Chapter 1 - CH I: The Saga Begins

Setting: Ekyt, eighteen years old, is shunned by his home world. Having enough, he leaves, headed for the floating island. Something told him to go there…what, he didn’t know.

He’s been alone for a year now, save for training as a guardian. A surprise to him as well as anyone else. Not even a member of the echidna race, he has become one of their elite. But he has yet to master it. He’s not entirely sure why, but he’s got a feeling that SOMETHING is about to happen to him. His intuition fails to tell him good or bad, however…


The Ring of Chaos
Chapter 1

“Come now, we all have something special we can do.” Knuckles coaxed the human. “Knux, I’ve always been a loner. IF I was special, something would have shown through by now…” the human answer miserably. Lately, he’d been feeling the brutal sting of rejection. “You’re a guardian! An echidna elite!” Knuckles exclaimed. “Maybe that’s it…Knux, you’ve got people who trust you, some who love you. The only people that love me, all four of them, are on my homeworld! I’m RESPECTED here, but only because of the position.” “That’s not true. I respected you since you knocked me on my @$$…” Knuckles muttered. Ekyt laughed. “That was a lucky punch. As I recall, you wound up beating me all over the chaos chamber…” Knuckles shrugged in response. “Anyway Knux, I’m not some Jedi. I can fight only in the means of a human…sad to say.” With that, Ekyt was summoned to the Brotherhood.

The Brotherhood consisted of Locke (Knuckles’ father), Poil-la (A descendant of Dmitri, an evil echidna garnsihed with the power of twelve chaos emeralds), Spectre (arrogant and outspoken, master of “Special effects”), and Athair (The only one to refuse the mantle of guardian.). No one was the leader, though most deferred to the age and experience of Athair, and the wisdom of Locke. Locke was a master guardian, and he had high moral standards. By all accounts, with his white, full-length robe, he was an unforgiving leader. But not the case.

It was Locke that had summoned Ekyt, and not under the best of circumstances. The four members of the Brotherhood all sat behind a stone table, decorated with ancient echidna symbols. Ekyt, his long coat swishing behind him, entered, his usual stoic face marred with a slight concern. The Brotherhood only summoned the guardians if there was trouble. Ekyt wondered why they had sent for him, and not Knuckles as usual.

Locke: Welcome Ekyt.
Ekyt: (bows) You summoned me, master?
Locke: No need for formality lad. Please, come sit at the table…

Ekyt raised his eyebrows at that, but did as he was told. He noticed a cushion he hadn’t seen before and sat on that, laying his weapon, a simple bo staff, across his lap.

Locke: Put simply, there is a task we need to have you perform…One unsuitable for my son…
Ekyt: …
Locke: And I must ask that you…make a sacrifice.
Ekyt: (Leans forward) What kind of sacrifice…
Locke: I wish I could tell you the specifics…I have come to think of you as a second son, though I know your father survives. This task…it may consume you, it may take your life…
Ekyt: I signed up, I’ll do what you ask Locke. I’m honored that you think of me that way. I’m willing to do the task, whatever it takes…
Locke: For that you have to talk to Poile-la…

Ekyt turned and bowed to Poile-la. She was the only female on the council. “Your task will come in parts. The first part is…wait. Locke, we must hold the ceremony first…

Locke looked up, surprised, but narrowed his eyes in sudden understanding. “Agreed.” He stood up, offering Ekyt looked like a cigarette. “Stand up, please.” Ekyt eyed the “cigarette” suspiciously. “I don’t smoke Locke.” Locke smiled slightly. “And ordinarily I wouldn’t ask you to. This isn’t a cigarette, and it won’t harm you in any way. It will be the culmination of your training…you’ve reached “Mastery” level.” Ekyt was surprised at that. Locke, sensing this continued. “My son bears the guardian’s crest. The white stripe of purity. You have earned the right to do the same. Take one breath of this, and the stripe will appear on your chest.” Locke moved the cigarette away suddenly. “However, you must have the…traditional dress.” Ekyt groaned inwardly, but said nothing.

The “traditional dress” was a white cotton shirt, torn from midsection to neck, and matching white “pants.” These pants looked more like a skirt, however. Ekyt felt like a complete idiot, but went along with it. He tied a sash, black in color, around his waist and made his way back to the chamber.

The ceremony was simple. Ekyt and Locke bowed to each other.

Locke: Upon attaining the level of “mastery,” one’s body and soul must be cleansed. A clean slate upon which no marks must appear. The trials of a guardian are hard and long, a life-long investment. One that may reap rewards, but may equally end in death. A guardian must accept this, and move beyond acceptance. Your training never really ends, it continues in a circular motion. As you teach your pupils, you learn yourself. A never-ending quest…Provided you accept…

Ekyt: I do

Ekyt’s voice stayed strong, mercifully. He was worried that his voice would crack from emotion. This meant a lot, to be accepted. And yet, something seemed missing…

Locke: Then breathe the smoke of purification, inhaling perfection, and exhaling sins.

Locke handed Ekyt the “purification stick,” which the human took. He inhaled, then exhaled. A black; not gray; black wreath of smoke encircled his head for a moment or two, then disbanded.

“Open your robe.” Locke said. Ekyt did so, seeing the white mark form across his chest. He was almost afraid to touch it. “Congratulations…guardian.” Locke said, a tired smile crossing his face. “Now, your mission…”

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