"The Great Stone"-Short Story

[sirith_knight]

Wrote this for an Arenascape writing competition a while back. Writing has got a lot better since then.... I changed some of the spelling errors and names, but it is about the same. You can read the original on the Arenascape Story boards with all the arenasape characters and such. Just thought you might enjoy it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Great Stone

 

 

 

Enemies tremble at the name of the two. Aydriel and Zydale, some of the most powerful heroes in all the land. They fight together, survive together. They fight to protect the innocent, wanting to make the land a safer place for their children, when that day so happens to arrive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But the lives of everyone were put at stake upon the creation of the great stone. This stone is the key to unlocking true power inside of people, whether it is dark of light. This stone was also said to have been made by the gods. The color of the stone changes depending on the carrier. In the hands of evil, blood red, in the hands of those holy, it is a pure white.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now though, the stone is indeed in the hands of evil. Thus the two must take it back to the side of good. The one who possesses the stone is none other then the dark knight, Korla. Korla is in a very powerful clan as well, the Blade Rush Clan is nearly unstoppable. The force of the two may not be able to handle the entire clan alone though; it may take the power of the Holy Arsenal clan, and more.

 

 

 

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"We really do have a problem." Zydale said to Aydriel as they gazed upon the ruins of the town Alrenath, which Korla had attacked. Fires still blazed from the battle, the townsfolk had fought bravely, but to no avail. It was nearly dark, the fire gave enough light to see the town clearly though, and from their current vintage point they could see no survivors. Most of the buildings already half burnt to the ground

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"How could they be so heartless, the beasts have no conscious?" Aydriel said grasping the handle of her sword.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Daliroth 's clan is powerful indeed, and now that Korla has had the stone crafted into his sword.... I fear our chances are slim to none." Zydale replied looking to the ground with shame. "His new sword, its material, he calls it Trazolite. We must head out to find recruits, from any clan or non-clan member willing to help. The Holy Arsenal members will help, but that is not enough, many more have joined the Blade Rush Clan now."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I agree, we can't do this alone." Aydriel replied looking over at Zydale. He looked over towards her. "Tomorrow we shall seek in the help in the town square of Luhorith, but we must make camp for now."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aydriel and Zydale set up their tent of the cliff that overlooked the town. It was bordered by the dark forest; Alrenath was a hidden town to most. They ate their food rations as they sat around a small fire. The sun was completely set and the moon high over head, a crescent moon tonight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Where do you think they will strike next?" Zydale asked. "I was thinking that they will move through the Hydroth Mountains and over to the shrine of the five gods. If they can get their hands the staff of power all hope would be lost."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"They could head straight into Luhorith. Some of the citizens would help Daliroth 's clan, others would fight against them. If they can take over the town then they would gain more recruits and power." Aydriel replied as she lay down to sleep.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"It is a large group, so they move slowly, they can either go around Luhorith and to the shrine, or they could destroy the town and do so. We can catch them tomorrow, if they make camp tonight. Then we can see how much time we have, and their plans." Zydale said encouragingly. "Try not to worry about it, all will be fine. I will always be there beside you."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"And I will always be there for you." Aydriel responded.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Already plagued with fatigue they both fell asleep in a matter of minutes. Dreams of war swirled in the minds of both of the fighters, but never startled their sleep. Rest was needed for the upcoming day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Morning came and the Zydale was awoken first as the sun leaked on to his face. He sat up and looked around, smoke was still rising up from the town, but many of the fires had died down or stopped completely. Zydale stretched and picked up his armor and sword, then went to wake up Aydriel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Good morning, I would let you sleep, but we need to start searching for the clan and heading towards town, it is a half days journey there."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Well, I can be ready shortly." Aydriel said as she stood up, still looking dreary. She grabbed her armor and weapons as well. They then gathered the rest of their gear and set off down the twisted trail that led down the cliff side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"We must make haste if we which to catch them." Zydale said as they finally reached the bottom of the path at the edge of the dark forest. "The Linvak Portal can take us directly to town; they must be headed through the Forgotten City, then around the dragonÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢s den to the portal." Zydale said upon examining a set of footprints heading towards the Forgotten City.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Yes, that must be right, look here; it is a flag of the clan." Aydriel said picking up a flag which depicted a large sword covered in blood, and a fortress in the background. "I remember when the clan used to be peaceful, the stone corrupted them. It is truly a shame."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So the two followed the footprints into town, finding a flag stabbed into the ground about ever hundred meters. The town was now abandoned, but signs of fires could be found near the entrance. "They must have camped here; I'd say they only left recently. We must hurry and catch up to them."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both of them began sprinting down the path of the town. Monsters lurked in some of the darker and confined areas of town, but they left the fighters alone. In other areas monsters lay slaughtered along the sides of the road, arrows piercing their bodies in many places. The clan showed no mercy for man or beast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soon they began hearing screams, just about the same time they could see the top of the dragonÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢s den. "They must be up ahead, quickly, we've almost caught them." Aydriel yelled as she got a second wind and dashed ahead of Zydale. "No, it's too dangerous, we have to hide!" Zydale yelled as he tried to catch her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She apparently didn't hear him and continued off into the distance. Zydale's armor was too heavy and he grew heavy with fatigue but continued running. Large dragon wings could be seen now, and a pillar of fire rose up in the distance, shooting light, smoke, and bodies in many directions "They have awoken the red dragon! The fools will be killed!" Zydale said to himself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aydriel could now be seen, staring in shock at carnage. Too overcome with fear and dread to move out of sight. When one looks a dragon in the eye they are usually overcome with fear and unable to move from place. Only the most powerful of priests are able to withstand its' gaze, or some of the greatest sharpshooters with there quick and powerful eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Blade Rush Clan was trying its best to kill the dragon, but many lower skilled fighters stood staring at the dragon just to be thrown to the side by a powerful swipe of the claw or whip of his large tail. Zydale grabbed Aydriel's hand and pulled her from the dragon's gaze. "We must get out of sight, come to your senses!" He yelled to her. She shook her head and snapped of her trance, then began running towards the forest, pulling Zydale along.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Do you think they can defeat the creature?" Aydriel asked still looking dazed. "Maybe, they are very powerful." Zydale replied, "but we best not interfere if we cherish our lives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A blast of melting fire shot a battle mage into a tree on the other side of Aydriel and Zydale. Then as the beast rose its' claw an arrow pierced its' left eye. The dragon quickly fell to the ground in pain and Arenon approached it on one side, Daliroth, leader of the clan, on the other, and in front was Korla. The three closed in upon it and drew their swords. Daliroth and Arenon both pierced the beastÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢s eyes, while Korla stabbed down through its mouth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dragon gave one final cry of pain and lay dead on the ground. "Who shot that arrow? I demand to know!" Korla yelled as he pulled the titanium tipped arrow out of the dragon's eye. "Courtesy of Rease, the red dragon slayer!" yelled a mysterious voice from the trees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Need some help?" asked a man as he dropped out of a tree next to Zydale. "Archers at your service." Said another man who dropped out of a tree next to Aydriel. "I am Rease, the red dragon slayer, and this is my companion Nattawat." Said Rease to Zydale and Aydriel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"We have been tracking their progress for the past day; we were waiting for them in the Forgotten City. When they awoke the dragon, they panicked and couldn't fight as a unit. Though they are evil, I couldn't just watch my friends be slaughtered, Rease is a professional dragon slayer and I told him to take it down." Nattawat replied.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Wow, well, I'm glad youÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢re on our side now, now I have two less archers to look out for." Zydale said laughing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"But just the four of us canÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢t take on that..... there is over two hundred of them still. We must get to Luhorith for help." Rease said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"That was our plan as well, great minds think alike I suppose." replied Aydriel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Rease is here, I can't allow him to ruin our plans." Daliroth yelled as Korla walked up behind him. "All troops search the woods and find Rease, don't kill him though, bring him back to me, I want the honor. Now everyone fall out and find......ahhhh!" Daliroth screamed as Korla's sword was stabbed through his chest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"No one gives me orders! I am more powerful then you Daliroth , so why should you be in command?" Korla laughed maniacally and pulled his sword out of Daliroth 's chest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Traitor!" Daliroth yelled drawing his sword and spinning around to attack, but Korla was ready and blocked his attack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Daliroth, surrender and I will spare your life, continue this foolishness and I will be forced to kill you." Korla screamed placing pressure on his sword to push Daliroth on to the ground.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"No!" Yelled Nattawat as he launched an arrow at Korla, "Rease, now!" Korla jumped back and dodged NattawatÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢s arrow but Rease fired an arrow of his own and ran out of the cover of the woods. Korla jumped to the side and lost his balance, falling to the ground. Rease grabbed Daliroth , tossed him over his shoulder and took off running.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Let's go, we have to get to the portal, they won't follow us while they are still recovering from their battle." Nattawat yelled jumping out of the woods. Aydriel and Zydale leapt out and sprinted off as well. Korla had regained balance and taken off after Rease.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now the other members were closing in on Aydriel and Zydale who had fallen behind the speed of Nattawat, even though he was firing off arrows in every direction. Aydriel tripped and fell to the ground. Zydale, who was ahead of her, quickly ran back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I won't leave you!" He yelled helping her to her feet. "We will have to fight and try to make it to the portal." Aydriel and Zydale stood back to back as the group of members circled around them. "The mages are preparing to fire!" Zydale yelled holding up his shield.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Follow me and attack head on, make a hole." Aydriel whispered to Zydale. "Okay." He whispered back. Aydriel charged towards a group of warriors. She slashed one to the ground, and Zydale crushed his sword into another's armor. Aydriel turned and kicked a ninja to the ground, as Zydale stabbed a knight. A mage shot a small meteor strike at Aydriel and Zydale who were right next to one another.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The impact of the meteor sent them both flying up over the group of fighters, an arrow hit Zydale's arm while in the air. They both crashed to the ground but recovered quickly. "Now is our chance!" Zydale yelled as he broke the arrow in his arm in half.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"YouÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢re hurt!" Aydriel yelled grabbing his arm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I'm fine! We have to go!" Zydale yelled as he grabbed her hand and took off running.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They soon reached Nattawat who had stopped to help them, firing arrows rapidly at the clan members. "I'm almost out of arrows." Nattawat said to them as he grabbed another arrow and shot at a large warrior. "Uh oh...." He said as he reached for another arrow but grabbed only air.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"There it is!" Zydale yelled pointing up ahead. Rease was waiting for them, Daliroth still over his shoulder. "Hurry!" He yelled waving his hand at them. "You know the drill, say where you need to go then run through." Rease said to all of them as they ran up the staircase leading to the marvelous contraption. "Luhorith town square!" Aydriel and Zydale yelled, then ran through the portal, finding themselves in a large group of people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nattawat, Daliroth, and Rease soon followed. "I see youÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢re injured." Rease stated looking over to Zydale, ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¦Ã¢â¬ÅOff to the hospital, we must move quickly though, I say we have less then a day to find recruits." Rease said very seriously.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the hospital Zydale had the arrow removed from his arm and the wound treated and bandaged. Daliroth had his wounds cleaned and treated as well. "I think we can trust him now." Nattawat said. "He was betrayed, and I wasn't about to watch him die. Now I'm off to buy some more arrows, and try to find some recruits."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I too will be off to find recruits." Rease said and walked out the door. "Zydale, you rest for a bit longer, I will go talk to the Holy Arsenal clan, see if they will help." Aydriel said, then gave Zydale a kiss and left as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nattawat walked into the store and purchased about forty mithral arrows. ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¦Ã¢â¬ÅI canÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢t believe all of this, they were such a great clanÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬ÃâæÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬ÃâÃ

[pjb21]

u said it was short you lier! :cry:

[demonwill89]

Bravo!!!

[Gloric]

Oohh, did a search for my name and was expecting to find something not so... well... i'm honoured ^_^

 

 

 

Thanks for adding me to the story :D

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And also, it is short man, a short story could be 10x that, so dont complain =P