Episode 30: Mordred
The evil witch Erebeth had brought her newest ally, Mordred to the center of Hyde Park, concealing themselves within the trees as she explained to him the plan she had in mind. "It's simple, once we attack these civilians the paladins will come running to their aide."
Mordred leaned against one of the trees, stifling out a yawn. "As expected of typical heroes, always coming to save the weak. Galahad would do the same." He said. Pushing himself off the tree he made his way over next to Erebeth and looked on as the people went about their days. "These simple-minded people do not realize the past in which their world is built from. Which is why they are so weak and require their lives to be saved."
"They live happily knowing that the paladins will protect them."
He scoffed. "Pathetic. I wonder if they will still believe that once they watch them fail."
Erebeth simply nodded as she stood next to Mordred waiting for him to make his move. They stood in silence for a few moments, until the malicious knight inhaled a breath of air and unsheathed his sword. "Well, how about we send a message to the paladins so that they can come out and play?"
"I'm ready when you are." She replied.
"Good, then let's begin." Mordred answered as he slowly walked to the crowd of people with sword in hand. An evil grin grew upon his face as he began to unleash his attacks and watched the civilians flee in terror, waiting for his adversaries to show.
After their failed attempt at stopping Erebeth from obtaining the king's blood, the paladins, along with the princess returned to the hideout. They all wore frustrated expressions as they took a seat in the living area where Mason and Marty waited. "By the looks you guys are wearing, I'm guessing it didn't go so well?" Marty asked.
"Once again, Erebeth got the upper hand." Oli expressed.
Trevor sighed. "No matter how hard we try, it seems like she always has the upper hand."
Mason leaned forward and gave a pensive thought. "So with the king's blood in her possession it will only be a matter of time before she revives Mordred."
"How long do you think that will be?" Katie asked nervously.
He shrugged. "I cannot be sure. There are many other ingredients that she requires, not only that but she requires an immense amount of dark magic to perform the ritual."
"Which we know that she is capable of." Jocelyn added. "The only thing we can do is fight back if she is successful in reviving Mordred."
"Are you sure our power is going to be enough?" Katie asked with a somber expression.
Everyone looked at her confused. Trevor gave her some reassurance. "Of course we can sis. Just because Erebeth has slipped out of our grasp a couple of times doesn't mean we can give up."
"Yeah, as long as we work together we can't lose. Just look at how we defeated Abanor!" Theo stated.
Katie stood up. "Yeah, but this isn't Abanor. This is Mordred that we're talking about, a knight of the round table." She explained. "Not only that, but someone whom was able to go toe to toe with King Arthur."
"You may have a point sis, but none of that will matter once he goes up against us." He told her as he stood up. "Like Theo said, together we can defeat anybody."
"Don't forget that you also have the help of the royal family." Abigail added with a smile.
Trevor put a hand on his sisters' shoulder. "See sis, nothing to worry about."
Katie gently removed her brothers' hand. "No…we should be worried. Actually…we should be terrified." She then walked away and secluded herself from the rest of the group. Katie couldn't help shake the feeling that something terrible was going to happen and she didn't know how to tell her brother or the others.
"What's up with Katie? She seems a little off?" Oli asked.
"She does look quite exhausted." Peter added.
Trevor looked at his sister. "I...I don't know."
Jocelyn stood up. "Don't worry, I'll go talk to her." She said, patting Trevor's back as she made her way over to her friend.
Katie leaned on the wall and sighed as Jocelyn approached her. "I know what you're going to say."
"That you should consider what everyone is saying." Jocelyn answered.
"I understand what everyone is saying, but I just have this sense of danger that's crawling over me." Katie explained.
The black paladin reassured her friend. "Listen love, I know this whole experience with the black shuck has been traumatizing, but you can't let it control you."
"I know…. it's just I don't want anything to happen to Trevor or you and everyone else."
"Nothing is going to happen to you or to the rest of us." Jocelyn explained. "But maybe you should tell Trevor what's going on."
The silver paladin shook her head. "I can't."
"Can't or won't?"
Katie simply looked away without saying a word. "If you keep this to yourself for any longer, then it's going to destroy you." Jocelyn stated. "I won't stand for that. So please…just do it for me love?"
Katie let out a sigh. "I know you're just looking out for me, but I guess there's no point in hiding it from him anymore." She then gave her a hug. "Thanks Jocelyn, you're everything I could ask for in a best friend."
She smiled. "You're welcome love. I'll always be there for you, not just as your best friend, but as a sister."
Katie chuckled. "Then I couldn't ask for a better sister."
Jocelyn smiled and gave her hair a cocky flip. "I know, now come on so you can talk to Trevor."
As she led Katie back to the others, Mason's necklace started to give off a warning. Signaling another monster attack that was occurring.
"Oh great don't tell me that it's Erebeth again." Theo said.
"I'm not sure, but the attack is taking place at Hyde Park." Mason replied.
"Then we better get to it guys. Let's go!" Trevor said.
Katie looked to Jocelyn with a frown. "Looks like it's going to have to wait." Jocelyn told her.
With a reluctant nod Katie and Jocelyn joined the others as they teleported off to Hyde Park. Unbeknownst to all of them that when they arrived to the battlefield, this was going to be their greatest challenge yet.
A few moments later the paladins arrived at Hyde Park to find the last of the civilians running away from whatever danger was attacking them. The surrounding area was damaged, which meant that there was definitely a recent attack. After the last of the civilians had fled, the park became silent as an eerie feeling filled the air, even the birds had stopped chirping.
"I don't see a monster here?" Theo asked, looking around.
Trevor nodded. "Yeah, nothing but silence."
"I don't know Trevor, somethings off." Katie added, her left hand began shaking fearfully. She held it to try and calm her nerves. "I feel uneasy about this whole situation."
"I'm right there with you love." Jocelyn agreed.
"Just keep your guards up guys. The enemy might try and ambush us." Trevor told them.
Suddenly a voice pierced through the air. "At last the paladins arrive! I was beginning to lose my patience."
From where they stood, the seven comrades noticed two figures walking towards them. One of them they knew as their nemesis Erebeth, but the other one accompanying her was a mystery. The new figure stopped in his tracks and acknowledged his new foes. "It's nice to meet you all, but I must say that I expected a little… more."
"Who the hell is that?" Oli asked.
Sasha eyed the figure from head to toe. "Who knows, but he seems to be some sort of knight from the looks of him."
Erebeth chuckled. "Not just any knight, but the most powerful knight to exist! Rival of the great Sir Galahad and the man I've been working so hard to revive!"
"Oh shit… don't tell me." Trevor began to say.
"Mordred." Peter said.
Everyone stood flabbergasted for a moment, not expecting that Mordred would make an appearance so soon. Katie especially was taken aback by fear, her hand continued to shake fearfully. Her heart began beating faster, she was scared once more. "What is this feeling?" She thought.
Jocelyn noticed and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Hey, you alright?"
"Something about him is familiar. I don't know what, but I have a bad feeling about this." She answered.
"Don't worry, I'll be right here with you love."
Katie nodded, keeping her focus on Mordred. Even though Jocelyn's words seemed reassuring, she was still unsure about the situation.
Trevor stepped forward and addressed the malicious knight. "So you're Mordred huh? Funny I thought you would be more intimidating."
Mordred chuckled. "Is that so? Well then I suppose I should show you just how intimidating I can be." He proclaimed as he unsheathed his sword.
"Looks like he's not wasting any time." Theo said.
"We won't either then!" Trevor replied. Getting into position to morph. "Ready guys?"
"Ready!" Everyone proclaimed.
"Paladins Arise!" They cried out in unison.
In a brilliant flash of colorful light, the seven comrades morphed into their armor. Once the light subsided, they all positioned themselves into a fighting stance with their weapons already drawn.
Mordred smirked at the sight of the paladins. "Ah, this surely does bring back memories. Although, I doubt any of you will pose a challenge."
"Careful what you wish for!" Trevor proclaimed. As he and the rest of the team charged towards their newest foe.
Without saying a word, Erebeth made herself vanish in a cloud of black smoke. Leaving Mordred to face off against the rangers. "Show me what you are made of!"
One by one each ranger attacked Mordred as he stood in place. With little effort, Mordred cut through each of them with his sword, deflecting each one of their attacks. He then used his sword to unleash a flurry of attacks on each of them. The paladins used their weapons to block Mordred`s attack. They managed to hold on from the attack, but they knew that the power behind those attacks was merely a warning for what was to come.
The malicious knight laughed at the sight of them. "Surely that is not the best you can do?"
"We're just getting started! Everyone surround him!" Trevor called out to his team.
Each of them surrounded Mordred and prepared themselves for another attack. Before the paladins were able to attack, Mordred smirked and used his sword to send out a powerful wave of energy that blew all of them away. They all landed with a heavy thud as they struggled to pick themselves back up.
"Let me show you what true power is!" Mordred proclaimed as he charged the paladins.
The seven warriors were barely able to register what happened next. Mordred came at them with blinding speed, attacking Theo first. The yellow paladin gave out a cry of pain as he was slashed with a powerful strike, flying through the air. With that same speed, Mordred rush over to Theo and delivered another blow that sent him flying once more. Theo de-morphed as he hit the ground and tumbled. Knocking him out as he came to a stop.
"Theo!" Oli and Sasha cried out in unison as they tried to rush over and help their comrade.
"I don't think so!" Mordred stated. He immediately stopped Oli and Sasha in their tracks using his sword and speed to attack them. The two desperately tried to block his attacks, but to no avail. Mordred knocked their weapons aide and delivered a powerful kick to Sasha, sending her flying back. He then grabbed Oli by his head, crushing his helmet in the process. The green paladin screamed in pain, trying to fight off Mordred's grip.
"Futile." He said. Throwing Oli towards Sasha as they slammed into each other.
"You will regret that!" Peter said, charging his opponent.
The Gold Paladin used his Halberd to parry Mordred's sword, but Peter found that his enemy was much faster. Mordred swung his sword with blinding speed in order to confuse his opponent. Peter did his best to block every strike, but found himself being worn down after every hit. Mordred then got the upper hand as he knocked Peter's Halberd aside and delivered two blows across his chest.
The gold paladin fell to his knees and dropped in front of Mordred. The evil knight scoffed. "Just as pathetic as Lancelot. You know, I never did like him. Always prancing around like a fool, it was disgusting."
Peter didn't respond as he only tried to use the strength he had left to push himself back up. Mordred merely scoffed again. "He too fell to his knees. It brought me great joy as I stood above him."
After hearing those words, Peter managed the strength to stand back up. Once he did, he faced Mordred and smiled behind his visor. "You know….it must have brought great joy to Sir Lancelot when he was chosen by King Arthur to wield a virtue stone instead of you."
The evil knight growled in anger as he slashed Peter across his body, sending him flying. Peter slammed onto the ground as he grunted in pain. He then walked up to Peter and delivered a powerful kick to his ribs that caused him to fly back a few more feet. He de-morphed in the process.
Mordred walked up to Peter once again who was covered in dirt and ash as he kneeled down. "You seem to have more spirit than Lancelot did. For that you have my respect gold paladin."
Peter looked to the evil knight, "You…have no idea what respect really is. I`m glad to have taken up the mantle from Sir Lancelot because I would have been disappointed if it was from a worm like you."
"So confident, even when you have been bested. Again, you have my respect." Mordred repeated. He then grabbed Peter`s right arm and quickly snapped it like a twig. Peter screamed in agony as Mordred released his arm and left him lying there in his pain.
Jocelyn then came flipping through the air, using her mace to try and land a blow on the evil knight. "How dare you!"
Mordred dodged the attack. "Useless attempts from all of you."
"Don't underestimate us!" She stated, not letting up from her attacks.
"I've already taken down the half of you. You will be no different black paladin."
"We'll just see about that!" A voice said from behind.
Mordred looked back and saw Trevor charge at him with his sword. The knight moved aside and parried the attack with his own sword. The two of them began to clash as metal clanged with metal.
Jocelyn took the chance and rushed over to Peter's aide. "Peter are you okay?"
"My arm… its broken." Peter said.
"Don't worry, just keep still." She said reassuringly.
Jocelyn looked back up to where Trevor was fighting with Mordred. He had single handedly taken down half of the team without breaking a sweat. She hoped that Trevor would be able to do something against him, but by the way the rest of her team looked, she was beginning to doubt that.
"Just keep fighting Trevor." Jocelyn said as she began to head over towards the others and check on their condition.
On the other side of the battlefield, Katie continued to lay on the ground still injured from Mordred's previous attack. She looked towards where her brother was fighting and did her best to get up in order to help him.
"Come on Katie get up." She told herself.
"Its useless. There is nothing you can do." A menacing voice told her.
Katie looked around hesitantly as she recognized the voice. "You will not be able to save him. No matter what you do, your fate is sealed."
"S-stop. You don't know what you're talking about." She replied.
"Your fate is sealed." The voice repeated.
Katie began to breathe heavily; she couldn't stop herself from being scared. She looked towards Trevor and saw the he continued to struggle against Mordred. She tried her best to get up, but for some strange reason she couldn't. Her whole body was shaking uncontrollably in fear and her mind was racing with horrible thoughts. Katie felt like she was losing control and if she didn't do something soon, it would lead to something terrifying.
A/N: Hey guys! I have finally updated my story after a really long while. I havent given up on it, just living the adult life gets in the way. I have a few chapters already written so I'm going to do my best and update. I really want to get back to this and do the best I can. Hope you guys enjoy!