Block Four: The Tale of Harmony

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"All the exaggerations are right, if they exaggerate the right thing." - Gilbert K. Chesterton

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Creak~

"Ah! Thank you, you're a real life saver." A Cat Faunus Man says, as the person helping him finished pulling a cart.

Thunk!!

"Oh Thank you deary~" An old deer Faunus lady said to her recent helper as he finally put down a heavy stack of boxes inside her home.

Chop! Chop! Chop! Creak~

"Timber!"

As a chopped down tree tumbled to the ground, The Bull Faunus gave his thanks to The Warden that had been helping around the town.

—

Ever since the Knights had appeared the town of Menagerie grew even more, with land being taken back from the Grimm, the city being safer from criminals and ruffians alike.

Some would go as far as to help with the more basic of needs, tree chopping, carpentry, smithing, and many other jobs that needed to be filled to help the town.

While this was a momentous event of Faunus and Human relations coming to fruition one had to often be reminded that these people were apart of a small nation who knew nothing but War.

Which brought upon one to educate the next generation, just as the scholars would say, work so the past could never be forgotten nor shall it ever be repeated.

This was what brought one Warden to take action, as his fellow knights both young and old worked towards the Grimm, he looked to help the local populous.

So as he helped with the chores, as he helped with the carrying of bricks, this local Knight in armor was called-

"Sir Daubeny!" A group of children yelled as they saw this said Warden patrolling around the village. "Shh!" He said trying to shush the small group as he told them his name was supposed to be a secret.

"But everybody knows your name." One Faunus girl with small Oryx Antlers said. "Be that as it may, I can't let anyone else know!" The children look at each other with a look of disbelief as the Warden that had on a Arcturus Helm.

"But don't you declare your name a lot." A boy said with skin that looked as if it came from a snake. "Not in front of the knights no, because you don't know this but uhh…You see!" Daubeny would declare striking a heroic pose.

"I am a top secret warrior on a mission, if a Knight sees me then, consider my mission ruined! Which is why I am not afraid of giving my name to civilians such as yourself." The Warden would say.

"Cool! Then can you tell us one of those missions!?" And excited brown haired human girl says, Daubeny unsure if she was human or not.

The children had agree with her and gathered around the Knight as they stood to the side of the busy market. As the people would pass by busy as usual for one thing or another. The sun shined upon this busy street and so The Warden thought.

Most of the missions he went on, (secretly of course) were quite gruesome. In fact even he believed that telling children of such tales would've been too much, but what could he even talk about.

Then a thought came to him, "I've got it, how about this, instead of some "Boring" missions. Why don't I tell you about the creation of our great land?" He would ask, grabbing an unused box and sitting on it.

The children were skeptical of the story, in fact while he said his missions were boring they were far from it. So says many of the other children that listened to him, so they decided. "Okay…" a few said, dejected they wouldn't hear of his missions today.

"Oh don't be like that, I'm fact I bet you that this story will knock all of your Grieves off!" A few giggled at his weird sayings so they sat and listened.

To this certain Warden nothing brought him great joy but to regal the tales of his homeland and how it came to be.

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"You see Children, our story begins with my great fortress being attacked! It was under siege! Great Battering Rams attacked my doors, wicked and evil men were charging into my home.

Many of my men fought bravely as they defended my great castle!"

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"You fought them too right?" One of the children asked, Daubeny froze for but a second.

"Eer, Of course I did! Why I was the one leading the counter offensive!"

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"These Wicked and Evil Men were numerous in numbers but I had the strength! Many of them were looking to loot and destroy what I had built.

What was it you may ask? Why, the very Legion that me and many great knights are apart of! The Legion that stands now to fight against the Grimm protecting both Man and Faunus.

As I faced many of these Wicked Knights-"

—

"What are the Wicked Knights?"

"Yeah, are they just a random group?"

Daubeny had to stop when one child asked that question, in fact he was downright afraid of even speaking their name to them. It would do no good to allow them to hear of "Them".

"Hmm, if I may be so bold to say young ones, I'd rather the Wicked Knights to be forgotten in history, to be scratched off of our books and never to be told."

"But Sir Daubeny, isn't that wrong?"

The Knight had to think, would it really be so wrong if it was "Them"? But he had to wonder…

"That depends…Why do you ask?"

"Because my Dad always said to never forget history, it's wrong to forget it."

"Is that so…"

The more the Knight thought about it, Yes, it is wrong to be forgotten in History. To deny the past would be denying your very present. Only the greats and the legends are to be remembered, and if one is to be denied such a end despite their actions…What would that make The Lord Warden?

"You know…You're right, if we did such a thing to our enemies, would we not be as wicked as them? Of course we would children. So let me fix that."

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"As I fought against The Blackstone Legion, I came to a dreadful conclusion. If there was so many already, then there had to be more coming. It was an invasion force and my men were small in number, so I did the most noble thing.

After defeating Blackstone after Blackstone I made my way to my castles courtyard and I looked to fight the invading force.

Battle after battle was fought and I ended up victorious! But it wasn't without cause. Me and the remaining Knights of my Legion were pushed back and surrounded.

There was nothing I could do. So I challenged the Leader of this Force. I said unto them

"Bring forth your Leader! I have words with him and it shall end in death should he not approach!"

And it worked, The Leader of the Blackstones came to the front. This behemoth of a knight that stood tall at 7 feet tall, His Poleaxe this tall and this thick. He was a monster and his weapon craved the death of my men.

His Armor Pure Black and Orange, Armor this thick and powerful, in fact his strength was what gave him the name of a Demon. "Asmodai"

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"Wooooah" the children said in awe, a couple frighten. "And you fought him?" One child curiously asked wanting to know more.

"Fought him? If only I did maybe things would've been different, but life had a way of changing things."

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"Show yourself Daubeny!! I know you are here, why delay the inevitable!" The Monstrous Lawbringer spoke as he yelled to the courtyard full of Knights, Daubeny in the middle of them.

"I am right here you Oaf! What business do you dare have, attacking my home, killing my men, Why?!" Daubeny yelled back to Asmodai

"They are an affront to our mission, The Blackstone Legion, you and your men deserve to die!"

"To you maybe, but The Iron Legion stands tall! My men don't deserve to die today, Trial by Combat, Right now!" Daubeny yelled to The Evil Lawbringer.

"Trail? Ha! This will end in an execution if you fight me, you and I both know it!"

—

"Regardless, while he spoke such words I knew he was right. I wasn't strong enough to take him on, no matter what I did it would've been the death of my men. But I had to at least try."

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"…Be that as it may, I will still stand against you, and while there are many Legions. The Iron Legion is the greatest among them! So fight me if you dare!"

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"It was that day where we clashed blades! He came in for a charge but I was ready, I dodged his attacked and struck him in the back! But he was quick!

He recovered and swung his blade at me from behind barely missing me. Then he swiped at me once more but I partied it back. One strike! Two Strike! He wasn't ready and it hurt him.

But the third would be my downfall, as I attacked he parried my own attack and struck me in the stomach with the end of his weapon and swiped at me.

Of course it launched me away and he jumped, his weapon aiming to kill me with all of its might with an overhand strike! With me still in the air I couldn't have been able to move out of the way even if I wanted too. I thought I would died.

But then "He" came!

—

"Stop!" A Warden stopped the blade of Asmodai and kicked him away. "Grr, this is none of your business Warden!"

"You?! What are you doing?!" Daubeny said on the ground, slowly recovering confused at his Wardens actions.

"Lord Daubeny, I'm sorry but I can't let you throw your life away! Face me instead!" The Warden said, readying his blade in front of him.

"No! Wait!" Daubeny tried to say.

"Enough!" Asmodai said, as the courtyard grew silent Asmodai looked to his own crowd of warriors and he spotted him. "You! If Daubeny's second shall fight for him, I should do the same! But it will come at a cost!"

"And what will the price be?" The Warden asked unmoving from his position.

"Just know that should you win, then I shall let these men go."

Daubeny and The Warden looked to each other, The Lord was wary but he knew what needed to be done, "You! You will be my second."

"Gladly" The Warden said approaching. From The Blackstone's side a Warden in dark and orange armor approached, half of his helmet almost resembling that of a skulls mouth.

—

"Yes young one?" Daubeny asked stopping his story for one of the children held her hand, wanting to ask a question.

"Ah! That Warden! Who is he?"

"Hahaha, why, this Warden was a recruit to My Legion! At the time I had accepted him for he simply had nowhere else to go! I believed in his drive when I first laid eyes upon him and he joined me. And it seemed he was willing to repay all that I had done for him."

—

The two would face off against each other, me worried for his health and my men. Because if he did fail, there would've been a slaughter.

Blow after blow, parry after parry, the two were evenly matched, while my recruit had finesse. The Blackstone had pure brutality.

It was a battle like none other and it shaped the very foundation of the Iron Legions future, why it was a miracle when My Warden took one change and his granted him victory.

The Blackstone was defeated! We had cheered because we were truly safe! But it would not last as Asmodai approached and he told us his price.

"A second for a second, a Soul for a soul, in exchange for your people's lives all I need is a replacement. Swear yourself to me Warden and work for The Blackstone Legion." Asmodai spoke.

"I will do no such thing." The Warden declared, "What game do you dare to play Asmodai!" Daubeny yelled.

"Watch your tone with me, Daubeny! We had a deal and you agreed to it! The price was the life of your Warden for your men! You are still at our Mercy or had you not figured it out?!" Asmodai joked as he watched Daubeny and The Warden looked to the blood hungry Blackstones that indeed still surrounded them.

Asmodai approached Daubeny and he spoke to him. "It would not do for a Knight of the Iron Legion to beat a Blackstone like a they were but common mercenary."

—

"I wanted to refute it, I wanted to deny him, but what could I have done? He had everything and could of won it all but…All that demon needed and wanted was My Recruit, I couldn't say anything even if I wanted too, but I didn't need to."

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"I'll go." The Warden said, "W-what?" Daubeny exclaimed in surprise, "If it means the rest of The Iron Legion lives, then I'll do as told. Master…"

You could see the smile under Asmodai's faceplate even with his helmet on and he called off his forces. "Let us move out then, To the Blackstones you are already dead Daubeny, so you need not worry about us anymore." The Lawbringer grabbed a random sword and approached The Warden.

"Now then, Kneel."

It was a cruel joke, My Recruit knighted in front of me to an Evil Legion with me unable to do anything. "For Valor in battle, for Honor in service. I Asmodai raise you. Now stand, Knight of the Blackstone Legion." Asmodai said, as he raised the sword towards The Warden.

Said Warden looked to the weapon and grabbed it, it was his now. "We're finished here." Asmodai said blandly going to take his army and the new Knight with him.

—

"But I couldn't just accept that, no, I refused to do nothing so I did the next big thing, I stopped my then Recruit and did something even I was surprised I did. I gave him my sword."

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"Sir Daubeny…" The Warden said in awe, "Think nothing of it, and use it to do great things. While you may now work for the Blackstones, never forget yourself or your oaths. As long as you have this sword, promise me you'll find your way back."

The Warden, could only nod as he switched swords with Daubeny and he walked out of the castle following his new Master.

—

"That was the last I ever saw of him, that was how "He" joined the Blackstone Legion, and I was there to see the beginning of a Legend."

"Who is He? Sir Daubeny?"

"That Recruit, My Recruit was none other then the future Lord Warden himself, the man that would guide us Iron Legion to glory and to a time of prosperity not seen for hundreds of years! For it was he, that sent us here to Menagerie. Aren't you glad he did?!" Daubeny said enthusiastically

"Woooaaahhh" the children just as excited as the hidden knight. "Wait! If he became a Blackstone, how is he an Iron Legion knight now?"

"Yeah! And what happened to Asmodai?"

"What about the Blackstones?"

"Is Asmodai the Blackstones leader?"

"Children! Children, calm yourselves. Trust me, I'll tell you all the stories you want later but that's all I have for now. I have to make my rounds to help the citizens now."

"Awww…" The Children dejectedly said together.

"Oh, don't be like that, here tell you what, I'll answer one question, One! But you have to decided between yourselves what it is." Daubeny said, as the children grew faces of confusion before talking amongst each other.

After a minute the brown haired girl stepped up and asked him one.

"What does The Lord Warden look like, Sir Daubeny?" She asked, looking at Daubeny with a serious expression. "Yeah! What's under the helmet?" Another kid asked

"His looks? Well…Umm…" Out of all the questions he thought to answer that wasn't one of them. "Grah! I hate to break it to you kid but…Not even I know what he looks like under that helmet of his…"

"Awww!"

"That's Lame!"

"But why?!"

The dejected kids chorus to The Knight.

"Well…that's because he refuses to show it. Many have tried to take it off and see what lies under it but I remember something he said about it."

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"Only my Master and my closest friends have seen my face, and all of them are dead. Try as you might, should you beat me in combat I shall show it, in fact I'll refuse to wear a helmet ever again if you do."

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"And he still wears that Helmet even now. Truly, he earns the title Lord Warden, and I, his past Mentor!" Daubeny says, truly aware that was not how the actual events went.

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