All right! Back from vacation and ready to post this new chapter! This is kinda long, but explains some things I thought you might have questions about, so… enjoy I guess.

Mikauzoran: I know! I loved that too! I thought people would get a kick out of that. In that sentence he reminds me of my dad, only my dad would say, "You come home with a boyfriend, your grounded for eternity" and then he would kill my boyfriend in the most horrible ways know to man.

Aww! How come you people aren't reviewing? Why don't you read my story? Waaaahhh!

Disclaimer: I don't own it. What more do you want? My money? Well I don't have any… HA!

A few months had passed since the giant scorpion had ravished Patch Village; the destroyed buildings had been rebuilt and live continued on. The people overcame the shock and worked together to fix up the village to its original glory.

Since that time, other creatures had attacked the village, hate and anger coursing through their veins. Each of them was stopped in the same way, a non-violent solution where Kari used her unique shaman abilities to calm their hatred.

The only thing that the great young shaman failed to do, was get her own guardian ghost.

Kari was laying in a tree, a usual activity, her eyes closed and her hands placed behind her head as a makeshift pillow. The cool breeze blowing off the lake ruffled her cloak and tangled her hair a bit as her eyes fluttered under the lids as she dreamed.

This tree wasn't very tall, but was set in a good spot by the lake, the cool water and breeze keeping her cool during the summer's heat. The grand star still shown down with the greatest intensity yet, only being avoided by the shade the leaves were providing.

"Kari!"

She groaned and rolled over in her sleep, covering her head with her poncho. A lone hand reached up and pulled a branch with a lot of leaves closer to her body, in attempts to hide.

"Kari! We know you're there!"

Moaning, she called out in a muffled voice, "What do you want?"

"Goldva-sama wants to see you!"

The young shaman pulled the cloth down from over her head and shifted, leaning with her back against the tree and glanced down. There were two identical girls beneath the oak, they were dressed exactly the same with a dress with Patch markings on it as well as a rope around their foreheads holding a feather in the back while their braded hair hung down against their backs.

"Did he say why?" she yelled.

"I don't think so! At least," one turned to her twin, "Did he, Lip?"

The other brought her little stubby index finger to her chin, "I don't think so, Lap."

Kari rolled her eyes and smiled, they were cute, but not very smart. The two continued to question their own information, ignoring the one they came to fetch.

She rolled onto her knees and crouched in a cat-like position and held onto a branch above her, leaning over and gazing at the two below her. In a swift motion, she leaped from the branch she had been sleeping on, to squatting on the ground in front of the twins, her hair now wind whipped and cloak flapping in the wind.

"Wow! That was so cool!" both cried.

Kari couldn't help but smirk as she stood up, straightening her poncho. The eldest lead the way through the forest while the two little ones circled around her, chatting excitedly. The birds and squirrels in the area squeaked and ran away from their noise.

"Kari! Kari! Can you do your trick? Please?" asked Lip, her eyes widening and her lower lip sticking out while her hands clasped together.

"Yeah! Can ya? Please?" Lap begged, copying her sister.

"Why? You've seen it a thousand times." Kari tried to back out.

"Please?"

One look in their eyes and she couldn't control herself. Those kids had a way of making her bend to their will like a slave, the ultimate puppy dog face. The shaman tried to not look them in the eye, mustering her own strongest face, but was defeated with no competition.

"Fine. I'll do it."

The twins cheered as she led them to a small little clearing in the forest. There was a tiny crack in the ground with water flowing through it, not great enough to call a stream, more likely a creek. Around it, few animals were drinking, mostly squirrels and birds, but as well as a fox and maybe a deer or two.

Kari walked calmly and quiet right next to the creek, all of the animals pausing to look up at her fearfully. The shaman looked at them with a warm smile on her face, some of their worries disappearing. She reached into her poncho and fumbled around with a small leather sack, pulling out an ocarina, a wooden type flute and put it to her lips.

She only played one long note and all the animals around her felt their tension to flow away like the water in the creek. Her fingers slid down the smooth wood to another note, the animals twitching their ears in surprise. The sound came out beautifully, soothing and almost hypnotizing. The creatures trotted gleefully over to her side and lie down, listening to the wonderful, yet simple melody.

"Wow…" Lip and Lap gasped on the sidelines.

Smiling, Kari stuffed the ocarina back into her pouch, pulling it tight with a string that wrapped around it. A few animals, mainly squirrels and birds, stood up and started to run or fly around her, hoping that she would play with them.

She motioned for the two girls and they came rushing over obediently. The eldest picked up a squirrel and up it in Lip's outstretched hands. The little animal didn't go berserk but sat quietly while the little girl pet him.

Kari also called a little blue bird onto her finger and placed it on Lap's shoulder, the bird tweeting happily and nuzzling her face. Soon, the squirrel lost its patients and ran up and down Lip like she was a tree, laughing at his tail, which was tickling her to a large degree. The bird just sang out its song and hopped around on the other twin's shoulder.

"Alright? You happy now?" Kari asked, "Now I'm really late to see Goldva-sama."

"Oh… yeah." the twins laughed nervously.

The shaman groaned, standing up and shaking the dirt off her poncho, "Come on."

"Kari?"

"What now?"

Lip looked down at the squirrel holding tightly onto her leg, "He doesn't want to come off."

The eldest of the trio rolled her eyes, "Either shake him off or keep him, I don't care. Just come on or Goldva-sama will be even more mad at us."

Unwillingly, Lip shook her leg a bit harshly and the squirrel flew off, muttering before it ran off into the trees. Lap held the little bird on her finger and said a more polite good-bye as it fluttered away into the wood, singing happily away.

The twins continued to what they were doing before, skipping around Kari as she walked briskly down a path in the woods, the lighting growing ever brighter the further the went away from the heart of the forest.

Pushing the last branch of leaves out of the way, the young shaman squinted and brought her hand to cover her eyes from the blazing sun. The two little girls hid behind her legs and gazed around in the same fashion, looking at the magnificent sight of Patch Village from the distance.

The twins immediately ran forward through the sand dunes, giggling and zigzagging around with their arms outstretched, pretending to fly or some other make-believe. She couldn't help but smile at their little game, chasing each other along the sand and slowly making their way toward the village.

Unfortunately, Kari didn't have time to smell the desert roses and continued her vigorous march down the slopes. As soon as she passed Lip and Lap, they ran back to her side, jogging to keep up with her larger strides and staring up curiously at her as they walked.

"What do you think Goldva-sama wants to talk to you about?"

Glancing down, she shrugged, "I have no idea."

Lap ran a little faster and tugged on Kari's cloak, gaining her attention. Then, she closed her eyes and crossed her arms, acting like she had supreme wisdom.

"I bet is has something to do with the tournament." the child said.

Kari didn't reply but looked straight ahead as they entered the town. Villagers bowed and greeted the young shaman as she walked down the main road, stepping out of her way and pulling their children along as well, leaving the street empty with a crowd gathered at the sides. A few kids ran out and giggled around with Lip and Lap, running around the shaman's feet and playing loudly.

The mothers all smiled as their children played happily and the fathers beamed down proudly at the kids, watching as the boys wrestled in the sand and the girls cheer for a cute boy. Kari watched how the children all circled around her feet, imitating her every move. How she walked, how she held her head up high and how her fists were slightly balled as she walked.

All of the little boys and girls of Patch Village wanted to be like her, The Guardian, they called her. She jumped into a situation, regardless of what it was to help out the villagers. Be it for quelling a rampaging spirit, helping to bake the bread in the local bakery or help out with farm work. There were many rumors about why she did this: she had a kind heart, it was part of her shaman training, but most people believed that she thought she owed something to the village, determined to pay back her dues.

At the end of the main street, the crowd had thinned, to where there was no one at all. The children waved and hurried back to their parents and homes, leaving the three in a wide empty street. Ahead was a large cave, built into the side of a mountainous cliff, towering over the village.

Totem polls and carvings decorated the entrance to the cave, while there were silk rugs lying in the entranceway that the trio walked upon. Inside the cave, it smelled musty and strong of herbs as they entered the main room. There was a large fire cackling in the middle of the room and baskets, carvings and trinkets lining the walls.

"You're late." a sharp hoarse voice called.

Kari walked right in front of the fire and bowed, "Gomen nasai. I'm sorry, Goldva-sama."

"I sent Lip and Lap to get you an hour ago."

The twins stepped forward and bowed their heads and spoke in unison, "We're sorry Jii-sama."

"We went to fetch her like you asked…" began Lap.

"But we got distracted." finished Lip.

There was silence for a moment. The fire made the only noise besides very creaky breathes of an elder person. A cloud of smoke blew into the fire and was carried up and out of the cave as the twins fidgeted nervously.

"Well… As long as you are here, I see no harm done."

All three took a giant sigh of relief. The figure behind the fire motioned with its wrinkly hand for them to sit and the three complied, Kari sitting on a cushion closest next to the flame and the twins sitting on either side of her a ways back.

Once everyone was settled, the fire mysteriously rose up, and then died down to a small flame, so that the figure was clearly shown. An old man sat on a tan cushion, wearing a Patch dress and giant eagle feather headdress, smoking a long Peace Pipe covered in paint with an eagle feather hanging from it.

"Kari," the chief Goldva spoke, "Do you know why I have called you here?"

She shook her head and chose to remain silent.

"I-"

The chief was cut off as Kari's body jerked, rising off of the ground so that her butt was raised and she was sitting on her limp knees. Her head rose to the sky, her eyes glowing a strange white, the same substance shining out of her nose and slightly agape mouth. Her chest puffed out, looking like it was being pulled to the ceiling of the cave by a string. Her golden brown hair floated around her face, tangling and untangling as her clothes rustled by an unseen wind.

After a long moment, Goldva stared at her body and Lip and Lap had run up next to her, hands raised to hold her up, stopping several inches from her body, Kari slowly floated back down onto the cushion. Her body was sitting cross-legged again, but her figure was severally hunched, her raspy breathes echoing through the cave.

"Wha… What was it?" Goldva asked shakily, one of his hands outstretched and bobbing a bit up and down, "What did you see, child?"

She took in a great breathe and released it before looking up, still panting slightly, staring her chief in the eyes, "The Great Spirit… has shown me why you have brought me here today."

The old man jerked in surprise while the twins glanced at each other curiously. Goldva remained frozen before he was finally able to thaw, staring down at the fire in deep thought. Then he looked up and smiled a weary grin, both sadness and happiness showing in his eyes.

"Well then…" he cleared his throat, "You know, Kari, ever since we found you in the desert all those years ago and taken you into our village, I have treated you fairly. In fact, you have grown on me, the villagers and Lip and Lap, that we believe your spirit was born in this village, your body born away from it and you now have finally found your way back home. In that time, I have come to think of you as my own, another granddaughter that I have utmost hope and pride in."

Lip and Lap looked at each other, then at their grandfather. Their mouths opened to speak, but fell short as he raised a wrinkled hand to stop them, not breaking his gaze from Kari. The girl herself had her hands clenching tightly on her knees, making her knuckles turn white while her eyes brimmed with tears.

Goldva brought his pipe to his lips and blew out a cloud of smoke before continuing, "From the moment you set foot in this village, I, as well as Silva and the others knew that you were special.

"Shortly after you arrived here, you were given an oracle, a vision from the King of Spirits. He told you about the boy which had been injured in the woods, and we were able to save him in time. We could tell that you had a very unique power that not even shaman council members had: A connection to the King of Spirits, as well as a bond with nature, like it was a single spirit itself. You have always had an aura that draws spirits and ghosts to you, people and animals as well.

"Since that time, you have received many prophesies from the Great Spirit, bringing hope and prosperity to this land. I see now that you have a great gift, and are indeed a Chosen One to tip the scales one way or another in this world, in the Shaman Fights, if not become the Queen herself."

Kari straightened, "You mean…"

The chief nodded, "You wished to be a shaman commissioner and your request was denied. We had feared that you would be put in harm's way, unable to give us further instructions or messages from the Great Spirit. It is clear to me now that we were wrong."

The young girls gasped audibly. The young shaman in question gulped and felt sweat condense on her forehead but wouldn't break her concentration on the chief. Thousands of thoughts were rushing through her head, she had to shake it powerfully to clear her mind and help the throbbing.

"So… you're going to let me become a Shaman Commissioner?" she asked slowly.

"No."

Kari's visible dreams shattered in an instant. The King of Spirits himself told her that she was to be fighting! She snapped back into reality when the grandfather chuckled heartily, watching as her mouth hit the floor and slowly wind back up again.

"You are not going to be a Shaman Commissioner like Silva," spoke Goldva, his tone returning to serious, "As your fate unrolls before you, you are to decide which side shall win in the end, only you can bring peace to the world, or destruction."

When Kari didn't answer he continued, "Which is why… you will not be fighting in the tournament as a commissioner, but as a contestant."

The other three in the room jumped; Kari staring wide-eyed with her mouth slightly open while the twins balled their little fists and brought them to their mouths in worry and shock. Their adopted older sister would not only be leaving them, but going back out into the world that "Shunned" her as they put it, not only would the best shaman the village has ever seen be leaving as well.

"You… You mean," she stuttered, "I get to g-go out… f-fight in the t-tournament… r-really?"

Goldva nodded, "Yes. You are to leave immediately so that you may adventure and train like the normal contestants. Though you have strong spiritual powers, you don't have a guardian spirit of your own, and that could be a problem."

"Why does everyone have to keep bringing that up?" she thought out loud.

"All the other contestants have found their partners and have created battle strategies, techniques and have trained. This gives them the advantage. You must go out and find a guardian spirit of your own and train mercilessly if you hope to have a chance in the tournament." explained the chief.

"I… err… Yes. Of course, Goldva-sama."

"Then… you must set out right away."

Kari looked into his eyes and felt the unshed tears fall down her cheeks. The old man had clear shiny streams flowing down his face with a genuine smile on his face, that grandfather twinkle in his eye.

"Wait!"

The two eldest moved their gaze the little girls. Both of them had tears rushing down their cheeks and snot dripping out of their noses. They both had looks of pure devastation on their faces, like the world was going to combust. (1)

"You can't go!" Lip cried, "W-What about us? What about the village?"

"You can't leave us!" Lap shouted.

Kari swiveled around on her cushion, facing the sobbing twins. She shook her arm so that her poncho covered her hand and leaned forward, wiping the tears and snot off their faces. Giving them a warm smile, she pulled them into a hug, burying their faces in her shoulders.

"Look, you two know that I must do this for my destiny, the path that the King of Spirits had set for me. I have to go and you two know it."

"Y-You'll be o-ok right?" one chocked.

Kari smiled, "I'll be fine. I go off and get my own guardian spirit and return stronger than ever!"

"Aren't you worried?" bawled Lap.

"No." 'YES!' "I know that I will defeat anyone who comes in the way of my destiny!"

The speech seemed to calm the young girl's nerves, for they smiled and hugged her tightly one more time. The two them moved out of the way so she was able to stand up before turning to look at Goldva again. The elder raised his hand and Silva came out of the shadows, carrying an animal skin backpack in his arms.

"These are some supplies we gathered for you, to go on your journey. We have piled together some money for your journey, but…" The chief looked down embarrassed, "There was not a lot of extra money, most of it went to the commissioners, but we did salvage some."

Kari nodded and took the pack, sliding the straps onto her shoulders while the actual pack hung underneath her poncho, a little bit sticking out. Her moccasins made little tapping noises in the earth as she walked to the mouth of the cave, pausing to turn back and look at her grandfather.

"Good luck." said Goldva.

She nodded and turned, whispering, "Thank you." before she disappeared into the sunlight.

Well, what did you think? Huh? Tell me!

1- You know how little kids get. For some reason, whenever they cry, snot comes out of their nose like tears.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, though I'm sad that I'm only getting one review. Why don't you review? Is it because I missed that episode of the dub two weeks ago? It wasn't my fault! I wanted to see it! My power just failed! Oh crap… I better go, I feel a mood swing coming. Please review!