Midnight and Fyre

Arcania was an exceptionally beautiful dragonian land. It's new conceptual age of domed and unusual architecture was a marvelous creation . The dwellers here were of many varied shades of loveliness. Green, pink, red, purple, yellow, black, gold, white tinted and variegated colored dragons of every comprehensible hue and tone basked in it's happy grandeur. Many magical and happy thunders and flocks who lived and thrived contentedly in their little slice of paradise, found great peace existing here with each other.

The land was verdantly luscious, flourishing and teeming with every type of wildlife imaginable. The green forests echoed constantly with the sounds of life and the thrill of the chase and the cycle of life. Food was in abundance as life took it's natural order of survival. Fishes thrived in the oceans, rivers and streams flowed into happy babbling brooks and miscellaneous waterways. Natural springs supplied clean water. During the change of the seasons the colors of the land were breathtaking to behold. They almost, almost had a world of sheer perfection, since of course, nothing is truly totally perfect. Sometimes perfection invites boredom.

Magic solved everything. Illness was non-existent. This land knew not death nor heartbreak. Beneath the domes one simply transposed only to be reborn into a new beginning when the need for eternal rest presented itself. This was a choice purely at the discretion of each dragon.

These dragons knew that Magic breathed, lived and thrived in the very fabric of nature. There was good magic, and there was bad magic, there is always a choice.

Fyre

No one knew that better than Fyre the dragon. She loved to dance in the moonlight, late at night when the world was asleep. Flying way up high, touching the stars she imagined. Fyre would clasp her legs close to her body, close her eyes, spread her lovely wings asunder and glide elegantly straight up into the vastness of the universe. Throwing caution to the wind, she soared high, twirled, dipped low, fell in graceful freefall towards the world of sleep below, stopping dangerously close to the ground in daredevil stunts of mystifying and breathtaking wonder.

Fyre was a loner. A large lovely dragon who was almost completely purple, except for her great blue wings tinged with green. Her beguiling green slitted eyes complimented her wings beautifully. She loved the nights when she could be by herself, quietly exploring her existence and finding joy in peaceful contemplation of her part in the intricate fabric of life.

This night was different though, she felt it in the shifting whisper of the wind on her face, in the quickening stir of the blood in her veins. Something was amiss around her usually peaceful and contemplative aura. Fyre peered searchingly into the night sky, all seemed undisturbed and in alignment with the moon and stars. Swooping low to the ground, she listened attentively for the cause of the sound. There it was again, the frightened keening sound of a tiny dragon.

The Child but not a child

From her vantage point Fyre could see the tiny glowing shape below. Gliding to as quiet a landing as she could muster, for she was a large young dragon, Fyre stood in front of the youngling. A puzzled expression was upon her face, for the child before her was no ordinary creature. The body of the little one was like a dragon's, with wings that were smaller than regular dragon wings, but this child's body was black as midnight, the face a rainbow of undulating colors that changed with every other breath, the tail glowed purple as it swished. The eyes, the golden eyes were the most beautiful of all the features, pure light emanated from the eyes, light that pulled at your soul with such magnetic charm you could not look away. She or he, Fyre was not sure, stood tall like the humans of long ago, on feet like long ago, and had little hands that were clasped around a beautifully bound tome of long ago.

This somewhat ageless looking child, was by far the most splendid, sublime magnificent and delightful thing that Fyre had ever seen!

"What manner of child is this"? Fyre was thinking out loud without realizing it. "What language do you speak"?

"I am called Midnight, the child replied in dragonspeak. In a child's body am I, though not really a child". The young one opened the book.

"Come with me on an adventure, you must help me and my people. I have observed you night after night in the sky. I know that you are the one that I must trust to aid us. We must go now". Midnight whispered a few inaudible words to herself.

Before Fyre knew what was happening, both her and the child were being pulled into the book, they were being pulled into a portal to somewhere. There was nothing that she could do, no matter how hard she fought against whatever power was transporting her into the vortex of the book.

Fighting an overwhelming feeling of nausea, Fyre closed her eyes and surrendered her body to the journey.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, they emerged upon a virtual battlefield. Fyre felt fire and bile erupt from her stomach. She exhaled and took a minute to recollect herself. Steadying herself, she looked around slowly. A war was being fought, beings that looked similar to Midnight were busy removing the dead and injured to the safety of other worldly shaped buildings. Fyre felt as if she had stumbled into a nightmare, from which she needed to awaken sooner rather than later.

"Come". Midnight touched her face gently. To her amazement, the being was no longer a child, but rather a fully grown......"?

"Pardon my asking, but what are you. I'm not trying to be rude, are you male or female. Are you young, I am very confused and not obviously able to determine"?

"We are not offended, We are child and not child, male and not male, female and not female, the choice is ours at any given time. Such is our species". She looked to the sky, the book portal still yawned a few inches above them. Midnight clapped her hand and the book miniaturized itself and flew into her arms.

"What manner of book is that, how can it allow us to travel without flying or walking"?

There was so much that Fyre needed to know.

So many unanswered questions!

"Oh, sorry, I should have explained. This is a Dragonic Grimoire. It is similar to the witches Grimoire, but instead of instructions for spells, charms, incantations, or invocations of demons, angels or other entities, it opens portals for transportation to otherworldly dimensions, or places that we desire to visit. It does create magical objects like amulets and talismans, but one has to be taught the ways of the Grimoire with the elder's strict permission. Maybe at a more opportune time I will explain in more detail, but now we must go".

"I would love to know more, this is all so very fascinating". Fyre was truly intrigued by it all.

"Follow me, we must speak to the elders".

Variants and Vaarks

Gingerly stepping over rubble, for all was quiet now, whatever war was raging, was now at a ceasefire, from the looks of the smoke rising from various buildings, the charred vegetation and the smell of death, the carnage had been recently wrought.

Midnight led her towards a building which appeared completely suspended in the sky. All the buildings which were not on fire, seemed to be hanging in the air with no support whatsoever. Upon reaching the most imposing of these, Midnight started to climb invisible stairs, but with each step the stairs became visible. Were you to just see these buildings, you would think that one would need wings to access them. Fyre just flew up, she after all, did have wings. Midnight however, had both feet and wings, she at least had a choice. The buildings were barely large enough to fit Fyre's large size, but she did her best to fit inside.

There were six fully grown beings sitting on what appeared to be raised thrones shaped to fit the physical makeup of these strange beings. The thrones were beautifully crafted from a shiny wood looking substance, and with built in cushions obviously padded for comfort. There were obscured holes for the tails of each of it's occupants. Each chair or throne had the color of the body of the being which sat upon it, purple, orange, green, yellow, white and grey. Their faces were in colors like Midnights, and their tails and wings were reflective of their body colors. They were all truly magnificent creatures.

Midnight and Fyre stopped a respectful distance from the elders.

"This is Fyre, Midnight introduced her bowing slightly to the group. "I have chosen her to accompany me to find the Oracle's stone. She is strong and kind and we seek your blessing. Fyre was perplexed as to when she had indeed agreed to go on a quest, or seek permission to find an oracle.

The ageless beings peered carefully at Fyre. "Are you in agreement, my child? We know that Midnight can be a bit impulsive and once she makes up her mind, the die is cast".

Fyre glanced at Midnight, her back was against the wall. She could not back down now for fear of embarrassing her new found and questionable friend.

"Yes, we are in agreement, together we promise to find the oracle and help you to regain your land". She hoped that it all came out sounding genuine and sincere, because in truth she was scared half to death at the prospect of becoming involved in someone else's war. At least Midnight seemed relieved by her answer.

"Then you both may go with our blessings". "Our blessings", repeated the other five elders.

"Take what you require and make haste Midnight, we fear the Vaarks may attack again at any time"!

Midnight bowed respectfully to the elders, and the two hastily left the building.

"The Vaarks are the enemy obviously, but what are your kind called Midnight"?

"We are called Varyants, meaning we can vary our physical makeup in terms of size and gender transference".

"That is truly interesting, we should speak further on that after all this is settled and over".

"Yes, we should". She smiled appreciatively.

Walking towards them were Midnight's parents and another Varyant. The colors on the face of the third Varyant was ebbing and flowing rapidly, like an angry tidal wave.

"Hello mother, hello father. This is Fyre, I'm sure you have heard of her by now".

"Yes, my dear. We just came to see you off. Be careful both of you, be safe".

"We will, thanks". She nuzzled the face of both her parents. Fyre bobbed her head in acquiescence.

"Goodbye". She responded.

"A word please Midnight"! The third Varyant said, rudely ignoring Fyre.

They began whispering, subtlety was not their forte, every word carried on the wind loudly.

"I believed that we were supposed to go on this quest together. Why are you going with this strange beast"?

"I think it best we do not go together. May we talk more when I return".

"You mean if you return, there is much danger and I can protect you best".

"I'm sorry, but I have made up my mind. Goodbye Blazye. We shall speak at another time". She turned and hurried away.

Midnight offered no explanation. She did not need to. Fyre understood.

The quest

Once they were alone again, Midnight opened the book.

"Wait, how does the book work. How does it know where you need to go"?

"Oh, you just point, say and touch your destination". Midnight replied.

"Are you ready"? Fyre nodded.

Pointing to a tiny rock looking object, she whispered, "Oracle island, Mystic Portal".

Into the book's portal they went. This time Fyre was a little better prepared. She stilled her breathing and closed her eyes.

After what seemed like forever, they found themselves on the edge of a bizarre looking forest. There were great statues of every type of beasts perching atop what appeared to be gravestones. They were in a cemetery. Gargoyles, lions, tigers, demons, angels and birds were among the vast repertoire of beasts represented there. Most were broken and falling apart, they were obviously old, and were shrouded in a thin fog, as if they were all hiding from something. It was still early evening, hopefully they would be finished and leave this eerie foreboding place before nightfall.

Midnight clapped twice and the book miniaturized to pocket size, and was tucked away. It was so much fun here for Fyre. This was magic on a whole new level.

There was a hissing sound coming from the ground. "Ugh, snakes, I hate snakes"! Yelled Midnight, taking to the sky. Fyre was not quite as quick as her friend. An enormous snake attached itself to her leg and begun slithering up towards her body. In vain she tried to shake the thing loose. The weight of the snake made it almost impossible for her to fly. "Hold still Fyre, do not move"! Shouted Midnight. Opening the book she chanted 'inferno lancet mia'. A flaming sword appeared in her hand. Grasping it's hilt tightly, she swooped down slicing the great body of the snake lower and lower as it slid slowly to the ground in pain. Green fowl smelling ooze gushed from its severed body.

"Lancet return". The sword disappeared from Midnight's hand with a tiny flash of light

"Aghhhh!, that was truly disgusting". Fyre shivered, thanked her friend, and they both soared into the open sky.

No sooner had they escaped one fiend when huge taloned beasts, even larger than dragons appeared out of the fog and swooped down upon the two visitors. Fyre flew high spewing fire as she went. The hawk looking beasts squawked as they were lit on fire. Midnight's size appeared altered as she too breathed fire, only one minute she was small, and the next minute she was large sized again, she changed according to the size that the circumstance required. It was a wonder to behold, Midnight thought while trying to hold her own. The creatures all grappled, tumbled, snorted fire, scratched, roared and fought for almost an hour, before the hawk things gave up, the fire was too much for them.

They both landed atop a high mountain peak and caught their breaths. Both were a little worse for wear, but otherwise still in one piece.

They were barely rested when a great lizard looking bird with enormous wings and the face of a unicorn with one horn in the middle of its forehead swooped down towards them.

"Oh my thunder, not again". Shouted Fyre.

"Do not worry. That if Frieda, companion to the Oracle".

Fyre could see not a soul upon the lizards back. she only heard a voice.

"Midnight and Fyre. What lovely names you have. Come. The Oracle awaits".

"A little help would have been appreciated had you appeared a little sooner". Midnight grumbled".

"You two had it all under control, you did not need my help at all". Freida laughed out loud.

They all took flight behind the lizard thing which made a strange honking and annoying noise as it flew.

"Quiet Falfelda, don't be rude". It's rider admonished the beast. It sort of laughed and fell quiet.

After a short ride, they came upon another large floating strange looking house of sorts. The design was round, crooked and lopsided at the same time, it was not unattractive in it's black and white splendor, but one got the feeling of entering a really large house within many houses. Strikingly different and puzzling in every way, it was a refreshingly peculiar view on houses.

The roof of one side of the building swung open, Frieda and beast swooped down, followed by the two visitors.

"Wait here, the Oracle will see you shortly".

"Did they know we were coming, Midnight"?

"Yes. The Oracle sees and knows all, don't speak now".

A voice said, "come now". Seeing no one, but only one large entrance, they both followed in the general direction.

The Oracle was covered from head to toe in sparkling white. The entity stood peering into a huge cauldron from which multicolored fragrant smoke was swirling.

The boxes

"You have come for the stone. Know that your enemies are also seeking the object you seek. Take the green box. It will vanquish the red box which I will give to the other that seeks your demise. Good must triumph this day, and order must be restored".

Midnight picked up the green box and held it close. "Thank you great Oracle, we are in your debt".

"Go now children, remember, only open the box when there is danger, never break that rule upon peril of bodily harm or death. You will suffer no harm if you obey".

Both Midnight and Fyre bowed and hurriedly flew towards home. They again encountered the hawk things, but the box protected them as promised. Once the box was opened the hawks screamed in pain and flew hastily away. With the book's help they made it back home. After reporting to the elders, they were totally exhausted, and had a good nights rest. Next day after meeting everyone and feeding on fish and shrubs at the river, Fyre said she had to return to her land as they would be wondering about her absence.

Word got around that Blazye was nowhere to be found, Midnight was worried that he had done something foolish. He knew that they were going to hunt for the Oracle stone. If he had been foolish enough to betray them, then she was glad that they were no longer together. She knew that he was quite capable of betrayal.

The words were barely spoken when the alarm was raised. The Vaarks were attacking again. They were determined to drive the Varyants away as they had the most productive and fruitful of the surrounding territories. They had the best hunting, fishing and habitable landscape of the colonies. The Vaarks did alright, but they were greedy, they wanted it all.

This time though, the Varyants were prepared. They all took to the sky and prepared to defend their homes. In the middle of the frontal formation were Fyre and midnight, the latter held the Oracle stone ready. The Vaarks were great big flying rats with large heads, large teeth, wings and enormous tails. They came in great numbers, ready for one final conquest, since they had already cruelly decreased the number of Varyants without impunity.

As they confidently flew in, their optimism of conquest was anticipated with the opened red box of the Oracle's stone. Midnight opened the green box. The red box exploded taking the first swarm of Vaarks with it. The power of the green box completely obliterated the remaining Vaarks. There was a great whoosh as the energy from the box flew powerfully forward with such strength that the Vaarks literally turned to dust before they floated to the ground. All that remained was what the wind held aloft for a few moments before scattering dust to the waiting earth below. No one knew for sure if Blazye had been with them. He had not been seen or heard from.

The Varyants were quite happy to not have bodies to clean up and incinerate. The stench would have lingered for days. They did celebrate though. They ate and danced high in the sky. They sang beautiful Varyant versions of dragon verselet. Finally, they were at peace. They were happy and thanked Fyre profusely for her help. She was invited to stay or visit as often as she needed. She thanked them also and said her goodbyes.

Fyre and Midnight rose high into the sky. She decided to accompany her friend back home. They had grown enamored and infatuated with each other. Love was in the air for this strangely matched pair.

"By the way Midnight, can you turn off the lights on your face when you sleep. I have been wondering"?

"Maybe one of these days you will find that out. A Varyant needs a little mystery, don't you think"? She laughed as she did a perfect somersault in the sky.

Fyre would return to this land of imperfect beings. This was where she really belonged.

N.A.