1 Birth of a Lion

As a kid, I was never the strongest. I was never really the fastest or the coolest. I was never really the one people could depend on because my powers were sealed by my parents. I am a hybrid, a mix between Spirit and Angel...but to others I am an ordinary human.

"Haha! Look at powerless Steven! We all have cool abilities to show off and he's just...there!" One kid laughed at me.

As a child I was bullied for bit having any abilities. The school I attended was called the Head of Heroes. This is the school young kids would go to up until the age of 13 to learn and train to be a hero. I was known as the Abnormality. The Useless One.

"Steven the Abnormality! Steven the Useless One!" The kids sang and laughed at me.

One day, I just had enough of it and ran away from school. I ran and ran...I cried to myself wondering why I had to have no powers to show off. I ran into the forest and kept running with no end goal of where I wanted to end up at. As I kept running I tripped and fell to the ground. I groaned, scraping my knee and elbow. I sat up and opened my eyes, looking around.

I was lost...

"Where...where am I..?" I asked and looked around quickly hearing the sounds of the forest ambiance. I stood up quickly and walked around, trying to find my way back to the school.

I looked around, terrified. I've never been this far away from the school before. I knew that I couldn't handle it, I was ready to throw up out of pure fear. I continued to walk around and heard a faint roar. I stopped in my tracks and froze, only moving my eyes to look around.

I pressed forward, only to hear the roar once again and stop once more. I panted heavily, nearly hyperventilating, because of the roars I heard. I heard the footsteps of a large beast approaching. I noticed the golden body of a lion nearing me. I froze in place and just stood there out of fear. The Lion roared then slowly began to turn into a human. The Lion turned into a woman.

"You...you smell...weak." The woman said.

I stared at her as she towered over me. I was only eight years old. Seeing this woman struck fear into my heart. I couldn't do anything except stare.

The woman looked down at me and crossed her arms. She rose an eyebrow. "Are you seriously going to just stand there?"

"Mhm!" I nodded quickly.

She sighed and lowered her arms. "Alright...you are just a kid. You look like you're lost and about to piss yourself. I don't know where you come from, but I'll take you in."

"B-But-"

"Unless you'd rather get eaten by wolves and other predators that live within these woods." The woman said.

"Eek!" I squeaked and hurried over to her.

"That's what I thought." She said. She held her hand out to me. I gave her my hand then she began to lead me away from the danger zone of the forest. "What brings you out here? You don't seem well quipped for battle. By the looks of it, you're only eight years old."

"Well...Ever since I came here, I don't know what's wrong with me. I've just been bullied for a long time and I ran away to get away from it." I said.

"Bullied for what?" She asked.

"Bullied for not having any super cool powers. I'm powerless." I answered.

The woman looked back at me and looked ahead. 'He is fairly weak...His power level isn't even over 90. Maybe I could help him, but he's too timid. Not a worthy person to be my apprentice.'

I kept holding the woman's hand and looked at my surroundings. I noticed we arrived at a temple. I looked at it and was in awe. "Where are we?"

"This is my home. This is the Leo Zodiac Temple." The woman said. "Come inside."

She led me inside and I looked around in awe. There were statues of different historical figures and huge monuments around the area. I didn't know any of them, but I knew they were important enough for statues.

"Let's start with introductions. My name is Leona. I am a Zodiac Champion." The woman said, introducing herself. "What is your name?"

"My name...my name is Steven." I answered.

"Steven. Are you knowledgeable about the Zodiacs?" Leona asked.

I shook my head no. "I don't know about Zodiacs."

"Well let me explain our history but make it short. Us Zodiacs are viewed as Divine Beings. The original Zodiacs were born from one of the Pillars of Creation, born from the Pillar of Power. For Generations we reigned as the most powerful beings out of all species and beings. We were so powerful to the point we were feared across the universe." Leona explained.

"Really?" I asked, invested in her explanation.

"Yeah, but in recent generations, we have grown limitations to balance out our powers. There aren't many of us. There are the 12 Zodiac Gods, 12 Zodiac Champions, and 12 Zodiac Apprentices. Right now there aren't any Zodiac Apprentices, we haven't found anyone worthy of our power just yet." Leona said.

"No one worthy..." I said to myself.

Leona looked at me and crossed her arms. "Steven, can you tell me the full reason you ran away?"

I looked at her then looked down. "There's this one bully I have named Andrew...he's the strongest one in the entire school! He always picks on me, beats me up sometimes. No one does anything about it and...it makes me so sad and mad, but I'm weak. You said it yourself. I smell weak. I am weak. I can never get strong.."

"How would you feel if I could help you become stronger?" Leona asked.

I looked at her with a surprised look on my face. "You would help me?"

Leona nodded and smiled at me. "I used to be in your situation once. I was the weakest but my mentor took me in and trained me to be strong with and without powers. He told me, 'Power doesn't come from abilities but from within. You are your own strength and your own weakness'. Do you know what it takes to be a Leo? A Lion?"

"No...I don't." I answered and lowered my head.

Leona crouched down and rose my head. "First off...a lion doesn't have their head held low. Be prideful of yourself! Lions like me and my past generations have been natural leaders! We are brave! We have boundless strength! Power! We look fear in the eyes and show it that it means nothing! We are courageous! Ready to fight at any moment for ourselves and for others!"

I looked at Leona and noticed the fire in her eyes.

"We are known as the Royal Beasts for a reason. We are Courage. We are Strength. We are Bravery. We are Fearless. We are...Justice." Leona said then held my shoulders gently. "We are Leos."

I noticed the eyes of the statues shine and looked around the temple in awe.

"Steven...I can sense it within you. You want to be the strongest. You want to be the best. I can help you complete that goal. All you need to do...is become my Apprentice." Leona said.

Though we just met, as I looked at her in the eyes...I felt a connection between us. A connection that was like an unbreakable bond. Power is what I desired. Strength is what I wanted. I no longer wanted to be scared. Bravery is what I sought.

"All I have to do is become your apprentice..." I said and looked at her.

"You'll have all the power in the world if you can handle it. You will have Zodiac Power. The strongest form of power there is." Leona said.

"The strongest..." I said to myself and looked down. "I want to be the strongest. I don't want to be laughed at anymore! I'll do it!"

Leona smiled and placed her hand on my head gently. This was the start of it all...the Birth of a Lion. With this agreement, I became a Zodiac Apprentice...