Area in Dragon Kingdom near Rajiu territory
Red Moon POV
The sounds of battle are all around me, swords clanging together and the dieing moans of friend and enemy alike. I am not dressed in my usual purple samurai outfit, instead i'm in a black ninja outfit with my sword in my right hand and a satchel which held all my ninja stars and a dagger strapped to my belt. Many surrounded me, but the chaos of battle did little to scare me, my adrenaline pumping knowing that one wrong move could cost my life.
Not going to happen today.
A ninja jumps into the air towards me but I pull my sword around and push it through his gut, a lot of blood spilled out dripping onto the hilt and my hand. Another comes from behind, I raise my other arm and smash my elbow into his face feeling the blood drip from his now broken nose before pulling my sword out and slicing another ninja through the chest, his blood squriting out some of it landing on my cheek. I pull a star out turn around throw it at another ninja who was rushing at me before turing back to the one with the broken nose, twisting my sword around I stab him in the chest.
"ARRGGG!" His last words, blood filling his mouth and eyes now lifeless.
Suddenly a sharp pain enters the back of my left shoulder, I let out only a small grunt of pain before quicking pulling the object out, a ninja star. I turn around to find another enemy ninja coming at me but before I could advance on him a cat suddenly came between us.
I know this cat well she has,blonde hair with a bit of purple, a black shirt with purple vest, black belt and boots. She is the sister to our bride, well addopted sister but still her family Ghost the Cat. What is she doing here? She is supposed to be at the command center, if Conquering Storm's sister came to harm... I would never forgive myself.
She kicked the ninja infront of her causing him to fall to the ground, taking advantage I quickly run past her taking my sword out and thrusting it down ending his life with a stab to the heart, blood flowing from the wound and staining his clothes.
"Ghost what are you doing here!"
She had her head tilted away from me, away from the sight of all the blood. The big reason why she didn't like battles.
"Master Rai Ju wants you to lead a raid to enemy HQ."
"Really?"
It was safe where we are for the moument, this part of the battlefield is now filled with mostly our troops now, pushing forward to claim the rest. A new clan called the Rain had formed not to long ago but they already had many follwers. They have an alliance with the Yagyu Clan, and with resources from them they caused nothing but trouble for the Raiju. Conquering Storm finally had enough and ordered Master Rai Ju to form a small force to take them down, the master also invited me to join, this was another way for me to prove my strength so of course I went. When we got here we found not only the Rain, but a large Yagyu force as well which surprised us.
Though outnumbered they can't match the strength of us. Maybe by taking the base of the Rain and Yagyu, Storm will finally notice me.
Five years ago
We are on our hands and knees for our new Bride.
She walked past the regulars, than the vets before coming to us, the elites. Her sister Ghost is skipping happly beside her.
Conquering Storm.
Even her name sent shivers down my spine.
I met her two years ago back when I was still a novice and we have talked on occasion, she is a beautful woman.
I still remember the first time I saw her, training her body her movements making her look like she was dancing, she was wearing a skin tight body suit that day. I remember her finishing and walking away with me wanting to follow her, I had to get to know her. I wanted to be one with her.
Sexualy, spirituailty.
Even now when i'm supposed to keep my head down I couldn't help but glance up, she was looking stright ahead but her sister saw me and smiled. I quickly put my head back down. When it was over I looked up to see one of the masters glaring at me.
Oh boy.
Present
My lungs burn and feet ache as me and several other feline Raiju ninja dash through the field, we already made it past the open field where our brothers continued to fight. I see a large tent set up no doubt being used as their foward operating base, one of my fellow ninja that was in front of my suddeny got hit in the eye with a star, his head flung back and hit the ground.
Pulling several stars out I toss them at the enemys in front of us, hitting several in the chest even one in the forehead. I draw my sword carving a path with it, spinning around hitting several and feeling the small pressure and moan of target whenever it hit. Dashing forward I throw my sword towards the nearest ninja impaling him in the gut, instead of retreving it I jump over him pulling my dagger out landing ontop of another ninja burying it into his neck, blood jetting out onto the grass.
As we draw further to the tent I see a real change in attitude torwards the Rain ninja, when we got to the tent the ninja surrounding it immediately dropped their weapons and kneeled down before us.
They are surrendering.
Stopping in front of them but still with my guard up I walk past them and into the tent, what I find inside shocks me to my core.
Infront of me is their leader on his knees and back leaning against a table, but he had a chest wound where his heart should be. At first I thought that he had taken his own life, not uncommon in our culture when you are about to be beaten or captured. But he didn't have a dagger anywhere near his body. Another man is in the room, a bat just like his master, not a member of the Yagyu which I noticed was unpresent in the room.
"I hearby surrender all my forces to the Raiju and hope to be treated fairly." He said bowing before us.
"Did you do this?" I said pointing at the leader.
"Yes our former master would not surrender, so I killed him to save us all and told the Yagyu to leave, I sent several ninja telling the Rain to surrender."
That... that...
...
...
My fist clushed and my face contorted into one of pure rage.
"You killed your master?"
"...Yes."
He killed his master... an unforgiveable act.
"How dare you!"
"Huh!" He started to step back as I advanced on him.
"He was your master! He brought you in from the cold and gave you brothers and sisters, he cared for you, he wanted you to be the best! He fed not only you and your brothers, but the citizens who belived in you, and he wanted only one thing in return... your loyalty!"
I pull my dagger out ready to send this traitor to the underworld when one of my brothers put a hand on my shoulder.
"Moon, he is the second in command with his master gone he is now the new Bride of the Rain and only Conquering Storm can do anything with him."
"...Your...right, thank you." Only another Bride can decide his fate, knowing Storm his fate is sealed anyway.
Four years ago
"Come on Moon!" Lighting Lynx shouted jumping from pole to pole as I lagged behind a bit in a sweat.
"Give me a break, Master Rai Ju made me train the younglings before this."
"...Know what I just heard? A big whine."
Laughing we continued to train and joke around with eachother.
"Hey guys, thristy?" Looking down we saw Ghost holding a small tray with two cups on it. Jumping down from the poles we land infront of her and gladly take the beverages, taking a few sips as Ghost started to laugh.
"What's so fun-" My question was cut off as Lighting started to gag and hold his throut and I swear I saw fire come out of his mouth.
On no.
"AAHHHHH HOT!"
Present
"Kill him."
I had to smile as the Bride of the Rains sentence was told by Conquering Storm who is sitting on her throne.
"What! Bu... But I have given you the Rain and my masters head!"
"You sold out and killed your Bride to save your own worthless hide, you could very well do the same to me."
He was taken out by several ninjas kicking and screaming, I was about to follow when Storm called for me. Quickly I dashed back and kneeled infront of her.
"Honored Matron."
"You know of your activitys in the western Steel city?"
"Yes."
"Well it seems unknown forces have been attacking Master Rai Lee and his men."
Master Rai Lee, brother to Rai Ju. Both were my teachers growing up.
"I sent them to recover an important artifact of untold power, so to help him complete his mission I am going to give him more troops and a second in command."
Wait... is she about to say what I think she is? Has all my hard work finally been noticed?
She has noticed me and giving me an important task, maybe there is hope.
"So I want you to go to Master Jen and tell him of the mission and help him gather the troops, he is to be second."
Just like that my dreams are crushed.
...Wait Master Jen! Not him, please Storm anyone but him!
Four years ago
Dear god do I feel terrible, the injuries I recived two weeks ago still hurt alot and to top it off, a also have a small fever... again.
I am sitting in my living room along with my two other roommates and close friends, my other one Lighting is getting something to drink. Just watching my friends play 'Go' on the short table that we have as Lighting comes in sits down beside me, I am laying down on my side with my elbow keeping me up.
"Heard Jen is to be made a Master in a few days." Said Fay, one of my roommates.
Lighting looked at me as a grit my teeth.
"Hey its ok... I believe you."
"That Jen... in his report it made him sound like he did everything. Master Shu was one of the most well known martial artists in the land and Jen and me along with several other ninja where sent out to kill him. Jen and I found and fought him, Jen got knocked out half-way through the fight but a continued to fight him all around the dojo, Shu even knocked me off the second floor... three times."
My body remembered the pain it went through, it felt like he was still punching me. Lighting put a arm on my shoulder to comfort me. Glad to recieve this I slowly lean my head until it rests on his shoulder a deep sigh escaping my lips.
"The third time I was able to grab his leg and pull him down with me, with him down on the floor I crawled to him with my dagger when... Jen showed up and stabbed him in the chest, then the other Rajiu showed up with Jen holding a dagger in his hands standing over Shu and me on the floor beaten to a pulp. His report made me look weak and that he killed Shu all by himself, worse he has several witnesses."
"Like I said, I believe you."
We continued the rest of the night, drinking and playing rounds of 'Go'. My head resting on Lighting's shoulder as we enjoyed the moument.
Northern Echidna Kingdom
Present day
Juno POV
I have to do this, i've been putting it off for to long.
I'm walking along near the forest far away from the castle, ran into Calypso's father along the way. I had to get away from him before I just exploded right then and there.
Feel sweat pouring down my body as I continued to walk, the darkness inside of me was begging to be unleashed.
Should of listened to Aristotle, never should of down the ritual but no, big bad Juno had to be a dark arts master here and now.
Started to scratch all over my body, it felt like thousands of needles where picking at me.
The Pain
The Sorrow
The Despair
The Depression
The Darkness
Here is good, I let out a large yell as dark energy exploded around me creating a small blast.
"RRRRAAAAHHHHHHHH!"
Several hours later
Normal POV
Calypso laid in her bed but couldn't sleep, Juno was acting strange again... well just not normal. Today he avoided contact with her complety and found him wondering the halls in the middle of the night, when she asked him what he was doing he didn't answer and continued to walk.
This wasn't the first time he's done this, every few weeks he would leave the castle at night, once she even tried to follow him but is wasn't possible to follow someone who could just teleport away.
Tonight was different, she found him and demanded that he told her where he was going. What he did next shocked her, grabbing her he pushed her against the wall and told Calypso not to follow him.
...Yes, sweet loving and goofball Juno put hands on her.
Suddenly the door to her room started to slowly open, Juno stood in the doorway staring at her bed.
"Juno." The sound of her voice broke the trance like stare he was holding, for a whole minute nither of them said a word.
Juno decided to speak first. "Lypso, about earlier..."
"Go away Juno." Calypso spoke hotly.
"I'm so sorry."
"I'll think about that, now go." She said trying to keep her voice even.
"Please... Lypso... please help me."
Surprised that Juno was pleading for help she turned to him and gasped at what she saw. The moon light shined on his body, he is bear with his fur slightly damp, but the real issue was his face or rather his eyes which have black lines all around them like the skin was dead.
"Juno what happened!" She was about to go to him but Juno stopped her.
"Please Lypso, i'm not hurt I just need company... please let me bed with you tonight."
She nodded as Juno came to her bedside, climbing in, moving so his body hugged hers, his arms around her and his head laying on her lap. Calypso was surprised to find his body is very cold.
"Juno why are you so cold?"
"I took a cold shower before I came here."
"What's wrong? Please tell me."
He sighed wondering if he should tell her the truth.
"Lypso... you know i'm a dark arts master right?"
"Of course."
"Well... the power of dark arts is negative energy... sometimes it builds up and it gets to much for me to bear, so I have to go out and unleash it."
"So that's where you go."
"Yes, you caught me when the negative energy was feeding my emotions."
"Does it hurt?"
"At first, but after I just feel sorrow, depair, depression. Which is way I came here, to you, please help me... so... so... alone all the time when it happens."
Rubbing his head she hugged him closer. "Don't worry, i'm here."
'She got half the truth.' Juno thought.
Oblivion
Aristotle and a mercnary for hire named Street are sitting in a special room inside the Ministry, there are no windows and the walls are soundproof. Aristotle had a bottle of brandy with three cups and an ice tray sitting in the middle of the table they are at.
"Drink?" Aristote asked putting a few ice cubes in his glass and pouring himself and the woman sitting to him a drink.
"No lets get down to bussiness."
"That's what I like about you." He handed him a picture.
"You target is master Rai Lee of the Rajiu clan, he is currently in Steel city."
'Odd, why would he care about a Rajiu member far away in the human lands?" Thought Street.
"Mission details?"
Taking a sip of his drink he continued. "Rai Lee will be at the Harwood constriction site in four days time to welcome his reforcements and his new second in command, unknown who he is at the moment."
"There will be alot of Rajiu then."
"Yes but I also have a speical way I want it done."
"Oh?"
"A few uniforms will be delivered to you, stolen from the Sons of Control."
'So that's his game, have the Rajiu blame the SOC and have them war with each other.'
"There will also be a SOC prisoner given to you as well, one of my people will drop him off at the safehouse I have in Steel city."
"What's he for?"
"When you kill Rai Lee let one of the ninjas catch up to you, kill him than kill the prisoner make it look like he did it."
'To make sure the Rajiu go to war.'
"This is going to be very hard."
"I have faith you'll get it done... and i'm doubling your usual fee."
With a smirk on his face Street sat up and went to the door.
"I accept, have it done in the usual manner."
As soon as he closed the door, Aristotle let a deep breath and finished his drink. He felt a hand on his and looked over at Gala-Na.
"It's almost time." He said to her.
"The Rajiu, Sons of Control, Sons of Chaos, the Destructix... all will clash at Steel city."
"With us in the middle... dark times are coming towards us... dark times indeed."
'Spectre come soon.'
AN: Alot more serious this chapter huh? Building up to something big.