Her sons, the lords, will rise on their mounts.
And we her loyal servants will pay homage to our master.
One falls, another will rise. We are endless. Until our liege is served."
"The chains will be broken. Find the key.
Fear none but the unfeeling thing.
For it is the one thing that can destroy us all."
* * * * * *
"Children. Lets all sit in a circle and Ms. Burns will tell you all a story okay?"
Ten minutes of squeals and giggles later, coupled by many 'yes mame' hollars, the hyper-active kindergardens sat themselves cross-legged around their favourite teacher. Ms Burns looked down at her cheerful students, making sure they were settled before she cleared her throat to being her story.
"Okay children. Today I'm going to tell you a *true* story from long long ago. My grandmother told me the story and her grandmother before her. And you'll probably hear it from your grandmas or grandpas too. So pay attention kids."
But then, with a great cry, the earth split open. Mountains erupted on all four corners of the earth. And from their fiery domains came rushing out mystic creatures. From the north came one with eyes that glowed a brilliant white. The east one as red as rubys. From the south came one as dark as night, and to the west a faint sparkle that danced with all the colours of the rainbow. Like knights they road on magnificant stallians that matched the colour of their master.
Like a wave they came unstoppable, brandishing their weapons to bring down the kings. The people worshipped them, showering them with gifts of gold and treasures. But the creatures payed no heed. They traveled across the lands until all the kings were brought down and the people lived in peace.
Finally, when they removed the crown of the very last king, a blinding light burst in the sky. The people had to shield their eyes from the brilliance, but it only lasted seconds. When the people could see again, their saviours had gone. But when they looked to the four corners of the earth, they could see the different colour lights dancing in the hills. They sparkelled and flickered until there was light no more.
After that, the people travelled to the mountains in search of guidance from their saviours. But they could find nothing. So, to honour them, the people build great shrines and monuments of the mystical creatures. But those statues would not stand the test of time and have either been destroyed or are long lost in the mountains. Yet the people will always remember them, through story and dreams. Passing from mother to daughter, father to son. And sometimes, when you look towards the mountains in the night, you can still see the soft flicker of the lights still dancing.
"Miss. I'm catholic. Could it be moses?"
"Um...."
"I'm Buddist."
"...Well children,....."
"I don't have a religion. Does that make me an A-thist?"
The children erupted with questions and noise, excited now that the story was over and they could move. Ms. Pourier could not help but laugh at the now, very stressed Ms. Burns as she prepared the afternoon snacks from across the room.
"Katie...you should have saved that last part for yourself."
"A little help please?"
"hahaha. Sure. Right after I finish slicing the apples and dicing the donuts."
To Ms. Burns relief, the tray was ready and served within a reasonable amount of time. The children divided amongst themselves, forming little chat groups as they shared snacks and juice boxes. The two tired teachers retreated behind their desks, sitting down for a well deserved cup of coffee.
"I tell you, these kids sure are a lot smarter than they use to be."
"Especially those four. They have some good heads on their shoulders. Definately diverse I'll tell you that."
Sighing, the women turned their concentration back to making sure order was kept in the room, and no unnecessary scraps or bruises resulted from the afternoon sugar rush.
Down by the building blocks, four boys, mentioned previously by their observant teachers, sat in their own private little meeting room, complete with kiddy chairs and a tea-set into which they poured their juice. The four were quite an unusual grouping. Despite each having different ethnic origins, temperments weren't exactly matched up either. Three of them were quiet and reserved while one was hyper and 'loud' comparitively. One enjoyed books while another building. One enjoyed tag, while another would just sit and play with the pet ferrat. The teachers didn't really understand why they would always end up together, but never really questioned it.
"So what did you think of the story?"
"Lame."
"Wufei! I thought it was cool."
"You think everything is cool."
"Did I ask you Heero?"
"...."
"....."
"...."
"Oh great so you're all going to silence me to death. Humph!" The little boy emphasized his point by slamming his elbows into the table with a flip of his long brown hair.
"Don't get your hair in my face Duo."
"Trowa's talking! Is Mr. Pettie around?" Ducking his head, Duo checked under the table for the class pet. "Pettie. Here Pettie-pettie." The ferret had a knack of escaping from the cage to wrap itself around the little boy called Trowa's neck.
"It doesn't answer to your calls. Forget it Duo."
"Oh go build something Heero."
"I will."
The chinese boy who had been quiet up til now, sighed, taking a sip from his teacup baby-finger up. His long-haired friend gave him a slight side-glance that said he didn't care for the other's opinion. The others, very discretely nodded their agreements, settling back in their plastic pastel seats and continuing with their tea. After a minute of sipping and munching on goodies, an unlikely Heero quipped up.
"I've heard that story from my father. He says it's a curse."
"Oooooh."
"Un-hn. He says that the people who built those shrines for the mystical things, were punished for invading their property and got branded for it."
"Branded like cows?"
"Which is wrong by the way."
"Yes we know animal lover. You should join green peace when you're older Trowa."
"Green peace is an environmental group. You mean animal rights activist. But I'm not a veggi so I can't."
"nehnanehneh na na na!"
"Shut up Duo."
Annoyed, Heero cleared his throat so to get back to his story. "Anyways. Like I was saying. Yes branded like cows Wufei and yes I know its wrong Trowa so be quiet. But the men who went up there, because women weren't allowed in those days, came back with these marks on their body."
"Really. I heard something like that from my Master. He said that they were the mark of the knights. The same one used to dress the horses with."
"Hehehe. You want to hear something cool?"
The others all turned to Duo who had the most excited glint in his eye. It was a look they knew well, even at this young age and it was definately not something they could pass up.
"I have a birthmark, that sister, you know Sister Helen, said was a sign of god. Yup, she said that the Lord put these marks on the holy men, so they could tell they were holy or something. I wasn't really listening. But she says it's a big secret because if I showed anyone, I'd have to become some sort of weird holy man."
"Like a monk?"
"I don't know. I guess so. But anyways. I'll show you guys if you want."
There was a resounding okay, but the glint had not left the boy's face.
"Only if you tell me a secret."
"Come on 'Fei Fei. I want to hear the dirt from you first."
"Well......"
"Come on....."
Grudgingly, the chinese boy lifted his right leg onto the table. Somehow, probably through his kung-fu training, he managed to stay balanced on the chair without knocking anything over with his feet. Quietly under his breath, he made the others swear to secrecy, saying that his family would severely punish him if anyone else knew. Pulling up his pant leg, and rolling down his socks, he bid the others move in closer.
Just a little above Wufei's right ankle was a dollar sized red mark. But unlike a splotch or some sort of skin condition, this one was more of an intricate pattern. Like a stamp on his skin, interwoven triangles, circles, and stars mixed with strange letter like characters made the red mark. He let the others admire for another second then quickly covered it up again.
"My Master said never to show anyone or I'll be in big trouble, so shussh."
"Oh my god."
"I can't believe it."
"Yes I know it's weird. So? You're up next Heero. What's you're secret?"
Looking around the room to make sure nobody was looking, the Japanese boy rolled up the sleeves on his left arm. "You'll never believe this." Again the boys moved closer. To their surprise, there was a similar red mark on Heero's left bicep. The characters and shapes were different, but the resemblance was striking. The boys' eyes were wide as can be as they looked on.
"Duo.....don't tell me....."
"Oh hell yeah!"
Shooting up, practically knocking over the big plastic square that made his seat, Duo grabbed his hair, pulled it infront and turned around. He lifted the back of his shirt and slightly pulled down his pants. Sure enough, another similar red marking was situated slightly higher and left of his tail bone.
"Oh. My. God."
"Trowa?"
The last little boy, with his big green eyes slowly nodded and turned sideways. Pulling down his collar, he tried to show the others that all too familiar birthmark on the inside of his left shoulder blade. The boys regarded each other, not knowing what to say or even to think.
"Do you think.....that we're.......?"
"DUO MAXWELL!!"
The boys almost fell backwards off their chairs at the sound of Ms. Burns yelling. The boys scrambled trying to get back into position around their little tea-table as the scary lady marched over, smoke practically coming out her ears.
"Young man! Don't tell me that you just *mooned* your friends!!"
* * * * * *
In the city of Giudizio, at the local highschool by the same name, the boys had now grown up to be striking young men. At the ripe age of 18, they were the talk of the school. Each excelling in whatever endeavours they happened to desire at the moment. not to mention their status as the most powerful and influencial students in the school. They had come to call themselves the Four Knights or K4 as the others would say. And this would be their last year at Giudizio High.
Like everyday, they gathered before class for some quick high-fives, greetings, and a laugh or two. Not one of them payed attention to the gathering storm clouds that rumbled and cracked overhead with the approach of a white cloaked figure.
They're here...
* * * * * *
Somewhere, deep in the ground is a chanting. The voices of countless men echoing through the earth as they made ready. All repeating the same prophecy. One that had been engraved in stone so many years ago.
Find the key.
Fear none but the unfeeling thing.
The chain will be broken......
