Dragon Quest: Part One

by Dragonsfang

Pernith the silver Tatsu backwinged onto his railing and craned his head toward his owner, trying to see the book she was reading. Unable to see, he asked, "What are you reading, Nirelka?"

The fourteen-year-old glanced up at the silver Tatsu. "All the Weyrs of Pern. It's about dragons and humans trying to get rid of something called Thread."

"I've heard of that. How far are you?" Pernith said, resettling his grip on his wooden railing.

"'Bout halfway through. Why?" Nirelka answered.

"I was just wondering," he replied. He fluttered down from his perch and walked up to the chair that Nirelka was slumped in. He looked closely at the cover of the book, which showed a white dragon with its wings spread out. It was climbing up a rock with a strange tree on top.

"Nirelka, are there any more dragons left?" the Tatsu asked, lifting himself onto his hind legs.

Nirelka placed her bookmark on the page she had left off at and looked at the silver NeoPet. "The humans destroyed them all hundreds of years ago. They looked upon the Dragon as a threat to their power, and destroyed Dragons until not one was left anywhere in the world."

"Do you think there could be any left?" Pernith asked.

"No, Pernith. Why do you want to know about Dragons all of the sudden?" Nirelka asked, narrowing her grey-green eyes at the Tatsu.

"You always read books about them, Nirelka. I just wanted to see why," Pernith stammered, flaring his wings in surprise at the girl's tone.

"Now you know. Just drop the subject upon Dragons, Pernith. None are left on this planet, and that is that," Nirelka said.

"But if one were alive, where would it be?" Pernith demanded, determined not to give up with his questioning.

"It wouldn't be in the woods around here, not with the Monocerous and demons running about. Depending upon its nature, it would either be on the Plane of Ultimate Good, or the Plane of Ultimate Evil," Nirelka answered. "But drop the subject. No one around here cares about them, and there is no reason to, as they are all gone. Just let it be, Pernith. Let it be."

Pernith watched as Nirelka turned and walked back inside, short bronze hair streaming out like a flame behind her. He climbed into her chair, and picked up the book she had been reading, once more studying the cover with the white dragon.

"The Plane of Ultimate Good, or Ultimate Evil," Pernith muttered. "That is where I shall find a dragon. I'll prove to Nirelka that Dragons exist by bringing the last one back. I'll show everyone!" The silver Tatsu placed the book back in the chair and launched himself into the air, beating his wings fiercely to gain altitude.

Upon the Plane of Ultimate Evil, a creature lay crouched upon its hunches, staring intently into a swirling pool of black water. Its slit-pupiled eyes narrowed, and its lips pulled back into a sneer as the image of a great golden beast with wheeling opalescent eyes, a long bladed tail, and giant bat-like wings took shape.

With a growl of satisfaction, it waved a clawed hand; the image and swirling black pool vanished. It rose from its crouched position, stretching its powerful legs and wings as it did.

"Razorwing, have you located it yet?"

It cringed at the sound of its name. "Yes, Master, I have located the Golden Creature in the Plane of Ultimate Good."

"Then go there and destroy it, Razorwing. I am giving you forty-eight hours to do so."

"Yes, Master," it said. It flapped its dark red wings and launched its black body into the air, shooting upward toward the hole in which the lightning-shredded sky could be seen. Its menacing body was outlined in the ragged bolts of lightning as they tore across the blue-black heavens and disappeared with a roar.

To be continued...