Light and Dark: The Prologue (CH1)

"RAAHH!"

"WAAHH!"

A green bipedal dragon jumped onto the back of a quadrupedal white dragon. It was warm outside, with a cool breeze blowing across the green grass. Birds sang, and the white clouds drifted lazily in front of the sun.

"What're you doing, Emerald?" the white dragon asked, adjusting his eyes to the light and yawning.

"What're you doing taking a nap in the middle of nowhere, Galant?" The green one replied, "You have a bed back at Creek."

"I was hoping you wouldn't jump on me!" Galant laughed, shaking him off, standing on all fours and stretching, "Oh well... I'm hungry anyway."

"Let's go eat, then!" Emerald laughed, and the two headed through the fields and lint I the little town if Creek.

Although the town was little, it always bustling with activity, being a main center of trade. A little river ran through it, family businesses offering food and shelter along it. There was always a clamor in the middle of the day, and the smell of fresh fish rose over everything else. Galant spotted a black and blue dragon, who was helping to carry various boxes. The two walked into a small restaurant, ringing a little silver bell as the door opened.

"Hey!!" a stout quadrupedal dragon yelled, an apron hiding his green and blue scales, "Galant! Emerald! The usual, I assume?"

"You know it!" Galant exclaimed, smiling. He waved to two dragons, a red one and a furry one, who waved in response. "A lot of different people pass through here."

"You're one of the few who stayed," Emerald said.

"Yep," Trek said, "those two, along with some others, are heading out in the mornin'. You've been here with us almost two months now."

"It's a nice place," Galant replied, "Plenty of nice people. There's really nowhere else for me, though."

"Alright, dig in!" Trek exclaimed, pushing forward two plates with hamburgers and french fries. Galant took a drink if the soda on the countertop. A yellow dragon quadrupedal burst into the restaurant, his face red and out of breath.

"The princess... " he panted, collapsing from exhaustion.

"What about her?" Trek asked, helping the poor dragon up.

"She's been... kidnapped!" the dragon panted, and Trek brought him some water.

The store fell silent at the news. Many were panicking and trying to find ways to save her. Some, since they were just passing through, continued eating. The yellow dragon slowly got his breath back, and Galant jumped up.

"We can go get her!" he offered.

"What?!" Emerald yelled, surprised by the offer, "How?!"

"With our magic!" Galant answered, "Where'd they take her?"

"The abandoned castle," the yellow dragon said, standing up, "The one that used to stand in Aviyai."

"Okay..." Galant replied, thinking, "Don't know what Aviyai is... But okay! Ready, Emerald?"

"If I have to be..." Emerald sighed.

"Let me come with you," the yellow dragon said, "It's my fault; I was the guard on duty. You'll need me to get there anyway. My name is Dysk."

********

The air became cold, and a foreboding wind over the world. The three dragons shivered, nearing the old checkpoint between the kingdom of Scal and the previous Aviyai. The checkpoint itself was in perfect condition, withstanding the terrible winds. It was a multi-layered building, each tier looking just like the last from the outside.

"I think we should rest here for the night!" Dysk yelled over the winds, "We'll head out in the morning!"

Rain began to pour down, and the three ran to the checkpoint's door, unable to escape the falling rain. The door was locked, but the rusty hinges were flimsy, and strong enough blow able to break them apart. Dysk backed up, ramming the door so the three could reach the shelter inside. The building had the same cool air, but luckily wasn't damp, so Dysk ignited some loose debris. They huddled near the fire, trying to dry themselves.

"Crazy weather..." Emerald said, "Is Aviyai always like this?"

"No..." Dysk said, lost in thought, "Something feels... Shh!"

The yellow dragon listened, trying to pick up faint footsteps that echoed through the emptiness, they were nearly silent, as if someone didn't want to be caught. The other two dragons, unable to pick up on the noises, looked around, worried from Dysk's listening. Soon, faint scratches and hisses could be picked out from the air.

"We're not alone..." Dysk said, removing a blade from his vest. "Move!"

He dived at the two dragons, darts flying from the shadows. One lodged itself in deep in Dysk's left shoulder, and he fell onto his side, pulling the dart out. He tried to stand up, half conscious. Galant and Emerald readied their magic, looking in every possible direction for ambush. Dysk finally collapsed, the other two following fairly quickly, darts lodged in their necks.

********

"Let me go!" a four-legged white dragon roared. She was tied up, forcing her to lay on her side, revealing the pink scales along her belly. In front of her was a tall, bipedal dragon in a black coat with the hood pulled up. His scales were white, the magic from the coat doing so. The only visible colors were his eyes; the left one a pale pink, and the right one a pale blue, with what seemed to be a scar running through it. He lowered his face to the white dragon.

"You'd best be quiet," he said, his voice deep and eerie. The white dragon spat in his face in response. "Tie her maw shut. That way she will be quiet."

Two dragons began to work on tying he maw, when a third one walked into the chamber. He knelt on one knee.

"Sir," he began, "Three 'rescuers'."

"Bring them in."

The third dragon left, returning shortly with another dragon, carrying the unconscious bodies of Galant and Emerald. The sending dragon carried Dysk, who was semi-conscious, and aware of what was happening. He was restrained, the white dragon giving a muffled shout.

"Princess!" he yelled, turning to the hooded dragon and baring his fangs, "Let her go!"

"All the pieces are falling into place..." the hooded dragon said, raising a heart shaped crystal. The ominous crystal gave an even more ominous red glow. "The crystals..."

"What're you doing?!" Dysk yelled, struggling, "What do you want with the crystals?!"

"A pure light that guards the entire world..." the dragon continued, turning and looking toward the throne behind him, "You have no idea what's happening, do you?"

The two dragons raised Dysk until his chest showed, one of them undoing his vest. Dysk struggled against it, but was helpless against the two dragons. The hooded dragon placed the crystal against Dysk's chest, and its glow turned a deeper red. The princess gave another muffled shout, and began to move restlessly. Dysk closed his eyes, the crystal's light dulling. The hooded dragon muttered to him:

"When the light is lost, the world collapses..."

*******

Galant woke up on a cold stone floor. He shivered, cradling his aching head. Through blurred vision, he found a bowl of water and chugged it down. He threw the bowl aside, flopping into the ground and panting. As he laid massaging his head, another bowl of water slid into his belly. He guzzled the water as well, and tried to look where it came from.

"Over here," a bipedal dragon said, holding another bowl, "Need any more?"

Galant nodded, and the water was slid to him, which he graciously drank. A pack of ice slid into his feet, and he was told to put it on his head, which he did. Slowly, his vision corrected itself, and he looked around, realizing he was in the cell of a dungeon.

"Where...?" he asked, clutching his head, "What...?"

"You're in Aviyai's dungeon," the dragon replied, "They brought you in, drugged and dizzy."

"Emerald...?" Galant asked, "Dysk...?"

"You were with a green one," the dragon said, "Anyone else is probably gone. I'm Ren. Get use to life down here."

A cold wind blew down the tunnel, and Galant shivered, almost from fear. He looked out of the cell bars, sighing as the wind blew colder on his face. He brought his head back in, sitting heavily on the ground and looking at his feet.

"Ren?" he asked, not looking up, "Is there really no way out?"

"Nope," Ren replied, "Quiet, they're coming."

Dragons began walking up and down the tunnel, hitting the cell doors and checking their inhabitants. Every clang made Galant's head pound, and he looked up just in time to see a familiar face.

"Dysk!" he exclaimed, gripping the bars, "You're alive!"

Dysk turned his face, revealing many red marks and swirls on his face. He approached the cell, placing a paw by Galant's hand. With the other, he gave a thrust, and knocked the dragon from the door. The cell was opened, a needle in Dysk's hand.

"Here come the drugs..." Ren sighed. He looked at the helpless dragon, who was on his back and crawling away, "Now's your chance to run!"

Galant rolled over, standing as fast as he could. He ran past Dysk and down a tunnel which no one was patrolling. He turned a corner, almost colliding with a much larger dragon. He turned around, fleeing up a flight of stairs and into another tunnel. He ran to the nearest flight of stairs, into a long, royal hallway.

Though the the castle had been abandoned, the castle was clean; even the floors were waxed. He walked through the pillars, and was pulled into an open closet. He squirmed, a hand over his mouth. When the footsteps had faded, he was let free.

"Galant," Emerald said, "Where's Dysk?"

"We have to get the princess!" Galant yelled, leaving the closet and heading for the throne room, "Dysk isn't Dysk!"

"What?" Emerald asked, and followed the dragon. The two stopped in the throne room, the hooded dragon watching them from on top of the the throne.

"You are an annoyance..." he said, standing and summoning a demonic sword, "Why don't you die?"

"Run!" Ren yelled, lunging at the hooded dragon, "You won't be strong enough! Take the princess and run!"

"What about you?!" Galant yelled.

"I've been here for fifty years," Ren yelled, "It's about time I died."

Emerald put the princess over his shoulder, with many muffled complaints. Galant stood still, shocked at what he had heard. Emerald shook his shoulder, and when there was no response, grabbed his wrist and pulled him along as they ran from the castle.

********

The trio stopped, in an open green field. Galant sat, still stunned. Emerald untied the princess, and she shook her body, as if to shake water off.

"He wanted to die..." Galant said, a sick feeling overcoming him.

"Big deal," the princess said, "People always do that, sacrifice themselves for the 'greater good'. It's nothing for you to worry about."

"Don't you have any sympathy?!" Galant roared, shocked after he realized what he said, "Sorry..."

"What's your name anyway?" Emerald asked, changing the subject.

"How rude!" the princess said, "Demanding my name before giving your own!"

"We just rescued you..." Galant muttered, "The least you can do is give us your name!"

Everything fell quiet after that. Not even the wind blew, nor did the birds sing. Galant realized what he had done and shrunk down, curling up and trying to appear small. Emerald came to his side, and tried to comfort him.

"It's Diamond..." the princess finally said, moving and sitting in front of Galant, "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to upset you... Thank you, um..."

"Galant..." Galant answered, not lifting his head, "Sora Ryuu Galant..."

"And you are?" Diamond asked Emerald.

"Emerald Drakull," Emerald answered, "We should go find a town."

"C'mon, Galant, let's go," Diamond said, pulling on a leg. Galant reluctantly lifted his head, looking up with red eyes. Emerald helped him up, and the three continued walking until they came across a small shop.

"Wanna buy my wares?" A griffon asked with a grin.

"We're just passing by," Emerald said.

"Please?" The griffon pleaded, "I don't ever get customers here..."

"You're in the middle of nowhere," Diamond sneered, "Of course no one comes here."

"I'll buy something..." Galant said, walking up to the counter, "I'm Galant."

"I'm Ezra!" the griffon replied, "Ezra Selvor! What would you like?"

"Got a potion?" Galant asked, placing money on the counter, and Ezra left to get one.

"What're you doing?" Diamond asked, "We can buy anything here in town."

"I know what it feels like, being unknown," Galant replied, "Sometimes, you just need that push to keep going."

"Here you go!" Ezra said, handing a glass vial to Galant, "Anything else?"

"That's good for now," Galant said, "Thank y-"

An earthquake started, knocking things off the shelves. Ezra hid under the counter and the three dragons his under a table. Once the tremors stopped, Ezra came up from the counter, a loose figurine falling on his head.

"The crystal!" Diamond yelled, "That came from it! It's in trouble!"

She ran from the store, heading back toward the castle. Emerald, Galant, and Ezra followed, Ezra locking up his store. Nearby was a large shrine, decorated beautifully with crystal. Diamond ran to the largest chamber, a large crystal shining its light on her.

"Diamond!" Galant yelled, "What're you doing?!"

The four looked at the crystal. It's light filled the room, giving a warm feeling, making everything seem safe.

"You came..." The hooded dragon said, walking in front of the crystal. His heart crystal was in his hand. "What lies ahead is where the crystal dies... And so will you, in the end."

He held up the crystal heart, the larger crystal growing brighter, forcing the four to shield their eyes. Before everything was engulfed in the light, a single phrase was heard:

"The crystal is not yours".

*****************************************************************************