Hmm... I want that EMSIT title... yes... *rubs hands together evilly*
*camera begins on back of SD TLP's head -- TLP begins to turn* Konnichi wa!
Welcome back minna! Today we are going to discuss Sakura's battle
costume... look at the cute ... uh... *ML sweatdrops* Okay, okay... I know,
you want to read the story. Hai hai... here you are:
ATTENTION: This section of the story turns a little more violent, hence a
PG-13 rating shall be instated from here on out. Enjoy!
thelonepig@hotmail.com
not much WAFF, but that's okay, no FLAMES yet to fan... ^_^
Part 5 of *alright, alright, 50?... is that okay?*
Serena was growing tired of waving. It's not that she didn't enjoy being in
the position she was in, it was quite the contrary. Serena felt that she
could accomplish something for these people. She wanted to make their lives
better.
Serena had been told that she herself had come from the common folk. Maybe
that's why she felt so compelled to stand up in her position. She thought
to the incident that had happened only a few minutes earlier. Something
would have to be done about the officers in the city guard. It should not
be allowed that any person be treated so cruely. She made it a point that
the moment she rest after they return to the castle, she would venture down
to the dungeons and see for herself what this young lieutenant had brought
up.
Serena blushed. The young lieutenant with the deep blue eyes flittered
across her mind. What had she seen there? Everything had gone in to slow
motion and it was as if a broken link had been reconnected. She felt a
special connection with him from some time before, but couldn't quite place
it.
Her thoughts were interrupted at that time by a commotion coming from the
crowds around her. People were moving to either side as several knights
began to walk from the crowd. They were evenly spaced around her carriage.
Four to either side, and who knows how many beyond that. She watched in
nervous fascination as they approached her carriage. The men were dressed
in full plate armor, but moved as if they were wearing no more than
commoners' clothing.
At that moment, everything stopped. The commoners' commotion died to no
more than the buzz of annoyance. Guards before her all toppled to the
ground as if blown over by a strong gust of wind. Even the air around
Serena's carriage seemed almost to solidify.
Serena opened her mouth to scream, but found she could not vocalize it. It
felt like a hand had an iron grip on her throat and would not let any words
escape it. She bit her lip in utter frustration and screamed inside. Her
breath came in ragged gasps, seized now by the same unseen intruder. The
last thing she saw was the silhoutte of a man materialize from the air in
front of her. And then all was black...
On the other side of the city, Darien raced to the front gates. If those
men were inside the city gates then there was only a few possiblities as to
how they could have done so. Darien took every alley-way and shortcut he
could come across. So intent was he on his destination, he did not notice
the presence of two black-clad individuals running to either side of him.
And then everything went in to slow motion for Darien. He was running
forward with all his force, intent on making it to the guardhouse at the
front gates at one moment. The next, Darien found himself trying to stop as
a hill-giant walked into the street several yards in front of him. The
giant lifted his sword and prepared it to cleave Darien in two. Darien
couldn't stop, he had to much momentum into his running already. He picked
his pace back up, hoping to be able to leap out of the way of the sword. He
counted silently to himself his steps... "1..." Darien was closing the
gap... "2..." the sword began to swing... "3..." Darien planted his foot
into the cobblestone road... "4..." Darien knew he wouldn't make it he had
misjudged the giant's speed... "5..." the sword began to connect with
Darien's midsection, he winced knowing that it was over. He screamed in
desperation the first thing that came to mind:
"USAGI!!!"
And then he was standing thirty yards behind the giant, with only a scratch
which hadn't even drawn blood. He felt slightly lightheaded, but the
feeling passed quickly. He didn't even venture a guess as to what could
have occurred, but instead began running for the gate once more.
As far as he could tell, his assailants did not follow. Usagi? Where had
that come from? The name sounded so familiar, but distant. Darien shrugged
off the feeling and redoubled his efforts.
On the other side of town, a very nervous Andrew was running into the castle
screaming for the Royal Guard to respond. The castle was more empty now
than he had ever seen it. All of the servants had been excused for the day
in celebration of the parade. Still, members of the Royal Guard were to be
posted in every hall at all times, holiday or not. Where was everyone?
Andrew continued running. Several moments later, he slowed to a halt.
"This is hopeless... nobody is here. Where could they all be?" he murmured
aloud.
As Andrew stood in the otherwise empty hallway catching his breath, voices
floated on the breeze to him. They were difficult to understand, but he
began his walk in that direction and listened, trying to recognize the
voices.
"What about my payment?"
"Payment? You double-crossed your own king and all for what? A couple of
coins? You poor fool, if money is that important to you then here."
Andrew heard the jingle of coins as he peered into a room at the end of the
hall. He almost gave himself away as he gasped in surprise at the sight
before him. He recognized one figure as Rick. The other was dressed in
full armor and wore the sigil of the Terindya kingdom.
Ryan reached out to catch the sack that had been thrown at him. As his hand
clasped about the bag, the second figure pulled his sword and sliced
sideways into Rick. The movement was so fluid, Andrew saw only a flash of
light as the drawn metal caught the light of the torches and then saw the
Terindyan man with his arm outstretched. Andrew gasped. The sword glowed
an unholy purple. It seemed to distort the very air around it and let loose
a scream like that of a thousand dead souls.
Rick's face contorted in a grimace of disbelief.
"Lord Falken?"
A thin line of red began to seep through his clothing. Falken smiled
evilly.
"What a fool... why should I let one live who has betrayed his own country?"
Rick's torso slid from his body. The money that was so precious to him,
still clutched in his hands. Falken reached over and tore a clean scrap of
cloth from the lifeless torso. He wiped his sword with it, and slid the
eerie blade back into the scabbard.
Andrew let a sigh of relief as those horrible screams were sealed away.
Andrew stood and turned, intent on moving away from the situation as soon as
possible. He felt his belt loosen, and his sword slid off, clattering to
the ground. The sound echoed endlessly down the empty corridors. And
without thinking, Andrew grabbed his sword and was running in the same fluid
motion...
Serena found herself unable to move and very, very uncomfortable. A gag had
found itself between her teeth, but at least she could breath again. She
opened her eyes, but everything was dark. They had blindfolded her too...
why had this happened? How had this happened? She would discuss matters
with both the city and royal guard when she was rescued. If she was
rescued. She thought briefly of Lieutenant Darien coming to her rescue,
cutting men with a single swing of his sword, and looking as handsome as
ever -- even in the middle of combat. She imagined once more looking into
his deep blue eyes. She lost herself for a moment in the depth that those
eyes carried. And then she shook the feeling.
What was she thinking? How could she think it? She was in love with
Kashue. He had found her, had helped her, and she owed it to him to be his
bride. And she loved him... but deep down inside she knew that he was not
for her. And all of these things that he had said to her about her past...
she couldn't even remember most of them. There was a connection with that
other man though, something from a past that she had forgotten. What was so
special about this lowly Lieutenant that would make her so flustered just to
think of him? She cursed herself and her poor memory.
The ride came to a halt rather quickly and she found herself on what she
imagined was the floor of a carriage. Rough hands grabbed at her, and
lifted her. She found herself flung over a massive shoulder like a sack of
potatoes.
It was a long time before she was finally put down, and very uncomfortably
at that. Serena clenched her teeth in both pain and frustration. She
didn't know the exact time that she had been bound, but it had become
uncomfortable a long time ago.
A voice began to speak. It was to her...
"My dear. I apologize about the way you were treated as you were brought
here, but I assure you, it was necessary for speed and your well-being."
'Well being my foot,' thought Serena. 'If they were looking after my
well-being, then they would have asked me to come in the first place and it
wouldn't have been nearly so uncomfortable.' She found a pair of hands
fumbling at the gag around her mouth. The moment she found it loosened, she
spit at whatever figure was in front of her.
"HOW DARE YOU KIDNAP ME! THE RIDE WAS TERRIBLE AND I WAS MOST ASSUREDLY NOT
HAPPY. I AM SERENA AND I WILL MARRY KASHUE, KING OF THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM.
HOW DARE YOU DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FO..."
A hand slapped across her face. It stung.
"They've done something to her... my beloved Usagi... How could you have
forgotten your father?" A hand gently caressed her cheek, and she tried to
bite it, growling menacingly when she found her teeth would not clench
around her prey.
"Please, take her away to her room. I must consult with the old woman about
my alternatives at this point..." stated the voice sadly.
A fist found its way into Serena's stomach, and everything went black.
Darien ran faster than he had ever run before, but his goal was now in
sight. He hadn't realized the exact depth of the city until this day.
The guard station lay silent, the door shattered from its hinges. The gate
hung wide open, anyone could gain access to the city...
Darien cautiously peered inside the guard house. The smell of dead bodies
filled his nostrils. He reeled in disgust and threw up outside the door.
"Captain?" he shouted, in hopes that his commanding officer would show.
Darien slumped to the ground outside, his back pressed up against the warm
stone of the guard station. His mind wandered through everything. How had
anyone gotten inside the city? Guards were on duty everywhere... it just
didn't make any sense. Darien's mind raced through all of the possiblities,
and his mind settled on one.
He stood, and raced back in to the guard house. This time, he managed to
hold his stomach. Darien glanced over the bodies. These were not freshly
killed. Their blood had clotted and the flesh had begun to rot in many
places. The site of a bug crawling from one of the soldier's eyes turned
Darien's stomach again, and he once again found himself throwing up in front
of the station.
A voice cleared itself before him, noting him to the presence of another.
Darien looked up to find himself entirely surrounded by the black-clad ninja
clan. Directly in front of him stood a human, and behind him the
hill-giant.
The human was dressed in light common clothing, and carried only a small
hunting knife at his belt. But his commanding presence let Darien know...
this is who he had been taught under all circumstances to avoid. This man
was a sorcerer.
Darien stepped backward quickly into the building and closed the remnants of
the heavy oaken door. He ran for various pieces of furniture that littered
the room and threw them in front of the door, barricading himself into the
room. But it took him far too long to gather any of those things... and an
attack still hadn't come. Why? And then he smelled the fumes of fire and
smoke began to pour into the room from roof...
Andrew ran through the hallways of the castle. He had grown up in the
castle, being related to the king through marriage. He thanked that fact,
and used all of his knowledge to take every shortcut and passageway that
would lead him quickest outside. His breathing came in ragged gasps, and
the soft pad of his boots echoed through the corridors. Oddly though, there
was no sound of pursuit.
'That's funny,' thought Andrew as he rounded the last corner that led into
the courtyard.
He found himself blocked off. The metal gate that sealed off the palace to
guests at night had at sometime been closed. He rushed to it in desparation
and started to open it, but it was a slow process. He had raised the gate
an inch off the ground when a set of footsteps sounded through the
hallways...
=====================================================================
*SD TLP sits in chair, with bowtie and legs crossed, holding a pipe...* till
next time, HO NA NA! *waves*
*camera begins on back of SD TLP's head -- TLP begins to turn* Konnichi wa!
Welcome back minna! Today we are going to discuss Sakura's battle
costume... look at the cute ... uh... *ML sweatdrops* Okay, okay... I know,
you want to read the story. Hai hai... here you are:
ATTENTION: This section of the story turns a little more violent, hence a
PG-13 rating shall be instated from here on out. Enjoy!
thelonepig@hotmail.com
not much WAFF, but that's okay, no FLAMES yet to fan... ^_^
Part 5 of *alright, alright, 50?... is that okay?*
Serena was growing tired of waving. It's not that she didn't enjoy being in
the position she was in, it was quite the contrary. Serena felt that she
could accomplish something for these people. She wanted to make their lives
better.
Serena had been told that she herself had come from the common folk. Maybe
that's why she felt so compelled to stand up in her position. She thought
to the incident that had happened only a few minutes earlier. Something
would have to be done about the officers in the city guard. It should not
be allowed that any person be treated so cruely. She made it a point that
the moment she rest after they return to the castle, she would venture down
to the dungeons and see for herself what this young lieutenant had brought
up.
Serena blushed. The young lieutenant with the deep blue eyes flittered
across her mind. What had she seen there? Everything had gone in to slow
motion and it was as if a broken link had been reconnected. She felt a
special connection with him from some time before, but couldn't quite place
it.
Her thoughts were interrupted at that time by a commotion coming from the
crowds around her. People were moving to either side as several knights
began to walk from the crowd. They were evenly spaced around her carriage.
Four to either side, and who knows how many beyond that. She watched in
nervous fascination as they approached her carriage. The men were dressed
in full plate armor, but moved as if they were wearing no more than
commoners' clothing.
At that moment, everything stopped. The commoners' commotion died to no
more than the buzz of annoyance. Guards before her all toppled to the
ground as if blown over by a strong gust of wind. Even the air around
Serena's carriage seemed almost to solidify.
Serena opened her mouth to scream, but found she could not vocalize it. It
felt like a hand had an iron grip on her throat and would not let any words
escape it. She bit her lip in utter frustration and screamed inside. Her
breath came in ragged gasps, seized now by the same unseen intruder. The
last thing she saw was the silhoutte of a man materialize from the air in
front of her. And then all was black...
On the other side of the city, Darien raced to the front gates. If those
men were inside the city gates then there was only a few possiblities as to
how they could have done so. Darien took every alley-way and shortcut he
could come across. So intent was he on his destination, he did not notice
the presence of two black-clad individuals running to either side of him.
And then everything went in to slow motion for Darien. He was running
forward with all his force, intent on making it to the guardhouse at the
front gates at one moment. The next, Darien found himself trying to stop as
a hill-giant walked into the street several yards in front of him. The
giant lifted his sword and prepared it to cleave Darien in two. Darien
couldn't stop, he had to much momentum into his running already. He picked
his pace back up, hoping to be able to leap out of the way of the sword. He
counted silently to himself his steps... "1..." Darien was closing the
gap... "2..." the sword began to swing... "3..." Darien planted his foot
into the cobblestone road... "4..." Darien knew he wouldn't make it he had
misjudged the giant's speed... "5..." the sword began to connect with
Darien's midsection, he winced knowing that it was over. He screamed in
desperation the first thing that came to mind:
"USAGI!!!"
And then he was standing thirty yards behind the giant, with only a scratch
which hadn't even drawn blood. He felt slightly lightheaded, but the
feeling passed quickly. He didn't even venture a guess as to what could
have occurred, but instead began running for the gate once more.
As far as he could tell, his assailants did not follow. Usagi? Where had
that come from? The name sounded so familiar, but distant. Darien shrugged
off the feeling and redoubled his efforts.
On the other side of town, a very nervous Andrew was running into the castle
screaming for the Royal Guard to respond. The castle was more empty now
than he had ever seen it. All of the servants had been excused for the day
in celebration of the parade. Still, members of the Royal Guard were to be
posted in every hall at all times, holiday or not. Where was everyone?
Andrew continued running. Several moments later, he slowed to a halt.
"This is hopeless... nobody is here. Where could they all be?" he murmured
aloud.
As Andrew stood in the otherwise empty hallway catching his breath, voices
floated on the breeze to him. They were difficult to understand, but he
began his walk in that direction and listened, trying to recognize the
voices.
"What about my payment?"
"Payment? You double-crossed your own king and all for what? A couple of
coins? You poor fool, if money is that important to you then here."
Andrew heard the jingle of coins as he peered into a room at the end of the
hall. He almost gave himself away as he gasped in surprise at the sight
before him. He recognized one figure as Rick. The other was dressed in
full armor and wore the sigil of the Terindya kingdom.
Ryan reached out to catch the sack that had been thrown at him. As his hand
clasped about the bag, the second figure pulled his sword and sliced
sideways into Rick. The movement was so fluid, Andrew saw only a flash of
light as the drawn metal caught the light of the torches and then saw the
Terindyan man with his arm outstretched. Andrew gasped. The sword glowed
an unholy purple. It seemed to distort the very air around it and let loose
a scream like that of a thousand dead souls.
Rick's face contorted in a grimace of disbelief.
"Lord Falken?"
A thin line of red began to seep through his clothing. Falken smiled
evilly.
"What a fool... why should I let one live who has betrayed his own country?"
Rick's torso slid from his body. The money that was so precious to him,
still clutched in his hands. Falken reached over and tore a clean scrap of
cloth from the lifeless torso. He wiped his sword with it, and slid the
eerie blade back into the scabbard.
Andrew let a sigh of relief as those horrible screams were sealed away.
Andrew stood and turned, intent on moving away from the situation as soon as
possible. He felt his belt loosen, and his sword slid off, clattering to
the ground. The sound echoed endlessly down the empty corridors. And
without thinking, Andrew grabbed his sword and was running in the same fluid
motion...
Serena found herself unable to move and very, very uncomfortable. A gag had
found itself between her teeth, but at least she could breath again. She
opened her eyes, but everything was dark. They had blindfolded her too...
why had this happened? How had this happened? She would discuss matters
with both the city and royal guard when she was rescued. If she was
rescued. She thought briefly of Lieutenant Darien coming to her rescue,
cutting men with a single swing of his sword, and looking as handsome as
ever -- even in the middle of combat. She imagined once more looking into
his deep blue eyes. She lost herself for a moment in the depth that those
eyes carried. And then she shook the feeling.
What was she thinking? How could she think it? She was in love with
Kashue. He had found her, had helped her, and she owed it to him to be his
bride. And she loved him... but deep down inside she knew that he was not
for her. And all of these things that he had said to her about her past...
she couldn't even remember most of them. There was a connection with that
other man though, something from a past that she had forgotten. What was so
special about this lowly Lieutenant that would make her so flustered just to
think of him? She cursed herself and her poor memory.
The ride came to a halt rather quickly and she found herself on what she
imagined was the floor of a carriage. Rough hands grabbed at her, and
lifted her. She found herself flung over a massive shoulder like a sack of
potatoes.
It was a long time before she was finally put down, and very uncomfortably
at that. Serena clenched her teeth in both pain and frustration. She
didn't know the exact time that she had been bound, but it had become
uncomfortable a long time ago.
A voice began to speak. It was to her...
"My dear. I apologize about the way you were treated as you were brought
here, but I assure you, it was necessary for speed and your well-being."
'Well being my foot,' thought Serena. 'If they were looking after my
well-being, then they would have asked me to come in the first place and it
wouldn't have been nearly so uncomfortable.' She found a pair of hands
fumbling at the gag around her mouth. The moment she found it loosened, she
spit at whatever figure was in front of her.
"HOW DARE YOU KIDNAP ME! THE RIDE WAS TERRIBLE AND I WAS MOST ASSUREDLY NOT
HAPPY. I AM SERENA AND I WILL MARRY KASHUE, KING OF THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM.
HOW DARE YOU DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FO..."
A hand slapped across her face. It stung.
"They've done something to her... my beloved Usagi... How could you have
forgotten your father?" A hand gently caressed her cheek, and she tried to
bite it, growling menacingly when she found her teeth would not clench
around her prey.
"Please, take her away to her room. I must consult with the old woman about
my alternatives at this point..." stated the voice sadly.
A fist found its way into Serena's stomach, and everything went black.
Darien ran faster than he had ever run before, but his goal was now in
sight. He hadn't realized the exact depth of the city until this day.
The guard station lay silent, the door shattered from its hinges. The gate
hung wide open, anyone could gain access to the city...
Darien cautiously peered inside the guard house. The smell of dead bodies
filled his nostrils. He reeled in disgust and threw up outside the door.
"Captain?" he shouted, in hopes that his commanding officer would show.
Darien slumped to the ground outside, his back pressed up against the warm
stone of the guard station. His mind wandered through everything. How had
anyone gotten inside the city? Guards were on duty everywhere... it just
didn't make any sense. Darien's mind raced through all of the possiblities,
and his mind settled on one.
He stood, and raced back in to the guard house. This time, he managed to
hold his stomach. Darien glanced over the bodies. These were not freshly
killed. Their blood had clotted and the flesh had begun to rot in many
places. The site of a bug crawling from one of the soldier's eyes turned
Darien's stomach again, and he once again found himself throwing up in front
of the station.
A voice cleared itself before him, noting him to the presence of another.
Darien looked up to find himself entirely surrounded by the black-clad ninja
clan. Directly in front of him stood a human, and behind him the
hill-giant.
The human was dressed in light common clothing, and carried only a small
hunting knife at his belt. But his commanding presence let Darien know...
this is who he had been taught under all circumstances to avoid. This man
was a sorcerer.
Darien stepped backward quickly into the building and closed the remnants of
the heavy oaken door. He ran for various pieces of furniture that littered
the room and threw them in front of the door, barricading himself into the
room. But it took him far too long to gather any of those things... and an
attack still hadn't come. Why? And then he smelled the fumes of fire and
smoke began to pour into the room from roof...
Andrew ran through the hallways of the castle. He had grown up in the
castle, being related to the king through marriage. He thanked that fact,
and used all of his knowledge to take every shortcut and passageway that
would lead him quickest outside. His breathing came in ragged gasps, and
the soft pad of his boots echoed through the corridors. Oddly though, there
was no sound of pursuit.
'That's funny,' thought Andrew as he rounded the last corner that led into
the courtyard.
He found himself blocked off. The metal gate that sealed off the palace to
guests at night had at sometime been closed. He rushed to it in desparation
and started to open it, but it was a slow process. He had raised the gate
an inch off the ground when a set of footsteps sounded through the
hallways...
=====================================================================
*SD TLP sits in chair, with bowtie and legs crossed, holding a pipe...* till
next time, HO NA NA! *waves*