AN: Almost 2500 words for this one, folks. Every five to ten chapters, after this one, will have the kitsune popping up. Towards the end of the arc, and the beginning of the next, will be a few chapters with just him before I continue with the story. Of course, that's the plan, but it may not work out that way. Oh, and the tag Mature has been added because the MC is starting to kill people. Just wait til Chapter 13. It's gonna be wonderful. *evil cackle*

As always, folk, if you liked it, hated it, or just have a few questions, let me know down below.

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The sun was just beginning to crest over the tops of the trees, when the kitsune paused in his story. ">," he whispered to those still in attendance, and made sure they were all comfortable in their sleep. Afterwards, he exited the room, and began to stretch his body. With a mighty yawn, he scratched an imaginary itch whilst walking towards one of the villages small farm fields.

"Time to see why the harvest was poorer this year," he muttered as he knelt and scooped up a bit of the dirt. "Hmm, they've always had a bountiful harvest year after year. Could it be that the land has become tired?" The poor harvest could be attributed to an exhausted land, but in this world, there was always a chance for it to be something else. ">," he intoned, and the silver mist that made up his energy began to swirl about him, stretching and hardening his body until he looked much like a standard oak tree.

"Now then, let us see what the land could tell me." The roots at the base of his tree body shot up, almost as high as his branches, then plummeted straight down into the ground. As a tree, he was able to detect, and even absorb, the nutrients of the land, but he felt only minute traces. With a heavy sigh, he dispelled his tree form, and stared at the land for a time.

With a thought, the kitsune's right arm tore open a space between worlds and pulled out a shining black orb. "When was the last time we journeyed together, my old friends," he muttered, as he willed his energy into the orb. The orb began to shine with a baleful, sickly green light, and the earth shuttered as skeletal hands erupted from the ground. One hundred pairs of hands began to crawl out of the earth, pushing their skeletal bodies up from the ground. There were fifty human shaped skeletons in attendance, which caused the kitsune to grin for a time, before his body began to stretch and warp into his oldest form. The six metre tall, four armed, poison covered skeleton.

"As the contract of old, we answer the call of HE who bears the Eye of Gol," all of the skeletons in attendance chanted, as they stared up at the large skeleton, "What is it that you wish of us?"

"To those of you who wish for rest, I grant it to you freely," the giant rumbled slowly, "For I have not called you here to fight for me once more. No, those of you who stand in attendance were summoned, not for your battle prowess, but for the skills you had in a life long past." The being pointed at the upturned land, "This land has been tilled and harvested from for many generations, but the land has become exhausted. To you, who have been farmers, I implore you to share your knowledge of how to reinvigorate the land, so that many more generations may cultivate and harvest more foods."

*****

The skeletons were now arguing with one another, once they were given their own wills and voices. They argued over what to put in the land, once they found out the winter cycle was coming. A handful wanted to sow the land with dead animals, and even went as far as killing a boar and bringing it to the field. Some wanted to use beans and potatoes, which has helped their land ages ago. The rest were slowly agreeing to using a special kind of bean, called a Legume, that could grow during the winter while healing the land. It had a funny name to it, too, called Hairy Vetch. The plant itself had an extensive root system. So much so, it would prevent most soil erosions, and heal the land, albeit slowly.

It was decided, then, that they would use this legume, and began to sow it carefully into every field they could find. With luck, and time, the village would be able to regain their fields by the next Spring cycle.

The sun of the world began to shine slightly above the trees, when the village began to awaken from last night's revelry. They began to converse nervously when they saw skeletal humans tilling the land, and sowing unknown seeds into it. A few even saw a giant skeleton for a few heartbeats, before it vanished into mist. Where once a giant stood, was now the golden kitsune many of the children called, "Fox King". Atop his head, however, was a little blue kitsune, who was wagging its little tail in a gleeful manner. The pair were chatting about something, as they made their way towards the villagers.

"Ageless," one of the tribal wolfman called out to the kitsune, who looked in their direction, "What is going on? Why are there skeletons here?"

They were nervous, and he could tell a few were frightened. Perhaps they believed these undead were slighted in some way, and came to exact revenge of some sort. Their "Fox King" did his best to explain, saying that they were once conscripted farmers, and knew how to heal the land better than most. A few were still skeptical, but the general consensus was relief. When asked where they came from, however, they were given a cryptic, "Secret."

His laughter echoed throughout their village, and he beckoned them all towards the larger building. "Come," he chuckled at their confused looks, "They will keep at it for a time, and you are all hungry. Besides, the new land I went to is one where the Beastman tribes had originated from." Over a dozen eyes, all from the various beastman tribes, glinted over this news. They had heard the legends and stories before, but not from the mouth of the one who saw it firsthand.

"Ah, but my tale of their tribes is not for little children," to which the children whined at this. "Do not fret, younglings," he quickly spoke, "I have someone else who will tell you a better tale." Silver mist began to gather next to him, forming an exact duplicate of the kitsune, but its fur was much duller.

"This is Story, and he will be telling you, children, a tale of dragons and adventure, kingdoms and their children. My words are far too dark for your ears, so Story will tell you its own tale."

The kitsune sighed heavily, as he led most of the adults into a large room with many chairs. They were all facing a much larger chair next to a cold fireplace, and he did bid them to sit. Once sitting, they were each given a plate of food. Some had meat and cheeses, while others had fruits, vegetables, and beans. They all began to eat softly, as the kitsune began his tale once more.

*****

Where was-, ah yes. The greedy king who could not stop touching things that weren't his.

Suffice to say, the old king had let go of my sword body, but not before one of my clawed fingers pierced his skull. He did try to "kill" me with a swipe of my sword self, but it passed harmlessly through. This was then when he shrieked loudly, and dropped it whilst clutching his head.

At the time, I didn't understand what had happened, but I would at a later date. See, when an incorporeal being touches a living organ of another, the organ could, essentially, shut down for an unknown period of time. My own touch, it seems, was enough to cause nerve pain in the veins within his head, as well as a stroke that soon followed. Oops.

So there was the king, lying next to my sword body, which was almost immediately picked up by Brutus, and had half his face drooping to the side. The half of his body that was directly below the drooping face had ceased to function properly. So much so, he shat and urinated in his pants. It was rather unpleasant and I was glad I didn't have any sensory organs, if I judged the general reaction correctly. Of course, after the surrounding people got over their initial shock, healers were called, and the five of us were ushered into another room.

The group that was a prelude to the idiot's harem went to one side of what appeared to be a waiting room, while I and Brutus stayed at the other. The room itself wasn't all the grand, when you compared it to the other where we were just summoned. Here, there was a floor covered rug, that was straw-yellow in colour. I wasn't able to say how soft it was, and couldn't see the other threes' reaction, but there were a few chairs situated against the walls. The chairs looked to be of whicker, but sturdier, and more polished. The ceiling and walls were bare, and had a violet tint to them. On the far side of the room were some curtains covering a large window, to which I had Brutus open it so that I may see outside.

The outside world outside was naught, but a large cliff overlooking a bustling stone city below. All of the building were made of stone, and if any of the populace took after my minion, then I'd even go as far as to say the people were, too. Speaking of which, I asked him if he had a wife and children. To which he said no, because his brother believed he would kill them. Odd. "Why does he think that?"

"Brother knows best," he replied in a monotone. I was not enjoying this, and asked where his brother might be. "Brother works with shadowmen," he replied diligently, but I could see him trying not to say any more. Unfortunately for Brutus, he became mine the moment he lifted my sword body.

"What are these 'shadowmen'," I asked as innocently as I could, knowing full well he would be unable to resist answering.

He tried to resist, but my charm spell still had a great hold over him. "They hide in the shadows, and hunt for coins."

"Ah, so they're thieves," I sighed heavily, then changed the subject with, "Does this world have Undead in it?" His head cocked to one side, as I did my best to explain what they were, but he only shook his head. I sighed once more, and had him move us towards the three. Just as we were about to try and have a chat, the doors opened, and in walks some blonde haired, blue eyed girl in a frilly dress.

"Which one of you hurt papa?!" Her voice was too high and squeaky for my non-existent ears, and I mentally covered them. The three from Japan pointed towards Brutus and I, to which the little girl's eyes widened. "Brutus! How could you hurt papa!"

His eyes widened as he shook his head vehemently, and pointed at my sword body. "Sword hurt the king," he rumbled slowly.

"Liar! How can a sword harm papa? Arrest Brutus!" She shouted at the guards behind her, which caused me to become quite annoyed.

">," I roared, and my sword body began to crack, then shatter as I transformed back into my skeletal body. A poisonous cloud could be seen behind my forever grinning teeth, as I stood in front of my new minion. "No one will touch him," I growled at the shocked and paling faces.

"Is that a demon?!" The annoying girl was shrieking up at my form, to which I stared down at her.

"Worse," my imaginary lips split into a feral grin. Before I tried to speak anymore, shouts of "Princess" were heard from down the hall. About a dozen, or so, guards were running this way, and I was becoming less annoyed, but more angered by the minute. These humans were annoying. So much so, they lit a fuse within my mind, that I may explode upon them.

When they saw my form, however, they all drew their weapons, and charged. Unfortunately for a few of them, I breathed out my toxic breath. Most saw this, and dodged out of the way. Those that did not, however, melted into poisonous pools of flesh and metal. The ground around them dripped with poison, which began to eat away at everything it touched.

I was laughing at the carnage before me, which only grew louder, more hauntingly insane. This was because more information flooded my mind in the form of new spells. Pointing at everyone, not including the harem that quivered in a corner, I intoned, ">>." A sickly form of my silver energy oozed out, and began to wrap around those that had not fled. This included the frilly thing with the insanely high, squeaky voice. Many tried to escape once it touched them, however, but could not move as the energy wrapped around their throats, forming a tight band of silver. These bands shined once, then sank into their flesh. They screamed and whimpered at the pain, but ultimately became limp.

"Rise," I commanded, and they did rise. "Kneel," and they did kneel before me. "Good. Good," I mumbled to myself like a maniac who had an experiment complete itself perfectly.

This caused me to snap myself awake, but only after I giggled at a few other spells. There were three others, besides my Thrall spell. One allowed me to bestow a permanent blessing of intellect to another by about fifty points, and I did so to Brutus. He became quiet for a time, then wanted to pay a visit to his brother for a friendly "chat". The second was 'Shield of Stone', which created a spiral of spinning stones that wrapped around the target. Well, to my mind, at least.

The final one was a bit of an oddity. It created a vial of viscous mana, and when consumed, it permanently increased a person's energy pool by about one hundred units. I kept that one to myself, as I didn't want random hunters popping up to try and make me produce them by the thousands. It probably wouldn't bother them even if I told them one vial cost me all of my energy. Which, by the by, must be at 100% in order to work.

Anyways, I had coughed a few times to try and get over the awkwardness of the situation, then asked the frilly thing of a girl, "Who are you, where are we, and why did your 'papa' summon us?"

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P.S. In case anyone is curious, the story was written in Times New Roman on Microsoft Word 2007, and will be forevermore. The site is set to Ariel as it's standard, and I dislike writing in it, except when I do these Author Notes.