Chapter One
Darkness floods the landscape, becoming devoid of any light. Eyes blink roughly, trying to drive away the darkness, but to no avail. Nothing changed as the eyes floated aimlessly in a dark abyss with nothing except the silent winds pushing against them, causing the being to stir, and steadily gain consciousness. The gusts of wind came in a pattern, as though it were breathing. After long drawn out minutes, the life form, floating softly through the abyss, was disrupted by a hum. It echoed off the nothingness and flew into its ears, causing a high pitched ringing sound to bounce off the walls of the ears, stabbing into the eardrums.
“Hello, Little Cloud,” hummed the mysterious voice. “You woke up, that’s good. That’s very good.”
The “Little Cloud” stayed in silence as it listened to the deep voice boom around the abyss.
“Can you speak?” the voice, waiting taciturnly for a response, but to no avail as the “Little Cloud” floated confused. “Ah, it seems you cannot. Maybe I can try to give you a voice.”
He thought of a voice forming inside the “Little Cloud”, though “Little Cloud” was not even a “Little Cloud” per se, it is an idea. Little Cloud was only a black haze floating aimlessly through the abyss.
This is gonna be a problem, He thought to himself. He stuck out his “hands”, which were made of large clusters of spiritual energy brought together to form the celestial beings “hands”.
He began to think of a design for the body he wished his little cloud to have.
“Ah yes, that should be added right? Then this? Wait, I do not think this is right, it looks off. Let me try again,” he muttered to himself as he shaped the body from the wisps of spiritual energy floating around him.
He failed miserably in his attempts to create the body, creating horrid things. Inventing a creature covered in rotting, grayish skin with deep set black eyes that absorb the little light left in the achromatic abyss. He created another creature with a long, shimmery body and a scaly, dusty jade head.
“Ugh why is this so hard!” He yelled, his voice booming in the nothingness. The little cloud shook violently as if it put its hands over its ears. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I will not do it again, little one, I’m just trying to make a gift for you.”
He finally thought up a marvelous idea. The idea included four appendages attached to round joints with smaller ones branching off, with a weird shaped skull attached to a long cylinder-like shape coming from the top of a molded body.
“Yes that’s it. That’s it! Little Cloud!” He boomed once more causing pain to the little being. “Come here I have something to show you.”
The Little Cloud drifted to the source, preparing itself, as though it were anticipating another loud holler to come from the celestial being.
A light lit up a small portion of the abyss. The light then formed into a petite body. It had pale-ish skin and long, walnut brown hair that reached right past the butt. The hair, defying its order to stay straight, chose to be fluffy with small waves running throughout the hair, and wispy strands of soft hair decorating the hairline, framing the face. Its eyelids were lined with long eyelashes and reddish, plump lips on a structured feminine face. Looking down the body, Little Cloud saw a thin neck and shoulders with toned arms, legs, and a slim torso.
“What do you think, Little Cloud?” The celestial being inquired. “You should get in and see how it is.”
Little cloud did as requested, absorbing into the new body, dispersing its energy throughout the limbs.
The empty abyss blew frigid air against the soft skin of the new body. Little Cloud shivered as the feeling of ice-cold water brushed up against her, sending shivers down her spine. Little Cloud moved the slender fingers of the feminine body, feeling the air around them, moving on to other limbs, soon gaining control of her gift. Her facial muscles twitched as her eyelids fluttered open. Little Cloud could only see the abyss, devoid of light, in front of her. The only thing that showed was the glow from the ball of energy floating nearby. She levitated in the abyss, the light energetic waves brushing against her, holding her up as she swam through the air.
“Do you like it?” The air surrounding her spoke.
She spun around, trying to find the culprit that echoed through the abyss, only to stop as her hair smacked into her face. Laughter boomed throughout the empty abyss, as she pushed her hair out of her eyesight. She glared in a direction, guessing the laughter came from a random area.
“You might be able to speak,” the laughter suggested. “Give it a try.”
She paused, contemplating on whether to speak or to ignore the suggestion. She took up the offer, opening her mouth, pushing out a small noise. She shut her mouth tight, scaring herself from the noise that came from her. No noise, not even a whisper, came from the celestial being that watched over her, so she tried again, mimicking some of the sounds the floating energy beside her made while talking to her, hoping to form those sounds into words.
“H...hel...hello?” She stuttered, questioning her voice.
Soon clapping exploded into the abyss as the celestial being cheered. “You did it. You spoke. I’m so proud.”
She smiled as she heard the support from the being who created her echo throughout the abyss, motivating her to speak more.
The celestial being stared at his creation, pleased that this idea finally worked out. He pulled out a reflective piece of energy, shoving it in Little Cloud’s direction, hoping she would also love his idea. “Why don’t you look at how glorious you are, Little Cloud?”
Little Cloud grabbed hold of the shard, peering into it as it approached her, inspecting her new body. She glanced over her gift, marveling over the new body that the celestial being had given her. The celestial being chuckled at his creation admiring her present, who made odd expressions in the piece of spiritual energy.
“Are you having fun?” He queried, pleased she enjoyed her gift.
“Yes I do, but my eyes. They look lifeless,” she blurted out with concern as she peered into the glass, staring into the white pupils. Curiosity struck Little Cloud as she wondered why no emotion revealed itself in the white irises.
“Well then, let’s put some life into them, shall we?” The celestial being pondered over how to bring color to Little Cloud’s eyes.
He threw out his “hands”, pushing out large gusts of strong energy, consequently tossing around Little Cloud. “I’m sorry little one. Maybe if you close your eyes and conjure up the color you desire, then I might be able to do this, yes?”
“Okay.” Little Cloud closed her eyes gently, reveling in the soft waves of energy colliding against her, as she thought of a bright, crystal blue color filling the blank space her pupils resided in.
The celestial being paused contemplating whether to agree with Little Cloud or to dismiss what she asked for. He thought she would think of a simpler color instead of the color she asked for. The celestial being shook away his thoughts as he brought up his hands pushing out small pulses of energy towards Little cloud. A tiny prickling sensation shot into Little Cloud’s eyes, causing her to flinch as the celestial being shaped the color into existence. Little Cloud, in obvious discomfort, could feel her body buzzing, as if thousands of tiny needles were stabbing into her. Once it subsided, she opened her eyes once more gazing into the energy glass, seeing a pair of bright, clear blue eyes appearing in the once white eyes.
“They are stunning,” she hummed out, captured in the aesthetic sight in the glass.
“I know, I do not make anything that’s ugly, ” He said confidently as if the failed attempts at creating Little Cloud’s body did not result in the making of creatures that resembled lopsided candles. “We should create more, well you cannot create anything, so it will be just me creating more ideas, but you will watch.”
“Sure!” She exclaimed, floating after the energy ball, as he picked a spot to build his next idea.
“This spot looks clean enough.” The celestial being glanced around at his surroundings. “Brace yourself, Little Cloud.”
The being gathered spiritual energy within his “hands”, clapping harshly when he reached enough, sending powerful gales throughout the emptiness. The clap resounded through the air as green hills and large, stalky trees shot out. Shimmery stars and thick, fluffy clouds painted the night sky, as soft, mossy grass littered the ground.
“What is this?” Little cloud inquired, curious of her new surroundings.
The celestial being answered while taking in the view of his new idea, “This, Little Cloud, is your new home.”
Little Cloud stepped onto the grassy hills, savoring the feeling beneath her as she strolled through the grassy stalks. She gazed at the dark sky, staring at the new stars that dotted the sky and the small clouds which floated above. This is not so bad. It’s better than the empty, boring abyss I was made in.
“Thank you, but where am I going to live?” Little cloud enquired.
“We are going to have to decide where you live,” The being remarked. “Do you have anything in mind of where you would like to live?”
“Not really, I do not want anything big. I just want simple,” Little Cloud answered honestly, not wanting to be flashy, only wanting a comfortable home.
The celestial being became displeased at her answer. He wanted his new creation to live an extravagant lifestyle, as she was the first idea of his that worked. “Okay, but why not live the life of luxury, you’re the only one that is going to enjoy it.”
“See, that’s the thing, I am the only one who will enjoy it,” Little Cloud retorted blatantly.
“I still need to make you a home, so what do you want?”
“You decide,” Little Cloud instantly regrets what she said, turning to the ball of energy floating above to try and take back what she said, but to no avail as the celestial being already raised his “hands” up, conjuring his new idea for Little Cloud’s home.
One large energy wave shot out from the celestial being as he formed his idea. A tall, ivory palace shot from the ground, glistening in the moonlight.
Yeah, totally simple. Should not have let him choose, Little Cloud rolled her eyes as she gazed at the lustrous palace before her.
“Go check it out,” The celestial being ordered, following Little Cloud into her residence.
“It’s really flashy.” Little Cloud commented, slightly displeased with her home.
“You don’t like it?” the celestial being asked, becoming wistful.
“Not entirely.” Little Cloud notices the drooping ball of energy and decides to cheer up the gloomy ball. “It’s really extravagant and luxurious. I do not mind it at all, but I’m still the only one to enjoy this luxury.”
“So you’re only upset because you have nobody to enjoy the palace with you?” said the celestial being, catching on to what Little Cloud implied.
“Yes.”
“But you have me. Why do you need someone else?”
“I do have you, but I want someone who is like me.” The being backed up slightly, becoming confused, becoming hurt by the words Little Cloud chose to use. “You know, with a flesh body, one who can walk around, one who is not a cluster of energy.”
The cluster of energy let out a silent ‘oh’, finally understanding what Little Cloud wanted. “So you want another one of you?”
“Yes, I want a friend.” “Okay, let me see.” The being trailed off, dwelling on the new friend Little Cloud desired.
He decided upon a creature that resembled Little Cloud, one with a flat chest and more muscular arms. This idea would be taller and broader than Little Cloud, especially since she resided in a more petite body. It had strong masculine features that still appeared soft against the tan skin.
The celestial being pushed forth energy into air, conjuring up a camrade for his little creation. The little creation revealed itself in the grassy meadow laying in front of the ivory palace.
Little Cloud rushed over to the new being, inspecting it. She discovered the body had a more muscular body than her slender one. It had a shorter length of chocolate-colored hair and a more structured face than her own. She hovered over the body, observing her new friend.
“So this is my ‘new friend’?” inquired Little Cloud.
The celestial being was taken back by her comment, as he sensed her statement being laced with disappointment. “Yes, this is your new friend. I decided to try a new idea on your new friend while I made him.”
“Him?”
“He is different from you. I told you, I wanted to try out an idea, and this was it.”
Little Cloud continued to gaze down at the new being before her, speculating when her new friend would wake up. She reached out grazing the chest of the being, feeling it is as soft as hers, though the skin seemed to have a rough texture. She crouched down, wanting to get a closer look, inspecting the face further. She noticed the small features similar to her own, they balanced out the face, making sure it did not become consumed with overly masculine features.
Not bad. He looks quite handsome, she thought to herself.
Little Cloud glanced up at the ball of energy with an approving face, before looking down to be met with wide open eyes. The eyes resembled melted pools of obsidian that twinkled like a thousand stars. She became caught in the gaze of the being, almost in a trance as he searched her eyes, as if looking for something.
She became dizzy and lightheaded as she tried to keep eye contact with her new friend. The being laying on the ground became anxious as he stared up with concern, wondering what happened to the person who stood over him. Little Cloud started to sway as she crumbled to the ground, trying to blink away the dizziness before she could succumb to it, but to no avail as she was forced to close her eyes, blacking out.
