Tales of Destiny: The Ancient Power

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own characters.

Chapter 25: Knight of Destiny and Hero of Worlds

Everyone was walking back down the path before. By some freak coincidence it was the same road that the slave train had gone before. Dylan, Shinn, Shadow, and Kurenai were talking, with Sarah listening.

"So, what now, Dylan?" asked Shinn. "You've unlocked your power, and combining it with those Chaos Emeralds you told me about would make you near unstoppable. You've beaten Kiritsu, even if you didn't strike the last blow. What happens now?"

Dylan was in thought for a moment.

"I…I'm not sure. Right now, knowing that I have this power is enough to frighten a normal person. I've accepted it, but…for some reason…"

Dylan looked at Shadow.

"Shadow, be honest with me: Do you think I deserve to use such power?"

Shadow smirked. "That's a definite yes. You can destroy, but you can heal too. The fact that you are aware of this only makes your situation better."

Kurenai nodded in agreement. "That power belongs to you and to you alone. Before, I always believed that such destructive power was evil, and shouldn't exist, but when I look at you, I see light. You have immeasurable power, but you also have a kind heart. If anyone deserves such power, it is you."

Dylan smiled. "Thanks."

Shadow turned thoughtful. "I wonder what the limits are to this Soul Fire."

Dylan shrugged. "I'd like to know myself. I just know that it is connected to and is fed by my emotions. When you consider those, the possibilities are limitless."

Shadow put his hand on top of Dylan's. "Well, whatever happens, I'll be right there to help you. Besides, something tells me that you'll never be bored."

Dylan laughed. "Thanks buddy."

Shadow smiled.

---

When they arrived at the big gates to the village, Melissa, Ryan, Mike, and Rachel were anxious.

"Why don't you ask, Melissa?" asked Ryan.

"Okay, honey."

Melissa walked up to the two guards.

"Hello, Izumo, Kotetsu."

Both ninja looked up. "Oh, hello Mitchell-san." Said Izumo.

"I…I'm sorry to bother you, but…I have to ask…"

Both ninja looked at each other.

"I'm sorry, Mitchell-san. There has been no word from the rescue team. If three more days pass, we'll have to assume the worst."

"Thank you."

Melissa was heartbroken. She knew that Dylan would face danger, but this early…

Izumo and Kotetsu had sympathetic looks. They knew in the life of a ninja that death was inevitable, but they still felt the loss of kin and could understand her anquish. Kotetsu looked out the gate, as if to look over to the trees.

Then Kotetsu froze. He stared at the path leading out from the gate.

Izumo and Melissa noticed. "What is it?" asked Izumo.

"Something's coming. I see a dust cloud."

"You're sure?"

"Yes. It must be a big group to send up a dust cloud like that in this season. Wait…listen. Do you hear voices?"

Both ninja looked at the cloud straining their ears. They could see figures walking up, a great many, some talking. They couldn't hear what was said, but in the next moment, they didn't need to.

One of the figures was wearing an orange and black jumpsuit.

Izumo and Kotetsu both stared, then started laughing.

"Kotetsu, find a messenger. We have to inform the Hokage!"

Kotetsu nodded and left.

"Huh?" asked Melissa.

Then two voices were heard at once.

"MOM! DAD!"

Both sets of parents turned.

Out of the dust came Dylan and Sarah. Both didn't stopping running until they were in their parents' arms.

Melissa was hugging Dylan as he would disappear if she let go. Ryan was hugging both of them. Dylan hugged back, nearly lifting his parents off the ground in the process.

Sarah was sandwiched between her parents. Everyone was crying a little.

Everyone else walked up.

"Well, all's well that ends well, huh?"

Dylan looked at Shadow. "Pretty much. I'm just glad that everyone is home now."

Everyone turned to see Kotetsu return with Tsunade and few court elders in tow.

Tsunade looked at Neji. She had a smile on her face since she knew what the result was, but she wanted it official.

"Jonin Neji, mission status."

Neji smiled. "Mission Accomplished, Lady Hokage. Our friends have been retrieved, plus a few new ones."

"Oh?"

"We have a member of a clan thought to have perished, a Kaguya, a swordsmen, and a Hyuga."

Tsunade was surprised. "A Hyuga? And a Kaguya?"

"Yes."

Kenjaro and Hanashi stepped forward.

Tsunade's eyes widened. "Hanashi?"

"It's been a long time, Lady Tsunade."

Both women happily hugged.

One of the elders, Hiashi, took a tentative step forward. "H-Hanashi?"

Hanashi turned and walked over to Hiashi. "Yes, Hiashi-kun."

Husband and wife embraced, both crying from happiness.

Everyone looked happily at the scene. Hinata had tears in her eyes at the reunion. Kiba and Shino gave her a nudge.

"Huh?"

"Go on." Said Kiba.

Shino nodded. He was smiling, a feat in itself.

Hinata smiled, and walked over to her parents, who pulled her into the embrace.

Shinn chuckled. "Don't you love the happy endings?"

Then he turned to Tsunade. "If you please, I would like to return home now."

"Huh? Well, that's fine with me. I'll round up an escort."

"No need. Just take me to the portal."

Tsunade stared.

Dylan stared too. "You mean…"

"That's right, Dylan. I'm not from this world. I came here on accident, and couldn't find a way back. When I met you though, my hopes rekindled. Can you?"

Dylan smiled.

"It's okay, Tsunade. I trust him."

"Well, alright."

"Thanks Dylan."

Shinn turned to Dylan.

"You're a good guy. I'm sure we'll meet again."

Dylan nodded. "See you around."

Shinn nodded and walked toward the tower, some ninjas following him.

Tsunade sighed. "Who is that guy?"

Dylan smiled. "A friend."

"Well, in any case, I have some paperwork to do. I have to take Hanashi off the MIA list and to induct Kenjaro into the village. I don't think the council will object to the last of a clan."

Kenjaro smiled. "Thank you, my lady."

"Lady Hokage, Kenjaro-san."

"Oh, yes. Thank you, Lady Hokage."

Tsunade nodded. Naruto put an arm around Kenjaro.

"OKAY! Allow me to give you the grand tour, Kenjaro! Let me show you the greatest places in the village!"

Kenjaro smiled. "That will be appreciated. I have much to learn about my new home."

The two walked off, chatting like they were old friends.

Dylan looked at Tsunade. "I'll bet you every game I own that they go by the ramen bar."

Tsunade laughed. "That's a sucker bet."

---

In any case, things calmed down after that.

Tsunade announced the arrivals and everyone cheered naturally. Hanashi returned to the Hyuga estate with her family. Hanabi was happy to finally see her mother and Hinata came be on better terms with Hiashi, her father. All in all, the family grew closer. Hinata started training more, and Hanashi volunteered to help her. Her training paid off when she defeated Neji in a match. Hiashi and Neji were both proud.

Kenjaro was inducted into the village. As Tsunade had predicted, the council raised no objections. In fact, they wasted no time getting through the process. If Tsunade and some of the elders had any suspicions about the council's actions, they kept it to themselves. Kenjaro spent a great deal of time with his friend Naruto, but he also started sparring with Rock Lee, and joined in the training sessions. If asked why, the two said that they saw things in common with each other.

The mission report was a little lengthy, but Tsunade understood it. Neji had to get help from Dylan, Naruto, and Sarah to complete it.

Everything had pretty much wound down. Dylan was sitting in his backyard, looking at the stars.

Then he sensed something in front of him. He stood up.

"I know you're there. Show yourself."

A faint outline of a person appeared before him. The outline filled in until Dylan recognized who it was.

"Falcon?"

Falcon smiled. "That was my nickname when I was alive years ago. I used it many time as a false name if I needed to sneak somewhere. I am known by a different name."

A flash of light later, he appeared again, clad in white armor, his sword a purple color.

"You…You're…"

Falcon smiled. "My name is Renard. In life I was the Hero of Worlds, the guardian of the worlds you brought together again."

"Now I understand. You're the one who's been guiding me. All those times, I've was hearing your voice."

"Yes." Said Renard. "I was protecting you, in a way, until you learned how to harness your latent powers. Unfortunately, I did not take into account that you would have such a hard time. Then again, one could have guessed it. You are the only one of your kind with that type of power. So I appealed to the Highest Ones, the ones who control life and death. You know of some of them. They had a hand in creating some of the worlds.

"You mean…Chaos? The three goddesses of Hyrule?"

"They are a few of them. But the ones I appealed to were the three gods of this world. There Amaterasu, Goddess of the heavens, Tsukuyomi, god of the underworld, and Susanoo, God of Balance, and the head of the beings known as Shinigami.

"Shinigami?"

"They are the police of the other world. They make sure souls that are passed on travel safely to the other world and destroy the evil spirits that escape from the underworld."

"Okay."

"I explained my reason. You knew your power was great, but you were still young, so you were still unaware of your true potential. I asked to be let into this world so that you would have a guide to unlocking it. Amaterasu, being the good side of the balance, was naturally all for it. She could see your heart and saw that you need someone to guide you until you could stand on your own. Tsukuyomi, being the eviler side of the balance, didn't see the reason why they should grant it. He never threatens the safety of the worlds, but he likes seeing people in turmoil. He was always against me being granted the power I had."

"Huh? What do you…?"

"With time, you will learn that for yourself, I am not the one to tell you. Now, in the end, Susanoo sided with Amaterasu, saying that you were crucial to maintaining the balance."

"Balance?"

"The balance of good and evil, light and darkness. In order for there to be peace and prosperity, the two sides must stay balanced. Before you say anything, however, think: the evils we know can be stopped, correct?"

Dylan's thoughts focused on enemies he faced before, like Bowser and Eggman. "Yeah."

"Darkness is just as important as light. Now that you understand that and you have unlocked your powers, my mission here is complete."

"You're…leaving?"

"I am no longer of this plane of existence. I must return to the other world. But before I do…"

He extended a hand.

"Can I see your sword?"

Dylan snapped his finger, his sword appearing in his hand. He twirled in twice before handing it Renard, who grasped it in his translucent hand, surprising Dylan.

"Will you kneel?"

Dylan dropped to one knee. Renard touched it to his shoulder.

"Years ago a hero appeared in the world in answer to a great evil. He gave his life so that other may live. Now, his heir is among us."

Renard looked at Dylan.

"As the sole remaining wielder of the Soul Fire, you will help bring an end to the pointless wars and bring peace to the worlds. Do you swear to use all the power you control and protect the worlds from forces of evil that invade them?"

Dylan was unsure, but found the answer come to him naturally.

"I do."

"Will you bear true service to the powers of light, heeding the commands of your own and fighting against the dark beings that threaten the worlds, even to your death?"

"I will."

Renard nodded. "I accept your oath. Rise, Sir Dylan Mitchell, Knight of Destiny and Hero of Worlds."

Dylan's sword glowed in Renard's hands for a moment before dying down again.

Dylan was given the sword back, he felt some change in it. He looked at Renard.

Renard beat him to it. "It is the same as before, but with some changes. Focus energy into it."

Dylan did so. The sword got longer, similar to the Master Sword.

"That is the true form of the Sword of Souls, or the Soul Sword, whichever you prefer. If you focus your soul energy, the Soul Fire, into it, not only does it catch fire, but you can slice through nearly anything."

"Huh? Nearly?"

"Hey, it isn't the only enchanted blade. You know about Soul Edge and Soul Calibur correct?"

"Oh."

"Others will recognize it as a champion's blade. It can't be broken now, except by the same energy that forged it, which is your own, and since you are the only person…well, you understand. You can never drop it or lose it in battle against your will, and finally…"

He trailed off.

"Yes?"

"It…it comes when you call it."

Dylan's jaw dropped.

Renard burst out laughing. "Sorry. That power comes with all champions. Don't ask how, I don't know either. Susanoo once said there is a guidebook to what powers every champion should have, regardless of who he or she is. That is one of them, one of the oldest."

"And with that, I am finished here. You are the guardian now. Protect the worlds as I once did."

He started to fade out.

"Farewell, Dylan. Until we meet again in the next life…my heir."

He faded out completely.

Dylan looked at where Renard had been. He then looked at the sword. He twirled it in his fingers. He gripped it.

Dylan smiled.

With a snap of his fingers, his sword disappeared, and he started to walk back towards the house.

'I am Dylan Mitchell, Knight of Destiny and Hero of Worlds. I will protect the worlds and stop any evil who threatens them. I will be, for all my life, the guardian of the worlds. This is who I am.'

---

A solitary figure walked through the barren wasteland. It was bleak, and nothing living was there. A solitary flame was in the middle of it. The figure went up to it and kneeled. A few seconds passed.

"You may speak."

"My lord, it has happened. The Soul Fire has returned."

"What?"

"The young boy I told you about has harnessed the power of the Soul Fire. He has become the new guardian."

"Show me."

The figure snapped his fingers.

A vortex of energy appeared.

"Chaos Recall!"

The vortex morphed into a screen of sorts. Images of Dylan's recent battles, including the one with Kiritsu, were shown.

"So, it has happened. Hmm. He has his ancestor's strength. How…poetic."

"My lord, please, let deal with him now. He is still weak, he does not have his full power yet. Let me finish him…"

"NO! I've told you once, he is a key to my resurrection! I will destroy him until we have what we need!"

"Forgive me, my lord."

"Patience, my loyal subject. When the time is right, we will take our place at the top. For now, I have job for you."

"My lord?"

"Search through the living worlds. Seek out disciples to help with my resurrection, ones of power. They wil be your servants, as you are mine."

"Understood my lord. I will find beings of power to help return you to the living world. Once we do, you will be unstoppable.

"And I will take my place AS RULER OF THE WORLDS. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! LAUGH WITH ME MY SERVANT!"

The figure joined in. The two's laughter echoed through the wasteland. If anyone had heard it, they will feel chills going down their spine.

THE END