Acéin
Chapter One: Knell
Author: Miss Lizz
Rating: R for blood, language, and more blood.
Disclaimer: The characters of Masters of the Universe belong to Mattel. This story and the ideas herein are mine though.
Note: This tale contains certain themes some people may not find suitable for all ages. Viewer discretion is advised.
Also, I will not refer to the Masters as 'masters,' I personally think this makes them sound like, I don't know, like porn stars or something so their official title will be the Defenders.
The ringing crash of steel on steel echoed through the dense forest, sending dark clouds of birds skyward from their roosts in the trees and earthbound creatures took flight from the great din of battle. In the gray light of pre-dawn, the fog was thick, so thick none could see more than a few feet in any direction but it did little to ease the brutality of the struggle as battle cries and blood flew through the chill air. Outcome unknown, spirits flagging on either side, it seemed an eternity and more as the battle raged.
Able to rely on senses other than sight, Beast Man easily darted about each of his enemies, no matter where they were and accurately land blows before they even knew he was there. Many were the deeply bleeding claw marks he'd made.
Utilizing one of his three eyes, Tri-Klops was not hampered in the least by the fog and so had little difficulty finding the opponent he wanted. For an instant he frowned, seeing his adversary, the man was already injured by Beast Man's claws, large swatches of his helmet and armour ripped away, appearing staggered from the most recent blow. Would it be honourable to face his old friend like this? Like he truly cared now, Tri-Klops smiled wickedly as he drew his sword and ran forward.
It was nothing more than an opportunity, an opportunity he planned to take full advantage of.
"Wulfric!"
Mekanek whirled at the sound of his name and was almost too late to deflect the blow that would have easily carved open his head and chest. As it was, the broadsword left its angry marks on his forearm and leg, sending stinging pain radiating along his nerves. He almost fell, staggering back several feet.
He grunted, swinging his heavy club with all the force he could, given he was still reeling from the blow to the head from Beast Man that had ripped one half of his triangular goggles off― narrowly missing his eye― and part of his helm. Gods that had hurt. It still hurt.
Tri-Klops was not so injured, was in fact quite fresh to the fight, giving him a distinct advantage over Mekanek.
He met with other swings of the blade but lay in several of his own as the two warriors traded crushing blows. His spirits were lifting by margins at the possible outcome when something large and growling landed with a thud on the ground directly behind him and before he could move, that something slammed what felt like a battering ram into the back of his head. Mekanek stumbled forward, trying to ignore the loud, painful ringing in his ears and catch up to his lost balance.
Some sort of abrupt pressure tore into his middle ribcage, a few inches below his right pectoral muscle, but he didn't at first think anything about it because there was no pain but when he noticed Tri-Klops' smiling visage just inches from his, Mekanek began to wonder what the other was smiling so triumphantly about and tried to move.
Feeling strangely leaden, his body sluggishly and only barely responding to his commands, th taller warrior pushed himself away from his one-time friend causing the other man to shift footing in order to remain standing. Mekanek staggered backwards, noting vaguely that he'd dropped his club somewhere. That wouldn't do at all. How was he to defend himself against― had Tri-Klops dropped his weapon as well?
No, his hands were still clasped on the hilt in an easy grip. He smiled more broadly, displaying even, white teeth, and suddenly Mekanek felt as well as heard the loud snap of a metal blade. He immediately felt something warm wash down his chest as well.
Sensation came crashing back down on him like a dam bursting its barriers and the hero looked down at this chest where that strange pressure had become a blinding pain. He tried to speak, to make some sound, to ask 'why' but all he managed were wet, choked, retching sounds as more of that warm fluid dribbled out of his mouth and nose. Oh gods…
There was a supreme look of shock on the younger man's face as he staggered weakly back, dark red blood welling in great gouts from the blade's entry point. Tri-Klops watched this rather dispassionately, still holding his broken sword. He watched as more blood poured out of his mouth and nose when he made a gargled choking sound― looking as if he had no idea why he was bleeding― and backed into the hulking form of Beast Man.
Beast Man grinned nastily and waited until the puzzled hero turned to look before sending him into the nearby trees with open-handed strikes to the head and chest. The audible snap of bone and crack of armour made Tri-Klops unconsciously winced.
"He was almost too easy." The large, shaggy man said with a bark of laughter.
It was rather easy, thought Tri-Klops darkly. While Wulfric had never been the greatest warrior the Defenders possessed and, true, reconnaissance work could have softened him up a bit, it should not have been this easy a task to beat him. A trick mayhap?
Gazing through the dense tangles of ivy and above ground roots, he saw the very still, crumpled body of his most hated foe lying in the foggy shadows amid an ever-growing pool of darkly glistening liquid that could only be blood. Damn, he's still alive, thought the triple-eyed warrior, stepping carefully forward and kneeling beside the younger man. Taking hold of his helmet and giving a small tug, the broken red helm came into his possession.
It would make a fitting souvenir…
A heavy thump alerted him that Beast Man had also crouched down. As he watched, the shaggy, red-haired giant gripped Wulfric's splintered, bloody breastplate, giving it a forceful pull that tore it off easily. He then held up the battered red metal to inspect it, looking very much like a jeweler inspecting a fine diamond.
"Trophy hunting?"
Beast Man grins toothily, displaying ragged, sharp fangs, "Yeah. Been a good day so far. I see you got one too."
The distant sound of a screamed 'retreat' drew their attentions and a sigh from Tri-Klops. It never failed. He spared one last sickened look down at Mekanek's dying body and sneered. The two dark warriors stood and vanished off into the dense fog.
At least he wasn't going away empty-handed. Bruised and sore and lacking a sword but victorious nonetheless. He had to smile at that.
End
I'm cruel, aren't I? Poor Mekanek. Yes, this tale will focus mainly on him (that's a first in history, isn't it? If anyone knows please tell me) with a small bit for Tri-Klops and some of the others.
The names, family histories, atlas, and such are based on my histories for the characters from Begoud, which is still being written and goes into the other characters not quite so much as this one will.
Please tell me what you think of this. Send many reviews (no flames if possible, they cause me to become very distraught). Thank you for taking the time to read this.