Chapter One
Morning came and went. But today? Today was the Purge – and Jay, in spite of all of the mayhem, was going to have fun.
He touched down upon what appeared to be a giant scale, flipping off the hood of his clothing. It was a robe, identical to the ones assigned to all other Guardians, with slits in the back for his large, black wings to fit through. The wind blew his dark hair out of his blue eyes.
Jay wasn't sure what to think of the Mianitees running around. He didn't have much time to contemplate them, before a hiss sounded behind him. Curious, he turned to seek out the source of the noise. His eyes settled upon a creature – a dragon – sitting at the base of the scale. Its black scales stood out against the daylight, and its eyes threatened to burn holes into his body.
"Hello, creature," he greeted. He attempted to sound peaceable, in spite of the chaos around them both. The dragon was one from the End. Similar, yet different, to the place he had been raised. "I sense that we are both void-born."
A growl rumbled from deep within the Enderdragon's belly. Jay considered it for a moment. How odd for an Enderdragon to be away from the End. Perhaps it had a master here – one of the Mianitees. Perhaps it was looking for someone.
He brushed off the dragoness' threatening growl, instead choosing to scoop it up into his arms. When it began to squirm, he turned it over and rubbed a finger along its underbelly. "Silence, creature," he soothed, "I mean you no harm."
"Sparklez, you bastard! Come back here!"
The Enderdragon raised her head, craning her neck as though attempting to seek out the voice. A gleeful laugh filled the air. The dragoness only seemed to get twice as anxious at the sound, and at her reaction, Jay smiled.
It had been so long since he had been eager for the company of his master. Long enough that he could not remember the last time he had the ability. If this creature longed for its master, then Jay supposed he was not one to hold her from him. "Let's go see what this is about," he told her.
The dragoness, who had made her was to his shoulder, tipped her head at him. It was such a curious little notion, but it didn't last for long. In a moment, the creature purred and gratefully nudged its snout against the side of his face. She let out a small chirp at him. The sound, in Jay's mind, was a confirmation to his suggestion.
His wings – large, dark appendages; endless like the night sky – took only one flap to get him into the air. He glanced around and noticed two figures a short distance away. One of the men was wearing a suit and sun glasses. That one was backed into a corner by another man. The other man looked similar to a zombie, although he wore a suit.
The zombie-creature held an iron sword up to the other man's throat, Jay didn't think much of the action, until the dragoness clinging to his shoulder let out a horrible shriek and dove forward, towards the fighters. The zombie-creature drew back its sword, bringing it down just as the cat-sized Enderdragon go in its way. The other man hollered, stepping forward.
Jay, feeling a twinge of kinship with the other void-born creature, extended a bit of his energy. The night sky around the dragon and sword solidified. The dragon hovered in the air, looking anxiously over at the more human-looking of the two mortal men. Whines escaped the dragon's throat.
After lowering to the ground, Jay approached the group. The zombie-creature sent him a glance. Nervousness lit up the man's eyes as he managed to wrench the sword free from the solidified gravity. He swung the sword towards Jay, but the Guardian caught it and, with ease, snapped in into two pieces that were tossed aside uncaringly.
"That cost two iron, you bastard," the zombie-creature accused as he shot the Guardian a glare.
Jay's eyes lit up dangerously, the blue burning like flames. "What was that?" He demanded, "I will burn everything of yours with the Void's eternal flames!"
Out of the corner of his eye, Jay noticed that the other mortal typed something into a device. Out of curiosity, he risked a glance down at his own wrist, where an identical device was resting. He told himself he would remember to ask about it later. If mortals had the devices, then they were not simply for Guardians. He looked back over at the zombie-creature, growling at him low in his throat.
"Who are you?" The other human demanded when his fingers left the pad.
The human stepped forward. His hands plucked the Enderdragon from the air. Almost immediately, the dragoness scrambled into his arms, content to be pulled closer. She purred, nuzzled at the man's bare throat, and then settled her head down against his chest. As she settled there, her gaze fell to the zombie-creature and Jay.
"I am death itself! I am the end," Jay announced, projecting his voice loudly, "Heir to the Void and Creation of the Shadow! I will not tolerate arrogance!"
The human seemed to consider his words warily. "What were you doing with Polaris?" He asked, even as his eyes darted downward towards the pad.
Jay could see something had popped up on the hologram. A response? It had to be. Based on what he could suddenly sense, the mortal had not simply messaged anyone. It was someone – or something – powerful. Immortal.
Someone like him.
While the Enderdragon – Polaris, his mind decided – cooed nervously, Jay felt something settle into his stomach. It wasn't fear; it was… something else. He brushed the feeling aside, instead choosing to answer the mortal man, "I was bringing her to her insignificant master. Now, tell me: who did you summon? I feel… two immortal presences."
Upon receiving no answer, Jay let his gaze harden. "Now tell, or I will throw you into an eternal fall in the Void."
A single kick of his foot against the ground opened a hole, large enough for the mortal to fall through if Jay were to push him. The sight made the zombie-creature go to say something. Jay felt quite confident in it being negative or taunting, if the way the Enderdragon suddenly snarled was any indication.
The more human of the two mortals sent Jay a surprisingly calm glance. "They're Mianite and Dianite's Guardians," he informed.
Jay tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Very well. Weapons are not allowed then."
He snapped his fingers and the human's sword vanished, as the zombie-creature's had been disposed of already. The zombie-creature took advantage of Jay's distracted state, raising a bow and notching an arrow. The mortal across from him glanced at his own now empty hand, frowning.
The man glanced up at the other as an arrow was let loose. He sighed. "Tom, are you trying to get killed?" He asked.
Two others landed close to the dragoness' master. One was a man with red hair and black, bat-like wings. He had two horns poking out from beneath his hair, and a tail that flitted behind him in sporadic, violent motions. The other, standing at his side, was more angelic in appearance. Two white wings hung from her shoulders, settling contentedly. She had blonde hair, blue eyes, and was the immediate source of Jay's intrigue.
"What's going on here?" The devil questioned, before lamenting, "I was busy."
"Jace, shush," the angel scolded.
It was barely a use of Jay's energy to snap the arrow sent flying at him as he turned. He tossed it aside and glided forward, shaking the devil's hand. The devil, Jace, smirked and made an off-hand comment of praise, while Jay slid to the side and brought to his lips the hand of the angel with a respectful bow. He tipped his head up just slightly, offering her a smile as she gently pulled her hand free. The way the angel's cheeks had a brush of pink in them made Jay smile.
"Might I ask your name?" He inquired.
"My name is Lara," she informed, "might I ask yours?"
Jay smiled at her. "My name is Jay, m'lady."
His smile changed to a frown. He waved a hand in the air, watching as a hologram flashed into life. Humming to himself, he peeked over the list of names – most of which read 'AVAILABLE' in large, bold letters. How odd that there would be others lively, but not attempting to be involved in the scene that had attracted the call of Guardians.
"Strange," he muttered, "everyone is available." He looked away from the hologram, towards Lara. "Should I provide transportation?"
She nodded. "Perhaps you should. Also, it is a pleasure to meet you, Jay."
Jay tipped his head in acknowledgement, turning back to the hologram. He hears Lara, behind him, fussing over the Enderdragon in its master's arms, "Oh, there you are! I was waiting for you at the temple. Jordan said you'd be right along. I was getting worried about you." Polaris, in response, was making tiny, apologetic cooing noises.
Jay flicked one of his wrist. Darkness gathered in the air and then quickly spilled out two other figures. One of them raised something akin to a glowing stick, which he quickly used to bat the Heir of the Void over the nearby hillside. As he went sailing, Jay barely caught sound of the zombie-creature – Tom, he recalled – offer a proud, "Damn, bro, nice one."
The Guardian pushed himself up onto his feet, scowling in the direction of the others. He listened to them talk.
"Tucker," the dragoness' master said, warning in his tone.
"This will end poorly," Lara sighed. Her voice sounded exhausted. Jay got the mind that she spent a good bit of her time watching the mortals handle things in rather idiotic ways.
"Good," Jace laughed, "I haven't had fun today. We don't get to have any fun during the Purge."
Jay snapped his fingers, summoning a chest to the center of the Mianitees little gathering. He flew over and watched as the mortal who'd sent him flying lost all of his possessions, knowing very well that even the man's pockets would be emptied into the chest. The man, who'd previously been laughing at his victory, paused and glanced inquisitively at the chest. Once all of his items had been deposited safely, he was dropped into a hole similar to the one Jay had opened as a threat earlier.
Tom winced, looking down at his wrist and reading the message Jay already knew would be there: "iiJeriichoii has fallen out of the world."
Jay turned when he heard Lara beat her wings twice and sigh. "I should go and get him," she said, sounding just as exhausted as she had before, "not to mention calm him down."
Jace hopped up into the air, hovering with ease as his sister flew away from the group. "Yeah," he joked, "probably best not to teleport him again. He'll be so salty."
When someone's hand moved towards the chest, Jay appeared next to it, using the darkness to teleport himself. He kicked the chest away from the figure – Jordan – and closer to the hole. "He won't be getting these back," Jay said, smirking when the chest balanced precariously. "To the eternal fires of the void!"
"Hey, no, that's not fair," Jordan snapped, "the Wizards made those wands for us."
The dragoness in his arms growled, and Jay returned the sound with twice the anger. "Fine, I'll keep it," he conceded, "you can share his fate as well."
As the ground dropped from below the Mianitee, Jay scooped the dragoness free. She snarled and hissed, tiny, sharp claws trying desperately to reach for the Guardian who had just simply sent her master falling into the void. Jay put her at arms-length when she started snapping at his neck.
When Lara returned and lowered the mortal she'd brought, she blinked and groaned in frustration. "Really?!"
As she took off towards the water, Jay peeked into the chest. Jordan's items had appeared inside, nestled safely in it right near Tucker's items. Jay lifted a hand to high-five Jace before vanishing. He reappeared inside of the house. Jordan stood in the main room, prepped to fight. Jay flicked a wrist and teleported Jordan away to the chest just as the door opened.
"Sorry about my temper," he apologized when Lara entered.
She glared at him. "You're not better than Jace. All you are is a trouble-maker," she accused. "A… A child!"
A frown crossed Jay's face. "Don't you think that was harsh?" He demanded. "That everyday I wake, I'm expected to end the very gods who created you two? That instead of being raised by Mianite, I was given a shadow as my only friend. That, perhaps, after being in complete darkness for my whole life, I have a right to be cranky?!"
He growled and took a step closer to her. "If someone apologizes, take it," he hissed, "or you'll end up bitter. And it isn't fun."
He vanished in a wisp of smoke.
Brokenkitty95: I finally uploaded it! I finally finished editing the first chapter! Be pleased with me, JustAnotherGuest! Also, I love Jay. He's precious, although... not quite so much right now. He gets to be a sweetie later. Although... Well, I won't spoil anything for you. I'm going to attempt - read: attempt - to get something up once a week. Though, 'cause of college, I can't really promise my life will always be so free to. Hey, but, JustAnotherGuest, you can finally work on those one-shots! Because now Jay has been introduced! Well sort of.
Now, I just need to plan for a cover drawing and draw that. Might do that at some point. Remember, though, guys: this is related to The Guardian's of Mianite, so you'll be seeing the characters from that. Also: It's mostly about the Guardians, not the Mianitees.
JustAnotherGuest would like to add that he is 'l33t'. Really, JustAnotherGuest? *sigh*