The Quest (a medieval AU)-Chapter 1
Sir Richard Grayson of Gotham rode his trusty silver maned horse through the paths in the woods, on his way to the town of Jump. He kicked the mare making her giddy up and run faster into the night.
Soon the days sun was being replaced with the silver, full moon, the sky sprinkled with stars, and Sir Richard urged his horse to ride quicker. If he rode fast enough, he may have a chance of getting into an inn and advoiding the enemy soldiers. In the light they where unseen, but when the darkness crept in they slithered out of their hideouts, ready to pounce.
Up ahead Sir Richard spotted the dim light of candle lit lamps in the town and his heart leaped, he was almost there.
Faster and faster they went, the mare's legs pumping and the dark haired boy clinging to the blonde mane.
Quicker and quicker they rode, bounding over stumps and lumps in their way and leaping over little streams and rivers.
Closer and closer they were, so near that Sir Richard could taste it...and then he heard something.
A muffled scream.
'It must be the death soldiers' he thought, abandoning the road to Jump and heading towards the sound of the muffled scream.
"Now, you're gonna' give me all ya loot alright, or else ok? Give me all ya stuff and I might not punish you!"
The sinister voice cackled, leading Sir Richard to the scene.
Peeking through the tall pine trees of the forest, he squinted through his sea blue pools and saw a death soldier holding a knife against a young lady while her husband desperately pulled anything that was worth something out of his pockets.
The evil man chuckled again and grabbed the pile of gold coins and ruby red rings, stuffing them in a brown satchel bag before dropping the limp blonde from his clutches.
"Well, it's been lovely meeting ya...huh!"
Surprised, the soldier looked up to see a medium height, fifteen year old boy with raven coloured hair and a steel helmet lined with gold covering his eyes, however he dressed rather simply - a long sleeved brown top trimmed with silver and black trousers with the boots of a knight. The boy had grabbed the sack out of his clutches and flung it to the scared couple, who were gathering their things and holding each other in terror.
The death soldier was furious and turned around and growled at the couple, this small distraction allowed Sir Richard to grab his neck and bring him into a headlock, then he began to tie his hands.
He tried to get out of his grip but the boy was strong, and as he fidgeted he noticed a small red R on the top left of his top...
"Wait, aren't you, Sir Richard of Gotham? Why are you here in Jump?"
Sir Richard froze, only tightening his arm around the death soldiers neck causing him to groan in pain
"Just got here, and it's a one way trip, I don't plan on coming , what to do with you..."
The death soldier wasn't getting out of this one.
After dealing with the enemy soldier Sir Richard and his horse rode the last bounds confidently to Jump, the young knight feeling pleased at taking down his first enemy soldier without Lord Bruce. It was like a warm glow that was burning in his stomach, proving to himself that he didn't need his former adoptive father for help, and they soon reached the wooden gates to the city and two potrolling knights, guarding the entrance.
The first guard stepped forward and spoke to Sir Richard, "Speak to us of your name and purpose."
"Sir Richard of Gotham, and I come here to protect the streets of Jump from unknown enemies."
Without warning the second one burst into a fit of laughter, ending up banging his fists on the floor and tears rolling out of his eyes. The first one grinned at his colleague and began sniggering too. A frown appeared on Sir Richard's face as he tried to understand.
"So? Whats so funny?"
Through hysterics the second one began to speak, still rolling around on the ground giggling like a little child, "You...you, you seriously...think that, YOU, on your...on your own, could protect Jump? PWHAHAHA! What do you think about HIM protecting us Billy?"
The first one scoffed and paused to think, "I don't think he's the right material Billy, so puny, he would need some help to ever take down a death soldier! What about your little Lord daddy, huh?"
"Yeah, where's your little Dark Knight, why isn't you helping you?! Or did you get into a little daddy fight? Such a daddy's boy, ain't he Billy?!" The second one replied with a smirk.
That warm fire inside of him had died out, tiny bits of ashes of hope left because of all the rude remarks from the mocking soldiers. Sir Richard felt anger inside him, hot, red anger that he only felt when bad things happened, like when his parents were murdered right before his eyes or he caught his best friend Xavier in bed with his soon to be married beauty Lady Barbara. Then of course he attacked the thug who killed his mother and father and sent him off with a broken leg and black eye, and he called the wedding with Lady Barbara off and with his power demoted Xavier so he became a simple peasant boy. The fire inside him was slowly burning again, the smouldering ashes sprouting into life. But it wasn't a soft warm glow that sent shivers down his spine, oh no, it was heated and spitting, growing larger and larger as he felt more and more anger like fueling it with twigs.
"Aww, is daddy's boy getting upset? It's way past your bedtime, maybe the Dark Knight will read you a story if you're good?" The guard spat out his words with a sickening childish tone.
Sir Richard managed to keep sounding calm and cool though, "No actually, I think you're the ones that will be getting upset soon." His frown was turned upside down when he saw their faces.
"What do ya think he means Billy?"
"Well Billy, I dunno!"
"What are we gonna do then?!"
"I dunno Billy, I'm tryin' to think!"
Pleased with himself, Sir Richard crept behind the squabbling twins, too busy to pay attention to him as his shiny shield hit against their heads. The two groaned, and fell to the floor knocked out cold.
'Jump really should get some better guards' he thought to himself.
Then out of no where a large, looming shadow blocked his way. Sir Richard sighed to himself and mentally cursed, first an enemy soldier, then two irritating twins, and now this guy? He just hoped he would take this guy down quickly, all Sir Richard wanted to do at the moment was rest in a comfy, plump bed and sleep long past dawn. Though when the tired knight looked up, well, he was shocked to say the least.
"Not meaning to sound rude but, are you a..."
"Pirate, no, but I do get that a lot, having a wooden leg and patch after all."
Sir Richard saw a tall, well built chocolate coloured male with a dark blue long sleeved top and darker trousers, but the right leg was cut off to reveal a light wooden leg. It was not a peg of the usual sort and looked much like a normal one, carved with incredible detail, and when he looked closer saw scratched into the wood the word 'Cyborg'.
Then Sir Richard turned his attention to his brown lips and a caring grey eye, the other covered with an eye patch, not black with a skull and cross bones on it wrapped around your face like a classic pirate one, it was red and sowed into the area around his former eye, very impressive to say the least. It was certainly one way to make an entrance.
He was brought back to earth when the person carried on talking, "Now, at first I would have called the knights on ya' for taking down the guards but now I see there is no need."
"What do you mean!" Sir Richard demanded, now worrying he might have to spend some time behind bars. Already causing mischief and getting locked up? It would just prove to Bruce that he couldn't stay out of trouble and look after himself with out his assistance.
"Hey, no need to get feisty, just look around!"
Slowly he turned around and relief washed over him like a water way. When the second guard had fallen, part of his jacket had slipped off revealing a black uniform and orange badge...
"They were death soldiers disguised as the guards, probably planning on taking down Jump from the inside. I suppose when they saw you they got defensive cause ya know, you are the enemy to them...your Sir Richard! The prince of Gotham! I mean..." the dark figure trailed off when he glared at him.
Sir Richard spoke up, "I think I recognise them, or, him I suppose," the person looked up with a confused expression on his continued to answer his puzzled looks.
"This is a soldier called Billy Numerous, he was cursed at the age of eight by a witch so he could make identical copies of himself, unwillingly, but over the years he learnt how to control it and now can do it however he much he pleases."
The 'pirate' only nodded, then quickly replied back, "How do you know all about him, yo? I mean, c'mon dude, it seems like you only just met him!"
"Well, what you said was true...I AM Sir Richard of Gotham and I have worked along side the Dark Knight for many years now and have encountered Billy many times on his own too...but never as a death soldier. That's why I didn't recognise him at first, I suppose."
The two settled into a comfortable silence, just taking in what had happened, then the dark skinned person began to grin.
"Anyway, Mr Sir Richard, my names Victor Stone, but you can call me Vic or Cyborg if ya want!"
Sir Richard returned the smile and talked back,"Like on your wooden leg?"
Vic looked surprised but carried on smiling,"So ya really are a little detective, huh?" he ruffled the now equally surprised teens spiky hair and continued.
"Now, I know you're probably lookin' for a place to stay and most of the inns in Jump will be closed but,"
"But?"
"I do own a pretty neat tavern myself called the Titans Tower, I got two spare bedrooms, three when my honey bee ain't stayin so I can offer you a room of you want!"
Sir Richard was touched by Vic's, or Cyborgs kindness - in Gotham you had to earn someone's friendship and it often took years until you were doing things like 'offering a place to stay', and free of charge too?! Now he just had to make one thing clear.
"So Vic, are we friends now?"
Vic clutched his heart dramatically and pulled Sir Richard into a hug with his left arm.
"We were always friends, Dickie-Boy! Now c'mon, I will show ya to the tavern." and off the two walked through the city gates and into the dull peaceful streets of Jump.
A few minutes later, a figure crept out of the bushes and walked over to Billy Numerous, who had now turned to his normal form and was sleeping calmly. A kick from a metal boot caused him to stir and then gulp as he realised what he had done and why he was on the ground - he had failed his mission.
The orange and black mask hid the figures facial expression but by the actions you could tell he was angry.
In a quick motion he grabbed Billy Numerous by his neck and lifted it upwards to his face and he began to felt his throat go tighter and tighter and tighter. He began to see stars as he felt his windpipe be completly crushed and he struggled to get out of the tight grip, but to know prevail.
The figure let out a slightly devilish laugh, then just before Billy thought he was going to die he was dropped to the floor like a rag doll. He held his neck as he started to breathe normal again, and his heart stopped racing.A content sigh escaped his lips and he stopped massaging his bruised windpipe to look at the man. Fear pumped through his veins as the figure knelt down slowly and began to stare.
And he stared and stared and stared. It was intimidating, terrifieing, Billy felt his heart begin to pound quicker and quicker and quicker in his chest.
The figure finally began to speak in a low, sharp voice, "You failed, Billy Numerous."
The death soldier could only nod his head, to scared to say anything. It frightened him when the figure slammed his fist into the ground - hard.
"You're not supposed to make mistakes!" he shouted, still staring at Billy with rage, "Not like that Sir Richard. I have been watching him you see," his anger seemed to have calmed down and he chuckled evilly at his plan, "he doesn't make mistakes, he wouldn't fail my missions, and he has this fire inside him, when he gets angry, and when he is angry is indestructible...like me..."
Billy gulped but carried on listening, this was going to be his first big mission.
"Collect your little gang, and your leader too, that bad luck girl, and meet me at sunset tommorow. I'm going to get a new death soldier to join my army of crooks, only this time he will be my new, personal, apprentice!"
And the figures villainous laughter could be heard through the forest and into the dark, dark, night, louder than any villainous laughter you have ever heard...
END OF CHAPTER
Suprise! Don't worry I'm still posting the next chapter of Super School but I wanted to share the first chapter of this new series with you guys. This is going to be a more a serious and detailed fanfic unlike my first one, and will probably only have about 10-30 chapters in it, whereas Super School is going to have a lot more than that. I will upload a new chapter for this every Sunday unless there are so many reviews and follows/favourites that I can't refuse and post it a few days earlier :-) Thank you so much for checking this out, make sure to look at my other story and favourite and follow them!
Love you all,
Grass X