The Black Sun

Showdown at the Tower of Babylon

“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, as Aguma and Bao leave for their helicopter. There, they get on, not noticing that Johannes is not far behind them. “I can’t forget about my responsibilities now, can I?” The cat-colt thing said as he pulls out a light brown cat from his cloak. “I’m counting on you, little cutie,” Johannes said as he puts the cat on the ground. It then runs toward the copter and gets on right as the door closes.

The pilot then starts the engine, making the propeller blades, making it take off, which everyone else takes notice of. “What the? AHHHHH!” The announcer screamed when he sees the helicopter, with Bao and Aguma in it, takes off and leaves.

“Oh no!” Anubis said as Wang Hu Zhong, nothing they can do to stop it.

“They split?” Dashan asked.

“Wait! Aguma, Bao, we have a trophy and coupons for you!!! Come back,” the announcer finished as the copter disappears from sight.

“We finally find a Legendary Warrior, and he leaves,” Anubis said as he and the others look on.

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

Later, at the Shaolin Temple, Andromeda and the others are in the dinning room, resting from the fight with Aguma, wondering. “I wonder where those two took of too?” Andromeda asked as Flora bandages her left-wing.

“We have no idea, and there’s been absolute no sign of them,” Chao Xin said.

“Shaolin Temples 4000 year old information network is tracking them, too,” Chin-yun added.

“We haven't gotten any useful information yet at all,” Mei-Mei added.

“So, what do you intend to do now, Andromeda?” Dashan asked.

“There’s only one thing to do,” Andromeda began to answer. “Aguma is a Legendary Warrior, that’s what we know for sure.”

“Okay then, now we have to find him somehow, and get him to listen to us,” Anubis said. “And before that power is handed over … It must not be given to the evildoers.”

“But how are you going to find him?” Mei-Mei asked.

“How do you expect to find guys who can’t even been found by all of Shaolin Temple’s resources combined?” Chao Xin added.

“We check the tournaments,” Leone said from the other end of the room.

“Leone?” Andromeda asked.

“It doesn't matter where those chumps have gotten to. I overheard that Aguma guy said that they need to defeat every martial artist of every style around the world,” Leone pointed out. “You haven’t forgotten that, have you?”

“Oh, yeah!” Taurus suddenly said. “Good call.”

“So, in order to do that, it makes sense to join in on a lot of duels somewhere,” Anubis deducted.

“And, we still have to search for the remaining Legendary Warriors anyway,” Radiance pointed out.

“Leone is one,” Taurus said as he counts the known Legendary Warriors so far, “Andromeda, Cetus, Anubis and now Aguma. So that means there are still 5 Legendary Warriors left somewhere around the world.”

“Sounds like a plan to me,” Tempest said with a smile.

“Yep,” Rainbow added.

“So, we just keep going to all the big tournaments around the world, we’ll run into them eventually,” Andromeda said.

“And, when I find Aguma again, he’s going down!” Leone finished with determination in his eyes. “Next time I’ll make sure he knows who's the strongest in the world.”

“That is not what the power we possessed is for at all! You know that!” Anubis firmly said. “The purposes is for this: the power of the fragment is to stop the revival of Nemesis.”

“That’s not my problem,” Leone said, surprising Anubis. “Hey, Andi, are there any big tournaments they would be likely to appear in?”

“Let me check,” Andromeda said as she pulls out her laptop from her saddle bag and opens it. “Oh!” A surprised Andromeda said when she sees that she has mail. “I got an e-mail, from Julian Konzern.”

“Julian? The leader of Team Excalibur, the European representative team?” Rainbow asked.

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

In the Chinese desert, the Shaolin Fist, composed of 3 unicorns and 3 griffins, not counting Aguma and Bao, are tracking through a sandstorm, with the two leading. “We finally did it, Aguma,” Bao said.

“Tōng wǎng chénggōng zhī lù was a big win,” Aguma added. “Now, Shaolin Temple isn’t a threat anymore.”

Suddenly, Bao turns around and removes his clocks hood. “Listen up! From now on, we will launch an assault against the world!” Bao said to the other Shaolin Fist. “We will tighten our ranks even more. Shaolin Fist will become the strongest in the world, understood?”

“Yeah!” They all said.

“And then, all through the martial art world, Shaolin Fist will be the leader, do you hear me?” Bao added.

“Yeah!” They all said.

“Martial arts all over the world, it would answer to us forever!” Bao finished.

“Yeah!”

“Humph! Ha-ha-ha!”

“Huh? Who’s there?” Bao asked when he heard the laugh.

“Never mind,” the voice said as the Shaolin Fist searches for its origin. “I have an offer that you would want to hear. Are you in the mood to listen?”

“There!” Bao shouted as he fires a laser at some boulders. They then see someone jump from behind the boulder and land in front of them. He’s wearing a large white cap with a yellow cross-like symbol covering most of his dark spiky hair and his right eye, along with a silver chain-like necklace and a white cloak with yellow symbols like on his cap with brown boots, but his most striking feature are his wide yellow eyes with feline pupils. It’s Johannes.

“Oh my,” Johannes said when he lands. “That wasn’t nice.”

“Be quiet!” Aguma demanded.

“I recognize you!” Bao said. “You fought with that Leone guy in the quarterfinals. How’d you find us?” Bao asked, only for the cat to meow behind him, before it runs up to Johannes and jumps onto is back.

“Aww, yeah. Good girl. You did well,” Johannes said as he rubs the cat's head.

“I don’t know who you are, cat,” Aguma began to say. “But we have no intention of speaking with you. So, leave right now!”

“Too late!” Bao said as he fires at Johannes, only for the cat-colt to deflect with his magdrillium sword.

“Annoying,” Johannes commented. “The thing is, I didn’t come here to fight you, okay? So just listen to what I have to say.”

“And why should we listen to you at all?” Bao asked.

“Because, what I have to say is about the light that fell from the sky. Get me?” Johannes said.

“What?” Both Aguma and Bao asked.

“Now then, you do want to know why that light from the sky. That would make sense, right? I don’t think you'll be sorry if you listen to me.” Johannes said.

“What do you think, Aguma?” Bao asked.

After thinking for a few moments, Aguma has an answer. “Fine then, we’re listening.”

“Hmmm, excellent choice.” Johannes said as the cat on his back takes a nap. Okay, one warrior down, 8 more to go.

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

Meanwhile, in the Babylonian desert, in an arena with a 7 story tower… “Welcome to one hot tournament: the Babylon Tower Duel Royal!” A unicorn announcer suddenly said, as most of the competitors cry out due to anticipation. “We have waited a long time for this day, for this hour, when a new miracle has appeared right here, the birthplace of the Mesopotamian civilization! A mysteries light entered the sword, known as the Treasure of Ancient Babylonia. The legendary sword has been revived at last!”

“Yeah!” All the competitors shouted.

“This Babylon Tower Royal is necessary to decide the one worthy to wield the legendary sword,” the announcer added. “When I say ‘start,’ the participants will all run up the tower. While the climb is easy, you’ll have to do it while dueling and/or racing the other competitors. The one who reaches the top first will earn the right to duel the Babylonian Warrior waiting there! So then, if they are able to win against the great Babylonian Warrior, they would be recognized as the new Babylonian Warrior worthy of the legendary sword. Yes, the Treasure of Babylonia, the legendary sword, will become yours!”

“Yeah! I’m gonna do it!” Someone among the competitors said.

“Fat chance! I’m gonna win this thing!” Someone else said.

“A true Babylonian treasure, and the legendary sword, huh?” A pegasus with a pale blue coat, a brilliant orange and amber mane that looks on fire, brilliant orange eyes, and a flaming lightning bolt for a cutie mark that is shown on his Wonderbolt suit. It’s Firestorm. “Well, if it is true, then the light residing in that treasured sword is surely from the Star Fragment. If I get that sword, that power will be mine.”

“What drama! Who will be the one to win this fierce survival battle and claim the Babylonian Treasure?” The announcer asked. “And the battle will right about -- Huh?” He suddenly said when he sees a male changeling, only with of blue hair and eyes, around the same size as Chrysalis, with the same eyes and gapes in his legs, walk through the crowd up to the front. Once in main view, the announcer sees that he has a cutie mark, the constellation Cetus, meaning only one thing.

“Cetus?” A surprised Firestorm said when he saw the King of Blue Changelings.

“What? It’s the fabled king of the Blue Changeling horde: Cetus himself!” The announcer said, just as shocked as Firestorm and the other competitors are. “Does this mean that the Blue Changeling King is to take part also? This tournament has reach a whole other level, baby!”

Cetus, Firestorm thought to himself. I’ve heard of him, the King of Blue Changelings. So he followed the rumor that a light entered the sword known as the Babylonian Treasure, too. “Huh?” He suddenly said when he sees a young unicorn colt in a red cape with a large blue and yellow pony logo on it, and wearing a wide brim hat, covering his face, standing next to Cetus. “Is that … Could it be…”

“Snap out of it, people!” The announcer suddenly said, getting everyone's attention. “Let’s get this party started! The Babylon Tower Duel Royal is on! Three … two … one … Go, run for it!!!!” At that, all the competitors run into the tower, quickly getting up the first floor.

“Run, run, run, the competitors scramble to be first as they climb up Babylon Tower at full speed. Huh? Wait, one competitor, Cetus, has not move from the starting point. Just what is the Sea Emperor up too?” The announcer asked, as Firestorm stops for a moment and looks at the blue changeling.

“I wonder, too. But there’s no time to waste,” Firestorm said as he continues running. However, he barely dodges a magic blast from a unicorn competitor, but several griffins and pegasi behind him aren't as lucky. An boulder then falls behind Firestorm, cutting off most of the other competitors.

“None shall pass!” An earth pony said to Firestorm as he runs up.

“Get him!” A pegasus said to a unicorn next to them, who fires at the Wonderbolt. The blast creates plenty of dust that obscures their view, but they believe they got him.

“Your toast!” The unicorn said, only to be proven wrong when Firestorm flies out of the smoke. “Mommy!” All three of them said.

“Hey, I think that pegasus dude is … Firestorm!” The stunned earth pony said as Firestorm picks up speed. “Firestorm and a changeling king, together!?”

“There’s no way we can win against even Firestorm, he’s Soarin’ and Spitfire’s son!” The pegasus said.

“We’re just not worthy!” The unicorn added as Firestorm spins, creating a tornado that sends the three flying.

“That was too easy. Time to fly!” Firestorm said as he continues up the tower, still having 3 stories to go. Suddenly, he sees an explosion on the level above. “What was that?” He asked as he climbs up, and sees that the young unicorn colt in a red cape with a large blue and yellow pony logo on it and wearing a wide brim hat, has defeated 4 older unicorns.

“Run for it!” A unicorn said to the others when he notices Firestorm. The four cowardly unicorns then flee, as Firestorm approaches the colt.

“Who are you?” Firestorm asked. The colt then takes off his hat, showing his lavender coat, midnight-blue mane, and magenta eyes. “So, it is you after all, Orion.”

“What are you doing here, Firestorm?” Orion asked.

“That’s my line, Orion. Why didn’t you go with your sister and the others to search for the other Legendary Warriors, huh?”

“Things changed.”

“Dose your sister, mother or any of the others know what you're doing?”

“Sort of. I have to become really strong, Firestorm. There’s someone I need to take me seriously. It’s Cetus.”

“Huh? Why Orion?”

“Because, he’s a Legendary Warrior like Andromeda. I decided to be useful to her and the others in my own special way. Like this,” Orion said, remembering his conversation with Cetus that night.

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

“It does, too! Andromeda and the others need your strength!”

“Just give it up!”

“I’ll just keep asking over and over again until you say yes. Do you hear me? I’ll follow you forever if I need to!”

“Why are you willing to go so far with this?”

“Because this is all I can do, now! This is the support I can give them, with all my might and strength!” Orion said.

“Then challenge me, kid,” Cetus said, breaking the silence. “No matter what time it is, or where we are,” Cetus added, making Orion gasp in surprise. “Weather were eating or sleeping, can you actually force me to take you seriously.”

“Cetus.”

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

“That’s what he said,” Orion said to Firestorm. “Cetus said that if I can make him get series, he will listen to my request.”

“Cetus said that, huh?”

“That’s why I need something with the power of the Star Fragment, so I’ll be stronger. And I will get it, even if I have to go through you, Firestorm,” Orion finished, with Firestorm seeing the determined look in Orion’s eyes.

“So be it,” Firestorm said, breaking the few moments of silence. “I understand why you want this. But all the same, Princess Celestia entrusted me with this investigation, and I have not given up on becoming a Legendary Warrior, myself. So, we both know that this Treasure of Babylonia, this sword that possesses a mysteries light inside is our goal. We’re gonna have to fight for it.”

“I’m not afraid!” Orion said as he charges a spell and fires at Firebrand, who jumps above it, and sees the ground below him has been covered by ice for five feet in all directions.

“Ice magic?” Firebrand asked. “When did you learn -- Whoa!” He said as he dodges another ice beam, which creates a pillars of ice. “Where’d you learn to do that?”

“When following a changeling, you pick up a thing or two,” Orion answered as he prepares another ice beam.

“Check it out!” The announcer said as they watch the fight on a plasma screen. “Firestorm and the caped colt are holding nothing back!”

“Whoa! That colt in the bad cap is using ice magic.” A spectator said.

“That little unicorn is good,” another spectator said.

“Meanwhile, the other competitors are still booking to toward the top floor,” the announcer added.

“Humph!” Cetus suddenly said as he calmly walks toward the tower.

“Whoa! Cetus is on the move!” The announcer said when he notices Cetus heading toward the tower. “With the delicate steps of a woodland creature, he walks toward Babylon Tower. But will he be able to catch up to the other competitors now?”

“That’s not bad, Orion,” Firestorm said after he avoids another ice beam. “I’ll finish this right now,” Firestorm said as he jumps, tricking Orion to freeze the wall above them. Firestorm than bucks the weakened wall, causing debris to fall as he uses it as cover.

“Not good,” Orion said as he dodges the falling rock the best he can. Orion then briefly sees Firestorm’s shadow above a boulder. “There you are, Firestorm!” Orion shouted as he fires at the boulder with a normal laser, but Firestorm isn’t behind it. “What!?”

“Up here,” Firestorm said. “You know what comes next, the Tornado Buster!” Firestorm said as he spins, engulfing him in a tornado.

“The Wonderbolts unbeatable technique that was created so the original 13 Wonderbolts can escape from Tartarus 50 years ago,” Orion said as a red glow surrounds him. “I won’t lose!” Orion said as he creates a shield made of both magic and ice appears in between him and Firestorm. The shield is able to stop Firestorm’s attack dead in his tracks, shocking Firestorm as he regains his composer.

“No way! He’s so different from the Orion I'm used to seeing. How did he get so strong and learn such advanced spells in such a short time,” Firestorm said as he flies around, and tackles the colt into the wall. “Sorry, Orion,” Firestorm said as he backs off a bit as Orion gets to the ground. “But I win, and you didn’t stop the Tornado Buster, it was just a fluke,” he added as he runs up to tower again. “That took longer then I thought, I’m late.”

“After defeating the kid with the cape, Firestorm races forward,” the announcer said as the screen shows what’s going on at the top of the tower. “He may be too late as the remaining competitors have already begun a fierce fight on the top floor.”

“Takes this!”

“That tickled.” Two of the 11 competitors said. Suddenly, the floor below them collapses, as a giant, blue glowing sea serpent bursts out.

“What is that?” The announcer asked as Firestorm reaches the top floor.

“What now?” Firestorm asked as the serpent disappears. And once the smoke clears, showing Cetus standing there, giving off his blue colored aura, which soon disappears. “Cetus!”

“So, it’s you, Firestorm.” Cetus said, having heard of the Wonderbolt prodigy. “Get lost. I won’t hand over the Star Fragment to anyone.”

“I wasn’t asking,” Firestorm said to Cetus. “I’m taking the Star Fragment.”

“Take this instead!” Cetus said as he fires a blast of water at Firestorm.

“What was that?” Firestorm asked.

“The power of the Star Fragment, that’s what,” Cetus said to Firestorm.

“The what?”

“In the face of my reborn power, you're the same as a little baby jellyfish; your absolutely nothing!” Cetus said to Firestorm as he creates a small tornado.

“But why?” Firestorm asked. “You already have so much power, and a pice of the Star Fragment, why are you trying to get more power of the Star Fragment, anyway?”

“No reason.”

“Say what?!?!”

“There can only be one strongest being in this world. The Sea Emperor just is the Sea Emperor! I will claim all the power in the world, even the Elements of Harmony! That’s the deal!”

“Changeling of all colors do have a thing in common: they all got a screw loose! I won’t allow it!” Firestorm said as he takes to the air.

“I’m done playing, Firestorm,” Cetus said as he creates icicles and fires them at Firestorm, only for him to climb higher into the sky.

“I’m gonna stop you, with the unbeatable technique created so the original 13 Wonderbolts can escaped Tartarus: the Tornado Buster!” Firestorm said as he’s engulfed by a tornado.

“Nonsense!” Cetus said as he begins to use his blue Legend Aura while water spouts appear around him. “This so called ‘Tartarus’ they saw is nothing compared to what we changelings have gone through living in a world of complete, utter darkness! Special move: Sea Emperor Supreme Flight!” He screeched as his spirit beast, the sea monster Cetus, emerges from him and destroys the Tornado Buster, grabs Firestorm, and then slams him down onto the floor with enough force that the entire tower shakes.

“Amazing,” Firestorm said, wide-eyed, as Orion arrives. “The power of the Star Fragment.”

“Firestorm, you okay?” Orion asked as Firestorm gets out of the hole.

“I will be. I’m just glade that the Wonderbolt suite protects the wearer from extreme injury.” Firestorm said as he weakly gets out, while Cutes turns toward the small room that holds both the Babylonian Warrior and the Treasure of Babylonia.

“Come on out!” Cetus demanded. “Your ridicules game is over, now. Don’t make me come in there!”

Suddenly, a scrawny griffin in gold-colored plastic armor comes running out, screaming, before he trips and falls to the ground. “Stop!” He said. “Please, wait -- A changeling king and Firestorm, too!? I wasn’t told that anyone like you two would be participating in this thing today.”

“And you are?” Cetus asked.

“The Babylonian Warrior?” Orion guessed.

“Yes,” the griffin admitted. “But I was only asked to play the part of the warrior in order to make this tournament more exciting. I’m just some weather captain from a small town in the country side. I’m not anything who could possibly beat you two.”

“That’s just sad,” Firestorm said.

“So, then what about the Treasure of Babylonia with the mysteries light inside?” Orion asked.

“Oh, you mean this?” The griffin said as he shows them a gold covered sword. “It’s just a plastic sword that’s used for the trophy of the tournament. If you want, I can give--” But before he could finish, he drops the sword. It lands near Cetus’ hoofs, where Cutes crushes it under one of his hoofs.

“Why you!” Cetus angrily said to the now terrified griffin.

“Cetus, don’t do it!” Orion said as Cetus’ Legend Aura appears.

“You have wasted a lot of my time!” Cetus said in a demonic tone as his Legend Aura appears. On the ground, the spectators see an explosion at the top of the tower, and see the sea serpent emerge from the tower, before it goes right through the tower, causing it to collapse, while anyone who can runs from the tower. As the smoke begins to clear, Cetus walks out of the rubble, soon followed by Orion and Firestorm.

“Cetus! Wait for me, Cetus!” Orion said as he puts on his Wonderbolt goggles he got from Tempest for his birthday.

“Wait. Orion!” Firestorm said, making Orion stop for a moment. “Are you still planing to go with him? Even now? He’s so powerful, there’s no way you can catch up to him. He’s just too dangerous.”

“It's okay, Firestorm.” Orion said as he turns toward him. “Just leave Cetus to me, Firestorm. Oh, and please don’t tell mom, Andromeda or the others anything about this, you hear? I don’t want to cause them any unnecessary worry about me.”

“Orion … are you sure?”

“Okay, I have your word,” Orion quickly said as he puts on the hat and runs after Cetus.

“Orion!” A bewildered Firestorm said, but the young unicorn colt just ignores him as he runs after Cetus, while the announcer and the griffin that played the Babylonian Warrior crawl out of the rubble. Firestorm then sighs as he realizes he needs to get moving.

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

Back in China, at an airport, the group are about ready to leave, with Wang Hu Zhong saying their goodbyes. “See ya,” Tempest said to Wang Hu Zhong when they heard that their flight will take off soon.

“Yes,” Dashan said. “Be carful, okay?”

“The Shaolin Fist search will be our first priority. So don’t worry about that,” Mei-Mei added.

“If we find anything, we’ll contact you right away.” Chao Xin added.

“Thanks, guys,” Andromeda said.

“Back to business.” Leone suddenly said as they head for their terminal. “Think it’s true? The idea that they found a lead on a Legendary Warrior in Greece? Is Julian even right?”

“All we can do is go and see for ourselves,” Andromeda said as they board the plane. “And this time, I won’t let he or she get away.” Andromeda added as they take their seat, with Tempest and Flora sitting next to her, as she looks out the window, seeing the plane beginning to take off. Wait for us, Legendary Warrior number 6.