Dododex
ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion
Riddles of the Phoenixes series
The War of the Phoenixes.
Chapter thirteen: Ambush.
Andrew and his troops finally arrived at the lightning phoenixes. “Perfect. We’re here.” He said. A young recruit, named Lucas, stood close to him, looking nervous. “Why so nervous, huh?” Andrew inquired. Lucas smiled nervously. “It’s just…I have a bad feeling. And I don’t know why. I feel nervous.” Lucas said. Andrew patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t be.” He said. Suddenly the ground shook, as if a herd of mammoths was coming.
Andrew turned his equus around to see Marvelo. But it wasn’t just Marvelo. Marvelo had a army. A giant army. Lucas was hyperventilating behind him. Andrew took a deep breath. It was a ambush. Someone had told Marvelo they were coming. A spy. They were going to lose. Even if the retreated. Andrew sat tall in the saddle. They wouldn’t back down! They would vanquish Marvelo’s army even if it ended in them sacrificing themselves for the Dark Phoenixes cause.
Looking around, Andrew could see that most his men had decided the same thing. “My soldiers! Today is the day we defend the Lightning Phoenixes!! We will not bow or run from anyone! We can defeat them! We will sacrifice our lives for the cause! For our families! For our Kings and Queens! For our kingdoms!” Andrew bellowed to his army. A loud cheer radiated from them. Marvelo watched with amusement. Andrew turned to Lucas. “Lucas. You will be our messenger. Go back to the Dark phoenixes and tell them what has happened! Tell them we were brave! Tell them we defended the cause! Tell them…” Andrew’s voice softened slightly, as he though of Emma. “..tell them we did this for them.” Andrew said.
“But sir, I want to stay and fight.” Lucas said. Andrew shook his head. “You are young, even for this. Go home. Make us proud.” Andrew said. Lucas nodded, mounted his horse, bit his lip to stop tears from falling, and rode away. Marvelo smiled at Andrew. “Big mistake.” He growled. Andrew raised his sword. “Attack! For our kingdom!!!” Immediately his Andrew converged on Marvelo’s. Yes, it is true that Marvelo had a giant army but Andrew’s army fought with such fearsomeness that they were very evenly matched.
Andrew rode his horse around, swinging his sword at the opposite army, engaging in combat. Swords clanged as the armies fought. Blood splattered the ground and dead bodies lay on the ground. Though they had fought hard, Andrew’s army was losing. From behind him, a enemy soldier threw a spear that hit Andrew’s horse. Andrew rolled off the dead horse, and fell to the dirt. His bloody sword fell beside him. Andrew reached for it but suddenly it flew out of reach. Black boots crunched in the sand in front of him. A man with black hair and seemingly black eyes stopped in from of Andrew. “Marvelo.” Andrew growled. Marvelo grinned.
“Hello. I see you are the captain of this petty little army.” Marvelo said. He raised his hand and Andrew lifted into the air. “You won’t last long, I’m afraid.” Marvelo said. Andrew straightened his back. “We fought well.” Andrew said. Marvelo gave a cold chuckle. “Not well enough, I’m afraid.” Marvelo said. “Better than your army.” Andrew muttered. Marvelo’s face turned crimson red with fury. He raised his fist and smacked Andrew on the face. Andrew coughed and said, “Is that all you got?” Marvelo furiously launched into a series of attacks on Andrew and by the end Andrew was lying on the ground, bruised and bleeding. “How do you like that?” Marvelo asked wickedly. Black cloud surrounded Andrew’s vision and he thought of Emma.
His wife. His beloved. Emma. The woman who kept him strong. Andrew smiled. Marvelo scowled at him. “What are you smiling at?” Andrew spit a bloody tooth at Marvelo’s face. It hit him in the cheek. “Is that all you got?” Andrew muttered weakly. Marvelo yelled with fury, pulled out his sword and raised it to strike Andrew. Andrew reached up and clutched his locket that held Emma’s picture in it. “I love you Em” He said softly. And then Marvelo’s sword came down on him and Andrew was washed away in the bittersweet waters of death.
-SunnyFox57