Emerald Feathers

by Golden Fang Ryutora

Rating: everyone
Tags: Alternate Universe, Sad, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Mystery, Tragedy
Length: 6061

From the beginning, Golden Fang had always been able to see them. No matter where he was they would always be right there even in his darkest times. Each time, they would always leave behind a familiar sign. In the form of emerald feathers.

Please Read Author's Note

From the beginning, Golden Fang had always been able to see them. No matter where he was they would always be right there even in his darkest times. Each time, they would always leave behind a familiar sign. In the form of emerald feathers.

Practice One-Shot for the incoming Yaseikōya Series

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Published 2022-08-26 21:50:00 UTC
Last updated 2022-08-26 21:50:00 UTC

Emerald Feathers

Author's Note

For those who happen to find this one shot, there are a couple of things that I would like to say that are important. For one, it is mostly for One-Shot practice purposes as I have stated in my other One-Shot of The Grime Behind The Diamond. A type of practice that will hopefully let me be able to create better One-Shots in the future whether they are of the AU variety or not. For another thing, it is somewhat tied to a major project that I am working on behind the scenes that I will soon be releasing here on Fimfiction. Some Elements found here will be found in the project its tied to called Yaseikōya that I talked about in a few of my blogs once it comes out. Confusing as it may be, all that is in these Yaseikōya One-Shots will be explained in the main series when it is released. Just as it was with the Grime Behind The Diamond, these One-Shots are for improvement purposes, only with these types, it is for my Yaseikōya Series. Which will be the same for the other projects I will be releasing on Fimficiton and AO3 too.

Constructive criticism is welcome and I'm willing to listen to tips as to how I can make any future One-Shots more entertaining. All I ask is that criticism is kept respectful, helpful, and, well... constructive. Please also refrain from turning the comment section into a fighting space regarding the story its aspects and themes. Opinions on it are fine but don't bash onto others for having them and why it's equivalent to a war crime. Even if what that person is saying is not really an opinion, I kindly ask you to keep the comments and discussions as peaceful as possible. Thank you.

Emerald Feathers

Ever since he was seven, he was always able to see them.

Golden Fang didn’t know how it occurred. He didn’t know if it was a coincidence. He wasn’t sure if it was a secret power that was locked away in him. He couldn’t even conclude if it was a mental illness that had yet to be discovered. All he knew was that somehow, some way, he had acquired the ability to see spirits.

It wasn’t like the stereotypical spirits one would see. Not like the ones inside abandoned houses. Or whose bodies were left undiscovered after a murder. They were especially not like the ones in cemeteries that would sometimes linger around their graves after being laid to eternal rest. These spirits were, to say the least, of a different variety. Ones that were like the usual ones, but at the same time, not like them at all.

Fang could remember the first time he saw one. It was a vague memory, and fogginess had taken up most of it with time. His seventh birthday was when it first happened. His mother was tucking in the pegasus after a day of play, laughter, and smiles. And being able to find out what his specialized talent was. Natura was beside his bed, reading to him the animal book that he asked for last year. It was halfway through the story that he saw it.

Faint it was at first, and Fang passed it off as a soft light flashing across the window. Disinterest soon turning to curiosity prompted him to take a glance and see where it was coming from. His eyes widened upon seeing the cloaked and winged being that came down from the sky. Green was the first thing he noticed about the figure, being the same color as his irises as they took it in. From its hooded head down to its cloak, the color covered it as if it was the only one it was allowed to have. It didn’t make it any less of an enchanting sight to see. A sight Fang would have kept looking at if it hadn’t for his mother’s sweet voice luring his attention from the being.

“Golden Fang?” Natura asked softly, her own green eyes looking up from the book to her son once she noticed he stopped paying attention. “What’s the matter, sweetheart?”

Turning back at his mother, Fang sat up and looked at her as if he had just discovered an unknown species of animal. “Mama! Mama, look! There’s an angel! An angel’s outside the window!”

“…Angel?” Natura blinked as she stared at her son. Following where his little hoof was pointing, she caught a glimpse of the ‘angel' outside. Because she wasn’t paying as close enough attention, she wasn’t quite able to make it out and said the first thing that came to mind. “I think you’re just seeing another pegasus dear. They may just be outside going for an evening fly...”

“No! It’s a real angel! It has wings and robes and everything!” Fang denied it, getting up from his bed and propping himself up against his bedroom wall. “There, see?! It’s just floating there!”

Skepticism still lingering but sensing her son wasn’t lying, Natura set the book down on the bed and crawled onto it. She sat just next to the giddy little colt, trying to pinpoint exactly who or what he was seeing. Several seconds passed before she spotted the being and was given the correction from her earlier assumption.

“What in Epona’s name…?” Natura said, her whispery voice a hard contrast to the disbelief it held.

“See?! I told you!” Fang exclaimed, his braided and tufted leonine tail swaying back and forth excitedly. “It looks so cool! An angel is in Equestria! In Nirvana!” He turned to his mother with wide curious eyes. “What do you think it could be here… for?”

Any inquisitiveness Fang had at that moment all but dissipated when he saw the look on Natura’s face. It certainly held shock like he expected it did, but the colt could also make out something in another entirety. Natura looked to be… sad. Like whom or what she saw was someone she lost in the past and believed she’d never see again. It was a look Fang saw sometimes on some faces of friends he’d regularly play with, but not on adults. Witnessing it on his family’s faces was the last thing the colt ever experienced. Let alone his mother. And seeing it on her face was all his childlike concern needed to be awakened.

“Mama? What’s wrong?” Fang asked quietly. “Are you okay?”

Hearing the childish worry in her child’s voice helped Natura snap out of her trance, and her eyes locked onto her son’s. Hurt clenched at her heart like the talons of an attacking eagle at seeing how worried he looked for her wellbeing. Smooth locks of her mane swayed as she gently shook her head and quickly addressed the patiently waiting colt.

“Mama’s sorry honey. She didn’t mean to ignore you like that. She just wasn’t expecting to see an angel in our home either.” She replied giving her best tender smile. “ It is beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Uh-huh! And its wings are so big! Even bigger than Papa’s and Auntie Estelle’s!” Fang expressed, giving little jumps on his bed. “What do you think it could be here for? Is going to bring someone up to Elysium?”

“Angels of Epona and other Creator Gods are known to do that. It may be what it’s doing right now.” Natura replied somewhat solemnly, playing along with her son’s innocent theories. “Or it could have sensed a white-masked monster nearby and is looking for it before it gets someone.”

Gasping in terror and realization, Fang ducked under the window just enough for his eyes to still be looking out of it. “Oh no! You’re right! One of them could be out there! Quick Mama! Let’s hide before they see us!”

As the colt tried to futilely pull his mother down to the bed with him, the angel suddenly expanded its wings. It caught the attention of the mother and child as it lifted itself into the air, its hooded face looking in the direction of their house. With a flap of its wings, it soared through the air, lines of green light following like smoke from a plane.

“Wow, did you see that Mama?! It flew right passed our home!” Fang cried, trotting in place on his bed. “It even looked at us before it was gone! You think it could’ve sensed a monster near us?!”

“Perhaps. Why would it do what it just did if that wasn’t why?” Natura asked humorously. “Maybe it was coming here for us. Like they sometimes do since we can sense them better than most.”

“I hope they don’t get to us. I don’t wanna end up in a monster's belly! I’m a pegasus! I’m only tasty to animals that try eating us!” Fang whimpered, hugging himself with his wings.

“And as long as that angel and your Mama, Auntie, and Papa are here, that won’t happen,” A hoof reached out to stroke Fang’s dreadlocked mane comfortingly. “Now, it’s past a certain colt’s bedtime and they need to be asleep.”

“Could you stay here with me Mama?” Fang asked doubtfully with a blue face. “I don’t wanna be food! Or my ghost friends to be either! I want them to be okay even if they can’t be touched!”

A sweat drop appeared on the back of Natura’s head. “Sure honey. Mama will stay with you. Just let her tell Papa and Auntie Estelle she has to do some monster scouting tonight.”

“Okay!” Fang replied, closing his eyes as his mother kissed him on his forehead.

When the unicorn exited the bedroom, the colt turned back to the window where he saw the angel until it went away. It was then he noticed the green feathers fluttering around in the air like they were feather-shaped snowflakes. As Fang soaked up their glittering beauty, he wondered if the being would be able to save him and his family in time from being eaten.

He would never know just how close death was to him that night.

From that night on, mysterious sightings of the green being became the norm.

It started slow, with the revelation coming here and there while remaining a rarity. Over time it became more frequent at the times when it was supposed to happen. Fang wondered from the beginning where it was leading to but concluded that it had nothing to do with him. Just another addition to the island savagery that was his life and another confirmation of his supernatural abilities.

Whenever any Nature Angels, as he eventually came to call them, were there in Equestria, it was for two purposes. Protect this unified island from the monsters he feared as a colt and bring those who departed from the living world into another plane of existence. Souls of the dead were something Fang saw long before the Nature Angels at an age where he would not be scared by them. He never told his family of this subject, as there was never a need to do so. For they shared the same circumstances that the pegasus did from birth. It did make them somewhat shunned by those who did not share their special abilities despite this.

Fang didn’t know why, but there was something about these beings that stuck with him. Like it was a sign of something to come that he could not quite yet see in front of him. He wasn’t one to have these feelings unless it had to do with the island's dangers. Dangers in the form of wild beasts like bears or lions. Since the Nature Angels' arrival though, he’d had them more than he ever did in his fourteen years of life since first seeing them. Which was at least every few days or more.

Another sighting happened eight years later. During a time when things in Fang’s life were falling apart. Natura was exploring the Foxen Forest that surrounded Nirvana with him one summer day when it happened. Vicious and feral-looking monsters in white animal skulls ambushed them in the woods. She lost her life trying to save her son from them, who nearly met the same fate trying to save her. An act that to this day he still felt guilty for.

It was on the fourteenth of August when the funeral was held. Just one week after Natura's birthday. His father, two younger brothers, surrogate aunt, and friends were all there. Even the Warlord of the part of the island he lived in was there to give their condolences to his family. Clouds covered the usually warm and azure-covered sky as rain fell like water wrung from a wet cloth. It came down particularly hard that day and it wasn’t even during a month when it should’ve been raining at all. It was as if the sky was crying with them at the loss of an Equestrian Islander.

Contrary to all expectations, it was decided Natura would be buried in the forest she was slain. It was reasoned by the fact that she loved being around nature. Particularly forests since they did wonders in giving her peaceful serenity. Fang was the bigger reason as he had a similar interest, and some felt it would be disrespectful to them both to do so otherwise. Despite the horrors that occurred in it, the teenage pegasus requested Natura be buried in the place they loved to visit. It left a good amount of people shocked and impressed by his show of strength while still being so young and grief-stricken.

It was later on once the ceremony was done and farewells were made when Fang got a visit from the mysterious beings. He was in the Foxen Forest in the treehouse gifted to him in his fifth year of life, sleeping with his friends after they consoled Fang for his loss. Powerful energy coming from outside was what woke him up and led him to investigate the noise. From out the window, he saw them. At least two Nature Angels standing in between his mother’s grave. Silently unmoving apart from the occasional flap of their wings.

Shocked at seeing them there, but wanting to know why they were, Fang exited his treehouse and went over to them. He was a tail’s length away from the beings when they slowly turned around to face him. As with previous times, their faces were completely hidden by their hoods. Leaving nothing more than a sphere of black for Fang to look into.

“Um… h-hello. It’s nice to see you guys again.” He began hoarsely, not sure how to properly greet the duo. “W-what are you doing out here?”

Not a sound came from the angels after this question was answered. It was almost like they were incapable of speaking due to how quiet they were. From what Fang was able to gather from it though, he figured they didn’t know what to say. He could get it since they were there on the anniversary of his mother’s death and literally in front of her grave. What could you say when you were in a situation like that?

“Y-you’re here to see my mother, right? I’m sure you are since she’s… s-since she’s dead.” Fang continued, his voice choking like a rope was being tied around his neck. “You’re probably here to pay your respects, right? It’s not a big deal… the funeral’s already been held, s-so… you don’t need to do that.”

Expectations for one of his visitors to speak were dashed like whisked leaves as they stared at him wordlessly. Even as one gently turned to run what looked like a hand down Natura’s gravestone. Fang stood there, unsure what else to say other than letting them know they weren’t obligated to partake in his mother’s funeral. He suddenly suspected they believed they were upset with him for not saving his mother like they did other Nirvanian Citizens. For letting Natura die when they prevented the deaths of others that hadn’t fallen to the creatures he feared as a child.

Painful as it was to admit it, Fang was upset with them for it at first. Enraged was a better word because that was all that he felt before and after his mother’s final moments. A week was spent crying, ranting, and demanding why the Nature Angels let his mother die. Leaving him and the rest of his family behind without one of their most treasured family members. Part of him still felt that way, but it slowly began to settle down with the help of his remaining family. If not with some therapeutic help added along the way.

“You probably think I’m mad at you guys for not coming to save my Mom, aren’t you? I was from the beginning, but I’m not that mad anymore.” Fang continued with a sniffle. “I still wish you had been there. M-maybe then my Mom wouldn’t have…”

Coldness ran down the cheeks of the pegasus colt as his tears broke free from the prison that was his eyelids. They hung from his nose for half a moment before they left it to meet the grass that stood beneath his hooves. Something else touched Fang’s face and he felt it being stroked by what felt like a fox paw. Opening his eyes, he noticed the second Nature Angel kneeling in front of him, a wing wrapping around him protectively. Its face still could not be seen, but Fang could somehow feel the guilt and remorse from its shadowed face. Like it was its way of saying they were sorry it ended like this for Natura. Unlike most.

“I’m not sure if you can understand me… but I want you to know I don’t hold any grudges toward you. I-I’m still kind of angry that you weren’t there to save my Mom… b-but I don’t hate you. Any of you,” Fang expressed honestly, sucking in breaths in between sentences. “Just… please. Don’t let anyone else I know die. I know you have others here you gotta watch out for… but I don’t want to lose the rest of my family or friends.”

A green hoof lifted to grip the arm of the one holding his face. “My Mom was taken away by them. And it still hurts a lot. Don’t let me lose anyone else… please.”

Words did not come from the cloaked specimens, showing Fang no intentions would be made to talk by them. It was made up by their action of hugging him from either side letting himself cry in their otherworldly warmth. None of it was that of his mother or even his father’s, for it was far beyond that and more. Fang speculated it was due to them being from another dimension, helping to explain the comfort he was feeling. It still felt nice either way.

“Golden Fang?”

Jumping from the sweet voice, Fang’s wings opened to bring him into the air. Right out of the soothing embrace of the Nature Angels. He spun around to see a female sphinx and a thestral standing behind him. Looks of worry and curiosity were on their faces and based on how the bat-winged mare was frowning, she was the one who spoke.

“C-Crescent Moon? Sandra?” Fang asked once he calmed down. “W-what are you two doing out here?”

“We were wondering the same thing about you,” Sandra replied inquisitively, her orangish-pink eyes peering at him from behind her auburn mane. A forepaw that was clearly deformed went up to push it back as she went on. “We felt you weren’t in your treehouse anymore and came looking for you. Xinzhe is still there in case you were wondering.”

“Oh, sorry about that. I was visiting my Mom.” Fang explained as he settled back down on the grass. “How much did you two hear?”

“Not much. We found you a few seconds ago so we didn’t hear all you were saying.” Crescent Moon said truthfully, taking a few steps forward. “Were you… talking with Auntie Natura?”

Fang, not having the nerve to tell the thestral or sphinxess the truth, confirmed the former’s suspicions. “Uh-huh… I just woke up and felt like going to see her because… well, I just wanted to talk to her.”

“Is that why you doing all that crying?” Sandra asked sensitively, her pupils dilating. Watching as he nodded, she went over and nuzzled Fang, purring as if she was a cat trying to comfort its owner. “I guess being with you didn’t help enough. We’re sorry for not noticing you were still hurting.”

“Don’t be.” Fang rejected the feline's apology. “I was already better from that group hug. It was just when I came down here that I felt hurt all over again. You don’t need to feel bad for it.”

“I think we should, given what I and Sandy just saw.” Crescent retorted, walking up towards the pegasus and kissing his forehead. “It does look like we came at a bad time and kept you from letting it out again. Do you to be left alone?”

Taking his attention away from Sandra's purring, Fang’s eyes of emerald looked into the thestral’s sugary orbs of pink for a couple of seconds. He looked back at the graveyard only to see it by itself, with no traces of the Nature Angels. Feathers matching the color of the grass and trees stood on it, being the only sign they were there. A sign that was seen by him multiple times before and a sign that told Fang he would see them again.

“No, I’m good. Let’s go back to the treehouse.”

Since that day, Fang’s sightings of the Nature Angels became a near-daily occurrence.

He was already seeing them plenty of times after that memorable night on the day he was to find what he was meant to do with his life. It used to happen while still somehow managing to remain uncommon enough for it not to be common. Now, it was happening at least once every few days save for rare exceptions when Equestria was really in trouble. It wasn’t like it wasn’t in danger in the past thanks to how untamed it was even after civilization found its place on the island. But it seemed like angelic guardians were more vigilant and attentive than usual.

Regardless of the increased appearances of the beings whose identity was known only by them, no complaints were given by Fang. If anything, he saw it as a good sign for him and all Nirvanian residents when it came to protection. Plenty of it was given already by the guards, troops, and guild wizards that lived in the nine cities, towns, and villages in Equestria. However, thanks to the increase of what he referred to as Danger Beasts, the appearance of supernatural entities felt more vital with each passing day.

Over half a decade passed and Fang continued growing, and so did his family. With every year that passed, he grew older and wiser, experiencing achievements and losses. Be it in his domestic life, work life, or social life Fang went through it all, gaining lessons and relearning some. His mother’s death no longer haunted him as much and he obtained the strength to begin moving on from it with familial help. It did not stop the pegasus from seeing the deceased Natura on the day she was killed, or any friends and family accompanying him. Religiously he kept it up and from the first time he did, at least one Nature Angel was with him through it all.

Unlike the first time he began seeing them, Fang felt these occurrences were a sign connected to him. He did not entirely know what he did to make them stand by his side when paying his respects to Natura. Only the day that he first addressed them could explain why filled the vision given to him by his eyes. Fang felt that was why they did what they did aside from the near-frequent slaying of the beasts with the white masks. As thankful as he was for that, the stallion felt it was evidence something else would happen. An event that would bring him closer to the ones he watched from afar and watched over his land than he ever thought possible.

Memorial Day was when that sign came. Fang was getting into bed after finally managing to get his youngest brother to sleep after chasing him around his new house. It would have taken longer, but his middle brother, Epona bless his heart, was there to give Fang an extra hoof to capture the colt. Once they made sure he was going to sleep for the whole night, Fang went to bed to get some well-deserved shuteye. Barely a minute passed of his eyes being closed before he felt… it.

Groaning in surprise, Fang rolled over from his position of facing his bedroom wall to see a Nature Angel pair standing in front of him. Differences were seen in an instant, like how much larger their statures were and the greater length of their wings. Quadrupedal stances stood out the most, giving Fang the impression they were one of Equus's fourteen species that were the same way.

“Wings of Epona… if this isn’t a way to prevent a good night’s sleep nothing is,” Fang grunted, sitting up from his bed to face his visitors. “Let me guess, there’s another Danger Beast in Nirvana and I need to watch for it? If that’s what you’re here to tell me you don’t have to. I’m magically capable enough to fend for myself from them.”

In years before this moment, none of the Nature Angels Fang met up close would ever say a word to him. He had long since gotten accustomed to it since the first time he spoke to them while saying his final farewells to his mother. At best, he was gestured with hands, wings, and sometimes even tails if Fang was lucky to see that which was rare. It was only thanks to his middle brother’s similar behaviors that he could come close to understanding what they were saying. He had no hopes for this time being different and was more than prepared for repeating this little game. Until tonight.

“Did you think that we were not aware of that?” The first Nature Angel asked smoothly and sagely with a tinge of amusement in his tone.

Had it not been for the normalization of the ethereal pop-ups, Fang would’ve whinnied like a foal at the sudden verbal communication. The slightest of flinches left him as his wings partially spread as if he was going to take flight. Several seconds later he regained his composure and settled back into his doggish sitting posture on his bed.

“Well… that’s not something I’d ever see you guys do,” Fang commented. “Not once did I hear a single word from you guys. I thought would never hear you do it at all. It’s kind of relieving to be able to finally hear you talk.”

“We can assure you dear that we are just as capable of verbality as the beings that succeeded in making this dangerous beauty of an island their home.” The second Nature Angel replied, warmth and gentleness coating her tone like honey on a wooden spoon. “We can’t blame you either way since none of the other Adiaphorous Angels spoke a single phrase to the mortals here. I hope you can accept our deepest apologies for leading you on the way we did since, well, you know.”

Fang held a hoof up in dismission. “Hey, it’s cool. It wasn’t like it was the thing that I was the most concerned about you guys. You had a lot more important things to do than confirm the suspicion as to whether or not you were as silent as elephants walking through the Talis Plains.”

Nature Angel One chuckled at the last phrasing of the stallion’s second sentence. “Quite the sense of humor you have there, young one. Reminds me of certain someone back home.” His voice went down to a whisper. “Oxylus would love you if he were here.”

“What’d you say?” Fang asked curiously, not catching the last part.

“Nothing, my dear hubby was just mumbling about something.” Nature Angel Two replied with a laugh reminding Fang of a storytelling grandmother. “Anywho, I’m sure you are wondering who we are and why we’re here?”

“It’s more of the why you’re here and not the who you are,” Fang began casually. “It would make things easier if I knew your names, but I understand if that information is classified.”

It was now the first Nature Angel’s turn to laugh. “Humorous and understanding about things not allowed to be given… I like this child already!” He laughed even more at the annoyed look Fang gave him before continuing. “We can’t give you our full names, but to at least know how to address us, you can call me Aeon and my wife Willow. Not our real names but names that come close to our actual names.”

“Yep, definitely aliases,” Fang murmured, crossing his forelegs. “Alright, so what was it that you wanted to tell me? An even bigger increase of the creatures that aren’t native to the island?”

“If that was what we planned to tell you, we wouldn’t even be here as of now.” Willow giggled as she patted at her hood. “No, what we’re here for is something far more important than that. One that mostly involves you.”

Seriousness took over Fang’s entire being at this statement. “And what would that me?”

“I’m sure you’re aware of the changes that have been happening since the arrival of the Danger Beasts.” Aeon started, choosing not to tell Fang what they were called. “There’s not much that can be explained about that other than an unknown breakage in the dimensions between our world and yours. Nothing can be done about that since even we don’t know how it works. It just seems to be a case of really bad luck. For you at least.”

“Like that hasn’t already been established.” Fang snorted, running a hoof down some slash scars on his face. “Anything aside from that I should know?”

Willow cleared her throat, signifying she wanted her turn to talk. “Other than the ever-increasing attacks on your island, something else is coming. We’re not one hundred percent certain of this, but we feel that the powers allowing you to see us and the other spirits we’ve been obtaining are growing.”

“My powers are growing?” Fang repeated, a hoof instinctively moving to his fluffy chest.

“Yes. It’s been confirmed to us by the Nature Angels that have been near you over the last two decades. Some others share your ability, but it is yours that is standing out the most from them all.” Willow went on. “We feel that it is a sign they are going to grow into something more that, depending on what happens, may allow you to do even greater things with them.”

“…Would this happen to extend being able to take down those Danger Beasts that have been on the island since I was seven?” Fang asked after letting Willow’s words sink in.

“Well, you’re one of the select few able to see us,” Aeon murmured, deciding not to tell him just who it was, other than his family, that shared his abilities. “Other than them, you’ll have a chance to do just that, but yours may come faster than the others. As for who those other people are… I believe it’s best if you find out for yourself.”

If Fang had been any other pony or creature, he would’ve demanded to know who would be joining him in this incoming stage of life. It was a reaction typical of individuals who were being told what he was. Something Fang saw in the multiple anime and manga he watched and read in his years of living in Equestria. Depending on who he possibly told all of this to, they’d say it was wise or stupid to refrain from doing so. Curiosity was still lingering in him as to what this could’ve meant for him or any who would be a part of it. From what instincts were telling him though, the pegasus felt it would be best not to. For he would get a revelation from something else… or someone else down the line.

“Normally, I would ask what someone means by something like that,” Fang murmured after nearly a half minute of silence. “But I’m gonna give you guys the benefit of the doubt. You’ve done nothing to make me think you guys are plotting something bad, so I’ll keep it to myself for the time being. I just hope it doesn’t come back to bite me like those Mila Jungle Monkeys.”

“Possibilities of that are not to be ignored, but we appreciate your willingness to hear us out,” Willow said thankfully. “But with how things are going for you know, we’re all but certain things will turn out okay for you. As long as you're careful and don’t do anything that could jeopardize the path in which you will soon be walking.”

“If I could face and survive the wilds of the Fallow Wastes and still live to tell the tale now, I think I can survive until I discover what’ll happen with my secret powers,” Fang said in a somewhat offended tone. “But I’ll do all that I can to keep myself alive and not end up as mincemeat for the Southwestern Blizzard Wolves.”

“You do that, son.” Aeon chuckled, smiling at him like a grandfather to their grandson. “One more thing. Just as a precaution, keep an extra close eye on the Adiaphorous Angels for now. From how much your powers are increasing one just may try to see what is it that they’re sensing from you.”

“Like how they’ve been doing whenever I go to visit my Mom?” Fang speculated solemnly.

“…Yes, something along those lines,” Willow replied, her voice low and soft with a weirdly mournful undertone. “W-well then, we must be off now. We’ve sensed Danger Beasts nearby and we must stop it. Please remember what we have said to you tonight as it will be rather important when needed.”

“As if seeing you guys for a near decade and a half doesn’t hold some sort of importance,” Fang said dryly, feeling a slight tinge that resulted in him ruffling his feathers.

Chortling at his words, a glow surrounded Willow and Aeon as magic surrounded them. Amid their vanishing, they gave Fang smiles only those coming from a loving and nurturing family. Such was the mystery behind it that the stallion felt the need to ask why they were giving him such looks. His chance to do that was dashed as the angels popped out of existence, leaving him alone in his bedroom once more.

“Adiaphorous Angels, huh?” Fang mulled after some time. “Eh, Nature Angel sounds a lot cooler.”

No explanation would be given to Fang's family as to what happened that night. None would care as they would chalk it up to him having another chitchat with his spirit visitors. Even if it was decided by him to tell them all he was given, he doubted it would change anything. Strange things were told to pretty much all of his family by the departed souls they would see. It was without a doubt the same thing would happen with the Nature Angels he conversed with last night.

Just as it was with those he got close enough to touch, fallen feathers were the only proof of them being there. Inside the safety of the house was earned through years of missions, tasks, and saving along the way. Not a single one was touched by Fang, and he left them there to dissipate as he rejoined the realm that was the land of dreams. Had he been awake for just a little longer, he would have seen it on him. At the end of his wings, right at the parts that made the end of them, were feathers tinged with emerald green.