Shua Dawn

“Just breathe…” I inhale, then exhale while opening my eyes. “Diiiiiie!” Gwyn is still shouting as he launches off his attack. Calmly, I assess the room surrounding me. Glancing over my shoulder, I see Ramsey tackling Maka and Anaea, pulling them close into his own body and rolling them all out of harm’s way, and I breathe a sigh of relief. “No! No more innocent lives!” Cinder roars, the short-lived flaming motes still forming around him though they’ve faded around me. He looks dead at the incoming cannon ball and snaps his fingers, instantly swapping places with it and causing it to blast into the wall behind everyone. Gwyn, with a surprised look on his face says, “Tsk, twice? You’ve gotten stronger.” “I’m just getting started. Re! Stone Barrier!” Cinder quickly puts his hands together in front of him, then slams them on the ground to either side. Suddenly the ground around Gwyn erupts upwards, surrounding him and sealing him off completely. Anaea, seizing the opportunity, stands up and beckons me away from where Gwyn is sealed up, stepping forward to meet me halfway and pull me back while keeping her eyes on Cinder. “What the hell was that?” I ask Cinder, while passing him with a wide berth. “Run! It’s not safe here!” Cinder shouts to all of us, ignoring my question. “Noone’s going anywhere!” Gwyn smashes through Cinder’s stone barriers as if through paper, a faint orange shimmer around him. The spectral shackle is still on his wrist, though the chain, cannon, and orbs are gone. “Gwyn! Why would you do this?” I ask, stalling for time while I try to figure a way out of this. “Professor Gwyn, this isn’t you!” Anaea cries out. “Ha! Like a bunch of kids would know the real me…” Gwyn sneers at Anaea. “What are you guys doing?! Get the hell out of here!” Cinder calls to us, spurring us to action. “I’ll distract my Master!” Cinder charges towards Gwyn, a faint blue shimmer forming around him as he engages Gwyn in hand-to-hand combat. I look on, amazed by what I’m witnessing; Cinder, still surrounded by little dying motes of fire, is a blur as he strikes at Gwyn, who, heart in hand, is blocking Cinder’s flurry with the other hand, the shackle on it ringing out as it is struck repeatedly. “Maka, are you…? Can you stand?” Ramsey’s tone is flustered as he looks towards the spectacle that is Gwyn and Cinder fighting. “I don’t like this… I don’t like this!” Panicking, Maka can’t stop repeating himself. “Maka, we don’t have time for this. Get up!” Ramsey grabs Maka by the arm, hoisting him up. Gwyn focuses his piercing gaze on me, still somehow managing to block all those attacks with one hand while pinning me in place with his eyes. “Young Fukai, what is the one thing you desire?” Gwyn tells me with a smile using the same tone I know so well from his lectures in class. “Huh…? What is wrong with you?” I demand. “It’s quite simple. I’m talking about dreams. We all have dreams. Ones that give us hope; ones that we struggle to achieve,” Gwyn says, twisting his stance around Cinder such that Cinder is no longer between us. “The One where we will stop at nothing to see it through… and I mean nothing.” As he finishes his sentence, he lands an open-hand strike to Cinder’s chest, driving them apart, and the motes of fire cease to form around Cinder. A wave passes through the blue shimmer on Cinder. “My dreams…” I whisper to myself and pause for a moment, my gaze drifting. I mentally shake myself before focusing on Gwyn once more and steeling my gaze. “I’m sorry, Gwyn, but we don’t share the same dreams.” Gwyn’s upper lip twitches in disgust. “I see you’re just like your father,” he says through gritted teeth. “It’s such a shame to hear that, young Fukai.” Gwyn starts to mumble to himself, “And I had high hopes for you. I guess the search for a new apprentice is back to square one.” Gwyn looks at me and smirks, then his eyes drift over to Ramsey. “Guys! You need to get out of here! This is something you can’t handle!” Cinder stresses. “Is the Truth worth losing everything, Gwyn!” Ramsey shouts, defiantly. “Oh, Ramsey, you have always been the brightest, haven’t you? Hahaha! Never disappointing. Wait there quietly,” Gwyn slips the flaming heart into a pocket inside his vest, and quickly connects his thumb and ring finger together followed by pressing his palms together, “your time will come.” Gwyn takes a step forward. His step forward thunders in my ears, sending a shock of cold down my spine; digging its claws into my muscles and paralyzing me. “Shit…” I look at Gwyn with sweat running down my face, “This isn’t good.” “Fukai! You need to run!” Cinder shouts, intertwining his fingers in a cross in front of himself and connecting his thumbs below. “Huh…” I try to move to no avail. “Gen! Silently Burn! Smold!” Gwyn finishes, pulling out a red hilt from the palm of his hand and quickly slings out Smold, revealing it to be a blue-flame covered claymore and startling me into falling back, my eyes glued to the massive sword. “Gen! Drown Everything! Waterhawks!” Cinder shouts as he finishes his summoning and quickly throws a tomahawk. “This is nothing personal, young Fukai, but you’re going to have to die,” he explains with a smile; sickly calm as he places his other hand on the hilt and raises the blade, leaping high into the air at a speed my eyes can’t follow and arcing his blade down towards me. A blue blur whistles and strikes the ground next to me. I glance away from Gwyn for a moment to stare at the tomahawk that narrowly missed me, wondering if it was meant to hit me and shocked to see that the blade is

“The Journey’s End?” I repeat at a whisper, a little puzzled before working to clear some wax out of my ears. “I’m sorry, Professor, did I hear you right?” “It’s nothing, young Maka, it’s nothing. I was-” Gwyn says before being interrupted by a familiar voice. “Psst, Maka. Over here.” Ramsey whispers as he and Anaea enter from another doorway. Anaea, noticing Ramsey’s whisper and crouching walk, looks around and notices Cinder at the altar and decides to mimic him. My ears perk up upon seeing Ramsey and Anaea and I feel a sense of relief wash over me. I call out to them in a whisper, “Ramsey! Anaea! Thank god you made it! I-I don’t think I can do this by myself.” “Well, we’re likely to need some help ourselves before this is through,” Ramsey replies, seeming like a weight has been placed on his shoulders. I scurry over to Ramsey excitedly. “Ok, you can count on me…” I say with my thumb to my chest, but then, thinking better on it, change my hand to just my index finger up, “but, from a distance.” “Hey!” Ramsey protests at me at a whisper as I drop flat, arms over my face. “Umm… where’s Fukai?” I say, rising to my haunches and peeking around with one eye open. “I’m not sure. We got separated along the way.” Anaea lets out a sigh and pats me on the head. “Knowing him, he’s probably causing trouble somewhere.” Ramsey advances past me, every detail of his face outlined in a dark stoney expression as he stares down Cinder. “You shouldn’t worry about that idiot… just focus on what’s in front of you.” Then whispers under his breath, “And maybe we’ll learn something of this ‘Truth.’” “B-But… but what if Fukai needs our… h-help?” I say, passion setting a small flame behind my eyes. “Maka, Ramsey is right. Fukai can take care of himself. What’s truly important is saving the land of Apo;” Anaea turns to stare directly into my eyes, “Our home,” she concludes. “I couldn’t say it better myself, Anaea.” Gwyn walks up behind us with a smile, “I couldn’t begin to imagine what you guys went through since we were separated.” He looks Ramsey in the eyes and smiles, “Someday though, I would like to hear the things you all saw. Especially you, Ramsey.” I look over at Ramsey while scratching my head, “What is Professor Gwyn talking about?” Ramsey remains silent. “Like I said, that can be a conversation for another time.” Gwyn starts to walk towards Cinder, “We wouldn’t want to keep our guest waiting.” “Stopping the Ashen from spreading is our top priority. Right, Professor?” Anaea says while following right behind Gwyn. Gwyn smirks and taps his nose, “Certainly, young Anaea.” Ramsey stands up fully from his crouch and follows. I hesitate briefly, before exhaling in resolution and also following. As we draw closer, I notice a shape within the flame, a shape that makes my heart try to jump out of my chest. Cinder carefully inhales then exhales as he opens his eyes. “It’s time to set things right.” Cinder looks down at the object in his hand. “And, do tell me, what might that be?” Gwyn inquires while approaching Cinder. “Master… I see you’ve decided to join me?” Cinder continues to stare at the object as it slowly beats-out a pulse. “W-w-what the hell is that?” I say, disturbed by its beating and unaware that I finally cursed in front of my teacher. Ramsey circles to the right to be behind Cinder, listening intently to their conversation. “Wait! Is that a heart?!” Anaea shouts, the sight of it putting her on edge. “Wait… I’ve seen that before…” “I’m sure your assumptions are correct, young Anaea, but let’s focus on the matter at hand.” “O-Ok, Professor…” Anaea looks to Gwyn, worry creasing her brow as her eyes are again pulled to the heart. “Cinder, I’m willing to forgive… I just don’t want you to do something you’ll regret for the rest of your life.” Gwyn smiles warmly and wipes a tear away as it falls down his face, “Please, you have always been like a son to me. That’s why it’s painful to see you like this.” Gwyn extends his hand towards Cinder, “Let’s go home together and forget about this, okay?” “And what about the land of Apo?” Cinder asks quietly. “Huh?” Gwyn says. Cinder smiles. “You never cease to amaze me, Master. You can drop the act, I won’t think less of you.” “I’m sorry, I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Gwyn shakes his head with his eyes closed. “But I’m a little disappointed in you. After everything I’ve done for you, it-” “I really hoped that the wound I inflicted on you would have been enough to put you down. Hmm… I guess it was a miscalculation on my part,” Cinder ponders to himself. “Miscalculation, you say…” Gwyn smiles. “Maybe next time you should aim for my heart.” “I concur.” Cinder locks eyes with Gwyn. “Umm… th-this isn’t normal… h-how can you guys talk so casually about killing each other?” I state my concerns. “Maka, I…” Anaea looks at me from a distance. “Enough…” Ramsey mumbles to himself. “Enough of all this bickering!” Ramsey points at both Gwyn and Cinder. “I don’t care what happened in the past. I don’t care if you guys kill each other. All that matters is stopping the Ashen from consuming everything!” Ramsey shouts at the top of his lungs. “I’m sorry, young Ramsey… you’re right. The longer we wait, the less time we have to save the Deep Jungle,” Gwyn says while taking a step closer to Cinder. “I’m sorry, Cinder, but this is for the greater good.” Cinder stares at Gwyn, not moving an inch. “I guess you’re fully gone, Master.” Cinder closes his eyes. “This truly saddens me.” The moment Cinder opens his eyes, I can feel a shift in the room. “I…”

Warning  This Chapter contains depictions of violence that may be upsetting for some readers.  Since their return, Cinder had been carefully keeping an eye on Gwyn. Something had definitely felt …off about him. That, combined with Cinder’s natural curiosity, had led to Cinder quietly sneaking up on Gwyn, who was heading towards an unknown location in the middle of the night. He seemed to be talking to someone through a wrist-gram with a determined look on his face. “Master, it’s me. It looks like I have hit a wall,” Gwyn said to the hand-sized holographic projection coming from the device on his wrist. “…” it responded, too quiet for Cinder to hear. “No, I haven’t given up. In fact, it has only given me more resolve… to do the unthinkable.” “…” “Yes, I do mean that. I will perform that forbidden ritual.” “…” Gwyn smirked at the response and tapped the wrist-gram. After the image faded, Gwyn looked up at the moon, a manic gleam appearing in his eyes. “I wonder what you would think of me right now, Kai?” He reached into his bag and pulled out a map. “Let me see… hmm… there, that should do.” Gwyn closed the map and looked in Cinder’s direction with a sinister smile. Cinder’s heart sped up a little and things went silent for a second as Gwyn pointed past Cinder at nothing. “The Flying Dragon Village would seem to be the one.” Then, quietly to himself, “I guess I’d better hurry if I want to finish before the night ends.” Gwyn stood still for a moment, eyes off in the distance, and said, “Well, I’ll just be glad you’re not here to stop me,” and headed off into the night.     ***   The Flying Dragon village was a small village located west of Coatlicue. It was a simple village, quiet and peaceful, but that night would turn out to be anything but for the villagers. Throughout the history of this universe there have been powerful rituals discovered by certain Elementors that are both brutal and lifesaving. Some of these rituals were used for evincing. Gwyn was about to perform one such; one of languages. One which required a sacrifice; the taking of language from a group of people. Cinder quietly followed Gwyn from a distance and hid behind a rock overlooking the village, waiting a moment as Gwyn approached the gates. Upon arriving at the Flying Dragon village, Cinder felt a vague familiarity, though he didn’t know what for. A Koa stepped forward from the gates and greeted Gwyn. “Gwyn? Is that you, Gwyn?” Koa Enos said, waving at Gwyn. “Oh. Enos. It has been a long time, hasn’t it?” Gwyn said, feigning interest to hide his frustration at being stopped as he glanced at the village. “Yeah it has! Hey, how’s Kai?” “Right… him…” Gwyn hesitated, his ability to maintain his demeanor fading as his face changed from light-hearted to feral. “I’m sorry, Enos, but I have to go,” Gwyn said curtly, forcing an end to their conversation as he turned back to the gate and started to go through. Enos, sensing something was off with Gwyn, quickly made the symbols for fire and for earth. “Compound! Firebind!” Enos then quickly pressed the palm of his hand onto Gwyn’s chest and fiery chains shot out of it, wrapping around Gwyn and binding him in place. “Stop right there, Gwyn! I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m not letting you into the village! For God’s sake, my parents live here!” Gwyn smirked. “Is that a fact?” He looked at Enos and tilted his head, all attempts at pretense gone. “You won’t LET me?” His smile faded as he looked down at Enos’ hand on his chest. Fear began to creep into Enos’ voice and stance. “Don’t make me do this! I really don’t want to hurt you, Gwyn!” Gwyn locked eyes with Enos, his smile creeping back onto his face. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to kill the villagers. I’m just here to take away their ability to speak.” Enos stared into Gwyn’s eyes with disbelief. “What did you say?” “Oh. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to save your family for last. I’ll let them watch, helplessly, as I cut out their friends’ tongues.” Gwyn stuck out his tongue and gently grabbed it, acting like he was ripping it out. “If you get my point.” “What the fuck is wrong with you, Gwyn?!” Enos shouted, enraged by Gwyn’s action, and quickly made the symbol for air. “Like hell I’m going to let you do that, Gwyn! Re! Wind Blades!” Air began to form in the palm of Enos’ hand, but disappeared shortly thereafter. “Huh?” Enos looked down and found a blue-flaming claymore sticking out of his stomach leading back to the bound hand of Gwyn. “I’m sorry, Enos… I wasn’t giving you a choice. Though, now that you pissed me off, hmm… let me think. Oh! I know! How about I let you watch the whole thing?” Blood erupted from Enos’ lips as he spasmed into a sudden cough. Despite the pain, Enos’ mind focused on his surprise that Gwyn’s technique had been so instantaneous. Looking back, he realized that Gwyn had whispered something as he raised his hand to strike Gwyn down. Enos’ hand relaxed from its offensive sign and dropped. As it alighted on the flaming sword, his mind finally caught up, the wave of pain hitting him in full force now. Coursing through his entire body, nerve endings screaming out in pain; the skin on his arm and stomach became blackened and burned away, and the fiery chains disappeared. Enos grabbed the sword with his skinless hand in an effort to keep his feet. “Come. I have a forgotten language to revive,” Gwyn said and made the sword disappear. Enos, wracked by pain, having been only held up by Gwyn’s sword, fell to the ground. Gwyn glanced down at Enos and said, “Let’s go,”

Warning  This Chapter contains depictions of violence that may be upsetting for some readers.  6 Years Later: 8 Years Ago.   It had been six long years since Rebecca’s death and Cinder, now in his thirteenth year, began to make his move. Desperate heavy footsteps reverberated off the claustrophobically-close stone walls of the darkened alleyway. “Oh god! Oh god! Stay away! Stay away!” The air sang as a dagger flew through the air, the sound cut short as it pierced Lord Ponte through his left leg, digging deep into the bone. His momentum carrying him, he pitched forward into a muddy puddle, the squelch as he landed was drowned out by his pained screams. “Fuuuck! That hurts!” “It’s an honor to finally meet you, Lord Ponte. I’m sure you recognize this dagger?” Cinder taunted Lord Ponte from the shadows. Lord Ponte looked down at the dagger sticking out of his leg. Its hilt emblazoned with his own crest reflecting in his eyes sent his mind back to the night of the promise he had made. As his mind returned to the present, panic fell upon him and he began gripping at his chest. “Wait! No! No! No! I’ve kept my promise! I never showed my scummy face at all!” Lord Ponte pleaded, looking around for the source of the dagger and voice. “What do you mean?!” Lord Ponte finally saw a figure step out of the darkness behind him. Each step deliberate and menacing, before suddenly rushing over to him in a split-second, ripping the dagger out of his leg, and holding it to his throat. Cinder tilted his head, and with the same look Rebecca gave Lord Ponte all those years ago, he looked deeply into Lord Ponte’s eyes and calmly said, “Talk.” Ponte told Cinder everything that happened the night Rebecca came storming into the Birth Gallery, eyes ablaze and fury palpable. He told him that since he had heard of her death all those years ago he hadn’t gotten a good night’s sleep. How he lived in fear ever since knowing that he wasn’t responsible for her death, and that someone might be clearing house. That she might not be the only target from that incident and then he proceeded to plead with Cinder to release him from his suffering. Honoring his mother’s promise, he didn’t end Lord Ponte’s suffering that night. Instead, he left Lord Ponte to wallow in his own misery.   ***   “I’m home.” “Welcome back, Cinder. Dinner is almost ready. Wait… You’re talking again? That’s great! I told everyone you just needed time… oh, right, a couple of people came by wanting to see you.” To Arathean, this was clearly a bigger deal than he was letting on, but didn’t seem to want to jinx the change, instead choosing to keep moving forward with the conversation. Cinder glanced at Arathean worriedly. “I believe the first person was Esther… and the other person was a man… I don’t think we’ve ever met.” “I’m sorry, I can’t help you with that one.” The mention of Esther plants the idea of paying a visit to Wong Faye Junior into Cinder’s mind to see what he has to say.   Next Night.   “Hurry the fuck up! Goddammit! Who the hell thinks they can fuck with Wong?!” an arrogant voice barks as its owner looks around the warehouse venomously. “Boss! Could it be the rumored R-Reaper?!” a second voice replied with a tremor. “Shut up!! Let me think…” Wong Faye Junior was frustrated. Having never been challenged before, his mind couldn’t comprehend the severity of the situation. “Wait! Are there less people here?! Dammit! I’m getting out of here!” Cinder kept to the shadows provided by the large warehouse as he stalked each of Wong Faye Junior’s goons individually, rendering them unconscious with deadly precision, until only Junior was left. “You probably don’t know me, Wong Faye Junior,” Cinder conversed casually as he lowered the unconscious body of the last goon, “…but I know who you are.” “Show yourself, asshole!” “You’re just a parasite feeding off the innocent. You’re worse than scum. How does it feel to live in your father’s shadow?” “Fuck you!” Wong Faye Junior lunged towards the entrance of the warehouse reaching forward desperately. As his hand was about to grasp the handle of the door, there came a whistle of something flying, followed by a thunk as a flying dagger pierced his hand and pinned it to the wooden door, and he howled in agony. Quietly, Cinder approached from the shadows where the dagger had flown, rotating another twin blade slowly. “Say one more word and I’ll cut your throat… and that is a promise.” Wong Faye Junior remained silent as Cinder recounted what he had learned from Lord Ponte. As Cinder spoke, dread came over Wong Faye Junior, like a wave of arctic water, petrifying him as he realized who Cinder must be. “You may speak now.” “Look, you have the wrong idea… I-I didn’t kill her… why would I?” From the shadows flew a dagger, piercing Wong Faye Junior through the side of the neck. Cinder leapt backward, on guard. “Look how he tries to weasel his way out of taking responsibility… but I believe it’s for the best, right? I mean, you said it yourself, he was just a parasite.” Gwyn emerged from the shadows and greeted Cinder with a smile. It had been many years since the last time Cinder had seen Gwyn, so he kept his guard up, just in case. “How long has it been, five? No, six years? You have grown so much.” Gwyn smiled while patting Cinder on the head. “W-Why did you do that, Master Gwyn?! I was about to learn-” Cinder shouted, unable to control his feelings. “The truth? From a parasite that feeds off people’s miseries? Trust me, Cinder, I’ve seen many men like him, and he would have killed you the moment you turned your back.” There was only

Warning  This Chapter contains depictions of violence that may be upsetting for some readers.  19 Years Ago.   Cinder had always been different, even before he met Gwyn. In his second year of life, Cinder watched silently from the rattling door frame of his home, unflinching as his mother, the village leader, collapsed to her knees with her shoulders hunched forward. He could still feel the warmth where her hands had been holding him before setting him down to confront the raiders that were bearing down on their home. Staring unblinkingly, Cinder’s crimson eyes reflected the image of a raider reaching forward and gripping the spear that was sticking out of her tightly, wrenching it from its fleshy sheath, and slowly approaching him. The raider hurried, raising his arms to pierce the child with his spear. A flash and a blur, the raider’s body stops, his head spinning off to the side. Cinder’s father, in a very calm manner despite several severe wounds, reached down and gently picked up Cinder.   Cinder’s father knew that he wasn’t long for this world and in order to save Cinder’s life he decided to plant a seed. The seed of fear within.   The ripping and tearing of squelching flesh was nearly drowned out by the cacophony of pillaging the raiders brought to this village. Most died that day, but the few that were left alive witnessed something that they all had lost, pride. As Rebecca stepped forward, her spear lowered and hand outreached, Cinder did not hear the words upon her lips, but he could see them moving. Cinder’s father replied in a calm manner and Rebecca quietly nodded her head as she looked at him with a look of regret and he took his last breath. Rebecca kept her promise, taking Cinder away from the massacre, leaving behind all the dead and her post as second-in-command of the Endlaf Raiders to instead raise the strange child in whose crimson eyes she could see all reflected but the blood laid out in front of them.   14 Years Ago- The kingdom of Coatlicue in a dark, back-alley.   Despite the kindness and love of his adoptive mother, Cinder did not break from the silence that he cloaked himself in on the day they met until his seventh year. “Why are you different?” Cinder asked, speaking for the first time since he was a toddler. “Huh?” Gwyn looked towards the unexpected child’s voice. Turning to address Cinder, Gwyn made his smile wide enough that it could be seen in the dark alley as he swiftly drew his sleeve across his face, wiping the blood off his cheek. “I’m sorry. Are you lost, boy?” Cinder shook his head in silence. “Hmmm… do you know where you live?” Gwyn said in a caring way. “You’re different from the rest…” Cinder thought for a second, carefully choosing his words, “Why is your outlook on life different from the rest of them?” Cinder said as he stared Gwyn down with a plain look. Gwyn gave Cinder a gentle smile and asked, “What’s your name, boy?” “Cinder,” he said. Gwyn began to walk away. “Are you coming, Cinder?” “Huh?” Cinder replied, a little confused. “I thought you wanted to know why I’m different?” Gwyn turned and smiled at Cinder. “Well?” Cinder nodded his head and quietly followed Gwyn. “Very interesting…” Gwyn looked towards the sky and smiled. “Very interesting, indeed.” This was Gwyn and Cinder’s first encounter. Time and perception are forever changing, for some more than others. By the time Cinder met Gwyn, the countenance of evil was already a familiar face. Cinder looked up at Gwyn, knowing that the man in front of him was different. Not in the same way as Cinder himself, and yet, so similar at the same time. A connection blossomed between them from the start; and Gwyn fulfilled every aspect missing from Cinder’s life. Patient, understanding, knowledgeable, fun, and giving. As time went on, Gwyn was the one who taught Cinder everything he knew. “Master Gwyn, are we alone in the universe?” Gwyn paused for a second, reflecting upon the question. “Hmm… you know what, I’ve never thought about it, but if there are other intelligent life-forms out there, then I believe the ones with the most power would likely already be able to make first contact.” “Why…” Cinder thought to himself. “What’s the matter, Cinder?” Gwyn replied, watching his own every move. “It’s nothing… I’m just thinking out loud.” Cinder never had trouble seeing through people, so it never bothered him as to why Gwyn was hiding his true intentions. “Hmmm…” Gwyn had a hard time seeing past Cinder’s eyes, but that made it so much more thrilling for him. Yet for Cinder, Gwyn was a different type of evil, he was more cunning and ruthless than most. He was very calculating when it came to everything in his world. He had the patience of a monk and the anger of a dictator hiding deep within his soul. His true-self lived right below the surface, ready to snap at a moment’s notice, like a crocodile searching for its next prey. Despite all of that, Cinder continued to follow Gwyn. Because Gwyn was the only one besides his adoptive mother to give him a second thought.   ***   “Master Gwyn… it’s getting late. I’d better go home,” Cinder said, realizing the time. He’d been so caught up in his studies tonight, like every night for the last eight months with Gwyn, that he hadn’t thought to check a clock. “I would agree, young Cinder.” Gwyn stopped and looked up at the sunset, smiling. “Cinder, I think I’ll start training you soon… so prepare yourself,” Gwyn said, sensing that Cinder had the aptitude for learning the mystical arts. Cinder had known that Gwyn had been holding back some things to teach him. Everything so far had seemed to be building towards something bigger, to have a deeper meaning, though never

“How is this possible?!” I say, exploring the great room. “Wow! How does this work?!” I ask, reaching out to touch one of the floating balls of water. “Hmm… actual water?” “I would have to agree with you, Fukai,” Ramsey says, looking around with amazement. “How is this even possible?” Maka walks past me, taking each step slowly. “Ummm… it’s going to be really hard to find Cinder in a place this big.” “I do have to say, this place is incredible.” Anaea comments while examining the floor, drawn-in by its handcrafted look. “I wonder who built it?” “Let me rest for a second,” Gwyn asks of us, his eyes darting around the room. “Listen carefully to what I have to say. The Temple of Ember isn’t some ordinary temple. History says that the temple itself is what gave birth to the Deep Jungle’s healing abilities, but despite that, the temple is still a dangerous place.” “What do you mean?” Ramsey asks. “This place is known for messing with your mind.” Gwyn points at his head. “It’s hard to distinguish what’s real or not. So we need to be careful and stick together.” “Don’t worry, Professor Gwyn, I don’t think any one of us is thinking of leaving,” Anaea answers brightly. “Ummm… Professor, I agree, splitting up definitely shouldn’t be an option,” Maka asserts while hiding behind Ramsey. “People might get the w-wrong idea.” “Don’t worry, Maka, there’s no way we’re splitting up. Right, Fukai?” Ramsey turns towards my direction only to be greeted by an empty space. “Aaaaand of course he’s gone… damn it! What the hell is wrong with him! Does he ever listen?! Fuuukaaaiii!!”   ***   “Huh?” I glance behind me, barely pausing as I sprint deeper into the temple. “Did someone call my name? Hmmm… maybe I’m just hearing things.” Focusing on the objective ahead, I continue to run. “Just you wait, Cinder! I’m coming for you!” I shout with excitement as I quickly turn a corner, stumbling upon a giant three-dimensional labyrinth. “Eh! What the hell is this place?!” The giant labyrinth’s scale is immense, but not just in its size, but also in its complexity. Everywhere I look I’m greeted with new twists and turns: stairs that lead down into the earth, others that shoot straight up, going on for miles. “Wow! This is crazy!” I say while taking in my confusing surroundings. “Hmmm… I can’t make heads or tails of this room!” The labyrinth, with its meandering twists and turns, is making my head spin just from looking at it. “Stairs?” I look up and notice there are stairs above me. “Weird. I better get out of here!” I quickly turn around. “Huh? Ok, that’s strange.” A wall stands in front of me. “I could have sworn that was the way I came in. Hmmm… odd…” Realizing in horror that I’m stuck, I start banging on the wall in a panic. “Holy hell! This can’t be good! I know I’m an idiot, but I’m positive I came this way!” I start to push on the wall. “Move! Move! Dammit, MOVE!” Unable to move the wall, I fall backwards onto the floor, out of breath. “Damn! No luck!” Taking a deep breath, I roll over onto my back to release the panic in my chest. I brighten up, smiling, “Don’t sweat the small stuff. Kekekeke! Oh well! I guess it can’t be helped!” I declare, leaping up onto my feet. “I guess the only thing to do…” I start dashing towards the stairs, “is to continue on!” The giant labyrinth is a neatly woven maze without a single bit of wasted space. Everything has a purpose: up becomes down and down becomes up. Things you thought were true are made to seem false. It is a labyrinth of mystery. “Wow! This place is crazy! I wonder who created all this?!” Continuing to run, I become startled as I pass by a glassy mirror that doesn’t reflect my image. I can still see the walls behind me, but no “me” blocking them. “Woooooow! This is crazy!” I stop running to examine it closer. “How is this possible?!” I tap on the mirror. A dark, roiling fog rolls in from the edges. “Is this some kind of trick?! How does it work?!” Suddenly, a view fades on the mirror, the dark fog fading to reveal a great battle raging within. It’s unlike anything I’ve seen before. “Hey! What’s going on there!” I demand while banging on the mirror. “How do I get in there?!” I can hear the screams of men dying as blood splatters, drenching the battlefield. “Stop this mindless killing!” I shout, enraged. “Damn!” I close my eyes in frustration. My despair is interrupted by a familiar voice. “Huh?” I open my eyes again, stunned to see what looks like an older version of myself on the battlefield using a mystical art form. “Huuuh?! How is this possible?!” I look at myself in a panic. “How can I be inside this mirror when I’m right here?! And I’m older?!” As I continue to watch, a cold fear creeps up inside of me as I slowly realize this could be the future I’m being shown. In this future, it looks like I will become a Koa, one with amazing abilities! Yet, despite all of that, Future Me is struggling against two young warriors who have yet to reach their prime. One is loved by the flames and seems to control it willingly. “No…” The other one has more of a spiritual ability: he is able to summon spiritual beasts to fight alongside him. “No…” I can see that as the battle rages on, the children that Future Me is struggling with will eventually fall. “Why am I doing this?!” I say as tears roll down my face. “I know…” The look on Future Me’s face tells it all. This future Great War isn’t something I want to take part in. “I don’t understand

Warning  This Chapter contains depictions of violence that may be upsetting for some readers.  *drip* ——*drip* *drip*——*drip* “Huh?” I say, trying to blink away the phosphenes in my eyes from the blinding flash of light as I look down at my chest. The book slowly tumbles out of my hand to land with a small splatter in a pool of my blood. “Huh… What’s going on?” “I’m sorry, Master, but you should have seen this coming.” Cinder twists the spear into me deeper. “There are bigger things at stake here, and I can’t have you destroying them.” I slowly turn my head around, my eyes following the line of the spear handle that is protruding out of my back, to the hands wrapped around it, hands that I know so well. Looking up into the face of my attacker, I question, “Cinder?” My gaze roams around as I try to take in and fully understand what is happening. “Why would you betray me like this? We were so close to realizing our dreams…” Blood that has made its way into the back of my throat forces me to cough and hack it up to clear my airways before I can continue. “And here I thought we shared the same dream?” Looking down at my hands, I can see there’s blood dripping through the cracks of my fingers and onto the waiting ground. “Ha…haha. *Cough.* *Spit.* You always were a fast learner, Cinder. Cinder closes his eyes. “Yes. I’m sure, at some point, we both did share the same dream, Master.” Cinder’s eyes open with confidence. “But somewhere along the line our dreams differed.” Cinder leans into the spear as he speaks, thrusting it further into my body. “And your dream, well, it lost its true focus a long time ago.” Cinder tenses his arm, readying to tear the spear out. “Goodbye, Ma-” “Where do you think you’re going?” I grab onto the spear with an iron grip, and despite the pain my lips turn upwards in a smile. “You should have known, Cinder, that I’m going to do everything in my power to stop you!” Cinder appraises me in silence.   ***   “Fukai?! Where are you?!” Maka shouts. Still blinded, I turn around and walk carefully, waving my arms until I grab Maka by the shoulder and announce, “I’m right here!” I squint my eyes to try and clear my vision so I can see my surroundings, then wonder aloud, “What the hell was that blinding light just now?!” “I’m not sure, but did the doors fully open?” Maka asks. “Professor, are you ok?!” Anaea is on her hands and knees squinting and feeling about in an attempt to make out where she is going. I peer into the empty, multi-colored brightness trying to make out anything. Blinking away my failure, I shake my head and turn to where Anaea’s voice came from. “Anaea, follow my voice!” “What?!” Anaea calls back. “Never mind, I’ll be right there!” I say as I make my way towards her, bringing Maka with me. “Whoa!” I spout after stumbling over a kneeling Ramsey who appears to be in shock. His arms are at his sides and his gaze is off in the distance. “Ramsey?” I turn to Ramsey and begin checking him for hurts. “Ramsey, are you…?” “Hey… HEY! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!” Ramsey shouts in anger and Maka, next to him, falls to his knees. “Noooooo… Professor Gwyn!!!” Anaea’s scream echoes throughout the temple entrance. “What?” I rub my eyes and squint in the direction that Ramsey is staring to see what it is that he’s looking at. “Gwyn…?” I try taking a step forward, but can’t find the strength. “Cinder…? Damn.” I can’t believe what I am witnessing; this horrific scene of betrayal by Cinder to his master. “Wait…” I put my hand on my chest, “I… does this feel familiar?” My heart is racing inside of me. “Fukai, snap out of it!” Ramsey shouts. Glaring at Cinder as unbridled rage erupts and tears through me, I shout, “Cinder! How dare you!!!” I step forward. Cinder remains silent. “Oh no… Ohhh, no no no! …This is not good! Professor Gwyn, are you okay?!” Maka attempts to stand only to have his legs buckle beneath him, sending him face first onto the floor. “Why?! Why would you do this?!” Anaea sobs, choking on her held back tears. “Cinder!” “Damn it! What the hell is wrong with me?” Ramsey cries out as his legs begin to shake. “Why won’t my legs move?!” Upon hearing the voices of my friends I force myself to stop. I look at the ground, shaking with rage. “How could you? Cinder…” I turn my fury towards Cinder. “How could you do this?! Answer me!” Cinder remains silent. “What about the jungle? I thought we were going to save it together?!” Unable to hold back my fiery storm of wrath, I scream, “Cinder! Say something, damn you!” I try to stop my hands from shaking by clenching them into white knuckled fists. “Fine. I’ll come to you, and make you answer me, Cinder.” “Young Fukai…” Gwyn raises his hand while breathing heavily. “Please… please don’t come any closer.” Gwyn places his second, bloody hand on the spear and smiles. “It looks like we frightened the kids, Cinder.” Cinder continues to remain silent. A deep cough rattles through Gwyn, ejecting more blood from his stained lips. As the coughing subsides, Gwyn smiles. “Why so quiet?” Gwyn says warmly, almost like he hasn’t just been stabbed through the chest; Like he’s expecting an answer regarding a theory they’ve been discussing. “Say, Cinder, you know you don’t have to go through with this… I’m sure we can work something out if we put our minds to it.” Cinder’s silence speaks more than any words. Gwyn looks into Cinder’s eyes; there is a calmness about both of them. “I see.” Gwyn looks at the temple entrance, the warmth of his

Warning  This Chapter contains depictions of violence that may be upsetting for some readers.  “Fukai! What’s the matter?!” Ramsey shouts as he runs up beside me. “Why did you st…” Ramsey looks down where the battle of the beasts took place. “Damn it. We need to hurry.” “Yeah… I…” The words I want to say are stuck in my throat. I bite down on my lip in frustration. “You don’t have to say it,” Ramsey regards me with a deep seriousness, “I know.” “Guys, wait up!” Anaea shouts from behind. “I’m sure it’s nothing good,” Maka says morosely. “Hmm…” Cinder responds noncommittally as he’s focused on the book he brought along instead of the conversation. “Let’s go,” Gwyn prompts the other three to continue following Ramsey and I to the top of the hill. As we stand there, all of us overlooking the jungle below from on top of this hill, the reality of this all finally sinks in. The ashen jungle is spreading faster than we could’ve anticipated; consuming all living things that dare to step foot in its domain. Cinder, Gwyn, and Anaea are astonished by what they are witnessing. “I can’t believe the magnitude of this,” Gwyn says while surveying the land. “Told you so,” Maka replies fatalistically. “Yeah, but… It’s just so unreal,” Anaea whispers while taking it all in. “Well, it’s real…” I begin to make my way down, determined to keep my promise and restore our land. “And we need to stop it before things get any worse.” Gwyn follows closely behind me. “Young Fukai is right. We mustn’t linger for too long.” Gwyn observes the ashen jungle. “It’s hard to say what ramifications might come if this is left unchecked.” Maka glances at Gwyn as even more worry worms its way into him. “Ummm… ramifications… that sounds dangerous,” Maka quails while walking away. “I’m sure you guys don’t need me, right? I mean, I’ll only get in your way.” “Are you worried, Maka?” Cinder looks down at Maka. “Oh… well, it’s only natural to not want to head towards danger,” Maka replies. “Oh. Right. You don’t have-” Cinder begins. “Look, Maka, you don’t have to go with us,” Ramsey interrupts from his position behind Maka, his eyes closed. Cinder just shrugs and intertwines his fingers, holding his hands in an x in front of himself. “Really?” Maka perks up with excitement. “Alright! I guess I’ll see you-” “Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait!” I say, having turned around and run back up to Maka. “Maka, buddy, what are you talking about? You’re not dead weight.” “Dead weight? Nobody said anything about dead w-” Maka starts to quietly refute. “Look here, Maka!” I tell him as I put my arm around his shoulder. “Ramsey is what you would call a hater.” “A hater?” Maka reiterates, confused. “Yeah?” Ramsey demands, irritation tingeing his voice. “Yep, a hater! And this hater doubts your abilities,” I announce while smiling. “I don’t mind if-” Maka tries to input. “…and next thing you know, you’re getting benched!” I look at Maka with excitement. “And I know about your adventurous side. You don’t want that!” Ramsey looks at me and shakes his head, then soon looks away. “Idiot.” “Ummm… I don’t mind getting benched,” Maka squeaks, nodding. I walk away from Maka with a pep in my step. “Trust me, Maka, once you get benched, you’re always benched!” I turn around, walking backwards as I look Maka in the eyes with excitement. “But just think of the possibilities! Endless adventures! Epic battles! And-” “Shut up, Fukai.” I run into Ramsey’s arm, barring me from proceeding. “Look.” I turn back around and notice we’re on the edge of the ashen jungle with the body of every living thing it has consumed pulsing like a heartbeat. It makes my stomach turn. “Should we go this way?” “Hmmm…” Gwyn picks a small branch off the ground and walks over to the edge, then tosses it across the line into the ashen jungle. The ash quickly consumes the branch, like an all consuming invisible fire. “Like I thought.” “That’s not good.” Ramsey looks at Gwyn. “Do we even know where it is that we’re going?” “Cinder, are you ready?” Gwyn looks over his shoulder at Cinder who is behind him. “I almost have it,” Cinder says while studying his book. I look over at Cinder, a little curious as to what he’s reading. “Yo! Professor, what’s Cinder reading?” “It’s an ancient book of our people’s history with the Temple of Ember.” Gwyn looks at me and smiles. “And Cinder and I are hoping it will tell us the location of it.” Ramsey walks up beside Gwyn, looking far off in the distance. “And why is The Temple of Ember so important to what’s happening here?” “It may hold the key to saving the jungle,” Gwyn looks at Ramsey with a smile, “if my calculations are correct. Though, only time will tell.” “Master, I think this is it.” Cinder looks at Gwyn while adjusting his glasses. “The location of the Temple of Ember.” Cinder closes the book and smirks, self-assuredly. “Follow me.” As we continue deeper into the jungle, boredom is tickling the back of my mind so I reach into my bag. “Alright, here it is!” I say as I pull out and play with the mechanical orb, tossing it up and down. “Are we there y-?” “Where the hell did you get that from?” Ramsey demands, his voice catching the others’ attention and casting suspicion on me. A spark enters Gwyn’s eyes and he curls his fingers into his palm twice to Cinder, who hands him the book. “What? This?” I point at the orb. “Oh, you know how I am always thinking ahead…” I look over at Maka with a smug expression on my face, “being the,” I snick with my tongue and shrug, “genius-that-I-am.” “…” Ramsey, flabbergasted, remains silent. Gwyn, uninterested in our tête-à-tête, is feverishly scanning the book of our

“Wake up.” I hear a familiar voice calling out to me. “Wake up, sleepy head,” she says in a sing-song voice. “I will… just… hmmm… give me two more hours,” I say while rolling over. “You’re going to be late,” she warns gently. “I was up all night… after sneaking out I’m really tired,” I respond with a peaceful smile. “Oh? Is that so?” She replies, kindly. “Yep. It was the best… mmm…” I answer, grinning. “I’m glad to hear that, you little shit!” My mom says, escalating to a shout. “Huh!” I open my eyes only to see that devilish look I know so well on Lukai’s face. “Wait… wait… WAIT! You can’t take what I say in my sleep serious!” “Oh. So you’re telling me that was all a lie?” Lukai says while cracking her knuckles with an evil smirk. “I… Umm…” I turn my head while whistling. “Of course, I don’t know what would give you that impression.” “Oh… you’re a real little shit.” Lukai kicks me out of bed. “Get the hell out of my sight! You’re late for school!” she roars, smashing the ground right next to me. “Ok… ok! I’m going.” I quickly jump up and dash towards the window. “Bye, mom!” I announce with a smile just before leaving. “Alright!” I say as I land on the ground. “It’s time to come up with a game plan!” I declare, dashing towards school. “Kekekeke!”   ***   “Let me see. Let me see… hmmm… I need to find an opportunity to sneak in,” I say while sitting on a tree branch, looking at my classroom from the outside. “This is going to be a true challenge!” I shout, smacking my fist against my palm. “Huh?” Ramsey looks out the window with a blank expression. “Must have been my imagination.” “Damn… that was close,” I say while hiding behind the tree. “Think, Fukai…” I look over and notice that Maka is dozing off. “Lucky.” I climb to the top of the tree. “Alright. The back window is open, Maka is at the front of the classroom… This should work. Kekekeke.” I conclude, laughing. Ramsey is sitting right behind Maka, poking him. “Wake up. Wake up…” I inhale, then exhale. “WAKE UP, MAKA!” I shout and smirk. “Huh?!” Ramsey looks outside. As Maka slams his hands on his desk and lifts his head to alertness, his ears standing at full sail and with everyone’s eyes but Ramsey’s focused on him, I grasp the branch above me with both hands, swing my legs up to it and launch myself forward, using my momentum and gravity to shoot towards my target: an open window leading into the classroom. With my body streamlined, I zip through, hands first, rolling to land safely in a crouch in the back of the classroom. “Safe,” I say quietly as I quickly crawl towards my desk’s location, close to the back doors. “Maka, you really shouldn’t be sleeping in class!” I chirp while smiling after I take my seat. Ramsey looks over at me. “When the hell did you get here?” “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Ramsey,” I quip with a grin. “Wait. Could it be that you feel so guilty for snitching on Maka that you’re trying to change the subject?” Ramsey starts to grind his teeth in frustration. “Damn you for setting me up! Tsk.” “Wait. Me set you up?” I reply with a smirk. “How could a ‘complete idiot’ set up the ‘genius’ Ramsey?” Ramsey stands up suddenly, his chair rattling as he pushes it out of the way to come at me. “Dammit, Fukai! How dare you!” “That’s enough.” Gwyn throws a book, hitting me square in the face to interrupt us. “To the boy who was sleeping, the boy who interrupted my class, and, last but not least, the boy who thought he could sneak into my classroom without me noticing:” Gwyn looks at us firmly, “go out in the hall and do Koa stretches while you think about what you’ve done.” The whole classroom begins to laugh derisively as Maka, Ramsey, and I walk out. I look over and notice Anaea, turned in her seat in front of mine, waving goodbye while smiling. “I’m confused,” Maka says. “Just blame Fukai,” Ramsey states. “Come on guys, don’t be like that,” I tell them while smiling. “Back to the lessons…” Gwyn announces as I close the door.   ***   Arching backwards on hands and feet and thinking about the state that the Deep Jungle was in, I can feel Ramsey staring daggers at me from the other side of Maka; hear the diatribe in my head. With my face getting redder by the second, I feel a sense of duty and defiance come over me. “Dammit! I can’t just keep doing this shit all day!” I vault up in a back-handspring and land on my feet. “Alright! I’m out!” I declare, walking away. “Umm… Kai, where are you going?” Maka whispers loudly with concern. “To rally people to our cause!” I shout. “Maka, don’t bother. He’s an idiot,” Ramsey says. “What’s wrong with following through on what you believe?” I retort. “Nothing wrong with that… the question is, who’s going to believe you?” Ramsey says, still glaring at me. Ramsey’s words strike a chord within me. “This is our home… it’s hard to express what I felt after seeing the beauty that the Deep Jungle has to offer, and it…” I pause, trying to turn my feelings into words, “it just turning to ash right before my eyes.” I close my eyes in frustration. “But it’s not just our home land, this whole planet… this Ashen whatever could infect it all, causing Tiesa to die.” I open my eyes to stare at Ramsey unblinkingly and with a fervor. “I’m not saying this half-heartedly, but with absolute conviction: A desire to protect what needs protecting.” Ramsey plops down on his back and sighs, “Nice answer.” “Not

  “Ye warriors must fight on! ‘Cause the night has just begun!”   “Hmmm… this feels like…” I say and look off into the distance. “Fukai… Fukai, is something the matter?” Anaea asks as she taps me on the shoulder. “Huh?” I glance at Anaea before my eyes are pulled back towards the distance. “It’s nothing… lost in thought, I guess.” “Let’s keep looking,” Anaea says and smiles. “‘Kay?” “Alright! Back at it!” I announce while running up to the first person I see. I tell him of the adventure we had within the Deep Jungle, along with all the horrible things that were happening. “Will you help me in my cause?” I beseech, desperately hoping the answer will be yes. The stranger just laughs in my face before dismissing me and walking away. “Dammit!” I growl upon seeing Maka and Anaea fail as well, getting the same response from the people they tell our story to. Just thinking about what King Al’Jun said earlier that evening causes the burning anger coiled in my chest to tighten further. “I need to keep going!”   *** “…I can’t believe this!” Fukai snaps, his frustration boiling over into his voice as he frantically scratches his head because everyone around us continues to ignore what we have to say. “H-How come they don’t understand the situation? It’s serious!” “Fukai, it’s no good.” Anaea looks around. “No one,” she sniffs, “believes us.” She wipes the tears from her eyes. “Umm… maybe we should relocate to a different part of town and try our luck there?” I propose to Fukai as I come up beside him, watching the oblivious people that pass us by. “Dammit…” Fukai says, putting words to our shared frustration. “What does he even know, anyways?” Fukai brushes me aside, storming off towards the outskirts of Coatlicue. “I’ll show him! For sure!” he declares, his grim determination settling into his expression and hardening his gaze. “Fukai, wait!” I reach out for him, hesitating at the last second. “…Let’s think about this.” I hold my ears tight against my chest, surprised by my previous assertiveness. “I’m sure we can think of something.” He pauses for a second. “Maka, let Fukai go.” Anaea puts her hand on my shoulder. “I think he needs his space.” Anaea looks at Fukai. “So, for the time being, let him go.” “But, Anaea, you don’t understand…” I say as I push Anaea away. “It’s all true! From the jungle turning into living ash, to us meeting the Oki! It’s simply…!” I try to calm myself down, “…all true.” “Wait, what are you trying to say?” Anaea says, doubt and worry creeping into her tone. “Look, Anaea, I know you mean well… but I know how you are.” I walk over to a bench and sit down, needing a moment to keep my emotions in check. “…And even if there’s a big part of you that believes, there is always going to be that little part that’s skeptical,” I wave Anaea over to sit next to me, “and that’s fine.” Anaea walks over and sits. “So it’s all true? Huh.” “Listen carefully to what I have to say, Anaea, because every part of this is true.” I begin to go into full detail about our adventures within the Deep Jungle. “It all started when Ramsey and I listened to an idiot… again…”   *** “Dammit… Dammit… Dammit!” I growl, frustrated with myself as I quickly turn a corner. Too distracted by my anger to bother looking where I am going, I collide with a stranger and fall to my butt. “Oof!” “Hey…! Watch where you’re going, you street rat!” The stranger shouts. My anger decides that this random person is just the right person to unleash upon, and as I jump to my feet and open my mouth to let them have it, a strange sound cuts off my retort. “Huh?” I utter confusedly instead. Completely ignoring the stranger, I begin to pour my eyes over my surroundings, casting my gaze around hastily. “Was that music I just heard?” Without pausing to think on it, I close my eyes to focus. “Hey… are you ignoring me?!” The stranger roars in my ear. “Dammit, man! Can’t you hear the music?!” I snap, a little irritated. “People are so rude.” “Huh?” The stupefied stranger utters, his confusion evident. As I begin to focus, I realize I can hear a familiar sound. “That same music…” I look off in the distance. “This way, I think,” I say, quickly sprinting off towards the outskirts of Coatlicue. I continue to run until I can’t run anymore, long after the music has stopped. “What am I even hoping for?” I query as I fall to my knees, gasping heavily. “Where the hell am I?” I roll onto my back and gaze up at the night sky. “Well… who cares. If nobody’s taking me seriously, then I guess-” I stretch out my hand towards the sky while smiling and abruptly close it to a fist, “-I’ll have to do it myself.”   “An enemy, hidden within, trying to become their friend. Ye Warriors, be careful of the ones that are hidden from men.”   “That music…?” I sit up and look behind me. “Wow!” I find myself on top of a hill overlooking the kingdom of Coatlicue. “It’s the same music that I heard in the jungle.” I look closely at the peak of the next hill over. “It’s her!” At the top of that hill, the mysterious woman sits playing the shamisen while looking down upon Coatlicue. She is sitting beneath a tree with soft, champagne-pink petals that are dancing in the wind, almost, seemingly, to the music that is playing. The words of my friends finally sinking in, I try a different tack. “Yo, how’s it hanging?” I say jauntily as I slowly approach her. She continues to play the shamisen. “I don’t remember this tree being here,” I comment upon reaching her.