by Lucky Charms

Disclaimers: See Part 1.

Feedback is always welcome: luckycharms@e-scribblers.com.

Copyright © 2004 by Lucky Charms. All Rights Reserved.

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Chapter Twenty

Date: October 18, 3021
Time: 2:07pm
Location: Beijing F.Y. Branch Office

"I wish I knew what in the hell they are talking about." Brian mutters as he and the rest of the group stand in a line behind Aeryk as he speaks with the Beijing branch chief Yue.

"How much longer do we have to stand at attention?" Joe grumbles.

"Where are they going?" Jeff asks as Aeryk is escorted off by Yue and a couple other Chinese officers.

"Hey, where are you taking him?" Brian calls out.

"The Sacred Child is being taken somewhere safe." An elderly woman leaning against a bamboo cane says with only the faintest of a Chinese accent. "We Chinese hold the legend of the Sacred Child very close to our hearts."

"Ying Mo." Jeff says smiling widely. "How did you sneak in here?"

Ying Mo shakes a winkled finger at him. "A magician never reveals his secrets." She quotes. "Also who’ll pay attention to an old crazy woman?" she laughs despite herself. "So I hear you are having some troubles, young Guardians. I see you are missing a couple, where are they?"

"One is back home right now." Brian says. "The other died trying to protect Aeryk."

Ying Mo grimaces. "I see. I am sorry for your loss. The Guardian of the Willow was it?"

"How did you know?" Jeff asks.

"I noticed that the Sacred Child, Aeryk, was wearing her bracelets." She shakes her head. "It is never easy, loosing a friend. But enough of this heavy topic, what can I do for you?"

"We’re trying to find a way to prevent Aeryk from dying after he uses his three wishes." Jeff says. "None of us know how to read ancient Chinese, and asking Aeryk to do it would be stupid. We were hoping if you could read it for us and find some sort of clue or anything that will lead us in the right direction."

Ying Mo examines each of the men’s features and nods as if satisfying a personal question. "You all have good souls, and a true desire to save someone so close to you." She motions for the others to follow her out of the F.Y. office and into afternoon sun of Beijing.

China was one of the few countries in the world to suffer very few casualties. Most of the population survived the great earthquake by, most say, sheer dumb luck. However the various mountain ranges littering the mighty country have become active volcanoes.

Several small villages in the country have succumbed to the volcanoes furies, which resulted in the decrease in China’s population. What was left of the Chinese people migrated to the Capitol city and the larger surrounding cities. If one didn’t know better, one might think that Beijing is still the bustling city it was years ago.

"You are very interesting people." Ying Mo begins after a strange and silent walk through the bustling streets. "I have read many accounts on the past Sacred Children and none of them are like what you are today."

"What do you mean?" Joe asks.

"Well, until now, all of the Sacred Children have been Chinese." Ying Mo states. "Finding out that the Child was an American came across as a shock if you know what I mean."

"Just how many Sacred Children have there been?" Brian asks.

"Oh more than you can count I’m sure." Ying Mo replies. "They have been around since the beginning of our planet."

"Then can you tell us why this Lan Long still exists?" Brian asks excitedly. "Why weren’t they able to do their jobs?"

Ying Mo stops and looks deeply into Brian’s eyes. "So you’re the one are you?" she chuckles. "Personally I’d hope it would’ve been talk dark and quiet over there." She motions to Brent with her cane before she starts off again. "No one knows why the Lan Long still exists. There are very few accounts of the Sacred Child performing the rite and what happens during and after he makes his wishes. And the ones we do have are all riddled with mystery and fable."

"Then you won’t be able to help us?" Joe asks helplessly.

"You Americans are still so quick to jump to conclusions." Ying Mo comments coolly. "This old woman still has a trick or two left you know. Bring me the book and I’ll try to find something for you gentlemen."

"Thank you Ying Mo." Jeff says. "I owe you for this one."

"Bah." Ying Mo waves off the comment. "I’m an old women who wishes to see nothing more than the end of this spiral of death." She puts a rough hand on Jeff’s. "Bring me the book and I’ll do whatever I can to help you stop the dying. Let’s defeat the Lan Long once and for all without any more sacrifices."

"Yes ma’am." Jeff says affectionately. "The usual place?"

Ying Mo nods and calls out, "Guardian of Sadness."

"Huh?" Brent asks curiously. "What do you want me for?"

"Walk with me."

"There are reports of a hijacked plane from the New D.C. airport." Yue says as he, Aeryk, and the two other officers walk down a long brightly lit hallway.

"The Blue Dragons?" Aeryk offers.

Yue nods. "The chances are great. The government has sent out some jets to intercept them, but there were hostages on board. We were forced to allow them to land."

Aeryk stops in his tracks. "Then why are we sitting around doing nothing? We’ve got to stop them."

"Wait," Yue calls as Aeryk begins running away. "They arrived some hours after you did. Too many innocents died trying to stop them. By now they are well into the forests searching for something they won’t be able to see, yet."

Aeryk lets out a sigh. "You’re right, I’m sorry. What do we do now?"

Yue motions Aeryk into a room at the end of the hall. "Nothing will happen while you are here with us my lord."

Aeryk pauses as he enters the dark room. "Did you just call me...?"

"My lord." A female’s voice beckons from the darkness just before several braziers flare to life. "We have been expecting your arrival."

"Who are they?" Aeryk asks Yue.

"They are the four High Priests and Priestesses under the teachings of the Four Gods. The one in the green robe is Bei Shan, High Priestess of Genbu. The one in yellow is Dong Feng Fang, the High Priest of Seiryuu. The one in red is Nan Hou, the High Priest of Suzaku, and the one in blue is Xi Si Yue Hai, the High Priestess of Byakko."

The four priests and priestesses bow low to Aeryk. "Our hearts are filled with joy seeing you here this day my lord." Bei Shan says humbly.

"We are hopeful that you will bring an end to the world’s suffering." Dong Feng Fang says.

Aeryk gives Yue a funny look. "Their accents,"

"They are from various parts of the country." Yue explains. "Tradition states that each priest and priestess must be from the area of China they represent. They have spent most of their lives in seclusion, learning the magical arts they now possess."

"Then they are the ones that perform the rite?" Aeryk asks.

"Yes, the sacred rite is something only they know. It isn’t something you will find the book. It comes to them in their dreams and it is always changing. So if the Blue Dragons were to find out the sacred rite from the previous Sacred Child, it will be of no use for them now."

"Oh." Aeryk says, thoroughly confused. "So what’s going to happen now? I thought I needed to collect the four statues before we summoned the Four Gods."

"That is correct." Nan Hou says politely. "However there is something we would like for you to do for us before you head to the Temple of Seiryuu."

"Which is?" Aeryk asks.

"To the south there is a small village," Xi Si Yue Hai begins. "A village of death. Recently several of our people have fallen ill to a rare disease we though long gone. It has been called..."

"Shikkonki?" Brian tries out the world. "What’s that?"

"It’s the disease Brent’s wife died of." Jeff replies. "But why would Ying Mo tell you about that? We have other problems to worry about right now."

"It’s probably because of Brent’s healing power." Joe offers.

"She didn’t tell me much except about the sickness." Brent mutters. "I can’t ignore it. I have to go down there."

"I’ve read about it." Joe says. "It’s highly contagious and, because there’s no cure, ultimately fatal. We can’t go down there."

"There are people suffering down there." Brent says darkly. "I have to save them"

"Shouldn’t we wait for Aeryk at least?" Brian asks. "He still hasn’t come back from the meeting yet."

"Ying Mo told me where the village is." Brent says. "I’ll go on ahead and take care of the people down there. I’ll see you guys tonight." He rises to his feet and walks out of their hotel room.

"Shouldn’t anyone go after him?" Joe asks.

"No," Jeff states. "It’s best to leave him alone." He lets out a sigh. "I’ll follow him and keep you guys updated okay?"

"I really think we should wait for Aeryk." Joe calls as Jeff collects his staff and grimaces as Jeff fades away into the shadows. "Of course he’ll use his magic. So what do we do now?" Brian shrugs and walks over to the window and watches the city outside. "What is it?"

"I just feel so helpless sometimes you know." Brian snaps as he pounds his fist on the side of the window. "I can’t stand it. I mean, we’re meant to save the world from this God that practically no one has ever heard of yet no one seems to know what’s going on. Jackie died, Brent is off on some fools errand, Jeff is following him, Aeryk is being more and more secluded from the rest of us," Brian sighs. "I just wish this never happened."

"Where are Jeff and Brent?" Aeryk asks as he slowly enters the room. "What’s the matter?" he continues when he notices Brian’s dark expression. "What happened?"

"Brent went off to some village to cure people." Joe says. "Jeff went after him shortly after that."

Aeryk’s eyes widen. "Are they insane? Who told them about that?"

"Some old woman that Jeff knows." Brian says dismissively. Aeryk turns and bolts down the hall before Brian calls out his name. "What is it with him and bolting like that?"

Brian and Joe give chase and catch up with Aeryk moments before he calls a Taxi. "Will you kindly explain what’s going on here?" Brian demands grabbing Aeryk’s arm.

"The people I walked off with earlier have something to do with the ritual I’ll be performing." Aeryk says. "They told me about the village infected with this disease called,"

"Shikkonki." Joe finishes. "We already know about it. What’s the matter?"

"They told me about this demon that’s believed to be responsible for the disease, a sort of sickness spirit or something. That demon has been spotted several times by their surveillance."

"What are you getting at?" Brian demands.

"The demon is Brent’s dead wife!" Aeryk cries.

Date: October 18, 3021
Time: 8:03pm
Location: Tianjin, China

"Did he even begin to think he can’t speak a word of Chinese?" Aeryk grumbles. "Any sign of Jeff?"

"No." Joe says somberly. "Do you think he can change his form or something? For all we know he could be an old tree or something."

"Or just hide out in the shadows." Jeff says as he walks up to the group with a slight frown on his face. "What are you guys doing here? Don’t you realize how dangerous this place is?"

"We’ve got to get Brent out of here." Aeryk says excitedly. "This place isn’t all that’s cracked up to be."

"What are you talking about?" Jeff asks. "Can’t you see the results of what Brent has done?" he points to a man skipping happily down the road despite himself. "Just a moment ago Brent used his power to heal that man. When the locals got word of his arrival, they all flooded to him for help."

"Have you seen another American woman around here?" Aeryk asks.

"Huh? No, it’s just us and the locals." Jeff looks over at Brian. "What’s going on here?"

"Aeryk was told that the one responsible for this sudden outbreak of the disease is some sickness demon."

"Yeah, and...?" Jeff inquires.

"The demon is Shannon." Aeryk says before he suddenly feels extremely ill.

"Aeryk, what’s wrong?" Brian says as he catches the falling Aeryk in his arms and checks his forehead. "My God you’re burning up. We better get some help."

"Shikkonki?" A passing local asks as she passes by.

"Crap, Aeryk passed out." Brian mutters, worried. "Uh, do you understand English?" He asks loudly and slowly as if expecting the Chinese woman to magically understand him.

"Why do people do that?" Joe asks Jeff who only shrugs.

"At least I’m doing something!" Brian snaps. "We got to find a doctor or Brent or something!"

The woman points to a little house down the road and says something in Chinese hopefully, to the group, meaning doctor and the three take Aeryk to the house and are greeted by a beautiful young Chinese woman with long black hair and seemingly endless black eyes. "Ah, Americans?" she asks.

"Yes, thank God you speak English. Are you a doctor?" Brian asks, not noticing the strange look Joe gave him.

"Of a sorts." The woman says kindly. "You may place your friend on the bed."

The woman waits patiently as Brian gently places Aeryk on the bed and makes him comfortable. "Aeryk, hun, don’t worry you’re safe now." He says softly as Aeryk slowly opens his eyes.

"Where am I?" Aeryk asks weakly.

"At a doctor’s in the village. You’ll be fine just rest for a little bit, okay?"

"When did he get the fever?" The woman asks as she kneels beside Aeryk and begins examining him.

"It just hit him." Brian replies, watching Aeryk with worried brown eyes. "Some woman said Shikkonki. Do you think he could have...?"

"Shikkonki is a highly contagious disease." The woman says somberly. "It is a chance, but we won’t know until more symptoms appear."

"Which are?" Jeff asks.

"Well, blindness is a sign and the fever." The woman replies. "The sufferer is usually in a great amount of pain. I am sorry, but if he does have Shikkonki there is nothing I can do for him," she pauses. "Alive."

"What do you mean alive?" Joe asks. "What kind of doctor are you?"

The woman grimaces and rises to face the other men in the room. "When the Shikkonki first appeared I thought I would certainly get infected. But after several months of being in perfect health, I began to wonder. So after my parents became infected and died of the disease, something told me to bid them farewell with a kiss. And when I did that, my parents were restored to life."

Joe gasps. "That’s impossible!"

"Believe me when I tell you that were the first words out of my mouth that day." The woman exclaims. "But I have been blessed with the ability to bring the dead back to life."

"Have you tried this power on the living?" Jeff asks.

"I did, but my power only works on the dead. If your friend here really is suffering from Shikkonki, I will be able to help only after he dies from it. It will be a long and terrible time before then, I am sorry."

Brian goes to Aeryk’s side and gently takes his hands in his own. "You don’t look so good bud." He tries to joke.

"Shut up." Aeryk breathes heavily as he tries to return a smile. "Go find Brent, please. I’ll be fine here."

"This village is larger than it looks." The woman states as Brian and the others prepare to leave. "There are several paths on the south side that lead to other homes. Perhaps you’ll find your friend there."

After Brian, Jeff, and Joe rush off to find Brent the woman closes the wooden shutters of all her windows and pads silently over to the now sleeping Aeryk. "Welcome, Sacred Child."

Brent gratefully accepts the cup of cool water and downs it quickly. "Thank you." He mutters weakly. He has been using his healing power almost not stop for several hours and it has taken its toll on his body.

Brent lets out a weary sigh as he rises to his feet from the chair and slowly walks outside the small house amidst a wave of Chinese blessings and words of thanks. He soon finds a tree to rest against and allows the breeze to cool his body. Brent soon feels the bliss of sleep slowly gain control over his body when a voice calls out his name.

"I’m too tired now," he says sleepily, closing his eyes. "Go away. I’ll handle it tomorrow."

"Brent, are you okay?" Jeff asks.

"Go away." Brent says again, waving off the invisible flies around him.

"Brent, it’s Aeryk." Brian says. "You have to help him, he’s really sick."

"Huh?" Brent opens his eyes and squints in the darkness to see Joe, Brian, and Jeff huddled around him. "When did you guys get here? Where’s Aeryk?"

"He’s back in the main part of the village." Jeff says helping his friend to his feet. "We think he has that Shikkonki disease."

"Who is he staying with?" Brent asks, immediately at attention.

"Some Chinese doctor we were lucky to find." Brian says.

"Where did you get the idea she’s Chinese?" Joe asks Brian in irritated tones. "Was it just me or did she look like another American?"

"What?" Brian and Jeff say in unison.

"Couldn’t you tell?" Joe asks surprised. "She kind of looked like the lady I saw in a picture on Brent’s desk. The one wearing the wedding gown."

Brent takes Joe’s shoulders in his large hands and demands, "Who did you say she looked like?"

"Like that lady in the wedding gown." Joe repeats. "Why, is something wrong? Did you guys have a bad break up or something?"

"Wait a second," Jeff exclaims. "Did Aeryk say something about the demon looking like Shannon?"

"Oh shit." Brian says. "Then if it’s true... Aeryk!"

Shannon pulls out a dagger from the recesses of her dress and grins faintly to herself as she walks over to the sleeping Aeryk. "So young and so full of life. My master bids me to kill you so that I may place you under my control and use you to summon the Lan Long and destroy this world."

As she raises the knife to strike Aeryk in the heart a faint, pathetic whimper escapes his lips. Something pulls at Shannon’s heart and the knife in her hand beings quivering faintly before anger puts a hold on her and her hands tense as she prepares to strike Aeryk again.

The light off a candle reflects off the metal of the knife as it falls and plunges into the soft mattress of the bed. Aeryk lets out another faint moan as he opens his blind eyes. "I know what you’re trying to do and I appreciate it. But the pain I’m going through now isn’t near the pain so many other people have suffered on my account. I’ve lost a friend and the one I love is trying so hard to keep his hope alive it’s killing him inside. No," Aeryk continues as he turns his sightless attention to the space where he can hear Shannon’s shallow breathing. "To have this pain taken away from me will be wrong. I’ve got to be strong for Brian and my friends. Please, just wait a little bit longer. You’ll see; everything will be fine."

The knife falls from Shannon’s hand as she backs away from Aeryk. The sound of the woman collapsing to her knees causes Aeryk to fumble to his feet and blindly wander around the room. "Miss? Is everything alright?"

"Please, hurry and leave." Shannon says painfully. "Aeryk, stay away." Her face slowly melts away to reveal a demonic face with sores and pustules littering her flesh.

Moments later Brian and the others burst into the house yelling for Aeryk. "Brian? What’s going on?" Aeryk asks, confused, before a cold hand grabs his head and another clasps his neck.

"You’re too late." Shannon says. "I will kill the Sacred Child and use him to summon the Lan Long and bring about the world’s destruction."

Joe looks back when a chill creeps down his spine and sees a large crowd of ghastly looking people lurching towards the house. He taps Aaron on the shoulder and says, "A-Aaron?"

"Can’t you see we’re in the middle of something?" Aaron snaps as he looks behind to see the mass of undead slowly approaching the house. The two quickly rush over and bolt the door shut. "What’s going on here? Where did all these dead people come from?"

"They are probably the people Shannon ‘brought back to life’." Brent says darkly. "Isn’t that right Shannon? Why?"

"What right do you have to speak to me like that?" Shannon replies as her hold on Aeryk tightens. "You left me when I needed you most. When I knew I would die soon, I held on as long as I could, believing you would return to me. But you didn’t. First I will kill the Sacred Child then I will kill the rest of you."

"Aaron!" Brian shouts.

"Right," Aaron says as he pulls out his fan. "Rekka Shin’..."

Aeryk puts his arms out defensively. "No don’t!"

"Aeryk are you insane?" Joe calls.

"She’s a demon!" Jeff states.

"Shannon isn’t a demon." Aeryk says before he turns his attention to Shannon and pleads, "You loved Brent didn’t you? I know how much it must have hurt not having Brent there when you died. But nothing could have been done! If you really loved Brent, how can you fight him?"

Shannon’s grip on Aeryk loosens as her face returns to normal. "Aeryk," she collapses to her knees. "It’s true Brent, I tried waiting for you when you left." The flesh on Shannon’s back begins rippling as something inside her begins struggling to be set free. "Please help me."

Suddenly a creature with scaly red flesh and a mass of tentacles erupts from Shannon’s broken frame and grabs Aeryk before it begins feeding off his life force. Aaron, Brian, Jeff, and Joe rush to Aeryk’s aid and end up in the monster’s hold as it begins feeding off them as well.

"Brent hurry," Shannon begs. "You’re power is the only thing that can save them now!"

"Shannon, is that..." Brent stops in shock.

"I’m so sorry!" Shannon weeps. "I was so sad... and when I awoke that day... Hurry! Hurry and kill me!"

Brent clenches his fist as he watches Aeryk and the others struggle to remain alive and a faint red glow forms an aura around him. Shannon senses the warmth of Brent’s power and smiles faintly as she turns to Aeryk.

"Aeryk, thank you. You will be cured when this is all over. You will be able to save the one you love. Farewell."

"Monster begone!" Brent calls the red light shoots from his open palm and engulfs the demon as it cries out in pain.

"I only wanted to see you one last time." Shannon whispers as she feels the spell keeping her alive unravel. "Good bye Brent."

In an explosion of sound and light, the monster and Shannon disappear and the zombies under Shannon’s control collapse to the ground. In the shadows Danny scowls in fury before he vanishes into the forest.

"Aeryk are you alright?" Brian asks as he collects Aeryk in his arms. "Can you see me?"

"Yeah, I’m fine thank you." Aeryk smiles as he rests his head on Brian’s chest. "The fever’s gone."

"What happened here?" Joe asks confused. "She mentioned Lan Long. Does that mean the Blue Dragons were behind this? Could there be more of them that we don’t know about?"

"No." Brent replies. "Shannon would never join with them. They must have summoned that demon and had it possess Shannon’s body to get to us."

"But how did Ying Mo know about all this?" Joe asks thoughtfully.

"I knew about it for a while now." Ying Mo says appearing from around a street corner. "I wanted to test you."

"Test us?" Brian snaps. "For what?"

"Sacred Child," Ying Mo turns to Aeryk with a smile on her face. "You have shown yourself to be a young man with a pure heart and a profound love for your Guardians. Also, you believed in the good that most people would fail to see in that tormented soul. Please accept this." She pulls out a small elegantly decorated mirror with the likenesses of the Four Gods on the back.

Jeff walks over and takes the mirror from Ying Mo. "What is this for?"

"It will allow you to teleport to the other temples much faster than flying there in a plane. It will also take you to my home if you are ever in need of assistance." She looks over to Brent when she notices him resting against a wall, breathing heavily. "You have used your power too much Guardian. Perhaps you should take this time to recover while your friends move on."

Brent looks up and shakes his head. "No, I have to go with them."

Ying Mo aims her cane at Brent. "Don’t argue with me Guardian." In a flash of light Brent vanishes. "Don’t worry. He is safe back home. My servants will attend to his needs."

Jeff looks at Ying Mo in shock. "How did you do that?"

Ying Mo chuckles warmly as a brilliant aura surrounds her. "My true name is Taiitsukun. I am the controller of this world."

Aeryk rises to his feet with Brian’s assistance and asks, "Controller? What do you mean?"

"The Four Gods didn’t create just the Sacred Child. They also created a sort of primary barrier against the Lan Long. You are familiar with the symbol of the Yin Yang?" They all nod. "I am the Yin. I am half of the whole that is meant to retain the balance of this world so the Lan Long’s power might not grow to powerful."

"Wait, what do you mean by ‘is meant to’?" Joe asks.

"The balance of the Yin Yang has shifted dramatically." Taiitsukun says somberly. "I’m afraid my power is weakening. If something isn’t done soon to put order back into the chaos, the Lan Long will be too powerful for me or the Sacred Child to fight. The evidence is that, somehow, the binding I put on the Blue Dragons to suppress their power has been broken."

"Danny." Joe mutters. "He’s the one who did it, isn’t he?"

"You recognized it?" Taiitsukun asks.

"At first I thought it was just a trick of the light." Joe admits. "But recently I’ve been seeing things that no one else can see. I was the only one who saw Shannon as she really is."

"So how do we fix this problem?" Brian asks.

"You must retrieve the stolen statue and summon the Four Gods before Lan Long manages to escape his prison. There is an eclipse approaching us." Taiitsukun says. "If you are unable to summon the Four Gods by then, all will be lost. Come to my home when you have retrieved the statue of Seiryuu." She says before she fades away.

"What is it with people and vanishing when we’re about to ask an important question?" Aaron snaps. "So where to now boss?"

"We set out for the temple." Aeryk says. "And this time we stick together no matter what. I don’t want a repeat of what happened last time. If any of you sense danger, let me know." He gives Brian a dark look. "I’m not standing back when my friends are in danger.

Brian’s eyes widen in fear a moment before his features soften into a smile. "Well, it’s not like I could ever say no to you in the first place. Besides," he playfully punches Aeryk on his shoulder. "You’ll just do what you want to."

"You’re ‘fail-proof’ plan failed, Danny." Jen hisses darkly when Danny appears before her without Aeryk in tow.

"Perhaps going directly after them isn’t the wisest of choices." Vincent says smugly.

"Oh, and what do you suggest we do now?" Jen snaps. "The eclipse is nearly upon us and we have yet to collect the other statues and have the Child in our control."

"I suggest we allow them to do the work for us." Vincent replies calmly in the face of Jen’s rage. "We can’t enter the temples before the Child anyway let alone know where they are located. And we can’t use the same means Danny used to gather the information we needed just to get this far again; they’ll be expecting it. Beside," He holds up the statue of Genbu. "We have what they want. They’ll come to us eventually."

"I don’t like it." Jen grumbles. "It’ll be to easy for them if they had three to our one."

"That’s why we keep the attacks coming." Vincent says evenly. "If we can somehow manage to get rid of each Guardian it’ll be more and more easier to get the statues and the Child." He looks over to Danny. "Much like what your demon did with the Guardian of Sadness. All we need to do is find their weakness and use it against them."

"Oh very well," Jen says haughtily. "Do what you want but remember I want the Child untouched!"

Mark walks up to Vincent as Jen storms off. "Why did Lan Long choose her for our illustrious leader? Don’t you ever get the urge to strangle her as much as I do?" Vincent smirks.

Date: October 18, 3021
Time: 11:12pm
Location: Temple of Seiryuu

"Well, I’ll give them one thing," Aaron begins as he looks at the ferocious looking dragon statues guarding the door into the temple. "They stick with their themes."

"I get the feeling they’re watching us." Joe whimpers as they walk by and into the foyer made completely of gold and diamond. "Just how did they get all this stuff to China?"

"I wouldn’t put it past aliens moving these here." Jeff comments as he runs his hands over a massive statue of a diamond Chinese dragon with carefully chosen golden accenting. "So many strange things have happened recently very little surprises me now."

"Well, I don’t see any doors anywhere." Brian says looking around the room, refusing to relinquish his hold on Aeryk. "What do we do now?"

"It’s right there." Joe says simply as he walks over to another dragon statue.

"Oh, right." Brian grumbles and Aeryk chuckles. "You think that’s funny do you?" Brian says playfully as he attacks Aeryk’s ticklish side.

"Hey, stop that!" Aeryk wails as he tries to get Brian’s hands away from him, laughing.

Brian pulls Aeryk into his arms and gives him a tight hug before saying; "You know I’ll never stop tormenting you, right?"

"You remind me everyday." Aeryk replies softly. "Shouldn’t we get back to work?"

"Ah we can let the guys handle it, can’t we?" Brian whispers.

"No you big idiot!" Aeryk laughs. "Come on, we better get going."

"Any idea how to open it?" Joe asks as he watches Jeff examine the statue.

"How do you know it’s a door?" Jeff asks standing back.

"Look below you." Joe points to a section of flooring where Jeff is standing, bordered in gold. "There aren’t any other spaces in the temple with it."

"Oh stop being so smart all the time." Jeff says with an indignant huff before the kanji for "water-well" appears on the floor before it suddenly rises high into the ceiling. "Hey, you guys got to check this out!" Jeff cries some time afterward.

"’Ow?" Aaron hollers.

"You okay?" Jeff’s head appears over the edge. "Where does it hurt?"

"Not ow! ‘OW!" Aaron states.

"Huh?" Jeff asks.

"Look." Aeryk points to another location a few feet away from the area Jeff stood. "There’s another spot right there."

Joe gives a thoughtful frown as he walks over to the area and watches as the kanji for "stretch" appears before the space begins rising slowly. "I think they’re like elevators!" he calls. "Maybe another one will appear!"

Sure enough another golden box appears and Aaron steps forward, muttering something about getting even with Jeff for making fun of his accent, before lifting into the air after Joe.

"After you." Brian bows gracefully, waiting for Aeryk to walk past him, before letting out a playful growl and scooping Aeryk into his arms, Brian walks onto the square and kisses Aeryk as the two slowly rise up to meet the others. "You know I love you right?"

"Of course I do hun." Aeryk replies. "What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?"

"Nothing." Brian replies. "It’s just we haven’t had enough time alone recently. I’d like to have quality time with my boyfriend if you don’t mind."

Aeryk smiles to himself as he rests his head on Brian’s shoulder. "I know Bri, I’m sorry." As the platform slows to a stop Brian lets Aeryk down onto his feet. "I’ll try to make it up to you okay?"

But Brian wasn’t paying attention; he was busy gaping at the expanse of grassy plains before him. The rotund roof of the temple has given way to a bright blue sky with the occasional tufts of white clouds as a gentle breeze guides them along.

"’Ow did we get ‘ere?" Aaron asks.

"Might be some sort of rip in the time-space continuum." Joe replies airily.

"Come again?" Aaron asks.

"He means we could be in another dimension." Jeff translates.

"Oh." Aaron says simply. "Why didn’t you just say that in the first place?"

"Can anyone see anything?" Aeryk asks looking around. "I don’t see a cave or something the statue could be kept in."

"What about that thing over there?" Joe points to a faint black object in the distance over a hill. "It looks like it could be the roof to a house or something by the look of it."

"Might as well head over and see what it is." Brian says as he begins walking toward the black thing in the distance.

"Hey!" Aeryk calls as he rushes after Brian. "You shouldn’t go running off like that you know. Who knows what’s in this place?"

"A whole lot of nothing." Brian replies looking around briefly as he walks along. "This place looks like how that one state used to look like before the quake, what was the name again?"

"Nebraska." Aeryk states.

"That’s right, Nebraska. How could people stand things being so flat and boring? Where’s everybody else?"

"Walking behind us." Aeryk replies. "I think they want to give us our space. Or should I call them up here?"

Brian frowns at Aeryk. "Don’t ask stupid questions."

"How are you feeling?" Taiitsukun asks as she enters Brent’s quarters.

"Better." Brent replies as he sits up in his bed. "Resting helps with the sickness I get after using my power."

"You need to learn to control your impulses as a doctor." Taiitsukun says seriously. "You have no duty to anyone other than the Sacred Child."

Brent looks down at his hands. "What’s the worth of the gift I have if I can’t save a few lives at my own expense?"

"That isn’t your concern right now." Taiitsukun says. "You’re friends are going to need you more soon enough."

"What do you mean?" Brent asks, suddenly alarmed.

Taiitsukun holds up a mirror and an image of Aeryk and the others walking along the Temple of Seiryuu appears. The old woman closes her eyes in deep thought for a moment before saying...

The evil of the Lan Long has managed to break through the barrier protecting the temples of the Four Gods and it is after the Sacred Child with a vengeance.

"I’d rather it be somewhere where there are lots of trees on a nice autumn day." Aeryk says as he walks along the grassy plain with Brian’s arm around his waist. "Autumn always reminds me of home you know? Washington doesn’t have beaches, just a collection of rock near the water."

Brian chuckles. "I know, but wouldn’t it be great having it on a tropical beach at sundown? I’ve always imagined marrying you on some Hawaiian island."

The hatred emanating from the Chaos God is infecting the purity of those temples and creating an evil all it’s own. I fear that your friend’s lives are in grave danger.

Then why am I sitting here when I can be there helping them?

Stay where you are Guardian! Taiitsukun snaps. This will prove to be a great test in the resolve of your friend.

Don’t you think Aeryk has suffered enough? Brent demands.

"I wonder how Brent’s doing." Aeryk says. "Hopefully what’s her name will be able to help him out."

"Of course he’ll be fine." Brian replies. "You really do worry about us do you?"

"Of course I do!" Aeryk cries. "Why wouldn’t I?"

"I don’t know. I just wish I understood why you are the way you are. I can tell you care about everybody more than I like to admit."

Aeryk giggles. "You jealous?"

"Maybe." Brian replies trying to hide his jealous boyfriend demeanor. "Just so long as they all know that you’re mine."

Aeryk playfully jabs Brian in the side with his shoulder. "I don’t know about that. Brent can be real sexy if he talked a bit more." Brian lets out an indecent gurgle. "Jeff is way cute when he’s wearing his reading glasses and his eyes light up when we talk espionage." Brian’s eye begins twitching. "Joe’s a little young, but that doesn’t mean I’m totally against it." Brian grabs his chest and falls to he knees. "And Aaron’s got this way hot accent and..."

"Alright you!" Brian snarls as he deftly swings Aeryk over his shoulder and begins running away with him.

He’s trying so hard to keep everybody together. Brent continues watching the laughing couple in the mirror closely followed by a confused Aaron, Jeff, and Joe. He’s so willing to sacrifice himself for us not knowing that just having him smile and be happy is enough for us.

Then tell him that. Taiitsukun says warmly. You all are what give the Sacred Child his strength and reason to live. You all are his family now.

"Brian," Aaron says as he and the others manage to catch up with him. "Something’s wrong here, can’t you sense it?"

Brian slowly places Aeryk, groggy from the rush of blood to his head, on the ground and looks around them. "You’re right. I got that tingling sensation again."

"But I thought it was supposed to be clear sailing for us." Joe says.

"Then those two must have been mistaken." Jeff says alertly, holding his staff tightly. "Everybody stay alert. We might as well keep going until we find out what exactly is behind this."

"Joe, you stay with Aeryk while we walk ahead of you okay?" Brian says before turning soft brown eyes on Aeryk. "Don’t worry, you’ll be fine."

Aeryk shakes his head as Jeff, Aaron, and Brian rush off ahead of him and Joe. "If I didn’t know any better I’d say he’s a chauvinist pig."

"Watch it!" Aaron calls out just before massive pillars of flames erupt into the sky, filling it with dark clouds of ash and soot. "Where did that come from?"

Aeryk and Joe rush to the top of the hill and see Aaron, Brian, and Jeff confronting a large Chinese dragon with a pagoda resting uncertainly on its forehead like a horn. "It just came from the ground." Jeff says to Aeryk. "Stay back and let us handle it okay?"

"Yeah right!" Aeryk cries as he unsheathes Derryk’s sword. "I can fight to."

"Watch out!" Jeff throws his body into Aeryk’s just before the dragon breathes flames in their direction.

"You bastard," Aaron prepares his fan. "Eye for an eye! Rekka Shin’en!" With a powerful swipe of his fan, Aaron unleashes a massive amount of flames onto the dragon’s chest area and grins toothily as the beast roars out in pain as it is forced several feet back.

The dragon bellows out in outrage before returning Aaron’s fire. "Just great Aaron," Brian snaps after Aaron leaps to safety next to him. "Piss it off more why don’t you?"

"I don’t see you doing anything." Aaron retorts.

"Joe!" Aeryk cries over the challenging roars of the dragon. "Does your scroll say anything about the dragon?"

Joe quickly unravels his scroll and looks over it quickly. "I can’t find anything!"

"Damn." Aeryk curses. "Do you think you’re magic will work on it?"

"I’ll try." Jeff says gravely as he sorts through the myriad of spells in his mind. God I hope this one works.

As Jeff begins calling out arcane words, a large glowing circle begins forming around the dragon. The confused beast silences itself as it watches the strange sparkling thing surround it. Moments later the space inside the circle bursts with powerful magical energies and the dragon howls in terror and pain as it is engulfed in a thick black haze.

"That got it!" Aeryk cheers.

"Look out!" Joe cries running up toward Jeff and Aeryk just as the dragon’s massive tail appears from the smoke and smashes Aeryk, Jeff, and Joe on the side and sends them colliding with the hillside.

Aaron calls out his friend’s names just before the dragon breathes its fiery vengeance upon him. Aaron roars out in pain as he falls back, his arm smoldering from the flames.

Aeryk struggles to his feet, with the aid of the sword, clutching his side. How do we beat this thing? Aeryk says to himself as the dragon lets out a triumphant roar.

"Aeryk the dragon!" Brian cries and watches in horror as the dragon brings down one of its massive paws upon Aeryk.

Jackie’s bracelets glow a bright red as Aeryk, struggling against the crippling pain in his side, fights against the force of the powerful beast above him. He lets out a painful cry as the ground below him cracks under the pressure.

"Aeryk!" Brian cries as he watches Aeryk grapple with the monster.

An overwhelming emotion of anger wells up inside Brian as his kanji glows brightly on his forehead. A red aura of power surrounds his body as the character begins changing into the more ancient form of itself.

"Get off him you bastard!" Brian snarls as he directs a flare of ki energy straight for the dragon’s heart and watches as it impales the beast causing it to fall onto its side and melt back into the ground. The pagoda looms above the group like nothing ever happened.

"Is everybody alright?" Brian asks.

Taiitsukun narrows her eyes as Brian goes to aid his friends. I never thought he would achieve that level of power.

Maybe you should start believing in us more. Brent says smugly as he watches his friends rally together. Looks like Aaron’s going to need some help with that arm.

Let them finish with their job there. I’ll bring them here when they are ready.

"Are you sure you’re alright?" Aeryk asks worriedly as Aaron lets out another audible grimace.

"Yeah, I’m fine." Aaron replies, wincing.

"Once we join up with Brent," Jeff begins. "He’ll be able to help Aaron out. Lets just find the statue and get the hell out of this place."

"So where do we start looking?" Brian asks, looking around the square room. "No doors, steps or anything. And I don’t see any gold squares this time."

Leaving Aaron in Aeryk’s care, Brian and the others begin an extensive search around the premise. "Thank you for protecting me back there." Aeryk says.

"Nah, don’t mention it okay? I did what I ‘ad to do. Besides," Aaron grins over at Aeryk. "Brian seems to think you’re worth it." He winks.

Aeryk smiles briefly before sensing a familiar presence. "Hey guys, wait a second." He says looking up. "There’s something here."

"Huh? I don’t feel anything." Brian states.

"No," Aeryk says. "Not something bad. It’s something I’ve felt before." In the back of his mind he hears a mighty roar and smiles. "Seiryuu."

In a flash of light the specter of a grand looking dragon appears in the air above the stunned group. Welcome Sacred Child.

"It speaks English." Aaron swallows.

The evil of the Lan Long has poisoned my temple, but by the efforts of you and your Guardians; you all have cleansed it.

"But how did that happen?" Aeryk asks. "I thought they weren’t allowed in here unless I broke the seal."

The shifting balance has given the Lan Long enough power to taint the sanctity of the temples. You must hurry to the next temple and retrieve the other statues before all is lost and the Lan Long is freed. The ghostly image of Seiryuu vanishes before the crystal statue of the dragon god appears in its place. Take this statue and summon us with its power before time has run out. Go now, my child.

Aeryk gingerly takes the statue as it floats down into his hands. Seconds later, Aeryk and the others find themselves standing in Brent’s chambers. Taiitsukun walks up to Aeryk with a large smile on her face.

"You did very well back there." She says. "But this isn’t the time for congratulations. The next temple is awaiting you. Use the mirror I gave you and call out Suzaku’s name and you all will be teleported there."

"Maybe we should take a bit of a breather?" Aaron pleads. "In case you ‘aven’t noticed, I’ve got a bit of a problem with my arm ‘ere."

Brent walks up from behind Taiitsukun and examines Aaron’s shoulder. "I’m well enough to handle this Taiitsukun. I think Aaron’s right though. They all look like they could use a little rest and some time to heal."

Taiitsukun nods in agreement. "Sacred Child, Guardian of the Ogre, please walk with me."

Continued in Part 21

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