Shadows from Another Side part 1

The dragon God sat on his throne. The clouds drifting by crackled lightning and fire within them agitatedly like two children chasing each other. "Now, Now. No fighting between you two. I dont need the worlds aflame because you two had a spat." His voice rumbled across the sky separating the clouds to reveal two children in the sky. One had yellow wings that crackled with lightning. His horns were white and his hair was the color of a sunset which adorned a chiseled chin and scarlet eyes. His frame was thin but was somewhat hidden beneath blue cloud covered robes. His wings didn't flap but his draconic legs stood on a dark thunder cloud. His brother stood apart from him. No wings adorned his back. But his horns changed colors like a shifting flame. Yellow, crimson, and blue shimmered across his curled horns. He had four arms that ended in clawed hands with crimson nails. His eyes were silver and flecked with gold around his serpentine pupils. His frame was muscled despite his young appearance with scarlet robes with orange flame orbs decorating them. He had a strong chin and two fangs stuck out of his upper lip. Flames danced across his feet keeping him in the air like some god of fire.

"Father you know that Barak has a distaste for me. Has since we were small. It's about time that I as the eldest put him in his place." A thick growling voice rumbled from his place in the sky.

The first dragon mans face turned into a snarl baring his teeth as his brows furrowed and his eyes narrowed. "We are twins you fool! I was born mere seconds after you yet you claim the elder position! It was bound to happen when I was cheated of what should have been mine! You should have known that most Agni!" He bellowed. His voice was lighter and crackled with energy as his hair stood on end and his thunder cloud blossomed with bright light as a web of sparks and lightning danced across the sky.

The dragon god took a deep breath which seemed ordinary to most. But his sons knew otherwise. They knew their father had a decent fuse of patience. But they knew he only sighed when it was wearing down. They began to sweat a bit as Agni lowered himself to the ground along with his brother close behind. They bowed before their father in earnest, hoping to stop any possible anger from being vented towards them as hey had seen done to others outside their family. "Forgive us Father. We were hasty and poor of patience with each other." Agni said with his voice low and trembling. Barak Lowered himself just as low. "Please accept our repentance father. We have short tempers and must learn more patience." He said with a look of shame on his face. Seeing his sons bow themselves down the dragon raised his hand. And even as they rose from the ground into a kneeling position he had a memory come to mind. "My sons... Allow this old one to tell you a tale. One which may help you understand the power of patience." His voice rumbled and the sky changed to one filled with starlight and the northern lights streaming across the ether of the night.

"Long ago after your mother and I were betrothed... A very long time ago..." The star filled eyes of the dragon God zoomed closer till they seemed to be a vast ocean. The sun rose across the sky in the bright orange and yellows of dawn. The glorious power of light drove at the darkness like ravenous hunting dogs after a wounded buck. The smell of dew covered grass filled the air as dwarves and the like rose to the brightness of a new day. But deep within a layer of a multilayered city just below the layer of royals, stood a mansion. Pearl white gates adorned it's granite courtyard walls. The grounds were filled with glowing plants of every shade and likeness. Lillies the color of scarlet with dandelions the color of the dark, starless night. The mansions walls were made of white stone and decorated with images of a salamander growing from a small creature into a massive dragon. The images of battle were emblazoned across the side wall as statues of stone adorned it's exterior gardens. The front of the mansion itself showed the dragon forging weapons and armor and even a small flower. The walls of the mansion merged with the level of the ceiling above it looking more like a stabilizing pillar than a house.

Countless windows were scattered across its surface allowing plenty of light to enter as a woman seemed to wail from within. A woman laid on a canopy bed with crimson curtains and white sheets. The pillows were black as the night sky. The reason the woman wailed was due to a large belly and pain that came with it. Beside her stood a dragonman. Six arms adorned his broad shoulders and his head was one of a great beast. But despite his mighty looks. This being was worried. His eyes showed care and attention even as she wailed and grasped his hand with all her strength. A group of maids had gathered and a nurse attended to her. Many hours passed from the beggining of this woman going into labor but she would not show so much as a speck of weakness before her foe. Birthing her children.

Ignis POV: I stood there as Sam cried out in anger and pain against the process of birthing my children. Twins from what the physicians told us. Physicians here used star alignments and magic charts to figure out the genders and types of children born. Twin boys are what we were told. Samantha had gone through 9 months of pregnancy for this moment. She wailed as a nurse was between her knees. "It's coming! Just breath and when I say push. Push." She said with a straight forward stare. "PUSH!" And Sam cried out as I saw her tense. After a moment a white shell appeared between her legs as a large egg appeared. It was the size of a large newborn at about 2 feet long and must have weighed 10 pounds if not more. A confused look came across my face as the nurse handed me the egg. It weighed more than I thought. 20 pounds or more was what it felt like. I could feel a heartbeat within the egg even as I held it. What was most confusing was that it felt like a double. Like a continuous heartbeat without spacing. Like a drum. I pulled it close as a protective feeling filled my chest.

Sam's rolled her head weakly. "How are they?" She asked as her eyes were blinking slowly. Like she was struggling to stay awake. I gently placed the egg to her chest. Letting her feel the warmth and the heartbeats within. The power of the beings in the egg pulsed outward. Disaster class auras filled the room but Sam was unfazed. She patted the egg gently. "Shhhhh. My dear children. All is well." She cooed softly. Soon the auras settled down seeming to say that the beings within had fallen back into their slumber. I restlessly shifted on my draconic feet. "I thought that our children would be born in a more human manner." My voice whispered through the room like a breeze. Sam's face showed a wizened expression. "I expected this. I felt them kick extremely little and it felt more like a hard thing within me." Her eyes were full of love as she caressed the egg carefully. I felt pride fill my chest at the fact the twins were still ok. (Merely a little longer till we met them face to face.) I thought to myself. A sudden rumble echoed across the sky as a small ball of fire descended only to float before our window. "Little tyrants will be driving you mad before you know it. Be careful. Disaster class children can cause an awful mess. Reason why mine never had bodies." Aed said as he sat on our windowsill.

Power filled my frame as my protective instincts took hold. "Aed... Why are you here? Normally you don't just stop by for chitchat." I said as my hackles rose and I looked out the window and into the sky behind him. He let out a sigh. "Right on point as always... We gods hate to say this but... I am in need of your help." He said while biting his lip and looking about the room seeming to try and blow off what he had just said. My mood did not improve. "And you decided to come on the day of my children's birth to tell me this why?" I asked as anger began to rise within my heart. Aed looked behind him like he was paranoid of anyone listening. "Cause I figured no other Gods would care or pay attention to this visit. As it is customary to visit a champion on the day their first child or children are born." He said with a nervous wiggle in his voice. The nervousness caught me off guard. (What could possibly make a god nervous?) I thought and I patted Sam gently on the shoulder. "I'll be back in a bit. Just relax and I'll be back before you know it." I said gently to Sam while keeping an eye on Aed. She laid a hand on mine and gave me a firm nod as she eyed Aed. She held the egg firmer to her chest as Aed flew out the window and I jumped through to follow.

I followed him into the sky as we left the city of Verst. It was a grandiose sight to behold when we reached the clouds. It was like a shining star amidst the green plains. I still ascended further into the sky. I followed Aed all the way into the dark star-filled sky. We stopped as we came above the clouds. He went and stood on one as though it was normal. Actually stood on one! If this was earth he'd be pulling a Wiley coyote level sky fall and probably engrave himself in the ground. But here it seemed that physics took a vacation. Aed stood on the cloud which seemed to darken extensively. He turned to face me with a very serious look to his face.

"Technically I'm not supposed to tell you when we gods have problems. Since your a mortal and all. But I think this very well could use your... Touch of expertise." He said while looking back into the night sky. I raised an eyebrow. "My expertise being what? Explosives, destruction, and mayhem?" I said with a slightly bored expression. He shook his head. "No... well... Yes, but it's complicated. See... you remember that big guy you saw a year or two ago? Beholder. Remember him?" He said with a little gesture to the sky. I didn't even need to try to remember. I had searched the archives from stem to stern trying to find info on it. All I found was a stone slab depicting some demon made of tentacles and eyes worming it's way through the cosmos while subjugating planets for it's unknown masters. I rubbed the side of my face a bit. "Yeah. What of him? Does he need eyedrops? Cause I dont think they make bottles big enough for him to use." I said with another slightly bored look all the while trying not to seem interested in this sudden development.

"No eyedrops could found for that foul git. No... I need your help to get rid of him... He... wants to take this world for his own. He has loads of others... but he just seems to like trying to take this one for some reason." Aed said while rubbing his forehead. I raised my hands. "Hold up! You want me to kill something that can destroy planets while I haven't even ascended to godhood yet. Are you mad?! All it would take is a glance and he could annihilate me from existence. How am I supposed to fight that?" I said waving my arms around. Aed held up a small shard of something. "After eating this you won't have to worry about that." He said. It was a piece of what looked to be black crystal and was the size of a human thumb. I drew closer to see what it actually was. Aed gently placed it in my hand so I could inspect it closely. It was a piece of bone! Pitch black and seemed to absorb light in a way I had never seen. Even energy was drawn to this thing like a black hole. (G... Have you ever encountered something like this?) I thought at Gluttony.

/No... But I can tell whatever this belonged to was a very powerful being. Probably as powerful as gods if not more. This shard could shoot you into the higher level of Apocalypse Class. Maybe higher. I would reccomend eating a ton and stocking up on food before doing that though. You remember what happened with Od right?/ It chimed back and I shivered at the memory. I nodded to Aed. "I'll speak with my wife... Then I'll see what I can do." Aed let out a sigh of relief as if a load had been taken of his shoulders. "Thank you my friend. I'll let the others know." He said with a relieved smile. I raised my eyebrows. "I'll be seeing you soon Aed." I said as I fell backward and shot down to the earth. The shard was gripped tightly in my hand as the wind screamed past me. I took myself out of the dive a little over 200 feet above the ground so I could level out and slow down.

"Time to head home." I said.