The Black Sun

The God of Saturn

“Special move: Great Ring of Destruction!” Aguma yelled as a pillar of orange light burst up into the sky. In the light, a griffin skeleton in a black hood and carrying a scythe, appears and does a slash, causing a blinding light to appear. When the light dissipates, both Leone and Taurus are on the nets below, as he tries to wrap his head around what just happened.

Leone then hears laughing from above, and sees Bao. “Looks like you were paying too much attention to me and not watching your back,” Bao said to the lioncorn below.

“Leone lost to them that fast?” A shocked Tempest asked.

“How did that happened?” Anubis asked.

“I think I know,” Andromeda said. “The one who received the power of the Star Fragment wasn’t Bao, it was Aguma,” Andromeda said as she stares at the griffin, who’s still giving off an orange aura while his eyes are still glowing red.

“There you go, folks!” The announcer suddenly said as Aguma’s aura disappears while his eyes go back to normal. “The winner of the second match of the semifinals is the Bao/Aguma team!” The announcer said while the crowd cheers.

“Uh … What just happened out there?” Mei-Mei asked as Leone flies up while Taurus climbs the rock pillar, up to the stadium.

“That … must have been the power of the Star Fragment,” Rainbow Dash said. “But … I’ve never seen magic like that.”

“What kind of technique was that special move?” Chao Xin asked. “I mean, Bao was up in Leone’s tornado when that happened.”

“Are you kidding me?!” Leone suddenly said. “The Legendary Warrior wasn’t the guy with the crimson flash after all?”

“Humph! Who ever told you that I was?” Bao said in a mocking tone.

“It was, until now, we’ve been facing opponents that Bao could easily defeat on his own,” Aguma said. “However, you were a little different. My special move is tricky. Using it with this Scythe of Kronos doesn't happen very often,” Aguma said as he puts up the scythe in question, which looks like it belongs with the Grim Reaper.

“Whoa, the Scythe of Kronos,” Andromeda said.

“Aguma defiantly has the power of the Star Fragment, and he channeled it into that scythe,” Anubis said, as Leone begins to growl in anger.

“I’m sorry, Leone,” Taurus apologetically said.

“It sucks!” Leone snapped. “I should’ve known that from the start! Then I wouldn’t have lost to a punk like you!” Leone said, making Aguma smirk.

“So, all that remains for the greatest tag-team tournament in the whole world, Tōng wǎng chénggōng zhī lù, is the final round,” the announcer said. “So, lets check out the teams, shale we?” He said as the screen on the blimp shows Andromeda, Anubis, Bao and Aguma, while the crowd cheers in anticipation. “The Andromeda/Anubis team verses the Bao/Aguma team, and, where is the epic duel take place, you ask?” The announcer said as he strikes a gong, signaling some pegasi and griffins to create a hole in the clouds above an ancient temple in the mountains, with statues of dragons wrapped around two pillars, guarding the entrance. “The starting point of all Chinese martial arts, the mysteries, legendary Bayan Martial Arts Hall.”

“There’s a temple all the way up there?” A surprised Peach Cobbler asked, while Mei-Mei and Chao Xin stare at the temple in awe.

“Shaolin Temple, Praying Mantis style, White Crane style,” Chao Xin suddenly said.

“It is an ancient and sacred temple,” Mei-Mei added. “It’s from there that all Chinese martial art styles were born.”

“Bayan,” Dashan said in a low voice.

“It’s legendary grounds. Chin-yun wanted to fight there so badly.”

“Too bad you lost then, huh?” Bao said to Dashan and Chin-yun. “But that figures, since the light from the sky chose the Shaolin Fist to visit. It ignored Shaolin Temple, isn’t that right?”

“At that point, our score with your sad little school was settled. Now, the ones we must to defeat have nothing to do with you people. We only care about those who have the same power of light.” Aguma added, making Dashan and Chin-yun growl in anger. “You all should watch quietly. Maybe you can learn something as we defeat Andromeda, which your school was unable to do. The Hundred Schools of Shaolin Fist will claim the tittle of the best of the best!”

“We came from the same style, originally,” Bao pointed out as he and Aguma make their way toward the helicopter. “So, feel free to cheer for us, boys,” Bao finished with a laugh.

“I really don’t like those guys,” Chin-yun said as he and Dashan glare at Aguma and Bao.

“Dashan. Chin-yun,” Andromeda said, worried about her friends.

“Come on, let's go, Miss Andromeda,” Anubis said, reminding Andi of the final round.

“Oh, yeah,” Andromeda said as she and Anubis head for their helicopter.

“Rock on!” The announcer suddenly said. “You don’t want to miss this once in a lifetime duel! Come one and all to the battleground!” He said as two blimps place themselves in front of the two groups of spectators.

“Do we really have to move again?” Radiance asked, trying not to sound like a drama queen like her mother.

“Meow! This is getting very interesting,” Johannes said to Motti.

“Gotta scurry to get the best seats! Meow!” Motti excitedly said as the board the blimp first.

A few minutes later, the helicopters and the blimps are approaching the temple. “Well, after surviving the first 4 rounds, two teams of heroes have traveled up the entire Yellow River and are about to pass though the Gate to Glory,” the announcer said, as the 5 vehicles pass by the dragon pillars. “The question is: which team will win this match and claim the crown of victory?” He asked as the helicopters land in the temple, while the blimps land just outside the gate. The spectators then quickly get to their seats to see the match between the Andromeda/Anubis and the Aguma/Bao team.

“Let’s get this final match started and find out!” The announcer said in his room, as he rings a gong. The crowed then screams in both excitement and anticipation, as Andromeda and Anubis wait in one of the two waiting areas, Bao and Aguma waiting in the other on the other side of the temple.

“The Hundred Schools of Shaolin Fist’s Aguma, and his Scythe of Kronos,” Andromeda said.

“We finally found him. The fifth Legendary Warrior,” Anubis added.

“True,” a familiar voice said from behind. They turn around and see Dashan and Chin-yun walking up to them. “But I don't think they would just listen to what you have to say, Andromeda.”

“Dashan? Chin-yun?”

“Their hearts are filled with the desire for revenge against the Shaolin Temple,” Dashan pointed out.

“But you two defeated Chin-yun and Dashan in our tag-team match. Now they’re completely focused on defeating you in battle.”

“Shaolin Fist, they’re thinking of only winning this tournament, and making their power known all over the world, it’s all they care about. We know you don’t like to fight, Andromeda, but what do you plan to do?” Dashan asked.

“I know they won’t listen,” Andromeda said. “That is, until I fight them, but they will listen when the match is done, whether I win or not.”

“I figured you would say that,” Dashan replied. “But be careful, Andromeda. As you know, the techniques taught at Shaolin Tempe are for protection, based on preventing enemy assaults at all cost.”

“On the other hand, Shaolin Fist’s power is specialized for the soul purposes of defeating enemies, making them an attack centric style. They’re a band of outlaws who objected to the protective style of Shaolin Temple and revolted,” Chin-yun added. “Defeating Leone in a single attack proves that Aguma is extremely powerful with magic.”

“And if he was able to defeat so many on his own, Bao’s power must be great as well, possibly being able to rival Celestia’s,” Dashan noted. “Keep your guard up, okay?”

“We will,” Andromeda said. “Shaolin Temple will have this settled.”

“Were counting on you, Andromeda,” Dashan said, as Chin-yun looks toward Anubis.

“Got it.”

“And Anubis, were counting on you too, okay? Please, help beat those guys out there.” Chin-yun said to the Diamond Dog.

“Huh? Mister Chin-yun…” Anubis tried to say, only for a ringing gong to stop him.

“Hot rocks, yeah baby! Here come the two teams!” The announcer said.

“Let’s go, Anubis,” Andromeda said.

“Yeah!” Anubis said as the two head out for the stadium.

“Good luck, guys,” Dashan said as he and Chin-yun head up to the stands.

“The first to arrive is the Andromeda/Anubis team!” The announcer said as Andromeda and Anubis stop near the edge of the stadium.

“You can do it Andromeda! You too, Anubis!” The Pie twins called from the stands.

“We’re all behind you, guys! Go get ‘em!” Mei-Mei added.

“And now, the Bao/Aguma team arrives!” The announcer said as Bao and Aguma walk out to the other end of the football size stadium.

“We got the best seats ever! Meow!” Motti said as she drinks some soda, while Johannes eats some dumplings.

“Just remember: they're not litter boxes,” Johannes said.

“And check this out, friends! The stadium for the final match!” The announcer suddenly said as he rings the gong again, as red walls emerge from the ground. “The Red Wall Work of Martial Art Genius!”

“Red Wall what?” Tempest asked when he and the others see the maze-like structure.

“Red walls block the path through the stadium like a maze,” the announcer continued. “You may chose to use the walls in your fight, or try to get through them quickly and fight in the space in the center. Strategy is the key to this match!”

“Our new enemies, an alicorn and a Diamond Dog, both of them have the same power of light,” Aguma noted, glade that the walls are preventing both of the two teams from seeing or hearing each other. “Let’s show no mercy,” Aguma added as he pulls out his scythe, already planing on how to win.

“Andromeda, ma’am, what should we do?” Anubis asked.

“Those walls don’t look very strong,” Andromeda noted. “So it would be easy for us to blast them apart. However…”

“The enemy is two martial arts guys who specialize in attacking,” Anubis pointed out.

“Your right,” Andromeda said. “There’s no doubt that they would start attacking fiercely right away.”

“Time to get it on!” The announcer suddenly said. “3 … 2 … 1 … GO!” At that, the two teams quickly enter the maze, ready for the match.

“Andromeda, you know what to do, right?” Leone said in the stands, near the others. “Don’t lose now, you’ve come to far.”

“Follow me, Anubis,” Andromeda said.

“Check,” Anubis said as the two navigate the maze without much difficulty.

“The Andromeda/Anubis team is racing through the maze with great efficacy,” the announcer said, as he looks over to the other end of the stadium. “What about their opponent, the Bao/Aguma team?”

“Flash attack!” Bao shouted as the crimson flash appears jumping from one wall to the other, and sees Andromeda and Anubis below him. “Found you!” Bao said as he charges down and sends the two against one of the walls.

“What the?” Andromeda asked as she and Anubis get back up, slightly dizzy.

“Rickshaw! The crimson flash catches both Andromeda and Anubis off guard!” The announcer commented.

“There’s no need for Aguma to fight!” Bao said to Andromeda and Anubis. “I will win this duel myself!” Bao said as he charges at the two, the crimson flash not far behind.

“Keep dreaming, flash boy!” Anubis said as he stops Bao right in his tracks. “Leave this to me, okay?” Anubis said to Andromeda as he pushes Bao back several feet. “You hurry on ahead.”

“I’m counting on you, Anubis,” Andromeda said as she continues through the maze, and eventually makes it to the center.

“While Anubis bravely holds off Bao, Andromeda quickly escapes the maze,” the announcer said. “But is she safe?”

“Where is he?” Andromeda asked herself.

“Where’s Aguma hiding?” Tempest asked. “He can’t use his wings, no matter what kind of maze you're in, so where is he?”

“Over there!” Rainbow said as dust appears at one of the walls, accompanied by the screaming of Aguma as he bursts through the other walls with ease, and catches Andromeda off guard, who’s barley able to get out-of-the-way as he slashes his scythe down, creating a 5 foot long crack in the ground.

“Oh snap! Aguma uses sheer force to break through the walls in his path!” The announcer said as Aguma tries to slash Andromeda. “And now Aguma’s slashing at Andromeda with that amazing power,” he added, as the crowd cheers for both, as Aguma and Andromeda’s aura appears as they hold each other off. “Aguma’s endless waves of attacks pushes Andromeda back little by little. Is the match over already?” He said as Andromeda is pushed against the wall.

“Andromeda!” Tempest nearly yelled.

“What are you doing out there?” Chao Xin asked.

“Hang in there!” Radiance added.

“Just chill out,” Leone suddenly said, as the others curiously look at him. “Something like that won’t beat Andromeda, no way. Just watch,” Leone said as he and the others watch. Right then, Andromeda knocks Aguma’s scythe out of his grip with a well-timed air blast.

“What?” A shocked Aguma asked.

“Ha! I expected you to use your strength like that,” Andromeda said as she conjures up a sword for her to use. “I was saving my strength for when that happened. There’s no way I’ll lose to anyone now!” Andromeda said as Aguma picks up his scythe. She then charges at Aguma and uses her sword to knock the scythe out of Aguma’s hand, and then she bucks him against the wall, making the crowd cheer.

“Whoa yeah! Dig it! Andromeda has actually thrown Aguma’s attack right back in his face!” The announcer said.

“Wow,” Dashan said as he and Chin-yun take seats behind Mei-Mei and Chao Xin.

“Dashan! Chin-yun!” A surprised Mei-Mei said.

“Looks like they listen to mine and Dashan’s warning after all. Andromeda is doing pretty well out there, and she sure is holding her own.”

“Uh huh,” Dashan began to say. “By using power to break through the walls right away, Aguma messed up. He has used up his strength unnecessarily,” Dashan added as Andromeda fires a powerful blast of air at Aguma, enough to leave behind a griffin shaped impression in one of the red walls.

“Ha! It wouldn’t be fun if you couldn't fight,” Aguma said as he meets Andromeda’s next attack. The two begin to clash fiercely as the give off sparks that look like explosions from both their blades, and their heated warriors spirits.

“Well, now! Andromeda and Aguma clash with all out attacks!” The announcer said as everyone in the stands looks on in awe. “This is a duel! This is a heated battle! In this birthplace of all Chinese martial arts, Bayan, where we witnessed the origin of the magic duel!”

“Go get ‘em, Andromeda! Crush him now!” Leone called out from the stands.

“That’s right! One more hit!” Taurus added.

“Mewow. Impressive,” Johannes said.

“Incredible, meow,” Motti added.

“Whoa! I’m getting fired up! There, go hard! Don’t give in, either one of you!” The announcer suddenly said as he does varies kung fu stances, cheering for both Andromeda and Aguma.

“One thing’s for sure: your good,” Andromeda said, sweating and panting.

“I guess I can’t take care of you the usual way,” Aguma said, also seating as the announcer collapses.

“Looks like both of the competitors have finally started to get tired,” the announcer said as he pulls out a fan and cools himself off. “This would be a great time to get help from their partners, I suppose.”

“Andromeda, ma’am!” Anubis said, having overheard.

“You stay right where you are! Do you hear me?” Bao suddenly said as he conjures up sword and charges at Anubis with the crimson flash, but it barely hits Anubis as he's pushed back against the wall.

“Soy sauce! This time, Bao stops Anubis as he tries to go to Andromeda’s aid! It’s madness I tell ya!” The announcer said as he Anubis manages to escape to a more open area.

“You won’t get away that easy!” Bao said as he goes after Anubis.

“That’s what you think, flash boy!” Anubis said as he destroys a wall, and buries Bao under it.

“Anubis skillfully avoids Bao’s attack, and has trapped him under rubble from the red wall!” The announcer said as Anubis heads to help Andromeda. “And look, Anubis has arrived at the center,” he added as Anubis tackles Aguma, and knocks him back several feet.

“Anubis!” A slightly surprised Andromeda said.

“Miss Andromeda, now,” Anubis said, with Andromeda knowing what he means.

“Okay!” Andromeda said as she does air punches that hit Aguma from above, while Anubis uses his scepter to attack Aguma from below.

“All right!” Bismarck cheered from the stands. “Anubis is hittin' Aguma wif uppercut attacks!”

“And Andromeda’s attacks from above is working, too!” Tempest added. “Everyone knows that if you get hit from above and below like that, you won’t be able to stand for long.”

“That’s true,” Dashan said. “Then why is Aguma still so calm?”

“Huh?” Everyone asked as Aguma regains his composure.

“This is nothing at all,” Aguma said to himself. “Compared to the hardships we have suffered, this is a walk in a park on a sunny day,” Aguma said as Anubis attacks again, but he just passes by Aguma, as if nothing happened.

“What was that?” A surprised and angry Anubis said.

Andromeda then fires an air punch at Aguma, but what happened to Anubis repeats with Andromeda. “No way. It just passed by?” A completely stunned Andromeda asked.

“What’s going on now?” Chao Xin asked as Radiance pulls out Andromeda’s laptop from her saddlebag. “Their attacks were connecting before.”

“Let’s see,” Radiance said as she watches Anubis’ attack in slow motion, and sees something. “Uh oh. According to Andromeda’s computer, Aguma has somehow made several currents of air, making a shield that redirects attacks. He can control air just like Andi.”

“Seriously?!” Tempest asked.

“Can it be so?” Dashan asked, when he sees Aguma do something familiar. “Hey, what is Aguma doing?”

“Hundred Schools of Shaolin Fist Secret Technique: Iron Wall Fist!” Aguma shouted as he takes the stance used for the Solid Iron Wall, shocking the members of Wang Hu Zhong.

“No way!” Both Chao Xin and Mei-Mei said, completely stun.

“How can the attack style Shaolin Fist be using Shaolin Temple’s secret protective technique?” Chin-yun asked.

“Shaolin Temple and Shaolin Fist were originally part of the same school,” Dashan pointed out. “It would’t be that strange for them to have mastered a protective technique as well.”

“Andromeda, Anubis, you need to be careful out there!” Tempest shouted from the stands. “Aguma can control the air like you, Andi, and he’s using something like Shaolin Temple's Solid Iron Wall!”

“So, he’s planing to wait this out till we get tired. That’s his strategy, is it?” Anubis said.

“Don’t group us together with those Shaolin Temple fools,” Aguma suddenly said. “They win only by relying on defense,” Aguma added as the air currents around him begins to speed up, while he gives off an orange aura. “Shaolin Fist can turn this protective technique into attack power, just watch us!” He then does a single, horizontal swipe with his scythe, and a F3 tornado forms. The wind is so strong, that the red walls around them begin to break apart and fly in the air, as Andromeda and Anubis shield their eyes from the piercing wind.

“No way!” Leone said when he and Taurus see something familiar about the tornado.

“Ugh! Copy Leone’s move, will ya!” An angry Taurus shouted.

“Oh come on!” Andromeda said as she opens her eyes. “This doesn't even come close to Leone’s Lion Gale Force Wall. I can easily get through,” Andi said as she charges into the twister toward Aguma.

“Bad move, purple puss,” Aguma said as he slaps his hands together while grunting and giving of the orange aura. “Watch, this is the power of Shaolin Fist that surpasses Shaolin Temple. Exploding Fist!” He cried as he spreads out his arms suddenly as the tornado condenses, picking up the broken rocks, which stops Andromeda and send her flying back. She doesn't have much time to recover, as the broken pieces of the walls fly toward her. She barely dodges them, since the rules won’t allow anyone to teleport, even if it’s a small distance.

“Oh, no way!” An ecstatic announcer said as he does some wushu stances. “Aguma has turned even the broken pieces of the wall into a weapon. How about that blossoms? Andromeda and Anubis can’t even get close. Protected by a ring of flying rock, Aguma is like the planet Saturn floating in space.”

“Enjoying the show?” Aguma asked within the ring, a miracle that the others can hear him over the sound of the wind. “This is the anger we built up throughout the long, bitter days after getting turfed out of the main school. It messes with your head,” Aguma added as the ring slowly expands.

“We got to find a way to fight back,” Andromeda said as she and Anubis are pushed against a wall.

“This is bad,” Tempest worriedly said.

“They’l be pushed out of the arena if they don’t do something,” Peach Cobble added.

“Do something fast, Andromeda!” Taurus shouted as Leone growls angrily.

“I have to use the Sparkling Tornado,” Andromeda said, making Anubis look at her curiously. “We got to bet it all on that.”

“Your right. But, in order to use it, we have to do something about Aguma’s wind, first,” Anubis pointed out, when he gets an idea. “Miss Andromeda, ma’am, please leave that part to me, okay?”

“Do it,” Andromeda said, getting a nod from him.

“If I use my special move, I can dive under the ring and get to Aguma,” Anubis resend as he runs toward the ring. “Special move: Brave Impact!” Anubis said as he dives under the ring.

“What’s this?” Aguma asked as Anubis tackles him, making the ring dissipate.

“Aguma’s ring has disappears!” Dashan said, wide-eyed.

“Go now, Miss Andromeda!” Anubis said as he tries his best to keep Aguma still.

“Right!” Andromeda said as she sprints into a gallop, giving off her yellow aura. “Special move: Sparkling-”

“Not so fast! Flash attack!” Bao screeched as his crimson flash stops Andromeda in her tracks.

“Give me a break!” Andromeda said as Bao pushes her back.

“Do it now, Aguma! Don’t worry about me!” Bao shouted.

“But Bao…” Aguma tried to say, only for Anubis to push him back several feet.

“I won’t let you, hear me.” Anubis said to the blue and tan griffin, who glares back at him while he gives off his orange aura.

“I think it's about time for me to end this,” Aguma said as his eyes begin to glow red. “Special move: Great Ring of Destruction!” Aguma yelled as a pillar of orange light burst up into the sky. In the light, Aguma’s spirit beast, Kronos, appears and does a downward slash, causing a blinding light to appear as Anubis, Andromeda and Bao scream as they are sent flying from the shockwave, while 4 gashes in the floor of the temple spread out, forming a perfect X of destruction. An explosion then happens, filling the space with black smoke.

“Whut in tarnation happened? Ah can’t see a thin,’” Bismarck asked as the smoke slowly begins to dissipate. The first thing they see is Aguma, in the center of the arena. They then see Andromeda, Anubis and Bao laying on the ground, all outside of the arena.

“Unbelievable!” The announcer said. “At the very end, Aguma delivers a massive attack that even takes out his partner. The winner of the greatest tag-team tournament in the whole world, Tōng wǎng chénggōng zhī lù, has been decided: it's the Bao/Aguma team, yeah!” He finished as the entire crowd goes wild, all of them oblivious to how important Anubis, Leone, Andromeda and Aguma really are.

“Andromeda … she lost,” a completely shocked and angry Tempest said as he and the others stare at the sight.

“We did it Aguma,” Bao said as he limbs back to Aguma. “Now what?”

“This is the first step,” Aguma said, with Leone hearing everything they say due to his lion hearing. “We must clear away the humiliation we of Shaolin Fist have been subjected to for 2000 years. Our revenge is not complete. We must defeat every style of the martial arts in the entire world.”

“Fist Cetus wins, and now Aguma,” Andromeda groaned in both anger and pain as she gets back up along with Anubis.

“Why has the Star Fragment chosen to award people like them?” Anubis asked.

“Not nice!” Motti said, crying and holding onto one of Johannes’ legs. “Scary, meow!”

“Scary? I can defiantly use him,” Johannes said with a sinister smile as he leaves for the stadium floor.