The Eternal Vow
By DuoLordOfDeath
Disclaimer: All characters in the following tale are copyright of Genndy Tartakovsky and Cartoon Network, with the exception of Pankeeki. He's copyright of my friend Mary, who helped me come up with the idea for this fic. Enjoy!
~*Chapter One*~
Silence...serenity. Unlike so many places in this hellbent future, Jack found this place, this green, lush forest, calming to his weary senses. So many battles and so many evil-ridden places had brought a weariness about him that was not fatige of the body, but fatigue of the mind and spirit; something that was not releived easily. But even as he stepped into the edge of the trees, he knew that he must be on alert. He was still a very wanted man; there could be eyes of Aku all through this place, watching...and waiting.
Dark eyes looking about warily, he stepped in, his hand always near the hilt of his magnificent blade. His footfalls were silent and stealthy, but in this quiet place, he felt that even his level breathing was loud and harsh. High in the treetops, birds sang melancholy songs, and branches rustled mournfully in the slight wind. Jack closed his eyes for a moment; even the the forest was pained by the onslaught of Aku. Clenching his fist lightly, he silently vowed again that he would not rest easily until this world was rid of the wicked sorcerer, and slowly kept on walking.
The narrow path that he was walking was overgrown with grass and weeds, showing that it had not been travelled often, and yet, Jack could sense that someone was in this place. Someone...or something; which, he could not tell. Often he stopped, glancing carefully to his left and right, for he had been hearing light footsteps behind him for several days. He knew he was being followed, and he also knew that if he were to act as though he did not know, he could turn the advantage of an iminent battle in his favor. But something puzzled him. If this follower was indeed a bounty hunter for Aku, then why had they not attacked him at first? Something wasn't quite right...he could feel it. He was being watched by a stealthy, smart opponent...
The day soon waned into the sacred night, and through the thick canopy, Jack could barely make out the silvery moon and its celestial counterparts. He would need to rest for the night soon; he had been walking for two and a half days without rest, and although he was being followed, he knew that this place was as safe as any, for he still had his wits and instinct at ready hand. The birds' songs had given way to the quiet chirping and humming of the crickets,and as he settled down for the night, he set what few possessions he had nearby at the trunk of a tree. He sat there for a long while, deep in thought. Listening to the crickets brought back memories of a time long past into legend; a time of brave, chilvarous warriors with nobility and honor at thier side. A time steeped in tradition and beauty; of good fortune and happiness...a time before Aku.
He sighed and closed his eyes; he would not give up, though he had been tempted so many times by defeat's cruel hand. So much rested on his strong, able shoulders; the fate of so many...and he would not let them down. He refused to let them down.
"Aku...your day will come," he said softly and firmly to himself, then bowed his head and drifted into the inky confines of sleep, the wind singing it's sorrowful lullaby in his ears.
~*Chapter Two*~
By DuoLordOfDeath
Disclaimer: All characters in the following tale are copyright of Genndy Tartakovsky and Cartoon Network, with the exception of Pankeeki. He's copyright of my friend Mary, who helped me come up with the idea for this fic. Enjoy!
~*Chapter One*~
Silence...serenity. Unlike so many places in this hellbent future, Jack found this place, this green, lush forest, calming to his weary senses. So many battles and so many evil-ridden places had brought a weariness about him that was not fatige of the body, but fatigue of the mind and spirit; something that was not releived easily. But even as he stepped into the edge of the trees, he knew that he must be on alert. He was still a very wanted man; there could be eyes of Aku all through this place, watching...and waiting.
Dark eyes looking about warily, he stepped in, his hand always near the hilt of his magnificent blade. His footfalls were silent and stealthy, but in this quiet place, he felt that even his level breathing was loud and harsh. High in the treetops, birds sang melancholy songs, and branches rustled mournfully in the slight wind. Jack closed his eyes for a moment; even the the forest was pained by the onslaught of Aku. Clenching his fist lightly, he silently vowed again that he would not rest easily until this world was rid of the wicked sorcerer, and slowly kept on walking.
The narrow path that he was walking was overgrown with grass and weeds, showing that it had not been travelled often, and yet, Jack could sense that someone was in this place. Someone...or something; which, he could not tell. Often he stopped, glancing carefully to his left and right, for he had been hearing light footsteps behind him for several days. He knew he was being followed, and he also knew that if he were to act as though he did not know, he could turn the advantage of an iminent battle in his favor. But something puzzled him. If this follower was indeed a bounty hunter for Aku, then why had they not attacked him at first? Something wasn't quite right...he could feel it. He was being watched by a stealthy, smart opponent...
The day soon waned into the sacred night, and through the thick canopy, Jack could barely make out the silvery moon and its celestial counterparts. He would need to rest for the night soon; he had been walking for two and a half days without rest, and although he was being followed, he knew that this place was as safe as any, for he still had his wits and instinct at ready hand. The birds' songs had given way to the quiet chirping and humming of the crickets,and as he settled down for the night, he set what few possessions he had nearby at the trunk of a tree. He sat there for a long while, deep in thought. Listening to the crickets brought back memories of a time long past into legend; a time of brave, chilvarous warriors with nobility and honor at thier side. A time steeped in tradition and beauty; of good fortune and happiness...a time before Aku.
He sighed and closed his eyes; he would not give up, though he had been tempted so many times by defeat's cruel hand. So much rested on his strong, able shoulders; the fate of so many...and he would not let them down. He refused to let them down.
"Aku...your day will come," he said softly and firmly to himself, then bowed his head and drifted into the inky confines of sleep, the wind singing it's sorrowful lullaby in his ears.
~*Chapter Two*~