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 Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:28 pm
((This thread holds the story of Raiden's training with Ashura. It takes place after he received Ashura's power, and before the fight with Yokoshima)) Part 1: Direction
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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:42 pm
Raiden wanders aimlessly. His feet eventually guide him to a snowy land, where a feirce storm rages, and he cannot proceed further. He takes shelter in an abandoned shack and finds himself facing his thoughts at last."I'm such an idiot. Whenever I think I've got things figured out...damn it's cold." He shifts his form a little bit, gaining tuxedo patterned cat fur and ears. His hands remain the same however, and do not change into paws."I've gotten so much better at this. I wonder if Kyla will be impressed." There is a sudden soft green glow above Raiden's head, and Lady Karura appears, in her smaller sprite form. "Raiden, I sense a great doubt in your heart. Are you well?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:49 pm
Raiden sighs."Lady Karura, as always I'm greatful for your kindness and concern. My trouble is a matter of the heart. Hardly the concern of a goddess like yourself." Karura smiles warmly and flutters around Raiden's head."True...but if such matters were to keep my favorite summoner from calling on me, I would be very upset with him. Now what is your trouble?"Raiden shakes his head. It seems to take him a moment to gather his thoughts before he speaks."Well...It's Orion. Right now, I'm training to fight Yokoshima. I ended things with Orion because...well he's not a fighter. But I knew he'd follow me into the fight anyway. I couldn't bear the thought of him being hurt so...I left him. I did...I do still love him. So I had to protect him. But I was such a fool." He sits down on the floor and leans his head back against a wall, laughing bitterly.
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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:57 pm
Lady Karura watches Raiden with great concern. As he continues."I couldn't stand being away from Orion so long. I just had to find him and make sure he was ok. You see, I've always planned that when the fight with Yokoshima is over, that I will return to Orion and explain everything. This is what fueled my heart, and my reason to come back from that fight alive. I'm so stupid. Just because I still love Orion, that doesn't mean his heart remains the same. When I finally tracked him down I found him with someone else. Orion has already moved on and opened his heart to another...while I never really closed mine to begin with."
He buries his face in his hands. Karura floats over to him and places a sympathetic hand on his head."Oh poor summoner. Are...are you sure that the person you saw was Orion's new love?"Raiden sinks deeper into his hands."Very...I can't even make myself repeat what I saw to confirm it." Karura looks shocked for a moment, then shudders sadly, thinking of how painful the situation must be for Raiden.
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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:03 pm
Karura suddenly squeaks, as a small, firey portal opens up behind her, and she is yanked into it. A small fire sprite dashes out of it.  "I'll take it from here Karura! I'm sure you can find your way back to your own kingdom from there!"The sprite turns and faces Raiden. "Man troubles, huh?"Raiden looks up at the sprite and blinks. "Who...are you exactly?" The sprite bursts into an angry ball of flame. "DON'T YOU RECOGNIZE YOUR PATRON GOD WHEN YOU SEE HIM?!?! IT IS I! YOUR LORD ASHURA!"
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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:14 pm
Raiden immediatley bows. "Forgive me Lord Ashura! I did not recognize you in that form. The last time we met you were taller and..." Ashura, in his (Lord Ashura is androgynous, but I refer to him as "he" for simplicity's sake) small sprite form, calms down a bit and waves at Raiden to stop bowing. "Ah...no need for that. Though you should recognize your patron god no matter what form I decide to take. So tell me what is the darkest emotion that you feel in your heart at this time? If you can tell me what it is, I may help you to overcome it. You are in need of training with my Soul Treasure anyhow."Raiden looks up at the small figure of Lord Ashura. It takes him a moment to speak his thoughts aloud. "My darkest emotion? Well...I feel...afraid. For the first time in a long time, I feel the fear of aimlessness. I am afraid to go into the fight with Yokoshima now, because Orion was my reason to come home. Now that reason is gone, and it is not loosing my life that I fear. It is loosing myself. If I go to fight Yokoshima and fight recklessly, I may cause the death of my dear sister, or any one of my friends. So now I don't know what to do with myself, and I dispise this worthless feeling."
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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:25 pm
Ashura seems to study Raiden critically. "Hmm...it will not do for me to simply explain how you should overcome that feeling. Instead, you will realize that yourself. In the meantime, you will pour yourself into your training. I have just the place. Summon yourself a vehicle that can travel through space, and I will guide you there at once."Raiden looks hesitantly at Ashura. The god does his best to look intimidating, but his expression softens unexpectedly. "Rai...Summoner Raiden, my faithful subject. You must trust my words if you wish to tame the doubt that now storms in your heart."Raiden nods and answers somewhat robotically. "Yes Lord Ashrua. I will follow where you lead me." Raiden and Ashura move outside. Raiden claps his hands together, then touches the ground. "Vehicle summon...Nartian Fleet! Rock Scooter!"  A silvery grey vespa appears out of thin air, and Raiden hops on. Ashura raises an eyebrow at Raiden's choice, but floats into the air. "Follow me closely, and don't worry about oxygen. So long as you are near me, you will be able to breath. And the air is breathable at our location."Raiden and Ashura float up, and zoom off into the starry sky.
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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:42 pm
Part 2: The Training Begins
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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:57 pm
Ashura leads Raiden through space to a tiny grey moon, far out in the cosmos. A giant dome made of a clear material can be seen. Ashura opens a portal just before the dome. When he and Raiden pass through, they re-emerge inside the dome. The ground is covered in green grass. There is a small house, equipped with basic necessities. This space also features a large tree and a pond. Raiden dismounts the vespa. It vanishes, and, no longer in need of fur, Raiden shifts back to his usual form, except of course for his tail.  Ashura changes to his full, more impressive form and gestures. "This will be your training ground. You have everything you need. Food will appear in the house as you run out. I will give you tasks that you must complete, along with daily training using my blade. By the end of your training, you will be able to take on my form in the midst of battle. Use this time to sharpen your skills, and let it drown out the noise in your heart for now."Raiden frowns. "I...apologize Lord Ashura. You must have many responsabilites as a god. Yet you are doing so much for me, a mere summoner. Why have you done all of this just for me?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:04 pm
Ashura seems to zone out for a moment. "Why indeed my summoner....why indeed...."He collects himself. "Anyhow...your first task. The Ashura's Soul Treasure can become many things at the whim of the person weilding it. The simplest thing to make the treasure produce is clothing. I see you have already been able to produce a headband. It is a fair start. The most difficult articles of clothing to produce from the treasure are "Ashura's Gown" and "Ashura's Cloak". Once you can produce these from your treasure, you may move on to your next task."Raiden nods. "I will not fail you Lord Ashura." Ashura smiles. "Ah...yes. About that. I believe a certain ammount of motivation is in order."
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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:18 pm
Raiden looks nervous. "Motivation? What..." Ashura interrupts. "Well, it will help you to be less distracted if my task is at the front of your mind...yes? So then...to help you focus on producing clothes from the Ashura's Soul..."Lord Ashura snaps his fingers. Raiden's clothes vanish, save for a cute little cloud which hovers strategically over his crotch. Raiden is mortified.  Ashura continues, "That won't last by the way. After some time, you'll find that cloud attempting to drift away, and it will be more and more persistant."Raiden shakes the Ashura's Soul, attempting to produce something helpful. He produces a rainbow colored sash.  "Ah...the Rainbow Scarf...I can't remember why I wanted my treasure to turn into that thing. Ah well. I will return when you can successfully produce the gown and the cloak."Raiden sighs, "Well, at least you won't be watching." Ashura tilts his head down and gives Raiden a serious look, "Just because I won't be standing here...that doesn't mean I won't be watching." He then vanishes in a flash of fire. As he goes, his voice echos with, "Oh! And be sure to mind Oliver."
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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:20 pm
"Oliver? Who is Oliver? Do I even want to know?"
Raiden glances down at his "protective cloud" and hopes that it will stay put. He dejectedly moves towards the house.
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Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 1:25 pm
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Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 1:29 pm
Raiden walks towards the house glumly. He notices that the tiny house has no door, and lying in the doorway is a small purple goat. He turns his head and stares at it.  "A goat? Why the heck would Ashura put a goat here?" The goat looks up at Raiden and blinks. "Oh no. This is going to be some kind of weird test I just know it!" Raiden cringes. The goat stands, stretches, and rubs up against Raiden's leg happily, the way a cat might. Raiden sighs with relief. "Thank the gods...it's just a goat." He walks inside and the little goat trots after him.
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Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 1:34 pm
The house is consists of a single room. There is a cupboard filled with food, a hot plate, a cot, a pile of hay, and a wooden table with a single chair. Sitting in the chair with his feet up on the table is a demon with a bored expression. There is a large, heart-shaped hole in its chest, which continuously drips blood into a growing pool on the floor. He raises an eyebrow as Raiden enters.  "Really? Is that all? Lord Ashura's taste is terrible. What's he thinking anyway?"
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