Chapter 2 - The Chosen Hero

<< Sacred Garden >>

Lying underneath a large cherry blossom tree was 13 year old Brandon Skyler. He was waking up from a nap when he said, "Man what a strange dream. I just want to know why I keep having that same dream." He simply shrugged his shoulders and laid back down against the tree to go back to sleep. That's when he heard a young girl's voice say, "I knew that I'd find you snoozing here!"

Coming out from around the corner of the large cherry blossom tree was 13 year old Rachel Cecilia. She has short auburn red hair and ruby red eyes. She wore a white shirt, denim blue jacket, blue jean pants and red sneakers. Brandon sighed softly and replied, "Damn it Rachel don't scare me like that." She giggled and ruffled his hair. She then asked, "Aw did I really scare you?"

He chuckled softly and told Rachel, "Well not really but still. I was at least taken by surprise." She giggled and sat down in his lap, nuzzling his neck. Brandon blushed and asked her, "Hey Rachel? Do you think there's other worlds besides our own?" She cuddled up with him and replied, "Now that you've mentioned it I'm not too sure. Why do you ask Brandon?"

Brandon looked up at the sky and told her, "Well it's just that I had a dream during my nap. A voice told me that I was the chosen hero who would save the worlds from chaos. It made me think that there's other worlds out there." Rachel sighed and laid her head on his chest. She then responded, "Well then if that's true I want to visit these other worlds someday with you." Brandon smirked and retorted, "Very well then it's a promise!"

She hugged him tight and kissed his cheek. Rachel told Brandon, "Aw why thank you sweetie! Just for that I'll cook your favorite dish for dinner tonight!" She then got to her feet and ran back to their cottage in the south. He was about to go back to sleep when he heard a young boy's voice. He asked Brandon, "Did you think that you could count me out?" He bolted up and saw that it was his best friend.

His name is Steven Cerberus and he was 13 years old. He has short black hair and topaz yellow eyes. He wore a black shirt, white long sleeve undershirt, black jean pants and black leather hiking boots. Brandon got to his feet and told him, "Oh hey Steven nice to see you bro! I actually was going to go ask you if you wanted to join us after I took my nap." Steven folded his arms and smiled at him. He then replied, "Yeah sure you were bro."

Regardless Steven held up two wooden swords and told Brandon, "Well that's besides the point. Right now you and I both know that it's time for our usual daily training session. Here's your sword Brandon." He then handed the wooden sword to Brandon. Taking the sword in his left hand he felt a surge of energy fill his body. Panting heavily Brandon heard the voice speak in his mind.

It said to Brandon, "The path of the fighter. One who is swift on their feet. One who values strength and agility over all else. There's no turning back once you awaken as the fighter." He clutched his head and winced softly. He then thought to himself, "Something tells me that it wasn't just a dream..." Steven looked at him with much concern and asked, "Hey are you doing alright?"

Shaking his head Brandon replied, "Huh? Oh yeah it's not anything to be worried about. I'll be alright buddy." With a sigh Steven took the sword back and said to him, "It's alright Brandon. We can always train another day. I'll be seeing you later buddy!" He then placed the swords in his belt and ran off into the distance. Meanwhile there was a loud crash of thunder and it started to rain.

"Damn it why did it have to start raining?!" Brandon had shouted as he ran back to his and Rachel's cottage. As he walked in the front door he called out, "Hey Rachel I'm home! Is dinner ready?" To his surprise she was no where to be found. He had searched everywhere for her but to no avail. He started to panic and thought, "Oh crap this isn't good! I've got to find her before it's too late!"

So Brandon ran back to the large cherry blossom tree and saw Rachel standing underneath it. She let out a soft moan and turned around. Her eyes were shallow and void of all emotions. She held out her arms and said to him, "Brandon my love..." There was a fierce gust of wind and she was flung at him. Before Brandon could embrace Rachel she vanished into a wispy spirit.

He dropped to his knees and pounded his fists on the wet grass. "Damn it all to hell! Why did I ever leave her alone like that?! I'm such an idiot!" He shouted. He then heard a set of footsteps from behind and turned around to see a familiar face. What Brandon saw chilled him to the bone. It was Steven Cerberus holding a dagger to Brandon's face. He then said, "Sorry for your loss buddy."

Brandon scowled at him and retorted, "You were the one who killed Rachel! Tell me the truth you bastard!" He chuckled softly and told Brandon, "I didn't kill Rachel. All I did was set her spirit free. After all I am now a loyal servant to my master. Now then it's time for you to die Brandon Skyler!" Steven then drew his dagger back to stab his friend in the face.

However before he could a ray of light shone through the rain clouds. Steven shielded his eyes from the bright light and a rusted out sword fell from the heavens. Its blade stuck fast in the ground between Brandon's feet. He removed the rusty sword from the ground after he got to his feet. It had a foot long blade and its handle was six inches long and leather bound. That's when Brandon heard the voice speak in his mind again.

It had said to him, "You have been chosen to be the one to wield the Sacred Blade. However it's been centuries since it was last used. As such it's rusted and worn out. It's up to you to restore the Sacred Blade to its original strength and form. Seek out the five Nature Spirits and they'll bless your sword Brandon Skyler." That's when the rain clouds closed up and it rained heavily. With a sigh of grief Brandon clutched his new sword tightly.

He then drew his sword back and ran over to Steven. He swung his sword but Steven block with his dagger. They then began to feverishly clash blades and yet it was a futile attempt for Brandon. Before he knew what had happened Steven had given him a kick in his chest. The young boy grunted as he went flying into the cherry blossom tree. What transpired next for Brandon had changed his entire life.

Steven sheathed his dagger and chuckled softly. He told Brandon, "I'm not afraid to die! As a matter of fact this isn't my place to die!" He then vanished into a dark vortex. Brandon sheathed his rusty sword in its scabbard on his belt and thought to himself, "What the hell was that all about?" He had then noticed that his world was fading away into the sky. It was then that Brandon had disappeared as well.

Next thing Brandon knew was that he was on top of a floating piece of land. It had the large cherry blossom tree in the corner. Down below was an empty void. And above his head was the sun imploding on itself. "Damn it the whole world is going to crap..." He said under his breath. The ground beneath his feet start to rumble and crack open. That's when several spirits sprung up.

They accumulated into a large black scaled dragon and it flew high above him. It roared loudly and spewed out flames at Brandon. He dodged the flames by rolling out of the way. He unsheathed his sword and shouted, "Oh you want a piece of me?! Then come at me bro!" The dragon snarled at him and landed on its hind legs. Just like in his dream Brandon ran towards the dragon.

Even though his sword was rusty and worn out Brandon slashed the dragon's leg. It roared in pain and flew up in the air. Brandon chuckled and asked, "Yeah how did you like that? Not so fun to be hit with tetanus huh?" That only caused the dragon to fly back down and breathe fire at him. In a panic he ducked and ran around the other side of the large scaled fiend.

Brandon then started to climb up the back of the dragon and stuck the blade of his sword in its spine. It roared in agony and fell on the ground limp. He then jumped off the back of the dragon and started to slice its face. He then drew his sword back and shouted, "This is the end of the line for you!" After stabbing the dragon in the skull it erupted in a large dark energy cloud.

However unlike in the dream Brandon was sucked up in the cloud of dark energy. He screamed, "Oh holy crap! I can't die yet!" It was too late though. After the cloud of dark energy dissipated both Brandon and the world of Sacred Garden were gone. In the dark void of what used to be Sacred Garden there was only a barren wasteland. And standing in the center was a cloaked man. He said softly, "This is only the beginning. Soon it'll be all mine."