Chapter 1
Written by Cameron Whitaker
Plot by Dragi Spark
It was breakfast time in Camelhot, and everyone was gathered in the dining hall, eating in his or her designated spot, royalty on one side, and everyone else on the other. Normally, there would be much discussion about the previous day's adventures, but not this time. There had been nothing to do for the past two weeks, no quests, none of Count Geoffrey's devious plans to take over Camelhot, nothing.
"I wish that there was something to do!" Queen Griddle suddenly broke the silence.
"I'm sorry honey, but nothing has come up." King Allfire responded.
"Well, then why don't we go on a vacation?"
"Okay, but where should we go?" At that moment, Cinder and Clinker rushed into the room.
"We have a message for you, sire!" Said Clinker in his usual, enthusiastic voice.
"It's from King Ming of China." Cinder added in a deep and boring voice.
"From Ming!? Blazing Dragons! I wonder what he's been up to? We haven't spoken in years!" Allfire snatched the letter from the two jesters and quickly read it. He had a very surprised look on his face.
"Well, my friends, Ming wants us to go to China! What do you say everyone?"
Everybody cheered, and it was obvious that that would be a cheap and easy vacation.
"All right! Then it's settled. We'll leave for China immediately. Get your things ready, everyone!"
They all scrambled out of the room, and within an hour, they were packed and ready to go. All of them walked over the drawbridge, and on the other side, a large wagon was waiting for them. Cinder and Clinker were to pull it. Everybody climbed into the vehicle, and Flicker and Flame sat together toward the back.
"Wow, Flicker! I've never been to China!" Flame exclaimed.
"I know. I can't wait to see it!" Flicker replied.
It was a long, boring trip all the way to King Ming's royal palace. However, when they arrived at about seven o'clock at night, they were astounded. He had an absolutely magnificent palace that seemed to dwarf Camelhot in the glow of the setting sun. It had a red tile roof, and several statues of various animals placed all over in the lush gardens surrounding it. Blaze was also amazed by the brilliance of the architecture, which was quite rare since he was such a critic in that area.
"Flicker, I have never seen such a magnificent place!" Flame quietly spoke to him.
"Neither have I. It's just amazing." Flicker responded.
Suddenly, an older man dressed in noticeably more expensive clothing walked up to Allfire. He spoke with a distinct Chinese accent.
"King Allfire, It's been a while, but you haven't changed a bit!"
"You have hardly changed yourself, Ming!" Allfire stated.
"Well, don't just stand there, come on in! I'll have one of my servants show you to your quarters."
Everyone followed Ming into the grand palace. He led them into a marvelous room that had numerous decorations ranging from tapestries to weapons strewn all over the walls.
"This, Allfire, is my throne room. I would love to show you around the palace, but I have work to do." Suddenly, he shouted orders to a man standing in the corner.
"Quin! Show these dragons to the guest rooms."
Quin, who apparently was not very fluent in English, led the dragons down several corridors, each one magnificent in one way or another. Finally, they came across several doors. Quin pointed to five of them, hoping that they would get the message that those were the rooms that they were supposed to use.
"Thank you, my friend!" Allfire happily stated as he entered one of the rooms.
All of the rooms were the same, so there was no argument as to who got which room. Naturally, Flicker stayed with Loungealot in order to tend to his every whim. Flame got a bed to herself in Griddle and Allfire's room. Gallahot and Hotbreath got their own room, and Cinder, Clinker, Blaze and Burnevere occupied the final room. In Loungealot and Flicker's room, Flicker was busy unpacking both of their things.
"Flicker, I need you to polish my shield, get this dent out of my armor, and iron my tunic. A knight can't go around looking like this!"
"Yes sire!" Flicker replied just as he usually would.
He quickly finished his first task and started on the long list of other chores that he had just been given. Before he could begin, there was a light knock on the door.
"Flicker, answer the door!" Loungealot demanded. When he opened the door, Flame greeted him.
"Flicker, I can't stay long, but I just wanted to tell you to meet me in the garden to the side of the palace at nine o'clock. I want to gaze at the stars with you…"
"Of course! I'll see you then!" Loungealot then interrupted Flicker.
"Flicker, stop talking to her and do what I asked you to do!"
"Humph!" Flame gave Loungealot a dirty look and then went on her way.
Flicker kept working, and he frequently looked at his sundial watch hoping that that magic hour was near. Finally, after about two hours of nonstop work, it was nine o'clock. Fortunately, Loungealot had fallen asleep, making it easy to sneak out of room and meet with his "date." He casually walked out of the room, and made his way to the garden, which he had no problem finding, amazingly. He found Flame lying on the grass, staring at the night sky.
"There you are, Flame!"
"Flicker, it's so nice of you to join me. I had to tell my father that I was going out for a walk. How did you get away from Loungealot?"
"He was asleep, so it was very easy!" Flicker then laid himself down next to her.
"It's just amazing, there are so many stars!" he started.
"I know! I wonder how many there are?" Her eyes twinkled in the glow of the starlight.
They laid on their backs, side by side, silently for quite some time. Then Flame put her hand on top of Flicker's. He was nervous, since he would be in deep trouble if Griddle caught them. However, he decided that it was more than worth the risk, and he even felt a deep sense of peace. Suddenly, an intense scream echoed throughout the night air.
"It's Griddle!" Flicker cried out in a very shaky tone. Flame was just as anxious.
"Come on! Let's investigate!"
She took him by the hand, and the two rushed into the palace. They searched all of the rooms first, but all of them were empty. They hurried down the hallway, and when they got to the doorway that led to the throne room, the two peeked around the corner. All of the other dragons were locked in a large cage in the middle of the room. Sitting on the throne was Count Geoffrey. His three evil knights and King Ming were standing next to him.
"Ming! How could you betray me like this?" Allfire cried out.
"I've changed Allfire. You see, I work for Geoffrey now. Oppressing peasants and taxing them into poverty is what I do! It's so fun to be evil!"
"Ha, King Allfire, surrender Camelhot, or suffer!" Geoffrey shouted.
"Never!"
"Hang on Flame, I need to get something!" Flicker whispered.
"I'll stay here."
Flicker rushed back to his room. Before he could make it, he heard Flame shriek. His blood ran cold. He didn't even stop at his room. Instead, he ran back. When he arrived, he peaked around the corner again. Count Geoffrey was standing up while holding Flame with his sword pressed against her neck.
"Surrender Camelhot, or Flame will perish!" Geoffrey cried out.
Flicker was stunned. Geoffrey had never before threatened anyone's life before. Geoffrey waited to hear a response from Allfire, but he remained silent in a state of utter shock.
"Well?" Geoffrey inquired again.
Allfire still did not respond. Geoffrey gave the sword a little jerk, and Flame shrieked once again. Flicker could see a trickle of blood run down the blade. Allfire was desperately trying to find a way out of the situation, but it seemed to be hopeless. Flicker decided that he had to do something. He grabbed a nearby vase, and darted out from his hidden position with lightning speed. Before Geoffrey could react, Flicker smacked the count as hard as he could, and he went down. Flame was too shaken to even move on her own. Flicker picked her up off her feet, and fled with her in his arms to the garden, since that was the only safe place that he new of. He continued to run through the garden, and eventually he came to an ancient fountain. He laid Flame down on a nearby bench. He inspected the wound on her neck in the dim glow of the moon, and fortunately, it was by no means serious.
"Flicker," She was now coming to her senses. "Thank you so much."
She sat up and put her arms around him with tears flowing from her eyes.
"There, there." He patted her on the back. "Everything will be okay."
Flicker took off his helmet and dipped it in the sparkling water of the fountain. He took several gulps from it.
"Here, have some of this. It's very refreshing."
He handed his helmet over to her, and she drank what was left of the water. She sat up on the bench next to Flicker as she began to contemplate possible strategies for freeing the rest of the dragons. Then, Flicker noticed something very unusual.
"Flame, that cut on your neck is gone!" It was as if it had never even been there.
"Really?" She spoke with an obviously different voice. She sounded just like Blaze! She covered her mouth in shock afterwards.
"Flame? Are you all right?"
Flicker was unnerved by the strange events. She just nodded, not wanting to speak again. Flame, could tell that Flicker was different as well. Rather than his usual shade of green, his skin was of a shiny, metallic color. Flame, at first, spoke very cautiously to see if she sounded different. This time, there was nothing strange about her voice.
"Flicker? Your skin… It's different!"
He looked at his arm, and she was right. He was terrified. At once, they heard Count Geoffrey's voice in the distance.
"Keep looking for those two! They'll be dead when we find them!"
Flicker and Flame silently fled. After running for several hundred yards, they came across and old shack, which they abruptly entered. To their surprise, there was an old man inside it.
"Greetings, dragons!"
"We're sorry for bursting in like this." Flicker, whose skin had returned to normal by then, immediately apologized.
The man could tell by his accent that Flicker and Flame were not from China.
"Not at all! Here, it is considered good luck for a dragon to enter one's home."
"There is man out there who wants to kill us!" Flame cried.
"Don't worry. You two can hide in here."
He led them through a small hatch in the floor. On the other side of it was a fairly small basement, filled with numerous objects of the occult, which they cautiously entered.
"I will come get you two when they are gone. Trust me, you'll be safe in here."
He climbed up the rickety ladder, and closed the hatch. He moved his bed over it so as to hide it in case Geoffrey came looking for them there. It was only a matter of minutes before Geoffrey kicked in the door.
"Have you seen two dragons near here?" He demanded to know.
"I am old, my legs are wobbly and crippled, my ears are deafened, my eyes are clouded…"
"Silence! Now tell me, have you seen them?"
"No I haven't. I would say that you should look in the nearby town of Xidon. They would most likely have made it there by now."
Geoffrey gave him an evil glare, and then left the shack in one quick motion. The stranger waited for about half an hour before telling Flicker and Flame that the coast was clear. By that time, Flicker's skin condition had worsened. His skin appeared to be made of metal, yet it did not hinder his movements. As soon as the old man opened the door, he noticed that, and he just smiled, while Flame and Flicker were both nearly hysterical. Flame had also been having problems with her voice, but she did her best to hide them.
"Did you two by any chance drink from an old fountain near here?"
"Why, yes." Flicker simply replied.
"Has she been suffering from strange anomalies as well?" Again, Flicker responded in the affirmative.
"Then you two have been chosen!"
"What do you mean!?" Flicker was quite confused.
"That fountain has magical powers. Anyone who drinks from it who has a pure heart and a true spirit will gain special powers. Now our task is to find out what they are."
Flicker and Flame were both puzzled. They weren't sure if the man was just making up stories or actually telling the truth. However, he was the only one who could explain what was happening to them, so they were willing to believe him.
"You, my friend, what is your name?" he asked politely.
"My name's Flicker."
"And what's your name?" Flame did not answer since she was afraid of hearing her own voice, so Flicker answered for her.
"Her name is Princess Flame. She has been having problems with her voice."
"Oh? And just what kind of problems?"
"Well, her voice sometimes changes, and when it does, she sounds exactly like someone else!"
The old man observed their symptoms, and thought very carefully about them. He finally came to a solution about just exactly what their powers were.
"Flame, listen to me." The man commanded. "Think very carefully about someone close to you. Think about… Flicker! Tell yourself in your mind, 'I am Flicker.' But don't just think it, believe it!"
Flame was uneasy about the command, but she did so anyway. Suddenly, her entire figure changed. She actually became a mirror image of Flicker!
"Perfect! You are now figuring out your special power, Flame. Now speak freely. Fear not your voice."
"Flicker, I feel… different…" She said in the exact same tone with which Flicker would have said it.
Flicker was too stunned to say anything. Their protector showed her to a mirror, and she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
"Flame, you have been granted a power that allows you to transform into an exact copy of any dragon, human, or animal. It is a difficult power to master, so make sure that you practice." He then walked over to Flicker.
"Now it's your turn. You have been given a power similar to her power. You can transform into any inanimate object. Do exactly as I told Flame, but believe that you are a rock."
Flicker was just as uncertain as Flame was, but upon executing the wise man's command, he transformed into a rock. In an instant, he changed back, and he was absolutely speechless.
"In addition," The old man continued, "You have been given increased strength. Come with me you two."
He led them outside and straight to a large boulder that was at least four feet in diameter.
"Flicker, try to pick this up." He simply commanded.
Flicker put his arms around the rock, and his claws amazingly dug into the solid chunk of granite. He gave a groan, and slowly he raised it higher and higher until he held it over his head. He threw it with an enormous amount of force and it traveled at least fifty feet before hitting the ground with a huge thud. He stood there with his eyes wide open.
"Come inside Flicker and Flame. You may spend the night in my shack."
"I'm sorry, but we must save our friends!" Flame, who had now changed herself back into her true self, declared.
"Very well. I understand what Geoffrey is probably doing to them. Just come with me quickly."
The three went back into the shack. The man pulled out two items from an old chest.
"Here, Flicker. This is a special staff that can be lengthened or shortened at will. Just rub this part to make it longer, and just rub this part to make it shorter."
He handed it to the dragon. Flicker followed the old man's instructions, and sure enough, he was able to change the staff's length at will by just rubbing those two parts.
"This is for you, Flame."
He put a gorgeous necklace around her neck that had a large blue gem embedded into a finely detailed gold facet.
"This necklace allows you to see into the hearts of others so that you can see his or her true feelings."
"Thank you so much!" The two said simultaneously.
"Now I'm sorry that we can't stay, but we must rescue everyone!" Flicker exclaimed.
He took Flame by the hand, and they dashed out through the door. They ran all the way to the throne room. Geoffrey had already given up the search for them, so he had returned and was now sitting on the throne. Flame took a sword from a display on a wall. Flicker tried to stop her from rushing in to fight Count Geoffrey all by herself, but he failed. She ran up to Geoffrey, and he was not the least bit surprised to see her.
"Release them this instant, or fight!" She yelled with an incredibly fierce tone. Flicker was scared to death.
"And just what are you going to do about it?" Geoffrey said in a joking manner.
Flame darted up to him, and swung once, but he had already taken out his sword and blocked her blow.
"All right. If that's how you want it, then so be it!" Count Geoffrey shouted.
The fight began. Flicker glanced into the cage, and he could easily tell that Allfire was biting his claws, as he couldn't bear to see his daughter in such danger. Flame and Geoffrey's swords clashed numerous times, sending frightening echoes throughout the room. Flame was doing rather well, and in some cases, she appeared to be winning. Suddenly, Geoffrey made a thrust in an attempt to end the fight.
The entire room fell silent. The sword had gone through Flame's stomach, and half of it was protruding out of her back. She dropped her sword. Geoffrey pulled out his sword in one quick motion, and she collapsed. Flicker ran up to her despite the danger he was putting himself in. Surely Geoffrey was still angry with him for the pain that he caused with the vase. She was breathing heavily, but Geoffrey stopped Flicker from doing anything to her. He put his bloodstained sword up to Flicker's neck.
"Let her die, squire!" he commanded.
"Please Count Geoffrey, let me take her with me. She means everything to me. Please!" Flicker desperately pleaded with tears running down his face.
"…Very well. I suppose I can spare you. You can't save her, so there's no reason why you can't take her away. It just means that I won't have to deal with her dead body!"
Flicker picked her up and rushed out of the throne room, though he had no idea of what he was going to do. In the hallway, he came across the old man who had apparently attempted to follow them. Upon seeing Flame's state, he quickly offered some advice.
"Take her to the fountain and make her drink from it. It will heal her wounds!"
"Please hurry, Flicker…" Flame said in a low, deathly tone.
Flicker ran as fast as he could, but the journey to the fountain seemed to be hundreds of miles away. Finally, he arrived, but Flame was so weak that she could no longer speak. Flicker set her down on the same bench that he had laid her down on before, dipped his helmet in the water, and offered it to her. She slowly drank it, and there was an immediate difference. Her wound quickly diminished to nothing, and she rapidly regained her strength. It was truly an astounding sight.
"Flicker, you saved me! Thank you so much!" She was crying at that time.
She kissed him on the lips, which caught him completely off guard. He sat next to her in complete silence. The old man had once again caught up with them, and he noticed the large hole in Flame's dress.
"Come with me to my shack. I have some clothes that you two can have!"
They followed him, and he opened another large chest. He pulled out a shiny suit of light armor that was colored a deep red. He handed it to Flame.
"Put that on. I think that it will look good on you."
"Okay, but can you two look away please?"
They did as they were told while she donned the armor. It fit perfectly. She signaled them when she had finished, and Flicker was stunned. The armor was far more revealing than her old dress, but it was absolutely gorgeous on her. Its deep red hue seemed to complement her yellow skin perfectly. The man then handed a suit of armor to Flicker, and he quickly put it on. It was surprisingly comfortable, and it was apparently designed to accommodate his unique abilities. He absolutely loved it.
"You two should not try to fight Geoffrey again tonight." The man suggested. "You can sleep here. Tomorrow, you two can fight again. Until then, my basement is your bedroom."
"But they are all in danger!" Flicker shouted.
"Don't worry. Your friends will be fine. Here, drink this. It will help you fall asleep."
Flicker and Flame were still uneasy about the idea of leaving the others until the morning, but they realized that it was best if they got some rest. They graciously accepted the potion, and they both drank it. They climbed down to the small ladder and laid down on a straw mat. The potion kicked in, and they were out cold. Their guardian woke them early the next morning.
"I think that you two are ready to fight!"
Flicker and Flame were still half-asleep. He gave them another potion that was intended to help them wake up, and it quickly did.
"Now none of you will need any weapons. Just march in there side by side, and you two will be victorious." Flicker and Flame thanked him for his great generosity and then they left to save the rest of the dragons. They walked side by side into the throne room with their heads held high. Everyone in the cage was deeply upset by Flame's apparent loss. Allfire was actually crying, a seen that the knights dreaded. Flame and Flicker just walked by without saying anything. As each person in the cage saw her alive and well, his or her mouth dropped. Eventually Allfire noticed her in her state of perfect health.
"Flame! You're alive! I've never been so happy in my life!"
"Of course I'm alive! It takes more than Count Geoffrey to stop me! Now if you'll excuse me, we have to stop him."
They approached the throne, and Geoffrey was awestruck. Flame's stomach was left bare by her new armor, but she had no wound from the previous night. However, he pulled out his sword and was ready for a fight.
"Flicker, go show him what you can do!" Flame commanded.
Flicker walked up to Geoffrey and effortlessly took the sword from his hand. With a sudden effort, he broke the blade in half. Geoffrey's jaw dropped. Now that he had been disarmed, Flicker and Flame walked back to the cage. Flicker concentrated hard, and then one of his fingers morphed into a long metal rod. He stuck it into the lock, probed around for a little bit, and then the lock fell open. His finger immediately returned to normal. Flame opened the cage and gave a simple order to the knights.
"Seize them!"
The knights charged out of the cage and dragged Geoffrey, along with his three evil knights, to the palace's dungeon. Meanwhile, Allfire slowly walked out.
"Flame, I am so glad that you're alive! But how did you survive?"
"Flicker saved me!"
"Squire, I will give you one very special gift as a token of my gratitude. Just tell me what you want, and it will be yours! Provided that it is within reason…"
Flicker was surprised, but he wanted to wait until he found the one thing that he wanted more than anything else.
"Why is your new outfit so… revealing?" Griddle was obviously disgusted by Flame's new attire.
"It was given to me!" Flame replied with a somewhat angry tone.
"Well, all that matters is that you're safe." Allfire said.
The knights quickly returned, having thrown Ming, Geoffrey, and his evil knights in the dungeon, which they had found with ease due to the palace's conveniently place signs.
"All right, everyone. Let's go back to Camelhot." Allfire hollered.
He headed for the door, and the knights followed him. Then, Flame shouted so all could hear.
"Daddy, I'm not going with you!"
Everyone turned around and stared at her. He stopped in his tracks.
"What are you talking about?"
"Flicker and I are going to stay here in China. We like it here."
Flicker had not agreed to this plan, but he figured that he had to stay if she stayed. Before Allfire could say anything else, Griddle interrupted.
"You will not stay with that squire! That simply will not happen!"
Flame's heart sank. However, Flicker came up with a solution.
"King Allfire, I know what I want as my reward. I wish to be knighted so I may stay with your daughter."
Allfire looked at him strangely, but he had promised one gift of Flicker's choice to him, so he had no option but to accept.
"Very well. Come here."
Flicker kneeled before the king. Allfire pulled out Excaliburn from its scabbard as his side and he tapped him on both shoulders.
"I hereby dub you Sir Flicker. You are officially absolved of all of your squiring duties, and you have permission to live with my daughter."
Griddle was absolutely furious, but Allfire was miraculously able to calm her down. He then walked over to Flame.
"Are you sure that this is what you want?"
"I could wish for nothing more."
"Very well. My little puff has grown up!"
He hugged her with tears flowing from his eyes. Flame could not keep hers dry either. He finally released her from his embrace and then he spoke to Sir Flicker.
"You take care of her, you hear? Oh, and write often!"
"Yes, sire!"
Allfire walked away, and commanded his knights to follow him, as he figured it was beast to keep a goodbye as short and sweet as possible. However, another dragon refused to go.
"I refuse to leave my stepsister behind. I'm staying too!" Blaze stated confidently.
"You too, Blaze? Well, if that's what you want to do, then stay." Allfire, who had never been particularly fond of him in the first place, responded.
Blaze walked over to Flicker and Flame's side. The king and the rest of the dragons slowly continued out of the castle. They climbed into their wagon, and left for Camelhot, leaving Flicker, Flame, and Blaze behind so that they can go on their numerous adventures.