The group of humans was now staying in a in an abandoned, dilapidated building but sufficient for our group of friends. this building composed of three rooms that they have arranged as follows: a room serving as a room for the four...finally three, a room 'storage' for their business, food, clothing and the last piece used as living room.
Why sleeping room for three instead of four, you may ask. Ash don't sleep, at least not too much and not too well. So if he was not sleeping, he was outside keeping watch or just walking around. During one of those nights, he uses his time to forge masks for his friends and himself, taken long coats for them: two black ones for him and Al reflecting their black hair, a dark brown one for Sim and a light brown one for Ed.
He passed through forests, picking fruit here and there, passing through fields picking vegetables and trying to fish in a lake not far away, more or less successfully. He took care of all his things himself not wishing to ue the other risks a wound or to be captured by god knows who. Even if they have been pushing hard to help Ash, sometimes successfully, but not most of the time. It always had the gift of angering others believing that Ash did not think them strong or qualified to do such things, creating one day a dispute in the group.
Ash was now standing on a roof, hands behind his back, right back: a position he knows all too well. He looks straight ahead in the street, empty eyes, immersed in his thoughts, reliving this famous dispute.
Flashback (two days ago)
«i'm going outside» Ash says to the three
«we're going with you» Al replied «come on Ed and Sim! get your mask and cloak and let's go.»
«no» came the answer of Ash. The others were looking at each other confused «you're staying here»
«why?» Sim asks
«i don't want any of you out there» he replied
«and why is that» Al was getting really pissed by Ash's attitude
«It is not safe for you»
«and it is for you?» at that Ah turns around and raised a brown. Al sighs «I know that you're doing that for us and that you care for our well-being but we are adults, Ash! We can take care of ourselves!
«oh yeah? Take care of yourselves? Can you tell me in wich situation you were a few days ago before I came to take you all to safety? Hmmm?» The tension was getting higher and higher.
«Oh please! Wow you save us mister hero! Thank you! these dudes were trained warriors, what could we do?» Sim replied too
«I taught you some way to defend yourselves, didn't I?» Ash's was boiling
May i remind you that without these powers of yours, you are nothing?» Ed intervenes. Ash's eyes widened and his jaw dropped: did he really say that?! Ed saw his reaction and looks at the other two who look at him as shocked as Ash was. He realise that he hadbeen to far «look Ash, ummm i'm sorry. I know that since the incid-» He was cut off by a punch straight in the face that send him crash in the wall.
«you know what?» Ash says just after the punch he sent to Ed «you just have to go out on the street without your coat and mask... Go show yourself to these animals who will look at you and treat you like monsters and hunt you as such. But go! I beg you... But above all, do not count on me to come save your ass as every time you are in the shit! As soon as you have a problem what is it: Ash, please, can you do this or can you do that? After all without my powers I am nothing so why put them at your disposal, you are only a bunch of ungrateful!» He snapped and with that he stormed outside while slamming the door leaving the three shocked and looking down in shame.
Ash didn't come back to the house since then.
Ash came out of his thoughts by a scream in an alley just below him. There, a lioness is surrounded by a group of three wolves.
«Get away from me» she says
«what do you says guys? We let her go or we spend a good time with her?»
«the choice is already made» one of them answers while licking hi slips
«n-no, let me alone, please!» she pleaded
«alright, boss you go first!»
«…»
«boss?» he asks while looking at his leader. When he shook him, the head of the wolf fell to the ground and roll to his feet «AAAAAHHHHHh» He screams and when he looked at the last wolf who was now on the ground, his throat cut open. The wolf was slowly backing away when he bumped into something…..or someone. He stops right there and slowly turns around to find himself face-to-face with The Armor of Eons, Ash's bright orange eyes looking straight at him with the most hatred that the wolf has ever seen in his life. (even with his left eyes now gone and milky white when he is in his human form, it still become orange when he transforms)
Before the wolf could says anything, he found himself standing in the air with his feet hanging in the void, Ash's hand around his throat lifting him up into the air. Breathing was difficult for him right now.
«if there is one thing i hate, it is when disgusting males like you, believing superior to the point of attacking a defenseless female to satisfy your needs without her consent. You poor inferior beings do not deserve to live» Ash says, his voice cold like ice and dark like death itself.
«w-w-wait, i can apolo-»
CCCRAAACCKKKK*
The wolf body went limp, life has left him. The man drops him to the ground. The lioness stares at him with fear. Ash looks at her for a while without saying anything.
«You're going home or you plan to look at me like that for a long time?» He asks her
«I-i just wanted to thank you mister….»she says while asking for his name
«They called me 'The Sentinel'» he says «now go home» he disapeared
The lioness went back on her way to the inn where she stayed under Ash's eye, escorting her back there, making sure she gets there safe and sound.
The next days, rumors were spreading about a mysterious protector, wtching and protecting the valley during the night. These rumors have their way up to the Jade Palace where the masters wonders about the nature of this protector and his motivations... they were just planning patrols some night to meet this person and question him and if necessary put an end to his activity when the messenger informed them of a disgusting thing.
«Masters!» Zheng arrives in the Hall of Heroes where the stdents and their master were planning the coming nights
«what is it, Zheng?» asks the red panda
«t-there is a procession waiting for you down in the village, a-a procession of the Prince of Mongolia saying to be here to take Master Tigress as wife as deal of Peace.»
«WHAT?!» The Tiger yelled in rage «I refuse»
«Let's go down the village to see this Prince» Shifu says
Moments later, all the warriors were down the Thousands Steps and in front of the procession. There, was standing the Prince of Mongolia surrounded by his guards and other guards were around. He was a Jaguar dressed in a Roayl Robe and he was looking at them, especially at the feline with a smile that made her want to vomit. «Aaaahhh my bride, that I am glad to see you» he says
«I. Am. Not. Your. Wife!» She says in her most Hostil tone while snarling.
«ooohh we have a female with character, I like it» he laughs
«We are sorry Prince but Master Tigress will not come with you if she's not in accord with that» Shifu says
«oooh but i think that she will come with me even if she likes it or not. It is that or my country declares a war with yours»
«I am sure our Emperor will not approuve of this»
«your Emperor has already approuve of all this wedding affair. After all, it is only one female for the safety of your country so it is nothing for him» The Prince says with confidence
In the backstreet between The Prince and the Warriors where looking at the scene: Al, Ed, Sim. All the three of them were not liking what they were hearing.
«are we really going to let that happened?» Sim asks
«what do you want us to do? we don't have any weapons and we are outnumbered.» Al replied
«But even if the tiger lady was a bitch with us, she doesn't deserve that, noone derserves that and you two know it.» Ed says
«Yes, but only one who can do something about this is-»
«Ash» The two says
«yes, so we will have to-» But Al was cut off again
«No, i mean Ash is there, look! on the roof» he points. Ed was right, on the roof on the other side of the street was Ash looking at the scene too and then looks at them and he nods.
Al nods too and with that Ash disappeard «alright we are going to go in the street and try to buy some time to Ash, okay?» the two nods and with that the plan was in motion.
The warriors were looking at each other with worry and sadness. The solution to this dilemma becomes clearer, and Tigress was really pissed but tears were forming in hers eyes. She has absolutely no desire to leave with these monsters and become his wife. She never gave time to a possible relationship but always thought that if it should happen it would be with someone of her choice like everyone. But if that choice means everyone is safe, she has to go: sacrifice is part of the duty of a warrior and she's ready. She was about to agree to this when suddenly.
«Hey dude!» came a voice not so foreign to the warriors, the voice from Ed. Everyone: kung fu master, Prince and guards look at the right side of the street and come out of a backstreet stand the three being that were in the dungeon not long ago.
«She says she didn't want to come with you, so she will stay right were she is» Sim says
«Noone taught you that' when a woman says no it is NO'» Al asks the Prince
«What do we have here? what are you? some hairless Apes?» he asks them…the three stayed silent at this. The Warriors were standing there a bit in shock, the ones that they were treating like weird creatures were standing fo them, for Tigress. The feline was in shock too but you couldn't see it on her face
«No matter, mind you own business, creatures. This, is a matter of peace and she will come with me»
Tigress sighs
«No! You will let her be and you will go back home and says to your daddy that you will keep peace» Al says
«or what? you're in no position to help them» The prince told him «catch them» and the guards start to move towards the group
The warriors move towards the group too and finish to stand besides them «May i ask why you're doing this» Shifu asks the humans
«I don't know you but where we came from, we don't really like that kind of person who think he can take everythin he want be cause he wish to have it…especially a person» Sim told the old master
«and what are you goin to do? you don't have any weapons and you are not trained enough to fight them, even us stand no chance against all of them.» the Dragon Warrior asks
«And who says that WE were going to do something?» Ed asks in return
It is at this moment that all the warriors realise that in reality they were not three in this group…they were four now but where is the fourth one.
The guards were approching when suddenly «Guards! Help!» everyone look toward the Prince who was now on his knees with Ash behind him one of his hand on the Prince's shoulder and the other he had summon his gauntlet where a blade come from his forearm, the blade under the Jaguar's throat.
«make a sudden movement and I lighten the prince of his head» Ash says looking straight at all them.