The Phoenix
Prologue: Legend
Myths give great tales...
Tales that would usually scare people, especially children into behaving...and conforming into normal society...
Not this tale...people always dismiss it as a myth...but...I'd rather say it is a legend...a terrifying legend...
It all started with one young mobian, always a male, who was born with great power...he was said to be that powerful, he can destroy all life around him from a single blast from his own flesh...
His fellow villagers feared him, despised him, isolated him...
They called him, 'The Phoenix'...
It was not long until darkness easily consumed him, and he conquered the world, he created his own empire...his rule was brutal...it was the epitome of hell itself...
The people did not want to live under the king's madness any longer...
These brave warriors stood up to king, overthrew everything he had built...freeing anyone from his slaughter...
Despite loosing lives to him in hundreds, he was slain...the people rejoiced...They were finally free from his rule...peace can return to the world...
Or so they thought...
One by one...more young males rose...conquered the world...but each were still destroyed by the people themselves...
The latest Phoenix...was a unique one...
He was the youngest thus far, and according to the myths, he was the longest ruling Phoenix there was...
But despite this, he was still influenced by darkness...his rule was still as brutal as his predecessors...but his story was far different...
He met a beautiful young maiden...as soon as his eyes met hers, his heart was lightened, darkness was gone, he had finally found happiness... it was love at first sight...
The atmosphere changed...hell turned to peace...the world was restored to what it was before his rule...the citizens were confused, but celebrated none of the less
The Phoenix was too in love to notice the sudden change in his heart...he had never left her side...
But it was all fake...the maiden never returned his feelings...
Her plan was set in motion...
As soon as his back was turned to her...she pierced his back with a dagger...he fell to his knees, he looked up at her, he was shocked...he said to her "Why you, my love?"
According to the myths, she continued to stab him...he was too shocked and ashamed to look up at her...he covered his head with his hands and gave up his life to her...he did not have the heart to fight the maiden he loves...
But what she did was foolish...when the next Phoenix rises, he will learn from his mistakes and will rule the world to the end of time...
Nightfall engulfed the grassland, no living thing is active at this time. The only sound being emitted were from the crickets and the few small animals scurrying through the grass. But darkness was all over, leaving no easy sight for the road planted through the meadow.
A single horse carriage was travelling through the dark grasslands, travelling at a calm pace. Inside the carriage, there were two Mobians sitting peacefully in silence. Both were hedgehogs, but one was a red male and the other was a white female. Both looked like the epitome of royalty as they wore such fancy clothing and precious jewels on them. The white female glances at the red male next to her. She places her hand over is, making him turn his attention to her.
"We should have brought our daughter with us, then she'll meet the prince we were planning to betroth her to..." The red male places his other hand over hers.
"The betrothal is not final yet my queen. We need to see if he is worthy of our daughter..." The king places a hand on his lady's cheek, giving her a smile. "I will not allow our daughter to marry someone undeserving of her..." His queen returns the smile to him.
However, they feel the carriage come to a sudden stop. The jerked a bit forward from the sudden stop, with the queen almost losing her balance. The king's face narrows his eyes confused. "What's going on? Why have we stopped?"
Outside of the carriage, the coachman was silent. He stared at the hooded figure in front of him, blocking the path. He narrows his eyes at him, trying to figure out his figure. The hooded figure took a small step towards them, but the horses was startled and were hastily walking backwards into the carraige, getting as far from the figure as possible. The coachman sees the horses were clearly afraid of him. There was absolutely nothing right about the figure. The coachman turns back to the carriage. "Some...person. They're blocking the path my king."
Confusion further sets into the red king. He glances at his queen next to him who seemed uneasy and equally confused from the news. He place his hand over hers, causing them to meet each other's gaze. The king gives her a reassuring smile, making the queen settle and returns the comforting smile. He lets go of her hand and peaks out the small window of the carriage door. Darkness and his position was his disadvantage as he could not see the figure. "Tell them to move, I do not want trouble tonight..."
"Yes my lord..." The queen on the other hand was getting anxious from the delay. She saw her husband fail to locate the figure from his side of the carriage, and this only caused her to grow more anxious. But at the same time, curiosity was also plaging her mind. She peaked her head out of the window on her side of the carriage, and the figure is visible to her. Though the darkness of nightfall made him completely blend in, the moonlight traced his being and eyes clearly for her to see. It was there that this figure had her curiosity, he looked like he was...longing for something. Completely lost, longing for a change. His eyes were truly captivating and held great pain, the colour red did not seem to deter her at all.
The red king's patience started to run thin, as the figure has yet to move. He moves away from the window and sits back in his seat. He lets out a deep breath, relaxing himself. He truly did not want any trouble with this figure. And yet, he could not wonder why there was an uneasy feeling at the pit of his stomach. The cool breeze hits him on his cheek, snapping him out of his state. He whips his head to his left, his eyes shrunk as his queen was gone and the carriage door was left open.
The coachman's eyes went wide as he sees the white queen walking to the figure. "My queen! What are you doing!?" The queen lifts her hand up, silencing the coachman.
"Be calm...I know what I am doing..." The coachman became stunned, watching the queen approach the figure. The red king peaks his head out of his queen's side of the carriage seeing his queen apporaching the figure.
The queen cautiously approaches the figure. The figure did not move, but watched her very closely. His red eyes scanned the queen with narrow eyes, but stops he meets the queen's gaze. Emerald pools stared deeply into his own. Beautiful eyes, the figure saw she truly had great beauty as she is the queen. The queen takes another step to the figure, but he decided to step back as he figured she was getting to close. The queen stops, and does not move. The figure continues to narrow his eyes at her, a look that has scared people away from him for a long time. One glare, and they would turn on their heels and flee. But the queen does not flee from this threatening look She instead gives him a caring and heart-warming smile, holding out her hand to him. "I have no intention on hurting you my dear..." The figure's gaze on her softens, but keeps his posture straight.
"I have non either..." His deep voice sends a shiver down her spine. And yet the queen is still not intimidated from this. She could not help but be drawn to him. The queen takes more slow steps toward him. The figure does not move, but his glare returns. "I suggest you stay away..." The queen shakes her head from the warning. Soon the queen's hand managed to reach his cheek. This surprised the figure as he looks at her with wide eyes. She continues to give him a caring gaze, with her emerald eyes he is sure he will never forget.
"There is nothing to be afraid of, not even for you...you are safe..." The figure feeling the comforting touch on his cheek leans into her hand. The coachman and the red king are stunned to witness this. The figure continues to gaze into her eyes, taking in every last detail.
"It's not my safety I'm concerned about..." The figure places his hand on hers, a bright light immiediately emitted from his hand.
He had never learnt to control it, yet, they will have to suffer the price.
Here it is! The prologue of the re-written version! Thanks for reading and expect more soon!
KatDingo over and out