Tree of Harmonyby KappaChaptersChapter OneChapter TwoChapter ThreeChapter FourChapter FiveChapter OneChapter One: The coming storm. Our home, the smoke rose from the distant tree village far from the high castle walls. Leaf Mender, my love from our youngest of sproutling days, fell to ground, weeping. Her armor clad body shook with the loss that each tear cascaded; the pain crying out as each droplet rolled gently down her cheeks. “Monsters”, she sobbed bitterly into emerald hands. “Mendy”, placing my petrinite gauntlet on her shoulder, I knelt down to the visor over her and stared into her wet azure eyes. “We must stand, Mendy.” Cupping my armored limb under her slender yet powerful arm, we stood up, together. Looking past my own visor, she saw the tears flow from within the depths of the usually carefree eyes behind it. “Our trees”, I paused as the images of our family and friends welled into my thoughts. “The Dragons have burned them and everything we loved with them.” Her eyes hardened as the last vestiges of tears dried. I turned back to the cold ebonwood ballista between us and pulled back the loading rod. “We stop them, here and now.” Mendy lifted a heavy petrinite barbed bolt from the stack and slammed it down into the readied groove. “For our King”, she spoke with renewed strength. “For our Queen”, I answered. “For Celestia and Luna”, we spoke in unison as the ballista cried out with its locking pin. The teams around us nodded, smiling sadly, and readied their own turrets as we waited. Below the castle ramparts the royal honor guard, all that remained of our people, stood in formation. Captain Ironwood towered in front of the small band, watching the skies as tiny black pinpricks began to mare the pure innocent blue. He turned hard and faced the ranks of his readied guard. “We stand together”, magic resonated his words into an echoing boom that cut the air. “For the honor of our fallen, for the honor of Aura, and for the prophecy of her daughters”, rising a fist into the air at the slowly enlarging specks; his words flowed into each us. “Envy and pride, something so petty, has driven the once proud Dragon King mad; for, he seeks to not be ruled nor let his sky be ruled by the prophecies foretelling.” Lowering his fist, the specks had become large blots against the empty blue. “He seeks to murder our beloved princesses, to keep them from their destiny.” Ironwood withdrew his sword; the magical wood gleamed in the sun, as if blessing his words. “We stand for what is right, what is just, what will come to pass, and we stand”, beams of sunlight echoed the words off his blade, “together!” Cheering erupted all around my ears and played against the helmet that sat over them. Mendy stood by her post, no sign of fear remaining in her or anyone that I could see. Let them come, we would be ready. The horizon darkened as the blackness grew on the roar of wing beats. An army of dragons filled the sky, numbering in the thousands. They approached all that remained which stood against them; last of the Dryads, no more than a hundred. “Ballista”, Green Warden, the rampart lieutenant, bellowed. The noise of the ebonwood scrapping against the stone below resounded as we positioned our first volley. “Ready”, Green raised his hand as the black forms filled our sights. “Fire”, the order shot out from his lips as our bolts screamed into the sky. The hailstorm of petrinite struck true; piercing the thick scales of our enemies, biting deeply into their rotten cores, and bringing the first wave crashing from the sky in thunderous roars. “Fire at will”, Greens picked up two bolts, in each arm, from the stacks between him and slammed them down into nearby turrets. Drawing the red eyes of the nearest dragon into my sights I let go Green’s bolt. Mendy lifted the next volley and placed it down before the bolt had even struck. Smiling I watched it impale into the dragons eye and protrude out the back of its skull. “That’s for my home, you monster.” “This one is for my mother and father”, Mendy kissed the cold ebonwood shaft, “May they rest in peace.” Turning my smile from her I aimed at my next target and released. The swarm began its battle dive into our defense. Our castle would not fall. Shooting into the blackened sky, her family’s memory found its target. Our beloved princesses would not be lost. Howling in agony, the beast plummeted by the weight of its wickedness. The forest, my last home, would not burn. Colliding with a deafening crash into the ground, the dragon lay still. My brethren charged into battle. These woods, like my Dryad soul, would be forever free. Fire exploded around us as the onslaught sought to end our deadly bolts. Green managed to cut down the first two that latched their talons unto the ramparts but it wasn’t only his armor that now sizzled. My ballista, despite two direct hits, was still functioning even as it burned. Mendy lay next to it, breathing raggedly as she watched from her remaining good eye. “We’re losing, my love”, her words muffled on the thin stream of green sap that dripped from her lips. Grabbing another bolt, stepping over my fallen beloved, I made ready another shot. “Until the last of us stops moving”, firing, a dragon on the ground slumped to its stomach. I turned back to her but only the cold empty eyes of what was once my wife greeted me. Kneeling down, I closed them. “We are not yet truly lost.” Kissing her lips gently, I stood up and grabbed for another bolt. Fire exploded around me, the last direct hit shattered what remained of the ballista and sent me flying back against the blackened stonewall. Coughing up a small pool of sap, I forced my body back to its feet. “Don’t know when to quit, do you”, Green smiled and coughed out a rough chuckle. “Good.” Green removed his sword belt and threw it up at me from his position on the blackened stone floor. Catching it in a charred hand, small pieces of my bark skin crumbled off below; I questioned him. “Don’t give me that-“, sap dripped from his mouth in grimace,”-look.” Hoisting himself up as much as he could, Greenies steely gaze cut into my soul. “I’m staying here as long as one of these damned, burning, pieces of wood still sees fit to let loose one more bolt into those monsters.” Pointing at me, he continued, “Look around you sapling, the outer wall has fallen.” The scene below attested to Greenie. Countless dragons lay fallen on the cold dirt but few of my kin still stood to oppose their endless numbers. “Get to the fallback point”, Lieutenant Green Warden ordered as he extended up a shaky limb. I returned the honor, fashioned his enchanted blade into place, and turned back to my fallen love. “Mendy”, pleasant memories from the past filled my thoughts, “I won’t let us, I promise.” Turning to the smoldering doorway, I descended down the stone steps and into the palace halls. Chapter TwoChapter Two: Before the dawn. Ironwood stood in the middle of what remained of the guard, fanned out in a loose circle formation. “Briar Heart”, his trusted second, lover, and cherished wife turned to face him. “Let’s give the fallback time to prepare and show these overgrown lizards what our magic can do.” Embracing his wife into his arms, Ironwood gave the signal. Pressing his lips passionately into hers, the tanglewood bursting from the ground around them gave little interruption. Forming a shield of venomous thorns from the castle gate to the courtyard, the tanglewood encased the remaining defenders. The castle gates rose slowly to the battlefield as from under them came two files of five Dryads; the remaining high nature weavers, the hierophants. “You’re girls are here, my love”, Ironwood grinned as he watched their eyes surge with green magic. “Don’t keep them waiting now.” He watched as his Heart left his embrace and took her place in front of her students. “We are few, sisters, but each of us carries the strength of the entire wilds.” Briar smiled gently and placed her hand to the ground while her students mimicked her actions. Looking overhead, she watched the dragons foolish enough to attack the tanglewood with their talons fall stricken to their demise; the poison tearing their insides asunder. Dark soil sprang from the ground and encased her deep purple bark. “Arise my friends and defend our home”, Briar’s glowing eyes as well as her students sharply brightened. The first fire breather that finally cut thru the poisonous wall found itself slammed against the ground by the powerful earth elemental towering over it. Entering into the royal throne room my eyes shifted to each of its inhabitants; a small band of unicorn mages, earth caste warriors, pegasi knights, and the even smaller cluster of Dryad surrounding the throne. Running up to the group, eyes met the faintly glowing weapon around my armor. Silently, I shook my head and offered the first words, “How many?” A quiet voice replied, “Ten, eleven counting you.” “Tree Song”, I looked inquisitively at the smoldering petrinite helmet in disbelief. “Don’t”, she muttered and I withdrew my gaze. “Mendy”, she question hesitantly, her voice quivering asking for her friend. I shook my head again and she simply returned to her post around the throne. The throne, behind it sat the two royal Alicorns and both of their treasured daughters. I recognized Celestia’s pretty pink mane as she did her best to hide behind her father, the king. Luna, held by her mother, was crying. She was so young I doubted she even knew what was happening around her; the poor little filly. I approached them and knelt deeply onto my burnt armor. “The rampart has fallen, your majesties”, the words fell out more than drifted off my tongue. “I see”, the deep voice of the king replied, “What of the courtyard?” “Littered with countless dragons and the hierophants have joined the battle by now.” “Will it hold”, his question burned worse than my wounds into me. “No, your majesty, I do not think it will.” The king eyed the blade I carried, “The sword you now wear was a gift from my wife to your kind.” Pausing for a moment his gaze turned down to the pink fluff that shivered behind his legs. “That blade is the symbol of trust we gifted when the Dryad swore their oath to us.” The king stood suddenly and nodded to the earth caste warriors that flanked him. The strong ponies lifted up his armor, made from the mix of hardest metals and strongest of magical Dryad woods, and began arming the Alicorn king. “I command you”, his helmet locked into place as he brought his weighted gaze to me, “protect my daughters with it.” The king’s eyes softened as he spoke, “Little Tia and Luna are my greatest achievements as a father or a king.” Leaning down he hugged the startled white filly, “I love you, my golden sun.” “Daddy, don’t go”, the little filly recovered from her freight, though still shaking badly, and had placed her front hooves against her father’s decorative armor. “Daddy, has to”, never breaking his embrace, the king continued. “Daddy, must go.” “Why”, I watched as the little Alicorn’s horn lite up a faint yellow and attempted to hold the king as she pleaded. “Why, daddy”, tears fell from her pure eyes unto his fur. “Daddy, daddy has to go because he loves you”, I watched, heart aching, as our king, our queen, and our gods wept. The moment was broken by a massive tremor hitting the castle as if a star had just fallen on it. The Dragon King had finally come. “Quickly Aura, there isn’t much time left.” “Yes, my love.” The king turned to face us one last time; adjusting his armored wing before he spoke. “You, Dryad,” –he pointed a hoof towards me- “will hold the princesses secure in the room behind the throne.” “Protect my daughters, I beg of you.” Aura’s grieving eyes fell on us. “My Ponies,” he turned to his selected guard, the only ones brave enough to face the Dragon King. “Hold the throne room and allow not one of those possessed monsters to pass.” The ponies saluted their king and took position around the throne as we hurried the princesses to safety. “Come, Aura.” The king smiled as the concealed door began to shut in front of us. “Ironwood,” Briar screamed as the Dragon King’s claw slowly clenched around his armor. The blackened petrinite falling off in large chunks to the fiery ground around below. Her eyes flared as a golem reassembled its smoldering body and slammed into the monstrous beast. “Still you fight; still you fight knowing that the battle is already lost.” The claw closed shut as bark and sap rained to the blazing ground. “No,” Briar screamed as the magic welling in her eyes erupted outwards around her. “Oh?” The largest of dragons regarded her with mild interest. “Perhaps you might be able to break my boredom of these weaklings.” The earth thundered as he turned his form to face her; his tail lashing from behind and cutting the elemental back down in one swipe. Chapter ThreeChapter Three: True strength is found. Aura winced, stopping her frantic gallop, as the burst of magic vanished from her mind. “My love,” The king came to a halt eyeing his wife in question. “Briar Heart,” she whispered softly. “Then we must truly hurry now.” The walls of the hidden room shuddered against the devastation outside but the noises of battle began to wane. “The ponies cannot hope hold out against the dragons alone,” Tree Song hissed quietly. “The King and Queen command us to stay and defend their daughters,” I whispered back. “No, they only ordered us to protect them,” She paused and placed her charred hand on my shoulder. “They only command you to stay.” Unable to speak another word to her, Song rallied my remaining brethren and left me to the filly Alicorns. In battle minutes can feel of hours, I had found, but now it seemed of days pasted since Song left. Little Celestia was cowering in the corner with her sister Luna. The look of fear shone on their faces, breaking my heart. I cast my head down defeated but something I could not have expected to have occurred happened. A small hoof poked at my leg, Tia was looking up at me her eyes glowing slightly. “Mommy told me a secret.” I stood in awe as the sounds outside the room began to hush. “What was that, my princess?” “Mommy told me, she saw you protect us in a dream and she said that you would stop the bad dragon.” “Did she?” “Yes, I’m not scared anymore now cause I remembered it and I know you won’t let the monsters hurt us.” She smiled at me, so full of certainty that I found myself believing it. I knelt down in front of the tiny Alicorn, placing my forehead against her small horn and spoke my oath as I had done once before; to her mother. “The mother forest as witness,” I recited feeling a small spark tingle from her tiny horn. “I pledge myself to you, till my sap run dry, till my bark breaks and crumbles, and till I return to the forest that bur me.” The tingle became a humming buzz that rang in my ears. “I will protect you.” I stood, my wounds no longer feeling the burns they carried. Celestia only smiled at me but I felt energy in my sap unlike any before. The sound of claws scrapping across the stone, seeking our location, met my ears. “Stay here Celestia and keep the door shut behind you.” I drew Warden’s blade, a strange blue glow pulsed from it. I turned to face her as the door opened and smiled. The dragon gurgled as my sword cut into his hide, slicing him as if parchment. The humming in my ears formed in a voice, formed into Mendy’s sweet tone. “You promised me, you promised me that we wouldn't fail.” Her voice echoed in my mind as the next dragon fell before me, its claws tearing at my bark but no pain greeted me. “I did, my love.” A tear ran down my cheek. My eyes burned at the next target and to my surprise the dragon flinched. “We won’t fail.” The sword cut forward as a flash of orange magic cascaded from the hilt and covered the blade. The wound burned from the dragon as it fell into a pile of smoldering blood. “Together,” her voice whispered lovingly in my mind. “Together.” The words left my lips as my blade cut down another. The floor gained a new occupant to join the piles of broken scales and hides. My pony allies had fought hard and proved themselves more than their foes expected it seemed. Holding the glowing blade in front of my sight, the light shone upon the forms of my fallen brethren. They lay in a small circle surrounding the three slain unicorns they gave their lives to protect. Their weapons burnt down to the hilts and their armor mere dust on the floor but around them laid fallen dragons beyond count; piled almost to the ceiling of the throne room. “Together,” Song’s voice joined Mendy. “We fight for each other,” I spoke, kneeling down, and kissing Tree Song’s cold cheek. Golden light erupted from the blade and covered my tattered armor. The petrinite mended itself and the burden vanished from its weight. “Stronger than the darkness alone,” The voices sang gently. “Stronger,” A fireball blasted off me as the words ended but the fire neither burned nor was felt. I cut the beast down, cleaving its head to the floor; to join the others. The hall ended with a pile of slain dragons that blocked it completely. The Earth ponies and pegasi that lay with them on the stone floor were testament to our conviction. Without hesitating I turned back to passage I had taken earlier. The rampart opened up to me and I saw the monstrous form of the Dragon King; locked in battle with the Alicorns that assaulted. I shuddered, moving to the stairs that led down. I spotted Green between the littered corpses of his foes, impaled by Ebonwood bolts too swallow to have been fired. He was suspended in the claws of the last dragon he fell. The bolt he still grasped in his cold hands, rammed through its heart. “I told you sprouting, never give up.” His laughter filled me. “Never,” I chuckled; a pink glow lightly ran around from everywhere but also nowhere. The twisting mass of pink encased me as a smile grew over my lips. I faced the battle below me, the towering dragon, and my fear was simply no more. I watched the Alicorns battle against their foe, magic erupting into the air around them in such powerful blasts the sky echoed. The remaining dragons simply sat on the ramparts, the Dragon King –in his pride- must have ordered them out so his intended victory would be his and his alone. I pushed myself over the courtyard, fighting to find purchase in the devastation. Entire sections of earth had moved as if the very mountains had made claim to grounds. I found my way to the center of the yard and was greeted by the leader of all our Hierophants, still alive. Briar Heart lay in a puddle of ashen sap mumbling the name of her husband over and over as if time had no end. She lifted her head I approached, the wild magic still burning in her eyes. “You,” sap trickled out gently with her word. “Th-that light,” Briar turned her gaze to ash and then back to me. “He was taken from me and I thought I could do,” I quickly knelt down as she fought on the sap that choked her words. Shaking her head, Briar weakly pushed me back. “I thought I could do nothing but now I see that I was wrong.” She placed a hand to my head and a pale purple glow replaced the green in her burning eyes. “The Dragon King forgot one thing, sapling.” She offered a weak smile to me. “We Dryad are much like our trees.” “Briar,” I held her battered form in a gentle embrace. “When you cut us down, our energy feeds those that remain and if there should be but one that still stands.” Her words softened and I found myself drawing the embrace in to hear. “Take all that is left of us and all that is left of me,” The light began to fade from her as she fell limp in my arms. “Remind the foul beast of our true magic and purge him from this land.” Her words faded only to be replaced by surge, emotions, memories, my brethren filled my soul. The courtyard burst in my sight as a storm of fire burst forth from above. The body of my queen fell from the sky but somehow I caught her; not with hands but with a force that sprang from inside me. Purple light stained my vision as my queen weakly looked to me. “He is coming.” “You cannot hide from me nor can your little whelps, Aura,” a bellowing roar shook the ground. “The king,” I spoke with hesitation. My queen’s head rocked gently. “My daughters?” “Safe, your majesty.” The queen looked deeply into my eyes and hers in turn widened. “What has happened to you, Dryad?” “Touching,” The voice born of only malice spoke, dripping droplets of fire to the ground in front of us. I levitated the queen to safety and faced my death bringer with only conviction. “Oh, another piece of kindling for my fire it seems.” A cold laughter filled the air. “No matter, pests are soon dealt with.” His maw opened as a river of molten fire sprayed forth. A pure white light bathed out from my core. “For our King,” I spoke watching the fire slowly draw near. “For our queen,” The voices within me surged forth. ”For my brethren,” I ready my blade and shot forth towards the flames. “For Celestia and Luna,” The voices crescendo into the white light and spilt into colors that coated me. A purple shield forced the flames back as my blade burst into a rainbow of light striking the Dragon King and marring deeply into his flesh. Scales fell to the ground around me as black blood gushed over the blade. “What,” The Dragon King bellowed in rage. “What is this, what are you?” He raked his claws against the shield, small cracks forming across it. “You dare to strike me, to wound me,” slamming the full weight of his size against the barrier it shatters; a flurry of swipes assaults my armor but my body and armor heal with each blow. Striking back, my sword digs into his side again and again without pause. “You are nothing, not even your immortal king could stop me.” Another blast from his maw bursts over me. The fire clears and I yet remain standing to charge again; costing the foul king another deep wound. “I will rip you apart while you’re dying queen watches in horror.” A hidden blow from his tail slams me back against the rampart behind me. Sap springs from my mouth but the energy to stand comes freely. “You cannot slay me, weakling.” I watch as he charges forth again. The rainbow of colors gleaming on my blade brightens. “No,” I whisper softly. “I cannot because you deserve more than death, beast.” I cry out, the glow becoming a radiant sun in my grasp. The little filly bounced in the courtyard looking up at me as my wife watched on smiling. “Do you know what mommy told me today?” Thrusting the blade out, I thought not of anger, hatred, or revenge but of my princess. I ruffle her pink mane as she giggles at me. The sword pierced into the thick scales and burrowed itself deeper; towards his black heart. “What did she tell you?” The dragon howled in agony as light sprang forth from his battered hide encasing his entirety within it. “Mommy said the best way to stop someone mean was to make them your friend.” The light dissipated and only a large purple and green egg remained in a small crater. The energy faded from my body as my healed wounds slowly began to open up again. My armor crumbled off, breaking against the ground below me; unable to hold myself up any longer I joined it. “Are you frightened?” I turned my head to see my queen, broken as I, next to me. “No, I just wish could’ve seen her once more.” “Perhaps, you will.” I turn my head back to sky the watch the sunrise. The remaining dragons had already taken flight and where flying into the distance beyond. “Why,” I coughed heavily, feeling the pain rise in my trunk. “Why, are they leaving?” “The Dragon King is destroyed and his possession on them as well. They are mindless beasts no more.” “You knew,” I managed a quite chuckle between rasps. “I hoped.” I watched my queen slowly rise to her hooves and over to the dormant egg. Her magic, weak but steady, pulled my blade from the crater and floated it back to me. “Aura, my queen, please you’re gravely injured.” “And you are dying, my friend.” Smiling sadly over me, she levitated the blade. “I must ask of you one more thing; even though, you have already given so much.” “Take this weapon, everything it is and will continue be, and join with it.” I nod and close my eyes. “Tell Celestia that she was right, for me.” “One day, Ever Free, you can tell my little filly yourself.” The dryad remained still as the blade foraged from the collective emotion and love of his entire race penetrated his battered body. The same rainbow of light I saw defeat the dragon envelopes him as he is lifted into the air. Charred bark heals and grows, forming out longer limbs that seek down into the dark soil beneath as others branch out towards the rising sun. Shielding my eyes from the light with a battered wing the final image of my dream is before me. The tree of harmony stands and deep within it gently beats the heart of my dear friend. Chapter FourChapter Four: From the eyes of innocence. “Luna it’s okay.” Putting my hoof on my shaking baby sister she looked up. She was crying and I wanted to make her better but she just put her head back down. Free had left a long time ago and Mommy and Daddy had been gone even longer. The scary noises from outside the room had gone away too but I didn't want to go out. I wasn't scared; Free told me to stay and Mommy said to do what he told me, so I did. I didn't want to be alone though and neither did Luna. “Tia,” I heard Mommies voice from outside the room. I galloped as fast as I could to the secret place in the wall. “Tia,” Mommy sounded hurt and that made me worry more. I hit my hooves all over the wall. Come on where are you button. My hoof hit something loose and a small click startled me but the door began to rise. Mommy was standing outside the door but she looked really hurt; I galloped, only falling once, and buried my face into her soft feathers. “Tia, I’m all right.” “Promise, Mommy?” “I Promise sweetie,” Mommy hugged me in her soft wing. I love when she does that cause it smells really good and makes me feel better. “What about Daddy?” I didn't see him anywhere and Daddy was never far from Mommy, ever. “Daddy had to go, honey.” Mommy’s eyes looked at me really sad when she told me. “Remember, sweetie?” I nodded, I remembered. “Cause Daddy loved us.” I wasn't sad. He would never do anything to make me sad. “Yes, sweetie,” Mommy grabbed Luna with her magic from the room and placed her on her back and then covered her in her wing; lucky. “Mommy needs you to follow her sweetie but you must only look to her and nowhere else.” She looked down at me very seriously. “You must promise me, Tia. Do not look at anything but Mommy.” “Okay, I’ll try my hardest, I promise.” Mommy smiled at me and turned to face the place where she sat a lot with Daddy during the day. I didn’t like that place cause it was really boring and hard to talk to them when the ponies there wanted to more. I tried to focus my best on her but I kept tripping on all the burnt stuff covering the floor as we trotted. I fell again and slid into something that looked like one of my tree friends but Mommy pulled me away with her magic before I could look. “Eyes on me, Tia,” She scolded me. I nodded and closed my eyes. I knew enough from that nice Heart treelady that I could follow Mommy with magic and not make her mad. We trotted really slowly for a long time and had to stop a lot to go another way. My hooves kept crunching on things and bumping into larger wet things but I didn’t look; I promised. Finally I felt the sun on my face. I loved the feeling of the sun cause it made me feel strong and no how tired I could be it made me not feel sleepy. “Can I open my eyes yet, Mommy?” “Yes, Mommy has something to show you dear,” I felt her wing hug me again and I buried my face back into it as my eyes opened. There was a really big tree in front of us and it looked very pretty. “Why is this pretty tree special?” “Ever Free is in there, honey.” “He is, but why did he turn into a tree.” I looked at the big roots around me. “How can he play with me now?” “He had to so he could keep protecting you, Tia.” “Like he promised me before he left?” “Yes, Tia.” Mommy smiled and placed a hoof against the tree house where Free lived now. “If you’re ever in trouble and you need help, please come back here.” “Free, will help me?” “Yes, he will.” Mommy smiled and hugged me tighter to her. Mommy cried for some reason as a pretty flower bloomed near her mane. She reached up, picked it, and placed the pretty flower in my mane. “He promises.” Chapter FiveChapter Five: The steady passage of time. Luna had stayed behind to rally the royal guard surrounding the city and so only I galloped into the forest alone. A rose, sustained by magic, rested gently against my ear as I trotted over the ancient path winding to that long forgotten place. The dark figures watched from the shadows but each time their eyes fell to that flower nestled in my mane; they vanished as quietly as they came. “I fear no beast in your forest, my friend.” I spoke the words out to the trees. A gust of wind rustled their branches. The path opened slightly and the old castle, home to my long lost days, stood before me. The crumbling stone walls, battered ramparts, broken windows, and shattered doors were the only witnesses that still spoke of what transpired. I turned my gaze up and watched the sun quickly race against the sky; against my will. Once more my horn glowed brightly, an attempt to summon my radiant sun but the sky remained black. The empty horizon was devoid of even the moon that should rightly bask its luster among my sister’s beautiful stars. I shook my head and cursed the name into his corrupted sky. “Discord, I will stop you.” The glow from my horn lite the way as its tranquil light played off the ghosts of battle that yet covered the grounds. Empty, partially decayed, and almost bereft of the magic that once powered them; the Dryad armor lay scattered across the courtyard. The emotions that yet emanated from the castle and scared even the bravest of my ponies away manifested itself before me. An ethereal Pegasus, clad in golden armor, drifted from the opened castle gate and out into the yard. She turned to face me and floated silently in place for a moment. A smile of recognition crossed her transparent lips as a hoof came up and saluted. “As you were, Cloud Drifter,” I spoke the name from distant memory. The specter nodded and wandered to the broken rampart behind me before vanishing. I continued my journey into the depths of the open yard. The earth that once had been sundered into great peaks now lay crumbling in small hills. A few small clumps, still imbued with the last vestiges of Dryad magic rolled around a patch of stunning flowers. Pausing, I looked down to where mother had told me Briar Heart had fought for her. The clumps rolled into each and formed a small golem that made a few tentative steps before stopping before me. “Thank you,” I whispered softly. The golem crumbled back to clumps and returned to their paths. My slow trot came to an end as I now rested before my goal. Alone, surrounded by the ruins of my past home, Ever Free stood as large as I had once remembered. “Hello, my dearest friend.” Placing my muzzle against the warm bark, a single tear dripped below me.
Chapter OneChapter One: The coming storm. Our home, the smoke rose from the distant tree village far from the high castle walls. Leaf Mender, my love from our youngest of sproutling days, fell to ground, weeping. Her armor clad body shook with the loss that each tear cascaded; the pain crying out as each droplet rolled gently down her cheeks. “Monsters”, she sobbed bitterly into emerald hands. “Mendy”, placing my petrinite gauntlet on her shoulder, I knelt down to the visor over her and stared into her wet azure eyes. “We must stand, Mendy.” Cupping my armored limb under her slender yet powerful arm, we stood up, together. Looking past my own visor, she saw the tears flow from within the depths of the usually carefree eyes behind it. “Our trees”, I paused as the images of our family and friends welled into my thoughts. “The Dragons have burned them and everything we loved with them.” Her eyes hardened as the last vestiges of tears dried. I turned back to the cold ebonwood ballista between us and pulled back the loading rod. “We stop them, here and now.” Mendy lifted a heavy petrinite barbed bolt from the stack and slammed it down into the readied groove. “For our King”, she spoke with renewed strength. “For our Queen”, I answered. “For Celestia and Luna”, we spoke in unison as the ballista cried out with its locking pin. The teams around us nodded, smiling sadly, and readied their own turrets as we waited. Below the castle ramparts the royal honor guard, all that remained of our people, stood in formation. Captain Ironwood towered in front of the small band, watching the skies as tiny black pinpricks began to mare the pure innocent blue. He turned hard and faced the ranks of his readied guard. “We stand together”, magic resonated his words into an echoing boom that cut the air. “For the honor of our fallen, for the honor of Aura, and for the prophecy of her daughters”, rising a fist into the air at the slowly enlarging specks; his words flowed into each us. “Envy and pride, something so petty, has driven the once proud Dragon King mad; for, he seeks to not be ruled nor let his sky be ruled by the prophecies foretelling.” Lowering his fist, the specks had become large blots against the empty blue. “He seeks to murder our beloved princesses, to keep them from their destiny.” Ironwood withdrew his sword; the magical wood gleamed in the sun, as if blessing his words. “We stand for what is right, what is just, what will come to pass, and we stand”, beams of sunlight echoed the words off his blade, “together!” Cheering erupted all around my ears and played against the helmet that sat over them. Mendy stood by her post, no sign of fear remaining in her or anyone that I could see. Let them come, we would be ready. The horizon darkened as the blackness grew on the roar of wing beats. An army of dragons filled the sky, numbering in the thousands. They approached all that remained which stood against them; last of the Dryads, no more than a hundred. “Ballista”, Green Warden, the rampart lieutenant, bellowed. The noise of the ebonwood scrapping against the stone below resounded as we positioned our first volley. “Ready”, Green raised his hand as the black forms filled our sights. “Fire”, the order shot out from his lips as our bolts screamed into the sky. The hailstorm of petrinite struck true; piercing the thick scales of our enemies, biting deeply into their rotten cores, and bringing the first wave crashing from the sky in thunderous roars. “Fire at will”, Greens picked up two bolts, in each arm, from the stacks between him and slammed them down into nearby turrets. Drawing the red eyes of the nearest dragon into my sights I let go Green’s bolt. Mendy lifted the next volley and placed it down before the bolt had even struck. Smiling I watched it impale into the dragons eye and protrude out the back of its skull. “That’s for my home, you monster.” “This one is for my mother and father”, Mendy kissed the cold ebonwood shaft, “May they rest in peace.” Turning my smile from her I aimed at my next target and released. The swarm began its battle dive into our defense. Our castle would not fall. Shooting into the blackened sky, her family’s memory found its target. Our beloved princesses would not be lost. Howling in agony, the beast plummeted by the weight of its wickedness. The forest, my last home, would not burn. Colliding with a deafening crash into the ground, the dragon lay still. My brethren charged into battle. These woods, like my Dryad soul, would be forever free. Fire exploded around us as the onslaught sought to end our deadly bolts. Green managed to cut down the first two that latched their talons unto the ramparts but it wasn’t only his armor that now sizzled. My ballista, despite two direct hits, was still functioning even as it burned. Mendy lay next to it, breathing raggedly as she watched from her remaining good eye. “We’re losing, my love”, her words muffled on the thin stream of green sap that dripped from her lips. Grabbing another bolt, stepping over my fallen beloved, I made ready another shot. “Until the last of us stops moving”, firing, a dragon on the ground slumped to its stomach. I turned back to her but only the cold empty eyes of what was once my wife greeted me. Kneeling down, I closed them. “We are not yet truly lost.” Kissing her lips gently, I stood up and grabbed for another bolt. Fire exploded around me, the last direct hit shattered what remained of the ballista and sent me flying back against the blackened stonewall. Coughing up a small pool of sap, I forced my body back to its feet. “Don’t know when to quit, do you”, Green smiled and coughed out a rough chuckle. “Good.” Green removed his sword belt and threw it up at me from his position on the blackened stone floor. Catching it in a charred hand, small pieces of my bark skin crumbled off below; I questioned him. “Don’t give me that-“, sap dripped from his mouth in grimace,”-look.” Hoisting himself up as much as he could, Greenies steely gaze cut into my soul. “I’m staying here as long as one of these damned, burning, pieces of wood still sees fit to let loose one more bolt into those monsters.” Pointing at me, he continued, “Look around you sapling, the outer wall has fallen.” The scene below attested to Greenie. Countless dragons lay fallen on the cold dirt but few of my kin still stood to oppose their endless numbers. “Get to the fallback point”, Lieutenant Green Warden ordered as he extended up a shaky limb. I returned the honor, fashioned his enchanted blade into place, and turned back to my fallen love. “Mendy”, pleasant memories from the past filled my thoughts, “I won’t let us, I promise.” Turning to the smoldering doorway, I descended down the stone steps and into the palace halls.
Chapter TwoChapter Two: Before the dawn. Ironwood stood in the middle of what remained of the guard, fanned out in a loose circle formation. “Briar Heart”, his trusted second, lover, and cherished wife turned to face him. “Let’s give the fallback time to prepare and show these overgrown lizards what our magic can do.” Embracing his wife into his arms, Ironwood gave the signal. Pressing his lips passionately into hers, the tanglewood bursting from the ground around them gave little interruption. Forming a shield of venomous thorns from the castle gate to the courtyard, the tanglewood encased the remaining defenders. The castle gates rose slowly to the battlefield as from under them came two files of five Dryads; the remaining high nature weavers, the hierophants. “You’re girls are here, my love”, Ironwood grinned as he watched their eyes surge with green magic. “Don’t keep them waiting now.” He watched as his Heart left his embrace and took her place in front of her students. “We are few, sisters, but each of us carries the strength of the entire wilds.” Briar smiled gently and placed her hand to the ground while her students mimicked her actions. Looking overhead, she watched the dragons foolish enough to attack the tanglewood with their talons fall stricken to their demise; the poison tearing their insides asunder. Dark soil sprang from the ground and encased her deep purple bark. “Arise my friends and defend our home”, Briar’s glowing eyes as well as her students sharply brightened. The first fire breather that finally cut thru the poisonous wall found itself slammed against the ground by the powerful earth elemental towering over it. Entering into the royal throne room my eyes shifted to each of its inhabitants; a small band of unicorn mages, earth caste warriors, pegasi knights, and the even smaller cluster of Dryad surrounding the throne. Running up to the group, eyes met the faintly glowing weapon around my armor. Silently, I shook my head and offered the first words, “How many?” A quiet voice replied, “Ten, eleven counting you.” “Tree Song”, I looked inquisitively at the smoldering petrinite helmet in disbelief. “Don’t”, she muttered and I withdrew my gaze. “Mendy”, she question hesitantly, her voice quivering asking for her friend. I shook my head again and she simply returned to her post around the throne. The throne, behind it sat the two royal Alicorns and both of their treasured daughters. I recognized Celestia’s pretty pink mane as she did her best to hide behind her father, the king. Luna, held by her mother, was crying. She was so young I doubted she even knew what was happening around her; the poor little filly. I approached them and knelt deeply onto my burnt armor. “The rampart has fallen, your majesties”, the words fell out more than drifted off my tongue. “I see”, the deep voice of the king replied, “What of the courtyard?” “Littered with countless dragons and the hierophants have joined the battle by now.” “Will it hold”, his question burned worse than my wounds into me. “No, your majesty, I do not think it will.” The king eyed the blade I carried, “The sword you now wear was a gift from my wife to your kind.” Pausing for a moment his gaze turned down to the pink fluff that shivered behind his legs. “That blade is the symbol of trust we gifted when the Dryad swore their oath to us.” The king stood suddenly and nodded to the earth caste warriors that flanked him. The strong ponies lifted up his armor, made from the mix of hardest metals and strongest of magical Dryad woods, and began arming the Alicorn king. “I command you”, his helmet locked into place as he brought his weighted gaze to me, “protect my daughters with it.” The king’s eyes softened as he spoke, “Little Tia and Luna are my greatest achievements as a father or a king.” Leaning down he hugged the startled white filly, “I love you, my golden sun.” “Daddy, don’t go”, the little filly recovered from her freight, though still shaking badly, and had placed her front hooves against her father’s decorative armor. “Daddy, has to”, never breaking his embrace, the king continued. “Daddy, must go.” “Why”, I watched as the little Alicorn’s horn lite up a faint yellow and attempted to hold the king as she pleaded. “Why, daddy”, tears fell from her pure eyes unto his fur. “Daddy, daddy has to go because he loves you”, I watched, heart aching, as our king, our queen, and our gods wept. The moment was broken by a massive tremor hitting the castle as if a star had just fallen on it. The Dragon King had finally come. “Quickly Aura, there isn’t much time left.” “Yes, my love.” The king turned to face us one last time; adjusting his armored wing before he spoke. “You, Dryad,” –he pointed a hoof towards me- “will hold the princesses secure in the room behind the throne.” “Protect my daughters, I beg of you.” Aura’s grieving eyes fell on us. “My Ponies,” he turned to his selected guard, the only ones brave enough to face the Dragon King. “Hold the throne room and allow not one of those possessed monsters to pass.” The ponies saluted their king and took position around the throne as we hurried the princesses to safety. “Come, Aura.” The king smiled as the concealed door began to shut in front of us. “Ironwood,” Briar screamed as the Dragon King’s claw slowly clenched around his armor. The blackened petrinite falling off in large chunks to the fiery ground around below. Her eyes flared as a golem reassembled its smoldering body and slammed into the monstrous beast. “Still you fight; still you fight knowing that the battle is already lost.” The claw closed shut as bark and sap rained to the blazing ground. “No,” Briar screamed as the magic welling in her eyes erupted outwards around her. “Oh?” The largest of dragons regarded her with mild interest. “Perhaps you might be able to break my boredom of these weaklings.” The earth thundered as he turned his form to face her; his tail lashing from behind and cutting the elemental back down in one swipe.
Chapter ThreeChapter Three: True strength is found. Aura winced, stopping her frantic gallop, as the burst of magic vanished from her mind. “My love,” The king came to a halt eyeing his wife in question. “Briar Heart,” she whispered softly. “Then we must truly hurry now.” The walls of the hidden room shuddered against the devastation outside but the noises of battle began to wane. “The ponies cannot hope hold out against the dragons alone,” Tree Song hissed quietly. “The King and Queen command us to stay and defend their daughters,” I whispered back. “No, they only ordered us to protect them,” She paused and placed her charred hand on my shoulder. “They only command you to stay.” Unable to speak another word to her, Song rallied my remaining brethren and left me to the filly Alicorns. In battle minutes can feel of hours, I had found, but now it seemed of days pasted since Song left. Little Celestia was cowering in the corner with her sister Luna. The look of fear shone on their faces, breaking my heart. I cast my head down defeated but something I could not have expected to have occurred happened. A small hoof poked at my leg, Tia was looking up at me her eyes glowing slightly. “Mommy told me a secret.” I stood in awe as the sounds outside the room began to hush. “What was that, my princess?” “Mommy told me, she saw you protect us in a dream and she said that you would stop the bad dragon.” “Did she?” “Yes, I’m not scared anymore now cause I remembered it and I know you won’t let the monsters hurt us.” She smiled at me, so full of certainty that I found myself believing it. I knelt down in front of the tiny Alicorn, placing my forehead against her small horn and spoke my oath as I had done once before; to her mother. “The mother forest as witness,” I recited feeling a small spark tingle from her tiny horn. “I pledge myself to you, till my sap run dry, till my bark breaks and crumbles, and till I return to the forest that bur me.” The tingle became a humming buzz that rang in my ears. “I will protect you.” I stood, my wounds no longer feeling the burns they carried. Celestia only smiled at me but I felt energy in my sap unlike any before. The sound of claws scrapping across the stone, seeking our location, met my ears. “Stay here Celestia and keep the door shut behind you.” I drew Warden’s blade, a strange blue glow pulsed from it. I turned to face her as the door opened and smiled. The dragon gurgled as my sword cut into his hide, slicing him as if parchment. The humming in my ears formed in a voice, formed into Mendy’s sweet tone. “You promised me, you promised me that we wouldn't fail.” Her voice echoed in my mind as the next dragon fell before me, its claws tearing at my bark but no pain greeted me. “I did, my love.” A tear ran down my cheek. My eyes burned at the next target and to my surprise the dragon flinched. “We won’t fail.” The sword cut forward as a flash of orange magic cascaded from the hilt and covered the blade. The wound burned from the dragon as it fell into a pile of smoldering blood. “Together,” her voice whispered lovingly in my mind. “Together.” The words left my lips as my blade cut down another. The floor gained a new occupant to join the piles of broken scales and hides. My pony allies had fought hard and proved themselves more than their foes expected it seemed. Holding the glowing blade in front of my sight, the light shone upon the forms of my fallen brethren. They lay in a small circle surrounding the three slain unicorns they gave their lives to protect. Their weapons burnt down to the hilts and their armor mere dust on the floor but around them laid fallen dragons beyond count; piled almost to the ceiling of the throne room. “Together,” Song’s voice joined Mendy. “We fight for each other,” I spoke, kneeling down, and kissing Tree Song’s cold cheek. Golden light erupted from the blade and covered my tattered armor. The petrinite mended itself and the burden vanished from its weight. “Stronger than the darkness alone,” The voices sang gently. “Stronger,” A fireball blasted off me as the words ended but the fire neither burned nor was felt. I cut the beast down, cleaving its head to the floor; to join the others. The hall ended with a pile of slain dragons that blocked it completely. The Earth ponies and pegasi that lay with them on the stone floor were testament to our conviction. Without hesitating I turned back to passage I had taken earlier. The rampart opened up to me and I saw the monstrous form of the Dragon King; locked in battle with the Alicorns that assaulted. I shuddered, moving to the stairs that led down. I spotted Green between the littered corpses of his foes, impaled by Ebonwood bolts too swallow to have been fired. He was suspended in the claws of the last dragon he fell. The bolt he still grasped in his cold hands, rammed through its heart. “I told you sprouting, never give up.” His laughter filled me. “Never,” I chuckled; a pink glow lightly ran around from everywhere but also nowhere. The twisting mass of pink encased me as a smile grew over my lips. I faced the battle below me, the towering dragon, and my fear was simply no more. I watched the Alicorns battle against their foe, magic erupting into the air around them in such powerful blasts the sky echoed. The remaining dragons simply sat on the ramparts, the Dragon King –in his pride- must have ordered them out so his intended victory would be his and his alone. I pushed myself over the courtyard, fighting to find purchase in the devastation. Entire sections of earth had moved as if the very mountains had made claim to grounds. I found my way to the center of the yard and was greeted by the leader of all our Hierophants, still alive. Briar Heart lay in a puddle of ashen sap mumbling the name of her husband over and over as if time had no end. She lifted her head I approached, the wild magic still burning in her eyes. “You,” sap trickled out gently with her word. “Th-that light,” Briar turned her gaze to ash and then back to me. “He was taken from me and I thought I could do,” I quickly knelt down as she fought on the sap that choked her words. Shaking her head, Briar weakly pushed me back. “I thought I could do nothing but now I see that I was wrong.” She placed a hand to my head and a pale purple glow replaced the green in her burning eyes. “The Dragon King forgot one thing, sapling.” She offered a weak smile to me. “We Dryad are much like our trees.” “Briar,” I held her battered form in a gentle embrace. “When you cut us down, our energy feeds those that remain and if there should be but one that still stands.” Her words softened and I found myself drawing the embrace in to hear. “Take all that is left of us and all that is left of me,” The light began to fade from her as she fell limp in my arms. “Remind the foul beast of our true magic and purge him from this land.” Her words faded only to be replaced by surge, emotions, memories, my brethren filled my soul. The courtyard burst in my sight as a storm of fire burst forth from above. The body of my queen fell from the sky but somehow I caught her; not with hands but with a force that sprang from inside me. Purple light stained my vision as my queen weakly looked to me. “He is coming.” “You cannot hide from me nor can your little whelps, Aura,” a bellowing roar shook the ground. “The king,” I spoke with hesitation. My queen’s head rocked gently. “My daughters?” “Safe, your majesty.” The queen looked deeply into my eyes and hers in turn widened. “What has happened to you, Dryad?” “Touching,” The voice born of only malice spoke, dripping droplets of fire to the ground in front of us. I levitated the queen to safety and faced my death bringer with only conviction. “Oh, another piece of kindling for my fire it seems.” A cold laughter filled the air. “No matter, pests are soon dealt with.” His maw opened as a river of molten fire sprayed forth. A pure white light bathed out from my core. “For our King,” I spoke watching the fire slowly draw near. “For our queen,” The voices within me surged forth. ”For my brethren,” I ready my blade and shot forth towards the flames. “For Celestia and Luna,” The voices crescendo into the white light and spilt into colors that coated me. A purple shield forced the flames back as my blade burst into a rainbow of light striking the Dragon King and marring deeply into his flesh. Scales fell to the ground around me as black blood gushed over the blade. “What,” The Dragon King bellowed in rage. “What is this, what are you?” He raked his claws against the shield, small cracks forming across it. “You dare to strike me, to wound me,” slamming the full weight of his size against the barrier it shatters; a flurry of swipes assaults my armor but my body and armor heal with each blow. Striking back, my sword digs into his side again and again without pause. “You are nothing, not even your immortal king could stop me.” Another blast from his maw bursts over me. The fire clears and I yet remain standing to charge again; costing the foul king another deep wound. “I will rip you apart while you’re dying queen watches in horror.” A hidden blow from his tail slams me back against the rampart behind me. Sap springs from my mouth but the energy to stand comes freely. “You cannot slay me, weakling.” I watch as he charges forth again. The rainbow of colors gleaming on my blade brightens. “No,” I whisper softly. “I cannot because you deserve more than death, beast.” I cry out, the glow becoming a radiant sun in my grasp. The little filly bounced in the courtyard looking up at me as my wife watched on smiling. “Do you know what mommy told me today?” Thrusting the blade out, I thought not of anger, hatred, or revenge but of my princess. I ruffle her pink mane as she giggles at me. The sword pierced into the thick scales and burrowed itself deeper; towards his black heart. “What did she tell you?” The dragon howled in agony as light sprang forth from his battered hide encasing his entirety within it. “Mommy said the best way to stop someone mean was to make them your friend.” The light dissipated and only a large purple and green egg remained in a small crater. The energy faded from my body as my healed wounds slowly began to open up again. My armor crumbled off, breaking against the ground below me; unable to hold myself up any longer I joined it. “Are you frightened?” I turned my head to see my queen, broken as I, next to me. “No, I just wish could’ve seen her once more.” “Perhaps, you will.” I turn my head back to sky the watch the sunrise. The remaining dragons had already taken flight and where flying into the distance beyond. “Why,” I coughed heavily, feeling the pain rise in my trunk. “Why, are they leaving?” “The Dragon King is destroyed and his possession on them as well. They are mindless beasts no more.” “You knew,” I managed a quite chuckle between rasps. “I hoped.” I watched my queen slowly rise to her hooves and over to the dormant egg. Her magic, weak but steady, pulled my blade from the crater and floated it back to me. “Aura, my queen, please you’re gravely injured.” “And you are dying, my friend.” Smiling sadly over me, she levitated the blade. “I must ask of you one more thing; even though, you have already given so much.” “Take this weapon, everything it is and will continue be, and join with it.” I nod and close my eyes. “Tell Celestia that she was right, for me.” “One day, Ever Free, you can tell my little filly yourself.” The dryad remained still as the blade foraged from the collective emotion and love of his entire race penetrated his battered body. The same rainbow of light I saw defeat the dragon envelopes him as he is lifted into the air. Charred bark heals and grows, forming out longer limbs that seek down into the dark soil beneath as others branch out towards the rising sun. Shielding my eyes from the light with a battered wing the final image of my dream is before me. The tree of harmony stands and deep within it gently beats the heart of my dear friend.
Chapter FourChapter Four: From the eyes of innocence. “Luna it’s okay.” Putting my hoof on my shaking baby sister she looked up. She was crying and I wanted to make her better but she just put her head back down. Free had left a long time ago and Mommy and Daddy had been gone even longer. The scary noises from outside the room had gone away too but I didn't want to go out. I wasn't scared; Free told me to stay and Mommy said to do what he told me, so I did. I didn't want to be alone though and neither did Luna. “Tia,” I heard Mommies voice from outside the room. I galloped as fast as I could to the secret place in the wall. “Tia,” Mommy sounded hurt and that made me worry more. I hit my hooves all over the wall. Come on where are you button. My hoof hit something loose and a small click startled me but the door began to rise. Mommy was standing outside the door but she looked really hurt; I galloped, only falling once, and buried my face into her soft feathers. “Tia, I’m all right.” “Promise, Mommy?” “I Promise sweetie,” Mommy hugged me in her soft wing. I love when she does that cause it smells really good and makes me feel better. “What about Daddy?” I didn't see him anywhere and Daddy was never far from Mommy, ever. “Daddy had to go, honey.” Mommy’s eyes looked at me really sad when she told me. “Remember, sweetie?” I nodded, I remembered. “Cause Daddy loved us.” I wasn't sad. He would never do anything to make me sad. “Yes, sweetie,” Mommy grabbed Luna with her magic from the room and placed her on her back and then covered her in her wing; lucky. “Mommy needs you to follow her sweetie but you must only look to her and nowhere else.” She looked down at me very seriously. “You must promise me, Tia. Do not look at anything but Mommy.” “Okay, I’ll try my hardest, I promise.” Mommy smiled at me and turned to face the place where she sat a lot with Daddy during the day. I didn’t like that place cause it was really boring and hard to talk to them when the ponies there wanted to more. I tried to focus my best on her but I kept tripping on all the burnt stuff covering the floor as we trotted. I fell again and slid into something that looked like one of my tree friends but Mommy pulled me away with her magic before I could look. “Eyes on me, Tia,” She scolded me. I nodded and closed my eyes. I knew enough from that nice Heart treelady that I could follow Mommy with magic and not make her mad. We trotted really slowly for a long time and had to stop a lot to go another way. My hooves kept crunching on things and bumping into larger wet things but I didn’t look; I promised. Finally I felt the sun on my face. I loved the feeling of the sun cause it made me feel strong and no how tired I could be it made me not feel sleepy. “Can I open my eyes yet, Mommy?” “Yes, Mommy has something to show you dear,” I felt her wing hug me again and I buried my face back into it as my eyes opened. There was a really big tree in front of us and it looked very pretty. “Why is this pretty tree special?” “Ever Free is in there, honey.” “He is, but why did he turn into a tree.” I looked at the big roots around me. “How can he play with me now?” “He had to so he could keep protecting you, Tia.” “Like he promised me before he left?” “Yes, Tia.” Mommy smiled and placed a hoof against the tree house where Free lived now. “If you’re ever in trouble and you need help, please come back here.” “Free, will help me?” “Yes, he will.” Mommy smiled and hugged me tighter to her. Mommy cried for some reason as a pretty flower bloomed near her mane. She reached up, picked it, and placed the pretty flower in my mane. “He promises.”
Chapter FiveChapter Five: The steady passage of time. Luna had stayed behind to rally the royal guard surrounding the city and so only I galloped into the forest alone. A rose, sustained by magic, rested gently against my ear as I trotted over the ancient path winding to that long forgotten place. The dark figures watched from the shadows but each time their eyes fell to that flower nestled in my mane; they vanished as quietly as they came. “I fear no beast in your forest, my friend.” I spoke the words out to the trees. A gust of wind rustled their branches. The path opened slightly and the old castle, home to my long lost days, stood before me. The crumbling stone walls, battered ramparts, broken windows, and shattered doors were the only witnesses that still spoke of what transpired. I turned my gaze up and watched the sun quickly race against the sky; against my will. Once more my horn glowed brightly, an attempt to summon my radiant sun but the sky remained black. The empty horizon was devoid of even the moon that should rightly bask its luster among my sister’s beautiful stars. I shook my head and cursed the name into his corrupted sky. “Discord, I will stop you.” The glow from my horn lite the way as its tranquil light played off the ghosts of battle that yet covered the grounds. Empty, partially decayed, and almost bereft of the magic that once powered them; the Dryad armor lay scattered across the courtyard. The emotions that yet emanated from the castle and scared even the bravest of my ponies away manifested itself before me. An ethereal Pegasus, clad in golden armor, drifted from the opened castle gate and out into the yard. She turned to face me and floated silently in place for a moment. A smile of recognition crossed her transparent lips as a hoof came up and saluted. “As you were, Cloud Drifter,” I spoke the name from distant memory. The specter nodded and wandered to the broken rampart behind me before vanishing. I continued my journey into the depths of the open yard. The earth that once had been sundered into great peaks now lay crumbling in small hills. A few small clumps, still imbued with the last vestiges of Dryad magic rolled around a patch of stunning flowers. Pausing, I looked down to where mother had told me Briar Heart had fought for her. The clumps rolled into each and formed a small golem that made a few tentative steps before stopping before me. “Thank you,” I whispered softly. The golem crumbled back to clumps and returned to their paths. My slow trot came to an end as I now rested before my goal. Alone, surrounded by the ruins of my past home, Ever Free stood as large as I had once remembered. “Hello, my dearest friend.” Placing my muzzle against the warm bark, a single tear dripped below me.
