Nameless Shades of Power
Part 1 –
- Chime and Bell; Song of Sweet Sorrow
Prologue
Gray ash poured from the heavens, creating a dreary vista of charcoal grass, poking out of the sullen earth and wavering powerlessly in the breeze. A certain patch was suddenly flattened, creating a bothersome amount of intoxicating smoke that cast itself into the atmosphere, before falling back down into the suffering meadow.
The hunt had not been going well. Ranshin trudged through the barren field, wanting to sigh aloud but knowing that a mouthful of ash awaited him if he did so. And thus, he replaced the act of sighing with a fit of light mumbling.
He had been searching for a certain Pokemon all day. Had he found it, he would have been rushing home with all speed, bearing great news. But alas, fate hadn’t been kind to him the past few weeks. Hope was a fruitless tool for success, he had found.
He knelt to the floor and examined a leaf blade, shrugging indecisively. Whistling a sudden high-pitched tune, he stood there and looked around. A nearly inaudible resonance came from the left of him, allowing him a short-term grin. He cooed softly and raised a hand in understanding, permitting the tiny creature that floated in the ash-torn air to hover into his palm, safe and sound.
The little beast was less than a foot tall; about the size of a small tomato. Its skin was a vibrant yellow, tiny arms waving excitedly as it approached the human. Diminutive, beady eyes stared out at the boy, a thin, lined mouth opening and closing as tiny cries of joy echoed from out of it. The most distinct figure of all, however, were the two, minute, suction cup wings that protruded from out of the creature’s back, a barely seeable lump connecting the two, blue-lined suction cups of red.
It squealed in delight – a murmur barely heard – and rubbed itself against the boy’s left palm. He smiled in return, stroking the little being with a single finger as gently as possible – to do so otherwise would have resulted in intense pain for the small creature. “Now,” said the adolescent, voice almost surprisingly mature. It was rapid, and roughly threatening, yet a hint of care radiated from out of it, dying before anybody but the Pokemon he held could hear. “Where is Rakurai?”
The shifting sound of grass being plowed through filled the air. Ranshin spun around; already knowing what it was that sped toward him. An average-sized, mouse-like Pokemon sprung through the air and landed on its owner’s black bandana, supporting itself atop of his head and yapping a short greeting.
A curious shade of orange, the Raichu was quite perky and alert, its yellow, lightning bolt tail swishing in the background. Brown ears contributed to the Pokemon’s liveliness, one brown-dipped paw pawing at its bright yellow cheeks, while the other held an attention-grabbing article. Round eyes blinked slowly as a thought came to mind, fluttered, and then resumed its normal flow.
It obviously seemed a bit more excited than usual. Ranshin patted the creature softly on the cranium before looking at what it held in its paws; the source of the creature’s exhilaration: a dull rock with a bit of a gleam to it. The Raichu’s human friend accepted the gift as Rakurai spastically handed it over. Thankful, Ranshin petted the mouse-like Pokemon’s tousled fur once more before pocketing the interesting stone.
The tiny creature in the human’s left palm began to squeak indignantly. The young hunter turned his attention toward the Pokemon and murmured, “No, I haven’t forgotten about you, Jiri. I’m just glad you’re safe.” He laughed, lightly tossing the Riishan into the air and watching as it hovered close to him. “Let’s go home – the day was unsuccessful.”
Moving through Gray Tempest Path – better known as route thirteen – Ranshin paid a passing glance to the odd set of bulbous foliage atop a few thick tree trunks, each positioning themselves directly against each other and creating a natural roadblock. It was a strange sight, to say the least. Shrugging, he continued.
The route to his hometown began to show; signs were evident. Footprints caught in the ash identified that Fallarbor was close. It was seldom people would travel past the town limits, but occasionally an irksome pair of tots would do just that. They had yet to realize the possible dangers of Gray Tempest Path. Ranshin had been sent to eliminate a particular threat, one that had taken a life already. Not all Pokemon were kind – when parents spoke of danger they meant it.
The human and the Pokemon by his side paused as a rustle was heard nearby. He had identified the sounds of almost every creature within his town and route thirteen. He knew what Pokemon was near, as did his Raichu who growled quietly. Just as he had assumed, a wild Spinda popped out of the undergrowth, tottering around uncontrollably as if in a drunken stupor.
It was dyed a strange hue of red and white, blotches of the light crimson splashed all over its face and body. A head too big for its body wiggled apprehensively and the black eye swirls of the odd beast continued to twirl around, as they did upon the monster’s rabbit-like ears. As it teetered toward them, it grinned stupidly, small arms and legs flailing around.
Though it might have seemed humorous and implausible, based on the spotted panda’s facetious appearance, the Spinda were usually the cause of many unfortunate incidents. Since they were almost always in a dazed state of mind, they had little idea of what they were doing most of the time. Thus, they could attack people without meaning any harm at all. A situation featuring a child playing with a wild Spinda would almost always end up in broken bones, as the bear-like animal would flail around and inevitably hurt the poor youngster.
Ranshin stopped to scrutinize the Spinda’s features, keeping in mind that he’d have to be ready act at any time whatsoever; it would be able to attack at any moment. The reason for his examination was that a wild Spinda had assaulted a young boy only days ago. It was not the extremely deadly Pokemon he had been looking for, but it was a danger to the community all-the-same. He wanted to be the first to return the favor. To him, any citizen of his town was worth protecting.
After he had come to a conclusion, Ranshin muttered, “Rakurai,” gesturing at the red-spotted beast. It didn’t need to hear any more – the spirited Raichu was off, dashing toward the wild Spinda and preparing for battle. The panda Pokemon responded faster than Rakurai and its owner had expected, groggily dodging the mouse’s punch, grabbing onto its enemy’s paw and using it to hurl the surprised Raichu into a nearby tree. Ranshin’s expression darkened at the sight of his friend crashing into the bulky trunk. He had not expected a common Spinda to be so brutal, quick, and expert. “Agile assault,” he muttered, thinking only of attaining revenge.
Rakurai sprung up, sharp teeth gritted as anger flowed through. “Rai,” It snarled. The Spinda just stood there stupidly, mouth wide open as it wobbled uncontrollably. Charging once more, the mouse Pokemon responded to its owner’s command, performing a unique set of agile movements and implementing them into one rapid attack. The Spinda moved aside just as the yellow one went flying by, showing uncanny speed for its kind once again. It grabbed out at the Raichu’s springy tail and took hold, using it to tow the poor creature back and whap itself in the face.
The angered Rakurai shot out its small paws, beating against the air pointlessly – the wild enemy had already disappeared. “Behind,” Ranshin cried, catching sight of the rapid blur that was the Spinda. But it was too late – the dangerous panda drunkenly vaulted over the Raichu and slammed its round feet into the front of its opponent’s head, sending Rakurai soaring into yet another tree, defeated.
Though Ranshin wanted only to retrieve his beaten Pokemon, he knew better. The Spinda had succeeded in defeating the electric mouse, and appeared ready for a new combatant. The human swore violently, not wanting to leave Rakurai to its fate, but knowing that, if he approached it, he’d be attacked by the spotted panda Pokemon. Still, the bond between the two was strong; he wasn’t about to leave his Raichu behind.
The citizen of Fallarbor cautiously approached the grounded mouse, making sure not to anger or surprise the victorious Pokemon in any way. Beads of sweat gently swiveled down the young man’s cheek, anxiety filling him as he neared his destination. The loopy bear just spun around in circles, seemingly unaware of Ranshin’s movements. Sighing in relief, the hunter made for his Pokemon.
The last thing he heard before a thick sheet of darkness took him was the soft ringing of bells in the distance.
*****
The aroma of something delectable was the first thing to fill his senses. Sitting upright, Ranshin stifled a gasp of pain as he gently set himself back down. His head was throbbing, though it felt somewhat better against a fluffy pillow.
“Awake, are you?” said the voice of an elderly woman, standing over a particularly large pot and adding ingredients to the apparent tub of soup. Her gray hair was tied in a not-so-elegant bun, her weary face hosting an assortment of wrinkles and boil spots. A blue kimono covered her frail body, a violet strap tightening and keeping the robe from falling. She feebly moved over to her guest’s bed, pale yellow sandals clacking wearily against the ground. “Here – eat.”
Ranshin accepted, though somewhat regretfully. He felt he should have been able to care for himself, but in his current state, he knew that was near impossible. Sighing, he muttered, “Wow. I’m weakened, in a bed with an old lady taking care of me and feeding me soup, and unable to do anything about it. How stereotypical,”
The elderly woman chuckled. “I guess you could think of it that way, but getting beat by a crazed Spinda isn’t exactly what I’d call stereotypical,”
“For some incomprehensible reason, that doesn’t really help. Where’s Rakurai?”
“Oh, that little guy? He’s fine. I don’t know what happened, but apparently Kiro found you and him on the ground, perfectly unharmed. The Spinda, however, had fainted and was hanging in mid-air. Yes, it seems some sort of psychic Pokemon was at work. Strange, really,”
Ranshin pondered what he had heard. It was a strange occurrence, especially since he’d never seen or heard of a psychic Pokemon living around route thirteen. “The Spinda – what’d you do with it?”
“It has been sent to Lavaridge. With you as the only ‘experienced’ trainer here, it left us no choice but to have Flannery take care of it. She’ll know what to do.”
He growled in resentment. “Gah, you had villagers undertake the responsibility of traveling all the way to Lavaridge with a demented Pokemon? Old fool. But then again, who am I to say anything? I was beaten by a common Spinda. Fallarbor needs a new guardian.”
The old one smiled and studied the injured boy. “Distraught is more of the word, Ranshin. You and I both know that Spinda wasn’t a common Pokemon. It had some sort of skill that exceeded your Raichu’s. Do not feel responsible for such a…loss,”
“That Spinda just had an extra dose of whatever alcoholic river its kind drinks from. I know I can rise above that, but the fact still stands: Fallarbor isn’t safe with just me to serve as protection. We need someone with stronger Pokemon. More of them than I have, too.”
“You mustn’t be so hard on yourself, dear,” the old lady consoled.
“I’m not saying this just for myself. Rakurai can’t do this alone; if he keeps this up, he might...not be around for so long. The same could happen with our town. I have to do something else with my life. But that means that Fallarbor needs someone else…someone strong.”
“There is no one else,” said the strong voice of someone at the door, an older gentleman donning a gray top hat. He tipped his cap at the beaming woman before him and strolled over to the downed adolescent, scratching his extensive, black beard. “Fallarbor has always needed someone like you. Someone strong, courageous, able – you check all of them, boy.”
“Flattery isn’t a savior,” Ranshin rejected.
“No, but it is nice,” the senior proclaimed. Ranshin blinked. “Ah, look, boy. We need you here. There isn’t anybody else to do what you do. Besides, how will you get by in life without pay?”
“Rakurai and I are capable of doing other things,” the boy admitted, shrugging. “I wouldn’t exactly struggle to get by. Besides, this isn’t about me, it’s about Fallarbor. It needs better protection; I’m not enough, Kiro!”
“Since the day you were given the title of Fallarbor’s guardian, our town has been doing very well. Much more than before you became guardian, that is,” he added at the disbelieving look on Ranshin’s face. “Listen, Ranshin. With that Skarmory on the loose, no one here is safe. I know you can’t do everything by yourself, but please do what you can. Rakurai is the only Pokemon here that can stop that beast from taking yet another innocent life! And you’re the one that expertly instructs him. Do you not see why we need you?”
“I’ve seen why since the day I was born,” Ranshin stated aggressively. “I will resume my responsibility, but only because I care about the safety of our people. You will, however, send for someone…better...than me. That,” he growled, voice rising at the resentful man’s sudden interjection, “is the only way I’ll cooperate.”
The fancily clothed man pulled at his beard considerately, eyes indicating obvious disapproval. “I thank you for your response, though I cannot determine when I’ll be able to find this ‘hero’ you hope for.”
Ranshin turned his attention toward the ceiling, closing his eyes and preparing to embark on a journey of dreams. “Not a hero, just a sentinel.”
*****
Interconnecting tunnels of monumental magnitude passed through the boy’s mind as sleep basked in its twisted effects. Light blinded his eyes, while shadows haunted his soul. A never-ending sea of green suddenly opened to him, revealing contorted shapes of blurry images rising and falling in unison. They moaned in distress and joy, fear and trust, ecstasy and agony, all at the same time. A waterfall of enchanting magnificence connected itself to the true heart of the ocean, a crescent moon illuminating the water’s ethereal appearance.
Nearing it subconsciously, he shut his invisible eyes and listened for the echo.
Time; twisted in its attempts at peace. Let the flow of the constant tide be set at ease…
…let it slow…
*****
Ranshin sprung up from out of the bed he laid in, ignoring the powerful throbbing sensation pulsing from the back of his head and rushing over to the closest mirror. Luckily for his pride, he hadn’t been talking or shouting in his sleep – no one knew he was awake. Inside of the bathroom, he flicked on the lights and took a look at his thin facial features. A clean-shaven and somewhat tan boy looked back at him, fear radiating out between the two. Shock struck him as he realized what his emerald eyes were producing. Brushing his shaggy, black hair away, Ranshin stared directly into his right eye; transfixed.
He was crying.
---
Hello. Thanks for reading my first and only fan fiction on these forums! I'd now like to identify the "rating" of this fan fiction: PG-14, I suppose, just to play it safe. I will edit this as I go along, for I cannot say [now] what exactly the future will hold when it comes to graphic violence, crude language, and sexual interaction. I doubt there will be much of the latter (save for a few possible romantic experiences), but the other two are very possible.
Please let me know what you think by either PM or Post. Thanks much!
Part 1 –
- Chime and Bell; Song of Sweet Sorrow
Prologue
Gray ash poured from the heavens, creating a dreary vista of charcoal grass, poking out of the sullen earth and wavering powerlessly in the breeze. A certain patch was suddenly flattened, creating a bothersome amount of intoxicating smoke that cast itself into the atmosphere, before falling back down into the suffering meadow.
The hunt had not been going well. Ranshin trudged through the barren field, wanting to sigh aloud but knowing that a mouthful of ash awaited him if he did so. And thus, he replaced the act of sighing with a fit of light mumbling.
He had been searching for a certain Pokemon all day. Had he found it, he would have been rushing home with all speed, bearing great news. But alas, fate hadn’t been kind to him the past few weeks. Hope was a fruitless tool for success, he had found.
He knelt to the floor and examined a leaf blade, shrugging indecisively. Whistling a sudden high-pitched tune, he stood there and looked around. A nearly inaudible resonance came from the left of him, allowing him a short-term grin. He cooed softly and raised a hand in understanding, permitting the tiny creature that floated in the ash-torn air to hover into his palm, safe and sound.
The little beast was less than a foot tall; about the size of a small tomato. Its skin was a vibrant yellow, tiny arms waving excitedly as it approached the human. Diminutive, beady eyes stared out at the boy, a thin, lined mouth opening and closing as tiny cries of joy echoed from out of it. The most distinct figure of all, however, were the two, minute, suction cup wings that protruded from out of the creature’s back, a barely seeable lump connecting the two, blue-lined suction cups of red.
It squealed in delight – a murmur barely heard – and rubbed itself against the boy’s left palm. He smiled in return, stroking the little being with a single finger as gently as possible – to do so otherwise would have resulted in intense pain for the small creature. “Now,” said the adolescent, voice almost surprisingly mature. It was rapid, and roughly threatening, yet a hint of care radiated from out of it, dying before anybody but the Pokemon he held could hear. “Where is Rakurai?”
The shifting sound of grass being plowed through filled the air. Ranshin spun around; already knowing what it was that sped toward him. An average-sized, mouse-like Pokemon sprung through the air and landed on its owner’s black bandana, supporting itself atop of his head and yapping a short greeting.
A curious shade of orange, the Raichu was quite perky and alert, its yellow, lightning bolt tail swishing in the background. Brown ears contributed to the Pokemon’s liveliness, one brown-dipped paw pawing at its bright yellow cheeks, while the other held an attention-grabbing article. Round eyes blinked slowly as a thought came to mind, fluttered, and then resumed its normal flow.
It obviously seemed a bit more excited than usual. Ranshin patted the creature softly on the cranium before looking at what it held in its paws; the source of the creature’s exhilaration: a dull rock with a bit of a gleam to it. The Raichu’s human friend accepted the gift as Rakurai spastically handed it over. Thankful, Ranshin petted the mouse-like Pokemon’s tousled fur once more before pocketing the interesting stone.
The tiny creature in the human’s left palm began to squeak indignantly. The young hunter turned his attention toward the Pokemon and murmured, “No, I haven’t forgotten about you, Jiri. I’m just glad you’re safe.” He laughed, lightly tossing the Riishan into the air and watching as it hovered close to him. “Let’s go home – the day was unsuccessful.”
Moving through Gray Tempest Path – better known as route thirteen – Ranshin paid a passing glance to the odd set of bulbous foliage atop a few thick tree trunks, each positioning themselves directly against each other and creating a natural roadblock. It was a strange sight, to say the least. Shrugging, he continued.
The route to his hometown began to show; signs were evident. Footprints caught in the ash identified that Fallarbor was close. It was seldom people would travel past the town limits, but occasionally an irksome pair of tots would do just that. They had yet to realize the possible dangers of Gray Tempest Path. Ranshin had been sent to eliminate a particular threat, one that had taken a life already. Not all Pokemon were kind – when parents spoke of danger they meant it.
The human and the Pokemon by his side paused as a rustle was heard nearby. He had identified the sounds of almost every creature within his town and route thirteen. He knew what Pokemon was near, as did his Raichu who growled quietly. Just as he had assumed, a wild Spinda popped out of the undergrowth, tottering around uncontrollably as if in a drunken stupor.
It was dyed a strange hue of red and white, blotches of the light crimson splashed all over its face and body. A head too big for its body wiggled apprehensively and the black eye swirls of the odd beast continued to twirl around, as they did upon the monster’s rabbit-like ears. As it teetered toward them, it grinned stupidly, small arms and legs flailing around.
Though it might have seemed humorous and implausible, based on the spotted panda’s facetious appearance, the Spinda were usually the cause of many unfortunate incidents. Since they were almost always in a dazed state of mind, they had little idea of what they were doing most of the time. Thus, they could attack people without meaning any harm at all. A situation featuring a child playing with a wild Spinda would almost always end up in broken bones, as the bear-like animal would flail around and inevitably hurt the poor youngster.
Ranshin stopped to scrutinize the Spinda’s features, keeping in mind that he’d have to be ready act at any time whatsoever; it would be able to attack at any moment. The reason for his examination was that a wild Spinda had assaulted a young boy only days ago. It was not the extremely deadly Pokemon he had been looking for, but it was a danger to the community all-the-same. He wanted to be the first to return the favor. To him, any citizen of his town was worth protecting.
After he had come to a conclusion, Ranshin muttered, “Rakurai,” gesturing at the red-spotted beast. It didn’t need to hear any more – the spirited Raichu was off, dashing toward the wild Spinda and preparing for battle. The panda Pokemon responded faster than Rakurai and its owner had expected, groggily dodging the mouse’s punch, grabbing onto its enemy’s paw and using it to hurl the surprised Raichu into a nearby tree. Ranshin’s expression darkened at the sight of his friend crashing into the bulky trunk. He had not expected a common Spinda to be so brutal, quick, and expert. “Agile assault,” he muttered, thinking only of attaining revenge.
Rakurai sprung up, sharp teeth gritted as anger flowed through. “Rai,” It snarled. The Spinda just stood there stupidly, mouth wide open as it wobbled uncontrollably. Charging once more, the mouse Pokemon responded to its owner’s command, performing a unique set of agile movements and implementing them into one rapid attack. The Spinda moved aside just as the yellow one went flying by, showing uncanny speed for its kind once again. It grabbed out at the Raichu’s springy tail and took hold, using it to tow the poor creature back and whap itself in the face.
The angered Rakurai shot out its small paws, beating against the air pointlessly – the wild enemy had already disappeared. “Behind,” Ranshin cried, catching sight of the rapid blur that was the Spinda. But it was too late – the dangerous panda drunkenly vaulted over the Raichu and slammed its round feet into the front of its opponent’s head, sending Rakurai soaring into yet another tree, defeated.
Though Ranshin wanted only to retrieve his beaten Pokemon, he knew better. The Spinda had succeeded in defeating the electric mouse, and appeared ready for a new combatant. The human swore violently, not wanting to leave Rakurai to its fate, but knowing that, if he approached it, he’d be attacked by the spotted panda Pokemon. Still, the bond between the two was strong; he wasn’t about to leave his Raichu behind.
The citizen of Fallarbor cautiously approached the grounded mouse, making sure not to anger or surprise the victorious Pokemon in any way. Beads of sweat gently swiveled down the young man’s cheek, anxiety filling him as he neared his destination. The loopy bear just spun around in circles, seemingly unaware of Ranshin’s movements. Sighing in relief, the hunter made for his Pokemon.
The last thing he heard before a thick sheet of darkness took him was the soft ringing of bells in the distance.
*****
The aroma of something delectable was the first thing to fill his senses. Sitting upright, Ranshin stifled a gasp of pain as he gently set himself back down. His head was throbbing, though it felt somewhat better against a fluffy pillow.
“Awake, are you?” said the voice of an elderly woman, standing over a particularly large pot and adding ingredients to the apparent tub of soup. Her gray hair was tied in a not-so-elegant bun, her weary face hosting an assortment of wrinkles and boil spots. A blue kimono covered her frail body, a violet strap tightening and keeping the robe from falling. She feebly moved over to her guest’s bed, pale yellow sandals clacking wearily against the ground. “Here – eat.”
Ranshin accepted, though somewhat regretfully. He felt he should have been able to care for himself, but in his current state, he knew that was near impossible. Sighing, he muttered, “Wow. I’m weakened, in a bed with an old lady taking care of me and feeding me soup, and unable to do anything about it. How stereotypical,”
The elderly woman chuckled. “I guess you could think of it that way, but getting beat by a crazed Spinda isn’t exactly what I’d call stereotypical,”
“For some incomprehensible reason, that doesn’t really help. Where’s Rakurai?”
“Oh, that little guy? He’s fine. I don’t know what happened, but apparently Kiro found you and him on the ground, perfectly unharmed. The Spinda, however, had fainted and was hanging in mid-air. Yes, it seems some sort of psychic Pokemon was at work. Strange, really,”
Ranshin pondered what he had heard. It was a strange occurrence, especially since he’d never seen or heard of a psychic Pokemon living around route thirteen. “The Spinda – what’d you do with it?”
“It has been sent to Lavaridge. With you as the only ‘experienced’ trainer here, it left us no choice but to have Flannery take care of it. She’ll know what to do.”
He growled in resentment. “Gah, you had villagers undertake the responsibility of traveling all the way to Lavaridge with a demented Pokemon? Old fool. But then again, who am I to say anything? I was beaten by a common Spinda. Fallarbor needs a new guardian.”
The old one smiled and studied the injured boy. “Distraught is more of the word, Ranshin. You and I both know that Spinda wasn’t a common Pokemon. It had some sort of skill that exceeded your Raichu’s. Do not feel responsible for such a…loss,”
“That Spinda just had an extra dose of whatever alcoholic river its kind drinks from. I know I can rise above that, but the fact still stands: Fallarbor isn’t safe with just me to serve as protection. We need someone with stronger Pokemon. More of them than I have, too.”
“You mustn’t be so hard on yourself, dear,” the old lady consoled.
“I’m not saying this just for myself. Rakurai can’t do this alone; if he keeps this up, he might...not be around for so long. The same could happen with our town. I have to do something else with my life. But that means that Fallarbor needs someone else…someone strong.”
“There is no one else,” said the strong voice of someone at the door, an older gentleman donning a gray top hat. He tipped his cap at the beaming woman before him and strolled over to the downed adolescent, scratching his extensive, black beard. “Fallarbor has always needed someone like you. Someone strong, courageous, able – you check all of them, boy.”
“Flattery isn’t a savior,” Ranshin rejected.
“No, but it is nice,” the senior proclaimed. Ranshin blinked. “Ah, look, boy. We need you here. There isn’t anybody else to do what you do. Besides, how will you get by in life without pay?”
“Rakurai and I are capable of doing other things,” the boy admitted, shrugging. “I wouldn’t exactly struggle to get by. Besides, this isn’t about me, it’s about Fallarbor. It needs better protection; I’m not enough, Kiro!”
“Since the day you were given the title of Fallarbor’s guardian, our town has been doing very well. Much more than before you became guardian, that is,” he added at the disbelieving look on Ranshin’s face. “Listen, Ranshin. With that Skarmory on the loose, no one here is safe. I know you can’t do everything by yourself, but please do what you can. Rakurai is the only Pokemon here that can stop that beast from taking yet another innocent life! And you’re the one that expertly instructs him. Do you not see why we need you?”
“I’ve seen why since the day I was born,” Ranshin stated aggressively. “I will resume my responsibility, but only because I care about the safety of our people. You will, however, send for someone…better...than me. That,” he growled, voice rising at the resentful man’s sudden interjection, “is the only way I’ll cooperate.”
The fancily clothed man pulled at his beard considerately, eyes indicating obvious disapproval. “I thank you for your response, though I cannot determine when I’ll be able to find this ‘hero’ you hope for.”
Ranshin turned his attention toward the ceiling, closing his eyes and preparing to embark on a journey of dreams. “Not a hero, just a sentinel.”
*****
Interconnecting tunnels of monumental magnitude passed through the boy’s mind as sleep basked in its twisted effects. Light blinded his eyes, while shadows haunted his soul. A never-ending sea of green suddenly opened to him, revealing contorted shapes of blurry images rising and falling in unison. They moaned in distress and joy, fear and trust, ecstasy and agony, all at the same time. A waterfall of enchanting magnificence connected itself to the true heart of the ocean, a crescent moon illuminating the water’s ethereal appearance.
Nearing it subconsciously, he shut his invisible eyes and listened for the echo.
Time; twisted in its attempts at peace. Let the flow of the constant tide be set at ease…
…let it slow…
*****
Ranshin sprung up from out of the bed he laid in, ignoring the powerful throbbing sensation pulsing from the back of his head and rushing over to the closest mirror. Luckily for his pride, he hadn’t been talking or shouting in his sleep – no one knew he was awake. Inside of the bathroom, he flicked on the lights and took a look at his thin facial features. A clean-shaven and somewhat tan boy looked back at him, fear radiating out between the two. Shock struck him as he realized what his emerald eyes were producing. Brushing his shaggy, black hair away, Ranshin stared directly into his right eye; transfixed.
He was crying.
---
Hello. Thanks for reading my first and only fan fiction on these forums! I'd now like to identify the "rating" of this fan fiction: PG-14, I suppose, just to play it safe. I will edit this as I go along, for I cannot say [now] what exactly the future will hold when it comes to graphic violence, crude language, and sexual interaction. I doubt there will be much of the latter (save for a few possible romantic experiences), but the other two are very possible.
Please let me know what you think by either PM or Post. Thanks much!
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