A Whateley Academy Tale
Destiny’s
Wave
by Heather O’Malley
Tennessee,
June 13th 2006
I think it all began with the
sword.
Wait, let me back up a bit and
clarify things a bit. There were things that happened before the sword, like
the rest of my life. But those things have changed. My life is worlds different
now and there is not much I can do about it.
I used to be Alexander Farshine.
Now, I’m still working on that. Things changed massively in a short period of
time and I am still in shock. But the school seems nice. Wait...let me try and
start this again. I don’t think I am making much sense.
You see, I think it all began with
the sword.
* * * * * *
Alex worked his way through the
gun show, looking at all the neat guns and knives and swords there. His father
had told him that good deals could easily be had at places like this. He
stopped at another table that was covered with World War Two Nazi daggers and
Japanese Officer’s Swords. He nodded and smiled. If only he could find
something he liked.
He moved on and had to take a
break. Alex had never really been in shape, he loved movies and reading and
spent all his time doing that. He had recently gotten into swords after
watching several films that had lots of good sword play. He already had about twenty-three
blades of varying quality. He liked to swing them around in his backyard. It
was fun. He got to pretend that he was like Conan or Aragorn. Sometimes he
pretended to be other characters but not for long. He could only play with his
swords like that for a few minutes before he got tired.
The hall was filled with people
milling about . They were stopping at various tables, looking at firearms of
all types. He finally saw something, farther down the hall that caught his
interest.
An old Asian gentleman sat alone
at a table that looked empty, but he also thought he saw a couple of things on
the table. As Alex moved closer the old man turned and looked at him, smiling
broadly. “Come, come. Look at my wares. Is there anything you like.?”
Alex looked over the table,
following the man’s gesture. All he saw on the table were three objects: a
bell, a bead necklace thing and a Chinese straight sword. It reminded him of
that really cool sword everyone was fighting over in Crouching Tiger., Hidden
Dragon. That might be cool. He didn’t have any Chinese style blades at all.
This one looked nice and there was something about it that bugged him. He
couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of it. Something inside seemed to resonate
with the sword.
“Uh...sir...how much is the
sword?”
“A good eye young man. This is an
excellent weapon.” The man’s dark eyes scanned over Alex slowly. “For you I
will charge 49.95.”
All Alex had was the fifty in his
wallet. If he got the sword he wouldn’t have any more money for the rest of the
week. And it was comic week as well. He would have to wait a week to get his
comics if he bought the sword. He pondered this as he looked at the sword.
He nodded and pulled out his
wallet. There was something about the sword and he had to have it. He could
wait a week for his comics. He was sure that he could manage that. He handed
over the bill.
“Thank you very much. I am sure
you will enjoy the blade. It is very special.” With that he turned and pulled
up a cloth covered box. Alex blinked and couldn’t see the sword any more. “Here
you go. Please wait until you get home before you draw the blade. The way it is
now is easy to transport. I am sure you do not want any awkward questions.”
Alex nodded and headed towards the
entrance. He hoped Gene, his friend was ready to go and he could go home right
now. He really wanted to see the blade.
* * * * *
I really wanted to see that blade.
There was also something keeping me from opening up the box and drawing the
sword in the car. I guess I wanted my first moments with the sword to be
special and personal, just me and the sword. Looking back I think it is just
totally weird that I wanted some personal time with the sword. I usually wanted
that time with my dad’s “borrowed” Playboys and Hustlers.
So I went home with the sword. I
was a little nervous, as I had spent all of my money on a sword that I had not
really examined. I had no idea what it looked like.
Dad wasn’t home when I got there
so I hurried to my room and locked the door.
* * * * *
The door closed behind Alex and he
moved the dead bolt over. He really did not want to be disturbed while he was
looking at his new purchase. He barely remembered what it looked like, just
that it was a Chinese style sword. He glanced around his room at all the swords
on the wall and tried to figure out a good place for the blade. Maybe next to
one of the replica blades from Lord Of The Rings?
“That would look good.” he thought
to himself as he laid the box on his desk. He undid the two peg closures and lifted
the lid. There it was, even better than when he saw it sitting there on the
table at the gun show.
He looked it over closely. The
scabbard was a rich chestnut brown, the grain of the wood clear. The bottom of
the scabbard had an intricate cap of a silvery metal, it didn’t look like
pewter and for what he paid it couldn’t be silver. There was a similar cap at
the top of the scabbard. There was some sort of design in them, like waves or
clouds. Alex wasn’t sure.
The hilt was wrapped in a deep
jade green string, tight and it looked worn. The pommel nut was also of that
silvery metal, the same design etched in that. From the end of it hung two
tassels, with knot work strings of vibrant yellow. The guard looked like the
classic lions head motif, with green stones of some kind in the eyes. They were
catching the light in an interesting fashion, he almost expected them to
blink.
Alex reached out and grasped the
sword, one hand on the scabbard and the other on the hilt. The hilt felt
comfortable under his hand. Well worn and comfortable. What ever the history of
the sword, Alex could tell it had been used. He slowly drew the sword, just a
little, to glimpse the blade.
His eyes widened in surprise. The
sword didn’t look to be metal. The first inch or so of the blade appeared to be
some sort of milky jade. Alex couldn’t think of why anyone would make a blade
out of stone and decorate the blade like this. He drew it out the rest of the
way just to assure himself that the rest of the sword was not as messed up as
the first bits of the blade.
As the blade cleared the scabbard
he could tell that the whole blade was of the milky jade. His eyes narrowed in
consternation as he looked at the sword in his hands.
He then felt a rush of energy
flood into his body, speeding up his heart and stopping his breath. He closed
his eyes as he felt his body felt all out of sorts. His head was spinning and
he felt light headed. His heart was pounding furiously in his chest. Blood
roared in his ears and he swayed a little. His muscles vibrated, as if they
were clenching and relaxing rapidly. His lungs burned with the need for air. He
couldn’t let go of the sword. His legs felt cold.
Then the sensation was gone, as
fast as it had appeared.
Alex could tell that his pants had
fallen around his ankles and his shoes felt too large for his feet. His shirt
seemed to swim on him though there was a heaviness on his chest. Something was
also tickling the back of his neck. His hand on the sword also looked
different, smaller, and more delicate. Something was also different but he
couldn’t pin point it.
When he glanced at his mirror he
jumped in shock, dropping the sword on his dirty clothes covered floor. An
Asian girl was looking at him. He spun and no one was there. He looked back and
the girl had a look of surprise on her face, and just a hint of fear. Her eyes
were a deep jade green.
Alex’s thoughts raced quickly and
he glanced over himself. His legs were bare, mostly hairless and much thinner.
They even seemed longer. Both of his hands were hairless and smaller, with
thinner and more delicate fingers. He touched his face, which had changed
shape, had no acne or its usual scruff of beard stubble. Alex shuddered in
shock. He was that girl. Somehow he had been transformed. He sat heavily on his
bed, feeling his underwear bunching up under him.
“Ni hau ma?” came a woman’s voice.
Alex looked about and then his
eyes settled on the sword.
“Ni hau ma?” came again, the green
stones looking more like eyes at the moment.
“What the fuck?” he scampered
farther up the bed, accidentally hitting himself in his new breasts. “Ow, crap
that hurt!”
Nothing moved in the room as Alex
really began to panic. He had no idea what was going on. He plucked one of his
swords off the wall, holding it in front of himself.
“Shemma? Jung gwo hwa ma?”
He felt something tickle his
brain. He started to cry in fear.
“Hel-lo? You are there?” came the
woman’s voice, now in broken English.
Alex yelped and ducked, expecting
something to hit him. Nothing did.
“Hel-lo? You are there? The one to
draw the sword.”
Alex was shaking heavily, tears
burning his face. His heart was racing and he was sure he was going to die.
“What the fuck are you?!”
There was a pause, as if the voice
was thinking through his answer. “I am Destiny’s Wave. I am the sword.” the
voice was calm. “You are the one to draw me?”
“Yes...”
“Sye sye. Thank you. What are you
called?”
“Alex.”
“Yes. Alex. What can I do to
serve?”
“Huh? What?”
“You have drawn me, thus you are
my wielder. It is my task to help you.”
“First off, what is wrong with my
body? Why am I a girl?”
There was another pause. “You were
not a girl when you drew me?”
“No. Not even remotely.” Alex was
starting to calm down, some.
“And, were are not in the Middle
Kingdom?”
“The what?”
“Ah....I think I may understand. I
am Destiny’s Wave, a Taoist sword made for Women who walked the path of the
Sage and the Warrior. I have never been held by a man. One of my gifts is to
make the woman’s body stronger, faster, more perfect. It could be that, in the
hands of a man, the body shifts to match what I am used to.”
“A talking fucking sword....this
is so crazy.”
“Shemma?” the woman’s voice
sounded slightly confused.
“Nothing. It...this is just hard
to deal with. Go on.” Alex sat uncomfortably and looked at the sword sitting on
the floor.
“I guess that you might change
back when I am sheathed or when I am back in the carrying box. I am not sure.
This effect stayed until the wielder died or gave up the sword. The carrying
box was used to sever the link between sword and wielder. If one does not work
the other might.”
“Uh...should I try it now?” Alex
was not sure he wanted to move, but if it meant being back to normal he might
as well try it.
“Will doing that make you feel
better?”
Alex sat there and thought.
“Yes...yes it will.”
“Then do this. I wish to talk to
you more but until you are reassured this cannot happen.”
Alex reached down and picked up
the sword in his dainty fingers. He reached for the sheath as well and slid the
blade into the scabbard. Nothing happened. He then but the sword back in the
box and closed it. The same sensation rushed over him and he returned to his
male body. He sat down heavily on the bed, the springs groaning under the
weight.
Alex wondered if he should risk
drawing the sword again. But in a way the body had felt so good. He was
lighter, clear faced, his breathing wasn’t troubled and he had felt
more...alive? He wasn’t used to feeling that way. It was definitely different
and that was only after a few minutes, spent mostly panicking.
Alex wiped his sweaty palms on his
sweatshirt and opened the box. The sword was still there. He took a deep breath
and drew the blade. The sensation wasn’t so bad that time as he was expecting
it. He also didn’t drop the sword.
“Ni hau ma?”
“Uh...what...” He felt the tickle
again.
“Ah...you are back. You had to put
the blade in the box then?”
“Yes...I changed back.”
“That is indeed something worth
remembering. I am afraid that the benefits of wielding me are no longer in
effect if I am shut away. Part of the magic of the box is to cut off my link.
It is how I was made. Now where are we?”
“The U.S.”
“Shemma?”
“Huh...the United States of
America.”
“I have never heard of that place.
What is the Emperor’s name?”
“Emperor? We don’t have one.”
“Fine...when are we?”
“2004. Why?”
“These answers are not making
sense. I guess I will not worry about them. Now then...what are your
questions?”
“I get that you are a magic
sword...but what are you here for?”
“It is my purpose to aid in the
fight for balance.”
“Against good and evil?”
“What do you mean by good and
evil? Sometimes people kill in the name of good and others are left to live in
the name of evil. I serve the Tao. The balance is what is important. Good and
evil are not important concerns. I serve to protect, to heal, to care for
others, to teach. There is no higher purpose than that. I save lives and I take
them, when it serves the Tao. I help my wielder follow the Tao and strive to
become one of the Immortals.”
Alex blinked in surprise again.
“Okay, I now have more questions. I don’t think I followed more than half of
that.”
“You do not know the Tao?”
“The what?”
Alex heard the front door open and
his father call out. “Alex I’m home!”
“Gah...its my dad.” With that Alex
resheathed the sword and returned it to the box. The rush flowed over his body
and he returned to normal. He quickly pulled on his pants and headed
downstairs.
Alex’s father was built much like
Alex, only two inches taller and more muscular. The hair was thinning a little
but the color was still dark. He was just getting his seat in the living room,
with a beer in one hand and the remote in the other. He clicked on a football
game as Alex came in. “How was the gun show?”
“It was really good. I enjoyed
it.”
“Buy anything?” My dad actually
liked my sword collection, though he liked guns better himself.
“Yes. I got a Chinese style sword.
I thought some variety would be nice.” I smiled at the irony in the statement.
Being a girl was certainly variety. Hopefully my dad would never learn about
that.
“Nice. Oh...nice play! Did you see
that?”
Alex nodded, though he hadn’t seen
anything, since he was watching his father.
“Want to watch the game with me?”
his Dad asked, then belched.
“No thanks. I was going to read
some. I have some books I’ve been wanting to read, and now that classes are
over I can start on them.”
He shrugged and went back to
watching the game.
* * * * *
My father was just like that. Not
really distant, but we were interested in different things. I knew he loved me
and we were close, we just had no real interests in common. For a while he had
been worried about my being gay, until he caught me with some of his magazines
that he kept under his mattress. That had been a nightmare. I had been so
embarrassed. That is why I have a bolt on my door. No more of those surprises.
I went back to my room and started
reading one of my fantasy adventure novels. I had gotten several over the weeks
leading up to my finals but I had studied instead of read. But it really had
been tough to do.
As I was reading I kept looking
over at the box. There was something about how I felt when I was transformed. I
felt healthy and good. I guess it was because the girls body had been so
athletic, so in shape. I never really exercised so it was definitely a
different sensation. I think I kind of liked it. I got to feel healthy and in
shape merely by drawing a sword. What a great weight loss and exercise plan!
My eyes kept drifting towards the
sword that night, but I had decided to wait. Tomorrow my father would be at
work and I could spend the whole day getting used to this. I might even get
some answers that made sense from the sword.
* * * * *
Alex got up and went downstairs
for breakfast. His father wasn’t there, as was usual. Today should be just
fine. After he ate and showered he went into his room and opened the box.
Destiny’s Wave was sitting there, just like he had left it. He lifted it out of
the box and drew the sword. He was ready for the sensation that time. He was
amused when his PJ bottoms fell to the ground. This female body was a lot
smaller than his was.
“Ni hau ma?”
“Fine. And you?”
“I am a sword, I am usually the
same.”
“So what can you tell me about
what I can do with the sword?” Alex was interested. This sort of thing was just
like the magical tales he read about in his True Adventure Comics. He loved
superheroes and had been a little sad when he hadn’t turned out to be a mutant.
“Well, right now not much. I have
looked through your mind and you know little to nothing about sword work. You
also know nothing about combat. I can fix that a little.”
“Fix it how?”
“I can give you some access to
skills that you do not have: the basics of sword work, kung fu, Chinese, chi
gung and Taoism. To learn more would require you to work from that starting
point. I was only equipped for helping the person take the first step or two,
the rest of the journey is up to you.”
“Cool! Hey can we do that now? I
want to spend the day getting used to this. I want to try you out and see how
this body moves and feels.” Alex was bubbling with excitement. This had the
potential to be just like his fantasies of being a superhero, except for the
being a girl thing.
“Very well. Please sit down Alex.”
Alex sat on the edge of the bed.
After he had gotten comfortable he felt that tickle again. This time it grew
more intense, almost like an itch in his brain. His head swam and he grew
dizzy. Finally the sensation stopped.
“Alex, are you alright?” the voice
sounded a little concerned.
“I’m good.” his voice sounded a
little weird but he knew what he said.
“Well, it looks like the language
took. Let us go out side and check the rest.”
“Right.” Alex stood up and
realized that he was naked, except for the t-shirt that hung like a short dress
on him. “Uh...maybe I should get some clothes?”
“That might be prudent. You will
be moving around quite a bit if this worked.”
Alex searched his room for
anything that might work. He tossed aside a lot of his clothes as simply being
too big. He finally found a pair of sweatpants he had from when he was nine
that fit his new curves. However, he had no underwear that fit.
He pulled them on and felt the
difference between his old body and his new. This new body did have curves. His
hips had shape and his waist was smaller than he remembered having in a long
time. He changed into an old black t-shirt that didn’t swim too much on him.
Now all that was left was getting his long black hair out of his face.
He found one of his old bandanas,
which he used to tie his hair back. He turned and looked at the mirror. His
reflection looked back. He definitely looked all girl now, even in his old
clothes. He looked like a girl ready to work out or do lots of housework. He
found the look fascinating. The sword broke his concentration.
“Are we ready to practice with the
sword and body?”
Alex nodded and the realized that
the sword might not be able to see him. “Uh...sure. Let’s go.”
He picked up the sword and
scabbard and headed through the house. It was still kind of messy but he and
his father didn’t really mind. The dishes were mostly clean and their clothes
were washed when needed, so there really was no problem with the clutter. Alex
almost felt a little embarrassed but that passed.
The backyard was a well mowed area
with a pool and a good sized lawn. There were also the remnants of a garden.
The landscape people who watered and mowed things did a good job.
Alex laid the scabbard on a small
outdoor table and stepped barefoot onto the grass. It felt cool and relaxing
under his new feet. The sword spoke to him, “Why don’t you start by swinging
the sword around and getting a feel for how it moves. Just have fun and play a
while.”
Alex started out making circles in
the air with the sword and then moved into performing cuts and thrusts,
swinging the blade in huge arcs. It sped through the air. It felt like the
moves were effortless for him. He had never felt this good as he moved, ever.
He wasn’t breathing hard and his arms were not growing tired. In fact the
action felt liberating. He began to smile and the joy of movement overtook him.
After what seemed like awhile Alex
stopped and stood there. He wasn’t panting and there was only a light sheen of
sweat on his new body. The day was warm and there wasn’t a lake of sweat
coating his body. He was amazed. He was staring to like this new body.
The breeze tickled his arms and he
felt his hair move with the air. He closed his eyes and lost himself to the
sensations coming at him. His breathing deepened and slowed. As he just relaxed
and enjoyed this new collection on feelings he felt something just outside what
he could normally feel. It was like the current of a river or something that
seemed to flow between things. As he deepened his breathing and relaxed his
body more he could almost seem to touch the current, feel it move about him.
He could begin to sense the same
current pulse and move within the female body he now had. He relaxed into that
as well and could feel how that pulse was moving into the sword and out, almost
as if the sword was a part of the body. He moved the sword and could feel that
energy move with the blade. He could also feel the energy beginning to flow out
past the end of the blade. This energy was entrancing. It felt natural and
alive.
The sword’s voice interrupted his
train of thoughts. “What you are feeling is your Chi and the Chi around you. It
flows through all things. It is the energy that keeps things alive and in the
forms they wear. This is something we can use to do different things. With this
energy you can jump great distances, balance on top of plants, move objects or
people, heal yourself and others, fly and many other things. These things all
come with time. There more time you spend in this body the better your control
of Chi will become.”
“Fly? Really?” Alex was excited by
the prospect. “That would be so cool. I would be a superhero. Awesome.”
“Like I said it will take time.
Since you keep taking me out and putting me back into the box, the development
of these skills will take even longer. It is a matter of the body and the mind
getting used to the flow. Without the body it does not work.” The sword passed
the information calmly and without judgment. Alex thought it was a little odd.
“So, if I am a girl I can do all
these cool things. If not, I won’t?”
“That is the basics of it, yes.”
Alex sheathed the blade and sat
down to think. If he stayed in this body and became a girl he would be able to
do all sorts of cool things. But then he would cease to be Alex. But if he went
back to his life as Alex and left Destiny’s Wave he would miss out on all that
fun. According to the sword, he would still gain the skills if he flipped
flopped, it would just take longer. But what was longer to a sword?
Alex looked down at his body, at
his breasts and the swell of his hips. This was certainly a different body and
it would take time to get used to being shorter, lighter and more limber. He
was so used to being larger that he wasn’t sure he could deal with the change
full time. That and he would need new clothes.
He rubbed his breasts and his
sternum. The moving put a strain on body pasts that he was not used to. His
breasts hurt. “Man, I’m going to have to get a sports bra or something.”
“Pardon?” asked the sword.
“Nothing. I was talking to myself.
So, if I didn’t turn back, how long would it take to use the chi fully.”
“At your level of skill, about two
weeks.”
“And switching back and forth?”
“Possibly two months or more.”
Alex had his answer. If he was
patient he could get those abilities before the end of summer break. All he would
have to do is spend a lot of time changed and he would be able to do all sorts
of superhero type things. He was excited at the prospects.
He stood and stretched. He was
able to place his hands on the floor and bend back into a nice arch and then
into a handstand. He could really get used to being in this kind of shape.
He tried all sorts of weird Yoga
poses he had seen in books and his body could handle them easily. He then tried
some gymnastics stuff, like flips and rolls. The girls body just flipped
through those with ease. It was surely part of the basic information Destiny
had given him. If this was what he could do with just that basic information he
wondered what he would be able to do with training to enhance what he had. That
thought made him giggle with glee.
The sound made him stop cold. He
had just giggled and it freaked him out a little. Where had that sound come
from?
“Uhm...Destiny....what was that?”
“I would say you giggled. It
probably has to do with the fact that everything is female, including your chi.
That could make some differences.”
Alex shuddered. Maybe the cool
powers weren’t worth the whole being a girl thing. Another thought crossed his
mind, if he were a girl would that mean he did girl things like periods and
stuff? He had heard lots of jokes about that, like bleeding for five days and
not dying. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.
“What is it Alex?”
“Nothing. I’m just going to put
you up and do some house work. It’s getting late.”
Alex put up the sword and headed
inside. Once he shut the blade back in the box and returned to his body he
shuddered and headed into the shower. He felt dirty and weird. He liked how he
felt when transformed but he didn’t want to be a girl.
Alex tidied his room and got some
of the dishes done. He even tidied the living room, collecting the most obvious
trash and taking it out. He played video games to take his mind off of the
sword.
* * * * * *
That first set of realizations
creeped me out. I was happy being a boy. I liked standing to pee. I didn’t want
to be a girl. But what I could do in that body was amazing. And that wasn’t
even the cool stuff. I was just getting the basics.
After nearly a day of such free
and light movement it was tough getting used to being heavy and uncoordinated.
I almost hated it, except for the fact that this was me.
I didn’t want to use the sword
again for a while but I had enjoyed it so much that two days later I used it again,
all day practically. Sitting down to pee was weird but I got used to that. I
soon found myself using the sword almost every day. In a way it was like drugs.
I felt good in the lighter body, and could do things that were amazing.
* * * * * *
Alex opened the box and
transformed with Destiny’s Wave. He was going to get some clothes that were
easier to move in with his new body. He was getting tired of his smaller sweats
and his chest hurt after his breasts were bouncing around all day. He had figured
that some sort of bra would help.
Alex knew he would have to spend
his own money on this so he had saved up. The plan was to change, take the bus
to the strip mall with the Goodwill store and buy some clothes that would fit
and be easier to move in.
The trip to the store went by
easily enough. Alex figured he looked like a young Asian girl dressed in old
sweats, which was the case. No one looked twice at him...her. He sat quietly,
with a backpack slung over one shoulder, holding money and the like.
He got off at the stop and had no
problems at the Goodwill. He had managed to find a few sports bras that fit
him, some stretch pants and yoga pants that almost clung like a second skin,
panties, shoes and some t-shirts that would work. Alex felt good that he would
not have to wear the baggy clothes he had been making do with any longer.
After he made his purchases he
went into the bathroom at Mancino’s, a local hot sandwich and pizza place. It
was weird going into the girls bathroom. He was surprised to see that it was
just like a men’s room, only with stalls. Alex did like the way the sports bra
held his chest. Now maybe it would stop hurting. He put his sweats into the
bag, tied up his Keds and went to get some lunch.
Something felt wrong. Alex stopped
before he opened the door. Things felt... chaotic out there, wrong. He listened
and could hear raised voices barking angrily. She opened the door a crack and
looked out. There were two men out there with hoods on and holding guns. The
girl at the register looked really scared and was busily stuffing cash into a
to go bag. Alex could hide here until they were gone.
But that was wrong and this
robbery was wrong. That feeling filled him. He dropped his backpack and stepped
out of the bathroom. One of the gunmen turned to face him. “You, Girl,
Freeze!!”
Alex felt like he was sliding on
ice. He slid up alongside the robber and clotheslined him. His body flipped
through the air and slammed heavily into the ground. The other turned , trying
to draw a bead on Alex. With a twist Alex disarmed him and flipped him onto his
friend. They both lay there stunned and confused. Alex crouched in his female
body and looked at them. “Don’t move or I’ll have to hurt you.”
The people in the place cheered.
Alex blushed.
Soon the police came in with guns
drawn to pick up the crooks. Alex backed off of the two when they entered. One
of the officers came up to him. “Miss? Are you the one who stopped these two?”
“Yes Officer.” Alex thought
quickly. He didn’t want the cops to know his real name as that would cause too
many problems. He ran through the list of girls names from various anime series
he had seen. The problem was that they were all Japanese, not Chinese.
“Could we get a statement from
you?” The officer was taking out a pen and gesturing towards a table. Alex
moved to sit down.
“First things first, what’s your
name?”
Here it was, the moment of truth.
He remembered a name of a character from one of the Hong Kong comics he liked.
“My name is Chou Lee.”
The officer asked her how to spell
that and went on, unaware that Alex had lied. Alex meanwhile sighed with
relief. He might be able to pull this off.
“So why did you attack those two?
You could have been hurt or killed.”
“I wasn’t too worried. I have had
lots of Martial Arts training and it seemed like a valid time to use them. I
also figured that I shouldn’t hurt them too much. In case you needed them for
something.”
The cop chuckled at that. “Well,
try not to do that again. We get paid the big bucks to get shot at. Teenage
girls shouldn’t have to do our job for us. Its embarrassing.”
Alex blushed a little and felt
that weird vibe whenever this body did something girly. “Uh...okay.”
The questioning went along fine
for a while and then the police left. Alex went up to the counter to get some
lunch and found it was free of charge. This was definitely a weird day.
The bus ride home was uneventful.
Alex got home and hid the clothes so that his father wouldn’t be able to find
them. He was a little nervous as to what his dad would say to finding girls
clothes in his son’s room. He really didn’t want to have to go through that
much interrogation.
He picked up Destiny’s Wave and
told the sword about what had happened. Then he put the sword into the box. The
rush of the transformation shook him. Then the realization of what had happened
at lunch hit him. He had fought two guys with guns. He could have been hurt.
He...could have been killed. He started shaking uncontrollably as the fear that
had been delayed hit him. He started crying and curled up into a fetal
position. He fell asleep hiding under his sheets, his door locked.
* * * * * *
I mean everyone tells you that
they were just fine. I was too when the action took place. But I freaked out
when I got back to safety. I had never had a reaction like that. I had gotten
into fights as a kid but never on that sort of level. I was seriously scared.
When I woke the next day after
several nightmares of me getting shot, I spent over an hour trying to get myself
clean. I felt dirty inside and out. It also seemed as if no amount of scrubbing
would fix it.
I also spent that day holed up in
my room. I was afraid to go out, even downstairs to the kitchen. It was bad.
But by evening I had calmed down and had dinner. Dad was still doing his beer
and the game thing so again it was mostly me on my own. The food helped and my
Dad being home made me feel safer. Which when you think about it is rather
funny. I had all these swords in my room but I didn’t feel safe. Heh...
Though, about then things seemed
to get odder.
* * * * * *
Alex was in the back practicing
with Destiny’s Wave, leaping onto the roof and off. It was fun and made him
glad no one could see the show. He had just leapt down with a flip when he
heard some applause coming from the corner of his house. He spun and brought
the blade into a ready position.
At the corner stood this Asian
boy/girl. Alex couldn’t decide if it was a boy or a girl so stuck with both.
He/she was dressed in a way that was also androgynous. “Nicely done. Good form
by the way. Though with your reach you might want a different opening stance.”
Alex didn’t lower the blade or his
guard. “Who are you?”
“Allow me to introduce myself. My
name is Lan Caihe Ho. I felt the sword awaken again and came to check it out,
especially with it sleeping and waking in such an odd fashion.” S/He walked
closer, keeping her arms open. The flow of her energy was calm and deep, making
Alex aware of how much he had to learn. “By the way, Chou Lee, good choice.”
Alex blinked, “What?”
“The name you gave to the police?
When you stopped the robbery? Remember?” S/He had gotten closer and stopped,
looking perfectly calm with the sword aimed at her/his heart.
“Oh...yeah...how did you know?”
“My dear, I am an Immortal. When I
felt the blade awaken I left Penglai Shan to find out what was going on. The
blade was supposed to still be on the island.”
Alex blushed. “I didn’t steal it.
Honest.”
Lan Caihe Ho smiled, voice smooth
and genderless. “I know. I can also tell by the taste of your Chi that you are
male, except when you have the blade out. This is an interesting development.
So lets talk.”
Alex led him/her inside. They both
sat at the table in the kitchen. “Uh...want some tea?”
“Sure.”
Alex got out the mugs and tea
bags. He started heating the water. This Lan Caihe Ho was just sitting there
content to say nothing and wait for the tea. It was starting to unnerve Alex.
“Uh...so I bought this sword at a gun show from this old Asian guy. There were
also a set of beads, I think it was a necklace.”
“I see. Anything interesting about
the sale?”
“Now that you mention it there
was. I think the sword disappeared when he got out the box.”
“Actually that is probably true.
There was probably an illusion cast so someone who could feel the blade could
see it without waking the blade up. Rather tricky. I wonder who it was who sold
it to you? Master Lao?”
“You said you are Immortal?”
“Yes. I am a Taoist Immortal.”
“What is that?”
The laughter was unexpected. It
had a nice musical quality. “It would take too long to explain. Suffice it to
say I studied a long time and have never died. I live on an island no one else
can find and go out into the world and have fun.”
“Like a superhero?”
“Almost but entirely unlike that.
I and the others do things to keep the Balance, not to make one side stronger
than another. I am sure Destiny’s Wave told you about that. The Balance is much
more important than Good or Evil. Sometimes both need to be fought.”
“And I was chosen to do this?”
Another chuckle. “Not really. But
sure, why not? If I knew who gave you the sword I could tell you the answers. I
think you have been drafted into the fight.”
“Oh...” Alex felt a little down at
that. It had made him happy to think that he could be a superhero now he was
told that wasn’t really the plan.
“If you want to be a superhero,
that’s fine. Chou, to do that you need to become this you forever. I am not
sure the other you can keep up with the shocks of the change. Eventually the
Chi will spiral out of balance and you will die.”
“What?!” Alex stood up quickly,
the chair falling over.
“And there is also the fact that
the Demon Lord of the Hell of Fiery Immersion wants the sword destroyed. He has
been thwarted numerous times by its wielders. Add the fact that the Monkey
King wants to play with the wielder of the blade and the Tong of the Black
Madonna wants the blade for themsleves. So there is some real danger in owning
Destiny’s Wave. If you are not the full wielder of her, if and when they show
up, you might just die.” Lan Caihe Ho said this calmly and very straight
forward.
“I am not surprised the Sword
didn’t tell you. Most of these things she is unaware of, as she has been
sleeping and out of the world. I however am trying to help you. Either way,
things will follow the Tao.”
Alex started shaking a little.
Demons? Death? What?
“Chou, have a seat. I am sure I
got here before they did. I just needed you to understand the situation fully.
If this experience is only for play, you will die. If not, then I figure you
can live. If I take the sword, you’ll be fine. If not, then you will have to
deal with it. All of it.”
Alex collapsed into another chair.
“This is too much. I just thought I was buying a sword not getting involved in
something bizarre. What the hell am I going to do?”
“Simple. Close your eyes and think
about all of this. Then let it go. The answer will come to you in the span of
seven breaths.” Caihe imparted the advice with the same voice as everything
else.
* * * * * *
And so that is just what I did. I
took a deep breath and thought about all of this and then let it go. As I kept
breathing I recalled how good I felt that I had helped those people at
Mancino’s. I kept thinking about how I could help people. As I exhaled the
seventh breath I knew my old life was over.
* * * * * *
Alex exhaled and opened his eyes
slowly. “I think I want to keep the sword and do what I can to help others.
This sword lets me do that. I don’t really know what that means at the moment,
but that is what I want.”
Caihe smiled brightly. “Well good.
Now you just need to watch out for demons and assassins and you’ll be fine. You
need training. I will go and find someone to help you. Watch out for things.
And take care Chou. You have made a decision, be prepared to deal with the
consequences.”
Alex smiled weakly. “I’ll try.”
Caihe stood up smoothly, as
natural as breathing. “I will be in touch with you later. Some of my siblings
may show as well. Rest assured, we will only have your best interests and that
of the Balance at heart.”
With that the boy/girl left out
the back. Alex just sat there in shock.
When he looked up and saw the time
he cursed and ran up stairs. His dad would be home soon. He sheathed and stored
the blade in the carrying box. He was a little light headed but by the time he
had redressed he was fine. As he was coming downstairs he heard his dad come
in.
“Hey Alex, let’s get some Pizza!
The Yankees are playing tonight and we can watch them.”
Sounded good to Alex, so he called
out. “Great.”
Alex poured himself a coke and got
his dad a beer. When he took his seat his father was hanging up the phone. His
father sat in his easy chair and took the beer. “Thanks kid. Food should be
here in about forty-five.”
They watched the game happily.
Alex was getting into the swing of things, like he usually did when he actually
watched a game for more than twenty minutes. He wasn’t a fan of sports but they
were interesting to watch with his dad. His dad seemed to know every fact and
detail about every team in every sport. Alex had always been proud of the fact
that his dad was a sports guru.
Alex got up and headed towards the
bathroom. He heard the doorbell ring and his father getting up. It was sure to
be the pizza. When he heard the question in response to his fathers hello, he
knew it wasn’t. “Where are Chou and Destiny’s Wave?”
“What the hell? You have the wrong
address! Now go away.” Alex heard the door slam shut. “Fucking weirdoes.”
Alex’s heart was racing. That
hadn’t sounded like Caihe, or even something nice. Alex slowly started creeping
up the stairs. As he heard his father sit back down there was also the terrible
sound of the front door splintering. Alex started to run. His father began to
scream. He could smell something burning, cooking.
As he got to the door of his room
his father’s screams stopped suddenly, as if someone had flipped a switch. He
stopped and yelled out, “Dad!”
He heard footsteps heading his
way, heavy and filled with purpose. Alex grabbed the box and freed the blade.
With a jerk, the blade cleared the scabbard and the box fell to the floor. Her
body shuddered through the transformation. This one had not been as smooth as
the others. The door to her room snapped open, breaking the frame.
A large figure with black skin
stood there, lines of red ran through the skin. He was very obviously male and
very obviously naked. Heat poured off of him in waves, choking the air.
“Destiny’s Wave! It shall be mine!”
Alex slashed the blade back and
forth, keeping the thing off of her. It glowered at her. “You think you can
stop me, the Demon Lord of the Hell of Fiery Immersion? Foolish mortal, do you
think I fear a mere blade. Give me the sword or burn.”
The floor boards began to smolder
and smoke. Tongues of flame began to leap up from them, catching fire from the
heat of the Demon Lord. It took a step into the room and stepped on the box
with one foot, holding it in place. Alex cursed under his breath, he needed
that box to turn back. The flames were starting to grow and spread. The heat
was overwhelming and the smoke was making him cough. The smoke was hazing
everything.
“I tire of this, mortal. Destiny’s
Wave will be mine or I will make you suffer eternal torments. You will burn
until the universe fades.”
Alex grabbed his backpack with his
money and girl’s clothes, the scabbard in his other hand and threw himself out
the window. He could hear the thing laughing, mocking him. He had to get away.
“Alex, run. We can not fight this
thing and live. He is stronger than us at the moment.” Destiny’s Wave spurred Alex
into action.
Using the skills the sword had
taught him, Alex took great leaps, crossing thirty feet at a go. He hurried
away from his house, which was glowing orange behind him, smoke pouring blackly
out of it. He could still hear the laughter and the mocking sound of the Demon
Lord screaming, “Run child! It does not matter, I shall find you eventually!”
* * * * * *
I didn’t know what else to do so I
just ran. I had never done that with this body, but there didn’t seem to be
much of a limit. I ran quickly and for a long time. The sun was coming up when
I collapsed in some farmers field. I was spent, physically and emotionally.
After a few hours of troubled sleep on the ground I changed into more
comfortable clothes. I went through my money and found I had thirty-two dollars
and sixty-three cents. How was I going to live on that?
As I was shaking from that
realization, I realized that with the box gone I was stuck in this body,
forever. And my father was dead. And I was alone.
I cried for a few hours. I
realized that the demon was probably still after me so I stood up and ran on.
The next five days were like that, a haze of panic and running. When I got
tired I collapsed and slept fitfully until the fear would wake me.