What's up, everyone! This is GKC here bringing you the first chapter of 'Goddess's Hero', so far it seems in the poll, Nero's Noble Phantasm is winning the ensuing race.

Just to point out, Amaterasu will have a human form and also the new hero, Zero Ulrich, shall be introduced this chapter and brought into Nippon.

Now for the disclaimer: I do not own, except my OCs, Okami or Fate/stay night. All rights belong to their respective owners.

Now let's get this party started… BEGIN!

The Goddess's Hero

Chapter 1: Awakening! The Wolf and the Hero

Moon Cave

Deep within the remnants of the horrendous beast Orochi's lair, a ruined shrine with a lone bell and a purplish-blue metal sword with a crescent moon on the hilt sat embedded in the stone. A sealing charm placed upon the blade of the weapon.

Stepping towards the weapon, a shadowy figure looked upon the sword. "Is this the legendary sword? Is this Tsukuyomi, the sword that banished the dreaded Orochi?" The figure wondered aloud in a male voice as he grasped the handle of the blade and used all his strength to pull it out. "No… it couldn't be. It's just a legend… Nothing but a fairy tale!"

With one last pull, the sword eventually came out of the stone. However… From within the shadows, eight pairs of glowing red eyes stared at the lone figure.

Jumping in fright, the shadowy man drops Tsukuyomi and quivers in fear at the sight of the eyes. Malicious purple-black smoke erupted from the seal that the sword rested upon. The events were too much for the man as he ran away, fleeing for his life. However, the shadowy man trips on the floor, falling in a small circle with the Japanese kanji for 'fire' written on it as he looked back in terror at the rising wisps of smoke.

Directly in front of the man, a darkened serpentine head with what could be a kabuto samurai helmet looked down at the human with burning scarlet eyes. "O, he who seeks power… He who has broken my bonds… Speak the words, "I wish darkness unto the world." Utter that prayer unto me, and unleash my power."

The man gave the serpent head silence then noticed the rest of the seven heads looking right at him. He quickly stood up and fled from the monster, who released a bone-chilling roar that echoed across the land. The shadowy man fled the Moon Cave, not daring to look back in fear of being devoured by the beast.

The eight headed creature escaped from the cave, spreading fire and death across all of nature. The ensuing blaze destroying plants and trees while the skies were coated in a terrible darkness, the sun forever blotted out by black clouds.

A horrible tragedy suddenly swept over the land.

However, there was one village that seemed to escape the terrible curse. The tiny settlement of Kamiki Village enjoyed the protection of a sacred tree.

It is here that the real story begins.

Upon the shrine of Shiranui, the raging black storm filled the blood-red sky, boulders and rocks thrown about in the entire land until one such boulder was thrown towards the statue of the white wolf. Before it could be destroyed however, a powerful force blocked the projectile, shattering it into pebbles.

The one who stopped the stone was a rather young woman that was fairly tall with a purple aura surrounding her. She was breath-takingly beautiful with long black hair that is tied at the back with two strands parting to the sides at the front of her face, her purple earrings clipped to her earlobes, and the two pairs of leaves that cover her breasts and the other pair found in her hair. She wore a pink kimono and a purple wrap that reveals the top of her chest, her back and her rear.

Wood Sprite Sakuya

"How troublesome!" Sakuya said in annoyance. "This is just like the ancient prophecy of doom." She looks back at the statue of the wolf. "What has transpired to bring about such calamity? We must act quickly! There is no time to lose!" The wood sprite looked upon the stone wolf with a caring look. "My power has diminished over the years I've spent protecting this area. I don't have much time left in this world."

With a wave of her hand, a flow of power warped around in front of her. "Amaterasu, now is the time." A stone mirror appeared in front of Sakuya. "We have never needed your power more. Shine your divine light upon this broken and polluted world. Let your heavenly rays become our hope as you guide us all!" She sends the mirror towards the wolf statue which attaches on the stone's back, releasing a calming heat that unveils the stone to reveal a white wolf with crimson markings running along her fur.

Okami Amaterasu

Amaterasu released a bark as she awoke from her slumber then shook her body, removing light particles from her white fur. She drops from the pedestal and stares up at Sakuya.

"Ah! Such divine white light! Such beauty and grace! The only one capable of such a wondrous spectacle is none other than our mother and the origin of all that is, Amaterasu!" The wood sprite praised the wolf.

Amaterasu didn't seem to be paying attention at all to Sakuya's words, only content in looking around curiously.

"How delightful to see that one of the two saviors whose brave sacrifice sealed away the evil demon so many years ago has not changed one bit." The wood sprite continued her praise as the white wolf sat on her haunches. "Seeing you emerge after so many years spent as a statue brings happiness to my heart!" She wiped away a tear while sniffling a bit.

Amaterasu yawned then laid down on the ground to try and sleep more, obviously not really wanting to be disturbed. Sakuya could only stare at the laziness the wolf was showing.

"Amaterasu…" The beautiful wood sprite directed her gaze to the sky. "Gaze above you and take in the condition of the sky. Since your untimely departure from our midst, the world has succumbed to devious and vicious beasts. They have ravaged our fine and bountiful country of Nippon… But never have the circumstances been worse than they are at this very moment."

The Sun Goddess's black eyes trailed over to the gravestone that sat next to the shrine she slumbered upon. Reluctantly getting back on her paws, Amaterasu gave the headstone a few sniffs then whimpered when she remembered whose scent rested beneath the ground.

Sakuya, feeling the sadness within Amaterasu, looked down to the ground. "I'm sorry to say, Amaterasu, but your companion, the heroic Foreigner who battled the monster Orochi with you and Nagi, succumbed to their wounds. From their death, the Foreigner's body released thirteen lights that housed powerful spirits within that scattered all across the land, save for one, the sword which now lies sealed in stone at the tree that became my home."

The white wolf placed her forehead against the headstone, a lone tear dropping to the ground before she backs away and looks up at Sakuya.

"Please use your powers to banish the darkness and punish those who would do us harm." A small shake in her chest caused the wood sprite to look down in confusion. "...Hm?" The rustling in her breasts grew. "Eh? What is this? Has something stolen its way into my robe?" Suddenly, she starts to snicker before outright laughing from what could've been being tickled by some unknown creature.

Though due to her shaking her chest, a small green aura ball popped out from between her breasts which rolled on the floor.

"Phew! What on earth?" Sakuya wondered, looking down at the green bug. "You again?" She spoke in disgust and irritation.

The bug rolled then started bouncing around, shocking Amaterasu. "Ow ow ow ow ow! Are you nuts? Boy, for a little thing, you sure make a big fuss!" The bug exclaimed in a squeaky child-like voice. "I was just tryin' to make the conversation a bit more interesting, that's all."

"Were you napping in my clothes again, bug?" Sakuya questioned with a deadpanned expression.

"Bug?" The small little bouncing creature repeated, insulted. "I told you a thousand times not to call me that! I'm a wandering artist. The name's Issun!"

Wandering Artist Issun

"I'll show you just how great I am and it won't be long till you're bowing before my great brush!" Issun stated proudly then brought up a scroll five times his size and placed it on Amaterasu's muzzle, giving her a view of a well-drawn sketch of Sakuya. "Well, whaddya think? Even cuter than the real thing, no?"

He bounces around the curious canine then hopped onto her nose. "What's with you, furball? You look kinda down in the dumps." Issun looked at Amaterasu for a brief second. "Actually… You look kinda familiar…" He snapped his tiny fingers in realization. "Got it! You look just like that statue of Shiranui!"

Before Issun knew it, the wolf tossed him into her mouth then spat him out, covered in slobber.

"Whoa! Whaddya think you're doin'!?" The bug exclaimed, bouncing around angrily. "Are you crazy? A handsome guy like me should never be covered in wolf slobber! You'll regret messin' with the great Issun!" He stopped hopping then unsheathed a tiny blade. "Don't make me use my prized sword, Denkomaru against you!"

Further away, a loud growling sound could be heard.

Issun quickly bounced around up to Amaterasu's side in fear. "Wh-Wh-What's that growling sound? And why's it so dark, anyway?"

"O, great god Amaterasu…" Sakuya looked at the white wolf. "I've used all the power I have to protect Kamiki Village. The village lives on. Their spirits lie encased in my fruit. Cut it free, and the village will be reborn!" Behind the wood sprite, a swarm of cherry blossoms appeared, materializing a tall dead tree. "I trust in you. I know that you will lead us down the right path. Only your awesome power can restore life to the world. Do not fret for the Hero's reincarnation shall join you as well in this quest."

Amaterasu blinked, tilting her head in slight confusion. How exactly is she supposed to find this reincarnated hero?

Real World

An alarm clock rang loudly, the sunny rays of light gleaming through the window as they shined upon a lone figure sleeping on a queen-sized bed.

A pale hand smashed the alarm clock, the figure sat up, removing their blanket to reveal a young man of eighteen years with dark brown hair similar to Final Fantasy XV character Noctis Lucis Caelum's own hairstyle, bright blue eyes, pale skin with an androgynous face, and a slim body with a light muscle tone.

"Ugh… I hate Mondays…" The young man groaned, rubbing his eyes as he removed his blankets and sheets to get out of bed.

A knock on his bedroom door drew his attention. "Master Zero, your breakfast is ready." A feminine voice spoke behind the wood.

"Thank you, Delia." The boy named Zero replied as he dressed himself in his usual daily clothes. He wore light grey pants with two black belts wrapped around his right thigh, a black leather belt, black gloves, and high black boots. He wore a grey coat that is much simpler in design, with an upturned collar and short sleeves with black cuffs, though the coat lacks coattails. Underneath the coat, he wears what appears to be a black long-sleeved shirt, with a grey vest with black clasps over it. He smiled to himself with his clothing, special ordering this design about a year ago was worth the money, black was always his favorite color. He thought about putting in white to contrast the colors but he thought against it.

Zero left his bedroom then marched down the Victorian stairs that his father, a well known European CEO of a multinational company that specialises in providing military grade hardware for the United Nations, recreated in the family manor. The young man entered the dining room and sat at the end of the long table where a light spread of bacon, eggs, pancakes, toast, and milk were set out in front of him.

As he ate, one of the maids came over to the young man and bowed slightly. "Master Zero, I've come to inform you that your father and mother were called back to America for important business with another company."

Zero sighed, this usually happened all the time when his parents were away on business. "It's fine, I understand." He finished up his breakfast then drank his milk. "Is there anything else important you would like to say to me?"

"Well…" The maid blushed slightly in embarrassment. "Master Zero, I wanted to tell you that my sister was getting married and she wanted me to be there for it but…"

"You don't have the money to get there, is that it?" The Ulrich heir questioned.

Judging by the growing blush on her cheeks, the young man knew he hit the mark. "Um, yes, Master Zero."

Sighing, the brown-haired boy reached into his pocket and took out a checkbook then signed his name with enough money from his personal bank account. "Here, this should be enough to get you there and consider that your month's pay."

The maid took the check then looked at it. If this were an anime, her eyes would practically be bulging out of her sockets. "T-this is…" She trailed on, looking ready to faint at the moment.

"Take the next few days off as a vacation." Zero smiled at the young woman only to be met with a hug which he returned by patting the maid's back.

"Thank you so much, Master Zero!" She squealed with joy then released her grip on the young man and quickly left.

The Ulrich heir rubbed his head, watching the maid practically sprint out of the dining room. He took this chance to stand up from his place in his seat and marched off to the library to catch up on his reading. Grabbing a book, he took a seat at his favorite red leather chair and opened it up, revealing an image of a beautiful young woman with blonde hair, green eyes, and pale skin. She wore a red and white dress with golden sabatons and held a curved red sword that looked pretty jagged.

"Fate/Extra, one of my favorite series out of all the other Fate/stay night ones." Zero said to himself as he turned a page. When he was young, his mother took him to Japan one day to introduce him to the other half of his heritage. One day, he found a visual novel series called Fate/stay night and instantly fell in love with everything about it, he even at one point tried to replicate something similar to a Noble Phantasm used by the Saber of the Fifth Holy Grail War, Artoria Pendragon.

He sometimes wondered if he could go on an adventure. Fighting monsters, rescuing pretty girls, and wielding an awesome sword to boot but alas, his childish dream came to an end when he had to grow up. Being the direct heir to a multinational million dollar company will do that to you, having to give up on something that you love to dream about.

As he read his book, Zero thought about what it would be like to wield the power of a Servant. To use the strength and skill of a swordsman like a Saber; the speed and agility of a Lancer; the accuracy of an Archer; the wisdom of a Caster; the unparalleled raging power of a Berserker; to command Phantasmal Beasts like a Rider; to conceal one's very presence like an Assassin.

The Ulrich heir was so deep into his thoughts that he did not notice the shadowy figure behind him with an amused smile. "Like what you see there, boy?"

Zero jumped slightly at the voice then turned around to notice the dark figure. "Who the heck are you!?" He exclaimed, shocked that anyone would be in his home.

Stepping out of the shadows was an elderly man dressed in a black late-Victorian era suit and a black shoulder cape with grey hair, a short beard, and pale skin. His most defining moment however were the blood red eyes that he possessed. He grinned at the boy. "My name is Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg but you may know me as the Wizard Marshall."

Zero blinked at the old man then his eyes widened like dinner plates. "EH!?" He exclaimed in surprise, dropping his book on the floor. "But you're supposed to be a fictional character! How the hell are you even here!?"

Zelretch chuckled. "That, my boy, is because I'm here for someone special. And that someone is you." He gestured to the brown-haired teen.

"Say what now?" Zero tilted his head, curious.

The Dead Apostle poked at Zero's forehead then the young man started to feel tired, a wave of nausea suddenly hitting his body then he fell on his back, unconscious.

"Well, that's phase one, now to begin phase two." Zelretch grinned as he effortlessly picks up the human then snaps his fingers, opening a portal to another dimension. "Good luck, kid." He tosses the boy inside then snaps his fingers once again, closing the rift.

Nippon

Blue eyes slowly opened as Zero groaned, sitting up while rubbing his head to clear it of any remaining dizziness that may have been left behind. "Man, what a hangover…" He muttered to himself.

He felt a wet nose press against his face. Blinking for a few seconds, the young man found himself staring at a white wolf with strange red markings on its fur with a mirror-like object on its back.

"Hello there, what are you doing here?" Zero asked the canine, petting her head in gentle strokes. The wolf leaned into the touch, enjoying the feel of the human's fingers running through its fur.

"Oi, back off!" A tiny voice yelled then the Ulrich heir retrieved his hand after feeling a pinprick hit one of his fingers. "Who do you think you are!? You could've crushed me!"

Zero narrowed his eyes, focusing on the bouncing bug on the snout of the wolf. "A bug?" He wondered aloud.

"What was that!?" The 'bug' exclaimed, turning a bright red as it/he swung a tiny sword.

The young man quickly raised his hands. "Whoa, easy there! I didn't mean anything by it."

"Ah, I see that the Hero has finally arrived." A velvet-laced voice drew Zero's attention until his eyes laid upon a beautiful woman in a pink kimono looking at him with a soft smile on her graceful face. "What is your name, young man?"

The Ulrich heir blinked a few times. "I-It's Zero, Zero Ulrich." He stuttered.

The Hero Zero Ulrich

"I see… I should've realized you were foreign since no citizen in all of Nippon possesses blue eyes nor wears something so outlandish." The floating woman remarked, gesturing to Zero's outfit. "Oh, where are my manners, I am Sakuya." She bowed politely at the boy.

The wolf barks garnering a soft giggle from the woman. "Oh yes, this is Amaterasu, the great mother to all."

Zero blinks. "Uh huh…"

The 'bug' hops on the wolf's snout. "And I am the great Issun, a traveling artist and wooer of women!" He declared with pride.

"Okay then… I've officially lost my mind." Zero slapped himself, hoping to wake up only to find that the three were still in front of him. "Guess not…"

Sakuya giggled at Zero's little display. "Fret not, Zero. You are not hallucinating, what you see is very real." She remarked.

"Well, where exactly am I?" The brown-haired boy asked in confusion.

Amaterasu barked, getting Zero's attention, who pets the wolf's head, being mindful not to crush Issun.

"You are in the land of Nippon, a few miles from Kamiki Village as well, young one." Sakuya informed the Ulrich heir.

"Yeah, I don't really know what that is, ma'am." Zero deadpanned.

Issun bounced a few times in annoyance. "Geez, you really are a foreigner. In the western lands, Nippon is called 'Japan'." He stated.

"This is Japan? Weird…" The young man scratched his head. "Why'd that old vampire send me here?"

"Vampire?" Sakuya exclaimed in surprise. "By vampire, do you mean the Kaleidoscope?"

Zero looked at the wood sprite in shock. "How the heck do you know about Zelretch!?"

"He's the one who talked about the legend of the reincarnated Hero." Sakuya replied.

"And you think that's me?" The young man gestured to himself.

The wood sprite nodded. "Yes, you are a foreigner so it must be true."

"Yeah…" He deadpanned.

Amaterasu tilted her head in confusion while Issun looked on bored.

Sakuya sighed. "I know this can be difficult but you are most definitely the resurrected hero."

"Yeah, sure I am." The young man folded his arms, still not believing it.

The wood sprite shook her head. "If you are going to be assisting Amaterasu, you will need a weapon. Lucky for you, the people of Kamiki Village generously paid homage to the tree in which I reside." She outstretched her hands then a bright glow shone from her hands to reveal a perfectly crafted o-katana. "Take this sword for now. Once you reach Kamiki Village, there will be a sealed weapon, covered in many sutras. You will know what to do once you touch it."

Zero took the o-katana from Sakuya and looked at the weapon. "Guess I've got no choice. If I want to get back home, I might as well help." He grimaced.

"Thank you, young Zero." Sakuya smiled beautifully as she began to float away from the trio. "Find the power that will allow you to cut the fruit on my tree, only then will the people of Kamiki Village be free from the growing darkness that Orochi has enacted." With that said, the wood sprite vanished into cherry blossoms, leaving the human, wolf, and the tiny little person on their own.

Zero glances at Amaterasu and Issun. "So where do we go?" He asked.

"Through that entrance, kid." Issun bounced, pointing at a white light inside of a giant dead tree with a large sparkling peach hanging on a dead branch.

Amaterasu already sprinted off into the tree with Issun holding on tightly to her fur, leaving the young man behind.

"Oi! Don't leave me by myself!" He exclaimed, chasing after the white wolf.

Inside the Tree

"Where are we?" Issun asked the white wolf as the human followed after them, panting slightly. "It got awfully quiet all of a sudden. I don't remember any place like this in the village." He bounced around on Amaterasu's head, who looked around as well. "Well, we better keep our eyes peeled."

Zero didn't hear what the small person was talking about, he was too busy looking around in bewilderment.

"Hey, kid, let's go. We're gonna take a look around this place." Issun told the young man.

The young man looked at Amaterasu and Issun then looked down at the weapon in his hands which he straps onto his back. He follows after the wolf while looking around the setting before him, despite the dark clouds there seemed to be a great abundance of life in the area.

The trio march through a bridge with glowing red pyres still lit however, Issun stopped the wolf and human when he noticed an object shining. To Zero, it looked like a statue with a mirror reflecting a strange light on a platform. "Hold on! That's an Origin Mirror!"

"Um, what's an Origin Mirror?" The brown-haired teen questioned.

"They say once your reflection appears on its surface…" Issun bounced and looked at Zero. "your memories will be stored in the mirror for all eternity! Well, to put it shortly, you can save your progress here."

'So it's like a savepoint for a video game.' Zero thought about it.

"And let me give you a little advice." Issun interrupted the boy's thinking. "You should save a number of game files. That way, you could always go back if you get stuck or something. Gotta be prepared, 'specially while you're still learning the ropes!"

Zero and Amaterasu glanced at each other with confused looks. They didn't even understand what those last parts meant but they shrugged and stepped on the platform. The light enshrouded their forms then they felt the mirror take their memories of their current progress and stored it within the object.

After 'saving' their progress, the wolf and human traveled on the bridge only to be stopped once again by Issun. "Look at all those pots just waitin' to be broken! If you bust 'em, there might be something good inside."

Zero felt something whisper in his ears. "Press the Square button to perform a quick attack with your sword. Press the Triangle button to perform a heavy attack. Combine both buttons to perform an assortment of combos and techniques."

The Ulrich heir blinked a few times in confusion on what that meant but shrugged as he unsheathed his sword and slashed a pot, breaking it open then found a rice ball inside.

Zero obtained Onigiri (S)! Use this to refill a portion of your health.

Those words entered his head for some strange reason. It was strange but he shrugged it off and stuffed the rice ball in one of his pockets. He glanced to his side to see Amaterasu smashing pots with her head and collecting money that looked like old century yen coins.

"Way to go, my furry friend!" Issun praised, bouncing on the wolf's muzzle. "You can do that anytime you see something you can break."

"I found food in mine." Zero shouted then slashed more pots, finding yen and more Onigiri.

"That stuff will be useful if you ever take damage." Issun stated as Amaterasu continued on with Zero following close behind.

Turning the corner from a cliff, the trio found themselves at a dead end. "Well, crap." Zero grimaced.

"Whoa, whoa, hold on there, furball! Get a load of that!" Issun told the white wolf. "That chest looks mighty tempting."

Amaterasu and Zero looked up to notice the black treasure chest with a red symbol on it.

"Let's go check it out." Issun continued, bouncing excitedly. "Getting up that high oughtta be a piece of cake."

The young man was about to interject when the same voice from before spoke in his head. "Press the X button to jump. Then press the X button again to do a wall jump."

He had no idea what the hell that meant but he decided to give it a try once he noticed his canine companion jump into the air, land on the rocky wall then jumped again, landing on the top. Releasing a breath, he sprinted forward and leaped into the air, kicking off the rocky surface and onto the top, grabbing onto it as he lifted his body on the ledge.

"I knew ya could do it." Issun complimented the white wolf while Zero glared at the bug since they didn't even think to help him up. "They say, "Good luck is found in high places." So, keep your eyes peeled. We don't wanna miss any treasure!"

Amaterasu rolled her eyes then charged at the treasure box, breaking it open and revealing its contents. It looked like a bluish-white doggy bone treat, the sight of it seemed to make the wolf lick her black lips in anticipation but Zero quickly took it and stored it in his pocket, drawing a whine from the goddess.

"Sorry, but we might need to use this later." The young man stated, petting the white wolf on her head.

Amaterasu whined in understanding then followed after the boy.

The heroes strolled on only to stop when they came upon a broken bridge. "Well, this is a show stopper…" Zero muttered.

"Looks like the bridge is out." Issun spoke, bouncing around on the white wolf's head. "This shouldn't be so hard, um… Amaterasu, was it? That's kinda long. Mind if I call ya "Ammy"?" The wolf gave its version of a shrug, not really minding the nickname. "Listen, Ammy… Ever heard of the spirits of the brush?"

"Spirits of the brush?" Zero wondered aloud.

Issun nodded. "That's right, kid. Good brushwork has its own soul, 'least that's what they say. Just watch. It'd take all day to explain…" He smiled widely however. "A picture's worth a thousand words, right?"

The young man scratches his head, unsure of what it meant. Glancing down at Ammy, he noticed that the tip of her snow white tail had turned black then all of a sudden a bridge seemed to magically appear in place of the one that was broken.

"Nice, huh?" Issun smirked at the bewildered look on Zero's face. "Just a little technique I've mastered called Rejuvenation. It's one of many brush techniques that use divine power. It's a brush god power that can restore broken or missing things."

Blinking, the brown-haired boy looked at the tiny figure. "That's a really amazing power." He complimented.

Puffing his small chest with pride, Issun smugly spoke, "I've practiced really hard just to master this one technique. But there are 13! Each one is a power of one of the 13 brush gods. Originally, all 13 were a single powerful deity. When the deity died, its power was split into 13 separate gods. The gods now dwell within objects all around us, but…" He paused for a few seconds. "God or no god, how could anyone have the power to master all 13!?"

Ammy licked her nose to keep it wet.

Zero looked on ahead. "I guess we'll just have to see one day if it really is possible."

With no more words said between them, the trio trudged on the bridge. Once they cleared the structure, they came upon a stone sign written in kanji. From what Zero could read of his mother's native language, it spelled "River of the Heavens".

"The River of the Heavens? They mean the fabled stardust river?" Issun spoke as the three glanced further ahead to see nothing but clouds and on the other side was a large gate with a glowing white light. "But I sure don't see anything like that around here. It couldn't be that little puddle over there, could it?"

Zero could make out a sparkling puddle of water, he was unaware however that Ammy took off to the right towards a cliff.

"Wow! Look at the stars twinkle!" Issun looked at the sky in awe. "I haven't seen such a beautiful nighttime sky in ages." The small little man blinked when he noticed how four of the stars shined brighter. "Hey, look! Are those stars forming a pattern, or is it just me?"

Ammy looked at the sight then noticed that one of the stars was missing. While Issun ranted on about putting in the missing star, the wolf used her celestial brush to put in the missing star.

Suddenly, a constellation of a dragon appeared then a white Eastern dragon flew from the stars and towards the white wolf. This time, Zero noticed it.

"What the hell!?" He exclaimed in shock as he unsheathed his sword and ran to join with Ammy and Issun, stopping next to them as he readied to battle against the newest threat.

Once the white dragon met the trio, they got a good look at it. It was massive, easily five times bigger than the three combined with red markings pupiless black eyes and a large white beard. In its four claws were four colored glass spheres that were red, green, yellow, and purple. It also seemed to be merged with a scroll with its brush-like tail coiling around.

"Ah…" The dragon spoke in a deep, rumbling voice. "Why, if it isn't mother Amaterasu. I apologize for not contacting you sooner during these long years." Its deep onyx eyes stared down at the sword-wielding human. "And you must be the fated Hero who is destined to assist the mother to all. It is quite an honor to meet you, young one." The dragon bowed its head in respect to the human then it glanced at Ammy. "I apologize for not contacting you sooner during these long years. Having never forgotten you, I, Yomigami, god of restoration, have eagerly awaited this day when we could again meet."

"Wait a second, you're a god?" Zero questioned, sheathing his katana after finding that there was no danger.

The dragon nodded. "Yes, young one, I am one of the 13 brush gods." He focused back on Ammy. "While you were away, the 13 spirits of the brush that you once possessed, including myself, have been scattered across this land of men, and now lie in disarray. I became a constellation and managed to survive until now." Yomigami's eyes narrowed serious. "The time has come for you to seek out and reunite all the techniques. Your power is what is needed to restore the dried riverbed of the heavens and renew the flow of stardust." All of a sudden the dragon disappeared and left behind was a floating Japanese kanji for 'restoration' which flew around the white wolf then entered her body.

Before they returned to the real world, Yomigami left a message to Zero. "Reincarnation of the Foreign Hero, heed these words for this will be the only time I will be able to speak with you. Find the 14 Heroic Spirits, their powers once belonged to your ancestor and now you must regain your lost power. In Kamiki Village, the first of these Heroic Spirits awaits. Reclaim its power and journey on the path of a warrior. Farewell, young one."

The trio found themselves back on the hill, the dragon nowhere in sight.

Issun, excitedly, bounced atop Ammy's head. "Wow! That was Yomigami, the god of Rejuvenation!" He stopped and thought for a second. "Wait… So you have the power of Rejuvenation now!? Can you really use it to restore the River of the Heavens?"

Zero looked down at the 'bug'. "The only way to know is to find out. Besides, I want to know something about these Heroic Spirits once we get to the village."

"Right, you're the reincarnation of the Foreign Hero. I'm sure someone there knows something about these 14 spirits." Issun suggested with Ammy yawning a bit.

The heir to the Ulrich fortune nodded. "Then let's get going." He nodded.

Ammy trods up to Zero and nuzzles against his leg to which he returns the affection by stroking the wolf's fur. Issun rolled his eyes as the trio descended down the hill to the empty river. Once they stopped for a brief moment, the small man took this chance to speak his mind. "Wonder if drawing some stardust would get the river flowing again?"

Ammy took a few steps forward while Zero watched with folded arms. "Nah… It's one thing to fix a bridge, but fixing a starry river?" Issun continued. "There's no way you could pull off a stunt like that!"

Zero noticed the white wolf's tail turn black for a split second then all of a sudden the river started to sparkle with stars. The sight was truly beautiful like the night sky had become the waters itself.

"Whoa!" Issun exclaimed in surprise. "A river of stardust! So this really must be the River of the Heavens. But what I really wanna know is who the heck drew the darn thing!"

Ammy glanced at the bewildered Zero and sent a small wink at him then trotted on through the water. Seeing no choice but to swim in it, the human jumped in and swam all the way there. Once the two cleared out of the river, Ammy shook her fur to rid herself of any water, however, it also sprayed her liquids onto Zero, covering him in more H2O.

The human grumbled then sneezed. "Great, I knew I should've taken off my clothes." He muttered.

Ammy notices a chest up ahead then headbutts into it, revealing an empty sack with a red symbol on it.

Ammy obtained: Astral Pouch

"Look what you found, furball!" Issun exclaimed in awe and surprise. "This Astral Pouch here's amazing. It can swallow up lots of food. Then when it's full, it can revive its owner if he or she dies! Let's start feeding it with whatever food we can find around here."

Zero took off his wet jacket and slugged it over his shoulder. "Next time we go in a body of water, tell me so I don't catch a cold." He grumbled.

Issun snickered while the wolf stumbled over to the human, her natural warmth radiating around her form which began to dry off the young man's clothes and wet body.

"Thanks, Ammy, that helps a lot." Zero smiled down at the wolf, petting her head.

The canine releases a small bark while nuzzling into the human's touch. It was heaven for her ears.

For the next few minutes, Ammy and Zero broke pots in order to collect food for the Astral Pouch then they entered the gate.

The resulting light had sent the trio to another location with waterfalls and large trees in the distance.

"Wow, it's like being in a fantasy…" The human muttered to himself while Ammy ran on ahead. "O-Oi! Don't leave me behind!"

"Then keep up, kid!" Issun shouted from atop of Ammy's head.

The wolf seemed to speed up and it took all of Zero's energy just to try and keep Ammy in his sight. They traveled up the path, passing by many ancient gates then came upon a flight of stairs that led up to an opened entrance. Once they passed through it, with Zero panting like crazy from having to run so much and the opening being sealed behind them, the trio could make out a statue of a man with balding hair, a large nose, a beard, and held up a sword with a crescent moon symbol on the handguard. There was moss and growth all over the stone statue.

"Is this…" Issun paused, looking upon the monument. "Is this the legendary shrine? We must be in the Cave of Nagi!"

Zero was confused about whoever the heck this Nagi person was. "Could someone elaborate on who this is to the guy who is not from here?"

"Oh right." The small person looked at the young man and began to explain the legend of Nagi, Shiranui, and the Foreigner. Zero listened intently to the tale and it was likely that he would have to deal with this Orochi creature at one point during the journey.

Issun looked at the statue once more. "First the River of the Heavens and now this place…" His bouncing became feverish. "Where the heck are we, furball?"

Ammy yawned, seemingly bored at the moment.

"This place is in pretty bad shape." Zero remarked, taking in the sight of Nagi's statue.

"You got that right, kid. I mean, look at that sword." Issun gestured to the broken blade being held by the legendary hero. "The gods sure didn't do much to protect this place."

The Ulrich heir noticed the white wolf strolled up to the statue, her tail turning black once more then a blade seemed to magically appear for the broken sword.

"That really WAS your brushwork all this time!" Issun exclaimed. "How'd you get so good? Exactly who are you, anyway?" The small person then looked at the sky. "Hey, there's another constellation! This one looks like a..."

A star was suddenly placed amongst the others then the constellation formed into what could've been a mouse or a gerbil. Dropping to the ground was a white rodent with red markings while mounted on its small body was a tiny sword in a red leather sheath. However, once the little rodent grabbed the handle with its mouth, it pulled it out and the blade grew in size. The rodent performed a few slashes with its blade then landed on the edge of the handle.

"Well, well, well…" The rodent spoke. "If it isn't mother Amaterasu and I see the reincarnated foreigner is here as well. It's been a long time. But with all these monsters around, the only place I could hide was in this shrine dedicated to ancient heroes. If there is anything I can do to assist you in your endeavors, I'm at your service. Make good use of this sword, as it was designed to conquer evil."

The rodent suddenly transformed into a glowing orb with a kanji for 'slash' within the orb as it enters Ammy.

"Hey, that was the god, Tachigami, master of the Power Slash technique." Issun bounced.

Zero looked at the 'bug'. "Another one of these brush gods?"

"That's right, kid." Issun suddenly realized something as he looked down at the white wolf. "Wait a minute. If you're getting all these powers… Then you're just like that Shiranui!" Seeing Ammy's confused look, the 'bug' continued. "You know, the wolf who fought and died alongside the great Nagi. Shiranui also had help from the Foreigner. When Shiranui died, the wolf's power was split into the 13 brush gods. This is crazy. Shiranui and Nagi? It's just like the legend."

Zero tuned out the rest of Issun's babbling as he looked around the shrine for anything interesting. Suddenly, a large rock in the shrine was sliced in half. "Whoa, what the hell!?"

"Wow!" Issun exclaimed. "I didn't think you had it in ya, furball! I'm not even in the same league as you! Guess I really overestimated myself."

Zero dropped down to get a closer look at the shrine of Nagi. However, once he touched it, a suddenly light streamed into him, surprising Ammy and Issun. "What the…" The Ulrich heir muttered.

"Child of the Foreign Warrior, here these words from the father of the Shinto Gods. You, who possesses the soul of the legendary hero, take this small gift as a token from me, Izanagi." A deep baritone male voice spoke along the wind.

The light enshrouding Zero grew slightly brighter before vanishing to reveal a small lightning bolt amulet around the young man's neck.

Zero has obtained Izanagi's Amulet! This item allows Zero to absorb energy from fallen enemies to replenish his own prana reserves.

The brown-haired teen looked at the amulet then glanced back at his two companions. "Um, what the heck was that?" He asked.

"You've been given a gift from the king of the gods himself!" Issun exclaimed in surprise. "If he's favoring you then that means you're truly blessed."

Zero blinked then looked back at the amulet. "Whoa…"

"Oi, come on, kid! We've got to get moving." Issun shouted down at the young man.

"Oh, uh, right." The boy in black and grey nodded as he quickly climbed up the rocky wall then vaulted onto the cliff floor.

Issun gave Zero a small grin. "Come on, kid. We've got to go cut down that thing hanging on the tree branch."

Zero smiled, situating his katana on his back. "Alright, let's get going then."

The trio strolled towards the entrance, still sealed until Ammy used her newly acquired Power Slash brush technique to cut the wood in half, giving the small posse a chance to leave.

As they descended down the stairs, collecting apples along the way as well, Amaterasu suddenly growled threateningly, sensing an evil presence.

"What's the matter?" Zero asked before flames surrounded them, revealing many sealing kanji as if it were waiting to be sprung. Suddenly, two strange green imp-like creatures with white papers covering their faces that had red seals on them and what looked like bamboo flutes on their backs.

"What the!? Where'd they come from!" Issun exclaimed in shock while Zero unsheathed the sword from his back.

"Are these things demons?" The Ulrich heir questioned, slightly afraid as he held the katana with two hands.

"Ah, whatever. Draw first, ask questions later, right?" Issun grinned dangerously as Ammy bared her teeth at the two demons. "Ammy, use the Divine Instrument on your back to fight these freaks!"

Barking in agreement, the white wolf charged forward, using her Reflector to strike at the first of the Green Imps. The mirror-like weapon smacking the demon's head as it screeched in pain.

Zero decided to fight the second one but since he had never fought or trained in his life with a sword, his movements were sloppy. The Imp was dancing around his wild swings as if it were toying with the young man.

"Hold still, you little bastard!" Zero growled as he went for an overhead swing but the Imp giggled at him then played a small tune on its flute to disappear then reappear behind him. "What!?"

Taken off guard, Zero grunted in pain when the demon slashed at his back with its claws, scratching his jacket and shirt while drawing blood from his bare skin. The warm liquid trickled down his back as he glared hatefully at the Imp, who brought its claws to its hidden mouth to lick the human fluids off its sharp weapons.

Meanwhile, Ammy had no trouble with dealing with her opponent. To her, it was pretty weak especially when she managed to catch it off guard with her Divine Instrument. Its green body turned black and white at that moment, Issun told the wolf that she had the chance to cut it with her Celestial Brush. The results were instantaneous, despite the Imp's face being covered by that slip of paper, it was contorted in pain as its lower body was separated from its upper body then it exploded once it landed on the earth, turning into a bed of flowers.

"Well, that was easy. Now how is the kid doing?" Issun wondered as Ammy tilted her head.

"GAAH!" Zero roared in pain as he landed on his back with a severe wound on his chest in front of the two.

"Kid!" The 'bug' yelled in shock as Ammy ran over to him, releasing concerned whimpers while licking his bleeding wounds. "You need to stay back, you can't beat a demon!"

"No! I refuse to let this little creep mock me!" Zero growled as he pushed through the pain, standing up while using his katana to hold himself up. "I'll cut him to shreds with my own strength! If I am a reincarnated hero then I have to fight and kill this thing with my own two hands!"

The Green Imp laughed mockingly before it felt a sort of dangerous pressure. When it looked at the human he seemed to radiate a sort of fierce aura, an astral being appeared behind the young man, a being with crimson red eyes that ignited a sense of fear into its black heart.

Seeing that the demon was distracted, Zero took this chance to sprint at the Imp, roaring like a mad beast as his sword glinted to taste demonic blood. "Die, damn you!" He yelled as he swung the curved blade, removing the head of the Imp as a spurt of black liquid erupted from its severed neck. Throughout the excitement however, the young man didn't even notice that his blue eyes had changed crimson for a brief moment then back to his original eye color.

The barrier around the trio dispersed then the boy released a sigh and collapsed on his back. "Ouch…" He groaned while Ammy pattered over, licking Zero's injuries.

"Hey, kid, that was amazing! You actually managed to kill a demon albeit it was pretty weak, you still did a pretty cool thing." Issun complimented.

Zero nodded, gritting his teeth as he reached into his jacket pocket to bring out the wrapped up rice ball that he picked up earlier. Opening it, he took a bite from it, the wrapped seaweed and dried plum inside soothed his mind. The pain from his injuries seemed to vanish almost instantly. His jacket and shirt however were practically shreds. "Oh man, this was an expensive set." He grimaced at the loss of his clothes.

Ammy nudged her wet nose against Zero's cheek, who responded by petting her head affectionately. The wolf crooned at the feeling, her ears flat against her cranium.

"I'm okay. Thanks for worrying about me." The Ulrich heir replied with a reassuring grin.

"Okay, as much as I like this touching bond going on, can we get going now?" Issun announced with slight annoyance.

Nodding, Zero stood up, albeit with a bit of difficulty. Ammy was by his side, helping him by using her weight to balance him as the trio made the long trek back to the large tree. During the journey, they encountered more demons only Amaterasu dealt with them easily with her Divine Instrument and Celestial Brush.

Shrine of Shiranui - Later

As the trio passed the portal, Zero laid against the tree to catch his breath. Despite his injuries being healed from the food he consumed for some strange reason, his body was still pretty exhausted.

Ammy licked the boy's cheek then used her Celestial Brush to cut the peach down. Once it fell to the ground, a burst of vegetation erupted, blanketing the lifeless earth into a land similar to something out of a paradise.

"Wow! The village's been restored!" Issun exclaimed with amazement. "Sakuya came through big time! She really was protecting the village!" A pervy look crossed the little man's face. "But I sure wish I coulda spent some more time in her kimono, if ya know what I mean!"

"Pervert!" Zero glared at the 'bug', who shamelessly chuckled.

"Sticks and stones." He replied in a sing-song tone.

Ammy barked at Zero, who stood back up, slinging his sword onto his back.

"Okay, okay, I'm coming." The young man popped his neck. 'Geez, that wolf acts like I'm her pup or something.' He spoke in his mind then followed after the canine.

However, the trio had no idea that they were being watched from a distance. A figure cloaked in black with glowing yellow eyes traced the three until they settled onto the boy. "So, that's the reincarnated Sorcerer…"

"What shall we do, Master?" A seductive female voice whispered next to the figure.

"For now, we shall follow them. If they can lead us to one of the fourteen pieces then we must take that chance if we are to recover them for Lord Orochi." The figure answered.

"I shall inform the others at once, Master." The female voice echoed before vanishing.

The figure spared a glance at Zero a few more times then disappeared into the shadows.

Nasuverse - Clock Tower

The Kaleidoscope, Zelretch, watched these events turn out with a sly grin. He found this new project to be quite amusing out of every other result that he produced with his True Magic.

"This should be entertaining." The Dead Apostle grinned widely as the events in the world played out with many outlooks. Each one with a new possibility of ending until it all focused on one single battle between Zero wielding a sword encompassed by a bright golden light with Amaterasu facing off against the shadowed Orochi and a shadowy figure wielding a blade filled with malevolent dark energy.

A/N: That's the end of the first chapter. Apologies for the late commission but I've been pretty busy and I've been having writer's block for the last few months.

Now the results are coming in more and more for the Saber-class Noble Phantasm. It seems Nero is winning but many others are following close behind. Keep up the votes because you never know who could win.

Anyways, after the Saber has been chosen, the Archer class will be next. Now, voting isn't open yet but I've already got the chosen Servants who would be necessary for the human character.

Arjuna

Atalanta

Billy the Kid

EMIYA

Robin Hood

Tristan

Yes, I know the list is pretty short this time but there aren't really a lot of cool and badass Archer-class Servants. Anyways, those are the current choices right now so if you have a suggestion then leave it in the review box.

Please comment and review on this but no flames or harsh criticisms or I'll report you.

If you ignored the warning, well, I warned you.

Thank you all to my loyal supporters, you're all the reason I keep going.

Peace out, everyone!