Fallen Angel: Caim's Revival

by Justin Daniels

Rating: mature
Tags: Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Other, Changelings, Original Character, Adventure, Human
Length: 11170

Caim is more than just an ordinary Angel - he's a ruthless warrior who always fought his battles alone. Now banished for a crime he didn't commit, he travels the Surface, hunted by the Makers, and followed by a strange Changeling filly.

Caim is more than just an ordinary Angel - he's a ruthless warrior who always fought his battles alone.

Now banished for a crime he didn't commit, he travels the Surface, hunted by the Makers, and followed by a strange Changeling filly.

But why does this strange little changeling follow him, though? And why does it keep trying to help him, of all people?

Published 2016-07-22 01:40:01 UTC
Last updated 2016-08-14 01:18:21 UTC

(1.1) "The Beginning."

Echoes fill the air within the dark confines of the Everfree Forest. Throughout the mysterious world of Equus, only a few dare trot within this one particular area... and those few would either be deemed extremely brave, or immensely foolish.

Regardless, though, only few ever found the light of day after entering these wretched lands... for the dangers within have been deemed unstable. From the unpredictability of the unicorns' magic, to the inability to control the weather for the pegasi... even the earth ponies never could find a way to tame the lands of the Everfree.

And thus, the place has been quarantined for as long as "The Era of Writing" began... and even in the beginning, it had been abandoned.

So why is it, then, that few would even dare explore such a place? It is the perfect place for exploration... but then again, it's also the place where unpredictable alterations of magic takes hold of many animals.

Wolves, after living inside the Everfree for long enough, would eventually die, only to rise again in the shells of wooden bodies. Massive bears with the divine, endless fabrics of space, itself, lie dormant within very few caves. Serpent-like creatures with numerous heads reside within the swamps deeper inside the darkest paths, ready to strike any that invade their territory.

Indeed, many strange occurrences have been reported within these woods; each bearing capital threats to the safety of the kingdom, unless dealt with by the Royal Guards in secrecy.

What they never expected, however, was to hear tales of a mysterious figure that appeared five days ago.

The figure's form is that of a mythical creature known as a "Human"... but he, as the shape of its body hinted at, is far from the normal ones that have been written about within the archives; notably due to the pitch black wings on his back, and his piercingly demonic, glowing red eyes.

His hair is just as black as the feathers on his wings, with the occasional white strand near the front. It is short, and combed center-parted.

He wears a long, black cloak with a folded shroud over his shoulders. Black leather armor covers his chest inside, with light chainmail added beneath the leather. His leggings, however, are made up of a thin cloth, with red leather shin guards protecting the lower halves of his legs.

His feet are protected by black steel-toed boots that rise halfway up the guards.

His lower arms are covered in red leather cuffs with black, sleeveless gloves protecting his palms from the elements that rise only a few inches over them.

While protected in medium-grade armor, however, he appears to not be carrying any weapons on him... which is odd, considering the creatures that dare approach him always wind up dead with cuts and severed limbs.

Seemingly unbeknownst to him, a pair of bright blue eyes could barely be found hiding in the bushes behind him from a distance... watching him eagerly, and silently creeping through the shadows.

It's been a long day for the fallen angel. He sighs before approaching yet another nearby tree with a barely noticeable gash on the side of the trunk.

"Another circle... of course it would lead me back here." he mutters, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.

Finally, he decides to rest his legs for a bit. Sitting with his back rested on the notched tree, he closes his eyes and, within a few seconds, drifts into a meditative trance.

"Well, what have we here?" a gruff male's voice echoes through the darkness.

"A spy, perhaps? Where could its hive be?!" another male's voice, less gruff than the previous, guesses.

A third, more noble-sounding male snorts. "Who cares what vocation this creature has? A freak's still a freak! The quicker we dispose of it, the better!"

The gruff one asks, "But Captain Light Speed! Isn't it a little... small? It looks like it's just a little filly!"

The noble, Light, replies, "Who cares what age it is, Quick Draw? It'll just grow up to be just like the rest of its hive!"

Quick sighs, then pauses. "What are your thoughts, Split Second?"

Split hums to himself before replying, "Well, we have our orders... and it's not like it's a pony, or anything. Hay, it's best to think of it as us killing off a potential new Queen Chrysalis, or something like that!"

Silence fills the area.

"Alright, then... let's just do it quickly, though, and be done with it! The thing's starting to actually look like it's pleading for its life... and it's difficult enough as is." Quick finally agrees.

More silence.

The sound of a blade sheathing from its scabbard finally fills the gap, followed by the squawking and flapping of birds and their wings.

This, of course, disturbs Caim from his meditation, and forces him to open his eyes and stand back up from his resting place.

Three Canterlot Guards stand in a triangular formation. They all have white coats, and wear golden armor with blue pigments dying the sides and the feathers of their helmets.

The leader is a unicorn with blue eyes. The other two are pegasi; the tallest one with green eyes, and the shorter, skinnier one with purple eyes.

On the backs of their helmets are their initials; the unicorn's being "LS", the large pegasus' being "QD", and the slimmer one's being "SS".

Crouched beneath the large tree lies a frightened changeling filly with light blue eyes, a small horn, and a pair of light blue insectoid wings. A few scratches adorns her sides, where a light green fluid oozes out slowly. Her cheeks are stained with tear streams as she sniffles and stares up at the three guards that tower over her.

No sooner than when Light's sword begins to glimmer from the treeline, a tall, ominous shadow rises above the stallions by twice the tallest one's height. A pair of black angel-like wings flare open from behind the tree. Finally, the figure behind the tree slowly walks around it, revealing the infamous creature from the rumors in the flesh.

The guards step back a few paces, now staring up at the creature's glowing red eyes, which stare back at them with a bored, half-lidded gaze.

"Where is the nearest settlement?" the shadowy figure asks Light in a casual, yet slightly bemused tone.

Light gulps before glaring at him. "Y-you! You're interfering with official Royal Business, you... thing! Please leave this area at once, or be tried by the laws of her majesty, Princess Celest-"

The creature's wings flare out quickly, sending a large gust of air around the area, and forcing the guards on their backs. Then, in a far more darker, venomous tone, the creature speaks again.

"I ̡car͜e ̨ver͘y͡ l͝i̴tţl̵e͞ a͝b̨out͘ ͢yo̶ur p͞at͢h͞e͟tic̡ ͢l̨aw̸s̛ a̢nd́ y̴o̷u͝r̡ f̨e̷eb̧l͞e̴ órder! ͝N͘ow a͠n͝s̶wer ̸ḿy ͡que҉s̡t͝i̛on, ̀or̴ ̀yo̸u ̷an͡d͝ you̡r͞ ̴l̕ov́ed͝ ̴o͏n̴és sh̷a҉l͜l ͘jo̡in̵ the͘ c͢ou͞ntles͏s ̀ar̨m͜ies ͡that͜ ͘I̷ ҉ha̕ve ͡s̵la̢u̕gh́te̸r͢e͏d͡ ͝ĺong̵ b̕efo͡r̀e͜ ỳou҉!"

The soldiers gulp before slowly standing back up. Then, unable to hide the fear in his voice, Light stutters, "T-then you... y-you're under arrest! A-and the-"

Before Light could even finish his sentence, the creature snaps his right fingers. Immediately a long, jagged sword materializes from a black and red smoke.

The handle is pitch black with red diamonds embroidering the hand guard. The upper tip of the hand guard curves up with the back of the blade, while the lower half lowers over his knuckles, and swirls to the lower half of the handle, where another red diamond rests in the black metallic handle. The lower half of the blade is blood red, with several serrated curves, with the thickest end of the blade being the top half. The upper half, however, is pitch black, and shaped like a thin triangle, ending just a few inches away from the tip, before being engulfed in the red metal.

Upon seeing that the creature is armed, the soldiers quickly drop their weapons and crouch onto the ground, hiding their heads with their forehooves.

The creature, however, doesn't sway his annoyed expression, but only continues to speak to them in his demonic tone.

"Y̕o̧u... ̡a̢re w͜as̡tin̷ǵ..̡. ͘m͜y t͜im̧ȩ.͡.̕.̢"

Finally, with shaky hooves, Light points towards the direction away from the tree. "J-just t-t-through t-that p-p-passage, t-take a r-r-right t-t-turn! C-can't miss it!"

The creature glares at them even more, before raising his sword up to Light's neck. He winces at the close proximity of the blade, and sweats profusely.

"L̛ęàd ̀t̸h̡e w͜ąy, ̕then."

With a nod, Light slowly drifts his right hoof towards his sword, only to yelp and jerk his hoof back as the red blade clashes into the glowing white sword, shattering the guard's blade into several shards.

"Y͞ou͡r͢ ͟ẁe͘ap͢o͞ns ͘a̕re̢ useless͟ agai̷n͟st͜ ̨m͢ę.͡ ͢R͞eme̷m̨b͏e͝r t̀h͠at̵, ͟fool̸s͠.̶.̡.͡ an̶d ̵k҉now th̴a͟t ̡I͜ ķno͠w̴ wh̢at҉ you̶'͠re up͟ t̛ǫ.͝ ͢Sh̨o̕u͠l҉d y̸ou ̨mis̢g͡u҉i̛d̢e͟ ̶me҉ for ́t͢o̧ǫ ̧l̸on͢g,͟ h̸owev̛er,͘ ̨th͞e͘n͞ k̛n̡ow ̨tha͟t y͠our r̡et͜urn͝ ҉hom̡e̸ shall n͢ot ̧be ͠pr̨o͟m͜ise͜d͠..̶."

Without hesitation, the guards quickly stand up and start trotting away from the area Light pointed. However, the creature quickly speeds past them, and blocks their path, forcing them to stop immediately. Then, with a feral growl, the creature points towards the area where Light pointed at.

"First,͏ ͢y̡o̧u ̡wi͡l̡l̶ t͘a̵ke͘ ͞me ̧t̴o̢ t͞he ͢pl̕àce y̕ou ̨w̨a̛nt̶e̸d ͢m̕e ̷t̸o ͏ǵo.̵ ͠ I̵ wil̛l͠ ҉u̡se ̵m͡y ͢e̴x͡p͏e͜r̛ie̵ǹce̷ th̵rou҉ǵh th̀a͏t̷ to j̶ud͡g̡e ͘t͜h̷e̸ ͜t̨hr̢ee̡ ̛o͜f ̷ýo̧ưr҉ ̷fa̴te͟s̛!"

With another gulp, the guards nod and turn around. Then, ever-so-slowly, they begin to trot towards their destination, now completely ignoring the changeling filly that looks up at the creature in awestruck wonder.

Caim grows tired of the three guards that are obviously sending him into a trap. Regardless, he decides that he's been going too soft on these foolish creatures. It's about time that they see just what "good" their plans against him would do.

He hears a light chirp, and sighs. Then, he quickly stretches his right hand out towards the changeling filly that's been watching him from a distance these past few moons.

"Do not mistake my intentions. I am not here to save you. I only seek answers... and you were just there at the time. Nothing more."

As he walks on down the path, leaving the little changeling behind him, he adds, "You'd be wise to stop watching me, now. It will only bring you death."

As he and the guards vanish from the distance, his words echo through the little filly's mind. She looks around, now very frightened and alone, before looking towards the direction that her unintentional rescuer and her former captors disappeared from.

She weighs the options in her mind carefully, before a determined look crosses her face.

Finally after letting out a light huff, she gallops towards the area deeper into the forest... the place where her "target" now heads to.

The place called "Froggy Bottom Bog".

Author's Note

So here's the first part. Expect the next one soon.

I'm putting my other stories on hold while I deal with unpacking my stuff into my new FEMA Trailer. I'll be working a lot, though, so please don't expect much responses.

I'll continue the other stories in due time. For now, please note that I'm on a new laptop, and might be able to bring it with me occasionally.

Regardless, though, I'm on a pretty heavy schedule, with about 48 hours of work time this week, and possibly somewhere around that in the week ahead.

Had Kidney Stones, too, which put me $1,500 dollars down the hole, excluding the medical bills. That was just for the ambulance trip! Had to put up with that, which is why I couldn't respond much these past few months.

That, plus the lack of a PC. I was forced to use my phone, and might've started a new story on Wattpad. That one's also a FanFiction, but is based on "Zootopia", instead. ("Zootropolis" in the UK, I think.) Seriously good movie, go check it out some time!

And of course, as always... stay strong, My Little Bronies!

(1.2) "A Dance of Blood and Timber!"

The three guards gulp as they finally approach the clearing. Having not been prepared for this kind of situation, the only option that they have is to accept their fates and prepare for the inevitable.

They know that they are heading to the place where the hydra was rumored to have been resting, but what they wished for was the creature that looms dangerously close to them to go it alone.

And now, it would seem that they are going to pay the ultimate price for their failed lie.

"W-we're almost there..." Light finally said, breaking the uneasy silence.

The creature didn't respond to him. He just continued following the three guards, almost as if he were concentrating on something.

Caim's patience grows thin. These three guards are obviously stalling for time, yet he doesn't wish to kill them... not yet, anyways.

After all, they're guards. This means that they could be his only tickets out of this Makers-forsaken forest.

"W-we're almost there..." the leader of the three guards comments.

Caim almost tries to comment, but pauses when his eyes quickly glance to the side.

Something is nearby... something feral. No... a pack of these feral things.

Deciding to avoid startling these guards, he merely remains silent, but keeps his ears open.

The big one turns to the others and asks, "D-does anypony else h-hear something growling?"

The skinny one pauses before one of his ears twitches. Had his face not be covered in white fur, he would've more than likely gone pale.

"S-sir! W-we need to go!"

Caim raises his hand out and says, "No. Keep moving."

They gulp again before nodding their heads and walking forward.

They only manage to take two steps when a pair of glowing green eyes stares at them from the shadows ahead. They instinctively stop and yelp before taking a few steps back.

"T-T-TIMBERWOLVES!"

They turn around and attempt to flee, only to find more of the glowing green eyes behind them.

They are surrounded.

Caim sighs and rolls his eyes before looking down at the guards. "Pathetic."

And with that, he continues walking forward. The guards remain frozen in place as the timberwolves slowly prowl towards the tallest figure in the area.

Caim crosses his arms over his chest and glares at the timberwolf in front of him and unfurls his wings.

"Mangy beasts. Begone at once, or die swiftly."

As the pack finally snarls and lunges towards him at once, he lightly grins before stretching his wings out completely. Then, in one burst of strength, his wings propel him several meters into the air, causing the timberwolves that leaped up to stare wide-eyed at their companions, as the distance between them dramatically shrinks. Finally, there comes a loud crack and several whines as the timberwolves crash into each other, forming a large pile of wooden chunks on the ground.

Caim lands on top of the pile elegantly before eyeing the rest of the timberwolves, bemused.

They all glare at the figure on top of the pile before howling. The green auras within them floats inside the pile, while their wooden bodies disassemble into the air and float alongside the auras.

Caim raises an eyebrow before noticing the pile below his feet starting to alter in shape.

He glares before leaping into the air again as two large chunks of wood collide in the area where he once stood. Then a pair of massive green orbs emit from one side of the huge wooden snout. The wolf-like head bends back into a regular shape before the wood forms it into a much larger timberwolf... an alpha.

As Caim lands on the ground, he looks up at the newly formed creature before him. Now, it stands ten times his height, as opposed to the height of his chest.

It starts with a small growl. Then it opens its mouth and lets out a loud roar, blowing the three guards into a nearby tree.

Caim, however, just stares inside the creature's mouth, deadpanned. He snaps his fingers, drawing his sword again.

"Hmm... interesting."

The alpha reaches one of its claws up and plunges it onto the ground, surrounding Caim with its razor-sharp claws.

He grins before folding his wings back and closing his eyes.

The timberwolf contracts its claws in an attempt to crush its target into pieces.

However, when Caim opens his eyes, they glow pure white. Then, with a single flare of the wings, the timberwolf's entire arm bursts into pieces, as the massive creature flies back, landing on its remaining three.

It growls again, before howling. The pieces that flew off quickly fly back into place, and its arm returns to normal.

"Regenerative... of course." Caim comments, smiling smugly. "So I can kill you repeatedly, over and over again."

The timberwolf roars again before dashing towards him at an alarming speed.

Caim rolls his eyes before gripping his sword with both hands. Then, while the giant timberwolf is still moving towards him, he rushes towards it, sword overhead, and dashes beneath it at a blurring speed.

The timberwolf yelps before falling and sliding towards the guards, who all three yell in alarm.

Then both halves of the timberwolf slides right past them, and collides onto the trees behind them.

They sigh in relief.

Caim turns and looks at the timberwolf alpha's two bodies. The glowing green orbs fades into darkness before floating into the air.

Using this to his advantage, Caim quickly reaches his left hand out. A red and black aura emits from around both, his hand, and the orb of light.

He then pulls backwards, forcing the green orb towards him. As he does, he lightly chuckles as it attempts to fly away.

Then, with it in his reach, he lifts his sword up above it and pierces the blade into the green orb.

Red and black beams start to drag small pieces of the green orb inside his sword, until nothing remains but the two piles of wood.

The creature has been slain.

However, Caim keeps his sword drawn, due to another force he senses... though this one is very familiar to him.

He hears a pair of hands clapping together on top of a nearby tree. He turns towards the source and looks up, only to glare at the figure above him.

The figure appears to look similar to him. Its body is like a human's, but with black wings behind his back. His hair is long and pure white, and instead of armor, he appears to be wearing a light blue robe with golden trimmings on the sides. His hands are covered in white cloth gloves, and his eyes are pure white.

Despite being robed, and sounding like a nobleman, his figure is quite well-toned. If standing on level surface, he would stand about a head higher than Caim.

"Well, well! Fancy meeting you here, Caim!" the figure states in an amused tone.

Caim puts his sword away before placing his hands on his hips. "Amon... of course it would be you who seeks to end me." He smiles lightly, before tilting his head mockingly. "And I take it you're still upset about me killing off your forty legions, correct?"

Amon's smirk slightly diminishes. "Despite my legions being like brothers to me, I have looked past that. After all, you were just another one of the Makers' puppets back then."

Caim's glare only intensifies. "I was not, nor will I ever be, one of their puppets."

Amon's smile slowly rises back up again. "Yes, yes. We've all heard it before."

Caim raises a confused eyebrow up. "We?"

Amon nods his head and shrugs his shoulders. "What, you didn't honestly think that the two of us were the only Fallen Angels to be brought down into this pitiful planet, did you? After all, it was you who drove most of us away... myself included."

Caim spits on the ground. "And I'd finish what I started, unless you get to the point. Why are even here, besides trying to kill me?"

Amon raises an eyebrow. "Kill you? Why ever would I want to do that?"

"Don't play games with me, fool."

"Then don't play games with me, stupid!"

Caim's grip on his sword intensifies. "I do not play games, Amon."

Amon shrugs his shoulders again before stretching his wings out and floating even higher on top of the tree. "Well, then, answer me this. Why do you think you are unable to fly anymore?"

Caim's glare softens slightly as the thought occurs to him. Ever since he woke up in this forest, he was unable to use his wings to fly more than just a few meters off the ground. At first he dismissed it as him just being fatigued after his somewhat painful landing.

But then, the fatigue should've ended by now.

Amon nods his head and folds his arms over his chest. "It looks like it's now dawning down on you, old friend. You see, ever since you have arrived on this planet, its magic has been sapping your energy away! Why, it's only a matter of time before you turn completely mortal!" He points at Caim and winks. "In fact, the only things that keep your powers active would be your wings... and your Soul Blade!"

Caim folds his wings defensively as Amon snaps his fingers. Suddenly, a group of purple portals open around Caim. Ripples emit from the centers of the portals, before large, lion-like creatures emerge from said portals.

These creatures bear the bodies of lions, but with the wings of a dragon, and the tail of a scorpion.

"Manticores." Caim mumbles in disgust, having faced only a few of them in his lifetime.

"The kings of the jungles in the Aether, itself! And just imagine my surprise when I saw some of them roaming around in this world, too!" Amon chuckles before sitting on the highest branch on the tree. "Just think of it this way; I won't have to kill you... but that doesn't mean my new little pets won't, though!"

As Caim braces himself for real combat, the three manticores charge at him. What he notices off the bat, however, is that their bodies have purple smoke emitting from around them. This, to him, is the confirmation that these manticores are enchanted, somehow.

With that, he quickly rolls out of the way as the manticores skid to a halt. However, instead of bump heads, they merely maneuver their bodies until they face Caim again, and charge as a pack.

He growls as he realizes that one of those enchantments includes a boost in intellect and maneuverability. With that, he draws his sword again and prepares to change his approach from agile to defensive.

And then, they leap up, propel themselves with their wings, and plunge towards him at an alarming speed.

Time slows for the fallen angel for a brief moment.

He's faced demons before. He's wiped out legions of the living and the dead. He's even defeated several of his own kin. Every single time, he would have his powers backing him up, without the need of assistance.

But now, for the first time ever, Caim feels threatened, as he recalls one particular feature about Amon that he noticed right off the bat.

Caim's wings can't fly... yet Amon's allowed him to reach the top of that tree. Additionally, Amon was able to use a portal spell, which naturally requires a lot of power.

With those details as plain as day, it quickly occurs to him... Amon has the upper hand. He's using these manticores to weaken Caim even more, before fighting him at full force.

And with that, time returns to normal, as Caim's sword takes the force of the manticores' strikes.

(1.3) "Powerless!"

A Time Long Forgotten...

She grunts silently as she continues running through the dark woods. Scampering and distant voices echo through the darkness, and she constantly feels as if she's being watched.

Suddenly, she trips and falls. Her bright green hood continues to cover her head, as the rain pours over her frail little body.

She opens her eyes and lifts herself up, where she sees her own reflection in a small puddle.

Her eyes are light blue; almost as blue as the lower corners of her jacket. Her hair is long and black, and her skin is pale, with small freckles on her cheeks.

She turns around and gasps as the glowing blue eyes continue to taunt her from the darkness. The monsters are surrounding her, leaving her to silently beg for mercy... but being mute, her only option is to use sign language.

Unfortunately, it doesn't work. They continue to approach her with their pitch black insectoid hooves trotting closer to her.

As she tries to stand up and run, one of their horns lights up with a bright green aura, which suddenly encases the girl. She wheezes as an attempt at screaming, but her efforts are in vain.

One of the creatures approaches her... the tallest of them all.

It is a male one of the creatures with glowing red eyes.

He trots closer to her, until she's staring eye-to-eye at it. Then it grins wickedly, before opening its mouth; revealing its bloodied fangs. Finally, as its fangs get closer to her vision, it speaks in a tone that sends shivers down her spine.

"A҉T ͞LA̛S͏T, I'VE ̸F͠O̢U̕ND̕ ́YOU͞!"

The battle is fierce for Caim. With every attempt at blocking one of the manticores' strikes, he quickly has to evade one of the other two, only to find the third nearing him from behind. Then they fall back and circle him, keeping him on his toes.

While he may be able to strike from all sides with a gust of wind, he still needs to conserve his energy, should Amon attempt anything. Plus, with his rival's eyes focused on him the entire time, he knows that he would only be giving himself an opening if he tries spreading his wings out.

Finally, after dodging once more, one of the manticores leaps over its friend, lunging after Caim with full force.

He quickly blocks the attack, only for the third to approach him from behind and swipe horizontally.

It cuts through the chainmail, and leaves four scratches in his flesh.

Slightly injured, he hisses before reaching his hand behind his back and casting a small energy blast at the manticore.

It flies backwards a few feet, giving him the opening he needs.

With the manticore that's locked on his blade still attempting to crush him, he rolls under it, but lunges his sword upwards, piercing the beast through the back, and lifting it up into the air.

With another blast, he manages to toss the creature into the air before leaping up with his sword at hand.

As it slows down, it uses its wings to regain balance in the air, only to growl in pain at its injury. It then looks down, only for Caim to appear below it, and within reach.

Before it could swing at him, however, he slices towards its vision, shortly before everything goes dark.

Caim lands on the ground with his sword glowing even more red from its fallen victim. Behind him, the body of the manticore lands, with its head falling down on the other side of him, and rolling forward slightly.

The two remaining manticores roar as their brother lies dead, before rushing towards the fallen angel at full force, no longer under the influence of the spell.

Caim smiles slightly as he notices their lack of control over their bodies. He has them where he wants them.

Leaping up in the air once more, he manages to use his wings to sweep through the air quickly, before folding them back as he soars towards the two opponents. Then, with his feet close to the ground, he kicks himself up to boost his height, and swirls through the air, sending his blade through the manticores in a circular pattern.

He lands on the ground while the manticores fall behind him. Rather than cut in half, however, all of their limbs were quickly severed, with the momentum of their running scattering the pieces a great distance away.

Caim stands back up and breathes heavily. Has this world truly sapped that much of his energy?

His eyes quickly turn to the side as he remembers that the battle isn't even over yet.

Suddenly he hears the flapping of a pair of large wings, and turns with his sword held in a defensive position. No sooner than that, does he barely manage to block the blue bladed, gold handled longsword being held by Amon.

He struggles as Amon glides over his form, smiling menacingly, and adding downward pressure to their weapons.

Caim's glare intensifies as he makes an attempt to push back... but try as he might, he knows that Amon's strength exceeds his own far too much. And so, he watches as his own blade inches closer to his face, with the tip of Amon's blade gaining a closer proximity towards his vision.

Finally, Amon's sword starts to glow white. The brightness forces Caim to close his eyes for a brief moment.

To his surprise, however, he feels the pressure lift. He rubs his eyes before quickly opening them back up. Amon isn't standing there, anymore.

He grips his sword's handle with both hands and braces himself. Looking around, he holds his breath, trying to avoid concentrating on his aching muscles, and instead, searching the surroundings for any signs of his enemy.

A distant branch snaps behind him, forcing his vision towards the direction. He lifts his sword again and holds it defensively as he notices Amon rushing towards him at a blurring speed.

To his shock, though, Amon vanishes before his eyes.

And at this point, Caim realizes that it is too late. He fell for the trap.

He hears the footsteps behind him, only a few meters away, and his back is turned; his sword in front.

He turns his head quickly, right as he sees Amon's sword lunge towards his chest.

And then, a sharp pain fills his entire body. Blood quickly surges out of his chest as he feels the tip of the blade leave his chest, with the force of the impact lifting him up off his feet.

And the pain only continues, forcing him to drop his sword and grip onto his chest, in an attempt to remove the blade holding him in the air.

He hisses in agony as the blade only lifts him higher, until the only thing he feels between his back is the handle of the sword.

His back arches back, where his vision is upside-down. He then notices that Amon isn't even carrying his sword with his hands, but rather, through magic.

"Tell me, Caim... how does it feel? Being powerless, that is..."

The blade shifts slightly, causing Caim to grunt in pain. Blood slightly lurches from his mouth, as he coughs it up.

"It doesn't feel too good... does it? Knowing that you, the newest 'Slayer of Legions', have finally been defeated by the one whose legions you have slain?" He walks closer to Caim and looks him in the eyes. "Pity, though... I would've thought that you would've at least struck me once."

And with that, Caim spits some of his blood into Amon's face.

Amon wipes some of the blood off of his cheek, and stares at it while rubbing the crimson liquid in his fingers.

Then, he chuckles before smiling at Caim amusedly. "Oh? Is that the best you could do?"

Caim grits his teeth before reaching his right hand out. Amon's eyes quickly widen as he notices the gesture too well.

Before Amon could react, Caim shoots a blast of red energy directly into Amon's chest, sending him flying into a tree, which topples over upon impact.

Amon's grip on his blade is lost, and Caim falls directly onto the ground. His vision blurs as the pain in his chest intensifies, with the blade's handle piercing through his body the rest of the way, only deepening his wounds.

He grips onto the flats of the blade and, with a pained groan, pulls it out and tosses it aside.

Then he feels a magic grip hold his entire body in place. He then finds himself lifted up again, with an enraged Amon approaching him with the sword in-between the two angels.

"Oh, why you little..." Amon takes a deep breath and claps his hands together as he stops his movement. He then opens his eyes after a brief moment of collecting his thoughts.

"So you do have more fight in you, then. Too bad you just used the last of your energy just to push me back a few steps."

Caim weakly opens his mouth and coughs more blood out before chuckling. "And yet you still took the strike."

Amon rubs his chin in thought before smiling smugly. "Ah... well, then. I suppose not all victories could be flawless. Regardless, though, I'll be sure to tell my helpful friends that I've managed to put the monster down."

Caim raises an eyebrow at his statement. "Friends? Monster? The only monster is you, and the only friends you could have are mindless servants!"

Amon chuckles and shakes his head. "On the contrary, I've been in this world longer than you have, Caim. The locals here, heroes and commoners, all look up to me as their divine protector. I've even befriended the rulers of this world... and they gave me the all-clear to eliminate the threat that roams their old kingdom."

Caim glares at him again. "So you're cowering behind royalty, then? That seems unlike you... what are your true intentions, Amon?!"

Amon shrugs his shoulders. "For now, I only wish to serve my princesses, and their faithful subjects! I will be what you couldn't be... and I will start with you." Amon grabs his sword again and approaches Caim once more.

Caim sighs before closing his eyes. He knows that this is it. "Very well, then... end me, and be done with your mission. Know this, though... I was not the one who killed your father."

Amon stops, and tilts his head confusedly. "Oh? So you expect me to believe that, knowing that you were well intent on killing me, had it not been for Zeus's intervention?"

Caim opens his eyes again. "And you believe me to lie about someone I did not kill, knowing that all lives I have claimed, I openly admit?"

And now, for once, it is Amon who glares at Caim. "You had your powers, then. You stand before me in a weakened state... how am I to believe you're only saying this to save your own life?"

Caim sighs and closes his eyes again. "I don't. That is why I say for you to go ahead and finish me."

Amon stands there, staring at his fallen brother with a blank look. He senses the truth in Caim's words, but still holds the vengeance of his legions in his heart.

And yet, he feels something else... pity.

"You know... I was intent on killing you, Caim... but in this state, you do not even pose the same threat you did then. Mayhaps this planet's magic has clouded my judgement."

Caim raises an eyebrow again, but remains silent.

Amon finally tightens his grip on his sword. "Caim... you have slain my legions... you have banished me to this world! I have every right to slay you, here and now! However... I do not wish to kill you just yet. Therefore, you are at my mercy... but not this world's."

He inches his face closer to Caim's and deadpans at him. "I no longer wish for you to die... no. I wish for you to suffer... and so, I shall grant you your life... but at the greatest of costs."

Caim's eyes widen as he notices Amon's eyes trail down to his back... or more specifically, his wings.

"Amon, you... you sick bastard! So help me, if you do this, I shall rise again, and..."

Amon's magic covers Caim's throat, causing him to choke, and his body to twitch.

"Hush, Caim... you wouldn't want to hear yourself after this..." he lifts his sword up in the air and licks his lips, while Caim's muffled cries fills the immediate area.

The forest grows silent. Even the crickets stop chirping, as if to silently watch the monster that invaded their planet receive the heaviest of punishments that any angel could ever receive.

Then, a whoosh fills the air. A nasty hacking shortly follows suit, with a loud, muffled scream to conclude. Several birds fly from their nests, so as to avoid the backlash of the power that was just stripped from the entity below them.

Blood gushes from the black lumps on Caim's back. Without his powers present, the pain he felt before has been intensified in his new mortal form.

His vision blurs even more as he feels his life quickly fading away. Even the impact of the ground on his back fails to register to his senses. He barely sees anything, anymore. All that he could see is Amon standing over him with his wings folded in one hand, and the sword that claimed them in the other.

"With these as proof that you have been dealt with, my princesses should be able to rest easier." His voice begins to echo as he looks at Caim one last time. "Do not disappoint me and go dying, yet. You still have so much more to live for! Think of this as a new life for you."

And with that, Caim's consciousness fades.

Amon stares at Caim's unconscious form. Blood continues to puddle below him as his wing slots continue to bleed out.

Rolling his eyes, Amon turns to look at the distant mountain, or more specifically, the massive city that rests on top. Then, with a flare of his wings, he flies into the sky, and zooms towards the city... the City of Canterlot.

From the nearby bushes, the trio of guards stare at the destruction before them with a worried expression.

"W-whoa... t-that was... not what I expected of Sir Amon at all!" the leader of the trio mumbles.

"S-should we report this as a success, then?" the skinny pegasus asks.

The unicorn nods before the big pegasus asks, "What of the changeling, though?"

They look ahead, only to notice the changeling filly already approaching the creature's unconscious form.

"Uh... what is it doing?" the little pegasus asks.

The big one squints his eyes to get a better look.

The changeling appears to be carrying a small saddlebag in her mouth. She quickly places it on the ground next to the creature before opening it up and going through it quickly.

She pulls out a small cloth towel, a mortar and pestle, a few glowing blue leaves, a small jar of green mud, and a tiny scalpel.

"I... think I've seen this before, actually!" the big pegasus states, causing the other two guards to look his way.

"Do go on, Quick Draw."

Quick reaches into his field saddlebag and pulls out a small notepad, before flipping through the pages. As he does, the other two guards study the changeling's actions.

The changeling grinds the leaves into the stone tools with the mud already dumped into it.

"Everblue Leaves, and Evergreen Mud..." Quick begins reading from the notepad.

The guards tilt their heads, but gasp when they see the changeling filly lift the scalpel to her foreleg with a determined look on her face.

Then the guards flinch as she lightly slits her leg, dripping a small sprinkle of her green blood inside the concoction.

"... Drizzled and topped with Changeling Blood. A cure for the wounded, whose life it restores, should Death come knocking upon their front doors."

They look at him confusedly. "Wow, Quick... didn't take you for the poetic type."

Quick sakes his head and puts his notepad away. "I'm not. I got that from a Zebra that lives near here. She helped me with a mortal wound once."

The others nod their heads before realization dawns upon them. "Wait... so that changeling is making some sort of Life Elixir?!"

At that, they quickly turn to the changeling, who is now pouring the concoction over the creature's wounds.

"Oh, no... someone has to warn Amon!" Light Speed, the unicorn leader, half-shouts.

Silence fills the air.

"So should we be the ones to warn him?" Quick Draw asks, keeping his eyes glued to the changeling as she medicates the creature's back.

"Heh... buck no! I'd rather just keep my head where it is, thank-you-very-much!" Light says, followed by a nod from his companions.

"If anything, that job at the nearby Rock Farms looks mighty promising right about now..." Quick Draw states.

"I think I'll stick with Guard Duty, actually. I'm kinda done with scouting for now, and wouldn't mind getting paid for standing still all day." Split Second, the smaller pegasus, suggests.

"Y-yeah. That sounds better, Split. Let's get going, then!" Light says before the three quickly gallop away from the scene, ignoring the changeling filly that's tending to the creature, and the former angel whose eyes slowly open back up.

(1.4) "Unwanted Attention."

The voices... they keey following me. Calling my name. Haunting me. Stalking me. Telling me to come back. I try as I might, to ward them off, but to no avail, for my voice was left behind.

My name they continue to call... but my memories are vague. Their words are eches in the wind... but nothing I hear, I could understand.

And to my horror, they get closer with every step I take. I feel alone. I feel frightened. I feel... empty. Have I lost my humanity? Am I no longer who I once was? Why do they hunt me so? What do they want from me? Why can't I remember who I am?

Because... I am nobody. A shell... but with no life. A heart... but with no soul.

I am... dead.

The rain begins to fall within the Everfree Forest. In the center of the charred, bloodied battleground, Caim's eyes slowly open, and an emotionless expression adorns his face.

Despite showing no emotion, he holds a deep sense of confusion. How is it that he is still alive?

His vision normalizes again, and he notices that a makeshift tent has been built overtop of him, made up of thin twigs and large leaves.

He looks down, only to notice that his opened wounds are now sealed shut by a glowing green paste, and a thick layer of white bandages cover his chest and his stomach.

As he tries to sit back up, he grips his wounded chest again, and hisses in pain.

Soon after, he hears a light chirp behind him, forcing his eyes open even more.

He turns around, only too stare eye-to-eye, at the changeling filly that had been following him the past few nights.

The filly appears to be lightly frowning at him, pointing at his chest.

He sighs and lies back down, already understanding the gesture. Despite the rain dripping through his makeshift tent, it never did bother him, anyways.

He continues to lie there silently while the changeling trots up to him again, carrying a strange red, green, and brown rag that, upon closer inspection, was once white, before being used to dress wounds.

"I do not need your attention, child. Why do you still follow me, though?" Caim mumbles, causing the changeling filly to stop in place and stare at his curious gaze.

She finally shakes her head left and right before approaching him again.

He closes his eyes again and silently hisses as he feels the cold cloth press into the manticores' cuts and bruises on his arms.

She chirps again, causing him to open his eyes once more. Her horn is glowing green. Between both, her face and his, a small waterskin floats in the air.

He stares at it for a moment before reaching his hand out to push it back. The sharp growing pain in his chest, however, causes him to reconsider his actions, and stick with gripping his chest, instead.

"Argh... I... don't need... your sympathy, child. You would be best to just leave me to die..." he says through grit teeth.

The changeling frowns at him and puffs her cheeks out, feeling slightly annoyed at his insistence. She then decides to levitate the pouch in front of his face again and shake it around with her spell.

His grip loosens on his chest and he stares at the pouch again. He then looks at the changeling and glares at her.

"Child... you know not what those kinds of actions will bring you. Quit pestering me, and leave."

To his surprise, the changeling shakes her head.

"No? What business have you with me?"

She opens her mouth and begins chirping, as if trying to speak.

He quickly realizes that her voice, despite being nothing but chirping noises, sounds more like a series of hushed noises.

"Can you not speak?" he asks her.

She stops talking and stares at him for a moment. Then her ears splay back and she pouts, brushing the dirt in front of her. She then looks back up at him and slowly nods her head.

He sighs again before resting his back on the floor. "Then there is nothing to discuss. Just leave, and let me slip away."

Again, though, she shakes her head.

"Why not?" he asks, only to raise his hand at her when she opens her mouth again. "Nevermind... just..."

He sighs and rubs his forehead, not only irritated at the situation and the changeling, but also the fact that he's actually needing to be treated by said changeling.

"Just... just don't get in my way."

She nods her head before circling on the ground and lying on her haunches, underneath a separate makeshift tent. She doesn't lay her head on the ground, though, but continues to stare at Caim.

Even though he's able to close his eyes, he's finding it difficult to sleep. Not only due to the rapidly growing pain in his chest, but also the fact that he could still sense the changeling staring at him. And he already has a hunch as to why.

"You're just going to keep staring at me until I drink your potion, aren't you?" he asks, looking back up at the filly for confirmation.

She simply closes her eyes and nods her head once.

He looks from the changeling to the pouch again before groaning and slowly reaching his hand up to get it.

The changeling lifts it closer to him, aiding him in reaching it so as not to disturb his wounds any more.

He looks at the pouch carefully. It's made of a thick fabric and some sort of rubber material, so leakage isn't an issue. However, he could smell something rancid inside of it.

He reaches his hand underneath its opening, only for the opening to be magically sealed again. After hearing the changeling chirp, he rolls his eyes before looking her way.

She merely shakes her head and frowns at him.

Once more he glares back at her. "You are not making this any easier on me. What is inside this... uh..." He groans again, remembering that she can't even answer his questions.

Finally, and with a heavy sigh, he removes his hand from below the pouch and begins to raise it over his opened lips.

But the pouch doesn't come undone.

He glares at her again, only for her to reach her right hoof and start sucking on it.

"I can't even look inside this thing?!"

She shakes her head once more.

He groans again before lowering it to his lips. "By the Makers, you are persistent..."

He hovers the pouch mere inches from his lips before turning his eyes to see the changeling. She continues to deadpan at him.

Finally, with one more sharp pain in his chest jolting at his nerves, he gives in and places the tip in his mouth.

With a satisfied smile, the changeling opens the seal inside, causing the strange, disgusting syrup to pour in his mouth.

He has taken several medicines before in his life, as a trip to the medic has been quite common for the warring angels. And yet, out of all of them, the worst of those were nothing compared to the flavor that seeped into his stomach.

And the worst part? Those were in small portions. This was an entire pouch full of it!

Upon reaching the end of it, he choked and tossed the pouch away, only to look at another pouch being levitated towards him. He could tell, from the liquid gushing out of it, that this one is just water.

Gripping it quickly, he sits back up slightly and chugs the liquid down to wash the Maker-Awful taste in his mouth.

He then glares at the changeling and points at her. "What kind of foul liquid was that?!"

She doesn't even flinch, though. Instead, she points at his chest.

"What does that even..." he begins, only to pause at the sudden revelation.

His chest is no longer in pain. He looks down, only to realize that the green goop on his wounds is now glowing slightly brighter.

He reaches towards his chest, only to feel a magical force pull his hand back. He turns towards the changeling again, only to see her shaking her head once more.

He deadpans at her again and lowers his hand back to the ground.

Finally, the changeling smiles and nods her head at him before closing her eyes and resting on her forehooves.

Caim raises an eyebrow at her before sighing and closing his own eyes. Ever since he got here, he was never able to sleep like this.

And so, he slowly feels his consciousness fade again.

He opens one of his eyes and examines the changeling filly once more. He could see her sleeping form, but can't determine whether she's merely avoiding talking to him, or if there's some sort of deformity inside of her.

Regardless, however, he looks at his hands and tries to figure out what changes have been made since he lost his wings.

Surely there must be some way for him to regain his powers, as he could clearly recall removing Amon's wings before he was banished.

Could the inhabitants of this planet possess a power that far exceeds even that of the Makers?! Or maybe... there could be a Maker living in this world?

He concentrates on his hand and snaps his fingers. A small flicker of light, but nothing more.

This, however, is enough clarification that not all of his powers are lost, due to the stumps on his back.

With this, he lightly grins. "At least there's still a chance."

And with that, he lies back down, only to look at the changeling in the nearby tent.

She still sleeps peacefully, despite being near a monster. She practically wove a metaphorical chunk of meat in front of a starving lion, and dared the consequences, regardless of knowledge.

This little child is either really brave, or really foolish. And yet, Caim could easily determine one from the other for any other thing out there... so why not this one?!

"Strange child..." he murmurs before closing his eyes and drifting back to sleep. Tomorrow, he would need to find those guards again... unless the changeling happens to know this forest good enough.

A question, of course, for tomorrow.

(1.5) "The Angel and the Changeling."

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.

(1.0) "Awakening"

Author's Note

I recommend reading this story in "High-Contrast Dark" Format, which can be changed at the top-right corner of the reading window. (The "A" button with "Formatting" next to it.)

(1.0) "Awakening"

It's been five days since it happened... since the day that I was banished from the Aether, and exiled to this pathetic excuse for a planet.

Ever since that day, I've been stranded in a strange forest. It doesn't look like the creatures in here pose a threat to me, though... but regardless, I still can't shake this uneasy feeling that there's something watching me... or should I say, someone.

Whatever the case, this strange entity... there's something different about it than the rest of those who have crossed my path. It is almost like it's... studying me. It doesn't want a conflict, yet it doesn't fear me. It appears to know that I am dangerous, yet it still wishes to observe me from a distance, perhaps thinking I am unaware of its whereabouts.

Throughout the thousands of years of my existence... for once, I don't know what to do. Should I at least let it know that I... no. Rather, I should observe it, as well.

I will let it continue with what it's doing for now. As long as it doesn't try anything, or attract unwanted attention in my direction, then I shouldn't let its observations concern me. But if it gets too close for my comfort, then I will let it know that I prefer to be alone... as it should be.

Whether I spare it, however, will depend on how it takes my request.

-Caim-