Hey people, DarnedNoob here. I know I haven't been in the Maplestory section writing an epic for quite a while, but, hey, I'm writing for RuneScape fans too. Although with the dying number of reviewers on RuneScape, having only one review for the latest chapter of tSoB after quite a while. I must say the quality of stories here are much better too. Sometimes competition is good. =)

This is also pertaining to anyone who reads tSoB. I will be continuing it, but only when I feel like doing so. Real sorry.

As to any reviewers I have, I hope Thirteen Crystals is much better overall than Prologue. I've come a long way since then. For a start, let's have some compare and contrast:

One, the chapters should be longer by almost twice now. Of course, length of stories does not affect the quality much, but I like to think I describe better now.

Two, there will not be as many characters in the start. I've learnt my lesson. =S

Three, I will attempt to incorporate more than pure action and actually have a proper storyline. I think Prologue wasn't too good in that sense.

Four, while Prologue was inspired from stories of revenge, sacrifice, the human heart, etc etc, TC will have some inspiration, and possible blatant rip-offs, from anime. Not total, of course. Maybe some moves and things. Figure them out. =)

Five, Prologue is set in a present Maplestory. TC will be set – here's the interesting part – before even the five classes began. It probably shouldn't be fanfiction anymore except for maybe the location and some techniques, but I'm sure you all will accept that, yeah?

Oh, and the prologue of TC might seem like tSoB. I guess it's my style.

Let's start with some terminology I will be using. Some of them were used in Prologue, and I didn't really bother to explain them:

Techniques: Basically a nicer-sounding way of saying skills, e.g. Power Strike.

Spells: Same as techniques, but for less physical attacks, e.g. Ice Beam.

Mana: Think of Chakra in Naruto, or Reiatsu in Bleach. Maybe MP and HP in Maple.

Also, instead of the five jobs, we have:

Mêléers: Basically foot soldiers, closed-ranged people.

Assists: Think clerics. Think buffs.

Infiltrators: Stealth, immobilization and occasionally debuffing.

Snipers: Long-ranged riflemen.

Also, majority of the army cannot perform techniques. More will be explained as the story goes.

I guess that will be all. So, without further ado, I shall present: Thirteen Crystals.

Thirteen mystical jewels. It was all like a typical epic legend. Thirteen crystals with the power to change the world. One would classify it as an old wives' tale, albeit without the old wives talking about it.

One thing though. It was all true.

While humans have been kept in the dark, elves, the wise race of humanoid creatures know everything about three and ten gems, and have used what they have of the three and ten to their full potential, by passing them to only their queen and most loyal, skilled generals.

What are these crystals? They are actually, despite legends of it shaping the world as we know it, simply thirteen extremely powerful weapons that have control over various elements of the world, and of life.

Of course, I'd better not disclose too much information. The secret of the weapons' workings is for the elves alone to know. After all, humans can never play a part in the keeping of world order. The job is too large, too major for their puny kind.

Or is it?

I can tell more about the elves though. After all, it isn't as if they were that secret. The Lord of Maple Island, who goes by the title of Dances With Balrog, and his advisors know much about them. It isn't as if another human knowing would kill.

Well, I did say that the elves were humanoid creatures. They weren't that human though, despite their stereotypical image.

Unlike humans, elves differ vastly in appearance with their race. More than how humans differ in skin color. Some looked human. Others only had the vague shape of one.

An example of a largely human elf would be their queen, Anita Pierce. For some strange coincidence, it was during Anita's reign that humans came to know of the elves, and vice versa.

This was not as bad as some cynical advisors thought. While the elves were inherently skilled in combat, the humans were greater in number, and had the potential to learn, to obtain intelligence far more than what they were born with. This made them stand out from other species.

As such, the elves sent their best generals to teach human soldiers all they needed to know about combat, and the humans repaid the favor through pledging to protect the elves in the case of an attack. The generals did not teach and give everything, though. If the humans broke their treaty, a few of the best elven warriors will give them a proper lesson in keeping their promises.

Unknown to both humans and elves, they were about to make use of this alliance very soon. A real threat was coming their way.

The elven General Charles Sheath sighed as he went through the items he was about to teach his team today. The past few months had been a disaster. Despite having only sent four human trainees per General, apparently the best of the best, his group was having problems.

The only person he'll say was gifted for combat was Cyan. His skills with the sword were unmatched. People say humans were born with nothing and learnt everything they knew from experience, unlike elves. Charles liked to think Cyan was an exception.

Then there was Neville. He was good, but only as good as a human will be. Fitting with the fact stated above, Neville knew nothing but what he was taught, and even so learnt at a slightly slower rate than his fellow teammates. But he was hardworking, and that was what mattered.

The trouble was with Anorak. He could be good at combat, but he couldn't be bothered to learn. Of course, that was probably because he was merely a teenager, by human standards. But then again, so was Neville.

Even worse was Garena. He wouldn't even attend training. Some kind of pupil.

The General twirled a throwing knife in his exceptionally long and slender fingers, paper-white skin and black nails contrasting with the silver steel of the weapon. He flicked the knife, hitting a red crystal into the air. Charles caught it.

General Sheath was going to show them the full extent of what they had to go through the next day. And he would do so with the innocent-looking crystal in his hand.

That's all for the prologue.