LEGALITES: I DO NOT OWN DARKSTALKERS OR ANY CHARACTERS THEREOF.
[]- Indicates thought.
Hello once again, my fellow fanfiction.net readers! Here's Chapter 13. Been a while between updates, but school and life eat rather large holes in my schedule. I've also been working on two other stories; those of you who write know exactly how difficult it can be.
On a different note, I have a request to make. Does anyone here watch the wonderful anime "Big O" on Adult Swim (Cartoon Network, between 11:00 and 1:30, Sunday-Thursday)? I'm a big fan of the show (those of you who watch it have probably recognized the "SHOWTIME!" I put in every chapter), and I want to know if anyone has any opinions on the recent happenings. Put it in your review. If anyone does, I'll add a review to my own work explaining my own opinions, and we'll see if it clears anything up. I love the show, but Lord, is it complicated.
So now, without further ado, it's....
"SHOWTIME!"
Chapter 13
The Castle of Moongrace
Dimitri and his companions had traveled in relative silence for the last three days. Dimitri was in a foul mood, mostly from his eruption at Morrigan. Besides the fact that he actually felt bad about it, he couldn't figure out why the hell he'd done it. Normally, he would have just said "Thank you, but no," instead of giving her a tongue-lashing. He was silent as he brooded over it, circling the events of that day like a vulture over a fresh kill. Jon and Felicia, sensing his mood as well as being somewhat freaked out by his outburst, were silent as well.
The silence was broken on that third day. The three companions, traveling through strangely thick woods in the middle of the Aensland plains, the three companions broke through the dense woods. As they exited, every one of them fell silent, struck dumb by what they saw before them.
It was a castle. Had it not been for the forest about it, it would have been visible for miles. As it was, they hadn't even seen it until they were already upon it.
The castle stood high above the forest, it's tallest tower stretching twenty stories in the air. It's surface, made of black stone that Dimitri guessed was obsidian, was etched with intricate and beautiful runes and drawings. A glittering rose was etched on the tallest peak, and in the middle of it's bloom an enormous sapphire, easily big as a man, gleamed in the night. The drawings were all blue, the same azure color of the Ebonrule's markings. Instead of looking forbidding or dark, as almost all castles do, it looked glorious, a testament to the will and vision of it's builders, a brand in the night. Felicia was enraptured by the soaring castle, Jon was amazed, and even Dimitri, brooding vampire that he was, felt his spirits rise as he gazed at the magnificent castle.
The castle was about a mile away, in the middle of a clearing. Dimitri looked at the others, finally shaking off his amazement.
" What is this doing here?" Dimitri asked them.
" Don't know. Never heard of a forest in Aensland territory, much less a castle in the middle of it," Jon replied.
" It's beautiful," Felicia said, her voice full of awe.
" Yes, it is," Dimitri said, and for once he couldn't even put up his poker face. A grin, completely unself-conscious, spread on his face as he walked towards it.
" What are you doing, Dimitri?" Jon asked worriedly. He didn't like the idea of heading towards any abandoned castles, even one as beautiful as this.
" I'm going to see what's inside," he said. " If Pyron's troops passed through here, they would have had to seen it. They may have went in, and stationed a garrison force. It's what I would do, if I were in his place."
Gripping Ebonrule in his hands, Dimitri threw one last comment over his shoulder.
" And besides, I have to see what's inside. Curiosity has gotten the better of me."
Jon sighed, and said, " Curiosity killed the cat."
Felicia looked at him indignantly, huffed, and went to join Dimitri.
************************************************************************
Unbeknownst to the three travelers, Pyron never went near the castle. Unfamiliar with the plains and just having a vague sense of Pyron's army and it's location (mostly gathered by Jon's nose as he attempted to track them on the air currents), they had traveled twenty miles to the south of where Pyron's army had went. Not that it mattered; Pyron's army had moved south when it hit the coast, where unexpectedly heavy resistance had shot up amongst Jedah and his supporters. Pyron, who had thought that his army was invincible, was getting beaten back by the Merman, Sasquatch, and other Darkstalker armies that Jedah commanded. This little surprise had made Pyron move south, in an attempt to find better strategic locations in the rocky southern cliffs. The travelers had unknowingly drifted right on course to his army's current location.
The castle the three were looking at had never been officially documented by the Aensland family. Every member of the royal family took an oath that both the location and origins of Moongrace were a secret, to be broken only in times of need. All who discovered it were either bribed into silence or slain. But even the rulers of Makai didn't know the full truth.
Long ago, thousands of years before any of this story ever happened, there was a war. A war that had so many consequences, took so many lives, and ruined so many worlds that even to this day, it's effects are still being felt. This war, taking place over the entirety of this universe, was waged between two great armies. On the side of Good lay the Four Races. The Four Races, consisting of humans, dwarves, trolls, and orcs, was a multi-world alliance that had existed in peace for several centuries. They stood for what was right in all the worlds.
On the other side lay the demons. Creatures so dark that they bent reality itself just by existing. These monsters, coming out of the Twisting Dark that exists in the place that belongs to neither the living nor the dead of mortals, existed for one thing. The damnation and corruption of souls.
These two armies fought for over a century. The end result was that the demons were driven back. Makai figured very heavily in this victory, and although the ties between worlds were split as technology was pushed back to non-existence and magic was weakened, some worlds still have tales of Makai, the world of shadow that drove the demons back. Moongrace is always present in these tales.
Moongrace was the capital of Makai, in the exact center of it's single continent. Moongrace was built, not by slaves working for a king, but by men and women who volunteered for the work. These honorable people wanted to create a beautiful castle, a symbol of all that the Four Races stood and fought for. They succeeded, and Moongrace stood the test of time when it's builders and inhabitants eventually died or left. Building Moongrace was an act of love, not servitude.
It had stood empty for countless ages, and the forest around it protected it. Few travelers wished to press through the thick woods, and Moongrace itself supported this forest, in the middle of the plains, feeding it with it's magic. And that was how Moongrace had been, silent and grand, until Dimitri stepped inside.
And awakened it's defenders.
************************************************************************
Dimitri was amazed. The castle had no moat that he could see, and the enormous iron gate was open. He had lifted it by touching a rune next to the gate, one that said "Open" in the Old Tongue. Such power was unknown in this day and age. A gate of the same size would be too large for even the strongest runes to affect. The art of runecraft had fallen quite far in his day, and was more of a hobby than an actual magic.
He stepped inside, and heard the gasps of Felicia and Jon mix with his own as he gazed at the spacious grand hall. It made his own castle look pitiful in comparison. An enormous table lay in the middle, with room for three thousand men, and beautiful, rune-covered tapestries draped the walls. Suits of armor stood guard between each, symbols of strength and honor, holding onto various weapons. Dimitri didn't know why, but he sensed something in them. Dismissing this feeling as simple nerves, he walked farther into it. Jon and Felicia followed, Felicia's eyes wide with the delight of a child gazing at a wondrous new toy, and Jon's nervous, gazing about for potential dangers. He felt something in this place, and he trusted his instinct. It wasn't necessarily bad, but it wasn't good, either.
As he continued forward, Dimitri bumped his spear against the long table, and dropped it. He bent over to pick it up. Doing so very likely saved his life.
The armor beside him had lunged forward, swinging it's broadsword in a horizontal arc. If Dimitri had been standing, it would have cut his face neatly in half. As it was, he felt it pass by, ruffling his hair. His combat instincts took over, and he thrust Ebonrule into it's breastplate. The armor took no notice, and prepared to swing again. Jon leapt forward and grabbed the arm with his jaws, trying to keep it from splitting Dimitri's skull. He snapped his head to the left, and the entire arm broke off with a loud clanging noise. The helmet turned to look at him, and Jon saw what looked like a ball of lightning inside it. The helmet headbutted the werewolf, bloodying his nose and forcing him back.
Felicia, meanwhile, was involved in her own fight with a spear-carrying armor that was attempting to run her through. She agilely backflipped over it's thrust and kicked it in the helmet. Her thickly padded feet delivered a blow that knocked the helm off. When the helmet fell, the entire thing shuddered and fell apart, and she saw a bright light inside the downed helmet wink out. She looked over at Dimitri and Jon as they fought the armor, which had now decided to bash Dimitri's brains out. It's left arm swung in an arc, and every time Dimitri managed to lift Ebonrule to block it. The impact rang out in the air, and Felicia saw how Dimitri's arms shook with each ringing blow. The armor would eventually wear him down with sheer strength.
Rushing towards them, Felicia hollered out, " Aim for the head! I think their souls are in there!"
Jon, who had been clawing the breastplate in a frantic attempt to help Dimitri, grabbed the armor's helm with his hands and tugged hard. The helm came off, and the armor fell apart. Dimitri stood up, arms shaking with the blows it had given Ebonrule. Ebonrule's runes glowed dully, as if it, too, was weary.
Gazing at the fallen statue, Jon said, " What the hell-"
" LOOK OUT!"
Three tentacles suddenly shot through the air right next to Jon's head, gleaming tips sharp as knives. An armor that had come to life behind Jon was instantly decapitated, it's raised mace falling out of it's gauntleted hand. Jon, who had been sure the tentacles were going to end his life prematurely, ducked a little late and whimpered loudly.
The tentacles retreated to their position on Morrigan's back. She stepped out of the shadows where she had yelled to Jon.
Dimitri gazed at her, and for the moment his adrenaline (still rushing from his recent battle) drew all the anger at her out of him. His question was pure confusion.
" Morrigan? What the hell are you doing here?"
Morrigan looked at him, gave him a glare that could have frozen the blood of an Eskimo, and then turned to Jon.
" Are you all right?" she asked, steadfastly ignoring Dimitri.
Jon, who was still too freaked out to do much, nodded his head. He stood up, shaking. He missed the irony that although she had kept him from painting the wall with his brains, she had almost caused him to die of a heart attack.
" Good. None of you saw that last one.." she looked about. " This isn't a good place to be. More of the armors could come to life..."
She now looked at Dimitri, and she clearly meant to give her voice a let's-get-to-business sound, but to Felicia, who had spent a lot of her life listening to others and had gotten good at telling someone's true feelings, their was an undercurrent of hurt and hate, like a black stream, running below her words.
" Why are you here? Pyron's army went north of here."
Dimitri looked at her, and with the adrenaline gone found that he was now mad at her. " Have you been following us?" he accused her.
She snorted haughtily, and said, " Yes, I have. Now, why are you here?"
Dimitri, whose arms still felt like well-kneaded dough, answered, " Jon's been smelling the air currents to try and find where Pyron's army is at. We're upwind of them, so we get the general idea, but we can't pinpoint his location." He drew in a deep breath to calm his nerves, and said, " What is this place?" Looking around, he gestured with his hand. " I've never heard anything about a place like this. It's beautiful, although," he said, a small grin appearing on his face, " it's well-defended. I'd think it would appear in the history books somewhere. It's ancient."
Morrigan was about to reply when a tapestry on the far wall suddenly lit up. Azure and crimson runes lit up all over it, blazing to life. The tapestry showed a scene of men in black robes and hoods, one holding a spear. Dimitri looked at it and began walking towards it. He heard a voice in his mind speak to him.
*KNOW YOUR OWN PAST. KNOW WHAT HAS COME BEFORE. KNOW WHAT YOU ONCE WERE...*
Felicia, Jon, and Morrigan cried out at him to stop, but before he could he touched it- and was drawn in-
Blackness.
[]- Indicates thought.
Hello once again, my fellow fanfiction.net readers! Here's Chapter 13. Been a while between updates, but school and life eat rather large holes in my schedule. I've also been working on two other stories; those of you who write know exactly how difficult it can be.
On a different note, I have a request to make. Does anyone here watch the wonderful anime "Big O" on Adult Swim (Cartoon Network, between 11:00 and 1:30, Sunday-Thursday)? I'm a big fan of the show (those of you who watch it have probably recognized the "SHOWTIME!" I put in every chapter), and I want to know if anyone has any opinions on the recent happenings. Put it in your review. If anyone does, I'll add a review to my own work explaining my own opinions, and we'll see if it clears anything up. I love the show, but Lord, is it complicated.
So now, without further ado, it's....
"SHOWTIME!"
Chapter 13
The Castle of Moongrace
Dimitri and his companions had traveled in relative silence for the last three days. Dimitri was in a foul mood, mostly from his eruption at Morrigan. Besides the fact that he actually felt bad about it, he couldn't figure out why the hell he'd done it. Normally, he would have just said "Thank you, but no," instead of giving her a tongue-lashing. He was silent as he brooded over it, circling the events of that day like a vulture over a fresh kill. Jon and Felicia, sensing his mood as well as being somewhat freaked out by his outburst, were silent as well.
The silence was broken on that third day. The three companions, traveling through strangely thick woods in the middle of the Aensland plains, the three companions broke through the dense woods. As they exited, every one of them fell silent, struck dumb by what they saw before them.
It was a castle. Had it not been for the forest about it, it would have been visible for miles. As it was, they hadn't even seen it until they were already upon it.
The castle stood high above the forest, it's tallest tower stretching twenty stories in the air. It's surface, made of black stone that Dimitri guessed was obsidian, was etched with intricate and beautiful runes and drawings. A glittering rose was etched on the tallest peak, and in the middle of it's bloom an enormous sapphire, easily big as a man, gleamed in the night. The drawings were all blue, the same azure color of the Ebonrule's markings. Instead of looking forbidding or dark, as almost all castles do, it looked glorious, a testament to the will and vision of it's builders, a brand in the night. Felicia was enraptured by the soaring castle, Jon was amazed, and even Dimitri, brooding vampire that he was, felt his spirits rise as he gazed at the magnificent castle.
The castle was about a mile away, in the middle of a clearing. Dimitri looked at the others, finally shaking off his amazement.
" What is this doing here?" Dimitri asked them.
" Don't know. Never heard of a forest in Aensland territory, much less a castle in the middle of it," Jon replied.
" It's beautiful," Felicia said, her voice full of awe.
" Yes, it is," Dimitri said, and for once he couldn't even put up his poker face. A grin, completely unself-conscious, spread on his face as he walked towards it.
" What are you doing, Dimitri?" Jon asked worriedly. He didn't like the idea of heading towards any abandoned castles, even one as beautiful as this.
" I'm going to see what's inside," he said. " If Pyron's troops passed through here, they would have had to seen it. They may have went in, and stationed a garrison force. It's what I would do, if I were in his place."
Gripping Ebonrule in his hands, Dimitri threw one last comment over his shoulder.
" And besides, I have to see what's inside. Curiosity has gotten the better of me."
Jon sighed, and said, " Curiosity killed the cat."
Felicia looked at him indignantly, huffed, and went to join Dimitri.
************************************************************************
Unbeknownst to the three travelers, Pyron never went near the castle. Unfamiliar with the plains and just having a vague sense of Pyron's army and it's location (mostly gathered by Jon's nose as he attempted to track them on the air currents), they had traveled twenty miles to the south of where Pyron's army had went. Not that it mattered; Pyron's army had moved south when it hit the coast, where unexpectedly heavy resistance had shot up amongst Jedah and his supporters. Pyron, who had thought that his army was invincible, was getting beaten back by the Merman, Sasquatch, and other Darkstalker armies that Jedah commanded. This little surprise had made Pyron move south, in an attempt to find better strategic locations in the rocky southern cliffs. The travelers had unknowingly drifted right on course to his army's current location.
The castle the three were looking at had never been officially documented by the Aensland family. Every member of the royal family took an oath that both the location and origins of Moongrace were a secret, to be broken only in times of need. All who discovered it were either bribed into silence or slain. But even the rulers of Makai didn't know the full truth.
Long ago, thousands of years before any of this story ever happened, there was a war. A war that had so many consequences, took so many lives, and ruined so many worlds that even to this day, it's effects are still being felt. This war, taking place over the entirety of this universe, was waged between two great armies. On the side of Good lay the Four Races. The Four Races, consisting of humans, dwarves, trolls, and orcs, was a multi-world alliance that had existed in peace for several centuries. They stood for what was right in all the worlds.
On the other side lay the demons. Creatures so dark that they bent reality itself just by existing. These monsters, coming out of the Twisting Dark that exists in the place that belongs to neither the living nor the dead of mortals, existed for one thing. The damnation and corruption of souls.
These two armies fought for over a century. The end result was that the demons were driven back. Makai figured very heavily in this victory, and although the ties between worlds were split as technology was pushed back to non-existence and magic was weakened, some worlds still have tales of Makai, the world of shadow that drove the demons back. Moongrace is always present in these tales.
Moongrace was the capital of Makai, in the exact center of it's single continent. Moongrace was built, not by slaves working for a king, but by men and women who volunteered for the work. These honorable people wanted to create a beautiful castle, a symbol of all that the Four Races stood and fought for. They succeeded, and Moongrace stood the test of time when it's builders and inhabitants eventually died or left. Building Moongrace was an act of love, not servitude.
It had stood empty for countless ages, and the forest around it protected it. Few travelers wished to press through the thick woods, and Moongrace itself supported this forest, in the middle of the plains, feeding it with it's magic. And that was how Moongrace had been, silent and grand, until Dimitri stepped inside.
And awakened it's defenders.
************************************************************************
Dimitri was amazed. The castle had no moat that he could see, and the enormous iron gate was open. He had lifted it by touching a rune next to the gate, one that said "Open" in the Old Tongue. Such power was unknown in this day and age. A gate of the same size would be too large for even the strongest runes to affect. The art of runecraft had fallen quite far in his day, and was more of a hobby than an actual magic.
He stepped inside, and heard the gasps of Felicia and Jon mix with his own as he gazed at the spacious grand hall. It made his own castle look pitiful in comparison. An enormous table lay in the middle, with room for three thousand men, and beautiful, rune-covered tapestries draped the walls. Suits of armor stood guard between each, symbols of strength and honor, holding onto various weapons. Dimitri didn't know why, but he sensed something in them. Dismissing this feeling as simple nerves, he walked farther into it. Jon and Felicia followed, Felicia's eyes wide with the delight of a child gazing at a wondrous new toy, and Jon's nervous, gazing about for potential dangers. He felt something in this place, and he trusted his instinct. It wasn't necessarily bad, but it wasn't good, either.
As he continued forward, Dimitri bumped his spear against the long table, and dropped it. He bent over to pick it up. Doing so very likely saved his life.
The armor beside him had lunged forward, swinging it's broadsword in a horizontal arc. If Dimitri had been standing, it would have cut his face neatly in half. As it was, he felt it pass by, ruffling his hair. His combat instincts took over, and he thrust Ebonrule into it's breastplate. The armor took no notice, and prepared to swing again. Jon leapt forward and grabbed the arm with his jaws, trying to keep it from splitting Dimitri's skull. He snapped his head to the left, and the entire arm broke off with a loud clanging noise. The helmet turned to look at him, and Jon saw what looked like a ball of lightning inside it. The helmet headbutted the werewolf, bloodying his nose and forcing him back.
Felicia, meanwhile, was involved in her own fight with a spear-carrying armor that was attempting to run her through. She agilely backflipped over it's thrust and kicked it in the helmet. Her thickly padded feet delivered a blow that knocked the helm off. When the helmet fell, the entire thing shuddered and fell apart, and she saw a bright light inside the downed helmet wink out. She looked over at Dimitri and Jon as they fought the armor, which had now decided to bash Dimitri's brains out. It's left arm swung in an arc, and every time Dimitri managed to lift Ebonrule to block it. The impact rang out in the air, and Felicia saw how Dimitri's arms shook with each ringing blow. The armor would eventually wear him down with sheer strength.
Rushing towards them, Felicia hollered out, " Aim for the head! I think their souls are in there!"
Jon, who had been clawing the breastplate in a frantic attempt to help Dimitri, grabbed the armor's helm with his hands and tugged hard. The helm came off, and the armor fell apart. Dimitri stood up, arms shaking with the blows it had given Ebonrule. Ebonrule's runes glowed dully, as if it, too, was weary.
Gazing at the fallen statue, Jon said, " What the hell-"
" LOOK OUT!"
Three tentacles suddenly shot through the air right next to Jon's head, gleaming tips sharp as knives. An armor that had come to life behind Jon was instantly decapitated, it's raised mace falling out of it's gauntleted hand. Jon, who had been sure the tentacles were going to end his life prematurely, ducked a little late and whimpered loudly.
The tentacles retreated to their position on Morrigan's back. She stepped out of the shadows where she had yelled to Jon.
Dimitri gazed at her, and for the moment his adrenaline (still rushing from his recent battle) drew all the anger at her out of him. His question was pure confusion.
" Morrigan? What the hell are you doing here?"
Morrigan looked at him, gave him a glare that could have frozen the blood of an Eskimo, and then turned to Jon.
" Are you all right?" she asked, steadfastly ignoring Dimitri.
Jon, who was still too freaked out to do much, nodded his head. He stood up, shaking. He missed the irony that although she had kept him from painting the wall with his brains, she had almost caused him to die of a heart attack.
" Good. None of you saw that last one.." she looked about. " This isn't a good place to be. More of the armors could come to life..."
She now looked at Dimitri, and she clearly meant to give her voice a let's-get-to-business sound, but to Felicia, who had spent a lot of her life listening to others and had gotten good at telling someone's true feelings, their was an undercurrent of hurt and hate, like a black stream, running below her words.
" Why are you here? Pyron's army went north of here."
Dimitri looked at her, and with the adrenaline gone found that he was now mad at her. " Have you been following us?" he accused her.
She snorted haughtily, and said, " Yes, I have. Now, why are you here?"
Dimitri, whose arms still felt like well-kneaded dough, answered, " Jon's been smelling the air currents to try and find where Pyron's army is at. We're upwind of them, so we get the general idea, but we can't pinpoint his location." He drew in a deep breath to calm his nerves, and said, " What is this place?" Looking around, he gestured with his hand. " I've never heard anything about a place like this. It's beautiful, although," he said, a small grin appearing on his face, " it's well-defended. I'd think it would appear in the history books somewhere. It's ancient."
Morrigan was about to reply when a tapestry on the far wall suddenly lit up. Azure and crimson runes lit up all over it, blazing to life. The tapestry showed a scene of men in black robes and hoods, one holding a spear. Dimitri looked at it and began walking towards it. He heard a voice in his mind speak to him.
*KNOW YOUR OWN PAST. KNOW WHAT HAS COME BEFORE. KNOW WHAT YOU ONCE WERE...*
Felicia, Jon, and Morrigan cried out at him to stop, but before he could he touched it- and was drawn in-
Blackness.