light's eyes flashed in anger. "HOW DARE YOU INSULT MY PEOPLE? We are great warriors, brave, strong, and true! No man dares oppose us!"
"I do not deny this. I question not what has happened to your skills as warriors, but your hearts."
"What do you know about us?"
"Very little, I confess. You are the first one I have ever seen. But when I was young, a tale reached my ears of a warrior like you, a man name Hiawatha. He was the leader of a tribe of warriors who called themselves the Iroquois. They were, undoubtedly, great warriors, but they were cruel and ruthless. They always fought with other tribes. Their fighting was out of control, and their hearts were ripe for Aku. But when Hiawatha became chief, he did not want his three daughters to live in the midst of war. He came to the Iroquois' enemies and made peace. They formed a strong league. Now, they fought together for good, to protect their children. But the Iroquois League did not come without a terrible price. Hiawatha paid with the lives of his three daughters."
"Do you further insult me by telling me the story I have heard from birth? Hiawatha is my ancestor! I know what happened to him!"
Jack was silent for a while. He was trying to remember the story for himself. The tale he heard was that an evil chief had opposed Hiawatha's decision. So, he hatched an evil plan. He first pretended to discuss the decision peacefully with Hiawatha, but when the evil chief left, Hiawatha found his eldest daughter dead, causes unknown. The evil chief came a second time and talked with Hiawatha. Once again, when the evil chief left, Hiawatha found his middle daughter dead, causes unknown. The evil chief promised to come again, but he did not.
Jack often imagined this awful part of the story. As Hiawatha waited, his youngest daughter was bathing in the river. That afternoon, a beautiful bird flew above the village. Its feathers were every brilliant color one can imagine, and its song was hypnotizing. This mysterious bird captivated everyone in the village. Suddenly, an arrow flew out of nowhere. Maybe the first one missed. It put everyone on edge, wondering who would have the heart to shoot such a beauty. Another arrow flew, once again missing the bird. Now, the entire village was concerned. Finally, an arrow shot the bird right in the heart. It fell out of the sky and right toward the river. All the villagers ran toward where the bird was falling. Jack never knew why. Perhaps they wanted to see it one last time, or maybe they wanted to confront the cold-hearted hunter. At any rate, the daughter was done with her bathing and was heading back home. Maybe she saw the villagers running toward her, and she tried to run away but tripped over a root. Maybe Hiawatha opened the door of his wigwam (or whatever he lived in) to see what was happening and cried in desperation for the people to stop. It was too late. The villagers trampled the youngest daughter to death. Neither the bird nor the hunter were ever found.
The story went on to say that Hiawatha mourned his daughters' deaths for several days. He came out to the river to grieve one afternoon. Four birds saw his pain and lifted the river by its four corners. Hiawatha gathered shells from the riverbed and made them into beads. He made three strings of these beads, in memory of his daughters.
Little Light was obviously getting restless. "Why do you bring up this story, spirit? What is the point?"
Jack stared at him, hoping he would understand. "The point is Hiawatha did not lose heart, even in the face of adversity. He made sure that the Iroquois League continued, and it became stronger. They continued for years of harmony, pushing the Great Shadow's hate away. Then, the Great Shadow tore them asunder."
"What is that to you?" Little Light cried in fury. "Yes, the Great Shadow broke the league apart centuries ago! Yes, the Great Shadow worked through the hearts of greedy men to drive us far from our lands to a wasted desert! Yes, he continues to make us miserable; he will probably make us his slaves one day! But what is that to you? You claim you will destroy him and bring peace to the world, but you will make the world ten times more evil than it was before!"
Jack could not stand it anymore. He leapt to his feet and looked Little Light straight in the eye. "Why? Just because I seek to destroy him as much as you do? This is not right! Do you not see? If I were in your place, if I met a warrior who was also chosen to defeat Aku or the Great Shadow or whatever it is, I would have fought with him! We would start the League anew! I have heard proverbs all my life. 'Two are better than one, because if they fall one will lift the other up, but woe to him who falls alone.' 'In unity, there is strength.' 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.' Yet, I look at what you have done tonight, and I see all of this betrayed! For you wish to destroy me, only because we have the same goal! You come to me with hate in your heart and fight me for the sake of fighting, like the Iroquois before Hiawatha's leadership! What has Aku done to you?"
Jack never took his eyes off the warrior, but now his vision was blurred with tears. Little Light looked as though Jack's words were sinking in. Jack took a deep breath and sat down again. "If you wish to destroy me, do it. Slaughter me like the evil chief slaughtered Hiawatha's daughters. But if you are truly the descendent of Hiawatha, I would be honored to join your league."
Little Light looked at Jack, pondering what he had told him. He looked confused, but then his face filled with determination. He gave out another piercing war cry and lifted the tomahawk above his head. Jack cried out in disbelief and fear. He shut his tightly a felt a sharp whoosh in the air.
But he did not feel a blade. He opened his eyes to see the tomahawk just to his right side. Little Light was breathing heavily while grabbing the handle. Jack thought he saw a couple of tears fall from the warrior's eyes onto the ground. Then, Little Light composed himself and extended his hand to Jack. He said something in his own language, but somehow Jack understood in his heart what it was.
"Stand, brother."
Jack took Little Light's hand, and he helped Jack up. They shook hands. This was a new gesture to Jack, but he knew this was the way to seal the League with the warrior. "I knew you would choose the right way," Jack said quietly.
"Yes, your words were true, but there is something I do not understand. I was told through a vision about you. The spirits told me you were evil, that your only purpose was to steal my destiny. The spirits do not lie."
Jack did not know how to answer, but suddenly a cold wind came through, nearly putting out Little Light's torch. Jack knew what was going on, but Little Light was filled with fear. The shadows gathered and turned into--
"AKU!"
"This is the Great Shadow?"
"Yes," Aku said. "What is the matter, little man? Are you surprised to see me?" Suddenly, Aku disappeared and a large cloud of smoke billowed from what was left of Little Light's fire and turned into the form of a man. "Or me?" the man said darkly.
Little Light could not believe it. "It's the spirit I saw in my vision!"
"Yes," Aku said through the false spirit. "Your people have been a thorn in my side for 'many moons.'" Aku chuckled as though the stereotypical phrase amused him. Little Light tried to come at the demon, but Jack held him back. "Ever since that ridiculous league your forefathers put together, I have sought to break you, to tear apart your tribes. I nearly succeeded so many years ago. Did you not know? Let me show you. Behold!" The spirit held out his arms and transformed into a lovely bird. Its body was red, but it's tail feathers were every color of the rainbow. It sang a haunting song as it soared above their heads. Little Light was so transfixed, it seemed everything in the world disappeared except for that bird. Jack nearly fell into such a trance, but then he remembered what the bird really was.
"You were the bird?" Jack cried.
"More than that," Aku's voice said out of nowhere. "I was the evil chief. I was the archer." Jack could see their silhouettes beyond the bird as Aku spoke of them. "It was the greatest magical feat of my entire life. It led an entire village astray, but the leader was stronger than I had imagined. I tried to kill Hiawatha, but every time he evaded death somehow. I led him to the river as the bird and was certain he drowned, but he came back and roused and army. I transformed into a bear and fought with him until I was sure he was dead, but even then he returned to fight me. Then, some strange presence drove me away. Something was with Hiawatha, making him stronger. But no such power will save you now!"
"Wrong! Now we are working together, and we will stop you!" Jack picked up his sword again, and they went after Aku. Little Light kept throwing his tomahawk, but it continued to miss. In fact, it kept trying to hit Jack.
Aku smirked at Little Light's efforts. "Having problems with your weapon? You forget, I gave it to you. It was meant to destroy the samurai that you believed is an evil spirit."
"You are right!" Little Light realized. "It will not work against a real spirit. Never mind, I have other weapons." Little Light picked up his torch and flung it at Aku, but it did no good. Aku struck at the warrior and injured him greatly.
Jack came to his aid. "What can I do?" Little Light said weakly. "I have nothing to fight the Great Shadow now. He will overtake me."
Jack put his hand on Little Light's shoulder. "Trust your people. Remember your ancestors. They will not let you down. My people do not forsake me. If your heart is pure, they will come through for you."
Little Light looked as though he did not completely understand, but he looked up at the sky. He started to sing something in his language. This time, Jack did not try to understand. He knew this was between Little Light and the spirits. Aku was sneering at their piety and looked as though he was preparing to attack fast and hard.
Suddenly, a screech tore through the night air. A hawk swooped down before the two warriors and dropped something from its beak. Little Light quickly caught it. They were beads--four strings of them. The warriors' eyes grew wide. These must be the fabled strings of beads that Hiawatha made, but what was the fourth?
Aku looked at them in shock as well. "NO! IT CANNOT BE! THAT PRESENCE! IT HAS RETURNED, AND IT IS STRONGER!"
Jack could feel it too. He thought he could even hear singing all around him. He and Little Light charged together and attacked Aku at the same instant. The demon screamed and vanished.
"We destroyed him?" Little Light asked.
"No. He merely retreated. You shall probably see him again soon, but it is unusual that he left without a threat."
Jack looked up to see that the sun just now rising over the horizon. Jack and Little Light walked together in silence as morning was breaking. Finally, Little Light said, "You never told me your name."
"Jack," the samurai answered.
Little Light looked straight at him. "From now on among my people, you shall be called White Fire. Your righteousness and truth will blaze against the Great Shadow and cause him to vanish away."
"I cannot come with you to your people. I am on a quest of my own."
"I was not expecting you to, but I must return to my people. You have shown me that I have much to learn still. I will try to better my skills not as a skillful warrior but as a trustworthy leader. When the time is right, I shall have a true vision, and the spirits will show me how they wish for me to destroy the Great Shadow. And now, White Fire, take this." Little Light handed him a string of beads. "Always keep this with you on your journey, and remember we are brothers now. If you keep in your heart that we are a league, our destinies shall never be stolen."
Jack bowed to Little Light, and the warrior also solemnly nodded. Thus, they parted company. Jack looked at the string of beads in his hand and smiled. "I will remember." He put it into his robe. As he looked up into the sky, he thought he could see through the strange formation of the clouds the face of an Iroquois chief looking down on him.
THE END