Title: Xavier: Legion Of Lost Roses.
Chapter: The Beginning.
Writer: Skyler Hanke.
Xavier stood before a mirror and watched himself, adjusting what clothing he'd been told to wear for his wedding. Tonight was the final moment before him and his beloved would be united, under the moon of their birth. He was pleased to have lived long enough to meet someone so beautiful, who was also; blessed with such elegance. To him he seemed to be older, and much wiser than anyone else in his land. This happened to be true, since he was the Prince of his people; respected, and thought after for advice on numerous occasions.
The castle had been put on less protection then its regular routine. This was to promote the villagers towards participation in Xavier's ceremonial event. Few people from the village ventured into the castle on their own, masters; workers; apprentices, and peasants; seemed to come together in troupes of their order. Guards would of course welcome these people who'd enter, most of which; had been to the palace before on requests on Xavier's behalf.
Everything seemed to be coming together well enough for the Prince, and his Guards were on patrol in minimum arrangements. The few which were visible to the public seemed to walk between the statues and other decorations; to avoid attention. These men were trained for anything that could be tossed at the castle, and even women were hired as equal Soldiers. While the Prince known as Xavier tied the cloak around his neck, his ears stuck up towards a noise against his door. He hopped down from the stool and approached the large wooden door, which kept him separated from the outside. His tail would swish behind him as he tapped back against the door, and waited for it to be opened.
"Xavier?" Came a voice from behind the door while it opened slowly to reveal a most trusted Paladin. "I have something strange to report." Daiven tilted his helmet upwards, and made his face visible to the Ottsel. He was of course someone from the Human-Race. "Apparently a strange troupe is coming towards our castle, and the Guards we sent out to check on them; never returned." Xavier blinked, and looked up at the Paladin. "Never returned? What do you mean?" The Paladin coughed, and returned his helmet down to its normal position. "Taken prisoner, sir."
Xavier stared blank at the Paladin and looked concerned for his lost workers; above everything else. "Do you think someone else could be sent out, and release them?" The Paladin would shake his head and sigh with a great depression in his accented tone. "There is nothing we can do, and since all the people from the village are here..." He got a strange look, and then Xavier answered him quietly. "Do you mean we're going to shut the doors, and pretend like nothing is happening at all outside?"
"I don't mean that at all, Prince Xavier." He replied with a slight nervousness to his voice, and he sighed at the stare which Xavier had given him. The Prince was of a shorter species than him, and he'd needed to look downwards in order to make contact. Even with their contact being limited to how the Paladin needed to look down; he knew exactly what Xavier was thinking.
"Close the doors, and make sure that your Guards do not alert attention. Keep the troupe in the distance with what Soldiers we have in the village. The wedding must be continued, despite what these people are doing." Daiven nodded his head, and wrapped his crimson cloak around the hilt of his sword. This was to show something was in need of being put into position. To the villagers; this looked like he was just keeping his weapon out of view. "Xavier, what if they make an attack?" There was an unwanted pause while Xavier pondered this possible result, and he frowned.
"Tell me immediately, and I will do my best to take care of them." That was all Xavier said before closing the door to his chambers, and walking back to the mirror. Daiven left him, and moments later another knock was heard against the door. Xavier had buried his face into his paws, and began rubbing his eyes; calling whoever was outside to enter. The door opened and a smaller Human child entered, presenting a decorated but carved wooden box. "This' from your Beloved, me' Lordship." The smaller Human was obviously a tad nervous, and he'd stared at Xavier possibly for the first time in his entire life. The box contained one of the only two Roses in their land made of pure Crystal, and it was unbreakable.
Xavier smiled and took the box into his paws, placing it onto the dresser beside his mirror. "Thank you, I will make sure you're rewarded for bringing me this." Suddenly before the small child could answer there was a loud crashing noise from the castle doors. The Prince jumped down from his stool, and looked back at the child. "Stay in my chamber, and keep the door closed! Hide in the back if you're going to be put into danger." Xavier ordered before running outside of his bedroom, and listening to the door close behind him.
Screaming could be heard as the villagers were being attacked, most of all Xavier's partners were the people targeted. He could see bright beams of white light coming from the windows, which could mean that Angellion was teleporting people to a safer location. Xavier knew the Sorcerer only with memories of his childhood, and even than he was known to be the oldest person in the world. It was his honor to have the Sorcerer inside of his castle, but he'd had no idea that the man would be saving his other guests.
"For the Prince!" Echoed a voice from outside; as another beam came into view. This caused a burst of painful screaming, while the Prince was pushed backwards; from the shock created by the wave. "Call the Elder Guardian's! The Dark Lord has returned!" The voice of an older man would scream in torment, who happened to be the same Sorcerer that Xavier thought could save them.
Guards were racing down the hall of Xavier's Palace alongside of him, and pushing the civilians back towards the more secure part of his castle. "Toss me a sword, now!" Xavier commanded, and two of his Soldiers would toss him a sword at the same time. The Prince caught these swords in both of his paws, and made it outside of his palace to witness the Dark Lord.
In the once beautiful garden where his wedding was being held, their battle had broken into madness. Angellion was nowhere to be seen around the garden, but standing in front of the altar was the Dark Lord. "Dark one, what have you done!" Xavier shouted, while taking a step backwards towards the castle doors. They were pulled shut by The Dark Lord, with a motion of his hand.
The entire area had been ruined to the point of no repair, and around Xavier were the bodies of his closest friends. Fountains and decorations were covered in blood that stained through to the core of the material, behind The Dark Lord was Xavier's beloved. "Leave her alone!" He commanded The Dark Lord while charging towards him; the swords beside him. Then without a moments notice, The Dark Lord had swung his own weapon; striking Xavier.
The blade didn't come in contact with Xavier in the slightest, and instead it slammed him down onto the ground; chest cut open. He raised his head long enough to notice that The Dark Lord's incredible blade began to feed from the Prince's blood.
Blood sunk into the swords metal almost like it was made of soil, and it was water. The Dark Lord's weapon returned to the side of his armor, which hid the true form of the most violent creature in the world. The Dark Lord was known for his armor, much like a Dark Templar in design. The helmet was tall and covered in blades, spreading back like a mane of a sharp hair. His shoulders were hooked with equally dangerous metal, and his entire suit seemed to be one giant weapon; that wrapped around a broken heart in the middle of his chest.
"I'll destroy you!" Xavier shouted loudly enough to cough blood violently onto the already crimson grass. The answer to this was a confusing one. "I'm impressed..." Spoke The Dark Lord proudly, and insanely. His eyes were a visible red from beneath his helmet, while he raised a clawed hand into the air. The fingers he called his own were long and thin. He looked almost like vines made of barbed wire were crawling outwards from an equally hideous palm.
Suddenly all the murdered Soldiers in the area around them raised onto their legs; once again. Their eyes were pure white and glowing with a beautiful, but disturbing life. "Tear him apart..." Spoke The Dark Lord while he turned away from Xavier. His cloaked began blowing in the wind that swept over the garden. The cloak seemed to fall apart into thousands of pieces; The Dark Lord seemed to almost do the exact same. Xavier watched as The Dark Lord turned into thousands of shard, which were comparable to petals. He soon began to vanish into the night...
The once honorable Soldiers that served Xavier, charged towards him; their swords covered in the blood of The Dark Lord's minions. "Stop!" Xavier screamed. His eyes soon came into contact with something on the altar behind him; his beloved was gone, but her rose remained. He had no second thoughts as to what might happen, and the Ottsel bolted towards her rose. Using his wings to support the dash. Grabbing onto the rose a second before one of the Soldiers could cut him into pieces. "I'll defeat The Dark Lord, and all of you too!" Xavier shouted before turning around. The Soldiers had began taking their positions...