Island Valley of Peace

[Ichimonji]

Valley of Peace #59
@Sea​

The Great Vault
The group looked in awe as Master Oogway appeared in spirit form. With the Spirit World ajar because of the clash between Kai and Akira, there was a brief moment of passage. Twilight’s Edge’s special ability to touch souls, also allowed it to sever the lines between the world of the living and the dead Master Oogway would use this brief moment to give Kai his peace. Master Oogway would use this brief moment to address Akira. It had become painfully obvious the old tortoise purposely left Akira in the dark when they met at the lighthouse. Too much information Akira was not receptive enough to accept. That was no longer the case.

The truth came. Master Oogway started with the most important question first.

“Why me?”

[Master Oogway] "“It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.”​

​

[Master Oogway] “You grew up to be the only one who has been able to wield both Apprentices, both swords of legend. That is why.”​

The tortoise spoke gently, yet deep. There was more to his words than he said. As if the tortoise knew Akira was an orphan. Not what he was born but what he can become. What’s more, Oogway reference him as the only one who could wield both swords. In so, implying Akira was not an Apprentice, as so many implied. If the boy would think back, when Oogway spoke to Akira and mentioned apprentice, he was holding Muramasa.

​

[Master Oogway] “You’ve felt it all along, haven’t you son? The Apprentices are the souls in the swords themselves. Yugure and Yoake.”​

​

Yoake, literally meaning “Dawn” in Japanese. A stark contrast to Yugure, literally meaning “Twilight’ in Japanese. A revelation that forced the onlookers, even Master Shifu, to whisper among themselves. In Valley of Peace, the story of the apprentices had evolved into mythology over the years - it’s no wonder it was a skewed story from the truth. Perhaps there was a reason for the mishaps, as if they themselves were part of the prophecy, Liller Kai before them.

“Tell me. What is the truth with Muramasa and Twilight’s Edge? Who are they?”

Master Oogway continued, now revealing what the Apprentices were. Words that would likely confirm what Akira felt all this time.

​

[Master Oogway] “A millennia ago, two spirits bore such will, they clung to the world, much like Kai-san. One with hate to watch the world burn. Another with peace to mend the world. Destined to clash until the end of time. They refused to pass. Unlike Kai-san, these two found a way to live once more.”​

​

[Master Shifu] “Reincarnation...!”​

​

[Master Oogway] “Verily. The land we stand was created from their clash. When I arrived to this land 800 years ago, the land itself had forged swords to house their souls. I trained with the swords, and they became my 'Apprentices'.”​

​

[Master Oogway] "Even the land could not hold them for long. The souls reincarnated once more. Both Yugure and Yoake were important figures in the Void Century. And so they clashed through the centuries, finding hosts to carry their wills."​

​

[Master Shifu] "The Prophecy. The boy will bring an end to their millennia of wanting."​

​

Master Oogway looked down at Akira and nodded lightly. Souls wanting. The ones in the Great Hall looked flabbergasted. Reincarnation. Two wills destined to clash. The Voice Century they called home. The swords of legend was forged by the land to house the spirits, like a child longing to be with their parents, their creator. Akira was the bridge that could stop a millennia of wanting.

Master Oogway had answered Akira's questions fully. Yet, many more remained. Master Oogway waited to answer the remaining questions.

 

[Sea]

VoP #60
@Ichimonji ​

Akira asked Oogway, questions that need to be answered – and Oogway would do so. Firstly, answering the more important question that Akira has posed – why him? But his question would go somewhat unanswered, in the sense of clarity. Oogway made is rather clear that while Akira is special – that he could wield both swords. Prompting memories of the recent battle to mind – both swords did not seem to battle against Akira, even Muramasa for all of her bloodlust did not strike Akira the same way as Twilight’s Edge and Muramasa did with Kai. However, this also meant that if he could wield both swords then perhaps he is not the one that was supposed to wield any of the swords within the prophecy. But perhaps Oogway may been referring to something else in relation that Shifu has similarly mentioned before.

Which soul to follow?

A choice within the prophecy perhaps? That whichever soul he followed, the other one would be within the hands of the Grim Reaper? The answer to the prophecy has muddled further with Oogway’s answers. The vast amount of information, are almost contradictory to each other from what others have told him. The boy quietly pondered, allowing Oogway to continue his words uninterrupted. Here, the answer to the truth of the swords were given – but the answer surprised the boy further. Reincarnation. Swords forged by the land. The truth of the apprentices were the souls themselves, and they have been clashing since the start of time till the end of time, and they would continue – searching for hosts to carry their wills.

The boy continues to ponder about the question. He wasn’t the apprentice, that he would believe so. Otherwise he could only wield one of the sword. But a host made sense. Yet the souls that would reincarnate. The boy’s memories flashes back to the words from Twilight’s Edge, as well as his past. Is that it? The reincarnation of the soul is in the village? The boy wasn’t sure – in fact his head starts to hurt a little trying to remember his past.

“You said Kurai Takeuchi is an apprentice, is he the reincarnation of this Yoake then? What about the reincarnated Yugure? ….. She spoke to me with words that I feel like I’ve heard from my past. Something about not being the boy of prophecy, but a son.”

The boy tries to figure it out, his head is somewhat spinning – the exhaustion is building up rapidly. But the boy’s will to see everything through prevents him from falling unconscious. Son. Yugure. Is he related by blood? Otherwise there’s no particular reason for Twilight’s Edge to specifically chose him as her wielder. Is he overthinking this? That he is simply the host chosen by both blades to carry out their will?

“… What is even my relation to them? La Spada did not just coincidentally come and destroy my home and gave me Muramasa….”

The boy paused for a brief moment.

“Oogway… you are the only one that he did not spoke to me about any prophecy, everyone else – they spoke about it with different interpretations…”

“What is your prophecy?”

 

[Ichimonji]

Valley of Peace #60
@Sea
​

The Great Vault
The old tortoise had revealed the true identity of the Apprentices in the Prophecy: two souls locked in a never-ending clash, reborn by reincarnation. The swords were made "by the land" to house the souls. However, even they could not hold them forever. The two reincarnated and became driving forces n the Void Century. Now, they had found a new home: La Spada and the woman from the village. When Akira asked if they were reincarnations, Master Oogway would gently nod his head, confirming what Akira likely knew al this time. La Spada was Yoake and the woman from the village was Yugure. Or more specifically La Spada housed Yoake like she did many souls - something Akira knew, legion. Yet, this was one special. This was the one who bore the deep hate that made her mad.

Akira would ask about his past, if he bears connection to Yoake and Yugure. Master Oogway would pause, trying to decide how to answer the question. With a gentle smile, he spoke once more.

[Master Oogway] “No. Yoake did not coincidentally find you in that village. Coincidences are steps of fate, not accidents. You bear attunement to both of the Apprentices."​

[Master Oogway] "Hmm... I could tell you. But it's best if you remember."​

Master Oogway confirmed Akira bore semblance to both reincarnations, but did not reveal how. It was not the first time Master Oogway intentionally left something out. It was the same way at the Lighthouse. Yet, it all seemed to work. If Master Oogway would have told Akira the whole truth at the Lighthouse, not only would Akira not have believed it, but he would not have changed in his journey. Master Oogway explained this was similar. It'd be best if the young man remembered on his own time.

Akira then asked about Master Oogway's interpretation of the Prophecy. The elder obliged.

[Master Oogway] "The Yogen Yogen no Mi allowed me to see the future through prophecies. Not as simple as one would think. My dreams saw images of the future, not how they arrived there. Often I would have different images of the same time."​

[Master Oogway] "It is our choices that determine our future. The question then remains, what choices will you take? How will that affect the future of the world?"​

​

​

Master Oogway explained he also bore a Devil Fruit, one that allowed him to see the future. Yet, it was not like a recording. Oogway saw images, sometimes the same event with a different outcome. The journey, however, was left obscured. Thus was born the need for a prophecy and guidance to the desired future. Master Oogway continued and explained that prophecies, like rumors, get bent over time. It is human nature to construct what one does not know. And so, different interpretations and different theories arose. What Akira heard and saw… who knows what could be true or made up?

[Master Shifu] "The Hieroglyphs spread across the island. They are depictions of these dreams, aren't they, master?"​

​

[Master Oogway] "Correct."​

Master Oogway would smile gently. If Akira would think back, he'd remember that on his way towards the Great Prison, the tunnel had hieroglyphs emblazoned on stone. Hundreds of years old, coinciding with Master Oogway's younger days. These were the first clue in Akira's journey about how he fit into the Prophecies; it covered La Spada's landfall in the dojo, hundreds of years before it happened. From the assault on the dojo, to La Spada giving Akira the sword of legend, Masamune. This confirmation by Oogway would raise on important question: was the last part of those hieroglyphs something that already happened, or a possible outcome in the future?

Master Oogway would turn to Akira and speak, as if predicting Akira's next question.

[Master Oogway] "A future outcome, that is. The decision you will ultimately make. The question is: what does that image represent to you?"​

The images of that hieroglyphs would come back to the young boy as a flashback.

A door that bore paintings of the same two warriors with Muramasa and Twilight’s Edge. Yet, they were not fighting. The Twilight’s Edge holder held the Muramasa holder from behind with care. The holder of Muramasa, face shrouded, wept.

In eye level of the group was a hole that grew small and thin as it went inward, with odd markings all around it. There was a text inscribed in language they could read.

[Symbol] Grim Slayer, the prison’s power is yours to claim. Beyond the One gate lies the Spirit Realm. Over the One gate only the Goddess holds sway.​

 

[Sea]

VoP #61
@Ichimonji ​

Many questions are asked but the boy is starting to formulate a general opinion based on what he has heard. At least as far as he is concerned however all that remains is how he himself fits into all these. But he would find the answer to his question went unanswered as Oogway decidedly choose not to tell Akira – only that all that would happen wasn’t a coincidence but that the encounter with the Grim Reaper is a fated encounter eventually. Oogway also revealed at Akira seems to be uniquely capable of wielding both Apprentices, in the sense in which is accepted by both souls. However, this so far seems to be what in line with what the boy already knew just a fair bit of moment ago. Wanting to leave Akira to remember why he would be involved became a momentous task for the boy. After all the boy cannot remember what he doesn’t know.

But perhaps he would have to eventually figure it out, or when the time is right all would be revealed to it. Akira as much as he would find it frustrating to hidden from the truth – decided not to force Oogway, if the tortoise did not want to say it, nothing would be able to force it out of him and there’s no reason to antagonize the rest of the Minks around him. Yet however, Oogway would reveal his own prophecy, or rather how did his prophecy worked. The ability to see into the future – or rather images of the future, yet Oogway once again emphasis not on the result of the future but the journey towards it.

It became clear that Oogway despite looking into the future cares more of one’s journey than the foreseen results. Perhaps not surprising considering his ‘other half’, Kai focused on the results over the journey. But it is only when Shifu spoke about the hieroglyphs that Akira would recognize the answer to the strange yet overwhelmingly familiar scene in its depiction. Oogway saw the future that would take place, and perhaps those paintings he saw in the tunnel – perhaps Oogway created them in the past. But the ability to see the future did not come as a surprise, Akira himself hypothesize that the person whom made the paintings back in the tunnel may perhaps have the ability to look into the future, although he himself may not be sure of it. Such revelation however confirms that for him. But there is only one issue left, outside of the lack of explanation in regards to his relation with the swords – what about the final painting? Every other was as far as Akira recalls follows quite exactly how his past turns out, but the last depiction is something that Akira has no such knowledge of.

Oogway would speak once more, this time seemly predicting what Akira may want to question again, or perhaps already knowing what Akira’s thoughts are. Regardless, Oogway questioned Akira, asking what he thinks the image represent. The boy was taken aback by Oogway’s question given how he seem to know what Akira’s thoughts were, yet having the ability to see future – despite physically dead might have be that this has been predicted when he is alive. Either way, immediately contemplating on Oogway’s question, the depiction is indeed a mystery.

The first thought Akira: the conclusion of this spiritual war – Yugure and Yoake. If one were to consider this meaning then, as the chosen wielder of Yugure, which Akira would consider himself to be the one, to defeat La Spada. However, is this truly the answer? Is it that simple? He would not expect La Spada to wept and that Akira himself would never seem to cradle La Spada. However, the text inscribed with the painting also specifically said Grim Slayer. Perhaps the Grim and the Shadow are not who they are depicting, but rather Yugure and Yoake very specifically. But this particular depiction is also contradicting everything that is being said about both swords even by Oogway.

Akira very quietly mumbled his final thoughts, not even directly telling his answer to Oogway. Based on Oogway’s last statement, then just perhaps that’s what it meant, though Akira has no idea what his own answer even means for himself.

“….. A resolution…?”

But as far as the boy process all the information thrown at him, this is what he could believe. Without new information pertaining to his own past it might be impossible to confidently even gave an answer, in which all he could do is speculate.

 

[Ichimonji]

Valley of Peace #61
@Sea
​

The Great Vault
The old tortoise revealed who the Apprentices were and how the Prophecy came into place. The Prophecy were images of the future, and they hoped to guide Akira to bring peace. The final image, one were two were seen in embrace, would be the future they were hoping for. Yet, by equivalent, there was another future that brought much pain. Master Oogway showed that decisions could affect the future. Fate was to set in stone, but rather weaved through our actions. Akira would be left with as many questions as he came. For as Master Oogway noted, centuries of confusion led to many different theories. Who knew what was real? One thing was clear: the swords Akira held in his hands were very real.

Akira whispered the words "resolution". Master Oogway would respond in kind.

[Master Oogway] “Perhaps. That is for you to decide. Decide who shall you follow: Twilight's Edge love or Muramasa's hate?"​

[Master Shifu] “The time has come, young apprentice. Which soul will you follow?”

Words that Akira had heard before, now with added context. As those words came out of Oogway's mouth, the glowing yellow that came with him began to engulf him. Just like when Akira saw him in the lighthouse, Master Oogway was fading away. The time in this realm, borrowed, was over. Master Shifu, Tigress, the Furious Five, and Po, would start clamoring for him. Akira was not part of it, but there was a heartfelt reunion and a parting message from Oogway to them. A message to keep Valley of Peace safe, using the teachings of kung fu to spread understanding. The future is yours, decide it true. That last was for everyone.

As Master Oogway was fading away, he turned to Akira one last time.

[Master Oogway] "Remember her words. Follow your heart."​

​

HATE CANNOT DEFEAT LOVE!”

The chapter had closed. Valley of Peace was safe. The green men, the aura, had receded. The Spirit World was closed behind Master Oogway. Tai Lung was defeated, chained. Kai found peace, now together with Oogway in the Spirit World. The balance had been achieved. In the plight, Akira had changed much, and found about his past, about his future. May questions remained, but the swords would be there to guide him. Master Shifu would ask Akira to keep both Twilight's Edge and Muramasa: it was his right. Akira was showered with gratitude. He was offered to stay and celebrate with them. However, even Po could guess what his answer was. Much was thrown at him. Much he'd have to figure out. The Boy of Prophecy.

Assuming, but not deciding, Akira would walk out of the Temple, he'd find a tall figure resting with his/her back against the wall. A figure Akira would recognize - waiting for him.

Spoiler: IC Reveal

Leaning against the wall of the temple, just outside of the door, was a tall figure of immaculate beauty. White pristine garments adorned the pearly white frame of perfect proportions. Eyes, one of blue and one of red, glowed beneath the makeshift halo sitting on top of the soft long hair. Large wings white a snow, were birthed from the figure's back, gently rocking back and forth. The aura of the figure, once obscured and now shown, was gentle. Yet, a pure hate could be felt deep inside. Hate for those who God favored.

The figure addressed Akira, the voice breaking from man to woman.

[Gabriel] "It's been almost a decade since I brought Twilight's Edge here from that dojo, under La Spada's orders. Yet, not much has changed... except for you, Shadow."​

The highest ranking Plague. One who had previously felled La Spada when she tried to resurrect. One who bore as much disdain towards Spada as Akira. Enter the "Archangel" Gabriel.

Spoiler: Background Story

Name: Gabriel "The Archangel"
Race: Skypiean
Age: N/A
Height: 13 feet
Weight: 270kg

Position: Captain of the 2nd Fleet
Occupation: Quartermaster
Devil Fruit: N/A
Occupation: Chaplain
Laughing Style: Holylylylylyly

Story: The right hand of God. A half-breed angel-turned human. Gabriel bears jealousy towards humanity; the apple in God's eyes. Gabriel feels mankind is unworthy of God's love, and so Gabriel will make them worthy. Gabriel plans to bring Hell to Earth so that those people can rise up and be worthy of God's love. Gabriel smited La Spada once. Upon discovering La Spada's plan to have the Underworld rise, Gabriel has pled allegiance until the task is complete. She plans on smiting La Spada again after the Underworld’s rise.

Archangel Gabriel’s curse is the Death of the Firstborn, her goal to segregate those unworthy of their father’s, of God's, love.

 

[Sea]

VoP #62
@Ichimonji ​

Akira whispered his answer, yet it was not of confidence – that much is pretty obvious too many. But Oogway heard his words, making sure to let Akira knew that regardless of his answer ultimately it is his decision at the very end. And he should decide the path he should take, the soul that he would carry out their will. But Oogway’s time is running out, for as Oogway speak his last words, the tortoise starts to fade away in yellow light. To remember her words. To follow his heart. What does his heart tell him? The boy did not hesitate. The answer has been clear for a while now. The boy would pick up Muramasa.

As Akira would step out of the temple, this time no longer hidden within the outfit, meaning to put – the ‘Raven’ that would appear during the course of the war and in the prison is no longer here. His face hidden the whole time makes it easier to get away with it. Despite the gracious attempts to have Akira stay in the Valley, the boy decided to leave. But he told the Minks that they should pin all the terrible things that has happen to him, or rather the entity known as ‘Raven’. While the valley may not be his home – he owes it to those that lives in the Valley, his connections meant that he should protect the Valley, whether as the person of the prophecy, or as Takeuchi, it didn’t matter. His name can be used to whichever advantage the Minks could take to defend themselves.

As he is about to fully leave the Valley behind, a mysterious yet familiar entity stood before him - Gabriel. A man whom worked for La Spada, though at least at one point in time is instrumental in her downfall. Regardless of it, Gabriel seems to be waiting for the Shadow – after all there is no other reason for his appearance. And that must mean La Spada knows what the Shadow has been up to.

Gabriel would speak in a rather feminine voice, calling him that he has changed. But most importantly, he would mention that he brought Twilight’s Edge into the Valley. By this time, with enough information to work with. The boy immediately has the realization that Twilight’s Edge must have been there that day then. It is the missing piece of the puzzle in regards to his memories and the familiarity of the sword. Dojo could only mean the same exact orphanage that he learnt swordsmanship from. Yet such revelation surprised the boy only for a moment – he never knew a sword is hidden within the dojo. Not a word from his master regarding a sword either. It is not a matter of fuzzy memories, something of great importance would not be so easily forgotten if he knew.

Everything is connected to his past. Yet his past is missing a great deal of context. The boy’s surprised look is only expressed for a moment before the boy immediately switched into a more serious one. Gabriel is under La Spada, or at least that what Akira believes in. There’s no reason to ask anything, for anything would be relayed back to her. Instead, the boy handed over the sword to Gabriel, sheathed in a rotten wood like sheathe – it is Muramasa. It would be time for the blade to return to the master, or rather the bearer.

“She can have it back.”

 

[Ichimonji]

Valley of Peace #62
@Sea
​

The Temple Outskirts
The island had borne a culprit: Raven. That name was known by the wolves, who, in capture, would curse the name of the one they believed betrayed them. Their calls would become fables that would sweep the island. The Valley of Peace would find peace under that name. For the kung fu masters would clamor he would come back and bring war should conflict again arise. This fear kept danger at bay. What the citizens of Valley of Peace would not realize, in obtaining this balance brought by the Boy of Prophecy, would be that the real reason danger would stay away from Valley of Peace is that name was associated with the Spada Pirates. No one would dare anger the would-be Yonko.

Akira stepped into the world outside, figuratively and metaphorically. For in stepping outside, he ran into Gabriel. One of the last pieces of the puzzle, it was he who brought the sword from the village here a decade ago, under the orders of La Spada. Gabriel did not have to ask - Akira knew why he was there. To recover Muramasa, the blade who held a part of La Spada, or rather Yoake's, soul. Gabriel would take the blade, wrapping it in a special cloth adorned with sealing kanji. Akira was a man of little words.

Before he left, as Akira was walking away, Gabriel would leave him with her true intentions.

[Gabriel] "La Spada was weak that day. I've never seen her defeated since. She tried to kill you, but the blue prevented her. When I smited La Spada, she was similarly weak. At that time, she was lacking what makes her powerful: hate."​

The angel spoke freely, her back resting against the wall. She looked at the blade as she spoke, making it clear that the hate from the blade, from Yoake, was a source of power for La Spada. Akira would find out for himself. In the not too distance future, he'd hear La Spada utter the words: I. Am. Hate. Nothing can defeat hate. Yet, Akira may hear the words of Yugure, that love could defeat hate. A piece of the puzzle Akira did not know yet. However, scattered pieces came.

Another piece came with Gabriel's next words.

[Gabriel] "Those kung fu fools see it black and white. Not so. Hate is born from love. La Spada bears the Curse of Hatred. A strong love like no other birthed the strongest hate. Love for her sisters, long gone. Do you understand, boy? La Spada's power is born from hate. That is both her pain and her weakness."​

​

[Gabriel] "Heed these words, Shadow. Find a way to kill the hate in La Spada's soul, in her heart, and she will become weak. Weak as that day in the village. It is the only way."​

​

Gabriel the "Archangel" made a powerful statement. It was similar to the words that echoed in Akira's mind, those words spoken from the woman in her village. Yet, Akira was not ready. He would not remember the events, or her words. The puzzle was not complete. Without a way to understand what it all meant: could Akira really exploit the weakness Gabriel talked about? He would try to kill La Spada with hate, but he'd fail. To complete the puzzle and make the choice that would seal everyone's fate.

Whether now or later, Gabriel's words would deepen when matching it up with the hieroglyphs in the tunnel: the image of someone embracing La Spada, the Grim in tears. The word used to figuratively describe the Apprentices could come to mind: Lovers. It was clear Gabriel bore no allegiance to La Spada. Gabriel wished to smite La Spada. She would leave Akira with a nickname that would tie the words she spoke to the hieroglyphs.

The puzzle would await completion.

[Gabriel] "Smite her for all of us, Grim Slayer."​

​

 

[Sea]

VoP #63
@Ichimonji ​

The boy was about to walked away, after handing Muramasa to Gabriel in which they would use a strange-looking with a single kanji cloth to cover it. But Gabriel would suddenly speak, calling back to that day. Here, Gabriel did the unthinkable – they revealed something about La Spada, that on that day La Spada was weak, in which she lacks a key factor which made her strong; hate. They would continue on, this time speaking of a curse that birthed hatred. Her love for her family that cause her to bore a hatred that seemly could never be erased. That hate however is what Gabriel would describe as a double-edge sword, a weakness and a power that she wields.

Akira continued to be quiet, though him stopping to hear something that he would not expect from Gabriel has allowed him to understand La Spada further. Gabriel’s words aren’t coming from someone that is working for La Spada, there’s no reason for them to reveal such important details regarding Isis. Yet, they would specifically mention that the key to defeating La Spada is to defeat her weakness – her hatred. It would be the only way. Gabriel would finally leave Akira with final words.

Smite her for all of us, Grim Slayer.

The boy watched quietly turn his head to partially face Gabriel. Are they telling the truth? The boy wasn’t absolutely sure. The life of a Spada Pirates is full of betrayals; one would not so easily believe another. The boy’s face wasn’t one of caution like he did previously, his mask fell for a very short moment – a softer expression. It is an obvious sign of confusion that Akira wasn’t sure if he should believe. Turning his head back forward, the boy looked at Twilight’s Edge, now covered with a black bandage to hide the sword. For the blade held significance to the island, thus it would be better to keep the sword under wraps till he would leave the island. Closing his eyes for a moment, the boy’s thoughts came back to the words that came from Twilight’s Edge.

“H-H-H-He is not the b-b-b-boy of p-p-pprophecy. H-H-H-He is… my son.”

“FROM THIS DAY FORTH, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE HIM! I WILL MAKE SURE OF IT! HATE CANNOT DEFEAT LOVE!”

Opening his eyes, the boy starts to take the steps down the temple as the camera would only show the top level of the stairs, showing the slowly descending Akira out of view as the boy made his way to his new destination. Unbeknownst to him, the meaning of many, including Gabriel's words would come into play soon enough - he would eventually find himself at crossroads, a painful decision and consequence that he would come to bear the words he heard today to mind.