A.N: Thank you for reading the first chapter! Now we shall continue to the second one~!
ZodiacDragon97: Well, I'm also fond of the fantasy AUs, there's just too little of them! I wish that you will enjoy the latter chapters! :3 Oh and thank you for the compliment, I'm still studying... *blushes*
AGAIN! I am sorry for the grammar mistakes and all, I'm not good at English, :( Still learning them thank you.
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own Avengers, sadly. If I do, my first command is to make Science Bros CANON!
Back before he was Bruce Banner, he was Robert Banner, the local mage and alchemist. The people around his village knew him very well. Who doesn't? Robert might just be the smartest mage alive! And to be added he is also the kindest. Robert loves to help other people when they're in need.
Robert was trying to make the formulas of his stamina-healing elixir when he heard a knock on his door. It was fast and desperate and loud. Robert groaned, "Coming," he announced before he ran towards the door and opened it, to reveal the man who had been knocking on the wooden door of his humble small cottage.
"Barton?" Robert assured when he saw a young man with blond hair and blue eyes standing in front of him, breath came in short and rigid. "Sir? Robert sir! You must evacuate now!" Barton told him as he pulled Robert's hand and dragged him outside. But Robert is stronger than he looks. He held Barton in place and turned the said man around so he was facing Robert now.
"Clinton Barton, breathe," reminded Robert, his hands on the shoulders of the young man. "Tell me what is going on," demanded the mage.
"I—I , there's a witch attacking the village! Come! I'll take you to safety!" Clinton said as he dragged Robert with his full strength now. But Robert didn't budge. He only stood there, eyes widened in shock before he started running towards his cottage and took all the stuffs he need and stuff them inside his small bag. He put on the said bag around his shoulders and dragged Clinton along with him.
"Tell me where are the villagers now," demanded Robert. Clinton only stared at the mage with a strange look. "I am trying to save you here, why do you wish to meet the villagers when you can save yourself instead?" asked Clinton. Robert only turned around and looked at Clinton with a smile on his face. "Because I need those villagers more than they need me," Robert simply replied. And Clinton let out a small sigh in anger and frustration before he took off the mage's hands around his wrist.
"Very well then, but I shall not be the one to be blamed when something bad happens on you Banner," Clinton declared. Robert only gave a small chuckle before they started running to the place where the villagers live.
The sight was awful. There were people injured, some perhaps even dying, everywhere. The houses and buildings were barely standing, burnt to ashes along with some of the animals and corps that the villagers managed to keep and take care.
"Come now, let's heal you," Robert said as he helped a man standing, trying to take the man into safety.
As they walked, Robert can't help the small pain in his chest, bubbling, forming because of the cruelty of the said witch who burnt down their village.
"Natalie!" Robert turned his head around when he heard the sound. It was Clinton.
"Oh no, dear Odin," Robert muttered before he ran towards Clinton's place after he put the man down in their safe house.
Clinton was holding his so called "little sister", Natalie Rushman. Robert knows the girl; heck Robert was fond of the said blond-haired girl. She was close and deadly and smart and brave. Apparently she has hurt herself during the fight with the barbaric, ruthless witch that has destroyed their village.
"Robert," called Clinton, rather desperate. "Please help my sister, I beg of you," said Clinton.
Robert didn't know what to do. Natalie was dying, the injuries caused by the fight were too big to be healed but Robert knew one thing that he could try. His healing-elixir. Robert is uncertain about what will happen if he did let Natalie drink the elixir. She could die. Robert could turn her into a monster.
"Please save her, do anything you can," begged Clinton.
"I have an elixir, but I'm not sure—"
"Just do it," shouted Clinton. So he did.
Robert examined the burnt skin on Natalie's face. The cuts and bruises on her white skinned arms and legs. Robert swallowed his saliva thickly before pulling a small bottle from his bag and opened the cap of it.
"Let us pray that this will work," Robert muttered before he placed the bottle close to Natalie's lips and pour the red-colored liquid into her mouth. The liquid started moving slowly, going deeper inside her mouth.
Robert wanted to wince when he heard Natalie screamed in pain all of a sudden. "What is happening Banner?" demanded Clinton.
"I—I do not know!" replied Robert and suddenly Natalie's blond hair started to change color. Slowly but surely, strand by strand her hair turned from golden yellow into deep, flaming red. She quickly sat up and her body jolts. She woke up with a gasp.
"Where am I?" she asked. Clinton's eyes were widened. Natalie's hair has turned into red and her blue irises have turned into green. "Natalie," he called.
The said woman only starred at Clinton with confusion before Clinton jumped and hugged Natalie. "Clinton? What do you think you're doing? I shall not tolerate such—"
"I thought I'm going to lose you," whispered Clinton, barely audible. Now Natalie remembered what happened. She almost died. She wrapped her arms around Clinton's body and smiled. "Miss you too Barton," she muttered.
Robert smiled at the two siblings. He wished he had one. Maybe someone by the name "Edward", yeah Edward seems like a very suitable name for a young smart lad.
But back to reality now.
"Who attacked the village Natalie?" asked Robert, anger shown on his face.
"It was Amora," she replied. Robert's eyes widened at the answer. Amora. The enchantress.
"Of course it would be her," Robert muttered under his breath. He knew exactly why she's here. It's the same reason why he is here too.
It's because there's an old tale. Robert believed it though the villagers themselves don't believe it, that there's a guardian spirit guarding the forests of the village. Keeping everything steady and stable. The said guardian took the form of a bird, but though it took the form of such animal, it is still unique. The feathers of the bird were different and unlike the others. Under the dark it glowed like the stars under the night skies of Nottingham, the kingdom with the most beautiful night scenery, and under the sunlight, the colors contrasted, showing off its dark beauty to the world of light.
Clinton told him that he was crazy. But after learning some deep secrets of the art of alchemy and magic, he knew that the tale was true and far he was far from crazy.
But this was too far.
Burning the village down was too far. And not to forget she put the lives of the innocent in danger.
Robert stood up, hands turning into fists as he fixed the glasses that were perched on the bridge of his nose.
"Where are you going?" asked Clinton. Robert only smiled at him, "There's something I need to discuss with Amora," he simply replied.
"But she will kill you!" Natalie said, almost screamed.
Robert smiled at the two siblings, "Do not worry, for I have the power of alchemy and a rather huge amount of elixirs in my hand,"
But he didn't know that that would be his last time seeing the two siblings.
"Amora," he called as he walked through the enchanted forest of Nottingham. The same forest where the guardian spirit rests.
"Oh, Banner," he heard the voice said before a woman materialized herself in front of him. Her hair was blonde and long and it looked so soft and it just allures you to touch and ran your fingers on her soft strands of golden hair, wearing a green dress, matching her sharp green eyes. Robert glares at the presence of the woman. He hated her.
"It's so nice to see you here," the woman simply said before she folded her arms in front of her chest, a smirk started to form on her face. Her white porcelain skin looked like they were glowing under the moonlight of the full moon.
"I can't say I feel the same," replied Robert, venom pouring in every word that came out form his mouth. Amora only winced, acting as if she was hurt by Robert's words. "I'm hurt Banner, I thought we were the same," Amora replied.
Robert bit the inner walls of his cheek. "I am nothing like you Amora," Amora only gave a small smirk at the reply. "Perhaps now you're not, but soon you will be," she said.
"What are you—"
"By the power vested in me, I cursed thee Robert Banner," Amora chanted and suddenly green mist appeared, surrounding Robert.
"Amora! Stop this nonsense!"
"You shall turn into the monster you are! Wrath and anger shall never settle and you will turn into a green rage monster and no one can stop you!" She continued.
Robert didn't really remember what happened next, but he felt the immense pain coursing through his veins, his body started to increase in size, his skin turning from his normal tan-skin into green, the same color of Amora's eyes. Robert remembered the sound of clothes ripping, Robert remembered the blackness that overwhelms him and he remembered the sound of the animalistic roar as he succumbed into the darkness.
As he turned into a monster.
Bruce woke up the next day. His eyes squinted at the light. He sat up, looking around. He's in a forest. He looked at himself, "Oh dear Lord," he muttered, he was naked. He blushed but then snapped back to reality when he realized what had happened.
Amora had cursed him.
Robert felt the building wrath inside him. His arms started to turn into a green-ish color. "No," muttered Robert. He is not going to turn into a monster. He inhaled and exhaled. Calming himself using his breathing. "Calm down Robert, Calm down," he repeated in his mind.
Bruce stood up and looked at his surroundings. He's in the middle of no where. He's deep inside the forest. He's naked and he had lost everything. His elixirs, his notes, his glasses, his normality. He can't go back, not like this. Bruce looked at the ground under him. He can't go back, he mustn't go back.
Robert heard footsteps close to him. "Where's the green beast?" he heard the voice said. Robert turned around to see a group of people with torches and forks and swords in hand. "He went that way," one of the men said pointing at Robert's position.
No, no, no. He must hide!
Robert ran away from the group of people as fast as he could, hiding himself, finding a shelter. He can't die. He must not die.
"Wait, why can't I die?" Robert thought to himself. But Robert can't help the feeling that's manifesting deep inside of him, a mantra repeating in his mind telling him that he cannot die, he must not die because there's something waiting for him.
Robert found a small cave. It was covered with twigs and mosses and trees to hide its existence. It was perfect.
Robert got into the small cave and smiled. The cave was perfect indeed. Though it seems dirty on the outside but once you got inside, it was rather clean. Bruce's eyes widened when he saw blueberries seated on a piece of a big leaf in front of him. Bruce walked deeper, afraid that it was a trap. But his worries soon left when he saw a bird in front of him. The bird was white from its head to its neck and as you go lower, the feather turned from snow white into sky blue and if you go much lower, the blue turns into navy blue.
Robert's eyes widened when he realized who the bird is. The guardian spirit of the forest.
"I apologize for the disturbance that I caused in your forest," he said, head down, unable to see the guardian spirit. The monster inside him perhaps has caused a disturbance to the forest. Bruce was 100% sure that the guardian spirit will kill him.
That is until he heard the spirit speaks up, "Worry not mortal," the voice was sweet and soft like silk and Robert wanted to curl up against the voice because of the amount of warmth and security that it gave Robert. Robert looked up and held out his hands as the bird flew from the ground only to land on Robert's hands.
"I sense a wave of worry and doubt and a wall of magic around you," the bird didn't say anything. It didn't tweet, it didn't make a single sound. But as Robert stare and watch the red eyes of the bird, he found himself communicating with the bird, with a voice in his head.
"I… I was cursed by a witch," Confessed Robert. The bird only turns around and Robert heard a small, "I see," before the bird flew back from his hands onto the ground.
"Now eat mortal, I sense your hunger even from this distance," Robert wanted to say something back but was stopped by the grumbling sound of his stomach. He blushed. He sat next to the bird as he ate the blueberries. Maybe it won't be that bad after all.
Robert lived with the kindness that was shown to him by the guardian spirit. The said guardian gave him shelter, food to consume, water to drink and clothes to wear.
"Take these clothes along with this green cloak," the guardian said as it jumped onto the said clothing, folded neatly on the ground. Robert's eyes twitched. He hated green. It reminded him of the monster deep inside of him.
"Remember not to lose it Robert," the spirit said as Robert took the clothing and put it on, one by one.
"Where did you get this?" Robert asked.
"Alfheimr," Robert wanted to choke himself at the answer. He looked at the clothing; these were not meant for humans. These were meant for elves, for magical creatures not him.
"Why are you giving me these?" asked Robert, feeling rather amazed on why did the guardian spirit gave him the clothing.
"Because I sense that there's something that's coming up your way, Robert Banner," the guardian replied. Robert moved his hands, fingers rubbing against the materials that made his green cloak. It was soft and warm and he's sure that there's something magical hidden underneath it.
The bird soon stretched its wings and flew away.
"Wait, where are you going?" asked Robert.
"I am going west," the bird replied before it flew away, gone from Robert's sight.
And that was the last time Robert met the bird that saved his life.
A week had passed and Robert was worried. His spirit friend is not returning. He headed west, the way he presumed his friend went.
He his behind the bushes, keeping himself hidden, the green cloak helping him.
He kept on heading west until he saw a small camping site. He guessed it belonged to the knights of Nottingham. He peeked through the small holes in the bushes, giving him enough to see how three men in black brutally murdered the knights.
Clearly the knights weren't prepared at the sudden ambush. They didn't have their armor on or their swords in hand. And there's no way for the knights to protect themselves as one of the men started thrusting their swords and knives into their throat, slicing their neck, destroying their windpipe. As they shoot arrows, aiming for the knights' head or chest or shoot their leg, only to find their head chopped using an axe.
"Too much blood… There's too much blood," Robert muttered to himself. He pleaded for it to stop deep inside his mind, he wanted to escape the gore sight in front of him only to find his body paralyzed in fear, unable to move as if his feet were chained onto the ground.
The massacre soon stopped and Robert thought it was the last of it. That is until a young man, barely made it to his 16's came into sight. The young man stared in horror as he stared at the lifeless body lying in front of him.
And Robert saw everything. Everything that happened next.
How the young man tried to avenge his dead comrades, how the young man died in the hands of the killers and how his body slumped onto the ground. How blood started to flow from his chest, how the killers enjoyed the sight in front of them, how they took the blood of the innocent man onto their hands and licked it and how they laughed at the taste. They said that it was sweet, just like how the blood of the royal family should taste like and how they just left the young man's carcass there to rot.
Once the men were gone, Robert ran towards the young man. He couldn't help but feel pity towards the young man. He was a prince; Robert figured out, he was the only heir towards his father's kingdom. But here he is, dead, lifeless.
Robert wanted to cry, because the young man reminded him so much of himself. No, the young man's situation was worse. He was supposed to be alive and kicking, learning on how to rule the kingdom, not dead.
Suddenly a light started to form in the young man's chest. It started getting brighter, and brighter and Robert needed to cover his eyes and shielded his eyes to protect his eyes. Robert figured out that it must be one of the spirit's work. Robert moved his hands to towards the young man's neck, checking if there's a pulse.
None. Robert's eyes widened, "but the light—" Ba-DUMP. Ba-Dump.
Robert felt the steady heart beat. He smiled, the young man's alive again. Robert frowned, the young man should be alive now.
"Young man? Young man, can you hear me?" Robert asked, feeling a bit worried about the young man.
The young man slowly opened his eyes, he let out a small groan. And when he fully regained his consciousness, the young man quickly sat up.
"W-Where am I?! What happened? I-I-…" the young man's hand started to travel onto his chest, almost trying to find something. Suddenly, the man opened up his blood soaked shirt to reveal the small, round chunk of metal, emitting a blue glow on his chest.
"I-I…"
"Calm down!" Robert told the young man.
"W-What happened?" the young man asked, Robert wanted to sigh, perhaps the young man has forgotten everything that he has been through?
"It seems that you have survived a vendetta," Robert replied calmly and he saw the man's eyes widened in shock.
Robert wrapped an arm around the young man's waist and helping the young man to get up on his legs, "Let's go now and take you to safety," Robert said and the young man only nodded his head.
To be continued...
A.N: Thank you for reading! I was hoping to get more reviews though, since THEY ARE the things that keeps me going. He he, *HINT: GIVE AUTHOR REVIEWS*
Also check out Jamie-Is-Totally-Not-On-Fire's "Tonight, We Fight". She's an amazing writer. c: and also a great unbiologically related sister who puts up with my selfish needs.