Summary:
Randy's role as protector is called up as he faces off against three dangerous yokai creatures and an oni. Hopefully he knows enough about his sword to survive.
Chapter Text
Yokai Age
Randy swung his sword against the training dummy with intensity. His strikes were almost flawless. The muscle memory of performing the strikes over a thousand times showed the fruits of his intense training over the years. Any other opponent, monster or yokai would've been defeated by the attack. His grip was firm, his breathing calm and constant and every part of his body was working in unison to achieve the strike. There was just one tiny problem that kept on frustrating Randy.
"Come on, light on fire!" Randy swung the sword. "I've seen you do it multiple times! Come on Fire Sword! Come on Fire Sword!" He swung his sword over and over but the sword remained a normal sword.
Anne and Sprig approached Randy as he continued training.
"So, no fire yet?" Anne asked.
"Maybe it ran out of whatever the fire was coming out of?" Sprig suggested.
"I checked, no oil, no gas, and no batteries to light it up either, Anne," Randy sighed. "I don't understand, this is a mystic sword left by my grandpa and the clan. It has to have something that makes it light up. Maybe an enchantment or a ritual?"
"Well, as someone who's watched a lot of anime and has a geek dad, I think I can help you with that." Anne walked next to Randy, taking the sword from him. "These sort of things tend to link deeply into your emotions and you need to unleash your innermost emotions to unleash the weapon's true potential even if it's connected to you by blood or not." She struck some cool anime poses in the hopes of making her point stand.
Randy and Sprig looked at her with some curious faces.
"Basically, scream a lot while thinking of happy memories and whatnot." Anne handed Randy back the sword.
"Doesn't sound like it'll work, Anne," Randy said. "Although I was screaming a lot when I was fighting the armor back at the house."
"Could be worth the shot," Sprig said. "I always feel invincible when I scream at the top of my lungs. Like this! YAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Sprig screamed loudly.
He jumped high into the air with all his might. He pulled out his slingshot from his back pocket. He loaded a couple of rocks in it, pulled it back before releasing them with all his might. The rocks flew straight at the dummy with pinpoint accuracy. They hit their target, knocking off its head.
"Just like that." Sprig landed on his butt.
Randy scratched her chin in thought. The technique was there and the potency couldn't be argued, but there was just something that he didn't click with him. But it was better than nothing.
"I guess I could give it a shot." Randy assumed his combat position.
"Remember, happy thoughts!" Anne encouraged.
He breathed in deeply, letting the full concentration fuel his whole body before sprinting at top speed. His mind delved into his memories in search of a source of fire and strength. Letting out a warrior cry, he swung his sword with all his might. He struck the dummy with a powerful horizontal slash that cleaved the dummy in two like a hot knife cutting butter. But once more, there was nothing but cold steel.
Randy tried again and again, but the result was the same: No flames, not even a spark. He tried with a different approach, a different method of attack, but the result was the same. He went through his family teachings and still got nothing out of it. Even with Anne and Sprig cheering him on, he got nowhere.
"Stop, okay, this isn't working." Anne put a hand on Randy's shoulder. "What memory are you using? Favorite meal or first movie?"
"I was thinking of the first time I held a sword. Thought maybe that would get the sword to co-operate," Randy replied. "But again, I got nothing. What am I missing?"
Anne tapped her foot on the ground deep in thought. She wasn't sure if something from an anime would work out here. Marcy was more the geek and nerd of the group, she probably had more geek knowledge than her. Perhaps he needed to try a different approach to get the sword light up again. She thought of all the anime tropes for powering up that she knew about.
"Let's see, we tried screaming loudly, we tried happy memories, we don't have a demon to make a deal with, and we don't have the blessing of a god," Anne said.
"That we know of," Sprig added.
"Right, thanks Sprig," Anne said. "Maybe we ought to try rethinking how you were back when we got the sword."
"How's that going to work?" Randy asked. "The sword lights up at random and who knows what triggers it."
"Let's go back to when we first found the sword, what were you feeling when you first got it?" Anne asked.
Randy looked at the sword and at the reflection of himself. He remembered it very well. He was happy to get a new sword. He was honored to find an old relief left for him to find. He felt like he had to live up to his family's last wishes as the last Norushi. All strong emotions but not one of them really stood out to make the fire ignite. He moved on to when his friends were in danger, that's when he really felt a connection with the sword and its power. The sword itself felt like it was tapping into his very soul and fighting spirit. It felt like a fire had been ignited in him but the flames were barely strong enough to set up a small campfire. There had to be something more that made the sword light up.
"I felt strong. Like I was finally unleashing what was inside me all along, but that same spark feels different now," Randy said. "I need to learn more about the sword before using it. It's time to delve into the Ninjanomicon!"
"Yeah!" Anne and Sprig cheered before realizing what he had just said.
"The what now?" Sprig asked.
Inside the house, Randy brought out the ancient book they had recovered from the old Norushi home. Covered in black leather with ancient markings on red ink and the symbol of the clan in the cover of it, this book radiated an aura of its own. It rested in Hop Pop's library where the old frog looked at it like it was the holiest of holies.
"Just look at that beauty, Polly," Hop Pop said. "Over 800 years and it looks like new. What I wouldn't give to see what's inside those pages."
"Hop Pop, it's a book, just open the stupid thing," Polly said. "It's not like it's cursed or something."
"Maybe just a peek," Hop Pop said before Randy snatched the book away.
"Sorry, Hop Pop, important Ninja business to attend to, bye!" Randy ran down to the basement, leaving Hop Pop and Polly alone.
"Guess it wasn't meant to be," Hop Pop said, holding back the tears. "Next time."
Randy placed the ancient book of his family on Anne's bed as he, Anne and Sprig looked at it with intrigue. He carefully opened the book to reveal the ancient knowledge of his clan. The illustrations came alive before their eyes. Each page was filled with ancient scriptures and illustrations of different ninja and mystic warrior techniques that were passed down through generations. But it wasn't all just fighting and mastering different techniques to achieve the highest ranking of a Mystic Warrior, no, there were also passages that delved into history and ancient rituals. Memories of victories, losses, hardships and pushing on through the worst and finding a way towards the future.
If only Anne and Sprig could see it…
"Wow, those are some pretty cool pictures," Sprig said.
"Yeah, I don't know how much this will help you, Randy," Anne said, flipping the pages. "But this stuff isn't in English. Which is weird because everything else in this world is and there's no possible reason that it should."
"It is written in an ancient language, of course grandpa wasn't one to make it easy." Randy pinched his nose in frustration. "Okay, don't freak out, just gotta remember a few of these and try to translate it." Randy picked the book to look closely at it.
"Dude, that's awesome!" Anne said. "You can do that, right?"
"...Yeah… No idea…" Randy sheepishly admitted.
Anne shrugged. She wasn't the best student either but if anything, she could help him figure some of those things out, easily.
"That's an easy fix," Anne said. "Just look at the pictures, Randy. Those are bound to tell you more than those stupid symbols."
Randy flipped through the pages until he found the page that showed a sword of fire. He looked at the drawings of the technique over and over, committing them to memory. Despite their colorful nature, the positions and movements looked oddly familiar to Randy. He unsheathed his sword and started to copy the moves over and over until his body became adjusted to the strange new movements.
The movements started to feel like his body was straining itself. It was like trying to bend in ways he wasn't supposed to, they didn't carry the same force they had to, and each one of them was not making his usual breathing easy. His body was warming up and getting hotter, even if the moves weren't going at the speed he was used to, they still held a greater weight on his body than carrying a bag full of rocks.
"Does this feel painful to watch for you too?" Sprig asked.
"A little," Anne winced.
"Okay, I need a sec," Randy panted. "This doesn't feel right. Are you sure we shouldn't at least try to get something from the words?"
"I mean, maybe, let me try these moves." Anne looked at the moves from the book, watching them flow like something else she'd seen. "Hang on a second. These aren't fighting moves. These are dance moves!"
Randy and Spig blinked in unison. They heard Anne's words but they couldn't put the information into their minds.
"Well, that's some freaky dancing," Sprig said.
"Anne, this is an ancient book that's been in my family for 800 years," Randy chuckled. "I don't think it would depict something like a dance number. You must be wrong."
"Dude, I know dancing and these are some pretty fiery dance moves!" Anne said. "I'll prove it to you!"
"What's all the ruckus?!" Hop Pop hopped down to the basement.
"Hop Pop, tell Anne that my family's ancient book doesn't have dance moves," Randy said.
"Just look at them, Randy! These are dance moves!" Anne shoved the book in Randy's face.
"Let me see that." Hop Pop took the book before pulling out his glasses. "Let's see here. Oh written in the ancient tongue, no wonder you kids had trouble. Very few know these characters. I think I know a few. Let me see what we've got here." Hop Pop read from the pages.
Everyone waited patiently for the answer to the words hidden in the pages. Hop Pop took his time reading the passages over and over, muttering to himself. He scratched his chin in confusion before gasping.
"I think I got it!" Hop Pop claimed.
"You do?!" Randy asked excitedly. "What's it called? The Fire Sword Step? The Blade of the Norushi? The Eternal Flame?"
"Badass names all around, but my money is still on dancing being there," Anne chided.
"Well, I could only discern a few words and a passage, but it roughly translates to "The Sun Fire Dance,"" Hop Pop revealed, much to the shock of Randy. "And according to the passage, 'Your heart, body and soul must fight to the breathing of the Sun and Fire God to unlock the flame'. Whatever that means."
"Ha! Knew it was a dance!" Anne cheered.
"Anne, how does that help me master my new Mystic Sword?" Randy asked in a deadpan tone.
"Because, now, all I gotta teach you is how to dance," Anne said. "All dances need the same things, all you need is to master those and that sword will be yours. Besides, it's not like something bad will happen today."
On the outskirts of Wartwood, beneath the shadows of the swamp, a hooded creature with a large spiky horn poking out from its hood pulled out a spying glass. It looked at the frogs of the town with a sinister grin on his face as the ideas popped in its mind.
"Hm, Wartwood, Slow to Accept, Slower to Respect', a town after my own heart. And filled with such delicious treats." Its long purple tongue licked its jagged and sharp teeth as it put away its spy glass. "I think some chaos should be enough to bring me enough cover."
The creature pulled out three talismans from inside his cloak. He whispered some words into the amulets causing three different colored smokes to come out from each amulet. From the green smoke came a brown-furred weasel creature with sharp talons on its front and back paws as well as one on its tail. From the blue smoke came a pale water blue yokai with long drenched black hair that covered its face, leaving only its ears visible. And from the black smoke came a large monstrous floating head with long razor sharp tusks that would've made an elephant green with envy. These were yokai of wind, water and shadow and they were all under the control of the hooded creature.
The yokai hissed and growled at the creature, snapping at it with ferocity. But the hooded creature didn't even flinch.
"Yame!" The creature held the amulets up, creating shackles made out of smoke around the three yokai. "You three know the way things go, I am your master and you will obey my commands. There is a little frog village down there without a care in the world. There is something in there that smells very good and is something I want. I know you can sense it. Go ramp up some chaos, draw it out and capture it!"
The three yokai smelled the air, sensing something in it. It was strong and chaotic, and primordial. It called to them like bees being attracted to the freshly bloomed flowers of spring. They turned around, rushing straight to Wartwood like a wholesale was happening down there and they were the last ones to go in.
The creature chuckled as the three yokai made their way down to the frog town. They could sense the energy coming from the small community. They didn't know if it was coming from one of the frogs, a weapon or an ancient tome that had found its way into the hands of the lowest class. But it mattered nothing to them. They wanted it and nothing would stand in their way to claim it for themselves alone.
Anne set up a makeshift dance lesson with a change of clothes, a bucket, and her phone.
"Alright Randy, first rule about dancing, it's all in the rhythm," Anne said. "You gotta let your whole body follow the rhythm of the music, no matter what the music is, you gotta follow it. Watch this."
Anne hit play on her phone, letting the music come out and give her the rhythm. She nodded her head, tapped her foot and snapped her finger to the music before she started to dance. Her body moved like it was gliding through the air with each step she took. It was like seeing a creature in their element. Her arms and legs moved with style and glamour, moving right, left, twirling in place before striking a pose. For a brief moment, her eyes looked to Randy, making him take a step back out of shock as she finished with a hip bump.
"Now, you try," Anne said.
"Okay, I think I get it." Randy stepped up to the makeshift dance floor, clumsily copying Anne's dance moves. "Am I doing it?"
Anne couldn't help but laugh at Randy's dancing. He was a trained warrior but his feet were tripping him, his hands were doing the robot like he was actually made out of steel and his head looked one move away from breaking his own neck. She stopped him before she could laugh herself to death.
"No, no, dude, try to move with what comes naturally," Anne said, wiping the tears from her eyes. "This is also a teenage thing. Learning to dance is a way of self expression. A way to show the world who you are and do what you want. It can be from any kind of dancing. Like La Macarena." Anne did a short bit of La Macarena. "Traditional." Anne pretended to have a partner and danced a bit to a classic song. "And of course one of my favorites, Breakdance." Anne spun around, dropping down to the ground, spinning until she struck another pose.
Randy thought of Anne's words. He listened to the rhythm of the music, letting the vibrations flow through his body. His fighting instincts flared up, moving his body to the rhythm. Punch, kick, dodge, jump, punch, kick, dodge, jump, rinse and repeat the moves. He moved like in a fight, but a fight with music to help him focus. Even his breathing matched the dancing music that was around him. Randy laughed as he felt happy, especially as Anne started copying his moves to the letter.
"Whoa, that was awesome, Anne! Let me try!" Sprig jumped in and started dancing.
"Me too!" Polly hopped to the sound of music.
"I want some of that too!" Hop Pop danced, but it was so cringy and weird that everyone else just looked at him like he was about to croak. "What's wrong?"
"Um…" Randy began.
"Hop Pop, never do free style again." Anne grabbed the old frog's head, being as serious as she could be. "That would give people nightmares."
The sound of screaming caught them all by surprise.
"Oh come on, it wasn't that bad of a dance!" Hop Pop snapped.
"That's not you, Hop Pop," Randy's tone turned serious. "It came from the town!" Randy grabbed the fire sword before running after the screams as smoke came up from the town.
"Randy, hold on! We're coming!" Anne and the Plantars rushed after Randy as he made his way to Wartwood.
Randy hesitantly looked at his sword as he ran. He didn't know if his sword would work but his job as the town protector called to him. All he could do was hope that he had enough to fight the threat before him.
The town was in chaos. Every frog ran for the hills as the three rampaging yokai attacked everything in sight. Many tried to hide and keep themselves safe from them but the creatures found ways to catch them all causing as much chaos as possible.
The wind yokai sliced at the buildings with its bladed talons.
The water yokai called the waters of the swamp like whips to strike at the market stands, smashing them to pieces.
The giant head yokai chased and chomped at the frogs like an angry Pac-Man head.
"That crazy one-eyed vagrant was right!" One of the frogs cried out. "This is how we die!"
"I hate being right!" Wally fell down as he ran.
He turned around as the demonic yokai head lunged itself at him. Wally screamed in terror, begging for his life.
At the last second, a blur snatched Wally from the ground, leaving only a patch of dirt for the yokai to devour.
Randy put Wally behind him as they landed.
"Wally, help get as many people out of here as you can!" Randy drew out his sword as the yokai turned to face him with a snarl. "I'll take care of them."
"You don't have to tell me twice, Randy!" Wally scampered out of there with a puff of smoke.
The yokai head snarled at Randy as they started circling each other. It brought back memories to the young warrior. Not exactly pleasant ones but this time it would be different especially with his new sword.
"Alright ugly, I don't know why you suddenly came here to start stuff up, but I'm the protector of this town," Randy said. "Get ready to eat fire!" Randy swung his sword… only for no fire to come out. "Seriously? Come on! Light up already!" Randy swung his sword in hopes of igniting the flames, but it didn't so much as let out a spark or an ember.
The yokai head smiled before flying straight at Randy with its rows of sharp teeth ready to bite. Randy jumped out of the way as the yokai bit through a market stand. The beast flew back at Randy ready for another bite. Randy jumped over the beastly head, kicking it in the back before landing. The yokai got another taste of the ground, snarling like a mad dog in frustration as it got back up. It charged at Randy once more with the express intent of biting Randy's head off.
Randy groaned, frustrated at the lack of flames. When an idea struck him. He needed the heat of battle to ignite the sword. Randy yelled as he charged at the beast this time. His sword met the head's tusk, slicing it clean off. While the yokai head roared in pain from the attack, Randy skidded to a halt, tossing his scarf at the beast, wrapping its eyes.
"Alright tough guy, let's see you chew on this for a change!" Randy pulled himself at the yokai.
Randy kicked the beast from behind before he sliced the other tusk with his sword. The yokai bit at the air like a wild animal, missing Randy with each bite.
"Miss me! Miss me! Miss me again!" Randy taunted the yokai after jumping away from every attack and kicking it with a counter. "How did the taunting go again? Oh rig-!" Randy was blasted by a powerful stream of water.
Randy smashed against a stand. He groaned as he picked himself up to see the three different yokai surrounding him.
"Wait, you're not…" Randy began when the three yokai pounced on him with deadly intent.
Anne grabbed Randy by the back, pulling him away at the last second.
"Dude, you okay?!" Anne asked.
"Been better," Randy replied before the yokai attacked once more.
Randy pulled Anne out of the way this time, swinging his sword at the wind yokai. He blocked its sharp blade-talon with his sword, still no fire. He dug his heels on the ground as the yokai swung its talons at him over and over like a mad animal. Randy blocked and parried the blades as best he could as Anne grabbed a nearby bucket and swung it at the yokai's head.
The yokai cried out in anger, turning to Anne with a snarl. Anne met it with a sheepish grin.
Randy used this chance to kick the beast in the face. He turned around in time for another blast of water to hit him square in the chest. He slammed against Anne as they both smashed through another market stand.
The three yokai approached them. Snarling like a pack of hyena bees ready to devour their prey.
Randy struggled to get up. The air had been knocked out of him and the sword did not obey him. Still he found his footing with Anne by his side.
"You okay?" Anne asked.
"Never better," Randy replied, gripping his sword tightly.
The three yokai were about to strike when a bunch of rocks hit them, only as mild annoyances. They turned to see Sprig with his slingshot in hand.
"This probably wasn't the best idea." Sprig shrunk as the three yokai glared at him.
They turned to kill him.
"Sprig!" Anne pulled out her tennis racket and rushed at them.
"Anne!" Randy ran after her.
Anne's eyes glowed bright blue for a second as she struck the three yokai away with her racket.
The three yokai took one look at her, catching a glimpse of her glowing blue eyes before they took off.
Anne panted as she dropped her racket.
"Man, that was intense," Anne sighed.
"Anne, that was amazing!" Sprig called out. "How did you do that?"
"No idea, dude," Anne shrugged. "Probably my natural strength."
Randy couldn't believe what he'd seen. Anne hadn't just scared off three yokai with one strike, she had terrified them. Not even his grandfather had managed to pull something like that off with just one strike. But that wasn't the only thing that was bothering Randy.
"Well, looks like those three made a number on this place, better start helping out and fix this mess," Hop Pop said.
"We can't," Randy said. "Those three were different yokai. I need to go after them."
"Why?" Anne asked. "We already beat them. Well, I beat them but that's not here nor there." Anne bragged a bit.
"Yokai usually stick to their own types unless they live in a community," Randy explained. "This attack was not for food or retaliation, it was mindless chaos and destruction. I need to seek out an expert. Hop Pop, is Julian still living in Wartwood?"
"Regrettably so," Hop Pop sighed. "Same house and everything."
"I'm gonna go pay him a visit." Randy walked away.
"Um, who's Julian?" Anne asked.
The Plantars all groaned, looking away from her as they rubbed their necks.
The group arrived at a darkly painted little house business with a sign at the door. The home laid at the edge of town with all the shadows and other dreadful locals gathered up.
"Sheesh, what is this place, the town morgue?" Anne asked.
"No, the morgue is the house next door." Sprig gestured to another dark house while Randy knocked on the door of the first house.
The window latch opened up for a pair of purple eyes to look outside.
"Yes?" A slightly effeminate voice called out. "Oh, Randy Norushi! What a surprise. I heard you were back in town."
"Julian, it's been a while. I need information," Randy said. "Mind letting us in?"
"Us? Oh you brought the Plantars and the strange creature everyone is talking about," Julian said. "She does look like a stuffed scarecrow."
"HEY!" Anne snapped.
The window closed up before the door opened up. Before the group stood a tall pale light purple newt. He wore a dark purple suit and a matching top hat. Two of his teeth poked out like a pair of fangs as he gave them a courteous bow, gesturing them inside.
"Please, come in, come in," Julian said.
Randy, Anne and the Plantars walked inside, seeing a menagerie of dark, macabre, and spooky amulets, trinkets and other items that hung on the walls and the shelves along with lots of books on a variety of subjects. All in all, it looked like a museum of things past Halloween stores were filled Anne thought.
She turned to look at some of the books.
"'Cryptic Messages from Beyond the Grave'? 'Yokai and The Art of Magic'?" Anne read the titles out loud. "Oh, a cute bat doll."
The bat's eyes opened up and hissed at Anne before flying off. Anne screamed in shock, jumping into Randy's arms.
"Apologies, Hades isn't very friendly with visitors." Julian took off his top hat before the bat flew inside it. "Now, how may I help you?" He put his hat back on.
"The town was just attacked by three different Yokai," Randy explained. "They weren't there for food, or because of revenge. Chaos was their only goal. What do you know about that?"
Julian hummed as he passed the group over. His mind focused on the strange question that was presented to him. But like all businessmen of Wartwood and the valley, he had to ask something of his own.
"What is in it for me?" Julian asked. "This information and knowledge of all dark and mysterious stuff is not for free, you know."
Randy reached into his shirt, pulling out a small bag.
"Here you go, the same payment as last time." Randy handed Julian the small bag full of coins.
"As much as I love coppers to keep the shop open, I was thinking of something else," Julian said. "I don't think we've been introduced, my dear. What's your story?" Julian eyed Anne up and down.
"Hey, eyes up here, bud," Anne snapped.
"My apologies, but all oddities intrigue me and you are the latest oddity in all of Amphibia, well at least in the valley," Julian explained. "A little backstory is all I require."
Anne looked back at everyone else while they shrugged.
"Well, I come from a place called Earth, LA to be exact, I'm a human like Randy and that's about it," Anne shrugged.
"Then how did you get here?" Julian asked. "I doubt this 'LA' is a short snail ride away."
Anne started to sweat. If there was something she hadn't disclosed, it was that bit. She looked away from the slightly creepy newt before coming up with a lie.
"Not sure, dude," Anne shrugged. "I was one second on Earth, a bright light flashed and then I'm here."
Julian hummed as he looked at Anne a little longer before Randy stood between them.
"Julian, you got your payment, let's hear what you know," Randy said.
"Alright, alright, I can tell that you're in a hurry." Julian backed away, giving Anne one last look. "The yokai you mentioned wouldn't happen to be a wind, a water, and a demonic head would they?"
"Kinda hard to not know, they tore apart the market," Polly said.
"Those three are the hounds of Sasori the Poacher." Julian pulled out a book from his shelf. "An oni hunter that likes to collect strange creatures and objects of power. I've heard through the grape vine that yokai have become rather restless as of late in the wilds of Amphibia. Something is calling to them, and Sasori has tracked it here. No one knows what it is but whatever the source it has been lost for a long time and just recently resurfaced."
Randy looked down at his sword. It was a mystic weapon of great power, maybe that was the oni's target.
Anne herself worried about a specific item she left at the farm.
"Then, how do we beat him and his yokai?" Sprig asked.
"He'll have them bound to an amulet or three," Julian said. "Destroy it and the yokai will be free, but if you can avoid doing that, bring them to my shop and I'll buy them off you. As for the oni itself, well, there's only one thing you can do."
"Thanks." Randy bowed to Julian, thanking him for his information.
Julian watched the group leave, keeping an eye on Anne as she went along with them. He narrowed his eyes on her as she left.
"She's hiding something," Julian whispered.
Randy returned to the market where the yokai had fled. Kneeling down, he looked at the trail left by the water yokai as a clear path to follow. He narrowed his eyes at the woods, knowing what kind of danger was waiting for him.
"So, what's an oni anyway?" Anne asked.
"They are one of the most dangerous people in all of Amphibia, Anne." Hop Pop pulled out a book that showed a large picture of an oni. "They are hulking brutes that enjoy plundering and attacking all that crosses their path. Some dabble in the ancient cursed dark arts, but almost all of them love the taste of amphibians as their meal." Hop Pop shivered. "Which is why we're not going near that guy and his yokai lackeys."
"What? Come on, we can take 'em, right Sprig?" Anne asked without getting an answer. "Sprig?"
Sprig looked away with a worried look.
"Yeah, I'm with Hop Pop on this one, Anne," Sprig admitted. "You don't know some of the horror stories that are told about the oni. Those guys are almost as bad as the toads from Toad Tower."
"Yeah, you will die," Polly added.
"Okay, saving the questions for later," Anne sighed. "Come on Randy, back me up here. We can take them together. Right? Randy?" She turned around to see Randy rushing into the forest by himself. "Dang it, how is he so fast and so silent at the same time?!" Anne took after him.
"What part of ninja training don't you understand?" Hop Pop asked before rushing after her.
"Wow, this is the first time Hop Pop goes into danger before you, Sprig," Polly said.
"Whoa, this feels so weird," Sprig muttered. "But I'm still going."
Randy jumped from branch to branch as he followed the trail left for him by the yokai. It was too good to ignore, so he kept his distance from the ground, making sure to listen to everything and anything that could lead him into a trap. If this oni was anything like the Red Horns, then he would be a beast in combat and would be having the three yokai guarding him.
He gripped his sword as he swung through the air with his scarf. If Julian's words were true, then that meant the oni and the yokai were after the sword. He had to stop them before the town was destroyed by their chase of him. A part of him really hoped the sword would ignite and unleash its power at his command, but he would have to figure it out with the steps from the book. Though he still couldn't wrap his head around them actually being a dance.
Randy didn't know why but the more he thought about the Sun Fire Dance, the more he wondered where he'd seen those moves before. He faintly remembered snow, lit torches and his grandpa during the first few years in Amphibia. Those had to mean something.
But a pained cry snapped him out of his thoughts.
Randy stopped on a branch, perched on top of it like a hawk looking down on its prey.
Sasori the Poacher held up the three amulets in his hand, strangling the three yokai with a venomous snarl.
"I commanded you to bring me my price like the good hunting beasts that you are," Sasori snarled. "And what do you do? You come back, fleeing like a couple of pups?! And without my price!" Sasori held the amulets tightly as the colored smoke started choking the three yokai.
Randy narrowed his eyes at the sight before him. He was no fan of rampaging yokai or threats to his town, but he was even less of a fan of slavery and hurting others for your own pleasure. His eyes narrowed on the oni and the amulets he held. If he could get them and destroy them then the yokai would be freed and the oni would be missing more than his hand. Randy sprung into action, landing on the ground behind the oni with a heavy thud.
"You like picking on those you put a leash on?" Randy unsheathed his sword. "I've got your price oni, come claim it if you're man enough!" Randy assumed his fighting stance, pointing his sword at the oni with anger in his eyes.
Sasori looked at Randy like most people had looked at him his whole life. He pulled back his hood, revealing his purple skin, his large horn poking out of his forehead and large fangs.
"A strange creature indeed. You will make a fine addition to my collection," Sasori chuckled.
"Yo Randy, a heads up next-Whoa, that guy looks like a demon!" Anne stopped on her tracks as she got a good look at Sasori.
"Anne! Get out of here!" Randy snapped, not taking his eyes off of the oni. "I'm the one this guy's looking for!"
"Two prices for the prize of one? Oh what a lucky day this is!" Sasori raised the amulets. "Bring them here, my pets!"
The three yokai were released from their smokey chokeholds, turning to the two humans. They rushed at them with killing intent.
Randy jumped back, grabbing Anne before taking off with the yokai behind him.
"Hey, what are you doing?!" Anne struggled as Randy carried her away. "I'm here to help you!"
"I didn't ask for your help, Anne! This guy is here because of the sword, I need to face him!" Randy snapped, spinning, swinging his sword to block the talons of the wind yokai. "It's my fault he's here, and my responsibility to defeat him!" He ducked under the blasts of water from the second yokai just in time to jump, using the demonic head as a spring to reach the tree branches.
"But what if-What if he's after me?" Anne hesitated to talk.
"Why would he?! Randy jumped from branch to branch as the wind yokai sent wind swipes at them, chopping the branches. "You don't have-"
The branch he'd jumped to was smashed by the demonic head, plunging them down to the ground below.
Randy stabbed his sword on the tree, stopping the descent as Anne clung to him like a baby koala. He almost let out a breath of relief when the wind yokai jumped at them.
Anne, in instinct, kicked the yokai in the jaw, sending it back.
Randy used this chance and jumped away back to the ground where he put Anne down.
"You need to leave, Anne." Randy looked for the yokai before they could strike. "I can't focus on them and you at the same time. This is my responsibility and I have to face the consequences of it."
Anne's guilt got the better of her. She could tell the guilt in Randy's voice was crushing him. His one duty was being put to the test and he didn't know if the sword was what was attracting the yokai and this crazy oni. But she knew there was another suspect. She had to tell him the truth or else he would jump at a stupid idea fit more for herself.
"Randy, wait, it might not even be the sword he's after," Anne said.
"What?" Randy was taken completely off guard there.
"It's just, I-" Anne was cut off as strings wrapped around her body pulling her back as she screamed.
"Anne!" Randy ran after her as fast as his legs could carry him.
He spotted Sasori ahead of him, holding Anne by the strings like a human piñata. She tried fighting and getting out of them but she was twisted into an uncomfortable position, stretching her arms and legs.
"Drop your sword, boy, or this little morsel becomes my meal." Sasori tightened the strings that held Anne, digging into her skin.
Anne screamed as she felt her blood dripping from her arm. It was just string, no thicker than her own hair and it was still digging into her like a sharp knife. She tried to break free but it wasn't working. The damn thing was too tough and it was digging into her even more.
"Anne! Hang on!" Randy jumped up to slice the threads that bound her.
But before he could reach her, the demonic head slammed into him pushing him back and away from both her and Sasori. He was then blasted with water by the water yokai and the talons of the wind yokai cut his back, sending him to the floor in pain.
But that wasn't enough. He was lifted up by the water yokai's erupting waters before the demonic head bit into his arm, tossing him away. The wind yokai sent a slicing wave of wind, cutting down the branches and the trees above Randy. He tried to pull himself out of the way but they still fell on him, hitting him over and over like a barrage of punches. Randy jumped out only to be blasted by the water once more.
He landed hard on the ground, covered in cuts and bruises. Randy was bleeding a lot. Drops of his blood fell to the floor as he struggled to get back up. He gritted his teeth as his mind took him back to the first night in Amphibia. How hopeless it all seemed. How weak he'd been. How he had nothing…
"Randy! AAHH!" Anne screamed as the thread dug deeper into her body.
"Anne!" The Plantars rushed in to help her, but the threads cut them off, slicing the trees in front of them.
"Ah some frogs, maybe I will have some food after all," Sasori laughed. "Let this be a lesson to you, creature, only the strong take what they desire and no one will get in my way once I get what I want!" Sasori laughed as Randy got back up again.
Anne's and the Plantar's cries woke Randy up, pulling him up once more. He still had some fight left in him.
Randy narrowed his eyes, rage boiling in his blood as he charged once more. His breath felt like fire in his throat as he ran. The three yokai lunged at him like a pack of vicious wolves. There was no way for him to escape the attack. His breathing quickened, growing hotter as his mind raced. The memories of the first night reminded him of his weakness, but those gave way to more memories. All those days of training and fighting lit a fire inside his stomach. For the briefest of moments, he remembered something that he'd forgotten.
Randy was a little kid once more. He was bearfooted, feeling the cold snow crouching on his heels, torches were lit up before him in a circle as his grandpa stood in the center of the circle.
Nobu was dressed in an ancient bright red robe with a necklace of black beads and white magatama beads. His face was obscured with an angry-looking face of a white demon and on top of it was a black hat with red leaves stitched together like a crown of flames. Nobu held a strange wooden sword with five blades curving out of the main sword. Red ribbons decorated each of the wood blade tips.
"Grandpa, what are you doing here?" Randy asked. "Shouldn't you be sleeping?"
"This is a special ceremony that our family has done every turn of the season," Nobu replied. "It is our thanks to the mystic and natural world. Be sure to pay attention to everything I do. One day, you will have to perform this dance." Nobu took a deep breath.
Randy watched Nobu perform The Sun Fire Dance before his eyes. Nobu stepped hard on the ground, moving his body like a dancing flame. His breathing hot, mixing with the flames of the torches. His moves were strong and mighty like those of a moving fire. He spun in place only to stop and swing the strange wooden blade like a sword coated in flames.
Randy didn't know why but he tried to match his breathing. The air went into his body to the rhythm of the dance feeling the exhale breaths resemble flames. He grabbed his throat, finding the sensation strange and far too warm for his liking. But even if it bothered him, it made Nobu perform the dance to a degree that made it seem like they were in the middle of a sunny day.
"Whoa," Randy whispered as he felt the warmth extending beyond the torches, no longer feeling the coldness of the snow around him.
It was like the sun was breathing fire.
Randy's eyes snapped open like a spark of brilliance. He took in a deep breath like he was trying to swallow the flames of those old torches.
"I see now," Randy whispered as the world returned to the present. "It's my turn to dance!"
Randy gripped his sword tightly as it warmed up like a blade fresh from the forge. His lungs and body felt the breathing energy coursing through him like an intense fire. His steps matched those of the Sun Fire Dance, increasing his speed and the breathing that fueled it. He held up his sword as the demon head opened its jaws to bite his head off. As the jaws closed in on him, his sword finally ignited in fire.
The demon head gasped in shock at the sight of fire. But it was too late.
Randy swung through the yokai, slicing it in two with his new fire sword.
"What the hell?!" Sasori screamed at the sight of the weapon slicing his yokai with ease.
"Heck yeah! Kick his butt!" Sprig cheered.
Randy performed the steps of the dance, dodging the blades of the wind yokai as it attacked him. The yokai spun in place like a deadly spinning top as Randy clashed his sword against its talons. He dug his heels and swung upwards, cutting through the wind and the blades like a flame consuming the air around it.
"No! This cannot be!" Sasori snapped. "That's an ancient mystic weapon?! How did that worm get his hands on it?!" Fear gripped Sasori's soul as Randy left a trail of fire through the air as he charged against the last yokai.
The last yokai fired rapid blasts of water at the young mystic warrior. But Randy didn't slow down. With fire in his soul, he continued running, dodging the blasts as he cut the distance between them. Gasping, the yokai brought both of its hands together, firing one last blast of water as hard as it could. Randy couldn't dodge it, he couldn't stop, so he was left with only one option. Randy faced it head on. He swung his firesword at the blast of water with a war cry fueling it.
The fire and steel collided with the water, evaporating it on contact. Randy pushed on, splitting the waters like Moses did the red sea. He came out of the intense steam as the yokai looked at him in terror. And in a flash, Randy decapitated the yokai's head.
Sasori was now the only thing standing between him and saving Anne.
Randy looked at the oni with rage in his heart as he continued running towards his goal. His body was feeling it, the extraneous amount of power that the sword was giving off and the dance he was performing was taking him to the limit. His muscles were tearing apart like ropes being burnt off by a wild fire. If he didn't finish this quickly, he would be defenseless and the oni would not show any mercy.
Sasori lifted his hand, firing a string of thread at Randy's head. Only for Randy to slice it with ease. He freaked out as Randy approached him like a monstrous nightmare of fiery hell. Sasori swung more of his threats at Randy, like a spider web of deadly sharpness. But Randy didn't slow down. He sliced and cut through the iron-like threads that got in his way, getting cut on the shoulder, thigh, forehead and hand. But Randy wouldn't stop his attack.
Anne struggled against the threads that were holding her. She saw Randy fighting for her, the Plantars in danger and the damn demon mocking them. She had to do something before he tried to slice her into ribbons. Her body moved and struggled against the bindings. It hurt, but it wasn't enough to stop her.
"I can't be beaten by a mere freak!" Sasori jumped back, firing a thread at Randy, cutting his side. "I'll murder you and all these fools before you can reach me!"
Anne's eyes glowed bright blue as her whole body was briefly engulfed in a blue light. She didn't want to be a burden and a burst of hidden power erupted. With a mighty cry the energy surrounded her body, blasting the threads away from her.
The bright blue spark blinded Sasori's eyes for just a second. But it was all Randy needed.
Randy appeared before Sasori's face with his sword ready to strike. In the blink of an eye, the sword struck Sasori's neck, cutting through it with fiery might.
Sasori's body fell back as its head struck the ground with a face of utter terror.
"Now that was a sword, baby!" Polly cheered.
"Polly!" Hop Pop scolded her.
Randy panted as the flames died down and Anne fell back to the ground behind him.
"Anne, are you okay?" Randy picked her up, even if his whole body was screaming in pain. "I thought-"
Randy's words were cut short as he looked into her eyes, catching the bright blue glow coming from them.
"Randy? What?" Anne blinked, leaving her eyes back to normal. "What just happened?"
The glow and energy that surrounded Anne faded, leaving Randy with more questions that he wasn't even sure what had happened.
"Um, well-" Randy began.
"Randy kicked butt!" Sprig jumped on top of Randy. "You were so cool! And you got the fire sword working!"
"Now that's a sword that could cut through an elephant beetle!" Polly added. "Sweet moved by the way. You looked like you were on fire."
"It did look kind of intense," Hop Pop pointed out.
Oh right…
Randy suddenly felt his whole body coursing with pain. He let out a scream as he fell backwards. Like the burning pain leftover from the first day of training, Randy felt every part of his body in serious need of help.
"We best take him back to the house and tell everyone the threat's been dealt with," Hop Pop suggested.
Hop Pop finished patching up Randy and Anne before putting the medical kit away.
"That should be enough for now," Hop Pop said. "I dare say I'm getting good at patching you kids up. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing."
"Thanks, Hop Pop," Anne said. "Man, good thing my uniform didn't get too shredded. I do not have that much clothes to wear here."
"Yeah, small miracles." Randy rubbed his arms after an intense hold of his mystic weapon when he remembered something. "Hey, Anne, what was it that you were going to tell me? Before Sasori took you hostage."
Anne stiffened up at the mention of their talk. She'd felt so guilty about this being her fault that Randy was trying to shoulder that she'd completely forgotten to tell him. But now it was time to cover her tracks.
"What? I um, don't remember," Anne said. "I think I was just saying you looked cute or something like that?"
"You think Randy's cute?" Sprig asked.
"Nope! I'll go help Hop Pop cook!" Anne grabbed Sprig before leaving. "See you in a bit Randy.
"Yeah…" Randy muttered.
Randy narrowed his eyes, remembering the blue of Anne's glowing eyes. For the briefest moment, he felt that strange sensation. It felt primal, ancient even. It was mystic power, he was sure of it. But that raised questions in his mind. Just how well did he know Anne Boonchuy? What was that strange energy? And what really brought her to Amphibia? What was she hiding from him and everyone?