The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Book I: War

It was almost unbelievable. So it seemed. But you didn't have to believe, it was real.

Koenma purposely ignored the mountain of papers piling onto his desk. He sat anxiously and twirled his thumbs together as he thought. It was nearly impossible to find a solution for it. He couldn't stop him before what could stop him now? What troubled him more was the unusual amount of activity on their part. It was enough to make the whole of Makai on edge and Spirit World almost on a nervous breakdown.

He starred at the clock mounted on the wall. Yusuke was due to be there soon. That was another problem. There was nothing of use to him. Informing him might only worsen the situation. The best of intelligence could find little to nothing on them before. Even at that moment when it seemed like they were going to war the information just seemed to not to exist. Still even though all the risks were starring him in the face, Koenma couldn't help but ponder of the nearly infinite possibilities if Yusuke could succeed. The odds had been astronomically not in his favor before and his still came out on top. Then he had never fought some one as Tanneth.

Tanneth was the key. Everything was centered around him at this point and Spirit World couldn't be farther away from him. Still that was not what haunted him most. What could cause Tanneth to break the barrier and make a run for it in the human world? It had to be bad. Maybe perhaps even catastrophic from him to run with his tale between his legs. Tanneth had to be captured before the others got to him. That was only certain thing the Lord of Spirit World could come up with.

A rustling was herd out side in the hall. Yusuke was had arrived. He kicked opened the office door and walked in. He seemed very frustrated. "Ok, toddler, why don't shed some light on what we nearly got ourselves killed chasing after?"

"Who was that guy his powers were beyond this earth or something….." Kuwabara yelled out?

"Who's this Tanneth guy? And what kind of demon id he," Yusuke shouted out. The group shouted questions and complaints over the desk. Koenma sat there trying to keep calm as his anger rose and rose.

"QUIET!"

His voice thundered through the small room causing even Yusuke to step back.

"If all of you would for once have an once of patience in your thick heads your questions might be answered. The fact of the matter is Yusuke what I am about to tell is of the up most security. Some of the most guarded secrets in Spirit World. Yusuke this may be the most difficult mission you will ever have to perform."

"Ok, what is it?"

"I'm afraid I can tell you little about them, we only have is what Tanneth chose to tell us."

"First thing who the hell is Tanneth?"

"Please Yusuke let me explain from the beginning. Well spirit world did not all ways have control over the demon and human worlds Yusuke. In fact they worlds were not always as neatly separated as you see them today. Spirit world was just like some dead zone in between the worlds"

"So the worlds weren't always separated perfectly I knew that."

"My point is Yusuke that in these worlds existed a race more ancient than humans or any demon race, even far more ancient than my own."

Yusuke, Kuwabara, Botan, Kurama were startled by this. Hiei's eyes became wide with curiosity.

"We don't much, but we found from ancient legends that to be one of their race was to gero dominatus, which means to have mastery."

"Mastery..." Kurama muttered.

"At first they were a scattered people. They considered each other equal they called each other masters. They believed they were all princes of the universe and roamed it without worry. We don't know how or whether it was quick or gradual but that changed. They became untied under one man. We believe it originate somewhere deep in Makai they built a huge empire out of the demon world. They became known to all others as the Dominion. The Masters."

"An ancient people unequaled in strength and knowledge conquering all those weaker than them sounds familiar," Kurama inquired.

"It sounds cruel," said Botan.

"Well the Dominion didn't stop there. They continued to one world after another in space or another plain. Always smashing any opposition. For countless Millennia they continued this cycle. What we don't know is why."

"Maybe they wanted to rule the universe," said Yusuke.

"But they already considered themselves to be masters. Why spent millennia conquering far away places?"

"As I said we know little. There empire seemed it would last an eternity but it didn't. At some point it all fell apart. Very quickly the empire broke apart and their leader disappeared. The Dominion faded into Makai not to ago too."

"Well at least we don't have to worry about and evil empire. But what does this have to do with this case?"

"Everything in fact. When we first came to power and humans became what they are now. We heard the legends of the Dominion and dismissed as just that, legends. For if they did really had controlled the universe their dead would be in spirit or so we figured. Some hundred years ago I received intelligence on some kind of shadow group in Makai. The rumors grew quickly as demons became more fearful. I ordered more manpower to look into it. A few weeks later Spirit World was invaded by the Dominion."

"What you said they disappeared?!"

"They did disappear but they didn't die. It is quite embarrassing how quickly they took control over every thing. It was only a few small bands of commando teams but they manage to take control of all our operations within an hour."

They were speechless.

"Only a few moments when I was told we were overrun Tanneth walked in through that door. He said that the invasion was just a display that they were serious that they did not intend to stay. The message was simple. He told me to 'leave us alone' and then all of them left."

"So they are still around just hiding under the surface." said Yusuke.

"Yes, as the dominion they inspired much fear on demons. However since then I haven't found anything on their numbers how powerful they are or what they want, but we found the barrier does stop them as well."

"So that why Tanneth caused so much attention when he broke the barrier." said Botan.

"Ok the history lesson is all good, but hwy do I need to capture this guy?"

"One to find more of what his kind is, two to find what hey are planning. It is something very wrong with it or Tanneth would not be on the run."

"If this guy is even stronger than the other one, we could be in for some serious trouble her," said Kuwabara.

"We may have to talk him down instead," Kurama said.

"I can handle him just think up a way to knock him out."

"You're not the one on this team who can fight shortie!"

"Shut up, let's just find him."


Tanneth let his weight pull him to lean against a tree. It had been too cold that night on the summit. Cold enough to stop the young girl from being able to keep going or even sleep. He spent much of the night keeping a fire going to keep her warm until she finally slept with a pile of small wolf cubs on top of her.

Tanneth looked at her for a moment. While she slept it was clear what she was. Her hair was jet black like his own on the day her first found her alone in the mountains, while she slept it faded to too a stunning white, like the fur of the small pups that followed her. Tanneth and never encountered wolf-demons ever when in all the campaigns he had done. With the Master gone demons have evolved almost at an astronomical pace. Each generation bread new powers and skills. A few of the mightiest could possibly pose a challenge to one his own. He had seen many demons in Makai of course. Most had vulgar beastly forms. It seems human were having a great influence on demons. A wolf that has all the features of teenaged girl.

Tanneth bowed his head rested. The black night slowly faded to a blue than purple shaped as the sun came closer to rising. It slowly crept over the horizon then gave over the peaks of the mountains. He closed his eyes as it hit his face. The rising warmth from his skin. He hated the cold. It could not kill him so it made him suffer. The sun rising always seemed to bring a new hope to his mind. He seemed to drift as it happened. He opened his eyes and saw the rays reach from over the library. Striking the banners of the Dominion lining the street, them waving in the morning breeze. He smiled at the great wings of his capital. He turned behind him and saw his people as they were as they should be now! Masters of the Universe, it seemed so close, but out of reach.

Tanneth opened his eyes. The snow face of the mountain lay before him. His dreams now seem to come to him while he's awake. What is happening to me?. He felt the wound on his shoulder. It was not any better. As black from the blood his veins in his arm perturbed from his skin like they were being constricted at one end. Tanneth knew this might be problem if it didn't heal soon. Sincion had hit him with some dart but Tanneth was immune to most poisons. Was this affecting his mind?

"You were dreaming again, weren't you?" Skyler was awake staring at him as she lay on her stomach.

"How the hell do you know I've been dreaming?"

"A few nights ago you woke up ready to slit someone's throat. It was kinda scary," Skyler said. Tanneth gave a deep sigh and sat down. One of Skyler's small pups walked over and nudged against his leg. "So what are dreaming about?"

"It's just old memories. Things that happened a long time ago. I don't know why they are bothering me now. It's nothing for you to concern about, Skyler."

Skyler fell to her back and starred off into the sky. "Where are we going anyway?"

"There is a city not that far ahead. We'll stop there for some thing. By the way, who are you running from?"

"Uh…"

Skyler hesitated for a seconded. She felt that she could trust Tanneth but he was so strange. She had clue what he was. He wasn't a demon. It seemed a strange aura of invulnerability surrounded him. He was super-stronge too. Probably the strongest I all of the three worlds. "Um…I'm not too sure on who they are," she lied, "They are wolf hunters I guess they want to skin me or something."

"Or to settle a grudge." Tanneth gave her a very fierce stare. "Don't worry I haven't lost this kind of game yet." Skyler moved and sat down beside him. "So you are a wolf."

"Yeah."

"How exactly…"

"Well…I found out on my fourteenth birthday…"

"What happened?"

"My had turned a bright silver and eyes became very fierce looking. I had fangs and these cubs appeared. My family tried to kill me. They yelled 'Demon' and 'Monster' since then I've been on the run."

Tanneth sat in silence.

"I think in some past life I was a wolf and I was reborn like this." Skyler's tone seemed to lighten then. "Now I have powers I only heard about in stories and books. I can move faster than any human can. On the full moon my strength seems to be doubled. It's like I'm possessed by some unseen force. It's strange."

A long moment passed before Tanneth spoke, "What do you plan to do? Run for the rest of your life?"

"I don't know. What am I supposed to do? Where can I go where I am accepted and not hunted?'

"I can't answer that."

"What about you," Skyler asked shyly, "Why are you running and hiding?"

"I'm trying to lay low and work up some strategy. There are a lot of problems I still need to repair. Seek help if I can."

"I'll help you, Tanneth."

He chuckled. "I bet you will."

Tanneth sighed deeply and blinked his eyes. Skyler watched him curiously. When reopened she noticed. His were blue, very blue. The iris seemed to take up most of his eye. The pupil dilated rapidly with very movement of his yes. How could someone with his color of hair have blue eyes? This was uncommon, even unheard of. He was so strange to her. An enigma of human design he seemed to be. He possessed all of a person's strongest traits, and the defects were so refined that they almost were nonexistent with in him. The cold did not bother him. He could stand to go days without sleeping. Then there were his supernatural abilities to make him nearly invulnerable in her perspective. Then his demeanor was off. Most humans in his physical condition and appearance would be much more lively, reckless and adventurous. Tanneth had the wisdom of someone who should be tens time his appearance. This proved to her he wasn't human. Not even those hardened by years of training and conditioning could have his composer and strength. Skyler had too many questions she wanted to ask him, but one thing was incredibly clear. She could relief on him.

"What are you?" Tanneth turned to stare at her. Small streaks of blue appeared on the whites of his eyes. "I mean…what people or race do you come from. You can't say you're human."

Tanneth laughed slightly, "In those stories you heard when you were a young girl, did you ever here a tale of an ancient kingdom or a far away world in which you find a host of amazing things?"

"Yeah, they're just fantasies."

"Too true, but the idea of ancient races and populaces existing beyond where your history can take you isn't an idea just out of the never."

"You mean you're part of some ancient race of warriors?"

"Warriors, yes. We preferred to call ourselves masters. For countless ages my race ruled all of space. We spread without stop. Conquered and dominated the worlds without resistance. No other race or power could defy us. We built a great empire. Early on in my life it fell apart. We dispended from each other, faded into the shadows of Makai. We refer to it as the scattering. The dominant power which held us together was gone. We had grown so different that we weren't a people anymore. Still even after all this time we are still trying to correct very old mistakes. I angered a few of my old friends by stealing something that would give them success. That is why I'm on the run."

"What did you steal?"

Tanneth opened the metallic case he carried. Out he slipped a sphere witch seemed to be glowing with orange energy. Streaks of light bounced around the bright center of the sphere. Skyler held out her hand. Tanneth carefully handed it to her. She expected it to fell hot or charged. When she touched it felt as could and smooth as a stone. She starred at in wonder.

"This sphere stone was one of an uncountable amount we created. You see energy can be manifested in many ways. Most we had found to control with in our bodies. Some though are so volatile and reactive that we had to bind them in small spheres such as this to harness them. It's been so long since the scattering that most are lost and only a few remain. It's very difficult to produce them. They will need this if they want any hope to succeed. They will hunt me relentlessly, too much of themselves ride on this. Well it's complex." Tanneth took the sphere stone and placed back in the metallic case. "Only a few inches in diameter and yet it is so precious."

"You said you had grown so different that you weren't a….people anymore? What...why if you were so powerful?"

"The same way that humans do. The same flaws which rid ourselves of always reappear. That's all history now. I must find some way to convince my friends other wise or more desperate measures will be needed."

Skyler gave a deep breath of confusion. "We can get help. There are plenty of demons and humans who would help us I'm sure."

"I', sure there but make this clear. I believe I can trust you, but there is no we in this. I must handle it."

"But…'

"Listen closely," he said softly, "I know there noble creatures even in the darkest of places. I am up against a wall it is very likely I could die when we reach the next city. Neither human nor demon would live if encountered by even one my own. This is our problem let us handle it." Tanneth looked down at the snow and starred into the brown eyes of a young wolf. It walked forward and jumped into his lap. Tanneth groaned and picked up the cub.

"I think Flame has become found of you."

"Flame…" The young wolf sneezed and small orange ember fluttered in face. He dropped the cub to the ground in surprise.

Skyler laughed at his confusion. An established soldier like him being surprised by a child wolf, it's not common. "They all small abilities like that so I name them flame Ice, and more."

"If they give away our position I'm using them as rations." Tanneth stepped further out on the summit.

"He doesn't mean that." she said to Flame.

Stepping to the right she put her self in perfect position. She didn't know what happened of course. It was over and done before her sense came into tune of what was happening. When her back turned Tanneth came and bore her to the ground. It seemed so slowly he moved. The sound of the wind faded to silence. Concisions seemed to fall out of place and he caught her. It was as if waking from a dream, having little sense of who you are, and what worth you have. Falling, her eyes came out to see the object. If flew so silently and quickly leaving no trail or distortion of air at all. She felt the harsh sting as its transparent ice -like point silently broke into her arm. She can't remember how her eyes got there; they met the face of Tanneth. His head left an image of itself as he tilted it back narrowly avoiding the dart. The serene moment of the acceleration seemed like being born again to Skyler. So this is it. It was an eternity to its own.

The ground came as a shock. Her self awareness came back and she the force as Tanneth jumped from one bolder to another and shots came from behind. She helpless. If he put her down or even tripped she would be dead. A shot came close from crashing into the rock and sending pieces flying from it. Shots came again and again each time falling short of where Tanneth was. What was the weapon firing? She it wasn't a gun there was no sound and the projectile was no bullet. As she thought she felt it again. She all at once seemed at piece. Then the pain came back again stinging greatly. She came back to see the ground from twenty feet above it. She felt distant then like she was escaping from herself. Like a rush of cold water it came back. She hit the snow on her knees and then quickly fell to her stomach and she looked up. She expected to see some demon or perhaps even someone like Tanneth. What was there made little sense.

The dragon creature was strange. It hand no legs but a large slender body stretching into a tale. Its silver wings made it glide like it was swinging in the air. It swam up to and around her. It looked like it was going to attack. It dived and Skyler put up her arms to block but it stopped and flew over to Tanneth. It stopped slowing hovering in front of him. Skyler gazed at it in wonder. It flew from side to die in Tanneth's view. She heard a low pure and it danced around it. From some ten seconds the silver dragon danced with him then took off into the never.

Skyler got up slowly clutching the wound as blood spilled from it. "Wha…was it?"

"Hunter-seeker. It's just an ancient creature that has been around since the origins of my race. I wonder how it got here though they usually stay near one area."

"It was trying pretty hard to kill me."

"Not you.' Tanneth pointed to the scarred cub in her arms.

"No…"

"They are predatory small mammals would make pleasant meals fro them. However they are dangerous the attack would have killed you and Flame here."

"He came…close." He dropped to her knees once again the blood was spilling out much faster. She looked up. The white snow seemed to turn red. It must pierced and artery. Her muscles seemed to let all their energy go, she fell forward. Her face planted into an armored shoulder before it all went black.

Special thanks to all who send reviews and characters.

Author's Note (IMPORTANT) Many characters have been recieved but they are so many roles still left to fill so keep sending if you wish to loan a character.

Please send a lot of detail with your character.

Please review. Tips on my literary style or even criticism can help me to improve. Praise is also welcome.