AN: We do not own Maradonia or ANYTHING associated with it and do you know what? We're actually kind of glad. Gloria Tesch, we honestly think Maradonia could have some potential, we really do. C'mon, it's a fantasy land with a name that's actually pronounceable- pretty rare nowadays. We think that with editing, grammar checking and some actual thought it could be a half decent story and by the way, we're doing this through minimal knowledge of the book as all Maradonia extracts have vanished off the face of the internet. For SUCH a popular book that is quite an achievement.
So here it is: Our revised version of Maradonia and the Seven Bridges, AKA the first Maradonia fanfic and aren't we proud.
Prologue
The feast was being prepared at the palace of Apollyon, the Emperor of the Apollyonic empire. All the generals and minor leaders of the underworld and the army had arrived for the meeting of the High Council.
Arabella, one of the spies in the service of the underworld, was still waiting for her audience with Apollyon but the generals who hoped to curry his favour never gave her a chance. They're like vultures, she thought. Just wanting high positions and power. The vultures ordered her to sit at the far end of the hall and she could swear they laughed at her as they went to take their seats at the high table.
Once everyone was seated silence fell as they all waited anxiously for their ruler. The silence seemed to stretch on and on until the two doors at one end of the hall were thrown open and Apollyon strode in. There was the sound of chairs scraping against the stone floor as people scrambled to stand. Apollyon walked slowly to his position at the high table then motioned for them all to sit, though he did not sit himself.
"I declare this, the meeting of the council of the Apollyonic Empire, to have begun." He said, his voice echoing around the large chamber. "I welcome-" at this Arabella sat up a little straighter; perhaps now someone would finally remember her and the information she had brought with her… "-the seven ravens who bring us important news." Arabella slumped in her seat and resisted the urge to put her head in her hands. She half wanted to just leave but like anyone else under the rule of Apollyon, she knew better. "The ravens told me of our defeat at the hands of two children. And who led our armies? Why, it was none other than Abbadon." At this every pair of eyes in the room turned towards the general who sat on the left of Apollyon's throne and was staring stonily ahead, though a faint blush crept across his cheeks. "Abbadon, I do not think it fair that a man of your stature should have to endure the shame of defeat and as such I think it only correct that you save what is left of your honour by following tradition and falling upon your sword." Abbadon's expression was no longer stony and impassive but fearful. Apollyon continued: "But now I see that you have forgotten your sword! Never mind, my friend, for you may use mine." He smiled cruelly and drew his sword. The hiss as it was removed from its sheath was heard all around the chamber and was somehow more ominous than usual. Apollyon motioned at Abbadon to stand and delighted in the abject terror that emanated from him.
Everyone was silent; nobody breathed, nobody moved.
With a shaking hand Abbadon took the blade and Apollyon's voice came out in a whisper and even that whisper echoed. "We are doing you a kindness, Abbadon."
Abbadon raised the sword and plunged it between his ribs, knowing full well that if he did not Apollyon would find a punishment far crueller for him.
"I apologise, my lord," he managed to choke out before his body crumbled to the floor. Apollyon removed the sword from Abbadon's chest and wiped it clean on Abbadon's cloak.
"I will not have it said that the Emperor Apollyon allows his generals to endure the shame of defeat." He spoke pleasantly but everyone saw the veiled threat. A repeat of Abbadon's failure would bring the same fate. "So, you must be wondering how we could be defeated by two children. Well, to learn how I sent the ravens to gather more information. They went to Maradonia and there, in the capital Selinka, they heard of a lake that lies between the Canyon River, the Thordis River and the Cornerstone Cliff. Long ago the waters of this lake were infused with magic by Ruach an ancient wizard. Ruach made it so that anyone who bathed in that lake's waters would be immune to our powers by hurling our ancestor's castle into it. King Astrodoulos of Maradonia sent the two children along with his army and generals to bathe in this lake- thus making our magic ineffective against them."
One of the other high ranking lords whispered to his neighbour. "How could such a thing have gone unnoticed?"
"Do you have something to add?" The lord realised that everyone had heard him.
"No sire."
"Then please do not interrupt me." Apollyon clenched his fist then opened his hand to reveal a ball of black fire which he threw at the lord who had interrupted him. A moment later, and all that remained was a pile of ash. "So, the spies returned from their mission with this information and I did a little research, for our records go back even further than those of Maradonia, and I learned a little secret that may just help us win this war…"
AN: Yes, we killed off Abbadon, but be fair; he mucked up a military operation against two children. No evil overlord would have shown mercy. Anyway, it's ok Gloria gave us lots of spares in the original work to replace him. Like Gertrude (No joke, a fairy leader in the evil empire is actually called Gertrude. Oh, and we changed the name of the empire didn't we? Well Evil Empire was a bit of a rubbish name.)