ARMAGEDDON: AFTERMATH
By:  The Caber

     An uneasy peace blanketed the Fortress town, a specter of evil hovering just over the horizon. The noble unicorns patrolled the bordering woods, chasing away the occasional troglodyte that would dart out from the trees looking for information to bring back to their masters. Inside the fortress, scores of dwarves and elves honed their fighting skills, awaiting the day when strife would once again come with the darkness. Gem shuffled down a hallway, her untimely descent into old age wrestling the strength from her body. Melodia watched the wizened druid struggle to keep her balance and she quickly came to her mentor's aid. "I am feeling old and useless." Gem sighed as Melodia grabbed her shoulder and helped steady her.

     "Nonsense." The younger druid shot back, "It is from your strength we all draw. Without your guidance, our city would be paralyzed."

     "There are quite a few able druids ready to step up and take my place." Gem stated, "This city will go on long after I am gone."

     "Perhaps some fresh air will cheer you up." Melodia offered as she guided the aging druid towards the immense gardens they would often use to meditate in. Across the land, hidden in the highest chamber of a dark castle, a clandestine group held council. They sat around a huge stone table stained with ancient blood. Apparently it had at one time been used as a sacrificial altar. At the head of the table sat a muscular man hidden behind black robes. His narrow eyes betrayed no life as he watched the others in the room. He appeared to be the leader, as the others regarded him with great caution. 

     "My armies are ready!" Deemer proudly boasted as he pounded his fist on the table. "That is what Darkstorn told me." The enigmatic leader replied. "Darkstorn was a fool." Deemer stated, "He relied on pitiful parlor tricks. I bring the great Dragons of Tartule."

     "I do not appreciate failure." the leader stated, "Octavia learned her lesson." He patted a mummified head that lay on the table. It bore an eerie resemblance to his former general who was never seen again after failing to destroy the Fortress town. "We shall not fail you." Xarfax said with confidence. "I have laid the groundwork for an assault that will take the Fortress completely by surprise. This time, nothing shall stop us."

     "You mean we have laid the groundwork." Pyre challenged as she stood up from her chair. Her distaste for Xarfax showed as she gave the man an evil glare. Her goal was two-fold, defeat the Fortress and find a way to have Xarfax mortally wounded during the battle. With him out of the way, she would assume full command of the Dark Lord's army. She gave Deemer a sly glance as she sat back at the table.

     "Yes, of course." Xarfax agreed, "Our plan." He returned the woman's stare and then looked up at the ceiling. He realized now that Pyre would have to be dealt with, she was not content with merely following his orders.
The Dark Lord glanced at the two and surmised their petty goals. He cared not who survived, he viewed his leaders as mere chattel, expendable once his plans of conquest had been realized. This continent was much too small for more than one voice of authority.

     Melodia gently eased Gem onto her throne. Gem quivered slightly as she caught a glance of her reflection in a goblet on a table. Was it really only last month that she was young and beautiful? She stole a look at Melodia and cursed to herself as she anguished over the years she threw away. A sharp pain stung her back to reality. She looked down to see Melodia had buried a dagger deep into her side, twisting the blade as it tore up towards her heart. The turncoat druid wore a manic smile as she wrenched away the life of her ruler.

     "Why?" Gem gasped as her dying form sank to the floor.

     "Power!" Melodia shot back. "Power you have that rightfully belongs to me! I can no longer sit by idle and serve someone as weak as you have grown. I have been promised power beyond even your comprehension for my timely betrayal. No longer shall you be a thorn in the side of my master."
The young druid withdrew the dagger and smiled coyishly as she licked the blood from her blade. She slowly rubbed her body with her free hand as she watched Gem cough up blood.

     "What is going on here?" Jenova demanded as she entered the room and spied Gem lying on the floor. Before she could react further, Melodia raised her hand and summoned a wall of flame between the two. The flames eagerly reached for Jenova as the startled Ranger stepped backwards to avoid the searing heat.

     "Later hon." Melodia cooed as she summoned a dimension door and stepped through.

     The flame wall subsided and Jenvoa rushed over to her fallen ruler. She had come too late, for Gem was already dead. The young ranger's pretty face contorted in pain as she desperately tried to revive her mentor.

     "See that nothing survives!" Xarfax commanded as the morning sun rolled towards the sky. He looked over his army and smiled with pleasure. He looked up and watched, as the sky again grew black, the sun's rays blocked out by the immense wings of the great dragons.

     "Nothing can stand up against my dragons!" a jubilant Deemer assured as he walked over to Xarfax.

     "They are quite impressive." Xarfax agreed. He looked over his own army and realized they would stand little chance against the dragons.

     Inside her tent, Pyre took her time as she pulled her boots up her legs. She let Xarfax have his moment, for it was about to be his last. She stood up and reached for her sword belt, lingering slightly as she envisioned herself towering over Xarfax's fallen form.

     Clancy was busy grooming the mane of a unicorn when he noticed the sky grown dark. He looked up in wonder to see what phenomenon could so hide the sun. His jaw dropped in horror when he realized a sea of dragons were rushing for his beloved Fortress. He gently hugged the unicorn and withdrew his sword. He gave off a fierce cry as he waved his weapon in the air and raced towards the Fortress.

     The horns blew in alarm and scores of elves and dwarves grabbed their weapons and raced for the cities walls. The Dendroid guards formed a tight ring around the city and a battalion of Centaur captains readied their spears.

     "Dragons." Uland muttered as he watched their defiant forms block out the sun. He tapped his staff on the ground and waited for the inevitable.
The denizens of the Fortress fought bravely, but proved little match for the ferocious dragons. As a young boy would easily subdue an anthill, so to did the dragons squash the Fortress. Burning bodies flew everywhere as their unstoppable flames engulfed the city. The army of Pegasi were easily routed, and what remained of them flew off into the sky seeking refuge.
The accurate arrows shot from the bows of the elves were barely able to scratch the hide of the dragons. The stout dwarves could do little to stop the creatures from destroying their beloved Fortress.

     Jenova summoned an ice bolt and hurled it defiantly at an oncoming dragon. The mighty creature shrugged it off as easily as a woman in a bar would shut down the advances of a lecherous drunk. The creature snarled as it tore into Jenova and left so little of her behind, her own mother would have trouble identifying her.

     With the city in flames, the remaining army threw down their weapons and began a desperate race for the forest. They hoped to find safety amongst the trees and hide from their attackers.

     Uland stood his ground and gave up little resistance as a dragon sent him to the dirt.

     Xarfax rubbed his hands together in victory as he watched the remnants of the city break for the shelter of the forest. Beside him, Melodia groaned with pleasure as her birthplace smoldered to the ground.

     Pyre strolled alongside and nodded to Melodia. The scheming druid withdrew a dagger and slashed it towards Xarfax. The all too dexterous warrior sidestepped the blow and nailed the druid in the face with a vicious punch. She dropped the dagger and crumpled to the ground.

     "Looks like I shall have to do this myself!" Pyre boasted as she pointed her sword towards Xarfax.

     "You will prove little match for me." Xarfax replied as withdrew his weapon. With his attention devoted to her, he was caught by surprise when a bolt of energy struck him in the back. He was thrown to the ground in a daze and Pyre swiftly rushed up and severed his head from his body.

     "Good work." She said as Deemer came over to her. "Now, get me the longest stick you can find. Put Xarfax's head on one end. My trophy for our little victory here!" She spit on the fallen man's corpse and turned her attention elsewhere.