Side Story to A New Awakening
Series: The Seizure of the Underworlds
The Fourth – The Black General
***WARNING, WARNING***
Spoiler alert for An New Awakening (just a little one but it is a DOOSEY!)
Dani: Legend is listed in Profile)
By Dani Yanega
Chapter Four
The party of four entered a small clearing in the park. Takhisis held up her hand to halt them at the edge of the trees. In the center of the grove stood a large rock with engravings that all the Generals recognized as magical runes. They waited as instructed by their Mistress, although Seth a bit more impatiently then the others. Time passed slowly and since Kiima had not only just gone through the conversion she also had been deprived of her Phoenix wings, the standing was beginning to take its toll. She gently flapped her dragon wings but had not had time to get accustomed to them. She just wanted to rise an inch off the ground but almost shot up three feet. She quickly stopped flapping and landed weakly on the ground. Genma noticed this and moved slightly closer to her then leaned against her to help her stand. She nodded slightly at his aid and leaned into him as they waited.
The flashing of a bright green light ended their wait. The light faded to reveal a tall man of about six foot. His hair was long and free flowing just past his shoulders. It was just as black as obsidian. His wide frightened eyes were a dark gunmetal gray. He was of average build just slightly more bulky then a high elf. The grip he had on the seven-foot onyx staff almost caused it to crack. The smooth black surface of the two-inch diameter staff was etched with magical runes. The carvings were then filled with molten silver and gold and allowed to harden. The staff's bottom tapered to a rounded point and covered in silver. At the top was a gold ball but it was made out of thin strips of gold creating a cage effect. In the center of the cage sat a prefect blood red ruby that glowed with power. He wore long robes of black and gray. His robes like Raistlin's had the hems and edges embroidered with magical runes as well. On his left, cheek a scar going from his temple to the left side of his mouth giving him the effect of a permanent sneer.
"GREETINGS BALKIER WE HAVE BEEN AWAITING YOUR ARRIVAL!" Takhisis had started her transformation to her dragon form the moment the light started glowing she loved the look of fear on those who stood before her dragon form.
The elf turned his staff at the ready. He was not surprised as the others to see a dragon he was however not very happy to see the one that was before him. He knew of the Dark Queen of Krynn from the rumors about Raistlin and from the chromatic dragons. Balkier quickly tapped the ground with his staff causing it to glow brightly when the light faded a shimmering wall of silver and gold was around him.
"You have nothing I want Takhisis!" Balkier told the dragon before him.
"YOU KNOW OF ME?" The dragon asked an eyebrow on each of the heads rising.
"Yes, we have your dragons and a mage from your home world." Balkier watched with slight curiosity as Takhisis shifted shapes.
"Which mage?" She asked taking a step toward the protected elf mage.
"Why should you care?" Balkier liked knowing something this evil incarnate did not.
"Do _NOT_ toy with me elf; your shield is nothing to me!" Takhisis was now standing less than a few inches from the shield.
"That is where you are wrong Dark Queen. I am from Illondra my power does not diminish from world to world. You are not as strong here on this world as you once were on your home world." Balkier grinned at her as if he had caught on to her secret.
The three generals behind her were listening intently one more than the others in the hopes of finding a way to free himself from her captivity. He had decided not to kill her after all but instead he would make her his slave. He would use her and allow others to partake of her flesh as a means to humiliate her for what she has done to him. His attention was quickly drawn back to the confrontation when he heard the elf scream out.
"You are a fool Balkier but a fool I need to conquer this world. I am a child of Chaos. Chaos is everywhere on all worlds. My powers come from Chaos not my planet of origin." Takhisis shook the elf whose neck was firmly in her grasp.
She then threw him at the stone in the middle of the clearing. He hit so hard the stone cracked releasing the power of the magic that made it a portal between Illondra and earth. The generals watched as Balkier slid down the stone to land as a heap at the bottom. Takhisis walked over to him standing over him her chest heaving. Balkier looked up at the evil goddess his high elf arrogance still plastered firmly on his face.
"Join me Balkier and you will have your revenge when all of Illondra falls to me!" Takhisis told him her voice as cold as the arctic wind.
"There are those poised to stop you evil one, why should I align myself with you when they have the mage who defeated you before." Balkier loved the look of shock on Takhisis' face.
"_Raistlin_!" The breathless whisper came from her lips.
"Yes evil queen and more powerful then when you last fought him." Balkier told her his smile growing at her discomfort.
"And if my scryings are correct he trains the three that can defeat you this time. Children of Chaos, all that remains is the blessings of Chaos himself and they will get it. That is if they have not already gotten it." Balkier slowly stood as he prepared to leave the grotto.
It was Takhisis' turn to smile when Balkier tried to open the portal home only to have the stone sit there, well like a stone. He turned and looked at the doorway and saw all the cracks in the surface. He turned back shock and anger on his face as Takhisis held out her hand to him. A hand covered in black lightning. Balkier looked to the hand then back up at the exotic beauty it belonged too. He took a step back from her but the now dead doorway prevented him from going any farther.
"You only have two choices elf join me or die." Takhisis spoken last words made the elf mage shudder in fear.
Balkier nodded and reached out and took her hand. His scream filled the clearing and the surrounding park. Many of the visitors to the park ran from the area while others tried to reach the center of the trees where the scream came from. Only to find their way barred by an invisible barrier. When the black lightning finally dissipated, Balkier was left on his hands and knees gasping in great gouts of air. His staff still clutched tightly in his hand. He slowly rose to his feet stumbling against the rock for support. He looked down and found himself wearing the same style armor as the other three only his armor was as black as his onyx staff. His shoulders carried a cape of emerald green.
"My Blue General awaits us let us go." Takhisis told them as she fed magic into the cracked stone forcing a portal to open back to the Abyss.