Lost

Lost Part 1 - The Portal

 A summer Breeze, the calm wind against your skin... maybe James might of enjoyed it if he wasn't being chased by a gang of thugs. James could hear the patter of their boots crunching on the leaves below, the sound growing stronger and stronger as they gained on him. The thugs were like giants comparing to him since James was particularly small for his age, but he couldn't help that could he? Not much he could've done with a height advantage anyway since the group of thugs were armed to the teeth.

Continuous running through the forest trying to lose the thugs but no matter where he turned, they were always hot on his trail. Around a tree bend, James found an uprooted tree which he could hide under. Immediately sliding under the tree he spotted, the thugs scattered and searched for him.

"Where are you, you little punk!" The thug with the green cap spoke.

"Come on out now, we promise we'll give you a swift death!" spoke another thug.

See, James wouldn't be in this mess if he wasn't desperate enough to steal from the thugs, but he didn't really have a choice. He was hungry, and bread was all he took. Why did James steal from thugs?!

"Come on boys, I don't think he's here. Let's G... did you hear that?" Spoke the gang leader.

"It came from that uprooted tree over in the distance, Laurence go check it out will you?"

"Seriously?! Oh alright then."

Laurence slowly stalked his way over to James' hiding spot soon to be discovered. While James was almost upon his impending doom, a bolt of fire zoomed amongst the trees and knocked the thugs down one by one like bowling pins. The Guardian came out of the tree line and searched for James with pride.

"James! Where are you, if you don't come out right now I can make this a lot worse for you, trust me."

"Ok I'm coming out just please don't hurt me."

James came out from the uprooted tree and looked at the Guardian straight into his dark, beady eyes.

"James, what have I told you about getting in trouble. I already had to give you three warnings so far. Do you remember what I said last time?"

"You said that if I get into trouble again, you would punish me?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I said, so now if you'll follow me please."

"Ugh, fine. I hope I get off lightly for this."

James followed the Guardian through the portal he entered through and they ended up in a magical floating city high above the clouds. In the middle of the city stood the biggest structure James had ever seen, and he was standing directly in the middle of it.

The Guardian led him through a number of hallways and corners until they reached the great portal room. Legends said that the great portal room was able to traverse through different timelines and dimensions.

"Now James, for stealing bread off of thugs and other people for the fourth time now I will have to send you off to another dimension."

"What Dimension is that?"

"I cannot tell you that since I would not know and also, all you get is this book of magic, here."

"Also before you leave, I would like to introduce you to someone."

James should have been scared of this whole 'exile' problem but he was mostly curious of where he would end up.

The Guardian twisted and turned around endless corridors and flights of stairs which started to make James tired and dizzy. The structure of the building was so complex it's amazing how they were able to build it, since it was built like a labyrinth.

"We're here, I'd like you to meet who's behind this door."

The giant metal door loomed over James's small height, he swore he could hear growls and rumbling coming from behind the door. The growls intensified and then loud banging could be heard on the door.

"What in the world is in there?"

"Why James, it's your new friend."

"How would, whatever in there, be my friend?! I don't even have any friends, least of all monsters."

The door started rattling as the creature in the room started banging on the metal door. Whatever was in that room was scaring James and he didn't want to find out. After another minute, the rattling died down and the monster that was trapped inside the room seemed to silence to a hazy snoring.

"Alright James, in you go!"

"What?! No way I'm going into there!"

"Well too bad James, now go!"

The large metal door slowly unbolted it's many hinges and swung open with many creaks. Inside was a large room that made the hallway James was standing in seem puny. The room itself had green wall paint sprawled along its walls and a rust coloured paint spread along the floor. In the corner of the room was a black shape laying with its forelegs out in front and its big head resting on top of them. Two fingers came out of its back and membranes connected between the fingers making it look like wings. Realization dawned on James when he knew what he was looking at. A dragon.

"I'm friends with a dragon?! That is the craziest thought I've had in a while."

"Oh calm down will you? He's harmless, though he does have a bit of a temper so you might want to be careful."

"Be careful?! That thing is going to devour me!"

"Well, it will devour you if you talk like that to him." The Guardian scoffed and waved at James to go closer to the dragon.

The Guardian left through the metal door swiftly and it closed behind him leaving the room empty aside from James and the dragon. James slowly approached this mighty beast with great caution and fear. Upon closer examination, the dragon had midnight black scales running across its body and blood red scutes underneath its body. The dragon had two horns on its head that were pure white and he had thick red membranes along its black wings. Its tail was about five feet long and had white spikes protruding down its tail and up to its back.

The magnificent dragon started to stir and that made James' heart skip a beat. The dragon started to move and then it opened its thick eyelids. The dragon wriggled a little and yawned showing its white, sharp fangs.

James startled and inched his way backwards until he hit the wall from sheer terror. James started to shake violently and the dragon woke fully and sat on his haunches staring at James with a mix of curiosity and anger.

"Please don't hurt me oh fearsome dragon, I taste horrible trust me! Help me someone!" James yelled.

"Quiet! Your petrifying noise is giving me a headache and also I'm not going to eat you."

"Wait what?! You can talk?!"

"Of course I can talk you imbecile. I'm a sentient being just like you. Jeez, you're really freaking out aren't you, sorry."

"I...I...I, wh... wh...wh...what?!" James fainted from the sheer pressure of the situation.

"Now look what I've done. Oh my... I was never a guy for introductions, it's because I'm a dragon isn't it. My frightening appearance is what got me kicked out of the dragon city in the first place. *sighs*."
***
"Ow my head! everything is spinning." James spoke.

"Good morning, hope you didn't hurt yourself too badly."

"Argh, what happened?"

"Well you passed out because you saw a talking dragon. I guess that's enough of an explanation."

"Err? TALKING DRAGON!? GET AWAY FROM ME!" James screamed and he bolted towards the door banging on it with ferocity.

"Calm down already ok? All your yelling is giving me a headache."

"Who... are you and how can you talk?"

"Who do I look like to you? In your eyes it seems I'm just a scary big black dragon who wants to eat people. If I was going to eat you I would've done it while you were asleep."

James started breathing heavily and replied, "I just thought that... that you would eat me. Also since you happen to be so civilized then what is your name? That is if you have one."

"Ignis, my name is Ignis thank you. How about you?"

"James, James Wriggler." James spoke with confidence.

Large Cranking sounds started coming from the metal door as it slowly opened to reveal the Guardian standing there on the tiled corridor.

"James, I believe it's time for you to say farewell to this world as you know it." The guardian spoke.

"Ok then, on the bright side at least I don't have to be near that thing." James snarled.

"Hey!" Ignis shouted from the back of the room.

"Well James, Ignis is actually accompanying you on your journey through the portal."

"What!?" James and Ignis said in unison.

"Yes, that's right! Now enough dillydallying and get out that door!" The Guardian screeched.

After another confusing set of hallways, the Guardian, James and Ignis stood in front of the portal ready to leave their world for good. The Guardian casted a spell to turn on the marvellous machine and brought its cogs and machinery to life.

"James, Ignis, I wish you safe travels on the other side, and don't forget the book I gave to you earlier."

"Goodbye, I'll will always love you." Said James.

"I love you too, son." The guardian whispered as he turned and walked out of the portal room.