Fan Fiction ❯ Pitfall Night ❯ PN ( Chapter 1 )

Warning! This story contains violence, harsh language, and gets yucky in places. I'll try not to get too graphic ^_~.

This is pure fiction, written by, me, Sasi. I own this bad boy, so ask before you use any of my characters. Also of note, this takes place somewhere before Chaos Insues; but, you don't really need to read this first before reading CI. Also the cloak that my gal uses in the memory scene is not like the ones in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books. I wrote this long before the first book came out. I may borrow ideas from some noted authors, but this just ain't one of them!

*****

It was still dark out when Daria awoke. A wave of pain left her gasping for air. Blood trickled down the side of her mouth. Her captor gave no sign that he noticed, as he continued to walk along. `Where are we? How long have I been out?' she thought to herself. Unable to answer either question; she mulled over ways of getting free.

A large man was carrying her. His entire body seemed overly muscular. Every step he took emphasized that point. He was known as The Butcher a human with no morals and lacking in all common sense. This was not the first time they had crossed paths.

Her gaze fell upon a dagger that was protruding from his back. Before leaving The Pit and The Pendulum, Daria, with her last bit of strength pulled a dagger and forced it into his back. She had then collapsed. `I guess I missed...' she thought bitterly. She noticed that her blade had missed him by an inch. Scowling, she made a grab for it. Her hand connected with something, her fingers felt numb. She cursed under her breath, `of course, there's a shield, I would have done the same thing.'

They soon made camp at the edge of a nearby forest. Daria could see a low valley off in the distance. Small pinpricks of light dotting the horizon. She could hear the calls of the wooded nighttime residences. He dropped her under a tree not caring if the fall would aggravate her still aching body. She blew at an errant strand of dark brown hair that had slipped free from her braid. It rose and fell back into her eyes. Scowling she glared at him.

"Why didn't you kill me? You had the chance, why take me back?" She demanded.

"I figure I'll get more for you if you're live." He smiled, taking the dagger from his pack, "Nice try, too bad your aim was off."

"Let me go, I'll give it another shot," she said, with a snarl, her eyes flashing.

He gave a short bark of laughter, "HA! You're in no condition to fight me."

The ground shivered under them. The world still not back to the way it had been. She remembered she and her friends had hard fought the fight. They had called upon all the elements of magic; as a result, the balance had shifted drastically. It would take years for the planet to right itself.

She couldn't believe that she had allowed herself to be so easily beaten by an oaf! The attack that had knocked her out, at the time, she'd seen coming and she'd been unable to avoid it. Using underhanded and dirty tricks, mud slinging her lest favorite, his blast of energy had thrown her to the ground. By the blessings of the Goddess she had lived only to wake to the nightmare that was reality.

Once more she tried to move and again met resistance. He started laughing, which only further irritated her, amused by her struggling. Still glaring at the man; she made the most obscene gesture she could make, given the lack of space for more inventive ones. This only seemed to continue to entertain him.

"I'll be back...don't go anywhere," he said, still laughing.

He left her, lying on the ground seething with hate, as he disappeared into the forest.

*****

Daria reflected back to her days with the Core with some disdain. Her best friend had recruited her one winter. They had decided long ago to become warrior mages. The Core offered to train, those willing to join, to become problem solvers. Beat up the baddies and keep the peace; sounded like fun to her. It had been great at first, but over time, Daria found that she didn't like the way the place worked.

She had gone to the high magi and told him that she wished to leave. His response was less than favorable. In those days, the only way, to leave the Core, was in a coffin. One night she waited until the moon was high. She grabbed what she could, planning to escape. In the doorway to Daria's room her friend of many years, Sarah, had stopped her.

"Where are you going Daria?" Sarah asked in a hushed voice.

"I have to leave here...the council thinks I'm responsible for the others departures. They're going to strip me of my powers if I stay. I can't allow that to happen! When I go, they'll give chase…they still don't know, about you and Darkness, I mean to keep it that way. I'll send word when I find a safe place. Don't worry about me, I can take care of myself."

Daria looked out the door and down the hall, a guard was making his rounds. She turned back and hugged Sarah tightly. She knew this might well be the last time she would see Sarah.

"Watch your back, Daria. I will miss you, please be careful."

Pulling up her cloak of invisibility, the coast being clear, Daria bolted down the stairs and out into the courtyard. She was almost to the high wooden double doors and iron gate when the end of dinner bells sounded. Glancing over her shoulder she saw, what seemed to be, everyone in the Core rushing out of the dining hall. `Just great...I would have to runaway on a night they decide to eat late.'

Backing into a shadow, she watched, waiting for the right time to make a break for it. She held her breath as several mages past by her. She knew they couldn't see her, however, this didn't make her feel any more relaxed. Daria followed after them as they headed for the gate. Upon reaching it, she noticed that it was now shut tight, guards standing at the ready.

Casting a sleep spell she opened the heavy iron gate as they fell. The shouts behind her quickened Daria's pace, pushing one of the doors open, she raced for a place to hide. She spied several horses that were tied up nearby. Grabbing the reins of the nearest beast and vaulting onto it she forced her steed to run. Her heart pounded a rhythm akin to her mount's furious pace as she headed for the now visible forest.

Once in the comfort of the trees she slowed. After some wandering she found a cave and stayed there. Daria hoped she would never have go back to that terrible place known as the Core...

*****

She groaned inwardly as she pushed against the shield with her mind. She'd been trying to break free since her captor had left to no avail. Closing her eyes Daria felt the shield with magic, looking for the weak spot. In her mind's eye she could see it encased her scant inches from her body. Many bands of colored light overlapping and weaving about itself. Her questing uncovered a gap down by her toes. Muttering in elvish she bore into that space with all the energy she dared to use. A brilliant flash of white light burst from her causing the shield to break.

Rolling over Daria pushed herself up to a sitting position. `I'm really going to hurt him...then, I kill him...' laughing she rummaged through both of their belongings. She found some bandages, and a potion. She used them and pocketed the rest for later use.

Movement to her left caused her to freeze where she was, ready for a battle, her body tense. A small rabbit jumped from a bush and continued on its way across the open ground. Daria grinned glad it wasn't the Butcher. Taking up her staff, which lay on the other side of the fire, she stood looking about her. `Which way is it back to town? Is that the ocean?' she wondered.

Pulling out a map, from the man's pack, she pored over it. After a minute, she determined that she was east and a little to the south of town. Stowing it away, she put out the fire and started walking for Rilin Tilin. She didn't get very far when a voice halted her.

"Going so soon? I brought us something to eat."

She turned, slightly, watching him out of the corner of her eye. Tossed over one of his shoulders was a small deer. She could see that it still had some life left as it twitched every few seconds. There was no way she would eat the poor creature. Having your meal squirming about while trying to cook it made her ill. Her gaze drifted back to his face.

Daria gripped her staff firmly, "Yeah, got a problem with that?"

"Yes, yes I do..." he replied, a fireball appearing in his hands illuminating the whole area.

"So...you plan to smoke me like you did Sarah?" She inquired calmly.

"She got what she deserved; besides, I was only following orders."

His smug grin grated on her nerves. Daria recalled the look of terror and shock that had crossed Sarah's face. The young woman, bruised and shackled, had tracked Daria down when she lost her memories. Worried about Daria's safety and the sudden lack of letters had led Sarah to her death.

She would make him pay for her friend's life! Not even the Goddess herself could save him from Daria's wrath. She faced him, her golden hued eyes shining, she took a more aggressive stance.

She snorted, "You're nothing more than a lap dog. It's about time for me to put you down."

"Do you remember what the score is?" He asked mockingly.

"Yeah, it's all tied up, at one. I won't be as easy beat as before." Bringing up her staff, she took a step forward, "Lets make this a little more interesting...no magic, unless you can't fight a girl with just a staff."

"All right, fine. This time, it's to the death," He replied, the fire dissipating from his hand.

He grabbed his staff and came at her. They fought, neither saying a word, their maneuvers quick and precise. Daria evaded, counter attacked, blocked and dodged, matching his every move. They danced about under the moonlit sky, trying to knock the other down, neither getting very far.

Over time, Daria felt herself slowing, dodging more then attacking. He came closer and closer, again she slowed her actions, `Just a bit closer and your mine!' she thought. As he swung his staff in an arc, for the final blow, she grabbed the dagger from his belt and dropped to a crouch. She pushed off from the ground hard catching her opponent off guard. She threw her weight against him. The blade, in her right hand, forced its way into his gut. She twisted it sharply. They landed on the ground; his staff rolling out of numb fingers. The look on his face was something between anger and fear. Shoving him hard, she pulled the dagger free.

"My people don't call me the Quicksilver Fighter for nothing," She said, moving to kneel beside him. "Now you know why they want me, dead or alive, too bad you won't be around to tell anyone about it."

"Funny, I don't feel dead yet."

"Do you remember the first time we fought? I do. My mind was blank except for bits and pieces. I didn't know who I was or where I came from. You showed up and killed Sarah. She didn't do anything wrong. You on the other hand aren't so clean. Rot in Hell you bastard…" She said, closing her eyes, trying to suppress her emotions.

The sudden surge of magic made Daria open her eyes. A fireball was starting to form in his hand. Thinking quickly she grabbed his head in both hands. She twisted it with such force she could hear the bones as they cracked. The Butcher's attack fizzled, the light in his sightless gaze fading away, his body falling back to the hard ground.

Daria heaved a sigh of relief. She had used up too much energy on getting her mobility back. It was a good thing he waited to resort to magic `til the end. She hadn't been able to call forth a breeze, even if she had wanted to, much less a shield for protection.

She searched his remains. Taking his money and her missing daggers she stood over him. `I told him he wouldn't win...oh well. At least this money will go to some good use back in town,' she thought. Not bothering to bury the body she made tracks for the city.

*****

It was noon when she reached Rilin Tilin. She was tired and worn out from her journey. She saw someone looking towards her. The thick pink fur covering her body was enough to identify the woman. Forbie, Fuzz to her friends, raced to meet her.

"Dar! You're back!" Forbie called.

Daria smiled, "Hey there Fuzz! Yeah I'm back. I brought you a bag of Oreos."

"Oooo yay! Thanks Dar! What's in that other pouch?"

"Oh, that..." she replied slowly looking down at the leather pouch she carried, "It's a bag of my puke..."

"Eeew ok."

As they walked about the town Daria started handing some of the money out to the people. She had caused a bit of destruction the last few times she returned here. The city was her second home. Trashing it, without cleaning up afterwards, seemed like a bad idea to her. It wasn't much, but she hoped it would do for the time being.

Daria turned to her companion, "Come on fuzz, I need a drink...."

-The End-

AN: this needed a lot of work! I had to change things a bit for it to make some semblance of sense. My writing has improved since I first wrote this, hence why I updated PN, that and I felt like it :P If you have any questions, regarding anything in here, feel free to e-mail me. Despite what you may have heard, I do not bite ^_^.