Crystals Secret

Author: Justin D Hampton / Terran Core Stories

This is my first book, I will finish at ten chapters.

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Chapter Two - Flower Shop Rumble

While out gardening on a bright sunny day, with brisk Air blowing gently past the lands with the wonderful sweet smell of flowers and fruit in the air.

Lanina has spent all morning from sun dawn to noon removing all the weeds in her garden.

Although it's noon, the day is not too hot. it's quite nice and relaxing.

Her job is working out well helping the town's flower shops keep all their flowers healthy and vibrant .

Standing up and stretching out after kneeling for sometime. " It feels great,'' she thinks. "

Lanina reflects in her mind of her morning routine.

Most Days, it is pretty much the same. I get out of bed and get dressed for the day, making sure my hair is done and dressed for working with people and plants.

Each day before I leave, I grab my book and staff, and my bag.

We never know what we will run into at the flower shop at a major city where tons of travelers from all over come and visit. All seeking some kind of fortune or glory.

“ Personally, those are things I don’t care about.”

Sitting on her porch and rocking in her chair,

She is a little troubled Knowing that tomorrow, who knows what will happen at work.

The Sun sets, and bed time approaches. While she is relaxing till bedtime in her rocking chair reading her book preparing for who knows what at the Trembling Tulip Flower Shop.

Early walk to work before the sun comes up is a relaxing enjoyable time.

With all her gear on hand she is ready for anything.

The Sun Raises to brightness as she approaches the shop.

She sees Tola pulling the gates open as she arrives at the shop.

The shop is a stand alone building, pretty big built out of wood and decorated with many nice wooden art pieces attached to the exterior walls. The gates are raised from the ground to the ceiling on the front porch of the building. The shop is located in the middle of two roads crossing paths in a circle pattern. The roads are wide and go around the shop. Plenty of places to stow a wagon or horse for a few minutes.

As Lanina arrives walking past Tola at the gate,

“ Good Morning Tola, I hope you rested well “

Tola looks back over to her,

“ I hope we don’t get any more customers with pet pigs on the loose, That was dreadful.”

Lanina chuckles

“ I doubt it, “

Lanina walks over to the mirror and gazes at her reflection.

She is pleased with her choice of hat that covers her pointed ears just so that it is flattering. And the color of her dress is fine for her skin tone of egg shell white.”

Walking over and checking all the flowers, putting her finger in each pot making sure the soil is wet. And the leaves are looking green and healthy.

After an hours or so, she returns to the front seeing that Tola is also done with her task of cleaning up the front of the store on the outside of the gate.

Tola sighs.

“ people are so messy, leaving stuff everywhere. As long as we are in this city, I am making sure we have the best looking shop. “

Nearing noon the roads are full of horses with riders and wagons being pulled by horses.

One in a while you will see something amazing.

Lanina Sits down next to Tola on the bench in front of the shop.

“ Tola , did you get any sales yet ? “

Tola looks over to Lanina,

“ Not yet, it is still early we might get a few, those love birds over the tavern always like to buy flowers when picking up those ladies. “

They both look across the street and see the tavern full and busy as always.

Lanina speaks quietly.

“ I swear it's the only stop people from out of town go to. “

Tola gets a puzzled look on her face.

“ Lanina, didn’t you work for some big wig at some point before applying here ?”

Lanina, surprised by the question replied “ Oh! Yes, that was a long time ago Tola, “

“ I traveled many miles running errands for this old guy who taught me many things, I don’t have much use for it when it is just selling flowers.”

A few hours pass, a huge orc, dressed in leather and weaponless, comes out of the Tavern all liquored up and stumbling all over the place, while yelling.

“ Bar Keep, You have no right to stop giving me Beer. I can drink all you have “

A dwarf comes running up to the orc, Looking up to him from far below.

The dwarf grabs the orc by the belt staring up to the orcs face then says.

“ Sir , you need to calm down before we have a problem. “

The Orc Surprised by this little person, Looks down at him while trying to keep upright.

Orc Says Loudly

“ I didn’t order take out “

The Large Orc, Glaring back at the dwarf, then grabbing the dwarfs hand and throwing the dwarf several feet away from him.

Zedfer the dwarf skids across the ground then comes to a stand still.

Zedfer Stands up “ ORC ! , I don’t know what your name is but you are now asking for trouble.”

The Air starts to blow fast and the energy is tense.

People at the tavern start to get quiet and slowly peek their heads out the windows.

The Bar keep walks out of the tavern and stands by the door just outside the tavern.

As if someone turned off all the sounds, all you can hear is the bar keeps saying.

“ HIDE, tell everyone to Hide! “

The closest waitress hears what he said and starts to tell everyone else as quiet as she can.

Across from the tavern, Tola and Lanina are still sitting at their bench watching this whole thing go down.

The huge orc starts to look around the area.

Tola says leaning her head toward Lanina and speaks quietly .

“ This orc must not be from around here “

Lanina says.

“ I doubt he will be clear headed enough to save his ass “

Zedfer yells.

“ MEN , Grab My Hammer “

Three other dwarf guards come from behind, Zedfer. The dwarfs guards are holding a huge hammer, with a shiny metal handle with a large metal top and covered in blue crystal and silver inlay, across the handle and top of the hammer.

One of the dwarfs men says,

“ Here you go Boss , we will get the cage ready. “

The Guards respectfully hand over the Hammer and as Zedfer grabs the hammer it lights up in a blue glow.

The Orc seeing the glow starts to get angry and starts stomping.

“ A Blue Hammer, Are you going to build a house and threaten me with it, Ha Ha Ha. “

Zedfer Reples.

“ No Orc, You're going to jail, for beating up others who did nothing at the tavern. “

“ Rule One when coming to town, No Fights !!. “

“ Drunk or Not, you agreed to not fight others in town. “

The Orc walks over to Zedfer and attempts to put his hand on Zedfer’s head.

“ Little One with a Large Ego, Ha Ha Ha “

Zedfer drops down below the orcs hand before he could grab his head.

Then Swings his large hammer smashing the orcs knee from behind, as it connects the orcs leg. It starts being covered in ice growing over the orcs leg.

The ORC Screams in orcish from the hit.

“ You little Gra’ha !!!! “

Zedfer stands up and steps back a few feet. And says loudly.

“ Well orc do you Surrender ? “

The Large ORC turns around and swings at Zedfer, clocking him in the head.

Knocking him to the ground.

Zedfer lets out an “ ARGH “

Zedfer Rolls back to his feet, quickly and does not seem to be affected much from the hit.

The Orc starts looking quickly for some kind of advantage he could get over this dwarf.

As the orc turns around he sees the flower shop and starts walking over to it at a fast pace.

Zedfer, yells.

“ ORC you better not go any closer. “

Tola looks a little worried.

“ it's rare they come over here when a fight breaks out”

Lanina replies

“ I guess we must move if he does not change his mind. “

Tola Looking more worried as the orc approaches.

“ What's your plan Lanina? I have no idea what I can do if he attacks us. “

Lanina Says quietly to Tola.

“ I know exactly what to do. “

The Dwarfs runs as fast as he can trying to catch up to the orc, Holding his hammer by two hands due to its massive weight.

Orc starts walking faster, and says very loudly.

“ Little Ladies, Let's play Hostage “

As the ladies hear this they stand up and drop the gate and lock it quickly before the orc can get to them.

The Orc arrives at the shop and starts smashing his fists into the gate trying to open it while attempting to pull it up.

After a little while the banging gets quieter.

Tola Looks around out the windows and sees the orc walking around the backside of the shop.

As the orc walks around the shop, Zedfer comes running as fast as he can ready to swing at the orc on his backside.

Tola walks to the back of the shop and locks the brown basic door that only has one grey iron bar going across from the door frame.

Lanina clears a space on the back room table putting everything that was on it away very quickly.

She pulls out her book and places it on the table, opening it up.

Tola exclames.

“ What are you going to do ? “

Lanina replies.

“ Only what is necessary. “

While Tola is looking out the back window she see the dwarf Slam his Mighty Hammer into the Orc’s Back Turning the Orc into a huge Frozen Statue.

After the mighty hit the dwarf runs to the front and takes another swing hitting the orc right in the chest area. Causing it to freeze solid as well.

Zedfer yells.

“ This orc is quite a hassle to teach a lesson. “

The Orc frozen in his stride covered in ice, starts to decide his next move.

No one can tell what he will do next, just looking at him.

Tola , still looking out the window, all amazed the orc is frozen.

Lanina sits down and starts to run through a few what if’s in her mind.

The Sky is clear the sounds are pleasing the tavern is in awe of what they are seeing.

Everyone on that block is staying back and talking among themselves.

The Orc seems like a harmless statue, the ice is starting to melt.

Zedfer yells at his men.

“ Jek , get back here. “

In what seems like an eternity the guards pull up a huge cage pulled by 5 ponies all decorated in armor and city logos. By the time the guards get there. The orc is almost melted.

As soon as the cage is pulled up next to the half frozen orc, two of the guards run up to the orc and start to push him over toward the cage on the wagon.

Right when the guard puts his hand on the orc, the orcs arm comes free and grabs the guard head with his massive hand crushing it. Blood sprays everywhere.

Zedfer screams.

“ Oh Ekvan, I should have hit him again, this is not good, not good. “

The remaining guard runs for his life as the orc’s other arm breaks free from the ice.

As the orc tries to free his legs, Zedfer starts running again, readying his Hammer for another Blow.

Right as Zedfer Swings his hammer the orc grabs the hammers head in mid swing stopping the dwarfs attack. The orcs hand frozen to the hammer.

The orc screams in pain as his hand is shattered and frozen solid to the hammer.

The patrons at the tavern scream and start running out of the building down the streets in all directions, Zedfer has never been defeated and this might be the time he loses.

Zedfer stands to his feet and starts thinking to himself.

“ There has to be a way, this guy is stronger than I thought. Not your average orc. “

“ if I could just get my hammer back and try to get a headshot in, maybe a chance. “

The orc yells, again. Shaking his frozen hand wildly as he steps out of his frozen place breaking the ice with his good arm and freeing himself.

“ you stupid dwarfs I will kill all of you “

Tola looks out every window.

“ I don’t see Zedfer anywhere “

Lanina looks up from the table at Tola.

“ We will be fine, maybe “

Lanina looks around for a minute.

“ Hear that, I think someone is on the roof. “

Zedfer, climbed on the roof crawling across trying to not be seen by the orc.

Orc still in pain, is no longer holding the hammer. Has been walking to the back of the shop now that he is able to move again. As the orc walks past the side of the building, he grabs a horse with his good hand that was tied up to a post.

The horse screams as a horse does as it is startled and picked up like a feather.

Zedfer crawling on the roof of the flower shop, pulls a gun from his belt.

The orc now standing at the back of the flower shop, raises the horse and slams it into the door. The sound of crying horses and crushing bones can be heard for blocks.

The door of the shop now shattered but the iron bar still in place as the horse is stuck to the door with protruding wood piercing the body of what was a noble innocent creature.

Horse blood pouring into the shop.

Tola screams as the door shatters and the horse is half way through the door.

Lanina looks over in shock, not sure what to say. It's the first time a horse was used as a weapon.

The Orc talks loudly with his deep voice.

“ Ladies it's time to play, I will get you and then the rest of this chicken city. “

Lanina looked through her book quickly, seeing what could be done to get rid of this unlawful orc.

Zedfer, laying at the top center of the flower shop roof, takes aim with this new contraption called a gun.

Zedfer thinks to himself

“ I hope it works. “

Taking a few minutes Zedfer start looking over the device he sees it's full of water, red crystal is glowing hot, the steam chamber is full, Bullet chamber is set for 10 shots.

Remembering this training it should have enough water for each bullet.

The Orc still enraged, reaches in and pulls the horse and Iron bar away from the back door.

Lanina looked over at the door. Begins to panic seeing as the door frame ripped away from the shop.

Tola screams!!.

“ I hope you got your back up plan ready, Lanina “

Lanina, looking over her book flips a few pages and starts to chant. The book glows yellow and blue as a ball of light appears next to the door frame and fills it full light creating a wall of light.

Tola was surprised by this.

“ I didn’t know you were a mage. ? “

Lanina replied with a shaky voice.

“ I never needed to use it before, Zedfer generally can capture anyone. “

“ We don’t generally get orcs around here. “

“ I guess the city didn’t think he would be a problem “

Zedfer as quiet as he can started lining up his shot while on the roof of the flower shop.

Lanina at the same time was preparing another spell.

The Orc starts yelling after the bright light fills the door that he just smashed apart.

“ Magic , Who the Hell did the magic, Now I am Really Mad!. “

Orc Runs over rips out a lamp post and starts bashing in the windows on the back of the flower shop. Glass breaking all over the place.

As the Orc finishes his rage bashing of the flower shop windows on the back of the building. A loud Boom is heard ringing throughout the city.

The Orc's face starts spraying blood as he is hit by the bullet from Zedfer’s Gun.

The Orc is stunned and the worst pain he ever felt floods over him as expressed by the look on his face.

Falling on to his but, the orc just lays there unable to speak or anything.

Lanina peeks out the window seeing the orc laying on the ground. She opens the gate and comes outside.

Lanina Says loudly,

“ Great Job Zedfer, About time. What did you use this time? “

Zedfer Stands up and jumps off the roof. Landing next to Lanina.

“ I Used a new toy my fellow dwarves created. Its a steam gun “

Lanina, looks the gun over.

“ Magic crystal hun, how interesting. “

Zedfer, Walks over to the orc and checks to see if he is still alive.

“ yeah he is alive but I don’t see anyone home. “

“ Men , Put him in the cage. And use triple Iron Cuffs for hands and feet. “

“ Every Time we get new travelers they think they can beat the guards. “

Lanina looks at Zedfer Sternly.

“ Next time leave us out of it, this scares both of us. “