Long Time, No Post

Yea, I forgot yesterdays, but I was banned from computer for the day to do general house cleanup and such, so I couldnt.

Anyways, I have talked to my little sister, and she is starting to do some short stories and such, and I will probably be posting them here for her.

Today I give you... A short story! Yes one of mine. Its a really good one too called The Dragon Throne, that I submitted for a contest.

The Dragon Throne

This story begins many, many centuries ago. The reign of the four benevolent dragon kings from the sea had come to an end, but that was not the end of the dragon kings. The dragons shrunk into the background, hiding in the sea, but watching out for the accident prone humans. The humans, in turn, forgot that there were real dragons in the first place, and turned the dragon into no more than a good luck charm. The dragons liked it this way, and didn’t bother the humans much.

You have heard of Chinese Dragons and what they look like, and that is an accurate description of them. They can fly without wings, have powers over the water, and come in all colors of the rainbow. The Dragon Kings and their heirs are the only ones with black scales. They vary in color with skin and mane, but they have hard, black scales along their backs. These dragons are also the only ones who come in contact with Humans.

It is an ancient rule set down by the first dragon kings, that the heirs to the throne must go out and help the humans do something major. One example in particular is a dragon named Soi-kal.

Soi-kal is the great-great grandson of the Yellow Dragon King, and inherited the throne. This tale will be of what Soi-kal did to earn the title of Dragon King.

Soi-kal was always the shy one, and had never really wanted to go out and help the humans. But since he was an heir to the throne of the Yellow Dragon, he had to go. It was day three of his journey over China, and Soi-kal was almost ready to despair. The other heirs had started their journeys also, and one, Shilo, had decided to build a great wall with the humans to help them. The wall was just started, so he would be quite a while at it. -Poor choice on his part- Soi-kal thought, as he always did when his thoughts turned to the others. The other two, Tang-shi and Fe-shen, had still not found anything to help with, and were in different areas of China.

It was day three of his journeys over the land, and getting towards nightfall. Soi-kal found himself a ways away from any of the four rivers, and started looking for a lake or tributary to sleep in for the night. It was just before the sun set for the night that Soi-kal found a small lake, more like a pond, close to what looked like a humans training camp. He did a gentle spiral into the heavy bamboo forest and crept up on the lake. Checking the coast was clear, he slowly slipped his sizable mass into the small lake/pond.

Settling down for sleep, he slipped his head under the water so only his nose, eyes and ears showed above the surface. The night was cool, and he could hear the sounds of the trainees as they settled in front of a large campfire to relax. He didn’t think anyone would disturb him that night, so you can imagine his surprise when a young trainee appeared at the top of the bank. The trainee was dressed in a simple brown tunic and a short sleeved shirt and pants. It was against the law for a woman to enlist in the army, so Soi-kal automatically figured it was a male. The trainee eased his way to the edge of the water and waded in, and Soi-kal tried to slip his tail further away, but the trainee brushed it with his foot and stood stock-still.

Soi-kal lifted his head from the water and reluctantly addressed the petrified trainee. “Good evening. I hope my tail did not hurt you when you brushed against it, it’s just that this lake is rather small.” The trainee recovered his composure amazingly fast, and bowed low at the waist to the dragon, both still in the water.

“No harm has been done. If I would ask, what is your name?” The trainee answered after his bow.

“My name is Soi-kal, son of Ger-ton, the greatest of the four current Dragon Lords. I am out in the world to help the human race and gain for myself the throne of my father.”

The trainee climbed out onto the bank and sat, the heat starting to dry off his pants. “My name is Shi-cho, son of Fa-she. I have finished my training with the army, and we are to receive orders to attack the Japanese soon.”

“Sounds like you are ready to fight.” Soi-kal commented. “But do you want to?”

The trainee looked away, shame faced, and sat silent for a few moments. Soi-kal said not a word, but studied the young human. –This male seems to show many female characteristics. I wonder…: He would have finished this thought, but the trainee finally spoke. “I have trained hard to bring honor to my father. I would rather die than admit failure.” The trainee held the dragons gaze with a challenging look, and Soi-kal respectfully bowed his head.

“I did not realize that this question would anger you so. Please forgive me.” He requested, glancing at Shi-cho. Shi-cho waved it off like it didn’t matter and changed the subject.

“Have you found what you are going to do to gain the throne?” The trainee asked.

“Before I tell you, there are things I must know.” When Shi-cho nodded his head, Soi-kal asked, “Are you a female in the army?”

Shi-cho was caught off guard by this question and stammered a few minutes before answering, “H-how did you find out!?!”

Soi-kal chuckled a little at the look of utter surprise on Shi-chos’ face before answering. “Dragons are very observant. Heirs and Kings especially. Are you or are you not a young lady?”

Shi-cho took about an hour explaining what had led to her enlistment in the army, and Soi-kal listened patiently. After she had finished, Soi-kal had decided what to do to gain the throne.

“I must meet with your commanding officer tonight. Where is his tent?” Soi-kal asked, pulling himself out of the cool water and onto the bank. His entire body dripped with water and he shook himself like a dog, ridding most of it from his mane and tail. Shi-cho wiped the water from her face and motioned Soi-kal to follow her, taking a path through the bamboo forest. The walk too five minutes, and Soi-kal watched the camp for signs of alarm. The commander’s tent was set apart from the others, giving it room for many more people and eliminating the possibility for spies listening in. Soi-kal could see a man inside, presumably the commander, pacing back and forth nervously. Shi-cho and Soi-kal snuck quietly up to the tent, and Shi-cho poked her head in, reverting back to her masculine disguise.

“Sir, may I have a word with you?” She asked.

“Certainly. Come in.” The commander answered.

Shi-cho slipped all the way in and spoke to the commander; “I have someone you would like to meet. He came to me tonight as I was swimming, and says he needs to see you at once.”

“Bring him in then.”

Shi-cho opened the tent flap and motioned Soi-kal in. Soi-kal pushed his head through the tent door and confronted a shocked looking commander. “Greetings. My name is Soi-kal, and I am on a mission. Shi-cho here responded the same way you did when she first saw me, but quickly got over the fact that I was a living, breathing Chinese Dragon. Please have a seat.”

The commander was so shocked, he obeyed the dragon without a word.

“Now, as I said before, I am on a mission. I must help the human race to gain a throne as Dragon King, and have decided to help win the war against the Japanese empire.”

The commander, still dumbfounded, could not say a word.

“I have decided to take Shi-cho as my personal trainee and teach him to fight in the air. Will you help me?”

Soi-kal watched the commander patiently as he opened and closed his mouth, shook his head, and finally recovered from his shock. “I-I cannot say no to a dragon, especially one from the royal line that has helped us so much. How can I be of service?”

The rest of the night, Soi-kal outlined the training program that they would need, and finally, about one hour before dawn, the three retired. They woke up at about noon, and the commander introduced Soi-kal to the rest of the army. The reaction, as expected, was about the same, and training soon followed.

Without going into details, Soi-kal and Shi-cho trained for about three months. At the end of that period, they were ready, and thrown into the thickest fray. Shi-cho and Soi-kal had grown to love each other through the dangers and trials they faced, and one night, just before they headed to Japan, they vowed they would die with one another.

It was three days into the battle. The force Shi-cho had trained with was destroyed. Soi-kal was leaving the battle, flying, when a skillful shot caught him in the chest. Without another word, the brave dragon was killed instantly. Shi-cho realized what had happened, pulled the small dagger from her side, and with a cry of grief, ended her own life. The bodies hit the ocean, and grief-ridden dragon heirs and current kings carried the bodies to their sacred burial place in the sea, never to be disturbed again.

Enjoy!