CHAPTER 1- THE NEW CHOSEN ONE: LEAD BY A DREAM

4,000 years ago

A woman with red fiery hair, gowned in a red horned spiky pauldrons and red chest plate with a red battle dress underneath it, was kneeling and panting as she tried to nurse her injuries. Around her were men and women wearing different kinds of armor and weapons about, and skeletons wearing battle gears in their person. Weapons and destruction lay about. The woman was looking at a corpse in front of her. It was a male wearing all purple armor and had strange wings on his back. The strangest thing was the purple eye just below his neck, glaring at her.

Her blue eyes glared back at the eye. "Gravelyn... is it over?" a man's voice was heard just beside her a few feet away. The man was lying on his back. His once well kept brown hair was now messy, unkempt, and drenched in blood... his blood. His once shining armor that brought hope to many was now dull as he felt his life slipping away.

Gravelyn tried not to look at his prone form. She could not believe that she, the Evil Empress of the Shadowscythe, could not look at the dying body of one Artix von Krieger. She was seeing her friends, allies, and soldiers all die to put an end on the purple man's ambition. She could not hold back the tears as everyone she knew and came to respect was all dying... even the heroes of lore who fought for either her or king Alteon.

'Maybe Noxus was right. Maybe I am too kind' she thought. She looked at her other side and found her weapon, her father's weapon. The blade used to erupt with red doom energy, but now it was as lifeless as a doll. Gravelyn was now crying as she saw that Artix was trying to stand up but fell back down as pain wrecked his body."Artix... I'm so sorry... I couldn't stop him without having you die" she tears up.

"Empress..." a voice called out to her. She looked behind and saw Dage the Evil holding his bleeding side as it was clear that the wound was fatal. Behind him was his former master Nulgath. It was surprising none them were trying to kill each other at the moment, though the injuries they sustained kind off made it impossible for them.

Nulgath was doing all he can to stand up, but his gigantic body fell with a thud face first and the multiple blades infused poisonous chaotic energy filled the back of the once powerful archfiend were exposed. The blades were deeply stabbed in his back. "It was a great... time... that I... have served...you and your father... Empress..." he crawled his massive bulk towards his empress. Gravelyn could only watch. She could feel the great general was using all his strength to make his way to her.

"From a warrior to another, I ask that I am never to be forgotten..." he stretched out his hand towards her, and Gravelyn slowly raised her hand to slowly touch his. But when they were only inches away, his hand dropped like a rock. Now there only lay the corpse of the Great Nulgath.

Dage didn't say anything. He looked as his former master died before his very eyes. True, both hated each other with every fibre of their very being, but they were still allies or at least for the empire, that now seem to be falling. "Nulgath... even you fell to this war..." Dage said as finally he fell to his knees and the pain surged throughout his body. Dage felt his very life force coming out. "So this is how it feels to die huh?" Dage started chuckling to himself. "Maybe Nulgath and I can continue our war in the next life" his final words left him as his body dropped dead beside a shocked Gravelyn.

Gravelyn was silent at seeing her two generals die. "Gravelyn..." Artix called out to her. Gravelyn looked at the gravely injured Artix. He was trying his best smiling at her, but Gravelyn can clearly see the anguish in his face. "Artix... don't talk... help's on the way. Please just don't strain yourself" she cried as Artix continued smiling through the pain.

"There... is nothing anyone can do for me now. I feel myself dying as of this moment. The darkness within me is living me as well. I can't see any spirit orbs now... but I can feel them around me... saying I'm going to join them... my only regret is that I never told her how I feel about her" Artix looked at the sky. He saw her face; her long brown hair, her beautiful smile, her blue eyes. "Robina... I'm so sorry I couldn't tell you, and Vayle, I hope you forgive me about Edgar" he said. Gravelyn's eyes widened. "No... Artix don't..." she begged as she crawled her way to him.

Artix just lied there with a smile on his face. Gravelyn shook the Undead Slayer, but there was no response. "No. Please no! Artix, I'll never forgive you! Artix! Damn it!" she shook him some more but his body remained still. The great Artix was now dead. Gravelyn was crying on his chest as she felt everyone she knew was now gone; her father Sepulchure, King Alteon, Nulgath, Dage, the Heroes, and now Artix. All of this happened because of him. Because Drakath wanting all of them to suffer. In a way, he won.

She didn't notice that behind her were the remaining Pactagonal Knights along with Cysero, Beleen, Warlic Robina, Rolith, Zhoom, and everyone else the Heroes brought in to help to end the chaotic war. Hell, even Zorbak was there. Everyone was just looking at the sad sight. Even Cysero was sad and crying at seeing his friends die. Robina saw Gravelyn crying on Artix. She quickly ran towards Gravelyn and kneeled beside her. She saw his dead smile on his face. She couldn't take it anymore and cried. She wailed at seeing the man who protected her and secretly admired her dead within a pool of his own blood.

Beleen and Valencia came to her side and comforted the young ranger. The sky darkened as clouds began to form and blocked the sun, and soon it began to rain. "The sky weep at such tragic losses" Warlic said. Galanoth the dragon slayer kneeled down and closed Artix's eyelids, "Goodbye old friend, may the afterlife be better than your life here"

As he finished, suddenly Drakath's body burst in a horde of flies (think of what happened to Hermes after Kratos killed him) everyone was shocked at what happened. "What... what just happened?" Beleen asked. "I don't know" Valencia said. "It doesn't matter. He'd dead" Gravelyn's cold voice rang out.

"The important thing is we bury everyone. They deserve an honorary burial for all they've done for lore in this day" Rolith called out and ordered everyone to take the bodies of everyone who fought in the war, even Dage and Nulgath. Robina tried to reach out to Artix's body but she was stopped by her female friends.

THE NEXT DAY

A memorial was made in Swordhaven. The heroes of the war against chaos were immortalized by the statues that stood near the castle, even Dage and Nulgath one. Everybody was there to pay their respects and thanks to every single hero who fought. In the center of all the statues was Artix. His statue was standing tall and proud holding his legendary battle axe that he lost because of Vordred.

"We are all here to say goodbye to the brave men and women who protected us against the forces of Chaos. They fought with everything they had in their final moments. If it wasn't for them, Drakath may have won and our world will be lifeless by now. We clerics have washed and purified their bodies to ensure chaos does not mock their sacrifice by using them" Cleric Dawn said as her fellow clerics held candles beside her.

Everybody was crying. Every family and friends all gave their offerings to each statue.

But the remaining heroes stood in front of Artix's statue. Zhoom offered his bow, Warlic offered one of his spell books, Cysero along with his wife Nursey offered his hammer, Rolith and his wife Alina offered Artix's very own holy wasabi, even Zorbak offered his Drakonan helm throne, but it was Robina who gave the biggest gift. She offered the golden dragon blade of her father, King Alteon. She cried on the feet of the statue and everyone could only frown with sadness. Galanoth placed the plaque bellow Artix's feet.

ARTIX

A GREAT WARRIOR

A TRUSTED ALLY

AND A FRIEND WHO WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN

Gravelyn stood in front of Dage's statue. It was a perfect replica of his likeness. The same could be said with Nulgath. She knew them both well ever since Nulgath was known as Miltonius. Her two generals were now gone, and she was all that remains of the Shadowscythe. As she was done paying her respects to the two, she came to Artix's friens.

She saw Robina cry the loudest. She pitied the girl. Artix last words were for her and Vayle. Speaking of the necromantress, where was she?

Gravelyn couldn't think of it. What will she do now? Her empire has fallen. She was all that was left. Her base would be empty, and even she wasn't good enough to raise an army of undead as many as her father did.

"You know, even if you're the last one doesn't mean it ends" a voice said behind her. It was Vayle.

"What are you doing here?" she asked the female necromancer. "I was hoping you would ask someone to rebuild your army" she answered. Gravelyn sighed as her head fell. "Vayle there is no point in it anymore" she said. Then she turned around and noticed that a leaf stayed in mid air, and everybody was as still as the statues around them. He looked back to Vayle, and she saw that she didn't even move. "What's going on?" she asked as everything was still.

"Oh don't tell me the once feared Empress Gravelyn is giving up?" a voice said from behind. She looked back and saw Iadoa, the chronomancer and former lord of Chaos, the man who taught the heroes of their true purpose.

"Come on Gravelyn. Galanoth was alone and yet he managed to make this world by slaying the dragon of time. Don't tell me you'll let him outdo you" he smiled, but frowned seeing Gravelyn had a look of defeat. "Ioda, there is no point in it. Shadowscythe has fallen, and I have lost everyone who fought for me and there is nothing I can for anymore" she said with a defeated tone.

Iadoa smiled again. "Oh how wrong you are child"

TODAY'S WORLD

A boy about six years old was walking around the halls of an orphanage. He had black spiky hair with red tips, deep ocean blue eyes, and had strange whisker marks on his cheeks. He wore a red shirt with white shorts. It was evening, around nine, and he was still up when most kids his age would be sleeping.

He was walking around until he bumped into one of the helpers. "Naruto, what have I told you about being awake this late?" the helper said in a commanding tone. Naruto just stared at the man before him. The man just sighed. Naruto wasn't ordinary not by a long shot. He wasn't shy, but he is as quiet as a mouse in a pillow factory. He never wanted attention as much as the other kids even if he looked unique amongst them. But there was something special about him.

Naruto was the son of Kushina Uzumaki and Minako Namikaze. Yes even if he is male, he was still special in all kunoichi world. But there was always this... dark aura around that seems to make him more distant and even dangerous. The caretaker just took Naruto's hand and led him to his room. Honestly, he couldn't sleep at night. Every night was so beautiful; the moon's glow, the stars shining, and the darkness. Who could sleep seeing such beauty?

Naruto was always fascinated about darkness. It was just so alluring. They finally reached his room. Naruto went to his bed reluctantly and shut his eyes. The caretaker left thinking he was fast asleep.

"Come on boy, I know you're not asleep" he heard a voice say and he opened his eyes, looking for the source. He looked around and nobody there. "Right here" it said again. Naruto realized the voice was closer than he thought. He looked under his sheets and found... a book. He turned on his lamp and observed the book more closely. Suddenly, the cover had eyes and a mouth form in it.

"Hello there" it greeted. Naruto let go of the book in shock and it fell on the floor with a thud. "OW! Hey what's the idea of dropping me!?" it shouted. "You...you can talk" Naruto was in disbelief. The book then floated in mid air coming face to face him. "Um, normally books don't have mouths let alone talk, nor can they float" he said. "Oh oops, I get that a lot" the book chuckled. "What are you? How did you get into my room?" the book just smiled at him.

"I did" another voice said from his left. He turned to that direction and saw Ioda, the chronomancer. "Hello child" he greeted Naruto with a friendly smile. "Who... who are you? How'd you get in here?" he asked the man. "Why of course an introduction is needed. Hello, my name is Iadoa, the chronomancer at you service" he bowed to Naruto.

"Why are you here?" he asked Iadoa. "Well first I would ask if you wish to learn from me and the book over there" he pointed to the book which smiled at Naruto.

"Learn what?"

"A lot of things my boy. I can help you become a strong and powerful warrior"

"That's impossible. Only kunoichis here hold power. I'm just a boy" Naruto said down casted with his head low. "Well if you go with us, it beats being an ordinary orphan whose potential will never come out and be wasted" the book said to Naruto which got him curios. "Me? Potential?" naruto pointed to himself which the book shook up and down as if saying yes. "Oh yes! I can see, feel, and taste all that power that's hiding inside you boy. With us, you can be as powerful as any... what do you call them... Kages?" the book said making Naruto's eyes widen. Him, stronger than a Kage?

"What he says is true my boy. We can help you realize your true destiny. What do you say?" Naruto looked at Iadoa then the book. He was conflicted by all of this. Before he can say anything, Iadoa beat him to it. "How about this, we'll show you what we can teach you. If you are interested, we'll gladly teach you all we can, but if you're not then we'll leave you alone and you can forget this ever happened, deal?" he offered. "Okay" Naruto said a bit unsure.

"Well, what are we waiting for!? Come on Iadoa! Let's go!" With that Iadoa used his time magic to teleport the three of them to Naruto's first step in realizing his destiny.

AND CUT! THIS IS MY NEW FIC, BY NIGHTMARES AROUND WINTER'S CHALLENGE. I noticed that there aren't many AQW and Naruto crossovers so I made one myself.