Episode 39: Ignals Illugor

The Galaxy Notes finally was able to head towards the planet of their next opponents, Ratoniik. There was still some time before they could warp, so the members had their own free time.

Earth Eleven had promised Water and Scarlet they would retrieve the stone for them.

Shindou had other things on mind. He wanted, needed to know more about them, the Shadowborn. If what he heard from Alicia was true, the Grand Celesta Galaxy, the entire tournament was in trouble.

"Hey, Takuto! What's with that glum face? " Han teased as he put his arm around the brunet's shoulder.

Shindou thought for a bit before asking, "...can I ask you something... In private?"

Han frowned at the sudden seriousness, but nodded, "Right now?"

"If we can."

Han led Shindou to his room and shut the door behind him, "So, what do you want to know?"

Shindou took a deep breath before speaking, "It's about Alicia... More about the Shadowborn though."

Han expected this, "what did she tell you?"

"...about her life, death and... Rebirth... I don't understand what she means. But I coukd tell she hadn't spoken a single lie." Shindou held his head with one hand, confused.

Han sighed, "Tell you the truth, I don't know much about them either. Talking about your pasts and stuff isn't common in Melfelse." Han continued after a short pause, "I know someone who does, though..."

"Really...!?" Shindou gasped.

"The very first Shadowborn." Han nodded. "If I can contact Yushiro, bringing him here would be an easy task. Can you wait for a bit?"

Shindou bowed, "Yes, thank-you very much."

"Mission complete." A dark tanned boy wearing clothes which exposed his shoulders sang as he twirled his long sword. A red pixie flew next to him.

Many pieces of metal jewelry were around his neck and wrists and a long chain connected his right earring to his necklace. Every time he walked, it made soft jangling noises.

Pipipi... The boy opened his celluar device and answered the call.

"Ignals...? You have time?"

Ignals made his weapon disappear, "I can guess why you want me... Kurogane-kun."

"Ratoniik, huh..." Tenma mumbled as he stared out the window, "The place where the last stone Katra wants us to collect is..."

"Piku...?"

Tenma frowned as Pixie's voice sounded slightly different. He looked down at the fairy creature and screamed, "What!?"

"Tenma?"

"Captain!?"

Aoi and few other members of Earth Eleven, Ibuki, Manabe, Minaho and Komori bursted into the captain's room to investigate the scream's source. They then noticed there wasn't one or two, but three Pixies in front of him.

The original yellow one, the blue one from Dorudella and now a red one.

"Huh? I didn't know they could..." Ibuki started but was cut off by Manabe.

"Seems two others found their way inside the Galaxy Notes."

Aoi tilted her head to the side, "I wonder where the red one is from...?"

"Come here..." Komori giggled as the red one flew towards her and spun around her. "Hmm...? Aren't you the one with Ignals-san always?"

"Piku!" It nodded.

"Huh!? You know that Pixie!?" Tenma gasped.

Komori nodded, "Nerus!"

"Huh?" Ibuki frowned.

"I think it's its name." Minaho said.

"I knew that!"

Matatagi walked by to see what the commotion was.

"Three pixies..." Manabe pointed.

"Huh?" Matatagi frowned and the red pixie started to circle the forward. He squinted his eyes to examine the small creature, "You seem familiar..." He whispered softly so no one else heard.

"Piku~" Nerus nodded.

"Hmm, so you're the one who wants to know about us?" Ignals smiled as he sat himself on the chair.

Shindou didn't what to say for the person before him was completely different than what he had expected, "uh... Yes... Are you really the first Shadowborn?"

Ignals laughed, "Yup. Despite how I look, I am definitely over 2000 years of age. But seriously, after 100, you kinda just don't care anymore... I just know I was alive during the hero's death, which occurred about 2000 years ago..."

"You're getting off track, Ignals..." Han mumbled.

"Ahaha! Oops, sorry!" The tanned boy laughed. "So what exactly want to know about us?"

Shindou shuffled his hands, "From Alicia I heard that..."

"Huh? From granny?"

"Just listen!" Han scolded.

"Anyways, from her, I heard about you Shadowborn's plans to take control of the Grand Celesta Galaxy." Shindou stated.

Han gasped, "huh!? Are you serious!?"

"Yup that's true. Xerxes is planning something like that." Ignals simply said. "

Shindou frowned, "Xerxes?"

Ignals cleared his throat, "Do you know the reason we were reborn?"

Shindou shook his head.

"There are two conditions to be met to become a Shadowborn; 1. Cause of death is being eaten by tenebrae."

"Eaten...?" Shindou repeated.

"And 2. At the time of death, have a strong negative emotion or wish."

"Emotion or wish?"

Ignals nodded, "And that wish comes true in a form of a new power when we are reborn."

"Huh?"

"So Xerxes, he is the youngest of us, but the one with the most power. His ability is to command others with his words."

Han frowned as if he heard this for the first time as well, "what?"

"His ability seems to work... Better on us Shadowborn rather than any other beings." Ignals sighed, "So I have avoided all contact with him."

Shindou thought for a bit, "Does that mean, the other Shadowborn are being used by him?"

The tanned boy shook his head, "Naw, some actually agree with him, Alicia is one of them."

"I-I see."

"I would suggest avoiding them, but that seems to be impossible..." Ignals chuckled, "By the way Han, who else is part of this misson?"

"Well, us No. 20 Judgement, No. 2 Priestess, No.16 Tower and No. 8 Justice."

"Justice? Alsius and Liberta?"

Han nodded, "But Liberta's away from here..."

"Okay!" Ignals nodded, "Well, I'll be off now." He stood up and put his hand onto the doorknob when Shindou blurted out one more question.

"Why were you reborn?"

Ignals thought for a bit, "I betrayed a friend, and wished for a second chance. The place I attempted to end it happened to be a tenebrae's area." He answered softly before adding, "Getting what you wish for, isn't always the best thing." Ignals then opened the door and left the room.

"Piku?" The red pixie flew up to Ignals.

"I guess you're staying here?" The tanned boy forced a smile.

The red pixie performed a backflip and transformed into a young boy with jet black hair. He was missing his right arm. The boy smiled and placed his hand up onto Ignals' cheek, "I am always with you, Juke. Though our paths may differ at the moment, they'll all come together. As long as you believe."

"Heh, until then, Zed." Ignals smiled and then went out to find Yushiro.

The boy reverted back to his pixie form.

The soft cricking of the bugs echoed through the mystifying forest. Konan and Rodan followed the friendly Ratoniik to the location of their sacred stone.

"Is this what you were searching for?" he asked as he directed their attention to the stone hidden inside a large tree's hollow, wrapped in vines.

Konan nodded. The Ratoniik then carefully took the stone from its place and handed it to the child.

"Is this really what will save the planet?" the bug-like alien asked.

"Apparently." Rodan answered casually.

"Well, our work here is done." Konan stated as he and Rodan started to head back to their spaceship. Konan turned one last time to the Ratoniik who led them here, "Thanks a bunch, Banda! Good luck with your match against Earth."

"I will, Konan-kun, Rodan-kun!" Banda waved happily. After seeing the ship leave Banda took a satisfying deep breath, "Earthlings, huh… I wonder what kind of people they are!"

Episode 40 preview:

Finally Earth Eleven arrive at Ratoniik. Being a planet living alongside nature, the location where the Galaxy Notes landed was quite a distance from the Village. The team is forced to travel through the Karimarine Forest. Little do they know what dangers await in there… Episode 40: Ratoniik: Planet of Nature.

Sorry this chapter too so long... and it's probably kinda confusing... XD If any questions arise, don't hesitate to ask! All I have to say is... FINALLY they got to Ratoniik... XD

THank's and Until next Time!