A True Hero

23 - Loyalties Tested

Meta Knight

Click-clack click-clack went our shoes as we plodded down the familiar hallway. Blizzard huffed in annoyance as Arthur clicked his tongue to our steps. It was early in the morning, and we had been awakened, once again, by the Captain for urgent news about a mission. None of the three of us had had a decent night's sleep in weeks. There had been so many assignments lately.

"Those two are seen together much more than before," remarked Arthur upon reaching the Captain's doors. Inside we could hear the arguments of Yamikage and the Captain. "I thought I was the Captain's right-hand soldier."

"Since they're both leaders of two divisions of the army, they strategize together," I assured him, opening the door.

"I'm not sure fighting is strategizing," he murmured. Sure enough, upon entering, we found that more fighting was being done than strategizing. We found Kit Cosmos standing on the far side of the room near the Captain's desk, and we hurried over to him.

"Sergeant Cosmos," Arthur greeted by bowing to him.

"Good morning, Commander Arthur," he acknowledged with a bow. "Nice and early, ain't it?"

"Quite," Arthur yawned. "Is it safe to intervene in the fight yet?"

"Well, they've been at it for a while now, so..." the sergeant trailed, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

"What's the argument over?"

Cosmos pointed to a musty old scroll on a table in between the two leaders.

"An old scroll?" I asked. "That's what's upsetting them?"

"The fact that they can't read the dang thing is," Cosmos replied. "Yamikage believes it holds ancient ninja knowledge from the first ever ninjutsu masters, but he can't even understand the calligraphy."

"Does he think the Captain can read it?" Blizzard laughed.

"No, he thinks a retired Star Warrior might be able to. He's trying to convince the Captain he's right, but as usual, the Cap' won't buy it."

"And you're here for what?" Blizz asked.

"To give strategic advice. Not that they ever really ask..."

"What was that, Sergeant Cosmos?" the Captain suddenly questioned.

"N-nothing, Sir," the Sergeant stammered, then backed away from us. "They're here to see you, Sir."

"Ah, yes," the Captain sighed, then turned to Yamikage. "Will these three work?"

"I suppose," the ninja growled. "I would have preferred sending a ninja, though. Especially her."

"I told you she was busy," the Captain stated nonchalantly, but he shifted uneasily from one foot to the other.

"You always make her busy when I need her," Yamikage murmured, but he was silenced by a stern glare from Yamikage.

"Anyways," the Captain continued and turned back to us, "here's your mission. There is an ex-soldier of the Galaxy Soldier Army that is universally known for his sagacity. Some say he is omnipotent. I once served by his side, and I believe those rumors. However, reaching him is not easy. He has been in hiding for years in isolation, and hence, slightly crazy. He will tell you many far fetched things. Understood?" 

We nodded and said, "Yes, Sir."

"Good then," he continued, seeming somewhat relieved, "I'm not sure what he is hiding from. He really was an excellent warrior. You three are to go find this Star Warrior, known as The Sage, and have him decipher the scroll for us. Bring the translation back to us within the next day.