//------------------------------//
// Foggy Morning 
// Story: Eljunbyro 
// by Imploding Colon 
//------------------------------//

	Dawn arrived on misty waves.  A dull gray haze wafted through the bowing branches of Upper Foxtaur, settling in a soupy fog that swam through the brick, mortar, and marble structures of the ruins.

Far down below, in a chamber with a dying torch, Pilate continued floating his manasphere across the wall, analyzing symbol after symbol.  Bellesmith, silent as stone, was leaning against him, fast asleep.  Her golden body rose and fell with each gentle breath as the zebra flipped through the pages of the tome and continued on with his studies, undaunted.

Above, on the edges of the crumbled bulwarks, Phoenix marched along the outer perimeter.  His hooves scuffled over the top of the steep wall, forming slight echoes through the mist.  He paused, squinting through the scattered bands of morning light.  His eyes were still tired from having woken up recently for his morning patrol.

Still, that didn't stop him from making out the sight of Crimson, squatting on a high branch and overlooking the northern edge of foggy Foxtaur.  The muscular stallion seemed as awake and alert as ever, as if a night of zero sleep had done nothing to muddy his countenance.

Phoenix sighed.  Turning around, he nearly impaled his eye on a polearm.

"Gah!"  He jumped back—

Zenith slapped his hoof over Phoenix's mouth before he could make too much noise.  "Calm down.  Why must you always be Xonan fodder right after waking up?"

Phoenix spat out Zenith's forelimb and frowned.  "I am so not Xonan fodder!  Besides..."  He sighed and gazed up at Crimson.  "Xonans are the last thing on my mind right now..."

"Yeah, well, at least you have something on your mind," Zenith grunted, gazing up at Crimson with bored eyes.  "Instead of pushing it away completely."

"He only wants what's best for us, Zenith," Phoenix said.  "We shouldn't forget that."

"Yeah, well..."  Zenith gazed lethargically towards the west end of the ruins, towards where a petite, lavender shape was sharpening swords and daggers by an extinguished campfire.  "I know for a fact that he wants to protect one of us.  The rest?  Pffft... That's just up to the Spark."

Phoenix frowned.  "You don't think it's that... stupidly simple do you?"

"Just look at all of our history combined, idiot," Zenith grunted as he marched away.  "Crimson has always gone out on a limb for one pony and one pony alone.  Sometimes I just wish the two would marry already."

Phoenix smirked at Zenith as he walked away.  "You're overexagerrating."  He turned and marched slowly towards the west end of the foggy ruins.  "Besides, that wouldn't be the end of the world!  I bet if there was a ceremony, Crimson would make you best stallion—!"

There was a loud snapping sound.  Out from the foggy ceiling, a black length of metal cable whipped down.  It struck Phoenix in the chest and wrapped around him five times.  Before he could scream, a second cable flew forth and ensnared his muzzle as well.  In a flurry of misty air, he was yanked up into the forest canopy, disappearing beyond the mists.

His mace fell loosely to the floor.

Zenith spun around.

Crimson glanced down at the sound.

Eagle Eye stood up from the campsite, blinking.  "Phoenix...?"