Everything stopped. The light. The pain... he was alone. He wasnt dead. He lie upon a cold stone floor. The spell! It had worked! But had the others made it through alive as well. He didnt know. All was dark... except for a small spot of light from a darkened corner of the room. Laughter errupted from around him as the spot of light moved towards him. The Soul Gem! And around his neck it hung. Smogg, Necromancer and captor of Luthien.

Caramon lifted his head wearily from the stone floor, watching as the light of the Soul Gem grew in size, until it was the size of a fist. He couldnt tell if it was coming closer to him, bringing Smogg with it. Either that, or he was moving to it. He couldnt tell.

"The Soul Gem..." whispered Caramon.

"Forget it Knight. For it cannot be opened." Smogg replied smugly, seemingly happy with himself and disappointed at the same time.

"Not by an agent of evil.. not by a Necromancer!" Caramon bellowed his reply.

"Like it or not Knight, we are allies now. Against a common foe." Smogg started to continue on with his speech, but then doubled over in pain. He clutched his head, groaning in pain.. in torture. "Destroy him now Smogg... of you yourself will be obliterated!" A voice rang out, seeming made of the darkness itself. Smogg, continuing to clutch his pain ridden head, muttered a reluctant reply. "I will obey... My Master." Slowly, Smogg stood straight and held his hands out towards the Knight and chanted words of power. "Corp Por!"

A shot of an Energy Bolt shot out towards the spot where Caramon was kneeling. Reacting instinctively, Caramon jumped back, narrowly missing being smothered with electrical energy. He slowly backed up into a corner, hidden in the shadows. He wondered silently what he would do against this powerful and obviously insane Necromancer.

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The others had made it through the gate, all unharmed and in one piece. They were in a lower level of Smoggs Tower. Centurio, Talvin Nadrin, and Marcus stood conferring in low tones as to what they should do, where they should go. Then came a low runbling sound. The sound grew louder and louder, seeming to come from all around them. The ground beneath them began to crumble, then gave way completely. They fell into nothingness, into darkness.

The Knights group had fallen some three stories, and landed badly shaken but unhurt in what they took for the lower recesses of the Abyss. A dark stream flowed past them, small eerie things swimming in the water. Occasionally, an eyeball popped out of the water to look at them, then disappeared as fast as it had appeared, seemingly going on with it's business.

Dean looked around at the others. Marcus was tending to those wounded, along with the wizard Talvin's help. Getting everyone up and ready to move didnt seem to prove too much of a problem, and within moments, all were ready to go. It was then that they noticed Centurio was missing.

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Centurio had in fact gotten detached from the others, but not as far away as they had all thought. He had fallen into the stream and had been pushed down it a ways. Climbing out of the stream, he brushed himself off and looked around him. He was standing at what seemed like the end of the stream, ending in a small landing. Where the water went from here, he couldnt tell in the darkness. But he was thankful he was here and not back in the dark murky water. Centurio moved forward a bit and found what appeared in the darkness to be a door. Warily, he drew his sword and opened the door. He was almost afraid of what he would find on the other side. Or was it fear? Could it have been anticipation? Of battle? The adrenelin ran through his veins, giving him courage and strength to pursue on. He swung the door back on it's hinges. The door creaked open a bit, but stuck halfway on hinges that hadn't seen oil in what seemed ages. Sliding his small frame through the crack made by the door, Centurio came upon what they had all been searching for. Luthien hung from the wall, shackled, bound hand and foot. Wearily she lifted her head and smiled.

Centurio sheathed his sword and strode forward. He looked at Luthien's bondings, and noted that they were in poor condition, rusted past ages, and falling apart. Luthien's writs were raw and bleeding, as she had been trying to escape for some time now. Deftly pulling a dagger from his wrist, Centurio went at the locks in the shackles. After some time, he finally got her loose. She fell into his arms and he held her, for just a moment. He thanked whatever gods were out there and listening that she was still alive.

"Can you stand Luthien? We must get out of here, and quickly!"

Luthien weakly nodded a reply. She stood up shakily at first. Then, her strength returned swiftly. The shackles had been draining her, keeping her strength and magic from her. But with the shackles undone, the spell was broken and she moved swiftly about, looking for something. And then, she found it. She hefted a heavy crossbow in her hands and smiled at Centurio. Suddenly, she nocked a bolt and pointed the crossbow at Centurio.

"Luthien! Wha- What are you.. doing?!" Centurio cried out!

"Down!" Luthien cried! Centurio fell to the ground just as the bolt flew through the empty space his head had just occupied a few seconds ago. The bolt flew and embedded itself into the chest of a lich. The force of the bolt sent the lich into the wall behind them, pinning it to the wall. The crossbow was, of course, of silver properties, and the lich howled in fury as it bust into flames.

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"Where did Centurio go?! Does anyone see him?" Marcus called to the other Knights. Everyone shook their heads, wondering where their General had gone. And what could be happening to him right now. Suddenly Talvin grabbed Marcus's shoulder.

"I don't know.. but I hope *they* didnt get him!"

Up the tunnel, bearing down upon them where legions of undead. Skeleton Warriors, Mages, Liches, Zombies.. everything that the mind could possibly imagine in it's infinite horror bore down upon them.

"Run!" A voiced called out. It was Talvin. "We cannot defeat them. Our only chance to escape lies within the Soul Gem!"

The Knights repelled and parried attack after attack and fell back. Retreating down the corridor, they fended off the barrage of attacks as best they could. A spear flew from the darkness and embedded itself into Dean's shoulder. Molly was instantly at his side, pulling the spear free and applying bandages. A cutlass, rusted and aged beyond age sliced downward, biting deep into Mollys shoulder, almost severing her arm from her body. The words to a heal spell already flowing from his lips, Talvin did his best to heal and keep alive those that needed it as they waged a hopeless battle for their lives.

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Smogg walked his chambers, looking for Caramon. He knew he was there, he could smell him. He could smell his flesh, his warm blood. "Come out Knight. It is useless."

Caramon sprang from the darkness and pounced on Smogg. He threw his fist out and smacked Smogg right in the jaw, knocking him to the ground.

"Not today Smogg!"

Smogg pulled Caramon down with him, and they rolled over and over, Smogg's hands wrapped around Caramon's neck, squeezing the breath and life from his body.

"First John, then Luthien... and now you. It's a pity you humans die so easily. Or I might have a sense of satisfaction from this!"

Caramon didnt know why he did it, but he reached up and grabbed the Soul Gem hanging round Smoggs neck. Bright light flared from the Gem, blinding both Caramon and Smogg. The chain holding the Gem broke. Caramon and Smogg rolled away from each other. Caramon stood up and held the Gem high above him as it's light flared, further blinding the evil necromancer.

Smogg stood up and moaned in a low dull voice. "Nooo... nooo... no!" He lifted his hands and again words of power raced from his lips. "Kal Des Flam Ylem!" Fireball after fireball swept forward, hitting Caramon full on the chest in a meteor swarm sort of way. The fireballs didnt seem to have any effect. The rays of the light gleaming from the Gem seemed to protect him. Finally, one of the fireballs hit the Gem itself and knocked it from Caramon's Hands.

"This is the end of the road Smogg!"

Caramon ran towards Smogg and a brief swinging of fists ensued. Caramon grabbed ahold of Smogg and lifted his small frame into the air and threw him bodily against the wall. He could hear the crunch of bone as Smoggs head smashed into the wall, spilling the contents of his head ontot he floor. Caramon slowly walked over to where the Soul Gem lie on the floor and picked it up. He gingerly grabbed the two halves of the gem and lifted it above his head, chanting words and spreading the two halves of the gem open, spilling light into the room.

"Now light our darkest hour!"

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Explosions rocked the tower. The Knight's fighting Smoggs hoard were just about done it. Then, suddenly, the minions crumbled to dust as the floor around them shook violently. They looked around numbingly, not sure as to what to do.

"Lets get out of here!" Marcus called. He waved an arm to them, calliung them to him.. to follow him out of this dark and evil place that was falling apart around their ears. They ran down the corridor, dodging crumbling and deadly boulders as they fell around them. The stream overlapped it waters, splashing all with it's slimy green filth. Still, they continued running on, spectral minions crumbling into dust as they ran past and sliced at the with their weapons.

The Knights ran on and on. Finally coming to a crossroads. Not knowing where to turn, they made a haste decision and bumbed right into Centurio and Luthien!

"Centurio! What's going on!" Marcus called.

"No time to answer that right now! Lets get outta here!" Centurio grabbed Marcus and pushed him forward. They ran down the opposite corridor that Centurio and Luthien came from.

Dean stopped for some reason and looked behind him. He called for the others to stop as well.

"Halt! Look!"

Dean pointed behind them. There, running to catch up to them was Caramon. Dodging and jumping boulders and ducking under explosions, he hacked and slashed at the remaining spectral minions that sought to prevent their escape. He stopped short of them and flashed his smile.

"Knights! We need a door!" Caramon called out. Talvin and Centurio turned to each other and smiled. Putting away the staff and the sword, they concentrated. They pointed their hands at the wall and spoke words of power.

"Kal Vas Flam!" Talvin spoke first, causing the wall next to him to break into flames. "Vas Ort Flam!" Centurio spoke his words and the wall exploded, sending shards and rock and debree all around them. Through the wall they could see the outside and they ran through, one at a time, each guarding the other's back. The last to leave was Caramon. He ducked out of the corridor just as it crashed to the floor.

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The Citizens of Hope cheered in triumph as Luthien appeared on the balcony over looking Hope City. She smiled over them and looked to the gates of the city. The Dragons, alive and in the flesh roared their triumphs as well, Big John standing between them, waving at his old friends. Centurio, Marcus, Talvin and Caramon appeared behind Luthien and waved to all the people.

"Let this be the beginning of a new age of peace and happiness!" Luthien called out to her people.

Carmaon bellowed his war cry. "Until all are one!"

The citizens of Hope returned the war cry, over and over again, in a chant. "Until all are one!"

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Well! There you are! Chapter One in the story of Hope is now finished! I hope you all enjoyed this adventure as much as I had having it!

Until all are one.