�������� �� Ebony smoothly dodged the arrow as it sped past him in the air. Glancing
down at the archer, he called down in a mocking tone.
�������� �� "Whats the matter, can't even handle a baby dragon?"
�������� �� As the little dragon intended, the human with the bow got angry at the
taunt, pulled another arrow and notched it on his bow. Taking aim at the
small form in the air, he let the arrow fly. Ebony was ready for this one,
moving aside easily and grabbing the arrow from the air with his forepaws.
Turning it around, he 'threw' the arrow back, and with a slight assist from
wind magic, sped it along. The man was so startled that he didn't even cry
out... and after there was an arrow through his throat, he couldn't. After a
few seconds of gurgling sounds, he dropped to the ground with two of his
comrades. Ebony landed lightly on the ground.
�������� �� "They shouldn't underestimate me because I'm young and small."
�������� �� Ebony looked over the three corpses he had just created without any sadness
or regret. He wished, not for the first time, that he had a polymorph ring.
Changing shape would be helpful... but there was no Jacy here to give him one.
The young black dragon was covered in a variety of scars all over his form,
apprently having seen a lot of conflict. His blue, catlike eyes carried a
maturity greater than his age. Glancing around to make sure there were no
troops around, he pulled out a small, glowing talisman. It hadn't been easy
for him to steal this from a wizard who was stronger with magic than he was...
but like most, he underestimated the small dragon because of his size and
youth. This talisman was all he needed to return to where he had been 'born'.
�������� �� Ebony allowed his mind to slip back over the past as he sat in the dirt of
the forest. Over a year ago he... no, not him, Ebony... 'the original' had
been playing with that little crystal, the 'illusion crystal'. But far from
just being able to make images, the crystal was able to create matter. Ebony
lacked the proper knowledge and skill to use it correctly, but while he had
been playing with his mother and making an illusion of himself.... but
somehow, he had created another Ebony, in mind and body. Him. He had all
Ebonys memories, though he WAS the original... until his mother, Katarin, was
telling him he was just a copy... made by magic. There couldn't be two
Ebonys... and he didn't want to die. Magical creation or not, he was as much
'Ebony' as the original. A wizard had heard the commotion and offered the
solution. An alternate reality, everyone was the same, but there was no Ebony
there. He jumped at the chance, the chance to be with all his friends and
family, not to be considered a copy.
�������� �� Looking back at his mother and the 'original'... he stepped through the
portal into the same place. And things had been the same... for about a
month. It had started small enough... most wars seem to. A group of
protestors, saying the land of Arangoth shouldn't be run by a dragon. Most
just ignored them... until dragon corpses began showing up in front of Castle
Black. Some of the dragons of the land retaliated in a similar manner,
against humans who had nothing to do with it. This pushed more people on the
side of those against dragons. It all degraded from there.
�������� �� Today, there were two sides. On one side was a group of species bent on
wiping the dragons from the land. On the other, the dragons and their allys.
Over it all was the demon, Stygian, growing powerful on the pain and death of
the war, attacking either side as he pleased... and trying to get a monopoly
on the shadows... thats why Thistle....
�������� �� Ebony sighed, taking off and trying to find a spot where he could be alone
to cast his magic. His friends had taught him to defend himself, to fight, to
use his magic. They tried to protect him, but one by one.... he lost them.
Loendal was killed early in the war, known as a protector of dragons. He lost
his mother... Snowdrift.... his friends... everyone he cared for in this war.
Quick had died only a few days ago, trying to defend him... but some black
elves were in the attacking party and had somehow cancelled her magic.
Fighting for your life almost every day and seeing everyone you care for die
has a way of forcing you to grow up quickly. Though not even five years old,
he felt more like fifty.
�������� �� Now he was alone... but he wouldn't stay that way. He remembered where he
was from, and with this talisman, he could return there. There was nothing
left for him here, only war and death. There... that clearing blow him would
work. Ebony glided down and landed lightly on a tree stump. Clutching the
talisman in his forepaws, he closed his eyes and let magic flow through him.
The talisman shone brighter in the darkness as Ebony worked. Time seemed to
strech as he used his talents, trying to unwind the fabrics of reality itself.
�������� �� He didn't know how long had passed, but a shout alerted him to new
presenses. Sparing a small fraction of his attention, he saw a pair of
soldiers with a mage. Damn it. He must have felt the magic... lead him right
here... but Ebony couldn't stop now, even if he wanted to... stoping the spell
now would destroy the talisman and trap him here forever. He continued his
spell, hoping to have the minutes he needed, but the men rushed forward
drawing their swords, ready to kill the horrendous evil dragon on sight.
Typical. Ebony could only spare minimal attention to the art of dodging as
most of his attention was focused on a level of reality they couldn't see. As
expected, he got some gashes in the process.... most shallow, as he was fast,
but he got a nasty opening in his side. Then... it was done... the last part
of the spell was needed... Ebonys mind focused on the other dimetion... where
at? Images of his friends slipped through his mind, commanding the spell to
take him to one of them... the talisman exploded in a bright flash of light,
momentarily startling the two soldiers as they were about to deliver a death
blow.
�������� �� Looking up, Ebony saw a portal in the air before him... through it was a
room of some kind, tables and chairs. Taking advantage of the momentary
distraction of the men, he leaped forward, saying a small prayer to a diety
that he didn't believe it, that where he was going is differant from where he
had been.
�������� �� He passed through the portal, not even having time to take in the
surroundings as dagger thrown as the portal close caught him in his right
wing. Crashing unceremoniously to the ground... no, wood... wood floor, he
slowly righted himself, trying to reach the dagger that had imbedded itself in
his wing. Cursing quietly... not from the pain, he was used to that... but
from the fact that it was could of reach, he didn't notice the form moving
towards him until she was right in front of him. Leaping back in a defensive
stands, Ebony growled quietly and looked up into the face of one he had seen
die.
�������� �� Thistle.