CHAPTER TWO - BlueFlame

About a week later, Carlos came home from school to his palace as usual. Prince Diesel was playing with his rubber bone in the living room. Carlos stepped inside and saw an envelope on the coffee table.

Came here while you were gone, Carlos, Prince Diesel barked.

The envelope was dark grey, with a skull stamp in the top-right corner. It read "To Carlos DarkCaller, Massive Fantasy Palace 013, Spiral" in the center, and "Dworgyn Orcen, Death School, Nightside, Wizard City, Spiral" in the top-right sat down on the couch and opened the letter with his sword (some of the envelope was burnt, but not the letter). It read:

"Dear Mr. DarkCaller,

We are pleased to inform you that, due to your incredible skill in Death Magic, you have been invited to the 2012 Grand Necromancer's Union next December to show off your abilities in Death magic. Formal attire is recommended but not required. Each member must know at least one Rank Seven (or higher) Death spell and be able to cast it without fizzling. Remember: No stage fright! After all, Death is courage!

Sincerely,

Dworgen Orcen."

Carlos looked over the letter a few more times. He was invited to a Grand Necromancer's Union! This was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to him. Only one thing was wrong.

"I don't know any Rank Seven spells!" Carlos shouted as he lay on the couch. "The highest I can cast is Rank Five, and I still fizzle all the time with those spells!"

I think you're looking at this wrong, Diesel said. You said December of 2012? That's exactly thirteen months away! Mathematicaly speaking, if you know as much magic as you do now, and are as skilled as Dworgyn makes you out to be, your chances by next year-

"Don't use your mathematics to muddle the issue!" Carlos shouted. "How do you suppose I learn Rank Seven spells in such a short amount of time?"

First, stop shouting, Prince Diesel barked. I've never seen you this worried before.

"Well, I have... stage fright."

What's so scary about a stage? It's just an elevated platform where showmen preform their skills in front of millions and billions of... oh, I see what you mean.

Carlos simply sighed.

Well, the way I see it, you have three options: One, tell Dworgyn he needs to train you better, higher-leveled magic for this union. Option two: you can ask Dworgyn to un-invite you due to your untrained-ness, of course that would take you back to option one because of Dworgyn being your teacher and, therefore, wanting you to succ-

"Enough with the long sentences, or barks, or whatever! What's option three?"

...True Names.

Carlos sat up. "Huh?" he asked.

Hades, mythgod of death. Have him teach you. C'mon Carlos, you're smart.

A short pause from Carlos, then he stood right up. "Of course! Diesel, you're a genius!"

Well, "Genius" might be a bit of a stretch...

Carlos ran right over to Diesel and gave him a big hug. "You're the best dog ever!" Carlos told him.

Carlos, stop it! Diesel barked. You're embarrassing me... I love you too, but come one man! You're the future ruler of the Spiral! Man up!

Carlos let go of Diesel. "Sorry," he said.

Aww, it's okay, Diesel said. I am your pet after all...

Carlos ran downstairs to his study and jumped right into his chair in front of the great tome. He quickly flipped through pages until he finally found Hades' page. He looked at the bottom of the page to see his True Name when, suddenly, Destiny teleported to Carlos, appearing behind his chair. "Hey," she said. "It's me."

Carlos looked behind him to see his lovely girlfriend, Destiny BlueFlame, directly behind him. She was wearing black and red robes and a matching hat. Carlos always loved her pretty emerald eyes and cute smile. Her adorable voice always made him smile, even when he was sad.

"Why, hello my queen," Carlos said sweetly.

"Hello, my king," Destiny said, winking.

"So, how have you been, milady?"

Destiny smiled and blushed. "Good, good. How have you been?"

"Doin' good. Wanna go into the living room and chat?"

"Sure!" she said, and they walked upstairs to the living room. Carlos and Destiny sat down at the living room couch (Diesel was upstairs using the crystal ball to watch T.V.). As the couple sat down, Carlos put his arm around Destiny and she smiled.

"I've been having dreams about you, my king," she said as she winked at Carlos.

"What kind of dreams, my queen?" Carlos said as he winked back.

"Well... I dreamed that we were in a big castle in the sky together - not like this one, because it was much bigger... maybe even as big as Wizard City and Krokotopia combined! Anyway, we were inside of it's throne room and we were holding hands and greeting our subjects - we apparently ruled a whole kingdom!"

"Wow! Cool dream!" Carlos told her.

"Anything else you want to talk about?"

"Well, I did want to ask you about something."

"Yes?"

"If I was to, hypothetically, build an army to take over the Spiral, would you join me?"

"Of course!"

"Really?"

"Yeah, why not?" Destiny and Carlos began laughing like crazy at the thought of the two of them taking over the Spiral.

A few hours passed and Destiny realized the time. "I have to go," she said.

"Bye," Carlos said to her, sadly. "I love you."

"I love you more," Destiny said playfully.

"I love you most," Carlos said, proceding to hug his girlfriend.

Destiny left as Prince Diesel walked downstairs to the living room. So, how was it? he asked.

"Great!" Carlos said to him. "Just great. She said that if I ever made that army to take over the Spiral, she'd be glad to join!"

Wow, that's... odd.

"How so?" Carlos asked.

Well, it just seems wierd that a human girl would help a human male - not even a full adult yet - in his desire to overthrow the multiverse.

"I really shouldn't have fed you so much brain food. You're becoming such a know-it-all!"

Oh really? Diesel barked. How about this? And he proceded to pounce on Carlos, knocking him over. The two played all night in their living room.