Disclaimer: I do not own JCA.
Queen Of Shadows
A Jackie Chan Adventures fanfiction
Written by Eduard Kassel
Created by Nocturne no Kitsune
Beta'ed by Zim'sMostLoyalServant
Adopted from Nocturne to finish what he began.
Summary: Last chapter, the arrival at the Fortress of the ambitious General Jirobo and Dreaded General Tsume completed the assembly of the Shadowkhan leadership. As the ceremony draws closer several Generals seek to maneuver themselves into further favor with their Queen. Still passing herself off as that queen, Jade received a grievous blow to her morale from none other than the royal Yojimbo. The knowledge that as a Queen she could not attain great martial prowess due to her bodies limitations.
Jade however refused to slip into despair, instead focusing on a new path to taking back control of her destiny; educating herself in the mystic arts.
Meanwhile, in the mighty Castle of Tobe on Honshu the castle's lord convenes a gathering of powerful humans from across Japan. The Shogunate in the Shadows, al;so called a secret army is assembling its power to oppose the the Empire of Shadows.
Amidst these preparations ad powerplays the half moon draws ever closer, where Jade will have to perform a ritual of vital importance to the Shadowkhan and her empire.
Warnings: Blood, light-to-mild violence, and possible light gore and cursing. If you're not one to like mental and moral issues, then this might not be for you.
Rated: T
Chapter Six: Omens and Memories
"Heavy reading!" Jade groaned, slamming the large book shut and pushing it to the side of the table. She sat on a blue (of course it would be that color!) cushion before a table in the library. The table was mostly covered with books and the occasional scroll. Her night, and much of the day's, work.
No, no spells, though she had taken the time to climb the ladder to that section. She was a bit suspicious the bugs put the magic section out of reach. Though to honest, at her height most of it needed a ladder for access anyway.
As eager as she was to start accumulating magical butt whooping, having the Shendu bomb dropped on her worldview warranted immediate attention. If he was out and about, that was bad day times… well, eight or something. As things had pretty well sucked before, anyway. But still!
That she had gone back in time was pretty clear, but she had assumed the Shadowkhan were the villains this time around. And if Shendu was rampaging through China, that meant two possible eras were playing out. One, the time before Lo Pei put him on the rocks and scattered the Talismans. Or two, the time before the Eight Immortals sealed the Demon Sorcerers, which meant all of his psycho siblings – one of which had been based in Japan – might come knocking.
She had summoned a Shadowkhan from the hallway and had him fetch her the books on the Demon Sorcerers. The categorization was making it easier, but she wasn't feeling patient.
Unfortunately, there was no one book on the big nasties; references were scattered in numerous works, usually of related matters or puzzling associations. One tome that detailed Tchang Zu's defeat, in gripping detail, also contained a recipe for grilled eel.
But it was clear now – the Immortals had come and gone. No one knew how Shendu had escaped the Netherworld. Only that he had emerged suddenly, slaying the Dragon King and banishing all good dragons, and using the evil ones to launch his attack on China.
Since his power spike since Lu Dongbin's day seemed to puzzle people, Jade guessed the Zodiac powers were a secret.
'Bastard, you laid low when you got out and hunted down the Talismans, didn't you? I bet the Dragon King was the guardian of the last talisman and you stole it over his dead body,' Jade thought, scowling.
So, the good news was that there was only one Demon Sorcerer to deal with. The bad news was that his empire seemed to be doing quite well. She grabbed and unrolled a map of Asia on the table.
Shendu's empire dominated southern and western China, with Hong Kong – or what would someday be Hong Kong, she supposed – as its capital. It seemed a human dynasty was holding out in the north and easternmost parts of China, with a lot of disputed territory in-between. Southeast Asia was partially marked for Shendu as well.
Towards India, though, his color was cut off abruptly by golden territorial marks spread over those kingdoms. The gold radiated out from Tibet and seemed to check Shendu's expansion westward. The Himalayas were marked with something that made her smile.
"Chosen One," she said.
At first she thought it must be Lo Pei's base, but she remembered he had served a Chinese dynasty and the Himalayas may never have been part of China as of yet in the timeline. Lo Pei was likely in that disputed territory protecting Human China along with other sacred warriors. It looked like whoever this other big good guy was, he was keeping Shendu from a lot of people.
'But if I remember what really happened, does he? Did my time's Shendu fall into his old self? That would be very, very bad,' Jade admitted.
Well, at the very least, even if he knew she had fallen back in time with him, he would never think to look for her here. The Empire of Shadows was not aligned with Shendu's Dragon Empire, but they weren't enemies, from what she could infer.
'Though knowing big and ugly, he would attack the Shadowkhan given a chance, fellow dark forces or no,' Jade reminded herself.
Yawning, she got up, rolling up the map. She felt sore from all the sitting and reading; she decided a little walk around the tower would loosen her up a bit before bed.
The ceremony loomed, but there was nothing more to be done today. Jackie would probably be pleased she was learning to be patient.
888
"Majesty, I ask again that you reconsider this course of action," Hiruzen kowtowed on the courtyard tiles to give emphasis to his words.
The Queen Mother turned to look down at him, a slight frown marring her delicate features. She was dressed for traveling, most of her form concealed beneath a thick cloak of black wool with black wolf fur lining it. A hood, likewise lined, was pulled over her head, casting the upper half of her face in shadow, save for her glowing eyes, the remainder framed by the ebony bangs that fell to her waist. Hiruzen heard her finely crafted boots shift on the stones and knew she had tuned away.
The outer courtyard was a bustle with preparations for the departure. The wagon train was already ready and thirty dragon horses irritably padded the stones under their riders, ready to be on their way. Nearest to them stood an imposing iron palanquin with four robust sumos prepared to carry it. The palanquin was utility built and sanctified towards its occupant's protection and comfort, the only adornment being the Royal Peach Tree engraved into the door.
"Even at this late date you try and dissuade me, Hiruzen-aneki. I find myself torn between being pleased at your devotion, and displeased at your intractability. If this venture succeeds, it could move our conquest ahead by decades; the potential is well worth the risk," she admonished him. She motioned him to rise, which he did despite having had his eyes fixed on the cobbles.
"The life of a Queen is too great to risk on any venture," Hiruzen pressed.
"True, but I have been a Queen Mother for seven years now; it is my daughter whose safety is now paramount. I find it strange I only find the desire to live when my life is slipping away as inevitably as any mortal's.
"No, perhaps it's just no longer carrying the fate of our race on my shoulders. I was born in this fortress my mother built, and have never left its walls for more than half a day my whole life. Perhaps I simply wish to live as a bit more than a Queen on her throne before I die?
"And it must be me to go, for it if what we have learned is true, only a woman can harness the power, and I am the only woman of our race; my dear one naturally being unable to travel such," the Queen Mother went on.
"I know you are set to this course. You have become a ruler in all ways; though I do not approve of all your rulings, it is ever my honor to serve. So let me serve you here as befits a Yojimbo, and accompany you," Hiruzen pleaded, inclining his head.
"No, you must remain here to guard my heir – even here I will not allow her to be without either my protection or yours at hand.
"As for your peers, they are either not fit for this task or are needed here to tend to the Empire and the war.
"You act as if I travel to invite trouble like some foolish virgin pilgrim. My escort numbers fifty and one, warriors hand picked by the Circle of Generals and commanded by your second. Do you have so little faith in your brothers?" the Queen adopted a teasing tone with her last words. Hiruzen merely bowed his head, not at all eased but knowing further argument would be impertinence. From the start, an ill feeling had fallen over him in this venture, but only Sanshobo supported him while the remainder of the Circle stood indifferent or supportive.
"My daughter has arrived; I would have my parting words with her. Till we met again, Hiruzen," the Queen bid him farewell. Clasping his hands, he bowed at the waist and she turned to approach the black-veiled litter two of Ozeki's men were carrying into the courtyard.
Hiruzen looked after his sovereign as the winter wind plucked at her coat, and felt a familiar presence approach him. The First among Generals casually came about to look upon his second, already bent at the waist, for once being true to protocol. Perhaps he was too harsh with his second – though he had a certain irreverence about him, it was far from Kamisori's flouting of protocol, and he had raised him to such high posting because of his skill, cunning, and impressive achievements. Still, the thought of this one taking his place protecting the Queen… it made Hiruzen uneasy.
"I understand the honor and trust you place in me now, Eldest. I can only pray to all kami that I prove myself worthy of it," the Shadowkhan told his jonin.
"If you do not prove fit for the task, you will not live long enough to pray for forgiveness, Tarakudo," Hiruzen told his crimson-skinned subordinate. He had seen the last of his old second as he drove the coach from the courtyard amidst the company of elite warriors, and the last he had seen of her late Majesty, her cloaked back as Tarakudo closed the palanquin door for her.
The scene of the past faded into black, and Hiruzen opened his eyes. He sat in his personal meditation chamber, its walls decorated with scroll paintings of the deceased Queens he had watched over. And one male image, the Godaime Yojimbo, as a grim reminder.
He had expected that vision of the past, but it was still an unwelcome experience. He had thought it once a lesson learned too late, now he realized its instruction could be put to use.
It had been her command as Queen that he let her go to her death at the dragon's hands. Oh, there was no proof that would let him make war, but who else but Shendu would be so bold? Who else could defeat Tarakudo, so many fine warriors, and a fully realized Queen with none able to bring back word? But now was not the time to think of his eventual vengeance – protecting the brave and foolish Queen's daughter came first.
And now her daughter, that she had valued so much as to fatally leave his protection, commanded him to allow foolishness.
Never again. Yojimbo Hiruzen, second of that name and title, would perish before he allowed another Queen to imperil herself so.
Meanwhile:
'This sucks,' Jade thought, looking over the scrolls rolled up in front of her on the bedroom table. And she wasn't referring to most of a day wasted reading and thinking over a bunch of scrolls.
One from each of the Generals, their summarized reports and proposals for the renewed war. Apparently, the fully detailed ones went to Hiruzen, who would furnish her with them if she waned more details.
She didn't need the further details; they all amounted to an invasion. Whichever she picked, it would be a war.
Tsume's she had barely read before discarding it. His obvious passion for his work and… food had almost made her skip a meal. Ozeki's was the most readable; he seemed more concerned with logistics and the value of key points on Kyushu than in waging the war itself. But what he proposed was still war without a doubt.
Kamisori had the shortest one. He basically was game for any kind of war, though he pointed out his men couldn't swim. Though he could, apparently. And the strange General recommended they take special measures to ensure the humans did not destroy their sake supplies so the Shadowkhan could drink it instead. And a warning he feared the more aggressive tribes were underestimating the temples and shrines in Human Kyushu.
The real problem, that had her still awake, was Geberal Jirobo. Apparently, since their creation the flying Khan had been primarily used as scouts, messengers, and sentries in the sky. He proposed shifting his tribe into what she recognized as an air force. His points were all valid from her limited knowledge of modern warfare. She was guessing favoritism for other tribes and the old tradition-before-reason mentality were the only reason they had not done this before.
And Kuro actually supported those tactics in his own report. Granted, the squid's praise was secondary to promoting his unrestricted naval warfare to begin the isolation of Honshu from Human China and the Korean peninsula.
She was certain those twos tactics would be the most effective – they were clearly the innovative thinkers as Generals, and likely wanted to climb the ranks as no members of their tribes had ever done. The Queen, while a wimp, may actually have been smart, and she seemed to have favored those two.
Which meant she needed to stifle innovation here and now. Frowning, Jade pulled the brush of never-ending no-spill ink over to her, along with a clean sheet of paper.
To give humanity a chance, she needed to act like a martial conservative here. And hope the heroes she was sure were waiting at this much talked about Tobe Castle were ready for the storm she was about to reluctantly unleash.
Hopefully, directing the Shadowkhan towards Kyushu rather than Tobe would give those heroes the time they needed to turn this around in an epic way.
As she began writing her declaration, she decided to practice her Tsuchibue some before bed. Well, at least the Queen left her with excellent handwriting. Hopefully it wouldn't last – Uncle would have her go to work writing labels and signs for the shop!
The Next Day:
"…Xong zai xing," Jade chanted slowly, waving her hands in front of her in slow, circular motions. A candle was sitting on the ground in front of her, surrounded by three tall, thin wooden blocks. The shadows of the blocks were stretching and wiggling as she glared at them.
"Xing!" she finished the chant at a higher volume, and the shadows snapped back into place.
"Ugh! Why does this have to be so hard!" she cursed. Turning away from the candle, she stomped back over to the Compendium of Shadows magic book.
It was opened to the very basic beginnings of shadow magic. It was elemental magic rather than energy, like chi magic. Which meant you needed to establish a link with the element. According to the scribbling in the margins, signed Queen 23, Shadowkan Queens had a natural edge at this, since they produced shadow chi. This body was already attuned, so she could skip the years of trying to hear the dance of stars, or whatever.
Checking over the instructions, she reached the depressing conclusion that she needed to be calm and caressing. It was more like making a request than a demand; her little outburst spooked the rabbit, or something. Taking a deep breath, she returned to the candle.
"Let's try this again. Huo Xong xai…"
'Come to my hands, gather and form. I can't do this on my own, and everyone else is out of reach. Work, please work with me here,' she pleaded. Her eyes closed; this was supposed to work. This was her flash of insight that would let her find her way out of the seemingly hopeless situation. Without this magic, she might be stuck bluffing her way for the rest of her life, at best. 'Please anyone who's listening-'
"What?" she sputtered as she felt something smoosh between her fingertips.
Her eyes opened, and she closed her fingers, her hands full of… black stuff. It was just enough to fill her cupped hands. She could already feel it, working her fingers slightly against it. A bit like cotton candy?
Sure enough, the little shadows looked a good bit smaller, despite the light being unchanged.
"The Substance, shadow converted to my use to be changed and energized toward the first school of shadow magic," Jade smiled. Curious, she "willed" some chi from her palms into it, willing it to shrink.
A human couldn't do that – chi was a finite quality that could be all too easily used up. But this Queen fed armies and had chi to spare for it. The substance receded, shrinking – no, condensing – until she felt like she was holding Jell-O.
"Dismiss," she said, and the shadows flowed out of her hand and though the air to their old haunts on the floor.
"Yes, good day!" Jade cheered, pumping a fist. She laughed at what it must look like, dressed up all fancy but acting like herself for a moment there.
She had already read about a spell where you coated your body with the liquid form of that stuff and could disguise yourself.
'Perhaps soon I'll be seeing my own face in the mirror,' Jade thought, her smile showing off her teeth.
Tobe Castle:
Standing on a covered rampart, Lord Nobu Rokutaro looked out over the complex of his castle and the prosperous town between the walls of the castle proper and the outer walls. Mighty fortifications, he had spent much of his life making them fit to withstand the forces of darkness; and the eye could not perceive the most potent of their defenses.
A door slid open behind him, the sound of the steps confirming the new arrival.
"Kahei-san," Lord Rokutaro greeted.
"Tono, the last item has arrived. As scheduled," the merchant informed him. Smiling, Rokutaro gestured for the man to join him looking out over his domain. The younger man stepped up and Rokutaro glanced at his face as they took in the sight.
"It is not the same as your empire, is it? You might control more wealth than any other single daimyo outside the great clans. With an order you can bring powerful men down to earth. And you have done terrible things to the arrogant and corrupt of the Buddhist monks and their nuns with no one able to even connect it to you.
"But it's an invisible dominion, for all that. A man can't take true pride in what is hidden. Which is why your request is so reasonable, despite all your efforts on this land's behalf," Rokutaro stated.
"Tono, this is hardly a town, it could be called a city. A small city, but still."
"They come here because I offer them fairness, and possess the strength to defend them from those who would harm them. Tobe will decline once the Shadowkhan fall, but it will have served its purpose by then," Rokutaro agreed.
"I see Ken-chan is training some of your samurai with those trick weapons of her kind. Murakami will not approve at all," Rosuto smiled, turning his attention to the drill being carried out below him. The woman did look formidable in her armor; he wondered if there really were Shadowkhan bones worked into it?
The way she waved her naginata around so casually was disturbing to Rosuto. No matter how many times he witnessed it, the unnaturalness of a woman taking to fighting never seemed to leave him.
"Call her -san, and that is General Murakami. Your fall to merchant class should not have cost your manners."
"I apologize. But the General will interfere; he despises the Lady on principal. But a woman showing men, his men how to fight… It might push the good General over the edge, finally. But I suppose he has outlived his usefulness to us," Rosuto admitted.
"No, he is a good man, he has his role to play in this. Not everyone shares your cynicism – I believe he has made it this far for a reason. Just look at them. These samurai might be taught a few tricks by Yasashi-san, tricks that will let them attain victory where defeat awaited, but my General made them men skilled enough to learn from her. And loyal enough to subject themselves to a woman's on orders.
"Those few will teach still more, and the capabilities of the regular samurai force will increase dramatically in a very short amount of time."
Rosuto frowned at the words, putting a hand on the railing, looking to the sea. He imagined Awaji and beyond it, lost Shikoku.
"Then why wait until now? You have been taking losses for so long, and I understand the Demon Queller has been under your control for quite some time," Rosuto inquired.
"The Shadowkhan win in a long war. They can afford to wait, if nothing else. Our moment of strength will be brief, and given time they will overcome it. They must not be allowed that time.
"So long as they follow their plans, we lose. We must make the enemy doubt, make him abandon the safe road. Before we can defeat the Shadowkhan, we must make them take risks, and to do that we must first give them the unexpected," Rokutaro said.
"Unexpected, like Nonki. You never told me he was involved in this. Why did I waste time trying to recruit the Sage if you already had the Peaceful Musician?" Rosuto wondered.
"It was not a waste of time; I had hoped you would succeed. Ken-san also failed in recruiting the hero of Kyushu. That powerful and brave warrior will die a glorious martyr's death defending his home, but the Shadowkhan will march over his corpse to burn that home," Rokutaro sighed, shaking his head slightly.
"Hmm, fools and heroes are often one and the same. But then, here I am placing myself against the Shadowkhan.
"You have status second only to the great clans, tono. And yet you are willing to gamble everything to defeat the Shadowkhan. I admire a man willing to pick up the dice.
"But I have to know, how is it you can control someone like Nonki? I honestly did not think such a thing was possible, even for a daimyo of your famed ability," Rosuto pressed, facing the lord fully now. Rokutaro turned his head to smile at him.
"I do not control him. We are in alliance," he watched Rosuto's face fall before the merchant gathered himself.
"As you said, a roll of the dice. Great risks must be taken to attain great rewards."
888
'Jackie, Uncle, Tohru, Viper, El Toro, even Paco. Heck, I'll settle for Captain Black. Anyone, this would be a really awesome time to come in guns a-blazing and rescue me,' Jade thought.
The young adventurer was ashamed of such thoughts. After all, they went against her resolve to not just wait for rescue, but saving herself as best she could. But despite all her denials to the contrary, she was a young girl, she was horribly out of her depth, and was almost certain her water treading was about to be trumped by a vicious undertow.
Jade shook her head, trying to clear it. She hadn't eaten anything today, having spent the day swept up by Sanshobo's underlings. They had politely taken possession of her from Hiruzen in the morning after an abortive breakfast. Aside from sipping an offered potion, she had needed to do very little; she felt like some lump on an assembly line.
Air filled with incense… she had definitely reentered the priestly wing, and a chamber where likenesses of the deceased Yojimbos adorned the walls. Their backs anyway, facing outward as they had been painted. Bells and chimes had been rung over her as she was instructed to meditate. Then, stripped down to her underwear, she had been subjected to foul smelling oils being rubbed into the exposed skin around the black bandages.
For a bunch of insects, they were shockingly gentle. It had been like a massage given while standing up. Never once having force applied in a way that threatened her balance. It had been a bit relaxing, easing the tension in her muscle. Save for her belly. The rest of her body unlocking had made that knot stand out blatantly.
And of course they chanted, nonstop. Honestly, did they think the world would end if some of them weren't praying at some point?!
Finally, they had wrapped her up in black silk. Literally.
Sanshobo himself presided over this part, banishing his aides from the room. With a length of the fine-dyed cloth, he had started by wrapping one foot with her assistance and worked his way up her leg. Then the other.
She wondered if this was what pantyhose felt like. It was both comfy and strangely like wearing nothing. Tight enough that there was no slack to slide, but loose enough it didn't really impede her flexing her feet, or notice it.
Chanting under his breath, he had gotten more silk and wrapped her up, removing the undergarments as he reached them and swiftly covering her anew with the silk. Despite the mask, she got a very strong impression that he closed his eyes for those parts.
She was actually finding herself okay with that. The guy was crazy, but struck her as genuine – she could easily see him gouging out his own eyes rather than see any bad parts of his so-called goddess.
He finished, leaving her wrapped in black silk from the top of her neck to the soles of her feet. At his gesture, she sat on the pedestal, and held her hand out, inspecting it.
'It's like my body's in a very comfy fancy glove, weird,' Jade thought, opening and closing a fist. Doors slid open, and another bug Khan entered to bow down, offering his General a tray. The angle didn't let Jade see what it was until the newcomer stood before her beside a brush-wielding Sanshobo. The tray held three jars – she could smell the paint now – and four more brushes of various size.
"Divine 98th Majesty, please hold still while this unworthy one sets the markings," he bowed his basket head to her. He seemed a bit calmer; perhaps he was in his element with all this, or was it just that his big book or whatever ordered him to not be crazy at this part?
Well, it was a bit late to be defiant to no end. For what seemed like forever, she closed her eyes and let him paint her face, ears, under jaw, and it seemed everything not covered by hair or silk. To her shock, when he was seemingly done, he pulled the pins out of her hair, letting the shiny black mass fall about her shoulders. She opened her eyes to watch as he then secured it into two tails from the back of her head, draped over her shoulders to hang down her chest.
Someone behind her then reached out and draped a white cloak over her. She blinked twice in astonishment as the clasp was locked against her neck and her dark form was hidden by linen of purest white.
The weight of a hat settled on her head as still more hands from behind slipped a too-thin cord under her chin.
Then the General stepped aside to reveal a mirror.
'Uh, cancel that rescue – they're more likely to blast me at this point than save me,' Jade groaned to herself.
Shortly:
The Court of Beginnings, a grand name for an unimpressive place, Ikazuki thought. Another courtyard in the fortress, with a circle spread out, marked by the kanji for each tribe, a General now standing on each. Even the peach wood pedestal in the exact center of the circle and the runes on the cobbles, all brought in or drawn mere hours ago by the Kamikiri.
The Court of Divine Muster in his old stronghold in Honshu had been far more impressive, circled as it was by sculptures of heroes of the Race. Or even the Shinobi stronghold that had held a living peach tree as its centerpiece. The 96th, though, had allowed none of the grandeur and tradition of the tribal birthing grounds into the symbol of her new empire.
An unseen gong was struck once, twice… eight times. Sanshobo raised his arms and the door swung open across from the circle. Ikazuki looked up; the half moon shined against a night sky adorned with the cosmic raiment. Jirobo had done well, loathe as he was to admit that.
Two Kamikiri emerged from the doorway, carrying a narrow and tall palanquin of wood and paper, all painted white as death.
"It came to pass in the days that the world was yet young and the kami had yet to consider abandoning the base ground for the heavens, that Izanami All-Mother gave birth to fire. And it doing so she perished. Mourning her loss and not accepting the outcome, her husband Izanagi, who created the isles of Nihon with his spear, descended into the land of the dead.
"But time in the polluted and sunless lands travels strange roads. In the time of her husband's mourning, the All-Mother had sought to pass through Yomi for the Heavens Beyond. But her beauty shined, and Lord Enma stirred from his throne with lust. She was waylaid by him, and made to bear a child for him. And in doing so her hunger was beyond control and she ate of the fruit of Yomi.
"Tainted by that land, she rotted as she gave birth to her final child, the All-Mother's womb withering in her wake. Though purely born from her mother's divine womb, she bore the countenance of her father's red eyes, and skin marked by as the sunless skies of the underworld.
"Fallen Izanami saw her child was beautiful, and looking upon her own rot was enraged. Naming the child in obscenity, she chained her to the throne upon the cursed river that Enma had given his new queen. And so the child of obscenity dwelled in terror and hunger beneath a throne of bones, until the day Izanagi came amongst the unclean.
"He came to take back his wife from death. And even though she had eaten the fruit of the underworld, Izanami was cunning and shrouded herself in illusion for her husband. She bid him wait beyond the gate while she negotiated with Enma. He was ordered to remain without and await her coming.
"Lord Enma agreed she could leave with her husband in life if he proved true to her deception, but as a price she must offer him a token. The product of their flesh. For the first time since the time of her birth, the child was unchained and brought before her father as an offering.
"Yet before Izanami could bring her claws to the unmarred flesh, the gate swung open and Izanagi saw her by the light of a burning tooth from his comb. A rotting corpse surrounded by demons in court, the child unwittingly hidden by the mother.
"Izanami howled in rage, knowing she was ever more condemned to Yomi, and Enma laughed at the folly of the world from his throne. Releasing her daughter in anger, she called forth as Queen of Yomi for the Oni and Hags of Hell to slay her husband and bring him to her.
"Comb ablaze with light and sword in hand, the All-Father fled the forces of malevolent death. Through their own domains he slipped with cunning and swiftness. Evading his pursuers until the fallen queen took to the pursuit herself.
"But only one pursuer held his trail. The last born daughter of Izanami, untouched by corruption, was drawn to the great blazing life of the All-Father of Nihon that would be, and rather than waylay him ran beneath him between his legs, in the hopes he would show her the way from the polluted land.
"And so it was, that when Izanagi halted at the mouth of the cave that the child ran out between his legs unseen and hid in the rushes of the pond as he sealed Yomi with a great boulder.
"From beyond the stone, she heard her mother's enraged screams, demanding her husband surrender himself to her. If he did not, she threatened that each day one thousand of his creations would die. He answered if she did so, then on each day he would bring into life fifteen hundred.
"And with those words, Izanagi turned his back on Izanami and began to strip himself for purification.
"Realizing she should not witness this, and frightened by the power of the life granting male kami, the child slipped away. Though the living world beneath the sun enthralled her with its beauty, as ever the pain of hunger beset her. Seeing an ancient peach tree she was thrilled, for nothing so wholesome could make her rot as her mother had.
"But the tree was old, its branches high, and the trunk thick. Seven times she tried to scale it, and each time fell to the earth. As the sun set, she wept in hunger and frustration, gazing up at the fruit. Looking about for any recourse, she saw her shadow long upon the ground.
"Having never seen a shadow in the sunless lands, she mistook it for some being, one tall enough to easily retrieve the food she sought. Bowing her head to the ground, she asked the shadow humbly to aid her.
"The shadow was stunned and flattered to be addressed so. Standing up, the shadow plucked a peach and presented it to the child. And upon taking the first bite, just as those born to the living land become bound to Yomi on eating its food, so was she who was born of Yomi bound to the living land.
"The shadow cleaned the tree of fruit, letting the child eat her fill until as night fell the shadow faded. Seeing the shadow fade, she was afraid and asked for him to stay. He could not, for the sun sustained him, he was not like her and those who could dwell in darkness. But the child was insistent, and taking his hand willed him to stay. He became as a man like her, fashioned in a flawed likeness of Izanagi, who had shown her the way from the polluted lands.
"Thus began the Shadowkhan race, under the peach tree long ago.
"Other tales followed. How Tsukiyomi stayed his brother Susano's slaying hand and became patron to our race. Amaretsu washing the child in the stream and, seeing her beauty and love for the shadows, naming her Kagehime, and naming her keeper of the mysteries of the darkness shaped by the light. Hiruzen's name and trials among the Tengu. The three truths, three questions, and two secrets given to Kagehime by the Orochi. All worthy tales to be remembered.
"But the first tale has been told for this night. As Tsukiyomi brings balance through the moon half shrouded and half shining, we once more answer death with life," the High Priest concluded.
Ikazuki had heard it all before. Every Shadowkhan learned it in the first year of their life, and it was written and depicted many times on scrolls and the occasional wall. It was easily the most boring part of the ceremony, he thought.
Still though, he pondered, watching the two Kamikiri priests carry the white palanquin to the pedestal, it felt different. There was a… spark in the air tonight. It reminded him of the first time he had witnessed a Queen's ascension as a General in the ceremony. A sense of passing into something new?
A click pulled him back to reality as the palanquin split apart over the pedestal. The Queens must step down from it just as it parts, he thought. But as usual, as the two pieces were pulled away, the Queen was left standing serenely atop the pedestal.
The white cloak concealed her form, the cloth spreading out around her on the varnished wood. A white kasa rested atop her head, shrouding it in a shadow cast by the moon above. All he could see from his angle was her left eye glowing brightly.
Sanshobo finished the last of his prayers and stepped back into his place in the circle. A solitary drum began to beat, a deep steady rhythm meticulously practiced to mimic a heart.
"Shinobi," Hiruzen spoke, his shadow swinging to point toward the Queen.
"Sumo," Ozeki did the same.
"Reza."
"Buke."
"Ika."
"Gani."
"Komomori."
"Kamikiri."
Each tribe was invoked in its order of creation. The pseudo heartbeat stopped, he heard the Queen inhale in the silence, and then the chi surged.
The cloak shredded as black sparks broke through, and the kasa was sent flying on a mage wind. Arms held to her side, the Queen stood revealed, rising into the air, her black feet leaving the wood behind.
It was always a sight – wrapped in black as if she had truly become one with the shadows, her head pale as death, almost seeming to float on its own. The blue of her unpainted skin shone, runes of power and majesty revealed by the absence of a brush.
It was meant to remind them of Kagehime, marked as such for the first Rite long ago, and unlike her descendants made to wear it all her days thereafter. But it had never worked; even the most promising Queens were clearly in a costume to his eyes.
Maybe it was her exotic Chinese features from the late Queen's mate? But no, this time was different.
'There is greater power here,' he thought to himself, grinning wide, 'The divine blood is shining through in earnest!'
888
Jade was floating – she had wondered where that ability had gone. Though she was fairly certain she wasn't doing it; tilting her face up, she looked at the halved moon. Science about tides and pull flitted through her mind, quick and then gone.
The knot was gone; it burst free, flooding her with warmth and relief. Looking down at her silk-wrapped form, she saw the black chi emerging from her belly and spreading across her torso. Little more than thin waving figures, but as the world hummed in her ears it was hard to be anxious about them.
The Generals' shadows did not advance in a straight line; they twisted. Spirals and spirals in the moonlight, drawing closer together as they reached the center. Nearly indiscernible from one another, they poured over the pedestal (altar?), dying it black.
She couldn't see the point below her feet, her head jerking back to look up at the moon. She realized it really wasn't a disk in the sky. It was a wheel, and was it ever spinning!
Letting out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, the shadow chi slackened, and the Generals' shadows shot up in a spiral, hitting her left leg.
Her inhale pulled the shadows up her form, the shadow chi grabbing onto the male shadows.
'Not as unpleasant as advertised; it's like taking a bath inside your body… It would be nice if you would stop spinning though, Mr. Moon. And why are you red, that's a bit scary, don't you know?' Jade asked the man in the moon before the warm blackness flowed over her face.
888
Hiruzen was smiling in spite of himself. It never did get old, this part. Feeling the pulse of the Queen's life force as she pumped chi into his shadow. It was a… magnificent feeling! Diminished in no way, he thought, by the fact that his brothers were sharing in it.
He could feel it in his shadow, life blossoming, in profusion. More, he could go on longer, until the sun rose!
Then Kuro broke the contact.
Hiruzen growled, as the first ponderous shadow snapped free of the Queen. The other shadows fell loose one-by-one to lie stretched and bloated on the stones. Tsume roared at the loss and several of them cursed, while Sanshobo started a new chant. Hiruzen's was the last to slip its grip, revealing the Queen once more.
Head falling forward, she descended down to the pedestal, legs shakily taking the weight back, but thankfully not buckling. Instead of rushing to her aid, he had to remain in place and pull his shadow back slowly. As it retracted, he "pushed" the "sparks" he could feel in it out, leaving the pulsing, oily sacks behind.
As the Generals' shadows returned to them the sacs ripped, the broodlings emerging as their path of development took its final course. Joints popping into place, bones breaking and mending as they grew, and in moments the circle was filled with an assemblage of bare juveniles of every tribe. They had no attention to spare on those behind them; their focus was solely for the Queen, her make up smeared into white and gray blotches on blue and hair a ruffled mess about her head.
"Mother, mother, mother," they whispered, falling to their knees. Hiruzen smiled as he stepped forward, weaving through the kneeling forms of the new genin with ease. The honorifics would come later, the understanding of royalty, but for every man of the race that title was the greatest one for the Queen who created them.
Reaching the Queen, she looked at him, eyes weary and pleading; she mouthed the word "Bed". He would suggest she bathe first, but if she wanted that…
"33!" Sanshobo shouted. The exclamation jarred the Shinobi General, and the Queen's flinch made her close her eyes in pain. The small form stumbled back, foot finding thin air. The broodlings murmured in wordless wonder as the Queen fell into the Yojimbo's arms. He turned to reprimand the blasted High Priest.
"Thirty three from her Royal Brood! The greatest since before the Exile! We are in the midst of omens, mark all well!" the Kamikiri priest shouted. Eyes widening, Hiruzen held the Queen close as he counted the hunching forms. The priest was right.
What did it mean?
Looking down to the small form in his arms, he saw the small 98th had fallen asleep.
"Save your auguries for the shrines, tend to the new arrivals," Hiruzen ordered. He left the new shinobi in Toda's hands – he had his Queen to see to.
The Next Evening:
Bad guy parties weren't so bad, as it turned out, Jade thought. She had woken up this morning stiff, sore, and feeling like she was something the cat dragged in. Hiruzen had answered her summon and taken her directly to a bath – he had had the foresight to instruct the bathhouse to be ready.
She had spent the bath dancing around the issue of a bunch of Shadowkhan calling her "mother". Creepy even without the fact she had not been repelled by the process while it was happening. She was not going to be doing that again, she would find a way around it, she hoped.
Being congratulated on setting a record or something had not helped her self-esteem.
Anyway, after the bath she had at least felt alive again, and been reminded she now had a banquet in her honor to attend. Well, wasn't that just special? Maybe they would make two children fight to the death for her entertainment, and she would ceremonially harass the winner or turn him into a newt with magic potion or something?
So it was a new kimono, fresh blue silk socks, and the new addition of a veil, and she was on her way to be displayed again. This time in a new chamber of the main fortress, the banquet hall.
It was a large room; she thought it was bigger than the throne room, but it might have been just the more open style. This room had a less imposing air to its vaulted design, the reds and blues dominating with hardly any black in the designs.
The chamber was tiered, like a stage or something. She had entered through what she assumed was the royal entrance with Hiruzen to the smallest and highest level, with a table awaiting her that was set for one. When she took her seat on the cushion, a spot that let her look out over the hall, Hiruzen took his own seat, a shinobi placing a gold-adorned red tray in front of him.
The next tier, about a meter down, was larger, with two curving tables going from the wall to an open space that divided them into left and right sides. There she saw the other Generals seated, already sipping sake or tea with one member of their tribes each, and a sole maskless shinobi by his lonesome.
Below that, by the same increment, but separated by a low railing of blue-painted wood, was the main floor where seated half-a-dozen long tables. Those tables were fully occupied by unmasked Shadowkhan, not all of them as… handsome as others.
She was a bit surprised to see mingling on the lower level – despite generally clinging together, the tribes did seem to mix, save for the Gani. The Sumo and Reza section in particular blurred together.
'So, a strong alliance between those two tribes. Does that mean they are weak and hang together? Or do they not hold more power because the other tribes block that alliance from going anywhere?' Jade wondered.
Sanshobo took the stage – Jade felt like kicking herself for not realizing what it was – and gave a speech about how great and holy she was. And about how the lowly men were not worthy, strive to be worthy, yadda, yadda. Honestly, a feminist going on like this would be annoying, from a guy it was strange and more than a little creepy, she thought.
She was relieved when he stepped aside and masked sumos began to serve the food. After that speech, it made how unpopular the crabs were sink in a bit deeper – people preferred talking to the bugs over them. Ouch.
Apparently, as Queen she got the whole table rather than a tray. Granted, the spread was surprising, as she had been expecting more of the same from her usual meals.
Apparently, special occasions meant special food. Particularly, things that had yet to be… made dead. Yeah.
Still, she hadn't gone though all this to loose her cool over eating bugs, slugs, tiny glowing blue eels, and grilled fish. Yes, grilled fish, not everything was weird.
Surprisingly, chopsticks weren't in evidence, though she had a spoon for a utensil before her.
Plucking one of the eels and eating it after raising her veil, she pondered this. She seemed to recall Japan got chopsticks from China, having had spoons before? Maybe this was one of those traditional meals, complete with weird food and old-fashioned style. Which, for a race like this, meant she was probably lucky human was not on the menu.
Crunching up the surprisingly tangy eel, she regarded a haunch of meat on the bone near her plate. She really, really hoped that was ham.
"Sake, your majesty?" Hiruzen asked. The Yojimbo placed a small saucer by her current bowl and held out a teapot like container.
'Alcohol? For the precious sacred Queen?' Jade thought with some confusion. It must have shown, because he gave her a small smile.
"You are now of age for such, if you so desire," he told her.
'Wow, talk about conflicting age restrictions, eh?' Jade thought. As it was, she shook her head in answer.
"Tea if you please, Yojimbo?" she asked. She hoped it didn't stand out too much, but she was not drinking. She wouldn't put it past the Queen to be a total lightweight, and the last thing she needed was to give these guys the drunken truth.
Hiruzen handed her a small scroll as she tried the beetles, crunchy texture but not much flavor. She unrolled it to find a list, which he thankfully explained without prompting.
"Each tribe has prepared a performance for your entertainment. You may chose two," he instructed. Jade nodded as if that had been obvious as she looked over the list. She needed something that did not sound brutal, or worse, participatory.
"…The Reza Dance of Blades, and the Kamikiri… Music of Nature," Jade told him. With a nod, he stood and announced her choices.
Kamisori rose from his spot and bowed deeply.
"You honor my tribe, Divine Majesty. For your enjoyment and the pleasure of all those of the Race gathered here, I present Oda, Maki, and Aoi, masters of the Dance of Blades."
He returned to his spot as the main door slid open, letting three Reza run in, leaping to the stage over the tables before them. They landed, falling so quickly into the kowtow that Jade thought they had face-planted themselves for a moment.
But they hadn't, she concluded. She registered the projectiles thrown from above and gave a cry of alarm. The three Khan sprang to their feet, catching the weapons that had nearly skewered them. All three wore only geta and loose gray pants, tied with white ropes at the their ankles and waists. Their heads were also shaved; it would be difficult to tell them apart, Jade thought.
They held up the weapons they had caught, one holding a daisho set, the other a nagitnata, and the last holding claw blades in each hand.
With a bow, the spearman twirled his weapon, nearly decapitating the swordsman.
There was no music, to Jade's surprise. The hall was silent as the three Khan displayed skill in handling their blades while simultaneously employing acrobatics, flexibility, and speed to evade each other's weapons.
The spearman was stationary, moving mostly up and down or shifting on the same spot, while the other two orbited him, drawing close but never too close to one another.
The spearman at the center of the display had her attention at first. But she found her focus shifting to the clawed Khan. As the dancers drew closer, the orbits crossing, she realized he had to draw much closer to the others to create that mortal peril. To participate for him came with greater risk, despite his freedom of movement.
But the swordsman was no happy medium, she realized. Because the blades never clashed. And she could see him having to pull punches as his uneven attacks threatened to cross the weapons. With a specific goal, even an advantage can become a handicap.
Jade had begun to pick up that there was a rhythm, music of sorts. The light footsteps, the rustles of cloth, and the song of steel through air.
While trying to find the pattern, she was startled to have it vanish. Blinking, she moved her attention from the listening and saw the three bow one more. Hiruzen rose from his seat.
"Did this display please you, my Queen?" the Yojimbo asked.
"…A magnificent performance, sons of the Reza tribe. We are most pleased with your skill," she announced. It felt good to give a compliment she meant; she let herself smile through the royal stoic she had been entertaining.
As the dancers left, Kamisori smiled, drinking deep from his sake bottle as most of the Generals on his level fixed him with a glare.
"Honorable and Divine 97th descendant of she from whom our race sprang…" Jade resumed eating, a bit disappointed she was out of tiny eels. She tuned out Sanshobo as he took his time flattering her before introducing a duet of musicians. Watching the shamisen player and a flutist whose large bamboo instrument was adorned with painted kanji take their position, she missed the Generals smiling.
Sanshobo took his seat, determined not to appear shaken that the Queen had not even lent his introduction her full attention. Especially after she had just forgiven Kamisori his earlier disfavor and more by paying such lofty praise to his subordinates.
Jade was not sure what she expected by the "Music of Nature". But she was paying more mind to music lately. Short of rather dry reading, it seemed music was the only entertainment to jump the era gap. As it turned out, the duo imitated the sounds of nature with their instruments.
Calling to mind the cycle of seasons in both benign and stormy weathers, she decided. Eating as she listened, Jade thought for a while there must be some spell at work, but listening closely she admitted it was only notes of music.
Well "only" was not a fair way of putting it. Apparently, at least a few of the Kamikiri used their obsessive nature toward productive skills.
Jade applauded the bugs as they bowed to her; unlike the Reza, they gave no acknowledgement to anyone else in the audience. Rudeness aside, that had been cool, she wondered if there really had been magic at work there?
Hiruzen rose to his feet as the silence returned, all eyes fixing on the Yojimbo.
"Welcome brothers, it has been long since the elite of the Race has gathered. And not only to celebrate the true beginning of the 98th reign, but the resumption of the Grand Plan for Empire and Continuity.
"Each of the Generals has presented reports and strategic proposals to Her Divine Majesty, that she might decide the course the Race will follow in the coming campaigns," he announced solemnly, producing a scroll with ornate black trim on it. Guess he made a copy of the one she gave him earlier.
Opening it, he began to describe her proposal.
"It is the will of the 98th Queen of Shadows that our military might be dedicated to the conquest of Kyushu, and dominance of its waters in addition to battling the raiders encroaching on our maritime territory.
"Furthermore, this campaign is to secure the human population with a minimal of commoner casualties. The Empire requires slaves to not only begin the work of integrating the conquests into our structure, but construction of a new fortress for the royalty to dwell in on the second Home Island of the Empire. It is her will that this fortress be completed in no more than ten years, and as such many slaves will be required.
"In order to free up troops from the other tribes, the Gani tribe will assume garrison duties to protect the heartland; their prowess will ensure the loss of manpower will not be felt, and the fear the slaves and vassals hold of them will ensure compliance.
"The sumo tribe are to take an active role on the front to work towards securing wealth and slaves from the ravishes of the coming war.
"Finally, it is her will that within the stated requirements we maintain the doctrines of war. As such, a warlord will be named to have command over the conquest force, to answer only to the Yojimbo and Queen," Hiruzen announced. He took three steps back and Jade stood up. She looked for the face she needed, and after a moment's hesitation she spoke.
"General Ikazuki of the Buke Tribe, we would grant you the honor, dignity, responsibility, and station of Warlord of the Shadowkhan in the coming campaign. Do you accept this against your own life and honor?" Jade asked in her best regal voice.
The scaled samurai stared wide-eyed for a moment too long, before scooting back so he could kowtow.
"Blood, chi, and soul, I accept. May I perish by my own hand before word of any disgrace reaches your royal ears," he answered her.
Jade smiled behind the veil – he was the least imaginative, for all his passion for warfare, and seemed to disdain using magic in favor of getting honorable fights from worthy warriors. He had no big ideas, just boring stuff on tactics and strategic movement, and stuff like from a boring textbook. Hopefully just the ham a hero in the works could roast.
The impostor queen felt she had been clever enough that risking one sip of sake in toasting Warlord Ikazuki was worth the risk.
Translations:
aneki:elder brother
Author's Note:
Well another chapter down. I cut two scenes from this chapter moving them back as they did not fit well with the pacing. A third scene, one centered on Lord Rokutaro, was considered to cap this chapter, but while that is a good scene I felt it would take away from the good cut off we have here. And the impact of the ritual. So you will likely get to see those next scenes, next chapter. Next chapter will spend a lot more time with Humans as the Shadowkhan court will be occupied with prep work.
Which will be awhile. I still have an owed update to deal with for one. And I would like to finally get JoD moving again with 'Hachin' in the bag. But next chapter in this story lets me have fun with a trio of my favorite Ocs for this story; so its unlikely I will be gone for an epic stretch of time or something.
I would also like to point out this Shadowkhan origin story was not copied from Queen of All Oni. Nocturne came up with three origin stories, and we worked it down to this one between us. It was created for Queen of Shadows originally, as Nocturne was much more focused on the culture and mythology than I was with QoaO at the time.
I ended up using it in my own story with permission, somewhat adapted as you might note. My version only came out first because of Nocturne going silent.
While the two Queens are distinct Aus of JCA Nocturne and I tended to borrow stuff from one another as they literally sprang from the same thread of pms and later tended to be next to each other in topic headers. So its quite possible you will continue to see similarities or familiar names crop up between the two. This is just the result of the authors' quirks, not the storylines themselves being joined somehow.
Well enough of that, long days and pleasant nights to you all. See you at Dib's house next I suppose.