Okay, the contest has ended, the OC has been chosen, and will be revealed shortly.
In other news, the next chapter WILL be out within 5 days. It's pretty much done right now, but I'm making a few MINOR changes.
Also, I apologize for this not being out within 3 days like I'd said. It was due to a combination of three things; playing Guns of Icarus, playing New Vegas, and then completely altering my entire life's goal within 2 hours. Including college major.
Probably not in that order, though.
In one last quick topic, I changed my writing style a bit. This chapter will be a teaser for how the rest of the story should look. Tell me what you think.
Disclaimer: I own only my OCs and the plot. The rest is DreamWorks.
Jade Palace
The four masters faced off one another, forming a square in the clearing. The sun glared brightly overhead, glinting off the sweat of the gathered warriors, and eliminating most of the shadows.
Admittedly, this made Jin a bit uncomfortable. He worked in the shadows. Usually, if he was out in broad daylight, it meant something went wrong. Obviously he wouldn't let this affect the fight, grace under pressure after all, but it was nevertheless unnerving.
The rest stood off to one side, most looking quite pensive. Jin's challenge had immediately been shot down by Tigress, arguing that they weren't here to get hurt, and they'd need their strength. They'd be leaving by the end of the day, after all, and coming to a battle minus some limbs wouldn't be very helpful.
Jin promptly ignored her, much to her ever increasing chagrin.
He did, however, promise to uphold, and enforce, if necessary, a rule stating to not go for any fatal or near-fatal strikes. This did little to ease her worries, or that of her comrades.
They had acquired a few blades from the Palace armory, making sure Mantis had one fitted for his size. Apparently, there had been a legendary mantis swordsman at some point in the past, and they still had his weapon. Po was happy to explain *cough lecture cough* all about it. For the most part, he was ignored.
There seems to be a lot of that going around lately.
But the blade everyone was paying attention to, was not that of the legendary mantis warrior, but of the opponent to its wielder.
Jin's sword hung from his belt, him having donned his attire for the occasion directly after his announcement of the event. Mantis, and yes the rest of them, had to admit to being slightly intimidated, whether knowing the master or not. Indeed, the black overcoat, and body armor underneath would make most think twice. But the sword seemed to emanate fear itself.
No scabbard meant the weapon was on display for them all to see. Black steel, expertly crafted, having been heated, cooled and heated again in a process only the very best smiths could ever hope to duplicate. The edge seemed to cut the air itself when it moved, leaving behind a slight wake.
Plus, Jin had his scary face on.
"Here's how we're going to do this," Jin started, eyeing them all from underneath the hood. "All versus all. Having two single matches would be unnecessary, and pointless."
"How do we, you know, win?" Po inquired, holding his sword awkwardly. "Obviously, actually hitting each other would be a bad idea, right?" He seemed almost hopeful after that.
"Of course," Jin smiled at the panda, though it was lost in the shadow of his hood. "Which is why we will be aiming for disarmament, and a subsequent pinning."
"You seem very sure that once you disarm Mantis, getting him in one place will be simple." Tigress pointed out from the side. "Trust me; he has a habit of getting underfoot."
Mantis glared at her for the obvious joke at his expense, but shrugged it off quickly.
"Don't worry about me, Tigress. I've taken down bigger threats." You could hear the smirk in Jin's voice.
"Yes, I get it, I'm tiny!" Mantis bellowed, causing them to chuckle.
"Well then? Let's get started."
Enemy Camp, Last Night
The commander was standing outside the tent, watching over the small mountains the camp was situated between. As soon as the sunset had begun, the mountains had cast long, eerie shadows over the camp. It was beginning to grow dark, on top of that. A calm, yet unnerving feeling had settled over the valley, alongside a fog that made more than a few soldiers uneasy.
The whole area felt… wrong somehow. He fought off a shiver that was creeping up his spine. Remembering what he was supposed to be doing, he glanced up at the guard towers, barely visible through the misty veil. A faint glow showed itself from the east tower… then the north tower. Several lights began to flicker in the distance, signaling the all clear. Slowly letting out a sigh of relief, and a breath he had not known he was holding, he made his way back into his tent.
Far from the camp, the guard towers sat amongst the peaks of the mountains.
A light went out.
Not much to say here. I know it was short, most of my work went into the next chapter. Where the OC gets revealed.
Dark Shade 75 signing off.