Earthbound: Champions of the Future

Chapter Six

~ Syo's POV ~

I sighed as I followed Naoma through Frister-Siton Woods. It looked so much like my own home before Enigma destroyed it. The scent of the leaves, the way they gently swayed from side to side in the breeze... I sighed as I listened to the soft sound.

"Hey, are you okay?" Naoma asked. "You look a little depressed."

"I'm fine," I lied. "Just... this place reminds me of home. Not in a good way, either."

"Oh..." was all Naoma replied with. "Well, um... if it makes you feel any better, you could stay with me after this whole thing is over. I'd just have to hide you from everyone else, but that shouldn't be too much of an issue."

I smiled in appreciation, but it was all I could do in terms of response. Seemingly out of nowhere, something dark flew out of the surrounding trees and stuck to the tree, taking Naoma with it. The object had pierced some fabric from her scarf and pinned her down to the tree. "Wh-What the-?!" Naoma gasped. The object, upon closer inspection, looked like a black hilted rapier. I sensed a lot of demonic energy emanating from it, making me frown. Naoma reached over to retrieve the sword, but a deep voice stopped her.

"Do not lay hands upon that blade, mortal, unless you wish to be cursed for the rest of your meaningless existence."

A shadow of a person was leaning against a tree with crossed arms and a smirk. He wore a long, black jacket. He wore a long purple scarf that covered his mouth. Under his jacket, he wore a shirt which had a greyish-purple cross design across its front. He seemed to be wearing normal black pants held up with a black belt and silver buckle, and black boots with numerous straps across them. His complexion was pale and greyish compared to other people. His head appeared to be shaved from the neck up to his temple, where the rest of his hair seemed to be slicked back with the exception of a poof of hair in the middle that stuck up and was fairly curly. His hair colour was black with pale grey streaks through it. His right eye was red, while his left eye was grey and had a greyish scar tattoo that ran down the left side of his face. His entire left arm was completely covered in bandages. He wore two silver rings on his right hand.

"U-Um..." Naoma stuttered, clearly confused by this guy's sudden appearance. "Wh-Who are you...?"

He strolled over to the bewildered Naoma and pulled the rapier from her scarf, instead pointing it at her throat. "Tell me all that you know about that accursed syndicate, or the both of you shall be sent to the gallows of the nether regions!" he exclaimed, ignoring her question about his identity.

"G-Gallows?!" Naoma repeated, checking her scarf for any damage, which there was none despite having a sword pierce it's fabric. "A-And what do you mean by 'accursed syndicate'...?!"

"Hmph. Feigning ignorance does not suit you, mortal." the newcomer said. "Your clash with the Enigma henchman was tumultuous."

"Y-You mean Torchwick?" Naoma questioned. "Um... but I don't know anything major about them... Are you looking for them, too?"

"My undertaking does not concern you. But, if you know nothing, then I have no choice but to dispose of you. Nothing can get in my way!" The newcomer raised his sword, preparing to land a strike.

"W-Wait!" I cried, waving my arms around desperately as I flew in front of him. "If you're looking for Enigma, then we can help you! We're looking for them too! We want to stop them!"

He paused, lowering his weapon. "What rationale could you have to seek them out?"

"W-Well..." I began. "It's a long story... but they destroyed my home and I want to make sure they get brought to justice! I can't sit by and watch as they destroy other innocent people!"

"Hmmm... you have a pure soul, sprite." the mysterious dude commented."Under regular circumstances, I would not even speak to plain beings such as yourself. You!" He turned to Naoma. "What is your name?"

"M-Me?" Naoma asked, pointing to herself. "N-Naoma... Naoma Trudeau... And this is Syo..." She added, pointing to me. "Wh-What about you...?"

"You wish to know my name? Some might view such a question as recklessness, but I admire your courage." he rambled. "In honour of such courage, I shall reveal to you my name. May you never forget it as long as you live! You may call me... Gandamu Tanakan! Remember it well, for it is the name that will some day rule this world!"

I gasped. "Gandamu Tanakan?! You mean...?!"

"Huh? What? What am I missing?" Naoma asked.

"Gandamu Tanakan is the name of the prince of all demons!" I explained. "They say he has all kinds of terrifying powers like controlling people and animals, different forms of demonic magic and necromancy!"

"I don't find it surprising that you have heard of me, sprite." Gandamu said. "Of course my legacy would be carried over to your region!"

"But why are you here?" I questioned. "Why aren't you in the Nether Kingdom?"

"The news about that Enigma reached me, along with their intentions." Gandamu explained. "I learnt that their plans endangered the existence of my people, so it is my goal to hunt them down and wipe them from this world."

"Well... what are they planning to do?" Naoma asked.

"They wish to erase all life from the universe." Gandamu announced with a dark tone. "Mortals, demons, sprites... All are in danger."

"N-No way!!" Naoma cried. "B-But what would be the point in that?!"

"Not even I know the answer to such a question." Gandamu replied.

"In that case, let's work together and carry on to Siton and find out!" Naoma exclaimed, holding her hand out to Gandamu with a smile. He stared at the gesture for a few seconds before turning away and continuing down the forest path with crossed arms. Naoma seemed to deflate when her offer for a handshake was rejected and set off at a jog to catch up with the demon prince himself.

~ ~ ~

"So..." Naoma began after a really long and awkward silence between the three of us. "Gandamu-"

"That's Lord Gandamu to you." Gandamu grumbled.

Naoma sighed. "You know, it wouldn't kill you to open up to me just a little bit. That's what friends do, isn't it?"

"Since when did I announce us as 'friends'?" Gandamu interrogated with a glare. "Not only do you follow me, but also claim that we share a cordial connection?"

"Well... yeah." Naoma replied. "I mean, I know that I'm not quite on the same social standing as you, but if we're going to be working together, then we need to understand each other and-"

"I don't remember agreeing to 'work together' with anyone, much less with an earthly being like you." Gandamu interrupted.

"Hey, you never know!" Naoma shrugged with a smile. "We could end up being a great team!"

"Hmph... You fiend..." Gandamu muttered before walking away, hiding his angered face behind his scarf.

"'Fiend' is only one letter away from 'friend', you know." Naoma said with a smile.

"Wh-What?!"

"Hey, why so flustered all of a sudden?"

"I am not flustered!"

"Are too!"

I watched their back-and-forth with a sigh. Was this newly formed alliance going to be the way forward, or an obstacle? Only time would tell, I guess.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Celebrates new main character

Only two more to go

AceAttorneyFan over and out!