Saturday, July 18, 2009

The Dragon Children Chapter 1: Set

This is my new serial, The Dragon Children.
Krangor is a beautiful planet, filled with flower and fauna of any kind imaginable. Two moons shine on it for twelve hours of each twenty-four hour day. Thus, it is very difficult for one to find a day of complete darkness.
However, darkness has managed to cover one area of Krangor. In fact, the darkness covers this area so well, it seeps into the heart, twisting it and corrupting it until that heart is completely devoid of light and hope. This is the Rathlian Lands, the home of the Black Dragon Clan.
Normally, when a child is chosen by a dragon, the bond is harmless to the child. But when a child is bonded to a Black Dragon, that child's heart becomes poisoned by evil. It is usually not long before such a child unwillingly falls into evil's waiting embrace.
There is one child, however, who refused to allow that to happen. This boy was Set, and his dragon was named Ba-Pef. From the day he was bonded to Ba-Pef, Set spent most of his life fighting with the dragon for the right to an unblemished soul.
Set did not look like an evil child. He had gentle, aquamarine eyes. His hair was a dirty brown. He had a pleasant complexion. When he was in control of himself, he was a quiet child. He rarely said anything, for each day was one spent in mental war. So he kept a wall around himself, lest others become his victims.
Before the bonding, Set had led a happy life. He had loving parents who treated him like any child should be treated. He was healthy, loved, and well-cared for. Then, one day changed all that. Stefan, the leader of the Black Dragon Clan, raided his village. His dragon Kor called on all the creatures of every nightmare ever dreamed. They attacked every house and villager. For some reason, Set was the only one spared. Stefan took him to the Rathlian Lands and bonded him to Ba-Pef.
Many years later, when the boy turned fourteen, Stefan was leading his clan to raid another village. Set mounted Ba-Pef and tried desperately to keep up with the rest of the clan. But as he lagged behind, he heard a gentle voice pierce his heart.
Child, do you truly wish to live this way? Being constantly dragged between salvation and damnation?
Ba-Pef heard this voice, too. He could not let Set follow the voice. So, he let out a destructive blast at a forest below, where the voice had originated.
"Ba-Pef, what are you doing?" Set asked.
"I cannot let you follow that voice!" Ba-Pef bellowed.
Set realized he may have to take matters into his own hands. That gentle voice was too alluring to ignore.
Set, I can offer you salvation.
The voice knew his name! He could no longer ignore it now. He immediately leaped off Ba-Pef. Ba-Pef did not even bother to stop him. He decided that if Set died, he would no longer have this nuisance who clearly did not have his heart in being evil.
But Set did not die. Instead, he was intercepted by a Silver Dragon.
Hello, child. said the dragon.
"Who are you?" asked Set.
My name is Minerva. said the Dragon. My mistress, Lady Sophia, has heard the cries of your heart. It is she who is calling you. She can help you, but only if you are willing to let her. The choice is yours.
"And what about Ba-Pef?" Set asked.
I am certain he can be helped too. Minerva replied.
"Then take me to Lady Sophia." Set said.
Minerva nodded and descended into the fire.
Below in the forest were twin girls. One had green-yellow hair and gray eyes. Her name was Karin. She was a Green Dragon child, and her dragon was named Nolk. Her sister had blonde hair and gray eyes and was named Joanne. Joanne was a Silver Dragon Child, and her dragon was named Kilin.
Karin thought quickly. "Dirt of the forest, hear my plea! Smother the flames!" she commanded. Within moments, the dirt obeyed her and smothered the fire.
Minerva touched down.
"Are you the one responsible for this destruction?" Karin asked angrily.
Set hung his head. "Yes, I have difficulty controlling Ba-Pef."
Karin leaped onto him and shrieked angrily. She took out two tonfas and began hitting him with them.
"Karin! Stop this immediately!" a voice ordered.
A woman stepped toward them. She ahd blue-and-white hair and gentle, green eyes.
Karin got off Set. She bowed her head and knelt before the woman. She held out her tonfas to the woman, as if awaiting punishment.
"I am sorry, Mother Sophia." she said meekly.
Sophia placed a hand on her tonfas.
"Put those away." Sophia said.
Karin nodded obediently and did as Sophia had commanded. She got up and stood next to Sophia.
"I apologize for my daughter." Sophia said. She bent down to the boy and offered a hand.
"No, I should be the one apologizing." said Set.
"I sensed correctly then." Sophia said. "You are not like the others in Stefan's clan. You still have compassion. Do you wish for help?"
"Yes!" Set nodded. "I never wanted to be evil."
"Few do." said Sophia.
Ba-Pef realized Set was going to betray Stefan. Sophia was the only person who posed a threat to his reign of chaos. Ba-Pef sent a telepathic signal to Stefan, alerting him to the impending treason.