The air was cold on his skin as he stepped outside. The snow was gone, but
the chill from the previous winter still hung over his village. Bangoo,
for one, did not mind it at all. Stepping out of his tipi, he shook out
the last bits of sleep from his eyes and took in the beautiful sight that
was the Great Plains.
The heard of buffalo he saw in the distance lay dormant and serene. The only sounds the young Indian heard were the sounds of the occasional bird and the nearby stream. Their medicine man had spoken true of this place after learning of this place from the Great Spirit.
Soon, their makeshift tribe would have the perfect weather to practice the Sun Dance for the upcoming summer. Bangoo, among other boys his age, wanted to be the one to perform the dance. However, the tribe shaman did not choose him, though he would have been the best choice for this year, considering his talent. Though discouraged, Bangoo was able to let it go and move on. Only on occasion did he wonder why. His now extinct tribe was once noted for its skilled dancers and he was no exception to their ability.
The tribe he now lived in was made of refugees, orphans, and wanderers. Through Rock's patience, they were able to organize themselves into a self- sustaining group, though small. Even when Rock had to leave to rescue Bangoo some time ago, they were able to keep themselves safe from enemy tribes and other Lizardman attacks. Now, with nothing more to do with the Soul Edge, they could live out their lives in relative peace.
Bangoo, a young man of eighteen summers, did not have a care in the world.
...save for that too lucid dream he had the week before.
Paco, their tribal medicine man, said nothing for two days when Bangoo reiterated the dream to him. Then, the elder told him to continue going about his business while he left for his usual meditation site. Knowing their tribe's good fortune, he usually came back with good news whenever he left. However, that did not ease his worried mind as much as Bangoo hoped.
Until Paco came back, Bangoo had no recourse but to search for tame fruits and then help the few squaws in the tribe continue the skinning of a buffalo their hunters had killed a few days before. It was large enough to last them for a whole month if they ate the meat sparingly. The skin and fur could be used for clothes to keep them warm for the next winter. Finally, the bones would be used for weapons and ground up for medicine. To waste anything was an insult to the Great Spirit.
"Bangoo, you're up early." A feminine voice said to his left. He normally would have heard someone coming, but his thoughts were more distracting than usual.
He turned to see Ahoti, Rock's wife and his mother, carrying a small loom towards hers and Rock's tent. Though only a few years younger than his father, she held a quick wit, strong spirit, and experienced mind. Like Bangoo, she was the survivor of a brutal tribal war. For years, she lived off of wild fruits and breads from some of the careless white travelers from the east. Her time of isolation came to an end when Rock had saved her from a wild buffalo that was about to kill her.
In appreciation, she cursed him with every foul word she knew for intervening. She knew how to take care of herself and her pride would not be insulted to easily. How she and Rock ever got married would always be a mystery to Bangoo.
He nodded and was about to say something else when she held up a hand to keep his silence.
"It's that dream again, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"And Paco has yet to come back, I take it?"
"Yes and... I'm getting worried."
"About what?"
"You don't have dreams as clear as that and just forget."
Ahoti's smile then grew mischievous. "And taking a 'casual' glance at the other squaws bathing can't take your mind off of that?"
Bangoo groaned. He knew she would eventually learn and tease him about it. It was accidental, but anything he said could have only made things worse.
Tossing a lock of her rich black hair back over her shoulder, she sighed. "Oh, what ever shall I do? My son has finally discovered the female and yet, he has yet to speak to them as a man."
"Mother..."
She smiled warmly and used her free arm to embrace Bangoo. "You know I only tease"
Bangoo sighed and promptly forgave her. It would not have been the first time she gently chided him. If one knew how to go along with her teasing, then it wouldn't feel so awkward. However, his straightforward nature made such a thing rather difficult. However, that didn't stop him from trying as she smiled pleasantly before walking off.
Bangoo considered himself fortunate to know enough about females to treat them with respect. He recalled the day Rock brought her in from the wilderness. She looked like a wild animal. Were it not for the fact he was still a boy at that time, who knows what she would have done. Indeed, the female was truly the more dangerous of the genders.
Collecting a large sling pouch and sheathing his keepsake dagger, he leapt upon his horse to one of the few forests just north of their settlement. He recalled finding some good fruits there and wondered if he could find any more patches that he probably had missed the last time.
*
With his pouch half full of wild berries and apples, Bangoo felt the pouch was almost heavy enough to fulfill his tribe's needs for the while. His horse continued to nibble on the local foliage contentedly as his companion tested the weight of his pouch to make sure there weren't too many. The excess fruit would rot before anyone had a chance to eat them.
A rumble in the distance caused his horses ears to rise up in surprise. The sound was faint, but audible enough to give the horse pause. The young Indian noticed this and turned to his companion.
"What's wrong? You hear something?"
The animal, whether it understood him or not, turned its head east to where the source of the disturbance was. Walking past the last few trees, Bangoo narrowed his eyes, hoping to see the small herd of shapes running at incredible speeds. The tall grass in the distance blocked his vision to where he could not see any bit of the group.
Looking upward, he noticed that a few of the branches would be strong enough to support his weight and give him a better view point. Growing more apprehensive by the minute, he dropped the pouch and threw himself up and between the strong branched until he was only a few meters from the large tree's top.
With the grass and other foliage out of the way of his sight, he took another glance towards the group and nearly lost his grip on the tree.
Lizardmen!
From what he remembered, they were monsters that were a mockery of the human form and endowed with demonic strength. As a prisoner from several years ago, he recalled their primal hunger and savage nature. However, unlike animals, they possessed surprising intelligence and served wicked human masters. Bangoo remembered the withered and hideous face of the man named Kunpaektu and his evil designs.
Judging from the speed of the lizards, they would reach his tribe far too soon for his liking. Skipping a few branches on the way down, he grimaced as the impact from landing on the ground sent a shockwave of pain through his legs.
Shaking the pain off, he leapt on his horse and urged him to run to his home as fast as his four legs could carry him. If he was fast enough, he could be able to warn Rock and the other warriors to prepare for the onslaught.
*
The expanse of the Great Plains gave little cover for the group of human like creatures speeding over the ground. Alpha, their leader, following the scent of what could have possibly had been another settlement further west, was getting impatient.
For three wretched months they had been searching for one blasted man and boy. Worse yet, he and his men were starving. Their masters had been rather displeased at them for quite a while and had limited their rations by a quarter. It had been much easier searching for hamlets and villages to pillage and destroy, but to simply incapacitate and capture almost seemed against the nature of the lizard man.
Either way, the sooner they found their quarry, the sooner they'd be getting off this massive continent and back to Europe. Surely their masters would be pleased and forgive them for taking both man and boy this time. This time, the man creature would not resist them so easily. The burning shard in his arm would make sure of that.
Suddenly, a familiar scent in the air entered his nostrils. He slowed momentarily, commanding his troops to follow suit. Lizardmen had incredible senses of smell, which compensated for their poor hearing. Yet, the memory attached to the scent continued to elude Alpha as he struggled to remember.
"Alpha!" Gamma roared, "There's a human on a horse over there! He's getting away!"
Blinking, Alpha narrowed his eyes to take in the better details of the fleeing human. In an instant, everything made sense. This boy was one of their targets. And he was getting away!
"After him! If he's here, then our other target must be nearby!"
In a burst of inhuman speed, the Lizardmen gave chase. The sooner they captured the boy and the man, the sooner they could leave this wretched continent. Figuring the boy already knew they were there, they sped through the grass, coming into the open.
The boy urged his mount to run faster as he heard the hungry growls of the beasts behind him. Holding onto the horse's mane, he used his free hand to finger the dagger he kept at his side. However, he quickly banished any though of trying to fend off the monsters. Bangoo was never the warrior his father was, nor did he want to be. However, it certainly wouldn't hurt to know how to defend oneself against creatures like the ones that were chasing him.
Every second of the chase seemed to drag on longer than normal as Bangoo's heart beat faster in his chest. His instinct for survival urged the horse to move faster, but knew that the horse could only move so quickly. Yet, he was within sight of his village when he realized to his horror that he had lead the beasts to his home. Taking a quick glance back, he noticed that the number of Lizardmen were smaller than he anticipated.
As he turned back, several objects collided with his horse and one hit him from the side. With a loud thud, he landed gracelessly beside one of the boulders surrounding the rock formation around his village. He silently cursed his foul luck. Grasping his arm, he looked up to see one of the beasts grab him by the neck and point a rather vicious looking sword at his throat. "If you want to live, boy, then don't struggle," it snarled with a raspy voice.
Looking over, he noticed what appeared to be the leader of the group standing triumphantly over his horse. With his sword ready to kill the steed, he growled to his companions, "Looks like meat's back on the menu, boys!"
The other lizards roared and raised their weapons triumphantly. As the horse struggled, Alpha was about to run the horse through the head when something gave him pause. Confused, the other lizardmen looked to their leader and then around, realizing that something was amiss.
Epsilon, taking a glance at the village ahead, noticed and realized what was bothering Alpha. There was no activity in the village at all. Worse then that, there scents around them were hiding something... or someone! He was about to scream 'scatter' when a volley of arrows appeared from nowhere and lanced him, Delta, Xi, Rho, Omikron, and Beta in the neck.
Being used to surprise attacks, the remaining lizardmen dashed to the source of the arrows, only to be met by Rock and several of the braves. Though outnumbered, the Indians were prepared and had learned from their previous defeat when Bangoo was taken. With a grunt, Rock wound up and struck two lizardmen away and into the side of a boulder as several others dashed past him and fought against the lighter armed, but no less dangerous braves.
Watching the carnage, Sigma started to panic as one after another of his allies were starting to fall. He looked back to the boy, who had evidently gotten his courage back and struggled to free himself from his grip. Even with the burning shard in his arm, Sigma had no hope of defeating Rock. Well, at least he had one of the two targets. With an armored fist, he whacked Bangoo on the side of the head, disorienting the boy, but not injuring him enough to do any damage. With a hurried grunt, he put the boy over his shoulder and starred to make a break for it. However, he didn't get far since a thrown bola had tied his legs together, he lost his balance and tumbled over, dumping Bangoo a few feet away.
When Sigma was about to stand up, a pair of very large hands grabbed his head and threw him against the boulder. His head hurt and was ready to bite back at whoever did it, but blanched at seeing Rock and several of the archers aiming their weapons at him. All at once, he remembered how much he hated humans, despite the fact he was one before. From his adrenalin, the shard started to burn even more as power streaked through his blood. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Alpha hiding on the boulder across from them.
A glance from Alpha told Sigma that all was not lost.
"So, you were trying to kidnap my son again, eh, beast?" Rock growled, hefting the ax over his shoulder, ready to swing it and cut the lizard in two if need be.
Sigma, knowing his end was near, remained defiant. "Stupid human! Even if you kill us, more like us or worse will follow. Your resistance cannot last forever." He turned his glare at Bangoo, "I couldn't care less what Master Kunpaektu wants with you two. But if my master cannot possess him, neither will you!"
Suddenly, Sigma sent his head forward and collided with Rock's face, sending the giant off balance. In a feat of inhuman agility, he leapt up and using the rock behind him as a spring board, jumped over the archers. Arrows flew and missed as Sigma landed by his misplaced sword. Knowing that the archers at his back would fire, he jumped backwards and with a swift sweep kick, knocked several of the Indians to the ground. Utilizing the distraction, he roared and charged to Rock, while Alpha would have time to grab the boy. or so he hoped.
Bangoo shook his head as the battle raged on before him. With a sigh of relief, he started to stand up to join his father. However, his relief was replaced with anxiety as he felt someone was charging towards him. From the corner of his eye, he saw the last Lizardman raising his shield to whack him on the back of his head. In one quick motion, he drew his dagger from his belt and as the shield descended, he parried the blow. Using Alpha's momentum against him, Bangoo moved around to his foe's armored backside.
With a snarl, the lizard drew his sword and with speed that belied his bulk, sent the point of the blade towards the Indian's shoulder. Yet, Alpha's efforts to injure him were foiled as the blade was parried again. With his rage reaching a boiling point, the lizard was beyond caring now. With a reckless charge, he and Bangoo rolled away from the struggle as their struggle for dominance continued.
Bangoo separated himself from Alpha and with a quick roll, returned to his feet. With his dagger at the ready, he awaited Alpha's next attack. However, the beast was nowhere to be found. He whirled around in time to see his foe charge head first into his shoulder. While tumbling down, he kept hold on his dagger and rolled away once more to put some space between them.
Though intimidated, Bangoo held his ground when the lizardman reared up to his full height and sent a flurry of slices and stabs. Hopping backward, he waved the dagger in motions as smooth as a stream. To his foe's frustration, every strike he parried was diverted like the light off the water. In fact, Bangoo could see the lizardman moving slow enough to protect himself quite easily.
With every block and parry, Bangoo could tell the lizardman was getting more frustrated and his attacks were becoming more uncoordinated and sloppy. After another deflected swing, the Indian noticed that the parry left the lizardman's neck wide open. Taking advantage, Bangoo charged in and thrust the point of his tribal blade into the soft skin of his foe's throat.
The human sized monstrosity roared once more before its large body went limp and blood began to spray from the wound. Within seconds, Alpha lost his strength and fell forward and on top of Bangoo's smaller shoulders. Shocked and disgusted at the same time, Bangoo tossed the body off of him. Bile began to creep into his throat at the sight in front of the lizard and he turned away to catch his breath and somehow spare his food.
However, being a first hand witness to such violence was too much for the young Indian as he coughed up several pieces of something from his stomach to the ground in front of him. Taking deep breaths, he struggled to stand upon his feet when he saw his father kneeling beside him with a look of surprise.
"Bangoo. Are you well?"
"I'll survive," he turned to his father and wiped his mouth with a free hand, "how is everyone else?"
"We got them by surprise, no one was hurt too badly, but a few of the archers were hit rather hard. And I found this in that last monster's arm." He lifted up a shard of metal that seemed familiar to the Indian, but he couldn't place it. It seemed to glow as though it had lots of heat coursing through it, but his father's hand remained untouched. A dark possibility came to mind.
"Father, is that what I think it is?"
Rock frowned at the shard. "Yes. It's a piece of the Soul Edge. Somehow it must have been shattered and it made its way into Kunpaektu's hands."
Bangoo then sat cross-legged as he studied the shard. He could almost feel the malignancy emanating from it, but somehow it was not strong enough to know what it was directed at. Regardless, the young Indian knew what the Soul Edge was. It was the reason his father had left all those years ago and it was the reason for his abduction. Kunpaektu made no secret of his evil desires when he said he wanted to sacrifice his father to the hunger of the Soul Edge. Now, to find a single piece of it in the arm of a lizardman did not bode well for them at all.
Then, Bangoo remembered the reason for his flight. "How did you know they were coming? I was on my way to warn you of their approach."
A third voice spoke up from behind them. "Because the Great Spirit warned me in a dream of their coming and I made it in time to have the village prepared." Both of them turned to see Paco, the medicine man, approach to their side on his horse.
Bangoo bowed in respect towards the elder, "Welcome back."
Paco bowed the best he could before dismounting. He was an unusually tall for a man of his position, but that didn't stop him from being a vital help to the Four Winds tribe. Though having the appearance of being lanky, he was far from helpless. Thus was evidenced by surviving alone in the wilderness for more than half his life before meeting Rock. "Thank you," he said with a wry smile, "it is always nice to be able to see the youth showing respect to their elders."
Bangoo, on the other hand, did not share his sense of humor. "It is because the respect you have was earned, not given."
Patting the young Indian's shoulder, Paco nodded in agreement. "Yes, but we have more important things to discuss. Rock, may I speak with him alone for a while?"
The giant nodded before assisting the still standing members of his tribe to dispose of the lizardmen bodies. They would take what they needed from the corpses and then bury what they could not use. Even the swords and the armor would someday come in handy, though they seemed too hard for the braves' liking.
"You do realize that Rock failed to mention something before he left." The medicine man started as they started walking towards the camp.
"And what's that?"
"He watched you take on that monstrosity all by yourself, but he could not say anything because he was rendered speechless at how well you fought."
"Wait. I am no warrior, and as far as I could see, the lizardman was getting tired."
"That, my boy, is where you are wrong. Lizardmen do not tire very quickly. Even after their long travel to our home, they were still ready to fight for the entire day. You, Bangoo, were fighting on their level, if not above it."
The pronouncement shocked Bangoo as he absorbed what Paco had just told him. But it didn't seem possible. His was a light medium build with no proficiency for battle. He was fast on his feet, but he was hardly skilled enough to be able to wield their traditional weapons effectively. His dagger and sling shot were the best weapons he could use, anything heavier seemed bulky and cumbersome to him.
He turned to the elder, "What did you see?"
The older man appeared pensive as he stared to the ground, reliving the memory inside. "It was almost as though one of the Thunderbirds themselves had taken human form and came to defend us. You moved with the grace of the water and the strength of the earth. And I wouldn't be surprised if your dagger had something to do with it as well."
Bangoo pulled out his weapon and stared at his reflection in the blade. It was then he realized that there was no blood on it. It was still in pristine condition and held no flaw that he could see. Even after puncturing the neck and throat of a lizardman, not a single trace of bodily fluid could be seen on it.
"My only conclusion is that the spirits of your tribe were watching over you and lending their strength."
"Paco, do you know of anything about my tribe? What they were called and such?"
The medicine man sighed. "Only that they were killed out of spite by other tribes. Your tribe held something special that they wanted, but could never hold. So the other tribes killed them. Whatever it was they have, it still flows through you and that dagger."
Looking from the reflection to Paco, he asked quietly, "Does it have anything to do with my dream?"
"Yes. What the Great Spirit told me was the same evil that abducted you all those years ago, is moving again. They search for the man-beast you saw and his connections to the evil sword. Even now, they move quickly and do not rest."
"And what of the injured woman?"
Paco, without his usual quick wit, struggled to remember what the Great Spirit had shown him. "It was vague, but somehow she too will need your help in the near future. If it was what I thought it was, then she too may be infected by the evil blade."
Of his own initiative, Bangoo gripped the handle of his dagger hard. "Then this madness must stop. Kunpaektu will stop at nothing until he gets what he wishes. He may try to abduct me again, only sending greater numbers to make sure he succeeds."
Paco nodded somberly. "That is why you must take the battle to him and his companions in the shadows."
Bangoo's eyes widened considerably. "Are you saying that I need to travel to the Old World by myself to stop all this?"
The medicine man began to smile again, "You need not panic, boy. Your father has made friends and allies in the Old World and if their goals are the same as yours, then you shall not be alone in your endeavor. In addition, the Great Spirit has watched over you for longer than you shall ever know. So, you have never been alone in this."
Feeling his shoulders weighed down with this responsibility, he whispered, "Does my father know of all this?"
"Yes."
"So, when shall I leave?"
"As soon as you are prepared," he placed his hand on Bangoo's shoulder, "look at it this way. You may even learn a few things about yourself you never knew or maybe even about your tribe."
The concept brought a small smile to Bangoo's face. Though he was happy with his father and tribe, a small part of him wondered just what kind of people his tribe consisted of. Aside from the knowledge that his tribe had skilled dancers, he wondered what else they were proficient at. Were they warriors? Were they peacemakers? Or were they the legendary shamans known as Spirit Walkers that were able to do things beyond normal sight?
The prospect was too tempting to ignore. Not only to see the world, but maybe learn about his family. However, the prospect of heading towards the unpredictable Old World was somewhat frightening. From what he and his father had seen, it was not a place where he would be accepted easily. In addition, there were untold dangers that could lurk anywhere. He would have to put aside those fears if his tribe was to survive.
Looking to the mid-day sun, he resolved himself not to fail his tribe or his father. He would succeed... he had to.
*
The next morning, Bangoo, under the veil of dawn, placed what few tools and supplies he needed on his horse to head towards the east. Windsong twitched anxiously as Bangoo tied the pack behind his makeshift saddle. Truth be told, Bangoo was just as nervous as his horse was. The times before, it was his father that had left the tribe, now it was his turn. The idea unnerved him to the point where he was about to reconsider, but knew that doing nothing would not help at all.
The sound of footsteps gave him cause to turn around and see both Ahoti and Rock, with his axe over his shoulder, approaching. A part of him wished to stay and fight with his father, but doing so would only give Kunpaektu another chance to kill Rock. Even with the odds against him, Bangoo would not allow it.
"Bangoo, as you leave, your mother and I want to wish you luck. Europe is not the most hospitable of places and so," he hefted his axe, the Apocalypse, up to Bangoo's hands, "it's served me well and it can do the same for you."
Bangoo tried to remain calm, but found it difficult when he held his father's well kept and powerful axe. Though he was able to use it, his skill with the weapon was nowhere as good as his father's. In addition, this was the very weapon that enabled him to survive ever since he was stranded on the eastern shore of the continent.
"Not only that," his mother added before handing a satchel to him, "this has the shard we found earlier. But there are bones in there that will keep the shard's power bound. You never know when it may come in handy."
He took a deep breath and steeled his resolve. "Thank you. I will return. I swear it." He put the neck of his father's axe over his shoulder and ushered his horse onward.
Rock and Ahoti remained still as the sun rose and drowned out the sight of Bangoo. Within minutes, he was out of sight. Rock gently placed his right hand on her shoulder. On impulse, she leaned into her husband and sighed, "He will be alright, won't he?"
"He will be. He's my son after all."
Ahoti cocked an eyebrow, "Don't you mean 'our' son?"
Rock chuckled heartily, "Of course, but either way, we won't need to worry. He's been through the fire and he's come out alive."
"When you went to the Old World, how shaken up was he when you found him?"
"Not very. When I found him, he had escaped on his own and found me in Kunpaektu's fortress. He's a stronger boy... no, young man, than most think."
A smile soon developed on Ahoti's face as she started to return to camp, "And when he returns he'll be a man. Tell me, Rock. Are those girls from Europe beautiful?"
Rock snorted, "Nice try, my wife, but it won't work."
Ahoti pouted, knowing she had lost for once. "Seriously though, will any of those filthy girls over there do him any wrong?"
Rock looked to the ground in contemplation, "It's not likely. Bangoo knows better than that." He then folded his arms and looked to the sky, "But it's not them that I'm worried about. It's the likes of those my father once knew that worry me. The ones that seem civil, but they have a dagger behind their back."
Ahoti worriedly embraced her husband. Her teasing demeanor was gone and replaced with one of worry. Her son was going alone into unknown territory.
The giant sighed and held her close. Though he was not scared to the same degree that Ahoti was, he could not help but be a little bit apprehensive of what could happen.
End of chapter 3
Just for a lark, I looked up some information on the Plains Indian culture and thought I'd use it in the story. A lot of the stuff I found was actually pretty neat. Remember folks, cultural diversity is good. By the way, bone medicine is an actual thing and is used among Indians. Wolf Moondance wrote a book about it. Don't believe me? Do a search with the name in it.
Also, if there's any other Soul Calibur fanfic out there that has Bangoo as a lead character, I must know. Otherwise, I can safely say that this is the first fic with Rock's ward leading the story... for a chapter anyway. Then, he'll just be relegated to the droll task of being a major character. Eh, what can you do? I also wanted to give Bangoo a personality somewhat similar to Mononoke Hime's 'Ashitaka'. True, he's got about, oh, three facial expressions, but he's dang cool. In fact, he's in a level of cool that goes above most other anime guys... he's actually competent! But that's just my opinion. Anyway, his personality isn't turning out as good as I had hoped, but this is just the first chapter.
Next, there's something wrong about the chapter as it is that just doesn't seem right to me. Most particularly with this chapter's story structure. Is it clichéd or something? To all you critical readers out there, let me know as soon as possible. Last thing I need is to be remembered for writing crappy stories.
Finally, all intellectual property belongs to Namco. Btw, Namco. Though I appreciate that Rock is in SCII in spirit, aka Berserker, I don't appreciate the fact that they didn't bother with him and Hwang when they had enough time to put in the T&A Team (Sophie and Mina). Meh, I say. Meh.
The heard of buffalo he saw in the distance lay dormant and serene. The only sounds the young Indian heard were the sounds of the occasional bird and the nearby stream. Their medicine man had spoken true of this place after learning of this place from the Great Spirit.
Soon, their makeshift tribe would have the perfect weather to practice the Sun Dance for the upcoming summer. Bangoo, among other boys his age, wanted to be the one to perform the dance. However, the tribe shaman did not choose him, though he would have been the best choice for this year, considering his talent. Though discouraged, Bangoo was able to let it go and move on. Only on occasion did he wonder why. His now extinct tribe was once noted for its skilled dancers and he was no exception to their ability.
The tribe he now lived in was made of refugees, orphans, and wanderers. Through Rock's patience, they were able to organize themselves into a self- sustaining group, though small. Even when Rock had to leave to rescue Bangoo some time ago, they were able to keep themselves safe from enemy tribes and other Lizardman attacks. Now, with nothing more to do with the Soul Edge, they could live out their lives in relative peace.
Bangoo, a young man of eighteen summers, did not have a care in the world.
...save for that too lucid dream he had the week before.
Paco, their tribal medicine man, said nothing for two days when Bangoo reiterated the dream to him. Then, the elder told him to continue going about his business while he left for his usual meditation site. Knowing their tribe's good fortune, he usually came back with good news whenever he left. However, that did not ease his worried mind as much as Bangoo hoped.
Until Paco came back, Bangoo had no recourse but to search for tame fruits and then help the few squaws in the tribe continue the skinning of a buffalo their hunters had killed a few days before. It was large enough to last them for a whole month if they ate the meat sparingly. The skin and fur could be used for clothes to keep them warm for the next winter. Finally, the bones would be used for weapons and ground up for medicine. To waste anything was an insult to the Great Spirit.
"Bangoo, you're up early." A feminine voice said to his left. He normally would have heard someone coming, but his thoughts were more distracting than usual.
He turned to see Ahoti, Rock's wife and his mother, carrying a small loom towards hers and Rock's tent. Though only a few years younger than his father, she held a quick wit, strong spirit, and experienced mind. Like Bangoo, she was the survivor of a brutal tribal war. For years, she lived off of wild fruits and breads from some of the careless white travelers from the east. Her time of isolation came to an end when Rock had saved her from a wild buffalo that was about to kill her.
In appreciation, she cursed him with every foul word she knew for intervening. She knew how to take care of herself and her pride would not be insulted to easily. How she and Rock ever got married would always be a mystery to Bangoo.
He nodded and was about to say something else when she held up a hand to keep his silence.
"It's that dream again, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"And Paco has yet to come back, I take it?"
"Yes and... I'm getting worried."
"About what?"
"You don't have dreams as clear as that and just forget."
Ahoti's smile then grew mischievous. "And taking a 'casual' glance at the other squaws bathing can't take your mind off of that?"
Bangoo groaned. He knew she would eventually learn and tease him about it. It was accidental, but anything he said could have only made things worse.
Tossing a lock of her rich black hair back over her shoulder, she sighed. "Oh, what ever shall I do? My son has finally discovered the female and yet, he has yet to speak to them as a man."
"Mother..."
She smiled warmly and used her free arm to embrace Bangoo. "You know I only tease"
Bangoo sighed and promptly forgave her. It would not have been the first time she gently chided him. If one knew how to go along with her teasing, then it wouldn't feel so awkward. However, his straightforward nature made such a thing rather difficult. However, that didn't stop him from trying as she smiled pleasantly before walking off.
Bangoo considered himself fortunate to know enough about females to treat them with respect. He recalled the day Rock brought her in from the wilderness. She looked like a wild animal. Were it not for the fact he was still a boy at that time, who knows what she would have done. Indeed, the female was truly the more dangerous of the genders.
Collecting a large sling pouch and sheathing his keepsake dagger, he leapt upon his horse to one of the few forests just north of their settlement. He recalled finding some good fruits there and wondered if he could find any more patches that he probably had missed the last time.
*
With his pouch half full of wild berries and apples, Bangoo felt the pouch was almost heavy enough to fulfill his tribe's needs for the while. His horse continued to nibble on the local foliage contentedly as his companion tested the weight of his pouch to make sure there weren't too many. The excess fruit would rot before anyone had a chance to eat them.
A rumble in the distance caused his horses ears to rise up in surprise. The sound was faint, but audible enough to give the horse pause. The young Indian noticed this and turned to his companion.
"What's wrong? You hear something?"
The animal, whether it understood him or not, turned its head east to where the source of the disturbance was. Walking past the last few trees, Bangoo narrowed his eyes, hoping to see the small herd of shapes running at incredible speeds. The tall grass in the distance blocked his vision to where he could not see any bit of the group.
Looking upward, he noticed that a few of the branches would be strong enough to support his weight and give him a better view point. Growing more apprehensive by the minute, he dropped the pouch and threw himself up and between the strong branched until he was only a few meters from the large tree's top.
With the grass and other foliage out of the way of his sight, he took another glance towards the group and nearly lost his grip on the tree.
Lizardmen!
From what he remembered, they were monsters that were a mockery of the human form and endowed with demonic strength. As a prisoner from several years ago, he recalled their primal hunger and savage nature. However, unlike animals, they possessed surprising intelligence and served wicked human masters. Bangoo remembered the withered and hideous face of the man named Kunpaektu and his evil designs.
Judging from the speed of the lizards, they would reach his tribe far too soon for his liking. Skipping a few branches on the way down, he grimaced as the impact from landing on the ground sent a shockwave of pain through his legs.
Shaking the pain off, he leapt on his horse and urged him to run to his home as fast as his four legs could carry him. If he was fast enough, he could be able to warn Rock and the other warriors to prepare for the onslaught.
*
The expanse of the Great Plains gave little cover for the group of human like creatures speeding over the ground. Alpha, their leader, following the scent of what could have possibly had been another settlement further west, was getting impatient.
For three wretched months they had been searching for one blasted man and boy. Worse yet, he and his men were starving. Their masters had been rather displeased at them for quite a while and had limited their rations by a quarter. It had been much easier searching for hamlets and villages to pillage and destroy, but to simply incapacitate and capture almost seemed against the nature of the lizard man.
Either way, the sooner they found their quarry, the sooner they'd be getting off this massive continent and back to Europe. Surely their masters would be pleased and forgive them for taking both man and boy this time. This time, the man creature would not resist them so easily. The burning shard in his arm would make sure of that.
Suddenly, a familiar scent in the air entered his nostrils. He slowed momentarily, commanding his troops to follow suit. Lizardmen had incredible senses of smell, which compensated for their poor hearing. Yet, the memory attached to the scent continued to elude Alpha as he struggled to remember.
"Alpha!" Gamma roared, "There's a human on a horse over there! He's getting away!"
Blinking, Alpha narrowed his eyes to take in the better details of the fleeing human. In an instant, everything made sense. This boy was one of their targets. And he was getting away!
"After him! If he's here, then our other target must be nearby!"
In a burst of inhuman speed, the Lizardmen gave chase. The sooner they captured the boy and the man, the sooner they could leave this wretched continent. Figuring the boy already knew they were there, they sped through the grass, coming into the open.
The boy urged his mount to run faster as he heard the hungry growls of the beasts behind him. Holding onto the horse's mane, he used his free hand to finger the dagger he kept at his side. However, he quickly banished any though of trying to fend off the monsters. Bangoo was never the warrior his father was, nor did he want to be. However, it certainly wouldn't hurt to know how to defend oneself against creatures like the ones that were chasing him.
Every second of the chase seemed to drag on longer than normal as Bangoo's heart beat faster in his chest. His instinct for survival urged the horse to move faster, but knew that the horse could only move so quickly. Yet, he was within sight of his village when he realized to his horror that he had lead the beasts to his home. Taking a quick glance back, he noticed that the number of Lizardmen were smaller than he anticipated.
As he turned back, several objects collided with his horse and one hit him from the side. With a loud thud, he landed gracelessly beside one of the boulders surrounding the rock formation around his village. He silently cursed his foul luck. Grasping his arm, he looked up to see one of the beasts grab him by the neck and point a rather vicious looking sword at his throat. "If you want to live, boy, then don't struggle," it snarled with a raspy voice.
Looking over, he noticed what appeared to be the leader of the group standing triumphantly over his horse. With his sword ready to kill the steed, he growled to his companions, "Looks like meat's back on the menu, boys!"
The other lizards roared and raised their weapons triumphantly. As the horse struggled, Alpha was about to run the horse through the head when something gave him pause. Confused, the other lizardmen looked to their leader and then around, realizing that something was amiss.
Epsilon, taking a glance at the village ahead, noticed and realized what was bothering Alpha. There was no activity in the village at all. Worse then that, there scents around them were hiding something... or someone! He was about to scream 'scatter' when a volley of arrows appeared from nowhere and lanced him, Delta, Xi, Rho, Omikron, and Beta in the neck.
Being used to surprise attacks, the remaining lizardmen dashed to the source of the arrows, only to be met by Rock and several of the braves. Though outnumbered, the Indians were prepared and had learned from their previous defeat when Bangoo was taken. With a grunt, Rock wound up and struck two lizardmen away and into the side of a boulder as several others dashed past him and fought against the lighter armed, but no less dangerous braves.
Watching the carnage, Sigma started to panic as one after another of his allies were starting to fall. He looked back to the boy, who had evidently gotten his courage back and struggled to free himself from his grip. Even with the burning shard in his arm, Sigma had no hope of defeating Rock. Well, at least he had one of the two targets. With an armored fist, he whacked Bangoo on the side of the head, disorienting the boy, but not injuring him enough to do any damage. With a hurried grunt, he put the boy over his shoulder and starred to make a break for it. However, he didn't get far since a thrown bola had tied his legs together, he lost his balance and tumbled over, dumping Bangoo a few feet away.
When Sigma was about to stand up, a pair of very large hands grabbed his head and threw him against the boulder. His head hurt and was ready to bite back at whoever did it, but blanched at seeing Rock and several of the archers aiming their weapons at him. All at once, he remembered how much he hated humans, despite the fact he was one before. From his adrenalin, the shard started to burn even more as power streaked through his blood. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Alpha hiding on the boulder across from them.
A glance from Alpha told Sigma that all was not lost.
"So, you were trying to kidnap my son again, eh, beast?" Rock growled, hefting the ax over his shoulder, ready to swing it and cut the lizard in two if need be.
Sigma, knowing his end was near, remained defiant. "Stupid human! Even if you kill us, more like us or worse will follow. Your resistance cannot last forever." He turned his glare at Bangoo, "I couldn't care less what Master Kunpaektu wants with you two. But if my master cannot possess him, neither will you!"
Suddenly, Sigma sent his head forward and collided with Rock's face, sending the giant off balance. In a feat of inhuman agility, he leapt up and using the rock behind him as a spring board, jumped over the archers. Arrows flew and missed as Sigma landed by his misplaced sword. Knowing that the archers at his back would fire, he jumped backwards and with a swift sweep kick, knocked several of the Indians to the ground. Utilizing the distraction, he roared and charged to Rock, while Alpha would have time to grab the boy. or so he hoped.
Bangoo shook his head as the battle raged on before him. With a sigh of relief, he started to stand up to join his father. However, his relief was replaced with anxiety as he felt someone was charging towards him. From the corner of his eye, he saw the last Lizardman raising his shield to whack him on the back of his head. In one quick motion, he drew his dagger from his belt and as the shield descended, he parried the blow. Using Alpha's momentum against him, Bangoo moved around to his foe's armored backside.
With a snarl, the lizard drew his sword and with speed that belied his bulk, sent the point of the blade towards the Indian's shoulder. Yet, Alpha's efforts to injure him were foiled as the blade was parried again. With his rage reaching a boiling point, the lizard was beyond caring now. With a reckless charge, he and Bangoo rolled away from the struggle as their struggle for dominance continued.
Bangoo separated himself from Alpha and with a quick roll, returned to his feet. With his dagger at the ready, he awaited Alpha's next attack. However, the beast was nowhere to be found. He whirled around in time to see his foe charge head first into his shoulder. While tumbling down, he kept hold on his dagger and rolled away once more to put some space between them.
Though intimidated, Bangoo held his ground when the lizardman reared up to his full height and sent a flurry of slices and stabs. Hopping backward, he waved the dagger in motions as smooth as a stream. To his foe's frustration, every strike he parried was diverted like the light off the water. In fact, Bangoo could see the lizardman moving slow enough to protect himself quite easily.
With every block and parry, Bangoo could tell the lizardman was getting more frustrated and his attacks were becoming more uncoordinated and sloppy. After another deflected swing, the Indian noticed that the parry left the lizardman's neck wide open. Taking advantage, Bangoo charged in and thrust the point of his tribal blade into the soft skin of his foe's throat.
The human sized monstrosity roared once more before its large body went limp and blood began to spray from the wound. Within seconds, Alpha lost his strength and fell forward and on top of Bangoo's smaller shoulders. Shocked and disgusted at the same time, Bangoo tossed the body off of him. Bile began to creep into his throat at the sight in front of the lizard and he turned away to catch his breath and somehow spare his food.
However, being a first hand witness to such violence was too much for the young Indian as he coughed up several pieces of something from his stomach to the ground in front of him. Taking deep breaths, he struggled to stand upon his feet when he saw his father kneeling beside him with a look of surprise.
"Bangoo. Are you well?"
"I'll survive," he turned to his father and wiped his mouth with a free hand, "how is everyone else?"
"We got them by surprise, no one was hurt too badly, but a few of the archers were hit rather hard. And I found this in that last monster's arm." He lifted up a shard of metal that seemed familiar to the Indian, but he couldn't place it. It seemed to glow as though it had lots of heat coursing through it, but his father's hand remained untouched. A dark possibility came to mind.
"Father, is that what I think it is?"
Rock frowned at the shard. "Yes. It's a piece of the Soul Edge. Somehow it must have been shattered and it made its way into Kunpaektu's hands."
Bangoo then sat cross-legged as he studied the shard. He could almost feel the malignancy emanating from it, but somehow it was not strong enough to know what it was directed at. Regardless, the young Indian knew what the Soul Edge was. It was the reason his father had left all those years ago and it was the reason for his abduction. Kunpaektu made no secret of his evil desires when he said he wanted to sacrifice his father to the hunger of the Soul Edge. Now, to find a single piece of it in the arm of a lizardman did not bode well for them at all.
Then, Bangoo remembered the reason for his flight. "How did you know they were coming? I was on my way to warn you of their approach."
A third voice spoke up from behind them. "Because the Great Spirit warned me in a dream of their coming and I made it in time to have the village prepared." Both of them turned to see Paco, the medicine man, approach to their side on his horse.
Bangoo bowed in respect towards the elder, "Welcome back."
Paco bowed the best he could before dismounting. He was an unusually tall for a man of his position, but that didn't stop him from being a vital help to the Four Winds tribe. Though having the appearance of being lanky, he was far from helpless. Thus was evidenced by surviving alone in the wilderness for more than half his life before meeting Rock. "Thank you," he said with a wry smile, "it is always nice to be able to see the youth showing respect to their elders."
Bangoo, on the other hand, did not share his sense of humor. "It is because the respect you have was earned, not given."
Patting the young Indian's shoulder, Paco nodded in agreement. "Yes, but we have more important things to discuss. Rock, may I speak with him alone for a while?"
The giant nodded before assisting the still standing members of his tribe to dispose of the lizardmen bodies. They would take what they needed from the corpses and then bury what they could not use. Even the swords and the armor would someday come in handy, though they seemed too hard for the braves' liking.
"You do realize that Rock failed to mention something before he left." The medicine man started as they started walking towards the camp.
"And what's that?"
"He watched you take on that monstrosity all by yourself, but he could not say anything because he was rendered speechless at how well you fought."
"Wait. I am no warrior, and as far as I could see, the lizardman was getting tired."
"That, my boy, is where you are wrong. Lizardmen do not tire very quickly. Even after their long travel to our home, they were still ready to fight for the entire day. You, Bangoo, were fighting on their level, if not above it."
The pronouncement shocked Bangoo as he absorbed what Paco had just told him. But it didn't seem possible. His was a light medium build with no proficiency for battle. He was fast on his feet, but he was hardly skilled enough to be able to wield their traditional weapons effectively. His dagger and sling shot were the best weapons he could use, anything heavier seemed bulky and cumbersome to him.
He turned to the elder, "What did you see?"
The older man appeared pensive as he stared to the ground, reliving the memory inside. "It was almost as though one of the Thunderbirds themselves had taken human form and came to defend us. You moved with the grace of the water and the strength of the earth. And I wouldn't be surprised if your dagger had something to do with it as well."
Bangoo pulled out his weapon and stared at his reflection in the blade. It was then he realized that there was no blood on it. It was still in pristine condition and held no flaw that he could see. Even after puncturing the neck and throat of a lizardman, not a single trace of bodily fluid could be seen on it.
"My only conclusion is that the spirits of your tribe were watching over you and lending their strength."
"Paco, do you know of anything about my tribe? What they were called and such?"
The medicine man sighed. "Only that they were killed out of spite by other tribes. Your tribe held something special that they wanted, but could never hold. So the other tribes killed them. Whatever it was they have, it still flows through you and that dagger."
Looking from the reflection to Paco, he asked quietly, "Does it have anything to do with my dream?"
"Yes. What the Great Spirit told me was the same evil that abducted you all those years ago, is moving again. They search for the man-beast you saw and his connections to the evil sword. Even now, they move quickly and do not rest."
"And what of the injured woman?"
Paco, without his usual quick wit, struggled to remember what the Great Spirit had shown him. "It was vague, but somehow she too will need your help in the near future. If it was what I thought it was, then she too may be infected by the evil blade."
Of his own initiative, Bangoo gripped the handle of his dagger hard. "Then this madness must stop. Kunpaektu will stop at nothing until he gets what he wishes. He may try to abduct me again, only sending greater numbers to make sure he succeeds."
Paco nodded somberly. "That is why you must take the battle to him and his companions in the shadows."
Bangoo's eyes widened considerably. "Are you saying that I need to travel to the Old World by myself to stop all this?"
The medicine man began to smile again, "You need not panic, boy. Your father has made friends and allies in the Old World and if their goals are the same as yours, then you shall not be alone in your endeavor. In addition, the Great Spirit has watched over you for longer than you shall ever know. So, you have never been alone in this."
Feeling his shoulders weighed down with this responsibility, he whispered, "Does my father know of all this?"
"Yes."
"So, when shall I leave?"
"As soon as you are prepared," he placed his hand on Bangoo's shoulder, "look at it this way. You may even learn a few things about yourself you never knew or maybe even about your tribe."
The concept brought a small smile to Bangoo's face. Though he was happy with his father and tribe, a small part of him wondered just what kind of people his tribe consisted of. Aside from the knowledge that his tribe had skilled dancers, he wondered what else they were proficient at. Were they warriors? Were they peacemakers? Or were they the legendary shamans known as Spirit Walkers that were able to do things beyond normal sight?
The prospect was too tempting to ignore. Not only to see the world, but maybe learn about his family. However, the prospect of heading towards the unpredictable Old World was somewhat frightening. From what he and his father had seen, it was not a place where he would be accepted easily. In addition, there were untold dangers that could lurk anywhere. He would have to put aside those fears if his tribe was to survive.
Looking to the mid-day sun, he resolved himself not to fail his tribe or his father. He would succeed... he had to.
*
The next morning, Bangoo, under the veil of dawn, placed what few tools and supplies he needed on his horse to head towards the east. Windsong twitched anxiously as Bangoo tied the pack behind his makeshift saddle. Truth be told, Bangoo was just as nervous as his horse was. The times before, it was his father that had left the tribe, now it was his turn. The idea unnerved him to the point where he was about to reconsider, but knew that doing nothing would not help at all.
The sound of footsteps gave him cause to turn around and see both Ahoti and Rock, with his axe over his shoulder, approaching. A part of him wished to stay and fight with his father, but doing so would only give Kunpaektu another chance to kill Rock. Even with the odds against him, Bangoo would not allow it.
"Bangoo, as you leave, your mother and I want to wish you luck. Europe is not the most hospitable of places and so," he hefted his axe, the Apocalypse, up to Bangoo's hands, "it's served me well and it can do the same for you."
Bangoo tried to remain calm, but found it difficult when he held his father's well kept and powerful axe. Though he was able to use it, his skill with the weapon was nowhere as good as his father's. In addition, this was the very weapon that enabled him to survive ever since he was stranded on the eastern shore of the continent.
"Not only that," his mother added before handing a satchel to him, "this has the shard we found earlier. But there are bones in there that will keep the shard's power bound. You never know when it may come in handy."
He took a deep breath and steeled his resolve. "Thank you. I will return. I swear it." He put the neck of his father's axe over his shoulder and ushered his horse onward.
Rock and Ahoti remained still as the sun rose and drowned out the sight of Bangoo. Within minutes, he was out of sight. Rock gently placed his right hand on her shoulder. On impulse, she leaned into her husband and sighed, "He will be alright, won't he?"
"He will be. He's my son after all."
Ahoti cocked an eyebrow, "Don't you mean 'our' son?"
Rock chuckled heartily, "Of course, but either way, we won't need to worry. He's been through the fire and he's come out alive."
"When you went to the Old World, how shaken up was he when you found him?"
"Not very. When I found him, he had escaped on his own and found me in Kunpaektu's fortress. He's a stronger boy... no, young man, than most think."
A smile soon developed on Ahoti's face as she started to return to camp, "And when he returns he'll be a man. Tell me, Rock. Are those girls from Europe beautiful?"
Rock snorted, "Nice try, my wife, but it won't work."
Ahoti pouted, knowing she had lost for once. "Seriously though, will any of those filthy girls over there do him any wrong?"
Rock looked to the ground in contemplation, "It's not likely. Bangoo knows better than that." He then folded his arms and looked to the sky, "But it's not them that I'm worried about. It's the likes of those my father once knew that worry me. The ones that seem civil, but they have a dagger behind their back."
Ahoti worriedly embraced her husband. Her teasing demeanor was gone and replaced with one of worry. Her son was going alone into unknown territory.
The giant sighed and held her close. Though he was not scared to the same degree that Ahoti was, he could not help but be a little bit apprehensive of what could happen.
End of chapter 3
Just for a lark, I looked up some information on the Plains Indian culture and thought I'd use it in the story. A lot of the stuff I found was actually pretty neat. Remember folks, cultural diversity is good. By the way, bone medicine is an actual thing and is used among Indians. Wolf Moondance wrote a book about it. Don't believe me? Do a search with the name in it.
Also, if there's any other Soul Calibur fanfic out there that has Bangoo as a lead character, I must know. Otherwise, I can safely say that this is the first fic with Rock's ward leading the story... for a chapter anyway. Then, he'll just be relegated to the droll task of being a major character. Eh, what can you do? I also wanted to give Bangoo a personality somewhat similar to Mononoke Hime's 'Ashitaka'. True, he's got about, oh, three facial expressions, but he's dang cool. In fact, he's in a level of cool that goes above most other anime guys... he's actually competent! But that's just my opinion. Anyway, his personality isn't turning out as good as I had hoped, but this is just the first chapter.
Next, there's something wrong about the chapter as it is that just doesn't seem right to me. Most particularly with this chapter's story structure. Is it clichéd or something? To all you critical readers out there, let me know as soon as possible. Last thing I need is to be remembered for writing crappy stories.
Finally, all intellectual property belongs to Namco. Btw, Namco. Though I appreciate that Rock is in SCII in spirit, aka Berserker, I don't appreciate the fact that they didn't bother with him and Hwang when they had enough time to put in the T&A Team (Sophie and Mina). Meh, I say. Meh.
