Disclaimer: I don't own MediEvil. Griff's my character. Enough said. I alluded a bit to the Dr. Suess style of writing, I down't own that bit either, you'll know what I mean when you read it.

Author's notes: It's been a long time since I wrote a fic that's gone on this long. Anyhow, this is a continuation of the last chapter.. but you probably knew that already. A bit of meat on this chapter, so here we go...

-MediEvil: The Hero that almost Wasn't-

Chapter 11: The Mystery of Gallows Town part 2

The possessed scoundrel lunged at Dan with his ax ready to swing. But Dan grabbed a nearby stool and threw it at the attacker's feet. The man tripped and crashed into the wall. Even bewitched, the man felt tweeting birds dance around his head, he felt so heavy that he swayed and collapsed on the floor, unconscious. "Phew..." Dan wiped at his brow as if cleaning off sweat. "That was too close. Dan saw something under a spiders web. It was a large stone block with a an unusual hallow carved in.. "Hm.. this must be the crucifix cast, then." Thinking back to all the stuff he found in the town so far, and the letters, Dan knew his next move was clear: Go to back to the Smithy and forge a new crucifix! "No need to stay here, then.." But as Dan left the compartment, he saw a darkened corner, probably where his would-be assassin was hiding. In here, Dan found another book, this one was well kept from its dustless covers. ".. Might as well.." he opened the cover and found the subject matter quite interesting, considering he met some of these guys already in the Hall of Heroes:

HEROES FROM HISTORY:

A Retrospective:

Chapter 1

In addition to being the strongest man who ever lived, Stanyer Iron Hewer was unsurpassed in his skill as a blacksmith. He was equally happy pounding on his anvil at home as he was pounding on someone's head in battle. It was said that his only fear was the end of the village smithy as the focus of manufacture in favor of more centralized units- as if!

Dan could hold back a chuckle at the idea. He could only imagine Stanyer's reaction as he continued reading.

Chapter 2

Born a humble peasant to one of the nomadic tribes from the Eastlands, Bloodmanath Skull Cleaver gathered an army of horsemen and swept over half the civilized world. When he finally died (attempting a single handed attack on a garrison in the North while armed only with the spike on his helmet) he was the richest and most powerful peasant of his day.

Dan was screaming with laughter at that last bit: someone died a more foolish death than he did! He pounded the floor in mirth for a few minutes before regaining composure to continue.

Chapter 3

Karl Sturnguard spent most of his formative years under siege at his family castle. With his impregnable magic shield, Sturnguard's motto was 'the best form of attack is defense!' Sadly, his shield couldn't protect him against poor eating habits and he died during a post battle feast while swallowing a large sausage he forgot to chew.

"... I'm not even going to comment on that one.." Dan flipped the next page over.

Chapter 4

truly the hero's hero, Woden the Mighty, was fearless, single-minded, and uncompromising. Unbeaten in combat, he inspired raw fear in friends and enemies alike, not to mention in close family members and pets.

"Ha! I knew that boisterous upstart was a looney!" Dan grinned in this revelation, but found it lost upon reading the next hero mentioned...

Chapter 5

Trained from birth in all forms of combat, Imanzi Shongama was the warrior queen of a tribe of Amazons. The bold and the beautiful Shongama banished all males from her territory except the handful she kept on to mow the lawns of her people.

The poor knight gulped, remembering what she said last time: I might take you for my husband.. A scary thought to say the last.

Chapter 6

A full time mother and homemaker, Megwynne Stormbinder had to defend her settlement from barbarian raiders while the menfolk were away on a hunting trip. She fought off repeated attacks armed only with a pitchfork and a rolling pin and with one arm, holding her baby. Legend has it that the Gods, impressed by her indomitable courage, intervened and added thunderbolts to her arsenal. She won the battle with a couple of bolts to spare on her husband when he finally returned.

"I'd had to be that poor guy.." was all Dan could say. "Moving on.."

Chapter 7

Dirk Steadfast was a fearsome opponent thanks to his magic sword and a firmly held belief that 'only women defend themselves- real men are always on the attack!' He was a friend and contemporary of Karl Sturnguard and was with him to the end: it was whilst Steadfast was explaining his views on Sturnguards' shield during a feast that the latter had his tragic and inexplicable accident.

"Poor guy." Dan shook his head. "This is getting a little long winded for a history book."

Chapter 8

Descended from the finest centaur bloodstock, Ravenhooves the Archer was the last prince of his people. A proud and haughty aristocrat, he was an accomplished hunter, sportsman, duelist, playboy, raconteur, and three times Derby winner.

"...If I was alive when he raced, I would have made a fortune." Dan pondered There was one chapter left, but what he saw made him gasp in disbelief:

Chapter 9

Captain of the Militia in the time of King Peregrin, Sir Daniel Fortesque found fame when he killed the renegade wizard Zarok. A career soldier raised in the royal household, he was adored by the men under his command and renowned for his loyalty to Gallowmere. It was said that Fortesque was always destined for greatness, with his square jaw, steely gaze and thick stocks of hair; black as ravens' wings, he looked every inch the hero.

Dan closed the book and felt his eye bobbling in his socket. This passage was nothing but fantasy; he was a failure! The only thing noteworthy about him was that the first arrow did him at the swamp. Now he was made into this hero when he was already dead.. "..My life is a lie..." the knight muttered softly.. "I'm... I'm no warrior, not a soldier at all.." he dropped to his knees. "I'm... nothing..." Dan began to sob, even thought he was nothing but bones, could feel many things at moment; the most dominant one was guilt. The dead man buried his skull in his hands and began to cry. More than what had happened, he could understand why everyone looked down on him. Even King Peregrin, his revered ruler, lied about what had happened. It was too much to bear. Minutes seemed to become hours as Dan wept at his sham of an after life... there was no reason for him to go on. "... I. I give up. What's the use of a liar to a country like this..?" ..

The man known as Daniel Fortesque sat there, brooding in the library, it wasn't Zarok that defeated him, not the demons or undead. At that moment, it was a lie... or so it would stand. Dan 's mind turned to what was happening right now: the people were enslaved, the very lands perverted and and fouled. This was what the sorcerer wanted. Despite their slavery, the people cry out for salvation.. "...Wait... I ...no.." Images came to Fortesque: the undead marching all over the land, fire set to villages not just in Gallowmere, but in places around the world. And above it all, the shriveled old necromancer towered, reveling in the destruction, unchallenged. "..No!" Dan jerked up. "I can't let it end like this! The knight saw himself standing up to the fiend. "So what if my life was a lie? I'm still here, aren't I?" Dan felt himself growing bold. "If it takes to my last breath a few more times, I will stand, and I will destroy you." Dan stood tall and threw his head back. "DO YOU HEAR ME, ZAROK?? I WILL DESTROY YOU!!" Having shouted his resolve, Dan felt like he could face an entire army at the moment. Instead, he had to settle for calming down upon rediscovering his purpose. He strode out of the library and marched back to the smithy.

Putting the cast to the furnace, Dan placed the golden bust on top. He then turned to the giant billows. Rather than wreak his arms on something so large, he jumped on the top, pumping air to fires, blazing red hot with heat. Up and down the billows went until black smoke hissed from the flames. In five minutes of intense head, the bust melted into the cast. "..There, that's looking good." Dan waited a while for the hot metal to harden a little, then he grabbed it with a pair of tongs and doused the glowing object into the water basin. Steam enveloped the shop as the heat gave way. Dan looked at his handiwork; a marvelous crucifix made of gold. He was only a beginner, but he had to admit, it was something to be proud of. "Now for the first key."

Dan dashed over the church and hung it over the podium. Stepping back to marvel at the view. "Wow this church beats the Mausoleum any day!" Dan's awe turned to confusion as he could swear a part of the structure vanished on the left hand side, revealing a small key and a book. Dan read the book almost immediately:

Dear Sir or Madam,

On my travels across Gallowmere, I have come across many mysterious and enchanting finds. However, that which filled me with the deepest dread was discovery of the Tomb of the Shadow Demons! The key to their dank prison, the mysterious Shadow Artifact, is now in my possession.

That dress-wearing bully boy, Zarok, will stop at nothing to retrieve this item. I fear that already he knows that it is I who possess it...

Yours, fearfully- the Town Mayor.

"I knew it all along!" Dan slammed a bony fist to the book. "Now I gotta find the mayor, and fast." Dan left the church and widened his search. He searched over the places he visited in the town, but nothing. There was only one place the knight had left to look: the town lake. Dan walked past the smithy and found the place looking relatively peaceful: green grass, beautiful trees, and a hypnotized homicidal maniac ready to slice him up-

"Hey, wait a minute!" Dan protested as he dodged the villager. "I'm just passing through. The only answer Dan got back was a murderous growl. The skeleton ran around the lake to grab a bag of gold and an energy vial, then circled back to enter a sealed-off cave. It wasn't much of one; after a few steps trek, Dan found a stairwell leading up. He pushed open a door and found himself in the vicinity of a large manor. "...This must be the mayor's house." Dan examined the building, it was a simple house with little cosmetic fripperies. There were a few odd sheds here and there but nothing too incriminating... save for a pair of Zarok's boiler guards guarding the gates. Dan drew his broadsword and charged right at them.

"Halt! You're under a-- aruggH!!" one of them managed to scream before getting sliced into by Dan's steel. Then he did the same thing to his partner.

"Well, that's over with." Dan smirked as he walked to the front door. He tied opening the door but no luck. "Locked... that just leaves..." Dan walked around the house again and saw that it had a chimney, but how to get up there? He circled to the back yard again and saw bales of hay piled against one of the sheds, it led to the next one and allowed easy access from above. "Someone knew I was coming." Dan grinned as mounted the roofs, he had to adjust to using his daring dash to clear the gaps, but Dan soon found himself on top of the mayor's house. As great as the view was, there was work to be done. So he slipped down the chimney, not much of a pinch. Dan had no fat whatsoever, it was rather a cinch. Dan was now inside the house. It was a modest dwelling with only a large table, a cabinet and desk set, and a large safe. Dan saw a bag of gold on the table and thought about picking it up but thought.. "No, that's probably the people's taxes, better leave it alone." He turned to the safe and took out the key from the church. He turned it and the lock clicked. Pulling open the thick iron door, Dan saw something that made his bones chill. A black laquered gauntlet, inscribed with runes. It must have been the Shadow Artifact indeed. With a feeling of dread. Dan tucked the dangerous item into his armor. "...Now Zarok can't get to it... But where's the mayor?" Dan paced around the house to ponder the enigma. "... what is this thing?" Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a lever and flipped it, disinterested. Seeing nothing more to accomplish here, he returned to the town fountain to further reflect on his plan.

He sat himself down, his broadsword at his side. Looking around at the quietness of the town.. "Sure is pleasant when those people aren't around.." Dan thought. He scanned the surroundings and towards the northern road, he saw a gate over there, open when it wasn't before. "..That must lead to the Asylum. That mayor must have gone somewhere. He seems knows a lot of about these sort of things." Dan looked at the Shadow Artifact and Dragon Gem in his collection. "But knowing Zarok,.. he probably has him locked up there." Dan dreaded the thought: the Gallowmere Insane Asylum was home to some of the most depraved and most insane people in all the kingdom. "Brrr... looks like there's no choice. ..Gotta pay the mayor a visit." Dan got up from his spot with his broadsword and silver shield at the ready. He crept towards the gate, and spotted four boiler guards on duty. The crenelated exit they blocked was doused in ectoplasm. He watched as one of them saluted, supposedly to his captain.

"Sir, I have news to report."

The captain turned. "Have you found the Shadow Artifact?"

"Nein, sir" The former shook his head. "I did find a few traces of Fortesque, though."

"Good. Then show us where you found him." The captain's grin looked more like a scowl. "We'll make short work of him."

Dan took out his broadsword and march past the gate. "You guys looking for me?"

The guards were taken by this bravado. The captain was quick to recompose himself. "Yah, it's time for your execution! All guns, fire!"

As the three subordinates fired, Dan's shield blocked the bullets. "You'll have to do better than that." the knight shook his skull and tapped his toe.

"Charge!!" The captain bellowed. It didn't last long, though, Dan hacked the other three down before they could get in another shot.

"Care to try your luck?" Dan taunted.

".Y.. This isn't over.!" The captain dropped his gun and ran but was soon gored with a spear through his armor and fell.

"Too bad, " Dan sighed. "I thought Zarok could come up with better stuff in one hundred years." The moment of victory had passed, but before Dan could leave, he had one more thing to do: "Where is that blasted Chalice?" He checked all over, the church, the library and the grocer, but there was nothing. "Better check the Mayor's place again. As Dan walked towards the manor, he found what he was looking for: a hole in the right hand wall. The passage was large enough to enter so Dan found the Chalice of Souls resting on a ledge overlooking the lake. He also pocketed an energy vial and a chest of gold coins before deciding to leave the town. But as he left, Dan saw a scrap of parchment, probably dropped by the boiler guards, no doubt. "Hmm, yep, that sounds like Zarok, all right." Dan nodded.

The first two lines were crossed out hastily

Instructions from Zarok to his guards:

Capture that greedy profiteer, the Town Mayor

Take him to the Asylum Dungeons.

Give the fat boy a good going over!

Locate the Shadow Artifact.

Bring me something nice!

Dan tossed the scrap behind him. As he exited the gates, the Chalice glowed again like the others, once again the knight was whisked back to the familiar stone walls of the Hall of Heroes. "This place never changes." He shrugged. Just then, the gargoyle came to life.

Back and forth like a supernatural yo yo! Maybe the Master will make it harder to find those magic egg cups!

"Oh, shut your stone trap!" Dan growled as he walked past the feasting table and up the stairs. Griff was waiting for him. "How're you doing?"

"I see that you've gotten the chalice despite the haunted populace." the hallkeeper spoke in a slightly friendly tone. "It's amazing Zarok hasn't noticed those things yet."

"All joking and sarcasm aside, what's with you this time." Dan asked.

"I'm curious to see who you'll pay tribute to next."

Dan groaned. He wasn't going to see Queen Imanzi, too much fat to chew. Ravenhooves was available, seeing from his glowing form. But Dan saw the shield-bearing knight's statue ready for acceptance. Dan placed the Chalice before the fully-armored-and-cloaked resemblance of Karl Sturnguard.

"Oh, this oughta be good." Griff wrung his hands eagerly as Sturnguard's helmeted head turned towards Dan..

Ah Herr Fortesque- you are back on the battlefield, yah?

Dan nodded.

"Zis is good. People say to me 'Sturnguard, what do you think of this sword or that axe' but I say to them 'NEIN! Modern warfare is a question of science; the Science of Shields!!'"Sturguard thundered in a fury.

"Get on with it!!" Dan thundered, Sturnguard's passion was something he could do without. "Oh, shut up!" his attention turned to Griff, who was laughing at the unfolding farce.

"I think maybe you should take my shield- yah?" Sturnguard continued calmly. "It is magic, Herr Fortesque." only to once more return to his over-the-limit fervor. "Some say it is better to have a magic sword than a magic shield, but I say to you that this is rubbish!!!!"

Griff was laughing his head off again. "Oh my god, ha ha ! This guy's a laugh riot!"

"And what's so funny about it?" Dan asked.

"Just mention swords around Sturnguard and he flies off the handle! Ha ha ha..!"

Dan shook his skull. "I think we lost him." pointing to the hooded hallkeeper in stitches. "Moving on, Sturnguard, I accept you shield wholeheartedly."

Sturnguard grinned under his helmet. "So long as you use it properly, this shield will make you invincible!"

"Oh no..." Dan groaned at the enthusiasm.

As Sturnguard tapped his own shield onto his pedestal. A flash of light enveloped the hall, followed by a metallic crash.

Dan looked around, the shield wasn't in front of the statue as these things usually are. Looking to his left, Dan winced at the sight. A gold tower shield, bearing the Gallowmere Standard, fell straight onto Griff's head, knocking the laughing latter out cold. "Ugh... that had to hurt..." Dan picked up the gold shield carefully from the keeper's head. Its size was large enough to hide behind, and the unnatural luster reflected many layers of experimentation. It was probably through years of enchantment and spell infusions that Sturnguard proudly proclaimed this shield to be his work. "Hm.. Looks sturdy enough.." But Dan decided to trust Sturnguard's word. He was about to leave, but saw Griff sprawled on the floor. "... Waking up's gonna hurt, but I hope this teaches you: he who laughs last, laughs best. Ha ha!"

With a grin on his face and new tool for his quest, Daniel Fortesque put the Hall of Heroes behind him, and started towards the Gallowmere Asylum, where he hopes the Mayor can give him a clue to help unravel Zarok's evil scheme...