Saint Seiya Golden Brigade Chapter 1: A long-waited promotion
By Bluestar076
Hello guys! Bluestar is here with a brand new story! So yes, i've decided to write another story parallel to Digimon Adventure 04 but don't worry! I won't forget to write for Adventure 04 because i really like what i'm doing with that story and i'll keep on building it, since it's a dear project to me. In the meantime, this story will be based on another franchise, my favourite anime of all times: Saint Seiya! It's a series that i adore since i was very little, i have watched almost all of the anime series and read all the classic manga. So it would have been a natural thing from me to write a story about it! Very well! These are the settings:
-This story is placed seven years later after the end of the Hades saga and Next Dimension (Since Next Dimension isn't over yet, i'll base the events on assumptions, even if i think that Kurumada should think on continuing it…) And it will tell about new adventures for our five favourite heroes, who recently became five of the new Gold Saints while facing the settings of their new lives.
-The new constellations of the main characters will respect the ones chosen by the original author (So Sagittarius, Libra, Aquarius, Virgo and Leo)
- The rest of the new Gold Saints will be OCs, so there won't be any unexpected return (Except for one character) Or Kiki as the new Gold Saint of Aries unlike Omega. I know that someone will see it at a disappointment, but i found more interesting to see how the main characters would react with new people. But as always, i'll respect the others's choices! I also think that Kiki in Omega was pretty cool to see!
- The villains will be new deieties, not only from the greek mythology, but also from other cultures! It will be fun to mix different countries like they did in the anime with the Asgard Saga or like they did with the Lost Canvas extras!
- I don't know if there will be pairings in this story, but if there will be they won't take too much space, since this is mostly an action story, but i'll try to put some space for them.
-And for last, but most importantly, the main characters:
Chirin of Aries: Age 20. Nationality: Japan.
Miguel of Taurus: Age 20. Nationality: Messico.
Priamos of Gemini: Age 23. Nationality: Greece.
Marlyn of Cancer: Age 21. Nationality: United States of America.
Ikki of Leo: Age 23. Nationality: Japan.
Shun of Virgo: Age 20. Nationality: Japan.
Shiryu of Libra: Age 21. Nationality: Japan.
Ignis of Scorpio: Age 20. Nationality: Greece.
Seiya of Sagittarius: Age 20. Nationality: Japan.
Erwin of Capricorn: Age 21. Nationality: United Kingdom.
Hyoga of Aquarius: Age 21. Nationality: Russia.
Valentina of Pisces: Age 20. Nationality: Austria.
Pope Sion: Age 268. Nationality: Pamir, China.
Saori Kido/Goddess Athena: Age 20. Nationality: Japan.
There we are! I hope i didn't bore you with the settings, but at least we can finally begin this new story! As always…enjoy!
Note: I do not own Saint Seiya. All rights and characters go to Masami Kurumada and Toei Animation.
Chapter 1: A long-waited promotion
Saints.
This was the name of the holy warriors that would have come to save the world from the forces of darkness under the supervision of the olympian goddess Athena. Over the centuries, Saints made their duties to defeat enemy of every kind from ancient beasts to other deieties that tried to purge the planet from the actions of humans. The most famous enemies that they had to face were the god of war, Ares, the god of the seas, Poseidon, but most importantly, the god that Athena had to face every two hundred fourty-three years: Hades and his 108 specters. Recently, Athena was reborn on the earth through a young lady called Saori Kido, who reunited five young boys that became the new protectors of the earth: Seiya the Saint of Pegasus, Shiryu the Saint of the Dragon, Hyoga the Saint of the swan, Shun the Saint of Andromeda and his brother Ikki the Saint of the Phoenix. Through hard battles they had managed to do what other people would have thought impossible: They first took back the Sanctuary of the goddess, by defeating the evil side of the Gold Saint Saga of Gemini, who took over it. Then they saved the representative of the god Odin, Hilda of Polaris, from the curse of the ring of the Nibelung, which was given to her by Poseidon. Then they trapped the god of the seas once again and finally, they put an end to the ambitions of the evil god Hades by defeating him once and for all. The holy wars had finally come to an end.
And now…peace was finally ruling the world.
The running year was 1993. Seven years had passed since Athena and his Saints defeated Hades and saved the most important warrior, Seiya, from the wound casued by the God's blade.
The Sanctuary was finally having a quiet period and everyone was starting to have a normal life, even the Saints, who still continued to to their work.
But at the same time…the Sanctuary became more quiet than before…especially its core, made by the Twelve Houses of the Zodiac and the temple of Athena itself. Probably it was because the most powerful guardians of the temple, the Gold Saints, died for a long time by now. Their cCoths returned at their houses, but the houses themselves only left an air of emptiness and sadness.
The Gold Saints ended their duty and their life during the holy war in the underworld, after they destroyed the Wailing Wall. They got resurrected for some time at Asgard to save it from the god Loki, but then they returned to their grave.
They had complicated situations and relations, but they were still the most important warriors at the service of Athena, and they made it until the very end. And since they were dead…a new generation had to come and take their places.
One of them was preparing himself for the important event of the next day…
In the 9th house of the Sanctuary, the Sagittarius one, a person was walking by. It was a boy with short brown hair, black eyes with his usual red sleeveles shirt, blue jeans and white shoes.
He was Seiya, the bronze saint of Pegasus. The one who became the most important figure in the whole Sanctuary. Despite being a Bronze Saint, he showed his great devotion at Athena and the world, burning his cosmo over his limts in every situation, reaching even the 7th and the 8th sense. He was a man who never gave up, no matter how strong his enemy was, he always found a way to win and to save the world. But during his battles he also made many friends, the same ones who saved him by travelling through time.
The boy was inside the house of Sagittarius. He first looked at the Gold Cloth, an armor that saved him many times and gave him the strength to fight against a powerful enemy like Poseidon. He then looked at the most important particular of the house: A written on the wall. The written was the most important message that Seiya had ever heard.
"Young Saints who have come this far, i entrust the salvation of the goddess Athena to you!" The message was left by the previous Gold Saint of Sagittarius, Aiolos, a man who had been marked as a traitor, but in reality, he was a true hero that saved Athena and gave it to Kido. Seiya remembered the first time he read that message. At the time he was younger. He was doing a race against time to save Saori from an arrow while fighting against the Gold Saints. That message was the last sprint he needed to do his work at his best. He promised to the spirit of the dead Saint that he would have kept the word, no matter what. A word kept.
Seiya protected Athena, risking his life. But he didn't regret it. He was happy to see what he has become and all the work that he managed to done. But also, he was happy to have fought along with the most reliable friends he could ever meet and for a girl like Saori. But now…after he finished a mortal conflict with Athena's arch-nemesis and after he had been saved by the sword of this dark lord…a new life was beginning to him.
Seiya looked at the written for some minutes with first a happy look, but then he looked more anxious. Something important was close, and he was about to face it.
"There you are. I was wondering where did you go…" A voice called him from behind. Seiya turned around and saw a young girl with long and purple hair, wearing a white dress. She was the girl he had protected during all of his career of Saint.
"Oh, it's you, Lady Saori…why are you awake at this hour?" Seiya asked. "I should ask this question to you. But i think i already know the answer…you are scared for tomorrow, right?" Saori replied. Seiya looked down, making a deep sigh and then he looked back at the written on the wall. "…Yes…it's the truth…" They both silenced for some seconds before Seiya talked again. "Lady Saori…" "Yes?" The girl asked.
"Do you remember anything of Aiolos? Do you ever felt something when he was holding you?" Seiya asked then. The reincarnation thought about it for a moment. She knew that she has been carried by Aiolos when Saga tried to kill her, and then the man gave her to Mitsumasa Kido. But other than that…only an empty on her mind. So she had to shake her head. "Sorry…i don't remember anything…the only things i can remember are the heat of his body and the face of Shura, while he fought against him…why that?" She then asked to his Saint.
"Well…it's just that…Aiolos had been a great saint…and a saviour, despite he had a life made of suffering. He was the one who started all…the one who entrusted you to us…the first one who fought for the sake of the earth…what i want to say is…is it really possible for me to become someone as big and important…as him?" Seiya explained. Lots of thoughts were filling his mind. Was he really able to be Aiolos's successor? What if he wasn't able to be so and made terrible mistakes? "As you know, it took me a while to realize what it meant to be a Bronze Saint…but now that i'm becoming a Gold one…such a jump of position…can i really handle it?"
Saori looked at him, but then she chuckled. Seiya's cheeks became light red for a second, as he said embarassed "H-hey! It's not funny! I'm serious!"
"No! It's just that…in all these years we have known each other…this is the first time i saw you being troubled for something more simple than everything we've faced until now." Saori answered with still a smile. Seiya looked at her surprised. "Really?" Saori nodded. "You're usually more sure of yourself and your skills. I remember the first time i saw you when you came back for the Galaxian War. You still were the kid i used to know who didn't even want to be there. You accepted to join the tournament because you wanted to find your sister. And you still hated me for a while. And i could say the same for you…since i thought you were irresponsible and rude. But then…when we started to fight against the Silver Saints…i've noticed that you were the complete opposite. You were almost always optimistic, brave and strong enough to face every enemy. Even if your opponent looked invincible, you never surrendered, you stood still and always tried to fight a weak spot. And maybe it's because you had been much more stubborn…" Saori answered. She said the last phrase with a grin.
"Hey! What do you mean by that?" Seiya asked with a laugh. Their bond was more strong now. After they had ended all of the battles, Seiya and Saori managed to know each other better and to find out some aspects of each other that they would have never guessed. For example, Saori, even if she was the goddess Athena, actually liked the same things that every other normal girl liked and turned out to also have her own sense of humor. The same thing also happened to Shiryu, Hyoga, Shun and Ikki. All of the Bronze Saints were finally able to know both each other and Saori, making her feel like a part of the family and for real this time. This was one of the results of peace, a thing that was possible only for the efforts that every Saint put during all of the battles. Finally…they were able to have a normal perspective of life, but not without forgetting their roles as Saints.
"Besides…if it wasn't for you and the others…i would have been killed by Tramy's arrow…or being drowned by Poseidon…or being drained to death by Hades…i know i always get into trouble…but the point is that if i'm still here i owe it to all of you…and you are a wonderful Saint, Seiya. I'm sure that Aiolos would have been very proud of you." Saori continued.
Seiya looked at her with a smile and then came to hug her. Saori, with the smile that remembered a mother with her kid, hugged him back. "Thank you, Lady Saori…you are right…Aiolos looked at me with a big smile before destroying the Wailing Wall…"
"I told you…now…how about we go back now? You need energies for tomorrow." Saori suggested. "Yes. You go first…i'll stay here for some minutes and then i'll go back." Seiya answered.
"If you really wish…ok, then. Goodnight Seiya." Saori said with a smile, before leaving the house of Sagittarius.
Just like he said, Seiya remained there for five more minutes. He looked again at the written and the Gold Cloth for one last time, but this time with a convinced smile on his face. He then left the Twelve Houses of the Zodiac, heading back to his hotel.
"Aiolos…i promise you…i'll continue to protect Athena, no matter what! And i'll do it…as a Gold Saint!"
The next day…
Waiting. The five Bronze Saints that saved Athena and the world more than one time were waiting inside an hotel of Athens. There were all of them. The guy wearing red T-shirt and blue jeans, the boy wearing typical chinese clothes with long black hair and clear blue eyes, the blonde haired guy with blue and black clothes, the one who almost looked like a woman with his green hair and eyes and his green and white clothes and his brother, a man with a blue shirt and red pants, with blue hair and eyes.
Seiya, Shiryu, Hyoga, Shun and Ikki were simply in a room of the hotel doing something while waiting for someone. Seiya simply leaned against the wall with his eyes closed and the hands inside the pockets of his pants, Shiryu and Ikki were watching the news on the television, Hyoga was reading a book and Shun looked the road from the window with a smile.
"So…i've heard that you went on the Sagittarius's house last night." Hyoga simply said with a chill tone. Seiya opened his eyes like he was dreaming and looked at him. "W-what!? How did you know that!?" He exclaimed, but then he didn't need to hear the answer. "Never mind…i know…gosh, Lady Saori…but wait, were you still awake last night too?" He then asked.
"If i have to be honest…yes…and i think we all had a motive to do so…" Hyoga answered, looking at the others. Shiryu sighed. "It's only natural…this is not a moment like the others…we're talking about being some of the most important Saints of the Sanctuary. I too, was nervous last night…i thought that the moment of taking my master's place would have arrived…and now that it's here...i feel my heart pounding fast." He added.
Shun looked back at the others with still a smile on his face. "Don't worry. I'm sure that the old master is happy for all the road you had made, Shiryu…and the same goes for Camus." He said, looking at Shiryu and Hyoga. They showed their appreciation for his words by making a smile.
"Now that i think of it…i heard that Dohko fought in a tournament and used to stay in a bar when he got resurrected on Asgard! What do you think?" Seiya asked. Even Shiryu heard of that voice, which it was true and looked up confused. "It's strange…i've never seen the old master doing something else than looking at the waterfall…but to be honest…i wish i could have been there…" Shiryu answered.
"We can say the same. They were important people to us. Even if i didn't talk with Aiolia that much." Ikki simply said. "I have mixed feelings with Shaka, since you sacrificed yourself to defeat him, brother." Shun added, remembering the battle at the 6th house. "But after that i started to appreciate him. I think he was truly the closest man to gods…"
"And now you will gain that title! Also after you became the body of Hades…" Seiya said. "I would rather not remember that…" Shun closed.
"Anyways…i only wish to keep my promise to Aiolos...and show my gratitude towards him." Seiya said with a smile. "Let's show the Gold Saints that we will continue to protect Athena at the full of our forces!" He then said. The other four Saints looked at him with a convinced smile. They were ready to face the final challenge and to make a full change of life, but in better.
"By the way, do you know who the other new Gold Saints are?" Seiya asked, since he heard that there were new candidates for the other Gold Cloths as well.
"No. We don't know nothing." Shiryu answered. "I don't think we even know them." Shun added.
"Really? So it will be a new experience then, uh? I actually feel sorry for Jabu and the others…i thought they were gonna try to earn the title of Gold Saint as well." Seiya said, mentioning the other Bronze Saints.
"Maybe they weren't suitable enough for that." Ikki tried to guess the answer. "They protected my sister from Thanatos! And that is enough for me!" Seiya needed to say his opinion.
"We know, but is the Sanctuary that decides, not you. And by the way, how's Seika?" Hyoga then asked.
"Seika? She's feeling great! I often go to see her and everytime is always a good moment! I'm very happy to have this moments with her after so long…i've finally reached my initial purpose, and now i can move forward even for her!" Seiya answered with a smile. It was a genuine feeling of a brother that was finally reunited with the person he loved the most. An answer that could have moved other people.
In that moment, someone opened the door. It was Saori, who looked at his Saints, happy to see them.
"Lady Saori!" Shun said. "Looking good, i see." Ikki added.
"Thanks Ikki. So…are you guys ready?" Saori then asked. "Yes!" The five answered with resolution.
"Happy to hear that! Also because someone else wish to say to you good luck!" Saori said. She then stepped aside to let in another person. The Saints were at first curious to see who he was, but then they made a big smile to see him.
With his Pope robe and his young body again, the 268 years old Sion entered the room and looked at the young boys. "Good morning young Saints. I've heard that you are all ready to face the day." He said.
"Sion! It's good to see you!" Seiya said. "And yes, we are ready, Pope." Shiryu added.
After Athena saved Seiya from death, she even tried to bring back the Saints that died during the conflict with Hades. So after a long conversation with the voices of the other Olympian Gods, she got the permission to do so. But she could bring back only one person. The spirits of the old Gold Saints were fine with this, since they said that all that matters is that Athena is safe. So she decided to bring back Sion, since she needed a Pope to bring back the order in the Sanctuary. A decision that stunned Sion, but he still was happy to serve the Goddess once again in the name of the peace.
"I'm happy to hear that. As you know, today is the day when you will be remembered in the story of the Sanctuary as the Gold Saints of this generation and take the places of Aiolia, Shaka, my dear friend Dohko, Aiolos and Camus. During the last months, you trained hardly to become more powerful and to increase your cosmo enough to master the 7th and the 8th senses. You also practiced to perform the skills typical of your new constellations. And now your training is almost complete. Only one task is left, each one of it is related to your constellation. Now…Lady Saori already took an airplane to make you reach the destination of your challenge. Once you have completed your quest, call her and she will take you to the Sanctuary, where you'll be nominated as the new Gold Saints. You'll call her…with that strange box…" Sion explained.
"I think you are referring to the telephone, Pope." Seiya said, finding it funny. Seeing a man coming directly from the XVIII century dealing with new technologies wasn't a thing that someone could see every day.
"That." Sion simply said. "And remember, you cannot use your Bronze Cloths during your training. This time, you can only count on your strength and your cosmo. Remember…it's not the power or the Cloth that determines a Saint…" He then started.
"But it's cosmo!" The five saints ended the line. Both Saori and Sion were happy to listen that. Even if they grew, they were still the same boys that had a lot of energy inside of them.
"Pope, what will happen to our Bronze Cloths?" Shun asked curious.
"They will return at the places where you took them when you completed your training, and they will wait the day when a new generation of Bronze Saints will take them." Sion answered with a smile. "They are in good hands, do not worry, young Shun."
"Thank you." Shun said with a smile. "Another question, Pope…what about the other candidates?" Hyoga asked.
"They are already at their destinations, doing the last task."
"Really? Then we better hurry up!" Seiya said panicked. But that made Ikki chuckle. "Hurried as always, Seiya…"
After some minute, they left the hotel and headed to the airport, where an airplane guided by Tokumaru Tatsumi, Saori's storical bodyguard was waiting them. "Hey Tokumaru! I see that you learned something new!"
"Of course! It's my job! God…life continues and you still talk to me that way…" Tokumaru answered a little bit irritated by that.
"Me and Athena will stay here, waiting for your return at the Sanctuary. I wish for you the best of the luck." Sion said. And so…before they left, the five former Bronze Saints looked at their goddess one last time.
"Athena, when we'll come back, you'll hear them call us Gold Saints, we promise!" Seiya said.
"I have no doubt! And i'll cheer for you. Good luck!" Athena answered with a smile. The young Saint then looked at the others with a smile as well. "And we'll do our best! Right?" He asked. It all ended up with them crossing their hands closed with a fist. "Right!" They then got on the plane which, after all the requested passengers were inside, it flew high, reaching the sky, leaving Saori and Sion look at it.
"I never thought i could have the chance to live this moment. And what makes me more happy is that i can live it without the thought of a new Holy War. I really must thank those guys...and i must thank you of course, Athena." Sion said with a smile.
"There's no need of that. I know they will do it. After all they are the Saints of Hope! And they'll also protect you!" Saori answered, happy as ever.
"Eheh…i guess you're right, Athena…or if you want, Lady Saori." Sion ended.
The constellation of Virgo is known to be one of the strongest constellations among the twelve ones of the zodiac. Usually, the Gold Saint of the virgin is known to be the man closest to the gods and the reincarnation of the Buddha. Virgo is also a constellation that doesn't base his cosmo on physical attacks, but mostly on psychic ones, much like Aries. The energy of the virgin is powerful enough to delete all of the five senses in a person.
Due to his zodiac sign, Shun trained in the last months to become the new Gold Saint of Virgo, even if he hated to fight. And since that, he had to train through the meditation and the mind energy, things that he had never done before, since he was used to fight with a chain, but in order to protect Athena better he went to do this and more. Shun was advantaged by the fact that he was a human with a pure heart, so he was more calmer than other people and so the concentration in mental energy was easier for him. And for last thing, due to the relations with the buddhism, Shun had to travel to several places where this type of religion was practiced, like China or Thailand to know better of it. Since he already reached the 8th sense, his last quest was to mantain this calm through the meditation while being completely hit by the sun and without moving a muscle. That's why he was sent in Australia, to the Kings Cannon to be precise, a national park characterized by big canyons. To be more effective, Shun was told to stand at the top of one of these canyons during the sunset, so that the sun could hit him harder. It was painful, but after his training at the Andromeda island and all the enemies he had to face, he wasn't afraid of this trial.
After he landed on Alice Springs, he quickly went to the requested place. He could not use food or water to cool off and in case of danger, he could not use his Cloth or the chains. The least he could use was the Nebula Stream.
"The place is this…i don't know if Shaka had to do a trial like this…but if he did it will too!" He said to himself. The climbing had begun. Shun started to cling on the rocks of the canyon, trying to stay attached to them, choosing carefully which rock take with the hands. During these type of activities it could happen often that a rock could crumble in the moment someone puts a hand on it. This wasn't the first time Shun climbed a mountain, but since he couldn't use his chain the risk was bigger. The boy was able to climb half of the mountain without any problems, but then, when he was about to put a hand on a rock, this one crumbled making him lose balance and to fall. "NO! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Shun looked down as he was coming closer to the ground, but in a moment of panic he used the right solution to escape death. "NEBULA STREAM!" He used his cosmo to generate a soft but large air flow, which surrounded his body. Suddendly, Shun opened his eyes and realized that he wasn't falling anymore. In fact, he was in mid-air. "The wind caused by the stream protects me from falling!" He realized with a smile. "Very good…" So he used this power to float towards the top of the mountain. "Phew…I never thought i could use it this way…anyways i'm arrived…" He said. He looked at the sunset, amazed by the view. "It's beautiful…" He continued to look for some seconds before he got back to his job. He came closer to feel the sunlight better and sat on the ground with his legs crossed. "Now it's time…no water…no food…just me…and the world." He said. He then closed his eyes and put himself in a meditation pose.
Silence. Calm. Concentration. Meditation. Peace. Emptiness. Cosmo.
These were the only thing present on the top of that canyon. When an half an hour was passed, Shun was still calm, concentrated on his meditation and the growth of his cosmo through it. Some sweat drops started to fall from his head, but nothing else. He was still perfectly fine.
Another hour passed. Shun concentrated so much on his cosmo that it even started to be visible. A pink energy started to come out from his body. The result of his concentration was starting to be shown. But also the syntoms of the time spent on that place started to be seen. His muscles were now starting to feel week, the sweat was stronger and he started to breath heavily. But he still felt that he could survive and mantain that position. He could do it.
Another half an hour passed. With this, it has already been two hours since he was there, with no water or food. But the weakness of the body was stronger…the throat was dry and it could even feel a sense of hunger. To make things even worse, he could feel that every part of his body was so hot that he looked like he stood inside a furnace. His cosmo was bigger, now the pink aura coming out from his body was bigger. But he was also feeling week…but his cosmo was becoming bigger…but he was also feeling week…he could still do it…right?
Two other hours had passed. The sun was going to disappear from one moment to another. But the physical pain was now too big. He could feel hunger, thirst, fatigue, muscular pain and sweat that soaked almost all of his clothes. The breath was heavier, the strenght was starting to fade. Shun was about to faint. But the cosmo still grew bigger. Now it even changed color from pink to a bright gold. This was the proof that his cosmo was now becoming one typical of a Gold Saint. He had to survive this situation that looked like a plague to him. But how many time he had been there? Maybe what looked like an eternity for him were actually some minutes passed (A thing that of course wasn't true). He lost the perception of space and time by now…what could happen?
And then…another hour had passed and the sun disappeared. Shun almost completed his task. It was almost over but…he couldn't tell…because now his mind was distorted by the heat of the sun and the pain of his body. He had his eyes closed for all of this time, like he was sleeping. All that he saw in that black vision were distorted lines or figures, something that was falling apart or completely changing form. His ears were whistling, his body was risking to smoke due to the heat he had received for all that time, his nose sensed nothing, he was so weak that he could not even move his mouth, which was dry. It was almost sure: Shun was about to collapse. But he still had to resist. Just a little more. Just a little bit more! But how could he done that?
Only his mind was able to talk. "I have burned my cosmo at the maximum level by now…if i can resist for some minute the task will be complete…but i feel that my body can't handle it…but i also feel that i have to do this…for Lady Saori and for my brother. I promised to him to be strong and fight…but…i can't sense nothing by now…i need order…i need…peace!"
But…
It was in that last word that Shun found out what he helped him during all those hours and it was the solution to resist. Now he got it…
Silence. Calm. Concentration. Meditation. Peace. Emptiness. Cosmo.
The solution was clear: He didn't have to matter about the pain of his body…all he needed was to forget his body…and focus on his mind. So without even knowing it…he did the same position with the hands of Shaka. "Oooooooohm…" His cosmo grew bigger, as he was surrounding him, golden and brightful as ever.
Inside his mind, he imagined to be on a garden, where petals were moved by the wind, and where two trees were standing one close to another. Shun looked the place and made a smile. For him…this was the perfect situation of peace.
"Oh yes…this garden…it was also in the 6th house…it is said that the Buddha died here…." He said. "Now i know…to be one with the cosmo, with the gods…it takes a lot of effort…but it seems…that i'm finally able to do it…" He then walked towards the point between the two trees, sat down and meditated with a smile. "Shaka…i'm sure that you too had to pass through a terrible pain. Far more bigger than what i had to go through. But you still walked forward…because you were sure that in the end…you would have found peace…and now i'm sure i can do…the same." He spoke, as he heard the petals being moved by the wings.
The peaceful vision on his mind was over, and he could finally open his eyes. Even if he found peace, his body was still in terrible conditons, so he stood up very slowly. He could feel all of his muscles struggling after all that time spent in the meditation, the terribly dry throat and his very weak bones. "…My task is over…now i have to go back and advise Lady Saori…but first…" He said.
Shun returned to the city very slowly for the pain, and the first thing he done was to head to the nearest bar. When the other clients saw him were panicked for his conditions and immediately grabbed him. "Hey! Are you ok?" One of them said.
"Y-yes…i only need water…and some food please…" Shun replied with panting voice. The bartender immediately understood the situation and nodded. "Of course, i'll come back very quickly. Just wait a second, please!" She said.
After some minutes, Shun was drinking eight glasses of water and ended an entire bowl of fruits. It was like he didn't eat for at least a month, but it was justified by the terrible task he had to take. "Aaaaaah…thank you very much." He said to the bartender, bowing his head.
"Y-you're welcome…i really wonder what you did for being in that situation…are you sure you can go alone now? Is there something you need?" The bartender asked, still afraid of his conditions.
"Actually…there is something. I have to make a call." Shun simply replied.
After that, Shun was at the bar's telephone. With the receiver raised, he was waiting for someone to answer on the other side. Finally someone took the call. "Hello?" It was Tokumaru.
"Oh it's you, Tokumaru! Could you please pass me Lady Saori?" Shun asked. "Oh, Shun! Of course." The waiter answered. After one minute of silence, Shun could hear the voice of her goddess. "Shun, is that you?"
"Lady Saori! Yes, it's me. I'm happy to tell you that i have completed the job!" Shun said with a happy tone.
"Really? That's wonderful! I'm happy to hear that you mastered the 8th sense, Shun. Now you are a complete Gold Saint! I can't wait to see you in action at the Sanctuary!" Saori said with a happy tone. Shun smiled as well and thought of those words. "...A Gold Saint, uh?" "Very well. Wait at the airport. We'll pass there to get you." Saori ended.
After the call was over, Shun thanked once again the bartender and left the local. It was night, and the young boy, who was now going to become the new Gold Saints of Virgo was now walking through the streets in order to head at the airport. "I completed my task…but how the others went?"
While Shun was completing his training in Australia, the other four Saints were doing the last act of their formations as well. And one of them was heading to a place that was well known from the Saints: The Pamir. A mountain range situated in the between of China and the countries of the East Europe. Once, this place was known to be the residence of some of the old Gold Saints, like Sage, the Gold Saint of Cancer of the Holy war of the XVI century and the pope of the XVIII century, or Mu, the previous Gold Saint of Aries, one of the strongest Gold Saints but still devoted to justice, who helped the five Saints and Athena several times. After Mu returned to the Sanctuary, this place became more desert, isolated. But now, one Saint was going there, but a different one.
Seiya jumped from one mountain to another, until he saw in the distance a white tower. "There we are. This is the destination." He said, before looking around. "The Pamir…back when the Black Saints stole the fake Gold Cloth…Shiryu came here to ask Mu if he could repair our Cloths…I also heard that he risked his life to do that, and i'll be forever grateful for this. Well, this is the perfect occasion to pay my debt." He added.
"Pay the debt for something that happened seven years ago?" A voice asked him from behind. Seiya surprised turned back and saw a boy with clear brown hair, purple eyes, two signs on the front wearing a brown jacket, green pants and a white scarf around his neck. Seiya recognized him, since he was a friend that actually helped him in the past.
"Kiki! Is that you?" Seiya asked. The boy made a small laugh and nodded. "Glad to see that you still remember me!" He said. "Of course! How could i forget a guy like you?" Seiya replied with a smile as well.
"So..i've heard that you are about to complete your training to become a Gold Saint, right?" Kiki asked. "Yes, it's true…but wait, how did you know?" Seiya asked. "I remained in contact with the Sanctuary during all of these years, especially with Marin, your teacher! Plus the Pope had been my master's master! So i'm always welcome there!" Kiki explained.
"Marin, uh? I'm happy to hear that…she had always been there for me…anyways…i'm feeling a little bit anxious for that, but i'm still determinated to achieve this goal! For Lady Saori and for Aiolos!" Seiya said. "…Oh…about that…" He then turned to Kiki "Why didn't you manage to start the training for being the next Gold Saint of Aries? Wasn't it your dream?" He asked.
"Oh, that? Yes…it was my dream. But then, when i tried to train myself…i realized i was too weak. So i gave up." Kiki answered. "But don't worry! The future Gold Saint of Aries is very promising! I can assure you!"
"What? That is unexpected from you! But Kiki…i don't think you are that weak!" Seiya said with a serious tone.
"You serious?" The other boy asked. "Yes. Remember when we were in the realm of Poseidon? How brave you were to deliver the Cloth of Libra or when you got all the hits from Isacc? You also protected my sister from Thanatos's attacks. You are a brave guy, Kiki…you just need to be more persistent. If you do your best i'm sure you will become a great Saint!" Seiya explained.
Kiki was moved by those words and decided to follow his suggestion. Seiya looked a bit like Aiolia, the one who inspired the Pegasus Saint when he was a child. "Ok! I'll try and make Master Mu proud!"
"That's the spirit!" Seiya said happily. "But tell me…who is the new Saint of Aries?" He then asked.
"It's a boy named Chirin. He is your same age!" Kiki replied. "Chirin? Never heard of him…" Seiya noticed. "It's a strange guy, but if Sion accepted to train him, he must be an asset!" Kiki added, surprising the future Sagittarius Saint. "What? He was trained by Sion?"
Kiki simply nodded. "Incredible…maybe the other new Gold Saints are more than we think…but if that so i won't stand behind them! I'll go now, Kiki! Remember what i taught you!" Seiya said, before resuming the journey. "Bye Seiya! Good luck!"
Seiya came closer and closer to the white tower, ready to accomplish his test to become the next Gold Saint of Saggittarius.
With the previous Gold Saint, Aiolos, this constellation got a lot of importance in the Sanctuary. The Sagittarius usually belonged to a person who was determined, brave, strong and devoted to Athena. But it also belonged to someone who had to pass through terrible situations and suffering. But it also represented a ray of hope, like the arrow that Seiya shoot against Poseidon. Seiya used to show all of these attributes in the previous battles, but despite this, in the last months he had to train his body and his mind to be a figure that could give protection and security to the others, holding in his mind the words that Aiolos gave to him and to the other four saints. Maybe his fears of last night were still hunting them, but Seiya had to go through this. After all, this was a task like the others. He gained the Pegasus Cloth after years of tough training, he got through thousands of enemies, he got through the twelve houses, he defeated Saga, he freed Hilda and helped to defeat gods like Poseidon and Hades. This for him, was just a simple mission. "Seiya…you can do it!"
In the end, he arrived at the white tower. Since it was uninhabited, the door was open, so Seiya could simply enter. The inside was full of home furniture, which, judging by the look dated to centuries before. "This palace must be ancient…" Seiya noticed. But suddendly, the door closed behind him. "What!?" Seiya exclaimed. He tried to open it, but it didn't move. "It's not opening! What the hell is going on? Ok…guess i'll have to do it again…Pegasus Ryu Sei Ken!" So he tried to open it with his special attack, but nothing happened. "It's no use…it's locked." Seiya looked at the door and then he turned around and yelled. "Is there someone here? If this is a joke, it's not funny!"
But no one answered.
"…There's someone inside this palace. I'm sure of it." Seiya simply ended. And in the end he did the only thing he could do: Climbing the tower.
The climb of the tower was circular. Seiya went forward in silence. But he was actually thoughtful. What was going on? Who planned to lock him inside? Was it organized by Athena and Sion? Was this the work of a new enemy? Was it because he defeated gods like Poseidon and Hades? He…just didn't know. But if he didn't continue to climb, he couldn't get an answer.
And in the end, he reached the top of the tower. But there wasn't too much. Only an empty room with a heater with the windows closed. "What is the meaning of this…?" Seiya asked.
"You are confused, right?" A voice in the head asked. Seiya widened his eyes and looked around. "W-what was that? Did i imagined?"
"Oh thank you! Just because everything is close doesn't mean that someone can enter!" The voice said again. "I thought that a Saint like you could predict something like this."
"How did you know that i am a Saint!?" Seiya asked, starting to get irritated. "It's only natural. A normal person could never arrive here completely. Only people like a Saint of Athena would have come this far." The voice said.
"I've had enough! Who are you!?" Seiya exclaimed. "I'm just one of the many entities that live here in the Pamir. You can call me simply Darkness. Because i am what you see…" The voice answered, showing itself as a black smoke, much like Hades's spirit. "What the-!?" Seiya said, as he looked the entity.
"I'm what you humans call 'Parassite'. I can see in your heart and i can take the form of your greatest fears!" Darkness said.
Seiya was stunned at first when he saw him. But he immediately returned to his brave attitude and was ready to fight. "So the trial is about eliminating you! Fine! I have faced enemies and gods of every type! I won't be afraid to defeat you as well!" He said, as he put himself in his fight pose.
"You really think so, Saint? Do you really think you are ready for the future that awaits you as one of the most important bodyguards of the goddess Athena?" Darkness asked.
"What? How did you know that?" Seiya asked. "As i told you…i can see the feelings that hunt your heart, your life, your ambitions! And i can see that you are going to become a Gold Saint, but tell me…do you think that you are capable of being the successor of someone as Aiolos of Sagittarius?" Darkness continued to play with his mind, but now it was all useless. Seiya already knew what to answer, after many experience in fighting and after having the right strength and resolution to carry on. "Of course! Besides…i know that i'll never reach the level of someone like Aiolos…but…even if i can't do it, i'll still have to do my duty as a Saint of Athena! And if she wants me to do it, then i'll do it! Even if it costs me my life!" He answered.
"Such courage…is interesting…Very well! If you are so convinced that you are able to do this jump of your life then prove it to me!" Darkness exclaimed before he started to take a familiar form to the young Saint.
"That form…is that-!?" Seiya exclaimed.
It was a vision that it could have shock everyone at first, since for Seiya it was a familiar figure. Way too familiar: Darkness took the form of Seiya himself with the cloth of Sagittarius, but coloured with a dark purple. "That is the Sagittarius Cloth…but it looks like a surplice…" He thought.
"Prove to me that you are ready to face your future!" Darkness exclaimed with a large grin on his face, before running towards Seiya to attack him.
"Don't think is that easy!" Seiya said. He then tried to attack him with some punches and kicks, but the opponent immediately avoided them and countered with a punch of his own on his face. This made Seiya get pushed some meters away from him. Seiya held his face as he saw his enemy incredulous. "H-hey! His speed and his strength are just like a Gold Saint!" He said. Darkness simply looked at him with still a smile on his face. "Fine! Guess i'll have to change method! Pegasus Ryu Sei Ken!" Seiya tried to use his special attack, but still, Darkness blocked the attack with no effort. "It's no use! He just deflected it!"
"What a fool! Without your armor, you can't increase your cosmo! The only thing you can do is take all the hits and go to the other world! And now take your own attack!" Darkness exclaimed, using the Ryu Sei Ken against the Saint.
Seiya tried his best to deflect it, but he still got it and got slammed to the ground. "AGH! They're…too fast…" He said, panting.
"There, have you realized the situation? And thus…ends the tale of the Saint Seiya, the man who stood up against the gods…what a pitiful end to be killed by a simple spirit like me…guess that after this my reputation will be much bigger! SAY GOODBYE!" Darkness was going to stab him with his hand, but at the last moment, Seiya blocked him.
"WHAT!?" Darkness exclaimed. "What is happening to him!? What is this cosmo!?"
Seiya raised his head and looked at him with a convinced smile. "Perfect! TAKE THIS!" He shouted, by giving him a powerful kick, which made Darkness fell to the ground.
"No way! What is this power!?" Darkness asked, stunned.
"That is simple! At first i was scared because you made me doubt about my future again, but after i saw what were you doing i was certain to know what to do in order to stop you! You are just a replica of me that uses my attacks! Just like the Black Pegasus i've faced a long time ago!" Seiya explained.
"What!? Are you saying that you were just pretending to be weak in order to know me better?!" Darkness asked.
"Yes! You don't fright me! I have doubted myself many times during my life, but after seeing how many road i have made…i realize that this is nothing! Just like when i gained my Bronze Cloth…i'll just let my Cosmo to guide my way! NOW TAKE THIS! PEGASUS RYU SEI KEN!" Seiya started to increase his cosmo, reaching higher dimension than before and then used his thousand fists again, this time, hitting the enemy.
"GAAAAAAAAH!" Darkness got all the hits and his Cloth started to crack. "THIS FISTS WERE NOT LIKE THIS BEFORE!" "AND I'M NOT DONE YET!" Seiya exclaimed, grabbing him from behind. "WHAT!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? STOP!"
"PEGASUS ROLLING CRASH!" Seiya threw himself high, destroying the roof of the tower, and slamming on the ground his enemy. After that he jumped away from him.
Darkness layed to the ground with the Cloth completely shattered, trembling. "I-impossible! How can you be so sure!? N-NO…NO MAN CAN BE LIKE YOU!" He then came back to his original form and imploded.
"Athena…guys…Aiolos…never again i'll let my heart sink into fear and anxiety…From now on, i'll continue to do my duty as a Saint by looking forward and always trying to find a way to fight! I'll never surrender!" Seiya vowed by raising his fist to the sky with a smile. "Now…my task is complete. After all these years…i'll become a Gold Saint…" He then thought.
After the battle, he exited and looked at the horizion, shined by the burning sun. "Now…i have to go to a city and call Lady Saori. And then…straight to Greece."
The Absolute Zero is the lowest temperature a body can reach. It's equal to -273, 15° under zero. It is said that there is no place in the world with this temperature (Someone said that maybe there is in the Mariannes Trench, but it is not fully confirmed). But there are people that through their cosmo they reach this temperature and use it to freeze the opponent to death. These were Saints that used the ice as their main power. Men who were usually trained in the coldest lands of the earth like the gigantic Siberia. And all of these Saints were usually related to one constellation in particular:
Aquarius.
The Gold Saint of Aquarius was the one known as the master of the cold energies and the Absolute Zero. Someone who could increase his cosmo by using the cold on the outside but being a warm person on the inside. Just like the candidate for the Gold Cloth of this constellation.
Hyoga was walking through the city in silence. His mind was full of thoughts and memories. Especially the ones with his mentor: The previous Gold Saint of Aquarius, Camus.
"Master…for so long, you have taught me the ways of the cold energies. You taught me how to keep cool, how to be strong, how to be clever, but most importantly…you taught me how to look to the future. At first, when i was training and when i became a Saint, all that i cared was to see my mother again, without realizing that she was my weakness. It was tough and painful, but by making her wreck sink, you helped me how to stay strong and look forward. Now…this moment could not make me more proud or joyful. I'll promise you that i'll defend Athena and the world like you did and i'll prove to be a worthy Gold Saint." This was his thought.
The place where he landed was Italy. Most precisely, Sicily, the biggest part of the peninsula. Here, Hyoga had to face the exact opposite of what was his element: Fire.
Hyoga, in this moment was in the city of Catania and, to his unawareness, he caught the attention of the people that was walking around. Some people were looking at him with a confused stare, mostly because of the clothes that he was wearing. But at the same time many girls were looking at him with a lovely stare, finding him cute.
Hyoga frowned at them, and looked away. "I never thought i could be this popular with women…but i don't know how Freya would react if they saw this." Hyoga said, remembering the girl she met at the lands of Asgard. After the travel to the past to save Seiya, Hyoga started to see Freya more often and started to like her attitude. Was it love?
But he couldn't think of this right now. He had to carry on his duty. "Despite all, this place is beautiful. I can now understand why many people love Italy. But my main target is up there…" Hyoga thought, looking up and seeing a volcano in the distance. "I've had different experiences with fire. First i've fought the Silver Saint Babel, and then i fought Hagen inside a lava cave during my mission at Asgard. But now i have to act on a real place that deals with lava. I have…to freeze the inside of a volcano."
After some other road, Hyoga finally arrived at the foot of the volcano, where he was going to accomplish his task. This vulcanic mountain was known as Etna, the tallest volcano of Italy. It was taller and more violent than the Vesuvius, the volcano that destroyed the ancient Pompeii. Its frequent eruptions often changed the surrounding enviroment, destroying even homes during the time. Hyoga now had to appease the anger of this powerful mountain. But his ability to reach the Absolute Zero made him more calm. "Ok…here we go."
Luckily, no one was able to see him in that moment, So Hyoga ran and jumped towards the top of the volcano,when he saw the inside full of lava. The blonde man could already feel the sweat on his head caused by the heat. "This won't be easy…but i'll still make it! Let's go!" Hyoga said, before jumping on the opening of the volcano.
By making attention, Hyoga landed on a piece of rock near the top. Hyoga had to be careful even before he could reach the core of the volcano, because the collapse of only one rock could make him fall to the magma. Even if he couldn't admit, he was feeling his heart making heavy heartbeats. "Remember to stay cold…do it for him." He thought, remembering what he had to do to be calm. So he took more courage and jumped to another rock. Everything went fine, so he took a sigh of relief. This time, he took less time to jump on the other rock and then to another one, and he kept on like this. Also, the jumps he made were full of elegance. It looked like he was flying, just like a swan, the same one that he was used to be.
He kept doing this for at least three minutes before he reached some rocks that together formed a road. Before he continued, he decided to lay on the ground in order to relax his muscles, since he had to mantain a certain balance from one jump to another. "It's been so long since the last time i have risked my life for something like this. I'm actually feeling…more normal, even if this is not normal." He said.
One minute later, he stood up and looked down, seeing that he was almost close to the core. "There we are…" He then walked to reach it. The space was extremely restricted and the core looked huge. "I have to freeze this, and the volcano with it. Ok…let's make a test. Diamond Dust!" Hyoga started with a small blizzard coming from his fist. As he expected, when the attack touched the core, it instantely became vapor and resulted immune. "I knew it…after all it was a small attack…ok…let's see what i can do with an area attack." Hyoga said. Then, everything around him started to become ice. He was trying to surround the area with another attack. "Freezing Coffin."
But even this resulted to be futile. Soon, the ice melt when it touched the core of the volcano and the surrounding lava. "Curses…this isn't the first time when my attacks don't work…but it still makes me cringe when it happens." He said, while gritting his teeth. But then he slapped himself. "No! Calm down Hyoga! Remember to stay chill." He added. He then looked at the volcano more precisely, before increasing his cosmo white as the snow. "Just focus on your mission…and reach the 7th sense to unleash the power of the ice! Aurora Thunder Attack!" He then used another attack, shooting balls of ice energy repeatedly. But this time, the attack showed some results. When Hyoga stopped to use his technique he noticed that there were some small parts of the core covered in ice, even if they immediately broke up. The temperature wasn't right yet.
"It's working. But it's not enough… but if i increase my cosmo i- What!? What am i feeling?" Hyoga interrupted himself when he noticed something dangerous. From the right he was feeling extremely hot, while on the left he was extremely cold. This mix of temperatures were caused by the heat of the lava and all the attacks that he used to freeze the core. For a man, this could have been a deadly situation.
"Oh no…after using so many attacks in a place like this, i ended up to mix both the heat and the cold. If i stay here for longer my body could not resist a continuous change of temperature and i'm going to die!" He said, looking at the situation. But then he remembered what he just said before and closed his eyes. He thought of his master once again, but this time he also thought of other people that were important to him: The Saints who fought with him in the previous battles, Athena, the Gold Saint Milo, his friend Isacc and his mother. He wanted to show them that thanks to them, he could finally walk forward at the best of his skills. The cold on the outside and the warm on the inside. This was the usual behaviour of the Saint of Aquarius. A behaviour that even Hyoga had, even if he didn't know. "I cannot be scared by a situation like this…that's it! I'll use all of my cosmo to finish this!" He said with a resolute tone. He then closed his hands in an amphora and aimed at the volcano. "This is the most powerful technique of the cold energies! AURORA EXECUTION!" He then shoot from the hands a terrible ice bilzzard at the core, which erased every track of heat in the volcano, replacing it with an outstanding cold and he surrounded the volcano with a strate ice. Now it looked like Hyoga was inside an ice cave. But his main goal was another. And was relieved to see that his attack made the result that he wanted.
The core was completely covered in ice, along with the lava, this also made Hyoga easier to get out of there. "I did it…master, i can finally succeed you! I promise that i won't disappoint you." He said with a smile, looking at the sun.
After some minutes, he could finally come back at the top and get out of the volcanic mountain. Before he came back to the city and head to the airport, he looked back at the volcano, thinking of what he had just done. "Even if i used the Absolute Zero, i'm sure that this won't stop this powerful volcano. Maybe in a few days, it will be able to free from the ice. But now i have other things to do." He said, starting to descend the high mountain. Another Saint made it.
Turning back into a place that caused you a trauma after so long could give you a strange effect, but the scars still remain, because the memories flow back inside your mind. But at the same time you can still resist because that was all in the past.
This was an effect that Ikki had to take, in order to accomplish his mission to take his Gold Cloth: The one of Leo. A constellation that usually represented the strength and the courage, like the previous Gold Saint of the constellation: Aiolia. He was the brother of Aiolos, the one marked as a traitor and the original savior of Athena. For many years he had to live with the fact that he was the brother of what people considered to be a criminal. But after many battles with his companions after he met Athena and Seiya, and after defeating Loki on Asgard with the other Gold Saints, includng his own brother, Aiolia could finally accept his identity and fight as one of the most righteous Saint that history had ever known. Ikki never had many interactions with Aiolia, but he still respected him for the saint that he was, and he was also happy to be his successor, even if his career as a Saint didn't begin well. He started by trying to become the strongest Saint ever and attempting to destroy the others, but his brother Shun and the other Saint made him open his eyes and change for the better, making him rise against death many times, just like a phoenix.
Ikki arrived at his destination for a while. A place of his past: The Death Queen Island. This was the same place where he got trained to become the Bronze Saint of Phoenix. An island made only of painful memories and frightening figures. The young Saint could still remember all the attacks and all the shouts he had to take from his cruel mentor, who trained him to be a man with no emotions and no regrets. But there was someone who could keep him a tender boy: A girl named Esmeralda, someone who had pure feelings for him. But at a certain point, this ended, because Ikki's mentor killed her. This made the Saint boil with rage and finally destroyed him. But the hate still remained in him and he fought with the other Saints for that. But fortunately, those times were over. Ikki could be a more kind person and keep the memory of her friend. The rest of his story was written by the fights he had with the Sanctuary, the God Warriors, Poseidon and Hades.
"First i came here to became a Bronze Saint, and now i came here to become a Gold one…guess that this place still hunts me." Ikki ironically commented. "Anyways…i've heard that there is someone who is plotting against the Sanctuary and my task is to show my strength in stopping them…but who could ever be?"
"That's strange to hear that from you!" A voice from behind said. Ikki heard it and turned around, only to be surprised to see their identity. There were at least six figures that had what looked like the Phoenix Cloth, but with only a difference: They were coloured in black. These men were known as the Black Phoenixes, a group of soldiers who followed Ikki when he first came back to Japan and attempted to steal what everyone thought to be the Gold Cloth of Sagittarius. Some of them got defeated by Seiya and the other Saints, while these ones stayed close to Ikki before he went to fight the other Saints.
"It's you…and you are still wearing those Cloths. I was actually wondering what happened to you." Ikki said.
"It's simple, Ikki. We only thought about revenge." One of them answered. "Revenge?" Ikki asked. "YES! Revenge on you and the Sanctuary!" Another one answered angrily.
"When you came back to life, we were relieved because we thought we could be at your side again and gain the power once again. But then we got horrified by what you have done next! You became a Saint of Athena! You became the same thing you swore to destroy! And you never thought of coming back here to gave us order! We could never forgive you and for so long we have plotted to destroy you once and for all for your choices! You'll know what we felt during these seven years!" The third one said.
Ikki simply looked at them and then closed his eyes and gave his answer. "You are right. Maybe it wasn't that kind of me to leave you without saying anything and i'm sorry for that….but! This doesn't justify what you're planning to do to Athena and my friends!" He exclaimed.
"FRIENDS!? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?" A Black Phoenix exclaimed.
"That's right friends. They became this to me. Even if i did horrible things in the past, they made me realize that even a demon like me can leave his past behind and change. The more i look at this island, the more i realize of how have i changed during these years. Something that you could not do!" He answered. "Listen well! The Ikki that you know is dead! And from his ashes a Saint of Athena was born! Someone who now will protect Athena much closer than before as a Gold Saint!" He vowed.
Those words made the Black Phoenix lose their patience, as they threw theirself to attack him. "WE HAD ENOUGH!" "IF YOU ARE A SAINT, THEN YOU ARE OUR ENEMY! DIE!" They exclaimed.
But Ikki wasn't afraid of this, and used his cosmo to attack. "Why did you make me do this? Fine, if that is what you want, i'll show no mercy! This is a power that i gained by changing into a new person, just like Aiolia! LIGHTNING PLASMA!" He then shoot many filaments of light that totally hit them. The six men shouted in pain before they fell on the ground with their Cloths completely broken. They were dead.
"You remained the same not only in mind but also in strength. Even with the power i had when i was with you, i would have been able to defeat you with only one attack. This…was kinda like facing the me of the past. Anyways, it's over. And it was easier than i thought." He said. "I promise to not come back the one i was. Now…i need to find a way to contact Lady Saori, so she can come here and take me…"
Another Saint had passed his text. Now there was only one left.
There is an old chinese legend that says that if a carp manages to go up a waterfall, it'll magically become a dragon. This mythological figure is highly related to the 7th constellation of the Zodiac: The Libra.
The Gold Saint of the Libra was known to be one of the only two Gold Saints that can use a weapon. To be more precise, The Gold Saint of Libra could use six different types of weapons, and all of them were so powerful that it is said that they could even destroy the stars.
For over two centuries, the Gold Saint of Libra was known to be Dohko. He was one of the few survivors of the holy war that took place in the XVIII century. He survived with his friend, Sion of Aries, who then became the new pope. After the war, Dohko retired himself at Mount Ronzan, watching over the prison of Hades's army for 243 years with the look of an old man. During the years that preceded the last Holy War, he trained Shiryu in order to make him become the new Saint of the Dragon. It was a strong and wise figure, that participated at the final clash with Hades and destroyed the Wailing Wall with the other twelve Gold Saints. His life ended with one last battle with Loki at Asgard. Then, he too, finally rested in peace.
But his memory layed in his pupil, Shiryu and Shunrei, the girl that he raised and ended up having a romantic relationship with Shiryu. They surely missed him, but they did not fall apart for this, because they were sure that he was way too proud of the direction they had taken. This was another reason why Shiryu was determinated to become the next Gold Saint of Libra. Not to make him more proud, but to make him happy of the result that he got. Shiryu was already known to be a wise figure between all the Saints, but now he could even be a reference figure among the Gold Saint, the most important warriors at the service of Athena.
The destination of the former Bronze Saint was between the United States of America and Canada, for one of the most beautiful scenarios in the world: The Niagara Falls.
Due to his relation with the Moint Ronzan , it was only natural that his last training had to deal with waterfall. But Shiryu knew the his home far too well, since he inverted the course of the waterfall in order to get the Bronze Cloth of the Dragon. So Sion was careful to choose the challenge for the end of his training. And in the end, it conisted to go up an entire waterfall, just like the legend said.
Shiryu was there. At the foot of the three waterfalls, looking up. "So these are the famous Niagara Falls. I'm actually have to be grateful to Sion if i can behold a natural spectatle like this." He said. He then touched it with his index figure and felt the impetus of the water. "It's really fast! But compared to what i did in order to become a Saint and compared to the training of the previous months, this is not that scary. But…i also have to be careful and to not underestimate these waterfalls. The underestimation is the first error of a warrior." He thought. He knew that it was pretty dangerous for a Saint like him, but he still wanted to go on. Saints didn't give up so early. So he took a deep breath and took his clothes off, leaving only a pair of pants. "Master, let me show you the results of your trainings on me. I won't dissapoint you!" He said.
"Ok! Here i come!" Shiryu began the training by jumping on the waterfall. But soon, the strength of the water pushed him down. "What!? Gah!" The young boy ended up falling on the water. When he got up he swam to reach a rock and coughed. "Just as i thought…the speed of the water is the most big difficulty i have to face. Plus…" He said, looking at the rocks. If i fall on one of those, i'll break my back and i could die. Just as hard as i thought the training to become a Gold Saint would be." He added.
But Shiryu still stood up and looked at the waterfall. "No matter! I have faced death several times in the past, this time won't affect me neither. Just remember your training at the Ronzan Waterfall. They're similar…so use your experience to find a break…" He said.
Shiryu looked at the waterfall very carefully and saw that its rhythm was continous. There wasn't a moment where the waterfull was more soft or more powerful. So it more a fact of resistance. It all depended on how much water the former Bronze Saint could take. "Probably i can't just climb on the rocks. I'm sure they would find that too easy so they won't count it. It's sure that i have to jump on it if i want to complete this mission. Hmm…let's see what i can get if i jump on the point where the water touches the sea." So he decided to start on the lowest point this time. Shiryu could feel the water passing through all of his body. "It's like taking a cold shower…if i can pass through this, i have to see if i can survive from a terrible cold." Shiryu said jokingly. "Hey…i've made a joke! I rarely do them…maybe Seiya affected me. But never mind! Let's jump!" He exclaimed, before doing his second attempt. This time, he went to reach a quarter of the waterfall, before he fella gain to the water. "Ugh…after all these are the first attempts. I cannot expect to end quickly." He commented. Then he saw the rocks. "Ok…now let's try from the highest point."
So he reached the tallest rock and tried for the third time, reaching just over a quarter of the waterfall, and then he fell again. "Anf…anf…i'm making little progresses…i just have to try until i find to the right strategy." Shiryu said.
And he tried several times, using different methods. Jumping from a middle point, from one of the sides, making a diagonal jump. Once he even tried to swim through the waterfall, but this was one of the worst attempt of course. But Shiryu laughed at it. He tried because he wanted to relax from the situation. But this didn't help to make him recover his stamina.
The Saint was starting to feel very tired, especially at the legs. And the breathes were starting to get heavier. Plus, the sun was starting to going down, so Shiryu would have start to feel cold in his exposed body.
"I'm still here…and the top is right there…at this point my body won't be able to make it further…but all that i gained were pieces of the waterfall." Shiryu commented. But…his attention was caught on a word that he said. "Wait…pieces…pieces…" He then looked back at the waterfall and thought of an important thing. "There are surely rocks under the water….what if…let's try!" Shiryu said. After that reflection he decided to jump on the waterfall, but this time, not for trying to reach the top, but to go beyond of it. And when he came closer he saw what he expected: Rocks. So he tried to them, managing to do it. "It worked! After all it's natural…i couldn't make it with only one jump. I had to divide the work in parts. Very well, let's continue!" He then tried to make another jump, but this time, the water behind him made him fall again. "Anf…anf…ok, Shiryu…there's no need to get worried. Now you know how to do it. You just have to keep moving forward!" He said, increasing his cosmo. "Master…the words i said before…i'll make them true!"
Then, with all of his energies he jumped again towards the rocks, sticking to them. He then made another jump and this time, he was able to stick to other rocks that were situated higher. He kept doing this for more time, making at least four more jumps, until he could finally see the top. "One last push…burn my cosmo! Give me strength!" He exclaimed. With one final jump, Shiryu raised his fist high in the sky and reached the top of the waterfall. "I…did it…"
He then sat down on the grass, taking deep breaths, with a big smile and with some tears on his eyes. He was just happy. Happy to have realized what he said before. Happy to see with his own eyes that he was going to become someone like his mentor. "Master…i've finally did it…i'm going to become a…a….a…ACHOO!" Before he could finish his line he had to sneeze. "Oh great…i knew it…now i have to deal with a cold."
After returning to the bottom of the waterfall (By walking now, of course) He put his clothes back on and headed to the airport, where he would have waited for the airplane for the Kido foundation.
Some hour later, Shiryu was waiting right there, where he saw a small dot in the sky becoming bigger and bigger and coming closer to the airport. After some minutes, Shiryu recognized it as the airplane that came to take him to Greece.
So he reached it and in that moment, the door of the airplane opened showing Seiya, Hyoga, Shun, Ikki, and Saori coming towards him. "Hey Shiryu!" Seiya said happily.
"So you made it as well!" Hyoga added. "Yes, i did. And i suppose you managed to do it as well." Shiryu answered.
"You can say that again!" Seiya said. "For some of us it was even the easiest thing." Ikki added.
"Guys…i'm very happy to see that you all made it. I always believed you could do it, just like you did in the past. And now…only one destination: Let's head back to the Sanctuary!" She said, before everyone entered to the airplane.
The plane was guided by Tokumaru, who headed the guide in a calm and balanced way, thanks even to the absence of clouds in the sky. The plane was alone, surrounded by a deep blue sky of the night, where the stars could have been seen in all of their splendor. A view that everyone wanted to have at least one more time. Those same stars that the Saints have seen many times through their lives. And now, they were gonna represent the most important ones. The same ones that roteate around the highest one: The sun. Since the Gold Saints represented the ecliptic. They were the eclptic that stayed close to the sun, which in this case, was their friend Lady Saori, the Goddess Athena.
Seiya looked outside the window with the hand on his chin. He thought of the long day he had and the moment when he was going back to the 9th House, the place that now was going to become his home. This time, the Sanctuary was going to uffically become the place where he was going to live. He had passed many years in the Sanctuary, so living there made no difference for him. The other Saints thought of it as well.
"Can you guys believe that we are now uffically Gold Saints?" Shun asked so that he could break the ice.
"I know…it's an incredible sensation…for many years we watched them in all of their magnificence and virtue. And now…thinking that we are going to take their place…" Shiryu answered. "Especially me…"
"Don't worry guys! We have made it this far, so this new life won't be that bad!" Seiya said. "Today, while i was doing my task, i had doubted of my skills, but then i thought about you guys and promised to myself that i wouldn't never let you down anymore. It's also thanks to you if i am the man that i am today. I want you to know that…i consider you my family! I love you guys!" He added.
"Seiya! You'll make us commove!" Shun said, pleased. "Personally i am neutral." Hyoga commented with his icy tone.
"HYOGA! FOR ONCE THAT I TRY TO BE AFFECTIONATE!" Seiya shouted. "Ahaha! Come on, i'm joking! I care about you too, stupid!" Hyoga said, laughing before he hugged his friend. "I too am happy of this. To think that i am going to succeed my master Camus…it's just…a dream that finally came true…" He added. And without even knowing it, he started to cry. Of course, those were tears of joy. Shiryu came closer and hugged him as well. "Me too, Hyoga."
"That's adorable, but i would stay in the seats if i were you." Ikki said with his serious tone.
"IKKI! YOU TOO!?" Seiya exclaimed, making Saori laugh. "It has been a long time since we had a moment like this." She said.
"Well, you know, we were busy to defeat powerful gods after all!" Seiya added, trying to be comic.
"By the way, Lady Saori, do you know if the other candidates have made it?" Shiryu asked. The reincarnation of Athena looked at him and nodded. "Yes. They did it, but you are the first ones to arrive after completing your task. Probably you'll see them tomorrow, since they have to come here by their own."
"Why couldn't they come with us?" Shun asked. "Because there wasn't enough space. But don't worry, they are using means of transport given by the Kido Foundation." Saori replied.
"I wonder how they are going to be." Seiya wondered.
"We shall find out tomorrow…" Hyoga added, until he saw from the window the Sanctuary from above. "Hey look!"
"We have arrived! We are now descending close to the Sanctuary!" Tokumaru said while looking down.
After a soft landing, they arrived at the Sanctuary, near the Twelve Houses of the Zodiac, just like that time when they had to fight against the Pope. But this time…there was no time limit, there was no arrow in the heart of Athena, and there was no enemy. This time, the Saints were here to say hello to their new homes and their new Cloths.
When they got off the plane, Sion was already there to greet the new stars of the Sanctuary. Five rays of hope for Athena and the world. Five of the new Gold Saints. "Greetings young Saint. I've heard from Athena that you all managed to complete the final part of their training." He said with a smile.
"Yes, Pope." Shiryu simply answered with a formal tone. "Just as i expected. I could see it during the Holy War. You are the Saints that made the impossible in the last years. It was only fate that you were going to be the new generation of Gold Saints." Sion added and then he did something unexptected.
He bowed to them, leaving the five Saints speechless. "It will be an honour to fight together with you." He said.
"Woah…thank you, Sion…" Seiya said, still surprised.
After that, Sion stood up and moved to the right. "Now go, Saints of the future, your new Cloths await you." He ended.
The five Saints looked back at Athena, who was watching them with a smile. "Your future awaits you, guys." She said.
Seiya, Shiryu, Hyoga, Shun and Ikki returned the smile and then looked at each other with a convinced smile. "Come on Gold Saints, let's go!" Seiya said.
"Yes!" The others answered. So they ran to the Twelve Houses, just like seven years earlier, but now with a smile on their faces.
Ikki reached the House of Leo and looked at the Gold Cloth of his new constellation, which shined so much that it relfected his face. "I never knew that i could arrive at something like this…but now i'll just look for the future at the side of justice, with my brother, my friends, and Athena." He said.
And after that, the Cloth split into several parts that surrounded all of his body. Now, a golden protection was covering him. From a warrior of hell, he became a righteous fighter with golden fangs. Ikki looked at himself and his new Cloth with a natural stare. "I was fine with the Cloth of Phoenix, but i don't mind this either. We may not know each other Aiolia…but i'll make sure that your name will be respected through my name! I'm Ikki of Leo!" He said.
In the 6th house, Shun looked at the Virgo Cloth, which was standing on the seat of the Gold Saint. "At first…i hated you for taking away my brother. But now…i couldn't be more proud to be a Gold Saint like you. Even if i don't think i'll ever become the man closest to the gods, i won't disappoint you, Shaka!" He said. Then the Cloth split and went to his body.
Shun looked at himself with a smile, feeling a change on his heart. "It will be strange for me to start fighting without the chain. But i'll do my best to get used to it. From now on…i am Shun of Virgo."
In the 7th House, Shiryu looked at the Libra Cloth with new tears of joy and a big smile on his face. "Master…as you can see, i have kept my promise. I will keep forever the memories i had with you…and now my bond with you will become even more stronger with this Cloth!" He said, before the Cloth split and covered him.
"In the past...this Cloth helped us several times…but now it will help me everyday, along with the spirit of the Master. I'll do my best to be an important figure to Athena and the Sanctuary! I'm Shiryu of Libra!" He said.
In the 9th House, Seiya looked for one last time at the written, but unlike last night, he was now happy and more sure of his future. "I guess that you know what happened, so i won't waste time in talking. After all, i already know the basics for a Saint, right? Ahaha! But now let's get down to business!" He said.
For another time in his life, the armor split and took over his body. "Many times i have got your help…but now i'll use you as my daily Cloth! Sure…it will be painful for me to say goodbye to Pegasus, but i'll remain the same Saint as ever! And i'll do my best to protect Athena! For as i am the great Seiya of Sagittarius!" He exclaimed. "I will throw the arrow of the sun!"
And last, but not least, Hyoga reached the 11th House and looked at his new Cloth. "Mother…Isacc…Milo...and you master…the man that you desperately wanted to see is finally here…i'll never forgive the teachings and the love you gave to me…as a Saint of Aquarius…i'll be cold from the outside, but warm on the inside."
The armor split ant filled his whole body. "Master Camus…i know that you are already proud of me…but now, with this Cloth, i shall make you even more proud! The new master of the Absolute Zero is now me! Hyoga of Aquarius!"
The bells of the midnight ringed. A day was over…but soon, the dawn of a new day would have come. The day…where the new golden rays of hope would have been introduced to the world. Five of the twelve new protectors of the world.
It is said that when a life ends starts a new one. And so…from the ashes of old heroes…a new group of Saints was born, ready to protect Athena and the world from new threats, new enemies and new deieties.
This…was the beginning of a new Golden Brigade.
