Warning: this fiction in the first couple of chapters is based after the events of the videogame 'The Tenth Line', to avoid spoilers please beat the game or at least catch up on the story so you are not confused, thank you and please enjoy. Here is a link to a quick summary video if you want to just hop in:
Youtube. com
watch?v=1_v3SAH7sbU
Prologue/Chapter 1: The Fox
Prologue
The Realm in which we all dwell in is only but a small piece in a bigger picture of the universe. Multiple worlds that are separate exist, yet at the same time they mirror each other like some big elusive puzzle. Long ago in one of the many worlds in the multiverse a mysterious civilization enchanted gems to perform extraordinary feats. They had the capability to alter time and space itself. They were capable of transportation between universes and they could locate hidden tears to open rifts and enter each worlds parallel dimension. With one of these very rare gems a stranger unlike any other is on his way to inquire assistance. His mission is to wipe out an evil he thought he extinguished long ago. Little will his unconventional allies know, there is more to him than he lets on because he is from…
Story By: PalmerDude Gaming
Proofread by: Rageage
The Tenth Line by: Sungazer Software
Every other copyrighted property is owned by its respective owners
Chapter 1: The Fox
As the morning begins to arise, Rik the Kobold lies staring up, contemplating the possibility of five more minutes of rest. He was up way later than he should have been after all. It was a pretty great evening full of quad pro quo and of course mead at the local tavern. Rik when it came to drinking knew his limit however, so he was just tired from staying up so late. Fellow Knight Sir Richard approaches and stops short,
"Rik wake up, you will be late for your morning duties." Rik springs out from the covers, "Yeah, yeah I am awake, was bout to get moving." Richard scoffs,
"You were late yesterday, we mustn't let it happen again Rik." Knight Richard was strict, but caring, he just wanted to make sure everyone was keeping to schedule.
"Well" said Rik, "time to get going I suppose."
He quickly puts on his hooded vest and sheathes his knives. After that Rik looks into the mirror meeting his canine gaze. He ruffles the blondish fur on his head and snaps his fingers and shoots himself a wink. Then, after grabbing some fruit for a quick morning breakfast he heads out and towards the Captain's morning meeting for assignment. Rik zips through the crowds of the bustling castle town at a quick pace. As he walked he could smell all sorts of goods from the bakery. Children were out playing and singing and busy merchants scrambled to make deals. Rik soon makes it to the town's wall where the meeting was taking place. As Rik approaches he overhears the captain assigning the other knights.
"The king today is having a banquet" said the Captain. "And I want Sir Richard and Sir Henry to be present as well." Rik walks toward the captain.
"Ah", said the Captain, "Morning Rik".
"Morning Cap'n, so what's my duties for the mornin?" asked Rik.
"Well" said the Captain of the Guard, "You are to Patrol Skyweather with Sir Garrison." Rik looks at the captain with concern,
"Uh, that's not a good idea cap'n. He hates beasts." The Captain furrows his brow, "Well he must learn to accept them, they are apart of our society." Rik was not in the mood to deal with Garrison, he was radical with his views.
"Sir" said Rik, "I would rather chew off my own tail, assign me with someone else, for my sake." The Captain having much to do gave in
"Fine" he said "How about guard duty with Knight Jonas?" Rik nods,
"That'll do, we get along good, where are we guarding?"
"Out in the countryside" said the Captain, "Apparently someone or maybe a beast have been stealing chickens".
"Oh" said Rik, "that's all?"
"Yes" replies The Captain, "this has been quite the uneventful week, small price to pay for such peaceful times though." Rik nods, and exits and out into the farming plains with fellow Knight Jonas.
The outside of the castle town was littered with farms, and farmer stalls. Cattle moo'd, the wind blew as the sun shined down with its warm glow. It was such a peaceful day that Rik could swear he was walking in a painting right now. The two patrolled through the morning and carried on general discussions. For the most part Jonas was alright in Rik's eyes. He was easier to conversate with when compared to other human guards. Eventually the cries of terrified chickens and a spectacle of a light show broke their conversation.
"Whoa", said Rik, "looks like our chicken thief knows some magic." The two quickly come around to the other side of the farm house.
"Stop right there by the order of the crown and put the chicken down!" cried Knight Jonas. The mysterious stranger put his hands up,
"Whoa," he said, "sorry to startle you two! I'm no thief, honest!"
Rik had no idea what to make of him, he was a red fox… Beast? He had clothes that looked simple enough for adventuring. He wore shoes too which was strange for a beast and he had a hooded cloak with the hood down. He was armed with a sword on his back bounded by leather. And it had a dragon's mouth as the hilt with some artful designs along the blade. He also had this weird black and grey metal looking thing on his left side. On his right arm was some kind of bracer that had some metal looking thing pointing out at the end. And on his right was something glossy looking with a compartment holding a gem of some sort.
"Alright, you don't look like the chicken stealing type" said Rik. "But" he continued, "I would like to know what that was about."
"Alright, fair enough" said the strange fox, "my name is Nathan Reyes or Nate for short, I am a traveler from beyond your own universe." Rik looked at Jonas, Jonas looked at Rik.
"What the-" Rik trails off, "Come again?" he asks. "Okay" says Nathan, "I am from another world; I world hop, I'm on a mission".
"And" says Jonas "what is that?"
"None of your business," said Nate, he turns to Rik "I will come and meet you later." "This does not concern him" he continues. Rik looks at him bewildered,
"What? I don't know you!" Nate replies.
"I know, but trust me Rik, I will see you." Nate disappears; Rik looks again at Jonas,
"What in the name of the sky?!" exclaimed Rik. "How did he know my name?!"
"Well," said Jonas, "I do not know, anyhow mid day is arriving, best to head back".
The rest of the day was moving slowly, Rik decided to take the patrol route for Shivbury. He wanted to speak with Anne and maybe Lawrence too. He wanted to know if they knew this 'Nate'. The bizarreness of the encounter has shocked him quite a bit. His mind was churning like butter as he tried to make sense of the situation. He arrives and immediately Anne spots him.
"By the skies!" said Anne, "it's great for you to visit us early!" Anne had her brown hair in a tail, when last time it was a bun Rik observed. She was also wearing that blue dress she had since their adventure.
"Yeah" said Rik. "I always enjoy coming for a visit." Anne smiles, "So how is the knight business, Sir Rik? Rik replies,
"It's great, but i had to ask you something."
"What?" inquired Anne.
"Well" said Rik, "do you know a someone called Nate, and looks like a fox beast?" Anne thinks a moment. Finally she replies,
"No why do you ask?" Rik replies,
"He somehow knew me, said he would meet with me later, didn't say where or when either." Anne with a look of concern asks
"Did you perhaps make an enemy?" "Did he look dangerous?"
"No" replied Rik, "He was just strange, you said Lawrence is back, let's ask him." The two of them enter the local pub, known as the Hopping Hare.
"Rik!" Lawrence bellowed, "Great to see our protector of the land has come to visit!" Lawrence still hasnt changed even though he was away. Still big and brawny though his black hair was starting to grey.
"Yeah" said Rik, "if that's what you want to call me. Great to see you again too."
"Anyhow" said Lawrence "What's new with you?"
"Nothing much" said Rik, "just wanted to ask if you knew who Nate was, he is a strange looking fox beast". Lawrence scratches his head,
"Um, no, are there even a thing as fox beasts?"
"I don't know" said Rik, "Maybe since I met one today." "He wants to meet me for some reason" he continued. Lawrence looks at Anne,
"That sure is strange, isn't it?" he asks.
"Indeed" Anne replied, "Rik should stay in shivbury for tonight."
"Now wait" Rik replies, "I got to be back to skyweather." Anne looks to Rik,
"I just want to see this Nate character, he will give us answers."
"Alright" said Rik "I will send word that I'm staying the night."
Hours soon pass and the night came, Rik waited anxiously, Anne and Lawrence were also nearby. Then Nathan unceremoniously appears seeming from nowhere.
"That's him" said Rik, "time for some answers." Rik approaches cautiously, he looks at the glossy looking bracer again. It has a light coming from it, maybe its some kind of torch?
"Okay," said Rik "what". Nate asks,
"What about what? I've yet to ask the question." "And who might be these fellows over here?" Anne steps to Rik's side,
"I'm Anne and over there is Sir Lawrence, we are his friends". Nate looks at the both of them,
"Close friends?" he asks.
"Of course" says Anne "why would that matter?"
"Well…" Nate trails off and looks at Rik, "I need your brother, Tox." Rik looks at him as if he was crazy,
"What?" he asks.
"Yes" said Nate, "I need a Black Dracon mage to help dispel a gate." "And…" he continues "with the gate down I can take out the evil threatening all of multiverse". Rik and the others were stricken with confusion. Lawrence asks,
"Anyone catch the rest of that?" Rik looks puzzling towards Nate,
"Uh," he says "Tox is no longer with us."
"Really?" asks Nate as he taps on the glossy glowing surface of the gauntlet. "This thing has trouble working with the gemstone sometimes" Nate admits.
"What is that thing anyway?' asks Anne. Nate looks up and thinks for a moment.
"Well" he said "I have forgotten its real name but it's a touch pad' he admits. "It allows me access to an on screen interface with the gem". "With it I can initiate teleportation between universes and there are some upgrades to enhance my combat too." "Some examples are invisibility, short range teleportation as well as some other features." "And" Nate continues, "this gemstone can hold infinite amounts of items in a void where time is suspended". "Anyone here fancy a cold drink?" he pulls out a can of some drink Rik has never seen before.
"Uh, what is it?" asked Rik.
"Soda" said Nate "You'll love it." Rik looks at the can, he is not too sure how to open it.
"Um, I will save it for later, thanks" he says. "Now who or what is this evil?"
"He is an deranged maniac" replies Nate, "he has seized control of the Underworld Dimension or as I call it... hell; cause that's what it is."
"Wow" said Lawrence "and he wants to destroy every world?"
"Yeah" said Nate "something like it I suppose, and i will need Tox to break a barrier."
"Okay" said Rik "you obviously have done this before, I mean how do you know all of this?" And without skipping a beat Nate replies,
"I have sources I can call upon at anytime, and this dimension of your universe was suppose to have him".
"Well that's too bad" said Rik "he isn't here no more' Nate looks at the touch pad gauntlet and says,
"If he is not in this reality, I then must look into the next." Rik suddenly realizes this is a golden opportunity to see Tox again.
"Wait" said Rik, "I will go with you, he is my lil' brother after all"
"Well" said Nate, "I cannot say no huh?"
"Nope" said Rik.
"I will also go," says Anne. Nate with a look of annoyance asks
"Really? Fine, let's move quickly alright?"
"Okay" said Anne, "Lawrence will you join us?"
"At this time?" says Lawrence "no I need my rest in case I have to leave tomorrow. I'm only allowed so much time off after all, if you see Tox tell him I said hello"
"Will do Lawrence" said Anne. The three of them soon set off but after only a few minutes of travel Rik asks,
"Where are we going?" Nate replies,
"To where there is a tear between the worlds. They are invisible but with this gem it reveals and opens them. If you have no idea what i'm talking about I can explain in more detail".
"Sure" said Anne "if we are going to join you we ought to know everything we can". And so they walked as Nate explained to his knowledge everything he could as they moved along.
End of Chapter 1