This is where all the thrills and fun REALLY begins. ...! Enjoy. And don't forget the feedback/criticism.


Flames roared here and there... Buildings have been destroyed. Miraculously, there were no casualties. Just injuries. Some were minor, others were life-threatening. Amidst the catastrophe, a blue rabbit named Yang calmly walked around town – the cause of the destruction. On his back was a violet jacket, concealing his martial arts gi. In his right hand, a massive, flat stretch of steel that more than passes for a sword – the Blade of the Governor. The stare in his eyes as cold as the night sky.

He continued walking casually at every street, every corner. Surveying the entire area. To see if the damage had been done.

"Hmm…now what…?" He asks himself, making his misguidedness clear.

In an instant, Yang's right arm experiences rushing pain. All he was able to do was clutch it and groan to himself. Still adapting to his newfound power.

"Argh! Damn..." Yang mustered the strength to let it out. Until the pain eventually turned into a sensation that immediately died away.

Seizing the opportunity, he breathed as much as he could. The Woo Foo Grimoire – a mass of Woo Foo energy that draws power from Fog. He had just become accustomed to the Grimoire, which had taken the form of a fingerless glove. Tapping into a dangerous source of power such as Fog, the invisible remnants of the Infernal Beast, made it all the more difficult. One would indeed attain amazing power, but at the price of one's sanity and morals.

Yang knew about the consequences... But was tempted anyway. Driven by his desire. His duty, to protect those he held dear. Now…the reason why he had been searching…fighting… Completely lost in thin air. Now devoted to the dark, he is a monster among monsters. Hungry for flesh, thirsty for blood – his heart and mind slowly slipping by the hour.


"I can still make it", I say to myself as I am being carried by a levitation spell. Leaning forward with one of my arms crossed in front of my torso. "I hope."

Yang… Where are you…?

Dusk had already settled in. The street lights should be turning on by now. But only a fortunate few could shine – a testament to what my brother is currently capable of. My search had already taken me everywhere. At least, the places that made sense to me. From the beginning of the Vivace Forest to the home of the treants, and my friend Dave. But…no luck.

My body needs to rest for a while; I can't hold a Woo Foo spell, even the basic and weaker ones that long. Halting to a stop, I think about all the possible outcomes… Taking longer than I would have thought. I suppose the both of us are running in circles. Well…me, at least. He might have been to other parts of town, and I've just missed him. If that were the case, I'd be frustrated right now. No, wait. I am! With genuine frustration, I kick a nearby pebble and watch as it bounces away. Away into the nearest flame, settling with the other debris. But I can't be this angry all the time.

"This is hopeless." I sigh out the obvious. What was once determination and eagerness degraded into frustration with a pinch of rage. Which would now further decline into discouragement and, as I've explicitly stated, hopelessness.

A bench, at the side of what looked like and what used to be a bus stop. There was some debris and dust on it. Nothing that can't be easily swept away. I sat on it. Leaning my head on my knuckle. This time, my attention shifted to a light blue bracelet…laced around my vacant arm.

"Step right up folks. Come and have a go at a good ol' fashin'd strength test. Think ya got muscle? Got the biceps and the triceps? Try whackin' the ramp and hit that bell there with this here hammer! Five bucks a game!"

A street fair…a few months ago. With rides, games, food and people – an annual event. One of the management staff just called out to the crowd for a strength test.

Yang, Master Yo and I were walking among the noisy crowd. We stumbled upon the strength test, hearing the manager call out with his gruff voice. As usual, my brother couldn't resist rising up to it. He loves challenges. He loves thrills. He loves showboating. He wanted to show off his Woo Foo heritage.

The determination burning in his eyes, he announces without a second thought. "Alright! Lemme at it!"

"You sure, kid?" The manager asks in return.

"Heck, yeah! Come on! Toss me that hammer… Er, not literally, though."

Master Yo hastens and intervenes at the last minute. "Yang, wait. You…aren't thinking of, uh…y'know…using some of your Woo Foo… Are you?"

"What? Don't tell me I can't."

"Well…", the words slowly fall from our master's mouth. "No, you can't. Using Woo Foo to get everyone to notice you? That's just plain low."

Not even words like those could stop the determination from burning in Yang. Once his mind's been set on something, there's no swaying him. He does love challenges.

Imposing one on himself, he gladly makes it clear to us. To the crowd. A smile brimming with willpower cracking on his face. "Ha! Whatever. Woo Foo or no Woo Foo, strength tests are cake. Let's go!" Quickly after that last phrase, he reaches for the hammer. What drive…

Moving to the side of the apparatus, the manager lets out a scoff. "One try, kid. That's all."

The sheer weight of the hammer got to him at first though. It took him a while, until he finally lifted it on his shoulder. All he had to do was slam it down the plank. And watch the steel cylinder climb up the wire, and ring the bell. Twenty feet high…

The hammer drops. The plank thuds on the ground. The cylinder passes each number… One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine… Suddenly, it slows down, failing to pass the number ten. It drops back down to the starting point. Yang was kept quiet, falling to his knees. Touching the ground.

Suddenly, pounding noises bounce from the pavement. My brother was punching the ground. Frustrated by his efforts. Sympathizing, I approach his body.

Just barely, I can hear his soft voice. "Shit… Shit. Shit, shit, shit, shit… SHIT!" Crushing disappointment… "You gotta be kidding me…" What pride Yang sure has. But I've never seen him so crushed. I could either point at him and laugh, drawing a crowd in the process. Or I could kneel down in his reach and calm him down.

"Yang", I hold his shoulder with my hand, rubbing his back gently with the other. For some reason, my touch soothed him. My voice helped, too. "Don't be too rough. That was pretty good for a kid."

"Better listen ta yer sister, kiddo", the manager steps in. He had something in his hand… "Here. Can't letcha go without givin' ya sumthin'." A bracelet. So beautiful. Though rhinestones decorate it, it's still a pretty sight to stare at.

Replacing enthusiasm with sarcasm in his voice, Yang replies. "Thanks." He didn't want the bracelet. To him, it was some sort of cheap import. Something that you'd squander your money on, only to find out it isn't really good, yet it's easily forgotten.

Holding the bracelet in his hand, Yang glances at me, and retreats his head instantly afterwards. "Here. Have it…" There goes his aloof tendencies again. His arm stretches out to me, with the bracelet in the palm.

"R-really?" I stammer, not able to believe what I've heard.

"Yeah. It's just an import. Well, to me. Hope you can put it to good use." I'll never grow tired of his 'Jerk With A Heart Of Gold' side. It's who he is. Sure, he's pretty rough. And I'm sure this is all just another cliché. But there's a heart somewhere in that blue, violent rabbit known as my brother.

"Gee…uh, I don't know what to say." I tackle him in an attack-hug. Smiling. "Thanks, bro."

"Just. Let. Go. Of. Me. There's already a crowd here, y'know."

"Oh. Sorry." I forgot about how easily Yang gets embarrassed. He kept that aloof facade for the rest of the day.

Here I go again. Reminiscing about things that are too good to last. If I do cherish my brother like my…er…father had told me to, then theseprecious moments would last forever. Last longer, actually.

The town feels so dead. Literally. Everyone's been evacuated. There's no one there to keep me company. Only the debris, the broken signs and the roaring flames. At this rate, Yang might have left by now. Should I take a break for now?

Footsteps…approaching, increasing in volume. Someone's coming. I gasp back in a standing position, bracing myself. Assuming a last-minute fighting stance. The footsteps were slow, though. For most of the time, this someone was just a silhouette. He finally approaches near a flickering street light. It was enough for me to make out the face… It's him!

"Yang…" It can't be real… It just can't. But it is.

My older twin brother… Goaded into the dark. Just as the news bulletin described him. A violet jacket on his back, covering his Woo Foo gi. His fur darkened to slightly blend with the violet hue. His hand holding a massive sword with a silver finish on the blade, and a dark brown hilt. A disturbing aura emanating from his entirety all the while.

I had suffered the exact same fate before. But he helped me. Now, just like a true sibling would, I'm going to help him.

"I'm so glad you're okay", a weary smile finds its place in my lips. That smile gradually turns into a frown, as I tell myself that my brother is the one responsible for this…atrocity. "Still, I can't believe it. This has to be a mistake. Why'd you do this, bro…? Why?"

Nothing comes out of his mouth; he kept it closed. He just stood in front of me… The void in his eyes proving his remorselessness. How could he?

For a moment, Yang closed his eyes to contemplate. And everything turned silent. A few seconds later, I hear him growl to me. In a cold tone. "Get out of my way…you little BITCH!"

"Ah!" I gasp at his shocking and sudden choice of words.

"You... You always have to be such a know-it-all, do you? You love making a goddamn fool outta me every chance you, huh? What, you get a cheap thrill from that?"

"Yang…!"

"I dunno if you got this drilled in your large head, but you better do so. I HATE being compared to you! Everywhere we go, I'm always the idiot butt monkey that makes you look good. I'm sick of it!"

"Is this…is this really why you're doing all this…?" My heart was slowly crumbling.

"No… It's not about that. This Woo Foo Grimoire… I'm using it to reduce everything to ashes!" This rabbit… He's not my brother. He can't be. No… No!

"Yang…", I whisper, loud enough for him to hear me. Broken down to the ground after one look at him. "Please tell me this is just a mistake. Or a really bad dream…" I place my hand on my chest, hoping to ease the agony. "Anything. Anything to convince me this isn't real."

Alas, he crushes my wish with more harsh words. "This is the real thing, Yin. And to prove it, here's a little warning. Move out of the way, or I'll trail that barf bag you call a face TO THE GODDAMN GROUND!" The raw emotion on the last words proves it: my brother…turning to the dark…it's too real. Too painful to know.

Quickly he sprints at me, dragging his sword behind him. In anticipation, I draw the Snow Flower sword from its scabbard, just barely blocking his sword swing.

With an impressed and smug smile on his face, Yang comments. "Hmph! Yuki no Hana, eh? Doesn't matter. Come on, you bitch!"

Being called a 'bitch' in such violent manner, I knew that Yang and I would soon be locked in battle. Brother and Sister… A sibling rivalry taken to extreme heights. Spells were shot back and forth. Punches and kicks whooshing through the empty air. Some landing, some parried. Yang had also tried different techniques, new and old. The Woo Foo Grimoire's power…scared me. His hostile intentions scared me even more. Still, I have the Woo Foo Talisman, the Snow Flower. Taking advantage of all the new ice-based spells and techniques at my disposal. I didn't want it to come to this. But I have to. To save my brother…

We had literally fought across all of the town limits. Exhaustion kicks in. Both of us breathed as much as we could. The fight looked even. Until now…

"Not bad", Yang started. "But I don't plan on losing. Not to you!" And he has made that perfectly clear.

He crosses his arms with clenched fists. A growl escapes through the gaps in his clenched teeth. The earth shakes. This power… It was at a whole new level. Frightening strength. Enough to make an entire nation quake in their knees.

This sight, it shocked me. I look on with a loss for words. And an understandable fear.

"Wh-what is this?" I struggle. The vibration of the pavement ruining my speech. I anticipate the worst.

The pupils in Yang's eyes disappear for a moment. His teeth remain clenched. More growls escaping through the gaps. He's exerting himself. More than ever.

Seconds later, the growling stops. Replaced by blood-curdling words from my brother's mouth. "Woo Foo…AURAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" This ear-piercing yell echoed. He thrusts his entire body back, and a large, burning dark rabbit of spiritual energy surrounds him. Hints of fur all around. From head to toe. Limb by limb.

The Woo Foo Aura. An advanced and common technique. It cannot be summoned without genuine emotion and total control over it. But how… How could he do this? Is it really this so-called Woo Foo Grimoire's doing?

A few more seconds later, I comment with a trembling voice. "So this…this is what the Woo Foo Grimoire does…"

"Well, some of it." He adds, arms folded. "Are you scared, Yin?" Yes, I was. I've never felt this scared… This power injecting fear into my very core. But I can't…let this fear hinder me. I've come so far. I won't let my feelings ruin all that.

I goad my battered body into a fighting stance. Slowly. It stings…everywhere. With enough strength, I wave my vacant hand in circles, with my index and middle fingers pointing out. Casting a medical Woo Foo spell, a ball of energy surrounds my hand. Carefully, I caress my hand over my body, first covering the ones that hurt the most. The pain was slowly dying away. It still hurt. However, it'll do for now.

Finishing applying the spell, I give an answer to Yang's question. "I'd be lying if I said I'm not." Snow Flower starts emitting light of its own – the sword lending me it's full power, expanding. Enlarging. Until it was roughly well over my height. This was foreign to both of us. Yet I act naturally to this, saying. "But I promised myself I'd bring you back home. One way or the other. I don't want to do this. But whatever needs to be done… Hyah!"

The next phase of the fight begins, kicking off with a swing of my katana releasing an ice-cold gust. Freezing everything in range. Yang was sure to be much stronger than me. I have to be cautious. One fatal mistake, and it's all over. Again, punches and kicks whooshed through the air. The pavement cracking with each move the Aura makes. Building walls breaking. The town will be destroyed at this rate. I need to act fast.

My sights were set on Yang himself. I leap straight for him, holding my arm forward. A spell blasts out of my palm. In an instant, I have frozen his entire body, save for his head. I don't know what good that'll do. But it's something to do…

A soft chuckle spills out of my brother's mouth. Followed by a dark smile and a set of mocking words. "Nice try, sis. But no dice!" He manages to break out of the ice. Fear completely takes over me. I'm out of options. No matter what I do, I can't faze him. Not a scratch. Nothing. He takes advantage of my current state, and punches me with his Aura. Slamming me against a building…

"Ungh!" I…can't get up… This is too much. I need to keep my eyes open… But I can't. Slowly, no, rapidly I'm losing consciousness. I can barely see…Yang…approaching me…with malicious and…murderous intentions. Just him. No Aura around him; he dismissed it. That giant sword firmly around his hand…

Have I really lost my brother for good? Is he completely replaced by this monster in front of me? No. At times like this, when despair abounds, hope always abounds to counter it…

Yang comes nearer. Now within an arm's length in front of me.

"Now", he hisses, a crazed stare in his eyes. "Let's see them try comparing me to you." He reaches for me. I can feel my throat being squeezed. On the other hand was his sword. Is…this…the end?

At the very last minute, someone calls out. "Stop! Now!" Yang searches around to find the source. Behind him, I can see a silhouette leaping from a distance. Landing just in front of the scene. A tall figure. Making his way to the scene. With a long coat on his back. He…er, it, was still pitch black. I can't make out the face – an enigma…

By the time he was close enough, I could finally describe his appearance – a wolf in his teenage years, carrying a sword by its scabbard. Its long coat, a rich hazelnut brown. From the air around him, he seemed to have some sort of experience well beyond my years. He extended his arms to Yang's shoulder. Is it…him?

"That's enough!" He barks. "Let go, now! That's an order, Yang!"

"Y-yes sir!" Yang obeys in a stammering voice. Either out of fear or devotion. Or both.

The next minute, I'm curious all of a sudden. I need to make sure. I try to speak out to this wolf. "Y…you're… Lu…pin?"

"And you're…his sister?" The pain made it hard for me to answer. All I could do was groan. And listen. "That means…that old bastard you call 'master' or 'dad' must have told you. My student still needs discipline, I'll admit. But let Yo know this. Let him know that his former student is back from the dead. And this time, I'll personally send him to hell." Master…Yo? I've been too deep in thought to notice Lupin waving his hand around me. "Here. Just to make sure you can tell him."

My wounds don't sting as much, for now – a medical spell. A Woo Foo spell. This proves it. He is Lupin.

"Sir, I can hear something", Yang began. His ears twitching. "Police sirens. Damn!"

"We have to leave, now." Lupin stands up, in response to the sirens. With his back turned, he utters to me. " Take care, Yin." Those words. They weren't said by that violent person that was just in front of me. In fact, all that I could find was benevolence. Without a trace, both he and my brother leap high and away from the scene.

I…have to go as well. I need to, but I'm unable. My body is covered in cuts, bruises and blood. Even with the spell, the pain overwhelms me.

"Yin… Yin. Yin!"

A familiar voice calls out. Policemen storm out of their cars, and straight for me. My weak vision just barely catches each detail. Among them…an…elderly panda…rushing towards me. Wearing concern on his face… There was chatter among the group… Finally…I fall into unconsciousness… The darkness closing in on me.


T is for Terminology #3: The Pit - a massive hole that is said to seal away frightening beast, which is mostly urban legend. Only very few know of its purpose.