"Didst thou hear that scream?" Mercurius asked, running by.

"Yes!  It was the Princess Alexis." The knight Darien responded, as he drew his sword. They arrived to see Geovani get up, and clean his blade. Darien looked at the younger boy with his dark, cold eyes.

"Squire Geovani! Where is the princess?" Darien asked, the young squire looked confused and scared.

"A dark wizard hath taken her." The squire responded, brushing away brown hair from his eyes.

"Stupid squire." Mecurius said, kicking Geovani down. "If I had been here the wizard would have been dead, forsooth."

"But thou weren't." Matthias remarked.  Mercurius turned to him with a frosty glare.

"Art thou implying me a coward, Bard?"

"Nay, but I shall rescue the princess Alexis!" The younger boy declared.

"Let a test be made, he whom passes the test, shall rescue the princess." Mercurius said.

"And I assume, as always, the test shall be conceived by thee?" Matthias asked, assisting Geovani up.

"Aye. As always. Thy wit cannot help thee versus a wizard. Only strength can defeat it." Mercurius said, Matthias shrugged as if to say 'Whatever'.

At the Versailles Court:
Christopher smiled. To make his champion, Mercurius, great he would devise a test that only he could pass. Matthias may be smart, but he, Darien, and that girl Amelia were no match for Mercurius, Christopher, and Geovani. Christopher had made sure of that.

"To rescue the princess from this evil," he began, "one must move this boulder! Mercurius may go first!" The more experienced knight gritted his teeth, then flashed his blade, destroying the boulder. A large group of men rolled another one in. Matthias sighed.

“No one ever said how the boulder must be moved!” Matthias grinned as the challenge was made to him. He motioned to a blue haired girl, a doctor, and she hit the lever. He had anticipated such a task; one that strength was required. But, as a great man once said 'Give me a place to stand, and I should move the world!' Matt applied the theory of the pulley, and he then placed a rope around the boulder, and it lifted into the air. All around marveled, and Christopher swore. He hadn't perceived Matthias's persistence and resourcefulness. The priest was about to begin, when Mercurius cut him off.

"Then, Matthias and I shall rescue the princess! Matthias with his team, and I with mine own. The first team to return, alive, with the princess are the victors. Is that agreed to, Bard?"

"Aye, I agree. And I shall pick the teams. Amelia," Matthias said motioning towards the blue haired girl, "and…"

"Nay, now I shall choose a member of my team, for that is proper." Mercurius stated. "Darien, Knight Errant, thou are with me."

"Then, I shall take Christopher, and you Geovani." Matthias said, as he and Darien parted. Matthias knew that without Darien they had not one fighter among his group. But with the priest on Matthias' team he couldn't misuse the knight Mercurius, for the priest was evil. Matthias knew this, and that he was misleading Mercurius. Maybe without the evil influence of the priest, Mercurius could prove a good man. Doubtful, but maybe.

Evil Wizard’s Keep:
"So, my Lady Alexis's admirers wish to win her back. Then I shall let them come." He turned to the sleeping princess. "Tell me the secrets of the Versailles court, when thou awaken."

That moment, her beautiful hazel green eyes fluttered, and she screamed. The wizard backed away, and snickered. "Afraid?  Not to worry, Mercurius and Matthias are on their way."

"'Tis more likely they kill each other before rescue me, alas they will never get along!" Alexis cried out, not fully aware whom she was speaking to. Her mind was on her suitor and her friend, both of whose lives were on the line. A tear came to her eye.

"That is true, divided they fall, united they shall destroy themselves. No matter, I have business to attend to. Now, I will tell you why I am here. It is said that the entrance to a dimension other than our own is locked away in your castle, my lady. But to get into the castle I need a person of royal blood… that my princess is where you come in." The wizard said, as he removed his mask. Under it were not a face of flesh, but one of skull. Hard bone, not a single spot of anything else, the undead Lich known as Trrackor, or Blood Drinker.

At the Forest with Matthias and Mercurius's groups.
"Only a Coward would go the long way!" Mercurius cried out. Matthias shook his head, as Darien and Geovani sat, waiting the wasting of the hour. Mercurius stood there, expecting a snappy comeback, but dead silence stood there for a whole three minutes.

"And only fools walk into an obvious trap. That short cut will mean our doom."

"My team can defeat any enemy that comes our way!" Mercurius boasted.  Darien and Geovani exchanged worried glances. The priest finally spoke up.

"Bravely spoken Sir Mercurius! But, it is also a rather prudent voice from young Matthias. Perhaps it hath finally come that we split our ways?" For the priest had hired an assassin to kill Matthias so that Mercurius could become the king by marriage to Alexis without anyone standing in the way. The assassin had been told to look for the man with the pipe, not that Matthias was a man, barely as old as the Lady Alexis herself.

"Fine! Prudence's way is the way my team shall go." Matthias said, as he and Amelia walked ahead. Christopher smiled as he ran after them.

"And fool Matthias, my team shall go the way of the Warriors!"

An assassin waited on the road ahead. Man with a pipe? Was it a musical pipe, or a smoking pipe?

Warrior's Way.
“Ice Freezing Glare!" Mercurius shouted, as the wave of icy water overcame another opponent. Turning on heel, he cleanly sliced into the second foe. Darien and Geovani were fighting back to back, inflicting damage to the enemy ranks. The bold knights boar their teeth, and prepared to fight to the death. Finally, the soldiers had fled. Our heroes had slew a great number of the enemies, and spilt their blood along the ground.

"Darien!" Cried Mercurius, "we have won the field! That Lich won't be able to defeat the three of us!"

"No good Mercurius, for I cannot fight no longer. It shall be the two of you." Darien remarked. For he had received a very grievous wound to his sword arm Darien's soldier days were forever over.

"One cannot fight a wizard with sword!" Geovani said. "For I have tried, and failed."

"Cowards! We shall fight the wizard, or die trying!"

"Then... you shall have your chance." An eerie voice from behind came. Mercurius and Geovani stepped forward to challenge the wizard. The man threw back his dark cloak. Blackness issued from it.

"Knights, it is foolish to brandish steel against a wizard!" In a second, their blades had flown from their hands. Geovani turned to run, but an ice crystal entered his leg, and he could run no more. Mercurius chanted a forgotten language, and his armor turned an iridescent blue.

"Come Lich! Face a real knight!" Mercurius shouted. In a matter of minutes though, the wizard had subdued the three knights, and locked them away in the dungeon.

Prudence's Path.
Christopher waited outside the way house. Matthias was inside playing his pipe. The assassin would soon strike. Then, Amelia would lose heart and leave, leaving Mercurius a certain victory. As the priest put his pipe to his mouth, he was struck dead by his own assassin.

Wizard's Castle.
"Amelia, I go alone from here on." Matthias said, donning a glittering cape. He placed a single seed into his pocket, followed by a glowing key. Next, a shield of rubber was attached to his back, and a small insignia of Leo the Lion hung around his neck. On his side was the gun, which shot magic, and a silver rapier.

"But, Matthias I can help." She said. For she had foreseen what equipment may best the evil wizard.

"No. With Christopher missing, only thee can return to the Versailles court to inform them of what is happening. I shall face the wizard in his castle, on the floor of his choosing. Unless, Mercurius hath already saved my dearest Alexis."

"Then you do have love for her?"

"Don't speak such nonsense! She is to wed Mercurius, and what can a lowly Bard do of it? I am a black sheep, a nothing. No more then a brave peasant. What can a lowly Bard do of this?" Matthias again asked, looking for an answer.

"Everything Matthias!" Amelia said. The girl pulled a single white feather, and handed that to him. Matthias peered quizzically at it, and stuck it in his tri-corner hat. A white feather was the symbol of a Royal Protector. Mercurius had denied one, because it clashed his style.  "If thou has feelings for the lady, then you shall succeed. Then you shall wake her with a sweet kiss." Amelia said, eyes glowing.
 
"You read to many fairytales Amelia." The Bard said, picking up a rock for his sling. "The way of the world is unconcerned with my feelings."

"Then why do you fight Mercurius for Lady Alexis's attention?" The doctor reasoned.

Matthias responded. "It is because she deserves better."

"And, do you believe you are that 'better' she deserves?" Amelia said, as she carefully played a tune on Matthias’s pipe.

"Nay, for I am just a Bard." Matthias said, putting a mirror in his pack.

"Without your unstained confidence, Matthias, thy wit can accomplish nothing." Amelia said.

 Matthias grinned and said: "Then, let it be known that I am completely confident, that I have no confidence."

"Thou act foolish in such a crisis!" Amelia said in shock. She turned on her horse, and felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Amelia, I need you to give me some of your medical supplies. Just in case." Amelia dully nodded, handing him a case of needles. Matthias grinned, and slapped the horse’s rear. The horse rode into the sunset.

Climb of the Tower.
"Do you hear that Trrackor..." Trrackor asked himself. "He says he loves her. Not as that fool Mercurius, but with a true heart. Are you finally awakened? Matthias is on his way."

"What do you plan for him then?"

"If he can survive to the top floor, then I shall face him." Trrackor said rolling up his sleeves.

"He will, for he is very, very wise." Alexis said. She felt a sense of pride in Matthias. He had often been there with sage advice, and had even defended her honor when Mercurius was not there.

The Lich looked at her. "But, he has only twenty minutes before our ritual is complete, and you die." The Lich then laughed hysterically.

"And, his worst fear is not of the undead, but rejection. He will never survive."

"Matthias... please be safe." Alexis whispered. She wished for his safety, then her own.

Bard ducked away from under the flying griffin. As it turned to make its next pass, the young boy turned up the stairs. The griffin attempted to follow but was wedged into the stairwell. Matthias removed the feather from his hat, and tickled the creature's nose. It sneezed with such force that the giant lion shaped bird flew out the door. It landed on the ground, slain.

Matthias reached the second floor, only two more to go, he saw a complex puzzle tile on the ground. A voice called out to him to run to the next stairs. "Alexis!" He shouted, but he didn't step. Instead he sat down on the ground, and looked at the note left there.

“Step upon the tile wrong, and death shall come in darts by three.'

Matthias winced. In other words, somewhere there were darts, if he hit the wrong panel they would shoot at him, and most likely kill him.

“A knight in shining Armor rides.”
“To a Castle in the sky.”
“But to flee from yonder Dragon gates”
“A fate worse then death beyond the castle Gates.”
“A Dove, a Seal, most noble and respected race, yet a king too is respected, yet not noble.”
“He who rides upon a Horse, shall land.”
“At the end of this Puzzle.”

The wise Bard smiled to himself. Too easy, he thought. First he stepped on the tile with the Armor, taking a leap he jumped three vertical tiles to a Castle. Stepping diagonally forward he landed on a Dragon etching. In rapid succession, he stepped on a Dove, then a Seal. With a running jump he landed on the Horse tile, and left the Puzzle room. 15 minutes left!

Second to last floor was a sight that made Matthias nearly throw up. The room was filled with dead, rotting corpses. There were farmers, knights, and even those of the upper noble class. Each (upon closer examination) was exanguigated. The creature must be a vampire... or a Lich... one of the undead.

Three of the bodies rose, and Matthias drew his silver rapier. The first corpse swung a rotting fist, knocking Matthias’s weapon aside. Another punch came forward, and the Bard caught it, kicking it down the stairs.  As another swung, he ducked low, and kicked the creature’s leg. He rolled, and grabbed his rapier, stabbing the third.

Trrackor and Matthias duel.
"Hold it right there!" Matthias called from the stair well.

"So, the Bard has finally joined us." Trrackor said with a grin.

Matthias closed his eyes, and prayed that the fight were to end in his favor.

"Matthias! Please, don't be afraid, I have faith in you!" Alexis shouted, Matthias turned, and prepared his arsenal. If she has faith in me… then so should I! Matthias thought, as he stepped into a fighting stance.

“Prepare to die.” The Lich said.

Duel, Magic versus Science
"You think your toys can match me? Only one rule, you can't use the same tool twice!" Trrackor said.

"Same for thy spells!" Matthias said. Trrackor responded by roaring angrily.

"Venom Dart!"

Matthias whipped out his gun, and shot the dart. He discarded the gun, as were the rules. "Come on, use real magic!" Matthias taunted.

"I tire of this. Ice crystal, Storm!" The ice crystal storm whirred towards Matthias, who reached into his pocket, and dropped a fire-seed. It exploded in front of him in a wall of flames, which melted each crystal that flew through it.

"It's really heating up in here, isn't it?"

"Impressive. Fine then, Lightening, Flash!" The Lich shouted. Matthias quickly rolled left, and held the rubbed insulated shield above his head. The lightening attack was negated, the shield discarded.

"Gonna pull a rabbit out of your hat next?" The Lich shouted at Matthias. The boy shook his head.

"Fine then, last of the elements... that which slays all, Fire Beam!" The boy grinned, with his charm on; he was completely immune to magical, and natural, flames of any kind.

He quickly entered a sedative from his first aid kit into his body. This would dull his nerves, for a few precious minutes. He knew the next trick. All wizards knew this spell, and it was very effective.

"Dub..." Matthias muttered, as his body went somewhat limp. He hoped he knew what the Lich would try next, or he was toast.

"Argh! Pain Shock!" The beam struck the boy in full force; he stumbled, but didn't fall. A stifled clap form Alexis showed that the wizard was losing his control over her. Matthias placed a rock in his sling, and threw the stone, it bounced along the ground, and ricocheted off a rock, and struck the bonds that tied Alexis' hands.

In a second she had been cut loose.

"Parlor tricks?" Matthias said, as his body finally responded to his wit.

"I don't need to kill you, just contain you! Cage!" A glowing metal cage surrounded Matthias. He pulled out an anti-magic key, inserted it into the Cage's lock, and stepped out.

He took a deep breath, as he grasped his cloak. He knew what was to come next, he hoped. He threw the key into his pocket.

"Alright then, my finest attack, Dark Matter, Surround!" The Lich shouted. The entire area around Matthias turned black, and cold. It ran with energy, and the darkness closed in on him. The Bard ducked low, grasped his cape, and spun it around him. It knocked the Dark Matter away, dispelling it. The Lucent Cloak had worked… Thank you Amelia!

"Gonna really attack me any time soon?" Matthias asked, dropping away his cloak.

"No, you attack me." Trrackor shouted.  Matthias nodded, and grasped his rapier. Energy ran through it, destroying it.

"Fine then... Moonlight Densetsu!" Matthias shouted, a brilliant beam of white light flashed towards the Lich, who simply laughed.

"Reflect. Can't do any better? Dodge your own attack, ha!"  He cried. The light beam shot towards Matthias, who scrambled with his mirror. He held it in front of the beam, and it flashed back towards the Lich.

"What?! No!" The Lich cried out, as the beam struck it. The Lich disappeared in a flash of gray and white dust.

Matthias ran over to Alexis. He took a bow, gently took her hand in his and kissed it in the traditional Knight’s way. She looked at him through eyes that seemed to peer through him.

"My Lady," the Bard said with as he stood.

"No need for formalities Matthias! Come, we must get Mercurius and the others!" Matthias nodded solemnly. I kissed her hand! He thought to himself.

Treason:
The door falls open to the cell of Mercurius, Darien, and Geovani. The elder knight accepted his sword back from Matthias. Then, in a flash the knight stepped back. He smiled, and flashed his blade. "So, you defeated the Lich?  Nice, but unacceptable."

"What, do you mean?" Lady Alexis asked.  He turned to her, and pushed the girl down. Darien and Geovani tried to stand but couldn't. They were still too wounded.

"Simply that Christopher's plan was to make it look like Matthias was a traitor to the Royal Court. With him out of the way, I would be made King. But, in my stead this boy hath rescued my Lady? I will not stand for this dishonor! Prepare thy steel."

"If it is a battle you want," Matthias reached for his sword, but remembered it was destroyed. "Then you'll have to catch me first!" The young Bard recovered, shouting as he darted up stairs.

"First things first, to get that boy!" Mercurius shouted, lunging at the younger boy. Matthias dodged up the stairs, escaping the icy blast. Dodging up the next flight of stairs, Matthias grinned.

"Come and get me, Cat!"

"This game of hide and seek is ridiculous. No more room to run!"  The older, stronger man cried out. The younger boy ran, hitting a tile, and leaped to another. Running, jumping in an erratic pattern he managed to reach the other side.

"Impressive, but prepare to die." Mercurius shouted. He followed the boy across the tiles, upon stepping on a tile with a dart engraved in it, a series of darts volleyed towards him. Mercurius tried to summon forward his armor, but failed. All of them struck into him; he collapsed to the ground in a crumpled heap. That was the day the great knight died.

Return to Versailles:
"Since we only had two horses Alexis we had to send Geovani and Darien had. They were wounded." Matthias explained as he passed the small Leo medallion between his hands. It was the gift his lady had given him a year ago. It had saved his life today. A sudden light appeared in his field of vision.

He glanced up, and saw where the archers were positioned. He managed to jump and knock Alexis away from the first shot. The arrow struck the Bard in his leg. He pointed his gun, and fired, breaking the branch the archer sat upon, sending him plummeting to the ground. The second and third arrows flew away from him, and a mounted knight came galloping towards them.

"I am Jerrin, Knight of these Lands if you want safe passage, you will defeat me in a combat to the death." The knight said, as he jumped from off the horse.

"Jerrin, with you I have no quarrel, allow me and my friend to travel out of here." Matthias said, as he carefully slid his trigger finger into place.

"There need be no quarrel to fight, just a decent weapon! Prepare to," But before the knight could finish he was shot dead. The archers roared in surprise, and began to flee, leaving the horse. After they had regrouped (referring to Matthias and Alexis) he examined the horse.

"Get on," He said, and handed his medallion to her. "Hold on to this, as well as my gun. Just point, and pull this trigger here. I have to do something." And with that, the horse, and Alexis returned to Versailles. Matthias disappeared, never to be seen again.
 
Epilogue - The Present