Alright here is chapter 10, with Ash being accepted to train under the 'Hidden Master' and encountering a Druid by the name of Darriuss, how will things play out? I own nothing except my ideas and OC's.
Ash blinked as The Hidden Master, or Master Bruised paw as he liked to be called, sat up a stack of hard bamboo. "As a test, I want you to break this bamboo". Bruised Paw began. "'But it's too thick around' you may say". Bruised Paw mocks. "To succeed, focus all your energy into one fist, and STRIKE"! He says, breaking a tree beside him with a single punch. "Your friend Lin, has already failed this test, I am interested to see how you will fare, seeing how you separated those two before". He says, before pointing his thumb to the other two.
Gorlek had taken to sitting on the small dock, sitting cross legged in a meditative stance, with his totems around him. Darriuss was observing the wildlife, seeing the strange shambling creatures, and observed them in his panther form. "Now then, let us begin". Bruised Paw said.
Ash nods before getting before the bamboo and reeled his fist back. and channeling his Aura into it. He slammed his fist down, getting a loud 'crack!' from it. "Good, again"! Bruised Paw orders. Ash did so again and again, realizing the aura enhanced style was much stronger than just bare handed combat. Ash shouted before punching the bamboo, splitting it in two. "Good, now let us continue". Bruised Paw says. Ash nods before going with him.
The two trained, with Ash punching at the blocks of stone, Lin was doing the same, but seemed hurting every time she hit it. Ash roared before punching the rock, which broke it slightly. Bruised Paw was impressed, but judging how his ever present dull expression was there, not by much. "Impressive, you learn quick". He says before looking out into the woods. "Go get some sleep, I will train you when nightfall comes". Bruised Paw says while Ash nods and walks into the cabin, before leaning against the wall and dozing off.
8 hours later.
Ash was awoken by Lin who nudged him awake.
"The Master wanted you". Lin reminds.
Ash nods before getting up. Bruised Paw was sitting on the broken stone."Do you see the shambling creatures around"? He asks.
Ash turns and saw them looking through the woods at them.
"When you are in isolation, there are goods and bad's, this is one of the bad's". He points out. "Go and thin their numbers, and while your at it, light the wards that keep them at bay". Bruised Paw says, a hidden smirk on his face. Ash nods and was about to go out when Lin grabbed his shoulder and directed him out of Bruised Paw's hearing range.
"Can I ask you a favor". She asks.
"Er...sure". Ash responds.
"I'd like to go tell Xiao, Kang, and the others that I've found the hidden master, but now he won't let me leave! He says I have to pass that test of bamboo first". She says before leaning in and whispering. "How'd you do that, by the way"? She asks with a pleading look.
Ash chuckles.
"But now all I can do is practice on those stupid rocks, and my knuckles are about to cave in". Lin explains, showing her very bruised up knuckles. "If you could gather some jademoon leaves, I could prepare an ointment to numb the pain". She asks.
Ash smiles and pats her back. "Don't worry, I got you covered". He says before walking into the woods, fading into the darkness seconds after walking in. "Good luck". Lin mutters.
Ash had the staff in his right hand, with a fire ignited in his left. Ash twirled his staff as a ward showed in his vision. He was about to light it when one of the creatures leapt at him, screeching. Ash swept his fire across, causing the creature to recoil. Ash swung his staff around, before smacking it into the creatures back, causing it to recoil. It twisted around and slashed at him, cutting his chest. Ash growled and extinguished the fire, cloaking himself in darkness. Ash closed his eyes and used his Aura Vision, while taking his sword out and holding it in his right, as he moved the staff into his left hand. The creature, and many others like it, surrounded Ash in the dark. "Alright then, lets dance". Ash mutters. The creatures leapt, with him charging forward.
Gorlek stared into the darkness, hearing the sound of battle ring from within. Darriuss was beside him, hearing the cries of pain from both the creatures and Ash.
"Your friend is tough, but he is not smart, the wards have a special effect he doesn't know of". Bruised Paw mutters. They all turn to him in shock.
"So you're saying, the wards fight off the creatures, even in combat"? Darriuss asks.
"Of course, why else do you think I have them around? The boy better figure it out soon, or else he is dead". Bruised Paw mutters. Lin stared into the void of the woods, before bracing herself and running in. "Lin, get back here"! Bruised Paw shouts, Lin froze for a second, before she shook it off and ran into the woods, to help her friend.
Ash was covered in scratches and bruises, but still had his eyes closed, with the creatures weakened and some dead, he was doing decently well. Ash felt a different Aura, and turned around. Leaving him open. The creatures noticed and leapt at him. Ash felt Lin's Aura zip past him and to a lit torch near the ward, she lit the ward and the ward almost exploded in light, making the creatures scream and collapse, dead.
"Wha? Lin"? Ash asks in shock.
"The wards kill the fog creatures". Lin explains, panting slightly.
Ash stood still before his jaw dropped. "What"?! Ash demands.
Lin explained the situation, causing Ash to sigh in irritation before picking up the torch. "Let's just go and finish this". Ash mutters.
Lin nods, and the two raced in, leading the creatures close before incinerating them, Ash picked up plants which Lin told him were the jademoon leaves, after they lit the wards they returned to see Master Bruised paw staring at Lin angrily.
"Lin, you deliberately disobeyed my order...I am wondering if I deny you any training". Bruised paw mutters.
Lin looked down in shame. "I understand, but I won't leave my friend behind, not even the Sha would stop me". Lin admits.
Bruised Paw stared for a second before turning to Ash. "Come with me, we shall begin your next Trial". He says before walking into his house.
Ash and Lin blink before exchanging glances, they both shrugged.
Ash saw Darriuss walk forward and hold his hand out, a green energy suddenly surging around Ash, mending his wounds.
"You are my ally, and it is my job to protect you". Darriuss admits before sighing. "And I suppose I can work with...Gorlek, we are both of similar ideals, so I suppose we can put them aside...for now". Darriuss says, glancing at Gorlek.
"Same here Elf, I won't stand for laziness". Gorlek snaps.
Darriuss growled. "Laziness?! I'll show you laziness"! Darriuss snaps before charging the golden energy, only to get smacked by Ash's staff again.
"That's enough". Bruised Paw snaps, a stack of wood in his hands.
He put them in a stack, motioning Ash over. "Your next trial is the wood, all you need to do is strike the wood until it breaks". He said while pacing around Ash who stood in front of the stack. "'But it's too hard!' You might say, but it is not too hard, you are ready for this Ash". He assures.
Ash sighs before reeling his fist back and shouting, nailing the wood with a powerful punch, cracking it. He reeled it back again, the Aura surging naturally now, he punched once more, electing more cracks. He brought it up once more and punched one more time, the wood stack snapping in two.
Ash sighed and stepped back, the three onlookers clapping.
"Good, now one more test". Bruised paw mutters, motioning to the carefully stacked stone.
"First, I need you to get some eggs from the cranes up there, they will be put to good use". Bruised Paw explains.
Ash looked up and nodded before running off, leaving the four alone.
Darriuss sighed before sitting, a small 'clank' catching his attention. He sighed and pulled out a black dagger with a glowing green blade. "Father". Darriuss mutters.
"That is a Fel Blade, a remnant of a Demon Hunter's Warglaive, why does a Druid like you have one"? Gorlek asks.
"My Father is-was, a Demon Hunter, he was shunned by society, but my Mother still loved him, and so did I". Darriuss admits.
Gorlek showed a rare expression of surprise. "It's rare for ANY Night Elf in particular to show tolerance for a Demon Hunter, what made you still love him"? Gorlek couldn't help but ask.
"He never changed, Demon Hunters were supposed to be monsters, yet he still talked like him, acted like him, and was the same no matter what, the only difference was his eyes were gone, but...I think the Night Elves have been shallow to the Demon Hunters". Darriuss declares.
Gorlek laughs. "The Night Elves are shallow about a lot of things-but"! Gorlek begins, seeing Darriuss point that dagger at him. "We all have made such mistakes, its our job to learn from them". He finishes.
Darriuss shrugs in response and sheathes the dagger under his robes.
They all turn and blink, seeing Ash walk back with a ton of eggs in one arm, and a giant egg under another, a bunch of feathers and scratch marks on him.
"Now you see why I sent you to get them"? Bruised Paw asks.
His response was an egg to the head.
Ash now stood in front of pure stone blocks, his expression stern, having been healed of his wounds, he was ready for his final test.
"Now, for your final test, you must break these stones, 'but they're too hard' you might say". Bruised Paw mocks, which has since become a staple in his work.
Ash nods, and got in his stance, before striking down with a shout, the blocks cracking under the pressure.
"Again"! Bruised paw commands.
Ash struck again, causing more cracks to appear.
"Once More"! Bruised Paw cheers.
Ash roared and punched with all he had, his hair going to the blonde locks of a Super Saiyan briefly, before breaking the blocks completely. Ash got off and shook his hand, which stung.
Bruised Paw clapped. "Well done". He congratulates. "Unfortunately, I have no more to teach you, all I can say, is keep training, and remember nothing is impossible". Bruised Paw says, before bowing to Ash, who returned it.
Ash exchanged nods with Gorlek and Darriuss, who both nodded in return.
Lin walked up to Ash. "Hey Ash, could you go check on the Shado Pan and Commander Mai back at Stormplow?" She asks.
"Yeah, sure". Ash replies.
"Also, if you find the others, could you tell them I found the Hidden Master"? She asks.
"Got it". Ash assures, patting the Pandaren on the shoulder.
"Thank you". Lin says, a faint pink on her furred face.
Ash grins and turns around, before blinking as Gorlek smirked at him. "What"?
"Nothing". Gorlek says, before beginning his walk.
Ash glanced at Darriuss, who just chuckled and followed, irritating Ash.
The three arrived at Stormplow and told Mai if any help was required.
"No, we have this under control, but other parts of Pandaria could use some help, tell you what, for your help we'll give you a kite ride, free of charge". Mai says, pointing to a Pandaren messing with some giant kites.
"Kite ride"? Ash asks himself.
The other two nodded and the three walked over to the Pandaren, who brought out a map.
"So...where should we go next"? Ash asks, looking the map over.
"How about south? According to the locals its wild and uncontrolled, Kun Lai is MUCH more dangerous, too dangerous for us right now, we need to get stronger if we're to get anywhere". Darriuss offers.
"Krasarang Wilds it is". Ash finalizes, takinng the offered map from the flight master.
"Alright then, let me get the Kites ready". The Pandaren says before going to prep the kites.
"What does he mean by that"? Ash mutters.
Ash shouts in awe/fear as he surfed on a giant kite, Gorlek and Darriuss right behind him, riding one of the Four Winds of the Valley, right down to the Krasarang Wilds.
Gorlek laughed as the young boy scrambled to keep his balance on the kites.
Darriuss merely chuckled, finding Ash's experience amusing.
What awaits them in the Krasarang Wilds? That is yet to be seen.
To be Continued.
Alright, there it is. Chapter 10, I'm SO SORRY this took so long, I managed to finish most of my stuff up, and now I'm in action once more, and lucky me! Now that we're out of Valley of the Four Winds, I can REALLY get into things, and yes, more characters will join the group, don't worry. Also, what do you think? After all of the members join, should I start up 'Legends of Draenor', cause this follows the main plot of Mists of Pandaria, if you know the story, just a couple of things change here and there. Tell me what you think. R&R This is Oathkeeper0317 signing out.