The Chosen Destinies

Porlogue

There is a legend, that has been told many times, over centuries, millennia, from mouth to ear over and over. A legend about one woman, and one jewel.

The tale begins with that of a priestess, one named Midoriko. She was wise of mind, and fair of beauty, capturing the hearts of the young and old, the human and non with her compassion. She had a soul of power and the sharpest of wits, learning to never show her back upon an enemy. She held council with the Elves and fought battles with the Dwarves, earning the respect of even the most powerful of the Demons. But she never went unchallenged.

For Midoriko had a gift, a special gift that went forever unmatched. She had the power to purify that of any soul, whether it be a stone or a man, retching it free of evil and releasing it to the cosmos. Every Demon she faced was blown by her gift, never to see darkness again. And it angered the evil Demons of the land, and they banded together to create a most evil giant Oni, a hideous monster with an unquenching thirst for blood. Midoriko's blood.

And so the battle began, on a dark day of bloodshed. The heavens thundered with every strike of metal against flesh, lightening lit the sky with every spark that came from Midoriko's sword. Both sides were wounded and tiring, but neither gave in. so it came to be that both to give the killing blow, Midoriko caught in the jaws of the beast, her blood spilling down the throat of the beast, while her battle worn sword was buried deep in its skull. Midoriko felt her life ending, while the Oni remained steadfast and ready to swallow her whole.

So with the last of her strength, Midoriko called upon the elements of Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, and Light, gathering the spirits into her and merged them with her own soul and with that of the Oni's. With a enchantment, she thrust the combined energy from her body in the form of a small, round bead. Her power gone, Midoriko's body became nothing but stone, her still form still trapped in the jowls of the Oni as it too, turned to stone. And so, the Gokon no Tama was born.

Upon the death of Midoriko, many had searched out the jewel, wanting to claim their greedy paws on it. Demons were most hungry for it, and any Elves that came upon it were deflected by the evil of the Oni's mixed soul. Power hungry and evil humans rampaged villages looking for it, and the Dwarves would have nothing to do with it. And then came forward a noble and serene Demon, one who wished for nothing but to calm his lands once again. He was the young leader of the Western Lands, Lord Inu-Taishou, a very powerful inu-taiyoukai. He offered his fortress as a safe haven for the jewel, for it to be protected by the best of his guard. However, the Elves and Humans suspected him of personal gain, and the Dwarves were out right suspicious of him.

Each of the Tribes chose the strongest and wisest of their people, the Elves their Eldest Councilor, the Humans their strongest Priest and Priestess, and the Dwarves the strongest and best of their warriors. They gave the young Demon lord a three-day trial to prove to them that he only had the best intentions in mind and was not seeking the jewel himself. The Elf Councilor tested the Demon's wit and wisdom, boring down on the Demon with battle strategies and diplomatic situations, and the Demon came out triumphant with the Elf's approval. The next day, the Demon was challenged by the Human's best-gifted people, the Priest and Priestess using powers they had trained for and harnessed to defeat the Demon. And that day too, the Demon came out victorious with his defeat of the Humans, showing them mercy in an almost killing blow. The last was the hardest, for the Dwarves were known for their unrelenting battle skills and deadly agility. This battle was the longest, for the Demon had never known battle like this. But in the end, yet again, he came out victor, the first to wear out a battle driven Dwarf.

But it was at this time, that a new race had been discovered. Upon hearing of the jewel and the powerful Midoriko's death, a new breed of creature had descended from the mountains to see of the protection of such a drastic object. it was this day that the Dragons came to be, flying beings of massive proportions that possessed magical skills unheard of. They could heal the wounded or destroy forests, their wisdom far more advanced than that of the Elves, who were as old as the Dwarves. They possessed a special mind skill, the power to communicate with the mind and to manipulate a body to that of pain.

Draco, the lead male of the Dragons all those years ago, stepped forth with a bold air, and challenged the Demon lord to a battle of the mind. The giant Dragon probed and prodded Lord Inu-Taishou's mind till he had the Demon crying in pain, pulling back with approval when the Demon lord stood fast and would not relinquish his thoughts to the Dragon. So Draco offered the help of his pack, selecting five Dragons that were his finest to help guard the jewel. And so it was proposed that the Tribes work together to protect the Shikon from the clutches of evil. The humanoid Tribes brought forth their people, and of the Dragons, five were chosen. Upon the meeting of Dragon and Tribes, it was discovered that certain Tribe peoples and Dragons could form a bond between them, there fore, proclaiming them Rider and Dragon.

These five Riders and Dragons came to be known as the Five Chosen, specially trained by Elves for wits, for battle by Dwarves, and compassion by Humans. Dragons became a powerful ally, and the jewel was placed in Inu-Taishou's care. For centuries, the Five Chosen protected the jewel; the Tribe people's lives elongated by their bond with the Dragons, and could live decades beyond normal. Riders and Dragons were Chosen only every few centuries, protégées and new Dragons trailed time and again to prove their worth. A few of the Chosen fell in love during the time of Peace, and their children often became lords or ladies.

Lord Inu-Taishou himself found a mate, and they bore a son, Sesshomaru. However, the Lady fell ill and passed, leaving the Demon lord alone. His son became bitter and cold, and detested his father when the Demon lord came home with a human noble woman, mating her and bearing another son. However, Demons took this as a disgrace and went to kill the Demon lord. The lord fell protecting his family, and the mother and child disappeared into time.

Seeing the Demon lord had fallen, more and more came for the jewel that lay dormant in the fortress, becoming too much for the Chosen and Dragons. Their last dying strength was spent protecting the jewel against one Demon, a dark evil being by the name of Naraku. He slew the Five Chosen in a bloody massacre, and took the jewel for himself. With his newfound power, he easily took control of the lands. The Humans were nothing but dirt under his feet, and the Elves and Dwarves took to hiding. The Elves retreated to a far away land over seas, and the Dwarves burrowed themselves deeply from Naraku's evil. However, the Dragons were doomed. Using his new power, Naraku found the nesting grounds of the Dragons, and killed Kiba, Draco's son, killing the over powered Dragons one by one.

As Kiba lay dying and bleeding upon the ground, watching his pack being slaughtered, he called upon the last of his abilities and told his mate Dailah to take five eggs, and run to hiding. Grief stricken and wounded, Dailah rescued five remaining eggs and flew for a long as she could, out running Naraku the best she could. With her waning strength, Dailah came upon a Priestess training ground, and begged for the women to protect the eggs. They accepted the burden willingly, and watched as Dailah died a quick death, her spirit burning her body to ashes as she continued to the next world.

For over a century the Priestesses watched over the unhatching eggs, each generation sworn to never tell of the eggs location. And over that time, Naraku grew in power and received word from a priest that there was rumor of Dragons eggs. The evil being took immediate action, hunting down the unborn Dragons brutally until he came upon the Priestess grounds. He sent his guard to retrieve the eggs, but upon quick action of the High Priestess, the eggs were taken and sent into hiding by her youngest followers, putting her best pupil, Kikyou, in command. The eggs and Priestesses escaped, Naraku burned the training grounds to the ground.

And so, our story begins...

A red caped figure stood in the middle of the clearing, the fabric whipping and ruffling as the wind blew by. The trees were a frenzy of life as they swayed, and night insects chirped like a disorganized chorus. The grass under their feet was carpet thick, and hissed as the wind swept by. The full moon poured its white pure light into the clearing, and the figure pulled back her hood to reveal porcelain white skin and fair features, her loosely bound raven tresses whipping over her shoulder as she stared up at the white orb in the sky.

Kikyou took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, wanting to relax her nerves for what she knew was to come. She had just received word from the Elves that they approved of what was necessary, and the Dwarves sent a man to protect them in the time of vulnerability that was needed for the ceremony. She took another breath. This was what was right, what was needed. Naraku had remained in power for far too long, and the only way to stop him was to do this. She tensed as a branch made a groan, protesting to the power of the wind. She relaxed her body forcibly. She knew he was coming, they had been running for too long to be safe anymore. She suppressed the pang in her heart. Damn the bastard to the Seven Hells. He had killed them all, every single one. All because of these eggs, these objects that could be their only hope.

Kikyou snapped her head to the side as another red clad figure approached her, speaking in hushed tones, "My lady, we are ready to begin."

Kikyou nodded and slipped her robe grabbed arms free of her cape. "Is the Dwarf in position and ready?"

"Yes, he is ready for the first defense," the girl responded, bowing her head. Kikyou nodded again.

"Good Ashita, gather the others and prepare for the ceremony."

Ashita bowed her hooded head and headed for the surrounding forest of the clearing. Kikyou watched as she stopped just short of the near trees and paused. She turned back and around started walking back, except this time, followed by five other red caped figures. Kikyou knew that each of them held one of the precious eggs, ready to lend their energy for this to succeed. Kikyou was aware of the Dwarf that patrolled the surrounding area, every once in a while looking their way. She bowed her head.

It was very gracious of the Dwarves to send a man, Ochrich, for they were known as Magic Haters, and to be so close to magic was considered very brave to them. Kikyou regained her posture and pointed to an outlined circle in the ground, a pentagram dug deeply in the soil. The five figures placed five dark objects at each point of the pentagram, and took a place in a circle around Kikyou and the eggs.

Kikyou took a breath and tilted her head back to face the moon once again. Her pale arms rose up out of her cape, her miko robes sliding down to rest by her upper arms. The others followed her lead, except keeping their hoods on. With the flick of thought, Kikyou summoned a small fire from the ground in the center, its white flame licking harmlessly at the ground and five eggs. She closed her eyes and seemed to let go of her self, her soul flowing out in invisible waves from her body. In her mind's eye, she could see the flow of moonlight, its energy cool and shocking to the touch of thought. She gathered the pure energy into her outstretched hands, making them glow a white that was calm and serene. She expanded the power, and felt the tingle of the other's power, gathering from them what she needed. It would not do to have the followers fall and not able to run.

The white fire grew with Kikyou's power, becoming larger and larger until it engulfed the eggs in white flame. Kikyou opened her sightless eyes.

"We call upon you, Mother Moon, to lend your guidance and sight upon the future beings that lay dormant in these shells.

Guide them to the ones that will need their guidance, and give upon them your blessings so that they may survive to fulfill their destinies."

Kikyou lowered a hand, and grabbed to something invisible. She shouted as she shot the hand up. "Earth!"

One of the objects that lay at the top of the pentagram suddenly shot up into the sky and was gone in a white streak. She repeated the gestures.

"Fire!" the one to the right of the top.

"Wind!" to the right of the previous.

"Water!"

"Light!"

The last departed with a burst of energy, surprising Kikyou at its intensity. When that too was gone, the white fire of the pentagram burned down to nothing, and the clearing darkened considerably. Kikyou stared after the objects that were no longer in view, and held her hands in prayer. "Safe trip young ones."

"Me Lady Kikyou! They are upon us!"

Kikyou whipped her head around to the voice of Ochrich, and was met with the sound of clashing metal. She gasped and pulled her hood up, ducking her head to hide her features. "Hurry! We haven't much time to escape!"

The red clad figures ran soundlessly into the woods, never to be seen again by the eyes of enemies. Ochrich exploded from the bushes, his short legs dragging in the ground as he slid to a stop. He glanced around and confirmed that the Priestesses were gone, before making an escape of his own to a tunnel not known of by any but the Dwarves. When the enemies came upon the clearing, they were met with nothing but emptiness.

One figure growled in frustration and pushed past the other beasts, his black cape billowing as he knelt by a patch of burnt ground. He ran long, parchment white fingers through the black dirt, rubbing the grit between his fingers. He brought it to his nose and sniffed, growling again when he realized what has happened. No wonder magic had been sensed greatly here, and casting spell had taken place not a minute before.

His white eyes scanned the area, lip pulling back in snarl. It had been her, he was sure of it. His taloned fingers tensed into a fist. He will find her and slowly kill her. But not before she told him where they went.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::ahhhhhhhhhh!!! New story!!! My Jesus I'm sorry! But it was in the way! It wouldn't go away and stop bugging me to let me think of Edo's next chapter. So I started. Now it will leave me alone long enough for me to write more chapters for others. Gah!! What is wrong with me!??!?! The "five chosen" and the title might be a little gay and stupid, so if you come up with something better, please tell me immediately.