The Rise of the Guardians
Chapter 2- Chiron
Three years had passed since the fall of Hariel Yotomia. Sanjuro and the others now stayed in a small town they and their troops had created. The standard of the First Division, the Eternal Flame was the town symbol. Sanjuro was appointed to be leader after Hariel's death and for those three years he ruled fairly.
Every year on the day of the White Knight's death, that town came to a grinding halt in honor of that fated moment and Hariel's final words were uttered once more. Sanji then placed a single white flower on the erected memorial. Ramzal placed a white quartz stone and Reinhardt placed a piece of white coral. A prayer was then said in honor of Hariel and the town mourned.
A monk watched from a nearby cliff top, his face calm and devoid of emotion. He sighed and threw the staff to make it land right in front of the memorial. A bright light issued from it and the monk quickly made his way to the memorial so it appeared he was standing there. (Sorry guys, Kaosu's powers will be revealed shortly.) The light died down.
"Sanjuro Hashiba, your clan seeks you out. Ramzal Fuan, return to China. Reinhardt Mouri, return to Hagi Sea." He said flatly.
Sanji was taken aback. "Why would the Hashiba, Mouri and Fuan clans want their outcasts back?" he snapped. "You dare to interrupt our day of mourning for the White Knight..."
Kaosu sighed. "Only to tell you what he meant by the Trial of Inferno." He said softly. "Hariel has become the legendary Phoenix, but he sleeps now, not to be woken until a descendant wakes him. All of you will undergo the same type of trial but each to his element.
Masamune, who had merely watched and not yet placed his own memorial, stepped forward and placed a white dagger upon the memorial. Kaosu turned to him. "You alone will be the last to undergo his trial, but yours will be of faith...you will be the only one who will remember my words and faithfully record them, sword maker. Go to Kyoto...Your clan waits for you."
Masamune shrugged and bowed. "If everything you said is true monk, then why not reveal your name to us."
Kaosu sighed. "I am simply called the Ancient. My name is not important anymore, for my destiny lies in facing the ultimate evil and winning."
"You mean dying." Sanji said shortly. "Talpa is not one to mess with."
Kaosu let out a short laugh. "Child, I am far beyond your level. I was born at the dawn of time. You see....it was I who forged Kikoutei."
Sanji gasped and Kaosu smiled simply. "I found the Phoenix and from his feathers came the Phoenix Armor, which Hariel saw in the sandstorm. Only I can face Talpa and win, and I shall, using this."
He revealed a rather large ruby in the shape of a tear. "A gift from Essah, a Kai'ei I know you are familiar with."
"It's a jewel! How can you..."
"Simple, master archer. I have infused it with holy powers. My light is stronger than his darkness."
Kaosu smiled thinly, and changed to a golden armor and the staff he held changed to a sword. "I go to face evil. Nobody must know. I am simply a monk who faces a demon and slays him."
Sanji shrugged and watched him go. Masamune was silent, Ramzal was furious, and Reinhardt was trying to calm his friend down.
"Well...can't expect him to beat Talpa, so let's get going....I want to move this place and not be found again." Sanji said simply.
The other four agreed and the town was moved to a place 30 miles south of its present location. For thirty days they lived in peace until a new traveler came into town. He had gold eyes. Sanjuro went out to meet him.
"Yes, what is it stranger..." Sanji said impatient.
The traveler simply smiled. The gold eyes hinting at pure evil. "You will die now, Sanjuro Hashiba, traitor of Master Talpa!" Sanji laughed shortly and closed his eyes. "Hear me now, wise Chiron, master archer and teacher of heroes. If I die, infuse me with your powers and make me a guardian!" Sanji said his eyes soft still. He then turned to get the long bow he had used since he had become a warrior and the traveler stuck using a deadly poisoned blade. Sanji cried out, his face contorted in pain. A blue light of the heavens came and swept him away in a bubble leaving only a faint bloodstain for the remaining three to find.
It was three weeks before the murder of Sanjuro Hashiba was discovered. His body was never found. As Kaosu had predicted, Sanjuro had undergone the trial of Intellect, plus Talpa had been killed by an unnamed monk, which the remaining three knew was Kaosu. Reinhardt felt he was next.
Chapter 2- Chiron
Three years had passed since the fall of Hariel Yotomia. Sanjuro and the others now stayed in a small town they and their troops had created. The standard of the First Division, the Eternal Flame was the town symbol. Sanjuro was appointed to be leader after Hariel's death and for those three years he ruled fairly.
Every year on the day of the White Knight's death, that town came to a grinding halt in honor of that fated moment and Hariel's final words were uttered once more. Sanji then placed a single white flower on the erected memorial. Ramzal placed a white quartz stone and Reinhardt placed a piece of white coral. A prayer was then said in honor of Hariel and the town mourned.
A monk watched from a nearby cliff top, his face calm and devoid of emotion. He sighed and threw the staff to make it land right in front of the memorial. A bright light issued from it and the monk quickly made his way to the memorial so it appeared he was standing there. (Sorry guys, Kaosu's powers will be revealed shortly.) The light died down.
"Sanjuro Hashiba, your clan seeks you out. Ramzal Fuan, return to China. Reinhardt Mouri, return to Hagi Sea." He said flatly.
Sanji was taken aback. "Why would the Hashiba, Mouri and Fuan clans want their outcasts back?" he snapped. "You dare to interrupt our day of mourning for the White Knight..."
Kaosu sighed. "Only to tell you what he meant by the Trial of Inferno." He said softly. "Hariel has become the legendary Phoenix, but he sleeps now, not to be woken until a descendant wakes him. All of you will undergo the same type of trial but each to his element.
Masamune, who had merely watched and not yet placed his own memorial, stepped forward and placed a white dagger upon the memorial. Kaosu turned to him. "You alone will be the last to undergo his trial, but yours will be of faith...you will be the only one who will remember my words and faithfully record them, sword maker. Go to Kyoto...Your clan waits for you."
Masamune shrugged and bowed. "If everything you said is true monk, then why not reveal your name to us."
Kaosu sighed. "I am simply called the Ancient. My name is not important anymore, for my destiny lies in facing the ultimate evil and winning."
"You mean dying." Sanji said shortly. "Talpa is not one to mess with."
Kaosu let out a short laugh. "Child, I am far beyond your level. I was born at the dawn of time. You see....it was I who forged Kikoutei."
Sanji gasped and Kaosu smiled simply. "I found the Phoenix and from his feathers came the Phoenix Armor, which Hariel saw in the sandstorm. Only I can face Talpa and win, and I shall, using this."
He revealed a rather large ruby in the shape of a tear. "A gift from Essah, a Kai'ei I know you are familiar with."
"It's a jewel! How can you..."
"Simple, master archer. I have infused it with holy powers. My light is stronger than his darkness."
Kaosu smiled thinly, and changed to a golden armor and the staff he held changed to a sword. "I go to face evil. Nobody must know. I am simply a monk who faces a demon and slays him."
Sanji shrugged and watched him go. Masamune was silent, Ramzal was furious, and Reinhardt was trying to calm his friend down.
"Well...can't expect him to beat Talpa, so let's get going....I want to move this place and not be found again." Sanji said simply.
The other four agreed and the town was moved to a place 30 miles south of its present location. For thirty days they lived in peace until a new traveler came into town. He had gold eyes. Sanjuro went out to meet him.
"Yes, what is it stranger..." Sanji said impatient.
The traveler simply smiled. The gold eyes hinting at pure evil. "You will die now, Sanjuro Hashiba, traitor of Master Talpa!" Sanji laughed shortly and closed his eyes. "Hear me now, wise Chiron, master archer and teacher of heroes. If I die, infuse me with your powers and make me a guardian!" Sanji said his eyes soft still. He then turned to get the long bow he had used since he had become a warrior and the traveler stuck using a deadly poisoned blade. Sanji cried out, his face contorted in pain. A blue light of the heavens came and swept him away in a bubble leaving only a faint bloodstain for the remaining three to find.
It was three weeks before the murder of Sanjuro Hashiba was discovered. His body was never found. As Kaosu had predicted, Sanjuro had undergone the trial of Intellect, plus Talpa had been killed by an unnamed monk, which the remaining three knew was Kaosu. Reinhardt felt he was next.