War Of Dragons, Part 13

  "Ha-Ha!  That was great!" I yelled into the night.

  "Wasn't it?" asked Scott. 

  I turned around to look at him and my hair flew into my face.  All I did was brush it aside and said, "It was... wow.  I have no words."

  "Are we going back to Dragon city?" asked Grarr.

  "No." I told him. "Mr. Terrace here owes me dinner."

  "You're not worried that something will happen?" asked Scott.

  "No.  I want to spend as much up here as possible."

  "I have no problems with that." said Grarr.

  "All right, let's find a pizza place." said Scott.

  we streaked through the night toward North America.  It was beautiful.  The moon was full, and the stars were bright.  We were so close to the sky I felt like I could reach out and grab it.  And that's I wanted to do.  I just wanted to grab onto a star and hold on forever.

  Though I never did because I couldn't.  Instead we landed at a pizza parlor in California, and let Grarr loose on the city.  He promised he would stay out of sight.  Once we had ordered we started to talk.  I don't even remember what we talked about, whatever it is normal people talk about.  I do remember what it was like to eat human food again.  Overall it was nice.  A kid puked behind us, and half the salad had mold on it, but it was still nice.  And dragons weren't mentioned once!  For a small moment we got to feel like normal people on a normal date!

  But then we had to snap back to reality.  We payed with Scott's last fifty dollars, and then we left on Garr's back.  Grarr took us back to our world.  the real world.  The one with dragons in it.  Grarr us all the way back to my quarters and then he left.  Probably to tell all his friends about the surface.

  "Thank-You." I said.

  "That's not all."

  "Really?" I asked.

  "Yeah, I set up a shooting range outback."

  "Cool, 'cause I have no idea what I'm doing with these guns."

  "That's the idea of a shooting range."  We walked around to the back of the building where there were cans... sitting on a wall.

  "So we shoot the cans?" I asked.

  "Yeah, sorry it's all I had."

  "It's fine." I told him.

  "Let's start with the shotgun then."  I picked it up and held it like you would hold a gun.  By the handle.  "So what you need to know is that this thing has a lot of knockback, so it could easily send you flying." he said. "That means you'll have to use this stock."

  He leaned over my back and fitted the stock to my armpit.  He was heavy but it was... nice.  that's the word I'm going to use to describe this whole thing, nice.

 "Fire when ready." he told me.

  I closed my eyes and my finger hovered over the trigger.  I'm not afraid to admit I was a little scared.  But Scott leaning on me made me feel safer.  So I was able to pull myself together and pull the trigger.  BLOOM!!!  At least three cans fell off the wall and thankfully I didn't end up on my back.

  "Nice shot." said Scott.

  "Thanks.  Do you need any practice?" I asked.

 "Nah, I'm fine.  Will you be able to use your pistol?"

  "I'll figure it out." 

  Then the conversation just stopped.  it was quiet for a few moments.  So quiet I could hear myself think.

  Then I finally said, "This was... nice."  Then I did something.  Something that I don't regret.  I turned around, leaned in, and kissed him.  We didn't kiss for long, but he didn't seem mad. 

  When we separated he said, "Wow..." but he never finished because he was interrupted by a ROAR!!! 

  "What the hell?" I asked.

  "There." he pointed. "All the dragons are landing in the town square."

  "Then we'd best get over there." I said, and we ran off to see what was wrong.

Happy New Years 2015!

  Hey readers!  We did a new years post last year, and you guys seemed to like it, so for more pageviews we're doing it again!  So here they are!  The information about new stories.

  This year will be awesome with the epic conclusion to "War of Dragons, aaaaaaaand!
   We have Earthfall, Thief's Guild, Sheath: Honorless, and Shade!  I also have plans for Gallatian, Agon, and Sara Raft stories, but those plans are underdeveloped because of one of my other projects.

   What?  you want to know that project is?  I couldn't tell you, I just couldn't!  Okay so I could.  I'm working on a novel titled: "The Last Frontier".  I'm also going to try to publish it, so it should be sometime this year or next year!

  That's all for now!  See you in the funny pages!

War of Dragons, Part 12

  The next day I had another training session with Grarr, and for better or worse, that's where I was.  Training and drilling and drilling and training.  We did the same exercises over and over, but neither of us felt like we were learning anything new.  Though the reason for that might that all we were doing was flying through hoops.  Thankfully Scott stepped in.

  "Hey!" He yelled.

  "Hey." I said.

  "So... I was thinking..." He said.

  "That's dangerous." said Grarr.

  "Ha-ha, cute.  Though seriously I was thinking that we're going to have to go into battle whether we like it or not, right?"

  "Yeah..." I said cautiously, I really didn't know where this was going.

  "Well, neither of us have weapons.  So I'm saying that we should go steal some!  There's an army base nearby."

  "Aren't those a secret?" I asked. "How do you know about it?"

  "I did some work there for the military, do you want to go?"

  "Sure."

  "Would you also like... to get some dinner?  Real food, not the Dragon feed." He asked.

  "Are you... asking me on a date?"

  "Maybe... how does nine sound?"

  "That's fine." I said "See you then." 

  Then he left.  I was staring after him, when Grarr leaned over and asked:  "What's a date?  Isn't that a kind of fruit?"

  "You'll learn when you're older."  I assured him. "Or maybe you won't!  I don't know Dragon customs that well." 

  Training went quickly after that, maybe out of anticipation, but at Nine o'clock I was dressed in all black and ready to go.  I met Scott under the crevice opening, he was also dressed in all black.  Grarr was there, but he was there to fly us.

  "Ready?" I asked.

  "Ready." He assured.

  "Grarr, would you be kind enough to take us there?"  I asked

  He sighed: "Okay."  He lowered himself to the ground and we climbed on.  Then we both shook as his powerful legs kicked off the ground!  We were airborne. 

  "So what do you humans use as weapons?" asked Grarr.

  "What do you use?" asked Scott.  Then a small burst of heat came from Garr's mouth and orange flame sparked.

  "Touche" said Scott.  "But we don't have that.  So we use guns."

  "Are those dangerous?"

  "Yes, at least for humans they are."

  "Then why are we stealing them?"

  I spoke up: "Because the humans have waged war with the Dragons and me and Scott need to be able to protect ourselves.  Like Scott said: 'No fire'."

  "Or claws?"

  "Or claws." I confirmed.

  "Or a tail?"

  "Or a tail."

  "Or..."
 
  "I get it!"  I yelled!  Then Scott and me both started laughing.  Imagine that, all the crap that had happened and I was laughing.

  "So Scott..." I said.  "How... exactly are we going to do this?"

  "We sneak around until we find a armory." He replied.

  "And if we run into a guard?"

  "Hopefully we can take him out before he yells for the others."

  "Nice to know you guys have a plan." said Grarr. "Because we're here."

  He was right, all that talking we had done had made me not notice it, but there we were.

  Scott leaned over:  "Okay Grarr, we need to land behind that gate."  The gate in question was at least ten feet tall with barbed wire at the top , there was no way we could scale it. It was no problem for Grarr though, who landed behind it and let us off.

  Then I said to him:  "Just hover around above for now.  We'll be back."  then I turned to Scott:  "Where do we start?

  What was interesting was that instead of one big building, like you'd think, the army base was made of smaller buildings, within the gate.
 
  "I dunno." he answered. "Where do you think?"

  "I'd try the building with no windows and a ton of locks."

  "Unless that's a prison."

  "I'm sure... you're kidding right?"

  "I kid." he said. "The problem is that there are like, four guards between here and there."

  "We can take 'em out... I'll stay here."

  "I'm sure you will." he said.

  Though he then he started off, slowly walking.  I could barely see him in all the black he was wearing.  I couldn't hear him either, but by straining my eyes I managed to see him snap to cover right as a guard turned around!  The guard then walked by right where Scott was hiding!  then he grabbed the guard and knocked him out! 

  "That's one." I said.

  The next guard was close, so Scott sneaked up behind him and took him out!

  "There's two." I whispered.

  Then came the hard part, the last two were across an open patch of grass.  There was no cover.  So Scott ran across and his behind a corner, but one of the guards heard him!  It wasn't a problem though.  When the guard came, Scott hit him across the face!

  "Three down, one to go." I said.

  The last guard heard him, and started to run, but Scott up to him, and slammed into him!

  "Four." I said as I ran to Scott.

  "Thanks for the help." He teased.
 
  "Anytime." I told him. "Now lets check this place out." 

  We started to walk over to the building, but Scott stopped and grabbed a key-card from one of the guards.

  "We'll need this." He said.  Then he walked up and swiped the card.  The door then swung open.
 
  "Jackpot!" I yelled.  It was, because the room was covered with racks of guns!

  "I call shotgun." I said, picking one up.

  "Do you even know how to use that?" asked Scott.

  "It's like a camera, right?"

  "No."

  "Then that's why I have you."

  I also grabbed a pistol, and Scott did the same.  He also picked up what looked like an assault rifle, but I'm no gun expert.  then we ran out and back across the base. 

  "Grarr..." I said. "We're ready."

  "About time." said Grarr, as he landed.  Then we got on, and Grarr kicked off into the air.

 

War Of Dragons, Part 11

The next day, me and Scott were wandering the Dragon's city.  I hate to admit it but I had never been in any of these places, Darsk had always flown me around instead of me walking.  Did you know that they had a marketplace?  I didn't and after an hour of walking it, me and Scott had made some purchases.  I had got a bone necklace, and he had a book on Dragon history.

  "You're seriously getting a book?" I had asked.

  "The Dragons have such a rich history, I just want to learn more about it.  I am a explorer after all." he told me.

  "Don't explorers find new places?"

  "We do research too."  I just nodded and smiled to myself.  He would have loved the catacombs, but I wasn't sure if I was allowed to take him there.  I would have to ask later.  Though as we walked, we found something.  A crowd of Dragons gathered around something in the middle.  It was kind of like when the Council had announced the human's war.  As I looked closer I saw that it was Tw'One that was at the center.

  "My fellow dragons!" she yelled.

  "This again?" I asked.

  "Abby..." whispered Scott, he put his arm on me, but it was more to hold me back.

  "Relax." I told him. "I'll just listen."

  "For now." he added in, but I ignored him and turned back to Tw'One.

  "Today begins a new age!" she yelled. "One without the tyranny of the council!  They tell us to wait and hide, but waiting and hiding has gotten one of us killed!"

  "Stop!" I yelled! and everyone in the crowd turned to me.  I had to say something, I didn't agree with the council either but Tw'One?  Tw'One was making war!  And she was doing it in Darsk's name!

  "Who yelled?!" roared Tw'One! "Who yelled for me to stop?!"

  "I did!" I yelled back!  I stepped forward so everyone could see me, and more importantly, hear me.

  "You." she squinted at me with beady eyes.  She looked ready to tear into me if I dared disagree with her.

  "Yes me, and I don't agree with the council anymore than you do!  But you're creating a war here, and take it from me, war only leads to more war."

  She squinted at me again, and said: "You seem to forget that you're not a Dragon."

  That hit me like a punch to a gut.  She actually went there.  I couldn't believe it, she actually said it.  It actually made grasp for words, but I finally said: "No, but I've made this place my home."

  "You don't know hat we've been through!  You haven't had our experiences!"

  "That's fine 'cause I brought my own."

  At the this point, the crowds eyes were moving back and forth like a game of Ping-Pong.  Everyone seemed to want to know where this was going.  I know I did.

  "Why are you fighting us?" asked Tw'One "We're doing it to honor your friend."

  This is where Scott finally stepped in: "Because you weren't listening at the funeral you ruined.  Darsk wanted peace, doing all this in his name isn't doing it for him."

  "What we supposed to do? Lie down and let them take over?!  That's probably what you two want!  Don't think we haven't noticed that there are two of you now!" she shrieked!

  "Th-that's not we want." though what she had said was making me think.  Is that what everyone thought?  That we were agents?  It sounded stupid, but... not out of the ordinary.

  "How about this?" she asked. "We stop using Darsk's name, and you two figure out who's side you're on."

  "We're on yours." I said.

  "Then act like it."  On that note, I turned around and quickly walked away with Scott.  She continued to rant, but no mention of Darsk was made.

War Of Dragons, Part 10

  I arrived at the funeral right on time, not too early, not too late.  But when I got there something felt... off.  You know how it's always dark and cloudy at funerals?  Well that's bull.  That day it was sunny and bright, one of the nicest we had had in a long time.  But for everyone there it was dark and cloudy.  One of the best Dragons had died, and he was missed.

  I sat down on the grass, because there were no chairs, and watched as a preacher went up to the podium.  No one came to comfort me, no one came to tell me they were sorry for my lost.  I was beginning to wonder if the other Dragons even knew why I was there.  The Preacher had begun to talk, but I wasn't listening.  I didn't need him to tell me that Darsk was loved and would be missed.  I already knew that.

  Though something in his sermon did catch my ear.  He had said:  "All Darsk had wanted was peace, and he tried so hard to get it.  That's why we've decided to use his bones to create a brand new house.  That way future families may find peace ad harmony between his walls."

Oddly enough.. that felt right.  It was exactly wat Darsk would have said, and it was exactly what he would have wanted.  I wondered if Darsk would have been happy with his funeral.  It seemed to me that it was going all right.  After his sermon, the preacher and everybody else started to walk away, they acted like it was over and now they get on with their lives... I wasn't going to let it happen.

  I stepped up to the podium and said: "If everyone could stay, I would like to say something."  Everyone turned back around to hear me, and I noticed that the podium was bigger than me, but my voice could be heard. 
  "Darsk was a friend."  I started.  "But wasn't just that, he was a protector, a confident, and in many ways, the bravest person I've ever known.  When I was down here in those first few months, it was Darsk who talked to me, comforted me, informed me, and even protected me.  He did the things it seemed no one else wanted to do.  So in many ways Darsk was more than a friend, he was part of my family.  And for that, I will always love him.  Thank you."

  I stepped down from the podium and everyone stomped on the ground.  It's the Dragon version of clapping.  Surprisingly Scott was there in the crowd, I hadn't seen him before.

  "That was beautiful Abby." he said.

"It was the right thing to do." I told him. "It was the least I could do for Darsk."

  A different Dragon actually stepped to the podium.  I thought I recognized her but I couldn't place it.  I thought maybe she was a friend of Darsk's.  She was a dark green color, with a shorter neck.  She looked kind of like a sleek, green, bullet.

  "My fellow Dragons!" she said.  "MY name is Tw'One.  I didn't know Darsk, but I will say this.  This can not stand!  One of our own is dead!  And by human hands!  They're the reason we are down here in the first place. and they have the nerve to kill one of us?!  Isn't what they've done enough?!  I say it's time we overthrow the council!  If we follow their rues, we'll all end up dead!  Instead we should take the fights to the humans!  We'll take back our original home, and put them underground!  Now who's with me?"

  "Yeah!!!" screamed everyone else in the crowd, but by then I had ran away.  I was angry, steaming, full of rage!  However you want to put it!  All Darsk had wanted was peace, but instead a war had started at his own funeral.  

War Of Dragons, Part 9

  The very next day I went back to the hatchery.  When I had said "Training starts tomorrow." I had meant it.  We were going to hold a funeral for Darsk later that day, but for now... I had to start training.  It was what Darsk would have wanted.  Zarr was waiting, and I couldn't stand him up.

  Where we were training was the hatchery, but it was a separate room from where I had met Zarr.  Honestly?  I had no idea what to expect.  So I guess I was surprised when all I found was a roof with hoops dangling from the ceiling.  We were that important. 

  Zarr seemed happy with the setup though.  He was weaving in out of the wings.  He wasn't bragging when he said he was a good flyer.  When I looked at Zarr a little closer I noticed something.  He was well... bigger.  Almost adult size, and now he was big enough to ride.  In three days... he had grown to the size of a mini-van.   Though while he was flying all over he noticed me.  Which meant I had to stop staring, and start talking.

  "Oh... hi." he said.

"Hey..." I said. "Wasn't expecting this."

"The training room?" he asked. "Yeah, I guess they decided that having a dragon rider wasn't as important as they thought."

"Why?"

"Probably because yesterday you showed up on the back of a Dragon and they shot at you."

"Yeah, not a single person in that crowd thought 'Oh wow!  She's on the back of a Dragon!  Maybe they aren't as bad as we thought!'  So then why are we still doing training if we're not going to 'mend wounds'?"

"They're probably going to put us on a battle field."

  I was actually kinda surprised, he hadn't just grown, he had also matured.

  "I'm sorry about Darsk." he said. "I wish I had gotten to known him better."

  There it was, the grey cloud in the room.  I was trying my best not to break down, but I was failing miserably.

  "It's okay." I sputtered. "We better start training!"

  I tried to perk up, and managed to fake it, so Zarr lowered himself to the ground, that way I could get on. 

  "Okay, here's the trick." he said. "I have to be blindfolded while you guide me through the rings."

"All right... where's the blindfold?" I asked.

"It's over there by that harness... you'll need the harness too... this means you'll need to get off me."

"Awwww..." I joked.

So I slid off his back and to the ground where I grabbed the tools.  And after fiddling with them for an hour we were finally ready to go.

  "All right." I said. "So I guide you with my voice?"

  I was sitting in the harness on his back while he struggled to see through the blindfold.  The harness was clinging to me tight which meant if we crashed, we both went down with the ship.
  
"That's exactly what you do." he told me. "We begin whenever you're ready."

  "Okay then.  Up!"

  He flew up and through the first ring

  "Down!" I shouted!

  He flew through the second one.

  "Alright.  Down!  Up!  Left!  Left!  Left! No wait I meant right!" but it was too late.  We crashed head first into a wall!

  "Sorry!" I said.

"It's fine, I have tough scales.  Let's just try again."

  Because of my screw up we had to start from the beginning, which was a pain.

  "Start with... Up!  Now Down!" he flew through both rings with ease.  "Down!  Go up!  Left!  Another left!  Right!  Left!  Right!  Up!  I meant right!"  but again it was too late, and CRASH!!! his head met the wall!

  "One more try!" said Zarr.   

"Fine." I grumbled.  "Up!  Down!  Up!  Down!  Left!  Left!  Right!  Right!  Up!  Now a down!  Now right!  A left!  One more!  Down!"

We landed on the ground as lightly as a Dragon can land.

  "Huh." said Zarr.  "We aren't dead."

  I just ignored him and asked:  "Will we be able to use reins next time?  It's kind of hard to stay on."

"Yeah, they just want us to listen to each other while flying.  Especially since you can see more one my back than I can."

"Makes sense." I said.

  We were both quiet for a minute.
'
  "This was fun." I said.

"It was."

"I have to go.  I can't be late."

"Thanks for coming." he said.

"Next time?" I asked.

"Next time."

War Of Dragons, Part 8

  I woke up right where we started: in my room.  Scott was there, Darsk wasn't. 

  "Wh-what happened." I groaned.

"You're awake." said Scott.

"No.  Really?" I grumbled.

"You don't sound good."

"Give me time, give me time."  I was hurting all over, seriously hurting.  It took all my effort just to sit up.

  "What happened?" I asked again.

"They... um... we were shot down..." he mumbled a little more. "We were shot down over the crevice."

"And Darsk?" I asked.  He lowered his head.

  "I'm sorry." He told me.

"No..." I whispered.  That's all I could say.  I was quiet, I was crying, and I was angry all at the same time.  My best friend had died.  Was I going to feel like a part of me was gone forever?

  "It was my fault." I whispered.

"What?"

"I-I was the one who encouraged him to go there!  If I hadn't he'd still..."

  Scott hugged me, his arms were strong but I paid no attention.  Darsk was dead.

  "It's not your fault." He told me.

"It is."

"It's not." He was quiet for a moment, like he was thinking.  Then he said: "Did I ever tell you about my cat?"

  "I didn't even know you had a cat." I said

"Yeah, I did.  You remember when we set out to find this place right?"

"All too well." I thought, but I just nodded.

"Well, I asked one of my friends to feed my cat and clean up after it while I was gone.  I thought it'd be okay, but when I got back the cat had died.  It had died of starvation.  At first I blamed myself, thinking I should have never left home and the cat, but then I realized that it wasn't like that.  I should have blamed the friend who didn't feed my cat. 

  So should you blame yourself?  No, though you should blame the fighter pilot who launched the missile.  To a further extent you should even blame Sophie, who told the pilot to shoot Darsk."

  I looked at him.  "Why are are telling me this?  We barely you know each other."

"I'm telling you because you need it." 

  It wasn't the first time someone I knew had died, but it was the first time close to me had died.  It felt like I had a hole in me. 

  "What would Darsk want you to do?" Asked Scott.

"He'd want me to keep fighting."

"Then that's what you do."  I thought about that for second, then I told Scott everything about the Dragon Riders.  Including that they want me to be one.

  "Wow." he said. "So what do you want me to do?"

"Tell the council." I said

"Tell them what."

"That training starts tomorrow."

War Of Dragons, Part 7

  "Darsk, we need to go now!"  I yelled!

"I'm coming!"  screamed Scott!

"Fine, get on!" 

"I would hurry if I were you." said Sophie.

"F*** off, Sophie!"

"You betrayed humanity, to fly with a lizard!" she screamed!  Darsk starting to rise.

  "Humanity didn't do anything, but put me in a commercial rat race!  I wasted most of my life with them!"

  I almost fell off, as Darks picked up speed!  Scott and I had to use all of our strength to stay on!  Though it was too late, the jets had arrived with a roar!

  "Darsk, we have jets!"  I yelled!

"I know, I know!"  he shot back!

  They started to fire!  KRAKKA KRAKKA!!! and the air ripped with bullets, and the smell of oil!

  "Try swerving to avoid them!"  I yelled to Darsk! 

  My stomach lurched as he went from let, to right, left!  We didn't get shot, but they were still there!

  "Darsk, hover!"  yelled Scott!

"What?!"  said Darsk!

"They'll shoot pass you if you come to a stop!  Hover now!"

I almost fell off when Darsk stopped but it worked!  All of the five jets shot ahead!

  "Light em' up!"  I heard some one yell! 

  FWOOSH!!!  I felt the heat, and smelled something burning!  Darsk was shooting a stream of fire!  I was glad I was behind his head!  I could feel the heat from there!

  "Scratch two jets!" shouted Scott!

  But the other three jets circled around behind us and it started again!  FWOOM!!!  I saw a flash of light, and felt heat behind us!

  "They have missiles!  We need to shake them!"  I yelled!

  We went down into a dive, which felt just like falling!  I was trying hard, to stay on! 

  "Pull up!"  screamed Scott!

  We went straight up, and pulled out of the dive!  As we leveled off, I noticed something!  It was crevice!  we were home free!  All we had to do was fly down!  That's where it went all wrong.  one missile was all it took!  I was blinded by the flash, but I heard Darsk scream!  RARGH!!!  It had hit!  We started to fall, faster and faster.  Everything became a blur!  There was a CRUNCH!!! and everything was dark.

 

  

War Of Dragons, Part 6

  I stood there looking at Darsk.  He was genuinely scared.  Even my offer to go with him didn't make him feel better, then I remembered something that I had seen on the news.  Something that could help us.

  "Look..." I told him.  "They're holding another press conference at the White House tomorrow.  Why don't we up pop then?"

"I guess that's good." he said, but then he had a question.  I could tell just by looking at him.  "Have you been spying on them?"

I don't why but that made me laugh.  "No, it's being shown on pretty much every news channel.  I think everyone on Earth knows." 

I swear I could see the gears turning in his brain.  "So... news crews will be there.  Meaning..."

"That people that aren't there will see us.  Beauty of the press."

  That didn't make him look better, that just made him look worse.

  "We better get to bed." he said.

"Alright."  then he walked away.  So I in turn, went back to my room, feeling I had made the problem worse.  When I got up in the morning, I found Darsk waiting outside my room. 

I just sighed.   "I'll get dressed."  All he did was nod.  So I walked back into my room, and threw on jeans and a t-shirt.  I was ready, or as ready as I ever would be.  I walked back out of my room, and he just nodded again.  He was still scared, and he didn't look like he had slept at all.  When we were under the entrance to the crater, I climbed on his back and we started to rise into the sky.  Neither of us said anything.  Both of us were silent and worried.  Both of us were thinking about what we'd say, and both of us were wondering if anyone would listen.

  We rose straight out of the crevice, and started to fly.  The cool air hit my face, and I realized it was the first I had been out of that crater in six months.  The I started to wonder.

  "Do you now where you're going?"  I asked Darsk.

"Why wouldn't I?" he asked.

"Just checking."  I said.  Then  kept thinking.  "Do you miss this?"  I asked him.

"Miss what?"

"Flying like this."  We were going almost a hundred miles an hour now!  Forget the Artic, we'd be there in seconds. 

"Yeah, I do..."  he replied.  "... but it makes me sad that some of the younger Dragons don't know how it is to really stretch their wings."

"Yeah."  I said, then I thought even more, about something else.  "I hope the other countries don't get into this."

"Are you kidding?!" he laughed. "With our luck this'll turn into World War Three, Dragons against the world!" 

  That actually made me laugh.  Then my thoughts turned back to serious.  "Have you thought about what you're going to say?"  I asked.

"I was actually hoping that you would speak for me."

"Me?"

"Well... I thought they'd be more likely to listen to you then me.  Because you're... another... you know..."

"Yeah, I get it."

"Well... you better think fast."

"Why?"

"Because we're landing."

  I hadn't been paying attention, but that's when I noticed the White House.  We had arrived.  The president was standing in front of the house, and I could here him from how high we were.

  "My fellow Americans..."  but that's as far as he got.  Because that's when we landed on the White House lawn!

"Oh my god!!!"

"Run!!!"  someone yelled!  But no matter what was said all cameras, and eyes were on us.

"My fellow Americans..."  I said  "... we have hijacked this conference.  Any questions?"

"Abigail?"  that one word came from two different voices.  Scott Terrace and Sophie Owlen.  I ignored Scott, figuring I'd talk to him later, but Sophie?  I ripped into her.

  "Sophie...  you @#$%@!" I said.  Everyone was quiet,  all eyes were on Darsk.  He was a fish out of water. 

  Then, Sophie spoke up:  "How dare you..."

"How dare me?!  How dare you!  You're the one that basically lied to us all!"

"That has nothing to do with..."

"It has everything to do with it!"  I yelled.  "You pretended to be our fri-coworker!"

"I was doing it to keep my country safe!"  she yelled!

"Safe form what?!"

"That!"  she waved at Darsk like he was something to be put on display.  It was a lot easier talking to Sophie than that huge silent crowd.  Even the president was quiet.

  "His name is Darsk!"  I yelled!  "And where did you even get footage of the Dragons?"

"I had cameras in my glasses!"  she said, matter of factly.  "Just one more tool to keep these people safe!"

"No it's a perk of being a government puppet!" I yelled.

"I am protecting my country!"

"From something that hasn't even attacked you?"

"Yet!"  she said.  "Yet!  People will feel safer knowing that monster aren't going to crawl out of the ground and eat them!"

"And it's all about your comfort isn't it?  You know the reason they're in that hole is because of people like you!"

"We need to know that something like Dr. Martin's death, won't happen again!"

"Dr. Martin was a @$$-hole anyway!  The Dragons need to know that someone like Dr. Martin won't come and lock them up in cages!"  I then turned to wide eyed audience.  "You here that?!  Dr. Martin was trying to capture Dragons to sell as weapons!  Makes you wonder what else the government is hiding!"

  Murmurs were going around now, and Sophie was furious about it.

  "We need to know that we aren't living in the shadow of evil!" she screamed.

  I looked at her, she not only sounded stupid, she looked it too.  "My god..." I said.  "You really think that?  That the world is black and white?  That good and evil actually exist?  Is that what they tell you?"  I waved at the president.  "There are no virtues on the table with this war."  I told her.  "Only the fear that the bigger dog will bite first."

  I turned to the slack jaw spectators.  "Chew on that."  I told them.  Then I turned to Scott  "Do you want to come back with us?" 

  All he said was one word:  "Yes."  So we then climbed up on Darsk and we started to rise into the air.  i turned on final time to Sophie:  "Don't let fear take over."  I told her.

  Though all she did was whip out a walkie-talkie and grinned.  "Bulldog, this is Commander Owlen, you have permission for takeoff." 

  The radio crackled in her hand.  "Roger that, Owlen."

"No fear..." she said.  "only fighter jets."  I could feel my eyes grow wider.  Now it was my turn to be silent, but not for long.

"Darsk, go!"  I screamed!

War Of Dragons, Part 5

  When we flew to the city center, heh flew, I say that like it's normal.  I guess it is for me.  The city center was crowded with Dragons, all of them waiting for the council.  It didn't really seem fair, the council made all the decisions, and yet they said they served the Dragons.  It seemed like... trickery.  And all of those Dragons, in that crowd, had fallen for it, but who am I to talk.  In The United States, multiple people made the decisions, but no one seemed really happy with those decisions.

  I was just about to say something to Darsk, when something happened at the end of edge of the crowd.  Suddenly the crowd was a buzz with noise!  I couldn't even hear myself, much less what Darsk was trying to say!  Then slowly, the crowd started to part straight down the middle.  Room was being made for something.  That's when I saw it, it was the council!  Walking right through the middle of the crowd!  It was kinda impressive, like Moses and the Red Sea.  Finally they reached the head of the crowd.  Then...they thought... and we listened... because of their telepathy.

  "Our fellow Dragons."  I heard in my head, and I guess the others heard it too.  "We have tragic news."  All the Dragons leaned forward like the council was going to share a big secret.  "The humans..."  they continued.  "...have declared war."

  The entire crowd exploded! Everyone was talking, all at once!  Everyone was panicked!  "What should we do?!"  I heard some say!  What should we do?  I really didn't know.

  "Silence!"  The council yelled in my head!  "We will do as we have always done.  We will only defend ourselves, as we have always done.  This is the command of the council!"  Everyone was silent and started to turn away to leave , it was decided, we would do nothing.  Then, one Dragon's voice pierced through the silence.

  "No!"

"What?!"  responded the council!

"We always sit, and wait for others to start the fight!  Well no more!  I say we strike first!"  I could tell the voice was feminine, but I still couldn't see where it was coming from.  But even if I couldn't see the voice, murmurs were starting to go around.  Most of them agreed with her.

  Finally the council said:  "We are a..."

But the voice knew this one.  "A peaceful race.  We know, but how many will die before we drive the humans out!?"

"We..." said the council.

"What extent will you go to, to keep you your peace?!  And is it worth Dragon lives?!"  The yeller was panting now, but her message got through.  Slowly, a chant started.

  "strike first.  Strike first.  Strike First.  Strike first!  Strike First!  STRIKE FIRST!!!"  It was deafening, but then... the unexpected happened.

"STOP!!!"  it was Darsk!  "Look at yourselves!  We are better than this!  There are other ways!

"What are your solutions?!"  shouted one.

"It better not be waiting!"  yelled another.

  Darsk almost turned green in the face.  He was struggling, then he coughed and said:

"I'll go up to the humans, and try to reason with them.  If they can't e reasoned with... we strike first."  Everyone that was talking stopped, and why shouldn't they?  They had a solution where they did nothing, and it also kept them from fearing an attack.  I think it was the first time a decision was made without the council.  As everyone left, I turned to Darsk and said:

  "That was brave."

"It was stupid"  he said, his voice was quiet.

"Why?"

"I'm going to die... the humans will kill me first chance they get."  I just looked at him, there was nothing I could say.  "I'm scared." he said.  Those were the words, he was scared.

"I'll go with you."  I said.

"I'm still scared." 

The Unexpected Mistake

Chapter 2:

We finally got to the treacherous school.  The school was a large three story mansion looking building with a large training ground and an outdoor performance area.  

“State your names and purpose for coming to Polong Potential Magic School.”  It was an officer.  I had read about them in a book.  They maintained order…or something like that.  

Looking at the officer’s nice attire, I suddenly became really self aware of my horror of clothing.  I had a solid black T-shirt that was too big for me (it was the old man’s) and raggedy brown pants with worn out shoes.  The old man was wearing something that looked like normal clothes around this part of the world.  It was a plain black shirt, nice shoes, and pale pants.  The old man was about six feet tall, so that would make the officer around six foot three, and put me at a measly five foot six.  I don’t know why, but I was always conscious of the hight of me and others around me.

“My name is Jack Helter, and this is Leonard Hellano.  Leonard is here to get tested.”  Wow, the old man could actually talk to people when he wanted to.  Usually when he talked it wasn’t a conversation, it was a loud argument or bold statement.

The officer looked down at the chart he held in his left hand.  “There you are.  I will escort you to your testing room.”  He turned to another guard. “Oi Rick!  I’m leading these two in, keep watch on my area too!”

“Sure.”  Officer Rick said.

“Follow me.”  He motioned us to follow him.

The officer walked us toward the large black bar gates.  Once inside, he quickly turned around.  “There is one more thing I should tell you.  The tests have been changed up, therefore, your first evaluation is a basic fighting test with me.  We’ll go in front of that crowd over there.”  The officer pointed in the direction of a collection of chairs, occupied by around ten Hales.  I read somewhere that all Hales are required to wear a green uniform, while Denals wore a blue one, and Hellfires a black one.  

The officer lead the old man and me over to the gathering of Hales.  The officer told the old man to go sit down near the back.  The old man sat down in the empty chair furthest to the back while the officer lead me in the open area in front of the crowd.

“This is a simple test.  All you need to do is dodge my incoming attacks.  And don’t worry, I will not try to land any life threatening blows.  If you can’t dodge any of my attacks and end up getting hit, there are ten Hales who can come to your rescue.”  I stood there and tilted my head like I didn’t understand what he was saying.  The officer throws his coat to the ground and comes at me with a dagger in both hands.

I look over at the old man.  He smirks like a while he watches the charging officer come after me.  He mouths, easy win.  

I look back to the officer and jump back.  The officer almost gets me as I quickly stepped to the left.  The officer changes his direction mid-way.  I put my hands in my pockets as I jumped on top of his head, knocking him down to the ground.  He rolled on the ground.  

He got back up almost immediately.  “What’s with the hands?”

“What about them?”  I looked at the officer.

“You put your hands into your pockets.”  The officer points to my newly occupied pockets.

“Ya?  So what?”  I look at him.  The officer looks back at me and shrugs.  He lunges at me.  I tripped him.  I then threw my leg to his back made him land on the ground.  I put my foot on on top of his back to keep him pinned down.

I looked over at the mass of Hales when I was sure he was down for the count.  All of the Hales were staring at me dumbfounded.  The old man was grinning like a mad man.  I took my foot off of the officer and helped him up.  

“Hey officer, are you okay?”  I asked.  I was honestly worried.  I don’t know how to hold back very well, so I was afraid I broke one of his ribs in the process of knocking him down.

All of the Hales shook off their shocked faces when I took my foot off and came to help and heal the officer.

“I suppose you pass this test with flying colors, but there’s really no pass or failing this test.  The purpose of this test is to determine what level you start hand to hand combat training.  It also serves for a rating on your official record.”  He stands upright.  The Hales forcibly make the officer lay back down on the ground so they can take a look at him.  

A single Hale comes over to me.  “Umm...c-can I take a l-look...a-at you?” She was obviously shy.

“I’m fine.”  I replied, smiling.

I looked over at the old man.  He was getting up and out of his chair.

“Come on Leonard.”  The old man gestured for me to get a move on.  The officer was up and out of the swarming mass of Hales, he was starting to walk to the next testing area.

“Coming old man.”  I turned around to look at the Hale. “Hey, what’s your name?”  I looked at the timid Hale.  She was about four foot six, and looked to be a little older than me.

“My name...i-is Mary,”  She looked up.  She brushed her dark blue hair out of the way to reveal nice cute purple eyes.

“Then I’ll see you around, Mary!  The name’s Leo!”  I turned and waved goodbye while I rushed after the old man and the officer.  When I reached them the old man gave me a pat on the back.

“Good job, but if I hear you get in another fight you will be fighting me next.”  The old man whispered in my ear.  Oh dear god, how did he find out about my fights in the woods?  Well, if it is him, I guess you never know when he’s watching, and a fight with the old man means certain death for sure.

“And you’re too young to be dating.”  

“W-what are you talking about?”  I blushed a little.  I had never been with a woman so I didn’t really understand what he meant, I only knew it meant something sexual.  He just looked at the officer and smiled.  Now the old man has just one more thing to hold over my head; normal life as a teenager information.  

We walked into the building through a pair of white double doors.  It opened up into a large hallway with a lot of rooms.  We headed to the end of the hallway on the left side, since we were farther to the left than the right.  We went up to the second floor where all of the testing rooms were currently located.

The officer lead us to room number two hundred and six.  He stayed outside after letting us through the door.  Inside the room was a basic bed and a boxed off area completely surrounded by glass.  It had lots of techno-whatsits and red plastic noodly looking things in the glass space.  The room also had a few potted plants, a table, and a few rocks and other little cheep things that could possibly explode, with no chance of a mid-life crisis happening.

I settled down on the bed next to the old man.

“When are we going to start testing?”  I looked at the old man.

“We’re going to start in twenty minutes.”  The old man looked really bored.  Five minutes later two lab coats came into the room.  

The two lab coated men walked into the glassed off area.  “Mr. Helter, please come into the glassed of area.”  Lab coat number one motioned for the old man to follow.  The old man got up and went into the glass area.  The lab coats left the glass area and came over to me holding the red things which were attached to the monitors in the glass area.  

“Please remove your shirt Mr. Hellano.  We have to attach meltodes (magical information retrievers) to your bare skin.”  Lab coat number one said.  They waited while I took off my shirt.  They made me lay down on my back while they attached the meltode things to my arms and chest.  

They went back inside the glass box.  I waited for about ten minutes while they set everything completely up.  “We have to wait about one minute before you turn thirteen.”  The second lab coat spoke through the glass.

That minute was really short.  My thoughts kept the minute going fast.  The old man went through the same test.  I wanted to ask him what he went through.  I felt unnaturally uncomfortable.  Not the uncomfortable feeling of laying on pins and needles.  I was just the undying feeling that something would go absolutely wrong.  Most of the time when someone thinks that something is going to go wrong, it’s just an over exaggeration created by the mind to predict the worst possible outcome, but this time it didn’t feel like I was expecting the worst, it felt like the worst was worse than I could ever imagine, and that we were just going to witness it first-hand. The worst part was, that I had no doubts that it would happen.

“In a few moments we’ll start to see something.” The second lab coat spoke through the glass again.

I started to feel a sense of being both warm and cool at the same time.  I also started feeling really happy.  I had the feeling that I was being released from some curse, one that I was bound by for thousands of years.  I saw the old man jump out of his chair from behind the glass.  He started yelling at the lab coats; telling them to turn off all of the monitors.  It was the first time I had ever seen him so frantic.  He looked like he was about to jump out of his skin, but for some reason I wasn’t wondering what was going on around me; I just wanted to smile.  All I could do was smile, and having exhaustion come over me in a wave of drowsiness.  I decided to sleep.  Just before I fell asleep, I could hear pops and explosions, and the last thing I saw, was the old man at my side, mumbling to himself, though I couldn’t strain myself enough to make out the words.

War Of Dragons, Part 4

  I was standing there in that room, quiet.  There in front of me was the Dragon I was expected to ride, also quiet.  He was small, the smallest Dragon I had seen.  He was... younger.  Younger than Darsk, and about half Darsk's size.  He was a light brown, with small wings, small tail, and a small neck... and they wanted me to ride him?

  "Hello."  I said, not knowing where to start.

"Hi."  He said, his voice sounded younger.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Zarr.  What's yours?!"  Earlier he had been quiet, now he was excited, what was happening?

"Abigail."  I told him.

"OHHHHH!!!" he said like it all made sense now.  "Is this a test?" he asked.

"What?"

"A test, I've never seen a thing like you."  I gritted my teeth, this thing did not like to be called a thing.

"I'm a human." I told him.

"I'm a Dragon."

"So I've gathered.  They say I'm supposed to ride you."  He perked up.

"That sounds like fun!  I can fly really fast!"

"I'm sure you can."  Then he perked down.

"What's wrong?"  Dang, he picked up fast.  I decided to tell him, he was going to be part of it.

"The other humans  want to hurt Dragons."

"Why?"

"Because they're scared of you."

"But... you're not."

"I'm one of the few.  The council seems to think that I'm the next Dragon Rider."

"I... We're not going to combat are we?"

"They talk about us like we're a symbol, not soldiers, so I wouldn't think so."

"They've been training me to fight."

"Oh..."  That's all I could say.  The council didn't want a symbol after all, they wanted a weapon.  Me, they wanted me for their weapon, and this... poor kid.  Then what looked like a caretaker came in, and said:

  "I'm sorry, but it's time for Zarr's nap."

"Okay."  I said.

  "Bye Abigail!"  Zarr stuck a claw into like he was waving, then I pushed through those doors and back outside.  Darsk was there, waiting.

  "How'd it go?" he asked.

"Weird, he was all over the place , like he couldn't stay in one mood."

"Young Dragons are like that, he'll be fine once you two are training."

"I hope he'll be bigger too."

"Yeah, Dragons become fully grown in about a week, he has a lot of growing to do."

"So what's next on the list?"  I asked.

"We should probably get down to the City Center, the Council's about to declare war."

"No shot's were fired."

"I ate Zachery Martin."

"He had it coming."

"That he did."  So then I climbed on Darsk and we flew away.

War Of Dragons, Part 3

"Wait a sec, what if I don't want to become the next rider?  Then what?"  I asked.  It was a legit concern, what happened then?  What happened if I didn't want to get caught up in a war?  Darsk just sighed:

  "You don't have to make the decision yet, but we just want you to see the hatchery."  He weaseled out of that one good... I was still suspicious.  He sighed again.  "I'll fly you there."

"Really?" I asked.  I still hadn't done that.

"Yeah!"  I pretended to think about it.

"I begrudgingly accept your offer." I said.

"I know, you're so reluctant." he said.

"Yep."

"And not eager at all."

"You got that right."  He sighed again.

"Get on."

"All right!" So I climbed on, and we took off!

  I just want to say one thing:  FLYING ROCKS!!!  The wind was rushing past my ears, while we glided above the city.  It really is amazing, just the feeling of gravity pulling you down while you rise up is... amazing!  It's like the ultimate form of rebellion, once you've flown, no rule can stand in your way!  I was thinking:

  "At least being a Dragon Rider has something going for it."

"WOOHOO!!!" I yelled.

"Enjoying yourself up there?"  Darsk asked.

"This is amazing!"

"No Dragon has really gotten used to it."

"But you guys have done it your whole life."

"I meant this hole we're in."  I looked around the crevice.  I guess it was pretty confining for Dragons.  Simply put, Dragon City is at the bottom of a crevice in the Artic.  It's a big hole,about 100 feet deep, with the tallest building in the city being 40 feet.  So about 60 feet of flying space, that is pretty bad for 10 foot long Dragons.

  Darsk seemed to know what I was thinking.  "It's not that bad." he said.

"But?" I asked.

"But most Dragons really want to get out to stretch their wings."

"Do you?"

"Of course."  he said.  That's when the conversation ended because we had just landed.  It had been so smooth I had hadn't noticed, until I saw we were on the ground.

Darsk looked at me: "I can't go in, but in that room is the Dragon your expected to ride, but he is till young so... just be careful."

"I will" I promised, then I walked on inside.

War Of Dragons, Part 2

  "What do you mean Dragon Riders?"  Darsk didn't say anything.  "What catacombs?"  I asked.  "Could you answer me?"

"Please be quiet, the catacombs will answer all your questions."  He just stood there in front of the metal hatch.  Like he was thinking about how to open it.

"How are you going to open that anyway?"  I asked.  He just grinned at me like crazy.

"Oh... it's very complex."  Then he lowered his head, and...

"You wouldn't..."  I said.  Then He charged!!!  The hatch crashed down!!!  Now we could get in.

"Darsk!!!  Isn't someone going to notice?!"

"Eh, no one comes down here anymore.  Too many bad memories.

"That's the best excuse I've ever heard in my life."

"I'm clever like that."  So then we walked together into the tunnels.  They were long and narrow and cold and dark.  The place reeked of misery.  I looked at the ceiling, then the floor, then at the walls.  There were paintings on them.  Paintings, how did those even get down there?

  Darsk saw me looking at them, and told me:

"Those paintings were made when we first got down here.  Remember those questions you asked me earlier?"  I nodded.  "Those paintings should answer some questions."  I looked at him for awhile.  He seemed... off, a little grumpier.  No not grumpy... sad.  Like being in the tunnels was like being in hell.

Then I looked away and started to look at the paintings.  The first was of Dragons, they were in a field, and they looked... happy.  The next was of humans... attacking them.  Then the Dragons retreated into some caves.

  "So that's how you..." I said.

"Got down here?  Yeah, we're peaceful pacifists, or at least we are according to the council."  sadi Darsk.

  I looked back at the paintings, this time I saw a new story.  A boy was riding a Dragon, both looked like friends, they were happy.  In the next picture, the same boy was talking to the other humans.  Trying to convince them about Dragons, I guess.  The humans didn't looked convinced.  The final picture was of the boy... crying... kneeling over the same Dragon he had ridden... the Dragon was dead.

  "His name was Bran..." said Darsk.  "Him and Grod were the best friends I will ever see.  Bran tried to stop the humans, and well... you saw the results."

"I did but... what happens now?"

"Well... the council just told me to take you to the hatchery... they told me telepathically."

"Of course, is the hatchery where they hatch the eggs?"

"You catch on quick.  They need you to pick a egg."

"Why?"

"They want you... to become the next Dragon Rider."

War Of Dragons, Part 1

Authors Note:  This story might make more sense if you read "World Of Dragons" which can be found under the labels tag, and now our feature presentation.

The Story:

  Fear is the deadliest tool there is.  Fear of the unknown and the different can drive a race to killing its own.  I, of course, speak from experience.  I have seen the bloodshed fear can bring.  This is the story of the war between Dragons... and Humans.  With me in the middle.

  I sat in front of the TV, shocked.  Not only had I just watched America declare war on my new home... I had watched Sophie Owlen do it!  What else was there to do but turn to Darsk. 

  "Did that... just happen?"  I asked.

"I'm afraid so Abigail."

"What are we going to do?"

"I... I don't know."  He looked just as shaken up as I was, and its not easy to scare a dragon.

"Don't we need to tell the others?"  I asked.

"Y-yes, we need to tell the council."

"Do they make all your decisions?"

"Why yes.  How would you do it?  Have one dragon in charge?"

"I see your point, Dragons have enough power as is."  That's how it was with me and Darsk, no matter how bad things got, we always ended up teasing each other.  That's where the conversation ended though, because it was then we remembered what was happening.  So instead of talking, we silently walked down the hall of the Dragon's "Leadership Building."   The building was not only where the council worked, but where I lived as well.  Technically I'm a Human, Dragon ambassador.

  As we walked down the halls, I couldn't help but admire the building.  It was made out of Dragon Bone, which is actually the hardest materiel on Earth.  After a Dragons death, the bones are collected and used t make new buildings.  And Dragon fire is the only thing on Earth that can weld it.  At first I thought it was sacramental, but you have to remember that Dragons have  totally separate culture from humans...   sorry that was me in announcer mode.  Before the Dragons I used to make nature documentaries.  I really want to do one on Dragons.

  But then I had to stop admiring, we were at the council room.  Me and Darsk stood outside the doors, then he turned to me very serious.

  "The council is old..." he said.  "So old that their voices are gone.  Their voice boxes literally degraded.  So they speak telepathically.  I know you don't like them 'In your head' but it's the only way we can talk to them."

"Alright." I said.  Then a thought hit me.  "How come you can't use telepathy?"

"Only Dragons that are a certain age can access that part of their powers.  Now shhhhhh!"

  He pushed through the big wood doors, and I gasped!  Sitting in a circle around us, were the oldest Dragons I had ever saw.  Their scales had wrinkles!  Then, out I thought: 

  "Speak Darsk." but it wasn't me who thought it.  I mean... I thought it... but it wasn't me.  The council... put the thoughts there.  And yes, that's the best way I can word it.

"Council..." said Darsk  "We have a problem."  I looked closer at the council.  One was red, one was blue, one was green, and one was yellow.  They didn't look any different from the other Dragons, what made them fit to rule?

"Of what sorts?"  thought the council.

"The humans... they've declared war." said Darsk.

"This isn't unusual, they are always fighting each other."

"they've declared war on us." he said.

"Oh..." they thought "This was expected, but not quite so soon."

"What are we gong to do?" he asked.  I was staying quiet, just liked he asked.

"We will defend ourselves of course." they thought "But only when they attack us."

"You can't do that!  Countless Dragons could die!"

"Need we remind you that we are a peaceful race?  We will only defend."

"But..."

"Our decision is final!"

"Of course council.  Should I tell the others?"

"No we will inform them later."  Then they looked at me like they had just noticed I was there.

"Darsk?"

"Yes council?"

"Take the human to the catacombs."

"You don't mean..."

"Yes another Dragon rider might help to mend wounds between Humans and Dragons.  Now go we have much to do."  Then me and Darsk left through the same heavy doors.

  "Are council meeting always that short?" I asked.

"Yeah they are always kinda busy."

"What did they mean by catacombs?"

"That's what I'm about to show you."  We turned down a hall, where I had never been.  We were quiet for a few seconds.

"Soooo..." I said.  "Why's the council in charge anyway?  I've just been wondering and..."

"Please stop talking!"  He said. "Thanks."  He looked around.  "What I'm about to tell you is something only Dragons know."  I nod, it says I'm listening.

"Ok so life is made of four elements, fire, water, earth, and air.  Those four elements somehow combine to create life, but we still don't know how.  What does this have to do with the council?  The council represents those four elements."

"Whoa... so what are their names?" I asked.

"No one knows.  Not even them.  They are so old they forgot, and any dragon that did know died long ago."

Then we stopped in front of a sealed metal door.  It was the first metal I had seen down there.

  "This is the entrance to the catacombs." he said.  "This should give some answers."

"About what?" I asked.

"The Dragon Rider."

Caliber

"Why's it so dark?!"  I yell into the darkness, no one answers.  "Where the hell am I?!"   My name is Caliber... I thought I was dead... killed by some ninja chick.  I like not being dead, but... why aren't I?  "Where the hell am I?!" I shout.

"Hell is exactly where you are Joseph Romita."  It looks like a plume of fire!  Rising out of the darkness, and taking shape... it's head!  A human head made out of fire!!!

"Are you the devil?"  I ask.

"Yes."

"Should I be scared?"

"Yes."  I gulp, I know what coming next.  It's what happens to all people that go to hell.  "So... what torture do I get?"

"No torture... yet.  Instead I have a deal.  You confess all your sins... and I give you life."  That's a easy question.

"Deal."

"That was quicker than the last one."

"What?"

"Don't you want more details?"  The devil sounds confused.

"No.  So all I have to do is tell you how I screwed up?"

"Correct."

"Shoot!  Where do I start?!"

"How about... Vietnam?"  How did he know that?  I didn't want to tell him that.

"Oh..." I say "You don't want to hear about that."

"But I do."

"...Okay"  It feels like I had sold my soul.  "You ever hear... about what war can do to a man's morals.  Make him... do things he wouldn't normally do?"

"I'm familiar with it."

"That's what happened to me."

"Continue..."

"I went into Vietnam, ready to do my country proud, and kick some @#$!  I was all gun-ho, but still hadn't seen combat.

  Eventually, I fell in love, with a nurse named Joyce Harpkins.  I loved her, every part of her.  How'd she listen and talk back.  She wasn't afraid to speak her mind, but was never harsh about it.  I swear that every boy in the army loved her, but I had won her.  We even made plans to marry once our tours were over.

  Then it all came apart.  One day, just one day... we were raided!  First time I killed, first time I was shot, but Joyce... she... she was..."

"Killed.  Killed in cold blood, and what did you do?"

"... I... I...  We were northern Vietnam, so I stole a jeep and drove to the nearest village.  Then I... killed them all!  And not just the men... the women.... and the children!  Innocents who didn't even know the raid happened much less have anything to do with it!"

"There are too many major sins to count."

"And I did it all for revenge!  I killed them in the same cold blood as Joyce!  I was... lost.  I didn't realize what I had just done, and I had no idea where to go from there.  So I ran.  There was a plane leaving that same day.  It was taking troops home who finished their tours... troops who had earned it.  I stowed away.  Trying to run from my past, but I couldn't

  When I had got back... I couldn't get a job.  I was afraid it'd show on my sheet that I was supposed to be in Vietnam.  That it would show I left my country.  I had run from my past, and it had followed.

That's when I made the decision... the decision to become a mercenary.  I don't remember my first assassination, all I remember is that life soon became a blur of bloodshed and money.  Though I do remember one thing... the night I died.

  I had been hired to kill a crime lord named Calvin Brown, and because of another merc he had flown the coop.  So I was just there to gather info, but the other merc was there.  A ninja chick.  I tried to kill her, it should have been easy.  I was a big man with a big gun, and she was a skinny woman with a sword.  I underestimated her.  I got cocky.  She killed me.  End of story."  The devil doesn't seem to notice how embarrassed I am.

"Bravo!  Bravo!  What a touching tale.  You are a walking tragedy."

"I kept my end of the deal."

"That you did.  Now hold still, the pain will be brief."

"Pain what pain!  ARGHHH!!!!"  I hear myself scream!  It feels like I'm being torn to pieces! Then it stops.  I look around.  The sun is bright.  I'm alive.

The Unexpected Mistake

Chapter 1:

I’ve let the old man down again.  If he finds out...who knows what he will do.  He’ll scold me and will probably make me do extra muscle building exercises.  I may even get grounded for a few days, not long enough to keep me from doing it again though.

Old man Jack isn’t my actual father.  He’d just been taking care of me since I was born, just to clarify, they didn’t know right away when I was born.  I was found in the village just a short while after some foreigners came through our village.  The villagers said all I had with me when I was found was a blanket which I was wrapped up in, and a really weird letter that directly addressed the old man.

One of the only reasons I wanted to learn how to read, was because I wanted to read the letter I was left with.  I wanted to learn if it held any clues as to why they chose the old man to take care of me.  The letter went like this:

My dear old friend Jack,

I need you to take care of, and raise my child.  Because of circumstances I am forced to leave my child in your care.  Please don’t try to find me; it will only make matters worse for everyone than they already are.  The child’s name is Leonard Hellano.  I will come see him once things settle down.  Please raise him and teach him well in my absence.  Make sure he becomes a man I can be proud of.  Tell him again and again how sorry I am for putting him in this predicament.  Tell him I love him and wish him well.

Best of wishes,

  Mika Hellano  

I would read the letter whenever the old man was giving me a hard time, or when I was bored making me want to decipher something.  My mother, Mika, left me here for the vague reason of ‘certain circumstances’.  It was fine though.  The old man took care of me.  He’s pretty strict, but he always made sure that my bed was made and that I had food to eat off of my plate.

All of the people in my village were close, so if the old man wasn’t going to take me in, someone else might have risen up to the challenge, which was raising me.  The villagers said that my mom was one of the villagers a long time ago, but she went missing from the village around twenty years ago.  Eight years after she disappeared, I decided to add another mouth to feed onto the villages list of people.  I was the one hope that they had in a long time to prove that my mother, Mika was more likely alive than dead.

The villagers would nag me about how much I looked like my mother, but they didn’t especially like my personality because they reckoned it was from my father, who they sometimes called a demon.  That just shows how much they don’t like the fact that my father isn’t one of the villagers.  Most of the people in the village marry inside of the village, so there aren’t many outsiders.

Most of the villagers started meetings and rumors as to who my dad was.  Most of them were over the discussion of the old man Jack being my actual biological father.  The old man has short black hair, blue eyes, and glasses, and I apparently act a lot like the old man did from his early days.  The old man always went against all the rumors, but no one believed him because everyone knew that he liked Mika.  The old man said he had never been with a woman, one thing I chose to believe about him, which started a weird conspiracy that the old man was gay.  When I was young I used to go around calling him dad, but when the rumors started he started to fully enforce the fact that he wasn’t my actual dad.  He was always trying to get me to stop saying that, but when the rumors started he snapped.

I don’t really care who my dad is, no matter what anyone else thinks, I consider the old man my father, or at least the closest thing to a dad for me.

Speaking of bragging; the villagers still brag about how much I look like my mom.  Whenever the villagers described her, I would look into the mirror, “Wow, if what the villagers say is true, I really do look like my mom.”  One of the villagers had a picture of her and, I must say, she was really pretty.  She had thin red hair and deep dark green eyes.  I also have dark green eyes and thin red hair.  She always had her hair short, but I always thought it was a pain to keep on cutting it, so I just let it grow out.  Now I keep it tied back with a white ribbon, which apparently looks hot, says the girls anyway.  I also have small black strips of hair that creep in with my red hair.  I guess my dad had such heavy black hair that some of it decided to creep into my looks.

I want to meet my parents myself before I make my wild predictions of how I think of myself public.  I’m the kind of guy that needs to see every miniscule little detail myself before I can do anything thinking wise, otherwise it’s all superstitious jumble.  Just one of the many reasons I suck at history.

I don’t mean to be rude by calling Jack an old man because he really isn’t that old.  He said something about being in his late thirties or something the last time I asked.  I’m only twelve, so thinking of how many years it’s going to take before I reach that old seems like a really long time to me.  Redoing my life one or two more times would put me at his age, and that seems kinda scary, more diapers and baby puke.  

Most of the people in our village are teenagers and adults.  There aren’t many old folks or little midgets because our village is surrounded by the forest.  They think the environment isn’t suitable for those with a low immune system.  Personally, I think it’s nice in our peaceful little village.  All of our houses are self-built, made out of wood.  There’s always a nice cool breeze passing through, which some thinks is a pain.

Our village is one of the only peaceful villages left in this world.  A large portion of the other villages, towns, cities, etc. are full of magic academies and training areas.  Magic potential was given to select people around two thousand years ago.  As a gift or a curse, who knows, but it’s here.  Another reason our village is small is because all of the people above thirteen don’t have any magic potential granted to them from their parents, and only rare people with great luck are blessed by an otherworldly being giving them limited potential.

Until someone reaches the age of thirteen, a person’s magical potential is locked up within your soul.  If a test proves you do happen to have a scrap of magical potential, you get sent to a professional school that also serves as an official magic potential training program.  The old man didn’t have any magical potential whatsoever, so he came back to the village.  He got really agitated because he was hoping to have at least a shred of magical potential.  Out of his anger, he decided to become a professional martial artist, at least he could still help the world without magic.  He says he’s happier now than he ever could have been in a boring training school.

Since the old man is a martial artist, he teaches the kids in our village, mainly to prep them for their magical potential fighting test.  Since I live with the old man, I naturally have a more strict training regimen.  The old man says I have a nice build now, but it isn’t extremely noticeable which I think is a little disappointing.  I don’t especially want any more of a build because it was a pain getting into the one I am in now.

I look forward to the stupid, hard-headed people from other villages that come out into the woods to hunt.  If they’re in their teens they always pick a fight with me.  I love the look on their faces when I wipe the floor with them.  If it’s an adult or cool-headed person, I go hunting with them.  If the old man found out about the fights in the woods, mainly because it happens on a regular basis, he would make me do extra muscle training exercises.  He once found out I was in a fight and threatened to send me to a school.  I was turning twelve back when he said that, now, soon, I’m going to be thirteen, at which point I won’t have a say in it if I have to go to a school.

One day before someone turns thirteen, they have to go stay at the magic potential training school closest to where you live.  You then stay there in a room until you almost turn thirteen, at the precise moment you turn thirteen, you have to be in a testing room.  Immediately once someone turns thirteen, it will show up on the monitors set up that are connected to your body.  If someone’s magical potential is high enough, it will show a visible sign.  There are three different areas of magical potential that a person may have.  Hale (healing) type, if the potential is high enough the plant in the room will experience different effects based on the sub-class.  Denal (defensive) type will create a barrier which will block the monitors from gathering data, a different shape and colored barrier will be created depending on the sub-class of the person.  Hellfire (attack) types will have something in the room begin, or fully, be destroyed.  Depending on the sub-class within the magic area, a different type of thing will happen.  Such as, the plant will get tougher and stronger, or grow, the barrier will envelop the body or just cover the front, and lastly, something in the room might melt, disintegrate, or explode.

The nearest town was a few miles away so the old man had to take me to the school.  Our village doesn’t have any transportation so we were forced to walk.  Since my birthday is in the fall there was at least a nice breeze blowing around.

A Hale was in our village at the time I was found, so they decided to have a look at me.  Every person has to know their birthday because of the despicable magic potential test.  Since I was found not knowing my own birthday, a Babe Hale came to find out exactly what time, place, and day I was born.  A Babe Hale’s sole purpose is to find out the exact time, place, and day an orphaned baby was born.  I completely forget the time, but that’s what my old man is for.  He remembers things like that for me so that I don’t have to struggle with all of that memorizing stuff.  The Hale said that the place where I was born was forced into the creeps and crevices in my soul so that they could never be uncovered.  It was most likely forced down so that my parents could never be found.  There are hardly any orphans so Babe Hales are hardly handy.  This makes my life pretty strange.  My past is like a maze, and only the ones who created it can solve the complicated puzzle.