CHAPTER ONE: HAPPY BIRTHDAY
"Dude! Slow down!" exclaimed a distant voice.
"Nah Aigon, you just gotta keep up!" the other replied. The scene zoomed out on a young, teenage boy with horns growing out of his head running with a primitive looking football over rooftops of an old Egyptian city. Close behind him, however, was a dirty blonde headed human/dragon hybrid, soaring through the sky.
"Don't let them get it!" the devil boy called out, "Charlot, go long!" Another boy in a black ninja suit with katanas strapped to his back caught the football as he threw it.
"Zechariah you have to work on your pass!" Charlot scolded, "That was sloppy!"
"We playing keep-away from Aigon?" asked a girl with long golden hair as she seemingly appeared out of nowhere and snatched the ball from Charlot, "Not cool!"
"How!?" Zechariah questioned.
"You're gonna question the daughter of a goddess?" Charlot asked, "...Dude."
"It just leads to more questions!" Aigon clarified as they dove down towards the girl, "Radia! Heads up!" Radia dove out of the way and rolled back onto her feet just as Aigon got to her, allowing the dragon to tackle Zechariah and slam into the rooftop.
"C'mon, we're gonna win!" Radia bragged, "I at least need some kind of challenge!" Aigon smirked and took off at top speed into the air. Their wings flapped rapidly as they dove down at Radia once again. Zechariah and Charlot both dove at Radia, tripping her, but she had a plan. She threw the ball up in the air before she hit the ground. Aigon dove for it and smacked it with their tail. The football went flying into the open palace doors, a crash emitting from inside.
"Oh crud-" said Aigon, covering their mouth.
The Pharaoh stepped out of the palace, holding the deflated football.
"They did it!" exclaimed Charlot, Zechariah, and Radia in unison, pointing up at Aigon, who just waved nervously.
"Come with me, child," Pharaoh Kasaan stated. Aigon slowly flapped their wings and lowered themself to the ground and passed their friends.
"Screw you guys," they said, lightly punching Zechariah in the shoulder, "I'll be out soon."
"Do you know why I've brought you in here?" Kasaan asked.
"Because I broke something important with that football..?" Aigon replied.
"It wasn't just 'something important' as you put it," Kasaan told them, "It was a vase gifted to me by Hathor's father."
"Oh…" Aigon winced, "I'm so sorry! I-"
"Thank you!" Kasaan said heartily, patting the dragon on the back, "You did me a favor! That thing was as ugly as a camel giving birth! Not to mention I think it was cursed."
"So I'm off the hook?" Aigon asked.
"Just be careful next time," Kasaan stated with a nod, "So you don't break anything I actually like, but oh! You should have seen your face! It was priceless!" Aigon laughed a little as they flew out a window.
"Heads up!" Aigon screamed as they landed directly in front of their friends.
"Two minutes!" cheered Radia, "That's a new record!"
"Apparently I broke some kind of cursed ugly vase that Kasaan didn't like, so I was let off the hook," Aigon clarified as they threw the newly re-inflated football up in the air and caught it.
"Alright big week for everyone!" Zechariah stated, "I'm getting some one-on-one time with my dad, Charlot's going to train with his clan, and let's not forget who's turning eighteen tomorrow!"
"It's not that big of a deal," Radia said with a smile.
"Uh, like heck it isn't!" Aigon said as they threw the football through the window of their tower, "You only turn eighteen once!"
"You only turn any age once," Charlot clarified.
"You know what I mean!" Aigon replied, "My point is… there comes a time in every woman's life where she passes from girlhood… to womanhood."
"What do you know about womanhood?" Radia asked, "You don't even have a gender!"
"Hey! Part of choosing one is doing the research on which one you wanna choose!" Aigon retorted, "I've researched both genders and neither seem to appeal to me anyway."
"I think you just like being different," Zechariah stated.
"Okay, news flash, I'm the only human/dragon hybrid in existence," replied Aigon, "Can't get much different than that."
"Alright, it's getting dark," Charlot stated, "We should do our evening rounds before we head in."
"Last one to the dining district has to scout the sketchy part of town!" Aigon exclaimed as they took off.
"Oh, you're on!" Zechariah yelled as he chased after them.
"Will you be okay, your highness?" asked Charlot.
"You ask that every night," Radia replied, "I'm fine. If anything I'd wanna go with you."
"You know it's too dangerous," Charlot warned, "Now, if I don't wanna scout the lower east side, I gotta go." Radia nodded and watched as Charlot pulled on his mask and leaped away. She sighed and walked back into the palace.
"Have a seat," Kasaan told her as she walked past the dining hall, "Dinner is almost ready." Radia sat down near her father and adjusted her plate. "You know," Kasaan continued, "Most princesses your age have either been appointed or chosen a suitor-"
"Dad, I told you, I haven't found anyone that appeals to me…" Radia clarified.
"I know, I gave you a choice, but some day, I won't be here… and you'll need someone to help you run the city," the Pharaoh stated, putting his hand on his daughter's.
"I know," Radia sighed as she took a sip of her water
"Is there anyone you've considered?" he asked, "Zechariah or Charlot seem like they'd be good rulers."
"Dad!" exclaimed Radia, spitting out her water, "They're like brothers to me! Plus, I don't think you want Zechariah running this city. It'd be burned down within a day."
"I know, I know," Kasaan laughed, "You're almost eighteen years old, a choice must be made soon. What about Aigon?" Kasaan raised a brow as Radia looked away for a moment.
"Same thing with them… They're like a sibling to me. I would never date any of them." Just as Radia finished her sentence, Aigon burst through the door.
"All right! Full round done in fifteen minutes with four crimes stopped in progress!" they cheered, "Whoo! I'm on a ROLL today!" Aigon flew down and landed in the seat next to Radia. "Whatever was happening before I got here looks hella awkward, what's going on?"
"Dad was just giving "the speech" again," Radia laughed.
"It's not a speech, it's a suggestion," Kasaan stated as he rolled his eyes.
"You having wings is so not fair!" Zechariah exclaimed as he stepped through the door, "You shouldn't be allowed to race!" He went to sit across from Radia, but found Charlot had somehow appeared in the seat without anyone noticing.
"It's true, how are your wings never tired?" Charlot asked as Zechariah took the seat beside him.
"What can I say?" Aigon replied, "I never skip wing day. Plus dragon bones are hollow like bird-" Suddenly, the doors to the kitchen flung open and the chefs and servants stepped out with the food for that night. They laid it all out on the table, placing food in front of the Ancients and the Pharaoh. Well, except for Aigon. They had placed an entire covered platter in front of them.
"Dinner is served!" exclaimed the head chef.
"Let us thank the gods for this meal that has been prepared for us," Kasaan said, raising his hands.
"Hm?" Aigon asked, their face stuffed with pork. Apparently there had been an entire roasted hog underneath the cover on the platter. Radia hit them on the shoulder and Aigon swallowed their food and joined the others in their blessing of the food.
"Oh, Heset! Thank you for this meal that we have received on this glorious night before my daughter reaches her eighteenth year of life! Amyn!"
"Amyn!" repeated the others. Aigon then went back to sloppily eating the pig, Zechariah toasted the beef a bit more with fire from his hand, Charlot sliced the bread neatly with his katana, and Radia smiled at her drogon "friend" beside her as they ate. Kasaan took a mental note of this, just in case…
"Hey!" Aigon called after the princess, just before she closed the door to her room, "Do you ever think about… you know… telling your dad about us?" Radia took the dragon's hand and smiled.
"All the time," she replied, "But I don't feel like we should… at least not yet. We should wait until the time is right…"
"And when do you figure that'll be?" Aigon asked, looking into Radia's golden eyes with her own big orange ones.
"Soon, baby," Radia promised, putting a hand on their cheek, "Soon…"
"Can I sleep in your room tonight?" Aigon asked, stroking their girlfriend's hand with their thumb, "It's been getting colder at night… you know… cold blood…"
"Sure babe…" Radia replied, holding her door open for them, "Come on in." Aigon happily flew into Radia's room, and within an instant their armor was laying in the corner and they were dressed in one of Radia's spare night gowns. The demi-goddess smiled and went behind a curtain to change herself, which she did quickly. She then crawled into bed with her dragon.
"Night Ray Ray," Aigon said with a smile.
"Goodnight my little dragon…" Radia replied, as she drifted off to sleep.
"WAKE UP!" screamed Aigon, flying above Radia's bed.
"I'm up!" exclaimed Radia, looking left and right frantically.
"Happy b-day babe!" cheered Aigon as they hugged their girlfriend, "The big one-eight!"
"Sweetie, it's barely sunrise…" Radia groaned as she rolled over, give me a few more hours…"
"No you have to get up now if you wanna fully enjoy my present!" Aigon exclaimed, dragging her out of bed. "C'mon!" Radia sighed and followed her spouse out on the balcony. "Hang on!" Aigon stated, grabbing Radia and flying up to the highest tower in the palace. They set her down on the balcony and pulled back the curtains. "Tada! I found this abandoned tower a few months ago and have been fixing it up ever since!" Radia looked around in awe, torches all around the walls, dimly lighting the room, a few "bean bag chairs" as Aigon called them scattered around the floor. She found a shelf full of scrolls and "books" of the future in the corner.
"What do you think?" Aigon asked, looking at Radia with those big orange eyes of theirs.
"I love it!" Radia exclaimed, hugging her spouse tightly.
"That's not all! Look!" Aigon stated, pointing outside. Radia let them go and stepped out on the balcony.
"Whoa…" Radia gasped upon seeing the Egyptian sunrise from this tower.
"I made a little space for you and me at the top of the world…" the dragon said happily, "I hope you like it…"
"Aigon, I love it…" Radia replied, kissing them on the cheek, "Best birthday present so far."
"Yeah, 'cause it's the only birthday present so far!" Aigon stated, lightly shoving her.
"Still counts," Radia laughed.
Aigon flew into their seat at the dining hall table just as Radia sat herself down.
"You're late," Kasaan stated, "What kept the two of you?"
"I had to give Radia her birthday present early," Aigon simply stated.
"It was super nice," Radia added with a smile.
"I'm glad," Kasaan stated as Aigon scarfed down their breakfast to catch up with the boys.
"Hey, we gotta do our morning patrol!" Zechariah exclaimed, summoning his pitchfork from the dark void.
"Gotta go," Aigon told Radia with a wink, "Don't wait up!" They then took off without a second thought.
"They forgot about me," Charlot sighed.
"Yeah we forgot about Charlot," Zechariah said as he and Aigon came back into the room.
"I've been speaking with your father, Radia," Charlot said to his friend, "And he said that you may attend our patrols with us today as long as one of us is constantly by your side."
"Really!?" exclaimed Radia, looking at her father with excitement. Kasaan nodded slowly. "Thank you!" she shouted, hugging Charlot excitedly, then hugging her dad.
The four Ancients walked out of the main palace gate.
"Okay, Zechariah and I will take the lower parts of the city, and Aigon and Radia will scout the upper parts where it's safer," Charlot ordered.
"Let's go!" Aigon exclaimed.
"Why can't I take the upper half with Radia?" Zechariah asked.
Charlot elbowed him slightly and gestured to the two. Zechariah nodded in acknowledgment.
"Hop on my back!" Aigon stated with excitement.
"What?" Radia asked.
"Just do it," Aigon stated flatly, getting into a pushup position so Radia could get on their back, which Radia did reluctantly. "If you're riding with me, you're riding in style! Hang on!" Radia held onto Aigon's horns. "AH! Not those! Shoulders! Hang on to my shoulders!"
"Right, sorry!" Radia apologized, correcting her grasp.
"First team back gets first ball!" Zechariah exclaimed as he started running. Charlot followed closely behind just as Aigon and Radia took off. The race was on.
"Okay, so what do you do on your patrols normally?" Radia asked.
"I typically fly around looking for anything wrong," Aigon replied, "Such as a broken street sign, a broke down cart on the side of the road, a camel that got loose, well… at least on this side of town. On the lower side, crime is a lot worse. There's muggings, thefts, and break-ins left and right."
"Don't you usually scout the lower side?" questioned Radia.
"Yeah but I think they could use a change of pace down there," laughed the dragon, "I'm a bit too nice for them."
"Hey look!" exclaimed Radia, pointing at the ground, "There's something going on at that house!" Aigon looked closer and found a crowd of people outside the house holding torches and pitchforks and chanting something.
"Hmm, looks like a standard mob," Aigon said nonchalantly, "The owners of that house probably put something controversial on the message board today. Apparently people aren't allowed to have opinions. It doesn't go away either. This right here is mostly the early 2020s."
"Torches and pitchforks?" Radia questioned.
"Uhh… metaphorically," Aigon corrected, diving towards the mob, "Anyway let's see what's up."
"So do you think there's something going on between Radia and Aigon?" Zechariah asked, punching the crap out of a mugger.
"Uhh, yeah I don't think, I know," replied Charlot, fending off another with his swords. The guy kicked the swords out of charlot's hands, so he grabbed a kunai out of nowhere and slashed at his leg. "Dude, I was Radia's wingman. Anyway, why is this a surprise to you? They're so obvious."
"I guess I kinda like Radia," Zechariah admitted, lighting the guy he was fighting's pants on fire with his pyrokinesis. "I just didn't really notice what they had because of it.."
"Yeah, well, it's difficult to accept, but it's the reality," Charlot stated, Pocketing his kunai and tying up the mugger with some rope he found off to the side, "I mean, I had a thing for Radia too, but I still helped her get with Aigon. When I saw the fruits of my labor, I realized that they really are perfect for each other."
"Doesn't make it hurt less…" Zechariah muttered, punching the first mugger into unconsciousness.
"I know… Think about it like this," Charlot offered, "Your main priority, the very reason you were given to Pharaoh has found someone who makes her happy. And even though you're hurting now, you'll still have her to always be there for you as long as you are for her. Doesn't that sound cool to you?"
"Yeah.." Zech said, a little bit of comfort appearing in his heart, "As long as Radia's happy."
"Alright, alright, what's going on here?" Aigon asked, having dropped Radia off on a nearby rooftop.
"There's a demon in that house!" exclaimed one of the mob members.
"You sure it's not just Zechariah?" they asked, rolling their eyes and stepping inside. They were suddenly blasted through the wall with some kind of dark magic. "Not Zechariah…" she muttered, "Everyone get outta here!" The mob scattered. Radia watched in horror as a man, completely shrouded in darkness emerged from the wall. She had seen this before somewhere… but where? When? How had she ever seen something like this?
Radia looked around frantically, she wasn't in control of her actions… it was as though she were seeing through someone else's eyes.
"Seth! You please listen, old friend!" exclaimed the body Radia was seeing through. A shadowy figure emerged from the torn apart palace gates.
"You were betrothed to Horus! You have broken tradition!" Seth exclaimed, "We were fine with you running away, willing to let that transgression pass, but running away with a MORTAL is inexcusable!"
"Seth! You must stop this, uncle!" exclaimed Horus, stepping in front of Radia, "Hathor should choose the life she wants! Even if it is not with me, I only wish for her to be happy! You need to stand down! Can you not see she is with child?" Suddenly, everything clicked for Radia. The shadowy man she saw in the building was Seth possessing some innocent man. That the eyes she was seeing through… were those of her mother just before she was born.
"Truly, you have lost sight as well, Horus," Seth remarked, "That child is of infidelity and must not be allowed to be brought into this world."
"Go, Hathor!" Horus exclaimed, "Go to Kasaan!" As Hathor prepared to run, Seth blasted her with his dark energy, causing Radia to black out.
Radia's eyes snapped open and she looked around, she found Seth holding Aigon against a wall, orange light draining from their body.
"No!" screamed Radia, jumping off the roof. She landed directly behind Seth and grabbed his shoulder. She pulled him back and, with her sheer upper body strength, sent him flying back into the building he came from. Her eyes glowed golden as she stared the vessel of the god of chaos down.
"Jyid…" Seth muttered. Then, the body he was possessing was returned. The darkness faded from him and he fell to the ground. Radia looked around for a second before turning back to Aigon.
"Aigon!" she exclaimed, running to them.
"What took you so long…" wheezed the dragon.
"I'm so sorry babe!" she apologized. She attempted to help them up, but they just fell back down again with a groan of pain. "I should've stepped in sooner! I-"
"Is everything okay!?" Zechariah stressed, jumping over a pile of rubble, "I heard Aigon's distress call!"
"What's going on?" asked Charlot, appearing out of nowhere.
"Some guy got possessed or something…" Aigon groaned, holding their side, "He beat the crap out of me until Radia stepped in and demolished him…" They attempted to stand again but Radia stopped them.
"Babe, don't try to stand up, you're hurt…" she said, kneeling down to them.
"Ray Ray…" Aigon muttered, looking back and forth at Charlot and Zechariah.
"I don't care anymore…" she said, grasping their hand, "All I care about is that you're okay…"
"Hey, the guards are coming, we should get back to the palace and give the report," Charlot stated.
"Help me get them up," Radia stated, Moving Aigon's left arm around the back of her neck. Zechariah said nothing and did the same with Aigon's right arm. The Guards' carriages approached rapidly and stopped before they reached The Ancients.
"What happened here?" asked the captain.
"Possession…" muttered Aigon, "You should take the guy in that building to a… doctor.." Aigon's eyes rolled back and then they passed out.
Aigon's eyes opened and they slowly sat up. They found themself in a familiar room. Their room.
"What happened..?" they groaned.
"You lost consciousness," the doctor stated, "You got in a pretty bad fight and were messed up real good. But don't you worry, your friends got you here safely."
"My friends?" Aigon asked, "Where are they?"
"They're waiting outside for you, but just lay back down. I still need to examine you further."
Radia paced back and forth, biting her nails in worry.
"So…" Zechariah said, trying to break the ice, "You and Aigon?" The devil's son earned a harsh jab in the arm from the ninja sitting beside him. "What? I'm just trying to find something to take her mind off of her worries."
"Yeah…" Radia replied, sitting with her friends.
"How long?" Zechariah asked.
"In about a month, it'll be a year," Radia told them, "Right on Aigon's birthday… I knew they liked me and I liked them, so as a birthday present last year… I kinda lost control and kissed them out of nowhere…"
"So what are we doing out here?" Aigon asked, their big eyes full of curiosity and wonder.
"Well," Radia replied, "I've been noticing something recently…" She gestured to a seat beside her on a hill overlooking the sunset.
"What is it?" Aigon asked, completely oblivious to Radia's plan.
"Well, you've been looking at me… a lot.." Aigon's face went red. "I have a special present for you… it goes a little like this…" Radia said with a smirk. She grabbed Aigon's hand and squeezed it lovingly. She looked into their eyes and smiled. Aigon's face went as red as their cape. "Happy birthday, baby…" Radia's lips then connected with Aigon's causing the dragon to internally freak out. The princess pulled away and smiled. "How was that?"
"I- I loved it!" Aigon exclaimed excitedly, "You have no idea how long I've wanted that!"
"I think I have a pretty good idea…"
"We've been your typical secret relationship since," Radia said with a smile.
"And you knew about it?" Zech asked Charlot, who nodded in response, "And you didn't tell me!?"
"I asked him not to tell anyone," Radia stated, placing a hand on Zechariah's shoulder, "And I'm asking you to too, okay?" Zechariah nodded and then perked up.
"This may be a bad time, but i just remembered your birthday present!" he stated. He opened a small portal and pulled a golden and silver sword out before closing it again. "It's made from the toughest materials in the world, just like you." Radia smiled slightly as she took hold of the blade. She strapped it to her back and was about to respond when the door to Aigon's room opened. Radia stood up and looked at the doctor nervously.
"What's with the face? They're fine!" the doctor told them, "Come in, they want to see you!" Radia pushed past the doctor and kneeled at Aigon's bedside.
"Don't you ever scare me like that again!" she exclaimed, holding onto their arm.
"Ow," Aigon stated, "He fractured my arm."
"Sorry sorry!" Radia stressed, letting go, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine… I just need some time to recover," they told her with a warm expression.
"And recover, you will," Kasaan stated as he entered the room. Radia quickly backed up from Aigon's bed upon hearing his voice. "Until you've fully healed, you will be appointed a caretaker. I'm sure your girlfriend wouldn't mind nursing you back to health…" Radia and Aigon both gasped in unison.
"H-How did you-"
"You're not exactly discreet," Kasaan laughed before turning to Zechariah and Charlot, "I trust you two will have no problem taking on the responsibility of patrol on your own?"
"We won't let you down, sir," Charlot said with a bow.
"Rest up, child," Kasaan told the dragon, "And rest well."