Friday afternoon and Ron had nothing to do. Kim had gone off to where ever Wade had sent her on another big mission, and his video games just hadn't done anything for him. So he just sat in his room holding his ax, and looking out the window to where Rufus now lay, a pang out guilt still in his heart. But then again he'd been like this for the last week, the events of the last few day had consumed him, and till now he was happy to throw himself into them.
He'd trained with his ax's, now quite sure he could call the second when ever needed, he knew how to make them fire off waves of brown energy, either individually or in tandem. Changing his clothing to his 'forest mode' as he had come think of it and back was now just as simple as summoning the second ax. He knew the 'forest mode' made him more durable, he wasn't sure how much damage that mode could take, and he wasn't really willing to find out.
Even with everything he now knew about himself, there was still so much he didn't know 'How am I suppose to find the other weapons? I don't even know where to look, I don't even understand how I do half the things I do now' shacking his head, trying to clear out the cobwebs from his mind. Some how he wasn't surprised when the feeling came over him again, at first it made no sense, then slowly the though formed.
'Home'
Somehow Ron understood, picking up his Kimmunicator, and was greeted by Wade's face.
"Kim's currently unavailable Ron, but I can patch you in, when she's done."
"Actually I was wondering if you could schedule a trip?"
"Yeah sure, Kim made it pretty clear these were your favors too, so what do you need, Maui, Florida, Rio?"
"Ireland"
"Weird place for a visit, any particular place?"
"I'll give you the coordinates, "rummaging through a few papers till he found his latest internet correspondence with Professor Douglas that had to approximate location of the real Kells, reading them off to Wade.
"I can get you close by plane, then a short drive, that OK?"
"Perfect Wade, you're a life saver."
"So can I ask you what this is for, or is it still 'I'll tell you later'"
"Still 'I'll you later;"
"OK, but this better be good, I don't like being in the dark. Your ride will be at your house momentarily good luck"
----------------------------
Ron had a few things with him in his back pack, his Ax, the illustrations of the weapons, a map of the local area, a map of what they believed Kells had looked look. A few bottles of water, a bit a food and his kimmunicator, on the off chance he was going to need it.
As the local map had shown, Kells was gone, where once a great castle had been was now home to a small town, but Ron had the feeling this wasn't what he as here to be anyway. Turning away from the town limits, he travels to what was left of the undisturbed wild country side. He wasn't really sure where he was going, he just knew he had to go, he had to find what ever it was he was searching for, and he simply knew it lay some where before him.
He wasn't sure how long he walked, through the woods but over time his energy and patience gave out. He stopped and sat down on the ground, pulling his ax out, and looked at the dragon adorning it.
'Where the hell are you taking me, this isn't the same place you use to know, it's changed, everything has changed, this place might not even be here any more.' Ron's silent discussion was answered as the ground around him glowed, a large white circle formed and then the ground around him simple vanished.
Ron wasn't sure how long he'd been out, or far that matter how he ended up in a cave. 'Must have passed out from the fall,' it was the best he could do as he looked around the some how lit cave. It really was strange, there were no lights or torches or day light, yet the cave was lit up by something coming from everywhere and no where. There was nothing behind him, but there was a path before him leading somewhere. Shrugging, "I have no place else to go," patting his ax he began to walk. The path through the cave twisted and turned a dozen time, and all the while Ron couldn't shake the feeling he was being watched by someone, but damned if he could find anything that might be called surveillance equipment.
Finally the path led out into a large room filled with gold and small furniture. "Great I'm in someone doll house,."
"You are in someone's home, but I wouldn't call us dolls, me boy" A laugh filling the air, but originating at the large throne in the center of the room. Gold dusk seemed to drop from the top down as a tiny man appeared sitting in the chair. He was clad in a yellow shirt, under and red and gold coat, a small crown on top of his head, graying hair and a beard on his face.
At first Ron wanted to laugh, this was just to much to deal with. He could deal with magic weapons and magic monkey statues, but a leprechaun was just to much.
"I am King Fin Varra, and I have been waiting a very long time for this moment Mister Stoppable," a smile on his small lips.
"You know my name?!" not sure weather to be scared or honored.
"You'll discover I know a great deal, I know you are here because of that," pointing at the ax, "I know you have many questions about it, and your destiny. Some of these I can answer, some you must discover on your own."
It took a moment, but the name finally clicked for Ron, "The Fin Varra, the one that made the weapons, the one that sealed their power?"
"The same"
"But that was.."
"My kind are very long lived, now sit, there is much I must discuss with you a little time to do it in."
Ron did his best to sit down, "How do you know my name?"
"My kind exist all over this world, though few ever see us, this world has become unkind to what it no longer understands. Those who make their home in your forest saw you transform, quite impressive, I never would have thought a human possible of activating the weapon with out our help, quite impressive, and quite encouraging.."
"Thanks, I think.," scratching the back of his head, "I have no idea where to begin."
"How about why the weapon speaks to you?"
"Yeah, start with that, that's a little creepy for my tastes."
"Long ago there was a battle in Kells, the finally battle of the Knights and Sentinels."
"Yeah I found that much out," cutting in, "The powers of the Knights weapons were sealed and the Sentinels were trapped in their weapons."
"True, but not the whole truth, a piece of the Knights also became trapped in their weapons, what you have been feeling is remnants of the previous Knight of the forest, Garrett Prince of Reged"
"I'm Possessed," Ron had fully intended the statement to be a scream, but it came out more of a squeak.
"In a sense, he is part of the Timber ax now, when you hold it, you hold him, when you use it, you tap into what and who he was."
"I don't suppose you can stop that?"
"No but you can, put the ax away and never again touch it, "a knowing smile on his lips.
Sighing, "If the Sentinels are real, I can't do that."
"Oh they are quite real, and even now they are stirring from their ancient slumber, calling to those that will become their new vessels in this world."
"So I have doomed the world to darkness.," casting his eyes to the ground.
"No, the weapons were destined to be awakened in this time, nothing could have stooped that, in one way or another it would have happened, if anything, you represent the chance of peace."
"Really?"
"Yes" a knowing look on his face
"The hosts the Sentinels choose, will they be innocent or..."
"You fear you have to fight those brought into this fight against their will?"
"Yes"
"They will choose those best suited to be their hosts, there is little more I can tell you."
Thinking for a moment, doing his best to push the self doubt and weight now on his shoulder to the side, "The legend says I get a suit of armor, but all I've managed to get was some clothing, did I do something wrong?"
"No, the clothing you now have is your armor. It appeared as armor long ago because that was how the populace thought armor should look, this time is different, the armor conformed to what you thought armor should be, it is no less protective than it was so long ago, it merely looks weaker."
"And the dagger, I have the feeling it's not ment for battle, so what good is it?"
"The dragons breath dagger, long ago it was used to summon Pyre, the fire dragon of Dare to the aid of the knights in battle."
"I'm guessing he's not around anymore?"
"Yes and no."
"Meaning?"
"Before the finally battle of the Knights and Sentinels, Pyre and I had our own final battle against own person demons, the betrayer Mider and Tyrune the 3 headed black dragon of Tamra. It was Mider that used the spell, rather than destroying Pyre, it sealed he and Tyrune away with in their breast plates. I was lucky, it weakened Mider enough for me to defeat him, but the price was heavy. Cathbad and I even tried combining our powers, but Prye could not be freed from his prison. But rather than letting his sacrifice be in vain we used the spell to imprison the power of the Sentinels, regrettable just as Tyrune had been locked away so had the Knights. It wasn't till years later that I discovered that the spell could not effect a single entity, it effects everything resembling that entity in the area.
"Dragons and dragons, magic armor and weapons and magic armor and weapons."
"Yes," eyes down cast, "appear," gold dust once again forming revealing large a large breast plate, in perfect condition and a sword broken in two, covered in rust, cracks running this way and that. "This is Pyre, we have come to believe, much like with the weapons, he can be relived but we have no idea how."
"And the object that holds Rune?"
"A breast plate as well, but we were never able to recover it, where it is now I can't say."
"And the sword"
"The sword of Kells, the sword of Fire, the weapon of Draganta."
"I thought the weapons had been taken from Kells?"
"They were, over the years, only the Sword has returned to us."
"Why is it like that, broken I mean, can't it be fixed?"
"Yes, but only by a Knight, only by you."
"Me, but.."
"Are there any other knights running around right now, I think not, thus only you can repair the weapons till another knight is found."
"And how will I know where the weapons are, hell how will I know who the other Knights are?"
"You will not know who the others are, they don't even know who they are. When they hold the weapon they need to, and after they are tested, only then will they know their destiny. As for how to find the other weapons, have you tried asking the ax?"
"Your kidding," but Fin Varra's expression told him he wasn't, pulling out the ax, "Where is the sword of Kell's?" At first nothing happened, then the ax moved pulling his hand in the direction of the sword then stopping it's blade lined up with the sword.
"You see, something I added before they were taken, any weapon of Kells can find a another weapon of Kell's. Oh and I approve of the addition to the ax, we never could get that dragon to look right."
Ron had to admit it, it was pretty cool., but something still bothered him, "Why me?"
"Why any one else? Life is a mystery my boy, sometimes senseless event really have a greater meaning, sometimes events that change the world are really nothing in the grand scheme of things. The answers may appear or they may not, just follow the path, it is the only way to discover if the answers will be waiting for you."
"OK," drawing the word out, not sure what the small king had just said, but knowing it was deep. Then the question that had been at the back of his mind finally came bubbling to the surface, "Do the weapons really hold the powers I've been told?"
"Yes and no, their powers have come to be exaggerated over time, each weapon emits an energy based on their element, but they can also manipulate their element to a degree, the mace can create earthquakes and the like, do now worry you will discover what they can do in time."
"Now take the sword and breast plate, you may need them, and honor an old mans request. Tell no one of this place, not even your fellow Knights, unless of course you feel you can trust them."
"Will I ever see you again, "As Ron got to his feet, putting his ax back into his back pack and reaching for the pieces of sword.
"I do not know, you may, some things cannot be known till they occur."
"Can I ask you where I am"
"Why Tir Na Nog my boy, Tir Na Nog."
Looking at the dragon breast plate, "How am I suppose to move that with out people noticing ?"
"You will find a way," as Ron tried to pick up the large piece of armor, he was suddenly overcome by light headedness. "And now let us see what else I can discover," as the kings brought his hands over Ron, feeling the lines of magic both from his own realm and power from other sources, bringing a scowl to his face. Over his life he had only felt a few individuals that had been touched by magic as he had.
Then he felt it, "bring paper, "calling to his court a winged fairy appeared after a moment with paper in hand. Fin Varra wrote quickly, then cast a spell to make the paper larger and a simple glamour to make it invisible to Ron till he needed to find it. "I hope I am right about this, time may have run out, and if it had not, then it will soon."
--------------------------
Ron woke up on the surface, not sure how he had gotten there, be he didn't find it that strange, not understanding things had become a past for him as of late. A quick check revealed his ax, the still broken sword and Kell's and Pyre's breast plate. The sun was just setting in the sky, and he pulled out his kimmunicator. Somehow it was still Friday, he made travel arrangements with Wade and walked the nearest road, not surprised to find a car there waiting for him.
-------------------------------
The same feeling swept over Ron as he continued working on the sword, making it appear as the illustration showed it. A red hilt flowing into a gold dragon head, the blade emerging from the dragon's mouth and a Celtic design flowing over the blade. He was still amazed he had done this, even if it wasn't really himself that was doing it. He thanked Mr. Erikson as he left, glad the man had let him work even though Ron had told him they were even during his last visit.
----------------------------------
The sun was just beginning his descent in the sky as he saw his house, glad to finally be home, the Sword of Kell's wrapped in cloth, hiding it, Pyres breast plate was similarly wrapped but Ron carried it like an over sized back pack. The closer he got to his house, the more apprehension came over him, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but something felt off. No cars were in the drive way, which ment his parents probably weren't home.
"Mom, Dad!" yelling as he opened the door, when no reply came he pulled out his ax, preparing himself for what ever was going to come. At first there was nothing, but he saw something out of the corner of his eye move outside the window, he didn't bother to drop anything as he burst through the back door, ready for anything. Anything but a monkey ninja cheap shoting him the second he passed through the door frame.
Three more descended on him before he could get up grabbing the sword and pulling pyre's armor from him. And Monkey Fist's voice soon filled the air.
"Having fun yet?"
Ron looked up, but instead of finding Fisk he saw a virtual image, "You'd be surprised how much the Fisk name can still get a man whelp, or should I call you the Celtic Knight of the Forest." His face forming into a grin, "Oh yes I know all about you, and you should probably talk to your travel agent, he left a paper trail a mile long on you little trips, Professor Douglas associates were quite helpful filling it the details. Lets see how much of a threat you will be with out your little ax, Monkey ninjas, "the monkeys turned to the projection, "Return." The monkeys ran, as per their masters order, as the projection ended.
"You should have trained them better Fisk, "as he got to his feet ax still in hand, he fired a beam of energy at the 2 holding Pyres armor knocking both off the fence each slamming into it driving it in the ground, the same spot that held Rufus' remains. "NNOOO!" Running over to it as the two monkeys abandoned the armor and followed the first up and over the fence.
Ron didn't have time to mourn the continued destruction of his friends body as he went after the monkeys determined to reclaim the Sword of Kell's.
-------------------------------
It had taken hours, but Ron finally stumbled into his house with the sword, he had followed the monkeys all over town every time he thought he had the sword, one of the other monkeys would get it, and the chase would begin anew. He finally had no choice but to shoot one of them, grateful that it had only stunned the monkey.
He didn't bother looking out the window, at the breast plate in his friend grave, he just collapsed into his bed and was asleep with in moments of hitting the pillow.
Mean while the scroll Fin Varra had given him appeared, it's time of need fast approaching. As the Breast plate began to glow.
--------------------------
Ron could feel something pushing his back, something familiar, but something he couldn't place, "A few more minutes mom," was the best his half asleep mind could produce.
"Now"
"I had a bad night"
"Now," this time Ron was able to identify the sound of the voice, and he closed his eye, knowing full well this had to be a dream or a nightmare.
"Go away."
"Get up"
He finally pulled his eyes open, hoping he was really awake and screamed, falling out of bed as Rufus, a fully alive Rufus stood on his bed looking at him, an expression somewhere between happy and pissed off on his face. Before he could say anything the scroll fell out of his pocket rolling open somehow forcing Ron's attention on to it, written on it was a message
--------------
If you are seeing this, then I was right, you have lived an interesting life Mister Stoppable, the magic running through you is something I have never experienced before, yet it is so close to my own peoples magic, I find it hard to believe it could be a coincidence. I sensed the bulk of it was removed from you, but a piece still clings to your body and your spirit, like a shadow, much the way the Knights and Pyre are afflicted. I know of your pets demise thanks to my people in your forest, and I am sorry for his passing, but he may yet serve a purpose. Due to the power he was exposed do, part of his spirit will forever be trapped in his body, just as your might have been it had not been removed. But he may yet be free, as I told you Mister Stoppable, sometimes the smallest act may be the most important. Only in death was your pet's body made ready for Pyre's spirit. Fate has destined them to be joined just as it was your destiny to find the Twin Timber Ax's. He will not be as he was, he is both Prye and your pet now, I cannot say how he will react to you, but he is your responsibility treat him well and he will always protect you.
And if you are wondering how I know all this, as I said you'd be surprised what I know, and what I can find out.
-----------------------------
When he finished reading, he looked at Rufus/Pyre. The mole rat in many ways looked the same, there was no sign he had been cut in half, but his color was different, now a darker red, and wearing a smaller version of Pyre's chest armor.
"Rufus?" not sure how to start, or even if it still was Rufus
"Yes," nodding his head
"Really?"
"Yes" jumping at him and landing on his chest staring at him, before running us his body and hugging his neck.
Ron could only reciprocate as best he could, some how knowing he was indeed Rufus. "You're a dragon now?"
"Yeah," shaking his head
"This is weird, what's the last ting you remember?"
The mole rat went into a long tale both of his fight with Monkey Fist and his fight with Rune, occasionally confusing the two event, with some embarrassment, as well as digging him self out of the ground and getting into Ron's room.
"Wow, it really is you in there," truly believing it, tapping the mole rats head
"Yeah, now food?" holding his stomach
"Yeah I guess not eating for over a week or a few centuries will do that," getting up as the mole rat followed, "No, look I don't think they can deal with this right now. Lets face it buddy this is a little on the insane side." Patting him on the head the Mole Rat relented as Ron left and after a few moments returned with food. Watching the small rodent eat, Ron told Rufus everything that had happened.
When Ron was done Rufus looked up at him, "Kim?"
"She doesn't know"
"Should."
"It's no that simple Rufus, this is....."
"Should tell"
"But," but was cut off as Rufus simply looked at him, years of wisdom in his eyes, more so than there had been last month. "All right I'll tell her, "shaking his head, "but is she goes screaming into the night you have to talk some sense into her."
He picked up the Sword of Kell's and looked it over wondering what to do with it, before finally sliding under the bed. "I should have asked for an easier way of carrying these things, not to mention some way of keeping it safe," as he slipped the ax into his backpack, "One second." Ron disappeared into his closet and came back with fresh clothing, "Let me grab a shower first." For the first time realizing just how bad he must have smelled.
------------------------------
Authors note 1- I'd dearly love to tell you I had this all planed out, That killing Rufus off was the first step in a grand plan to have reincarnate him as Prye, But I can't. True story, 15 minutes after I posted chapter three, I told myself, I had to kill Rufus, and stated counting things off on my fingers as to what I could done to him 1. Make him a back ground character. 2. Kill him off in a dramatic way. Then a third finger went up that had never risen before 3. Make him Pyre. I just stared at the finger, "where the hell where you during chapter one damn it?!" I wanted to put pyre in, have since the idea for this story formed, I just didn't know how, and the pieces together were perfect. So I was left with 2 options, rewrite the whole damn story, something I didn't want to do simply because I think the two chapters dealing with Rufus' death are some of my better work, or figure out how to bring him back from the dead. This is the best I could do. So cheers everybody you get a Mole Rat, I get a dragon, and my stories time table gets a little messed up, but I can fix it it's mostly minor details the over all story hasn't changed. Expect Tyrune to follow a similar orign, all be it darker
Authors note 2- For the last few day, I have search, and I have to tell you I, I am getting a bit ticked by my inability to find out what the hell the names of the sentinels weapons were, I know what they were just not the real names. Also went through hell to find out what the black dragons name was, depending on where you went it was either Rune or Tyrune, but most said tyrune, so that's the name I'm going with.