[Ace Flashheart]

The first thing that strikes most visiters of the central palace that dominates Evil Isle is the stark contrast between the genral surroundings and the intirior of the palace grounds. While outside, massive legions of undead and deamons compeat for power over the lesser beings of this relm, the only army that inhabits the palace is the orginised teams of elven gardeners, slaving away to insure the perfection of the rare and exotic plantlife that was abundant throughout the hallways.

Legand says, though LF had never witnessed it in person (the gardeners chosen being some of the most talented of their kind spanning an era of 4000 years), that whenever a petal in the garden is crushed, the perpitrator of the distruction has the effects of his mistake reverbirated back unto them a thousand times over.

This, amongst other things, was contimplated on my the wandering mind of the anti-paladin who was currently following the elven souceress Delphie towards the throne room of the massive complex.

"YOU RELISE THAT THIS CAN'T POSIBLY END WELL.", said the demonic representation of the warrior's inner evil.

"The boss isn't going to be pleased that you left Delphie all on her own.", interjected the horned figure of LF that represented his only *moderatly* evil side.

"That's not entirely true... she left me, not the other way round."

"YOU THINK THE BOSS WILL CARE?"

"Um.... No he probally won't. He does get quite sentimental when he thinks his little sister might have been in danger.", the knot of tension in LF's stomach tightning with each step he took towards ornate throne room doors that he was slowly closing on.

Delphie shot an annoyed glance over her back at the black knight.

"Stop talking to yourself, it makes you seem even more of a bafoon that you already are."

"ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, IF YOU WERE GOING TO BE EXECUTED OR TORTURED I'M SURE DELHIE WOULD BE MUCH MORE CHEERFUL.", chirped the deamon specter.

Taking long strides up to the door, the elf placed her hands on one of the many intricate symbols decorating the mantle, in a second it began to glow a eriee blue light and the doors flew open.

The trone room was sparse compared to the rest of the palace, simple gold etchings on the sides of the walls were the only decoration, minus the great many beutifull plants that wove around the sides of the room, roots joining together in the centre to form the throne in which a single figure was sitting admiring the patten on a leaf that had sprouted from the side of his throne.

"Incredible isn't it, despite the reassurence of over a hundred of the most talented elven woodsmen, botanists and royal gardeners that I would never have to suffer the indignity of leaves sprouting from my throne again, I sit here now totally perplexed as to how, for the third time in two weeks, a sprig has sprouted from my arm rest.", the elf had now stood up and was walking towards the duo.

"This is why, in my infinate wisdom, I have allowed the gardeners to remove the enchantments that prevent the growth of leaves on the branchs of my throne. Take note both of you, this teachs us an important lessson: some things, such as nature, can never be beaten, no matter how hard you try. Now *Lord* Flashheart, can you tell me another thing that should never be fought against?"

Before he could even open his mouth the blow was struck, the elf from the throne striking so quickly that the anti-paladin could barely see the movement of his hand through the air. While the blow itself was little mre than a light slap, it hit with more force than a dozen war hammers, sending the warrior skidding across the floor of the throne room, his body barely missing a flower bed instead ramming head first into a marble pillar.

"Nice shot", commented Delphie who was casually slouched across the frame of the throne.

Wiping a thin tricle of blood off his visor, the black clad knight ran his fingers over the polished floor, it must have been cleaned recently, he guessed the last visitor to the throne room had created a great deal more blood.

Walking over to a struggling LF the elven man delivered a sharp kick to the ribs of the anti-paladin.

"Now Ace, why do you think I had to punish you? Was it because you allowed my sister to be left alone in a stinking goblin infested tunnel for 2 weeks? Maybe it is because her staff is still missing despite your misson to find (I won't mention the highly suspicious circumstances surrounding that whole incident)? Again maybe it is because, when I grant you a boon in the form of allowing you to aquire possesion of a pair of *extreamly* valuble dwarven rune axes, you get into a fight with the seasoned veteran thief I send to accompany you, get into a drunken argument and end up killing him? Prehaps I am annoyed that you managed to hire the *single* most totally inept theif in the known universe to compleat the job, who of course botchs the job, making you no.1 most wanted in all dwarven cities... well *everywhere* really which has serious ramification with all of my relations with dwarven delgates in my island (there was a riot, It's a shame you wern't there I was tempted to throw you to them just to see what would happen)... No."

"The answer, is that your pathetic mewings outside the front of my base of operatons have alerted the old one known as Lord Shield who owns the establishment that you arrived in, which could possibly ruin months of planning and more importantly screw up the *single* best chance I have of leaving this STINKING HELLHOLE FOREVER!!!", the elf was shouting now, his muscles bulging and veins sticking out on his forehead as he repeatedly smashed the knight's head into the floor sending a shower of sparks, blood and marble chips covering the floor.

Composing himself and brushing a few specs of marble dust off his clothes the elf turned to his sibling.

"Wonderfull, look what you made me do. Delphie, would you call the servents and the magus to clean the place up."

"Yes brother.", tearing away from the image of a bruised and bleading LF lying lifeless on the floor she half ran half walked towards the exit.

Struggling to his feet and trying to wipe the blood from his eyes without actually removing his helmet.

"I apologise, i had no idea that something so important was happening here, Lord Muro if there is anything I can do to..."

"NO. That will come later, you've taken your punishment without comlaint and I respect that. Despite my sister's low opinion of you and your... numerous failings, you have proven yourself in the past to be quite resoucefull and a powefull addition to my forces. I'm that guessing that since you are here and not swilling beer in the old one's bar that you have discovered the power source we installed in the robots sent after you and the other patrons."

"I imagine you have many questions you want to ask.", continued the elequent elven Lord, "and i will answer the most obvious. Yes, we are helping lord sword improve the technology of his robot armies. "

"Lord Sword... he promised to make you an old one didn't he?"

"Yes, very astute. Of course we will have to help him defeat his brother the venerable Lord Shield first, which has been made more difficult now that he is alerted to our presence."

"But, how can you destoy an old one, they are almost as powerfull as the gods themselves."

"I can't defeat him, only Lord Sword can, however since I am stil technically mortal he cannot interfear directly against me which gives me an advantage that Lord Sword doesn't have. I have the power to defeat any of Lord Shields mortal avatars, and with our enhancements to Sword's robots hopefully the tide of this war will be shifted. We can keep Lord Shield trapped here indefinatly while Lord Sword re-atains his position amongst the old one's, and Lord Sheild will not be able to use his godly powers against me."

"And then Lord Sword sponsers you to become an old one and allowing you to leave Evil Isle."

"Correct. Unfortunatly Lord Shield's ability to detect your internal conflict has given away our position behind the wall of disguise", Lord Muro's hand pointed out of the skylight at the shimmering barrier that surrounded the island, "this complicates things as he will undoubtably attempt to prempt our attack and rescue you from the clutches of *evil*.", Lord Muro smirked at this," He doesn't even know it's me, in fact he thinks the malevolent force he is detecting is Sword himself. A step up in the world when people mistake you for an old one."

"So where do I fit in.", questioned the warrior.

"You are going to be my lure to draw his avatar's here, you will also be in charge of defending the island and, if you have the time, retriving a very special object for me. A powerful sword created by a mage over three hundred years ago. It is enchanted to destroy all evil infulences over time and space which makes it a potential threat to me. The tower it is kept in is enchanted against all non-elves though I am sure I have the appropriate magical item somewhere." said the elf, reaching into his belt to retrieve a thin band of gold that could, in a pinch, fit around the anti-paladin's wrist.

"Track down these Item's for me Flashheart, I won't tolerate another failure from you... if you need help I have assigned agents X015, the robot and Yai'k La the Mind Flayer to work with you, they already have the equipment they need."

"I won't let you down.", replied LF briskly, turning quickly to make his way out of the chamber. Stepping onto the teleporter all that was left to do was let out a long, drawn out sigh...

OOC: Proof reading... still bound to have sp... brain melted... apology for extended post, must create story... going to watch duckman now.