Lunar Warriors: The Ascendant Gate

I was just remembering the good old days, when me and that Hana girl had kicked the shit out of a whole legion of aliens.

Funny how things can change. We used to be best friends, but you know, that whole thing with her brother and then my dad.... I guess it just kinda took some of the fun out of it.

I was thinking about that when I saw it. The gateway. I’d found it! My entire life’s purpose was leading up to this moment! Fucking finally!

The gateway glowed faintly in the distance, somewhere inside a crater. It wasn’t hard to find; there were a few radiation suits lying around next to the entrance. I got a little more excited and ran toward it, careful not to trip over any of the rocks lying around. I didn’t want to mess up my new suit.

Finally, I stood in front of the door, which looked like a big metal door with some weird glowing stuff on the sides of it. The letters said “This is not the end”, and below them there was a cartoon drawing of stupid looking people running from an alien invasion. I wondered who drew that ugly picture.

I pulled out my sword and stabbed at the door, but nothing happened. This was disappointing; I really wanted something exciting to happen now that I was here. Still, I wasn’t going to give up without trying everything first. Everything except for using my magic powers on it; Hana had made me promise not to use them anymore after the last time we fought aliens together. She said they were too powerful and would attract attention or something like that.

So yeah, no magic stuff this time!

I jumped up and down on top of it, but still nothing happened. Maybe if I kicked it?

Yeah! That did something! A big glowing portal appeared in front of me, and Hana came flying through at high speed! She crashed into me and we both fell over onto the ground. She quickly got back up again and started yelling at me for no reason at all - she tried to say something but she couldn’t get enough air in her lungs to talk properly so she just kept pointing at me while wheezing loudly instead. It was kind of funny, but also kinda annoying so I put my hand over my ear like people do when they wanna tell someone to shut up and then pointed at her to tell her that she should do exactly that right now because she was being really loud and annoying me with all her stupid noise so could she please stop that right now because otherwise I was gonna have to punch her or maybe even shove a sock in her mouth if she didn’t shut up soon?

She stopped talking immediately and stared at me with wide eyes while nodding frantically like an idiot or something before pointing at herself while asking: “Me? You want to put a sock in my mouth? What are you saying Takumi?! Why are you telling me this?! Why are you doing this?! Tell me why! Answer me!”

Grr... This girl just never learns does she?! Well fine then! If acting like an idiot is what will make her shut up then by god I will do exactly that!

*SLAP*

Her head whipped sideways from my slap and she stumbled backwards until she hit one of those small electric cars they use on Earth here on the Moon while asking: “Why did you do that? Why would you hit me? What did I do wrong? You used your magic power on me again didn’t you?! Answer me right now Takumi!!”

Annoying... Why does everyone keep doing this?! Using magic isn’t a crime or anything so why does everyone keep calling it names like that?! Besides... There is only one person who calls it magic power anyway. Hana herself only ever says “your powers” or whatever but everyone else calls them magic powers... And besides... It isn’t even MY fault if people get hurt when I use them! They always get hurt because they misunderstand how dangerous these things can be!! So stop blaming ME for hurting other people just because they don’t know how dangerous these powers are!!!! It isn’t MY fault!!! Stop blaming ME!!!

Hana gazed at me, tears welling in her eyes. There was a deep silence that followed, only broken by the distant sound of wind whistling through the lunar landscape. I could see the confusion and hurt etched across her face, and a pang of guilt shot through me. Maybe I had gone too far this time.

"I...I'm sorry, Hana," I muttered, my voice barely a whisper. "I didn't mean to hit you. I just...I don't know what got into me." My hand trembled as I reached out to touch her, but she flinched away, her eyes now filled with a mixture of fear and mistrust.

"That's what you always say, Takumi," she replied, her voice soft yet heavy with disappointment. "Every time, you apologize and promise it won't happen again. But it always does. I can't keep putting myself in danger like this."

Her words struck me harder than any blow I had ever received. In that moment, I realized the gravity of my actions. I had let my anger consume me, pushing away the one person who had stood by my side through thick and thin. The portal, the gateway I had yearned for, suddenly seemed trivial in comparison to the bond I had forged with Hana.

"Hana, please," I pleaded, my voice filled with remorse. "I never meant to hurt you. I know I've made mistakes, but I can change. I want to change. I need you back in my life."

She hesitated, her eyes flickering uncertainly. "Takumi, it's not just about the physical harm anymore. It's about trust, about feeling safe. I can't keep wondering when your anger will flare up again."

A lump formed in my throat as I took a step closer to her. "I promise, Hana," I said, my voice filled with determination. "I will do whatever it takes to regain your trust. I'll get help if I need to, I'll make things right."

For a moment, Hana seemed to waver, her gaze shifting between me and the portal that still shimmered in the distance. I knew that this junction would determine the course our lives would take moving forward.

Then, with a sigh, she shook her head. "No, Takumi. I can't keep waiting for you to change while putting myself at risk. Our paths must diverge here."

I felt a dull ache in my chest, as though a fragment of my soul had been ripped away. But deep down, I knew that she was right. I had to confront the demons within myself before I could ever hope to confront the dangers lurking beyond that gateway.

As Hana turned to leave, tears streaming down her face, a sense of loss washed over me like a tidal wave. I couldn't hold her back, nor did I have the right to.

"I'm truly sorry, Hana," I called after her, my voice strained with emotion. "I will always cherish the memories we shared."

She didn't look back as she disappeared into the distance, swallowed by the vast expanse of the lunar landscape. And just like that, Hana became a mere silhouette in my past, leaving behind an emptiness that would linger, an unwavering reminder of my own flaws.

I stood there for what felt like an eternity, staring at the gateway that seemed to mock me with its elusive promises of adventure. But as the winds howled and the darkness deepened, I made a decision. I stepped away from the portal, leaving it behind along with the fantasy it enticed me with. For now, my journey lay not beyond this realm, but within my own heart and mind.

With a heavy heart, I turned my back on the gateway that once symbolized my purpose. I knew it was time to confront the darkness within myself before I could ever hope to face the challenges that awaited me in the great unknown. And maybe, just maybe, one day I would find my way back to Hana, not as a flawed individual, but as someone who had truly changed.

As I walked away, the shadows of the lunar landscape stretched out before me, a reflection of the inner demons I now faced. The road ahead was treacherous, but I was determined to forge a new path, one that would eventually lead me to redemption and the chance to mend the bonds I had broken. Only time would tell if I could truly become the person I aspired to be.

But for now, I would embrace the journey, knowing that sometimes, the most vital battles were fought within ourselves. And there, amidst the solitude of the moon, I vowed to find my way back to the light, to find a way to bring back the laughter and the camaraderie we had once shared.