Harry Potter and Axel Skye
By Ereaes Talakhan
Chapter 1: Meet Axel Skye
I have a weird life; I go to different realities to save people; well, for a living, of course. As if I had anything else to do.
Today, I'm riding the clouds of a planet whose name I have long forgotten. It has been known to have a fantastic lightning show and today is the only day of the century to watch.
This is the point where things go bad.
"Axel, come here, quick!" A boy named Nyayan called in my earpiece.
"I'm comin', but not too fast, I can see the clouds ahead." I call back. I gave this boy, Nyayan, a communication earpiece while I have the other. He calls it magic I call it science. The only true magic about it is that it's more of living organism than an electrical creation.
"Hurry, mommy says it's coming early this time."
"So be it," I say as I rush through small clouds to get to the spot where Nyayan and his family were.
I found them sitting next to a large tree, in the meadow where legend has it that many a brave soul came for the lightning strikes. Here is where they come to be hit by the lightning in hopes that it will bring them great power. I have been allowed to join them. How lucky.
I landed next to Nyayan's father Dunek, and his mother Beenia. "Your late," said Dunek.
"I came at your son's behest; I am not late."
"Hurry then, the Braves are leading out now." Beenia said while pushing me to the circle of Braves.
Ok, these people have a strange custom. Sane people get hit by a bolt of lightning and go insane. These peoples greatest wish is to BE hit. Don't ask. But, I'll tell.
The Circle of Braves stands in the great meadow to challenge the clouds, and show them their strength and bravery. Only the greatest of braves stand inside of the circle, well, and me. While the clouds pass here, lightning can strike more than twice…sometimes in the very same place. There are even brawls, fun, but scary.
I don't claim to be a Great Brave but these people insist that I challenge the clouds. When I first came here all I had to do was show off a little power in order for them to, I wouldn't say worship, but adore me. I save people, I get the good guy points; I kill someone, I only give off fear, in some cultures, except in a barbaric culture such as this. Haven't killed anyone here yet. Unfortunately its in my past that made that happen.
"But I need to see Nyayan, first." I tell Beenia.
"Hurry then, Great One." She said.
I ran to Nyayan as he came running to me and I picked up the little boy. Damn, he's small, but would make a better Brave than me, I thought.
"Thought I was going to challenge clouds before I spoke to you again?"
"I'm afraid that I may not see you after the challenge," he said as he buried his head in my shoulder. This kid has a bit of a Seer's blood in him.
"I'll see you after it all."
"Promise?"
"Promise. Now I must leave."
I set him back down and ran to leave for the Circle. "Axel!" someone called behind me. Dunek came running to me.
"I came to give you this." He said panting, as he held out a necklace to me. It was made out of shells and bones with the runes facing inward.
"But this is yours, I cannot accept this." I replied.
"I have told Nyayan that I would rather give this to you and he said you deserved it more than he, so I give this to you out of respect, take it and go," he said succinctly.
"I accept this gift, then," I said as I took the necklace and clipped it around my neck. I nodded to Dunek and continued to the circle.
"Be back safely, Axel!" Nyayan cried in his earpiece to me.
I looked back to him and smiled as I ran. Now I would have to get ready; finally, the real test.
As I approached the circle, I could hear static in my earpiece so I took it out and placed it in my pocket. I jumped powerfully from the Circle's edge to the middle where I rehearsed previously. Using only a little power to just get over the barbarians below me.
My head starts to ache, I know this; I won't be able to come back. My vision was starting to blur and a picture of the next reality came to me. No, I don't want to leave yet, as I saw the evil I must conquer in the next world, a giant skull made of green lights with an enormous serpent coming from its mouth, Dark Mark, dark mark, the vision said. That's evil, I thought.
"Feeling afraid Axel?" the corrupt warrior Daergar Harj said threateningly. His name literally meant 'A Darker Harm.' He was never supposed to be next to me but the people would only think of the good deeds that he did, even though the way he did them was corrupt. As if anyone noticed.
I could feel myself stumbling as I heard the closer roar of clouds and saw through my sight flashes of bolts. This is going to be painful…if it hits me.
I couldn't see anything, I was completely blind now, but I heard a man somewhere behind me cry out in fear. I knew he did not want to be here. The last thing I sensed was a bolt of lightning coming straight at my face as the pull of another reality came. Wait, I thought, I didn't pay for electroshock treatment. Zzzzaaaaaaaapppppp. Ow.
Author's note: For anyone who was bored enough to spell check this story you'll find that one of the alternate words for Daergar Harj's name is 'darker' and 'harm' which would literally mean 'A Darker Harm.' Boredom.