The Legend of Shen Diamond Flame
by Elizabeth
Introduction
The dragon is the symbol of China. In ancient Chinese legends, the imaginary dragon was the god of rain. When he breathed, he produced the clouds. In spring, he brought the rains. In winter, he buried himself in the mud at the bottom of the sea. The dragon is the symbol of spring and new life.
The Legend
"Long ago, there was a little town of caves in the low mountains of the Himalayas," my grandfather dragon began. He told great stories, and I couldn't wait to hear this one. "When your great, great. great, great, great, great great-grandfather was just a boy"This was the beginning of grandfather's story, The Legend of Shen Diamond Flame.
Diamond Flame, the name his friends called him, waddled slowly and jumped furiously. "Diamond Flame, you'll never fly that way," His mother scolded. He had just turned half-a-century old, and was trying out his unwieldy wings. "They're useless," he cried in a half-screech, half-whine way. "You're only half-a-century old, my son. Maybe we can try Fly-Away Hill." (Dragons age much differently than humans, and when they are born, it is a tremendous occasion.)
Fifteen years later
As Diamond Flame gulped down his prize, he wondered: "Are the rumors true? Is my success, and talent for learning, a gift from the great dragon, the Rain God? Is there something from my father's past that foretells a great wizard in the Shen clan?" Diamond Flame needed to know right away. Not a thing in the Himalayas could keep him from asking his parents about the rumors, except maybe him.
"Mom, dad, I-I--ha--have a question," he stuttered. "Are the rumors true? I have to know." He sighed, relieved after asking the question he had held for so long.
"I knew this was coming," his father replied. "Yes, son, the rumors are true." He paused. "I think it's time you heard my story."
When I was about your age, I, too, was a flowering talent. I decided to find out why. I went to the wisest dragon. She told me about all that is and all that was. "Your clan will have a powerful leader, young dragon. It might be you, or maybe not. But High Peaks is the future, and hard work is your guide. Don't mess this up."
She was amused by me, but I knew what I had to do. Yet I still did not know-- and I guess I never will --what she meant by "it might be me."
To prepare myself, I studied more and more. My goal was to get to the High Peaks. I passed all the tests. In fact, I passed them faster than anyone else.
Our enemy, Qin Jewel Claw, the ruler of High Peaks, saw me as a threat to his throne. We battled, and I lost. Father then showed me the terrible scar he got in that battle. It ran from his shoulder to his leg.
He continued, "I don't know how, but Qin Jewel Claw discovered the province of our clan. He's threatened our clan ever since, waiting for someone to fulfil the prophecy." He's powerful and he knows you exist. The fact is, your destiny, will bring the fall of Qin Jewel Claw's reign. He will hit you with all his power trying to keep you from fulfilling your destiny."
For long moments, no one said anything. Then mother spoke up: "So, young Shen Diamond Flame, what will you do?"
From that day on, Diamond Flame worked to fulfill his destiny. He studied and trained with his father. He performed magic that he thought his father would not know. He perfected the arts of bamboo or staff fighting, and fencing.
Soon he was ready to start his journey to High Peaks. One morning his father said, "You are ready, and I will go with you." The next day they left.
Diamond Flame and his father set out into the sky. They were one league away form the mountain of the Provincials when a serpent of sorcery came out of nowhere. Even with their roaring flames, the dragons turned pale after battling the serpent. "We need magic," Diamond Flame whispered. Instantly, he and his father created an invisible silk rope around the monster's neck. The monster vanished after turning a pale white. "It's Qin Jewel Claw," they each announced, with relief. Then they flew onto the mountain. There, Diamond Flame passed his test with flying porcelain. They flew on, and were confronted by yet another serpent. This time Diamond Flame and his father became invisible. Diamond flame brought up his sword and cut off the serpent's head. Two more heads grew back instantly.
Diamond Flame thought, "Enough is enough. I didn't spend months of training with bamboo and sword to be defeated by a slimy serpent. I'll cast my spell. "I conjure thee, I magic thee. With tree and leaf I trap thee." As quick as a dragon can say rice, a bamboo cage imprisoned the serpent. In a swift crescent moon, the sword cut through the serpent's middle. The serpent was dead. Diamond Flame cleaned his sword while his father congratulated him. At this point, Diamond Flame thought this was the glory of his destiny-to win every battle. But he would have a surprise.
As they flew down to an inn, a mischievous phoenix slashed at Diamond Flame from behind. Diamond Flame fell, plummeting from the sky. His father disposed of the phoenix, but the pain from his injury was intense. Shen Diamond Flame could not concentrate. He failed his next exam. His father cautioned, "Remember, the water buffalo does not always find grass to eat."
Under his father's care, Diamond Flame's wounds healed, and he again studied diligently. To his delight, he passed the next examination.
The next week, after yet another failed exam, he asked his father, "Is it worth it? I mean, I always thought fulfilling my destiny meant repeated victories."
His father instructed, "My son, the glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time you fall."
Eventually, Shen Diamond Flame defeated Qin Jewel Claw in battle, and took his place as leader of the dragons of High Peaks.
That is all, my father concluded. "There is no more tale to tell." And by then, the young dragon was asleep.
The End