Secret Santa Fic - Christmas and Gladiators (For Star!)
Tuesday, December 24th, 2013 09:12 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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mindcrackloveMerry Christmas everyone! And surprise, Star! Ta-da! X3 I really hope you enjoy this - neither of the discussed topics have ANYTHING in relation to one another... But I hope you enjoy nonetheless! :D
Christmas and Gladiators
"Alright now children, gather around please... Zisteau, stay away from the fire, oh, and Jims, watch your coat, I think that ember wants it."
Paul smiled at the children crowding around him attentively, full with all sorts of Christmas foods and compliant with a candy cane in each of their hands. Some were close to sleep - like the youngest one, Pyro, curled up like a cat in his dragon onesie and settled sleepily on Guude's lap. Others, like Pause, were cheerfully hyperactive, constantly getting hushed by Beef or soothed by Pakratt.
"So, which story would you like to hear tonight? Perhaps the one about the three Kingdoms, or maybe-"
"Could you please tell us the one about the great four warriors? The gliders?" Jims piped up, and Paul turned his attention to the pale and reserved boy.
He chuckled, shaking his head at Jims mispronunciation of 'gladiators'. "That one again? I just told you guys that one last night."
However, he couldn't ignore the chorus of 'pleaaaaaaase!' and 'again!'. Sitting back more comfortably, he smiled once more, before launching into the tale of the Four Gladiators, more well known as 'DOOKE'.
~*~
"Once upon a time, in the prosperous land of ancient Minecraftia, when the land herself was young and full of life, a city emerged in her depths. That city was called 'Mindcrackia', just like ours is called now. The name has been passed down from generation to generation, you know.
"The ancient city of Mindcrackia was generally a very peaceful place. However, as time wore on, and new cities emerged, like Saladia, and the Hermitage, those cities warred, and ancient Minecraftia was no longer peaceful. Her lands were spoiled by war - very terrible times were upon them.
"But soon, the war came to a lull. There were many captured prisoners, and the cities themselves were still locked in the grips of fighting, their blood roused, and aching for more. And thus arenas and the name 'gladiators' were coined.
"Gladiators didn't have a very easy life. Unlike now, potions were rare, very very rare. When the gladiators were wounded, they didn't have potions to drink. No, usually, they would grow weak, and were slain by a younger, stronger gladiator. It was very sad.
"But through the course of gladiators, four stood out in history. Their names were Kurt, DocM, BdoubleO, and Etho.
"Among the four, two were quite special in their own right. DocM was the first ever cyborg - during his time as a gladiator, in the very first fights he participated in, he was hurt rather badly. But instead of giving up, he made crude prosthetic limbs, improving them over time. It gave him a great advantage in the arena, although he was already deviously intelligent and strong in his own right.
"Etho had lost his eye in a similar manner. However, he was also a scientist - more like someone who experimented with odd and ends lying around - in his spare time. He fitted himself with a eye made of Redstone, and I hope Avidya has taught you children well about the dangers of Redstone. They didn't have quite the knowledge that we have back then. Etho was very lucky to have lived.
"The other two, Kurt and BdoubleO, were very normal compared to DocM and Etho. Kurt was very reserved, quiet, polite - rare, for a gladiator. BdoubleO was more the preferred image, rash, brave, a true warrior at heart.
"The strategies they fought with were all quite different. Etho and Kurt both had a more strategic style - Etho was much stronger than Kurt, although Kurt could outlast almost any opponent, depending on quick strikes to wear them down even faster. Etho was brutal, dashing in for a large flesh-slicing slash, before jumping away again.
"BdoubleO took a more traditional method. He wasn't afraid to charge in with a war cry - he preferred a sword-shield combination, and wasn't afraid to use his shield as a weapon either. He was quite ingenious with his attack method, and each of his battles were just a bit different from the rest, making him a wily opponent.
"DocM was as equally as intelligent as Etho, and wily as BdoubleO, thanks to his cyborg side. He used his enhanced strength to his advantage, often forgoing a shield for a heavier two-handed weapon. He was near invincible in the arena - only a well placed strike in his blind side could ever hope to fall him, and he guarded his blind spot jealously.
"However, these four great gladiators each had one - or a few - great weaknesses. They were all loyal to the Prince, who, at the time, was Prince Guude, next in line to the throne. He was a good Prince, loyal to his subjects and people, and rewarded good deeds graciously. The King at that point in time was a iron fisted ruler - he drained his people of their money, and no one really liked him much.
"The four great gladiators had a plan to assassinate the King, so that Prince Guude could ascend to the throne as quickly as possible. However, one of the King's few loyal subjects found about this plan. The four gladiators received some threatening letters, threatening to reveal their secrets if they continued with the plan to assassinate the King.
"Addressed to BdoubleO was the following: "BdoubleO, I'm sure you love your wife very much. She is quite the pretty thing... It would be a shame, a shame for sure, if something were to happen to her. I'm also aware that you two have a child coming... Please, keep that in mind."
"Addressed to Etho, was something similar: "Etho, you may think yourself to be the sneakiest of all the gladiators, but I'm afraid you are simply deluded. Do not think no one saw you with the well known thief, Nebris. Not only did you converse on several occasions with him, you also helped him steal from the King, as well as commit several other unsavory acts. If you wish to keep all that a secret, well, you know what to do."
"Addressed to Kurt, whose parents were dead, and friend few in far between, was a much more vague, but equally threatening letter: "Kurt. Keeping pets, by law, is illegal. Not only do you sneak out at night after hours, you steal food from the kitchens, and occasionally from your fellow gladiators, to feed that wolf. Your crimes shall be duly punished, unless you submit."
"And finally, to DocM, who also had no family to threaten, no lover, barely any friends, was the greatest threat of all: "DocM, as you know your life is always on the line. There are a number of things you must avoid, with your... Metal side. It would be quite disappointing if the arena were to be flooded on one of your fighting days."
"But you must keep in mind - by now, DocM, BdoubleO, Etho, and Kurt were only vaguely aware of each other. They had scrapped a few times, perhaps in bar fights, or over sleeping areas, but never truly in the arena. They had heard all the rumors, had them well-versed, in fact. To each other, they were all legends, fighters to be feared, and avoided.
"But combat in the arena could only be skirted oh so many times. It was during a tournament, that they all met at the same time, in the arena. Only one gladiator was expected to come out alive.
"However, they were different from their fellow gladiators, as you know by now, very, very different. They knew, the moment they stepped into the arena, exactly what and who they were going up against. And the answer was - none of them. They all had a common goal and enemy, the King.
"Very little after that is documented in history. It is rumored that Kurt shot the King with his bow, which is quite possible, although gladiators were rarely allowed ranged weapons in the arena. Some say Etho hurled his javelin and speared the King through his heart, or that Doc threw his sword, or even that BdoubleO tossed his shield like a discus and beheaded the King.
"They were forced to escape from the city of Mindcrackia, into the wilds of Minecraftia. In Saladia history, there is a period in which four travelers were accepted within their walls, matching the descriptions of the four gladiators, before they left on their own accord. When Prince Guude became King Guude, there were many assassination attempts, all of which were thwarted by a mysterious band of four, mentioned to be the four gladiators, who, by now, had earned themselves the title of 'DOOKE'.
"Not much is known after that. It's said that they became the Royal Guard, or perhaps disappeared into hiding and only appeared whenever they were needed. No one knows. But that is the legend of DOOKE."
~*~
Paul stretched his arms out, cracking his neck with a soft sigh. He smiled fondly at the sleepy-eyed children in front of him. Expertly, he scooped up Zisteau and Jims in his left arm, cradling Beef in his right, as Guude picked up Pyro, and Avidya and Baj handled the rest of the little ones.
"I liked the story, mister Paul," Jims mumbled, clutching his coat tighter around him for warmth. Paul chuckled, stepping lightly up the stairs and laying the three kids in his grasp out on their beds, giving a quick kiss to the forehead each and pulling blankets up to chins.
"I'm glad," he murmured in reply. "Stories themselves are quite the legends, wouldn't you agree?"
He received only silence in reply. Smiling once more, Paul slipped out of the children's room, and clicked off the light. They deserved their rest.
Christmas and Gladiators
"Alright now children, gather around please... Zisteau, stay away from the fire, oh, and Jims, watch your coat, I think that ember wants it."
Paul smiled at the children crowding around him attentively, full with all sorts of Christmas foods and compliant with a candy cane in each of their hands. Some were close to sleep - like the youngest one, Pyro, curled up like a cat in his dragon onesie and settled sleepily on Guude's lap. Others, like Pause, were cheerfully hyperactive, constantly getting hushed by Beef or soothed by Pakratt.
"So, which story would you like to hear tonight? Perhaps the one about the three Kingdoms, or maybe-"
"Could you please tell us the one about the great four warriors? The gliders?" Jims piped up, and Paul turned his attention to the pale and reserved boy.
He chuckled, shaking his head at Jims mispronunciation of 'gladiators'. "That one again? I just told you guys that one last night."
However, he couldn't ignore the chorus of 'pleaaaaaaase!' and 'again!'. Sitting back more comfortably, he smiled once more, before launching into the tale of the Four Gladiators, more well known as 'DOOKE'.
~*~
"Once upon a time, in the prosperous land of ancient Minecraftia, when the land herself was young and full of life, a city emerged in her depths. That city was called 'Mindcrackia', just like ours is called now. The name has been passed down from generation to generation, you know.
"The ancient city of Mindcrackia was generally a very peaceful place. However, as time wore on, and new cities emerged, like Saladia, and the Hermitage, those cities warred, and ancient Minecraftia was no longer peaceful. Her lands were spoiled by war - very terrible times were upon them.
"But soon, the war came to a lull. There were many captured prisoners, and the cities themselves were still locked in the grips of fighting, their blood roused, and aching for more. And thus arenas and the name 'gladiators' were coined.
"Gladiators didn't have a very easy life. Unlike now, potions were rare, very very rare. When the gladiators were wounded, they didn't have potions to drink. No, usually, they would grow weak, and were slain by a younger, stronger gladiator. It was very sad.
"But through the course of gladiators, four stood out in history. Their names were Kurt, DocM, BdoubleO, and Etho.
"Among the four, two were quite special in their own right. DocM was the first ever cyborg - during his time as a gladiator, in the very first fights he participated in, he was hurt rather badly. But instead of giving up, he made crude prosthetic limbs, improving them over time. It gave him a great advantage in the arena, although he was already deviously intelligent and strong in his own right.
"Etho had lost his eye in a similar manner. However, he was also a scientist - more like someone who experimented with odd and ends lying around - in his spare time. He fitted himself with a eye made of Redstone, and I hope Avidya has taught you children well about the dangers of Redstone. They didn't have quite the knowledge that we have back then. Etho was very lucky to have lived.
"The other two, Kurt and BdoubleO, were very normal compared to DocM and Etho. Kurt was very reserved, quiet, polite - rare, for a gladiator. BdoubleO was more the preferred image, rash, brave, a true warrior at heart.
"The strategies they fought with were all quite different. Etho and Kurt both had a more strategic style - Etho was much stronger than Kurt, although Kurt could outlast almost any opponent, depending on quick strikes to wear them down even faster. Etho was brutal, dashing in for a large flesh-slicing slash, before jumping away again.
"BdoubleO took a more traditional method. He wasn't afraid to charge in with a war cry - he preferred a sword-shield combination, and wasn't afraid to use his shield as a weapon either. He was quite ingenious with his attack method, and each of his battles were just a bit different from the rest, making him a wily opponent.
"DocM was as equally as intelligent as Etho, and wily as BdoubleO, thanks to his cyborg side. He used his enhanced strength to his advantage, often forgoing a shield for a heavier two-handed weapon. He was near invincible in the arena - only a well placed strike in his blind side could ever hope to fall him, and he guarded his blind spot jealously.
"However, these four great gladiators each had one - or a few - great weaknesses. They were all loyal to the Prince, who, at the time, was Prince Guude, next in line to the throne. He was a good Prince, loyal to his subjects and people, and rewarded good deeds graciously. The King at that point in time was a iron fisted ruler - he drained his people of their money, and no one really liked him much.
"The four great gladiators had a plan to assassinate the King, so that Prince Guude could ascend to the throne as quickly as possible. However, one of the King's few loyal subjects found about this plan. The four gladiators received some threatening letters, threatening to reveal their secrets if they continued with the plan to assassinate the King.
"Addressed to BdoubleO was the following: "BdoubleO, I'm sure you love your wife very much. She is quite the pretty thing... It would be a shame, a shame for sure, if something were to happen to her. I'm also aware that you two have a child coming... Please, keep that in mind."
"Addressed to Etho, was something similar: "Etho, you may think yourself to be the sneakiest of all the gladiators, but I'm afraid you are simply deluded. Do not think no one saw you with the well known thief, Nebris. Not only did you converse on several occasions with him, you also helped him steal from the King, as well as commit several other unsavory acts. If you wish to keep all that a secret, well, you know what to do."
"Addressed to Kurt, whose parents were dead, and friend few in far between, was a much more vague, but equally threatening letter: "Kurt. Keeping pets, by law, is illegal. Not only do you sneak out at night after hours, you steal food from the kitchens, and occasionally from your fellow gladiators, to feed that wolf. Your crimes shall be duly punished, unless you submit."
"And finally, to DocM, who also had no family to threaten, no lover, barely any friends, was the greatest threat of all: "DocM, as you know your life is always on the line. There are a number of things you must avoid, with your... Metal side. It would be quite disappointing if the arena were to be flooded on one of your fighting days."
"But you must keep in mind - by now, DocM, BdoubleO, Etho, and Kurt were only vaguely aware of each other. They had scrapped a few times, perhaps in bar fights, or over sleeping areas, but never truly in the arena. They had heard all the rumors, had them well-versed, in fact. To each other, they were all legends, fighters to be feared, and avoided.
"But combat in the arena could only be skirted oh so many times. It was during a tournament, that they all met at the same time, in the arena. Only one gladiator was expected to come out alive.
"However, they were different from their fellow gladiators, as you know by now, very, very different. They knew, the moment they stepped into the arena, exactly what and who they were going up against. And the answer was - none of them. They all had a common goal and enemy, the King.
"Very little after that is documented in history. It is rumored that Kurt shot the King with his bow, which is quite possible, although gladiators were rarely allowed ranged weapons in the arena. Some say Etho hurled his javelin and speared the King through his heart, or that Doc threw his sword, or even that BdoubleO tossed his shield like a discus and beheaded the King.
"They were forced to escape from the city of Mindcrackia, into the wilds of Minecraftia. In Saladia history, there is a period in which four travelers were accepted within their walls, matching the descriptions of the four gladiators, before they left on their own accord. When Prince Guude became King Guude, there were many assassination attempts, all of which were thwarted by a mysterious band of four, mentioned to be the four gladiators, who, by now, had earned themselves the title of 'DOOKE'.
"Not much is known after that. It's said that they became the Royal Guard, or perhaps disappeared into hiding and only appeared whenever they were needed. No one knows. But that is the legend of DOOKE."
~*~
Paul stretched his arms out, cracking his neck with a soft sigh. He smiled fondly at the sleepy-eyed children in front of him. Expertly, he scooped up Zisteau and Jims in his left arm, cradling Beef in his right, as Guude picked up Pyro, and Avidya and Baj handled the rest of the little ones.
"I liked the story, mister Paul," Jims mumbled, clutching his coat tighter around him for warmth. Paul chuckled, stepping lightly up the stairs and laying the three kids in his grasp out on their beds, giving a quick kiss to the forehead each and pulling blankets up to chins.
"I'm glad," he murmured in reply. "Stories themselves are quite the legends, wouldn't you agree?"
He received only silence in reply. Smiling once more, Paul slipped out of the children's room, and clicked off the light. They deserved their rest.
