Chapter 2! Sorry for the delay. Had lots of stuff to do around the house and activities to plan, but I won't give up the story.

Warning: Chapter contains sad scenes

Enjoy!

Legend of the Ghost Guardians: Night of the Shadows

Chapter 2: Forgotten Memories and Secrets

"This is where I was born?" Chinook couldn't believe what he had just heard.

"Yes." Clockwork nodded. "Your mother met your father in the forest beyond here and their love grew each day in this place. Sometime later, your sister was born in the spring and you were born in the winter a year after."

Then Chinook frowned at the mention of his mother. "Is this also where she... died?"

Clockwork sadly nodded as he led him towards the cabin and Chinook's mother lay in her grave. Chinook read the words of her tombstone: "Aurora, A true hero, courageous, faithful and loyal, and loving wife and mother. May your spirit live on forever." He stared at it with eyes filled with sadness as tears were forming while Clockwork came closer and placed his hand on his shoulder tenderly.

"Your mother was the bravest human we've ever known and we all cared for her. She will always be remembered in the Ghost Zone for all time."

Chinook understood the time master as Clockwork left him alone to be with his mother. Chinook then saw some beautiful wild flowers and grabbed them together as he placed them on Aurora's grave.

"Mother, I'll miss you so much," he sadly thought. "I never knew you but I'll always love you forever as well as Luna."

After some time, Chinook found Clockwork sitting by the lakeside and sat beside him as they both watched the view.

"You have questions, don't you?" Clockwork broke the silence as he knew what Chinook was thinking.

"Why did my mother have to leave us?" he asked sadly waiting for Clockwork's answer.

"Everything in life has its season. When one thing falls and dies, another is born and grows. Maybe not what was there before but it's something new and wonderful all the same. All of this is the great dance of balance itself. All you need to know is that she didn't die in vain for she had died for you and Luna."

Chinook then thought for a moment and said "Dad made the grave for mom, didn't he?" Clockwork nodded. "He blames himself for Mom's death, believing he should have done more for her."

"There are some things that we can't control, Chinook, but you are here now. You have a home, a family who cares about you and loves you. Everything will be fine." Clockwork said with concern while he comforted Chinook.

"I hope so. I really hope so." Chinook said softly as he kept thinking about something.

"Is something wrong, Chinook?" Clockwork asked worried.

"It's nothing, really, but I was just wondering: did you know anything about a white wolf, a green leopard, and a black falcon?"

Clockwork's eyes widen when he mentioned those three animals but kept quiet for some time.

"Clockwork?" Chinook asked worried since the time master gave no reply until he asked.

"Where did you meet them?"

"In my dreams" he answered. "Do you know them?" Chinook asked as Clockwork nodded.

"Have you told anyone about this?" Clockwork asked worriedly.

"No, not even Nocturne or my family."

Clockwork sighed. "It's been a long time since I saw those three and since I had... lost them."

"I didn't know. I'm sorry. Who were they and what happened to them?" Chinook asked.

"Let's just say they were family and worst of all... I failed to save them!" he said with sadness and anger in his voice. Chinook could only look in worry and concern for his godfather as he listened. "You see those three are the animal spirits... of the original ghost guardians."

Chinook was shocked by this. "You mean that those animals are the first guardians whose temple we live in?"

Clockwork nodded as he continued. "The leopard is Honeyfern, the falcon is Whirlwind, and the wolf is their leader, Snowstorm. As you remembered, they are the offspring of the generals of the army. Can you guess who?"

Chinook was deep in thought as he tried to answer the question until he realized the truth with surprise. "Are you saying that the guardians are the children of Frostbite, Vortex, and Undergrowth?"

Clockwork nodded as he smiled gently. "Yes. Honeyfern is the daughter of Undergrowth, Whirlwind is the son of Vortex, and finally, Snowstorm is the son of Frostbite. But before they became guardians, they were known as Abigail Wood, Evan Storm, and Zero Yuki respectively."

"How come Frostbite and the others didn't tell us this?" Chinook wondered.

Clockwork sadly sighed as he explained. "You see the Ghost Zone was a peaceful land because of the Ghost Guardians that were protecting it. From the moment they were born, they have been trained to be strong, loyal, and brave enough to face any kind of evil forces. Over time, they had mastered one of the most powerful attacks: Fury. Because of that, we have called them 'Ghost Guardians' and they were honored as the noble protectors of the Ghost Zone... and my son was one of them."

Chinook gasped as he couldn't believe his ears. "Your son? You had a child?"

"Yes" He answered solemnly. "His name was Alexander Grimm but you already know him as Timegear."

"I can't believe I didn't see this clearly." Chinook realized this as he groaned.

"The Guardians helped everyone, both human and ghosts, to live happily and safe from a life of terror and peace was prospered from their achievements, but alas, nothing is forever. The guardians had faced an evil force so strong that even the four of them united; they could not destroy it and had left them powerless and heavily wounded." Clockwork stopped as he tried to avoid showing sadness and despair in front of Chinook. "That battle was their last and they use all their power to protect us and then... vanished into thin air."

"I'm sorry to hear that. So the guardians died saving everyone and the generals became fatherless." Chinook sadly said.

"I'm afraid so, Chinook. That was a dark day for everyone, but even in the darkest of dark, there is always a little light." Clockwork said hopefully. "You see, just before the guardians died, three bright crystals came in their place and I sensed their spirits inside of them. To honor their sacrifice, we hid the crystals, knowing that they will still protect us."

"Incredible! So... where are the crystals?" the young guardian asked. Clockwork smiled as he teleported he and Chinook back to the Ghost Zone.

-Guardian's Temple, Ghost Zone-

Rebecca woke up from her sleep as she heard someone talking outside as they walked pass her room. She softly followed the sound and from her door, she saw her adoptive father Clockwork leading Chinook to another area.

"Where are we going, Clockwork?" Chinook whispered not wanting to wake everyone. Clockwork led him to the room where the Pool of Visions and the Guardian's banners were.

He pressed a secret button from behind Snowstorm's banner and from the floor; some stairs appeared before their eyes and went down to a room that Chinook had never seen before. Rebecca followed them silently curious to know more.

The room was dark but Chinook saw a glowing blue lake at the bottom of the temple and in the center of it, there was a silver shrine. They both went towards it and Chinook saw that the shrine contained three crystals that shone a soothing light to them. They were green, black, and white respectively and each one had a light inside of them.

"Wow, that's really cool!" he said with wonder. Clockwork stared at them, knowing that it has a while since he last came here.

"I'll tell you something, Chinook: These crystals are very important to both worlds and to everyone who lives here. Not only do they contain the spirits of the Guardians, but in the wrong hands, the power to destroy our worlds. They must never leave this room, so you see that's why it's important that this location be kept a secret from anyone. But because you're a guardian now and because I trust you completely, I had to show you this secret."

Chinook sadly sighed. "I don't know, Clockwork. Maybe this Guardian position really was never meant to be for me, I mean, our father wasn't as strong as Frostbite or the other generals and our mother is gone, so why us? Why did our mother have to leave us?"

"A guardian is chosen for its heart. Do you why you guys are chosen?" Chinook shook his head. "It is because of your mother. She sacrificed her life for you two and Walker and her heart was filled with more love, loyalty, and courage than any human I'd ever seen. If she was a halfa, she would have made a great guardian. She had every quality a Guardian should have: the kind yet firm touch, the ability to keep calm in a crisis, and such intelligence. She was always a fighter, just like you two have. I know that she is very proud of you and Luna as for we are as well."

Hearing this made Chinook smile with relief. "We would have never made it this far without you, Clockwork." Chinook said while being comforted by his godfather. "We'd lost our mother but we found you. Maybe fate had brought us all together."

"I have no doubt about that." Clockwork softly smiled as he hugged Chinook who returned it. "Your life may not have such a happy beginning but it doesn't make you who you are, it is who you choose to be that matters."

Rebecca saw the whole thing and smiled as she realized how much this family means to both Chinook and Luna, and she doesn't want to see them hurt nor suffer. She then returned to her room silently to rest peacefully.

"It's getting late. We better go to sleep before Walker finds us and arrest us for staying up this late." Clockwork said as Chinook chuckled in agreement, so they return to their rooms. But before Chinook left, he had one thing in his mind.

"Clockwork, one more thing: what ever happened to Timegear? If there are four guardians, why there are only three crystals?"

Clockwork stayed silent for a while until he solemnly answered. "I'm afraid that there was no hope in saving him. He was already gone before the other three."

"I'm so sorry." Chinook sadly said as he understood what happened. "Good night. Hope you sleep well." He then went to his room.

Clockwork then silently went to his as well and went to bed, but not before shedding some heavy tears before he slept.

This has been a complicating chapter to write, but it's worth it.

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