//------------------------------// // 31. You want a Battle?... // Story: Wolves of Night and Blade: Book I // by One of Nine //------------------------------// The landscape rushed past through the window as the train sped down the tracks. Celestia had said that the trip would take till the late afternoon, as the letter from Appleoosa had stated that only I was to come. In all honesty, I smelled a trap. And against the letter’s instructions, Luna had joined me. Sitting across from me, she continued to read her bible, content to just take in the silence of the royal car. I settled into my seat, looking down at the letter that Deputy Braeburn sent me. Dear Princesses, Braeburn here. Giant snakes have attacked Appleloosa, demanding that they meet with somepony from a race called Wargs, and Nahar. They say that they what to talk to ‘the descendent of Raakuh’. No idea what they’re talking about. PLEASE SEND HELP OR THEY’LL EAT US!!!!! Giant snakes, huh? Indiana Jones would’ve run home screaming. That, or grab a really big torch. I suddenly found my mind wondering towards the Norse story of Jörmungandr, the Midgard Serpent. A child of Loki, one of several, was cast to the ocean that surrounded Midgard. The Jörmungandr caught its tail in its jaws and awaits the world’s end; Ragnarök. I doubted that these snakes were here to end the world, but I felt that whatever they were here for, it wasn’t good. I didn’t know what they wanted with me. And then there was the business of Raakuh. Who was that? My ancestor, I’d imagine. But was this Raakuh important in some way? Who was he? What was his story? And was it even a he? Why not a she? But then, most old texts referred to the males of the families than the females… “Fang?” Came Luna’s voice, waking me from my moment of silence. “Are you alright? You seem worried.” “And you aren’t?” I questioned, sitting up to properly face her. “We’re talking about giant snakes here. Que the Great Devourer!” She then placed her bible down on the seat next to her, looking me in the eye with a chuckle. “No kidding. But in all seriousness… why you?” “Vengeance?” I shrugged. “They have a grudge against this Raakuh guy and they know he’s gone, so they chose the next best thing?” “It’s been centuries, how long do you expect someone to hold a grudge? I certainly didn’t.” I gave her a questioning eyebrow, wanting to hear the story. Seeming to get my drift, Luna nodded. “During those four thousand years, my anger dissipated, as I soon forgave Tia for her neglect.” “How long did that take?” “About two hundred years.” She answered simply, a fear growing in her eyes. “And the rest of those years?” The Wargess swallowed, looking away. “I-I don’t want to talk about it…” “I understand.” Nodding, I sat back, my eyes feeling droopy. “If you don’t want to talk, you don’t have to. I’m going to see if I can get a quick nap.” “Alright. And thank you, Fang.” “Mhmm.” I then nodded off and my mind faded to black. -=Later, Balder’s POV=- I was still aware of Fang’s slumber, his dreamless sleep like a void amongst our shared mind. Amidst his sleep, I took control and had decided to just enjoy the scenery beyond the train car’s windows, watching the land speed by. Why Luna had insisted on joining us, I couldn’t say. The letter had asked that we (Fang/me) go to Appleloosa and deal with these... giant snakes. If these snakes really were giants, I didn’t want Luna or anyone else getting hurt. That, or killed. I too wondered about this Raakuh Warg, who was he? But my mind produced a question that had not come to Fang; why were the Nahar so feared? Back in that past vision, why were the Nahar so powerful, yet they left in search of peace? To top that off, the Wargs of any tribe could’ve beaten those stupid and weak ponies. The Wargs could’ve electrocuted them, cooked them, drowned them, or done a few other horrific things to them, yet they didn’t. Why? And even the other Warg tribes feared them, so why couldn’t the Nahar obliterate the pony idiots? My eyes slowly focused on a dark hill in the distance, as it seemed to steadily grow. But it wasn’t growing, I soon realized; it was moving toward us! The dark shape suddenly sprang from the earth and barreled into the train, sending both me and Luna screaming and tumbling through the train car. -=Fang’s POV=- Well, that was one heck of a wakeup call! I awoke to find myself buried in a heap of twisted train parts and broken furniture, Luna had knelt above me and was in the process of slapping my face, an action that did it’s intended job. I sat up to find myself pulled from the train’s wreckage, Luna now standing up and looking down at me. “Are you alright?” The Princess asked, holding out her hand to help me up. “Yeah.” Rubbing my sore head, I looked around again and sat up, hoping to learn our location. “Where are we? What happened to the train?” The Wargess shrugged, looking for a way out of the former train. “We’re just outside of Appleloosa, and I think... that was what gave us our current predicament.” I followed her gaze to see a massive serpent slithering toward us a breakneck speed, yellow eyes fixed on us through the broken window. Within seconds, the snake had come up to the wrecked train, peering over the shattered wall and glared at us. “…crap.” I muttered, heart filling to the brim with dread as I stared into those cold eyes. The snake took a long breath, breathing in through its nostrils. “Nahar…” I felt my face pale. ‘Balder? Any bright ideas?’ ‘Yes, remember when we went to the Summit? When we emitted that green fire around the ruins?’ ‘Yeah, what about it?’ I scooted away from the serpent as it lowered its head toward us, scanning me and Luna with a critical gaze. “How old are you?” He, the snake, asked as he lifted a confused eyebrow. “You two don’t look a day over 300.” Both of us blinked and shared an astonished and confused look, as I chose to speak up. “So? I’m 22 and proud of it.” “They truly sent children to speak with us?! Pathetic!!” The snake spat, baring his fangs into the distance. “WHAT?!” Luna fumed, her eyes lighting up with blue flame as she summoned her Null Blades to life. “We shall show thee thine’s power when We send thee home weeping!” Apparently, Luna didn’t like being called a baby. With a barbaric scream, she launched forward, blades and fangs at the ready… only to get smacked away by the snake’s tail. The Wargess was sent flying into a wall and then tumbled into the embrace of a ruined chair. The serpent huffed in amusement and shook his head. “Oh! I weep to the stars above and bow before thine awesome power, Great Oaf! We beg for thy forgiveness! Do not flatten thine head with thine’s fat butt!” Luna’s head nearly flew off her shoulders as she brought it up to meet the snake’s glare, snarling through clenched teeth. Her face turned red with a cute blush, though with that glare she was sporting, it might’ve been the final time I saw that lovely face of hers. “You ok Lu-” I called out as I got to my knees. “Shut up!” The ever-graceful Princess stumbled onto her feet, muttering curses to her foolish self. “Shutting up.” ‘Anyways…’ Balder continued as we watched Luna charge the snake again, this time with more strategy and finesse. ‘I’d be willing to give that Spell Chroma another try. I’d tapped into it then because I was curious, but at least now I know what it is. I’d be all for it if you are.’ “Sure, let’s do it.” I whispered, already thinking of what we could do. Finally getting to my feet, Balder summoned the power. Green fire engulfed our hands and runes, eyes gleaming bright with the Chroma. Slowly, bits of metal and torn cushions began to drift toward us, the cushion bits going over our arms, torso, and folded wings. Next came the metal; each piece becoming molten as we encased ourself in a cocoon of iron and bronze. The metal cooled in seconds, and as soon as it did, cracks began to form as it glowed hot again. Wisps of green fire and sparks spewed out from the spiderwebbing cracks and crevasse, the hardened metal beginning to take shape. Seconds passed as the polished iron formed into overlapping plates, waves of silver washing over each other as armor. Beneath the armor, thousands of pistons and mechanisms sprang to life, strengthening out our already immense power. Vents soon took shape as gusts of steam and carbon dioxide exited the magically hardened shell, all alight with green fire. The Bronze metal acted as trimming and blades along the arms and legs, giving the armor its own set of spiked gauntlets and greaves. More spikes curved over the shoulders and upper chest, looking almost like shaggy fur. Two angular eyeholes melted through for us to see from our horn-like faceplate, coming up from our nose and down over the scalp. With a final burst of Chroma energy, our tool was complete. With a look down at our feet, we trekked ahead before four jets manifested on our back, igniting and propelling us forward. Seeing as our wings were encased, we couldn’t fly by normal means, just how we wanted it. With a loud grunt we charged the wall of metal, green fire engulfing us as we smashed through. Metal shards rained down around us as we reached the hilltop, watching as Luna continued her battle with the snake. Why had she gotten so mad? Why hadn’t she acted more professional, like a Princess should? Luna had always seemed to have a temper, same as me, but she didn’t always suppress it before she’d burst. But, at the same time, I was no better. ‘We can’t sit here all day while the fight is on! Come on, let’s get down there!’ Balder chimed as he nudged us forward, our new creation handling the run well. Finally making it to Luna and the snake’s position, we charged our thrusters to the max and bashed our head into the snake’s body, sending him rolling away. “Mind if we join the party?” “Fang!” Called Luna as she dug herself out of a Wargess shaped hole. “Wh-…What is that?” We shrugged, smiling behind our visor. “Just something we cooked up. Like it?” “Yes.” She said with a smirk, looking our armor over for a moment. “I will admit; I’m jealous.” “Hold the phone!” I laughed as Balder took to riding in the passenger’s seat, keeping his hold on our magic. “Princess Luna, jealous?! Pinch me, I must be dreaming!” Her response was a glower. “Too much?” “That wasn’t funny Fang.” She nearly snapped, making me step back. “You know I hate being reminded of what I did.” “I know. I’m sorry, just… trying to lighten the mood.” I tried to ease her anger, rubbing my arm. “What was with you getting angry at the name-calling?” “Take a guess.” She growled, her beautiful eyes shifting down to the sandy ground. Taking partial hold of our power, I had the faceplate and helmet peal back to reveal my head, a sad frown on my face. “Faust?” Her growling intensified, wisps of blue flame drifting from her eyes like tears. “When she was around, she would always call me names. Child, insufferable infant, whimpering dog, and so many more.” Real tears started pouring from her eyes, her heavy breaths turning into sobs as her fists shook. “But it wasn’t just the name calling, it was an obsessive need to humiliate me. Over and over again, she’d find new ways to make me suffer and want to hide away! One time, she told me to go and find her some flowers in a nearby wood when I was a teenager. Easy task, right? Well, not when that wood is infested with Poison Joke.” My heart sank as I sucked in a breath, my anger stacking. My own fists curled in on themselves and I ground my teeth. “I came back with more than the normal blemish. I may as well have been a walking ZIT!!” Her eyes were now ablaze with Chroma as she paced, snorting smoke. I crossed my arms to hide my shaking fists, watching as the Princess finally sat down on a nearby rock, face buried in her hands. “You have no idea what it was like.” “No, I don’t.” At my words she looked up as I came closer, asking Balder to let his hold on the armor go. Within seconds, the armor fell away, collecting in a heap of scrap metal. “I have no idea what you went through, I never can. I was raised in a good home, with a kind and loving family. My parents loved me, and they taught me what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Through my life, yes, I’ve made a lot of mistakes. May of which I wish I hadn’t made, but through those mistakes, I learned. That said, life throughs you curveballs, challenges. This, what you’ve told me, was one of the greater challenges. Challenges like this take time to heal, though they still leave scars.” I then reached down and pulled my shirt up, revealing my stomach and chest, now less defined with the thin layer of soft pudge. I pulled back the fur to show several scars on the left side; one that looked like a star and another above that was a horizontal scar. “I have my fair share of scars, both inside and out, as you well know.” “What is your point?” She asked, wiping away her tears as I let my shirt fall. “My point? I lost it…” I looked away for a moment, scratching my head. “Oh, wait! Yeah, sorry!” I grinned sheepishly as she finally gave an amused smile, shaking her head at me. “My point was that these experiences make you who you are, whether through pain or joy; you are who you are. You have been made into a strong willed, kind, loving, and strong ruler. But you are more than just a Princess.” “Oh?” “You are a wonderful singer. You are a talented painter and artist… a hobby I should really pick up again.” I shrugged with a sideways smile, failing to see her blush. “You are also a very impressive fighter, enough that you could probably turn it into a kind of dance.” “R-Really? Like a dance fight?” She giggled, a sound that made my spine tingle. “FORGET THE DANCE!!” Screamed the snake as his head came over a hill, his long, coiling body following. “JUST FIGHT!!” “If you say so…” With that, I yelled my own battle cry and charged forward, my ears perking as Luna followed with her own. Seconds after I sprinted forward, Balder summoned the armor again, as each piece latched onto us as it had done before. The snake’s eyes narrowed, and he flicked his tongue, a spark of blueish purple magic flying forth, erupting into a circle of magic runes. His eyes shimmered purple as a huge laser beam was fired, prompting me to duck under it, missing me along the back by inches. Focusing our magic, I formed a pair of rocket launchers on our back, Balder sending them speeding toward the snake seconds after. The platoon of rockets struck home, exploding in our enemy’s face. For only when the smoke cleared, could we see his scorched and bleeding face, the left side of his face missing a few scales. “Impressive… but not enough.” “Oh, we have more to give fiend.” With Luna’s comeback, she summoned a legion of orange sparking portals. Through each came a torrent of fire, light, and pain, all aimed at the snake as he screamed in agony. “What the heck was THAT?!” I asked in astonishment, my widening eyes staring at the Lunar Monarch. “Portals to the heart of the Day Star.” She calmly answered, bringing her lightsaber to bear through a smaller portal. “Dang…” I smiled at a sudden thought. “If you ever plan on giving that move a name, might I suggest ‘Sol Gate?’” “I shall consider it. Though I fear that Tia will be most jealous of that move.” “Let her, we have bigger problems right now.” I then turned back to the snake as he brought his head up, completely unscathed. “FOOLS! I WAS BORN IN FIRE, MOLDED BY IT!” He brought his head low, glaring at us at eyelevel, his voice even lower. “You cannot hurt me with flame.” “Then would Cold Fire work?” Lightening danced along my hands, my eyes lighting up with its electrical power. Then, with a powerful blast of my lightening, I struck the snake, causing his head to reel back. “That’ll do it.” He admitted before ducking another strike. Casting bolt upon lightning bolt, I twirled in a strange dance as Balder took hold over my motions, causing our power to flow around me as our movements flowed like water. Even with the restraint that the armor gave us, we still moved with great flexibility that I’d honestly doubted we had. The snake hurled a bolder at us, we simply smashed our fist against the oncoming projectile and shattered it, an electrical explosion disintegrating dust from the air. Seeing that his chosen tactic didn’t work, the snake lunged forward and split down the middle, becoming twins of himself. Both of them only stopped their advance to gives us an unnerving grin, pouncing at us again and coiling around us, intent on crushing. Try as I might, me nor Balder could break free of the snake’s hold, the other serpent doing for Luna. But as much as I wanted to help Luna, I had my own troubles, my own captor proceeding to crush me in his hold. Inch by agonizing inch, my armor began to creek, crack, and crumble under the snake’s strength. Believing that the armor could protect me for a few more moments, I asked Balder for any ideas. ‘I have one, but it’s not what you’re suggesting.’ He said in a warning tone. “I’ll take it…” I grunted through clenched teeth, looking up as the snake spoke. “I take it that you’ve finally chosen to yield?” “Not just yet.” At that moment, I felt a tug at the back of my mind, as Balder worked with our magic. I suddenly felt a pulse of magic go out from my body, small amounts of Chroma leaving me. It was as if I were releasing bits of magic in small poofs, almost like Morse code. However, what I received back was even more confusing, an admission. I gasped in surprise as dirt and sand engulfed my feet, slipping between my limbs and the snake’s coils. From the face that the snake made, I’d say that he’d noticed it too, but only too late. A mound of rock exploded from the earth, impacting the serpent’s chin and knocking him back, his grip on me loosened. In a rush of adrenaline, I landed on my shaking feet and inexplicably made an uppercut motion. A sudden quake made me fumble and I watched in amazement as another column of earth smacked the snake in the barrel. In stunned silence, I stared as the snake faded into ash, blown away by the wind seconds later. “W-Wha… what just—” I breathed hard, still filling my lungs with as much oxygen as I could. And in effect to the adrenaline leaving my system, in that moment, I fell to my hands and knees. Continuing to breath heavily, I looked over to see Luna slicing the real snake’s face out, blood spraying this way and that. By the end of her attack, Luna leaped back, claws and face soaked in blood. The snake, in an attempt to protect himself, summoned his purple magic again and created a large turtle shell over his coiled-up form. With another spark of his magic, his injuries were healed, and he smiled at us both from the safety of his transparent fortress. Taking hold of my new earthen power, I commanded the sand to come and coat my body, between me and the armor. Said armor was cracked and shattered in many places, making it useless if I continued the fight. Focusing more on the sand, I had it press outward, forcing the armor to erupt around me. After this, the sand continued to coat me as I closed my eyes, letting the sand consume me entirely. Seconds later, I was pulled down into the earth, using the dirt and rocks that surrounded me to feel the vibrations of Luna and the snake’s battle. Still refusing to open my eyes while submerged, I concentrated on the vibrations and willed myself toward them, the dirt nudging me along, both earth and stone removing themselves from my path. Once underneath them, I rushed my path skyward, erupting from the earth as I streaked over the snake’s head with open eyes. His panicked eyes went wide upon seeing me, making me flash a devilish grin back at him before I side-kicked him in the snout. “Argh!!” He spat as he tumbled to the ground. “Fang!” Shouted Luna as she came up next to me, her clothes torn and dirtied from the ongoing battle. “Where did you go? You vanished for a moment.” I shrugged with a smirk. “I took a dirt bath.” Luna chuckled, putting a grimy hand on her hip. “I do hope you enjoyed it, because now, we have a tempered snake to deal with.” I blinked, rolling what she’d said around in my head, I finally got what she meant when an enraged roar filled the air. “Oh… well, that’s fantastic…” We barely dodged an oncoming boulder; Luna had the prowess to leap away gracefully. I, however, dodged it by falling on my back as it brushed my nose. After hearing it land behind me, I pushed myself up with the earth, flinging myself onto my feet. “You want to try that again?” “Gladly.” He smirked as another bolder was thrown at me, using his tail to hurl it at me. As the giant rock hurtled toward me, I remembered a single word that ignited a hailstorm of memories. No amount of fancy tricks will move that rock. I’m the best Earth-bender in the world, and don’t you two dunder-heads ever forget it! Standing my ground, I listened to the rushing air, felt the movement of the earth, and smelt the rank stench of the snake’s breath. The bolder was moving; closer and closer. I squared my stance, keeping firm and locking my feet into the dirt. Ten feet. I breathed in and out, calming myself, releasing the tension in my muscles. Four feet. I closed my eyes and raised my hands. Two feet. Sliding my right hand in front of my left, I struck out at the oncoming bolder with outstretched fingers. Like a sharp knife, my claws sliced through the rock, unassisted by heat or lightening. Just pure force. I then opened my eyes to find a half of the bolder to each side of me, as the rock had been split down the middle. Still keeping my stance, I looked up to see the snake’s jaw slack. I smiled at my accomplishment. Toph would be proud. “Let’s go Scaly.” I taunted, getting in a fighting stance. -=Luna’s POV=- I leaned back against a nearby rock as Fang and the snake continued to battle, catching my breath and admiring the show. Admittedly, I had secretly hoped that Fang would somehow loose his shirt, giving me an even better spectacle. WHAT? A girl can dream, can’t she?! Anyways, as the two continued to go at it, I reviewed my own actions. Had I reacted rashly? Yes. Was it stupid of me to attack him and not keep a cool head? Again, yes. Was it honoring to God? No. During the past few weeks, I’d done all the reading I could from my very own bible. Granted, some parts were difficult to understand, but I could get most of what was said. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” I whispered this under my breath, pausing for a moment, and letting the words sink in. I sought after God’s righteousness, and as it was said, I would be filled. Not could be filled, would be. It was a promise, and from what I knew, God has always kept His word. In the past, I’d never been one to show much mercy. And I wasn’t slow to anger, nor slow to speak, as the Lord was said to be. Taking my anger towards Faust and the world against my enemies, I often was the one pony who racked up the most kills. And it was from these numerous deaths that I’d earned the title “The Blood Wraith.” But now, with the Spirit speaking through my heart, I could listen and learn to show mercy and peace… as I’d done with Blue Blood a few days ago. I had been a slow and uneventful night, as usual, until I’d arrived in Haven’s room to check on her. To abject horror, I saw the idiot of a noble standing over a whimpering maid in the hallway. He had ahold of her wrists and was attempting to stand her up, but she would not listen, staying piled on the floor. Finally, after a moment of bearing witness, I stepped forward to confront the adulterer. “Now you listen here, whore!” He spat, tugging her mane to force her tear-stained face up to him. “Either you come with me, or—” “Or, you let her go and I don’t through you down the tallest staircase I can find.” I snarled, grabbing him by the back of the head and pulling back so he’d look at me. “And I know where they all are.” “P-Princess— AGH!!!” I pulled back harder, resulting in his grip on the maid to loosen and him to screech in pain, a few strands of golden locks falling to the floor. “SILENCE! YOU SHALL BE CAST FROM THE CASTLE GROUNDS AND FOREVER BE BANISHED FROM THE CAPITAL CITY! YOU SHALL BE BANISHED TO THE MOON AND LOCKED AWAY IN THAT PLACE YOU WERE BANISHED TO!!!” “N-No! Mercy! Mercy!!” He begged, tears streaming from his eyes. ‘What would Jesus do?’ I thought to myself, reflecting on my actions just now. Finally, after a long while of thought, I looked him in the eye. “You are hereby confined to your courters and shall be placed under stallion guard for the remainder of the next two months. Any attempts to coax a single mare into your chambers shall be met with severe punishment. Do you understand?!” “Y-Yes…” He squeaked out, wincing “Good.” I stepped back. “Now go.” I released him and watched as he scurried off down the hall. I turned to the two guards stationed by Haven’s door. “Follow him, and report back when he is locked in his room. Remove anything that can be used for escape.” They bowed and ran in hot pursuit of my former nephew. I smiled at the memory, remembering Tia’s surprise at my actions. Well, at least he’d stayed away from Haven thus far, otherwise all mercy would be thrown out the window. Speaking of throwing, a huge slab of rock was cast in my direction, landing only centimeters away from my arm and scarring the daylights out of me. I turned, shocked to see Fang using his new earth powers, which are amazing by the way, and lightning to beat the living Tartarus out of the snake. Fang had taken a strange martial artist stance as he used his earth power, thrusting fists and slapping his hands together, creating rockslides and pillars that bashed the snake. At some point in the fight, Fang had torn off a sleeve of his shirt and tied it around his eyes. Fang swerved to the right, evading a magical sear aimed at his head, his elbows down by his waste and hands raised. Another spear was literally spat, and in response, Fang stomped once, and a wall of stone intercepted the spear. Said spear impaled the wall, coming to a stop just centimeters away from his forehead. But the Warg didn’t flinch, instead, he just smiled victoriously. “You’ve both done very well…” A friendly smile edged onto the snake’s muzzle, his shield dissipating. “I knew you were Nahar, but I wanted to me safe. Our elder, Kaduun, wants to speak with you both.” Fang peeked around the side of his stone wall and lifted the side of his makeshift blindfold up, revealing a confused look. “Crazy-snake-say-what?” “What? I said you did well, but—” “I know what you said, just… what?! Again?! A test? First it was that undead Warg, now you?!” The dark Warg barked, smacking himself in the forehead. “U-undead Warg?” The snake asked, tilting his head. “Apparently, he was my dead uncle brought back from the dead.” I stepped in between them, entering their conversation. I turned to the snake, a solemn expression overtaking me. “Will you forgive me for my brashness and anger? We are sorry, we do not like being referred to as a child.” The snake bowed his head, his smile returning. “Your apology is accepted, Princess of the Gorokha and Kaldor.” I stared at him in shock. How did he know? “How could you tell that I am their—” “Because,” He flicked his tongue out, hissing as he continued. “I know the smell of both tribes well. I’d know when I was near a Gorokha or a Kaldor, and you smell of both, even though the scents are deep. Your friend on the other scale, he smells of Nahar, that is for sure. But there is also… something else. Something… off about his scent.” “O-oh…” I looked over to Fang, who was walking around the battlefield, looking for his fallen Lightsaber amongst the rocks and dirt. “Do all Nahar… smell as such?” “No. Nahar are usually pelted with volcanic ash but seeing as how this one doesn’t have that scent about him, I guess he doesn’t live near a volcano.” The serpent inquired, returning his slitted gaze to me. Shaking my head, I sighed. “No, he lives in the Royal Palace.” “Until I have a place of my own to crash in!” Hollered the subject of our conversation, coming back to join us. “Which, according to the contractor, should be finished in two weeks. Though, I’ll have to go over and check it out myself before then.” “In any case, I and my kin have a gift for you, Son of the Nahar.” Said the snake, bowing his head. “Oh? And what is this… gift? We go from brawling and bashing each other’s teeth in, then you offer me a gift?” Fang crossed his arms, a skeptical frown on his face. “Yes.” “Seriously? A sudden tied fight and you want to give me a present?” His face now stricken with surprise and slight unbelief. “Yes, it is customary for my kin.” The snake turned around, heading towards Appleloosa. Fang and I looked at one another, before the dark Warg gave a pleased chuckle. “Well, ok then, lead on.” We followed the snake into town, our eyes peeled for an ambush, but none came. After several minutes of walking (slithering for our chaperone), we came across a deep well in the center of the small farming town. Both us Wargs looked down into the hole, seeing that it went deep into the earth. “I’m almost afraid to ask, but what’s in the hole?” Asked a slightly nervous Fang, as he kept his distance from the well’s edge. “That is an uncovered Chroma Pool.” The serpent said, as we watched several other snakes weave their way between the buildings and cottages. “Until we found it just yesterday…” “What do these… Chroma Pools do?” I asked, trying to look deeper, a soft red glow flickering far below. “For us, these wellsprings give us a stronger connection to the world around us. We can see, hear, smell, and feel more. But, for Wargs… and Nahar especially, they restore… or in your mate’s case, fill what was never there.” I looked over to an equally confused and slightly stunned Fang, his eyes looking between me, the snake, and the pit. After a few moments of thought, he turned back to the snake. “What’s your name?” The snake smiled. “You may call me Crorth.” Fang nodded, looking back at the pool as it now started to fill with lava, the smell of burning rock and sulfur scratching against my nose. “Then Crorth, what do I do to replenish my Chroma?” “You dive in.” My head whipped around to stare at Crorth, watching in stunned horror as Fang mulled the information over, nodding. “Then someone should get me new clothes, I don’t want to spend the rest of the day naked.” I choked down a gasp and covered a heated blush, my heart pounding at the dirty thought. “F-Fang, you can’t be serious!” “Your friend is correct, if he does not do this, then his Chroma shall remain stunted. Living in a world without magic has shunned his natural reserves, making him magically weak.” Said the serpent, lowering his head meet our gazes. “A similar situation befalls you, dear Princess. But where he is weak in magic, you are weak in body. You are malnourished in proteins and meat. You must consume more flesh if you are to regain the strength you had as an infant.” My unfocused eyes scanned the ground, my mind racing. Was I weak? For an Alicorn, no. But for a Warg? I knew that I wasn’t on Fang’s level of physical strength, but I just thought it was because of natural biology. And I knew that I was stronger in magic than Fang, but I’d thought it was because I had more practice than he. Was it so simple? My gaze focused back on Fang as he was peering down into the well, the heat and glow of the lava slowly rising. The orange light caressed his black fur, outlining his handsome face and toned chest. I knew Fang could hold his own in the broiling heat, as I’d heard of him getting molten liquid metal dropped on him when he’d melted through the castle floor. There were repairs that still needed finishing to prove it. I walked up to him, the heat of the lava forcing me to lean away, yet I used his larger frame as a shield against it. “Are you sure you’ll be ok?” The Warg shrugged, a goofy smile on his face. “I have no clue. I honestly haven’t thought about swimming in lava, so… I don’t know. We’ll just have to find out.” “I-If you don’t come ba-“ “Ssshhh…” He hushed me; a soft finger pressed to my lips with the gentlest touch. “Even if I die here, and my shell breaks, I can never die. A jar may break, but what lays inside is safe… in spiritual bubble wrap.” I couldn’t help but giggle at his joke, and without thinking, I pushed myself onto him. Wrapping my arms around his body, I snuggled my face into his chest, a smile on my muzzle. “God be with you…” I felt his smile grow, his arms returning my embrace. “Thanks, and you too.” With that, the fearless Warg turned and pushed himself into the air with a flap of his wings, plummeting seconds later into the well of boiling inferno. We all waited for him to resurface, and waited… and waited…