© Copyright Michael Patterson, 2010-2011. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer: Story idea is mine, but I do not own anything relating to the Magic: The Gathering franchise.
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Chapter One: The Call to Adventure
The scent of lavender filled the air and shadows danced around the room. Candle flames bobbed and swayed on the tops of their own wax islands, surrounded by a sea of black. Ahkia knelt there, eyes shut and head bowed. His face was stoic, hiding all of the befuddled thoughts and emotions that knotted his stomach. He hoped that meditating would clear his mind. Today was a very special day, indeed, for anyone of Ahkia's homeworld and the excitement was almost too much to bear.
The great Planeswalker Serra, who was supposedly dead or lost for all time, was going to appear. She was revered all throughout the Light Civilizations of all planes. The fact that she was coming to his home was not only a great honor, but a sign as well. Strange things have been happening and a sense of dread was spreading like a ripple throughout the planes. All Planeswalkers could feel it wherever they may be. Something big was about to happen, and Serra's reemergence only confirmed this assumption. Even Ahkia could sense it, and he wasn't the greatest Planeswalker ever to be Awakened.
The door to the room opened slowly and a hooded head peeked in. Though the hood veiled most of the face, the full, cranberry lips and the slender, pale arm that hugged around the door evidently belonged to a woman. Her head swiveled until she espied Ahkia. She smiled a bit and entered the room, closing her wings so she could fit through the doorway. She rested her hands on his shoulders. "Ahkia. It's time."
Ahkia didn't look up, but he knew who it was without even opening his eyes. He looked up and back at her, returning the smile. "Thanks." He said softly. He slowly rose and gathered his white cape about him. The woman helped to adjust it; smoothing wrinkles and setting it correctly on his broad shoulders.
"Are you nervous?" The woman asked. Ahkia nodded, buttoning his cuffs. "A bit, to be honest. Ever since you told me of Serra, I wanted to meet her. I never thought I would get the chance, but now that it's about to happen and I don't know what to think...feel...or do."
"Just be Ahkia." The woman took him by the shoulders and turned him so he faced her. Her fingers brushed his forehead, feathering his black bangs to the side. She sighed and nodded. "There. You're ready." Ahkia took her arms and kissed her cheek tenderly. "Thank you." The woman laughed lightly and returned the kiss. "For what? You could have done that yourself."
"I was referring to the years you've looked after me." Ahkia whispered. The woman inclined her head, hiding her face from him. She remained silent for a length before busying herself with re-smoothing and readjusting his cape. "You better hurry." She said hurriedly, her voice faltering. "You'll be late. That's no way to meet a legend." She sniffled a bit, and watched as he walked for the door. Ahkia stopped and looked back at her. He smiled and winked. "I'll be back soon." And with that, he left. The woman slipped a hand under the hood and rubbed at her cheeks. She shook her head slowly. "No. You wont..."
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Ahkia's homeworld, the Plains of Odion, was a very beautiful place. It stretched out as far as the eye could see - a vast plain unadorned by brush or rock. Only the golden grasses covered the plain, dancing in the warm breezes under the amber sky.
Despite the beauty of the plains, the ancestors of the current inhabitants of Odion found it hard to live there. It's featureless landscape provided little shelter and even less in resources for the wayward, nomadic tribe that stumbled on it. However, due to their numbers, strong wills and the guidance of their Planeswalker, they gathered enough material from a nearby quarry to build a great, ivory tower.
