And here you go, the fourth chapter of my epic story. I don't have too much to say this time. I had to spend a little more time ironing this one out. Hopefully I made it flow well, but this chapter is about the fateful reunion between Magus and Schala. Honestly for me, this is most certainly long overdue for those two XD. Anywho, for everyone who has been keeping up with this, I hope ya'll like it. Leave comments, suggestions, I don't care how good or bad, I always enjoy feedback. :)

-DarkMatter777

Chapter 4: The Open Mind, And the Fateful Reunion.

Twenty-six times, the sun and moon performed its deed of observation. Deep in the peaceful lands of the distant mountains, Magus endured vigorous amounts of physical and mental meditation. Learning about the origins of Piccolo's culture, he obtained vast knowledge from the Namekian warrior. Drawing a clearer understanding, the enlightened wizard learned of Goku's role in protecting this world. He also learned about the close friends and families who battled by Goku's side.

In addition, he discovered the secret of Piccolo's vast knowledge and power. Three souls consisted in the body of the Namek; one of an elder age named Kami, who was the guardian before Dende. Kami was forever wise, and brilliant in understanding. And the other; a warrior who possessed the power of the ancients. Expanding his mind and power, Piccolo contributed to revealing the full potential which laid deep within Magus. With his thoughts cleared, no clouds in the powerful wizard's mind hindered his new-found judgment.

Preparing to seek Goku, the reaper realized there was a long road ahead of him before he would face off with the purest warrior in their world. Since they were true brothers, Piccolo even learned a few things of his own; weaknesses that he too allowed himself to correct. Intense was the level of training both warriors underwent in their course of the open mind. Agreeing to speak nothing of their brutal training in the mountains, the evil intentions diminished greatly in the heart of Magus. Facing the path before him, Magus focused his mind, destined to bring an end to the vile beast and to free the lost soul Lavos took possession of.

"Piccolo, brother!" placing his hand upon the alien's shoulder, Magus thanked him deeply. "My mind is open, my thoughts are clear! Thank you for revealing my power within."

"Anything for a brother, Magus." respectfully, he exchanged his arm on the shoulder of the caped prince. "I knew your hidden power buried within since you arrived here. Do not lose sight of my teachings. Use my knowledge well, because they will never betray you."

Towering above their surroundings upon the mountain top, they focused their eyes into the endless scenery of the world, feeling the living aura around them, the life they both swore to protect.

"All of this makes sense to me now." Magus said with a sense of confidence. "I am awake, I am wide awake, and with my burden lifted."

Facing the Namekian warrior, he proposed an offer that would help decide the outcome of judgment, and to play an important role leading to the grand finale of fate. "Piccolo, join me. Together we shall bring oblivion to the wicked beast. With you and Goku along with myself, Lavos won't stand a chance."

"Magus," Piccolo responded, appearing more serious. "It is not my place to help change the fate in battle. This is your war, so I will watch from afar."

"My offer still stands, but if that is what you wish, then so be it," Magus replied sternly, showing no disappointment. "Either way, I will destroy Lavos for good."

"Indeed," the mountain guardian agreed. "But do not fret, a third ally awaits you."

"Hmm, who else could help me? Is Crono going to appear and be the hero?" Magus asked sarcastically "That would make this ending seem a little cliche, don't you think?"

"I agree," Piccolo chuckled at his remark. "It's a shame he won't make it."

"Then who else will fight by my side?" Magus questioned him, trying to consider the possibilities of the third fighter.

"That I cannot say," Piccolo replied calmly. "Because I don't even know, but what I do know is that the third ally will appear when the time calls for it."

"So where do we go from here?" Magus asked, seeking Piccolo once again for guidance.

"I taught you all that I know," explained the Namek. "All I ask, is that you use the knowledge I have brought to you well. Do not lose sight of your destiny Magus."

"So that's it, I suppose I wait for the day all the warriors gather?" Magus still felt in his blood there was still more he could do to better himself. Hinting him at another event in store, Piccolo said, "Come with me. It is time I bring you to the home of the Guardian of The Earth."

Magus appeared puzzled, wondering what other surprises he was keeping a secret from him. "You are always full of surprises. What have you in store now Piccolo?"

"Someone longs to see you again. It is time we go now." Piccolo uttered.

"And who might this be?" the curious reaper requested.

"Don't worry about it. It is best you find out for yourself." the Namek explained.

Becoming bound for the lookout of the earth's guardian, they took off into the ocean blue skies, unaware of Piccolo's plan of leading him to reunite him with someone he longed to find. Soaring though the layered clouds, Magus remained in deep thought of wondering what surprise laid in wait upon the observer of the world.

'So, I wonder why he won't tell me who is at the lookout...but then again, its sacred ground," Magus pondered anxiously, noticing the amulet he held close was glowing brightly. Strongly its light emitted, becoming brighter the closer the Guardian's lookout was. He felt the warmth of it, as the memories of his lost sister reentered his thoughts. "I have never seen it glow so brightly... then that must mean."

"We are almost there," Piccolo announced. Gradually seeing the visible floating bowl sitting still in the skies above, the fateful moment was at hand. "Prepare yourself, your long search can now be put to rest."

At last, the brotherhood arrived into the crafted island of unknown origins. Surprised at the Namek's return, Dende and Mr. PoPo grew thrilled in excitement to see their old friend again. Schala stared in wonder at the site of the two brutes that entered into the sacred realm; especially the dark caped reaper, Magus. Her eyes would not steer away from him as familiarity struck her mind,

"I have seen him before..." Schala said, losing herself into ponder over his arrival. "Could he be… The prophet? The one who appeared from the future?"

"Piccolo!" shouted Dende and Popo, excitedly running towards him.

"We've missed you Kame-San!" Mr. Popo teared up in happiness.

"You have been gone for so long; we have all wondered why you left us," Dende, while thrilled to see his old friend, paused to glance over to Schala "... then she appeared. Piccolo, we have so much to tell you."

"As do I, Dende." Piccolo stated.

Gazing into the pure beauty of Schala, the memories of his childhood filled his mind. Magus recalled the days when he was a helpless and lonely child, deeply attached to her, just to have Lavos strip her away from his life. Losing all sense of reality, he felt like he was in a dream. In a fairy tale where he reunited with his peace, Magus could not avert his eyes away.

'So much has changed of me." Magus said in thought. 'Yet Schala remains unchanged, unhindered by the effects of time; just how I remember as a child. I cannot even begin to fathom the feelings that are going through me.' Magus struggled to suppress his emotions, still wondering if this was real or just a part of his imagination. 'All these years I spent searching, and it all ends up in this world. My dear sister, how fate has allowed me to find you.'

"So who are you?" The world's observer asked curiously. "I don't think we have met before."

"He is a friend Dende," Piccolo answered in his place. "But I believe it is best that we leave these two alone, I will explain everything to you guys."

Leaving Magus and Schala alone atop of the island, he led Dende and Mr. Popo into the chasms of the lookout. As if he were in shame of being in her presence, Magus stayed speechless, unable to even glance at her eyes. All he could do was look away.

"It's... you." approaching him slowly, she showed a trace of shyness. "You're the prophet, how could I forget you?"

Unable to even speak, let alone look at her, a small cold sweat broke out on his face. As his heart raced rapidly, fear and shame plagued him. Schala came very close to Magus, noticing a glow from the palm of his hand. Recognizing the emitted light, she realized what he held close. It was the same amulet she gifted Janus. "That's the Amulet I gave Janus so long ago. Please, tell me where you got that from. What happened to my little brother? He's not hurt is he? Because I don't think my heart could handle knowing I couldn't protect him."

Finally focusing, he summed up the courage to speak to her. Piercing deep into her eyes, he felt the spirit of Lavos, but he also felt the warm and loving kindness he longed to see again.

"Schala... forgive me." quietly, he said, lowering his head in guilt.

"Forgive you? I don't understand." she said, puzzled by his words.

"You gave this to me long ago when I was so young, but I kept it close" Magus paused, feeling his emotions rising into his heart. "It protected me, just as you promised."

Slowly edging closer to Magus, she placed her hand on his cheek. looking deeply into his dark, dreaded eyes, she felt the depths of sorrow in him, seeing a glimpse of the timid child, lost and alone. In those eyes, she saw her little brother.

"Janus?" She whispered, turning completely pale in the face, "my dear brother Janus?"

"Yes Schala it's me" he said slowly. "I was once that frail boy, so weak and helpless. I remember always following behind your shadow. I always felt safe, knowing you were there for me. But I am Janus, no longer. When It sent me away to another time, I became captured. Against my will, I had to live with the foulest creatures of that world growing up."

Magus clenched tightly to his scythe, feeling the pain of his past unfolding in front of Schala.

"As I aged, so did my anger, and my lust for revenge upon Lavos became all that I desired. Ultimately, my hatred consumed me. I cared for nothing... nothing but to destroy the monster who stole my life. Eventually my dark powers became unveiled, and the monsters who captured me bowed before their new king. I was that king. Nobody could stop me, and none of them dared to oppose my wrath."

Schala remained quiet, listening carefully to the story of darkness unfolding before her.

"My heart soon faded to black. Evil devoured all the remaining good I ever had. I took the lives of innocent blood, and I could hear their cries while watching their souls drift into the afterlife. My army, my minions; all a pawn to cover up my real purpose because I could have cared less about them. For years, I waited to summon Lavos, and put an end to Its life ruining legacy. The one who took away my home and my very sister who meant everything to me. The one I loved more than life itself. It is a pity that all my efforts were for nothing, until today."

He solemnly turned his head away from his sister, unable to even look at her in the eye. As he continued, his emotions began to consume him, unloading all the years of torment he kept bottled up inside.

"Fate brought us together it seems, but I am just a monster. Schala, I'm sorry. I don't even deserve... to stand in your presence." Turning himself away from her, he faced the end of the lookout, fixing to walk away. "I... should leave now."

Finishing his speech, Magus slowly walked away.

"Wait, don't go, Please!" she shouted tearfully. Running to Magus, she held him tightly. "I need to apologize, because I am the reason this all happened." Tears gently flowed down her face. Like a river, slowly flowing, she released her feelings to him. "It doesn't matter what you have done, and I don't care how much you've changed or even what you became. Janus, you will always be my baby brother, whom I will always love. I never gave up on you; I always had faith that I would see you again. Just knowing that you are alive and well is enough to bring peace in my heart. Janus, I thank you, for never giving up."

Holding her close, the blackened eyes of Magus released a small tear from his right eye, a tear of blood which dropped gently down.

"Schala," he muttered. "This time, I will protect you. I will send Lavos to oblivion and release you from its grasp. And then we can find peace, where the rest of your days will be away from harm. This I swear on my very life."

"Janus," she said, quietly giving a laugh. "You haven't changed at all. How I've missed that."

For the first time in his life, the feeling of happiness radiated through his being. It was an emotion Magus never thought could exist in him. Sensing sadness from her, he drew worry of what kept burdening his sister.

"Janus... you need to know something", she said, hesitantly, knowing the words would be grim. "My soul is a part of Lavos, and there is nothing I can do to escape it."

"I know this." Magus uttered, "But I will not give up and let you dwell in Its misery."

"If you kill Lavos," she said, with the sound of sadness in her tone. "I too will perish, but if you destroy me... then..."

Shedding another drop of blood, he interrupted her, quietly saying, "Schala... no."

"There is no other way!" she cried out loudly, giving in to her sad emotions and taking a few steps back. "Janus, please! take my life! I would rather leave this world knowing you will live peacefully, than have to suffer any longer. I've only been a burden to everyone, and everything. I'm sorry."

"Schala." muttered Magus. Lifting his arm towards her, he opened the palm of his hand, and dark energy slowly charged into it. It seemed like he was going to finish the job until the words of Piccolo came to his mind. Magus recalled the Namekian's guidance.

"Magus, remember, where there is a will, there is a way. There will be a time when you will have to choose one of many paths laid out before you. If you happen to disagree with the roads ahead, then create your own path, and never look back."

Remembering those words, the energy of darkness faded away, sparing the life of the trapped soul.

"I chose this path, on my own terms. I won't just give that up." he stated calmly. "You have been all I lived for, even if it takes an eternity; I'll forever try to save you by any means. Remember, I swore that on my very life." Magus returned to her. He wiped her tears away as she felt relieved by his assuring words.

"Janus, I trust you," she formed a small grin, holding on to him. Concluding the reunion, Piccolo, along with Dende and Mr. Popo returned from the chasms.

"Magus, it is time we go now," Piccolo announced, ready for the return to the distant mountains. "Soon, the moon will arrive. The world fighting tournament is only two days away. You must see to it that your mind and body is at its fullest of capabilities." Sensing the aura of light around Schala, Piccolo respectfully said, "It has been an honor to finally see you Schala. You are more than welcomed to stay here."

"Yes, please stay here with us," Dende happily said. "We have enjoyed your company."

"I don't deserve your kindness," Schala lowered her head in shame. "but thank you so much, all of you. Your generosity is a very rare find."

Bound for the mountains, the exchange of thank you's ended. Piccolo led Magus back the peaceful lands of the distant land of peace. Spending his last hours in solitude, the brotherhood made their final preparations, for the trial of champions drew near. Anticipating his battle with Goku, Magus knew he had to prepare himself for anything. The Tournament of Champions will be full of unexpected turn of events. Will Magus make it to the tournament in time? And what surprises will there be in store for him? Find out next time, on Project Magus.