Project DragonLord V. 1.1

"And Still The Darkness Grows..."

Chapter 1

OPENING WORDS: Hello, my children! Father Maximillian J. Hulk here, with perhaps my most ambitious project since "Lovers by Thought." (See the HP section.) It's called Project Dragon Lord, the tentative title is "And Still the Darkness Grows." To tell you the truth, the first four chapters have already been done for me. One of my favorie altar boys, nicknamed Spoon Luv, wrote chapters 1-4. But then before he set out for DeVry, he gave it to me and told me to remove the NC-17 contents and repost it under PG-13. I had a fair amount of work...ummm... but now it's back, with a nice, safe PG-13 rating. I'll be working on chapter 5 and upwards, so expect it soon! Enjoy!

I

I slowly exited my house in the small city of Drogen and the familiar scene greeted my eyes; the people in the market buying or selling weapons and items, people going to the Dragon Shrine for morning prayer… I had lived in this city all my life, but I never got tired of it. Not that I had never been out of the city. As a matter of fact, five years ago I actually saved the world! Not something you'd think a guy like me can do, huh? But I did. With 7 friends, I fought back an evil goddess bent on world destruction. The only sadness was that once she was gone, all my friends went their separate ways, and I haven't seen them since.

Suddenly I felt something sharp poke my shoulder. "Ryu! Answer me, why dontcha!" It was Esma, a lovable old woman who had looked after the Light Dragons, and myself as well, practically all her life.

"I'm sorry, Esma…" I said, rubbing my shoulder.

"My, you don't look well. Did you get enough sleep, boy?"

"Actually, no." I replied. "I've been having awful nightmares…"

"Ah, it's a pity. Tell old Esma about them!"

I shook my head. "No. They were just dreams. They're over now."

"Smart thinkin' Ryu! Well, I've got to get to the service at the Shrine. Come see me later, okay?"

"Sure thing." I said with a smile. "In fact, I'll go with you."

"All righty, then, we go together!" She said with an even broader smile, and she seized my arm and we went into the Dragon Shrine.

The Shrine for my master, the Dragon Lord, was full, as usual. But because I was most in tune with him, I automatically got to go to the front of the congregation. I knelt and shut my eyes and repeated after the multitude.

"Praised be the Dragon Lord… He brought us out of the world of darkness… May His spirit reside in all… He watches us… He protects us… Gives us strength. May He give us strength again when it is once again time for the power of the Dragon to arise… Praise to the Lord of the Dragons forever and ever."

After the service, I returned to my home. I started to climb the stairs to my room when my gaze fell on the portrait of Sara above the fireplace. I stood before it and shut my eyes. I remembered my sister, how kind she was… how sweet… and how she did her best to protect us when the Dark Dragon Family rose to power. But the evil Commander Jade had taken control of her…of her mind… and made her do horrible things.

I had journeyed long and hard, and finally, after defeating Emperor Zog, I found her. But then Jade assumed control of her again, and I tracked him and Sara to a tower north of the city of Romero. Jade's control over Sara had become so powerful that she attacked us. We fought, and I had no choice but to slay her. Doing so freed her from the Commander, but it also took her life.

As I relfected on this, tears came to my eyes. Even though five long years had past, I couldn't get over it.

I opened my eyes and wiped the tears away. I then went to the drawer next to the fire and removed a book of smaller portraits of my companions.

As I flipped through it, I remembered each one of them and the memories we shared.

Bo, from the Forest tribe… strong and powerful, but kind and generous at the same time.

Karn, the thief… slightly arrogant but an indespensible partner.

Gobi, the sea merchant… claimed he was only in it for the money, but I knew that he wished to fight the demons just as much as the others.

Ox, from the Creation tribe… I saved him from an attack by a ghost, and he joined us in fighting Zog.

Bleu, the arch mage… a witty companian and also a powerful magician.

Mogu, of the Earth-Eating tribe… although he joined late in the journey, we quickly became best friends. He was friendly and cheerful, plus great at digging.

And then I came to the picture of Nina, and I felt a tug in my heart. Nina was from the Wing tribe, and she was able to fly us anywhere in the world. She was also the most beautiful girl I'd ever met. When I would be with her, I'd feel…different. I'd feel an inner warmth I'd never known. But I never told her, and after the war, our time together ended. Sometimes I cried about not being with her, but I knew I couldn't do anything.

Of course, I COULD travel back to Winlan, but I doubt she'd even remember me. We never even spoke ONCE about our feelings, if she even had any for me.

Once again, tears came to my eyes, but I wiped them away again, and clapped the journal shut. I put it back in the drawer and went upstairs to my bedroom.

I decided to take a short nap until it was time for afternoon prayer. I made myself comfortable in my bed and closed my eyes.

It is dark and I see nothing. But the screams I do hear. People screaming in pain, in sorrow, in agony. I look around, and all there exists is darkness. But around me I continue to hear the cries of anguish. Then I can see… and I don't like what I see. The world is in ruins. Somehow I can see beyond my eyes, and I look onto each city. Ruin. Romero, Carmen, Auria…ruins. Then I see the people. They're all dead. I walk across the charred earth, my sword drawn should I encounter the source of the chaos. From city to city I walk…the same has taken place in all of them. Total destructin. Total ruin. Then, I see her. Lying on the ground. I run to her side.

"Nina!" I cry, dropping to my knees beside her. "Nina, don't leave me!"

I stare into her once enchanting blue eyes, which are now clouded with death. A wind picks up, and her body turns to dust and blows away. I collapse to the ground and cry. I cry for all that has been taken from me.

"To do all this," I screamed to the evil one, not knowing whether it could hear me, "You should have taken me too! Why would you leave me to suffer in this world of death you've created? Take me too, God damn you!"

Then the unexpected happens. I get a reply.

"As you wish." It is a deep, echoing voice that fills my head. But I don't have time to identify it as lighting strikes me and my request is granted.

I sit up and scream. I screamed for a minute straight before leaning back and catching my breath. I was sweating all over, and the sheets and blankets had been kicked to the floor.

"Another nightmare…" I whispered to myself. "God damn it, why do these fucking nightmares keep returning? This has to mean something!"

I looked out my window to see that it was night out. The sky was filled with stars, and crickets chirped outside the city. I had missed afternoon AND evening prayer. But I'm sure I would be forgiven. My master would surely understand after I told him of these visions.

I slipped on my cloak and went outside. Nobody was on the streets. It must be near midnite. I walked quietly towards the Dragon Shrine.

Suddenly I heard fierce growling behind me, and I jumped in surprise. Then I laughed. It was only Barne, Esma's pet Bulla. She kept him outside at night to ward off strangers.

"Easy, boy, it's just me!" I said, petting his head. He sniffed my hand, then rubbed his horns against my leg, which I guess is the equivalent of a dog licking you. "Good boy." I said, and then I continued to the Shrine.

Nobody was within, but the Eternal Torches still burned on either side, and the enchanted organ still played the haunting hymn sung by my ancestors who founded the Light Dragons.

I knelt once again at the foot of the enormous statue of my master, the Dragon Lord.

"Master," I whispered, "I am sorry for missing the afternoon and evening services."

My master's deep voice echoed in my mind. "You are forgiven."

"I have been having horrible nightmares. Visions of world destruction, of death. I fear they may be more than harmless nightmares. Please, Master, I seek your guidance."

A slight breeze picked up within the Shrine, and again my master's voice echoed in my head. "Rest before me."

I obeyed, and laid down in front of the statue and closed my eyes.

In the darkness, my sister appeared to me. Sara…

"Sara! It's so good to see you." I cry.

"Shh." She says, placing her finger over my lips. "As well it is to see you, but we have not time for happiness now. Evil approaches the world."

"My visions were true, then?"

"Yes. The Dragon blood within you was giving you a warning of things to come. You must act."

"What must I do?" I asked.

"As strong as you have become, you cannot do it alone." She answered. "You will need help."

"From who?"

"That is something I cannot help you with. Those you trust the most will turn out to be those whom will aid you in saving our world."

"Will you be able to help me as well?"

She frowned. "I can't fight this war for you, Ryu. But I will offer my guidance when you need it."

"That's all I ask of you." I told her. "You helped me so much already."

The frown became a smile. "I have always believed in you, Ryu. In the war against Zog you made me proud. Now it is time for you to do it again. Goodbye, Ryu."

I opened my eyes and rose to my feet.

"Master, whom should I get to help me?" I inquired.

"Do what is in your heart." Replied the Dragon Lord. "For that path most often proves to be the truest.

"Thank you, my master." I said, and I whispered a quick prayer and left the shrine.

I returned to my room to find Esma there, waiting for me.

"Esma! Why are you here?" I asked her.

"I heard you scream all the way from the other end of town!" She said softly. "Had you another nightmare?"

"Yes." I said, and I went to my dresser and removed my broadsword and iron shield.

"Going somewhere, boy?"

"Yes, I'm going to save the world again." I replied.

"Save the world? From what?"

I stared into her kind eyes. "You wouldn't understand." I turned to the window. "I don't understand." Then the determination poured into my heart. "Keep the village safe!" I told Esma, and then I was out the door and soon, out of the city.

Master had told me to do what was in my heart. I knew quite well where my heart wanted to go first.