Ugghhh...(joints crack) Right then, last ti--oh my god, hang on a second. (stretches his arms with a groan) Just woke up. Eh-hemm.

Last time on 'Dormin's Curse', Dormin sent Loki the hawk and a shadow warrior to test Mone's skills. Unfortunately, Mone and his unprepared men were caught completely off guard, and Pyro and Yaz were massacred. Meanwhile, Mone caught a fleeting glimpse of what could be Wander's future, and now it is time for him and the remaining warriors to find out what final monstrosity awaits them beyond the stone door.

I own nothing 'cept for everything after Chapter 22 and before Chapter 28! ...waking me up at 6 in the morning, unacceptable I tell you--!

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Dormin's Speech

Sound Effects

Thoughts

Chapter 24

Malus's Story Part 5

Mone, Skar and Daine walked to the stone gate they had seen in the distance. They passed many trees, rocks and lizards on the way, which all seemed otherworldly. As if they did not belong there. The trio reached the gate and Mone raised the Ancient's Sword on instinct. The gale wind which would centuries later trouble Wander immediately bashed into Mone's form, but the warrior gritted his teeth and marched forward. He raised the Ancient's Sword, then brought it down in a clean arc as if trying to sever the gate in half.

This is precisely what he did, and the gale changed direction, blowing the now-broken gate open. Mone sheathed his sword and Skar and Daine followed him into the mountain path they found themselves in. Silence overtook them, except for grunts and quiet swearing as they climbed ramps and stairs and over rocks.

Finally, they came to a stone bridge. Across the bridge lay a giant stone structure, too large for Mone to see the entire thing all at once. The soldiers raced across the bridge, filled for a moment with a sudden terror that it would collapse, but then they breathed a sigh of relief on the other side.

KREEEEEEEEEE

With a screech Loki landed next to them, causing Skar and Daine to jump backwards and draw their weapons. Mone looked calmly at Loki for what could have been minutes, or hours. Finally, the hawk gave what seemed like a curt nod and spread its wings, beating them once, twice, three times before sailing upward. Suddenly encouraged, Mone began climbing the structure, and Daine and Skar followed.

They reached a flight of steps at the end of a tunnel and, upon scaling them, found two pillars, one on either side. Mone, seeing no better way up, seized a ridge on one of the pillars and hoisted himself upwards. Skar followed him, while Daine climbed the opposite pillar.

AAAAAAAGGGGGGRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOO!!!

The sudden scream nearly caused Mone to fall of the pillar, and he wildly looked around for the source. They were the only ones there, and Mone shook off the feeling of doom that had crept upon him before heaving upwards. He reached the top of the pillar and leaped off to find himself on a huge plain, with underground tunnels and bunkers and a stone platform at the opposite end. Daine and Skar soon made it to the top as well, and silently stared at the field.

"Sir?" Skar said at last. "We must get goi--" "I know, Skar." Mone said heatedly, then almost immediately bowed his head. "I am sorry, Skar, it is just...something about this place troubles me. The sooner we leave, the better."

They walked for a while across the plain, making it to the stone platform. There was suddenly a sickening THUD and Daine screamed in pain. Mone whirled around to see Skar had impaled Daine with his sword. "SKAR!!!" Mone shouted, wrenching the blade from Skar's hands. "Sir, his eyes--!" Skar began. An uncontrollable rage siezed Mone, and his arms seemed to move of their own will in a sideways arc. Time seemed to slow as the blade cut through Skar's body like butter, cleaving him in half. The two pieces of the corpse fell to the floor, and Mone was suddenly on his knees, tears running down his face. "What's happening to me...?!" he wailed, Skar's bloody sword cast aside.

"You're finally understanding." said a quiet voice behind him.

Mone immediately grabbed Skar's sword and stood, whirling around and unsheathing the Ancient's Sword as he did so. He found himself looking at a grey-skinned, black-clothed version of himself with red eyes. "Who are you?!" he growled. The other-Mone smiled and spread his arms.

"I am you. And you...are me." he said, touching his chest and then pointing to Mone's. Mone stood stock still, then gasped as wicked horns curved outwards from the other-Mone's head. His hands turned to clawed talons and his back straightened, causing him to appear taller than he was. Stony armor seemed to ripple out of the other-Mone's flesh, creating a rock-clad warrior with shining red eyes. "No...no!!" Mone cried, stepping back.

"Welcome...to the family." 'Mone' whispered. Mone shrieked in agony as a sudden white-hot pain washed over his body. He dropped his swords and fell to the ground, curled up before the other-Mone. "S-stop...s-s-stop this..." he shivered, arms wrapped around himself. The other-Mone bent down and picked up Skar's sword, examining it. "Tut-tut, more blood would have been excellent. But beggars can't be choosers." The stone-clad Mone swung the sword experimentally. "This will make for a good trophy."

Mone's eyes shot open, and hot blood filled his veins. His heartbeat quickened almost to the point of being dangerous, and he rolled backwards before grabbing the handle of Daine's blade and ripping it from its sheathe. He sprang forward, blade towards the rocky Mone, and the sword met empty air as the other-Mone stepped aside. The momentum allowed Mone to dive into a roll, picking up the Ancient's Sword as he did so. He whirled to face the other-Mone.

"Why is it that of these two swords, you chose to pick up the less-powerful one?" Mone hissed, surprised at his voice. It was now barely human, seeming to be comprised of growls and moans. The rocky Mone grinned underneath his rock-mask and swung Skar's sword. "Petty weapons such as that don't trouble me." he stated with a laugh. Mone stopped breathing for a moment, then he locked eyes with the other-Mone and saw something actually shift between them.

"...liar."

"What did you call me?" The other-Mone asked quietly, his voice now dangerous and sharp instead of calm and collected. "You are a bastardous liar and a thief, no less!" Mone growled. "You cannot touch this sword for it will burn your flesh! That is why you have hidden under stone armor!" "I will not tolerate--" "You are nothing but a worthless, lying coward! I don't have time do deal with you!" "How DARE you--" "And worst of all," Mone cried, almost yelling now, "You MURDERED MY FRIENDS!!!"

The rocky Mone stood still for a moment, then chuckled. "Did I? Or did you?" there was silence for a moment, then Mone tightened the grip on his swords. "You...BASTARD!!!" he roared, flashing forward. The other-Mone stepped back in alarm and found Mone right in front of him. The imposter slashed his sword at the warrior, only to have it blocked by Daine's sword and see Mone's other arm draw back.

With a cry Mone snapped his arm forward, causing the Ancient's Sword to whistle into the rocky Mone's armor and slice through it. The rocky Mone shouted in pain and recoiled, only to have Mone slice his right arm off. Skar's sword clattered to the ground as Mone drew his arm back for another strike. The other-Mone was ready this time, however, and dropped to his knees before kicking out at Mone. His foot collided solidly with Mone's shin, and the warrior yelled in agony as he fell to the ground.

Mone' grabbed Skar's sword from the ground with his remaining arm and slashed it at Mone. The warrior screamed in pain and frustration as the sword sliced his skin open, and he sprang to his feet at the same time as the copy. "THE FINAL BLOW!!!" they cried in unison. They both raised their weapons and leaped at the other, swords aimed at the heart.

DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUUUUUN!! For those of you who might've been confused when Mone said 'You murdered my friends', here's what he meant. Upon the question of his identity , the copycat declared that he was Mone, and earlier Mone had been overcome with a fit of rage that caused him to strike down Skar with his own blade. Thus, Mone came to the conclusion that it had been the other-Mone which influenced him to kill Skar.

Read and Review, please! Hope this was long enough and worth the wait! Next chapter, Malus is made and...well, you'll just have to see.

Look forward to the final three chapters of Part 1, coming soon to a website near you! And maybe even some Redux chapters!