Chapter 3: New magic, old trouble

The hulking form slashed low with a wide swing and the prey barely whipped out of reach. His keen eye could not be deceived despite his target being so fast and so very skilled. He had not spent all those years on the hunt and on the warpath for nothing, even if this cat and mouse game was annoying he was patient enough to see it to the end. His claws twitched as his only eye moved from place to place before he whipped about and snatched the pup up by the scruff.

"WHAAAAA!... no! I dont wanna!!"

"I don't care... you are going back to study... Susien himself requested it... and you know how much Oracle will be grumpy if you don't listen to her dad?"

The little pup named Rose grumbled as her father carried her back with him. This temple that served as their home was the home of all the Druids. Here in the sanguinus tree within the capital. The life energies and magic flowing off the ancient tree was a perfect place for any young Druid to practice their art. A Druid could only hide within the energies of another living being, just as the Oracles could only hide in the light, and the Shamans could only hide in the shadows. This was why the pup always managed to escape. With the entire area full of rich powerful magic and life of the Sanguinus tree she could stay away from prying eyes for as long as she so desired.

Though, she was only using the power there for trouble, it existed in its current form on purpose. Each temple was constructed with powerful magical materials that let each group's magic flow freely. Only, here in the Sanguinus tree, the One eye'd skull ALWAYS had to hunt down his daughter to make her get back to her studies. Carrying her back into the main room of the temple he grumbled a little and sat down giving his daughter a toss into the pillows at the base of the shrine. Had she not been in a foul mood about the studying and work she would have giggled herself silly at the tussle.

From the Shrine a pair of pure focused blue tinged white eyes opened calmly set with a soft black pupil like the gem in the center of a master crafted ring. The eyes glanced down accompanied with a smile. "Rose.... precious little Rose... why do you always give your father so much trouble?.." The soft voice was calm and kind. The sort of voice one would expect to hear in a library. Her hand calmly touched Rose's ears caressing her in a calm pet.

"But, Mooooooom! I dont wanna replace you... You are the head Druid... you are more powerful than Shaman himself... and you don't even specialize in combat magic like him...You can't just stop being Druid..."

The Susi smiled and gave Rose's nose a quick tap. "I can.... and I will. I may be the most powerful being gifted with magic in the north that we know of... but I am led... I do not lead...Now... come here... " She gracefully and slowly almost as if she was a spiritual entity pointed with a finger at the open book carefully set at the ground. "Study...."

Rose grumbled and sat down peering over the book as her mother looked back up to her father. An extended hand commanded magic with a calmness and guided the skull mask from his belt to rest over Rose's head. She smiled and slid it over her face reading through the single eye hole as her mother Druid, took the One eye'd skull's hand  and stepped back. Teleporting them a short distance and throwing a dampening field up so their daughter could not listen in. "He is here... Susien called and they are answering... it is best you talk to him before Legenda comes..."

The big Susi's eyes lit up first with eagerness then in concern. "It is good to hear my brother is returning... but Why did the cursed blood have to get here first?..."

A low growl came from her throat and the Skull flinched. "He was chosen by Susien. It is not your judgement that determines his worth.... we will respect the wisdom of our king... no matter the actions of the guardian..." The Druid gave a slow wave and the magical field around her husband contracted as it teleported him to the barracks . She gave a sigh and her eyes closed taking her mind back into the ethereal realm.

The magic cleared still leaving the tingling feeling in his scarred fingertips. However, the first thing he noticed with his single eye was the heavy scar across the other Susi's back. He knew that scar well. The four long painful marks of the flaming claws that had carved the younger general's flesh from shoulder to hip. The scar almost covered by a shield and sword, both made from iron bark and enchanted to the point that they were both more durable than even the most powerful of northern steel. "Hello Dagfinn.... I did not expect for you to answer the call..." He grumbled the words refusing to use the general's chosen name.

The other Susi turned calmly and two eyes met one. A calm and happy voice sounded out. "I will always answer the call... The king of wolves is the king of wolves after all... None of the Susi can refuse this call... it would be a sin against our blood..." Despite the tension in the room the younger wolf smiled happily and wore a calm and relaxed stance.

Skull hated his voice, it was the same voice no matter what, he was unshakable, it was the same even when he lay bleeding at the king's feet looking up with the same calm smile, barley able to hold the blade that he had just yanked from another Susi's chest. Though the younger Susi had morals and honorable intent that would make any real warrior look on in pride. The scar across his fellow General's back always served to anger the One eye'd skull, and anger Legenda even more. For once he was thankful that his brother was not here at the moment. "You are correct Dagfinn... we ALL follow the call, even my brother... and I know we are sworn to treat you with the respect and honor demanded by the title granted to you by our king, but you also know why he took up the outpost three hundred miles from your home. Let us be done quickly... I will hold my oath... but you know as well as I, it is unwise to test the temperament of Legenda..."

The 'guardian' Stood tall. "I will not dishonor the trust Susien Kuningas has placed in me...I will take up the rest of house Lempo and we will meet you in the iron forest..." The tall Wolf gave a solid bow and smiled. His eyes waved slightly before he chuckled. "Your little one escaped again... I smell her magic nearby, it is very fresh too..."

The One Eye'd Skull let out a muffled curse as he dismissed the Guardian with a wave of his hand and followed his nose to try and locate his daughter.

"My mother?.....um....th...that is kinda..."

Cadence instantly shot a hoof up apologetically. "I am so sorry, I was just curious I did not mean to drag any bad memories up..."

"Oh, oh! its not like that... She is just not spoken of... for.. um... other reasons...Namely because I have not met her. She was... well... very different..." Cadence looked at the pure white wolf in wonder. There was still so much she could learn. She had already learned so much just by spending time with the young female. "Suffice to say, my mother chose to give me... this... um... form... but yes, I can feel the next question, and yes... my father by blood and heritage really is the king of the North. We have many traditions that could be misleading but indeed I am of direct blood to my father. My mother is just... um... a special case."

"I see... facinating... now, this one might be a ... sensitive case as well but I feel kinda awkward not knowing...so, why does your father call you 'Oracle'?... Oracle sounds like a title..."

The Susi smile calmly, looking over at the Crystal ponies who carefully tended to her long soft silky hair. "It is a title... by tradition ALL members of the magical castes of the north have two names, their given name and their chosen name. This tradition is also shared by those closest to my father, his generals especially. Though the traditional spots of Shaman, Druid, and Oracle are known mostly by their title. Which in this case is also my chosen name. Only my father and a select few know my real name. It was once believed that if you knew a magic user's name you could use the power of his or her name to enslave him or her to your will. However, my father dispelled that myth quickly. He has some other reason for the tradition, and though its a little odd, I quite enjoy the title."

"I see, I can't imagine what it would be like to not ever meet my own mother. Do you know anything about her?" She looked on with honest concern.

"I ... well I know a lot about her, but it would not make sense even if I were to explain it. Her name, well in this language means 'Melody'. The stories say that my father fought and killed an exceedingly powerful monster along, he did not wish to allow his people to be harmed, but he was mortally wounded in the battle. Melody came to him seeing his love for his people and how greatly he desired to protect them, that he would sacrifice his own life just to keep them safe. The story goes that she fell in love with him through his selfless dedication and stepped in to heal his wounds. When he recovered she hid from him, but he easily saw her despite her best efforts. He welcomed her and thanked her for her efforts. When he offered she refused to return with him but he was determined to repay the debt of his life to her. The stories get a little unclear seeing they were only put together by second, third, even fourth hand accounts afterwards. Some say that he gave her a child to thank her, some say that he married her, and others say he stuck around more or less because he found her so beautiful. Regardless two years after he returned the infinite storm above the capital halted for ten hours and an infant pup was deposited within the throne room. That of course being me."

Cadence's eyes lit up at the story. She was a sucker for a good love story, despite it being a little hard to follow she quite enjoyed it. "Well, I must say, that is more than I can say for myself and my origins..."

Oracle chuckled and waved a hand dismissively. "Nonsense, you are an Alicorn. There are still Susi who think all Alicorn princesses are Goddesses."

"Really?..." Cadence's eyes widened as her voice sounded out in a fair amount of surprise.

"Oh yes, Especially those two sisters, Luna and Celestia. I never bought into it but we have a festival in the winter to honor the moon, and one in the summer to honor the sun. If they learn you exist surely they will make another in the spring to honor the love we all have for one another." She smiled warmly and Cadence happily smiled back. She was a little put off being made out to be a God of some sort in another country but it was not like she could do much about it.

"The North sounds very nice..."

"It is... well.. culturally, but we have a very fair share of problems, and every now and again something terrible and powerful comes along to kill everyone." She sighed and Cadence chuckled a little

"Yeah, I kinda know what that is like"

Lean and scared, twin blades at his hips and a bow at his back Legenda, the One eye'd skull's brother, general of the far north and hero of the Halla garden stepped into the city. His eyes were cold and distant. Though he was a hero in this nation, none praised his arrival. All knew the pain he suffered and all he sacrificed to take his father's place. The greatness of this Susi was simply that he had survived that which no other wolf could have. Behind him strode his warriors of Kaaos. Not known for their patience or politeness the arrival of such Susi meant only that the threat in the iron forest was far greater than they had lead on, or that the king simply had something planned.

"Brother!" The much larger Susi strode up. His mask fitted into place per tradition when the armies met. The two generals clasped hands firmly testing each other's might with a firm muscle bound tug. As per usual Legenda lifted firmly but only because he was lighter.

"Good to see you brother... where is he?...I brought my Kaaos...Did he really order me down here just to hunt a few annoying Kaas?" The thinner wolf grumpily sat as his soldiers stood firmly behind him. All knew that these were his special soldiers. Susi who broke on the battlefield and could not be returned to normal life when their time in the military was over found their place in his ranks due to their mind being reverted to nothing but the savage instinct of war. Berserkers and barbarians. And so to speak Legenda was the only who understood the broken mind and had the power enough to tame them.

"We have our orders, it is all I know of his plans... though he is down south with the Equines on one of his quests... not quite sure what he is playing at, but if you can spare the time I have some good mead. Shall we retreat to th...." His eye twitched and his teeth grit, Druid stood in the distance. The look was obvious. Rose had done something very foolish. "... Come brother I have some fathering to do... and I will need the mead after I am done..."

He made his way forward but Druid met him halfway. "Shes gone, and not hiding playfully, but gone. She was in her room supposedly studying. Every druid in the temple felt it. There was a pulse of power, the Sanguinus tree dipped very noticeably in power. I found her travel bags gone, the barrel of Kaar preserves empty... She teleported somewhere. And I do not need the others to tell me where, The amount of power drawn was enough to send her across the sea. She is trying to find Oracle." Druid's teeth made an audible grinding noise as she stressed and throbbed with anger. Rose was not a bad child but she often would make foolish mistakes with good intent. This was one more thing. to add to the pile. Their daughter just ran off to Equestria.

"The other Generals will be here soon, just be patient..."  The Cursed blood lined up firmly looking at their hero, Guardian lord of house Lempo. Their rifles slung and ready, He chose to disperse his personal soldiers among the inexperienced to improve their survival chances. An Oracle stood firmly by his side listening to the magic on the wind to relay the progress of the other two generals.

"Guardian!... the Skull is  moving up, he is as angry as Legenda who is moving into the heart of the forest with his Chaaos....The Skull has ordered his Oracle not to relay some things to us, but he assures me that the Skull is not being malicious. He is just very angry at the moment." The female Susi bowed low as she gave the report.

The guardian nodded and gestured for her to fall back in line. "Susien Kuningas has given us orders, and the army of the north is on the move. Let us show the redeemed pride and righteous heart of the Cursed blood!"

The soldiers looked up to their hero and shouted loudly. "THE TYRANT'S BLOOD BINDS US NO LONGER!!!"

"The king has freed us"

"ALL HAIL THE WOLF KING!"

"We march forward!"

"NO DEATH NOR THE COLD OF DEATH WILL TAKE US FROM OUR PATH!"

"We fight on!"

"FOR SUSIEN KUNINGAS, BRAVERY AND HONOR, FOR THE NORTH!"

The Guardian Lord drew his weapon and stood among the ranks of his own soldiers and the young pups barely old enough to stand in the ranks as the gates to their fort opened wide. A storm of thunder sounded as a mix of Shaman's lobbing spells, long rifles firing and the Guardian charging with the melee troops into the heart of the forest against the dozens of Kaar that raged against the protected castle which sprouted from the shores of Lake Seppa.

Even though he was still scared witless, one young Susi stood beside his Shaman master as he stared down the barrel of his long rifle, a bullet between each knuckle as he was taught by the veterans. Jalm was scared spitless but seeing the legend of the Guardian Lord of House Lempo at the side of him and his brothers joining the fray directly flooded his worried heart with hope. He hoped that at the very least, the other legends he met today would be doing as well as he was at the moment.