War of Prophecies JCW1
CH 4: the night battlefield
Chris, Cyanide, and Munch traveled along the shore rather than through the dense jungle for a day then followed a river. Two days later, they crossed a desert, and after a two more, they enter a hills biome. Mutant Zombies, spiders, skeletons, and witches are everywhere. Munch is a remarkable fighter for one so young, but even with their gear, they are outmatched. Lord Damien's army of evil stands between them and safety. Exhausted and desperate, they were running for their lives and toward a village only five nights after they returned, when a welcome sight greets them.
Winter and Spikey were running toward them swiftly, and protectively bellowing at the mobs chasing them. The pet dinosaurs are followed by Carflo on Chewy, and an army of villagers and testificates led by Mike. All night the battle rages, people die on one side, Damien's mobs are killed on the other. Dawn ends the battle as the last Mutant zombie is destroyed. The rest burn in the sunlight. Cyanide and Chris continued to be amazed at young Munch's skill but victory had come at a heavy cost. Many have been lost. Half the village is destroyed. The battle over, friends and survivors get to greet each other.
"Man, it is good to see you, Winter looks amazing," Cyanide gushes happily, relieved to see a living Carflo and his beloved Winter.
"DUDE! I missed you and your sword... you gotta teach me how to use it!" Chris adds.
"Well, I missed you too, for a few minutes anyway." Carflo states, smiling, then his tone and expression turn deadly serious, "These attacks have increased since you left, Damien must think I'm weak. He doesn't know you're back. That's why Mike doesn't want you to use your guns yet."
Cyanide nods, "We know, dude. We barely have any ammo left, we need to make more." He shrugs before continuing, "Where is Mike? Man, if he hadn't sent Munch..."
Chris waves to where the wounded are being treated, "Cyanide, over there!"
They walk toward where Mike is working, Munch is walking toward them from the opposite direction. Carflo rushes ahead to greet him.
Munch bows to Lord Carflo, "My Lord, I must get back, Lord Damien's forces are heavier in the southern region. My brother is taking the Masons and Miners to..."
Carflo looks at him, shaking his head solemnly, and the young warrior goes rigid. He glances to his uncle who only nods, then the youth silently turns and stomps away. Cyanide and Chris who didn't catch the exchange, approach Mike excitedly as Carflo watches Munch go.
"Hey Mike, thanks so much for sending Munch. We never would have made it without him." Cyanide declares but seeing the look on the testificate's face, he realizes there is a problem. "Wait... what's wrong? Ohmigawd, what happened?"
Chris was still a few steps behind Cyanide, and looking at the destruction. He turns to Carflo, "How do you know Munch?"
"He and his siblings grew up in the Great City where I went to school," Carflo sounds strange, sad and yet happy at the same time, "His sister is one of the best bakers in the land. Mmmmmmm cookies... I'm hungry!"
"Let's get Munch and go eat," Chris suggests.
Mike stands quietly awaiting the banter to finish, then bowed head, 'speaks' to them. Telling them of Munch's twin brother Matthias' death, and the fall of Butken Smaragd and the southern villages.
"I am sorry about his brother Matthias! That makes him the last one." Carflo says sincerely. "My brother is getting too bold."
"Last one what?" Chris asks.
"The last warrior knight left in his family, all of his brothers are dead," Carflo says almost emotionlessly.
Cyanide nods and adds sadly, "Poor Munch." He looks in the direction the young warrior disappeared. He thinks about all of those in the future who will die if they fail.
"Dude...I'm just... dude... I am sorry..." then Chris looks at the testificate, suddenly the traumas of Mike and Carflo's future deaths return. He just turns and walks away from them too.
Carflo feels a sadness for Munch, he aches in a strange way for his friend's suffering, but more than that he blames himself for Matthias' death, and he hates his brother more. So much suffering for no reason. Breakfast is quickly eaten. They sadly start to bury the dead. At mid-morning, they resolutely finished the work of clearing the battlefield, and began repairing and fortifying the village.
Later that day, Chris is back to being Chris and moaning about Munch's absence. "Man, I wish he would come back, I am miss those awesome stew bowls and cookies."
"Really REALLY!," Cyanide snaps, "Our friend's brother has been killed by Damien's army, a city destroyed, and you're worried about eating?!"
"Hey, they were really, really good!" Chris defend himself sulkily.
"Well, yeah, they were, but really bro!" Cyanide just shakes his head at Chris and his stomach.
Frustrated, Carflo interrupts their bickering, "Would you two stop fighting! Didn't you have enough of that last night? Besides his sister should be in the City and she is a better cook anyway. I am sure she'll make us cookies. I remember playing with them all when they were children." He becomes quiet as the odd sensation returns to his heart, he doesn't like how uncomfortable it makes him feel. "Excuse me," he says abruptly and walks away.
They stare after him confused, the Carflo they returned to is very moody, even worse that the first week they knew him.
Moments later, Chris says in a low voice, "Hey, did we ever figure out how old he is?"
Cyanide shrugs, "Nope... maybe several hundreds of years now, thousands and thousands of years there in the future, maybe even millions if he didn't use the time machine to go forward."
After a low whistle, Chris wonders aloud, "Wouldn't it be cool..."
Cyanide cut him off, "No Chris, no it wouldn't. Carflo has to bury everyone he cares about eventually. I think that's why he tries so hard not to care about anyone. Immortality sucks, man!"
Chris is quiet for a moment, "I never thought about it that way, no wonder he is such a jerk."
Cyanide just smirks at his childhood friend, "Takes one to know one." He laughs at Chris' offended gasp.
Ch 5: Farlanders to the Rescue
Three days... they have run and fought for three days through the jungle! It was taking too long to travel this way,and constantly fighting off zombies and skeletons is sloowing them down even more. But the creepers had been helping them. Every time the MOMazon Milady was sure they were cornered, a creeper would appear and blow up the pursuing mob. For now, they had found shelter in the dense jungle thicket. Arturo was asleep in the glow of the furnace, the last two of the dogs sitting guard on either side of him. Milady was cooking while EnderMARA was making arrows.
"64 more, MOM" she sighed, "But I am out of flint and feathers."
"Good job Sweetie, foods almost done then we can go."
"Can't we sleep, I'm so tired, and Arturo..." EnderMARA starts to complain.
"No," her mother cuts in sternly. Then the MOMazon, seeing her exhausted daughter's head bow, softly says, "MARA, I know you're tired, honey, I am too, but we have to keep going if we are going to protect Arturo. That means getting to the Great City or some other sanctuary before we can rest." The MOMazon was already removing the cooked chicken and baked potatoes from the oven.
"I know," EnderMARA says, "but.."
A noise behind them, and the dogs snarl, standing. Both mother and daughter jump to the ready, bows drawn. Two Farlanders are looking down at them, it is Ehbruh and an Ender Elder. EnderMARA almost laughs in relief as they lower their eyes and their bows. Her mother chirps a greeting in End-speak as they both bow to the Elder.
'I greet thee, Ancient One.' the MOMazon speaks respectfully. 'We require aid to escape and...'
'I know who it is you guard, Defender, it is my people's honor to aid you, for peace profits both our peoples.' The Elder responds. 'I extend a welcome to our village.'
The MOMazon bows again. Carefully, she picks up Arturo and places him in Ebruh's arms. The EnderMinion blinks slowly, the Enderman equivalent of a smile.
Nearby there are sounds of mobs crashing through the jungle and hissing. Two more Farlanders appear, and suddenly they are all standing on top of the tree above where they were hidden. The sounds of dogs fighting skeletons comes from below. A creeper explodes. The Endermen touch them again, and they are on a tree more than a chunk away. The dizzying shift from place to place happens three more times before Arturo awakes in Ehbruh's arms, yawns and goes back to sleep. The Endermen laugh about the little boy being so comfortable with their way of travel. The MOMazon is too tired to register what they are saying, but EnderMARA understands every sound. The Farlanders think that Arturo is special.
Soon, they are standing at the edge of a great desert. Twice more purple particles swirl around them with the dizzying sensation of falling without moving, and then they are looking down at an Ende Village hidden in a dry river bed. Ende stone houses blending perfectly into the pale biome. The MOMazon is relieved, but she cannot relax just yet. She immediately begins speaking to the Elder about what has passed on the southern coast.
'My thanks for our rescue, ' EnderMARA clicks and chirps in End-speak. She remembers her Ender-manners and offers each of their rescuers an apple, a ruby, and a rose. (Things she always carried on the chance of meeting any Enderpeople.) The Farlanders bow slightly, accepting the trade for their rescue. They thank her for the generous payment and vanish in a swirl of purple particles. Only Ehbruh remains, still holding Arturo, who is still asleep. He tells her to follow.
She smiles as Ehbruh leads the escapees into a house. A giant Ender Golem stares at them impassively as they approach a house that seems larger than the others. MARA keeps her eyes down respectfully, but holds out an apple to the giant creature. It takes the apple and sniffs it before eating it. Farlanders love apples. She turns and follows Ehbruh up the stairs and into the house. All Ender homes are built from stone brought from the End, with their entrance on the second story. Inside, she tiredly follows Ehbruh down two flights of stairs.
'Tonight we get to sleep in a bed, well I hope, I'm so tired. Do Enderpeople use beds?' MARA's exhausted mind wonders. She realizes they are below ground level, it is much cooler. Ehbruh places a three fingered hand on the wall, it moves.
Downstairs in a secret room, there were beds. She takes off Arturo's boots and her own armor and crawls in bed next to him. The wall closes and the EnderMinion pats both their hair before vanishing and she realizes Ehbruh never seemed to sleep. She had never seen it sleep, she didn't even know if Farlanders did sleep. The one time she had asked her mother if Endermen slept, The MOMazon had just laughed until tears ran down her face and told her not to worry about such things. There were many things her mother had shared with her about those who came from the broken dimension but EnderMARA was sure there were many things her mother kept hidden, just as she herself kept one thing hidden. Secret keeping seemed to be part of the way of the MOMazons and Knights. She laid awake, thinking about all the secrets her family kept and wondering if there would be anyone left to tell them if Lord Damien won.
EnderMARA dozed off to one of her favorite sounds, End-speak. She loved being with Farlanders, learning all about them and, most of all, she loved the EnderDragon. Men had always gone to the End to slay the EnderDragon, steal its eggs, wait for it to respawn and repeat. She thought it was barbaric. EnderMARA was one of the few human who didn't go to The End for that reason. She would do odd jobs for crystals, or begs them off her Uncle Matthias, the mine guild leader. The EnderDragon didn't like eating diamonds or emeralds, but it loved rubies and amethyst, and oddly enough plain red apples. The great black beast was her friend, and it would let her scratch under its giant wings and along it's eye ridges. Ehbruh had taken her to The End more times than she could count. Last time, they had taken Arturo, but MARA had warned him not to tell anyone. It wasn't that EnderMARA wasn't supposed to go to the End, she had never been specifically told she could not go there, but all the adults talked about the End like it was a dangerous place. She loved it there and she had a secret.
'An Egg-celent secret,' she giggled at her own pun, and let her dreams of flying adragonback in the broken realm carry her away.
CH 6 : Time in the End Village
EnderMARA awoke to one of her favorite sounds, End-speak. Ehbruh had found them in the jungle and now they were safe in an End village. She smiled at the thought of porting the great distance to safety and then her tummy growled.
"Wake up lil' brother," she said cheerfully to Arturo.
The boy had slept fitfully. MARA pondered, how would it feel to be friends with a dragon, then to see your home destroyed and your mother killed by another one. It was then that the wall opened and the Elder came in with a farmer, who placed food and left. Mara cautiously looked down as was respectful. The elder lifted her chin with its ancient hand. He gave her a book and spoke in soft tones, informing her that her mother, The Defender, had left but would return soon. Then he asked about the 'sacred stone', Ende speak for the Enderdragon egg. Carefully, EnderMARA held out the dragon egg. The old one smiled and patted it, spoke once more, and left. She was no longer to be called the Defender's Daughter, she was to be known as the Keeper of the Stone.
Days passed. EnderMARA loved her time in the End Village and she tried hard not to worry about her mother. She and Arturo helped the Farlanders gather apples, the two children always got more than all the other fruit finders together. Arturo said it was because they could smell the apples and the Farlanders couldn't. She had never realized that. It wasn't that they couldn't smell, they just had a very weak sense of smell, which explained why they like the strong scent of roses so much.
EnderMARA decided to spend the next 2 days building the village a rose garden. Endermen are terrified of water, it burns them. So she carefully cut and placed lily pads over the all the water. There was no way anyone would fall in accidentally. Well, except Arturo who loved to swim. She asked one of the great EnderGolems, who protected the village what it would trade for some bones to make bone meal. They agreed for 3 apples. The garden was done and the roses were growing tall, even in the desert. The whole village appreciated the gift, gifting was not their way, trading was.
The Farlanders were as curious about Arturo as he was about them. They called him "the Prince", in the same way they now called EnderMARA , "the Keeper." Enders didn't use names, just job titles. Her mom's name was Milady but she was "the Defender" to the Farlanders, and ranked as a MOMazon to their people. Only MARA knew she wanted to stop fighting and be just a baker. Fruit-finder Rehubr had shown her a bean called cocoa and she thought MOM would love it, plain it was bitter, but adding sugar and milk made it wonderful.
It had been just 6 days since that night Butken Smaragd (Emerald Bay) had fallen, when a group of Farlander refugees had shown up during the night and everyone got really excited. A not-far-away End village was destroyed by "the Evil" as the Farlanders called Lord Damien. Many were killed, some had been captured and probably were being tortured, a very few had escaped. There was a rumors about being unable to 'port. Suddenly, there were Farlanders guardians with bows and EnderRebels with swords. Patrols were constant.
Ehbruh and the EnderGolem Smasher were always line of site of the Prince and the Keeper when they ventured outside. An Ender is always with them in the secret room. The elders spoke of sending the children to the End to protect them if the Defender didn't return. Most firghtening where were the rumors. The Evil was trying to mutate Endermen and the Elders worried even the End wouldn't be safe for very long. After that morning, EnderMARA and Arturo spent most of their time inside. MARA built Arturo a warrior-in-training playroom and while he practiced, she compulsively made arrows. An EnderRebel called Sword-maker taught them both with wooden swords and made the Prince a small stone sword. The Farlander called Leather Crafter made him a set of small leather armor, and even though it was too big for him, he never took the leather helmet off.
EnderMARA had Mystic armor from her Uncle Matthias; from her mother, an un-breaking, power IV bow; and a special sword from her grandfather's friend, Odie2200 (whom the Enders called Old Windy, which made her giggle.) He was the last of the great sword makers and a wind mage.
Another day passed, EnderMARA was beginning to fear her mother was dead. Only she and the Elder knew the Defender had gone to see the Evil. EnderMARA didn't understand why, but MOM said it was her duty to go. Just like taking the Blackstone out on the ocean with Uncle Munch had been her duty. However, Lord Damien's forces had attacked the town within hours of their leaving. Since then, the Evil had attacked every coastal or inland village he could find, they had all been destroyed.
Protecting Lady Green had been her mother's duty until the Lady had ordered Arturo protected above all and to be taken to his father... but who was that? Someone in the Great City? But who would know if Cupa and Milady were lost? Perhaps Uncle Mike? Lady Green had died unleashing her power to kill Damien's dragon and destroy his army. Her MOM was possibly dead. That only left MARA to continue. Protecting him was her duty, but who was she to take him to? She wondered...
"Practice with me," begged Arturo, tugging her from her musing. She looks down at the small blond boy in the over-sized leather cap. She couldn't help smiling, he even slept in it.
"Bows or swords?" she grins.
"Hmmm bows... no, swords.. no, both!" He un-chooses enthusiastically.
She laughs. Arrow-sender watches her with Arturo. She taught him everything she could, and learned as much as she could from the Farlander warriors. She would never be as strong as Smasher, but she was fast and learned to evade. She could hold her own against Sword-maker, well for a few minutes, and Arrow-sender taught her how to shoot things too far away see clearly. It was so different from everything her mother and uncles had taught her.
She was trying to concentrate on helping Arturo steady his aim, but her mind wanders back to her earlier musings. They, the Farlanders, call her the Keeper. She is the Keeper of the Stone (egg), and now the Keeper of the Prince, as they called Arturo. She was duty bound to be his protector, by birth and by oath. The Lady Green's son, the child of prophecy, who will have his father's heart, and rule for a thousand years. His father's heart...
And suddenly, she had the realization of who Arturo's father must be. She almost falls over, Arrow-sender looks at her blankly in the way of his people. She suspects the Farlanders knew who Arturo was all along. She shakes her head trying to overcome the shock of the realization. She now has a bigger secret than her dragon egg, but until she is told to do otherwise, she will continue to pretend to be his sister. That had never been hard, because she has loved him from the day he was born.
Her 'little brother', the child of prophecy, is Lord Carflo's son.
CH 7 Cookies for the Evil
A giant zombie approached a village bellowing, "I'm here for your tribute to Lord Damien. Come out and give it to me and you will live another day!"
But the village was abandoned, homes empty, crops gone. The MOMazon stepped out of the church, ruby sword ready.
"There is nothing here for you, giant. You will instead take me to Lord Damien and the Witch Isabella."
"I will take them your head," growls the monster and he attempts to crush her. A fierce battle ensues and ends with the monster laying at her feet nearly dead.
"Honestly, abomination, I think my child has hit me harder with a training sword than you do," she laughs coldly for effect, ruby sword to his throat, "Now get up and take me to Lord Damien and Isabella the Witch or I will end you."
The monster slowly rises, growling, and limps through the woods and toward a volcanic peak.
Just inside the volcanic crater, hovering over a lake of lava is a replica of Lord Carflo's beautiful home. But instead of carved stone and glowstone beauty, it is terrifyingly made of obsidian, nether brick and redstone blocks. The MOMazon stares at it silently.
For the first time since leaving the village, the giant zombie speaks, "Welcome to Death, MOMazon." She nods absently but never looks away from the fortress.
He growls, "Yes, I know what you are, warrior mother, but it won't save you, it won't save any of you!" He laughs harshly.
She know he is trying to sound menacing but she pities him. "Do you want me to kill you before Lord Damien finds out you brought me here?"
"I brought him a prize, he'll reward me!" boast the monster.
The bat she was watching transforms with a flash of lightning, the giant zombie begins to stammer.
"So you brought me a prize, did you zombie? It appears she brought you," Lord Damien states slowly and with malicious purpose, as he circles them. "Let us see how badly one of Carflo's best warriors beat you, shall we?" he hissed. One ancient sword strike later and the giant was dead.
The MOMazon held perfectly still, knowing even the slightest flinch or portrayal of fear would mean her immediate death. After a moment of silence, she spoke the formal introduction.
"I am the MOMazon Milady, great-granddaughter of Marimon and Lars, granddaughter of Mina and Miles, daughter of Meloni and Trabor. And to fulfill the promise of Marimon concerning your century birthday, we are to bring you your favorite cookie made according to her recipe." She places an Enderchest in front of him. It contains a single stack of glowing cookies.
Damien is intrigued. "So the MOMazons remember to honor me on my birthday and remember my childhood fondly," he sneers. His breath smells like blood and she fleetingly wonders if he's been drinking it. He opens the chest, takes a cookie and eats it. "MMMMMMMM just like your great- grandmother used to make." He examines another cookie, "She always had a sweet spot for me," he says smirking.
"Thank you, Lord Damien," and she bows as is required.
"And such good manners." He hisses, smiling like a snake who's trapped a mouse.
"If it pleases you, Lord Damien, there is another matter. I am required to speak to Isabella the Witch... please." She waits.
Lord Damien looks back toward the citadel and eats another cookie.
"Yes... let's arrange that, shall we. Please walk carefully this way..." indicating the bridge with a flourish.
There are holes down to the lava lake below, and fires burning in random places and all Milady can think about was her training taking a nether fortresses in the Infernal Realm.
She almost hesitates, but bows and crosses the bridge, after she responds formally, "Thank you, my Lord Damien."
Her use of the old way makes him sneer again. "Scared, my dear?" he questions in an evil tone.
"No my lord, just dreading the message I am about to deliver." She begins walking bravely into the dark fortress. All around her are mutants and monsters of every sort, screams and moans fill the air. It is truly a place of evil. They pass rooms she knows are torture chambers, she walks until he directs her to balcony over the lava lake.
"Wait here, I've summoned Isa-bel-la" he rolls her name off his tongue, smirking.
The MOMazon can see in his eyes all the tortures he has planned for her, and he knows it, but her resolve doesn't waiver.
"Thank you, my lord," she barely can get it out in the acrid air.
"Oh my pleasure, anything for the last of her kind who brought me some of Marimon's wonderful cookies for my birthday. But you came early, my birthday is still a little while off... Ahhh and here is Isabella. My dear witch, this MOMazon wanted to see you..." he giggles evilly.
She almost shudders, but answers, "I was vowed to bring you these cookies 3 generations ago and I apologize for the early delivery. However, I can not miss Lord Carflo's celebration."
His eyes narrow dangerously, so she turns quickly to Isabella and speaks with the same formality, "Witch Isabella, I have come to inform you that your sister, the Witch Agatha has been killed, we know not by whom."
Behind her, Milady can hear Damien pull out the ancient weapon of his kind and prepares herself for the lightning to come. Suddenly, there is the sound of breaking glass and she feels the ticks of pain begin. Isabella has withered her! Darkness begins to consume her.
As she faints, she hears Damien say like a pouting child, "Isabella you always ruin my fun!"
"She lies, she is a spy... She knows who killed my sister, she wouldn't be here otherwise. Give her to me, my Lord Damien, and I will find out all she knows of Carflo." The witch croaks like a frog.
Later, in a cell remarkably cool for being over a lake of lava, she is awake but still twitching. 'Slow wither,' she realizes, it could take days for her to die.
The door flies open loudly and Isabella rushes in, speaking even more loudly in screeching tones, "Do not open this door for any reason! You shouldn't have come here, MOMazon!" The door obediently shuts.
Milady is trapped alone with the angry Witch!
To Be Continued...