Chapter 4: Chosen ones of Magic?
"I know you all should have heard this story before…especially you Shadow, since you have been in many places outside of Albrook." started off the Prophet. "Five hundred years ago, there was a queen much like the one that is around today. Her name was Zeal, and she was as cold hearted as a serpent. She was a sorceress of dark nature that nearly conquered the world... except the five chosen ones stopped her. Even though they stopped her, Zeal managed to preserve her child, the one that attacks Albrook presently. The chosen ones that stopped Zeal could not stop her with their skills alone, but with an ancient technique that only Sages knew how to use, a technique called Magic. Those chosen ones died a long time ago, and it is said when the world was troubled, another group of chosen ones, this time seven, would emerge and stand against the evil once again."
"Wait wait wait…" interrupted Cyrus. "Seven? Are you saying we are the next chosen ones?"
"Yes…" said the Prophet. "But the last one is missing."
"How do you know we are the chosen ones?" asked Celes.
"You have the two requirements. The six of you have never met your parents when you were young, have you?" asked the Prophet.
"…" They all stood silent.
"And also, all of your weapons have a story behind it. Masamune, Moon Blade, Dragon Fang, Valkyrie, Rainbow, and even your weapon Locke, the Mekki Maru."
"Mekki Maru?"
"Yes, they used to belong to a small clan your grand father joined in his earlier days. It is made out of an indestructible metal."
"Wait…" said Shadow. "You didn't mention my weapon."
"That is because it doesn't have a history yet."
"…"
"You will understand in time, Shadow."
The prophet opened up a small shelf and took out seven potions in small containers, around the diameter of a thumb, with a blue glowing liquid inside.
"These potions will release the barrier that is holding back your magic. It is up to YOU to decide whether you want to face your destiny. If not, then my door is open and you are welcome to leave. If you choose to drink it, know that the fate of the world has been placed in your hands."
Everyone except Shadow picked up the potion and stared at it.
"For the fate of the world?" said Cyrus.
"Wow…us…chosen ones…" whispered Patricia silently.
"It is up to us now…" said Celes.
"Are we really up for such a huge job?" asked Lucia.
"If I have to do this to continue protecting Celes…then I will do it!" said Locke.
"Tis our duty…for the world… for Albrook…" said Frog as he drank the potion.
"Frog is right... Something must be done about Agon, and if it is up to us... then we have to do it!" Patricia said as she picked up the potion and drank it, as did the other warriors, while Shadow watched them.
"I don't believe this…" said Shadow.
"I knew you weren't going to." said the Prophet. "Follow me outside, everyone, I will explain your magic and how to control it. Then maybe you will understand, Shadow."
All the warriors had walked to the back area of the Prophet's house. There was a straight path that led in to the forest, but a brown wooden fence blocked the entire area. Shadow was the last one to enter the back area, and he broke away from the group to lean against a tree, with Interceptor always at his side.
"Lucia and Cyrus, come stand by me." said the Prophet.
After a small pause, Lucia and Cyrus did as he ordered and stood before him.
"Both of you have been granted with the element of fire. The potion you drank should have taken its effects by dispelling the small barrier within you, but now you must try and channel this power. Lucia, I want you search for this power deep within you and channel it in to your hands."
"O…ok…"
She closed her eyes and began to concentrate, to search for this supposed power within her.
"Hold both of your hands together, with both of your pointer fingers touching, and extending."
Lucia did as the Prophet ordered, and struggled to find this power. She felt her body get tremendously hot as a power from within her started to pulsate in her body. In a flinch of pain, she let out a muffled scream, as a small ring of fire circulated through her arms and met at her pointer fingers tip, where it had turned in to a small fireball. The warriors looked at her in awe, as Shadow sat there glaring at it.
"Amazing... Did... I do this?"
"Yes, very well done Lucia. As long as you have control of the fireball, you will not be affected by it, but as you throw it at an object, you lose control of it and it can be as harmful to an opponent as well as to you. Cyrus, I want you to do the same as Lucia did, only once you feel that power within you, channel it from your hands in to your sword."
"Alright…"
Cyrus took out the Dragon Fang and gripped it tightly. He closed his eyes and stated to concentrate hard, to search for the power within him. After a few moments, Cyrus started to glow a dark red and held out his sword before him. A ring of fire surrounded his arms, but was quickly shifted to the metallic edge of the sword and encased it with fire, causing it to turn into the "fire sword".
"Whoa… intense…."
"Very well done, Cyrus. This is a very useful technique in case there is ever an impediment in your way, for this will easily melt away just around anything. Be fully aware of its power, and be careful when using it against another human, for the results can be very lethal. Keep in mind this will not be the only form of magic you can learn. Your magic will grow and evolve as you learn how to control it more. In order to diffuse your magic, just concentrate on bringing it back in to your being."
They both closed their eyes and started focusing this new power. The magic disappeared back into their bodies, causing a bright flash. The warriors shielded their eyes, as Shadow still looked on without flinching. When the flash disappeared, Lucia had a small streak of red in her hair and her suit turned into a dark shade of red. Cyrus's armor and sword had turned red, with black lining surrounding it.
"Whoa…awesome!" exclaimed Cyrus.
"Hey… this is pretty cool. I feel like I've been totally remodeled." said Lucia
"Magic takes presence in your being, inside and out, and it marks you with the element of life you posses, in your case, red for fire."
The two walked over to where their friends were standing. They complimented them both for their new wardrobe and now possessing magic.
"Frog and Patricia, step up please."
They looked at each other and walked up to where Cyrus and Lucia were standing before.
"Ironically Frog, both of you now possess the element of water. As I explained to Lucia and Cyrus, the potion has broken that barrier inside of you. Frog, hold the Masamune and channel your power into it."
"Ok."
He did as he was told and held his sword before him. With his eyes closed, he struggled deep within him to find that hidden energy. After a few moments, he felt a sudden urge of energy rush through him and through his arms, as the sword began glowing blue. Unlike what happened to Cyrus, the sword kept its shape, only it was glowing blue.
"Now Frog, make a quick slash at the tree."
Frog did so and the blue aurora flew out of the Masamune and headed towards the tree in a crescent shaped beam. The beam cut straight through the tree, and then returned itself to the sword.
"Nicely done, Frog. That beam mimicked the materials from your sword and made the water particles to copy the exact same structure as the metal, making it a very lethal projectile. Now Patricia, hold your arms out in front of you, then pull your hands away about five inches away from each other. Start focusing your power and put it in between your hands."
"Alright…"
Patricia closed her eyes and started to concentrate. She did this with caution, since she feared how it felt, and that it may have been a pain that she could not bear. After a few moments, she felt the rush go through her body then through her arms, where a small white light appeared. The light began to get bigger and turned into a small white ball of ice.
"A ball of ice? What can this do?"
"Aim it at that tree over there."
She aimed it at the tree and the sphere was launched from her hand. The ball grew slightly larger, and then went straight through the tree, where it disappeared in the distance. The tree stood as if nothing happened, but then collapsed not too far from Shadow. He looked at the collapsed tree and stared at it coldly.
"…"
"Wow… that…that sphere did that?"
"When the sphere is launched, it starts spinning very rapidly, causing the particles to split apart and form small razors. A very lethal attack."
"Wow…"
"Now diffuse the magic as Cyrus and Lucia did. Just concentrate."
They nodded their heads and closed their eyes. After a few moments a light blue glow surrounded their bodies and created a flash, similar to Cyrus's and Lucia's, only blue. When the flash disappeared, Patricia's hair had small streaks of blue, and her tunic had become a dark shade of blue. Frog's gold plated armor had small linings of blue, and his cape had turned into a green-blue color
"Wow… this be'th hard to believe…"
"This is just… incredible…"
They both walked towards their friends, now fortified with magic.
"Celes and Locke, step up."
They walked to where Patricia and Frog were standing.
"Celes and Locke, you have been granted with the element of light. Unlike your friends, this element allows more versatility, but if you don't know how to use its power, then it's in vain. Celes, I want you to find that power within you and put it into your sword, only point it at the sky. Do not back out on what is happening, you will not be hurt by anything."
"Prophet, if something happens to Celes, I swear…"
"Nothing will happen to her, Locke. Trust me. I have been right about everything so far, haven't I?"
Celes pointed her Moon Blade at the sky and began concentrating. A golden aura surrounded her, as a black cloud formed in the air. The Prophet backed away slightly, as did Locke, while the golden aura around Celes grew brighter. A thunder was heard in the air as a lightning bolt came down and struck Celes's sword. She stood there a bit in shock, as she saw her Moon Blade glowing gold.
"See. That is called the Runic Blade. With it, you can absorb certain magic attacks, or if you decide to, send a shock through whatever it is touching. Also in time, you will be able to control the bolt that is produced from the sky and actually use it to increase your mobility."
"This is…amazing…"
"Now Locke, cross your daggers into an X position in front of you, and point them at the sun. Concentrate your power into them."
He did as the Prophet said and started to concentrate. A glow that was similar to Celes's formed around him and then encased the daggers. The suns rays came down and touched the daggers, causing them to emit a strange green glow.
"Locke, that is a technique called the "plasma daggers." They turn your daggers into blades made of pure energy. Also you can stab them into anything and make them explode, called 'plasma explosion.'"
"Awesome!"
"Diffuse your magic, like your friends have. I don't think I need to repeat it for a third time."
They both closed their eyes and started concentrating. A yellow flash appeared and once again, two warriors have been transformed. Locke's vest had gold lining over it, and Celes's hair had golden colored streaks, with gold linings over her clothes.
"Hey… yellow isn't so bad" said Locke.
"Wow…so…this is magic?" asked Celes.
The two warriors walked to where the others were at, Shadow keeping an eye on them. He had yet to move since he had sat there.
"So do you see now? Do you understand? Do you believe now, Shadow?" asked the Prophet.
"It doesn't matter what I believe…what matters is if I care… which I don't."
"After seeing all of this, you will still refuse your destiny?"
"I am not drinking your potions, old man. I will not fall for your tricks as these people have."
He stood up and walked back into the Prophet's house, and began walking through the front door. Patricia rushed in, followed by the rest of the warriors.
"Shadow! Wait! Don't you see?" asked Patricia.
"You are one of us…" said Cyrus. "You can't escape that!"
"Well… he is and he isn't." said the Prophet as he walked in.
"What do you mean?" responded Lucia.
"He doesn't need the potion. Magic is in his being already… isn't that right, Shadow?"
"…"
"Wait… if he doesn't need the potion, then who is that one for?"
"The final chosen one… there is one missing."
"An eighth?" they asked.
The Prophet picked up the vial and gave it to Lucia.
"Why… why me?"
"You will be the one to meet the final warrior."
"So is there nothing else you need to tell us?" they asked.
"I did my part already... My role in this was to tell you of your powers and what to do with them. Any decisions now are yours and yours alone. As much as it pains me to tell you, your journey will not be a happy one. In the event that the prophecy is fulfilled... One among you will perish along the way..."
"Wh…what?" asked Celes.
"One among you is going to lose your lives if you win..."
These morbid words struck fear into their hearts and silenced them all. They stood there looking at the ground silently, yet having no effect on Shadow.
"What do you mean by "in the event"?" asked Cyrus.
"Prophecies are like a puzzle... All the pieces are there in front of you, and it is up to the person to complete them. It may turn out that a piece might be missing, or maybe the puzzle might not be finished at all. The prophecy states that when "victory is nigh, only the death of one will lead to victory." The enemy and the heroes have been placed into the light but... victory or defeat lies in your future decisions. That is all I am really able to say..."
They exited his house and stepped outside. Shadow began to walk away, but saw Interceptor sitting down at Patricia's side. The six warriors looked at each other with fear in their eyes, and the Prophet's words still fresh in their minds. One among them would shortly perish, but do they actually have a chance to change it?
"I know you all should have heard this story before…especially you Shadow, since you have been in many places outside of Albrook." started off the Prophet. "Five hundred years ago, there was a queen much like the one that is around today. Her name was Zeal, and she was as cold hearted as a serpent. She was a sorceress of dark nature that nearly conquered the world... except the five chosen ones stopped her. Even though they stopped her, Zeal managed to preserve her child, the one that attacks Albrook presently. The chosen ones that stopped Zeal could not stop her with their skills alone, but with an ancient technique that only Sages knew how to use, a technique called Magic. Those chosen ones died a long time ago, and it is said when the world was troubled, another group of chosen ones, this time seven, would emerge and stand against the evil once again."
"Wait wait wait…" interrupted Cyrus. "Seven? Are you saying we are the next chosen ones?"
"Yes…" said the Prophet. "But the last one is missing."
"How do you know we are the chosen ones?" asked Celes.
"You have the two requirements. The six of you have never met your parents when you were young, have you?" asked the Prophet.
"…" They all stood silent.
"And also, all of your weapons have a story behind it. Masamune, Moon Blade, Dragon Fang, Valkyrie, Rainbow, and even your weapon Locke, the Mekki Maru."
"Mekki Maru?"
"Yes, they used to belong to a small clan your grand father joined in his earlier days. It is made out of an indestructible metal."
"Wait…" said Shadow. "You didn't mention my weapon."
"That is because it doesn't have a history yet."
"…"
"You will understand in time, Shadow."
The prophet opened up a small shelf and took out seven potions in small containers, around the diameter of a thumb, with a blue glowing liquid inside.
"These potions will release the barrier that is holding back your magic. It is up to YOU to decide whether you want to face your destiny. If not, then my door is open and you are welcome to leave. If you choose to drink it, know that the fate of the world has been placed in your hands."
Everyone except Shadow picked up the potion and stared at it.
"For the fate of the world?" said Cyrus.
"Wow…us…chosen ones…" whispered Patricia silently.
"It is up to us now…" said Celes.
"Are we really up for such a huge job?" asked Lucia.
"If I have to do this to continue protecting Celes…then I will do it!" said Locke.
"Tis our duty…for the world… for Albrook…" said Frog as he drank the potion.
"Frog is right... Something must be done about Agon, and if it is up to us... then we have to do it!" Patricia said as she picked up the potion and drank it, as did the other warriors, while Shadow watched them.
"I don't believe this…" said Shadow.
"I knew you weren't going to." said the Prophet. "Follow me outside, everyone, I will explain your magic and how to control it. Then maybe you will understand, Shadow."
All the warriors had walked to the back area of the Prophet's house. There was a straight path that led in to the forest, but a brown wooden fence blocked the entire area. Shadow was the last one to enter the back area, and he broke away from the group to lean against a tree, with Interceptor always at his side.
"Lucia and Cyrus, come stand by me." said the Prophet.
After a small pause, Lucia and Cyrus did as he ordered and stood before him.
"Both of you have been granted with the element of fire. The potion you drank should have taken its effects by dispelling the small barrier within you, but now you must try and channel this power. Lucia, I want you search for this power deep within you and channel it in to your hands."
"O…ok…"
She closed her eyes and began to concentrate, to search for this supposed power within her.
"Hold both of your hands together, with both of your pointer fingers touching, and extending."
Lucia did as the Prophet ordered, and struggled to find this power. She felt her body get tremendously hot as a power from within her started to pulsate in her body. In a flinch of pain, she let out a muffled scream, as a small ring of fire circulated through her arms and met at her pointer fingers tip, where it had turned in to a small fireball. The warriors looked at her in awe, as Shadow sat there glaring at it.
"Amazing... Did... I do this?"
"Yes, very well done Lucia. As long as you have control of the fireball, you will not be affected by it, but as you throw it at an object, you lose control of it and it can be as harmful to an opponent as well as to you. Cyrus, I want you to do the same as Lucia did, only once you feel that power within you, channel it from your hands in to your sword."
"Alright…"
Cyrus took out the Dragon Fang and gripped it tightly. He closed his eyes and stated to concentrate hard, to search for the power within him. After a few moments, Cyrus started to glow a dark red and held out his sword before him. A ring of fire surrounded his arms, but was quickly shifted to the metallic edge of the sword and encased it with fire, causing it to turn into the "fire sword".
"Whoa… intense…."
"Very well done, Cyrus. This is a very useful technique in case there is ever an impediment in your way, for this will easily melt away just around anything. Be fully aware of its power, and be careful when using it against another human, for the results can be very lethal. Keep in mind this will not be the only form of magic you can learn. Your magic will grow and evolve as you learn how to control it more. In order to diffuse your magic, just concentrate on bringing it back in to your being."
They both closed their eyes and started focusing this new power. The magic disappeared back into their bodies, causing a bright flash. The warriors shielded their eyes, as Shadow still looked on without flinching. When the flash disappeared, Lucia had a small streak of red in her hair and her suit turned into a dark shade of red. Cyrus's armor and sword had turned red, with black lining surrounding it.
"Whoa…awesome!" exclaimed Cyrus.
"Hey… this is pretty cool. I feel like I've been totally remodeled." said Lucia
"Magic takes presence in your being, inside and out, and it marks you with the element of life you posses, in your case, red for fire."
The two walked over to where their friends were standing. They complimented them both for their new wardrobe and now possessing magic.
"Frog and Patricia, step up please."
They looked at each other and walked up to where Cyrus and Lucia were standing before.
"Ironically Frog, both of you now possess the element of water. As I explained to Lucia and Cyrus, the potion has broken that barrier inside of you. Frog, hold the Masamune and channel your power into it."
"Ok."
He did as he was told and held his sword before him. With his eyes closed, he struggled deep within him to find that hidden energy. After a few moments, he felt a sudden urge of energy rush through him and through his arms, as the sword began glowing blue. Unlike what happened to Cyrus, the sword kept its shape, only it was glowing blue.
"Now Frog, make a quick slash at the tree."
Frog did so and the blue aurora flew out of the Masamune and headed towards the tree in a crescent shaped beam. The beam cut straight through the tree, and then returned itself to the sword.
"Nicely done, Frog. That beam mimicked the materials from your sword and made the water particles to copy the exact same structure as the metal, making it a very lethal projectile. Now Patricia, hold your arms out in front of you, then pull your hands away about five inches away from each other. Start focusing your power and put it in between your hands."
"Alright…"
Patricia closed her eyes and started to concentrate. She did this with caution, since she feared how it felt, and that it may have been a pain that she could not bear. After a few moments, she felt the rush go through her body then through her arms, where a small white light appeared. The light began to get bigger and turned into a small white ball of ice.
"A ball of ice? What can this do?"
"Aim it at that tree over there."
She aimed it at the tree and the sphere was launched from her hand. The ball grew slightly larger, and then went straight through the tree, where it disappeared in the distance. The tree stood as if nothing happened, but then collapsed not too far from Shadow. He looked at the collapsed tree and stared at it coldly.
"…"
"Wow… that…that sphere did that?"
"When the sphere is launched, it starts spinning very rapidly, causing the particles to split apart and form small razors. A very lethal attack."
"Wow…"
"Now diffuse the magic as Cyrus and Lucia did. Just concentrate."
They nodded their heads and closed their eyes. After a few moments a light blue glow surrounded their bodies and created a flash, similar to Cyrus's and Lucia's, only blue. When the flash disappeared, Patricia's hair had small streaks of blue, and her tunic had become a dark shade of blue. Frog's gold plated armor had small linings of blue, and his cape had turned into a green-blue color
"Wow… this be'th hard to believe…"
"This is just… incredible…"
They both walked towards their friends, now fortified with magic.
"Celes and Locke, step up."
They walked to where Patricia and Frog were standing.
"Celes and Locke, you have been granted with the element of light. Unlike your friends, this element allows more versatility, but if you don't know how to use its power, then it's in vain. Celes, I want you to find that power within you and put it into your sword, only point it at the sky. Do not back out on what is happening, you will not be hurt by anything."
"Prophet, if something happens to Celes, I swear…"
"Nothing will happen to her, Locke. Trust me. I have been right about everything so far, haven't I?"
Celes pointed her Moon Blade at the sky and began concentrating. A golden aura surrounded her, as a black cloud formed in the air. The Prophet backed away slightly, as did Locke, while the golden aura around Celes grew brighter. A thunder was heard in the air as a lightning bolt came down and struck Celes's sword. She stood there a bit in shock, as she saw her Moon Blade glowing gold.
"See. That is called the Runic Blade. With it, you can absorb certain magic attacks, or if you decide to, send a shock through whatever it is touching. Also in time, you will be able to control the bolt that is produced from the sky and actually use it to increase your mobility."
"This is…amazing…"
"Now Locke, cross your daggers into an X position in front of you, and point them at the sun. Concentrate your power into them."
He did as the Prophet said and started to concentrate. A glow that was similar to Celes's formed around him and then encased the daggers. The suns rays came down and touched the daggers, causing them to emit a strange green glow.
"Locke, that is a technique called the "plasma daggers." They turn your daggers into blades made of pure energy. Also you can stab them into anything and make them explode, called 'plasma explosion.'"
"Awesome!"
"Diffuse your magic, like your friends have. I don't think I need to repeat it for a third time."
They both closed their eyes and started concentrating. A yellow flash appeared and once again, two warriors have been transformed. Locke's vest had gold lining over it, and Celes's hair had golden colored streaks, with gold linings over her clothes.
"Hey… yellow isn't so bad" said Locke.
"Wow…so…this is magic?" asked Celes.
The two warriors walked to where the others were at, Shadow keeping an eye on them. He had yet to move since he had sat there.
"So do you see now? Do you understand? Do you believe now, Shadow?" asked the Prophet.
"It doesn't matter what I believe…what matters is if I care… which I don't."
"After seeing all of this, you will still refuse your destiny?"
"I am not drinking your potions, old man. I will not fall for your tricks as these people have."
He stood up and walked back into the Prophet's house, and began walking through the front door. Patricia rushed in, followed by the rest of the warriors.
"Shadow! Wait! Don't you see?" asked Patricia.
"You are one of us…" said Cyrus. "You can't escape that!"
"Well… he is and he isn't." said the Prophet as he walked in.
"What do you mean?" responded Lucia.
"He doesn't need the potion. Magic is in his being already… isn't that right, Shadow?"
"…"
"Wait… if he doesn't need the potion, then who is that one for?"
"The final chosen one… there is one missing."
"An eighth?" they asked.
The Prophet picked up the vial and gave it to Lucia.
"Why… why me?"
"You will be the one to meet the final warrior."
"So is there nothing else you need to tell us?" they asked.
"I did my part already... My role in this was to tell you of your powers and what to do with them. Any decisions now are yours and yours alone. As much as it pains me to tell you, your journey will not be a happy one. In the event that the prophecy is fulfilled... One among you will perish along the way..."
"Wh…what?" asked Celes.
"One among you is going to lose your lives if you win..."
These morbid words struck fear into their hearts and silenced them all. They stood there looking at the ground silently, yet having no effect on Shadow.
"What do you mean by "in the event"?" asked Cyrus.
"Prophecies are like a puzzle... All the pieces are there in front of you, and it is up to the person to complete them. It may turn out that a piece might be missing, or maybe the puzzle might not be finished at all. The prophecy states that when "victory is nigh, only the death of one will lead to victory." The enemy and the heroes have been placed into the light but... victory or defeat lies in your future decisions. That is all I am really able to say..."
They exited his house and stepped outside. Shadow began to walk away, but saw Interceptor sitting down at Patricia's side. The six warriors looked at each other with fear in their eyes, and the Prophet's words still fresh in their minds. One among them would shortly perish, but do they actually have a chance to change it?
