Irrelevant

[General Cheese]

PROLOGUE

"No! No! This canna be happening! Every calculation was correct! My formulas were flawless! All those years of preparation canna be for nought!" There was an explosion of green light, causing the thin figure to be flung backwards. His mind dulled the instant his back struck the brick wall. He felt his body slide down and crumple to the ground. Horrific screams echoed in his mind like some kind of grotesque nightmare; images flashed through his head that would have caused one with a weak mind to go mad. The Lupe clutched his skull and gave a howl of pain. The world was spinning now. Life was merged with death. Death was irrelevant. Life was irrelevant. Shadows of the past crept up on the poor Lupe, causing him to emit yet another dismayed cry.

Pain coursed through his spine like dozens of white-hot needles. The horrible feeling traveled through his body like liquid; a slow and viscous liquid that flowed like molasses. He felt his paws pounding the ground relentlessly. He hears himself scream for mercy and to be freed from this pain. The pain that could only be felt by a sinner such as he. God's wrath upon an unfaithful servant.

He wouldn't die. He couldn't. Not even if he wanted to. It was a torture that could not be put into words. The Lupe ground his teeth together as a new sensation of pain crashed into his being. It was the feeling of getting each of his chocolate brown furs plucked individually. Sensations alternated in a pattern. This cycle went on for what seemed to be an hour before the wooden door in front of him burst open on its rusty hinges. A bright light seeped into the room, consuming everything. Even the Lupe. There was a crashing sound and the light disappeared. The Lupe was sprawled on the ground; all his pain had evaporated. He knew this was not end end of his punishment. No. This was just the beginning.

(Yeah, yeah. It's short... but prologue's aren't supposed to be long.)

[Silver Emu of Valour]

Claps for Cheeseh! Oh le'-wow!!

[E.N.T]

-claps- Sounds interesting. -waits for more-

[Da Kittie]

Incredibly well written. -claps-
^_^ Very attention grabbing prolouge. >3 I shall impatiently await more.

[General Cheese]

I tried a new approach this time. The prolouge is actually set AFTER the beginning of the story. That's for the feedback. It's appreciated. *Shnuggles the compliment from Cas* It's like crack!

[General Cheese]

CHAPTER 1
We were all children once...

Calloused hands expertly lathered the fur of her children, causing many stormy protests to come from the small tub.
"Mum! Too hard!" Cried the eldest of the three as a tangle in his fur was yanked roughly.
"Well hold still and I kin get this tangle out!" Responded his mother. Her simple white apron and crimson pelt were drenched from bathing her children. It wasn't the younger two that were giving her the problem, but her oldest was a different story.

The twins napped nonchalantly in the temperately-warm water, having already been taken care of. They didn't even seem to hear the yelling that was coming from their older brother.
His chocolate-brown fur was completely covered in frothy bubbles. He despised the bubbles.
He hated it when they got in his eyes; they stung like the dickens.
The young Lupe grinned up at his mother mischievously and slapped some of the soapy water at her face. She yelped and fell backwards. The Lupe seized the opportunity and leaped from the tub, scuttling to the cabin completely nude. He ran in through the open door and slid into his kilt that was laying by the fire.

He then ducked under a table, still drenching with cold water.
His mother burst in through the door, clutching the twins in her arms. They were also still wet.
"Daray Tiernan! Get yer arse o'er here afore I decide t' beat it!"
The young Lupe peeked out from the table to see the aggravated Zafara. He yelped when her sapphire-blue eyes locked onto his hazel ones.
The Lupe ran out from under the table and ran up the creaky, wooden stairs. He heard his mother coming up after him.
Once again he yelped, sitting down and covering his eyes. "Maybe if I can't see her... she can't see me..."
His theory was proved false when the Zafara hauled Daray up by the scruff of his neck. Their eyes met again.

"I'm sorry mum! Don' spank me! I beg o' ye!" He pleaded.
His mother sighed, setting Daray down. "Let that happen one more time and ye may no' have a bottom t' spank. Ye understand me?"
Daray nodded and scurried into his room. He knew it would be best to go straight to sleep.

With an exhausted sigh, the Zafara walked down the stairs into the small living room. She wearily sat down in her wooden rocker and lit the candle on the able next to it.
The twins were now asleep in her arms. She began to rock rhythmically, humming a light melody.
She stopped abruptly as her candle went out. She closed her eyes and tilted her head towards the ceiling.
"Where are ye, Tsudoken? Why did ye leave us?"

[Da Kittie]

n_n Aww.

You're such a captivating writer, Cheesey. :3

[General Cheese]

Daray's 6 here... Just thought I'd include that because I neglected to put it in the fic. >>

Thanks. I try. :3

[Cheese]

CHAPTER 2
Curiosity Blooms...

Thunder roared in the blackened skies, accompanied by the brilliant streak of lightning that tore across the heavens. Daray sat on the porch, his curious hazel eyes glinting with intrigue.
"So much power coming from the sky... How is this possible? Is it obtainable?" Muttered the Lupe, closing his eyes momentarily. He had just recently entered the age of 14; he was the most brilliant child in the village's history. "Child Protege" was an insulting understatement.

He stuck a paw out into the rain, allowing the moisture to drip onto it. He observed the liquid that had gathered in his palm.
"What created this...?" he asked himself in a low whisper. "Science canna explain everythin'. There has t' be somethin' up there." He stood up slowly, looking up into the sobbing heavens.

"I will learn," Daray muttered, stroking his chin with fingers calloused from doing nothing but writing all day. "I will learn everythin' about our creation... travel to every edge of Neopia and beyond t' discover the secrets that 'ave been hidden from us fer so long."
His observations were cut short as a younger Zafara burst out of the house, breathing heavily.

"Mum's gettin' worse, Daray. The best alchemists and doctors can't find out what's wrong with her. They say she's goin' t' pass on in a matter o' months..." Said the Zafara, choking on tears that remained unshed. The ones he hadn't been able to hold back stained the white fur of his cheeks.
Daray maintained a calm disposition, kneeling down to his 10 year old brother's height.

"Bahalt... do no' be afraid. Mum'll be fine. I promise..." He whispered, hugging the Zafara's head to his chest. Bahalt whimpered, slipping out of Daray's grasp.
"Mum wants to see ye anyway. She says t' get out of the rain so ye don' get sick."
With a sigh, Daray went inside the small cottage with his brother.

He walked down the small hallway into the main room. His mother was sprawled on a couch, her eyes fogged with blindness.
There was a Zafara sitting next to the couch identical to Bahalt; his bright orange fur glinted in the dull fire light. Bahalt took a seat next to his twin, placing his hands in his lap and leaning against his brother.

Daray stood before his mother, head hanging slightly. He was extremely tall, and the couch seemed so far down.
"Daray..." Whispered the elderly Zafara, blindly groping at the air for her son's paw. Daray helped his mother find it; she grasped it tightly.
"I 'ave only been given a few months t' live, ye know..." She croaked. "When I die, I don' want ye t' live in yer own misery. I want ye are yer brother t' leave this village an' find a new place. Don' dwell on the past, Daray... it is... useless," she whispered in a hushed tone.

Daray shook his head, tears beginning to gather at the corners of his eyes. "Nay, mother! Ye will no' die! I will find a way t' save ye! I'm surely smart enough! I will dupe fate, ye just watch! I'll dupe Fate an' make it stay away from the Tiernan family! I'll-" he was cut short as he received a sharp slap from his mother across the cheek.

"Ye'll do nothin' o' the short, Daray! Fate is a dangerous thing that is no' to be messed with! Do ye hear?" She cried fiercely.
Daray took a step back, surprised by his mother's outburst.
"Now go to bed! All o' ye!" She ordered.

The three, not saying another word, scrambled up the stairs and into their rooms, crying themselves into the storm until their tears ran out and they fell asleep.

[Da Kittie]

n_n Another excellent chapter. -claps-

-sets up camp and waits for more- =3

[General Cheese]

Thank ye kindly. ^^

[General Cheese]

CHAPTER 3
Linda...

"Oi! Linda! Pay attention t' what yer doin'! Yer goin' to burn me buns!" Barked the fat Yurble kneading some dough.
The petite Lupe yelped, taking the bread out of the fire and glancing at her boss. "Oh... sorry, Sir! I'm a little distracted at the moment..." She apologized in a soft, quiet voice.
She brushed her hands on her apron and set the bread down to cool. She looked out the window of the bakery and sighed.

"Yer no' thinkin' o' him again, are ye?" Asked the Yurble, rinsing his hands off with some water. The small Lupe smiled weakly, staring at the Yurble with wide brown eyes.
"You know I am, Mr. DeMonty..." She whispered. The Yurble snorted, drying his hands on his own apron.
"I'm no' quite sure what ye see in the lad. He's a skinny, poor orphan. Though I can't help but feel sorry fer him. His mum passed away two months ago..."

Linda nodded sadly, absently toying with her large sleeve. "It's good though that he got a job across the road as the village alchemist, though... at least he can provide for his brothers..." she said.
DeMonty sighed. "Aye... his genius did 'elp him a bit, I suppose. He's our first alchemist since Tsudoken left us."
Linda gasped. "Tsudoken Tiernan? Mr. DeMonty, you know we're not supposed to mention him in our village!" She said in a low hiss.

DeMonty nodded. "Aye, yer right... my apologies, young Linda..." He sighed, limping back behind the counter. There seemed to be a hint of sadness in his voice.
"Does Daray even know who ye are?" he asked, going back to kneading dough.
Linda chuckled. "No, I don't believe so... I was going to ask him to the ball tonight... but it seems he's been overloaded with work lately. He hasn't come out since yesterday morn. I'm beginning to worry about him, Mr. DeMonty."

The Yurble nodded gravely. "Ever since Blair died, Daray's never been the same. I've never seen him smile or do any mischief since... it's like a part of him died along with his mum."
Linda shook her head. "That's terrible..."
"Aye..."

Linda looked outside, watching the sun set. All of the sudden, the door to the Alchemist hut creaked open; a tall, cloaked figure stepped out, beginning to walk to the hill on which the Tiernan house rested.
Linda gasped, looking over her shoulder at DeMonty. He smiled, gesturing for her to leave.
"But Mr. DeMonty... I still have an hour and-"
Not saying a word, he gestured for her to leave again.

Linda smiled at her boss, taking off her apron. "Thank you, Mr. DeMonty!" she called over her shoulder. She swung open the door, pulled up her skirts, and ran at the tall person.
"Daray! Daray Tiernan!" She cried. The cloaked man stopped, glancing back. Linda's heart leapt into her mouth, catching a glance of Daray's hazel eyes.
When she arrived to him, she was nearly breathless.

"Daray..." she croaked. "I was wondering if you would like to come to the ball with me... I know you don't know me very well, but I work across from you at the bakery. My name is Linda Kifavski and-"
Daray held up a hand to silence her.
"Ye weren't born here, were ye?" he inquired, noticing her absence of an accent. Linda shook her head, surprised he was talking to her.
"No Sir..." she said quietly.

Daray sighed. "I'm no' sure 'bout goin' to the ball with ye 'cause I 'ave plenty o' work on Sunday. But yer welcome t' dinner with me tomorrow. I 'ave t' get back to my brothers now." With that, he started off.
Linda blinked, almost falling to her knees. A date? With Daray? Tomorrow?

She hurriedly rushed back to the bakery to tell Mr. DeMonty.

[General Cheese]

I think I might update 1-2 times a week. Just letting you people who read this know...

[Da Kittie]

n_n Nyaa, great chapter, as always Cheeseh! :3

[General Cheese]

T'ank ye.