FSE

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Once upon a time there existed a highly advanced culture of beings that knew no war, hunger, or hate a race of beings called Arladechs. The arladechs made their existence peacefully with nature and all it's beasts far before humans came along. Their culture thrived and flourished into a number of technological metropolis scattered across the nation of Aridan. A city of sand, A city of wind, A city of stone, a city of flame, a city of currents, a city of forest, a city of beasts, a city of thunder, and a city of darkness. Each of the cities had a shrine in which it drew power from the element around it. These nine cities were the strongholds of power for the arladechs through the cradle of civilization when man first appeared a belligerent and hateful race the Arladechs secluded themselves from this manner of beast knowing it would bring ruin.

Chapter one: The betrayal

The nine cities existed cloaked in secrecy, beneath the shifting sands, Under the endless currents of the tides, immersed by the hot flames of hell fire, enclosed by the dense mountains, Surrounded by thick mazes of forests, Floating above the heavens, Drifting among the clouds, and shrouded by the very essence of night. The only city that had no protection was the city of the beasts. In nature with the living animals of the world the city of the beasts was a paradise for the animals, a large garden in which rare food grew, and there were many safe spots to nest, mate, and raise offspring. The ruler of this city was a princess of the fairest type, innocent and curious like her breatheren she watched the forbidden humans from afar at first until she grew too curious and broke the only rule of the Arladech. "Never Communicate With Humans"

A boy sat by the stream playing his instrument gently and letting the melody drift upon the winds catching the princess's ears as she scavenged for food. Her curiosity piqued she followed the enchanting melody towards it's source a young humanling skillfully blowing into a set of long tubes. The princess crouched low and stalked the boy drawn by his haunting tune she got closer and closer until...

The sound a twig snapping made the boy turn around. At first he thought he was hallucinating. In his sight was a beautiful young girl, that which rivaled the royalty of his time, wearing loose scraps of clothing and with hair to her back. She had a kind look about her eyes but she seemed different. That was when he spotted her ears, not human but two fox ears on the side of her head. "What .. what are you?" He backed away believing that his song had awoken a forest beast. "I'm sorry if I disturbed you" He went to put his instrument away but the Princess shook her head sitting down.

"Please, play some more, that music is so soothing, please play some more human" The Princess asked she didn't see what was so bad about humans, they seemed easily startled but other than that they seemed okay. "My name is " The princess let out a low sort of feral growl, smiling and waiting for his response.

"Um Malachi, I'm Malachi and I don't think I quite understand your name.. um.. can I call you vixen?" Malachi asked if she was indeed a female fox beast then the name suited someone of her beauty. "I didn't know I was any good, if you want me to play more then I guess I can, but. um can you promise me something?" Malachi smiled and rubbed the back of his head. "Promise not to eat me if I play horribly?" He laughed a bit but then stopped thinking how horrible that must have sounded.

"Okay.. I won't eat you, I only eat things smaller than me anyway" Vixen giggled and sat down, a group of foxes she was hunting with settling down, respecting her as their leader and protecting the princess at all costs.

Malachi picked his flute up and began to play it softly. "Over the hills and through the grass, my true purpose lies" The song began to sing itself the words forming from the wind. "We live for a while and then we die, the mortal ties that clasp our lives, back to the earth we will return when our time is done. Serve your master well my boy, for he'll fade like the setting sun" Malachi stopped playing and looked up to Vixen with a shy smile, he never played that well before.

"That was pretty, and well I'd like it if I could meet you here again" Vixen giggled and crawled over to Malachi the foxes following and walking cautiously as Vixen leaned against Malachi, now breaking a taboo that didn't even exist "Don't fall in love with a human.."

Malachi nodded and agreed to meet with Vixen again tomorrow running home to his parents to explain the news to them. "Mama, Papa I met the most wonderful girl!" He was so excited, he had always had trouble making friends, not as strong as the other boys Malachi was shunned from playing their 'working' games with them. The girls didn't like him because he was a boy and it was 'strange' for him to want to do anything but have sex or try to court them.

"Really my son, what's her name?" Malachi's father asked as he stood over the hot iron forge of a blacksmith. "Is she near the village?" He asked hammering away at a metal object, a sword made for his highness himself, a collection sitting in the corner for the soldiers.

"Yes her name is Vixen and I met her in the forest" Malachi smiled as he watched his father work, some day he would be a good black smith but his heart lied in his music, he wanted to sing and entertain people with his music for ages.

"Vixen, she sounds like quite a cute child, who are her parents?" Malachi's father asked and his mother observed quietly as was her place too, setting the table for their hard earned meal of meager measures.

"I don't think she has any.. or any I would understand, she was a fox girl!" Malachi said rather proudly, not knowing the reaction it would create. His mother dropped a plate his father hit the hot sword so hard it bent in half.

"Malachi what did I tell you about lying, there is no such thing as a fox girl, now get that ridiculous nonsense out of your head now!" Malachi's father shouted sternly and went back to work.

"But.. but it isn't a lie she had two fox ears on the side of her head, they were fuzzy and all" Malachi whined his parents never believed anything that wasn't normal or conditional.

"Malachi if you don't stop lying right now I'm going to take you outside and beat the lies out of you right infront of the school house for everyone to see!" Malachi's mother chimed in, now finally finding purpose in speaking since it came to child rearing.

"FINE!" Malachi shouted and pushed over an empty bucket storming out leaving his supper behind her went back into the forest to try and find Vixen, if he brought her home then his parents would have to believe him.

Malachi wandered the forest for six days before collapsing lost in the mazes of the dense growth. "I can't.. go on" He huffed and collapsed on the ground his stomach growling and his life fading. ".. One last song.. before I die" He took his flute out and began playing it slowly. "Be good young man to your master as soon he'll fade like the setting sun" He closed his eyes welcoming death over starvation until something hit him in the head causing him to pass out.

When Malachi woke up he was surrounded by deer, and other sorts of animals. "Huh?" He sat up but a soft hand ushered him to lay back down. "Rest" She said softly and remained kneeled at his bedside. "Vixen?" Malachi turned his head and looked with a smile it was his wild beauty, vixen. "I'm sorry I missed our date, I kinda had a fight with my parents and I went looking for you" Malachi grinned and sat up, something was odd.. he wasn't in a normal room it looked like. Malachi shot up and grabbed the bars of his prison shaking them. "What's going on Vixen!?" He looked panicked as vixen slowly stood and looked down. "Humans..aren't supposed to talk to Arladechs, and even worse they aren't supposed to see any of the hidden cities, I broke two very big rules when I brought you here Malachi, and.. We were arrested"

Malachi couldn't beleive it his situation went from bad to worse as the entire room came into focus, a thick jail cell made of wooden bars and vines. The beds were a pile of leaves on a raised trunk. "They threw us in jail why!?" Malachi put his face in his hands and sat on the stump wondering how he ever got into this mess.

"Because your a human, long ago it was deemed that getting involved with your species is forbidden!" Vixen cried out knowing that Malachi was furious with her, but he was dying she would have gladly risked her life to save him. "I'm sorry you must hate me, I'm nothing but trouble to you!" Vixen began to sob whimpering softly and rubbing her eyes. "I'm so sorry Mala.." The next thing she knew Malachi's hands were on her shoulders pulling her into his embrace and holding her head softly to his shoulder.

"It's okay, I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at my parents, and at this dumb rule that says you can be friends with a human because of some observations made long ago" Malachi smiled and hugged Vixen tightly to his body until she stopped crying letting her sit back up he smiled and turned bright red when she gave him a gentle kiss on his mouth as a thank you.

Back in the village Malachi's parents sit worried about the welfare of their son, having run away nearly a month ago. Pacing back and forth the mother is slowly coming undone and the father pretends like it never happened. "Worse case we can always have another one" The father said finishing up the armor for his majesty and his army. "SHUT UP!" Malachi's mother shouted not even wanting to think about having another baby. "Okay.. okay I'm sorry" Malachi's father sighed finishing up.

"Presenting his Royal Highness King Azman!" A proclaimer shouted and the king descended upon the home of the smith and wife. "Good day Jobe" Azman smiled and offered his hand, both Jobe and his wife taking a knee to his presence. "You may rise, I come bearing interesting news of your son, Malachite I beleive his name was?" Azman took out a scroll and began to read it. "It was said that at 4:23 a month back that your son was seen wandering the forest. The guard on duty knocked him out to bring him home, but then was attacked by a strange girl with the ears of a beast on her head aided by an army of beasts" The king finished reading the report and looked to the horror on Jobe and his wife's face. "It seems that your son, was lost, but not in vain we now know of the threat facing our kingdom, we must find and slay this animal army.. and AVENGE YOUR SON!"

Vixen and Malachi slowly grew comfortable to their cells, a tree in the cell bore fruit at an amazing rate so they didn't go hungry and they had each other to keep them company, two burly beastly bears watching guard poised to attack any chances of escape. "You look beautiful today Vixen" Malachi smiled and stroked his loves hair, having become comfortable enough to sleep next to her they were slowly becoming an rock hard couple. "Good morning by the way" The sun shone in over their bed and Vixen stirred gently letting out a content soft of purr to her lover. "Good morning" She kissed him and rolled over hugging him. "Did you sleep well?" Vixen asked softly, she felt strange. "Better than I did before I met you.. are you okay?" Malachi looked she seemed to be glowing a bit more than usual, her chest had gotten bigger too.

"Malachi" Vixen sat up her stomach was also growing, not out but more round. "Malachi I think I might be.. with your child" Vixen said gently afraid of how he might respond. Malachi just froze, it hit him like a ton of bricks, not that she was pregnant, it was nearly a month ago they consummated their love for each other. "I'm so happy" Malachi let out a relieved sigh and wrapped his arms around his pregnant partner moving his hand to her stomach and rubbing it slowly. "Are you okay with this?" Malachi asked as he began to rub Vixens bulging stomach. "Of course, If there is anything I can do for you, the man I love it's care for you and bare your children" Vixen smiled and kissed Malachi passionately, her hormones working double their usual activity.

"AHEM!" A guard coughed making the two look up. "The king wants to have a word with you" The Arladech had the eyes of a cat as he unlocked the cage and waited. "The king?" Malachi asked and Vixen seemed to cower. "..." She stood proudly, not ashamed of her love, or of her love child that would soon be born. "Take us to father, I will not show fear" Vixen said in a tone that befit a princess Malachi taking her hand as they walked from the prison to the main castle, people staring at them in the streets, so that was a human?

In the castle there were many animals, predators and prey sitting together in a peaceful balance under the great beast king. "So what is your father like?" Malachi whispered to Vixen who turned and only replied with one word. "Scary" The two were lead up into a throne room, where on the throne sat a giant of a man, a burly lion Arladech with eyes that could kill just by glaring.

"Who do you think you are?" The king snarled and glared down at Malachi. "I am Malachi of the humans" Malachi said, shaking a little but standing firm. "Well Malachi of the humans, do you think it is okay to invade the sanctity of my kingdom and trick my daughter into loving you!?" The lion leaped down and pinned Malachi beneath him with his heavy hands, snarling at him.

"FATHER NO!" Vixen shouted but her mother, a tall slender fox woman grabbed her and shook her head. "No dear, he has to go through this alone... dear are you?" Vixens mother caught it almost immediately, her stance, the way she was moving, and the feel of her chest. "Yes mother.. it's his" Vixen said not ashamed but softly so father wouldn't hear. "Oh my.." Vixens mother held her back as Malachi fought the giant beast king.

"I didn't trick her at all, I was just playing my music and she came to me!" Malachi struggled, he felt like he was being crushed under the pressure of the king and his accusations. "You lured her there with a hypnotic melody!" The king snarled again and applied more pressure. "ADMIT IT OR I'LL BREAK YOUR ARMS OFF!" The king roared and covered Malachi with saliva. "NO BECAUSE I DIDN'T YOUR DAUGHTER LOVES ME AND THAT IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO COPE WITH, I LOVE HER AND THERE'S NOTHING THAT YOU CAN DO THAT WILL MAKE ME SAY OTHERWISE SO GO AHEAD AND KILL ME I WON'T RENOUNCE MYSELF!" Malachi roared back spitting on the king's face and glaring at him, tired of always being the mouse beneath the cat if he was going to die he was going to fight back.

"... Gutsy" The lion released Malachi and padded back towards his throne. "You say that even in death you will continue to love my beloved daughter, you will raise your child with the notions that love is not something you just say, it is something you devote yourself too?" The lion smirked to Vixen having already known about their relationship. "If that is your answer then I have no choice than to permit you to stay" The lion yawned lazily, Malachi having passed the test would be permitted to live with Vixen in the city, among the Arladech as an equal. "Know this, I do not take kindly to humans so you may only notify your parents of your decision, should you chose to stay with them, you may never see vixen or this city again, and if you search, I will come and kill you" The beast king snarled and bore his teeth. "Understand!?"

Malachi nodded as he was escorted out, he had only one day to collect his effects. Malachi was whisked back to the rivers edge, two eagles waiting for either him to return or the sun to set. "I'll be right back" Malachi ran towards his home eager to see his parents again, but the house was vacant. "..." He sighed and left a note explaining he had run away and he could never see them again. After finishing his goodbye he gathered a few of his things and returned to the eagles. Unknown to him, the royal army was following him lurking in the shadows until they had come upon it, the city of beasts. Wanting to stage an attack they instead retreated to gather in numbers and plan the attack on the devil city.

"They have taken him hostage" The king said reading the note explaining that Malachi was not permitted to return to his parents ever. "They have shown their hostile hands and we with our blade of justice shall remove those hands and mount them on the wall!" He shouted his knights shouting in response, so it was set, at the next new moon the attack on the city would be carried out, as planned.

The months passed and Malachi became accustomed to the ways of the Arladech, the beasts cooperated with each other and were given food, and he did his best for Vixen, planting crops and sewing seeds in the lot his 'father' had given him to make his home. Gathering materials and building shelter, planting and reaping food he felt like he had become a true man, truer than his father who was given his house as a dowry. "Vixen?" Malachi poked his head into the house, where Vixen had gone into labor with her mother by her side she was in the painful process of birthing the new heir to the beast king's throne. "GET OUT!" Vixen screamed and Malachi fell over scurrying away towards the garden to pick food for when Vixen had finished.

"Why did you do that dear?" Vixens mother asked, helping in the deliver with a tub of hot water and cloth nearby. "Because, I don't want him to see me like this, as his wife it's disgraceful to be seen so weak and vulnerable, he worked so hard to build this house, and our life together, he didn't shed a single tear as he worked so the least, I can do, is birth his child without seeming like I am too weak!" Vixen let out a loud scream as she pushed their child through her body, the natural process nearly tearing her in two

Malachi listened to the screams and shook his head, feeling helpless as his beloved wife sat in pain he could only work on his crops, hearing the heavy familiar padding behind him he stood dusting his knee's off. "Feeling kind of weak right now aren't you my son?" The Beast king asked with a chuckle, he had gone through the same emotions when Vixen was born. "Do not worry she is doing her best to seem strong, as she is giving a being life, it's almost symbolic" The lion chuckled and sat. "I must say as a human you have surprised me son, when I gave you this land with nothing but a few tools and seeds I did not expect such a magnificent home and life to be built." The king yawned and closed his eyes hearing his daughters screams of pain, though opened them when the screams turned into wails, that of a newborn baby. "Go.. your child is calling you" He flicked his tail and watched malachi drop his tools and run towards the sound.

Vixen's mother washed the baby off and handed it to Vixen, a darling little girl with the tail of her mother, and the body of her father. "Well, I shall leave the parents alone.. Malachi, do right by her, and she will do right by you such as Vixen has done for her father and I" Vixens mother smiled carrying out bloodied cloth rags and a basin of crimson water. "Vixen" Malachi kneeled next to vixen who held her baby proudly, she had done it, she had birthed Malachi's daughter and proved herself as his wife, though now she was so very tired and felt herself black out clinging to her daughter.

"Heh that's okay Vixen rest you earned it" Malachi took the baby and held it close to his heart, he could feel how warm she was, how fragile and delicate she was. "Hello" He smiled down and the baby let out a small coo. "I'm your daddy, I have something special for you, beautiful baby girl" Malachi walked over to his box of effects and took out a bracelet his father made him when he was a baby. "Hmm what to call you" Malachi thought and decided it would be better to discuss this with Vixen when she woke up.

The army approached as night settled in swords sheathed and ready to attack they surveyed the kingdom and with a mighty cry called out the signal as they charged taking the city by storm and slaughtering what ever animal they could find. "KILL THEM ALL LEAVE NOTHING STANDING!" The king shouted and the archers let loose arrows with flames burning down the dwellings of the beasts.

Malachi turned as the squeals of slaughtered animals filled the air, his eyes widening, had the humans found the city!? Malachi panicked picking up the fainted Vixen and carrying her on his back he ran towards the castle, a guard spotting him. "THEY'RE ESCAPING SHOOT THEM!" The archers let forth a hail of arrows whizzing past him as Malachi persisted taking an Arrow in his leg right in the bone. "AH!" He screamed out in pain but persisted leaving a trail of blood as he ran fast into the safety of the castle, the animals preparing to strike back but knowing it was futile.

"YOU!" The king roared and approached Malachi. "YOU TRAITOR YOU DID THIS!" He snarled and swiped Malachi hard enough to break him in two but with a single hand he stopped the paw and glared directly into the King's eyes. "You think I would do this to my family, to my wife, TO MY DAUGHTER!?" He shouted and the king backed down. "My apologies it just seems suspicious that the humans managed to navigate their way through the maze of the forest" The king paced thinking of what to do. "... Malachi, you said long ago that you would die for love.. were you speaking from your heart?" The king asked as the door began to pound. "ANSWER ME!" He snarled and Malachi looked him dead in the eye. "I would die a thousand times for my daughter and wife!" He shouted back as the lion chuckled walking to a door near his throne. "IN here, place the child on the table and say the prayer inscribed, she will be safe even if the earth should break in two" The lion let out a heavy sigh. "TO be willing to die, for the safety of your child, that is what love is, despite how rough I was with Vixen, her mother and I love her so very much, and don't even dare to think that she could have found a better husband even in the most loyal dog to my kingdom, Malachi, I'm proud of you, as a human, as a man, as my son NOW GO!"

The door smashed down and the charge was ghastly as the sound of cold metal broke through the hellish night the blood of so many innocent animals spattered the floors and walls until only one pair was left, the king, and his queen. "This is my home, my kingdom, my SANCTITY AND YOU WILL NOT INVADE IT!" The King snarled and charged at the army, ready to kill as many as he could before dying himself. As he charged a stray arrow flew loose and struck the queen through her skull, causing instant death as she fell to the ground dead, making the king halt his charge and watch in horror as his wife left the world. "..." He said nothing and turned to the king of the humans his hair standing on end he arched back and lunge bitting down on the humans throat as a hundred blades stabbed him, he wouldn't let go, the King gasping and screaming in agony as he died in the beasts mouth, the great beast king smirking as he faded from life, a king in life, and a fool in victory

Malachi ran through the long stone corridor knowing he and Vixen were next. "I love you.. I love you, I love you!" He repeatedly said to his unconscious wife and strangely sleeping child. Inside the room at the end of the hall was an alter, one used for worship or rituals. "Now" He set the child down on the table as directed and looked to the wall, on it weren't words but notes. "..." Malachi smiled and sat his wife next to him taking out his flute. "Shh Daddy has one song for you, my darling baby daughter" Malachi followed the music with his eyes. "For ages pass unaltered time, frozen in this place and age. You will see futures untold until again this song is played, Rest fair child and grow with ease, you shall not see the brutality. The world will spin yet you will stay, sleeping soundly till another day" As the song ended the child became soothed and a dome formed around her the table sinking into the earth, hidden as the door was broken down and Malachi was found laying his hand clutched to his wife's.

"You traitor..." The captain of the army spat, if it wasn't for this damned boy then the king would still be alive. Taking his sword high he rammed it through Vixen's throat, and then with a side movement cut it in half taking Malachi's head with it. ".. WE SHALL HAVE TROPHIES!" He held their heads up and the army cheered the kingdom of Beasts toppled. Returning home they let loose arrows of flames burning what was left of the once great city of beasts to the ground...

In the stone chamber where music is written upon the wall, lay sleeping the last heir to the Beasts, born of human and beast blood she is the key to recovering a once lost great kingdom, hidden in the ruins of Arladech