Young Writers Society

“Are we sure we want to do this? It is an entire race…” The red button pulsed with an alien light. The voice came from one of seven flickering figures around the button.

“The humans haven’t progressed at all. In fact, they’re practically doing the opposite, collapsing into their little devices.” The words weren’t spoken, rather, they came straight from the beings’ minds and hung tremulously in the air. “Besides, they’re totally killing the land! If we eliminate the human factor, we can reclaim and recolonize, working in harmony with the land. There are better uses for this world.”

The shortest figure, one who stood in the center, reached towards the button. She hesitated for a moment, and in that moment the door to the small room burst open in a grand display of light. Through the open gap came a bright flaming person.

The short one quickly snatched her hand away as she watched the new arrival with caution. “Pyrok,” she said with distaste. She uttered the words aloud, as younger ones had not gained the ability of speaking with the mind. The others in the room simply stared in amazement.

Pyrok appeared to have blue skin, with bright red flames surrounding her. Her face was the only part not covered by the fire, and at the top of her forehead she seemed to have impossibly bright, burning hair. Everyone else present, as light as they were, seemed dull when compared to Pyrok. In her left hand, she carried a gigantic yellow sword, edged with blue, which was ablaze as well.

“You can’t eliminate an entire race!” she called. “They’re people too, they’re smart and inventive. They’re problem solvers. They’ll figure out how to save their own world!” She stood in the doorway, firm and confident in her stance. She was calm and poised, like a child when he knows he’ll get his way.

“Pyrok,” the shorter figure said again, mocking the girl despite what words she used, “‘the Legendary Flame.’ You are a great general, and loved by the people, but you have no power here.” She again reached towards the glowing button.

The fiery girl began to laugh, and it was a comforting sound, although rough and low. “Oh Ieva. What are we going to do about you? So set in your ways. True, the people love me, and that is my weapon.” Placing her sword tip on the ground in front of her, Pyrok leaned on it with a casual yet dangerous air.

Ieva froze and stared at Pyrok. Slowly, the other councilors began to smile. “Oh yes, you see it now,” Pyrok continued, a faint smile playing across her lips. “The people all support me, and they support the humans. If you deny my opinion, they will revolt and put me in the role of leader.”

Inching her hand back, Ieva plastered a tight smile on her face. “Well then. I see that we are at an impasse. I cannot let you save this pitiful race, and you seem unable to let me destroy them. Why don’t we make a compromise?”

Pyrok waved a hand. “Say what you wish, and I shall choose whether to listen to you, let alone make a deal.”

Ieva glared at the bold younger girl before snapping at the other councilors to leave. They filed out respectfully, some throwing menacing glances at the living flame, while others whispered words of luck. When they had all left, the leader pushed the floating console containing the button to the side. Simultaneously, two chairs materialized. Ieva chose to sit, but Pyrok remained standing, and therefore in control of the situation.

“I could kill you right now,” Ieva spat, no longer concealing her wrath. Pyrok just stood there picking at her nails, not even bothering to meet the leader’s gaze.

“So could I. It’d just be faster if I did it. Still waiting to hear something good.”

Ieva still didn’t know what exactly she was doing, making deals with a miserable youth, but she was raging, more furious than she had ever been before, and she was willing to take a long-term risk, one she hoped would pay off.

“Fine. You think your petty humans are so worthy of praise? How would you like to be one?” That got Pyrok’s attention. She looked up at Ieva with interest and slid her sword into a sheath on her back, sitting down in the empty chair.

“You can do that?” Pyrok questioned, her curiosity overcoming her suspicion.

Ieva grinned wickedly. “I can do more than that. I can give you three lives,” she said quietly. She pulled the floating button back towards her and a box grew from her finger tips. The sides were engraved with the words, ‘Three lives of Pyrok, the Legendary Flame.’ “We’ve been waiting so long for this already. What difference does three human life spans make? This box will never open again until you live out your three human lives. When you come back, we will do whatever you decide is the best.”

Pyrok raised an eyebrow. “And will I remember all of this, all of my time here when I become a human?”

Ieva’s grin widened. “Oh, you will remember everything. Everything from now, and each life as a human. You will have the most perfect memory.”

The Legendary Flame nodded, her eyes gleaming with triumph and the prospect of adventure. She smiled fully now. “When can I do this?”

“Right now.”

A/N: This is a bit short, but the actual chapters should be a bit longer. I'm not quite sure of the genre, as the story follows Pyrok's life as a human. I could really use some help there, and with titles as well. This one is definitely not permanent.