Storyboard Elements Chosen:
Obtain firsthand experience of the severe effects of the virus. (4)
Investigate the mysterious illness. (3)
Custom Event Storyboard:
Investigate the aftermath of Tiamat's destruction upon one of your clan's landmarks for clues. (2)
Mission Rank: B
With the reverse summoning of Menma and the Hakutaku completed, the pair found themselves now in a hidden location. It was almost a paradise in the middle of the normally icy region. The grass was green and lush, while the warmth of the sun could be felt as nearly no clouds covered the sky with the threat of snow. Just where were they, Menma would wonder as he followed alongside the beast, whose eyes located on its flank peered almost into his soul.
"Hmm, I sense the curiosity of yours Kyuubi-boy. Don't fret, your answers will come in due time."
"But wait, I didn't say anything," Menma said puzzled at the fact the Hakutaku was clearly able to see the inner workings of his mind.
"You didn't have to, your chakra tells me all I need to know about you and also that beast inside of you." The eyes of the Hakutaku squinting eerily as it talked to Menma.
"So your kind can sense chakra? No wonder you showed up unannouced while I was taking a nap."
"The chakra of the 9 Tails was quite unmistakable. We Hakutaku, have a bit of history with the Tailed Beast after all"
"What sort of history?"
"One I don't intend to remember, leave it be and let's go. " Kurama chimed in.
"One of turmoil, but, don't worry. We won't get into too much detail as of now."
Soon after minutes of crossing the deep green pastures, a large palace sat by its lonesome on the single mountain platuea that was now in view. The mountain overlooked the water of the nearby ocean and its entire presence was serene. Large ornate pillars stood tall in as the colors of the stone were nearly illuminated by the golden rooftops that adorned the palace. Lush green forest came into view and surrounded the base of the mountain, and Menma could only wonder why and how this area remained hidden despite the travels that took place in this area due to its ease of passage to the ocean.
"Welcome to the Holy Land, Kyuubi-boy. A human has not ever set foot here in over a millenia, and yet here you are, now beholding its grandeur. Consider it a honor. I hope the prophecy about you is correct."
"Prophecy? What prophecy?"
"In due time Kyuubi-boy. It will all be revealed to you sooner than you think. It is not my place to talk any further about such matters. In fact, I have already said enough."
"I'm gettin' kinda tired of the run around you're giving me."
"What'd I tell you, its probably better we just leave now."
"Get on, I shall take you to talk to the Eldest Sage. He'll give you the answers you want. " The Hakutau commanded.
Menma taking no heed from the Nine Tails decided to let his curiosity determine his actions. He hopped upon the back of the Hakutaku and it dashed forward at a break neck pace, if it weren't for the fur consisting of its mane, Menma would've surely been flung off the creature and most likely impaled by one of the horns that lined its back. In seconds, they entered the forest. It was full of flora and fauna Menma never could have imagined could exist in this region. Though he had little to no time to study the peculiarities of the forest, the mad dash made by the Hakutaku had him using all his focus in an effort to not be clotheslined by the branches that hung. The trees of the forest after all were gigantic almost like they came straight out of one of the forest from the Land of Fire. Soon, a deep mist crawled into view, they were now approaching the inner sanctum of the forest. As they entered into the mist, Menma couldn't see anything in front or around him. He would hate to have been stranded in a area such as this, with no bearing on where to go the mist reminded him of the Water Archipelago and its islands. Just what kind of place was this?
"We're approaching the base of the mountain Kyuubi boy, hang tight."
Just as the Hakutaku said, they had indeed gotten much closer to the mountain. But almost in stark contrast to the forest, the mountains base was nearly all desert landscape. Not a single piece of vegetation could be seen, nor any moisture. The Hakutaku raced along the desert sands and in a couple short minutes despite the distance they had crossed seemingly vast in comparison to Menma, the creature made short work of it, and as it reached the base of the mountain it jumped up and began leaping, vaulting, and running up the face of the mountain. The journey took only minutes, but for any human to try and make this journey on their own, well Menma just down right saw it as an impossibility. No wonder no human had ever been able to find such a place it was so well hidden from the world.
Moments later, they now had finally arrived at top of the plateau, a huge gate welcomed them to the palace, there Menma fully began to take in what he was seeing. The Hakutaku he rode upon bent down to allow Menma to step off of him and ushered him through the doors of the palace which opened by themselves. As he entered, he was suddenly surprised by the many number of eyes looking directly at him. The beast were staring with one pair of eyes, while they looked at each other with the others, letting out whispers, growls, as they all were surprised to see an intruder in their midst, let alone, he who held the Kyuubi.
Menma did his best to ignore the stares, but with so many eyes looking at him it was a bit hard not to feel anxious and slightly intimidated by creatures he still had no true knowledge of. However, he continued on his path and soon he entered another room, much larger and luxurious. The smell of incense burned in the air, and here he caught a glimpse of a Hakutaku much larger in size than all the others. It was much unlike the others, and possessed only a single horn and its eyes, were stark white as if the light in them had gone out long ago. However, it knew Menma was present as soon as he entered the room.
"Have a seat young child, we have been expecting you. I have seen the trials you have gone through, the destruction you have wrought amongst the people of this land. You feel no anguish about the lives you have taken, and yet, there is a deep guilt which plagues you to your core. Hidden behind a inextinguishable fire of hatred and sorrow. How will you turn out I wonder, even these eyes do not know. I do know however, there is something else that plagues you and that is why we have brought you here. Have you not yet noticed?"
"Noticed what?" Menma said oblivious to what exactly the beast was going on about, and then Menma quickly went into a fit of coughing, he could barely breathe, yet not one creature moved to aid him. As Menma's vision blurred, he looked to the floor, and saw drops of blood coming splattered against the ground he had fallen to in his fit. He wasn't sure what was transpiring, but he suddenly felt weakened and dizzy. Menma plopped himself on the ground and chills began to run up the length of his body. His attempts to stand up were thwarted by another fit of coughing at each attempt and with those attempts came more blood.
"What'd....*cough*...you...do...*cough*..to...me?!" Menma struggled to say as he tried to catch his breath, angered at the fact he had possibly fallen into a trap due to his reluctance to listen to Kurama.
"It is not what we did, it is what you did, Kyuubi boy. You are suffering from the worst kind of disease there is. We have seen this before, however, we are powerless against it. We the Hakutaku are revered as Holy Creatures, in some cases we are seen as a Myth. But oh, indeed we do exist. We simply observe the world and once in a millennia, if the time is right, we reveal ourselves to the chosen. You are that chosen as foretold by a prophecy left by the one whose place I know sit in. However, you must show you have what it takes to earn our loyalty. If you can find a way to save yourself from what has become known to you humans as the "Red Fever" you may very well have what it takes to rule us and those around you. I suggest you begin your search for a cure in your lands, where the evil goddess Tiamat touched down. Her arrival signaled the change of times, and it is you who shall champion the saving or destruction of the world. It will all come down to how well you tame the embodiment of hate that lives within you. Whenever you are in need, then the one who aided you here will come to your side. But be warned, they will only be able to give you advice and nothing more until you have proven your worth. Now begone, and either find your way back to us or succumb to your fate."
With a blink of its third eye, Menma was sent out of the palace and he was now back in the cold of Bhandao at the same river he encountered the Hakutaku. Everything seemed like a dream, but the coughing did not stop and the chills were as terrible as ever as the cold air touched his skin. If what was said was true, Menma had better begin his search for answers. He gathered himself as best he could and started the trek back home to Dainaishi. There he would begin his search for clues as to what was happening to himself.
"I told ya, we shoulda left while we could..."
LLM