Rapture
05-01-2004, 05:10 PM
Hi all, having recently been reintroduced to Power Rangers I found myself writing my very first PR fic. I'm not going to say too much about it, or give details about the rangers and their zords as I think that'll spoil the fun when they're introduced in later episodes. For now I'm just posting the first two parts of this story, though there's more available if anybody's vaguely interested.
Please give me some feedback - even if it's to say that you hate it. All criticism is constructive :)
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Episode One: Ice Age
Part I
“Fall back! Fall back!” Shintar rode quickly through the ranks of elite warriors that filled the Emerald Fields. He held his sword high and the troops halted and grew silent as he approached. His voice boomed out again, louder this time. “Fall back! Back to the camp, spare no haste!” They had been waiting for this. Still in sight, on the other side of the river, the grass was encrusted in drying blood, and beyond that more graves of fallen allies and friends. There were only a few hundred left now, but the creatures from the north still advanced in their thousands. How could so few win against so many? “Let us nurse our wounds tonight, and tomorrow we shall slay these fiends where they stand! They will not break us!” Shintar’s words meant little to anyone anymore; his armour rusted, his frame withering – no longer was he the valiant general that had lead them all to war so long ago.
“They have already broken us! It is over.” Now, for the first time, there was another voice as a young soldier threw his sword down in front of his general. “We have retreated time after time, but that has only succeeded in delaying our slaughter. How long will you have us continue this game?”
Shintar dismounted his steed and removed his helmet. True, his face was thinner, more worn – but he still cut a proud figure amongst his men. He placed a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Ristin, you have been a fine warrior throughout this battle. Often I have wished for others to show as much courage as you have these past months. Tell me, you have a child?”
“Yes sir, a boy of five.”
“And you wish to see him again?”
“Of course, though I know I shall not.”
“Why?”
Ristin shook the hand from his shoulder and began to walk away. “Because we are already defeated. Helsa has taken this land, and now the Earth and everything good in it will fall at her feet.”
Shintar reached to the ground and picked up the sword, wiping the mud off on his cloak. “Then you have no hope left - I pity you. But while I still have breath in my body I shall fight, because I know that if not tomorrow, if not the day after, good will prevail. It must.”
“Spare your pity for yourself,” Ristin spat. “You are a fool.”
Shintar watched sadly as the man walked away, then a chill wind caught his cheek. Handing the sword to another soldier, he replaced his helmet and mounted his horse once more. “The air grows cold; the witch approaches. We shall face her tomorrow!”
An ice queen, that’s what she was. A lady in white with a crown of icicles and a gown of the finest wools and silks. After she had passed into legend, people spoke of her beautiful, pale complexion and silver eyes like marbles. It was believed that her stare could freeze any man’s heart and that she had almost conquered the world single-handed through long forgotten magics. But legends forget the small people; the wizards who trained her, the other worldly powers that saw her promise and poisoned her mind against humanity; the poor people she used and destroyed to get what she wanted. They were all as important; all as responsible for her attempt to conquer the world of man. Yet that’s all it was – an attempt. Yes, she was close – too close if you believe what you hear – but for all her forces, for all her cunning and deception and for all her concentrated planning, she didn’t count on one thing; the small people. She didn’t know that just one man could make a difference…
Part II
It was nightfall when they reached camp. Shintar stayed with them for a while, chatting, rekindling their spirits. When he left he continued to a small tent at the edge of the encampment. Inside a low light glowed across a wooden stool, and a cloaked man – book in one hand and crystal in the other – chanted in a voice so quiet that Shintar could barely hear.
“…zeskin ihl moch
Aph wal ihl ringor
Helsa nev igo
Helsa rak Helsa na
Id akra dae unsar
Vei Turis!”
The man clearly expected something to happen, but nothing did. Throwing the book and crystal to the ground, he angrily knocked over a bowl of crushed leaves and herbs. Shintar chose this moment to enter.
“How’s it going old man?”
“Five days! Five days you have had me sit here and nothing!”
“We need you Alzon. You know we are close to defeat, this is all we have.”
“If I had more time…”
“But we don’t.”
“No. We don’t.” Alzon picked up the bowl and placed it on the stool. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a small pouch filled with more leaves and poured them into the dish. Then he took a glass jar from a cupboard and poured a little of the contents into the bowl. “Perhaps,” he started, “perhaps I have been using too much. It’s possible that the elixir negates the effect of the rest of the mixture.”
Shintar remained silent and watched avidly as the wizard continued his work.
“Now we allow the crystal to bathe in the potion for a short time. Keep your eyes on it – even the slightest change could be important.”
For a moment Shintar could see nothing, but then there was a flash; just a small one but visible to the naked eye. The crystal shone a deep purple then seemed to ice over before returning to normal.
“Excellent,” Alzon beamed, carefully pulling the gem out and holding it firm in his palm. “Far more promising.”
“Its worked?“
Alzon laughed and gave Shintar a pat on the back. “Silly boy, I won’t know that until I can test it. Now leave me alone so I can get on with saving the world!” As he picked up the book once more, Shintar retreated from the tent, smiling at the eccentricities of the old man. Then his eyes hit upon his men, who in turn were staring at some marvel in the distance.
“What is it?” He demanded. “What can you see?”
None responded and he raced to the makeshift lookout tower at the centre of the camp. Climbing up the ladder, the sight that had gripped these warriors’ hearts made his blood run cold. The Ice Empire was marching upon them in their thousands, torches blazing and pulling incredible weapons of destruction behind them. In front of them all, leading them on her airborne sleigh, was Queen Helsa herself. One man near to Shintar fell to his knees and started to pray, others ran and screamed but most were drawing their swords, preparing to fight to the death for a cause greater than any of their own lives. Calling for his horse, Shintar made his way to the front of the group and thrust his sword high into the air.
“The final battle is upon us,” he yelled. “Each and every one of you is a hero in my eyes and I would not blame you for fleeing and praying that your life be spared. But we can still make a difference – we will make a difference. Will you give in and let your life be washed away?”
The chorus of the men was unanimous; “No,” they shouted.
“Will you let this tyranny destroy everything you hold dear?”
“No!”
Then will you come with me and end this witch’s reign once and for all?”
In voices louder than he had ever heard, the four hundred men became four thousand as they all shouted “Yes!”
Shintar smiled. Helsa would not get her way as easily as she might have hoped. “Then we fight!” With that he galloped away into the darkness towards the approaching armies and behind him went four hundred brave soldiers.
To be continued...
-------------------------
Well that's it for now. Will Shintar and the Alliance bring Helsa's empire crashing down? Or is mankind doomed to become enslaved? Find out next time on... Power Rangers: Earth Wars
Oh, and if you've gotten this far, thanks for reading! :D
Please give me some feedback - even if it's to say that you hate it. All criticism is constructive :)
-------------------------
Episode One: Ice Age
Part I
“Fall back! Fall back!” Shintar rode quickly through the ranks of elite warriors that filled the Emerald Fields. He held his sword high and the troops halted and grew silent as he approached. His voice boomed out again, louder this time. “Fall back! Back to the camp, spare no haste!” They had been waiting for this. Still in sight, on the other side of the river, the grass was encrusted in drying blood, and beyond that more graves of fallen allies and friends. There were only a few hundred left now, but the creatures from the north still advanced in their thousands. How could so few win against so many? “Let us nurse our wounds tonight, and tomorrow we shall slay these fiends where they stand! They will not break us!” Shintar’s words meant little to anyone anymore; his armour rusted, his frame withering – no longer was he the valiant general that had lead them all to war so long ago.
“They have already broken us! It is over.” Now, for the first time, there was another voice as a young soldier threw his sword down in front of his general. “We have retreated time after time, but that has only succeeded in delaying our slaughter. How long will you have us continue this game?”
Shintar dismounted his steed and removed his helmet. True, his face was thinner, more worn – but he still cut a proud figure amongst his men. He placed a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Ristin, you have been a fine warrior throughout this battle. Often I have wished for others to show as much courage as you have these past months. Tell me, you have a child?”
“Yes sir, a boy of five.”
“And you wish to see him again?”
“Of course, though I know I shall not.”
“Why?”
Ristin shook the hand from his shoulder and began to walk away. “Because we are already defeated. Helsa has taken this land, and now the Earth and everything good in it will fall at her feet.”
Shintar reached to the ground and picked up the sword, wiping the mud off on his cloak. “Then you have no hope left - I pity you. But while I still have breath in my body I shall fight, because I know that if not tomorrow, if not the day after, good will prevail. It must.”
“Spare your pity for yourself,” Ristin spat. “You are a fool.”
Shintar watched sadly as the man walked away, then a chill wind caught his cheek. Handing the sword to another soldier, he replaced his helmet and mounted his horse once more. “The air grows cold; the witch approaches. We shall face her tomorrow!”
An ice queen, that’s what she was. A lady in white with a crown of icicles and a gown of the finest wools and silks. After she had passed into legend, people spoke of her beautiful, pale complexion and silver eyes like marbles. It was believed that her stare could freeze any man’s heart and that she had almost conquered the world single-handed through long forgotten magics. But legends forget the small people; the wizards who trained her, the other worldly powers that saw her promise and poisoned her mind against humanity; the poor people she used and destroyed to get what she wanted. They were all as important; all as responsible for her attempt to conquer the world of man. Yet that’s all it was – an attempt. Yes, she was close – too close if you believe what you hear – but for all her forces, for all her cunning and deception and for all her concentrated planning, she didn’t count on one thing; the small people. She didn’t know that just one man could make a difference…
Part II
It was nightfall when they reached camp. Shintar stayed with them for a while, chatting, rekindling their spirits. When he left he continued to a small tent at the edge of the encampment. Inside a low light glowed across a wooden stool, and a cloaked man – book in one hand and crystal in the other – chanted in a voice so quiet that Shintar could barely hear.
“…zeskin ihl moch
Aph wal ihl ringor
Helsa nev igo
Helsa rak Helsa na
Id akra dae unsar
Vei Turis!”
The man clearly expected something to happen, but nothing did. Throwing the book and crystal to the ground, he angrily knocked over a bowl of crushed leaves and herbs. Shintar chose this moment to enter.
“How’s it going old man?”
“Five days! Five days you have had me sit here and nothing!”
“We need you Alzon. You know we are close to defeat, this is all we have.”
“If I had more time…”
“But we don’t.”
“No. We don’t.” Alzon picked up the bowl and placed it on the stool. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a small pouch filled with more leaves and poured them into the dish. Then he took a glass jar from a cupboard and poured a little of the contents into the bowl. “Perhaps,” he started, “perhaps I have been using too much. It’s possible that the elixir negates the effect of the rest of the mixture.”
Shintar remained silent and watched avidly as the wizard continued his work.
“Now we allow the crystal to bathe in the potion for a short time. Keep your eyes on it – even the slightest change could be important.”
For a moment Shintar could see nothing, but then there was a flash; just a small one but visible to the naked eye. The crystal shone a deep purple then seemed to ice over before returning to normal.
“Excellent,” Alzon beamed, carefully pulling the gem out and holding it firm in his palm. “Far more promising.”
“Its worked?“
Alzon laughed and gave Shintar a pat on the back. “Silly boy, I won’t know that until I can test it. Now leave me alone so I can get on with saving the world!” As he picked up the book once more, Shintar retreated from the tent, smiling at the eccentricities of the old man. Then his eyes hit upon his men, who in turn were staring at some marvel in the distance.
“What is it?” He demanded. “What can you see?”
None responded and he raced to the makeshift lookout tower at the centre of the camp. Climbing up the ladder, the sight that had gripped these warriors’ hearts made his blood run cold. The Ice Empire was marching upon them in their thousands, torches blazing and pulling incredible weapons of destruction behind them. In front of them all, leading them on her airborne sleigh, was Queen Helsa herself. One man near to Shintar fell to his knees and started to pray, others ran and screamed but most were drawing their swords, preparing to fight to the death for a cause greater than any of their own lives. Calling for his horse, Shintar made his way to the front of the group and thrust his sword high into the air.
“The final battle is upon us,” he yelled. “Each and every one of you is a hero in my eyes and I would not blame you for fleeing and praying that your life be spared. But we can still make a difference – we will make a difference. Will you give in and let your life be washed away?”
The chorus of the men was unanimous; “No,” they shouted.
“Will you let this tyranny destroy everything you hold dear?”
“No!”
Then will you come with me and end this witch’s reign once and for all?”
In voices louder than he had ever heard, the four hundred men became four thousand as they all shouted “Yes!”
Shintar smiled. Helsa would not get her way as easily as she might have hoped. “Then we fight!” With that he galloped away into the darkness towards the approaching armies and behind him went four hundred brave soldiers.
To be continued...
-------------------------
Well that's it for now. Will Shintar and the Alliance bring Helsa's empire crashing down? Or is mankind doomed to become enslaved? Find out next time on... Power Rangers: Earth Wars
Oh, and if you've gotten this far, thanks for reading! :D