The Writers Circle Student Work
Firepower, the Ancient Empire
by Anish - age 8
Chapter One
There is a leviathan castle owned by a very rich king who was named Firepower. He walked around with eight guards and he wore a long, green, silky cape, made from the finest cloth in the world. His armor was studded with gold and silver from the best places, like South Africa. Before Firepower had this leviathan castle, he and his troops had conquered the entire Roman Empire with Firepower leading them. He was only 22!!!!! Firepower's army was made up of the best fighters from empires he had conquered.
This castle was the center of control of the world and Firepower’s capital. Because of this, a great city flourished around it called Gondwalax. This city was the most famous in the world because it was the home to many of the greatest men and woman on the planet. Firepower's people were very hostile, but kind to each other. Only one other empire was as great as Firepower’s. It was called the Backbiter Empire. It stretched from Egypt to South Africa, from the westernmost tip of Antarctica to New Zealand; and it also included the North Pole! Firepower had two archenemies: the king of the Backbiter Empire, called Adam, and Attila the Hun. The worst, bloodiest, fiercest battle Firepower ever faced was against Attila the Hun and his army. Attila the Hun used to rule all of China until Firepower conquered him. But Attila was still lurking around somewhere, waiting for a chance to attack. . . .
One day, Firepower was asked if he would like to tour the city. Firepower, his father James's CMO (CHIEF MILITARY OFFICER) and their guards trudged to the main square. As they passed the dragon stable, Firepower saw a dragon trainer training a phostocoral dragon with a piece of meat. Phostocoral dragons can do awesome stunts in the air after training.
Soon they arrived at the majestic mountains of the east that separated Gowandalax from William the Conqueror's small empire. Then they found themselves skirting the banks of the Zingobi River. Gowandals considered the Zingobi River holy. It was said that if you bathed in the Zingobi River, you would become ten times stronger! Firepower and King James's CMO both bathed, then continued their journey.
The sun was at the top of the sky, beating down on their backs like a burning stream of rain. They hurried to the fault that the ancient and terrible jeoxys earthquake had made. Just then they saw something more hideous than they'd ever seen before: Genghis Khan and his army of Huns riding lions!!!
Firepower's guards ran off toward the castle, but Firepower stood his ground. King James's CMO practically had to drag him away to the castle....
When they reached the castle, everyone started untying the dragons from their separate stables. Most of the dragons were fast flying armored dragons. The dragons' wings claws and teeth were sharpened with metal, but they still could fly at 150 miles per hour with 5 people on their backs! The dragons could breathe fire. They never missed their target, whether it was moving or not. The king's dragon led the legion of other dragons onto the battlefield. Firepower's dragon was the same as the king's, except it could fly at 250 miles per hour!
The people of Gowandalax jumped onto their dragons. King James's voice roared above all the others, “Attack!” The entire city of dragons took flight. They glided silently toward their enemy like an owl closing in on a mouse under the cover of darkness. Once the legion of lions was spread out in front of them like a golden bed sheet, they dived like a peregrine falcon which had just spotted a tasty insect.
They shot fire at the lions. The sky looked like a vanilla ice cream with strawberry syrup streaming down its sides. Firepower threw a hammer. It hit a lion right in the neck. The hammer flew about 500 yards! He never had thrown that far. Firepower was amazed by his own strength!
Genghis Khan shouted, “Their defense is too strong. Retreat!”
James's army was all worn out from the battle, so they glided silently toward the castle. They tied up the dragons and fell asleep to the sound of crickets....
Before Firepower fell asleep, he had to figure out how he threw the hammer so far. He realized it was because he had bathed in the Zingobi River. He finally fell into a silent sleep.
A New Leader
The next morning, when the sun was rising in the red-pink sky like a beach ball, Firepower realized today was his knight test. His mom had left him a note saying it because he had done so well in the battle yesterday.
Firepower had been working for weeks to reach this day. He jumped out of bed as fast as a bull that had gotten stung by a bee. He raced down the stairs like a tornado. Just then he realized that he was in the courtyard. The king's dragon was waiting to attack! This was part of the Knight test.
Firepower stormed back into the castle and put on his breastplate. Firepower's Page helped him with the arm and leg protectors. He wore his cape with his coat of arms on it. Firepower's coat of arms had a dragon that had a lion's head. It was breathing fire while flying. His coat of arms also had a lion that showed that Firepower was very brave. The dragon showed Firepower was very fierce. The snake curling around the lion was a warning that Firepower was intelligent. The monkey/gorilla was a sign that Firepower was creative and strong. The leopard beneath the snake meant Firepower was fast.
He took a weapon which had an iron ball attached to a chain. The chain was attached to an iron stick. The coat of arms on his cape flying behind his back, he sprinted toward the dragon. Just then, the dragon aimed fire at Firepower! Firepower blocked with his shield, but staggered back a few steps. The fire the dragon had shot bounced back at itself. It growled because it was angry.
Since Firepower was cunning like a monkey, he slid through the dragon's legs and swung the iron ball at the dragon's belly. He left the ball there and slid through the dragon's legs just before it fell onto the ground. Everyone who was watching Firepower's knight test cheered.
The king shouted, “Silence!” Everyone quieted. The king said in a loud, clear voice, “For your achievement of becoming a knight, Firepower, I award with the magical three-headed battle axe, Aleceios, and the magical shield, Zang, which reflects anything it blocks at your opponent. Use them well.”
Firepower kneeled. The king tapped him on the shoulder with his sword. “I dub Firepower of Black.”
The new knight jumped onto his dragon and flew around the city. This was a tradition that had lasted 265,765 years. Out of the corner of his eye, Firepower saw Attila the Hun shoot an arrow at King James.
“Watch out!” Firepower yelled. It was too late. His father was dead. King James's body lay there like a straw scarecrow. Firepower cried, No!”
The royal crown was placed on Firepower's head. “All hail King Firepower,” the crowd shouted.
King Firepower became a good ruler. He combined all the religions he conquered and made them one. He did not force people to follow the religion called Gowandalism.
In the religion Gowandalism, there was a feudal system. The highest honor in this feudal system was being a god. The lowest honor was becoming a peasant. Peasants cooked, did errands and farmed. In the religion Gowandalism, you became a god in your afterlife if you were a good person in your life. Each god was different because each human had a different personality. Each god had many powers. According to Gowanda mythology, Gowanda was the first person alive. He was also the first god. He controlled the forces of nature. He gave hard workers good harvest and He gave lazy and bad people droughts. He gave honorable people wealth. Most people in Firepower's kingdom worshipped Gowanda, the first god.
Firepower's CAA (CHIEF ADMINATSTRATIVE ADVISOR),CTA (CHIEF TRADE ADVISOR) and CMO (CHIEF MILITARY OFFICER) all owned castles.
Firepower's job was to recruit good Warriors, a job Adam, the king of the Backbiter Empire, wanted. So he signed a deal with Firepower. If Firepower's army destroyed the Backbiter Army, then Firepower could take over the Backbiter Empire. It worked the same way the other way around.
At 12:00 Firepower was preparing his troops for the battle ahead. Just then, Adam called out, “I change my mind. Let's combine our kingdoms without a fight!”
“Good idea,” Firepower shouted at the top of his lungs. They shook on it and their kingdoms were combined.
Soon the whole world was combined, following Adam's lead.
THE END
