Wild ARMs: Last Ignition
Chapter 1 The Ranger of the Fast Draw
Glenn Cyrus stood under the setting Sun. Wearing nothing but a pair of dark tan denim jeans and brown leather walking boots.
The sun glistened against his sweat covered muscular chest as he struck out with the ebon Katana in his hands.
He struck out with a simple downward slash, then spun around on the ball of his foot and brought the blade up in a vicious vertical strike.
In the year he had been on the road he had mastered the three most basic techniques of the ancient art of Fast Draw of the Kingdom of Arcticia, which fell to ruins at the hands of the Metal Demons almost 3,000 years ago.
"But there's no harm in brushing up on the basics every once in a while"
Glenn sighed as he brushed a strand of deep aquamarine hair out of his eyes and sheathed his sword. And walked back to his camp a few yards away.
A fire blazed brightly as he sat down on a log and towelled the sweat from his body then he drank deeply from the canteen, pulled on his black T-shirt and sat gazing at the fire while the fish he caught at the river roasted on a spit over the flames.
Beside him sat a medium sized weather beaten pack, his Quicksilver 96-S a medium sized silver handgun style ARM, the rest of his clothes, his vest, his poncho, and his dark brown hat sitting on top.
(A\N think a cowboy hat)
Glenn smiled as he took two objects from the bag. A small journal with an intricate magical lock, and black and gold boomerangs. Glenn smiled wistfully at the sharp edged throwing weapon. He had absolutely no idea why he brought it with him, other than they were really cool and sometimes came in handy.
The other object was even more of an enigma. His mother's journal. She had left it with him the night she and his father had disappeared.
Glenn sighed as he took a golden key from a pouch on the side of his bag. And inserted it into the lock on the front.
As he read the entries Glenn thought back to the first time he had been able to open the journal.
"Seems like an eternity" he thought "But it's only been a year"
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One Year Earlier
In the quiet forest village of Cyprus Springs. A young man, clad in a pair of black jeans, and a pair of black fingerless gloves, clutching a wooden training sword. He struck out at imaginary opponents in the back yard of the Tavern his Uncle and Grandmother owned.
The young man stood at 5' 11" with unruly deep aquamarine hair,
(A\N Think Zed in Wild ARMs)
and deep golden eyes, with a strong, defined jaw.
The sun was high in the sky and the young man of twenty one was in the middle of his afternoon workout. A habit he had gotten into since he mastered the art of Fast Draw under his grandmother's tutelage five years earlier.
The young man picked up his canteen of water from the top of one of the empty barrels he had helped move out to the yard that morning after a large team of Rangers had moved on.
He sighed as he poured some water over his head, washing the sweat out of his face and off his developing torso.
Behind him an aging male voice called his name "Glenn"
Glenn wiped the water out of his eyes and turned to see his uncle standing on the back porch, his weight as always leaning on the brown wooden cane in his right hand. A result of an injury which had forced him to retire from the life of a Ranger when Glenn was twelve.
Unlike Glenn, his uncle Ryan had inherited his mother's jet black hair, streaked slightly with grey.
"What's up Unc'?" Glenn asked as he towelled off his chest
Ryan sighed as he sat down on the chair behind him "We're running low on some things; I need to get your gear together and head for Blue Ridge to place an order with the Traders"
Glenn nodded as he took a swig from his canteen and said "OK, I'll get my gear together and you get the list" Then he moved to the door and said "I'll be ready in a few minutes"
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Glenn closed the door to his room with a smile as he ran the fastest route to Blue Ridge over in his mind. He had been making the run since he was sixteen. The monsters were a breeze, nothing more than a few Balloons and the occasional Pillbug. Nothing the Psycho Crack and Sonic Blade techniques couldn't handle.
He took the harness for his Boomerang and strapped it across his back, and then took his jacket from the hook behind the door. A brown denim jean jacket.
He slid the comfortable brown jacket on and tied his damp hair in a ponytail.
Then he picked up his fighting weapon from the table next to the window.
The weapon was a three foot katana
With a silver cross guard, and red cord bound hilt, with a silver orb at the base. The scabbard was a simple deep red.
He strapped the belt around his waist and picked up a small pack with his medical supplies. Heal Berries, a few poison antidotes, and he was set.
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"You know the routine Glenn" his grandmother said as she handed him the sheet of paper and the down payment on the supplies
"Course I do" Glenn replied as he put the items in the side pocket of his pack "I make the order and haul ass back here. Come on Granny, I've been doing this for five years, give me a little credit"
Jane Leone chuckled slightly as her grandson walked out of the tavern. She sighed as she watched his retreating form move towards the northern forest.
She had taught him everything she knew about her ancestors fighting art, in her heart Jane knew a time would come when he would walk out of that door and not come back.
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Glenn walked slowly through the forest, his sword in his right hand, careful to watch out for monsters.
As he walked Glenn thought back on his life.
He had lived with his Grandmother since he was seven years old. Before that he had lived with his parents in Neo-Adlehyde. Life was good.
Then one night after he turned seven, there was a storm and his father burst into his room, picked him up and his parents carried him out into the storm.
They travelled for almost a week. The storm barely letting up the entire time. Until they had reached his mother's home in Cyprus Springs.
He had been placed in his grandmother's arms and his parents raced back into the storm. And never came back.
All he had of them was a few pictures, a journal with a strange lock, and a pendant his father gave him; it appeared to be a shard of a sword of some sort. And he never took it off his neck.
His thoughts were broken by a rustling in the trees to his left.
Glenn stopped and watched the trees, his left hand rising to the hilt of his sword.
A few moments later a large red Balloon burst through the trees and attacked.
Glenn rolled forward under the attack and came up on his feet just as the Balloon turned around.
The creature was virtually identical to all the rest. Deep red like fire, with a face on the surface.
Glenn waited till the Balloon was in range then slashed across its face, injuring it, but instead of killing the creature the attack just made it angry.
Glenn closed his eyes and focused his energy into his sword and charged the Balloon, his sword raised above his head as he roared "PSYCHO CRACK" and with a crack of energy the silver hued blade struck the Balloon, causing a small white\blue explosion.
When the brief flash cleared, Glenn was again alone in the forest.
All that remained was a small splash of blood on his sword. Which he removed with a rag he kept in his pocket, then he continued down the path.
The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful. A couple of Pillbugs, but the Balloons didn't bother him again.
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The Town of Blue Ridge was the same as it had always been. As if it resisted change.
It was really more of a stopping point for Rangers and Trader's than anything else.
On his left near the entrance to the town was the Inn and Tavern. On the right were the shops. The Armoury, the ARMs Master, the Magic Guild. And his destination, the Trading Post.
He walked along the boardwalk of the dusty town. Smiling as he greeted familiar faces. Children he had grown up knowing, girls that had flirted with him off and on, the occasional Ranger he met at the tavern back home.
The Trading Post was the same as always. Filled with bags, barrels, and sacks from Lohan to Curran Valley.
Garrak the Trader looked up from a ledger as Glenn approached.
"Glenn my boy" Garrak said with a smile "What can I do for you?"
Glenn smiled as he placed the list and a bag with 2,500 Gella on the counter "I need the stuff on the list delivered to the Swords Edge on your next run"
Garrak read the list and said "Easily done. It'll be next week but you'll get it"
Glenn nodded as he turned around and walked out of the store "See ya then"
Glenn stopped at the local tavern for a drink then started for home.
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When Glenn entered Cyprus Forest. The sun was well into its descent towards sunset.
With each step he took the forest almost seemed to get darker.
His grip tightened on his sword as he stepped through a clump if trees.
And heard a strange screech. And several Balloons burst through the trees to his right.
As he backed off to the left Glenn made a count. Six balloons.
"No way I can fight that many" Glenn though as he broke into a run, the Balloons right behind him.
"Gotta get some room and use Sonic Blade"
He gripped his blade as he burst through the shadowed bushes. The Balloons right on his tail.
He looked around himself. He was in a small clearing. The far end was shadowed by trees. But it would do.
Glenn broke into a sprint and was halfway across the clearing just as the Balloons entered the clearing.
Glenn began focusing energy into his blade and he neared the edge of the clearing. And just as he reached the edge he spun around in mid air and roared "SONIC BLADE" and as he came around to face the Balloons Glenn released three waves of wind that tore a path towards the creatures.
The blades of wind met with the Balloons in the middle of the clearing, tore through them and kept going.
As the Balloons split apart and dissolved, Glenn completed his circle.
But instead of landing on solid ground, Glenn fell into a shadowed hole in the ground.
As he fell Glenn yelled "WHOAAAH" then there was black.
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When Glenn awoke the light of the full moons washed over his face.
He slowly rose to his knees, trying to suppress the headache pounding in his skull.
On the ground next to him was his sword.
He picked it up and looked around. He was in some sort of tunnel. The hole he had fallen through opened up into the forest about fifteen feet above the ground he stood on.
Using the moonlight Glenn looked around himself. The tunnel he was in was lit by strange glowing red stones.
"Magic" Glenn whispered as he examined the stone near him, feeling the magical energies within the stone "…Old Magic" then stated down the tunnel, hoping to find a way out.
The tunnel stretched out for about a hundred meters. Then opened out into a large well lit chamber.
The chamber was lined with the glowing stones he saw in the tunnel.
At the centre of the chamber was a large marble tablet.
Glenn slowly made his way towards it.
But he couldn't decipher the language. This was odd since Glenn had studied most languages used on Filgaia.
He sighed as he walked around the tablet and moved towards the opposite end of the chamber.
But before he got a foot past the tablet, a wall of force threw him back eight feet and onto his ass.
"The Hell?"
Glenn flipped himself to his feet and picked up his sword and approached the wall of force slowly.
He stretched his sword out to couch the barrier.
The barrier rippled slightly under the blades touch. But held steady.
"I ain't gonna be gettin through here any time soon" Glenn muttered as he looked around for another path.
And on the left of the cavern, he saw a tunnel, and took it without hesitation.
The tunnel was short. And opened up into a large Cavern.
The chamber almost seemed to be split in half. The left half was a straight path. The other a wide chasm. Stalactites dotted the roof of the cavern.
Glenn frowned as he looked along the right side. But smiled slightly as he saw a red chest on small cliff on the far side of the chasm. But no way to get to it.
"Unless"
Glenn frowned as he looked up, to see a large stalactite hanging from the ceiling.
Thinking for a moment an idea occurred to Glenn. And he took the Boomerang from the harness on his back and hurled it at the stalactite.
The sharp edge of the throwing weapon cut a clean path deep along one side of the stalactite.
But it was enough. The cut sent cracks along the perimeter of the stone, and after a few moments. It fell.
Glenn smiled as he caught the Throwing weapon and returned it to its harness the stalactite settled into the ground before he jumped across to the cliff.
He crouched down in front of the chest and opened it.
To reveal a small gold and red key.
He recognised it from the stuff he had seen Rangers collect. A Duplicator.
He smiled briefly as he pocketed the key. It would probably come in handy some time. Duplicators were hard to come by.
As he rose to his feet Glenn spotted moonlight at the end of the cavern.
He hopped across the top of the stalactite and started towards it.
When he heard a deep bellowing screech echo through the cavern.
Glenn's grip on his sword tightened as he looked around.
And a few moments later on the path ahead. A large claw came up out of the chasm. And hauled a nine foot tall, green and gold scaled lizard, with long arms reaching down to its knees, its upper body hunched over slightly like a gorilla.
(A\N think a Hunter from Resident Evil, only bigger)
The creature screeched at him and leapt.
Glenn almost didn't catch the movement. But when he saw the creature descending on him with its claws ready to impale him, Glenn reacted. Diving forward a split
second before the thick black claws gouged into the ground.
The moment before the creature pushed itself upright; Glenn kicked it in the back, knocking it off balance.
But the creature quickly regained its balance and turned around.
"OK" Glenn muttered "If you wanna play hardball that's fine with me" then he focused his energy into his sword and struck out roaring "Psycho Crack" the silver light hued blade caused a silver explosion on contact with the creature.
When the flash cleared the creature was still standing. Shakily but still standing.
Glenn grinned as he saw the vicious slash along the creature's stomach and the burn marks around the wound.
"Almost down for the count" he thought as be began to pour his energy into the sword.
And was about to release a Psycho Sword, when the burn began to heal and the flesh of the wound had begun to knit itself closed.
"Shit" Glenn growled "The bastard can regenerate"
As the wounds knitted themselves Glenn thought back to the creature's first attack. It had leapt into the air and came down on top of him. An attack like that would have crushed him.
But it reminded him of two attacks he had read about. Meteor Drive and Braver. Both attacks worked on the theory that the attack would be stronger when momentum was built up before the strike.
"Momentum like a big leap"
Glenn looked first at the creature. The effects of his Psycho Sword attack were beginning to wear off. Then at the ceiling of the cavern. It was at least twenty feet above him.
"OK" he thought "So I gather the energy then use it to get a boost on the jump and come down on the bastard"
It was worth a try.
Glenn nodded as he began to gather energy into himself. Then instinct took over.
"BRAVER"
His sword seemed to crackle with red/silver energy as a great red and silver blaze surrounded him and Glenn leapt twenty feet into the air. A faint trail of deep crimson energy following behind him as he came down on top of the creature. His sword raised above his head.
And when the blade made contact, it caused a great explosion of red light.
He leapt back as the blast faded. But the creature was still standing.
Glenn swore in three different languages as he tried to think. The creature was hurt. So it would take a little more time to regenerate. And give Glenn a little more time to think.
"What the hell do I do?" he asked himself "I just hit it with an attack that would crush a man. How the hell do I kill this son of a bitch?"
Then he remembered one of the lessons his father taught him. "Strength won't always be the weapon you use to get the job done. Sometimes it takes a swift blade instead of a strong one"
Glenn smiled as he remembered his early lessons in the art of Fast Draw. Then he began to draw energy out of himself. From deep within.
After a few moments, Glenn's heart began to slow down. As did the world around him.
Then a great crimson blaze ignited in his heart, and at the same time surrounded his body as Glenn roared "ACCELERATOR" and charged forward. The blade of his sword shining with silver light as he yelled "PSYCHO CRACK" and he attacked. Striking not once, or twice. But four times. Each attack causing a massive explosion and inflicting damage not even the creature could regenerate.
When the blast cleared the creature convulsed briefly before it dropped dead and dissolved.
Glenn sighed as he dropped to one knee. His energy depleted. He had never done that before. Never released his energy all at once like that.
He reached into his pack and ate a Heal Berry before rising to his feet.
Glenn took a quick look around himself before he sheathed his sword and hauled ass for home. Rather than get caught by anything worse.
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That night Glenn told his grandmother and Uncle about what happened. The wall of force in the chamber. The marble tablet. The creature in the cavern.
Ryan sat back as drank his cup of coffee as he said "I'm not sure, but I think that the place you stumbled on, was a Guardian Shrine"
"A Guardian Shrine?" Glenn asked
"Yeah" Ryan replied "I heard a story when I was about your age. But I never heard anything other than it was in the forest somewhere north"
Glenn sighed as he finished his dinner and said "Never mind Ryan" then he stood up and said as he walked up the stairs "I'm turning in"
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That night Glenn sat on his bed. Listening to the rain rattle against the windows of his room, a picture in his hands.
It was a photograph, of Glenn and his parents when he was six.
Glenn looked down at the image of his father. Glenn looked a lot like him. Except Glenn's jaw was less defined.
And his mother. Her black as night hair was tied in a braid; her deep blue eyes seemed to glow with happiness.
"Mom" he sighed as he put down the silver framed photo
Then he took a small journal with a magical lock from his drawer. It was his mother's journal. But he had no key for it. He had spent the last nine years trying to get it open. But nothing worked.
He sighed as he sat the book in his lap and lay back.
He sat for a few minutes thinking. When a dull light emanated from his left pocket.
Glenn frowned as he took out the only object he had in the pocket. The Duplicator Key.
He held the key in his hands and looked at the lock on the journal.
What the hell it was worth a shot. He held the book in one hand and put the key in the lock, then turned. The lock opened and the clasps holding the journal shut slid apart.
He ignored the start for the time being, and skipped to the final entries.
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June 10th
Zeig was right. They're going to do it. Even though we tried to stop them the bastards are still going to do it.
But we can't risk intervening, not until Glenn is safe.
So tomorrow we're going to leave and take Glenn to my mother's place in Cyprus Springs. It'll be a long trip but Glenn is as stubborn as his father. He'll handle it.
June 11th
The storm has been close to ripping this area apart since we woke up this morning. Zeig decided to use the storm. So we're going to leave tonight.
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The next six entries were just the progress of his mother's journey south to Cyprus Springs, and her feelings.
But after the final entry, from the night his parents had disappeared. Was a message in his mother's handwriting.
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Glenn,
If you're reading this letter then, you've gotten my journal open and I'm no longer with you. And for that I'm sorry.
I'm not sure if you remember this or not. But your father and I were charged with a mission by the King of Neo-Adlehyde. To track down and kill a group of scientists involved in Demon Summoning Research.
We tracked the group down and attacked. But their leaders escaped. We lost track of them when the bastards went into hiding.
Then you were born. And we let them go. Assuming that we had destroyed any chances of their continuing their project.
But we were wrong.
So your father and I decided to continue the hunt.
The chances are that we won't come back.
But remember that we will always love you.
I guess that if you are reading this then you're a lot older. Probably considering following my path as a Ranger. If you do. You have our blessing.
I only pray the West Wind blows strong for you on the path you take.
All our love.
Sara and Zeig Cyrus.
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Glenn read the message one more time and sat back to think.
Demon Summoning? He hadn't heard of anything like that since he was a kid. And it was just a legend from the days before Filgaia was a wasteland. Back when Filgaia was almost destroyed by another dimension.
Glenn rose to his feet and sat down on the window sill. Watching the storm outside his window.
Time passed around Glenn and he ignored it. He just sat on the window sill thinking. Trying to decide what to do.
When there was a knock on his door.
"Come in" Glenn sighed as he turned towards the door.
And his Uncle limped in.
"What're you still doing up Glenn?" Ryan asked "It's after midnight"
Glenn didn't bother to look at his uncle. He just said "Look at the open pages of that book Ryan"
Ryan sat on the bed and picked up the book. And almost had a heart attack as he recognised his sister's handwriting. As Ryan read the two pages Glenn could feel the pain seeping into the look on his uncle's face.
When he heard Ryan close the book Glenn asked a simple question "How long have you known?"
Ryan sighed as he looked at the back of his nephews head and said "Since the night your mother and Zeig brought you into the tavern out of the raging storm, I was in town for a few days R&R I was in the tavern that night checking over my ARMs. You were half asleep, so I put you in bed while your mother told your grandmother what was going on. But all Sara told her was that she and your father were heading out to finish a job they had stared before you were born"
"Tracking down a team of Demon Summoning researchers" Glenn said
"That's right" Ryan replied "I'm sorry we kept it from you Glenn but your mother asked us to let you learn on your own"
Glenn sat back against the window frame and was silent for a few minutes.
Until Ryan asked "What do you intend to do now?"
"Well" Glenn replied as he took a deep breath "In a few days time. I'm leaving"
"You're going to become a Ranger" Ryan said
"Yeah" he said "I want to find out what happened after they left here that night…Where they went. And I what to find out about this demon summoning thing they were investigating"
Ryan nodded as he pushed himself to his feet and said "Come with me Glenn, I have some things for you" and limped out of the room as he said "Things your father wanted me to make sure you got when you were old enough, as well as some things of mine"
Glenn raised an eyebrow as he closed and locked the journal, but followed.
He stepped into his Uncle's room to find him crouched down under his bed pulling a large chest from beneath the bed.
As Ryan stood up Glenn picked up the chest and sat it on the bed.
Ryan sat on the bed and opened the chest.
To reveal, in Glenn's opinion, a shitload of gear.
A pale brown cloak similar to a poncho, with a red stripe along the trim, a matching brown hat, and an empty black pack.
(A\N Think of those things soldiers use when they're carrying their gear to an assignment)
And at the bottom of the bag, were three more objects.
A Katana. Deep ebon blade, the hilt made of black ivory with a long serpent like dragon curled around it, the dragons head at the base. With a brass cross guard, a black scabbard with a wide brass ring around the base, and another at the tip, and red cords wrapped around the base for a few inches
A black leather shoulder holster for a handgun ARM.
And a medium sized silver Handgun ARM.
(A\N think a Berretta)
Glenn recognised the ARM as the Quicksilver 96-S model. But the rest of the gear was unknown to him.
Ryan smiled at his nephew's raised eyebrow and said "I've been planning this moment since you were fifteen…the sword is called the Black Feral. It was one of your father's"
"And the ARM?" Glenn asked
Ryan smiled as he picked up the handguns "This baby was mine" he said "I've watched you practicing with your Grandmother's Rapier EZ ARM. You're good"
Glenn nodded as he hefted the weapon and checked the chamber to find them empty "Well I was thinking about borrowing Granny's Revolver when I headed out. But you saved me the trouble" the he aimed at a dartboard hanging from the wall and pulled the trigger. The hammer smacked back against the chamber with a click.
He smiled as he handed Ryan the handguns then he holstered the weapons and said "Thanks Ryan"
Ryan waved off his nephew and said "Don't worry kid"
Glenn nodded as he picked up the articles and walked back to his room "See ya in the mornin" and closed the door.
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The next week the supplies from Blue Ridge came, just as promised.
Glenn helped get them stored before the Trader moved on.
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The next morning.
Glenn walked down the stairs and into the main tavern wearing a pair of brown combat pants, dark brown leather walking boots, a black t-shirt beneath it, a brown denim vest. With a dark red bandana wrapped loosely around his neck.
The shoulder holster for his ARM hung around his shoulders beneath his vest, the harness for his Boomerang attached to the back. Covered by the Poncho, which reached down to his knees.
On the second belt around his waist, hung the Black Feral
His hat rested on his head and he carried the pack containing his clothes, some of his personal belongings, his camping gear, medical supplies and most of the ammo for his ARM.
He set the things he was carrying on the bar and smiled at his grandmother.
"I've been expecting this day since you were eighteen" she said with a smile
"Well I've been planning it since I was seventeen" Glenn replied with a smirk "I just haven't been able to find the right time to start"
"I guess your parents gave you your excuse" Ryan said over the rim of his morning cup of coffee
"Yeah" Glenn replied as he shouldered the small pack with some of his medical supplies and a few clips of ammo.
Then he shouldered his pack. Kissed his grandmother on the cheek. Slapped his Uncle on the shoulder and said "I'll write when I can"
"Be careful out there kid" Ryan said
"I will" he said as he walked out of the Swords Edge Tavern. Saying goodbye to old friends and regular customers at the Tavern as he walked out of Cyprus Springs.
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Glenn had been on the road for a year. He visited Cyprus Springs when he could. But most of his time was dedicated to gathering information on the Demon Summoning, and doing what he left home to do. Being a Ranger.
Glenn smiled slightly as he took the sizzling fish from over the fire and began to cut at it as he made his plans for the next day.
When he was in Lohan a few days earlier Glenn had heard that the foreman of an excavation on the outskirts of Blue Ridge was looking for Ranger teams of two or more to go Treasure Hunting in the old Ruins of the original city of Adlehyde.
Glenn check over the map in his mind. If he was right he was only half a day from Blue Ridge.
It was worth a shot, he could probably find a decent Ranger to team up with.
"Blue Ridge it is then"
He nodded to himself as he began to eat the fish. Satisfied with his plan Glenn sat back and looked up. In time to see a star shoot overhead. It was a sign of good things for the young Ranger. Like tomorrow would bring something good to him.
Authors Notes: Done. A little long I know. But you have to give the main Character a little depth don't ya?
Next time. We meet the mistress of the ARMs.