Okay, this is the very first chapter of Arrows of Light! WOOT ;) In this first chapter, the main character is six, but in the next one she'll be fifteen. I tried to picture how the battle between the shinigami and the Quincies would have happened, I hope I did an ok job. Remember, fanFICTION, people. Enjoy it!!

A Matter of Pride

The sweltering heaviness in the air increased. The dark clouds had begun to overtake the tall mountaintops south of Karakura, a somber canopy of billowing edges flecked with dazzling light.

The sun was sinking slowly, blood-red in a smoking haze. In the last glow of the amber light, straw sandals leapt lightly over rooftops, moving in a blur. The shinigami who had been sent on this dismal mission were grim, most not liking what they were sent to do, but had no choice. General Yamamoto's word was law.

Soon, they reached the bloodstained field where shinigami were calling out the names of their zanpakutou, driven to use their bankai so early on in battle. The shinigami had to fight their hardest, because the Quincies were all fighting…for their pride.

Shrieks echoed across the town, lives were shattered as the battle went on, flashes of light clashing with the darkening sky. The Quincies breathed, knowing that they had not longer to do so, for slowly but surely, their numbers were decreasing rapidly.

The Quincy race was condemned. Condemned for disrupting the balance of the universe, they were sentenced to death. Men, women, and children alike were killed, for putting the mortal world in danger by exterminating Hollows completely, leaving not a trace. Some attempted to hide their reitsu, while others, for whom this was extremely difficult to accomplish, fled. It was no use however, for their whereabouts were known to the Soul Society eventually, given away by the ones who they thought were their friends. A shadow of fear paralyzed all of those who had any hope left.

The last of the Quincy race, a group of three and fifty, fought on valiantly, bloodied fingers struggling to string their bows. Secretly, they looked at one another in desperation. They all knew their fate, that the end was near.

One little girl hid her face in her small hands, glistening tears silently rolling down her face. She was huddled at the base of a large boulder at the edge of the battlefield, knowing that her parents had told her to stay hidden. She knew that her mother and father were out there fighting for the sake of all Quincies. For her, their six year old daughter. She couldn't just stay away.

Suddenly, she screamed as the boulder behind her exploded. She was thrown forward by the impact as clods of dirt flew into the air. Wincing, she sat up and stared at the scene before her with piercing ice blue eyes.

All around her, people were running and shouting as blood splattered the grass. Confused yells and screams were heard above the din of arrows whistling through the air and the sickening thunks heard when some found their mark.

She sat there in horror because of what she beheld, hardly noticing when she was roughly kicked or stumbled over. Her innocence was stolen from her as she was exposed to the fact that the world could be such an unforgiving and cruel place.

Her breathing grew quicker as she rose and backed away slowly. Tears were flowing freely now from her intense eyes, though she barely noticed them. Where were her parents?

Her eyes burned as she squeezed them shut, and she gripped the Quincy charm on its thin bracelet as if it was a life preserver. Spells wove swiftly through one another in swirls of color in midair, the brilliant flash of Quincy arrows visible even behind her closed eyelids.

She rocked back and forth, hugging herself with her arms as an unnatural chill found her in the midst of that forsaken battlefield. She was alone.

Meanwhile, a taichou hastily gave orders to his division as they came to him in groups of three, filling them in on the current situation. There weren't many left that the shinigami had to defeat, but the ones who remained were very strong. He looked in dismay at the raging battle, wishing that they never would have had to resort to such measures. It was difficult enough for him to aid the Soul Society in the destruction of the Quincy race……

Suddenly, his dark eyes settled on a small girl who sat with her head buried in her arms a little away from the fighting. He felt a sudden surge of anger, which was most unlike him.

These people they were killing, they had families. And these families were being torn apart. This child, who had done nothing, was to die. But it was for the protection of the living world, right?

He had never felt so lost, so confused. Was this really the correct solution? Could the Soul Society have done something more?

But whether it had been the right choice or not, it was happening. And the Quincies would be obliterated.

He clenched the handle of his zanpakutou more tightly.

He wasn't cruel. He was actually looked upon as one of the most kind-hearted captains in the Soul Society. But he was a taichou, which meant that he had to follow the rules and set an example for his division.

Just then, the boulder behind the girl blew up, and she was thrown forward. When she rose, he watched as her face crumpled and her eyes grew bright with tears as she witnessed the chaos unfolding before her. His heart shattered when her head lowered and her eyes shut with despair.

He saw her anguish and hopelessness, and made a split-second decision. He ordered his assistant captain to take over for the time being, and then he took action.

Using shunpo, he materialized directly beside the broken girl, covering her with his shihakusho. He appeared again a ways down the mountain, far from the battle. The little girl was clinging to him as if her life depended on it, clenching his robes and shaking violently.

He kneeled down to her level, and lifted up her chin. With a small shock, he noticed her flashing ice blue eyes. He stared into those eyes, which were wide and fearful. The world was too cold.

"Will my mommy and daddy be all right?" she whispered. He marveled at the seriousness of the tone of her voice, not hysterical in the least.

"Run, child." he murmured gently. "Survive for your mother and father. You must continue living in their stead."

The girl turned away, tears rolling down her pale cheeks, until she angrily wiped them away.

"I will." she said forcefully, looking up at him once more. "I will. For my parents."

She stared hard at the face of her savior, as if memorizing his features. "A….arigatou." she gave him a shaky smile.

He brushed away the last of her tears with his thumbs, and ruffled her hair briefly. "Be strong…"

And he disappeared.

She stood stock-still for a moment, gazing at the place where he vanished as if caught in a spell. She turned, and took a deep breath when she realized that she'd been holding it in. Looking at the town ahead, she clenched her small fists and began making her way down the mountain.

She reached the base of the mountain by nightfall. She'd determinedly pressed on though she had been extremely weary. Her face stung, having been cut by brambles. Her legs had been whipped by the jagged branches which had been sticking out of the shrubs that she'd pushed out of her way. Her clothes were torn and dirty, and she ached all over.

Yet, she hardly noticed. She went on, fueled by the strength which was given to her by the mysterious person who had saved her life.

When she reached the town, she made herself stumble through the streets, half-asleep. Nobody was out, the streets were empty. The streetlights burned her eyes…she sat on the sidewalk to rest. Soon, she felt sleep overcoming her. She struggled to keep her eyes open, to no avail. She collapsed sideways on the concrete as her strength diminished, she neither knew nor cared. The last thing she heard through the haze, her head spinning, was a voice exclaiming something in surprise.

A blanket of darkness washed over her, and she felt no more.

-OOO-