“I hope for the sake of Eternia, you are wrong my friend” Grayskull told his friend as he observed the eclipse, he even though he hoped that Eldor was wrong, he knew what happened- Horde Prime had escaped from the bottom of the planet where he was confined to conquer Eternia and if not stopped, all Eternia was doomed.

Up in Eternia’s sky, Horde Prime had summoned his most trusted advisor Gerzan to hear of the day’s news.

“What have you to report?” the demon asked his servant.

Gerzan genuflected as show of fear and reverence for the demon as he considered him as a god, “Our forces are ready master, we need only to catch the Eternians in a lull and the full might of the Horde will crush Eternia” the lesser demon told his master.

“Gerzan station yourself on the planet, remain hidden until I call for you to attack, is that understood Gerzan?” Prime asked his servant.

“Yes, my master” Gerzan replied as Horde Prime dismissed his servant and watched as Gerzon got up and left the chamber.

Meanwhile on Eternia, King Grayskull had summoned the Council of the Ancients, a gathering of Eternia’s bravest leaders and greatest wizards to his ancestral home of Castle Grayskull.

“This meeting will come to order!” Grayskull shouted as the council turned to face him. “I have called you to deal with the urgent threat of Horde Prime” at those words the council was turned to an orderly meeting.

“Are you sure you saw Horde Prime, there are many things that could have eclipsed the sun” One council member told Grayskull

“Of course of it was Horde Prime” the voice of King Ophedius replied for Grayskull.

Ophedius took his seat amongst the council, “The question is not ‘was it Horde Prime’ but ‘how do we stop him’” the King of Serpia told the council.

“But how, We hardly know what this  Horde Prime is, leave alone to defeat him.” another council member informed Ophedius.

“Simple, not even Horde Prime can withstand against the might of Eternia” Grayskull chimed in, paying the Ophedius back for saving his skin from integration at the start of the meeting.

“Well from all I could gather Horde Prime is waiting for something, he hasn’t made a sound since he was in the sky today.” Eldor told the group of wizards and warriors.

“Then we will wait, great Eldor, I will not to bring open war to Eternia so hastily” Grayskull told everyone present.

Eldor nodded in agreement “Yes I agree, we will not risk war, but we must watch Horde Prime’s every move and try figure out to what he is up to” Eldor informed the council.

“Agreed, we watch Horde Prime and see if we can’t uncover his plan” Grayskull repeated as his adjourned the meeting.

For three years, Horde Prime remained silent; he was gathering his forces from across the cosmos to Eternia. Thousands of troops poured onto Eternia carrying the Horde standards with them.

When he was sure that his forces were greater than the Eternian he contacted Gerzon on the planet’s surface.

“Gerzon” he called out to his servant.

“Yes Master” the Horde commander replied to the demon’s call.

“Now is the time, I will meet you at Well of Darkness” the demon told him.

“Yes my master my forces will be ready” He informed Horde Prime as the message ended.

Gerzan turned to his team Generals, they were unsavory lot, they were demons of ever shape and sort it was if the infernal regions had opened up and spewed forth its citizens on Eternia, and they formed his crack team of warriors.

“Klorg!” Gerzan summoned the man-beast to him.

“Yes, Lord Gerzan” Klorg barked ready to receive orders from his master.

“Horde Prime is ready we are to meet tonight at the Well of Darkness” Gerzan told Klorg.

“Yes, Supreme One we will be ready” Klorg replied as he saluted Gerzan and went to tell the troops.

Later that night King Ophedius lay in bed, when something woke him up. He raced to the window only to see the largest Horde army ever.

-- Edited by HeSalvo at 11:40, 2005-09-14

Grayskull and Eldor immediately recognize the object, The Medallion of Divinity, “Orphedius have you gone mad” Grayskull shouts as he tries to wrest the medallion from him.

“I’m saving Eternia” he exclaims holding into medallion up in the air.

“But you cannot  control it, We hardly know of this power. What if things go wrong. ” Eldor warns the King Serpia.

“What do you know? Things have already gone wrong. My once prosperous Kingdom has almost dwindled to a burning pile of ash. My people brutally slaughtered. It can’t get any worse. I will summon the Snake god whether you like it or not.” he snapped at both Eldor and Grayskull.

“The Kings of Eternos is right, even you can not harness the power of Serpos” Zorlak warns Orphedius.

“Even I in all my magic cannot control that god, listen the Enforcer Orphedius he knows what he is talking about” The Ruler of Zolacia implores his friend

“You’re wrong I CAN control Serpos” he sneered as he tried to punch the Enforcer, but the enforcer ducked and he hit the Ruler of Zolacia instead.

“I’m warning you, you’ll pay a price for messing with forces you cannot control” Zorlak warned the Serpian King & left the scene of battle.

Once he was sure that the Enforcer was gone he returns to his dark magic “Now to bring Serpos to life” he said as chanted the spell, instantly green beams of energy appeared and soon the energy transformed into the god Serpos.

“Serpos! I command you, destroy Horde Prime!” the King of Serpia ordered the three-headed snake.

The demon did as he was told and begin to attack Horde Prime; the two entities were locked in a battle that can only be described as a battle of the gods. The battle lasted for hours, until the Snake god injected his venom into Horde Prime.

When Gerzan saw his master wounded, he ordered what was left of the Horde to retreat.

“I did it” he said as he saw the hulking form of Horde Prime fall to the ground with a thunderous crash. Suddenly a light glows around him & he transformed into three orbs of pure energy.

“No Orphedius!! You have only delayed the inevitable. You may have defeated me this time, but you can never destroy me. I will regroup & return & Eternia will dread that day.” The orbs then flash into the sky with the speed of light.

While he was standing observing the victory, energy from a fading Serpos was discharged from the medallion and struck Orphedius sending him into a swoon. The power of Serpos had corrupted his body & its venom ran down his veins. King Ophedius was dying.

-- Edited by HeSalvo at 11:48, 2005-09-14

The King of Eternos made is way down to the lowest levels of Castle Grayskull where Queen Veena was tending to the wounded king of Serpia.

“How is he?” he asked his wife as he as looked at his old friend, there was concerned in Grayskull’s eyes, out of all the rulers of Eternia, Orphedius Grayskull considered to be a true friend.
“As well as can be expected, I’ve done everything in my power” she said as she looked at her husband, “What did the council say?” she asked wanting to know what the noble leaders and wizards of Eternia had decided about her husband’s friend.

“They condemned him, they’re going to let him die,” he said as he stamped his foot in anger. A torrent of sadness, hatred and despair washed through Grayskull’s souls. “In the name of Eternia what I am to do, I can’t let him die” he said in despair.

His wife comforted him the best she could. She was heartbroken to see her husband like this, and knew that his pain and sorrow over his friends fate was worse than the pity she felt for the King of Serpia.

While they talking, King Orphedius sat up, “To the infernal regions with that those withering old fools” he spat as he got off the bed and left. “My kingdom will wither away without a king. I can’t & I wont let that happen.”

“Wait, King Orphedius where are you going” Queen Veena asked as she noticed the king get up and leave. She knew he wasn’t cured yet and feared something might happen to him in his weakened state.

“I’m going to find a cure myself, even if I must traverse the Infernal Region itself” he
vowed as he walked the steps and to the door of the castle and left.

King Grayskull tried to stop his friend but he was too late, “I pray to the gods that he does not cross the infernal regions, for few survived that have done so” he said looking up towards the sky.

Meanwhile, King Orphedius went back to his palace, there standing at the gates his wife was waiting for him.

“What did the council proclaim dearest?” Ana asked her husband eager to learn the council ruling on the matter of her husband and the future of his kingdom.

“Nothing, I have withdrawn from the Council, Serpia does not help of a bunch ancient spell casters and weak leaders. We can rebuild ourselves we always have and always will” he proclaimed as he left his wife with out kissing her.

“But dear” was all she could say as she tried to cool off her angry husband, but to no avail.

Later that night, as they getting ready for bed, Ana tried to make see the folly of leaving the council, but her husband would not hear of it, so finally realizing she would not win this battle she turned off the light and went to bed.

The next morning, when she woke she found her husband was looking pale, he had fever ad was delirious. Worried about her husband’s health she called the Royal Healer but he couldn’t do anything, “is there nothing you can do?” she asked the healer hoping that he could do something to stop her husband from dying.

The healer shook his “I’m sorry your majesty, I’ve done all I can, all we can do is wait and hope but I fear death is inevitable for your husband” he said as he left the room.

“I will not give up on you my love” she told her husband, her soul mate, she did not want to lose him and knew that some way some how he would getter better, he had to, she could not be able to go on without her beloved king.

As the days waned on, King Orphedius began to grow sicker, every time the healers would come all they said was the same thing that soon he would die, even though Ana refused soon she eventually cam to terms with that fact.

Finally three nights after he first became sick, she knew that soon he would leave this world, she went to her husband “Farewell my darling husband may I see you in paradise” she whispered to him as she kissed good night for the last time.

Orphedius couldn’t sleep, the fact the Death’s messenger would soon call him kept plaguing his mind, he tried of think, but it was overwhelming.

It was midnight when he was finally able to get drowsy when he was startled by strange figure standing beside his bed.

“Who are you?” Orphedius asked, fearful that this was the messenger of Death.

“I am called many names, your highness but you may call me the Squire” the being said bowing before the king.

-- Edited by HeSalvo at 12:03, 2005-09-14

“You knew I was coming, great Serpos?” King Orphedius asked with interest.

“YES, FROM THE MOMENT YOU SUMMONED ME TO DO BATTLE WITH HORDE PRIME I KNEW YOU WERE TO COME TO ME AND BE CURED” the Snake god told the king.

“Then you will cure me?” King Orphedius asked the god eager to be cured.


“YES, BUT FIRST YOU MUST GIVE ME SOMETHING IN RETURN.” Serpos told the Serpian king.

“Anything, great one” the king replied anxious to be whole again.

“FOR MILLENNIA, I HAVE DESIRED ONE THING, TO RETURN TO YOUR WORLD AND BE ABLE TO TAKE A TANGIBLE FORM, TO DO THAT ORPHIDEUS I NEED A VESSEL. I NEED A CHILD IN WHICH I MAY ENTER INTO YOUR WORLD” Serpos told him.

“But, I have no child oh great Serpos and I can never have one” Orphedius sighed informing the god, waiting to see if Serpos would still cure him.


The god laughed, “DO NOT WORRY, I HAVE FORSEEN THAT YOU WILL KEEP YOUR END OF THE PROMISE” the god told the king.

King Orphideus kept quiet for some time, and then nodded “It is a deal, Great Serpos.”

“I KNEW YOU WOULD SEE THINGS MY WAY”, said the snake god.

Soon the mystic energies of the Altar began to glow. Magic surrounded the king and instantly the poison was removed from his system.

The altars glow then subsided and vanished; the beams of energy securing the king to the altar also vanished.

“I’m cured, praise Serpos!” the king exclaimed, just then he heard a rumbled sound, and saw the ceiling began to collapse, “The temple’s caving in” the king exclaimed as he rushed to his feet and races out of the temple with only seconds to spare.

Two days later he returned to the palace, his wife Ana was waiting for him at the gates.

“Praise Serpos, you’re cured” she said as he hugged him, she looked into his eyes and saw something strange in them, a strange energy that seemed almost to come from the infernal regions themselves.

“Orphedius, darling, what’s wrong?” she asked her husband, he seemed cold and distant like he was upset over something.

“Nothing my dear I am well,” he said coldly as if he was hiding something from her as he walked away. Ana knew something was wrong, but she wasn’t sure what.

Later that night, Orphedius was plagued by nightmares he kept seeing Serpos. The god would remind him that ‘remember our deal your child for your life.’ He rolled around in bed until a few minutes later he would wake up in a panic.

“Orphedius, what seems to be the problem?” Ana said as she woke up from being startled, she saw the worried look in his eyes, the dream had truly terrified him.

“It was only a dream, my dear. It will pass with time, I hope,” he said as he went back to sleep.



It didn’t pass until eight months later when Ana gave birth to her firstborn son whom she named Verconius. She was very happy but she also worried, Orphedius wasn’t looking well again, his skin had turned green and his eyes appeared to be red in color. She was afraid that he might have been poisoned again. At nightfall he’d usually visit a secret room, concealed behind a wall, devising something. What? Anna didn’t know.

Finally after two months the time for the proclamation of his son as the heir to the throne of Serpia had come.

Ana was sitting on the balcony with her child on her lap, she looked out at the crowd, they were getting anxious, usually King Orphedius would be here by now, it wasn’t like him to be late.

Finally about half an hour later, the king arrived. Queen Ana got up to kiss him, but he ignored her as if she wasn’t there and instead headed up to the edge of the balcony.

“My friends, hail Serpos!” the king declared.

“HAIL SERPOS!” the crowed shouted back.

“Today my friends, is a new day for Eternia. Today we cast off the oppression of Eternos and Zalesia and create for ourselves the Serpian Empire. Grayskull’s kingdom will fall and the Ruler of Zolacia will bow before us” King Orphedius declared.

The crowd was puzzled, they had never seen Orphedius say such things, he had always been one for freedom & peace, he never even dreamt of conquest before and this sudden change was frightening.

“My dear what has come over you” Ana asked her husband, it was then she saw something horrible, her husband’s skin was drying and cracking as if he was shedding. Then it literally burst revealing a horrific mutation, King Orphedius had become a snake with three heads.

The middle head was that of a cobra and had red eyes, the other two were vipers and had yellow eyes, Orphedius also had three tails all three of them ending in a rattle.

“King Orphedius?” Queen Ana said as she screamed looking at what was once her husband, she asked the royal babysitter to take the child someplace safe but he refused to move out of shock.

“King Orphedius is no more…” the snake-like figure said as it looked out onto the crowd that was fleeing, hoping to escape before something terrible would happen but the ground was surrounded by guards.
“Now begins the Reign of SERPOS!!!”

__________________

-- Edited by HeSalvo at 12:08, 2005-09-14

great work 2-bad! Great story and truly evocative drawings! But now I want more!
salvo

Over the next year, Serpon trained the newly formed creatures in combat, he ordered the forgers to make weapons and armor from them. He trained them to be cold hearted and bloodthirsty not have no fears and accept Death like a warrior.

“Behold the Serpentis Imperium” Serpon declared as he showed the huge army to his father.

“Excellent, soon all of Eternia will fall” Serpos declared as he went to address the army“ today you will be rewarded with victory, some will fall but they will get their rewards in the celestial kingdom. First Spalea will fall, and then the other will follow suit!” he told them as sent them out into battle. “Serpon!” Serpos hissed.

“Yes Sire.” Serpon answered as he bowed to his father.

“Prepare our men for battle!” the snake god ordered.

“At once master” Serpon said as he left to carry out his master’s orders.

Within a matter of hours they were ready and stationed outside the palace & were armed with spears, swords, bows and arrows, shields, and daggers. All ready for the battle that was to come.

Soon Serpos and Serpon came out on a chariot and rode to the front of the army. The massive group saluted their god and his heir.

“Onward to Spalea!” Serpos said. He led his troops towards the entrance of Subternia.

Deep below the ground, Lord Chiropterus had just got done inspecting the troops when he heard a massive pounding at the main gates.

“What was that?” The Spalean Leader exclaimed as pounding became louder and louder, he sent some troops to investigate.

The captain slowly cracks open the door, but as soon as he did, the doors burst off the hinges as the Snake onslaught began. Thousands of Speleans were killed in battle and many more were taken prisoners, only a few escaped.

“Ah, the sweet smell of conquest” Serpos said as he oversaw the carnage that lay before him. He walked toward the throne on which the dead monarch still sat, a poison arrow lodged in his heart.

“You wont be needing this anymore.” Serpos said as he removed the crown of Lord Chiropterus’ head and tossed the Spalean’s corpse from the throne.

“I Serpos am now the Monarch of Spalea” Serpos said as he sat down on the throne and surveyed the kingdom.

While he was busy thinking of his new role as ruler of Eternia, Serpon came forward with strange prisoner, a reptilian creature but not one of the Serpentis but of another tribe reptilian humanoids.

“Who are you?” Serpos asked as he beckoned the creature closer to the throne.

“I am Fangman, I am a member of the Squamatan tribe, and I am here to stop your madness” Fangman hissed & suddenly two giant Serpenitaurs arrived to rescue him & freed him from the clutches of the guards.

“Now to get this over with”, Fangman smirked & signaled each of the Serpenitaurs to attack Serpos & Serpon. Serpon instantly jumped over the attacking Serpenitaur & bee headed the beast. As the other one headed for Serpos, his eyes suddenly gave a glow & he tamed the beast in an instant & used his staff to hit Fangman, who ran towards him, with the sole purpose of assassination. Serpos smiled “Your power of controlling these beasts is impressive, but you forget that I am the Snake God.”

Serpon quickly grabbed Fangman. “Allow me to finish this rebel Great one” he requested ready with his claws waiting to tear through the injured Fangman’s skin. Serpos smiled and said, “No!! he is defeated. Look into my eyes warrior…” using his hypnotic powers he turned Fangman into a servant of the Serpentis Imperium.

Before he left, Serpon asked, “Why did you hypnotize him, he could still be a threat to us.” Hearing that, Serpos turned towards his offspring & angrily replied, “You do not do the thinking here, I do. He has completely lost his memory. All he knows now is that is he is a general in the Serpentis Imperium. His talents will, be of Great use to us.”, as he walked down the hallway to plan his next attack.

 

Soon more kingdoms began to fall, the first of them was Veridas, whose army consisted of archers & Spearmen. The army tried to repel the onslaught but the Serpentis Imperium overwhelmed them and soon the kingdom fell to the Snakes.

“All goes according to plan” Serpon said as he beheld the defeated Verdians, “soon Eternia will be mine!” Serpos exclaimed now wearing two crowns - that of Spalea and the other of Veridas. He then gazed at his troops which now included both Spalean & Veridian transformed soldiers.

“What is the next target, my Lord?” Serpon asked as he approached the throne and genuflected to his father and master, Serpon was eager to please his master.

“Zalesia.” Was his answer, “they won’t know what hit them, and soon I shall posses their magic” he said as he thought of the power he will have at his fingertips once Zalesia fell under his power.

[SIZE=4] Chapter 4[/size]

[center][/center]

[SIZE=3]Part I : Venom & Valor [/COLOR][/SIZE]

Two months passed after the Siege on Zalesia but the kingdom was still in ruin after the attack.

"It will at least take my people a year to restore Zalesia to it's past glory. Orphedius will rue the day he crossed paths with me." ,the Lord of Zalesia bursted out with anger.

"Your anger is justified, but rebuilding your city now would be a fatal mistake. If Orphedius would not have called off the attack, Zalesia would have been doomed. Right now we need the people of Zalesia to fight the Serpentis Imperium & they can take shelter in Eternos." ,replied Eldor.

"Orphedius is no more" replied king Grayskull in a low & sorrowful tone gazing from the balcony of what was left of Zalesia.

"What do you mean my King?" Eldor asked in surprise.

King Greyskull replied, "I fought the creature. He kept saying Orphedius was no more & that he had completely taken control. If we would've helped Orphedius in his time of need none of this would've happened. But the Zalesian people are welcomed to Eternos anytime."

Meanwhile in the Serpian palace, the Generals of the Serpentis Imperium sat in a row to discuss the next strategy of attack. As Serpos entered the room the generals stoop up. He sat in the center next to Serpon& began to unveil his plan.

"Everything is going as planned. Eternia is devastated after our constant attacks. The people flee in fear. Now that majority of the capitals are ruined there remains only one place where the Eternian's can try to seek shelter…Eternos!! Once we destroy that land & Castle Greyskull I will transform each & every Eternian with power of the Serpent's ring." Serpos announced.

Serpon opposed "I beg to differ Father, our troops are already low in food & mineral resources. Our other territories are low in resources as well . You seem to destroy every Kingdom before you conquer it & at this rate you will have nothing to rule but a barren wasteland."

Hearing this, Serpos' eyes began to glow red with anger & frustration. He raised his staff & hit Serpon sending him crashing against the wall.

" You dare to question my authority. I give the orders around here . You have brought this annoying topic up far too many times. One more time & I'll have to forget I had a son. If anyone comes between me & my plans he shall be dealt with in the most gruesome manner." Serpos growled & hit Serpon with a stunning jolt.

He then turned at the other generals who were awestruck by his action. Giving an evil smirk he asked, "So anyone else wishes to oppose me?"
As silenced spreads across the room he announced. " Good, then we shall attack when all three of the Eternian moons align. Fangman prepare your Serpenitaurs for battle. Greyskull & all of Eternia shall fall before the power of Serpos."

Meanwhile in Eternos, Greyskull got the dream again. This time the picture of the mountain seemed clear & vivid & he heard the voice one more. "Greyskull….Eternia is in grave danger. It is time for you to know. Come to us & all shall be revealed."

Greyskull realized that it was more than a mere dream & summoned Eldor the next day.

"…And it was as if the voice new what was about to happen & it said something about me & my destiny.", replied Greyskull.

" I am not sure what it means my King, but we must find out. Tell me, do you remember the exact shape of the mountain." asked Eldor.

"Yes! of course I do." replied Greyskull.

"Then we must not waste anytime. The ancient books may unveil the location of this mountain." Eldor stated as if he was in great haste.

After a full day of searching the texts & manuscripts, they finally found what they were searching for.

"There! There it is! That's the mountain I saw in my dream" Greyskull exclaimed with great excitement.

"That my King is Mount Sealight, once said to be the very place where the Ancients' magic was strongest. If they have summoned you, you must leave immediately. But be extremely aware while crossing the vine jungle. It is located in the center of the Crystal mountains. I shall ride with you"

"Do not worry old friend I have Battle Lion with me. I'm sure he'll be able to overcome any of the obstacles. And right now the people of Eternia need help more than I do. Serpos could attack at any point." Greyskull stated as he moved towards the library exit.

"Very well . If Serpos attacks we shall be ready for him. Good Journey my King." Veena & Eldor exclaimed with confidence.

"Good Journey!" replied Greyskull as he sat upon the giant Battle lion & headed towards the Vine jungle in the East, hoping that he'd find some answers to end this devastating war.

In Serpia, Serpon walked across a corridor in the palace constantly remembering how his father insulted him in front of all the Generals. He constantly grumbled, " Father? He calls himself my father!! At times I wish he weren't."

"And he isn't" a hissing voice spoke from behind.

Serpon was shocked for a moment & as he turned, he saw Fangman standing in a corner.

"What did you say?" Serpon bursted in anger & headed to attack Fangman with his claws but missed.

Fangman replied "You heard me right your highness. Serpos is not your father."

"This better be a joke Fangman. What are you up to? " Serpon continued as he was both, confused & furious.

" I know you are confused, but what I am telling you is no joke . Your father was King Orphedius the true king of Serpia. It was Serpos who tricked him & destroyed him from within." Fangman began to explain.

Serpon calmed down a bit, "You mean I am the next heir to my father's throne…"

"No…nor  will you ever be as long as Serpos rules the Serpentis Imperium & Serpia." replied Fangman.

"I will find out for myself but if I find out that this is a lie, you better start counting your claws before I rip you to pieces General." Serpon warned Fangman, still looking confused.

"That will not be necessary, your highness." replied Fangman.

Serpon started moving towards the end of the corridor & turned  "One thing bothers me. Why did you  tell me this?"

" Revenge. Serpos killed my people because they were not willing to join the Imperium. I only acted as if I was under his spell to reach you. Me & my people have a strong resistance towards hypnosis." Answered Fangman.

With the conversation coming to an end Serpos left the corridor.

That night Serpon, didn't get any sleep. He strolled back & forth in his chamber thinking whether Fangman was lying or not. The night passed & on the next day he started to supervise how the preparations for the attack were coming along. After examining the weapons, he decided to visit the prison. While walking down the steps he accidentally tripped over a pile of bones & went crashing into a wall. As he got up he found out that the wall was hollow & was covering a barricaded door. He broke the barricades & entered the room.

The room was filled with ruined armor & potions. He decided to take a closer look & on lighting a candle he found out pictures & writings on the walls. It was the room Orphedius used to secretly lay when he tried to fight Serpos' will & to create the Serpent's ring. The pictures described his story & how he was corrupted by the demon.

Serpon began to read the text which said :

"He came to me to offer life when hope seemed lost in exchange of a child he needed for his cause. I accepted his deal & I was cured, but only temporarily. He haunts me in my dreams saying that there was a change in plans. I fight his will but he seems too strong. Day-after day I feel as if I am being held, a prisoner in a cell which will remain locked for eternity. Each day I rue that I crossed paths with this demon. I should have died instead. But now my only concern is my  son. I hope the demon spares him , as only he can finish the nightmare I begun."

Reading this, emotions ran wild in Serpon. He didn't know what to think. He was angry as well as sad for his father's death. " Fangman was right, Serpos' madness needs to stop."

He heads to the palace & tells Fangman to assemble every General against Serpos' policy of meaningless destruction.

In the Vine Jungle , King Greyskull reached a tunnel whose entrance was small & it was impossible for Battle lion to enter it. Greyskull entered alone & found out that the tunnel was huge from the inside & then suddenly he heard a buzzing sound from a distance spotted a swarm of Arthros moving right towards him. Greyskull knew that these small insect-like creatures could bite their way through stone & skin alike. He had a few seconds to think of what to do & then it struck him that Arthros couldn't see in the dark. So he immediately took off his rope, covered himself & laid low till the swarm passed.

He then exited the tunnel he reached the Crystal mountains & Mount Sealight stood before him. As he reached closer to the mountain he saw the flashing light in a tunnel several feet above. He reached the tunnel, but the glow seemed to have disappeared. He entered but there was darkness all around him. He heard a monstrous voice & at once tried to reach out for the sword from but found that it was missing. Suddenly he was struck down with a powerful punch & as he opened his eyes a huge creature stood in front of him.

The creature headed straight for him, slashing as it moved. Greyskull tried to reason with the being but it continued to slash away managed to hit Greyskull in the arm. Realizing that the only way to know why he was called to Sealight was to defeat the monster, he decided to fight back.

Noticing that the creature had claws so long that it wouldn't be able to catch him, he headed straight for it & dodging its claws, hit it right in the chest, sending the creature crashing into a wall. He asked the fallen creature to surrender, but it suddenly woke up & slashed at his chest. Greyskull was badly injured but he still decided to fight. As the monster headed towards him one ,more Greyskull  jumped high & landed on its back & started pounding on its neck  until the creature fell to the ground.

   Suddenly, a bright light illuminated the cave & a feminine voice called out to Greyskull, "You have passed the trial. Rise, King Greyskull."

As he turned, he saw that the monster had disappeared & his sword was lying on the floor. Greyskull replied confused, "Passed? Passed what? Reveal yourself"

  From out of nowhere, seven entities surrounded by a blinding white light, appeared before him.

A male voice began, "You passed all the tasks put in front of you & in performing them you showed great valor, King Greyskull. You are indeed the 'Chosen one' as the Great Prophecy stated."

" I don't understand, 'Chosen one'…. prophecy? Who are you?" King Greyskull asked as he was even more confused by what the being had to say.

"We, King Greyskull, are the spirits of the ancients. We have kept the balance of power throughout the land for all these centuries & now you must do the same." replied the being.

"But I'm a mere mortal. I don't have any great powers." replied Greyskull.

" Ahhh…But you do. Otherwise you wouldn't have reached so far. You conquered the perils of the Vine Jungle to reach Sealant. You showed great determination in climbing its peaks & you were brave & strong enough to defeat the monster without a weapon  for one reason…To find out a way to save Eternia from a rising Evil. Are these not the qualities of a noble Hero." The male voice answered in a very mild & gentle tone.

"We were waiting for your arrival King Greyskull. As the great Prophecy states that you would be the 'Chosen one'. To save Eternia & protect its populous from a growing Evil" the female voice continued.

"I would do anything to protect Eternia & my people but Serpos' army grows every moment & Eternia is in turmoil. It seems nearly impossible to hope for a favorable outcome." replied King Greyskull.

"But Hope still exists. Otherwise you never would have come here." Answered one of the beings who looked like a  Quadian. "Our time on Eternia is done & it is up to you, King Greyskull of Eternos, to carry this message of Hope."

The ancient in the center continued, "Our power will live in you until the day Eternia is free from Evil. You will have powers that far surpass any mortal being & you must use them to fight Evil until that day. When that day comes you will be free of this duty & our power will transfer to another when the time arrives once more. As long as you have Hope you will not suffer defeat, King Greyskull."

Greyskull bowed before the seven wise being "It is an honor Great ones. And I pledge that I will not let Eternia fall before the Serpentis Imperium, nor any other Evil. Hope will triumph over despair."

"You have made a wise decision, King Greyskull. We now declare you King Greyskull, the Guardian & Protector of Eternia." Stating this the ancients emitted a bright light that entered King Greyskull's body & healed every wound caused by the battle with the creature.

The glow subsided and King Greyskull was ready to go back to Eternos.

Meanwhile in Serpia Fangman gathered every general who was against Serpos' decision.

"Serpos' madness has gone on long enough & the time to end it is at hand." Serpon stated, as a cruel smirk passed through his face.

-- Edited by 2bad at 17:21, 2005-09-14