This is epic tale of stories
Marshall of the empire(ttc)twc(Yes thats me,I added myself as villain)He has been rejected and exiled from the GSCE Shogunate,he is despised and hated in the Shogunate.So he has an army he has been preparing for years and intends to destroy the shogunate and rule it.He also wants to take revenge on his girlfriend who cheated on him.He has loyal samurai ready to die for him and this makes his army formidable.
But there are the goodies aslo
White swan is the empress of the shogunate,and rules happily(Marshall was her brother)Yet she frowns everytme she's see out from the palace,She's sees his brother banners boarding his kingdom.She desperately needs someone to defeat him.
Captain cood and Daniel are 2 young advent-ours boys who want to gain fame,they're both brothers but they're poor.
Anna ,a beautiful woman(Whom Marshall loves a lot,yet he does not say the words he wants to,she is the queen's cousin)
English host(Sandra,she is the goddess of the realm,and all her people including Marshall are her children,she loves them very much and is a open goddess)
Thats the plot
This is a interactive story between me and my fellow authors
-------------Chapter 1----------------
-------------Chapter 1----------------
Marshall of the Empire stood watching the sunrise. The dust blew beneath his feet, as he walked slowly through the grass. The grass was heavy, as he walked, they restricted his movements.
Damn them! Damn them all! He thought. The wind was blowing his Military suit, his bicorn hat stood still, his long red cape blew with ferocity, his black humor saying nothing.
He clutched his sword, as he walked further and further on to the top of the hill. His loyal friend, Takeda Yomkomoto, dressed in the samurai version, walked along with him.
The wind blew and blew, finally they reached the top, the wind stopped blowing, and everything went back to normal. Marshall saw the last few minutes of the sun rising up, a rare thing anyone saw. But then again, who could?
''Now Takeda, do you see the land right in front of us? ''
Marshall pointed to the large city, separating them was a large field of grass. The city shone brightly, its white walls gleamed in the abundance of the sun.
''Yes, My lord '' replied Takeda.
''That, that is the land of where I should be ruling, not my weak sister. I was hated over there you know that? I Now I can move and finally crush my sister, How I long to take revenge on her. She used to bully me, but no more! No more shall I take this injustice, I shall rule! I have regiments of infantry, hordes of samurai and mountains of knights, what could stand against me? ''
------Countined---------
Marshall sat on his chair,this time dressed in his favourite armour,the shogun's samurai armour,it was white,but it gleamed in the sunlight.Marshall rubbed his faint beard.
On the table was a map,a large map of the world.It looked large and it was surrounded by sea.There were other lands aslo,but this one,the land of the GCSE shogunate was the largest of them.They looked ragged.But beside him stood Takeda,Napoleon and Hannibal.
To the west of the shogunate stood where the empress ruled,this was a large country,but it bordered with other kingdoms.The Land of the faries.Faries were very rare in these parts,Marshall thought.And the deamons,Their land called demonia,other than that stood the kingdom's of Venetia ,ruled by the doge Cloud-9 and the redbird kingdoms.But both kingdoms were crumbling,their power once gone.
Then stood Marshall's enemies,from the east,Ollie D.He ruled a powerful empire and had it called it the Northen empire.Hannah was the queen of the clan ,Monaia.Marshall disliked both of them.
Napoleon was a brilliant general,so was Hannibal,they came from the lands Francia and Carthagia.Both were powerful empires,and Napoleon was emperor,he had agreed to join to destory the shogunate.
But even they had enemies as well,The Scipo Empire stood agaisnt Carthagia,and the english empire stood agasint Francia.
Beside the map,gaurds stood outside the bright red tent.Samurai trained and Napoleon's infantry practised theit shooting.
''My ancestors were generals '' Marshall began.
''But they were driven out,by who?The weak side of our family!I disagree with this!But even they shall be driven out,for I march to travel to the capitial and destory it!The Greeks are nothing compared to this!I have enemies,but even they cannot stand agaisnt me.For we shall defeat them in battle ! '' Marshall stabbed his sword on the map.
''No,what does the Shogunate need?It does not need unwashed barbarains on her gates!It does not need weak people and it certianly does not need corruption!For I have plans,they may all stand against me!But once I have the shogunate,we turn on them,and then,I,I will become the ruler of the world,For one day I will be Emperor! ''
The Demon
Anoraks tasted bad, the great Demon Kym thought as she sent the remainder of the tourist's corpse she'd been eating, flying across her cave. It fell in a disgruntled heap next to a pile of bones, hiking boots and other exploration attire; a blooded head with a funny bobble hat on it and shoulders still decked in pink fleece. The tourist's glassy eyes stared back accusingly at her, struck with the same expression of wonder and panic that had been on her face when the great Demon Kym had dealt the deathly blow.
Pain rolled in her belly and the demon Kym belched sending the hot orange flames skywards. Anoraks she thought again not only tasted bad, but gave you bad indigestion when devoured too quickly.
She got onto her demon feet, which were rather large and elephant like and made a dent in the rock when she moved. She stared up at the sky again, watching the black smoke from her flames roll up and cling to the high walls of the deep dark pit.
It was fortunate, the demon thought that so many tourists fell into the pit on a daily basis, but unfortunate too because she really couldn't stand the taste of them. She longed for a hill goat, or a sheep, but they weren't nearly as stupid as the tourists.
The girl who crept through the forest was… odd. She had short, dark, slightly spiky hair with a peculiar mottled tone, and was clad in dark clothes that wrapped, moss like, about her stick-like limbs. Her head was disproportionately large, and from the front of it shone a pair of startling yellow cat eyes. Her gate slipped seamlessly between a reasonably human two-legged crouching run and a distinctly animal stalking motion, with hands and feet digging into the earthy forest floor. And then she stopped. An oblivious blackbird was stood before her, pecking resolutely at a struggling worm. She grinned widely, revealing a double row of tiny, diamond sharp teeth. A black tongue darted swiftly over her lips, and a slight rumbling purr escaped her. The blackbird glanced once, twice, then flapped upwards, wing muscles straining to take it out of reach. The grin widened, talons dug into the leaf mulch beneath her, and she threw open a pair of hawk wings, darting up after the bird and knocking it out of the air in a haze of blood and feathers By the time she hit the ground, that was all that was left of the unfortunate avian; blood and feathers.
The girl yawned. Her headlight eyes fixed upon another bird in the tree above her – this one was smaller, and a delicate shade of blue. She laughed, a beautiful, chime like sound, then stretched, and as she did so, she…changed. Her hair turned black, waterfalling down her back, which was straightening out, forcing her into an upright, human posture of exquisite gracefulness. The hawk wings thinned, becoming iridescent blue dragonfly wings, filmy and insubstantial. Claws turned to tapering fingers, muddied skin cleared and turned china white, with a subtle tint of blue. Her moss-like clothes bloomed into a softly draped blue dress, and the headlight eyes became a deep blue – a gentler colour, perhaps, but no less arresting. She skipped off down the hill.
She stopped abruptly, at the edge of a lake. Though the trees parted around it, no sunlight from above touched the crystal waters. She breathed deep, for fairyland was close here, and though she found fault with the inhabitants of that other place, it was still home, and she loved it well.
“Sister!” she called, “Sister, it is I, Princess Laburnum of Fairyland. Will you let me wander the mortal world unarmed and unaided?”
There was a glassy silence. And then came a voice, and it seemed that the very lake itself spoke. “Sister, I argue not with you. But I will not aid those that do our mother’s will.”
“I do her will no more.”
“Then, little one, I shall grant you a boon. But if our mother’s will is not yours, then you are Princess no longer, and you are of Fairyland no more, for the Magick states the titles return to her when you turn against her. You are simply yourself, as I am.”
“Of course, sister. I understand the Magick. I shall claim the titles no longer, forgive me.”
In answer an arm rose slowly from the lake, and held aloft a silver sword. It swung round once, twice, and on the third pass flew towards Laburnum, who caught it swiftly and placed it in a sheath that rested along her back.
The arm returned to the depths, and Laburnum addressed the ripples it had left behind.n“My thanks. May our ways meet often. Blessing be with you.”
“May your Magicks be greater when next they do. Blessing be with you.”
Laburnum bowed, then began her way up the hill, away from the lake. It was a great gift her sister had granted her, but a solemn one, too. It was old Magick, deep, powerful Magick in this sword, but there was a darkness there too. Old objects will always gather that, especially old swords, who’s historys become long and bloodied with the passing of time. Yet a new forged sword has not the knowledge, not the power of an ancient one … she sighed. Circles and roundabouts. The Lady had her motives, no doubt, but she had always been kind to the banished or the escaped or the lost in ages past. Perhaps she worried too much. She should go and look for humans, that might cheer her up. She grinned, and her teeth gleamed white – yes, she would go looking for a human.
Cood watched as Daniel walked through the many people cluttering Lively Square. He was watching for a specific moment, and knew he would miss it if he so much as blinked. Unfortunately for the people Daniel was walking by, they didn't know what Cood did.
There. That was the moment. The slight wrist movement. Nobody who wasn't looking for it would've noticed it, and this included the person who's wallet Daniel had just pickpocketed.
Daniel walked over.
"Looked like a rich one, and I was right. Forty Mems*! This'll feed us for the week."
"I can do better than that. What you did was childsplay."
"Oh no, not again. Cood, I've told you, this isn't a competition. I have to do this for us to survive. I'm sorry you even got caught up in it."
"Look, I can do it too! Perhaps if we both worked together, we might get a decent meal for once! I can be just as good as you!"
"No. I don't want you involved in this."
"But..."
"Look, Cood, we're better than this! Think! If Dad hadn't died, we would have money, we would have honour, who knows, we might even be on the front lines, fighting against the Marshall! I know that's what you and I want to do, Cood, and I will not have you sinking to the level of petty theiving for fun! It's bad enough I had to turn to theivery..."
Daniel, angry a moment before, suddenly looked sad, turned away, and started heading home. Cood stood in shock at his usually calm brother's sudden outburst. He shook himself, and started heading home as well.
Daniel's outburst wasn't quite enough to stop him from stealing the traditional apple from the greengrocer's stall, though.
The great demon Kym had been in the process of losing a game of noughts and crosses to the dead tourist's head, when the third human of the day fell right into her lap; complete with a crumpled map of the region, which followed seconds after.
"I'm sure there's meant to be a sign up there," the demon said, grabbing the human by the throat and getting up onto her feet. "A beware of the deep dark pit' sign. "Right next to the 'Danger: Demon one with the scary painted face on it. Didn't you see it?"
The new tourist dangled from the demon's paws like a confused chicken and spluttered. "I'm sorry, I, I didn't see it. I was reading a map. I swear. I don't think there was a sign."
With a roar Kym sent the tourist flying against the stone wall of the pit, where a series of red tally marks could be seen. The diagonal line through the latest set of five was still dripping wet.
She closed in; her shadow looming large and terrible over the cowering body of her latest victim.
"Please," the tourist said, putting his arms up like they all did. "Don't eat me. I'm mostly gristle and I have a wind problem. I'll taste horrible."
Perhaps it was because she was still suffering from the anorak she'd eaten earlier, or perhaps she was just having a mad moment, but the great demon Kym sat down and the earthy floor seemed to leap up, in a cloud of dirt.
"Okay then tell me" she said, setting both of her enormous paws on the ground beside her. "Tell me what's going on in the world."
The tourist's horrified eyes glanced sideways at the head and pink fleecy shoulders of the other human, propped up infront of the almost completed game of noughts of crosses drawn in the dirt and they gulped and then nodded.
"Well there is this Marshall..." he said, pulling at the neck of his regatta wind breaker. "He, he's kind of taking over stuff."
The great demon Kym knitted both hands together and bowed her enormous ugly head forward. "Tell me more," she said. And the tourist took another deep breath and did!
The Camp
Marshall walked around the room in anger.His arms were behind his back.Takeda entered the room and looked at Marshall strangely.
''Sire,what is the matter? ''.
Marshall looked at Takeda.
''The problem,my friend,is that people know what I am doing! ''.
Takeda grinned.
''That is actually good my lord ''.
Marshall raised his eyebrow's.
''Good?If people know about my plans,They will go to the empress's side!I don't want that!Already we need allies and this just comes in! ''.
''My lord,it is good.People will flock to join you if you share your lifestory ''.
Marshall raised his hand up
''It could work ''. He muttered.
''Aslo,My lord,how big is this army?It is over a million I must say ,I think we need to cut down on our numbers ''.
Marshall nodded a no.
''The army should not be cut down.Once we have achieved victory ,We march on the Northern Empire and crush Ollie's troops from there ,oh and your brother Takeda Shingen when is he arriving? ''.
Takeda smiled
''He is coming with allies,my lord,the shimazu and the date have sent troops to help them ''.
''Excellent.And Napoleon's Marshall's? ''
''They are coming as well,While the Grande Armee is fighting the English empire,with Napoleon's brilliant general Davout,his other marshals are arriving with forces of two hundred and fifty thousand men ''.
''And Hannibal? ''
''Hannibal has his brother's coming in,their troops are eager to fight ''.
''What of the old guard?What of the Francian infantry? ''
''My lord,these troops are battle hardened and will fight to the death for you ''.
Marshall nodded in respect.Takeda bowed deeply.
''And where is lilly? ''
Takeda gave a hearty laugh
''Lilly is in love with you my lord,I am only joking,she is just outside ''.
Takeda left the tent and in came Lilly,for she was beautiful,with high cheekbones ,a sharp nose and soft cheeks,Marshall was nearly en-captivated by her,she wore a long dress,a white,golden one.
''Ah,Lilly?How's goes thing's? ''
Lilly only smiled as she went up to Marshall,hugging her arms around him ,then she gave him a light kiss on the lips.
''Thank you Lilly '' As Marshall parted from her,how many times did he have to tell Lilly?Lilly was too him a dear sister ,but he would not fall in love with her,for his heart had been stolen by Anna.Anna had never spoken to Marshall as she lived in the shogunate,But Marshall loved her dearly.He sighed,things were so unrealistic here.But in the other side it was realistic.
''Oh it does not matter,Marshall,I'm here for you any time ''. Lilly smiled,then she sat down a chair and sighed.
''Tough day? '' asked Marshall.
''You would not even believe me ,my love! '' she threw her arms in exhaustion
''The higher council say we damaging the flowers when are not! ''.
Marshall smiled.
''Leave them too me ,Lilly ''.
''Oh thank you Marshall,you're a star! '' .
''Yes,Yes,now if we could- '' Lilly grabbed hold of Marshall and kissed him.Marshall tried to resist,but he could not.Lilly made him jump on the bed.
She sat on Marshall.
''See?I love you very much Marshall,now please hunger me ''. She said in desperation.She kissed Marshall,and they made love.
After a while,Lilly slept.Marshall was awake,he had enjoyed the lovemaking,but it was something he did not like.No matter how many times he tried to tell Lilly,she would not listen,just how could he explain to her?Marshall did not want to break Lilly's heart.He went out of bed and dressed in his samurai armour.
Two Yari Ashaguri came in,they bought a poor shrivelled man,the man was whimpering.The first Yari hit kicked him,the poor man cried out.Marshall watched,than grabbed the Yari's guard throat and slammed him to the ground.
''Never ,Never do that again,you get that? '' Marshall said
The Yari gulped and nodded,rising up,but his throat hurt like hell.
''Now .who is this man? '' he asked the second Yari.
He replied ''Sire,We've caught him in the woods,you know the pit?Where the great demon Kim lies? ''
The name ''Great demon kim '' gripped Marshall,He stood still,frozen
''Sire? '' asked the second yari
Marshall jumped
''Sorry,sorry,now who this is man? ''
''Well the great demon lety him free.He told her about what you plan my liege ''.
Marshall rubbed his forehead
''Just how many times do we have to explain to the tourists!Not to enter in the land of demons,no,not demons,no,not those mountains,how many must I explain to these fools??? ''.
He groaned ans sighed.
''Why did you bring him here?Remove,set him free,but he should tell others not to go the mountains,its dangerous over there ''.
The man gulped```````
''Thank you '' he said
''Good ,now get out ''
The man got himself up and ran away from the camp.
''Now,Napoleon,Get your cannon out ''.
Napoleon nodded and the cannon bought was,but the cannon seemed different.Many of the Francian troops wore white and blue,the Francian artelliary men wore golden dressed clothes.The Heavy cavarly of Napoleon was quite different ,there were Polishian Guard Lancers,armed with the lance.
Many of the Francian Infantry were ranged in columns carrying muskets,some special units like the old guard and the young guard were the most feared and respected units in the Francian army.The Guard Chasseurs à Cheval rode their horses,their guns were strapped on them.They were Napoleon's bodyguards.
'Well,Marshall I am impressed,You are a general indeed.Once we defeat your sister,than we shall go and defeat the Cursed English! ''.
''I aslo,Sire,I love the troops you have bought in ''.
Napoleon patted him
''You have not seen the rest of it,Marshall ''.
Then came Napoleon's brother Marshall Soult.Soult dismounted and hugged Napoleon,as brothers they were.
From where Soult's troops had arrived,There were infantrymen in red uniforms,The Swiss army had been used as mecarines by the Francian for centuries,The Swiss infantry wore red unformss,their light infantry wearing the same thing,infact the swiss arm,y was a colour of red.
The Francain Middle Guard and the Französisch-Irische Legion walked in and saluted Napoleon,Napoleon saluted them back.
The Französisches Régiment étrangers were regiemtns created by Marshall himself.Many of the Francian infantrymen were friing and practising.
''Now that is a lot of units,Napoleon.Let us hope they will fight their best ''
''Oh they will,Marshall,They will fight to the death,we have muskets,what does your sister have?Men with swords and shields,the samurai over there shall be useful for that,I think ''.
Marshall laughed
''Now ,Who shall oppose me?The Northern empire?Pah,they're nothing compared to my massive army ''
Laburnum, clad now in yellow, with blonde ringlets and pale pink skin, had wandered through the forest for many hours, and was growing tired. The cat eyes were back, and they glowered at any tree impertinent enough to stand in her way. She hadn’t realised quite how big the human world was – in her book of Humantales that she had owned when she was younger, there was always been, just around the corner, a pair of children lost in a ‘shopping mall’, or a hero in his ‘Ford’ come to rescue a lady from her evil ‘boss’, or the Big Bad Banker, come to ‘liquidate’ people, or put them in the ‘stocks and shares’. She yawned. Obviously she was in the wrong part of the human world. Perhaps, though, if she flew up above the trees, she might be able to see a city or town of some sort.
She spread her wings, which had a delicate white wine tint where the sunlight caught them, and fluttered upwards, developing an odd sycamore seed spiral to avoid snatching branches and twigs. She reached the top of the canopy, and perched on the branch of a tall pine that stood almost twice as tall as many of the other trees, a lonely spire above the sea of green. She sniffed the air, tasting the raw rasp of smoke in her mouth. She peered over in the direction of the scent, and realised that the edge of the forest was close – and beyond it, an army was camped. A rather odd army – an alliance of some sort, she presumed, given the wild variety of banners and flags. And it seemed to stretch on and on, it was quite enormous – for a human army, at least; she had seen her mother command perhaps ten times as many when they marched on a rebellion in the south. That had been an excellent war. She wondered what a human war was like; she had never seen one. Perhaps she would take one side or another, and gain a small kingdom to call her own – that way she could be a Princess again. Or indeed, a Queen, if the fancy took her.
She yawned, and though the sun was not yet low in the sky, decided she might as well sleep. She flitted back downwards through the trees, spiralling into the twilight beneath the arching boughs. She could sleep here tonight, though it was a little close to the army – she did not especially want to be found by a scouting party, at least, not until she knew what the war was being fought over, and what was in it for her. Ah, well, she couldn’t really be bothered to move out of range, it was too much effort. She could stay here and move on in the morning. She waved a hand, and a few trees shuffled aside to make a glade. She lay down, and shut her eyes, waiting for sleep to arrive.
Cood poured over his plans, as he did every day, looking for ways to improve them.
Well, not quite to improve them. To make them work.
They were brilliant, and he knew it; Daniel had known it too, at first, but seemed to have decided they would never work, and constantly criticised Cood now.
Cood knew. The plans would work, if only there was something... Something to power them...
He went back to his plans. The auto-rider, that would work with something to make it go. The 74KA, that just needed some sort of mechanism. The one thing Cood was afraid of was that he had been born too early, before his inventions could be used.
He looked down the sheet. There it was, the ultimate invention. All in code, of course; if someone else got their hands on this, the effects could be horrible. They would have unlimited power, and the world would have no choice but to bow to their wishes. Humanity itself may be doomed.
If they can ever get it working.
"ARRRRGH!" Cood cried it frustration. He knew that there was something that could make this work, and even if he never got to make his other inventions, he needed to suceed in this. It was the one thing he wanted to do in life, to get this working!
No, that was a lie. What he really wanted to do was to prove himself to his older brother. That was at the centre of everything Cood did, wasn't it?
Cood went back to thinking. He had found the way to make the cannon work. Other people had before him, of course, but he had done it independantly. After he had the vital component, the gunpowder, it had worked like magick...
Something clicked in Cood's head.
It is said that the sight of the most insignificant object, or the mention of the smallest word, at the right time, can cause a bit of inspiration that can change mankind forever. Now Cood had his.
Magick. It would work! The faries used it, and the Demons, so if he just found one of them... The faries, of course, not the Demons...
He ran off to tell Daniel, hoping that he would finally earn his brother's respect.
Marshall saw the last attachments of the additional troops.Napoleon's Marshall's had arrived just in time.Takeda Shingen had come with another massive army.Now all it needed was something,Most of his army was fully made up of veterans.But he shook his head as he realized that it was night time, torches were lit in the massive camp.He knew Kim,they had been friends in childhood,then one day she dis-speared for no reason.
Anyway,he thought,the army was getting restless.He needed to make a speech,or he could .He stopped to think for a moment,when he saw Francian guards coming towards him.
They looked broken,their uniforms ripped and their muskets broken.Their faces looked as if stone had hit them.
''What happened?'' asked Marshall
''A creature ,Marshal,it was a she,it almost looked ...like ... a ..fairy '' one of them said,but he panted as he talked.
''A fairy????? '' Marshall almost screamed
They nodded.
He shook his head ,than raised his arms then he looked at them
''What?What the heck are fairies doing in this land????Or should I say Mortal world?? ''
They shrugged.
''We don;t know ....however we heard of a rumor..that a farie had went out of fariyland,to go away from her mother...She has come here to create a small kingdom .'' another one of them said
''How do you know that? asked Marshall
''It was the rumors,Marshal ''.
''Go now,I'll get the nurses to treat you ''.
They went,then Marshall had an idea.He called for Takeda.Takeda hurriedly arrived ,along with his brother Shingen.
''Generals,I have had a idea!We spy on the city!I want all trade routes blocked!Every single supply route should be blocked.There are reports of faeries going around here.I want them captured.Any mythical creatures are to be captured!No one is allowed to enter in that city,they have a port don't they?That should supply them! ''
Shingen nodded and bowed
''Of course my lord,when do we begin? ''
Marshall grinned
''Why,We begin now .'' he spoke coldly
Shingen went.Takeda remained.
''Now,Takeda,you have ninja don't you? ''
''Yes my lord ''
''Send them in disguises,I want them to appear as white samurai,as if they are the guards of the city ''.
''Oh and I hear a young cood wants to make his inventions work,see if you find him,bring him to me alive ''.
''My Lord '' Takeda bowed and went off.
''Oh wait,let me come with you! '' Marshall shouted
Takeda stopped and looked at Marshall
''But My lord,you'll get killed!
''Aye,it does not matter.now get your men assembled!
Aftter a minute passed,Marshall appeared in the form of a medieval knight.Takeda was along with him,and behind them were three hundred men.
They walked to the city,the city had massive walls.Marshal looked through his helmet.He would need bigger siege tower's,oh the cannon would do that work for him,he grimaced
Theyu arrived to the gates,when one of the guards stooped them
''Hey,who are you? The first guard asked.
Takeda spoke
''We are loyal soliders of the Northern empire ''
''Northern empire?You don't look like them '' the second guard spoke
''We must speak to your empress ''.
''Well you do seem the part,come on in.
The Gates opened,and they opened slowly.
Then they entered in,and in a instance they disappeared,the guards remained confused,where had they gone,but then they saw the mistake they just did,the gates fell down,and they failed slowly and when they hit,it made a massive rumble noise.
Meanwhile Takeda went to the sewers and blocked it.Marshall looked around to see where the young cood was,the three hundred guards had gone and looted around the city,stealing anything available they saw.
Then he saw the young cood,sulking.
''You there! ''
Cood looked at him
''What do you want? '' he asked
''Come with me,I can make your invetions come alive ''
''How do you know that? ''
''Erm....erm... ''
Then Marshall stopped as he saw the empress clearly,his sister's eye glared at him.He laughed,how could his siter see him?
The Empress stood watch
''Brother has arrived '' she said
She looked at the archers
''Fire ''
They fired.
Marshall shouted clearly
''Get out you fools!We're a bit too late!haha! ''
Marshall and Takeda escaped,most of the three hundred men escaped,some stayed in the city.
Tehy rode back to the camp
Marshall dismounted
''Whew,I've never had this much fun in years! ''
Shingen walked to Marshall
''My lord,the routes have been blocked ''
''Excellent,all that remains is are my orders .''
Blocked
Marshall watched as the villages were raided,The Samurai were waiting to attack,like tiger's hunting their prey.Well,what could stand agaisnt him?He had the city blocked,And the city only had the option of the ports.
Now,he looked at the massive siege engines being built,so many of his troops were training ,waiting for that day,but something troubled him,What was cood?How did he know cood?He blinked for a while,lost in confusion.Then he shook his head.
No,let them say what they want,he thought.I'll defeat them all.
Laburnum was not, by faerie standards, especially quick to anger, but it is a fact well known in most civilised, and indeed uncivilised, places that the anger of a faerie is quick as wildfire to ignite and slow indeed to burn down. And Laburnum was a hair's breadth away from crossing the boundary between annoyed and angry.
She held her sword unsheathed as she moved through the forest, listening for the sounds of yet another scouting party. She was a reasonable person, and the first ones she had only injured – after all, she was sleeping very close to their army. But that should have been warning enough, she thought, to leave her be, and so the second and third groups – who had made attempts to catch her, armed with silver chains and nets - had been slain. She wondered if the army’s leader was especially brave, or especially foolish, to risk the anger of a faerie in such a way. Well, she was about to find out, because she was making her way over to the army right now – they had moved, it seemed, to besiege a city, and she was following, avoiding the scouting parties when she had to by flying up above the trees. She would simply talk to whoever was in charge, and they would leave her in peace – or face the consequences.
She reached the edge of the forest, and marched over towards where the army was camped, in a field outside the city. A group of soldiers, who had been playing some sort of card game, stood, drawing their swords, and she called out to them,
“Stay where you are, please.”
They ignored her, and she sighed. Why were humans so stupid? She couldn’t understand why they didn’t just do as they were told, when disobeying tended to lead to a painful death. Why on earth would these men even begin to imagine that just a dozen humans could capture a faerie such as herself?
The man at the front seemed to be giving orders. “She’s wanted alive, so if you disarm her, Cedric, me and Alf can get hold of her and take her down to the Marshall.”
She snorted. They expected three men to be able to disarm her and carry her off? Idiots.
“I said, stay where you are,” she called.
The man at the front smiled. “Now then, my lady, we have no wish to harm you, so if you’d just put that sword down and come quietly…” they continued to advance.
She sighed, Oh well, she’d given them fair warning. She hissed a word under her breath, and snapped her fingers out towards the men, who stopped, suddenly, still as stone but for their eyeballs. She raised Excalibur, and swung clean through the neck of the unfortunate Cedric, the paused.
She looked at the head on the floor thoughtfully. “Oh, I don’t suppose it’s chivalrous of me, though, if you don’t have magick to combat mine…” she made a gesture towards the men, who stumbled, suddenly able to move again. She hacked down a few more, barely noticing their attempts at defensive blocks, but simply delighting in the hum of the sword through the air. She paused, and the remaining men clustered together, darting wary glances at her.
She smiled. “Can one of you please go and fetch whoever commands this army?”
The man who seemed to be in charge spoke warily. “My lady, we would happily escort you…”
“But I did not ask to be escorted anywhere; I am content where I am. Your leader can come to me, thank you very much.”
She noticed that more soldiers were arriving, drawn, perhaps, by the sound of battle.
“We were given orders, my lady, to capture…”
“My good man, I am here, quite of my own accord. There is no need to capture me.”
“But…”
She smiled, rosebud lips parting to reveal wickedly sharp teeth, and she returned her eyes to the cruel yellow cat glare she had had before.
“Listen to me, foolish human - fetch your leader, before I grow angry. I hear my swordhand murmur, and if I am insulted once more, you shall hear it sing over the armour of every soldier in this accursed army until the rivers run red with blood. NOW GO!”
The man went pale, turning tail like a rabbit, and running - running, she hoped, to fetch this “Marshall” who seemed to be in charge.
The Man hurried to the Marshall.He looked cowardly.Marshall stared at him.
''What is the matter solider? ''
''A faire....Labernum....'' he panted
''Really?Bring her to me '' he turned around to leave when the solider raised his arm
''Please sire,she cut my friend's head off with a majick sword.Too many troops are advancing at her,they'll get cut down,and she say's she wants to talk to you''.
Marshall laughed.Did faries really think they ruled everything??
''Well,if this lady wants me,then let's go to her shall we? ''
Marshall went alone to meet the faire,where she was raising her sword to kill anyone.
Takeda hurried behind him.Napoleon bowed his head and a hundred more Francian troops advanced to the Marshall
The Marshall stopped.
''Enough fighting the faire!Drop your weapons! ''.He bellowed.
The soldiers obeyed and moved back.
The Marshall stared at the beautiful faire.So this must be the Marshall.The Beautiful faire thought.
''Who are you?And what do you want? '' Marshall spoke coldy
''I am Princess Labernum of Fairyland ''.
The word Fairyland made Marshall laugh
''You?If you were a proper princess you would not fight''.
''But I am no mortal '' she replied back
''In that case,I am the Marshall,the one commanding this massive army! ''.
Labernum smiled mischievously
''If you think you have come here to create a kingdom ,you're wrong ''.
That made Labernum's temper raise higher
''I know aslo that you intend us humans to be foolish ,when we are not ''
Then Marshall raised his hand's and out came lighting,Labernum froze
''Next time,don't underestimate us ''.
He put his hands down and Labernum froze
He turned to the guards.
''Put this princess in arrest ''.
Marshall muttered a spell and Labernum fell down,the speel had been cast off her.
''And a warning to you lads!Don't mess with creatures like this,I've already trained you how to fight them!Use your skills,do not be scared when you come across a creature ! '' Marshall said
The Soilders cheered.
Marshall turned to the man
''What else did this ''Princess'' say to you?''
''She...erm...said...foolish human...she would make the river run dry with blood.... '' the man scarcely replied, nervousness and fear sat when he spoke each word.
Marshall turned to look at Laberum,she already had gotten up,but her back hurted like hell.
''Her? '' his thumb pointed at Labernum
The Man nodded
''You should not be scared,get dressed and summon your courage man,we have a huge amount of work to do here ''
The Man nodded and hurried away from Marshall.
Marshall entered into the massive tent,Labernum was pushed in by the guards.
Marshall sat down on the chair.
Labernum was in chains,her anger was in full temper,her hair looked long and lavy ,but broken,her armour shone brigtly.
''Do you think you would come and here start a kingdom?That's ridiculous,cause over ,in the mortal world,I rule,and my word is law.Not your's ''.
Marshall referred to the guards
''Leave us ''
The Guards bowed and left the tent.
'Now what is you want to speak off ? ''
Labernum looked at Marshall threateningly,but then she gave a smile
''I wanted to know,why are you so foolish,that you would send men after me? ''
''Aye,I've given orders to capture all mythical creatures ''.
Labernum looked at Marshall as if he had said something idiotic and mad.
''You must be mad '' said Labernum
Marshall smiled
''That I am ''.
''Now to expalin to you,I am in a war,and you disturb my plans by coming in ''
Labernum smiled
''I wanted to know who you are fighting against ''
''Oh,I'm fighting against the GCSE shogunate which is the city ''
''Care to elobrate? '' asked Labernum,looking for a explaination
''I'll tell you all that later.Now what my question is,what are you doing here? ''
-It was a warm summer morning, and a perfect day for an ambush.
The horsemen on top of the ridge knew this. The day was bright, but with enough cloud to slightly obscure the sun. It was also warm, but with enough cooling wind not to make long hours in armour intolerable. It looked like it would rain later, and that was fine too; the rain would mask their trails when the day’s work was done.
Their leader, Lieutenant Bithainium, knew this also. He had studied hundreds of historical ambushes, and had scored 97% on his ‘Using terrain to tactical advantage’ exam back at the academy, so he should, in the Lieutenant’s opinion, know this more than anyone.
No-one in the group knew whether the last member of their party was aware that it was a good day for an ambush, but then again, no-one knew anything about the foreign stranger who had been assigned to their group only a week ago. When they had enquired to High Command about this decision, they had been told ‘Reasons of international diplomacy’ and, of course, ‘Politics’. You couldn’t argue with politics.
No-one really cared whether the small enemy force at the bottom of the valley had knowledge of the potential for an ambush; it probably wouldn’t affect the outcome either way.
Lt Bithainium surveyed his surroundings. The Neptonites were in an indefensible location; a fast-flowing river lay behind the marching column, preventing a retreat in that direction, and there was no crossable ford in sight. To the right the valley continued, following the river, and the open terrain would make fleeing men easy to spot. To the left, where the column was headed, lay a dense forest. Cavalry pursuit through the trees would be impossible. His men would have to move fast to cut the enemy off, lest they find salvation there.
Bithainium knew what he had to do. His men would have to charge down along the tree line, preventing the enemy from reaching the forest. He would then have to turn and charge straight into the Neptonites, driving them into the river. It would be simple; he had done this a dozen times before. Well... Half a dozen times. To be honest, once or twice. Thinking about it, only once. Well, nearly once. But then, he had scored 95% in the final exam at the Natonite Battle Academy, and if that didn’t make him a veteran, he didn’t know what would.
His Sergeant, Buckroe, who actually had done this a dozen times before, broke the silence.
“Should be simple, sir,” he stated, “The enemy are peasant soldiers, mostly archers and skirmishers. No pikemen and probably not trained against cavalry. Should route easily.”
Yes, thought Bithainium, and when they do, this battle will go down in history. Second thoughts, it probably wouldn’t. This clash between thirty lightly-armoured cavalry and about sixty almost unarmoured peasants probably wouldn’t even be included in the minor skirmishes section of the history of the Nepton-Natonite wars. But a couple more successful skirmishes like this might bring him the recognition required for his promotion to captain, and then, who knows, that might be the first step to becoming the greatest general ever known!
His veteran (not Academy trained, though) soldiers were already discussing the prospects of victory.
“Peasant soldiers, so there won’t be much loot on ‘em.”
“True. Can you see an officer?”
“Not from this distance. Hope there is one, though.”
“If there is, he’s mine!”
“Don’t be a fool, it’ll be first come first served when we’re down there.”
“Just don’t get so caught up in getting to him you forget to kill off the rest of them.”
“What, those peasants? They’ll probably flee as soon as they see us, and if not, they will when we grab the officer.”
“If there even is an officer. What kind of officer would command such a pitiful force?”
“He’d have to just be a lieutenant or something... Erm... No offense, sir...”
“We probably won’t be won’t be able to grab much loot anyway. We’ll have to leave quickly before their main army catches up with us.”
“Just don’t take any risks, okay?”
“Silence in the ranks!” ordered Sergeant Buckroe. “Orders, sir?”
Bithainium turned his horse around to face his men and looked towards the one at the back.
“Any thoughts on the situation, Captain?”
The foreign man shook his head.
Although the man’s rank was captain, Bithainium had made it very clear that he was in charge of this expedition, and so far the man had raised no objection. In fact, he had not talked for the entire journey; Bithainium did not even know what his voice sounded like.
“Very well, then,” stated the Lieutenant, “Men, let’s go!”
“Forward, double time!” shouted Buckroe, and with that cry, the men began to charge
Note:If you find this confusing,Here's a simple plot ,my friend did it for me ,so you get it as well
Let's start with the GCSE Shogunate, which is where both Anna (The Empress) and Daniel and Cood are based. This is a city state which backs onto a sea. It owns a bit of land around it, where several farming villages are located (currently cut off by Marshall's siege). It has a port, which is not blockaded. The GCSE Shogunate has three stone walls, progressively getting bigger as they reach the outside; each of these has been built as the city has grown. The city has around half a million people living in it.
Facing from the sea, Marshall's kingdom lies ahead. Much of this is uncharted to those who live in the Shogunate, as any Shogunate citizens found in Marshall's kingdom are usually killed or captured. There is a central city, where Marshall lives, and alsoa large amount of land around this, holding many cities. However, none of these cities are anywhere near as big as the Shogunate, meaning that, although Marshal holds more land, he controls less people altogether, with his largest city (the central one) containing a tenth of a million people.
Facing from the sea, to the right of the Shogunate and Marshall's Kingdom, lie the Black Mountains, where Kim's story is currently based. Kim lives closer to the Shogunate than Marshall's Kingdom, as Marshall generally does not allow tourism. These mountains are high, but there are a few trade routes through them, going to lands beyond the Black Mountains which will feature in Bithainium's story and that I will come too soon. The mountains run along the entire border of the Shogunate and Marshall's Kingdom. Quite a few Demons live there, but this does not deter tourists, in fact it encourages them.
Beyond the Black mountains are Natonland and Neptonland, two nations which used to be at peace, but the Neptonites invaded northern Natonland, and a war has been raging ever since. This is where Bithainium's story will be located. There are countries past this point, but they will probably not feature in the story.
To the left of the Shogunate lies Farieland, which, although sounding nice, is a very bad place for a human to go. This is unchartered (for humanity, at least) because of the fact no humans dare go there. This was Laburnum's (Lyra's character) place of origin.
Further on from Marshall's Kingdom lies his allie's nations and their enemie's nations. These will not feature in the story (probably) except for providing some of Marshall's men, and his three best generals - Hannibal, Napoleon and Takeda.
That's about it, unless I've missed anything out (which is very probable). Feel free to add to it!
Back to the story
Cood ran, grinning ecstatically, down the road. His brother was acting towards Cood in the way he had done when Cood had first made the plans for the inventions. It was the brother Cood had wanted back for a year!
He stopped running when he reached Market Street.
"Why have we stopped here?" asked Daniel, "It's a bit open to do magick, isn't it?"
"I stopped here to get something from one of the stalls."
"Oh, no you don't. What is it you want?"
"A map of the Kingdom. I'll just go and..."
"No!" Daniel interupted. He walked over to the mapseller's stall. "Hello. Can I buy a map of the Kingdom?"
"Certainly, sir. Do you want one centralised around the Shogunate? I must warn you, if you buy one that extends further than that, there's a lot of uncharted land that the mapmakers decided to fill up with 'Here There Be Dragons' and so on."
Daniel turned to Cood.
"We need a big one." Daniel decided not to ask why, so as not to reveal anything in front of the map merchant.
"Not centralised around the Shogunate, please."
"Don't say I didn't warn you, sir. That'll be forty Mems, then, please." Daniel fished out the wallet he had stolen earlier.
"But..." Cood started, but Daniel cut him off.
"There you are. Thank you very much."
Daniel walked into the much less busy Crookshaw Lane.
"Why didn't you just steal it? We could have saved that money..."
"We're never stealing again, Cood. Don't you see? With this we won't need to steal! And we're going to have it working soon!"
"Umm... It's not going to be that easy..."
"Why not?"
"Well, I don't exactly know any spells. I was hoping we could, you know, find a fairie or something? That was why I wanted the map: I want to get to Farieland, or a place where we can find one."
Daniel groaned. "Cood, Farieland is too dangerous. No human has gotton out of there alive. Plus we would have to get past Marshall's forces."
"Daniel, it's our chance! This may save millions of people, and may help us rise above stealing for food, like you said! C'mon, all it takes is a little adventurousness..."
"Cood, I'm desperate for this plan to work too, but not at the expense of our own lives. Fairieland's too dangerous; we may as well go to the Black Mountains!"
"Well, I considered that too..."
"You're kidding."
"... But I thought fairies would be easier to negotiate with than Demons. But we could go there, if you wanted. Demons can do magick as well."
"I'm not negotiating with a Demon, but it's probably better than going anywhere near a fairie."
"There, let's go to the Black Mountains, then. Come on, let's go get some food for the journey."
"Buy some food for the journey, you mean. And I wasn't saying that I would come..."
But Cood was already running back to Market Street. Daniel followed. He caught up with Cood just in front of the fruit stall, and grabbed Cood's arm to stop him from stealing an apple. However, today, it seemed, there were no apples to steal.
"What's happened to your food?" asked Daniel.
"Neither of the food carts have arrived. I've been asking around the city; it's the same everywhere. The only place you'll get food is the docks."
At that moment, a man ran into the street, shouting.
"He's blockaded the city! Marshall's troops are coming!"
There was silence for a couple of seconds, then everyone except Daniel and Cood started panicing.
Cood looked at Daniel.
"Ah... This is going to make going a bit harder..."
The Trade Routes had been blocked.Many of the food carts had been blocked and they were forced to trade with Marshall's army.The Forrests were going out fast,But thanks to Marshall,They had regrown back again.
Marshall stood in the tent,where a servent was writing something on a letter.
''Send this to the city,make sure everything I say is writting down ''. said Marshall
The servent nodded and wrote
''To the citizens of the GCSE shogunate!You have no hope!I require you surrender now!Or I will come personally and kill you all,You should know that I am doing you a favour! ''
Marshall looked at the man,the man nodded,Marshall continued.
''Your Empress has not responded,neither have I seen her!She is weak,and your city is strife with corruption!And do not dare escape!You are not to go the Black mountains,the port is your only chance,but even then,I have a fleet waiting.Surrender!And become slaves! ''
Marshall nodded in satisfaction
''One thing,you have only 20 weeks left.So If I were you,I'd escape,except you can't!hahah,add that too! ''
The man nodded and wrote the letter with a final touch.
''Send this to the city '' Marshall said.The man nodded and he gave it to a light cavalrymen.It was sent off.
Marshall saw Lily behind him.
''Hello Lily,how are you doing? ''
Lily hugged him warmly
''Oh fine,just fine ''.
But there was something on Lily's face that troubled Marshall's face.
''What troubles you?'' asked Marshall
Lily looked at Marshall
''I love you,please,for once fall in love with me ''
Marshall sighed
''How many times must I tell you?I'm in love with anna! '' Marshall's face froze as he had said anna.
Lily grew angry
''Who's she? ''
As I struggled into my heels I put a listening spell on the room. This was to ensure that I would know what happens in this room. I need to know what his plans are, just to help him along a little.
"Darling, is this meeting important?" Marshall asked. Is it important? I wondered.
"Yes, they are discussing my future. My Mother is dying-"
"I am so sorry to hear that." Marshall inturrupted, He doesn't know anything. I though scathingly.
"She is a wicked old bat. I don't care nor need her." I said, before realising that I was supposed to be simpering. I walked out of the door with him muttering anxiously to that annoying twerp he talks to.
Laburnum was quite enjoying being “captured”. It was an excellent arrangement with the humans whereby she agreed to stay where they put her and pretend she couldn’t get away, and they agreed to provide all the food, drink and sleeping arrangements for free. After a while, she expected, she would grow bored and then she could “escape”. She smiled – her stay in the mortal world was turning out just like a Humantale, as she’d hoped. The one irritating thing about the situation was the Marshall, who had got rather annoyed when she’d refused to tell him anything at all about why she was here or what she was doing. It was stupid, really, when he could so easily have gained her goodwill and assistance right at the start by simply being civil and asking for it – but humans, she had learnt, were extremely poor at understanding her species. Annoyingly, the one thing they did seem to understand had to do with silver, which might make the “escaping” part somewhat more difficult…
Silver was, of course, well known for inhibiting magical abilities, and silver shackles were often used to detain human sorcerers, who, with their powers negated by the silver, were relatively easy to keep captive. For faeries, however, the effects were far stronger. The strength of Laburnums magick relied, as it did for all faeries, upon her constitution – upon the magick which formed her very bones. This gives a faerie more powerful magick by nature than any human could ever attain through learning, but it also made silver like poison to them. Silver and, of course, holy water, but silver was worse – at least with holy water you could say the Lord’s prayers backwards, and that seemed to negate the damaging effects. But silver had to be cut – it was impossible to break out of like normal shackles. As it was, the shackles she’d been bound with were not especially pure silver – they’d been mixed with something else, iron perhaps, or steel, for strength. Which, as Laburnum reflected, was idiotic, because a faerie’s muscles are built upon magick, and would thus be weaker if the silver content were higher –thereby mking escape less likely. Another example of human idiocy.
What she needed to do was to get hold of Excalibur. She could cut the shackles quite easily then… but the silver was numbing her mind, she couldn’t quite think straight. She had just about enough resistance to the silver to keep her form steady, and a few minor spells could possibly achieved, but that was painful and best avoided. She wondered, vaguely, how long it would take her to escape. Not too long, she hoped. She didn’t want to spend more than a day or two here – it was rather a dull place.
"I know fairie's. I know what you are like. I shall help you!" I exclaimed, hoping to win her over.
"At what cost, though. What can you do for me that I can't do for myself?" She asked sincerely. This one was clever. She could do alot more than I could for her.
"You can seek revenge on this Anna person that Marshall loves. I can't do much except I have a high power in the court so I can force people into taking your side." Laburnum considered it for a while and eventually we came to a conclusion.
This was not good for Marshall.When he had meationed anna,it had broken her
heart,it troubled Marshall,sh knewhow cruel lily could be whever he was with a beautfiul woman,usally they survived,but their beauty was taken away from them.
But that stupid farie would not explain anything to her,had she not recognised his powers?He wuld have to tell the farie everythimg,and the sword she had,Marshall would test it.He also knew that labernum was suffering,thanks to silver.
He gave orders to bound her in more chains.Lets see how she escapes now,Marshall thought
Laburnum shrugged. “Revenge? And who seeks vengeance upon this woman – you, or me? Ah, human, I’ll not do your work for you. But...” She frowned. The human would not bring her Excalibur – quite probably could not, it would be too well guarded. So she would have to find another way. Aha. She grinned; there was always another way. “Bring me a branch of rowan, the length of your arm and the thickness of your index finger. Then we can talk.”
“A branch of rowan? And then you’ll help me?”
Smart human, Laburnum thought. Slightly sycophantic, perhaps, but smart enough. “Perhaps. Depends what it is you want.”
A rowan branch? Where was I supposed to find one as long and as thick as my arm? I mused. I looked around the forest I was in. Ah ha! I had found the branch, now she should help me.
I clicked my fingers and muttered some words. The branch broke and came toward me very slowly. Will she help me? I wondered. She didn't seem very nice, that fairie.
I caught the branch and strode off back to my house. I wasn't going to give it to her yet. I wanted to make sure she would abide by MY rules. As I propped up the branch by the front door I sighed. What a relief to finally get home.
"Mummy!" Cried my youngest; Sam. He is only 3years old yet he shows great potential in my business.
"Hiya Sammy, how're you today?" I asked fondly. My work life is never mentioned in the house. Sam started babbling on about this girl he liked in his
Nursery. Haven't I told him enough times to make him realise that all she will do is USE him? That's what all girls do! I do it, my Mum did it, every female does it! Why would she be different?
Marshall watched as Lily explained to her 3 year old sun.No,This was not acceptable ,he thought,why break the poor's boy heart by telling him that the girl was going to use him?It was cruel and unfair.Maybe they did,but he would ban it.Love is love.Why spoil the whole thing?
Marshall walked to Lily and her son.
''Do not worry lad!Your mother is only joking!If you like the girl,ask her out! ''
Lily stared at Marshall in fury.
''I don't want you near my son,go away,to your anna ! '' she said in disgust.
Marshall nodded his head
''Lily,I am speaking to your son,not you '' .
''Further more,I have made a new law.Woman can not use their partners ''. Lily said nothing,outraged by what Marshall had said.
Marshall gave a grim smile and left,he walked to where Takeda was watching the siege towers being built
''So? '' asked Marshall
Takeda nodded grimly
''My lord,the army is ready,just these last ones to be built,then we can attack ''.
''Excellent '' . Marshall nodded
He turned his head round to see the massive army in front of him.
''Men!Men! '' he shouted,making his voice clearly heard well.
''Today is a good day!No,not this day,but today!We now have the last parts to do!Then can we attack the GCSE shogunate!Not only are we ready,but we are prepared! ''.
''Remember this!Once we win,we will extend our empire!We shall create and rise!And to hell if we are defeated!I would rather die in battle! ,than lose!My sister over there is nothing,nothing I tell you!Those fools in the shogunate rule with corruption.Do you know that I was despised and hated over there?Do you know corruption exists in those lands???Let my enemies come!We shall defeat them!With the help of our valuable allies we shall rule,and I,Emperor.Not only will the cursed english be defeated ,but I,I promise you that we will win!
''It is indeed a dark day!It feel's regrettable for the city,those soilders over there are loyal to their empress and the shogunate.But the shogunate must be made the seat of power!We should be ruling over the entire land!Everything! ''
The Troops gave a massive cheer,everyone had been listening to what he had said.Marshall smiled,he could nearly taste power.
''Now,Now calm down,I'm not finished yet.But remember this!We may outnumber them!But it is required in skill to win a battle,not numbers!Which is why I have the finest troops in the world.The enemy over there are scared and cowardly!I see no empress,I see nobody,why,where is their great General??Who defeated the Great Demon Kim?Nowhere.Where are the legendary armies of the shogunate?Nowhere ''.
''Which is why,it has fallen to me,The Great Marshall,to resolve this situation!To bring this world to order and justice!To quell her enemies away!To show to them,That it is I,the one of the samurai race,will rule!If we do our names!If we do our duty!Then our names shall long be remembered for the next ten thousand years!Hannibal!My Carthageian general is outmatched!He has defeated the Scipian empire many times!Napoleon!The Greatest Emperor to live in this decade!Takeda!One of the finest Generals of my army! ''
''Finally.I shall say this!To the banners of the army!To the empire!For victory!And glory!!!!!!!!!! ''
Such a massive noice was produced from the army,it echoed beneath the ground,right to where the city was.Labernum was impressed.Marshall had def the voice to inspire a army.
Marshall nodded as he went,the soldiers clapping and cheering behind him.Finally that had got them going!He thought.His three generals walked to him.
''Well,any complaints? '' asked Marshall.
They nodded a no.
Marshall nodded his head
''One more thing.we attack now! '' he shouted,then came that same roar,roaring like a lion.
How dare he? I thought, he interferes with my personall life now! I watched him saunter off and command the war to start. He won't win this war! I though furiously, if anyone will it will be me. Against him.
How could he, though? He slept with me even though he does not love me. Now, he has a new 'law'. The wind buffeted the trees around, the trees made a roaring noise.
"Look darling, I don't want you to get hurt," I murmered, as Sammy was crushed to my chest. "You're only three, three year olds don't have relationships. Relationships are very complicated and you have to share alot. You might have to give this girl your lollipop and your ice cream just to get her love. Do you want that?" I rambled on for abit longer just to make sure my lesson sunk into his head.
"Patrick," I called my eldest son. [did I mention the name of my eldest 'son' before?] I heard a grunt, perhaps, signalling a 'yes'.
"Have you heard about the fairie?" I asked the 17 year old.
"Mmm," He responded.
"Well, I need to interview her now, so can you babysit your brother for another hour or so?" I asked, wondering if I could trust him.
"Yeah, 'kay. Whatever Mum." Good. At least I got a proper response, even if it was rude. When I get back, I thought, then he will realise not to do that.
Now its time. Time to seek revenge on Anna, I thought, evilly, even if I say so myself. I chuckled.'
Marshall's army had already begun beseiging the city,but it was well protected,so it would take weeks,but in the end ,he of course would win.The Samurai had tried to walk the walls,but their generals told them not too,the had to go on the siege towers,Meanwhgile the cannon was firing,but there were only little cracks,not big ones.Damn the shogunate!He thought.
Now where was Lily?He saw Takeda coming to him.''What is it? '' asked Marshall,Takeda replied,but his face said something else.''They..have escaped...Labernum and Lily. ''
Marshall said nothing,but then he shouted
''HOW THE HELL DID THEY ESCAPE!!!???!!! '' in anger .
Takeda stammered
''My lord...they just...escaped ''.
Marshall dismmised the concern.
''Search the houses!They could have not gone far ''.
Takeda nodded
Marshall went to Lily's house,he looked everywhere,and the cage which labernum had esacped from.Where were they?
Takeda hurried to Marshall
''Ah,General,have you seen them? ''
Takeda nodded his head
''Well then,proceed with the siege!Find them if you see them! '' he barked.
Takeda nodded
Marshall had ordered that the troops withdraw.This was not going to plan! He thought.The walls were way too big,the only option was to fire on them.Send in the
Trebuchet's and the cannon,then they would have a chance.
He walked to where they were firing.Napoleon was ordering his cannon to fire.Takeda sat and watched.
''Generals! '' Marshall barked
They looked at Marshall
''We dig underneath the walls! Hannibal here will assist you in this! ''.
Hannibal arrived ,and Marshall looked at him.
'' We have to dig underneath the city!Then we shall succeed!For the walls will explode! '' Marshall shouted.
A great cheer came and the troops dug underneath the soil.
The Shogunate of course had responded,but they were way to high to fire.Some fool must have designed this city,thought Marshall.
Lily and Labernum had not been found yet.Marshall was so angry that he felt like killing somone.He had ordered that no soilder was allowed to rape or steal.If so,then the punishment was death.And no one would desert this army.If so,then they were forced to be humiliated.
Of course,he had a weapon,in fact it had been built,and it had been tested.It was the most powerful weapon in the land.He went to the large tent,and he took the massive cloth of it.
And it looked magnificent.It was a massive cannon.Not only could it fire from a great distance,it was accurate as well,and it only needed one pilot.There were many more like these
''Napoleon! Come here! '' shouted Marshall
Napoleon came into the tent and he looked at the massive cannon
''You once served in the Artillery?Am I correct? ''
''Yes,Marshall ,I did ''.
''You see it is useless doing whatnot.We are besieging the city,but the city itself is well protected.So I have an idea.Where we have dug underneath the city,And we have weakened the walls themselves,we fire.All the cannons,all the artillery,everything.And then the walls will tumble down ,and we should be free to attack ''.
Napoleon nodded.
'''What is the government? Nothing, unless supported by opinion. '' he said
Marshall nodded in agreeement
''Quite right my friend,quite right indeed ,Now,lets get these cannons out and bomb those walls! ''
Marshall walked to where the cannons were.He saw all of them had not fired.
''Well?What are you waiting for? Fire! '' he said
They did.
As the balls hit the walls,stones shattered and nearly half of the wall shattered,bringing a huge section down.
Marshall watched in amazment!
'Ute! Ute!!!! '' Takeda yelled ,fire! ,fire!
They fired.
More and more of the walls fell,masses of stone crumbled.The Army of Marshall watched as the walls fell.
But Marshall nodded his head.
''No,more fire!! '' he barked
And they kept on firing.
Marshall stood on the hill.It was the very same hill he had been on a couple of days earlier.The Gunners loaded their ammuntion into the long golden barrels.
For weeks,they had been bombarding the walls.The once gleaming white shining walls were now crumbling,with cracks appearing everywhere,they had crumbled to half the size they once were.But the houses ,the markets,The food stalls,the streets were untouched.It seemed as if the Goddess herself wanted to save the city.
''They say I was a threat.They say I was nothing more than a coward and a bully.They say I was evil.Now they say nothing!The fear me!Like the dark shadows of armies they fear me.For I am the Marshall of the empire.And nobody crosses my way.'' Marshall said.
For since those weeks had passed,Labernum had not been found.Nor Lily.She had abanonded everything.Marshall thought.How could she have done this?She had two sons!But she had left.Very well.Very well,He thought.If they won't come then I will achieve my goal.He thought.
''Get the snipers!! '' he shouted.
Light infantry armed with bows and guns hurried with their legs. They crouched low in the grass and waited,seeing any solider still walking,amazingly since the walls had crumbled,they had managed to build a nice section for where the soldiers could walk.
As soon as they saw a large mass,they shot.But what they didnt see that it was masses of archers.And they fired on Marshall's troops.A mass of arrows fell on the cannon crew.''Get the archers!!!Samurai and Monks!!! '' ordered Marshall
Warrior monk came in with a long red bow,Bow Samurai walked into seperate lines and fired back with short arrows.It fell on the Shogunate archers.
''Now resume friing! '' ordered Marshall.
And they fired.
''Marshall?'' a voice shouted.
Marshall swept his back to see Shingen looking at him.
''What is it?''
''Its the merchants.''
''Merchants?From where?''
''From the port of the besieged city,my liege.''
''Get them.''
Marshall walked down to his tent.
The Merchants stepped in.The Leader came forward.
''Marshall of the empire,we ask of you to stop besieging the city.''
Marshall laughed
''Pah!This offer would be affront to a mountain monkey.''
The Leader tried again
''Marshall,you must understand.The ports in the city are not getting enough supplies.''
''I have no intrest in that,Merchant.What I want is the city to surrender.''
''We did not come on behalf of the city,we came on the behalf of-''
''You came for your own benefits.''
''But Marshall-''
''Greedy and corrupt merchants like you would use this as a choice to serve your own greeds.''
''Which is why we will have you shot.If you had the helped the people in the shogunate,they wouldn't be disturbing you.''
The merchants shouted in protest.
Two Francian fuilisers came in.
''Escort them to the executing grounds.''
They nodded.The Merchants left.
I followed Laburnum(?) towards the forest. Where was she going? I thought exasperated. She turned around suddenly, startling me.
"What are you doing?" She asked angrily. Oh! So now she decides that she doesn't need me! I thought angrily.
"I am escaping as well." I said coolly.
"From whom?" She asked, snootily.
"From the Mashall, thats who." I said, equally snootily.
"Why?"
"Becau- Why should I tell you?" I asked suspiously. She sighed as if I was a naughty child.
"Darling, I am older and wiser than you will ever be." She said loftily. How does that make her deserve to know?
"Honey, I have to know how he is treating you... I have to report back to my country..."
"Oh... okay.." Then I told her, I pored my heart out to her.
The sun dawned over the Grand Senate of Natotropolis. It was an impressive sight.
This was not surprising as the building had been designed this way. Situated on an almost mountain-like cliff, it towered over the rest of the city far below. Even the great citadel of Natotropolis had had to be built on a slightly lower part of the clifftop, the senate building would share it's peak with no-one.
Accessible only by a winding, narrow but nevertheless well-paved road, the Senate building was visible from any area in the city (and quite a few areas outside the city as well). It's constant presence was a frequent reminder who was in charge, along with the citadel, the great academy and the systematic patrols of armed soldiery.
The building itself was a mix of countless architectural styles blended together in the white stone. Greek style pillars supported the wide entranceway leading into the various rooms that made up the huge establishment. The Senate room itself was an enclosed Roman style amphitheater; above this the roof merged into multiple medieval styled battlements and buttresses, the largest tower being the several times the length of the main building.
Inside, the gigantic entry hall was paved with marble with life-sized statues of past grand Senators lining every wall. Wooden doors adorned with rich carvings lead to the various other rooms of the Senate, and lighting was provided to the windowless hall by oversized chandeliers, each one held in place by multiple thick strands of golden wire, lest they fall and crush several men. The effect of the entire place was awe-inspiring...
...But nevertheless completely wasted on the man waiting patiently on the inside of the foyer, who thought it was a complete waste of money.
The man waiting in the foyer was not, in fact, a Senator but rather a soldier, responsible for the defense of the entire country. Although he had a name, most people referred to him as 'The General' although this was not his rank. His actual rank was 'Supreme Grand Defender of the Empire', with 'the defense of the empire incorporating the attack of other countries when necessary'.
Laburnum listened vaguely to the human for a while, but she really had very little interest in whatever it was babbling on about. Funny how they had such big egos, being such unimportant creatures. But she owed a debt to this one, and it was true that her mother took an interest in mortal affairs - especially affairs of the violent, tragic sort. All the faeries did, it was marvellous free entertainment. But then, she was currently feuding with her mother, so the information was largely irrelevant, although she did need to know a little, so she could repay the debt... The human finished her explanation, and Laburnum stretched languidly.
"I suppose I could help you, if you wish."
The human eyed her suspiciously. "How?"
Laburnum shrugged. "I can help you seek vengeance upon him. Or that Anna girl, I suppose. Whichever seems more appropriate. Or both, maybe... no, but that's not as satisfying, is it, not as painful, I imagine, to those involved...”
The human still looked rather suspicious. “Why would you want to help me, though? What’s the catch?”
“Oh, there’s no catch, so long as you’re sensible. I owe you assistance, that’s all – it’s old magic, very strong, and best not ignored. You helped me, I owe you a debt.”
“I see.”
“So I can offer you vengeance. Or something else… I suppose I could make him love you, but that’s rather dull.”
“You can?!”
“Well. Not quite. You see, love is like silver to magic, spells cannot withstand it. That’s why you humans are so poor at magic – you’re fundamentally creatures of love, whereas us faeries are creatures of hate. But I can create an illusion of love, certainly, one strong enough that he himself will believe it… not that such spells are invulnerable to tampering, especially if the Anna girl gets involved… I’d stick to vengeance, if I were you, it’s far less dangerous. Oh, and you don't like him anymore, do you, in any case? Or do you? I can never tell with humans, you're so very irrational.”
Marshall was seated on the grand golden chair.Next to him were his generals,Hannibal,Napoleon with his Marshalls,And Takeda along with his brother.
There was a large map on the table,showing the kingdoms and empires that existed on the dark wooden table. Natonland and Neptonland,He thought.Two kingdoms would be benefit to attack them and make them part of his empire.But they were too small.He had heard news that both kingdoms were thinking of attacking him.
''Sire? '' asked Napoleon.
Marshall smiled
''Emperor,You have enimes don't you? ''
Napoleon nodded.
''Why,it is the coalition.I do intend to rule the whole of Europa.The English empire ,along with the Scipi and Takeda's enemies,the Oda and the Tokugawa have formed a coalition against you Marshall.'' Napoleon said.
Marshall swept his back.
''But there more enemies,the Russians..''
''Have an allaiance with Francia,I've sent word to them.''
''The Austro-Hungarianana and Prussia...''
''Are enemies.'' Napoleon said.
''Well,we shall face them in the biggest battle of them all.Ten nations against a ten million army.''
''Hannibal?''
''Yes,Marshall?''
''Are the light infantry ready?'
''Yes.''
''Good.I may consider attacking the kingdoms of Natonland and Neptune.''
''Nah,lets leave them,they're not.Boring.'' Marshall dismissed it with his hand.
''We must destory the Shogunate no matter what.If we capture that city,No one can oppose us.''
At the same moment a soilder came in.
''What is it? ''
''We saw them,The Lady Lily with Labernum,the fairy.'' He panted.
Marshall slammed his hand on the table.
''Ah ha!Send some samurai to kill them!Not the Usual ones,Send the Samurai Hero.These units...yes..they will capture them.''
The Solider nodded and left.
''Now escape from me ,fools.'' Marshall muttered
Marshall went out of the tent,and saw the walls had been breached.Many people said it was impossiable for the walls to be bought down,but now it was not easy any more.
''Bring me my horse.And the General's horses.''
Very soon,Marshall was advancing to where thousands of Francian fulsisers advanced with the uniforms of dark blue coat with dark blue shoulder straps piped red, red collar and cuffs pipped white, white lapels, white undercoat, and white shoulder belts.Their officers were on the fallen rocks.
But from the Shogunate,looked like a tired force,not wanting to fight.Soilders had been assmelbved,but they were waiting for death themselves.
Takeda Shingen watched as he had ordered the attack.
Napoleon ,Takeda ,and Marshall arrived.
''My lords,Marshall,the Shogunate is yours.''
''Good work,advance the samurai!! ''
Thousands of Yari Samurai and Wazishabi Samurai advanced.Ron in Samurai as well.They went over the fallen bricks and walls and charged,flingong their weapon the shogunate soldiers,killing them in the bodies,lunging at their throats and stomachs.
''Infantry!!! Adavance and attack!'' shouted the officers.The Francian fusilers shouted Viva la emperuer and ran in ,killing anybody they saw.Marshall came in and advanced to the citadel,from where crossbowemn fired.
''Fix your baonyets!!! '' shouted the Francian Sergeant.
''Aim and Load!!! ''
The Francian infantry loaded thir guns and amied at the crossbowmen
''Fire!! ''
A tear burst shattering nosie came and hit the crossbowmen.
The last liutentant of the shogunate watched as Marshall's troops,terrifying as they were advanced,there was no word from the empress,who had fallen ill.no general.and he was the last of them.He would have to surrender the city.He thought.
Then the doors flung open and the shogunate guards scarmabled for their weapons.But then they saw the Marshall,clear and sharp.
''So,will you surrneder?''
''Never.''
Marshall nodded and a hundred fusilers aimed their muskets.
''We surrender.'' Lietentaunt saw the obvious outcome.
''Now let me wreck havoc apon this city and rule.
Marshall walked to the throne and sat
''Rather comfortable.Now I have the power.'' A slow grin came on his face.
Cood ran.
He had heard that Marshall had never let his troops loot, but either that was a lie or the group of soldiers who had come through were doing it without his knowing. They had burst into Cood's house, grabbing everything of value they saw (which was not a lot, here, but still they searched). He had managed to hide himself and his invention papers in the cupboard before they came in, but his mother...
Cood's mother had been in the front room when they came, so had no time to hide. Cood had heard her scream cut off. After he was certain the soldiers had gone, he had gone into the front room. He had found his mother with a sword wound through her, already dead.
So now Cood ran, who knew that there was nothing left to live for inside the city. His mother was dead, Daniel probably was too - Cood knew that Marshall's forces would not spare any soldier they came across; they were barely sparing any civilians. With nothing left for Cood here, he had decided to make a break for the walls and try to make it to Farieland, to get his invention working.
Twice he had to duck behind a building as soldiers came past, massacreing civilians on the way; one of these times he saw Reverand Williams try to stop them getting to a woman and a child - a bayonet ended his life when he was in the same position as the Lord he believed in, arms outspread in protection. Cood knew not whether the mother and child had got away, but he hoped they had.
Cood saw the broken wall ahead of him and doubled his speed. He saw a clear path out, but he would be spotted if he took that, so he started to climb over the rubble. When he was on the other side he was about to run, but he heard a voice.
"Cood!"
The voice came from beneath the rubble. It was Daniel!
"Daniel! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, the rocks made a kind of shelter here when they fell, but I can't get out. Any way you could help? It's probably easier from up there."
Cood pushed with all his might, and a rock came free. He helped Daniel out.
Marshall watched as the city was blazen alight.A gray dark mist settled on the atmosphere,Finally,in a 100 years he had proven that even the greatest city can be destroyed.
'''ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!! '' Marshall shouted gvivng it so clear and loud that people could hear.
Then the noise stopped.Marshall was on the imperial palace.All the troops looked at Marshall.
''I disbanded Looting!And stealing and Rape!! But what do I see?All of it.Anyone that has raped a woman,anyone that has killed a inncoent child will be killed!The punishment is death!!! '' He shouted.
''No more raping or killing,but you will need to loot,for next campagin.''
The Troops nodded.
''Are we clear? ''
''Viva la Emperor!!'' shouted the troops
Marshall smiled,then went in the imperial palace.
"Thank God you came. I thought I would die in that cramped hole."
The brothers embraced, both thrilled that the other was still alive.
"Come on!" said Cood, "We can get out of the city now." He started to go, but realised Daniel wasn't following him. "What is it?"
"I'm not sure I'm coming with you."
"But..." Cood was astounded. After all their planning, all the work that had gone into this, he didn't want to come?
"It's not that I dont want to, Cood. I wish I could come, but I can't. Look at the city. We have friends and family there. I understand that this invention could save them from Marshall, but unless there's someone there protecting them, it could be too late. Think, what chance would Mum have on her own, or..." Cood's expression stopped him from continuing. "What? What's happened to her?"
"Dead." said Cood, maintaining his composure for a few seconds and then starting to sob. "I could have done something. I should have. But I hid in the cupboard when the soldiers came and they... They..." He couldn't speak any more.
Daniel knew he should comfort his brother. He knew that he should say that it wasn't Cood's fault she had died. But no words would come. He sank to his knees and began to weep as well.
And somehow, that was more comforting to both of them than any words could have been.
It was a full five minutes they wept together, until they both had no more tears to shed. It was another three before they got up.
"So, does this mean you'll come with me? There's nothing left for either of us there." Cood's voice was slightly shaken, but the sobbing had released a lot of the sadness walled up inside him. Daniel was the same.
"There are still innocent people in there. They're helpless, and I am not going to let Marshall have one more victim."
Cood understood. "I'll be back soon, I promise. And that day Marshall's going to pay for what he's done."
The brothers embraced again, silently, and then headed off their separate ways; Daniel towards the death-ridden city, Cood towards the unknown of the outside.
Neither knew what dangers fate had in store for them.
Marshall watched from the throne.
Takeda was beside him,while Napoleon was inspecting his troops.
Marshall sighed,for he was bored/
''Takeda?''
''Yes ,My liege?''
''I want things to be rebuilt.Houses,everyhting except the walls,build to a good decent hight where our troops can be built.''
''And make sure the citizens are not mistreated.Any raping or killing will be punished by death,and all the corrupted officers in the army?Gather them and kill them all.Make sure trade commences again,and send this to all the empires and kingdoms,everywhere;The Great Marshall has now taken the Shogunate.He rules from everywhere and has ten more armies waiting for him.''
Takeda nodded and left when Marshall stopped him
''Wait,put a low tax rate on the citizens and tell them they can live their life as they want,trade routes are to be opeoneed.'' Takeda nodded and left.
Hannibal had been watching the entite scene,but he was not impressed.
''Sire,if I may? ''
''Yes?''
''You should show a strict example.I think you're making too soft.''
''Do not worry,if we show to them that we not evil,they will flock to join us,anyway General,this is not one city we are controlling,we are conqereuing the world.''
Hannibal nodded and left.
''Hopefully.....You over there.'' He pointed to the imperial boy sitting up there in fear.
''Come down.''
''Whats your name?''
''Titanuimn.'' He said in a hurr y
''Postion?''
''Slave...'' he muttered
''Sister?''
He nodded.
''Then you are freed from yopur postion.I want you to send this message throughout the world that I have conqerued the shogunate.Will you do that for me?''
Titaunim nodded and left.
Marshall was impressed.If you be nice to your enemy,they will be your firends.He smiled,he liked that lesson.
For the citizens of the Shogunate,life was as usual.Marshall's troops had not done much except stealing and looting.But other than that,they did not bother in a civilised life.
Marshall was outside the city,with his Generals,he saw a large army of mecerainies that had swords and shields.He was on his horse,looking at the army and it's crossbowmen.He had contacted many mecerainiey armies and old veterans to join his ever increasing large army.
The Leader of the Mecerainies stepped out from the large mass of knight.
''What do you need Marshall? ''
''Simple.I want you to join my army.I have already taken over the Shogunate.Is this enough? ''
The Leader frowned,
''Maybe,but even a powerful general like you will conquer us.''
''Conquer? Conquer you?Why my dear friend,that is not what I mean,You join my army.And this is what you get.''
Then a rack of wood came out,the soilders took the wood out to reveal gold bars,shining in the sun.
''Is this enough for you? '' asked Marshall.
They nodded.
''Good,you'll be made into the army,don't worry lad.Our time has come.'' With that Marshall bowed and the mecarinary soldiers walked into the city.Another successful deal he thought.
He dismounted and walked to the imperial palace,and he had been wondering,where was White Swan?She had dissapered from there and no one had heard anything.
Of course the news had been sent everywhere.Now everyone knew the name of Marshall,and his empire,he had made it a empire after he captured the shogunate.
But then of course,he still needed to defeat the enemy.Only then could he rule safely and have a massive empire.
The charge continued.
Lieutenant Bithainium was slightly unnerved as his men formed a wedge and charged towards the Neptonites. The small enemy force didn't appear to be worried by their impending doom charging towards them. They were neither running for the forest, as he had expected them to, or forming a defensive line to counter his cavalry. They were just standing still. They must have seen his men by now!
For reassurance, Bithainium surveyed his men, arranged in a triangle behind him. He was at the tip of the formation, leading his men, as all good leaders should. His Sergeant was beside him, to his left, closest to the forest. Another loyal man was to Bithainium's right. Behind him, the rest of the men were arranged, completeing the triangle, bar one; The Captain was split from the group, to the right. He stood out from the Natonites mainly because of his strange armour - to Bithainium it looked too ceremonial and impractical, but then again, he was foreign, so you couldn't blame him. Bithainium's attention, not for the first time, was drawn to the man's sword; a strange weapon that, like it's owner's armour, stood out from it's Natonite counterparts. Unlike them, this sword was slightly curved, rather like a cutlass, but much longer. It must have taken two hands to use.
Bithainium looked at the enemy; they were less than one hundred meters away now, and had still not moved. Sargeant Buckroe caught his attention.
"This should be easy, s..." Buckroe didn't finish his sentence; suddenly, he wasn't there.
Bithainium looked behind him. The sargeant's body was falling away behind him, his horse standing over him. What had happened?
As if in answer to his question, another man was suddenly knocked from his mount by an unseen force.
Another man, realizing what was happening, screamed "Crossbows!" before being hit by one..
But the peasants didn't have any crossbows. And anyway, to hit Buckroe, they would have had to come from... The woods...
Looking to his left, Bithainium saw that the thick woods that had seemed so empty previously now glittered with metal. More crossbows started firing, killing men left right and centre. He could now hear the metallic twangs as they fired, and see some of the bolts that missed flying past.
The peasant force still wasn't moving, waiting as if watching the show. Well, whoever those Neptonites were, they could wait.
"Men, with me!" he shouted, turning towards the crossbowmen. A few more crossbows fired, some finding their mark, but nearly half of Bithainium's thirty man force remained. His men followed, reforming as best they could.
The crossbows ceased firing. He could them clearly now, within the trees, as they attempted to reload their weapons. Bithainium felt a flash of hope; they couldn't possibly have time to reload. Victory was still within his grasp.
The woods suddenly bristled with spearpoints as hundreds of spearman pushed their way through the crossbowmen at the front. There was no time to stop the charge now.
The charge struck home, with the shouts of men and the clash of steel. Lieutenant Bithainium saw his men die around him. As he did, several spearmen attacked his horse, killing it and forcing him to the ground.
As Bithainium looked up, he saw a spear pointed at his throat, and beyond it, behind the rest of the spear-laden army, a banner with a symbol on it.
Bithainium knew all flags off by heart, and knew what this one meant. It was the symbol of the Marshall.
I looked up at Laburnum and back at the scenery. I couldn't believe my eyes! Where were we? It was a beautiful forest, not dissimilar to the forest we were just in. However, the other forest lacked the certain silvery veil over the trees. The greenness and the beauty if the flowers and leaves on the floor.
"You like it don't you?" asked Laburnum kindly. "Your eyes have grown eerily large." I bristled at that comment, she was suggesting that I was like a child! How dare she?
"It's okay, could do with a bit of sunlight coming down." I said childishly. I said what I would have expected Mathew to say.
''Should we attack the empires you've meantioned? '' asked Takeda.It was night,a bright eerie night,circkets chipped in,releasing their obvious sound.
''But we cannont.''
''Why? ''
''The resistance group.''
''Right,I shall deal with it.'' Takeda was about to leave when Marshall put a hand on him.
''Don't.We already have enouhg men being consricpted in the army.If we are to quell this rebellion,we need just the Samurai,and the special units,I am correct?''
Takeda nodded.
''So do that.''
Where is Anna?Marshall thought,he had searched everywhere for her,and yet he didn't find her.It was sad indeed.Where was she? And where was the empress?
''My lord?''
Marshall smiled
''Takeda,you're going to be in charge of the city,combating the rebellion.I am going to go and invade a few empires.I want many troops recruited as possaible.Show to the city that you are dangerous as me.Aslo..Shingen is coming with me.Hannibal will remain with you.''
Takeda nodded.
''Any objections? ''
''My lord...we don't have the strenght as we would be taking half our army away.''
''Do not worry,we have over 9000 billion soilders.I take like what,a million soilders and attack? ''
''9000 Billion? '' Takeda face's became expressionless.
''Good,work,well I shall go now,see you in the morning.
Laburnum rolled her eyes at the human. "You can hardly expect sunlight - this is halfway and there never been a sun here. Or stars."
"What?! Where are we? Halfway where?"
Laburnum sighed, and for a moment looked almost sorrowful. And she looked old, too, for all her beauty - old and tired. "Halfway home."
"You mean, Fairyland?"
"Yes. But we shan't go in, since Mother and I aren't on the best of terms right now. I'll have to wander a while yet before I can go back to the palace. I expect a few hundered years should do, she'll be feuding with somebody else by then..."
"But that's ridiculous! We can't be halfway to Fairyland, it's right across the Kingdom!"
Laburnum sighed. How she hated having to explain basic principles of life to humans. "No, it's not. They overlap."
"They what?!"
"The place you call Fairyland is nothing but an outpost of our lands, a small Princedom my Mother won in a skirmish eons ago, when we still cared for the affairs of men, as a species. Fairyland itself is far more... hidden. Remote. It overlaps, as here, on your world, but you couldn't find it with a map, and besides, the enterances only open if we want them to..."
Laburnum glanced at the human, who seemed to be having trouble keeping up. She tried to simplify it a little. "Look it's like... another world, linked to yours. The here-and-not-here, your ancestors called it, long ago."
"Right... hang on, why are we here? What's going on?"
The human seemed suspicious.
"We're just staying here a little while. I could here men coming through the forest - the Marshall's, I expect, so we'll hide in the inbetween a while, where they can't see or reach us, then return to the Mortal world when they've passed."
"But I can still hear something..."
"Oh, probably just echoes or - no... no, it can't be..." Laburnum wheeled around, ears pointed and nose sniffing, eyes whirling madly as a floundering horse. "Quickly, come with me, run this way, to the Mortal world and whatever you do, don't look back!"
Laburnum set off into the forest at a run, but had gone barely a few yards before she was frozen, quite literally, in her tracks, ice stretching up from the ground to crackle around her legs and up her body.
There was a long pause, as the ice spread through the trees and forest around, and then, from the dark between the trees a woman stepped out, impossibly beautiful, sweetly smiling and clearly very, very dangerous.
"Hello dear. Nice of you to drop in."
"What a charming reception...mother."
Marshall troops had advanced,with Napoleon and his army behind them.Before them stood the enemies,The Northen Empire.and Napoleon's enemies,the Russians had arrived to help the Marshall.
The battlefield was a grassy flatland.Wellington eyed from his telescope.Francis,the Emperor of Austro-Hungarinia was sitting on a chair.The Prussians had bought Blucher as their commander.
Four farmhouses stood.The enemies of Marshall had united to quell his army.
Napoleon and Marshall saw the massive army in front of them.The Troops looked in awe.Colonel Bagration of the Russian Empire walked to the Marshall.
''Ah,Colonel,please do come,please do.''
''It is a honour to serve the great Marshall and ....Napoleon.''
Napoleon looked at him.
''Colonel ,I do not think it matters,what matters now is that we win this battle.
Meanwhile in the Shogunate.
Takeda Yoshimoto wrote the last check on the trade route paper.Takeda Shingen,his brother was dealing with the resistance formed by this ''daniel'' as they called him.
He gave the trade paper to the servant.The Servant lefit with the paper in his hands.
Takeda sighed and walked to the balcony,life was as usal,the only times they resisted ,was when they out in the open plain.But ''little rebellions'' shouldn't do.
Hannibal arrived.
''Ah,Hannibal ,please do come and sit.''
Hannibal sat on the chair.
''What news?''
''I have more hoplites than ever,and my army is in full strength.The Libyan Javelin and some light infnatry has arrived.The Sacred Band and more Phoncaen style Hoplies have commited to their service. To combat the resistance of the daneil group as you have said,I have bought my Numdian cavarly,they are fast as hell and can throw 3 spears in a minute.Heavy Cavarly should do.''
''How great is he who gains the world but loses their soul?''' said Takeda.
''My Samurai will deal with the Resistance group,I need your Numidian cavarly.''
''It shall be done.''
Meanwhile in the midst of Battle.
''Ready Muskets!!!! '' shouted Jacpes,the infantry officer of the Francian 56th regiment.The order was repeated everywhere,and they bought the guns up and levellled them.''Fire!!! '' he shouted.
A massive burst was heard from the Francian Muskets,it hit Wellington's troops.
Of course,this was only one part of the battlefield.If we looked now,it seemed as if Marshall was winning the battle.The English forces had been reduced to stalmate,forming squares,The Prussians were the only resisting the line,and the austro hungarina troops had fled,Coleonl Bragation had destroyed the left of the enemy force and now,they were surrounded.
Wellington sighed.He had lost.''Give the order to raise the flag.Tell the troops to stop firing.''
The White flag was raised from the english lines.Blucher walked to Wellington.
''You cannot surrender!'' he said.
''We must surrender Blucher.We have no choice,or would you rathe see your troops dead? ''
Blucher swcoled,but he stopped when he saw the Marshall and Napoleon and his generals.
''Generals,since you have the lost war,Your forces are crushed,I expect you to surrender.'' said Marshall.
''Napoleon,its all yours.''
Napoleon bowed.
Marshall reined his horse,now that his enemies were defeated,he could now concentrate on this rebellion he had heard.
It had been two days since Cood and Daniel had separated, and Cood was now wishing that his brother had come with him. The endless walking was terribly lonely, and the continuous darkness of the forests was driving Cood to paranoia. So far, he had not come across any of Marshall's forces, but he knew that they could be waiting around every corner, and, on his own, he would be easy to catch.
One good thing, though; he knew he was getting much closer to Farieland. The surroundings were changing, and Cood thought he could feel Magick in the air. He wasn't sure whether the faries would help him, but it was his best chance.
Suddenly, he heard voices coming from nearby. He looked around, realised the voices were getting closer, and hid behind some thick bushes, listening and watching intently. The voices started to become more distinct.
"...just staying here a little while. I could hear men coming through the forest - the Marshall's, I expect, so we'll hide in the imbetween a while, where they can't see or reach us, then return to the Mortal world when they've passed."
Two figures came into Cood's view. He shifted a little to see them better, then froze as one said "But I can still hear something..."
Cood held his breath.
"Oh, probably just echoes or - no, no, it can't be!" The figure turned, obviously panicking. "Quickly, come with me, run this way, to the Mortal world and whatever you do, don't look back!"
She started to run but suddenly stopped in her tracks, ice forming up her body. The same was happening to the other figure. Then Cood heard a new voice.
"Hello dear. Nice of you to drop in."
"What a charming reception... Mother."
Cood tried to move to see the 'mother', but then realised he couldn't. His body didn't seem to be under his control.
"Dear, I've done you a favour. You were about to be ambushed."
Cood felt himself stand up and walk forward, into the clearing. He tried to resist, but he could not.
"What?" The second figure, the not as talkative one, asked. "You said they couldn't reach us here!"
"Mortals can't! This is impossible!" The first figure said. "How did you get here?"
"I walked." replied Cood. He knew it was a silly answer, but he was too shocked to say anything else.
"The world is full of unexplainable mysteries, which it is foolish to dwell upon." said the 'mother', "Now, where were we?"
Samurai of the Takeda walked across the city.Yari Ashaguri and Yari Samurai walked in patrols,and the Carthagian Hoplites pratcied in the newly built training grounds.
A group of Samurai left the city as they advanced to the open farms which had been put in place by the Marshall.
They walked deep into the forest.Daniel's men's were hidden in the forrest,Daniel saw how dangerous these strangely uniformed troops of the Marshall walked,strapping their hands to their almost curved swords.
''What should we do,Daniel? '' asked Tako ,one of the Exiled Soldiers Daniel was lucky to find.
''We wait,lets observe them,follow them. ''
Tako nodded and turned to the peasants and soldiers,and gave the orders.
Takako Aeishuye ,commander of the band of the Samurai and some Yari Samurai,closed his eyes as he listened deeply to the sounds of the birds,the bright sun shining down on the trees.
Then he heard noises,he immdeatily put his arms up.His men stopped.Daniel know knew he was in trouble,if only they had been more quiet.
''Let's get them.'' said Daneil
''FOR THE SHOGUNATE!!! '' shouted Daniel,in a loud voice.
''Sheathe your swords!!! '' shouted Takako.The Samurai sheathed their swords and stood almost in the position as if they were expecting the enemy to attack.
Daniel's men suddenly appeared from the bushes,and as they shouted,they flung all types of weapons.
Takako smiled.These idiots were that foolish to stand agasint the Takeda.He thought.
''Haishida!!!!!! '' he shouted and he ran towards them..
The same war cry was given out by his men and they attacked Daniel's men.Both sides clashed,armour against armour,sword and axe against each other.
Takako waved his sword from the right as he quickly bended his left leg and sliced one of the rebel soldiers towards his groin.Another Samurai kicked into the ribs of another rebel soilder with his elbows and plunged his sword into his stomach.
Daniel thought he could win,but saw just how dangerous the Marshall's troops were,they were trained for this.He wondered how could he defeat the Marshall,when he himself had the best trained army in the whole of this world.
The Yari Samurai lurched their spears into the rebel's throats.Samurai prented to bow,when the rebels were about to kill them in the back,the samurai reacted and stabbed into the rebel's heart.
''We must withdraw,Daniel,they're too strong!!! '' Tako shouted ,as he fended of the Charging Samurai
''No,I will not leave!! '' Daniel replied,hoping to gain victory
''Look around you fool!!!!We will lose!!These are heavily armoued troops!! '' Tako shouted.
Daniel looked around and saw his men being cut down.
''Back!!!Back!!! '' shouted Daniel,and clutching the banner of the Shogunate,he fled ,as all his men did.
Takako was stunned by the cowardliness of the rebels.
''Hoi!! '' he shouted in defiance.His men shouted the same word.
For Daniel, the last two days had been much too busy to be missing Cood. He had inadvertently become leader of the Shogunate rebellion, and so he had had to evade capture around the clock. Then, the rebels had wanted to rise up, but Daniel's oath to not let any more innocently men die meant that he had to tell the rebels to come out of the city to fight, to prevent civilian casualties, even though it was much less practical than guerilla fighting inside the walls. Thus, he had ended up here, in command of a losing army, fighting Marshall in a tactically bad position.
He thought fast.
"Tako!" he shouted. Tako was an old friend and an experienced soldier who had left before the war but was returning to the Shogunate when it was conquered. A fierce patriot, he had been only too happy to dedicate to Daniel his services and those of the twenty man strong cavalry force he had been commanding.
"Tako, tell your horsemen to rally the men! We can't have any fleeing - we're outnumbered enough as it is!"
"Right, sir! Markus, take three men to our left flank and rally the men. Samuel, take three men to the right flank and do the same. The rest of you, spread out and stop deserters!"
A chorus of "Yes, sir!"s came, then the men disappated.
"How many men do they have?" Daniel asked.
"I don't know, sir. From what I can see, about ten thousand, but doubtless he has many times that out of view."
"And what type of men?"
"A mixture, again from what I can see, sir. Samurai, knights, fusiliers towards the back, crossbowmen and who knows what else."
"And we have...?"
"Four thousand untrained men wielding whatever they could get their hands on, one hundred ex-soldiers, mainly with longswords, and twenty cavalry including me, sir."
"That doesn't sound like good odds."
Tako remained silent.
"Well, God favours the righteous, and that we are! Give the order for the men to form up on the treeline. Tell them to stay there and defend it. If we can't win this by offense, defense will have to do."
"Yessir."
Tako gave the order.
Takako had entered into the city,when he saw Takeda and his Brother,Shingen.
His band of Samurai and Takako bowed down.
''I hear there was a skirmish?''
''Hoi.'' replied Takako.
''And the rebels? '' said Shingen.
''Nothing more than peasants using weapons they can find.''
Shingen looked at Takeda and then Takako.
''Assemble the troops,let us challenge this Daniel ,if he dares to attack us.''said Takeda
Meanwhile in the far fields of the Northern Lands.
Wellington was seated with Blucher looking at the treaty in the Tent.
''Never,Never will I accept this!'' said Blucher.
Napoleon smiled.
''Your armies are defeated,Generals.I can do one very good thing,How about I march to your capitial and destroy it?Take away your lands?''
Wellington froze.
''So surrender now,and we won't bother you.''
'''Under..the circumstances....I must accept.'' Napoleon smiled and he saw Wellington signing the treaty.
Then he left the tent ,taking the treaty.
''Marshall,all is done.''
The Marshall looked at Napoleon.
''Give the order to move back to the shogunate.''
Napoleon bowed.
Daniel eyed from the telescope,seeing a large force of Samurai,Yari Samurai with their spears and swords,and the Yari Ashaguri.
''Let out the Bow warrior monks.'' said Takeda
The Bow Warrior monks advanced and formed into a seperate formation,the had long red bows,and Daniel stared at the archers,surely these archers could not shoot from such a far distance.
''UTE!!!!!!!! '' shouted the Officer.
A great hail of arrows was released ,and it hit Daniel's men,instantly killing them.
What is happening, I thought. Why, how, did the fairie's mum manage to do that.
"Who's this?" asked the older fairie. She was very pretty and had dirty blond hair, similar to my fairie. She had an air of evil aroun her. What she would do to get what she wanted, I didn't want to know. Suddenly, I felt a whirling sensation in my stomach. I assumed that we were going to fairieland, as my ancestors called it.
I had arrived in a kitchen, a very busy kitchen. Where was my and her mother. I felt a rising panic at being alone in fairieland. I looked around to see the best way out. There it was. A perfect way out. Through the door. I picked a tray of food and followed a servant into the dining area.
I set the plate of food next to the other plate if prawns and meat. I ducked my head at the lady at the head of the table. I scurried out and wondered about where to go next. I realised that I could head the other way toward the main house. I heard loud laughter and faintly recognised the voice. Who was it?
The arrows hit Daniel's men.
Tako ordered the soldiers to throw anything they could find.
But it was no use,as more and more Samurai advanced.The Sword Samurai looked dangerously close.
''What do we do now? '' said Tako
''Hide in the bushes.'' Daniel said.
The Soldiers hid in the bushes.
The Sword Samurai got closer and closer,swords raised high,they entered into the forest,not seeing any of the rebels.Daniel was in the trees waiting at the right moment.
He shouted.Then he jumped onto the Sword Samurai,and many rebels joined in,quickly overpowering the Samurai.It seemed as if Daniel's men were going to win,as they killed the samurai with axes and swords,But the Samurai prevield,and launched an aggressive attack.
The sharp thunder of hooves were heard,as the Numidian Calvary let out their spears,and it fell on the rebles,taking them to the ground as the spears tasted their mellow flesh.
Tako killed a Samurai with his longsword.But the other Samurai prevented a lot of dangerous weapons at them,and flung them away as their Katana's slashed into the rebel's heart.
Daniel shouted to Tako. "Take your horsemen around the flank and charge!" Tako nodded and tried to gather up his horsemen. Meanwhile, the rebels were losing ground.
"Retreat further into the forest, then attack when they come after us!" Daniel shouted to the men nearest to him. They nodded, and began to retreat, shouting to the others to do the same. Daniel was about to turn when a Samurai jumped in front of him and swung his sword, knocking the weapon out of Daniel's hand. Daniel rolled to avoid a second slash, and looked up to see a horseman with a spear charging towards him.
He dodged the spearhead and grabbed the shaft, stabbing the spear into the ground, which flipped the rider off his horse. Daniel then brought up the spear again and swung it around, severely winding the Samurai about to attack him from behind.
Daniel grabbed the gasping Samurai's sword and retreated.
Takeda looked on as his men perused Daniel's men.It was growing tireless and putting too much pressure on him.
''Shingen.''
''Yes,Brother? ''
''Give the order to burn the forest.That should give them something to think about.''
The Samurai came from the forest,and then they set fire to it.But Daniel's men had long gone into the northern parts of the jungle.
The Sword Samurai ran on Daniel's men,cutting down.But the shogunate rebels were not going to give up and they fought back.And it was no use.
The Yari Ashaguri came in and stabbed their spears into Daniel's men.
''Tako,we have to go now!!Retreat to the northern part of the forest!!! ''
''I'm with you lad!Now ,come on!Before the Marshall's troops go any further.
They fled.
Takeda looked on as his men perused Daniel's men.It was growing tireless and putting too much pressure on him.
''Shingen.''
''Yes,Brother? ''
''Give the order to burn the forest.That should give them something to think about.''
The Samurai came from the forest,and then they set fire to it.But Daniel's men had long gone into the northern parts of the jungle.
The Marshall had entered the city.The citizens were about to attack,when they saw him and his troops,Then they came back in.Marshall saw a Yari guard,standing in attention.Napoleon's troops walked into the city and took guard.
''Ah,guard,would you mind telling me where General Takeda is?''
''Dealing with the rebels.''
''I see.''
Marshall dismounted and stepped into the imperial palace.He relaxed into the chair.Where was everybody he thought?[
“Foolish mysteries which tend, mother, to be orchestrated by you.”
The Queen’s eyes twinkled. “Perhaps.”
She stepped further forwards into the clearing, spring flowers bursting forth from the snow where her feet had lightly trod – bluebells and daffodils and more sprung incongruously from the ice. She had the airs of a Goddess, and the beauty, too, flax-gold hair, just caught by a golden circlet, and summer sky eyes, skin like cream and mouth blood-red. She was swathed in fur, but beneath the cloak glimpses of finest silk could be seen, in every subtle shade of green and blue and purple, gloriously iridescent. It was a sight to bring delight to the most jaded of eyes, her infectious smile catching even Laburnum unawares.
But perhaps somebody who looked closer, observed with more vigour, might have seen the ice slowly creeping over the flowers and dragging them back into the darkness of the earth, and been afraid.
“But I smell a human who hasn’t come forwards!” she said. Fi fi fo fum, said her eyes.
Cood did not move.
“Come on, come out, I don’t bite!” she giggled. “Where I can see you!” she grinned, with the pearly, neat teeth that were all the better to eat you with.
Laburnum watched as the human marched into the clearing. He looked alarmed, and she guessed that her mother was making him walk forward, straight into the gingerbread cottage, as it were. She twitched her hands slightly, melting the ice that clutched her legs away, bit by bit. She needed to get away, and fast. And with the female human, who she owed assistance – she didn’t want to waste years trying to avenge the silly things death, especially not against her mother. The other human, however, counted only as collateral damage.
“Will you stop melting my ice, dear?” The Queen pointed languidly at Laburnum, who screamed, a sound of pain so raw it burned the ears. She stood, wavering, then collapsed forward onto her knees, hands raised as if in prayer. The Queen dropped her hand, and the scream stopped.
“You always were a badly behaved child. But I see that you dislike the décor… perhaps this…” The Queen waved a hand, and spring bloomed in the clearing, ice melting in an instant. “Better?”
“The ice has not gone,” rasped Laburnum, struggling even to speak.
“What?”
“Where are the birds? The animals? Why are you not hot in your furs, if it is spring?”
“I…”
“Illusion is no match for reality, mother. You lose your taste.” Laburnum coughed, spitting golden blood onto the grass.
The Queen curled her lip. “You dare accuse me of poor taste? Then let us see how you cope with your precious reality, dear.”
And the Queen was gone – all three were back in the forest in the Mortal world. And the Marshalls men were in the trees, not a stone’s throw away.
''Ah yes,these rebels,led by Daniel are they? '' said Marshall's voice.
''Yes My lord,but they are proving to be a menace.Despite our recent victories agasint them.'' said Takeda.
''Shingen,if we are to deal with the rebels,I suggest we ignore them.Let them come into the city,and they should be killed.'' again Marshall's voice was heard by a spy,nearing into the walls,hearing everything they said,He was spy from the Neptonlands.
''Good,that is what will be done.'' Marshall laughed,revealing a evil laugh.
The Marshall's Samurai did not care for what they had just saw.They were given their orders to capture the fairy and Labernum.That was the Marshall expected,and they would not fail him.
Nabeshima Nosage waited,sheathing his sword.The three people were right in front of him.
''Erm ladies...we should go.'' said the boy.
''Haishida!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! '' shouted Nosage.
They jumped into the ground.And they were six foot tall.
They held their hands on their swords.Gripping it.
Nosage grinned.
''Leave this to me.'' said Labernum.
She took her magick sword out.
''Hey,guys,picking on a innconet woman,are you?'' Labernum,then she giggled.
''Hah!By order of the Marshall,you will be taken,and you will bow to him! '' said one of the samurai.
''Over my dead body,I ain't gonna surrender to anyone.'' Labernum said through gritted teeth.
''Haishida!!!!!! '' they shouted and charged into Labernum.
Labernum smiled,but before she could move,she was thrown off,her sword to the ground.
She scowled and picked her sword,she stabbed into a Samurai's shoulder.The Samurai laughed and took the sword out.
She fought,but they were too strong for her.
Then she put a cloud of smoke and transported Lilly and Cood into the sky.
''Where did they go??Find them!!! '' said Nosage.
It had been easy, too easy.
To defeat the pitiful Natonite force it had taken barely half a hundred crossbowmen backed up by several hundred spearmen, a mere fraction of Marshall's army. Even this had been far more than enough, but the Marshall liked to be sure.
The commander of the victorious forces of the Marshall surveyed what had until recently been a battlefield. The successful crossbowmen had already pulled back, awaiting new orders. The less disciplined (and less well paid) spearmen had commenced searching the corpses for anything of value. His own group of bodyguard cavalry, elite Naginata riders, were chasing the handful of remaining Natonites off the field. The battle had been entirely successful, with no losses*.
The commander of the Marshall loyal army turned to his subordinate officer.
"Status report."
"No losses in crossbow or cavalry units, minor losses in spearmen divisions" The officer reported. "Enemy forces: 30 deployed, 24 killed, 3 routed, 3 captured"
"These prisoners, do they include the foreign officer?"
"The one you commanded we capture? Yes sir, and also the commanding officer and one other. The Neptonite commander also asked to see you sir."
The Commander looked towards the waiting Neptonites.
"Very well, I will be back presently. Deal with the situation as you see fit. The foreign officer must be kept alive"
"What about the other prisoners sir? The Natonite officer, should we keep them alive too sir?"
The commander glanced at his subordinate. "That will not be necessary."
"Hmm..." Cood looked around. "Where am I?"
"I have no idea," said a young woman, startling Cood, "I think the fairy transported us somewhere."
Cood looked beneath him. He was standing on what appeared to be grey fog.
"Anyway," The woman continued, "Who are you? And why were you following us?"
"I wasn't following you! I was going to try to get some Magick to make my machine work. Wait... Are you a fairy? Can you help?"
"No, I'm not. What is this machine?"
"Sorry, I can't show it to anyone unless they need to know. Wait... You said that the fairy transported us here. Where is she?"
"I don't know. Down there still, I suppose."
"Why did she transport us here? I mean, I know we were in danger, but we could have gotten out of it. And why would she try to keep me safe?"
"Because I wanted to ask you some questions."
Out of the mist came the fairy.
The foolish boy! He coulod have killed us. I put my hand to my head and sighed. Why me? Why did I have to have all this happen? Who was this young boy who thinks I am a fairie. Do I look like one? No, of course not or else I would have MADE Marshall love me.
Violently anger cursed through me. This is not the time. I thought. I spoke to the boy for a while.
"Why did she transport us here? I mean, I know we were in danger, but we could have gotten out of it. And why would she try to keep me safe?" he asked. Obnoxious boy. We were no match for my Marshall's warriors.
"Because I wanted to ask you some questions." The fairie said startling me.
Out of the mist came the fairie.
"Really?" I said, "Do you need to do dramatic entrances?" She shrugged nonchalantly.
"Its the fairie way." She said. The boy looked at her, eyes goggling.
"So, you must be the fairie." He said. What questions did she want to ask him? Why is it that when something like this happens everybody has a little chat until they drop the bomb.
Laburnum sighed. "Yes, indeed." She exchanged a glance of mild irritation with the female human, because the general understanding that men are extremely inferior and idiotic is one that crosses species boundaries with remarkable ease.
"Where are we?" asked the male human.
"The same place we were a moment ago - your world. This," she waved her hand at the surroundings, "is an illusion. I've taken us out of time for a moment, so I can talk to you. Now then. You are armed, I presume? A dagger at least?"
Both humans nodded.
"Good, because I don't know if I'll be able to fight. I'm fine here, but in reality I'm injured, badly so - I can scare them, and probably I have enough strenght left for a little magick, but not a lot... Now then. Human." She paused. "Oh, it's too much effort to start having to call you male human and female human, since I find it so very hard to tell the difference - such an ugly species you are. And I can't call you both just human, since I shan't be able to distinguish between the two. I suppose I shall have to name you. Or do you already have names?"
"Of course we have names! Mine is Lily, I have told you that before." The human known as Lily looked angry.
"Oh yes, I remember now. What about the other one?"
"I'm Cood."
"Cood? And what where you doing following me?"
"Well, I have this machine, you see, that I need magick for, and..."
"And why, prey, should I help you?"
"The fate of the Shogunate..."
"Is irrelevant to me. What should I care? It is nothing more than a brief, local war, and all parties involved will be dead and gone to dust in but an instant. We are on a different timescale, humans and faeries." She sighed. "I remember when all the land here was forest, and I will live to see it be forest again. Your cities and your empires are but passing phases. You will win a little from the earth, perhaps, but the earth will claim it back."
"Then you won't help."
"I did not say that. Wheels have been set in motion. Excalibur is raised again. Perhaps it is our time to grow interested agin in mortal affairs."
There was a violent flash of light and the cloud flickered.
Laburnum bent double, clutching her stomach. "Ah, I cannot hold Time much longer. Prepare to return."
The clearing re-materialised before them. They had but a moment’s grace before the Marshall’s men saw them, and began to approach. Laburnum drew Excalibur, coughing violently with the effort, golden blood from her mouth flecking the floor. She leant on the sword as an old woman leans on a stick, world spinning blotchily before her gaze. She heard Cood and Lily draw their weapons.
“Stay back,” she hissed, “Watch that they don’t send somebody round behind us.”
Then she turned to the men. “Stop,” she croaked, blood dripping freely from her mouth as she spoke, “do not approach and I will not harm you.”
One of the soldiers chuckled, and made to grab her. She moved with impossible speed, drawing a small, ornate dagger. There was a flash of red as it passed through his armour like a shark through water, and she dragged it up, from the bottom of his belly to the top of his chest with the expert movement of one gutting a fish. Lightning fast, she stuck her hand into the cavity and plucked out his heart, which she held aloft with one arm, still leaning on her sword with the other.
Her voice crackled painfully out of her chest. “Well then? Who will fight me? Believe me, I fight like an animal, and if there’s one thing more dangerous than a healthy predator, it’s an injured one.”
There was a silence, as the men absorbed what they had seen. Laburnum grinned, but the pain made it more of a grimace. They would probably leave now, and then… there was a whirl of silver, and something struck Laburnum in the face. She clutched her cheek and screamed, then hobbled forwards, lurching side to side, gold streaming down her front, towards the man who had thrown it. She stopped, half a pace in front of his terrified face and, without taking her eyes off him, lifted the red lump in her hand to her lips. Her jaw dislocated grotesquely, snakelike, revealing a double row of teeth behind her neat little lips and she swallowed it whole, without chewing.
As one man, the soldiers turned and ran. Military training prepares a man for many things, but not for the wanton evil of an angry faerie.
Laburnum watched them go, and then the world went black. Excalibur gave way, skittering sideways, and she collapsed onto the floor, red and gold smearing her lips. And on her cheek, a livid burn the shape and size of a small crucifix.
Nosage fumed in anger.They had been trained to attack the fairy,what happened there back then?
''We are Samurai!'' he shouted to his men.
They had landed on the earth again.
''We know how to defeat a fairy!And we will die trying! '' said Nosage, raising his Katana.
''Follow them!And make sure we kill them all!No,We capture them!!! '' he shouted,and the band of Samurai followed to where the cloud had long gone.
Daniel stood in the forrest.He was alone.But he was sad,too many people had died of because of him.But then,the Marshall's forces were powerful.and the Marshall was not going to ,say ,not give up very easily.
And Cood,his brother,and his mother,how he missed them.But the Marshall was reputable for that.His Fusiliers had caused a great deal of damage.His Samurai had cut off the heads of rebels,his Carthagin Infantry had slayed them in battle.He looked up to the sky.
Who would save this world?The Marshall here seemed ready to take it on and pull the world into somethign it did not want to be.Even still,he did not want the Marshallt to do that.
The Spy from the Neptonlands had escaped from the city,as he hurried to the forrest,Tako was buried in the bushes with his men.The Spy was dressed
Cood stood in shock, looking at the wounded farie.
"I thought they couldn't be killed?" He said to the one called Lily.
"I don't know." She said, with no emotion.
"We've got to help her!"
"I don't know how. You probably have to get some magical flower from some bewitched tree on an invisible mountain or something." Cood was shocked at the lack of caring in Lily's voice.
"Be serious! She's dying!"
"No, I'm not." said the Fairie.
Lily rolled her eyes. "There always has to be so much drama with you, doesn't there?"
"But... But... I'm sure you were..."
"I was wounded, that's all... Arrgh!" The Fairie fell to her knees.
"What? You're badly hurt, aren't you?"
"No..." She saw the look Cood gave her. "Oh, a little. I think the blade had meran poison on it. But I'll be okay, for now."
Cood looked horrified. "Meran poison? But that's incurable!"
"No, it isn't. We have about three days, and it can be cured by the laaas flower, which grows in the Black Mountains."
Now we have to go and find a most probably rare flower, which might not even exist any more. Why should we risk our LIVES for her. What has she ever done for us? She even thought that we weren't worthy of names.
The foolish boy, Cood, he would follow her like a devoted puppy if he thought his mechanism would work. She didn't ask the flaming question! I realised.
"Fairie." I said rudely, then I realised that I didn't know her name. "What was it that you wanted to ask?" I said in far nicer tones, as nice as I could talk to somebody who thought they were far more superiour than me.
"Hum- Lily, I also have a name, one of which my mother chose. I dislike it intensly," She said scornfully. Doesn't she know that all names are chosen by they're parents in the human world?
"What is this name?" I asked politely. She gasped as Cood managed to remove soemthing from her wound. Whatever it was I didn't want to see.
"Laburnam." Labur- What? Why couldn't she have a nice name that rolls of the tongue easily.
"Do you mind if we just call you Labby?" Asked Cood cheekily. So now he thinks he can be cheeky? He was a little boy, for crying out loud, and he's got cheek to go and say 'can I call you Labby?' LABBY! Really?
"Well why don't we call you Coowie?" I retorted. He blinked confused. Coowie, he seemed to be thinking, isn't that what you say to babies?
"Oh," He said shamefaced, "Sorry, Labur-, Lab- Sorry." Ha, I thought, he can't even say her name!
Laburnum groaned, choking up more blood. “Laburnum. Oh, and Lily, as for your comment earlier - the flower is not inherently magical, merely healing, nor is it found on a bewitched tree. The only bits you got right were flower and mountain, giving your comments an accuracy of two out of six, which is hardly exceptional. How long was I out for?”
“Barely a minute,” said Cood. He seemed rather dazed, and Laburnum wondered if he wasn’t a little simple.
“I see… well then, we must be…” Laburnum paused a moment, then touched her mouth. “That’s funny – it seems wider than it was a moment ago. Hmm. I must have forgotten to shrink it after I dislocated my jaw…” She sat a moment, but nothing happened, and she frowned. “Oh well, I shall have to deal with that later, perhaps I’m just tired, or -” She gasped, and touched her face. “Oh no. No no no no no. Meran poison, why didn’t I think?”
She sprung up, pulling the helmet off the dead soldier and gazing, horrified, at her reflection. “No…” she whispered.
“What’s wrong?” Asked Cood.
Lily shrugged. “Oh, she’s probably got a spot. Ignore her, she’s such a drama Queen.”
Cood stared.
Laburnum wailed, and threw the helmet with such force that it ricocheted off a tree and landed, flat as still water, some distance downhill. She threw herself onto the floor, covering her face. “Just leave me here, humans. There’s no point.”
“What..?”
“I shall be ugly. I forgot, one of the side effects of the poison – loss of beauty. I refuse to be seen if I am to be ugly. Go away and leave me to die, that’ll teach mother, the” Laburnum said a word in a beautiful, flute-like language with a snarl so nasty that the meaning was clearly less lovely than the sound.
Oh so now we don't need to risk our lives just because she will be 'ugly'. Fairies are so not adaptable - humans can lose legs and hair and shrivel up and still carry on yet she can't live because she will be 'ugly'.
What is the point of ugly and beautiful? Everybody looks different but some people are beautiful and others are ugly.
"Oh no! Thats simply dreadful," Cood cried, was he being sarcastic? His face told me that he really did care. What was wrong with the foolish midget? Did he like her or something?
"You owe me." I shouted at her, "You OWE me so we will all go and get the flower and you will do as I ASKED as my payment. Then you may kill yourself."
"Oh, its all about YOU isn't it. The whole world has to revolve around you! You hate this Marshall person JUST BECAUSE HE DIDN'T LIKE YOU! WHy can't you just MOVE ON?" Laburnam cried eyes full of fury. The world doesn't revolve around me. I choose what should happen and I am important here. NOT Marshall, or her or that little wimp, Cood.
"Please, don't argue..." said Cood.
Lily turned on him. "And why should you care? You've fallen for her already, I can see that. You'll side with her!"
"What the..."
"And why shouldn't the boy side with me, human? I'm in the right, that's obvious."
"No you're not, you stupid..."
"SHUT UP!" shouted Cood. Caught by surprise, Lily and Laburnum did so.
"Look," Cood continued, "I don't want you fighting because that'll slow us down and I need her to get this invention working to save my city from that stupid Marshall! For all I know, my brother's already dead because of him and I am not going to let your... Your... Your stupidity make another innocent person die! And," he said, as Laburnum opened her mouth to speak, "Don't you dare accuse me of only wanting you alive because I want my invention working. I don't want anyone to die, thank you very much, and if you staying alive means that I get my invention working then that's just a bonus! And you," he pointed at Lily, "Don't you dare say that I'm in love with her and that's why I want her alive; to be honest, after seeing your idiotic attitudes towards each other today, I couldn't like either of you less, but we've got to work as a team and I won't let my dislike of you two get in the way of keeping people alive! Okay?"
The Fairie and the woman stared at him. Cood waited for a reaction
The damn boy! Why should he have a right to intervene. I couldn't care less if the whole damn world blow up this damn moment. Good riddance I'd say.
"Look little boy, I don't care if your flaming brother dies a slow and painful death, all I want is to get everything back to normal, minus Marshall and Anna." I told him.
"Leave him alone," Gasped Laburnam, "He's right, parasites like you don't deserve to die because of your boyfriend who didn't actually physically like you."
"Fine, you two ruin everything and just leave me alone. All I ever get is hatred wherever I go. Even my sons hate me." My sons! I don't know where they are!
"Sons," gasped Laburnam. "Why the hell didn't you say so."
"Say what? That I have two illegimate sons?"
"Yes!" She cried, "We fairies need to protect them!"
"WHY!" I protested.
"There is a prophesy, The woman, named after a flower, who bears two illegimate sons, will die, her offspring will live, to save the fairie Kingdom."
"What rubbish," I said, my lazy fifteen year old and my over-excitable three year old couldn't save the world even if they had trained all they're lives.
"What if its true?" Asked Cood, he had a point, but, I can't show a weakness in front of him.
"So what?"
"So, we will have help."
"But I will die."
"Your offspring will live," Cried Laburnam, "Normal mothers would prefer for them to die if they're children live." I am not normal. I hate my bloody children.
Laburnum sighed. "You fail to understand. I wish to die. Who are you to disprespect my decison?"
"But how can it be right for me to let you die, just because you won't let go of your vanity?"
Laburnum laughed. "Vanity? Oh, humans, so very narrow minded. In parts of your species, a human may choose death over, say, the loss of honour. Or over loosing one they love. These emotions, these values, are esteemed by your species, hugely so, and you would perhaps be more understanding if it was for one of these I choose to die. But we are a different race. To us, beauty is everything. Everything. More important, even, than honour or love are to you, because beauty and power go hand in hand, and power is the other thing we esteem above all else."
She sighed, feeling the blood bubble in her lungs, and wondered if the humans understood. She certainly did not understand them, for all they were lesser beings, in the same way humans fail to understand beings lesser to them - cows, sheep, horses.
"But... What if we found the flower before the poison distorts you? We could get to the Black Mountains in less than a day if we hurried, at least, if I'm right in thinking we're near the Fairieland border." Cood said, desperate to get the Fairie to help him with his invention.
Tako raised his longsword,his men behind him in the bush.They jumped on the spy,the spy struggled,but they took along the forest.Daniel sat on the rock carving something out of wood with his kinfe.
''Daniel! '' shouted Tako
''What? '' replied Daniel,in a firm voice
''We found someone in the forest! ''
''Who? ''
''He looks like a spy! ''
The word 'spy'' forze Daniel
''Bring him here.'' he ordered
They bought the spy to Daniel
''Who are you?'' asked Daniel
''I will never say anything!! '' shouted the spy.
''Hmm,Just to let you know,we are the last of the shogunate.'' Daniel replied in a boring tone.
''The Last of the Shogunate? '' the spy replied shocked.
''Yes,The Marshall here has taken the city.'' said Daniel
''I can not believe this,The Last I heard,he's already managed to defeat the English Empire and their allies,now he rules their lands,and when he goes to battle,he will call them.''
''What? '' said Daniel
Everyone turned to look at him.
''Yes,there is more.He intends to rule the whole world,he will conquer everything in his path,The Marshall is intent on making a Empire.''
''It can't be... '' said Daniel
''More and More people flock to join his army.He is growing ever so powerful,I think you would be amazed by the might of his army.'' said the spy,who rapsed each word.
Daniel shook his head
''From where are you? ''
''Neptonlands.''
The Marshall stood from the balcony.He watched as the dawn of the sunlight hit high in the sky.
Napoleon and Takeda stood next to him.
''Have you ever noticed that is a rare moment for us to see the sunlight filling the earth? Its quite amazing.'' said Marshall
''It is indeed,My lord,do you think it is time if we look at our armed forces.'' Napoleon said.
''Ah do not worry,We just need to camp our army outside of the city,and use Hannibals army to garrsion the city.More and More people will flock to join our army,so it should not be that much of a difference.'' Marshall said,quickly.
''And then of course,there are the rebels.'' said Takeda.
''Rebels?I thought you had dealt with them.'' Marshall facial expression grew worse everytime he spoke.
''Well...erm..we have..'' Takeda stammered
Marshall walked to Takeda
''I'll tell you this,I DO NOT WANT THESE REBLES ATTACKING MY RULE!I SHALL QUELL THEM AND KILL THEM EVEN IF I HAVE TO! '' Marshall said in a raised voice
Like most people from Natonland, Bithainium had heard rumours of the Marshall.
These rumours had contained very little solid evidence and disagreed on vital points. Some said the Marshall had a handful of men, some said he had millions. Some said he owned no land, others said his kingdom rivaled the shogunate in size. One of the few things everyone agreed on was what the Marshall's banner looked like.
And that was how Bithainium was able to easily identify the flag hanging over what had been a battlefield.
One of the rumours Bithainium had heard was that the Marshall was known to spare captured women, children and civilians. To Bithainium, a male, adult soilder, this wasn't much of a reassurance.
Bithainium supposed he was now the Marshall's prisoner. The spearman had not moved the point of his spear from Bithainium's neck since the battle had ended, but the spearman looked unsure of himself, as if he wished to kill Bithainium but didn't know if he would get in trouble for it.
Bithainium had identified his captors as Japanese Asigaru, peasant spearmen used in most Japanese armies. They were not paid well, so the looting they were committing now was understandable.
"There's nothing on them" one spearman complained. "No money, no gold, nothing."
"What about weapons?" another enquired, already holding a looted calvary spear.
"There barely better than ours and we've never used them those types before, stick to weapons you know"
"What about this?" said one spearman excitedly.
Everyone looked at the golden adorned calvary sword in his hands. Bithainium recognized it instantly, because it was his. It had been knocked out of Bithainium's hand when his horse was killed.
"Where did you find that?" a spearman enquired.
"Over there"
One soldier, quicker on the uptake than his comrades, looked at Bithainium and quietly asked "is that yours."
"Yes."
"Have you got the scabbard?"
Bithainium considered saying no, but what would it of achieved? Instead he untied it from his belt and handed it to the man.
Around the sword a small argument was starting.
"Hand it over"
"What are you talking about, it's mine!"
Soon nearly everyone was involved in the argument, some talking, some shouting and some trying to grab the sword. Even the spearman who had captured Bithainium was involved, no longer concentrating on pointing his spear at Bithainium's neck.
"Look. I've captured him, so that sword belongs to me!"
"Hey I found it!"
Barely anyone was looking at Bithainium now. Almost all the spearmen nearby were gathered round the sword. Bithainium knew he could use this to his advantage. He grabbed his knife from his belt.
Three...
"I found it so it's mine!"
"I captured him!"
Two...
"Well I killed his horse!"
"No, I did!"
One...
"No you did not!"
"Well I've got the scabbard!"
"Where did you find that!"
Now!
Bithainium grabbed the spear from the man above him, forced it to the side then pulled. As the man fell, surprised, Bithainium jumped up and forcing his knife into the man's neck.
The spearmen ran about randomly. Some tried to force there was to Bithainium, while some ran away. Some froze in surprise while quite a few still gathered around the sword, oblivious to the chaos around them.
Grabbing the spear from the fallen soldier, Bithainium hit the scabbard stealer with the shaft then, as the man dropped the scabbard and fell to the ground, rammed the point into a nearby soldier.
As, some distance away, the leader of the forces loyal to Marshall exchanged greetings with the leader of the Neptonite forces, they both failed to notice the chaos breaking out in the ranks of the Marshall soldiers far behind them.
One of Daniel's men came out of th bushes,to his amazement,he saw that the walls had been reduced to a proper height, probably only 50ft.But then the archers.light infantry and boom,a loud spark came and a cannon ball,arrows and bullets hit the rebel before he could move.Nothing was left of him.
The Marshall came out of the city, with a thousand fusiliers,all blue coated -white belted uniformed soliders with black gleaming shakovs,Francian Curriaser regiments walked along with the troops.Yari And Natgina Samurai accompanied the troops,Libyan Hoplites and Carthagian infantry infantry with long shields and short swords appeared from the gates.
They formed into a deep column.The Fusiliers loaded thier long muskets,while the Yari and Naginta Samurai were intended to be shock troops.The Marshall watched from the ground,as Napoleon and Takeda were looking at the troops from Daniel's side,they were a bunch of scraggy men amazed by what they saw.One of them,Lammens ran to Danile,where he stood tall and proud,traini9ng as his Tako instrutced him.
''What is it? '' asked Tako in annyonce
''Its...its...the Marshall's troops..... '' he panted.
;''The what????????????And who the??'' Tako almost shouted and nearly screamed.
'''Wait,Tako.Lammens,show me the Marshall and his little despot army.'' Lammens noddd and Daniel and Tako walked behind him.As soon as they went out of the foest,they saw the Marshall himself,he was in a splendid uniform,more of the Francian style,wearing a blue uniform with gold butttons coming down to his wasit,and white trousers to stop it pverextending,in his hands he held a sword.
''Ah..welcome indeed.You must be Daniel.'' aid the Marshall.
For a minute no one said anything.Daniel's men hurrided to protect him.He let out his hand and they withdrawed back,only a few paces back.
''Who are you? '' asked Tako
The Marshall let out a laugh.
''Dear God!People have been telling me that there are rumos goin around everywhere about me and my army.Why...Do they not know of my impotance?Do they not know of what I do?DO THEY NOW WHAT I DO?I KILL THEM.I HATE PEOPLE THAT REFUSE ME.'' the Marshall raised his voice.
''I'm sorry...we don't knwow...you...'' said Daniel
''I am the Marshall,my boy!The one and only! ''' he said in a cheerful voice.
''You don't look like a Marshall to me....''' said Tako.
The Marshall said nothing but he transformed himself into his terrifying demonic Samurai Armour
Tako was stunned.Daniel was not.
''So you are the Marshall.You and your army should leave our lands before we kill you! '' Daniel spoke in a threating voice.
''If you were that foolish to challnge me,let us fight.Fool,you are going to regret the day you challenged me.'' The Marshall rpelied in a deadly.cold voice.
''I don't care.What I want is rvenge for your troops killing my mother.'' Daniel's reply froze the Marshall.
''Your mother? '' asked Marshall
''Yes.'' in a firm vice,the reply from Daniel came back.
''I had given orders not to rape or kill woman.And yet my troops disobey me.Damn them.I shall deal with them.I will bring them to you now and you can kill them if you want.'' said the Marshall in a fast voice,he muttered under his breath.
No said anything as they saw the Marshall growing from evil to almost neurtal..
''I don't give a damn abvout you or your troops.I want you to get off the Shogunate lands.''
The Marshall shook his head
''Never.I intend to make a Empire.You know the rules of warfare.'' Marshall raised his hand up in defiance.
''So the spy from the Neptonlands was right...''' Daniel almost swore at himself
''Neptonlands? '' asked the Marshall.
''Yes.'' said Daniel,quite bored.
''DAMN THEM!DAMN THEM!DAMN THOSE IDIOTS WHO WANT TO KILL MY EMPIRE!!!! ''' shouted the Marshall.
''Yes,Now if you may...'' But the Marshall ha dalready gone.Daniel turned around to see the Marshal standing on the ground,behind his troops,he raised his sword and plunged it to the ground.
''Ready Muskets!!! '' shouted the Francian officers.
''Men,to me!!! '' shouted Daniel and a very large army,in fac,it almost outnumbered the Marshall's army charged from, the forrest.
''On my order!!! ''' shouted the Francian Ofificers again.
A large mob was charging at the Marshall's enemies.
''Fire!!! '' Massive bursts of volleys came from the Francian Muskets
,it stopped the massive advance,and suddenluy,thousands of the rebels were dead.But this did not stop them from charging back.
''Second Line,ready!!! '' shouted the Marshall.The First line of the Francian fusiliers advanced back,while a new fresh second line aimed their muskets high and up.
''Fire!!!!! '' shouted Napoleon.
And Arteillary shot cannons ,exploding on to the grounds,making massive craters,and slicing the rebels in half,their bodies were torn off by the sharp pieces of shrapnel,Cannon ball's chopped of heads in a second.
The Volleys were given out like money falling from the sky.Rpeated shouts of fire and massive volleys were given out,and the rebels advance had become nothing more than a plie of boides.
But this urged the rbels on,they came very close to the Marshalls line,when,Daniel,at the head of his troops saw the fusiliers withdraw and the Samurai appeared with spears and swords.Not them again.He thought.He saw a large imposing figure, probably the general of his forces,Daniel thought,he raised his sword an shouted ''Hai'' the same shout was carried out by the Samurai.
It was just a shout.He merely smiled.But then his expression turned white as he saw the Samurai advancing to him.Well he was not going to give up just like that,he shouted,what happened in a few ten minutes,he did not know,but his army was running away,the Marshall's army had not suffered any loses as yet,and he was back in the forest,he was totally confused,surely this couldnt be a trick?He thought
The Marshall had watched Daniel and smiled,he had went into Daniel's body and confused the world for him.
The Forrest was in fire.Cannons and artiearly bomabered the forest.Fire eurpted everywhere,killing the wildlife of the once peaceful forest in front of the shogunate.It was a sad day,the Marshall thought.But then of course,who would care?
Daniel ran from the fire,the woods fell in front of him,making his way more diffcult fro him,he tried to escape,but more wood with flames came from nowhere and burnt his back. He groanied in pain
''Daniel!Come here!!! '' Tako shouted.
Tako and his men took Daniel and took him to the underground.Daniel groaned in pain.
The Marshall watched from the city walls.Should do,he thought.
We jumped startled. There was a huge bang and a roaring sound. "Oh great." I muttered sarcastically. "We are going to burn to death just because I tried to help a fairie, Cood wanted magic, and you came into this world in the first place." I tried to stay sarcastic but at the end my voice broke as it dawned on me that we were really going to die. Why hadn't I just gone to my meeting and discuss flowers and hair and be horrible about everyone else. At least all I'd be is bored not fearing for my life.
"Daniel, what if it's Daniel." Cood screamed. what was happening? I glanced around to see that Laburnam was sitting up with a spear in her hand, aiming at a running figure.
"Don't shoot." I shouted startled at my ferociousness of my voice, I stumbled over my words. "All the men in Marshalls army are kids. They are too scared of Marshall to not join his army."
"AND? Is it my problem if they die because they're cowards?" Laburnum roared. I flinched away from her fury and started running towards the faint outline of a boy.
''The men in my army are not kids! '' the Marshall burst out.He was outside the city walls and looking at the forest.''You dare trouble us again,Daniel,and more citizens will die every day! ''.
Takeda stood next to him.Then a slow white flag was raised from the ground.Tako emerged from the ground and went to the Marshall.
''Welcome indeed.What do you want? '' The Marshall this time was quick with greetings
''I would like a truce.Give us time,Mr Marshall,so we can raise a army and fight you.'' Tako said in a hurry.
''Very well,we'll still bombard the forest.''
''Then I cannot accept.''
The Marshall laughed
''Then die. ''
Tako left.
''Are you sure about this sire? '' asked Takeda.
''Quite,Quite sure about this,oh look here come my samurai. ''
The six foot tall Samurai came and bowed in front of the Marshall.
''Do you have them? '' he asked
One of them looked at each other.
''No.'' replied the leader in charge.
''I see.I see,I SEE,YOU COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS ,THIS ONE SIMPLE JOB!NEXT TIME I SEND YOU OUT,YOU ARE TO CAPTURE THEM ALIVE! '' he shouted.
''Yes,Sire! '' shouted the Samurai and they left.
''Is it me or I am just going crazy? '' The Marshall asked.
The forest rumbled.Fire and smoke came from it,as it pounded the forest.
The ground underneath,shook.Dust fell from the heavy bombardment of the Marshall's cannon.
Daniel peeked from the ground,he fell down as a heavy cannonball fell at him.
''Where's Cood? '' he muttered.
The Marshall merely smiled.Your ''Cood'' will be dead by the time I see him.He thought
Lily stood in the black mountains,Labernum was already a wreak,and Cood just sat there.Until a great light appeared,and suddenly the Marshall came out.
''Well,well,what we have here? '' asked the Marshall
They all jumped at the sight of the Marshall.Lily heart's became faster and faster.Cood wondered who he was.Labernum drawed her sword,but The Marshall stopped her by damaging her with a bolt of thunder.
Labernum groaned in pain.She staggered to one side.
The Marshall turned to Lily
''Well,well,if it is not the woman who uses men for their own benefits. '' he sneered.
Lily however was calm.
''Oh,and your Anna does you well? Doesn't she? '' she raised her voice
''Anna?I haven't found her yet. '' the Marshall replied inncoelty
''WHAT?? '' she almost shouted.
The Marshall confiremd it by the nod of his head.
''And now you all run away. Good. This will give me more time to remove all the corrupt people of this very world and the creatures who think they are superior than mortal beings. Then...Then....hahah.....I will rule,I will rule this world,I shall crush this world,and make it bend to my will,and no one will stop me.Not you,or this boy. '' the Marshall laughed in a very deep voice
''For your information he is not a boy,he is Cood! '' shouted Labernum
''No need to make the scene sick,Princess Labernum of lololand. You can move of this world and let the mortals fight with each other. '' The Marshall turned to Labernum.
Labernum looked at the Marshall in fury.
''Yes,Thank you.Now Cood,do you have a brother called Daniel? '' the Marshall asked.
Cood nodded.
''I'm afraid he is going to be killed. '' he said. This bought the attention of the two females.
''Because you see ,I have made a vast empire now.And Daniel here ,from the shogunate is resisting me.I just need to have finished and then I will deal with you lot.Good day. '' the Marshall nodded and left,fading into the distance.
How DARE he, how could he try and kill Cood's brother, he's only a flipping boy. Surely, he can't be powerful at all. Marshall, a grown wizard, V Daniel, a kid. What is that all about.
"Are you okay," I asked Laburnam urgently.
"He sp... sp...ed up th... th... the procc- e...ss." She whispered faltering. I glanced at Cood, he seemed frozen.
"Cood." I said calmly, a flickering of his eyes told me he was listening. "Listen, I need to divert Marshall. You need to get Laburnam fixed and I shall help Daniel." I knew that he would want to help Daniel, but, I didn't think he was up for seeing his body mauled to pieces.
He gave a slight nod and turned towards Laburnam. "Wait a second, how are we going to communicate with each other?" I asked.
"The less we communicate, the less he will know." Said Cood robotically.
Commander Tacerim of the Neptonite forces watched as the leader of the army loyal to the Marshall dismounted and walked towards the Neptonite forces.
Tacerim was a paticulally old and respected Neptonite family name. Tacerim's ancestors had taken part in every battle ever fought against the hated enermy, Natonland, and never had a Tacerim possessed a rank lower than captain. The historic feats performed by Tacerims in the past were as diverse as they were plentiful, from mapping the krachelm river to exploring the black mountains. From holding the fort at Neptotropolis to nearly winning the battle of kiasabanear. But commander Tacerim planned to outdo all him family's achievements with the results of one alliance.
Tacerim was aware that some in Neptonlands capital called him a collaborator. An ally of forces that could wipe Neptonland out in the blink of an eye. Tacerim cared little of this. Men were always jelous of those with power, and he now had more power than any in the country. He alone negotiated with Marshall's forces, he was Neptonlands only contact with the outside world.
So yes, he was a collaborator. And yes, the collaboration was with forces who could wipe most of the known world off the map. But the gains of the alliance would be plentiful. Far more than just the annexing of Natonland, somthing Neptonland could not of managed by itself in a hundred years.
The benefits would come not from the west (Marshall's dominion) but from the east. And if the agreement went well then Neptonland would have far more power than any other nation possessed, more even than the Marshall had. And commander Tacerim would be the man to lead his nation forth into that glorious future.
The leader of Marshall's forces finally reached the Neptonite line and bowed in greeting. Remembering that this commander was from feudal Japan, Tacerim returned the greeting and the meeting began.
"Sucess?" Tacerim asked barely hiding the excitement in his voice.
"Indeed, the Natonite force is defeated, and the foreign officer captured. All is as you requested."
"Any other survivors?"
"The Natonite officer and one other. If my lieutenant carried out his orders, then they are no longer survivors."
"Good"
Tacerim was suddenly aware of a low murmoring beginning in his troops behind him. Ignoring it, he continued.
"Phase two can begin then?" He enquired, louder than before to block out the growing noise behind him.
"Indeed, providing the payments are made." The commander representing Marshall was looking more and more concerned at the noise from the Neptonite troops.
"They will be, but first for the prisoner transfer" Tacerim was almost shouting now.
"As you say, why you seem to value that foreign captain so highly is beyond me." Tacerim's men were all shouting now. Tacerim thought himself a lenient man ( despite all evidence to the contrary) but this was ridiculas.
Tacerim turned angrily towards his troops "Look here, will you just be..." and stopped, for he realised his troops were paying him no attention. They were looking and gesturing towards the other side of the battlefield, where Marshall's troops were, and where fighting seemed to be breaking out.
After several hours of marching, soley energised by my determination to find this Daniel. I assumed that he was similar in shape and size of Cood. From what I had heard I thought that he was the eldest.
I searched wearily, scanning the forest, the scent of burning seemingly 'stuck' in my nose. Where could he be? I delved deeper into te forest hoping to find something, a sign.
I walked on and on, until my exaution took over and I collasped onto the musty floor.
2 hours later...
I felt a rising sensation, as if I was floating up toward the clou-, Oh what am I thinking, I am just being picked up. Now, the question is who was it?
It had been several hours since they had parted with Lily, and they had been walking constantly since then. Laburnum hadn't been finding it easy; she was panting and had had to stop several times along the way. Now, they knew they were close to what they needed; they were at the Black Mountains.
The best way to describe the Black Mountains would be mountainous. Cood had thought most mountains seemed mountainous, but none were quite so mountainous as these; they were huge, and looked treacherous and steep; it would be hard work getting up them.
The Black Mountains. This was where the flower should be. Cood called to Laburnum, and they carried onwards.
As they approached the mountains, it became apparent that there was a winding path which started ahead of them. It looked well-worn, with footprints and cart-trails, although all the prints seemed quite old.
"The Natonite Trade Route!" Laburnum exclaimed, then groaned because of the pain it had caused her to make the outburst. Quieter, she continued. "We've been very lucky. This is a path that goes straight through to Natonland, and has many people who travel it. We should be able to find the flower on it without having to climb, plus there's Natonite guards all along it, so it's free of Demons."
Demons! Of course! Cood had forgotten about them. Thank goodness Laburnum had reminded him - otherwise he would have strayed right into their territory, and not even Sandra knows what would have happened to him then.
The footprints did look very old, though...
Cood led the way along the path for quite a long time. Although it was not as steep as the mountains were, the path still rose at a steady rate, meaning that it was very tiring. Laburnum looked close to collapsing, and Cood felt the same way.
However, at the moment, Cood was more worried than exhausted. He had travelled along half the trade route, and he had not met another soul; he had certainly not seen any Natonite guards. However, he still had the feeling something was watching him.
But his worries and his exhaustion melted away as he saw the flower on the side of the road. He ran up to it, picked it, and with a joyful cry gave it to Laburnum, who ate it.
The sudden change in the farie's features was remarkable. She was suddenly healthy and beautiful, and looked as though she had experienced happiness to the full. Cood laughed out loud, knowing that this part of the quest was over.
His laughter was short lived.
"A farie in the Black Mountains. How unusual. And I see it has brought a pet with it."
Cood turned to see what it was, but in his sinking heart he already knew. It was a Demon.
Chaos was breaking out in the Asigaru ranks.
Already about a dozen lay dead, including the original prisoner taker, the scabbard holder and most of the spearmen gathered around the sword, who had refused to let go of it, even to fight of their attacker. The sword however, was now back in Bithainium's possession, having been taken from their now dead hands.
Bithainium's seemingly good luck against his captors could be put down to several factors, and any skill on Bithainium's part was not one of them. Bithainium had been trained as an officer and was therefore even less proficient at hand to hand combat then the Asigaru (which was quite suprising considering the usual method for recruiting a peasant spearman was to press a spear into his hands and point him in the direction of the enermy). One thing was certain however, if Bithainium had tried this kind of escape against the well trained, well armed, well disciplined soldiers who made up the majority of the soldiers in Marshall's armies, he would of been dead in seconds.
The main reasons for his continued survival were as follows:
1. The Asigaru were undiciplined and indecisive. The spearmen wishing to fight Bithainium had to shove past the men trying to run away and those who were still making their minds up. This led to very few of these men actually reaching Bithainium, and those who did cameup against the next problem.
2. The Asigaru around Bithainium were in a panicked mass of their own men, and thus prevented from easily using their long weapons for fear of injuring their friends. Bithainium however, had no friends in the near vicinity and was not troubled by this.
3. Bithainium still had the element of suprise, mainly because the other two captives were also using this opportunity to escape. This advantage would probably be short lived however, mainly due to the mass of Neptonites rushing towards the battle from the opposite side of the field.
4. The Asigaru had no commander, as the man left in charge of them was some distance away with the crossbowmen ( ironically, he was briefing them on the killing of 2 Natonite prisoners and the transfer of the other) and couldn't care less about whatever chaos peasant spearmen got up to.
All in all, these advantages probably wouldn't last long, but perhaps they would last just long enough.
Not that any of this occured to Bithainium as he fought off his attackers, he was just mildly surprised that he was still alive.
To his left, the Captain was decapitating Asigaru with his long sword that Bithainium, in his state of heightened awareness, now recognized as a Japanise katana. To his far right, the only other survivor, a Natonite soldier, was fighting his adversary's off with his bare hands (a skill probably learnt in an inn somewhere in Natonland).
Bithainium fully expected to die at the hands of his opponents, so it came as a pleasant surprise when they scattered, leaving the ground around him clear of everything but corpses. Untill Bithainium released why they had scattered.
The Naginta calvalry were returning.
Having accomplished their goal of killing the routing Natonites, the horsemen had seen what was happening and were coming back to finish the job. Realizing this, the spearmen had pulled back in two groups, creating a corridor from right to left for the calvalry to charge through. They now waited, brandishing spears and ready to force any running Natonites back into the corridor.
Bithainium knew that if he didn't act fast he would end up impaled on the long, curved blades at the end of the Naginta's wooden lance like poles. The weapons that, infact, gave the Naginta cavalry their name.
Thinking fast he brandished his spear in the classic anti cavalry position, point facing diagonally upwards, just as the lead Naginta reached the bare fisted Natonite to Bithainium's right.
The blade came down and the Natonite fell to the ground blood pouring from his neck. The horse just continued, trampling him.
The Marshall looked at the golden map from where he would rule the world.The Shogunate had been taken,his Kingdom and other empires were now under his rule.All that remained was a brush up of those Nepton -Nepitionate lands and he would rule justly.
But then,he had receuved contacts from his forces that they were forming an alliance with the Marshall.The Marshall deeply suspected this ''tarecim '' .He sat nearby the center of the citadel.Takeda and Napoleon were seated beside the dark wooden table.
''These Natonite people.....What is their reason to ally with us ?'' The Marshall said.
''My Lord,they say that if we help them,we enter Natonland anc capture the captain meme.And then we give him to the Neptonites,they will give us 200,000 mems a monthly tribute of 10,000 plus favorable trade agreements and all suplus valuebles produced in the next year.We defeat defeat the Natonite bridge and ford garrisons and proceed to the capital. Natonland is annexed.The share is as follows, 50% of Natonite territory goes to Marshall and half to Neptonland, the capital is split down the middle '' replied Takeda.
The Marshall sighed
''We can accept the alliance.But what I do not understand is why are they so ''willing'' to get this captain meme? '' The Marshall looked at Takeda
''Perhaps it is of some value to the Natonite's.If I were you,I would not trust them. '' added Napoleon.
The Marshall expression grew into a grin,a another grin,and then he laughed.
''Why,Indeed.We shall help the Nationites.But if they betray us,we shall defeat them.I did not raise just an army of cowards! I raised an army of force! And let them come.I shall crush them like a lemon.'' With that the Marshall laughed again.
The Naginta rider, blood now dripping from his weapon, now rode straight towards Bithainium. And Bithainium realised, a bit late, that his spear actually had less reach the horsemans long pole mounted blade.
This a terrible thing to realise with a huge, already bloodied, warhorse and rider bearing down on you.
The rider changed the direction of his horse slightly, to counter Bithainium's hurried defense. He would charge past Bithainium and then sweep his blade down, without ever coming into range of Bithainium's inexpertly held spear. Bithainium knew this.
The leading horseman was almost upon him. He would be mortally wounded then trampled beneath the horse's iron covered hoofs. There was no way on earth he could suprise the rider. If he stood still he would be killed. If he ran, he would be run down. There was no way he could reach the end of the funnel formed by the spearmen in time.
With no other options, Bithainium pointed the spear towards the ground and ran forwards.
The point of the spear dug into the ground and he was vaulted into the air. Letting go of the spear, he landed on the horse and held on to it for dear life.
The Naginta rider was taken completely by surprise. Before he could react, Bithainium kicked out, knocking him off the horse. The cavalryman behind him couldn't stop in time, and ran over the displaced horseman.
Pulling himself up, Bithainium spurred the horse forward. Looking around he noticed that the Captain had somehow acquired a mount also. Although the decapitated previous rider and the blood on the Captain's Katarna probably explained how.
The spearmen, were trying to close the thin funnel, rushing in from both sides, but it was already to late, and all they achieved was the obstruction of the remaining Naginta riders. Screams and cries of terror sounded out as the horsemen tried, and failed to stop their horses in time.
Not daring to look behind him Bithainium reached the dense forest that had sheltered Marshall's men. He charged past a surprised officer and some crossbowmen, who failed to load their cumbersome weapons in time to stop him.
And then Bithainium and the Captain were gone, into the trees, and vanishing without a trace.
Commander Tacerim was angry.
He had been so close, so close, to power that no-one else in Neptonland had ever possessed. The fact the might not agree to the alliance was not one he had even considered. And then everything had vanished, as quickly as it had arrived. With the Captain not in his possession, none of his plans could go ahead. He had been so close and then, somehow, everything had been snatched away because several hundred armed spearmen and several dozen horsemen couldn't stop a handful of initially unarmed, surrounded, already captured soldiers. It was infuriating.
Tacerim would therefore have been quite surprised to know that the leader of Marshall's forces was even angrier.
Mazuy was angry because of many of the same reasons. Marshall's army was the best in the world, so how could this have happened. The day that had started so well, with minimal losses, now ended with the deaths of several of his best horsemen (the fact that over thirty peasant spearmen had met the same fate was not one that interested him. Peasants grew back by themselves, highly trained cavalry didn't). And he was mainly angry because he suspected that, when he returned, the Marshall would enquire why such a valuable hostage had been left guarded by only untrained spearmen, and Mazuy wouldn't be able to answer.
He was also very angry because this self styled aristocrat was angry with him. Mazuy had only met Tacerim once before, when this endeavor was suggested, and didn't have the patience to deal with him.
Tacerim, predictably, broke the silence first.
"You've failed. The Captain will be long gone. Have you at least managed to take the Natonite guarded fords and bridges to the south."
"I've sent out the order to, so the fords should be taken by now."
"Then we don't need you, we will march on Natotropolis by ourselves."
Mazuy smiled "You will take Natotropis, the second best fortified city in the known world by yourself? Well, off you go then!"
Some common sense penitrated Tacerims mental shield of anger.
"Fine then. If you help, us you get the whole of Natonland. But I want the whole capital, and their will be no tribute until the captain is caught and handed over to me. Though Sandra knows how we will catch him. He will just flee to the shogunate, and then no-one will be able to get him." Tacerim was almost whining now.
"Somehow I think not. When I left for this land, Marshall has already besieged the Shogunate's capital."
Tacerim looked at Mazuy with a new respect. "The shogunate besieged? They won't be able to find shelter in their territory! Let's go and capture him!"
"All in good time. But first, we must march south. We have a nation to annex."
Bithainium and the captain lead their horses slowly through the forest, expecting waiting soldiers or an ambush, but not the lone Natonite soldier who was leaning against a tree, bleeding to death.
After being given food and water he told them what had happened:
He had been part of a garrison guarding a ford into southen Natonite territory. They were on a frontier, but had be assured that it would take at least 1000 Neptonites to storm the small riverside keep guarding the ford and slaughter the 300 Natonite soldiers stationed there.
What it had actually taken to capture the ford, was 300 of the Marshall's finest archers coming down the river by boat supported by 200 men armed with some kind of rod like firework powered weapon each (the Captain, speaking for the first time explained, in uncertain, incomplete Natonian that these were called muskets and fired stone like objects at tremendous speed).
The Natonite garrison had been overwhelmed and this man had been the only survivor.
The soldier had ran to a nearby bridge, also garrisoned by Natonites, only to find it also occupied by Marshall's forces. He had been spotted by these forces any been hit by several of these small rod fired stones before he got away.
Unable to go south, he had headed north (to try and find help) until he came to this glade and rested, only to find he was to weak to continue. Despite being unable to walk he was still adamant that someone needed to warn the Natonite senate at Natotropolis of the danger.
"This Marshall now probably controls all the fords and bridges south of here" the wounded soldier explained. "They were the only defended before the capital!"
"Can anyone warn the senate of the danger?" Bithainium enquired.
"There's no was to cross the river apart from the fords and bridges." was the reply. "There's no way south now" the soldier continued, shortly before his death.
Alone now, Bithainium and the Captain discussed the options (the former struggling to understand the latters bad grammar) but came to the the decision that going south was not an option.
"We must head west" Bithainium concluded. "The Shogunate will be able to help us."
The Marshall watched from the sky.He was a fully developed wizard,which meant he could do anything he liked.Not much was said of him. But then it didn't matter to him,nothing did.He was there to rule the world.No one else would oppose him....
''Unless I come in. '' A beautiful soft silky deep golden female voice interrupted the Marshal's thoughts.The Marshall turned round to see the Goddess,Sandra smiling at him.
''Mother..... '' enquried the Marshall.
''You are my son Marshall.Though you should change that name.Call yourself Alexander or anything you like! But please,don't destroy this world. '' she talked sweetly ,for she was a very very beautiful woman.
The Marshall swept his back agaisnt her.
''Mother. You do know of what you did to me that day? You banished me.You exiled me ,And what did you say to me? '' he pointed his finger toward's his mother's neck
''You can never be my son.You are nothing more than a total faliuire.A zero.You will never succeed in anything in your life! You should never have been born,get out of my face,get out of here! And then I was sent to earth. Since then,look at what I've become! '' the Marshall sprung his arms forward
''I have a army,I rule the world! So what If I insulted you? I could not bear the insults you gave to me. Even in the mortal world,people treat me as if...as if...I were.... '' the Marshall began muttering.The Goddess ,like any mother tried to touch him,but the Marshall went away.
''Son,I cannot say much ,but I am sorry for throwing you away. Please listen to a mother's heart and hear how she yearns for son to be back to her. '' Sandra said
The Marshall laughed.
''Do not give me an excuse.Do you? Do you think you can win me that easily? You never gave anything but critiism ,Now I don't need you any more.Because that what was you used to tell me. Now begone! '' he added.
''Do not give me that tone young man! I am your mother! And you will learn to respect me.You do know what happens to people who insult their mothers?They go to hell.And I wouldn't mind.Because you are not worthy of respect,nor love.God knows why you were born! '' Sandra exploded
''This! This is why I hate you mother.To tell you shut up would be a pleausre! I would never care if I went to hell.I am not worthy,I don't need love,then why are you talking to me then? Why do you love me? I will be the ruler of this world.Not you.'''
Sandra crossed her arms in fury.
''Fine,but take this warning.You will suffer my wrath! '' she shouted.
The Marshall looked bluntly at his mother
''I have suffered.Even more than you. '' with that,he left.
The Demon was immense, and even that word didn't do it justice. It was about five times the size of Cood, and gave the impression of being much bigger than that. It was black, but it seemed to be on fire, so it was illuminated red. It looked very strong.
"Get away from me, Demon." said Laburnum. She seemed to not be afraid at all.
"Ah. The legendary courage of a fairie. It is said that when the Great Demon Kym had your Queen Samantha pinned to a wall and entirely in her power, the Queen still refused to give in."
"Samantha did not fear you, and neither do I."
"Of course," said the Demon, ignoring that outburst, "Kym ate her just afterwards. But she never gave in. That's what you think is important, isn't it? Dying impressively? I personally think you have got the wrong end of the stick, as it were. It is the winning that is important, not being courageous. What use is a courageous last stand if it does nothing, farie?"
Cood butted in before Laburnum could retort. He was scared, but his curiousity had got the better of him.
"Umm... Are you a normal Demon? Because I heard that you were all kinda, well, dumb, and you seem to be speaking like a gentleman."
The Demon laughed. "I like your spirit, little pet; going up to a Demon and asking why he talks the way he does. All Demons talk like this. The rumours you hear are spread by her kind, to make us seem like we think with our muscles, not our brains, which is the obvious sign of what I guess you would call 'Bad Guys'."
Laburnum glared at Cood for talking to the Demon, but Cood was intrigued, so he continued. "So it isn't true that you live in caves, eat humans and do nothing else? Do you have a Civilization?"
"You really do amuse me, human. I may keep you as a pet after I have dealt with the fairie. We do have a civilization, except that it would not be how you would think of one. You humans have such closed minds to the cultures of other creatures..." The Demon paused. "Anyway, you have kept me talking long enough. I will deal with the fairie, and then I will take you to Ahorath. Perhaps then you will learn some of our culture."
The Demon turned to Laburnum.
The Marshall walked across the streets of the Shogunate.It was truly a magnificent city.With buldings that gleamed in white marbel,colours exploded onto the city.But that was all going to be decided later.
Now that Mazuy had secured the deal.The Marshall could decide when ever he wanted to invade Neptonland.And that would be a another addition to his Empire.But if he were to invade,he had to deal with the demons.Which is why he had introduced ways of defeating the normal demon.And then,who could stop him?
Note:Me and others have written this,the marshall parts are mine,the rest are there's.I hope you enjoy it:)
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