The Blue Orchid, the Black Rose, and the Ayame

By Sallie Becker and Edward G. Becker

The Star have landed on one of the beautiful pink moons of Forest. Their arrival did not go unnoticed, as everyone in the village felt the ground shake and the windows in their homes shatter. As one of the Star arrived at the village, Sabre, Elli, and the other villagers began to flee because of the destruction taking place around them. The sage of the village challenges the Star to buy time for the villagers to leave the village. After the villagers took refuge in the woods, Sabre and Elli meet Ayami for the first time, and their journey truly begins. Join these characters as they battle horrific adversaries during their travels while attempting to change their imminent destiny.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483672960

Sallie Becker

My name is Edward Becker, and I am originally from California, the sunshine state. While my dad was in the U.S. Navy, we lived in San Diego, and my mom was a school teacher. My little sister was born there also and our family became complete. After we spent sometime in the west, our family moved to the rural state of Indiana. Here in Indiana, I have lived most of my life, and the experiences here have helped inspire me to write this book for you. I enjoy Silver Beach near Lake Michigan, and I like to take walks with my children. I also like to roam through the larger parks in the Northern part of Indiana. I enjoy the songs that nature sings, the outdoors, and the journeys I take in my free time to escape the harshness of our world.

Book preview

Copyright © 2013 by Edward G. Becker and Sallie Becker.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2013913140

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. date: 07/26/2013

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Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Dedicated to my love ones

Chapter 1

On a beautiful summer night, the wind blew steadily from the south through some trees near a beautiful lake. It was located just south of a beautiful garden, filled with some of the most beautiful flowers. Different shades of blue, black, white, and pink could be seen as the flowers swayed back and forth in the gentle breeze. The beautiful blue sun shined brightly in the summer sky. It illuminated the green grass surrounding the clearing around the lake. The lake’s beautiful blue water flowed gently along its current as the creatures in the water swam along. The flying creatures also seemed to be enjoying themselves, swooping in and out of the sky to the water’s surface, looking for food.

On the lake’s shore, a village had been built by a very unique group of creatures. The village was built out of the shiny grass, surrounding the lake, illuminating the village brightly. The village was large and was home to many who lived there. It had a variety of structures, some large and some small. They looked like houses, storage facilities, and some looked like barns. There was also a windmill at the north side of the village, spinning quickly in the wind. It looked like a tower with a triangular point. The tower had been painted an odd color and was different from everything around it.

There was also a well, built into the ground, inside the four corners of the tower. It had an automated system with a few buckets on ropes, descending and ascending. Water flowing from the lake entered a shaft in the well, and the weight of the buckets kept the rope turning on pulleys that guiding the ropes. When the water-filled bucket reached the top of the well, it was dumped into a wooden irrigation system, distributing water to the different structures within the village.

In the beautiful blue sky, some clouds were floating by, occasionally casting shadows upon the ground in and upon the walls of the grass structures. Not far from the well, there was a structure looking very much like the shape of a box with a pointed roof. A chimney was coming out of the center of the roof. Black smoke came out of the chimney which was made from a special type of stone only found at the bottom of the lake. The stone was a bright shiny white rock, reflecting the blue sun’s light magnificently. Out in front of the structure, was a place where tools were laying about. An anvil was in the middle of this work area and a large sledge hammer lay next to a weapon-like creation. It was in the process of being forged. A fire pit was also outside next to the anvil, along with a larger barrel of water. Inside the structure, the sound of clanging could be heard. Also, someone was speaking.

Damn it! yelled the female voice, looking at her bloody thumb. She had just smashed it while using a tool to make the handle for the weapon she was making.

That is the second time today I have accidentally smashed my thumb! The blue haired girl put the tool down and decided to take a break.

It is time for a swim, said the young girl, as she began to walk toward the doorway of the structure, facing the lake. She looked at the lake with her deep blue eyes and smiled with her beautiful blue lips. As she exited the structure, she could feel the hot blue sun upon her pale freckled skin. She wore a modest outfit made from the hanging filaments of the trees surrounding the garden. She looked around and saw that none of the other villagers seemed to be around. She removed the straps of her outfit and it fell to the ground. She walked toward the lake in her innocence, as her long blue hair moved with the gentle warm breeze. Her hair is long and covers most of her body. She also has some white body hair that covers her chest a little and her backside. Her facial features are sharp and lovely.

She loosened the black ties that kept some of her hair in place. Her long blue hair fell to her feet. She finally arrived at the water’s edge and then proceeded to put a toe in the water. The water felt warm from the heat of the blue sun. None of the flying creatures seemed to be bothered by her presence, as she put her both her feet in the water and began to walk along the lake’s bottom to deeper water. She walked on her toes and then began to swim a little as she felt the lake’s bottom become deeper.

The water feels so good, she said. Smiling, as she floated along on her back, she looked up at the blue sun which shined very brightly. She watched as the clouds floated by, covering the sun periodically. The wind shifted a little and began to blow from the northwest. She just continued to float and relax. She felt as if she could absorb the energy from the sunlight. She watched as the flying creatures flew high above her. Little by little, though, there seemed to be fewer flying above the lake’s surface. She stared at the sky in deep thoughtlessness, just listening to the water’s surface and the fluttering of the flying creatures in the water.

She closed her eyes and slowly fell into a daydream. At that moment, a strange noise could be heard from a distance. Her hearing was extraordinary. She can hear things very far away, compared to a Terran. She looked up toward the blue sun and saw something unusual. She saw a dark, black spot appear in her eyesight as she looked at the sun. The dark, black spot looked almost as if it were right in front of the sun.

What is that? she asked as she began to swim back to shore. As she swam, she could hear the noise of the object becoming louder. She swam faster and faster toward shore, fear growing within her.

She reached the shore and ran to get her garments in the grass. She dressed herself as she looked up at the sky, listening to the noise becoming louder and louder. The object increased in size, the sunlight reflecting magnificently from what appeared to be a triangular shaped object.

The front of it appeared to be on fire, and a trail of smoke could be seen behind it. The young girl ran toward her structure for some weapons. She ran around the front of the structure and entered through the doorway, looking for her armor, shield, and sword. She threw things around, becoming frustrated at not finding her weapons. Then, she realized she left her things back out by the anvil.

Damn! I need to be more careful and remember where I put my things! said the young girl, as she ran back out to get them. She saw many of the town’s villagers, standing out in the main roadway, pointing and observing the noisy, falling object. She heard their voices of concern and panic.

A masculine youth with black hair and black eyes approached her with his armor on and sword in its sheath. He was wearing chain mail armor, processed from special metal found only in the lake’s bottom. He is average height for a young boy and has good form. His muscles are fully developed, even at his adolescent age. His skin is also pale white with black freckles around his wrists. He has a round nose, a thin looking face, and pointed ears. His lips were black, and he had light black body hair. The villagers also looked somewhat human, having two arms and two legs, having five fingered hands and five toes on each foot.

Elli, said the young boy, Did you see that?

Yes! said the young girl, I saw it.

What is it? asked the youth, as they look up at the object now racing across the sky.

I do not know, Sabre, said Elli. I sense something strange about it, as if something might be riding inside that thing.

Me too! said Sabre, as he looked back at Elli. Maybe we should consult the town sage and see if we can find out more about it.

A loud roar was heard from the flying object. It was gaining speed as it headed for a mountain range north of the village. It disappeared over the tall, black snow-capped mountains. After a moment, an explosion could be heard. It shook the ground. The flying creatures, hiding in the trees, took off because of the loud noise, as well as other creatures, scurrying around the village and out in the garden.

The noise also shook some of the structures in the village. Windows shattered. Some of the villagers screamed and panicked. Sabre and Elli found themselves on the ground. The shockwave had knocked both of them off their feet.

With tears streaming from her eyes, Elli, in pain from falling, said, Let’s go consult the town sage. I have a really bad feeling about this.

I, as well, said Sabre, climbing to his feet, extending a hand to Elli, helping her to her feet.

Thank you! said Elli as she grabbed his hand and pulled herself up.

The sage’s home was located in the center of town, said Sabre, walking toward the main part of the village. We’d better get moving!

Agreed! said Elli with a serious tone in her voice. We need to find out what we are up against.

As Sabre and Elli ran toward the center of town to visit the sage, they observed several who were wandering around, senseless after the shockwave. Some of the village’s guards were helping others in distress. Many of them were wounded from flying glass. The farther the two youths ran into the village, the worse things seemed. At the edge of an alley, between two houses, a pair of legs could be seen. Blood had splattered on the side of one house.

Look! Sabre! yelled Elli, as she pointed to the villager.

Let’s go! yelled Sabre, as the two of them ran over to the villager laying face down in the dirt. She lay in a puddle of her own blood. Glass from a larger window had broken into several shards and pierced her back. Elli reached down to touch her neck and felt no pulse.

This one is dead, said Elli, as tears formed in her eyes. Help! yelled Sabre as he motioned to one of the guards dressed in white to come and help. The guard motioned to the others that were with him to follow.

Suddenly, a second shockwave moved through the village. The structures in the village shook as more windows exploded. The villagers couldn’t stand on their feet. Wagons with creatures attached to the front fell over. Water from the irrigation canals flowed into the streets.

What the hell is going on? yelled Elli as she grabbed hold of Sabre.

I don’t know, said Sabre as he held her while the ground shook. He picked her up and moved slowly into the middle of the dirt road, trying to escape the falling debris from the village’s structures.

Elli and Sabre watched as glass continued to rain down on the villagers and the grass from the buildings floated through the air. The guards in the village were scrambling, trying to help everyone they could. Those closest to some of the structures were being cut down by the glass from windows. Blood sprayed from their gashes.

Make it stop! yelled Elli as she screamed.

Sabre looked up in the sky and saw something floating above the village.

What is that? asked Sabre, as he watched the object hover in the air.

Do not stay here! said an older female voice. Flee from here!

Elli looked over in the direction of the voice and saw the sage. She is quite advanced in years with hair as white as the cleanest wool. Her garment looks as if it were made from pieces of a patchwork quilt. Her eyes are as red as roses. Her skin appears wrinkled, having white looking freckles around her wrists. Her face is pleasant to look upon.

What is going on? asked Elli as she continued to embrace Sabre.

Great evil is upon us! said the sage, as she pointed toward a creature in the sky. The creature had it arms crossed and observed the town. This creature, after its home struck our moon’s surface, caused the second shockwave, she said.

Why run? asked Sabre, as he released Elli from his embrace. We should fight!

My young friend, said the sage, as she drew her staff out from underneath her garment. No one in this village or on this moon has experienced an evil power such as this. It is time for you two to leave. Others have fled to the west already, and I suggest you do the same. Sabre looked at the creature in the sky and then looked back at the sage. Very well, then! said Sabre, grabbing a hold of Elli’s hand, Let us flee!

I will try to hold off the creature as long as I can, said the sage. She turned and walked down the dirt road in the creature’s direction, saying, Go! Now!

Sabre and Elli ran down a dirt road leading west out of the village.

Now, said the sage, time to discuss a few things with this creature. She watched as she approached the area beneath where it was hovering. The creature seemed to notice her and smiled. The sage cast an enchantment so she could understand the creature, and it could understand her.

Her staff began to glow a soft white light. Her staff is made of wood from the trees around the village. The staff has beautiful carvings in her language inscribed on it. It is thin, having a transparent mineral rock on the top of the staff. She had the bottom tip of the staff on the ground, and the staff formed a small circular barrier around her.

You! said the sage as she pointed at the creature. What are you? Who are you? What is your business here? This is a peaceful village and you have brought shame upon yourself!

The creature started laughing. It threw its arms up and descended quickly to the ground. When the creature landed, the ground shook a little. Its black boots are made of a fine substance, shining in the light of the blue sun. With its two hands, it removes its hood and reveals its face. The creature is male with pale white skin, pointed ears, and a slightly pointed nose, having white hair upon his head and blood-red eyes. He also has a pink mouth, and his protruding teeth or fangs, piercingly sharp and protruding over his lips. He appears young.

Old woman, said the creature in a deep voice, Do you think you are worthy enough to hear my tale?

The sage stood silent and observed the creature’s demeanor as it spoke.

Do you feel you are worth the spit in my mouth to speak to? asked the sage. You are responsible for killing several villagers and ruining several structures. For that fact, you caused the roof of my home to cave in.

Smiling again, he said, You know I am going to kill you, old woman, as it motioned its hand in a fashion of arrogance.

I will not ask you again, said the sage, beginning to gather spirit energy from around herself, Where are you from? Who are you? What is your business here?

Very well, then, he said, staring at her. I shall tell you my tale before you die.

I am not interested in your story, said the sage, as her barrier glowed a bright white light all around her in the shape of a sphere. I am only interested in sending you back from where you came from.

The wind shifted directions and blew strongly from the Northeast as some clouds quickly blew past. Shadows from the clouds following quickly. The old sage’s white hair could be seen blowing around on her head, her spirit energy flowing through her veins. He smiled at her, as he felt her energy increase.

Very well, then! he said, as he took a battle stance. He held his hands out in front of him and watched as her barrier increased in radius. The trees in the area could be seen blowing around. Purple leaves fell from the trees. The old sage pointed her staff at him, and out from the stone, a brilliant white light traveled toward him at great velocity. The creature watched as the energy approached him.

Very nice! yelled the creature as it stood its position. You will make an excellent subject to our collective!"

He held out its hands and caught the energy, it pushed him back a little on its feet. The creature’s feet began to slide, leaving a small trail from the front of his feet. He then pushed the energy off at angle away from him. It traveled into the sky above, exploding with large sparks, lighting up the evening sky. Just out on the edge of the village, some of the villagers could see the large flash of light. The villagers moved with more haste down the dirt road leading west. From a distance, Elli and Sabre also saw the light as it flashed over the village.

What is going on? said Elli as she continued to run with Sabre.

Just keep running! said Sabre as he tugged a little with Elli’s hand in his, Just keep moving!

You will not succeed easily, said the sage, as she put the bottom tip of her staff back on the ground.

And you will join me when this fight is over! he said as he ran quickly toward her. His speed was great, and the old sage could hardly see him move. She closed her eyes and began to track him with her soul. He seemed to appear out of nowhere and kicked at the old sage’s staff. She, still with some tricks up her sleeve, disappeared from sight, reappearing behind him. She landed a blow from her staff on his back. He then flew straight into the ground face first and slid in the dirt. He lay still for a minute and climbed to his feet. The sage, at that moment, moved quickly again and jabbed the bottom of her staff into his back, again knocking him into the ground.

You will die here, said the sage as she raised her staff, revealing there was more to her staff than what appeared to the eye. The staff had a metallic end hidden by a wood sheath on the bottom of the staff. The staff began to descend toward the creature’s head and he disappeared. The sage quickly tried to feel for his disgusting presence, as she looked around herself.

I think I have let you win enough, he said, looking up at the blue sun in the sky. He flew high above the village, facing the sun as it lowered on the horizon.

The sage heard its voice and looked up at him. The sage, at that moment, received a strange feeling from him.

What is this? asked the sage, as she watched him glow a strange blue color.

It is not often I am forced to transform during a battle! he yelled with his arms outstretched. Now witness the true power of Star!

A Star? thought the sage as she watched him grow in size, his garments ripping. She could hear its bones breaking. What is this creature? I have neither heard nor have I ever seen such a creature as this.

He screamed in rage as he shed skin from his bones, and pink blood rained down onto the ground beneath him. As he transformed, different flesh grew over his muscles. His teeth became sharp fangs. As his skin came together, pink hair grew on his arms. His face no longer looked human, as a snout replaced his nose. His pink nails grew into large talons and pink wings, having blue feathers, sprouted from his back. He turned to face the sage and flew at her.

Prepare for eternity! said the Star as it descended toward her. I changed my mind! Now you must die!

O spirit of the north wind, hear my call! said the sage as she held her staff in both hands extended in front of her. Grant me a heavenly blade to fight this foe! At that moment, she glowed with a golden aura, and, in a short few moments, her staff transformed into a double-handed long sword with a double-edged golden blade. The handle was white and long. It had inscriptions on it from her home moon, as did the golden blade, as well.

The Star approached her and slashed his talons at her. She swung her sword at the attack and deflected his talons. Then the star swung the other hand at her chest. She backed up a step and ducked, dodging the attack. She spun then swung the golden sword at his knees. The creature then jumped and did a summersault with its hands and arms extended out in front as it came down. The old sage put her sword up and felt the talons as they scratched down her back.

Damn! she yelled as a red blood sprayed from the gashes on her back. The Star grabbed a hold of her from behind by the neck and then threw her to the ground. She tumbled a little, as she dropped her weapon in the green grass. He then swooped over, and picked her up by her throat, flying up into the sky. The old sage’s back had been broken, and she could not fight against him. She just watched as the ground became farther and farther away. The Star smiled an evil grin, as it intentionally flew up to an altitude where everyone could see the sage in his talons.

Look! yelled Sabre as he stopped running on the outer edge of the village, where they were following many others.

O no! yelled Elli as she covered her mouth with her other hand in horror as she turned to see the sage in the talons of this evil thing.

The other villagers could see the sage as well, and some of the women and children in the group began to scream hysterically. The monster extended its wings and looked at the villagers, lifting her up to its mouth. He opened his mouth wide like a bird would open its beak. Many large sharp teeth appeared as she closed her eyes. She did not have to look at her imminent doom.

The creature put the head of the old sage up to its mouth, slamming it shut, smashing her head into several pieces. All that could be seen was a large splash of red blood as the creature consumed her whole body, eating her slowly as red blood dripped from its mouth. After the Star had ingested the old sage, he turned toward the villagers.

Run! yelled Sabre as he pulled Elli with him. She seemed to be in shock while running.

I can’t believe it! yelled Elli as she ran with Sabre. Run! yelled Sabre as he looked at the other villagers. Run as fast as you can!

The group ran, heading for thick woods. It was a large woods with large green trees.

There! yelled an older male, Take refuge in the woods!

Yes! said one of the young female villagers. Run for the woods!

The field is not far from the woods, and everyone ran as fast as they could with their wagons, bags, and, other belongings. Sabre and Elli were out in front of them. He could hear the creature as it approached the crowd from above. It was closing the gap quickly, looking for its next victim. It saw a young adolescent girl with her parents and descended from the sky toward her.

I can smell your blood as you bleed, young one, said the monster as it descended from the sky, even quicker than before. From behind the crowd came a large crash. Sabre felt tears run down his cheeks as he could feel the presence of the creature behind them.

Sabre! yelled Elli, looking behind them. Do something!

Sabre yelled,