Lionheart – A Romantic Origin Story

Mawashimono Tue Oct 16, 2012 2:25 pm

Chapter 1 – A Lockdown Encounter

The war was older than anyone could remember, as old as the races themselves that fought the ongoing battle to capture territories and claim them as their own. Leone of the House of Lions had fought in many such battles and was a seasoned, proven warrior highly regarded by all. He was very tall and favored Vog Cub armor for his battles. A swordsman’s cap added a bit of a dashing look to his appearance. He was equally parts kidded and admired for his stylish appearance. His success as a Knight earned him a considerable sum of crowns, which he spent and invested wisely. Consequently, he was able to buy weapons and gear of the highest and rarest quality. The weapon-smiths employed a form of magic that enabled them to increase a weapon’s speed and effectiveness. Thus, Leone was able to buy some of the finest weapons in the kingdom. His personal favorite was his Glacius sword.

Lately Leone’s feelings about the war had changed, however. His passion for slaying Red Dragons had wained and been replaced by feelings of, what? empathy? understanding? admiration even? As Leone led his squadron into the mountainside forest, his thoughts and feelings struggled within him. He often chose to serve as party Guardian and healer these days rather as one of its main Strikers. But there was no time for that now, he thought, and firmly shoved those doubts away. It was nearing dusk and the forest was full of shadows. A day prior the Dragons had locked down this territory; Leone was charged with claiming it back.

There, in that enclave just ahead, he could see the flag of the House of Dragons planted in the center of the territory. His scout has reported a party of five dragons defending it. It would be an even fight then. Leone signal to his three strikers to take up attack positions. Just then he felt a ping on his radar. They’d been spotted by the Dragon scout. No time to organize; they had to strike while they still enjoyed some element of surprise.

His three strikers launched themselves almost simultaneously. Their familiarity with one another allowed them to work in coordination as a unit even with minimal communication. The Dragons responded quickly, but the Lions pressed their advantage mercilessly. One Dragon was already down and another was heavily damaged, but with Leone holding back from the fray, it was four against four. One Dragon, a bit shorter than the others, wheeled quickly left and right, weaving a fiery trail figure-8 from the fiery crown she wore on her head. Leone watched mesmerized by her skill until he noticed two of his Lions were down. He moved around trying to flank her. He swung at her with his Glacius, testing her more than actually trying to hurt her. She flicked his blade aside before delivering a critical hit, Ding!, against the last Lion standing, just as she was the last of the Dragons.

She spun quickly on him, and with a hissss and flick of her tail, made several rapid burning strokes at him with her powerful Combuster. He parried and retreated a step before pressing forward again. They both had swords of great power with skill to match, and the fiery and icy natures of their weapons were having a nullifying effect on one another. They broke off their dual and eyed one another from a safe distance.

Leone used the respite to look over his enemy. Her halo, armor and skill marked her as more than an ordinary Dragon. Could she be the Dragon Princess herself? If so, it was something of an honor to meet her in combat.

“Pardon milady, but might you be the Princess of the Dragons?”

“Yes, I am Mawashimono, the Dragon Princess, and I’ll be the last Dragon you ever see!” She switched weapons, leveled an Argent Peacemaker at him, and rapidly fired off several shots. Leone felt a bullet singe his ear as he dropped and rolled, coming up with his Polaris, which he fired back. His quick reaction time caught her by surprise as she barely raised her fiery dragon scale shield in time to block the shots. Still, the force of the impact of the charges drove her backwards several meters.

She realized that he was just too powerful for her to take down by herself, especially in his heavily fortified Vog Cub armor. With a burst of magic crystal energy, she transformed into her Radiant Silvermail battle armor, and equipped her head with a Heavenly Iron Helm. Once again she fired off several shots from her Peacemaker, but only to give herself time to close on him with her sword.

Her plan nearly worked, not so much for the speed with which she conducted it, but rather for her glorious transformation. Her fiery crown had been replaced by an iron one of her own personal color, and the setting sun glinting through the trees and reflecting off her shiny golden armor was nearly breathtaking in its beauty. She rushed him but could not quite get past his cold steel Glacius. He changed to his Snarbolax Coat to counter her magical metamorphisis.

Her forward momentum carried her into him and they collided solidly. The Dragon Princess let out a small, high-pitched grunt at the impact. It was then she realized how very tall he truly was. She looked up and felt a vertigo threatening to overwhelm her. Never had she seen such a soulful, glowing eyes. Pressed up against him she could smell his beastly muskiness. Her nostrils flared and she snapped her teeth at him. He leaned back but held her fast, and a smile touched his lips.

“We seem to be at an impasse,” he chuckled.

“Unhand me, milord, and I’ll break it!” she glared. Slowly he released his grip on her but he did not raise his sword even as she raised hers. He had left himself open, and she could have struck him down had she so desired. But strangely, it was not his death she desired, but rather the warrior himself. What strange new magic was this?

Leone slowly slid his hand into his coat pocket. Mawashimono tensed, not knowing what this mysteriously handsome Lion might do next. His hand emerged from his pocket bearing a solitary fancy flower.

“For you, milady. Something to remember me by until we meet again.” The Dragon Princess twitched her wings but could not quite bring herself to extend a long-nailed hand to receive it. Since they were still quite close, Leone gently reached across and attached the flower to her helm. As he withdrew his hand, he lightly caressed her cheek. Mawashimono involuntarily closed her eyes and rubbed her jaw against his retreating hand. When she finally opened them again, Leone had departed, leaving only a dark vapory trail and a promise of future intriguing entwinement.

Mawashimono Tue Oct 16, 2012 2:27 pm

“My, Leone, you’ve been quite the busy Clockworks delver lately. Saving up money for another costume?“ his friend, The Bard ribbed him.

“Yep. Got a real nice one planned!” Leone smiled.

“You always do,” The Bard responded with a smirk.

The truth was he’d been making numerous forays into Clockworks in hopes of the slimmest chance of meeting up with “her”. Although the various clans and guilds fought for territory on the surface of the planet, underneath was quite a different story. In the Clockworks, knights regardless of clan fought side by side against the monsters below for the mutual benefit of gaining crystals, minerals, and other valuable treasures that lie below. By joining various random party groups, Leone was hoping he might luck into one with Mawashimono. The odds against made it a fool’s quest, but perhaps his . . . (love?) feelings for her had turned him into one.

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Mawashimono had lost her desire for glory in locking down control points for territory. Her heart was conflicted and troubled, and thus she made for rather poor company these days. Consequently, she spent most of her time soloing the Clockworks depths, at least trying to make herself useful until she could regain some peace in her spirit.

She had elected to enter a danger room. It cost some energy to do so and was risky to do alone, but the potential payoff made it worthwhile. She could see by the set up what lay in store for her. Devilites, rats! Shock, double rats! Perhaps this had been a rash mistake. She could still leave the room, but then that energy she spent to get in would go to waste. Oh, well, as it is said “Fools rush in . . .”

She was taking some damage but managing alright, Blast those reavers!

“Back you fouls fiends! Get . . . a . . . way . . . from me.” Each word accompanied by a sword swing. Second wave done, just one more to go. Two Trojans appeared, one just out of view. She was maneuvering one into position and never saw the club coming as the second Trojan hit her. Wham! She tried to staggered away, but it was walking through hip-high mud. Not enough room to maneuver, blast it. Wham! The first Trojan had hit her as well. As stars swam before her eyes, she could feel her life force slipping away. The last thing she saw was a vision of Leone, whose image had played over and over in her mind so often these past few weeks. She regretted not having a chance to say goodbye to him.

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Leone joined yet another PUG party with very little hope in his heart of finding her, but he would not give up, he knew that now, knew that at some point he had turned a corner in his heart and could never go back, nor was it his desire to. As he appeared in the Clockworks he was immediately greeted by a cacophony of noise. Two Trojans were snorting in delight while devilites danced around with arms upraised. In the middle of this was a bent over figure, staggering or falling, he could not tell. Leone switched out his Final Flourish and quickly dispensed a Trojan with its back turned toward him. The second became aware of this new threat and move powerfully toward him. Leone let it begin its attack, side stepped and whirled before slash-slash-slashing its vulnerable back jewel. The Devilites howled in anger at the intrusion of this new foe, and begin hurling their shock balls in his direction. Leone patiently shielded while advancing, and with the same sword that had done in the Trojans, methodically whittled down their numbers until he had skewered the last of them.

He was now able to see to the fallen fighter who had been so near to death. He sucked in his breath sharply at the sight of his beloved Dragon Princess. She had been beaten and bloodied, and hovered within lethal limits of her health expiring. Gently he raised her up.

Her breathing was very shallow. “Leone?” she whispered. “Is it . . . really you?”

“Shhh, quiet now. Yes, it’s me. And my heart is filled with sadness to find you so hurt, yet joyful that I am able to be with you again.”

“You found me,” she gasped. “How?”

“I’ve been looking for you ever since that day,” he laughed softly, “the day my life was changed forever.”

“And mine too, Leone. I’ve been hoping we could become . . . friends.” She tried to smile then winced at the pain she still felt in her mouth.

Leone tried to return her small smile with one of his own and queried “Only friends, Princess? Could we never be more?”

She looked up into his eyes with moisture along the bottom of hers, from pain or some other emotion, he knew not which, and said, “I’d like that, Leone. But my father has already promised my hand in marriage to a man in another royal family. In fact, the wedding is just two months hence.”

Leone stood to his full height. “Who is this fellow? Perhaps I could have a word with him,” and he gripped his sword meaningfully.

“No, Leone, you can’t do . . .” She stopped mid sentence. That was not quite true. There was a moment in the wedding when anyone with any objection could speak up, and if so desired, even challenge the groom for the hand of the bride. She had heard stories of this happening, but not to anyone she ever knew nor in any wedding in her city. She looked into Leone’s glowing eyes trying to decide whether or not to share this information with him. Not that it would do any good, since the cultural laws of Dragons did not apply to Beasts of any kind, naturally.

“Well,” she said, “it’s true that another dragon could challenge the groom for my hand in marriage, but for a Lion such as yourself, it would not be possible. In fact, you’d be killed for trespassing as soon as you set foot inside the city gates. But, Leone, we could be friends and fight in the clockworks together as much as we wish.”

“Very well,” he smiled, “friends then.” For now, he thought to himself.

Mawashimono Tue Oct 16, 2012 2:29 pm

The last two months going on runs in the Clockworks with Leone had been wonderful, and they had grown quite close as friends. But now here wedding day was upon her, a day her parents had been planning for her for years, and she knew she would be forced to give up battling by Leone’s side. Such a life might be acceptable for a young princess, but not for a married one. Her friends and family were in a festive mood, and Mawashimono tried her best to match it.

“What’s wrong, Dear?” her mother asked. “Aren’t you excited for this special day in your life?”

She smiled at her mother and her father, whom she loved dearly, and tried to be happy for their benefit.

“Perhaps I’m just a bit nervous. After all, Red-Rascal seems like a nice man and all, but I don’t really know him.”

“Oh, he is, Dearest. And you’ve seen how handsome he is in his red Radiant Silvermail. You two will make a lovely couple.”

“I guess . . . I hope you’re right, Mother.”

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Leone had been gathering information on the wedding arrangements and about the layout and entrance points to the Dragon City. He had carefully hidden his intentions from Mawa since he did not want to upset her or try to counter-argue against her objections. He was risking his life, perhaps even throwing it away on a useless cause, but he could not live with himself if he didn’t try. His only real fear was that he might spoil what is usually a very special day in a young female’s life.

He had disguised himself as one of the merchant Strangers that are allowed to roam freely from city to city. Even with his very tall height he was shorter than most Strangers, but his heavy stranger hat and matching Chaos Cloak with a belly barrel would have to suffice. As he hoped, getting into the city had not been too difficult. Getting close enough at the wedding would be much more challenging. Mawashimono had commented in the heat of battles how pungent his beastly muskiness could be, but she seemed to rather like it. In order to disguise it, however, he had sprayed on some Dragon pheromones that The Bard had obtained for him.

The sound of the wedding festivities made it easy enough to locate the wedding, and Leone began to move towards it as unobtrusively as possible.

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The Dragon Princess now stood up on a stage next to Red-Rascal in front of the wedding crowd. The wedding minister had come to the part in the ceremony which Mawa had told Leone about. She thought of him especially then, though truth be told, she hardly ever stopped thinking about him.

The minister issued the ritual statement “If anyone has any objection to the marriage bond, or desires to challenge for the hand of the bride, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”

Hardly waiting even a moment, he smiled and continued, “Then by the . . .”

“I do,” a voice rang out.

All heads turned and look at the Stranger who had shouted the words.

The minister, somewhat confused and flustered asked, “The Stranger has some objection to . . .?”

“No, not an objection.” Leone threw off his disguise, and shouted, “I challenge the groom for the hand of the bride!”

The crowd of aristocratic Dragons erupted in protest at the presence of a Lion among, several hissing and snapping their teeth in unseemly decorum. Guards immediately rushed to seize Leone.

“What is the meaning of this?” Red-Rascal asked spat.” He turned to Mawa with the questions and annoyance on his face. “Princess?” he asked her.

Mawashimono was simultaneously overjoyed and dismayed. What had Leone done? Didn’t he know win or lose, he’d never be allowed to leave here alive.

As the bride being challenged for, it was still her right to refuse to allow the challenge. No face would be lost to anyone involved and the wedding could proceed. If Leone were a Dragon, that is. But this was unheard of.

As her eyes teared up she spoke, “I . . . I allow the challenge.”

“What?!!?” Her father, the king stood up and glared at her with outrage and disappointment. “You’ll do know such thing, daughter of mine!”

She looked to Leone again, and the love she felt in her heart for him flowed out through her tears. By allowing the challenge she had humiliated her groom and shamed her parents, and this in front of all the noble Dragons of the city. There was no turning back now.

She said the words again, louder now and with more conviction as she realized that her future, if she even had one left, with be with Leone the Lion or with no one at all. “I allow the challenge!” she repeated.

“Very well, Princess,” Red-Rascal said coldly, “if that’s how you want it. Clear a space back there and let’s have done with this foolish beast.”

Red-Rascal transformed into his battle gear as Leone did his. Rather than offer any of the usual polite formalities that Dragons might accord one another, Red immediately launched his attack against Leone. Giving Leone no time to recover, Red pressed his attack aggressively, hoping for a quick and decisive victory to impress the assemblage with. But Leone was able to match his speed and weaponry, while enjoying a slight advantage in reach and strength. Inexorably the tide of the fight turned with Red fighting mainly in defense. In desperation, Red quickly tossed two bombs toward Leone, a thoughtless and dangerous tactic with a crowd of people so near to the combat. Leone deflected one with his shield and batted the other back towards Red-Rascal. Red tried to jump clear but was caught partially in the blast and knocked unconscious. Leone now had the right to finish the duel lethally, but wisely chose not to, nor did he harbor any enmity toward the Royal prince who had been promised the hand of his love.

Leone was not sure what would happen next or how to proceed, so he improvised. “As victor in lawful combat, I claim the hand of the Dragon Princess in marriage.”

Mawa was likewise at a loss for how things were supposed to proceed, so she followed his lead. “And I accept.” She ran to him then, as she had longed to do the moment he had revealed himself. The embraced and sealed their “marriage” with a kiss, and really there was nothing more that anyone could say about it.

She knew that they would have to leave the city, that her life here was over forever. She would miss her family and friends, but a new life lay ahead of her, a life in Haven with Leone. With no guild to call their own, they would have to make one for themselves – a guild where all races would feel welcome and valued equally, a guild that would one day become known as Lionheart.

The End

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Lionheart – A Romantic Origin Story

Lionheart – A Romantic Origin Story

Chapter 2 - Clockworks

Chapter 3 - The Wedding

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