His body was rudely awakened as hands roughly shook him. His brain was slow to catch up, but the frantic swaying aroused Juke's senses enough to wake up. Blinking blurry eyes, his sister Amani's panic-stricken visage was all that he saw. Her foggy cries became excruciatingly loud as her fingers clawed into his body. Next was the alarming smell of smoke.

"Wake up, Juke. We have to go, now." Amani yelled out, and before he could respond, she was yanking him out of his bed and to his feet.

She didn't even let him put on his shoes as they ran out of his room and outside. The night's cool air chilled Juke's body to his core. He only wore his nightwear, which the ninja jammies blared his innocence. His naked feet nearly froze on the concrete walkway as his eyes took in the scene before him.

Metal rang through the air as his clan fought desperately. Bodies lay around, all part of his family, in pieces as the rest fought hard against the foe. The sound of the clan's flag flapping against the wind was loud over the battle. Juke's heart pounded against his ribcage as his eyes roamed around, then his breath hitched once he caught sight of his father and mother fighting on the battlefield.

"Father!" Juke cried loudly, yet it was cut short as Amani yanked his arm and ran, pulling him along with her.

"We have no time, Juke. I have to get you out of here," she stated, pulling him along.

Juke's feet stumbled as his small legs tried to keep up with his older sister's stride. The slapping of his bare feet echoed as his mind was racing with so many questions. "What's going on, Amani?" he asked, but she remained quiet.

They cut a corner, then another, before Amani skidded to a stop. Juke bumped into her strong back and let out a groan. Righting himself, he looked around to see what had stilled her, then noticed six tall men standing ahead. They were covered head to toe in black bodysuits. Only their black eyes were showing.

Amani widened her stance, standing tall over Juke to shield him. "Stay behind me," she told the boy.

Making gestures with her hands, she placed her thumb and forefinger onto her forehead, then hummed. The air around her began to shimmer as she focused on gathering her kana. Lifting one foot like a flamingo, her face remained calm as she channeled her energy. The masked men lunged at the girl. She opened her eyes, and it seemed to send out a pulse as a wave of light flew from her body. The stream of bright light shot out and knocked the men over the balcony.

Juke's eyes marveled for a second before he was once again pulled into a sprint. What was really going on? Why wouldn't big sister tell him? Where were the others? Thoughts raced through his brain at rapid speed. A few more men shot out, and this time Juke and Amani took them on together. Throwing their hands in intricate signs, with their limbs dancing in fluid motion, they sent out fire and light attacks to knock away the men.

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Amani glared down at one of the men she'd knocked down. Lifting her foot to stomp on his head, the man dissolved into an oily texture, spreading along the ground. Her brows knitted together as she looked around at the other bodies doing the same.

"They're all clones," she told Juke with a confused expression.

A searing pain spread across Juke's chest as he grabbed his head. Too much was happening. Too much. "What is going on, Amani? W-where is everyone? We have to get to father! We have to help them!" the boy gasped out as tears poured down his cheeks.

He jerked a little as Amani suddenly knelt before him, placing her hands on his shoulders. Her stern palms were heavy on him, but it was them trembling that made him stare into her eyes. His big sister was so strong that he'd never seen her cry, yet here she was. Her eyes wavered with smudged tear streaks gracing her sunken cheeks.

"You have to only worry about yourself from now on, Juke. You can't worry about nobody but yourself, you hear me." Her voice cracked as she tried to keep it together. The screams and warfare were loud around them, making her words impossible to comprehend.

Juke started shaking his head, not believing her or anything at this point. "What are you talking about? What does this mean, s-sis? I can't... I have to save them. I can help them." Juke's eyes were big and pleading as he stared conflicted at his big sister.

"No," Amani jerked his arms hard as she made him focus completely on her. "No, baby, we have to get you out of here. You have to go."

Juke cried as he squeezed his eyes shut, his head thrashing frantically as he shook it. It was up to him to protect his family, written in his destiny, so he couldn't just leave. Not like this. "I'm not a baby. I can't just run. I have to fight."

Amani's arms wrapped around him as she pulled him into a tight hug. "No matter what, baby brother, you have to survive. We'll always be with you, my little Boony."

With their forehead nestled together, the two embraced before a sudden presence had them looking behind Amani. At the end of the corridor, a lone man stood, menacingly looking at them with his bodysuit blocking his face from view. Two swords were in his hands.

"Stand back, Juke. When I engage, you run and don't stop running." Amani stood tall reaching for her sword as she tried to shield Juke, but the boy had different plans when he ran around the girl.

His big sis was so strong. He wanted to be strong to. He had to. His hands were already moving as he shouted, "I got this, sis. I can save the family." Juke's voice was proud, tears pouring down his cheeks as his hands danced in motion, with his body following.

"NO! Juke, wait—" His sister's cries fell on deaf ears as Juke finished the last of the forbidden art.

"Phoenix Arts Unlock: Eclipse!" he shouted.

Ba-boom... BOOM

A huge energy ring of intense flames burst from the small boy, shooting far out destroying everything and everyone it touched.

Crash

Splash!

Juke's body slammed through the waters below, the streams consuming him under. The water was icy cold, sending sharp pains pricking at his skin. He couldn't move a muscle as he sunk lower, watching as the buildings of his home were engulfed in red, fiery flames. The water pulling him deeper made the screams and explosions seem far in a distance, as the weight of the water seemed to crush around him. Did he do this? Was he the cause for all of this? It wasn't his fault... he didn't mean to.

Despair clouded his vision, darkening his sight as his heavy body sunk deeper. His tears blended in with the water as he choked and everything went black.