Gray's Entry:

The night sky was sparkling as I looked up at it. "This is how it should be" I thought to myself. When living on the edge of space, Legendary Space, the far away stars look brighter. Each one of them stars is a world, and each world has it's own kind of people. These people go about their lives day by day and only think about what's going on around them. It's a happy life that most live. Sadly... I wasn't able to live that way.

I was born only 20 years ago, but a lot has happened during that time. I was born into a nice family of Bronto Burts. At least I wish it were nice. The sad truth is that when I was born, I was not like the others. Most Bronto Burts are redish pink or sometimes even blue or green, but I was gray with black feet. Because of this... They abandoned me. I like to think that they had a good reason for doing this to me, but as far as I can tell there wasn't one. It was because I was different, nothing more.

Soon after I was abandoned, I was found by a family of Star Warriors. Normally Star Warriors are sent to stars in order to protect and defend them, and it's very rare for Star Warriors to settle down on a star, yet alone get married. Usually they will stay on the star, and when the time comes, they will go home where they will wait to be sent to the next. But these two... They were different. They chose to stay on this star and made plans to start a family. Because of those plans, they were all for adopting me. Gray. That was the name they gave me. A very fitting name...

I guess I really should be thankful. Because of them I grew up in a nice warm home. Everyday was a day that I wanted to remember forever. It was a life that I wanted to hold onto forever. Although we were faced with hard times once in awhile, we pushed on and made the most out of what we had. Life was good, almost perfect! But sadly... Thing's can't stay the same forever... Everything changes... Even the good things... Sadly this is something I had to learn... The hard way.

It was soon after my 15th birthday. Everyone had just left my party and headed home. As I watched my friends leave I felt like something was wrong... Something was different... But what? That's when I looked up. The sky had become darker than usual. I remember hearing that there could be a chance of rain, but these clouds were different. Normally a rain cloud would be gray or a dark gray, maybe even greenish... But this time it was pitch black. Soon the sky was purely black and there was no rain, or thunder. If only I would have told someone, then maybe things wouldn't have ended up the way they did...

A few hours later I was watching TV with my parents, when all of a sudden we heard an explosion. As I raced to the window to look outside a lot of things went through my mind. I was scared and I didn't know why. Maybe it was just me over thinking the sky... But for some reason I just knew what was going to happen next. I just knew it.

When looking out my window you could see a lot of the town. Normally the town is a nice peaceful village, but what I saw this time sure wasn't "nice" and it wasn't "peaceful." The town was in chaos. Buildings were burning, trees had fallen down, the road was cracking, and the ground was lifting up. It was just like an earth quake, but with out the quake it's self.

After seeing the town in chaos, I couldn't help but look at the sky. That was when I saw it. Black shadows were flying around above the city. "What is this! Why is this happening!" So many questions raced through my head. Looking back on it now, I almost hate myself for what happened next... One of the shadows dashed right toward me, and without thinking I dove out of the way as it crashed through the window. What I saw next would be burned into my memories forever. The black shadow was absorbed into my parents. I could tell they were fighting hard to keep control, but I knew it was no use.

The next thing I knew I was thrown out of the house by my Dad. I could tell he was still in control, so I knew he did it for a reason. Maybe to protect me. As I sat on the front lawn I looked over and I could see my mom through the window. She was glowing. It was a strange sight. The next thing I knew there was some sort of an explosion, and my house, along with my parents, was destroyed.

In the burning rubble I was able to find one of dad's old books. Even though most of the pages were burnt and unreadable, I was still able to find something... Something different...

A picture of a Star Warrior was in the book. The picture showed the Star Warrior glowing with power and then next to it you could see a picture of what seemed to be a mushroom cloud. Next to the picture was a paragraph explaining it. However most of it was unreadable. This is what I could make out. "Legendary ... Wa...r X. In the world ... few ... who ... shown ... surge ... angered... can control ... a few ... lost ... results could ... self ... around them." Although it was mostly unreadable, I can still remember what it said. Who knows, maybe one day this will come in handy. Or has it already?

After the attacks by this creature, which I later learned was called "Dark Matter," the world became a bleak, hopeless world with nothing but death and dispair. It was Hell on Earth. Many took for the stars in search of a new home, but others stayed and fought to protect their homeland. If you ask me, it was pointless and a waste of time. That's how I've felt for a long time. That is, until I met "him."

Months after the attacks, I was living alone in a small hut located on the outskirts of my old home town. It wasn't much, but at least it was a place I could call home. It was the last thing I had in this world. Something that I was going to fight to protect, no matter what.

It was a Saturday and things were actually looking pretty good. Normally you would see mobs of the dark shadows flying around, but today not a single one was in sight. That day I was going to head into town to restock my supplies, but as I opened the door I saw something that I never expected. It was a Dark Matter Cloud. At the time I wasn't prepared for battle so it would've been hopeless. I would have ended up like my parents... It would have been the end for me... But just then a flash of light shot through the shadow! It was killed instantly! Standing before me was a red Star Warrior. Only moments ago I thought this day was going to be my end, but it was really just the beginning.

The Star Warrior was a Legendary Star Warrior who went by the name "Blazer." Blazer had been sent to my home star in order to kill Dark Matter and to keep it from spreading to the stars around it. I admired this Star Warrior, not only was he strong and brave, but he was a legend! To think that I would ever get to meet someone like him. It's still shocks me, even today.

Blazer stayed on my home star for quite awhile, and we ended up becoming pretty good friends. Turns out he was a nice guy who actually cared about the people around him. On the outside he seems like a strong fighter, just like most of the Star Warriors, but on the inside he's a lot like a kid. I mean sure he still acts like a professional when doing his job, but when it comes to having fun, you get to see a whole different side to him. Even though we became good friends, he couldn't stay forever... That last day we spent together is one of my best memories.

"So what are we going to do today?" I asked Blazer as we walked down the road to town.

"Heh, I thought we'd check out the new battle arena they just opened." He replied with a smile on his face.

"Battle arena huh?"

"Yeah, at first glance it looks like they built it for fun, but they really there's another idea behind it."

"You mean they built it so people can get stronger and fight Dark Matter, right?"

"Right on! Have you always been this smart?"

"What do you mean by that?" Blazer always liked to joke around with me. It's hard to believe a guy like him could act like this. I always thought that the legends were the stuck up type... Guess I was wrong.

"Hm? What's up?" Blazer asked looking puzzled.

"Oh it's nothing. Just thinking. That's all."

"Well ok then, but you know we better hurry! They sell tickets so, if they fill up we won't be able to get in."

"Huh really! Well ok then, let's go!"

About an hour later we finally reached the battle arena. It was a huge building with an open center. It looked a lot like a coliseum!

"Got the tickets!" Blazer said as he handed me a piece of paper.

"So this lets us get in huh?"

"Well yeah. Why else would it be called a ticket?"

"Good point." I stood still feeling stupid for a second, but finally I came to. I could tell Blazer knew what I was thinking, but I just ignored him, then headed into the building.

The building was just as amazing on the inside as it was on the out. There was rows and rows of seats that circled around, and in the center was the arena. According to my ticket I was number 21 and Blazer was number 22. At first I was a bit confused about the number, but soon someone was there to explain to us that the number showed what fighter we were, and that we would be put up against another random fighter.

The rules seemed simple. If you win your number stays in, and if you lose your number is taken out and you are sent home, or to the audience if you wanted to watch the other fighters.

"You better not lose!" I heard Blazer say. When I looked over at him I could see he had that grin of his on his face.

"Hey worry about your own hide!"

"Heh, you know... You've really changed Gray."

"Huh, what do you mean?"

"Well when I first met you, you were cold hearted.""Yeah well, if it wasn't for you I'd still be that way."

"Is that so? Well then..."

"Well then, what?"

"Well maybe it'll be ok then..."

"What'll be ok? What are you talking about!"

"Ha ha, it's nothing. Just don't go losing, got it!"

"Ok...Got it!"

For hours the battles went on with me and Blazer winning all of our matches. When Blazer battled I cheered him on, and when it was my turn he did the same for me. Before each battle we would tell each other "Good Luck," but we both knew that we didn't need luck. Finally it got down to it. It was my turn to fight Blazer. Something we had been waiting for since the moment we started.

"Don't hold back" I could hear Blazer say from across the arena.

"Don't plan on it." After that our battle started.

It was a long battle and Blazer had me on my toes the whole time. Star Warriors are fighting machines, while I'm just a normal Bronto Burt. My only real way of attacking is with my feet. I knew I was going to lose, but that didn't stop me from trying my best.

As I watched Blazers fist coming at me, I knew that I had just lost, but that was when something unexpected happened. A dark shadow appeared in front of us and took Blazers hit. It was Dark Matter! The black shadow lunged at me almost as fast as it had appeared. Just like I had done many years ago, I quickly dodged the attack and got back up on my feet.

"DON'T LET IT TOUCH YOU!" I could hear Blazer yell as the creature came after me for a second time.

"I DIDN'T PLAN ON..." I was cut off there. Before I knew it the black shadow slammed into me, and I hit the floor.

"Gray! GRAYYYYYYYY!" It was the last thing I heard.

The next thing I knew, I was in a white room and doctors were watching me. My memories were starting to fade, and I wasn't sure about what had just happened. As I looked around at the white room in shock, the doctor handed me a note. It read "Gray. I'm very sorry but it's time for me to take my leave. I had fun today and I'll always remember it. You've really grown since that day we met. I know that this star will be in safe hands as long as you are around. Just remember, if you ever need me, come find me. Well anyway, see you again someday." After reading the message I passed out.

All of this happened only five years ago, but it feels more like one hundred years if you ask me. I still can't remember what happened to me next, but soon after that my star was destroyed and I was forced to look for a new home. I spent the past five years wondering from star to star, but I still haven't been able to find that special place yet. The only thing from my old home that is left is Blazer. So that's why I went to find him.

After a long search I was finally able to meet up with Blazer. This was about three weeks ago. At first I was happy to see him but then I noticed he seemed a bit different. Almost as if he was a different person.

"Blazer! I finally found you!" I yelled in excitement.

"Hm? Oh hi." His reply was weak.

"Blazer? What's wrong? It's me! Gray!"

"Yeah hello there Gray. Why are you here?"

"Why am I here! You said that if I ever needed a place to go. To come find you! Remember?"

"Oh that's right. I'm sorry, I've just had a lot on my mind ever since Pop Star was taken by Dark Matter." Blazer had a puzzled look on his face.

Over the past few weeks I have been working for Blazer. He has been sending me to a part of Pop Star known as "Dream World" quite often. Usually he just had me check out old ruins. It's almost as if he was looking for something. Then it hit me.

A long time ago Blazer told me about a key that he found. He called it the "Destruction Key." According to Blazer, this key possessed the power to destroy Dark Matter. In the legends it says that there are five keys but only a few people in the universe can actually use the keys. Once the keys are all found, they must be used at the "Key Hole." Could it be that Blazer is looking for that "Key Hole" in Dream World?

Blazer also had an interest in this plasma wisp named "Kuro." Like me, Kuro was also a different color than most plasma wisps, but there was much more to it than that. Blazer told me that Kuro held a type of "power" that would allow him to destroy Dark Matter. Blazer then went on to explain that Kuro's power is sleeping inside of him, and that he doesn't even know about it... So that's where I came in.

Dark Matter's attacks on Dream World had been getting worse. Although the Legendary Star Warrior "Legend" was leading an attack team to take on Dark Matter, things still looked bleak. The only real choice was to tell Kuro about his "power." According to Blazer, this power could be awakened when Kuro is angered. If I could somehow make Kuro mad enough to release this power, then maybe, just maybe, we could stop Dark Matter for good. Still I wasn't so sure about the plan.

Even though Blazer was my best friend, something just didn't seem right about this plan. Does Kuro really have some kind of power inside of him, or could Blazer have made that story up? Something just didn't add up... Even so, I headed to Dream World.

"What is this? What's wrong with me?"

"Yes I wonder... 'what'... You seem to be on an edge, but you also seemed confused and scared."

"WHO ARE YOU!"

"What, are you afraid? I'm not going to hurt you, but if you want to hurt me... Then by all means. Go ahead."

"W-what are you talking about! Show yourself!"

"Show myself? You think I'm hidden? You sure you aren't just blind? Then again, maybe you are."

"What are you..."

"Talking about? I wonder."

"A spark! Then... Could you be?"

"What! Could I be what! Tell me!"

"I... I'm sorry..."

"What!"

"I can't do this. Something's not right!"

When I saw that spark, I remembered that old book of my dad's... "Surge... Angered..." Kuro had hidden powers just like Blazer said, and they reacted to anger. Blazer was telling the truth, but if Kuro is like that Star Warrior in that book... Blazer's hiding something from me.

After that I headed back to space in order to report to Blazer. Although my goal was to awaken Kuro's power... I couldn't get myself to do it. It just didn't feel right. I felt bad about letting Blazer down, but I knew he'd understand. At least, I hoped he would understand.

When I returned to the base I noticed something odd. Normally Blazer kept the door to his office locked, but this time it was wide open. Maybe I shouldn't have looked, but it also might have been for the better. When I looked inside... I didn't see Blazer... I saw Dark Matter blob... At first I was going to charge in and take it out, but as I was getting ready to make my attack, there was a flash of light! When the light finally faded away I saw something that I couldn't believe. The Dark Matter blob... Turned into Blazer...

The Blazer I had been working for was not the true Blazer. I had been tricked! At first I didn't know what to do, but then I took action. Quickly I rushed into "Blazer's" Office. I could tell that the fake Blazer had no idea what I was doing, but when he saw what I was going for he caught on. Quickly I grabbed the Destruction Key that he kept on a shelf, and then I jumped out the window. As I flew away from the base I could hear Blazer yelling.

This is the point of no return... I had been tricked, and the real Blazer is missing. I guess it was a good thing I didn't go through with the plan. If Dark Matter wants Kuro... Who knows what'll happen if his powers awaken! Maybe it's best that Kuro never finds out about any of this, but just because I left, it doesn't mean that Dark Matter wont go through with its plan on it's own. So I must... No matter what happens... I've got to find Kuro!

Dark Matter. I don't know what you've done to my friend, but I cannot allow you to meddle in another's life!