Silent Dawn

Opening the book filled of dust and timeless knowledge of legends, we will start our journey in 1136, with King Fredrick Maxwell, King of the Humans, and the King of the Damned, Thorn Grimgrave. Once brothers in combat and even more, now, fighting for Mistress Death’s hand in marriage. This war would be known throughout the realms as the Shattered War, for this would break the mighty five realms of Elements, causing the Fire realm, who has the fire phoenixes and hellspawn of Hellpeak, to become violently aggressive with the other realms. The Water realm, known for mermaids and merman of Kelpshell regressed into hiding. The Earth realm, the land of the Humans of Landedge, who were decimated if not enslaved by the realm of the Damned. The realm of the Damned, notoriously known as the Oni’s of Mistfall, were best known to be the fiercest and most blood thirsty warriors. And lastly, there is the inescapable realm of torment, known as the Hollow, the realm with beasts known as Dragon shifters too deadly to be allowed to roam free. These realms would fall after the two kings, Thorn Grimgave and Fredrick Maxwell inexplicably disappeared. This destroyed the balance of good and evil, and the Hollow’s chains loosened their hold on the beasts inside. The realms would collide into one another, forming the Hollow Isles of the fallen. This last straw would break the mighty Hollow’s chain’s, freeing the Dragons in 2020. But let us back track in time and start at the very beginning.

It all started with a big boom-

Get out of here Grim! You don’t even know how to read a book! I’m talking about Thorn and Fredrick!

Anyways! Where was I? Oh, of course! Thorn and Fredrick, honestly, I thought those two were dating. Off topic.

Thorn Grimgrave was a human born in Mistfall. This was very uncommon in the realms. At the age of six, Thorn had already earned his fourth scar, and no one was his friend, of course being the only human and all. Nevertheless, he had the forest to be his friend. The forest was deep, and he could easily get lost there, lose himself in the soft meadows. It was normal for him to be alone, it was nothing new, until he met a little boy crying from falling out of his favorite tree. He had fallen face first it seemed; the bloody nose was a dead giveaway. But there was something else, his arm was broken? Now this was getting interesting.

Fredrick Maxwell was a boy born in the lower city on Landedge. He was always hungry, it wasn’t new. He went to school at least, sure the kid didn’t know left to right, but he could use that to his advantage always getting him what he wanted, until he got smarter. It was after school, about sundown. It was a peaceful evening, his belly was full, that’s all that mattered. He walked down the alley to his run-down little house, until he heard fast footsteps coming at him. Two kids ran up behind him and pushed him down then kicked him in the face causing him to lose the last of his baby teeth. They grabbed his arm and stomped on it dislocating it. Freddy pushed the fat boy off him and ran as fast as he could. He was crying through the pain. Of course, the two bullies followed behind him. Freddy ran into the Forbidden Forest of Fog. Sure, it was dangerous but that didn’t stop him, nor did it stop one of the boys even when his friend begged him to stop. Still, the bold boy did not hear him, until he was into the forrest too deep. Freddy ran up an old oak tree that was blooming with flowers? What kind of tree was this? One time he was sure the kid was running to his mommy, and he tried to climb down. Then it hit him, he’s never climbed up and down a tree. Panic was starting to seep in. He started to slip, so he clung to the tree. However, only being six with his weak little noodle arms, he fell. Face first too! The adrenaline was starting to fade, and pain like daggers targeted his arm. He heard a rustle in the bushes. He had been sure the big boy was gone! Unless he could hide, oh he wishes it's just an animal, it jumped at him tackling him down with a thud.

The boy said something in Onish. Freddy had no clue what he said. “Please get off of me!” The boy backed off, then looked at him strangely, “Oh, you speak English.” Freddy was startled by the deep voice of a six-year-old, “Yes I-I do.” Freddy studied the boy. His eyes and pupils were different. One was warm winter silver mixed with a royal purple with a round pupil, but the other was a sun yellow with the outside of the iris being an inky black, the pupil was a cross. The boy looked down at his arm, “That looks bad.” Freddy laughed, “You think?” The boy picked him up without a sweat, “I know a Healer, names Thorn. Thorn Grimgrave.” Freddy huffed, a slight blush formed on his wet face, “My Name is Fredrick Maxwell.”

Years passed, they always met under that tree. Thorn always made the worst of jokes. Freddy taught him what he learned from school, and in return Thorn taught him Onish. Until the day Thorn was late. The bullies followed him to the mist tree. “Hey idiot!” The fat boy named James shouted. “Back off James,” Freddy grunted under the mist tree. The taller boy called Lucas grabbed his bag as James grabbed the notebook he was writing in. “Give it back James!” The short boy laughed, “What's this Freddy?” The boy handed the notebook to the tall boy, “T&F? Who have you been fantasizing about Freddy? Turk? Tom? Tatem?” James laughed, changing his voice to sound like Freddy, “‘Dear diary, today me and Thorn had a sword fight. He won easily, but I think he likes me too! He let me win a couple of times! I want to tell him how I feel, but he says he is going to try out for the ‘Realm Ball’ and can’t see me as much as I would like. He also says he met this one Oni girl named Jesse. I’m going to tell him tomorrow!’” “What in the five Realm’s is this, Freddy?” Freddy’s face turned bright red, “Stop it! Give it back!” Freddy reached for it but James threw it to Lucas, who tossed it into a mud puddle, then crushed it with his boot. Freddy fell to the ground picking up the wet papers. “Look at poor little gay Freddy! You think he loves you! You’ll never get a girlfriend!” Lucas face palmed at James, “James, if he’s gay, that means he doesn’t like girls” “Whatever, let's go, see you in class, Freak!” Freddy looked at them in defeat. A few minutes passed with the boys gone and out of sight when Thorn emerged from the bushes, “Hey Freddy sorry I’m late! Try outs lasted longer than expected-” Thorn stopped dead in his tracks, “Freddy?” He quickly closed the distance between them with long strides. Thorn crouched down to his crying friend and started to help him pick up the scattered papers. Noticing the only words unaltered by the mud, the words ‘I Love Him’ showed up, “Freddy?” “Hmmm?” came a little sound of sadness, “Do. D-do you like someone from your school?” Freddy imminently snatched the piece of stray paper, “n-no, y-yes!” Freddy turned bright red, Thorn smirked, “Who is it?” Freddy hid his face with the wet notebook, “No!” Thorn sighed, “Oh come on! We’re best friends, I won’t tell anyone!” “Nope!” Thorn sighed again, “Fine, you leave me no choice.” Thorn jumped on him, pinning him down with a well-placed straddle. Then he started to tickle him. “Stop it!” Freddy laughed. “Not until you tell me who it is!” Thorn laughed, Freddy rolled him over, making him now the one who was pinned, “Fine! It’s you!” Thorn stopped laughing. He pushed Freddy off, “W-What?” Freddy’s heart skipped a beat as it pulsed faster. Was it too soon? He shouldn’t have said that! Thorn probably hates him now. Freddy started to panic, then he started to laugh nervously, “JK! Got you!” Thorn stayed silent for a long while. This worried Freddy even more, “Come on Thorn! It’s just a joke! You love jokes!” Freddy stopped laughing, a sad look formed on his face, “Look if you don’t want to talk or even see me anymore, I won’t hold you back.” Tears started to form on his face again, “I-I understand.” His little cracked voice squeaked. Thorn cupped and wiped the tears off his red face. “I just know how you feel! You must hate me!” Freddy grasped Thorn’s rough hands. Thorn stayed quiet. “Please just say something! Anything!” His voice trailed off, “Please.” Thorn took a long, deep breath, “Freddy.” Freddy sucked in a breath; his heart was racing. “I-I don’t hate you, I never will,” Thorn sighed. “Hellpeak Freddy, we’re already 19! And you’re still 5’7!” Freddy chuckled a little. “How long have you held this in?” Freddy sighed, “10 years. Since we were nine.” Thorn huffed, “My point exactly.” Thorn grabbed his shoulder firmly, “You see, the truth is I-I-” Freddy held his breath.

“Freddy. I Like you too!”

Freddy huffed, Thorn rubbed the back of his head, “I just didn’t know how to tell you.” Freddy squealed, and he ran to Thorn with a warm embrace. Thorn stood still for a minute, until he hugged back tightly. Thorn kissed the side of his cheek, then pulled back. “I have to get going. Two kids owe me some silver.” Thorn got up and kissed Freddy on the head, “See you later, Freddy.” Thorn disappeared into the bushes. Freddy smirked; Thorn had kissed him.

20 years later, a successful career in the military and Realm Ball earned the King’s thrown for Thorn, Freddy also had a successful military career. Thorn has long loved Freddy, as Freddy has him, but Fate has broken them apart with the involuntary marriage of Thorn and Mistress Death. It was forced upon Thorn, he unwillingly had to break up with Freddy; it was a 30-year long relationship for Kelpshell’s sake! Mistress Death didn’t like to leave loose ends, so she decided to put multiple hexes on Thorn and Freddy. You never know when you may need something, she thought.

The marriage itself was arranged of course. Rose's flying everywhere, oh it was a sight! Mistress Death was the only one who wore black; it was a good look for her. King Grimgrave could never woo the beautiful, elegant, Mistress Death. Life, Death’s best friend, was the one who ‘helped’ convince Mistress Death to marry. Thorn had reconciled himself to this path in life and had allowed himself to fall in love with Death. But Mistress Death did not love him like he loved her, inert fool. Mistress Death fell for a mortal, the mortal not quite yet king, but that did not stop her, she was death, the end of all. What could she not do? A craving for the living was not what she was expecting. It all started with the gladiator fighting arena, seeing Fredrick send all those souls to the afterlife so valiantly, that it sent a shock of what ‘could be’ up her spine. Naturally, she started to talk to him more. Then sit next to him. Then held his delicate human hands; how rough they were. Until one day Death was tired of waiting, and quietly kissed his soft smile. Of course, they started to date, secretly, because she loves the drama of secrecy. However, that was short lived as jealous King Grimgrave had discovered them by one of his spies no doubt. It when a little something like this....

It was at daybreak, a silent dawn. Not even the birds were awake. Mistress Death had just had a romantic night with now King Fredrick after a day filled with battle. Death snuggled gently into Freddy’s scruffy chest; it was the perfect morning. Until three loud bangs came from the door. Freddy jumped up and grabbed his sword. He reached for the doorknob, when an axe covered with black Essence of the Damned crashed through the door and flew past Freddy’s face, “Death! You cheating Goddess!” Freddy looked at Death in fright, “Wait, your married to Thorn?” Freddy whispered in confusion. Death smirked knowing that specific hex was now dissolved, “You weren’t supposed to find out just yet.” Freddy stepped back, “Y-you knew?” Death snickered, “Why else would I kiss you?” The door flung open, “Freddy?” Thorn charged at Freddy grabbing his axe, dazed although still hexed, with tears in his yellow eyes, “how could you do this to me Freddy!” Axe and sword clashed, “I didn’t know Thorn!” Freddy yelled. “Liar!” Thorn’s axe went into Freddy shoulder. “Stop, you two idiots!” Death yelled at the two, making them stumble back. “Neither of you know how to be kings!” She started to levitate, raven black wings sprouted out of her back, “I shall banish you to the dark realm of the Hollow! Realm of Dead!” They both gasped in horror, this realm was known as the realm of the insane. It was inescapable. “By the way, I never loved either of you,” Death laughed cruelly. Chains sprouted out of the ground, holding the two men down. “I punish you both with eternal life! Nothing may kill you!” Death started to chant. The first to go was Freddy, oh how his screams made Death tingle. Death wanted to save Grimgrave for last, to savor the feeling. Thorn grunted in pain, “What?” Thorn took a breath, “Waiting for some onions to cry?” Death laughed, “oh Landedge, no.” Thorn snarled, “Then what are you waiting for?” Death sighed, tilted her head at an angle letting her raven black hair fall to the side, “I wanted to tell you a little secret.” Death leaned into whisper in his ear, “I’m pregnant with your children....” it faded to black as the word’s sank in.

1995, 4:52 a.m., St. James Hospital: Ryker Crowkill, 5 lbs, 6 oz; and Eric Archer, 5lbs 2 oz.

What a wonderful year to bring my boys into this world......