Chapter One: Destiny Awakens
Weeks Later in the Hidden Tribe of the Pupununu…
The Shamans bid goodbye to the High Shaman Banutu Jibolba, his nephew, and his nephew's friends, Keeko and Jeera left for a hike to the Juju Temple of Faith for Tak's introduction into his apprenticeship.
Why they can think back when to all the times they raised him while training the warrior Lok.
Memories…
The Shamans were finally able to settle down as their Pupununu survivors were tended to and given shelter.
So many lives lost, their homeland was taken and their connection to Jujus outside of Moon Juju's family are severed. Moon Juju was able to save them and bring them to the abandoned lands of their ancestors, restored to their original state.
"Do you think Highest Brother Jibolba will be okay, Brother Castongo?" The Nature Shaman Palm Viyyite, ever beautiful as a rose wondered with great concern.
"Fear not, Sister Viyyite. Jibolba may be a bit… off pudding and eccentric, but he is the most powerful shaman of our tribe." The Magic Shaman Shuluu Castongo, imaginative to bring his thoughts to the life assured her with his hand on her shoulder as they hear Tlaloc scoff.
"You doubt him, Brother Tlaloc?" The Dream Nox Xox, feaster of the darkest nightmares questioned, leaving his brothers and sister outraged by his comment.
"If that old wart of the back of a Bunglsnog's Butt was that powerful, then why did our great Crescent fell and leave us in exile?" The Spirit Shaman Tlaloc, walker among his ancestors and Juju questioned.
"Brother Tlaloc! Do not pass the blame onto the High Shaman, especially since it was him and the great and Powerful Moon Juju that we were about to save as many as we can." The Weather Shaman Truzzqu Rozz'jobo, joy tears that brought a triple rainbow, "Despite his great power, not even he, nor any shaman could have the power to stop the-."
Then he suddenly stopped when there was the sound of a bush rustling in the clearing.
Duty-bound and filled with the power of Moon Juju; the five shamans prepared themselves for battle with their relics of Night. From Viyyite, the Harvester Blades of Rebirth, from Castongo, the Orb of the Mystic's Eye, from Xox, the Dream Rattle of Pleasant Slumber, from Rozz'jobo, the Dowsing Rods of Elemental, and from Tlaloc , the Charred Skull of Death Juju's Son (Don't ask, you do not want to know, trust me).
They may not win but they will die fighting for their tribe.
Their fears were settled down to reveal the surviving students, Stumphermit (Loghermit's grandson and apprentice to Viyyite) and Aka'Aka (Tlaloc 's apprentice) with High Shaman Jibolba and… a baby?
"Thank Moon Juju, with her spectacular light and glory you are safe." Viyyite sighed in relief as she hugged her apprentice as Aka'Aka tried to hug her mentor but was rejected by him.
"I am sorry to interrupt this nice reunion, but we must make haste! Stumphermit, take Tak inside the temple, we have a lot of work to do." The High Shaman ordered as he handed the sleeping newborn to the young Nature Shaman Apprentice.
The remaining apprentices rushed into the Shaman's temple while the other members of the Moon Shamans left. They waited for a whole hour until the ground began to rumble, causing the apprentices to look out to see a spell being cast. They watched as a giant veil of blue burst forward and blast the darkness away.
Five minutes after the spells, the Six Shaman appeared as Jibolba took back Tak, who was asleep in his little woven basket.
"The Darkness has been sent away and our village will live. The evils won't find us as long as the Moon Juju shines over us." The High Shaman announced as the baby he held snored a little, "We're all safe now."
Soon the Shamans and the new chief, Chief Boar Loghead made their announcement of the people's safety and their resettlement on their ancestors' land. All the while, Jibolba cuddled and cared for the newborn. He would soon have to make an announcement for his little friend.
All Six Shamans and the surviving students gathered that night as the baby Tak was at the center sleeping while incense was burning with strange smells.
"Thank you all for coming, brothers and sister. I have gathered you all today to discuss the importance of this young orphan and the destiny of our people." The High Shaman Banutu Jibolba announced as the hoods covered most of their faces.
"Yes, this boy is definitely different from any child I usually see. I can feel a great power within him, something not quite understand." Castongo hummed as he waved his hand, causing the infant's arura to be seen, it was like the aurora borealis as the other shamans marveled at the sight.
"Indeed, this poor boy was orphaned during the massacre when his parents lost their lives. They ask of me to raise him personally for reason I do not know. I purpose that the Six raise this boy as one of our own." Jibolba clarified as he looked to the boy he saved from the Fall of Crescent.
"Please, High Shaman, we are the Six Moon Shamans, not babysitters. We have enough on our plate already with salvaging the tribe. The boy should just be placed with the other orphans." Tlaloc scoffed as he showed no empathy for the baby.
"Tlaloc, have you no heart?" Xox scolded the spirit shaman, "Besidesh, hish parentsh ashk of him to be watched by the shamansh. We shhould honor their dying wishh."
"And this boy has a powerful magical soul within him. His destiny must lie with us as a Shaman." Viyyite added as Tlaloc would not hear it.
"Please, this orphan has no place among us."
"Then, let us put it to a vote. All in favor of adopting Tak of the Pupununu say aye."
"Aye." All but Tlaloc who mumbled curses on being ignored by his brothers and sister once again.
"Very well, Tak will be raised by the Six, and once he reaches the age of thirteen begins his training as a Shaman." The High Shaman announced as he waved his staff.
"So, it shall be, by the blessing of the moon." They all sang at once as Tak giggled sweetly by the sound of the song.
"Now, for the second bit of business. The Moon Juju, before we began our protection spell, send to me a vision, a prophecy of the future." The High Shaman began as he told of the Great Pupununu People's Prophecy, "One day the Moon Juju will be in great peril by a Shaman of Darkness, but a great hero, trained by the Shamans will rise and not only save us all but reclaim the Crescent."
"So, we must train for such a warrior to defeat and protect the great and powerful Moon Juju from the evil. Who would be such a warrior?" Rozz'jobo pondered then the High Shaman clapped his hands for the young squire to come forward.
"Lok?" Xox gasped.
"Yes, I believe the squire to the once-great General of the Pupununu People would be the best candidate for fighting the evil to come," Jibolba assured them all.
"Are you shure it ish he? Don't get me wrong, High brother, I trusht your judgment, but are you chertain?" Xox wondered.
"Yes, the boy is gifted in combat but he's… a complete moron." Castongo explained as he looked uncertain.
"I can assure you, he is suited for his role and with a little help, we could train him into the finest warrior in all the realm, so says the Great Pupununu People's Prophecy!"
"I won't let you down, Jibolba! I'll show the bad guys what I'm made of!" Lok announced as he showed off his combat skills, earning smiles from the Shamans.
Four Years Later…
"Okay, Lok, this is the seventh hundred obstacle course simulated for enemy territory. Your goal is to reach the egg before the predator does. Ready?" Viyyite informed as the young one took the position of a wiblit, getting ready to run.
"Ready for everything, for I the Lok shall be the hero of the Great Pupununu People's Prophecy." Lok proudly announced to the Nature Shaman, who rang the gong and caused the warrior to run into the obstacle course.
Just about the time when the young child Banutu Tak (Taking the name of his adoptive uncle) appeared. The boy, with his new little friends, young Boar Jeera and tiny Keeko rushed to nature in search of aide. It was hard believing how much time has passed for them.
It seemed only yesterday that the Six Moon Shamans took him in as their nephew.
Her heartbreak as she saw a teary-eyed look on their face.
"My Tak, whatever is wrong?" She wondered then presented a wounded Gratch, who was bruised up badly and breathing hard.
"Blod and Bleeta hurt him." Sweet little Tak whimpered as the Nature Shaman showed a face of outrage and disgust.
"The Oongatchaka Twins. Again?" She huffed in anger, "I thought I told Oongatchaka Chaka and Oonga to put an end of this behavior. Oh, they are going to get Resurrection's Revenge for seven days. That'll teach them on not disciplining those brats…"
"Aunt Viyyite, you can fix him, can you?" Tak begged as she gave him an assuring smile.
"Now, do not worry about a thing. Take him to my student, Stumphermit and he'll have him back on his feet in no time." She assured him as Tak and his friends smiled with hope and ran to Stumphermit.
He was such a sweet boy; he will make a great Juju.
A Year Later…
Castongo summoned the illusion of many monsters that were known to Shaman as the young warrior to be, Lok was facing them off with great skills.
"Kyaah!" Warrior Lok bellowed as he grabbed an illusion rhino by the tail and swung it at a Woodie, making a strong girl, named Slog swooned over his combat skills the other group of girls.
Catongo rolled his eyes as he feared that Lok would become a playboy. The teen needed to focus on saving the world, not girls. That is when the solution in the form of Tak appeared, who looked bored after done playing with his toy.
"Uncle C, I'm bored." He whined to the Magic Shaman.
"Sorry, Tak but I am busy training Lok at this moment." Castongo sighed as he ruffled the young boy's hair.
"Can I watch?" Tak wondered.
"Yes but behave. It is important to train Lok to become a warrior." He accepted as he created more and more illusion enemies.
"Looks like he's becoming a showoff." Tak pointed out as Lok was flexing and posing, while easily defeating the dummies.
Castongo moaned in frustration as he needed to deflate this teen's ego.
"Hey, why not make it harder? Make fake monsters?" Tak suggested with an eager look in his eyes.
"Tak, you know that shouldn't be part of his training. He needs to learn to be ready for anything and everything." The Magic Shaman scolded slightly, though was tempted to do so.
He could not resist magic creatures for his nephew.
"But how can he be ready for anything and everything if you don't give him all you got. W-what if the bad guys make their own monsters?" Tak suggested as Castongo looks to his nephew as if he was a genius.
"You know what, dear nephew? You are right." The eccentric and imaginative shaman smiled mischievously.
"And there is no better lesson than that of humility."
"You are so right, nephew. So, what should we make first?" Castongo smirked as he and Tak looked like devils.
"How about something with the body of a rhino, teeth like a bear, tail of a beave, spines of a porcupine, and claws of a jungle cat?"
Castongo did just that as Lok was caught off guard by the creature was in for a painful lesson. It was then, he learned to be prepared for everything and to never flirt with girls during training.
A year and a half later…
Rozz'jobo performed his rain dance as Lok studied the powers a shaman could have.
"Remember, Lok. With the power of the Juju, the right formation, and chant, there is no limitations on what you can do." The Weather Shaman advised, "But a misplace step or the wrong words could bring pain and death."
"Got it, Shaman Rozz'jobo." Lok agreed as he jotted the notes down.
The moment the dance was completed, the rain came in a light shower as the Great Pupununu People cheered for their corn to get its water it needed.
"That's all for today's lesson, great warrior." The Weather Shaman concluded as he summoned an umbrella for Lok to use to keep himself dry.
Rozz'jobo likes to enjoy the feel of rain. As the children were out playing in the rain around him, he spotted his nephew Tak. The boy was happy as can be, so oblivious, so content with himself and the world around him. The Weather Shaman feels the pangs of jealousy to never know that type of peace. But he also knew of pity for the boy, for him, he will never know of his real family or where he and many others came from.
"Hello, dear nephew. What are you doing out of the rain?" Rozz'jobo asked the child cheerfully.
"Playing jumps and skips," Tak answered as the Weather Shaman chuckled a bit.
"Come on, let's get out of the rain. I have something I want to give you." The shaman chuckled as he brought the boy inside and then gave the child a necklace with the crest of the Pupununu People, the language of the Pupununu's moon with Dragonfly wings making it look like a mystical blue dragonfly.
"Keep this always, Tak. Let it be a reminder of where we came from and who we are."
Two Years Later…
"And sho, to the Great Moon Juju'sh wishdom, our people have thrived and become one of the first tribesh to be born. The onche ruinsh we live in now were onche our people'sh original tribal home." Xox educated the children while shaking the rattle at the sleeping Lok.
Tak then raised his hand to the elder man.
"Yesh, Tak?" Xox wondered.
"If this was our original home, doesn't that mean we came from somewhere else? And if we did, why did we come here?" Tak wondered as the other children voiced the same thing.
"Now, now. That ish another shtory for a time when you reach a chertian age." Xox soothed the children as Lok abruptly woke up.
"Woodie Attack!" Lok screamed as it terrified the children.
"Cool, where is it?" The Chief's younger daughter wondered as she was looking around and holding Tak's hand in her search.
Xox sighed as he used his magic to calm everyone down.
"Forgive, Lok. I losht focoush and allowed a nightmare to shlip by in your training. That ish my fault. Let ush call it a day." Xox announced as Lok and the rest of the children, except Tak, went home.
Tak held his hand and looked up to him.
"Do you promise to tell us, Uncle X?" Tak wondered as Xox chuckled.
"Yesh, Tak. I promishe."
Three years later in the Hut of the High Shaman…
The Shaman of Spirits pounded his fist into the ground as he made his connection with the Moon Juju.
"Are you for certain?" Tlaloc scoffed in outrage.
"Indeed, I am, I will not revoke Jibolba's position as High Shaman or force him to appoint you as his apprentice, just because you feel jealous and insecure." Moon Juju huffed at him.
"I am not jealous nor insecure." Tlaloc huffed like a child would, "I just see him getting weaker with each passing day, and if it weren't for that weakness, we-."
"Do not blame Jibolba for the Fall of Crescent. Now, I will hear no more of this. Good day." Moon Juju bid as she disappeared.
The Spirit Shaman then stomped out as Pins and Needles kept on eye on Tak.
"Being used as nothing more than a babysitter… I know now what my path is." He sneered as Tak coward away from him.
Current Time…
It was finally time to indoctrinate Tak as High Shaman Jibolba's apprentice as his friends wanted to come to see the ritual.
Lok and the other Shamans vowed to look after the place as they were gone, unaware of what Tlaloc was up to.
An hour after Jibolba left…
Tlaloc began his sinister plan, with the power of an Evil Juju and their dark magic to confront the other Shamans.
They were defeated and captured as all but one of the Moonstones were his and with this power, he turned the tribe except those that left into sheep!
Soon the world will be his and he would be a juju!
If not for the prophecy…