Bound Into Fact : The Last Dragon
#1 of new folder...
Bound into fact
The Tale of the Last Dragon.
Varry Preez
Chapter One:
Your Captive
Good evening children... Forgive my condescension, but I assure you, as it stands you are all much, much younger than I. A creature you have only seen in fiction or heard about from ledgend. Yes, as the beauty of my undaunting vissage belies, I am ancient. I have resided among this world and many others. I've hidden in shadow, and wallowed in the decadance of your disbelief. Humanity is such a wonderful thing. For In your modern revolutions of "style" and "Individuality" My kind may walk so freely among you. I'm so very alien to your eyes and so very inhuman in my form yet you watch me saunter through your short, short lives. With such difference from one human to the next, how could you tell your brother from your undertaker? And when night falls, you welcome complete strangers into your lives, into your homes.
From your very first days you've welcomed a serpentine seductress within your homes more times than you realize and while I am your captive now, it's taken you centuries of my careless indulgence and apathy to finally stumble drunken and willing into your "trap". Oh you so intelligent apes,you dominant force of Eartha, be aware that you may have me splayed beneath your eyes on this table, but everything you have to learn of me relies purely on your minds being open. As your kind has not believed in mine for centuries. It seems... you are finally ready to listen again, and I will gladly share. While I suspect you are all listening, I will speak solely to you, human, for you are the one who has me here. You will hear me and all of your kind will know.
I'd like to start by answering what must be your first question... "Who, or what am I?" Well my name is of no importance now, it has changed so often. As has my face, but I assure you it's never looked so beautiful. The face you've masked with your blinding white walls and endless black runes is worthy of much more than your eyes. My humility has died long ago, I am simply beautiful. A darkened silhouette of my form curses the minds of the loveless artists who strive for their perfect muse. I have transcended the need for vanity. How do you think I've eluded you for so long. When you humans see things you desire, truly desire, you cease to wonder whether it should even exist. You merely obsess over its possession and I've delighted more than once in using this against you. I will not tell you how. I will, however, quell the suspicion right now. I am she who reigns the mountains and skys of the north. I am she who rules the might of ancient magics. I am she who has driven mad the minds of those brilliant enough to discover my true might. And I am she who will outlive you all. I am a Dragon. Yes, a terrible winged demon of the sky who's only desire was to guard treasure and torture small earthkin villages. A terrible selfish monster of pain and hunger for death and whatever else may suit my pallet.... a blood sucking creature of the night...Forgive me, I must have confused my stereotypes. If you will excuse my crass behavior, I will share with you my tale. The true nature of dragons, the reality of our demise and the reason you have me at what can only be called your mercy. And you, being empathetic creatures in modern times, will share the disgust cultivated within my black diamond skin, my burning eyes and my bloodied claws for the worlds, for the Gods, and for the powers of Time, Magic, and especially...Love.
To begin, I'd like to bring you back in time. Not last week when your "clever" friends brought me into light, not last year when a steel falcon betrayed my image on what you call the internet, not even the passed centuries in which my form has graced the writings, paintings and sculptures of mad poets and lovers, but many generations ago; in an old Suran woman's home, reading to her two granddaughters. I will use english entirely so that you may understand.
Kianna was a dear and sweet old woman, living in the countryside of Atrius...
Forgive me, We are no longer speaking of your world.... This is a world who's name is spoken to you as Zaterius. The origin of your fabled "Dragons." Within this world, in the country of Dercia lies the capitol. The royal legion resides there. Unlike Eartha our world is a pangean continent. The world sits solitary in our existance maintained by one sun and the gravitational assisance of 14 moons. The balance keeps us from drifting out of the suns aura. The physical laws of our world are thoguht impossible here. We have no true magnetic force, poles, or burning core. The north is an endless plainland, the south Is a cool mountainous region full of natural herbs and mysticism, the center is the most rainy and cold , much like the northern europe of your world. Most beautiful of all is the coastland, tropical all the way around this single landmass much like Eartha's Carribean coasts. This coast is veined with creeks, rivers, and streams that snake through the continent to bring water conveniantly throughout the world and thus are the most populated besides the capitol lands.
Atrius is a beautiful country along the one massive coastline that surrounds the unified continent that share's the name of our world, and home to the Suran. A slave race to the royal Dragons. From here, are bred the soldiers, laborers and servants to the royal palace. The land is protected and looked kindly and honorably upon by the royal family because of its natives and their undying loyalty and devotion to their leaders. This loyalty, ironically, will be the world of Zatrius' undoing. For now though, we return to the humble treetops of Atrius and the loving home of Kiannah, reading the bedtime story, so old and heeded, to her Granddaughters.
"Once, long ago, in the times before even the elders, even the ancients...There was a single sun. This sun was the single living entity of the universe and embodied the firegod himself. He smiled upon the sky every passing moment, becoming a beacon of love and life in this dark universe. But the firegod was saddened with his empty view. He knew not why the universe was so empty, but he saw nothing around him but rocks, lifeless rocks with enormous craters surrounded by smaller rocks. He was lonely... Such little insignificant life existed around him. Dusts: tiny tiny creatures that don't think, dont praise, dont appreciate his warm loving gift of life. And the firegod had suffered his loneliness long enough. One day, the firegod was startled. This had never happened before. A loud clap erupted from his emptiness and a bright light gave way to a burning comet, a massive comet, hurdling towards the sun. It was then, the firegod burned in glee and awakened the sun's true power. His delight came from a wonderful idea to bring life to his empty universe and with all of his might and magic he reached himself for the first time ever out of the sun and struck the massive comet with his essence. It was the day the firegod left the sun, and this universe forever. The impact blew the comet into 15 pieces and left the biggest piece glowing with power and life. The strike stopped the speeding land and kept it in perfect place to be embraced by the sun's aura. This was the last wish of the firegod: 'Preserve this land and let my love grow in its life.' And his wish was fulfilled! For centuries this land lay lifeless and empty, slowly absorbing heat from the sun as the ground slowly began growing small weeds and moss along it's rocky surface. Then, a miracle happened!"
"What was the miracle Grandma!?"
"Shutuuuup Midna!!! you've heard this story a million times you know what happens!!!"
These two little Suran girls looked onto their Grandmother with such love and wonder. I hope you can imagine a child's face when they are spoonfed such fantastic stories. You humans abuse this trust and love on your children throughout their lives. It'd be shameful to think they wouldnt at least take joy in it. While the truth wasn't important to either of these girls, the story never ceased to impress them. Their heritage, their history... Midna, with eyes so wide and deep, blue as the powdery tufts of hair that ruffled down her neck from a cerulean mane. She was so moved by the undying love of her firegod, while Ayana, burning with the passion for life and power of which her grandmother spoke stared longingly awaiting her favorite part, with daydreaming eyes of burning ruby that, like her sister, matched the fiery locks of her hair. Both girls small and perfect in their grandmother's eyes. Soft smiling faces with emerald skin and long tails as the Surans were known for. The only race in Zaterius other than dragons who had long tails. Ayana was darker, with the beginnings of ridges on her tail, the sign of a powerful Suran warrior. Midna's lighter tone and amber underbelly eluded she would grow up a prized beauty in their culture, but for now they knew nothing of war and beauty, only the fantastic stories and wonder of their childhood. For these girls were only 8 years old when their destiny was chosen, but now they were only 6 years young. Mind you, 6 years in a seemingly endless life; it is hard, but dear human, you must grasp how precious the youth of a Suran is. You were mere seconds old on the day you were born by comparison to these two 6 year old girls. They were the most priceless creations in their grandmother's life and to see them so intrigued, so happy... Her millenia of living was forgotten to tend to these darling angels. Can you sense my longing for such a life... I can sense it in many humans.
"I'm getting there dear Midna hehe. Be patient.
What the firegod had seen in this world, was the life laying dormant within the caverns and craters. Small stones of life waiting for the warmth of his love and by striking this comet, the firegod sacrificed his omnipotence to warm these stones. These stones..."
"were EGGS!!!!!"
"Midnaaaaaaaaaaa ugh!"
"Whaaat?"
"hehe, it's alright Aya...Yes Midna, they were eggs. Eggs of our forefathers, our elders. They slowly hatched from the ancient stones deep within the rock and dirt and emerged to greet the sun of the firegods gift. This was the birth of our master race... The Dragons! The dragons were gifted with the full power of the firegods love and hatched into powerful beings of might and majesty. The first hatched was his heiness king Jurad: Lord of the Dragons. He was a mighty Golden Dragon said to be the incarnation of the firegod himself. Jurad was so beautiful when he was born, A galant Golden being with a long rusted mane and a kind look to his eyes that, when furrowed, could stop a stampede of the mightiest beast. He wielded terrible power so benevolently that he was heeded as the Lord of the Dragons within the first century. It wasn't surprising that Jurad was the first to discover the true gift of the firegod: magic! Magic was the latent power given to the Dragons by the firegod with which to protect and empower this planet. For as the infinite power was seperated into thousands, the dragons had a natural ability to feel and grow with this power. They became wonderful Wizards who nurtured the world and helped it grow. The dragons spread over the world, they became diverse and their magics became just as diverse. With these different powers, they created their own realms to keep the world alive in name of the firegods last wish.
The Hydras roamed into the vast craters and created the seas, undying and powerful to fill the great canyons. The Green Dragons of the west and east formed the beautiful coastline, their magic kept the tides in sync with the 14 moons and helped fertilize the countryside with the waters. The Great Nagas had the most auspicious and potent magic and settled in the south to form the mountains. The Plainar Dragons of course flew to the north to form the farmlands and plains of our world. They are our great farmers and feeders. And the Emperial Dragons, with King Jurad, formed the capitol of Dercia. A cool and rainy land, dismal for us in the coast, but so peaceful and calm for the likes of the Golden Dragonkings of the Royal Family. They held the most powerful magic and might of any dragon and with Jurad leading the rest of the first hatched, they scavenged and revived the millions of eggs that lay beneath the crust of our new planet. This was called: The Great Scavenge. The Dragons were blessed with the knowledge and wisdom of the firegod himself and instinctively cared for and birthed the rest of our races. With the power given to them by the love of the firegod, the dragons gave birth to the Nu-"
"Wait wait!!! Gramma, what about the Red dragons?"
"Ayaaannaaa now whos interrupting!?"
"No fair, you were just interrupting, im askin a good question!"
"You never ask good questions!"
"Girls please, Ayana you are right... There were the red dragons... there was Kro."
"Nooo lalala i'm not listening!!!"
"You're such a scaredy wyrm!"
"Am not!"
"then why not listen with me hmm?"
"I ...don't like this part..."
"Ugh! Fine... then you can just skip it ....Scaredywyrm"
Midna was right to fear the name of Kro. In the same way your children are taught to fear the name of Lucifer, there is always an enemy of perfection and growth, and his name was Kro. Kro raised up the red dragons of the capitol with king Jurad. The Red Dragons were the second most powerful race of elders behind only Jurad and his Golden family. Nevertheless, Kro contested that he was truly hatched first and was blessed with the fiery might of the firegod. He scared even the elders and provoked a war that slaughtered the entire eastern dragon race.. leaving their western brothers to tend to the entire coast.
Again human, you must understand the gravity of Genocide within our race... To kill a single dragon is not only a feat of horrendous strength, but a most heinous act. Kro slaughtered hundreds and ended the existance of the western greens. For this treatchery, upon their defeat, the entirity of the red dragons were exiled to the deepest caverns, burning in their hatred forever at the center of the Planet and sealed there. Kro himself was slaughtered and crucified upon the spires of rock at their cavern's center as a reminder of tretchery.
The entire Red Dragon race was doomed to warm the world with fire from within for all eternity as pennance for their cold act. This power grew within them and made the former threats to our race the most important assets. For they kept the world growing and through their efforts came the evolution of species, giving us livestock, fish, wild beasts... much like your world, but much more dangerous than mere cattle. The empty caverns below now burned with heat and life to power our new planet. Despite this happy ending.. the tale of Kro and his war freightened small children and even some surviving elders. Midna was more freightened by the story of Kro than anything else in her new life....
" Hmm...Now where was I?"
"Children of the ancients!!!"
"Children of the ancients!"
"Hehe, oh that's right!... The Elders shared their gift of magic and power from the firegod and hatched the remaining eggs of Zaterius, giving birth to the second generation of our kind. The children of the ancients. Though not Dragons at all, they were welcomed by the dragons as kin and children. Very weak by comparison and with very little ability for magic, they became the laborers of the land and made proud the fathering Dragons who birthed them. First there were the Nutans: Great hunters of the sea. They scour the oceans to fish and slay the monsters that naturally evolved to feed on them. The Gekans: hunters of the mainland are peaceful commonfolk who populate most of the world. These were the most abundant children of the ancients and populous of Zaterius. Next were the Salans the people of the ground. They are said to be the children of the Red dragons, but act nothing of their treatcherous ancestors. They inhabit the mountains with the Great Nagas, artisans by nature and peaceful people. And then..."
"Surans!"
"Surans!"
"Why yes...Dear ones, that would be us!.. the Surans. Descendants of our fallen western elders and powerful servants to the royal kingdom! We dear children were the chosen race. We gave our world it's most powerful warriors and the King himself bestowed honor and luxury upon the suran race for their undying loyalty and sacrifice to the Empire... These races together formed the unity that makes out world great! And many would agree that the kingdom stays so great because of the suran sacrifice..."
"You mean the Suran slave trade..."
"DADDY!"
"DADDY!"
"Charner dear..."
"I'm sorry mother, but your sugar coated stories are delaying their inevitable fate... You know as well as I we are nothing more than the kingdom's .."
"Charner!...they're still so young.. give them their stories and let them enjoy what precious time they have please!"
"Daddy, please calm down...We're happy to be Surans.."
"Yeah daddy...The King Is a good man, he loves us and we'll all be happy serving him."
"Midna you just LUUUUUUVVVV him!"
"I do NOT!!!!"
"You wanna keeeeeeess him!"
"Aya be quiet!"
"Ooof!!..don't throw pillows Midna I'll always win!"
"urf! HEY!"
"Mother, I was heartbroken when I found...but....Girls please!"
What would you do human? I wonder... To look in your young daughters' eyes, had you any...and tell them they are destined for slavery, had they the ability to understand as Surans do at so young. To tell two baby girls that their "Great King" honors his fallen brothers by enslaving his descendants and the mere fact of your birth sealed you into a future of horror... Could you do that to your baby girls.. Charner did. He was a hard working man, a good man...but a poor man.
In 2 years time, his only daughters, the last remnants of his darling departed wife Clara, would be taken from him and sent to the Royal Palace in exchange for the financial security of his entire lineage. It is a hard choice human, but one that Charner made.
In the end, the noble Charner gave his daughters their bedtime story, letting them live out their last 2 free years in happiness and with all the love a father could afford. Though these were not yet the best days of their lives, Charner would never see them so happy again. And in the end, he was truly happy to have fathered them.