Arrival
I've been busy, people, sorry. For some bizarre reason, this doesn't seem to be at the top of my priority list. Bah. I'll try to finish it before the year ends. I should be able to do that, right? Well, celebrate people! This is the LAST ARC. Then this story is DONE.
If anyone wondered, Danny was mentioned because I wrote another story called Phantasmic Barrage that featured that scene. Star Chronicles is in a series that isn't quite a series. It's on my profile, if anyone wants to read those stories. Danny Phantom, Kingdom Hearts, and Teen Titans are all there. Recently, I put a Zelda story.
I can't stand how short this chapter is. Bah. At least it's over 1000 words.
S3, Cockpit...
"Alright, we've got a trail to lock onto from our good friend, Bloodbath. He's headed for Dream Star, as I expected," Rajiim said into the intercom.
"Awesome," Donokbe replied.
"How soon will we be there?" Meta Knight asked.
"Approximately 5 minutes. I'll focus on driving this tank. Talk amongst yourselves," Rajiim ordered.
He flipped off the intercom and began thinking out loud.
"So now we go to fight against the Necrosi and the dreaded one, Dakron Shai. With Lithrel Sunai's help, we may just have a chance," Rajiim muttered.
Jet Cycle...
It was here that Strife sat, meditating. He was mentally training himself for the Ethereal Spirit to come to bear. It had to come out soon. Surely it would...
Hello, Strife.
Hello, Ber'l.
Strife had come to form another conscience within himself. It was a common Etheri practice. The Etheri would tap into his or her Ethereal Spirit for a moment, and form what he or she grasps into a conscience which teaches them how to use their Ethereal abilities. Some later give the conscience a corporeal form, usually as a pet, which they call a familiar.
Have you determined your weapon of choice?
Yeah. I'll take the Merlin. Silver.
Strife, as an Etheri, needed an Etheri weapon. Sun's Flame and Cloud's Patience, while good swords, were not able to utilize his Etheri abilities. He required a special Gauntlet, one that could use his Ethereal Spirit as a weapon. And so he would make one. He had nearly all the parts right in the cargo room. In fact, he had already assembled it. Everything except place a simple crystal in it.
The classification is simple. Jet gives more speed to the wielder. Goliath gives strength to the wielder. Merlin expands the mind and consciousness.
Strife, as a mercenary, always values open-mindedness and intellect. A stupid mercenary will get nowhere fast. A smary merc can have almost no strength or speed and still obtain hundreds of bounties. The silver was just the color of the Gauntlet's energy, except for the outline. The color used to reflect rank, but in the days of the scattered Etheri, it was usually the color of the Etheri's eyes.
Very good. Place the crystal orb in the palm slot.
Strife obeyed the voice and slipped the Gauntlet on.
Focus all your energies into the Gauntlet and let your Spirit flow into it.
Strife sat in his meditative pose and closed his eyes. A gray light flickered about the Gauntlet. The light turned white and a small shield formed. Strife smirked.
Very good indeed, Strife.
So, when do I qualify as a Knight?
You already are. However, if you want to train under a Master to obtain that rank, you might wanna' take a look at Kirby.
Strife had no way to reply to this.
Tri-Star Quarters...
"What do you think about Strife?" Donokbe asked.
"I say he's... odd," Black Kirby said.
"He's full of conflict," Kirby replied.
Kirby had been sleeping for the passed few hours, in conversation with Menai, as he called him. It explained why he was an Etheri Master. It had taken him so long to speak because he was always learning new ways to fight and use the Ethereal Spirit. However, he had never been able to construct a Gauntlet as he had no parts. Menai never instructed him to get one. A Gauntlet wasn't necessary for Kirby. He was a prodigy.
"Why do you say that?" Donokbe asked.
"You can't tell?" Kirby asked.
"No. No I can't. Ethereal freak," Donokbe muttered.
Kirby snorted, yawned, and went back to sleep. Black Kirby soon followed suit. Donokbe, bored, decided to get some sleep as well.
Knight's Quarters...
"'Ey Meta Knight?" Sword Knight asked.
"Yes?" Meta Knight asked.
"'Ow come you been protectin' Kirby wit your life? What's 'e s'posed to be?" Sword Knight asked.
"The Ethereal Prodigy. It's easy to tell. His demeanor. His power is impossible to tell. That's why I protect him," Meta Knight answered.
"The Ethereal Prodigy? Is that some sorta' prophecy?" Blade Knight asked.
"Only fools believe in prophecies. Kirby was not prophecied. He is merely powerful. Incredible powerful. He has taken down Nightmare and Dark Mirror, two of the most powerful beings in existence. That's why I protect him. He must survive, and he must defeat this Dakron Shai at any cost," Meta Knight answered.
Dream Star...
The ship came hurtling it.
Faster.
Faster.
It was NOT slowing down.
It crashed into a small building with a loud BOOM.
"DAMN IT RAJIIM, COULD YOU TAKE A COURSE ON HOW TO LAND RIGHT, DAMN IT!"
"SCREW YOU, STRIFE!"
The galaxy is doomed.
Unknown…
A small room was briefly lit up as the doors opened as what was obviously a soldier ran in. Darkness fell over it again when the doors shut. There was but a small bit of light.
"Sir, the Star Warriors have crashed," a soldier reported.
"Where?" the silhouette demanded.
"Somewhere in the Zyan District. Sector 43,22, according to the report," the soldier answered.
"Good. I will send out the orders so that the others will converge on their position," the silhouette said, smoothly.
Chills ran up and down the soldier's spine.
"What about me, sir?" the soldier asked, his voice trembling.
"I'm hungry," the silhouette crooned.
The soldier turned around and started racing for the door. Too slow. Metal was crunched and blood was spilled.
Munching was heard by the sole living occupant.
TOMB