//------------------------------//
// Saviour 
// Story: Order of the Black Sun 
// by daOtterGuy 
//------------------------------//

Stygian stumbled, hitting the forest floor with a shout. He felt sharp stabs of pain as his wounds worsened from the impact. He cursed his luck to have escaped Starswirl, only to potentially meet his end by the whims of some unknown predator in the woods that, in his current state, could easily finish him off.

Determined, he dragged his body forward, feeling his blood stain the grass underneath him. His body craved rest, but he needed to reach safety before he indulged in that. Especially since, as is, he was still within teleport range.

It was unlikely that Starswirl could track him; however, it was Starswirl, and he would never pretend to know all of that old stallion’s tricks. As much as he was a monster, Stygian was loath to underestimate the Archmage’s intelligence.

He collapsed, his forehooves giving out. He cried out as he tried to force his body to continue its advance, but injury and exhaustion made that feat impossible. He felt hot tears of frustration in his eyes as he screamed at the injustice of it all.

“You appear to need some assistance.”

Stygian jerked his head up in the direction of the feminine voice. Fear gripped his mind at the possibilities of the stranger.

“Who are you?!” Stygian demanded. “D-don’t come closer! I can cast attack magic!” He tried to spark his horn. It spluttered off a few motes of light. Nothing he could work with. “Dammit, dammit!”

“I mean you no harm,” the stranger said. “I would just like to know if you require my help.”

Paranoia and too-soon betrayal made him question the authenticity of the offer. He had only just escaped from someone he had wholly trusted as a friend and mentor. A stranger he couldn’t even see made him leery of any goodwill he was offered.

“H-how can I trust you?!” He asked.

“... I suppose showing you who I am would help,” the stranger remarked.

Rustling came from a nearby bush. Fear turned to awe as he watched his potential saviour appear.

She was a tall unicorn, built of strong, corded muscle. She had a light blue coat studded with white patches of stars. Her long wavy purple mane was tied into a tight bun over half-moon spectacles. She radiated light, each step she took leaving behind a hoofprint of pure light.

He recognized her immediately.

“Artemis,” he whispered in reverence.

“That is correct,” Artemis replied. Her tone was clipped. Short and to the point, with no nonsense inbetween. “Will you now allow me to help you?”

“Please,” Stygian said.

“Then try to hold on. I will be taking you back to my home to treat you.”

He felt her magic envelop him, an off-white warm glow, before he was lifted and placed overtop her back. As he was jostled on his way to destinations unknown, Stygian drifted off to sleep.