THE STONE OF

THE LIVING
BY: May Tie

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 Chapter one: Intro

“No! It’s my car!”

“Mine! Mine! Mine!” Keith was slowly roused up by the

daily morning debate between his little brother and sister about

who’s toy car it really is. It always ends with his mother telling them

it’s for both of them, and if they don’t stop, she will give the car to

the neighbor’s kid. But then, they promise they will stop, but they

never do. It has already become Keith’s alarm.

 Chapter two: Keith’s life

Keith was just any ordinary kid. He usually just wears a

shirt that blends in with everybody, so the bullies don’t notice him

since he’s a nerd. Keith has shining blue eyes, blonde hair, slightly

dark tinted skin, and wears black-rimmed, rectangular-shaped

glasses.

Keith just woke up from his sibling’s morning debate.

Now, he will prepare for school like any typical day. He lived in

Washington D.C., and he goes to Washington pre-school to high

school there. Keith is currently in fifth grade. Right now, it is

2012, March 25. Keith is preparing.

Keith is just a quiet kid; he does raise his hand during class

once in a while. He always has his nose in a book. That’s what made

Keith smart. But little did he know that someone thinks his

smartness is perfect for a mission. A very tough mission…

 Chapter three: A wizard!

Keith packed his homework, checked his backpack; it was

so heavy, it felt like he’s always carrying a big stone. He’s already

sick of carrying that around. Finally, Keith walked out and said bye

to his mom. He grabbed his bicycle and rode out.

Suddenly, he heard a rustle in the bushes. Keith simply

thought it was another one of those rabbits. But it sounded heavy,

too loud. Not a rabbit.

Keith turned and asked wearily, "Anybody? Hello?

Anyone here?”

A voice behind the bushes shouted, "Hello! Old friend!

Hold on! Been waiting for this moment all my life. I’m coming!”

Studying the person, Keith wondered, what old friend is

this? This is an awfully funky-looking person. Look at that huge

beard and robe! And the staff too!

 The voice said, "I shall introduce myself! My name is

Donry. A weird name, eh? Not for us wizards!”

He studied Donry carefully. Donry had long, white hair,

shining blue eyes, just like himself. Quite a long beard; it was nearly

dragging on the floor! He held a beautiful staff made from oak

wood, painted with dark brown outside. On the top of the staff,

there was a glowing blue ball. Donry wore a purple and blue sharp-

tipped wizard hat.

Donry said, "Anyways, I am here to bring you to

Wizardland, where you will learn the ways of the wizard and learn

magic. Also, you have a mission you must do. Time to go to the

teleporter, time to go to Wizard land!”

“Really? Are we really going? I think————”

“No, no, no, nothing, no questions at all. Not allowed.”

“But————-”

“I said, no! Let’s GO!”

“Uh, nothing. Ignore that.”

 When they arrived at the teleporter, Keith was absolutely tired of

Donry’s continuous boring speech about how much fun they’ll have

in Wizardland. Keith stared at what looked like a rickety, cyan and

white-colored, broken bathroom. It felt like you could just break it

into a million pieces if a small breeze blew.

Donry said, "Well? This is the teleporter. What do you

think?”

Keith hesitated then answered, "Well, It’s okay? It looks

like a bathroom. No offense. Really.”

They both stared, Keith confused, Donry, very proud.

Keith asked, "I have two questions. First, are you sure this

is a teleporter, and how do we teleport? Second, what about my

friends and family?”

Donry answered, "This is a teleporter, and I don’t care

about your family. And I made this teleporter! Isn’t it cool? I feel so

proud of myself; I made a teleporter! A TELEPORTER!”

 “Yeah, that’s really cool?” Keith hesitated then answered.

Not enthusiastic at all.

“You sound like you’re asking me a question. Donry

sounded offended.

“Kind of asking, yes.”

“Rude. Talking ‘bout you. Actually, I don’t mind, really. I

was just joking.”

Keith followed silently behind the wizard and thought, this

wizard must be crazy! I think he just made a bathroom! Even I

could make a bathroom like that!

As they stepped in the teleporter, Keith smelled the

disgusting, foul smell of a public bathroom. But when he looked

closer, he saw switches of all colors with words written in a foreign

language. Donry clicked a blue button and turned on a purple

switch. The lights turned on and flashed.

Donry said, "Everything has just begun. It’s an hour-long

ride, by the way.”

 Keith nodded and thought, I can’t believe I’ll be standing

in this flying bathroom for one hour!

 Chapter four: The training

preparation
They finally arrived at Wizardland after a very, very long

hour. Keith felt like it was an eternity. Donry proudly stepped out.

Donry deeply inhaled the Wizardland air, “Home sweet

home! Finally, I can’t wait to start your training! I’ll bring you to

wizard school soon! Now, look at that! A smiling flower! That’s

Wizardland!” Donry exclaimed, “Ah! Now you must find The

Stone of The Living!”

“What is The Stone of The Living? Is it hard to get?”

Keith stammered as they walked past the school, "W-well, am I

supposed to have magic too? Because those somewhat look like

sixth graders seem to be born with magic, and yet I don’t have any!”

Keith thought, I don’t see any smiling flower. Donry must really

love this place! He can even make an ordinary flower look like a

smiling one! He's a real crazy dude!

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 Donry simply said, "No worries, my friend! I’m sure you

can do it. You’ll find it. It’s simple for you, not for me; I’ve already

tried many times, always failed. You already know what it is. You

just have to find out.” Donry led Keith into a building that looked

somewhat like a shop. Keith thought, all these people look like

wizards! This is creepy; I’m the only one not wearing a cloak. I

don’t even belong here; everybody must be staring at me! It felt like

he was the big dork here. Donry grabbed a cloak, fitted it on Keith.

It was perfect! Then, Donry walked over to the shopkeeper and

gave him five wooden square coins.

The shopkeeper said to Donry, "Hey! So you got an

apprentice now, eh?”

Donry silently nodded his head and smiled. They walked

on. Soon, they arrived at another building; Keith assumed this was

the school. It had a massive gate outside with “The School for

Young Wizards” written on top. He saw many kids playing magical

games on the funny-looking playground when he looked inside.

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 Some of them are practicing magic and succeeding. Some were

failing miserably, like one of those first graders trying to play some

kind of marble game where they have to make the marble levitate or

something like that. A kid tried to raise it, but the marble, instead of

going up, it didn’t move. Even when the kid tried to take it with her

hands, the marble was stuck on the ground. Keith figured the kid

must have put some kind of reverse spell on it. Donry led Keith into

the building. Keith saw so many magical things at the same time.

He saw cloaks, pens that were writing without a person there, staffs

and flying brooms!

After walking for some time, Keith followed Donry into a

medium-sized room. It looked like a gift shop room. There were

lots and lots of owls too. Keith thought, is one of these owls going to

be my familiar? The kids outside all had one next to them.

Donry answered that question; he had read Keith’s mind,

"Yes. You will choose one. They’re all the same, except for their

looks.”

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 Keith replied, "Could I have the one with the black beak

and blue eyes? The one over there.” Keith pointed towards an owl

in a black cage with a green bottom. Donry took that cage and paid

the money.

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 Chapter five: Training

“Perfect! We’re ready! I shall bring you to school now!

You ready? Feeling good, eh?” Donry shouted joyfully.

Keith thought, I believe I’m ready. Actually, I hope I’m

ready. Maybe. No idea, really. Donry and Keith got on a flying taxi

that just looked like any regular taxi but with wings and flew to

school. School was the same as usual school except, he would learn

magic.

Every day, they would have 20 minutes in the classroom

reciting together the rules of The School For Young Wizards.

Then, they would do morning exercises, like running around the

track. Then, finally, the magic can start. They start learning all

kinds of incredible magic, like making things float. Keith liked

magic. Very much. But still, Keith couldn’t stop worrying about his

family.

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 Just after one month, Keith was completely ready for the

quest. After all, that quest only needed smarts and a little tiny bit of

magic.

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 Chapter six: Quest begins

Donry told Keith the story of the death king that is

planning on taking over life planet, a planet next to Wizardland.

Keith must save life planet very soon. Yet Keith was still worrying

about his family.

Donry seemed to read Keith’s mind and said, "Don’t

worry, number one, I got your family problem handled; number

two, a true warrior shouldn’t be worrying! Also, time to go to the

teleporter again!” After riding a flying taxi, they reached the

teleporter. Stepped in, and again they flew off, once again.

After arriving at life planet, they started off. Donry seemed

to know where they were going. Keith was completely confused and

had no idea where they were going. Donry and Keith walked long

distances, from crossing deserts to crossing vast oceans. On their

way, they met an old unicorn who followed them and gave them tips

about the death king headquarters. But in the end, the unicorn left

them when they were close. She gave enough advice to beat the

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 death king. It was a boring trip. But finally, they arrived at some

mysterious castle-like-thing.

“Th-thi-this is it. The death king headquarters.” Donry

stammered wearily. It looked creepy, definitely not somewhere

Keith wanted to live. Definitely not. Keith thought, oh man, I don’t

think I’m ready, shouldn’t even have followed the wizard into this

death trap, I’m a goner. That castle must have been five miles high

and had a one-mile thick wall! It was so huge! Suddenly, BANG!

Out came a dead janitor from a dark window, he was completely

burned and still holding a broom for cleaning the floor. Now Keith

wanted to just run away. But something held him, keeping life

planet alive and happy.

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 Chapter seven: The fight

Keith walked closer to the castle like something was

pulling him, he couldn’t stop, he had to fight the death king, even

though Keith knew he probably would lose. Donry knew Keith

could do it, he could feel it in his gut. He always trusted his gut.

Keith shouted, "Death king! Come out! Let me see who

you are! You're not gonna beat me!” He was trying to seem strong.

Suddenly, a colossal, dark figure sloppily ran over to Keith and

tried to chase him. Keith wasn’t about to run away, if he did, death

king would be even happier and chase him and fight him. Keith

stood, he made a power ball, it was very dangerous if it hit a human

or wizard, they would die instantly. But death king just ate it happily

and continued running. The wizard started shooting light at him,

Donry knew he’ll just eat it, but he acted like he’s helping, so Keith

thinks he’s actually doing stuff, but honestly, he’s not doing a thing.

At all. Death king ate everything up. Just ate it up. That’s all. Death

king was closing in on the space, yet Keith would not run. Keith

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 knew that people that act strong are weak, and real strong people

never show it. Keith knew exactly how to beat him.

Just as death king was about to swallow him whole, Keith

shouted, "Hey! Come on! You want to fight me? Come then! Eat

me! I don’t care about you! Do whatever you like. You want to eat

my brain first?”

Death king stopped; he was surprised by what Keith just

said. He was so surprised that he shrank back into his castle

because he was afraid. Death king self-destructed. Death king was

really a big bully, that’s all. Death king was dead himself now. Never

to be seen again. Yup, he did. Amazing what a fifth-grade boy can

do to a big black blob of something.

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 Chapter eight: What happened next

Turns out, Donry did have the family problem handled.

When they teleported back, Keith was back on the road to school,

about to bike to school. After all, the time on earth hadn’t moved at

all! That teleporter is pretty cool!

Keith continued like nothing had happened, and now

sometimes, in the middle of the night, Donry would visit and chat

with him. His life was remarkable. Keith found out that the true

Stone of The Living is a strong heart and a strong mind.!

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 About the author

May Tie was born in Los Angeles 10 years ago. Right now,

she lives in Beijing. With her mother, father, and two brothers. May

enjoys reading, writing, and drawing horses. She would like to be a

professional show jumper in the future.

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