Details
*Thoughts*
~Mental speaking~
"Normal speaking"
~"Mental and normal speaking"~
Songs
...(Radio static)...

..."This is Dropshot 0-4 to Vulture; We have confirmed visual contact with SSR ground units. Enemy armor and infantry have broken through HotBox 3-9 and are now moving past Whiskey Hotel 01 at map grid 257798 west towards Beta Point twelve.
Escort composed of four T-14 Armata followed by seven squad infantry and APCs. How copy? Over."

..."All copy Dropshot. Stand by."
/Break/
"Cujo 5-1, push in on target package Whiskey Hotel 01, at map grid: 257798. You are clear to proceed with "Hammerdown".
Awaiting authorization till target approach. How copy?"

..."Vulture, solid copy. Pushing east to target package Whiskey Hotel 01, at map grid: 257798. Proceeding with "Hammerdown"."
..."Two minutes till weapons release."
/Break/

..."Dropshot 0-4 to Vulture; Our position has been compromised! I say again: Our position has been compromised! Over!

..."Vulture to Dropshot 0-4; status on fallback. 0+12 on station. Are you clear for return? Over."

..."Negative! Negative! We are taking fire on all sides and are pinned down over Eagle Eye 7! We are down to three men! I repeat: We are down to three men! Requesting Broken Ammo! How copy!? Over!

..."Dropshot 0-4 be advised; Cujo: 5-1, 5-2 are inbound at West Angels twelve. ETA two minutes. Awaiting authorization for weapons release till target package Whiskey Hotel 01 approach.
Proceed with "Hunkerdown". How copy?"

..."With all do respect Vulture, I don't think we have two minutes! Over!"

..."Vulture to Dropshot 0-4; "Hammerdown" has been authorized. Thirty seconds till weapons release. Stand by."
/Break/
..."Vulture to Cujo 5-1, Target package Whiskey Hotel 01 has been authorized. Go to town."

..."Bombs away. Bombs away."

..."Vulture to Dropshot 0-4; We have confirmed hits on enemy ground. Whiskey Hotel 01 has been cleared. What's your status? Over.

...

..."I say again: Whiskey Hotel 01 has been cleared. How copy? Over."

...

..."Vulture to Dropshot; Do you read?"

...

..."No response from Dropshot 0-4. Awaiting further notice. Standing by."
/Break/

I opened my eyes to the mountainous landscape that was the Smokey Mountains.
I took in a long breath and watched it freeze as I exhaled the cold morning air. For once I was finally able to breathe without the taste and smell of smoke.
With all the recent storm activity, the smoke from these lands have been carried East, which gave way for clear blue skies over the mountain range.

Slowly, I pushed myself off the tree I was leaning against and walked closer to the cliff edge. I looked over the edge towards the forest below to see if I could spot Anya.
She had gone off hunting earlier this morning in the lower parts of White Pine valley.

Seeing no sign of her yet, I chose to resume my position against the tree. I then reached down to grab my guitar and begin tuning it in preparation for a song. As I'm sure Anya will ask me to play when the sun peaks over the horizon.

..."Talion, do you read?"

I suddenly flicked a string out of tune and looked up.

..."Talion, the bombs on its way. Are you clear?"

"We're clear."

"What was that?" I heard Anya ask from behind.

I turned to the side and saw her walking towards me.
"Nothing. Just tuning."

"What were you doing while I was away?" She asked.

"Same thing as always. Thinking." I replied, facing the sunrise again.

Anya laid herself next to me.
"Something wrong, Talion?"

I set the guitar down against the tree again
"Somethings always wrong , Anya... I was remembering."

"Remembering what?" Anya asked me.

I sighed and looked up at the sky.

..."Bombs away. Bombs away."

"War... and the mistakes I made." I answered.

Anya moved closer to me.
"Don't think about that now, Talion."

"I know, Anya." I took a seat next to her.
"But even though I leave my memories behind, sometimes they just have a way of coming back to me."

Anya didn't say anything else for a bit, but instead chose to lightly nuzzle my side.
I breathed in the cool air again and watched it freeze.
"Ever the comforting one aren't you princess?"

"I'll do what I can to reduce your stress level." Anya replied with a smile.

"Well the peace and quiet sure help too." I said as the sunlight shined across the mountain tops.
"Now that is an amazing sight."

"It really is." Anya agreed.
"It's almost hard for me to imagine that I've flown over these lands many times and have not noticed it's beauty before."

"Heh. I knew you'd come to appreciate it sooner or later. All you needed was a different perspective." I told her.

We both continued to watch and wait for the sunrise, just as we have done for the past weeks.
I stretched my arms over my head and leaned back against Anya's side.
"Look how far we've come."

"Look how far we still have to go." Anya said.

"Well, I'm in no rush. I'm enjoying every moment of exploring these lands." I told her.
"What about you?"

"I don't mind. Not as long as I'm with you." Anya said and nuzzled against me again.

I was still uncertain about Anya's feelings towards me and of my feelings towards her. It has now been just over three weeks since I met her. And it was still a little strange to think about our journey together.
I really didn't know how to think about Anya.

"It looks like the Sun is almost on the horizon." Anya said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I smiled and pulled the guitar onto my lap.
"So it is." I said and started to play.

It has been like this almost every morning. We both would wake up early together and wait for the Sun to rise, where I would then play Iron Hoof's guitar as the land was lit up by the morning sun's rays.
Anya would even start humming along to my songs while I whistled. Like we were both doing now.
I watched the snow covered valley light up for half of the song and then I watched Anya as the light reflected off of her scales, making her glimmer and shine.

When the song ended I placed the guitar off to the side and leaned back against Anya again.

I thought about the days I have spent with Anya. I greatly enjoyed her company and I was more at peace in her presence. I could tell she was the same way.
For some reason Anya would never leave me alone for very long. Her hunts are usually not very long and she always insists on us sleeping together.
I can't complain much though. I've been less stressed because of her affection and interest towards me. However strange it may be and feel.

"It never gets old." I commented.

"The sunrise?" Anya asked me.

"Ya... Even though you experience it everyday, this sight is always so beautiful." I replied.

Anya laid her head in my lap and smiled up at me.
"Yes. Celestia never ceases to grace the world with the Sun's beautiful light."

"Ah yes. I had forgotten she is responsible for the Earth's orbital rotation." I said.

Anya gave me a confused look.
"Orbital what?"

"Orbital rotation. The process of the Earth rotating while orbiting the Sun." I answered.

"What are you talking about?" Anya asked me.

I shook my head.
"Oh that's right. I'm sorry. I've also forgotten that you don't have the same understanding of science and physics"

"Well then, help me understand." Anya told me and then adjusted herself into a more comfortable laying position around me.

"Well let me see how I can explain this to you." I moved to pick up a small stick and then used it to draw shapes into the snow.
"Here's the Sun and here's the Earth."

"Circles?" She asked me.

"Yes circles. Or more precisely spheres." I replied.

"Are you trying to tell me that the Earth is round?" Anya asked.

"Well it's not entirely round. More like an uneven spherical shape." I replied.

Anya looked even more baffled.
"That can't be possible! If it was, people on the other side of the world would be walking upside down or even fly off!"

I chuckled at her remark.
"I can see where your confusion is coming from. My kind once also believed as you do. But no, that is not the case. People on the other side of the world walk and live the same way we do.
The world is not flat and it does not go on forever nor does it abruptly end."

"But how is that possible?" Anya asked me.

"Tell me, what keeps you grounded to the Earth? Why is it that we fall? What pulls us down?" I asked her.

"Our weight?" She replied.

"Close. Weight is only a part of the reason." I told her.

"Then what is it?" Anya asked me.

"Gravity." I simply answered.

"Gravity?" She repeated.

"Yes. It was discovered by a man named Isacc Newton, many years ago." I then explained.
"Gravitation, in mechanics, is the universal force of attraction acting between all matter. It is the weakest known force in nature and thus plays no role in determining the internal properties of everyday matter.
On the other hand, through its long reach and universal action, it controls the trajectories of bodies in the solar system and elsewhere in the universe and the structures and evolution of stars, galaxies, and the whole cosmos."
I demonstrated by drawing the Earth's orbit around the Sun in the snow.

"How can one thing that we cannot see effect so much?" Anya asked in shock.

"Because all things made of matter have mass which emit a gravitational pull." I explained.
"The larger and denser the mass, the stronger gravity is. The smaller and less denser the mass, the weaker gravity is.
Even we immit a gravitational pull. Although it's an extremely small amount. Less than a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a percentage."

"How can you tell?" Anya asked me.

I started to explain.
"Gravity is measured by the acceleration that it gives to freely falling objects.
On Earth all bodies have a weight, or downward force of gravity, proportional to their mass, which Earth’s mass exerts on them.
At Earth’s surface the acceleration of gravity is about nine point eight metres; thirty two feet per second. Thus, for every second an object is in free fall, it's speed is increases by about nine point eight metres per second."

Anya took a moment to look at the circle of Earth's orbit.
"Wait, the Sun doesn't go around the Earth?"

"Of course not." I made the circle imprint of the Sun bigger.
The Sun is far to massive and the Earth far to small for it to be able to pull anything bigger than the moon around itself.
Anything as big as the Earth would cause both planets to orbit each other or collide. Anything bigger would make the Earth a moon itself."

Anya looked at the drawings in the snow again.
"How can a ball of light be so big and pull the Earth around it? You said the bigger the mass, the stronger the gravity. So unless you tell me otherwise, light has no mass."

"That is true about light. But the Sun and stars are not made purely out of light. They merely emit it." I replied.

"What?" Anya asked in confusion.

"The Sun is a huge, glowing sphere of burning gas. Most of this gas is hydrogen; about seventy percent, and helium; about twenty-eight percent. Somewhere around those numbers anyway.
Carbon, nitrogen and oxygen make up one point five percent and the other zero point five percent is made up of small amounts of many other elements such as neon, iron, silicon, magnesium and sulfur."

"And how massive is the Sun?" Anya asked me.

I paused for a moment to recall the exact numbers.
"If I can recall correctly, I think that the estimate radius of the sun is 432,450 miles; 696,000 kilometers, which makes its diameter about 864,938 miles; 1.392,000,000 kilometers. The sun's circumference is about 2,713,406 miles; 4,366,813 kilometers.
To put into perspective, Earth is about 24,901 miles; 40,075 kilometers. However, from pole to pole, the meridional circumference of Earth is only 24,860 miles; 40,008 kilometers around.
You could line up one hundred and ten Earth’s across the Sun's surface."

"I can't even begin to picture or understand those amounts of measurements!" Anya almost shouted.
"How is it that you know all of these things?"

"I have an extremely high and long lasting memory. These are things that I and many others learned as a child. It's really just basic knowledge where I'm from. Kind of like how I explained to you about electricity." I replied.

"Basic Knowledge!? Not even the elder dragons have that level of knowledge! And you've been teaching me like how you were taught it as a hatchling!" Anya exclaimed.

I chuckled at her response.
"If I have seen farther than others, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants."

"That's incredible. Your kingdom must be an amazing place for such an intelligent and advanced race." Anya said.

I chuckled and shook my head.
"Well actually, not everyone of my species have a massive level intelligence. There are incredible geniuses among us, but most just learn through freely given information.
So while knowing and understanding how these things work may make you a genius here, back home would just make you a normal person there."

"Still, it is an incredible thing." Anya said and laid her head back on my lap.

"Sometimes it can be." I said.

We both watched the landscape in silence for a little while longer before I stood up and stretched.
"Come on. We still have a long ways to go." I told Anya while turning to face the west.

Anya moved to stand up as well.
"Must we leave now? I was enjoying the moment."

"Not really. I just prefer that we did before the cold winds freeze us into the snow." I told her as I began brushing said snow off my coat and pants.

"A little snow never hurt anyone. But I suppose you're right. We should get moving again." Anya said.

I breathed in and took a moment to scan the horizon.

"There it is. The Dead Mountains." I said.

"(Sigh) They weren't original known by that name." Anya told me.

"No, I guessed not. What was it's name before then?" I asked her.

"Father once told me that his father called it the ancient dragon kingdom of Farlurdur.
It was back during the golden age of my species. It was said to have been the greatest and most powerful of any other kingdom on the continent of Equss." Anya answered.

I continued to scan the valley and skies.
"Strange. I haven't seen or heard a trace of any other dragons yet." I said.

"That's not surprising. We don't usually ever go this far outside of our lands anymore. Well... All except for me.
Once we enter and pass through the Dead Mountain range however we will more than likely be spotted by scouts in the area instantly." Anya told me.

"Are the Smokey Mountains not a part of your lands?" I asked her.

"They were." Anya said and looked down.

I reached up and rubbed her neck.
"Are you alright, Anya?"

"Yes. Let us move on." She said.

"As you wish." I said and continued the walk down hill.

It was times like these, where both of us knew not to continue the conversation. I guess there are wounds still to fresh to fully heal.

(Click)

I suddenly crouched close to the ground and grabbed the hilt of my sword.
I quickly scanned my surroundings.

"What is it, Talion?"

I turned to Anya and saw she was also crouched down in preparation for danger.
After realizing what I was doing, I stood back up.

"I thought I heard a branch snap or something." I lied.

"I didn't hear anything. If there was something or someone else out there, I think I would be the first to sense it." Anya said.

"Maybe. I guess it was nothing then." I said and continued walking.

It was a little passed midday when I started up conversation again.
"So tell me about your kind, Anya. What mysterious secrets do dragons hold."

"Heh. Mysterious. You'd probably be surprised to learn that my kind doesn't really have much of any secrets. Not anymore at least." Anya replied.

"What do you mean? Surely dragonkind has some amount of knowledge and power that they keep from other races." I said.

Anya closed her eyes and sighed.
"Yes, we do have some secrets. But almost all of dragonkind's power and knowledge was first stolen by Bahamut. Then after his defeat, by the other kingdoms. Mainly Equestria."

"How?" I asked her.

"When Bahamut came to power, it was not the other races that had first suffered under his tyranny. But dragons... He had enslaved his own kind first before setting his eyes on others. With complete control over us, Bahamut took everything that made our kind great away for himself.
He took from us our history, our knowledge, our power and our will. Everything that made us who we were was stolen and locked away in his accursed castle. Never to be seen again. Not even by us."

I took a moment to think about this information.
The way Bahamut conquered was almost exactly how a certain past enemy of mine conquered. They both started with their own people.

"Bahamut had a castle?" I asked Anya.

"Of course. It is where he kept all of his trophies and spoils of war. It is there he hoarded stolen knowledge and power." She answered.

"How exactly did Bahamut enslave your race?" I asked.

Anya sighed again.
"He... When Bahamut defeated the Ursa major, over two thirds of dragonkind willingly followed him as their new king. Those who didn't Bahamut forced into submission through, suggestion, intimidation, violence and power over will." She paused for a moment.
"I'm not exactly sure what powers Bahamut had achieved from the Ursa major, but with it he gained the ability to force his mind and will onto others. With every dragon following him without question, Bahamut burned our history. He stole our powers and killed anyone who stood against him, who thought differently and held onto free will.
Then finally when there was no one left in his path and the younger more naive blindly followed him, he turned towards our neighbors."

"He who controls the past, controls the young. He who controls the young, controls the future." I quoted.

"What?" Anya asked.

"That's what was said and done by a tyrant from my own kind almost a century ago." I replied.

"Who was that?" She asked me and I stopped in my tracks.

"Heil Hitler."

"Heil Hitler!"

Slowly my face became covered in anger.
"Adolf Hitler." I answered with my voice full of malice.

Anya paused. Noticing the rage in my voice.
"Who was he?"

"Adolf Hitler was a German politician and leader of the Nazi Party. He rose to power as the chancellor of the nation of Germany and then as Führer a year later.
Hitler gained control over Germany in a very similar way to Bahamut. He was a very influential speeker, which gained him a large majority of support from the younger generation during his rise to power. Later he would use his power to gain complete control over Germany through intimidation and violence." I explained.

Anya hesitated for a moment, almost scared to ask her next question.
"What did he do when he gained his power?"

I closed my eyes as I explained.
"The same thing as Bahamut. Used it against the neighboring countries.
He is responsible for the torture and deaths of over eleven million Jews. An ethnic group of humans his Nazi party committed genocide on simply because they deemed the Jewish people lesser than themselves. When in reality, it was just another attempt to annihilate God's people.
No one was spared. Men, women and children. Young and old... The final solution."

Anya was speechless. She couldn't believe the evil I had told her.
Tears had formed in her eyes as I continued.

"Together with the other leaders of the Axis party, Hitler led the campaign to conquer the free world."

"Other leaders? You mean there were more?" Anya asked in more shock and disbelief.

"Yes. Adolf Hitler was only one of four, although he was the main leader.
The others were Benito Mussolini of Italy, Michinomiya Hirohito of the Japanese Empire and Joseph Stalin of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic of Russia.
All of which led their own countries and armies, numbering in the millions." I explained.

Anya was at a loss for words.
"My God."

I sighed again and continued moving. Seeing this, Anya began following me again.
"And it was your country who stood against them, alone?"

"No, not alone. My country, the United States of America was the main leader of the Allied Forces.
Franklin Roosevelt of the United States of America, Winston Churchill of the British empire, Charles de Gaulle of the French empire and Chiang Kai-shek of China.
We also received some help from the United States of Columbia, a nation south of mine. But they were mostly preoccupied with their own civil war." I explained.

Anya was completely shocked by this.
"So many nations and so many people. I can't believe our kind have never even seen or heard of any of them, let alone the wars."

I scratched my head for a second.
"Yes well, as I have said before, my country is in a very very far-off land. So there's no surprise in your kind's lack of knowledge of mankind and where we come from. We don't really know a whole lot about dragons either."

"Then how does mankind know about dragonkind if neither of us have had any contact with each other's civilization? Are there dragons where you're from too?" Anya asked me.

"No. What little knowledge we have of dragons is gained through rumors and stories from traders and travelers of my kind, like me or that of other nations." I said.

Anya took a moment to think about what I told her before speaking again.
"Was he defeated?"

"Who?" I asked back.

"Adolf Hitler." She replied.

"Yes." I answered.

"By you?" She asked.

"No. Adolf Hitler was personally executed by U.S. Army five star General of the Armed Forces, George Smith Patton." I told her.

"Big title." Anya commented.

I chuckled.
"A fitting one for him. He personally led many charges and assults on our nation's enemys. Breaking through enemy lines and driving them back for miles.
Many times he would advance so far into enemy territory that he would have to wait for the rest of the U.S. army to catch up behind him."

"Incredible. He must have been a great leader." Anya said.

"He still is." I said with a smile.

I hopped down from some large bolders that were lodged into the side of the hill, while Anya simply stepped over them.
When I leaped over to another stone, I slipped on a layer of ice covering the top. As soon as I fell off balance, I felt a tug on my coat, stopping me from falling the rest of the way down.
I turned my head to see Anya had stretched her neck down and grabbed onto the back of my coat with her teeth. She lifted me up and climbed down to the forest floor before setting me down.

"Thanks Anya." I said as I straightened my coat.
"Although you didn't have to worry. I would've been fine."

"I know. But that doesn't mean I was just going to let you fall." She told me.

I took a moment to observe the forest we were now standing in. The trees in this part of White Pine were taller and not as blackened by the smoke and ash.

"What is it?" Anya asked me.

"I just noticed how clearer the air is in this part of the forest." I told her.

"Yes. The smoke will start to clear up more as we continue towards the Dead Mountains and the wind carries the dead air Eastward." She told me.

"Good. I would love to enjoy some clear air for onc-" I quickly turned my head to the side.
For a second, I'd thought I had felt the familiar sense of being watched.

"Talion? What is it?" Anya asked me.

"Nothing. It's nothing. I just thought I saw something." I told her.

We both continued our walk through the forest.
It has been mostly quite during our journey West. There have rarely been any sightings of animals or other creatures that live in this land.

"What's your home like, Anya?" I asked breaking the silence.

"Well... As we enter Tiliolüngel, the mountain range ahead, we will be met by an almost impenetrable wall of fog at it's base foothills. The thick fog will make it nearly impossible to navigate through." She explained.

"Well I imagine you have no issues with that." I said.

"Not if I'm flying over it." She replied and continued.
"Once we pass through Tiliolüngel or fly over it, we will instantly be able to see Aön Karath Kul or The Dead City, in the distance.
It's a massive towering castle atop a single massive spire in the center of a circular mountain valley named Vail Skía or the Valley of Stars."

"Why do these places hold such titles?" I asked Anya.

"Because, for the city, no dragon has ever set foot pass it's gates since before Bahamut's fall. But back then it was known as Aríth Ithalaíd. The City of Lights." She explained.

"But why? Bahamut is dead. Why would dragonkind abandoned their own capital?" I asked.

Anya seemed to hesitate for a moment.
"Bahamut did something to Aríth Ithalaíd. It's... It is a cursed place now. Nothing dwells in that dark place... Nothing natural or alive."

"I'm... sorry to hear that." I said.

Anya sighed and shook her head.
"You have nothing to be sorry for, Talion. You are not responsible for my kinds fall from grace."

"Neither for that matter are you Anya. You need not hold yourself responsible for the mistakes of your ancestors." I told her.

Anya looked down at me with a smile.
"Thank you, Talion."

I nodded.
"So where does Vail Skía get it's name?"

Anya smiled again.
"It was given that name many centuries ago by my ancient ancestors when they discovered the unique properties of the valley. Especially at night."

"And that is?" I asked.

"The whole valley is filled with diamonds." Anya answered.

I almost tripped over myself at that.
"Diamonds? The whole valley?"

Anya laughed a little at my shock.
"Yes. The mountain range might have been volcanic at one point a very long time ago. Which left behind countless pure white diamonds in all shapes and sizes all across the valley.
But what is really unique about them is that at night when the skies are clear, the diamonds light up the valley with a beautiful glow of magical star like light."

"That's... incredible." I said."

"Yes... It is." Anya said.

"But how is that possible? Are the diamonds enchanted with magic?" I asked her.

"In a way they are. The elder dragons believe that the whole valley is enchanted.
From what little knowledge we have of our past, it is believed that Aríth Ithalaíd was built on top of a Vastíl. An ancient well of Deep Magic or True Magic, as the Equestrians like to call it.
In nature, True Magic is greatly stronger than regular magic, but it can be far more chaotic, unstable and unpredictable. There are only a few creatures I know of that can wield it.
Usually powerful races like ursas, alicorns and us dragons. I'm sure that there are others."

"Interesting. And you say dragons can wield this True Magic as well?" I asked.

Anya sighed.
"Well, we used to. As I said before, Bahamut stole our kind's power and knowledge. It was also the knowledge of how to wield and control True Magic.
You see, not just anyone can wield True Magic. It must be a part of you. Bound to your body and mind. Your whole being.
Unfortunately, the method for how to control True Magic has been lost for centuries. Although the elder dragons have attempted to rediscover it, ultimately access to our ancient power might be forever lost."

"Why do you say that?" I asked Anya.

She closed her eyes for a moment.
"Because if the council with all their wisdom and knowledge haven't yet learned how to regain control over our magic, they likely never will." She replied.

"Have faith, Anya. No secret, no matter how far down it's berried, can stay hidden forever.
Maybe one day your kind will find what was lost to you." I told her.

Anya smiled at me.
"Perhaps one day."

We both started to hear the sound of flowing water a short distance up ahead.

Anya walked up to the little river and sat down on her hind legs. I walked over to stand at her side as she looked into the stream.

Anya continued to watch the flowing water as she spoke.
"Sometimes, when I feel alone, I would soar high over Vail Skía in the evening when the valley becomes the night. I would fly for hours between two skies and imagine myself drifting into another world through the stars above and below.
It is times like that where I feel at peace."
She turned to look at me.
"Where do you go to find peace, Talion? What dreams of wonder come to you when you're alone?"

I smiled at her and looked towards the waterfall.
"When I'm alone... I dream of a quiet place at the base of the mountains, where the forests are like oceans reaching beyond the horizon. Where the grass is green and soft.
Where friends and family would gather together in fellowship and love... A place where a man can slow down to a walk and live a full meaningful life in peace.
A little place called home... My home."

Anya smiled and laid herself next to me.
"I hope to see your home one day, Talion."

I smiled up at her.
"Perhaps one day. But dreams of home are for when I am alone... It is when I am with you that I truly dream of wonder."

Anya paused for a moment and stared at me. I could see just the slightest hint of a blush forming on her face.

She leaned her head closer to me.
"W-What... What do you dream?"

Slowly, I reached up and placed a hand on her cheek.
"I dream of you."

Anya began blushing at me.
"Talion."

She remained silent as we stared into each other's eyes for a very long moment.

~Talion.~

I suddenly turned my head to the side as I tried to locate the source of the voice.

"Talion?"

"It's nothing Anya. I'm fine." I said, trying to calm her worries.

Anya shook her head, unconvinced.
"But you're not fine, Talion. I can see it in your eyes.
You've been getting more and more stressed out and paranoid. I know something is wrong."

"Anya, I said that I-"
Anya cut me off.
"No Talion! You don't need to hide this from me. You don't have to run anymore because I'm here for you. So please, let me help you this time."

I sighed and closed my eyes as I turned away from Anya.
"I've... been having more dreams lately, of my past. But they... They're different... Something is always different in them."

Anya looked worried and confused at me.

"I'm sorry Anya. I couldn't tell you what I've been going through because I don't entirely understand it myself." I told her.

"Are... you going mad?" Anya asked me.

"What!?" I asked, taken aback by her question.

"I'm sorry! I don't exactly know how else to ask you about the mental state of your mind." Anya told me defensively.

I just shook my head and laughed.
"Sometimes I wonder if I've already gone mad and this is just all in my head."

Anya frowned at me.
"That's not funny, Talion. I'm being serious."

"So am I." I told Anya, causing her to look worried again.

I rubbed her neck to calm her down.
"Truth be told, Anya, I can't go mad... Although sometimes I wish I could."

That caught Anya a little off guard.
"What?"

"Losing ones sanity is a restriction of the mind being incapable of making any reasonable and logical sense of something or when it experiences an overwhelming amount of stress, physical or psychological trauma.
I have no such physical or mental restrictions, as I am not bound to a physical form."

Anya was shocked by this.
"I don't understand, Talion. What does all that mean for you?

I closed my eyes and pointed to my head.
"It means in here, I am both a king and a slave. A master and a prisoner. Doomed to suffer endlessly in shame and self pity."
I opened my eyes again and looked at Anya.
"I am my own enemy, Anya. I can never forget and I will never forgive myself."

Anya didn't know what to say.
"Talion..."

I stopped her.
"Don't Anya. You don't need to say anything. I did this to myself and now I'm paying for it. There is nothing that either of us can say or do to change it.
I cannot save myself, Anya. So all I can do is fight and push forward to complete the mission."

"What is the mission Talion?" She asked.

"Freedom and to save lives. Always." I answered.

Anya smiled at me.
"You saved me, Talion. I will save you."

I returned the smile and wrapped my arms around her neck.
"Thank you Anya."

I pulled away and sat back down next to Anya.
We both watched the Sun as it slowly approached the horizon. When it finally touched the tips of the mountains, I reached behind me to grab my guitar.

"Talion, wait." Anya stopped me.

I paused and looked at Anya.
"Yes Anya?"

Anya paused for a moment and I noticed a blush on her cheeks.
"Talion, you have been sharing your beautiful music with me for many days and nights now and I cannot express the joy it gives me. To close my eyes and drift into another world with you through your songs."
Anya lowered her head closer to me.
"I... want to do the same for you, Talion... Well you give me this night, so that I might share it with you?"

I stared into Anya's eyes and smiled.
"The dawn was never mine to keep, Anya. You are welcome to share it with me. You always are."

She smiled fondly and nuzzled against me.
"Lay all of your worries away tonight and dream of me."

Anya pulled away and began softly humming her song.

"Hearts call, hearts fall
Swallowed in the rain
Who knows, life grows
Hollow and so vain?

Wandering in the Winter Light
The wicked and the sane
Bear witness to salvation
And life starts over again

Now the clear sky is all around you
Aah, aah
Love's shadow will surround you
All through the night

Star glowing in the twilight
Tell me true
Hope whispers and I will follow
'Til you love me too

Aah, aah, aah, aah
Aah, aah, aah, aah

Now the clear sky is all around you
Aah, aah
Love's shadow will surround you
All through the night

Star glowing in the twilight
Tell me true
Hope whispers and I will follow
'Til you love me too

Aah, aah, aah, aah
Aah, aah, aah, aah"

The Sun had finally passed beyond the horizon just as Anya finished and I was in complete shock and aw at her.

I had not known she had such a beautiful voice.
"Anya... That was... beautiful."

Anya blushed at my comment and nuzzled me again.
"Thank you, Talion. I... have never really shared this part of me with others. I'm very happy that you enjoyed it.

"I loved it Anya. You have an amazing gift." I told her.

"As do you, Talion. I would love to hear you sing again." She told me.

"Heh. Then maybe we can both start singing together." I suggested.

"I would love to. Especially if to learn your songs." Anya said.

"Well there are many, many songs that I know of." I told her.

"Would... you teach them to me?" She asked.

I began rubbing her neck again.
"Yes, I will teach you."

Anya wrapped her whole body around me as she continued to nuzzle me.
"Thank you so much... My mate."

I relaxed and leaned back against Anya as I stared at the night sky.
"You're welcome... Princess Anya."

We both watched the night sky in silence. Enjoying each other's company as we both slowly drifted into a peaceful sleep.

On a hill top not to far away, a large lone figure stood watching.
He looked up towards the sky for a moment before closing his eyes and bowing his head.

"Welcome home... Anya."

Author's Note

Happy 4th of July everyone! God bless America!

Sorry for another long wait everyone. I've been going through a lot of things recently.
It really does upset me when I can't post chapters out sooner for you all. But I would like you all to know that I never stopped working on this story.

Anyway, I did want to ask you all if any of you have actually clicked on the underlined text to listen to the songs.
I hope you have been.

Oh and here is a small list of people who have a chance of being a part of my story.

Notrap M

MindMelon

Violet Breeze

Animatorsnake

Guardian of Darkness

Chancegunnett

Silentwoodfire

Undertotem

ImperialMcgee

These are the people who have shown great interest and support for my story.
I greatly appreciate when you also give me suggestions and ideas.

If you are any of these people, shoot me a private message and let me know if you want to be a part of this story.
I will let you all know how later.

Thank you all again for the support. I wish you all a happy 4th of July and I will see you up ahead.

https://m.