Diem woke in a plush bed of hay and soft warm blankets as rain thundered outside. He was in a small room with a window that overlooked the Minotaur city. In the distance he could see a mountain range and a vast, unforgiving land in between. He looked around the room and saw only a table by his bedside with water and bandages. His head throbbed and the room spun around him as he moved around. He clenched his eyes shut and waited for the pain to go away before opening them again. When he did, the door to his room opened and a young Minotaur walked in with a bowl of soup. She smiled at Diem and set the bowl down on the table. She was in a simple brown dress that matched her fur. She had earrings in her ears that dangled and clinked together making soft sounds like bells.
“Can I get you anything little Unicorn?” She asked. Diem tried to sit up but a gut wrenching pain shot through his body, forcing him to go numb for a bit then fall right back down.
“Are you alright?” The Minotaur asked. Diem groaned in pain and sighed once it had subsided.
“I’m alright. What happened?” Diem asked. The Minotaur picked up the bowl of soup and filled the spoon, holding it to Diem’s lips. He turned his head away, too proud to be hand fed.
“You were unconscious for four days. It seems your new found powers drained you.” She said, setting the bowl back down. “You were very exhausted from your wounds and travels, and the injuries you sustained from the fight made it worse.”
“I’ve never used magic like that before.” Diem muttered. His head began to spin again. He was far too weak to be talking to someone for that long.
“Well you certainly impressed everyone. No one thought a little pony could pull that off.” She said, walking towards the door. “My name is Myra. If you need anything, just call.” She left the room without another word and closed the door leaving Diem to himself.
Diem looked over to the bowl of soup. His stomach growled and he suddenly regretted not letting Myra feed him. He closed his eyes and imagined the bowl floating over to him. He suddenly felt something hit his nose and he opened his eyes to find the bowl of soup, surrounded by a yellow glow, hovering in front of him. Diem concentrated and the spoon in the bowl slowly lifted and floated towards him. He opened his mouth and tried to aim the spoon, but he missed and the spoon crashed onto the floor. He frowned and then looked back at the bowl. He slowly brought it towards him. It rested against his lips and he tilted it just slightly so the soup would pour into his mouth. He set the bowl down and chuckled to himself.
“Well… this is going to be fun.” He said to himself then looked at the table. “Maybe….”
He clenched his eyes shut and his horn glowed and sparked a little. The table took on the same glow and began to lift slowly. Gravity was trying to force the table down, making it hard for Diem to hold it up but he kept concentrating and soon the table was high in the air. He looked up at it and laughed until his horn began to spark and send bits of magical glow all over the place. The table shook and Diem found it harder to hold on to. Finally it crashed to the ground and a ball of magic shot from his horn, crashing through the window and out into the city, bursting into a million pieces like a firework in the night sky. Diem sat there, amazed, and wondered how on earth that had happened. Myra and Thalmone rushed into the room as soon as they heard the window break.
“What happened in here?” Thalmone asked, snorting.
“I… Uh… I’m not sure..” Diem said, turning towards them.
“You better be careful with that magic, unicorn.” Thalmone said, inspecting the window.
“Yes, my lord.” Diem said, bowing his head.
“You seem to know how to fight very well. You also appear to be very obedient. Where were you trained? Are you a soldier of some type?’ Thalmone asked. Myra picked up the bowl and spoon off the floor, cleaning up the soup that had spilled then walked out, smiling at Diem as she left.
“I was taken from my home to the Chimera City where I was turned into nothing more than a fighting pawn for their amusement. The only way to live was to kill whoever your next opponent was.” Diem explained.
“How many have you killed?” Thalmone asked. There was a long, painful pause before Diem looked away and finally spoke.
“Far too many.” Diem said, somberly. Thalmone said nothing for a while then reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a scroll, setting it on Diem’s bed.
“This is a mafp of the known world. I don’t know where you’re going, but this map should lead you to it.” Thalmone said. “Now get some rest and I’ll have Myra bring you some food later.” Diem nodded then laid back down in his bed to get some sleep.
As night fell, Darkness covered the city. The moon was dark and offered no light for the city. Torches were lit but their glows barely reached to the next torch. A shadow passed through the lights and climbed up a building. It opened the window and slunk in to dim bedroom. Myra was wrapped tightly in her blankets. The shadowy figure walked up to her bedside and just as Myra was opening her eyes it grabbed her and gagged her with a cloth and bandage. She struggled hard and tried screaming but the cloth was pushing down her throat making her choke. The shadow picked her up, and dropped a folded piece of paper on the bed, then leapt out the window. Wings sprouted from the creatures’ back as it flew off into the night.
As morning rose, Diem woke to a loud roar and furniture being tossed about. He got out of bed and limped over to the door. He was still weak and his body burned from the pain and weight he was forcing on it but he pressed on. As he opened the door with his magic he saw Thalmone crashing through the hallway that lead to stairwell that lead down to the main living room. Diem was surprised to find out he was actually living in the Mayor’s home, but was more curious as to what had happened to make Thalmone rush about his home, screaming like a wounded animal.
“My lord! What is it!?” Diem called out. Thalmone turned quickly and rage filled his eyes.
“You! Where have you taken her!? Where is Myra! Where is my daughter?!” He yelled, grabbing Diem by the throat and lifting him up high above his head. Diem’s horn scraped the ceiling as he choked and struggled against Thalmone’s grasp.
“I.. Don’t…Know…what you’re….talking… about…” Diem choked. He kicked the air, trying to hit the large Minotaur’s arm in hopes of dropping him but no such luck.
“You’ve taken my daughter! She’s gone! Where is she!?” He roared, then slammed Diem into the ground and dropping to his knees in tears. “Where is my daughter!?” he yelled, as tears poured from his eyes.
Diem coughed as he tried to get breath back in his body. He stood up slowly, and lifted his right front leg to keep weight off of it. It had been injured in his battle and was now hurting intensely from the abuse Thalmone had given him.
“My Lord, Myra, is your daughter?” Diem asked.
“My one and only… Her mother died years ago. I promised I’d protect her.. and now she’s…” The strong Minotaur couldn’t finish his sentence without crying.
“My Lord, I promise you, I didn’t take her, and I promise I will find her.” Diem said sternly. “Do you have any clues?” He asked.
“Just this note…” Thalmone said, handing Diem the paper. Diem concentrated hard and lifted the note with his magic, bringing it up to eye level. “It’s written in the old language, good luck reading it.” He added.
“I can read it. My mother taught me the old language.” Diem said. He looked at the scribbles on the note. Diem looked at the lines on the page and read them carefully out loud.
“Lord Thalmone, come to the darkened woods at dawn in two days or your daughter will die.” Diem read. “It isn’t signed by anyone.” He added.
“It is Kiltrin.” Thalmone said. “I’m sure of it, he’s made attempts on my life before.”
“Who is Kiltrin? And why does he threaten your life?” Diem asked.
“ Kiltrin is the son of a Griffon and a Unicorn.” Thalmone explained “I would imagine he hates me for the war against the Griffons we waged some years ago.”
“I see. Where is Freyr, I must speak to him.” Diem said walking towards the staircase.
“Last I saw he was out hunting. He may be staying in the aviary tower. We keep the phoenix there to send messages to other cities. It is on the other side of town.” Thalmone explained. Diem nodded and rushed out, using only three limbs to run.
He ran as fast as could in his wounded condition towards a small tower on the other side of the city. He saw Freyr, perched on top of the tower, talking to a phoenix. Diem rushed up to the tower and looked up at them, wondering what they could be talking about.
“Freyr! I need you down here!” Diem called out, laying down to rest.
Freyr looked down and spread his wings, gliding down to the ground in front of Diem. He flapped his wings a little, blowing air all around him and scraping the ground with his claws, making gouges in the dirt.
“Diem, I am surprised to see you roaming around this soon.” Freyr said looking down at the injured Unicorn.
“The Mayor’s daughter has been kidnapped. I need you to take me to the Darkened Woods.” Diem said. He tried to stand up but his body refused and he flopped back down to the ground.
“You are in no condition to go anywhere Diem.” Freyr said sternly
“Yes I know. I have to go and rescue her.” Diem said, trying to stand again.
“Why? Why can’t the Mayor go, or perhaps one of his warriors?” Freyr asked. Diem was at a loss for words. Freyr had a point and Diem couldn’t think of any reason why he should go except for one.
“Because…I fear I may be the only one who can save her.” He said finally. Freyr looked down at him, a little shocked and confused.
“Alright… I’ll take you.” Freyr said, not questioning the pony’s reasoning any further. Freyr let Diem climb onto his back and they flew off into the sky, towards a forest in the distance…