I got sort of inspired by Mr. Zed's posting his stories on Vizzed, so I thought I'd post the prologue and first chapter to my own. The reason for two is because the prologue is really, really short. The title, The Fire's Heart, is a working title and will probably be changed. Also, the first chapter is more of a "introductory" thing than the start of the plot, which actually picks up in the second chapter. I'll post that and more... or not... depending on my mood. If you like it, please tell me! That will make me very happy. 

Prologue- Silence in the Darkness
           “Fools.”
           She had been there for centuries. How long exactly, she didn’t know, but she knew it
was long enough that many cultures would come and go without her ever even
glimpsing them. She muttered the word again, distaste dripping from it.
“Fools.”
           She didn’t normally speak, but she couldn’t stand the silence anymore. There was nothing
but darkness here, and it was near enough to drive her mad. Maybe she was mad. “Fools.”
           She sighed, letting her despair flow out with the breath. Was she giving up? Nearly, but not
quite. There was still hope, but it was small and waning.
           “Fools!” she repeated, and laughed madly. “What a world of fools!” She laughed and
laughed and laughed, cackling away. It was soon, she knew. Her chains burned
more than ever, but she didn’t mind. It wasn’t long now. All she had to do was
wait. She already had a hold. “I’m a
fool! What a fool!”
           The insanity in her eyes clouded her beautiful features, and she stood, cackling
madly. “Open wide, doors! The Queen of Shadows has come to visit!”



 Meagan and Noah


              “I feel sick,” Donny moaned. The young unicorn certainly did look a little green, and he wobbled unsteadily down
the main-way of the fair. Delicious smells and aromas wafted from various food stalls, smells that normally would have made Donny spend more than a few extra coins; there were fried meats, candies, baked goods, and most of all, fresh
apples. At the moment, however, Donny felt so nauseated that the thought of food hadn't even entered his mind.
            “Can you make it to the outhouse?” asked his friend Meagan, trailing behind him. Next to Meagan was Noah, her
sidekick. As a Valkyrie, Meagan sported huge, white feathered wings that had a variety of uses, except for flight, which Meagan found exceedingly difficult. Currently, the wings were shading her face from the hot noonday sun.
            Meagan was Donny's friend. She had been in his class for the past three years, and each year she never failed to
deliver exactly what was expected of her- and then some. Her seventh grade year, Meagan discovered she had a hidden talent for sports and was practicing very hard that summer so she could join a sports team come fall.
            Meagan was beautiful, anyone would admit. She had long blonde hair and sparkling jade-green eyes. Personally, Donny wasn't interested in Valkyries and he didn't care much for Meagan's appearance since he had recently set his eyes on a dashing black Pegasus with wings that in his opinion couldn't even compare to Meagan's.
            “No, I can't make it to the outhouse,” Donny answered truthfully.
            “Should you sit?” Meagan asked. Her Sword of Fallen Heroes clinked in its sheath as she walked. Meagan was wearing
her usual complement of a cotton tunic and leggings under a leather vest. Her hands boasted finely-crafted leather gauntlets, and her shoes were practical but completely fashionable.
            “Okay, I'll sit.” Donny sat, and
              Noah sighed. Noah was a midget, hailing from a desert country and a race of slightly-taller-than-dwarfs-but-not-by-much people who occupied the land of Mgypt. Noah had been partially mummified at some point of his life before it was discovered he was still alive. The result was a young almost-eighth-grader covered in swathes of cloth and missing a few minor internal organs. The story
of his mummification was a favorite during dark stormy nights or around campfires in the middle of nowhere.
               Donny gave a low groan and then threw up. Wiping his mouth, he said, “That was gnarly. At least I feel better
now.”
              “You shouldn't ride the zip-line every year,” Noah admonished gently, his brown eyes frowning along with his
mouth. Noah frequently corrected and lectured Donny- almost every day, in fact, considering the two of them lived in the same house. About a year ago, Noah came dangerously close to falling into debt and rented out a few rooms in his home for extra money. It just so happened that Donny needed a place to stay, and now the two were landlord and tenet. Donny snorted and flipped his long, white mane. “If I can't go on the zip-line,” he scoffed, “what else am I supposed to do at a fair?” He looked around at the colored tents and stalls, and the running children enjoying themselves. Gaudy music filled the air and performers were everywhere.
          “You know, sword-swallowers and jugglers exist,” Meagan replied.
         “Bah!” Donny scowled. Now imagine that- a unicorn scowling. It isn't a pretty sight. “Princess Bella's birthday party is bound to have better performers, and her coronation won't be a disappointment either.”
            “Oh, right!” Noah exclaimed. “I completely forgot about that.”
             “Yeah, leave it to you to forget the biggest event Regnum has seen in a few years,” Meagan replied. “I'm going- I got my invitation yesterday.”
             “Who isn't going?” Noah asked, absentmindedly kicking a pebble and watching it skitter across the ground.
              “The elves and dwarfs,” Donny said as they began walking again. “They're not really the sociable, party-going
type, are they?” 
               “Well, the dwarves turned down the invitation to attend, but they did send gifts,” Meagan added, “and the elves haven't made contact with other species for hundreds of years, since that country in the north got destroyed.”
            “Oh, please,” Noah said. “That's a myth. An entire country can't disappear in one night. Besides, that war with
so-called Dark Beings never happened. It's not in any historic records, and what kind of race is called the Dark Beings? They sound like they're from a fairytale.”
              “We're living in one,” Meagan argued, “and besides, maybe it happened before they started keeping records.” She was absolutely certain she was right. “Maybe it really did occur.”
              “Only 'maybe?'” challenged Noah.
            “Don't argue,” Donny pleaded. “You can ask Ayana; she'll be sure to know.”
            “Probably,” Meagan agreed.
            “Fine,” Noah said grumpily.
            They tramped on in silence, Meagan still offended and Noah still feeling as if he was in the right. The atmosphere was tense and uncomfortable. It grew almost unbearable, until Noah sighed and asked, “What're you getting Bella for her birthday?”

            Donny shrugged. “First thing I see at the jeweler's.”
            Meagan frowned. “I don't know. I guess I'll have to shop. I actually think about my gifts before I buy
them.”
            “Oh, come on,” Donny said. “As if you have any clue what a fairy princess would want for her birthday.”
            “So what if I don't?” Meagan asked. Judging by her face, she really did have no idea.
            “I have no clue too,” Noah admitted. “Wanna stop at a store?”
            “I can't,” Meagan groaned. “I have to study for a final and I have to be home in a few minutes.”
            “I can,” Donny stated. “I need to run some errands anyway.”
            “Then this is where we part ways,” Meagan said. “See y'all tomorrow.” She turned down a side alley, looked over
her shoulder, waved goodbye, then bounded away.
            “Which store should we stop at first?” Donny asked as they exited the fairgrounds onto the cobbled streets of
Lewis, the capital city of Regnum. Practically nobody was walking the paths save for the occasional eccentric or those who didn't bother to go to the fair- everyone else was enjoying the festivities.
            “Merlin's Magical Mints,” Noah answered, and licked his lips, already imagining bags of delicious, wrapped mints. “I'm hungry for some candy.”
            “Shouldn't we be getting Bella a present?”
           “Yeah... but I have I have a coupon for le Fay chocolates and Pendragon Puffs,” Noah
replied.
            Donny's ears pricked up. “Pendragon Puffs? What are to waiting for? To Merlin's Magical Mints!”
* * *
            The inside of Merlin's candy shop was covered in posters advertising chocolates, mints, truffles, other various candies, and toothpaste- so as to avoid scorn from local dentists. The tiled floor sparkled, boasting its recent clean. A polished counter was set in the
corner, though no one stood behind it, and there were neatly organized rows of boxed sweets filling up the rest of the space, with just enough room to easily maneuver between the aisles.
            Noah picked out a box of le Fay chocolates and Pendragon Puffs, then eyed the magical mints. Shrugging, he grabbed two boxes of those and then proceeded to browse the rest of the goods for sale. Donny, meanwhile, gazed at the counter. The polished surface was
decorated by a tiled mosaic featuring a ten-pointed star and some sort of gate. Curious, Donny traced the pattern with his hoof while Noah came up behind him. Though the young midget's head was barely above the counter, he was able to see
what Donny was doing.
            Noah slapped Donny's hoof down.
            “Don't touch the counter,” Noah said. “Merlin gets really cranky about it.” Noah smiled. “I learned it the hard way. In any case, where is that geezer? I wanna pay and get out of here. MERRLLIIINNN!!!”
            “Hold your unicorns, I'm
coming,” croaked a feeble, soft voice. It sounded strangely happy and wistful,yet completely depressed at the same time. A door behind the counter creaked open, and a wizened old man stepped through. His white hair was long and obscured his shoulders, and his gray beard dragged along the floor as he walked with a pronounced limp. He carried a black, ivory cane. Forgoing traditional wizard robes, he wore a black tee and a pair of blue denim jeans. He was barefoot.
            “We'd like to pay for these, Merlin,” Noah said, lifting the boxes so Merlin could see them, then placed them on the counter- carefully positioning them away from the mosaic.
            “Where did Morgan go?” muttered Merlin as he gauged the price on a set of gold scales. “Girl couldn't stay behind a counter if her life
depended on it- honestly! You’d think she'd try to keep her job- I am paying her, after all! Hmph.”
            “I have a coupon,” Noah added, ignoring Merlin's complaints about Morgan. He placed the coupon on the counter, again taking care that it wasn't near the pattern of the star, and then waited while Merlin glanced at it. Merlin sighed, adjusted his scales, squinted at the
numbers, then nodded, satisfied.
            “Your total cost is two silver coins and three bronze,” Merlin informed them. “Also, since no one was at the
counter at the time you were done shopping, you get a free gift.”
           “Thank you!” Donny said. “That's very generous!”
            Merlin scowled. “Generous, eh? It's in my policy! No cashier, free gift.” His scowl deepened. “I will kill Morgan when she gets back... kill!” He sighed, accepted Noah's money, then reached under the counter. Merlin groped under it for a few
moments, cursed slightly in his native tongue, then pulled out his hand. He was holding a box of blue-and-yellow candies. “These,” he said, “are bite-sized Peppy Melts. They're hard candies infused with lifewine, and lifewine is some
powerful stuff. It packs a real punch. Use it when you're in a pinch, and it just might help you out; that, or it will give you a sugar rush. This stuff is mighty expensive too- Morgan's going to see a real decrease in her paycheck this week.”
            Noah picked up the bought goods as well as the free gift. “Thanks, Merlin,” he said. “Come on, Donny. Let's go.”
            “Bye, guys,” said Merlin. He waved. "I always like paying customers. Check the paper next week for my newest
coupon!”
            “Sure will!” they called back.
            “Bye!”
            Just as they were about to leave, a black-haired beauty in a red dress burst through the door. “MERRLLIINNN!” she cried. She ran
up to the counter and paused in front of the stooped old man, panting, then barraged him with a flurry of words. “Terribly sorry, I forgot to tell you, there was this GUY, and he tried SHOPLIFTING, so I chased him down five blocks, and
then-”
            Merlin held up a hand, and Morgan stopped. “Girl,” he growled, “I thought you knew better than to run off on dates when you’re supposed to be at work! You are in a heap of trouble.”
            “How would you know where I was?” Morgan asked. Then she frowned and pointed an accusing finger at him. “You read
my mind again, didn't you? I thought you said you'd stop!”
            Merlin shrugged. “I wouldn't be much of a sorcerer if I couldn't read minds, and I need practice,” he answered. “Normally, I wouldn't dare desecrate your thoughts, but I needed to know what you were up to. Morgan, your punishment will be harsh and swift.”
            Morgan whimpered, tears threatening to spill. She did look genuinely sorry, but Noah knew that didn't amount
to much when it came to Merlin. People who break the rules get punished, no matter how sorry they were- a bit like the philosophy of Regnum’s justice system. “Let's go,” Noah whispered. “I don't want to stick around to see what happens next- you know what happens when a wizard gets angry...”

* * *

            Meagan slammed the book shut angrily, then threw it against the wall. It landed with a satisfying thud onto
the floor. She groaned, massaging her temples as if the movement would help ease her headache. She lay on her bed, in her room. A wallscroll of a Valkyrie holding a sword was the only decoration adorning her walls besides her lone window. A wooden desk was in a corner, but Meagan had shunned it for the moment. A small woolen rug covered the floor, an acquirement of her
grandfather's that he had gained during one of his various travels.
            “Who CARES,” Meagan ranted, “about some dragon some mortal slew with a magical bow/sword/ax/hammer/spear/mace/shuriken
that he got from some lady in a lake or a Valkyrie or fairy or whatever?!”
            The door opened, and Meagan's mother tentatively entered the room, on the lookout for more flying books. “History, eh?” She shut the door behind her and sat down next to her.
            “Yep,” Meagan answered, her mood immediately brightening when she saw the platter of cookies her mother was
carrying. Snickerdoodle- every Valkyrie's favorite. Meagan's mother proffered a cookie, which Meagan gladly accepted. She was dressed similarly to her daughter, but unlike Meagan, she wore only her tunic and leggings inside the house. Her vest and gauntlets were deemed impractical for housework and as such were ignored except for when leaving the domain. Meagan didn't quite agree and always wore
both leather items, but she supposed that she did get hot while wearing her vest indoors.
            “Why don't I help you?” Meagan's mother asked as her daughter munched on the cookie.
            “All right,” Meagan said with her mouth full, which earned her a disapproving glare from Mrs. Pronozuk. She swallowed before continuing. “I really don't understand the concept, and I'm supposed to have the Laws of Magic memorized by tomorrow, but I don't get that
either.”
            “How long did you have to memorize this?”
            “A week.”
            “Meagan! You shouldn't have put it off.” Mrs. Pronozuk sighed.
            “I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have, but things got in the way...”
            “Why don't we start with the Laws of Magic?” Mrs. Pronozuk suggested. “I had to have them memorized for my final too. Goodness knows why, since half my class was unable to use it- myself included, as we Valkyries aren't magically inclined- but I suppose it is useful
to know sometimes.” Her gold wings fluttered, a sure sign she was thinking. Meagan found herself doing the same thing too at times, and oftentimes she was asked politely but firmly to stop by her teacher as it made a slight noise. It was a Valkyrie tendency. “Ah-ha! I have it.”
            Meagan raised an eyebrow.
            Mrs. Pronozuk smiled. “What do you need to start a fire?”
            “Ummm... a fuel...”
            “Yes. What else?”
            “Oxygen is necessary for combustion...”
            “Yes. There's more.”
            “Something to start it, right? Like lightning, or a spark. Even heat.”
            “Yes!” Mrs. Pronozuk smiled. “Good. Now, in magic, you still need all of those things, and a trigger to release the magical power inside of you. The trigger varies. Some clap their hands together, others snap... though there was that one mage who was able to do it
by singing. For the most part, however, it's speaking the right word.”
            “The 'word?'” Meagan frowned. “So, if I wanted to start a fire using magic, I'd say 'fire' and the magic would
start it? That sounds incredibly easy.”
            “No, that's not how it works,” Mrs. Pronozuk corrected. “You were right that the magic would take the place of the
igniter, though sometimes it takes the place of the fuel. Most of the time the magic-user is dead from suffocation if he needs it to replace oxygen.. anyway, the word you must use is from a language no one speaks anymore. Besides, most Valkyries can't use magic. I don't think there's been any in the records with that ability.”
            “Oh.” Meagan sighed. Her head still hurt and it wasn't helping things. “Is everything bound by that extinct language?”
            “Mm-hmm. It's called the Law of the Universal Bondage by Names. That is the first Law of Magic.”
            Meagan nodded. “Okay, I get that. Then the second Law of Magic would be the need for a trigger to release it- that's my guess, anyway. What's it called?”
            “Your guess is right. It's the Law of Reserved Power and its Release. You're doing exceptionally well, Meagan,” Mrs. Pronozuk acknowledged. “It took me hours to wrap my head around it when I was in seventh grade. Now, the last law.”
            Meagan groaned. “I don't know! This is confusing. I'm not doing that well.”
            “Don't get frustrated,” Mrs. Pronozuk admonished, “and yes, you are doing well. I thought it was hard too when I was your age.” Meagan didn't believe that. There was no way her mother didn't understand something when she was younger. After all, she seemed to pick things up right off the bat, and it was hard to imagine as if things were any different before.
            “Sooo...” Meagan exhaled slowly, “what IS the last law?”
            “Well, it has many names in many cultures. The one in this area is the Law of Sacrifice for Gain. You have to lose something to gain something. For example, if a magician were to make a statue, he'd need a block of stone to do it. He can't make it appear in midair
or make the statue bigger than the stone he has. Just as a fire needs fuel and oxygen to be sacrificed so it won't die, the stone needs to be sacrificed to make the statue.”
            “I see now.”
            “You sure?”
            “Yeah.”
            “Do you need help with your history?”
            “Not right now,” Meagan said. “I'm going to take a nap and look at it later.” She yawned. “Could you wake me up in
an hour?”
            “Sure thing, sweetheart. I'll leave the cookies here in case you want one, and I'll close the shades on your window too.” She rose to leave.
            “Thanks, Mom.”
            “No problem, Meagan. Sleep well.”
            Meagan waited until her mother was gone before she retrieved the history book, set it on the desk, then crawled under the covers. She briefly toyed with the idea of eating half the cookies before dinner before deciding against it. Safe in a cocoon of soft blankets,
Meagan closed her eyes and within moments was sleeping.
   
            “Where is it?” the voice asked. “Where is it?” The unseen voice was gentle, musical, and lilting, yet strangely powerful and demanding.
              “I don't know,” Meagan replied truthfully, “but I'll get it for you- whatever it is.”
              “That's good,” the voice purred, and Meagan felt a wave of strange warmth fall over her. It was good to do what
this voice wanted, because this voice was strong and wise, and it would reward her, Meagan reasoned. “You will find it for me, hmmm? Yes, yes, you will... Valkyries keep their word, always!” It seemed amused. “When you procure it for me, I will contact you again and you'll be adequately compensated.”
            “Wait... who are you? What do you mean, contact?” Meagan suddenly didn't trust this voice very much. Hypnotic voices were almost always bad, right? “Aren't I dreaming?”
              “Yes, yes, you are indeed dreaming,” the voice answered, “but I've taken the liberty of brushing against
your dreams to speak with you. You seemed the most likely to be of use. As for who I am... well, you'll find out soon enough, won't you? Yes, you will! Clever child, smart child...” Again, the voice sounded amused and as if it would giggle soon. Then its tone changed, becoming darker and laced with warning and foreboding: “You should be careful, Valkyrie. It'd be a shame if anything happened to you, Meagan...”

Wow. This is long. I will have to add it as a bookmark and read it later. Can't wait! It looks really good!

Wow. This is long. I will have to add it as a bookmark and read it later. Can't wait! It looks really good!

tgags123 : Thanks! Yes, I know it's a little long... I tend to write Tolkien-length chapters.

Man . This was lengthy. But you you probably already know that. It was worth every second it took me to read it Nice work and description of the various characters .  Overall a excellent piece of writing .  Especially liked how you decribed the moods of chracters and how they were when they said things . Whether they were grump or sad . Nice . Very nice  Can't wait for the next chapter or book or whatever this things is going to be grouped in Have A Nice Day  

Mr. Zed : Thank you very much! Length is actually my weakness, but I'm glad you enjoyed it!