Ultraman Zenith, The Cerinian Days

As Time Passes

The sun was barely above the horizon in the early morning day. Dew drops from the plants fell from leaves onto the ground below while the animals and creatures started to awaken. However, shouts rang through the air as a noise of clashing metal sang into the morning light, letting the morning know that there was someone who was up before the sun was. In the middle of a field where the grass turned nearly to gold, and wildflowers ranged from blue to red, two figures ran at eachother and swung with weapons, the song of metal was almost like a symphony to them. They had been battling for the better part of the hour now, and neither intended to back down now, despite the exertion on their bodies and the sweat rolling down their faces. As they swung at one another, their shouts and grunts added to the sound of metal on metal. When they backed off and started to circle eachother, they both had a grin on their faces that would suggest a predator closing in for the kill. One of the combatants was a blue vixen. She wore a white loincloth with gold fringes and a brazier of the same gold cloth. On her tail were three rings of white cloth with bronze clips holding them in place. On her head was a headband of white and bronze. On her shoulders were pads of bronze with intricate deep blue designs, while her forearms had braces of the same type. Her arms had white tattoos, the symbols of her native language while on her right hip was a symbol in the shape of the sun, the mark of her family. Her opponent couldn't be anymore different than her than anyone could possibly imagine. At first glance, one would think he was a simian, save for the hairless white face and small nose while curly light blonde hair adorned his scalp. He wore a tunic of pale white, tan trousers and a brown belt, while his boots were the same color as the belt. The vixen wielded a staff that was as long as she was tall. One end was rounded and blunt, looking like a teardrop, while the other was pointed like a spear tip. The round end had a sapphire embedded in the middle, while the pointed had an emerald, and along the body of the staff were the same blue designs as the ones on her shoulder pads and braces. Her, much like his physical appearance, was drastically different. In both hands he wielded a type of knife-like weapon. Both were the same type, in that they were curved all the way around, and had no guard nor handle to hold them by. It looked like he was literally holding them by the blades themselves. In one hand, he held one straight up, while in the other it was facing down. With a shout, the boy with the knives ran at the vixen, his arms wide open as he intended to slice her open like a side of beef. However, the vixen was able to deflect both knives and even knocked one out of his hand as it went straight up into the air. Caught off guard, the boy was struck twice in the face with both ends as the vixen twirled around like a dancer with her staff before jumping back and readying for the final blow. However, as she swung with her staff at his midsection, he backflipped away and caught the blade as it fell into his hand. The vixen didn't relent as she dashed forward. She swung and stabbed at him, but the boy was able to block and parry her attacks. In an act of near desperation to end this fight with a victory, she swung down as hard as she could. The boy blocked the staff with both of the blades, but the force nearly put him on a knee as a result. The vixen felt a smile grow as she saw the boy strain against her. She had the advantage in leverage against his physical strength as he held the staff back as much as he could. He felt the tip of the pointed end faintly touch his skin. He looked up and saw the smile on her face. Summoning as much strength as he could, he lifted the staff as much as his body would allow, and rolled out from under it a split second later. The sudden shift made the vixen let out a surprised yelp as she fell forward, then felt her legs get swept out from under her and she fell to the ground face-up. She felt the boy pin her to the ground with one of the blades at her throat. She was breathing heavily, as was he. She saw the beads of perspiration on his forehead slowly roll down to his chin and jaw. "I win," the boy said with a smirk, panting like he had been through a marathon. The vixen let out a groan and pushed the boy off of her.

"Looks like we're even now, Zenith," the vixen replied.

"You still won the last couple of bouts, Krystal." Zenith replied.

"But you won the last couple before those," the vixen replied. Zenith seemed to consider this.

"Yeah, I'll give you that," he replied. He held out his hand for the vixen, and Krystal accepted it as Zenith helped her to her feet. Krystal's staff reduced its size to about nine inches, and hooked it onto her loincloth on her hip. Zenith placed his blades under his belt and both walked back to the house on the hill.

Ten years had passed since Zenith and his father Shin Hayata had come to Cerinia. In that time, Zenith and Krystal had been taught and trained in the ways of the warrior, according to the traditions and teachings of their cultures. However, when Zenith turned fourteen, his father had to return home to the land of light. Xetulu, Krystal's father, promised to look after the boy and make sure he studied and trained, so that he too could one day become an Ultra Brother, same as his father. However, years had passed and he never returned. But in that time, Zenith's skills had grown, as well as his rivalry with Krystal. Both were adept at hand to hand, but Krystal still had one advantage over the young Ultra being; She was able to tap into her staff's own power. She could feel the energy from the crystals in her staff flow into her, and she was able to control it, as if it were an extension of herself. Zenith, had yet to achieve his full potential. He was faster and stronger than most, and his mental abilities had recently awakened, but he had yet to achieve his form as an Ultra. The only way he can, just like any other Ultra being from the Land of Light, is to bathe his body in the light of the Plasma Spark, the light that gives life to all Ultras. And the only way he could do that, is if he proved himself worthy to be a Warrior of Light.

As the house got closer, both vixen and Ultra being could feel the family stirring from within. Krystal opened the door, and no sooner than she did, did a small blue form come nearly bounding down the steps. It was a kit, about seven years old and wearing a loincloth with a vest, carrying a stuffed animal with him. He wore a loincloth similar to Krystal's and a white vest with gold thread on the edges. He looked up with light emerald eyes, and he let out a slight smile. "Were you out practicing again?" he asked.

"You could say that, Sabre," Zenith replied.

"Are mother and father up yet?" Krystal asked. Sabre shook his head.

"I don't think so," he replied.

"If they're not up now, they would be soon," Zenith said.

"And when they find out that you've been up early again practicing, they're not going to be happy," Sabre said in a peculiar tone.

"Why's that?" Zenith asked.

"Don't you remember what today is?" he asked. "Today is the day that Krystal is going to get married!"

"WHAT?!" they both asked simultaneously. Sabre chuckled.

"Well, maybe not married, but a suitor is coming over today, and mama said that Krystal had to be ready for him." Krystal felt a lump form in her throat as she realized her near blunder. She forgot that a suitor was coming today to try to get her hand in marriage. Since she turned eighteen, she was suitable to be wed. And since she was the daughter of the chieftain of this province, not to mention one of the most attractive ones, she was sought out by many a young lordling or so-called prince. Even some of those in the village had tried their luck. However, as per custom, the parents of both newlyweds-to-be had to meet and plan for a time for them to come together. The only thing that kept the wedding at bay was that Krystal rejected each one of the suitors. Since arranged marriages were not even thought of on Cerinia, going against their beliefs of free will, Both suitor and maiden had to accept one another, something that Krystal was grateful for. However, that didn't change the present situation. She was covered in dirt, grass and sweat from her recent bout with Zenith. If her parents caught sight of her now, especially her mother, she wouldn't have to worry about suitors unless they be in the afterlife. Quick as lightning she bolted up the stairs, nearly bowling over a hapless Sabre and shut herself in the bathroom. Sabre and Zenith looked at eachother then back up the steps. In the bathroom, what she saw in the mirror made her heart sink. Her clothes were all dirty, her hair was a mess, her teeth felt gritty, and a million other things she found wrong with herself made her spine feel like ice. As she was picking the dirt from her hair, a knock on the door almost made her jump and her heart stop.

"Is someone in there?" a voice asked.

"Y-yes, I'm in here father," Krystal replied.

"Alright," came the answer. She let out a sigh and locked the door. She went back to the mirror and turned the faucet on. She splashed the water on her face, trying to get the dirt and grass off, but realized that her whole outfit was ruined. She quickly threw her garments off and drew water into the tub. Letting the water rise, she jumped in, letting the warm water seep into her fur and to her skin. Another knock on the door made her head perk up.

"Krystal, is that you in there?"

"Yes, mother it is," she replied, rubbing her arm with a bar of soap.

"Just remember that the suitor is coming in a few hours."

"I know," she replied. She heard her mother's footsteps recede down the hallway and she let a sigh of relief escape before taking a deep breath and diving under the water.

Zenith placed the Eye-Sluggers he got for his tenth birthday from his father back in their place in the chest. The knife-like weapons he used to fight with Krystal earlier today looked as sharp as they did when he first got them. He was told from his father, and learned from the learning device he still has, that they were used even before the Ultra race evolved into what they are now. However, some Ultras still use them, especially one of the most famous of all, Dan Moriboshi, aka UltraSeven. He wanted to train with weaponry from his own homeworld, and asked his father if he could get the same weapon that UltraSeven used. He still remembers the first time he tried to use it.

It was nearing dark, already well past dusk, as Zenith and his father stood out on the hill. Zenith held the Eye-Slugger in his hand, cocked behind his hand and ready to throw it. Shin was standing behind him, holding the other Eye-Slugger. "Remember, it will come back to you after you've thrown it, so be careful." Zenith nodded and threw with all his might. The Eye-Slugger went spinning threw the air like a circular saw. It made a loop and came back at him. When Zenith reached out to grab it, he gave a cry of pain and fell to the ground as the Eye-Slugger landed behind both Shin and Zenith. A large gash was in Zenith's palm, blood bleeding from his wound as he grasped his hand in pain. Shin knelt down and bandaged the wound with her kerchief. "I told you to be careful," he said in a knowing tone. "Then again, you are inexperienced with these things." He tied the cloth around his hand tightly and stood back up. Zenith looked at the bright red stain on the cloth as his father spoke. "I highly doubt you'd let this small setback hinder you much. Once you've gotten the hang of it, you'll find that there's no better."

Zenith looked down at his hand, and sees the jagged scar on his palm from where the Eye-Slugger cut him. It serves as a reminder to both be cautious, and of his father. He was unaware of someone walking up behind him when he was reminiscing. "Thinking about him?" a familiar voice asked. Zenith looked behind his shoulder, then back at his hand.

"Erm, yeah," he replied softly. Xetulu chuckled and knelt next to him.

"Try not to think too much about it. I'm sure that you're father is doing fine," Zenith looked at the vulpine. He had grey hair coming in along his sideburns and stripes of it along his hair, and he wore small glasses to help with his ailing vision while wrinkles were starting to form along his eyes and cheeks. However, he still invoked that sense of authority, even to this day from when Zenith first met him. Zenith nodded and stood back up. He now stood up to Xetulu's height, while his physique was wider than his. Xetulu looked him up and down, and a slight smile played on his face. "I think I see why my daughter locked herself in the bathroom,"

"Uhm," Zenith looked down, and saw how dirty he was. The older vulpine laughed and patted his shoulder.

"Don't worry. I won't tattle on you. However, if Neera should find out, then the Gods help you both," Xetulu said solemnly. He turned to enter the kitchen. "And don't think of trying to rope me into this, either!" he said over his shoulder. As he entered, he saw Neera turn to look at him.

"Rope you into what, dear?" she asked. Like her husband, she had shots of grey going through her bright blue hair, but her face was mostly wrinkle-free. She wore a robe over her body, as did her husband.

"Er, nothing dear." Xetulu said, wearing a nervous smile.

"Mm-hm," she said simply and turned back to the stove. Xetulu whirled and turned to Zenith, gesturing for him to get upstairs. Zenith nodded and ran up the steps as fast as he could.

Krystal drained the tub and dried her fur off with a towel before wrapping one around her body. She opened the door, and nearly yelped when she saw Zenith come up the steps. With a surprised gasp, he turned around, his back facing her. "Uh-uhm, sorry!" he said quickly. Krystal didn't need to be a mind reader to know he was blushing. But then, so was she for that matter. "The bathroom is all yours, if you want it." she said, softly. Zenith nodded, his back still turned to her. As she turned to leave, Krystal couldn't help but feel a smile play across her face. She could feel Zenith's blush and embarrassment, and it somehow made her feel…good? She entered her room to change, and heard the bathroom door close almost immediately after, her smile still on her face until she put her mind on the suitor business. Her room had changed a bit since Zenith first arrived a decade ago. Her hammock was still there, albeit larger, but her toys and most of her dolls were gone. Those that remained were either on shelves with books, or were sitting on the windowsill. She opened her drawers, and pulled out a new set of clothes. A loincloth that almost reached her ankles, and a brazier that almost covered her midriff. Her jewelry was cleaned off in the bathroom, and she put them back on after getting dressed. Looking at herself in the mirror, she felt ready. However, she wanted to get this ridiculous business behind her so she can get back to training and studying. Hopefully, this won't last terribly long.

As Zenith cleaned himself up in the bathroom, he saw just how dirty his clothes were. He'd have to change and quick. Perhaps after a quick bath. He looked over at the bathtub, and saw strands of blue hair and fur along the bottom of the tub. He cursed aloud for Cerinians in their shedding season. He ran the water, letting it drain the hair first before putting the plug in and letting the water fill and getting in. He let his mind drift a little bit, going back to when his father left him in the care of Xetulu and Neera. It was more than two years ago, but it seemed like it happened yesterday.

Hayata looked back at his son, as he stood with Krystal and Xetulu. Neera had just put Sabre to bed and was tucking him in. The night sky was lit with the moon, and the stars about. "Zenith," Shin said. "Continue your training. I'll be waiting for you on M78 when you are ready to prove yourself ready to be a Warrior of Light."

"I will, father." Zenith said solemnly. Shin nodded and smiled. He pulled something from his tunic, and raised it above his head. A bright flash of light filled the sky and momentarily blinded everyone, but when they lowered thier hands and could see again, they saw Shin in his Ultra form, looking at them with his glowing yellow eyes. He looked up, and with a shout he was flying into the sky. Zenith watched him leave the atmosphere, until he could be no longer seen, and he still stood out there even after Krystal and Xetulu had gone inside. It was some time before he went into the house, and he found Krystal waiting for him. He was surprised by this, and even more surprised when she embraced him as tightly as she could. "Krystal, what…?" The vixen looked at him.

"I know you miss him, but I'm still here, and I'll always be here." She embraced him once more, and this time, Zenith returned that embrace.

As his mind drifted back to the present, he pulled the stopper that let the water out, and grabbed a towel from the bar above the toilet. Drying himself off and wrapping the towel about his waist, he went out of the bathroom and into his own room, which was Hayata's room before he left for M78. He pulled out a fresh set of clothes, and put his tunic and trousers on, as well as his belt and boots. After getting dressed, he headed downstairs and heard Krystal talking with her parents, and the conversation matter hardly surprised him. "I still don't see why you're making me got through with this!"

"Krystal, you're of age, now. It's customary for you to accept an audience with suitors." Came Neera's reply.

"Besides," interjected Xetulu. "You don't have to buckle down and marry him. Be thankful that you don't have to do that at least. Just give some of your time to indulge him, then dump him and go back to training to be this family's next warrior."

"Dear, you don't have to make it so blunt," Neera chided. "It's important that Krystal actually goes through the courtship with a suitor."

"Why, so I can have an endless file of boys entering manhood drooling on my front door?!" Xetulu asked.

"Thank you, father!" Krystal added. Neera sighed in exasperation and turned back to the stove.

"You weren't so different yourself, you know," she added.

"I didn't drool," Xetulu remarked.

"But you were just entering manhood. Barely a stripling, a warrior in training, I might add, when you came calling."

"Even back then, I could hold my own against a whole horde of those kits!" Xetulu grumbled.

"And the things you did to try to impress me?" she asked, turning around with a slight smile. "Remember how you went out into the woods and tried to kill a Caedcaquht, and came back with broken ribs, a fractured arm, concussion and your sword broken in half for your troubles."

"And when you tended to me, we fell in love."

"I fell in love with a boy, who gradually became a man." Neera replied, turning back to the stove. Zenith saw that Sabre and Krystal were already seated at the table, with Xetulu at the head. Xetulu turned around, and his face lit up a bit at the sight of the Ultra being.

"Ah, Zenith. Finally changed and bathed, I see." Krystal and Sabre looked at him, and the kit smiled broadly while the vixen grinned just a bit. Zenith took his spot at the other end of the table. "How was your workout?" Xetulu asked.

"It was…" he looked at Krystal, who gestured with her head to her mother. "Stimulating." he replied.

"Well that's good," Neera answered. She turned around with two bowls in her hand, filled with a type of porridge with sliced fruit thrown in. She set one bowl down in front of Xetulu and Sabre. She turned around with another couple of bowls and placed them in front of Krystal and Zenith, and final bowl she put in front of herself. Seating herself, the family dug in. Zenith looked up from his bowl and towards Neera.

"I've been wondering," Neera looked up. "Why is it important that Krystal go through with this suitor business?" Krystal let out an audible groan.

"Mother, please don't indulge him," she pleaded.

"Now, now, I think he has a right to know," she replied. "It's a part of our customs, you see. When the daughter of a ruling or famous clan comes of age, she is permitted suitors to come and present themselves before her. Since our family is the ruling head of this village and region, if anyone should, erm, woo Krystal," the comment made the young vixen drop her spoon on the table, "He will be permitted to see her further. And with that, hopefully, will come marriage and then both families will come together."

"So this whole thing is just so two families can…join?" Zenith asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, yes, in a manner of speaking."

"See, mother? He doesn't understand it," Krystal said heatedly.

"No, no, I understand perfectly. When two members of different families come together, their union will bring a union of the two families."

"Exactly." Neera replied.

"So, why are you against this?" Zenith asked Krystal. She looked at him as if he just asked the most idiotic question ever uttered.

"Because she feels that she must uphold another custom," Xetulu added. "That, of being this clan's head of house, and warrior." Krystal looked at her father, and felt relief course through her as he spoke. "Seeing suitors will impede her training. And she must prepare if she is to take the test to become our house's next head warrior."

"I still don't think that Krystal should be indulging herself in this. It's not proper for a lady." Zenith suppressed a laugh, but Krystal stared daggers at him with a cold glare when she heard the sound he made.

"You don't think I'm a lady?" Krystal asked Zenith? The Ultra being looked at her with raised eyebrows.

"I'd rather not answer that in front of your parents."

"Don't be so conservative," Xetulu said. "You probably wouldn't be saying that would be news to us," Sabre had a good chuckle at that, as did Zenith. Between them, both of them know Krystal to be anything but a lady. She was often pushy, if not rude sometimes, and was a sore loser when it came to competition, as well as a sore winner, and she often delighted in inflicting pain upon Zenith whenever she felt he had embarrassed her. In Zenith's mind, Krystal was the exact opposite of what a lady should be like. The vixen felt his thoughts, as well as Sabre's, and felt her cheeks flush with fury before controlling herself. She'll deal with them when the time was right.

"In any case, the young man will be arriving at noon. So I expect you be on your best behavior, Krystal." Neera said, casting a rather stern look at the young vixen. She slumped in her seat with a defeated sigh.

"Yes, mother," she replied softly.

As the day went on, Krystal was perched next to her window, waiting for the suitor to arrive. She heard a distinct sound, like a 'Whoosh' of wind, and a light humming. Then she saw the chariot land, only it was like any of the chariots used in the village. It looked to be carved out of the same kind of marble-like stone as her house, and was in the shape of a bird-of-prey at least fourty feet in length with the wingspan almost as long. It floated in the air like a father before setting down softly, its power core eventually winding down to a stop. The chariot indeed was in the shape of a bird-of-prey, an eagle to be exact, as the stone had feather-like details etched all over the main body, while a symbol, a bird-like shape in a circle, adorned the 'head' of the chariot. From the side of the chariot was an opening, and three figures walked out. Two of them wore crimson mantles and wore helms that covered their faces, while each of them sported a saber on their waists. However, it was the person leading them that caught Krystal's attention. He wore a scarlet mantle as well, but it had gold along the edges in the shape of flames. His clothes were also evident of his status, in that he wore a bright red and gold sash, trousers made of very fine silk dyed blood-red, and his family mark was shown proudly on his chest, the same symbol as on his chariot. Krystal let out a groan when she saw him and his chariot. Almost immediately, she got the feeling of this one being full of himself, and the thoughts she gathered from him didn't fill her with much hope either. The suitor looked up, a confident smile on his face as he saw the manor. His looks would make any girl turn their heads to follow his stride, with his young and sharp features, but Krystal saw through the façade. "I am Rahall, from the house of Fheit'ouwco, here to request audience with Krystal, of the house of Idtoh-Kxo'jid!" Another groan escaped Krystal. Now she recognized his family crest as those who proclaimed themselves to be of the 'Proud Eagle' clan farther north. If there's anyone who's a sterling representative of the clan's infamous arrogance and hubris, it would certainly be this fellow. With a sigh of resignation, she went to her dresser and picked up a chain made of fine gold hoops with a ruby in the center, and placed it on her head, situating it so her hair would cover it, except for her forehead where the ruby was situated on her brow. She picked up a necklace, also made of fine gold chain links, with an emerald in the center. She placer it around her neck, and picked up the final item, a gold choker with the same blue patterns as her shoulder guards and braces, and picked up her staff in its inactive state before heading out of the room. If she was going to present herself to the suitor, she thought it best to show him just what kind of bargain he was getting.