• Chapter 1

    Half My Heart

    The grass was green, and the sky's showed little clouds. The sound of clashing wood filled the air. From behind a formation of rocks came a young boy. He wore white clothes and blue jeans, his red hair moving with his enraged heart. Blocking all his blows was another man. He bore a black t-shirt, and black jeans. His silver hair flowed with his motions. He talked to the boy as they fought. “Good. Good.” With one single movement, the man grabbed the boys sword, swung him around, and placed his own sword against his neck. “Not good enough to live, Marcus.” The boy sighed at the statement. “Give me a break, Kei. You said you were going to go easy on me today.”
    “And I am.” Kei pushes Marcus away, and walks after him. They continue fighting until they come upon a small rock formation. Kei, still blocking all of Marcus' blows, moves towards the rock formation. “Mind if I sit down, I don't have your energy.” He sits on the formation and continues to fight with Marcus. “Fight with your head,” He blocked a power blow, grabbed Marcus, and gave him a playful little slap on the face. “not your heart.” He gets up and walks away, but Marcus goes for a sneak attack. “I'll show you.” Kei blocks this attack and they continue to fight. A series of blocks and dodges, catches Marcus off guard. Kei watches as he keeps trying to win. “Very good, Marcus.” Another attack and Kei performs a killing blow. “Ha, your still dead.” Kei laughs as he releases Marcus and they continue to train. Kei moves over to a table and continues to lecture Marcus while fighting. “Purpose, not passion.” While blocking blows, he poured a drink. Marcus used this opportunity to try and charge Kei, but was tripped into the ground. Kei just chuckled. “No one ever found victory in the dirt.” After that, the sound of a motorcycle roared through the silence. It approached Kei and Marcus as they finished. The man on the bike looked over to Marcus and smiled. Marcus ran up to him. “Nico, the peasants are revolting?” Nico just laughed. “They've always been revolting prince, but now, their rebelling. King Durnam, wants his son to witness this noble victory.” Marcus turned to Kei who had a sour look on his face. “Theres nothing noble about crushing desperate men.”
    “Their traitorous scum. The king demands, bring him.” He revs up his bike and spins it around. He looks back to Kei. “You can come too, nurse maid.” With that said, Nico roared off to aid his king.

    The sound of the bikes roared heavily on the small town. In the lead of this charge was King Durnam, his pulse blade held ready. He ordered his men to charge and the rebels open fire. Rounds fly past nearly missing by inches, and the king boosted over the blockade and began to kill all those who opposed him. Kei and Marcus rode their bikes to the top of the hill, so they could watch the battle. Marcus looked on with excitement. “ I wish we were down there.” Kei looked at him. “No you don't.”
    “Yes I do. Just to see you in action Kei. You would be the greatest on the ground.”
    “I was not made for your father's slaughter.”
    “He is my father Kei. And he is the king.”
    “Yes, but when you are king, remember today and the difference between a battle and a massacre. Remember the Blader's code, and you will be greater than your father.
    “I swear Blader, I will be greater.” It was then when they looked down and saw that the king was being attacked by other villagers, and he was alone. “He's trapped!” Marcus revved up his bike and launched towards his father, while Kei followed after, trying to stop him. By the time Marcus arrived at the sight of his father, it was too late. His father laid there lifeless. Marcus tried to wake his father, but couldn't. It was then that he saw the crown atop his fathers head. He reached for it and removed it, he held it in his hands, proud that it was his. Suddenly, his father grabbed it, trying to keep his son from having it. Marcus pulled at the crown, determined to have it. “Die. Its mine.” With one forceful pull, Marcus regained the crown. He stood to his feet and was about to run when he was pushed into a wall. He felt something go through him. He looked down to see a metal spike piercing his heart as he pulled away from it. He looked back to see a girl, roughly his age, armored for combat. Her hair burned like the fire and she looked at him with shocked look on her face. Kei rode in on his bike and picked him up. “Marcus. I'm here Marcus. I'm here my king.” He then turned his bike around and sped back to the castle.

    She felt as if something was taken from her, she couldn't explain what. As she continued to look through data pads, a man came into her room, it was Nico. With a quick bow, he delivered his news to her. “Dead, my queen. King Durnam, your husband, killed.” She didn't feel sadness like others, she felt slight sorrow about the news of her husbands death, yet knew it would happen. Voices soon came from the halls outside her room. “In here. In here. Lay him on the bed.” Kei and some others carried her son, Marcus, who was screaming in pain. She pushed them away from him, trying to stop them. “Get out. Get out. Leave Nico. You,” she pointed to Kei. “you stay Kei.” Kei stepped forward and bowed as the others left. “Forgive me Queen Helba.” She looked at him and continued to care for her son. “No. There is nothing to forgive. His fathers evil brought him to this.”
    “He is beyond all help.” Helba looked to some old pictures and realized an answer to her problem. “Not all help.”

    They moved to an old cave, while Kei kept Marcus talking by reciting the Blader's code. They entered the cave and they heard singing. Helba rose her voice. “Great One. Your song, is sad.” The voice boomed back. “Are the stars shining tonight?”
    “No. No souls shine through this darkness.” She ordered her soldiers to place her son on the pedestal and leave as a magnificent creature showed himself. “Helba, daughter of the Cericans.”
    “The same ones who loved you and said friend.”
    “The kings son, evil. Pure evil. Is this why you've come slayers wife?”
    “Slayers widow. This man is not his father. This knight is his mentor, and taught him the code of the Blader's. I need your help.” She and Kei pulled the covering off Marcus' chest to show the wound. The beast looked at it. “This wound is bad. You know what your asking.”
    “I will teach him your ways. I will raise him, he will be righteous and true. I swear.”
    “No, the boy must swear. Give me your weapon Blader.”
    “Your blade, Kei.” Kei nodded and gave the beast his deactivated pulse blade. And the beast held the blade over Marcus. “Now listen, swear that your fathers lust and evil die with him. Swear that you will rule with kindness. Come to me and learn the old ways, now swear.” With his last breath, Marcus spoke the words and swore. He then slowly faded into darkness. Kei tried to wake him and grew enraged. “He's dead.” He pulled his pulse blade away from the beast and activated it. It sparked and shocked with electricity. The beast held out his hand. “Easy, Blader of the code. Witness the wonders of a once proud glory.” It pulled open on of its plates and pulled something out. It was placed in the hole in Marcus' chest and cauterized closed. “Half my heart to make you whole. It's strength to purify your weakness. Live and remember your oath.” Guards picked Marcus up and everyone started to leave. Kei turned around to look at the boy's savior. “I served the father only for the son. Everything I know is in him. Forgive me for doubting. Call me when you need me, and ask you what you want. My blade and service are yours.”
    “Always remind him of his promise, Blader of the code.”

    Outside the cave, Marcus spoke his new first words. “Nico. The ancient Serins built this mighty fortress. I will remake it. And mine will be greater.” Nico looked at the old broken fortress and looked back to his king. “It will take a lot of men to rebuild this mighty fortress.”
    “Yes. It will.” Days then passed as the mines brought out ore and Marcus watched as more miners were brought in. He spoke to one of them. “Not so rebel now huh?” The man spoke. “You should thank me, if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be king.” Nico drew his pulse blade and was ready to kill him, but was stopped by his king. “No Nico. I hate mayrters. Death is a release, not a punishment. Thank me peasant, I'm the last thing you'll see.” Nico traded his pulse blade for a ion torch. He was about to burn the mans eyes when he was set free by Kei. Marcus was angered by it. “How dare you defy me?” Kei put away his pulse blade and looked to him. “Marcus, your crazy, under a spell. Look at this, its insane. Remember the Blader code.”
    “A king is above the code.” “Kei tackled him to the ground and looked into his eyes. “Have you forgotten everything? No one is above the Blader code. Even a king.” Kei revved his bike and raced to the cave where the beast lived. The dragon. “DRAGON!!!!! I loved that boy and you changed him. You tricked me Dragon! No matter where you fly or run I will find you. Today I have a new vow, I will spend the rest of my life hunting you down!”
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    Chapter 2

    Twelve Years Later...

    A small motorcycle rode past the fields as the people worked on the groves of food. On it was a man dressed in blue clothing, and well dressed. He wrote and talked as he rode. “Halcyon, glorious Halcyon. I search for you night and day, for the resting place of King Altimar, and the knights of the old way. And when I find those holy relics, I will pray to the Gods for their blessing. Halcyon, beautiful Halcyon, think not of my insanity. My journey is not for selfishness, my quest is for victory. Thats it, Victory.” With that, Father Eric slammed his hand down on his bike console and the bike launched forward, making Eric fly off the bike and land on his back. He sat up and looked at his bike. “Even the bike's a critic.” He got up and walked over to his bike, and saw the towns people running in terror. He looked up to the sky and saw what they ran from. A dragon, roared over head. He then turned his attention to another sound. A man rode his bike at high speed, he held a sniper rifle at the ready. He bore black clothes and his silver hair flowed from the wind. He road up to the priest and stopped. Eric told him what he saw. “Dra. Dra. Dragon.”
    “I know. Where is it?” Eric pointed to the direction the dragon went and the man rode off in the direction of his foe. Eric watched as the brave slayer rode off. He couldn't see the fight, but he saw dirt flying in the air. He heard screams and roars. The last part of the battle he saw was a bike flying through the air and the final scream of a man. Eric looked down in sadness and began to pray for the mans soul, when he saw him emerge from the dust. “Damn dragon. Hitting my bike.” Eric was so excited about the mans survival, he ran up and couldn't find an end to his words. “Outstanding. Truly outstanding. Something that hasn't been seen since Altimar and the great ones. Never have I seen such greatness.” The man took a deep breath and spoke. “Then you have lived a shallow life. Of a... priest.”
    “Yes. Writer, historian, and spiritual guider at your service. Father Eric of Narin. I must say I am amazed at your prowess. Your unmatchable strengthen, and your swift blade. Deeds such as those are worthy of Halcyon. Whats your name great warrior?”
    “Names Kei, and I don't know about Halcyon. Still, one less dragon in the world.” Kei held up a dragons fang to some men riding towards them. Their leader, a man dressed in green stopped his bike in front of Kei. “Well done Blader. You have our thanks. Mine and King Marcus' of course.”
    “You can keep your thanks and I'll take the credits. Yours of the kings.”
    “Credits??”
    “We had a deal remember, one dragon down, 10,000 credits.” Eric looked to Kei. “Your honor comes at a price Kei?”
    “I have expenses. Honor won't put food in my belly, nor fix or gas my bike.” The man in green encouraged Kei. “The priest is right. Its your duty to protect King Marcus' people. As a Blader of the realm.”
    “Not of this realm. I don't bow to Marcus.”
    “I should have known. Slayer scum. Now go away, Slayer. Before I have you arrested.” He then turned his attention to the people. “Back to work. If King Marcus' food is not harvest, I'll do some harvesting of my own.” Eric mounted his bike and rode up to Kei. “Kei, Kei. I am on a journey. Can I go with you?”
    “The roads still free unless Marcus has taxed it.” Kei and Eric rode off to their next destination.

    Marcus stepped out of his castle, his white clothes shining from the sun. His face matured and he stood tall among his men. The man in green approached Marcus. “A road tax King Marcus. A road tax.” Marcus made his way to his bike as the man continued to talk. “They are ,your roads after all, if people want to use them, they should pay for it. And if they can't pay, they go to the mines.”
    “Genius Corin, I never knew you had such a beautiful brain under such an ugly hat.” Corin laughed at Marcus' joke and was brought back to reality when he ran into Nico. Marcus boarded his bike and powered it up. “I'm in for duty and sports, both work for me.” The three of them then made their way to their place of happiness. The mines.

    Shana walked into the mine area. She looked for the one person who mattered in her life. Her red hair flowed in the wind, as her red and black clothes held tight against her body. She soon found the person she was looking for. Her father, working at a splicing machine. She walked up to him and he felt her presence. “Shana. Shana, I told you never to come here.”
    “You know I never listen. Here, drink.” She handed a cup to her father, but it was shot out of his hand by Marcus with a sniper rifle in hand. He rode up closer on his bike, but stopped a few yards away. Nico and Corin soon followed. “Excellent shot sire.”
    “Whats next?”
    “The water distributer.” Marcus loaded a round and shot the distributer down. Corin was excited with Marcus' skill. “Amazing.” Shana had enough and walked calmly up to Marcus, his rifle dead at her head. “You dare interfere with a kings sport?” Shana looked to him. “Whats sportsmen like about torturing an old man. Please let him go. Its been twelve years. Your fortress is built, he can do no more harm. For the Gods, release him.” Marcus smiled as he brought his rifle up and shot the man in the chest. “I always say death is a release, not a punishment.” They revved up their bikes and left Shana, holding her father. She removed his bandanna, and at first felt sadness. Then anger. Then revenge. She swore she would kill Marcus, even if it meant her death.