Enjoy!

Chapter 1:

	“Focus, concentrate, do not let it slip,” the thought guided the action of
every cell. Each breath was calculated, every twitch of sinewy muscle planned.
“Balance, the sword is all. It contains my soul, my dreams, my hate and my
love.” The small phrase rippled through her mind, trembling through the sword.
Perched hundreds of feet above the ground and balance upon a spear of bamboo,
Kate Arykoyo meditated. “Yes, excellent work Kate,” her old master’s voice
echoed through her mind. The thoughts of Master Shin eased her mind. “Moo-oom!”
another voice, much more direct, broke through the concentration. Sheathing her
sword, Kate leaned backwards, looking for the source. Floating behind her, her
son smiled. “Mom?” he asked as she turned. “Yes, Shin, what is it?”
	“Zephy has been looking for you, said it’s important.”
	“Is it trouble?” Kate asked.
	“I don’t think so, mother,” Shin said respectfully, “she told me to come get
you.” Kate nodded and flew lazily after Shin. Even at the age of thirteen, Shin
was exceptionally powerful. The combination of the energies from two Crests
resided in him. Despite the power, Shin was extremely quiet and respectful, even
as a young teenager. Arriving at the family’s small residence, where Zephy and
Kate’s husband Bengala waited for them, seated around their table. “There you
are,” the Zaurie said, “good thing you’re here.”
	“So what is it?” Kate said, kneeling down at the low table. “Kate, I have some
news. You see, the Guardians from Drakonia have recently contacted me and gave
me a little chore. I have to gather up the Crests here and lead them back to
Drakonia. The Dragons want to give you training.”
	“Us? They want to train us?” Kate asked, stunned. Zephy nodded, starting to
show her excitement. “Wow! This is great! We get a chance for real training, and
guidance.” Kate exclaimed. Bengala also agreed, saying, “we have to start
getting ready to leave. This is going to last around a year.”
	“A-a year?” Kate asked, “this will be fun, Shin will love it.”
	“Ahhh,” Zephy said, “Shin, he can’t come, it is the Crests only, sorry.”
	“Then what should I do?” Shin asked quietly.
	“Well Shin, this is a good time to tell you something,” Bengala said, “Ambar
managed to find an apartment in Prism for you. You’ll have to share it, but it
should be alright with you, yes?” Shin could only smile, nodding ecstatically.
“Well,” Zephy said, “looks like we are set, I will go and find the other Crests,
and then we will be off.” Zephy smiled once and popped out of sight with a small
puff of smoke. “An entire year,” Kate said, “this will be great.”
	“Well mother,” Shin said, bowing, “good luck in your training, I will do my
best at the Prime Center.” Kate bowed to her son, along with Bengala as he
slowly turned and left, lifting off the ground towards Prism.

	High above the city of Prism, Ambar and Pulsar were listening to the same small
speech from Zephy as Kate and Bengala heard, both quickly agreeing. “I think we
both deserve a vacation,” joked Pulsar. Ambar agreed, “I think the world won’t
collapse if we’re gone for a bit.” Ambar thought for a moment as Zephy told of
the no children rule. “That should be alright,” Pulsar said, “Nearie can take
care of herself.” The three of them looked over to see the young polar bear girl
working at a small terminal, not paying attention. Nearie did not look up as her
parents got ready to leave. Pulsar playfully ruffled his daughter’s hair as he
got ready to leave, “you take care of yourself okay?” Nearie sighed and calmly
straightened her hair before returning to her work. Nearie was busy studying,
her accelerated classes requiring much devotion. She was already five years
ahead of her peers, even in her first year at the Prime Center. Nearie had
completely absorbed herself in her work, her focus alienating her from every
other soul, including that of the Spirit given to her by Apogeo. With her
massive intelligence, Nearie already was beginning to perform tasks for the
fifth year students before classes had begun.

	Elsewhere in Prism, a young vixen stirred in her bed, Opening her eyes slowly,
Vixy saw the results of her party last night. Her entire apartment was a mess,
most of the furniture tipped over. Sighing, Vixy cleaned a bit  before noticing
a small letter slid under her door. Opening the note, Vixy started to read.
“Vixy, I have some good news for you, I managed to find someone who needs an
apartment to stay in and I said they could stay with you, I know you have the
room. They will show up in a few days and have a letter from me. I hope you are
keeping up your studies and perhaps your training.” After reading the note, Vixy
smiled to herself. “I wonder what she is like?” thinking of her roommate. As she
thought this over, her phone began to ring. “Hello?” she asked as she picked it
up. “Vixy, this is your mom,” came a warm voice.
	“Hey mom, how are you and dad?”
	“We’re doing good, and you?”
	“Good as always!”
	“Good, look I’m just calling to tell you that Howl and I are going to be gone
for a year. The Dragons have called us in for training.” Carmesi began to
explain what Zephy told them to Vixy. “Ok,” Vixy said, “give me a call when you
guys get back, okay?”
	“We will after you train, which you ought to as well. Goodbye Vixy, love you!”
	“Love you too mom!” Vixy said before putting the phone down. As Vixy started to
walk out, she was met by a group of her friends as they went to enjoy their
first day as fifth year students. Floating near the small group was Vixy and her
friends’ Spirits. Alaicia, Vixy’s Spirit, taking the role of Vixy as well, the
most popular of the group.

	Hundreds of miles away, over a rocky coast, two figures were sparring. “Come
on! You’re doing well!” the larger one shouted as the smaller assaulted him with
blow after blow. Pushing away, the larger finally said, “good! I think that’s
enough for today, Hope.” The two figures touched down next to a small house.
Kayin looked at his daughter Hope as she caught her breath. “Thanks daddy,” she
said as she hugged him. “Anytime,” Kayin replied as they walked back to their
small house overlooking the sea. Waiting inside was Grace, who was already
talking with Zephy. Several minutes passed as the trio discussed what Grace had
to do. “Alright,” Grace said, smiling, “I’ll do it.” Kayin smiled at her
decision, “I wish I could come with you.”
	“Me too,” said Grace, “but it’s Crests only,” she said joking like a little kid
in a club. Kayin smiled back at his wife as she kissed Hope goodbye and then
turned to Kayin. “I’ll miss you Grace,” he said. Wrapping her arms around
Kayin’s neck, Grace said, “I’ll miss you too, angel,” before kissing him. “We
should be okay,” said Kayin, “we shouldn’t starve to death.” Hope smiled, “and
I’ll just be going to school and back, nothing bad will happen!”
	“Speaking of which,” said Kayin looking at a clock, “you better get going.”
	“Yikes! You’re right!” said Hope with a sense of urgency as she dashed out the
door and into the sky. Rocketing off behind her was Hope’s own Spirit, Katrina,
sailed with her, humming to herself.

	“Only one person left,” Zephy said to herself as she soared over North America,
seeking the Crest of Sky. “There she is!” Zephy said as she dropped near a hawk
woman. “Feather!” the Zaurie shouted, causing her to look up. “Zephy? What are
you doing here?”
	“I have something to tell you.” Feather listened to Zephy, thinking on her
proposal. “Is everyone going?”
	“Yes, even Sem.”
	“Sem…” Feather said to herself. The only one she could love. The father of her
son, who almost killed him in a duel, would be there. “Should I…?” she asked
herself before snapping out of her reverie, “let me ask my son. Lionhawk!”
Feather shouted. Several seconds later, a young and quiet boy fluttered down
next to Feather. “Lionhawk, I have been asked to leave this area for about a
year, do you think you can manage the tribe until I return.”
	“I can, mother,” the winged lion said, standing before her quiet and proudly.
Feather thought for a moment before turning back to Zephy, “yes, I will go. If
nothing, to see Sem.”
	“Sem?” Lionhawk said, his composure wavering, “My father?” As he spoke,
Lionhawk’s hand instinctively reached down to the short sword tied to his waist,
won from the Death Crest. Feather slowly nodded before saying to him in a new
tone, “you are the chief of the tribe for now, you are responsible for
protecting it.” Lionhawk snapped his arm to his chest, saluting his mother as
she took off with Zephy.

	“Alright class,” a middle aged human said, addressing the large class of 18 and
19-year olds. “Welcome to your fifth year at the Prime Center, I trust you all
had a nice vacation?” The class chattered and murmured as order started to set
in. As silence settled into the large lecture hall, the teacher continued. “I
recognize most of you, but I would like to inform your class that you will have
a special student.” Gesturing to his side, the teacher pointed to a young polar
bear girl. “This is Nearie, she will be in the fifth year class, though she is
only thirteen. Nearie, can you tell us something about yourself?” Nearie did not
react, a long, chilly silence emanating throughout the hall. “Nearie?” the
teacher asked again, still with no reply. A snicker rippled through the hall
somewhat, thinking the youngster was terrified. But Vixy sensed the power of the
Crests in the girl, a subtle aura of power around her. Nearie, too, sensed Vixy,
but still Nearie sat unperturbed.

	On a different floor of the Center, a new class was starting. The room was
filled with fresh, bright faces of the first year students in the Prime Center.
There was much less control as hundreds of new students met one another for the
first time. Two of the kids had already made friends. Shin and Hope had picked
up on each other’s subtle energies and power and began to speak. However, Hope’s
subtle power extended beyond Shin. With evidence of the Crest of Love, Hope had
found herself highly popular amongst other students, a natural charismatic aura
drawing people to her. Hope smiled and talked as she received a list of classes
for her first year. “Let’s see,” she said to herself, “Choir, Mechanics,
History, Physical Education, Math and Art!” she chirped, happy with her classes.
“What did you get Shin?” she asked, peering over his shoulder.
	“Philosophy, Physical Education, Sciences and…” he trailed off, a slight blush
on his face. “Oh what is it,” Hope smiled, grabbing the list, “Cooking?” Hope
read, smiling. Shin took his list, blushing. “Aww don’t blush Shin! That is
cute!” That comment only drove more redness into his face. “Did your mom and dad
leave too?” asked Hope as the class rolled on.
	“Yes they did, for a year, how did you know that?”
	“My mom left too, so I have to spend a year with my dad.”
	“Both of my parents left.” Hope smiled, asking, “hey do you need a place to
live? There is plenty of room at my house!” Shin smiled and made a small bow,
“thank you, but I have already got an apartment here. I moved my things in, but
my roommate was not there.” Hope smiled and nodded, turning into the halls and
running to her first class.

	Several hours later, Zephy floated in front of the Crests who had gathered.
“Well,” Zephy said, “looks like all twelve of you are here.”
	“Make that thirteen!” another voice cried from the back of the group. “Sorry
I’m late,” a multitailed kitsune said as he scrambled to get to the rest of the
Crests. “I wanted to see the Guardians.”
	“Very well, Tenshi,” Zephy said, “I suppose you can come along. So then, with
everyone here, are you ready to go to Drakonia?” The Crests replied with various
degrees of affirmatives. From a tiny nod from Sem to a whoop and holler from
Pulsar, the Crests were ready to leave. “Right then” Zephy said, turning to open
a portal in the air. The small circle she drew shimmered for a moment before
expanding to the side of a large doorway, the other said of it being light years
away. Slowly, the Crests filed inside. As she did, Kate asked Ambar, “do you
think anything’s gonna happen?”
	“Oh please,” Ambar said with a laugh, “nothing has happened for years. OF
course now that I’ve said that, something will.” Ambar replied grinning.
	“Yeah, better not jinx it!” Kate joked back.