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[<p>Once upon a time
in a kingdom far, far away, there lived a powerful dragon named Malik.</p>]
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[[ ->2]](font: "Satisfy; font-size: 25px") [<p>Each citizen would adorn their home in red and gold.</p>]
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[[ ->4]]But that was then.
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[[ ->5]]And this is now:
[[ Next ]] Malik turns to face his friend: an irish demi-god named Rory. Rory’s cheeks are pink. His hair has traces of gold from a beauty spell he renews every morning. He pouts, eyebrows furrowed.
[[Do you need something?]]
[[What do you want?]]
"Oi, bastard, I'm talking to you!"
[[Ignore the voice again]]
[[What do you want?]]
[[Do you need something?]] “Mate, get a grip. You’ve been sitting in this cave for centuries and it’s bloody depressing. Come outside with me, breathe in the fresh air. Maybe checking on those mortals you hate so much will make you feel better.”
[[How would that make me feel better??]] “What do I want? Can’t a lad come join his friend in his century-long depression fest?” Rory sits on Malik’s tail and smooths over the scales--once red and shiny, now burgundy and dull--with a hand. “I keep telling you, it’s no use staying in this form. You’ve got to conserve what little magic you have left.”
[[What are you talking about?]]
“They’re pretty miserable down there, ever since their favorite dragon god abandoned them.”
[[I abandoned them? They abandoned me!]] “That’s what I’m saying, bro! Seeing your enemies suffer is the best remedy for depression. Take it from me, my mother’s a healer.” Rory's mother is not a healer, but Malik doesn't comment on that (it's an ongoing argument that can last for hours)
[[Alright, I’ll go with you]]
[[Naw, Imma stay here ]] Malik and Rory exit the cave, Rory jumping from puddle to puddle along the way. Outside of the cave is a mountain overlooking the nearby kingdom-- the same kingdom that had abandoned their faith in Malik centuries ago. But, wait. (link: "Something looked wrong.") [
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]
[[???]] A red flare lights up the sky outside. The cave shakes, rocks crumbling down around Malik and Rory. They race outside, eyes wide, hearts thudding. From the edge of the cliff they spot the nearby village. The castle is in flames. Humans run from away in a frenzy, while others-- the brave ones--race towards the flames, hoping to rescue the ones inside.
<img src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRHo_AezmojxeOrDkwbDuAHy20-B55cjmKtm13OMq0wsrkQZ-rgSA" />
[[Get down there]]
[[Abandon the kingdom]]“Malik,” the voice persists.
[[Ignorrreeee]]
“Malik, I know you're in here. You're stinkin’ the whole place up.”
[[Answer plssssss]] “What do you want, Rory?” Malik sulks, turning back to face the cave wall.
Rory walks into the cave, the sound of his footsteps echoing around them. Malik’s scales, once red and gold, are now burgundy and copper. His wings hang low on his back, as though he is too weak to carry them anymore.
[[Click]]
Rory places a hand on Malik’s back. “You’ve been in that form for months. I say it’s time to take a bit of a break, yeah? You're starting to look a bit… rusty.”
Malik sighs. “Rory, you know the only bit of magic I have left allows me to remain in this state.”
“Right, of course. But the thing is, it’ll wear out your magic faster. C’mon. I’m in my human form as well, at least you’ll have that--solidarity.”
[[Don’t take this the wrong way, mate, but you’re a demigod. I’d rather die in this form than live to acknowledge that our strength is currently at the same level]]
[[Solidarity? F*ck you.]] "What are you talking about? I am a god! I have an endless amount of magic."
“Malik, living in a state of denial isn’t going to help anyone. You know that a god’s power is dependent on the strength and size of their believers. Their faith’s dwindled down to nothing. Gone are the lantern festivals thrown in your honor. Gone are the crowds that travel land and sea to watch you dance. You can’t even breathe fire anymor--”
[[That's enough!]]
[[Alright, I get it!]]
[[Shut up before I make you shut up.]]Rory clicked his tongue. “Aye, bet this is why Hari broke up with you.”
“Now, you listen--”
“Hello?” A panicked voice calls. Malik and Rory exchange a glance. “Please! Help!”
Malik glares at the entrance of the cave. A dying knight crawls towards the cave, one hand dragging him through the dirt, the other clutching a bundled up blanket. There is blood dripping down his face, and his armor is damaged.
<img src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/00/36/a0/0036a0e15721e2302411b7d127a14ebd.jpg"
Malik turns himself invisible. He breathes in, conjuring enough power to make his voice boom in a god-like fashion.
[[Who hath enter'd my sanctuary?]]
[[What do you seek?]]Rory clicked his tongue. “Aye, bet this is why Hari broke up with you.”
“Now, you listen--”
“Hello?” A panicked voice calls. Malik and Rory exchange a glance. “Please! Help!”
Malik glares at the entrance of the cave. A dying knight crawls towards the cave, one hand dragging him through the dirt, the other clutching a bundled up blanket. There is blood dripping down his face, his armor damaged.
<img src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/00/36/a0/0036a0e15721e2302411b7d127a14ebd.jpg"
Malik turns both Rory and himself invisible. He breathes in, conjuring enough power to make his voice boom in a god-like fashion.
[[Who hath enter'd my sanctuary?]]
[[What do you seek?]] Water drips down the cave walls. The sound echoes in the small space, accompanied by dying breath. In a glowing crevice lies Malik. He rests to stabilize his life force. It has been a century since the last festival was thrown in his [[honor.]]
<img src="https://www.dpreview.com/files/p/E~forums/53658441/be2591d9d4954ff8920b2d557370e311" />
The earth shakes. Rocks crumbling down around them. Rory stumbles forward, almost falling off the cliff, but Malik catches him with his tail.
Rory rights himself, panting. His face is red and splotchy. "What the bloody hell was that?"
With a flick of his tail, Malik's vision sharpens. He scans the kingdom for the source of the explosion. The srceams of villagers pierced the air, knights rushing towards flames.
"But why would they-- oh shit, the castle!"
[[Oh shit the castle, indeed.]]<img src="http://www.volumevisuel.fr/Collections/_IMAGES/Ex%20abrupto/Windsor-Castle-Fire-Johnny-de-Brest-Princess-Diana-Prinzessin-Diana.jpg"/>
"I'm going down there!" Rory yells, wings already making their appearance on his back. "Stay here or come with me, I don't care. But I can't just watch this all play out the way you might." He soars down the cliff, towards the burning kingdom.
The comment bites at Malik. What will he do?
[[Get down there]]
[[Abandon the kingdom]] (font: "Satisfy; font-size: 25px") [<p>Every year, the people would throw a festival to honor him as their mighty god.</p>]
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[[ ->3]]Malik takes flight, like an arrow piercing through the air. The screams grow louder and louder, the heat from the flames would be scorching, if Malik weren't immune. He lands in front of the castle, the earth shaking with his weight.
"It's Malik!" a woman cries. She claps. "He has returned! He has come to save us!"
Malik exhales, closing his eyes. He stretches his wings out, the tips glowing gold, as he sucks in the fire with a deep inahle. He gulps it all down and belches.
The knights and villagers around him cheer, expressing their gratitude with tears in their eyes.
[[That's when the demon bursts through the castle roof]] Malik glances at the sight once more and turns away. He spreads his wings and flies back into the cave, settling back into the glowing crevice. The villager's screams can still be heard. With a snap of a claw, Malik makes the sound disappear. He breathes deeply, head and eyes drooping, until he falls asleep.
[[Zzzzz...]](font: "Satisfy; font-size: 25px") [<p>Music and dancing would fill the streets, centered around a dais, in which Malik would sit atop.</p>]
[[Next]]He is jolted awake by a sharp cry.
"Help! Please!"
Malik glares at the entrance of the cave. A dying knight crawls towards the cave, one hand dragging him through the dirt, the other clutching a bundled up blanket. There is blood dripping down his face, his armor damaged.
<img src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/00/36/a0/0036a0e15721e2302411b7d127a14ebd.jpg"
Malik turns himself invisible. He breathes in, conjuring enough power to make his voice boom in a god-like fashion.
[[Who hath entered my sanctuary?]]
[[What do you seek?]] Tears and mucus stream down the knight's face, mixing with the blood and puddling onto the floor. The blanket in his arms wiggles, revealing the scrunched up, red face of an infant.
"Please..." the knight croaks, holding the bundled blanket out to Malik. "Save the princess..."
The knight faints.
[[Transform and catch the baby]]
[[Let the baby die]]Malik transforms into his human form, catching the baby at lightning speed. With trembling hands, he brushes her black hair out of her face. It's been a long time since he's been near a full-blooded human--he isn't sure what to do. Stupidly, he watches her cry and squirm in his arms.
"Wow, Malik. Been a long time since I saw you're human form."
Rory twirls his finger in a circle as Malik jumps. The baby floats out of his arms and into the air. She is gently rocked from side to side until she falls asleep.
"Jeez," Rory complains. "S'like you've never held a baby before."
"I hate humans."
"Well, this human isn't going anywhere. We gotta take care of it, and neither of us know how..." Rory rubs his chin. "Looks like we're gonna have to call Hari."
[[Hari??]] Tears and mucus stream down the knight's face, mixing with the blood and puddling onto the floor. The blanket in his arms wiggles, revealing the scrunched up, red face of an infant.
"Please..." the knight croaks, holding the bundled blanket out to Malik. "Save the princess..."
The knight collapses.
[[Transform and catch the baby]]
[[Let the baby die]]The knight struggles to push himself up. "I seek protection! For the princess!"
[["And what do you offer me in return for her protection?"]]
[[Ignore the knight]]Malik freezes, watching everything unfold in slow motion.
Rory dashes foward, catching the princess before she makes impact with the ground. She cries in his arms, face red and scrunched up.
"Jeez," Rory gasps, rocking back and forth in an effort to calm her down. "Can't believe you just stood there."
"I-I was shocked!" Malik explains. "A human just died in front of me."
"Judging by the way the knight looks, I'd say that isn't the only casualty." The color drains from Rory's face.
Malik's eyes widen. "F*ck," he curses. "Don't tell me--"
Rory nods. "It was her. Cahira."
[[NoOOoooOOOoooOOO]]The princess cries harder, as if she knows of the treacherous Cahira.
"Do I have to do //everything// around here?" Rory digs into his jean pocket, and pulls out an iPhone.
"What is //that//?" Malik asks, baffled.
Rory grins. "Oh, this?" He waves the phone in the air. "Took a summer trip to the future and got me one of these. Pretty handy, aren't they?"
"Uhhhh... Sure?"
He places the baby higher on his chest, moving his thumb over the screen with one hand. "I'll put it on speaker."
[[ring ring ring]]The phone rings twice before Hari picks up.
"Hello, you bastard."
Malik grabs the phone, puzzled. On the screen is Hari's face. There are cucumbers over his eyes and someone else appears to be holding the phone for him. In the background, Malik can hear the ocean waves.
"Hey, Hari!" Rory chirps. "HARI? As in my //ex// Hari??? NO F*CKING WAY."
"Mate, I know it's a bit awkward and you've still got some lingering feelings, but Hari is the ''god of creation''. If anyone knows how to take care of a baby, it's him."
"Why can't we just send it to another dimension?"
"Wow, Malik's abandoning //another// human? Why am I not surprised?"
Malik's jaw clenches. "How many times do I have to tell you--"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah! They abandonned you! We get it!"
Malik huffs.
"Look," Rory starts, voice kinder, "you know what it's like to be abandoned. It's painful and lonely, and it only makes you bitter. This princess's home was just burned down. The royal family was killed, along with the majority of civilians. And the rest are being held prisoner by Cahira."
[[Cahira?]]Malik freezes. "Did you just say..."
Rory nods, face grave. "Cahira is still alive, and she wants [[revenge."]] A red flare lights up the sky outside. The cave shakes, rocks crumbling down around Malik and Rory. They race outside, eyes wide, hearts thudding. From the edge of the cliff they spot the nearby village.
<img src="https://thenewroyaltyworldblog.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/windsor_castle_fire.jpg"/>
The castle is in flames. Humans run away from the flames in a frenzy, while others-- the brave ones--race towards it, hoping to rescue ones inside.
[[Get down there]]
[[Abandon the kingdom]] A red flare lights up the sky. The cave shakes, rocks crumbling down around Malik and Rory. They race outside, eyes wide, hearts thudding. From the edge of the cliff they spot the nearby village.
<img src="https://thenewroyaltyworldblog.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/windsor_castle_fire.jpg"/>
The castle is in flames. Humans run away from the flames in a frenzy, while others-- the brave ones--race towards it, hoping to rescue ones inside.
[[Get down there]]
[[Abandon the kingdom]] A red flare lights up the sky outside. The cave shakes, rocks crumbling down around Malik and Rory. They race outside, eyes wide, hearts thudding. From the edge of the cliff they spot the nearby village.
<img src="https://thenewroyaltyworldblog.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/windsor_castle_fire.jpg"/>
The castle is in flames. Humans run away from the flames in a frenzy, while others-- the brave ones--race towards it, hoping to rescue ones inside.
[[Get down there]]
[[Abandon the kingdom]]A head pops up through the rubble. Its red eyes blind the other onlookers, but Malik can see the old face attached to it; the one he thought he had killed over a hundred years ago.
//Cahira.//
END OF PART 1 The earth shakes. Rocks crumbling down around them. Rory stumbles forward, almost falling off the cliff, but Malik catches him with his tail.
Rory rights himself, panting. His face is red and splotchy. "What the bloody hell was that?"
With a flick of his tail, Malik's vision sharpens. He scans the kingdom for the source of the explosion. The srceams of villagers pierced the air, knights rushing towards flames.
"But why would they-- oh shit, the castle!"
[[Oh shit the castle, indeed.]][(transition: "pulse") [GAME OVER]
]Malik transforms into his human form, catching the baby at lightning speed. With trembling hands, he brushes her black hair out of her face. It's been a long time since he's been near a full-blooded human--he isn't sure what to do.
"MALIK!" Rory runs into the cave, crashing into one of the walls.
"Jesus," Malik jumps, holding the baby tighter. "What is it?"
Rory pants. "She.. she's here."
"Who's here?"
[["Cahira."]]The knight snaps something off from under his armor, and holds it out to the god.
<img src="https://images.pexels.com/photos/965983/pexels-photo-965983.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=750&w=1260"/>
"This necklace has been handed down in my family for generations. It has acted as their rosary to you, their god. Behind it is the power of every hope, wish, fear and prayer they have ever had while holding it. I humbly offer it to you."
Malik remains unmoving for a few more seconds, and then transforms into his human form.
"I accept your offering, dear human." Malik wavers under the knight's relieved expression, changing his voice back to normal. "The payment is enough for me to help you as well. Do you wish for me to heal you?"
The knight smiles weakly, eyes drooping. "It is enough for me to know I can entrust the princess to you..."
[[Heal the knight]]
[[Let it happen]]The knight cries pitifully, but Malik puts up a magic barrier to block both the sound and the sight. As the sun sets, the knight and the baby's cries grow weaker. At night fall they are struck silent for [[eternity.]]
(transition: 'pulse') [GAME OVER](transition: "pulse") [END OF PART 1]"Malik," An annoyed voice calls, disturbing the atmosphere.
[[Turn around]]
[[Ignore the voice]]The word punch out a gasp from Malik's lungs. "But I thought I killed her over a century ago! How- How can she possibly be alive after everything that's happened?"
"I don't know. But she's back and she wants [[revenge."]] Quickly, Malik presses his palms to the knight's back. With the power of the offering, his hands glow a vibrant blue. The knight and baby are enveloped in a bubble. The baby is lulled to sleep. The blood and mucus is washed away, the wounds are closed, and the burns are remedied.
"Thank you, Almighty Malik."
He falls asleep with a smile on his face.
Malik takes the baby, producing a crib for her to sleep in. Gently, he places her down, and then sighs.
"What have I gotten [[into?"]]"It was an honor to meet you, dear god." The soldier's eyes close, and Malik honors him with a moment of silence.
He takes the baby, and sighs.
"What am I going to do [[now?"]](transition: "pulse") [END OF PART 1](transition: "pulse") [END OF PART 1]↶↷
Once upon a time in a kingdom far, far away, there lived a powerful dragon named Malik.
