Seas of madness - Trees of sadness
This story is a sequel of my previous story 'The Forest of the Damned', that's why some lines are referring to the events occurring in that story.
But I guess it's not absolutely necessary to read the other story first to follow this story...
Recently, I made kind of a trailer for my story as well to give a little overview about the content and put it on youtube (sorry, I had to cut the link 'cause it won't show up correctly otherwise. Just delete the spaces after http: and between the slashes AND tube and .com to watch it):
watch?v9seWXTF9YyQ
I hope that the characters aren't OOC, if so then I'm sorry and also sorry for my bad English, it isn't my mother tongue
(If you find any mistakes, please let me know)
Disclaimer: I don't own the cartoon 'Dungeons & Dragons' and its characters; it all belongs to Marvel/Disney. I don't get money for writing/posting the story, I just write for fun
Inspirations: I've started this story about a year ago basing on a dream I had but then I delayed it half done due to a writer's block. And after reading/rereading a few other stories here (to name a few: 'Breaking the Ties that Bind' by WhiteVeils, 'Only Heroes Make It Home' & 'Dragon Hunting Season' by Sealgirl and recently 'Vengeance' by D.B. Cooper) the blockade was gone.
So I continued my story, deleted a few things, added new impressions and now it's finally finished.
Thanks to all the writers of those gorgeous stories. You really helped me to banish the bad writer's block :)
And sorry for not reviewing them but as 'Moondencera'( /u/768426/Moondancera ) said to the point on her profile site "I love reading if you can't tell from my favorites list. I just don't leave to many reviews, because I have no idea what to say and I always think that when I post something it comes off as something really stupid."
I don't have to add something to this 'cause it speaks from the bottom of my heart!
1.
After the events in the 'Forest of the Damned', the Young Ones went to the village which Dungeon Master has mentioned to take a little rest there.
A few days later, they got a few apples from a nice owner of a fruit stand as a gift, which they enjoyed in a separated park. They were discussing what they are going to do next when someone spoke to them.
"Greetings, my Pupils."
The Young Ones turned around surprised.
"Oh. Hello, Dungeon Master." Presto greeted back and smiled at the small man. The others smiled as well.
"Just in time! We have just wondered what we're gonna do now." Hank admitted.
"Yes, I know. That's why I'm here." Dungeon Master said with a nod.
"Ah, let me guess! You have another riddle for us which is supposed to lead us home, right? And I thought, we could finally spend our holidays here and relax."
"I expected you to be the one who is pushing to get home, Cavalier."
"Yeah, of course I want to be back home. That's not the point here! But what's the use of riddles and portals, which are gonna turn out to be a great illusion in the end and even a much bigger disappointment, as it was last time? I can do without such a waste of time perfectly well; and without being attacked by a changed vampire and fear for my life and blood, anyway." Eric explained arrogantly.
This allusion was aimed to Sheila.
She understood immediately and looked to the ground, feeling hurt.
Her friends had told her what she had said and done when the vampire in the 'Forest of the Damned' turned her into a vampire as well, but she still couldn't remember though.
Apparently, Eric still hasn't forgiven her that she had attacked him in this state to drink his blood.
Meanwhile, Eric continued, "I'd rather stay here and enjoy the acceptable meal and the luxury of a real bed."
"Aww, nah, I'm totally bored. There's nothing going on here. I don't mind leaving right now." Bobby, who sat on the brim of a well they gathered around, moaned and jumped down ready to go.
Uni agreed with her protector with a neigh.
"You only want to depart, 'cause I think that it's not all that bad here after all! You're basically against everything what meets with my approval, anyway!" Eric snorted.
Bobby only pulled a face and shook his head.
"Don't start arguing early in the morning." Diana groaned.
"Right. By the way, the people here are really nice. We even got a gift from a man. You just have to show good will." Sheila said kindly and pointed at the apples. She still sees the good in everyone and everything, even after the matter with Pankratius...
"Anyway, it's dull!" Bobby insisted.
"You consider everything as 'boring' if you can't bash anyone or anything with your Club!" Eric objected.
But before Bobby could reply something, Hank chimed in, "Just stop it, both of you! There's really no need that you are arguing all the time! I'm very patient with the two of you, but sometime it's enough. You stop it right now and I want you to have no argument anymore, well, at least for today. Did I make myself clear?"
"Yeah Hank, sorry." Bobby apologized right away and sat down onto the brim of the well again, sighing aloud.
"Aye, Sir!" Eric replied sarcastically.
Hank ignored it, because he didn't want to start a quarrel with Eric as well.
Bobby, though, was always out for enraging Eric more or less. Recently, he has started to see it like a hobby to provoke the Cavalier - much to the other's displeasure. Those arguments caused them a lot of trouble.
In fact, you couldn't actually blame Bobby for doing so, because Eric on the other hand gets irritated much too easy and likes to start a fight with anyone as well. But that is something one shouldn't exaggerate.
Dungeon Master nodded slowly and continued, "Well, a while back, I made the acquaintance with a very interesting man called Marius. He is the Keeper of a portal and lives in Green Mountains, a small mountain village not so far from here."
"Ah, I see. And 'cause he's so nice - as everybody is here - he'll certainly let us use the portal completely voluntarily and without any claims and send us home with it!" Eric piped up again.
"I rather should have demanded that they shouldn't say any word at all today." Hank mumbled.
Standing next to him, Diana has heard Hank muttering. She smiled impishly and turned to Presto, "Say, Presto, can't you conjure something with your Hat we can give Eric or just turn his mouth into a zipper so that we can close it when we don't wanna hear anything from him any more?"
"Um, I dunno. I could give it a try but I'm not sure if I get out roughly something like that what you've imagined." Presto answered and scratched his head, pondering.
"Ha-ha, very funny, Diana. Really, what a laugh!" Eric uttered offended and crossed his arms.
The others chuckled.
"Oh, c'mon Eric. Don't take everything seriously!" Diana said and laid soothingly a hand on his shoulder.
"Well, the Cavalier isn't wrong. Knowing him, Marius won't send you home for free. He sure will demand something from you for passing the portal."
"And what will it be?" Sheila asked curiously.
"I'm afraid but I cannot tell you. You have to ask him yourself. And then you have to decide if the price you must pay is worth to be paid to get home." Dungeon Master explained.
"Well, then I suggest to set off right now to get to Marius and listen which price he demands. And then we still can decide if we'll take his offer or not." Hank proposed.
"Yeah, that's exactly what I would have said." Diana agreed with Hank. "Of course, we don't take every offer. We should be careful if he asks for our weapons in return. If so we shouldn't deal with him."
"A wise choice! I am pleased to see that you're not too much blinded by the desire of your home coming to let yourselves in for every deal!" Dungeon Master applauded.
"Hello? That sounds like it's already decided that we're going on a trip to this Marius. Did we already vote for that?" Eric said indignantly.
"Gee, we don't need to vote for that at all. We all don't wanna stay in this 'hicksville' besides you of course, but..."
"But nobody has asked for your opinion, shrimp!"
"Hey! I do belong to this group after all; so my vote counts as well. And you're just outvoted, 'cause the others wanna go too!"
Eric has a fitting answer ready, but before he could strike back, Hank cleared his throat suspiciously.
Thereupon, Eric really preferred to be silent.
He thought that it was more reasonable not to start an argument with Hank at the moment as he wasn't really in a good mood and he was quite dangerous in this state, if not even unpredictable - in Eric's view at least.
In this moment, he wanted to spare that, even if Bobby always annoyed him beyond endurance.
"You have to go north to get to this village. Make yourselves ready for a longer journey. You'll probably need a few days. And beware! Not everything is as it seems to be at first glance. Even under a stone there could be a hidden mountain and a stone, kicked off by accident, could trigger an unforeseen avalanche." Dungeon Master reminded.
"Don't worry. We'll keep our eyes open!" Presto assured.
Dungeon Master just nodded and walked around the fountain.
Bobby sat up and looked over the opposite brim of the well.
"Aww, he's gone! I just wanna know how he's doing that..." he wondered.
"We really ought to set off now. The sooner we leave the sooner we'll find Marius." Diana said. Hank nodded in agreement.
And so they set off north.
When they reached the end of the village, Eric turned around with a loud sigh. "Goodbye, oh you luxury of a proper bed. I'm really gonna miss you within the next few days!"
"Hm, there are much worse things, Eric!" Presto tried to cheer his friend up.
"Oh, yeah? What? What could be worse than to sleep on hard ground in natural surroundings? Apart from the food..."
"Do you always think about eating, Eric?" Bobby asked. He stood with Uni next to Presto.
"Look, I could try to summon a bed for you. Maybe it works." Presto said reliant.
"No, for goodness' sake, don't do that! Who knows what your Hat comes up with? Besides, I doubt that your Hat is able to adapt such a comfortable bed I'm used to at home; or even a pleasant bed at all, a water bed for example. And even if it will succeed against my expectations, there's still the risk that the bed could be leaky - as it sure will be, luckily for me."
"He, then you would be quite soaked!" Bobby realized snickering.
"You would like that, wouldn't you?" Eric asked sulkily.
Bobby only grinned in response.
"Well, let's go. The others are probably waiting for us. Diana's right: the sooner we'll find this Marius the better." Presto said.
Bobby nodded enthusiastically and walked away with Uni.
With a last longing glance and a loud sigh Eric turned around and left the place as well.
They didn't know that they were being watched and overheard.
Out of the darkness of a row of houses, a shadow soared into the air; ready to report what just was said...
