I'm currently 6 chapters in, though I'm in the middle of working on chapter 7 right now. As time goes along, I'll continue to post the chapters. I'll have you know first, once WHA is finished, I plan to go back and revise the first 4 chapters or so. Here's chapter 1 and the prologue!
Spoiler: show
A 16 year old girl named Taylor who was put into an academy of "Weapon Holders" where she was brought to a large table with several weapons on top of it. Taylor chose her favorite weapon, the sword, and then started taking classes to learn how to use the Weapon.
Later, at night, she has a vision where her sword comes to her in a dream; however he appears in a humanoid form. He explains to her that his name is Scratch and that like every Weapon, in visions, dreams or through telekinesis the Weapons can speak to their Weapon Holders.
Taylor continues to learn the ways of the Weapons and duty of a Weapon Holder and she and Scratch form a closer bond with each other. Due to this close bond between she and Scratch, Taylor vows to bring Scratch outside of the vision world and make him enter the ordinary world as a human, like herself.
All of the other Weapon Holders and Weapons, including Scratch himself, scoff at her attempts to do so, but Taylor is convinced to bring Scratch into the real world and will go through every extent to do so.
Later, at night, she has a vision where her sword comes to her in a dream; however he appears in a humanoid form. He explains to her that his name is Scratch and that like every Weapon, in visions, dreams or through telekinesis the Weapons can speak to their Weapon Holders.
Taylor continues to learn the ways of the Weapons and duty of a Weapon Holder and she and Scratch form a closer bond with each other. Due to this close bond between she and Scratch, Taylor vows to bring Scratch outside of the vision world and make him enter the ordinary world as a human, like herself.
All of the other Weapon Holders and Weapons, including Scratch himself, scoff at her attempts to do so, but Taylor is convinced to bring Scratch into the real world and will go through every extent to do so.
Spoiler: show
Several teenage boys and girls arrived at the gates to what appeared to be a school of some kind.
After waiting patiently, the gates opened at last and they all stepped inside.
“Please make yourself feel at home, children. Now that you have set foot inside our grounds, you are forever bonded to our community.”
They all listened carefully while taking a good look around them.
“Here you will be trained to fight like you have never imagined you could; not even in your wildest of dreams, dear children.
This academy is beyond reality, boys and girls.”
A huge building stood in front of them.
Black in color with a mysterious feeling; the doors creaked open.
“This is the Weapon Holder Academy. Welcome to your new lives, children.”
There appeared to be a girl with black hair and yellow eyes waiting outside of two doors inside the academy. Sitting on a bench, she looked over to see someone coming in through the doors.
“Hello, Taylor.”
“Hi, Tyson…”
Tyson sighed, smiling. “Can’t you at least call me Uncle Tyson?”
“No, Tyson,” Taylor remarked.
“Snippy, snippy, that’s fine. See if I continue to check you into to this whacked out academy.”
Taylor didn’t respond.
“You know I’m kidding. Can you give me another rough draft on what this place is?”
“You’ve gotta be joking! You should know what you’re signing me up for!”
“I just wanna make sure, gosh!”
“Ugh, I’m gonna be trained to fight off spirits from what’s called the Vision World. The teachers are gonna have me choose a weapon and it’ll forever my Weapon.”
Tyson shook his head. He tried to figure out what she had meant.
He couldn’t do it. He had to ask.
“Uh, what do you mean by Weapon?”
“I know, it’s a lazy name. A Weapon is just the title of whatever weapon you pick out to fight the spirits with. The person who wields it is called a Weapon Holder.”
“I see, I see, I see. When did you start believing in all of this spirit ghost stuff anyways?”
Before anything could be said, a teacher with red hair and orangey brown eyes walked in.
“Sir Tyson, and his daughter, Taylor?”
“Almost; I’m Tyson and this is my niece, Taylor.”
“Yes. Please follow me this way, you two.”
Tyson and Taylor sat up. “Do you know what kind of Weapon you wanna pick?”
“Yeah, I’ve always dreamed of having a sword!”
“What kind?”
“A Katana; it just slices so smoothly!”
“Hey Taylor, you actual seem to be acting nice toward me, eh?”
Taylor grunted. “Don’t think this means anything…”
Before long, Taylor, Tyson and the teacher arrived in the Weapon room.
“Here we are, students. Please pick a weapon of any kind. We have quite the variety.”
“Go on, Taylor. Get that Katana before anyone else does!”
Tyson placed his hand on Taylor’s head and brushed it around.
“Okay…” Taylor swept his hand from her head and ran off to the giant table where all of the Weapons were placed on top of.
“Katana, Katana, Katana, Katana…”
Taylor circled around the table searching all over for her ideal sword.
Without realizing, she had suddenly banged into another student, appearing to have black hair and cat-green eyes.
“Hey, watch it!” said the student.
“Oh, excuse me. Might I ask your name?”
“My name’s Jeff.”
“I’m Taylor. Nice to meet you, Jeff.”
“What kinda weapon are you looking for, so I can be sure to take it before you can!”
“Oh, wanna try it?”
“I’m kidding ya, no matter what you choose I’ll have the better Weapon!”
“Is that a challenge?”
“It can be!”
A man and a woman seemed to watch the conversation for afar. They were Jeff’s parents.
“Boy, looks like Jeff has himself a rival already.”
“What’s ever gonna change that kid?” the mother sighed.
“I know just what weapon I want,” spoke another student with black hair and red eyes. He had brought his whole family along with him.
Seeing at the edge of the table was exactly what he was looking for.
“You’ve found what you were looking for, Dirk?” called the father.
“Precisely,” Dirk answered as he picked up the gun from the table.
“So what are you looking for, Taylor?” asked Jeff.
“A sword.”
“A sword? Well, what kind?”
“Katana; those kinds are so sharp. It’s definitely my kind of weapon.”
Taylor turned over to Jeff. “What weapon are you looking for?”
“Ehh, I’m just gonna go with the flow and pick whatever one I feel’s right for me.”
Taylor sort of scooted Jeff out of the way and began scanning the weapons on the table.
“Hey, what was that for? I was standing there, you know?”
“I know.”
“So what, you found your sword?”
“No, but I found you a good weapon.”
Jeff moved closer. “What is it?”
Taylor turned around to show Jeff she was holding a bow and arrow.
“Bow and arrow…?” Jeff thought about it.
Taylor handed the bow and arrow to Jeff. Jeff held the bow firmly and pretended to shoot out an arrow.
“Yeah, that’s totally cool!” Jeff concluded.
“Thanks, Taylor!”
Taylor rolled her eyes, smiling. “It’s no problem. Now, can I have your help finding a sword?”
“Alright, alright! Let’s do it!”
A while later after all of the students had finished choosing their Weapons, the class began.
There were three teachers, Grace, Chester and the one from earlier, Brad.
“Welcome class, to the first day if your new lives,” spoke Brad.
“Don’t worry. There’s no direct math or science or anything ordinary here,” Chester claimed.
“You’re learning how to fight with your Weapons, and form a closer bond with them,” explained Grace.
Taylor leaned forward on her desk, her sword lying in front of her.
She brushed her finger down the blade.
“May we start off with the question: why have you come here?”
Jeff instantly raised his hand. “I came here ‘cause I wanted to learn how to fight!”
“It makes me look cool, and people won’t pick on ya anymore!”
Chester nodded. “Interesting theory.”
“Does anyone else have a reason?”
“I simply want to be the greatest person ever to exist,” Dirk explained. “Learning how to fight with such a weapon is good for starters. From here I’ll shoot like a star, and shine.”
Grace applauded. “Great answer, Dirk.”
The teachers began to call out students’ names and ask for their meaning in being here.
Last in line was Taylor, who didn’t seem to be focused at all.
“Taylor, what’s your reason?”
Taylor seemed to be focusing on nothing but her sword. The pupil in her eyes shrunk and the color began to blur; this only happened when Taylor was deeply concentrating.
“Taylor…Taylor…Taylor…”
Taylor heard her voice being called out. It seemed like it was coming from the sword, almost.
“Taylor!” Brad had yelled, snapping Taylor out of this trance.
“Yes?”
“What it your reason in being here? What is you purpose?”
Taylor took another glance at the sword. She looked back up, but before she could answer the school bell rang.
“Brad,” Grace began, however Brad raised his index finger, signaling the “wait” sign.
“We can spend another minute listening to your answer, Taylor.”
“Um, I’ve always been interesting in spirits and ghosts and the horror elements. Fighting off spirits in actual life seemed like a good challenge for me.”
Brad stared at Taylor, then looking back at his fellow teachers.
Chester and Grace seemed to shake their heads. Brad sat up.
“Please students, have our guide direct you to you new rooms. Me and the other teachers need to talk about something.”
“Come! Come, students! Right this way, please!” a man directed the students.
Down a hall they went; where rows of doors continued on and on.
“These are all of our rooms?” asked Jeff.
“Indeed.”
“Which one’s mine?”
“Whichever one you please!”
Jeff shrugged. “That’s satisfying!”
The students began picking out rooms for themselves, though Taylor seemed to wait until everyone else was done so she’d be left with whatever one wasn’t taken.
“I guess this is mine then,” Taylor opened the door and walked inside.
She sat down on her new bed and placed her sword down next to her.
“Sword…did you speak to me earlier?”
Of course, Taylor received no response from a lifeless object.
“What was I thinking?” Taylor lied back in her sheets.
It seemed like she couldn’t keep her eyes open. Taylor drifted off into a sudden sleep.
“Teachers, we need to discuss this,” Brad began the conversation.
“What is ‘this’, Brad? You haven’t told us what the issue is,” Grace pointed out.
“The student, the girl, Taylor…”
“What about her?” Chester questioned.
Brad crossed his arms. “I think she already has contact with Scratch.”
“What? That’s impossible!”
“It’s only her first day being here, how can she already communicate with her Weapon? How did you find this out?”
Brad walked over to the chalk board, seemingly drawing out random lines, without meaning.
“It was just earlier during class. It was when I was asking for everyone’s purpose of coming here, when she didn’t seem to respond to me, I think she was hearing the voice of Scratch then.”
“How can this be?”
“No student of the Weapon Holder Academy was ever able to do this before.”
Brad put the chalk down. “I don’t get it either. She must be something special.”
“Taylor…Taylor…Taylor…”
The same calling of her name continued now that she drifted off into sleep.
Taylor seemed to awaken in a large room. Though it was anything but ordinary, everything was black, empty and dark.
“Hello? Is anyone here?” Taylor looked around.
“Where am I? Is this a dream?”
“Taylor…”
“Huh?”
Suddenly a young man stretched out of the nothingness behind her.
“Who are you?”
“You can call me Scratch, Weapon Holder.”
“So you know I’m a Weapon Holder; how?”
“Because I’m your Weapon.”
Taylor was confused, no doubt about it.
“What are you talking about? My Weapon’s a sword, not a human, of course!”
“You’re missing a lot of detail, girl.”
“Explain…”
The young man, Scratch, sighed.
“Every Weapon of a Weapon Holder has two forms: the weapon form and the human form. Naturally, in real life we’re all just swords or guns or weapons, of course. In this world, though, the Vision World, we can speak to our Weapon Holders in a human state.”
Things were becoming stranger as Scratch continued to tell the story to Taylor.
“I’m actually surprised at what’s happening right now.”
“Why is that?”
“Most Weapon Holders take at least a week to have contact with their Weapons. After the Weapon Holder chooses which ever weapon they please, the Weapons instantly try and contact with them by calling out their names.”
“What’s the catch?”
“I’m getting there. Earlier in your class you heard somebody calling out your name, didn’t you? That was me trying to communicate with you. I’m surprised you’re having this vision right now, as well, because it takes a week long length before these visions usually start happening for most Weapon Holders.”
Things were really starting to clear up.
Taylor began to understand the process.
“So I’m special, then?”
“I wouldn’t be too proud,” Scratch smiled. “This might be a bad thing.”
Taylor scoffed, though knowing what he said could be all too true.
“Can you tell me what your name is again?”
“Scratch.”
“Right, as you know already, I’m Taylor.”
“Nice to meet you, Taylor!”
Scratch stuck out his hand, Taylor as well, their hands shook.
Suddenly Taylor was back inside of her room in the WHA.
“Huh? Scratch? What just happened?”
Taylor looked around, noticing her sword was right next to her, she picked it up.
“Scratch? Are you in there?”
Taylor actually knocked on the blade. “Scratch?”
The sword did not respond. Taylor sat it back down next to her.
“Wow, that was a crazy dream…”
The next morning Taylor met up with Jeff.
“Oh hey, Taylor,” greeted Jeff. “Hey…”
Something seemed to be puzzling Taylor. As if she wanted to tell Jeff something, but couldn’t get the words out.
“What’s up? You’re acting funny.”
“Uh…”
Taylor thought about telling Jeff about her vision of Scratch.
She thought over it.
She and Jeff’s bond wasn’t close enough yet.
Jeff would never believe her.
“Oh it’s nothing. Never mind!”
“You get weirder by the minute. You’re sure you have nothing to say?”
Taylor nodded. “I’m sure.”
Jeff shrugged, then walking away.
Soon class started up again, and the training was going to begin today.
“Welcome to the second day of your new lives, children.”
“Today we’ll be headed out into the backyard for some physical training,” explained Chester.
The students and teachers sat up, on their way outside.
“You see these targets here? Anyone with a firing Weapon, please do try and aim for the target,” Brad explained.
“This should be a piece of cake!” Jeff said, stepping up front.
“How many of these targets do I have to hit?”
“Three would be enough, Jeff.”
Jeff steadied the placement of his hands. Grabbing an arrow, he placed it in the bow.
“Here we go!”
Jeff shot the arrow out at target; not hitting the center, but he was certainly close.
“Alright, was that good?”
“Wonderful, Jeff. Now try and hit the rest,” Grace offered.
Jeff continued, hitting the other two targets.
The students went along, and up next was Dirk.
“All I have to do is shoot three targets, and then I’ll be one step closer to becoming the greatest.”
Dirk shot his gun three times.
Hitting the bull’s three eyes, Dirk gained an applause from the teachers and students.
“Nice work, Dirk,” Taylor congratulated.
“Hmm? Who are you?” Dirk walked by, back into the crowd.
“Up next we have training dummies to be cut in half by anyone Weapon Holder who wields a close-ranged Weapon of the such.”
“So that includes me,” Taylor spoke to herself.
She looked down at her sword, still thinking about the vision.
Soon enough it was Taylor’s turn.
“Now Taylor, just cut the three dummies in half,” Brad told her, glancing back at Grace and Chester.
“We need to keep a close eye on her after what happened yesterday.”
“I know.”
Taylor inhaled, closing her eyes, she concentrated.
She kept her arms in a balanced position; ready to slice.
“Taylor, less fury! Do it smoothly!”
Taylor suddenly heard the words in her head, opening her eyes; she sliced the three dummies in half.
All evenly aligned, falling in the same direction, not a chip of metal was made on her sword.
“Good job, Taylor!” Brad nervously chuckled.
“Thank you!” Taylor said nervously, herself.
“I think I just heard Scratch’s voice again…”
The rest of the students went out with the practice.
Taylor seemed to have lost focus on the session. She was wondering about Scratch now.
“Scratch…”
School was over for the day and everyone returned to their rooms.
Taylor lied down in her bed silently, her sword positioned next to her door.
“Taylor…”
Hearing her voice being called out yet again, Taylor looked over at her Katana.
“Taylor, can you hear me? Yoo-hoo!”
“Scratch, is that you?”
“Ah, so you can hear me!”
Taylor walked over to her Weapon. “I thought we could only talk through the vision world.”
“You remember the voice earlier, during training?”
“That was you?”
“Yep, yours truly. Glad I gave you the advice, huh?”
“I guess it’s only natural I should be.”
“Huh, Weapons can also communicate through a telekinesis power, like I am right now. As said before, it takes longer for most Weapon Holders to get the hang of this kind of thing.”
“So what about Dirk?”
“What about him?”
“He hit all three of the targets spot on earlier; does that mean he has connection with his Weapon?”
“What? Nah, no way! He’s just probably already skilled with using a gun.”
Taylor tilted her head. “How do you know?”
“Me and all other Weapons have contact with each other like we do Weapon Holders. Once a Weapon Holder gets the hang of the way a Weapon works, we inform the other Weapons about it.”
“So the other Weapons know I can speak with you?”
Scratch would’ve nodded if he had a head or a neck.
“Yep! I bet they’re jealous of you, Taylor!” Scratch teased.
Taylor and Scratch chuckled.
Just then Taylor picked up her sword.
“Hey, do you know how weird it is when you pick me up without warning?”
“Well sorry, I didn’t know it bothered you.”
“Eh, it’s no problem.”
Taylor walked over to her bed, sat down, and laid Scratch on her lap.
“Can I ask you something, Scratch?”
“Yeah, what is it?”
“Why are you only humans in the Vision World?”
“Well, that’s a stupid question! Can you swing around a person and make them cut through a spirit?
No, you can’t. We have to be objects; that’s our reason for living.”
“I see. Why do you appear as humans in the Vision World, then?”
“Why? I guess just because it’s a more natural way of communication. Wouldn’t you prefer talking to a human in an all black room rather than a sword in an all black room?”
“Well, no need to be sarcastic. It was just a question.”
Scratch scoffed.
“Scratch-”
“Gosh, another question? What is it?”
“What do you do all by yourself in the Vision World?”
Scratch paused. He thought about it hard.
“Nothing, I guess…”
“You don’t do anything at all?”
“Nah, we just live our whole lives until the year comes where the Weapon Holders choose us.”
Taylor tilted her head. “Isn’t that boring?”
If Scratch had shoulders, he would’ve shrugged.
“Yeah, I guess. It’s nothing to feel sorry for, though. If it’s our purpose in life, I can’t really complain.”
Taylor placed Scratch aside next to her.
“Don’t you think you deserve better than that?”
“Better? What more could we ask for than being swung around and broken in half by random humans we just met a few days ago?”
Taylor laid back in her bed, Scratch in between her feet.
“It’s hard to tell when you’re being sarcastic.”
“I try…”
Silence swept across the room. Not one of the two said a word.
Suddenly a feeling came across Scratch.
“Uh-oh, that’s not good.”
“What is it, Scratch?” Taylor sat up.
“I think there’s a spirit around, Taylor.”
“One of the spirits we’re being trained to fight?”
“What other kind of spirit?!”
“Well, should I go to stop it?”
Scratch laughed. “You? Stop it? No way, you’re not strong enough to fight one of those yet.”
“Hey, you’re supposed to be on my side.”
“I’m just being honest,” admitted Scratch.
“Do you know what it’s doing?”
“Just roaming around the academy. It’s not doing any harm right now.”
“Shouldn’t the teachers be doing something about it, though?”
“They’re probably on their way. Don’t worry about it.”
Taylor laid back down.
Her hands and feet were restless.
“I don’t wanna wait for them, Scratch.”
“Excuse me?”
“There’s a spirit right next to me! This is a perfect opportunity to figure out what fighting one is like!”
Scratch shifted around slightly. “But you’re gonna get your butt whooped. That’s the whole thing; you’ve never fought a spirit before.”
“If the teachers are there, they can help me. It’ll be just another step of the training.”
“Today’s your second day! That stuff doesn’t come until weeks after-”
“Scratch, what could you do about it?
All I have to do is pick you up and you’re mine!”
Scratch remained silent. “I guess so…” he muttered out.
“Then let’s go!”
Taylor grabbed her sword from her bed and ran off to fight the spirit.
Arriving outside, she seen that the teachers, Jeff and Dirk were already out there.
“Hey Taylor, what are you doing here?” asked Jeff.
“I came to fight the spirit. What about you guys?”
“Same here.”
“Precisely the same situation for all of us,” Dirk stated.
The teachers looked back in frustration. “Another one?”
“Yes, it’s Taylor.”
“Taylor? She’s the one who has communication with her Weapon.”
Brad, Grace and Chester looked at Taylor, then down at her sword, Scratch.
“If she can hear him, then he can probably tell her what to do and what not to do in a battle. If she tried to find this spirit, maybe she wouldn’t do half bad.”
“Are you crazy?” said Brad. “We can’t risk any of the students getting hurt!”
Taylor looked at Jeff.
Jeff looked at Taylor.
Taylor looked at Dirk.
Dirk looked at Taylor.
It went back and forth. They were trying to figure out what the teachers were talking about.
“Shouldn’t they be taking this guy out?”
“Rather than arguing, I’d say.”
“This would be a good way to test if Taylor’s really as gifted as she seems to be,” stated Grace.
“Didn’t I say we can’t risk anything?”
“You do have a good point, Brad. Though I would like to see what she’s capable of…”
A flying fish-like spirit patiently waited until somebody attacked it.
Everyone was yet to, and so it continued to wait.
“I’m surprised the spirit hasn’t attacked yet,” said Jeff.
“Maybe it’s planning out a strategy,” assumed Taylor.
Dirk crossed his arms. “I thought spirits were supposed to be reckless.”
“So, teachers?”
“I don’t know…”
“The moment Taylor gets hurt, if she does, we’ll step in. I mean the nanosecond she’s injured, too. We won’t be playing around.”
Chester reassured his fellow teachers. They nodded.
“Taylor, come over here!”
Taylor pointed at herself. “Me?”
“Yes, please.”
“Oh, aren’t you so special, Taylor?” Jeff mocked, closing his eyes and crossing his arms.
Taylor ran over to the teachers. “What is it?”
“We want you to fight the spirit.”
Taylor glanced down at Scratch, and then she looked back up at the teachers.
“That’s all?”
“Indeed. Let’s consider this the next step of your training!”
Taylor quickly nodded, then running over to the spirit, now.
The spirit looked down at Taylor. It made a low ‘bass note’ sort of noise that rumbled through the ground.
“Hey, Taylor! Can you hear me?” Scratch called out from the sword.
“Scratch, is that you?”
“I figured you’d have recognized my voice by now. Yeah, it’s me!”
“What is it, then?”
“I’m gonna direct you through the steps.”
“Steps?” Taylor was confused by what Scratch was saying.
“Yeah, I’m sure this is some kind of test. I think the teachers think you have contact with me, so this is kinda their way of testing it.”
“What exactly do you mean?”
“The Weapons are supposed to guide their Weapon Holder in first few training sessions until they get the hang of it on their own. They’re probably using this spirit as a test for it. If you dodge or block and attack this thing perfectly, they’ll know it’s me telling you to do so.”
“Why don’t they just ask, and who says it has to be you telling me what to do?
I can’t be a skilled fighter beforehand?”
“When it comes to fighting a spirit things alter a little bit, ya know?”
“What’s the reason for not asking, then?”
“I don’t know everything, Taylor! Just do your job!” shouted Scratch.
Taylor sighed. “I’m waiting on you to show me the ropes.”
“Right…
Jump, Taylor, and then swing me.”
Taylor jumped in the air, higher than the average jump could ever reach. She then swung her sword across the spirit’s face, actually cutting one of its fish-like whiskers off.
“Whoa, how did I jump that high?” Taylor said as she landed.
“When a Weapon bonds with their Weapon Holder, it gives them this kind of strength. They merge, in a way, and it creates an ultimate power that improves the Weapon Holder’s all-around capabilities.”
Taylor smiled. “That’s pretty cool.”
“Ain’t it?” Scratch would’ve smiled too, if he had a face.
“Oh Taylor, the spirit’s coming for ya! Dodge to your right!”
The spirit just missed Taylor after she followed Scratch’s directions.
“Good, good, now try and jump on to its tail.”
“When’s a good timing?”
“Don’t count on me to do everything. Figure it out; there’s a good opening.”
Taylor looked closely at the movements of the spirit’s tail.
It waved up, then down, both at a steady pace.
The second its tail waved down, Taylor jumped on to it. “Okay, I’m on the tail.”
“Good job! Now run across its back until you get up to the face.”
Taylor did so.
Brad, Chester and Grace watched from below.
“She’s doing pretty well.”
“Odds are this is her Weapon directing her to do all of this,” implied Brad.
When Taylor reached the head of the spirit, it lifted itself back off of the ground.
“Whoa!”
“Keep your balance! Don’t fall off!”
“It’s kinda hard when you’re on top of the thing that’s swaying back and forth. It’s like being on a boat!”
“Just make sure I don’t slip outta your hands!”
Taylor kept her balance as the spirit began to fly around in circles, searching for the very girl who is right on top of it.
“What’s next?”
“Take ‘im out, Taylor! Stab it right through center!”
“You ready for the impact?”
“Ready!”
Taylor let out a loud grunt, then she fiercely stabbing her sword into the head of the spirit.
The spirit roared, sending an echo across the battleground.
It began to fade.
“Alright, you know what to do,” Scratch said.
“How do I jump down from here without injuring myself?”
“Huh? Are you kidding?”
“Before it fades on me, come on!”
“Don’t you remember the power we give each other? If together we were strong enough to take that thing out, then I’m sure we can land properly, too.”
Taylor looked down. Bracing herself for the landing, she jumped off as the last of the spirit faded out.
She landed perfectly.
“See? With our strengths collided, we’re invincible.”
Taylor smiled, chuckling slightly.
“I wonder…
How much stronger would we be fighting together…both as humans?”
“Hmm? Did you say something, Taylor?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
Jeff, Dirk and the teachers all ran over to Taylor.
“Are you alright, Taylor?” the teachers asked Taylor such questions nonstop.
“Hey, hey, I’m okay.”
The teachers let out sighs of relief. “That’s good.”
Jeff smiled widely, placing his hands on Taylor’s shoulders and shaking her around.
“Wow, that was amazing, Taylor! You kicked that spirit’s butt!”
“Well done, indeed, I must say.”
“Ah, it was nothing.”
Taylor looked down at Scratch, smiling happily. “Hey, what’re you looking at?” asked Scratch.
The next day in class, learning continued regularly.
There was one difference, though. All of the other students seemed to be whispering to each other about something.
They seemed to be staring at Taylor constantly.
“Are they looking at me for some reason I don’t know?” Taylor leaned forward to Scratch.
“Rumors were probably spread about you defeating the spirit last night.”
“You think that’s why?”
“Why else would anybody be looking at you?”
Taylor shrugged, continuing on with the class.
The school bell rang.
“Well, that’s it for today, students! Please return to your rooms and we’ll continue tomorrow.
Enjoy your new lives.”
Taylor pushed her chair back, halfway sitting up, she raised her hand.
This stopped all of the students. They all looked back at her.
“Yes, Taylor?” Brad said, hesitantly.
“I want to make an announcement.”
Brad, Grace and Chester shook their heads. They didn’t see a problem with it.
“Very well. Please step up to our desk.”
Taylor grabbed Scratch and walked over to the desk. She laid Scratch down on top of it.
“Uh-oh, this could get messy,” Scratch muttered to himself.
“Well, both students and teachers, there’s something important I’d like to say.”
Jeff and Dirk listened in closely.
“I’m some of you, if not all of you, heard about the fight between me and the spirit last night. If you didn’t know, yeah, it’s true. I defeated it. No, me and my Weapon, Scratch, defeated it.”
Scratch let out a small grunt.
“Scratch showed me how to fight the spirit and took me through the steps using his telekinesis powers, and that’s how we won. He told me that together we were an unstoppable team.”
Taylor inhaled sharply…then exhaled sharply.
Now was time for the big part of the announcement.
“After he told me that, it made me think of something. What would our teamwork be like if both me and Scratch were humans?”
The students shuffled, trying to piece together what Taylor was getting at.
Even Scratch was confused.
“Scratch exists as a human in the Vision World. As Weapon Holders, you should all know. In the real world Scratch is only a sword, and not a human, but…
I’m now making an oath to bring Scratch into the real world, in a human form!”
Taylor said it. She had now vowed to do so.
Scratch’s eyes would’ve widened if he had any.
Dirk stepped up. “What kind of claim is this? What you state to do is utterly impossible.”
“How so?” Taylor remarked.
“More than that it is their purpose to only be weapons in the real world, and only speak as humans in the Vision World for a more reasonable source; the Weapons don’t even have a choice.
You need a soul to live in the real world, but the Weapons don’t have souls.”
“I know that much, Dirk.”
“So you expect to bring a lifeless, soulless being out into the real world; how?”
“That’s the exciting part: finding a way!”
Taylor seemed dead-set on doing this for her Weapon.
Scratch was speechless. He could not put his thoughts into words, or even his thoughts into thoughts.
He wasn’t sure what to think.
After the discussion was over, all of the students went back to their rooms and continued about their day; including Taylor and Scratch.
“Ehh, Taylor?” Scratch called.
“Yeah?” Taylor sat up.
“There’s something I’d like to say, now.”
“What is it?”
Suddenly a strong urge to sleep fell over Taylor. Not being able to keep her eyes open, Taylor drifted off into sleep, waking up in the Vision World.
“Huh? Scratch, are you here?”
Scratch walked into sight. “Right behind ya.”
“Why did you bring me inside of here?”
Scratch pressed his two index fingers against each other, he groaned.
“It’s about the whole announcement thing you made earlier. I wanted to talk to you in a human form because of what your goal is, apparently.”
“Reasonable,” began Taylor. “Let’s get to it.”
“Right, so…”
“Do you really plan to that for me? You plan to find a way to bring me into the real world?”
Taylor tilted her head, raising an eyebrow.
“Would I have vowed to do it if I wasn’t going to?”
“I guess not, but why? We met two days ago, what could be so special about me?”
“You’re a friend. You supported me and practically taught me how to fight. Doing all of that in the course of 2 days proves that there’s something special between me and you.”
“You’re right, there. I do think he have a good bond, like all Weapons and Weapon Holders. What difference does it make that it’s me and you?”
Taylor walked closer to Scratch. “All Weapon Holders don’t have the same mindset as me. I think by doing this our bond will become even stronger, and we’ll become the perfect team. Invincible; just like you said.”
“Yeah, but-”
Taylor hugged Scratch. He was unable to finish his sentence, he was so confused and slightly embarrassed. “W-what are you…?”
“Let this be the official start of our goal to become the ultimate team. The day I bring you into the real world is when our goal will be accomplished,” Taylor smiled.
“Atta girl,” Scratch smiled as well, wrapping his arms around Taylor, like she is to him.
This was the start of a bond that will last forever.
After waiting patiently, the gates opened at last and they all stepped inside.
“Please make yourself feel at home, children. Now that you have set foot inside our grounds, you are forever bonded to our community.”
They all listened carefully while taking a good look around them.
“Here you will be trained to fight like you have never imagined you could; not even in your wildest of dreams, dear children.
This academy is beyond reality, boys and girls.”
A huge building stood in front of them.
Black in color with a mysterious feeling; the doors creaked open.
“This is the Weapon Holder Academy. Welcome to your new lives, children.”
There appeared to be a girl with black hair and yellow eyes waiting outside of two doors inside the academy. Sitting on a bench, she looked over to see someone coming in through the doors.
“Hello, Taylor.”
“Hi, Tyson…”
Tyson sighed, smiling. “Can’t you at least call me Uncle Tyson?”
“No, Tyson,” Taylor remarked.
“Snippy, snippy, that’s fine. See if I continue to check you into to this whacked out academy.”
Taylor didn’t respond.
“You know I’m kidding. Can you give me another rough draft on what this place is?”
“You’ve gotta be joking! You should know what you’re signing me up for!”
“I just wanna make sure, gosh!”
“Ugh, I’m gonna be trained to fight off spirits from what’s called the Vision World. The teachers are gonna have me choose a weapon and it’ll forever my Weapon.”
Tyson shook his head. He tried to figure out what she had meant.
He couldn’t do it. He had to ask.
“Uh, what do you mean by Weapon?”
“I know, it’s a lazy name. A Weapon is just the title of whatever weapon you pick out to fight the spirits with. The person who wields it is called a Weapon Holder.”
“I see, I see, I see. When did you start believing in all of this spirit ghost stuff anyways?”
Before anything could be said, a teacher with red hair and orangey brown eyes walked in.
“Sir Tyson, and his daughter, Taylor?”
“Almost; I’m Tyson and this is my niece, Taylor.”
“Yes. Please follow me this way, you two.”
Tyson and Taylor sat up. “Do you know what kind of Weapon you wanna pick?”
“Yeah, I’ve always dreamed of having a sword!”
“What kind?”
“A Katana; it just slices so smoothly!”
“Hey Taylor, you actual seem to be acting nice toward me, eh?”
Taylor grunted. “Don’t think this means anything…”
Before long, Taylor, Tyson and the teacher arrived in the Weapon room.
“Here we are, students. Please pick a weapon of any kind. We have quite the variety.”
“Go on, Taylor. Get that Katana before anyone else does!”
Tyson placed his hand on Taylor’s head and brushed it around.
“Okay…” Taylor swept his hand from her head and ran off to the giant table where all of the Weapons were placed on top of.
“Katana, Katana, Katana, Katana…”
Taylor circled around the table searching all over for her ideal sword.
Without realizing, she had suddenly banged into another student, appearing to have black hair and cat-green eyes.
“Hey, watch it!” said the student.
“Oh, excuse me. Might I ask your name?”
“My name’s Jeff.”
“I’m Taylor. Nice to meet you, Jeff.”
“What kinda weapon are you looking for, so I can be sure to take it before you can!”
“Oh, wanna try it?”
“I’m kidding ya, no matter what you choose I’ll have the better Weapon!”
“Is that a challenge?”
“It can be!”
A man and a woman seemed to watch the conversation for afar. They were Jeff’s parents.
“Boy, looks like Jeff has himself a rival already.”
“What’s ever gonna change that kid?” the mother sighed.
“I know just what weapon I want,” spoke another student with black hair and red eyes. He had brought his whole family along with him.
Seeing at the edge of the table was exactly what he was looking for.
“You’ve found what you were looking for, Dirk?” called the father.
“Precisely,” Dirk answered as he picked up the gun from the table.
“So what are you looking for, Taylor?” asked Jeff.
“A sword.”
“A sword? Well, what kind?”
“Katana; those kinds are so sharp. It’s definitely my kind of weapon.”
Taylor turned over to Jeff. “What weapon are you looking for?”
“Ehh, I’m just gonna go with the flow and pick whatever one I feel’s right for me.”
Taylor sort of scooted Jeff out of the way and began scanning the weapons on the table.
“Hey, what was that for? I was standing there, you know?”
“I know.”
“So what, you found your sword?”
“No, but I found you a good weapon.”
Jeff moved closer. “What is it?”
Taylor turned around to show Jeff she was holding a bow and arrow.
“Bow and arrow…?” Jeff thought about it.
Taylor handed the bow and arrow to Jeff. Jeff held the bow firmly and pretended to shoot out an arrow.
“Yeah, that’s totally cool!” Jeff concluded.
“Thanks, Taylor!”
Taylor rolled her eyes, smiling. “It’s no problem. Now, can I have your help finding a sword?”
“Alright, alright! Let’s do it!”
A while later after all of the students had finished choosing their Weapons, the class began.
There were three teachers, Grace, Chester and the one from earlier, Brad.
“Welcome class, to the first day if your new lives,” spoke Brad.
“Don’t worry. There’s no direct math or science or anything ordinary here,” Chester claimed.
“You’re learning how to fight with your Weapons, and form a closer bond with them,” explained Grace.
Taylor leaned forward on her desk, her sword lying in front of her.
She brushed her finger down the blade.
“May we start off with the question: why have you come here?”
Jeff instantly raised his hand. “I came here ‘cause I wanted to learn how to fight!”
“It makes me look cool, and people won’t pick on ya anymore!”
Chester nodded. “Interesting theory.”
“Does anyone else have a reason?”
“I simply want to be the greatest person ever to exist,” Dirk explained. “Learning how to fight with such a weapon is good for starters. From here I’ll shoot like a star, and shine.”
Grace applauded. “Great answer, Dirk.”
The teachers began to call out students’ names and ask for their meaning in being here.
Last in line was Taylor, who didn’t seem to be focused at all.
“Taylor, what’s your reason?”
Taylor seemed to be focusing on nothing but her sword. The pupil in her eyes shrunk and the color began to blur; this only happened when Taylor was deeply concentrating.
“Taylor…Taylor…Taylor…”
Taylor heard her voice being called out. It seemed like it was coming from the sword, almost.
“Taylor!” Brad had yelled, snapping Taylor out of this trance.
“Yes?”
“What it your reason in being here? What is you purpose?”
Taylor took another glance at the sword. She looked back up, but before she could answer the school bell rang.
“Brad,” Grace began, however Brad raised his index finger, signaling the “wait” sign.
“We can spend another minute listening to your answer, Taylor.”
“Um, I’ve always been interesting in spirits and ghosts and the horror elements. Fighting off spirits in actual life seemed like a good challenge for me.”
Brad stared at Taylor, then looking back at his fellow teachers.
Chester and Grace seemed to shake their heads. Brad sat up.
“Please students, have our guide direct you to you new rooms. Me and the other teachers need to talk about something.”
“Come! Come, students! Right this way, please!” a man directed the students.
Down a hall they went; where rows of doors continued on and on.
“These are all of our rooms?” asked Jeff.
“Indeed.”
“Which one’s mine?”
“Whichever one you please!”
Jeff shrugged. “That’s satisfying!”
The students began picking out rooms for themselves, though Taylor seemed to wait until everyone else was done so she’d be left with whatever one wasn’t taken.
“I guess this is mine then,” Taylor opened the door and walked inside.
She sat down on her new bed and placed her sword down next to her.
“Sword…did you speak to me earlier?”
Of course, Taylor received no response from a lifeless object.
“What was I thinking?” Taylor lied back in her sheets.
It seemed like she couldn’t keep her eyes open. Taylor drifted off into a sudden sleep.
“Teachers, we need to discuss this,” Brad began the conversation.
“What is ‘this’, Brad? You haven’t told us what the issue is,” Grace pointed out.
“The student, the girl, Taylor…”
“What about her?” Chester questioned.
Brad crossed his arms. “I think she already has contact with Scratch.”
“What? That’s impossible!”
“It’s only her first day being here, how can she already communicate with her Weapon? How did you find this out?”
Brad walked over to the chalk board, seemingly drawing out random lines, without meaning.
“It was just earlier during class. It was when I was asking for everyone’s purpose of coming here, when she didn’t seem to respond to me, I think she was hearing the voice of Scratch then.”
“How can this be?”
“No student of the Weapon Holder Academy was ever able to do this before.”
Brad put the chalk down. “I don’t get it either. She must be something special.”
“Taylor…Taylor…Taylor…”
The same calling of her name continued now that she drifted off into sleep.
Taylor seemed to awaken in a large room. Though it was anything but ordinary, everything was black, empty and dark.
“Hello? Is anyone here?” Taylor looked around.
“Where am I? Is this a dream?”
“Taylor…”
“Huh?”
Suddenly a young man stretched out of the nothingness behind her.
“Who are you?”
“You can call me Scratch, Weapon Holder.”
“So you know I’m a Weapon Holder; how?”
“Because I’m your Weapon.”
Taylor was confused, no doubt about it.
“What are you talking about? My Weapon’s a sword, not a human, of course!”
“You’re missing a lot of detail, girl.”
“Explain…”
The young man, Scratch, sighed.
“Every Weapon of a Weapon Holder has two forms: the weapon form and the human form. Naturally, in real life we’re all just swords or guns or weapons, of course. In this world, though, the Vision World, we can speak to our Weapon Holders in a human state.”
Things were becoming stranger as Scratch continued to tell the story to Taylor.
“I’m actually surprised at what’s happening right now.”
“Why is that?”
“Most Weapon Holders take at least a week to have contact with their Weapons. After the Weapon Holder chooses which ever weapon they please, the Weapons instantly try and contact with them by calling out their names.”
“What’s the catch?”
“I’m getting there. Earlier in your class you heard somebody calling out your name, didn’t you? That was me trying to communicate with you. I’m surprised you’re having this vision right now, as well, because it takes a week long length before these visions usually start happening for most Weapon Holders.”
Things were really starting to clear up.
Taylor began to understand the process.
“So I’m special, then?”
“I wouldn’t be too proud,” Scratch smiled. “This might be a bad thing.”
Taylor scoffed, though knowing what he said could be all too true.
“Can you tell me what your name is again?”
“Scratch.”
“Right, as you know already, I’m Taylor.”
“Nice to meet you, Taylor!”
Scratch stuck out his hand, Taylor as well, their hands shook.
Suddenly Taylor was back inside of her room in the WHA.
“Huh? Scratch? What just happened?”
Taylor looked around, noticing her sword was right next to her, she picked it up.
“Scratch? Are you in there?”
Taylor actually knocked on the blade. “Scratch?”
The sword did not respond. Taylor sat it back down next to her.
“Wow, that was a crazy dream…”
The next morning Taylor met up with Jeff.
“Oh hey, Taylor,” greeted Jeff. “Hey…”
Something seemed to be puzzling Taylor. As if she wanted to tell Jeff something, but couldn’t get the words out.
“What’s up? You’re acting funny.”
“Uh…”
Taylor thought about telling Jeff about her vision of Scratch.
She thought over it.
She and Jeff’s bond wasn’t close enough yet.
Jeff would never believe her.
“Oh it’s nothing. Never mind!”
“You get weirder by the minute. You’re sure you have nothing to say?”
Taylor nodded. “I’m sure.”
Jeff shrugged, then walking away.
Soon class started up again, and the training was going to begin today.
“Welcome to the second day of your new lives, children.”
“Today we’ll be headed out into the backyard for some physical training,” explained Chester.
The students and teachers sat up, on their way outside.
“You see these targets here? Anyone with a firing Weapon, please do try and aim for the target,” Brad explained.
“This should be a piece of cake!” Jeff said, stepping up front.
“How many of these targets do I have to hit?”
“Three would be enough, Jeff.”
Jeff steadied the placement of his hands. Grabbing an arrow, he placed it in the bow.
“Here we go!”
Jeff shot the arrow out at target; not hitting the center, but he was certainly close.
“Alright, was that good?”
“Wonderful, Jeff. Now try and hit the rest,” Grace offered.
Jeff continued, hitting the other two targets.
The students went along, and up next was Dirk.
“All I have to do is shoot three targets, and then I’ll be one step closer to becoming the greatest.”
Dirk shot his gun three times.
Hitting the bull’s three eyes, Dirk gained an applause from the teachers and students.
“Nice work, Dirk,” Taylor congratulated.
“Hmm? Who are you?” Dirk walked by, back into the crowd.
“Up next we have training dummies to be cut in half by anyone Weapon Holder who wields a close-ranged Weapon of the such.”
“So that includes me,” Taylor spoke to herself.
She looked down at her sword, still thinking about the vision.
Soon enough it was Taylor’s turn.
“Now Taylor, just cut the three dummies in half,” Brad told her, glancing back at Grace and Chester.
“We need to keep a close eye on her after what happened yesterday.”
“I know.”
Taylor inhaled, closing her eyes, she concentrated.
She kept her arms in a balanced position; ready to slice.
“Taylor, less fury! Do it smoothly!”
Taylor suddenly heard the words in her head, opening her eyes; she sliced the three dummies in half.
All evenly aligned, falling in the same direction, not a chip of metal was made on her sword.
“Good job, Taylor!” Brad nervously chuckled.
“Thank you!” Taylor said nervously, herself.
“I think I just heard Scratch’s voice again…”
The rest of the students went out with the practice.
Taylor seemed to have lost focus on the session. She was wondering about Scratch now.
“Scratch…”
School was over for the day and everyone returned to their rooms.
Taylor lied down in her bed silently, her sword positioned next to her door.
“Taylor…”
Hearing her voice being called out yet again, Taylor looked over at her Katana.
“Taylor, can you hear me? Yoo-hoo!”
“Scratch, is that you?”
“Ah, so you can hear me!”
Taylor walked over to her Weapon. “I thought we could only talk through the vision world.”
“You remember the voice earlier, during training?”
“That was you?”
“Yep, yours truly. Glad I gave you the advice, huh?”
“I guess it’s only natural I should be.”
“Huh, Weapons can also communicate through a telekinesis power, like I am right now. As said before, it takes longer for most Weapon Holders to get the hang of this kind of thing.”
“So what about Dirk?”
“What about him?”
“He hit all three of the targets spot on earlier; does that mean he has connection with his Weapon?”
“What? Nah, no way! He’s just probably already skilled with using a gun.”
Taylor tilted her head. “How do you know?”
“Me and all other Weapons have contact with each other like we do Weapon Holders. Once a Weapon Holder gets the hang of the way a Weapon works, we inform the other Weapons about it.”
“So the other Weapons know I can speak with you?”
Scratch would’ve nodded if he had a head or a neck.
“Yep! I bet they’re jealous of you, Taylor!” Scratch teased.
Taylor and Scratch chuckled.
Just then Taylor picked up her sword.
“Hey, do you know how weird it is when you pick me up without warning?”
“Well sorry, I didn’t know it bothered you.”
“Eh, it’s no problem.”
Taylor walked over to her bed, sat down, and laid Scratch on her lap.
“Can I ask you something, Scratch?”
“Yeah, what is it?”
“Why are you only humans in the Vision World?”
“Well, that’s a stupid question! Can you swing around a person and make them cut through a spirit?
No, you can’t. We have to be objects; that’s our reason for living.”
“I see. Why do you appear as humans in the Vision World, then?”
“Why? I guess just because it’s a more natural way of communication. Wouldn’t you prefer talking to a human in an all black room rather than a sword in an all black room?”
“Well, no need to be sarcastic. It was just a question.”
Scratch scoffed.
“Scratch-”
“Gosh, another question? What is it?”
“What do you do all by yourself in the Vision World?”
Scratch paused. He thought about it hard.
“Nothing, I guess…”
“You don’t do anything at all?”
“Nah, we just live our whole lives until the year comes where the Weapon Holders choose us.”
Taylor tilted her head. “Isn’t that boring?”
If Scratch had shoulders, he would’ve shrugged.
“Yeah, I guess. It’s nothing to feel sorry for, though. If it’s our purpose in life, I can’t really complain.”
Taylor placed Scratch aside next to her.
“Don’t you think you deserve better than that?”
“Better? What more could we ask for than being swung around and broken in half by random humans we just met a few days ago?”
Taylor laid back in her bed, Scratch in between her feet.
“It’s hard to tell when you’re being sarcastic.”
“I try…”
Silence swept across the room. Not one of the two said a word.
Suddenly a feeling came across Scratch.
“Uh-oh, that’s not good.”
“What is it, Scratch?” Taylor sat up.
“I think there’s a spirit around, Taylor.”
“One of the spirits we’re being trained to fight?”
“What other kind of spirit?!”
“Well, should I go to stop it?”
Scratch laughed. “You? Stop it? No way, you’re not strong enough to fight one of those yet.”
“Hey, you’re supposed to be on my side.”
“I’m just being honest,” admitted Scratch.
“Do you know what it’s doing?”
“Just roaming around the academy. It’s not doing any harm right now.”
“Shouldn’t the teachers be doing something about it, though?”
“They’re probably on their way. Don’t worry about it.”
Taylor laid back down.
Her hands and feet were restless.
“I don’t wanna wait for them, Scratch.”
“Excuse me?”
“There’s a spirit right next to me! This is a perfect opportunity to figure out what fighting one is like!”
Scratch shifted around slightly. “But you’re gonna get your butt whooped. That’s the whole thing; you’ve never fought a spirit before.”
“If the teachers are there, they can help me. It’ll be just another step of the training.”
“Today’s your second day! That stuff doesn’t come until weeks after-”
“Scratch, what could you do about it?
All I have to do is pick you up and you’re mine!”
Scratch remained silent. “I guess so…” he muttered out.
“Then let’s go!”
Taylor grabbed her sword from her bed and ran off to fight the spirit.
Arriving outside, she seen that the teachers, Jeff and Dirk were already out there.
“Hey Taylor, what are you doing here?” asked Jeff.
“I came to fight the spirit. What about you guys?”
“Same here.”
“Precisely the same situation for all of us,” Dirk stated.
The teachers looked back in frustration. “Another one?”
“Yes, it’s Taylor.”
“Taylor? She’s the one who has communication with her Weapon.”
Brad, Grace and Chester looked at Taylor, then down at her sword, Scratch.
“If she can hear him, then he can probably tell her what to do and what not to do in a battle. If she tried to find this spirit, maybe she wouldn’t do half bad.”
“Are you crazy?” said Brad. “We can’t risk any of the students getting hurt!”
Taylor looked at Jeff.
Jeff looked at Taylor.
Taylor looked at Dirk.
Dirk looked at Taylor.
It went back and forth. They were trying to figure out what the teachers were talking about.
“Shouldn’t they be taking this guy out?”
“Rather than arguing, I’d say.”
“This would be a good way to test if Taylor’s really as gifted as she seems to be,” stated Grace.
“Didn’t I say we can’t risk anything?”
“You do have a good point, Brad. Though I would like to see what she’s capable of…”
A flying fish-like spirit patiently waited until somebody attacked it.
Everyone was yet to, and so it continued to wait.
“I’m surprised the spirit hasn’t attacked yet,” said Jeff.
“Maybe it’s planning out a strategy,” assumed Taylor.
Dirk crossed his arms. “I thought spirits were supposed to be reckless.”
“So, teachers?”
“I don’t know…”
“The moment Taylor gets hurt, if she does, we’ll step in. I mean the nanosecond she’s injured, too. We won’t be playing around.”
Chester reassured his fellow teachers. They nodded.
“Taylor, come over here!”
Taylor pointed at herself. “Me?”
“Yes, please.”
“Oh, aren’t you so special, Taylor?” Jeff mocked, closing his eyes and crossing his arms.
Taylor ran over to the teachers. “What is it?”
“We want you to fight the spirit.”
Taylor glanced down at Scratch, and then she looked back up at the teachers.
“That’s all?”
“Indeed. Let’s consider this the next step of your training!”
Taylor quickly nodded, then running over to the spirit, now.
The spirit looked down at Taylor. It made a low ‘bass note’ sort of noise that rumbled through the ground.
“Hey, Taylor! Can you hear me?” Scratch called out from the sword.
“Scratch, is that you?”
“I figured you’d have recognized my voice by now. Yeah, it’s me!”
“What is it, then?”
“I’m gonna direct you through the steps.”
“Steps?” Taylor was confused by what Scratch was saying.
“Yeah, I’m sure this is some kind of test. I think the teachers think you have contact with me, so this is kinda their way of testing it.”
“What exactly do you mean?”
“The Weapons are supposed to guide their Weapon Holder in first few training sessions until they get the hang of it on their own. They’re probably using this spirit as a test for it. If you dodge or block and attack this thing perfectly, they’ll know it’s me telling you to do so.”
“Why don’t they just ask, and who says it has to be you telling me what to do?
I can’t be a skilled fighter beforehand?”
“When it comes to fighting a spirit things alter a little bit, ya know?”
“What’s the reason for not asking, then?”
“I don’t know everything, Taylor! Just do your job!” shouted Scratch.
Taylor sighed. “I’m waiting on you to show me the ropes.”
“Right…
Jump, Taylor, and then swing me.”
Taylor jumped in the air, higher than the average jump could ever reach. She then swung her sword across the spirit’s face, actually cutting one of its fish-like whiskers off.
“Whoa, how did I jump that high?” Taylor said as she landed.
“When a Weapon bonds with their Weapon Holder, it gives them this kind of strength. They merge, in a way, and it creates an ultimate power that improves the Weapon Holder’s all-around capabilities.”
Taylor smiled. “That’s pretty cool.”
“Ain’t it?” Scratch would’ve smiled too, if he had a face.
“Oh Taylor, the spirit’s coming for ya! Dodge to your right!”
The spirit just missed Taylor after she followed Scratch’s directions.
“Good, good, now try and jump on to its tail.”
“When’s a good timing?”
“Don’t count on me to do everything. Figure it out; there’s a good opening.”
Taylor looked closely at the movements of the spirit’s tail.
It waved up, then down, both at a steady pace.
The second its tail waved down, Taylor jumped on to it. “Okay, I’m on the tail.”
“Good job! Now run across its back until you get up to the face.”
Taylor did so.
Brad, Chester and Grace watched from below.
“She’s doing pretty well.”
“Odds are this is her Weapon directing her to do all of this,” implied Brad.
When Taylor reached the head of the spirit, it lifted itself back off of the ground.
“Whoa!”
“Keep your balance! Don’t fall off!”
“It’s kinda hard when you’re on top of the thing that’s swaying back and forth. It’s like being on a boat!”
“Just make sure I don’t slip outta your hands!”
Taylor kept her balance as the spirit began to fly around in circles, searching for the very girl who is right on top of it.
“What’s next?”
“Take ‘im out, Taylor! Stab it right through center!”
“You ready for the impact?”
“Ready!”
Taylor let out a loud grunt, then she fiercely stabbing her sword into the head of the spirit.
The spirit roared, sending an echo across the battleground.
It began to fade.
“Alright, you know what to do,” Scratch said.
“How do I jump down from here without injuring myself?”
“Huh? Are you kidding?”
“Before it fades on me, come on!”
“Don’t you remember the power we give each other? If together we were strong enough to take that thing out, then I’m sure we can land properly, too.”
Taylor looked down. Bracing herself for the landing, she jumped off as the last of the spirit faded out.
She landed perfectly.
“See? With our strengths collided, we’re invincible.”
Taylor smiled, chuckling slightly.
“I wonder…
How much stronger would we be fighting together…both as humans?”
“Hmm? Did you say something, Taylor?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
Jeff, Dirk and the teachers all ran over to Taylor.
“Are you alright, Taylor?” the teachers asked Taylor such questions nonstop.
“Hey, hey, I’m okay.”
The teachers let out sighs of relief. “That’s good.”
Jeff smiled widely, placing his hands on Taylor’s shoulders and shaking her around.
“Wow, that was amazing, Taylor! You kicked that spirit’s butt!”
“Well done, indeed, I must say.”
“Ah, it was nothing.”
Taylor looked down at Scratch, smiling happily. “Hey, what’re you looking at?” asked Scratch.
The next day in class, learning continued regularly.
There was one difference, though. All of the other students seemed to be whispering to each other about something.
They seemed to be staring at Taylor constantly.
“Are they looking at me for some reason I don’t know?” Taylor leaned forward to Scratch.
“Rumors were probably spread about you defeating the spirit last night.”
“You think that’s why?”
“Why else would anybody be looking at you?”
Taylor shrugged, continuing on with the class.
The school bell rang.
“Well, that’s it for today, students! Please return to your rooms and we’ll continue tomorrow.
Enjoy your new lives.”
Taylor pushed her chair back, halfway sitting up, she raised her hand.
This stopped all of the students. They all looked back at her.
“Yes, Taylor?” Brad said, hesitantly.
“I want to make an announcement.”
Brad, Grace and Chester shook their heads. They didn’t see a problem with it.
“Very well. Please step up to our desk.”
Taylor grabbed Scratch and walked over to the desk. She laid Scratch down on top of it.
“Uh-oh, this could get messy,” Scratch muttered to himself.
“Well, both students and teachers, there’s something important I’d like to say.”
Jeff and Dirk listened in closely.
“I’m some of you, if not all of you, heard about the fight between me and the spirit last night. If you didn’t know, yeah, it’s true. I defeated it. No, me and my Weapon, Scratch, defeated it.”
Scratch let out a small grunt.
“Scratch showed me how to fight the spirit and took me through the steps using his telekinesis powers, and that’s how we won. He told me that together we were an unstoppable team.”
Taylor inhaled sharply…then exhaled sharply.
Now was time for the big part of the announcement.
“After he told me that, it made me think of something. What would our teamwork be like if both me and Scratch were humans?”
The students shuffled, trying to piece together what Taylor was getting at.
Even Scratch was confused.
“Scratch exists as a human in the Vision World. As Weapon Holders, you should all know. In the real world Scratch is only a sword, and not a human, but…
I’m now making an oath to bring Scratch into the real world, in a human form!”
Taylor said it. She had now vowed to do so.
Scratch’s eyes would’ve widened if he had any.
Dirk stepped up. “What kind of claim is this? What you state to do is utterly impossible.”
“How so?” Taylor remarked.
“More than that it is their purpose to only be weapons in the real world, and only speak as humans in the Vision World for a more reasonable source; the Weapons don’t even have a choice.
You need a soul to live in the real world, but the Weapons don’t have souls.”
“I know that much, Dirk.”
“So you expect to bring a lifeless, soulless being out into the real world; how?”
“That’s the exciting part: finding a way!”
Taylor seemed dead-set on doing this for her Weapon.
Scratch was speechless. He could not put his thoughts into words, or even his thoughts into thoughts.
He wasn’t sure what to think.
After the discussion was over, all of the students went back to their rooms and continued about their day; including Taylor and Scratch.
“Ehh, Taylor?” Scratch called.
“Yeah?” Taylor sat up.
“There’s something I’d like to say, now.”
“What is it?”
Suddenly a strong urge to sleep fell over Taylor. Not being able to keep her eyes open, Taylor drifted off into sleep, waking up in the Vision World.
“Huh? Scratch, are you here?”
Scratch walked into sight. “Right behind ya.”
“Why did you bring me inside of here?”
Scratch pressed his two index fingers against each other, he groaned.
“It’s about the whole announcement thing you made earlier. I wanted to talk to you in a human form because of what your goal is, apparently.”
“Reasonable,” began Taylor. “Let’s get to it.”
“Right, so…”
“Do you really plan to that for me? You plan to find a way to bring me into the real world?”
Taylor tilted her head, raising an eyebrow.
“Would I have vowed to do it if I wasn’t going to?”
“I guess not, but why? We met two days ago, what could be so special about me?”
“You’re a friend. You supported me and practically taught me how to fight. Doing all of that in the course of 2 days proves that there’s something special between me and you.”
“You’re right, there. I do think he have a good bond, like all Weapons and Weapon Holders. What difference does it make that it’s me and you?”
Taylor walked closer to Scratch. “All Weapon Holders don’t have the same mindset as me. I think by doing this our bond will become even stronger, and we’ll become the perfect team. Invincible; just like you said.”
“Yeah, but-”
Taylor hugged Scratch. He was unable to finish his sentence, he was so confused and slightly embarrassed. “W-what are you…?”
“Let this be the official start of our goal to become the ultimate team. The day I bring you into the real world is when our goal will be accomplished,” Taylor smiled.
“Atta girl,” Scratch smiled as well, wrapping his arms around Taylor, like she is to him.
This was the start of a bond that will last forever.
I hope you liked it, it's been out for a while now. If there's anything you'd like to know about WHA, feel free to ask me all about it! Send me a PM, post below, or even ask me on my Q&A topic.
NOTE: I'm currently working on another idea called "AnimalHumans" so if you don't see me posting the new chapters of WHA soon, it's because I'm working on that other creation. Sincerely, your big brother Roku. ^^
