//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: The Road Not Taken // Story: Through Adversity // by Dynasty-Kaine //------------------------------// It seemed like mere seconds before Avalon had to slow his pace from the Mach 3. His eyes were mere slits against the air current, and the strain was apparent in his face. Avalon began to wonder if going Mach 3 after recovery from a life-threatening wound was wise. He knew that there was going to be inevitable fatigue from that kind of recovery, it was what made his survival mechanism a double-edged sword. He hoped it wouldn't stick with him, being fatigued more than a day. It had once bedridden him for over a week. His direction of flight was toward the jungles of Equestria, the homelands of the Zebra Tribes. The Zebrican's did not often allow for outsiders to enter their community, but Avalon had been a special case a few years back. It wasn't a pleasant memory, though. He gradually opened his wings, allowing drag on his speed. After he slowed, he noticed a simple cloud ahead. He circled it a few times, and made a landing there. The stallion looked out at the horizon, now standing on the borders of the Zebrican homelands. The sky was still dark with Luna's night, crisp and cool were the breezes that met Avalon's purple mane. Below him, he could hear all kinds of animal sounds, ranging from roars to cries. The stallion took a deep breath, relishing the fresh feeling he felt at returning here. So this is where destiny will collect the piece it had so struggled to obtain. Avalon thought. Me. It made the place feel utterly eerie, to be so at peace with what laid ahead of him. He opted to have one last, self-made choice; to rest until dawn upon this cloud. As he lay down, aches slowly crept in. "There's the fatigue..." He muttered. He finally found comfort as his eyes sleepily closed. His mind drifted into a memory. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ It was the memory of when he first came here, his wings bound. He had had to walk on his hooves. It was one of those little challenges he put to himself, while he wandered about as a nomad. He had come to the jungles in the mid-summer months, when it was green, luscious, and beautiful. Unfortunately, it was also hot, humid, and heavy, which was thoroughly irritating to Avalon. Within two days, he had come to what he later learned was a barrier gate. It was a guarded area, with symbols inscribed on several trees in a rough wall, indicating a tribe inhabited the nearby areas. Avalon had encountered Zebracians in his travels before, and he had inquired as to some of their customs. Avalon had walked up to the guards, to request formal permission to be allowed temporary visitor-ship. This required the chieftain to take action. However, upon hearing the request, the guards simply turned him away. One of them told Avalon, "This is not a wise time, to call upon the chieftain's mind." It was clear to the stallion that something was troubling the tribe, so he had simply stated, "Of course. I shall respect your words, but tomorrow I will return." It didn't rhyme, not really, but Avalon was still recovering from the abrupt rebuttal. He had to head back out into the wilderness and made a makeshift camp. With what he had and with what his environment had to offer, it was crude and not homely. It had done until he could manage to enter the village. Two weeks seemed to fly by, as Avalon kept trying to get his message to the Zebrican Chief. His camp had become a little more put together by then, with a soft bed made of materials that wouldn't induce rashes, a noticeable fire ring, a storage area for fruits and vegetables, and a noticeable border around the area. He had also found a stream that ran through the jungle near his camp that allowed him fresh drinking water. There was a purpose of his nomadic journeys. Learning about the world outside the clouds, besides learning the pegasus he was deep down inside. He had been in his tent, to rest as he reflected more on what he had gathered that day from nature. He had been suddenly awoken by an earsplitting roar. "Wh-What was that?” Avalon exclaimed. It had sounded like an angry feral dragon. That had to be in his dreams, there is no way that he had heard-- Just as Avalon had tried to rationalize things, the roar came again, this time with an accompanied scream of terror. Avalon grew tense fast. He got up and began galloping at a high speed towards the sounds of jungle being torn apart. It sounded as if the dragon was being assaulted. Who would be so brash as to make that error, the stallion wondered. The odd thing was, the yells had begun to sound more distant compared to where the dragon roared and thrashed about. As he burst through the brush into a clearing, he came to a situation he didn't expect. It was a single zebra dodging an angry dragon. She was quick and nimble, and, from the looks of the craters nearby, a gifted alchemist. An observant look told Avalon all he needed to know. She was on her last blasting bottle, and stood in the middle of the clearing. He didn't have to know why, and, quite frankly, didn't care as he charged toward her. He noticed that she wasn't paying attention to the dragon as it lunged for her, mouth spread wide. In fact, the zebra seemed lost in thought. He lunged forward with his front legs and tackled her out of the reach of the dragon's mouth as it snapped closed. Avalon's tail had just passed it. A second more, and he would have been too late. "What do you think you're doing, you silly wing-bound pony!" The zebra replied. Apparently she was irritated. Avalon looked confusedly at her. "What do you mean what am I doing? Do you like being eaten by dragons, or do you just have a death wish?" The dragon howled in anger, its meal somehow getting out of his jaws. "My reasons are my own, and not of your business.” She replied. “Destiny calls to me today, and I will follow it through." Avalon's eyes darkened. "Idiot," he said quietly. He looked into her eyes, a fire burning as he declared, “There is more to life than a destiny written in stone!” He got up off of her, and turned to face the dragon. He growled at Avalon, but through that Avalon could hear a chuckle. "Think I'm funny scaly butt?” Avalon taunted. “It's not gonna be funny in a second." Avalon reached over to each wing. He undid the bindings. The dragon blinked at the pony before him. Large as he was, he was no match for a dragon. The spectacle drove the reptile to actual laughter. He spread out his wings in a challenge to the dragon. He turned his head to the zebra. “Go back to your village and live another day,” he commanded, “don't waste your life to foretold destiny. When it wants you, it knows where to find you!" She looked at him with defiance in her eyes. "Fine,” she replied, “if you can foresee a greater destiny for me, then I will do what I can to live.” She picked up the blasting bottle and turned, before having an idea. “Before we part, though, I must insist that you take this, and put the dragon's chances at great risk." She took the blasting bottle and set it down carefully on the ground. Avalon nodded his understanding. She took off at a full gallop, and he turned to face down the dragon. See, Avalon, the purple-maned pegasus thought to himself. This is what you get for not thinking things through. The dragon's laughter was dying down. Dragons, he lamented, why is it always dragons? "This pony pegasus doesn't know what he's getting into," The dragon said as he started breathing a stream of fire. Avalon took to the skies, knowing from his prior examination of the blasting bottle, it had a long wick. He knew the dragon’s fire would light it, because the zebra had set it down behind him. He would have a short time to use it, though. The dragon followed him to the skies, and as he gained altitude, Avalon swooped in for some hoof strikes at the dragon's face. Quickly realizing this was a minor irritation to the dragon, he backed off after a few blows. Without further hesitation, the dragon flew up and swatted Avalon down into the ground. The clearing was getting bigger and bigger underneath him. This is gonna hurt. Avalon hit the ground hard. "Ugh...” the stallion groaned, as he got back up out of the hole he just made. “Yup, that hurt..." The dragon snarled and reared his head back, erupting another torrent of flame. I can help you avoid this death inevitable, just accept the inescapable truth, a voice in Avalon's head said to him. “What?" Avalon exclaimed at the voice. It had a tendency to appear when he was very likely to die. "No I won't give in, you're too violent!" The dragon stopped gushing flame at the sky and looked down. "What?” It growled. “Is the crazy pony talking to itself?" "Shut up dragon,” Avalon shouted in frustration, hating the power within him intensely. “I'm having an internal struggle here!" The dragon was less than pleased with this response, and let a torrent of flame explode from his mouth. Time seemed to slow for Avalon. Fine. He submitted to the power within, unaware of the zebra still watching him. In this, my time of dying I proclaim, Death is not an option! Avalon screamed this in his mind as he closed his eyes. He lifted himself back onto his hind legs and splayed out his wings. He opened his eyes as a white magic spilled forth from them, the dragon flame mere centimeters from him. He flapped his wings twice. This first stopped, then dispelled the flames from hitting him, before he landed back on his front hooves. He stared up at the dragon with an indifferent defiance. The dragon stared in utter astonishment. "That's impossible!" He roared, as he expelled another torrent of flame. Avalon reared up, wings spread open, flapped them twice, and dispelled the flames once more. He landed and spoke. "Oh, foolish dragon.” The voice was cold, and seemed to echo, even in the jungle. “You face an Avatar of Judgement. You cannot hope to succeed with the injustices you have done the Zebrican people. Face your trial." The dragon stared, wide eyed for a moment. He was unsure of what to do. He concluded this was a bluff. Puny pony magic wouldn't stop him this time. He snorted in contempt at the pegasus before him. He wasn't going to let this creature talk down to him. The dragon dove down from the sky, in defiance of the pony's warning. “They never listen do they?” The Avatar stated, unimpressed. It went to the blasting bottle the zebra had left Avalon. The dragon diving for the body, opened his mouth wide as he closed in on his destination. The avatar turned its back to the dragon. It would need to time this perfectly, else Avalon’s body would be too severely injured in the process. The blasting bottle's wick was nearly spent. The avatar reached down, grabbed the bottle, and did a turning leap. It threw the bottle square into the mouth of the dragon. It had timed its throw poorly, however, and the bottle exploded too soon. It caught the body in the blast, launching it headlong into a tree. The avatar’s consciousness faded, and, now back in control, Avalon’s was slowly fading too. He could see the dragon had survived, but with a massive blast to the front of his mouth. The reptile was lucky, but it wouldn't bother the Zebrican people again. He then heard an echo in his mind, For the most part you are retained. I will be here should you need me again. My price is be the same, five years from your life. As the voice faded into nothingness, Avalon became sharply aware of how serious his wounds were. The ground was comfy, at least. He blinked, but he may as well have closed his eyes. Avalon's last sight before his consciousness completely faded was the zebra he had told to run. She began speaking in a funny language."Just c-couldn't run could ya..." He muttered as his eyes closed again. He awoke two weeks after the dragon fight. The strain on his body had been too much. What with his survival mechanism and the explosive damage, his body didn't heal as it usually did. It was one of the few times in his life he was reminded that his power, though great, had limits. When Avalon could think again, soreness was integrated into his very spirit, it seemed. He had been taken to the Zebrican village. He found out he had saved the tribal shaman, Amara. He and she had spent a good deal of time with one another, before he inevitably left... ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Avalon stretched on top of his cloud. He felt a bit better than he had. He looked to the eastern sky, and saw Celestia's sun rising. Something seemed more right about it this morning. Avalon smiled. Bifrost had apparently gotten word back to her, and she was acknowledging his choice with all her power and heart. "Thanks Tia,” he mumbled, “it means a lot." He looked to the south, where jungle spread out endlessly in front of him. He began scanning the area for a landmark he knew he would need to make his entrance from. He found it after a little difficulty. It was temple that barely broke the surface of the jungle. The sacred mount temple at A'un. He leaped from the cloud, spread his wings, and sped quickly towards the structure. When you return, make notice with a display only you can put forth. The memory of Amara's parting words reminded him. He pushed his limits. He just had to break the sound barrier. He had a feeling he was going to hurt himself, but he knew Amara would find him if he did. It seemed mere seconds passed as he flew at the sound barrier, and a Mach 3. With a final burst of strength, he broke through. He had gained a bit too much velocity though, and as he looked ahead, the temple got awfully close awfully fast. Then it hit him. ___________________________________________________________ Amara's morning had been very ordinary, waking up before dawn to begin mixing healing salves and elixirs. Her apprentice Tanwei was late again. Her herb collecting duties wouldn't be postponed again, though. Of late, Amara recalled, she had taken a fancy to one of the males in the tribe, and she could not find it in her heart to rebuke the young zebra. She remembered what that was like. Sixteen years ago, a purple-maned stallion severed the chains of fate she thought had bound her. In the main area of the hut that belonged to Amara, there was a fire ring. A little blaze alight in the middle was heating a pot hanging above, with some concoction inside. Around the edges of the room were shelves and cabinets littered with bottles, herbs, grinders, books, orders, mixing pots, and an assortment of other things she needed for her alchemy-based works. She was the tribe shaman for a reason. She was the best at everything involving the use of plants and herbs, to either heal or destroy. Amara picked up one of her books, and began to read it, patiently waiting for Tanwei. Tanwei came in a few minutes later, greeting her teacher in a rushed way. "Good morning Amara, I'm sorry I'm--" Amara cut her off. "It is fine, Tanwei. I just ask you keep track of time in the nights you spend with your new..." She took a moment, a smile spreading over her face, as she enjoyed her apprentice's discomfort. "… Friend." Tanwei noticeably blushed at the notice her teacher had taken to the male involved in her life. She tried to change the subject. "U-um... W-what do you need me to do this morning, then, teacher?" "Simple.” Amara said with an edge. “Gather the herbs you were supposed to yesterday." She turned and began to mix one of her salves. "Aw! But Amara,” the apprentice replied, “I thought you took care of that yesterday because I didn't..." She seemed downfallen. "No, I did not,” the shaman retorted curtly. “That is punishment enough for--" Amara was cut off by a noise she knew, a noise she had waited for years to hear. The sound of the sound barrier giving way to a pegasus' power. Avalon had come again. A moment later she heard a tremendous crash. "Oh my,” Tanwei squeaked, clearly frightened. “Wh--what was that noise Amara? It sounded like a hundred of your blasting bottles going off at once!" Amara turned from her mixing pot to face her apprentice. "That, my pupil, is the Dragonsphere returning to us. Avalon has come again. I need you to deliver that message to the chieftain, while I go to greet him!" Tanwei's eyes went wide. She had remembered Avalon from when she was much younger. She knew what her mentor was feeling right now. She nodded her acknowledgment before running out the door. Amara got her bags and threw them on, filling them with salves and other medicinal items. Knowing Avalon, he had just crashed into something, and would be thus injured. She galloped through her door, in haste to get to the temple. She didn't care what was in her way. Years ago she said she would be the first thing to greet him when he came back, and she wasn't about to break that promise to him. Within minutes she had made it to the eastern outer barrier gate, and galloped full rush toward the temple. It was really a short trip for Amara, but she noticed the wildlife watching her curiously as she sped past them. The flowers still in full bloom for this time of year was a bizarre sight to the she-zebra. But, she was thankful that some were still fruitful, it served her well, being an alchemist. The sun had fully risen at this point and was spreading a very lovely warmth upon the jungle. Amara felt it in her pelt as she absorbed the heat. She arrived at the clearing for the temple as the sun blinded her coming up over the highest point. The she-zebra moved with great haste up the steps, noting the evident crash landing Avalon had made. She finally reached the top, finding Avalon laying on the ground, the pagoda that used to stand there utterly obliterated by the stallion. Her heart skipped a beat when at first he didn't move, but this fear was alleviated shortly thereafter when he started to push himself up. He grumbled a bit before looking over and seeing the zebra trotting over to him. His energy flows felt over-taxed and chaotic. His wings gave off distinct heat, and chi-based energy flowed out like steam to her spiritually in touch eyes. So Judgement acted recently. She started listing causes of his condition in her head. After that a Mach 3, a short rest then another. She gave a small gasp. You nearly died before Judgement acted? "Looks like you...” He groaned. “...kept your promise, Amara." Avalon said with a smile and a grimace as he trotted up to her. Her face lit up in glee as he spoke, black tail swishing. "Of course I kept my promise to you! Have I ever not?" "It's truly nice to see you have missed me so much..." Avalon said. He stopped just before he nuzzled her, looking unsure. "What's wrong Avalon? Why do you hesitate?" Amara questioned. She was hurt. Not only was he not treating his wounds, he seemed conflicted. "I'm sorry Amara,” Avalon said, “when last we were together, we had agreed our affections were fleeting.” Avalon kicked his front hoof at the ground timidly. “I guess I wasn't sure if it would have been inconsiderate of me," he winced in pain. "The affection, though fleeting, I will always welcome, dear Avalon." Amara said. A slight blush hit her cheeks as she began rifling through her bags. He smiled and leaned in close to nuzzle into her neck and wrapped a foreleg around her. Great spirits knew that she had dearly missed his closeness to her, but something told her that his touch would not be her eternal happiness. This thought made her feel absolutely hollow inside. She gathered the needed materials with practiced ease, then began to examine his wounds. She felt him tense as she did so. What is on his mind? Avalon took a breath before saying, "Amara, as much as I'd like to have this reunion be for your affections, that is just not the case.” She began to apply salves to his body, and he released her. “It seems the wheels of my destiny have begun to turn. I need one thing if I am to face that.” Avalon winced again as she covered a particularly bad scrape with tonic. “Amara, I need to ask you to help me.” Amara glanced to his face for a moment. She had prepared a witty retort, but Avalon's expression told her that this was serious. “What do you need help with?” She asked. Avalon paused before continuing. “I need to gain control over my Avatar of Judgment." He stated this with apprehension, but not without conviction. Amara felt the ground sway beneath her. She had hoped she would never have to encounter this day. Since the moment she figured out what Avalon's strange power was, she had hoped it would fall to someone else. "I know I need the chieftain's approval as w—well... ugh." Whatever Avalon was going to say was cut short as he swayed side to side. What little bit of himself he had managed to pick up fell to the ground again. It was a surprise that the stallion was able to fly after that near-death experience, let alone stand. His avatar must have gotten stronger in the past sixteen years. This worried Amara with what he had managed to ask before passing out. She took out more of the salves she brought. With luck, Tanwei would be able to get the chieftain to come to A'un. It would certainly make the process easier on Avalon and Amara. She gazed upon his flank at his cutie mark. It always surprised her to see it was a dark grey castle wall surrounding a lone guard tower that had blue shingles. "Your name and mark don't match too well, do they,” Amara said gently. “But then again you always explained how it made sense better than I could..." She got up and found an area that wasn't too broken, and began to prepare the area as a bed. Avalon needed rest to recover, and resting upon the hard stone alone would do him no good. She managed to make him a small bed in a quick enough amount of time. She then headed over and gripped the back of his mane with her mouth and dragged him like a dead weight over to the bed. She then used her front hooves to maneuver him onto the bed. She then walked a few paces away where she sat watching him and waiting for him to awaken. It was then she noticed something odd. After all these years they had been apart, he didn't look all that different to her, while her age had started to show in small increments. This fact embarrassed, as well as saddened her deeply. She regretted that he wasn't her's, but because of her choice sixteen years ago, for them to call what they had simply a fleeting moment, she had lost that chance with an agreement. She would forever regret the road not taken.