Morrigan kissed his wife, holding her close. “T’is but one more battle, Katrina… Not even that…”

His wife cried against his chest plate, her tears rolling down its sleek surface. “I cannot help myself, my love. Whilst thou art away, my mind dwells only on thine return. Whilst thou fight, my heart aches for thy touch…” She sniffed softly, kissing him.

“Katrina, I swear to thee, I will not leave thee a widow.”

“Morrigan…” She took a deep breath. “Please, I have something to tell thee.”

Morrigan tilted his head lightly as he heard his fellow knights call for him. “Please, darling, I shall be fine. Do not waste thy time saying farewells and goodbyes. Spare those for when the time truly comes.”

“M-Morrigan, t’is not that…”

“What is it?”

“I-I…”

“Morrigan, come!” Morrigan turned to his fellow knights to see them beckoning him. “We must away by sundown!”

“In one moment!” He turned back to his wife, his face full of concern. “Katrina, I must leave, my knights, they need-“

“M-Morrigan, I’m with child.”

“Need… my…” Morrigan slowly stopped speaking, his wife’s words being processed by his mind. His wife, Katrina, and he… They… He… “Thou art…”

“… Thou art to be a father, my love.”

Morrigan’s face lit up. “M-My Katrina… My love!” He laughed, kissing her deeply. “W-we’re to be parents…”

Katrina giggled softly, blushing. “Morrigan, please… Please, return to me… To us.”

“I will always return to thee, Katrina. Always.” Softly, he laid his hoof on her belly. “I will return to both of thee…”

They nuzzled each other and kissed once more before he headed on his way. They were going out for a standard changeling hunt. It was common, now, to find changelings straggling around the border. It was now their duty to find those few and end them quickly.

Morrigan couldn’t help but smile the entire trip. He boasted to his friends – What father wouldn’t? While the fresh thoughts of the battle to come was still fresh in their minds, they could not help but congratulate the new father. They laughed and carried on, despite the grimness that had settled in the heart of each warrior in turn.

Morrigan beamed with happiness as he thought of his past. How he had grown from a small colt, dreaming, to the man he was now. He had faced many a hardship – Training to be as strong as he is, losing his friends on the battlefield along with that coltish abandon that had always claimed his heart… More recently, having lost his best friend of many years. He had faced many a hardship – And yet, now, he could smile. His love would always be fresh in his mind, through thick and thin, through any foul times, until death did them part – And for years thereafter, for he would always remember her… And he refused to die before she did.

Yes, he would always protect her.

That was his vow, his bond. He would save her from any danger, protect her from anything that would harm her.

No matter the price.

“Enemy spotted.”

*~*~*~

Morrigan twirled his sword expertly, blocking the Changeling’s magic and deflecting it. He huffed and panted, sweat dripping down his face. One changeling had become many – Just as his first battle with them had gone. Once or twice, the scouting trips had revealed more than one changeling, but never this many. One for each soldier.

Morrigan deflected another blast, stumbling back. The changeling before him growled softly, laughing. They are unlike the ones we faced before… These beasts are far more cunning… Flapping his wings, Morrigan rose to attack from above. The changeling, seeing this, rolled out of the way.

Morrigan stopped his dive, lifting his sword. Looking around, he saw the changeling change in a flash of green light. His eyes widened.

Before him stood… himself.

The changeling laughed in a stolen voice, licking its lips. “The playing field has been leveled now, it seems. Come!” In a burst of green light from his eyes, a sword materialized as a green crystal blade, matching Morrigan’s own. “Face me! Face yourself!”

Morrigan’s eyes burned with an unholy fire. Shouting in rage, he charged at the abomination, the being that dared pretend himself good enough to be… To be Morrigan. To be him. This beast had no knowledge of the times Morrigan had gone through, of the pain and suffering or the tears or the joy. It wore him like a mask, false and untrue.

Morrigan couldn’t stand it.

His charge was blocked by the changeling’s blade. Sparks flew as the metal grated against the crystal. Morrigan caught himself practically snarling at the changeling as it grinned at him, chuckling. “Powerful, aren’t we,” the changeling said, flapping his wings and jumping back.

“Power thou hath stolen,” Morrigan shouted, slashing at him from the side, stepping over his hooves sideways.

“Stolen? Please,” the changeling said, easily blocking the slash. “We’ve earned this power, Knight!” Suddenly, the changeling went on the offensive, slashing quickly. Morrigan gasped and tried to keep up with them. He deflected them as well as he could. All the while, the changeling kept talking. “You’ve fought hard to get where you are – I am no different! I have trained, fought, battled and survived! I’ve lost! I’ve won! But you know what the difference between us is, pony,” his copy spat out as though the term ‘pony’ was acid on his tongue.

Morrigan gasped as he fell back, nearly losing grip on his sword. His eyes widened in fear as the changeling smirked, as his image smirked, cold green eyes staring back at him. “The difference is, I can use your love… And love is sharper than iron.”

Morrigan couldn’t block it in time.

He made not a sound as the changeling’s blade sliced through his armor, straight into his chest. He possibly coughed lightly, gasping for breath as he felt coldness grip his heart. Yet he never screamed. His mind flashed back to the nightmare he kept having, of his blood rolling down the blade of his commander. Never once had he thought he would see himself wielding the sword.

He started panting. The world around him began to spin lightly. This… I… I’ve been stabbed… Is this the end, then?

..........

No. Morrigan opened his eyes wide. Suddenly, the changeling before him began to quake in fear. Morrigan reached out and grabbed the changeling by the neck, ignoring the sword buried inside his chest. He felt stronger than ever, could practically feel the adrenaline bursting through his veins. He stood on his own two hooves, ignoring the pain, ignoring the changeling’s startled growls as it shifted form to its natural state. Only one thing rested on his mind.

I promised her I’d not leave her a widow. I’m not dying today.

He raised his sword, holding the changeling tightly. It squirmed, but could not escape.

Slash.

Morrigan finally gasped in pain as the changeling died, its sword fading with its life. As the crystal blade vanished, Morrigan held his chest. He could feel his blood soaking into his fur. He felt… suddenly quite weak…

He collapsed slightly, struggling to help himself up. Not… dying… today…

“Morrigan?!” He turned softly to see one of his fellow knights galloping towards him. He could only assume this meant the battle was over.

Good… That means I can see Katrina soon… Morrigan smiled softly as he passed out to that thought.

Author's Note

'Nother chapter. *yawns* yay =u=