//------------------------------// // Divine Encounter // Story: Bladewing: The Rise of a Hero // by Cavalryunit001 //------------------------------// “Here we are, my friend,” Diamond told him, “Our home.” It was 10:00 p.m. and the trio stood in front of a modest, two-story building. “It’s no mansion, but it’s comfortable all the same.” “It’s fine,” Bladewing spoke, “I’m not into appearances much.” “Good to know.” The ponies passed through the front gate and made their way inside. As soon as they were all inside, Diamond Heart retrieved Ruby from Topaz’s saddlebag and made his way upstairs. “Make yourself comfortable, Bladewing,” Topaz spoke, “I have a few things left to do before we can call this a night.” “Got it.” Bladewing sat himself on a couch and took this time to explore the place. On this floor, there was a dining room/kitchen. He himself was sitting in a living room with a functional TV. Unfortunately, he was unfamiliar with most of the items he found (especially the TV). He knew it will take some time before he’s acclimated to his new environment. A low growling sound suddenly emerged from within the stallion’s stomach. “*giggle* Sounds like somepony’s a little low on fuel,” Topaz mused. Bladewing blushed and rubbed his head with a nervous chuckle. “I guess all that walking aroused my appetite.” “I thought as much. But don’t worry, Bladewing. I’ll go prepare a meal for the three of us. As I said, make yourself comfortable. My husband will be in the nursery if you want to talk with him.” “Understood. Thanks, Mrs. Heart.” “No problem. And please, call me Topaz.” Bladewing didn’t know what she was going to serve, but he knew it won’t involve meat (ponies were herbivores, after all). It didn’t matter much to him, though. He was sure that whatever Topaz decides to make will turn out to be delicious. With this in mind, Bladewing moved up the stairs towards the nursery. Sure enough, Diamond was inside. He was on his rear hooves rocking Ruby to sleep in her crib. The earth pony looked at him with a smile. “Ah, Bladewing,” he spoke, letting go of the crib, “What brings you here?” “I was just wondering if I can have a word with you. Well, if you’re not too busy.” “Of course. Why not?” Diamond sat down with him at a table near the crib. He pulled out a metal thermostat as well as two glasses. A dark red liquid could be seen as he poured some into one glass. “Drink?” Bladewing was a bit hesitant, much to Diamond’s amusement. “*chuckle* Don’t worry. It’s just grape juice. I’m not a big fan of wine.” “Oh, no, it’s not that. It’s just… well, I’ve never seen grape juice before. Or wine, for that matter.” Diamond Heart looked at him curiously. “You haven’t?” Bladewing shook his head. “Oh. Well, you’re in for a treat then. Grape juice is pretty sweet. Wine’s a stronger beverage but as I said, I’m none too fond of it. I find the flavor and the smell a bit repulsive.” Bladewing held the glass as Diamond poured out some of the juice into it and took a sip. “It’s good. Thanks.” “Glad to hear it.” Diamond took a sip before moving on. “Now then… what’s on your mind?” “I was hoping you could tell me about this place.” “The city or the country?” “How about both?” “Sure. I can do that. Allow me to enlighten you.” After one last sip from his glass, Diamond cleared his throat and told his pegasus friend all he knew of the world around him. “As you know, we live in Fredericksmare. It’s the capital city of the country known as Cydonia. It’s settled by the Coltecs, a race of warrior ponies known for their prowess on the battlefield. They didn’t always occupy this land, though. It used to belong to the ponies of the Kingdom of Equestria at the start of the Pony Wars.” “The Pony Wars?” “They’re a series of battles in which the three pony races – earth, pegasus, and unicorn – fought each other over resources that at the time were very scarce. It was a dark time for the entire planet – alliances were destroyed, nations were torn apart, and carnage was abundant as each race fought tooth and nail for control of necessities like food and water. Luckily for us, our king and queen were able to keep our society together and so we never took part in it. Even so, the violence claimed nearly a third of the world’s pony population. The surviving Equestrians abandoned this land following the end of the Pony Wars and the Coltecs incorporated it into their kingdom shortly afterwards.” “I see. And who’s the current king, if I may ask?” “He’s an anthro-pony named Mountain Wind. He and Queen Red Sapphire were the ones who kept all of Cydonia together during the Pony Wars… and it was Mountain Wind himself who founded Fredericksmare and made it the kingdom’s current capital.” “Wow. Those two must feel pretty good about themselves for that.” “It’s just Mountain Wind, I’m afraid. He’s a widower.” Bladewing’s ears drooped in sadness. “Oh. What happened to the queen?” “She died giving birth to Firestorm, the king’s only son and heir to the throne. Her passing stung Mountain Wind pretty hard, but rearing Firestorm kept him from thinking too much about her. Even then, it didn’t last long.” “How so?” “One morning, when the king was resting on his throne, an assassin disguised as one of his servants tried to murder him with a poisoned dagger. Naturally, Firestorm came to his aid and defended him, but it was all for naught. The prince fell in battle trying to stop him, and his fall drove Mountain Wind into a berserk rage. He didn’t bother ordering the guards to arrest the assassin – he slaughtered him with his bare hands. He then ordered the assassin’s body burned and the ashes tossed into the wind. Following the prince’s funeral, the king placed flowers of pure gold on top of his grave. He hasn’t been the same since.” “Oh, dear. He doesn’t show much cheer in public, does he?” “It would be a surprise if he showed ANY cheer. Firestorm’s death practically took away what little he had left. Even so, I pray that we will one day put a smile on his face before Heaven takes him from us. He’s suffered more than any normal pony should have to experience in a lifetime.” “I agree.” Bladewing raised his glass to toast the king. “Here’s to Mountain Wind.” “May he regain the happiness Fate so cruelly took from him.” The two stallions clinked their glasses together and finished off their remaining juice in one gulp. They then simultaneously put their glasses back on the table. “Thank you, Mr. Heart. It’ll take some time before I'm fully adjusted to this land, but this conversation will definitely help.” “You can just call me Diamond, Bladewing. And it’s my pleasure. You know, Topaz and I are going out tomorrow to a restaurant. Why don’t you come with us? We could show you some of the city’s main attractions along the way.” “That would be great.” “Dinner’s ready, boys! You’d best come down here while it’s still hot!” The sound of Topaz’s voice calling out from downstairs was nothing short of convenient timing. “Well, I’ll be,” Diamond spoke, “She was making a meal this whole time? And finished? I guess time flies when one ignores the clock. But I’m not complaining. I can use a good meal right now.” Bladewing’s stomach rumbled for the second time tonight. “You and me both.” Diamond just chuckled and walked with Bladewing to the kitchen table. “Your timing was impeccable, my dear,” Diamond spoke enthusiastically to his wife, “We had just finished a major history lesson.” “Did you?” Topaz mused, “Well, I hope you two have enough spirit left to enjoy these.” Once more, Bladewing was presented by an unfamiliar delicacy. On his plate, a strange disc-like object was embedded between what seemed like two slices of bread, along with various plant matter that was just as unrecognizable. Bladewing was unsure if he’ll like the taste, but he was too hungry at that moment to care. He took a bite and prayed that he was at least able to digest it. “Wow,” he mumbled, swallowing his morsel, “It’s great, Topaz. What is it?” “A veggie burger. It’s one of Diamond’s favorites.” “You got that right,” Diamond chimed in, “I never grow tired of eating these.” “I can see why.” Enough was said at this point, and Topaz joined the two stallions with a burger she made for herself. After a short while, the trio were running on full stomachs. It was now time for them to call it a night. “All right, Bladewing,” Diamond Heart spoke, “Here’s how we’re going to arrange things. See the two rooms on the right side of the hallway?” Bladewing nodded his head. “Well, Topaz and I decided that you can choose any one of them as your personal living quarters. It’s yours for as long as you like and you can customize it as you see fit. If you need help with ANYTHING, let us know and we’ll do what we can to assist you.” “Sounds good. And thanks again. I’ll see you in the morning.” “You’re very welcome, Bladewing,” Topaz replied with a smile, “Good night.” As the Hearts made their way into their bedroom, Bladewing decided to make the room at the far end his own. There was a bed for him, not that he was surprised. A wooden desk and a dresser added to the simplistic nature of the room; but there were still things in this room that he couldn’t recognize. A TV stood near the window, accompanied by a complementary VCR. There was also a video camera but again, Bladewing hadn’t the slightest clue what ANY of these devices were. “Oh, whatever,” he mumbled, “*Yawn* I’ll figure it all out… eventually.” Tired and now completely worn out, Bladewing rolled onto his bed and immediately fell asleep. *** “Ugh… Where am I?” Bladewing awoke to a world surrounded by a curtain of pitch-black. There was a circle of light beneath his hooves, but it did very little to ease his confusion. He looked around for the source of this light, but there were none to be found. He knew that this was all a dream – he was certain that he was resting in his bed as of now – but he was unsure how he should go about it. “This place is creepy,” he murmured nervously to himself, “There’s nothing around here but darkness. Where am I supposed to go? What am I even supposed to do?” Bladewing was tempted to start walking out of here, but he was reluctant to do so out of fear of losing the light (even for a warrior as brave as he, the darkness wasn’t something he could condone.) However, he was not keen on staying here for the darkness to taunt him without even making a sound. With the latter being the most uncomfortable, he decided to take a step out of the circle cautiously. “Huh.” Bladewing was both stunned and relieved by what he saw. The light moved forward just as he did, as if it were trying to maintain a constant luminous platform for him to stand on. He couldn’t sense a life force from this light, but Bladewing had a hunch that it knew he was hesitant to press onward without it… and now that it will follow him wherever he went, Bladewing finally decided to get out of this ominous realm. Encouraged by the light, Bladewing continued his current trajectory. He had no clue whether or not he was actually heading for the door out of here (or any exit, for that matter), but he knew he could wake from this dream at any time if it ever becomes too much for him to handle. He hoped it would never come to that, however, for he was curious whether there was something in his dream that could tell him about his future. He intended to find out everything he could about this dream before the morning light inevitably pulls him from his sleep. Bladewing couldn’t afford to leave a single detail unchecked. Bladewing didn’t have long to wait before the realm revealed its first secret to him. Up ahead, he noticed a glowing spectral mist slowly take shape. He stopped immediately and scrutinized the mist. Upon completing its transformation, the mist’s form became clear to him. It was a mare, and one unlike any that Bladewing could ever imagine. She had a horn on her forehead, and wings like huge fans were furled on her sides. Her coat was white, and her mane was a hue of scarlet. Her eyes were a tint of scarlet, and various parts of her body – which from head to hoof surpassed Bladewing’s height by about a foot – were adorned with jewelry. “What’s she doing here?” he asked himself mentally. The presence of this strange mare gave Bladewing pause, but before he could think on an answer to his question, the spectral pony beckoned for him to come closer with her hoof. She didn’t seem like someone who had ill intentions for Bladewing, and with no other soul around to talk to, Bladewing decided to come towards her. “Hello, Bladewing,” spoke the mare, “I’ve been expecting you.” Bladewing hesitated to reply back, a thought which was made apparent to the mare by the wondrous look in his eyes. “You look tense,” she continued, “Is something the matter?” Bladewing briskly shook his head. “I’m fine,” spoke Bladewing, “I just feel a bit lost. I’m looking for a way out of this place.” “I assume you’re not comfortable with darkness?” “I’m not. I’ll face it if I have to, but I’d never seek it out of my own free will.” “Fair enough. I suppose that’s what makes freedom of choice so great, doesn’t it?” “*sigh* I don’t mean to be rude, miss, but get to the point. Every minute I spend talking to you is another minute I spend standing in this creepy place.” “*giggle* Say no more. Come with me.” Bladewing nodded his head lightly. He hesitated at first, but his conscience quickly convinced him to go along with the mare. He was certain that she must know how to get out of this foreboding dimension if she asked him to come with her, and for now, that was all the reason he needed to oblige. Bladewing was happy to know that his assumption was correct. Before long, a light began to appear a little distance ahead of him. It grew brighter and brighter with each step he took with her, and though he had no idea where it will take him, he was willing to find out for himself. “I don’t suppose that’s the way out?” he asked. “It sure is,” replied the mare, “I hope you’re comfortable.” “Of course. I’m going to see the light again.” “Good. Let’s go.” Bladewing nodded in agreement. Within a short moment, the darkness around the pair completely turned to white. Once it did, however, color soon began to fill this empty void… and what Bladewing found when the scenery was done being “painted” blew his mind. Bladewing found himself in some type of royal estate. He and his companion stood in front of a pair of doors leading into a massive castle, an entrance that was flanked by two pegasi guards on either side. Bladewing noticed that each of these stallions had halos over their heads, and though he knew without a doubt that he wasn’t dead, he couldn’t help but think that he was actually in Heaven. “What is this place?” he asked. “If I told you, you’d never believe me,” replied the mare with a grin. Bladewing was unconvinced. “What’s not to believe? I just fought a mythical creature today. FOUR of them, I may add.” “Perhaps… but you say that like you never fought one before.” Bladewing was surprised by her remark. “What? Just how would you know if I fought a dragon before?” “I am she who watches all who breathe the breath of life.” “You? A goddess? Just how is that possible? This is all a dream. How do I know that ANY of what I’m seeing now is real?” “*giggle* See? You can’t even believe I’m more than a figment of your imagination. What makes you think you’ll believe me if I tell you where we are?” Stunned (and otherwise humbled) by her logic, Bladewing relented from his query. His head drooped low in a show of defeat, but before he could attempt an apology for her, the mare took his cheek in her hoof and gently raised his head back up. “Come. There is something I want to show you.” Bladewing obliged to her request without a second thought. He nodded gently and then followed her through the entrance to the castle. After a few moments of traversing corridor after corridor with the mare, Bladewing arrived at what he assumed was her personal chambers. It was a massive place – a natural setting for a mare of power – and Bladewing was at a loss for words for how beautiful it was. From a bed woven with unimaginably fine silk, to a dresser stuffed with fabric and jewels, to a crown of gold embedded with tiny star-like gems, to even the gentle glow of the silver floor bouncing off the golden roof, Bladewing found it hard to NOT think of how blessed he was to see this place whether it was real or not. “Do you like what you see?” Bladewing was unaware of the grin that yet remained on the mare’s face, for he had his back turned to her. However, he had plenty to say in response to her question. “It’s amazing. It’s like I’m bathing in luxury in here. I doubt there’s a being alive who owns an abode as lavish as this one.” The mare couldn’t help but chuckle softly at his awe. “Well, I’m no mortal, but it’s my home all the same. However, we’re not here to marvel at the beauty of my chambers.” “Of course.” Bladewing turned around to face her. “You said you wanted to show me something.” “Yes.” Bladewing watched closely as the mare – who he now reluctantly believed was a goddess – moved towards a door in between the two dressers opposite of her bed. She placed a hoof on the knob, and she looked back towards Bladewing. “Walk this way.” The goddess opened the door and revealed to Bladewing what appeared to be a swirling vortex. Bladewing hesitated at first since he couldn’t see any solid ground through the vortex but after what he experienced with the mare, he learned to trust her with his safety. Maybe not so much his repertoire of the “world” around him, but neither one mattered to him deep down. After all, this was all still a dream to him at best. Now that he no longer doubted her, Bladewing followed the goddess through the door. The sight that now lied before him was almost ethereal to him. The swirling vortex that he saw earlier had completely vanished, and in its place was a misty plane. Fuzzy lights, like glowing dandelions, floated through the turquoise plane, and Bladewing noticed that both he and his female companion were literally walking on a road of light. “Where are we?” he asked. “The spirit world,” replied the mare. Her quick and morbid response disturbed Bladewing, and he looked up to her with a slight tinge of fear in his eyes. “S-Spirit world? But I’m not dead… well, not YET, anyway. I know that I’ll die eventually being mortal and all, but I know I’m sleeping in a bed right now. There’s no way I could’ve just died the moment I fell asleep.” “*chuckle* You’re not dead, Bladewing. However, I can assure you that you’re indeed in the spirit world. One does not have to be dead to enter this plane.” “But how is that possible? This place is literally a whole other dimension. No mortal can ever enter a place like this. Not even in a dream.” “Well, you’re about to learn why you should believe in deities.” Bladewing noticed the mare’s horn suddenly glow with a scarlet aura, but before he could ask what she was doing, he was struck in the eyes with a flash of white. For a brief moment, he was unable to see, and when his vision returned to him, Bladewing realized that he was back in his room. “The hell?” he muttered, “What just happened?” “What else, Bladewing?” replied the mare with a grin, “We’re back in the realm of the living.” “We are?” Bladewing turned to look at the mare, but was startled by what he saw. “Crikey!” he exclaimed with shock, “I can see right through you!” “But of course. We may be in the physical world now, but this is all still a dream – to a degree.” “To a degree? What do you mean?” “Oh, I decided to make it more real for you. I made you a spirit for a short while.” “What?” Bladewing felt shivers slither down his body like icy snakes. He took a glance at his right hoof and noticed that the goddess was right – he was a spirit. “N-No way,” he shuddered, putting his hoof back down, “I’m translucent, too.” “All part of being a spirit,” the mare assured him, “But don’t worry. Even as you are now, you’re still not dead.” “Really?” “Yes. I just cast a little spell over you that temporarily lets your soul take a spectral form.” “*sigh* That’s a relief. I normally don’t fear death, but having your life force literally ripped out of your body without a fight is a fate even I can’t fathom.” “No mortal can. But death is a natural part of life. One way or another, we all come to accept that mortality is the price we pay for being alive. You should know this better than anyone else.” The mare’s daunting, but factual statement intimidated Bladewing for a brief moment. It was true. He was a warrior. He may not remember his past, but he knew deep down that he was someone who doesn’t run away from conflict. Death was a phenomena somepony like him would deal with all the time, especially in battle. However, he didn’t view death the same way a normal sentient being would… and it was something he was going to make clear to the mare. “You’re right. As a fighter, my life is constantly on the line… but then again, I live a lifestyle that demands it. There are some, like the dragons I fought earlier, that seek to do harm to innocent beings and will not listen to reason. Often times, the only way to stop such wicked creatures is to put them down for good, but to do that, one must not be afraid to die in battle. I am well aware of my mortality, but I don’t let it intimidate me for even a second. How I see it, I would surely die on the battlefield if I ever let the fear of Death hold me back. Being mortal for me simply means that time will inevitably be my end regardless of how it happens. In that regard, I’d rather make the most out of my life than ponder over how long it will last. If it’s my time to die, then it’s my time, and when it does come, I will have no regrets… for I will have lived my life to the fullest by then.” A warm smile suddenly engulfed the mare. Bladewing wasn’t sure if it’s because of what he said, but he had a feeling that he somehow caught the mare’s interest. It was a creepy thought to him, but he was sure that it would turn out to be a good thing in the end. “I see. You’re saying that when the time comes, you would embrace Death like an old friend?” “Yes. I have nothing to lose in accepting him.” “*chuckle* Very well. You intrigue me, Bladewing. I look forward to seeing what sort of future you will make for yourself.” “As do I, miss. But let’s carry on. You still haven’t showed me anything yet.” “Of course. But first, do you know where we are?” “I do. This is my new quarters.” “Good. Now look behind you.” Bladewing did as the goddess asked without question. He noticed upon facing the other way that he – or rather, his physical self – was still sound asleep beneath the covers. “Is this real?” he asked with wonder, turning towards the mare, “Is that really my body?” The mare nodded lightly. “Whoa. Wait, hold on.” An idea suddenly occurred to Bladewing. He was sure that the goddess was telling the truth, but there was still one thing that was amiss to him. If this dream really did turn real – and he was having an out-of-body experience – he should be able to feel whatever his physical body was feeling. It sounded weird given he had no nerves as a spirit (and that he can’t pick up objects) but since he’s technically not dead, he surmised that he should still be able to feel whatever his physical body feels. The stallion was unaware that his female companion was able to hear his thoughts, but she ultimately decided to keep this perk to herself. The time was not yet right for her to reveal such powerful abilities to him. The goddess watched with intrigue as Bladewing moved closer to his body. He stopped roughly six inches from the side of the bed, and after taking a moment to relax himself, he proceeded to touch his body’s face with his hoof. What he found – or rather felt – shocked him. “No way.” Bladewing retracted his hoof from the body. “I’m not touching my face, and yet when I put my hoof on his, I can feel it too. This HAS to be my body… which means I must be a spirit after all.” The mare couldn’t resist chuckling softly at Bladewing’s epiphany. “I’m glad you’ve accepted the reality of the situation, Bladewing. Do you still doubt that deities exist?” “No. Not anymore, at least. But let me ask you something. Are you really-” “*giggle* I am.” Bladewing looked away from the mare as he took in what she said. “Heh. A goddess. Never in all my life would I have imagined meeting an immortal being. Even in a dream.” “There’s a first time for everything.” “Fair enough. I have one last question to ask you before I completely leave this whole ordeal in your hooves. I hope you don’t mind.” “No, not at all. Feel free to ask.” “Okay.” Bladewing took a moment to relax himself before continuing onward. “I know you’re not interested in my abilities. As a goddess, you can do more than what a mortal like me can ever hope to achieve. Also, I’m sure a divine being like yourself won’t select just any mortal for an out-of-body experience like this one. I guess my question is… why did you bring me here?” Bladewing noticed a smile slowly engulf the mare’s face. “Tell me, Bladewing. Do you believe in destiny?” The goddess’s question stumped Bladewing. He took a short, but deep moment of thought before answering her question. “Hm… I can’t say I do. I’d prefer to believe I alone decide my future.” “Well, you may want to reconsider after I answer your question.” The mare’s horn suddenly glowed again, and before Bladewing could ask what she was doing, he was blinded yet again by a flash of white light. He rubbed his eyes to shake off the stun effect. Once his sight was restored, however, he temporarily shot a glare at his companion. “Can you please give me a warning before you do that?” Bladewing asked with frustration, “I know I can’t go blind as a spirit, but it’s still annoying.” “Sorry,” replied the goddess with an embarrassed grin, “I sometimes forget how powerful my magic is.” Bladewing just sighed and then looked around him. He was in a valley, one that like the battleground he fought in just earlier appeared untouched by man (or in his case, by beast.) He was in the shadow of a hill, and he pressed forward to climb it. Once he was at the top, he stopped, amazed by the beauty of the land lying before him. “Wow. Are we still in the physical world?” “We are,” replied the goddess, “But the times are different. This is Equestria in her infancy.” Bladewing looked at the mare with wonder. “Are you serious? Am I seeing prehistoric Equestria?” “*giggle* Yes. There are no civilizations, pony or otherwise, present in this time period.” “Fascinating. So what is it you wanted to show me?” The goddess said nothing. Bladewing watched as she instead looked on, lighting her horn with that familiar scarlet aura. “This is no ordinary world, Bladewing,” she spoke. Bladewing soon noticed the world around him changing constantly as she spoke. “The laws that govern our universe aren’t the only powers at work here. There is another force that permeates this land, a power so great that even I can’t fathom its true potential… and that power, is magic.” The land around Bladewing suddenly turned barren, and he watched with intrigue as it then changed gradually from its untamed state. “The magic I’m referring to is far more than the illusions concocted by master magicians. It’s a power that anyone of any age can use, whether they’re adept in it or not. Ponies in particular are especially capable of using it. Since her early days, Equestria had witnessed ponies using the power of magic in conjunction with innovation to create thriving civilizations, some of which live on even to this day and age. Whether it be forging friendship or creating a portal to another world, magic has many forms, and as the ponies advanced their understanding of magic, so too did their understanding of its importance grow. If you were to ask a pony today what life would be like without magic, you would never get a simple answer. But while magic is a power that’s crucial to understanding our world as we know it, it’s also a power that serves as a double-edged sword.” Bladewing watched as the land then changed to various scenes of ponies who based on their facial expressions Bladewing believed were villains. What disturbed him even more than their wicked faces was the scenes of war and chaos in which some of them were seen. “There are some in this world that view magic as more than just a tool. Just as a coin has two different sides, magic has both constructive and destructive capabilities. More often than not, the beings that choose to delve into the destructive power of magic become infatuated with how to exploit it. These beings are corrupted by the temptations of the material world into believing that power is all that matters in life. They would do anything to acquire this power, even if it means committing unspeakable evils. There had been plenty of times in Equestria’s history where ponies had paid such a price for this power, and each time they did, it brought about pain and suffering to all who came into contact with them. Their stories serve as a warning for those who dare to underestimate the capabilities of magic.” The land quickly changed to various post-war scenes, a sight to which Bladewing felt slightly better. They weren’t exactly pretty sights, but at least the worst of the situation in each scene was over. “In spite of the extremes to which magic had been taken, it’s a force that the ponies were able to keep in check for millennia. For every villain that came to power through magic, there was a hero or heroine from the same means there to stop them, and the ponies rebuilt from the ashes left behind by the chaos every time. However, there is a new evil on the rise that threatens to permanently plunge all of Equestria into darkness… and THAT is why I brought you here.” Bladewing shot a questioning look at the goddess. “Let me guess this straight,” he spoke, ruffling his feathers slightly, “You’re saying you brought me here… to tell me of a coming danger?” “Yes… and that you are the only one who can stop it.” After letting her words sink in, Bladewing felt overburdened. He followed through with the mare’s instructions expecting to end this ordeal quickly, and yet he felt it was only just beginning. “No… No, there must be some mistake.” Bladewing stepped a short distance backwards from the goddess. “Why am I the one to stop this evil?” The mare walked to his side once more before continuing. “It’s like I said earlier, Bladewing: I am she who watches all who breathe the breath of life. I’ve watched you since your birth. You may not think it, but I know everything about you… and I like what I see in you. You have a strong passion for justice, and you do not hesitate to risk your very life in its name. Committing to the greater good is a job you love, and though you suffer more than the very beings you protect, you are never weighed down by it. The weak and the helpless look up to you, and the ones who work with you are inspired by your presence. You rarely have time for love, but you treasure the few moments you find it like precious gems… and the one who shares them with you feels blessed to be with someone as noble as you.” Bladewing looked away from the mare for a short moment as he let her description of him sink into his mind. “Is… Is that really who I am?” “You can take it however you want, Bladewing. I know that you know this to be true deep in your heart. It shows greatly through your actions, whether you realize it or not.” “So then why can’t I remember being any of those things?” “I cannot answer that. That’s something you must discover for yourself.” Bladewing hated how inconvenient her answer was, but he knew it was as good an answer as she was willing to give. He wondered if there was another reason she wouldn’t tell him, but he didn’t have time to ponder over it now. He still had other questions he wanted answered from the mare. “All right. But there’s one thing that troubles me about this whole ordeal. You’re a goddess. Can’t you just defeat this evil yourself? You’re clearly more powerful than I.” “Not entirely, Bladewing. I may be a goddess, but I am still bound by rules… and one of those rules is that I am forbidden from directly altering the future.” “*sigh* Fine. I guess you’ll need a mortal for this job after all. I’ll need time to think about this, though. I’ll reconsider my thoughts on destiny, but I still believe that I have the final say on what my future will be. I will not be forced into carrying a burden I do not want.” “Very well. Consider your choice carefully, Bladewing. This evil will come whether you accept it or not… and your choice will determine the fate of your future. I will now return you to your body. Farewell… *chuckle* and may the Force be with you.” Bladewing was caught off guard by the latter of words, and he quickly shot a confused look at her. “Wait, wha-AHH!” Bladewing suddenly felt the ground beneath him give way, and he plunged into a dark abyss. “The hell is going on?!” Bladewing tried flapping his wings, but they didn’t respond to his commands. All he could do was fall deeper into the very abyss he escaped from earlier. “Goddess!” he called out to the mare, “What’s the meaning of this?!” Once he leveled he laid himself out flat, he looked to his sides for any sign of the mystical mare… and sure enough, he found her. She was falling freely with him as well, her wings just as tightly retracted as his. He watched her smile as she answered his final question. “Just as I said, Bladewing: I’m returning you to your body. I just forgot to mention that the place we were at earlier is very high up from the surface world. I’ll let you figure out just where exactly we were.” The mare giggled before slowly fading away from Bladewing’s sight. It was a sight that absolutely shocked Bladewing. He was in a free fall, with neither an end in sight nor anyone to comfort him. “Wait, wait! There’s still a few things I want to ask you! I don’t even know your name! Don’t you dare leave me without at least giving me that, goddess! Goddess?! GOODDEEEEEEEEEEEEESS!” Before long, Bladewing felt himself slip into unconsciousness once more. Everything around him was pitch-black once more, and he felt paralyzed, unable to even move his tail. Even his very mind felt numb to him, for he couldn’t tell whether what he heard next was real or what he would consider his conscience. Whichever the case was, the voice sounded ethereal. “Be at peace, brave warrior. You’ll know who I am soon enough. In fact, you’ll find all of the answers that you seek in due time. The choices you make will indeed shape your future. Make the right ones, and you’ll live a life beyond your wildest dreams.” The last of the voice’s words slowly faded away to silence. The paralysis that Bladewing felt ceased just two seconds afterwards, and the stallion immediately opened his eyes with breathing so frantic it was akin to a runner catching his breath. He could see the ceiling to his room, but he waited for his breathing to return to normal before actually analyzing the situation. He groaned from the fatigue that still gripped his body, but he still managed to sit himself upright. He took a careful look at his surroundings. Besides still lying in bed, Bladewing realized that he was back in his room. It was still nighttime, as moonlight shone ever so slightly through his windows. “Ugh, what a dream,” he murmured, rubbing his forehead, “My head is killing me.” Bladewing cringed as he thought more carefully of what he just said. Considering how intense the experience was, the stallion had hard time believing that it was just a dream. “It all felt so real. Like I really did have an out-of-body experience. It sounds crazy, but I think I got my first glimpse of Heaven… or at least a section of the afterlife.” It was here that an idea came to Bladewing. It seemed even crazier to him than seeing Heaven for the first time, but if it worked, it would prove to him that none of what he saw was a dream. “G-Goddess? Are you there?” Bladewing listened carefully for answer. The silence remained unbroken. “This isn’t funny, goddess,” he murmured with annoyance, “If you insist that what I saw in my dream was real, then prove to me that you’re real too. Speak to me.” The air in Bladewing’s room continued with its silence. “*grunt* Forget it.” Bladewing lied back down in his bead in frustration. “It must’ve been a dream after all.” Having come to this conclusion, Bladewing returned to his sleep. Even having saw what he saw, Bladewing still found it hard to believe that deities exist. Not when he tried calling one out after his encounter and got no response from her. Even so, there was one important detail from the dream that he did accept as fact: there was truth to some of the things that this mysterious mare told him.