When we were young

When we were young
by : Mike Darling

And so it began, a long time ago. Back when friends were enemies and enemies were friends, a time long ago, when we were young and free. Responsibility was something to be laughed at, and experience in the world was limited. Ray Goldentree spent the last few weeks in the warrior’s guild, just as Sondo had
Recommended. A simple warrior with a large battle axe at his side. The great Sondo, a Holy warrior of Phaet, had recently settled the demons in his soul, and brought back the innocence back into his eyes. Yawning out of boredom, it he thought to himself that it had been a very long day. He was very anxious to meet up with his friends and run around playing hero. Filled with newfound excitement he rushed to their meeting place.

Discord look up and at the sky, how wonderful it looked to him, he was a jack of all trades always entering different guilds to learn stuff and try find out what he want to be when he grew older. 'Where is he!' said a frustrated Madir. Trebor was sitting on the other side of the room, rolling his eyes. 'Just wait man, you know how he is, calm' responded discord. The room was hot and stuffy that day. There were 4 young men, as they liked to be called, not teenagers, in the room, half of them were impatient. Trebor, was like ray an inspiring warrior dreaming fighting an army of goblins by him self. Over across from him was Madir, the always-impatient one, striving for action, but a reliable monk. Sitting right next to discord was Elrond the up incoming cleric of the city. The door opened and in came and elf, lifting his cowl and nodding to everyone. 'Sorry I am late, I wanted to make sure I could pass next weeks physical test to move up in the guild ranks'. 'Gee thanks ray for keeping up waiting.' complained Madir. 'No problem Ray! Let’s leave early I want to bust a few hobgoblins! And maybe we can take out a wigth or two!’ Ray turned looking nervous, 'hey, you guys have you read the forum the legionnaire is looking for soldiers, umm, do you think I have a chance? Ya know I co ..' Ray looking from support from this family he had here. There was a silence, then all the sudden laughter, a laughter so loud that frightened the goblins from where they were.
'You a legionnaire pansy, hahhahahahahah that's funny I doubt they would even let you into the hallway!' screamed Elrond in laughter. Ray gave a depressed sigh 'well lets get going ... '. Elrond, Madir, and Trebor left first, but discord stopped Ray, ‘man, you have to admit you are not legion material, well I am sorry to say but you will never be one. You can hope for it, but don't hang on to that hope for long.' Discord left the room next. A very sad sigh came from the sad elf. ' Maybe...' came the only sound form his mouth looking into the sky for hope, but hope was only the denial of reality.

Ray had to pick up pace to catch up to his friends, he lacked of back there at there were gonna meet at the docks, he blindly ran through the crowds knocking into one of them now and then, avoiding a guardsman's call to slow down. He was in a rush, and nothing was gonna sto..... , Ray immediately ran into another elf, a female one. They both slammed into each other and feel to the ground, all of the young female’s notes and papers falling to the ground. 'Umm my apologies, very sorry, I am kind in hurry I am I err' Ray immediately jumped up and grabbed all the papers on the ground. 'Umm hi you look new in town, my name is Ray Goldentree, my apologies'. The young eleven women smiled look up into the eyes of Ray and responded. 'Hi I am Neraz, yeah I am starting to study at the clerical guild in this city, I heard it was the best'. Ray blushed, turning red all over, he had never seen eyes like that and it made him feel weird. 'Umm. I got. I got, to ya know, umm I hope we meet, uh going now, again we must meet, to umm, well my friends are waiting'. With a quick bow and wave Ray was of running towards the docks. Neraz smiled again and said to herself 'he's cute, I hope I see him again' and she left and continued her way to the clerical guild.

After a good deal of screwing around with his friends, and hanging out Ray decided enough was enough and he would go get a room at the inn to sleep. Walking up to the inn of makilor he gasped in amazement, for standing before him was the one and only, Archer Lightbearer, famous Paladin of the Legionnaire, and standing beside him was Heydran another famous paladin of the legionnaire. Archer was one of the people Ray idolized; he was everything ray wanted to be. Blinking in amazement he saw Archer walk by him and nod at him. Running over in excitement and ran to Heydran, this would me the moment, the moment he would ask to join. Heydran stood there a statue in the winds, a stone statue, staring at nothing. Ray jotted up to Heydran with a big grin on his face trying to cover his emotions up. 'Err sir, err big guy sir I am reporting for duty, sir, I want to be a legionnaire ... I ca....’ Heydran turning, cold as night, was his gaze staring deep into the soul of the young boy that stood before him. 'Hmmm, soul is evil, you are not legionnaire material, you will never be, now go back home to your dolls, this is a mans job, not a whining little elves'. Devastated, Ray stepped away further and further from the person that stood before him, he was cold and uncaring, his simple word shattering the built faith, the built hope and the built self. Those words would rock Ray for his entire life; for are built form the lessons and events that happen throughout their childhood.

Hours later, hours gone by, and hours of life gone, after the confirmation, ray fled to the docks, his friends sneaking behind worried for him, as well they should be, discord walking up finally after a long wait, went up and sat beside the sad elf. The rest then followed, they have never seen their friend in such sadness he had always been known as a strong individual. Ray not caring released his feelings he had always bee one to keep things to himself, but his dreams were destroyed, words were always harsher to the young and Innocent. The words found a way out and shocked the friends for they would never believe until know that he had the guts. Elrond gently put his hand on the shoulder of Ray, 'yo, man you are better than that you don't need em, I respect you'. Ray looked up, glanced at all his friends 'my father excepted everyone, he was a ranger, and care for all he never cared if you were young or old, as long as you could protect those you loved well ... then that's all that mattered'. He looked up at everyone, they were young foolish but full of heart, they have never killed a soul, and were innocent in the heart mind and soul, murder was common but not an everyday thing'. 'It is up to us, I will make my own group where all our excepted, and I will follow my fathers ideals, I will stand up to those who.... Who taint my home, I shall rise above them, and I will use only my sword and my armor to do it to, overcome all who are out to harm the innocent...' each of rays friends nodded at each other for they knew what had to be done next. 'Don't worry Ray we are with you' barked Madir, Elrond replied 'hmm this could be fun I got nothing better to do', Discord Saluted towards ray 'I AM AT YOUR SERVICE SIR, heheheheh', Trebor rolled on the floor laughing ' heheheheheh Trebor reporting for duty sir eheehehe'. Ray nodded to each of his friends, then turned and looked towards the river. The night sky reflecting of the crystal clear water, seeing a reflected vision of a warrior long past, 'then it begins, we will be known as fighters of freedom, welcoming all that need help' the entire group nodding and all in a state of acceptance. ' We will be known as the Rangers of Makilor'

The thought's of ray trail of in the dawn, the dawn of a new time, when friends were enemies, and enemies were friends. -And so it began, an adventure that every young person dreams of. We who were young, we who were foolish, we who were full of heart. I must admit I made mistakes. I sent most of these friends of mine, most of the rangers to there deaths by my mistakes. My impulsiveness, I lost friends I lost Crono, Discord, my friendships turned on me. I drifted into despair, I fled, I ran, and I failed. I have caused much pain and suffering, making me wish that I had not acted, that I should have kept quiet and accepted that I was a failure, but I had to try to prove them wrong ...

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