Destiny Knocking: The Raising Part 1
“Come on Meredith” Jeannie whined. “Pick up your feet we’re going to miss it!” She grabbed Rodney’s wrist and dragged him along the hard packed dirt road.
Rodney glared at his sister, “I am walking plenty fast you should just be grateful I decided to accompany you at all I could be studying. Or working on my designs for energy cells. Or a more efficient roads systems. Honestly packed dirt? That is the best anyone has been able to come up with in the last century?” He wiped a hand across his sweaty forehead.
“I’m doing this for your own good you idiot! This is your last chance!” She tugged his arm again. “You could be matched today Rodney! Just because it didn’t happen before doesn’t mean it won’t happen this time.”
“I would have had to go for it to work,” Rodney mumbled sullenly.
“Rodney!” Jeannie turned and glared at her brother while managing to continue to walk forward “You lied! You told me you’d gone! You promised me last year you’d finally go!”
“It’s pointless Jeannie! Not only would no self-respecting Dragon choose me but I don’t want one to!” Rodney dug his heals into the dirt. “You go on without me, I’ll just go home.”
“No! We’re going trust me on this one Rodney I’ve got a feeling it’s all going to work out.” She yanked him forward again.
“A feeling huh?” Rodney said disdainfully
“You know I’m always right about things like these Rodney!” She turned around once again this time giving him The Look, it never failed to make him cave.
Rodney sighed, “Don’t get in a snit Jeannie. “ He dug his heels in really refusing to go on he could see the entrance to the cavern down the road and had a feeling this might be his last chance to get out of going. “I don’t doubt your right something may happen but…”
“But what?” Jeannie asked harshly.
“I don’t want to leave you behind…” Rodney murmured hating her a little for making him admit it.
Jeannie’s face softened instantly, “Oh Mer…” She sighed and ran her free hand through her hair. “I’ll be alright; you’re planning on heading to University in America soon anyway.”
“I was thinking I might not go right away, I have 4 degrees already I might put them to use for awhile. Maybe just go back to school in Toronto with you,” Rodney shrugged conflicted. He’d wanted to go to School in America for years not just because they had some of the best technology schools on earth but to get away from his parents and their constant feuding and from his own reputation as a Jr. Version of his parents. He’d been going to school in Toronto since he was 13 and living in the dorms since he was 16. Toronto was only a bus trip away and not nearly far enough to really escape and become his own person, maybe actually make a few friends instead of enemies for once. It didn’t help that he had always been younger and meaner than all his peers either; he’d never had many friends.
America was supposed to be a whole new start. For once not to be that freaky young genius from the bad family. Not having to come home every weekend or face the humiliation of his parents coming to campus to see him. A school that was entirely devoted to science and technology…. America was the culmination of everything he’d dreamed of his entire life. He’d been looking forward to the moment he left for years. However, his sister had seemed strangely clingy the last few months that he’d been living at home and he’d begun to doubt it was the right choice for him after all. She’d spent nearly every waking moment of everyday with him. That anyone, even his sister could put up with him for that long was a shock and made him realize maybe it was time to revise his plan. They’d always been close but she was acting strangely like she knew something he didn’t. He was afraid she was up to or in some sort of trouble… Or worse… “Gods know that if I leave you alone for a moment you’ll flight off to magic school and forget all about the real sciences of the world.”
Jeannie rolled her eyes, “Yes, I’ve been waiting for years for the moment your back was turned to go.” She said dryly. “But you aren’t going to hold back on my account Mer. You have a great Destiny Rodney, I know it…” She looked at him strangely for a moment seeming to not see him at all. “I won’t stand in the way of that.”
“You’re my sister if I have a great Destiny then I’m taking you with me,” Rodney said stubbornly.
“Oh no you’re not! I have a destiny all my own!” She patted his cheek in an affectionate gesture that was as close to hug as anyone in their family gave. “Don’t worry big brother we’ll see each other again. I have a feeling.”
Rodney gave her a strange look but bit his tongue not wanting to get into it with her, “Fine let’s get this over with.” He gasped when Jeannie began dragging him forward again faster than ever before.
They made it to the cave entrance just as the last bell tolled the tall muscular guard glared at them but let them through, “Cutting it close kids.”
“I’m not a kid,” Rodney snapped back automatically.
He starred at Rodney for a moment eyes seeming to glow faintly. A toothy smile gracing his lips, “Very close… Happy Birthday kid. They’ve been waiting for you.”
Rodney shivered eyes widening, “Uh sure thanks great. Let’s get this over with Jeannie,” He tugged his shocked looking sister into the first cave.
‘At last…’ A strange voice seemed to echo faintly around the cave. It was soft and lilting and so full of longing and relief the Rodney felt himself relaxing fractionally for a moment before his brain caught up.
He spun around looking for the mysterious person he’d heard, “Did you hear that?”
“Where is the group?” Jeannie said ignoring her brother, “We must have missed them come on we’ll have to catch up.” She tugged Rodney down a dimly lit tunnel.
‘I’ve been waiting for you. Did you have to wait until the very last second to come?’ The voice whined quietly.
“Ok that was definitely a voice I heard that time. Jeannie, did you hear it?” Rodney said crossly he could see the torches of the group up ahead just entering the first Hatching room.
“The group is just ahead it was probably just an echo Mer. Hurry up we might miss someone being matched!”
Rodney frowned looking around as they ran trying to calculate how far the human voice could travel from the large chamber ahead, “I don’t thinks so Jeannie the physics don-“
“Enough about science Mer! Look!” Jeannie froze in the doorway captivated by the sight
A girl a few years younger than Rodney that he knew in passing was touching a glowing Egg “she’s chosen!” Jeannie whispered excitedly. “she’s the first person from our town in the last few years!” Rodney could hear the envy in her voice and his heart broke for her a little. He knew that if someday she wasn’t chosen his sister would be truly crushed. Even more so if Rodney was matched like she was convinced he was.
The hair on the back of his neck rose up suddenly and he turned around sure someone was watching him. A man about Rodney’s age stood in the archway to another dark chamber waving him closer. He was dressed in an unfamiliar uniform and his dark hair was styled messily and for a second his eyes seemed to glow green just as the guard’s had. “Jeannie!” Rodney hissed.
“Shut up Mer. Watch.” Jeannie hissed back not taking her eyes off the Green Egg that was beginning to hatch.
Rodney rolled his eyes and tugged his arm free inexplicably drawn to the man who flashed him a smirk and darted into the chamber, “Wait!” Rodney cried and darted after him entering the unlit chamber.
Rodney froze, “H-hello? Anyone here? I can’t see its dark.”
Torches all around the room suddenly burst into flame lighting the room. “That can’t be good” Rodney muttered. “Where did you go?”
‘Over here,’ the voice suddenly said tinged with excitement.
“I don’t see you,” Rodney said taking a tentative step forward. A sudden rush of courage hit him and he stood up straighter, “we’re too old to be playing hide and seek, now what did you want? I need to get back to my sister.”
‘Right in front of you!’ The voice sounded amused now.
Rodney looked around`, “The only thing I see is… Oh…”Rodney trailed off spotting for the first time the huge black Egg on the back wall. More than twice his height and at least 2 meters wide, he’d thought it was a doorway out of the Chamber until He’d noticed it was reflecting light. “It’s real…” Rodney whispered reverently.
Though Rodney had never been to the hatching grounds before, he knew the local legend of the black Eggs. His grandmother had told it enough times in his child hood he could almost hear her soft soothing voice telling him the story again trying to get him to go to sleep.
A millennia ago the earth had been attacked by strange and evil off worlders. The kingdoms of earth had joined together to fight their new enemy but the enemy’s numbers seemed to be endless and undefeatable. King Atlis of the magical city of Atlantis was unwilling to admit defeat and approached the king of the Dragons for help and beseeched him for help. Man and Dragon had long been working together, since before the time of human recorded history. He beseeched the king to grant 100 soldiers Dragon partners while though not true matches the Dragons and Soldiers would work well together to defeat the scourge before all of Earth was over run.
The Dragon king had agreed, Earth was their home to and he was not willing to lose it. The only condition was if the Dragons found their true match they would be allowed to break the temporary match and be with their true chosen.
100 hatchlings had been awoken and matched with soldiers from every kingdom. The new teams worked night and day training until they were the most ferocious army the world had ever seen.
The reinforced Earth army had launched a fierce attack, the battle had lasted 30 days and 30 nights and in the end the off worlders were defeated and forced off earth.
The many kingdoms off earth had celebrated and begun to slowly rebuild their towns and cities.
It had been harder for the Dragons to move on, 12 had lost their true chosen in the battle before they had ever truly been matched. Their matches were forever lost to the afterworld and the Dragons would soon follow fading away from the world into nothingness. The Dragons were in great mourning, there had never been a tragedy such as this for a Dragon to be awake without it’s match unable to return to slumber to wait for their chosen’s return. The Dragons lost their majestic colors in mourning reverting to a dull black lifeless color. They slowly lost the will to continue on and began fading away more and more day by day.
King Atlis felt great guilt over the Dragons loss and vowed to find a way to help them. He had scoured every book and scroll in his city before coming up with a plan. It would take the ultimate sacrifice but for the good of the Dragons and the people of Earth he did it.
King Atlis drained nearly every bit of Magic from his great city sinking it to the bottom of the Ocean. In one last act of ultimate kindness he sacrificed himself sending the lost Dragons back to the shell and the lost souls of their matches back onto a course to earth to be reborn.
The black Eggs were 3 times the size of a normal Dragon Egg and were split amongst the Dragon hatching grounds on Earth to wait for their matches to find them.
The 11th Egg had hatched over 100 years ago, supposedly.
Rodney had always thought they were a myth. A nice fairy tale to tell children about Dragons since so little was known of them outside the mountain strong hold where they all lived with their human matches.
“You’re the last one aren’t you…?” Rodney said quietly addressing the Egg. His body moving forward of its own violation his hand reached touch the shell of the dark Egg. It felt warm and smooth And almost as if it was throbbing with life.
Then to Rodney’s shock and disbelief it began to glow.
Rodney stared at the Egg in shock eyes wide the Egg continued to glow brighter and brighter. He gasped and jerked his hand back as the Egg suddenly heated up in an instant to scalding burning the palm of his hand. He cradled his burnt hand to his chest but never stopped staring at the Egg which was beginning to shake. Or was it the room that was shaking? A low rumbling sound filled the room bouncing around and building slowly in volume.
Thin crack began to show amongst the bright glow of the shell the cracks grew and began spread all over until it looked like at any moment it would crumble to pieces. For an instant the Egg glowed nearly blindingly bright and Rodney had to turn close his eyes and turn his head away. A wave of heat rolled over him and he dropped to the floor instinctively avoiding what he was sure was about to be an explosion.
Then it all stopped.
The chamber was silent and not a breath stirred the air. Rodney cracked his eyes open slowly, for one terrifying moment he thought that the light had blinded him, then he realized the torches had gone out again.
“I can’t see,” He murmured not sure who he was really talking to. The Torches flickered back to life again one by one this time gradually brightening the Chamber.
Rodney gulped when he realized everyone had entered this chamber and was staring at him shocked looks on their faces, “Uh I didn’t mean to…” He stammered out not sure what to say.
“Rodney…” Jeannie whispered staring at something behind him she lifted a shaky arm to point.
He stood up slowly wincing as he used his burnt hand to push himself up. He stood his back still to the egg frightened to turn around and see that he’d broken the Egg.
‘You didn’t break it.’ The mysterious voice murmured soothingly.
Rodney was sure his heart was going to explode it was beating so hard, “No one else heard that did they?”
No one said anything just continued to stare in shock.
‘Turn around Rodney…’ The voice drawled lazily.
Biting his lips Rodney summoned the last of his courage and slowly turned around. His eyes locked with a pair of curious Green eyes.
The Eyes were attached to a Large. Black. Dragon.
The Dragon was more than a meter taller than Rodney and its matte black scales weren’t reflecting any light seeming to blend in with the surroundings as if it was a large living shadow. The Dragons head was large a long snout with a few pointy white teeth poking out, Green eyes and pointy almost delicate looking ears on top. Its long neck had a row of shiny bumps running down it. Wings sprouted from the shoulder blades longer shiny scales that almost looked like feather overlapped both wings. The Dragons body was muscular and as it shifted slightly Rodney could see the muscles moving under the thick hide. It was standing up on thick muscular legs each of which had a frighteningly sharp claw tip peeking out from its cat like foot. The long tail was covered in the same bumps as on the Dragon’s neck.
Rodney was jolted out of his observations when the Dragon lowered its head down to eye level.
“H-Hello,” Rodney stutter shock and fear warring within him.
‘Hello,’ The voice replied amused.
“I’m uh Rodney…” he replied still in shock.
‘I know,’ he voice drawled sarcastically.
“Well excuse me if this is all a little surprising to me.” Rodney snapped irritation winning over both shock and fear. “You burned me!” he held out his hand accusingly.
The Dragon snorted a wave of amusement that wasn’t his own rolled over Rodney. He frowned connecting the Dragon’s voice in his head and emotions not his own flowing through him and glared at the culprit, “Stop that!”
‘Sorry,’ The Dragon apologized sounding sincere. ‘It’s been awhile since I last needed to shield,’ He murmured indistinctly. ‘Aren’t you going to ask my name?’
“Oh umm sorry,” Rodney said flustered. “What’s your name Dragon?”
“John.”
“John. You’re the Dragon John?” Rodney snorted incredulously an amused snicker escaping.
John growled, ‘John is a good name! Besides that’s just my Human name.’
“Human name? Why the hell do you have a human name.”
“It’s the name the Humans gave me a long time ago and I like it,” John said beginning to sound irritated.
“Is that what I should call you?” Rodney raised an eyebrow unphased.
‘It’s the only one you’ll be able to say.’ John muttered sounding a pit pouty.
“The only one I’ll be able to say?”
‘My other name isn’t pronounceable on your tongue,’ John said a definite hint of a whine in his voice.
“Ok.” Rodney agreed easily.
‘Ok?’ John said sarcastically,
“Ok. What do you want me to say?” Rodney grumped.
‘Well you don’t have to say anything actually I can hear you just fine this way.’
“What way?” Rodney asked confused.
‘You know I’m not talking aloud,’ John said slowly as if he was talking to an idiot.
“Once again, I’m all new at this! I may be a Genius but mind reading is not my forte.”
John huffed blowing a stream of hot air out at Rodney.
“Hey watch it! You already burned me once!”
‘I would never hurt you.’ John said sounding like he was trying to stay calm, it was a tone of voice Rodney was very familiar with.
“You don’t even know me! And you did you burned my hand,” Rodney waved his burnt hand in John’s face.
‘Rodney…’ John sighed again ‘You’re not making this easy’
“It's one of my many charms,” Rodney snarked.
John suddenly barred his teeth and Rodney took a step back automatically until he heard an echo of laughter, “You’re laughing at me.” He glared.
‘Only a little and I told you, I would never hurt you. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
“And I told you that you don’t even know me. Why would you say that?” Rodney sounded genuinely confused.
‘Rodney,” John said gently. ‘You’re my chosen…My match.’
“No I am not!” Rodney said shrilly panic racing through him. “I just was in the room when that guy woke you up! I don’t know where he flitted off to but I did not wake you. Go find him, he’s your chosen.”
John growled again cutting Rodney off he moved closet until the tip of his snout was nearly touching Rodney’s nose, ‘You are my chosen Rodney, no one else and if we’re going to be discussing this in a roomful of people perhaps you could talk to me like this.’
“Like what! You never explained what you were talking about!” Rodney said frustrated and confused, and he hated being confused.
‘Just think it and I’ll hear it like you hear me.’ John sounded irritated.
Rodney tilted his head studying John, ’86,423, Prime or not Prime.’
‘Prime.’ John said sounding amused. ‘That wasn’t so hard now was it?’
‘Can you hear all my thought?’ Rodney asked pensively.
‘Yes.’
‘Well stop listening then! Everyone gets some privacy!’
‘I said I could, not that I was. I would never invade your mind Rodney.’ John sounded hurt.
‘Sorry,” Rodney said contritely.
‘It’s alright,’ He sighed. ‘How’s your hand?’
Rodney looked down at the burned hand, ‘You burned it.’ Rodney said slowly even in his mind he sounded sarcastic. ‘It hurts.’
‘I didn’t burn you, I marked you. Let me see it.’
‘No.’
‘Rodney…’ John said sounding truly frustrated.
‘Fine… But don’t lick it. I don’t want to get some Dragon bacterial infection and die.’
John seemed to roll his eyes, ‘Yes Rodney…’
Rodney held out his hand and John leaned down to examine it he let out a sudden burst of hot air again and Rodney jerked his hand back.
“You said you wouldn’t hurt me!” He cried out instinctively.
‘I didn’t. I healed you. Look,’ John nudged his shoulder gently with his large head.
Rodney looked at his palm and found it healed except for a thin S shaped scar that ran across his palm.
‘I told you, I marked you.’
‘I really am your chosen?’ Rodney asked softly running his fingers along the scar slowly understanding slowly dawning on him.
‘Yes,’ John said softly, ‘I’ve waited several lifetimes for you.’
‘Can I touch you?’ Rodney asked suddenly afraid he’d be denied but he wanted to see if John was as warm and smooth as his Egg had been.
’Sure,’ John drawled in the particular way of his. He leaned down to let Rodney pet him.
Rodney stretched out his shaking hand and rand his finger tips across the ridge of scales down John’s snout, ‘smooth…’ he thought surprised.
‘Only if you touch them. They’d cut another if their touch was unwelcome but you are always welcome to touch.’ He leaned in rubbing his large face against Rodney’s hand.
Rodney grinned suddenly running his hand up John’s jaw to touch his pointed ears.
“It seems that today has brought many blessings to us.”
Rodney yanked his hand back jerked from his revere.
John let out a low growl and everyone in the room to a step back. Everyone except the guard that they’d met at the entrance who had spoken.
Rodney felt a strange tickle at the back of the mind and took an uneasy step back. Unconsciously putting himself closer to John who let out another low growl, eyes focused on the guard.
The Guard and John locked eyes staring at each other intensely for several minutes. Rodney shifted as the tickle grew to a full on itch before suddenly stopping completely, Rodney sighed in relief.
‘You Ok?’ John question worried.
‘I’m fine, I just think he was trying to talk to me… Or get in my mind or something.’
‘He didn’t succeed,” John asked seriously.
‘No! I’m not going to let just anyone have access to my brilliant mind!’ Rodney said truly appalled at the thought.
John snorted, ‘We wouldn’t want that at all…’
‘Are you making fun of me?’
‘Never.’
Rodney harrumphed not quite believing him, ‘So what’s going to happen now? And what did the giant want?’
‘Sean’ John said putting emphasis on the guards name, ‘wanted to offer his congratulations and get our permission to send word of our matching to Cheyenne Mountain.’
‘Then what happens?’ Rodney repeated knowing the answer already but hoping for once that he would be wrong.
John sighed, ‘then you’ll have a day to pack and say good bye to your family… I’m sorry…’ He apologized nudging Rodney’s shoulder.
‘For what?’ Rodney said bitterly, ‘dragging me away from my fri-… my sister… And taking me to a city that will never allow me to see her again. For taking me away from everything I know all my plans so I can do whatever it is you Dragons do for the rest of my life.’
‘I’m sorry for the pain I’m causing you, not for being able to spend forever with you.’
Rodney frowned his crooked mouth tilting down, ‘Why do you have to be nice about this?’
‘It’s one of my many charms…’ John echoed his earlier phrase though he didn’t sound to happy about it.
“Rodney…” A soft voice reminded him they weren’t alone and Rodney turned to his sister who had moved forward and sad look in her eyes.
“Jeannie… I… This is John…”
His sister gave him a watery smile, “I told you… Something good was going to happen.” She stepped forward and John leaned down locking eyes with her. “Oh…” Jeannie whispered her smiled brightening.
Rodney frowned and poked John in the neck, “What are you doing to her. Stop it, she smiling like she’s demented.”
Both Jeannie and John turned to him with nearly matching glares, “What?” Rodney said. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Honestly Meredith, you really have no social skills.”
‘Meredith?’ John practically snickered. ‘John’s not sounding like such a bad name now is it?’
“Shut up!” Rodney snapped automatically.
“Excuse me?” Jeannie said, her voice deadly.
“Oh uh not you, John, I was talking to John…” Rodney stammered knowing better then to tempt his sister’s ire when she had that look on her face.
Sean cleared his throat interrupting the siblings, “Pardon me but the messenger is ready to head out. When both pairings are ready I will escort you home to pack and say goodbye to your families.
Jeannie closed her mouth frowning again.
Rodney sighed and turned to John who nodded slightly, “We’re ready,” he said softly
Sean bowed and turned, “Follow me.”
‘Are you going to be able to fit through the door?’ Rodney asked eyeing John’s large form.
‘Nope. Surprise we’re going to spend the rest of our lives down here.’ John said sarcastically.
‘You’re not funny.’
‘Yes I am.’
‘Maybe for a child.’
‘Technically I did just hatch.’
“Whatever,” Rodney said heading out the door leaving John behind.
‘Hey! Wait up!’ John ducked through the door following after Rodney tucking his wings in close as he barely fit in the passageway. When they made it outside he stopped and tilted his head upward basking in the sun getting a sudden rush of energy. He stretched out his wings groaning quietly.
“Enjoying yourself?” Rodney asked quietly.
John turned to look at Rodney ‘Yeah…’ John said softly been awhile since I’ve felt the warmth of sunlight.
“Those wings work?”
‘Yep,” John said lazily flapping them slowly.
Rodney tilted his head, “You must weigh a metric ton, how can your wings lift all that weight? That’s bad science.”
‘Are you calling me fat? Meredith,’ John drawled.
“No. I just don’t think that the physics behind Dragon flight is sound, I never have, but humans know so little about Dragons. “
‘I’m not an experiment.’
“I doubt you can even fly anyway so it’s a moot point.”
John glared and sat back on his haunches stretching his wings out. Suddenly he launched himself into the air his wings flapping quickly and carrying him up into the air.
Rodney stared transfixed for a few moments as the black Dragon soared high into the air doing some aerial summersaults. He snorted amused and started walking again.
Jeannie hurried after him, “Why’d you do that?”
“Do what?” Rodney asked innocently.
“Annoy him into flying.”
He shrugged, “I wanted him to go away?”
“Why?” Jeannie said confused. They had only been together for a few minutes even her brother could tire of someone that quickly.
“Jeannie, we only have a few hours more together do you really want to spend the time psychoanalyzing me?”
“Excuse me for wanting to help you out. What would you like to spend our time doing then Rodney?”
“I don’t know walking peacefully home keeping our interfering to ourselves.”
“Fine Meredith. Enjoy the walk.” She snapped and walked faster hurrying to catch up with the others.
“Jeannie!” Rodney jogged to catch up with her.
Jeannie gave him the cold shoulder until Rodney pulled her to a stop, “Give me some slack I’m freaking out a little here ok?” Jeannie just raised an eyebrow, “and I may not be handling this as well as I could be, maybe…”
“Apology accepted,” Jeannie said and started walking again.
“I didn’t apologize! That wasn’t an apology!” He hurried after her. “Why were you and John starring at each other in the cave? Was he talking to you? What did he say?”
“None of your businesses Meredith,” Jeannie said giving him a warning look that said further questioning would not be appreciated.
Rodney pouted but dropped it settling for complaining instead, “Why did we have to walk to this place anyway? And why the hell is it so far away from everything? We could be home by now; we are wasting valuable bonding time walking. I need to pack to! Do you think they have a set amount I can bring? What about all my books? I can’t leave any of them behind or any of my research or-”
“Meredith!” Jeannie said glaring at him. “I will buy you all of the Kona from the coffee shop as a good bye present if you will shut up for the rest of the walk.”
Rodney raised an eyebrow but wisely kept his mouth shut for the rest of the walk to town glancing up from time to time to observe John soaring peacefully in the sky not to far above them.
Part 2
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