//------------------------------// // I Oblivion // Story: Trust and Malevolence // by Sgt GobSmacker //------------------------------// The test has shaken him. I see the doubt in his eyes has he heads towards the lake. So Pan is helping him now? Thats good. Perhaps it bodes well. I wonder if he knows what awaits him here, in this place where the dead can contact the living. It is cold now, a chill wind blows through his heart and I can see it. Feel it! He needs help now if he is to succeed. He must not fail, he will not fail; not yet. Not if I have anything to do with it. -Zobek ------------------Year - 1047 A.D----------------- He trudged through the snow covered land; icy winds hit him like needles, stinging his face. In his right hand was his trustworthy combat cross, saving his life more times than he could count. His left hand shielded his face from the unrelenting, freezing winds. He saw a clearing up ahead, with his objective within it, Oblivion Lake, a place where the living could communicate amongst the dead, a place where only the most pure of heart are gained entry. The lake was small, easily two-hundred meters in radius. Around the area was a forest of snow covered trees as far as the eye could see, the snow defiantly going above the stumps. He walked until he reached a small stone pier. Gabriel stopped, lying ahead was a body of a brotherhood knight, two pikes jutting out below his ribcage, dried blood stained the knight's armor, and speckles of the red liquid were dotted around him. Gabriel walked solemnly towards his fallen brother; he kneeled down, and made a silent prayer. Gabriel looked ahead, the lake was iced over. But it looked hard enough to endure his weight. He stepped off the stone pier, walking ever so slowly on the icy surface making sure not to slip, or crack the ice underneath his feet. Gabriel began walking faster than he was before, the ice felt solid enough to him. He walked ahead for which he was sure was a few minutes. Gabriel looked around, he looked to his right and saw nothing but trees and the lake bank, but as he looked to the left, something caught his eye, he saw an old structure. It looked run down, snowy moss and vines going up the columns along the sides, with chunks of rock missing in few key points of the building, with sharp looking icicles hanging around the edges, it looked ready to collapse within a few days. Gabriel began walking towards it, to investigate further. *THUMP!* The ice beneath Gabriel shook violently, making him stagger. *THUMP!* The ice in front of him cracked and jutted outward, sending pieces of solid ice in every direction. This made him fall over on his backside as large chunk flew over his head. *THUMP!* *CRAAAACKKK!* Gabriel turned his head around to be met by a giant stone arm making its way out of the ice beneath; the arm was followed by a head, then a body, and finally its upper legs. Gabriel looked at it in awe, surprise, and a slight trace of fear, but that fear was soon replaced by utmost confidence. Nothing was going to get in the way of his set objective, and that task was to communicate with his recently deceased wife, who was murdered in cold blood, by the Lords of Shadow. He looked up at the Ice Titan, in sheer determination. The Titan easily stood 30 metres, above him, counting out its lower legs as they were still in the ice beneath. He was an ant compared to it. Gabriel began running up to the titan, planning to climb it. The titan brought its arm back, its hand forming into a fist, and brought it down lethally upon Gabriel. Gabriel thought quickly and dodged just in time as it landed in the ice where he was standing only moments ago, but the force emanating off the punch-zone sent him slipping backwards. He saw a bright flash in front of him as he was getting up onto his feet. Gabriel was temporarily blinded for a few seconds. He closed his eyes to make it subside. When he opened his eyes, he saw three technicolor midget equines in his field of vision, their backs were turned to him as they looked around, they had looks of confusion before being turned into looks of awe and fear as they laid their eyes upon the stone behemoth, this surprised and alienated Gabriel in a lot of ways on what he was seeing.... Gabriel was snapped out of his trance as the Titan brought its arm back, ready to strike the equines below it..... Gabriel thought quick, deciding to help them, as they obviously were not normal equines, and haven't proven to be hostile...yet. He sprinted over, grabbed them all at once, and barrel-rolled out the strike zone. He felt the force of the attack on the ice as it made him stagger a bit. Gabriel set the equines down gently, as he put them down he got a quick look at them, one was orange with a blonde mane and tail, emerald green eyes with three apples on its flank, and had some strange form of head wear. The next was cyan with a rainbow mane and tail, with cerise colored eyes; it had wings, thus making it a pegasus. Gabriel had heard of pegasi before, they inhabited Greece and surrounding areas. On its flank was a storm cloud with a rainbow colored lightning bolt shooting out of it. The next one piqued his interest, it was black, with a wavy mane and tail which had a midnight blue colour to it, with what looked like tiny stars glistening within, it had teal colored eyes, with a tiara on its head, it also had horn and a pair wings. It had a crescent moon emblazoned on its flank. Gabriel didn't know what to make of it. The other two managed to reach up to his waistline, the black one managed to reach his chest, with the horn. The expressions on their faces were the type that read "Shocked to comprehend". Gabriel turned around after his quick inspection, ready to face the stone giant once more.