//------------------------------// // March // Story: Today We Summon Unity! // by Chemtest //------------------------------// I march in front of my Speartons, absorbing the atmosphere my troops make. The Swordwrath walks next to me, Joseph. The Archidon leads his own people, Robin. Holding the map to the enemy is the Magikill, Harry. I ask Harry, “Come on, it’s an army! How hard is it to find!?” The mage simply looks at the map more, “Settle down, Atreyos. Maybe the Chaos deceived us. That’s what I’m looking for, so be patient.” Joseph points out to the horizon, “Might that be the ‘army’ we’re looking for?” I look forward to see a single figure walking towards us. Wearing green robes, and other details I can’t see. I laugh, “Ha, they send one against an army of a hundred! I could crush them alone with my ten Speartons!” I smile, “Come on Speartons, aren’t I right?” They all make a noise of approval, the tiny noise still traveling across the battlefield. I smile, and ready my spear, “Alright, so, let’s go!” I’m about to move, before I’m blocked by Harry’s staff, “Stop, Atreyos you young fool! That person out there is a mage, a powerful one. Don’t just blindly charge to prove your glory, I’m sure Robin will take care of them.” I sigh, the old man is right. Robin picks his way up to us, and readies an arrow into his bow, “Bet I could hit him from here, wanna bet? Ten coins on a hit.” I smile, before the Magikill wack’s Robin on the head, “That could be a diplomat here to give unconditional surrender for all you know. Now, get your bow ready, but hold fire until you need to.” Joseph looks at us bickering, “Look, we should have a compromise here. Remember, Unity? Now, if they are a diplomat, then we should show our confidence and slowly approach. Not charge, but just walk out to meet them, show we aren’t afraid of a single mage.” I shrug, “Might as well. Speartons, march!” “Hah!” With a stamp of our spears on the ground, we move forward. The other warriors follow us. The distance between us and the figure dwindles down as we both move towards each other. I make out more details, green robes, crown, snakes for hair. This is definitely Queen Medusa. Maybe she is here to offer unconditional surrender ‘oh, Speartons, I’m so sorry I ever made you mad, have all my land!’ Wouldn’t that be great, getting some actual respect without needed more than just our name. We finally reach a point where we are at least 20 yards from her. I shout out to her, “Well, speak already!” She looks up, “You rebels make my plans harder. Yes, Order may have to rally against you too, but I know you will enslave my Giants just like they did.” I bang my spear on the ground, “You presume honorable Speartons would do the same as Order has done!? Your offense shall be paid for in your own-“ Harry smacks me with his staff, “Atreyos, be quiet. We all took offense to her statement, doesn’t mean we have to get violence yet. Now, let mage talk to mage.” Medusa laughs, “Oh, as if I care about what that brute Spearton says! You complicate things for my plans too much, and I can’t have you here. See, I don’t want to kill you just yet, but I can’t have you faffing things up. So, say goodbye to Inamorata! And say hello to wherever you land!” She starts to move her hands, and the ground below us starts to glow. I see Robin get a arrow off, hitting her in the shoulder, but not doing much. The ground turns into a portal, and I shout out at her as she makes it, “Why don’t you face me like a man, huh!? I will come back and kill you! My spear will go down your neck and come out at your feet! You hear me!? I will find you, and show you the power of the Speartons! You will die-“ I feel the ground collapse from beneath me, sending all of us into the void. I start to swing about, my body losing its center of gravity every few seconds. I can see my brothers fly around in much the same way. Only Harry manages to keep upright in the void. Maybe upright, maybe upside down, I can’t tell. It felt like we were in there for a century, but it was just an hour. Eventually, we land. And we land hard. The breath in my lungs is knocked out as I land belly flop style on the ground. Joseph lands on his head, Robin on his back, and Harry on his feet. I recover, and stand up. I see Harry there, on his map once more, “Oh, wow, another map!? Oh boy, I can’t wait for the days you’ll spend this time!” Without even looking, Harry hits me with his staff, knocking me back on the ground, “Atreyos. Shut up, please.” I stand up, and approach the old man, “Why!? Why should I shut up!? Look around us, were in Order’s homeland! I don’t even need a map to tell that!” The Magikill shakes his bearded head, “No we aren’t! Look at the map! We are nowhere! This land is not on Inamorta! Do you not get it, Atreyos!? We are on another world entirely!” I look back at the mage in shock, “We aren’t in Inamorta?” He nods, “Yes, that is correct. This land seems strong in magic, strange. Look, there is a castle on that mountain over there, they might help us. This is a gift, momentary peace.” I walk right up into the face of Harry, “Peace? My people are living in chaos and disorder, and you say ‘peace’? There is no peace, Harry. There is no peace until my Speartons are freed from Order! There is no peace until the Swordwraths are freed, Archidons, Magikill! Until my people are freed, and the Empire Order lies dead, there is no peace within me. And there is no peace within the heart of any true Spearton!” The old man flinches a bit from my shouting, “We use this time to prepare, that is what Chaos missed. That is my ‘peace’, Atreyos, the time to prepare. Maybe the inhabitants of this land will help us.” I back off, “Sorry, Harry, I know what you mean. I just got angry.” He smiles, “It’s within Spearton blood to get angry. I’d be worried if you didn’t do that.” I look out at my army, “Alright, let’s get an idol and a camp going!” The troops move to build as quick as they can. ——— Little did they know, a certain white member of royalty felt their presence. With a single spell, and some writing, contact is sure to be established. Because a purple mare in his library has been given a mission. And she is off with her friends.