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Standard disclaimer: I don't own the series.
AN: Recap: the group got split up. Ryu finally forgave himself over what happened to Bunyan ten years ago, Nina, Jin, and Manna wandered around the forest for hours, and Wyatt and Miyuki talked about what happened in Lahan. Wyatt and Yuki ran into none other than Aaron, trying to break the protection on the Yggdrasil. Yuki helps Rowan, a Grassman, and Wyatt blindly attacks Aaron. Aaron hurts Wyatt and his secret's out in the open. Aaron retreats and the two talk Rowan into helping them. Meanwhile, Ryu and Bunyan have met up with Jin and the others and are currently on thier way to the Grassman village.
Well, that sounds like our hearty band of vagabonds are having fun :)
Okay, here are the reviews:
Lord Kain: I thought it might be cute (smiles) Hehhe, that should be coming up next chapter (evil smiles). I have had to think about how I was going to set that up. Wyatt ain’t as innocent as he looks. Neither is Ryu, apparently. Lol ROTFLMAO! THAT would be funny, wouldn’t it?
Well here's the next chapter!
“Well, this is different,” Nina said as they walked through the entrance of the Grassmen’s village.
The village was nothing like Nina had ever seen. Of course, there were trees everywhere. Nina took note of the many plant like creatures that were wandering around, going about various tasks. There were also huts that were made out of timber and leaves. She figured that those huts were for the Grassmen’s human visitors. Though, she knew that not many humans were running around the Sea of Trees nowadays.
What Nina remembered about the Grassmen were from history books that she had read back when she was a little girl. Grassmen were the longest-living clans. They mostly resembled feminine, plant like creatures. They are asexual, but are often referred to as males. Emotionless and guided only by logic, they travel the world when they are young gathering as much knowledge as possible and transform into wise trees in their old age. They are connected to each other through a collective consciousness and act as the eyes and ears of the Yggdrasil, their patron god. They also have an affinity towards nature.
Nina shook her head. She noticed that everyone had stopped walking. She looked up and noticed a young Grassman standing before them, Yuki and Wyatt right behind him. Manna had been right. The two had somehow managed to get there before them without killing each other. She wondered how Yuki had managed to keep from calling Wyatt names.
“Jin,” Yuki said darkly. “We have a problem.”
Nina noticed that Yuki had a dark expression on her face. Wyatt didn’t look too happy either. She wondered what had happened in the forest that had made them that angry. She knew that the two were the poster children for anger management, but the looks the two wore right then sent chills down her spine.
“What is it?” Jin asked.
“Someone is attacking the Yggdrasil,” the Grassman said.
“Ah?” Ryu asked. He blinked and rubbed the back of his neck.“…Spar…?”
The Grassman tilted his head slightly. “Mm?” he walked right up to Ryu. When they stood side by side, the height difference was very noticeable. The Grassman was easily a foot taller than Ryu; Ryu himself was only 5”9.
“Ah, um,” Ryu stuttered. Images flashed through his mind at blinding speed. “Ah, I’m sorry… you just look like someone that… I… use to know.”
The Grassman nodded. “I would assume so. Many of my kind look similar. I can assure you, however, I am not Spar. My name is Rowan. I am the representative of the Yggdrasil Collective.”
Manna nodded. “Good. We have some questions for you.”
Rowan merely looked at Manna. “I see,” he said in a soft, monotonous voice. “Then, if you will come with me, I will take you to the Yggdrasil.”
It was only a short walk from the village before the party came across the giant tree. Rowan explained that what the Yggdrasil really was.
Yggdrasil was the patron god of the Grassmen and the Forest Clan. He is the embodiment of the element Wood. The best way to describe this god would be to say that he is the embodiment of the will of the planet. Usually takes on the form of a great wise tree. Yggdrasil is also referred to as the Tree of Life. The Grassmen are his eyes and ears on the mortal plane. The entire clan forms something akin to a giant collective consciousness that link them directly with each other, as well as Yggdrasil. The Grassmen are connected and in synch with nature and in turn, the very will of the planet.
Ryu could only nodded to Rowan’s explanation. He had blacked out for a second when he had first met Rowan. Old memories of past lives wanted to resurface and Ryu didn’t know if he could handle that right now. Rowan moved and talked so much like Spar, that Ryu had first mistaken him for the ancient Grassman. But there was something else about him that set him apart from the former. There was something in Rowan’s eyes that told a completely different story.
Ryu had seen that look before. He remembered a walking onion that had that same look in its eyes.
The group finally came to the Yggdrasil. Rowan stopped in front of the massive tree and placed his hands on the base of the trunk.
“Oh, wise one, there are those that seek your guidance. Please, give us your wisdom.”
Rowan glowed slightly green as he communicated with the Tree. Ryu placed his hands in his pockets as he wondered what was being said between the Grassman and the Yggdrasil. Something seemed wrong to Ryu, however. He remembered the Tree talking with the past Destined. Granted, that was with the help of a Grassman, but still. Something must have been wrong.
“The Yggdrasil will listen,” Rowan said. His voice echoed as he talked. Ryu understood. The Yggdrasil was using Rowan to speak for him.
Jin nodded and took a step forward. “We are looking for the Goddess Keys. We are trying to stop evil forces from getting their hands on them. We need to know the location of the Keys. Can you help us?”
“It has been a long time since we have last felt the presence of an Overseer,” the Yggdrasil said. Jin gave Rowan a confused look. The look did not go unnoticed by the Grassman. “I see, that is the situation. We can help you.
“The Destined Child has dreamt of the Keys locations. You already have the Earth Key. Virgil Strife took the Sky Key to Angel Tower. The King of the Pearl Kingdom holds the King Key. The Light Key and Time Key are currently lost to us. The Darkness Key is as well, but its last location was Worent.”
Ryu nodded slightly. “Thank you… but something bothers me. In my dream, the Grassmen had the Light Key. What happened?”
“An intruder has taken the Key,” Yggdrasil said. “The same man that attacked one of our nodes in the forest a few hours ago.”
“Aaron,” Wyatt muttered bitterly.
Jin’s head turned towards Wyatt. “What did you say?” Jin asked.
“Aaron was trying to do something…” Yuki muttered darkly. “He had attacked Rowan while out in the forest… and he attacked us, too.”
Jin gave Yuki a look. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
Yuki shrugged. “What difference would it had made? He ran away when Wyatt confronted him. He did seem surprised that I had powers, though…”
“Who’s Aaron?” Nina asked.
Everyone turned to Nina. Nina almost shrank back from all the stares in her direction. Manna finally cocked her head to the side and gave Nina a smile she wasn’t sure she was entirely comfortable with.
“What would you like to know?” Manna asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Wyatt frowned slightly. “He’s the one that caused my…” Wyatt started to say, but was cut off by Yuki.
“He’s known as Aaron the Wise,” Yuki hastily explained. “He’s the one that caused the Red Dragon to go berserk and raze Lahan. He’s also the one behind Project FATE… and he’s also my father…”
Nina looked at Yuki. “You’re father? But I thought that he was dead.”
“So did I,” Yuki said. “But apparently he’s still alive…”
Rowan turned his attention to the group. “This Aaron person is apparently making his way to the village.”
“How did he know where to go?” Ryu muttered.
“He has broken the protection on the village,” Rowan explained as he took his hands off of the trunk of the Yggdrasil.
“He wants to use sap from the Yggdrasil,” Yuki explained. “For what, we don’t know.”
“So, what are we going to do?” Ryu asked. “Confront him?”
Jin didn’t need any motivation. He already had his katana drawn and was walking back towards the village. Yuki shook her head and ran off after him. Ryu turned his attention back to Bunyan, Rowan, and the others.
Bunyan nodded. “I will stay here and protect Rowan and the Yggdrasil in case Aaron is able to break past you.”
Ryu nodded. “Okay, but that’s not going to happen. We’ll stop him before he has the chance to do anything crazy.”
“Be careful then,” Bunyan said.
“Okay, Father…” Ryu said as he turned his back to Bunyan and Rowan and started back towards the village.
Nina, Manna, and Wyatt looked at each other in confusion. “Guess Ryu’s forgiven himself over what happened,” Nina said.
Wyatt nodded and the three of them ran back towards the village.
It didn’t take very long for them to return to the village. By the time they did, however, the village itself was mainly empty. Jin theorized that since the Grassmen knew of the danger that was approaching, they probably took special care to hide themselves from that danger.
Jin then pointed out that just because Aaron was an old man that wasn’t any reason to underestimate him. Jin pointed out that Aaron was deceitful and full of tricks and lies to get what he wanted. After all, he wasn’t above using his own wife for an experiment. The mere idea that Aaron would do that made them sick. But that was who they were dealing with.
When the group got to the main entrance of the village, they found that Aaron was waiting for them. Behind Aaron was a large, purple and gray scaled creature. Ryu and Yuki readied their swords as Nina powered up her staff. Manna and Wyatt stood behind the rest of the party. Manna pulled out her staff and started to slightly tap the ground with it.
Jin approached Aaron, his katana drawn. Aaron looked at Jin and smiled slightly. “I am surprised to see you here, son.”
Jin’s face contorted in anger. “Don’t call me that,” Jin said in an even voice. “What are you trying to do here?”
Aaron smiled slightly. “Oh, isn’t obvious? I want to see the Yggdrasil.”
“Who sent you?” Jin asked.
“Oh, no one sent me. I am here on my own. But the one that I am working with will also benefit from this greatly if I am able to succeed.”
“And who’s that?” Jin asked.
“No one that you would be interested in,” Aaron said as he snapped his fingers. The beast behind Aaron came to life. It walked over to Aaron and stopped right in front of him. “Do you like it? This is my latest invention. I do believe that everyone knows what a chimera is. If not, let me explain. This creature beside me was created out of various animals to what you see now. It is completely loyal to me and will do exactly what I tell it,” Aaron said.
Aaron made a gesture with his hand. The creature charged Jin. Jin swore as he jumped out of the way and rolled over and hit the ground. Manna stopped tapping her staff on the ground and raised it high in the air. A circle appeared where she had been tapping and Manna then slammed the point of her staff into the circle.
The chimera roared as the magic circle flew up and encircled the creature. Jin recovered and was back on his feet in a matter of seconds. Aaron looked at Manna and Jin.
“It seems like you two do not know when to give up,” Aaron spat out. “I do grow tired of your interference… chimera, finish them off!”
Aaron turned his back and started to walk away, but Yuki jumped into action just as the chimera jumped at Jin and Manna. Yuki ran off after Aaron. Ryu swore and looked at Nina. Nina nodded and ran off after Yuki.
Meanwhile, Jin and Manna had jumped out of the way and were currently either slicing at the beast of hurling electric bolts at the beast. Ryu joined in the fight and started to slice away at the hind legs of the beast. Wyatt grinned and started to shoot off a volley of bullets at the beast.
The chimera roared in pain and jumped back. Manna started to swing her staff, but stopped in mid strike. She frowned and jumped back.
“Manna?” Ryu asked.
“Stand DOWN!” Manna said. Everyone kept their weapons out, but they stopped attacking. “He didn’t… he… that bastard!” Manna walked over to the creature and placed her hand on its head. “How could he do this…”
“Manna?” Wyatt asked. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to know what was going on or not. Manna seemed rather pissed off.
“This… creature… was once human,” Manna explained bitterly. Manna blinked and suddenly recoiled from the creature. Manna turned to Jin. Jin caught the look on Manna’s face and frowned.
“What is it…” Jin started to say, but was cut off by a strangled cry from the beast. Jin looked up and noticed the creature’s eyes were a very dull green. Jin tensed at the look. He shook his head and walked over to the creature. He placed his hand on its forehead. He closed his eyes. Jin’s eyes quickly snapped back open as he recoiled from the creature.
“Jin? Manna? What’s up? You guys are starting to scare me,” Ryu said.
Jin growled under his breath. “Aaron will pay for this…”
Manna turned to Ryu. “That chimera was once a human… but she was turned into that beast.”
“Aaron did that?” Wyatt asked. “Oh god! I think I’m gonna be sick…”
Jin shook his head and turned to the chimera. “…what would you like me to do?” The chimera roared in pain and stared at Jin. “Are you sure?” Jin nodded and sheathed his sword and placed both hands on the creature’s forehead.
“Jin?” Ryu asked.
“…Grant light to the suffering that spreads through the abyss!” Jin yelled. The creature roared as a blinding bright light enveloped the creature. The light then shot outward and the creature exploded. Jin yelled and quickly threw up a light shield before he was hit by his own spell.
When the light died down, in place of the chimera was an older looking woman with shoulder length, dark brown hair, dressed in a white robe. The woman’s figure flickered in and out, like she was a ghost. Ryu frowned slightly. The woman looked familiar.
Wyatt blinked and shook his head. “Oh, no… don’t tell me that Aaron…”
Jin stood completely still as the woman walked over to him and placed her transparent hands on Jin’s shoulders. Jin looked down at the woman.
Thank you for freeing my spirit, the ghost said. I have been trapped in that form for such a long time.
Jin just stared at the woman. “Aaron… he did that to you, didn’t he…”
The woman nodded. Jin… it’s been a long time since I have last seen you. You have grown so much…
Jin nodded. “Fourteen years have past since the destruction of Lahan… I… thought that you were dead…”
The woman frowned. No, but I was gravely injured. I would have died soon anyway. But… Aaron had an idea…he turned me into that… beast, just to see what I would do. What I could do. The woman smiled. But I am free now. Thank you, Jin.
Jin nodded. The woman smiled and slowly vanished. When she was gone, Ryu and Wyatt approached Jin. Manna merely stood off to the side and watched the three with a solemn expression on her face.
“Jin, who was that?” Ryu finally asked.
Jin tilted his head at Ryu. “Her named was Sakura Uzuki.”
“Your… mother?” Wyatt asked.
Jin nodded. “Yes.”
Yuki had finally caught up with Aaron. Aaron smiled as Yuki slowly approached him, her short swords at the ready and ready to use. Nina slowly approached the two, but was stopped in her tracks when she was Mary staring back at her. Mary vanished a second later.
Yuki readied her swords. “What do you think that you are doing?”
Aaron smiled. “Child, do not ask such questions…”
“Un ha!” Yuki shouted. She looked up and frowned. “I think that Jin has taken care of your chimera.”
Aaron’s eyes widened slightly. “What… are you talking about?”
“My brother has finished off your chimera and set her soul free. What, do you want me to draw you a picture?”
Aaron frowned slightly. “The creature was able to communicate with Jin?” Aaron nodded. “I see that I will have to continue this experiment for another time.”
Yuki yelled and made a grab for Aaron before he was able to get away. The second Yuki made contact with Aaron, she was bombarded with a series of images. Aaron yelled and jerked free from her grip and vanished.
Yuki screamed in frustration and sank to her knees. Nina slowly walked over and extended her hand. Yuki looked up and took Nina’s hand. Nina cocked her head and looked at Yuki.
“What happened?” Nina asked.
“Something… bad… is about to happen,” Yuki said. “We better report back to the village…”
“Thank you for defending our village from that mad man,” Rowan said.
The party had assembled back in the village and was currently talking to Rowan. The Grassmen had returned to the village as well after Rowan gave them the word that it was safe to come back.
“No problem,” Ryu said. “Uh… sorry that we couldn’t do anything else.”
“It was not a problem,” Rowan said.
“Something’s bothering me,” Yuki said. “When I touched Aaron, I was able to see some of the things in his mind. I didn’t like what I saw at all.”
“What did you see?” Manna asked.
“Aaron is working with Gideon,” Yuki said. “We were right. Gideon wants to obtain the power of a god… Ladon to be exact. But… he can’t find the Keys, so we are still one step ahead of him.”
Yuki considered for a moment to tell Ryu about Nunnally, but remembered Leon’s warning about getting her involved. There was something else that had been in Aaron’s mind that had scared her. She had seen what Sari had seen. Not all of them would make it to the final fight with Gideon. She sighed and shrugged her shoulders.
“Yuki?” Ryu asked. Yuki merely smiled and placed her hand on Ryu’s shoulder.
“I’m fine,” Yuki said. She then turned to Jin. “Jin… that beast was Mom, wasn’t it?”
Jin could only nod. Manna crossed her arms. “I wonder if Aaron will come back here and attack again.”
Bunyan laughed. “Well, if he does, I will take care of him!”
Ryu turned to Bunyan. “Father? Does that mean that you’re staying here?”
Bunyan nodded. “Afraid so son. I am a guardian of the Sea of Trees, after all.”
“Guardian…” Manna muttered to herself. “Ah! Garland!”
“Manna?” Wyatt asked.
“Garr might have the next Goddess Key,” Manna said. “We should probably go to Angel Tower next.”
Jin nodded numbly. “That sounds like a good idea.”
Nina turned her attention to Jin. She didn’t like that tone in his voice. It almost sounded hollow. She realized that he was probably mourning over the loss of his mother for a second time. She looked at Yuki, who looked like she was about to kill someone. Yuki was probably mourning the loss of her mother, too. She was only showing it in a different way.
Rowan’s calm voice broke the silence. “You must stop Aaron, Gideon, and all those who are working for him at all costs. Too much is at stake for everyone to fail.”
Ryu nodded. “Heh, we’re the Destined after all, right? We will stop them and bring peace back to the world once and for all,” Ryu said as he made a fist. “I swear it.”
Manna nodded in agreement. “Okay, it’s decided then. Next stop, Angel Tower.”
To be continued…