Grimn's Fairy Tale

[Grimn]

A Proposition


Grimn and his companions exited the portal and appeared in a wide open field. “This is not where I wished myself” said Grimn. Suddenly before them stood an odd man. He wore dark clothing and had a helmet on with a dark black visor. On his arms were two blades that rested against his forearms. The weapons were unusual as they ran parallel to his arms and would extend outwards to be used in battle. “My master wishes an audience with you” said the man flatly. “I decline” responded Grimn, beginning to walk away. “I was informed you would respond in this manner and so I was told to persuade you” said the man. Grimn turned to watch as Vader fell and the man removed the yellow gem from his arm. “Now I have something that you want” responded the man holding up the gem. “I have the majority and my plans have changed regarding that matter” responded Grimn. “I no longer wish to call down the Rains of Destruction” finished Grimn. “As for him, he was not my comrade, merely a prisoner to me” said Grimn. “I see” responded the man. Grimn suddenly lunged out but it was too late. The man had extended both of his arm blades and appeared to be a human praying mantis. However this was not the most unsettling sight. For Grimn’s eyes saw a sight that was not unfamiliar to them but still bothered him. They had seen death before but it had never been like this. On the man’s blades hung Greggor’s body, his mouth still open in aghast. The man slid the body off of his blades, opened a portal and looked at Grimn. “My master waits on the other side” said the man, turning to go. Grimn dropped his hand to his sword and with a sudden outpouring of energy the portal collapsed in front of the masked man. The man turned but was frozen. “Your speed is nothing to me” said Grimn, each word sounding colder than the next. “You do not choose when people die, I choose. You do not obtain the power to end others, I already posess it. I will show you the mistake that you have made” said Grimn, anger building inside his voice. Grimn stuck the man once but the man stood there. “I shall not allow you to die that easily” laughed Grimn cruelly. He began to slowly walk around the frozen man. “Do you understand why it is that you are unable to move” questioned Grimn. “You see for the most part I contain my power, suppress it. I fight with hardly half of my available power. This is because when I unleash my entire power most can not even move from the awesome weight that it puts on those around me” lectured Grimn as he rounded the man. “And that’s just not fun” said Grimn. “I shall find your master and he will soon be able to commend you on a job well done. I fear however that, that will come when the two of you meet in oblivion” finished Grimn. The man stood there for a moment more and then exploded in a maelstrom of blood. Grimn’s anger was still prevalent as he sheathed his blade and thrust out a hand. A portal immediately opened and it crackled with energy. He stepped into the portal and was carried away to the final part of his journey.

[becbec]

No.
No.
=[

Haha, read the last post, obviously.

[Grimn]

Rage


The power surged and coursed around him. The darkness that comprised the portal was warped and powerful. Usually the portal was smooth and calmly deposited him wherever he wished to go. However this was not the case as the portal now had to account for the immense power that currently engulfed Grimn. The portal twisted and pulled in all directions but the man stood firm and resilient in his travels. He came out of the portal and stepped onto the dusty ground. He looked around and noticed the setting sun off in the distance, its orange glow illuminating the landscape and casting shadows off of the objects. He stood in the middle of a coliseum, the large pillared walls surrounding him on all sides. Far above him, set into a mountain was a large glass wall that looked out over the landscape. The mountain was in the shape of a horseshoe and a lush forest grew in the inner part of the horseshoe. The coliseum was on the side of the mountain but below the odd wall that was ornately decorated with part stained glass and part clear glass. Grimn gazed up at the glass wall and saw the man that was peering down through it. He stood with is arms folded and seemed to be calmly surveying Grimn. Grimn’s rage was intense as he looked at the man that was responsible for the misdeeds against him. “Face me” said Grimn, his eyes electric with energy. The dark pits seemed to engulf the landscape and turn it to black, and yet the man remained calmly standing, his arms folded. Grimn let his hand drop to the hilt of his sword, his energy growing stronger, above him the glass wall exploded into shards.

[Grimn]

Grimn's Fury


As soon as the man landed Grimn lunged at him with his sword. The man swiftly dodged the blade and continued to move backwards and to the side as Grimn continued to attack. The man was tall and had flowing white hair that reached to his back. His eyes were yellow and a hooked nose complimented the mischievous smile that he wore. He wore a grey coat that opened near his waist and white gloves over the coat. His black trousers and boots rounded out the man’s attire as he continued to dodge the blows. “You are so angry, but why” laughed the man. Grimn stopped attacking and looked at the man. The two stood in the deserted coliseum, the sun setting in the distance. “I was always under the impression that the almighty Grimn needed no companions” said the man. “He was still useful to me” responded Grimn coldly. “Ah of course, if that’s what you wish to believe” responded the man. “Ah but where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Gahor” said the man. “It matters not to me as you will be amongst the dead as all of my other opponents” responded Grimn flatly. “And that very well might be the case but that is yet to be determined” said the man, a brief smile on his face. The men stood facing each other for a moment, Gahor’s yellow eyes locked onto the dark pits that were Grimn’s. “Shall we begin the chess match” goaded Gahor, a small smile playing on his lips.

[Grimn]

The First Move


Grimn lunged once more at the man and was met with only air. Gahor seemed to fluidly dodge the attacks, not having to even move his arms, merely shifting his body side to side as he retreated. In a flash Grimn appeared in the air behind Gahor, using his speed to his advantage. As he brought his blade down upon the neck of Gahor it met with resistance. Gahor did not turn but his hand was raised and in it was gripped the most peculiar weapon. It appeared that a solid bar of light had manifested itself within his hand and blocked Grimn’s blade from its intended target. Gahor twirled quickly and brought up his other hand upwards striking into Grimn’s abdomen. Grimn fell backwards and quickly got to his feet. “Really now” laughed Gahor. “That is the fabled speed of the legendary ‘lightning count’” questioned Gahor mockingly. Grimn’s eyes lit up in fury, his hand gripping his sword tighter. “Gahor you know very little of what you speak of and it is truly pathetic” murmured Grimn. In an instant Grimn had launched himself at Gahor striking and disappearing. He reappeared behind him and struck, only to disappear once more. Grimn’s speed was truly astonishing; he was only visible to the eye when he appeared to attack. Gahor quickly blocked the incoming attacks but each blow was deflected later and later. Soon he would not block the blow and Gahor realized this. “I think it is time for me to go on the offensive” said Gahor, allowing a second column of light to appear in his other hand. With a swift movement Gahor began to swipe with both of his hands and Grimn appeared, dodging the attacks. It almost seemed as if Gahor was in a hypnotic dance, spinning and twisting as he struck with his weapons. Grimn reappeared on the other side of the coliseum and looked at Gahor. “You leave me no choice” said Grimn. “You are an obstacle and need to be removed” he said. With a small flick Grimn removed his coat and grabbed his blade. “You will bear witness to my full power” said Grimn. As he prepared to unleash the limiter that held the power within his body in check a figure appeared at the entrance of the coliseum. A white coat and blonde hair stuck out against the sunset. “Wait” screamed the man, running to get between the two men. “Gwydion, I am busy” murmured Grimn, his eyes leveled at Gahor.

[Grimn]

The Broken Friendship


Gwydion looked at Grimn, sadness filling his eyes. “I will never be able to save him and remove this burden that I carry” he thought. Gwydion’s eyes betrayed his inner thoughts, the light blue yearning for the slightest sign in Grimn’s eyes that he still considered him a friend. However the light blue eyes were met with only the piercing glare of Grimn’s dark eyes, the same look that was given to everyone else in his life. “Why can’t you simply allow someone else to enter” thought Gwydion sadly. “I told you that I would not do you the courtesy of sparing your life the next time you interfered with my plans” said Grimn coldly. “Well isn’t this nice, the partners are back together” said Gahor, a small smile forming on his lips. Grimn and Gwydion did not separate their gaze at Gahor’s words, merely continued to stare at one another. “Grimn why do you wish to eradicate all life on this earth?” asked Gwydion. “Surely there must be something of use to you on this planet” said Gwydion, almost pleading. “Do not act as if you are aware of what my plans are” said Grimn. “I no longer wish to call down the rains, I have found a far more useful outlet for their power” said Grimn. Gwydion’s face dropped in astonishment at this confession from Grimn. Gahor looked at Grimn, a small look of anger on his face. “So you are soft” spat the man. Grimn looked at Gahor, his eyes piercing through the man. “You know nothing of what comprises me” said Grimn coldly. “I shall eliminate you just as I have eliminated all those that stand before between me and my objectives. “Well you won’t just be able to fight me that easily” said Gahor, his arms behind his back. A man appeared in front of him, the same looking man that Grimn had sent into the beyond before he arrived here. “These warriors are quite useful” laughed Gahor. “They just seem to know how to fight” laughed Gahor hysterically. The man wore a dark blue uniform that covered his entire body. He had a dark black mask that had a one way visor and black gloves and boots. With a soft hiss the blades extended themselves and the man once again appeared to be a praying mantis. “I have already done away with you” stated Grimn. The man began to charge Grimn and yet Grimn’s hand did not drop to his hilt. In a flash Gwydion stood between the two men, his sword extended and blocking the enemy’s blades from reaching any closer to Grimn. “You have bigger opponents to deal with” said Gwydion, his light blue eyes focusing on his target. Grimn looked at the man that had once been his second in command and for an instant he imagined Gwydion back in his black coat and officer’s uniform. “That moment has passed but for one battle I have returned to be your second in command” murmured Gwydion over his shoulder. Grimn looked at the man that stood before him. “Finish him quickly if you wish to see any of the fight” said Grimn before flitting past the two men and standing in front of Gahor. “Now let us begin” said Grimn, his hand finally dropping to the hilt of his sword.

[Grimn]

Living in Darkness



I had lived in darkness a long time. Eventually my eyes adjusted and the darkness became my world. A short time ago however someone turned on the lights and exposed me for the monster that I truly was. That’s when I turned my back on the darkness and was stripped of my powers. These thoughts constantly ruled over Gwydion’s life. “The man that stood in front of him seemed emotionless, a poor copy of Grimn in a way” thought the blonde haired warrior. Gwydion rushed at the warrior, his sword drawn and a strike already aimed at the man. The masked warrior brought up his own blades and blocked the attack while giving a counter attack. Gwydion fully engaged the man and the two began to fight.

Grimn stared at the man that stood so confidently before him. “Well that was certainly unexpected” said Gahor. “Who would have thought that Grimn would have such a friend to help him out of a tight spot?” laughed the man. Grimn’s eyes bore into the skull of the man. In a flash Grimn was in front of the man and their blades had connected. “Touched a nerve did I” laughed Gahor, jumping back. Gahor lunged at Grimn, it was the first offensive move he had taken in the duel. Grimn felt the blade sink into his shoulder. “He is fast” thought Grimn. Gahor was behind him bringing another strike down onto Grimn’s shoulder. Grimn had just been struck twice, two more times than he would normally be struck. Grimn jumped back, a look of shock on his face. “I have been struck twice, without so much as a scratch on my opponent” he thought. His face returned to its usual expression but Gahor had already noticed that he had gotten a rise out of Grimn. “Haha looks like I am doing well” said the man. Grimn put his hand on his blade and looked at Gahor. The wind around the arena began to swirl ever so slightly and the sand began to be carried by the wind. “Limiter removal” murmured Grimn. The sand around him exploded in a crater and dark energy began to envelope him. After a brief moment the energy dissipated and Grimn stood there. His bored expression boring into Gahor. In a split second he was behind Gahor and had slashed at his shoulder. Gahor dove to the side just in time and Grimn looked up. “Good, I had hoped I wouldn’t kill you on my first strike. It has been quite some time since I removed my limiter and I do want to enjoy the moment” said Grimn.

Gwydion continued to fight with the masked man, the swords dancing across one another. “To think someone of this skill level gives me this much trouble” thought the man sadly. It was the price that he paid for betraying the deal he had made earlier in his lifetime. “I must atone for my sins” thought Gwydion, lashing out at the man. The man parried the blade with one hand and smacked Gwydion across the face with the blunt end of the blade in the warrior’s off hand. Gwydion staggered back, blood beginning to drip from the fresh wound he had received. He moved quickly and came up behind the man but his blade was once again blocked by the man. As soon as the blow was deflected the masked warrior’s off handed blade came crashing into Gwydion’s sternum. Gwydion staggered back just as the atmosphere in the arena began to shift. A slow wind began to pick up and the world seemed to fall in a perpetual state of dusk. A small glance over his shoulder told the former second in command all he needed to know. “Your master must have done something truly foolish” said Gwydion, his breathing heavy. “Or is it he is having much more trouble than he anticipated” worried Gwydion. The masked warrior continued to imitate Grimn’s silence, simply staring across at his opponent. “It seems to have gotten a bit colder” remarked Gwydion, a far off look appearing in his eyes. “But I never really ever had problems with the cold, in fact I rather enjoy it” laughed the man, his breath beginning to come out as fog due to the sudden temperature drop caused by Grimn.

Grimn looked at Gahor, the old man smiling constantly. “You live by your reputation” began Gahor. “But what happens if that one day dies? What if the thing you hold dear is simply taken from you? Not by force but simply by time. The constant march of time stops for no man, regardless of how strong that individual is” remarked the old man. “Time is someone that I have a distinct interest in” remarked Grimn. Grimn lashed out and the old man dodged backwards, his hand coming up and a sword appearing in it. The two began to battle off and on, both pushing forward and then falling back to the other’s attacks. Grimn sent a large wave of energy at Gahor but the man simply brushed it aside. “Come now, is this really all that the Grimn has to offer? Or is there some other hidden power you wish to reveal?” laughed the man. The black clad warrior ignored this taunt and continued to analyze the attack patterns of his opponent. Grimn straightened up and looked at Gahor. “What is it now” laughed the bald man. “The battle is won” said Grimn bluntly. The bald man could barely contain the outburst of laughter that exploded from his chest. “You must excuse my laughter. But how could one not laugh at such an asinine statement” said Gahor with a smile.

Gwydion dropped his sword and looked at the ground. “If I let you out will you go back” he said aloud. The masked man simply looked across at the warrior in white, unsure of what was happening. “Of course you won’t” laughed Gwydion softly. “But I see no other way currently” said the man. “Oh well, we will cross that bridge when we get to it” he finished. The air seemed to get much colder as the blonde haired man looked at the sky. The pristine white coat he wore slowly began to be eaten away by blackness and after only a short while the entire coat had become pitch black. The man looked down and his eyes had become slightly crazed looking. “Ah that feels good” laughed Gwydion, his voice slightly different than before. “Now let’s get this started” laughed the new man. In a flash he was behind the masked man, his sword striking him across the back and cutting into him. The masked man jumped away and raised his swords in a defensive stance. “Oh come on, I saw through that strategy a long time ago” laughed Gwydion. “Just because this weakling couldn’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t obvious. You use one sword to deflect, allowing the attacker to hit you. Then you counter attack with the other blade before your opponent has a chance to defend” laughed the man. The blonde man once again attacked the air turning to ice behind his blade. He struck out, the masked man barely dodging as a column of ice appeared where he once stood. The two began to quickly move around their side of the arena, ice appearing every few seconds, Gwydion’s crazed laughing filling the entire stadium. “Gotcha” laughed Gwydion, the masked man stopping in mid air as his leg was encased in solid ice. “And now this charade ends” said Gwydion, plunging his blade into the man’s chest. “The worst part was you probably thought you still had a chance to beat me” laughed the crazed man. Suddenly the smile feel from Gwydion’s face as a force attempted to take control from the inside. “You will not chain me away again” screamed the voice of the crazed man, clutching at his head. Gwydion slowly knelt as an explosion of force rocked the arena where Gwydion stood, just as another explosion rocked the opposite side.

Grimn stood there looking at Gahor as the air seemed to turn to ice. “Well that only cements things” thought Grimn. Grimn held his blade to the side and a dark blue hue seemed to envelope it. “If you put everything in an attack than it is reasonable to believe that the strength of said attack will be equal to the attacker’s true power” remarked Grimn. “My agenda calls for me to enter another realm to retrieve something that was taken from me” continued the man. “I suppose that you could call this a victory for yourself. Although you won’t be alive to savor it” said Grimn. “Fatal fury” murmured Grimn, the dark blue hue exploding. “You will not die in this attack” said Grimn. “You will simply cease to exist, a person that is ripped off the pages of history so not even time could save you” said the man. “I trade my life for the power to extinguish yours. You may brace yourself if you wish but truly it makes no difference. You will cease to be and I will be on my way to achieving my agenda” finished Grimn, his words blunt and free of arrogance. It was not that he spoke confidently, simply as if he had already seen this scene play out and knew what would happen. Grimn moved forward slightly and then thrust his sword out, a wave of darkness enveloping the world and surrounding Gahor. The bald man’s face seemed to suddenly fill with terror. “This cannot be...” he said before vanishing. Grimn fell to the ground, his vision blurring. He reached down and gripped the yellow stone that Gahor had once owned. “That is one less thing I need to accomplish” he thought, his body falling all the way to the ground and lying still.

[Grimn]

Collection of Debt



The man walked up to the arena and surveyed the carnage that was enclosed within. One wall had been completely destroyed and a giant icicle jutted out towards the sky. On the other side of the arena lay the individual he sought. “Well what have you done now” muttered the man walking over to the cloaked man laying face down. “Well I can’t leave you here. I need you in peak condition to fight me” laughed the red bandaged man, bending down and scooping up Grimn in his arms. The man was fully covered in blood red bandages with small slits for his eyes, nose and mouth. He began to walk out of the arena and looked over to the ice covered side. “Hmph what a weakling” thought the man sneering at the large ice structure that housed the blond haired man within. The red bandaged man stiffened abruptly as the wind around him picked up and the pressure increased. “Shit you let him out too” he murmured looking at Grimn and then to Gwydion. “You two really need to learn to control yourselves” muttered the bandaged man, flitting away from the arena.

Darkness, light, darkness, light, the constant opposites keeping one another in check throughout the universe; one cannot exist without the other. His existence was merely one move after another each countering the last. For the entire world was a play, required to follow a particular script. A play and each of its inhabitants merely players meant to act out their parts. But what was his role? He had no clear and defined part in this play. He was merely the combination of two others, an intruder in the program to be dealt away with. Perhaps then he must remove the two actors holding him back and become the main lead. With that thought the man stepped out from his holding cell, dark energy wavering on the right, blinding white light on the left. With that step the man entered the living world. His pants and sleeve-less undershirt were half black half white. Resting on his shoulders was a coat that draped all the way to his ankles. The coat was a mixture of white and black however it was impossible to tell which color was the main color with the other blending in overtop. What made this man stand out most however was his face. His entire head was covered in a two tone mask. One half was pitch black while the opposing side was a stark white. On each side the lips were painted the opposite color of the mask. The man slowly walked up to the massive icicle that had jutted out of the side of the arena. Deep within it lay a blonde haired man, his slumber unmoving. The masked man put a gloved hand to the ice and looked at the man. “You are half of what comprises me” he thought. He continued to look up and down at the ice. “There is heavy sorcery at work keeping me from you though” said the man aloud, a monotone voice carrying the words. “Then I will go after the other half first” decided the man turning around. From underneath the man’s coat sprung feathery black wings. “I will return to collect on your debt of your life” said the man over his shoulders before a powerful thrust from the wings carried him upwards and away from the arena.

[Grimn]

The Constant Battle


Gwydion watched as the darkness broke away from its restraints within him and slowly ate away at his very being. The sudden rush in power, the loss of control the feeling was not completely new to him but still unnerved him greatly. This creature inside him, lying dormant throughout his life, waiting for a chance to break free from its cage and roam the earth once more. The creature constantly tempting him to be released, reminding him of the power he could easily have again. He could feel the beast constantly searching for a weakness in the prison that Gwydion had locked it away in. This was the true reason for the dramatic drop in Gwydion’s power. He constantly had to siphon his power to ensure that this creature remained contained. At one time he had remained somewhat clear headed when in this state but ever since locking it away the beast had taken on a personality of its own. Gwydion was not surprised to see that it took only a short while before the creature had dealt with his opponent. Gwydion watched from the darkness within himself. “Now comes the difficult part” thought Gwydion. He let out a burst of white light, attempting to expel the darkness that surrounded him. “I will have to expend almost all of my energy if I am to regain control of my body” thought Gwydion, continuing to send energy out. “Light be my guide to pass through this darkness that envelopes me” murmured Gwydion softly. The soft glow that surrounded Gwydion began to grow and pulse slightly. Soon the energy increased greater and greater. Gwydion dropped to one knee and began to pant heavily, an evident toll being taken on his body from expelling the energy. Finally a bright light pierced through the darkness and Gwydion ran towards it. A thunderous crack echoed around the world as Gwydion entered into the light and emerged in the arena once more. The icicle he had resided in had shattered and ice fell to the ground at his feet. He carefully examined his surroundings and noticed that he was alone. Grimn was nowhere to be seen and his opponent seemed to have been erased. “Who was his opponent” thought Gwydion, struggling to recall who exactly had been fighting with Grimn. A sharp twinge hit Gwydion’s mind, almost as if someone was peering into the back of it. “What is this” questioned Gwydion, grasping the back of his head. “It feels as if Grimn is next to me, but it is not his energy” thought the man. Suddenly the pain subsided and Gwydion was once again left to stand alone in the moonlit arena. “What is my next course of action” wondered Gwydion aloud.

[Grimn]

The Fight for an Identity Part I


The heavily bandaged man trudged along through the long field, grunting with exhaustion. “Damn you sure are heavy” he grunted, looking up at the unconscious man on his shoulders. The field had recently been plowed and awaited the upcoming season’s seed. “Just have to get you somewhere where you can recover. Can’t have you go and die on me” laughed the man, his teeth barely visible through the slit in the bandages. He continued his steady march, one foot going in front of the other. The constant rhythm beginning to grow louder and louder as the day dragged on. The bandaged man set his companion down on the ground to take a rest. “This would be so much easier if things weren’t so peaceful” he thought. On the horizon a black shape moved through the sky. The bandaged man stood up and used a hand to block out the sun and see the object clearer. “Oh dear, that wasn’t planned” said the man, quickly kicking the unconscious Grimn into one of the shallow troughs that had been plowed. The masked man landed a short distance away from the bandaged man and looked around him. “Well who are you” asked the bandaged man, a smile breaking on his face. The masked man looked up as if he had not realized that the other man was present. “What is in a name? A name signifies an identity, a persona. I have no identity. I am merely a culmination of scraps thrust together by the powers that be” said the man. The red stained bandages shuffled in the wind slightly as the man listened to these words. “You sure do have an interesting viewpoint on such a simple question” he responded finally. “I see things differently through this mask than others do” said the man flatly. “Well I will have to call you something” said the bandaged man. “If you must refer to me as something then call me Gale” said the masked man. “Ah now we are getting somewhere. You can call me Rage” said the bandaged man. “Well it was nice meeting you but I must be on my way” laughed Rage. “I am here to kill that man” said Gale, his monotone voice cutting through the air. Rage stopped walking away and his head dropped a little, the smile spreading wider. “I can’t let that happen” murmured Rage.
“I was made by the sudden clash of this one’s energy mixed with that blonde haired individual” said Gale. “Until I erase both of them from this earth I will be unable to claim any identity. I will continue to be a nameless and faceless individual that roams aimlessly” said Gale. “That is very touching” began Rage. “But I was created from this one’s energy alone and I really want to see how strong he is at full strength” laughed Rage. “And for that to happen I need him to recover so that I can kill him” said Rage, his voice dropping to hint at the seriousness of the situation. “We both want the same outcome but wish to obtain it in different ways” said Gale. “Sure” said Rage. “Either way you’re going to have to fly away now” said Rage. Gale moved quickly to the right and stood over the unconscious Grimn, his hand shooting downwards to strike him. Rage moved much slower, his body just barely coming between Gale’s extended fingers and Grimn. He let out a large groan as he was struck. Gale kicked Rage a few feet away and looked at him. “You are very weak” murmured the man in reflection. “Haha” stammered Rage, his laugh almost choking out of him. “Naw, I just have to have a little incentive before I get serious” he said standing up. The bandages around his body began to twist and grow tighter, his muscles expanding slightly and becoming more pronounced. Rage moved much faster this time, striking out at Gale with his fist. Gale moved to the side and struck out at Rage’s abdomen, his fist sinking into the sternum of the bandaged man. Rage doubled over but recovered quickly, his smile spreading across his face. “Battles require sacrifice, blood to be paid for the victory gained” laughed the man, the red bandages expanding as more muscle tissue forced it ways into Rage’s body. Rage moved much quicker now and struck Gale in the back, sending the masked man to the ground. “Now we can start to actually have some fun” laughed the man, flexing his newly formed muscles slightly.

[Grimn]

The Agenda Revealed



Grimn slowly opened his eyes, the world slowly becoming clearer as he tried to sit up. The pain in his head and body was immense, worse than he had felt in quite some time. After much difficulty Grimn managed to sit up and examine where he was. A pale white light shone around him, creating a stark contrast between the room and Grimn. A dull tick could be heard every so often and the noise reverberated around the room. There seemed to be no entrance or exit to this room, only twelve columns that ringed the entire room. It appeared as if there were other rooms adjacent to this one if the individual was looking through the corner of their eye. However when he tried to look directly past the columns, Grimn only found a vague fog prohibiting his view. His vision had finally cleared and Grimn had begun to stand when a loud dong filled the air. He fell to the ground, grabbing the sides of his head with his hands as the dong reverberated around him, louder than any sound he had ever heard. After several loud reverberations the room once again fell silent and Grimn removed his hands as he stood up.


Looking down he saw that the entire room’s floor was comprised of a large clock face. At the base of each column, embedded into the floor were large iron numbers ranging from one to twelve. A large minute hand slowly maneuvered its way around the clock as the hour hand struggled to keep pace. “The steady beat of time is the great equalizer” said a man’s voice emerging from behind one of the white pillars. He slowly began to walk from one pillar to the next. As he passed behind another pillar he changed from a handsome middle aged man to an elderly man, struggling to continue his march. “No matter how powerful an individual is, time will eventually take its toll and collect its due” continued the man, slowly shuffling past the next pillar. On the other side a toddler infant uneasily made its way through the world. “Although I suppose I do not need to lecture you on the subject” said the toddler, burping as it walked behind the pillar. The middle aged handsome man emerged once again and stopped in between the pillars. “How was I brought here” asked Grimn. “Well you attempted speed up the countdown so to speak” laughed the man. “Your life is not yours to end. We have an agreement remember” said the man, a smile on his face. “If you ever wish to accomplish all the things you want then you will have to uphold your end of the bargain” finished the man. “I have my agenda to keep just as you do” laughed the man, beginning to turn and walk away into the mist. “Why can’t I see through this fog” was all that Grimn asked. “You have the opportunity to ask ME any question and that is the one you choose” said the man over his shoulder, emphasizing who he was. “Well, the scenes that play out, outside of this room are things that have happened in the past, are destined to happen, or are happening currently” responded the man. “If you saw them as I do then you would go insane” he laughed, disappearing into the fog. The clock began to strike again, the loud reverberating filling Grimn’s skull and forcing him to the floor again. He grabbed his head again and attempted to look up, fighting the invisible force trying to keep him down. He could vaguely make out a scene before him and began to crawl towards it. Just as he reached the pillars he collapsed, finally succumbing to the immense pressure that was filling his head.

[Grimn]

Time takes its toll

Rage and Gale clashed again, the red bandaged man thrusting his arm into Gale’s abdomen. “Looks like he isn’t fully adjusted to this reality yet” thought Rage, noting how fast Gale had lost his stamina while fighting. “Better retreat before I kill you” laughed Rage, continuing to pummel his opponent. “Wise words” said Gale coldly. The masked man flew upwards and looked at Rage. “It will be a short time until I am fully acclimated to this dimension” he said. “I suggest you not be there when I am fully recovered” finished Gale before flying off into the distance. “Good now I can turn my attention to…” Rage was cut off as he looked down. The red bandages around his body began to slowly fade in and out. “No” said Rage, looking over his body before looking up at where Grimn lay. “Damn I have yet to fully escape my prison” said Rage, fading completely away, a glum look on his bandaged face.


Grimn opened his eyes slowly, the world running perpendicular to him. He slowly sat up and put a hand on his knee, surveying his surroundings. There were patches of earth torn apart and several scars upon the land as if a battle had just occurred. “How did I get here” pondered Grimn. He uneasily stood up and the weight of the world seemed to crash down upon his shoulders. It was obvious that he was still gravely injured and it was only through time’s blessing that he had not succumbed to death’s embrace. “Ha, acting as if time was doing him a favor and aiding him in his cause” Grimn thought, scolding himself. Slowly he raised his arm and used the last bit of strength to create a portal of darkness in front of him. He shuffled through and after a brief journey stepped out at the bottom of a set of wooden stairs. He climbed to the top and waited as the bricks re-arranged themselves to allow him access to his study. Grimn fell into the large chair and looked at the wall as it began to ripple, however instead of showing him some other scene it merely reflected the image within. Grimn looked at the figure in the chair. Both men were tall and lean and wore the same outfit, however this is where the similarities ended. The man in the mirror had graying hair that ran long to his shoulders, a weathered face that seemed to bear a heavy load. The man’s skin was weathered throughout his body and he seemed to have the posture of one not quite certain of their mission in life. The starkest difference between the two individuals though was the eyes. While one individual possessed the dark piercing eyes the grayed hair man’s eyes, while still dark, seemed lifeless as if he was seeing the world but not truly realizing what he saw. Grimn could not look away from this scene and soon the reflection in the wall turned to the black haired man and sitting in the chair was the graying haired man. Grimn looked down at his hands and realized he had become the reflection shown. In an instant time had shown its true power and made it clear that it was not to be toyed with. Grimn sighed deeply, it was if his entire persona had been changed including his thoughts. “I do wish zero would return” murmured Grimn, the statement ringing with the crack of armor that had just been created. The wall began to ripple and yet another scene began to come into focus in front of Grimn.

[Grimn]

The value of a Friend

Gwydion slowly continued walking, his pace a crawl by most standards. He had been walking for quite some time now, aimlessly wandering the plains until he had come to the mountains that separated this side of the world from the next. The slow, meandering march of the man clad in white ended with him looking up, a large foundation in front of him. He stood under the crumbled marble archway that marked the entrance to a large courtyard. Gwydion slowly walked forward along the stone path, past the pillars both whole and crumbled long ago. He soon came to a massive building that stood in front of him, two oak doors blocking his admittance. The building seemed to have been ravaged by time and there were multiple vines poking through the brick work. At one time this place appeared to be one of majesty and reverence, but now it was merely an afterthought in the pages of history. Gwydion placed his hand on one of the heavy oak doors and slowly pushed inwards. The door slowly creaked open, the cobwebs slowly falling away as the door moved for the first time in ages. Gwydion walked into the hallway that lay beyond and marveled at the architecture within. The hallway stretched for quite a ways, archways holding up the roof along regular intervals. Within each interval were two doorways, one on each side of the hall. Gwydion continued to walk through the hallways, past the doorways, his journey seeming to repeat itself until he finally came to the end of the hallway and two large double doors made of white marble, their luster faded with the passage of time. He pressed his hands against the doors and felt a small ripple flow through his body as if the building was interacting with his body. He slowly pushed the doors open and entered the extremely large area that lay inside.


The room was circular and the walls rose up to immense heights before being capped by a dome that would have held the stars aloft. A large crack ran through the dome’s center, threatening to bring the entire structure down at a moment’s notice. Looking around Gwydion saw that arranged around the circular room, set against the walls, were what appeared to be chairs. The seats varied in height and seemed to be comprised completely of stone, each having two arm rests and a large vaulted back. Inlaid upon the back of the chair was a roman numeral, each chair having a different number inlaid upon it. There seemed to be close to fifty chairs arranged around this massive meeting ground. Gwydion looked to one of the taller chairs and saw the roman numeral I pressed upon the back. However something about this chair stuck out to him. In the middle of the roman numeral was a hole the size of a man’s fist, spider thin cracks branching out all around the back of the chair. “What is this place” wondered Gwydion. The white clad man instantly became alert as the door behind him shuddered and began to open. Gwydion put his hand on the hilt of his sword and braced himself for the potential threat that was about to enter the room.


The door opened and Gwydion watched as a small figure squeezed themselves between the doors and into the circular area. Immediately Gwydion’s eyes were drawn to the pristine white clothing of the figure. She wore a white corset with a flowing white dress that reached to her mid calf. Her black hair was left down and covered most of her shoulders although Gwydion was able to barely make out the beginnings of a tattoo that sat on her left shoulder. He raised his gaze to examine the face of the individual and was surprised to find that the girl’s gaze was one of someone much older than what she appeared. Her eyes seemed heavy as if she had been searching for something for a very long time and yet it still eluded her. The gaze seemed to weigh on Gwydion, not seeming to judge him but merely pity him for an unknown reason. It was strangely unsettling, almost to the level that Grimn’s gaze made him. “Who is this woman” thought Gwydion, not letting his hand move from the hilt of his sword.

[Grimn]

A firm grasp of the past


The wall in front of him slowly began to settle like snow finally coming together on the ground. A picture, a scene, a time, a place, they were all spread out before him, merely separated by a thin barrier that comprised the fourth wall of the cramped room. The aged Grimn stood up slowly, feeling the lasting effects of his aging joints. It was almost as if he had been thrust forward into time and was feeling the side effects of battles that had yet to be fought but would never less occur. He continued to walk forward until he was right up against wall that projected the scene. Before him was a bright green lawn, extending for quite a distance until it came to the bottom of a blindingly white structure. The building was massive, extending far up the side of the mountain that it was built beside. A small walkway wound its way from where Grimn’s feet almost where and ended at the base of two double doors that allowed admittance into the structure. The aged man closed his eyes and allowed his mind to drift back to the time of this place, to drift far back before things had gone the way they had.

When he opened his eyes Grimn saw that he was now standing on the small walkway leading to the white castle like structure. He began a slow steady progression towards the building, walking through tall white columns that stood guard over the walkway every few feet or so. “So much purity” thought Grimn. “It is slightly upsetting” he continued as he walked forward. As he neared the door something caught the eye of the dark cloaked man. To the side, off of the walkway and standing before a small pond, were two figures, a man and a woman both wearing dark coats and hoods. Grimn deviated from the path to get a better look at the two people, obviously talking discreetly about something. “It is necessary to put a leader in charge of the council” said the first individual, green hair poking out from his cloaked hood. The woman remained quiet, simply gazing out over the small pond that stood in front of them. Grimn came up right behind them, looking at both of their faces. The green haired man’s face had a sharp jaw line and keen eyes, constantly gazing over the woman’s unchanging expression. “And who would you recommend” responded the woman flatly, her eyes not even hinting at gazing in the man’s direction. “I have been here before” said Grimn, his expression not changing but a definite change in his demeanor taking over. “Well I plan on nominating myself” replied the green haired man, his hands rising in an expression of obviousness. “This is but a memory” realized Grimn, realizing this is why the two individuals had not even acknowledged his presence. The female figure looked down and smirked a little, the first change in her expression. “Why do you laugh” asked the man, a hint of anger in his tone. “No reason, other than even I didn’t expect him to be this forward thinking” said the woman. “Who are you talking about” asked the green haired man. Before the woman could respond the sound of three bells reverberating loudly echoed across the landscape. The woman turned and began to walk toward the main building, quickly followed by the green haired man, continuing to plead for an answer.

Grimn watched the two figures walk away and enter the double doors and what beckoned them inside. Grimn just looked down. He was well aware of what scene was playing out before him. This was the turning point for everything. This moment in time was the calm right before the entire world around him had been thrust into turmoil, before it had become a necessity for him to have an agenda. This was the last moment in which Grimn was truly free from the chains that now shackled his existence. Knowing already what was about to play out Grimn slowly walked towards the double doors, towards the reminder of his downfall that was inevitable.

[Grimn]

The march lasted much shorter than Grimn would have liked but that was to be expected he supposed. For his entire existence it seemed like he wanted to merely freeze time and remain in periods of life that he found suitable. For it was never long before those periods of, dare he say, happiness were thrust into turmoil and it was unknown when another event would occur to temporarily fill the void. Perhaps that is what made him the way he was? Perhaps the cause for his cold and callous nature was due to a whole inside of him? Was his entire motivation for living simply to move from one moment of contentment to another? Grimn continued his walk down the white marble hallway, his thoughts swirling around him. It seemed that time’s change had not only been cosmetic but also sensory. In the past he would have never allowed himself to question his own motives this thoroughly. Before, Grimn was always sure of his actions and the motivations behind them. However now it seemed as if he always had a hint of doubt in his mind, as if some event had planted the seed into his skull. Grimn attempted to clear his mind, thinking of nothing but the event that was to unfold in front of him. His face betrayed a small twinge of sadness at the thought of what he was about to witness. It made him think back to something Gwydion had once told him long ago. “You seem to know things before they happen. Are you so confident in your abilities to read individuals and analyze the possibilities to almost warrant a precognizant nature” he has asked. At the time Grimn had given his customary curt response, dismissing the question as unnecessary. However what had been absent in his answer, and his thoughts at the time, was the sadness that came with some predictions. Grimn placed his hand on the door that led to the main audience chamber, to a place he had been countless times. He had predicted this event as well and was correct as usual. However this was one prediction that even the earlier, darker version of Grimn had slightly hoped he was incorrect about. The aged man slowly pushed open the door and walked into the room.