The Mystery Behind The Horizon

Once upon a time, about a couple thousand years ago, it was the age of the dragons. The magnificent flying beasts roamed all across the globe which was in their possession. Humans, another creation were also coming up to the rise and with their advanced machinery and technology, they would soon be able to end the dragon reign by slaying every one of them to their extinction.

For centuries humans grew in number and technology. Over centuries they developed to become the rulers of the world. Their power and fear made the strongest of creatures bow down to them. As they roamed around and discovered new lands they captured every one of them and after many historic triumphs they overcame the trolls, giants, magicians and even the organised centaurs which were certainly very difficult; near impossible to defeat. As time flew by the Kings came and went by. During the reign of Lord George the great, a new land beyond the horizon in the middle of the ocean was found. It was named as “nowhere” and rightly so as there was nothing nearby just the oceans that stretched for miles and miles. A convoy was sent to explore the island of nowhere, as it ventured into the depths of the lush green forests of nowhere it got lost as their tracks disappeared. It seemed like they never covered any ground. Since there was no way back they went further in as per the command of the Head. Not much later they across the twin mountains or shall I say the boiling mountains of nowhere as these were not just any mountains but they were volcanoes which were filled to the brim with molten lava. The convoy now came across 2 paths one which took them straight through the gap between the boiling mountains and one which seemed to go on to the distance to the right of the mountains.

The head made his decision and announced to his camp of knights that they would go on the right path. Unaware of their fate the convoy travelled far and wide on the path until they came to a village that had houses made of stone. It looked as if it was a village where people would live and they were right. As they went into the village they were held hostage and yes the creatures there were humans. After some persuasion, they were taken to the leader of the nowhere’s village. It came to the head of the convoy’s knowledge that they were not the first humans on this island and that in past centuries many other voyagers had come here and lost their way and were now stuck on this island where their generation grew. It also came to their knowledge that the straight path took them beyond the horizon where lived the last of dragons. Yes, there was only one mighty beast left and it rested behind the twin mountains which it called it's home. The village leader told them that their people had sent many convoys to discover the undiscovered but none of their men lived to tell the tale. The head of the convoy made the brave decision to travel on the forbidden path as the villagers called.

He plucked up some courage and gave the speech of a lifetime which was able to persuade his courageous men to travel with him on the path. As the morning came they set out for the path and for what seemed forever they came back to the boiling twin mountains of Nowhere. After a short break, they resumed their journey and after many days they came to the land of the Golden Dragon King. This area had no trees, no water and suddenly the beauty of the island was turned into the devastating sight of burning trees and a water drought. As they went on ashes of flame entered their eyes making them almost blind. Even with all the difficulties, the convoy came to the dragon hall. And not just any hall but a hall which talked to the sky as it was miles up in the air. It was surrounded by hundreds of human skeletons and the walls of it were painted in blood and decorated with gold.

The people entered the hall and as soon as they stepped in they could hear the dragon’s heart pounding and his chest-thumping. They could even hear his magnificent breath or shall I say roar. The dragon greeted the people with the words 'the food is here and I the great did not even have to move a muscle to acquire it’. The head replied we are from the heart of this planet and come in peace’.The dragon replied” Ah! You may come in peace but I don’t.” He then came out of his hiding and let out a beastly roar and fire from his nostrils. The people scampered for cover. At the sight of the creature, the people started trembling with fear as they saw his built and that he was covered in golden scales. The battle was sparked and the convoy of the men was tearing apart, a soldier then spotted a hole in the armour and informed his head who then devised a plan to shoot an arrow at the gap in the golden armour. He then, with a couple of dozen of men ran to the far corner of the hall and ordered his remaining men to run in the opposite direction which created a diversion AND left the beast wondering. The head seized this moment and took a precise shot at his spot. The arrow was shot from his bow and struck the dragon in the intended area taking down the mighty beast. As the beast fell the head yelled out loud" the beast is has been slain” and the lands of nowhere were freed. The people gathered their resources and all the riches in the hall and carried it to the village where they divided it equally. The whole island laughed in joy and the curse of the place was uplifted. In respect of this historic event, the island was named before the head of the convoy. The great island of hope as the head’s name was Sir Gregory. hope and after knighthood by his lord THE GREAT was added as a title to his name. The people of nowhere and earth lived happily ever after.

BY: MAHD ZEESHAN AKA THE GREAT

SECTION: Grade 8-D