Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ The Dragons Ring ❯ The Battle and The Prophecy ( Chapter 1 )

 

Chapter One

The Battle and

The Prophecy

 

1203 A.D.

Edo, Japan

 

A time of warfare exists between most demons and humanity with the peaceful demons and spirits aiding the humans. The war that had lasted over three hundred years had spread from Ryukyu. All over the world the great civilizations of Egypt, The Aztec, The Inca, The Norse, The Native Americans, The Babylonians, The Britons, and The Japanese prepared for what would be the final battle of the war. But our story begins in Edo, Japan.

Edo is like any other city at this time. It has been totally evacuated so that no civilians would be killed in the battle. Most of the buildings and alleys have traps set in them. It was surrounded by a twelve foot high four foot wide solid stone wall. The city was built around a tall wooded hill a mile away from the outer wall and had a castle built atop it. The inner castle walls were 30 feet high, fifty feet thick and had only one entrance; a passage that is ten foot high, ten feet wide and can be sealed by the five solid pine doors reinforced with iron and separated by a ten foot open space. The ten foot area between doors have walls with slits in them and a ceiling filled with holes, when an enemy enters this space archers fire from the slits while acid, boiling oil, and rocks are dropped through the holes in the ceiling. The wall itself is pure white and crested with foot tall battlements so that archers could fire onto an attacking foe. A ledge hung out over the side, the underside of which was covered with foot long spikes that prevented demons from scaling the wall, the wall was connected to the keep on one side so that soldiers could easily reach the wall. This section of the wall could also be collapsed if an attacking enemy got onto the wall. Built into the walls were cross-like windows that were also used by archers. There was seventy feet of space between the outer wall and the castle keep which was twenty feet taller than the wall and also had the windows for archers. The keeps roof is dark green and slopes down in a curve till it comes to a point at each of the four corners. The entrance to the keep is on the side opposite of the walls gate and was built exactly like the main gate was. The only way to reach the castle was by climbing up a long narrow road that wound up the side of the hill.

And sitting on one of the castle's battlements was a young woman barely nineteen. She had black hair, blue eyes and wore Samurai armor and a Katana on her belt. Her name is Ichihara and despite her age she was the greatest samurai who ever lived. We start this tale with Ichihara sitting atop the castle in deep thought...

As Ichihara watched the sun set behind Mount Fuji from atop of the Shinobin Castle in Edo she wondered how the upcoming battle would end. Would they succeed in defending the castle from the demon hoard? Would they all be slaughtered? These questions kept repeating themselves within her mind. She also hoped to a spout of dragon fire in the sky but knew that was unlikely. The dragons had disappeared soon after the war began. No one knew why the demons had suddenly declared war on mankind but everyone knew that some supreme evil force was behind it.

"What troubles you young one?" spoke a soft voice behind her.

She turned to find it was Mishisara the Phoenix, he was 9 feet tall and while he looked mostly human he still had a fierce golden beak, and instead of skin there was red and gold plumage that shimmered every time he moved. He was wearing Samurai armor just like almost everyone else at the castle but his was unique. It was made of individual scales of ruby that was gold plated in certain spots.

 

As Ichihara looked at him she could not help but feel a little envious of him. She was wearing the same style of armor but much less grand. Her armor was over sixty years old and had been made by the greatest smith of the time just before his death. The armor was made of a mix steel scales and plates that gave her complete protection from a killing blow. The armor however had small patches of surface rust and the metal had lost its sheen. She never learned that her armor was the best that could ever be made.

Her Katana however was legendary. It was said that it was over five thousand years old and had been made during the clash of the gods to aid the immortals in their fight against the demon gods. It was made of silver that would not dull, break, or rust and weighed almost nothing. Its edge was so sharp it could inflict a deep cut if one simply tapped it. It's sheathe was made of pure amethyst and was covered with strange runes that no one could decipher. Its hilt was made of obsidian and had a dragon head carved into the pommel. The blade had been in her family for generations.

"Ichihara?" Mishisara asked.

"Oh it's nothing my friend." she replied.

"Do not try to fool and old spirit." Mishisara replies with a look of concern "I have been on this earth for over three thousand years and have been friends with humans for one thousand nine hundred twenty years. So I know when a young one is not well."

At this comment Ichihara starts to sob.

"It's just that I don't think we will survive the night." she said though her sobs and tears.

Mishisara smiles kindly and replies "Don't fret little one. I sense that we will survive the night and come out the victors of this war."

This calmed Ichihara down and she smiled. Just then a scout on horseback rode into the courtyard and spoke with the Shogun. After hearing what the scout had to report he

was dismissed and the shogun walked up to the balcony overlooking the city. He ordered the flag men to send a signal to his officers. Ichihara had long understood the flags. After watching the message she bade Mishisara goodbye and descended the path that led down to the city. She walked to the front gates of the city where she knew her soldiers were waiting. As she approached a young man with brown hair and eyes stood up.

*Well? How many?* he asked.

 

*One hundred thousand, Hetaera.* She replied.

All of the soldier's shoulders drooped. Ichihara began issuing orders to them she noticed the preparations happening around them. Friendly demons, spirits and human warriors unsheathed their weapons. The archers on the wall surrounding the city notched arrows and prepared to fire. She looked back towards her soldiers who over the four years she had befriended. Oorimaru the wolf demon was armed with twin swords and was her closest friend next to Mishisara, and Hetaera the young man of twenty who she suspected had a crush on her were all that remained of the original group that she had joined. The others were replacements for those who had died in the previous battles.

That was when she heard the demons approach. She could hear the roars, grunts and shrieks of the approaching army of demons. As the last ray of light from the sun faded to night Ichihara took a deep breath and unsheathed her sword. Suddenly a blood red mist rose over the top of the city walls and quickly covered the city.

*Stand firm* Ichihara shouted *stand...*

Before she could finish her sentence a horrible blood curdling screech sounded from nowhere. Many of the human defenders fell to their knees clutching their heads in pain and terror. When the screeched echoed back into nothingness the defenders heard an evil laugh that also echoed out from nowhere. That*s when the battle began, but not as you would think. None of the archers on the wall had fallen to their knees so they began to fire. But those behind the wall began to stand up. Hetaera quickly leapt to his feet and, in one swift blow killed an earth spirit, and a human defender.

*Hetaera what are you doing!* Ichihara shouted.

 

But then Hetaera looked at Ichihara she saw his eyes had become blood red with a black pupil. She knew he was a zombie. She heard a scream of pain behind her and when she spun around she saw that the archers had been overrun and the demons were now approaching he group. She quickly decapitated Hetaera and turned to find herself face to face with a demon. It struck at her hitting her in the chest but just knocking the breath out of her. She dodged the next blow and killed the demon. All around her the demons were swarming. She could see demons of all sizes, man sized ones, giant ones with enormous swords and maces, some fought with tooth and nail, others with blade, some had leathery hides others had scales, feathers, or fur. But Ichihara had to focus her mind again as she attacked another demon.

The battle lasted for many days. Both armies made advances as well as retreats throughout the battle There were almost always fighting for the same ground that they had just lost. Many thousands died and the battle lasted so long that the defenders eventually began recalling small groups of their soldiers to the castle for a break while a semi-fresh group went out to fight. It was during one of these switches that the demons broke through a gap in the line. They swarmed over the defenders as they pushed towards the castle. The defenders started retreating into the scant safety the castle offered. The retreat was covered by a trio of valiant warriors who had not taken a break longer than ten minutes. These three were Oorimaru, Ichihara, and Mishisara. Oorimaru and Ichihara were the last of their squad left alive. Oorimaru had lost one of his swords but still fought on without it using tooth and claw as well as his remaining sword. Ichihara quickly slew each

foe that attacked her with only one or two strikes. Mishisara used his ignited katana to burn through demon after demon.

So great were the trio that demons had to stop fighting in order to clear away the bodies so that more could attack. Ichihara was focused entirely on the battle at hand all that was going through her mind was; Strike, Dodge, Strike, Parry, Strike. This focus was shattered when she heard the death howl of Oorimaru as he was impaled by four spears. Ichihara and Mishisara killed the demons that had slain their friend and started to pull him towards the gate, still fighting the demons all the while. It was at this point that the twelve foot tall troll demons began their attack on the gateway. Just when Ichihara was sure she was about to die their was a deafening roar of rage and pain that echoed from nowhere that caused the attacking demons to drop their weapons and retreat. The defenders all shouted out in joy and then silenced almost instantly for hovering in the sky was a single dragon.

It was fifty feet long, with a hundred foot wing span. It had vertical blood red and ebony black stripes with silver claws on its five fingered hand.

"HEAR US OH DEFENDERS OF EARTH." a voice projected itself into the defenders minds.

Ichihara could just hear an echo from dragons at the other civilizations.

 

"I am The Dragon Lord and I come with a prophecy. This was not the final battle. We have Slain the demon generals while you fought here. but we lost most of our kind such was the demons strength now just us nine remain. But alas we were unable to discover the source of this great evil. But do not despair for the time will come when the spirits of the greatest warriors from the nine nations shall be reincarnated in the future to finally defeat this evil. Those warriors are; Ichihara and Mishisara Of Japan, Blackhawk of the plains, Tore of the Incans and Sorer of the Aztec Empire, Lorving the Strong of the Norse, Lord Sinimaru of the Ryukyu Kingdom, Ahmet the Babylonian, Sir Jacob of the Britons, Cleasphet and Ahmephore of Egypt. Though many years may pass and bloodlines will fade remember that the time of awakening will come when the descendant of the Dragon Warrior finds the Ring of Dragons shall their spirits begin to awaken. Though be warned for good or ill is this prophecy for if the descendants are found by the evil before you find them then all will be lost." Suddenly Ichihara felt the dragon's presence in her mind.

"The Dragon Lord will bless you with a child in three years time. He will be born on the third month of the year of the dragon. You must name him Seoru and train him in the ways of Bushido and to be a great scholar. Instill in him a sense of justice and a strong moral. For he will form the Dragon Guild. You will die before he reaches the age of ten so be quick for if you fail in this task then all is lost." Then the dragon was gone.

****

Three years passed and Ichihara gave birth to a son that she named Seoru. She trained him exactly as she was told and by the age of eight he was already a master swordsman and a brilliant scholar. Ichihara was slain by Demons of the Black Skull when Seoru was ten and during the funeral Seoru was silent. He was sent to live at The Dragon Temple where he continued his life.

****

Fifty years have passed since his mother's death. Seoru stands at the entrance of The Dragon Cave where he founded the Dragon Guild. His own children had been separate from him at birth as was tradition at the Dragon Temple. Now all he hoped was that he had fulfilled his role in the prophecy. Just as he thought this he blacked out.

He awoke lying in a field of gold and silver poppies. In front of him was laying the dragon that his mother had described as his father.

 

*So this is my son? You have done well now you have but one task to perform.* It said.

Seoru woke up on his bed inside of the temple with the guild members watching anxiously.

*The ring is sent. Let the search begin.* Seoru croaked. And then he was gone.

Six years passed until the next event occurred. There was an explosion near the Dragon Temple. When the monks went to investigate they found a small box that was made of diamond and inlaid with ruby, silver and gold. On the lid of the box was, in emerald, was written *this chest holds the secret training that the chosen will be required to learn as well as the responsibilities of the caretakers*.

As the monks prepared to transport the chest back to the Temple when they were attacked by The Demons of the Black Skull., but luckily there was a small group of Noble Samurai that were passing by on their way to Edo. Upon seeing the monks assailed by the demons the samurai attacked protecting the monks and chest from the evil demons. When the battle ended the chest opened on its own. Out of it came one of the scrolls that it contained. The scroll opened and read *The Protectors of this chest and the monks keeping it shall be honored in the highest way. They shall be made honorary members of the temple as shall their ancestors and shall become protectors of the temple if they do so agree.*

The samurai agreed.