Disclaimer: all characters and locations unless featured in the Teen Titans
show or otherwise, are property of Mr. Bigg.
Note to Sebastian1- Sorry, but this isn't a crossover fic. While some characters bare resemblance to other characters (Like Dr. Tyr is to Battle Angel Alita's Desty Nova), existing characters NOT from Teen Titans will not be in this fic. Though Randal and Dante would be a nice touch...
LOCATION: Somewhere in the lofty peaks of China's southwest mountains...
The boy noticed the temple air was thick and warm as the pungent aroma of incense saturated his every breath. He walked in front of the main shrine, a large mandala of colored sand set into the floor. Around the design sat four shadowy figures, with the elder sage standing next to them.
"Is he the boy?" The first shadow asked.
"Yes. The time we've feared is now at hand," said the elder sage.
"Very well. Come," the second shadow said, beckoning at the boy.
The boy hesitantly strode towards the shadows, being careful not to tread on the fragile mandala. The wall-mounted torches flickered with his every step, as the dancing lights did well to hide the identities of the shadows.
"He is young. Are you certain he is ready? We risk much on your judgement," The third shadow commented, gazing at the boy.
"Show them the weapon you used during your test," The elder sage said to the boy. The boy kneeled humbly, presenting the naginata as his master told him too.
"Why did you select this weapon amongst all the others that were available?" the fourth shadow asked the boy.
The boy hesitated with his answer, because he didn't really have an explanation. "The weapon has a perfect balance. It offers me a long range, and I feel comfortable wielding it against any who would challenge me," The boy said tentatively.
"Surely that is proof that he is ready," The elder sage said to the council.
"It may be, but caution is a virtue in our situation," the first shadow retorted.
"Never the less, we shall proceed," the second shadow added.
"Bring the boy," the third shadow said
"And we shall set him free," the fourth shadow finished, as the four figures stood. The elder sage followed them into an adjoining room, and the boy followed his master. The room was small and devoid of anything of importance except a few urns on a shelf, but when the leading shadow changed the position of the urns, the far wall slid open to reveal a forbidding passage. The snaky corridor led into a larger chamber, deep below the temple.
"Watch where you step, child," the first shadow said in a condescending manner. The boy pondered the phrase, finally noticing the floor was actually a massive mural, made of colored sands.
"This mural is our most sacred treasure. It is over 9 centuries old," the elder sage commented as the boy gazed in wonder.
"What is this strange language? I can't read it," the boy said.
"It is old. The language itself is forgotten, but the story these characters tell is eternal," The second shadow replied
"The story began with a kingdom at war. Villages were slaughtered. Innocents died. In the midst of the chaos, a man and woman bearing two children sought shelter in our walls. We aided them, but the man died suddenly. The woman, his wife, died soon after from grief.
"Our order took the children in, and raised them as we have raised ourselves. These children, however, would not lead the meager lives of monks. The first child, a girl, stopped aging after 16 years. No matter how bad her injuries were, she recovered. She was the Girl Without Age.
"The second child, a boy, was a different case. He exceeded in almost every task we gave him, be it trials of strength or mind exercises. His energies were endless. However fast the fastest monk was, he was faster, and however strong the strongest monk was, he was as strong. He was the Boy Without Limits.
"The time of war came again. A peaceful kingdom approached us, asking us to negotiate a truce between sides. The Girl Without Age volunteered for this task, so the order let her go. "The girl returned some months later. Corrupted by the outside world, she laid waste to the monastery. Before the Girl could kill all the monks, however, the Boy stepped in. The two fought for days without a victor. Finally, the Boy landed a fatal blow, one that came with a terrible price. The Girl had landed one of her own, leaving the boy dead. With her wounds as grievous as they were, she fled," The third shadow explained. "The monks recorded their story, knowing that the time would come when the Boy would be reborn. I believe that time has come," The elder sage said, planting his hand on the Boy's shoulder. The boy's mind reeled. "That- that cannot be true. I am me, not somebody else!" he cried. "You are, Hotei. And now, you must fulfill your destiny," The shadows said. "What is a 'Hotei'? What destiny?" The boy asked frantically, his body shaking. "Hotei is your name. Your true name. The same name is inscribed in the blade of your weapon," The Elder sage said. Sure enough, when the boy saw the name carved amidst the intricate patterns on his naginata. "That naginata is yours. It has sat for centuries, waiting for you. The time has come to take it up once more," The Shadows said. "No," Hotei replied quietly. "What was that?" The Elder sage asked, his eyes going wide. "I said NO! I am not different! I am not a hero, not a savior! I am ME!" Hotei cried, fleeing from the chamber. "HOTEI, WAIT!" The Elder Sage roared, following his pupil. Hotei proved to be faster than his master- by the time the Elder Sage reached the courtyard, his pupil had already mounted the towering monastery walls, disappearing into the mountain mists.
Note to Sebastian1- Sorry, but this isn't a crossover fic. While some characters bare resemblance to other characters (Like Dr. Tyr is to Battle Angel Alita's Desty Nova), existing characters NOT from Teen Titans will not be in this fic. Though Randal and Dante would be a nice touch...
LOCATION: Somewhere in the lofty peaks of China's southwest mountains...
The boy noticed the temple air was thick and warm as the pungent aroma of incense saturated his every breath. He walked in front of the main shrine, a large mandala of colored sand set into the floor. Around the design sat four shadowy figures, with the elder sage standing next to them.
"Is he the boy?" The first shadow asked.
"Yes. The time we've feared is now at hand," said the elder sage.
"Very well. Come," the second shadow said, beckoning at the boy.
The boy hesitantly strode towards the shadows, being careful not to tread on the fragile mandala. The wall-mounted torches flickered with his every step, as the dancing lights did well to hide the identities of the shadows.
"He is young. Are you certain he is ready? We risk much on your judgement," The third shadow commented, gazing at the boy.
"Show them the weapon you used during your test," The elder sage said to the boy. The boy kneeled humbly, presenting the naginata as his master told him too.
"Why did you select this weapon amongst all the others that were available?" the fourth shadow asked the boy.
The boy hesitated with his answer, because he didn't really have an explanation. "The weapon has a perfect balance. It offers me a long range, and I feel comfortable wielding it against any who would challenge me," The boy said tentatively.
"Surely that is proof that he is ready," The elder sage said to the council.
"It may be, but caution is a virtue in our situation," the first shadow retorted.
"Never the less, we shall proceed," the second shadow added.
"Bring the boy," the third shadow said
"And we shall set him free," the fourth shadow finished, as the four figures stood. The elder sage followed them into an adjoining room, and the boy followed his master. The room was small and devoid of anything of importance except a few urns on a shelf, but when the leading shadow changed the position of the urns, the far wall slid open to reveal a forbidding passage. The snaky corridor led into a larger chamber, deep below the temple.
"Watch where you step, child," the first shadow said in a condescending manner. The boy pondered the phrase, finally noticing the floor was actually a massive mural, made of colored sands.
"This mural is our most sacred treasure. It is over 9 centuries old," the elder sage commented as the boy gazed in wonder.
"What is this strange language? I can't read it," the boy said.
"It is old. The language itself is forgotten, but the story these characters tell is eternal," The second shadow replied
"The story began with a kingdom at war. Villages were slaughtered. Innocents died. In the midst of the chaos, a man and woman bearing two children sought shelter in our walls. We aided them, but the man died suddenly. The woman, his wife, died soon after from grief.
"Our order took the children in, and raised them as we have raised ourselves. These children, however, would not lead the meager lives of monks. The first child, a girl, stopped aging after 16 years. No matter how bad her injuries were, she recovered. She was the Girl Without Age.
"The second child, a boy, was a different case. He exceeded in almost every task we gave him, be it trials of strength or mind exercises. His energies were endless. However fast the fastest monk was, he was faster, and however strong the strongest monk was, he was as strong. He was the Boy Without Limits.
"The time of war came again. A peaceful kingdom approached us, asking us to negotiate a truce between sides. The Girl Without Age volunteered for this task, so the order let her go. "The girl returned some months later. Corrupted by the outside world, she laid waste to the monastery. Before the Girl could kill all the monks, however, the Boy stepped in. The two fought for days without a victor. Finally, the Boy landed a fatal blow, one that came with a terrible price. The Girl had landed one of her own, leaving the boy dead. With her wounds as grievous as they were, she fled," The third shadow explained. "The monks recorded their story, knowing that the time would come when the Boy would be reborn. I believe that time has come," The elder sage said, planting his hand on the Boy's shoulder. The boy's mind reeled. "That- that cannot be true. I am me, not somebody else!" he cried. "You are, Hotei. And now, you must fulfill your destiny," The shadows said. "What is a 'Hotei'? What destiny?" The boy asked frantically, his body shaking. "Hotei is your name. Your true name. The same name is inscribed in the blade of your weapon," The Elder sage said. Sure enough, when the boy saw the name carved amidst the intricate patterns on his naginata. "That naginata is yours. It has sat for centuries, waiting for you. The time has come to take it up once more," The Shadows said. "No," Hotei replied quietly. "What was that?" The Elder sage asked, his eyes going wide. "I said NO! I am not different! I am not a hero, not a savior! I am ME!" Hotei cried, fleeing from the chamber. "HOTEI, WAIT!" The Elder Sage roared, following his pupil. Hotei proved to be faster than his master- by the time the Elder Sage reached the courtyard, his pupil had already mounted the towering monastery walls, disappearing into the mountain mists.