SexyFighters.com

[Shadow9808]

Path of Darkness
By Sean J. McDowell AKA Shadow9808 / zaneskyfire

Copyright Warning: Any attempt to steal Leon Silvercross or ANY of my characters shall have me track you down, tear off your leg, kick your ass with it, freeze dry it after you bleed to death and mail it to your closest relative/friend.

Chapter 7
The Silvercross Family

It was a week later that the eternal gloom and frost at last was broken by the warmth of Spring, the heavy snow becoming reduced to patches of white as flowers at last sprung into bloom, and the fruit trees started to bud with life once again. Near the town gates, Leon adjusted the heavy and now full packs on his horse. Much of it was food and clean water, the only price he asked from the townsfolk he had risked his life to save. Many insisted they pay him with money, but he declined; with the frost at last breaking away, the town could once again rely on its trade routes to get needed supplies. Even so, he smiled at the small pouch that hung from the saddle, filled with just enough money to provide room and board on his way back to the ferry that brought him here.

He made certain the sack that held the equipment Igor gave him was secure twice more, and removed his horse’s feed bag. He was prepared to depart for the trip home to the Silvercross lands. It was then he heard a horse drawn wagon approaching. Turning around, his eyebrow raised at the sight of Igor on a covered wagon, pulled by two horses. Igor stopped them next to Leon’s horse, and gave the kangaroo a knowing nod. “Sir, no. Leon. You gave my life meaning again by coming into my life. I owe you a debt I don’t know how to repay, and I know in my heart I can’t even attempt to pay you back by staying in a town that fears me for what I look like, and thinks my work are acts of the Devil.”

Leon said nothing as he crossed his arms, allowing the badger to plead his case. “I have given up the castle to that brother and sister you helped; that home is just stone and memories of the past; I must go forth and make new ones for myself. You said my inventions were of use to you. I have NEVER been told that one day in my entire life, not beyond the Doctor, since he was the only one who saw worth in me. If the things I build can be of help, then let me come with you, and serve as your partner in your quest to purge evil!” For a while Leon was silent, running the badger’s request in his head. His silence seemed to drive a nail into Igor’s heart, as the badger hung his head in sadness.

Before he could speak however, Leon spoke first. “Well, if your going to be working for me, your gonna need to meet my family, first. Any missions I go on or jobs I take are sent to them first. Besides, I’m sure your going to want space to set up a new lab, right? Well, one room in the guest wing is just gathering dust. If you’re going to join me, you’ll have to pay your own ferry ticket.” Igor’s head shot up and stared at the buck as he mounted his horse, and began to ride down the road he had come. It took a few moments for the badger’s shock to fade, and with a large grin, urged the horses to follow the buck. The townsfolk, and those who could stand on their injured legs, stood in a large crowd to see them off.

Wiping tears from her eyes, Robin turned to her brother. “Do you think we’ll ever see them again, Jeff?” Her brother continued to watch as they rode out of sight, nodding his head. “If we ever need help like that ever again, I’m certain the Silvercross will come to aid us in our time of need. He proved my faith by returning you to me, little sister.” When the duo was out of sight, everyone grabbed a tool and started to rebuild their town and homes. On the trail, Leon remained silent as the sun’s rays pierced the snow covered trees, watching as life seemed to return in full to the land as birds and other animals stirred from what might have been a near never ending hibernation. A smile crossed his lips as a hawk landed on his shoulder, paying him no mind.

“The ride out of those woods was wonderful to say the least, as the very animals seemed to emerge just to thank me for ridding them of Crontos, and bringing back Spring to them. Igor and I stopped in at an inn every time we passed one to enjoy a bed to sleep and a warm meal and warmer hearts. I dare say Igor was more than a little choked up that the bar maids and barkeeps didn’t treat him with revulsion or disgust. He smiled every time we stopped in, and left with just as wide a smile as he went in. He was at last seeing the better half of the heart of a stranger.” The buck flexed his braced leg a few times, continuing to train it so the bone would set just right, and his muscles would remain strong after so long without use.

He had gone to the butcher, baker and market a while ago, and was enjoying a nice sandwich with lettuce, bacon, steak and cheese, washing it down with sweet water his mother made for him as a Joey. “When we at last reached the ferry, Igor did indeed pay for his own ticket, just as I told him. It was all I needed to see to know he was willing to pull his own weight should we need to travel. Still, it was a pleasant cruse, and the dining was just as splendid as before when I had first set out in first class. I ignored the stares I got when I invited Igor as my guest to dine with me, even if he was riding in coach. I had accepted him into my family, and I wanted him to share the same quality I did when eating.”

It was a four-day ride from the port to the Silvercross lands, but it was one that seemed to keep taking Igor’s breath. The land was rich with crops and orchids, and even farmland. When they at last reached the lands owned by Leon’s family, much of the same remained. There were many small towns along the road, and each place accepted the buck with open arms, warm smiles, and congratulations on returning from another job alive and well. Many places roomed the duo at a discount or at no charge, and even a few homes on the roadside happily welcomed them into their home for a meal. The badger just couldn’t express his surprise at such friendly people enough.

At last, after a weeks ride through the vast farmlands and town under the rule of the Silvercross family, they arrived at the manor Leon called home. The estate was as large as a castle, it’s rear half carved directly into a mountain, while the front was an extraordinary manor, and more importantly, a work of art made of wood and stone. As they entered the garden, a host of servants of all races, from breeds of canines and felines to other animals, like beavers, rabbits and deer. As soon as Leon dismounted, the servants moved to take his bags and lead his horse to the stables. Igor was assisted in getting down from his coach, just as three kangaroos approached with Leon.

“Igor, it’s my honor to not only welcome you to Silvercross Manor, but to introduce my family. This is my mother, Eleanor Silvercross and my grandparents, Christopher and Martha Silvercross.” Leon’s grandfather was a buck a bit taller than Leon, his fur specked with the white hairs of age. His gray hair was short and neatly combed, and just looking at him, Igor could see the old man’s body was starting to slow down with age, none of his former strength and muscle had yet to see the same fate. He was dressed only in tight fitting pants, and the coat over his bare chest hung over him only by his shoulders. His brown eyes gazed at Igor, almost as if the old man was sizing him up.

Martha wasn’t so unfriendly looking to Igor. Her graying locks rested over her shoulder in a ponytail, and her elegant dress showed how gracefully she had taken her old age. The area around her belly was open, allowing her natural pouch to be seen, the once cream-colored fur fading to a stark white. Where Christopher had flecks of gray in his dull red fur, her muzzle had taken the gray of age, and her faded gray eyes regarded the hunchback almost was warmly as her smile. Where Leon’s grandmother fit the part with her welcoming smile and faded clothing, his mother was absolutely breath taking. She had only turned to her early forties, but her fur was as healthy and beautiful as when she was a teenager.

She seemed to share her mother’s taste in dress, save the pleasant green and floral patterns made her fid the appearance of a mother figure, her hair tied up into a bun. She was the first to speak as she offered her hand to the badger. “On behalf of my husband, who cannot get out of bed as of late, I bid you welcome to our home, Igor. Leon has told us quite a lot about you in the letter he sent when you two arrived at an inn not long after hitting the road. He says you’re a very compassionate and brilliant man, and that you were of tremendous help to our dearest son. It’s a honor you’ll be joining us here at our manor for a while. Please, if you need anything at all, just ask the servants.”

Eleanor paused a moment as she turned to her father. “Dad, don’t you have something to say?” The elderly man turned away and snorted in reply. “I’m not talking to no freak of-“ He was sharply cut off as his wife hit him in the head with a cast iron frying pan. She glared at him as she put it into her pouch, before she turned to Igor. “You’ll have to excuse my husband. He never has been much of a people person, and doesn’t exactly show politeness to people when he should be. You must be tired after your long ride. Please, do come in and put your feet up. I’ll have the servants make you some tea and fresh biscuits.” As Igor followed his grandparents into the manor, Leon turned to face his mother.

“How is dad doing, Mom? Has he improved?” Eleanor said nothing as she guided her son inside. “We can go see him right now. I just hope he isn’t sleeping, you know how he can be.”

To Be Continued…
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Path of Darkness Chapter 12 is up! Read it here: http://forums.pleasurebonbon.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5240

[LabrnMystic]

I turn around, and you've got half a book written. Do you plan to publish it?
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The suspense is killing me. I hope it will last.

[LabrnMystic]

Doh...double post. >_<
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The suspense is killing me. I hope it will last.

[Shadow9808]

I don't know, Labrn. I intend to finish for my friends here in the Bon Bon comut, and if I have enough suport, then maybe I'll aim for that.
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Path of Darkness Chapter 12 is up! Read it here: http://forums.pleasurebonbon.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5240

[Shadow9808]

Path of Darkness
By Sean J. McDowell AKA Shadow9808 / zaneskyfire

Copyright Warning: Any attempt to steal Leon Silvercross or ANY of my characters shall have me track you down, tear off your leg, kick your ass with it, freeze dry it after you bleed to death and mail it to your closest relative/friend.

Chapter 8
A New Task


Igor walked down the halls of the manor, his eyes staring in wonder at all that filled the Silvercross home. A few of the servants walked behind him with his bags, while a well groomed Shepard walked beside him, dressed in the clothing of a high standing butler. “Master Leon has taken quite a shining to you, Master Igor. From the letter we received, you were of great aid to him with your knowledge.” The badger looked up at the taller butler and nodded. “I owe him more than my life. He gave me a reason to exist again. I want to repay that debt anyway I can.” The refined dog just smirked, his eyes gleaming with pride. “Master Leon has always had that kind of knack to him. As serious as he can be on the job, he never closes his heart to others.”

The badger paused a moment to look upon a large portrait of a kangaroo buck, standing atop the carnage of the undead monsters he had slain, his body covered head to toe in scars, the worn knight armor on his body beaten, torn asunder and hanging limp on his frame, the man’s eyes filled with the same fire Leon’s held. The butler stopped as Igor did, his smile growing. “That is the first of the Silvercross family, Sir Joseph Silvercross. When the kingdom of his lord fell prey to the Age of Darkness, when the undead ruled the land, Sir Joseph stepped forward alone, and defeated the entire army that had come. In gratitude, the King made him a Lord, and gave him all the land you saw coming here.”

Igor could not stop himself from admiring Leon’s ancestor; from what the badger had seen and now heard, he was beginning to believe Leon was this past warrior reborn. “Ever since Sir Joseph won that battle, he came to understand there is far more danger to the innocent than just a power mad ruler. On that day, he founded the Silvercross Oath that his descendants would carry on his task to rid the world of terrors that normal people are powerless to defeat or protect themselves. I have been the head butler to this family for almost four generations, and I am proud to have been of aid to so great a family.” A soft laugh drew the duo’s attention, neither having heard Leon’s mother approach.

“Really now, Edward, you’re being a bit too modest to us. You have helped our family so much, I don’t think even we could ever fully repay you.” The butler bowed to the lady of the house, a smile on his face. “Just being of service to the Silvercross family is reward enough, Lady Eleanor. How is Master Drake?” Eleanor shook her head, her smile never wavering. “My husband is as grumpy as ever to be unable to leave his bed, but he is well enough to speak to speak to his son. He seemed to feel a lot better seeing Leon return home safe and sound from his first task. I haven’t seen him smile like that in weeks, not since Leon had left. Please see to it Mister Igor is settled in as comfortable as possible.”

Edward just bowed again, before he led Igor to the west wing of the manor. At that same time, Leon had taken a seat by his father’s bed, the young buck looking with admiration at the very man who brought him into this world, and inspired him to become as great, if not greater than him. Leon’s father wasn’t as well toned his son, his body much frailer from the virus that was slowly eating at him, but the man’s strength was still apparent in his ocean blue eyes. His left arm and right leg were trapped in thick casts, part of why his mood remained sour most of the time. His tan fur had small specks of gray among them, making his age apparent; he was still more than willing to fight evil, but his age was catching up.

As he heard Leon sit down, the buck forced himself to sit up, so he could look his son in the eye, a smile breaking his normal frown. Leon returned the smile, the bag he brought in with him all but forgotten as father and son embraced, both glad to see each other once again. “Leon, it’s great to have you home again, son. I knew you’d come home safe when you swore you would.” Leon grinned at his father as a red blush highlighted the fur on his cheeks. “Well, you did raise me to always keep a promise to those I care about. Keeping my word to you is something I’ll risk my life on, dad.” Drake Silvercross gave a short laugh at his son’s words, before he ruffed his hand between the buck’s ears, messing up his almost groomed hair.

“That’s my boy. Well, I’m bored as Hell sitting around… Tell me all about your adventure.” And so, Leon started to recall his quest, recalling it to his father like he was telling a grand story. His father, meanwhile, listened with intent, his face always changing with emotion about certain parts of the tale. When Leon got to the part about the mine filled with crystals, he removed the shards he ha taken from the bag, and gave them to his father. When the younger buck had at last finished his tale, his father was filled with emotion; envy of his son’s youth and able body, pride at his deeds, relief he had done so well and returned unharmed, but above all, joy that his son had been through so much and came back home unharmed.

The typewriter’s bell snapped Leon out of his memory of the past, the buck rubbing his eyes as he opened the wells, and refilled it with ink, watching as the black fluid seeped down into the metal print presses, ready to resume typing. “I spent hours just talking to my father, enjoying the time I got to spend with him. I went on and on until it was dinnertime, my father just glad to listen to my achievements. It was wonderful to sleep in my own bed that night, but I didn’t turn in until I had helped Igor set up his new lab in the west wing. With my help over the week, I had helped turn the west wing into an entire new home for him. I must admit, I WAS a little caught off guard by his sudden desire to resume his research so soon after settling, but I didn’t intrude.”

The buck tapped his chin as he reclined back in his chair, picturing how Igor would spend almost every other night working in his lab, only to be found sleeping on his desk the next morning, usually on a new blueprint for something he was building for the young buck. “He was devoted to his work, no matter what it was he was trying to build, nor how impossible it would be for him to achieve, Igor put his heart and soul into his tools, and through them, into his creations. I suppose anyone can be an artist, for anything you put your heart into is a work of art, crafted by your own blood, sweat and time. Maybe that’s why his inventions, no matter how odd I found at first, saved my life at one point or another…”

Igor had soon found himself a welcome member of the family, enjoying chatting with Eleanor over tea in the parlor, listening to Martha’s tales about her youth and how she met Christopher, and even the elderly Silvercross opened to the badger, imparting to him the wisdom he had gained over his life, from the habits of the monsters the family hunted to the fastest ways to kill or weaken them. For the first time ever since his father died, the badger was truly happy. Leon was always grateful to have him around, ether to talk about the world and their dreams, to having the badger improve and repair the buck’s training equipment. For a while, this peace lasted for the two friends. Until on a cloudy morning, with a thin haze of rain falling…

The two friends were enjoying a chat over tea in the parlor until Edward interrupted them, a frightened beaver sanding next to the butler. The poor man was nervous, to say the least, his clothes a terrible mess from the road, and his hazel eyes wide with fear. “Young Master, this gentleman has come to ask for your aid. Shall I get him anything?” Leon stared at the poor man a while, before he nodded. “Fetch him some clean clothes and make him a hot meal to eat, Edward, the poor man looks like he needs it.” Edward bowed before he left, leaving the scared man with Leon and Igor. “Please, come sit by the fire, you must be exhausted from your trip here. What brings you to the Silvercross manor, mister…”

The beaver sneezed as he took a seat close to the roaring flame, his hands constantly clenching his hat. “Carver. Bill Carver. Mister Silvercross, I heard you deal with getting rid of evil, right?” The buck just nodded as Igor sipped his tea, the badger’s large eye paying full attention to the poor man and his words. “Please, Mister Silver-” “You can call me Leon, Mister Carver.” The beaver nodded. “Leon, please don’t think I’m insane, but I need your help. I think my manor is haunted. Four times now, there has been an attempt to kill me and my wife, and just recently, my children have been taken!” The beaver’s teeth chattered as he tried to continue with a normal tone, but his unrest was obvious.

Leon turned to look at Igor as Edward entered and handed Bill a tray of warm tea and hot food. “Sounds like something we should investigate, Igor. It’s one thing for a ghost to attack the living, let alone scare them to death. It’s another entirely when they kidnap someone.” The badger tilted his head to the side. “But I thought you deal only with monsters and demons! Ghosts are an entirely different topic. Besides, how do you…” Leon cut him off as he stood, making his way to the door. “The dead have many ways to torment the living. Most notably, the stronger their attachment to their haunt, the more powerful and dangerous they become.” Bill looked up from his soup to stare at Leon’s back. “Then you’ll help us?!”

The buck turned back to face him, giving the beaver a raised thumb. “The fact it’s a ghost was enough. Your children just mean this is going to be more urgent than I thought. You can relax. Leon Silvercross will take your case.”

Looking up from the typewriter, the young buck looked at the setting sun. “Perhaps I’ll go to bed early tonight and spend tomorrow getting to know this town better. I am still new here…” And so, after having a hearty stew for his dinner, the young buck made ready for bed, and promptly went right to sleep. He had quite a day ahead of him…
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Path of Darkness Chapter 12 is up! Read it here: http://forums.pleasurebonbon.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5240

[Tsavo]

You are a writing machine. Congrats on another chapter.
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Owner of the Lion's Den Pub.
Tsavo's story:
Somewhere to Help You Sleep

[Shadow9808]

Though I'm sure only two folks have seen the latest chapter thus far, I have taken it down, for the moment, for I do not feel content about it's length, and shall thus add more to it till I feel it's all set. Please forgive the sudden delay.
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Path of Darkness Chapter 12 is up! Read it here: http://forums.pleasurebonbon.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5240

[Drofgod969]

man you are real good at writing. how much more is there going to be?
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yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. that's why it is called the present.
quoted by master Oogway off kong fu panda
Some weep, some cry, some make couches fly. - Katmir
Let me stand behind you in times of peace, let me stand infront of you in times of war, let me stand beside you as a equall, as a friend.

[sexymanz]

you know what?

PUBLISH IT!!!

its gonna be big... its gonna be a real hit out there...
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I guess im not really going to be a member anytime soon... so please members of BonBon... please help me out with my character discriptions so that way maybe one day a artist here can put a pic of my character on a forum... i would love to see that happen one day... (anyone please?)

[Shadow9808]

Behold, a revised and COMPLETED Chapter 9!

Path of Darkness
By Sean J. McDowell AKA Shadow9808 / zaneskyfire

Copyright Warning: Any attempt to steal Leon Silvercross or ANY of my characters shall have me track you down, tear off your leg, kick your ass with it, freeze dry it after you bleed to death and mail it to your closest relative/friend. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED. The young beagle maiden was inspired by the work of Vanessa Santato; I offer my deepest thanks to her providing what I needed to break my present writer’s block. I make no attempt at taking credit for her work, and hope she will enjoy my presentation.

Chapter 9
A Day in Town


The sun's bright rays weren't the first thing to wake Leon that morning. Rather it was a child's ball flung into the window that managed to nail him right between his ears and muzzle that stirred him from sleep. His eyes opened slowly, with a hint of annoyance gleaming in the twin pools of jade, before he finally bothered to grab the ball on his chest, and place his feet onto the floor. "That's what I get for leaving my window open." Walking to the open panes of glass, the buck looked down to see a small gathering of worried children. Apparently, they were worried he was going to keep their ball.

He smiled at their looks of shock as he dropped the ball back down to them, the children's youthful eyes turning up to the buck. "You kids be more mindful about where you play, alright? Wouldn't want you to lose your ball to someone less friendly!" The children gladly gave their thanks to the buck before they dashed off, leaving the young man to smile. "Ah, the innocence of childhood. In a place like this, those kids will have a bright future ahead of them." Taking the time to close his windows, the young buck dressed himself for the day. A simple, white buttoned up shirt with sleeves cut at the elbow, brown pants with one sleeve tailored for his leg brace, and a unbuttoned tan vest clothed his frame, before he wrapped his feet and hands tight in bandages.

He shortly there after stepped into the streets, taking note right away of all the looks he received. Men who were curious, the bright eyed admiration of children, and they one that made him hurry off to a cafe, the sultry looks of many a woman who felt an attraction from his body alone. It took him only a few minutes to arrive at the cafe, where he ordered himself some breakfast. As was his morning routine, he planed to have something to eat before he went to the forest to continue training. He had no clue he'd encounter just one person today that would keep him from home till dusk...

Leon made short work of his meal, his mind and will urging his body to catch up and make haste to the woods, and to resume his training. Normally, he might have done as his higher thinking commanded of him. However, his heart outweighed them, for today, his eyes saw perhaps the second woman he had ever seen in his life, that with her beauty alone, robbed him of all he was and froze him to where he stood, struck down in awe. Yes, she was a very attractive young beagle maiden, her fur a stunning blend of golden brown, red on her ears and pale white hands. It wasn’t her appearance at all that held the buck’s attention, however. It was the grace she moved with.

As if she knew she was being watched, the young lady turned… Only to see people going about their business as one might expect. She blinked her honey brown eyes a few times before she went back to the book the buck had spied her reading. He had ducked out of her line of sight before she caught him staring, however, the young man’s heart pounding his ribcage like one does a xylophone. Only once in his life before coming to this humble town had the young hunter felt this way, and it was but two years ago. He was smitten with the young lady his eyes had seen. He didn’t get a very good look at her before he ducked out of sight, but somehow he wondered if fate had shuffled the deck and dealt him a winning hand once more… If he played the cards right.

Somehow he knew he’d run across the young lady again, perhaps when he had more nerve, if he was lucky; It was that gut feeling that let him leave the café, and make his way to the forest outside the town walls. While he was normally put on edge by the looks of the people of Bon Bon, today he paid them no mind, his face dead set in focus. He knew he couldn’t be slack, even in a town as peaceful and isolated as it was. Bon Bon was one of those towns that if the foul forces he spent his life to destroy ever learned about it, he’d very likely be it’s only wall of defense. As he passed the guards at the gate, the youth stopped to make polite banter with them.

At last, after his short break of chatting, the kangaroo made his way to an isolated clearing in the woods. His personal training spot. Flowers swayed gently in the breeze, the only other sounds coming from the small brook that ran through, cascading down a small, moss covered waterfall. Aside from that, the area looked like a battle had been waged. Tall rocks of all sizes bore a vast number of cracks and fractures; Cut logs made into striking posts had fist imprints and footprints driven into their bodies from the young man’s fierce and powerful blows. Leon took a moment to remove a worn out training uniform from the small bag he brought with him.

The once pure white of the garment had become a stained gray and copper red from his training in Japan, dirt, sweat and his own blood forever seeped into the garment. With great care and respect, the youth removed his clothes before dressing in the spiritually empowered clothes. As he pulled his hard earned black belt, the marks of a dragon, tiger, tortoise and phoenix woven into the cloth, tight around his waist, he sighed in content as his body and mind relaxed into a calm state, ideal for training. After he placed his normal clothes onto a branch to keep them out of his way, he made his way to a smooth, flat stone, his favorite spot to meditate to prepare his spirit for training.

To prepare, the buck remained seated on the stone, calmly drawing breath in and out. At last, his jade eyes shot open, before he leap off the stone and drove his right foot into the tallest rock in his training area, the heavy stone splitting from the force of impact. The buck spent at least a half hour striking the boulder with his palms, right knee, and fists. With a loud shout, he at last lashed at the rock with his left leg, the metal brace vibrating as his foot drove deep into the rock with enough force to crush a ribcage. His eyes squinted at bit as he grit his teeth. The buck didn’t move as he watched a thin trail of blood seep out of the rock.

At last he freed his foot from the stone, the source of blood coming from his ankle. “Damn it… Still not able to shatter a stone with that leg yet.” The buck went about treating his ankle, mildly satisfied that save his healing leg, he was at his full fighting ability. So focused was he at stopping the bleeding from his foot, that he had no idea he was being watched by the same girl from the café, staring at him with eyes wide not only for how handsome he was, but what he had done to the rock… Just as she was enchanted with him and what he had done, she failed to see his nose and ears twitch in alertness to a sudden intruder he had failed to notice from his practice.

At last his head turned, his jade gaze going past his shoulder, as he spoke with a mild tinge of annoyance in his voice. “If you plan to sneak up on someone, you fair much better if you mask your scent and steady your breathing. I can hear and smell you from here.” The buck was more than prepared to have a knife or bullet plunge into his back, and it was for that reason he reached his right hand into his top, and withdrew it incased in his metal glove… What he did not expect was a sudden yelp of surprise, nor the feminine tone that made it. The buck’s eyes only widened as he heard his spy cry out as she no doubt lost her balance and landed in an undignified way.

Looking down at his arm, the buck sighed in relief as he felt the glove release it’s grip, allowing him to remove it. “Looks like a false alarm, my friend.” As he slipped his glove out of sight, the buck started to walk to where his stalker had fallen… Until the very same young lady he had seen at the café crawled out of the bushes she hand landed in, right into the large field of flowers the buck’s training area was given color and life by. For her part, the young lady could only look up at Leon and grin, while blushing, in embarrassment from being caught. Leon, on the other hand, had his stone face soften with his own blush; unlike the café, he was seeing the woman that caught his eye up close.

While the kangaroo was but twenty-two years of age, the young lady before him appeared to be twenty. Hanging from the very tips of her floppy ears hung a blue pearl earring in each ear, while her neck had a thin chain supporting three red beads, a large one in the center and a smaller one on each side, just above her neck bone. She was wearing a simple dress, nothing fancy; A white skirt that tailed past her knees hung over a red dress that extended just past her knees, both trimmed with a pale blue lace. If she had any cleavage to speak of, it was held tight by the red corset she wore on her top, trimmed in the same blue lace as her dress. Her shoulders were bare, for the garment clung to her frame like a silk glove does a lady’s fair hand.

Underneath her red top was a very obvious blue corset, pulling her waist tight, matching the blue of her dress’s trim. She smiled with embarrassment as her blue sun had lay lop sided on her head, a white ribbon with red edging tied around the top serving as it’s only offset. Her dainty feet were bare, save the ruby red heels she wore. Just behind her lay a picnic basket, the same blue as her hat, with a yellow cloth with red lines crossing it like a plaid pattern covering it’s contents. She must have set it down before drawing close to look at the handsome, yet mysterious new visitor to her home town.

Her smile was broken as Leon offered her his hand, kneeling before her to meet her gaze. At once, her eyes widened and her blush deepened as she gazed into his jade orbs, a green so deep she had never once seen it. “Let me help you up.” Moments later, the young girl kept trying not to stare at Leon, her gaze constantly darting to him and away. “Thank you very much, Mister…” “Leon Silvercross, heir to the Silvercross mansion. Calling me Leon is fine. And please don’t start ranted about, ‘Oh your Lordship, I’m sorry I spied on you, Lord this, Lord that… Grates on my nerves like one starts a fire by striking a blade on flint.”

The young lady gulped. She was spying on a Lord?! Oh, the punishments she would face at his command… “M-My apologies, your-“ She was cut off as Leon looked at her with an eyebrow raised in annoyance. “Leon, sir. I just wanted to know who had been doing all this…” She swept an arm at the rocks and the logs he had made to practice on. “… In my favorite reading glen.” Now it was Leon’s turn to feel guilty. “Oh, my apologies. When I first found this place, I thought it was a secluded glen that nobody ever came to. I didn’t know I was disturbing someone’s place to relax. ” The buck bowed to the young lady as he had learned from his sensei and grandfather. “I’m sorry if I ruined it.”

Again the beagle maiden’s eyes looked at all the proof of Leon’s training; the marks in the logs, the imprints in the stone… Never before in her life had she seen the result of raw force directed onto a sturdy object. “You… Did all that? Without tools or help?” Leon stood proud and tall in response to her question. “With my own hands and feet. What you see is the results of my upbringing and training. I used only what I was born with and trained to use to do all you see here. Come to think of it, I’ve given you my name, dear lady. Would you mind telling me yours?” Again, all he received in answer was a deep red blush.

Even though he wasn’t at his typewriter, the buck couldn’t help but to lapse into his memory, recalling just how dangerous his first encounter with a ghost, perhaps the most dangerous of the undead, almost as grave as a vampire or lich, turned out…


To Be Continued…
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Path of Darkness Chapter 12 is up! Read it here: http://forums.pleasurebonbon.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5240

[Feingo Ferinton]

I must agree. You should seek out a publisher! Hust don't make the same mistake I made for my book and hire an antisocial prick! *Grumbles to himself*
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BonBon Spirits and Sidearms
Your one stop shop for all your ammo and alcohol needs!

Feingo's story:
http://forums.pleasurebonbon.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5873

[Shadow9808]

I may indeed publish Path of Darkness after I've fully writen it. What you read is what I hope to be my lasting mark on the world when I finaly pass away, a book people can look at and enjoy purely for that fact. That I wanted it to be something people can read and deeply enjoy. I just hope I don't fail you guys when I get to the more erotic parts!
_________________
Path of Darkness Chapter 12 is up! Read it here: http://forums.pleasurebonbon.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5240

[sexymanz]

you? fail? oh no never...
your doing such a great job ^^ KEEP IT UP!!!
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I guess im not really going to be a member anytime soon... so please members of BonBon... please help me out with my character discriptions so that way maybe one day a artist here can put a pic of my character on a forum... i would love to see that happen one day... (anyone please?)

[Drofgod969]

wow... how else to explain it... it was AWSOME! . i was so mesmerized by the story, it auto logged me out.
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yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. that's why it is called the present.
quoted by master Oogway off kong fu panda
Some weep, some cry, some make couches fly. - Katmir
Let me stand behind you in times of peace, let me stand infront of you in times of war, let me stand beside you as a equall, as a friend.

[Shadow9808]

Wow, thank you all for such high praise of my story!
_________________
Path of Darkness Chapter 12 is up! Read it here: http://forums.pleasurebonbon.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5240

[Shadow9808]

With pride and joy, I give you Chapter 10!


Path of Darkness
By Sean J. McDowell AKA Shadow9808 / zaneskyfire

Copyright Warning: Any attempt to steal Leon Silvercross or ANY of my characters shall have me track you down, tear off your leg, kick your ass with it, freeze dry it after you bleed to death and mail it to your closest relative/friend. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED. As a side note, I dedicated this following segment of chapters to my parents, who did their very best to raise and care for me. These chapters are to celebrate their birthdays this month.

Chapter 10
Where Restless Dead Lurk


The trip to the Carver mansion was swamped with strong and heavy rainfall, the very weather seeming to be out to drown the trio as they made their way to the city of Pinewood. Pinewood’s primary form of trade was lumber, something more than in supply from the massive forests that surrounded the lumber town on its high mountaintops. So important was its trade that the town alone had three water-powered mills along the river the carved trees would float to. According to Mister Carver, he owned and lived in one of these mills, having made it into a mansion from the wealth he made from the vast amounts of lumber he spent every day, along with his crew, to carve, treat and ship.

Leon and Igor had packed light for the trip, taking one of his family carriages to the estate; Leon was dressed in his usual attire, complete with his belt filled with gadgets, and his new friend clasped on his arm, every now and then just flexing the metal fingers. Igor himself had packed a few bags of items he thought might be useful in the coming case they had agreed to take. His things ranged from a small alchemy set, to some tools and gizmos, to a few of his latest oddball inventions he was working the final bugs out of. At that very moment, he was again at work with a small piston of sort, making adjustments to the pipes on it to get the right amount of steam to work the device without it blowing up. Again.

For his part, Bill Carver was still a nervous wreck, and the rain wasn’t helping him in the least. When the rain had started, he began mumbling about how the rain must be a warning from what troubled him, and to stay the Hell away from his home. He couldn’t understand how Leon just calmly read several of his family’s books, filled with deeds and experiences of his ancestors, nor how his misshapen companion could work on a little metal tube with tiny pipes linked to a small water tank. By his reasoning, he expected them to be just as scared as he was at the moment, yet they just went about their tasks as if they had no concerns of what they’d be dealing with. To see such professionals act this way, put the troubled beaver to a little ease.

At last, Bill informed then they were in the town’s limits. Looking out the window, past the heavy torrents of rain, the pair could see the mass amounts of pine trees that surrounded the town’s boarder, and gave it it’s trademark name. In fact, regardless of the rain, the very scent of pine was pleasantly thick in the air, giving the town an even more tranquil environment. As the carriage made its way through the cobbled streets, both Leon and Igor kept a sharp eye on the townsfolk, who went about their tasks indoors, favoring warm fireplaces and pleasant company over the raging torrents. With a sigh, Leon turned back to the beaver, who at this time was dressed in a simple cotton shirt and pants, both a faded gray.

“From the looks of the people, Mr. Carver, it seems they have no clue about what’s going on at the mill. Ether your very good at preventing a panic, or you’ve been a prisoner of your home for a while now.” Igor took a moment to look at the beaver with his malformed eye as the carpenter sighed heavily. “I knew if I came bolting out of my own home, screaming about ghosts, I’d just get myself thrown in the jail for a few months while I regained my ‘sanity’. No, my family would be gone and dead by then.” Igor set his latest gadget aside into one of his bags before he placed his hand into the palm of his claw; He did so because it usually allowed him to put his brain to work faster. “You mentioned you had children, sir?”

Grabbing his own wide tail was perhaps the only thing that kept the poor man from breaking down into an emotional wreck completely. “Fred and Wilber. Fred’s the older of my two boys, four years old, and real protective of his little brother. Wilber’s only three and a half years now, but he’s always coming into the mill to watch me work. Those two are my world, Mister Silvercross; they mean EVERYTHING to my wife and I. One day, I was working at the mill as always, but then. Then…” Without putting his book down, the kangaroo reached over and placed his hand on the quivering man’s shoulder. “That was the day they went missing, and until that point you’ve done your best to ignore the haunting. The second your children went missing, you sought my family for help.”

The buck calmly smiled as he shook his head. “You have nothing to worry about, Mister Carver. My family is not known for failing. With Igor helping me, I’m sure we’ll find your children and return them to you safe and sound.” Removing his hand from the man’s shoulder, Leon snapped the book in his other hand shut. “I must confess, however, that this is the very first time I’ve ever personally dealt with a ghost. I’m afraid I must confess that as far as personal experience on the matter goes, I’m quite lacking. It’s good, however, that my ancestor Victor Von Silvercross was an expert in the field of ghosts, and was well known for his talent in exterminating them. I’m far more fortunate that he wrote down all his skills and tricks.”

It wasn’t too long of a ride through the town to at last reach the Carver manor, and even as they stepped out of the carriage, into the rain, both Leon and Igor could feel a chill race through them, as they gazed upon the ebony manor. Every single board used to build the exterior of the house was black wood, so thick in its void of color that even up close, as they made their way to the door, that the very grain and ring marks one would always see in fine lumber was absent. It was not painted, ether, according to Bill, but rather cut from pitch-black trees in the north. As Leon entered, Igor stood outside in the rain a moment, staring at the house. “Something very odd about the wood here.”

Igor took a moment to tap the ebony wood with one of his thick claws, the badger’s eyes widening as his claw seemed to just sink into he wood, like it was softer than it appeared to the naked eye. “Igor, hurry up or you’ll catch a cold! And I know how miserable colds make you!” The badger stroked his chin in thought a moment before he hurried after his companion. Had he stayed longer, however, he might have noticed the thin trail of blood that seeped from the hole he made with his claw before the falling water washed it away. But it wasn’t just the blood, but the slowly growing cry of anger and pain that echoed from the wood as it bleed that would have told the badger much more…

As he expected, Leon found the home was built from wood alone, the fireplace framed by metal instead of stone. Wood carving of all kinds served the place as artwork, very few having any paint at all. It seemed the Carver family was so deep into their chosen life style of working with wood that it was what they wanted even their home to be centered on. While the exterior was deep and dark ebony, the main home smelled rich of cedar, which was all the more fitting due to the red wood that served as the floors, furniture and walls. It gave the home the appearance not of a place built by a man of wealth, but a man who put each board and nail into place with his own blood, sweat and tears.

It was quite the contrast to the Silvercross manor and the stonework it had been built from, using stone from the very mountain it was embedded into. Bill was very quick to give his guests a tour, showing off the many rooms the house had. Much of everything in the building was made of wood, with very few metal tools and decorations. While Leon was certainly surprised about how so much could be made from wood instead of stone or metal, Igor couldn’t shake a feeling of dread that shot up and down his spine like a yo-yo, keeping him from being able to feel fully relaxed in the home. It was Bill’s prized room, however, that made his gut hit rock bottom in cold dread.

The Carver manor was not just the lumber dealer’s home, but his mill as well. The workshop was filled with saws of all kinds, shavers, blades, and even a few flasks of chemicals that Bill claimed was a family secret used to treat the wood and help it become as sturdy as stone when used to build foundations. Nervous as the mill made him, Igor couldn’t help but marvel at the giant windmill and water wheel in the mill. According to Bill, he ran everything on natural power, using the water wheel on days that a good wind wasn’t blowing with enough force to power the saws. Of certain note to them both was the large metal shaft opening in the mill, something Bill was happy to talk about.

“When I decided to put a mill into my own home, I knew I didn’t want sawdust everywhere. This shaft leads to a dumping ground miles away from the village. By sending the dust away, I provide fertilizer for the trees down south, so when we have nothing to cut down in the north, we can keep working and let the trees grow back in the meantime. I’m quite strict about keeping the forests in a balance that will let them grow, as they should, but still let us do our job. Even so, I don’t always do that. There’s a second pipe that leads to a hunting ground to fertilize the plants animals eat. We have to put food on the table, but even so, you don’t want to go down ether. I’ve lost a few works that way, mercy to their loved ones…”

With the tour out of the way, Leon and Igor retired for the night after seeing Bill off. It went without saying that the poor man just couldn’t remain in his home any longer with it haunted. He was going to join his wife at the inn, to keep her company while the duo did their job. As they went up to the bedrooms, however, Leon had a gut feeling he was being watched. Had he been sharp enough to turn around the very moment the feeling started, he might have seen the knots in the wood opening and closing like a eyelid, exposing crimson and black eyes, watching him, as blood dripped from the eyes and was just as swiftly soaked into the wood… It very well might have saved him from what was to be among the most odd events among his years…

Igor had chosen to stay awake and search the house, and would alert Leon should something happen. It was under that assumption the buck went to bed. He couldn’t tell how long he had been sleeping, but he heard a voice not with his ears, but his mind… “Hey! Wake up! If you keep sleeping, it may be the end of us both! Oh bugger, have it your way!” A hard slap brought the buck back from his dreams, only to find what had been a guest’s unfurnished bedroom to be a forest of ebony trees. “What the Hell happened? Where am I?” The voice he heard before piped up again, coming from his right arm. “Good! Your finally awake! Maybe now we have a fighting chance here!”

“Fighting chance? Who the-“ The kangaroo cut himself short at the sight of his arm. What should have been flesh, fur and bone was wood, metal joints flexing the joints of his arm, save his lower right hand and arm, which appeared as if his glove had replaced the lower limb entirely! Looking himself in a hurry, the buck found he had become some kind of wooden puppet! “I did what I could to make it easier to move, but we should really-“ Leon ignored the voice as his temper flared. Sure, he was expecting some kind of stunt to be pulled by the ghost. But taking away his own body crossed a thin line in the buck. “I REALLY hope that ghost has a body, cause I’m gonna make it BLEED for this.”

“That… isn’t exactly the reaction I was expecting.”

To Be Continued…
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Path of Darkness Chapter 12 is up! Read it here: http://forums.pleasurebonbon.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5240

[Shadow9808]

I hope interest hasn't been lost...
_________________
Path of Darkness Chapter 12 is up! Read it here: http://forums.pleasurebonbon.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5240

[Lidia_Apricot]

Nope, not from me :3. I really love your story, i have a visual sight like a little movie in my head when I'm reading this.

Keep up the good work ^w^.

[Tursi]

This is going to be my travel read next weekend, looking forward to it since the comments are great.
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http://harmlesslion.com

[Shadow9808]

Wow, thanks for the praise! I'm very happy someone pictures a movie as they read. That's how I hoped this would flow to the reader!
_________________
Path of Darkness Chapter 12 is up! Read it here: http://forums.pleasurebonbon.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5240

[Lidia_Apricot]

[JohnnyPsycho]

don't worry, I'll post something, but I haven't read all the way through it, and I've been short on time lately... you know how it is...
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Johnny's Fanfics (including Sureshot! A Bon Bon Tale)

Johnny's backstory
Johnny, Mark II (Project Aten character)

[Shadow9808]

[Shadow9808]

I AM A TYPEING MACHINE, BABY!!! Chapter 11 is cranked out and ready to read, my dear fans! (If you exist... )


Path of Darkness
By Sean J. McDowell AKA Shadow9808 / zaneskyfire

Copyright Warning: Any attempt to steal Leon Silvercross or ANY of my characters shall have me track you down, tear off your leg, kick your ass with it, freeze dry it after you bleed to death and mail it to your closest relative/friend. In the event you have none, I will happily dig up their bodies and bury your leg with them. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.

Chapter 11
Blood Watered Woods

Leon’s temper was boiling over like a pot left on the stove for far too long. It wasn’t just the fact he had discovered his body had been somehow turned into wood and metal. What had him so enraged was the very ghost he had come to fight had the nerve to give him a body with no defining features aside from being a clear mockery of a kangaroo. But then, if YOU were a man who just woke up to find yourself lacking what MAKES you a man, I’m certain you would have felt the same as he did back then. The only voice he had heard since waking up seemed rather amused at his plight, but it lacked any biting sarcasm; It seemed more interested in teasing than taunting.

“Well, maybe if you calm down a bit, perhaps we can get to the business at hand.” Leon’s head turned, the creaking of the wood and metal of his artificial body echoing into the woods. “Calm down? I wake up made out of wood, and you want me to CALM DOWN?!” It was to his shock that his metal right hand slapped him across his wooden muzzle. “You will if you don’t want to be caught and turned into a pile of bleeding fire wood like that guy!” As his arm forced itself to point, Leon’s gaze followed. Stumbling around with jerky, wooden movements like a puppet was another that shared his fate yet resembled a leopard. It looked as if he was trying to run away from something.

He had no idea what, but it drove Leon’s honed instincts for battle took command of his body, forcing him to find cover and hide. “Keep your voice down, Leon. Or you’ll give yourself away to the enemy.” Leon had no time to ask as a large brute of flesh trudged after the puppet, a giant lumber axe in it’s hands. The weapon had teeth along its edge like a saw. From what he could gather, Leon reasoned the axe was made with the intent of pain in mind, rather than chopping down trees. The hulk, however, was a malformed beast, one the young Hunter recalled as an ogre from his days of training. It made him sick to even try and describe ogres as misshapen, smelly, beat to death and back with the ugly tree freaks.

But something was off. When the hulk entered the light, Leon saw more than one thing completely different than an ogre. Rather than resemble the ugly monsters he battled in his youth, it instead looked like a scarecrow covered in the skin and fur of some unlucky victim. It was dressed in bloody lumberjack clothing, with hay poking out of the many stitches that held the ugly thing together. The face was as he might expect, an ugly and misshapen gourd with carved eyes and mouth, a crimson fire burning within. With a malevolent laugh, the thing raised its axe, and drove the weapon into the wooden leopard’s back. Leon was taken aback as the wooden figure screamed in agony, blood spraying from the wound.

The buck turned and braced himself to the tree he was next to and cringed at the screaming. The screams didn’t fade until he heard the spraying blood at last stop, at which time he dared to look again. The lumberjack laughed again as it walked off with its blood soaked axe, no doubt to find more victims, as ebony roots rose from the blood drenched ground to drag the hacked pieces of what used to be a wooden man back into the ground. When he was certain the coast was clear, Leon sighed before he looked around himself. “Okay. Last time I checked, puppets do NOT bleed. And yet I just saw a scarecrow walking around with an axe. What the Hell is going on here?! Where am I?!”

At last Leon was able to tell where the voice was coming from, as he saw his metal hand moving on it’s own as the voice spoke. “Well, where you are is where our dear spiritual foe, or should I say army, came from. We are in the Ebony Grounds, a prison of sorts for only the most foul of this town’s historic bloodbath. These ebony trees around us used to be a large band of collective murderers and much worse. About two hundred years ago, the town had a kind of druid worship, showing great respect to the trees before and AFTER cutting them down, to maintain peace with the woods. Can’t say I blame them for using the forest in their little curse.”

For the moment, Leon’s brain couldn’t decide what to grasp more. The fact he was sharing a body with the spirit that dwelled in his glove, or what it was telling him! Clearly, the spirit took his silence as a sign to go on. “Well, when these pigs decided to kill a good number of them in a raid, the people didn’t exactly think their curse through, and bound their souls to the woods themselves. Course, as they say, one bad apple can spoil the orchid. Those pissed off ghosts, in a matter of a year, took control of what’s called the Black Wood, the very place we’re in, and where our friend Mr. Carver got the black and red lumber for his house. Guess he should have noticed the veins on the trees, huh?”

At the mention of the trees, Leon placed his left hand on the tree’s trunk, seeing his own wooden body bared the same red veins the tree had running through its bark. “No wonder he’s got a ghost issue. He chopped down a cursed fucking forest! Now tell me how we ended up sharing a body, how we got here, and why we’ve become some kind of blood puppet, in a forest filled with maniac lumberjacks!” Leon could feel the lightning the spirit started to give off in its annoyance. “I do have a name, Leon! I’d rather you refer to me by that instead of just harping at me for TRYING to be helpful, including giving this body metal joints so we can move faster than the skinned kitty over there!”

With a heavy sigh, the hunter calmed his flaring temper. “I’m sorry. I’m grateful you did that, but… Well, I never expected a ghost could turn your own body into a bleeding pile of wood.” Though annoyed, the spirit didn’t leave him in the dark long. “Zephyr. If you are going to call me by name, call me Zephyr. As for this body, it’s not your body. The ghosts in that house have the power to pull your spirit out, and plant it into one of these Blood Puppets. In the event you die here, your body will meet an equally bloody end. Those lumberjacks are some of the killer ghosts after you in a body they can use to chop you apart with. Lucky for you when they took you, I came along for the ride.”

Leon sighed as he pressed his back to one of the trees and gazed at the metal glove. “Well, at least I now know what’s going on. But tell me something, Zephyr. If we got into this forest, is there a way we can get out?” At last Leon got to see the spirit, as a strong wind picked up, leaves flowing around the body of a transparent dragon that stood before him, his large spread wings the source of the breeze. “I can’t say I know of a way out at this moment, but I can say that because this body was made to house a spirit, such as myself, we have a very strong tactical advantage. After all, I can reshape anything that a spirit can use. That’s how I made the joints. I think we won’t have to fear too much if we get into a fight.”

Leon’s impulses demanded he stopped just standing around, trying to spur him into action. “Zephyr, do you think Bill’s kids are trapped here, like we are? I know I can handle myself in a fight, and I’ve seen what you can do, but I doubt a pair of innocent children has any defense from a maniac scarecrow.” Zephyr huffed at the buck’s comment. “You think I can only make a saw edged shield and a razor wire? You’ve yet to even begin to see what I can do! I’m almost insulted you think that’s my only limit. Watch this!” Leon was going to respond with an apology, but he could feel the metal his lower arm was made of starting to shift and warp itself, bending like clay as it started to reform.

In a few moments later, the kangaroo was staring at the shield he had grown used to using, but something was very different about it. What was normally a flat sheet of metal edged with saw teeth along now looked like a shield made of small S’s, linking together around what appeared to be a very small spear. “All right, what good is-“ The buck was silenced as the small spearhead fired from the shield, a tiny cord attached to the head. As the spear found a victim in one of the black trees, Leon’s eyes widened as the shield came to life on it’s own. All at once, what looked like interlinked piece of metal rose out from each other, and started to spin with a low whistle.

As one, the small shards spread, becoming a cloud of spinning blades before the kangaroo’s eyes. At once, they flew forward to the black tree the spearhead had stabbed, before they sliced it apart, wood chips, bark and blood red sap flying everywhere. A piece of bark hit Leon on the nose, but he didn’t react as he stared at the shredded stump that used to be a ebony tree. As soon as the blades sliced the spearhead free, it withdrew to Leon’s arm, the blades moving like a flock of birds as they followed it. As soon as the spear was set into place, the blades slowed, and connected back to their former state of rest. “Perhaps from now on you should be silent while I try something new, and wait to see what it is before commenting, hmm?”

Leon only gulped and nodded. If the blades could do that to a tree, he could only picture what it might do to a living victim… Almost instantly, he remembered the sadistic lumberjacks he knew he’d be fighting soon. Almost instantly, his frown turned into a grin; He now had a huge advantage to the freaks with an axe. “Alright Zephyr, I see your point. That’s a handy new trick you’ve come up with. So if I’m guessing right, what ever the spear hits, the blades will attack, right?” The dragon’s image was made clear from the sawdust now in the air, as was the fanged grin on his muzzle. “Not only that, they won’t stop until the target has be turned into a pile of shredded flesh. Or in this case, shredded hay and clothing.”

Leon was going to ask more, but the scream of a frightened child silenced him. “That sounded like one of the Carver children… Looks like we’ve been standing around too long.” Zephyr shook his head. “Be warned, Leon. These demented killers are coming from somewhere, and this forest is filled with traps that will turn your body into plant food. Don’t let your impulse to save the innocent cloud your perception.” The buck said nothing as he raced off, his body’s metal joints making barely any sound, like they have been recently oiled. He came to a stop in a small clearing, in time to see one of the sadistic lumberjacks raising its axe over its head, preparing to cleave a wooden beaver in half…

Without a word, Leon shifted his shield to its original form, before he lashed it out, the metal disk sinking its spinning fangs into the lumberjack’s spine, the creature howling in anger and pain. Leon wasn’t even done with it yet, as the silver cord attached to the shield wrapped up the monster’s head, the thread pulling tight as the disc span. With a sharp yank of his arm, Leon pulled the shield back as the cord sliced the thing’s head apart, the gourd falling to the ground in chunks as fire erupted from the monster’s bare neck. It made a few gargling noises as it fell to its knees, before the monster’s entire body went up in flame. In a few moments, all that was left was a pile of ash and scorched dirt.

The child stopped cowering long enough to look at what happened to his would be killer, and to see the kangaroo with the metal hand who had saved him. Leon said nothing as the scared child ran over, as best his jerky body would allow, hugging his savior’s waist. “Easy there kid, your safe for now. Are you one of the Carver children?” The child could only sob in fright. The ordeal had scared him greatly, no doubt. Kneeling, Leon put his metal hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Do you know where your brother is?” At last the boy seemed to regain his wit. “Mister… They took Fred to the mill! They’re going to kill my big brother! Please, you gotta help him!”

Leon said nothing at first. In a way, it was good he had found Wilber, the younger of the two boys, first. But at the mention of a mill, Leon’s eyes narrowed. Turning to look in the direction the small boy was pointing, he saw what looked like a beast from the pits given a wooden body, massive flames serving as it’s eyes and filling its giant, blade filled mouth. Clearly, it was the source of what was holding him and the other puppets in this world. Leon knew he’d have to destroy it somehow. “Don’t you worry about a thing, Wilber; I’ll save your brother from the mill, and get you both back to your parents. Nobody and nothing messes with the lives of children and doesn’t bring down my family’s wrath.”

Thanks to Zephyr, Leon knew Wilber would be safe from harm; apparently, the mill only produced a single lumberjack to stalk each puppet. If the scarecrow like creature was destroyed, then the mill would have to waist time to produce a new one so the victim could be stalked anew. “I assume your going to attack the mill without a plan, aren’t you? Or do you intend to come up with a plan on the way?“ Leon clenched his metal hand tight, not even aware of the metal spines that erupted from the metal as a result. “A child’s life is in danger, Zephyr. Saving him comes before destroying the mill. Once he’s safe, I’ll see what we’re dealing with, and then kill it.”

“Please excuse me, my name is Rosa, Rosa Thornbloom. I… I take it your new to Bon Bon?” Leon’s flashback was abruptly halted as quickly as it had begun during that split moment of silence. The young man sighed as he looked at the clouds in the sky. “I’ve recently moved here, yes. I heard this is a town one can come to escape their past.” Rosa just stared at Leon a moment. If he was a lord, then what could he possibly want to run from? “Please don’t get me wrong, though. I’m not trying to escape my past. I simply need a rest from it. And I heard this was one of the most peaceful towns you can ever hope to find up in the mountains. I suppose I’m just clearing my thoughts, as it were.”

The young lady didn’t press further, her ears laying back a little as she wondered if her question had upset him. “If I may ask, are you also running from something, Miss Thornbloom?” At once Rosa both blushed and shook her head rapidly. “No, no! I grew up here, to be truthful with you! My family owns a small farm, and we grow fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers. We then sell them in town sometimes when they are in season!” Leon only chuckled at her hasty reaction to his simple question. “No need to get embarrassed, I was only curious. You could have simply told me you’d rather not say and I would have left it at that.” Another blush was the young man’s reply.

“I… I can hardly believe that you did all that to stone and wood with only your own hands and feet, without a tool or weapon. Your not dangerous, are you?” With a smirk, Leon’s jade eyes met with her brown orbs. “Well, that depends on if you’re a bad guy or not. I do have skills with weapons, but a weapon is only as strong as the person who wields it. Steel, stone or even wood can only do so much without muscle guiding it and giving it force. That’s why I prefer to train my body before my skill.” Rosa’s eyes widened at the sight of Leon’s arm as he flexed it, the details of each muscle quite obvious from the shaped and toned structure the buck had spent years of his life to build.

It was then she caught sight of the odd scars just under his fur; marks of teeth, claws, and even worse lay hidden by his cedar coat, but right away they sparked her imagination, wondering if he had gone on many hunts with more savage animals, like boars or bears. “If I may be so old as to ask you to keep it secret, I’ve come to Bon Bon on a promise to someone who meant a lot to me.” Leon’s gaze turned to look at the swaying grass of the field in sadness. “You could say it was her last wish. I didn’t have the strength when I needed it most, and...” Rosa could only try to ignore the pain that glowed behind the strong green eyes of the young man, but his eyes were a clear window to his heart.

She didn’t say anything, but she had a feeling the person he spoke of was someone important; someone he couldn’t save. “I’m sorry to hear of it, but I’m sure you’ll be alright. You…” The beagle couldn’t help but blush as her next words pasted her lips before she could stop herself. “You look too strong to let your past hold you back.” At once her eyes widened in shock as she clasped her muzzle shut with her hands, her body trembling in surprise and shock at herself! Why did she say that?! Shaking his head, Leon looked towards the sun lit sky. “You have a point there. After all, I had made a vow to myself to become stronger, so that I won’t have to fear lacking strength when I need it the most.”

Bending over, Leon grabbed her basket, and offered it to the still shocked young lady. “I feel rather lucky to have made a friend in this town so soon. I don’t feel bad at all sharing my past if you’d ever like to hear about it, Rosa. Heck, I’m more concerned about how eccentric you might think I am if I told you. Most of what I have to say would come across as insane to most.” Slowly, the young lady took her basket from Leon, her mind filled with confusion and her heart with butterflies. This attractive young man, a young lord for that matter, considered her a friend? “Umm, I, I’d be honored to hear about your past sometime, Leon. I, um…” Clearly, his very manner had left her looking for words.

Grabbing his cloths from where he left them, Leon made his way towards the exit to the clearing. “Maybe we’ll see each other again sometime, Rosa. I come here every morning to train.” With a small smile, Rosa smiled, not able to find the courage to turn and face him. “I hope we do, Leon. I really do.” With a wave over his shoulder, Leon made his way towards the mountains, planning to go to his favorite thinking spot, as he continued to remember the nightmare he had survived so long ago, one that made him and his spirit friend. “Well, if I didn’t know any better, I think your enchanted with that young lady, Leon. Ah, the speed a heart can heal…” Leon briefly gazed over his shoulder.

“You may be right, Zephyr. You may be right.”


To Be Continued…
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Path of Darkness Chapter 12 is up! Read it here: http://forums.pleasurebonbon.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5240

[Feingo Ferinton]

Hot-diggity damn! I'm glad I got back in time to read this. Well done sir. Well done.
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Feingo's story:
http://forums.pleasurebonbon.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5873

[Lidia_Apricot]

*takes a deep breath after reading the current chapter*

*gives a thumps up and smile*

Awesome! ^w^

[Cole Blacke]

[Lidia_Apricot]

Yesh. :3

[Cole Blacke]

[Shadow9808]