Disclaimer: AX: Defenders of the Universe or the now revised to Aeon X (according to the writer, creator Dexter Roxas), not owned by me. Please follow the A.X. Zero Genesis, the prequel story of the original Funny Komiks' A.X.

Chapter VI

Guardians

Maiden holds the note up against the light as she lays flat on her back on her bed that night.

She was not certain if it is indeed for her but this 'N' person went on his way to tuck a book under her school bag leaving a piece of paper containing some cryptic message.

That same person has probably seen her tail Hikaru's group and must have been the one who carried her back to the library when she lost consciousness in the dark hall.

Why did she lose consciousness again?

Thinking back to the events that afternoon, it appears that somebody has prevented her from learning more about the conversation she overheard.

Why must they postpone it for tomorrow if she could have found out right then?

She abruptly turned to her side and buried her face in one of her pillows.

Maybe Hikaru and his friends found out what she did and they're toying on her already. But no! Her curiosity wasn't unwarranted. She heard them talking about her and Forg! What is so confidential to discuss about that they have go into some secret room themselves? And with a teacher, by the way.

It's them, who should answer to her. At least someone should explain what's going on.

She placed the note on her bedside table and turned off the lights and lied back again willing her mind not to think anything more about the incident as tiredness caught up with her and she fell asleep.

It was dark...too dark and she couldn't make out her surroundings. Maiden took a step forward and as she did, she felt like she lost touch of the ground and she's falling. She pressed her eyes tightly expecting to hit the hard concrete floor and the inevitable pain it would bring but the impact did not come. Instead, she felt as though she is floating.

Her eyes fluttered open and she was greeted by a bluish white glow radiating below her. She was shocked to find out that the source of light is an array of intricate symbols laid in circular arrangement beneath her keeping her from touching the ground.

'What is this?'

She tried to move her body out of the gentle hold of the light but as soon as she did, the light fades into the darkness. And she was gently alighted to the floor once more.

Again, the darkness covered her being.

'Maiden.' A female voice called upon her name.

'Who are you?' The words did not come out her mouth as she pleased.

Suddenly balls of light materialized out of nowhere and they slowly come together

'Maiden. Be careful...', the voice speaks once more this time clearer.

'What are you saying?', she wanted to say again but cannot articulate the words by her mouth.

The balls of light are slowly forming a figure. She became wary of the situation that she quickly got to her feet in haste.

'Do not go to the dark.'

Do not stay away from your light.

They are after you. '

The voice seems clearer and echoes around her almost reverberate in her own being.

'They?', she thought wildly.

The balls of light seems to reach it's final form yet she couldn't make out of it's figure because of the brightness.

'Maiden..'

The brightness dies down and little by little the figure takes form of a tall woman. Her hair is long and flowy and reaches past her bottom, the strands float freely around her. Her attention was drawn towards her face, although still bright with the glowing light, she noticed her visage somehow resembles her own.

Maiden's eyes went wide as the most beautiful pair of golden eyes opened and looked back at her.

She gasped.

She is suddenly awake. It took her a little while to realize where she is again due to the constant sight of the darkness in the hall, in her room and in her dreams.

A dream.

It's another one of those dreams and every detail seems to slip out of her memory once more just like her previous ones.

She looks at her bedside table clock. It reads five thirty in the morning.

Still early.

She sighs as she gets up.

***A.X.***

Hikaru thought she would probably skip classes today judging the way she almost ran out of the school gates the day before following the incident she got involved to. But then, there she is, sitting quietly in her designated seat reading a book.

She came in a little bit earlier than most of the students. It was only him and her at their side of the classroom.

"You're early." he greeted as he approaches his own seat.

"So are you." she answered without looking up from her reading.

"Usually." Hikaru says as he settles. She gave no answer to this. She only flipped a page and carried on reading.

He peered down at the book she is holding. Greek Mythology, the title reads. It seems she has taken much interest in the current topic of their World Literature subject.

"Who's your favorite?" he asks suddenly.

"Hmn?" she barely looked at him.

"Character being I mean."

"I've always liked Hades and Persephone's story but I have none in particular."
There was a pause and Maiden hoped he would stop initiating conversation as she is trying to divert her thoughts away from yesterday's event.

"You have taken liking of the dark ..."

Maiden paused again, suddenly a fragment of the dream she had comes back to her. "Do not go to the dark." The voice of the woman resounds in her head.

"...the themes I meant.", Hikaru amends as he notices Maiden stiffen in her seat.

"By the way, how was your arm?" He felt the change of topic is necessary, he didn't feel comfortable mentioning about the darkness when they had unwittingly dragged her on to a dark hall the previous day.

Again, Maiden appears a little shaken.

My arm?

Now that he mentioned it, she realizes it didn't hurt as much after he treated her. She completely forgot about it that she didn't need a change of bandage when it came off while she was changing in her bathroom last night.

Did she really become too distracted about things that her injury became less apparent in her concerns?

She dropped her book for a while and slowly ran a hand at the length of her arm and around her elbow.

"It's fine...", she says not utterly convinced of her answer despite not feeling any pain.

She gives him an unsteady glance but she quickly averted her eyes right away for she is again feeling uncomfortable.

Just how did she heal so fast?

"Are you sure?" he inquired.

"Yes..." she replied quickly.

In haste, she excused herself so she could go to the ladies' room.

Hikaru could only watch her back as she leaves the room. She seems disconcerted at his mention of her arm. He made a mental note of that.

Once inside the room, she locked the door, took off her coat and rolled her sleeves up.

There were no longer any remains of swelling. Her arm, as she sees it in the mirror, is good as new. It's as if she hadn't been hurt at all.

She didn't know if she should be grateful or creeped out by this.

***A.X.***

By lunch time, Maiden quickly disappeared in the room. She never waited to be around and hang out with Hikaru's group of friends during the mid-day meal. She grabbed sandwiches and a bottle of milk and went the school grounds alone.

She took out the note she had kept in her pocket.

I'll find out everything later. she hopefully assured herself.

From afar, Hikaru and Keiko are looking over her.

"So, she had an injury during that incident with Forg.", Keiko repeats. "But right now, it doesn't seem to bother her at all."

"I was wondering about that. Apparently, she also has the ability to heal and repair physical damages.", Hikaru switches to mental conversation with Keiko.

"And she seems not aware of it too."

"I guess."

***A.X.***

Maiden prepared to head to the archery club for her scheduled try out. She has a fleeting thought that this time, not only her classmates gets to go in an after class activity, herself too will have something to look forward to doing.

A small group of three girls walked past her and she couldn't help but overhear bits of their conversation. They were excitedly tagging along to their friend who's going to try out for the swimming club.

"You can do it!" said one of the girls.

"Of course, she can!" added by the other girl beside her in tow. The group merrily went on their way to swimming club.

Maiden suddenly felt a pang of sadness. It occurred to her that she is yet to make friends in her new school and she had no one in her class who would tag along with her supporting her tryout. Although, she isn't one to worry about such things as she always end up alone whenever her family moves to various places, she wishes she could have someone close by aside from Forg.

"Goodluck." A voice behind her took her away from her train of thoughts.

She looked over her shoulders to find Hikaru smiling at her. Oh. she remembered it was only him who knew about her scheduled try out as he is the class repesentative that being said, he is the one authorized to submit application forms to the clubs of interest of everyone in the class.

"Thank you." she replied quietly. "Thank you also for submitting my form." she added what she only felt necessary. Somehow, it warms her to hear someone cheer up her first school club try out whoever the person is and although she's feeling cautious about her seatmate, the gesture is very much welcomed.

"Is Maiden trying out for a club?" It was Traxor who overheard the exchange and skipped his way between Hikaru and Maiden's seat. Before either person could respond, his loud voice captured the attention of both Reinjenna and Hazel. The latter two happily joined in wishing Maiden's luck.

Maiden is now feeling embarrassed at the attention but despite that, she feels glad at the friendly gesture.

Hikaru watches her interact with Hazel and Reinjenna and Traxor. He knew Maiden's guards are still up and she is suspicious of him but seeing her getting along well with the other members of the group, he wistfully hopes it'll be easier to gain her confidence once they get to take her in.

He internally laughed to himself. After all the tiptoeing around, he is now able to confirm what used to be a hunch. He really is now that firm about having Maiden as the last of the guardians.

Somehow deep inside, he feels relieved knowing it's her.

"Can we go and watch you, then?" Hikaru asks her.

"Yeah, please. Can we?" Hazel seconded the idea.

Maiden looked around the hopeful faces anticipating her agreement and she gave in in an afterthought.

"It's okay but it isn't as flashy as the other clubs."

***A.X.***

Reinjenna, Hazel and Traxor stood agaped behind the railings separating them from the range with a lineup of students trying out for the archery club. Hikaru is also with them smirking at the sight.

All three of Maiden's arrows the hit the innermost of the target face, the last one being in the center. Her performance is a record breaking bull's eye none has ever done yet on tryouts.

Other applicants were awed of her display earning the new girl their admiration and applause.

"Wow! That was amazing." Ren, the club president calls out her attention. Maiden only nodded at him with a slight respectful bow as she returns to her spot in the lines.

Again, Hikaru couldn't help but notice the way Ren regards his female classmate even as she walked past him. His eyes were warm and searching her steady ones.

He recalled Forg's low-key territorial tendencies whenever there are other guys near Maiden and he couldn't blame him for that. Who wouldn't admire such beauty and prowess anyway? He only feels bad for Ren he no longer stand a chance since Maiden already has someone special.

He is just lucky.

Blessed even... to have her.

He shook the thoughts of his mind. This is not right time to feel envy.

Wait. He is envious?

He's been absentmindedly staring at Maiden until someone poked his side.

He didn't need to turn his head to find Colleen who quietly stepped in to the side lines to watch the tryouts with them.

"You've been staring at her a lot." she told him telepathically.

Hikaru only moved his eyes towards her and to the line of her view. His sister is smiling brightly at Maiden's figure.

"You've been here for a while now." he answered instead.

"I've seen you head this way." There was a pause before Colleen prodded him again.

"Oh, come on! Could you not change the topic, brother."

There was a pause before Hikaru replied to her. "Hnnn. There's something I need to tell you later but for now, we'll need to go meet Naoru and Keiko."

"What? As in now?"

"Uh huh!" Hikaru signals his leaving to other three watching with them as he moves to walk back to the pathway. Traxor waved energetically but immediately returned to watching the rest of the performances. He is a little caught up in the small event going on. Hazel also waved at him with an assuring smile that they'd stay until archery club is done with the ordeal and wait for Maiden. Reinjenna only nodded knowingly at him.

Colleen followed suit but she also waved towards Maiden's direction.

Maiden couldn't make out of her waving across her from afar but she seems to understand she's bidding goodbye with Hikaru in tow. She slowly lift her palm up to acknowledge her. Behind the girl, Hikaru mimics her palm gesture. His pursed lips arched a little upward with a smile that didn't reach his eyes as opposed to Colleen's bright ones. He looks apologetic for leaving ahead it seems, though she didn't mind.

Then it dawned to her. The note specifically told her 'after class'.

Watching the two leaving the range area, she couldn't help but feel anxious. She didn't let the thought drift to her mind until she's able to get over and done with her tryout. But now that she's free of her other concerns, she strongly feels that she needed not to let the chance slip out of her grasp once more. She needed to be at the rooftop and find out about the note, about whatever it is that Hikaru and Ms. Keiko is hiding from her and Forg.

There is still one left of the club applicants. The rest of the tryout participants and audiences are getting absorbed on the performances. She can perhaps sneak out, and go back to the gym and change into her regular uniform.

Little by little, she stepped back until she is concealed behind the rest of the club members. She ran to the pavements connecting to the nearest entrance to the building and went straight to the ladies' locker room where all the participants left their clothing.

***A.X.***

"I suddenly wanted to learn archery. Man, that was so cool!", Traxor exclaims as he clasps his hand behind his head watching all the Archery club participants bow altogether after the club president dismissed them.

"You said the same when you watched a judo tryout." Hazel pointed out shaking his head.

"Hah! Everything just looks interesting to me and of course, I'm a man of talents!" Traxor laughed out.

"Hey you two... Have you noticed Maiden?" Reinjenna inquired craning her neck at the students filling the exit area of the range.

"Eh? She's .." Hazel points the spot where the girl in question supposedly stood throughout the tryouts and retracts her hand upon not seeing Maiden therein.

"I guess... let's just meet her at the gym exit." Hazel flashed a watery smile.

Suddenly, Reinjenna's phone rang.

"Hikaru?" Hazel and Traxor watched her curiously. "Yes, they are done. We were just waiting for Maiden." There was a pause. " I don't understand but...okay, we'll be there."

Reinjenna hung up.

"What did he say?" Traxor questioned.

"Everyone must gather in the rooftop." Reinjenna answered firmly.

"What's going on...?" asked Traxor but Hazel already dragged him to his feet and the three of them followed Hikaru and Colleen's path away from the archery shooting range.

***A.X.***

"Are you sure, big brother?" Colleen stepped forward blocking his way as they walked in to the empty roof deck area. "You told me otherwise the first time I met her."

"What did you feel when you shook her hand?" Hikaru challenged.

"I..." Colleen scrunched her brows thoughtfully and recalled the empty sensation she felt on Maiden.

"You will see later on."

From behind them, Keiko and Naoru appeared and not far from where they are, Kaze stood waiting by the rails watching the setting sun.

Reinjenna, Hazel and Traxor arrived shortly as Hikaru looks around. He could sense the tension building up

"The last of you." Keiko said in quiet voice rather anxiously.

"We could still be wrong." Naoru blurted out. He looked around him. "Do you not feel some unnerving vibe about her." Naoru forced out a nervous chuckle.

Keiko glared at him.

"That's not a proper comment you can give to someone." Keiko is now masking her own uneasiness by nagging off Naoru's agitated remarks. "Once, the nine guardians are gathered; the enemies' subjects will definitely feel the unrest. We need to be strong to protect them."

"Worry yourself not, Ms. Keiko! We can definitely protect ourselves with our powers!" Traxor exclaims proudly.

Hazel raised an eyebrow at this. "Oh, come on. Give me a break."

"Who is the last of the guardians we are talking about?" Reinjenna asked expectantly looking around her.

"Yes, who?" Traxor seconded the question.

Just as Hikaru was about to respond, a girl with long and curly red hair came to view with Forg in tow. Belle is another one of the guardians who poses as student of Naoru together with Kaze as Forg's classmates in this world.

The newly-arrived male went stomped towards Hikaru.

"Why did you involve Maiden in this?!" Forg's eyes narrowed at him. He grabbed Hikaru by the collar but the latter remained unfazed.

"Maiden?!" Traxor and Hazel exclaimed in unison.

Panic ensued with the rest of the guardians. Naoru gently laid his palm on Forg's forearm coaxing him to calm down.

Hikaru only removed his hand off him passive eyes never leaving his glare.

"I do not choose who the guardians will be. " Hikaru said calmly. "But yes, I involved Maiden because she is one."

There was a complete silence.

Forg's hand fell back to his side. He dislikes the tone of his speech as though he knew something about the girl that he didn't. He continued to scowl at Hikaru.

As if on cue, Maiden stepped out of the shed of the roof deck's open doors.
"What do you mean by that?" she questioned. All eyes fell on her as she walks over and stands between Forg and Hikaru. Her eyes never leaving the latter's while Forg gaped at her.

Hikaru could only look back at her debating whether he should answer now and confuse her even more or wait until they meet Deity, the Goddess who summoned them. Finding Maiden is already a tiring chase. They almost didn't make it in time.

"I apologize about yesterday." he responded instead. "But the circumstances of the events in the hall...confirm that you are one of us."

"One of...what?" she stepped back confused.

"You have a special ability multiple abilities, even."

Naoru swallowed thickly watching the scene but then, cleared his throat to make his and Keiko's presence known. They are still posing as 'teachers' anyway.

"I'm sorry. Guys, we can save all the explanations for later." Keiko spoke. "But for now, it is our mission to bring you to the Goddess Deity."

Naoru raised his right arm and a few meters above them, a circular array of symbols of appeared.

Maiden's eyes went wide. She's positive she had seen those symbols before.

The dream.

Just then, Forg came closer holding her by the arm and she turned to him worry etched in her eyes.

"What's happening...why are you here too?"

Forg didn't get to answer. In a beat, there is a loud sound that shook them all.

"What the.." Hikaru wraps an arm around Colleen's shoulder protectively.

Something massive fell off the portal and hit the floor. Next thing they knew, there were bright objects flying towards them.

"Fire balls?!" Maiden squeaked.

Suddenly, a protective barrier covered them and deflated the attack courtesy of Keiko.
"The enemies are targeting them now!.", she shouted. "Naoru, quick!"

Naoru poured his strength in and the portal he is creating shone brighter.

Out of nowhere, an enormous shadow enveloped them. Everyone marveled the sight of a huge blue dragon up above. As soon as it appeared, it emitted a blinding light.

Everything happened too quickly. When they opened their eyes, they are no longer in the school rooftop.

Naoru sighed in relief having escaped the attack from the other dimension. He went to check himself that the guardians have safely landed . He stopped for a while to appreciate the beauty of their homeland.

They are greeted by the sight of green fields, shrubberies and trees nearby.

"Where are we?", Colleen asked, clutching on her brother's arm.

Hikaru furrowed his brows. "This..."

"This is Adeniss...", Keiko responded, her voice small which Maiden took notice of and she looked at her.

Sometime during the transport, Keiko's teacher guise wore out and she returned to her true form so did the teacher they address as 'Naoru'. The latter looks smaller than an average five year- old child and wears a black robe and a pointed hat.

"Y-You're a fairy..." Maiden couldn't help but say aloud when Keiko flew near her seemingly checking on everyone. For a moment, her annoyance and confusion melted away in favor of admiration of the sight that befell her. There's a real fairy- tiny, sparkly and pretty and all around her is a vast expanse of a beautiful landscape.

Everyone else around her are fascinated by this view as well. She finds Traxor and Hazel playing with some metallic balls floating around. Reinjenna has some curious look in her eyes watching the unique-looking butterflies flying past them and Colleen pokes a blooming flower on her feet.

"Yes, Maiden...!", Keiko said smiling brightly. She could see that the new girl somehow is at ease. She then flew above them. "We should get going. We will take you to the Goddess Deity of Adeniss."

All of a sudden, they were yet again interrupted by another loud explosion and a huge ball of fire is charging towards them.

"Everyone, stick together!" Naoru shouted.

"Maiden! Stay back!" Forg stood in front of her so does all the five males around the ladies. Keiko and Naoru in their real form activates a shield to protect everyone from the attack.

The huge ball of fire hit the protective barrier but the impact becomes too much to keep at bay. The attacker ricocheted upwards after shattering their magical shield and because of this, the guardians were all thrown back by the strong gust of wind along with debris of earth and rocks.

In just a few while, the attacking ball of fire is hitting back again like a boomerang returning once more. They were shocked when they noticed it is splitting up and aims at scattered locations of the guardians.

Quickly, Keiko performed a spell to split herself up and the clone-like fairies scattered together with guardians. One for Reinjenna, Traxor and Hazel lumped in to the far back; Another replica of the fairy went to Colleen and Hikaru's side while another one is in charge of Kaze, Forg and Maiden and Belle. The red head happened to sit a little further from the group and Maiden noticed.

'She's not going to make it!' her mind raced.

The fireball is just about to strike again when Maiden ran off from the shielded area towards Belle who tripped on a rock as she ran to join her group.

"Maiden!" Forg screamed loudly but the explosion drowned out his voice.

When the fire died down and smoke faded a little, the panic-stricken guardians were relieved to find Kaze standing before Belle and able to cast a shield for the two of them.

Only the two of them.

Forg paled momentarily. Hazel shrieked in alarm. Hikaru and Colleen ran towards where Maiden ought to be and the rest followed suit.

Maiden... it can't be- Hikaru's chest pounded wildly.

The wind blew away the most of the foggy smoke from around the girl sitting on the ground but not completely touching it. Maiden is surprised to find herself surrounded by an array of intricate symbols and she is safe...unscathed.

She was suddenly hit by a stunning de javu of it.

The dream. Her mind repeated once more.

She is beyond shocked so is everyone. She could see it in their eyes but soon enough, relief washed over their faces seeing her unharmed.

Forg crouched in front of her and embraced her tightly. She could tell he had been shaking with fear but the same is fading away as he holds her. She wants to say she's alright and that he needed not to worry but she felt too numbed, too dumbfounded to speak. Exclaims of relief and cheers faded in the background and she couldn't properly hear them.

Looking over Forg's shoulder, she's faced with Hikaru who gazes down at her intently. She couldn't make out his expression but their short-lived conversation earlier at the school roof deck rang clearly on her mind.

'But the circumstances of the events in the hall...confirm that you are one of us.'

'One of...what?'

'You have a special ability, multiple abilities, even.'

***end of Chapter 6***

Author's Note: Even though I have shared this fanfic in the A.X. group , I'm still embarrassed/skeptic/apprehensive about the idea of promoting it. Hahaha! Anyway, this is my favorite chapter so far—a jump from my slow pace of the past five chaps plus the developments. I'm also mirroring some of the scenes in the original comic . I hope there'd be no problems with that. My intention is to expand those tiny details of panels into my own version that also contains the characters thoughts especially those left out in the focus—especially my favourite character. My idea of the characterization is also based on how each of them are depicted in the comics. I guess it makes sense that Maiden and Forg and probably Traxor as well, appear weaker and less skilled because they have no magical or warrior background but since Traxor was mentioned as certain Prince of Chantreux, I figure, he has the same upbringing as Hikaru and Colleen only, he doesn't have as much extensive trainings or battle experiences as Hikaru does. That leaves Maiden and Forg more suited as the guardians from a 'normal world', right?