Kayla's Wish Prologue

It was an event few would forget. Selenia had murdered many fairies in an attempt to gain their souls and increase her own magical abilities by drawing energy from them. She was not good at covering her own tracks, and eventually was caught.
The accused fairy was brought before Queen Titania. Her violet eyes shone with defiance."Selenia, you have been accused of treason and murder. You have killed three fairies, including my husband and my sister." said the queen.
Selenia spat on the ground. "I should be queen. That is part of the reason I did what I did. Your sister and your husband got in my way. Be glad I at least spared your neice. But you'll have that unfortunate stain of her birth still on your family. She is half-human, after all."
"Your acceptance of your guilt will not make this easier." Titania said.
"I was not expecting it to. Can we just skip to the part where you tell me my punishment?" Selenia blew a tuft of her black hair from her face.
Titania nodded to two guards. "Very well." The guards fitted Selenia's arm with cuffs that had a spell cast on them that resisted magic. She would still be able to move, but unable to cast spells without removing them first. They then forced a foul-smelling liquid down her throat.
"Selenia, when you approached the Age of Turning, you were given a potion that stopped your aging. Did you not think we had an antidote?" Titania said.
Selenia swallowed the potion with no resistance."You now have only forty years to live. Now, for the second part of your punishment, you will be forced to wear those restraints for the remainder of your life. You will not have the pleasure of drawing magic from nature. Finally, you shall be exiled from our domain."Selenia was led away, screaming insults and pleading for mercy.
"You've ruined your chances for that, I am afraid." Titania said sternly.
"You do realize she will be taking the child along." said a fairy named Golda. "I do not know what part that innocent child may be forced to play." said Titania. "We shall have to wait and see."

Dragon Children Chapter XIV: A Visit to Paradisia

(Note to Readers: As of next update, I will be taking a break from my updates. I need to get the creative juices flowing. In its place will be a whole new story. I might even alternate)
Pandora watched from her scrying pool as Sophia recounted her story of how Stephan had killed her husband and daughter.
"So, she still grieves for them." she thought. "This gives me an idea."

Drak approached Saiyune. "I have received a message from Pandora." he said. "We are to enter Paradisia."
"But I thought that it was impossible to enter Paradisia without dying." said Saiyune.
A goblet materialized before her. "Drink that." said Drak. "It will induce a state that is close to death. This will alleviate that."
Saiyune nodded and drank. Her heart quickened, then slowed until it almost stopped. She found herself in an arid, desert-like void. There were melting clocks on the landscape.
They soon came upon a green-haired and green-eyed girl wearing a white dress that came down to her ankles. She was quietly picking petals off a flower. The girl looked about ten years old.
"Who are you?" the girl asked.
"My name is Saiyune. Your mother has asked for you." Saiyune said.
"My mother? But she wants me to wait until her work is complete."
"She feels she needs you to help her." Saiyune explained.
"Then I shall help you. My name is Ariel, by the way."

****

Meanwhile, Jewel had grown hungry in her cell. She approached the cell door, which was guarded by a bat-winged demon.

"I'd like some food, please." she pleaded.

"Your mother has said you are not to be fed more than once a week." said the guard.

Suddenly, a dragon appeared at her window. It was Abdiel. He had a slain deer on his back.

"Your mother's spell did not work fully on me." said Abdiel. "I am working on an escape plan. In the meantime, eat this deer. You will need your strength."

The Dragon Children Chapter XIII: Ariel

Sophia was an apprentice to the Spirit Mage, Ezekiel. Ezekiel was a tall man with white hair and blue eyes. He was three years older than Sophia, who was in her twenties at the time. She had come here five years before with her dragon, Minerva. She was told by Iawia that she was to be taught by him. During that time, their relationship had blossomed into a closer one, more like lovers. She soon gave birth to a green-haired joyful girl named Ariel.
When Ariel turned seven years old, she was bonded to a White Dragon named Cirrus. Two years later, a young boy and his black dragon arrived at their doorstep. The boy's name was Stephan, and his dragon was named Kor.
"The dragon's voice is in my head and always makes me do bad things." Stephan explained. "Can you help me stop it?"
"The fact that you have come to me is proof that you have hope. " Ezekiel said.
For four years, Ezekiel was able to help Stephan suppress Kor's influence. Then Stephan met a beautiful woman with long, flowing red hair and green eyes. Her beauty bewitched Stephan and he fell in love with her. This woman was Pandora. In time, she was able to seize his will and became her servant. He no longer attempted to suppress Kor's influence. After that time he returned to Ezekiel and Sophia.
"I see the prodigal son has returned." said Ezekiel. "Have you turned from Pandora's influence?"
"No." said Stephan. He pointed at Stephan and drained his life energy from him within moments.
Ariel rushed to her father's side.
"What have you done to him?" she asked.
"You will join him, child. Don't fear." said Stephan. He killed her as well.
Sophia saw the whole thing, but was too stunned to act.
"Why are you doing this?" she tearfully asked.
"Pandora knows she cannot kill you yet. You cannot die until you have completed your mission. Pandora has sent me to convince you to reconsider."
"Do not let him convince you." said Minerva.
Sophia shook her head. "I will defy you and Pandora. I will make sure you pay, not just for my grief, but all the grief you have caused."

Chapter XII: Sophia's Home

The Resistance arrived in a village. Sophia did not want to be here, and Joanne could see this.
"What is wrong, mother?" she asked the blue-haired priestess.
"This is where I lived before I began my journey to recruit followers."
"This is where you were born?" asked Damien.
"No. I was never actually born. I was created to save this world. This is where I learned my purpose."
The village was surrounded by oak trees, maple trees, and trees unlike those on Earth. Some had green leaves, while others were as colorful as rainbows. Birds flew freely, oblivious to the humans and dragons. Lizards crawled up the trees looking for tasty insects. Bees were pollinating flowers so new ones could bloom. Farmers were plowing their fields. Cattle were lazily chewing on grass.
"It's beautiful here." said Cypress, Damien's dragon.
"Yes." Sophia said as a tear trickled down her cheek. She walked into the village's graveyard, passing by several tombstones. Then she stopped two. One beared the name Ezekiel, the other, Ariel. It was here that she stopped, knelt, and wept.
Karin looked at Ariel's grave and noticed that the tombstone said the person inside only lived for ten years.
"Who was this person?" Karin asked.
"She was my daughter. I remember how it felt carrying her inside me. My first child. She had beautiful green hair that I never tired of combing. She had sparkling eyes as green as the foam of the sea. She had an almost ceaseless zeal and an infectious laugh. I enjoyed every moment I spent with her. That is until Stephan killed her."
Sophia turned to see silent surprise in the girls' eyes. The same person who had killed their parents and burned their house down had also killed this innocent child?
Sophia said. "I have come to terms with her death. But there are times I admit I wish she and her dragon, Cirrus, were still alive. Perhaps I was allowed to give birth to her so I could understand what it is like to hold a life in your hands. I would not regret giving birth to a life like that.

The Dragon Children Chapter XI: Reunion

When Saiyunne reappeared, she brought Jewel to Stephan. Stephan brought Jewel to his mirror and Pandora appeared.
"Hello, my child." said Pandora.
"Who are you?" asked Jewel.
"I am Pandora, queen of Hecate."
"Hecate?" asked Jewel's silver dragon. "The realm of the damned? What do you want with my child?" he asked.
"Who are you?" Pandora asked, her eyes flaring with anger.
"I am Abdiel." said the dragon.
"Abdiel, you do not realize this child is actually mine. It is my blood that is in her veins."
Jewel was astonished. "I am of the damned? But I have a silver dragon."
"This is not your true dragon. BUt I can give you the dragon you truly deserve. Do you see that chalice over there?" she asked, pointing to a chalice ordained with opals. "Give it to your dragon. It will make Abdiel a dragon worty of my service."
"But that woman who brought me here said you would make me stronger."
"This is part of it." said the sorceress.
"Do not listen to her!" exclaimed Abdiel.
"Child, I am your true mother." said Pandora.
Jewel gulped. She obeyed and gave the chalice to Abdiel.
"Those kartol are my creation." Pandora said to Abdiel. "If you serve me, they will not harm the child."
Abdiel considered what Pandora said. He realized there was truth in what Pandora was saying.
"You understand I'm only doing this for Jewel." said Abdiel. "I want to be by her side. That is all." The dragon drank from the chalice. Moments later, both the girl and the dtagon were writhing in agony.
"My stomach!" exclaimed Jewel. "It's on fire! It's as though I'm being eaten from the inside out!"
Abdiel began to change. His silver scales blackened like charcoal. Within moments, the transformation was complete. Both child and dragon bowed before Pandora.
Pandora ran her hand through her red locks. "Excellent." she grinned evilly.
"We will serve you well, my mother." said Jewel obediently.

The Dragon Children Chapter X: Night Raid

When Night falls in the Rathlian lands, it is difficluty to tell. This is because the land is shrouded in an almost perpetual fog.
A woman materialized in Stephan's quarters. She had fiery red hair and green eyes. She was tall and slender and had an appearance that would make anyone feel at ease. Stephan knelt before her.
"What is your command, my leige?" he asked.
I have an assignment for your newest recruit." she said.
-------------------------------
Hours later, Saiyune and her new dragon, Drak, touched down in a village. Saiyune had changed dramatically under Drak and Stefan's tutelage. It was as though all kindness had been expelled from her.
Drak turned to her mistress. "You know what to do?" she asked.
"Yes." Saiyune nodded. She dismounted and placed her hand on the ground. It was time to test her new abilities. All members of the Black Dragon Clan were able to control the creatures who had aligned themselves with Pandora, the queen of evil. She smiled. "Arise, kartol!" she commanded.
Holes immediately formed in the ground and skittering noises could be heard. The townspeople heard the noises and stepped out to investigate. At that momnet, giant eight-legged creatures crawled out of the holes. They had stingers that sprayed acid. These were the kartols.
"Feast!" she sneered.
Drak joined in the chaos and began torching the houses. They soon found the one particular house they had been instructed to leave undamaged.
"There is a little girl inside. We have orders to take her alive." Drak reminded her.
"Stay back. I don't think we should frighten her any more than she will already be." Saiyune said.
Saiyune entered the house.. She found a dark-skinned girl who looked about eight years old and was cowering in a corner. She had blue eyes and short, pinkish-red hair.
"I-I'm scared." shivered the girl. "My dragon is in the next room and surrounded by those...things."
Saiyune noded. "I'll get the dragon." she said with mock sincerity. "What's its name?"
"Scarlet." said the girl.
"And what is your name?" Saiyune asked.
"Jewel. The monsters ate my mommy and daddy."
"Well, we'll just have to get you new ones." said Saiyune. "But first, let's get you to safety."
She took out an axe and began hacking at the door. When the door finally gave, she saw the kartols closing in on a red dragon.
Saiyune said strange words, causeing the scorpion-like cratures to back away.
"Burn them." Saiyune said. "Violence is the only language they understand."
The dragon nodded and breathed fire ont he monsters.
Saiyune turned to the child and offered a hand. "If you come with me, I can teach you to be brave. You will even make these creatures fear you."
Jewel's eyes widened. "Can you really teach me that?"
Saiyune nodded.
"Then take me with you." Jewel pleaded.
Saiyune nodded and the three of them left the village as the kartol continued their chaos.

The Dragon Children: Chapter IX: Set's Baptism

Set watched as Joanne baptized Caleb and his mother.
"What is the point of that?" he asked.
"It is a sign of Iawia's love." Joanne expained. "It shows that they are now under her watchful eye and care. Weren't you baptized?"
"I...don't remember." Set tried to search his memory, but nothing came.
"The memory might have been blocked." said Sophia. "Stephan often blocks the memories of those he kidnalps. It makes them easier to control."
"Yes." said Malika. "He did it to me too." said Malika.
"Do you think you could baptize me as well?" Set asked Joanne. "Even if I was already baptized and don't remember?"
"We were already baptized before Joanne did it. So I suppose Iawia doesn't mind." said Tayla with a shrug. "Although I barely remember my first one. Perhaps Iawia will bless you anyway."
"I don't see why not. It's part of my training." Joanne shrugged.
"Training?" Set asked.
"You mean you haven't guessed?" asked Karin. "She's a novice. Sophia is her mentor. As children, we were orphanned by Stefan. Sophia found us and said that she wished to be our mother. I don't know why, but I felt compelled to trust her. I felt I'd known her all my life. SO we let her take care of us. That was ten years ago."
"Please baptize me then. I don't want Stefan or Ba-Pef controlling me anymore." Set pleaded.
Joanne nodded. "Undress and follow me into the water."
She wadaed into the water and Set obeyed. Joanne poured the water over his head and performed the ritual. As Set waded out of the water and redressed himself, he looked over at Ba-Pef. Ba-Pef had changed. He was no longer black, but green.
"Ba-Pef, what's happened to you?" Set asked.
"I...I don't know." Ba-Pef stammered.
"It's Pandora's magic." Sophia explained. "You see, long ago, black dragons never existed. Pandora and her minions found dragons and used dark magic on them. This is what turned them black. It must've happenned to you as well. When Set was baptized, Iawia blessed you both and broke the spell."
"I am sorry for all those times I took over your mind." said Ba-Pef. "I was under orders to corrupt you."
Karin called Set over and knelt on the ground. Set came over to her.
"Set, I've got something to show you." she said.
"What is it?" Set asked.
"Place your hand in the dirt and concentrate." she instructed.
Set placed his hand in the dirt. He felt a strange engergy coarsing through his hand.
"That's the planet's life force." Karin explained. "Like Damian and myself, you can now control it."
Set ran over to Joanne and kissed her.
Karin laughed. "When did you start loving my sister?" she asked snarkly.
"Since now." Set said. Joanne laughed and kissed him back.
"Are you jealous?" Nolk asked.
"No, I'm happy." Karin said.