When the Clock Strikes Thirteen

Story by Lord Lithos Maitreya, Commentaholic and Simply Supreme.

Author's Notes:

Lithos: Hi, everybody! This is an attempt at a self-insertion co-written fic, by myself (Lord Lithos Maitreya), and my two comrades, SimplySupreme and Commentaholic - Alpha 05. A little information on the inception of the fic is as follows.

Commentaholic: *Grabs popcorn*

SimplySupreme: *takes popcorn away from Commentaholic and eats it*

Commentaholic: *Turns into Glaurung* ROAR! *takes popcorn back*

SimplySupreme: Aw... *pouts*

Lithos: I came up with the idea for BUDDHA itself a few days ago, just while randomly thinking, trying to get inspiration. At first I was going to write it solo, but then the idea came about two minutes later to ask my fellows of the Brotherhood of the Pen if they wanted to co-write it. They liked the idea, and thus, this began. I wrote almost all of the prologue, barring one paragraph that I couldn't get to flow. (Then again, none of us could, but at least it's better now.) As things stand as I write this, we still don't actually have everything nailed down, so I apologize in advance if our updates are a bit slow. Then again, we may be all right, considering we have the acclaimed Commentaholic to keep us other two in check.

BUDDHA stands for 'Brotherhood of Universally Diverse Dimension-Hopping Authors'. This story is set in the universe of Commentaholic's famous 'Alagaësia's New Dragon', so if you'd check that out first, it'd help with a little understanding. Not to mention that it's a delightful read. Now, do either of my fellows have anything to add?

Commentaholic: Acclaimed? *Blushes* I really like this idea... *looks around* Don't look at me like that! It's not just because it's yet another spinoff from my series! Though... I never get tired of using Glaurung. I use him everywhere I can... :P Part of the reason I got behind this was... well... I can't control myself when it comes to ideas... just look at my massive list of... *sigh* unfinished stories... Another reason: I loved the ackronym... And for the record... I didn't try to fix that non-flowing paragraph...

SimplySupreme: Ooh! My turn! *jumps up and down excitedly* So, you people may or may not know me from 'Land of a Mad King', but the concept here is pretty similar. I mean, Pie's a dimension-hopping author too! But this fic is actually serious, and is just a giant idea soup of Lithos, myself and wonderful Commentaholic! (Erm... acclaimed Commentaholic.) Lithos is kind of a genius for coming up with the Brotherhood of Universally Diverse Dimension-Hopping Authors. I mean, who doesn't love a good self-insert every once in a while? I promise that you'll like it! Stick around for a couple of chapters and your mind will be blown! XD

Commentaholic: *Turns into Glaurung again and goes to block the exit* You'd better read now...

For everyone's benefit, in case you wish to read our individual stories, you can connect to them via this profile's favorite authors list.

Prologue: What Schemes May Come (Demons in the Mist) - Chapter by Lithos

Imagine…

A world that isn't; a perfect place of complete order. Lightning never strikes, because there is no sky. Winds never blow because there is no air. It never rains because there is no water. The ground never shakes because there is no earth.

And yet… it isn't empty.

Imagine…

A spirit, a thing of mist and vapor, now hangs in the space that doesn't exist. Its body is no more than a wisp of violet cloud, and it has no clear shape. There's one stark contrast, though – the eyes are bright, clear, and cold; glowing and red, with no pupils or whites to be seen. They seem almost crystalline, but no gems ever held such malice. The creature of mist seems to be waiting for something, its eyes showing that the patience – normally firm and unending as that of a rock – of the mind behind them is starting to wane.

Imagine…

There's another of the creatures now, wreathed in black fog. Its eyes are a blue as cold as the face of a frozen man, yet they seem somehow less potent than those of the other. It's clear to any of us watching who the leader is.

Imagine…

"My apologies, Lord," hisses the second creature. Its voice is serpentine; sibilant – slithering into our ears and coiling about our minds. "My lateness is, I think, in this instance, excusable. I have accomplished much."

"You had best hope your achievements please me greatly," the first replies. Its tone is high, cold, and cruel – it makes us think of the black of night. "For your lateness does not."

"They will," promises the blue-eyed being.

Imagine…

"I have prepared a trap," it continues. "In mere hours, one world- one containing an unauthorized Hopper- will face a Starstorm. The soul of the Hopper, as well as his world, will be split. The Starstorm will also draw attention to that world, and the Hoppers will send one of their own into it to investigate the matter, which we will then seal in so they cannot escape. And there is only one fully trained Hopper still in their headquarters."

"And who might that be?" asks the first mist-creature. "Speak, or I will crush the answer from you!"

The second's eyes narrow in victory. "Maitreya."

Imagine…

The ruby eyes widen in the violet mist, and then the creature's high voice begins to laugh – a harsh sound like crunching bone, quite unlike the calculated evil of its words. "Maitreya? You have prepared us a way to defeat the young Maitreya? Glory and shadow! This is indeed an achievement! Your lateness is quite forgiven! But continue! What next? He has come to this world, and then?"

"Then I shall block it off," chuckles the hissing voice of the other. "None can go to him to give aid, nor can he escape. He and his apprentice shall be trapped – trapped with nowhere to hide, and no place to run. And then…"

Imagine…

"Then we take them," the other finishes, its voice sadistic.

"Yes, my Lord," says the one with blue eyes.

"This is glorious! At last we will slay him, and then the others! At last we will have revenge! Do you hear me, BUDDHA?" Here the demon rotates, looking in all directions as though trying to find the visage of this BUDDHA, his enemy – as though he is mad enough to believe he is gloating of his victory before them already. "Do you know what is happening? Maitreya will die! And you will all follow! All that is will be ours! It is already finished!"

And as the other watched, he laughed.

Imagine…

The other rouses him from his madness, however. "My Lord, you summoned me for another purpose. What was it?

"Ah, yes," the insane Lord says, his chortles subsiding. "There is a battle in a world called Mirage that I have become interested in. It is merely between mortals, but the war-lust is upon me. Is my body ready?"

Imagine…

"It is, my Lord," its servant says in reply. "The armored demon-shape you demanded awaits you even now in the body-factory on Zakharad."

"Good," the red-eyed demon blinks in satisfaction. "I will go there and don it, and then I will finish this war in Mirage. And after that, I may well join you in this quest to destroy the young child of the Maitreya."

"Thank you, my Lord," says the other. "I will see to it that all is done to your satisfaction until you arrive. If you should deign to do so, that is."

"Good, good," chuckles the Lord. Then its voice goes rather grimmer. "One command regarding this mission, however. Do not assume anything."

"My Lord?"

Imagine…

"The Maitreya family…" the demon Lord whispers, as though he is reminiscing. "They were not truly the strongest, or the wisest, though they were well-endowed in those areas. They only truly surpassed all others in two fields."

"And what were those fields, Great One?" asks the servant.

Imagine…

"First," begins the violet demon. "They were always underestimated. Do not fall into that trap. Second… it is strange. Every Maitreya seems, somehow, to bear a mad level of luck – one bordering divine intervention. Indeed, I would not be surprised to find that that's what it was. Remember this. It is better to do far too much that too little."

"I will remember," promises the black one. "He will not escape me. The last Maitreya will die."

Imagine…

"Good!" says the red-eyed one, clearly satisfied. "Now I must go, and so must you. Good luck in your task, youngling, and do it well."

"As you say, my Master," says the servant. "And good luck in your own task. Not that I believe it is needed. No mortal could cross blades with you and hope to live."

Imagine…

"Your flattery is unnecessary and unwarranted," hisses the other, sounding rather bitter. "One mortal did."

"The ancient Maitreya is long dead," the servant says, its voice almost comforting, if such a kind word can be used to describe such evil. "And his latter, weaker descendant will soon follow."

Imagine…

"Yes…" the red eyes glitter malevolently. "Yes. I will go. Good bye, my servant."

"Farewell, my Lord." The two begin to fade…

Imagine…

"Wait!" cries the Lord suddenly. The two re-form, the mist settling back to its original shape. "One final query. What is that name of this world? Where will it be said that Maitreya died?"

The blue eyes shine as their owner whispers, "Alagaësia, my Lord."

"Very well," replied the other, and then the two vanished from the void that wasn't there.

Ending Notes:

This chapter has been brought to you by Lord Lithos Maitreya.

Quality Assurance: Commentaholic - Alpha 05

Commentaholic: This was a rather good chapter, and it impressed me right away. I began to wonder... will I be able to keep up with this sort of quality with my chapter?

Coming up next on When the Clock Strikes Thirteen...

Well... You didn't think we'd tell you, did you? You'll just have to read for yourself!

*Commentaholic cackles* I'm so mean, aren't I?

Nah, I'll let you see... something...

Glaurung's eyes shot open, roused from his slumber by a strange feeling creeping its way up his spine, settling in the small of his back, right between his wings. Inhaling deeply, the golden dragon tried to identify the scent that had arisen on the wind. It was the smell of ozone: the smell in the air before a thunderstorm, but... it was different somehow... charged with an unidentifiable energy... an ominous aura drifted in the atmosphere...

Saphira, Glaurung urged, Saphira, get up. We have to get inside.

Saphira's eyes cracked open and she yawned, Why?

A storm is coming. A bad one, by the smell of it, Glaurung explained.

Saphira raised her angular head and inhaled deeply, as Glaurung had. Her eyes widened as well, You're right.

Lightning struck the mountain above them, causing a shower of charred stone to drizzle over their scales as they hurried into the cave.

...To be continued...

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