The First Strike

Kennith, Morpheus, Akimoto, Reina, and Theia.

**The First Strike** is the first episode of *Ties of Fate*.

## Summary

Jiral, the last remaining planet after a tragedy of unknown cause, is holding a great war. In the Harmony kingdom, General Reina enters a meeting with twin princesses Light and Dark, and her second-in-command Akimoto. They discuss plans to defeat the traitorous Diamond, who is waging the war against them. Reina’s father Kennith calls her to another meeting with Ex-Guardians Morpheus and Theia, her mother. Kennith explains that Diamond is looking for the Sword of Vengeance, a Weapon of Fate. The kingdom is in possession of two Weapons, but the whereabouts of the fourth are unknown. Meanwhile, Reina’s brother Blake listens in on the meeting from outside the door. Morpheus plans on going to the water city Oceana, where Kennith’s fire powers will be useless. Reina offers to send Jade, an Oceana native, with Morpheus, while Theia plans to navigate the sea with skills she learned from Calder.

After the meeting, Blake begs Reina to let him be a “temporary” guardian. Reina feels that Blake is too young, but Blake swears he will not bother her with the question again if he is put through a test. Reina sends him to find their brother, Garret, to prepare for it. Blake meets the guard Apolla, who sends him to the barracks where Garret and his fiancée, Tora, are commanding soldiers. Tora provides Blake with armor and a sword, which he then takes to Reina to begin his test. They duel, but Reina quickly traps Blake in a circle of fire. He clears a path by creating wind with his sword, but Reina ambushes him and bombards him with fireballs. Blake is distracted by blocking the fireballs, which allows Reina to subdue him. Despite his loss, Reina sees potential in Blake, so she allows him to become a temporary guardian. Blake is assigned to protect Light, her sisters, and the group of children they look after.

An explosion rings out, so Reina sends Blake to protect the group while she and Akimoto go to investigate. They see Apolla being attacked, and she quickly explains that Diamond’s forces detected her illusion spell. The attacker named Topaz arrives, revealing to be a Helionian (a Jiralian who uses the power of the sun) just like Apolla, a feat that allowed him to detect the illusion spell. A swarm of soldiers attack the kingdom, and Garret immediately fights back with his Sound Wave ability. Tora joins him with her lightning bolt powers, and Apolla uses her Solar Flare ability to fire orbs from her staff. Topaz quickly overpowers Reina and Akimoto, but Crimson arrives to defend them. Before the fight continues, Diamond calls Topaz back, revealing to be his father. Topaz’s group retreats, but not before Kennith notices a strange emblem on his forehead. Apolla suggests he ask Jade about the symbol. Meanwhile, Diamond speaks with his wife, Grace, claiming that the “dream maker descendent” ruined their test. One of their daughters, Garnet, swears that she and her siblings will take care of the royal forces.

## Characters

* Destiny
* Light
* Dark
* Akimoto
* Reina
* Kennith
* Theia
* Morpheus
* Blake
* Apolla
* Garret
* Tora
* Topaz
* Crimson
* Diamond
* Grace
* Garnet

## Gallery

The planets before the tragedy.Reina meets with the Ex-Guardians.Reina puts Blake through a test.Topaz reveals himself.Diamond confers with Grace.
## Trivia

* In the remaster, this episode was released as "Fate Rewound," along with episodes two and three.