============== DEADLY ! ASHARUKHAN'S CRUEL PRESENCE ! ===============
In a small village,four young boys,two young girls,and a tiny unicorn which was little more
than a foal,were already seeking an inn to spend the night.The journey had been a very long one
for these six youngsters.For the little unicorn,of course,it was even longer,which was why she had
to be carried most of the way,but Daisuke,the youngest of the six,did not mind.In fact,he enjoyed
her company.The two were together.
"I see Chibiyuni's taking a liking to you,Daisuke,"Sakuya said to her kid brother.
"You know it,onechan.We've gotten along great.Haven't we,Chibiyuni?"
Chibiyuni answered with a joyous bleating.Ahead of them.Yuji,with shield in hand,was facing a
rather uneasy Kunichi.
"Er,"Kunichi spoke,"is there something I can do for you,Yuji?"
"Actually,there is.As you well know,we need money to pay for our lodgings tonight.I was wondering,
can that pouch of yours come up with a whole bunch of coins?"
"Well,I'll try something,"Kunichi said.Then he began to chant and gesture over his pouch.Suddenly
a glow came from within the pouch.Kunichi reached in and pulled out . . . a small grey fish.
"Oh,this is just pathetic,"Yuji said in an exasperated tone of voice."This measly little thing wouldn't
make a decent meal and there is absolutely NO way in blazes anybody's gonna give us anything
for this!"
"Tell me something I don't know,"a dejected Kunichi said as he tossed away the fish which was
soon gobbled up by a small brown cat."Kunichi then said,"Let me try again."As he began to gesture
and chant again,Kyoko and Hiroshi wound up watching.
"You can do it,Kunichi,"Kyoko said with a warm smile as she held her staff."You can produce
something valuable out of that pouch."Suddenly golden coins began to trickle out of the pouch by the
handful and it would be a minute or two before the torrent ceased.
"About time you and that dumb pouch of yours did something useful,"Yuji said,hardly impressed.
"Pay him no mind,Kunichi,"Hiroshi said as he smiled,bow in hand."You did quite well,actually."
"R-really?Y-you think so?"Kunichi asked.In reply,Hiroshi winked and thrust his thumb up.After finding
a discarded leather bag and putting all the coins in it,Hiroshi then led his companions forward until
they found an inn not far away.The inn looked somewhat shabby,but none of the six could afford to
be choosy at this point.Once inside,they noticed that the inside looked slightly better than the outside.
The scruffy-looking innkeeper,after recieving over twenty of the coins,said,"It's been a slow week,
so there's plenty of room upstairs.However,that little colt of yours will have to sleep in the stable."
Chibiyuni gave the innkeeper a rather startled look.Suddenly Daisuke went up to the innkeeper and
said,"If Chibiyuni's sleeping in the stable,then I'm sleeping with her!"
Sakuya went to his side and asked,"Daisuke,do you really mean that?"
"Of course I mean it,onechan!I . . . I don't wanna leave her alone!"
"And I don't want to be without you,Daisuke,so I'll be joining you two at the stable,"Sakuya said
shyly.The innkeeper for his part said,"Well,suit yourselves."
"Well,"Hiroshi said,"We'll be seeing you guys in the morning."
Later that night,while the others went to their rooms,Sakuya,Daisuke and Chibiyuni were at the
stable.As soon as she saw her brother and the little unicorn fast asleep,Sakuya took her green
cloak and put it over them like a blanket,then she lay down on the hay not far from where they were
and dozed off.
Elsewhere,an army was being assembled.Dozens of four foot tall musclebound swarthy humanoids
with green skin,tusks protruding from their lower jaws,black unkempt hair and,in most cases,warts.
These were trolls,all clad in leather armor with some metal plates and armed to the teeth with swords,
axes,spears and hammers.All of them were thirsty for blood.Suddenly,an ominous-looking black
chariot with red trim emerged,pulled by a huge black horse with red blank eyes,two swept back horns
where the ears should be,a rather thick serpentine neck,oversized hooves and a barbed tail.Driving the
chariot was none other than Asharukhan.Kage no Oni,in his shadow wraith form,soared behind him.
The trolls,raising their weapons,greeted the dark pair with cries of "Eternal glory to the almighty
Asharukhan,Lord and Master of the Realm!"After stilling the amassed dozens,Asharukhan then said,
"There is a village not far from here,"pointing ahead,Asharukhan resumed in his cold,deep voice,"you
may plunder and pillage to your liking."At that,the trolls raced ahead,shrieking blood curdling battle
cries in their gutteral voices.Asharukhan and Kage no Oni had remained behind to discuss something
among themselves.
"I trust,my lord,that this raid is more than a mere excuse for these troops to satisfy any sense of
greed in them?"
"Indeed,"Asharukhan replied,"if the children to whom Tsuchirou no Sama gave those weapons to
are in that village,this will no doubt draw them out,and we shall see how well they fare."With that,
Asharukhan and Kage no Oni followed the trolls.
A distant clamor had woken all those within the inn.Sakuya,Daisuke and Chibiyuni had rushed from
the stable to meet up with Hiroshi and the others.
"Something's going on!"Hiroshi said."C'mon you guys!"
As soon as the six youngsters rushed out of the inn,they were startled to see people running away
in panic.Hiroshi got in front of one of them,a rather unassuming-looking man with panic etched on
his face and asked,"What's going on?"
The panicky man then said,"Trolls!We're being attacked by trolls!"And then ran off.
"Did you guys hear what he said?"Asked Hiroshi.
"Trolls?"Asked Yuji."Did he just say . . . trolls?"
"Something tells me this isn't gonna be a peaceful night,"Kunichi said,to which Yuji replied,"You think?
You have a real talent for stating the obvious,pal!"
"Well,I'm not gonna stand by while the trolls raze this village!"Hiroshi said.
"Are you insane?"Yuji asked."This isn't our fight!"
"Look,"Hiroshi said,"Tsuchirou no Sama gave us these weapons for a reason,which is to help those
in need!I don't know about the rest of you,but I'm going!"
As Hiroshi rushed off,Daisuke suddenly exclaimed,"Hiroshi's right!We've got weapons!Let's use 'em!"
After that,Daisuke went after Hiroshi."Daisuke!"Sakuya exclaimed as she went after her brother.
"I might as well join 'em,"Kyoko said as she took off.Kunichi stared at Yuji,who then said,"I know
when I'm outvoted."Thus the two rushed off to join the others.As for Chibiyuni,she rushed off after
Daisuke,who noticed her."Chibiyuni,"he said,"you better find a place to hide!"The little unicorn did as
she was told and wound up inside a barrel which was turned on its side.When Sakuya saw this,she
said quietly,"I wish you'd heed your own advice,Daisuke,I really do."
Soon enough,the six youngsters had come face to face with more than over a dozen trolls.The lead
troll,who wore a spiked black helmet,was clad in spiked armor and carried a huge sword,laughed as
he saw the six facing him.
"Har har har!This man-village is defended by children?What a joke!Har har har!"
Hiroshi responded by firing a volley of flaming arrows from his bow,causing a bunch of them to
scatter.Kyoko had extended her staff to knock several more off their booted feet.A group of trolls
threw their spears at the youngsters,but Yuji stood between them as his shield generated a field that
caused the trolls' spears to bounce off.One troll was attempting to sneak away when a rope was wrapped
around his legs,causing him to trip.Once the troll fell,Sakuya became visible,winked,smiled and gave
a V for victory sign.Daisuke slammed his mace to the ground causing it to shake,which made the trolls
lose their balance and fall down.As for Kunichi,he was nervously chanting and gesturing over his pouch,
backing away as several trolls were advancing on him.Suddenly a rushing stream of water caused the
trolls to flee,much to Kunichi's relief.This went on for some time,until the trolls had had enough.There
were less than half a dozen remaining,counting the head troll.Hiroshi and the others stood their ground,
somewhat exhausted but enboldened by the way they had manged to dispose of the troll hordes.
"We underestimated you,"the head troll said.A tense silence ensued.Suddenly,after the head troll
made a gesture,he and his fellow trolls wound up retreating.Once they were gone,Yuji dropped down
to his knees and exhaled very loudly,much to the surprise of the others.
"That was close!"Yuji exclaimed."I don't know about you,Hiroshi,but I don't think I want to go through
that . . ."he was suddenly interrupted by a not unfamiliar voice."I see you have managed to survive
your first battle against the forces of Asharukhan."It was Tsuchirou no Sama who spoke,who then
resumed,"make no mistake,this will not be the last time you will face such foes,and it will not get any
easier for any of you."While the six were gathered around the little man,unknown to them,the remaining
trolls had reached Asharukhan with Kage no Oni at his side.The head troll had already told Asharukhan
what had happened.
"I see,Nobok,"he said."These children are not to be underestimated."He then pondered in silence
before saying to Kage no Oni,"Come,there are plans to be made."
It was already the middle of the morning when the six youngsters and Chibiyuni were already on
their way.
"Do you think there's another village,Hiroshi?"Kunichi asked."Or a way home?"Asked Kyoko.
"All I can say is,we'll never know until we get there,"Hiroshi said.
"I was afraid you'd say something like that,"grumbled Yuji."To think,those people wanted us to stay
as their protectors,but that creepy midget with the beard wanted us to go to another village.I mean,
really."
This went on for some time until Sakuya noticed something on the horizon."What's that?"She asked.
It was Asharukhan on his chariot,driven by his dark steed,whom he called Kurowaruiuma.It came
closer and closer,then it stopped in front of the six.Once it did,he glared at them.
"So,we meet at last,"he spoke quietly and coldly.After a tense silence he then said,"I am . . .
Asharukhan."
In a small village,four young boys,two young girls,and a tiny unicorn which was little more
than a foal,were already seeking an inn to spend the night.The journey had been a very long one
for these six youngsters.For the little unicorn,of course,it was even longer,which was why she had
to be carried most of the way,but Daisuke,the youngest of the six,did not mind.In fact,he enjoyed
her company.The two were together.
"I see Chibiyuni's taking a liking to you,Daisuke,"Sakuya said to her kid brother.
"You know it,onechan.We've gotten along great.Haven't we,Chibiyuni?"
Chibiyuni answered with a joyous bleating.Ahead of them.Yuji,with shield in hand,was facing a
rather uneasy Kunichi.
"Er,"Kunichi spoke,"is there something I can do for you,Yuji?"
"Actually,there is.As you well know,we need money to pay for our lodgings tonight.I was wondering,
can that pouch of yours come up with a whole bunch of coins?"
"Well,I'll try something,"Kunichi said.Then he began to chant and gesture over his pouch.Suddenly
a glow came from within the pouch.Kunichi reached in and pulled out . . . a small grey fish.
"Oh,this is just pathetic,"Yuji said in an exasperated tone of voice."This measly little thing wouldn't
make a decent meal and there is absolutely NO way in blazes anybody's gonna give us anything
for this!"
"Tell me something I don't know,"a dejected Kunichi said as he tossed away the fish which was
soon gobbled up by a small brown cat."Kunichi then said,"Let me try again."As he began to gesture
and chant again,Kyoko and Hiroshi wound up watching.
"You can do it,Kunichi,"Kyoko said with a warm smile as she held her staff."You can produce
something valuable out of that pouch."Suddenly golden coins began to trickle out of the pouch by the
handful and it would be a minute or two before the torrent ceased.
"About time you and that dumb pouch of yours did something useful,"Yuji said,hardly impressed.
"Pay him no mind,Kunichi,"Hiroshi said as he smiled,bow in hand."You did quite well,actually."
"R-really?Y-you think so?"Kunichi asked.In reply,Hiroshi winked and thrust his thumb up.After finding
a discarded leather bag and putting all the coins in it,Hiroshi then led his companions forward until
they found an inn not far away.The inn looked somewhat shabby,but none of the six could afford to
be choosy at this point.Once inside,they noticed that the inside looked slightly better than the outside.
The scruffy-looking innkeeper,after recieving over twenty of the coins,said,"It's been a slow week,
so there's plenty of room upstairs.However,that little colt of yours will have to sleep in the stable."
Chibiyuni gave the innkeeper a rather startled look.Suddenly Daisuke went up to the innkeeper and
said,"If Chibiyuni's sleeping in the stable,then I'm sleeping with her!"
Sakuya went to his side and asked,"Daisuke,do you really mean that?"
"Of course I mean it,onechan!I . . . I don't wanna leave her alone!"
"And I don't want to be without you,Daisuke,so I'll be joining you two at the stable,"Sakuya said
shyly.The innkeeper for his part said,"Well,suit yourselves."
"Well,"Hiroshi said,"We'll be seeing you guys in the morning."
Later that night,while the others went to their rooms,Sakuya,Daisuke and Chibiyuni were at the
stable.As soon as she saw her brother and the little unicorn fast asleep,Sakuya took her green
cloak and put it over them like a blanket,then she lay down on the hay not far from where they were
and dozed off.
Elsewhere,an army was being assembled.Dozens of four foot tall musclebound swarthy humanoids
with green skin,tusks protruding from their lower jaws,black unkempt hair and,in most cases,warts.
These were trolls,all clad in leather armor with some metal plates and armed to the teeth with swords,
axes,spears and hammers.All of them were thirsty for blood.Suddenly,an ominous-looking black
chariot with red trim emerged,pulled by a huge black horse with red blank eyes,two swept back horns
where the ears should be,a rather thick serpentine neck,oversized hooves and a barbed tail.Driving the
chariot was none other than Asharukhan.Kage no Oni,in his shadow wraith form,soared behind him.
The trolls,raising their weapons,greeted the dark pair with cries of "Eternal glory to the almighty
Asharukhan,Lord and Master of the Realm!"After stilling the amassed dozens,Asharukhan then said,
"There is a village not far from here,"pointing ahead,Asharukhan resumed in his cold,deep voice,"you
may plunder and pillage to your liking."At that,the trolls raced ahead,shrieking blood curdling battle
cries in their gutteral voices.Asharukhan and Kage no Oni had remained behind to discuss something
among themselves.
"I trust,my lord,that this raid is more than a mere excuse for these troops to satisfy any sense of
greed in them?"
"Indeed,"Asharukhan replied,"if the children to whom Tsuchirou no Sama gave those weapons to
are in that village,this will no doubt draw them out,and we shall see how well they fare."With that,
Asharukhan and Kage no Oni followed the trolls.
A distant clamor had woken all those within the inn.Sakuya,Daisuke and Chibiyuni had rushed from
the stable to meet up with Hiroshi and the others.
"Something's going on!"Hiroshi said."C'mon you guys!"
As soon as the six youngsters rushed out of the inn,they were startled to see people running away
in panic.Hiroshi got in front of one of them,a rather unassuming-looking man with panic etched on
his face and asked,"What's going on?"
The panicky man then said,"Trolls!We're being attacked by trolls!"And then ran off.
"Did you guys hear what he said?"Asked Hiroshi.
"Trolls?"Asked Yuji."Did he just say . . . trolls?"
"Something tells me this isn't gonna be a peaceful night,"Kunichi said,to which Yuji replied,"You think?
You have a real talent for stating the obvious,pal!"
"Well,I'm not gonna stand by while the trolls raze this village!"Hiroshi said.
"Are you insane?"Yuji asked."This isn't our fight!"
"Look,"Hiroshi said,"Tsuchirou no Sama gave us these weapons for a reason,which is to help those
in need!I don't know about the rest of you,but I'm going!"
As Hiroshi rushed off,Daisuke suddenly exclaimed,"Hiroshi's right!We've got weapons!Let's use 'em!"
After that,Daisuke went after Hiroshi."Daisuke!"Sakuya exclaimed as she went after her brother.
"I might as well join 'em,"Kyoko said as she took off.Kunichi stared at Yuji,who then said,"I know
when I'm outvoted."Thus the two rushed off to join the others.As for Chibiyuni,she rushed off after
Daisuke,who noticed her."Chibiyuni,"he said,"you better find a place to hide!"The little unicorn did as
she was told and wound up inside a barrel which was turned on its side.When Sakuya saw this,she
said quietly,"I wish you'd heed your own advice,Daisuke,I really do."
Soon enough,the six youngsters had come face to face with more than over a dozen trolls.The lead
troll,who wore a spiked black helmet,was clad in spiked armor and carried a huge sword,laughed as
he saw the six facing him.
"Har har har!This man-village is defended by children?What a joke!Har har har!"
Hiroshi responded by firing a volley of flaming arrows from his bow,causing a bunch of them to
scatter.Kyoko had extended her staff to knock several more off their booted feet.A group of trolls
threw their spears at the youngsters,but Yuji stood between them as his shield generated a field that
caused the trolls' spears to bounce off.One troll was attempting to sneak away when a rope was wrapped
around his legs,causing him to trip.Once the troll fell,Sakuya became visible,winked,smiled and gave
a V for victory sign.Daisuke slammed his mace to the ground causing it to shake,which made the trolls
lose their balance and fall down.As for Kunichi,he was nervously chanting and gesturing over his pouch,
backing away as several trolls were advancing on him.Suddenly a rushing stream of water caused the
trolls to flee,much to Kunichi's relief.This went on for some time,until the trolls had had enough.There
were less than half a dozen remaining,counting the head troll.Hiroshi and the others stood their ground,
somewhat exhausted but enboldened by the way they had manged to dispose of the troll hordes.
"We underestimated you,"the head troll said.A tense silence ensued.Suddenly,after the head troll
made a gesture,he and his fellow trolls wound up retreating.Once they were gone,Yuji dropped down
to his knees and exhaled very loudly,much to the surprise of the others.
"That was close!"Yuji exclaimed."I don't know about you,Hiroshi,but I don't think I want to go through
that . . ."he was suddenly interrupted by a not unfamiliar voice."I see you have managed to survive
your first battle against the forces of Asharukhan."It was Tsuchirou no Sama who spoke,who then
resumed,"make no mistake,this will not be the last time you will face such foes,and it will not get any
easier for any of you."While the six were gathered around the little man,unknown to them,the remaining
trolls had reached Asharukhan with Kage no Oni at his side.The head troll had already told Asharukhan
what had happened.
"I see,Nobok,"he said."These children are not to be underestimated."He then pondered in silence
before saying to Kage no Oni,"Come,there are plans to be made."
It was already the middle of the morning when the six youngsters and Chibiyuni were already on
their way.
"Do you think there's another village,Hiroshi?"Kunichi asked."Or a way home?"Asked Kyoko.
"All I can say is,we'll never know until we get there,"Hiroshi said.
"I was afraid you'd say something like that,"grumbled Yuji."To think,those people wanted us to stay
as their protectors,but that creepy midget with the beard wanted us to go to another village.I mean,
really."
This went on for some time until Sakuya noticed something on the horizon."What's that?"She asked.
It was Asharukhan on his chariot,driven by his dark steed,whom he called Kurowaruiuma.It came
closer and closer,then it stopped in front of the six.Once it did,he glared at them.
"So,we meet at last,"he spoke quietly and coldly.After a tense silence he then said,"I am . . .
Asharukhan."