Archer Annie   Note: This Saga fuses Western lore with Eastern Lore and can be attributed to my love of mythology and storytelling. Meet Angela Fletcher, an unlikely young woman who develops an even more unlikely talent…

   

Chapter 1—The Fletcher Family

Angela Fletcher lived in a relatively normal-sized Roman Catholic family. She had two little sisters, Elena and Danielle, and a middle brother named Alexander. She faired quite well with her siblings, and they all looked up to her because she was the eldest. And she was a fine role model for the rest of them. Her parents, Kimberly and Roger had their own separate jobs and earned income in order to make ends meet. Angela was always helping out by doing odd jobs around the neighborhood and babysitting her siblings while her parents were out working. She didn’t mind, but it did really take a lot out of her social life. She only had a few really close friends, but she never had any time to date. So she felt that she had been denied something in her adolescence. But, her youngest sister Danielle had taught her a valuable lesson. She had said that in time God would bring her a desired male companion. And that was all she needed to know. Nothing else mattered.

Days were filled with fun and laughter during the late spring. It was getting close to spring break and Roger had just returned from work. He and Kim had been planning a getaway in the tropics with the family and knew that a certain someone was going to be turning 21 soon. Angela was excited, even though she knew this was a gift for her birthday.

"We have the best birthday parties!” Elena said, her light green eyes glimmering. Angela couldn’t help but agree. This spring would be a spring that wouldn’t soon be forgotten.

As she started to get ready to drag the suitcases upstairs from the basement, she noticed a meticulously handcrafted golden bow and arrow placed on her father’s workbench. The weapons had an ethereal glow to them that baffled and dazzled her. Immediately, a brassy tenor voice spoke. "Only those of pure heart can wield these weapons. He who can touch them shall take upon a stellar burden. But, the Archer will never be alone…"

She curiously approached the weapons, her violet eyes sparkling with excitement. The weapons seemed to call her. With her right hand stretched outward, she grasped the golden bow and felt a powerful surge of energy permeate through her. It made her feel stronger, even more confident. Suddenly, she saw images of a medieval setting. Robin Hood was standing in front of her. "That very bow and arrow that you are holding my dear girl was once mine. But I was not the first to wield it. Before me, an Elven Ranger named Celeste had been chosen by the High Priestess and her council to use this weapon. The Priestess Helene had forged the weapon from pure gold and white magic, bestowing the weapon with unparalleled powers. Also, the warrior would be indebted grand strength and the incredible force of the Incarnate God Almighty. Only Celeste had been chosen by the bow before me. But it seems the bow has chosen you now. It is a great task you take upon yourself by taking up these mighty weapons, but do not be frightened. Whenever you need assistance, this songbird Aria will fetch me. I leave her with you.” Robin said, letting the exotically colored bird go. Aria landed on Angela’s right shoulder, nuzzling her affectionately with her beak. "How do I care for her, and how do I explain this to my parents?” Angela inquired. "Ah, a quick mind, extraordinary! When your father sees Aria, he might know of her. Once he wielded the bow and arrow, but not like you are going to. He bought it merely for décor.” Robin said. "So, he met you at that time?” Angela said.

"Yes, I did. Now about the care taking of Aria, She needs to be fed birdseed. And don’t worry about leaving her outside. She is very good about coming back. In the winter, you can keep her inside. Just make sure you have a place for her to perch.” Robin said, very precisely. For a mythological character, Robin was quite dapper. The green suit brought out his olive-green eyes and his wispy ash blonde hair. In only minutes, the scenery had reverted to the present day and Angela was still in her father’s tool shed. Angela came out of the basement quickly with suitcases, the quiver of arrows, the bow, and Aria. You could imagine the stares when she walked into the room. "Angela Marie Heather Fletcher, why do you have a bird on your shoulder?” Kim questioned, raising a quizzical eyebrow. This amused Angela’s siblings, but they couldn’t help wondering what kind of lecture their mother was about to give their eldest Sister.

Chapter 2—Truth Is Stranger than Fiction

Roger told his beloved wife and his family about the enchanted weapons. "The arrow chooses who shall wield It.,” he said, smiling at Angela. Angela really didn’t know how to feel at this point and time. But, she was jovial that she had been chosen out of so many other candidates. She also had many other questions that were still unanswered.

Perhaps in the future, her fellow Archers could answer those questions. She could sense that the world was about to go through a serious transformation, and that is why her weapons were so important. An unknown dark force was going to make itself known sometime in the future. What it wanted was more than likely ultimate destruction, and not all Earthlings could defend themselves against black magic and fierce evil elemental forces.

But, perhaps the World had a chance with the powers of light coming into the scheme of things. Maybe, but only the Most High knew what the outcome of this astronomical war would be.

Chapter 3—Lord Hellion, Master of the Dark Abyss

Hellion sat upon his throne, stroking the head of his faithful canine Hecate. Momentarily, he placed his armored fingers upon his skeleton face. He tapped his finger on his cheekbone, and sighed, rolling his fiery eyes in abject boredom. "Hecate, I am horribly bored. There is nothing in this dimension to conquer nothing to control. Everyone is already a part of my legion. No one objects, and all obey. Oh, dear girl, I can’t stand it any longer. Perhaps in my onyx bowl of foresight I can locate a realm that has only been slightly touched by evil forces. In time, Hecate…perhaps the Entire Universe will bow to my iron will.” Hellion said, sinisterly. Rising from his throne, he approached a thorny podium that held the onyx bowl of foresight in a sable talon. His dark cape flowed behind him like a watery shadow. Hecate followed by his side, a loyal hound of the Dark Abyss.

With a steady pace he gazed upon the reflective surface of the bowl, wrapping his iron talons around it. "Show me, foresight bowl! Show me a realm I will have no difficulty conquering!” he bellowed, the walls of the Dark Abyss shook with the timbre of his forceful bass voice. A scene began to dissolve and appear in the bowl’s depths. It was one of a prosperous planet, a Universe far beyond his own. Yet, with many possibilities, Hellion knew this planet could be corrupted further. Then, he saw a young blonde girl with an odd-looking bow and arrow, practicing her shot with a target in the backyard. Her siblings watched her in reverence and fascination. "This little young lady is a threat? I should be worried about her? Ha, ha! Now that is very amusing. Foresight bowl, I don’t believe you!” Hellion said, with a throaty guffaw. The Foresight Bowl kept forewarning Hellion that this young Archer was no mere young lady. He dismissed it. "If it were a man, I would be slightly worried. But a mere girl is nothing to fret over.” he said. Hecate sneered at the bowl and growled lowly. "I’ve seen enough. Let us open a portal to this dimension, this ‘Earth’…in no time, I will have conquered it and the rest of the Universe shall soon follow. The whole Universe shall be part of my Dark Abyss.” Hecate said, sadistically cracking his massive iron knuckles. With a slow motion of his hand, a portal had been ripped open. Cackling, he strode into the portal and began his journey into the Universe as Hecate followed in toe.

To be continued…

Will Lord Hellion regret coming to Earth once he meets our unlikely heroine? Ah, only the narrator knows. But all questions shall be answered in the next chapter of Archer Annie, called Lord Hellion’s Power Confronted.

By: Elizabeth Berndt

December 6, 2002