07-21-2017, 12:46 AM
The Ashen Steppes had always been a danger-filled land, but nowadays it was much less subtle in the way it could potentially kill someone. In the past, someone would have to actually go looking for a monster to attack them or for the very ground underneath them to break open randomly. But now? Those things still happen, but are much easier to find.
Creatures known as Darkspawn had began to ravage the Omniverse. What used to be a dangerous land to travel was now a full-on suicide mission.
The border of the Koopa Kingdom had been completely decimated. Fortresses were abandoned or torn down completely. Bodies of fallen Koopa soldiers were either picked clean by the dangerous wildlife of the fiery plains, or had been converted into the army of darkness that continued to move into the usually defensible kingdom. Most of the safe paths through the Steppes were littered with the monsters that prayed on anyone silly enough to actually pass through. Many of the verses in the Omniverse were in danger, but it was not a stretch to say the Steppes were one of the worst.
Despite this, the Koopa Kingdom persevered. That's what they did. Underground, they had a strong foothold in the massive cave system that spawned much of the verse. Despite the success of the Darkness' ground forces on the surface, the line underneath was held successfully. But only thanks to the ability of one group of Koopa soldiers.
Only one of the surface fortresses in the Koopa Kingdom was still standing and fully manned: Wendy Garrison. It was situated near the largest entrance to the Koopa's cave system, and was a clutch position on the map as far as a war was concerned. In front of it was plains, and behind it was a shallow path through the mountains. Losing it would make holding the underground much more difficult. Named after one of the Koopa King's many children, it was never the biggest or the most well-fortified of the above-ground castles. But the only female Bowser Jr had been able to rally troops and fight creatively, which earned her respect among even the enemies. She was well known for being greedy and political, but now she was becoming more known for her inability to give up the fight for the Kingdom (and her father).
It was on the ramparts of her Garrison that Wendy overlooked the battlefield. It was quiet right now. Only a straggler Darkling was visible, scouting them out. She could see it in the distance; a dragon humanoid in full armor. She turned away from it, unconcerned. She kept her hands behind her back under the curve of her shell. In front of her now was a line of elite Koopas: the ones known as Boomerang Bros. Behind them, in the courtyard of her bastille was more soldiers; the bulk of her small army.
Wendy brought a hand up to adjust the pink and white dotted bowtie on top of her head. The other hand held a small scepter, which she held up in the air. "Koopa Kingdom, I need you!"
She received a warm cheer from her soldiers as she gave them a moment to respond. None of them were too tired or scared to not proclaim their willingness to fight.
"Right now," she began, "We are the last line. We are all that stands between this Darkness and the Koopa Kingdom. Nobody thought we would survive the first night. Nobody thought we would last this long. But here we are." She paused for another cheer. "Our story is being told right now. More and more soldiers are coming from the Koopa Kingdom." Cheering. "My brothers are coming. More fighters from other verses are being called to arms right here, at Wendy Garrison." At the name of the fortress they were fighting more, another round of applause came. "Even my father, King Koopa, is joining us on the battlefield." This got the biggest reaction, by far. Even after the acclaim died down, mumbling could still be heard. "Because they all know this is where the fight is."
Wendy didn't have a popular reputation among the Koopa Kingdom. She was known to be bratty, greedy and petty. But this war had changed all of that. She was popular among her people, and she was the main reason her Kingdom still stood. She raised her scepter up and then pointed it out at the empty plains behind her.
"Out there is where the fate of the Ashen Steppes will be decided! That is where the fate of the Koopa Kingdom will be decided! So stand with me now!"
The roar of approval was deafening. It was so loud that even the Darkling Dragon Knight from way down the plains could hear it. Despite everything, the morale of the soldiers at Wendy Fortress was as high as it had been from the beginning.
But the reality, Wendy knew, was much more dire then the false hope she could feed them. They would need her brothers, her father and as many soldiers are they could spare if they were going to survive another attack. They would especially need help from beyond the Ashen Steppes as well. Without the aid of more Primes and a lot of luck, the Koopa Kingdom would be ravaged by Darkness.
Creatures known as Darkspawn had began to ravage the Omniverse. What used to be a dangerous land to travel was now a full-on suicide mission.
The border of the Koopa Kingdom had been completely decimated. Fortresses were abandoned or torn down completely. Bodies of fallen Koopa soldiers were either picked clean by the dangerous wildlife of the fiery plains, or had been converted into the army of darkness that continued to move into the usually defensible kingdom. Most of the safe paths through the Steppes were littered with the monsters that prayed on anyone silly enough to actually pass through. Many of the verses in the Omniverse were in danger, but it was not a stretch to say the Steppes were one of the worst.
Despite this, the Koopa Kingdom persevered. That's what they did. Underground, they had a strong foothold in the massive cave system that spawned much of the verse. Despite the success of the Darkness' ground forces on the surface, the line underneath was held successfully. But only thanks to the ability of one group of Koopa soldiers.
Only one of the surface fortresses in the Koopa Kingdom was still standing and fully manned: Wendy Garrison. It was situated near the largest entrance to the Koopa's cave system, and was a clutch position on the map as far as a war was concerned. In front of it was plains, and behind it was a shallow path through the mountains. Losing it would make holding the underground much more difficult. Named after one of the Koopa King's many children, it was never the biggest or the most well-fortified of the above-ground castles. But the only female Bowser Jr had been able to rally troops and fight creatively, which earned her respect among even the enemies. She was well known for being greedy and political, but now she was becoming more known for her inability to give up the fight for the Kingdom (and her father).
It was on the ramparts of her Garrison that Wendy overlooked the battlefield. It was quiet right now. Only a straggler Darkling was visible, scouting them out. She could see it in the distance; a dragon humanoid in full armor. She turned away from it, unconcerned. She kept her hands behind her back under the curve of her shell. In front of her now was a line of elite Koopas: the ones known as Boomerang Bros. Behind them, in the courtyard of her bastille was more soldiers; the bulk of her small army.
Wendy brought a hand up to adjust the pink and white dotted bowtie on top of her head. The other hand held a small scepter, which she held up in the air. "Koopa Kingdom, I need you!"
She received a warm cheer from her soldiers as she gave them a moment to respond. None of them were too tired or scared to not proclaim their willingness to fight.
"Right now," she began, "We are the last line. We are all that stands between this Darkness and the Koopa Kingdom. Nobody thought we would survive the first night. Nobody thought we would last this long. But here we are." She paused for another cheer. "Our story is being told right now. More and more soldiers are coming from the Koopa Kingdom." Cheering. "My brothers are coming. More fighters from other verses are being called to arms right here, at Wendy Garrison." At the name of the fortress they were fighting more, another round of applause came. "Even my father, King Koopa, is joining us on the battlefield." This got the biggest reaction, by far. Even after the acclaim died down, mumbling could still be heard. "Because they all know this is where the fight is."
Wendy didn't have a popular reputation among the Koopa Kingdom. She was known to be bratty, greedy and petty. But this war had changed all of that. She was popular among her people, and she was the main reason her Kingdom still stood. She raised her scepter up and then pointed it out at the empty plains behind her.
"Out there is where the fate of the Ashen Steppes will be decided! That is where the fate of the Koopa Kingdom will be decided! So stand with me now!"
The roar of approval was deafening. It was so loud that even the Darkling Dragon Knight from way down the plains could hear it. Despite everything, the morale of the soldiers at Wendy Fortress was as high as it had been from the beginning.
But the reality, Wendy knew, was much more dire then the false hope she could feed them. They would need her brothers, her father and as many soldiers are they could spare if they were going to survive another attack. They would especially need help from beyond the Ashen Steppes as well. Without the aid of more Primes and a lot of luck, the Koopa Kingdom would be ravaged by Darkness.