The Stranger's Message

Beginning:
      The man walks out of the shadow of the world. He has entered the world and looks around him to find emptiness surrounding. He continues his walk, not knowing his path, but knowing his destination. He is wearing a pair of tattered pants and ripped shirt. The sun has set before he sees a town in his sight. He lets out a sigh of relief, then continues on. He walks to the town, entering it with no one is sight but there are lights in what looks like an inn. Walking in there is an old man asleep with a drink in his hand at the bar. Sitting down the bartender starts a conversation, after examining this stranger. "Hey pal you looks like you've been through hell. Need a drink to cool off", chuckles to himself.
Stranger responds, "Some water would be great" with a smile.
     "Coming right up. So what did happen to you?"
     "Well going the flames of hell wasn't exactly it." Grabbing drink, "But can I ask a favor?"
     "Sure."
     "I'm not carrying anything of value, but I'm looking to stay around for a few days. Would you have a room for me to use. I should be able to pay off any tab I build within a few days."
     "Have to say stranger it doesn't look like wealth is something you've experienced. And you definitely have some necessities to get first.." Stranger takes first drink of water with a heavy lift of doubt in his gulp. "but you don't drink. Making you seem more reliable than this sap here." He puts down what he's doing to get a focus on this newcomer, "Tell you what, I like to know my patrons, you give me your name and I'll give you a room for a while."
     Looking at and tapping his glass, "Name's... Albert.. and yours?" Turning attention to bartender.
     "Ha! Just call me Bartender Joe"
     Peace comes to Albert's mind, "Ok then." Gulps water in one swig. "I'm going to take you up on that offer. Goodnight Bartender Joe."
     "Alright then kid." Whacks shit out of drunk. "Get up you bum!"


Climax:
     The two armies are ready for war. They face only a few hundred yards from each other. Everyone has a war face on. They show no fear of charging head first at each other. Leading each army is a their respective Lieutenants. Each man has a weight in their heart because of the ideas built into their heads over recent months. They want to stop this fight. But they don't know the other does. They have come to realize that their religion transcends a name. It is the morals that lead to actions; and the actions that lead to a path to heaven.
     Yet the lessons they have learned have to be kept to themselves. Neither knows that what the other is feeling. They just know that their kings jointly decided to kill the man that taught them what they know. The task forced and execution used could be brought to them if they hesitate at any moment.
The Generals are surveying the field. They are matching each other's army. Planning for the glorious overtaking of each other. They may have had secret arrangements to kill a man that was stopping their charge. Yet each one brought an army to destroy the other. They are ready to take any action so they can claim what the other has. They care for no God, no morals, only the riches they will receive when they have won the war. The Generals are locking eyes even from this distance. They order the charge.
     The Lieutenants see their order. They gulp down. Slowly put their hands to their helmets. Rush their hand down to shield their faces. They follow their orders. They draw their swords and lead the armies to their death. They know what waits for them when they clash. The blood and bodies that will rise. In their charge they repress all their new knowledge and thinking. One respective goal comes to mind, "Kill the Enemy! Defend your Homeland!"
The blades are swung, the spears lunged, the armies are perfectly aligned as they prepare their first attack. All in the range of the other.
CRAAAAACK!!!
A white light rapidly appears and blinds all the soldiers. Even the generals cannot see the soldiers. This light is brighter than any lightning bolt that anyone has seen. The light centers and dissipates. All are in awe. Most have lifted their helmets to see clearly with their own eyes. These words are spoken:
     "You fight in the name of the strong... While the weak need your shoulders, the sick need your help, and the young need your knowledge. Your actions make one's like me worried where your future lies. So I ask that you better the lives of those around you. Instead of just ending them. You do not have the time to kill each. You can spend your whole life bettering the world and you probably won't fix all its problems. But every action will bring you a peace, a peace that no one can take away. The darkness in your head will be vanquished, and you can leave this world in Peace."
     The maker of this light is shown. Albert stands in a small crater, in metal armor with engraving throughout. He stands with eyes shut. A locked jaw and full white wings out. The wings themselves bring an aura of white that is noticeable to all.
     "Maybe you will even join the ranks with me. Where you will fight for a true peace in all things."
     The white light returns and the armies are blind once more. The light forms a tunnel that reaches up past the sky, and past what any can see. All look around in awe of what they've witnessed. It isn't until they turn around that they find both their respective General lay dead. The life completely empty from their eyes. All their advisors and the evil men they kept around them are laying next to them. Any who would hold a secret of profit from this war lay dead.


The Stranger's Message (c) RedCast15@deviantart.com