Sands of Destiny: Five Lights Appear

Chapter 1: Never Alone

"Why are you crying over there?!"

Little did I know at the time that the boy walking towards me would one day be feared, but also loved by the entire Desert Continent. And that he would be my very best friend, until death do us part.

"I'm scared, the Sheriffs might..."

I curled my head down in my lap. I was a bit of a coward back then honestly. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up, as the boy looked down at me smiling. He was covered in dirt, and dressed in rags just like me. He was dark, and had a pleasant face, and bright, electric green eyes.

"Don't be a scaredy-cat, if the sheriffs come, they'll have to get through the both of us! Here!"

The boy handed me a sword, with a black sheath and handle. As I unsheathed the sword, I saw the beautifully crafted black blade, and with a finger I gently touched the edge, and it was razor sharp.

"Who are you?"

The boy posed stoically, or at least he tried, I still thought he looked silly.

"My name is Midaco. My parents got killed by some punk sheriff, so now I'm gonna be a wrangler so I can stop the Sheriffs. What's your name?"

"Auxilium."

"That names kinda long, imma call you Aux! And now that we're friends, you're gonna be my partner, and help me free the Desert Sands!"

And from that day on, I'd dedicated my life to that goal. And even though we'd never achieve it for ourselves, we went on to lay down the groundwork of what a wrangler should be. He reached his hand out to me, and I grabbed it, and he pulled me to my feet. The both of us, dirty and dressed in shredded, weathered, torn clothes, stood there together and formed a pact.

"No matter who, no matter what..."

"We won't surrender, and we won't lose!"

—

We walked through the Western sands. We were both about 6 years old back then. I followed Midaco, to meet one of his other friends. Midaco spun one of his two six shooters in his hand cheerfully. He stopped suddenly in front of an abandoned building.

"She said to meet her here."

Suddenly a thin, pale man walked from behind the building, holding a girl who was about our age in the air with one hand, and a gun in the other.

"Little Midaco, the prodigy of the Western Sands. I believe you stole something from me and I want it back!"

"Aux, behind you!"

I looked just in time to dodge an attack from a much larger man.

"How did you..."

"No time Aux, you take the big guy, I'll get Mio back, anyone who touches her will have to answer to me personally!"

It was as if his entire personality changed. I felt his overwhelming rage, and although I had butterflies touring the pit of my stomach, I decided that I'd fight my hardest too. I drew the sword Midaco gave me, and held it steady with both hands. The large man lunged at me again, and I instinctively swung at his body, slashing open his gut. His blood squirted in every direction, and my bloody hands shook. I had taken a life for the first time. But even back then I knew it would be far from the last time I'd have to take a life. I breathed in slowly, calming myself down before sheathing my sword. When I turned around, I saw Mio sitting on the ground, unharmed. Meanwhile, Midaco stood over her attacker, one foot on his chest, and one of his six shooters aimed right between the attackers eyes.

"Give me one good reason not to splatter your brains in the sand!"

"I-I won't, I won't ever mess with you guys a..."

The gun shot was deafening.

"I could've told ya that myself!"

Midaco spun his gun expertly before returning it to its holster.

"Hey Aux you're pretty good with a sword!"

"I have to admit, you're rather scary with those guns."

"Hehe! Mio, are you okay?"

The girl stood up. She was a nice and even shade of brown, and had short, curly blond hair with icy blue eyes. She turned to Midaco and stared at him with sheer admiration.

"Thank you Midaco, I'm fine now."

She turned to me next and nodded.

"Thank you as well!"

Her voice was soft and soothing, and it was as if she never feared her attackers at all.

"Hehe, this is my new partner Aux! Aux this is Mio. I've known her ever since I can remember, and I've always helped her when she's in trouble."

"But weren't you the reason she was just in trouble? And what did you steal anyway?!"

"That sword on your back! And even if it was our fault, we still stopped them."

"Our fault?!"

"We are a team ya know, hehe!"

I shook my head and chuckled.

"So what now, partner?"

Midaco smirked. Mio walked over, and whispered in my ear.

"That look means he wants to do something crazy."

Miadco pointed at me.

"We're gonna start our war against the sheriffs!"

"WHAT?! Don't you think we should ease into this?"

"Don't chicken out on me now, the real fun hasn't even started yet, Hehe!"

Midaco laughed gleefully. As for myself, I was still a bit unsure, but with blood already on my hands I decided it would be better to fight for freedom then to live in fear. This was the beginning of a story with twists and turns we never saw coming. This story is the Tales of Midaco, my first and my best friend.