Chapter 3: Summoned

Three weeks have passed and the dark queen had yet to make any sort of movement. The town was once again a happy and peaceful place. All the major houses and buildings have been rebuilt and everyone was in peace. From the Prophet's house, three cloaked figures stepped out, and at his command they ran off in different directions. One headed north, the other south, and the other east. In the forest to the north, Frog and Cyrus were placing their swords against each other, while Lucia and Patricia watched.

"You're getting better, Cyrus…" said Frog as he swung the Masamune.

"Maybe you are just losing it!" responded Cyrus, as he blocked, then swung the Dragon Fang at him.

Their blades were put against each other, both owners attempting to overpower the other in a show of raw strength. Frog backed away, ducked, and then tackled him with his shoulder, causing Cyrus to fall back and land on the ground. As he attempted to stand up, Frog jabbed Cyrus's jaw with the swords handle and caused him to jump in the air slightly and collapse on the floor.

"Well done…" said Cyrus as he was on the ground, unable to move.

"Sorry for that… guess I got carried away…"

"Don't worry about it…" responded Cyrus, as he spit some blood to the side.

"Well, for what it's worth, thou hath gotten better."

"Thanks… you too."

"Hm?" questioned Patricia as she looked through the trees and had a weird feeling in her stomach. "Do... Do you feel that, Lucia?"

She looked towards the forest and from afar, she saw the figure of someone heading towards them. Upon reaching them, the cloaked figured that was dressed in a long black robe stopped and stood before Lucia.

"The prophet has summoned you." said the cloaked figure.

"The prophet?" asked Lucia. "What does he want with us?"

"All four of us?" asked Cyrus.

After a short period of not moving, the cloaked figure nodded his head and pointed towards Albrook. Slowly, he walked back towards the Prophets house as the four warriors followed.

In the western limits of Albrook, Locke and Celes were sitting outside where a small flowerbed was growing. As Locke held Celes in his arms, they enjoyed the beautiful smell of the growing flowers, and all of the nature that surrounded them.

"It's been very peaceful lately…" said Celes.

"A bit too peaceful… but overall, very quiet again. I could really get used to this."

In the midst of their peacefulness, Celes let out a scream as she saw a figure dressed in a black robe before them. Slowly, Locke let her go as he got up to his feet, daggers in hand.

"Who are you?!"

"The prophet has summoned you." said the figure.

"Prophet?" asked Celes.

"What does he want with me?"

"The prophet has summoned you..." he repeated again as he looked at Celes this time.

"Both of us?" she asked.

Contemplating whether to believe this black robed person or not, he decided he would go and so they followed him all the way to the Prophet's house.

In the south part of Albrook, Shadow and Interceptor were once again roaming the streets, while the people in their paths scurried away away, avoiding all eye contact with Shadow and his dog. They continued walking until Interceptor's ears perked up, as he turned around and began to growl.

"Hm…?" muttered Shadow as he turned around and saw one of the Prophet's summoners.

"The prophet has summoned you." said the figure.

Paying no attention to the words that were spoken to him, Shadow turned his back and continued down his path, as Interceptor followed. In the blink of an eye, Shadow stood face to face with him, as they glanced into each other's eyes.

"The Prophet…has summoned you." It said in a louder, but still calm voice.

"Get out of my way… I don't feel like staining my sword with the blood of an ignorant fool."

He pushed him out of the way, and continued his path. The cloaked figure, with incredible speed, stood in his way once again. As Shadow reached for his sword, his fingers touched the handle of his sword and he saw the knife of the summoner at his neck.

"The prophet…has summoned you." he said in a calm voice.

"…Fine…" replied Shadow.

The cloaked Figure led the way as Shadow angrily followed, Interceptor staying close to his master at all times.

The six warriors awaited in the Prophet's house, still unknown to why they were summoned. Locke and Celes were sitting on a table next to each other, Frog kneeled on the ground, picking at the ground with the Masamune, Cyrus and Lucia leaned against the wall, and Patricia next to the door. They waited for hours, as Locke kept giving Frog an awful stare. After an hour of silence, he spoke.

"Hey… is that a mask or is that how you really look?" asked Locke.

"Funny, I was thinking the same thing about thee." replied Frog.

"Grrr!" Locke growled as he stood up and pulled out his daggers. "That a challenge, froggy-boy?"

"Wouldn't want to embarrass thee in front of your girlfriend…" Frog said as he eyed Celes. He looked at a shiny object around her neck, and recognized it. "THAT BE'TH THE HERO'S MEDAL! THOU'RT THAT FIEND!"

Everyone's eyes looked upon Frog as he raised the Masamune.

"Bring it on, Froggy Boy!!"

"Locke…" said Celes softly, as she took off the medal and handed it to Frog. "I told you not to steal things for me…"

"Thank you…" said Frog as he grabbed Celes's hand and kissed the back of it.

"Grr.." Locke growled quietly.

"Hmph…" said Patricia softly.

"Well, now that THAT'S over, why are we here?" asked Lucia.

"Yeah… we've been in here for at least three hours now." added Cyrus.

"We are waiting for Shadow." said the Prophet as he entered the room.

"S…Shadow?" asked Patricia. "The 'vagabond knight'?"

"Yes." replied the Prophet.

"I've heard of him…" said Cyrus. "He is a disgrace to the title, knight."

"Maybe you are the disgrace for having those weaknesses called emotions…" Shadow stated while he stepped in.

"They may be weaknesses, but at least I know what my name is." he responded.

Interceptor stepped in and sat down next to his master.

"Aw, how cute, a doggie!" said Celes.

"Back off, he eats people…" Shadow said aggressively.

As always, Locke got on guard to defend Celes as he continually looked at Shadow.

"I remember you... You're that mercenary. Hey, if I give you a nickel, will you roast that frog over there?" said Locke.

Looking at the smirk upon Locke's face made Frog angrier, but it subsided as he walked next to his friends. After a few moments, Locke started to notice the cold stare that Shadow was giving him.

"Geez, I was just kidding." he said as he tapped Shadow's shoulder. "So, oh shrouded one, what took you so long? Needed to apply your make up behind that mask?"

Shadow grabbed Locke by the neck and pinned him against the wall. Everyone watched as Locke struggled out of his grasp, while Cyrus took out the Dragon Fang and raised it, preparing to swing it at Shadow.

"DROP HIM!" he ordered.

"Don't let his fate becomes yours..."

Cyrus slashed his sword, aiming at Shadow's head, but with a small dagger that Shadow used to block, his sword was knocked away and he was then kicked in the stomach. While Cyrus was still fazed by the kick, Shadow dropped Locke and focused his assault on Cyrus. He grabbed Cyrus's hair and made him stand fully up, as he kneed him four times in the stomach, then punched him to the ground. Unable to move, Cyrus took all the assault without the ability to fight back as Shadow was prepared to take out his blade. Shadow ducked and saw a sword go above him, so he sent his elbow behind him and hit Lucia. Shadow turned to look at Cyrus, but he saw the edge of the Masamune at his throat.

"Not fast enough..." said Frog.

All eyes were upon Frog, as Shadow stood there unable to move looking at the blade upon his throat.

"You have one chance..." Shadow whispered. "Don't waste it..."

"STOP THIS AT ONCE!!!" yelled out the Prophet.

"He started it…" groaned Cyrus in pain as he stood up groggily.

"Sorry Mr. No Humor…" said Locke as he stood up painfully, with Celes's aid.

"Frog... Put your weapon down." ordered the Prophet.

"Grr..."

It was clear to Frog that he could not do anything, so he put the sword away. Shadow's eyes stayed the same as always, as he leaned down next to Interceptor.

"If you want to continue acting like minors, then go ahead, but I will have to ask you to leave." said the Prophet. "This is a very serious matter that concerns all seven of you..."

The six warriors and Shadow all calmed down, and began to hear the words that the Prophet spoke. It will soon be clear to them about their responsibilities in this world.