Strange how not many people are reviewing this story. I think it is the best story to come out since Seven Silly Saviors.
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"So this Blood Raven is a corrupted Rogue, eh?" Zhon was asking passing a chicken leg over to Warriv. Kashya sat next to Warriv and Akara next to her. A couple of unimportant Rogues sat behind them. And Ki-Ki sat on the other side of Zhon. Meal time was the only time when everyone would come together. Only Gheed and Charsi were missing, but nobody seemed to mind.

"Yes, she used to be a great captain among our ranks. Until Andariel took over her soul." Kasha explained.

"That's horrible!" Ki-Ki declared. "So she's possessed? I bet she doesn't want to be used as a vessel for evil." She continued saying. "I'll bet she is still fighting Andariel somehow."

Everyone looked at her shocked.

"What? It could be true."

"You might have to actually kill this enemy." Warriv said and Zhon put his fingers to his mouth.

"You mean you haven't killed. . ." Akara was about to say.

"I wonder where Charsi has gone off to." Zhon interrupted.

"Oh her." Kashya crinkled her nose. "She's probably off with Gheed. Ever since he joined us she's become quite smitten with him. I don't know what she sees in him!"

"Gheed. . ." Zhon said in a small voice becoming jealous.

Just then the Rogues behind the others snuck up to Zhon and surrounded him.

"We were just wondering something." One of the bigger girls said to him and sitting next to him. He gave the girls his full attention.

"You don't seem to be any type of warrior that we know of? What type of magics do you produce?"

He looked pridefully at the Rogue. "I am a magician!" He said simply. "And a magician never tells his secrets."

"Too bad. . ." The girls muttered.

"But I will tell you this. . ." Zhon started.

And the Rogues all sat down to listen to his story.

Here we go again." Ki-Ki muttered.

"My life began far from here. Farther than any charted area by map. No ships have ever been to my hometown's seaport and no caravan has ever wondered so far. I was born to Evie de Loc and Monswa te Fee'iar."

"I'm sure they don't need to know this Zhon." Ki-Ki interrupted.

"Uh hum. I went out one day looking for adventure. And that is when I became a magician. I started my magic career in the deserts of Aranoch. I joined a traveling circus. You might have even heard of me. I was called Ali Khazum!"

"Oh!" One of the girls exhaled. "Sounds so foreign." She continued just to add in a comment.

"After having completed every magician trick known to man, I decided to look for other... adventures."

"Like girls." Ki-Ki interrupted. Zhon threw chicken skin at her.

"That is when I happened to come upon the add in the newspaper by you Akara." Zhon said. "I decided to become a hero and save a town in need."

"I wonder why no one else answered that ad." Akara wondered.

"Perhaps they will. . ." Zhon said and gave Willy the skeleton bone a chicken bone to add to his collection.

"But for now, I will be your savior. . ." Zhon said jumping up and bowing. Just then his heart skipped a few beats as Charsi came walking up with Gheed.

"But I didn't show you all my armor." Charsi was complaining to Gheed.

"I've seen your armor many times." Gheed mumbled staring intently at Ki-Ki.

"But this is armor you wear underneath your clothes." Charsi said.

"Oh!" Ki-Ki explained. "Can I buy that type of armor?"

And everyone fell backwards in shock except Charsi and Ki-Ki.

"Sure let me get you fitted." Charsi said jokingly.

And with that Gheed ran out of there again and jumped into the creek--again.


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"Join my army of the dead!" Blood Raven shouted.

"Hold your fire!" Zhon ordered Willy. "Sweety, normally I'd join any woman's army, but if I wish for entry into yours, does that mean I have to be dead?"

Blood Raven pulled the string back to her bow. "Wait!" Zhon said holding up his hands in peace.
"Can't we talk about this?" Ki-Ki added.

Blood Raven looked from Zhon to Ki-Ki to the skeleton.

"We don't want to fight you madam, just talk." Zhon insisted. He smiled as peacefully as he could. Blood Raven looked at him suspiciously. She almost looked like Kashya, Zhon mused.

"It's a trick." Blood Raven shouted. "I know Kashya sent you." She said raising her bow and arrow again.

"Um, Zhon honey?" Ki-Ki said pulling at his sleeve. "What is it now?" Zhon asked.

"We've got company." She said pointing to a group of zombie, which had formed a circle around them.

"Oh pooh." Zhon mumbled and took out his only weapon--a magic wand. (What else would it be?) He said some strange words and suddenly a bouquet of flowers appeared before him.

"How is that gonna help us Zhon!" Ki-Ki wondered trembling with nervousness.

"Trust me Ki-Ki." He said and threw the flowers into the air about 20 feet away.

"Whoever is the one to catch it will be the next one to be married." He said to the zombies and they all rushed toward it tearing at the flowers and each other to get their hands on it.

"I didn't know zombies wed in these regions." Ki-Ki muttered.

"You mean you've never been to a zombie wedding?" Zhon said yet turning his attention back to Blood Raven.

"Hey Blood Raven!" Ki-Ki yelled. "I know you are in there. Fight the demons. You can win!"

Blood Raven looked at her quizzically. "I am Blood Raven you fool. Now you will join my army!" She said raising her bow.

Zhon stepped in front of Ki-Ki as the arrow came flying toward her. He waved his magic wand and the arrow turned into a feather and floated downward.

"God Dang it!" Zhon cursed. "What?" Ki-Ki asked.

"It was supposed to turn into a dove! I'll have to work on that one."

"Blood Raven! There must be something you miss from being human?" Zhon wondered aloud.

"Yes, like eating!" Ki-Ki added. "And breathing..."

"That's not what I was thinking, but that will do." Zhon interrupted his assistant.

"I am human!" Blood Raven argued quickly notching another arrow.

"Ah! That's what they want you to think." Zhon corrected.

"Who?" Blood Raven asked.

"The demons. You are corrupt aren't you?"

"Yes but everyone's corrupt now-a-days." She said and let another arrow fly toward him. He waved his wand and again the arrow transformed into a feather.

"I'm not corrupt." Zhon mentioned.

"You can come back to the light side!" Ki-Ki yelled over Zhon's shoulder. "You can become human again!"

"That's enough." Zhon hushed Ki-Ki. "I'll handle this."

"Surely being corrupt isn't all that great!"

"Perhaps you'd like to see how great it is!" Blood Raven said notching another arrow and letting it fly. By the time he had turned that one into a feather, Blood Raven let another one fly and he quickly turned that one into a feather as well. But finally another one came flying at him and he was only able to turn half of it into a feather. So half an arrow stuck in him and the part sticking out was a feather. (So it looked like he had a feather sticking out of him.)

He moaned and fell. Ki-Ki caught him on the fall down. "Are you OK Zhon?" She asked fearfully. Then she saw the arrow/feather and nearly fainted. Willy began shooting Blood Raven upon seeing his master hurt.

"Tis only an arrow. Or half of one anyway." Zhon said smiling up at Ki-Ki. Then he lifted himself up clutching at his wound.

"Blood Raven! I know you must miss all the things about being a regular everyday human and that you don't want to be a bad mean corrupted Rogue!" Ki-Ki yelled tearfully.

Blood Raven looked at her quizzically and raised her bow and arrow again. This one hit Zhon in the leg.

"Look what you've done!" Ki-Ki yelled. "You're gonna kill him!"

"That is the idea!" Blood Raven answered and retrieved another arrow for her bow.

"You mean you like killing?" Ki-Ki asked.

Blood Raven shrugged.

"Stop!" Zhon said breathlessly. "We can help you. Kashya is willing to be your friend again if you give up your corrupt ways."

"She is?" Blood Raven paused.

"Uh huh!" Zhon said in pain as he wrenched the arrow in his leg out. (He left the half one in his stomach though.)

"You lie!" She spat.

"I would never. . ." Zhon corrected.

He stood up and Ki-Ki helped him. He held out his hand to Blood Raven. "Join us. It is ashamed for a beautiful lady to have to become a corrupted Rogue."

"Why should you care?" Blood Raven shouted.

"I care." Zhon ensured. "For beautiful women like yourself, of course I care."

Blood Raven didn't look as if she completely believed them as she raised her bow and arrow to shoot.

"I don't think we are completely getting through to her." Ki-Ki said.

"Yes, and I'm tired of being shot." Zhon agreed. "I suppose it is time to take out the flute."

Ki-Ki gasped. "Are you sure?"

They ducked as an arrow whizzed by them

"I'm sure."

Ki-Ki took out a wooden flute and began to play.


"Blood Raven." Zhon began. "This song is for you."




How could anyone dislike you. . .

Blooood Raven...




Zhon began to sing.




Your eyes are as red as cherries.
And your lips are as black as tar.
And everyone knows who you are.

Blooooood Raven!

Your bow is as mighty as an angels.
You voice as dark as night.
And everyone admires your might.

Bloooooood Raven!

You run as fast as the wind.
And have the loveliest hair I have seen.
And everyone knows you should be queen.

Bloooood Raven!

Blood Raven.
I would follow you anywhere.
If only you weren't corrupt.
Because that's what keeps us apart.
I loooooooooovvvvvvvvveeeee you.
Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooood Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaavvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnnn!






Blood Raven looked at him with tears in her eyes. Ki-Ki stopped playing her flute.

And some strange transformation went through Blood Raven's body. She looked around and saw the destruction she had caused. And she turned good again and became "uncorrupted."

Zhon was about to take her hand when she fell down. "It is too late for me. My body is too corrupted for me to continue to live. Thank you for freeing my soul."

"Bye the way." Ki-Ki asked. "Can I have that cool mask? And your bow too?"

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Find out exactly what happened in the next chapter...