Don't tread on me!

[Zhen Anguo]

Magic. 'Guo raised his halberd and jumped upwards towards the dragon with a roar. "Fear the spear of justice!" He yelled as he brought his giant crescent blade down on the dragons head and sliced it clean in half, before it turned once again into normal liquid water and sploshed down onto the ground with a heavy crash. Landing lithely on his feet, Zhen Anguo spun back towards Kurai and held his spear in two hands as he looked across at the Lunar Knight, swinging the weapon above his head as a show of skill he brought it deftly down back into his palms.

"You have seen the might of Zhen Anguo, son of Zhen Yu, Monk of Vuoto! Now flee, before I make you my blades next target!"

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

I rolled my eyes.

Permission to intervene?

Please. He won't listen to me yet, his head's probably too thick. Maybe an even thicker skull could get through.

Pleasant as ever, Kerrian, I replied, before focusing my energies. My wings bloomed across my back, carrying me into the air. Kurai and the others had managed to clear a small area so far, and he and Guo battled in the center of it; it would have to do.

"As a servant of the Ghost Moon, and emissary of the element of Death itself," I called, my power infusing my voice as I pulled on the souls that surrounded me, "Death and it's tools shall not enter this area of land, war and violence shall be refused and turned away at the gate. As the Lunar Knight of Guasto, I declare: no hostilities shall disturb the peace of this now-hallowed ground, and only those whose intentions do not include death, and those whom death has already taken, may tread this soil!"

Vuoto soldiers were slammed out of the ring I had created as a multicolored barrier sprung up around the area I had claimed. I was overtaxing myself, with one limiter still in place, but this was necessary if we were going to get through this day without either Kurai or the young, newly-chosen Knight getting seriously injured.

Those still within the barrier who held weapons would find them suddenly glaringly hot within their hands, forced to drop them.

I collapsed to the deck of the boat, energy spent.

Well, now, said Kerrian's amused voice within my mind. That was rather... unsubtle of you...

[Zhen Anguo]

'Guo was still young, and as he found White Moon Dragon growing scalding hot in his hands, he dropped the halberd to the floor and fist pumped the air.

"THAT WAS SO COOL!"

He momentarily completely forgot his whole battle with Kurai and started babbling at the awesomeness that he had just seen, just as he was halfway through making a motion with his hands at just how cool the figure that he had briefly seen was, he remembered he was in combat.

"Uh! I uh, mean..." he coughed into his fist before lightly hopping from foot to foot with his fists raised, ready for hand-to-hand combat, just in case "Do we listen to the giant shiny angel thing?"

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

I grabbed my cross, slipping a hand between the layers of cloth to touch the cool stone beneath, drawing a small amount of power from it before drawing myself back up and disembarking from the ship.

"THanks," I said wearily to the young man as I walked up to position myself between him and Kurai, "and you probably ought to listen to me. This man here is a full-fledged Lunar Knight, and an expert in hand-to-hand combat; if you think that 'big shiny angel thing' was impressive, well, he could knock me over in ten seconds flat," I said with friendly weariness.

[Zhen Anguo]

"Oh... Well... Y'see..." 'Guo looked down at his weapon to see it was still glowing hot, and he kicked the salty earth in frustration "By the Gods..." He mumbled as he stubbornly sat down on the ground beside his halberd and looked up at the pair in front of him. "Fine." He said, turning his nose up at them "I yield."

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

The halberd stopped glowing with heat. I patted him on the shoulder again, then picked up the halberd and handed it back to him. "YOu're pretty good, kid," I said to him. "This thing's bigger than you are."

ANd not your usual Lunar Weapon, I said to Kerrian, but your power runs right through it.

Kid's got talent, if I do say so myself, he said with false modesty.

[Zhen Anguo]

"Are you new to the whole 'taking prisoners' thing?" 'Guo asked as he took his weapon back and stood up, propping the weapon into the ground by the shaft he looked up at Vash "Because the general idea is that you usually don't give them their weapons back and you don't compliment them generally either." He scratched the back of his head and grinned "But hey! Who am I to complain! And I don't know about White Moon Dragon but... I dunno' the things always seemed really light to me." He was clearly referencing his weapon.

"So... Who would you guys be..? You're clearly no Undian goons."

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

I laughed, smiling. "Good thing I'm not taking you prisoner then, huh?" I asked him. "No, we're not 'Undan goons'; in fact, we're a relief mission, sent to help you out with supplies until you can get rid of these rebel nasties." I gestured to where several troops were tring to get through the barrier, which was now threaded with black where I'd allowed Kerrian to help me sustain it for a while, to bleed off the excess mana that had accumulated during the years this kid was still growing into his power. "And, just between you, me, and whoever else heard me shout from up there," I winked, "myself and Kurai here are genuine, bona fide Lunar Knights."

[Zhen Anguo]

"Wait, wait, wait, hold up now, I'm confused..." Guo said shaking his head with a scowl , he looked as if he was contemplating all that Vash had said, how was it that the Lunar Knights were real? What was one, two for that matter, doing on Vuoto and why did he seem to take such an interest in him? Yes, he was a good warrior but he was nothing special, eventually, he came out with his question.

"What's a Lunar Knight?"

Being a Monk, Guo didn't get out much.

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

I blinked, then laughed.

"Man, things are going to Hellious in a handbasket," I said. "Time was there wasn't a kid on Allorum who hadn't heard the stories of the secret Order of Lunar Knights, who exist only to drain the power from the forbidden gift the Ketulunans were unable to take back." I shrugged.

"A Lunar Knight is just what it sounds like - he or she serves one of the thirteen Elemental Moons created long ago by the Ketulunans as a gift to the thirteen kingdoms of Allorum. Afraid of being spied on, all but one of Allroum's rulers refused the gift. Because they could not unmake what they had made, the Ketulunans chose thirteen of their number to be living seals for the powers of the Lunars who lived within the Moons." I grinned. "With me so far? Most people think we're a legend, but since we fought alongside the Heroes against the remnants of the Ketulunans who tried to destroy the world, we've been getting a lot of publicity and have decided that it's time to out ourselves, especially since most of us died when Lunatopia was destroyed."

I gave him as full a version as I could manage in a short time. I could feel him drawing off my power by accident, so I took my hand away from his shoulder and shrugged my coat back on.

[Zhen Anguo]

"So.. a Lunar Knight is basically the living vessel for the spirit of a moon..?" 'Guo said with a small frown, no-one could blame him for not knowing these stories, his father had never really let him leave Abyssus since his mothers death, and he had only ever really known the stories going around Vuoto, and even then it was not uncommon for his father to filter what he really wanted Guo and Ping to hear.

Either way, he was starting to feel stronger by the minute, so he gave a small stretch before looking up again at Vash "But... What does all that matter? And how am I going to get home without having to cut through a group of rebels?!"

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

I nodded. "Almost. More like the living vessel for the power of a spirit of a moon. But, you're right; right now, there are more important matters. WHy don't you stay with us for the time being? We could use a warrior like you to help protect this base, once my barrier comes down. I'm not going to be able to keep something like that up forever."

Not without dropping both limiters, at least.

"We'll help you get home when the centre is all set up; and... there's also some things you and I need to discuss." The last I said quietly, placing my hand back on his shoulder again.

He was still drawing power, even with both of my limiters still in place. Void called strongly to other mana; I guessed the same held true for Lunar, as well.

We need to teach him some self-control, I told Kerrian, before ever we finish connecting you two.

Tell me about it, he said, an I got the impression of a sardonic eyeroll.

[Zhen Anguo]

"I guess that makes sense then..." Guo said with a small nod as Vash explained the idea of Lunar Knights, Guo himself was feeling stronger by the second and he couldn't help but agree that these rebels, these bandits would only be a hassle for the people of Vuoto. He would be doing the Queen and his country a favor by wiping them off the Void. He found himself nodding at Vash's proposition.

"Okay. My blade is yours!" He held up White Moon Dragon as a sign of respect.

[Vash, the Angel's Moon]

I looked between him and Kurai. "Kurai, do you mind meeting me and..." I paused.

"I don't think I caught your name," I admitted sheepishly.

[Zhen Anguo]

Zhen Anguo hung his head almost in shame at the thought of Vash not properly hearing his shout earlier towards Kurai... All the same, it meant that he got to do it again! Which was always fun! Swinging his halberd through the air he slammed it into the ground and pointed a thumb at himself before proclaiming...

"My name is Zhen Anguo! Son of Zhen Yu! Monk of Vuoto!"

He stood in the traditional 'nice guy' pose for a while longer, waiting for some form of recognition.