Episode 3: Part 1

It had been a little over a week since the town of Somerset Valley had come under attack from the supernatural race of creatures calling themselves Fomorians. It was a bit difficult to imagine that a very real conflict was brewing, one that involved several supernatural factions straight out of Celtic folklore. For four young college students, they were only just beginning to realize how critical their role as the guardians of the mortal world was becoming after having been caught in the crossfire between the ancient Elves of the Faerie Realm, and the cruel monsters who wished to destroy it.

Quinton Wallace coasted down the sidewalk on his longboard as he headed back from class one autumn afternoon. Whenever he wasn't sketching in his free time, he also enjoyed the feeling of freedom from skateboarding. After trying to come to terms with becoming some "magic knight" and understanding the unreal battles he had fought recently, he needed something to restore his frame of mind and his sense of normalcy. Plus... his Sociology classes were on the other end of campus so it was a perfect excuse to go boarding.

It was a nice clear day and he wasn't in any rush to get back to the dorm so he decided to take a little detour by the college's fitness center. While he boarded by the gym and the adjacent field for some outdoor sports, he stopped when he caught sight of a familiar face on the tennis courts. He hopped off his board and ambled over toward the edge of the tennis courts where a small crowd had gathered. To his surprise, he saw his fellow knight Laura Gremory on the court bouncing a tennis ball and preparing to serve.

The Winter Knight stood facing off against another freshman boy in a singles match, but she stood with calm confident poise. The blonde haired girl wore an expression of cold calculating focus mixed with the air of superiority that she had given off when she met Quinton. Like her "casual" clothes, Laura was dressed in an expensive white sports top over a short blue tennis skirt making her look like she belonged at Wimbeldon.

Laura eyed her opponent across the court and called out, "This is your last chance to walk away Ben. I hardly broke a sweat and I'd hate to humiliate you even more here."

Her opponent glowered, "Come on princess. Just serve the damn ball already."

"As you wish," Laura said smashing a powerful serve across the court. The young man dashed sideways and barely returned the serve, except he wasn't expecting the amount of topspin Laura put on the ball. The ball popped up high in a gentle arc as Laura charged the net and smashed it back down on her opponent for a final kill shot.

The other students who were watching gave impressed cheers and applause as Laura brushed her hair aside and walked off the court with a smug smile. While her opponent skulked off and the crowd dispersed, Quinton hurried up to his fellow knight and gave an amazed smile, "Wow Laura, that was awesome! Where did you learn to play like that?"

The Winter Knight walked alongside him and regarded him cooly, "I'm a champion tennis player Quinton. I've been playing my whole life. Since I came to the States three years ago, I've been ranked in the upper tier of players here in Massachusetts. Surely you'd know that?"

"Err... no. Sorry," Quinton admitted sheepishly, "I actually don't follow tennis."

Laura gave a mildly dismissive sniff towards him, "Pity. I thought you might know someone else I could compete against. I'm in awful need of a real challenge."

Quinton tilted his head curiously, "So that guy you just played wasn't good either?"

The English girl smirked toward the Spring Knight and walked off towards the women's locker rooms, "Sadly no. He thought he was better than he was so I figured he ought to learn his place."

Quinton stood in surprise for a long moment before shaking his head and getting back on his skateboard. As beautiful and powerful as Laura seemed to be, it seemed she was just as harsh and intimidating. For now, he decided it was probably a good thing they were fellow guardians who were both on the same side... kind of.

Kristen Bloom stood in the twilight of the woods just outside of Somerset Valley. As this was an official meeting, she wore a long green Druid robe and stood holding her wooden staff. As the early evening chill of autumn began to set in, Kristen took a deep breath and looked to the Elder Council of Juniper Circle Druids who stood in a wide ring around her. All the Elders had their hoods up to conceal their faces and they took a long moment to consider the words of the young Druid in their presence.

Kristen had answered a summons from the elders of her order to report on the recent Fomorian attack and the appearance of the new Hibernian Knights. After relating her story, she stood in the center of the circle, patiently waiting for instructions.

"This is dark news indeed Sister Bloom," said one of the male elders, "I am sorry you lost your friend Dierdre. She was one of us and we all share in the pain… but she also knew that she had a duty to warn us at all costs."

Kristen solemnly nodded her head at the mention of her friend before another one of the elders continued, "If Balor and his Fomorian warriors have in fact returned, then you've done well in the defense of the town so far."

"Except it's not enough," Kristen replied levelly, "The new knights are very young. They have good hearts, but they're still immature and reckless. I will teach them what I know, but I'm not sure I'm even the right person to do it. I'm still a bit on the young side too."

One of the elder female druids shook her head, "No Sister Bloom. Your family had been entrusted with guarding the rings and we feel there is a reason for it. We will trust your judgment in this matter."

Kristen grimaced in uncertainty, "No pressure, huh? What about getting extra help in this conflict? One of the knights suggested trying to persuade the Four Courts to aid us."

Another elder chimed in, "We will continue to try and get help from our network, but for the time being, we will have to hold the line here. No doubt the Courts will be in an uproar over the news of Balor's return so we'd best wait until they've determined their own course of action first."

"I understand," Kristen nodded in reluctance, "If that's the case, then the knights will need to start training right away. I only hope they'll be able to work together well as a team."

The next day, the four Hibernian Knights gathered in a park not far from the center of campus town. It was early afternoon and they didn't have classes that went late, so it was decided they get some training in before dinner. The weather was bright and clear and park was surprisingly empty that day too. In a stroke of luck, Kristen had also managed to find a relatively secluded spot for them to practice too. The four teens waited expectantly while dressed in their workout clothes as their mentor gathered four large sticks from the ground.

"Now... one of the first things you should know about fighting your enemies is that faeries are averse to iron... just like vampires hate sunlight and garlic."

Quinton frowned, "But what about our armor and swords? How did the Four Courts make them if they hate iron?"

Kristen smiled, "As far as we know, your armor and weapons are made from a special kind of steel crafted by the fey. Just as effective in fighting them, but in a pinch, you should know that keeping some nails or iron shavings on hand can't hurt either."

Nolle nodded, "Okay, cool... but even if we have weapons, we don't have a lot of experience with them."

Kristen nodded and used her own Druidic magic to turn the sticks into four wooden practice swords, "That's why we're going to work on some basic group combat drills today."

She passed out the swords and called on her staff before taking a defensive stance. "All right, we're going to do this by twos. I want you to learn to charge an enemy and work together while doing it."

Kristen tapped her staff on the ground, "Connor? Laura? Why don't you two start by coming at me?"

The Summer Knight gripped his sword and turned to his comrade, "Okay Laura, I'm going to break right and charge in first so I need you to trust me and get ready with a follow up."

"I beg your pardon," she said flatly, "I do not take orders from a social inferior… especially not from the likes of you."

Connor blinked in confusion before beginning to growl, "What? Who are you calling inferior?"

Laura crossed her arms and turned up her nose with a smirk, "Isn't it obvious? If you had any lick of sense, you'd realize that someone in my position is much better suited to lead the knights' attack."

The Summer Knight stood his ground as he grew more irritated, "Well it's kinda hard to tell that because I haven't seen you do anything remotely impressive yet."

"Connor! Laura! Come on, stop fighting," Noelle pleaded before trying to urge Quinton to back her up. Kristen looked on in surprise while the Summer and Winter Knights continued to bicker.

"The nerve!" Laura seethed, "You have the audacity to insult me like that? We'll settle this with a duel then!"

"Fine by me! It'll be easier than debating," Connor retorted sharply. "How much of a handicap will there be?"

The Winter Knight raised her eyebrow in surprise, "You're already asking me for a favor?"

"No. I wanted to know how much of a handicap I should give you," Connor answered causing Laura to grind her teeth in cold fury from the insult.

That was when Quinton piped up, "Uh, Connor? Are you really sure about this? I don't think it's a great idea."

He began thinking back to witnessing Laura's lightning fast speed and agility on the tennis courts and how that could translate over to the battlefield.

As Kristen approached, she calmly eyed the two feuding knights, "So… we're having a fight over team leadership here?"

"Miss Bloom, do the faerie warriors have any rules and customs when it comes to dueling?" Laura demanded.

"Well… as far as I know, it's not too different than the way we've done things here in the West," their mentor said thoughtfully as she scratched her chin, "As for rules, it's pretty simple. You win by three touches with your weapon, or forcing your opponent to yield."

Connor nodded and extended a hand to his opponent, "Fine then. We meet here at 3 PM tomorrow after classes. Then we'll settle things for good."

Laura met his glare with an icy one of her own while she shook his hand, "Only if Miss Bloom agrees to officiate. She does have the most knowledge about this sort of thing after all."

Kristen rolled her eyes and sighed, "If it'll put this whole stupid conflict to bed, then sure. I'll do it."

The Winter Knight nodded and turned on her heel, heading back toward the dormitory, "Very good. Come along Noelle. I'm going to need a second for this upcoming duel, so until then... I nominate you."

Noelle made a conflicted look while her other two friends replied with understanding nods. The Autumn Knight finally gave a sigh and began to follow her comrade. "Don't worry you guys... I'll try and talk some sense into her."

When the girls left, Kristen gave a shrug and headed for home too, "Well, I guess we'll just have to put off training for another day or two."

Quinton glanced over toward his roommate and shook his head, "Well Connor, you've really done it now. You just had to be stubborn and proud and accept that challenge without even thinking."

"Why? What's the problem?"

Quinton crossed his arms, "Laura is a champion tennis player and fights with a fencing style to boot. She's going to dance rings around you and kick your butt. You didn't know that?"

"Well... no," the Summer Knight sheepishly admitted, "But I'm sure if we put our heads together, we'll think of something."

"We?"

Connor smiled and clapped the Spring Knight on the shoulder, "Of course, because you're going to be my second for this duel."

Meanwhile, in the deep subterranean caverns of the Underworld, the Fomorian warlord Balor sat upon his iron throne. He was still brooding over the recent defeat of his satyr scout. It was true that in the grand scheme, Goraak was an expendable warrior and an insignificant loss. Still, the very thought that four Hibernian Knights had risen up to challenge him set his temper on edge. Of all times, why now? Just when he was getting close to returning to the mortal world.

He gingerly touched the lid of this iron eyepatch which he wore to contain the malevolent forces within. When the original Knights had thrown him back into the Underworld, the Summer Knight of old had given him that terrible wound and gouged out his eye. He would be certain to return the favor to any of those human warriors who opposed him. First thing was first though. He would need a tougher, more experienced warrior to address this problem. That was when a large monster entered Balor's hall and stopped to bow before the warlord.

He was a barbaric looking warrior in mixed leather armor with rusty red skin and the features of a lizardman crossed with a goblin. On his back, a heavy waraxe was slung along with several small skulls of animals... likely hunting trophies. The cruel looking Fomorian gave a bow as Balor gave a guarded smile.

"Ah... Ogran the Great, chieftain of the kobold tribes. I thank you for coming."

Ogran rose to his feet and said in a raspy voice, "I have come to answer your call Lord Balor. I heard you were in need of an experienced warrior."

The Fomorian warlord nodded, "Yes. I require a warrior who is unmatched in single combat and I understand you are one of them. I have a job for you... enemies who I want you to dispose of."

The kobold chieftain lowered his head and gave a humble gesture, "My tribes have sworn fealty to you. Tell me who I must kill, and I will do it."

The Fomorian warlord grinned as his ruined eye pulsed with malevolent light, "Excellent."

A/N:
To answer a Guest reviewer question… Yes. Both Vanguard and Oceania are connected to this series too and I plan to have some characters of both teams make appearances in the future. I won't spoil any more but I think you're going to like the ways things get tied together.