Fallen Angel: Caim's Revival

Her eyes slowly drift open. Thankfully the rain stopped overnight, so she doesn't need to worry about her tiny wings being soaked to the core. Insectoid wings take long enough to dry even after being damp.

She lets out a long, drawn-out yawn before smacking her lips a couple times. Specks of rain water, saliva, and coated dirt cover her lips, but she doesn't seem bothered by it.

Then her memories of last night fill her head. Quickly, she stands up and hops out of her small tent, only to sigh in relief when she sees the strange figure she'd been observing just standing there, staring at his hand as he continuously snaps his fingers, emitting small flames and diminishing them shortly after.

She trots up to his tent and, with her magic, folds it together alongside her own before levitating them into a small roll of cloth. She then fits the cloth into her makeshift saddlebag, and looks back at the fallen angel.

His eyes briefly drift from his hand to her, before returning to the prior.

"You're still staring at me." he says, not taking his eyes off of his hand.

She nods her head and lightly smiles. He, of course, sighs at this gesture.

"You still wish to follow me... don't you?"

Again, she nods her head.

He finally turns his head to face her. "And you're already aware of the risks, after seeing what happened yesterday?"

She sighs before nodding her head with a deadpanned look splayed across her face.

He glares at her before balling his hands into a fist. "You do realize that, after I get my powers back, I do not intend on staying in this world... correct?"

She nods her head again.

He stares at her for another long moment, silently observing her eyes, trying to figure out her long-term goal... a natural gift that all angels have.

Yet he still can't figure out where she stands in life, nor who she truly pledges her loyalty to.

And this, of course, gives him an idea.

"I will only allow you to continue to follow me... if you take me to the one you've pledged your loyalty to."

She rubs her chin in thought before nodding her head. She then trots up to him and... stands there.

He raises a confused eyebrow at this gesture. "What are you waiting for? Take me to your leader. Should you be taken from your leader's eyes, it would only be trouble for us both."

She sighs before frowning at him and looking at the ground. Then she brushes at the dirt, unintentionally drawing a small line on the ground in the process.

She then gasps as an idea forms in her head.

She quickly taps on her chest before drawing a small pattern on the dirt.

Caim tilts his head curiously before kneeling down to see what she's drawing.

It's a picture of a small flag, with an arrow pointed her way.

She then taps on her chest again before crossing out the flag with an easily noticeable "X".

Caim stands back up and rubs his chin in thought.

"So you do not serve anyone?" he asks.

Without even looking up at him, she nods her head again.

He sighs before crossing his arms over his chest. "Then what use do you have for me?"

She scratches the back of her head before levitating the bag up slightly.

"You could medicate me when I'm injured... but that doesn't mean you could protect me from every kind of ailment I could receive."

She shrugs her shoulders and looks up at him with a hopeful smile.

"You would still be willing to try?" he asks, to which she nods.

"And you really do not have a home... do you have any enemies?"

She rubs her chin before sighing and nodding her head.

"So you would only be more trouble, then?"

Again, she nods. Her ears splay back as she prepares for his inevitable answer.

"I care very little about what others would do. What I must know is... would you be the one that causes trouble?"

She scratches the back of her head before shrugging her shoulders.

"You do not know? Then how about... intentionally?"

Her ears rise up again. She then quickly shakes her head "no".

He then squints his eyes at her. "What if I told you to do so?"

Her ears splay back again. She then gulps before shaking her head again.

He continues to stare at her for a brief moment, weighing down his opinions. She seems to be far too friendly natured to be around him... but on the flip side, she seems to know a lot about wounds and medicines.

Communication would be an immediate problem that they would need to find a solution for immediately. And since she doesn't have a home, or anyone to trust her, she would have to have a name.

Finally, he decides to weigh down his answer to one last question.

"Do you know how to get out of this forest?"

She looks up at him again before examining the area around them. Seeing how she may have a hunch at where they are, she smiles and nods her head confidently.

He lightly sighs in relief. "Very well, then. Should you be able to guide me out of here... then I will allow you to continue following me."

His eyes are driven back to his sword that still lies on the ground.

"Unfortunately, I have tried to pick my sword up... but alas, it doesn't find me to be worthy of carrying it again."

The changeling tilts her head confusedly before turning her head to the blade.

Caim walks up to the sword and crouches to pick it up. As soon as his hand makes contact with the handle, however, his hand starts to emit a black smoke. He then quickly pulls his hand back, and stares at the charred flesh of his hand, before turning towards the changeling.

She frowns at his wounded hand before looking back at the sword.

"I know not what to do in this situation. Without my sword, I am powerless. With my sword, I could defeat those that stand in my way without question."

She hums before trotting up to the sword. He quickly notices and stretches his arm down, blocking her path.

"If you touch it, then you will die. I only live after making contact with it because I was once an angel... and still am, if only very slightly."

She gulps and backs away from the blade again. Then she sighs and looks up at Caim.

She notices a leaf fly from a distant tree, moving towards the sword. When the leaf lands on it, however, the sword doesn't burn the leaf.

This gives her an idea.

She reaches into her bag and pulls the small cloth rag out, and offers it to Caim.

He shakes his head, however, and glares at his hand. "No. It is only a flesh wound, and will heal quickly."

She huffs at him with her cheeks puffed out in annoyance. She then decides to just risk it, and levitates her rag up to the sword.

Caim raises an eyebrow at her actions. He sees the rag wrap around the handle as she approaches the sword.

He decides that, despite his warning, he would just let her do whatever it is that she's doing.

To his surprise, he notices her leaning down to pick the sword up with her mouth.

He quickly lets his instincts kick in. In a blurring speed, he rushes to the sword and picks it up with the rag still wrapped around the handle.

"Have you no idea what you're doing?!" he asks, raising his voice slightly. "This sword will kill you upon contact!"

He glares and turns around to face her, only to realize that she's merely smiling at him.

He growls and plants his face in his free palm. "By the Makers, you are..."

He pauses for a brief moment before looking at the sword in his uninjured hand. He blinks before looking at the changeling again.

"Well, then... you are a lot more clever than you look, at least."

She closes her eyes and presses her hoof on her chest proudly.

"However," he begins, causing her to lose her posture and look up at him again normally, "you still haven't pledged your allegiance with anyone."

He rubs his chin, contemplating his decision. Finally, he nods his head in affirmation.

"I believe you have earned my trust. As such, I will make you an offer." He points his sword her way, causing her to flinch slightly.

"Know that what you say does not alter my thoughts on you following me. You are still free to do so, regardless."

He plants the sword into the ground and walks closer to her. He then kneels to get closer to her level, and raises his right hand, with his palm facing her.

She flinches again at first, but opens her eyes when she realizes that he isn't striking her.

"I was once an angel... a being of high power. Of high authority. Now as I stand, even without my wings, I hold the power of life and death to those around me. To you, however, I see potential. And this potential will need to be protected. And in return, I will require your unquestioned aid in this world... this world you are more accustomed to.

"As such, I, Caim Allungarde, offer you a one-time chance of allegiance. Become my servant, and you shall be granted the protection of a Deity. Serve me well, and you shall be granted Eternity.

"Failure is not an option, though. It will be dangerous... it will be frightening. You will see death in every corner... but know that, despite this, it will not be you who falls, but those who I deem unworthy."

He lowers his hand to where she could reach.

"If you agree to this... then give me your hoof."

She raises an eyebrow at him before looking at her forehooves. She then scrunches up her face as she contemplates her decision.

"It is good to think ahead, child. Do not jump to your decision. And should you wish for more time to decide, you need only let me know."

He then tilts his head. "Do you need more time?"

She silently hums before nodding her head and smiling sheepishly at him.

He, in turn, nods his head and stands back up. "Very well, then. I shan't ask again. It is up to you to decide."

With that, he lifts his sword back up and motions towards her. "Know that I still will protect you so long as we are in this forest. Beyond that point, however, and you are on your own... unless you've reached your decision by then."

She nods one last time before beckoning him to follow her. She then starts to slowly trot ahead, with him close behind her.

"Darn it, Light Speed! I told you this wasn't the right way!" Quick whines to the unicorn guard ahead of him.

Light groans before glaring at the pegasus behind him. "Can it, Quick! You've already gotten us even more lost with your terrible directions!"

"Um... guys?" Split Second, the smaller pegasus, stutters, staring at something looming behind them.

"I mean, you're the expert on Wilderness Survival, Quick Draw!" Light continues, unaware of Split's nervousness.

"Guys... w-we should run..." Split continues as a large shadow casts itself over the three guards.

"Well what about you, Mr. Coordinator?! Aren't you supposed to have passed the exams on Geography?!"

"Guys! W-we-"

"Yeah, well the Everfree Forest hasn't been mapped, yet! This place is crawling with too much danger, anyways, so it would be unwise for anypony to travel through here!"

"You know what? Buck it, EVERY PONY FOR THEMSELVES!" Split shouts before bolting ahead of the two in a panic.

They stare at him confusedly. "The hay has gotten Split in such a rut?" Light asks, only for a loud growl to cause the two guards to straighten up in fear.

They slowly turn around, only to follow the shadowy figure up, and stare at the several lavender pairs of eyes that gaze directly at them. Pitch black slithery tongues slip out of their mouths as the Hydra senses its prey.

The two guards take a couple steps back before turning to face each other again.

"Well... I'd suppose that is a good reason why Split ran away. Don't you agree, Quick?"

"Y-yep... so what's your plan, Light?"

Light shrugs his shoulders before replying, "Eh... about the same as Split's, really."

Quick nods his head and gulps. "G-good idea, Sir."

And with that, the two guards look at the Hydra again before screaming and running away.

The Hydra lets out a loud roar before giving chase.