Chapter One: Alone
August 3, 2009, anonymous view point
Tala watched the city from a distance, kneeling on the cold ground. The weather was cold, and the smog from Gotham City had filled her nostrils. Mira stirred the fog into a crystal ball.
"Show me what is happening below." She commanded the ball. It glowed with a soft blue light. Images of people walking back and forth through the streets played before their eyes.
"Mira, what are we doing in the human realm again?" Tala asked her master. She was learning the ways of the Mage, but this escapade seemed rather stupid.
"Well, my dear student, we are here to observe." She waved her hand in front of her, gesturing her to look around. "It is very important to learn the ways of the people."
Tala rolled her eyes. But focused on the city as her master had instructed. Lights from the buildings blocked out the nights' stars. Mira mounted the large, pearly white dragon standing behind them.
"Come Tala, let's go." She extended her hand.
"Okay..." With a large leap, she landed on the back of Arga, the large dragon. They then ascended into the sea of clouds hanging lowly above them.
The soft wet moisture from the clouds tickled their faces as they flew. Mira began pointing out the buildings. The street names of the streets below them. What the humans were doing. The lesson was getting rather dull.
All of a sudden, a light eliminated the cloudy sky. She closed her eyes. Mira flew closer.
"I know this symbol. We shall go see what is going on." She pulled at Arga's bridle. He flew downward it the dark city.
"Well, little Tala, it seems that you are going to get some field experience tonight!" She said with a slight laugh.
"Yes! Can I use the new spell?" Tala bubbled with excitement.
"Which one would that be?"
"The Fighting Spirit spell. The one you taught me this morning?" She answered.
"Of course you can, just be careful with it. Remember what happened last time?" Mira chuckled, and then abruptly pulled the dragon to a halt. A dark alley way sat before them, and a soft sobbing could be heard from its depths.
"Pl-please don't hurt me!"
Tala stiffened at the maniacal laughing that followed.
"Stop whoever you are! I order you under the derestriction of the Antimatter Universe Army. Stand Down." Mira had jumped off of the great beasts back, and summoned a lamp to light the alley. A young woman sat terrified in the corner, and a man in a purple suit was standing close to her.
"You..." Mira's voice went cold. Her eyes stared down the strange man. He laughed.
"I'm surprised you remember me. Oh, what's it been, a few months?" His voice pierced the darkness like a knife.
"It has been a few years on my end. Do you plan on having a repeat of our last battle Joker?"
"Of course not my dear!" He said, this was then followed by a click sound.
Mira stiffened. Then turned and slapped Arga.
"Run-" A gun shot sounded. The man began to laugh and laugh. Tala sat terrified atop the dragon's back, who snarled and snapped at the man.
"Okay then! It was nice seeing you again! Bye bye my dears!" Ha vanished into the alley way.
Tala began to weep, fear of the unknown taken over her. She fell off his back, and stumbled to Mira's side. She coughed, and a red liquid flowed from her lips.
"Mira..." A soft moan sounded.
"Tala... I'm sorry, but I'm afriad this is the part where I leave you." She gazed up into the smoke coloured sky. "I was going to give you this... when you were... READY."
She weakly fished into her robe, and pulled out a azure coloured stone which she placed gently into Tala's outstretched palm.
"This is a Soul Stone... it will allow you to conjure anything from your imagination... It was going to be your birthday gift, but, I will give it to you now." Mira coughed up more blood and lowered her head to the ground.
"Master... you're not leaving me... are you?" Tala spoke weakly.
"If you can, try and open a portal into the Anti-Verse... and tell the Heads what has become of me..."
"But- I can't do that spell! You never taught it to me!" She grabbed her hand. Mira, took the stone, and placed it against her chest. Small strings of energy began to weave from the stone into Tala's chest. She began breathing in small gasps; so much was happening that she didn't understand.
"Arga... I trust that you will take good care of her...?" She gave her companion a pleading look.
"Of course Mira. I will look after her, and if need be, I will protect her with my life." He nodded, and lowered himself to her side.
She looked up into the air one last time.
"Goodbye." Her eyes closed slowly. And her head slumped to the side.
The little girl sat there in the puddle of blood, shocked. What would she do now? She was stuck in a world that she didn't know, filled with strangers and evil beings… Tala looked up to Arga. His dark purple eyes searched her small figure. They were both at a loss for words at the swift departing of their beloved Mira.
"We should go. Before any humans come." He stood up and turned to face the street.
Tala began to sob, large body wracking sobs. She shook her head from left to right. She absolutely refused to leave Mira, the person who had taught her how to walk, and to talk. Arga nudged her genteelly. His eyes spoke volumes, but she turned away.
"We must leave. I sense someone presence…"
Finally, they left the alley way. Fearing for the dearly departed Mira, Tala snuck a look behind her as Arga climbed higher into the air. A dark figure had stepped into the alley way, and was looking over the body.
She shivered. It would only be a matter of time before another human came. What would they do to her? All the thoughts were horrifying. As the pair descended higher into the sky it began to rain. Dark, driving, black rain that only happens after something bad has happened. The skies were weeping with them.
Tala Blue was now all alone, for the first time ever in her life.