(This story is based off characters from the game Gauntlet: Dark Legacy. The events of this story take place before the game.)
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It was amazing.
When I saw the beast fly across the sky, I knew we had found the lair of
our prey. The Dragon had been terrorizing our moutain for a small time,
but we were not afraid. My fellow warriors were going to bring the creature
down. My one brother in arms held the Legendary Ice Axe, once held by the
hero Untar. He was a legend among our people. And this Axe never
melted, even in the Volcanic Caverns that lead to the Dragon's lair. The
story said that the Hero Untar traded a scroll with a Dwarf from the Ice
Domain to gain the magical axe. When I heard the tale, I heard that Untar
threw that Axe right at a dragon, and froze it solid. Then he shattered
it with one blow. I had even heard that Untar had become a beast during
the battle. I thought that that part of the story was made up. I honestly
didn't believe that people could turn into beasts. When we neared the tunnel
to the cave the Dragon had taken for a lair, one of my fellow warriors
said, "Today, we will destroy the beast, and become the objects of legends.
Are you all with me?"
I held up my
Axe, along with the others in my group and said, "We all are with you.
Death to the Dragon." We then ran up the tunnel and straight to the mouth
of the Dragon's Lair. It looked like the Dragon was dead asleep. This might
not be as hard as some of us thought.
I then heard
one of my fellow comrades say, "The Dragon is asleep, this shall be easy.
We will not even have to use the Ice Axe." I had to agree. It did look
that way, but something bothered me about it.
It was then
I noticed it. As the one who last spoke approached the Dragon, I noticed
its one eye was open slightly. It knew we were here, and it knew to lure
us into a false sense of security. I shouted out loud, "It's a trap, get
away from the Dragon." It was then that the beast's head reared up. I knew
what was coming and ducked behind I pile of rocks. While the others backed
up, the Dragon openned it's mouth and torched all of them in it's evil
flame.
My friend, who
carried the Ice Axe, fell aside of me. I was almost horrified by the state
he was in. He looked at me, and managed to say, "It's all up to you."
I was angered
by it. I grabbed the Ice Axe, and I felt something happen. It must have
been the pain caused by loss of my friends. The pain was brief and I looked
up at the Dragon and said, "You will die." I then threw the Axe at the
Dragon, and I was pleased when I saw it strike the creature. The Dragon
turn into pure ice, but then I saw something which scared me. In the dragon,
I saw a Minotaur, and then I fell backwards in shock, and saw it do the
same. I had turned into the Minotaur, but I wasn't sure how. I sat back
and focused on what had happened. I focused on what had happened and tried
to change back.
While I was
lost on this, I heard a flapping of wings above me. I looked up and saw
the Dragon, looking down at me. I could even tell it was weak. Then something
odd happened. It spoke. It looked at me and said, "So you are like Untar,
the one who killed my father. Mark my words, Warrior, I shall return, and
no matter if you be man or minotaur, I will..." His words turned
back into growls as I looked at my hands and noticed I was back to normal.
Then, the Dragon flew off. It was the end of the beast, but I knew it would
return.
I walked over
to where the Ice Axe now was and picked it up. I looked at my comrades
and said, "The Dragon is gone, my fallen friends, and if he returns, I
will destroy him. I vow this to all of you." Then I began the long walk
to our village.
*****************************
When I finally
returned to the village, all the people were cheering me. They had seen
the Dragon fly off, and thought it wasn't going to return. Even the woman
that was to be my wife congratulated me with a long kiss. When she ended
the kiss, she held me and said, "Father wants to talk to you. He said it
was important."
I knew that
I had to speak to her father. Her father was the leader of our group, and
when he said it was important, it was. I just said, "What does he want
to say to me, beloved?" I may have been a warrior, but I also had a heart
of gold.
She shook her
head and said, "I do not know, but I do know that he said it was very important."
I nodded and headed over to where they resided. To be called by the leader
meant that something important was to happen. I did not know what it would
be.
When I finally
entered his presense, I saw him smiling at me and said, "You have done
well, lad. You have gotten rid of the Dragon, and lived up to the prophecy
so far."
I was puzzled
by this and said, "What prophecy, my leader?"
I saw his smile
almost disappear as a serious look crossed his face. "It has been passed
down for generations that Untar had made a prophecy when he returned from
defeating the dragon he fought. He said that a hero like him would appear
to face another dragon. Only could that hero drive off the dragon, but
that hero would destory the dragon, and evils that were far greater."
I was stunned.
I didn't know what to say, but my betrothed did have something to say.
She said, "Father, are you saying that the man I am to marry is a Legend."
He nodded and
said, "Indeed. I am sure that you have already been able to change into
the form of a Minotaur." When I nodded in shock at how he knew, he said,
"It happened when you held the Ice Axe and faced the Dragon. You have a
pure heart, and in your anger of the fall of your comrades, you pulled
out the beast inside. It is how the prophecy went."
I nodded and
said, "So what am I supposed to do." I was confused. I didn't understand
all that had happened to me.
The leader then
said, "Do not worry, lad. I shall tell you when I tell everyone. Now enjoy
your celebration." He then left the area, and my betrothed held me. I could
tell she was worried about what would happen. I myself was worried about
that as well, but I would do as my leader suggested.
*****************************
As the celebration
came to an end, I stood with the leader and my betrothed at the front of
the area. Everyone was still cheering my name, but this was the moment
of truth. The leader was about to announce my fate to everyone. I stood
almost at attention when the leader said, "My people, it brings me great
pleasure to say that the Dragon is now gone. It gives me more pleasure
that the hero that did it is the hero that the great Untar prophecied about."
I heard everyone cheer at that. Then I noticed that our leader had a solemn
look on his face. "However, it saddens me to say that before he can reach
his true potential, he must head down to mystical tower at the base of
our moutain. He must seek the help of the mage Sumner."
I noticed that
everyone looked disappointed and I knew why. I also knew that this was
something that I had to do. I just said, "My leader, how do I get to the
tower."
The leader just
pointed down the mountain and said, "Continue down until you reach the
Vally of Fire. Once you cross that area, you will be near the tower. Sumner
can then make you the hero you are to be."
I nodded and
said, "I shall return, to protect you all." I then turned to my betrothed
and kissed her. When I ended the kiss, I said, "And when I return, we shall
be husband and wife." I saw her smile when I said that. I then took my
Axe and started down the mountain. As I left, I heard all the town cheer
my name, and deep down, I hoped that the Dragon would not return while
I was gone.
End of the Warrior's Tale
