Disclaimer: No, I don't own any of the characters of Gladiator (damn), nor do I own the script of Gladiator that I'm using to write this story. This is just the work of an enormously obsessed fan....^_^
Notes: I got the idea for this story from a dream I had, actually, where everyone in Gladiator were dragons. I thought it would make quite a story, so I decided to write it...obviously. ^_^ It follows the storyline of the movie, but I've added characters and changed some things around to make it seem more fantasy-like. No extremely big changes, though, none that are large enough to affect the plot. It also contains a lot of the actual dialog from the movie as well.
Warning: In the near future, this story will have graphic violence scenes, minor swearing, and some sexual references. That is why it's rated PG-13. ::kicks Commodus-dragon:: It's his entire fault, too. ::runs from the fuming mad dragon:: Aiiee! Without further ado, I present you with....Gladiator: Another World!!! ::hides behind Maximus-dragon::
Silvery talons brushed with gentleness across the feathery tips of wheat. The heavy sound of flapping wings mingled with the sound of the breeze nudging the wheat, rustling it. The seemingly endless field rippled like golden ocean waves.
The emerald-caressed dragon opened his crimson eyes. He lowered his almost hawklike head, his golden horns grabbing the light. He had been quietly reminiscing about his home among the golden fields of wheat. He ached to see his endearing wife and lovable son who were waiting for his return, listening for the steady beat of his wings as they cut across the sky, looking for that hint of green among the clear blue of the skies. Longing and desire swirled restlessly in his heart.
Maximus Decimus Meridius turned and plodded off to the scene of the upcoming battle, claws tearing up the terrain beneath him.
Countless creatures prepared for the upcoming battle. Dragons of every color strapped on their tail and head armor, while others fitted titanium claws over their normal ones. Phoenixes and gryphons flapped overhead, scouting the area for the faintest sign of the enemy. Unicorns stomped the ground with silver hooves anxiously, tossing their heads of silky manes.
All stopped when their general approached.
Hundreds of heads bowed, and the assorted creatures parted, letting General Maximus pass by them. The songs of phoenixes and the harsh cries of gryphons echoed through the winter air as the aerial creatures respectively greeted their general.
Maximus nodded and smiled warmly at his army, pride filling his scaly body and replacing that aching longing for his home. He nodded to them once, and they continued the pre-battle preparations. He approaches a stern-faced gray gryphon, with one emerald and gold earring attached to his ear tufts. A chain of gold is strapped around his back, attached to a badge of the same colors as his earring. This was clearly a sign of high rank. "Still nothing?" Maximus asks the commander gryphon, Quintus.
"Not a sign," Quintus replies, his eyes fixed on a group of dragon soldiers positioning catapults.
A phoenix with golden-red plumage makes a graceful landing in front of Maximus. She spreads her wings and bows respectively.
"Is there any sign--any sign at all--of the enemy?" Maximus questions.
The phoenix speaks in a nervous tone of voice, her brilliantly elegant tail feathers quivering. "N-no sir. There's nothing. I can't see a thing through the thickness of the trees. They could be hiding in the depths of the forest...I just don't know." The phoenix hung her head in shame.
"You've done all that you could. I don't want to risk losing one of my men by ordering him to venture into those woods. They are dangerous enough, even without the Germans. How far out did you fly?" Maximus asks.
"A few miles, sir. Some even went farther than that. There is nothing. Not even the sound of metal clinking or the crunching of leaves and twigs," the firebird says, sadly.
"They could have cast a spell....levitation spell, maybe, to hush their footsteps. Maybe even a good muting spell," Quintus cut in.
"I doubt that greatly," said Maximus. "You must remember, these are barbarians we're dealing with. Or rather, should be dealing with...but that's not the point. The point is that all they know how to do is fight. And they aren't on the intelligent side, either. I bet that half of them don't even know what magic is!"
"Yes...yes, of course, General." Quintus said, clouded blue eyes focused yet again on the group of dragons handling the catapults. "Soldier!" he suddenly shouted to the closest dragon. "Pull those catapults forward! They're out of range!"
"Range is good," Maximus says, smiling a smile full of pearly fangs.
"A danger to the cavalry-" Quintus beings, eying the general and clicking his beak.
"It is acceptable." Maximus finished.
A strange, haunting cry unlike any other Maximus had ever heard before echoed through the forest. The cry of a wyvern.
The sound of frantically flapping wings sounded behind Maximus a few minutes after that unnatural cry had died away. He whirled around, only to come face to face with another phoenix. The bird's fiery red crest feathers were raised in alarm, his eyes wild with fear. His tail feathers were blackened and smoking. The female phoenix rushed to his side, uttering "Aerax, oh, Aerax, what happened?"
The phoenix shuddered violently, and answered. "Th-the Germans....hiding in forest.....h-had casted D-darkness spell so we couldn't see 'em. I was flying over, and I heard a cry...strange...never heard anything like it. I looked down and there they were! Thousands of them....all armed and ready for battle! One shot a flaming arrow at me...I dodged it....singed my tail feathers though and.....they're headed this way! Closin' in fast too!"
The young phoenix said this so quickly that Maximus asked him to repeat it. When he successfully straightened out what the phoenix had told him, his eyes widened in shock. Shock, but not fear. Never fear. He turned to the female phoenix. "Take Aerax to the safely of the tents. And Quintus," Maximus said, turning to the gryphon, "Help me get the cavalry in order."
To be continued....
And that's all I've got so far. But rest assured, reader, there will be more to come...
~*Miereya*~
Notes: I got the idea for this story from a dream I had, actually, where everyone in Gladiator were dragons. I thought it would make quite a story, so I decided to write it...obviously. ^_^ It follows the storyline of the movie, but I've added characters and changed some things around to make it seem more fantasy-like. No extremely big changes, though, none that are large enough to affect the plot. It also contains a lot of the actual dialog from the movie as well.
Warning: In the near future, this story will have graphic violence scenes, minor swearing, and some sexual references. That is why it's rated PG-13. ::kicks Commodus-dragon:: It's his entire fault, too. ::runs from the fuming mad dragon:: Aiiee! Without further ado, I present you with....Gladiator: Another World!!! ::hides behind Maximus-dragon::
Silvery talons brushed with gentleness across the feathery tips of wheat. The heavy sound of flapping wings mingled with the sound of the breeze nudging the wheat, rustling it. The seemingly endless field rippled like golden ocean waves.
The emerald-caressed dragon opened his crimson eyes. He lowered his almost hawklike head, his golden horns grabbing the light. He had been quietly reminiscing about his home among the golden fields of wheat. He ached to see his endearing wife and lovable son who were waiting for his return, listening for the steady beat of his wings as they cut across the sky, looking for that hint of green among the clear blue of the skies. Longing and desire swirled restlessly in his heart.
Maximus Decimus Meridius turned and plodded off to the scene of the upcoming battle, claws tearing up the terrain beneath him.
Countless creatures prepared for the upcoming battle. Dragons of every color strapped on their tail and head armor, while others fitted titanium claws over their normal ones. Phoenixes and gryphons flapped overhead, scouting the area for the faintest sign of the enemy. Unicorns stomped the ground with silver hooves anxiously, tossing their heads of silky manes.
All stopped when their general approached.
Hundreds of heads bowed, and the assorted creatures parted, letting General Maximus pass by them. The songs of phoenixes and the harsh cries of gryphons echoed through the winter air as the aerial creatures respectively greeted their general.
Maximus nodded and smiled warmly at his army, pride filling his scaly body and replacing that aching longing for his home. He nodded to them once, and they continued the pre-battle preparations. He approaches a stern-faced gray gryphon, with one emerald and gold earring attached to his ear tufts. A chain of gold is strapped around his back, attached to a badge of the same colors as his earring. This was clearly a sign of high rank. "Still nothing?" Maximus asks the commander gryphon, Quintus.
"Not a sign," Quintus replies, his eyes fixed on a group of dragon soldiers positioning catapults.
A phoenix with golden-red plumage makes a graceful landing in front of Maximus. She spreads her wings and bows respectively.
"Is there any sign--any sign at all--of the enemy?" Maximus questions.
The phoenix speaks in a nervous tone of voice, her brilliantly elegant tail feathers quivering. "N-no sir. There's nothing. I can't see a thing through the thickness of the trees. They could be hiding in the depths of the forest...I just don't know." The phoenix hung her head in shame.
"You've done all that you could. I don't want to risk losing one of my men by ordering him to venture into those woods. They are dangerous enough, even without the Germans. How far out did you fly?" Maximus asks.
"A few miles, sir. Some even went farther than that. There is nothing. Not even the sound of metal clinking or the crunching of leaves and twigs," the firebird says, sadly.
"They could have cast a spell....levitation spell, maybe, to hush their footsteps. Maybe even a good muting spell," Quintus cut in.
"I doubt that greatly," said Maximus. "You must remember, these are barbarians we're dealing with. Or rather, should be dealing with...but that's not the point. The point is that all they know how to do is fight. And they aren't on the intelligent side, either. I bet that half of them don't even know what magic is!"
"Yes...yes, of course, General." Quintus said, clouded blue eyes focused yet again on the group of dragons handling the catapults. "Soldier!" he suddenly shouted to the closest dragon. "Pull those catapults forward! They're out of range!"
"Range is good," Maximus says, smiling a smile full of pearly fangs.
"A danger to the cavalry-" Quintus beings, eying the general and clicking his beak.
"It is acceptable." Maximus finished.
A strange, haunting cry unlike any other Maximus had ever heard before echoed through the forest. The cry of a wyvern.
The sound of frantically flapping wings sounded behind Maximus a few minutes after that unnatural cry had died away. He whirled around, only to come face to face with another phoenix. The bird's fiery red crest feathers were raised in alarm, his eyes wild with fear. His tail feathers were blackened and smoking. The female phoenix rushed to his side, uttering "Aerax, oh, Aerax, what happened?"
The phoenix shuddered violently, and answered. "Th-the Germans....hiding in forest.....h-had casted D-darkness spell so we couldn't see 'em. I was flying over, and I heard a cry...strange...never heard anything like it. I looked down and there they were! Thousands of them....all armed and ready for battle! One shot a flaming arrow at me...I dodged it....singed my tail feathers though and.....they're headed this way! Closin' in fast too!"
The young phoenix said this so quickly that Maximus asked him to repeat it. When he successfully straightened out what the phoenix had told him, his eyes widened in shock. Shock, but not fear. Never fear. He turned to the female phoenix. "Take Aerax to the safely of the tents. And Quintus," Maximus said, turning to the gryphon, "Help me get the cavalry in order."
To be continued....
And that's all I've got so far. But rest assured, reader, there will be more to come...
~*Miereya*~