//------------------------------// // The Shadows in the Forest. // Story: Adventures with the Son of Chaos and Harmony. // by Godmutt //------------------------------// She'd seen something. It was a pony. Or.. maybe a dragon.. "Who are you?!" She called out. A deep, melodic voice answered "I am the best thing that will ever happen to you.." "No, you aren't.. I know you're not!!" She slowly backed into a wall.. 'Dangit, my claws are too dull to defend myself, and my fire is too cold..' She growled to herself. 'But who.. what am I defending myself from?..' The dark emerald dragon looked to the trees again and froze in shock as she saw the figure. She watched as her mother stepped out of the shadowy trees. She had dark crimson scales and ruby red spikes on her tail. While most of her was an example of red monochrome, her eyes were special. One eye was a bright, icy blue, while the other was a dull light grey. "I'm back, honey!" Said her mother in a sweet voice. But Brush knew better than to listen. "You.. you aren't my mother.. She's gone!.. GO AWAY!!" She yelled, anger taking over. "Darling, I'm not gone.. I'm right here!.." Said the phantom image. The green dragon was pressed against the wall in fear. Her eyes were narrowed, wings half open in case she needed a quick escape. The fake dragon slowly walked over and held Brush in it's warm arms.. it felt just like a dragon mother's embrace.. and Brush was slowly lost in her mother's silky hug.. --- Soon after Celestia had left after a long rant, Soma had started working on his tornado designs. He would throw in multiple colors, and occasionally a spark or two. But that ended up being too repetitive. So he turned to look at the map on his wall. He had received it years ago from the Griffon Empire as a birthday gift. As he looked around the large map, a particular mountain caught his eye. He struggled to read the tiny labeling on his wall. "Torn.. Torn wall. Torn wall mountain! " He exclaimed. But something was different about it. Since the wall was infused with magic, the objects painted on it were made to look realistic, and they were accurate and ever-changing. And this particular mountain seemed to be.. surreal. As though it were made of plastic, and not the usual rocks and soil. He was intrigued. He quickly packed a bag with a couple apples, two sweaters, a sleeping bag, and his toy fox. 'I'll just wait till sunset, and I'll take a trip to that mountain!' He thought to himself. When he left, and he snuck off good. Even managed to get past the night guard! As he reached the castle boundaries, he spread his wings, and took to the skies! He was soon at the base of the mountain. Smiling, he yelled at the moon, "Freee at last!!!" While he knew he would return home eventually, he felt like he shouldn't have gone at all.. But he'd gone anyway. And he'd grow up to love that decision.