//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: Demon // Story: The Pony Loa // by Leila Drake //------------------------------// Ratchet was different from all the towns Eclipse had ever seen, which were, granted, only a few. First, it had a beach. A beach with palm trees, rocks and lots of kelp. There was no grass; instead, a light brown layer of weird, stubby leaves covered the hills and the beach. The town itself was tiny, more of a village, hardly more then seven or so houses. They were built from reddish rocks, the same rocks that rose up as hills just behind the town, and covered with red roof tiles. The windowholes lacked any glass or crystal. It was hot; crickets chirped loudly over the constant rushing of waves that broke on the shore. The sun had not even risen to the zenith but Eclipse was already sweating like crazy. A wooden crane stood next to a small pier, probably for loading goods onto ships. It had smelled like salt all day on the boat but now other smells were there, too. They felt foreign to his nose and reminded Eclipse of ripe fruit and exotic spices. Lots of bipedal people walked around Ratchet. Most of them were smaller than Darren, with green skin and big, pointy ears. Darren told Eclipse they were called goblins. Many others were human, their skin a darker shade than Darren's. Maybe that was because of the sun. Eclipse eyed his tall friend. The knight was really pale compared to them. Eclipse could even see the difference from out here in the bay, in the canoe they were arriving in. He had never thought about Darren that way. Had he never been in the sun before? Or maybe it was normal in Darren's family. He did have very bright hair. Now it was gray and white but Eclipse knew it used to have more colour, some kind of bright brown. Who was he to know about humans anyway. They touched the sand and the sudden jolt made Eclipse almost fall over. He painfully bumped his foreleg on the side of the canoe. "We're here," Darren said needlessly. "Son, watch da boat. I'ma get ya someting to eat for da journey back home," said Vol'shalai. Xan'tu nodded obediently. He waited until everyone had climbed out of the boat, then he pulled it further up the beach. That way, it would not float away on its own when the flood came. "Levinia, would you please stay with Xan'tu?" Darren asked. "We don't want to draw... even more attention." The blue light that was Levinia had followed him. Now she stopped in her movement and sank a little to the ground, as if drooping her head. "Sorry," said Darren. The light rose up again and whizzed into the canoe. Vol'Shalai, Darren and Eclipse walked up the beach and turned left. They passed the wooden crane and a large house with goblins sitting behind windows. A short line of people stood there, exchanging coins and goods. "A bank," Darren said curtly. He turned to Vol'Shalai. "I want to withdraw some money," he said. "But we got money," said the troll, confused. "Yours," Darren answered. "I have my own." "Don't be silly, ya gonna need it later, in Stormwind. I'ma cover for yar expenses for now." "I really think -" "By order of the Chieftain," said Vol'Shalai with a sly grin. Darren grunted reluctantly. "Very well." He frowned. "For now." They left the bank behind and followed a trail that led up to a steep hill right next to the shore. Big creatures were tied to sturdy wooden poles. They reminded Eclipse of dinosaurs. Standing on four thick, stubby legs, the animals grazed lazily on a tiny patch of brown leaves. Saddles of different sizes were tied to their hill-like backs. Another mount, this one obviously a raptor, eyed the newcomers with the gaze of a vile predator. Its head twitched as it turned it sideways to get a better view. Eclipse winced. The last mount was not a creature but a machine, parked at a distance. The adventurous contraption had three wheels and big exhaust pipes. It also stank quite badly like sulphur and old oil. "What are those creatures? And that bike thing?" Eclipse asked Darren. "These are kodos, that's a raptor and the last one a turbo trike. Probably belongs to a goblin. Are you alright?" Darren cast a worried look down at Eclipse. "Fine, I just need some shade," Eclipse slurred. "There's the inn. I think it's called Broken Keel." "Thank the stars," Eclipse breathed. Vol'Shalai led the way into the inn, a sturdy two-story building. It was dark and stuffy and with two goblin guards on each side of the door - but still slightly cooler than outside. A goblin at the stove, maybe the innkeeper, nodded at them. A frown dug into his face as he saw the human. They walked past him as casually as possible and looked for a table. As Vol'Shalai waved the innkeeper over, Darren let his eyes wander around the inn. There were still few guests since it was hardly midday. Three grim goblins sat at one table, a Forsaken with a one-handed sword and a heavily armed green orc at another. Two relatively normal-looking humans, a man and a woman, shared a meal at the third table. They seemed vaguely familiar but maybe that was because Darren had not seen any other humans, except Jonathan, for months. And that was it. Now that Darren realized that there were only three tables, he sighed quietly and turned around to sit down at the low counter. Which was already occupied by a Night Elf. The woman, taller than him, like most of her kind, wore a bulky cloak as if she needed to hide her backpack beneath it. She had a single mug of something in front of her. Her long, shabby dark hair went down to her shoulders. He could not see her face but her entire demeanour was proud and moody at the same time. Well, they needed to sit somewhere. And close to the counter hopefully meant faster service. He picked Eclipse up around the barrel and helped him up onto one of the chairs, then Darren sat down between the pony and the Night Elf, saying, "Excuse me," in Common. The elf gave a tiny nod and took another sip from her mug. Hot steam rose from it, smelling sharp and salty - like acid. She hissed, apparently content with the drink. Vol'Shalai frowned and slid onto the last free chair, next to Eclipse. The innkeeper reached beneath the hidden part of the counter and slammed three mugs onto it. Darren took one with foam running down the side and smelled at the one without. It appeared to contain some kind of juice. He eyed Eclipse. "I should taste it to see if it's harmless," he said. "Well, if you have to." Eclipse rolled his eyes, trying to cover up his nervousness. Darren took a sip. It was melon juice, plain and simple. Delicious, actually, and without any alcohol. He wordlessly passed it on to Eclipse. The colt grinned. Vol'Shalai drank his beverage in one go and sighed happily. "Ah, dat hit the spot." He leaned onto his crossed arms and looked at Darren. "I need ta buy some food for Xan'tu. Once he's left, we can take care of our own stuff." "You want to make sure he is gone? Why?" The fact that Darren spoke Orcish caused a small commotion behind him. He cast a quick look back. The humans looked at him with suspicion in their eyes, staring at his sheathed sword. The orc, his eyebrows raised, shook his head. Darren discreetly averted his gaze and faced the much friendlier-looking troll next to him. "Boy keeps gettin' into trouble," Vol'Shalai explained. "Like dat time when he snuck into da ritual house and tipped over some incense. If Miwemba hadn't known her stuff and saved the death dance with some extra moves he would be on the Other Side now. He ain't clumsy, just way too curious. He don't always know when to stop. Bad combination if ya deal wit dark powers." "I know," Darren said instantly, feeling reminded of Eclipse. "Good thing he has his father." "Hope so. Thank the Loa Eclipse got you." He lowered his voice. "I saw what he did yesterday. Dat was Void Magic, how in da world did a pony learn that? Likkle mage Twilight didn't seem like da type for it, and he be just a boy." "That one is not thanks to the Loa," Darren sighed. "It was combination of bad coincidences. He is a rare kind of pony, an Umbrum. I think they are extinct except for a few of them caged in the - the North." Vol'Shalai clicked his tongue. "I see. Ya Orcish be getting better, my friend. But I guess we should not talk about dis anymore in here." "I'm bored," Eclipse piped up. "And my melon juice is empty." Darren knocked on the counter and a fresh mug slid over to Eclipse's forelegs. The goblin innkeeper winked at the colt. "Awesome," said Eclipse, impressed by the speedy delivery. "I heard you say a funny word a few times, 'Loa'. What's loa?" Darren turned his mug in his hands, thinking. He had to keep an eye on the other inn guests. And they needed to get out of here soon. But not too soon or else they would raise suspicion that they might be up to something. "A loa," he said, "is a special kind of spirit. They are a bit like gods, uh, powerful beings. The trolls worship many different kinds of loa and make deals with them to gain power. I know of a Loa of the Hunt and one of Forms and at least two Death Loa, Samedi and Bwonsamdi. Maybe they are the same one, though. Some are benevolent, others are vicious, all of them mysterious in their own way. Think of them as... unpredictable insurance agent princesses." Eclipse snorted and coughed as some juice got into his nose. He giggled and made a painful grimace. "Ouch. Okay," he wheezed. He eyed the Night Elf. "Who is she?" "I don't know," Darren said, and added as an idea struck him, "I could ask if you like." "Really?" "Sure." Darren smirked. If he befriended this dangerous-looking Night Elf, they might have an ally if things went sideways. He did not like the restlessness of those humans behind him. Darren cleared his throat and shifted his weight. "On your way to Stormwind, too?" he asked her in Common, nodding his head a little. The elf raised her head to face him. Darren did his best not to flinch in surprise. She was blind. A black bandage was wrapped around her head, covering her eyes. Her skin, once a spotless pale violet, was burned in many places. Scars went down her neck, mingling with tattoos that glowed in a sickly bright green. "Yes," she said with a hoarse voice. She seemed to be surprised, too. She probably had not expected him to start a conversation with her. "I have family there." "Me too, hopefully. I think a cousin of mine moved there to escape the Scourge." "My cousins died in the fire. The only blood I have left is my uncle. If you can say that." She sighed and turned back to her mug. A fire. Darren's grip around the mug tightened as he tried his best not to remember his fires. "Darren? Are you okay?" Eclipse sounded worried. "I'm alright." Darren waved it off. "She says she wants to go to Stormwind, too, to meet her uncle." "Oh, cool." Eclipse smiled even though his ears were pinned back. Darren noticed that the colt's breathing was faster than usual. Brave little kid, trying to make friends with intimidating Night Elves. But not entirely unexpected from a pony. "I hope you find your family," Darren offered. "Thank you." The elf sounded surprised, again. "I am Nylene." "Darren. Well met. These are Eclipse and Vol'Shalai. What fire do you mean?" Darren asked carefully. If her eyes had not been covered with the bandage, Darren was sure her gaze would have burned him to a crisp. "You can't be serious," she said. "Even the last human should know by now what fire I am talking about. Don't insult me, mage." "I'm not a - Apologies. I meant no disrespect. I was... away for a while and missed quite a lot, it appears." "I appears so," the Night Elf seethed. "But perhaps another time. It seems that someone wants to have a chat with you." She pointed behind Darren with her thumb. Her fingernails resembled claws. Darren wondered what had happened to her that had been so damaging that she looked almost like a demon. Darren turned around. The two humans had stood up and walked up to the counter. "I think I know you," the man said. "You're from Andorhal, aren't you?" Vol'Shalai straightened his back. Eclipse cocked an ear, suddenly alert as Darren tensed up. "Originally, yes. I thought you looked familiar. I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, then." Darren remained polite even though the man looked angry. The woman was even angrier, trembling even. What was going on? "I'm from there, too. We've met before, Darren Childslayer." Darren's mouth twitched. Just his luck. The first humans he met, and they had to be from the same town as him. He felt the sudden urge to strike the man down for using that name. "Darren, what he be talking about?" Vol'Shalai asked. "I can't undastand." "He just insulted me," Darren said slowly, his low voice firm. "Worst thing, he's right." "Where - where did we meet, then?" Darren asked the man, swallowing hard. He mentally prepared for a fight, listing up the most useful combat spells in his head. He could feel his pulse going up, pressing against his throat. "At our home, when you burned our children," said the woman, her voice trembling with untempered rage. The man shifted his weight and landed a heavy fist on the side of Darren's head. Darren did not try to dodge it; if the woman was right, that hit was well-deserved. The man probably thought so, too, as he raised his other hand. But Vol'Shalai would not have any of it. He caught the man's wrist and twisted the arm backwards. "I don't care who ya be or what business ya got wit Darren," he hissed, "but ya better get ya arse out before I fry you wit some lightning." He stared at the man with a menacing snarl. As if on cue, chairs scraped at the floor as the other guests stood up simultaneously. "Uh-oh," said Eclipse. Shaking off the dizzyness from the hit to his head, Darren rose from his chair, too. The man used his free hand to draw his sword; the woman pulled two daggers from her belt. The innkeeper, his eyes narrowed, called, "Bruisers!" Getting angry, Darren threw a spell at the man. The human reached for his throat, gasping for air as he was raised from the ground. The woman tried to land her dagger on Darren but she could not get into his flank - Nylene had slipped from her seat and thrown back her cloak. She was not wearing a backpack. The dark cloth had hidden a large pair of leathery bat-like wings, ragged and torn on the edges from countless fights. Nylene spread them in a grand gesture, intentionally slapping the woman who fell on her rump. The Night Elf reached for her belt, drawing two large curved blades from it which had also been previously hidden by the cloak. Eclipse gaped at her. She seemed to notice it, smiling darkly back at him. The orc and Forsaken were close by but seemed unsure whom to attack. Eventually, they settled for Darren. The Forsaken had drawn his sword but instead of swinging it he channelled a fire spell through it. Eclipse jumped up, flapping his little wings, and called for his shadow powers. He turned into dark smoke and wrapped himself around Darren's waist to shield him from the fire bolt. As the flame was snuffed out, Eclipse leapt forward at the advancing orc and assaulted his mind. He scared the orc deeply; the warrior dropped his axes and howled in fear as Eclipse made him see dark nightmares. Vol'Shalai and Nylene subdued the woman; the Night Elf held her hands on her back as the troll bound them with a spell. The suffocating spell wore off, dropping the man from Andorhal to the inn floor. Darren drew his runeblade and pointed it at him. He hesitated for a moment; a chance that the man used to crawl backwards. He bumped into the legs of an armed goblin. Looking up, he met a sadistic grin. "You going straight to jail, friend," the goblin declared happily in broken Common. "We saw you started it." "But he's -" the man began. "Defending himself. But he's got to leave, too." Darren raised his sword from the man's neck, panting. As he realized that the inn was now crowded with armed goblins, he frowned and sheathed the weapon. "Eclipse, stop," he said as he saw that the colt was still fighting the orc. "Stop. We have to leave." Eclipse did not listen. The cloud was wrapped tightly around the poor orc, entering and leaving his eyes, ears and tusked mouth, swirling around like snakes. Some of the guards led the two humans away, puffing them in the back to make them walk faster. "Eclipse, son of White Alloy! Leave the orc this instant," Darren commanded firmly, dipping his hand right into the smoke. His eyes lit up with cold blue light as he prepared to fight the colt. The goblin bruisers, Vol'Shalai and even Nylene watched in amazement as the dark cloud formed back into a little pegasus. Embarrassed, Eclipse lowered his head, his ears folding back. "Sorry," he mumbled, avoiding Darren's eyes. "I lost control." "I noticed," Darren said with a sigh, his hand trembling ever so slightly. "Come here, kid." The colt ran to him. Darren lifted him up and sat him on his arm. Eclipse hugged him tightly, getting more confused stares from the spectators. "So much for avoiding attention," grumbled Vol'Shalai, rolling his eyes. He raised his voice. "Sorry, everybody! Dere's been a likkle misunderstanding, I tink." "Get out!" the innkeeper said angrily. "We have no use for troublemakers and you and your little horsie mean trouble of the worst kind. Out, out, out!" Darren, with Eclipse in his arms and Vol'Shalai in tow, hurried out of the inn. "Did we pay?" he asked Vol'Shalai. "Yep," the troll said. "Good. Let's get that food at the store and wait for the ship at the beach." "Sounds like a plan." Vol'Shalai agreed. "Ya alright, mon? Ya lookin' paler than usual." "Kid's fear spell grazed me," Darren said curtly. "I'll be fine." "Wait, someone be following us," Vol'Shalai said, twirling around. He reached for his axe but lowered his hand when he saw who it was. "It is I, Nylene." The Night Elf had caught up with them, moving as freely as if she was not blind at all. "A word?" "What is it?" Darren asked, slightly annoyed. He had to get Eclipse to safety first. "I have a question." "Well, go on, then. We don't have all day, lady." "You are - unusually unafraid of me. And the human called you a childslayer. Who are you really? I thought you were a frost mage but your aura changed when the fight started." "I..." Darren looked around. They had reached the beach and were out of earshot from the denizens of Ratchet. Xan'tu gave them a small wave. Vol'Shalai waved back and strolled over to his son. As he watched the troll go, Darren said, "My name really is Darren. Darren Houndslayer. I used to be called Childslayer... once," he pressed out. "What? I thought the Void Lord just wanted to taunt you back then," Eclipse said, aghast. "You - you can speak Common?" Darren gaped at the colt. "I can speak what?" Darren squeezed his eyes shut for a moment and took a deep breath. He set Eclipse down on the sand. The colt grimaced guiltily. "Oh..." Eclipse said slowly. "Now I get it. Uh, sorry, Darren, I think I entered your mind. Again. I didn't mean to." "Apparently, you caught some knowledge of my mother tongue along the way," Darren said, eyeing Nylene. "You are a curious bunch," said Nylene. She tugged at her cloak, letting it fall in place to hide her wings and blades. "What kind of warriors are you?" "Vol'Shalai's a shaman and witch doctor," said Darren. "Eclipse is an upstart school colt," he joked with a smirk. "I'm a future Royal Guard," Eclipse corrected, stomping the ground in protest. "That, too." Darren's smirk turned into a grin. Then, he grew serious again. "But you need to keep working on your self control," he added sternly. "Yes, Sir," Eclipse said quietly. He looked up at them with an apologetic smile, then averted his gaze to watch Vol'Shalai and Xan'tu checking the canoe. "And you, Darren Houndslayer?" While Darren hesitated, trying to think of a way to avoid the question, Eclipse already blurted out, "He's a death knight! And a pretty cool one, too. Because he uses frost spells. Get it?" Nylene looked at him, then back at Darren. She laughed hoarsely. "That was actually a good one. But, little horse, this man cannot be a death knight. He is still alive. I can sense his soul is still intact." "It is?" Darren asked quietly. He felt suddenly very strange. Heat crept up his face as his chest warmed up. "I'm a pony," Eclipse grumbled. Darren eyed the Night Elf. Nylene smiled broadly. Her teeth were unusually sharp and pointed. Darren was sure she still thought of him as a mage. He probably should not correct her on it. They sat down on the sand, at a safe distance from each other. "What kind of warrior are you, Nylene?" Darren asked, resting his arms on his knees. "I am a demon hunter," Nylene declared. "An Illidari. My full name is Nylene Felbane." "I think I have heard of your kind," Darren said slowly. "Back in Northrend. After the Lich King fought Illidan Stormrage. Is he really your leader? Aren't you a demon, then?" "He is. And yes, in a way, I suppose I am. But we fight for Azeroth, Darren Houndslayer," she said sharply. "Until every last soldier of the Burning Legion is wiped from this planet." Darren sighed. It felt as if, from now on, the roles would be reversed: He was the normal one and the person next to him the transformed monster claiming to be good. Maybe that was why he was not scared of her? He had a faint idea what she might have gone through. He felt respect for her - she emanated raw power - but that was it. Even her mindset was the same as his back when he had joined the Knights of the Ebon Blade. "Well then, that's good enough for me," Darren grunted. He cast a look over to the trolls. Vol'Shalai was now discussing something with Xan'tu. "Indeed? No further questions?" Nylene was surprised. "Who am I to judge you?" "How did you do it?" Nylene asked. "How did you convince Eclipse that you are a death knight? You are clearly a frost mage even though that spell back there was one of the Scourge." "He raised King Sombra from the Dead," said Eclipse. "But don't worry, we defeated him. And he made a Black Gate. He can use the Death Grip -" "Eclipse," said Darren slowly. "I gather that you like being able to participate in this conversation. But please try not to tell a stranger everything about us. Especially about my situation." "Sorry. But you are a death knight," Eclipse grumbled under his breath. "Yes, Eclipse. Anyway, would you mind going to Vol'Shalai for a bit?" "Okay..." Eclipse mumbled. "Whatever." He stomped off to the troll. Darren smirked, facing Nylene again. The demon hunter chuckled. "You are very fond of the horse," she said. "Are you his teacher?" "Pony. Yes." Nylene kept staring at Darren through her bandage, he could sense it. "You still want an answer," he said. The demon hunter nodded. "You owe me that much for helping you back there." Darren frowned. She was right. He did not like telling his secret to a random person he had literally just met. But he did owe her. And since he did not know how to return to Equestria, what was the harm in it? "I was in the Glades of Tirisfal when I first met ponies like Eclipse here. Two adults, a warrior and a talented mage. When they returned to their homeworld, I came along. There is something unique about the place, something that cancels out the Curse of Undeath. I'd been undead until then, and afterwards... I was not. After months, there was an accident and Vol'Shalai summoned us back to Azeroth. Now we're stuck here - but at least I'm still alive. And Vol'Shalai is helping us to get to the Eastern Kingdoms. No point in going back to Andorhal or Northrend. The Lich King is dead - properly dead, mind you." Nylene tilted her head incredulously. "You asked me, I told you," Darren said flatly, shrugging. "I don't expect you to believe me, though. That would be kind of a stretch." "At least you are aware," Nylene said. "Blade proves it, though," Darren said with a sly grin. "It's made of Saronite. I carved the runes into it myself. And yet I am still not crazy. I mean, you see the pony, too, right?" They chuckled at his weak joke. "Nylene, please don't tell anyone what we discussed just now," Darren requested. "Do not worry. I excel at keeping secrets." Nylene gave him a toothy grin. "And you amuse me. Pray tell, is there space for one more in your party?" She wanted to join them? Darren thought about that for a moment. Nylene was clearly not the type to usually team up with anybody. Was she lonely or just bored? Or was there something else going on? He would only find out if he kept an eye on her. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer and all that... Best case scenario, she would become a friend. Worst case, he would have to kill her. But who said that travelling trough Azeroth would be without risk? "Alright, Nylene Felbane. You may join us." Nylene nodded and smiled her pointed smile. "You won't regret it," she said. "Ya shoulda asked me first," Vol'Shalai foamed. "Ya can't just invite random elves into our party! She's Alliance, Darren, and you can't trust dem!" "But so would I be, by your logic," Darren objected. "Dat's different. Ya be a special case." "No, not really. Not every human is part of the Alliance, not every Night Elf is, either. She's a demon hunter, it might be useful to bring her along. Especially since you and I will have to part ways when we arrive in human territory." "Send her away," Vol'Shalai spat. Darren frowned and massaged his temples. He raised his eyes at the aggravated troll. "Look," he said, trying to word his thoughts in the foreign tongue. "I see where you're coming from. I was the same towards orcs, when I've met some that were death knights like me. But after time I realized... that fighting people for things other people did doesn't help. You go after the bad ones or you don't. Nylene wants to join us, without reward or special treatment. We don't have to trust her. But maybe later. What do we have to lose?" Vol'Shalai hissed. "Why is this so important to you?" he asked. "And don't give me dat 'she might prove useful' crap. Dere be someting else going on, Darren! I ain't stupid and we literally just met that woman today!" Darren hesitated. His mouth twitched. "She's a bit like me," he admitted after a couple of moments. "Oh." Vol'Shalai's expression softened. "I did not consider dat. You tink she be like a death knight, free from da Lich King's control?" "Something like that." "Oh, Loa spare me... Ya think she be lonely." Darren fell silent which told Vol'Shalai enough. "Gonk curse my soft heart," Vol'Shalai grumbled. "Agh! Bring that damn elf along, den. But ya make sure she don't do anyting stupid! And she better take no food from us," he insisted, pointing at Darren. "Deal." Darren smirked. "Thanks, friend." "Bah!" Vol'Shalai stalked ahead to the food vendor. Darren heard him grumble something about humans having to befriend every last dog on the street before he went out of earshot.