Chapter 1
12 years later
All her life Juliet felt a little different than most girls her age. While other normal girls would go to school, help with chores,play with other kids, and perhaps dream of a prince charming; she on the other hand wasn't allowed that luxury at least not that she remembered during her often chaotic and interesting childhood. It's not as if her life was difficult or anything it's just that it is complicated in different ways that others wouldn't find...normal well considering her circumstance that is. Yes it is true that her family has to hide upstairs in the attic, at someone else's house no less, and she cannot go out at Neo Verona all by herself not without Cordelia or perhaps Curio and Francisco tagging along as her escort." A proper lady after all does not go out of town alone!" Conrad had once said and the thought of that little qoute made her roll her eyes upward. But the one thing that irks her the most is the fact that she has to cross dress as a boy! "What the hell is that all about?" she wonders exasperatedly. It bothered her so much that she decided to ask Conrad why in the world she is subjected to this indignity everyday for the millionth time apparently. However, it didn't go very well because he always answered that it was for her own good and it was for her protection. "Wonderful!" she thought. She pressed him for a more satisfying answer however and he somehow skillfully evaded her query and talked her into going with Cordelia to shop for some food instead and scooted her out the room. Glaring at the door with enough venom and intensity to melt cottage cheese but seeing that it was rather futile to scare the door into submission she sighed and stomped upstairs to her room and got "dressed." When she put on the wig it's as if a switch is turned on. Her movements are more brisk, acted less gracefully, and lowered the register of her voice. How she ever fooled anyone that she is a 14 year old boy instead of a 14 year old girl is anyone's guess. But it seems working with Willy in his plays helped her alot in this "role" that she reluctantly has to play...no more like she had no choice to play. At least wearing the wig was a personal victory of sorts because Conrad asked her once to cut her hair and she flatly and adamantly refused to do so. After meeting Cordelia by the main hallway, it was off they went to the city.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Downtown Verona
A mysterious man was surveying the area around Neo Verona. It was a beautiful sunny day and he could feel the brisk wind coming from the east blowing his long crimson cape. His mask covered half his face and he wears a stylish crimson hat. The man wore an unusual clothes that conformed to his muscular frame and it too was colored crimson. At first glance the only weapon that is on his person was the massive broadsword strapped on his back but upon closer inspection he is in actuality armed to the teeth with weapons hidden all over his body. He is enjoying the view of the city below when suddenly there was a commotion on the main square. The Cabereine it seemed were bullying helpless citizens again. He sighed he really didn't want to do what he was about to do but the situation in the city and the plight of its citizens is a matter that he in his good conscience cannot ignore. If he could make a difference in their lives and if he has fight for them when they could not...then so be it. For one last time he adjusted his gloves, checked on his weapons, tightened his mask. Seeing as everything is ready as it would ever be he stepped over the edge of the building held his hat tightly, smiled and then fell over...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Juliet always enjoyed the times when she gets to come out the house. Being couped up in the attic for so long can only be so much fun for so long. It's nice that everyone is there for her and all but the trips outside usually does not disappoint her at all. There's always something interesting going on in Neo Verona, one just have to take a look and find it! It is unusually crowded today. People can be seen going about their business, merchants hawking their wares, and some street performers entertaining crowds far aways to their left. Curious at what is happening she began to walk faster in order to see what the crowd is so enthralled about.
"Don't go too far Odin!" Cordelia said to her.
A vein popped out of her head when she heard the name "Odin". It should make sense that dressing up as a boy she had to have a guy's name. But common, what sane and respectable parents would give their child a stupid name like that anyway! Would it have hurt to at least give a respectable and perhaps a more interesting name other than "Odin"? It Conrad's BRILLIANT idea to disguise herself as a boy and it was Francisco who coined the name Odin because she was picking at her right eye when he saw her in the boy get up for the first time and it just reminded him of the Norse God and it stuck with her ever since. Anyway before this issue upsets her even more she sighed and turned around to face Cordelia and said to her in as much a normal voice as she could possibly muster. "Ok I won't so don't worry!" she shouted back. So she proceeded to the crowd and watch the entire performance. After doing so she went go searching for Cordelia but got sidetracked instead when she heard the commotion in the central square. She quickly ran through the crowd and saw a very awe inspiring sight...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The mysterious man fell perhaps 40 stories from the roof and yet he landed safely feet first unscathed in the middle of the busy town square. What is remarkable about though was the crimson outfit that he wore. The only weapon that he have on him is a huge broadsword that rested on his broad back. A large crowd began to gather because of the man or is it perhaps a gang of Cabereine were bullying a bunch of street beggars. Either way, a lot of people thought that perhaps it is some kind of street performance nonetheless and thought that it would be something different for a change. However, the majority of the crowd is familiar with this situation all too well. The Cabereine has been abusing and lording over their power for so long that this is nothing new. Many among them were afraid to defend their own people for fear of reprisal but perhaps one of them has finally stepped forward to rectify and dole out some needed justice at last...they hoped.
The man simply walked towards some of the injured beggars and helped them to their feet. When he saw their condition their beaten and poor condition, an unfamiliar rage swelled within him. He never would have thought that situation in Neo Verona has gotten worse that he have realized. Now he regretted somewhat that he waited for so long to make his move.
"So you Cabereine think your some kind of big shots coz you beat up some old, defenseless beggars? That's rich, why don't you try beating up on somebody who isn't afraid to fight you cowardly lot back, eh?" he said mockingly.
When the crowd heard this they murmured in agreement. Encouraged by the man's inconceivable remarks one of them said "Ya you chickens why don't you pick somebody your own size. Enboldened by their peers people spoke up and jeered at the somewhat perplexed Cabereine. "SILENCE!!" the capt. shouted. "And you sir I'll watch what I say if I were you, it may be the last that leaves your lips!"
"Then come and shut it for me then, if you can that is!"
The more drunk of the bunch suddenly drew his sword and ran at the enigmatic figure. As the man completed an awkward overhand swing, the man in crimson simply caught the blade in his gloved hand slid his fingers in one motion to grab the drunk's face lifted him briefly and slammed him with a bone jarring hit on the cobble stone floor. The masked man stood over the unconscious Cabereine and he looked at the rest of them and gave a gesture that said "come and get me!" Two this time drew their swords and they too recklessly ran towards him. The man smiled and shaked his head. The taller of the two who arrived first swung wildly but for some reason he couldn't connect. His companion arrived seconds later and he too swung every which way but he could not hit his target. Amazingly this stranger was evading all of their attacks and finally went on the offensive. Again he caught one of the blades with his glove hand, this startled the attacker and tried punch him but the masked man caught his fist squeezed and stepped behind the man's arm in locked it in place on his back. With him in control, the man grabbed his victim's right arm and the two of them started to fight his companion. The hapless man tried in vain to thrust and parry these attacks and there were times that the masked man could have killed him instantly but he never followed through and finally the two of them disarmed the other one and with a blink of an eye he was between them grabbed a handful of hair from the back of their heads and forcefully butted them together and they too fell unconscious.
"Wow so this is what the famous Cabereine are made of huh...how very disappointing indeed!" he said.
This time the rest of the them drew their swords simultaneously and attacked. Seeing as to what happened to their fellows they were more cautious. The stranger waited and when the first man came he grabbed his sword arm with his with his left twisted his wrist cruelly which dropped his sword to the ground and in one motion chopped him on the neck and the man crumpled to the floor. Seeing as there were too many even for him to handle he is force to use his weapons. Two three and a half foot long daggers flashed and with amazing speed began to dismantle his attackers one by one. The man was a blur of motion attacking, parrying, side stepping, feinting and disarming men left and right all without killing any of them with a fatal blow.
Juliet who was among the crowd of spectators was very amazed at this spectacle. To her this strange man in motion felt like that he was a force of nature come alive. "Like a great Red Whirlwind." she thought. Many feelings bubbled inside of her that she has never felt before. She had always thought that she has had it hard. But it didn't occur to her that people were suffering maybe even dying because of the deteriorating conditions that they have the suffer and the injustices towards the people. Compared to them and in many ways she is lucky and she realizes that she has many things to be thankful for. But what about the people who are suffering from the vile rule of the Montagues? This man is fighting for them she realized and perhaps it is the only way that he could help the people. And to her surprise, she wanted to help the people fight injustices, she wants to help the poor and the helpless. She was sick and tired of the abuses and in inequality the the Montagues has brought in his reign of terror and now she feels that the only way to go about that was to fight. " I want to be just like him!" she thought fiercely. She wanted to be just like this man who fights fearlessly with no regard to safety nor perhaps a reward in return. She wanted to help him right the injustices that prevailed all to well during these troubled times. She didn't have to wait long to test her resolve though...
The masked man with his speed and skill dispatched eight men simultaneously. However, he heard a shrill whistle meaning that help is coming and fast. Realizing that getting caught or killed now would be a waste of his efforts, he decided that he needs to retreat...NOW! He then proceeded to make an escape but the Cabereine has already arrived at the south. So he ran the opposite way and it too was the same. He tried to run from the East but that too was blocked as well as the West. Cornered in the middle with about 50 Cabereine surrounding him. Amazingly he was calm and collected and he is actually smiling as if he is enjoying all of this.
"Give it up you don't have anywhere to go!" one of them said
He just smiled at them and finally drew is massive broad sword. It was long about seven feet, half as a man is wide and has 4 serrated edges on each of the razor sharp blade. At first glance it seemed that it would be heavy for something so large but it doesn't seem to give the masked man any trouble for he wielded it easily. So with sword in hand he simply simply swung and the Cabereine in front of him tried to block the strike but it was no use. Their swords broke like fragile twigs and with the some sort of an after shock the men right in front of him were blown back 20 feet. And with that opening he ran as fast as he could to make his escape.
The crowd parted to make way and some of them even cheered and patted him on the back while he ran. Juliet ran after him and she couldn't believe how strong and fast this man was but she tried to keep up as best as she could. She took a short cut and turned left into the back alley and when she emerged she was actually ahead of him by a few blocks. He arrived on where she was and she shouted "OVER HERE!!" And she gestured for him to follow her. Then they ran towards some stairs into the upper reaches of Neo Verona and ran a complicated twists and turns and finally they arrived at a long abandoned building with fields of Irises growing as far as the eye could see. Towards the edge of the high cliff they could see the whole city of Neo Verona as the sun sets and the first stars begin to shine in the night sky. Tired from all the running, they caught their breathe. The man finally said. "Thanks for the help I really appreciate it...err..." Juliet dawne on her that he was talking to her/him answered back in a deeper voice. "Odin and you welcome." she answered.
"Well Odin that was rather reckless of you sticking your neck for someone like me but I do appreciate it nonetheless."
Juliet turned a bright pink at this compliment. At first she couldn't find her voice to speak her mind and when she finally had the courage to she knelt towards him and blurted out. "I want to be like you, please teach me how to be strong like you!" Taken aback at what has transpired at first he was going to say no. But Juliet/Odin headed that protest rather quickly telling him her/his reason why she wanted to fight and how she wanted to help the people. Seeing as she/he is determined and will probably not accept no for an answer. He finally relented however there was 1 condition..."You have to pass my simple test. If you pass I teach you and you will fight along side me; however if you fail you're going to have to give up this notion of yours and help others in another way because this is not a game young man!" She/he looked him in the eyes and told him with all confidence and passion in her heart and answered "I understand and I will pass your test!"
"Good to hear your resolve. The test will be determined in one month's time and I will train you so that you may be ready. Don't think however that I will go easy on you though."
"Fine and besides I wouldn't want you to favor me in any way, shape, or form." she/he replied.
"Alright if you are that determined meet me here and we shall begin your training tomorrow."
"I almost can't wait!" she/he exclaimed.
to be continued...
A/N: Well that was interesting wasn't it...So the journey begins ain't it exciting...Anyway do please R/R I need all the help I can get you know...I won't be able to write this story if I don't know what in the world wide of sports is going on...heh...As for other shameful self promotion you might as well R/R my Kiddy Grade fan fic called "A stranger among us" I'm sure you'll would like that...And as usual I don't own any of this stuff so chill out ya...
