The Hunter's Fantasia: A Never-ending Tale
By Kumatenshi
VOLUME I: THE BOOK OF PROPHECIES ** Prologue --- The Land of Dentora **
Long ago and far away, there was once a country by the name of Dentora. Blessed by an abundant supply of natural resources as well as two generations of powerful and prudent rulers, Zeno and Shiruba, Dentora was almost a kingdom of dreams. At the peak of the mountain right in the heart of the country, King Shiruba lived with his mysterious queen, Kikyou and their four children, Illumi, Killua, Miruki, and Karuto. From their palace, the monarch had a perfect view of the splendor of Dentora. To the north, shepherds rejoiced as they saw their healthy sheep grazing on the beautiful green plains beneath the clear blue sky. To the east, fishermen confidently spread their nets into the clean, blue ocean where hundreds and thousands species of sea creatures resided. At the southern borders, traders busily exchanged pottery and ornaments for silk and tea, and the range of mountains in the West formed a natural barrier that shielded Dentora from the ruthless desert beyond. In a blessed land such as Dentora, the only problem her people had probably was what more to ask from the gods in heaven.
Unfortunately, there was no such thing as perpetual happiness. Even the most attractive flower would wilt and there would come a time when Dentora would lose her glamour. Realizing the cruelty of destiny, King Shiruba invited the famous prophet, Jin to the palace when he threw a huge feast to celebrate the birth of his youngest son, Killua. Jin told King Shiruba that twelve years later, Dentora would experience a devastating disaster, where the whole country would be shattered by snow and buried by ice. All the people, animals, and plants would perish in the cold and that frightful winter would not stop, not until the last soul departed from Dentora.
"What should I do, great prophet Jin?" King Shiruba asked the wise prophet.
Prophet Jin did not reply but started reciting a string of strange words, almost like a spell. Then the crystalline pendant around his neck floated into the air and a very beautiful water nymph emerged from the pendant. With a gentle and surprisingly powerful voice, the nymph said: "Name this child, Killua, the heir to your throne! From his eyes, I could see a light, the light of hope for Dentora. Only he could rescue the land of Dentora from her tragic fate!" A moment later, the fairy disappeared and the great prophet vanished from the palace and was never seen or heard again in the land of Dentora.
King Shiruba took the advice of the great prophet Jin and named Killua his heir. He employed the most brilliant scientist, artist, and warriors of the land to teach Killua all the skills needed to become a great ruler in the future. However, King Shiruba and Queen Kikyou only focused on training Killua to save the land in the future but neglected to provide the child with what he needed most --- love. What aggravated the situation was the deep rooted hatred Illumi had toward Killua. Being the eldest son, Illumi firmly believed he was the rightful heir to the throne but Killua took away from him the power and glory he was entitled to by birth. As revenge, he often framed Killua for mistakes the latter had never committed and told vicious lies that caused the people in the palace to dislike the poor child.
In the twelfth year following the prophecy, Prince Killua was completely sick and tired of the boring and torturing life he had been living. Hence, he decided to escape from the palace. Thanks to all the hard work and training he received, he managed to escape from the maze like palace with six heavy doors and hundreds if not thousands of guards. At last, he reached the bottom of the royal mountain where he had the first breath of the air of freedom. To avoid recognition by the royal army, he disguised himself as a little beggar and wandered through the land of Dentora with the little money he managed to get from the palace. Although he had lessons on the geography of Dentora, he knew very little in reality because most of the time, his teachers were so frustrating that he just fell asleep. Worse was the fact that he had zero experience traveling in the country alone. Consequently, the only thing he could do was to follow the main path along the river so that he could get water easily. Day and night, he kept on walking. His feet began to sore; he was cold, and hungry. Finally, his body could not take the fatigue anymore and he sat down for a rest among a field of flowers. The fragrance was sweet and relaxing, in fact so comforting that before long, he fell into a deep sleep.
After what seemed a very long time, Killua gradually opened his attractive, blue eyes where he found himself lying in a small bed. It was hard and narrow, nothing like the one he had in the palace, but somehow he felt it was very comfortable. He looked around, trying to identify his current location. The room was old and small, constructed solely out of wood. The paint on the walls had already begun peeling off, layer by layer. Beside the bed was a small table, with a glass of water and a lovely vase, filled with daffodils that gave the room a pleasant scent. Next to the little table was a small wooden cabinet with bronze handle, which once shiny surface had now faded into a dark, reddish color. Nothing in the room truly caught the attention of Killua, except a beautiful portrait hanging on the wall. In the portrait were two children, roughly the same age as Killua, he guessed. The boy was holding a fishing rod while the girl was dressed in, what Killua perceived as, rags. But the two smiled very happily, an expression Killua never learned in his life. He wondered why.
While Killua was still absorbed by the magic of the smiling faces, the doorknob turned slowly and quietly. Then, a cheerful young boy, clad completely in apple green, came into the room. "Oh, you woke up already!" he said in a childish voice, "I was so worried. You fainted by the river. Luckily I found you before dark or you might have died from the cold of the night!" The boy in front of him was almost identical to the boy in the portrait; only his eyebrows were more like a v-shape. He attempted to follow those beautiful blue eyes that landed softly on the portrait on the wall.
"That's my father," Gon explained, "when he was young, very young, and the girl beside him --- that was Aunt Mito in her childhood. She's like a mother to me. Talking about which, I have not properly introduced myself. I'm Gon, I'm a fisherman, well or more technically fisher boy. I have been living in this village as far as I could remember. I don't think I've seen you around. Are you a traveler? May I know your name?"
Killua nodded. "My.my name's...Killua."
"Killua, what an interesting name! I've never heard of that before. Where do you come from?" Gon's enthusiasm was so strong that Killua blushed and answered with slight hesitation: "I...I forgot."
"You forgot? Gon frowned as he had not met anyone in person who had lost his memory before. Then do you remember who your parents are or where you came from?"
Killua shook his head.
Gon frowned even deeper and said, "Ouch, I've heard stories like that before. I can't remember but it must've been Leorio who was telling us. Oh, Leorio is a neighbor of mine. He's funny and he's learning to be a doctor! He told me that it's possible to suddenly wake up and find yourself not remembering a thing. What was the name of the illness? Am...am..."
"Amnesia, is that what you mean?" Killua smiled.
"Yes, that's correct. The name of the illness is amnesia and boy, you're smart." Gon's praise was so genuine and innocent Killua brushed even deeper. He had a feeling he never was praised so much in his life before.
"Yes, even though I did not know why I knew the word," and almost to himself, he said as he looked out of the window, "I did not know why I am here and where I should be".
Gon sensed Killua's sadness of feeling lost and said with a very friendly voice, "Well, if you don't mind, you can stay here with me until you get back your memory. It may appear a boring life for the only thing I know is fishing but the peacefulness of this village should help you think about your past. Before that though, you should fill your stomach with food! Aunt Mito has already prepared some wonderful food for you! Come, follow me! After the meal, I shall introduce you to my neighbors and other kids in the village. There are not many of us now since everyone has moved to the city in the south. I shall also introduce you to my two dear friends...Kurapika the scholar and Leorio, the to-be-doctor whom I've just told you about!"
* * *
The news of the disappearance of Prince Killua stirred confusion and panic in the normally peaceful Dentora but it certainly brought joy to the leaders of the Western country, Platora. Just a desert away from Dentora, Platora was a country heaven had abandoned. The last civil war left the country completely deprived and devastated. Nothing could grow on the soil of Platora, not even weed. Rain was scarce and water was never enough. The only people left in Platora were the orphans whose parents died in the war. It was a mystery how these children managed to survive but they did, and under the leadership of Kuroro whom everyone called "Prince", the orphans managed to create a kingdom of their own, the kingdom of living hell. Though just a rumor, there was an old saying that the two lands on the edge of the great desert could never prosper simultaneously. When one land thrived, the other would wither; when one land came into light, the other would sink into darkness. Platora once too had her glorious moments. She had advanced technology and infinite number of industries and factories. However, everything vanished after the civil war, which the orphans believed, was caused by the evil plot of Dentora's previous ruler - Zeno.
In the "palace" of Platora, which was really the remnants of a warehouse of a steel factory, Kuroro quietly listened as the spies he sent to Dentora report the news of the disappearance of Prince Killua. Eleven of the twelve people sitting along the round table were his generals, who were sometimes referred to as the Ryodan. They grew up with Kuroro, suffered many hardships with him, and helped him unite Platora. They were each other's friends and family. The remaining human being was a mystic magician by the name of Hisoka. He came from no where twelve years ago and claimed himself to be a prophet as well as magician. He said the future was already determined and that Dentora would be destroyed in twelve years time. After the demolition of Dentora, times of prosperity would return to Plethora. He offered to help the revival of Platora in exchange for being allowed to stay in Platora. Though Kuroro had suspicions of Hisoka for the latter never explained why he knew about the future or why he would help Platora, he still allowed Hisoka to stay. Partly because he was aware he could borrow the power of Hisoka, and partly because he felt there was something similar between him and the queer magician.
When the spies completed their report, Kuroro said, "My dear friends, the disappearance of Killua could be the symbol of the beginning of ill fate for Dentora but it could also be another despicable plot of the rulers of Dentora. Hence, we must be very careful when proceeding with our plans."
"Don't worry, Kuroro, I Ubogin will turn Dentora into a vast piece of wasteland!" the mini giant said with confidence. "Together, we will rob Dentora of its beauty and prosperity! We will let those people know the pain we have endured! Forever, Dentora will have winter and winter only. Never again will they see spring or feel the warmth of a breeze. Never again will there be laughter on the land. No one will be able to sing, or dance, or even dream. Frozen statues they will become and then Platora will be greatest country in this world!"
Kuroro worried even more by the simple-minded personality of Ubogin but he was glad his friends shared his passion and goals. He rose and walked outside of his "palace" toward the "garden" of debris, where thousands of Platorians had gathered. "My dear brothers and sisters, we have all gone through a long journey of agony and misery in order to survive to this day. We once begged for help but even when we cried till our eyes turn blind, or prayed till our hairs turned white, no one would extend us a helping hand. To end this nightmare and seek for happiness, we can only depend on ourselves. The war ahead of us will not be easy. Some of us will sweat, some us will bleed, and many of us will probably die. Yet, victory of this war means no longer will we have to drink from the cup of sorrow; no longer will our souls and bodies be battered; and most important of all, no longer will Platora be forgotten by the rest of the world. To this end, may I request you all to celebrate with me for the countdown to the destruction of Dentora and revival of Platora, has finally begun!"
By Kumatenshi
VOLUME I: THE BOOK OF PROPHECIES ** Prologue --- The Land of Dentora **
Long ago and far away, there was once a country by the name of Dentora. Blessed by an abundant supply of natural resources as well as two generations of powerful and prudent rulers, Zeno and Shiruba, Dentora was almost a kingdom of dreams. At the peak of the mountain right in the heart of the country, King Shiruba lived with his mysterious queen, Kikyou and their four children, Illumi, Killua, Miruki, and Karuto. From their palace, the monarch had a perfect view of the splendor of Dentora. To the north, shepherds rejoiced as they saw their healthy sheep grazing on the beautiful green plains beneath the clear blue sky. To the east, fishermen confidently spread their nets into the clean, blue ocean where hundreds and thousands species of sea creatures resided. At the southern borders, traders busily exchanged pottery and ornaments for silk and tea, and the range of mountains in the West formed a natural barrier that shielded Dentora from the ruthless desert beyond. In a blessed land such as Dentora, the only problem her people had probably was what more to ask from the gods in heaven.
Unfortunately, there was no such thing as perpetual happiness. Even the most attractive flower would wilt and there would come a time when Dentora would lose her glamour. Realizing the cruelty of destiny, King Shiruba invited the famous prophet, Jin to the palace when he threw a huge feast to celebrate the birth of his youngest son, Killua. Jin told King Shiruba that twelve years later, Dentora would experience a devastating disaster, where the whole country would be shattered by snow and buried by ice. All the people, animals, and plants would perish in the cold and that frightful winter would not stop, not until the last soul departed from Dentora.
"What should I do, great prophet Jin?" King Shiruba asked the wise prophet.
Prophet Jin did not reply but started reciting a string of strange words, almost like a spell. Then the crystalline pendant around his neck floated into the air and a very beautiful water nymph emerged from the pendant. With a gentle and surprisingly powerful voice, the nymph said: "Name this child, Killua, the heir to your throne! From his eyes, I could see a light, the light of hope for Dentora. Only he could rescue the land of Dentora from her tragic fate!" A moment later, the fairy disappeared and the great prophet vanished from the palace and was never seen or heard again in the land of Dentora.
King Shiruba took the advice of the great prophet Jin and named Killua his heir. He employed the most brilliant scientist, artist, and warriors of the land to teach Killua all the skills needed to become a great ruler in the future. However, King Shiruba and Queen Kikyou only focused on training Killua to save the land in the future but neglected to provide the child with what he needed most --- love. What aggravated the situation was the deep rooted hatred Illumi had toward Killua. Being the eldest son, Illumi firmly believed he was the rightful heir to the throne but Killua took away from him the power and glory he was entitled to by birth. As revenge, he often framed Killua for mistakes the latter had never committed and told vicious lies that caused the people in the palace to dislike the poor child.
In the twelfth year following the prophecy, Prince Killua was completely sick and tired of the boring and torturing life he had been living. Hence, he decided to escape from the palace. Thanks to all the hard work and training he received, he managed to escape from the maze like palace with six heavy doors and hundreds if not thousands of guards. At last, he reached the bottom of the royal mountain where he had the first breath of the air of freedom. To avoid recognition by the royal army, he disguised himself as a little beggar and wandered through the land of Dentora with the little money he managed to get from the palace. Although he had lessons on the geography of Dentora, he knew very little in reality because most of the time, his teachers were so frustrating that he just fell asleep. Worse was the fact that he had zero experience traveling in the country alone. Consequently, the only thing he could do was to follow the main path along the river so that he could get water easily. Day and night, he kept on walking. His feet began to sore; he was cold, and hungry. Finally, his body could not take the fatigue anymore and he sat down for a rest among a field of flowers. The fragrance was sweet and relaxing, in fact so comforting that before long, he fell into a deep sleep.
After what seemed a very long time, Killua gradually opened his attractive, blue eyes where he found himself lying in a small bed. It was hard and narrow, nothing like the one he had in the palace, but somehow he felt it was very comfortable. He looked around, trying to identify his current location. The room was old and small, constructed solely out of wood. The paint on the walls had already begun peeling off, layer by layer. Beside the bed was a small table, with a glass of water and a lovely vase, filled with daffodils that gave the room a pleasant scent. Next to the little table was a small wooden cabinet with bronze handle, which once shiny surface had now faded into a dark, reddish color. Nothing in the room truly caught the attention of Killua, except a beautiful portrait hanging on the wall. In the portrait were two children, roughly the same age as Killua, he guessed. The boy was holding a fishing rod while the girl was dressed in, what Killua perceived as, rags. But the two smiled very happily, an expression Killua never learned in his life. He wondered why.
While Killua was still absorbed by the magic of the smiling faces, the doorknob turned slowly and quietly. Then, a cheerful young boy, clad completely in apple green, came into the room. "Oh, you woke up already!" he said in a childish voice, "I was so worried. You fainted by the river. Luckily I found you before dark or you might have died from the cold of the night!" The boy in front of him was almost identical to the boy in the portrait; only his eyebrows were more like a v-shape. He attempted to follow those beautiful blue eyes that landed softly on the portrait on the wall.
"That's my father," Gon explained, "when he was young, very young, and the girl beside him --- that was Aunt Mito in her childhood. She's like a mother to me. Talking about which, I have not properly introduced myself. I'm Gon, I'm a fisherman, well or more technically fisher boy. I have been living in this village as far as I could remember. I don't think I've seen you around. Are you a traveler? May I know your name?"
Killua nodded. "My.my name's...Killua."
"Killua, what an interesting name! I've never heard of that before. Where do you come from?" Gon's enthusiasm was so strong that Killua blushed and answered with slight hesitation: "I...I forgot."
"You forgot? Gon frowned as he had not met anyone in person who had lost his memory before. Then do you remember who your parents are or where you came from?"
Killua shook his head.
Gon frowned even deeper and said, "Ouch, I've heard stories like that before. I can't remember but it must've been Leorio who was telling us. Oh, Leorio is a neighbor of mine. He's funny and he's learning to be a doctor! He told me that it's possible to suddenly wake up and find yourself not remembering a thing. What was the name of the illness? Am...am..."
"Amnesia, is that what you mean?" Killua smiled.
"Yes, that's correct. The name of the illness is amnesia and boy, you're smart." Gon's praise was so genuine and innocent Killua brushed even deeper. He had a feeling he never was praised so much in his life before.
"Yes, even though I did not know why I knew the word," and almost to himself, he said as he looked out of the window, "I did not know why I am here and where I should be".
Gon sensed Killua's sadness of feeling lost and said with a very friendly voice, "Well, if you don't mind, you can stay here with me until you get back your memory. It may appear a boring life for the only thing I know is fishing but the peacefulness of this village should help you think about your past. Before that though, you should fill your stomach with food! Aunt Mito has already prepared some wonderful food for you! Come, follow me! After the meal, I shall introduce you to my neighbors and other kids in the village. There are not many of us now since everyone has moved to the city in the south. I shall also introduce you to my two dear friends...Kurapika the scholar and Leorio, the to-be-doctor whom I've just told you about!"
* * *
The news of the disappearance of Prince Killua stirred confusion and panic in the normally peaceful Dentora but it certainly brought joy to the leaders of the Western country, Platora. Just a desert away from Dentora, Platora was a country heaven had abandoned. The last civil war left the country completely deprived and devastated. Nothing could grow on the soil of Platora, not even weed. Rain was scarce and water was never enough. The only people left in Platora were the orphans whose parents died in the war. It was a mystery how these children managed to survive but they did, and under the leadership of Kuroro whom everyone called "Prince", the orphans managed to create a kingdom of their own, the kingdom of living hell. Though just a rumor, there was an old saying that the two lands on the edge of the great desert could never prosper simultaneously. When one land thrived, the other would wither; when one land came into light, the other would sink into darkness. Platora once too had her glorious moments. She had advanced technology and infinite number of industries and factories. However, everything vanished after the civil war, which the orphans believed, was caused by the evil plot of Dentora's previous ruler - Zeno.
In the "palace" of Platora, which was really the remnants of a warehouse of a steel factory, Kuroro quietly listened as the spies he sent to Dentora report the news of the disappearance of Prince Killua. Eleven of the twelve people sitting along the round table were his generals, who were sometimes referred to as the Ryodan. They grew up with Kuroro, suffered many hardships with him, and helped him unite Platora. They were each other's friends and family. The remaining human being was a mystic magician by the name of Hisoka. He came from no where twelve years ago and claimed himself to be a prophet as well as magician. He said the future was already determined and that Dentora would be destroyed in twelve years time. After the demolition of Dentora, times of prosperity would return to Plethora. He offered to help the revival of Platora in exchange for being allowed to stay in Platora. Though Kuroro had suspicions of Hisoka for the latter never explained why he knew about the future or why he would help Platora, he still allowed Hisoka to stay. Partly because he was aware he could borrow the power of Hisoka, and partly because he felt there was something similar between him and the queer magician.
When the spies completed their report, Kuroro said, "My dear friends, the disappearance of Killua could be the symbol of the beginning of ill fate for Dentora but it could also be another despicable plot of the rulers of Dentora. Hence, we must be very careful when proceeding with our plans."
"Don't worry, Kuroro, I Ubogin will turn Dentora into a vast piece of wasteland!" the mini giant said with confidence. "Together, we will rob Dentora of its beauty and prosperity! We will let those people know the pain we have endured! Forever, Dentora will have winter and winter only. Never again will they see spring or feel the warmth of a breeze. Never again will there be laughter on the land. No one will be able to sing, or dance, or even dream. Frozen statues they will become and then Platora will be greatest country in this world!"
Kuroro worried even more by the simple-minded personality of Ubogin but he was glad his friends shared his passion and goals. He rose and walked outside of his "palace" toward the "garden" of debris, where thousands of Platorians had gathered. "My dear brothers and sisters, we have all gone through a long journey of agony and misery in order to survive to this day. We once begged for help but even when we cried till our eyes turn blind, or prayed till our hairs turned white, no one would extend us a helping hand. To end this nightmare and seek for happiness, we can only depend on ourselves. The war ahead of us will not be easy. Some of us will sweat, some us will bleed, and many of us will probably die. Yet, victory of this war means no longer will we have to drink from the cup of sorrow; no longer will our souls and bodies be battered; and most important of all, no longer will Platora be forgotten by the rest of the world. To this end, may I request you all to celebrate with me for the countdown to the destruction of Dentora and revival of Platora, has finally begun!"
