Broken Howls and Tattered Leaves

Fear. Fear is a very strong emotion. Especially when faced with death. And I guess you could say that I was faced with a lot of death lately. Seriously! If I could leave this damned jungle, I would leave in a heartbeat. The death in question seemed dissatisfied that its quarry had no edible fluids and was about to see just how sweet sap tasted when the Golem that was chasing me fell into the hole and caved the spiders head in with his weight alone. I was covered in squishy spider fluids as it got up, the female thing giggling at the Golem. She turned and saw me stuck to the wall, looking somewhat horrified.

"That's where it went." She said. Thank you captain Obvious! The girl glared at the golem and huffed. Said Golem was gearing up his fist for a punch, but stopped just inches from my chest when the girl said.

"WAIT!" Even I was surprised that she stopped him. I was just about to say my final goodbyes to nothing. She seemed to study me for a bit before saying.

"You serve Terra.  Why did you shout out 'Celestia save me'?" I was starting to sweat, or at least I would have if I was still human. I can't believe I had let that slip! I guess I should try and play it off...

Ah... Umm.. h-habit? i said, unsure. She looked at me funny.

"How is it a habit?  That wouldn't make sense, unless you aren't a timber wolf, but clearly you are." Shit! She was getting close! I should probably just come out and say it. They obviously weren't normal.

Well.... Ahhh... You could say that I am  a not-Timber Wolf? I was still slightly intimidated by teh Golem, its sightless gaze seemed to pierce my very core.

"A not-timber wolf?  That doesn't make sense.  If you're not a timber wolf than what are you?"

Umm... I don't think you would believe me if I told y-you... I said slowly.

The girl crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at me. "I'm an ancient goddess who controls the very core of this planet.  He," The girl patted the Golems head, "Is probably the most fearsome warrior of all time.  Try me."

I stared her down with my glowing eyes and said simply. "I'm a human."

The girl clapped her hands and let loose a small giggle. Seriously? Why in the nine hells was she laughing at that? It wasn't that funny. Was it?

"Did you hear that?" She asked the Golem. I heard that faint whispering again and the girl raised a finger to her lips and said.

"Oops?  I'll fix that right now." Her hands phased through the Golems head and it didn't seem to mind much. I was personally shocked to see her phase through obviously solid metal, but she did say she was a goddess. Wait, a goddess and a strange creature... Was the golem a piece? The golem in question turned to me after the goddess was finished and asked clearly in my head.

'Now, what did you tell her?' oddly enough, his mental voice was tinny like it was emanating from the armor itself. Which was odd because he was speaking directly into my head. But I digress, it was probably normal for him.

Umm... I'm a human? I repeated as a question, unsure what I should have said. This guy was pretty scary with his seemingly sightless eyes.

The girl tapped the golems head to get its attention and asked "So?  What do you think?"

'Probably a mid-level pawn, at best.  Maybe if he healed up a bit he could do better, but the way he is now?'  It paused, 'He might be of use, but probably not.'

"Well if he might be of use, then we should take him." The tiny goddess chirped.

The golem shrugged and grabbed me, ripping me from the sticky threads. 'Try not to land funny.' it said before promptly tossing me clear of the pit.

Wait, wha- I yelped as I flew. I was a tad slow in registering him throwing me. I landed on my side and rolled all the way over and back to my paws. I was just in time to see the golem climb out of the pit with the goddess on his shoulders.

Not cool, I said, giving him a glare. but... thanks anyways. I frowned at them some more, still unsure of their intentions. Just why do you want to see Terra anyways? I asked. They shared a knowing grin and the goddess said.

"A family reunion!"

I was positively dumbstruck. not only was she a goddess, but Terra's sister as well? I was flabbergasted. Wait... YOU are her sister?! I thought you would be more.... pony-ish... I said.

The goddess raised an eyebrow before retorting. "Well you're a human, shouldn't you look more human-ish?"

...

Touche. I have to admit that I kinda set myself up there. i just glared at her and said. Whatever, I guess I should take you to Terra now... The goddess rejoiced.

"ALL RIGHT!" She pointed off into the direction of The Grotto. "THAT WAY!"

We all started off in the direction of The Grotto and the Golem asked. 'So, do you have a name?'

I was kinda embarrassed of the name I chose, but it was too late to change now. Well... I call myself Twigleaf here. I kinda made it up on the spot. I said. I could tell he thought the name was stupid too. Great, just great.

'Adam.  So Kindlingfern, how much do you know?' He introduced himself. I glared at the name. I had a feeling that this was going to be a regular occurrence.

I thought for a moment, pooling my meager knowledge of the subject of what was going on. Not much... I thought it was all conjecture when I got sent here. I don't even know who my 'Chess Master' is. Or whatever Terra called them.

'Alright.  You are in a game.  Gods from all the different pantheons participate.  The games can be for fun or, more commonly, for power.  Since the gods and goddesses can't directly interfere in the game, they use pieces, like you and me, to do their work for them.  Based on your current strength you're a low-to-mid level pawn.' Adam explained. I soaked up the information like a sponge. I was slightly insulted that I was just a pawn.

A-a pawn?! I exclaimed. Well... I can't argue there... I did almost die a few days ago. I thought for a moment. Wait. You talk like you have done this before. How? his answer surprised me.

'Well I've been in games before this one.' I was definitely interested in hearing more.

What was it like? I asked, my curiosity was getting the best of me.

'Well, my first game started off a bit confusing.  I was in a raid on a small coastal settlement, when Siegfried decided that we should have a brawl.  That cheater bathed in dragon blood, so he was invincible.  Oh, and that doesn't work with the types of dragons you find here.  Well Siggy gut me like a boar, and then I was visited by a goddess, Skadi.  She told me that there was a great battle, and that she would require my help.  I accepted, and the next thing I know, I'm on some mountain and I'm a Yeti.  After I found out what was going on I had a pretty good time.  I didn't win, but I lasted to the end.'

I started thinking about what he said. If I was as sharp on my history and myth than I thought I was then that meant Adam was reaaaaly old. I pondered that for a few minutes before asking.

So, this kind of thing happens often? What usually happens after it is all done?

'Games happen all the time.  I've been in 5 officially, this one being my 6th.  And as for what happens after?  Well it depends.  Pieces who want to go home normally go home.  Most pieces prefer to stay and live out their life, some start religions for their sponsor.' This sorta confused me. I knew what a sponsor was, but why would anyone wanna start a bloody religion for some crackheaded jerk? He continued. 'Your sponsor is your patron, player, chess master.  The deity you serve.  That's pretty much it.  What happens after depends on you.  Unless you die, then you're dead.'

Wow... I don't think I would want to stay. Nice as it is here, I miss my family. Heck, all I know about my 'Sponsor' is that he is a jerk. I said. Even though my family were just a bunch of jerks, they were still my family and I would like to be able to see them again.

'Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if your sponsor doesn't send you home, then you're probably going to be stuck here.  Unless you get another sponsor.'

I can get another Sponsor? How would I do that? i asked, confused.

'Well basically there are two types of sponsors.  The first type selects a piece form their world and brings them to the board.  The piece then acts in the interests of their sponsor.  The second type of sponsor is when a deity brings a bunch of random pieces, and then ignores them.  Other deities, who may not be strong enough to find a piece of their own, rely on these pieces.  They'll normally offer a contract, or just start looking after the piece that they want.'

Huh... I replied. We stopped in front of the entrance to Terra's Grotto, the massive wall of thorns stood in our way. By the way, you might want to stand back a bit. I don't think the other wolves are going to like you. I warned Adam. he lust looked at me. At least, I think he did. Not having physical eyes is weird

'You worry too much, what's the worst that could happen?'

Then, out of the blue(or rather, the ground), a skeleton burst forth from the ground in front of Adam, causing me to leap back in surprise.

Whargarble! What the Fuck! I shouted at the skeleton. It only handed Adam a small scrap of something and he read it. he touched the Skeleton's skull and said.

'Let her know I'll see her soon.  Also give her my congratulations on taking over Tartarus.' Wait, Tartarus? As in the Greek version of Hell? man, this guy had connections...

'Where were we?' Adam said, knocking me out of my thoughts. Apparently I was still staring at the freshly turned soil where the Skeleton was.

What the fuck was that... I asked, still somewhat stunned by the sudden appearance and disappearance of the undead. Oh! we were going to see Terra. She is behind the wall there. I pointed to the large thorned wall before us. Give me a minute. I concentrated hard, feeling the voices in the thorns and asked them to move out of our way. They were stubborn, but after a few moments they slid begrudgingly out of the way. There... we... go... I panted, exausted. It took a lot of power to move the thorns.

"Hey Adam, couldn't you have just smashed your way through?  It probably would've been faster." Cora said bluntly. Ow. That hurt.

I panted some more as I entered the Grotto. Well... They would just regrow if you tried to force your way in. I padded up to the World Tree and said. Hey! Terra, you have a visitor! The air seemed to hum as Terra's physical avatar appeared out of the tree.

"Welcome back Child of Man. I see that the creature is not whom the trees told me it was." She said. What was up with all these Goddesses and stating the obvious?

I nodded and turned to the two waiting just outside. And I think you may recognize one of them.

"One?" She asked before they approached.

'TWO!' Adam cried, throwing his arms wide. 'THREE!' He started walking towards Terra and I.

'Terra!  It's wonderful to see you again!  It seems like only yesterday that you rallied 29 of the most powerful deities against me, attempting to stop any further involvement I have in the Games.  Ah, where does the time go?'

Hold the phone! He knew Terra? How?! I thought she was just an Equestrian Goddess! But apparently, somehow, Adam knew her. Had he come to Equestria before?

I looked back and forth between Adam and Terra. Wait. YOU TWO KNOW EACH OTHER?! I thought... Abuh..buh

"Ah, Adam. I was hoping that it wasn't you... Might I ask what you are doing with Cora?" Terra asked gently, her eyes becoming slits of distrust.

'Isn't it obvious?' He retorted.

"Hi sis!  He's carrying me!" Cora shouted out.

"I can see that. But I can only hope that you did not enter a contract with him..." She already knew the answer, but she still had hope against it.

They both answered in tandem. "She/I did!"

Terra facehoofed and sighed. "Cora... You do realize that he is possibly the most destructive Piece out there."

"Yep." Cora replied with a smile.

'I don't know about that.  I haven't done much... yet.'

Terra sighed again. "Just as long as you know what you are getting yourself into..." She turned to me and then to Adam and got a mischevious grin on her muzzle. "I have a proposition for you Adam..."

'Is this going to be like last time?  Where you try to kill me, to stop me from completing my side of the bargain?' Adam replied.

Terra had a fake look of surprise and said " Are you still mad about that? But no, I need your help."

'Just checking,' Adam looked to Cora, 'Do you want me to help her?'

Cora put a finger to her lips, pretending to think for a moment. "Sure!"

Terra looked pleased with herself as she said. "I need you to help Twig retrieve the Seed of Gaia."

I blanched at the request. I-i don't t-think we should...

'Alright, just one condition.'

"And what would that be?"

'Nothing to big, just a power transfer.  You may not have noticed, but Cora isn't  exactly at her strongest right now.  If you gave her about, let's say a third of your strength, it would vastly improve her recovery time.' Adam said with finality. I had a feeling he wasn't going to move from these demands.

Terra gave the thought little time for consideration. "Of course. Anything for Cora. Now, I need you and Twigleaf to retrieve the Seed of Gaia from Amalorg. I fear that she is using it's power to keep herself alive. I need you two to either take back the Seed and let her die normally or... Slay her..." She said the last part with a little remorse.

'Huh.  Sounds good to me.  Cora, why don't you stay here and catch up with your sister.'

Cora nodded, and hopped down.  She walked over to Terra, leaving slight scorch marks where her feet touched the ground. Adam turned to me. I was still shivering at the thought of going back to fight the Matriarch. All those... little.... spiders....

'Alright, Tumbleweed.  Lead the way.'

AN: This is the second Chapter in the crossover between mine and Eathlome's story. Sorry it took so long. I had sent him a message before and it never reached him (DAMN YOU 504!) but now that it is finished, they should be coming out more frequently. here is the link to An Iron Pawn by Eathlome. There should be at least one more chapter. Maybe two. Depends. Oh well....

May your minds stay sharp, and your souls burn ever brighter as you reach for the stars.

~Zee