Sectaurs
Issue# 5
Story Title: Fairy Tales Do Come True!
From out of the sky, Spidrax orders his squadron of Skull soldiers into a steep dive. The general and his troops have been tracking their prey for miles, and now they were swooping in for the kill.
The Shining Realm heroes spot the swarm as it dives towards them. Zak wants to stand and fight, but Dargon doubts they could survive against such overwhelming odds. And survival is of the utmost importance if the Shining Realm is to find the hyves first. If Dargon and his companions are slain, the quest ends with their lives. Dargon and Dragonflyer take off to act as a decoy while enabling the others to escape. Pinsor worries as he watches Dargon fly off. He may be the Shining Realms greatest warrior, but not even he to stand alone against such odds. Mantor offers that the young prince only need stand alone long enough to allow for their escape to continue the quest. Zak derisively rips at Mantor's remark. Yes, they absolutely must carry out their ever important mission even if it means sacrificing their noble prince!
Dargon flies into battle picking off the Skull soldiers with ease. Spidrax is enraged. Even among his own Skull soldiers, Dargon is spoken of as the mightiest of warriors. The dark general is intent on stripping the young prince of said title. . .along with his royal head. Spidrax charges toward Dargon. Upon seeing the dark warrior, Dargon wonders out loud how many Skull soldiers he'd have to go through before Spidrax finally showed up. Spidrax retorts that he allowed his troops to encounter Dargon's ferocity as a warrior. . ."that they might stand more in awe of me than ever when I easily defeat you," he hisses at the prince. Dargon scoffs at Spidrax's threat, reminding the evil general that he was defeated twice before. "As my father used to say before I deposed him and seized command of his barbarian hordes," the dark warrior counters, "third time pays all!" The two warriors continue to clash as Spidrax's skull soldiers watch. In the sky above them, an oddly shaped cloud suddenly darts across the sky. Within a room inside the "cloud" a motley assortment of creatures watch the ensuing battle in a pool of water. An elf like being points out the conflict to a fairy like woman with butterfly wings. The fairy woman observes that both opponents seemed evenly matched but suggests that it is Dargon who exceeds Spidrax in nobility. If they were to help Dargon in his hour of need, perhaps he would turn around help them in theirs. One of the fairy folk insisted that they make haste in offering assistance. "The Underlings' mutiny proceeds apace! Already they have nearly negated your flight spells! Even now they howl outside our command castle! The fairy woman orders for all to abandon the castle and travel to the lifespaces in an attempt to regain control; and all would be done with the unwitting aid of the Sectaurs.
The strange cloud changes course in mid-air and dives straight down onto the warriors of the Dark Domain knocking them off their winged insectoids. Dargon is momentarily distracted by the event and watches in horror as the dark warriors fall to their doom. Spidrax grins at the opportunity laid before him. "The compassionate fool," he cackles, "in his concern for my own troops, Dargon forgets his own danger." With a lightning fast flick of his venom whip, Spidrax wounds Dargon severely. Both the prince and Dragonflyer fall from the sky, but before they can hit the ground, the mysterious cloud intercepts them. . .and then heads straight for the Shining Realm Knights. The heroes of Prosperon try in vain to evade the cloud, but the strange object overtakes and envelopes them completely. When reality finally reforms around them, the Sectaurs of the Shining Realm find themselves in a forest glade with a fantastic looking castle in the back drop. The knights take in their surroundings with a sense of wonderment. Zak wonders if the enchantment is the work of Scorpia, but Mantor doesn't think so. The wise old counselor rushes ahead to explore the captivating world around them and hopefully find Dargon in the progress.
Outside the cloud the Skull Soldiers of the Dark Domain inspect the oddity before them. Some express happiness that the cloud has swallowed their enemy. Spidrax sharply cuts through such thinking. He believes Dargon and the others could very well be alive inside and orders his soldiers to march into the cloud. Unbeknownst to Spidrax, the Fairy Queen is watching his every move from the command castle. Before abandoning the castle she performs one last spell. She causes the cloud to disappear from the sight of the Dark Domain Warriors, foiling Spidrax's attempt. Whispers of magic (possibly Mantor's) spreads quickly through the troops. Some of the soldiers believe an unknown force has aided them in defeating their enemies. Spidrax, however, will only believe their enemies are dead when he sees Dargon's remains for himself. He orders his Skull Soldiers to mount their winged insectoids and take to the skies.
Another pair of eyes watches from a nearby ridge. . .a Shining Realm Scout. He has seen everything that has transpired and is greatly disturbed by the disappearance of the Shining Realm's Crown Prince and the implications it may hold. . .namely that the Prince is dead. He mounts his insectoid and begins the long ride back to Prosperon contemplating the potential disaster that awaits upon delivering the news. Dargon was well loved both among the Shining Realm's citizens and soldiers and very few believed the charges of treason that were leveled against him. News of his death would come hard and could very well lead to insurrection against the very person responsible for administering those charges. . .Regent Galken.
Somewhere on Symbion, the cloud reappears in a canyon. Inside the cloud, and unaware of shift in location, the Sectaurs of the Shining Realm make their way through the forest glade. Zak exclaims that nowhere on Symbion has such a world ever existed. Mantor counters that Symbion did indeed resemble the beauty around them before the great cataclysm. "Which was caused by the ancients whose evil arts you practice, Mantor," grumbles Pinsor, "I like not these encounters with magic." Stellara brings up the fact that the Ancients controlled the planetary elements through science not magic. Pinsor asks her if there is a legitimate difference between the two. Mantor considers Pinsor's question as quite profound. Whatever the answer may be, they will need to acquire those lost arts if they are to defend the Shining Realm. The philosophizing finally gets to Zak. The only thing the young commando is concerned about is finding Dargon.
Dargon slowly returns to consciousness from a feverish, restless state. "Where. . .," he begins to ask as he tries to regain his bearings. A woman's voice suddenly finishes his sentence, "In the cloud craft of the fairy folk, Dargon of Symbion." Dargon sits up quickly, startled at the unfamiliar voice, and comes face to face with the Fairy Queen. "A winged woman speaking in a voice as soft as a song--! Am I dead, or has the poison of Spidrax's venom-whip made me mad?!" The fairy queen tells him he is neither dead nor dreaming. "So great is your natural resistance that only minor spells were needed to heal your wound!" The Fairy Queen points to Dragonflyer and is amazed that the insectoid recovers as quickly as his master. Dargon explains the telebonded link between himself and Dragonflyer and how it enables the two to share both pain and pleasure. Dargon begins to rattle off questions of who, where, how and why. . .when the Fairy Queen places her fingers to his lips and answers his questions. She identifies herself as Liana, Queen of the Fairy Folk. Her people took Dargon aboard their cloud craft to save him from his enemies. . .and because they need his help. The young Prince's facial expressions soften as he tells the fairy queen that he could help anyone as beautiful as her. Liana compliments Dargon saying that he flatters as well as he fights. But she also urges him to listen to their plight before he agrees to aid them. The fairy folk have a group of enemies referred to as the Underlings. A great battle ensued between the two forces on another world with the fairy folk emerging as the winners. Liana and her people were returning to their own world with prisoners when the Underlings broke free and seized control of the cloud craft. To evade their enemies, the fairy folk retreated to a different section of their ship referred to as the lifespaces. Problem is, Liana's powers have different effects in different parts of the ship. In order to regain control of the cloud craft, she must regain control of the command castle, which was now in the hands of the Underlings. Dargon offers that he could be of service to Liana and her people if he had the help of his companions. With a wave of her hand, Liana suggests that the young prince rejoin his friends. . .and casts a spell over a startled Dargon and Dragonflyer which causes them both to disappear from the cloud craft and reappear in front of the Sectaurs of the Shining Realm. Liana sits with her head bowed and a sad expression on her face. An elfin like creature named G'Ai asks her why she employed the young princes aid against the Underlings, especially when she knows full well that only fairy forged weapons are effective against the Underlings. Liana tells him that their weapons are located in another part of the cloud craft. For Liana and her people to reach them, she will use Dargon and his friends to keep the Underlings busy, even at the cost of the Shining Realm Sectaurs lives.
Dargon reappears shouting hails of greeting to some very worried and relieved friends. He quickly explains that they were rescued from Spidrax by Liana and her fairy folk and that their saviors were now in need of their help. Mantor is astonished by what his young pupil has told him. They're inside a starship run by magic?! Mantor lifts his staff and energy begins to whirl around him. He tells Dargon that he needs time to regard these new mysteries. As the young prince watches, Mantor enters a trancelike enabling himself to release his astral form. While in this phantom form, the wise old counselor travels within the confines of the cloud craft trying to locate their enemies. He finally finds the command castle, which has taken on an ugly form as a result of the Underlings evil influence. Mantor returns to his physical form and reports that he has discovered where the enemy is located. Stellara is suspicious (and perhaps jealous of) the Fairy Queen and wonders why the fairy folk would require their help if they defeated the Underlings once before. Dargon has no answer to offer, but to him, it doesn't matter. "Liana has asked for my aid, and I will give it--with or without your help!" he tells Stellara. Stellara puts her hands on her hips and is shocked by such a sharp retort. Zak is equally shocked by his friend's outburst and makes a point of reminding the prince that the heroes had never in the past refused to help him. . .even when they were called traitors by their brethren. Mantor lays a hand on the shoulder of a now flushed Prince Dargon and asks the youth if the Queen's magic, or perhaps her beauty, had any influence over his decision to offer aid. Dargon hangs his head and sighs that the Queen is lovelier than a dream. But no enchantment was needed to encourage Dargon to take up battle for her. With that, the warrior prince mounts Dragonflyer, and taking to the air declares that where ever evil threatens harm, Dargon would stand ready to fight. His comrades follow after him proclaiming their loyalty to their prince and their assertion to also fight evil where ever it may be.
Back in the Prosperon, word of Dargon's disappearance has spread through out the Shining Realm. A grief stricken Regent Galken stands on a balcony overlooking a kingdom which soon may fall to the Dark Domain. The Regent fears that his subjects will spend more time blaming him for Dargon's death than preparing for possible attack by the Dark Domain. "What should it matter?" the royal leader wonders, "Why should I want to live knowing that I have my brother's only son to his doom?" Across and below from the balcony, Belanna studies the Regent's anguish. She finds it highly unlikely that the Regent could ever consider his nephew a traitor. Even more troubling to Belana is that she has heard the voices of rebellion from high ranking members of Shining Realm Society. Should she tell Galken of the impending coup. Or perhaps, if Dargon is alive, he might hear of his uncle's troubles and return to Prosperon in all haste. What Belana wouldn't give to be near Dargon again. Yet, how can she declare her love to Dargon, when she has been betrothed to Zak since birth. . .?
While the Shining Realm mourns, the Dark Domain rejoices…
In the throne room of Empress Devora, Spidrax challenges the reports of Dargon’s death as premature. The General reports that Dargon has disappeared, but there is no body to confirm his death. Waspax sneers behind Spidrax’s back, believing on the one hand that Dargon must be dead after being consumed by the cloud, and yet jealous over the fact that it was not his sword that delivered the blow. Skulk turns to Waspax and asks why he should care who finally slew Dargon, as long as the Prince was dead. Yet with no bodies, Skulk reasons, there is no glory for the General to claim. Upon overhearing him, an infuriated Spidrax grabs Skulk by the scruff of his neck and lifts him into the air. “I’ve claimed nothing that’s not my due, Skulk!” roars Spidrax. Devora orders Spidrax to release Skulk. “He is no match for your might!” she adds dryly. Standing near Devora’s throne is Senrad, who offers that news of Dargon’s death would demoralize the Shining Realm to the point of defeat. Devora leans back on her throne luxuriously while petting a reptile like creature. She confidently states that the Shining Realm is doomed either way. The forces of the Dark Domain strengthen with each passing day and soon they will be ready for the final, decisive assault against the Shining Realm. For now, the Empress is patient enough to sit back and wait.
Meanwhile, within the Cloud Craft, Dargon and his companions continue their journey through the Lifespaces. Dargon notes that the deeper they travel into the forest, the more menacng a look it takes on. Pinsor grunts that the reason is probably due to more magic. Mantor agrees, saying that the evil magic of the underlings has altered the environment. “You mean whoever controls the Command Castle,” Zak observes, “can change the very nature of the Cloud Craft’s interior…? YIIIIIIII!” Zak is startled as one of the trees he passes by suddenly comes to life and grabs him. The trees grab hold of the knights, strangling Dargon and squeezing the life out of Stellara. Pinsor frees her with his Battle Axe. “So the Savage Stellara learns that there is more to Pinsor than she thought,” Zak thinks as Stellara fires at the tree grasping at him. Zak falls to the ground and wonders, “But is there enough for her to love as he hopes?” Stellara chides Zak for daydreaming claiming his mind is not on the battle. As Dargon chops away at the tree limbs holding him, he asks Mantor if there are any Keeper’s tricks “to end this insanity…?” Mantor says he was merely waiting for his friends to free themselves. Once free, Mantor lifts his staff and orders the evil trees to be engulfed in flames. As the Shining Realm Knights retreat, Pinsor turns to look back at the fiery grove and claims that he will never forget the sound a tree makes when it screams.
Dragonflyer lands atop the Command Castle and Dargon thanks him for his aid. But the Prince tells his loyal insectoid to stay. He must travel the rest of the way alone. As Dargon searches for his foe, he senses danger all around him. “I must be on my guard,” he begins to say as he is slammed in the back with a mace. “You are not one of Liana’s Fairies, Bug Man…,” comes a booming voice from behind, “but Gargantua the Goblin King, will enjoy smashing you all the same!” Gargantua clubs Dargon across his jaw, sending the Prince reeling through the air and into the Castle parapet. The Goblin King asks what possible reward Liana could have promised the young Prince for him to risk his life so foolishly. Dargon replies in a very princely fashion that he fights for no reward, but instead for those in need. Dargon regains his sword and comes at the Goblin King once again. Gargantua snorts at the sword referring to it as a “sting”, one which he will soon pluck and render Dargon tame. Dargon refers to his sword, Symator, as the finest weapon ever forged on Symbion. “It was wielded by my father before me, and I’ll not let you defile it with your touch!” With that, Dargon throws Symator at Gargantua. The mighty sword flies right over the Goblin King’s head. Gargantua is astounded that Dargon would just throw his sword away and leave himself defenseless. But Dargon had something far greater in mind. Symator reaches its intended target…the castle tapestries that hang overhead. The mighty sword slices through the tapestries sending them falling down atop the Goblin King covering his face. “…what you can’t see, Goblin,” Dargon shouts, “can hurt you.” Enraged the Gobblin King charges ahead in the direction of Dargon’s voice, his face still covered by the tapestry. Dargon ducks just in time as the Goblin King crashes through the parapet and falls to his doom. Dargon looks over the parapet to notice an almost immediate change. Both the Command Castle and its surroundings take on a more attractive appearance.
Far away, as the battle between the Fairy Folk and Underlings finally begins to subside, Zak notes the same change in surroundings as Dargon. They reach the Command Castle to find Dargon descending the stairs to greet them. With Gargantua gone, the Underlings are defeated and the Cloud Craft once again takes on the gentle surroundings of the Fairy Folk. Liana approaches Dargon and asks him to name his reward. Leaning against a tree, Dargon tells Liana the same thing he told Gargantua. He and his friends fight for no reward, but for the rights of others. Liana is shocked by his candor, and professes the nobility that shines forth from the young Prince. It shames her and she finally acknowledges that she tricked the Noble Prince and his Companions into fighting for the Fairy Folk. The Underlings had never before been defeated by any weapon except those of the Fairy Folk. Knowing this, the Fairy Queen was almost certain that she was sending the Shining Realm Knights to their doom while she led her Fairy Folk to retrieve their arms. Dargon comforts the Queen’s guilt, acknowledging that she did what she had to do to survive. “…Just as I have had to play the part of traitor to the realm I love to deceive the Dark Domain while questing for the Hyves of Power. In times of great peril, danger necessitates such deceptions.” Liana accepts Dargon’s words, but adds that if she had told the truth, Dargon and his friends would have assisted her anyway. She decides to reward such bravery with gifts. She calls Mantor forward and grants him all the knowledge of the Fairy Folk. Mantor is astounded at the information and admits that even though he can not wield such power, he is grateful for the knowledge of other ways. Liana then turns to Pinsor and points to the amulet hanging around his neck. Pinsor explains that he found it in the hut of his missing family. Liana speaks of the Fairy power of prophecy, and tells Pinsor that he will find his family soon. Zak and Stellara are next in line, and the Fairy Queen senses that the two heroes wish for the same thing, but do not speak of it out loud because they do not want to appear as if they were complaining. She gives them both a pair of glow globes. “When the time comes,” she tells them, “you will know how to use them.” Zak regards the gift as odd, but thanks the Fairy Queen heartily. Liana finally turns her attention to Dargon. He is the last to be rewarded, and yet, as she steps closer, she admits that this gift “is as much mine as yours!” She presses herself against the prince and kisses him passionately. Then, with Liana again at the throne of the Command Castle and the Underlings in chains, the cloud craft departs. The Shining Realm Knights watch the departure. Mantor is still incredulous at the thought that they travel to another world far from Symbion. Dargon admits that Symbion holds more than enough wonders for him to contemplate. “I’ll second that!” comes Pinsor in agreement.
I have to be honest. The first time I read this story, I didn’t like it. I couldn’t get past some of the kooky names that were chosen to describe the Cloud Craft, Command Castle, and the Lifespaces (well, maybe Lifespaces isn’t too bad). But I was surprised upon multiple readings that the story actually began to grow on me. The idea that “fairies” and “trolls” were good and evil beings who have traveled to many worlds and had many different names isn’t such a far off concept, especially in the world of Science Fiction. I think I just wish the names had been a bit more creative. But the story does evolve into a romanticized fairy tale (it even gives me a chance to overlook the whole Dargon, Belana, Zak triangle for a little while). A dashing, brave, and handsome prince, a beautiful Fairy Queen in distress, Evil Trolls, and magic, magic everywhere. First we’re in shock as Dargon and Dragonflyer seemingly fall to their deaths after Dargon is struck by Spidrax’s whip. Then they’re engulfed by a strange looking cloud, followed by their friends. A Scout from the Shining Realm witnesses the entire thing, and has to report back, even though he knows his report could generate rebellion against Dargon’s uncle, Regent Galken. We meet the Fairy Queen who, in some drawings, gives “See Through Clothing” a new twist (Whoa! Steve Geiger!). A lot of the drawings in this issue remind me of some of the antiquated artwork of trolls and fairies from the Middle Ages. I’d love to find out what may have been used as a reference guide, because the drawings have such a great nostalgia to them. Oh all right, so maybe the dashing Prince saving the beautiful Queen is a cliché, but this became a very entertaining cliché. It’s a cliché used constantly because (at the risk of sounding corny) it touches the heart. To use one of Marvel’s lines, definitely a fantasy filled issue.
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