AN: Thanks for all the reviews guys! It really means alot.
Chapter 9: First Confrontation.
I walked through the red grass of the crimson, covered in blood. My sword had been used more than once. The diseased trees seemed to point accusingly at me, commanding me to leave. Even the grass seemed to hate me, writhing in dissaproval and squirting blood. I hated this place, but I trudged on. I had to smash another crimson alter.
"Die already!" I shouted, slamming my sword on the head of a diseased bird. I whacked it again and ripped the whole front half off, causing it to buzz to the ground, blood squirting everywhere. I was in the middle of a red stoned cave, corrupt animals all around me. I had my hammer at my belt, and I was ready to use it. I flew up a few levels, and suddenly saw a red glint. I ran towards it. It was a crimson alter. I approached it, and drew my hallowed hammer. As I raised it, there was a purple glow, and guide appeared in front of me. He had a purple glow around him. I drew back in shock.
"Guide, what are you doing here!? I thought you were dead!" I said, happy to the point of tears.
"You were mistaken." He said coldly. He didn't seem like himself.
"You seem a bit strange guide." I said suspiciously. Suddenly, the purple glow disappeared.
"Help!" The guide cried, in his regular voice, sinking to the ground. The glow quickly returned, and he snapped up. My eyes were wide with horror.
"You aren't guide!" I said weakly. He laughed twistedly. Suddenly, the purple glow intensified and the guide conjured a glowing blade into his hand. He swung at me with surprising aim, but I deflected it. He struck with inhuman strength. I drew back, my arm throbbing. I growled and slashed at his stomach- I hit, and guide- or his impersonation- fell to the ground. Guide suddenly lost his purple aura, and a strange, twisted red light rose from him, and flitted across the cave. My heart was racing, and I had no idea was was going on. I sank to the ground next to the guide, and helped him up. He seemed dizzy and disoriented.
"That wasn't me you were fighting." He coughed, clutching his stomach. He managed to stay standing.
"What happened then?" I asked, bewildered. I was overjoyed.
"That was the spirit of darkness. When you thought you killed me, you simply handed my soul over to the spirit of darkness. He has been using me to wreak havoc- he used my knowledge to send the twins and the destroyer haywire. He forced it from me, and inhabited my very mind, gaining all my knowledge. Trust me, I had no idea what I was bargaining for when I told you to use that voodoo dole." Guide said, flinching several times, "But thank the great deity Redigit, for I have no further use to him. I know not who is his next target, but we must be wary. Come now player, let us destroy this crimson alter and flee this horrible place." Guide said wearily, grabbing my hand.
"My name is Vald Guide. Dryad revealed it." I said, sadness in my voice.
"I knew this, but I did not know you knew. I did not know you were ready, but if Dryad thinks it is time, I will not argue. Speaking of, you seem sad. What is it?" Guide said, slightly bewildered.
"It is nothing." I said gravely. Guide opened his mouth but didn't speak. I raised my hammer and, in one stroke, smashed the crimson alter to pieces. It did not explode as I expected it to. It simply fell apart, revealing a green blade, with rusted iron coils wrapped around it. It had no hilt, and it seemed dull. Guide simply stared.
"Player, that is the blade of the legendary sword of terra. Bring it back to Dryad, she knows how to fix it." Guide said excitedly.
"Guide... Dryad lies dead along with most of Summerset woods. Logrolf will have to tell me." I said, bowing my head in sadness. I had a feeling Guide knew who Logrolf was.
"Wha- I- I'm sorry pl- Vald. These are dark times indeed. I so wish I could have said goodbye to her. We have been- close friends- for a long time. She would have been comforted if I was there. I'm sorry." Guide said, though he did not seem very surprised. He had a distinct sadness in his eyes though, one that I had never seen. I wrapped my arm around him.
"She would be content to see you standing here today, leading me through this time of darkness. Do not feel that you failed in anything." I said. Guide seemed surprised by my response.
"You've learned a lot since we last met Vald. You have learned well. And now, you shall learn once again, as we guide each other through this." Guide said, smiling.
AN: I got a review suggesting this in one of my other stories, and I just had to do it. Because, let's admit it, hardmode would be impossible without our trusty guide to help us! (Or the wiki...)