Sands of Destiny: Five Lights Appear

Chapter 5: The Eldest Son's Sorrow

Eight years later, a bright-eyed, teenage Ash sat at the dinner table with the other kids. He'd started to grow into his father's jacket a little. He was his father's spitting image, dark brown but instead of green, his eyes were grey. Donnia sat with him. They had become good friends over the years. As they sat down to eat, laughter filled the room, and the food could be smelled for miles. Chicken in exotic spices, and a garlic and herb rice pilaf. Ash dined like there was no tomorrow, and sat there quietly, smiling.

He had proven himself worthy of the large bounty on his head and was talked about all across the Desert Continent. He had seven draws with Great Eight Sheriff Midas. Today would be his last meal before his eighth fight with him. What he didn't know was that eight meant new beginnings. Suddenly, a shower of golden spikes rained down on the entire room. Ash threw a huge fireball to melt most of the spikes, careful not to burn anyone or anything in the house. All the kids got under the table and Ash ran out to fight Midas. Donnia had a bad feeling and ran after him, afraid to leave his side. As Ash got outside, Midas stopped his attack. Donnia followed him out and ran up to Ash, grabbing his arm.

"What the hell are you doing Midas?!"

"Well, I thought I'd make things interesting this year. I wanna fight you when you have nothing left to lose!"

"Wait, what did...?!"

Ash could sense fire breaking out. All of a sudden, the entire orphanage was up in flames. Ash could sense it without even turning around. Donnia screamed in horror, knowing that everything she'd known would soon be ashes. Except for him. Ash grabbed Donnia, and flew her high into a tree, then he flew back down at Midas with a furious speed.

"Damn you Midas!!!"

Ash landed a huge punch on Midas's jaw and started pummeling him with attacks. Tears flooded his eyes as he pounded away mercilessly. Midas couldn't keep up with his attacks and was reduced to trying to guard his face. Over and over, Ash swung and landed brutal blows. Finally, Ash flew up into the air, and powered up a fireball that glowed brighter than the sun itself. Midas was engulfed by the heat without it even touching him.

"Die! Midas!!!"

Ash threw his attack full force. Midas rebutted with a gigantic golden shield he formed in front of him. But his effort only softened part of the blow. Ash's attack melted his shield like warm butter and rained all of Ash's fiery wrath upon Midas. Ash breathed heavily, and he knew he was at his limit. In the moment, all he could do was retreat, hoping he was dead. Ash flew to retrieve Donnia from the tree he left her in.

"Hurry, jump into my arms, I don't have enough energy to keep fighting him if he lived."

"A-Ash!"

She jumped into his arms, and he took off as soon as he caught her.

"Ash, what are we gonna do?!"

Ash took off, tears, running down his cheeks, and rage burning in his eyes

"For now, all we ca do is survive!"

Donnia looked at Ash with concern.

"Ash, are you scared?"

"Scared?"

"Scared of Midas?"

"Honestly, something has always felt off when I fight him, like he's not really trying."

Ash landed by a cave. He walked in and sat Donnia down.

"And that's what scares me, what is he really up to, and why is it me that has to deal with it?!"

Donnia slapped him. Ash's ear on the right side of his face rang a little.

"Pull yourself together Ash, you know just as well as everyone else that you were born into this! You're the only that can deal with him! Look what he just did to our home, you've got to do something, you're the only hope I've got left,!"