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Chapter 3: Study Time
Brass awoke to a brilliant light shining upon his face. He sat up, rubbed the sleep from his eyes, was about to pack up his belongings, when he remembered that he wasn't out in the woods, but rather, in a somewhat lavishly decorated house, where two old squirrels sat watching him in fear.
"Good morning." Brass said to them. The squirrels, instead of replying, merely held each other closer, if possible. "Look, I'm not…" he began, but it was no use. They were too afraid to even whimper. Instead, he thanked them for the meal and letting him stay the night and left. He began walking again, when a voice said to him, Good morning, Wanderer. Are you well today? asked the Anarchy emerald.
"Well enough. And you?" Brass thought.
My well-being matters not. You are the one who is to be tested. Are you ready?
"Tested?"
Do you not remember that you must be tested before you may keep my power?
"Uh, no. What kind of test is this, anyway? Is it like a math quiz or something?"
This is a test of your strength, mentally and physically. Are you ready?
"Sure, I guess." As soon as Brass finished the sentence, a bead of light floated out from his chest, and widened to make a faint "door" of light. Brass stepped into the light, and came out into a world of brilliance. Everything glowed so brightly, yet Brass wasn't bothered by it. He looked around in awe at the plethora of lights and colors. It was then he saw a figure approaching. Her long pink hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She wore a white tank top with a green skirt. She wore many bracelets and necklaces. Her face was flawless and her deep blue eyes batted flirtingly in his direction. As she got within hearing distance, she said in a beautiful voice, "Good morning, Brass. It's good to see you."
"Do I know you?"
"Well, you should. I've been in your mind for a while, now. Do you not recognize me?"
As realization hit him, he stood as though he had forgotten a friend he had known his entire life. "Good morning," Brass said as he bowed toward her, "good morning, dweller of the anarchy emerald."
"I am known as Tikal. I was the first bearer of this power, and doing so bound my soul to the emeralds. But we must skip the formalities for now. It is time for you to be tested. Do you have any questions to ask of me before we begin?"
"Yeah, where are we?"
"We are in a place between the worlds known as Maidai. This is where you will be tested. We shall begin soon."
"Are you dead?"
"No, death has no hold on any beast here. Are you ready to begin?"
"Yes, I am ready."
"Before we begin, I will need to take that power back. I wasn't supposed to give it to you until you passed the tests, but I could not chance losing you."
"And just how am I supposed to give you my power?"
"Imagine the power flowing out of you, and into me. This will be enough for you to transfer the power to me. Try it."
Brass did as he was told. He began to imagine, to feel the flow, when he felt a sudden jolt jump down his arm. He lifted his arm, took Tikal's hand in his, and the power surged into her. His fur turned back to its blood-ish hue, while her's turned to a brilliant ruby color. Her beauty seemed magnified by the sudden reunion with a familiar power. Brass gave the last of the power, and fell, panting, to the ground. He felt overcome with weakness.
"You may have one hour to recover. I wish I could give you longer, but too much is already at stake. Here, lie down."
With that, a bed appeared near to Brass. Tikal gently lifted him into the bed. He was asleep before he was on the bed. Brass awoke with a start to Tikal shaking him gently.
"Come, we must begin. Follow me, and make no sound." Tikal led Brass toward a door made of shadow. When they reached the door, she said to him in a voice barely above a whisper, "You may face some great foes held within these walls. Fear not, and no harm will come upon you. Good luck."
With that, she gave Brass a long, hard embrace. After a while, Brass pulled away, nodded to her, and turned toward the door containing his fate. Without fear, he stepped into the shadow and disappeared into the unknown, and vanished.
He reappeared in an open plain, short grass rippled around him with a sudden breeze. He looked around, searching for a sign of what he should do. He took a step forward, when a small, high voice said to him.
"Excuse me, could you help me?"
Brass looked around, and saw no one. He continued on when the voice spoke again.
"Sir, will you help me for a moment?"
Brass stopped again, examined his surroundings a second time, and found what appeared to be a bright red ant jumping up and down with excitement. I probably need to help this little guy to pass the test, Brass thought. He bent down so that he could see the ant better. In a soft voice he said, "What do you need?"
"Well, I can't find my hat. Could you pick me up to look for it?"
The ant had no sooner crawled onto Brass' outstretched hand, than it began to bite him. Brass tried to shake off the ant, but found that he couldn't move.
"Ha ha, sucker!" the ant yelled at Brass, "now you'll be eaten by the Mondessler, and I will eat your bones!" It jumped off his hand, and disappeared into the grass.
"Why can't I move? What did you do to me?" Brass managed to yell in outrage, as he struggled to move.
"I'm a poisonous ant. See the red? That means don't touch me, but it's too late for you, idiot." The little red ant burrowed into the ground, leaving Brass frozen to the spot.
He stood for what seemed like hours, when he heard the crashing footsteps headed toward him. Using every ounce of strength he could muster, he managed to move his paw. The second he did so, it was as though an enormous weight had been lifted from him, and he was able to move.
His first instinct was to run. He had run a few yards, when he realized that no matter how fast he ran, he would never be able to outrun this behemoth. He chose to fight, and go down like a hero.
The Mondessler came into view. It was eight feet tall, and three feet wide. It was covered with muscles, and walked, despite its large leathery wings. It had horns like a ram, if ram's horns were used for goring. This was no ordinary predator, it was a Lesser Demon. A demon, basically, except without the powers of Hell. It is one of the only creatures that cannot be cursed. It had rows of sharp teeth, and was easily five hundred pounds of solid muscle.
Brass prepared for combat by first focusing his "chi". Then he took a fighter's stance, looking ready for anything thrown at him. At least, if I die, I'll go with honor, Brass thought.
"Calm yourself, warrior. I look not for a fight," the Mondessler said. Though It's voice was calm, it made Brass shiver while chills raced up and down his spine. "I am called Adahn. I come in peace. Trust in my words when I tell you, if I wanted to fight, your blood would already have been spilt."
"What is it you want, then?" Brass inquired hoping that he could trust the Mondessler.
"What I ask of you is what is necessary to pass your test. You must first travel toward the place called 'Angel Island'. You must then receive a lock of fur from the red one, using force if needed. Then you must return here to seal your fate. It is then you will unlock your destiny. I shall return here in three moonrises. I bid you a safe journey, warrior."
And with that, Adahn spread his great, mighty wings, and took to the reddening skies above.
The red one on Angel Island, Brass said to himself. Of course, it had to be him.
After journeying for a full day, Brass sat to rest near his destination. He stared at the floating isle, watched as it sat motionless in the sky. The 'red one' won't like this. We haven't spoken for years. I hope he is still friendly. Ha. 'Red one'. Knuckles will like that one.
Brass slept for the night. During his sleep, he was watched. Two deep amber eyes looked down at the resting figure. The amber-eyed figure silently conspired against the sleeping figure, planning the attack.
Brass awoke before the sun rose above the distant horizon. He headed toward the hills, to fly to Angel Island, as only echidnas can. As he reached the peak of the hill, he prepared for the jump. It was then the figure attacked.
The figure dashed up behind Brass, tore Brass's pack from him, and began to savagely beat him. Stunned, Brass covered his head from the surly figure. Blow after crushing blow swiftly slammed into Brass, as he lay groping for some unseen object in the foliage. After his attacker began to let up, Brass sprung into action. He revealed what he had found in the earth: a stone the size of his fist.
He knew at once who his attacker was. The red one was a fitting title. The creature appeared to be covered in the blood of other creatures. Around his wrists were bracelets of stone, to add force to his fists. What he was was indistinguishable because of the pelts hung about him.
Without skipping a beat, Brass threw the stone with amazing force and accuracy. It flew straight and true, yet it didn't hit its mark. Instead, it exploded in a cloud of dust as it met the red one's outstretched fist. "Come-a come-a funny creature. You can better than that methinks," the red one said. "Me like-a you. You make nicey-nice coat when me done with you."
Brass, enraged by this comment, took his fighter stance. As the red one charged, Brass quickly jumped to avoid a swing, but the red one was too fast. Brass felt his feet being grabbed, then he was flung into a nearby tree. He stood and gingerly felt his nose. It wasn't broken, but never the less, blood was steadily pouring out of his nose. This will be harder than I thought Brass thought.
He ran back into the fray, and swung at the creature, but missed. This guy was fast. The red one began to circle Brass, much like a shark revolves around its prey. Like a flash, he charged Brass and again flung him at a tree.
As Brass hit the tree, he heard two metal objects hit the ground. Shovel claws. A devilish grin crossed his face. He picked up the glove-like shovel claws, climbed the tree, and soared toward his enemy.
In a flash inspiration, he dove at the ground and began to spin. As he hit the ground, he began to dig. The red one, being an idiot, thought he won. He started doing a victory dance, and then began to scream as he fell down the shaft that Brass had just finished digging.
Brass climbed out of the hole and walked to his broken pack, rummaged in it a while, and came out with a long, razor-sharp hunting knife. He returned to the pit where the red one's broken body lie dead. He began to cut the pelts one by one off the slain creature. After all of the many pelts had been removed, all that remained was a silver fox. Brass cut a lock of hair from the red one's head. He gathered his belongings, and headed back to the forest where he was to meet Adahn.
Two days later, after returning to the spot he was to meet the Mondessler, Brass ate a small meal as he watched the sun set. As promised, the Mondessler came into the small clearing. This time, however, he was not alone. A small figure walked beside him. Tikal. She bolted forward, and hugged him tightly. Brass returned the blatant show of affection, grunting slightly as she touched his bruises.
"Oh, I'm so glad you made it!" she said with great relief in her voice.
"Do you have it?" Adahn inquired.
Brass opened his paw to reveal a tangle of blood-covered fur.
"Well done, Warrior. You defeated him faster than I would have thought. I congratulate you. Now, shall we begin?" asked Adahn.
"With what?" Brass inquired.
"After the chosen one is found worthy, we hold a ceremony to bestow the power to him. Not only will you receive the power, but you will become at one with the Anarchy emerald's power, and merit a new name." Said Adahn.
"Then, let's begin, shall we?"
Brass nodded at Adahn. Adahn began to start a fire, while Tikal put the power back into the emerald. She then offered Brass the emerald and joined Adahn on the other side of the fire. In unison they recited:
"As the ages pass and the waters flow,
There comes a need of an extraordinary hero,
Who wields the power of the precious stone.
A mighty warrior who walks alone
Shall be the bearer of this art,
A power which will set him apart.
The ancients bestow upon you this power
In your Earth's most desperate hour."
At this the power flowed into Brass, once again turning his fur to black, and filling him with power. He took a deep breath as the Anarchy Emerald healed his bruises. Tikal was the first to speak after the long silence.
"Now that you have been reborn by this power, you shall be called 'Wraith".
Wraith, Brass thought, I shall now be called Wraith.