Because I seem to start one of these every summer.
Last year it was SSY, this time... I was wondering, what would happen if Thats got locked in the cave with Kitchel, as was intended. Combine that thought with the "20 Themes" challenge and a couple past dreams...
And there you have it.
My '05 Summer Project. I doubt it will be finished in time for summer of '06, but I'll try. And fail horribly. :laughing:
This won't just be about three characters trekking through some caves. That would be boring, wouldn't it?
The changing of one point can alter many others, and this should prove to be a fine example of that.
:n:
Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Knights. Jeezus, must you people taunt me like this every time?
Warnings: Minor swearing, the taking and altering of an ending clip from Book 5: Treasure Hunt.
Note: This was beta-ed by Kayla. (ed: I tried my best!)
:n:
look over here
:n:
The sky was clear.
The budding blue of the vast sea's reflection shone in its noontime-high, edging around the few cotton white clouds that gave no hint to the storm that had wracked the night so few hours earlier.
A solitary island rested upon the rolling waves, seemingly uninhabited, save for the towering trees. Their leaves glistened a deep emerald in the wilderness, brushing softly against each other in the calm. Patches of dark rested in the creeping forest, casting their warm shadows under the overhanging boughs. A red-tinged plateau stood out as the one significant landmark in the oasis of greenery.
Then a tower of water erupted off of it, shining blindingly in the hot sun, and pouring down onto the startled land.
There was a rush of wind.
"Take this and," A young man, loose clothing drenched, hurriedly reached up, unfastening a simple gold necklace and quickly clasping it around the neck of his female companion, "jump right in!"
He stood with his two fellow travelers at the top of the dusty plateau, all three of them dripping with the clear water.
There was a menacing buzzing: three large and insect-like demons began to slowly advance on the two humans and one small faerie.
Without waiting to see how their hunters would react to this transfer of items, he shoved her into the hole leading to a vast network of underground caves by their feet, watching for a moment as she was swept away by the swirling water.
"Thatz, you bastard!"
He laughed at her yell, quickly directing the Water Light to follow after her, and then turned to face the three insect-like demons.
Their leader spoke, water dripping off its metallic face mask as it formed sharp, scratching words, each syllable as painful as jagged iron.
"The treasure is in there?"
Thatz took a half step towards the entrance, summoning his sword, the cast-metal blade the only thing dry in this still-drenched landscape. The sun's rays glinted off its surface as he held it out in a fighting stance and spoke clearly above the sound of the rushing water below ground.
"I don't know who you are or what you want with the treasure, but," he began to tip the sharpened point of his sword to the rocky plateau, his lips tugging upwards in a taunt smile, "The last thing a bunch of bugs are going to do is take my treasure."
In a swift movement he rammed the blade into the dirt, shouting and leaping backwards. He dove headfirst into the entrance to the cavern a moment before it was sealed by the sudden appearance of a huge rock-brown dragon splitting the ground open and crushing the small entrance with tons of dirt and rubble.
The demons staggered backwards; rocks flew through the air with the force of the small explosion. As the slabs hit the floor, some cracking and breaking, a thick wall of dust soared up, swirling around the elevated plain.
There was a second surge underfoot as the mighty dragon plunged back into the ground as easily as though it were water, its mighty form flying downwards to its master.
A harsh cough racked the clearing air as the debris began to settle once more.
"They've escaped."
The dust parted to reveal an insect-like form gliding forward, stilted black eyes glittering maliciously. It gave off a whirring noise, pinchers brushing against each other, as it surveyed the now-deserted landscape.
Then something piqued its interest.
Shining bronze and silver in the harsh sunlight, only slightly dimmed by the red dirt, a finely crafted blade quivered point-down in the rubble.
While the Knight and his companions had vanished, his sword had been left behind.
Slender claws brushed over the wrought metal, pausing a breath above the start of the sturdy hilt.
And a rusty laugh crackled through the land.
"How interesting."
The demon turned back to the two others, snatching up the weapon and holding it in unsuited dagger-edged claws. Beady eyes traveled over the piece of craftsmanship, scanning the sharpened edges and leather-bound hilt. They stopped on a series of fine runes carved at the bottom of the wide blade. They were delicately etched on, barely noticeable and not necessary, purely for display and decoration.
Had the demon a visible mouth, it would have turned up into a cunning smile. As it were, it merely raised its gaze to the others.
"We will report," it rasped, "to Lord Shydeman."
There was a lull as a breath of air whispered by, and the three servants were engulfed by a high delighted laugh.
"Wonderful!"
The image of the plateau, frozen in time, shimmered and vanished in a gasp of collapsing ash.
Kharl laughed again, his face lit up with an elated smile.
"Wonderful," he repeated, motioning the fallen ash to fall from his desk to the floor with a broad sweep of the hand.
The alchemist paused, a slow smirk beginning to taint his features.
"Perfect."
:n:
Author's Note: Okay, that was short. Really short. Shorter than most of the chapters will be. I just really didn't feel like rewriting the whole of Book 5, so... :shrugs: Sorry about that, at any rate. The next chapters will be longer, promise.
:n:
Okay, by now we all know the gig... Any and all complaints, compliments, criticisms, and comments can be filed via review.