Chapter 1

by ~NeoGaea

NeoGaea: Tower of Chaos


Chapter 1: Joslyn's Adventure



I wouldn't have minded it so much. Really. Falling through a fairy ring, landing in a fantasy world. Hell that kicks ass. That is if it wasn't for the fact that I'm being chased by a harpy!

The crazed half bird was getting closer and she was set to swoop down on to me. I stopped and ducked her grasp, then ran and hid behind a tree. I needed to catch my breath; I think I ran a couple of miles. It might have been easier if I wasn't carrying my favorite shoulder bag. The large kind for travel or hiking, not the purse kind that women carry. I may be a girl, but I don't do the dinky purses. Although my breathing had calmed, my heart still raced. I didn't hear the flapping of her wings or her annoying squawk. Usually not a good sign. I took a deep breath and looked around the tree and came face to horrible face with the harpy.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" I screamed and jumped back I landed on a large black thing and went sliding down the hill. I ended up standing on my left leg and tried to regain balance, but to no prevail. My shaking and moving allowed my to steer, somewhat, the object and I missed…whap! Never mind, I just hit a tree. But the impact caused me to bounce and I continued to slide. Damn! This is a large hill. At least thanks to the hill I was no longer standing, but kneeling and still going backwards. Soon I hit a rock and during airtime I flipped and landed face down, with the weird object on top of me.

I wasn't out too long, maybe an hour or two. I lifted the weird black curved object, wherever I was it looked like a grave. There were more of the black objects, but also bones of some large animal. A gryphon? No too large, maybe…I had a feeling I knew what those black things were. They looked like scales of sort my guess…dragon scales and a black dragon's no doubt. I quickly looked around and saw no dragon of any kind. I breathed a sigh of relief. Then a thought tugged at the back of my head, aren't scales and bones of a dragon worth something?
Well if that was true I was going to need some sort of trade or currency. I was only able to carry five scales and I had about four bones. This stuff was a bitch to carry and I didn't even know if it was worth something. I kept my ears opened as I looked around at the scenery. This place was beautiful. How could I wish to leave this world? I don't know if I could stay here though. I may no longer have a family, but I still have friends I love.

Well, it was bound to happen. It always does. No way of avoiding it now. If you choose not to pay attention to what you're doing, you're going to trip over something and tumble down. It's inevitable. Try as you might, once you ignore what you're doing, you're going to pay. So there I went, tumbling down a hill. And of course, there's a hill. It seems part of the package. If you fall you're most likely to tumble down a hill. Why? Because reality is out to get you that's why.

"I wonder when I'm gonna stop?" I thought.

Wham!  "Oh looky I stopped." I said out loud. I was on my back with my butt in the air, and my legs over my head. Most defiantly not a comfortable position. I lowered my legs over my head and unwound my body making myself light headed and slightly dizzy.
As soon as I was able to stand without problems, I grabbed my bag and the items that were scattered about. Once I had everything I took a look at what I hit. It was a cave, and before I could go exploring it a dwarf came out. His hat, tunic, breeches, and boots were all earthen colors. He had a long brown beard and under thick bushy eyebrows he had blue eyes.

"What's going on up here? He raised an eyebrow and before I could say anything he spoke again. "Ye a mute Miss? Yer not from around here are ya?"

"No to the last two questions," I replied. As for the first, I fell down a hill and hit the cave. My apologies. Didn't mean to disturb anyone."

"Now that's something we dwarfs don't get very often. Someone who's quick to apologize. That's refreshing. Ye don't get that too often with these young generations, out side of dwarfs of course. Now what can I do fer ya Miss? Say those be dragon scales, and bones. Did you want anything for those? I could make a fine weapon out one or two of them if'n you'd like. Say for the price of what's left over."

I wasn't as stupid as he hoped, but at the same time he was glad I wasn't. "I'll make you a deal, make me a weapon that I can carry, but also cause some damage when necessary and turn one of these scales into coin pieces and I'll take you to the exact place I got them and you can keep what's left over."

"It's a deal Miss. When do you need it?"

"Well considering I don't live in this world I kinda need as soon as possible so I can defend myself."

"I see. Okay then Miss. Ya got a name?"

"Joslyn."

"Well Miss Joslyn, I'll make you the finest weapon, and it'll be created to change size if'n you need it." With that I gave him the objects and he went back into the cave.

I looked around and noticed a large rock near the cave entrance so I decided to climb on top of it. It was such a large rock that my legs dangled. I sat with my legs on the sides of the rock and my knees facing slightly inward; my hands sat palms down on the rock's surface. I tried to occupy myself by looking around, but I was getting antsy. I wanted to go exploring not sit around. It wasn't long before a dark figure dropped from out of nowhere and stood at the mouth of the cave.
He was almost as tall as the cave. The new comer was tan, with long black hair with red underneath, and blue eyes. He was wearing a long black with gray trim tunic with slits on both sides; black breeches and black boots. His ears were pointed so I assumed he was an elf, but when he opened his mouth to talk I saw fangs and figured he was a vampyre. I did remember reading Blood Kisses, a vampyre story were vampyres walked in the daylight.

"Hey! Dwarfs!" He yelled. "Where's mah sword?"

Okay since when did vampyres need swords? Maybe the there was a meaning for the sword. Like it was a gift or something. He looked impatient and apparently caught a glimpse of me. He turned and stared at me in surprise. He got closer then leaned towards me and looked me over. He then proceeded to poke me in the breast. My reaction? I slapped him.

"What the hell was that for?!" He jolted back putting his hand to his cheek.

"You don't go poking someone in the breasts, you pervert!" I snapped.

"Sheesh! Don't be so sensitive."

I glared at him. "Do it again and I'll rip your arms out of their sockets and beat you with them." I then turned away from him crossed my arms and closed my eyes.

"Humans. Yer kinda cute when you pout." I ignored him though I wasn't pouting. "Yer from the non-magic world aren't you?"

"What's it to you?" I opened my left eye and raised my eyebrow.

"I'm just making conversation."

"You poked my breast, you wondered why I slapped you, and after getting angry, you want to make conversation!" I was annoyed with this guy and it showed. "And on top of that we're strangers!"

"I'm Jesus Monkey," he introduced himself.

I was so stunned and dumbfounded that I almost fell of the rock. Cheeky devil! What nerve! So now what? What was I supposed to do now? I could be rude and not introduce myself, but I'm not that type of person. I sighed frustrated with myself and the vampyre.

"Joslyn."

Jesus Monkey smiled, "Nice to meetcha. And welcome to NeoGaea."

"Who named this world?"

"Well by technicality the elders came up with it. Something simple, easy to spell and write as well as pronounce. No tedious translations or going through trouble of remembering a name hardly any one can pronounce."

"I get it. Sounds like a sales pitch."

Jesus Monkey laughed then turned to the cave and yelled into again. "Hey! It's Jesus Monkey! Where the hell is my sword?!"

"Since when did vampyres need swords?" I asked remembering he came here for his sword.

Jesus Monkey laughed again, "I'm no vampyre. I'm a demon. Vampyres are only in stories. Though there are some creatures that come off as vamps. They do drink blood. Some demons too, but they're not vamps."

"Okay new question: Why would a demon take a sword to dwarfs?"

"Because, even demons know good workmanship."

"Oh."

Soon a different dwarf came out carrying a large blue blade sword. That sword was about twice the dwarf's size and yet he carried it with ease. I've never seen a blue blade before. I've heard about them in stories, but seeing it is a different experience. I wonder if it shoots water or blue flames.

"What kind of sword is that? I've never seen a blue blade before."

"It's dragon scale of a young blue dragon with a bit of silver. And it's a donkey blade."

Okay not what I expected. "What's a donkey blade?"

"Well flame swords have fire coming out. So a donkey blade has donkeys coming out."

Again I almost fell off the rock, but I was able to keep balanced. "What does a demon need donkeys for?"

He smiled big, "They're fighting donkeys."

That did it. Off the rock I went. And it had to be backwards. I think the dwarf got a laugh before going back into the cave. I hope this world isn't always this comical. I feel like I'm in a story. I finally got up and climbed on top of the rock.

"You okay?" Jesus Monkey asked smiling his head off.

"I believe so."        

"Well I must be going. Got things to do and such." With that he left.

Well that was weird.  Really weird. Now I'm bored again. I decided to occupy my mind by listening to the different birds. I was amazed at how beautiful those bird songs sounded. But what really surprised me is that it's just a common bird from my world, and yet it's song sounds so much different here. As simple as it sounds it has to be do to the magic in this word.
As I waited in thought, my heart began to race as I pondered the possibility of a flying spell could actually exist. I've always had dreams of flying and now it just maybe possible.  Now I was more impatient than ever. Soon I started thinking about how much fun it would be to travel this new world. Even with all the possible dangers.

"Ugh! I'm bored!" I said aloud. "Kinda lonely too. I miss my friends."

Great, maybe I'm gonna have to find a way back home instead. But…what if I can't get back home? The thought was freighting as well as did it make me slightly relieved that I may not leave. It was one of those things. Made you happy but at the same time it made you sad. Well it's not like I have a family back home in my world. Not anymore. Just my friends, not that I don't love them like family. It's just we don't get together as often. Once a summer is when I get to see them. This summer's get together was supposed to happen at my new place in Scotland. But Vashti has a fashion show in: Paris, France; London, England; New York City, New York; Shanghai, China; Tokyo, Japan; and Sydney Australia. I'm not positive if in that order, though. Must be great being the top fashion designer. Let's see…who else was going to be busy this summer? Callista's going to New York City to show offer her new dance style. And Yume's in Africa taking wildlife photos. She'll at least see Xziyan.
Before I could finish my mental list of what my friends were up to, the dwarf I first met came out of the cave. He was carrying a small dagger sized scythe with a pendulum blade at the other end. The blades were jagged were connected with a bone. He also carried a purse, which I assumed had my coin sized dragon scales.
"Now we don't dabble too much into the magics. Just when he need to. In this case we made the acceptation. This dagger responds to a person's thoughts. All you have to do is think how large you want this and it will extend or contract. Saves on button pushing or pulling things out to extend them. You can think of sword size, staff, or larger. At the same time you can think of dagger or knife size for traveling. Now before I hand them over to you, you must keep your end of the bargain."

I hopped off the rock and he followed me to area where I found the scales and bones. And there were still quite a few scales and bones left. The dwarf was pleased and handed me the Hybrid, I call my weapon a hybrid, and the purse and we thanked each other. He whistled and soon there were other dwarfs coming and they gathered the items and took them to their cave. And I was off on adventure. Well this has been a weird day. I wonder if it can get weirder. Maybe that's not something to wonder.
I didn't go back up the hill. I didn't want to deal with that damn harpy. This NeoGaea, it's so beautiful the colors, the plant life. I'm so glad it hasn't been destroyed by humanity. Maybe I'll just stay here. I do feel more at home here as if lived here before. But that's silly. Isn't it?
I stopped to watch a couple of butterflies fly past my head. They were larger than my hand. I turned to see where they came from and to my amazement there was a large rose bush. The roses were strange; red with yellow trim. Could they be hybrids? I leaned into a rose and inhaled the exhilarating fragrance, it wasn't too strong, but not faint. The sweet smell put me in a daze. It was getting a little dark and when I noticed it wasn't night darkness I jolted back to my senses. I looked down and saw it was a shadow of a large creature. I could think of quite a few flying creatures, but it was the shadow of only on of those creatures.
I closed my eyes tightly wincing at the thought. Then I reluctantly looked up and there it was; a black and gold dragon. Not that I was going to argue with a very large very powerful dragon with claws and large sharp teeth, but since when where there black serpent like dragons with gold? The dragon hovered there for a while studying me then it decided to swoop for me. I didn't get a chance to dodge, fear petrified to the spot. Run! Run away! MOVE IT! I thought, but nothing. So it carried me off in its claws. Screaming wasn't doing any good. And neither would pulling out my hybrid and slicing the dragon's claws to get free since I was oh…I'd say five miles above the trees! So here I was hanging from the grasp of a dragon heading somewhere.

Now what?