Lost
by Chaos Flare
AN: Alright! This is my first fanfiction in the MapleStory section, but I've written before. I have a lvl 30 Hunter in the game right now, but I'm lvling quickly. Please read on, and I hope you enjoy... Lost! Disclaimer: I do not own Maple Story. I wish I did though. Of course... If I did own MapleStory this wouldn't be fanfiction... Oh well. Read on!
The arrow soared stealthily through the air. It pierced through the forehead of an undead mushroom, creating a grotesque sight. A figure darted forward, pausing only to pluck the arrow from the corpse. The person darted forward, jumping nimbly from platform to platform in the small light of the Ant Tunnel. Unseen behind the first figure, another person ran quickly behind. The first figure's features became visible forthe briefest of moments as he passed through the dwindling light of a torch. He had gray eyes that shone with a confident energy. His black shaggy hair fell around his face. He ran on as his stalker edged carefully around the edge of the light. The first person's destination was apparent when the huge limestone archway of the Cursed Shrine came into view. He leaped forward, into the dark entrance.
The man crouched quietly just inside the entrance to the Cursed Shrine in the Center of Dungeon. He gripped his bow, the Dark Arund, tightly. He was a Ranger, one of the best. He peered around the corner and into the shrine. Two Jr.Balrogs were sleeping near the wall. He fitted an arrow into his bow. "Here we--," he muttered, but was interrupted.
"Hey Akuji! Whatcha doin'?" a feminine voice asked cheerfully, and to Akuji's dismay, loudly. He turned around quickly and pushed the person back against the wall. The balrogs grunted, and began to stir. Akuji threw a look back at the balrogs, then turned to the intruder.
"Damn! What the hell do you--?" he started to reprimand vehemently but stopped when he saw who it was who had spoken. "Tatum? What are you doing here? It's dangerous!" It was one of his friends, a cleric named Tatum. She was still rather weak, and had taken to following Akuji around and recieving training from him. Akuji had no problems with this, but intrusions such as these tended to annoy him slightly.
"Well, I saw you go into the Dungeon, and I decided to follow you in case you needed a cleric." Tatum answered. She did not mention that she had trailed him all the way from the hotel, as she was rather proud of this because Akuji prided himself on the ability to lose any tracker. She was a proud, beautiful, and confident girl with long, curly brown hair. She had gathered many fans around the islands of Victoria, Maple, and Ossyria (and secretly, Akuji was slowly joining them). She stepped closer to him and lightly kissed him on the cheek. "So, hunting Jr.Balrogs again? So I was right to come huh? How're we gonna do this? You slip in and snipe 'em with arrows and I provide back-up with healing and Holy Arrow. Yeah, that'll do!" She whispered cheerfully.
Akuji blushed bright red, and he was glad it was dark. "Umm, uh, yeah, okay-- No! I mean, uh-- I want you to go back to the surface!" He stammered. Tatum sensed his weakness and dove in.
"Awww, come on Akuji! Pleeeeeeease!" She put on her best puppy-dog face, which was enough to melt the heart of the coldest of warriors.
Akuji sighed. "Al-alright. Just stay in the back and try not to get hurt, okay?" He whispered. He turned around and slipped into the Cursed Shrine. Tatum followed quickly.
The balrogs were pacing around the room. Akuji jumped up onto a pillar and aimed his bow. The arrow shot off with a satisfying twang. One of the balrogs roared in pain and pulled an arrow from its chest. It flew into the air and shot towards Akuji. He cursed and leaped into the air. "Soul Arrow!" A golden arrow appeared in the bow, and he released it, directed at the balrogs heart. It flew through the air astonishingly fast. It struck true. This attack enraged the balrog further. Akuji lifted his bow again, this one loaded with two arrows. He let the arrows fly, aiming at the balrog's chest. These too hit the target but did not stop the balrog's furious charge. Akuji aimed one final arrow and shot it. It flew through the air as the balrog charged forward to meet it. It struck the balrog in the head. It seemed to be dead, though it was going to fast to stop. It slammed into the pillar, causing Akuji to fall forward. The pillar tipped forward then with a large crack, it fell to the ground. Akuji landed behind it.
Tatum had squared off against the other balrog. "Let's go!" She challenged. "Holy Arrow!" She yelled. A shimmering arrow erupted from her bow, striking the balrog. It turned and darted towards her. "Holy Arrow!" She yelled again. This one caused little effect, if not angering the balrog further. She attacked again, with the same result. The balrog shot forward claw outstretched. It slashed Tatum, knocking her back into the wall. "Damn. It's tou--!" The balrog attacked again, lifting her into the air and slamming her into the wall. "Hea--" She started to cast a spell that would heal herself, but the balrog slammed into the wall again. "Teleport!" She spat out. She disappeared from the balrog's grasp. She reappeared a few feet away. She turned to ready another spell, but the balrog was already behind her. It swiped at her, but Tatum held her ground. "Holy Arrow!" She called. The spell hit the balrog and it fell to the ground, dead.
"Congratulations... You managed to kill a Jr.Balrog. I wonder how you'd manage to fare against me?" A deep voice growled from behind her. She turned to face the voice, but a huge claw struck her across the face. She fell to the ground, almost dead. The claw picked her up. She looked up into the eyes of what she thought must be her imminent death. What she saw shocked her. A Crimson Balrog held her loosely in his hand. His ape-like face contorted into a rough smile. "Hello..." It growled in its deep and gruff voice. Tatum screamed, a vicious scream of terror and surrender, one that showed she knew her time had come as she released one final shriek of terror.
Akuji turned, expecting the other balrog to be right behind him. But it was lying dead at the feet of, to Akuji's horror, a Crimson Balrog. It was strangling in its immense claws, a dying girl. "Wha-what the--- NO! TATUM!" Akuji called. The balrog turned to face him and grinned. He fitted an arrow to his bow and shot it at the monsters hands.
It quickly tossed Tatum at Akuji and knocked the arrow away, where it fell to the ground with a depressing clatter. "I believe this belongs to you," It sneered. The beast grinned ghoulishly. "Hehe..."
Akuji caught Tatum and cradled her in his arms. "N-n-n-no! Tatum! H-how?" He asked as though his heart had been rended in half.
Tatum grinned and coughed. The small cough turned to a huge fit, which ended in a blood seeping from her lips. "Akuji... heh. I killed that other balrog for you..." She coughed again, and Akuji started to cry. "But... it was tough... heh. I think I might be strong enough to become a Priest now, Akuji. Isn't that great?" She asked quietly. Akuji sobbed, and his tears fell on Tatum's face. "A-a-Akuji... don't cry! It's--it's okay... that Crimson Balrog is tough. But, once we get out of here... we can go talk to Grendel... I can get my 3rd job advancement, and... and we can be happy! I mean... you can be happy... Heh, 'cause I don't think I'll make it outta here. I mean, look at me... Just be happy Akuji... please... for me... be happy..." She broke off and her eyes grew distant.
"NO! T-t-Tatum! Please, I'm not leaving without you... Please... don't die!" He sobbed. Tatum's eyes lost their shine, and her body went limp. "Tatum... I will...avenge you!" Akuji turned to the balrog. "YOU!" He roared.
The Crimson Balrog smirked. "Well, that was fun. It's always interesting to listen to the dying words of weaklings," He said cynically. "I am Kronos, leader of the Balrogs, Crimson and Junior." He stared at Akuji with passive eyes. "I do believe it isn't a pleasure to meet me..."
Akuji glared at the beast. "I don't care who you are! All I care about is destroying you!" He bellowed. He leaped backwards into the air, roaring in anger while releasing arrows with a harrowing speed from his Dark Arund. Kronos held his wings in front of him protectively, shielding himself from the stinging bite of the arrows. Akuji dashed around Kronos's side, swiftly approaching Tatum's pale corpse.
Kronos's wings flew open as he bellowed in rage, the arrows embedded in the wings ricocheting around the limestone cavern. "I don't think so!" Kronos bellowed. He lunged after Akuji, successfully grabbing his legs and throwing him into one of the towering marble pillars.
Akuji groaned. He held up his bow and prepared himself for an attack. "Arrow Rain!" Arrows flew from the air, buzzing angrily like wasps. Kronos staggered through the cavern, seeking refuge from the bombardment from the arrows. Akuji stumbled across to Tatum's lifeless body and tied it to his back.
Kronos roared in anger. "Enough!" The arrows stopped; Kronos stomped towards Akuji. "This has gone on long enough! I have had enough of this foolish fighting! You cannot stop me!"
Akuji pulled a strange stone out. "I summon... Silver Hawk!" A huge silver hawk erupted from the stone and flew towards Kronos. It shrieked in fury and dove at the monster, its sharp talons and beak tearing at any flesh it could find. Akuji dashed from the cavern and fled throughout the Dungeon, seeking the path to the surface. He finally reached Ant Park, and staggered up the stone steps towards the opening into the light. Kronos burst through the ground, shards of rock flying through the air like shrapnel. Akuji was flung forwards, skidding to a halt just yards away from the exit to Sleepywood. Kronos stomped ominously towards Akuji, wings outspread, casting an eerie light upon the cavern.
"Foolish human... No man has ever fought me and lived... Yet, you could be of some use to me... Very well, little mortal, I shall cast upon you a fate worse than death," Kronos muttered. He picked Akuji up and the demon's eyes flashed. Akuji screamed in pain as Kronos carved a strange rune upon his back.
XxX
A group of villagers crowded around the prone body of the young man. An old man pushed forward to the front of the crowd, jostling people out of the way. An old woman, his wife, one would presume, followed. The man crouched down next to the body and felt for a pulse. "Still alive I see... A miracle in itself..." He muttered. The old woman croaked something and he nodded his agreement. "Yes, I recognized the balrog too..." The old man cautiously flipped the unconcious man onto his back. The old man drew a dagger and cut a rip in the shirt. He drew in a sharp intake of air and sighed. "It's already begun..."
AN: Okay! First chapter! Yeah! Review please! Revision: If there's any inconsistencies in the storyline, review and tell me, I'm working on revising the rest of the chapters so... review!
