//------------------------------// // How Things Are // Story: Dark Arts // by serebii //------------------------------// I hate moving and I never understood why we had to do it so often. It was a pain to do so and it seemed so pointless to me. Every year around the same time we moved with the rest of are group. I was always the… different one I should say. I looked nothing like that others and that made me an outcast. My coat was gray and my mane was black and short and my eyes were ruby red. Everyone else had scales, claws and could breath fire. Living with them, my life is in constant danger. My mother said it would get easier as time went by and the other young dragons got older. That was a lie, as they got older they became more cruel and a lot more hostile. There games went from dangerous to life threatening. I decided to avid dragons my age. They were too unpredictable I can't remember how many times my wings were almost burned off my body. the best thing to do was to avoid dragons my age entirely. I was laying on the floor of the cave waiting for the sun to go down. I only left the cave at night. Believe it or not it was safer to come out at night then to spend the day with the dragons I live with. this force me to sleep during the day and stay out all night. My mom even give me the nickname Nightcrawler. I would normally read to pass the time but, I was out of books. I would have to find some more while we traveled. My ears perked up when I herd large wings flapping in the distance. They got louder as the figure came closer till I could see the wings the dragon they belong to, she landed in front of me. folding her wings she greeted me. “Good evening Tactum how has your day been?” She asked. Her voice was low and elegant, which I never understood considering her size. She was a full grown dragon. She had a starlight silver body with a white underbelly.Her spines were broze and her eyes were sunset red. “Good evening mother.” I replied. ”I was just about to head out and start my night.” “Oh right, my little nightcrawler still hates the day. dont be out all night, remember we have to leave in the morning and I'm not letting you sleep on my back this time you're old enough to fly the whole way there.” “I won't.” I responded. Getting up and walking towards the entrance of the cave. I looked out to see the sun slowly leaving. Nightfall came and I had to move quickly. I flew up to the nearest clouds and begin to push them towards a clearing in the forest. I was the only one that I knew of who could manipulate clouds. I still remember the day I found out I could do so. Mom was trying to teach me how to fly. Im not sure if pushing your child off a cliff was the best way to teach me how to fly but, I did learn. Sadly that was one of my better memories. The clearing was one of the few places I had to myself. It was hidden by the tall trees on both sides so, it only had one opening. I moved the cloud to the back of the clearing and sit on the cloud. The clearing give me a great view of the sky. The moon had always peaked my interest and made me think. Tonight was no different as I began to think about how the move would affect me. I found myself getting angry at the fact that I would probably never see this place again. I had this feeling growing inside me, this wasn't anger. I could feel this…. energy flowing throughout my body. The power was so overwhelming I didn't know what to do. the feeling suddenly became a deep burn throughout my entire body. the burn quickly came to my throat I laid on the cloud gasping for air. I thought I was going to die but, just like that, the burn tuned into a light warmth throughout my body. I started taking in large breaths air coming back into my lungs. I slowly sat back up. “What the hell was that?” “That was your power restoring. that really most of hurt since it's been building for all these years.” I heard a voice say. the voice was childlike and I had never heard it before. “Who are you? Where are you?” I asked looking around me but, I saw nothing. “Oh, sorry allow me to introduce myself.” The voice was definitely coming from above me. before I could look up a small thing jumped off my head and landed in front of me. “My names calcifer.” The small creature stated. it was a an all black with cat like features. Its eyes were ruby red and had too tails moving back and forth behind it. “Calcifer what do you want and what did you mean by power restoring? What did you do to me?” I asked a little on edge. He was able to get on my head and I didn't hear or see him coming. He could be dangerous. I kept my guard up. “Thats a lot of questions. Let me start with I did nothing to you. That was your natural power coming back to you. Your suppose to have the power slowly grow over time as you get older but, someone or something sealed yours up and now that you're old enough you seal has been broken. thats not important right now.” “Alright, so what do you want?” I asked not really understanding most of what it had just said. “I want to make a contract with you. Ive seen the power inside you. Its the strongest i've seen in a while. You are more than strong enough for me to call you my master. That warmth you feel inside right now most things only have that in a certain part of them but, you have it all over you.” Calcifer took a few steps towards me his eyes were like two small red orbs and I couldn't stop looking into them. There were just like mine. All I could see was loneliness inside them. He claims that it was just the power I'd somehow obtained but, his eyes said different. I had many question about what was going on with me and I bet calcifer could answer them. I could also tell he didn't want to be alone and so did I. “Alright, i'll make a contract with you. If you answer all my questions.” He nodded. “how does this work?” “simple, just answer this question. do you accept this contract?” “yes I accept your contract.” I felt a little of the warmth from earlier slowly leave me sending a shiver throughout my body. “I am here to serve you and only you master.” Calcifer said his tone was a bit more serious than before. Now was the time to get answers. “Calcifer what is this power I have?” “The power is known by many names and there are different types. Your power known in this world is called Nether Manipulation or the final element. This power allows you to conjure and manipulate nether to use how you want.” I nodded only understanding part of what Calcifer said. “What is Nether?” I asked. I needed to know what this power could do and what were my limits. “Nether is the essence that flows through the realms of the living and the dead.” That's what I thought. I don't understand any of this. I was getting nowhere and it was getting late. there has to be a better way to understand this. “Is there a better way for me to learn how to use my power?” “there is one way I know of but, it's not ideal and we are very far away from it.” Calcifer said. He sounded uncertain. “Can you take me there?” Calcifer noded. “Whenever you want to go just let me know.” I nodded. I would have to think about that. Maybe decide what to do after we moved. Shit we're moving tomorrow and I told mom I would not be out all night. “Calcifer we need to go now. can you fly?” “No I cant. not unless you give me wings.” “I can do that? Nevermind for now just get on my back.” Calcifer noded. then he hopped on my back. I was expecting some weight when he hopped on but, I could barely notice his paws on my back. “You ready?” I asked. I could feel his paws dancing on my back as he tries to find a comfortable spot. “I'm ready.” I started flying back towards the cave. I couldn't fly as fast as i wanted because Calcifer was on my back. He seemed to be nervus. I could feel his tight grip on my coat. Maybe I was flying to fast or maybe he was scared of hights. I would have asked but, we were already back at the cave. Sneaking into the cave wasn't new to me. I did it more often then I would have liked. The only problem was Calcifer. He was a big unknown. I dont even know how my mom going to react to him or to the fact that I have some power I can't control. Theses were problems I would have to deal with in the morning. I was tired and needed to get some rest. I landed in front of the cave. Before I could say anything Calcifer hopped off my back and landed on the side of me. I guess he really didn't enjoy the ride. We walked into the cave the only light coming from the moon. We only went far enough to where we could not be seen from the entrance. I layed down on the cave floor ready to let sleep take me. “Master where do I sleep?” “Wherever you feel most conformable.” I told him. A few moments later I could feel paws on my back again. well I did say conformable and I guess my back would be better than a cave floor. A few moments later and we were both asleep. The Next Morning “Master….” A voice called out. I kept my eyes shut. I really wasn't ready to get up.”Master please we're not alone in here.” I could feel a slight pulling on my left wing. “Relax the big dragon is my mom. She won't hurt us.” I muttered. “She's not the only one here. There are others and they are not dragons.” That got me up. now that I was fully woken I could hear voices. One was my mothers. “Leave my home before you become my lunch.” My mom sounded angry. That wasn't good for whoever she was talking to. I walked out the cave with Calcifer on my back. There I saw mom and three others. I had never seen anything like them before. Two of them seemed to be birdlike creatures. They had beaks and fur on what I thought was covering there chest but, they had claws at the end of their legs and were standing on their hindlegs. Then there was the one in the middle he was different. He was smaller than the others and had gray mane and tail with a blood red streak in it. His coat was dark orange and his eyes were neon yellow. “Whats going on? Who are they and what are they?” I asked. pointing at the one on the left. “Tactum go back into the cave. This has nothing to do with you.” “Why are you lying to him violet. I think he deserves to know the truth about himself.” The one in the middle spoke out. his voice was low and smag. “Master can you hear me?” I heard in my head but, that sounded like Calcifer. Great now i'm hearing things. “You're not hearing things. Im talking to you in my mind.” You can do that? “Yes now I need you to listen. Master the ones on the left and right are griffins. They have the body of a lion and the head in wings of an eagle. the one in the middle is a unicorn. We need to be careful his power is not as great as your but, he has more skill than you.” Thank you Calcifer. Now back to the matter at hand. “Mom what is he talking about?” “Tactum I said go back in the cave. I will not tell you again.” She turned to me eyes narrowed. I didn't so much as flinch. If I was going to get answers I had to stand my ground here. “Mom I'm old enough to know the truth. Its alright I can handle whatever you've been hiding from me.” I gave her a warm smile. Her face with from anger to sorrow in a matter of seconds. “Alright, Ill tell you but, not now. I have to take care of some unwanted company.” She turned back to them. She towered over three of them. I could tell the griffins were frightened by their body language but, the unicorn was smiling? that creeped me out a little. “Alright, come on boys were not wanted here. Besides they look like they need time to sort things out. Well come back at a better time.” His horn glowed and a second later they were gone.