A Beautiful Lie

This and all graphic, printed or web published properties and characters are Copyright © 2007 Matt Whale; all rights reserved.

I finally decided to post this; mostly because I wanted to get to the good parts, but it was partially ready. It will get better, longer and much more original as the chapters whistle past, so keep your eyes peeled, ’kay? Oh, and before I forget—comments at any time are fine.

A Beautiful Lie
By Matthew A. Whale

Prologue

Many things can mark the creation of a universe. Many presume a spontaneous spark—neither fact nor fiction—can erupt into life. But from where did this spark originate? You can trace to the very roots, yet never know who planted the seed.

But with all the answers, we are denied questions; from where legends are born…

“Please…? Grampy…” a small boy moaned at his elder, a crease folding into his brow. “Just a quick story?”

“It’s been your bedtime for long over half an hour,” he replied, a sly smile curling onto his lips. “Besides, if I tell you another bedtime story, you’ll have nightmares.”

“Oh come on Grampy!” the boy’s sister chirped in. “One without any fighting?!”

The siblings—not waiting for a response—swarmed their grandfather, rocking his chair as they lent on the arms.

“Okay…” He rested his arms on the nearby table. “I’ll tell you one without any violence.”

“The one with the Lightning Blade?” The boy traced an arch in the air. “I’m Phenex, wielder of the Lightning Blade!”

“No, not that one!” his sister whined. “Can’t we hear the story the one about Raphiel?”

She let out a heavy sigh in unison with her brother’s wild swing of a table knife — jabbing into her thigh.

“Owwww!” she shrieked, rubbing her leg. “What was that for?!”

“Raphiel’s a wimp,” he retorted simply. “He gets Kitsune to do everything!”

“At least it‘s a real story! Phenex doesn’t exist!” She brought a fist to his head, but it was caught.

“Enough,” the amused elder spoke with conviction. “I’ll tell you how the world was made.”

“What?” the girl asked, discreetly slipping her fist out of her Grandfather’s. “I thought it was just… there?”

“Not at all,” he replied with a smile. “Gather round, and I’ll tell you.”

Leaning in closer, the children propped themselves up with pillows, their eyes animated with enthusiasm.

“Once upon a time,” he began with amplified emotion. “When the universe was just a myth, and existence a legend…”

A void. A chasm of intangible miasma; lebensraum; a cavity of existence. A colourless abyss, with infinite capacity of space and rule. An omnipresence; a hollow of plausible scenarios… yet no spark… no fuel…

Until…

An unborn ambition, naturally presumed; ruptured through the boundaries of the non-existent laws.

In the form of a Phoenix. In the form of a Fox.

Thus, a universe was born. Laws, boundaries, possibilities… all constrained, by the power of the twins.

The Fox… the supreme Fox created a world in which he could be free; unrestrained and carefree. Over time his existence faltered, and his factuality faded into myth. But before time could completely pass him; he named his land, Ciélaro.

The Phoenix… the mighty Phoenix bore a world in which he could nurture, caring for the land like a mother; a world of salubrious flourish; a utopia of virtue… Hallax, the Kingdom of Light.

Though together, they created a neutral world; a ground where neither could be dominant of either; where they could harvest a population for both of them, and let any with talent be taken by either Ciélaro, or Hallax.

But this world—Earth—was to be ignorant of the other two. Yet Hallax fell into a stage of irreversible false-fiction, and Ciélaro believed the Kingdom of Light as a story. The only to know the full truth were the slumbering Fox; and the questionable Phoenix. Even Hallax never came to the realisation; they believed their own world to be lone.

But as the Twin Gods—the Phoenix and Fox—slept, their ongoing powers amassed, creating beyond the awareness of the technical creators. Heavens… Hells… the creation saw no end; as it still doesn’t. Before any stimulation of the Gods could occur, civilisations had come and gone… the world had expanded past the Gods.

Such events marked the birth of this universe.

“Bu...but… what happened to the Fox?” the girl questioned, her lip quivering.

“And the Phoenix?” the boy added, a note of sorrow in his voice.

“Well, not many people know this…” he started in a hoarse whisper… “but-”

“-The tale is just a myth,” a deep voice finished in a decisive tone.

“Mommy!” The girl jumped up at the sight of her mother, abandoning her grandfather’s knee.

“That’s not true…” The boy also rose from his grandpa. “The Fox and Phoenix are real!” he exclaimed with more than some uncertainty.

“It’s time for bed.” She smiled, ignoring her son.

“Bu...bu-”

“-But nothing,” she interrupted, her tone sharp with warning.

Defeated, the children rushed upstairs; their disappointment overridden.

Waiting for her children to be out of an earshot, the woman turned to her father and shot daggers at him.

“What was that?!” she snapped at her father. “You know their bed time!”

“Sweetheart… I was just-”

“Well,” she interrupted once more, this time with a stutter. “You shouldn’t!”

“Would you please let me get out a sentence?” He waited a second, then smiled. “Thank you. Now what is it that you don’t want them to know? Darling, I wouldn’t tell them that; I wasn’t even trying to, for that matter.” He bared a tooth in his grin.

“Good,” she settled. “Because they wouldn’t look at me the same way again.”

“Really darling? I don’t think they’d care…” The elder patted his daughter’s shoulder in comfort.

“Well,” she blinked liquid tears from her eyes, “it’s not something I’d like to chance.”

Nodding solemnly, her father flashed her a weak smile, before following his grandchildren to the higher floor of slumber. The woman waited for his steps to soften before her move; which happened to be towards a kitchen-like room.

“They’re all in bed?” a man whispered upon her enter. “He didn’t tell them, did he?”

“No.” She shuffled uncomfortably. “ But…”

“But?” he urged her. “You can’t possibly think that-”

“-I don’t know what to think!” she snapped.

“Honestly?” He gulped in surprise. “My sweet A-”

“Don’t!” She raised a hand in a threatening pose. “They might hear.”

Sighing in unison, the pair followed their children’s suit, by wandering upstairs to sleep.

Mysterious and thought-provoking; I like it. Your vocabulary is wonderfully, Kitsune! I just want to eat half the words in this wonderful prologue. I do feel inspired now, thanks for the help! And keep writing!

P.S. I remember when you first came here. Your improvement is amazing. We have to RP some time.

Originally Posted by Sweet Simplicity

Mysterious and thought-provoking; I like it. Your vocabulary is wonderfully, Kitsune! I just want to eat half the words in this wonderful prologue. I do feel inspired now, thanks for the help! And keep writing!

P.S. I remember when you first came here. Your improvement is amazing. We have to RP some time.

*Shudders* I remember when I first came here, too.

And thanks so much! ^__^ I'll look forward to it.

Reminds me of Thirty Seconds to Mars. <3

The title caught my attention, love.
I think it's lovely. ;]

Funny you should say that, because...

Lie awake in bed at night
And think about your life
Do you want to be different?
Try to let go of the truth
The battles of your youth
'Cause this is just a game

It's a beautiful lie
It's the perfect denial
Such a beautiful lie to believe in
So beautiful, beautiful it makes me

It's time to forget about the past
To wash away what happened last
Hide behind an empty face
Don't ask too much, just say
'Cause this is just a game

It's a beautiful lie
It's the perfect denial
Such a beautiful lie to believe in
So beautiful, beautiful it makes me

Everyone's looking at me
I'm running around in circles, baby
A quiet desperation's building higher
I've got to remember this is just a game

So beautiful, beautiful...
So beautiful, beautiful...
So beautiful, beautiful...
So beautiful, beautiful...

It's a beautiful lie
It's the perfect denial
Such a beautiful lie to believe in
So beautiful, beautiful it makes me

A Beautiful Lie's theme: A Beautiful Lie, by 30 Seconds to Mars.

Thanks Saharah, that means everything coming from the Great Saharararararah. ^___^

If I get any more comments, I'll reply via PM; but that doesn't mean you shouldn't comment here.

Kickass song, that one. 30 second to mars is a great band.

Anywayofftopiclulz. It's all well and good, my young apprentice; you've gotten eons better from the days that I first knew you. There's nothing negative I have to say about it save for the things we discussed via AIM, so keep at it! You're doing wonderfully, man.