Post by Orophin on Mar 20, 2008 19:04:53 GMT 1
O.K. This is my fourth fanfic, to be read fourth, but chronologically third.
The Spreading of Anger
It had been a month since the death of his parents, and V'icternus was on the road.
He had no idea where he was going, or why, but he new that if he kept walking, kept going, kept moving forever, the feelings would never catch him.
He saw a village up ahead, and began to head toward it.
As he entered, he noticed how the people stared at him.
He knew why, to them he must have looked like a soldier returned from some war, at only 15.
His scars and cuts hadn't yet healed after the night of his parents death, and he still experienced extreme pain whenever he was forced to move his center body, where he had been stabbed by an ice spike, as well as having his ribs broken.
He walked into the first bar he saw, and sat down at the counter.
"Hello, sir, what would you..." The bartender began, "Hey! You're just a kid, what are you doing here!?"
"I just need a rest, and a cool drink." he replied, "I have been walking all day"
"Fine, here's some fresh water"
V'icternus took the mug, and drank heavily from it.
"So, what's your name, anyway?" inquired the barman.
"V'ictern... Vic. Call me Vic"
"Well, pleased to meet you. If it's not to invasive, might I ask where you got those injuries? It looks like you've been at war for years, but you are obviously only a child"
"I got them from..." V'icternus started to explain, but was interrupted as a Fireball blasted the drink out of his hand.
"You're at me seat, boy" came a voice from the doorway.
V'icternus looked, and saw a man wearing Fire Nation armor.
What he was doing here he didn't know, but he looked quite high ranking.
"I believe you are mistaken, I was here first." V'icternus said to the stranger.
"You don't know who I am, do you?" he laughed, as if he had just made an incredibly funny joke.
"Should I? You look like any other man I've seen."
Steam began rising off the man.
"Insolence isn't recommended in my presence, boy. I am a very important diplomat, sent by Fire Lord Gazar himself!"
This man obviously had a high opinion of himself, and thought that his job made him the most important person in the entire town.
He also played with a fireball as he spoke, showing off his Bending skill.
"Well, perhaps the Fire Lord should get his eyesight checked, if he chose someone as disfigured as you to represent him" V'icternus replied, goading the man.
"You are one to talk, what happened, did you try playing with toys that were to big for you?" the man answered back, eying V'icternus' sword.
"I'll have you know..." V'icternus began
"Silence! I have had enough of you, get out of here."
"Pretty big talk for a diplomat."
"I am the former Commander of the entire Eastern Defense Force you tiny brained little brat!"
"Well, you obviously weren't good enough for the job, if the Fire Lord sent you away on a diplomat mission."
"Didn't your father ever teach you what happens when you mess with your superiors?" Goaded the former Commander.
"As a matter of fact, both my parents were killed, only a month ag..."
But the former Commander interrupted.
"They probably deserved it, raising a brat like yourself!"
The man never even had time to move, V'icternus had lodged his sword across the room, and it had struck the man in the chest.
"Hey!!" shouted the barman, "You can't do that! Not in my bar anyway! He was a diplomat from the Fire Lord!"
"I doubt he will be missed", replied V'icternus, "He was just some Bender with no honor... I am starting to wonder whether or not any of them have it."
"Well, I've met a few I would call honorable enough" said the barman cautiously.
"All that time, did you notice him just showing off? It's as if he believes that being a Bender is his right, and that it makes him better than the rest of us..."
"Well, I think you'll find that argument pretty one-sided. Have you seen them Bending battles? The way they fight..."
"Bending is a gift, not a right. Perhaps he should have learned that from his father..."
"I... I'm going to have to ask you to leave... No need to pay for the drink, just please, get away from here, quickly"
"I am not a thief, sir." he said, dropping 3 silver pieces on the counter.
"But that drink is only worth..."
"I'm also paying for the mess" V'icternus said, nodding at the body of the diplomat.
As he walked out, he pulled his sword out of the body, and replaced it in its sheath.
Once outside, he saw the town guards heading toward the bar, and decided that he had better get out of there.
He began to head out of the town, but he was stopped by one of the guards, who, after hearing about a killing, obviously noticed V'icternus' wounds.
"You, boy, why are you so battered? Do you know anything about the killing?"
"What would I know about that? I am just a boy, as you just pointed out"
"Let me see that sword, if you don't mind"
V'icternus slowly drew his sword.
"And why, young sir, is there blood on this blade?"
"Because the man whose chest it went through was full of blood."
The guard was so shocked by this answer, V'icternus manged to knock him over and run for it.
The guard got up and gave chase, without bothering to inform any of the other guards where he was going or what he was doing.
The guard, whose name was Ein Ro, chased V'icternus through the forest, until he lost site of his smaller and faster quarry.
He kept running, knowing that a child might be faster than him, but he wouldn't have the stamina of an adult.
Suddenly, he tripped, as a rock jutted out of the ground.
His spear broke underneath him, and he looked back, to see the child standing there, behind him.
He looked so eery in the half light of the forest, what with his distinctive scar and blade, that Ein actually began crawling backward.
"What is your name." V'icternus said
Ein didn't answer, but he noticed that this was not a question, but a demand for information.
"What is your name." V'icternus repeated.
"Ein", came the timid reply.
"Go back to town, Ein. Tell no one which way I went, or that you ever saw me."
"O... O.K." Ein stuttered
"If you do, I'll find out, and I'll be back. Remember that, Ein"
"Of.... of course... sir."
He got up and ran off toward the village.
V'icternus walked off in the opposite direction, hoping to get to a good place to set up camp.
Meanwhile, back at the village, Ein had arrived and told the other guards everything.
They had donned armor, picked up their spears, and set out into the forest to search for him.
They found his trail, and followed it to a clearing.
They saw he had set up a camp there, and seemed to be holding some sort of bright light in his hand.
"A Firebender" one of them whispered.
"Probably a trained assassin sent to kill that diplomat", commented another.
"Surround the camp, then move on my signal" ordered the captain quietly.
Once they had silently surrounded the clearing, the captain made a noise like a owl, signaling the attack.
Right at that moment, V'icternus jumped up, after hearing the captain's call.
The nine guards all ran at him at once, and he actually had to fall to the ground and roll to avoid being hit by their spears.
Once he had rolled out of the circle of guards, he got to his feet and pulled out his blade.
He faced them and recognized Ein standing among them.
"So this is what happens when I show mercy..." he said, before launching himself into their midst, swinging like a madman, as his usual style would not hold against such a large amount of opponents.
Three of them fell, due to his close range against their spears, while the others began jabbing and swinging, trying to get a lucky shot.
One of the swing knocked the amulet out of his hand, and sent it flying.
The guards all saw it shining in the fire light, and stared at it in wonder, this was a mistake.
V'icternus roared and charged into them, stabbing two quickly, and cutting another's leg so he fell to the ground, before crushing his skull with a rock.
One of the remaining three charged at him, brandishing his spear like a madman.
V'icternus used his sword to cut the end of the spear of, before doing the same with his head.
The captain began to back away, moving behind Ein, and pushing him forward.
But V'icternus wasn't about to let him leave, so he tripped him from behind with a small rock.
He ran up, knocked Ein out of the way, and slit the captains throat.
Eins spear had shattered when he hit the ground, and he saw the bodies of all of his comrades.
He looked up at V'icternus, whose face was contorted in rage.
Then, Ein felt something on the ground next to him, and picked it up.
It was an amulet, made of pure gold, holding some sort of gem, the most beautiful gem he had ever seen.
Then, he felt a searing pain, as V'icternus had stabbed his shoulder.
He dropped the amulet, and screamed out loud.
"Please... you have to let me go... I have a...."
"We tried that, remember? You cannot be trusted to uphold an agreement, or honor a debt to someone who spared your life."
"Please... I will, I just want to go home... I'll never mention you, I'll never..."
"It's too late now, the guards will have posted wanted posters of me based on your description."
"Don't kill me, please, I'm begging you!"
"What does that matter to me? Nothing matters any more... Nothing..."
A thought came to Ein.
"What about this?"
He picked up the amulet with his good arm, and held is in front of him.
"What are you..."
"If you spare me, I'll give it back to you." Ein bargained.
"How dare you... that is my... you..."
"What do you say?" Ein asked.
"I... I say...
I say that was a big mistake."
He jabbed his sword forward so quickly, Eins eyes never even had time to widen as he struck.
He fell to the ground, his eyes still open, staring into space.
V'icternus picked up his amulet, and put it back around his neck.
He left the clearing, and went back on the road, leaving the bodies behind for the townspeople to find the next day.
As he walked off, he reflected on what had happened, and how, even though he had spared the mans life, he had still betrayed him...
And he decided never to be so kind again to someone who put themselves in harms way...
The Spreading of Anger
It had been a month since the death of his parents, and V'icternus was on the road.
He had no idea where he was going, or why, but he new that if he kept walking, kept going, kept moving forever, the feelings would never catch him.
He saw a village up ahead, and began to head toward it.
As he entered, he noticed how the people stared at him.
He knew why, to them he must have looked like a soldier returned from some war, at only 15.
His scars and cuts hadn't yet healed after the night of his parents death, and he still experienced extreme pain whenever he was forced to move his center body, where he had been stabbed by an ice spike, as well as having his ribs broken.
He walked into the first bar he saw, and sat down at the counter.
"Hello, sir, what would you..." The bartender began, "Hey! You're just a kid, what are you doing here!?"
"I just need a rest, and a cool drink." he replied, "I have been walking all day"
"Fine, here's some fresh water"
V'icternus took the mug, and drank heavily from it.
"So, what's your name, anyway?" inquired the barman.
"V'ictern... Vic. Call me Vic"
"Well, pleased to meet you. If it's not to invasive, might I ask where you got those injuries? It looks like you've been at war for years, but you are obviously only a child"
"I got them from..." V'icternus started to explain, but was interrupted as a Fireball blasted the drink out of his hand.
"You're at me seat, boy" came a voice from the doorway.
V'icternus looked, and saw a man wearing Fire Nation armor.
What he was doing here he didn't know, but he looked quite high ranking.
"I believe you are mistaken, I was here first." V'icternus said to the stranger.
"You don't know who I am, do you?" he laughed, as if he had just made an incredibly funny joke.
"Should I? You look like any other man I've seen."
Steam began rising off the man.
"Insolence isn't recommended in my presence, boy. I am a very important diplomat, sent by Fire Lord Gazar himself!"
This man obviously had a high opinion of himself, and thought that his job made him the most important person in the entire town.
He also played with a fireball as he spoke, showing off his Bending skill.
"Well, perhaps the Fire Lord should get his eyesight checked, if he chose someone as disfigured as you to represent him" V'icternus replied, goading the man.
"You are one to talk, what happened, did you try playing with toys that were to big for you?" the man answered back, eying V'icternus' sword.
"I'll have you know..." V'icternus began
"Silence! I have had enough of you, get out of here."
"Pretty big talk for a diplomat."
"I am the former Commander of the entire Eastern Defense Force you tiny brained little brat!"
"Well, you obviously weren't good enough for the job, if the Fire Lord sent you away on a diplomat mission."
"Didn't your father ever teach you what happens when you mess with your superiors?" Goaded the former Commander.
"As a matter of fact, both my parents were killed, only a month ag..."
But the former Commander interrupted.
"They probably deserved it, raising a brat like yourself!"
The man never even had time to move, V'icternus had lodged his sword across the room, and it had struck the man in the chest.
"Hey!!" shouted the barman, "You can't do that! Not in my bar anyway! He was a diplomat from the Fire Lord!"
"I doubt he will be missed", replied V'icternus, "He was just some Bender with no honor... I am starting to wonder whether or not any of them have it."
"Well, I've met a few I would call honorable enough" said the barman cautiously.
"All that time, did you notice him just showing off? It's as if he believes that being a Bender is his right, and that it makes him better than the rest of us..."
"Well, I think you'll find that argument pretty one-sided. Have you seen them Bending battles? The way they fight..."
"Bending is a gift, not a right. Perhaps he should have learned that from his father..."
"I... I'm going to have to ask you to leave... No need to pay for the drink, just please, get away from here, quickly"
"I am not a thief, sir." he said, dropping 3 silver pieces on the counter.
"But that drink is only worth..."
"I'm also paying for the mess" V'icternus said, nodding at the body of the diplomat.
As he walked out, he pulled his sword out of the body, and replaced it in its sheath.
Once outside, he saw the town guards heading toward the bar, and decided that he had better get out of there.
He began to head out of the town, but he was stopped by one of the guards, who, after hearing about a killing, obviously noticed V'icternus' wounds.
"You, boy, why are you so battered? Do you know anything about the killing?"
"What would I know about that? I am just a boy, as you just pointed out"
"Let me see that sword, if you don't mind"
V'icternus slowly drew his sword.
"And why, young sir, is there blood on this blade?"
"Because the man whose chest it went through was full of blood."
The guard was so shocked by this answer, V'icternus manged to knock him over and run for it.
The guard got up and gave chase, without bothering to inform any of the other guards where he was going or what he was doing.
The guard, whose name was Ein Ro, chased V'icternus through the forest, until he lost site of his smaller and faster quarry.
He kept running, knowing that a child might be faster than him, but he wouldn't have the stamina of an adult.
Suddenly, he tripped, as a rock jutted out of the ground.
His spear broke underneath him, and he looked back, to see the child standing there, behind him.
He looked so eery in the half light of the forest, what with his distinctive scar and blade, that Ein actually began crawling backward.
"What is your name." V'icternus said
Ein didn't answer, but he noticed that this was not a question, but a demand for information.
"What is your name." V'icternus repeated.
"Ein", came the timid reply.
"Go back to town, Ein. Tell no one which way I went, or that you ever saw me."
"O... O.K." Ein stuttered
"If you do, I'll find out, and I'll be back. Remember that, Ein"
"Of.... of course... sir."
He got up and ran off toward the village.
V'icternus walked off in the opposite direction, hoping to get to a good place to set up camp.
Meanwhile, back at the village, Ein had arrived and told the other guards everything.
They had donned armor, picked up their spears, and set out into the forest to search for him.
They found his trail, and followed it to a clearing.
They saw he had set up a camp there, and seemed to be holding some sort of bright light in his hand.
"A Firebender" one of them whispered.
"Probably a trained assassin sent to kill that diplomat", commented another.
"Surround the camp, then move on my signal" ordered the captain quietly.
Once they had silently surrounded the clearing, the captain made a noise like a owl, signaling the attack.
Right at that moment, V'icternus jumped up, after hearing the captain's call.
The nine guards all ran at him at once, and he actually had to fall to the ground and roll to avoid being hit by their spears.
Once he had rolled out of the circle of guards, he got to his feet and pulled out his blade.
He faced them and recognized Ein standing among them.
"So this is what happens when I show mercy..." he said, before launching himself into their midst, swinging like a madman, as his usual style would not hold against such a large amount of opponents.
Three of them fell, due to his close range against their spears, while the others began jabbing and swinging, trying to get a lucky shot.
One of the swing knocked the amulet out of his hand, and sent it flying.
The guards all saw it shining in the fire light, and stared at it in wonder, this was a mistake.
V'icternus roared and charged into them, stabbing two quickly, and cutting another's leg so he fell to the ground, before crushing his skull with a rock.
One of the remaining three charged at him, brandishing his spear like a madman.
V'icternus used his sword to cut the end of the spear of, before doing the same with his head.
The captain began to back away, moving behind Ein, and pushing him forward.
But V'icternus wasn't about to let him leave, so he tripped him from behind with a small rock.
He ran up, knocked Ein out of the way, and slit the captains throat.
Eins spear had shattered when he hit the ground, and he saw the bodies of all of his comrades.
He looked up at V'icternus, whose face was contorted in rage.
Then, Ein felt something on the ground next to him, and picked it up.
It was an amulet, made of pure gold, holding some sort of gem, the most beautiful gem he had ever seen.
Then, he felt a searing pain, as V'icternus had stabbed his shoulder.
He dropped the amulet, and screamed out loud.
"Please... you have to let me go... I have a...."
"We tried that, remember? You cannot be trusted to uphold an agreement, or honor a debt to someone who spared your life."
"Please... I will, I just want to go home... I'll never mention you, I'll never..."
"It's too late now, the guards will have posted wanted posters of me based on your description."
"Don't kill me, please, I'm begging you!"
"What does that matter to me? Nothing matters any more... Nothing..."
A thought came to Ein.
"What about this?"
He picked up the amulet with his good arm, and held is in front of him.
"What are you..."
"If you spare me, I'll give it back to you." Ein bargained.
"How dare you... that is my... you..."
"What do you say?" Ein asked.
"I... I say...
I say that was a big mistake."
He jabbed his sword forward so quickly, Eins eyes never even had time to widen as he struck.
He fell to the ground, his eyes still open, staring into space.
V'icternus picked up his amulet, and put it back around his neck.
He left the clearing, and went back on the road, leaving the bodies behind for the townspeople to find the next day.
As he walked off, he reflected on what had happened, and how, even though he had spared the mans life, he had still betrayed him...
And he decided never to be so kind again to someone who put themselves in harms way...
