Chapter One: Fracture
Vivace lived about half of the way outside from the center of Sanctuary. Just like his location, he wasn't high or low class. Right in the middle of them. His house wasn't beautiful, or decadent, but it sufficed.
These days were burned into his mind, like an engraving on a tombstone. The awesomeness, and horrors of them.
"Vivace!" His mother, Bravura, called to him. Vivace sighed. He was looking out at Sanctuary under the moonlight. His top half was pure Night, jet black scales and chiseled horns. His lower half was goldenrod yellow, nearly golden, snaking down to his tail.
His midsection, however, was strange. The colors of both halfs intermingled, creating a soft gradient. In the moonlight, He looked like black gold.
He jumped at Bravura's voice.
She must have some news!
The slim, wiry hybrid dashed out of him room, practically skidding to a stop. "Yes?"
"Someone's hyper," his mother remarked, smiling. Bravura was average in height, roughly double her son's. She had flecks of brown along her gold body, a Treble clef earring glimmering in her left ear. She ran a talon through Vivace's head softly, and with her other, picked up the envelope that was on the countertop in front of her.
"Well...It seems our Queen has found a king!" She said, bristling with excitement. "Not only that, but she asked me to compose for her!"
Vivace smirked. "Our Queen deserves only the best, doesn't she?" Bravura nodded. She was a good composer, and had gained quite a reputation.
"I hope I'll get enough from this," she said. "We still have things to pay off."
Bravura never stated it, but Vivace guessed that she had some debt. Some things they owned were expensive, mainly their instruments.
Who did she borrow from? Vivace thought.
"Don't worry Vivace," His mother said. "We'll find a way, as we have for years before."
Vivace nodded,understanding. "Anything else?"
Bravura looked into the letter. "Hmm...yes. And it involves you."
The letters contents stated that a contest was to be held. After Bravura had composed the pieces (which had only taken a week,) Thorn allowed any minor musicians to learn the music for a chance to play at the wedding. Everyone had only two weeks.
Vivace was mildly discouraged. They were only taking one trumpet. Vivace knew he was a good player; he'd been doing so since he was strong enough to hold it. But knowing there was a unknown chance scared him.
He asked his mother for help. She declined.
"Why?" He asked, almost whining, sitting on his mother's bed.
"Because," she replied, "all the other dragons in the runnin' for this won't have my help, nor should you." She bent down to his level. "I want you to win by skill, not by an unfair advantage." She stood back up to went to her desk to organize herself for the event.
"Wouldn't matter if I helped you anyways. I've taught you everything you need. Just practice, play your heart out, and you'll do fine."
Over the two weeks, Vivace practiced as the audition came. By the time it arrived, the music was muscle memory. All he had to do was call it and he could do it.
Two Nights before the wedding, Vivace dressed himself. He wore two earrings, an eighth note in his left and a sixteenth in his right. He also had an orange vest on. He picked up his instruments' case and the music his mother had written.
Bravura peeked into his room. She hadn't dressed up. She doesn't have to, Vivace thought. It's my audition. I have to make a good impression.
"Ready?" She asked him. He nodded and headed outside. The sand sparkled like snow under the moons light. As they ascended, they could see the decorations sprinkled across Sanctuary. In the center of the city was Thorn's palace, dappled in white lace and fiery orange velvet. The city around the palace had bouquets of roses and artworks of the King and Queen around every corner.
There was an air of happiness and pride in the Kingdom. Even the dragons of foreign tribes were happy for the royal family.
Vivace and Bravura arrived and entered Thorn's palace. He headed past the regaly decorated plaza to a large, auditorium like room upstairs.
"Good luck!" Bravura said, touching his cheek."Leave it all in that room! I'll leave the door unlocked for you." As he entered the room he was smacked by a wall of sound, and waved him goodbye, heading home.
A cacophonous mix of instruments flooded into his ears as he walked on the velvety carpet undertalon. There were countless dragons inside, all with instruments of different timbre. He found a secluded area, and practiced again, only running through everything three times, feeling a pressure on his chest. Before going to his audition, he headed to a bathroom, and locked the door. He looked up at the mirror into his own eyes, and recited something Bravura had taught him to calm his nerves and his mind.
I'm the only trumpet here. Only one thing matters. Not the other sounds or sights. Not yesterday or tomorrow. Just the sound my horn makes, and the story I tell.
And my story will be special. Even in failure I will know I played my hardest tonight, with know regrets.
He splashed his face with water from a dish, then dried his face. He took a deep breath, then blew out forcefully. He felt more confident.
He headed back outside, and towards his audition room. The room was small, square, and padded to prevent echoes and overtones. The adjudicator was hidden by a large curtain with a small slot that split the room.
"Your ticket?" The judge said. They sounded female. Vivace handed her the ticket through the slot. He heard frantic writing from behind the curtain.
"Alright...Whenever you're ready you may start."
Vivace's mind seemed to phase out. He only saw himself in that room. He began to play the pieces, remembering everything he practiced in his week. He barely heard his own sound. He did falter here and there, but he didn't let them perturb his focus.
Before he knew it, it was over. He sighed deeply but quietly, feeling the pressure ebb away.
The adjudicator told him the pros and cons of his performance, but, he didn't hear them. A new angst.
Did I make it?
He thanked the adjudicator. He told him he'd hear his results in a day.
Vivace excited from the palace, starting to feel content, and a little happy.
No regrets Vivace. It's over now. You can't control how you did now.
The streets of Sanctuary were dark now, ominous and almost creepy. Everyone had turned in. It was quiet.
Vivace saw his house. The lights were off, but it was oddly quiet. Bravura wasn't known to be asleep at this time. Vivace shivered. It didn't feel right.
He reached for the cold, brass doorknob. He twisted and pushed.
Then did so again, and again.
Why is the door locked? She said it'd be open.
He ran around to the back of his house through the alley on its left side. He looked up and saw his bedroom window open. He silently thanked his past self.
He flew up, landing in his room. He walked directly towards his own door. It too was locked.
Before Vivace could unlock it, the shutters on his windows slammed shut, leaving him in darkness. He could only see partially because of his night genes. He spun around.
Face to face with a bloodied and masked IceWing.