//------------------------------// // Doshu'um Reku'un I // Story: To Call the Moon My Own // by That_Random_Pony //------------------------------//                     " Reku'un has been fighting since he was born", Minira said. " Just like his predecessor, he overcame many challenges, fought many Arthanians, and won many battles. He was born long ago".                     The room changed to show the Makti's chambers. Standing outside was Jaqeluu, Fermot, Agner, Derekosh and Jerosh. They were younger, Jerosh just beginning his maturity age. The boys peered into their parents bedroom, watching their mother cradle their newest brother. The Makti, Gonak, looked at his newborn son with worry. He did not cry, nor did he make a sound. His eyes were clenched shut and his breathing came quickly.                     " Aww! He's so cute!", Pinkie squeed as she got closer.                      " And little", Rainbow added. " So they don't cry like fillies?".                    " They do, but Reku'un was born with a lack of power", Minira sighed. The Makti carefully took his son from the mother, his concern shown by his brushes across the baby's cheek. " He was too weak to move, and he would have died".                   She brought them to the night, where Gonak was kneeling in front of an altar. " Please Minira, save my son", he pleaded. " He is too young to be taken from me. Please, give him the strength he needs".                    " I heard his calls, but it was out of my power to give any more energy", Minira sighed. " If I gave him anymore, I would not be able to rule from the Eden plane".                        The scenery changed again, to Gonak taking the baby away. He brought him underneath the stars at the very top of the Lithifer tree. He placed his hands on the infants forehead and body. His hands glowed with the Ashla's energy, and a small piece of the Ashla entered the child. As soon as it did, energy coursed through the child's veins, and he opened his eyes. Instead of crying he began to laugh and giggle as his father picked him.                     " Though I couldn't give him the energy, I could influence Gonak to do so", Minira said. " His power gave life to the boy, and soon he was perfectly normal".                    They were brought to the next morning, where millions of people were gathered in front of the Lithifer tree. The five brothers and the Makti stood out on a balcony, looking into the tree to see an elderly lady with her hands on the boy in his mother's arms.                     " Who is that?", Cadence asked.                     " It's me", Minira giggled. " I made it a priority to know the Doshu'um upon birth".                     " What were you doing?", Celestia asked.                     " Your father was the one who could see into the stars and tell the future", Minira said. " I could only catch small glimpses of a being's future".                     While she didn't show them what she saw, she did grow a small smile, both past and present. " His name...will be Reku'un. Reku'un Alamonshuor", her past self smiled.                     " Like our ancestor", Gonak smiled proudly. " It's perfect. Thank you Oracle". She bowed to him and moved away as Gonak helped his wife to her feet.                    Nitela, Gonak's wife, looked down to her son. She used her wings, a rare occurence for a rite, to tickle him gently. Reku'un giggled and cooed as his father took him into his arms and raised him above his head. Reku'un tried grabbing his father's hair as he laughed innocently. Gonak carried him in one arm and guided his wife with the other. They stepped onto the balcony once again, showing Reku'un his brothers. The five of them pushed lightly to see their youngest sibling, each of them making small faces.                    Gonak walked to the railing, where down below the people were waiting. He turned Reku'un in his grasp and lifted him high into the air. " This, is my son! Reku'un Alamonshuor! The Doshu'um and the future Makti!".                    The entire planet heard the announcement, and the entire planet erupted into cheers, both merry and proud. At the very front of the crowd were the Signa children. They all bowed in front of their parents to show allegiance to the young Doshu'um. Reku'un just laughed and giggled at the people bowing way below him.                    The scenery dispersed into white again. " So, Tony's a prince?", Fluttershy asked. Minira giggled politely.                    " In a sense", she smiled. " He is royalty, but prince wouldn't be the same as Doshu'um". She brought them to the celebration that took place the night of the naming of the Doshu'um.                           Dozens of dancers performed for him, with ceremonial togas, drums, fire jugglers, and a few Signa performers. Nitela performed at the head of the dancers, while her husband and newborn son sat by a table. The feast lasted the entire night, though none were drunk. They ate, danced, talked, reveled as they recalled glorious battles they survived. They even spoke about their comrades dying noble deaths, wishing them happiness in the afterlife. Minira decided to speed things up since her time was wearing thin.                   " As Doshu'um, once he came of age he would need to choose his weapon", Minira said. It was two years later, when Reku'un was of one cycle. He stood about as tall as a filly, maybe a little taller.                   He walked behind his father in a small hallway. When they reached the end of it, they entered a room with walls lined with weapons. Bows, arrows, spears, maces, swords, staffs. Everything was on display for the young Doshu'um, and since he was only one cycle old he immediately ran for the first one that caught his eye.  The sword.                     Gonak lifted him before he could grab the sword however. " Ah, so you're just like me are you?", Gonak chuckled. " A swordsman".                     He sheathed the blade and handed it to his son, who started cooing as he swung it around. " It is said that the Doshu'um is connected to his weapon of choice, and it couldn't be more true", Minira chuckled.                    Again she skipped further, when Reku'un was three cycles old. He was outside with his brother Jaqeluu, using a wooden sword to spar with his older brother. Jaqeluu was only there to see if he had the will to keep fighting, which his little brother had already proven. Still, it was interesting how Reku'un seemed lost in the battle.                    With a slight shift of his arm, Jaqeluu took Reku'un's feet from under him and put him on his back. " You need more training brother", he chuckled. " Do not become so blinded by your opponent that you lose sight of everything".                    " Then I can't beat you", the younger Reku'un laughed. " Can we go home now? I'm hungry".                    Again Jaqeluu chuckled as he came closer. " No, not yet. You asked me to teach you Himifel right?", he reminded him.                    " What's Himi-whatever?", Rainbow asked.                     Instead of answering, Minira just nodded to the boys. With a groan Reku'un sat cross legged in front of his older brother. " I can't even lift a pebble. Are we meditating?".                    " No, not this time brother", Jaqeluu smiled. A boulder off to the side levitated between them. " What do you see?".                    " A rock". The two of them laughed some, and the mares giggling some.                     " No, you see one of Minira's creations", Jaqeluu said. The boulder moved aside and showed the other. " Remember brother, this rock isn't just here. It has its own purpose, its own energy".                     " I can't feel it", Reku'un pointed out. " It doesn't have energy, it's just a rock".                     With a grin, Jaqeluu crumbled the boulder in his telekinetic grasp. Small particles of energy began to seperate from the pieces, amazing the ponies and Reku'un. The energy flickered in front of a jaw dropped Reku'un.                     " Once you learn to understand this little brother", Jaqeluu began, returning the energy to the rock. " You will surpass even me, and one day Jerosh, and then father".                    Reku'un jaw closed, and he began smiling. " Then let's start!", he exclaimed.                     Minira brought them to another scene of his life, this time when Reku'un was about to turn five cycles old. He stood as tall as a regular pony, and he was starting to look like he did now. On the entrance to his home he stood beside his father, just as the sun began to set.                      " Do you see that?", Gonak asked as he placed a hand on Reku'un's shoulder. " It's our kingdom, Reku'un. One day, when I am gone, you will be Makti. And all the people will look to you for guidance, the warriors will stand behind you in battle, and you will bring peace to the galaxies around".                    " How Herod?", Reku'un asked. " I'm just one person. I'm not even strong, Jerosh is stronger, as are you".                   Gonak chuckled and kneeled in front of him. " That is true, but remember, all that power is nothing compared to having this", he tapped Reku'un's chest. " Without heart, a warrior's power is meaningless. Without courage, a warrior will not fight. Without honor, a warrior is nothing. Power alone cannot win a battle, it takes a man's courage, and you possess much of that. Tomorrow you will be five cycles, and I want to show you something early before sunrise, before we begin your training".                    Reku'un became confused. " Haven't I already started?".                   " No, your brothers were merely readying you for this. They all believe that you will end this war", Gonak smiled. " And though our ancestors could not, I know that you can. Now get some rest, I shall wake you before the sun rises".                    With a small smile and a quick hug, Reku'un ran back into his room and fell asleep. Just as his father told him, he was shaken lightly awake. Gonak guided him back to the balcony, but this time there were candles lit.                     " What is this...Herod?", Reku'un yawned. He sat in front of the entrance and noticed the strange garnments he was wearing.                     " Do you remember what Agner told you about the planets?", Gonak questioned. " How night and day is brought?".                    " The planets rotating bring forth day and night", Reku'un recalled. " Where the sun shines is day, and where it does not is night".                      " Very good. But Loki'ir does not work the same way", Gonak told him. " I'll show you".                    Reku'un watched as his father brought his palms together and he exhaled lightly. Closing his eyes, he began to make small swirling motions, and as he did he moved his feet fluidly across the wood. His son's curiosity got a hold, and he was wide awake as he watched his father. He could feel a surge of energy growing, and soon his father's motions were stiffenig. The final motions showed him pulling something, and as he repeated it, it was harder and harder to do. His father's muscles showed as he flexed them to do what needed to be. With a final slam of his hands, the night was pierced by daylight, and the sun rose high into the air. Reku'un, and everypony, had their mouths on the floor as they saw Gonak bring forth the day.                      " I thought I would show you this", Minira giggled. " The Makti's brought forth the day and night for their people, just as you two bring day and night for your subjects".                     " I...I had no idea", Celestia gasped.                      Gonak sighed and turned back to his son and smiled. " One day, you will do this for your people Reku'un. I will show it to you every morning and every evening for you to memorize the motions. And when your rites come, you will help me do it".                     " Yes Herod!", Reku'un beamed.                     " So Tony can move the sun and moon?", Twilight questioned.                      " Yes, just as Celestia and Luna use their magic, the Makti uses his energy to slingshot the planet into a slight spin", Minira explained.                      Minira brought them five weeks after he turned five cycles, and he was resting with his brothers. The six of them were at the shores of their continent, and they all swam in the clear water. Fermot used his rites to create a sandcastle big enough to house each of them, and Jerosh used his manipulation rite to solidify it. Reku'un ran into it and stood on the balcony of sand. The five brothers sarcastically bowed before him, just before Reku'un jumped on Jerosh's back.                     " He looks...happy", Applejack said. " Why're they fightin' now?".                     Even the four brothers who watched in silence hesitated to answer. In the end, it was the goddess supreme that answered. " Because of what they planned", she said in a low tone.                    " We only wanted what was best for him", Jaqeluu defended. " If I had taken the Iikro into consideration, none of this would have happened".                     Minira placed her hoof on his shoulder. " No, it is because of you that Reku'un is here", Minira sympathised. " He would have never met Daniel or Eishla or any of them without you".                    " Who is Eishla anways?", Cadence asked. " He said something about that a long time ago, but I didn't know what he meant".                    " We'll come to that", Minira smiled. She brought them to another part of Tony's childhood, only weeks later.                     Reku'un sat on the Defili branch as he watched the warriors marching. The other children, Signa and regular alike, were also using the branches to play. He was tired out from a game of chase with his companions, so he rested to try and catch his breath. Suddenly, a loud noise began to grow in volume, until it was heard throughout the forest around. Reku'un knew what the siren meant, and no sooner did he realize it the others quickly dispersed.                     Reku'un leaped from the branches in an attempt to get back to the Lithifer. It would take him some time, since it was across the forest he was in. He made his way as fast as he could, and just as he was about to land the branch exploded. He adjusted his fall to land on a lower branch, then he glanced to the sky. Instead of the usual blue ocean there was a swarm of incoming dropships below a dreadnaught.                                    " The Arthanians attacked in the trillions", Minira said sadly. " Easily breaching the patrolling ships. He was only ten in your years when it happened"                             Reku'un wasted no more time, so he jumped up high and started leaping again. The dropships had soldiers pouring out of them, and the people around Reku'un that were fleeing as well were attacked by the soldiers. Child, woman, and man alike were killed around him as he ran away. A fighter hummed above him, and a blast of red came down behind him. The branches were obliterated by the beam slowly gaining on Reku'un. His legs only pumped harder to escape the death ray closing in on him, and the heat it created only pushed him harder.                      The beam stopped and an explosion erupted in front of him as the branch took a shell. He barely leaped off of the falling branch before it fell to the ground. More explosions sounded around, behind, and in front of him. His muscles tired from all the running, and he began to slow as he panted for breath. But it was slow and die, or fast and escape. He couldn't decide when the branch in front of him exploded and sent splinters into him. He ignored the pain and grabbed onto a vine to stop his fall. The momentum he had gained only increased as he swung under and over the tree it was clinging to.                      A fighter was coming straight for him in the open air, but before the one behind or in front of him could act he was pulled down. The fighters that collided exploded and a powerful gust of wind blew away the smoke. Reku'un opened his eyes and saw General Ignofif holding him. The General pulled him onto his Nera'ak and flew east.                    " The Lithifer's-"                    " Your father sent me to get you-GET DOWN!", he shouted as he leaned in to get his dragon to dive under a fighter. The beast's tail knocked off a wing and sent it into the trees below. " I have to bring you to the bunker".                    Reku'un questioned no further as they flew with other Signa and their Nera'ak. They all used their rites to keep the fighters away and shoot them down. A hail of beams knocked the Signa out of the sky and killed them, while him and Ignofif flew as fast as his Nera'ak could. Another hum of the fighter behind them made Ignofif jump off of his Nera'ak with Reku'un. It burned up in the ray as it tore through its scales.                   Ignofif set Reku'un down and ran with him. " Do you remember where the bunker is?!", he shouted above the explosions going on around them.                   " Yes!", Reku'un answered. Ignofif took out his hammer and swung it into a soldier.                    " Good! Once we reach Detar's crossing, run to it, there will be guards waiting for you!", he instructed him.                    " But where will you-"                     His sentence was cut off as Ignofif tumbled to the ground with a soldier on top of him. The wolf bit into his shoulder and made him cry out. Ignofif elbowed him and rolled to be on top, crushing its skull with his bare hands. Many more began to surround him, as they were Reku'un.                    " Just run!", Ignofif shouted. " Run straight for the bunker-AGH!". Reku'un gasped as the spear entered the general's back and stomach. He pulled out his knife and stabbed the one beneath his as he was hoisted into the air. " JUST GO DOSHU'UM!".                    With tearing eyes at his friend, Reku'un ran past the coming wolves and continued east. He reached the small clearing that led to the bunker and saw the Signa fighting back another pack. They doubled their efforts when they saw the boy running up. A female warrior scooped him up and brought him into the safe zone. There were bodies inside, which she shielded his eyes from, both Loki'irian and Arthanian.                    " Where's Herod?", Reku'un sniffled.                    " He's coming Doshu'um, don't fear", she hushed him. " I'm going to keep you safe okay? But you have to promise to stay here".                   Reku'un sniffled with fear as he nodded. The woman put back on her helmet and locked the room he was in. He stayed for hours, hearing and feeling the battle raging outside. Several explosions made the room shake, and he could hear screams of pain and agony coming from outside. The only thing he wanted was his parents, and he had no idea where they were. Jaqeluu was nowhere to be found either.                                Being the child that he was, Reku'un disregarded the woman's request and he stepped out of the room. The hallway was filled with the smell of blood and death, given off by the bodies on the floor and against the walls. As he made his way over and around them he found the body of the female that brought him here. He began to cry in fear of his life as he left the bunker. What he saw made him gasp.                             The forests were burning, even as the fighters destroyed more and more of it. He could see his people running from the soldiers as they jumped onto them and fed. There were still young men and warriors fighting back, but there were so many. Too many for the scarce number of men and women still fighting. Before he could run a large wolf dropped down in front of him.  An Alpha.                     Reku'un fell back as it tried to cut him with its mutated claws. Reku'un crawled backwards into the hall as the Alpha tried to grab him. He kicked its claws away several time until his toga got caught on a sword. The Alpha couldn't fit entirely into the hall, but it reached its hand in to try and claw at him. Just as the claws scratched his leg, its head was impaled on a spear, and it hung against the wall. Before Reku'un could get free, Gonak pulled the spear out and kicked the body aside. He picked up his hurt son and ran back outside.                    " Where's Heraj?!", Reku'un cried.                                 " She's safe Reku'un, just close your eyes and don't look". He meant the hundreds upon thousands of bodies littering the burning forests. Some hung from trees, some were hung against the bark, and many were half eaten.                     The ponies were horrified by the numbers, and even more so by the gore. Fluttershy covered her eyes, and Rarity covered her mouth with her hoof often. The princesses were shocked to see so much violence on one planet.                    Once they were out of the burning forest, they were brought to the middle of a battlefield. In the distance a large ship was taking off, to which Reku'un began to smile hopefully. That hope was shot down with the ship, as it crashed back into the forest it was in. Gonak cursed in Loki'irian and turned to the battle. He took off swiftly, running straight into the Arthanian lines. He activated his rites, making him become crystalline in structure, and bashed through the wolves. He didn't stop to fight one, instead just plowing through them to get his son to safety.                       He came free of the lines and ran to meet the next one. But given how large it was, he thought about stopping to fight, or else he would be injured. His thoughts quickly subsided when the four brothers, minus Jerosh, jumped in front of them. They all ran straight into the next battalion, the older brothers clearing a hole for thier father. They slashed, batted, and struck their way through the hundreds of soldiers that began to try and stop them. The brother's kept in front of their father as he kept Reku'un from seeing the bloodshed.                    There was just one last battalion before they got to the Fort. In a single bound, the brother's landed far in front of their father and combined their energies into a single blast, clearing a path for Gonak. They followed close behind, finally reaching Fort Dimungi. The warriors on the wall fired their arrows rapidly while the ones on the ground prepared for the fort to he overrun. They pushed against the gates to keep them closed, but it became harder and harder as more came.                    The royal family ran to the very back of the fort and to the entrance to the caverns. Before they could though, they heard an ear-wrenching screech of metal. When they turned back, they saw Arthanians pouring in behind five Alphas. The men were slaughtered by the powerful beasts, and they had already started their charge for them.                    Jaqeluu turned to his father with a sad smile. " Go, we will keep them busy", he said.                   " No!", Reku'un shouted. " I'm not leaving you!". He wriggled out of his father's grasp, took his sword, and took a defensive stance.                    Jaqeluu pulled his brother close with his hands on his arms. " You are too young Reku'un", he said softly. " You're not strong enough. Go, and become stronger so you may fight. I promise, I'll come back as soon as I can".                    He hugged his smaller brother and was joined by the other men. Reku'un sobbed into his brother's shoulder as he embraced him, and his father soon brought him to the lift. The last thing he saw were his brothers each charging forward, roaring their battle cry.                   " But...if you died, how are you here?", Shining asked.                  " We didn't die, we were turned to pure stone as we died", Derekosh explained. " We were badly outnumbered, and Jerosh turned us to stone so we could survive".                 " But didn't he want to kill you and Tony?", Twilight questioned further. " Why would he-"                  " Twilight", Minira spoke. " If you'd please, wait until I'm done. Your answers lie ahead".                   Twilight frowned a bit for not getting an answer, but paid attention no less. The father and son reunited with Nitera in front of their escape, the ship. They piled in and strapped into the chairs. As the ship lifted up the platform to the top of the mountain, Reku'un cried in fear of his brothers' death. He could already sense their energies fading. But what broke his heart was what he saw at the top of the mountain.                    Among all the fighting and explosions, the Lithifer tree burned. But soon, it began to move. Reku'un watched in shock as his home, the place he grew up in, the place he loved to be in, fell. Slowly but surely the great tree fell to the dirt and squashed bodies unlucky to be there.                     The violence vanished into the white void, filling it with nothing. " They escaped, and soon they found refuge on Earth. The Arthanians never attacked since early in the war the planet didn't have life. Because of the failed counter-attacks, I lost faith in their ability to fight back, and I never looked at Loki'ir. I wouldn't watch my own creations die", she said as her voice cracked some.                    " There was nothing to be done Minira", Fermot assured her. " Even with your power you risked being stuck in the mortal plane".                    " What 'mortal plane'?", Pinkie questioned.                     " There is a barrier between our plane", Celestia began. " And the immortal plane. Immortals such as our mother and father live in the immortal plane, while we live in the mortal plane".                    " But aren't alicorns immortal?", Rarity asked.                    " No, we live for millions of years, but we can still die from old age. I'm only 10,052 years old, young in alicorn time", Celestia explained.                    " I'm only 8,432 years old", Luna said.                     Shining turned to his wife. " And how old are you?", he asked.                    Cadence rolled her eyes and giggled. " I'm only 27 Shiney", she smirked. " Besides, I can't live as long as they can. I can only live a few thousand years old".                    " Why?", Twilight asked, a bit excited she could learn about alicorns.                    " We were born from a supreme goddess", Celestia began. " She was born from a mortal goddess, meaning she won't live as long as us".                     Minira brought their attention back by bringing them to their landing sight. " Fortunately, some Loki'irians travelled to Earth in search of less violent times", she said. " Reku'un's aunt was one to leave. She helped them adjust to the Earth ways before they went on their own".                     In order to fit in, Reku'un's mother had to cut off her wings. They gasped as she stepped out of the bathroom without the cream colored appendages, but she only smiled at Reku'un. When they had spent a year of adjusting, and Reku'un taking on the name Anthony Lorenshi and learning more English, they moved an entire state away. South Carolina.                      Tony was constantly bullied, both inside and outside school. They called him unclever names, made fun of his last name, and called him an emo on account of his scarred left hand. Coming home was the best thing for him, but soon it was where he didn't want to be. His father always made him study the arithemtic books of Earth. One day, an especially bad day where his lunch was thrown in the trash by his bullies, he threw the textbook on the floor and faced his father.                     " I don't want to read this anymore!", he shouted. " I want to go home! I hate it here! I'm always being made fun of, they call me names, and I can't even train anymore! You said I would start my training, but all I've done is read! I want to fight! I want to go home! I want Jaqeluu!".                   His father showed no anger, nor did his mother. They knew, all of them, how hard it was for him to cope with fleeing. His mother wrapped him in a hug and his father sat at the table. Tony cried into his mothers shoulder as she held him and shushed him softly. When he had calmed down enough he turned to his father, who was smiling gently.                    " You began your training long ago my son", Ganok said. " A warrior is not only as strong as he is brave, he is also educated, and by reading these books you are making the next step easier".                    He grabbed a knife from the counter and put it in Reku'un's hand. " Now, aim this at the wall right there", he pointed just below the light switch. Tony did so and his mind drew out numbers and equations. " What do you see?".                    " The numbers...and the formulas I read about", Tony answered a bit confused. " Why am I seeing them?".                    " We only need to see the problems, and once our minds know it, our minds can solve it", Ganok explained. " Now throw it".                   Tony followed the necessary force and angle and threw the knife. It landed perfectly with the entire blade in the wall, the handle sticking out of the concrete. Tony was amazed that he did it, and his father smiled at him.                    " You see? We can hit targets with the greatest precision because of this knowledge", Ganok smiled. " Once you learn this, your swordsman skills can be refined".                    Tony nodded, picked the book back up, and started flipping through pages like mad. He burned through books volume at a time, and practicing the knife throwing whenever he could. He never missed a target, even as he ran he could hit his target accurately. The numbers would roll through his mind, and his body would take care of the rest.                     Eventually, Tony was finally able to start his training with the sword. Everyday after school, he trained with a wooden pole with smaller wooden rods to be his enemy. The point was to anticipate his enemy's moves, each hit sending a rod at him at random. Many times he was too slow or didn't react correctly and got his face, legs, or torso smacked several times.                      " Focus Reku'un", Ganok called from afar. " Don't panic, keep calm and wait for the next move".                    Each day went by, and Tony became faster, stronger. He was able to fight the dummy for hours without faltering, and soon his father added more and more for him to practice on. In another three years, Tony turned the five wooden dummies into splinters with a single kick or punch. He held his wooden blade against his arm and raised his other in his battle stance.                     Training with the bow was easier, since he could use the forest to practice with. For another year, he mastered the art of the bow, jumping through trees and shooting the wooden targets his father made.                   " Ganok turned him into a deadly warrior", Minira said. " Though he was young, he had vast reserves of strength that were just waiting to be released through his rites. But even I couldn't have predicted what would happen next".                    She brought them to a night Tony would never forget. It was past midnight, the entire house was asleep. It was at this age that Tony could smell a crrature's scent. His sensitive nose smelled a new scent in the house, and woke him up. Groggily he scratched the side of his head and looked around his room, and he woke up completely when he saw him.  Jerosh.                     " Jerosh!", Tony shouted as he jumped on him. He wrapped his older brother in a huge hug. " I thought you...I thought...how did you get here?!".                     Jerosh had a malicious grin, but Tony mistook it for his usual one. " I'll tell you later, I brought you something from our home", he said. " Close your eyes".                    Tony did so as he hopped around giddily. They all saw his true intentions, when he grabbed a large hammer from his back and dropped the head on the floor. Confused, Tony opened his eyes and saw the hammer connect with his face. He was sent through the wall and concrete and into his parents room. His father pulled the sword from out of under his pillow. He and Jerosh entered a blinding battle as his mother picked him up and looked at the gash in his head. Gonak blasted Jerosh out of the room and out onto the lawn.                     " Take him and run!", Gonak told Nitera. She nodded and ran through the back and into the woods.                     She wasn't counting on the Arthanians, and they ambushed her as soon as she entered the forest. They tried at least. Even without her arms she used her rites and feet to bypass the soldiers. She kneed one into a tree and teleported another high above to make him land head first.                    More came, and they shot arrows and threw spears as she ran. Many grazed her and her son, showing how he got the nick on his face. An arrow embedded itself in his thigh, and Nitera ran faster. Tony was barely keeping awake with the blow to his head. And it only got worse as a spear made Nitera trip, and another pierced his back. Tony screamed as the head ripped into his spine, and Nitera ripped several trees out of the ground and launched them to the soldiers.                      She ran further into the woods before stopping to tend to Tony. She wasn't a healer, so she could only take out the arrow and spearhead. She tried to close the wounds with her cloth, but it was obvious they had to heal with a rite. With no other choice, Nitera channeled her energy into her son, unlocking the Ashla. Tony grunted and groaned as the wounds closed over themselves. He groggily reached to his mother, but she could hear the soldiers coming. If she wanted to get him to safety, she had to occupy them.                      " Reku'un stay here", she told him.                      " Heraj where are you-"                      " Please, stay here", she teared.                      Tony listened to his mother and hid higher in the tree. She jumped down and waited for the soldiers to come, and they did. The pack swarmed through the trees and surrounded her. None of them attacked, instead they parted to let Jerosh through. Tony gasped when he saw him holding the Daedalak, knowing full well what it meant.                     " Where is Reku'un?", Jerosh smiled. Nitera only took her usual stance, and Jerosh rushed forward, uppercutting her then slamming her into the ground.                     Tony winced as he felt her energy take a nosedive. He watched as Jerosh forced her to her knees, and asked," Where is he?".                     Nitera only closed her eyes and lifted her head. Jerosh huffed and put the Daedalak through her neck, making Tony zone out. Jerosh dropped her and turned to the soldiers, and in another second they were combing the woods for him. As soon as Jerosh was out of sight, he leapt down and ran to Heraj, tears streaming down his cheeks.                    " Heraj...please be okay", he whispered. " Please...you have to be alright".                    She couldn't speak, not with the blade in her throat. She tilted her head to the side and weakly rose her hand to his face. He buried his face into her hand as he cried for her, and she cried as well. She couldn't sob, the Daedalak made it impoosible for her. Using the last of her energy, she teleported her necklace around his neck. He looked back to her, and with the last of her breath she drew out a symbol with her fingers. Salemuus.                    " I love you too", he cried. " I love you too Heraj. Please...don't die. Please Heraj! Don't leave me! Don't leave me".                    Her watery eyes dilated and her hand dropped from his face slowly. Tony sniffled and sobbed onto her chest, even with her blood wetting him. He hugged her as tight as he could, even if she couldn't return it. He prayed she would just wake up, that he was just having a nightmare, and he would wake up in the Lithifer tree. But it wasn't a nightmare, Heraj was gone. Herod was gone. His family...they were all gone.                     A howl made Tony look up. An Arthanian soldier was calling for the rest of his pack. Tony felt something he never felt before. Rage. Pure, hateful, vengeful, rage. His sniffling turned into growling, and his face contorted into a face that spoke anger.                     " You...you hurt...YOU HURT MY HERAJ!", he roared. He grabbed the sword and pulled it from her corpse, then rushed the soldier. He slashed wildly, turning the soldier into slabs of meat.                   More came and his mind went into overdrive. " I'LL KILL YOU AAAAAAAAALLL!", he screamed. They roared and rushed him, but Tony's rage made him attack.                   He turned them into hunks of meat and limbs. When there were no more to sate his anger, he did the only thing he could. Run. He turned around and ran as fast as he could, and the various smells alerted him to the soldiers closing in. It was only confirmed when spears and arrows landed beside him. Soon they were all around him, trying to catch up but he began to speed up. They were left to eat his dust, but up ahead was a problem.                     There was a gorge, cut in half by a waterfall. Tony skidded to a halt and stomped his right foot behind him, and turned to face the horde. They surrounded him at the cliff of the gap, but they didn't attack. Again they parted to let Jerosh through.                   Tony rushed forward and screamed as he tried to slash his older brother, but to no avail. Jerosh kicked him in the side of the head then slammed his fist into his stomach. Tony's small body faltered from the staggering blows, and Jerosh raised him by his collar. Tony growled as he tried to force his body to comply, instead getting strained grunts.                    " You have much power Reku'un", Jerosh chuckled. " Come to me, when you unlock that power".                    He threw Tony into the gorge, hitting him against the opposite wall and knocking him out. His body splashed into the water and floated down the stream. It was hours later when he gained consciousness. His fogged mind told him to just lay there, in the river bank. It's so cold. Heraj, Herod, I can't get up. Please, take me home                   Tony's nose could smell the Arthanians, the entire pack was getting closer. He didn't want to get up, didn't want to run. All he wanted was to die, and be with Heraj and Herod. Get up                   Tony was surprised to hear another voice. It sounded deep, just like Herod's voice. Herod? Please, I don't want to. I wanna be with you and Heraj. Get up                   Tony's slurred mind jumpstarted. He gasped for air, then coughed viciously as he rolled onto his stomach. He felt the Daedalak touch his arm as he looked to the night sky. Get up Reku'un                    This time it had a snarl to it. Like an animal. Get up!                     The voice began to growl at him. Tony's body complied, forcing him back onto his feet.  Run. Run as fast as you can, and don't stop                  Tony held the sword that was about as big as him, and slowly he dragged his feet through the wet grass. He could hear the wolves howling, and whoever the voice was forced him to go. Run                    Tony's limp turned into a quick walk, then a jog. I said run!                    Tony began to slowly run, even as the snarls could be heard behind him. RUUUUN!                     " FIIIINE!", Tony screamed as he burst forward.                     He slammed his eyes shut and ran, he didn't know where he was going, but he ran. For three days and three nights, across cities, over streams, through forests he ran. When his muscles finally tired, and his hunger overpowered him, he slowed as he reached a backyard to a home. He fell to his knees before falling to the side. His body shut down, and his eyes closed sluggishly.                      Minira cut the feed and looked at them. She knew they would cry, all of them aside from Discord, Shining Armor, Nyla, and his brothers. It was hard on all of them, to see his dark past. Even as she watched it so many years ago, she cried, but this wasn't the end of his sorrow. Not by a longshot.