Short Story: Beginnings

By their request it had been days since any of them had heard their birth names spoken. They wanted to get used to not hearing them as quickly as they could. They didn't fully know what waited for them, but it was to be the end of a journey they had been put on so long ago.

There were three of them, walking through a cave lit by torches hung every few feet. The flames danced on the ends of their poles, causing all the shadows to shrink and grow and turn all around them; a rapid ebb and flow as darkness tried to take over and light pushed back.

Each of three looked to be about twenty. The first was a man in a backwards cap. He was in a state of excited awe over where he was, his eyes jetting back and forth, trying to take everything in. The second was a woman with long brown hair and dressed sportily. She was far more focused, her head faced only to the front as she moved with swift purpose. The last was another man, this one with a more preppy style than the other two. He looked cool and calm and seemed to be the type with a permanent expression of yeah, whatever.

They all slowed as they reached a point where the small cave suddenly opened into a grand cavernous chamber. It was lit by fire, just as the cave had been so far, but rather than torches hung on the wall, here there were two lines of pedestals, each standing a few feet tall with a bowl on top containing its own flame.

The walls were covered in hieroglyphics, but the fire was too unsteady to make out any details, especially from a distance. Still, the three had a strong understanding of what the images would contain, after all, it is what they had spent years of their lives studying. Each of the hieroglyphics would depict various monstrous forms, usually mid battle with a human; others would be more gruesome, revealing a monster that had already completed its slaughter.

"Come," a deep voice beckoned to them, echoing out from the centre of the chamber. "You must be impatient for your ceremony to begin."

The three sped their pace until they reached the centre, then lined themselves shoulder to shoulder. Here, standing on a raised section of the floor, was the Professor. He was a man in his late forties, though he looked fit enough to hold his own against most in their twenties. It was only his greying hair gave away his true age. He leaned on a short wooden cane and wore a white lab coat that gave just a little extra to the air of authority already encompassing him. 

The Professor looked down at the three standing anxiously before him, all staring back at him with full attention. He took a deep breath, readying himself to begin the speech he himself heard so many years ago.

"Into each generation, three must come forward. You have been hearing this for quite some time, and by now you know that it is you who have been chosen." The Professor took a moment to smile down at them. This was an accomplishment to be proud of, and he wanted to make sure it was given the emphasis it deserved. Only the preppy man kept from smiling, his stoic expression unchanged.

"This has been a tradition that has lasted for millennia, since a time before the written word, since a time before most of humanity has any knowledge of even existing. You are here today to keep it that way." The Professor began to take on a far more serious tone. "Back before humanity ruled, monsters roamed free throughout the Earth. These were horrible creatures, ones that people today would claim to have existed only in legend. It was a dark time, one in which very few lived until even the age you are now."

"Most humans chose a life of hiding in order to survive, but there were those who didn't see that as living at all. Three warriors in particular came together and fought back against the monsters with all their might. Each of the Three were very different, but that was part of their strength as a team. One was hot headed and fought with a fiery passion. Another was kind and nurturing, fighting only to aide others. The third was very calm and adaptable, but with a will that nothing could break. Some battles they would win, slaying the monsters that sought to murder them. Others, they would lose but walk away from alive, and that was more than could be said for most people. The latter situation was how most of their battles ended, but no matter the beating they took, it never caused them to quit. Instead, it acted push them to train even harder."

"A day came where the Three fought a particularly powerful enemy. It was a massive wolf, with long fur that flowed and from it like fire. They were convinced that this would be the one that none of them would survive. At what looked to be their final moments, they saw an escape and took it. They ran with all their might, looking to put enough distance between them and the monster as they could, if only to find a place to rest until they could fight once more."

"They ran, and they ran, and they kept running still. They didn't have a destination in mind, nor did they even know which direction they traveled. After some time, they found themselves looking at a mighty oak tree. This doesn't sound like anything exciting, but, you'll have to believe that it was. This tree was as tall as a skyscraper, with branches that could reach across a city block. As the Three found themselves beneath the tree, they discovered the branches were so thick that it became darker than a moonless night."

"This next bit, I'll admit that even I used to giggle at. But you must remember, the Three lived in a different time. One in which anything could be revealed to be something looking to kill you."

"As the Three moved closer to the trunk of the giant tree, one of them began to shout to it. The warrior called out, asking the tree if were on the side of the humans or the side of the monsters. To which, the tree acted like any modern tree would, and stood there quietly, as if no question were asked at all."

"Mind you, that did not dissuade the warrior of any further attempts. Continuing to shout, the warrior made the point that the tree could have crushed them the moment they step under its branches, but as it hadn't, it must be taken as a sign that it did not wish them harm. Once again, there was no response."

"By this time, the other two warriors had given up the thought that this tree was anything more than a great place to hide and get themselves fixed up. So, they sat on the ground and began tending to their wounds."

"Still, the third warrior would not stop in their attempts. The warrior began to beg the tree. Surely the tree would rather see the human race survive than be killed off by the monsters that currently rule over all of the land, the sea, and the sky. The warrior spoke of how futile their fights had proven to be. That unless they were to be given aide, they would soon die. Not just the three of them, but their entire race."

"At this point, something finally happened. The tree lowered a single branch. Attached to the branch were what looked like three fruit. The fruit was a perfect orb, hanging by a small stem, each of them colored differently: one red, one green, and one blue."

"Seeing this, the other two warriors were back to their feet, joining the first. They each grabbed a single fruit, then... they waited."

"They looked to each other, not a clue what these fruit were supposed to be for. Were they to eat the fruit? Would this fruit somehow grant them powers that would allow them to fight harder them ever before? Or was it a trick, could they be poison? Soon, they agreed that one would have to taste theirs to find out."

"One volunteered, as they felt it was their duty after having instigated the situation. As the warrior brought the fruit closer to their lips, the fruit itself began to move. The movements were coming from inside of it, something was squirming beneath its skin. Each of Three threw their fruit to the ground, afraid of what this could mean. The fruit writhed, and wriggled, and grew. What looked to be limbs started to grow out from inside them. Arms, and legs, and claws, and teeth, and tails, all pushed through the skin of the fruit as if it were liquid. One of the warriors readied their weapons, but the other two stood in awe at what was happening right before their eyes. Within moments, three small monsters stood before them, covered in a layer of slime from their recent birth."

"Once again, the hope of the warrior that spoke to the tree shined through. They saw that these creatures for what they were. Though they were monsters they were not there to cause harm. The warrior leaned down and held out their hand to the one born of the green fruit. The monster did not bite, did not claw, instead it rose its head closer to the hand of the warrior, and nuzzled up against it. Weapons were sheathed, and soon, each of the warriors began to bond with the beasts that had been given to them by the tree."

"From this point on, the Three fought with their monsters alongside them. Battles grew easier as their own monsters grew stronger. This was the chance that humanity had needed all along. Through finding monsters that would fight with them, the tides of the battle turned, and things changed forever."

"As time passed, humanity grew stronger and monsters became less prominent in our world. They still existed, but the Three and their companions would always be there to fight back those that wished to cause us harm. As they grew old, they passed on their knowledge and friendly monsters to a trio of warriors to take their place. This is the tradition we continue today."

The Professor looked back and waved forward something that hid within the shadows. A small pedestal was pushed toward them by what appeared to be a bipedal rhino with stone for hide and a drill shaped horn.

The man with the backward cap gave the woman a tap and pointed to the beast. She waved him off, enraptured by the story.

On top of the pedestal stood three orbs. The bottom half of each orb was some kind of shining opaque white stone, but the top half of each was transparent. They looked to hold a smoke that wisped around in a constant movement inside each orb. The smoke in each was a different colour: one red, one green, and one blue.

The preppy man stared at the orbs, no long capable of keeping his face from revealing his excitement.

"We choose many at the age of ten to educate in what the world is truly like," the Professor continued. "You three have stood out from all the rest to be most deserving of the titles in which you are about to receive."

"When a single person commits great acts, their name is spread through the world and retold in our history. A title can become more than a name ever can, it can become a legend. And legends can hide what the Three wished the world to never have to see. Rather than having names of your own, you will each inherit a title, for you are no longer merely an individual, but a force against the monsters in our world."

"Along with this is the tradition that the warriors are to have their allies bestowed upon them by a tree. And so, when the time comes to gift the next generation, each professor takes on the mantel of a tree, which is why you know me as Professor Ash. I got to choose the name myself." The Professor beamed at them as he added that last remark.

He turned and grabbed hold of the red orb, stepping forward to hand it to the man with the backwards cap. "You have shown incredible passion in your desire to prove yourself the best you could be. You will from here on be known as Red."

Red reached out and held his orb. By the way he looked at it, it was as though the rest of the room and everyone in it ceased to be. For him, the orb was the only thing in the world that existed in that moment.

Now the Professor stood in front of the woman, holding in his hands the green orb. "You have always been the most caring of all the candidates here. You are guided by your heart, and your faith in those around you. You will from here on be known as Green."

Green looked at the orb, seeming to forget what she was supposed to do. After a moment she snapped out of her daze it and reached out to grab hold of her new gift.

Finally, the Professor stood in front of the preppy man, the blue orb in his hands. "As things change, you flow with it. You keep your cool and stay true to your own goals. You will from here on be known as Blue."

Blue took hold of the orb and let his hand drop to his side without the smallest glace. He gave away no emotion, but he gripped the orb tight as if he feared dropping it would have it taken away forever.

"Each of you had been gifted a monster, just as the warriors were. These are not pets, for they are far too powerful to be looked at as such. But they are not simply weapons either, for they are living things that will not stand to be treated poorly. Treat them as an ally, and they will show you the same respect. If you can learn to work together, you will grow even stronger through this journey, right alongside them."

"Each of the Three have always held the power of a particular element. Red is fire, blue is water, and green is leaf. This is not by chance. These are the elements of the original warrior's monsters. These are chosen, we think, for a very particular reason. If the power of a monster is to go to the head of their warrior, there will always be one with the power to easily defeat it. Fire will burn the leaf. The Leaf would grow only stronger from water, And the water would put out the fire. None ever hold an advantage over the other two. And when the Three come together, that is when they are their most powerful."

The Professor gave each them one final appraisal, struggling to keep his composure as he found himself so filled with pride for these kids, and knowing he will soon be missing them so much.

"Here I leave you. It is now your time. You will all go fourth and travel the world. You will do battle, and you will keep humanity safe. You may wish to travel together, or on your own, either way, you will see each other again, I can promise you that. Go off. Leave here. Be the warriors you were always meant to be." At this, the Professor turned and walked deeper into the chamber.

The three young warriors stood for a moment, frozen in place. It was Blue who first turned around to make his way toward the exit. The others were soon behind him. They had spent the past decade of their lives learning all they could just to get to this moment, and now it was time to see if they were good enough to put it to use.

They left the chamber and made their way back through the cave. Not a one of them spoke, all preoccupied with the world that was laid before them. It was now their job, their duty, to fight back the monsters hidden within the world.

At the end of the cave they found an elevator that looked completely out of place given the rest of the more archaic surroundings. They all piled in and rode it back up to the surface.

The elevator doors opened into the lobby of a what looked like an office building. They moved to the exit, and through the door. They entered into the world as most of us see it every day. But, unlike most of us, they knew about the things that hid themselves even in the smallest crevices of darkness.

When they left the building, they all paused for just a moment, taking a final glace at one another. There were no goodbyes, no congratulations or high fives. They silently turned, and each walked down the street in a different direction. They saw it as the end, the goal of everything they had worked so hard for. But this was another beginning, their real lives were only now about to start.