Techno left the room. Moving his head in a bobble-dragon head manner, he attempted to parody Bliss’s holier than thou, dismissive, attitude. “Do not fail me Techno”, he quietly mumbled, emphasizing an onerous whiney inflection on the phrase. “The worst she could do is fire me”, he thought. He quickened his pace, as failing and going back to habitat clean-up didn’t thrill him. Bliss had discovered him there, and had paid off his journeyman qualification dues to the guild in order to free him up to become her apprentice. To be honest…. he owed her big time for the chance she had given him. Very few got a chance to be a wizard’s apprentice. Fewer yet achieved wizard hood.
Techno hurried toward the library. The night was quiet and sparkling cold. Literally sparkling…. as a new frosting of snow dusted the rooftops, paths, and trees. This time of year was called “New Beginning” and magic permeated the very atmosphere surrounding all of Dragonvale. As always happened when the year was coming to a close, and a new one was beginning, decorations in the form of tree ornaments, red ribbons, and whatnot, were sprouting up randomly all over the vale. The astrovanes, umbral sculptures, and sunstones were also aglow with magic animation as this was the one time of the year that all the limited dragons would come together to celebrate.
The night sky was busiest during New Beginning. The rustling of wings overhead made by the elemental dragons, or the less frequent Whoosh……pause….Whoosh of the heavier beat of wings from the epic dragons, agitated the air around the dusting of snow enough that the crystals were in a state of dancelike agitation as they were stirred up in a hectic swirl of sparkling color, and then would slowly settle back towards the surface only to be agitated by a whoosh…whoosh once again causing the dance to replay it self. The reflection of moonlight, and animation from the light posts, was picked up by the decorations and then shot gunned onto the snow crystals. The effect could be likened to the shifting colors of a kaleidoscope, but instead of turning a knob one just had turn one’s head, round a corner in the path, or simply wait for another swirl of snow crystals to pass through a beam of moonlight filtering through the trees to catch a new play of shimmering light patterns that would pleasantly explode into the minds eye. The effect was particularly intense around lampposts, and the animated decorations.
Techno loved this time of year, who didn’t? This year seemed particularly special as more new dragons species had been bred then any previous year in memory, and breakthroughs on the understanding of habitat science had led to magic to overcome size limitations that were restricting the EPIC dragon population. Best of all Kairos showed up, and seemed to be here to stay. His coming was heralded by a gigantic Boom……very long pause….Boom. The first boom had bought Techno and others outside in a panic thinking that two of the islands had finally collided. The second boom was followed by an immense dragon shaped shadow gliding across the landscape. The shadow wings drove down and another tremendous boom akin to thunder as the air rushed in to fill the void left by the wing strokes…No one really knows why he chose “now” to show up and stick around, but no one was complaining either as his ability to bend time greatly enhanced every ones lives and Dragonvale was the better for it. Kairos spent all of his time either sitting on his huge perch or flying at impossible heights above the land. It seemed to Techno that Kairos was acting like an expectant father waiting on the birth of his child. Sit and wait, then fly and hover, sit and wait…fly and hover.
The last interesting development revolves around the coming of the Pillar of Prophesy. Many believe it signaled the end Dragonvale and a general panic ensued when it first manifested itself. Bliss and a number of other leading wizards believe it heralds the end of this age and the beginning of another. Techno believed his boss mostly because not believing it left no room for hope in the future…however it could be a great excuse to risk all your savings at the track.
Techno entered the library and presented the writ from Bliss to the librarian giving him access to all security levels. Hours later he wearily pushed back from a table covered with tomes, yawned, and rubbed his irritated eyes. Tired, hungry and no closer to answering the lightning / reindeer question, and all its potential ramifications, he left.
The cold snapped his senses to full awareness. It was crisp, and clean, and smelt new…invigorating his sense of purpose. What to do next? It was daylight… still no wind…. the dragon traffic was incredibly dense and therefore visually stunning. The air vibrated in a swarm of color. The entire light spectrum seemed to have come to life with a battle being played out between shimmering greens, bright reds, and vivid blues. A gang of frostfire, and bluefire dragons were harassing a couple of rainbows by dive bombing their new habitat. They would start at cloud height and dive straight down in an iridescent “V” formation at the habitat, and at the last second the “V” would pull up going under both rainbow arches while at the same time roaring frost fire and blue fire, temporarily covering the habitat in a blue fog. The landscape was spectacular, its beauty magnified by the double rainbow habitats that were springing up everywhere. The decorations enhanced the festive atmosphere and even the native trees had turned blue…. A distant roar from the coliseum reminded Techno that the racing championships were beginning. Last years champion, a panlong named Won Too, would be strongly challenged by a paper dragon named Red Wing. Both had gone undefeated during the regular season and both could race strongly in practically any element. Techno had “straight way seats”, but would unfortunately miss the final race of the season. “Thanks Bliss!” he muttered. She never liked racing anyway. He wondered if she hadn’t planned this on purpose.
The library had been a bust but Bliss’s writ also gave him access to all the dragons as well. Techno dwelt on the possibilities and settled on the only one that made sense. He would visit the lightning dragon and get answers straight from the dragon’s mouth. It wasn’t an especially brave act as lightning dragons weren’t evil and could be quite civil he had heard. The rule was simply not to stare into their eyes.
The lightning habitat was special. While the rest of Dragonvale smelled new, this habitat smelled “newly created” to Techno. Lightning has the ability to do that, just take a whiff after a big lightning storm, multiply it times ten, and you have a lightning habitat. Thor was the name of the resident lightning dragon and he seemed to be waiting for Techno as he was lying on his belly with his jaw resting over his forelegs. This would be the normal communication pose that dragons take when talking to wizards. He was one of the oldest dragons in the vale as all the pure element dragons were. Being a lightning dragon his voice sounded like the crackle of lightning. Techno had been trained early in the art of “dragonspeak” so had no problem with it:
“It’s good to see you again Techno. I am assuming Bliss sent you.” Thor cracked.
“She did. She has asked me to figure out why you are shunned during the holidays by the reindeer dragons and generally everyone else and why the reindeer dragons are so well liked and the life of the party so to speak”.
Thunder rumbled over and over as Thor was laughing. “Let me see the writ”. Techno handed it over. Thor glanced at it for a split second and remarked, “This writ is backed by the supreme council. Ignoring it is not really an option as I will be excommunicated”. He snorted one small blue bolt of derision. “Apprentice, the only way to answer your question is for you to look me in the eyes”. I took a step back wary. Thor snapped, “You think I am going to kill you or something? Now get over here and start staring! This takes awhile”.
I looked into Thor’s eyes ……His name was Vale. He was the greatest of all dragons. As Thor compared in size to Kairos, Kairos compared in size to Vale. His armor was impregnable and of unmatched beauty. It rippled and shimmered continuously changing from solid, to translucent, to transparent, a host of colors and patterns always competing for dominance. No gem could match the beauty of the living structure that was Vale. When he opened his wings, complex biological and chemical processes taking place in the folded membranes released energy in the form of light accompanied by a phosphorescent glow that changed hue depending on the energy the dragon was expending. When resting the membrane pulsed as a raging blue fire tinged with green. In flight it ranged from copper to violet depending on the speed. At top speed his flight was silent as the sound was always trying to catch up to the violet streak. The people and rest of the dragons called this phenomena a “Vale Storm”.
A long time ago restlessness, and greed, turned to muttering, which turned to mumbling, which turned to complaining amongst the dragon kind and the wizardly folk. Sides were chosen and the world was at the brink of war. Only Vale spoke of forgiveness and peace, but even the wisest wisdom worded in the wisest of ways could not deter the building of hatred, fed by greed and lust, the rest of the world was feeling.
The battle lines had been drawn. Today was the day that heroes would be made. Kingdoms would be born this day, and the world would change forever The day of legends was upon all those at the battlefield. Good and Evil would be defined and assigned to the winners and losers. This was to be the “New Beginning”.
Vale surveyed the scene. A great sadness was upon his countenance. Only he understood the ramifications of this folly. He hovered miles above the battlefield so high that no one realized he was there. Both sides loosed torrents of destructive magics simultaneously. Neither battle tactics nor generals to coordinate battle existed, as death and destruction had never existed, so this was destruction by pure brute force hurled by both sides. Few would survive this day and the world would be torn asunder. Later those that would survive would wish they had died in the battle instead.
Vale dove at the same time all the destruction was unleashed. His roar shook the world and all heads turned upwards, He hardened the very air around the destruction and built barriers protecting friend and foe alike. The magics crashed into the barriers and like waves hitting the cliffs it pounded and sprayed violently upward engulfing the great dragon. For one instant he hovered in mid-wing stroke, his silhouette against a giant fireball aflame… burning the memory into all present that day. Then like a gigantic broken kite he plunged to earth.
The horror of his passing enveloped both armies, and acted like a bucket of cold water putting out the fires of battle lust. Vale had sacrificed himself so that all may live. The memory began too fade….
Techno blinked, a tear streaming down his face. Thor pulled his head away and continued, “The legendary dragons and wizards picked up his pieces, and captured his essence. Dragonvale was started with the goal being a “New Beginning”. We eagerly await the return of our king. It is here that his sacrifice is honored and his resurrection is eagerly awaited. With the main elements we have been working towards his rebirth. Each of the elements are breeding to bring back his body in all its glory. The newest additions of metal represent his Armor. Our limited brothers represent the essence of his feelings…. his love, his luck, his spirit. The Epics represent those things that made him the greatest dragon that ever lived. His strength through the Olympus, his colors through the rainbow, his mastery of all the forces in the sky through the moon and sun, his tears and eyes by the gem dragons”.
“New Beginning” is the day he died. We honor his sacrifice by giving gifts as we realize he gave the greatest gift of all, his life, so that we would not perish, and we joyfully thank him for delivering us from death and destruction. We await his return which will herald a “new beginning” for us all with Vale as our king and savior”.
“I have Vale’s memories. Some of which you have gotten a glimpse. They are free to anyone that wants to stare into my eyes. However it is Vale’s wish that we in Dragonvale, working on his resurrection, do so with joy, and not with the weight of sadness through understanding the horrors of the past. So even though I contain the memories to be shown they are not to be remembered. A reindeer dragon will visit you. These dragons are Vale’s ability to not only forgive but to forget anything ever happened. The reindeer dragons make it their business to visit everyone at Dragonvale during New Beginning. When you look into a reindeer’s eyes, everything you know or are thinking about Vale will be forgotten”.
Looking at the writ again Thor dipped his claw into an ink well and scribbled something quickly onto the paper. Techno began the trek back. Along the way he ran into a very friendly reindeer dragon, which told him that Red Wing had defeated Won Too and would reign as champion for the next year.
“Darn!” Techno thought, “I would have loved to have been there!” He looked at the writ, and at what Thor had scribbled, “I have complied with the supreme council’s request and passed on the information to Techno. As one of the original 8 elementals dragons I respectfully decline you the right to know the answer to your question.” I have taken steps to ensure that Techno cannot tell you what he a one time knew. A dragon’s word was his bond so Thor had met the requirement of the law without giving up any information. Bliss was going to be pissed. “I wonder what I knew?”
Somehow Techno had a feeling that he was better off not knowing…..
Last Edit: Dec 25, 2012 23:18:42 GMT -6 by technofanatic
OMW Techno, you are an amazing writer! I loved the detail and your written work made the story feel very animated! I enjoyed the new and enriched perspective to this wonderful concept.
OMW Techno, you are an amazing writer! I loved the detail and your written work made the story feel very animated! I enjoyed the new and enriched perspective to this wonderful concept.
It story needed a good conger point... Merry Christmas dragonvale from Elektronx and Techno. Enjoy the read......!
Post by eternitydragon on Dec 25, 2012 15:28:42 GMT -6
This is my real entry...the other just was not as good. I won't delete the other, but I'll edit it to make sure you count this one. Thanks & enjoy XD
All the young children raced up to the wisest wizard in the park when he sat in his rocking chair near the fire. He smiled warmly at them. "What do you wonderful young uns need?" he asked, but he had a feeling that he knew what they wanted.
"A story!" they all chanted. Called it, the old man thought with a smile. "Well, what about the meaning of why you should never enter a staring contest with a lightning dragon? Will that satisfy you all?"
"Yes! Yes!" they all chanted. "Please!" one even added in a whiny voice. The man smiled.
"Alright," he said, looking out the window. Snow. Perfect.
He sat back in his rocking chair and began to tell the tale.
One day many years before any of you were born, a Blue Moon baby shivered in the cold. It's mother had abandoned it when a dragonpoacher began to chase her. At the time, the baby Blue Moon thought its mother was a cruel, heartless beast, but all she was trying to do was protect her child. In turn he was all alone on one of the coldest nights.
She tried to wail as loud as possible. Maybe another dragon would hear her. Alas, no other beast flew to take her in. The baby waited forty-five minutes before curling up in a shivering ball, whimpering pitifully.
In the night, a Lightning dragon went out to search for food. As she was walking she nearly tripped over the baby dragon, who yelped and tried to scramble away.
"Do not be afraid, little one," the Lightning dragon rumbled soothingly. "Do you have a name?"
The baby shook its nearly frozen head.
"Ah, I see." The Lightning dragon thought. "Well, my name is Savic. You shall come live with me in the Clan of Lightning."
The baby's eyes widened. "Yes, I know, it's only for pure Lightnings," Savic rumbled. "But you are my child, and they shall let you reside there forever!"
The baby cooed happily. She would have a place to stay warm and eat heartily. And a kind mother to curl up next to. A mother that would stay by her side and wouldn't abandon her like her other mother.
"And you..." Savic trailed off. "Well, you shall be given a Lightning name to be accepted better. I shall call you Taracniss, since T follows S in the human alphabet. That is how our clan names the next generations. Now climb on my back, and we shall fly to my home."
When Taracniss was brought to her new home, kost dragons were in shock. A Blue Moon, not living in the Clan of the Blue Moon? Yes, said Savic to those who thought so, she shall become one of us.
Years passed and Taracniss was accepted as a true Lightning dragon. No one ever questioned her living with them, not even newcomers. Taracniss never knew any different way of life.
On Christmas Day, the day came for her first Pack-hunt, when groups of Lightning dragons brought down something very, very big, bigger than King Kairos. Taracniss was so very excited to hunt with all the 'big' dragons.
Savic fought so very hard to be with Taracniss, but High Dragon Swiftwing was having none of it. "What's done is done," he said. "The groups have been made, Savic. Now go join your group."
Taracniss was disappointed that she couldn't hunt with her mother. Before her group left, Taracniss said good-bye to Savic. "Be strong," Savic murmured into her daughter's ear. Then Taracniss and her group left.
A senior hunter told Savic terrible news when everyone returned.
"A dragonpoacher somehow isolated Taracniss," he told her. "He killed her brutally, Savic. I'm so-"
"No!" Savic roared. The senior hunter tried to calm the distressed mother but to no avail.
"Listen!" she roared to each and every Lightning dragon in the clan. "Humans are horrible creatures! My daughter loved staring contests, hear me? Well, this shall be a curse, the Curse of the Lightning dragons! Every time they enter a staring contest with us, they shall be hypnotized and be..." she ran out of breath. "Murdered as ruthlessly as my daughter was. Today, Christmas day, our power is the strongest! We shall now be known as the dragon never to be challenged to a staring contest!"
All the children's mouths were gaping open. One or two were crying. The old man nodded. "See why now?" he asked. The children nodded.
"Tis the revenge of Savic," he said. "Please...never ever do a staring contest with one of her kind. Do you all promise?" After seeing Taracniss after the hunt, none of them can end up like that!
"Promise!" the children shouted.
"Now, it's bedtime, I recall..." the old wizard chuckled. "You can't risk not receiving presents from Sandakloz!"
As the children scurried to bed, the old wizard walked outside. He found two stars that lay very close to each other, and bowed his head.
Last Edit: Dec 25, 2012 17:58:27 GMT -6 by eternitydragon
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