Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read and review my newest story, the reviews are really helping my writing. So please let me know how I am doing, I own nothing but my own characters and I hope anyone who reads will enjoy my story.
The next morning, Uncle awoke to the sweet, familiar smell of cinnamon and sugar. As he journeyed to the first floor, his eyes welcomed the sight of Tohru's fresh baked cinnamon rolls. He smiled towards Jade and Jackie, both stuffing their faces to the brim with sweet rolls, and took his seat at the head of the table. No sooner had he taken his seat that Tohru placed a plate of sweet rolls in front of him, and Gwen placed a hot cup of tea next to it. Uncle could easily get use to such treatment. The morning picked up where the night had ended stories of years gone by where shared, Jackie made the occasional comparison to Gwen and Tohru's cooking, and Uncle took in the peace of the morning. How long had it been since he could enjoy a morning in peace with his family, without the threat of shadow ninjas, Japanese demons or dark chi wizards to interrupt their meal.
Everyone took their time eating, and one by one cleaned their seat as they set of to get dressed for the day. Before changing, Gwen assisted Tohru in washing the morning dishes, despite his protest. Uncle suspected that she was more interested in spending time with the gentle giant, seeing as she refrained from using her magic to hurry the process. After the after breakfast chores were done, and everyone took their time to wash and change, they met at the store's entrance to head to Section 13. To hide her trademark looks, Gwen changed into a set a faded green capries with matching jacket, a cream colored camie, and a large matching hat that she stuffed most of her hair into. The only bit remaining were her two long black bangs, they mirrored her young niece's in style but were nearly ten times in length. Her last touch was to dawn a pair of stylish sunglasses with light purple lenses. To anyone she passed, they would only see a stylish young woman, and be oblivious to her celebrity status.
With the click from the lock of the shop, they ventured off to Section 13. Jade took Gwen by the hand as she lead the way. The spirited girl pointed out various notes of entrust from her many adventures. She was surprised at how much she enjoyed the company of her aunt. She was thirteen now and desperately needed the companionship of a female adult, with her mother still in Hong Kong and Viper off on various missions. She had so many questions that neither Jackie nor the internet could help her with, sometimes a girl just needs another one to talk to. With some uneasiness Jade asked Gwen about such things and if she could help. One such topic was on how to find an appropriate bra, the ones she currently wore were pinchy and tight. She was rewarded with a hearty chuckle from her aunt.
"I know your pain, literally. When I first started shopping for underwear I made the mistake of going with Uncle. He made the biggest scene in the middle of the store about the outrageous prices for a simple garment, when he could get 8 pairs of underwear for the same price."
"What did you do?"
"What else, I told him to forget about it, pushed him out of the store and haven't been back to that shop since." Jade tried to hide a giggle, but her hand could not contain it.
"But not to worry, we'll go later for a little girl shopping spree."
"Thanks, but I'm really not into those really girly styles."
"Every girl has her own style, if you want t-shirts and jeans then we'll get you plenty for school. You're starting soon right?"
"In a week, I'll start eighth grade."
"Ah the final year before entering high school, we'll that settles it after we check on your animals we'll have to make sure you have everything a young lady needs. I know how hard it is being your age and being surrounded by men, not exactly the best ones to go to when asking if your makeup is fixed right. So is there anything you special you want?"
"Well there was this shirt I like, it has these flames coming up the sleeves and in the middle is this big skull and in its eye sockets it says BACK in one, and OFF in the other."
"Very nice, well we'll have to pick one up."
"Oh thank you! Drew is gonna be so jealous!"
"Drew? A boy friend or a boyfriend?"
"Not even a guy friend, he just likes to drive me nuts. My friends are Jim, Paco, Frank, Charlie and Rocko, the last three should be coming to town the day after tomorrow."
The two Chan women continued their conversation, with the men trailing behind. They were all glad that Jade finally had another girl to talk too. It was clear that Jade was growing into a lovely young lady, and was in need of guidance from a fellow lady. It would seem that all Chan women were oblivious to their beauty. As they walked down the street, they captured the attention of several boys and men, with their three 'protectors' glaring the threat away.
The small group made their way to Section 13, via the secret entrance in the alley way, and proceeded down to the animal safe. Some of the Section 13 agents were taken back with Gwen's new arrival, but thankfully no one noticed her true identity, the last thing any of them wanted on their peaceful day was to be bombarded with plea for autographs. They made their way down a large hallway, with Jade bolting ahead to type in a code to open a large door. The doors opened and Gwen found herself lost for words. In one room stood some of the most beautiful creatures she had ever seen. Within a second she understood Jade's concern, each animal was staring towards the sky, lost in their own word. It was if they were listening to a message that no human could hear. That was, all but one animal was lost. On the far side of the room was a large enchanting white tiger, her blue eyes fixed on the Gwen. Their eyes met and for a moment there was a connection, an understood feeling of "I've finally found you". Despite what any bit of sanity would tell someone about meeting a tiger they've never seen before, Gwen walked over and gently placed a hand on the soft furred head of the mighty cat. She was greeted with an instant purr as softly stroked the mighty beast.
"Wow I've never seen her warm up to someone so quickly. This is Sasha, she used to be the star of a Las Vegas show."
"I wonder why she isn't acting like the others."
"She was just yesterday, I wonder what changed."
Gwen stopped her hand in mid stroke, Sasha raised her head and mad her eyes at level with Gwen's. She could not find the urge to move, there was something about the cat's eyes something familiar, like a lost friend.
As if realizing a great secret, Gwen felt a power surge threw her body, and a great pain form on the back of her right shoulder. A mighty charge surrounded both she and the cat, pulsing threw them as one entity. A flood of images passed before her, a mighty battle, a woman dyeing in her arms, a child smiling, and a shimmering palace of gold. The pulsing memories caused her to howl in pain, the pain from her head, her shoulder and her very flesh. As if a switch was turned, the pain stopped. Her body was still trembling from the shock, had what she felt just happened. She opened her eyes to see the great tiger in front of her. The beast looked as she did mere moments before, but now had a golden collar around her neck. In the middle of the collar was a solid white gem with a black symbol inside of it. Though she looks physically the same, Sasha had a more majestic glow to her as if she truly possessed the nobility of her breed. Gwen found herself bombarded by her love ones, each clambering to see if she was alright.
"Dad, what just happened?"
"Do not look in mirror."
As many before her, she refused to listen to her father. She rushed to the nearest metal wall, to see her reflection in it. Her clothes were ripped and torn in places, as if the glow she felt was pushing out of her body and ripped her clothes as it was trying to get out. Her hair had also changed, it was a reflection of the tiger she had stroked mere moments before. It was sold black with wavy white tiger striped protruding from the middle. Any material that once covered her right shoulder was blasted beyond recognition. She tried to look in the shiny metal to see if she was injured and found something unexpected. There on her shoulder was a strange shape, it looked like some sort of Siamese white tiger, where the back of one would lead to its hind legs it instead created the top half of another. Gwen gently touched the mark, and the flood of images passed before her again. Gwen dropped to the ground, clenching her arms as her body began to tremble. Her father rushed to his daughter's side, too scared to touch her but felt the urgency to comfort her.
"Uncle told you not to look in mirror."
"And did you really think I would listen, to think this started as such a relaxing morning."
A few tears began to flow from her eyes, the brief images forever burned into her mind. Was this some such sort of punishment, and if so what for.
"Daddy, what just happened to me?"
"I'm not sure, but everything will be fine."
"Everything is fine, my master. You've just restored the memories you once lost."
"Who, who said that."
"Said what Gwen, no one said anything."
Sasha approached Gwen, nuzzling her arm in an attempt to calm her. Gwen looked into her bright blue eyes, finding a comfort in them.
"It wasn't you was it."
"Yes, my master, it was."
Gwen jerked away from the giant cat, backing into the metal wall.
"Please let me explain."
"It would be nice if someone would."
"Uh Gwen who are you talking to?"
"The tiger, I think."
"The tiger, but Gwen that's crazy."
"Leave her alone Jackie, I mean come on this isn't the weirdest thing that's ever happened to us. Go on auntie Gwen, ask her if she knows what's going on."
"Um ok, uh Sasha.."
"Yes my master."
"Master? Why do you keep calling me that?"
"Because that is what you were, are and forever shall be."
"What I was and will forever be, I don't understand. What is going on, what happened to me?"
"You were made whole, my master. You are one of the twelve masters of the earth and heavens, the ones who gave life to the world of man."
"You're speaking in riddles, and how do I know any of this is true."
"Your memories are still settling, you will remember it all soon. You were one of twelve guardians, who sacrificed their lives to fight a great evil and lead the way for man. I was your familiar, you friend and ally. In our past life I swore my loyalty to you in any that followed and I've kept my word. We were never apart in our past life, and so I became your symbol. The symbol of your power and the symbol of the sacrifice you made for man, the symbol of the tiger. You are the tiger."
"Wait you mean the tiger, like the tiger of the zodiac. So then the other member who died"
"Make up the rest of the zodiac. You were the ones who gave man the morals and lessons to follow, we were just your symbols and friends. Over the years man sadly forgot that you were living being and remember you as animal symbols, but continued to pass down your lessons."
"Wait this is too much, the way you're talking makes it sound like I'm a god or something."
"Oh no master, you are much more than that. You are a protector of man, and sadly you will be called to battle again."
"But then what am I sappost to do, what is this battle I'm sappost to fight."
Sasha curled around her master, allowing her to lay comfortably on her warm soft fur.
"There will be time for that later, my master. Settle you thoughts and all will be made clear. Rest and your past will answer your questions towards your future."
Before she could debate, Gwen found herself being pulled into a deep sleep. She felt a sudden warm felling cover her body. She forced her eyes to open, just long enough to see her father, who had covered her with his wool vest. He gave her a reassuring smile as he brushed a few strands of hair from her face. She had to let him know what Sasha had told her, but she was losing consciousness fast.
"Twelve….guardians….sacrifice fo…for man…born...again."
Uncle's eyes grew wide in shock, with that Gwen knew her father understood her message. She then allowed the sleep to take hold of her, and drifted. Tohru, Jackie and Jade stared in wonder, what had just happened to their beloved Gwen. What had Sasha done, what was the connection between the two and if the tiger caused this to Gwen, then what would the other animals cause. And what did Uncle know that put such fear in his eyes.
"Uncle is Gwen going to be ok?"
"With rest she will be, but we have more important dangers to worry about."
"Let me guess, we just stumbled on another 'evil is trying to take over the world again' adventure, right."
"Yes Jade, but this time Uncle is not so sure we can win."
Well there you go chapter 2 up and running, so what do you think. So Gwen went through a little change. Physically she looks the same except for the tiger hair, which will be explained next time. Oh an incase I didn't make it clear, since she is the tiger she can understand her tiger familiar, as will all the other guardians. And keep in mind the visions she saw when she got her powers, they will play a part down the line. Oh and if I did a poor job of describing it, the new mark on her shoulder is the same symbol on the tiger talisman.
So please review and let me know how I'm doing, because if no one says I'm doing anything bad or wrong then I'm gonna keep making the same mistakes. Thanks again.