Italics indicate thinking

Bold is for attacks

Lil's POV

"The Conductor, that was from before I was even born." The Dog Duke said.

"Who was he?" I asked.

"The Conductor was a man who once came here and conquered the 12 beasts of Zou." He said.

"It was a long time ago." Azwraith said.

"You said he had the Gem-Gem Fruit?" Mama asked "Can you explain."

"Sure…"

NO POV

A Long Time ago…

A man climbed his way up the legs of the Elephant that carried Zou, he was a middle-aged man, hunched walk, greasy aqua colored hair that was slicked back. He was wearing a pair of ripped up jeans and cheap leather jacket.

The Minks didn't mind humans visiting but this one requested a meeting with the Duke of the Day. At this time the Minks were split into many different tribes they had no true ruler as all of their species were segmented and fighting for dominance. Still somehow this man managed to gather their tribal leaders in one place and requested he be allowed to use his Gem-Gem fruit powers to create Soul Gems of their strongest warriors, Gems which can hold the soul of an individual and allow them to be commanded.

Most of the tribes balked at his suggestion he be allowed to take their warriors but most granted him permission to speak with them at his own risk, when asked who he was the man gave a short answer.

"I'm an adventerur, The Conductor, Kellenwar."

And so Kellenwar set out across the vastness of Zou with a plan, he would find twelve warriors, each representing a sign in his home's zodiac. He would go to the various Mink tribes around Zou and find their strongest warrior and ask for their aid.

His first stop was to the Cat Mink Tribe where he planned to find his Tiger. Among the Cat Minks there was a warrior known for his speed, said to be so fast that he could make physical copies of himself appear, they called him Azwraith the Phantom Lancer.

"We have no desire to work with you human." The tiger Mink said "Leave our village at once."

"What if I can prove I'm stronger than you?" Kellenwar posed.

"Hmph, very well a test of strength." Azwraith said "If you can stop our pike from cutting your heart, we will agree to surrender our strength to you."

"Okay." The man nodded.

Azwraith split himself into a dozen copies that surrounded and charged Kellenwar, they all struck at once in an undodgeable attack from all sides.

"Onyx Whip!"

The man punched the ground and a pitch-black jewel whip rose you and smashed away all the illusion and wrapped up the true Azwraith.

"Impossible…such skill to react and counter so quickly from all sides. Your Haki is impressive." Azwraith mumbled "How could this man need assistance in battle."

"ACK!" Kellenwar coughed.

"Hmm?" the Tiger Mink looked on.

"Sorry, I've got a bit of a sickness." The man smiled faintly "I won't be able to fight much longer that's why I need help of strong warriors like you. I've gotta complete my dream, to find a great treasure of the seas, gems of a purity so high they could buy a sea, buy freedom from those Germa monsters."

Azwraith was in awe, this human was putting his life on the line to get his home free.

"We are at your command." The cat bowed.

"You don't have to bow."

"I insist." Azwraith said "We shall work as allies, to save your home."

And so Azwraith was the first to join, he was followed by great warriors from the other tribes. The Monkey Prince Wukong, a warrior known for taking charge of the Monkey Minks. The Bull was represented by the Mighty Prisoner Alistar, an Ox Mink that took the blame for the destruction caused by other Cow and Bull Minks. The Dragon was taken from the might but near extinct Reptile Minks, their berserker Renekton, and from the Dog Minks the manager of the Zou Library, versed in a powerful degeneration technique, and Renekton's distant brother Nasus since Minks are like fishmen and can be related but be a part of a different species the two bicker. For the Snake the Stone Eyed Cassiopeia was selected, a Mink who they say had the power to turn others to stone with both her eyes and looks. For the Sheep, the architect of Zou Titan was chosen, a man who could shift earth with his hands. The Rat was chosen to be Sneak Thief Twitch, a dirty Rat mink outcast for his crimes, and the Boar was a porcupine Mink named Rigwarl the Bristleback a known drunken brawler, the Horse was selected to be Brandwarden also called the Centaur War runner. And for the Rabbit the powerful rabbit Mink Riven was chosen, a warrior so strong she was ordered to break her own sword to seal her power.

But one was still missing, the rooster. Kellenwar had made his selection, the last of the Bird Minks, the greatest of warriors, Icarus the Phoenix, a warrior so strong he was said to revive when killed.

Icarus was adamant that he would not join Kellenwar, but no other Bird Minks remained so Kellenwar used force, commanding his other 11 stones to fight Icarus and when he was weakened, he was sealed within a gem shell, the key to releasing him locked away on Zou.

After that the man left Zou and never returned, stories of him would occasionally reach the ears of the Minks out in the world and word would travel back to Zou. Eventually hearing how those 12 warriors could work together was what helped unite the various Mink tribes into one collective society.

But Kellenwar was not the one to leave his baton sealed in the crystal on Avalar, Lil is not the first successor but the fifth.

Lil's POV

"That is our story, I am familiar with some of the people of Zou as the last man to hold the Conductor's power before you came here Miss." Azwraith nodded.

"So, Lil's not the second person to have this power like we thought." Papa said.

"She is not, though she is the first woman to hold it, and the first to hold it in over 50 years." He said "The last time we were here Zou was in a much better state."

"Wait so there's a way to make Icarus stronger?" I asked going back to before "Is the key still here?"

"Well yes but-." Wanda started.

"I'd like it please." I raised my hand.

"Miss I'm not sure-." Azwraith began.

"I'm a big girl." I said "Just cause the first Conductor couldn't convince Icarus doesn't mean I can't. Did any of the others even try?"

"Of the other three conductors besides you and the first, one never made it to Zou and the others didn't wish to try, they headed our warning and let go of such foolish thoughts."

"Hmm." I looked at him "Is he really that dangerous."

"There's a reason it took 11 of us to defeat him so he could be sealed."

AN

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Till Next Time!