Yep yep yep... here's part 9 of the first Sailor Moon "Choose Your Own
Adventure" fic... nothing clever to say here, so on to the fic, ne? Of
course, if you're sick and tired of hearing from my fics, I'll understand...
don't worry about it ^^ Feedback is great stuff... especially where I can't
write the next until I know what you want to happen, ne?
Chapter 9 of *heeheehee... wouldn't you like to know...*
PG
Alternate Reality
thelonepig@hotmail.com
The dark blade screamed just over Andrew's head as he ducked to avoid it.
Falken reversed his swing and brought it down at knee-height. Andrew jumped
backwards just as the blade flew beneath his feet. Cartwheeling to the
side, Andrew dodged another blow from the expert swordsman. He didn't know
how much longer this action could be kept up.
Falken turned once again to face Andrew, flinging his cape behind him. The
mid-afternoon sun glinted from his armor. Sensing Andrew's weariness,
Falken redoubled his efforts on finding a weakness in Andrew's defense.
Slash, thrust, lunge... the attacks were launched with such ferocity that
Andrew found it difficult to keep up. Andrew buckled under the force of an
overhand chop and fell to his knees. Falken brought the blade down in
another arc. Andrew launched himself backwards just as the blade scratched
across the front of his armor. Falken's blade slid into the stone flooring.
Andrew's eyes widened as his armor glowed a faint purple where Falken's
blade had touched it. The purple aura slowly began to spread to the rest of
his armor. As it began to spread, his armor also began to dissolve. Andrew
quickly threw the armor off and shed it onto the ground before him. Falken
smiled evilly.
Andrew let his sword arm rest momentarily as he studied Falken's dark gaze.
Falken stared and remained where he stood. A light zephyr blew across the
courtyard. And the two men stood in opposition.
"We must act now my King!" shouted a courtitian at the table.
"I agree. My liege, the Kingdom of Terindya has already split its forces to
both attack our capital and to maintain the battle at the front. If we send
in a small party, we may be able to overthrow their castle like they did
ours!" shouted another man in reply.
A commotion blurred around the table.
Kashue cleared his throat and all was quiet. "I have taken your advice as
my court advisors from the beginning of my ascension to the throne of this
kingdom. I will once again let this matter be decided by the vote of the
majority here. Thus I propose this: those in favor of sending a small
party in to attack the Terindyan castle, please raise your hand."
The vote at the table was unanimous.
"Very well then," said Kashue. "I shall ask that you please assemble a list
of the men you feel best fits the job. I want it tomorrow, until then this
council is adjourned."
Kashue left the room and walked into a stone hallway. Torches provided the
only light. The people of his country wouldn't be able to stay held up
within the walls of this stone prison for much longer. They needed
sunlight. Kashue determined he would end this war as quickly as he could.
Kasumi detached herself from the shadows and fell into step directly next to
Kashue. Kashue didn't flinch, he had expected her.
"My liege," said Kasumi, slightly bowing her head. "Your scouts have
returned from the forest. They found the lieutenant Darien unconcious in
some bushes about a mile from here. He should be arriving shortly."
"Take him to the conference room when he arrives," said Kashue without
missing a step. "And inform me of his appearance at that time."
Kashue silently cursed under his breath. How had Darien, such a promising
young man under his direction, been previously associated with the woman he
was to marry? Kashue hated the prospect, but somehow he would have to
eliminate this man from her past. She must not be allowed to remember, not
after all he had sacrificed to make her his...
Andrew was steadily losing more and more ground to the barrage of attacks
thrown at him. Falken was leading him away from the garden, purposely
avoiding the difficult terrain. At the moment, he had Andrew at the
disadvantage and he didn't want to risk changing that.
"You fight like a demon, sir knight," spat Andrew.
"I was about to say the same of you, boy," replied Falken calmly.
The two men stood and stared at each other for a moment. Even Falken had to
try to catch his breath. Andrew leaned heavily on his sword, and sat on the
ground. He watched Falken carefully, but there was no sign of an attack.
The two men had been locked in combat for over an hour and neither had so
much as even drawn blood.
Without any warning, Falken lunged forward. His blade hissed and screamed
through the air as it came for Andrew's chest. Andrew's eyes widened as the
blade came closer and closer. This was the end, he couldn't move out of the
way in time.
An explosion sent pieces of the castle wall showering into the air. Andrew
was launched through the air from the force of the thundering explosion.
"What now?" screamed Andrew as he regained his balance and stood.
The entire half of the wall had been blown inward. Pieces of stone still
fell from the sky and smoke rose from the charred bits that lay all around.
Smoke layered thickly about the destruction.
"Falken, we must depart! His majesty wants us to report immediately!"
commanded a cold voice.
A silhoutte detached itself from the smoke and strode forward. Andrew
gasped... a mage? What was a mage doing here? Mages rarely left the
mountains where they trained. And even then, they never bothered in the
affairs of the common folk and only slightly more with those of the royalty.
Falken cursed under his breath. "Calahan!" He turned to face Andrew.
"This is not over yet boy. We'll meet again."
The mage muttered a spell and waved his hands through the air. A small tear
appeared beside him, from which a trident emerged part way. The blood-red
trident tore at the small opening. A small demon emerged from the newly
widened hole and stepped out. The mage muttered a few more words and the
portal suddenly changed to reveal a castle courtroom. Falken sheathed his
sword and stepped into the gateway, which closed immediately after him.
Calahan the mage smiled grimly at Andrew. "And for you my boy, I bid you
adieu. However, rather than taking leave of my senses and forgetting my
manners, I will leave you with a playmate. Try not to play too rough."
Evil laughter filled the air as the mage disappeared once more into the
smoke.
Andrew stared at the smoke where the mage had disappeared. And then he
heard cackling. He lept back just as a three-pronged trident lodged itself
into the ground where he had been standing. Andrew scanned the courtyard.
Standing a few yards away stood a small imp. It hovered slightly above the
ground, flapping a pair of wings leisurely. A sick grin twisted across its
face, revealing a jagged row of sharp, blood-stained teeth.
Serena stood alone at the summit of a mountain. The landscape all about her
was dark, as if seen through tinted glasses. Clouds littered the sky,
forming a formidable barricade to block off the sunlight.
Serena voiced her thoughts aloud: "What is this land?"
"This is our home," voiced a reply from behind her. Strong, but loving arms
enveloped her from behind. Serena gasped in shock, then relaxed as she
realized how familiar the hold felt. A head nestled into her shoulder, and
warm lips brushed up against her neck. Serena cooed in response and turned
to face the mystery behind her. Deep blue eyes stared deep within her,
attracted not by her looks, but by the soul within her.
"Darien," she grinned.
The green eyes hesitated for a moment, and the smile fell from his face.
The grip he held on Serena's shoulders began to tighten.
"Darien, I can't breath. Itai!" she screamed out in pain.
The grip became stronger and stronger. Serena's eyes began to close as she
slowly slipped into unconciousness. She clenched her teeth and forced
herself to look at her beloved, a tear running down her cheek. The face was
no longer Dariens, but Kashue's. Dark green eyes stared at her, but failed
to see past the outer shell of her looks. She screamed with the last bit of
air in her lungs.
A rose suddenly flew threw the air. It cut through Kashue, slicing from the
top of his head and burying itself in the ground behind him. The body of
the would-be King fell in two, releasing Serena from it's grip.
Serena looked in the direction the rose had come. Standing on a small group
of rocks several yards away stood a figure clothed in a tuxedo, wearing a
domino mask, and holding a rose in his hand. A name came to her lips... a
name she hadn't uttered or heard for
And then she was falling through the air. The mountain disappeared; the
fields, the stream, everything was gone. Just complete blackness as she
slipped into oblivion. She fell... and fell... and fell...
and landed on a soft mattress. Serena shot up. She was dressed in a silk
nightgown, and had been tucked under several layers of the warmest
goose-feather blankets she had ever seen.
"What are they trying to do? Cook me?" asked Serena aloud as she flung the
blankets from her. She swung out of the immense bed and walked over to the
window, flinging it open and allowing the cool breeze to blow past her.
And then she noticed the city. This wasn't the Southern Kingdom! The
events flooded back. She had been kidnapped and talked to the King of
Terindya. And who was that old woman? There was something wrong with that
woman.
The door behind Serena opened, causing her to turn on her heel. She
clutched her thin nightgown about her as the room's temperature suddenly
chilled.
Three guards rushed into the room and scooped up Serena by the arms.
"You're presence is demanded by the king, m'lady," said one guard formally.
"Let me go!" yelled Serena, kicking and contorting to remove herself from
the iron grip she found herself in.
The guards fought with their fiesty charge for a few moments, before finally
losing control of her. They surrendered their grips and contented to walk
to either side and behind the formidable lady. Serena straightened herself
up and held herself with all of the regal bearing she could muster.
Serena was led by the guards to the end of a hall, where they stopped in
front of a room. One of the men opened the door, and led Serena inside.
The room was enormous. A marble fireplace sat against one wall, warming the
room. Tapestries and paintings adorned the rest of the wall. An
ornately-carved closet stood against another wall. Candle-holders hung from
the walls, shaped in a multitude of different animals. Each animal held
forth a candle in outstretched arms. The room was an amazing display of
craftsmanship that deserved to be called no less than a museum.
And despite all the amount of decoration, all was overshadowed by the
chamber bed filling the center of the room. The posts were carved down to
the smallest detail. Each told a different story from the beginning of this
world. The four posts held an immense curtain, which operated as a canopy
over the bed.
Laying in the bed was an elderly man. He seemed frail and withered, yet
commanded a presence demanding immediate attention.
"Usagi..." coughed the old king.
Serena looked quizically at the old man. Somehow, he seemed familiar. That
voice, so kind and full of hope, had spoken to her before, but when she did
not know. Everything was crumbling around her. Who was she: Usagi or
Serena? Who was it that existed within her body? Her thoughts swam in the
questions she came across. Everytime she began to think, and felt she was
getting somewhere, a wall would block her path. Where was she from? When
did she get here? What connection did the young lieutenant have to her
past?
The king had beckoned to her to come closer to him, but she had been lost in
thought and had not noticed. The guard behind Serena pushed her forward
rudely. She managed to keep a balance, and allowed the momentum to carry
her towards the man at the throne.
"Usagi," the king whispered. "I don't know what has happened to you, or how
you feel. But I am sorry..." The old man trailed off as he was overtaken
by a fit of coughing. Serena held him up and cradled his frail body.
"I am sorry," he continued. "I have not thought ahead. I have not thought
of the consequences. The gods have never allowed me a child, and when you
appeared in this kingdom, I felt that they were giving me a chance, an
opportunity to right the wrongs that I have done to this people by giving
you my throne. You are innocent and caring, two qualities that most
monarchs do not possess..." He once again trailed off into a fit of
coughing. His whole frame shook with the bursts of each cough and a
nursemaid quickly ran over to help him. He ushered her away as the coughing
resinded.
Serena tried quickly to digest what had just been told her, but had scarcely
done so when the king began speaking again. "My child, my time here is
quickly passing. I have spoken with my court and they know that you are to
reign over this kingdom in my stead. However, I do not wish to impose this
task on you. If you wish to leave my kingdom now, I have asked that you be
escorted to the border. However, if you choose this path, I ask that you
never return here."
The look of utter confusion had managed to glue itself to Serena's features.
The king took notice and called for the guards to "escort the Lady Usagi
back to her room where she can mull over her choices before making a
decision."
"Oh, and my beloved Usagi... goodbye, I loved you as my daughter..."
Serena allowed herself to be escorted away by the guards. She didn't know
what to make of any of the situation. Her mind was turning flips in her
head...
Darien's eyes fluttered open. A bright sun shone into his face. He blinked
and sat up. He almost lost his balance as he gasped in astonishment --
"How did I end up in a tree?"
The last thing Darien could remember was being attacked by the mage. But
where was he now? A bright light had enveloped him, and apparently brought
him here.
The sound of steel against steel brought his attention back to the time at
hand. Darien dropped himself from his perch and took bearing of his
surroundings. He was in the royal garden, or so he guessed. His eyes
scanned over the scene before him. The castle wall had collapsed, and dust
was still settling.
Steel clashed again. Darien peered into the dust.
Andrew jumped to the side as a pike flew through the air, embedding itself
into the ground where he had just been standing. Sparks shot through the
air as Andrew parried away another polearm thrown his direction by a small
imp that hovered above him.
Andrew bent down and picked up a chunk of stone at his feet. He hurled it
at the creature with all of his strength. The imp flew to the side to avoid
it, but hadn't been expecting the counterattack and found that it couldn't
move fast enough as the stone clipped one of its wings.
Darien shouted across the field. "ANDREW!"
However, Andrew had turned on his heel and run from the courtyard and out
into the city streets. Darien watched as the imp tore a small portal open
in front of itself and ducked into it.
Andrew ran as fast as his legs could carry him across the city in hopes of
making it outside of the gates before the imp caught him. It watched its
prey with a red gleam in its eye.
Andrew found himself running into dead-ends and walls everywhere. He
thought he knew the city, but for some reason nothing was as he remembered
it. He finally slid to a halt before another dead end. There was something
wrong, and he knew it had to be the imp. And as if on cue, a hole opened up
before him and the imp stepped out, gazing at him and smiling crookedly.
The sound of steel rang out as Andrew drew his sword from its sheath. His
attacker reached back into the hole behind it and pulled out a sharp spear.
The imp spun the spear easily around in its hands -- an attempt at making
its prey uneasy. Andrew knew otherwise, however. Never under-, not
over-estimate any opponent. The second rule of combat he had been taught.
The first? Stay alive. And that is exactly what he intended to do...
==================================================================
Oh... it's that time again... the ever popular 1, 2, or door 3!!!
1 Does Darien run after to help his friend Andrew?
2 Does Darien try to find Kashue so that he can figure out what's going
on?
3 or does Darien move onward alone in an attempt to find Serena and figure
out his past?
ja ne!
-- TLP ^(=)^
Adventure" fic... nothing clever to say here, so on to the fic, ne? Of
course, if you're sick and tired of hearing from my fics, I'll understand...
don't worry about it ^^ Feedback is great stuff... especially where I can't
write the next until I know what you want to happen, ne?
Chapter 9 of *heeheehee... wouldn't you like to know...*
PG
Alternate Reality
thelonepig@hotmail.com
The dark blade screamed just over Andrew's head as he ducked to avoid it.
Falken reversed his swing and brought it down at knee-height. Andrew jumped
backwards just as the blade flew beneath his feet. Cartwheeling to the
side, Andrew dodged another blow from the expert swordsman. He didn't know
how much longer this action could be kept up.
Falken turned once again to face Andrew, flinging his cape behind him. The
mid-afternoon sun glinted from his armor. Sensing Andrew's weariness,
Falken redoubled his efforts on finding a weakness in Andrew's defense.
Slash, thrust, lunge... the attacks were launched with such ferocity that
Andrew found it difficult to keep up. Andrew buckled under the force of an
overhand chop and fell to his knees. Falken brought the blade down in
another arc. Andrew launched himself backwards just as the blade scratched
across the front of his armor. Falken's blade slid into the stone flooring.
Andrew's eyes widened as his armor glowed a faint purple where Falken's
blade had touched it. The purple aura slowly began to spread to the rest of
his armor. As it began to spread, his armor also began to dissolve. Andrew
quickly threw the armor off and shed it onto the ground before him. Falken
smiled evilly.
Andrew let his sword arm rest momentarily as he studied Falken's dark gaze.
Falken stared and remained where he stood. A light zephyr blew across the
courtyard. And the two men stood in opposition.
"We must act now my King!" shouted a courtitian at the table.
"I agree. My liege, the Kingdom of Terindya has already split its forces to
both attack our capital and to maintain the battle at the front. If we send
in a small party, we may be able to overthrow their castle like they did
ours!" shouted another man in reply.
A commotion blurred around the table.
Kashue cleared his throat and all was quiet. "I have taken your advice as
my court advisors from the beginning of my ascension to the throne of this
kingdom. I will once again let this matter be decided by the vote of the
majority here. Thus I propose this: those in favor of sending a small
party in to attack the Terindyan castle, please raise your hand."
The vote at the table was unanimous.
"Very well then," said Kashue. "I shall ask that you please assemble a list
of the men you feel best fits the job. I want it tomorrow, until then this
council is adjourned."
Kashue left the room and walked into a stone hallway. Torches provided the
only light. The people of his country wouldn't be able to stay held up
within the walls of this stone prison for much longer. They needed
sunlight. Kashue determined he would end this war as quickly as he could.
Kasumi detached herself from the shadows and fell into step directly next to
Kashue. Kashue didn't flinch, he had expected her.
"My liege," said Kasumi, slightly bowing her head. "Your scouts have
returned from the forest. They found the lieutenant Darien unconcious in
some bushes about a mile from here. He should be arriving shortly."
"Take him to the conference room when he arrives," said Kashue without
missing a step. "And inform me of his appearance at that time."
Kashue silently cursed under his breath. How had Darien, such a promising
young man under his direction, been previously associated with the woman he
was to marry? Kashue hated the prospect, but somehow he would have to
eliminate this man from her past. She must not be allowed to remember, not
after all he had sacrificed to make her his...
Andrew was steadily losing more and more ground to the barrage of attacks
thrown at him. Falken was leading him away from the garden, purposely
avoiding the difficult terrain. At the moment, he had Andrew at the
disadvantage and he didn't want to risk changing that.
"You fight like a demon, sir knight," spat Andrew.
"I was about to say the same of you, boy," replied Falken calmly.
The two men stood and stared at each other for a moment. Even Falken had to
try to catch his breath. Andrew leaned heavily on his sword, and sat on the
ground. He watched Falken carefully, but there was no sign of an attack.
The two men had been locked in combat for over an hour and neither had so
much as even drawn blood.
Without any warning, Falken lunged forward. His blade hissed and screamed
through the air as it came for Andrew's chest. Andrew's eyes widened as the
blade came closer and closer. This was the end, he couldn't move out of the
way in time.
An explosion sent pieces of the castle wall showering into the air. Andrew
was launched through the air from the force of the thundering explosion.
"What now?" screamed Andrew as he regained his balance and stood.
The entire half of the wall had been blown inward. Pieces of stone still
fell from the sky and smoke rose from the charred bits that lay all around.
Smoke layered thickly about the destruction.
"Falken, we must depart! His majesty wants us to report immediately!"
commanded a cold voice.
A silhoutte detached itself from the smoke and strode forward. Andrew
gasped... a mage? What was a mage doing here? Mages rarely left the
mountains where they trained. And even then, they never bothered in the
affairs of the common folk and only slightly more with those of the royalty.
Falken cursed under his breath. "Calahan!" He turned to face Andrew.
"This is not over yet boy. We'll meet again."
The mage muttered a spell and waved his hands through the air. A small tear
appeared beside him, from which a trident emerged part way. The blood-red
trident tore at the small opening. A small demon emerged from the newly
widened hole and stepped out. The mage muttered a few more words and the
portal suddenly changed to reveal a castle courtroom. Falken sheathed his
sword and stepped into the gateway, which closed immediately after him.
Calahan the mage smiled grimly at Andrew. "And for you my boy, I bid you
adieu. However, rather than taking leave of my senses and forgetting my
manners, I will leave you with a playmate. Try not to play too rough."
Evil laughter filled the air as the mage disappeared once more into the
smoke.
Andrew stared at the smoke where the mage had disappeared. And then he
heard cackling. He lept back just as a three-pronged trident lodged itself
into the ground where he had been standing. Andrew scanned the courtyard.
Standing a few yards away stood a small imp. It hovered slightly above the
ground, flapping a pair of wings leisurely. A sick grin twisted across its
face, revealing a jagged row of sharp, blood-stained teeth.
Serena stood alone at the summit of a mountain. The landscape all about her
was dark, as if seen through tinted glasses. Clouds littered the sky,
forming a formidable barricade to block off the sunlight.
Serena voiced her thoughts aloud: "What is this land?"
"This is our home," voiced a reply from behind her. Strong, but loving arms
enveloped her from behind. Serena gasped in shock, then relaxed as she
realized how familiar the hold felt. A head nestled into her shoulder, and
warm lips brushed up against her neck. Serena cooed in response and turned
to face the mystery behind her. Deep blue eyes stared deep within her,
attracted not by her looks, but by the soul within her.
"Darien," she grinned.
The green eyes hesitated for a moment, and the smile fell from his face.
The grip he held on Serena's shoulders began to tighten.
"Darien, I can't breath. Itai!" she screamed out in pain.
The grip became stronger and stronger. Serena's eyes began to close as she
slowly slipped into unconciousness. She clenched her teeth and forced
herself to look at her beloved, a tear running down her cheek. The face was
no longer Dariens, but Kashue's. Dark green eyes stared at her, but failed
to see past the outer shell of her looks. She screamed with the last bit of
air in her lungs.
A rose suddenly flew threw the air. It cut through Kashue, slicing from the
top of his head and burying itself in the ground behind him. The body of
the would-be King fell in two, releasing Serena from it's grip.
Serena looked in the direction the rose had come. Standing on a small group
of rocks several yards away stood a figure clothed in a tuxedo, wearing a
domino mask, and holding a rose in his hand. A name came to her lips... a
name she hadn't uttered or heard for
And then she was falling through the air. The mountain disappeared; the
fields, the stream, everything was gone. Just complete blackness as she
slipped into oblivion. She fell... and fell... and fell...
and landed on a soft mattress. Serena shot up. She was dressed in a silk
nightgown, and had been tucked under several layers of the warmest
goose-feather blankets she had ever seen.
"What are they trying to do? Cook me?" asked Serena aloud as she flung the
blankets from her. She swung out of the immense bed and walked over to the
window, flinging it open and allowing the cool breeze to blow past her.
And then she noticed the city. This wasn't the Southern Kingdom! The
events flooded back. She had been kidnapped and talked to the King of
Terindya. And who was that old woman? There was something wrong with that
woman.
The door behind Serena opened, causing her to turn on her heel. She
clutched her thin nightgown about her as the room's temperature suddenly
chilled.
Three guards rushed into the room and scooped up Serena by the arms.
"You're presence is demanded by the king, m'lady," said one guard formally.
"Let me go!" yelled Serena, kicking and contorting to remove herself from
the iron grip she found herself in.
The guards fought with their fiesty charge for a few moments, before finally
losing control of her. They surrendered their grips and contented to walk
to either side and behind the formidable lady. Serena straightened herself
up and held herself with all of the regal bearing she could muster.
Serena was led by the guards to the end of a hall, where they stopped in
front of a room. One of the men opened the door, and led Serena inside.
The room was enormous. A marble fireplace sat against one wall, warming the
room. Tapestries and paintings adorned the rest of the wall. An
ornately-carved closet stood against another wall. Candle-holders hung from
the walls, shaped in a multitude of different animals. Each animal held
forth a candle in outstretched arms. The room was an amazing display of
craftsmanship that deserved to be called no less than a museum.
And despite all the amount of decoration, all was overshadowed by the
chamber bed filling the center of the room. The posts were carved down to
the smallest detail. Each told a different story from the beginning of this
world. The four posts held an immense curtain, which operated as a canopy
over the bed.
Laying in the bed was an elderly man. He seemed frail and withered, yet
commanded a presence demanding immediate attention.
"Usagi..." coughed the old king.
Serena looked quizically at the old man. Somehow, he seemed familiar. That
voice, so kind and full of hope, had spoken to her before, but when she did
not know. Everything was crumbling around her. Who was she: Usagi or
Serena? Who was it that existed within her body? Her thoughts swam in the
questions she came across. Everytime she began to think, and felt she was
getting somewhere, a wall would block her path. Where was she from? When
did she get here? What connection did the young lieutenant have to her
past?
The king had beckoned to her to come closer to him, but she had been lost in
thought and had not noticed. The guard behind Serena pushed her forward
rudely. She managed to keep a balance, and allowed the momentum to carry
her towards the man at the throne.
"Usagi," the king whispered. "I don't know what has happened to you, or how
you feel. But I am sorry..." The old man trailed off as he was overtaken
by a fit of coughing. Serena held him up and cradled his frail body.
"I am sorry," he continued. "I have not thought ahead. I have not thought
of the consequences. The gods have never allowed me a child, and when you
appeared in this kingdom, I felt that they were giving me a chance, an
opportunity to right the wrongs that I have done to this people by giving
you my throne. You are innocent and caring, two qualities that most
monarchs do not possess..." He once again trailed off into a fit of
coughing. His whole frame shook with the bursts of each cough and a
nursemaid quickly ran over to help him. He ushered her away as the coughing
resinded.
Serena tried quickly to digest what had just been told her, but had scarcely
done so when the king began speaking again. "My child, my time here is
quickly passing. I have spoken with my court and they know that you are to
reign over this kingdom in my stead. However, I do not wish to impose this
task on you. If you wish to leave my kingdom now, I have asked that you be
escorted to the border. However, if you choose this path, I ask that you
never return here."
The look of utter confusion had managed to glue itself to Serena's features.
The king took notice and called for the guards to "escort the Lady Usagi
back to her room where she can mull over her choices before making a
decision."
"Oh, and my beloved Usagi... goodbye, I loved you as my daughter..."
Serena allowed herself to be escorted away by the guards. She didn't know
what to make of any of the situation. Her mind was turning flips in her
head...
Darien's eyes fluttered open. A bright sun shone into his face. He blinked
and sat up. He almost lost his balance as he gasped in astonishment --
"How did I end up in a tree?"
The last thing Darien could remember was being attacked by the mage. But
where was he now? A bright light had enveloped him, and apparently brought
him here.
The sound of steel against steel brought his attention back to the time at
hand. Darien dropped himself from his perch and took bearing of his
surroundings. He was in the royal garden, or so he guessed. His eyes
scanned over the scene before him. The castle wall had collapsed, and dust
was still settling.
Steel clashed again. Darien peered into the dust.
Andrew jumped to the side as a pike flew through the air, embedding itself
into the ground where he had just been standing. Sparks shot through the
air as Andrew parried away another polearm thrown his direction by a small
imp that hovered above him.
Andrew bent down and picked up a chunk of stone at his feet. He hurled it
at the creature with all of his strength. The imp flew to the side to avoid
it, but hadn't been expecting the counterattack and found that it couldn't
move fast enough as the stone clipped one of its wings.
Darien shouted across the field. "ANDREW!"
However, Andrew had turned on his heel and run from the courtyard and out
into the city streets. Darien watched as the imp tore a small portal open
in front of itself and ducked into it.
Andrew ran as fast as his legs could carry him across the city in hopes of
making it outside of the gates before the imp caught him. It watched its
prey with a red gleam in its eye.
Andrew found himself running into dead-ends and walls everywhere. He
thought he knew the city, but for some reason nothing was as he remembered
it. He finally slid to a halt before another dead end. There was something
wrong, and he knew it had to be the imp. And as if on cue, a hole opened up
before him and the imp stepped out, gazing at him and smiling crookedly.
The sound of steel rang out as Andrew drew his sword from its sheath. His
attacker reached back into the hole behind it and pulled out a sharp spear.
The imp spun the spear easily around in its hands -- an attempt at making
its prey uneasy. Andrew knew otherwise, however. Never under-, not
over-estimate any opponent. The second rule of combat he had been taught.
The first? Stay alive. And that is exactly what he intended to do...
==================================================================
Oh... it's that time again... the ever popular 1, 2, or door 3!!!
1 Does Darien run after to help his friend Andrew?
2 Does Darien try to find Kashue so that he can figure out what's going
on?
3 or does Darien move onward alone in an attempt to find Serena and figure
out his past?
ja ne!
-- TLP ^(=)^