Friendships in the Mist

Chapters

Prologue
1-Irony in Victory
2-Life's Exchange
3-By the Fire
4-A Road Everfree
5-Remembrance: Dawn of choices

Prologue

How could this have happened? How in Equestria could she have agreed to this? That was the question Fluttershy kept asking herself. She had the choice of not going to watch the return of the dragon migration and staying at home with her pet rabbit Angel Bunny. But Rainbow Dash kept insisting that she had missed out and she owed her for both the first viewing and a broken rib. After careful consideration she had finally mustered up the courage to finally join her friends, and what did it result to? A dragon managing to spot them and abduct her of all people. She dug her head in her arms and wept as the tears made a puddle on the cold, lime covered floor of her stone prison. It had been days since her kidnapping took place as she waited for her friends to come and save her. All she could do was look out of her stalagmite cage at the piles of precious gold and jewels that laid beyond her.

"Oh, how am I going to get out of here?", sighed Fluttershy. "If I'm not here to be a treasure, I'll surely be a snack for that scary dragon!"

The chamber she was in was enormous and brightly lit from all the treasures that shined off the light from various fire pits. They ranged from stolen portraits, ancient artifacts, and pounds upon pounds of wealth in precious stones and metals. And amidst all of these riches, she was one of them. She couldn't understand why a dragon would even kidnap her. She wasn't anywhere out in the trenches, and she wore the most camouflaged dress Rarity could distastefully make. Ah yes, the dress she wore was no ball gown, but she took a liking to it like all of Rarity's dresses. Now it was torn and ruined from her encounter. But that wasn't the only thing that made the day terrible. Her wings, which she treasured and rarely even used, had their feathers pulled out by the large beast. All that was left were bare, fluff covered limbs that served her no use. She felt each pore where the feathers were and knew that new ones would grow in time. But at the rate she was in, she wouldn't make it then.

Her chances for survival seemed impossible. She didn't have food to eat and the water that dewed from the rocks wasn't enough to satisfy her. The dragon had offered her animal bits for food, but she rejected them. Each hour that passed made her weaker as she tried her best to think of an escape plan. However even that was far from her reach. She had tried clawing her way out of the prison, but found the rock too tough for her weak hands. Her usual strength was also a hindrance since she only exerted great force when one of her friends or small animals were in danger. Even her stare, a power that would tame any frightful creature, was no use in negotiating with a stone column. Even if she did find a way out of her stone cage, she would have to evade an enormous dragon and travel through the Everfree forest; all without flight. She was helpless in this predicament. All she could do was wait and hope that a rescue was under way.

"I just hope my friends can find me. I want to be home with Angel and my other woodland friends."

She was about to burst into tears when all of a sudden she felt the ground shake. She quickly scrambled to a corner and did her best to hide, but she knew that it wouldn't have stopped it. The rumble grew until finally she saw a claw with red scales appear on the other side; Her dragon captor had returned. She held her breath as the limb moved on, followed by another as a tail followed it soon after. She then saw the entirety of the dragon as it moved ever closer to a large pile of gemstones. The beast itself reminded Fluttershy of when she had encountered Basil for the first time. He too was as scary as this monster, but he was at least understanding and polite when it came to reason. This particular beast may have looked like him, but its heart was more savage than basil. This beast was everything Fluttershy feared in a dragon: rude, greedy, and out right unpleasant. As its head neared the top of the pile, it dropped a shiny orange object near the top. She presumed it to be another gem and gasped when the dragon slowly made its way towards her. She backed away from the openings and crouched as she heard the stomps become louder. Her heart raced and her breathing became too much for her to hold in. She suddenly heard the ceiling above her scrape as a claw dug in and began moving the boulder keeping her in. As soon as the cover was lifted, She shielded her eyes as dust fell on top of her.

When she opened her eyes, she dropped in horror at the sight of an enormous maw filled with razor teeth. Panting in fear, Fluttershy then saw the jaw open and reveal an elongating tongue. The wet sliver of flesh then snaked its way towards Fluttershy and began lapping against her. She screamed as the tongue pressed against her body, leaving moist stains where it touched. Each lick was a hot sting that burned her, yet the dragon played without remorse. Thinking that this was her end, Fluttershy awaited her doom. However she felt the pressure around her lessen as the tongue retracted back inside the maw. Looking at herself, Fluttershy broke into a wail as the dragon then covered the opening. Her fear for dragons overpowered her actions, even when her friends were with her for support. It was only when they were in danger that she managed to overcome her fear. Without them, she was powerless. She covered her face and sobbed as the tears mixed their salty aroma with that of the dragon's foul odor that marked her. Her weeping was then drowned out by the noise of the beast, who was making a bed out of its bounty. Fluttershy wiped the tears off of her face as she heard the dragon let out an enormous yawn. She got up and looked out to find the beast now snoring. As she sat back down, she felt a small poke on her foot and gasped. As she lifted her foot, she found a piece of granite that had broken off the boulder above her. She suddenly realized the opportunity that laid before her. She looked out again and found the dragon deep in its slumber. Without any hesitation, she took the small shard of rock and began chiseling her way out through the stalagmites.

As she dug around the edges, she thought of how she would escape. First, she would try to remove two of the spikes that barred her way. Second she would sneak her way around the dragon and hopefully outside. Thirdly and finally, she would try to find her way out of the Everfree forest and back to Ponyville. Granted that would be harder than it sounded, but all she cared about was getting out of this cage. The rock she worked with didn't have a fine edge, but she felt that it would take her within the hour to free herself. It would be enough time since the dragon slept for hours without any disturbance. She felt the rock pillar become weaker and started thinking happier thoughts. She thought of how both her friends and animal companions would greet her. How they would rejoice from her safe return and how Pinkie would throw an excessively huge party, just to show how much they cared. While in the middle of the thought, she suddenly heard a soft trickling of coins in the distance. She stopped and looked out, but found the dragon still deep in its dreamscape. She hastily went back to scraping away the stalagmite and felt it crumbling.

"Oh, I hope Angel hasn't forgotten about me", thought the timid girl.

Just as the long stalagmite went loose, she looked up to see if her captor was still asleep. However she suddenly let out a surprised yelp and tried to cover her mouth. She looked at where the pile of jewels were and found that someone or something was near the top. It was a dark knight-like figure in blue armor, with a violet robe draped over it. It held onto the wall as it tried to grab something near the top of the pile. It looked at her with glowing pale blue eyes, yet she couldn't see a face. Fluttershy could hardly believe what she was seeing and was frightened by the thing's outward appearance. The figure then grabbed the glowing gem that the drake recently brought. She then heard a rustle and looked where the sleeping drake was, only to find the monster no longer sleeping. The dragon charged at the figure trying to escape and swiped at him. The two then began fighting as Fluttershy looked on.

While the two enemies brawled, Fluttershy remembered that she was escaping and that this fight could prove to be a useful distraction. She then rapidly struck against the weakened pillar of rock. Upon finally budging the rock, she had managed to topple it over. Before she could work on the second stalagmite, she felt a wave of intense heat knock her back. Getting back up, she saw the destruction the dragon caused by spewing fire all around the cave. Some of its flames managed to cover the stalagmite, which forced Fluttershy to stop. She covered her mouth and tried to see what was happening through all the smoke. She saw the dragon's head positioned over the blue warrior as it prepared to rain down more hellfire, but the man didn't move from his spot. The vile drake then let loose a stream of molten fire down onto the knight as Fluttershy let out a scream. Even though she hadn't known him, she felt as though she was responsible for his demise. However as she continued watching, she let out a gasp at what had transpired. The warrior stood where he was and had a strange green flame surrounding him. Fluttershy watched as the beast then began swiping and attempting to crush the man, only for the blows to be deflected. Finally, after the dragon used another jet of fire, the mysterious warrior leapt onto it and began stabbing the creature in the back. Her thoughts on the warrior changed as she witnessed him maim the beast. She watched in silent horror as the rogue knight impaled the beast into submission. "What man of honor would torture a defenseless creature?", she thought. She wanted to shout at the warrior to stop, but ceased when the glow around the man faded. Out of no where, the dragon suddenly regained its strength and threw its attacker to the side.

Fluttershy watched as the dragon began swallowing its treasures while the man too was looking through its bounty. It was now or never to escape and she had to get out before either of the fighters found her. She slammed the rock pillar with the stone and tried desperately to free herself, but found it too sturdy. Her heart then raced as the sounds of stomping and heavy huffs became deafeningly loud. The rock ceiling suddenly disappeared and Fluttershy looked up to find the glaring face of the dragon. She let out a surprised shout as the drake's tongue shot out and wrapped itself around her waist. She felt the ground leave her as the dragon then lifted her up above everything.

"Nice mister dragon. Good...kind mister... dragon!", she stuttered. The beast only opened its mouth even more.

"Please don't eat me! I don't want to leave my friends forever!", she cried.

She desperately tried to free herself, but the dragon's bind was too strong. She looked to the warrior for help, hoping that he would save her. However the man only stood there, watching from a distance as the dragon held her aloft. It was at that moment that Fluttershy put two and two together and came to a conclusion: The man in armor was death incarnate, and he had come to seal her fate. With a swift motion, she then felt her body being pulled inside the dragon's maw and down its throat as the mouth closed behind her. She screamed as the muscles around her contracted and opened as they kept pulling her ever closer to the beast's gullet. The pressure she felt almost left her breathless as she slid deeper in. Finally, after what seemed like eternity of being squeezed in, she exited the tunnel and landed on a pile of gold coins inside the beast's stomach. She held her breath inside the toxic, fleshy chamber as she knew it was only evading the inevitable. As she tried to survive the deadly acids that were around her, she found that all of the treasure the creature ate began to deteriorate. Fluttershy found a pile of slightly soaked, but safe fabrics and decided to stay on top of them. And so it looked as though it were the end for her. Having such a happy life with her friends and being an element of harmony, only for it to end by dragon digestion. With nothing other than death all around her, she stood onto the fabrics and started feeling light headed from holding her breath. At last she finally gave up and gasped for air, only for her to regret her decision. The fumes began choking her as she tried to cry one last time. However, before she could bawl, something hard hit her on the head, causing her to fall over.

Fluttershy was on the verge of losing consciousness as she lied on the soaking drapes that supported her. She truly felt that her own actions led her to die here. Perhaps it was life's way of punishing her for being a coward. The sound of the dragon's heart beating almost felt tranquil, as though it was lulling her to sleep. Her body suddenly became heavy as she finally let go of her worries and accepted her fate. It was until the beating above her stopped and she suddenly felt herself fall and crash hard. Part of her senses surged as a bright light suddenly revealed itself onto her. She tried her best to see what it was, but her body ached as she crawled. She then felt the air become slightly cleaner as she neared the bright illumination. Her vision then showed a figure approach her as she crawled. She began to feel happy and even glad that someone was there to greet her, and without prejudice she welcomed it. However as the figure came into view, her feelings of joy ended. Her eyes widened as she soon came face to face with the armored rogue without a face. His turquoise eyes piercing hers as he stood in front of her. Fluttershy then suddenly felt her body being lifted aside as the man moved her away from him. She looked at what he wanted and saw an orange gem laid between her and him. However it suddenly began to disappear as the sound of an enormous heart beat rang. Fluttershy looked on as the knight began grabbing at the gemstone but failing to recover it. After a while the warrior gave up and prepared to leave her. But the timid girl didn't want him to leave. She wanted him to take her and save her from this fate. Even with his appearance, she found something about him wasn't right. He looked evil, but somewhere deep in her heart, Fluttershy saw more than violence in him. Using the last of her strength, she began to crawl towards him.

"Help me...", she gasped.

The warrior then turned and looked back at her. The cold, glowing eyes seemed much more comforting now that she wanted someone with her. She cried one last time to him.

"Help... Me..."

And at that she felt herself go loose as the world around her faded into darkness.

1-Irony in Victory

The land of the Ancients was a world that was consumed in war. When the Mad Moon had shattered into two halves upon a once peaceful kingdom, it brought forth the two rivaling intelligences come to be known as the Radiant and the Dire. These two Ancients despised one another since their imprisonment in the stone, which was unfortunately captured within the worlds pull. From the craters of the broken moon, each Ancient had attracted and manipulated many followers and champions into worshiping them. However their true plan was to eradicate their opposite in hopes of finally being rid of the other faction. To this day these conflicts have brought the lives of its inhabitants into much fear of one another, for the main fighters in the war were heroes and forces that were renowned in their ability to conquer and destroy. Among these warriors was a man who others thought was no man. To them they thought he was a wretched demon who cheats death, yet allows it to claim many of his challengers. Like the flow of an unnatural mist, he glided into battle without the notion of fading into a forgotten memory. To his allies and his fortunate survivors, he was known as the rider of the mist and the Lord of Avernus: Abaddon.

Amidst the woods of Uthoria, a two days trip from Avernus, Abaddon was traveling atop his stallion Acherus Deathcharger through the densely filled forest. The day was at its peak and the sun was high above a somewhat cloudy sky. The ground was quite muddy from a recent down pour that had made it hard for someone to walk on foot. Yet all these circumstances did not bother Abaddon in his quest to find a treasure of great importance. A precious stone that was sought after by many individuals for its elusiveness and ability to grant the soul one more chance at life. It was titled the Aegis of the Immortal, and its bearer would use it to revive himself should he perish. Abaddon had heard rumors from faint whispers of this prize and knew fully well how he would acquire it. Before his trip, he had consulted the wisdom of a particular fortune teller.

. . . . .

"Are you certain that the Aegis will be in this Forest?", asked Abaddon with a hint of question.

The fortune teller responded, "The location of what you seek shall reside in these woods as I predict."

Abaddon replied, "I have heard that the current holder has the Aegis and that he is nearing his end. I came to you to tell me where he is so I may clame it for my own. I find it hard to believe that anyone would be living in this area." With a chuckle and grin, she responded.

"I assure you that if you were to go to where the Aegis is now, it would already be too late. The only way for you to successfuly acquire your treasure is to wait in that area where it will appear."

Without any further hesitation Abaddon finally decided not to question the woman since her reputation had been telling her customers of their fates beyond life; A profession that had made her infamous. As he was exiting, she suddenly stopped him and asked one question: "What is it like being near to death? Such an experience seems so enticing."

Abaddon said, "I do not look upon my death. When I'm at my darkest hour, I merely borrow enough time to best my opponent." He sighed. "You may think the after life is something you would desire. But as a prophet of death, even you should know that life shouldn't be wasted. Don't let it cloud you Krobelus."

With that he exited out of her hut and mounted atop his stallion, riding onward as he left the fortune teller wanting more from his answer. As the warrior was out of sight, she muttered something to herself. "Your journey to the Aegis may start now, but it won't be the end of the journey you will embark."

. . . . .

With great haste he rode towards the marked area he was told that would bear the divine stone. Unconcerned for whatever obstacle he faced, Abaddon would chase, steal and even kill for Avernus. Their destination was near a mountain, just past from where the two weary travelers were trodding. Of course where the lone rider was headed did not have what he sought after. He was to wait for it when its current wielder has died. Luckily for him, time was already short for the unfortunate soul... Or less than unfortunate.

. . . . .

Miles away from both the woods and Abaddon, a falling kingdom had been stricken with a lethal disease. The plague caused many of its victims to suffer leprotic symptoms until their entire body had rotted off of their skeletons. From common peasants to clergy and ministers, the disease had no favoritism to whom or what it infected. When all seemed dire, even the kingdom's royalty had fallen to this scourge. Almost everyone from the royal family died to the disease, except for the king's sole heir to the throne. The prince known as Ostarion was the last member of his clan to be infected. But unlike his father, he thought of a plan to survive. From dungeons deep within his castle, the king to be had held a lone sorcerer named Azorszos prisoner in hopes of prolonging his life.

"Your highness", trembled the wizard, "You should try to stop moving and be more patient."

He was speaking to the lying figure of the prince, who was growing tired of his servant's slow pacing back and forth to prepare for his revival. Ostarion was resting on an altar with various scattered elements strewn across him in a ritual like pattern. With only a handful of candles lighting the chamber, he could hardly see what was going on. His sight had diminished from his current state of health. His body had shown signs of rot and various of his muscles had used most of their strength trying to get him down to the wizard's chamber. The amount of pain he felt as he stood on the cold, hard stone of the altar had made him very distaught and angry. He then tried to move his leg, which felt as though he couldn't feel it.

"Please your highness, you musn't move your body so much. You might-"

"Will you SHUT UP!"

The wizard froze at the sudden outburst from the decomposing prince. Even at a near death state, his master had kept his arrogant attitude.

"I am trying my best to help you. If you try to move your body, you might interfere with the ritual. You must understand that this process takes time and the utmost concentration."

"Azorszos you incompitent magician" The living corpse spoke. "I don't have time, I have lost all patience, and I am in too much agony for me to concentrate! Fix me now."

"But I am trying my best to haste myself..."

"You have been saying that since we got here!"

All of a sudden, Ostarion felt a sudden jolt of pain and looked where his leg was. It had fallen from its socket and started spurting life fluids on the platform. Ostarion made a quick grab for Azorszos and pulled him towards his dry, wrinkled face.

"I have had enough of your pacing. Forget the time and just get on with the ritual. I don't care if I lose a leg or my father's precious heirloom, I am not leaving this room in a coffin! Start it now!"

"But prince Ost-"

"YOUR KING COMMANDS YOU SHITTY WIZARD!!!"

At that, the pitiful magician finally gave up and did as his master ordered. He hated him so much, he wanted to leave him dying there. But what was left of palace guards, loyal subjects, and an entire kingdom would hold him resposible for the prince's demise. He would surely be tried for treason and hanged by who ever was left from the disease. As he hurriedly placed the last item on the altar, he went to a jewel encrusted chest holding the main ingredient. He hesitated when his fingers felt a surging power from within the chest.

"Open it." Ostarion said, still trying to fight for whatever life he hadn't used up.

The wizard flung open the cover and shielded his eyes at what he saw: A radiant gem with an orange glow was before him. It appeared cut and polished to a perfect design, but it showed no actual possiblity as to how it was crafted. It had a strange crust covering most of its structure, yet it still displayed a form of beauty that Azorszos couldn't resist. Coughs from the dying prince had broken whatever trance the wizard experienced, and he hastily grabbed the jewel to start the assembly. As he passed the gorgeous gem to his ungrateful leader, he felt a sudden twinge of sadness as his fingers let go of the precious stone. When all was set, Azorszos began chanting the spell to save his master.

It is a matter of fact that this gem known as the Aegis of the Immortal would bring someone back to life, but there was a catch. When the Aegis is used, it is used only once per individual. Once it does its magic, it would disappear and be sent far from the wielders where abouts. Its location changes everytime to help conceal itself. Ostarion had anticipated this and sought to not just revive himself, but make himself immortal forever. With the ritual underway, Ostarion was already thinking how he would rule his kingdom and out live any bastard challenger that would try to overthrow him.

But one shouldn't tamper with strange magicks, as the consequences could be disasterous. As the the markings on the altar lit with power, the wizard felt something wrong. At that instant, the sounds from the outside world ceased and the air became warm. The candles were extinguised as a torrent of magically energy had engulfed the room. The light within the Aegis grew bright as though it were a small star and kept gaining intensity. Azorszos panicked.

"Your highness!"

"What did you do!" shouted the pompous figure as the room was covered in a blinding light and a deafening sound.

. . . . .

The sun had been setting as Abaddon rode through the dense forest. He would often wonder if his quest would have been worth the trek. The power that Avernus had granted him had already made him invincible, so why would he even need it? However he knew that whatever the mist wanted, he would do all that he could to satisfy it. His thoughts were interrupted when his mount gave off a irritated neigh. "Hush Acherus. Our destination will come to an end, I promise.", reasured Abaddon. With the few rays of sunlight that broke through the already darkened canopy, the lord of mist knew what he would have to face should the Aegis appear. At last what seemed like hours in the forest had finally ceased when the traveler and his pet came to a stop. "We're here."

Before Abaddon was a giant cave in the mountain, which seemed to be big enough to herd two rows of elephants through it. The lone rider had dismounted from his steed and led him near a brook for rest and safety, for where he was going would mean him harm. He knew about the challenge of the Aegis, the peril it harbored..... of its sole guardian. There were stories of a great beast that protected the divine treasure with a destructive strength. Its first and last crime had been stealing the Aegis, and because of this the gods above had cursed it into protecting it until its death and its revival. Although once a tame creature, years of bloodshed and deaths had turned it into a being of heartless prejudice and ferocity. The name of this creature caused many to cower from merely hearing it, for those who wanted the Aegis must defeat Roshan the Immortal.

Abaddon sat near the cave entrance and meditated. He knew that his prize would not escape him, but if he wanted to slay Roshan he would do so with a clear mind. The gentle air and forest sounds had helped him relax as he waited for a sign. But all was silent near the cave entrance. Minutes passed and the sun had already set as Abaddon waited. Then he heard it. The sounds around the cave had died, only leaving him with the sounds of his breathing. A loud crash boomed from within the enormous cave as though lightning had struck from inside and what followed only assured Abaddon that he was ready. He stood up and made his way into the damp crevice, with his blade in both hands to confront the foe. With each step he took, he heard the growls and huffs of an enormous animal growing as he went further in. Although the cave was dark, Abaddon had been used to dark environments which allowed him to see fairly well. He suddenly stopped as the owner of those awful sounds stood before him. A gargantuan figure standing on two legs towered over the sole warrior. His arms looked strong enough to split a person down the middle, while claws menacingly showed their crushing potential. Its body had a texture similar to granite and had been wrought with many weapons and scars from past challengers who had previously opposed him. His head had two horns that curved down to his neck as a mouthful of dagger like teeth gave off a terrible sight. But what caught Abaddon's eye the most was the middle of the creature's head. It looked like a third eye, but it didn't blink. It gave off an orange glow as a certain energy came off of it. "By Avernus", thought Abaddon. His prize was on Roshan's forehead; Theft was not an option. Readying his sword, Abaddon said, "You shall die as fast as you returned." The beast replied with a bellowing roar.

The monstrocity lunged toward Abaddon, already knowing that its treasure was at stake. The lord made a jump to the side as the creature missed its marked. Abaddon needed to come up with a strategy to kill the beast without causing any harm to the Aegis, or himself. He may have been strong, but a creature this size and reputation could easily break him in two. As Roshan got back up to continue the attack, Abaddon dashed near columns of stalagmites and stalagtites to give himself some space. The creature furiously pounded on the columns to try and get to the hero, but luckily Abaddon was safe for now. He needed to think quick, as the formations wouldn't last under this much punishment for long. He looked around the cave and saw what appeared to be a loose looking rock formation near the ceiling. At that instant, he heard the strike of a well hardened claw smashing his only structural defense. He narrowly dodged a similar blow and ran toward a wall near the weak ceiling. He then started concentrating his power toward his sword and silently chanted some words. Seeing an opportunity at killing the intruder, Roshan made a mad dash toward him. With mere feet away from death, Abaddon suddenly let loose the mana he had been charging into a surge of energy that propelled itself from his blade onto the breakable ceiling. His plan had worked as the loose plating of rock landed on top of the beast, causing it to be stunned and confused. Seeing his moment, Abaddon thrusts his long sword into Roshan's neck. "Be gone foul creature!" shouted Abaddon. All the monster could do was let out a gurgled cry as the warrior twisted the blade and decapitated the cursed beast. Roshan's body started to evaporate into embers as his head landed on the ground and soon followed. What was left was the orange gem that the lord sought for. Claiming his treasure, he made his way toward the exit as the night had over taken the sky.

With the Aegis in tow, Abaddon had made a campsite to rest after a whole day of riding and fighting. He had finished eating a fish he caught from the stream near the cave. "Such a trifle task we had getting this jewel. Was it not Acherus?" Asked Abaddon. His loyal steed had already layed down to rest under the stars. Although living creatures needed sleep, Deathcharger was no mere horse. His connection with Abaddon and Avernus had made it so that he never slept, though rest was still needed. As he put out the flames, he took the gem in his arms and looked around. Surely if word got out that the Aegis was in free hands, there would be people other than Abaddon that would try and steal his fair earned bounty. He entered his tent with the precious artifact and layed down with it. Abaddon thought, "If anyone were to try and steal this from me, they would be foolish or ignorant to ever face me". With that, Abaddon clutched his treasure with him and went to sleep as his faithful mount kept watch for the night.

. . . . .

A sound of shrill whinnying had awoken Abaddon from his slumber. What resulted next caught him by surprise as the tent and himself were flung into the air. He lost grip of the Aegis as he landed on the ground. As he got up, he saw something suddenly snatch the glowing gem and then lift it up into the trees. His first thought was to draw his sword and confront the enemy head on.

"Who dares steal from the house of Avernus!", shouted Abaddon to the thief.

His response however was met with flame and fumes. Abaddon shielded himself with the mist, and with new light saw that his burglar wasn't a person. A tall figure with enormous wings had spewed a molten wall between him and Abaddon. Its height seemed to dwarf Roshan, yet its body was slender and smooth. Long spikes rowed across its back as red scales covered every inch of its being. Its arms stretched out and enormous claws gripped what few trees that were tall and undamaged by its wake. With an elongated head and slitted eyes, it didn't take long for the lord of mists to realize what stood before him was a breed of dragon he never saw before. He noticed a glimmer in between the drake's rows of teeth. The creature had the Aegis of the Immortal! Before he could react, the beast roared and then flapped its wings and sent a wave of wind toward Abaddon. With little effort, the dragon was airborne and was flying away. Enraged, Abaddon quickly whistled to Acherus as he came galloping towards him. Without stopping, Abaddon mounted on top of his hastily moving steed just before they leaped over the still burning fire. With rest far beyond them, the Lord of Avernus pursued the flying thief under the star covered night, not taking anything into regard other than getting his treasure back.

2-Life's Exchange

The air in the forest was cold in the dead of night, with only the sounds of crickets chirping with the gentle wind. As sleeping birds were nested and various nocturnal animals were about, all was calm in the wood. All of a sudden, a bright flash appeared and a roar broke the stillness of the woods. Then a glowing light traveled across the sky as the sounds of large beating wings caused much of the wild life to panic. It was at that same moment that the sounds of stomping was heard in the distance, and its source made an entrance. A horse as pale as the moon rode through the wood, burdened with a rider in armor and robes atop his saddle. They were both shrouded in an aura of strange energies that seemed to follow their movements. With an enormous blade in hand and a rein in the other, the warrior known as Abaddon was chasing his skyward prey with the intent of reclaimed his fair earned treasure: the Aegis of the Immortal. Many obstacles were strewn in their path as they rode. He noticed a fallen tree that had blocked his way. Without hesitation, he had coiled the mist around him, concentrated the energy and shot it towards the tree, destroying it. Although his steed would have been able to bound it, he was in too much of a rage to lose any more time. For every log or stone that he came across, he would destroy each one with little effort.

As they were chasing down the their target, Abaddon noticed the ground ahead was clearing and the trees were starting to block the night sky. He knew that his sight on the dragon would be lost, and with it his prize. With the last of his stamina and effort, he charged another coil of mists and shot at the drake. The creature let out a small grunt as the projectile landed and increased speed to escape his assailants. Of course the shot wouldn't be enough to even hurt the beast, but it also had another property; Whoever was marked by the mists would never evade Abaddon's sight. With this curse, he would be able to track the drake without even looking at it. "Faster Acherus!", cried the rider. "So that the beast tastes the justified wrath of Avernus!" The steed then let out a shrill whinny as it accelerated through the darkened path. As the surrounding foliage grew dense, it created a tunnel that engulfed the champion and his mount. His senses were on edge as he tried looking what was in front of him. The tunnel was strange as no light or sound came from the outside world; Only the stomping of hooves and his own breath were heard. Even with his vision, he couldn't see where the path was taking him. As the two rode into the endless darkness, he felt as though his target was escaping. "Dire, give us your strength. Make it so we can bring favor towards our house and your people!" At that moment, his prayer was answered as both he and Acherus suddenly felt a torrent of energy. With fresh mana bestowed, they sped through with a speed that even Abaddon had never felt before; Truly the Dire smiled at his endeavors. Just then, Abaddon saw a glimmer of light appearing in the distance. As they drew near he could hear the sounds of the outside world. The light of the stars seemed to aid in his escape from the forest. "Acherus cease!", cried Abaddon as he pulled the harness. Just as the horse obeyed, the warrior widened his eyes to look where his target had led him.

This new land was different than what the lord was used to. He was on a hill that overlooked a wide forest and steep mountains. The night sky had many stars that never seemed to twinkle or lose focus. A large moon that he had never seen before hovered above him, as it casted a light brilliant enough to overwhelm his surroundings. The trees ranged from being lush and beautiful, to decaying and dead. They looked as though they were never touched by destructive hands. The mountains that towered over them contrasted with a deep, violet sheen that made it look as though they were covered in amethyst. Abaddon could hear various noises and calls that came from the forest. Every last one of them sounding unpleasant. Yet even with all this wonder, he was focused on finding the dragon that he had followed. He could sense it nearby, but he didn't know where it was. As he approached the woods, the noises suddenly stopped. He heard a familiar sound come from behind and looked up. Sure enough, his target had come into view. The flying drake soared above him with something glimmering in its maw. Abaddon carefully observed the monster as it glided over the large growth, hoping that its home would be near. At that instant, he saw the beast go toward one of the taller mountains and perched itself on the side. He watched as the dragon climbed up and entered a cave near the peak. "Of course", sighed Abaddon as he signaled Acherus to go. The sounds returned as the two travelers entered the thicket.

The forest seemed more treacherous than its exterior. Branches jutted downward as the ground stank like decay and waste. The mountain appeared much closer than on the hill he came through, but his companion suddenly trotted slower. "Acherus, our goal is at hand. A steed does not need rest now", replied Abaddon. The horse gave an annoyed snort at his rider. He knew that last effort drained most of his steed's strength. He replied, "You may get your rest when we are near the mountain's base." At that, the exhausted horse gained speed. The two traveled onward as the lord thought to himself. "This situation begs for my anguish. Such a pity that life is this desperate to ruin my quest". He looked ahead at the mountain growing near. "This must be another test from Avernus that I must overcome! Perhaps to show my tenacity and tracking prowess". After passing some sickly trees, his mind changed as he stood in a large clearing at the base of his culprit's abode. The mountain was enormous and bared no welcome to its appearance. What little of a path up was too steep for his horse to climb. Abaddon dismounted and ordered the steed to stay till his return. With much agitation, he started climbing.

The wind was picking up as Abaddon held onto the face of the mountain. He looked down to see far he had gotten. Sure enough, he had gotten about half way up the enormous sierra, with about a few kilometers ahead towards a cliff. As he pushed onward, he thought of a plan to enact a form of revenge for his thief. "Perhaps I can kill the monster. A dragon slayer can be quite fitting for a lord". He had gotten so full of himself that he didn't notice the loose stone that he stepped on. His foot gave way as he felt himself starting to fall. He reached for his sword and using his strength drove it on the surface of the cliff. His idea worked as the blade ceased his plummet toward the earth. Collecting his thoughts, he continued up with his sword as an anchor. "What ever fame I am given, no creature or man of any size will shame my household". As he neared the peak, he felt the air getting warmer. Abaddon hoisted himself up the edge and braced himself as a wave of heat blasted against him. Before him was an enormous cave entrance that looked like it was created by the dragon itself. Such a creature of this magnitude could be dangerous. Unsurprisingly, Abaddon wasn't concerned for his own life and only cared for the task at hand. He entered the cave, prepared to do what was necessary to take back his Aegis.

The inside of the cave was steaming and damp with moisture. The lone warrior snuck carefully along the wall to conceal himself as he made his way down. His climb towards the top had exhausted most of his fighting spirit, and the heat surrounding him was sapping more of his stamina the longer he delved in. Unlike his encounter with Roshan, the entire cave was brightly lit from flames that reflected off of the many deposits of minerals he had never seen before. It seemed as though it got brighter the further in he walked, and in the distance he could hear noises of the beast. He had turned a corner and came across an arch over looking an immense light from below. As he neared the edge, his eyes widened from what he gazed upon. It was an enormous chamber that could have fit two castles, and filling up to the edges were countless riches. Piles upon piles of gold and silver flowed like a lake as a collection of gemstones were hoarded against a wall and littering the floor. Various strange artifacts and antiquities were carefully positioned between the two masses as to divide their value. Abaddon had to shield his eyes from the glare of these treasures as it was almost blinding him. The only part of the chamber that wasn't gleaming was a peculiar rock formation and a large path that spiraled around the pit. He only imagined that half of this bounty would dwarf any wealth a king would have in his land. However his thoughts stopped as he noticed a familiar form appear.

A long, slender head protruded from below as a body, tail, and wings followed with it. It had something glowing clenched in its teeth as it strode across its bounty. Its body shined a bright red as it turned to admire its collection. The dragon approached its assortment of jewels and allowed its prize to fall onto the pile. Abaddon clenched his teeth at the sight of his Aegis being treated like a commodity. He then saw the dragon making his way towards the strange formation away from his collections. As it got near, Abaddon thought he could hear small noises that seemed to get louder as the beast neared. The dragon then grabbed the top of the surface and pulled it away. It revealed some stalagmites that created a circle just big enough to create a hollow space. The man watched as the dragon stuck its beak slightly into the gap and extended its tongue out. The noises he heard now turned into screams as the dragon was licking its contents; Perhaps it is a snack for the beast? To his surprise though, the dragon retracted its tongue and head without anything in its mouth. The screams subsided into cries as the huge dragon lifted the boulder and set it back on top. "This beast is as vile as Pudge when he eats", Abaddon snickered to himself. The enormous dragon then went towards one of the piles of gold and laid its body on top of it. It let out a bellowing yawn as it curled its tail and wings to sleep.

As it drifted into slumber, Abaddon waited until the damn beast was deep in its state. His Aegis laid atop a mountain of jewels, but it was completely out of his reach. He had counted on the beast to have a treasure room to keep its prizes, but the fact that it slept with them complicated matters. He was in no able body to fight anymore, after all the trouble he had been through. Already he was tired from chasing, fighting and climbing and simply looking at the dragon sleeping tempted him to do the same. But he knew fully well the shame that would befall his house hold should he fail, as well as what will happen to his contract with the Dire. He took a glance over at the sleeping dragon and came to the only conclusion: he had to steal it back from this thief. He quickly surveyed the chamber and looked for a way around the guarding drake without disturbing it. Fighting the creature head on was out of the question, but should things get worse he would only fight when it was necessary. If he so much as stepped on a single coin, he would risk waking his greedy victim. He noticed a path that had little riches strewn about and considered trying that route, but climbing up the gems would cause too much noise. He also considered taking a path near the hollow rock formation, but his presence may upset whatever was in that prison. Looking around, he saw that the walls surrounding the room had grooves that would be perfect for climbing. This however didn't make Abaddon any more pleased. Even at the thought of more climbing, he saw no other viable option and chose that as his mode of stealth. Realizing the dragon was now snoring immensely, he carefully made his way down the ramp and toward his prize.

The way down the chamber proved fairly easy as the ash covering the surface of the incline softened the steps Abaddon took. As he cautiously walked down the path, he admired the way that the dormant dragon created its abode. Each treasure reflected light in such a way that it made the entire room look as though it were encrusted with jewels and gold. He wondered how the dragon was able sleep in such brilliance, but quickly brushed it off as being resistant when he neared the bottom. The walls had been wrought with scratches that were no doubt carved by the beast, and with them he would reach his goal. He took a step in one of the crevices and found that it was stable enough to carry his weight. He grabbed another crevice and lifted himself just a foot above the gold surface. He then slowly started to inch his way towards the pile of gems, finding any stable footing to save him from the deadly riches below. With each step closer to his goal, Abaddon found it difficult to cling his way as each crevice became too far or too close to anchor on. Suddenly he felt a cascade of pebbles trickle down one of the grooves he chose and braced as they hit the shining floor. He was about to unsheathe his sword when he looked at the dragon still snoring. Abaddon silently cursed himself at the potential harm he could have done and proceeded to climb. With only a few yards from his prize, Abaddon suddenly thought of the noises that he heard earlier. They sounded almost feminine when he heard them. He glanced over at the stone prison and found it dark and void, yet he wondered just what was inside. Perhaps it was a peasant or maybe a princess that was trapped in there. As he came into arms reach of the mountain of jewels, he was reminded that he wasn't bound by such a fate. He was free to get what he desired without death and she was dragon fodder. Better the person trapped in there than him. He gazed upon the enormous mound of precious stones as they glinted with beauty. He noticed the Aegis on top and climbed towards it. At last his eyes met with the bright burning gemstone as he finally came to the top. "What was lost is now found, just as was foretold", Abaddon whispered as he reached for the jewel. Just as his gauntlet touched the surface of the Aegis, he heard a shrill pitched scream emanate from the direction of the rock formation. He looked and saw what appeared to be two large eyes gazing towards him, widened in horror. In desperation, Abaddon quickly grabbed the Aegis and tried to haste himself on the wall. But his doubts came to reality as he was stopped by a spiked tail. He found himself face to face with his thief, wide awake and displeased at his ploy. "Dire grant me strength", spoke the warrior as the dragon roared and swiped at him.

Abaddon fell from his perch and landed on the pile of jewels. He rolled down as the dragon struck again and toppled the pile to stop its thief. The cascade of jewels struck Abaddon, which caused him to lose his grip on the Aegis as he landed on some gold coins. He got up to unsheathe his sword when he saw an enormous claw coming straight towards him. He narrowly ducked the razor talons as he retaliated by striking the back of the creature's hand. This did little to stem his efforts as the blade didn't even break the surface of the scales. The beast then rose its head and opened its mouth. Realizing what was going to happen, Abaddon quickly casted the mists around him to shield himself. The dragon's throat lit up as its maw sudden unleashed a concentrated torrent of fire toward its attacker. Although the mists temporarily protected him, the heat that surrounded him was too much for his spell to resist. Just as the shield broke, Abaddon was knocked back against a wall as molten gold and silver scorched his already battered armor. He looked around for his Aegis and tried to walk, but the hardening metals crippled his joints and he couldn't move. When he finally spotted the mystic gem, he saw that it landed in between some scrolls that were on the other side of the chamber. As the drake was charging another blast, the lord tried his best at casting another shield but to no avail. Realizing the situation had escalated far beyond his magic, he saw no other choice than to wait for the right moment. That moment in which his life would be at its darkest. He shouted, "Do your worst monster!". And at that the dragon unleashed its fury onto Abaddon, smothering him in flames.

. . . . .

"Don't die", said a dim voice in Abaddon's mind. "Don't die", cried another as another repeated the same phrase, followed by another. "Don't die, don't die, don't die...." All at once the voices chanted as they started to drown out his own thoughts. These voices were of Avernus, old and young, giving the warrior the wisdom he needed to survive in his darkest hour. Suddenly he heard a familiar scream come from beyond as all the voices followed in unison:

"DON'T DIE!"
. . . . .

A hurricane of fire surrounded where the warrior had stood, as the beast was letting out a victorious roar. All of a sudden the flames were extinguished and the dragon ceased its cry. A sudden chill was in the air as what appeared to be a ghostly figure was standing where the lord had been struck. The apparition was engulfed in a brilliant display of green flames that seemed to restore the damage that was done. The fire suddenly turned into an aura of miasmic vapor that emanated from the the warriors armor. The dragon stomped its claw where the glowing revenant stood, but to its surprise this did not affect him. The pressure the drake used to crush its victim did not kill or even sway it. Instead, the beast's actions only seemed to give its victim strength as the lord stood defiantly. Abaddon took a step forward, which caused the creature to be pushed back against a wall. He then took hold of his massive blade and charged at the dragon with a vicious rage. The dragon swung its claws toward the warrior, but quickly regretted its attempt when all of its fingers were instantly sliced off their joints. It then sent its tail's spiked end to skewer the assailant, but found that as it made contact, it too became victim to the lord's sword. The dragon finally let out a desperate jet of fire at the man, but to its horror he only took it in as though it were a breeze. The warrior then ran up along its tail as he jumped and impaled the beast's back. As the dragon fell from the sudden shift of weight, it also felt as though its flesh was numbing into a lifeless husk.

Further and further Abaddon drove the blade as he took advantage of his ultimate state. The power that he possessed granted him invincibility, and with it he would slay this beast once and for all. But as he tried his might to further his attack, he felt it slipping away. His moment of power was fading and he no longer was able to impale his victim any further. Even with his vigor returned, he found himself hanging on to the hilt as the beast got up from its near death experience. It then shook Abaddon off its back as the lord landed on a large pile of crowns. Abaddon prepared for another assault from the beast, but looked in surprise at what it did. Instead of retaliating, the drake began to swallow its own treasures and riches. Each jewel and piece of gold was gulped down as it also slurped on whatever precious metal had melted during the fight. Abaddon realized in horror that if the dragon was eating its bounty, it would also eat his Aegis. Frantically, Abaddon darted towards where the scrolls were and started to throw them aside. However as he looked for his prize under all the useless parchments, he could hear the dragon eating what remained of its jewels. The sounds suddenly turned into booms as the dragon stomped past Abaddon, knocking him over. As he got up, he heard a scream and saw that the beast was removing the stone. In one swift motion, the dragon dove its pointed snout inside and pulled out the source of the noise. Abaddon saw what appeared to a young woman struggling from the drakes elongated tongue as she cried out pleas of mercy. She wore a tattered dress that seemed as though it was elegant enough for a ball, but she had no other characteristics of royalty. He tried to make out a face, but found the enormous pink hair to be too obstructive. Abaddon could only look on as the dragon slurped her in whole as he heard her wailing even while being swallowed. He then noticed that the dragon looked towards him in a hungry stare. At first it seemed that he was next, but then he also looked down and found a glowing, orange jewel just between him and the beast. "My Aegis!", cried Abaddon as he dove in to claim it. But all that he got was a giant paw stopping his advance as the dragon quickly grabbed the gemstone and swallowed it.

This was too much for Abaddon. Seeing his rightfully earned treasure being denied by a gluttonous drake had struck a chord so hard that he could not contain his stature. As the dragon prepared to leave its compromised home, Abaddon made a swift sprint towards the beast's neck. With honor far beyond his conscience, he swung his sword at the base of the creature's esophagus. The beast cried out in gargled agony as the blade slit a gaping wound where its neck had been. He then used the opening as an entrance point and casted a Mist coil into the gash. In the very instant that it was cast the dragon finally fell onto its side, breathless and without life. Seeing the creature finally perish, Abaddon made his way towards the body and opened the wound. "Nothing", sighed the warrior as he looked for his prize. He had to find it quick, or else the properties it had would take effect. He let the flesh drop as he went towards the dragon's midsection. Abaddon felt around the beast's rib cage until he found a tender spot. Without hesitation, he started hacking at the drakes body with his sword. Piece by piece, bits of toughened flesh were thrown about until the beast's entrails were exposed in a grotesque display. Finally finding the stomach, he thrusted his weapon into the organ and dragged the blade across as he dodged the various fluids and objects that spilled. He then opened the freshly made incision and found the various treasures and jewels the creature ate. Some were already starting to dissolve while others defiantly stayed intact to a degree. He walked inside and lit his blade as he looked around for the gemstone. Just then he heard a small cough and turned to find the source. He saw that it was the girl that the dragon ate just before eating his Aegis. The one who foiled his plan to reclaim it. She was lying weakly on top of some ruined fabrics and coughing from the toxic fumes. He was thinking of ending her misery when he saw a bright glow come from under the pile. He lifted the fabrics without caring for the girl as he found the divine orange gem, just as he heard an enormous heart beat.

To his horror, Abaddon saw the jewel begin to sink into the flesh of the dead beast. He was too late in finding the Aegis. He began digging under the gemstone, only to find that the marks only restored themselves shortly after. He heard another heart beat as he noticed the jewel began to dissipate. He grabbed what he could of the Aegis and pulled with his might in hopes to separate it from its user. But alas the corpse held firm onto it as the body began working again. All of a sudden he saw that the light from the outside was dimming and the opening was patching itself. "My quest has been for nothing!" yelled Abaddon as he let the Aegis slip. Having given up on the wasted artifact, he hurried towards the exit.

"Help me..."

Abaddon stopped as he turned around and found the girl laying on the soaked floor, trying to stay alive.

"Help...me...", she cried as she suddenly passed out amidst the stomach acids.

All of a sudden, he heard a voice come from his mind saying, "Take her". The disembodied voice was followed by more and more, determined in changing Abaddon's mind.

"Take her, take her, take her, take Her..."

The lord had no other business being there, yet this call had prevented from going any further. He saw the opening closing faster and tried to take another step, but then retracted as the voices deafened his hearing.

"TAke HeR, taKE heR, Take hER, Take HER...", they shouted as the warrior stood fighting it.

Finally, after hearing too much of the voices, he conceded and did what Avernus now wanted him to do. Coming away from the opening, he rushed towards the limp figure of the woman. As he picked her up, he noticed that she wasn't breathing. He then started to carry her towards the exit, but saw that it was already too late. The hole had sealed itself during the rescue, and the fleshy chamber they were in now started to spring to life. As more heart beats rang in Abaddon's ears, he tried to cut his way out again but to no avail. He was a fool. A fool to ever trust the voices in his head. Of all the times he had listened to them, he had to obey when it meant costing his life to save one that had ruined his quest. The walls around him started to churn as they closed in around him, further sealing his doom. Then suddenly a glimmering piece of shining metal caught his eye. He reached over to it while still caring the limp girl and picked it up, hardly believing what he had found. It was a curved, crescent shaped dagger that had a blue cloth wrapping the hilt. He had recognized this item before and now realized the answer to his current problem. The acids started to rise as the walls contracted and Abaddon knew it was now or never to use it. He casted the mists around him to shield him and the unconscious girl as he held onto the dagger and started to concentrate. "Take us down this mountain, out of this monster's prison!", he shouted as the small knife suddenly emitted an intense light that prompted him to close his eyes.

A sudden glass shattering sound was heard as Abaddon felt that he was no longer being compressed. He opened his eyes and found that he was outside of the belly of the beast, at the base of the mountain, next to Acherus while he was resting where he had put him. Abaddon let out a sigh of relief and turned to face the girl, who was still not breathing. Laying her down on the ground, he put his hand on her bosom and concentrated all the mana he had into reviving her. He spoke words as a pale mist surrounded the two and made its way towards the woman's body. As the mystical energies did their work, Abaddon looked at what the voices wanted him to rescue: It was a young girl who looked around the age of 16 or 17, yet her size made her seem as though she were only 12. She had an enormous plumage of long, tangled hair that covered her stunningly beautiful face. His trance was broken when the mists started to enter her mouth as they attempted to give air to the seemingly lifeless maiden. The silence was then broken when she suddenly coughed and let out a gasp for air. Even though she never opened her eyes, the fact that she was alive gave him the assurance he needed. Abaddon called to the mist as it left the girl's lips and came back towards him. As he felt the power coming back to him, he suddenly felt something soften in his palm. He looked at the woman and realized that her dress had been dissolving; no doubt from the stomach acids of the beast. He noticed that his hand was now covering her bare chest as the girl's body was becoming exposed. He took his hand away and removed the cloak he had been wearing. As he lifted her up, he felt two more strange things behind her. He turned her around and saw that she had a pair of what looked like small, soaked wings that protruded from her back. "By the Dire!" replied Abaddon. Wrapping the girl in the cloth, he lifted her and saddled her on top of his steed, which suddenly let out a worried whinny.

Hearing a booming roar coming above him, Abaddon quickly got upon his noble horse and ordered him to go. Without a second reminder, the stallion began trotting and then galloping into the forest, which looked more pleasant than the clearing they were in. The two sped past many glades and trees as they attempted their escape. Then all of a sudden Abaddon realized one crucial observation: where was the path that lead him here? He looked around and tried to find the way back towards the hill, but everywhere he looked he only saw darkness. With the roars of the now reborn beast becoming dimmer, the lone warrior found himself lost in a world that he knew nothing about. With the girl in hand, he rode off into the night with a new goal in mind: finding his path home.

3-By the Fire

The logs cracked as the flames around them fed. After having given up on searching the forest for a way out, Abaddon decided that it was best to set up camp around a small clearing he had found. Having gone through so much in a single day and night, both Abaddon and his horse were in need of a good rest. The lord had just set a pot of water to heat as he cooked some fishes that he had been saving since his quests original end. As he sat on a log near the camp fire, his steed rested just beside the spare tent he put up. However the reason he had set up camp was not only for his rest, he also planned on getting to know the new "companion" that he had rescued. The girl in question was idly sleeping on a log just opposite of the fire. She was wrapped in the warrior's cape as her clothes were destroyed during the rescue. She seemed to cling herself to it like a blanket as Abaddon prepared a meal for both of them. Although he recently ate just before the turn of events unfolded, his battle with the drake had left him famished. Since this woman had been a prisoner, she too must have been without food and drink. Perhaps when she would wake up, she would tell him everything in exchange for a morsel.

As Abaddon waited for the fishes to become ready, he brought out some items from a saddle bag. They consisted of a loaf of traveler's bread, rope, a hammer, and a stake. He set the bread down and made his way toward the non responding woman. As he neared, his eyes could still not believe what they saw. Even though it had appeared strange from afar, the young maiden's hair shined a lovely shade of pink. No one in his previous encounters had ever had such a bizarre hair pigment. He then began to bind and tie the maiden by the wrists and feet as he positioned an area on the log to set the stake. When he found a spot, he laid the woman next to it and positioned the stake between the bound legs. He then started to pound the stake into the log as the rope around it tightened the grip it had on the girl. He then laid the woman back down and made his way toward the pot which started to whistle. He took a pouch of herbal tea and dropped it into the kettle as he cut a slice of the bread. His plan seemed to have worked as the girl suddenly began to stir. She yawned as she tried to get up from her log, but quickly found that her feet would not cooperate. The girl looked up and gave a large yelp as she saw the stranger just across her. She then felt the cloth that covered her and blushed when she realized her clothes were gone. Abaddon couldn't help but chuckle as the young woman then tried to free herself from the ropes. After finally giving up she then gazed with petrified eyes at the person in front of her, seeing him as some sort of phantom.

"So you have finally awakened.", replied Abaddon.

The maiden only stood there, silent as mouse. Perhaps she was frightened of his outward appearance. Though he admired this response, he needed information from her.

"You need not fear me child. I do not wish to cause you harm", he said as he hoped the reassurance would calm her.

The girl said nothing as she buried her face into her hair. Abaddon knew that she wasn't mute as he had heard her make noises and shouts earlier. He then asked a basic question.

"What is your name?"

As before, the young woman did nothing but look away from Abaddon. Just then he saw her turn and open her mouth. Hoping that she would finally say something, he leaned in to listen. However all he could hear were barely audible whimpers and squeaks. Having been fed up with her insecurities, Abaddon finally ended his nice demeanor.

"If you have nothing to say, then allow me to explain why I have bound you here."

Abaddon stood as he went for the tea, but in doing so made the timid woman flinch. He wondered why she was so nervous around him. As he brought some cups, he poured one for himself.

"My name is Abaddon, the current lord of the household known as Avernus. Perhaps you had heard of me?" asked Abaddon. At first the only response he received was a small glance, but after a moment she shook her head silently. Taking a sip, Abaddon continued.

"I came on an important errand for my people. As I had finished my quest, your abductor had robbed me of a precious artifact, and in response I hunted him." He then grasped his cup tightly. "But during my mission to reclaim my treasure, someone ruined my plan." He looked directly at the girl, who suddenly sank her head down from his words. "Although I could have left you to perish, I took it upon myself to rescue you from the beast."

As Abaddon took another sip, he noticed the girl licking her lips hungrily. All of a sudden, he felt something in his chest that he had never felt before. The mere sight of her eyes caused him to feel rather bad for the way he treated her. Had he felt sorry for this mere peasant? Such feelings had never been present! He then found himself now asking something completely different.

"Are you thirsty?"

The girl nodded as she looked at the tea he had prepared. Out of sudden guilt, he then grabbed another cup and poured the tea. As he handed it to her, she backed away in fright. He then laid it on the edge of the log, close enough for her to reach it. As soon as he sat back down, the girl swiped the cup as though it were gold and brought it close to her. He found it some what charming the way she treasured the brew. Though for a prisoner, this was to be expected.

"Now, back to my situation." The woman looked as she took a sip of the tea. "Since my artifact has now become useless, I have no other choice but to replace it with another. This is where you come into play..." Before he could continue further, he heard a low growling sound. He wondered where it was coming from until he looked at the girl, who had a face that was flushed red.

He then remembered that the fishes had been roasting by the fire and were now becoming singed. Grabbing some plates, he served them with a side of bread and left a plate beside her. As he feasted on the meal, he noticed that the woman was only interested in the bread and left the fish untouched; Perhaps she was a vegetarian. After swigging the last drop of the tea, Abaddon then made his statement clear. "Since I have no treasure to bring, you shall become a servant in my household!" The girl suddenly dropped her piece of bread as her eyes widened in worry. She choked and began gasping for air as Abaddon continued.

"You may be small but I'm sure that it would benefit Avernus in some way. Perhaps if you show me your assets, you can be put to good use."

At that remark however, she gasped and began covering herself more in his cloak. He was puzzled as to why she responded that way. He wanted to know what she was good for. Seeing that she had doubts, Abaddon then came with a bluff to make her accept.

"If you refuse to serve me or attempt to escape Avernus, you shall be sentenced to death."

Unlike his preferred response, she reacted with great distress. She tried to pull the stake out of the wood as she pulled at the ropes with her teeth. Her breathing became sporadic, which agitated Abaddon.

"Well actually death is more for treacherous acts. I'm sure you wouldn't do that would you?"

The girl was beyond his reasoning as she desperately tried to gnaw her way out of the ropes. Abaddon knew that it was in vain, but he knew he had to stop her or else she would hurt herself. Rushing towards her, he grabbed her arms and lifted them to make her stop.

"You make this much more difficult than it needs to be. A life in Avernus would be an escape from the troubles you had before."

However as he held her arms she suddenly lifted her head and stared at him. The expression on her face made her answer very clear. It was a mixture of frustration, fear, and sorrow that made Abaddon suddenly feel an enormous ache in his chest. What could make this sort of pain without ever raising a hand? He felt as though a part of him should pity the woman. Was she some sort of enchantress or a hypnotist? But what made Abaddon regret saying all those words were her eyes. Those large, turquoise, tear ridden eyes that begged for his mercy. The color reminded him of his steed, his sword, and even his own eyes. He could hardly move as she locked her gaze with his. The more he stared, the more he realized that what he was doing was no more different than what the dragon was doing. Even though he rarely cared about what others thought, he suddenly felt the emotions that this young maiden had been feeling through that gaze. With a strange sense of understanding, Abaddon gently placed the girl down and went over to where he sat. He was surprised that she did not continue her crazed outburst. The two quietly stared at one another as the fire crackled, not knowing what to say or do. It wasn't until a few good minutes that the lord finally broke the silence.

"Listen dear child. What I said before, it may have come as hasted and selfish. I merely wanted something to bring back and prove my worth to my people. I did not mean to cause you any grief."

The maiden only looked at Abaddon as he apologized. He knew that whatever he did before would impose his attempt to gain the woman's trust.

"I know you may think I look like a villain, but I only came to that conclusion because I didn't know what else to do. I did not want to return to Avernus a failure."

He saw how sad and alone she looked. The fact that her life was put in jeopardy twice would have probably scarred her. Thousands of thoughts ran inside his head as they tried deciding the fate of the girl. He wondered how she was even captured by the dragon. Why would such a beast even kidnap... All of a sudden, a realization popped in his head: What if she had been royalty? He remembered the dress she wore when he rescued her. It may have been torn but it's design was no doubt fit for someone of wealth. Dragons always kidnapped princesses for ransom or eating. Maybe she was a princess? Either way, if her father were a king, he would do anything to get her back.

"Are you from around these parts?", asked Abaddon. The girl nodded. He replied,"What would you say if I took you to where your kingdom and your loved ones are?"

The young maiden suddenly lit up as he said those words. She was about to jump up in joy, but remembered that she was bound to the log. She replied by giving a nod and sank inside his robe in embarrassment. He said, "Then I have decided to take you to your homeland, but only for ransom! No doubt someone will pay greatly for you. Besides, I'm pretty sure you would have not been fit for Avernus." He looked away and prepared himself from another bawl.

However he was surprised when she didn't make so much as a cough; He only heard a soft sniff after he ended his speech. As he looked, he saw that the girl had changed her sad expression into a weak smile. Why would she have been smiling at him? Was she actually fine to being ransomed off? It didn't help that he was even sparing someone after they had wronged him. She then picked up the bread that she dropped and dusted it. Abaddon stopped her from eating the soiled bit and offered her another slice. But as he was about to cut a piece, he noticed her rubbing her arm. As he grabbed it and took a closer look, he saw that it appeared burned and swollen along the surface. It looked as though it were the result of dragon bile. The girl retracted her arm and continued to scratch it, almost as though she couldn't control the habit. He made his way inside the tent and came back a few moments out with a green flask. As he neared the woman, she defensively flung her arm away from him.

"This salve will cure the infection and ease your pain", said the warrior as he grabbed her hand and poured the contents onto the girl's arm. Her acts of defiance ceased as she suddenly didn't feel the irritation anymore. She gazed in amazement as the area where the potion was applied suddenly healed and even looked restored. As he finished with her arm, he also felt her body shake uncontrollably. There must have been more areas that were exposed. As he put his hand on the robe, she suddenly grabbed it and clung to it for herself. The two then struggled for the cloak, one trying to help while the other defended her dignity. Just as Abaddon finally pulled on the cloth, the little woman suddenly let out an incredibly high pitched shriek. The screeching sound caught him off guard and caused a ringing in his ears. As he let go, the girl then bound herself more inside his cape. Abaddon then retorted at her cowardly attitude.

"If I am to cure you, then you would undress and let me treat you!" He saw how scared she was and it took him a moment to realize why she acted this way. He knew that she needed the medication, but any attempt at him administering it were met with resistance. "You seem too timid for me to help you. If you don't want me aiding you, then you can help yourself." Abaddon then left the flask by her as he walked over to Acherus. He grabbed a sharpening stone from a saddle bag and returned to the log with his broad sword. The maiden gasped as Abaddon made his way to the girl. He then pulled on the stake and undone her binds.

"If you so much as run, not even I will protect you from this forest", warned Abaddon.

He then sat back down on the log as he prepared to fine his weapon. Abaddon noticed she didn't do anything and sighed. He then turned around to give the woman privacy and began sliding the stone across the blade. As he sharpened the edges, he couldn't help but wonder how the woman looked without the garment. She surely wasn't a monster, but she wasn't human either. With his curiosity getting the better of him, he positioned the blade in an angle and used a reflective surface to see the young girl dress her wounds. Scraping along the edges, he hardly believed what he saw:

The woman let go of the cloth and allowed it to slide down her waist. Every inch of her being was exposed as she applied the ailment on each wound. Both hands gently stroked the damaged skin as the salve did its work in restoring it. The flesh that wasn't harmed from the acids looked fairly smooth and tender. Each sleek curve and end were brilliantly kept, almost as if she tended to herself every second of her life. Yet even with all the filth and ruin that befell her, she radiated a beauty that would rival any goddess.

Her bare form was strikingly gorgeous as she worked, yet some of her features confused Abaddon. For one, her frame was suprisingly small, save for her bust which seemed large for the child-like body. Her hair, while messy, was extremely long and pink. Other than the odd color choice, how could this woman even walk without tripping over herself, let alone see? Finally, he wondered what the apendages that grew out of her back were. They looked like wings, but they looked too small for her to have been a Skywrath. His thoughts ended as he saw the young woman cover her breasts with his cape and turn around. At first he thought she saw him spying on her, until she suddenly tried to say something. As before her calls were meek and incomprehensible, but Abaddon turned as though he heard what she wanted. He then saw the girl expose her winged back towards him and pointed at an area that she couldn't reach. He then put down his sword and stone and sat near the girl, while removing his right gauntlet to apply the medication. As his hand made contact, she winced and hid her face among her hair. The two protrusions suddenly extended, which showed a few traces of feathers. The rest of their plumage appeared as though they were pulled out or had corroded away. As he moved his fingers around them, they began to flutter in quick bursts until he finally used the last of the salve. He stepped away and allowed the girl to cover herself while he put away his things. He then grabbed the ropes and stake and ordered the girl to show her hands and feet.

"It is merely for the night. I will try not to make the binding too tight", replied the lord.

The girl hesitantly stood in place, but after a few moments finally turned to give him her limbs. As she moved, a portion of her leg was uncovered and Abaddon caught a glimpse of something along her thigh. He couldn't make out what it was since the girl then quickly hid it under the fabric. She then showed Abaddon her arms and feet and waited for him to snare her. Without hassle, he tied each foot and hand to their respective twin and nailed the bottom ropes back into the log. As he gave the last knock on the stake, he couldn't help but yawn after all of the trouble he got himself in. He then heard a smaller, petite yawn follow his as he stood up. The girl was also showing signs of exhaustion, which made another painful shock inside Abaddon's center. Something about this young maiden was too adorable for the warrior to take. He wondered how it was even possible. He then took the rest of the tea and used it to douse the fire. As he then made his way inside the tent, he bid his steed a good night and retired inside.

The sounds of light chirping were heard as Abaddon readied his thin mattress. Just as he was removing his armor, he was disturbed when he heard some noises come outside. He stuck his head out to find the small girl struggling to find a good sleeping position. She tried resting her head on the wood, but found it uncomfortably rough and hard. This sight alone drove Abaddon insane and it became worse with her constant rustling. He quickly grabbed a pillow behind him and went to the girl to passify her. She flinched from the sudden appearance of him, but became calm when she saw him handing her a cushion. After she accepted the offering from his hands, the lord then replied, "Now be silent." He then walked back inside and lied down, hoping it was the last request she gave.

"...th...thank you..."

Abaddon lifted his head as he heard the barely audible whisper. Did the woman finally say something to him? He peered through a slit in the tent and found the girl now sleeping on the pillow, with a small smile on her face. All of a sudden, the lord of mist felt a warm feeling where his heart was. He had never felt this way before, but this new sensation caused him to cringe. He was a slayer of monsters and men! Why would he think of such light and happy thoughts? He had to get rid of her soon, or else he would lose the will to fight all together. With heavy limbs and thoughts of worry for his ideals, he fell upon the sheets and drifted into slumber.

. . . . .

The chamber was a lit with flames and cinder as various furniture and trinkets were scattered about. Chairs splintered, bottles smashed, and many other items were destroyed as the room steamed with heat. From the rubble, a thin figure emerged coughing and trying to stand up. He dusted himself and then began walking forward.

"Your highness!", cried the person. There was no answer so he shouted again.

"Are you alright ? Where have you gone?"

The man then tripped and landed hands first on shards of broken glass. As soon as he realized it, he quickly rose up and screamed. But to his surprise, he didn't feel anything. The pain that would regularly come after such a misfortune would have been agonizing. Yet with each shard that buried deep in his flesh, he felt no sharp stings or even a tingle. As he removed the bits of glass, he then felt an unusual sensation on his hands. It felt as though his hands weren't there and what replaced them were gloves. But it wasn't just his hands that felt numb. Every part of his flesh felt like a fold of leather clinging to a solid mass underneath. Horrified by this new revelation, he called to his master one more time.

"Prince Ostarion! If you are still living, please answer my voice!"

Just then he heard a large crash and a fell forward as a wave of intense heat blasted behind him. When he turned and opened his eyes, he saw a towering man with an enraged face staring down at him.

"AZORSZOS YOU BASTARD!", boomed the enormous giant. "I thought I told you never to mention that title again!"

The wizard stood in awe at what had transpired. The last thing he remembered was the dying prince and the Aegis consuming both of them in a blinding light. Had the spell worked? His master was up and about, but he looked slightly different. His flesh looked pale and unresponsive like a corpse, yet he stood and breathed like he was fine.

"Why are you staring at me like that?", demanded the man. Quickly grabbing his thoughts, Azorszos explained the predicament.

"Well your highness, it appears you have been cured of your disease. I was merely admiring your reborn state", lied the sorcerer.

Ostarion looked at his newly reformed body and made his way toward a looking glass that had still retained some reflectiveness. He then turned to face the wizard and gave him a frown.

"I am not cured."

The wizard stammered. "Uhm yes, well it may appear that way but I assure you that you won't feel anyth-"

The wizards words did little to stop Ostarion as he shattered the rest of the mirror. Just then his hands lit up in flames and incinerated the remains of the glass, as well as the surrounding items behind it. Azorszos jumped in suprise at the spectacle. As the flames consumed the area, Ostarion looked at his hands and found them charred, yet he didn't feel the sting of the burns.

"Arzorszos, I didn't feel the pain."

The pale figure then laughed at this new revelation as the wizard stood there, terrified. The man then stopped and grabbed the sorcerer.

"Do you realize what this means?"

"I am afraid I don't your highness."

The prince then dropped the wizard and cleared his throat. "It means I can't feel anything. This disease, the fire, I can't feel pain! I am invincible!"

As the pompous man celebrated his miracle, the wizard couldn't help but feel worried that this state of being had a cost. He also couldn't understand why he was also affected. The prince then calmed and saw that his servant simply stood there doing nothing.

"Azorszos! Tell my servants of my well being and make ready for a coronation. There is a new king in this land and he won't be dead any time soon!"

"As you wish pri- I mean, king Ostarion.", obeyed the wizard.

4-A Road Everfree

Abaddon awoke to the sound of chirping birds as the orange glow of the morning sun came through his tent. He stood up and yawned as he closed the opening and grabbed his armor. Each part of his suit were intricately smithed to make a hardened shell that was resilient to deadly blows, yet simple enough to equip and remove whenever he pleased. He strapped his spaulders along with his vambraces as they linked together in unison with other components. After armoring his legs, he reached for his helmet. He held it up and admired the way it looked like a weapon itself. Being crafted of the finest minerals and materials, its hue and form certainly struck fear to who ever gazed upon it. Positioning the helm over his head, he put it on and straightened it. Having completed his suit he then reached for his cloak, which to his surprise wasn't near him. He then remembered that he had left it with the strange girl he came across in his journey. With his entire body armored, Abaddon picked up his sword and exited the tent.

Shielding his eyes from the rising sun, he took a glance at his surroundings. Every inch of the area he had been on was bright and colorful. Flowers bloomed as the grass under his feet had a brilliantly healthy hue of green. His eyes strained as they tried to take in such a variety of colors. The campsite was small but spacious enough for his needs. He turned to his right to find his steed Acherus where he had left him during the night. In front of him was a small campfire pit that had been used, while on a log sleeping was the young woman he had rescued. He wondered how she was able to sleep with all the morning noise and light, but merely brushed it off as just over exhaustion. However as he looked beyond his encampment, he noticed that everything else was dark. The trees grew densely around the camp as a single opening in the canopy allowed some light to shine through. Yet even with that source of brightness, the forest around him looked as though it never knew the dawn; As if it remained in eternal night. Even though he was accustomed to the dark, this revelation made Abaddon wonder what true peril he had put himself in.

"Although this land would be a perfect mark for Avernus, I shouldn't stay long if I am to return back quickly", thought Abaddon.

He turned around and began removing his belongings outside of his tent. When he finally finished that task, he then proceeded to take down his temporary housing. Pulling on the stakes that held it up, he allowed the tent to collapse and flatten in order to fold it. As he finished rolling the tarps into bundles, he then stuffed them into a sack that was nearby. Abaddon then began picking up his things and putting them into saddle bags. While walking around and grabbing Items, he wondered how he would venture outward through this treacherous new environment. He certainly didn't know how he got here, and knew just as less how to get out. As he picked up a cup from the ground, the lord took a glance at the sleeping woman. He then remembered when he asked the timid girl questions the night before. She did agree when he asked if she lived nearby, but he never asked if the young lady knew her way. Hoping that he wouldn't soon have to wander aimlessly through a deadly forest, Abaddon finished picking up the last of his belongings and made his way towards the idle form of the maiden. He was about to grab and shake her when he was stopped by a familiar sight. Even though he had seen it more than enough times to recognize, the woman's complexion always had him step away in awe. The expression she had on her face was so peaceful, and the way she slept curled on the log only added to her innocent demeanor. His trance was then broken when he saw the girl begin to stir. As she started shaking and giving a slight frown, the man stepped back and watched the young woman rise from the log. The girl's bare form was unraveled as she sat up, catching Abaddon off guard. He expected the woman to suddenly scream for her nudity, but he noticed that the little maiden's eyes were still shut from the exhaustion. What happened next only surprised the lord.

"...Oh, good morning Angel.", yawned the drowsy woman. "I just had the most terrible dream with a dragon and an angry whispering man..." Abaddon was not amused by this remark but allowed her to continue. "He saved me from the dragon, but then he wanted to keep me prisoner and sell me to save his family." The man was baffled by the woman being completely oblivious to his presence, but he couldn't help but wonder one thing: Who was she referring to as Angel?

With sleep still claiming most of her body, she let out another quiet yawn. "I'm just glad that it was all just a dream...", sighed the timid maiden as she tried to stretch her arms outward. The attempt was halted however when she suddenly felt her arms wouldn't separate. She suddenly opened her eyes and looked up to where her hands were, only to find them bound in rope. The frail maiden then saw Abaddon standing in front of her. The two stared at one another until the girl suddenly felt a chill envelope her. Looking downward, her eyes widened in surprise when she noticed that her chest was exposed. Without giving Abaddon a chance to prepare, the woman gave a startled shriek as she grabbed the cloth and covered herself. The lord could hardly stop the ringing in his head as he tried to maintain his posture. After the noise subsided he looked back at the timid woman, who was now back to cowering in silence. With his mind at ease, Abaddon finally greeted the cowardly prisoner.

"Good morning small one. I take it you slept well?", asked the lord.

As he expected, the girl was back to giving him the silent tongue as she slinked back into a hunch. To his interest her voice was not raised above a whisper, much similar to his own voice. However he felt that it was pointless keeping quiet since he already knew that she could talk perfectly fine. With a gentler tone than he could take, he continued.

"I hoped that you are fully rested and awake. There is a long journey ahead of us and we mustn't waste any time being lazy", said the anxious warrior. His response was met with silence as the girl frowned at his command. Abaddon quickly corrected himself. "I mean, we wouldn't want to keep your family worried?" It was with those words that the young woman's face lit up with what appeared to be a smile. Abaddon couldn't tell the girl's expression since her face always showed a sense of worry. None the less he would accept any form of gratitude, even if she did look depressed. Hoping to get more information, he took a seat across from the woman and began to explain his dilemma.

"Before we head anywhere out of this glade, I had one other question to ask. It is not that I don't know my way around a forest, it is merely that I don't know this land." Abaddon saw how the expression of happiness in the girl faded as he told her. "Since I am a foreigner to this new world, and I was wondering if you by chance know where we are?", asked Abaddon. The young maiden looked right and left, making Abaddon hope that her imprisonment wasn't in vain. As she looked back up to him, she gave a puzzled look and shrugged. The lord was distraught at the girl's response and asked a different question.

"Well then, do you at least know where your homeland might be?"

The woman thought for a moment as Abaddon waited. She then pointed to the ropes that binded her and gestured for him to untie her. The lord thought this to be a ruse for the maiden to escape, but knowing that he could merely chase after her with ease he obliged. After removing the rope and stake that pinned her, the girl began stretching and bending her arms and legs. She then pointed to a tree and walked towards it, all while tying the warrior's cape into a make shift garment. Before Abaddon could react, the girl began to swiftly climb up onto the branches and to the forest canopy. He looked on with amazement at how fast the girl climbed up without a second thought, almost as if she were raised by squirrels. She stopped at the highest point of the tree and began looking to and fro as the lord watched below. Just then she started waving her hand and pointed in a direction towards the North. Abaddon gave a sigh of relief and called to the girl.

"Splendid work! Now if you wouldn't mind getting down so that we may start traveling?"

The lord however noticed that the branch the maiden held on to swayed from a gust of wind. Abaddon's eyes widened as the girl lost her balance on the branch and began plummeting down the tree. He watched as the young woman screamed as she fell, trying desperately to save herself from crashing to the ground below. Just then her fall ceased when she grabbed a large bough that was a few yards away from the top. The girl hung onto the stray limb with both hands, but could barely keep a grip on the decayed surface. With haste and anticipation, Abaddon positioned himself under woman to catch her. Granted her height wasn't as dangerous as before, the lord took little chance at allowing his only lead to suffer an injury. "Let go! I will catch you!", shouted Abaddon as he held out his hands. However the woman stubbornly held on despite his calls of safety. All of a sudden the sounds of cracking were heard as the tree limb broke, once again dropping the small girl. She let out a cry as she descended with the now loose bough following her. Realizing the severity of the situation, the warrior quickly chanted an incantation as he caught the girl before she could touch the ground. The timid maiden gave a sharp scream and pointed as the log came tumbling down towards them. It was at that moment that Abaddon finished chanting and raised his palm upward as a torrent of energy gathered around them. In an instant, a misty haze enveloped the two and created a transparent sphere that repelled the crashing tree branch. Bits of wood and shrubbery flew about as the log shattered upon impact, while the shield left the two people inside unscathed.

The shield began to dissipate as Abaddon lowered his hand and looked at the girl. She had her body curled into a defensive pose as she trembled, waiting for her inevitable death. It wasn't until Abaddon lightly patted the girl on the head when she suddenly screamed and jumped in fear. However her outburst ended when she opened her eyes and saw that the log was in splinters just a few feet away. Looking to her right, she was faced by the deathly gaze of the person who saved her twice. She gave a startled yelp as she moved away from him and hid behind a log. Seeing that the ordeal was over, Abaddon stood and made his way to where the cowering girl hid. "Young one, are you alright?", asked the lord. The small woman nodded as she hid her face from his sight. "Then you can tell me if you saw where we need to go." The girl slowly stood up and pointed towards the same direction to the north that she had given when she was up the tree. Without further delay, Abaddon walked over to his steed and began packing as he responded. "Then we have no time to waste. We must be off before it turns night again." Although she hesitated at first, the child-like woman slowly made her way towards the only protection she had at the moment.

With his supplies packed and the saddle being fitted on Archerus, Abaddon made the last preparations before starting his journey. As he fastened a buckle on the seat, he turned to see the woman slowly approach the two. She staggered close to the man's steed as she held the cape around her. The lord saw that the girl had a strange look on her face as she gazed upon Acherus. It wasn't fear or caution, but rather a show of curiosity and even wonder. She then suddenly raised a hand and walked towards the mount. "Do not approach Acherus! He is tame only towards me.", warned Abaddon. His words were left unheeded as the young woman placed a hand on the horse's cheek. The man was ready to grab the rein, but found that his steed didn't object the stranger's action. To his surprise, the mount was actually calm and welcoming to the girl. Abaddon knew just how disapproving and hostile death chargers were toward unfamiliar people. Acherus was no exception as the steed had killed many that attempted to tame him, leaving Abaddon as his sole rider. This, along with its intimidating appearance, made others fearful of even looking at the beast. Yet despite all of the warnings, this complete stranger did not show any signs of fear as she brushed along the mane of the frightful horse. "How can this meek child be fearful of me, but not towards my own steed?", thought the lord. That fact that both of them had an intimidating appearance, it was only common sense that made him question the maiden's true intentions.

Deciding that enough time had been wasted, Abaddon grabbed the maiden and pulled her away from the steed. "It would be wise to start our journey rather than delay it", proclaimed the lord. The expression of joy the girl had was suddenly replaced by fear as she looked back at the faceless man. The lord then released his grip on the girl and commanded her to wait. Having finally put everything on the mount, Abaddon stepped on a stirrup and raised himself up onto Acherus. Looking down at the girl, the man couldn't help but chuckle how he towered over her minuscule stature. He then stretched out a hand towards the maiden and signaled her to grab hold. The woman hesitated from the gesture but complied and took the hand. She then shrieked as she was swiftly lifted and placed behind the warrior. Having remembered the direction the girl pointed towards, Abaddon steered the rein and called to his mount. "Acherus, ride my steed!" At that the horse began galloping and the lord was speeding through the wood, all while burdened by the companion that frantically held fast to him.

The forest the travelers rode through was clear in its state of welcome. Various branches and vines surrounded the three as they entered the thicket. Abaddon made due by swinging at each jutting piece of shrubbery that barred the way. However the more he delved through the rotting jungle, the faster he realized just how enclosed the path was. He also noticed that although the canopy above him allowed a few rays of sunlight to go through, the majority of it shrouded the entire area. Although sight wasn't an issue, Abaddon couldn't tell if it was still night or day. He looked behind and saw the girl still holding for dear life, all while having a permanent state of terror on her face. He pulled the rein to stop his mount and turned to face the woman, who still had eyes widened in shock. "Pardon, but is this too fast for you?", asked Abaddon. The girl nodded as she kept her grip around the man's waist. Grudgingly, the lord decided sparing the child of a heart attack by taking a slower pace. As he slowed, he started to notice strange and unbelievable things. Many exotic plants and trees that Abaddon hadn't bothered to look at stood out radiantly. Flowers that shined without sunlight and trees that seemed to intertwine with one another. Just then he caught glimpse of what appeared to be a treant, but found that it was just an old tree with an intricate hollowed maw, followed by more just like it. While some appeared normal, he couldn't help but admire how some trees looked as though they had faces carved into them. Yet as he took a closer inspection he realized that there were no chisel marks present. The lord felt a strange presence as he stayed near the trees, and when he looked back at the young woman she also appeared distressed. At that he commanded the horse to move on, away from the dead eyes of the forest.

As the road through the dark thicket went unhindered, Abaddon heard a grumbling sound come from behind. It didn't take long to realize that the small maiden never had a meal before their journey. However he did not have the time or place to search through his bundles for the traveler bread. He then felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around quickly, only to scare the source of his distraction. The maiden had a hand over her midsection while pointing toward one of the saddle bags with the other.

"Your need for food can wait. We need to travel a safe distance in order for us to rest", said Abaddon. The woman's face turned red as her stomach protested again.

Not wanting his bounty to starve, Abaddon reached toward a saddle bag and began to blindly rummage through. After nearly cutting himself with one of his knives, he managed to find the last of the bread. He then handed the loaf at the girl, who happily accepted and took a small bite into it. All of a sudden another growl was heard, but not from the satisfied woman. Abaddon sighed as he then turned back to face the front. Now that he remembered, he also didn't eat a thing when he woke up. Attempting to hide his own hunger, he began ignoring his stomach and trying his hardest to not think of his next meal. Just then he felt another tap on his armor.

"What is it now!?", cried the lord.

Abaddon couldn't believe his eyes when he saw what the small maiden had done. The last ration of the bread was split in two, with one half held out towards the lord. Looking back at the young woman, he saw that she didn't even look away from him. Although the gesture seemed genuine, Abaddon found it strange that the hungry prisoner would rather share her small morsel than to eat it whole. With another cry from his belly, Abaddon took the half from the tiny hand and replied, "With gratitude." Just before another smile could break out on the woman, the lord turned around as he stuffed his mouth with the measly bread. It was then that Abaddon noticed the light of the sun coming out of an exit. With high hopes, the three made their way out of the enclosed forest. The lord hid his eyes from the brightness of the day and waited for his vision to return. Just then he whiffed a foul odor that seemed to come from his surroundings. When his sight finally cleared, he staggered from what laid before him. The entangled forest was now a filthy bog that stretched wide for about a mile. Its muddy waters stayed a putrid shade of green while a terrible scent complimented the aged wastes. Looking at the ground, Abaddon saw countless stained bones and skeletons of what looked like people and animals alike. The scenery was only cut short by another forest that was across from them. Turning toward his new found companion, the lord glared with fury.

"Do you take me lightly? Am I a jester to you?" asked Abaddon as he did his best to hold in his anger. The maiden shook her head silently as she pointed forward. The man swiftly grabbed the hand and brought the girl's face close to his helmet.

"You'd better have a good explanation as to why you led me here, lest I turn you into mince meat."

However the young changed her meek expression and pouted as she pulled her hand away from Abaddon. She then began to turn the warrior around while pointing again to where she wanted him to look. After finally turning back toward the swamp, he looked up and found what the woman was signaling at. Just beyond the murky bog, past the darkened wood was something Abaddon neglected to have noticed before. High atop an enormous mountain was what appeared to be a castle fixed on its side. The sheer grandness and height of the white towers defiantly stood tall amidst its natural foundation. There were no words that the lord could have come close to say about the impressive structure. He only wondered how the whole thing wouldn't plummet down the side of the cliff. Suddenly he felt another tap on his armor as his prisoner pointed toward the castle. "It appears I was mistaken", replied the lord. "Your skills did lead us closer to your home." The girl only blushed as she hid behind her pink hair. Finding that the day had turned to noon, the lord knew that the only way to his destination was through the stinking marsh. Without hesitation, Abaddon had Acherus proceed into the swamp.

Having gone only a few feet into the waters, the stench of decay had only amplified as Acherus pressed on. The murky surface had reached up to the steed's knees when Abaddon began to cough from the fumes. Each hoof forward made disgusting sounds as the mount did its best to traverse the mud. Although the next forest wasn't as far, Abaddon felt each second as though it were a minute in the swamp. His helmet made it impossible for him to cover up the smells and his gauntlets were too big to mask through. Thinking that this environment would have been too much for his companion, Abaddon hasted the steed as he looked behind him again. However he found that the young woman only casually held her nose. She didn't give a frown or bat an eye, she only covered her nostrils as she breathed through her mouth. Abaddon was about to ask her well being when Acherus suddenly gave a sharp whinny. Drawing his sword, the lord looked around himself for his attacker. Just a few yards behind them were ripples that grew as they neared the travelers. Suddenly a flash of scales broke the surface of the bog as a large head appeared, followed by a second and third. The girl frantically put her hands on the lord's arm and made a worried face. Not wanting to deal with more hassles, Abaddon grabbed the rein and shouted, "Acherus, fly!" At that instant the horse began to muscle its way through the swamp as Abaddon watched a fourth head emerge. With land merely a few yards in reach, the lord began to focus energy on his blade as his four attackers rose their heads above them. However the serpent-like necks came together as they shared a single body and legs. Abaddon had heard of hydras, but the time and place he managed to find one was highly inconvenient. One of the heads let out a roar as it lunged at the trio. Abaddon swung his blade, causing the charged mist coil to stagger the raging beast. With one head retreating, the rest all roared as they rushed in from all sides. As one hoof set itself on dry land, Acherus suddenly kicked forward just as the monstrous heads impacted on each other. With no other openings, Abaddon commanded his steed once again to sprint into the forest.

Abaddon could hear the loud bellow of the hydra begin to fade as the mount sped through the new thicket. He felt the squeeze of the maiden get stronger as Acherus trotted. The rider pulled at the rein and began calming the restless horse. With the danger far behind them, Abaddon thought best to find the end of this new forest. Not only did he and Acherus have their fair share of excitement, he also was concerned of his fragile prisoner dying from fright. No point in claiming a bounty on a dead hostage. Looking at his new surroundings, he noticed they had stopped near an open field filled with blue flowers. The entire plant was blue, having only three petals with three leaves surrounding it, all being supported by a thin blue stem. Judging by its size and quantity, the lord perceived it as some exotic weed. Just across from the field of strange flora was the path they needed to take. "It appears that fate has gifted us with this scenery", proclaimed Abaddon. Just as the rider ushered his steed to move, Abaddon heard the woman gasp as she pulled at his arm and shook her head in disagreement. "Child, I have fended off a wild hydra. I believe I can trim a few posies." With that argument the girl ceased and looked on with a worried face that made the lord's heart twinge. Facing away from the coward, Abaddon led his mount through the patch of flowers without heeding the prisoner's warning.

As simple as the task was, Abaddon traversed the vivid flowers with little resistance. In fact, he felt a calming peace as each leaf brushed itself along his boots. Although Acherus snorted and kicked a few times, the mount ceased after it ate one of the buds. The lord chuckled at the pathetic obstacle that he passed. From what the girl dramatized over, he expected another wild animal to be hiding amidst the plants. He even noticed that the girl had lifted her feet and legs as they went through. But in the end nothing happened. Abaddon turned to see the look on the woman's face.

"It is alright to admit your error", said Abaddon. "One such as you can often make foolish assumptions at such a young age."

The girl did not stir as the man poked fun at her.

"Of course since you are afraid of a even mere flower, you are ignorant of what is rEALLY A THREAT."

The man choked as he heard what he had said. He grasped around his throat for any tight ends to his clothing, but found nothing. He turned to the young maiden and saw that she was just as surprised as he was.

"DID MY VOICE-", the lord squeaked until he silenced himself.

Abaddon began to panic at what was happening. For some unknown reason his voice had changed from a haunting whisper to a high squeal. Never had the warrior ever talked in such a pitch. Looking back at the woman, he saw that she was holding back what looked like a smile. Trying his best to make a low sound, he began to do voice keys. However each attempt were met with squeals and squeaks that almost made Abaddon sound like a rat. He then heard light giggling come from the woman, who had her hands covering her grinning mouth.

"YOU WILL HOLD YOUR TONGUE IF YOU KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU!", yelped the lord as he pointed a finger towards the girl.

However he pulled it back when he saw that his finger had turned a soft shade of pink. The lord watched in horror as the rest of his gauntlet matched the vibrant color, followed by his arm and the rest of his paldrons. He soon found himself changing until his entire armor was covered in the unintimidating color. The girl was in the verge of laughing as tear drops began to form around her eyes. Grabbing the rein, Abaddon attempted to ignore his blatant metamorphosis.

"ACHERUS, GO FORTH AND LEAVE THIS ACCURSED FOREST!", yelled the rider. His command was met with a meow from the idle horse.

Having held back her feelings for so long, the young woman finally began to laugh after hearing the steed. Abaddon stood silent while the soft giggling of his prisoner mixed with the steed's new feline noises. His mind was in a mess as he took all these new revelations at once. After having lost his treasure, losing his way home, taking in a cowardly prisoner that made him foolish, traveling with said prisoner in a stinking forest, it ends with him now becoming a living joke? He couldn't decide on either going on a rampage, or questioning his own choices in life. With this act of ridicule going beyond his limits, he drew his sword and began chanting. Without even caring of its new pigmentation, he raised the blade above him and squeaked, "APHOTIC SHIELD CLEANSE US!" Upon swinging the sword back down, a torrent of mist rushed in and began creating a sphere around the three. The girl ceased her laughter as the surrounding energies began to whirl violently. All of a sudden the pink tint on the lord's armor began to fade back into its cold blue sheen. When the color on the warrior reverted completely, he punctured the sphere with his sword. The resulting stop caused the barrier to shatter and disperse in all directions. Hoping the spell worked, Abaddon hummed a tune and found that his voice was back to normal. Acherus had also stopped meowing and was back to sounding like a proper equine. The lord turned to face the girl who was in complete silence after witnessing the spectacle. Just before Abaddon could say anything, he heard a raspy voice in the distance.

"Did you guys hear that?"

Turning towards the sound, Abaddon saw that some bushes began to move and rustle from an unknown entity. The young maiden behind Abaddon suddenly let out a yell as though she wanted the stranger to find them, which made Abaddon swiftly cover her mouth with his hand.

"C'mon, I heard something over here!"

Abaddon was about to engage the intruder when he began to hear other voices come from the forest.

"Slow down Rainbow! These heels weren't meant for outdoor use."

"Well maybe you outa think of that insteada' dressin' for the gala."

"Oh my gosh oh my gosh! Can you two hurry up? I wanna see what made that big boom! I mean I thought I made a lot of noises, but wow that one took the cake! Speaking of, who wants cupcakes? I've got white, chocolate, strawberry, carrot, neapolitan..."

From the tones of each voice, they all sounded female in nature. However he wondered if these voices were just another trap made by some unknown beasts to lure him in. This forest was already ridiculous and he had struggled with what it threw at him. Although he would always stand and fight, he was often supported by allies. Without taking the chance, he began leading Acherus out of the road and behind a nearby boulder. Holding the girl close as he hid, the lord waited for the strangers to reveal themselves. All of a sudden he saw a flash of blue fly past and disappear into the distance. Hearing the voices coming closer, Abaddon prepared for the inevitable.

"... pineapple, red velvet, and devil's cake. Oh wait I forgot, why were we going over here again?"

"Rainbow Dash said she heard something and we're going to investigate. However if she had stuck to the group, we would have found a better route to take."

As if the lord thought he saw everything, out of the bushes and shrubbery came the most strangest people he had ever seen. The first to come out was a lavender haired girl with streaks of pink flowing through, holding a map and compass as she walked. The second was another girl who had the most messiest and tangled hair that Abaddon had ever seen; It was made stranger with the hair being a deep magenta. Another girl emerged from the thicket, wearing what looked like male attire and a large backpack; She wore a hat while her blonde hair was tied on end. The next person to approach was a another purple haired young woman. However she had dressed very differently and was highly inappropriate for the environment that surrounded her. All four of these multicolored women looked extremely young and too small to have been wandering out in a forest by themselves. However he remembered hearing a fifth voice voice among them. Was the raspy voice he heard in his head? All of a sudden he saw something come flying towards the girls. Its enormous blue wings covered itself as it landed. However upon opening them, it revealed another girl with a cascade of colors flowing on her hair. At last they were complete. An entire group of vixens who looked like they had their heads painted since birth.

"Man, you guys gotta pick up the pace if you want to get places", spoke the rainbow haired girl.

"Well Rainbow Dash, if you haven't noticed, some of us weren't born with wings!", responded the purple haired woman.

"Oh, but one time you did have wings, Rarity. They were so colorful and sparkleriffic!", spoke the pink haired tramp.

"And they burned when you flew too close towards the sun, like I warned you", said the streaked maiden with a stern voice.

"Oh come now Twilight, I said I was sorry. You can't blame me for being fabulous!", retorted the prissy woman.

"Can we put this littl' talk aside and get to the real problem? Why in the hay are we here insteada' lookin' fer Fluttershy?", called the blonde haired woman.

"I told you AJ, I thought I heard Someone. It almost sounded like her!", responded the winged girl with a paint pallet for hair.

Abaddon could hardly believe the band of misfits that had gathered. Most of them had hair that didn't look natural, their height was no taller than a child, and they exhibited no means of defending themselves . Adding the fact that one of them had wings, they also had the most ridiculous names. Pinkie, Rarity, Ayjay? The more Abaddon thought about it, the more he began to suspect them of being clowns or entertainers. Regardless of what they did as a trade, the lord began to wonder just what kind of inhabitants were living in this world to have such ludicrous traits. All of a sudden he realized that his prisoner was much like these ladies, even having what looked like wings on her back. If he went into the direction that they came from, he would most likely find the exit out of the woods. Just then he overheard the winged vixen and the hat wearing blonde argue.

"Well what if yer wrong Dash? What if what ya heard was just some bird squakin'?", spoke the blonde.

"I'm telling you, I know what I heard and it wasn't a bird!", shouted the rasping tomboy.

"Heeheehee, you rhymed there Rainbow!", spoke the mop haired girl while gaining the cold stares of both the young women.

"Look", began the streaked teenager. "The longer we stay here arguing about who heard what, the longer it is that Fluttershy has to wait before we rescue her."

"You don't think I know that!", yelled the harpy. "I care just as much about that poor girl as all of you." Her voice broke for a second as she wiped her face with her arm and continued. "I hate to imagine what horrible things that dragon may have done to her. She could be cold, starving, hurt, scared..."

"Or she could be right here next to this spooky looking man who has her stripped and is holding her against her will", said the magenta haired girl as she stared smiling at Abaddon, who jumped back in shock.

"Pinkie", groaned the winged woman. "Now is not the time for your little... wait, WHAT?!"

With his cover blown, Abaddon quickly grabbed his pink haired prisoner and drew his sword along the maiden's neck. The group came running towards the trampy woman and all cried out in unison.

"FLUTTERSHY!"

Abaddon swiftly mounted onto Acherus with his prize in tow and gave a warning to the small women

"You will stay where you are if you deeply care for this wench."

The rainbow haired harpy cried out, "I won't let you get that chance, creep!" With one powerful motion, she flapped her wings and was lifted off the ground. Abaddon grabbed the rein as he commanded Acherus to escape. Going through the magenta and lavender haired women, Abaddon rode off with the silent woman through the passage that the others took. He looked back to see the other girls starting to give chase. But without steeds they were just as helpless as his bounty. They were almost out of sight when all of a sudden he felt something collide from his side. Turning, he found the blue winged vixen clawing toward his prisoner.

"You leave Fluttershy alone, and I'll only beat you half to death!"

Abaddon shoved the woman off as he picked up speed. However the persistent girl recovered and flew alongside the lord. The lord saw the anger and desperation in the woman's face as she made another dive. The lord retaliated by swinging his sword as she swooped in, causing her to swerve away from the deadly edge. The woman then accelerated past Abaddon and landed just a few yards in front. As the warrior neared at full charge the girl's wings spread out, causing the horse to raise its front hooves in surprise. Having tired of the stubborn adolescent, Abaddon raised his sword and began to conjure a mist coil. However it seemed his prize knew exactly what he was going to do. In a quick response she bit Abaddon where he held his weapon, causing him to flinch and drop the blade. Before he could react, he felt something wrap around his neck and suddenly pull him off his steed. Grasping at what had caught him, he looked up to find the blonde pulling at him with a rope. As he began to move toward his long sword, the woman quickly tightened the bind, knowing that he wanted the weapon. He then reached toward his pocket to bring out the blink dagger and used it to cut away from the she-brute. Just as he recovered his sword, he realized that the other young women had shortly caught up with the duo. Making a battle stance, Abaddon began his attack toward the girls.

Swinging towards the messy haired girl, Abaddon thought that she would be the easiest to maim. However she easily dodged the attack and began to skip around the lord playfully. He swung another blow, but again she merely jumped over it and continued her frolicking. Each time he tried to strike her, she always ducked or spun out of the way as if it were a game. Just then she jumped into bush as if she wanted to hide from him. He then lifted the sword as he charged the mana within, letting loose a mist coil at the shrubbery. With the blast connecting, Abaddon was confident that the spell had finally triumphed where his brute force couldn't. All of a sudden he heard a voice behind him.

"Wow, you're really bad at fighting huh?" Frantically swinging overhead, the enraged warrior made another attempt at slaying the girl, but saw that she cartwheeled away towards the lavender streaked maiden.

"Tag Twilight, you're it!"

"Wait, no! Pinkie!"

Without giving a second thought, Abaddon made a dash towards the young woman who was referred to as Twilight. Hoping she wasn't as acrobatic as the other one, he swung at the helpless woman who threw her hands out at him. However as he neared her, his vision became clouded in a pink haze. He then felt the ground leave him as he floated a mere few feet away from his target. As he looked back at the woman, he noticed a strange horn like protrusion begin to glow among her flat streaked hair. Abaddon flailed and moved about as he did his best to escape. But no matter how he struggled, he merely stood in place as he was lifted higher and higher. All of a sudden he felt himself plummet as the force around him disappeared. As he neared the hard ground, the lord conjured another aphotic shield that softened his landing. Looking back at the streaked woman, he then saw a bright flash that grew until it shot out and impacted against his shield. Although his barrier held on, Abaddon now realized that this Twilight girl was some sort of sorceress. Seeing another glow appear before him, he side stepped and began to advance in a serpentine pattern. When the light from the girl's hands peaked, Abaddon dove in as the blast destroyed his shield. Emerging from his defense Abaddon lunged at the young magus as she held out her hands once again. However the strike was blocked as the lord noticed the girl mimicked his spell with a slight pink shield surrounding her. Abaddon then saw the strain in the woman as the blade began to slowly pierce forward, showing her limit.

Just before he could claim another victim, he heard a familiar gasp to his side and angrily turned until his heart once again melted. The silent pink haired girl whom he had rescued looked at Abaddon with horrified eyes. The lord then pulled at the hilt, preventing the sword from going any further. That familiar stare was a force beyond his own understanding that took hold of him and reminded him of what they had been through. His trance was then cut short as the lord felt his neck being pulled from behind.

"Hang on Twilight, I'll hold him off!", shouted the rainbow haired vixen as she tried holding the warrior in a choke hold.

The two struggled to gain an upper hand on the other. One using his size and sheer strength to break free, and the other using her wings to haul and restrain. However due to her small stature, it was an act of desperation.

"Hey uh, AJ?", called the shrieking girl as she held with her might. "Can you help me with...?"

"I'm on it sugar cube", said the blonde haired woman.

Abaddon tugged and pulled at the tenacious rainbow haired woman who grasped at him. Even for a size so small, she surprisingly held strong as she jerked his head back. Just then, before he could lift his sword and slice the wings off the harpy, it happened. When the woman suddenly released him, Abaddon felt an enormous threshold of strength impact his rib cage. He felt each bone in his side snap as the kinetic forces shook his entire body and made him drop his weapon. The resulting strike then threw him a few yards away, where he crashed on a hard tree. Falling back down, Abaddon did his best to hold in the agony he felt all around himself. However the pain was too much as he then coughed up his own blood. Never had he sustained an attack of this caliber. This power seemed rivaled only by the attacks he had endured from a hero dubbed the Earthshaker. As he looked up to see his assailant, he found himself being surrounded by the misfit travelers. It was silent for a moment until the women spoke to one another.

"Applejack, I think you kicked him too hard", spoke the twilight wizardress.

"Nah, I only tried to soften him up for Rainbow", replied the blonde woman. "Ain't my fault he's as soft as an apple pie in a rainstorm."

"If you ask me, I think you should have done it harder!", the winged tomboy proclaimed.

"Ugh, that thing is repulsive! I wouldn't imagine what he had done before we arrived", whispered the lavender haired maiden disgusted.

"Whatever he did, he has much to explain for", said the sorceress with a curious look on her face.

"We'll start by asking what you were doing with Fluttershy back there!", spoke the harpy as she dragged the lord's weapon and tried to lift it.

Abaddon was at a loss for words. He had imagined his death at the hands of a Year Beast or an army of heroes. He could not fathom his fate at the mercy of people who looked like they belonged in a child's fairy tale. Nonetheless, one was already threatening to kill him if he didn't answer. Seeing no other option than to wait for death, Abaddon did his best to speak.

"I am...", said the lord before his own blade was pointed at him.

"I didn't ask who you are, I said what were you going to do!", screeched the teen. "If you don't say it I'll return this baby to sender!"

Seeing the girl beyond reason and knowing fully well what would happen if she did try to kill him, Abaddon closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable.

"WAIT! STOP!"

Everyone, including Abaddon turned to face the objector. There in robes and ruin was the pink haired girl whom Abaddon met with during his quest. She rushed through the girls as she placed a hand on the short tempered harpy. Pushing the sword aside, she then stood next to Abaddon and began tending to the man.

"Fluttershy, get away from that monster!", said the woman as her wings flustered in protest.

"Don't hurt him! He was only trying to defend himself", cried the girl named Fluttershy.

"Why would you be defending him!", objected the rainbow haired tomboy.

"He saved me from the dragon!", shouted Fluttershy.

As soon as the words were heard, the blue winged girl's jaw dropped as the sword followed. The rest of the young women were also standing in surprise as they began whispering to one another. The lord looked at Fluttershy as she placed a hand on his shoulder. The woman would have never stood this close back when she was silent. But now it seemed she didn't want to leave his side as she tried to comfort him. All of a sudden, the twilight girl stepped forward and spoke. "Fluttershy, is this true?"

"I would be dead inside the belly of that mean dragon if this hero hadn't came and rescued me", spoke Fluttershy as she smiled at the lord.

Hero. That was a word Abaddon didn't think anyone would ever call him. For some reason he actually liked the title that the maiden gave. But if the girl really knew what he had done in his past life, she would have a different point of view. Looking about the small group of women, he saw that most of them had changed their gaze at Abaddon, save for the woman who was still trying to pick up his weapon. "If he's a hero, why are you naked?", said the tomboy. The kind girl responded, "He lent me this robe when my clothes were ruined." Before the tomboy could prompt another question, Abaddon interrupted.

"Pardon my intervention, but may I ask a question?"

"Quiet you!", barked the tomboy. Her outburst was quickly hushed by the streaked sorceress as she nodded.

"Who are all of you, Where am I, and how do you know this child?", asked the lord.

Before any of them could answer, the girl named Fluttershy spoke up and looked at Abaddon. "I can explain. Twilight, can you help me with him? He's badly hurt." Twilight agreed as she cautiously stepped in. She held out her hands as they softly glowed and began holding them against the tender wound. "Alright", began Fluttershy. "It happened about four days ago..."

5-Remembrance: Dawn of choices

As the shining moon sank over the horizon, the glowing rays of the sun bathed a valley and revealed a small town below. Much of its residents had still been asleep, but with the rising star came life as a few denizens went about their small businesses. So was another morning in the magical land of Equestria as the town of Ponyville began waking up. It's citizens walked and chatted while heading towards their daily routines and chores. The adults prepared their shops while the sounds of children running and laughing to school filled the ambience of the quaint village. But in the outskirts of town, away from the bustle of work was a small cottage. This lone dwelling stood atop a small hill near a stream that went under a small bridge. The little house was covered in a vibrant green moss that made it look as though it were an enormous shrub. The owner of the home was fast asleep while the morning dawned. As the sun beamed through the window of her bedroom, she stirred and swayed until she finally awoke. The young woman yawned softly and rubbed her eyes as she gazed towards the light, only for her hair to suddenly block her vision. With her entire body protesting for sleep, she brushed aside her mane and stood out of bed to stretch. She began with her arms, working her way around her legs, and finally in a swift motion she extended the pair of wings that grew out of her back. They were a soft shade of yellow that seemed golden as they reflected the early sun. Having finally woken herself, the girl looked at a nearby clock and gasped. "Oh dear, I'd better get breakfast started before they arrive!" Given her guests wouldn't come until a few more hours, Fluttershy had always stayed punctual in her chores. Without hesitation the young woman quickly grabbed a bathrobe and headed downstairs to the kitchen.

Fluttershy lit the stove as she prepared the oven for baking. Bringing out flour and other ingredients from her pantry, she began to prepare an assortment of baked goods ranging from fresh loafs of bread to pancakes and muffins. She then brought out bowls of fresh fruits and vegetables and separated each to use for juicing and salads. Peeling away at some potatoes, the girl hummed a merry tune as she toiled without rest for each dish to be perfect. Within the hour that she was given, Fluttershy had made a bountiful feast fit for her friends and their families. However her job hadn't been completed. Opening a door that led to her backyard, the girl brought in a large bag of animal feed. Opening the sack, she then began pouring cups full of the mix onto every dish and bowl. With the addition of its new garnish, the breakfast that Fluttershy had prepared was finally finished. It was at that same moment that a small skittering sound was heard coming down the stairs, which prompted the girl to greet the source of the noise.

"Oh, good morning Angel. How is my little bunny today?", asked Fluttershy with happiness and care. Hopping down the steps was a small white rabbit that stopped as it heard its owner call him. It stared toward the young woman with a scowl before continuing to go down the steps. It wasn't until the disgruntled rodent began sniffing the air that its expression changed. "I see you woke up just in time for breakfast.", said Fluttershy. Without even acknowledging it's owners words, the small hare darted towards a small tray of carrot waffles and began feasting on them. Fluttershy began hearing small scratching sounds coming from the front door. Looking at the clock, the girl quickly rushed towards the door and opened it. Her heart came at ease as she was greeted by a group of woodland critters that were at her door step. They ranged from small, cute animals like mice, squirrels, otters, and other small mammals. The only exception was the large grizzly bear that was towering over a family of shrews. Fluttershy looked up and saw that the birds that lived in their nearby nests had also gathered around her home. At last, all the guests that Fluttershy had been preparing the feast for had arrived. The girl smiled and announced, "Welcome everyone! Come in, breakfast is ready."

All of the animals eagerly entered the humble abode as Fluttershy greeted each one. Each rodent that passed by her squeaked in delight as they saw the food that lay before them. The birds tweeted and sung their morning melodies as they perched themselves and pecked at their millet. Almost every creature was in except the bear, which the girl stepped aside to allow entry. The large beast let out a hearty grunt as it licked the side of the girl's cheek. She giggled and showed him a spot at the table that had a honeycomb atop a nest of acorns. Seeing that everyone had made it over, Fluttershy walked over to her pantry and took out a loaf of bread and a flask of jam. The small woman then prepared a simple jelly sandwich for herself and began eating it. All of a sudden she felt a tug on her robe and looked down to find a squirrel holding a walnut up to her. "Why hello there. Do you need help with that?" said Fluttershy while the squirrel nodded in agreement. The girl grabbed the hard nut and cracked it open for her small friend. However as she handed the opened shell back, the rodent only took half the nut and allowed her to keep the other half as thanks. She smiled at the gesture and petted the squirrel's soft fur. Fluttershy was very fond of her woodland friends visiting her and keeping company during the day. They had always listened and cared for her when times had been rough. Even though she had regular friends, they never understood her problems or needs as much as the animals did. Grabbing the soft inside of the walnut, she added it to her small breakfast. However before she could take a bite, she heard a large crash near her front porch. All of the animals went into an uproar as Fluttershy did her best to calm them. What shortly followed was a large thud and a knock on her door.

"Goodness! Could that be another of my animal friends that was late? I hope they're not mad that we already started", said Fluttershy as she walked toward her front door.

Just as she opened and looked out, her eyes widened as she saw that it wasn't one of her cute, cuddly friends, but a tall dark silhouette of someone. Flutershy gave a startled yelp as she quickly hid behind the door in surprise. Taking a peek along the side, she slowly calmed and stared at who greeted her. It was a young woman about Fluttershy's age with short blonde hair and wore a postal service uniform; She carried a mailbag with an assortment of letters and packages. Behind her was a folded pair of gray wings that she would use to travel with. However what stood out from her appearance were her eyes. They were golden in color and invertedly crossed from one side to the other. They seemed to change direction every time she blinked, yet it did not faze the smile she had.

"Good morning Fluttershy!", spoke the girl.

Fluttershy gave a sigh of relief as she emerged and held onto the door. She whispered, "Oh... good morning, Derpy..."

"I brought you a letter! It's from Twilight", proclaimed Derpy.

Fluttershy said, "Oh... well, where is it?"

Derpy's face went blank as she looked down at her mail bag. "Uh, wait one second..."

As Derpy began rummaging through her mail bag, Fluttershy began to wonder why she had visited her so sudden. She hadn't expected the mail to have come this early and usually it would have been in the mailbox without the mailman ever knocking on the door. The cross eyed girl smiled as she felt something, but frowned as she realized it was a wrapped box. Fluttershy then remembered that this certain mail woman was often clumsy and short minded. Derpy then gleamed as she pulled out a scroll with a familiar insignia on it.

"Here it is! I had it in between two packages so that it wouldn't get lost", said the klutz proudly.

Taking the scroll, Fluttershy whispered, "Thank you..."

"No problem!", proclaimed the mail woman. "As a member of the Postal Pony, we uphold a rule of being on time and never... getting... distra...", Derpy trailed off as she began sniffing the air. All of a sudden she then began to drool.

"Hey... are those freshly baked muffins I smell?", spoke Derpy hungrily.

Before she would answer her question, Fluttershy rushed inside, grabbed a muffin from one of the bowls, and returned with the item in question. "I see you're really busy, and since you asked will you take this as payment?", said Fluttershy hastily. The bright eyed girl leaped in happiness as she grabbed the baked good and took a bite, never realizing it had millet sprinkled on top. Derpy was ready to bid farewell when Fluttershy asked,"Oh, um... Derpy? Did Twilight say what it was?" The mail woman only turned and said, "I don't know. All she said was that it was urgent and that was it. Well, have a nice day!" Derpy spread out her wings as she began flapping them in a random manner. She was airborne for about 10 seconds until she dived and disappeared behind some clouds. Fluttershy closed the door as she returned to her banquet with her animal friends, holding the scroll in both hands. Breaking the seal and unwrapping the paper, Fluttershy began to read:

Dear Fluttershy,

Something terrible has come up in Ponyville. I can't put it all in words, but you're the only one that can help. Please hurry to the Golden Oaks Library and I'll explain everything.

Sincerely, Twilight Sparkle

That was it. Fluttershy turned the paper around and in all angles but found nothing else. No clear answer or explanation was written on the scroll about what was going on. What was the great emergency that twilight couldn't even write on paper? Fluttershy couldn't understand it, but if ponyville was in danger it would be her duty to help her friends in any form of the word. Almost. Before the young woman could react, she felt something scratching at her feet and looked down to find Angel bunny lifting his dish tray for a second helping.

"Oh I'm sorry Angel, I'd love to give you more carrot waffles but my friends need me right now. Maybe you can eat with the others at the table?", proclaimed Fluttershy.

The hare only returned a frown and bounded toward the table with his other woodland brethren. With all of her animal friends having breakfast and having done all of the chores, Fluttershy made her way up the stairs to prepare herself for the day ahead.

. . . . .

Having given a quick shower and a moment to dress, Fluttershy bid her woodland friends farewell as she left her cottage and headed towards Ponyville. Taking one last look back, she saw how simple, yet tranquil her home looked as the sun rose. The girl couldn't help but feel glad that her cottage was perfectly set in the countryside so that the bustle of work wouldn't disturb her or her pets. Walking along the dirt trail, she took a look around at the quiet scenery. She smiled as the calm stream that went by her home trickled softly along the smooth rocks that stood out. Nearing the top of a small hill, she stopped as she looked upon the town in front of her. Ponyville, although small compared to most cities, was still a grand sight to behold. Not only was it the home for many bright minds and risk takers, it was also the village where Equestria's protectors known as the Elements of Harmony met for the first time. This group was comprised of six members, to which Fluttershy was a part of. Although she wanted to pace herself, she remembered that her assistance in ponyville was direly needed.

As she walked faster, Fluttershy began to notice the few signs of life near the town. A strong looking man pushing a cart full of apples walked by as a group of young women were tending to some flowers. Going down the street she saw a woman looking down at a large sack of oatmeal. All of a sudden the bag began to glow a light blue and levitate off the ground. Seeing a portion of the woman's forehead light up, Fluttershy knew she was of magic decent. The lady noticed Fluttershy and waved in a cheerful manner as she went inside her home with the oats following soon after. Turning around a corner, Fluttershy arrived at town square where all the busiest of people were in a flurry. Various men and women walked and flew about their day as Fluttershy quietly walked her way around. She saw the mayor enter town hall with a secretary holding her papers, while one of the Cake's was changing a sign in front of Sugarcube Corner. She looked above and saw two movers with wings flying past, holding a large cabinet that was being hauled to another level in a house. Just then she heard a loud buzzing sound and turned to see the source. It was a small girl riding on her scooter as she propelled herself forward with her small wings. She zoomed past Fluttershy while also waving at her before heading towards a school house that was just off in the distance. Although she didn't mind the friendliness of everyone she met, she couldn't help but wonder. What Twilight said in the letter was that something terrible had happened in Ponyville. However it appeared everyone was going about their businesses like any other day. As she left the crowded street, she caught a glimpse of the giant oak tree and hurried over. Fluttershy's heart began to race as she imagined what news Twilight had to tell. At last she stood in front of the naturally founded library. Holding the letter tightly and taking a deep breath, the timid girl knocked once on the door.

All of a sudden the front door swung open, which caused Fluttershy to jump back in surprise. Her vision was then obscured by an amassment of tangled magenta hair as a girl with sky blue eyes and a grin stared at her.

"Fluttershy, you're here!", shouted Pinkie Pie, nearly sending Fluttershy in a heart attack.

"Oh, hello Pinkie...", Fluttershy responded meekly. "How are you?"

"Oh I'm doing great!", said pinkie. Then all of a sudden her face went red and she quickly corrected herself.

"I mean, I'm not doing great. It's terrible!", cried pinkie as she fell to the ground. Fluttershy thought she heard light giggling come from her friend. But before she could speak, Pinkie Pie rose up and grabbed Fluttershy by the hands.

"You have to come quick! Twilight's waiting for you inside!"

Fluttershy felt her body flail as she was quickly dragged into the library. As soon as she was through the doorway, it was shut behind her and she quickly realized how dark the room was. Almost every part of the library was shrouded in darkness, with the only exception of a window that was illuminating a group of three silhouettes in front of Fluttershy. One of the figures turned and looked at Fluttershy with purple eyes. All of a sudden a pink glow appeared on her forehead and it revealed the stranger to be none other than Twilight Sparkle. Then both of the silhouettes stepped in and revealed themselves as two of her other Ponyville friends. There was Pinkie Pie who looked as though she couldn't contain herself, and Applejack who only stood by with a distraught expression. They stood silently in the room until Twilight decided to break the tension.

"Hello Fluttershy. We're glad you came on short notice."

"Um, Twilight?", spoke the timid girl softly. "Is there something wrong?"

"Oh no, everything is just fine" said Twilight with a hint of nervousness.

"But in your letter you said something terrible had come to Ponyville."

"Well... It wasn't exactly to Ponyville, more so with Rainbow Dash", exclaimed Twilight.

"What do you mean?", said Fluttershy with confusion. "Where is she? What happened to Rainbow?"

Without giving another answer, Twilight and the other girls stepped aside to show Fluttershy what they had been surrounding. There, laying on the floor in a fetal position was Rainbow Dash. The shy girl gasped as she rushed in to aid her friend. The tomboy breathed heavily as Fluttershy tried to see what was wrong. On closer inspection, she saw how Rainbow was clasping at her sides as she groaned with despair. As she put her hand on the tomboy's forehead, she reacted with pain as her wings curved towards Fluttershy defensively. Her usual tough attitude was replaced by frailness as she laid there in agony. However aside from the clear look of pain, she couldn't see any signs of actual illness or injury. All of a sudden Fluttershy turned toward Twilight and asked.

"Twilight, what happened?"

Before she could answer, Fluttershy saw Rainbow Dash begin to stir as she tried to get up.

"Fluttershy, is that you?", spoke Rainbow Dash with a slight cough.

Without leaving her side, Fluttershy responded,"Yes, I'm here Rainbow." She began to shed tears as she held onto her childhood friend.

"Oh Rainbow, what has happened to you?", cried the timid girl.

Taking in a deep breath she replied, "Oh I feel terrible, just awful!" Catching her breath, the tomboy continued.

"Fluttershy, I caught a rare disease that only very few people can get. You can't see it, but I'm slowly losing my strength." With another cough, she attempted to finish what she was explaining.

"Twilight read that it affects all of my organs and even bones. If I don't get better soon, I might not make it."

Fluttershy quickly covered her friend's mouth in order to save her strength. She wouldn't dare imagine the idea of her best friend dying so young. The timid girl's eyes welled up as she began to cry. All of a sudden she felt her hand shoved aside as Rainbow Dash spoke again.

"Wait Fluttershy, you didn't let me finish." Taking another breath the tomboy explained, "Twilight was also reading about a cure, but it must be done exactly as it says." The timid girl gave a sigh of relief as she held Rainbow upright.

"Thank goodness. What is the cure?", asked Fluttershy.

"Oh, well you have to go and collect dragon scales to make a potion that will cure me", replied Rainbow Dash. "And it just so happens that in Canterlot there's going to be a second sighting of the dragons returning from their migration..."

"WHAT?!", shouted Fluttershy as she backed away, not even realizing she dropped her friend's head on the floor.

"Ow! Fluttershy why did you do that for?", retorted Rainbow as she rubbed the back of her head. All of a sudden she quickly laid back down. " I mean, can you be more careful? I'm sick remember?"

"But, what about Spike? Can't you make a potion from his scales?", questioned Fluttershy.

Rainbow Dash suddenly gave a worried expression when she heard the question, but then gave a hasty answer.

"Oh, uh Spike isn't here. We haven't seen him all morning. For all we know he could be in Canterlot or-"

"Hey everyone! We're back from mining gems. Rarity couldn't help it but she wanted to show you guys what we found!"

Everybody turned towards the doorway as the baby dragon in question walked in with Rarity and a large bag following after. The elegantly dressed woman beamed with joy as she levitated the sack by her trusted companion. Spike then noticed Fluttershy and smiled.

"Hey Fluttershy, how's your morning?", asked the purple drake.

Fluttershy replied, "I'm fine Spike, but Rainbow says she isn't feeling well."

"Really? She seemed fine when she flew-", Spike said until he was cut off by Rarity who frantically covered his mouth.

"She flew in here fine until she suddenly collapsed before all of us!", Rarity corrected dramatically as she then rushed to Rainbow's side, leaving the baby dragon confused. "Spike and I went to go see Zecora for a cure, but alas we came empty handed!"

"So then you went to go mine gems?", asked Fluttershy while she crossed her arms.

Rarity began to panic as she looked at Rainbow Dash who also had beads of sweat rolling down her face. It wasn't until Fluttershy came over to where the tomboy was laying and looked carefully at her worried expression that she knew something wasn't right. Then all of a sudden Fluttershy stood up and spoke out loud.

"Oh never mind that. Rainbow Dash I just feel terrible that you caught such a deadly disease."

Rainbow replied with a cough, "Yeah, I'll be doomed unless we get that cure."

"Its just a shame that you were close to becoming a Wonderbolt, with Spitfire looking for you earlier this morn-"

"REALLY? SPITFIRE WAS LOOKING FOR ME!?", interrupted Rainbow Dash as she stood up rapidly. Just as quickly she then regretted her actions as Fluttershy began to make a scowl. Rainbow Dash sighed.

"Okay, I may have exaggerated my condition..."

"Dash, give it a rest. She ain't buyin' it no more", replied Applejack as she walked toward Twilight.

Feeling the guilt overwhelm her, Rainbow Dash confessed, "Alright fine! I made the whole thing up."

"Dash, you tricking trixie! How could you do something like this? I had my popcorn ready and everything!", Pinkie gasped loudly while holding a container and stuffing her mouth with the buttered snack.

"Pinkie...", hushed Twilight. The young woman then signaled everyone except fluttershy. "Rainbow? Girls? A word before we tell her?"

Fluttershy was shocked at how everyone except her had been part of a ploy. She watched as her friends began to gather in a huddle and whisper while she was left out. Normally she had been used to being singled out from certain things, but never had she been thinking her friends would plan something without her, let alone decieve her. It almost reminded her of how she and her friends made up a super hero to teach Rainbow Dash humility. Had she done something wrong to get her friends attention? Just then Fluttershy signaled Spike to come near her so she could talk to him.

"Spike, did you know anything about this?"

"No I haven't Fluttershy. I don't even know what's going on or what they were doing this whole time", answered the baby dragon honestly. Before Fluttershy could continue, Twilight stepped away from the group and spoke to Fluttershy.

"We're sorry to keep you waiting Fluttershy. We just had to clear things up before asking you."

"Twilight what's going on. Why did rainbow try to trick me into thinking she was sick?", demanded Fluttershy.

"I did it because it was the only way I could get you out of your house to ask you if you could join me to go see the return of the dragon migration in Canterlot", said Rainbow as she pouted.

Fluttershy's eyes widened as she heard what her closest friend requested. Dragons. Oh how her blood froze every time she heard the word. Although she had been used to saving her home from evil, Fluttershy was far from being brave. She had many fears ranging from loud noises to shadows on the wall. Even the slightest tap on her shoulder would give her a start. But of all the terrible things she was afraid of, nothing would scare her more than an enormous fire breathing dragon. The meek girl slowly took one step back as she tried to keep her eyes on the women. She then swiftly turned toward the front door and ran to open it. However as she flung the door wide open, she was met by the bright eyed gaze of Pinkie as she stood outside with a grin on her face. Frantically, she slammed the door in surprise and turned to try and fly her way out the balcony. But her escape was cut short as Rainbow swiftly flew in front of her and caught her before she could reach the exit. Fluttershy flapped her wings and flailed her arms as she tried desperately to break Rainbow Dash's grasp.

"Let go of me Rainbow Dash! I don't want to go!", shouted Fluttershy.

"Oh no, Fluttershy!", grunted Rainbow as she tried to hold onto her friend's wings. "You had your excuse to not go last time, but now you really owe me twice as much!"

With a voice cracking in despair, Fluttershy responded, "What do you mean?"

Still holding on to her timid friend, Rainbow Dash attempted to calm Fluttershy by loosening her grip as they both floated down. Having touched the floor, Rainbow handed Fluttershy over to her friends as she walked to the other side of the room. The tomboy then lifted her shirt midway and showed Fluttershy what she was implying. There around the side of her rib cage was a bruise that was barely recovering. Fluttershy watched as the tomboy then pushed around the surface to show how wide the damage was. Although she didn't look like she was in pain, Fluttershy couldn't help but feel sorry for Rainbow's injury.

"You see that?", said the tomboy. "Someone did this to me after I had asked them to come see the migration because they owed me!"

It was at that response that Fluttershy gasped in shock. She began to remember how Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle visited her on the day the dragons were going to fly over Ponyville, and how she tackled Rainbow Dash as she was being forced out of her home. Fluttershy then began to feel guilty that she had harmed one of her best friends. She had never meant to trample over her best friend, but Fluttershy had felt forced into a corner she didn't want to be in.

"Rainbow, I'm sorry I hurt you that day of the Dragon migration", said Fluttershy. "But the answer is still no, even with that reason"

"Oh come on!", shouted Rainbow Dash. "You're really going to ditch me this time too?!"

Fluttershy replied, "Please, Rainbow. You should know by now how terrified I get around grown dragons. I can't bear the sight of one, let alone a group of them flying over me"

"Fluttershy, we all know how you feel about dragons, but...", Twilight was explaining before Rainbow cut her off.

"But you're not being fair! Besides we face off against tougher monsters, so don't say you can't handle-"

"RAINBOW DASH I SAID NO!" shouted Fluttershy as she caught everyone, including Rainbow Dash by surprise. Her heart raced as she stood up almost over the tomboy. She then saw how all her friends looked at her. From there the poor girl suddenly fell back as tears began to form in her eyes. Fluttershy then covered her face as she cried. "I'm sorry, I can't.... I just can't....."

"So that's it then?", responded Rainbow Dash in disappointment. " You're bailing on me again? I can't believe you Fluttershy, not even after what we've been through."

"Rainbow Dash, I-", began Fluttershy until the tomboy shouted her own retaliation.

"For an element of harmony, you're nothing but a coward!"

"Rainbow!", called Twilight as she tried to make reason.

The tomboy replied, "Well she is! She can't go two feet forward without getting scared of the tiniest thing that isn't a cute animal!"

Before Twilight could say anything, Fluttershy answered, "It's okay Twilight, You don't need to defend me." Fluttershy looked towards Rainbow and said, "You don't have to remind me about who I am. I know how weak I can be and I am a coward." Rainbow Dash was at a loss of words after hearing her best friend openly admit her own short comings as if they were normal. Although she had been aware for as long as she could remember, Rainbow Dash began to question the reason why she had to put up with Fluttershy's weakness. The tomboy then angrily pouted, "Fine, stay here while I go to Canterlot! I don't even know why I bothered asking!" Fluttershy and the rest watched as Rainbow walked towards the front door without saying a word. As she opened the door, the tomboy glanced back with a disappointed look on her face and spoke towards Fluttershy.

"I don't know why I even stood up for you when we were kids. You were nothing like me!"

Everyone, including Fluttershy gasped while Rainbow Dash then ran out, unfolded her wings and lifted herself off the ground as she soared away while causing the door to slam shut from the strong down draft. As the sounds of roaring wings in flight began to die down, Twilight and the others spoke to one another over what they had just heard Rainbow say.

"What in tar nations got inta' that bad apple?", said Applejack.

Rarity replied, "I don't know what that girl's problem is, but she had no reason to stoop to such low insults like that."

"Yeah! I mean I'd get sad if I was told I couldn't go have fun with my friends but man Rainbow just really couldn't hold herself from letting all her frustration go out, and boy not only including the fact that she's been waiting all this time just to ask..."

As Pinkie Pie began one of her overly drawn out rantings, all Twilight could do was roll her eyes and smile. She felt that although each of her friends thought differently, they all shared the same idea. Just then she felt a tug on her hand and looked down to find a worried spike pointing across. Looking at what her faithful companion was pointing at, Twilight suddenly covered her mouth in worry. There sitting on the floor was the lone figure of Fluttershy as she hunched over while her friends argued. Having wasted enough time talking about their brash tomboy of a friend, Twilight called to the others.

"Excuse me girls?", Twilight began to intervene. Everyone turned except Pinkie Pie, who was still in the middle of telling her story.

"... and it wasn't until I had asked the Cake's the thousandth time about working for them that I heard them shout and tell me that I was hired the first time I asked! The point is-", continued Pinkie until she was nudged by Applejack and she finally stopped.

Everyone then looked toward Twilight as she signaled over to where Fluttershy was sitting. They all quietly stepped toward the silent woman, hoping to comfort her. Twilight then held out a hand to stop everyone and stepped in first to talk. "Um, Fluttershy...", asked Twilight. The curled young woman didn't respond. Twilight then said, "Hey Fluttershy, are you okay? You haven't said anything since Rainbow Dash left". As soon as the name was mentioned, Twilight heard a sniff and stepped back as Fluttershy began to envelope herself with her wings. The young magic prodigy then used her telekinesis to gently part the wings and reached down to take her friend's hands. Twilight watched as Fluttershy lifted her head and exposed what she was trying to hide. Tears were running down the small maiden's cheeks as her eyes reflected what little light was in the room. Her face was overwhelmed in sadness and despair as she tried to hold in her cries. Wiping away some of the tears, Twilight asked, "Fluttershy, please don't take what Rainbow said seriously. You know she always overreacts about the littlest..." Before Twilight could finish, Fluttershy lowered her head back down and sniffed.

"I don't deserve Rainbow Dash's friendship", she whispered faintly.

Twilight replied, "Fluttershy, you don't mean that. You and Rainbow Dash have been best friends far longer than any of us."

"Rainbow Dash only stayed with me to protect me from other kids who would bully me", coughed Fluttershy.

"But you were both teased when you were younger", reassured Twilight.

Fluttershy then responded, "But she wasn't the one that would constantly need help everyday! Twilight I know you mean well, but you can't speak for me when everyone says what I am is true!"

The room went silent as Fluttershy had finished stating her supposed uselessness. Twilight and the others could only frown at how their friend thought of herself. Fluttershy then stood up and said, "I'm sorry Rainbow Dash had to bring you all into this. I should go..." As the meek girl walked slowly towards the door, Twilight grabbed her hand to stop her. "Fluttershy, please hear us out. I know Rainbow can be harsh, but there was another reason she wanted you to go", said Twilight. The shy girl looked back toward her friends as they each said their own statements.

"Darling, Rainbow Dash also wanted to help you conquer your fear of dragons", said Rarity.

"She's right sugarcube. Dash would never just make ya go just ta spook ya", added Applejack.

Pinkie Pie then suddenly blurted, "Yeah silly willy! Oh, and just between you, me, and everyone here, Rainbow Dash was also scared so she wanted you to join her so she wouldn't be scared too!"

Fluttershy was confused until Twilight said, "She didn't want us telling you, but Rainbow is almost as afraid of dragons as you. She thought that if she admitted it, you would think less of her. She just wanted the one person who understood what she felt to conquer the fear there together"

Hearing those words made Fluttershy's heart melt. Her belief was that Rainbow Dash would always go head first into any danger without a hint of fear. She had no clue about Rainbow ever being afraid of dragons before. She then remembered how when the tomboy became spooked after they had finished that mission to stop a dragon from covering Equestria in thick smoke. Aside from Spike, Basil was the only other dragon that Fluttershy knew that was understanding; Even if he was terrifying. Fluttershy then heard Twilight call her and she turned her head in response.

"Hey Fluttershy, its alright if you don't want to go. If you want, you can go back home while we go to Canterlot in your place", said Twilight.

"That's right sweetness, you don't need to worry about a thing. I'm sure we can make Rainbow understand your situation and have her apologize when we return", spoke Rarity humbly.

With that said, Twilight and the others all began to grab supplies for the dragon watch while Fluttershy was allowed to return home. However as they packed their things, the shy girl did not move. Normally she would have left on the first chance of an escape, but after hearing about Rainbow's new found problem, Fluttershy began to have second thoughts. Was her best friend, who would throw herself into danger without care, really as afraid of dragons as she was? The more she thought about it, the more she began to remember when Rainbow Dash was nervous after encountering Basil and when she had told of her narrow escape from the teenage dragons of the first dragon migration. Even though she would might not want to admit it, it would make sense that Rainbow would have some fear of dragons. Of course Fluttershy thought this could have been another excuse to get her to go, but if what Twilight said was true she would be abandoning her best friend to be traumatized even further. Who knows, she'd might even gain some courage if Rainbow and her friends were there to cheer her on.

"Fluttershy? Are you alright?", asked Twilight as she held a large scrapbook of some sort.

Fluttershy meekly responded, "Um, Twilight? Does Rainbow really think that going to see dragons again will fix her fear of them?"

Twilight said, "Well its what she planned on doing. Why?"

"Then I wouldn't be an Element of Harmony if I just abandoned my friends...", sighed Fluttershy.

Twilight's eyes widened as she let the scrapbook fall to the ground. Everyone stopped moving as they looked toward the two girls. After getting the attention of her friends, Twilight asked, "Fluttershy, are you saying that you want to go with Rainbow Dash to see dragons?" With a heavy gulp Fluttershy answered, "If she does have a fear of dragons, it would probably be worse if I let her go do it by herself." The room went into an uproar as Fluttershy became surrounded by her closest friends. However as they neared her, she couldn't hear what each one was saying as they all spoke at once. They sounded excited as well as worried, but from what Fluttershy could tell it seemed more like surprise. Then all of a sudden Twilight began to calm everyone and allowed each of them their say.

"Darling, are you sure this is what you want?", asked Rarity.

Applejack added, "Yeah sugarcube, this ain't gona be some picnic on the prairies"

Then Pinkie rose up and said,"Yeah Fluttershy, where were going is gonna be full of all kinds of dragons. Last time there were big dragons, well actually they were all big but there were really, really big ones. There were also ones that had big teeth and ones that breath fire and-"

"PINKIE!", shouted everyone which caused the eager girl to blush and bite her tongue playfully.

"I think what she was trying to say is, Fluttershy its very brave of you to say this" said Twilight. "But are you certain this is what you want?"

Trying her best to be brave Fluttershy answered, "I know the risks and I am afraid, but if there's a chance for me and Rainbow Dash to overcome our fears, then I'll do it with her."

Everyone in the room stood surprised after hearing what their meekest friend had announced. The silence was then broken as Twilight said, "Well that's very courageous of you Fluttershy! I'm glad that you're willing to help Rainbow like this" The shy girl then felt something tug at her dress and saw Spike hugging her. He looked up and said "Wow Fluttershy, Your'e braver than me, and I'm a dragon!" All of a sudden Fluttershy found herself being hugged by the rest of her friends. She felt herself blessed for having such dear companions, even if she felt like the weakest one. However she felt a little remorse over the fact that Rainbow Dash wasn't here to see this. Fluttershy felt that she owed her a fair share of time for all the experiences she had missed out. When she felt everyone part away, she heard Twilight say "Alright, since Fluttershy is coming with us we should make another bag for her" Spike nodded as he then ran up stairs to fetch another knapsack while the girls all pitched in to help. Fluttershy watched as everyone began to share what they had for her trip. Rarity folded a blanket while Applejack took a bushel of apples that she brought from her farm. Just as spike came back with a spare bag, Fluttershy began to have second thoughts as to what she agreed to. Was she really going to see dragons dangerously close with her friends? Even if she didn't want to, Fluttershy couldn't bring herself to change her mind this far and disappoint everyone. There had to have been another way to go without feeling so scared. When she saw Spike hand the bag towards Rarity, she suddenly got an idea.

"Hey, Rarity...", asked Fluttershy softly.

Rarity replied, "Ah Fluttershy, here is your bundle of necessities. We hope that it's everything you need"

The shy girl said, "Oh, well thank you. But I wanted to ask you for something"

"What is it, sweetness?", said Rarity as she held her friend's supplies.

"Could you... let me use one of your dresses for tonight?", asked Fluttershy.

Rarity puzzlingly replied, "Well that's a sudden request. Why ever do you need one darling?"

Fluttershy then said, "It's just something I need before we go"

"Well alright then. Twilight, do you mind if I go early?", asked the fashionista.

Twilight replied, "Sure, just be back in time for the train; don't take too long okay?"

With that said, Rarity handed Fluttershy's bag over to Pinkie Pie who then placed it with the others. Before Rarity got to the door, she was stopped by Fluttershy who then said, "May I please come with you? I can help with the dress." Rarity looked at Twilight for an answer, to which she nodded. "Of course you can my sweet. If we're to join Rainbow Dash in time I'll need all the help I can get", replied Rarity. With a bag of newly gathered gems and having bid their friends a momentary farewell, the two young women exited the library and headed towards the Carousel Boutique.

. . . . .

With about 10 minutes having past, Fluttershy and Rarity had arrived at front door of Ponyville's only dress shop. The owner of the petite boutique approached the door and stood concentrated as the area around her forehead began to glow blue. There was a clicking sound and the door slowly opened with a chime, allowing the two girls to enter inside. Passing through doorway, Fluttershy saw the familiar stalls and models used to showcase many of her friend's latest and grandest fashions. After Rarity closed the door behind her, she placed the bag of jewels near a chest and made her way towards Fluttershy.

"So, what dress shall I lend for you?", asked Rarity just she was already picking out an elegantly made ball gown.

The shy woman quickly answered, "Thank you Rarity but I have to refuse. Don't take this harshly, but I can't wear one of your fancier outfits."

"Oh? And what did you have in mind then?", questioned the fashionista.

"Well I was hoping I would help you make one upstairs", said Fluttershy.

Rarity responded, "I don't know, these take time and were already on a tight schedule..."

"Please Rarity? What I need shouldn't take too long for you", pleaded the meek girl.

"Well alright then, but it may not look as great as my other works", warned Rarity as she put away the dress. Walking their way up the stairs, Fluttershy followed Rarity to her inspiration room. Fluttershy looked around the room to find various rolls of fabric that Rarity would use for her ensembles. Next to it was a large desk that would serve as both a design table and sewing station. The shy girl then caught a glimpse of something atop a large pile of loose ribbons and unfinished robes. The dressmaker then said, "Opal! You should know better than to go sleeping in mommy's work, now come down this instant!" In that moment a white cat with a green bow and studded collar stood up and jumped down from the rags with a disgruntled growl. It's attitude suddenly changed as it noticed Fluttershy and approached her with delight. Fluttershy began to pet Opalescence as she came purring towards the young woman.

"What a mess!", exclaimed Rarity as she began searching through the piles of clothing. However looking back at Fluttershy she quickly said, "But don't worry, it's nothing I can't handle for you. Now lets see here..."

Seeing that Rarity was busy, Fluttershy decided she would also help search the room. She walked toward some racks where Rarity would store her finished and unfinished dresses and began skimming through them. Although she had asked for a dress, what Fluttershy didn't want Rarity to know was that she actually wanted a dull gown during the dragon watch. Since the fashionista always bejeweled her dresses, she wanted something that wouldn't make her stand out to any scaly beast. But as always they were each uniquely made and tailored extravagantly, which were none that Fluttershy had in mind. One after another the timid women moved each dress aside and began losing hope when all of a sudden she noticed something behind the racks. Near the wall was an old bin containing an assortment of familiar dresses, with one in particular catching her eye. It was a hideous green dress with a tacky floral pattern that also had an absurd looking petal collar stitched on it; her old requested gala dress. Picking it up, she laughed to herself over how ridiculous it was and why she ever thought the dress was better than rarity's original design. All of a sudden she realized its potential and smiled as she found what she had been looking for. However before she could speak, Rarity already began to call her.

"Fluttershy darling, I found some chic dress designs for you to wear", sang Rarity in a sing-song tune as she held a pile of dresses aloft with her magic.

The shy woman replied, "That's wonderful Rarity because I think I found the gown you should use as a base."

"Splendid! Now we can finally begin to sew your new dre- BWAAGH!", began Rarity before she nearly jumped out of her skin after seeing what Fluttershy had in her hands. "WHAT IS THAT DISASTER DOING HERE!?"

Fluttershy answered, "Well, I found it in the back and I thought that this would be the perfect dress to use."

"But dear, that's the abomination that nearly cost me my career!", stammered Rarity in hesitation. She then thought to herself, "I thought I had thrown out those "dresses" a long time ago"

"I know what this is and I know its silly, but this is what I need for my dress. It just needs a bit more... touches", said the shy little woman.

Collecting herself, Rarity asked, "Fluttershy, why in Equestria are you choosing this as your dress? I'm sure there are other, better gowns we can choose from."

"I think that this dress should be given a second chance. Please Rarity, just this tiny favor, for me?", pleaded Fluttershy as her eyes grew to show her desperation.

Although she hated to face her demons, Rarity couldn't bring herself to abandon her friend in her time of need. She sighed, "Alright... I'll do it, but just because I want to see both you and Rainbow Dash make up."

"Oh thank you Rarity! Thank you so much!", said Fluttershy as she threw the dress aside and flew towards Rarity to hug her. The dress maker nearly gasped as she was suddenly embraced by both Fluttershy's arms and her wings. Although she wouldn't have minded this gesture, Rarity was finding it hard to breath with Fluttershy hugging her so tightly. With little air to speak with, Rarity replied, "You're welcome...Fluttershy...now can you...let go...so I can...breathe!" The shy girl then realized what her friend meant and quickly released the poor fashionista. Having caught her breath, Rarity then said, "Alright my dear, let's see what we can save from this wreck!" In a flash of blue, Rarity's forehead lit up and her hair parted to reveal a glowing white horn. Fluttershy then saw her old dress begin to rise up with a similar blue hue surrounding it. She watched as it was followed by various fabrics and threads as the garment floated in the middle of the room. "Alright my dear", replied Rarity. "What shall your new dress look like?"

Author's Note

Hello readers. A bit of time had passed since I last uploaded, huh? Unfortunately this was caused by overestimating my writing skills and my motivation to continue. Writing this segment in particular was taxing since it was too large just for one chapter; I ended up splitting it in two. I also noticed that this story didn't exactly take off as initially as I expected in popularity. Both of these factors played a part in discouraging my creativity and in turn my interest in fan fiction waned. This doesn't mean that I am abandoning the story however. It just means that chapters will come at a slower pace, depending on demand.