It waited in the depths of the dark mountains. Sith the Dragon was one of the oldest dragons in the realm and for hundreds of years it had lost its fire. Through Magic, his fire had been taken from him, and now he sensed a magic that could restore his fire, and it grew stronger every day.
He would wait…even if it was for a hundred years he would wait. One of a Dragon's virtues was patience, that's why they could live for a thousand years. He could feel the energy grow and with it his new found hope, he took a deep breath and the sound echoed through the mountains.
This land of humans was trifling, with his fire he could destroy everything and usher in a new realm of dragons, where dragons will roam freely in the air without fear of been hunted by humans. The humans had hunted them and used their magic to conquer other humans; some humans had made them fight their wars, slaves in a battle that wasn't theirs.
His red eye gleamed with rage as he looked out of the opening in the mountain. When he got his fire back, he could even use the magic to return to his realm, the realm of dragons…home.
He wasn't sure what carried the magic, was it a human or an Artefact, he wasn't sure, but he would find out when the time was right. He would wait and let the magic grow, then he would go after it, he would take it, and it would be his. Nothing was going to stop him.
*
Bored! That's what he was, absolutely, overwhelmingly bored. Most of the people in the make shift town were drab and uninteresting, he planned staying there for a few days then searching for something else that would catch his fancy, a cause, anything.
There was one thing that kept him in the town though; it was the excitement it offered at night.
He had rented a small room in what the town's people called a motel. Most of the buildings were dilapidated and bent, and almost everything was covered in dust. It was one of the few settlements in the crazy twisted world they now lived. No leader, no true neighbours because people moved a lot, either out or they moved in, 6 feet deep.
The clouds were mostly dusty and everyone wore a forlorn distant look. He was yet to see any happy person, but could he blame them? There was nothing to be happy for in the world. The world was a mess without hope, so everyone just lived day by day looking forward to nothing, a messy way to live.
As for him, Blog, the great gun slinging Dwarf from the Wild West, every day was an adventure. Since the great catastrophe where he was shot from the realm of the dwarfian warriors to what used to be earth, he had made up his mind to keep himself happy. Back in his realm, he was a warrior, winning many battles and having many jolly celebrations. The dwarfs always celebrated everything, a new born, new moon, the rain, work, harvest, planting, birthdays, burials, growing up, coming of age, growing old, peace, war, everything and anything calls for a celebration.
When he first landed on earth the chaos confused him and he wondered how he just suddenly appeared on earth, it was sudden and without any warning. He was on his way out of his hut when he just suddenly appeared on earth, how it happened still confounds him till today.
Earth was generally a dark misty place and he travelled a lot in his stay on earth; met a lot of people and been to a lot of places, some places he had visit twice, some more than once, but nowhere usually remained the same, this town for example had a new set of people from the last time he visited about a year ago, he had no idea what had happened to them and nobody here seemed to know or seemed to care to offer any explanation.
He had once come across what some people called a television that connected to a DVD player, the kid said. It was some sort of magic box, that showed people in other realms or other places, or other periods, he wasn't so sure. He watched a lot of what the kid called movies, and he particularly liked the cowboy movies and the other action movies, with guns and explosions and all those things. He liked the idea of a tube that could spout out fire and since then he had loved guns, he now had a lot of guns and he was very good at using them, before he used to be known simply as Blog, now he would call himself, 'Blog, the great gun slinging Dwarf from the Wild West'.
In previous battles in his realm, swords were the ultimate weapon and he also loved his axes, but now he was cool with guns. He doesn't even have to move close to make a point.
'Good day everyone,' he greeted an un-answering uninterested crowd on his way to what was called the bar. He didn't care if they answered or not, but no one was going to bring down this jolly good fella.
He swung the door open, strutting like one of the cowboys he had seen in the movies. Everyone turned to look at the diminutive man that just walked in, and a lot of them shifted their attention back to their drinks as fast as the cowboy had caught their attention.
Blog walked to the main bar and jumped on a seat. 'Gimme a glass of whiskey,' the drab old man at the other side of the bar poured him a glass, 'thanks,' he said looking round, not so sure exactly what he was looking for, maybe someone he could chat with, or a lady that would catch his fancy.
The bar was terribly quiet for a bar, and that was the exact opposite of what a bar should be. Everyone just took their drinks quietly, all minding their business, wearing morose faces. Blog stared into his glass looking at his own reflection; he wasn't sure how long he could take it. He needed some action, and as if someone could read his mind, a huge almost gigantic man walks in, and from the moment the guy stepped in Blog could smell trouble.
The giant took large bulky steps to the bar and asked for a bottle of whisky.
'Sorry, but we only serve glasses, we have a limited stock,' the bar man replied politely.
'I said I want a bottle!' the giant screamed, 'I want a bottle! I'm going to pay for it. Why can't I get a bottle if I am going to pay for it?'
'I'm so sorry sir,' the bar man stammered, 'but we can't-'
The bar man was suddenly jerked off his feet from his collar by the giant. The bar man started shivering in fear as the giant brought his face closer to his, the bar man still suspended in the air, 'a bottle,' the giant said.
'He doesn't have a bottle to give,' Blog said, slowly looking up at the giant like he saw in one of those western films; it seemed like he was about to have a whole lot of fun.
'And who are you!' the giant screamed, flinging the bar man into table almost at the entrance of the bar.
Blog turned his gaze to the bar man who slowly got up and dusted himself; that was quite a distance he admitted, then he shifted his attention back to the giant who was beginning to move closer to him.
'I'm going to pummel you, you tiny winny short little dwarf,' the giant kept charging.
'Tiny winny?' Blog smiled and placed his hand on the grip of a new gun he just got, 'it's time to test this baby.'
The giant is about ten feet from Blog when in a swift move, he draws his gun and shoots.
A strong beam comes out of the gun that hits the giant and sends him flying through the bar hitting several chairs, then through the wooden wall of the bar out into the street and into a nearby tree, knocking him out cold.
Blog laughs, 'now this baby is really cool.'
Everyone in the bar stare at him for a moment. Then loud cheers suddenly erupt.
The cheer turns to a chant and then to a song, 'you don't mess with a dwarf…you don't mess with a dwarf like Blog.'
Blog smiles then seats, enjoying every moment of it.
One of the happy bar customers brings him and cup of beer, then another, and another.
'Thank you guys,' Blog smiles uncomfortably.
Then the bar tender brought Blog a large plate of roasted chicken, 'on the house, my friend,' he said.
'Thank you,' Blog smiled sheepishly, 'and how will I ever finish all of these, it's like these people forget I'm a dwarf and all of these is supposed to go somewhere,' he whispered to himself.
'You like it my friend?' the bar owner asked, watching Blog as he took one bite after the other of the roasted turkey.
'Yes, I do, thank you,' Blog replies, as he chews the turkey and started to gulp down the first glass of beer.
*
'When are we getting to the next town?' Amy asked Max as they walked through the woods.
'I don't know, but I've heard there is one just ahead of those mountains,' Max replied, and smiled at Amy who held his hand and hopped as she walked next to her brother.
'I wonder when we will get to Celestia, we've still not found anyone to tell us which way it is,' Amy continued, 'is it possible we could be walking away from it and it's closer to where we started?'
Max stopped in his tracks, that was a valid statement.
'Yes it is possible, but I hope that is not the case, but if it is, then we would have to go all the way back,' Max sighed.
'All the way back?' Amy retorted, we've been walking for days, she stopped and thought of something, 'Is it possible that we have been walking for month's.'
Max laughed, and scratched his head, 'I've actually lost count, I know we've been on this journey for a long long time, but I know we will find Celestia, I promise you, we will.'
'I know we will Max, I believe in you,' Amy smiles as she looks up at him.
It's at moments like these that Max gets all the strength he needs to continue his journey. Knowing that his little sister looks up to him and counts on him gives him all the strength he needs.
'Yes, we will find Celestia,' Max said, more determined than ever.
The woods suddenly turned dark.
'Max there's someone in the trees,' Amy held tightly to Max.
'Yes, stay close to me,' Max drew out his sword. 'It's two people.'
'They are moving really fast, max,' Amy held on tighter to Max.
Two figures emerged from the woods. Gaunt looking humans with red eyes, they both wore rag like clothes and had long talon like nails. Their skins were pale and had hardly any hair on their heads.
'Naschians,' Max said, gripping his sword tighter.
'What are Naschians?' Amy asked.
'They are vile creatures and very dangerous,' Max fixes his gaze on the two gaunt figures standing several feet away from them.
The two Naschians stood there, observing Max and Amy.
'They were once humans but not anymore,' Max said, guiding Amy closer to him.
The Naschian's mouths started to quiver, making low vibrating sounds.
'Close your eyes Amy,' Max whispered.
'Why?' Amy asked innocently.
'Just close your eyes, I will explain to you later,' Max close his eyes, holding Amy with one hand and holding out his sword in another.
The naschians let out a scream as they moved quickly towards Amy and Max, Max quickly slashed his sword but felt a sharp pain on his right shoulder. One of the naschians let out a scream as they scamper away from Max and Amy.
'Are you okay?' Amy asked.
'Yes, I am, just a little scratch, keep your eyes closed,' Max listened out for the movement of the naschians and there's only silence.
Max heard movement in some leaves ahead and aims his sword to the direction of the direction of the sound. He suddenly felt a body ram into him sending him falling to the ground and losing his grip of Amy.
'Max!' Amy screamed.
He quickly opened his eyes and spots the naschians grabbing Amy.
'Leave her alone,' he dashed towards the two figures but as soon as they spotted him, they let out guttural screams that sent Max's vision spinning. Blood trickled down his eyes and, then his ears, then he coughed out some blood and he staggers to the ground.
'You can't look at them, Max,' he whispers to himself.
He quickly closed his eyes and slashed his sword toward their direction.
Amy screamed again.
'Are you okay, Amy?' Max yells out.
'They are taking me away, max, they are taking me away,' Amy screamed.
Max hurried toward the sound and each step felt as if a thousand sharp object piercd through his body. He could not open his eyes to fight the naschians and he had to be careful not to strike Amy as he fought with his eyes closed.
The naschians dropped Amy and dashed towards Max, hitting him, sending him to the ground and hitting him again whenever he tried to get up.
'Leave him alone,' Amy yelled.
Max tried to get up with all his strength. He could feel all their scratches from the naschians and his head felt like it was going to explode, he could not open his eyes to attack them again. His body would not take another bout of their hideous scream.
'Leave-him-alone,' Amy yelled again, but this time Max felt a flash of light, he didn't open his eyes but everything around suddenly felt brighter, he decided to open his eyes slightly but what he saw astonished him.
A blinding light emanated from Amy and he could see the naschians running into the woods with bunrt flesh wounds.
Then the light stopped and Amy collapsed to the ground.
'Amy,' Max ran towards Amy and tried to revive her. He carried her from the floor and and listened for her breath. Her breathing was steady but her eyes were still closed.
'Wake Amy,' he shook her slightly but she didn't respond, 'You'll be okay Amy, I promise.'
Max carried Amy on her shoulder and headed towards the mountains where he heard the small town was.
'Hang in the sister, hang in there,' Max hurried through the woods carrying his collapsed sister.