AN:Another CHAPTER! WOOT! AND GUESS WHAT! IT'S NOT ABOUT AKUJI! OR RYKER! Yup. Not them. Oh yeah. YOU SHALL NOT KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO AKUJI FOR (counts on his fingers) A LONG TIME! Disclaimer: I do not own MapleStory. Nuff Said. Nuff Said.
The cool breeze drifted through the warm jungle. In the small, remote village, of Sleepywood, the citizens were rebuilding. An eartquake had raked the town hours ago, causing devastation to all. The hotel had been turned to shambles, and the various houses were in similar states or destruction and disrepair. All was a scene of quiet and reposed sadness. Everyone made themselves busy by helping repair. Meanwhile, in a clearing outside of the village, a meeting was being carried. Alda and Druce sat in a small circle. With them were an assortment of people. Athena Pierce carefully polished a bow as she sat quietly near the pond. Grendel the Really Old floated in serene meditation. Dances with Balrog stood off to the side, keeping a wary eye on his surroundings. Dark Lord, the leader of the Theives Guild, sat away from all else, his eyes constantly surveying his fellows. The air around him burned with a quiet intensity, while the two bandits behind him kept their hands in their pockets, where they stored one of their many daggers.
Druce stood up and looked around. "Welcome, all. You have been summoned here for your... abilities." Dark Lord fingered his dagger as he said this. "I believe you know why you have come." He looked around at the faces of the greatest fighters of their time.
Athena looked up. "Is it about the earthquake? Or Akuji?" Her bright, inquisitve eyes shone with excitement. She was the leader of Henesys, and Master Bowman. Many men watched her with lustful eyes, a consequence of her voluptuous figure and beautiful features. Many archers had been drawn into the job not for being a bowman, but for the chance of getting closer to Athena.
Dark Lord snorted. "Hmph. It's about both. Akuji is a direct cause of the earthquake, which, was actually a meteor strike, summoned by four potent Jr.Balrogs. Heh. I wouldn't be surprised if Akuji is dead and now it's up to us to defeat Kronos." He was informed of this by his rather extensive list of contacts.
Athena narrowed her eyes. Akuji had been one of her star pupils, and Athena felt a protectiveness towards him. She opened her mouth to retaliate when Druce interrupted. "You are correct on the point that Jr.Balrogs caused the earthquake, but Akuji is not dead. The main problem is that the Mark of the Balrog has grown more prominent. Akuji has unlocked certain demonic powers: mainly demonic strength and an understanding of the balrog's language. Another point that will be of a certain loss to us is that Akuji has lost all memories. He has no idea what went on down in the sanctuary. He also thinks this quest to be a waste of time. He decided not to help us."
Athena gasped and Dark Lord groaned. Dances with Balrog sighed and Grendel bowed his head. "This is dire news indeed..." Intoned the elderly wizard.
Athena glanced over at Druce. "So, how much longer until his full powers are unlocked and he becomes fully possessed by the Mark?"
Druce glanced over at Grendel. The mage stirred and prepared to speak. "I have been watching over Akuji, and witnessed his first possession. He retained most of his mind, though lost control after being hit by the balrog. I would say he has several months. Maybe a year," He wheezed in his reverent and majestic voice that implied ultimate wisdom.
Druce nodded. "Yes. That would be logical. Dances with Balrog, do you have anything to add?"
The warrior chieftain nodded. He spoke and his deep and throaty voice. "Only that we in Perion will be ready if the need arises that we must take the task of Kronos' destruction into our own hands."
Dark Lord laughed his taunting laugh. "Indeed. I say we destroy Kronos now, then kill Akuji before he turns into some freak demon."
Druce glared at Dark Lord with a fiery anger. "That will--"
Athena interrupted sharply."You will not talk like that of a bowman! I could say a few choice words of your favorite thief, Ryker, the little--"
"Heh. An' your bowmans have a spotless record." Dark Lord shot back.
"DO NOT PURPOSELY INFURIATE A BOWMAN, SLIME!"
"AN' DON'T EXPECT TO BE OFF THE HOOK FOR INSULTIN' A ROGUE! YOU'LL FIND YOURSELF KNIFED IN THE BACK!"
"AND YOU'LL FIND YOURSELF--"
"ENOUGH!" Druce bellowed over the yells of the archer and rogue. "We will not accuse and threaten each other! We will not desert Akuji in a time like this! You need not worry of this, Athena. And Dark Lord, we cannot defeat Kronos without Akuji. May I remind you of the Mark?"
"Hmph. No. Ya don't have ta remind me of that, old man," Dark Lord muttered.
Dances with Balrog coughed. "Do not forget, young thief: Druce once saved this land before. We owe him a debt. He is most knowledgable on this subject."
Athena sighed and stood up. "If we are done muttering insults and threats at each other, I must get back to Henesys. I must hurry if we are to be ready for war. It is no small task to arrange an army to take on a horde of monsters in any amount of time.
Druce nodded. "Yes. We all have our duties to return to. Leave now, and be wary of what you have learned."
As they started to leave, Alda spoke up. Her thin and wobbly voice stayed at a whisper, though all heard her. "Be wary of your allegiances. They have grown thin and weak over the years. If the bonds are not renewed, they will fall, and in doing so, so shall the world. A fork in the road is before us. At the end of one lies Oblivion. At the other, lies an era of peace. It is your choice which to take." With that final, strange and foreboding message, she turned and began slicing herbs. The others left, each carrying their own thought, their own plans. Dark Lord's eyes glittered darkly.
Druce sighed and turned to Alda. "I'm afraid the fate of the world is held in awkward hands, my dear."
Alda cackled. "Yes. But are you alright? Does Akuji's fate weigh heavily upon you?"
"Yes. I once walked down his path, and bore my own Mark. Now, we must wait and see if he chooses my path, or forages into the darkness of his own."
XxX
Kronos stood before a sea of monsters, each waiting impatiently for their leader to speak. "Welcome, my fellow beasts! From the lowly snail, to the awesome balrog, I welcome you all!" The beasts cheered in an uproar. "We have joined to ready and train ourselves for the coming of the war! The greatest war of all! The War and Downfall of the Humans! At the turn of the year, we will strike! And we will destroy!" The monsters raucous call turned to a roar and deafened all. Kronos grinned. Everything was going perfectly.
All was falling into place.
AN: Wow. That was fun. Just who is Druce and what is his past? I have no idea. Actually I do but... I'M NOT TELLING! Hope you all liked it. Kinda added my own spin to the town leaders. Figured Dances With Balrog would be quiet and reclusive while Grendel was wise and meditating constantly. That's what he does in the game anyway. And Dark Lord became a power-hungry thief. And... Athena became a... uh... you know. Anyway, hoped you liked it. Please review, it's cool and I appreciate your opinions, criticism, etc. I started writing this to see if peole liked my writing, so I would rather enjoy getting your reviews. Kudos, and thanks! Revision: Not much added to this chapter. Change'd the dialogue so it coincides with the new storyline a bit better... But that's pretty much it. Review please! Oh, I'm not depending on Reviews for writing chapters. I'm just gonna crank this thing out. Once I get an inspiration I like obsess over it. Review!
