Chapter 9: Chosen
Antauri let out a sharp gasp as he opened his eyes… The winding tree tops being the first thing he spotted as he sat up slowly, rubbing his head.
He hadn't done this in a long time. It was one thing to bring one into his own astral field… it was another to dive into someone else's.
He looked around as he got up, climbing up one of the trees for a better vantage point.
Where was he?
"CHIRO!" He called out, his voice echoing through the jungle. "CHIRO, CAN YOU HEAR ME!?"
Cra-ack
Cra-ack.
Antauri narrowed his eyes, peering down below at the dirt laden path…
Heaving a sigh of relief as he spotted a familiar shock of black hair.
The boy's head was down… wearing some kind of cloak around his shoulders.
Antauri jumped down, hurrying after him.
"Chiro! I'm here-" His words died in his throat as the person turned around.
He was tall, a long dark cloak over his shoulder, the underside being a bright orange. He wore a white jacket and pants with a long orange scarf. His facial markings resembled the ones Antauri and the team sported.
The young man's eyes widened, before smiling sadly.
"Sorry… That's not me."
Antauri was baffled, looking him over, a low growl building in his throat.
"Who… are you?"
His gaze softened, kneeling to Antauri's level. He slowly shook his head.
"You know me."
There was a chill down his spine as he looked up at this… Other Chiro. His presence was familiar, yes, but… something was still wrong here.
He took a step back.
"I think I would remember if our boy suddenly grew up."
The young man put a finger to his lips.
Around them, there was a tremor that shuddered through the ground…
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
The young man stood up, stepping aside as he pointed to an opening through the trees.
"You don't need to worry about me. Worry about him… Please, just tell him. He's scared… I'm scared."
Antauri's heart skipped a beat.
"I taught you better!"
"I'm scared."
"Come on and FIGHT ME!"
The young man looked back, sadness in his eyes.
"I'm sorry…" He whispered.
Antauri moved closer.
"Who are you, really?"
The young man smiled, closing his eyes.
His entire form was encased in a pale green light as he vanished from sight illuminating the path that lit up ahead.
Antauri's mind was racing… but all of it came to a sudden stop when someone ran through the opening, his eyes wide in fear…
Chiro… wearing the same uniform the man before had.
The boy's eyes widened when he spotted Antauri.
"A-Antauri…?" He stopped short.
It couldn't be… could it?
Antauri frowned, hurrying to him.
"I'm right here, Chiro."
Chiro looked behind him before looking back at Antauri.
"What happened? I was training with you guys and then-Is this part of it?"
"No, no…" Antauri shook his head. "Your powers awoke and you ran amuck. It was a team effort to get you to calm down."
Chiro's eyes widened.
Everything was coming back to him now… The strange visions, being able to predict what was coming towards him.
Antauri having to channel some of his energy just to stop him finally.
"I…" He ran a hand through his hair. "I am so sorry… Antauri, I didn't mean to do that! I-"
Antauri held up a hand, his gaze gentle.
"There is nothing to apologize over. Your powers awoke without you being properly prepared. There was nothing you could've done…" He sighed. "I'm the one who owes you an apology, Chiro."
"W-Why?"
"Because, I was supposed to help you with that. I was supposed to train you, to help you find grounding techniques for when that happened… I failed you in that regard. It should've been a good experience and instead…."
Chiro grimaced.
"I ran around like a feral gremlin?"
Antauri winced.
He supposed that was an appropriate description.
"Yes… I'm sorry."
Chiro sighed as he sank to the ground, sitting before his mentor.
"So… I'm asleep right now?" He asked.
"Correct… Your powers are still quite volatile so I was channeling it into myself." Antauri explained, looking him over, still pondering what he had seen before.
The resemblance right now to Chiro and the entity he had seen was uncanny.
Chiro tilted his head.
"Was it… making me sick or something?"
"I was the only one who could get near you without getting shocked. Even Sparx wasn't able to fend it off."
"Gibson is gonna freak out on me, isn't he?"
"... Potentially."
Chiro sighed, rubbing his face with his hands, looking down at his gloves.
"So… what happens now? I wake up, get medicinal wrath and go back to work?"
Antauri shook his head.
"We need to discuss something…"
Ow… Why did he phrase it like that? Chiro thought, wincing a little.
"O-Oh? I thought we just did. I'm not mad, you're not mad, Gibson's gonna have a total freak out and probably lock me in the med bay for a day."
Antauri gave him a stern look, crossing his arms…
That look lasted all of two seconds as he let out a long sigh, sinking to the ground beside him.
This was going to be the hardest conversation they had.
He wasn't used to being in this role at all. He was aware that he would have to be a mentor now, not just the second in command…
This would've been easier if he had been here to help…
"Chiro… There's been something I've been avoiding telling you. I couldn't tell you honestly why I thought keeping this was a good idea either…" He started, before rubbing the side of his head in frustration. "I should've never done that. You're already under so much pressure…"
Chiro swallowed hard, looking down at the ground.
"Am I in trouble?" He asked quietly.
"What!?" Antauri shook his head. "No, no, you aren't."
"Promise?" His voice cracked. "I know I'm not perfect but I'm trying and-"
"Chiro, please…" Antauri got up, resting a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it gently.
Chiro looked up, his eyes shiny.
"I promise… You aren't in any form of trouble at all. I should've told you sooner…"
Chiro nodded, not trusting himself to speak.
He had to admit, so far out of everyone, Antauri was the hardest to get a solid read on.
The others, he was quickly finding little ways to get to know them better, but… it seemed, so far, all he had were his combat lessons. He didn't even know much about him, besides snarking on occasion.
"Are you alright?"
"Y-Yes…"
Not even halfway into this and I'm messing it up.
Alright… Calm yourself.
He took a deep breath.
Focus…
He's a scared child who has the universe's weight on his shoulders.
He thinks it was an accident.
That we just randomly decided to put him through this…
"Chiro, I want you to think back to that first day… What do you remember the most?" He asked.
Chiro hummed in thought.
That entire day was a blur now but… something stuck out to him.
"I promise, I'm not going anywhere. You don't have to worry about me."
Chiro hesitated before calling out.
This was too weird. Where was he?
"Hey! Who are you?"
The boy craned his neck, his blue eyes warm and gentle.
He turned completely to face him.
Chiro recoiled, stunned.
He looked….
Like him. Older and wiser… Much taller… but he recognized his own face.
The boy chuckled, reaching a hand out, a green orb of energy forming in it.
"You'll understand soon. I promise."
The orb flew right at him, entering his chest. Chiro placed a hand over his heart, looking up stunned.
"Wh-What do you mean? I don't-"
"Take care of them, won't you?"
"There was someone there… He looked like me." Chiro frowned. "Older but… he was like me."
"Was he in the base or was he in a dream?"
"A dream, for sure. I'd have remembered someone else being in there besides me."
I'm going to look into this more… but for now…
Just get it over with. Don't keep him in the dark anymore…
He supposed it was a nasty habit he had picked up during his time with the Veron Mystics. He had become accustomed to keeping things hidden, close to him until he needed it.
Antauri's eyes closed as he focused on the scenery around him.
In moments it began to change and shift. The trees became enveloped in crystal, twisting and turning to form wide pillars. The rocks and grass became as smooth and reflective as glass… Even the sky seemed to take on a different hue as it shined brilliantly.
Chiro's eyes widened, looking around him.
"Where…?"
"This is a place known as Korolodol. This was where I was trained a long time ago in the ways of the Power Primate." He explained.
Chiro winced as a sharp pang shot through his head.
"I'm from Korolodol…"
"A Mystic Apprentice is that so?"
"No… More like a failure…"
There it is again…
Antauri narrowed his eyes, noting the way Chiro had shifted.
"A long time ago, when the Skeleton King's forces had resurfaced, I came here to seek guidance… and I was told there would be something quite miraculous."
He brought both hands together as a large green orb formed in it… It dispersed into a harsh wind as the scenery changed again….
Showing a temple made up of the same crystal, words in an ancient language he couldn't quite understand etched into it.
There were several cloaked figures standing on a pedestal in the center of the room…
Antauri looked towards the door, sighing a bit.
He could see himself walking in, completely unaware of what was to come… Guilt creeping up, as he thought back to how that day truly went.
I hate that it hurts too much to allow the rest…
I can't face him again… This is hard enough as it is…
It's hard enough doing this part alone.
Chiro's eyes were fixated on the cloaked figures…
Something was familiar about them but when he looked closer, a chill went through him.
"He who will wield the fate of destroying the Dark Ones has been reborn in this world." One of the mystics spoke.
Behind them, the crystal flickered as if it was a screen, as an image appeared… of a young man, with his back facing away from everyone, an icon of a monkey sitting on his shoulder, a large lightning bolt in one hand.
"The Chosen One, will need your guidance and your help in fulfilling his true purpose." They continued on. "The Power Primate's wild energy lives within him now and shall only grow as time goes on. You will meet him when the time is right."
The past image of Antauri lifted his head, giving a nod.
Chiro's eyes widened.
"What…?"
Antauri put a finger to his lips.
"This ancient game began 50 years ago… Now, it is up to you to help him win it. Do you understand?"
"I do…"
Chiro's head swam as he tried to process it… His heart was racing as the scene played out in front of him.
Antauri looked at him, concerned.
"Chiro?"
"No…"
"It's not easy being given the task you have."
The boy sighed, folding his arms behind his head as he leaned against a work table. He was talking to someone, dressed in a long cloak but he couldn't see his face.
Chiro tilted his head…
The boy could've been his twin. His hair was longer, tied in a short ponytail at the nape of his neck, but the rest…
It sent a chill through him.
"Yeah, try, nothing I ever do will be good enough. I swear, Master Zan hates my guts!"
"He doesn't hate you, he's intimidated, my young friend. Don't let that discourage you."
The boy scoffed, before wandering off.
"Sure…" He sighed. "Eventually I know I have to go back… But not now."
"In that case, why don't you stop moping and come help me?"
The boy grinned, before running over.
"Only if you let me work on your big project."
"That depends on if you can do the work."
"-Hiro? Chiro!"
Chiro let out a gasp, as he snapped out of it, the vision fading away to the temple floor.
Antauri was in front of him now.
His gaze was full of concern, his hands on the boy's shoulders.
"Antauri…" Chiro's voice cracked. "It wasn't an accident I found you guys, was it?" He asked.
Antauri shook his head.
"No, Chiro. This was something fate decided a long time ago." Antauri squeezed his shoulder. "You saw something, didn't you?"
"Yeah… I think I saw myself." He rubbed the back of his neck. "But it was another time… Another place."
"Another life." Antauri murmured.
"Yeah… That." Chiro looked up, his gaze serious. "So, this is what's been eating at ya since we met?"
"Yes… There wasn't any doubt in my mind that day… and there's no doubt in my mind now." Antauri smiled gently.
Around them, everything was fading away into a gentle green light as it began to surround the two.
"You are the Chosen One."
Chiro smiled, closing his eyes… The energy around them was gentle, enveloping them completely… As if they were being enveloped in a warm embrace.
That was a strange thought and yet, it made too much sense now.
So, everything happens for a reason after all.
