Hello everone! This is my first story that I have posted on here, and it IS complete. I wrote this in the beginning of last year for my Language Arts class. I hope you enjoy! Please review if you like it, hate it, anything!

On a dark and stormy night, a woman wearing a hooded cape carrying a bundle of some sort scampered through a dark, gloomy ally. The only light came from the full moon overhead. Tonight was a peculiar night; the moon was a blood-red color, the night was hushed and peaceful, and not a soul was to be found, unless you counted the rats who were rummaging through the dumpster, searching for food.

The gleam of the moonlight caught the woman’s face for only a second. Several expressions became clear for that one second. Some were hard to read, like hatred and depression, while sadness, fear, and love were as clear as day. At last, the woman stopped before a grim looking house. She walked up to the doorstep and put her bundle down. The bundle revealed itself as a baby, asleep, but not soundly. The woman looked at the baby as if to hold it again, but painfully decided against it. She put something by the baby, took five steps back, muttered some words, and a blinding white light illuminated the night sky; the woman had vanished.

Fifteen years later…

“Zack, come down,” chided a voice.

“What?” asked a boy named Zack. Zack was a fifteen-year old boy with straight, brown hair that covered half his ears, and the most amazing clear, blue eyes that usually sparkled. Zack lived at the C.A.C, which stood for Children Adoption Center with about ten other kids. Zack was an orphan; he never even knew his parents. The woman in charge of the C.A.C., Lucinda, told him he was dropped off here in September-fifteen years ago- on a full moon. The only thing that came with Zack was a letter and two charms: a dragon and a phoenix.

The letter said that his name is Zack LaFaine and that his mother couldn’t explain, but she had to leave him and that his mother loved him very much. She also requested that the people here would take good care of him and one day-she hoped-they would see each other again. The letter didn’t once mention who Zack’s father was.

Lucinda’s voice cut Zack from his thoughts. “Come on down Zack! Someone just donated a box full of unique objects and belongings. Every kid will get to pick something out.”

Zack wasn’t eager to go downstairs. Every time someone donated things, Zack always found the same things: headless teddy bears, books missing half their pages, and mostly junk. He only found good things about once-sometimes twice-a year.

Zack finally relented and went downstairs all the while thinking about his mother.

Who was she? What did she look like? Why did she leave me here…I am so miserable. Does she still love me? By the time Zack reached the bottom of the stairs, all those questions stopped.

Everything-like always- was junk. The only exception was a book in the middle, and something strange was happening to it; it was glowing with a silver, radiant hue. Zack was startled, he looked around to see if anyone else noticed the book’s odd appearance; they hadn’t.

I must be dreaming, thought Zack. He quickly grabbed for the book, but the C.A.C.’s bully, Jake, pushed Zack to the ground.

“Move it,” he snarled, and grabbed the book. To his-and Zack’s- surprise, the book was completely blank. No title, words, or marks-nothing. Jake threw the book to Zack and muttered, “Junk,” then lunged for a beaten-up baseball.

Zack carefully picked up the book, then sprinted up the stairs, ignoring the angry and confused look on Lucinda. Once he got to his room, Zack locked his door, closed his curtains, and settled onto his bed.

Zack tenderly opened the book, apparently hoping for something to happen. After a few seconds, something miraculous did happen; words were forming. He gazed at the forming words; first an E, then an L, then the letters, C, A, R, I and the letter, A. Together the words spelled Elcaria.

Nervous, but excited, Zack opened the book. Little words were already on the next few pages. The title on the first page was History (History) in neat, bold, cursive. Under it was story starting with the words, “In the beginning…” Those three words already had Zack hooked. He read and read, not stopping for food or water.

While Zack read, he learned about the land named Elcaria, which was a peaceful land. The land was ruled by a king and a queen named King Aaron and Queen Alvina. One day, King Aaron was hunting with two of his finest soldiers when something dreadful happened; an evil spirit had been roaming the woods where Aaron had been hunting. On accident, he shot it with an arrow. The bad news was if you hit a spirit, it would take control of you unless someone cuts his or her flesh.

The now evil King Aaron slaughtered his men and then moved on to his castle and wife. One of the men, Arthur, who had survived the attack, rushed to Lady Alvina to tell her what just occurred. Then he swayed and fell to the floor, dead.

Queen Alvina couldn’t bear it. She ran up to the highest point in the castle and stayed there for three days and three nights. Meanwhile outside, everyone was doing their best to defend the castle. Finally, when almost all hope was lost, five warriors appeared out of nowhere, ready to fight. These warriors were the Protectors, created in the beginning of time.

The Protectors were skilled fighters; they would protect and serve when enemies attacked, and ready to give their life to anyone in need. Right now, there were only five Protectors in Elcaria, as they were hard to come by. Only ones with a pure heart and soul could be a Protector.

Protectors had an advantage; they had a special charm of an animal. The charm allowed the Protectors to be able to transform into that specific animal. Without it, they could not transform at all.

The five Protectors transformed into a dragon, hawk, wolf, lion, and tiger. Aaron was still stronger though. He used some sort of dark magic and smothered the hawk and tiger. Then he drew his sword and slayed the wolf and lion. The dragon flew up and breathed fire on Aaron’s right arm. Aaron screamed in agony and vanished. Now there was only one Protector left; her name was Stella.

By the time Zack finished reading, it was nighttime. He turned the next few pages but found nothing. It was when he turned to the last page when he found something. The words were faded but still legible. “Into the world of Elcaria” it read. Under it was a spell:

By pure and noble heart,

Elcaria I go,

From this world I depart,

To fight the evil foe.

Zack just stared at the spell, wondering whether it was true. Finally Zack decided to give it a go, and muttered the spell. At once Zack knew it was a real spell; his room and head seemed to be spinning. All he could see was a blur of brown, green, and blue. The last thing Zack saw before fainting was a girl with blond hair and a gentle face gazing up at him.

When Zack woke up, he was in a bed, and the same girl was glaring at him, but in a good way. “Are you okay?” she asked uneasily.

Zack held his head and groaned, “Yeah, I think so.” Zack sat up and set his gaze upon the girl. “Who are you? My name is Zack. Why am I so dizzy?”

The girl replied in a friendly tone, “My name is Stella, and you’re so dizzy because you just traveled from your world into Elcaria. You’ll get used to it.”

Stella looked about sixteen or seventeen. Her hair was silky- like a horse’s mane- and blond. Her hair was down to her waist, with a red ribbon in it; her eyes were nothing like Zack had ever seen. They sparkled and danced like the morning sun. She was wearing a yellow and blue dress, with a matching bracelet and necklace, which matched her rosy red lips.

Suddenly Zack exclaimed, “Stella! I knew that name sounded familiar! You’re the last Protector aren’t you?”

Stella looked startled. Sadness flooded her once sparkling eyes and she murmured, “How do you know that?”

“So you are!?”

“Once upon a time,” Stella whispered, looking away.

At that moment, the door flew open and an elegant looking lady with midnight black hair wearing a hazel dress came tumbling in. On her head was a silver crown with three jewels in the middle. She hugged Zack so tight he could not breathe. “Oh Zack, How I’ve missed you so!” The woman exclaimed sorrowfully.

Zack was scared. This weird woman was starting to freak him out. “Who are you and why are you hugging me?”

The woman stepped back and looked at Zack, and then said, “Zack, my name is Alvina- Queen Alvina; and I’m your mother.”

The new shocked Zack, which made him react with more anger then he expected. “Why did you leave me? Because of you, I spent fifteen miserable years at the C.A.C.!”

Queen Alvina looked stricken. “I’m so sorry. I won’t beg you to forgive me, but I will ask you to give me a second to explain. As you know,-I think-your father is King Aaron. I gave you up because it was better than having you in his clutches”

Zack didn’t say anything, but turned to Stella. “So your charm is the dragon, right?”

Stella answered with a sad voice, “After I burned Aaron, I transformed back to my human self, and that night, my charm disappeared.”

Queen Alvina looked guilty. “Stella,” she soothed, “I know where your charm is.”

Stella jumped up and screamed, “You do!? Well, where is it? I haven’t transformed in twelve years!”

“It’s with Zack,” Queen Alvina muttered, then turned away.

Both Zack and Stella looked surprised. “I have it?” questioned Zack.

“He has it?” mused Stella.

“Zack, Stella, I have kept secrets from both of you,” Queen Alvina stated sadly, “Zack, you are a Protector; that’s why you could read the book that got you here. The charms-phoenix and dragon-are yours and Stella’s. your heart and soul is pure.

“Stella, I took your charm after your fight, and gave it to Zack when I left him. If you had the charm, you would go flying every day and Aaron would have spotted you and killed you. Without you, Elcaria would have been vulnerable to Aaron’s attacks…plus, I couldn’t bear to lose you.”

Stella and Zack were silent for several minutes; then Stella spoke. “ Zack, can I have my charm back?” she asked Zack. She then looked at Alvina and added, “Don’t worry, I won’t transform …unless Aaron attacks. Zack dug in his pockets and came up with his and Stella’s charm; he always carried them everywhere. He dropped the golden dragon charm into Stella’s palms, and saw pure joy and delight leap across Stella’s face.

Just then, a wounded soldier marched into the room, holding his side to stop it from bleeding. “Aaron,” he gasped, “at the front gate. We need…backup.”

Alvina hurried to the soldier. “Hurry, go!” she ordered. “But be careful!”

“Come on, Zack!” Stella yelled.

“But…I don’t know how to transform!”

Stella groaned, then grabbed a piece of string and tied the charm to it. Then she tied it around Zack’s neck. “All you need to do,” Stella explained, “is to think about transforming into a phoenix.” Before Zack could react, Stella grabbed his arm and ran to the door of the castle. Stella pushed at the grand door and it opened. Zack marveled at her strength.

When they arrived outside, a dark haired man who Zack assumed was Aaron, was slaying people left and right. Zack felt Stella transform into a magnificent sapphire dragon beside him. Stella flew into the air and dived at Aaron’s head. Come on, thought Zack, you can do it. Zack thought about transforming into a phoenix and transform he did. He felt himself “grow” feathers and soon Zack’s hearing was sharper, eyesight keener, and smell improved. Zack caught a glance of his reflection in a puddle of water nearby, and he was awed.

Staring back at him was a golden phoenix, with ruby eyes and red and blue tail feathers. His beak was elegantly curved, and his wings were two times his body size. Zack wished he could look at this extraordinary animal-who he knew was himself-forever, but stopped gawking at himself and turned his focus back to the battle.

Zack flung himself into the fray. He dodged, pecked, and screeched. Soon Aaron spoke up, his icy, cold voice cut Zack to the core. “Come; let us have a real battle. Dragon and new Protector Phoenix: fly to the plains and fight me there. We’ll see who survives.” With that, Aaron mounted his steed, and rode off into the other direction, towards the plains.

Should we? The voice sounded like Stella’s, only her mouth wasn’t moving. Think your thoughts and I will hear them, but only if you direct them to me.

Seems we don’t have a choice, Zack responded.

Okay…let us go and fight him… Stella murmured and flew off after Aaron.

Zack hesitated, then flew off after Stella. But he’s my father, Zack thought.

When Zack and Stella arrived on the plains, Aaron was there waiting. Okay, let’s- Stella started to say. Without warning, Aaron struck Stella’s neck with his sword, then used dark magic and flung Stella fifty feet away. Stella didn’t move, but-thankfully-Zack could still see her struggling for air.

Zack was furious. That was low, even for him. Zack made himself fly high into the air, then dive headfirst, full-speed, at Aaron’s head. Ha! Got you now! Zack was a foot away, then six inches, then…a hard, steel object hit Zack in the head. Zack stumbled backwards. Aaron had caught him off-guard; he hit Zack with the handle of his sword instead of making Zack into a shish kabob. But why?

No time to wonder, Zack thought and repeated his attack three more times, but all Aaron did was hit Zack repeatedly with the handle of his sword. Zack tried a different approach. He flew in circles at full-speed around Aaron’s waist and then dived at his feet, aiming to trip him; but the same thing happened again. Why doesn’t he just kill me?

Zack tried about ten other attacks he knew, but all that got him was the same result. It’s as if he can predict all my moves! Zack realized, startled.

Aaron’s voice appeared inside Zack’s head. You catch on pretty quick. Most people take hours to learn that; but by that time, it is too late. I can read your mind Zack…Zackary LaFaine

He knows, exclaimed Zack. He knows I am his son! Why won’t you just kill me now?

This time the voice was different. Instead of cold and harsh, the voice was gentle and kind. I am the real Aaron. The spirit is controlling me. It would was killed you, but I forced it to miss. I’ll make him drop his weapon, and then you take it and kill me.

What?!

Please…it would free me from this spell, and if I could survive, I would be with Alvina again. Okay?

Zack knew he had to kill Aaron, but part of him didn’t want to. All of a sudden, just like the real Aaron said, the evil Aaron froze all of a sudden and dropped his sword. Now! Came the voice of the true Aaron.

Zack transformed, picked up the sword, and-instead of stabbing Aaron’s heart-Zack cut Aaron’s side, not too deep, but deep enough to force the spirit to come out. Then Zack spoke with an authority he didn’t even know he had. “Evil Spirit, be gone! I am the new Protector. Go away and never come back…and I will spare you.”

The spirit dived at Zack’s head, and then floated back to the forest. “Why did you do that?” demanded Aaron, stumbling toward Zack.

“I couldn’t kill you…” unexpectedly Zack felt extremely weak. He clutched his chest and stumbled backwards.

“The spirit must have poisoned you!” yelled Aaron.

“I feel so weak,” Zack muttered and fainted.

Zack woke up in the same bed he was in before. King Aaron and Queen Alvina were sitting next to him. Zack groaned, “What happened?”

Queen Alvina explained, “Aaron carried you back here when you passed out. I want to say thank you, Zack, for bringing him back.”

“And Stella?” Zack asked, sitting up.

Aaron looked away. “I feel so guilty. Stella is…gone…I’m sorry to say, the magic I used was too much for her. Here is her charm.” Aaron took something out of his pocket and handed it to Zack.

Zack ran out of the room and out of the castle. He transformed and flew off into the forest. He landed on an old oak tree and stayed there. Zack didn’t want to be a Protector anymore, but he knew he had to.

A decade passed before everything returned to normal. King Aaron and Queen Alvina ruled Elcaria once more and Zack defended Elcaria alone (there hadn’t been any new Protectors). Zack missed Stella, but knew life went on. Zack knew he would always defend Elcaria, even if it meant his life. For he knew he was, Elcaria’s phoenix.

Well, I really hope you enjoyed my story. Please review and tell me how I did. Whether you hated it, loved it, or anything, please let me know. Thanks!

Midnight-Wolfe