The Courage of an Alliance

Chapter 8

It was morning in the Zaishen Islands and all of the monks were out meditating and training. Paul and Griffin on the other hand slept in from the hard day before. They were in a small hut that had only two beds and not much room. A young woman walked into the hut to awaken Paul.
"Excuse me sir, you are the one with the Elder´s Insignia, am I correct?"
"Umm yea, well I think so at least. Sorry I am very tired."
"Well you have to rise for the ritual to begin!"
"Oh, that´s nice." The woman pulled Paul out of his bed and he started to walk on his own feet. She took him by the hand to a giant dojo with an old man and Felix on the inside. The old man bowed to him and gestured him to come in. Paul walked in to notice a strange circle made of candles in the middle of the dojo. There was a different color of fumes coming from each candle. The old man spoke.
"Since you failed to defeat the Kraken, we must give you your only alternative. Please stand in the middle of the circle." Paul did as he said, and noticed that the circle is only big enough for about two people. The old man stared at Paul. "Goodbye." He then left the dojo.
"He failed to mention that you will be spending half the day in that circle." Said Felix.
"What?"
"Yes, you must let the aromas enter your body and cleanse your spirit."
"Well then this is going to be a long day. Hey, what is that thing?" Paul stared outside to see a giant white tiger in golden armor carrying a monk around.
"Oh that is Diablos. He is one of my friends. When the Zaishen came here about seventy years ago, they found me inside a blue crystal and watched over me. Then ten years ago I came out of the crystal and I had this staff with me. I don´t remember much of my past, but I do remember Diablos and Bismarck."
"Bismarck? That name sounds familiar. I think that it is one of those clowns names."
"Clowns?"
"Yea, there are these two evil clowns that killed the Kraken and then possessed my friend Taby. I remember that one of them was Bliss and the other one started with a B. I just cant remember."
"Bliss. . ." Feliks was starting to stare into space. "Could the other one be something like Blasphemy?"
"That was it! How did you know?"
"I am not very sure, actually. But those two couldn´t have any relevance to Bismarck."
"Well then what does he look like?" Feliks got out his staff and pointed it towards Diablos outside. The tiger slowly faded away. Feliks then held the staff up and closed his eyes. Paul noticed that the ground in front of his circle was turning black. Out of the black hole in the ground came a giant axe. A strange phantomlike created came out afterwards. The ghost stood before Feliks. "Wow. That is amazing! Do you have any other ones?"
"No, I can only summon other creatures if they give their celestial blessing to my staff. One of the elders told that to me. I wish that I could go out there and get more summons but instead, I am stuck here. Oh no, this is the third time this morning!" The robes were falling off of Feliks´ head and it revealed bright blue hair.
"Why is your hair so blue?"
"I got it from being locked up in that crystal for so long." Paul and Feliks went for the rest of the day talking about their adventures and stories. Paul went on to explain why he was their and the people that he was with. "Oh my. So you will be meeting Taby and Mystery at the docks?"
"Yes, one of the Zaishen told me that our ship is leaving tonight."
"Oh you must let me come with Griffin and yourself! I could finally see all the things that I have wanted to see for so long!"
"You would have to ask your elders, but I want you to understand that this wont be a tourist attraction, and we have to stop Jun."
"Don´t worry, I understand. I will go ask right now so that there is no trouble later, oh and by the way." Feliks pointed to the small bag that Paul had. "The Insignia has been ready for about half an hour now." Feliks left the dojo, leaving Paul by himself. He got the Insignia from his bag and took of his right gauntlet. He then pushed the insignia into his hand. It burned as the red orb slowly went into his hand, but in a very strange way it made him feel more powerful. Paul looked on his hand to see a strange marking branded in. He got up and started to leave the dojo when he heard something behind him. He turned only to see statues of the five gods. The statue of Dwayna turned its head towards Paul and spoke.
"Please protect him." Paul jumped back and wiped his eyes. When he opened them he saw the room as it origionally was.
"Those fumes must have done something to my head." He turned around to see Griffin. "Where have you been all day?"
"I was training! I got bulls eyes on all of the targets, it was amazing."
"Well any news when the ship is leaving?"
"In about an hour."
"Ok, well then I need to get my things together."
"As do I."
"As do I!" Griffin turned to see Felix. "I am coming too!"

Mystery was walking back and forth in a run down shack.
"I cannot believe that I am a criminal now!" Taby tried to comfort her.
"Well, you aren´t as long as Jun is dead." Seiuchi came to the door.
"My brothers tell me that Jun is still alive. He didn´t place Mystery as a criminal because that would raise too many questions. If your friends are arriving at the docks at night then we are able to visit the Jade Brotherhood base on our way there." Mystery looked up.
"Well then things can still work out."
"How can that be? Elder Rhea is gone and I am a criminal!" Taby said.
"Here is my plan. I will go back to the palace now and say the the Elder was ill and she couldn´t make it, but someone will be coming to take her place."
"Who would that someone be?"
"Griffin is that someone. He will go to the seal and act everything out as it normally would, but then the door to the temple surrounding the seal would lock shut. You and Seiuchi will be in charge of that. Before the door closes I will be sure to get myself and Paul in there, then it would be five versus one."
"Well how can I get in there without getting caught?"
"You will disguise yourself. You can wear a dress for once and get your hair cut and dyed."
"How kind of you Mystery!" Taby had been working on her anger, but instead of yelling, she was grinding her teeth which if done for a long time can be unhealthy.
"No time for compliments, Taby. I will go now and I suggest you two go back to the base now." Seiuchi nodded.
"Do not worry Taby, we have an assortment of dresses. Oh and I might have some dye around there as well."
"Ok and after we go to the base we must hurry to the docks for Paul and Griffin."

---

Seiuchi and Taby were jumping through the rooftops towards the Jade Brotherhood base. This was training Taby in agility for combat. When they reached one of the rooftops, there was a figure with a brown, worn cloak standing there. Seiuchi paused to study the person.
"Is there something upsetting you about us here?" She said. The person was starting to walk away. "What are you doing over there? I am a leader of the Jade Brotherhood, answer me!" The hooded person turned around.
"Very well then, Seiuchi." He said. "And you, Taby. Do you have anything to say?"
"How do you know our names?" She said.
"How do I know your names? That should be the least of your issues at the moment. You both have a prophecy to fulfill."
"Prophecy?"
"Yes, the Orrian prophecy if you want to get specific."
"Well then what is in this prophecy," Said Seiuchi. She was becoming intrigued by what this man had to say.
"First, let me introduce myself. I am Suun, the oracle in the shrine that brings us closer to the stars."
"So that´s what the Elder was talking about," Said Taby.
"She was one of my students before, so I believe that she would bring something as important as that up. When I refer to the stars, I mean the celestial realm. There are mystic creatures there that have the abilities to create prophecies and predict the future. But enough of that, for I need to tell you both your purposes." Suun got a worn scroll out of his robes and started to read it. "The six holy heroes, each embedded with the power of Orr shall rise to defeat the most powerful of demons and creatures. They shall go into the shadows to bring light. The warrior, pure of heart. The ranger with the gift of leadership. The assassin with the fiery determination. The mesmer with plentiful knowledge. The elementalist, with the strongest heart, and the new King of Orr. The demons shall try to keep this alliance separated, for together they are unstoppable. They must stop the black knight from rising into our world or all would be lost. They shall be put through many tests in their journeys and many hardships, but if they make it through, then the black knight shall be slayn and the King of Orr can take his throne." A dark mist started to cover the rooftop that they were standing on.
"Taby, we must go. The Am Fah are coming," Said Seiuchi. They both ran and jumped to the next building, continuing their path towards the base. A crowd of men in brown rags appeared through the darkness and interrogated Suun.
"Where did our bounty go, old man?" Said one of the men.
"I tried to catch them myself, but they jumped into the streets below me."
"Ok men, go through the streets and look for any signs of the woman or a man named Paul." They men all disappeared and the black clouds faded away. When they were gone, Suun opened the prophecy again and started to read.
"The heroes shall be successful in their mission if the three doors are destroyed. The doors create a window for the black knight where he can destroy the prophecy and reign over all of Tyria, Cantha, and Elona. The doors will also effect the heroes. One hero shall betray the rest, and one will give their life for the cause. If the King of Orr can remember his right to the throne then the doors will become inactive to the black knight, for he would not own them any longer. The three doors can give a man great strength, but the courage of an alliance can get a man even stronger. The courage of the Droknars Arena Dogs."

- Written by Muscle Man Paul