Tale of Storys.

[Ichirin]

When the giant shadowy creature leaped straight towards us i diden't actually care. My mind was lost inside all my hidden and revealed feelings.
I released Myzuri's hand and quickly grabbed for mother, who was safely inside of my robe. I shot the beast trough it's belly on which he faded away. The remaining shadow-pieces fell down next to us and slowly started reforming again.

"We must hurry" i said to Myzuri "unless if you want his brother and sisters to come after us aswell."

I heard rocks fall deeper into the canyon, the place we needed to go. I saw that the shadow-pieces almost were fully combined again and started to form that shadow ghoul again.

"Aaargh..." i yelled out looking towards the skies. My white angelwings came out of my back. Quickly i grabbed Myzuri on her waste and started flapping with my wings. At first i had trouble getting into the air because of that nasty fall we previously had.

I saw more shadow ghouls coming from the ledges of the canyon towards us. They were quicker then i thought and i tried to get us into mid-air so that we would be safe from the ghouls.
I just lifted my second foot from the ground when....

*musashi's turn *

[musashi]

***AH! I HAVE TO GO MY DARLING DEAR! I SHALL THINK THIS OVER VERY CAREFULLY THEN POST 2MARO! I'M SORRY! awesome continuation Ichi!***

[musashi]

Myzura

We were yanked back down to the ground with a breath taking force. One of the weird shadow things had caught hold Ichirin's ankle, pulling us down. It threw us across the Canyon floor like peices of trash, slamming our backs against the wall, send an unbearable pain up my spine. "AHH!" I yelled out. I had to stay down for a second, for it was hard to move. Ichirin stood right away, though, as if he were too strong to be in any pain.

"Bring it on..." he said underneath his breath. He drew mother and aimed at one of the shadows. He waited until the shadow charges toward him, starring at it as though unafraid. When it was only about4 feet away, he pulled the trigger. The shot echoed throughout the Canyon. "Take that..."

I finally felt the strength to stand and stood. Ichirin wasn't going to fight alone. I wanted a peice of these guys. We had fought monsters like these before, back in the desert. Those were made of sand, and were only defeated when the dragon controlling them was. Could these moving shadows be a work of yet another dragon? I wondered and drew Riku once again, standing in battle stance. I shouted to Ichirin. "Hey Ichi! Don't these monsters kind of remind you of the sand monsters back in the desert?" I sliced through a shadow with ease, only to watch it reform seconds later.

"Yeah, they do..." he managed to shout back.

"Keep your eye open for a dragon then...thats the only way out of this mess!"

We jumped and dodged attacks left and right from the shadows, sending blows through them with each passing second, only for them to reform non-stop each time. We both soon grew tired, but we continued to fight until we were surrounded by an endless army of shadows. Ichirin stood behind me, his back to mine. "Something tells me that we aren't going to make it out of here too easily..."

"Something tells me you're right..." My breath was heavy, and so was his. "I ain't going out with out a fight though." I said, an evil grin on my face. Ichirin smirked.

"Same here..." and with that, the shadows attacked, swarming us in darkness.

************************************************************************

I awoke in a dark cave, my hands and legs tied. I looked around for an opening, but didn't see any sign of an entrance or exit. The hard rock walls were moist, which told me we were no longer in the Canyon, but instead had to be close to water. I squinted a bit to see if i could see anything else. Ichirin lie in a pile of bones on the oppsite side. I squirmed over to him, only to find that he being there was my imagination. I looked around, scared on the inside. That's when i realized Ichirin wasn't with me. I was all alone...

[Kanji_The_Wanderer]

TATSU

I rushed up to the stone steps of Asgard's castle. The sight was truly magnificent. The white towers that shot up into the sky was a sight that I had never seen before. I wish that I had traveled to the capital earlier in my youth. I would have been more captivated by the view as a young man. With the scarlet note in hand, I addressed the guard standing by the main gate.

"Excuse me sir, I have come to see the King. Here's this note. I was told to come here at this very hour..." The guard looked over the note several times. As if he was trying to catch me in a lie or something.

"Is there a problem?" I said plainly. "No, it's just that we don't get traveling swordsman to see the King. And between you and me, there have been quite a few attempts of assassination. It appears someone wants my Lord's life." I wasn't sure about what to say.

My urgency was of the great importance. And I couldn't stand here and tell this guy about the coming Dragon Army. "Please sir! I must see the King! It is concerning a very serious matter. Whether I speak with him or not, will decide the fate of the land!" I bowed my head low, as to show him the seriousness of the situation. He was baffled. Without further notice, he ran into the castle. I stood there waiting, and in fear that the guard would start a panic in the castle. Rumors of impending doom spread fast.

Not soon later, a different guard came out to see me. "The King of Asgard, his Holiness will see you in the audience chamber." The guard turned and went back inside. I followed closely. The entrance room to the castle was very big, with a tall ceiling. Paintings of Kings that passed were displayed on the walls. A giant flag was pinned up to the side, with the Castle's Royal Seal. I followed the guards down several hallways, into the audience chamber.

The King of Asgard, sat upon his throne, laced with gold and jewels. He wore fine silk, and dark velvet. "Bow before his majesty!" the King's retainer echoed into the room. Without hestitaion, I drop to one knee, and hang my head before him. "Speak citizen. I hear you have an important message for me. Something about the land in peril?" His voice was surprisingly soft. The candles twinkled in his light old eyes.

"Yes your majesty. I have received a warning, during the travels with my four friends. The Dragon Queen; Shakura, grows weary of this war, and has planned to end it, by sending a giant army, of 100,000 Dragon Soldiers, throughout the land, and with attempt to force the humans to submit. I have come here in the hopes that you can supply me with men to repel the Dragon's coming might." I placed both hands flat on the carpet, and put my forehead to the ground. I could show no more greater respect then this.

The room was silent, the King closed his eyes. Sadness filled his face. "You seem sincere young Swordsman..... If what you say is true, may the Gods show us mercy....All our troops are out on the frontlines, pushing back the Dragons there...They have been out for a couple months. The only men I have left, are the Soldiers guarding the city and myself. 100,000 troops you say? This war has raged on for a long time and they still have this many warriors? They are more impressive then I thought. Our human troops grow tired, and few volunteer. We may lose this war."

"No! We cannot give up! If we can kill Shakura then the Dragons wil be in disarray! That would be our chance to infiltrate the Dragon City!"

"You are quite hopeful young Swordsman. But you determination will aid our cause if you are willing to help......Where are your allies now?"

"We slipt up to find troops throughout the land. Myself and one other came to the capital for help. If we are lucky, my friends are gathering armies elsewhere."

"Smart." said the King "I will give you my Elites to travel to the front. You may not survive, but if you know about this surprise attack, then you must have been battling for sometime. If you come back alive with Shakura's head, you will be knighted, and labeled as a Hero. Good luck, and may the Gods show you guidance, and smile upon us."

"Thank you your Highness." I bow again before being escorted in a Guest's Chamber. "Where is your ally, Sowrdsman? You said you brought another with you?"

"Indeed, she is in The Celestial Stars Inn."

"Alright, we will bring her here."

[musashi]

***no! Damn It! Ichirin Is On! Post Ichirin; Post! I'm Dying With The Utter Thought Of Anticipation And Curiousity Of What You Are Going To Post! My Eyes Fill With The Agony That Sufficates My Heart In An Endless Pit Of Inquisitivity! Please Post!***

[Ichirin]

*Sttt.. Silence Grashopper, do not interfere with the powers that are beyond your reach. The writting skills of the master are very valuable. j/K...
I'm thinking some things over atm. I'll post, just don't rush me*

[musashi]

***ok, but my eyes are still filling with the agony that sufficates my heart in an endless pit of inquisitivity.....***

[Ichirin]

Myzura was knocked out from the first hit, after all this time i tried to protect her from something like this happening, i eventually failed. I spreaded my wings and tried to launch myself into the blue skies. Several ghouls tried to hit me back to the ground, and even some tried to clamp onto me. That diden't bothered me, eventually i was flying to the top of the canyon. There still were some ghouls hanging onto my robes which eventually ripped apart and the ghouls fell down together with my robes. I was almost completilly naked, flying in mid-air. The air-streams touched my body, but it diden't felt soothing, instead it made me angry. I knocked myself on the head, forgetting about Myzura who's still down there. When i reached the top of the canyon i saw a black dragon. He was seemed to be made off living shadows, eventually it got trough to me that he was the dragon controlling the ghouls.
My angryness got controll of me and i charged into the dragon, pointing my twin guns forward and shooting at the dragon. The dragon diden't seem to even feel anything of the bullets piercing trough his black shaded skin.
When i reached the dragon i felt a piercing light going trough my body. I fell down on the rough ground, letting mother and father fall into the deep canyon. I watched my guns fall into the darkness of the canyon's shadows. I thought this was a test, laid on my path, a test i must pass to get myzura back. Now i was back motivated, and focused back on my main goal: getting myzura back in my arms.
My wings were all thorn apart, feathers scattered over the cliff and into the canyon. The shadow dragon still stood there like the first time i laid eyes on him. He diden't move an inch, not even when my bullets gone trough it's body. I tried elven magic on the creature, firing high voltage power bolts at the beast. The dragon diden't seemed to care.
The dragon eventually started to move, i thought i knew what he was trying to achieve, i thought he was trying to intimidate me and then attack me from behind with one of his ghouls or something.

"Your distraction won't work !!" i yelled out to the creature :"give me back myzura!"

The beast raised his claws above me, when he let the claw fall i easily dodged it. But what i diden't saw coming was his other claw grabbing me from the other side. The unsuspected lunge knocked me in the canyon. I managed to get control of the air and flew back up to the Dragon. When i was up there one single feather fell down. I thought it was just because of the fight between me and the Dragon. The feather landed onto the hand that was lying open of Myzura. At that moment my wings started to burn, feathers fell out quick and i couldn't fly anymore. I fell to the ground with a hard 'smack', luckily i fell next to my darling Myzuri. I looked at her closed eyes for the last time.

The next thing i saw when i woke up was pure light, and blossoms falling down from the trees. I thought i was in heaven or something, but then i realised there is no such thing as heaven, ... or hell. This could only mean one thing, the dragon has placed me under one of it's spells that should make me calm and stop me from harming him. Well this spell ain't gonna work on me. I tried to find an exit out the dragon's hex.
Eventually i given up on hope and let it be for the time being. A oriental dressed man was walking on a path leading trough the wonderfull blossomtrees. It was an old man, holding some sort of manuscript in his hands. The man came over to me and said the following:
"To you I give the Light of Aerendil, our most beloved star" (stole it from LOTR) "May you use it as well as it previous bearer."
The man laid the manuscript onto my head, immediatly a golden circle appeared above my head. My wings started to grow again and i was feeling more powerfull then ever. Clothes coming out of nowhere were rapping around me. My right hand felt strange, it had a red glow on it's palm. I opened the palm to see if there maybe was a scratch from the dragon attack. But there was nothing only a red mark. The light started to fade and i saw the real world appearing infront of me again. Only now, everything was much more lighter and clearer. Something just popped out of my mind for a second, I can see, I can see again !!

Link shows a pic of how i look now ( I've ascended to rank of ArchAngel in the Aion-faction)
http://www.strategyplanet.com/homm/h...5archangel.jpg

It's a picture of an Archangel from the game HOMM5, the archangel is the ultimate creature you can create when you're playing with the humans/haven.

[musashi]

***Ichirin, you're so awesome! But I can't post back right now.....promise i will later though!***

[Kanji_The_Wanderer]

***Awesome! Ichirin has been healed! ***

TATSU

Nozomi entered the Chamber. She looked half asleep. "Young Master." spoke a guard. "Would you like a meal before me depart?" I shook my head. "No thanks sir, we should be going right away, I have wasted enough time. The Dragons could be here at anytime." Nozomi looked upset that we wouldn't get to eat. "well maybe you're not hungry Tatsu! But I want to grub!" The guard bowed ever so slightly. "Yes miss, we'll fetch you some. I hope you don't mind eating on the road?" "Nope! I don't care. As long as I get to eat." Nozomi smiled that smile that I simply adore.

Sometime later, about 20 Elite Soldiers awaited us in the Main chamber. One stepped forward. "Master Swordsman! We have been told by the King that you are our leader, and we are to show you respect as if you were a King!" The Soldiers bowed. "Please men, raise your heads. I don't deserve so an honour. Let us go, and make the Dragon enemies retreat back to their mountain." This is it, I thought. I will either live, or die. I wil most likely die. There is no way I can face so many and survive the confrontation. 100,000 troops? This will be the end for Tatsu.....What have I been doing with my life? I spent so many years living for someone else, and hanging onto moments. But now I find out all my fighting and searching has been for nothing. My nemesis has left this plain of existence. He was sealed inside of Nozomi, bound forever, and in there, he is with my beloved Shima. He torments her even in death.

We exited the castle and Asgard. Traveling Northwest, towards the Dragon City. These were the plains of Etrirea, nothing but flat land as far as the eye could see. Then the flat grassland stopped, and the Dragon mountains appeared as a black strip along the earth. The sun was bright over us. It burned down with great heat, as if it was damning us to rot out here. Doubt and disbelief was growing inside me.

Suddenly, the sky grew dark, as if it was sensing the pain within. An immense humming sound filled the air. It was deafening. My gaze shot straight up, and there it was all around us in the distance. Dark shadows blanketed the area, and the clouds were hidden from view. I figured out quite fast that the humming sound I heard was the thousands of wings. The dragons were far off, but they were close enough to be seen, and to cover the sky with their silhouettes. Why had they appeared now out of all times? Were they waiting for an army to come? Well, we definitely weren't an army. I looked around at the troops. They were all frightened, but willing to stand their ground. Claymores and Bastard Swords, firmly grasped in their hands. I looked them in the eyes, at the men who would disappear into the ether, forever.

Nozomi was right by my side. I gave her a glance. "I will never leave your side Tatsu. You know that." She was also prepared for war. I couldn't even give her a smile. How could I reassure her everything would be fine. What if I lose her? I can't lose Shima again, she is the only reason I still exist. To be with her, and having her near me with give me strength and the will to overcome this. Who knows, maybe my sacred Elven Powers will come out, the same powers that helped me fight Swiftant those few days ago. But those days ago felt like a lifetime. A distant dream, that has almost been forgotten.... We continued our march north.