Chapter 2: Destiny Calls

After walking along the tunnel that seemed to have no end Keroro had to stop to take a breath. The further he went the air got terribly stuffy, he found himself getting dizzy from the lack of oxygen and the tunnel seemed to be getting smaller the deeper he went. He was surprised he hadn't run into any foe's since those two rats, he had expected to at least see a few more of the yellow teethed creatures but he was all alone in the never ending shadows.

Suddenly Keroro reeled back when a horrible stench swept over him causing his eyes to water. "Gah! What is that!?". Covering his nose he forced himself forward till he saw the tunnel finally opened up ahead. Keroro hurried to the opening but when he reached it he froze in horror. He had walked right into a cave full of goblins.

Quickly Keroro darted behind a rock snuffing out the torch before the foul creatures had a chance to see him. "Oh no! If they catch methey'll eat me alive!" He thought in a panic. There was no way he was gonna be able to take on a hoard of goblins with nothing but a dagger. With a deep breath Keroro peered over the stone, watching the goblins fighting over food, trampling and crushing old bones and some where screeching at each other angrily. The young man really had no idea what to do, he couldn't go back, he couldn't go forward...it really seemed like his luck had run out.

Than suddenly there was a loud cracking sound followed by an earsplitting crash that made the cave come alive with the screeching of goblins. Looking over again Keroro saw that a stalactite had fallen into the centre of the cavern, in a matter of seconds all the goblins swarmed on top of the shattered rock hissing and growling as if it were an enemy. Glancing up slowly Keroro saw that most of the stalactites were cracked at the base where they were bound to the ceiling."They really are dumb things, they must be blind as bats if they attack things that aren't even ali...". Another idea slowly formed in Keroro's head.

Hurriedly he grabbed his homemade torch and relit it as quietly as possible than threw it over to the hoard of goblins. They had just started to split apart but as soon as the torch hit the ground they all immediately ran to inspect what had caused the new sound, shoving and hitting each other to get closer. Keroro took this chance and silently sprinted along the opposite side of the chamber keeping a close eye on the foul creatures as he neared the exit of the stinking room.

"I'm gonna make it! I'm gonna make it!" Just as Keroro was nearly home free something hit him hard in the side, knocking the air out of him as he crashed painfully to the floor. He looked up to find himself face to face with the hugest goblin he had ever seen. It had a large goat skull covering its face, the rest of its body was decorated with all different kinds of animal bones and to Keroro's horror he saw the bones of humans mixed along in the horrible ornaments. It held a staff with a huge goblin head impaled on the end that was dripping foul smelling blood.

"GEROOO!" He leaped to his feet and spun around to run back to the ruin but found his way blocked with the whole pack of goblins closing in on him. The air was filled with the smell of their fetid breathe as they forced the green haired boy further back into the cave. "I DONT WANNA DIE!" Keroro screeched like a woman, his shrill voice bouncing off the walls. He squeezed his eyes shut tightly, waiting for the goblins to unleash their fury upon him but the only response to his cry was a loud rumbling. Opening his eyes again and looking up Keroro saw that the cracked stalactite's had all come lose and were hurtling down towards them.

All at once the cave exploded into terrified screeching as the goblins scrambled about trying to escape the falling rocks while Keroro had already used his signature move and dov behind a stack of misshaped logs. From his hiding place he could hear the goblins screeching get abruptly cut off as the large stones crashed to the ground, shattering. Keroro stayed there for what felt like hours as the cave fell into silence, he strained his hearing for any sign that a goblin or two had survived the chaos but all was calm and quiet now. Looking over the logs he saw only a pile of smashed stones that were oozing green blood from beneath and the remains of a destroyed goat skull, dust still showering down on the rumble.

He stared at the pile in disbelief "Did my screaming just save me...?" He narrowed his eyes in thought for a second before leaping to his feet joyously "Oh yeah! I just took out a whole pack of goblins all by myself!" He cheered "Keroro the goblin slayer Aaaaah!" His celebrating was cut off as a slimy green hand shot out of the rock pile. "You'll never take me alive!" Keroro shouted at it before grabbing his torch that had some how survived the madness and quickly running out of the cavern, through the opposite tunnel.

Keroro stopped running after he was sure he had left the goblin cave far behind and slumped against the tunnel wall sliding to the ground."I can't believe I actually made it through that." He groaned tiredly but couldn't help feel a little proud of himself. Even with the fact that if he hadn't screamed he probably would be roasting on a spit right about now he was still satisfied with his brilliant distraction idea."I guess I should keep going, this passage must end somewhere." With that he got to his feet and continued down the underpass. However he didn't get very far before he hit his toe off an object jutting from the ground "Ow! Ow! Ow!". He squealed hopping on one foot, tears building up in his eyes as he fell on his rear. Today just seemed to get better and better for the poor guy.

Once he finished hugging his poor swollen toe he glanced over at the strange shaped stone that was sticking up out of the ground. Using the torch he illuminated the area realizing that it was not a stone but a rusty metal chest that was half buried in the tunnel floor. Crawling over to it Keroro put the torch down and dragged the old vessel from its stony prison, prying open the corroded hinges carefully, he froze in shock at what was inside.

Laying on a bed of royal blue velvet was the most beautiful sword Keroro had ever seen in his life. The whole body of the sword was made completely out of pure white silver, the hilt was delicately twisted into an elegant pattern that made the emeralds that were embedded into it gleam like stars. The blade's sides were sharpened to perfection, shining gloriously in the torch light, pure and perfect like freshly fallen snow.

Keroro couldn't believe that something so beautiful could actually exist on this earth and that he would actually be able to look at it. He wasn't sure what to do with it. Should he take it? Leave it in its resting place? Keroro felt himself pale at the thought that he should just leave it here for someone else to stumble upon. For some unknown reason he felt offended at the idea of someone just 'touching' the precious artifact that wasn't him. No. There was no way he could just leave it here for god knows how long just so some pig faced bandit could come skulking about and get their greasy hands all over the divine metal and spoil the shimmer of the emeralds. He must take it.

Reaching out carefully he slipped his fingers under the sword and lifted it away from its soft bed of velvet as gently as if he were holding a thin sheet of ice. The feeling of the cool metal beneath his fingers sent a shiver up the young mans spine, it was as if he could feel an ancient life force from within it pulsing energy into the depths of his heart, warming his tired spirit. A sword that gave anyone such a vibe had to have some type of unbelievable power that was beyond any mortals reach of understanding.

After getting over his moment of breathless awe Keroro reached back in the chest and pulled out the swords sheath that was made of a thick silver material. "Unicorn hide" he whispered excitedly, tying it around his waist snugly before sliding the divine weapon into its hold. The shimmering skin of the legendary horned mare was the perfect thing to house such a mighty weapon, it deserved a fine casing.

Taking the piece of dark blue velvet cloth that had been cushioning the sword Keroro stuffed it in his pocket. He could probably make use of it later. Now properly armed with an extraordinary weapon he left the now empty chest behind and started heading up the tunnel that started to slope upward. He felt relieved when the air started to get lighter and he was able to breathe properly without feeling like he was slowly choking.

Finally he saw a blueish light and felt a cool breeze coming from an opening up a head. "Finally the way out!" Rushing forward he expected to come out into a forest or a sandy clearing. Instead he was greeted by the dim lighted old ruin again but in a whole new section that was falling apart worse than the first area he had been in. He turned his head sharply when he heard familiar voice's coming from somewhere further into the chamber. Leaping down from the ledge he was on he ran along the faded stone pathway that cut through the ruin, following the sound of urgent bickering. Coming over a rise he spotted the two guards and the Emperor not far ahead.

Shupepe and Giroro were currently in a heated argument looking as if they were about to break out into a fist fight.

"We should find a defensible spot and protect the Emperor until help arrives!" Shupepe was insisting, tapping his foot impatiently with his arms crossed.

"Help? What makes you think help will get here before more of those bastards do first? We need to get the Emperor out of here!" Giroro hissed angrily, his wolf-dog snarling at Shupepe from his side.

Just than Keroro watched as two red blurs leaped from a shadowed ledge, their swords aimed for Garuru. Both armoured men, already hearing the clattering of stones quickly jumped in front of the Emperor and flung the offenders back with ease while Giroro's dog attacked them from behind. Garuru stood there calmly, unfazed by the fighting and instead turned around to look at Keroro, smiling lightly as if he knew he had been there the whole time.

Cautiously the green haired teen made his way over to the Emperor returning the small smile. He was secretly relieved to see the sapphire eyed man again, his presence was relaxing to be around and it was nice to be treated kindly after so long. Just when he reached the Emperors side the trio had finished off the assassins and noticed his return.

"Dammit, its that prisoner again! Kill him, he's probably working with the assassins!" Giroro thundered, quickly moving toward Keroro with his battle axe raised and his dog on his heels with its fur bristling. Alarmed Keroro moved to grab his own sword to defend himself but stopped when Garuru swung his arm out to stop the starting battle.

"No! He is not one of them." Looking at Giroro with a flare of anger in his eyes. "He can help us... He must help us."

Giroro reluctantly bowed his head and backed away lowering his axe while his dog forced its fur flat. "As you wish Sire." Yet he still glared at Keroro hatefully almost daring him to try something.

Garuru turned to look at Keroro once he was sure Giroro was a good distance away. "They cannot understand why I trust you. They've not seen what I've seen." His deep voice held a note that suggested he was withholding something important. Keroro was confused, what made him so trustworthy that the Emperor would let him travel with them freely without worry?

"But why do you trust me then?" He asked, wanting an explanation.

Garuru narrowed his eyes in thought. "Hmm how to explain..." He took a long moment before meeting Keroro's eyes again. "You know the Nine gods right? How they guide our fates with an invisible hand?"

Keroro nodded "I've heard of them, the Nine guide and protect us." He agreed, remembering all the stories his mother used to tell him before he went to bed. The Nine mighty gods of old that watched over them from the never ending skies. Each a divine spirit that helped create the world they live in today, from the evergreen forest's to the tall misty mountains.

A pleased look spread across Garuru's face. "I've served the Nine all my days, and Iv charted my path by the cycles of the stars." He turned his head upward to the decaying ceiling as if he was gazing at a starry night sky, his eyes gleaming like twin jewels."The skies are marked with numberless sparks, each a fire, and every one a sign." He looked back at Keroro. "I know these stars well, they mark every living things birth, animals and humans alike." He motioned for Keroro to follow him a little ways away so that they were out of earshot of his two guards and the canine that where searching the dead assassins bodies.

"The signs I read also show the end of my path. My death, a necessary end, one that cannot be avoided."

"W..wait your going to die!?" Keroro almost forgot to keep his voice to a whisper. He felt like the ground was spinning beneath his feet at the sudden news. "T...than you must tell Giroro and Shupepe! They can make sure it doesn't hap..." He was cut off when Garuru placed a hand on his shoulder with an almost sad smile.

"My end will come when it comes, no man can deny his destiny. Not even an Emperor, sometimes we must accept our fate."

Keroro just stared at him in shock. "B...but than what about me...what will I do than...?"

Garuru smiled gently. "Your stars are not mine. Today, from this moment forward the warrior star shall aid you with your appointed burden." The Emperor reached into his robe pocket and pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill. His hand moving swiftly as he wrote something down upon it before handing it to Keroro to read himself.

I Emperor Garuru release the prisoner Keroro from his 2 year jail sentence for the crime of horse theft. He is free to go where he pleases without the accustomed one week watch from a city guard. He is also granted the permission to access the Elder Council chamber in the Imperial palace if he so needs to without hindrance.

Signed: Emperor Garuru

Keroro re-read the letter two more times, stunned that he was now legally free. He looked back up at Garuru who was still smiling at him with that hopeful glint in his eyes. However Keroro still felt a bubble of anxiety clouding his mind. "C..can you see my fate?" He asked with an air of uneasiness.

The taller man gave a small shake of his head. "My dreams grant me no vision of the fates of others or the promise of a long life. You'll have to trust in yourself to see the way through the coming darkness that will flood the world." Garuru let out a deep breathe that sounded strained. "With some hope, and with the promise of your aid, I believe there is a chance." He finished with another hopeful look at Keroro.

The former prisoner was dismayed at how calm Garuru was being. He was going to die, and he wasn't worried at all. All he seemed to care about was that Keroro helped him, but with what? The way the Emperor was talking made it seem like some horrible disaster was on its way. One that could possibly mean the end for everyone and everything. Yet what could Keroro do? He was no fighter. He wasn't a mighty warrior. He hadn't even used a weapon before in his life until today. What could he possibly do on his own.

Keroro felt despair rising in his chest. "Aren't you afraid to die..?" Was the only question he could manage to force out his jumble thoughts.

Garuru looked thoughtful for a moment, gazing off over Keroro's shoulder, not meeting the younger eyes. "No trophies of my triumphs precede me. But I have lived a good life." His sapphire eyes clouded over with the of haze memory as his mind wondered to the past."I know that my ghost will rest easy. Men are but flesh and blood. They know their doom, but not the hour." He looked back into Keroro's eyes. "In this I have been granted to see the hour of my death. To face my appointed fate, than fall."

Keroro felt his throat tighten. "But...what's going to happen?"

Instead of answering Garuru started moving away, back towards his waiting guards but stopped himself and turned back to Keroro with another small smile. "We shall travel together for a little while longer...than he must part." With that said he strode to Shupepe's side and began following him along the ruined path.

Giroro marched up to Keroro with an untrusting look in his eyes. "You may as well make yourself useful. Carry that torch and help light the way. Just stay out of trouble and let us do our job and you should be fine." Keroro nodded before following him and his dog, wondering if he should take this chance and tell Giroro what the Emperor had said. But every time he opened his mouth to say something nothing would come out. He felt like the Emperor trusted him not to tell anyone what had been said between them, it felt like an important secret. Anyway why would Giroro believe him? He would probably think Keroro has threatening the Emperor and he would end up with an axe in his head. No, he couldn't say anything about the matter. All he could do was follow along and see what happens, praying to the gods that Garuru was mistaken and everything would be alright.

They walked in silence down a hallway that seemed to go on forever, Keroro could feel tension sparking off Shupepe and Giroro as they waited for any sign of more assassins. The former prisoner had his eyes fixed on Garuru, waiting for something to attack and rip the life from his body. The Emperor gave no hint as to when he was gonna die but every moment dragged on painfully for Keroro as he waited and waited restlessly for the coming moment. Than suddenly an alarming thought came to his mind. If its true and all Garuru's cousins are dead...than that would make him the last Emperor in all the world, that last man with the dragon blood in his veins. If he died than there would be no heir to the Emperor blood line, and for the first time in history there would be no Emperor. Now panicked, Keroro desperately wanted to talk to Garuru again but it was impossible to speak to him with his guards listening. He was so deep in thought that he didn't even notice that they had come up into a darkened sanctum.

"Hold up!" Shupepe whispered sharply stopping everyone in their tracks. "I don't like this, let me take a look." Drawing his sword he made his way cautiously into the ominous room that was unnaturally quiet, staring hard in all directions trying to detect any threats. Once he made it into the centre of the sanctum undisturbed he motioned for the rest of them to follow. "Looks clear, come on. Were almost through to the sewers." The blue-haired guard waited until they all gathered together before walking up to a rusty steal gate and pulled the handle to open it, but it wouldn't budge. "What the...it wont open!"

Giroro hurriedly shouldered past his comrade and tried yanking the door open but no matter how roughly he pulled on it and turned it, it wouldn't move. "Dammit! The gate is barred from the other side! Its a trap!"

"What about that side passage over there!" Shupepe pointed out, unable to keep the panic from his voice.

"Worth a try. Lets go!" Giroro and Shupepe quickly guided Garuru into the small stone room with Keroro and the wolf-dog following close behind. The former prisoner expected to feel relieved that they found another exit but the feeling vanished as he saw that the little room was a dead end. There were no other passageways from here and there was no way they could go back.

"Fuck! Its a dead end! Whats your call Shupepe?" Giroro demanded.

"I...I don't know. I don't see any good options here." Just as Shupepe said those words the thundering of footsteps echoed from back in the larger chamber, turning Keroro's blood cold.

"They're behind us!" Giroro growled, unsheathing his weapon. "You need to wait here Sire." The red head and his canine companion bolted out of the room bellowing battle cries as they left from sight.

Shupepe than turned to Keroro with a hard look. "Wait here with the Emperor! Guard him with your life!" Keroro nodded hurriedly as Shupepe ran to join Giroro in the fighting, leaving Keroro alone with Garuru in the tiny stone room.

They both stood there listening to the clashing of metal and the furious howling of Giroro's dog that made the whole place come alive with the rage and hatred of a battlefield. Keroro strained his vision to try to see what was going on in the other room, looking through the small passage waiting for an assassin to break through the defense. He had his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, feeling reluctant to use it against another human but if it meant protecting the Emperor than he would.

He jumped about a meter in the air when he felt Garuru's hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see the Emperor looking at him with a serious expression. "I can go no further. You alone must stand against the Prince of Destruction and his mortal servants. He must not have the Amulet of Kings!" He said hurriedly.

Keroro felt his stomach flip "N..no! Your safe here!"

Garuru ignored him and instead pulled the large jewel off his neck and pushed it into Keroro's hands, forcing him to take it. "You must take the Amulet to Kururu! He alone knows where my last heir is!" A blazing fire ignited in Garuru's eyes. "Find him and close shut the jaws of Oblivion!" Before Keroro could even speak Garuru grabbed him hard my the shoulders and pushed the young man to the ground.

Keroro's head hit the hard stone floor making stars dance in front of his vision. Forcing himself up onto him elbows he saw something wet splatter onto the ground in front of him, it was red like...

"Blood?"

Looking up Keroro froze in horror at the sight before him.

There Garuru stood, smiling down at Keroro with a look of happy relief. The end of a sword pierced through his chest, blood streaming from the wound staining his robes. Honey brown eyes locked onto sapphire blue ones and Keroro watched as that brilliant gaze slowly clouded over in a misty veil. Garuru than slumped forward and slid off the blade, collapsing to the ground, his blood soaking into the cold stone."G..G...Garuru.." Keroro choked, tears building up in his eyes as he clutched the Amulet in his hands as it was the only thing he was able to hold onto.

Seeing a flash of steel Keroro looked up. A tall man with navy blue hair stood there, his blood covered blade pointing at Keroro's face. His dark red eyes matched the robes he was wearing, the robes of the assassins. His mouth was covered with a purple mask and his arms were coated in sharp metal making his fingers look like daggers. His deathly eyes were fixated on the jewel Keroro held and Keroro could almost see his own death reflected in the murderers eyes.

"NOO!"

A wail of raged fueled grief split through the air as Giroro and his dog came pounding back into the small room, charging at the assassin. Giroro lunged forward with his battle axe raised over his head while his hound snapped for the mans throat.

"You bastard! I'll god damn kill you!" Giroro roared, swinging his weapon at him violently while the assassin kept easily dodging the attacks from both red head and dog.

"Not today little Blade, I achieved what I came to do, but don't worry." The demon like man grinned. "I'll be back for you." With that last remark the assassin leaped up to a small gape in the ceiling and dragged himself into the shadowed fissure vanishing from sight.

"Get back here you coward!" Giroro slashed his axe across the gape in a whirlwind of fury.

Keroro shakingly crawled over to the dead Emperor's side, timidly laying his hand on his cooling chest. He had only known this man for a few short hours but it felt as if they had been old friends for years. His throat tightened with a sorrow that threatened to overwhelm him.

He barley noticed when Giroro knelt next to him, gazing down at his dead lord woefully. "We've failed...I've failed...the Blades are sworn to protect the Emperor...and now he and all his heirs are dead..."

Keroro suddenly realized Shupepe never returned from the other chamber with Giroro. Peering around the corner he was greeted by the sight of five dead assassins and the blue-haired guards body was amongst them. "No, not Shupepe to!"

Keroro forced down his grief and turned to look at the last surviving guard to see the red head looking back. But there was no glare or hatred in his eyes anymore, just the despair of a soldier that failed in his greatest mission. A soldier that was lost and confused in a world he felt like he hardly even knew anymore. His loyal canine partner also looked saddened, with his ears pressed flat against his head and his head bowed.

Both Giroro and Keroros gazes fell to the Amulet in the former prisoners hands. That little fluttering light inside the red jewel kept shining even after its master had been slain. It had seen the death of many masters over the drift's of time, hearing their hearts stop, watching their eyes go blind, and listening to their final breathes as they went to join their ancestors among the stars. Yet through all that time that little light kept shimmering, never going out, never growing duller, it showed that their was still hope for them all.

"He saw something in you. Trusted you."

Giroro's dull voice snapped Keroro out of his reeling thoughts. The red head was looking at him carefully as if searching for something.

"They say it's the Dragon Blood that flows through every Emperor's veins. They see more than us lesser men." Giroro gave his head a brisk shake to clear it. "The Amulet of Kings is a sacred symbol of the Empire. Most people think its the Red Dragon Crown, but that's just a piece of flashy jewelry. The Amulet has power. Only a true heir of the blood can wear it they say." The red heads golden eyes sharpened into slits. "He must have given it to you for a reason. Did he say why?"

Keroro nodded his head "He said that I must take it to a man named Kururu."

Giroro's eyes widened slightly. "Kururu? Why him?"

"The Emperor said that there is another heir." Keroro answered carefully, trying to untangle his thought's on the Emperor's last words.

The red head looked at Keroro suspiciously. "Nothing I ever heard about...but Kururu would be the one to know. He's actually the Grandmaster of my order." There was a touch of strange emotion to Giroro's voice. "Although you might not think so when you meet him. He's currently living as the Guildmaster at Lightning Spiral Guild near the city of Chorrol, he's watching over a group of magic casters and teaching them how to become battle mages like him."

Keroro nodded understandingly, he was getting a little excited. "Battle mages! Iv heard of them before but iv never met one yet, they are supposed to be vary swift and intelligent." Now feeling more energetic he stood up and looked around the small room briefly. "How do I get there?"

"First you need to get out of here. Through that barred door over there is the exit that leads to the outside. That's where we were headed." He added grimly. "Its a secret way out of the city...or it was supposed to be secret." He reached into his pocket and took out a key." Here, I got this from one of those filthy bastards while we were fighting, it should unlock the door. You must get that Amulet to Kururu, take no chances, you must deliver it safely, Got it" He warned sternly.

Keroro quickly nodded and took the key. " I understand."

"Good...I hope the Emperor knew what he was talking about..." Giroro murmured turning back to the corpse of his lord.

The former prisoner looked to the body as well, making sure to keep his emotions in check. "What will you two do now?" He asked the red head.

"Me and Cerberus will stay here to guard the Emperors body, and make sure nobody follows you." He muttered, patting his dogs head. "You'd better get moving...good luck..." The last part of his sentence faded to a whisper that Keroro barely caught but the younger man was still glad that Giroro wasn't being as snappy anymore.

"Thanks." Keroro gazed back at the dead Emperor one last time feeling a fresh wave of grief. "Thank you." He whispered, before turning round and walking out of the chamber, past Shupepe's slain body and over to the barred door. He unlocked it and it swung open easily, squeaking on its hinges.

Taking a deep breathe he strode forward, down the last tunnel feeling a mixture of fear and anticipation. He would never forget what took place in this underground ruin for as long as he lived. He would always fondly remember the kind Emperor that saved him from rotting away in that jail cell for the next two years with his crazy cell neighbour. For Garuru had sent Keroro on a quest and as he saw a light getting closer from up ahead he knew that whatever lay in his future was going to change him and the world forever.

AN- Yeah I know...the Garuru fandom is gonna murder me for this...sorryz, it was necessary. But finally we can get to the funny chapter to lighten the mood so don't worry, eat curry (Or something like that?) Also if you noticed I named Giroro's dog 'Cerberus' because back in the earlier episode's of Keroro Gunso, Giroro had to go fight a giant space Cerberus to get its liver to cure Natsumi's illness, so I thought "Why the hell not?". OwO