"It's just a game."

As the last trace of his host vanished, the confident look on Discords face fell. With a heavy sigh he scratched the back of his neck with a claw and turned to await what was next.

“Luna? Luna are you there? I seem to have fallen asleep at another meeting. Can you fetch a maid and have her bring me some coffee? A-and maybe a pound cake? I know I’m supposed to be on a diet, but honestly, the sugar helps.”

A pause as the echoing voice seemed to hesitate.

“Luna, are you there?”

At this Discord twitched an ear, the voice coming closer through a mist was accompanied by a familiar shadowed form. A few seconds and it was joined by a second.

Grinning he waited, not wanting to say anything as yet.

“Luna?”

“Tia, where - Oof.”

The two shadows had joined and bumped into one another. Discord smiled, with a soft chuckle in his throat.

It was the small things in life that were worth enjoying.

“Sister, what is thou doing?” The smaller shadow spoke, looking to the slightly larger.

“Wandering in a dream, apparently. I was calling you, what took so long?”

“Sister, this is not the dreamscape.” Luna informed.

“Then -”

A large regal white mare with a flowing multicolored mane separated by a large white horn, wings folded neatly at her sides framed her body came into focus. Beside her a slightly smaller mare of dark blue fur, flowing mane like the purple and black of night, broken by glitters like stars, her sides as well, framed by feathers.

“Discord?” Celestia looked up at him in shock.

“So, this is your doing then, Draconequus. I wonder what Fluttershy would say if she knew of your shenanigans.”

Discord took the comment as well as he could, choking back a hurt filled response.

Luna held an arrogant look and began to say more when Celestia poked a hoof into her side. The look of sorrow filled in Discord’s eyes struck something in her mind.

Without wasting another second, Discord snapped his fingers and was dressed in a business suit and tie, a briefcase in one claw, a pair of glasses in his lions paw.

“My dear Celestia and Luna, I am here to speak to you of urgent matters.” Discord began with a brief but formal bow before walking past them to a desk that had not been present seconds ago.

“Uh… Did I fall and hit my head before I went to bed?” Luna muttered to herself.

Celestia herself stood and began to follow Discord with a look of disbelief in her eyes.

“Discord, what has happened? Is Fluttershy alright? You seem…” Celestia paused knowing what she wanted to say, but her mind and heart felt at odds. She bit her lip and closed to eyes to gather herself. “Discord, you seem weighed with something. You have never spoken or presented yourself before us like this.”

Discord sat behind the desk, settling comfortably in a large black leather chair. He set the briefcase down, and leaned forward, placing his elbows on the hard wood, resting his head in his hands.

“We have much to discuss. We have time, but not much. Please, would you do me one favor and listen carefully, think of what I am about to speak about.”

(/\/\*,_,*/\/)

It felt as if their journey had been long, but was just a few days before they had reached the nearest town Tamrie had felt was okay to enter.

Their arrival was accompanied by the ever growing storm from the South.

Max and Tamrie walked through the streets, Tamrie staying close to Max. He could feel her body shaking as he kept one hand on her shoulders.

They approached a small tavern, one that was said to have a few rooms still open.

“Keep close, Tamrie.” Max warned. His response from her was only a small whimper.

He worked his way through the crowds that were standing around a few tables here and there.

The sounds of the tavern were nearly overwhelming. His ears were beginning to hurt from the loud talking as voices seemed to rise up all around like a wave. Voices seemed to somehow clash and flow with the poundings of fists, laughter, and more.

Finally the two reached a large bar area where a young man was quickly filling drinks and sliding them down to the men waiting impatiently.

“Excuse me!” Max yelled, “I would like a room for the night for my daughter and I.” He called over the noise, leaning forward slightly to make sure the man heard him.

“You don’t have to yell.” The man responded as Max realized the volume had suddenly quieted to scattered murmurs.

Feeling the eyes of so many behind him, Max couldn’t help the flush that rose in his face.

“If it’s not too much trouble, we would also like a meal.” Max added, his voice lowering. The man stopped and looked hard at Max, before glancing behind him.

Max turned his head, suddenly expecting someone standing right behind him ready to start something. To his relief of mind, the other patrons returned to what they were doing, the ruckus returning to what it was before.

“Money?” The man inquired. Max removed a gold coin from his belt waist.

The man eyed it before lifting it up, turning it from side to side. With a shake of his head he spoke, “This is good money, but it won’t get you but a meal. I’ll need more if you want a comfortable place to sleep, or you could try the gutter.”

With a sigh, Max lowered his shoulders, looking exhausted before nodding and moving to kneel down, there he raised his pant leg. There where his sock rose over his ankles was a strange looking lump. From it he removed another coin before placing it on the counter top.

As he looked at it, he seemed hesitant, as if the last of his life was held in this one single coin.

The man waited for Max to pull his hand away before snagging it. He had a triumphant look on his face, before turning his eyes hearing a voice.

“Daddy, you can’t give him the last of our money…”

“Shh, I know it seems hard, sweetie. But we’ll manage. We will have some food, and a warm place to sleep tonight.” Max said to her soothingly.

The man seemed to grimace before pocketing both coins, “You both will get a hot meal, and a bed for the night. But that’s as far as my kindness goes.”

“What do you say sweetie?” Max said turning to Tamrie.

“Thank you, sir.” Tamrie said, with a sniffle.

“Go on up the stairs over there,” the man pointed to a staircase at the other side of the tavern, “it’s the last room on the left. I’ll have someone bring your food up.”

“Thank you sir.” Max said as he turned with Tamrie and headed for the stairs.

(/\/\*,_,*/\/)

With a sigh, Max leaned against the door as Tamrie walked over to the bed.

“I don’t like lying like that. Was it really necessary?”

“Shhh,” Max turned an ear to the door and waited quietly for a little bit. Once he was satisfied he crossed the room and placed his left hand under his right armpit and withdrew the bag of money he had been hiding.

“Much better, that was really hurting holding this under my arm for so long.” Max laid the bag down, before removing his boots and dropping the bag inside one carefully. He then shoved his hand into it and worked to move the bag of coin as close to the toe as he could.

“Remember, we have to be careful. If they or anyone else knew we had more money they would try to hurt us to get it. I know lying is not a good thing to do, but right now it’s to help us.” He explained in a rushed whisper.

He was grateful for his time playing DnD with people. He had always worked to try and figure out unique ways to hide money from others so his characters wouldn’t get robbed. Same with sharing loot, he always played a rogue and did his best to get out with a larger portion than his teammates. Granted they didn’t appreciate it, at least until they were robbed and he was able to help them.

After learning lessons it got others he played with to begin thinking of things a bit unorthodox.

Now he had to check the whole room before the staff arrived with their food to make sure there were no peep holes where someone was watching them right then and there.

A few minutes of checking around the room, he nodded as he heard a knock. He remained by Tamrie as a precaution to protect her.

“Come in,” he called out facing a window.

Despite the grime on the window he could still see faint reflections in it giving him a chance to watch whoever came through the door. If they thought they could get away with pulling one over on him, this would be it.

He was playing it through his head as the doorknob turned, a slight creek to the door as it opened. The door had looked to have just been nailed down planks of wood in a vertical row. Each plank was about four or so inches to his estimated guess, and there were five. Two more were placed horizontally, one at the top and one near the bottom.

With the vague visibility he could see what appeared to be a woman holding something, he assumed a tray with their food, carefully balanced in one hand as the other opened the door. Once the door was opened she used both hands to maintain her load.

“Where would you like your food, sir?” She asked, standing stiffly.

He waited, watching a few seconds more. When she did not move or say anything more, he turned his head, “Sorry, I was lost in thought. Place it on the table in the corner if you would please.”

She did as instructed, and as soon as her back was turned, Max turned away from the window.

She wore simple poor clothing that was worn through in some areas, her hair was short and from what he could see her skin was fair.

When she turned and smiled, Max’s breathe was caught in his throat, he stepped back, almost falling over his boots.

The woman before him was just slightly shorter than he was, with short blue hair. He knew who she was, though his mind raced to think of her name.

“If that is all sir,” the woman began with a bow, “I’ll take my leave. Please enjoy your stay.”

As she turned and moved to the door, Max quickly jumped and moved a few steps and caught her by her arm. He turned her, “I know you, your my lo-”

Stopping himself, Max realized he was mistaken. There was fear in her eyes, but she did not look the same as she had seconds ago. The woman before him, in his grip, had dingy brown hair pulled back from her face. He could tell it was set up in a bun with a large blue kerchief as a way to keep her hair in control and out of her face as she worked throughout the day. Her skin was white, her eyes he thought he recognized were now foreign and brown.

“I-I… I’m sorry.” Max choked out releasing her arm. The woman responded with a cry and ran out of the room.

He stood there, a shocked look on his face, staring at the empty doorway to the hall. The image had been so clear, he had been so sure.

Now, it was already fading, replacing the image in his mind with a woman who was scared for her life when he grabbed her.

Max moved stiffly and closed the door before moving back and sitting down on the rough bed. There was a strange sound and he felt something sticking in his back. Reaching behind him, he removed a large stiff piece of straw that was used for the bedding to keep it clean and comfortable.

Well, not as comfortable as the beds he had known, but this was better than sleeping on the ground where one could manage to find a stone under their back, or a random tree root.

Max dropped the piece of straw on the ground and dropped his head in his hands.

“Max, are you alright?” Tamrie asked, uncertainly.

“I’m fine.” he assured her as he moved his head up, just so his eyes were above his fingertips. “Why don’t you go ahead and eat. I’ll get some myself soon.”

With a nod, Tamrie made her way over to the tray of food. She grabbed an old pocked marked spoon that was of obvious poor making and dipped it into a bowl of what appeared to be stew. There was another bowl, spoon, and a piece of bread.

(/\/\*,_,*/\/)

Celestia and Luna both stared at Discord, taking in what he had just informed him.

“How many?” Celestia was the first to break the silence.

“I don’t-”

“How many of my ponies who have entrusted me with their very lives has he taken?” Celestia demanded.

“I really don’t know, a few, enough that a town now sits empty, the entire nation. I really don’t know, Celestia, but it’s not just them, he’s taken humans as well, and probably even more before I met him. He only brought you here upon my request.”

Luna had begun to slip away, as she saw her sister slowly standing. A glow was being cast around them all, but it was not a glow of magic from Celestia’s horn, no it was a glow of unbridled rage filling the seemingly calm immortal. The entirety of the power of her sun was filling her being, as she stood over Discord.

“I DO NOT CARE FOR THIS GAME DISCORD. I DEMAND TO SPEAK TO THIS GAMEMASTER. THE LIVES OF THOSE UNDER MY CARE ARE NOT PLAYTHINGS!” Celestia, standing, wings spread out wide seemed to grow as the power continued to course and build within her. The torrent of her royal Canterlot voice was a bit of a surprise to Luna, as in all her time, years after her return, her sister had not once used her Canterlot voice.

Luna was looking desperately for something to hide behind. Finding nothing, she simply gulped, lowered herself to lay on the ground and covered her eyes and muzzle with her wings.

Discord stood, everything he had brought in as simple props vanishing in an instant. He walked forward to the God-Like Alicorn before him and did something none thought was possible.

Discord dropped to his knees before Celestia and lowered himself, “I know this very well, Celestia. Never had I thought to, or attempted to bring direct harm to anypony. I did what I could to ensure those who have been taken have a chance.” Discord looked up at Celestia from his prone position, “Celestia, Luna, I beg you to help me put an end to this. We must do as he wants for now to ensure no harm comes to anybody. With the two of you participating in this game, you can help them, and me to bring a proper resolution to this. For now, we do not have the power to stand against him.”

Gritting her teeth, Celestia let out her breathe in a hiss, trying to calm herself down. It took some time, bringing in so much power was easier than letting it out without harming or in truth, obliterating her target.

“How I wish I had a magical trinket I could have around your neck that drops you to the ground when you raise my ire by merely saying, ‘sit boy’.”

Discord lowered his eyes, and with the last of her power fading from her body, she began to turn away from Discord before stopping and turning one glowering eye to him. “Very well, I shall participate in this game. But if I find that you are looking to harm anypony-”

“You have my word, as both a Draconequus, and a friend of Fluttershy, the element of Kindness. If I could, I would too, swear by Applejack, the element of Honesty. I do not seek to bring harm to any. We are merely pawns until we can turn the tables on this being.”

With a snort, Celestia turned her eyes from Discord, her brow furrowing, desiring the destroy something suddenly. It took a few moments before she began to feel her calmness return and regain control of her emotions.

“I will take what you say as truth. Just finding out someone has so much power they are merely wishing to play with others…” Again, another internal battle waged, but was brought to an end quicker this time.

“So, from what you told us, we will be taking on new forms, similar to these humans. We will have no memory of who we truly are, nor will we recognize any others, we will also be stripped of almost all of our powers, and left to wander this world. Have I forgotten anything as yet?”

“Correction, Celestia,” Discord stated as he rose to his feet, you will have some power that can grow bringing you back equal to what you have now, in time. Both of you, but yes in a manner of speaking you will be separated and sent to this world to live anew temporarily. In truth you will be like newborn foals.” Discord explained.

“First, though, to help you, I was given some time to instruct you on how to act. Giving you a new form, and taking all that you know and dropping you into the middle of this world will surely be as a death sentence. We have three months of time of this world to prepare you. You will be able to learn their ways, become accustomed to moving in your new forms so that you are as adept as any other of these humans, and more.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Celestia asked as Luna had managed to pull herself together and strode over to the two.

With a grin, Discord snapped the tips of his claw. The two Alicorns before him screamed.

“Where is my coat!?”

(/\/\*,_,*/\/)

The door closed, the woman leaned her back against it for a moment, tears streaming down her face. Seconds of silence dragged by before she lifted her head and slammed it lightly against the door. She began to do it more, increasing the hit. Her head began to hurt, her head starting to hit hard enough to bounce. Despite the physical pain, it wasn’t taking away the confusion, anger, or the ache in her heart.

She stopped, raising her hands to her chest. Her fingers grasped the cheap clothing, at that moment she wanted to rip them to shreds, she wanted to do something, she wanted to go back, but she couldn’t.

All she could do was just sit here and sob, her cries beginning to catch in her throat.

Turning suddenly she began to beat her fists against the door, screaming working to push out all of her feelings. The door made of poor quality materials was rattling as she beat upon it. She could feel the pain in her hands, moving to encompass her wrists. It only seemed to draw out more anger and now she began to kick at the door.

“My, my, my. What did that poor door ever do to you?” Came a voice from behind her.

She knew that voice despite having only heard it for such a short period of time. She wanted to turn her fury upon him, but as she slowed she could do nothing more than fall to the ground.

As he approached her, she began to feel powerless and weak before him.

“Did you do as you were told?” Came the voice once more, this time sounding so cold a chill ran down her spine.

“Y-yes.” She squeaked out. So much to deal with, too much, and it was beginning to take a toll on her as she felt bile rising from her stomach.

She moved a hand to her stomach as she gently laid her head against the door. It felt so empty now, where life had once been. Life granted to her by the man she just ran away from.

“Good.” She heard a faint sound. A sound of a small newborn child.

Turning, the blue haired red eyed Sonata Dusk saw the man carrying a small bundle in his arms.

He smiled down at the child in his arms, who began to whine before crying.

“Please, give her back, give them both back. I did what you said, you promised you would give them back.” Sonata choked out, her face becoming red, tints of blue appearing as she quietly sobbed out more air than she was breathing in.

“Oh, shh, shh, shh. Now, now, calm down little one. Mommy is right here, and if she continues to do as I say, you will be in her arms again.” The man said as he gently rocked the baby in his arms.

Sonata reached out for the baby, but the man deftly moved back well out of her reach. The baby began to cry even louder.

“Please, they need me.” Sonata begged.

“Oh come one, this is just getting annoying,” the man said as he tried to bounce to quiet the bundle in his arms. “How can you mortals stand this noise? It’s maddening, I feel like I just want to-” Turning he took the bundled form and threw it as hard as he could across the kitchen of the tavern.

Sonata screamed and jumped trying to rush to her baby.

Everything seemed to slow as it hit the wall and the blanket covering the baby came off, pieces of plastic and porcelain shattered and broke apart falling around.

Sonata covered her mouth with a hand before running to lean against a wall and began to vomit.

The man merely stood back and laughed as he watched her reaction.

‘It wasn’t real, that wasn’t my real child, just a doll. Oh god!’

“Don’t worry, they are still safe.” With that Sonata and the man seemed to appear in a strange large room. He moved over and sat down at a throne of gray stone, where beside him was an old motherly looking woman tending to two young infants.

Still shaking, and slightly reeling, Sonata took a few cautious steps forward, the intense gaze of the man watching her every move. She was able to get just close enough to see that her children were real and seemed fine.

“Ah, ah, ahh. Remember, they are under my care, and my nanny here, while a wonderful caretaker, does tend to show her true nature from time to time.”

With that, the elderly woman turned with a smile that seemed far too large for a normal person. In fact, everything about her was off.

She was just barely five feet tall, wide hips, slightly smaller shoulder and chest, her breasts sagging in her dress. Her limbs were like someone took them off the body of a person who was practically starving to death. Her face, long and fat, multiple chins hid her neck from view, her nose was large and crooked, making one think of an old styled cartoon witch, complete with a hairy brown mole. Her eyes were ovals of creamy white, but held black slits. Her hair appeared patched with a few bald spots, where it was grouped together hung with slight bends like they had been curled perfectly once and then left for gravity to straighten out, but never quite completing this.

Sonata spotted the drool at the corner of the woman’s mouth, then realized her mouth looked as though it were filled with razor sharp teeth, much like a sharks. Her hands were long and emaciated like her arms and legs, but her fingers seemed to end in red claws.

“Itshiburai is quite hungry, and she savors the flesh of a child so much.”

Shaking, Sonata did her best to stand firm before the two, “What do you want from me?”

“What do I want from you? No, no, no my dear.” He responded laughing. “I want something from all of you.” Lifting a hand, behind him appeared in clear crystal two familiar young forms.

Closing his hands, the crystals shattered, dropping the two women to the ground.

The first to open her eyes was the eldest of the three. A woman with large orange curly hair, three blonde streaks flowed from her head and through her hair. She was wearing simple pants, a shirt with a woman and man anime style looking at each other with various sized hearts floating around them, her boots the usual platform style giving her several inches that gave a sense of intimidation rising up to her calves. Her eyes which usually held a sinister or lustful appearance were hazy as she tried to focus.

She struggled to raise herself from the ground, grimacing from the pain of suddenly falling.

“Did I drink too much again?” Adagio asked as she tried to clear her vision and get a look around.

“Only if you used the bottle to beat upside the head. Ugh, this is the worst.” Came a response of the woman next to her as she rolled over to her side.

Aria, who once held a punk rocker look, dark mascara around her eyes, and pigtails to keep her wild looking purple hair in check had been replaced with a woman who seemed to be older and wiser. She was dressed in a comfortable summer dress and a sea green sweater, pulled at the top to leave her shoulders exposed.

She raised a hand and covered her eyes as she groaned out, “Where the hell are we?”

A few more minutes and the two were able to begin taking in their surroundings.

They were confused to find themselves in what appeared to be an old decrepit cathedral, windows broken and partially covered with creeping vines. Birds above their heads fluttered here and there from nest to nest. The strangest thing that caught their attention was the seemingly out of place gray stone throne with a man sitting in it, a bassinet with two babies, a frightening old hag, and Sonata looking as if she had been through a horrible incident. She stood at the bottom of a set of stairs that seemed to lead up to the throne, her clothing nothing but rags.

“Sonata?” The two called out as they rose to their feet and made their way down the steps to Sonata.

“What the fuck is going on?” Aria asked as she looked over to the Bassinet, “Wait are those…”

“Girls, I’m not going to lie, but in this predicament, I would say you are metaphorically fucked. But, I’m not a complete ass.” We a devilish smile and a wave of his hands there before him appeared three familiar red gems.

The gems floated closer, short black lace collars seeming to flow out of the emanating energy. The three looked at the amulets, the glint catching their eyes. Yet Adagio and Aria glared back in defiance.

Adagio and Aria looked to one another, then to Sonata. Her eyes were blood shot, dark heavy bags could be seen beneath them, her face streaked with dirt and tears, she was a complete wreck.

What were they supposed to do.

(/\/\*,_,*/\/)

Two weeks prior.

A wall.

A large stone wall, 30 feet high, and stretching from one end of the continent to the other.

It was to cut off the Southern areas of the continent due to the various soft lands. Bogs, swamps, inlets, quicksand, creatures that would devour you from the inside out, and what ever other kinds of monstrosities laid in wait.

Leaning along the top of the wall-walk, Erin sighed, his brows furrowed. He was bored and frustrated. Two weeks he had been made to walk the wall from morning till dusk, then to scrub the floors of the bathroom before bed.

“Damn old geezers, laughing it up while I do all the actual work.” With that he drew his mouth to the side before pursing his lips and sending a stream of spit down over the wall towards the trees ahead of him.

At varying times he could spot animals moving around here and there, depending on the part of the wall he was walking and what time of day it was.

Right at this moment, the sun had only been up for barely an hour, a thick mist had covered the canopy of the majority of the Southern lands but was already dissipating.

“Hey! Erin, food is up!” Came a call.

With a sigh, Erin raised himself up from the wall and began to stretch. His stomach grumbled at the thought of food. As he moved to turn to the stairs leading down and into the barracks he stopped.

Down in the mist, the base of the trees were heavily shadowed, but he thought he had seen something. Something a little off, he turned his head, keeping his eyes on the spot he had seen.

The seconds stretched as he remained still watching, trying his best not to blink.

He had been at this post for a month now, he was accustomed to the things that moved below at the edge of the the trees. Birds, snakes, and many animals that moved along the ground.

What was it he had seen, he began to try and remember it. Looked as if something was beginning to emerge from behind one of the tree’s, but then moved back. He had only caught a glimpse of it. He was sure he had seen what looked like a person down there.

“What the hell is keeping you boy? If ya don’t get yer ass down here, I’ll eat your food.”

Erin kept his eyes staring at the spot a few seconds more before his stomach grumbled in protest. With a feeling of defeat he turned away and made his way to the stairs.

All he had that morning was just a piece of bread, his head wasn’t sitting right cause he was hungry, and tired. That was all.

The stairs lead to the base of the wall, where another door lead to another set of stairs leading directly into the barracks through the kitchen area. Erin looked around as he came to the bottom of the steps. It was warm, a small fire in the pit was going, a pot of simmering steaming stew could be seen. Looking around there were hooks for dried vegetables, empty dusted jars where spices were to be stored, and a cabinet pantry where they were supposed to have a supply of dried meats to enjoy with whatever meal they desired.

Each barracks placed every mile was set up this same way. For Erin and his company, the pantry was empty saved for some old droppings from rodents that had vacated long before even he had arrived.

“Lane, when was the last time someone went into the Southern lands?”

“Eh? What’s that boy? Are you some kind of an idiot? It’s been well over ten years. Still shittin yer pants and suckin yer mammas teets I bet you were. You know the story. The only man the kings banished was left to die out there by the grace of our God so that we could be blessed. Now quit yer questions and sit.”

Lane was well into his sixties, what little bit of hair left on his head seemed always covered by his helmet. His face was brown from exposure to the sun, and wrinkled. He was always in a bad mood, but for some reason he was quick to yell and complain today, as if something were bothering him.

Erin grabbed his bowl and sat down in his chair, leaving the spoon. The soup was more water with a few shredded cabbage leaves in it. He could drink it more than get anything solid from it.

Erin grew up on a farm miles away from the wall. His families farm had been on the verge of being lost when the Kings had returned from the Southlands. He could only remember the day as he had been eating an old potato, shriveled up with roots trying to grow from it and a cup of old dingy dirty water. He had been careful to eat around one particularly bad spot as it had grown black, and he knew it would make him sick.

After the Kings had returned, they stopped at any and all towns to place in their declarations. Their true God had seen the suffering of the land. He had sent them an old wise man and a warrior to find the demon in their midsts who had been the cause of their problems. The kings had taken care of him, according to the commands of their God. They were to share only a handful of coin with those who needed it the most to make it through that winter, and it was promised that the following spring, their ground would be fresh and ready for seed.

The kings were not taken seriously, at least, until the people were given about ten gold each.

Sure to their word, somehow, the following Spring when the farmers went out to their fields and began to churn the soil for a new year of crops, they were surprised by the rich blackness mixing with the brown of the earth.

At first no farmer would go to their field to do anything. It wasn’t until riders from the castles had ridden out with word from the Kings for the people to not be afraid. It was proof that they had been given a gift. Churn the soil for three days, they were told, then bed the seed.

Erin shook his head, he had spent a good few minutes just staring into his bowl partially raised to his mouth.

He finished lifting the bowl to his lips and began to drink the soup.

“Hey, Erin, we need you off the wall today. You’ll be doing the three hour walk from now on.”

Erin lowered the bowl, mouth still full of cabbage flavored water. He swallowed it carefully so as not to choke.

The three hour walk was exactly what its name described it. Thing was, it was always tough to find someone willing to do it. It always broke down to the older soldiers fighting and arguing to try and get one or another to do it. Usually it came to none doing it at all.

The duty of the job entailed a soldier going out on the Southern side of the wall and walking along there, checking everything that may bring up something suspicious before compiling the report to memory and presenting it to the captain of the guard after three hours of constant inspection. In addition, it was also to check the wall itself for any potential weaknesses, broken stones, weather, age, or what have you.

“Alright, I’ll go right after I finish this lunch. I thank you for the meal.”

“What? You… Uh, yeah sure that’s… that’s fine.”

Lane seemed completely taken of guard by Erin accepting his new duty.

There was no company leader, so the older soldiers just did whatever they wanted and usually put the younger, or new recruits through hell to do all the work for them.

One of the worst parts soldiers said about the walk, was the potential to get attacked by a creature and dragged away never to be heard from again. That or to get bit by a serpent. There was nothing to treat a venomous bite, or even a fever.

This was the farthest thing from Erins’ mind, though. His mind as he went back to finishing his soup was on the shadow he had thought he had seen.

The fog was completely gone by the time Erin got outside. There was a single small door, hidden in the wall. What helped it to hide was the fact that none had used it in a few years. The cracks of the door were actually completely covered with moss.

Erin had not expected the door to be heavy. From the inside the door was just a large wooden door with iron clasps and hinges. From this side, the door blended in with the wall so well because it was set with an additional, though thinner layer of stone similar to the rest of the wall itself.

Erin took a minute to use a stick and scrap away some of the moss that had grown up along the wall and door. He wasn’t permitted to leave it open on the walk, no one wanted a random animal or anything to get in.

He didn’t want to forget where the door was, because as he thought, when he closed the door, aside from the streaks of smeared green fungus he almost couldn’t tell where the door was. Even the release from this side to get in was hidden in a small hole in a single stone.

Turning, Erin looked around. His shifted his shoulders, the weight of the additional armor and sword felt uncomfortable. He was grateful the old codger Lane wasn’t being a complete ass, despite the foul mood he had been in.

He had told Erin he didn’t want to be responsible for something happening to the kid if he didn’t at the very least let him go out armed.

The sound of the armor hitting against itself as he moved was annoying. How was he supposed to hear something if his armor made more sound than he did when he walked. Not even that, if there was someone or something out here, it would know he was coming.

Erin took his time walking down along the wall, trying to inspect it. He couldn’t be sure what was actually something worth reporting as almost every part of the base of the wall and close to his height was covered in some sort of plant over growth. Grass, weeds, moss, creeping vines, and even a few small trees seemed to have taken root and begun to grow.

Erin made a mental note, at the very least it didn’t take a genius to figure out trees growing roots in the dirt reaching under the wall was bad. He looked up the wall to the top, trying to pinpoint where he had been standing before.

He circled around the space for a little bit, before he felt he was about where he had seen the shadow before. Looking around he couldn’t see much of anything, until he started around the tree.

Despite how dark it was under the thick canopy, there were small shafts of sunlight that cam through in areas. Right at the tree he spotted a footprint, and something that looked as if it had been dragged in the dirt.

With a grunt, Erin tried to move so that he could kneel down and get a better look, but the size and coverage of his armor didn’t exactly allow it to be done comfortably.

With a grunt of frustration, he looked along the ground stepping over the roots of the tree and making sure not to damage the place he had found.

A short distance and all that was left to see was just the drag mark. Erin felt confused, but definitely wanted to make a note of this.

At that moment, he heard a hiss near his ear and looked up to his left.

Falling back with a startled cry Erin saw a thin green snake hanging from a branch. Stepping back, and away from the tree, a longer look helped him to realize that was not a branch, but the snakes body wrapped around it, along with a few feathers sticking out here and there.

He turned and quickly moved back to the wall where he caught his breathe. He thought he was going to be attacked by something venomous. In truth, he guessed, he was disturbing a constrictor of sorts while it was busy preparing for a meal.

With a final look back, Erin decided he was done with his investigation. He made his way back to the scraped moss and searched for the hole. He was able to slip a finger in and carefully pull at the hinge. Once it was far enough that it was sticking out of the hole, he grabbed it, pulled it back releasing the door and pulled it open.

“Eh, what’s this, back after barely an hours time?”

Lane was already coming down from the top of the wall when Erin entered.

“Snake.”

Lane took a long look at Erins pale face and nodded.

“Come on then, got something to help ya forget all bout that. Once you get a little more comfortable, you can tell ol’ Lane all about what happened.” With a gruff laugh, the old soldier led Erin into the kitchen and had him remove the armor and sword.

After that, Lane shoved a clear vial into Erins hands with what looked to be water inside it.

He popped off the old brown cork and downed a mouthful of something bitter, and immediately regretted it.

Coughing, he handed it back to Lane who watched with a peculiar gleam in his eyes.

“Ugh, what is that stuff? I canf pheel mah tung.” Erin shook his head as his throat was assaulted by what could only be described as fire. His eyes watered, and his face suddenly flushed and he coughed for a bit before he was able to breathe.

“Ah, this stuff? My best firewater. You ain’t lookin so bad now, eh boy?” With a laugh, Lane slapped Erin on the shoulder before he took a small quick sip. He could feel the heat rising, but he knew how to handle this kind of drink as he had been taking to it for decades.

“So, tell me what happened that got you so shook up. Wasn’t a woman in white floating, was it? Hah! I remember when I was a lad the old geezers I had to look up to used to tell me all sorts of tales about her in these places.”

Erin shuddered involuntarily, the air suddenly feeling as if it was cold. He waved for the drink again to chase it away before he began to tell Lane everything he had seen from when he was up on the wall, to just coming in.

Outside, a green snake was busy dislocating its jaw as it began to move its head between it’s coils that were slowly loosening. Its mouth, filled with two long rows of tiny teeth clamped down just past a beak. It worked slowly, moving one side of its mouth then the other as it slowly pulled in its meal.

(/\/\*,_,*/\/)

Above from somewhere farther South there seemed a storm cloud was building.

Growing larger and darker, a few flashes of lightning could be seen in the darkest part.

That night it came upon the wall suddenly, like a wave crashing against a cliff face.
The trees were suddenly emptied of all animals, but between their trunks were forms moving about. They gathered and waited, eyes glowing in the darkness.

Further East of the wall, the first night patrol had been lazy when they noticed the cold chill. Looking out they saw the storm and felt the wind, not that of a cold storm that brought whipping rain beating down on you, no it was like the cold breath of death.

Screams and calls echoed out into the night as bodies rushed forward, clinging to the wall and climbed. Men rushed to the tops of towers where there were still some and grabbed the logs of fires and began beating the bells hung in the tops.

They were quickly silenced as those that had been crawling up the walls rushed the last few feet and found their way in.

Men in confusion stared into darkness beside their beds, grabbing the closest solid objects and swinging against anything that moved, so frightened were they.

As the night wore on, men fell to creatures, or their own mates in confusion and blind fear.

Among them was one tall, imposing form that made it’s way to one spot of the wall.

Even without light of day, or light of the moon or stars, he was still able to see the scraped away moss and the hole.

Without wasting time he placed his fingers within it and felt around until he found what he sought. Pulling the switch back he opened the door and entered, many of those of the night right on his heels.

Lane and Erin were passed out ion a drunken stupor. It wasn’t long for them to be killed with their throats exposed as they were.

Turning the figure looked to the fire, his features were that of a man, but his skin was pale and cold. His eyes glowed crimson as his hair, the creatures that were behind him, barely lit by the light of the fire were no longer really humans. Their skin had long since rotted, hair mixed with vines of things growing from within their skulls.

Despite this, he seemed capable of maintaining control over them.

“Go, this wall will no longer be a testament to keep things out, but mark it as a tomb of death.” Instantly the creatures shambles away to do what they were told.

Alone, the man knelt down, still facing the fire.

There within it he could just make out something. A vast chamber, where a woman was held in chains, filthy, parts of her body bare and exposed.

He didn’t know who she was, nor did he understand why this vision burned his rage so.

Without a second thought he thrust one fist into the fire, grabbing at the white burning logs, turning them into the ash. Sparks flew up, a fresh wave of heat leapt at him, and he could feel the pain of the fire searing his flesh. He fought to remain quiet, but he could not last long.

Removing his arm from the fire, he let out a loud blood curdling scream, that sent any nearest to hear the pain and anger fleeing.