Deja Vu - A Unicorn's Story

“Darling your shivers worry me, perhaps some minor magic to ward off the cold?” Kaostrife trudged through the frozen lands, a white oasis before him. He was huddled deep within a heavy, traveler's cloak and several layers of clothes, his coat fluffed out as he fought to keep his teeth from chattering. While his robes matched his coat and were mostly white, the rim of his hood and his hoof cuffs had the deep crimson embroidered pattern of his order. The stallion was huddled so far within his hood, only the very tip of his silver horn was visible. “You know I only have the best of intentions for you, my sweet.” Sora hid within the heat of his hood, she was quite small for her age and while she was nearly entirely black, her scales along her belly and wingspan had dark purple accents. Kaostrife's dragon companion was coiled about the crest of his neck, pressing her muzzle against his cheek.

“If I use magic they'll be able to track me more easily.”

“I know dear, I just don't want you becoming a permanent popsicle. Half your purpose in this relationship is heat.”

“It has to be close now, we've been traveling south for days. This place is colder than the Yakyakistan mountains.” Kaostrife paused for a moment, remembering the last place they'd attempted to stop. “The village...”

“Don't let it bother you, dear. Some people just don't understand. You know better then to take it to heart.”

“I suppose I should be used to being chased out of towns. Nopony wants to risk breaking the law by helping a magic user.”

"Flirting with the village leader probably wasn't the smartest idea either." Sora chastised, her tone light with amusement.

"She started it, kept tugging on my tail." He defended with a huff, he had a bit of a history getting into trouble due to one mare or another, one that Sora was all too willing to remind him of.

“She wasn't right for you anyhow, I didn't like her at all.” Kaostrife grinned a bit at this, knowing there hadn't been a single pony Sora approved of. “What was she like, dear?”

“Hmm, who?”

“The mare you named me after.”

“Oh...” He considered his words briefly. “She was wonderful and loyal, if sometimes a bit paranoid.”

“She wasn't enough for you, was she?”

“What do you mean? She was beautiful.” Sora's embrace about his neck flexed, the tiny dragon breathing smoke into his ears as she spoke. “ You know as well as I that it takes more then a nice body to heat your blood. That's why you cheated on her, isn't it?” He grimaced at his familiar striking a cord, eventually giving a sigh as his gaze drifted southward. “I'm sorry love, I know it's a touchy subject.”

“Maestra was different, we didn't-”

“Didn't you?”

“We did, but it wasn't romantic. It was a very difficult time, she caught me when I was vulnerable.”

“ You know we're mentally linked, you don't have to use the stage lines on me.” Sora teased, rolling her eyes.

“ I had a spell backfire that gave me draconic scales for a couple weeks, apparently that was extremely... “Interesting” to her.” He gave an innocent shrug, but couldn't disguise his amused grin. “It's all in the past, but in fairness, I did love her.”

“I know you did, sweety.” Sora suddenly snapped her head back, eyes wide open and nostrils flared.

“What is it?” Kaostrife gave her a troubled eye, but before she responded he'd seen what drew her attention.

“I smell smoke.” In the distance large pillars of smoke announced the presence of a war party. “That much smoke, there must be thousands of them. What are they doing here?” Nova spoke in concerned whispers. “Oh no...”

“They're surrounding the portal entry.”