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Serenity untouched
they stood by the cliff, let the hours
go by
watched the sun slowly sink in to a
liquid sky
they held each other through the rest
of the night
for tommorrow she would ride the ride
of her life
she felt safe in his arms, her hero
and guide
and this would be the hardest, longest
goodbye
each passing hour, each moment of time
put another little piece of doubt in
her mind
"do you remember that day you
first saw me" asked serenity
"hard to forget" Eric
replied with a smile on his face
"no silly, not THAT first time"
she said with a slight coy look
“oh you mean in the courtyard”
you could almost see the replay in his eyes
she casually walked a little way
from eric, and stood closer to the edge of the royal balcony
“Eric I'm scared” she said “what
if I fail”? She said gently biting her lower lip as she turned and
looked at eric
she couldnt
remember a time before him
as kids they played
till the sun went in
not brother or
sister but closer than that
same soul two
bodies and a different mom and dad
never treated
differently, always the same
never thought about
from where Eric came
just appeared one
day, no questions were asked
she seemed to know
who he was, like a part of her past
Eric got up and
walked over to his bride
slid his arms round
her waist and felt her sigh
two bodies pressed
close in the twin moonlight
two hearts on fire
one soul Alight
safe in his arms
she never wanted to leave
her face was
stroked by a soft passing breeze
she had to smile,
her eyes half closed
the last perfect
moment she'll ever get to hold
“i know youll return to me” he
whispered softly
the scream pierced
the air with a poisonous sound
her body went stiff
then sank to the ground
Eric held her waist
and laid her gently to rest
then knelt by her
side, her hand in his he pressed
time passed by, an
hour maybe more
then her eyes
sprung open as she lay on the floor
Eric helped her up,
pulled her close to him
and waited for the
storm to subside within
s
the first ray broke through the clouds
above
the sun found her sitting on the horse
she loved
as she said goodbye to the love of her
life
one last kiss and she began to ride
the path she rode cut through forests
and dales
the horse and the rider like a boat and
it's sails
past vast waterfalls and the giant Tree
clouds
for miles she rode. not another soul
around
she pulled on the reigns, and the horse
slowed down
she walked with her horse through the
forest of dreams
beautiful sunrays played on beautiful
streams
and the time passed slowly then the sky
grew dark
looming there before her was the cold
stone arch
A clearing in the forest sent a chill
thru her bones
the sky was the colour of the slate
grey stone
a bitter wind howled like a banshee
and the voice inside screamed at her to
turn and flee
she held on tight as the horse gained
speed
a wasteland of rock was all the eye
could see
thundering hooves heard for miles
around
then shards of black rock sprang from
out of the ground
the skill of the rider and the trust of
the horse
let them weave and dodge death and stay
the black course
the rain poured harder and the wind bit
deep
and she prayed to the lord their souls
to keep
the path ahead cleared and she spurred
her mount on
a final mad dash before their fire was
gone
then in the corner of her eye something
made her head turn
three arrows found their mark and her
arm and legs burned
then another found its home in the
heart of her steed
and they hit the Ragged ground moving
at high speed
thrown clear she bounced along the cold
jagged floor
when she came to rest she knew her
friend was no more
Laying on the black rock in so much
pain
temptation to let her life just ebb
away
was overwhelming and she felt herself
begin to slide
then the shape of her horse lying prone
caught her eye
snapped back to life she knew what to
do
with a warriors resolve and the
strength of the few
three screams could be heard through
the wind and the rain
a moments more rest and she continued
on her way
Chapter 2
as she made her way north on the cold
black trail
she knew everyone prayed she wouldnt
fail
and she kept pushing on thru the
searing pain
the noise of the wind nearly driving
her insane
about a mile or so on, which felt like
10
she saw a light up ahead which which
gave her hope again
as she slowly drew near she saw an old
rope bridge
and the worse it looked as she neared
the Abyss
she looked down in the chasm all she
saw was black
and then she looked at the bridge,and
screamed "i wont turn back"
put a foot on the bridge and it creaked
and moved
then her whole body weight bleeding and
bruised
with every pain racked step, the bridge
creaked and groaned
the fire burned intensely deep inside
each wound
the savage wind blew hard trying to
push her back
and the rain kept on with its
relentless attack
halfway across five winged silhouettes
Circled high above the figure so close
to death
each one smelt the blood and the
circling ceased
crimson ice filled her veins as she
heard hell screech
the first hit its target with a
sickening thud
knocked her clean off the bridge she
grabbed what she could
her hand found the rope and she hung in
space
as the others flew by, talons inches
from her face
heart beating fast she drew her sword
from its sheath
drew an arc through the air, one
creature deceased
then she felt the bridge move and
looked up above
thrust her sword through the slats took
a shower in blood
pulled herself back up, strength was
starting to wane
and the wind howled louder almost blind
in the rain
there she stood on the bridge knowing
all to well
that one wrong move and she would
plummet to hell
Looked at the sky watched the hideous
shapes
speeding straight towards her at a
frightening pace
never moved an inch, waited for the
right time
saw everything slowdown through her
warriors eyes
sword above her head now breathing with
ease
with the creatures in range she dropped
to one knee
then pushed hard forward let the blade
of her sword
disembowel the black ones, send them
into the gorge
racked with pain she cant find the
strength
and she wonders if she'll ever see her
home again
the most beautiful place that she's
ever seen
and slowly she begins to rise to her
feet
the bridge sways with violence from
side to side
the cold bites deep, the wind howls in
her mind
like a single grain of sand in a great
divide
she's not even sure if there is another
side
the end in sight she could see the the
other side
and she sank to her knees, head bowed
and cried
in so much pain but she had to carry on
then her instinct told her that
something was wrong
she lifted her head and saw the figure
of a man
walk towards the rope bridge with a
sword in his hand
she rose in a sprint pushed off her
front leg
and focused on the sword as it raised
above his head.
Chapter 3
As the sword arced down and the blade
bit the rope
she launched into the air in a blind
leap of hope
the bridge fell away but she was in
midflight
drew her sword as she landed and
prepared for the fight
facing her opponent and ignoring the
pain
she knew that it was now a case of slay
or be slain
her sword above her head, pointing up
to the sky
and the figure in her sight flashed a
confident smile
the first strike came with unexpected
speed
a downward blow that brought her to her
knees
her weapon took the full brunt of the
attack
she rolled past her foe and rose behind
his back
brought down her weapon like a devil
possessed
he turned and parry'd and her strike
barely missed
continued spinning, the blade aimed at
her head
then she dropped to the ground barely
missing death
rolled backwards and rose, sword ready,
to her feet
then attacked once again with Celerity
3 strikes to the head, 2 low, another
high
and all in the time it takes to blink
an eye
with out a break in pace the battle
raged on
sword clashed with sword, forged steel
sang its song
horizontal slashes and vertical strikes
warrior on warrior with no end in sight
techniques from years of practice were
played
and the air was alive with the whispers
of the blades
and the metal sparked little firefly's
of death
as the flashes of light danced on
glistening sweat
pushed back and exhausted, parry'd low
and high strikes
ducked and weaved the flowing blade
that reflected the night
saw a chance and took it turned the
fight around
unleashed a flurry of strikes that
would bring any man down
struck low for the legs, then high for
the chest
spun round, leaned back and thrust for
his head
and in the same smooth flow she shifted
her weight
to perform the post of the dragons gate
her foot and her sword diametrically
opposed
he never saw it coming as her foot
smashed his nose
and as he reeled back from a superior
style
she coyly flashed him a confident smile
she circled her foe, till his back
faced the ledge
Launched a furious attack with her
razors edge
the clang of the metal, sad narrator to
the scene
two lone combatants in an epic unseen
swung her sword in arc across his chest
plate
and he brought his mighty weapon down
to seal her fate
but she moved to one side and his sword
hit the ground
she slammed her foot into his side with
a sickening sound
the force from the kick contained so
much power
it put an end to the warrior's finest
hour
sent tumbling backwards towards the
abyss
a meritorious foe dissapeared in the
mist
the silence lingered there for a moment
or two
took a while to realise what she'd just
been through
then reality hit she let her sword hit
the floor
and conciousness said tender farewell
once more
Chapter 4
the fresh sea breeze gently moved her
hair
she smiled and felt safe with her
father standing there
snuggled in a little closer, but
something felt wrong
now Dissolving into daddy, and the
scream was gone.
standing in a corridor scared and all
alone
a tear begins to fall thats only 9
years old
as it hits the floor there's an
ear-splitting crack
and fire shoots toward the door glowing
black
flames climb the walls as the door
disappears
and a million tiny shards become a
million angry spears
as she turns to run the sunlight
catches her eye
looking up from a cornfield at a
cloudless sky
moms apple pie washed down with
lemonade
gets her up and she smiles at the
imprint that she made
reach the edge of the field, she wished
she never had
where her house once stood is a smoking
pile of ash
turns to the field, sees the ocean rush
to shore
breathes a sigh of relief and smiles
once more
the water rushes in and rushes faster
back
a dead beach is left behind and slowly
turning black
as the colour dissapeared leaving
darkness all around
she saw a solitary figure lying
lifeless on the ground
as the figure grew larger and larger in
size
she's pulled closer and closer
then....she opens her eyes.
in a flash she's in a crouch, her sword
in her hand
looking for threats in this stone
barren land
then slowly stands up and puts her
sword away
all her wounds are healed and she'll
carry on her way
a single flame torch by an arch shaped
hole
appeared to be the only way she had to
go
the fire lit the way, the unknown once
more
and continued on her quest to finally
free Erindor
Chapter 5
the tunnel was long she slowly made her
way
along the cold damp walls so dank and
grey
had to stoop a little bit cause the
ceiling was low
but she had to go on, nowhere else to
go
as she moved through the gloom, hit her
head a few times
caught her arms on the walls, slowly
losing her mind
has she walked forever, or maybe not
moved at all
then she hears what sounds like a
child's bouncing ball
her pace begins to quicken, moving
closer to the noise
she hears a nursery rhyme sang by a
child's voice
she sees a bend ahead takes the corner
then halts
the little girl's before her with her
bouncing ball
"one two three four five six seven
watch the angels burn as they fall from
heaven
eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen
open the gates and hear Erindor scream"
she stood stock still, the little girl
she recognised
Herself in her garden, she had just
turned nine
and the noise of the ball had a
hypnotic sound
in a flash the girl was on her and they
tumbled to the ground
as her back hit the floor the girl
disappeared
and she lay breathing heavy till her
head began to clear
rising to her feet, she picked up her
sword
looked around, saw nothing and nothing
was heard
just about to get the torch where it
lay on the floor
when the room got brighter and revealed
the great hall
the floor undulated like a chequerboard
sea
and shards of sunlight rippled gently
in the breeze
a beautiful haze shimmered softly in
the air
she felt the warm gentle fingers of the
sun in her hair
the staircase before her seemed to
stretch on for miles
raised an eyebrow and said "this
may well take a while"
put her foot on the top step about to
start walking down
stepped off the bottom step onto the
chequered ground
a look of suprise etched into her face
at the stairs and the figure with the
hair of silver grey
she knew from stories this must be the
twelve
and for anyone to see them means they
step through hell
his gentle voice and long flowing robes
put her mind at ease with every word he
spoke
the twelve were the first ones to
create the dream
built a world where the people in were
finally free
Chapter 6
they walked for a while, and she
listened with intent
as he told her of the war and the
coming events
Oneiron would fall, and the connected
would die
unless she could find the White Crystal
Eye
"How long has this been going on?"
she asked
"We first noticed it about a year
ago, since then its gradually been getting worse" Torkin replied
"And the white crystal eye
is......?"
"It's the power crystal that
stores intent, keeps all the worlds together and keeps out that which
would tear Oneiron apart."
"And this was stolen?" she
asked
"Yes"
"How? Wouldn't this be the one
thing that would have the most security?"
"We believe that somehow someone
from Ebonos was able to connect with Erindor, and infiltrate the
white eye Sanctum."
"Ebonos?" her face in
puzzlement
"It is the thirteenth place, a
dark menacing place that only those with wicked intent can go when
they connect."
"And thats where the White Crystal
Eye is now?"
"We believe so; there has been no
word from Ebonos in three months."
"You mean that you have someone in
there?"
"Yes, but contact has been
severed."
"Why have you done nothing before
now?"
"We as the keepers of the 12
planes cannot move outside the influence of the White Eye."
"Why?"
"Once outside its protectiveness
we are vulnerable to the darkness of Ebonos."
"But aren't you vulnerable now? I
mean with the White Eye gone, you're not protected by it."
"You have a point, although if we
were to attempt to retrieve it, the chance that we may fail would
leave the twelve planes more vulnerable. The Twelve are not a warrior
class - we create, we don't destroy."
"I see, so thats why you called on
me?"
"We have seen many warriors fail
to reach this level, you are only one of three that did."
"So there are two others here?"
"They have been here and returned
to their home lands ready to leave as soon as they get word the third
one has been found."
"well I guess I should be
flattered, but you could have called, I still would have come."
"Of that I have no doubt; we have
seen your skills in action: we have been most impressed" he said
with a faint smile.
"So how do I know what to do
next?"
"When you return all the knowledge
you need will be with you"
"About the returning thing, there
maybe a slight problem concerning the bridge back."
"The way back is not the way you
came. Once you have eaten and rested you will be returned to your
homeland."
"Now that's sounding better
already."
"So now Shuchun, eat and replenish
your strength, for tommorrow your quest begins."
a table appeared in the centre of the
room
with a vast array of exotic foods
one chair at the table four maids in
wait
and beautiful aromas to make a desert
salivate
fresh fruit from the trees of the
silver wind plains
and wine that was made from the
midnight grapes
her taste buds alive screamed in
ecstasy
at the taste and the smell of such a
beautiful feast
she sat back in her chair, she'd eaten
too much food
tried to get up but really didn't want
to move
instead she closed her eyes, and let
sleep hold her mind
the chair felt like floating in a
hurricane's eye
Chapter 7
a very gentle nudging, on her face a
warm breeze
began to open her eyes, a blur was all
she could see
just a big white shape and a warm wet
tongue
her eyes finally cleared and then she
saw Bai Yun
She sprang to her feet not believing
what she saw
but there large as life was her
beautiful horse
in a forest of green, nothing seemed to
have changed
except now she noticed there was no
archway
threw her arms round Bai Yun and
squeezed real tight
and cried so hard for the friend she
thought had died
his soft gentle breathing helped to
ease her mind
and she stroked his main her tears left
her eyes
the smells of the forest and the warmth
of the sun
made her smile as she ambled through
the trees with Bai Yun
beautiful browns and soft green hues
she felt safe back here in the place
that she knew
they came to a pond, watched the
butterfly's play
and the sun lit the scene in a
beautiful way
the breeze moved the grass and the
leaves on the trees
and sparkles of light danced for all to
see
Shu Chun never saw it, her back was to
Bai
he had the look of a child with
mischief on his mind
put his nose on her shoulder and
tussled her hair
then a nudge in the back sent her
tumbling through the air
left the ground with a squeal, hit the
water with a splash
disappeared beneath the surface, but
didn't come back
Bai yun watched the water, head tilting
side to side
then a scream from the rear gave him
the shock of his life
looking at Shu on the bank from the
pond
laughing so hard, he shook his head and
snorted once
slowly made his way on to dryer land
and the two continued on like the very
best of friends.
walked side by side on a path between
the trees
felt good to have the feel of home
beneath her feet
as the sun began to fade they reached
the forest edge
she looked back and her eyes made a
silent pledge
put her foot in a stirrup and mounted
Bai Yun
and with a flick of the reins horse and
rider were gone
Bai Yun's thunderous pace meant they
made good time
as they rode to Shan Shulin and night
was close behind.
Chapter 8
Galloping hard across the fields
towards home,
Shu Chun and Bai Yun in the dusk alone
over hills , through streams and
valleys they rode
and as the night settled in the night
got cold
about an hour passed by when she
reached the river's edge
and here they stopped so Bai Yun could
rest.
They drank from the water, Shu sat for
a while
and watched Bai Yun drink, on her face
a smile
A little time passed by, then Shu was
back in the saddle
rode a little way south till the river
got shallow
crossed the fast flowing water to the
other side
then headed on at speed into the dark
cold night
they made good time and before very
long
arrived at the cave of the dragons'
song
a dimly lit cavern where the wind
howled its tune
and they knew they would reach Shan
Shulin very soon
Bai Yun walked slowly, hooves echoed
all around
along the path between the twin pools
in the ground
sloped down towards a light that cut
through the gloom
and caustical reflections danced to
mystical tunes
as they left the cave there stood a
beautiful sight
about a mile ahead gleaming in the
moonlight
the gates of Shan Shulin refracted in
her eye
and the two thundered on towards a
beautiful sight.
The gates got bigger the closer they
got
40 feet high and 20 feet across
black wooden panels with a white metal
frame
it felt so good to be home again
the gates began to open with an inward
swing
and the two rode relieved in to Shan
Shulin
so many people lined the streets and
cheers filled the air
word of her return meant celebrations
everywhere.
a little ways in she dismounted her
steed
and walked among the crowd lining
street after street
music was playing and the crowd sang
songs
it felt good to be back where she
belonged
up ahead two figures she recognised
her father and fiancé in a moon
outline
she ran to them with arms open wide
and embraced them both with a long loud
sigh
not a word was spoken for the longest
while
then she lifted her head to show a
beaming smile
her father looked at her with a
fatherly smile
so pleased to see his little apple eyes
they stood where they where in the
midst of the crowd
fireworks and merryment were all around
Such beautiful shapes lit up the night
sky
and they let the time slowly drift by
they said their goodbyes and headed for
the house
five rooms, three dogs, two cats and a
mouse
once through the door they could all
relax
and Shu could tell her father of the
coming attack.
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