The Emperor: Book 1 Rise to Power
Chapter 1; Only a Dream
Snow covered everything in sight as I strolled through one of the palace's many gardens. Small snowflakes drift down lazily from the soft grey clouds above. The winter air nips at my nose as a gentle breeze hit my face. I feel calm, almost as though the world itself is breathing with me. A small smile forms on my lips.
"Peace at last." I softly say out loud, stopping to sit on a bench that happened to be one of many scattered across this particular garden. I always did enjoy this particular garden more than any of the others due to it's collection of rose bushes. They were a sight to behold during the spring season when in full bloom. Though I especially enjoyed their scent when it mixed and mingled with that of the other flowers all across the garden. It was as though the very essence of spring was in the garden filling it with life.
Yet it is during the winter months I love it this garden most.When others saw only a lifeless collection of bushes I see a blank canvas. It was as though god himself was prepare to paint it with life and I had a chance to watch him set up. It was also the quite. The silence was a music all its own that allowed one to listen to their own hearts. Or at least to me it is.
As I start to let my more poetic thoughts take my mind I can't help but truly feel at ease. This always seemed to be a thing this garden did to me, it seemed to make me have a feeling of tranquility. I have to say that just sitting here was probably one of the more therapeutic thing I have ever felt.If not for the body it was most definitely for the mind. I can't help but wish that I had more moments like this in my life, but I know if I did I would never feel as grateful for them as I do now.
I start to feel my mind wander I hear the voice of an older gentleman call out in a near panic,"My Lord? My Lord! Where in the nine Hells are you? Your guests are at the gates and wait to see their host."
Hearing this I let out a sigh and stand. 'Serves me right to try and relax', I mentally sold myself. A feeling of tiredness washes over me for a moment before I stretch and head toward the door. Though before I leave I take one last look at the garden and smile, 'Still it was worth it.' With that finale thought I leave the garden and also an enjoyable dream.
I groaned as I awoke in my bed to the sound of my most hated nemesis, The Alarm Clock!!!. The evil little bastard was the bane of my exsistance since my mom got me it in middle school. Oh and it isn't a digital one either but one of those damned old fashioned one with the bells and everything that you have to throw across the room to shut up. Oh the hatred I felt for that thing held no bounds, yet it is necessary for my life. Can't over sleep and all that.So I put off my desire to destroy the accursed thing and get out of bed.
Once I finally physically remove myself from the glory of my bed, I start up perform my daily routine.I make my bed, retrieve my work attire (usually just a pair of black slacks, white dress shirt, a dark colored vest, tie and dress shoes ), go to the bathroom and shower (which is the step I'm on now), get dressed, eat breakfast and head to work.Once at work I will do my mundane job of waiting tables for a moderately high class restaurant that just popped up in town four months ago. The pay there is good and my co-workers are pleasant (mostly) so I really can't complain too much about it, plus it pays the bills so I'm good.
Though something seemed off about today. I just don't know what but I have this foreboding feeling, as if something bad is going to befall on me and royally screw me over. I just pray to god almighty that it's not them. I have been trying to put that part of my life behind me. So far it has been working and I want to keep it that way.
Bring myself from my thoughts I step out of my shower and look at myself in the bathrooms mirror. I examine my light tan skin covered faintly in scars of all shapes and size, all of them bring back memories I would rather keep buried. I like to think that I have a modest physique as I never really went to the gym more than three or four times a month but then again I never enjoyed the gym. I much more enjoyed my daily run after work over the gym's machinery.
Moving from my body I start to go over my facial features and hair. I have been told that it held some type of roguish good looks. My hair is a dark brown that is cut to a fair length, not much different than most styles, but I never have much cared about how my hair looked anyways. Then are my eyes. They are a steel grey that seems, or at least it seems to me, to look like stormy sea waves.You'd be surprised how many people have told me seem to look like some kind of swashbuckling hero.
I smile at the thought of me being some sort of hero, my past would have most think other wise. Once again thinking about my past I frown and shake my head. 'No, I will not start to think like that. That is the past and what's done is done.' I think to myself pulling on my clothes. 'Well time for work I guess.'
(A few hours later)
"You now that chick was totally checking you out Marcus!! Why the hell didn't you talk to her?" My friend/co-worker William complained as we sat down for lunch. "I mean dude she was HOT!!!"
I shake my head slightly as he starts going off about how hot some of the women were that enter the restaurant we work at. Going on and on about superficial things that I really don't care too much about. I can admit that I did notice the woman stare at me, but there was something about the stare that unnerved me. It wasn't a look of lust that I am used to from women (shudder, and some men) gave when checking me out. No it was a look of hate, like one you would give to a man who murdered someone dear to you. It worried me...
"Marcus? Maaarcuus? Yoohoo, anybody home?" Will asks waving a hand in front of my face breaking me out of of my stupor. I shake my head and look at him. He gave me a worried look as he asked, " Bro are you ok? I mean you just started to stare off into space for, like what ten minutes. I thought you had a heart attack or something."
I look at him for a moment and shake my head trying to clear my head. "I'm fine Will... I... I just got lost in my own thoughts. I think I need to head home early today. Can you tell the boss that?"
"No problem dude I'll cover for ya. Just be here tomorrow okay."
"Got it." With that I head to the back to sign out. After I do I start the short walk back to my apartment staring at the now overcast weather outside. 'Mmm... I love cloudy days.' I think to myself as I cut through a back alley between two large buildings. Only after I am half way through the alley do I see three large men head straight toward me.Upon seeing them I know something is wrong so I turn around to head the other direction in an attempt to retreat, only to run into another three men of a similar size. I look up at the three men in fear and ask fearfully, "So... Lovely weather isn't it?"
"Yes. Quite."
As I hear this the man on the right raise a baseball bat and hope, if only for a moment, that this is all a dream. My hopes quickly vanish as the bat smashes with the side of my head and my world goes dark.
(After an unknown amount of time)
"Oi!!! Wake up ya bastard!!"
WHAM
My head rolls as I feel a ring covered fist connect with the side of my face. Blood fills my mouth and in reflex I sputter it out all over myself. I groggily open my eyes only to be met with darkness. I try looking around only to notice a type of cloth covering my eyes. I start to panic, thrashing around and spouting curses all the while. I began to panic more when...
WHAM
... Another fist ram into my face causing the sickening crunch to start resounding through out the room. After reeling back again I hear a thick Irish accent say, "So your finally 'wake ya son of a bitch? That's good ta see."
'
Oh Christ not him, anybody but him!!' I think to myself when I hear a terrible chuckle I hang my head in defeat. 'It's him.' I take in a deeply pained breath and hoarsely whisper, "Oh so it's you Donovan, what do you want?"
I hear him let out another perversion that could (If barely) be considered laughter. "Oh, ya know, but since ya ask so very kindly I'll tell ya. I want ya dead. Me informant told me where ya were so now we can end tis.... On me own terms."
"I left Don!! I told nobody anything that happened, especially the cops. Why do you want to kill me?" I say in a slightly pleading voice. I really don't want to die here, wherever here is. I try to struggle again when something stops me. It was as though an aura covered me an restricted me more than my bindings already did. I hear a scream from my captors direction along with the words.
"What the fuck is happening to him!!!"
Then the aura shifted, as though pulling me somewhere. It felt as though my entire body was covered in some form of icy/hot. I started to feel cold, colder than I ever had in my entire life. I could feel goose bumps form up and down my arms and legs as I tried to curl into myself to warm up.
Then I started to burn.
I felt as though someone covered me with gasoline and then struck a match, igniting it. The searing hot pain caused me to scream at the top of my lungs. It felt like hours before it stopped.
I could finally feel myself blacking out into blissful, dreamless sleep but not before I hear a young male teens voice exclaim in equal parts joy and fear, "I must retrieve Princess Celestia at once!!"
(A few hours later/Perspective change 3rd person)
The young monarch of the sun sighed heavily to herself as she listened to her young apprentice talk. This was the first time she had ever truly felt disappointment for anything he had done. Sure he had been a little over Zealous in the past but this was a whole different story. For her Apprentice and probably closest friend had not only summoned a creature from another world, oh no it wasn't that easy. He had to have summoned a human, and she knew this was a political shit storm waiting to happen.
Since the passing of her father and mother at the end of the First (and hopefully last) Dragon war the country of Equaistra had been on extremely shaky terms with all their allies, but none more than the human city states of the north. Luna had said that it was due to their distrust with their short rule and they had yet to show themselves worthy to the older (and far more violent) race but Celestia didn't fully believe that. It felt as though they were waiting for the princesses to screw up and here it is, delivered on a silver platter.
This human was dangerous in every sense of the word and it scares her no no end. She knew not what powers or magic it possessed (for humans laked cutie marks), nor the knowledge it weld. Everything about it was unknown beyond what little was already known of its race in general. That tiny amount did absolutely nothing to ease her ever growing stress. Letting the all the fatigue of the day sink in she slump back in her seat and ran a hand through her long, flowing pink, green purple, and blue mane.
'Why can't anything ever be easy?' She moaned in her head as sat alone in her and Luna's throne room.'We mean first we take upon our self an apprentice, then we and our sister receive threats to our rule by our closest (and most violent) allies the griffins, our sister is withdrawing herself more and more each passing day and finally our apprentice summons one of a race from another world. This day just keeps getting better.'
Celestia held her eyes shut and drew in deep, calming breaths. She knew getting worked up about this would do nothing to help her current predicament so she had to remain calm. Plus if everything worked she could have a bottle of her favorite wine and chocolate cake to distress. ‘Mmm…Yes the sounds fantastic. I just have to deal with that little problem and I will have my cake and eat it too’
Regaining her resolve Celestia straightens her white and gold dress and heads towards the chambers of her guest.
