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Story Hour
Dark Prophecy (an "Of Sound Mind" Storyhour) - FINALE! 3/29/05
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<blockquote data-quote="SolidSnake" data-source="post: 2126164" data-attributes="member: 102"><p><strong>Chapter 12</strong></p><p></p><p>The mob of possessed villagers shambled towards the group, while a small force remained to guard the entrance to the tower.</p><p></p><p>“They are not your friends,” Akira shouted as he dropped one of the makeshift cots used transport Ichiro. “We must get to the bell or all is lost. Clear a path for me Yatsen!”</p><p></p><p>The young man nodded solemnly before taking off at a dead sprint towards the tower door. Saburo hesitated for a moment before acting. It was obvious that the villagers were moving to intercept Akira. <em>They can sense the gem</em>. Saburo made good use of this fact by paralleling his companions’ route and erupting onto the plaza from the opposite end of the plaza. His lungs burned like fire and his legs felt like lead. He saw that Yatsen and Akira had made it very close to the door but were quickly being overrun by Okamote and Masamichi. Saburo did not hesitate. Running straight into the fight he launched himself into the pair that attempted to drag Akira to the ground, colliding like a hurled boulder. All three men went down in a heap.</p><p></p><p>“Run,” Saburo yelled as he struggled to get to his feet before the two larger men he had slammed into.</p><p></p><p>Yatsen used the opportunity to shove Jushou; the Prefect’s wife, to the ground and open the door. Akira apologized profusely as he ran over her prone form to reach the threshold. With both men securely within the tower it was much easier to control the field. Yatsen used both the inexperience of the hostile villagers and his position to extract Saburo from the mob and close the door.</p><p></p><p>“That was close,” Yatsen breathed as he locked the door behind him.</p><p></p><p>There was a large crash as the portal strained against an unseen force. Thankfully it held.</p><p></p><p>“Saburo, listen to me;” Akira said intently as he placed the sapphire to the young man’s hand. “You have to get to the top somehow. Both of us have to stay down here to ring the bell and to hold them off. When you get to the bell, call down to us and we will ring it. If we don’t ring soon afterwards…you’ll have to do it yourself.”</p><p></p><p>Saburo nodded and began his ascent up the stairs; he did not look back. His journey was interrupted by a large wooden door halfway up the tower. He quickly tested it and cursed when he found that it was locked. The lock was simple enough but was badly rusted, ensuring that opening it would be difficult even with the appropriate key. Frustrated with the situation, Saburo repeatedly hurled himself against the door. His hopes for a miracle quickly turned into a nightmare as he heard the splinter of wood from below and the shouts of his companions. Pulling the sliver of metal he kept for occasions like this from his pocket, Saburo began to work. <em>How many tumblers? Two? Yes. Now if I can just…Damn! Calm yourself. Concentrate. I must get this open. Everyone is depending on me. I WILL get this open. It’s not that difficult. I can do it.</em></p><p></p><p>Saburo’s tension melted away as he heard the satisfying <em>click</em> of the tumblers falling into place. <em>Not a moment too soon</em>, he mused as he shut the door behind him and ran up the remaining stairs. A hatch opened up onto the final level where the bell was located. Clambering up the stairs, he burst headlong into the cold embrace of winter’s chill. Shivering he stood over the entry and began to call out to his companions. He could hear the sounds of struggle beneath him, but it was a distinct noise caught his attention: the sound of people approaching. He yelled out louder on the off chance that his friends did not hear him, but there was no response. It was only when he shifted his weight to attempt to peer down the shaft of the tower was he nearly thrown from his feet. The hatch lurched from underneath him as his possessed townsmen attempted to swarm the small balcony surrounding the bell. He gripped the stone tighter as he resisted their efforts to gain access. Suddenly the world went still. He was dimly aware that his body was moving but something was very wrong. He looked down in his hands and saw the gem was beginning to crack. At first only a small spidery fissure appeared. Then another. Then another; until half the gem was a network of fractures. Something wet splashed against his cheek. He reached up to touch it. <em>Blood.</em></p><p></p><p><em>Yes, blood you fool! Would you kill yourself to destroy me? Take me away from here and you will stand by my side as I rule this world…as my son.</em></p><p></p><p>The voice was so overwhelming in Saburo’s world of silence that he lost his balance, allowing the villagers below enough leverage to force their way up onto the balcony. He came crashing to the floor, the gem leaping from his hand. He watched in horror as the Prefect lumbered towards the sapphire that had skittered to a halt almost ten feet away. The voice cackled with glee:</p><p></p><p><em>Our deal has ended insect! You will be my slave along with the rest of your family! You will bear witness to my rebirth. Tremble before me!</em></p><p></p><p>Saburo pointed his finger at the stone and concentrated all of his anguish; all of his hate. <em>No.</em> A ray of power leapt from his hand and engulfed the stone. Screams of torment filled his mind for a moment and were abruptly silenced by the explosion of the stone. Saburo wasn’t sure, but he thought he was smiling right before the wave of oblivion overtook him.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="SolidSnake, post: 2126164, member: 102"] [b]Chapter 12[/b] The mob of possessed villagers shambled towards the group, while a small force remained to guard the entrance to the tower. “They are not your friends,” Akira shouted as he dropped one of the makeshift cots used transport Ichiro. “We must get to the bell or all is lost. Clear a path for me Yatsen!” The young man nodded solemnly before taking off at a dead sprint towards the tower door. Saburo hesitated for a moment before acting. It was obvious that the villagers were moving to intercept Akira. [I]They can sense the gem[/I]. Saburo made good use of this fact by paralleling his companions’ route and erupting onto the plaza from the opposite end of the plaza. His lungs burned like fire and his legs felt like lead. He saw that Yatsen and Akira had made it very close to the door but were quickly being overrun by Okamote and Masamichi. Saburo did not hesitate. Running straight into the fight he launched himself into the pair that attempted to drag Akira to the ground, colliding like a hurled boulder. All three men went down in a heap. “Run,” Saburo yelled as he struggled to get to his feet before the two larger men he had slammed into. Yatsen used the opportunity to shove Jushou; the Prefect’s wife, to the ground and open the door. Akira apologized profusely as he ran over her prone form to reach the threshold. With both men securely within the tower it was much easier to control the field. Yatsen used both the inexperience of the hostile villagers and his position to extract Saburo from the mob and close the door. “That was close,” Yatsen breathed as he locked the door behind him. There was a large crash as the portal strained against an unseen force. Thankfully it held. “Saburo, listen to me;” Akira said intently as he placed the sapphire to the young man’s hand. “You have to get to the top somehow. Both of us have to stay down here to ring the bell and to hold them off. When you get to the bell, call down to us and we will ring it. If we don’t ring soon afterwards…you’ll have to do it yourself.” Saburo nodded and began his ascent up the stairs; he did not look back. His journey was interrupted by a large wooden door halfway up the tower. He quickly tested it and cursed when he found that it was locked. The lock was simple enough but was badly rusted, ensuring that opening it would be difficult even with the appropriate key. Frustrated with the situation, Saburo repeatedly hurled himself against the door. His hopes for a miracle quickly turned into a nightmare as he heard the splinter of wood from below and the shouts of his companions. Pulling the sliver of metal he kept for occasions like this from his pocket, Saburo began to work. [I]How many tumblers? Two? Yes. Now if I can just…Damn! Calm yourself. Concentrate. I must get this open. Everyone is depending on me. I WILL get this open. It’s not that difficult. I can do it.[/I] Saburo’s tension melted away as he heard the satisfying [I]click[/I] of the tumblers falling into place. [I]Not a moment too soon[/I], he mused as he shut the door behind him and ran up the remaining stairs. A hatch opened up onto the final level where the bell was located. Clambering up the stairs, he burst headlong into the cold embrace of winter’s chill. Shivering he stood over the entry and began to call out to his companions. He could hear the sounds of struggle beneath him, but it was a distinct noise caught his attention: the sound of people approaching. He yelled out louder on the off chance that his friends did not hear him, but there was no response. It was only when he shifted his weight to attempt to peer down the shaft of the tower was he nearly thrown from his feet. The hatch lurched from underneath him as his possessed townsmen attempted to swarm the small balcony surrounding the bell. He gripped the stone tighter as he resisted their efforts to gain access. Suddenly the world went still. He was dimly aware that his body was moving but something was very wrong. He looked down in his hands and saw the gem was beginning to crack. At first only a small spidery fissure appeared. Then another. Then another; until half the gem was a network of fractures. Something wet splashed against his cheek. He reached up to touch it. [I]Blood.[/I] [I]Yes, blood you fool! Would you kill yourself to destroy me? Take me away from here and you will stand by my side as I rule this world…as my son.[/I] The voice was so overwhelming in Saburo’s world of silence that he lost his balance, allowing the villagers below enough leverage to force their way up onto the balcony. He came crashing to the floor, the gem leaping from his hand. He watched in horror as the Prefect lumbered towards the sapphire that had skittered to a halt almost ten feet away. The voice cackled with glee: [I]Our deal has ended insect! You will be my slave along with the rest of your family! You will bear witness to my rebirth. Tremble before me![/I] Saburo pointed his finger at the stone and concentrated all of his anguish; all of his hate. [I]No.[/I] A ray of power leapt from his hand and engulfed the stone. Screams of torment filled his mind for a moment and were abruptly silenced by the explosion of the stone. Saburo wasn’t sure, but he thought he was smiling right before the wave of oblivion overtook him. [/QUOTE]
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