Title: Consequences
Category: Cartoons » Hero: 108
Author: Cahaya Sidur
Language: English, Rating: K
Genre: Family
Published: 06-17-19
Words: 1,014

Disclaimer: I do not own Hero: 108.

AN: A short little thing that I wrote in my spare time back when the show was still on - something that Lin Chung said really stuck with me and I wanted to explore the consequences of that a little more. Thanks to pinki for your review! And for Knight's Journey, I have a couple unwritten drabbles to do with your prompt that I'm working on right now - they should be posted soon, and thanks for the prompt!

"Not while First Squad is under my command."

Tien Khuan had once told him that people characterised both Energies as primordial deities that waged war on one another, one trying to keep peace while the other chaos. They had slowly died down as their power was handed down from generation to generation, neither side prevailing. The last time such godly beings fought in the state closest to their original was during Tien Khuan's fight against Chiung Ming. At least, that was what Lin Chung had been told.

He hadn't realised just how dangerous such a vow was. He hasn't thought about it at the time, despite having meant it. His implication was that he would not let it happen, at least not while they were still around. While he and First Squad were still around.

Unfortunately, the Harmonic Energy didn't care about implications. It only took the words at face value. Tien Khuan had once warned him of being careful with his words, but even his master had admitted that he didn't realise the consequence of making a vow with the Harmonic Energy.

Lin Chung hadn't realised just what the vow signified until he and First Squad were called in to investigate a mysterious statue of a man. He had recognised the man right away, and had spotted the cracks slowly spreading from the feet up to his face too late.

He hadn't known that Twin Masters had made a vow of his own too, before he was destroyed.

"Hidden Kingdom will be MINE!"

By uttering those words, Twin Masters had imprisoned himself and Lin Chung in a never ending cycle. The Chaotic Energy would work hard to give him his revenge, but the Harmonic Energy would ensure he never succeeded, at least not while Lin Chung was around.

Approaching their later life, the war had done nothing to dwindle down. The original Heroes of Big Green were starting to step down, settling into families and allowing the the next generation to take over. They could retire without having to worry about the war any longer; they didn't have to think about it from an active standpoint.

At least, that was what they thought.

Rumours started circulating of a man who resembled Yang Tu, who went around doing as he pleased with magic of red and blue. The news didn't take long to get back to Big Green, and after both First and Second Squad realised that they were helpless, they turned to their predecessors on help defeating him. As far as most of them knew, however, Lin Chung had disappeared, going into hiding after his retirement. That wasn't to say that they had no way to contact him; they had a vague form of communication, and had sent along the message.

Lin Chung had aged like his other friends when he had received the message. He had reluctantly followed the Squads into battle, keeping out of sight. And then Yang Tu, in all his former glory, had lunged for his friends' children. His friends, who had stood by him through thick and thin, who had accepted him and all his flaws and teased him sometimes but still had his back, who would be devastated if their children were lost. And Lin Chung couldn't sit by and watch.

Eyes glowing purple, he lashed out in defence, hearing the cry of shock from both sides. He looked at Yang Tu, lashed out once more with his Harmonic Energy. And when he looked down, his eyes widened.

His hand, which had become aged and wrinkled with calluses decorating the tips of his fingers and palms, had become smoother. Rougher and still covered with calluses, but from his time back in Big Green, fighting against animal kingdoms daily.

Backing away frantically, Lin Chung raised both hands to his face, finding smooth skin from where previously held aged skin. He ran a hand through his hair, thick and grey and tinged with black instead of stringy and white.

A nearby puddle reflected his face, but not the one he recognised. His eyes widened at the sight of his face, young once more. His hand trembled as he raised it to his forehead, gently running it down the length of his face. Smooth skin met his fingertips. Any sores or aches in his joints, particularly his right knee, was gone.

This couldn't be happening. What happened to the past few decades? How did this happen? Why was he young again?

Then, unbidden, the words he had said so long ago trickled into his head.

"Not while First Squad is under my command."

He couldn't fight. He couldn't have, aged as he had. But now? Now he was young. Healthy. Fighting fit. Some deity above had evident seen fit to give him back his youth, much as another one had seen fit to return Twin Masters as Yang Tu.

But he had retired for a reason. He had left the game for a reason. Highroller was as insatiable as ever, still trying desperately to cling to his tenuous control over Hidden Kingdom. Yang Tu had started to challenge his authority. Lin Chung has no idea as to why Yang Tu hadn't already overthrown Highroller, but he couldn't wait to find out. Yang Tu was growing with power each day, and Lin Chung was worried that the prophecy would come true. That Twin Masters - Yang Tu - would take over again. The Harmonic Energy had given a chance for him to help, to intervene before Yang Tu acted again.

He needed to act before Yang Tu placed his friends' - his family's - children in even greater danger.

After he returned home, he sliced his hair short. Dyed it a dull brown. Had contacts that turned his eyes a murky green. Willed his skin to become darker, not as pale as before. After glancing in a shard of mirror one last time, he grabbed his long-forgotten but still battle-tested staff and set off.

The next day, after defeating Yang Tu and his demons easily, he joined Big Green as the leader of First Squad.