Squadron of Fallen chasing you and shouting about how they`re going to rip off your Exo horn and use it for unspeakable things? Let me get my shotgun. Vex want to replace your pretty, glowing Awoken eyes with there`s? I can probably squeeze xenocide into my schedule. See friends from almost a thousand ago that haven`t changed that much in the two weeks since you all left school but its still more then you have in centuries? The fallen would be laughing at me with their raspy voices for nearly fainting at the emotional roller coaster seeing Ron and Hermione again took me on.
I had a few seconds before they noticed me to collect myself. The smiles they directed at me played havoc with my pounding heart. I wanted to run up and hug them while crying my eyes out with how happy I was, but now wasn't the time so instead I plastered on one of my trademarked grins.
I was praying that Hermione had the rigid character that I remembered cause half a second after I put that grin on I remembered that was the grin that dropped lots of panties in the last city. Don't judge me, 900 years will destroy anyone`s self-control. Hermione`s lack of a reaction was both a blessing and a curse.
On the one hand thank god this isn't even more awkward but now I`m starting to think that all those women probably were looking at me like I was the last man on earth, not an unreasonable assumption considering humanity was bordering extinction and I was a fully functioning young man that could die and come back for more S&M fun, Bella Lestrange lived up to her name.
Now back to reality. Hermione is hugging me and saying she missed me. I used a few glamors to hide the fact that my body is that of a healthy athletic sixteen-year-old, and not a scrawny underfed fourteen-year-old. Once she let go of me Mr. Weasley asked if I had everything I needed, I nodded and pointed at my bag and said, "extendable charm."
He quirked an eyebrow but didn't say anything. We made our way to the fireplace and floo`d to the Burrow. Like Privet Drive everything was exactly as I remembered it but was prepared for the emotional backlash and didn't even flinch as I held myself together.
"When is the quidditch world cup?" I asked. Ron was the one to answer with the enthusiasm that I remember him having for quidditch. "We leave for the cup tomorrow, but it won`t start for till the next day waste of time if you ask me." "I happen to think that seeing different cultures is not a waste of time Ronald." Sniped Hermione in the fashion I also remembered. Judging by the look on Ron`s face this was a recurring argument, so I decided that it wasn't my problem. "Where am I sleeping so I can put my bag down?" "Ron`s room your sharing." Replied Hermione.
The afternoon flew by with ease talking to my friends was like riding a bike. Just have to refrain from popping a wheelie and show that I`m far older then I appear. Older then Dumbledore actually, isn't that a weird thought? Catching up with my friends without letting anything slip was draining and I was asleep when my head hit the pillow.
It was early morning when I was woken up by a dull ache in my forehead were a faded lightning bolt scar was. Didn`t expect that guess the connection between Voldemort and that fragment of his soul was numb from the distance of time-travel, like circulation from a limb you've sat on for too long, and only now is the collective soul realizing my fragment is no longer alive.
Well seeing as I`m up and have an hour before anyone gets up to get ready to leave, I may as well get some stretches done. While guardian bodies don't atrophy from sitting around muscle memory does, and for a hunter who prides himself with his mobility that is unacceptable. After getting dressed in a loose-fitting t shirt and sweats I went outside to find a spot on the lawn to practice. Not too far from the house I began stretching out every muscle in my body, making sure none of my limbs were hindered by my clothing or anything else.
The flips and jumps that hunters employ have their roots in parkour. While traditional parkour was meant to get from point A to point B through urban environments, hunters created a whole new style to move through groups of enemies quickly and leaving as many corpses as possible. Arcstriders are masters of this art and the really good ones are able to include guns to the dance making for a loud and deadly whirlwind of cloak, blade and gun. I always lose myself to the simple routine of practicing this form of combat. Dodge, strike, jump, strike, flip, slide, strike, etc. Without realizing it I drew Quickfang and began using it in my practice session.
After working up a sweat I came out of the trance I fell into. Once my breathing evened out I froze. I wasn't alone in the clearing. Turning around stiffly I was greeted with the sight of Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred and George, all trying to imitate a fish. If I wasn't so terrified I would be laughing. We stood there staring at each other for so long I finally decided to speak first just to break the silence. "Your going to catch flies if you don't close your mouths." I remarked rather dryly, but that was all they needed to start bombarding me with questions finally the chaos got to me "Enough! One at a time." After that everyone fell silent to let the motor-mouth of the group begin the interrogation.
"Where did you learn to do all of those tricks? How do you move so gracefully? And where did you get that sword?" She fired of like a submachine gun. "In order, over the past two summers, don't know maybe the same raw talent I have for brooms and I was in the market for one." I lied rather smoothly if I do say so myself. The scowl Hermione sent me shot that thought down faster than Shaxx would with a new heavy machine gun.
Thankfully the twins in their puckish ways stopped Hermione's quest by gabbing an arm each and dragging me back to their home while babbling on about how the house cup was in the bag this year.
Once back we ate breakfast quickly and I washed off my morning workout. Then we went for a hike to get to the portkey that we would be taking to the world finals campsite.
Along the way we met the Digory's while Cedric was polite and nice enough his father was a man I couldn't bring myself to like, not that I hate him but he doesn't see that talking as if his son beating me in a game after I am rendered unconscious by outside interference is something to be proud of, it`s not only making Cedric uncomfortable but showing just how stupid he is. That being said, it was rare to see parents in the last city have time to brag about their children in such a carefree manner about meaningless achievements.
Everyone else was gasping for breath once we reached the dirty old boot. Cedric was the least winded and his father the most, that put a smile on my face.
A smile that was wiped away when we traveled by portkey to the grounds. Even after making them and using them for hundreds of years I still fall flat on my ass. An embarrassment to a hunter as old as I.
Finding our tent was easy in that it was near our entry point form the portkey, but in between the two we saw many different groups of people from around the world. For me it was like seeing a magical version of the last city before the walls where built. The only thing that was missing was the looks of fear, a welcomed absence.
After leaving our belongings Mr. Weasley gave us free reign to explore the campsite as long as we are back for supper. Me, Ron, and Hermione were wandering through the tents. We saw some African wizards mingling with each other and a few curious passerby's, the Irish and the Bulgarians where at each other's throats like two fallen arguing over who owns the servitor.
The sound of metal ringing against metal caught our attention. We followed it until we found a bunch of tents owned by wizards that appeared to be of Asian descent. I had a pretty good idea what was going on, but my friends didn't and dragged me along to see what was happening.
We finally made it out of the tents and into a small clearing where some wizards were dueling with swords. I could tell that this was a group, what with the younger wizards standing off to the side with swords while two other students and what I can assume is the older teacher, are in the middle of a spar with the teacher as referee. The two combatants were good for their age but when you have trained guardians to take a sword to a gun fight and win, anything less seems lackluster.
As the fight came to a close with the taller one disarming the other Ron had to open his big mouth. "They aren't as good as you Harry." While he didn't shout it out at the top of his lungs everyone in the clearing heard him and where glaring at us. I and Hermione wanted to beat him over the head and she was following through with the desire. Still the master and the student who won the last spar where approaching us the master had a neutral expression, but the student was barely holding back his anger, probably at the slight to his skills.
Once they where in front of me I decided to take control of the conversation and introduce myself "hello my name is Harry." I didn't want to give them my full name in hopes that my fame doesn't blow this out of control. The master spoke first "Greetings Harry my name is Miyagi" I had to restrain myself from giggling cause I didn't want to know if Miyagi lived up to his name and he off handedly took a jap at me by only introducing half his name, in certain Asian cultures a full name is apart of social etiquette, not that I could complains seeing as I started it.
"We couldn't help but overhear someone commenting on our practice spar and decided to converse with the person." He continued. "Well my friend over there who is being beaten by his girlfriend, was the one to blurt out his tactless thoughts." I replied while setting up a little prank in revenge for this. Miyagi looked over to where Hermione was delivering a beatdown. That made me forgive Ron for this little stunt because I found the physical abuse to be a little excessive but wasn't going to stop it.
"So, I can assume that it was you who your friend was referring to as being better with a sword?" Miyagi asked with a hint of steal in his voice, this just keeps getting better. "I am, but that was his assessment not mine" I tensed, this might get ugly. "Well be that as it may my student, Ryoto, is still slandered by it; would you perhaps be willing to participate in a friendly spar to settle the dispute?" the tone of his voice told me all I needed to know about what might happen if I tried to refuse. "Sure, and again I apologize for my friend`s carelessness let me just inform them and we can continue." I walked over to Hermione while she had Ron in a headlock. "Just to let you know thanks to this I now have to give this guy a spar." Ron`s face paled and then turned blue when Hermione applied more pressure.
I turned around and went back into the clearing where Miyagi and Ryoto were standing. "Do you have a sword with you?" Miyagi asked, to which I replied by pulling out Quickfang from my inventory. He raised his eyebrow at my non-traditional looking sword and asked "do you know the charm to dull the edge?" I ran my finger along the sword`s edge and applied my version of the charm wandlessly, I handed it over to him to inspect and make sure the charm was applied. He shortly after handed it back.
We squared off and Miyagi shouted, "the rules for this duel, no killing or maiming, no magic, disarm your opponent our they yield ends the match do you both agree?" We both nodded our heads. "Begin!"
Ryoto started off with a strike to my left side which I blocked with my sword held by my right hand on the handle and my left on the spine of the blade after the impact I used my right leg to deliver a roundhouse kick to his undefended side. This surprised and winded him a little. The dirty look he was giving me said all I needed to know about what he thought of that. Where he a guardian I would have followed up with much more, but this spar doesn't mean anything to me so let's let him think he might still win.
He changed his tactics after that striking quicker and less committed to each one preventing me from doing anything like I just did. It didn't matter cause while he was fast, I was much, much faster, I wasn't even using both hands on my sword. Ryoto was slowly realizing this, the red blush his anger gave his face was slowly replaced by pale white as he tried to find a way under my guard. After a few minutes of this I decided to end this farce. I ducked one of his swings and spun with my foot out to knock him off his feet. Before he could recover I had my foot on his sword arm and mine at his throat.
The first words I heard him speak where "I yield" what surprised me was the smile he had on his face. I let him up and he hugs me, I was shocked. Once he let go of me he started to explain. "I have never fought anyone like you, thankyou for that, that was the best match I`ve ever had." Great a battle nut, worst type to deal with cause their reactions to my skill is a little off putting, hatred of fanboys and girls still going strong after all this time.
After that they were both politer, we exchanged full names and they where a little surprised at my name, turns out my fame reaches Japan, great. We parted ways shortly after, I with their address for their dojo. Mr. Miyagi`s kendo. I will give him credit he knows how to take advantage of his name for marketing.
After wandering for a bit longer I noticed it was getting late best to head back to the tent for supper. Tomorrow the quidditch world cup starts and the wheels of fate and time begin to turn with the light of a guardian to steer it, hopefully towards salvation for all.