Madoka

Managed to finally create a Night Elf Warrior named Madoka on Argent Dawn server. Have added Gyr and Hanzoku as friends! See you all online!!! Ja ne~ Madoka.

Woo hoo! Nice to know that there are more people playing WoW. I thought I was the only one. I have a L40 Mage named Madoka on the US Kilrogg server. I am a Enchantress / Tailor, so I have a bit of gold -- just bought my horse too. I will try to make a character on the Argent Dawn server then. Although I don't have much time to play these days... Madoka.

The crackling of the fire in the pub seemed unnaturally loud, but perhaps that was due to the sudden silence that befell the room as the doors crashed open, bringing in with it the chilling breeze of winter. The cold wind howled in, flakes of snow fluttering through the entryway and settling down on any wooden surface in droplets of water. A wooden keg, banded in Metalium steel, bounced down the short steps and rolled with a loud groan across the floor to the bar, where it was stopped by a chair. Metalshod footsteps sounded down the stone steps outside as a short samurai entered, her cloak drawn up around her face. Shivering slightly, she quickly closed the tavern's door, blocking out the frigid air. Turning around, she calmly shrugged off her cloak and ran a hand through her long, raven-colored hair. Her brown eyes sparkled merrily as she took in everyone, beaming at old faces and greeting new ones. Striding over to the keg, she righted it and heaved it on the bar top before unsheathing her murasame and deftly cutting a hole. The light of the fire played across her features. The corner of her eyes had gained some new wrinkles, but her eyes still shone, and her warm smile was still the same. The long lost samurai of old produced a flask and filled it with sake. Raising it to the air, she toasted her old friends. "Ohisashiburi mina-san! Tadaima!!" Madoka smiled happily. "Shinnen akemashite omedetou gozaimasu!! Happy new year to all, and here's to you! I hope everyone has been well, and I hope this new year will bring even more joy and happiness to all!"

Thanks to everyone for the well-wishes! I had a nice birthday. ...another year. This is my last year before I turn 30, akkk!

TIME: Armageddon, Terra 7 Ager 1 [Part 3 of 3] Madoka and Starlight crested the hill overlooking and stopped short, awestruck at the amount of destruction caused by the Malice troops to Lord Kendricke's lands. His numerous forts were either in ruins or burning, leaving him his only fortress left. Thousands of Malice troops lay dead on the grounds, a testament to Lord Kendricke's defensive skills. However, there simply were too many of the Malice troops for Lord Kendricke to deal with. "I see him!" Starlight pointed at the one remaining fortress left. From their vantage point, both Madoka and Starlight could see a small figure in shimmering white, surrounded by a small number of other white-clad knights, battling the black forces of the Malice troops. "Looks like he needs help," Hikaru urged. A flash of anger burned deep inside Madoka at the sight of her guild leader in such danger. Drawing her katana, she spurred her steed and raced down the hillside, Starlight and Hikaru behind her. "Samurai, protect Lord Kendricke at all costs or DIE TRYING!!" The samurai behind Madoka responded by shouting and rushing down the hillside towards the Malice troops. Starlight closed his eyes and chanted a spell, filling the air with a cloud of red which settled on each and every samurai, instilling them a berserk status and hunger for blood. "For the Legion!!!" the samurai cried. "For Lady Madoka we shall die!!!" Madoka spurred her steed hard, flying down the hill. The ground trembled beneath her feet. Reaching the edge of the Malice troops, Madoka started to swing her mighty katana, cleaving her foes left and right; creating an arrowhead for the rest of her troops to follow. The sounds of war was muted in her ears, replaced by the pounding of her blood and her heart. Everything seemed to move in slow motion except her; everything seem so slow that she had all the time in the world to hack, slash, parry, and defend. A series of bolts flew through the air towards her, but Madoka managed to draw her wakizashi and deftly deflect them or knock them all down. Malice pikemen seemed to rise up out of nowhere and thrust their pikes at her, but her steed meerly shifted or kicked, its hooves caving in the skulls of the unfortunate pikemen. Starlight rose up off his steed and shifted through the skies around Madoka, sending balls of explosive fire into the ranks of the Malice troops. Hikaru roared and swung his dai-katana, beheading hydras, chimeras, and zombies. At the gates of Lord Kendricke's fortress, Madoka's steed suddenly stumbled and collapsed. A pikeman had managed to plunge his pike into the chest of the steed, then screamed in horror as the steed collapsed on him. Madoka leaped off the saddle and struck the ground hard, grunting as she rolled and came back up on her feet. A snarling face greeted her, accompanied by a flash of steel. Madoka ducked instinctively while flicking her wrist up sharply. The snarling face turned into a scream, only to be cut short as Madoka followed through, her murasame singing as it beheaded the Malice Knight. "MADOKA!! WATCH OUT!!!" Madoka groaned as a tremendous blow struck her on the backside of her armor, underneath her shoulder blades. Falling on her knees with the blow, she twisted and parried the axe slash as it moved to decapitate her. The Malice Knight grunted in surprise and raised his arms to slash at her again with his two-handed war axe, but staggered back in surprise as Madoka disembowled him with a series of quick slices from her wakizashi short sword. Rising to her feet, she snapped her armor-clad foot out and knocked the Malice Knight on his back before dropping her knees on his chest and stabbing her wakizashi through his throat. "Madoka!! We have to--arghhh..." Another body slammed into Madoka's left arm. Spinning, she was ready to behead this Knight and she realized it was the face of Hikaru. Blood poured out of his mouth as he vainly tried to stay on his feet, his hand grasping at the pike which pierced his chest. "Hikaru-san! NO!" Madoka screamed. She hacked the Malice Knight behind Hikaru, chopping off and arm before beheading the Knight. Hikaru fell down on the ground, blood pooling out onto the ground. "Madoka... Lord... Starlight has... broken through... to Lord... Kendricke... Get them... and go... It was an honor... to serve... you. Now, GO!...*" "NO!" Madoka screamed. "I won't let your death be in vain!!" Filled with more anger, Madoka charged up the steps of the fortress into the courtyard, knocking her foes down. Her mind assessed the situation, realizing that the Malice forces had just too many forces for them. Starlight and Lord Kendricke were fighting back to back, but many of Lord Kendricke's bodyguards lay still around them. "Kendricke-sama!!" she shouted. Lord Kendricke looked up, seeing Madoka. "Get away while you can, Madoka!" "Not on YOUR life!" Madoka snapped back. "Starlight-sama, please get Kendricke-sama away! My samurai legion and I will remain behind to buy you time!" "Absolutely not!" Starlight shouted. "I won't let you stay here to die! We can ALL get away!" A black shape materialized out of nowhere behind Kendricke, raising its sword to deliver a killing blow to Kendricke's exposed back. "NOOO!" Madoka screamed. She leapt into the air, above the few bodies that separated her from Lord Kendricke, and landed between Kendricke and the Malice Knight, her katana flashing. The Knight howled at the loss of his arm, again only to be cut short by the movement of Madoka's wakizashi, beheading him. Turning around, she scooped up the boy guildmaster and bodily threw him into the air towards Starlight as the Malice troops moved in to surround them. "Get him away NOW Starlight-sama!! I'll meet you --- Ugh..." Madoka felt a burning sensation at her side. Glancing down, she saw a wide gash on her left side, her blood flowing out. "Damn you," she hissed, her arms moving again. Another Malice head dropped to the ground. Sensing another evil presence behind her, Madoka spun, her murasame a blur. It wasn't fast enough. Madoka felt steel punch into her chest, skewering through her armor. A malicious laughter filled her ears as she stumbled to her knees. "Dammit Madoka!!" Starlight screamed. He uttered another chant and lifted Madoka out and placed her at a small clearing, behind some of her samurai troops. He joined her there with Kendricke. Madoka fell to her knees, coughing blood and watching her life force pour out of her. She looked up at Starlight and Kendricke and smiled gently. "Lord Kendricke," she whispered. Kendricke knelt beside Madoka and grasped her hand. "Let's go, Madoka." Madoka shook her head. "It's... too late. The wound is too... deep. I'm going back... to Hell... soon." Kendricke only nodded. It was no use lying to Madoka. Madoka looked over at Starlight and her attempt at a small laugh turned into a cough. "Starlight-sama, it... looks like I... beat you back... to Hell yet again... Get Kendricke-sama out of... here. Don't let Malice... kill him." Starlight grasped Madoka's other hand. "I'll see you in Hell soon enough, my samurai." Madoka nodded. "See you later, Starlight-sama... Kendricke-sama... The Legion... was the thing... I held... most dear...*" She fell limp, a trace of a smile on her lips as her spirit floated down back to Hell, reliving her moments of Terra 7. - The glory of a new birth on Terra 7. - The times of her life in Metalium. - The numerous chats and laughter with Starlight and Shaka. - Her first meeting with Lord Kendricke when she was a Warlady of Metalium. - Her fateful day of contemplating seppuku after hearing Starlight resign his leadership. - The day Starlight-sama and her rode through the gates of the Legion. - The new friends she had made. - The battles she had fought. - The exciting life she had lived. - ...The things she held most dear... were over, for now. [END] Madoka. S1: Knight-General, Cftm! A1: Samurai, LotWR.

TIME: Armageddon, Terra 7 Ager 1 [Part 2 of 3] "Lady Madoka!" Madoka turned and a smile lit up her face as she saw a figure cloaked in a crimson robe appear behind her. Bowing, she greeted her liege lord, Starlight. "Starlight-sama!" she greeted. "I am happy to see you are well." Starlight grunted. "Not for long, I'm afraid. My country has already been reclaimed by the Devils from Hell. I was headed your way when I ran into your scouts, who told me you were heading to Lord Kendricke's land. Need any help?" Madoka bowed again. "Of course, Starlight-sama. Need you even ask? We shall face Armageddon together, as always." Starlight bowed his head. "It is that time again, I'm afraid." Madoka sighed. "I do hate forced vacations in Hell. It's so... hot." Starlight laughed merrily. "If it was cold, we would be in worse trouble, I'd suspect." Madoka grinned slightly. "That is true, m'lord. At any rate, shall we...?" Starlight nodded. "Of course! Our boy guildmaster needs our help, and we shall give it. Let's give his enemies a true taste of Metalium metal!" Starlight mounted his steed again, and brought it next to Madoka's. He twisted in his seat and looked hard over the remains of Madoka's samurai legions. Although there weren't as many samurai as usual, he could see the fierce determination of each and every samurai, determined to die in battle rather than wait for the Devils of Hell to claim their lives. Madoka nodded at Hikaru, who then turned and shouted, "Samurai troops! Move OUT!" [continued]

TIME: Armageddon, Terra 7 Ager 1 [Part 1 of 3] The ground trembled beneath her feet, the groans and cries of the sundering earth audible to her ears. Madoka looked up into the blood red sky, seeing numerous streaks of red flying down and striking the earth, adding to the tormented cries of her people. Earthquakes struck the land repeatedly, placing the very foundation of everything built on it in a constant see-saw of motion. "INCOMING!!" A loud shout is heard before it was drowned out by a bigger WOOSH. "Lady Madoka!! Watch out!!" Madoka ducked instinctively as a small meteorite flew inches above her head, it's firey trail singing through the sky. She winced as it struck the battlement near her, causing the resulting debris to strike her armor. "M'lady, our scouts have reported that Kendricke-sama's country is under siege by unknown enemy forces. Most likely they are from the Malice guild," Hikaru Ichijo reported solemnly. His face was hidden underneath his elaborate samurai war armor, but light from the numerous fires flickered across his features. "Report, Hikaru-san," Madoka ordered. "What's our status?" Hikaru shook his head sadly. "We don't have many of our forces left, m'lady. A quarter of our troops have died from the resulting natural Armageddon quakes, meteor strikes, and volcano eruptions. We have lost Beemdat our Alchemist in the ensuing chaos as well. Furthermore, roughly two thirds of our country's infrastructure have been destroyed as well. Our people are panicking. Most of them have decided to commit seppuku already." "What's our troop status? How many samurai do I have left to command?" Hikaru grinned ruefully. "We only have roughly half of our pre-Armageddon complement of samurai and equipment." Madoka nodded sadly. "It is as I expected, Hikaru-san." Hikaru bowed slightly. "Your orders, M'lady?" Madoka turned her head and gazed out at the ensuing chaos, listening to the distant screams of her people and watching them scurry about in a vain effort to avoid death as long as possible. She pondered on her available limited options, then decided. "Hikaru-san, order the rest of our troops to mount up. We will go to Lord Kendricke's country and defend his embattered country to the death." Hikaru bowed again. "Yes, m'lady." [continued]

Yet, another personal favorite of mine, way back in AM days. Oh, the memories!! I think Peredhil-san and Gyrfalcon-san are going to be very happy to see these stories again, hee hee! Madoka.

TIME: Present Day, Terra Ager 1. Madoka sighed heavily, tossing and turning beneath her blankets. Realizing that sleep had eluded her yet again, she sighed yet again and tossed her covers off. Swivelling, she placed her bare feet on her tatami floor, her right hand grasping her katana next to her pillow almost unconsciously. A slight breezed wafted into the room through the open window, ruffling her raven-colored hair and tugging at the bottom ends of her shift. Madoka gazed at herself in the mirror, noticing her black panda-eyes and the lines of fatigue etched into her face. News that her liege lord Starlight had given up the leadership of Metalium had struck her hard, making her, by samurai tradition, a ronin; an outcast with no liege lord. A samurai in dishonor. She didn't understand why, but as Starlight was, and always would be, her liege lord, it was not in her place to question his decisions. But why? Why had he forsaken her? Madoka's mind screamed at the thought of being without a lord to follow. Her eyes drifted to her wakizashi, her short sword within her grasp. It would be easy, Madoka reflected, to end her life. A samurai without a lord loses her meaning. It would be easy to unsheathe the short sword, plunge it into her neck, twist, and it would be all over. Her hand reached out, absentmindedly patting the sheathe of her katana as Madoka fought her inner demons. Summoning up her courage, Madoka's eyes hardened and her hands began to unsheathe her wakizashi. A discreet knock sounded on her door. "M'lady? Are you well?" Biting back a curse, Madoka composed herself and answered, "Iie, betsu ni... It's nothing. Please come in, Hikaru-san." Hikaru slid open her door and stepped in. "Ojamashimasu," he said softly, bowing towards Madoka. "Please excuse my intrusion." "You will never intrude, Hikaru-san. What is it?" "A messenger from Starlight-sama, m'lady. He requests a meeting with you as soon as possible." "A meeting?" Madoka echoed. "Very well, Hikaru-san. Saddle up my horse and we shall go to his place at once." Hikaru coughed. Madoka raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "There is no need, m'lady. Starlight-sama is here." "Starlight-sama? Here? Now?" Hikaru nodded. "He is waiting for you in your meeting chamber. He says to please meet him at your convenience." Madoka scoffed. "Don't be absurd. I am honored that he would come here. Call my chambermaids at once! Please apologize to Starlight-sama for waiting, but I am currently in an unpresentable state." Hikaru bowed. "At once, m'lady." He turned and disappeared out the door as Madoka's chambermaids came rushing in, carrying Madoka's kimono. Dressed, Madoka hurried to her conference chamber, entering and bowing immediately to Starlight, who was drinking jasmine tea at her table. "Starlight-sama, welcome. I apologize for my lateness." Starlight looked up at her with a warm smile. "It is not a problem, my favorite samurai. I am sorry to trouble you so suddenly." "It is no trouble," Madoka assured him. She sat down next to him. Starlight placed his teacup down on the table. Clearing his throat, he stated, "I have submitted my application to join the Legion." Madoka felt as if her heart stopped. Starlight continued, "I feel that the Legion follows closely to what I had envisioned with Metalium. Lately, my lands had been in strife and I cannot afford the time needed to lead Metalium. As such, I felt it was necessary to step down and hand the leadership over to Sauron. You, of course, will stay in Metalium and give your assistance to Sauron. You have a new liege lord now." Madoka shook her head. "I refuse." "Metalium will stay the same -- eh?" Starlight stopped, focussing his eyes on her. "What did you say?" Madoka looked up at Starlight, her eyes glistening with tears that she held back. Taking a deep breath, she forged on. "I have followed you since I came to these lands, and I shall follow you now. You have always been my liege lord, and you shall always remain my liege lord. You are not Japanese, so I forgive you for not understanding Bushido. When you resigned your leadership of Metalium, my ties with Metalium were sundered. I am a samurai -- it is my duty to follow you wherever you go. When you did not inform me of your plans, I assumed you did not need me anymore, and such, have decided to commit seppukku. A masterless samurai lives in dishonor, and I cannot live in dishonor. I wish you a good life, Starlight-sama. Please excuse me." Madoka stood up, bowed deeply to Starlight, and began to walk out of the room sadly. Starlight's mouth gaped open, then closed, then open again, as he tried to formulate his thoughts into words. At the last second, he decided. "Madoka!" Madoka stopped, tears running down her face. Not facing Starlight, she replied softly. "Hai?" "Turn around and face me!!" Starlight thundered. Madoka drew a deep breath, nodded, and turned around, her eyes cast on Starlight's boots. "I said, face me, dammit! Look into my eyes!" Madoka flinched visibly at Starlight's words which lashed at her soul. She raised her head slowly and looked into Starlight's eyes. "I said I'm resigning! I didn't order you to commit suicide!" A flash of anger burned briefly in Madoka's eyes. "Yes, but that's all I can do! When you resigned, I became masterless! I am a ronin! I am disgraced! My samurai legions are disgraced because their master is masterless! Even my SHEEP are disgraced!!" "And what will committing suicide prove to your samurai? That you were a disgraced AND dead samurai?!" "My DEATH, liege lord," Madoka snapped, "will prove my absolute loyalty to YOU. Because of samurai tradition, my entire samurai legion will commit seppuku because *I* committed seppuku!! Such is the way of life for a samurai!! Giving up the leadership of Metalium is YOUR right, but consequences will result! This is one of the consequences! Understand THAT!!" "Metalium needs you, but it doesn't need me!" "If Metalium doesn't need YOU," Madoka emphasized slowly, "It certainly doesn't need ME." "I am telling you -- committing seppuku won't make anything right! It won't make me change my mind!" Starlight said. Madoka nodded slowly, tears cascading down her face. "I understand." She turned around again and began to walk out. "Stop! I ORDER you not to commit seppuku! As your liege lord I command you so!" Madoka stopped and faced Starlight again. "I respectfully disobey." "Then -- what do you suggest I do?!" Madoka stared hard at Starlight. "If you join the Legion, the Legion shall gain not one new member, but two." Starlight stared back at Madoka. "Are you certain of what you're saying?" Madoka nodded. "My time in Metalium is over." "I will be an Initiate. I cannot command you anymore." Madoka shrugged. "Whether you be a guildleader or an Initiate, you will always be my lord." "You will have to enter the Legion as an Initiate. You won't command other mages anymore. You will lose your commission in Metalium." Madoka scoffed. "I expected no less." Starlight sighed. "Are you certain?" A grin broke out at the edges of Madoka's mouth as the candlelight reflected off the drying tears on her face. "It's either that or commit seppuku. You decide my fate, my liege lord." Starlight nodded. "Very well. I will be honored to have you at my side. Please come with me to the Legion." Madoka bowed deeply. "Your wish is my command." One week later, Starlight and Madoka entered the Halls of the Legion, pledging their loyalty to Lord Kendricke and their new guild. Looking around, Madoka felt at peace -- in the arms of fellow Knights, and no longer a disgraced samurai. So long as Starlight served the Legion, so shall his samurai. For a samurai, loyalty is life. [END]

TIME: 2 Months Ago, Terra Ager 1. Thundering hooves snapped Madoka out over her reverie. Looking up, a man cloaded in crimson leapt nimbly down from his chestnut colored steed, landing on the ground with nimble grace. His features were hidden underneath his hood, but Madoka recognized him immediately. Her armor clinking as she straightened herself, Madoka gave her liege lord, Starlight, a deep bow. "My Lord, what can I do for you?" Starlight gazed at her with a warm smile. "My samurai, have you heard of the Legion before?" Madoka's eyes crossed slightly as she thought deeply. "By Legion you mean the Legion of the Red Rose?" Starlight chuckled. "White Rose, actually, but yes, you get the idea." "Ah, yes. White Rose. Yes, I have heard of them. From what I've seen, they are a very honorable guild of knights. They have not harmed us in any way, have they?" "No no, not at all. What do you think of an alliance with them?" "An alliance?" "Yes, I have been speaking with Lord Kendricke, their guildmaster, and I have found him to be a very good person. I feel that Metalium will benefit with an alliance. As Warlady, I seek your counsel. Do you have any objections?" Madoka shook her head. "I have no objections at all, liege lord. No member of the Legion has invaded my land, I have no quarrel with them, and I have found them to be entirely respectable. I would be honored to be allied with them." "Good. I'll speak to Sauron, Aileron, and MrFurious, then. Barring Armageddon tomorrow, we should be allied pretty soon." Madoka bowed deeply. "I understand, liege lord. Let's welcome them into our new alliance." [CONTINUED]

TIME: 6 Months Ago, Terra Ager 1. "My Lady!! Our border ashigaru reports a large mass of armies headed our way!!" Conversation in Madoka's conference hall halted at the sudden outburst by the Captain of the Guards. Madoka stood up and hurried out of the room, followed by her most trusted general, Hikaru Ichijo, a samurai Warlord. Racing up the steps to the lookout on her fortress, Madoka snapped, "Hikaru-san, send Baldur-san the Bard to lead our Archangels. You know the plan. Next, get my Sprites to report in. I want the army identified immediately." "Yes, m'lady." "Get word out to Shaka-san and Starlight-sama. Let them know of my situation, and see if they will send reinforcements." "They have already been notified by our Sprites, m'lady." "Good." Madoka continued racing up the stairs when a sudden thought occured to her. "Hikaru-san?" "Hai?" "Send another Sprite to Shaka-chan. Ask him NOT to send me his Preachers again. We're warriors, not clergymen." Hikaru suppressed a grin. "Already done so, m'lady." Reaching the highest tower, Madoka accepted the spyglass offered to her. Putting it to her eye, she could just see the invading army at the outer reaches of her border. Thousands of marching cavalrymen on horseback filled her spyglass. Above the horses Archangels and Angels flitted about, their wings glowing with unprecedented whiteness. Madoka panned her spyglass to the front, immediately seeing a colossal figure, clad entirely in fearsome white armor, at the head. Next to his steed a large banner rested, claiming the army to be that of Lord Kendricke, Order of the Rose, Legion of the White Rose. "Hmm... The Legion? I have done nothing to the Legion..." Madoka mused. The door opened again, admitting a Sprite scout. "M'lady, we have been mistaken! The army is bypassing our borders and attacking our neighbor!" Madoka nodded. "Yes, I see. For the meantime, keep our defenses up. Just in case." "Yes, m'lady." Madoka mused for a few seconds, before absentmindedly saying, "Hikaru-san?" "Hai?" "Get Malein-san. Inform her to pull my samurai sheep back from the border... I don't want the Legion to get hurt by my sheep." "Of course, m'lady." Madoka's face glowed red briefly as it reflected the balls of fire reaching up into the sky. Thunderous, but distant, booms reached her eyes, the all-too-familiar sound of war. [CONTINUED]

Hay, look what I found on some of my old disks! Natsukashiii~~~ This brings back many fond memories... I hope Kendricke-sama and Starlight-sama will forgive me for re-posting it, but this is the story of how I joined the Legion, waaaaaaay back in history when we were in AM. My apologies in advance if I bore anyone... This WAS a long time ago!! But for those of you who remember, I hope you remember with fondness, and re-read with joy, as I have! Madoka.

I am honored. However, my schedule is very erratic, especially for the rest of this week and next. I am currently in Vancouver, BC, Canada until the 3rd, then I'm off to LA until the 5th, of when I will return to Tokyo. You can probably catch me on ICQ. My # is 52508156. Let me know who you are when you try to add me to your contact list, please. Thanks! Madoka.

Thanks everyone It's good to be back!

No problem, Celes-san. If you really want to have fun, you can always ask your Japanese friend to explain it to you face-to-face. Hee hee. Guaranteed long discussion!!