As a young child watched a mighty dragon, who was tossed back into the side of a wall: only for roots and vines to grow from every direction, it roared with fury, as blood poured down its face. Even in its current state, its golden scales shone with a black sheen.

A woman, with fangs, snatched the child as it cried out, “father!” It screamed in terror, as a burst of molten flame struck the oncoming vines. “Get to safety," shouted a woman dressed head to toe, in a blazing red gown , matching her locks. A gold-plated crown sat atop her head.

"Watch out!" a knight yelled as he pushed her to the side, slicing a black root with a blade of pure fire and light. As the stone walls of a mighty throne room began crumbling to the strength of the growing vines, a large ship crashed into the side of the walls. What looked to be a combination of a wooden sailboat and a rocket-powered rust bucket sat as the only escape route. The captain of the ship yelled, "Get on," waving a mechanic's hand

There in the midst of chaos, I stood, bewildered by what I had seen. In all my days, never did I think this was how it would come to an end. “Who am I?” you may ask. Am I the crying boy? No. Am I the queen with blazing fire magic, or the mighty knight defending his home? No!

No, I am none of those things. Sure, I wish I was though. I wish I was the main character. We're all main characters of our own story, right? Or at least that's what we all like to think. But what if all you were ever supposed to do is be a side character, to someone else? Frustrating it would be, don't you think? Never to play out the big role, never be the hero of the day, or the star of the show... instead, you're just a side character, a supporting role to another.

Haha, I bet you think this is a story of how I, a side character, become the main lead and take the story back for all those like me. Nope, I was never that in my life. But what I am has led me to witness the greatest events in my world. The scene before you was no exception. I stood watching as the chaos around me

transpired, with no idea how it would end or what on earth would I do, except think back on my life that led up to this point.

And so that is the story I’m going to tell you. The Trials of the Realms that I have witnessed.

How a farm boy would become a mighty knight, a reluctant princess would become a mighty queen. A lonely vampire would save her people, or a no good swindler of a pirate would become a good man, In the end. All while watching a dragon who would go on to prove himself worthy of his crown.

These five would lead me, a side character on the greatest adventure of a lifetime.

And so we begin…

Chapter 1

As I was gently led into a jail cell, and by gently, I mean I was thrown in, with my head splashing into what I had little hope was mud on the ground, I would come to meet my first main lead.

With the sound of hearty laughter behind me from the royal guard, and the sound of large iron gates slamming shut, locking me into place, I looked over to see the large stone walls of my cell. Next to me, sat two others. In the corner of the room, sat a smelly troll, whose stench, filled the air, smelling like garbage, and rotten old eggs., stood in the way of a bucket full of what I hoped was clean water,

And on the bed laid a scrawny pale, weakling, who looked worse for wear, making even the chubby belly on me look in tip top shape. But looks were often deceiving, especially in this world. Little would any suspect that he was the one to pay attention to. Never did I suspect that this was how I would end up meeting the man I would spend the rest of my days chasing down, but more on that later.

With this being my first time in prison, I decided quickly that the only way to survive was to be tougher than the toughest man in the room. Something scrawny me was clearly not.

“Hey you! Move your fat ass!” I yelled at the greasy green troll, wanting to get to the water, in hopes to clean the smelly muck off me.

“What did you call Gamba!!!? Yelled the troll as he looked up from the ground.

“I uhhh,” I stuttered as I stumbled back, only for the creature to rise to his full height and walk towards me, his fist clenching in fury.

Looking up at him, I gave in immediately, preparing myself for a fist to the face, clenching my eyes tight waiting for the impact. But to my surprise, it never came; what did instead was the wailing cry of the large troll.

“Oh great,” groaned the figure on the bed, rolling over and stuffing the pillow in his ears.

“Gamba is fat!” The troll cried.

With a look of pure astonishment, wide eyes stretched upwards, I could only make a wincing “uhh” sound, watching him in tears.

With a groan, the man on the bed threwthe pillow at the troll's head, causing him to cower “Hey,” the man yelled as he got to his feet, “if I hear one more loud noise from you, you'll regret your existence!” He barked, as his blazing blue eyes marked a sharp fear into the troll's heart. “That's better,” the man sighed, rubbing the bags under his eyes. “If you are overweight, be happy where you are and do better in the future; that's all you can do.” He told him, tapping the large creature's shoulder. “And you,” he turned to greet me, " you're lucky; Gamba here is so kind-hearted; otherwise you'd meet the end of your days Tiny.”

“Ta, tiny, I'm five foot six,average height;” I called out yet; the crack in my voice gave me away. But before I could say anything else, I was immediately splashed by a bucket of water l, out of nowhere. ““What...?l I sputtered as I spat out whatever was caught in my mouth. Turning around, I found the fat troll holding the empty bucket over my head. his eyes are almost as wet i was. “Thanks; but next time just let me do it,” I grumbled, shaking the water off like a dog, due to the lack of a towel.

“Thire now you see; you made a friend,” chuckled the man on the bed. “What are you in for, Tiny?” He asked, sounding barely interested in anything I had to say.

“I could ask you the same question,” I remarked as I leaned on the bars of our cage.

With a verbale, “eh,” sound, and a shrug of his left shoulder, he muttered “something about trespassing onto sacred ground; been here for a few days now.”

“I ah; I had a run-in with pirates…”

“Pirates?” asked Gamba.

“Mhmm; I went toe-to-toe with Captain Black Beard ; and wrestled my way off of his ship into the hands of royal guards.”

“You,” chuckled the man. “Pirates really;” he repeated with a chipper voice. “And just how does one steal away on a ship captained by one of the most ruthless pirates in the skies above; may I ask?”

“Eh- what can I say?” I replied with a smirk. “I have some mighty adventures under my belt.” And what about you...?” I asked, turning my head to Gamba.

“Gamba was locked up for punching one of those snooty royal guards. Gamba hates those royal guards!

“We all hate the royal guards!” shouted a figure from another cell across the room. I looked to see a half-goat-half-human creature no better than myself in position.

“Haha! You can say that again!” said another male voice this time coming from a tiny man with wings chained to the wall. “Of course none of us has been in here as long as that weirdo!”

“I thought you said you'd been here a few days...?” I raised my eyebrow, turning my head to the man.

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“Few days? Few weeks? Who cares?” He shrugged, laying back down and setting his hands behind his head.

“Well I care!” I shouted and looked around. “Since when was the last time anyone was let out of this place?” At that they all laughed again.

“I'll get you out, on one condition, same for anyone else," The man shrugged.

“And that is???” I asked carefully.

"Make as much chaos as you can," he said in the same bored tone as before.

"Chaos…"

"Yes, you see I can get us free," he rolled over to his side, With his back turned to me. "But there are far too many guards for me to take on by myself. If all of you made some chaos, and confusion, some may escape. The rest are sure to be recaptured, but it's better if some of you at least are free right?"

The fairy in the corner erupted in laughter. "And how are you going to get us out, when you, yourself, are already in bars?" The cavern joined in the noise, meeting the fairy's own outburst.

The scrawny man got up out of his bed. . If he were bothered by the laughs, it didn't show in his mundane expression. His dark black greasy long hair, and pale white skin, made the blue of his eyes look like they were glowing. In them I could see the pale outline of a flame danced across them, as he walked over to the bars next to me.

He ruffled with his half-black cloak, and pulled out a card key.

"How did you,"

“Snagged it from a guard yesterday, when a maid came by to give us clean clothes.” He replied in a bored tone. With a swipe of the card though a sensor on the door, he burst out of the door and headed to another, unlocking a few other cells, before tossing the card over to me. “Your on your own now, every man for himself,” he smirked before rushing out of the halls.

In a panic I unlocked a few more cells, as the other inmates all roes into a wild rage of freedom, turning in all direction.

The guards quickly jumped into action, drawing their electric spears, zapping the inmates. While the chaos was happening I caught a glimpse of the skinny man, heading not for the front door, but to the barracks . Out of curiosity I followed him. That and the fact that the main entrance was blocked off, by wild inmates, fighting off guards.

When I finally caught up to him, I watched. As he strolled along the empty room, full of confiscated items. He strolled past the guns and swords, took a glance at a Taser spear, but ultimately left it, as he carefully searched for whatever he wanted. Until finding it in a cubby, next to other clothes.

He eyed it carefully, as a cocky smirk spread across his lips, wide eyed as he pulled up a medallion strung on a straw thread.

Frankly, I didn’t see what was so important about it at the time. It looked like a silly little disk, carved out of some black driftwood. I could see the markings of something on it, but before I could get a good look, he noticed me watching him.

With an eye roll, he set the pendant around his neck, before calling out my new nickname. “Tiny, you caught up quick huh? How’s the escape going for you?” He asked with the same chipper voice, yet his bored expression gave away his sarcasm.

“You expected this!? there's no way out of here, since the front gate is crowded.”

“Who said anything about going through the front gate?” He told me as he grabbed another object from the shelf. A sword it looked like, fixing it to his belt.

“You said you’d free me! “ I yelled at him.

“And gamba!” Shouted the troll coming our way, out of breath as he knocked a guard back into the hallway.

“I said I’d get you out of that cell, you're on your own,” He said as he headed down a corridor in the back.

“You know another way out of here! Don’t you!” I shouted furiously.

“Nope, he replied back as a guard lunged at him. He steps back avoiding the incompetent man who smashed into the wall, comically. Once he was certain the guard was subdued, he pressed forward up the corridor.

“Alright, where you going, then?” I asked as another guard tried to catch me, only for Gamba the troll to sucker punch him in the helmet. “Ahh damn that hurt! Gammmmmba!!!.” Gamba yelled as his hand stung in the air.

“Here’s the thing, I said I’d get you free, if you did as I ask.”

“Wa, wait but you said…He spun around, with the same bored look in the eye but now with a playful grin on his face. “But, but,” I stuttered and tried to make sense of his actions. But before I could make another sound, more guards sprang into action, with their spears drawn. The end of them crackled from the electric current in their tips.

"And I'll do just that," he assured me, setting his hand over his weapon.

They lunged their spears at him, but he quickly drew his sword, to mine and the guards' surprise, it wasn't a normal sword either, but a one-blade curved sword, carved from what looked to be the same material that hung around his neck He blocked the spears with one swipe. But with his weapon now revealed, the guards erupted in laughter.

"A wooden sword? What do you plan to do with that?" asked one of them.

My jaw dropped at the sight of it. Here we were in a room full of some of the most advanced weaponry I had ever seen, and he picked a stick to fight with. "Are you crazy!" I shouted, but he gave no response. Instead, he tightened his grip on the sword and raised it as if he were about to fence.

"Get him!" yelled one of the guards in the crowd, and soon the onslaught of spears came for the man. But he only squinted his eyes and widened his smile as the spears once again drew closer.

He then drew in his breath, and I watched as his skinny form morphed into one more athletic, not bulging, but far from weak, form. He then swung his wooden sword and whispered…

(wind slash) shalsdniw.

I sat mesmerized by the great gust of wind that came out of nowhere as he swiped his blade through the air, tossing them all back against the wall.

“He’s a MAGE,” shouted one guard when the wind finally settled down.

“With most of you preoccupied, you twelve are little match for someone like me.” He smiled and waved his sword again, but this time the wind was so strong it not only threw them back against the wall, but right through it, creating a large opening in the exterior.

Amazed by the sight of it, I chanced a glance outside, only to wish I hadn’t. I nearly threw up at the height of the cliff I found us on. The guards, descending to their ultimate demise.

With a light chuckle the man behind me told us , “hope you and that troll can fly,” before he waved his sword again sending me and gamba, over the edge and out the side of the building. In terror I looked up as I fell from the sky only to watch him leap over the edge and dash closer to me. Screaming at the top of my lungs, I expected this to be my end, right where it already began. Clenching my eyes tight I could feel the tears fly past them, knowing this was it for me. But as I felt a new gust of wind strike me in a different direction I opened my eyes to find myself being blown onto another floating island, only to crash down on its sandy shores, with my face grinding against the sand, until I came to a complete stop. Only for gamba to land butt first on my back.

“Uhhh, gamba sorry” he moaned as he rolled off of me. As he did I could here my bones cracking back into place. But due to the drinallen of fear, I felt barely any pain, strangely enough.

At the sound of boots hitting the ground, I looked up to see the blue-eyed man as he returned his sword to his belt.

“Not bad for a first time flier, " he chuckled.

Through his wit, I growled furiously at him. “Could have given me a bit of warning, ya know!”

He only smiled brightly at that, the fist normal grin I had come to see on this man. Never would I suspect at that very moment how rare that grin truly was, and how much I would soon miss it, in time.

“Well, tiny, I believe the deal was I’d get you out of there, and…” he shrugged as he gestured to the landscape around, “I believe our transaction is complete, my good sir. With that,” he gave a bow,” I bid you a do.” He said before turning around and heading off into the woods.

“Hay, wait,” I called back quickly, getting to my feet and chasing after him.

“No sorry sir I have already wasted enough energy on you today, I have work to do.” He called back, still heading off.

“But, but…

He turned on his heel, facing me. "I get it, I'm your hero and you want to lavish me with praise," he half-laughed. "But seriously, Tiny, get lost. I only helped you because it was convenient for me."

"Hey, my name is..."

"Don't care," he called back, heading into the jungle of palm trees.

Furious and frustrated, I cried out, "I'm not Tiny!"

"Hahah, yes, you are, Tiny is so small," Gamba said, catching up to me.

I looked up at him, annoyed, already because of my average height. Of course, I was small compared to a troll. I looked back up at the sky above

viewing what was left of this world.

It was a world of floating islands, in the atmosphere of a crumbling planet. Each island was attached to one another by a rail system. At least most of them were. I could see the transportations lines and steam coming from the trains that rode across from them. From this island, it was easy to see most of the large prison that we had just escaped from. And from beyond that, a few tall cities, and a grand kingdom, up a lot higher. The crown kingdom looked as if it hung from the sun itself, as its castle stood at the tallest peak of the highest floating island.

Whenever I looked up, the feeling of my place in the world came crashing down on me. It was clear how small I was compared to the universe, and how low I was on the food chain compared to the mighty who lived in that castle. I was, but a drop, a tiny fish in a large ocean, and it wasn’t getting any smaller with me standing there. Stopping my gaze, tired of my place in the world. I looked back at Gamba as I heard the other man slashing through the forest up ahead.

“Gammba, what are you going to do?” I asked the troll.

Gamba scratched his head in thought and answered back, “Gamba don’t know.”With the troll's answer, I sighed away my pride, and began following the man who freed us.

“What, tinny doing?” Asked the troll.

“Following him, cus I got nothing better to do.” I replied back, before runing to the man ahead of me.

He turned back on a dime, clearly unhappy by our choice of actions, by the look of his scowl.

"Don't have anywhere else to go," I shrugged.

The man rolled his eyes and snarled, "Fine do what you want."

"What's your name anyway?" I asked him as we began to tread through the forest.

"You would not believe me if I told you," he replied back. But before I could say anything, he looked back at me and said, "Arthur Pendragon."

Coming to a complete halt, my eyes nearly popped out of my skull, as did the troll next to me.

"Arthur rolled his eyes and sighed, 'Yeah, yeah, I was named after the late great king, alright,'" he stomped away. "'You dare laugh and I'll blow you off this island.”

At that, me and Gamba held our mouths shut as we stifled our own laughter. As we followed Arthur through the jungle of palm trees.