Dragon in the Mist Teaser. · 4:29pm Nov 15th, 2012
The cool, slightly moist smooth stone under Haze’s bare feet sent a slight chill up his spine as he walked along. With only his grey underwear and short white hair protecting him from the cold the sixteen year old cadet shivered uncontrollably as the icy air surrounded him. He was blindfolded, hands bound in freezing metal cuffs and being led with a rope around the chain holding the shackles together. The situation Haze was in would usually bring a terrified response from a sane person, but Haze was completely calm. This was not his first time being jumped in his sleep and brought to the guarded passages under the military facility he called home. It was a standard occurrence in the training of the Shadow Dragons.
The Shadow Dragons, or Special Reconnaissance and Weapons Force, was the tip of the spear against the enemies of the Equestrian Empire and personal guard of Empress Twilight Sparkle. Every member of the Dragons was a trained killer with any and every weapons, fanatically loyal to the Empress and borderline sadistic. Haze was no different, and he had endured three previous visits to the dungeon he was being led through. Each time he had to fight and kill a fellow cadet; the first with batons, the second with combat knives and the last with his bare hands. Each fight he had come out victorious, and each fight solidified the motto of the Shadow Dragons in his mind. Fortis Superesse. The strong survive.
Haze felt his guide rope tighten to his left, and without hesitation he turned to follow. After a few more minutes he heard a large wooden door open then felt a hand on his shoulder. The cadet stopped where he was. The sensation of his cuffs being removed told him that he had reached his destination, and his blindfold soon followed. Haze squinted as the bright incandescent lights of the small arena blinded him for a moment, but as soon as his light grey eyes adjusted he found that he was not here to fight.
Standing in front of Haze in the center of the circular arena was none other than the Empress herself. She was clad in a long, flowing lavender dress that pulled a long train. Gold trim surrounded the hem of Empress Twilight’s dress and around the ends of the large sleeves that engulfed her arms while hiding her hands. A thin necklace made of silver with one navy blue and purple diamond shaped pendants rested on her chest, and a talk gold tiara topped with a lavender, six pointed star shaped jewel sat atop her head. Below the crown was the Empress’s long navy blue hair highlighted with a purple and pink streak. Her purple irises were surrounded with a thin green line, and a royal purple mist emanated from her eyes.
As soon as Haze realized he was face to face with the Empress he fell to his hands and knees in a deep bow.
“Rise Cadet Haze.” Empress Twilight said with power in her voice while she waved off those who had escorted the cadet there.
“Yes my empress.”
Haze rose slowly to stand at in a ridged at ease position, and he soon realized the Empress was not alone.
Kneeling next to Empress Twilight was a young boy dressed in brown rags. Large metal cuffs engulfed his wrists while a thick chain held them to the stone floor. The boy’s hair was long, colored a light green and dirty. His orange eyes were full of fear as tried in vain to pull at his restraints. Haze guessed he had been in the local prison for a while, and that he was only a teenager.
“Look familiar Cadet?” The Empress said as she walked slowly around the boy as if she was a lioness stalking her prey. “He is the spitting image of yourself when you came to my school; a starving orphan alone and aimless. However there is one difference between you and him. You fought when we caught you.”
Empress Twilight stopped and indicated the boy with an open hand that peaked out from under her sleeve.
“He did not. He ran.”
Haze looked at the boy for a mere second before returning his eyes to his empress.
“You know what happens to the cowardly don’t you Haze.”
Empress Twilight reached down and pulled the pin holding one of the cuffs around the boys wrist closed. He frantically freed his hand before releasing its partner. Once unchained the boy stood and ran to the far wall to try and pry open one of the two doors to the arena. Haze watched him as he tried with all his might to open the wooden portal.
“What are you going to do Cadet?”
Haze glared at the boy as he gave up and turned to see the cadet.
“The strong survive.”
Empress Twilight grinned.
“And what happen to the weak?”
Haze did not respond, but took off in a sprint toward the boy. He had been in training for three years, and his body was lean and quick from the intense physical exercise. The cadet sprinted past the Empress to close with his target. While the boy, fearful of the stranger bearing down on him, tried to run around the rounded edge of the arena. Haze cut him off only to drop his shoulder into the boy’s ribcage. The boy smashed into the hard stone wall, and the sound of a rib or two breaking entered the cadet’s ear. In pain and unable to breath the boy collapsed onto the stone in front of Haze gasping for air.
“Please…”
Haze ignored the boy’s pleads as he reached down to grab his hair. The cadet smiled as he dragged the boy across the ground until they were in the center of the room. When they reached the middle of the arena the boy was released, and he struggled to his hands and knees.
“Please… don’t hurt me…”
Haze ignored the boy as he planted a kick into his midsection. Again the wind shot out of the boy as he doubled over. The cadet straddled his foe as he forced him onto his back, and for a moment they locked eyes. Haze could see the fear and pain in his enemy’s gaze as they pleaded for him to stop. He regarded them with disgust as he quickly dropped his knee right on the boy’s solar plexus. The boy reflexively clenched his abs as his already flagging diaphragm took a third hit. Haze reacted with a hard punch to the right side of his enemies face. Unable to defend himself the boy endured a second blow to the opposite side of his head, and through it all Haze was grinning sadistically.
Blood now flowed freely from the boy’s mouth and nose, but Haze did not stop. A third blow came; then a fourth and fifth. The boy was soon flirting on the edge of consciousness as Haze continued to land savage blows. The boy’s face soon became pulp, and he chest stopped rising as his finial breath escaped his lungs. Covered in blood the cadet rose to look over his newest victory. A bit of satisfaction was felt in his head as he once again survived to move closer to his goal.
“Well done Cadet Haze.”
Haze turned to see Empress Twilight standing a few feet away. He went to drop to his hands and knees to bow, but was stopped with a hand.
“You have proven your loyalty; come and receive my blessing.”
Haze felt the unfamiliar feeling of joy surge through him as he moved towards his empress, and he crossed the gap between them quickly. As soon as the cadet was within arm’s reach he stopped just as Empress Twilight reached out and placed her hand on the center of his chest. The blood that coated his fists and dotted his chest moved over his skin as the Empress used her unique powers on Haze. The cadet could feel something akin to static electricity dance across his torso as the red liquid gathered under Empress Twilight’s hand. An almost unbearable heat emanated from the Empress’s hand, and was accompanied by a deep purple and green glow. Haze grit his teeth as the pain seared his chest, but it only lasted a few moments. When the heat faded so did the light and Empress Twilight removed her hand to revel he work.
Haze looked down to see a deep red tattoo adorning his chest between his pectoral muscles. The image was the emblem of the Shadow Dragons, and was extremely detailed. A horned dragon was surrounded by lightning bolts that arched out of its nose. Every scale, fin and horn was represented. The dragon’s slit iris eyes seemed to draw the cadet in as he stared at them.
“It is finial Haze. You are now a Shadow Dragon.”
Haze looked up at the Empress barely hiding a grin.
“Thank you Empress. I will not fail you.”
Haze placed his right fist on his left pectoral to salute Empress Twilight. The gesture was specific to the Shadow Dragons, and if performed without being one was punishable by death.
“You will be returned to your recruit barracks where you will meet one of my agents” Explained Empress Twilight as she waved someone over behind Haze. “He will take you to the capital to be placed into a fire team.”
Haze saw the blindfold he had been wearing before placed over his eyes, and the feeling of metal cuffs could be felt on his wrists.
“From now on you are my tool to use where and when I wish. Do not fail me and I will not fail you Haze.”
Haze was practically beaming.
“Yes my Empress.”
With that the cadet was led out of the arena back into the cold halls, but Haze could not feel the icy air. He was filled with pride as he achieved what he had been dreaming of since he was pulled off of the streets. For three years he fought for a better life, and he had won it tonight.
this is lightly edited, so please point out mistakes i missed when i skimmed it.
you guys like what you see?
let me know in the comments
I like this concept a lot! i look forward to reading this chapter/story in full.
506032 I will definitely get the first chapter out before this weekend.
and this is only a small part of the opening scenes that follow the creation of the Empire, Twilights fall and Haze's origin.
looking forward to itdl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_rainbowkiss_flip.png
506157 so am i
i like Haze as a character atm.
and the whole back story seems pretty sweet
This is going to be good to read
506766 i hope so.
i also hope i can get it out before people start compaining
* Le Gasp! * Twilight, how c-could you?! Y-you betray our trust? *RAGE FACE OF FAIL*
506863she will get hers.
and she if far worse than you think
*slow nods of approval*
506975 ...Approval, if its worth anything!
507029 thank you
507223 it is worth quite a bit
507245 I do say, my good sir!
507253 its worth your weight in gold
507256 *1 Cent later*
Hm. Seems I am!
507267 lol
you arent that small
507273 Lol. Silly Rabbi, Kicks are for Trids!
507284 what is that... i dont even
507288 Oh lol. Watching Naruto right now, I am confused. Fly little buddy, fly!
507296 lol.
i prefer Full Metal Alchemist
*looks around to see if Octavia is around* ok good she isn't that was awsome and brutal reminds me of well me.
*clears throut* are you think about your past again you know now you get with that.
*looks down reprimanded* sorry dear
507373 i think you need a spanking Frag
507400Lol that wouldn't be much of a punishment and you know it.
I didn't read a whole lot because I know you'll have the chapter out soon, I don't wanna spoil the experience
Though, I am kinda wondering where the next chapter for Same Old Fight is, but I can wait if it's for something like this
507782 it is waiting for my muse to return.
for me writing isnt forced. i dont run on a schedule even though i try to.
sometimes i feel like writing about Dano as he sits in my head and pokes my brain until i continue his story
sometimes its human luna.
sometimes its Haze.
it all comes to me when it wants to,
i know that not consistent, but i believe it makes for better writing
508304 I understand. I'm constantly writing for a story that I want to come together. Only problem is, what in my head would probably be around 7-9 books worth of story with 6 main characters all with evolving relationships and epic adventures, the story comes together in random places, not linear. Sometimes I feel like I should just stick to running DnD campaigns, but I want to get this story out of my head finally. I've been working on it for nearly a year now but haven't gotten 2 coherent back-to-back chapters yet.
508338 hmmm.
how about you write it as each story is one character, and their plots intertwine.
It is. The first 6 "books" would be the individual characters, while they meet up for their journey, pretty much going with one for the first, having them join with the second, and so on. But it's just my brain is like "you know, this scene should TOTALLY happen and i'm not gonna let up on it til it's written but don't worry where it goes you'll know when you get there". And it's scifi, so I have a lot more creative room, but sometimes feels a little too much. But, oh well. I'll get to the finish eventually.
508420 hmmm.
i hear you.
try this:
when i write i do not commit until i have a beginning and an end.
that way i have something to work towards.
edit: i just realize that is advice is bogus.
rofl.
507302 FMA! ftw.
508729 its great.
i love it
508737 Lol. FMA Brotherhood, haven't seen it yet, but I should, shouldn't I?
509657 yes you should.
it is great
508634 Yeah... I pretty much have the beginning and end for all of them... the middle is pretty much where I'm having the problems
509703 lol.
i just wing it in the middle, and sometimes i have set piece moments.
but those are rare
509710 It's kinda difficult for me to do that at times. Like, I can do maybe a chapter or so, but there's just so many circumstances in which I need the right feel, but I can't get it except for those random blips of "this'll fit in somewhere awesome" moments. And I've tried things to set the mood, but I just can't force it. Music, shows, artwork... none of them seem to be able to affect that part of my mind to get it motivated to create.
509657YES! DO IT!
ITS AMAZING!
BETTER THAN ANY OTHER ANIME OUT THAR!
509710that's the joe I know, c'mere *bro-hug*
509720 you have read Whole New World yes?
509726 *huggles*
509729*kissuh*
509736 slow down bro
we cant do this here
509743*no more kissuh* aww man...
509727 Yeah I have. I had to read it before Same Old Fight
loved it
509748 im sorry
maybe if fluttershy joined us we could
509752 thanks
but do you remember the part where Dano kills Discord?
before that happens discord is supposed to tell Dano that destroying his armory wouldnt stop him because he had small armories all over.
that way i could let Nightmare Moon have guns, and make the war in Equestria happen with guns.
didnt work out
509761she was tired as shit and fell asleep on the rug......sooooo cute
509765 awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
509772yesh, im lucky
have you seen the pic of her on my blog?
509778 yes
and i would hug her until she died
509761 Yeah, I get that. Set something up only for it to not happen later as you had hoped. If the journey weren't so enjoyable, I'd give up writing. But the story's always worth it in the end
509786 it is
but what i was getting as was to let your ideas evolve.
that cool scene may be cool now, but writing a story around a few ridged scenes is hard.
keep those awesome moments, but twist them to make them fit