**Disclaimer: PLEASE! I DON'T want to repeat myself! Just know that I own
nothing and I'm penniless.
Also I'm going to try and make my chapters longer, so for anyone who cares,
cross your fingers and hope I don't get another writer's block!**
'...' = Thoughts "..." = Talking
Celeste Dragoon Chapter Four: Journey's First Steps
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Something has taken from deep inside of me...A secret I've kept locked away
no one can ever see.
-Linkin Park's "Easier To Run"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The four girls- Minako Aino, Ami Mizuno, Hotaru Tomoe, and Michelle Kaioh sat cross-legged on the floor inside Shinto Shrine staring blankly at their friend, Raye Hino. Shinto Shine was a large shrine made up of stones and bricks and protected by spells of the fire spirits. On the northwestern corner of the shrine the symbols of Phoenix and Ifrit intertwined randomly, inside the shrine itself the Great Fire burned. If asked the right question the Great Fire was an invaluable source of information.
"The what?" piped up the blonde hair girl, Minako Aino, breaking the confused silence. The raven haired priestess sighed in exasperation.
"The Grand Fall... I have never heard of it Raye, what is it?" The aqua haired scientist-Ami Mizuno, spoke up, her lilting voice causing Minako to fall silent. Raye stood up, walked calmly to the door, opened it, looked out to make sure the shrine was empty then shut the door and sat back down between black haired Hotaru Tomoe and Marine blue haired Michelle Kaioh.
"The Grand Fall was the prediction of the universe falling under a great darkness," she said her voice unconsciously picking up one of a prophet. They all gasped in horror and Raye nodded.
"But wasn't that just a guess? No more?" Michelle analyzed. Raye shook her head sadly.
"No, it wasn't a guess, it was a foretelling... of what should be prevented," Hotaru spook up confidently. "I can feel that it slowly approaches... in a couple weeks I suppose."
"Would that be the reason behind the strange colors in the sky?" Ami sat forward expectantly. Raye nodded in answer for Hotaru.
"I consulted the Great Fire last night and asked what should be done..." the Shinto Priestess started but trailed of hesitantly.
"And?" Minako asked fearfully. Raye had been uncharacteristically silent most of the time, and that was scaring Minako.
"Well...it showed me that it had to be prevented, and the only way to do so was to collect the Greater and Lesser Summon Spirits,"
"Is that even POSSIBLE?!" Minako screeched and the other four girls quickly covered their ears in pain. "I mean, COLLECT the Summon Spirits?! I thought they all like to be free!"
"True...but I'll find a way to do it." That silenced them all. They stared blankly at the beautiful priestess whom they all had befriended not a year before.
"What do you mean 'you'll find a way'?What about us?" Hotaru asked softly in a pained voice. Raye looked at the floor sadly.
"To get the Summon Spirits, it would involve leaving Akira and...I don't want you guys to come with me, you guys have a great life here and...and I wouldn't want to take that away from you."
"Nonsense! We'd walk with you to the end of the world, even though you're a grouch, we love ya!" Minako said automaticly placing her hand on Raye's. Raye glared goodnaturally at her then grinned.
"Yes, we wouldn't hesitate to join you!" Ami added, also placing her hand on Raye and Minako's.
"We're your friends, and we walk together-through thick and thin...you need to remember that we'll be here, Raye," Hotaru said placing her hand on everyone else's. All that was left was Michelle's and everyone looked anxiously at her. Michelle placed her hand on all of theirs and said in her elegant voice,
"Raye...I'm offended that you think that we would have just sat here and let you leave." Raye stared at her for a little then began laughing uncontrolably.
"Thank you, you guys.... I'm glad you'll all be there with me!" Then her eyes became serious again. "Okay now that we're done with the formalities, we leave early tomorrow days. Be prepared and pack lightly, because outside is dangerous and this is only Journey's First Step."
*************************
Nozomi (Sunset)
*************************
Nozomi was a small village of homes and shops out in the middle of the country. Along almost all sides of Nozomi there was thick, dense forests. All sides except for the north. To the north there were large grass fields which went on for some distance until it reached rocky, uphill terrain.
Walking slowly, Endymion quietly walked to the northern area of Nozomi, all the while watching the sun set. Endymion wore a hauberk (gray armor which had tiny over-lapping steel scales that protected the torso) underneath upper and lower silver armor with gauntlets and boots protecting his arms and legs. For it was an unsteady time for peace, there were monsters that had been appearing lately as the sun setted. As he passed one of the village story tellers he heard a story which caught his intrest. Stopping he walked closer to the circle of children listening closely to each syllable of the Story Teller's words:
"Once, this continent was joined with the southern, northern and the eastern continents as one landform and the people were as one tribe. The Summon Spirits weren't spirits back then either, they were gods, gods and goddesses of the different elements of Earth. That was a time of peace and prosperity, if one was in need of assistance, they just needed to ask and help came."
"Why isn't it like that now?" One of the boys listening interupted.
"You'll see, just let me finish the story, where was I? Oh yes, ask and be helped...Well one day a greedy man appeared seeking to be king of Gaia- all of Earth. So he beseeched the gods to grant him his wish, naturally, they refused. For there was already a king and queen upon the throne, the Great and Honest man- King Albert and his Beautiful and Courageous Queen Gaea. Also, King Albert had a son who was heir to the throne, his name was Prince Lavtiz. (AN: Legend of the Dragoon anyone? lol.) Besides the gods favored Albert and the Stranger left their counsel in anger."
"What'd he do?" asked a seven year old girl as she stuck her thumb back in her mouth. The Story Teller smiled and raised his index finger, signing her to be patient.
"Well, the Stranger was furious, and anger gives us adrenaline to do many things. So he secretly went from house to house and tried corrupting men, woman and children- trying to convince them that he should be King, not Albert. Few people listen to him and fewer opened their doors to him. That's when the Greedy Man became desperate and went to the Dark Wiseman living in the Death Mountains near Hades's domain. He traveled there and asked the Evil Wiseman for power to conquer Gaia, and power is what he recieved. The aid of Black Magic." Another boy and girl started asking questions but Endymion didn't hear them because he had looked up and saw a mysterious maiden also listening to the story.
She stood at a distance from the circle of listeners quietly listening to the story as Endymion once had. It was getting too dark to see, but he could see that she had long golden hair which was tied behind her head, that she was 5'1" in height and that she had ethereal skin. Which was strange, for the villagers of Nozomi had darkened skin and dark hair. The Story Teller began again so he looked back down to him, when the story was over he'd go and talk to this maiden.
"Okay, save your questions until I am finished...or tomorrow," The story teller stated after the questions started getting long. After the listeners quieted down he began again.
"With the Dark Magic, the man went to the King's dwelling and issued a challenge. The circumstances were that if the man was to win that King Albert was to step down from the throne and give it to him, and if Albert won that the greedy man was to be banished and never come back.So the king accepted the challenge for the contest of powers against powers- for there was magic back in those days. But the gods who favored Albert were watching this, sensed something amiss with the stranger and secretly went down in disguise to watch the contest. The man played fair with Albert but when he started losing he yelled into the sky, screaming for the Dark Magic and for Wiseman to help him. The skies filled with black and the wind became fierce, cold against the onlookers." Endymion looked to his right and saw his best friends Jediate, Malacite, Kunzite and Zoicite walk over and stand next to him to listen to the story. The Story Teller continued his story:
"To protect his people King Albert told them to leave him and warn others about the disaster sending most of the onlookers to warn everyone, but most refused to leave their king and stood with him ready for battle. Before the Stranger could get close to the King, the Five Gods and Five Goddesses revealed themselves then stepped into the battleground.
'Man of the Black Magic, you have created enough havoc,' said the fiery-spirited Phoenix, the Goddess of Rebirth, as she stepped forward and began chanting uncomprehensively.
'Yes, the world was once without ripples, but you've created a tide wave of sorrow,' uttered tranquill Leviathan, the Goddess of Water, as she stepped beside Phoenix and joined in chanting.
'Once in warmth...' sang the clear-voiced Siren, the Goddess of Song and Love, walking with the other two goddesses and joining in the chanting- though she was singing.
'Now in flames,' said fiery-tempered Ifrit, God of Fire- Lover of Phoenix, walking and joining hands with his lover.
'I cool thy blood...' cried understanding Shiva, the Goddess of Ice- Sister to Leviathan.
'They walked the ground you walk!' roared muscular Titan, the God of Earth, talking about all the humans whom the greedy man had killed.
'They breathed the air you breathe!' yelled the courageous Bahamut, the God of all Non-Elementals.
'I'll strike you down for all your crimes,' stated the wise Ramuh, the God of Thunder.
'And I'll light your way to Hell, and their way to Paradise...' murmured graceful Odin, the Warrior Goddess of the Moon and the Messenger of Hades. The goddess closed her eyes and whistled sharply, summoning her armored horse.
'Albert...the world shall be bleak and gray till the end of your days, teach your heirs to do as you have done-protect the people first...' mourned sorrowful Hades, the God of the Condemned, then he added in a chilly voice. 'Your life is now...from this day forward, A Living Hell, with no light but the flames which burn you and no solace except for the chains that keep you from falling into the eternal darkness...'"
The Story Teller paused in his story and noticed that everyone listening was holding their breath in anticipation. He looked around the group at the tan skinned listeners and saw a maiden who was different from the rest, shw was listening intently, her eyes lighted with a strange glow suggesting that she had an idea of some sort. Also her skin was heavenly ethereal-not like the villagers in this town at all. Noticing that he didn't go on, she looked at him and tilted her head to the left in curiosity. So he began again, to meet the mysterious maiden's wishes.
"Though they knew that if they used too much power they would fade, the Five Gods and Four Goddesses stretched their powers out, entwined them together and sent them to Odin's blade. Using Zantetsuken, her blade, she bound and banished the Evil man and his source of power, Wiseman, for good. The cloaked man disappeared immediately though the man struggled,
'I'll be back!! I am Dimando, Prince of the Darkness. Prepare for my return!' he screamed as he vanished. Then Bahamut began to fade too, a garnet sphere appeared in her place which was promptly transported to the king's right hand-for one need's courage to live life as a king.
Then Ifrit began to fade and because they entwined souls, Phoenix began to fade also. Taking his place was half of a fiery orange sphere. Taking Phoenix's place was the other half to the sphere of Ifrit's but her's was fiery red, they merged together as one and transported to a place of heat- the East.
Next was Shiva, taking her place was a aqua blue sphere which teleported to the coldest place on Earth-the South. After Shiva was her sister Leviathan, taking her place was a marine blue sphere which then teleported to the bottom of the sea.
Then faded Siren, taking her place was a orange sphere which teleported to the king's left hand- for one cannot live without love. After her came Ramuh and Titan, taking Ramuh's place was a lightning yellow sphere and taking Titan's was a earth brown sphere which then transported Ramuh to the flat lands in the West and Titan to the rocky mountains in the West.
When all that was left was Odin and Hades, Hades turned to th King and said,
'Quickly....Take those two sphere's and guard them with your life...for they hold great power which should never fall in the wrong hands...' the king nodded and turned to Odin.
'Coose a direction, and those most loyal to you and do not move for we must divide the spheres... don't forget us, okay?' Odin said, her beautiful eyes for the first time filling with tears. Then the king departed.
Then they released their powers, creating oceans, moutains, ravines and canyons to prevent easy ways to get all spheres. Taking Hades place as he disappeared was a black crystal then was gone. As Odin began to change into a Silver Crystal, her armor disappeared and standing there all alone was a silver haired woman with the crescent moon shining upon her face, then she too left. In memory of the gods and Goddesses who had sacrificed themselve the king named the western continents, Gaia, the Eastern, Torrid, the southern, Centra and the northern, Gaea, after his queen."
"What happened to Odin? Where'd she go?" asked Endymion's friend Amara.
"Yeah! and what about Hades? Where'd he go?" Jediate asked suddenly. The story teller sat there deep in thought for a couple moments.
"Well, legend says that she will appear to all in the time of need...but where she went, no one knows, not even the king, now every one! Go to bed!" Groans and arguments arose but eventually everyone stood and went their seperate ways. Endymion's friends said goodnight and departed when he remember the maiden he saw. Turning and looking back to where she was, she was gone.
*********************** End of Chapter Four ***********************
Well this is the end of this chapter people! Tell me what you all thought.
-Angel-Of-Serene
'...' = Thoughts "..." = Talking
Celeste Dragoon Chapter Four: Journey's First Steps
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Something has taken from deep inside of me...A secret I've kept locked away
no one can ever see.
-Linkin Park's "Easier To Run"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The four girls- Minako Aino, Ami Mizuno, Hotaru Tomoe, and Michelle Kaioh sat cross-legged on the floor inside Shinto Shrine staring blankly at their friend, Raye Hino. Shinto Shine was a large shrine made up of stones and bricks and protected by spells of the fire spirits. On the northwestern corner of the shrine the symbols of Phoenix and Ifrit intertwined randomly, inside the shrine itself the Great Fire burned. If asked the right question the Great Fire was an invaluable source of information.
"The what?" piped up the blonde hair girl, Minako Aino, breaking the confused silence. The raven haired priestess sighed in exasperation.
"The Grand Fall... I have never heard of it Raye, what is it?" The aqua haired scientist-Ami Mizuno, spoke up, her lilting voice causing Minako to fall silent. Raye stood up, walked calmly to the door, opened it, looked out to make sure the shrine was empty then shut the door and sat back down between black haired Hotaru Tomoe and Marine blue haired Michelle Kaioh.
"The Grand Fall was the prediction of the universe falling under a great darkness," she said her voice unconsciously picking up one of a prophet. They all gasped in horror and Raye nodded.
"But wasn't that just a guess? No more?" Michelle analyzed. Raye shook her head sadly.
"No, it wasn't a guess, it was a foretelling... of what should be prevented," Hotaru spook up confidently. "I can feel that it slowly approaches... in a couple weeks I suppose."
"Would that be the reason behind the strange colors in the sky?" Ami sat forward expectantly. Raye nodded in answer for Hotaru.
"I consulted the Great Fire last night and asked what should be done..." the Shinto Priestess started but trailed of hesitantly.
"And?" Minako asked fearfully. Raye had been uncharacteristically silent most of the time, and that was scaring Minako.
"Well...it showed me that it had to be prevented, and the only way to do so was to collect the Greater and Lesser Summon Spirits,"
"Is that even POSSIBLE?!" Minako screeched and the other four girls quickly covered their ears in pain. "I mean, COLLECT the Summon Spirits?! I thought they all like to be free!"
"True...but I'll find a way to do it." That silenced them all. They stared blankly at the beautiful priestess whom they all had befriended not a year before.
"What do you mean 'you'll find a way'?What about us?" Hotaru asked softly in a pained voice. Raye looked at the floor sadly.
"To get the Summon Spirits, it would involve leaving Akira and...I don't want you guys to come with me, you guys have a great life here and...and I wouldn't want to take that away from you."
"Nonsense! We'd walk with you to the end of the world, even though you're a grouch, we love ya!" Minako said automaticly placing her hand on Raye's. Raye glared goodnaturally at her then grinned.
"Yes, we wouldn't hesitate to join you!" Ami added, also placing her hand on Raye and Minako's.
"We're your friends, and we walk together-through thick and thin...you need to remember that we'll be here, Raye," Hotaru said placing her hand on everyone else's. All that was left was Michelle's and everyone looked anxiously at her. Michelle placed her hand on all of theirs and said in her elegant voice,
"Raye...I'm offended that you think that we would have just sat here and let you leave." Raye stared at her for a little then began laughing uncontrolably.
"Thank you, you guys.... I'm glad you'll all be there with me!" Then her eyes became serious again. "Okay now that we're done with the formalities, we leave early tomorrow days. Be prepared and pack lightly, because outside is dangerous and this is only Journey's First Step."
*************************
Nozomi (Sunset)
*************************
Nozomi was a small village of homes and shops out in the middle of the country. Along almost all sides of Nozomi there was thick, dense forests. All sides except for the north. To the north there were large grass fields which went on for some distance until it reached rocky, uphill terrain.
Walking slowly, Endymion quietly walked to the northern area of Nozomi, all the while watching the sun set. Endymion wore a hauberk (gray armor which had tiny over-lapping steel scales that protected the torso) underneath upper and lower silver armor with gauntlets and boots protecting his arms and legs. For it was an unsteady time for peace, there were monsters that had been appearing lately as the sun setted. As he passed one of the village story tellers he heard a story which caught his intrest. Stopping he walked closer to the circle of children listening closely to each syllable of the Story Teller's words:
"Once, this continent was joined with the southern, northern and the eastern continents as one landform and the people were as one tribe. The Summon Spirits weren't spirits back then either, they were gods, gods and goddesses of the different elements of Earth. That was a time of peace and prosperity, if one was in need of assistance, they just needed to ask and help came."
"Why isn't it like that now?" One of the boys listening interupted.
"You'll see, just let me finish the story, where was I? Oh yes, ask and be helped...Well one day a greedy man appeared seeking to be king of Gaia- all of Earth. So he beseeched the gods to grant him his wish, naturally, they refused. For there was already a king and queen upon the throne, the Great and Honest man- King Albert and his Beautiful and Courageous Queen Gaea. Also, King Albert had a son who was heir to the throne, his name was Prince Lavtiz. (AN: Legend of the Dragoon anyone? lol.) Besides the gods favored Albert and the Stranger left their counsel in anger."
"What'd he do?" asked a seven year old girl as she stuck her thumb back in her mouth. The Story Teller smiled and raised his index finger, signing her to be patient.
"Well, the Stranger was furious, and anger gives us adrenaline to do many things. So he secretly went from house to house and tried corrupting men, woman and children- trying to convince them that he should be King, not Albert. Few people listen to him and fewer opened their doors to him. That's when the Greedy Man became desperate and went to the Dark Wiseman living in the Death Mountains near Hades's domain. He traveled there and asked the Evil Wiseman for power to conquer Gaia, and power is what he recieved. The aid of Black Magic." Another boy and girl started asking questions but Endymion didn't hear them because he had looked up and saw a mysterious maiden also listening to the story.
She stood at a distance from the circle of listeners quietly listening to the story as Endymion once had. It was getting too dark to see, but he could see that she had long golden hair which was tied behind her head, that she was 5'1" in height and that she had ethereal skin. Which was strange, for the villagers of Nozomi had darkened skin and dark hair. The Story Teller began again so he looked back down to him, when the story was over he'd go and talk to this maiden.
"Okay, save your questions until I am finished...or tomorrow," The story teller stated after the questions started getting long. After the listeners quieted down he began again.
"With the Dark Magic, the man went to the King's dwelling and issued a challenge. The circumstances were that if the man was to win that King Albert was to step down from the throne and give it to him, and if Albert won that the greedy man was to be banished and never come back.So the king accepted the challenge for the contest of powers against powers- for there was magic back in those days. But the gods who favored Albert were watching this, sensed something amiss with the stranger and secretly went down in disguise to watch the contest. The man played fair with Albert but when he started losing he yelled into the sky, screaming for the Dark Magic and for Wiseman to help him. The skies filled with black and the wind became fierce, cold against the onlookers." Endymion looked to his right and saw his best friends Jediate, Malacite, Kunzite and Zoicite walk over and stand next to him to listen to the story. The Story Teller continued his story:
"To protect his people King Albert told them to leave him and warn others about the disaster sending most of the onlookers to warn everyone, but most refused to leave their king and stood with him ready for battle. Before the Stranger could get close to the King, the Five Gods and Five Goddesses revealed themselves then stepped into the battleground.
'Man of the Black Magic, you have created enough havoc,' said the fiery-spirited Phoenix, the Goddess of Rebirth, as she stepped forward and began chanting uncomprehensively.
'Yes, the world was once without ripples, but you've created a tide wave of sorrow,' uttered tranquill Leviathan, the Goddess of Water, as she stepped beside Phoenix and joined in chanting.
'Once in warmth...' sang the clear-voiced Siren, the Goddess of Song and Love, walking with the other two goddesses and joining in the chanting- though she was singing.
'Now in flames,' said fiery-tempered Ifrit, God of Fire- Lover of Phoenix, walking and joining hands with his lover.
'I cool thy blood...' cried understanding Shiva, the Goddess of Ice- Sister to Leviathan.
'They walked the ground you walk!' roared muscular Titan, the God of Earth, talking about all the humans whom the greedy man had killed.
'They breathed the air you breathe!' yelled the courageous Bahamut, the God of all Non-Elementals.
'I'll strike you down for all your crimes,' stated the wise Ramuh, the God of Thunder.
'And I'll light your way to Hell, and their way to Paradise...' murmured graceful Odin, the Warrior Goddess of the Moon and the Messenger of Hades. The goddess closed her eyes and whistled sharply, summoning her armored horse.
'Albert...the world shall be bleak and gray till the end of your days, teach your heirs to do as you have done-protect the people first...' mourned sorrowful Hades, the God of the Condemned, then he added in a chilly voice. 'Your life is now...from this day forward, A Living Hell, with no light but the flames which burn you and no solace except for the chains that keep you from falling into the eternal darkness...'"
The Story Teller paused in his story and noticed that everyone listening was holding their breath in anticipation. He looked around the group at the tan skinned listeners and saw a maiden who was different from the rest, shw was listening intently, her eyes lighted with a strange glow suggesting that she had an idea of some sort. Also her skin was heavenly ethereal-not like the villagers in this town at all. Noticing that he didn't go on, she looked at him and tilted her head to the left in curiosity. So he began again, to meet the mysterious maiden's wishes.
"Though they knew that if they used too much power they would fade, the Five Gods and Four Goddesses stretched their powers out, entwined them together and sent them to Odin's blade. Using Zantetsuken, her blade, she bound and banished the Evil man and his source of power, Wiseman, for good. The cloaked man disappeared immediately though the man struggled,
'I'll be back!! I am Dimando, Prince of the Darkness. Prepare for my return!' he screamed as he vanished. Then Bahamut began to fade too, a garnet sphere appeared in her place which was promptly transported to the king's right hand-for one need's courage to live life as a king.
Then Ifrit began to fade and because they entwined souls, Phoenix began to fade also. Taking his place was half of a fiery orange sphere. Taking Phoenix's place was the other half to the sphere of Ifrit's but her's was fiery red, they merged together as one and transported to a place of heat- the East.
Next was Shiva, taking her place was a aqua blue sphere which teleported to the coldest place on Earth-the South. After Shiva was her sister Leviathan, taking her place was a marine blue sphere which then teleported to the bottom of the sea.
Then faded Siren, taking her place was a orange sphere which teleported to the king's left hand- for one cannot live without love. After her came Ramuh and Titan, taking Ramuh's place was a lightning yellow sphere and taking Titan's was a earth brown sphere which then transported Ramuh to the flat lands in the West and Titan to the rocky mountains in the West.
When all that was left was Odin and Hades, Hades turned to th King and said,
'Quickly....Take those two sphere's and guard them with your life...for they hold great power which should never fall in the wrong hands...' the king nodded and turned to Odin.
'Coose a direction, and those most loyal to you and do not move for we must divide the spheres... don't forget us, okay?' Odin said, her beautiful eyes for the first time filling with tears. Then the king departed.
Then they released their powers, creating oceans, moutains, ravines and canyons to prevent easy ways to get all spheres. Taking Hades place as he disappeared was a black crystal then was gone. As Odin began to change into a Silver Crystal, her armor disappeared and standing there all alone was a silver haired woman with the crescent moon shining upon her face, then she too left. In memory of the gods and Goddesses who had sacrificed themselve the king named the western continents, Gaia, the Eastern, Torrid, the southern, Centra and the northern, Gaea, after his queen."
"What happened to Odin? Where'd she go?" asked Endymion's friend Amara.
"Yeah! and what about Hades? Where'd he go?" Jediate asked suddenly. The story teller sat there deep in thought for a couple moments.
"Well, legend says that she will appear to all in the time of need...but where she went, no one knows, not even the king, now every one! Go to bed!" Groans and arguments arose but eventually everyone stood and went their seperate ways. Endymion's friends said goodnight and departed when he remember the maiden he saw. Turning and looking back to where she was, she was gone.
*********************** End of Chapter Four ***********************
Well this is the end of this chapter people! Tell me what you all thought.
-Angel-Of-Serene