**Author's Email**lostshadowknight@hotmail.com

The Next Journey

Glenn walked through the wet forest being followed by the rest of the six warriors, Locke, Cyrus, Celes, Patricia, Lucia, and Claribel. They were known as the Shadow Warriors. It has been nearly one years since their former leader, Shadow, had died in the great fight against Queen Agon and after his death, he left Glenn as the leader and Glenn called the warriors after their fallen leader. Glenn held the Masamune in his hand and treaded through the muddy floor the rain had produced on the ground. The rain fell down on the warriors, but they didn't care. They followed the path to the next town. They have been wandering for 3 days without any food. At night, the forest temperature would drop drastically, but Cyrus and Lucia used the fire magic to keep the whole team warm, but they can't hold on much longer. Their magic depends on their body energy, and without food, they had very little time. It began to turn night and the warriors huddled together under a tree as Cyrus and Lucia ignited a small, but needed fire.

"We've been wandering for a long while." Said Patricia.

"Yeah," Locke said. "We shouldn't have come here, we should have stayed back in the last town we passed, Teron."

"The people of Teron were not happy with us there." Said Glenn. "Tis be the reason why we needed to keep our magic nigh."

"Yeah, Locke." Said Lucia. "They were staring at my blades like they were illegal. If we would have used our magic, there would have been no way to get out of there safely."

"I…Don't…know…how…much…more…I…can…take…of…this...cold." Said Celes.

Locke placed his arms around Celes.

"Don't worry Celes," said Locke. "We will reach the next town soon. Speaking of which, what is the next town?"

"A small place called Detro." Said Cyrus. "Some weird things have been going on around there and we need to check it out."

"We had nothing better else to do after we defeated that clan who tried to revive Agon." Said Claribel. "If they would have succeeded, we would have been in a hole big enough for all of us."

"Let's call it a night." Said Glenn. "Tis be a long day ahead of us."

They all laid down on the cold wet floor and began to sleep uneasily. They awoke in the midst of the morning shivering and tired. They began walking through the woods once again, but the sun glistened and shined upon them. They all looked up.

"Wow, haven't seen the sun like this in a long time." Said Claribel.

"Maybe it's a sign for us." Said Locke.

"Yeah…"said Patricia.

"Shhhh," said Cyrus. "Do you guys hear that?"

"It be the sound of people…. We're close to town." Said Glenn.

The warriors ran towards the sounds. They ran past some trees and reached an opening. There were houses and some shops. Glenn looked to the right to the sign that said "Welcome to Detro." He smiled.

"We hath finally made it." Said Glenn. "Wander off, eat, and do what you need. But meet up at that Inn at sunset. I will make our reservations."

"Ok, lets go get a bite to eat, I'm starving." Said Cyrus.

"Yeah, and after we're done eating, we are probably going to have to buy a bigger armor for you." Said Lucia.

Patricia, Claribel, Celes, and Locke laughed.

"Hey, I'm just real hungry." Said Cyrus.

"Yeah, and I was kidding." Said Lucia. She leaned over and kissed Cyrus on the cheek, as he turned red.

They all went walking together looking for a place to eat.

"This place is nice," said Patricia. "Kind of reminds me of Albrook."

"Yeah…" said Celes. "Only the prophet isn't here."

"And neither is Shadow." Said Claribel.

A silent pause filled them. The hearing of chanting broke the silence. The six warriors turned and observed a group of people walking down the street in black cloaks and hoods.

"Levante…Intero…Ferteo…Eteropa…" Chanted the small group of people.

"Who are they?" said Patricia.

A man over heard them and stood next to Patricia.

"Those are the Neconians" said the man. "Don't get in their way, they are ruthless and there is nothing this town can do to them."

"That's horrible." Said Lucia.

"They are monsters…" said the man. "If you have a death wish, then go on and get in their way."

The man walked away.

"We will talk about this later with Glenn." Said Patricia.

They found a place to eat and they walked in. They ordered some food and ate a very much needed food supply.

"It feels good to finally eat something." Said Locke.

"Yeah," said Cyrus. "Don't know how much longer I could have lasted without eating."

"I feel so much better…but…there is something unsettling… something is in the air… I just don't know what" said Claribel.

"Yeah, I know…" said Patricia. "Well I'm going to go wander around the town for a while. See if I can pick up some info on the Neconians."

"I am just going to go wander around for a few," said Locke. "See what goes on around here."

"Yes, me too." Said Celes.

"I'll help you, Patricia." Said Lucia. "Two heads are better then one."

"Thank you Lucia." Said Patricia.

"And I'm going to go look at the weapons and armor shops. See if they have any goodies." Said Cyrus.

They left 50 gold coins for the food and walked out of the food place. They split up. Cyrus went to the Weapon Shop, Lucia and Patricia went around the town asking for information on the Neconians and Locke and Celes spent the day together just wandering around. The sun began to sink into horizon, and one by one the six warriors started appear in front of the Inn. They stepped into the inn and spoke to the woman at the counter.

"Oh…are you the Shadow Warriors?" asked the woman.

"Yes, we are" said Patricia.

"Your friend is waiting for you upstairs in the third room on the right." Said the woman.

The warriors walked upstairs and entered the room. Glenn was sitting there waiting for them.

"Ah, I hath been waiting for you all to return'eth." Said Glenn.

"Yeah, sorry, but we are all here now" said Claribel.

"So…" said Glenn. "What has thou found'eth on this town?"

"Well…me and Locke went out on a date together," said Celes. "And we found out that no one goes outside after 9:30 at night. That's when the Neconians attack."

"The Neconians?" asked Glenn.

"The Neconians are a group, or you can call them a clan. They believe in some sort of 'Neco Caelestis" which means God of Death."

"They believe that for every mortal they kill, they gain more power." Said Lucia.

"Hm…Tis be a surprising turn of events…" said Glenn. "And what hath thou uncovered, Sir Cyrus?"

Cyrus placed down his bag and opened it. He took out seven gauntlets and threw them at each warrior.

"These gauntlets were made by wizards called Sages." Said Cyrus. "Their true powers can only be uncovered with people who withhold magic."

"Ah…" said Glenn as he examined the Gauntlet. "Well, you all did a great job. Lets turn in for the night."
The warriors put away their things and got onto their beds in the Inn. They blew out the candles.

"So…" said Patricia. "What's the plan for tomorrow??"

"Yeah Glenn?" said Cyrus.

"We have to investigate this further." Said Glenn. "These Neconians seem very hostile, though we shouldn't use our magic because they are normal humans."

"But…" said Lucia.

"What if they AREN'T humans?" asked Claribel.

"Then we will deal with it as we would have to." said Glenn.


"Yeah, but I don't think we serve much purpose with magic anymore…" said Celes.

"Yeah…" said Locke. "We never really have to use our magic anymore. Not since we fought Agon."

"We are just people who go around saving others." Said Lucia. "Only we aren't known."

"It's good that we aren't." said Glenn. "If we would be known through out the world, we would be seeking more enemies, even more then Agon."

"Yeah…" said Patricia. "Glenn's right."

"Well, It be getting very late. Lets just get some sleep." Said Glenn.

They all said their goodnights and closed their eyes and began to sleep. Claribel began having a nightmare. She was walking alone in a dark forest. A small light could be seen shining upon a grave. She walked up to the grave and then the light disappeared. The light reappeared and seven graves appeared in front of her. The six in the back read Locke, Celes, Patricia, Claribel, Cyrus, and Lucia. The one in front read Glenn. A dark figure appeared over the graves.

"The fools that died fighting a God." Said the voice.

Claribel was struck in the back by a weapon. Then she awoke in a cold sweat and looked around.

"It…was…a…dream" she said in a small shivering voice. "Just a dream…"

Glenn was standing in front of the window looking out at the moon.

"What be wrong, Claribel?" said Glenn. "Not able to sleep?"

"No…" said Claribel. "Just woke up from a nightmare…."

Glenn walked over to Claribel's bed and sat on the edge of it.

"Do not worry." Said Glenn. "I will not let anything come to harm you or anyone else. I'll make sure of that."

He grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it. She smiled warmly.

"Thank you…" said Claribel.

"It be my duty." Said Glenn. "Now sleep."

Claribel laid back and fell asleep again. Glenn stayed up and was looking out the window.

"Shadow…" He whispered to himself.. "I'm sorry that I let you die…I should have been there…we all should have been together. All of us right now. I don't know how much longer I can take of this. Every day I feel more and more pain for what happened to you. I am very sorry, and I thank you for making me the leader, but I don't know how much longer I can hold out…"

"You're a great leader…" said Patricia. "And what happened to Shadow was meant to happen, and Shadow made you the leader because of your kinship and your heart."

"Thank you…" said Glenn.

Patricia got up from her bed and stood next to Glenn. She kissed him on the cheek and he turned red.

"We are all in this together." Said Patricia. "Now come on, go to sleep Glenn."

"Ok…" said Glenn.

Patricia went to her bed and Glenn went to his bed. They fell asleep. The morning came a few hours later and they woke up. They all walked out of the room and went downstairs and had something to eat. They walked out of the Inn. A man with armor crashed into Glenn was they were walking out. They both fell to the ground.

"Ugh…" said the man. "My apologies."

"No, pardon me." Said Glenn

The man looked at everyone.

"Hm…" he said. "There are seven of you…"

"Yes there is." Said Cyrus. "You have a problem with that?"

"No…" said the man. "It's just that news travels that you were around here. Seven unknown people came into town and were asking stuff about the Neconians.

"Yeah, that's us." Said Lucia.

"Anyways, who are you?" asked Locke.

"The names Clyde." He said. "And you are?"

"The names Glenn." said Glenn.

"I'm Cyrus." said Cyrus.

"Names Lucia." Said Lucia.

"Patricia here." Said Patricia.

"My name is Celes." Said Celes.

"I'm Locke." Said Locke.

"And I'm Claribel." Said Claribel.

"You're kidding? Right?" said Clyde.

"No, why would we be kidding." Said Cyrus.

"Those names…are the same from those eight that came from Albrook." Said Clyde. "Except there is one of you missing."

"Shadow…" said Claribel.

"Yeah that's him!" said Clyde. "Where is he?"

"He died…" said Glenn. "About a year ago."

"…" Clyde stood silent. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's ok." Said Lucia.

"Yeah, whatever, but how did you know who we are?" said Glenn.

"I make it my business to know these things." Said Clyde. "Don't mention those names around here though."

"Why?" asked Celes.

"Because you're hated around here." said Clyde.

"What?" said Patricia. "Why?!"

"We have never even been here." Said Locke.

"Yeah, but magic isn't the best of things around here." Said Clyde. "The Neconians kind of made it seem like that."

"I see…" said Glenn.

"Well, I need to go, I'm just a wandering Knight. Maybe I might see you guys in the future." Said Clyde as he walked off toward the center of the town.

"Odd fellow he was." Said Cyrus.

"But we have to listen to him." Said Glenn. "And now it seems to have gotten serious."

"He said that magic isn't the best of things because of the Neconians. That isn't a good sign." Said Lucia

"But they seemed familiar…" said Claribel. "Those things they were saying when we saw them chanting in the town… sounded very familiar."

"Yes…" said Cyrus. "Your right."

The warriors began asking around for the location of the Neconians and they finally got an answer. They found out that the Neconians were found in a small chapel southwest of the city. The warriors grabbed their weapons. Lucia put the blade in its holder and clung it to her back. Patricia grabbed her cross bow and set it to the holder on her side. Cyrus put his sword on his holder on his back. Claribel put her blades in the holders on her side. Locke put his sword into the holder on his back. Celes put her Moon Blade on her side. Glenn put the Masamune on his holder on his side. They took some food in a pack and walked toward the NecoChapel. They arrived and stood outside.

"Stay on your guard…" said Glenn. "We don't know what we are up against."

They entered the Chapel. There was no light. No windows, just candles. They began searching around. And only found pictures of Hades and Satan.

"This is scary…" said Celes.

"Yeah…" said Lucia. "It's giving me the creeps."

"Who ARE these people?" asked Patricia.

"It seems to quiet around here…" said Claribel.

"Way to quiet…" said Locke.

"Very chilly and cold." Said Cyrus.

Glenn walked away from the group and walked toward the center of the chapel. A small roaring sound could be heard.

"What the…" said Locke.

Glenn's eyes opened up in fear. He turned tower the warriors and made a blast of water that made a hole in the wall.

"GO, NOW!!!" Yelled Glenn.

Glenn was being pulled back by some dark figures.

"GO BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!" he yelled.

The dark figures took out their weapons and began hitting the pillars that supported the chapel. The pillars broke and the dark figures that held Glenn disappeared taking him.

"You shouldn't have come here!!!" said a Voice. "Now your friend will pay"

"BRING GLENN BACK!" yelled Patricia.

"We can't do anything about it now" said Locke. "We have to leave."

"Yes, Glenn is gone, there isn't anything we can do." Said Cyrus.

They escaped from the chapel from the hole that Glenn made. They made it out as they saw the chapel collapse. Patricia stood there watching along with the rest of the warriors as Patricia's eyes filled up with tears.

"Glenn…" she whispered.

"Don't worry, Patricia." Said Celes. "I am sure Glenn is ok."

"Yeah, me too." Said Lucia. "But what the hell were those things…"

"It's like they knew we were coming." Said Claribel.

"And Glenn was wrong." Said Cyrus. "Looks like we are going to have to use magic."

"Yeah…" said Locke. "And it's about time."

"Anyways, there is no point in us standing here any longer" said Cyrus. "Lets go back to Detro."

The warriors let the fallen down chapel and began walking towards the town. All were silent because they did not know what had happened to Glenn. They reached Detro and entered the Inn. They ate a small snack and began reminiscing about what had happened.

"This doesn't feel right…" said Claribel.

"It feels like we are abandoning Glenn…" said Patricia.

"No," said Cyrus. "We aren't, he told us to get out of there, so we did what he told us to do"

"Yeah, he did…" said Lucia.

"But how did he know?!" said Celes.

"He told us 5 seconds before we were even attacked…" said Locke.

"But how did he know?" asked Patricia.

"Well, its getting late…" said Cyrus. "We need to get to sleep, we aren't going to figure out anything tonight."

"Glenn…" whispered Patricia.

"You really do love him don't you?" asked Locke.

"Yes I do…" said Patricia.

"Then tell him that." Said Claribel.

Patricia took in a big sigh as they all decided to get to sleep. Patricia laid in her sleep worrying about Glenn. She stood up and looked out the window.

"Ill find you Glenn." Said Patricia. I wont leave you stranded out there."

Patricia quietly grabbed her weapons and put on her gauntlet and walked out of the Inn. She walked a steady pace toward the NecoChapel. She stood in front of the broken down chapel.

"Something happened here…" she said. "Something that I am not seeing."

She stood silently as she heard quiet chanting.

"I hear voices… they are underground!!!"

She looked through the fallen down bricks of the chapel and found a small door. There was darkness as far as she could see. No light. She walked through farther and farther, a small light could be seen.

"What is this place?" she thought.

As she walked further and further down, she could hear the chanting over and over. Levante…Intero…Ferteo…Eteropa. That was the incantation. Patricia asked herself what did it mean? Why did it seem so familiar? The chanting seemed closer every step took. She had reached a small room. She saw Glenn pinned to the wall, surrounded by figures in black armor chanting the incantation.

"Glenn?!?!" she yelled out.

The figured turned around looking down. They looked up and they were wearing black masks.

"Those…masks…" said Patricia. "It is just like Shadow's…"

"P…a...t...r...i…c...i…a" muttered Glenn.

"Glenn!!" yelled out Patricia.

"W…h…y d…i…d y…o…u c…o…m…e…" he said in pain.

"I couldn't leave you here without me knowing what happened to you…" she responded.

"So you've chosen to stay and die with him." Said a Voice.

"Who said that?" asked Patricia.

A small spirit came up from the ceiling and turned into an illusion of a man.

"You made a big mistake to have come here Patricia." Said the Man.

"No…" said Patricia as she took out her crossbow. "YOU made the mistake of kidnapping Glenn. And how the hell did you know my name?"

"Its amazing the information I have received from that foolish boy." Said the Man.

"What did you do to him?!?!" she yelled.

"Merely what was necessary." he responded.

Patricia growled as she threw an arrow at his head. The arrow went right through him.

"What the…?" she said.

"You cannot hurt that which is not there." Said the man.

"Who are you?" asked Patricia.

"My name is Demious." he said and then a white light surrounded him.

"Leave them alone…" said another voice.

"I know that voice…" said Demious.

A small figure of a knight stepped out from the darkness.

"You know if you mess with people who aren't in this, you'll face me Demious." Said the voice.

Patricia stood watching Demious and the knight arguing. She ran over to Glenn to help him out.

"Why…Did…You…Come?" asked Glenn.

"Because…" said Patricia. "Because I love you Glenn. The thought of losing you is just unbearable. I needed to come help you…"

Patricia carried him as she was hit by a strong blast that made her drop to the floor and drop Glenn.

"You are not escaping." Said Demious.

The other knights were still chanting the incantation. Faster they said over and over. Levante…Intero…Ferteo…Eteropa.
"Patricia…" said Glenn lying on the floor.

"Yes Glenn" she responded as she got up.

"Stop…the…knights…" said Glenn. "The… incantation… is… the… same… one… Shadow… used… to… revive us…"

Patricia finally realized it. They were trying to bring him back. They were trying to bring back Demious's body. She blasted the knights with an ice attack but the knights were surrounded in a black energy field.

"Levante…Intero…Ferteo…Eteropa………….FINITE!" said the knights.

"FOOLS!!" yelled Demious. "IT IS DONE!!!!"

A beam emanated from the knights and they hit the ground and pulled out a buried body. It was restoring Demious's body.

"DAMN!" yelled the knight. "I WAS TOO LATE! PATRICIA, GLENN GET OUT OF HERE NOW!!!"

Patricia nodded as she carried Glenn out of the room and outside. The knight followed after them. They got out of the underground place as it blew up in flames.

"We don't have much time…" said the knight. "Patricia, can you please assist me?"

"Yes…" said Patricia. "But what about Glenn?"


"He will be ok," the knight responded. "He is a strong person."
"Who are you?" asked Patricia.

"Nothing but a shadow…" he responded.

As he finished that, Demious cut through the ground and appeared floating in the air glowing gold.

"You were such a fool to try to stop this." Said Demious as he launched a fireball at Clyde.

"GAH!!" muttered Clyde as he was hit. He was on the ground badly injured. Patricia took out her weapon.

"Hm…" said Demious. "You stupid child, how dare you try to stop a God."

Demious's hand began to glow as he shot a huge wave of fire at Patricia. Patricia turned blue as she launched a huge ice ball at him. The blasts of energy collided and created a large blast. Patricia shot an arrow of ice straight through the blast and it hit Demious's right arm. Demious was stunned as Patricia lunged at him and launched another blast at him. He fell to the ground. She lunged at him once more. He recovered and punched Patricia's stomach. He kneed her face, and blasted her with a gigantic fireball. She fell back incredibly hurt.

"I don't know why you even true." Said Demious. "There is nothing you can do to stop me. You, nor Glenn, Nor that fool Clyde."

"C..l..y..d..e.." said Patricia as she lowered her head in pain. She had realized. That knight was Clyde, The Knight they had met earlier. Demious smirked as he turned. His eyes widened open as he was hit by five blasts. He yelled in pain as he felt the pain of the blasts. Demious fell to the ground and then he looked up. Lucia, Cyrus, Celes, Locke, and Claribel were standing there.

"You think you can mess with one of the Shadow Warriors and not pay?" said Cyrus.

"You'll pay for what you have done to our friends!!" yelled Lucia.

"You can't take on us." Said Locke.

"Fight us." Said Celes. "But it's your funeral."

"You will die for what you have done to our friends." Said Claribel.

Demious looked at the five warriors as Demious got up.

"So you finally made it." Said Demious. "Nice way to attack me. But it wont happen again."

The warriors readied their weapons.

"ATTACK!!" yelled Cyrus.

Lucia dispatched a whole line of fire at him. Locke blasted him with a lightning charged blast. Celes made a lightning bolt strike herself, Claribel, and Cyrus and it incremented their speed. Demious was hit by the lightning blast and he held the fireball. He aimed it at Claribel as she was struck down. Cyrus slashed at him incredibly quickly. Demious dodged all of them. Celes came from behind and slashed his back with her Moon Blade. He was struck as he fell forward and Cyrus lunged his sword through Demious's stomach. Demious fell back as Lucia and Locke's blast hit him and he collapsed on the ground. The warriors stood up in victory.

"Hehehe." Laughed Cyrus.

"Too easy!" said Locke.

"Yeah!" said Celes.

"He took down Glenn and Patricia…" said Claribel.

"Maybe he just caught them off guard." Said Lucia.

"OR MAYBE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE UP AGAINST!!" Yelled Demious.

Demious stood up as the wounds he had been given had a black fluid over them as it healed.

"I AM DEMIOUS!!!" he yelled. "AND YOU…YOU ARE NOTHING BUT FOOLS THAT WILL DIE FIGHTING A GOD!!!"

Claribel's eyes widened and her voice trembled as she heard those words. They were the same as in her dream. The dream had become a reality. All that was left was for them to die.

"Grrrr." Said Cyrus.

"DAMN IT!" said Lucia.

"We won't give up Demious!" said Celes. "WE WILL NEVER SURRENDER!!"

"We will fight to the death!" yelled Locke.

"We can't do this…" Claribel whispered to herself.

"FULL FORCE ATTACK NOW!!" yelled Cyrus.

The standing warriors readied their weapons and charged at Demious. Demious flew at them and punched Cyrus in the stomach and his fist pierced and broke through his armor. Demious kneed his face and turned around. He punched Lucia across the face and Lucia fell back. Locke tripped Demious and blasted him with a lightning blast. Demious was struck down, and as he fell, he kicked Locke's neck and Locke fell down out of breath. Celes slashed her moon Blade at Demious and slashed his right arm. She swung again, aiming for his neck, he turned and swept her feet from behind. Demious grabbed his sword and Claribel knocked it out of his hand.

"FOOLISH GIRL!" Yelled Demious.

Demious created a ball of fire on his hand and launched it at Claribel. Claribel was hit and fell back. Celes, from behind, slashed his back leaving an open wound. She used her lightning magic and zapped him, making him paralyzed. She slashed again, aiming for his stomach and he was hit. Demious recovered from the paralysis and launched five fireballs toward Celes. Celes deflected them with her moon blade and blasted Demious. Demious lifted Locke's body from the ground and threw it at her blast. The blast made impact and Locke's body was hit. Locke fell to the ground, looking dead.

"LOCKE!!" yelled Celes.

Celes ran to Locke but was slashed in the back. She fell down to the floor close to Locke.

"Humans…" said Demious. "Risking their life for a lost cause. No wonder they wouldn't have lasted long."

He turned and was hit in the back by a multi-colored blast. Demious fell and he turned back to see who hit him. It was Clyde.

"You…Wont…Get…Away…" said Clyde.

"You are still alive?" said Demious. "Why are you so damn persistent?"

"You'll…never…escape…" said Clyde.

"If I look like I can be stopped," said Demious. "THEN GO AHEAD AND STOP ME!!!

Demious grabbed Frogs Masamune and slashed at Clyde. Clyde ducked and swung at Demious's stomach. Demious blocked with his sword and repelled Clyde. Demious kicked Clyde stomach and he fell to the ground. Demious slashed at his head but he rolled over and tripped Demious. He fell and Clyde stood up. He grabbed his sword and slashed at Demious's head. Clyde stopped 1 inch before hitting his head. Demious used his telekinetic powers to stop him.

"You cannot stop me!" said Demious.

Clyde tried as hard as he could to overcome his power but couldn't. Demious was too strong. A small blast hit Demious. Glenn was using what he had left to try to stop Demious. Demious still had control over Clyde.

"Don't…give…up…"muttered Glenn.

"You weak fools!!" yelled Demious.

Two more blasts hit Demious. It was Patricia and Cyrus.

"You…can…do…it…" said Patricia

"Don't…hesitate…" said Cyrus.

Four other blasts hit Demious. It was Claribel, Locke, Celes, and Lucia.

"Come…on…Clyde…" said Claribel.

"Your…our…last…hope…" said Celes.

"Its…all…or…nothing…" said Lucia.

"Don't…ever…give…up" said Locke.

The blasts from the seven warriors were wearing down Demious. But it seemed nothing could stop his hold on Clyde.

"YOU WILL NEVER DEFEAT ME!!!" Yelled Demious.

A small white beam could be seen coming from behind everyone. It hit Demious and he lost control over Clyde.
"NOW!!!" Yelled the seven warriors.

Clyde broke free and slashed Demious's head off. Clyde fell back as Demious was yelling in pain as he wriggled around. A small black hole came from beneath him and he disintegrated into nothing. Demious was dead. The seven warriors, though wounded, were victorious. Clyde, with the energy that he had left reached into his pocket and grabbed some herbs. He ate them, and in a while regained most of his strength. Clyde went to the woods to collect to give to the wounded warriors. After he had collected enough, he went back to the seven warriors and fed them the herbs. The warriors had fallen asleep and were resting. When they awoke, they were in the inn.

"How did we get in here?" said Cyrus.

"Yeah…" said Lucia. "Thought we were goners."

"I thought Demious had us for sure…" said Glenn.

"He almost did…" said Clyde as he walked in. "If it wasn't for your friend."

"What?" asked Patricia. "Who?"

"Shadow, of course." Said Clyde. "All of you seven weren't able to hold down Demious for long, but somehow, Shadow managed to send a small blast able to distract Demious long enough."

"Oh…" said Lucia.

"So he was watching over us…" said Claribel.

"And I'm sure he always will…" said Celes.

"So what now?" said Locke.

"What do we do now?"

"We get out of here." Said Glenn. "Its time for us to go now."

The warriors got out of their beds, got their stuff ready, went down to eat a small snack, and then walked out of the inn.

"Before we leave," said Glenn. "I'd like to thank you Clyde.

"No prob." Responded Clyde. "Couldn't let Demious win."

"You know, you can come with us if you'd like." Said Celes.

"Yeah, eight heads are better then one," said Locke. "But in our cases, better then seven."

"We wouldn't mind the help" said Patricia.

"And we do owe you…" said Claribel.

"But know, that our path is a long and hard one." Said Cyrus.

"Yeah, and you might be a better navigator then our leader Glenn over there." Said Lucia.

They all laughed.

"Thank you so much." Said Clyde. "But I'll pass."

"Ok, well then, I guess this is good bye." Said Glenn.

"Not good bye…" said Clyde as he turned around and walked the other way. "We will meet again."

The seven warriors walked the other way and entered the woods.

"Well, that's another adventure put behind us…" said Glenn.

"Yeah." Said Locke.

"But our job is never over." Said Glenn.
"Because we are…" said Locke.
"THE SHADOW WARRIORS!!" they all yelled in unison.
They went through the forest seeing where else would fate put them. Are their destinies as warriors over? Only time can tell.

The End?

By:
Carlos Abel Urias