The Abyss in the Mountains

A bright light glowed out of Makoto's pendant. It was so bright, Lupin and Ryu both stopped fighting. "This power, what is it?!" Lupin shouted. Chihiro knew it was the pendant, but he didn't move because the light was so powerful. Then, faster than lightning, a beacon of light erupted from the pendant and went straight into the sky. Lupin's eyes widened at the sight of the light. "The Oracle," Lupin said in awe. Makoto was stunned at the light. It was so powerful and commanding, yet so beautiful and caring at the same time. When the light dissipated, Lupin looked at Makoto and said, "The legends were true. You are the Chosen One."

Makoto looked at the pendant around his neck. 'Why do the people of this world rely on this "Chosen One" so much? Why is his power so reverded?' Makoto thought. "You have questions," Lupin said, looking at Makoto with the same strong gaze as before. "I can see it in your eyes." Makoto looked up at Lupin and asked, "Why do the people here think so highly of the Chosen One?" Ryu and Chihiro's eyes widened at Makoto's inquiry. "Makoto, I-I don't mean to be rude," Chihiro stammered, "but that's kind of a thing we don't question here in Eldoria." Ryu nodded at Chihiro's remark. "Yes, no one has ever questioned it, not since the last Hero left Eldoria." This only piqued Makoto's interest more. "But why?" He asked. "Why doesn't anyone ask questions about the Chosen One or the last Hero? And who is this Oracle??" Lupin sighed and looked at Makoto. "Sometimes, Chosen Makoto, questions lead to danger, which leads...

to war."

Makoto was taken aback, yet insistent. "But, shouldn't we know what happened back then? Isn't it important to evaluate the problem??" Before he could continue, Lupin grabbed Makoto by the collar and through clenched teeth, said in a low voice, "I don't know about your world, but here, no means NO." Makoto was shaken straight through, and he couldn't move. Ryu shouted at Lupin, "Hey! Back off, Wolf Child!" Lupin let go of Makoto's collar, while maintaining the same piercing gaze as before. Without another word, he turned on his heel, and with Lupus in tow, he disappeared into the pines. Chihiro ran over to Makoto, in shock from the situation. "Makoto, a-are you OK? He didn't hurt you, right?" Chihiro said as he put his hands on Makoto's shoulders. Makoto, still shaken, looked at Chihiro and nodded. "Y-yeah, I'm OK, s-so don't worry," Makoto managed to say, trying to smile to reassure Chihiro.

But Makoto still couldn't shake what had just happened. 'Why don't people ask questions about the Hero and the Chosen One?' He thought. 'Why is it so taboo?' Then, Ryu came up to Makoto and said, "If you think we should leave at any time, we can go back to the Tower." Makoto could see the concern in Ryu's eyes. Even though his mind was still buzzing with questions, he made an attempt to smile, and said "No need, I'm OK. But thanks, Ryu and Chihiro."
A few days later, Makoto was watching the moon rise, when he heard Lupin approaching him from behind. Makoto got up and looked at Lupin. Lupin returned the glance, but he didn't seem angry or annoyed at Makoto. "Aren't you still mad?" Makoto asked slowly. Lupin shook his head. "I was never angry. I was just... afraid. I came to apologize." Makoto looked at Lupin for a moment. "Afraid? Of what?" He asked Lupin, who replied quietly. "Of failing to protect the mountains."

Makoto looked at Lupin. "The wolves took me in, so I feel indebted to them, despite being unable to communicate with them." As Makoto's and Lupin's eyes met, Makoto had a slightly perplexed look, and Lupin had a serious yet melancholic look. "And when you started asking questions that could be potential war-starters, I didn't want to see it escalate any further, so I felt the need to do what I did. I'm sorry, Chosen." Lupin looked genuinely sorry. 'He was just scared he wouldn't be good enough...' Makoto thought. He remembered Yui, from his middle school years, and he felt some kind of connection between himself and Lupin, even though they came from different worlds and different lives. "It's OK," Makoto said, taking Lupin's hand in his. Lupin looked up at Makoto with a slightly surprised expression. "I'm fine, and you're doing a great job at protecting the mountain, so don't worry," Makoto said warmly, to which Lupin tried his best to smile at Makoto. "Thank you, Chosen," Lupin said, . Makoto smiled. "Also, Lupin, you can call me Makoto." Lupin smiled at this. "Alright then, Makoto."

The next day, the trio and Lupin where in a part of the mountains that was sparse of trees, so they could see below to the ground. "Well, go on," Makoto encouraged. With a quick exasperated sigh, Ryu spoke. "This alliance is only temporary, alright?" He said while maintaining strong eye contact with Lupin. With the same gaze, Lupin replied, "I understand." With a nod, Ryu extended his hand. Lupin, a perplexed expression on his face, looked at Ryu's hand, not sure what he meant. Seeing this, Chihiro went over to Lupin and said, "It's a handshake." He took Lupin's hand and shook it lightly. "It means you trust each other," Chihiro said with a smile. Cautiously, Lupin took Ryu's hand, trying to replicate the handshake. When he let go, Ryu looked at him and nodded with a slight smile.
Then, the air crackled with tension as the dust swirled around them. Suddenly, the Abyss Warriors materialized seemingly out of thin air. "Intruders!" Lupin shouted, preparing for battle. Ryu and Chihiro assumed their stances, and Makoto, unable to do anything, stood behind the trio.

The Abyss Warriors attacked, only for the three to dodge every strike. Lupin ducked quickly, while Ryu and Chihiro, in complete sync, ran up the hard stone walls of the mountains and jumped and landed firmly on the ground, creating a shock wave, stunning the Abyss Warriors. Makoto, unable to directly help them, stood back and watched in amazement as the trio defended one another and the mountains.
After a brief moment, Ryu seemed to be getting tired, and the Abyss Warriors weren't attacking, so he stopped to catch his breath. However, when he let his guard down, an Abyss Warrior charged at Ryu, ready to strike. But just as the Abyss Warrior was nearing Ryu, Chihiro aw what was about to happen. "Ryu!!" He shouted as he ran in front of Ryu to shield him from any attack. But instead of an attack, he was snatched by the Abyss Warrior and held Chihiro in place against his will. "Chihiro!" Ryu shouted. "Let him go, right now!!" The Abyss Warrior chuckled menacingly and said "I won't be doing that." Ryu clenched his fists, and said through gritted teeth "I swear, if you harm one hair on his head-"
But he was interrupted by the Abyss Warrior, who replied with "You won't take another step towards me if you care what happens to your brother, got it?" Ryu was frozen. He didn't know what to do, and all to soon after, the Abyss King stepped forward, and said...

"We got what we came for. Let us take our leave now."

"Ryu!" Chihiro shouted as the Abyss Warriors teleported him away. The group was in shock at what had just happened. While they all remained unscathed, Makoto could tell Ryu was torn. He stood there, a whirlwind of emotions inside him, and Chihiro's shouted echoing in his mind. "You brought danger here," Lupin said, anger evident in his voice. "You endangered the mountain that I swore to protect! Get out, now, and never come back!" Makoto tried to explain, but Ryu held up his hand and said quietly "Don't bother," and teleported the two of them back to the Apex Tower. When they arrived at the Tower, Makoto knew he wouldn't give up.

He just had to convince Ryu not to.