User:MidnightShadow2

The Battles of Light and Dark

Book One

The Darkness Departs

By Maletta Wood and Whispering Shadows

 

She wandered her castle, totally alone, wondering where her king, and love, went. He had been there just a few hours ago. But now he has disappeared. Suddenly there was a knock on the big wooden door of the palace.

 

“Hello?” She asked, her wings flapping nervously and her amulet glowing slightly yellowish.

 

“Are you Queen Fire? The Queen of Moon Palace?”

“Yes,” Answered Fire, “Why do you ask?”

 

“Because,” Said the man suspiciously, “I have some earrings from your beloved.” He held out a box and opened it, revealing crystal earrings.

 

“Well, that explains why he was gone so long! Where is he now?” Fire took the earrings and put them on, instantly getting encased in ice. As Fire watched the ice slowly rise to her neck she started to scream. The man grinned evilly.

When the ice finally thawed, Fire realized she was in a fort made of ice, in a high tower. The icy wind bit into her skin. She tried to fly, but her wings flapped uselessly at her side. The cold and ice was making her powers weaken. Her amulet, a light yellow moon, glowed with a feeble light. As if the ice wanted to spite her, it slowly encased the amulet and Fire’s wings. A guard walked up and tried to put cuffs made of ice as hard as steel. Even though her powers were weakened from the ice, she still had a good punch. When her fist connected with the guards face, a small bit of blood stained the guard’s face.

‘’AHH!’’, The guard screamed in pain as Fire’s hand met her face. ‘’What do you think your doing!?’’ Yelled the guard.

‘’Seems like you have to answer that question to!’’ Yelled Fire. Just than they heard someone coming from down the hallway. Fire feared for the worst for just a moment. Then her pride and bravery won out and she held her head high. Knowing that this would be harder to escape then she thought, she allowed the guard to cuff her, trying to shove her pride down for the moment. As the sounds became louder and louder, she looked down the hall,

‘’My dear?’’ said a familiar voice,

‘’Go forward’’ said a strange voice. As the two figures came out of the shadows, Fire quickly realized who they both were.

‘’Dare?’’ Fire said weakly.

‘’Fire! I missed you my beloved!’’ said Dare.

‘’I missed you to!’’ said Fire. The guards shoved Dare in a prison cell and brought Fire to a strange room. A deer came out of the shadows, Fire stared at the deer confused. The deer slowly walked up to Fire.

‘’Hello, i've heard many tales of the brave one they call Fire…’’ said the deer.

‘’Who are you?’’ Fire said not bringing the subject up again.

‘’And why do you want me to ruin the fun? It would be alot more fun if we could spare the secrets… wouldn't it?’’ said the deer in a quiet calm voice.

‘’I am Princess Fire, daughter of King Ragnarok, Tell me who you are!!!!’’ she shouted angrily.

‘’Oh wow, that’s a… fancy name, if you like those types of names…’’ the deer said. ‘’ Mk I guess if i'm gonna be your guard for three months I should tell you my name, It’s Swift…’’ said the deer staring down at Fire.

‘’ THREE MONTHS!?’’ yelled Fire.

‘’You have a lot to learn…’’ Swift laughed.

“You are a MONSTER!” Queen Fire yelled at the strange human like deer.

“Call me what you like….. You can’t hurt me with words. And your powers don’t work with those cuffs on.” Answered Swift cooly. The deer led her down a hall and had her sit on a couch made of pure ice. Fire’s black hair fell across her face allowing her to hide the secret chant she was putting on the magic amulet. Swift handed her a glass of milk and a plate of cookies. Spitefully, Fire threw the cookies and milk across the table. They landed on the floor with a thud, the milk spilling. Swift looked slightly shocked.

“Oh? Does it surprise you that I refuse to eat the food you gave me?” Laughed Fire, refusing to let her spirits down, “Well, you should know. I am a queen, I was raised by the most powerful man in the world. I do NOT eat plain milk and cookies! I am Princess Fire De Crystal, Daughter of King Ragnarok the 11th! I will not be treated like a common prisoner!” They could hear a slight chuckle from somewhere above, near the prison area.

“That’s the girl I know” Said Dare, in a horse whisper. What left Fire wondering though was, why did his voice sound almost like he was faking being weak? Was he just allowing them to think that? Did he have a plan to escape? Or…. No! She couldn't think that.

‘’Oh but you should think that,’’ said Dare almost like he was reading her mind.

‘’Dare… please.. please tell me you aren't on their side!’’ yelled Fire, tears coming down her face like a waterfall.

‘’Dear, Dear, Fire. You must learn that not everyone you know is truly who you think they are, In fact you should always suspect someone to be completely different than you think they are,’’ said Dare evilly. He walked down to the icy stairs, revealing his true, evil self.

“Why? Why Dare, why?” Fire said, still trying to hold back the tears.

“Because, the world is too innocent, too pure. They don’t know the meaning of the word darkness. WE do, you do, I do. Why should WE battle the Darkness, while they live in the Light? The time for the Lights rule if over! Stand by my side, my dear Fire. Use you powerful magic and restore what once was! The Light used to cower in fear from the mere mention of the Dark! We can rule! We can have power and be the strongest king and queen ever! We would be GODS! Well, in your case, goddess, but not the point!” As Dare was saying this, Fire had completed her spell. The yellow moon amulet turned coral and cracked, hiding the true amulet.

“I would do ANYTHING for you Dare. I swore this when i first met you. But this has gone to far! The Dark is evil and you know it! Why have you let your Dark side win? What did it have to offer you that the Light can’t? You have become something and someone I no longer recognize, I will NOT use my powers for evil!” She held her head high, no signs of the grief that had gripped her just moments ago.

“Then you shall ROT in that cell! FOREVER!”

“Why not just kill me now? You can. I’m weak, my amulet has cracked from the cold. My wings are encased in ice. So why not kill me now? Is it because you still have hope that I will come over to the dark? If that is so, give up the hope now. End it here, kill me!”  Fire stood tall, her lip did not quiver, her eyes did not waver, her voice was strong, no signs that she feared he would kill her. And for just a moment, it looked like he would. But at the last moment, he waved his hand as if shooing off a pesky fly, and Swift grabbed Fire’s arms and brought her back to the cell.

Swift threw her in the cell as if Fire was a rag doll, Fire hit her head super hard on the ice wall and started to bleed, but oddly her blood was blue… dark blue… ‘’I’m sorry about the way he acts, if I knew he was gonna rule the world I wouldn't have ever followed him in his path’’ said Swift sighing.

‘’What do you mean?’’ asked Fire confused.

‘’I MEAN that if I knew in the past that King Dare would act like this in the future and try to kill everyone that… well… I would have never supported him…’’ said Swift looking down.

‘’Well can’t you leave? Dare may be evil but he always lets someone go if they want to.’’ said Fire still having hope in her beloved.

‘’Ha, He might be wrong about a lot of things but he was right about you can’t always trust people.’’ said Swift sadly and slouched over.

‘’Swift, how did you guys come to meet?’’ asked Fire.

‘’That's a story for another time kiddo, right now we need to get you outta here’’ Swift said, Now standing tall and proud. Swift removed the cuffs that were on Fire’s arms and legs. But her wings are encased in ice, so much that she can’t even flap them. Her once bright blue eyes seemed to start to fade, turning the same shade of blue as the ice. Her head fell against her chest, and for just a moment Swift thought she was dead. But when she leaned over to check Fire’s pulse, the deer could hear her ragged breathing.

“Not dead, but dying.” Thought Swift to herself.

 

When Fire awoke, there was someone standing over her. She tried to see who it was, but for some reason her vision was blurred.

 

‘’Arise Fire… ARISE!’’ said a very harsh voice.

‘’Who.. Who are you?....’’ asked Fire feebly. She attempted to stand but couldn't. Sliding back down to the floor, that she noticed was covered with something warm and sticky. A ruff hand reached down and grabbed her by the shoulder, yanking her to her feet. She realized she was in a dream, but she could feel the person touching her shoulder.

“I am dreaming, I can feel that I am. But why can I feel this hand on my shoulder? I can feel the rough texture, the pain from them gripping too  tight. Am I so weak that it only FEELS like a dream? Or am I delusional?” She wondered.

“You are not delusional.” Said the harsh voice, as if it could read her thoughts.

‘’Than who are you? And how come I can’t feel you…’’ she said as she touched the shape but didn’t feel anything.

‘’Because, I am the Darkness…’’ said the voice.

‘’I never thought that you would be in a shape!’’ said Fire amazed.

‘’Dear, Dear Fire. You have a lot to learn my sweet child. I take on many shapes, but, right now I am in my OWN shape, the shape I made for times just like this.’’ said the voice.

‘’Why have you chose now, out of all the times I have been weak, to talk to ME?’’ said Fire, realizing she hadn’t been harsh with the Darkness.

‘’Because, now is the time that I can finally make you see the truth my child!’’ shouted the Darkness.

‘’No, whatever your about to say don’t even think of it, please..’’ said Fire weakly.

“Ha, I thought you knew darkness didn’t take pity!’’ laughed the Darkness.

‘’Fine, I’ll hear it…’’ said Fire, starting to lose hope.

‘’Good, Now that I think of it, I think i’ll let Swift explain it, oh wait she can’t.’’ said the Darkness grinning evilly.

‘’What do you mean she can’t?’’ said Fire, scared for her friend.

‘’No one told you? Oh well I guess I should. Well, she’s dead, and Dare will be to soon.’’ said Darkness laughing.

‘’No… NO!!! Please! Spare Dare! I can’t lose a friend and my beloved in one day!’’ shouted Fire.

‘’Ahh, I see… you still have hope in him…..’’ said Darkness looking down at Fire. Suddenly she realized just how tall Darkness was

‘’It’s not hope… It’s trust… and you should learn a bit about both of those two, you monster!’’ growled Fire.

‘’Dare will be alive as long as you work for me… Now leave, and don’t tell anyone about this…’’ glared Darkness. Fire watched as everything faded around her. She woke and turned around seeing her cuffs off. She looked down and saw Swift lying on the ground, blood everywhere.

‘’Oh no… It wasn’t a dream….’’ Fire whispered. Just than she could hear a guard talking to the other.

‘’I’ve heard that the dare devil is comin to town! I haven't seen him in ages!’’ said one of the guards.

‘’Ha, I have and guess what? I overheard him saying he’s planning on killing that girl after she does his work!’’ said the other guard. They got quieter and Fire couldn’t hear them, but she heard enough.

She closed her eyes and her wings thawed all of a sudden. As she saw this, she took advantage and flew as fast as she could away, She couldn’t bare knowing that Dare was gonna kill her, She HAD to know if the guards were telling the truth or just gossiping.

 

She reached the palace, too tired to fly anymore so she crash landed. A voice wove itself into her restless sleep on the stairs just outside the castle. Instantly she knew the voice. The Darkness was back.

“My dear child, why would I kill you? Your so called father, King Ragnarok, is NOT your father! You were born from the Darkness, you are a child of shadows! Now, return to the fort, rule by my side. You are the Princess of Darkness. You were not always named Fire. You were Shadowlight, Princess of Darkness. You can have that power again.”

“Princess of Darkness…… Shadowlight…..” She thought of the first time she seen Dare. His kind smile, the small grey horns poking out of his head. His understanding, knowing that she wasn't a monster. Then the image of him as the pawn for Darkness. His horns curled like a rams, striped with red, the color of blood. His hair, ragged, his face scared. The bottom of his shirt in tatters and his crown cracked. Dare’s once kind, reassuring smile turned into an evil grin. And then another memory, seeing through the eyes of a baby, a baby with pure black eyes. King Ragnarok leaning over, picking up the baby. The baby’s eyes turn a bright blue, her tiny wings unfold, and she giggles.

“You are now and forever going to be know as Fire. You are the Princess of Star Palace.” The King had whispered. Several more memories flashed by, all with the same baby girl, but before she arrived at Star Palace. The Darkness rocking the baby to sleep, singing in a harsh, rough voice lullabys of the Light falling and the Darkness ruling.

 

When Fire awoke, she no longer felt like Fire. She felt like Shadowlight, Princess of Darkness. She  glanced down at the ice on the steps of Moon Palace. In the ice she saw her reflection. Her eyes were pure black, the same as Dare’s were. She spread her wings, and turned toward the fort.

“Time to go home” She whispered.

“Yes, time to go home.” The Darkness said, laying its hand on her shoulder and then assuming the shape of Shadowlight’s shadow as she flew.

 

She walked through the halls of the fort, slowly reaching her way to the top, where she would talk with Darkness. She arrived but before she started to talk to Darkness, she heard a voice.

‘’Fire, What are you doing?’’ said the voice. Dare came out of the shadows and looked at her.

‘’Who is Fire, I’m Shadowlight, and who are you!?’’ said Fire confused.

‘’My child, don’t listen to this stranger, he’s just an obstacle in are way….’’ whispered Darkness in her head. Just than Dare had gotten closer.

‘’Destroy him…. Destroy him….’’ Darkness kept whispering. Fire stood up as Dare got closer, she snarled and glared at him.

‘’Fire…. It’s me…’’ he said as he took another step closer.

‘’I recognize his face Darkness… but I don’t remember him…’’ thought Fire. Just than she felt like she was being stabbed in the heart by a huge knife. She collapsed, fainted. She woke as water was poured on her head.

‘’AHH! It’s cold!!!!’’ she yelled.

‘’Shh! He let me free, I can finally tell you the truth.’’ said Dare. ‘’What do you mean? And you haven’t even told me your name yet.’’ said Fire.

‘’Well for instants, I’m Dare, your husband. And you are Fire, Queen of Jamaa, ruling by my side. And if you remember just a little of me being rude, that was because of your father, Darkness… He took over me, I couldn’t do anything, He was controlling me…..’’ said Dare, looking down. Fire shook her head not believing, just than they heard screaming, They turned around and saw a dark dark vine ripping through all of the house’s of Jamaa. Fire grinned and Dare sobbed. Just than the vine ripped through the window and pulled Dare to Darkness’s layer.

The End, Until Next Time.