The Black Sun

A New Roar

In the Chinese desert, near the Yellow River, “Get it on! Is everyone having a good time?” The announcer, still in his blimp, said as it fires above the stadium. “This is the greatest tag-team tournament ever! Today, at the Tōng wǎng chénggōng zhī lù tournament, we’ll begin the second round with the teams that made it through the first round!

The next battle ground iiiiiisssss ... in the middle of nowhere again!” He said as the blimp flies above the stadium, which has a some buildings around is as the spectators sit in the stands around the arena, which is about the size of a football field, all made of a yellow sand. “The stadium is built on a plateau of yellow soil!”

Soon, the first match of the quarterfinals, having Andromeda and Anubis, begins. Their opposing team has a unicorn with dull red eyes, making him a viable candidate. “You can do it, Andromeda!” Tempest called from the stands, with his mother, Rainbow Dash, his friends Bismarck, Radiance, Flora, Tempest, Bucky, Peach Cobbler, Mei-Mei and Chao Xin.

“You too, Anubis!” Peach added.

“Let’s do this, Anubis!” Andromeda said to her partner.

“Okay, Miss Andromeda,” Anubis said as the two corner the unicorn.

“Andromeda and Anubis are alongside of one of their opponents! This looks like a pincer attack for sure!” The announcer said as Anubis prevents the unicorn from escaping, while Andromeda fires a gust of wind at him, sending him flying out of the stadium, giving them the win. “The winner of the first match of the second round is the Andromeda/Anubis team!” The announcer added as Andromeda’s friends cheer for her.

“They did it!” Mei-Mei said. “That was lonesome!”

“‘That was awesome’ you meant to say.” Chao Xin corrected.

“With thet vicko'y, they move on the top four,” Bismarck added.

“Again, not the guys,” Andromeda said as she and Anubis watch the losing team leaves.

“Miss Andromeda?”

“Good work out there, by the way,” Andromeda said to Anubis. “Keep that kind of effort up for the next one, too.”

“You beat,” Anubis said as the two leave the arena. My teamwork with Miss Andromeda has gotten a lot better. I hope. Anubis thought as Dashan and Chin-yun go past them.

“The next match is up now!” The announcer said as the two next teams enter the arena. “Our very own Dashan/Chin-yun team verses the Ash/Satoshi team! Get ready kids!” The announcer said as the two teams get ready, with Satoshi having red-orange eyes. “3 ... *2 ... 1 ... GO!***”

“Let’s go! Time for a Strong Arm Barrage!” Dashan said as he fires the spell at Ash.

“And a Thunder Sword Waltz!” Chin-yun added as he fires his spells at Satoshi, making the two panic.

“It’s a done deal!” The announcer said as the Ash/Satoshi team land outside of the arena. “The Dashan/Chin-yun team effortlessly advances to the top four!”

“So, it wasn't them either, I see,” Dashan said as he and Chin-yun leave.

“No, only Legendary Warriors would have a chance against us,” Chin-yun pointed out.

“That was easy,” Chao Xin said.

“Good work, Dashan! You too, Chin-yun!” Mei-Mei yelled out, not knowing that a unicorn with pure red eyes, a blood-red mane that drapes below his shoulders, a black coat and two swords that cross each other, accompanied by several unicorns and griffins in cloak, is watching them. “You guys are on a role! Your gonna prove that the Shaolin Temple is the strongest!”

“The strongest she says?” The unicorn, Bao, asked. “Humph! The word ‘strongest’ exists only for us, understand?”

“Huh?” Cherry said as she turns her head to look above, but sees no one on the stairs above them.

“What is it, sis?” Berry asked.

“I thought ... I thought someone was watching us.” Cherry answered.

“Watching us?” Chao Xin said as he looks around, while Andromeda and Anubis reach the top of the stands.

“Wow!” Andromeda said as they see no one in the arena. “Dashan and Chin-yun’s match is already over? That was fast.”

“The next match is starting right away, though,” Anubis pointed out as he and Andromeda walk down toward the others.

“Yeah. Next up is Leone and Taurus,” Andromeda said as the two in question walk into the stadium.

“After Taurus signal handedly won their first round, here is the Leone/Taurus team, and their opponents...” The announcer said as Johannes and Motti, who’s jumping around the stadium, meowing and waving at the crowd, while Johannes looks on in embarrassment. “Johannes won their first round all by his lonesome, too. Here is the Johannes/Motti team!”

“You know what to do,” Johannes said to Motti, getting her attention. “Run away and play during this match, too. Understand?”

“Meow!” Motti said as she salutes Johannes. “Motti will run and play with all her might! Meow!”

“What’s up with that? This is no joke!” Taurus angrily said as steam comes out of his nostrils for a moment. “Bull! They’re gonna pay! Leone, pal, please leave this match to me, as well.”

“No.” Leone firmly said.

“No?”

“I’ll be his opponent this time,” Leone added, remembering a small conversation before the second round began.

==================================================================

“What? You think that the cat-colt thingy is a Legendary Warrior?” A slightly surprised Leone asked.

“At the very least, we know that Johannes has amazing skill and weaponry, there’s absolutely no doubt about that,” Radiance said.

“The next team to face him will be you two. So don’t let your guard down,” Andromeda said to Leone and Taurus.

“Hmmm. Interesting,” Leone said.

==================================================================

“Let’s see how powerful you really are. Bring it on, kitty cat!” Leone said, making Johannes smirk.

“Leone, pal,” Taurus began to say. “What is he is a Legendary Warrior, after all?”

“Then I’ll crush him,” Leone simply said.

“If he’s not?” Taurus added.

“I’ll still crush him.”

“Right on! You can do it, Leone!”

“Taurus, don’t make any moves on your own.”

“Check!” Taurus said as he stands like a guard, completely still. “I, Taurus, will of course remain perfectly still to serve my friend: Leone.”

“Man, these guys are clowns,” Johannes said as he scratches his head. “I don’t have any interest in fighting you infants at all. I only care about one pony at the moment, the one who’s magic gives off a crimson glow. This match is just a minor distraction at best.”

“Ha! Lets go, kitty,” Leone said as he puts some sand on his leg, which Taurus notices.

“Uh, whats up?” Taurus asked.

“Think you can beat me? Let’s see!” Leone said as he extends his claws while he enters the ring, with Johannes taking some magdrillium claws with him into the ring as well.

“So, then, let's do this thing!” The announcer called out.

“Now!?” Both Taurus and Motti said as they frantically run after their partners into the ring.

“Leone, Taurus, you can do it!” Berry and Cherry called out from the stands.

“3 ... *2 ... 1 ... GO!**” Everyone said, making Leone and Johannes charge at each other, while Taurus and Motti say near the edge of the ring. Leone slashes at Johannes, who doges them and slashes at Leone occasionally. “Oh, it’s on! Right away, Leone and Johannes send off sparks as they clash at each other with all their might!*” The announcer said, while Taurus looks on in worry.

“Leone, pal,” Taurus said, unable to site back, but knows he can’t.

On the other end of the ring, a butterfly flies by Motti, which she takes notice of. “Butterfly, meow! Meow! Wait, wait,” Motti said as she goes after the butterfly, while trying not to step out of the ring, making the group look at her in a number of emotions.

“Uh, whats with that?” Andromeda asked.

“I’m gonna send you flying!” Leone said as he controls the sand and uses it to send Johannes into the air, who gracefully lands just near the edge of the ring.

“Oh, it’s getting hot in here,” Johannes said.

“That’s nothing,” Leone said as he charges at Johannes, claws ready to slice and dice.

“Leone is attacking fiercely against his opponent, Johannes. And here comes Leone again friends. Fasten your seat belts everyone!” The announcer said as Johannes just moves out of Leone’s way, who turns around and charges at Johannes again, with the same thing happening. “Leone missed him! Johannes’s amazing, catlike agility allowed him to doge Leone’s attacks, which all end in a breeze by, giving the Johannes/Motti team 5 more points than the Leone/Taurus team,” the announcer added, while Leone growls in frustration.

“Like I said before, I don’t have time to wast fighting someone like you, okay?” Johannes said, making Leone angry. Leone charges at Johannes again several times, but the same thing happens. “See? If I wan’t to be sure to win, this is the best way.”

“I see now,” Andromeda said. “Since you can gain points by dodging attacks as well, Johannes never intended to fight fair in the first place.”

“So, he’s planning to wait until time runs out, where he and that mare Motti will have more points,” Anubis said.

“Keep it up there, buddy,” Johannes said. “Keep on attacking till you give me all the points I need.”

“Hump! You think so, do you?” Leone said as he stops and stands still in the center of the arena.

“Now what?” Johannes asked.

“What’s this?” The announcer asked when he sees that Leone has stop. “Leone has suddenly stop moving. He has taken position at the center of the stadium, and is just standing there quietly and politely! What in the world is he thinking!?”

“Leone, pal?” Taurus asked from the edge of the arena.

“Just watch and learn,” Leone said to Taurus.

“Uh, yes! Yes, sir,” Taurus said, while Motti is still after the butterfly.

“Meow. Meow, bad butterfly,” Motti said as she tries to catch it, until it leaves the arena. “Meow.”

“Chopsticks! What can the plan be now?” The announcer asked as the four competitors stay still, with 3 minutes and 55 seconds remaining. “They aren't moving. They’re just standing in place. They stand as still as the Great Wall of China!”

“Whats Leone doing?” Tempest asked.

“Does he think he can win by standing still now?” Peach added.

“Since his attacks aren't able to connect, it’s not such a bad idea, for now at least,” Dashan said, while Mei-Mei begins to look around the stands.

“Yeah, but Johannes and that Motti girl have more points, so Leone can’t just stand still for long,” Andromeda added.

“They’re bored,” Mei-Mei suddenly said, making the group look at her curiously.

“What gives? Do something!” Someone in the stand yelled.

“This is boring, boys. Fight already!” Another yelled out.

“This mega boring match is stirring a sympathy of booing from the spectators here today,” the announcer said as the crowd boos at the four, with Motti just yawning it off. “Even so, neither one of them moves a millimeter!”

“What’s the scoop?” Taurus asked.

“Just wait,” Leone said.

“But how long can we sit still?” Taurus said as he looks at the clock, which shows they have 3 minutes left.

Come on, cat-colt thingy. Go ahead and attack. Leone thought as he glares at Johannes.

“I get it now,” Johannes suddenly said. “So, you’ve decided to wait until I make a move, no matter what. Well, personally, I’m fine with waiting like this until time runs out. No biggie,” Johannes said, getting boos from the crowd. “But my fans seem restless, so I will give you what you want!” Johannes said as he charges at Leone.

“Wake up!” The announcer suddenly said. “At last, Johannes makes a move out there!”

“Leone, it’s on!” Taurus yelled.

“That’s fine with me,” Leone said with a smile, making Taurus look at him like he’s crazy. “Bring it on! The real fight starts right now!”

“Johannes is closing in! Look out, Leone! Surly, you have to move!” The announcer said, with Leone still doing nothing.

“I got you now!” Johannes yelled as he strikes Leone with all of his might, creating a large dust cloud that Johannes quickly leaves from.

“Leone!” Taurus cried as the dust begins to settle, with Motti coughing as everyone in the stand watch with dread.

“Johannes’s powerful attack nails Leone! Is the match over?” The announcer said while the dust clears some more.

“Leone?” Cherry asked as the dust dissipates completely, showing that Leone is still standing, like nothing happened.

“No way!” A stun Johannes said, when what appears to be a pice of Leone’s skin falls off, but it’s made of pure sand.

“Get out-of-town! Leone has somehow created an armor of pure sand that absorbed Johannes’s attack! It’s as if nothing happened at all!” The announcer said as Leone replaces the broken off pice of sand with a new pice, changing the color to match his natural one.

“Whoa!” The group said.

“What’s going on?” Johannes asked.

“Whats wrong? Your giving up after one attack?” Leone asked the cat-colt thing. “Why not come at me again? Keep on attacking, pal!”

“Okay, I will!” Johannes said with a hiss as he charges and strikes Leone again and again, but the sand armor is keeping Leone safe from harm.

“Attaboy!” Leone shouted. “Keep coming. I won’t try to runaway like you did! I will stop all of your attacks!” Leone added as a light green glowing lion appears behind him.

“How did Leone get that sand armor on?” Berry asked.

“He must have put it on before the match started,” Andromeda said.

“Hold on, Leone always charges head first into any situation he’s in,” Tempest pointed out. “That’s how he always roles.”

“Yeah, but Leone has always used defensive techniques. In this match with Johannes, where defense is the most important, he’s able to turn his earth controlling ability into the ultimate shield,” Andromeda said. “Meaning, he understands now,” Andromeda said, remembering the Philippine Island.

==================================================================

“So, Leone, what is a Legendary Warrior? Just someone who has the power of the Star Fragment in them? Don’t you think a true Legendary Warrior is something more? Someone who can completely control the power that they posses.” Andromeda said to Leone.

==================================================================

Andromeda then smiles, as Leone antagonizes Johannes. “I wouldn’t be able to see your true strength if you kept on running away like a scaredy cat! So, come on! If you really are a Legendary Warrior, then come at me with your full strength to defeat me.” Leone said.

“You really shouldn't get on my bad side,” Johannes said as he charges at Leone, slides underneath him and uppercuts Leone up into the air. Once Leone lands, Johannes charges and uppercuts Leone again, this time he lands right near the edge of the arena.

“Baby, that was close,” Mei-Mei said as Leone charges at Johannes.

“They only have a couple of minutes left,” Rainbow added. “If they don’t do something, Johannes is gonna win.”

“Johannes did a double uppercut attacks which nail Leone. Leone looks kind of overwhelmed, but a cat-colt thing will do that to you,” the announcer said, making Johannes sight in frustration.

“Why does everyone call me a ‘cat-colt thing’?” Johannes asked, while Taurus looks at Leone with worry.

“Leone, pal,” Taurus said with a frustrated growl. We only have 2 minutes or so left! Can I really not step in, even in a time like this? Taurus thought as he looks around the arena. There must be something I can do! “Huh?” Taurus said when he sees Motti lying on the ground, playing with a stick she somehow got.

“Meow. I’m a board cat,” Motti said, board out of her mind, not knowing what’s coming.

Ha-Ha! Now I know. Taurus thought as he charges at Motti, making her panic and runaway.

“Taurus!” Leone shouted.

“Oops! I’m sorry about that, Leone, pal. But this match would be over when at least one opponent is defeated, isn’t that right? I will defeat her and end this fight this second.” Taurus said as he looks over toward the terrified Motti and charges at her. “I got you now!”

“Stop it! Meow!” Motti suddenly said, widening her light green eyes to the size of saucers, even adding a small lip quiver for the final effect. “Don’t pick on Motti. Meow.”

“What?” Taurus asked as he stops dead in his tracks, not seeing a Saddle Arabian, but “a cute kitty!” Taurus said as he is suddenly taken away to a rainy day in some city, where he’s walking in the street with an umbrella, when he sees a white kitten in a box. “Aww, you poor thing,” Taurus said as the kitten suddenly turns into Motti, with big eyes, which makes Taurus almost cry as he kneels down. “Oh, you poor thing. Come here, kitty,” Taurus added as he gives the white kitten a hand in friendship, to which the cat growls angrily and scratches him, which sends him back to reality when Motti does the same thing, and runs across the stadium, laughing.

“Meow, meow, meow, what a chump,” Motti said, as Taurus’s entire head turns red as he nearly screams in anger as steam comes out of his nostrils, making a the sound of a steam engine, while Motti stops at the edge of the arena. “From here, I can see any attack coming. Isn’t that nice, meow?” Motti added, when she sees that Taurus is gone, a hole where he used to be. “Huh, where did he go? Meow?”

“I think those two did a big mistake,” Peach said as they watch the scene unfold.

“You got that right,” Tempest said.

Suddenly, Motti sees something digging under the ground, heading right toward her. Motti, thinking that it might be ground hogs, runs toward it, when ... “AHHHHHH! PAYBACK TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Taurus shouted as he pops out of the ground, and uppercuts Motti into the air, making her scream in both pain and fear as she lands just next to the edge of the ring, barley avoiding losing the match in the process. “You got me good before, I admit it! But this time--”

“Oh, spare me! Please, sir! Meow!!” Motti cried as she does her cute act again. “I was just confused before. Motti just didn’t know how to respond when someone was nice to her, that’s all.”

“Huh?” Taurus asked as Motti’s cute act gets really cute.

“This time I promise not to hurt you, okay, Taurus,” Motti said as she throws in some fake tears.

“Oh, wait a minute!” Taurus said when he realizes there’s only 55 seconds left. “I won’t be taken in by that again! I will … do this, for Leone! I must harden my heart and defeat you!” Taurus said as his eyes catch fire as he points toward Motti.

“Fat chance!” A clearly scared Motti said.

“Sorry!” Taurus added as he charges at Motti like a wild bull, which he is.

“Hey! What do you think you're doing?!” Johannes said as he gets in between the two.

“No way! Johannes has gone to the rescue of his partner, the kitty pony!” The announcer said as a completely different scene plays out in his head. “Their cries for each other ring through the stadium. Their beautiful friendship is unbelievably touching!” The announcer said as he cries.

“You know, I told you not to get in my way!” Johannes hissed at Motti as he places a bomb in between the two and jumps away, as it explodes, sending both Motti and Taurus flying.

“Taurus?” Leone asked.

“Yikes!”

“Not good,” Peach and Flora said as the two land outside of the arena, at the same time!

“A … a simultaneous stadium out!” The announcer cried. “Because it happened at the same time, and since Taurus’s assault on Motti gave the Leone/Taurus team points which matched the Johannes/Motti teams points exactly, it’s a tie! This means that there will be no time limit or points as Leone and Johannes settle things, friends.”

“You were about to make me lose the match, bad kitty!” Johannes shouted at Motti. “I will remove anyone who gets in my way!”

“Ah! Not nice, meow,” Motti said with tears in her eyes. “I was just trying to help. I thought we were a team?”

“Taurus, same for you!” Leone shouted. “I thought I told you not to move on you own?”

“I’m so sorry. So sad,” Taurus said.

“Did you actually think I would lose this match?” Leone asked. “Now stay still, hear me?”

“Hmm, you sure are confident,” Johannes noted when he’s done hissing at Motti. “Whatever! Now that those two nuisances are gone, it’s time to finish this thing,” Johannes said as he pulls out a sword and charges at Leone.

“That’s not good,” Andromeda said.

“With his magdrillium weapons, and his amazing agility and reflexes, he could pierce Leone’s armor with ease.” Anubis said.

“Or he could throw it at Leone so he can sneak up and go for an uppercut attack,” Mei-Mei added.

“If he does a combo move like before, Leone’s done,” Chao Xin said.

“Leone, yo' need t'be careful out thar!” Bismarck called out.

“‘Careful’ he says. Who are you talking to, black hat?” Leone asked as Johannes hisses at him.

“This is it!” Johannes hissed as he charges at Leone.

“I’ve already seen the limit of your power,” Leone said as he creates a tornado.

“Whoa! It’s the Wall of Sandstorm,” Rainbow said.

“He’s planing to block Johannes with the powerful tornado of sand.” Andromeda said.

“We’ll just see about that,” Johannes said as he gets into the tornado with ease. “It looks like you wasted too much energy with keeping your sand armor in check. Something weak like this won’t stop me.”

“Humph! Is that so?” Leone asked.

“That’s right!” Johannes said, when, suddenly, he begins to fly into the tornado. “What!?” The cat-colt thing said as he’s lifted into the air.

“So, that tornado wasn’t meant to block Johannes at all,” Tempest said.

“He’s planning on using a special move, I just now it,” Andromeda said as the tornado begins to disappear.

“Your right, Andi,” Leone said. “Since Cetus and now Anubis have one, so do I,” Leone said he glows green. “Special move: King Lion Crushing Fang!” Suddenly, the light green glowing lion leaps from his legend aura and strikes Johannes, causing an explosion that disperses the twister and sends him flying, right into the wall near Motti.

“Whoa baby! It’s decided! Earning a spot in the top four is the Leone/Taurus team!” The announcer excitedly cried as the spectators cheer at Leone’s victory.

“Yeah! You did it! Well, done Leone, buddy!” Taurus said as Leone glares at Johannes.

“So, I have seen the full limit of your power,” Leone said to Johannes, who looks at Leone as beast as the big pain in his back would let him, and sees the lion behind Leone. “You should watch yourself, puss! One thing’s sure now, your no Legendary Warrior!”

“Thing is, I don’t remember ever calming that I was, pal,” Johannes as he falls to the ground.

“Johannes!” Motti cried as a medic team takes him and leaves, followed by Motti as Leone and Taurus leave the arena.

“A special move now, huh?” Andromeda said. “Oh boy.”

“Now then, time to begin the match that will decide the last contenders in the top four!” The announcer said as the two teams step into the arena. One is the Bao/Aguma team, which the group noticing Bao’s eye color.

“Hey, that unicorns eyes are pure red,” Radiance said.

“Yer right, Radiance,” Bismarck said.

“So, the only red-eyed unicorn left is him,” Dashan said.

“I think it's about time we get serious, too,” Aguma said to Bao.

“Yes, you are right,” Bao said.

“Well, then, lets begin!” The announcer said, as Bao and Aguma take on an intimidating stance, which shocks Dashan at the familiarity.

“Check the stance,” Chao Xin said, also recognizing it.

“It can’t be!” Both Mei-Mei and Chin-yun said, recognizing it as well.

“Let’s get started!” The announcer said. “3 ... *2 ... 1 ... GO!***” Suddenly, right when Bao enter the ring, a crimson glow appears, getting even the hurt Johannes’s attention.

“No way!” Anubis said.

“It’s a crimson flash!” Andromeda said, when an explosion happens. When the smoke clears, the opposing team is outside of the arena, with Bao and Aguma in a victory stance.

“Stir fry! The match is decided, in a split second! The final spot in the top four is taken by the one, the only Bao/Aguma team!” The announcer said as Bao and Aguma ease themselves.

“Could he be the one?” Andromeda asked.

“Was that the same crimson flash you saw, Chao Xin?” Flora asked.

“Yes, there’s absolutely no doubt.” Chao Xin said.

“No doubt, but I can’t believe that they are the ones who have it,” Dashan said.

“What do you mean, dude?” Tempest asked.

“It looks like you’ve caught on, finally,” Bao said, having overheard them. The group then looks at him curiously. “Yes, we’re from the Hundred Schools of Shaolin Fist!” Both Bao and Aguma said in unison as the take on their stance from before the match began.

“Of Shaolin Fist?” Andromeda asked.

“It is the one, dark spot in all of the Shaolin Monastery's 4000 year history,” Dashan answered. “Two-thousand years ago, one group within the Shaolin Temple school started a revolt in order to take control of Shaolin Temple. The fight between the two groups quickly spread throughout all of China. The period later became known as the ‘Waring Period of Shaolin,’ a long, long battle that continued for years. And at the end of the fight, one group lost, and retreated to the back regions of China.”

“It’s true, we are their descendants!” Bao shouted at Dashan. “Our ancestors lost the battle against the main school of Shaolin Temple, and suffered a long period of exile. But now that time is over. We will win this tournament and prove that we, of the Shaolin Fist, are grater than you ever were! Do you understand what I’m saying to you?”

“No, I don’t!” Dashan shouted back.

“We are going to bring the last 2000 years of bitterness to an end! It’s gonna be one, swell party,” Bao said as he and Aguma leave, with the Shaolin Temple glaring at them.