Disclaimer: If you honestly think I own the rights to either of these series you really are incredibly stupid. Besides there's a disclaimer on the first chapter.
AN: I've created the five separate swordmaster techniques using tricks from the Rurouni Kenshin series with some of my own made up tricks. As a result there are some tricks that aren't quite swordsmanship.
To Sniper Fodder I have only one thing to say: Only Erusean aircraft should be flying in this airspace. Sweep them from our skies.
Lord Caleb nervously paced backwards and forwards across the room. What was he doing in this place? Princess Elyon had been kidnapped and it was his duty to get her back. He most certainly shouldn't be waiting for five swordmasters to arrive, to fulfil an old prophecy that he didn't believe in. He planned to say as much to the first swordmaster that came through those doors.
"Excuse me are you Lord Caleb?" asked a voice to his right. Turning to face the person who had spoken, he came face to face with a beautiful redhead with a cross-shaped scar on her cheek. He thought she was so beautiful he suddenly found himself unable to speak.
"Well are you or aren't you Lord Caleb?" the redhead asked for a second time, her voice becoming slightly more hostile.
"Yes I am. Sorry you caught me by surprise." Caleb replied.
"Good. I am swordmistress Will Watsuki. Have the other swordmasters arrived yet?"
Giving himself a mental shake, Caleb composed himself. "Swordmistress Watsuki, you are the first"
"Good, that gives us time to discuss the techniques of the other four swordmasters. Shall we start with the fire discipline."
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When Taranee Cook received a message to go to the city of Heatherfield she didn't leave straight away like Will did. She had responsibilities that needed to be seen to before she left. She made arrangements with a swordmaster in the neighbouring dojo to take over her classes and finished off a translation that needed completing before she left. Picking up her double-ended sword, she stepped into the carriage and left.
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"Why a double-ended sword?" Caleb asked.
"Part of their technique. It makes them far more unpredictable. And like fire it can be as dangerous to the one wielding it as it is to the one on the receiving end" Will replied with a grim smile. "One of my oldest friends is a fire swordmaster, I'm hoping it's her we're travelling with. Still the prophecy chooses, not me. Next up is Earth."
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To the group of bandits watching the carriage approach it seemed as though the occupants were either stupid or naïve. A nobles carriage without guards during these troubled times was practically an invitation to be robbed. Before the war began, they didn't need guards, but now it was a different story.
They began by dropping a log across the carriages path and surrounding the carriage. The bandit leader called out to the carriages occupants.
"Come out and we won't kill you."
His men grinned. What he said was true, but he left out the fact that they would be sold into slavery instead. They expected a meek surrender or some foolish nobleman's attempt at resistance. What they didn't expect was to see an armoured fist emerge to hit the nearest bandit so hard that his head exploded like a ripe melon. Nor did they expect a tall, blonde northerner woman to emerge from the carriage holding the largest sword any of them had ever seen. At 11 feet long, several of them thought it was a spear at first.
The bandit leader was the first of his men to recover. "She can't swing that sword very fast. No-one can, it's to heavy. Get her!" he yelled.
Several of the bandits charged her. With all the speed of a striking cobra, she swung her sword in a sideways sweep and decapitated them in a single move. The remaining bandits looked at each other and fled, screaming about the blonde demon with a monstrous sword.
The bandit leader raised his hands in surrender. But as the woman approached him, he struck her with all his strength and with the suntetsu hidden in his hand. The woman just laughed.
"Is that really your best shot? I could be accused of being a bully here. So to avoid that I'll beat you with just this finger" She waved the finger next to her thumb "Ok then, here goes"
With a speed that seemed to be superhuman, her hand shot out and her finger smacked into the mans nose and he flew backwards. Looking down at his semi-concious body, she said.
"The name is Lady Cornelia Hale. Also known as Swordmistress Hale."
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"So they're pretty tough, these Earth masters." Caleb commented.
Will smiled at him. "Yes. Earth style swordsmanship is primarily about brute toughness rather that agility and footwork. It was designed to fight yeti's in the frozen Northern Wastes of Meridian. There, fancy footwork isn't much good if you slip up on the snow and ice, so it lacks mobility. Also their zanbato's are constrained in the way they move. They can only swing downwards or sideways, so to compensate most Earth style swordmasters learn unarmed combat techniques to compensate for their weaknesses. The one we're waiting for will probably be a tall, muscular northerner man, who will no doubt be built like a tank, most of them are. Lets see now, who else? Ah yes the air discipline."
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To most people, Hay Lins clothing was very odd. A black sleeveless jacket, black trousers and black and white stripes across her arms. Hay Lin however understood the importance of her clothes and equipment to her magic tricks. Oh they weren't real magic, but they gave that impression when she used them. With a sword strapped to her waist and a couple of batons camouflaged against her arms, Hay Lin was ready. Wishing her parent's farewell, she stepped into the carriage with one of her oldest friends Irma Lair.
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"What kind of tricks are you talking about?" Asked Caleb.
"Basically any kind of illusions that they can do. Air is about being insubstantial and impossible to hit, because they're never there. Probably the most dangerous discipline to face, after Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu.
Now onto the water discipline."
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"So you ready to rock and roll Irma?" Hay Lin asked Irma as she stepped into the carriage. Irma grinned and lifted her spiked sword and her rapier.
"Does that answer your question Hay?" Irma replied, before both girls started laughing.
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"Wouldn't a spiked sword be at risk of getting caught up in your opponents body?" Caleb asked. Will rolled her eyes.
"It's a defensive sword. Water swordmasters use it to catch their opponent's swords to drag them in. The rapier is the sword they use to kill. Are we clear?" Will replied.
Caleb nodded. "And what about…" he began, but Will cut him off.
"You'll have to see." She said with a smile.
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Irma and Hay Lin were the first two to arrive. Will and Caleb greeted them and they began to talk about why they were there.
"So basically its about this prophecy thing." Said Irma and with a dramatic sigh she quoted it. "When the sword of Candracar, the heart of Meridian and the stone of Zamballa are joined, five swords will hold the key. The key to Meridians salvation. But be warned, when battle is joined, Meridians future is in the balance. For whoever wins, decides Meridians fate. You will know these five swords through the crystal of prophecy. Water, Fire, Earth, Air and the style of the heart, Hiten-Mitsurugi-Ryu."
"That about sums it up" Will agreed.
"Wonder who the other two are?" Hay Lin asked thoughtfully.
"The fire one is probably a real hothead, with a fiery temper and plenty of aggression." Irma began "The earth one is probably a tall musclely man, with no brains at all, who can barely string two words together."
"Thank you very much, you weak water mistress!" cut in a voice from behind her. Turning slowly, Irma came face to face with a longhaired blonde northerner carrying a zanbato. The girl was about to tear into her, when Caleb let out an exclamation of recognition.
"Cornelia!"
Turning to look at him, a look of surprise and annoyance crossed her face. "Caleb" she sneered with annoyance. "I know we're due to be married soon but I was hoping to avoid seeing you again before then."
"Ok this may seem like a silly question to you, but if you two hate each other so much, why are you getting married?" Irma asked in a confused voice.
"It's an arranged marriage. A lot of the noble houses arrange the marriages of their children. It forms political alliances for the future. Doesn't mean you have to like it." Cornelia answered.
"Enough!" Will yelled. "We have a princess needing to be rescued and a world to save. Save your arguments for when it's over."
"You know Will, I think there are a couple of people who didn't hear you several miles away." A new voice interjected. Will turned to face the voice and her face lit up.
"Taranee! Its good to see you." Will said in a pleased voice.
"You to Will. You too. Now shall we get on with planning what we're going to do next." Taranee replied.
AN: Yes I know I only demonstrated Cornelia's technique in this chapter, but that's how the story came out. I will demonstrate the others techniques as the story progresses. Incidently anyone who can figure out Hay Lins tricks will get a brief cameo in the next chapter. As always, read and review.