It was several weeks before I could manage to move around when aided. It wasn't more than a couple of weeks after that when I obtained independent movement again. It was also around that time that we were given the word to remove the bandages. When the thick wad was being removed, as the last few now-crimson wrappings left my side I was shocked to see that it as if nothing had even happened. I'm sure that, had I not grown scales as I had, the whole of my side would have consisted of scar material.

It wasn't long after that, a few days to be exact, when Storm let me leave the house once again. The day came when I could not wait any longer and I proposed my idea to Storm. "Storm, I must go and see the Order."

"Aqua, I can't have you leaving for destinations like that yet. You have to be at full strength in case something happens."

"This Order has been my life; I must know what is happening."

"You have been my life, Aqua. I can just find out for you; you don't have to make the journey there yet."

"I also must take back my role as their leader."

"It cannot wait?"

"No. If Ajiin didn't come it means he is not with me. With him in there unchecked...I cannot risk another moment passing like this."

He sat momentarily, upset and trying to find a counterargument. He finally sighed and spoke again. "Fine. Just don't do anything dumb, alright?"

"I promise."

"Alright. Good luck." I nodded before packing supplies and heading out. Figuring I would arrive without problems I packed one sword only for defence against possible wildlife encounters along the way. It wasn’t much longer after I had got everything situated that I set my course for the Order and set out.

It took me a little longer than anticipated to arrive at the gates, mostly due to my slower pace. When I finally did, as I approached the main gates, I was hailed by one of the guards. His hail, however, caught me off guard. His tone was very aggressive and his mannerism curt. "We don't like your kind around here."

"What?"

"I suggest you run along now and forget this place, drake."

"What?" I was more than thoroughly confused, both by how he addressed me and the words he used.

"You heard me. Scram! And don't come back!"

"What are you talking about? I'm the Guildmaster!"

"Not anymore you're not."

"Then tell me: who is?" My comments had become a little sharper.

"Ajiin has begun his reign." At this point it sounded less like a benevolent faction and more of a prospective political power.

"His reign? Grant me access so that I may speak with him."

"Not going to happen."

"Why not?"

"We will not allow something so tainted and infused with evil desecrate these grounds."

"What are you talking about?" I already had an idea of what he was referring to but I needed confirmation.

"We know of what you have done."

"Enlighten me, then, and tell me what I did."

"You broke Protectorate vows and slaughtered innocent ponies." There we go; I knew I should not have trusted Ajiin. Still, his betrayal stung deeply.

"I must speak with Ajiin. There has been a misunderstanding."

"Not going to happen. There was no misunderstanding. Ajiin relayed your words very clearly."

"You have been lied to and now you refuse to hear what actually happened?"

"We know well enough already, as well that we are to not trust your forked tongue. Leave now or we will open fire." I was about to say something but figured it best not to. Seeing the uselessness of this argument I gave up. I turned and left, feeling utterly betrayed and abandoned.

When I arrived back home, the entire journey occurring in bitter, rage filled silence, Storm could see that something was wrong. I could only assume he was trying to ease out an answer, one I would have given at this point regardless. "Everything alright dear?"

"No."

"Did something happen over there?"

"I'd venture to say so."

"Would you be willing to tell me what it was?"

"I was usurped in my absence by a filthy tide of lying tongues."

"What do you mean?" He was now more concerned than curious.

"There's only one other pony here who would have known about these things from the past."

"I'm assuming that it's-"

"Ajiin. No doubt he's spun a fanciful tale out of the whole story."

"Let's not jump to any conclusions yet. There might be something we don't know yet. We still need to figure it out."

"I suppose you're right, but everything just points to him."

"I know. Perhaps when you're a little more rested we can investigate."

"Speaking of which..."

"Yes?"

"When am I clear to transform again? You said, if I'm not mistaken, that I was not at full strength yet?"

"More or less. It won't be for a while."

"How long?"

"By now I'd say about...half a year, according to Galaxia, if I've got it right."

"Half a year?" It was a crushing reality, but reality it was nonetheless.

"Yes, but I don't think you'll be needing it anytime soon, the situation with the Order considered..." The comment stung heavily, more because of the cruel reality of the situation than any ill intent on Storm's part. "...perhaps simply resting would be best."

I nodded in a defeated manner. I then headed upstairs to comply with Storm's request. It would be hard, though, to keep my mind off of the matter.

I never quite managed to, though, causing a couple more anxious weeks to pass by agonisingly. Finally the day arrived when I could wait not longer. One day, when Storm wasn't paying full attention to me, I went to where I stashed my armour. I began equipping the mithril plates the best I could. At one point I looked over to find Storm standing beside me, staring. I paused my preparations momentarily, staring back in fear that he might force me to wait longer. He spoke a moment later. "Couldn't wait any longer, huh?"

"No. I need to get to the bottom of this and I need to do so quickly."

"I'm coming with you."

"Whether or not you-. Wait, what?"

"I'm coming with you." At a loss for words I simply nodded. I couldn't believe that he was letting me go to the Order again, albeit on his conditions. I had been expecting some kind of resistance. What I got instead was a companion. He turned and headed up for his own armour. Content with his support, and glad somepony was helping me, I finished my own preparations before checking on Storm. When we were both ready we headed out.

The journey along that selfsame trail was taken in determination and utter silence. Our arrival took less time than normal accordingly. As we approached the gates we were addressed, again in a gruff manner. "Who goes there?"

"You know very well who I am. Open these gates so that I may talk with Ajiin."

"Not going to happen, drake. We warned you already." It fell momentarily silent; I'm sure Storm was confused by the statement. "The other pony with you, who is he?"

Storm spoke first before I could respond. "I go by Storm, the name of which, no doubt, you have heard before. I seek an audience with the Guildmaster here. There is some urgent business that I must conduct with his counsel."

The guards looked at each other before nodding. "Your audience is granted but on two conditions. The first: the murderous wretch standing beside you stays outside these walls. The second: you must surrender your weapons and armour before entering the gates. Do I make myself clear?"

I looked at Storm, almost silently begging him to not disarm. Looking back at me he nodded. "I must do what I can to fix this for you. I can tell when something is eating at you and this certainly is doing just that. Don't worry, I’ll get this sorted out."

"No, you cannot risk going in there alone." I looked over at the gates, almost not wanting to look at Storm.

"Hey, look at me. It's my turn to take the risk this time. You've done so more than enough recently." He was right. It seemed like anymore my life consisted of putting it all on the line and hoping somepony would fix it. Realising this I nodded. Still, though, I wanted more than anything to go in with him. With my approval now Storm turned again towards the guards. "I accept your conditions."

He trotted forwards, standing before the very gates I had forged so long ago. He began removing his armaments, as directed. Once he was unarmed and unarmored the gates opened, allowing him entrance. They closed behind him once he had entered, leaving me alone out here to wait.

It had been about an hour before the guards decided to try and provoke some kind of reaction from me. It worked, but perhaps not in the way they were expecting. "So, drake, murder anypony recently?"

I ignored the comment, which they threw a few more times. When they saw that I would not respond they flung a rock, narrowly missing. It was then I turned my attention to them. "You weren't even close! What happened to all that training you had when I was Guildmaster? Has Ajiin forsaken it?"

"Missing with a rock is better than slaughtering innocent ponies." However they tried to connect the two I had yet to figure out.

"Let's get one thing straight here, fool. They were in no wise innocent. Blood had long since stained their hooves."

"That's not what Ajiin told us, liar."

"Did he also tell you about the fact that these individuals murdered families and entire colonies just to trade lives like livestock?"

"He told us they were innocent."

"Did he also tell you about a city's worth of ponies that I saved without shedding a single drop of blood? Did he tell you of how I had to carry the entire group of refugees up the side of Canterlot Mountain? Or that I had to carry eighteen potential Protectorates and their gear through the treacherous mountain pass? Did he tell you of the large group of gryphons I personally led through a wasteland of creatures more fearsome than you can possibly imagine?"

"What were you doing saving gryphons? They hate us! That's betraying the state and worthy of capital punishment."

"If you didn't have such a blind, terrible memory you would recall that we, as an organisation, protect ANY creature that needs our help, not just ponies." They looked at each other in a manner both confused and concerned. "He also didn't bother to tell you of the many times I had saved this Order, did he? How many times I thwarted some form of evil or another from destroying the very organisation that now rejects me on grounds unproven, did he not tell you?"

"The only evil here is you." Their response seemed almost shaky, as if they weren't sure anymore.

"Did Ajiin mention how many times I had saved Equestria itself from destruction? Even now I have been doing such from a creature you cannot even fathom. He just kind of left out the details on how many ponies I had rescued and how many vows I had upheld, didn't he? He left out the details of the old Guildmaster, Erazul, and MoonDusk, am I right?" They fell silent. "You’ve missed a lot of history and Ajiin is intentionally misleading you with what you don’t know to get you to believe what he spins out of whole cloth. Think on that. Maybe ask him. Then again, he'd probably just fling lies again."

With that I was left in silence for a long period more before the gates opened again. When I looked I saw Storm trotting out. As happy as I was to see him returning I quickly became rather curious as another shape was trotting out with him. Curiosity became concern when almost a dozen bulky shapes rounded the gatehouse towers. I began trotting closer, hoping to figure out what was happening. I managed to make it into talking distance in time to hear phrases that filled me with apprehension. What added to my fear was a row of pikes half at the ready. When the next sentence was spoken I noted that it was a guard speaking it. "...and for that little demonstration we'll be needing payment. That armour you had looks nice, in good repair. Should work as payment."

Storm was, of course, upset. "No, you will not touch that."

With Storm standing in defiance it drug a response from the guards. I was within several body lengths by the time one of the guards jabbed him very roughly with the butt end of his pike. I instantaneously broke into a full-fledged gallop, charging in fury. "Pitiful wretch! Nopony does that to Storm!"

I saw the lances draw to the ready, a wall of sharp iron facing me. I simply ran through it, the iron heads of the pikes unable to so much as even scratch the mithril plating that covered my body. As roughly as I possibly could I slammed directly into the one that jabbed Storm. He stumbled, falling into a roll several feet away. I recovered quickly, drawing a sword while I was in the midst of the other guards. They faltered, stepping back a little, when they recognised who I was. "You ungrateful little whores! After all I had done for you and this Order this is how you repay us? With treachery and abuse?"

I saw one or two motion at Storm, a pike or two turning. "Don't you even dare think about it. I vowed to protect Storm at all costs and I fully intend to do just that. It does not matter to me whose blood I spill or how much of it is spilt."

I was playing on the lies Ajiin had told and it worked. These, the large and durable Sanctuary Guards, quickly manoeuvred to the gate before closing it and fleeing. Storm returned to his armour, putting it on as the dumbfounded guards on the wall simply watched. I looked to see who the other pony was, rejoicing to find it was Cam. She was beaten, bruised and bloodied. Figuring it better that we left before the guards came to their senses I spoke. "Let's go. We'll discuss what happened later when we're safe again."

Cam protested. "But Lance is still in there!"

"Knowing how much he liked me, paired with Ajiin's tales, it's safe to assume he fits right in with the rest of them." I saw Cam's eyes drop. She knew it was true but she didn't want to admit it. We turned and trotted away from what used to be sanctuary but what had now converted into the breeding ground for malice against me and those with me. I shook my head in frustration, letting out a sigh, before taking lead of our journey.

When we arrived back home I began tending to Cam's wounds, some of which had suffered so much neglect they had festered in infection. My magic was still not the strongest, barely a fraction of what it once was, but it was enough to remove the infestations and cure a few minor wounds. Out of curiosity, while binding those wounds I couldn't heal magically, I began asking Cam some questions. "So what caused this whole mess?"

"Well, Ajiin took over, saying your time was over and then started telling all these nasty stories about what you did." No surprise there. "It took only a few minutes for him to tell the worst stories imaginable about what you had done. Then he sent out a decree that if any of us saw you that we should tell him so he could either kill you personally or send the whole guild to do so."

"He sent out a death verdict?"

"Yeah." That statement concerned me more than anything. He had so far warped the order while I was absent that he was missing the whole point behind why it existed.

"That isn’t correct in any sense of the word. That goes against the very base principles of the Order. "

"Yeah. He was pretty serious about it too." After a quick glance at Storm I looked at her again, so she continued. "So I started telling everypony about all the cool stuff you did, the ponies you saved and all that stuff. Some of them believed me. We all got beat up and thrown into the prison."

"There's a prison?"

"Yeah. A big one too, underground." I looked up at Storm who looked down at me with disbelief and apprehension to match mine I'm sure.

"I never built a prison when I was the Guildmaster, and I had the few holding cells repurposed and renovated. Even the corrupt Guildmaster, working in line with Erazul and MoonDusk, had only a couple of small holding cells."

"So what did you do with ponies like me?"

"Better stated: ponies like Ajiin. There were none. Everypony was honest in my time. Before my leadership only a broken vow was punishable, and with public execution."

"Oh..."

"Hardly ever happened. Wait, didn't you say that others believed you?"

"Yeah."

"What happened to them? You were the only one that left?"

"We were all tortured so that we'd forget the good things about you." Fury indescribable filled my frame when I heard this. The changes that Ajiin had made were absolutely unacceptable, not by the Order's standards and not by moral standards either. "They said it was like purging us of your lies, or something. But I didn't forget. I could never forget."

"Then how did you escape?"

Storm answered. "When the guards weren't looking I snuck off and freed her. When they caught us it very quickly became apparent to them that they would lose. Not wanting to cause more problems I struck a bargain that they couldn't resist. If they let us go they would remain alive. If not..."

"So you threatened Protectorates?" That came out with a little more accusation in my tone than desired.

"I had to. There was no other-"

"I would have done the exact same, Storm, don't worry. I mean, honestly, I did that at the gate, right? Besides, those within the walls currently blaspheme the very meaning of Protectorate and can hardly be called such." The room was silent for a moment while I finished dressing Cam's wounds. When I arose Storm asked the next question.

"So now what?"

I sat and thought momentarily. "Secure the house. We need to make sure that absolutely nopony can get in without our approval. Perhaps even obtaining a secondary safe house would be best. It's possible that Ajiin will launch an assault now that he knows we aren't playing around."

"Why would he attack you now? He already has what he wanted." Cam's tone was one of innocent curiosity.

"If Ajiin was willing to lie to get this far he'll have no shame in using any means possible to wrap up the loose ends. If he rids the world of the three of us nopony will witness against him or cause any kind of rebellion."

Storm spoke next. "So say we secure a secondary safe house. Then what?"

"We wait."

"For how long?"

"Six months."

"Until you can transform again."

"Exactly. Ajiin will have a lot harder of a time taking us out if I have access to a bigger arsenal. We can also get better armour for Cam. Three immensely prepared experts are far better than anything Ajiin has at his disposal. Not even an army would be able to defeat us." Both Storm and Cam nodded. "You'll need it before too long anyways."

"Aqua," Storm's face was serious, his tone somber, "I need to tell you something."

"Tell it. I'm listening."

"I got an audience with Ajiin, surprisingly."

"What did he say? I must know what I'm dealing with."

"He told me he was the new, permanent, Guildmaster, so I asked him what would happen if you returned one day to take back your rightful place."

"And?"

"I quote: 'if she shows her hideous face, if she lays one blood-soaked hoof near this Sanctuary then I shall hunt her down and rid this physical plane of her existence. She's far too dangerous for the poor souls of this world to simply be left alone to run amok.'"

"I knew it..."

"That's not all. He also said something about 'getting help from a source near and dear, one beyond my own.' or something. I don't know what he was trying to say with that."

"I don't either. All I know is that the sooner we have an impenetrable refuge the better." Storm and Cam agreed, albeit a touch solemnly. From thence we went to work.

We managed to acquire a small plot of land elsewhere in town. Using my influence as the previously well-known and successful Protectorate I had been it wasn't hard to find craftsponies I had helped before. With around a dozen workers 'paying back for what the Order did for them' and the three of us it took a little under two months to construct a new house and move in. We only took our valuable possessions, such as weapons and armour. We fully secured the new house using a mix of technology and magic. It took a few days to finalise preparations. Once done, though, I knew that there was no way Ajiin or anypony else could break an entry into our home. Satisfied now with our work we settled down for a while.

Nothing had occurred between the time we finished the fortifications and the end of my recuperation period aside from two things: Cam's armour, as well as mine, had been completed. Cam’s set was a full suit of draconic scale mail, at her request to 'honour me', made of steel that we heavily fortified magically. We called the material Darksteel, due to the darkened tint, almost a dark grey-blue, that the metal adopted when we forged it. It was far more durable than steel, although not quite as durable as mithril. Cam tried the armour on and almost instantly approved of it. My armour was a simple remake of what it had already been before. With all things having now been prepared I sat down with Storm and Cam to brainstorm what our next step was going to be. "Ok, here's where we are right now: we have armour, we have weapons and we have supplies. We can either sit in here and hope this somehow blows over, either with his death or some kind of resolution, or we can go and do something about it. Now, I've been thinking about it, trying to figure it out. What if we take this to Ajiin? Confront him directly?"

"No." Storm's answer was firm. "Not only would we have to fight him, Lance and the Sanctuary Guard but also all of the Protectorates he has brainwashed or convinced through torture. They all already believe that you're evil. Let's not shed more blood than is necessary or make their belief concrete. We also don't want to deal with the repercussions, including civil war and the ultimate dissolve of the Order of Protectorates as we know it."

"True, so then what do we do?"

"Stay here?" That was an almost predictable suggestion from Cam.

"No. I cannot sit idly while Ajiin is out there slandering my name to every last creature that breathes. It's only a matter of time before he spreads the lies beyond the walls of the Sanctuary, including to the citizens of Ponyville and even the princesses themselves. That would cause a very dire situation for us, ultimately leading to our expulsion from this land."

"Perhaps, then, an ambush? Lure him out?" Storm and I both looked at Cam astonished. Her idea was a sudden stroke of genius.

"Brilliant, but now arises a better question: how are we going to go about doing that?"

"Sneaking up on the master of stealth is not the easiest thing in the world. Aqua, Cam, do either one of you have ideas?" We sat and thought momentarily.

"He's after me specifically, no doubt about that one. Judging by his quote that you related earlier from when we first went I'd say he's so bent on it that he's not going to be completely aware of his surroundings. Is he going to be oblivious? No, but he will be a little unaware. He'll be so intent on watching and stalking me that he might not notice you two if you manage to do it right."

"Are you certain that it would work?" Storm was cautious, that's for sure. I can't blame him; everything was on the line here. One mess up and it would end in catastrophe.

"Do we have any other options?" It fell silent in the room. "It will work. It has to, because we don't have any other options."

Cam spoke. "So how do we lure him out?"

"I don't think we have to. If he knows I'm alive he'll be looking. I could probably adopt a fixed route of movement, a repetitive and daily pattern. When Ajiin finds me he will probably quietly observe me first before doing anything. That means I have to be aware at all times. I will return immediately back here if I sense I am in any kind of danger. When he figures out my pattern he'll figure out the best ambush location. I can then place you two as a counter. It should work."

"Are you certain?" Storm seemed a little skeptical.

"Yes. He seemed a little uncomfortable with this plan but decided it to be the best course of action.

"Just be careful, alright?"

"I plan on it. It's my life on the line." They both nodded solemnly. "Then let's start this, shall we?"

Again they nodded. With that I arose, making sure my armour was securely in place upon me before heading out. The two of them double checked everything before I left as well. I knew they were worried, and for good reason too. I was worried, myself, at this point. Ajiin is not the kind of pony that one can play these kinds of games with. He knows all about this sort of thing. Yet here we were, hoping that his reckless drive was enough to cause a slip up. As I set out I made sure to note each of my movements, mentally mapping my daily trot. I kept track of where I was at all times so the pattern could be easily repeated time and time again. The hunt had now begun.

When I returned home that evening I marked a map to indicate the route I had taken before settling down for the night. The next day was again filled with this slow, near-aimless trotting, as was the entirety of the week. It had been no more than a little after the first week of trotting the same path at the same time, at the pace of a slow canter, when I picked up the first sound that was out of the ordinary. I was trotting through the Everfree Forest when I heard a twig snap a moment after the faintest rustling whispered out from the underbrush. I froze and immediately examined my surroundings. After finding nopony and no creatures nearby I turned around in my path and broke into a full gallop, taking no chances. I soon arrived home and was let in. Storm was the first of all of us to speak. "What happened? You came back early."

"I think Ajiin has a lock on me now."

"What makes you say that?"

"While trotting I heard rustling and the snapping of a twig underhoof. When I looked at the source there was nothing there."

"So what now?"

"We now know where Ajiin will set up his ambush. Do you still have the map for my route?"

"Of course."

"Bring it out. Now we plan our counter-ambush." Storm went and retrieved the makeshift map. I pointed to the approximate area where I had been. "It was around here that I heard the sound. He will be waiting near there. He’ll be using the forest for cover, both from the townsfolk as well as the rest of us."

I then shifted my point to further up the route. "Up here is a clearing. It's not very large but it would still give us the advantage."

Pointing to two distinct locations I signalled their attentions. "Wait in one of these two. If Ajiin wants to use the clearing he'd wait here or have Lance do so, or however many others he tries to bring."

"Alright. Cam and I will rest up now and sneak our way over there, avoiding your path completely so he doesn't know. We'll head out in the shadow of night. Just make sure you make it to the clearing tomorrow."

"Absolutely. Tomorrow is when we face him. Are we ready?" They nodded. "Good. Rest up now. I'll keep watch."

Several hours passed before they came back down. It was now the dead of night, the perfect time for them to head out. I was now left alone in the house, aware of my surroundings like I had never been before. I waited in painful silence and suspense for morning to arrive.

When the time came I headed out, just like normal. It was difficult to maintain the same slow canter while my heart was already racing. Sure enough I made it into the forest and, not terribly far from where I had predicted, was confronted. I heard, not Ajiin, but Lance speak from a distance behind me; he called my name. In response I simply glanced back at him momentarily before breaking into a gallop capable of being chased. Lance responded in kind, trying to keep up. "Hey! Come back! I desire to speak with you!"

Faintly over all the thudding of my own heavy armour and the clunking of Lance's plate armour I could hear another in motion. The rustling underbrush gave away the fact that Lance was accompanied, most likely by Ajiin. Thinking on this I picked up my pace, hoping to cause Ajiin to break much further than his slower accomplice. I also hoped to absolutely remain in front of the both of them. I did so until I had arrived at the predetermined location. I anchored one of my front legs in order to wheel around, coming to a skidding halt a little offset from the middle of the clearing. I drew a blade and watched Lance come sliding in, his own sword out. He barely managed to stop just outside of my reach. I went to pounce, to strike at him before any others came, until I saw Ajiin bust out of the forest to begin circling like a hungry predator. "Well, will you look at that? The 'Sanguine Dragon' decided to come out and play. Must have been a hard choice to make."

There was a heavy tone of mockery in place of Ajiin's normal, joyous one. Hoping to show bravado to dissuade their decision I spoke. "Two against one. It would be in your favour if I wasn't larger than either of you and stronger than the two of you combined tenfold. Perhaps if your puny little weapons weren't as easily thwarted by my own weaponry and this bulwark I carry you'd stand a chance, even if it was minimal."

"Oh, that doesn't matter to us." Ajiin's ear twitched, as if he heard something that I did not. "Well, for the most part. Your friends can come out of hiding now. I know they're there."

Both to tell Storm and Cam to not come out, as well as to try and persuade Lance and Ajiin that I was alone, I shook my head. "There's nopony else here but us."

"Don't lie to us, filthy cur!" Lance had become surprisingly bold. "You'd never survive alone."

"Really? So I didn't survive rescuing you?" I could see his physical reaction to a statement so effective at eating at him. "Oh, had you forgotten about that? I'm sorry; did I bring up the fact that you're not being flogged by ruthless savages at the current moment?"

"Hey! You shut your mouth!" I was now very much under his skin. I just needed to provoke an attack.

"Lance, calm yourself."

"Oh no, Ajiin, it's fine. He would learn well from the barbarians. You could even ask Battlescar the Blue how well that lifestyle treats him, especially when I easily beat him and took his spot in the Order. Maybe if I let Cam see this-"

"You leave her out of this. She's far better off without you, just like the rest of us are."

"That's why it's because of me you're standing here telling me I'm worthless. Either way, Cam would just die to see what you became in the end." He was on the verge now; it was clear to see.

"Lance, drop it! Keep your head clear. Think!"

"But then again, you know, if all was as you believed it is I probably would have flayed her already. How enjoyable it would be to watch her squirm in agony, no?" That threw him over the edge. In a bout of berserk rage he charged in. As great as it would have been to have destroyed his sword, or armour, in that moment I decided a better course of action. I sheathed my blade and readied myself. As he swung his sword I quickly threw a hook from the hilt side, catching him square in the helmet. The blow was not gentle in any sense of the term; he and his sword tumbled over again to the periphery of the clearing. The impact dazed him and dented his helm well. As he rose to his hooves again I spoke once more. "Just as bad as the first day in the Order. Was that not the same side I struck last time? Did you not learn anything from what I taught you?"

He picked up his sword and tried to charge again. I unsheathed my blade this time, ready to do what was needed. Perhaps it was because of this action that the following occurred. Faster than any of us could react Cam was standing between the two of us, blocking and holding him away from me. Surprise shot across his face before she shoved him back roughly. When he stumbled to a stop he dropped his sword to speak, which caused Cam to do likewise. "Sis? What are you doing?"

"What you don't want to, what you're too blind to do: upholding the Order and protecting the innocent."

"That...thing is pure evil. It is not innocent in the furthest stretch of the word. It's a heartless killing machine. Step out of the way and let me do my job." Cam shook her head, almost showing remorse, disgust or disbelief.

"I thought you were better than that."

"I will kill that beast no matter the odds."

"And the cost?"

"Whatever it takes."

"So you'll kill me, your sister, your own blood and the only family you have left?" He paused, unable to answer. I heard hoofsteps behind me, albeit very faintly. I wheeled around with my blade drawn, swinging it back towards the noise. Ajiin jumped away to the edge of the clearing once more. Lance swallowed before he spoke again, not wanting to give the answer he was about to.

"If you're not with me then you're against me." He picked up his sword; Cam mimicked his actions. From thence he charged, but Cam had him matched. Their combat took them out of the clearing and into the nearby woods out of our sight. I turned in time to see Ajiin leaping for me, a crimson blade in his mouth. I quickly swung my tail around, catching him in time with a hefty blow. The force caused him and the dagger to be knocked well away. In a kind of apprehensive fear, recognising the colour of the dagger as matching that of my armour, I quickly looked at my tail. My nightmare became reality when I saw a cut mark I had not ever received from any kind of other metal. He had a dagger composed of the exact same mineral as my armour. How he had acquired it I don't know but with it he could actually harm, maim or even kill me. As he recovered, more quickly than seemingly possible, Storm leaped from his post, looking to strike Ajiin. He narrowly got out of the swing in the nick of time, rolling away. I reared up and drew the other blade, filling the clearing with the electrical hum of the heated swords. Any movement to get around me that Ajiin made was followed closely with my rotation, assuring that he was always in front of me. He seemed to be buying time, pacing just out of reach of the two of us. Any time Storm tried to get at him he would roll away. As he kept circling I decided to try and pry at him a little, see if I couldn't but dissuade him from attacking me.

"Why are you doing this, Ajiin?"

"I'm just doing my job."

"What kind of job is this? We never go on the offensive."

"I'm getting rid of you before you can cause harm to anypony else." My front legs dropped down, now hanging at my sides and showing the complete disbelief I had for his comment.

"Wait, are you being serious right now, or-"

"Yes, I'm serious!"

"Really? That's your reasoning?"

"Yup. Sticking to it."

"Ajiin, that's not how the Order works. That’s not even remotely what we as Protectorates do."

"They protect ponies, like you said."

"As the need arises, not before."

"And the need has arisen to protect them by ending your long and malicious streaks of blood."

"It doesn't work that way, Ajiin. 'Pretection' is not a thing."

"But don't you see how effective it is? Taking out evil before it harms the good is what I am doing here."

"By doing that you're only harming the good. You're destroying things you perceive to be evil before you know whether or not they actually are or are not as malicious as you think."

"This isn't about you, Aqua."

"I never said it was. I don't matter in this picture. Whether I live or die is unimportant here. What matters is that I fix the fragmented idea you have, an idea that has clearly blinded you."

"No. It will make the world better."

"Better for what? Brigands? Monsters? Murderers? You'll be killing off those whose experiences would have shaped them to be magnificent fighters for good. You're killing potential, potential for good that would have been unmatched. You're throwing it all away."

"No! Can't you see? I'm going to fix this world one soul at a time."

"Start with yourself on that one, Ajiin. You're deluded and mislead, driven insane by a prospect that is far more than impossible for even a god."

"No, I can get it. I can achieve it. Just you watch."

"Give it up, Ajiin."

"No!" He lunged in, aggressively but not recklessly, to take a swing at me. When he saw Storm move in towards him he ducked back out before even coming close to me. "You're wrong! I'm going to achieve it and I'll prove that point through you!"

As there was no reasoning with him I remained in silence. Several pained moments of circling passed before we heard Cam scream something. Judging by the tone it sounded like she was in trouble. "Storm, go."

"Aqua, I can't leave you alone with him."

"Go. She needs you right now more than I do."

"Are you certain?"

"Absolutely. I'm more capable of holding my own against an opponent than she is right now."

"But-"

"Go!" With the harsh order he bolted off in the direction that the sound came from. As soon as Storm left the clearing Ajiin suddenly got more aggressive. He took a few lunging attempts to stab at me with the dagger but each time he was warded off by my blades like a beast with fire. He tried rolling to the side in order to flank me but I was quick enough to keep up with him. He continued ducking and rolling, pushing harder each time than the last. He was trying to speed up and one could tell it was working in the slightest degree. He began outpacing me, finally darting in to take a swing. I swung my blade in an arc back towards him, forcing him to roll away again. He was barely too far away to do anything more than scratch my armour. I swung my blade once more, causing him to roll. What he did not see this time was the tail coming in duly; the solid armoured mass must have hit like a boulder as I swung him in a half circle before flinging him into a nearby tree. He collided with a resounding thud, near paralysed from the impact. His dagger had popped from his grasp, now being just out of his reach. Taking advantage of the situation I sheathed my blades and bolted over. Just as he was trying to get back up I pinned him roughly back down to the ground. He spoke again. "You know, as Lance and I formulated this plan we wondered how oblivious you would have been to a few minor details."

I could tell he was reaching his hoof for the blade so I pressed down upon him. Other than tightening his breaths, straining against the force, he didn't react much. Duly, I activated the anchor clamps. They dug deep into his flesh, penetrating his hide armour easily, and he reacted accordingly. He let out a strained groan as his hoof grasped my leg. He then let it fall to the side once more, probably going for the dagger. "You know, Aqua, you're not the only inventor in the world."

Shortly thereafter I felt a sharp pain in my leg, accompanied by the sight of the dagger protruding therefrom. It was attached to his hoof with some curious device that gave it mechanical digits. As curious as it was to me it, nevertheless, did not matter to me very much. In response I picked him up and slammed him down against the ground several times, hearing at least a crack or two, before disconnecting the anchor, wrapping my tail about him and hurling him away through the woods. I started galloping over, dagger and parts of his curious machine still attached to my leg. As I was approaching he got up with a pained grunt and began to flee from before me. Every time I got close he rolled away from me, gasping in pain each time, far enough to dodge my swings. That was the case until he couldn't. He vaulted a dead tree trunk that had fallen along his flight course. I ploughed right through it, swinging my tail around through the storm of rotting wood chips to pelt him heavily. He tumbled and rolled until he came to a stop near a couple of small trees. He had taken a heavy beating, blood staining his armour and his face, and his fatigue was showing clearly. Just as I drew nigh to finish my task I was growing extensively tired. He rolled, better said flopped, away with a few grunts and moans before rising to his hooves and coughing up a large portion of blood. He barely stayed out of my range. With a laugh he spoke. "You might have the brawn but I have the brains. Using your own mineral, a shard from your old suit of armour that you carelessly left in the Badlands, to pierce your bulwark was genius, not to mention the poison coating I placed upon it. Tell me how it feels to lose in your own profession, eh?"

I collapsed, unable to remain standing any longer. The last thing I remember was hearing his laughter as he came over and began toying with my armour.

I awoke next in a dark room. It was difficult to make anything out aside from a small white light shining faintly a decent distance before me. As I sat in the near pitch black darkness I heard Ajiin speak. "Are you awake yet?"

I made no sound, no motion and hoped he'd just leave. In response I saw a torch lit and Ajiin bearing it, though the bearer looked to be in very poor condition; he had blood-soaked bandages over a large portion of his body, with the bruises from the impacts barely visible around the edges of the cloth. His movement was limped, though it didn’t stop him. He came trotting directly towards where I was. Once I was within the torch light he spoke again. "Ah, you liar. Playing games again, are we?"

I went to wheel around to nail him with my tail only to find my motion highly restricted by shackles connect tightly to my sapphire-blue scaled legs. I could move no more than a few inches in this situation. "Ah-ah-ah, careful now. We don't want you setting off the mechanism."

I was entirely confused and, as such, cocked an eyebrow. He chuckled and trotted away, heading towards the edge of the dungeon. He lit a nearby torch before making a full circle around the room to light the rest. Afterwards he set the last one in its holder and trotted back over, having lit all sixteen of them. The torches barely lit the room enough for me to see the details of everything therein. "Now, do you see that little pedestal over there? Can you make out what's on it?"

I looked over to where he pointed. Indeed there was a little stand in the exact middle of the chamber. It was a simple, square half pillar with a gap in the middle. On the bottom of the gap was my pearl. Hanging above it was a dark, almost black dagger with a very ornate gold pattern on it. The dagger was hauntingly familiar to me. I realised within a few moments that I had seen it before, that I had been near me before, but it felt hazy, as if it had been in a dream and no more. "Isn't that just an absolutely beautiful sight?"

"What's with the dagger?"

"Ah, a very astute observation. Well done." He put a hoof around me in mocking congratulations. I tried to shake him off but my limited movement didn't help me much more than yanking on the chains a few times. "Careful now. I'll explain why later."

"Explain it. Now."

"Patience, now, I'm still explaining your first question. Geez." He trotted over towards the pedestal and, accordingly, the dagger. When he got there he pointed at it. "You see this? This is a very special item I got from a dear friend of mine. It's got a name, you know. It goes by 'The Dagger of Ending'. A bit of a nasty thing, if you ask me. Has the habit of making things it stabs or slashes kind of stop existing. It's, uh, rather unfortunate if you ask me. But no matter, I'm sure you'd know who my friend is. Let me go get her for you."

He turned and faced the pearl for a short while. Shortly thereafter Galaxia appeared in the room. I absolutely could not believe what I was seeing, nor what I was feeling right then. "Tada! Here she is. Look at that, it's like magic or something."

In bitter disbelief I cried out with anguished fury. "What have you done? Galaxia, what have you done?!"

"I did what I had to, Aqua. I've heard enough of what you had done during those years you were missing to know that you were different. You were too dangerous to leave alone to wander."

“Galaxia, what about Flametread? What are we to do in order to survive his cataclysm? What were you thinking?!” I turned to Ajiin now in mountainous rage too profound to even begin describing. "What lies did you tell her? What tales did you weave? What slander did you fling?!"

"No more than what you gave me."

"I gave you nothing but the anguished concerns of a dying soul!" Unable to contain myself anymore I strained heavily against the shackles that held me bound. In my anger I received more strength than would have been possible any other time. As such I began pulling the anchors out of the floor and warping the plates. Ajiin spoke rapidly, almost fearfully.

"I suggest you be careful there, for you were out for a while. If you pull too far you'll die." I paused momentarily, blood still boiling, to let him finish explaining. "You see, I worked quickly in the month you were out. I took the liberty of rigging together quite the system. You see how there are strings attached to the back of the anchors?"

I looked back towards the now warped metal squares. I couldn't see anything yet, so I moved back a little and changed my perspective. Sure enough there were threads attached to the underside of each square. "Those and others I'll explain later on are connected to the blade's mechanism. They were fortified magically, so they cannot break or wear with age. Each connects eventually to the mechanism that maintains the dagger aloft. If the strings pull too far the device triggers. If the device triggers the dagger falls upon the pearl, rending you from existence soul-first. I've seen how death has no effect upon you, so I needed to step up my game. That's where Galaxia comes into the picture."

He trotted over, putting his hoof around her. "My good friend here-"

She pushed his hoof off of her and moved away from him. "Do not touch me."

"My good friend here gave me this dagger after I told her the plan, which followed your stories."

"You mean the disgusting fables you spun out of whole cloth?"

"Call them what you want, Aqua, it doesn't change them. Now, I took the liberty of making a few adjustments since we planned." Galaxia shot a nervous glance over to Ajiin. "First of all: now the pearl is in a holder that is also connected to the strings so nopony else takes it when I'm not watching. Move it and either you or it will be cut from existence as the blade snaps down with lightning speed. Thankfully, before then, I convinced Galaxia to place a spell ward in this room, only allowing magic to be used if it is through your pearly directly. Thing is: only you and I know how to use it."

I shot Galaxia a narrowed, spiteful look. I still cannot gauge what she felt there. "Had you forgotten that I knew which book you and Tigerfire had used because I was the one that momentarily and illegally borrowed it for you from the Canterlot Royal Library? Anyways, there's one more part to it, but we'll touch on that when they find it. In the meantime, any questions?"

"Yeah. What exactly do you plan to do with me now? You've captured me. I'm at your mercy. Now what?"

"Nothing." I looked at him for a moment in disbelief and confusion.

"Nothing?"

"Yup."

"What do you mean 'nothing'?"

"Exactly what it means. I'm going to do nothing to you."

"No torture, no abuse, no murder, no deprivation, nothing?"

"Yup."

"Why?"

"Why not?"

"There are thousands of reasons why that's a dumb idea. Among them is simply using the dagger yourself to end me."

"Where's the fun in that?"

"Where's the fun in that? So what? I'm nothing more than a plaything chained down here in the depths of who knows where for who knows how long just to be your sadistic source of amusement?"

"Yeah."

Galaxia turned to him and spoke. "That is the most shallow, spineless thing you possibly could have done in a situation like this. You have Aqua, the most competent Protectorate in the history of its existence and the most dangerous pony on the face of the planet, completely at your mercy and you're only going to keep her down here by herself for however long you deem worthy?"

"Yup."

"I don't know which of the two of you is worse." With that she stormed out.

"Beautiful. Now, if everything went as it should have Storm and Cam are probably going to try and rescue you. Well, after a very long time, that is. I spent a good amount of time working through all of this. They're on the hunt for a shadow and a dungeon that might as well not exist. Finding it to begin with will be the hardest part. The secret passages I take here are only known to me. The labyrinths-"

"Labyrinths?"

"Yes."

"Labyrinths, as in not just one labyrinth but multiple?"

"Exactly. I, alone, have the maps for the labyrinths, nopony else. Even if your friends make it through them they probably won't be able to free you because of something special I put for them."

"What do you mean?" I was apprehensive of what was in store for Storm and Cam. At this point he turned and began leaving, almost skipping. "Ajiin, what do you mean by that?"

"I'll be seeing you later, Aqua!" He was, indeed, skipping at this point.

"Hey! Get back here and answer my questions you heartless monster!"

In a sing-song tone, and without skipping a beat, he called back. "Pot calling the kettle black!"

With that he was gone. I sat down hopelessly. With the cunning genius locked inside his head I knew there was no way I'd get anything done. He had probably thought out every last detail excruciatingly, perhaps since the time I told him of what I had done. Since that day, it seemed like he had slowly turned into a minor megalomaniac. Why else would he need to exercise this kind of dominion over me? I shook my head and sighed. This, I knew, was going to be a long wait.

As the long moments pressed on, I started looking around the chamber I was stuck in. It was all made of stone. Sixteen torches made a perfect circle around the edge of the circular platform. It seemed to be a couple-score yards wide. Extending out another dozen or so yard from the edge was a gulf. I don't know how deep it was or what was at the bottom to this day. The stone walls extended towards the ceiling, which was probably about a hundred yards high. There was an opening on the opposite side of the circle I was on. The pedestal sat between the entry and me. Other than that it cannot be described in further in detail. Neither can be described how long I was locked up. One has no sense of time while confined within a dungeon with no windows or other source of exterior light. I wish I could tell you how long it was between events so as to give a measurement to the eternities I was down there for. Sadly, I cannot, so I can only tell you the landmarking events.

The next contact I had was Ajiin. He came down with a small plate filled with a meagre amount of food. He placed it in front of me. I looked at the pitiful portion, then to him with an eyebrow cocked. There wasn't even enough food on the plate to feed a small colt, nonetheless a full sized pony such as myself. This had to be a joke. Upon seeing my reaction he spoke. "Is something the matter?"

"Are you trying to kill me?"

"If you didn't want food you had only need tell me." He went as if he was going to pick it up. I needed to react quickly.

"Of course I want food, Ajiin, but this isn't even enough for a filly. I'm a full grown horse, Ajiin; my body needs more than this."

"I'll keep that in mind for next time. I thought you'd be grateful." He stood and left. I cried out as he did but to no avail.

"How do you expect me to live like this?" It was no use. He was already gone. I was thoroughly convinced he was trying to kill me at this point. I needed to get out of here. I needed to be rescued, as I could do nothing to save myself; I was entirely helpless. I needed somepony, anypony, to come down that passageway. At least, I needed anypony except for Ajiin. I took what little opportunity there was and ate the pitiful plate of food. I then sat trying to brainstorm ideas on how to get out, on how I might go about this, even though everything seemed to stack against me.

After a painfully long amount of time Ajiin again came down the passageway with a plate of food. The problem was that there was even less food on it than before. The hunger had long since left me, leaving an overarching tired feeling hanging in the gap. Food was few and far between, it seemed. Ajiin set the plate down and looked at me momentarily before speaking in a condescending tone. "Aw, poor Aqua looks a little tired."

"I'm starving, Ajiin." The tone came out flatter than I could have even attempted otherwise.

"Eh, doesn't look like it." I looked back at myself momentarily. Indeed I had thinned, there was no disputing that. Perhaps it wasn't quite to the level he had anticipated.

"I can’t keep doing this."

"Sure you can. You're immortal. Wings, horn, dragon blood, all of it shows me that."

"Just because I had wings and a horn doesn't mean I automatically inherited the physical properties of an alicorn. Besides, I lost both, if you couldn't tell." That was spat very spitefully. "And dragons have to eat too."

"Not as often."

"But when they do it's mountains' worth of food more than this."

"I'm sure you can make it work. You always do." He turned and left. As he reached the doorway I cried out.

"I'm dying, Ajiin!"

He paused right at the mouth of the entrance, turning to look back at me. "Well, even if you are you'll just come back again. You always do."

With that he left. "Not by myself in a magically warded dungeon hidden in the depths of Equestria!"

Frustrated and defeated I ate the meagre portion before me and laid down. There seemed to be no convincing him. All I could do was wait.

The next voice I heard was not Ajiin's. It was familiar for sure. I decided to open my eyes to see who it was and sit up, which felt akin to trying to stand while buffeted by a large waterfall. Galaxia stood before me. Perhaps if I had more energy I would have cried out in rage. Instead I sat in spiteful silence staring at her. "Aqua, I must speak with you."

"Why? So you too can spread lies about me with that forked tongue you have?"

"My tongue is quite normal, thank you." She completely missed the expression. "I need to brainstorm with you ideas on how to get you out of here."

"Get me out of here? You sold me into here to begin with! What in the bloody stars do you mean ‘get you out of here’?!"

"I only partially got you stuck down here. All I contributed was the dagger and the magic ward."

"It's not like those are the two main and key contributors to my captivity down here in this hellhole."

"Granted."

"Besides, what made you suddenly care anyways?"

"I thought you had defeated Flametread, had killed him, but I was wrong."

"Seems like kind of a big deal. Perhaps you should have found that out personally before signing my life away to begin with?"

"Just help me think of things, anything, to get you out."

"Kill me."

"No."

"Well, I'm sure I'll come back anyways."

"Not so sure about that one."

"Then leave me here to die."

"Absolutely not."

"Well, there go my ideas. I was just your puppet anyways."

"Enough of your pessimism! I only directed and helped you when you were already trying to do the most good you possibly could have." I snorted out air, almost in denial or laughing once to mock. Rebuffed, she continued. "Ajiin said that only the magic from your pearl works. There has got to be something we can do with it."

"What, like duplicate it?" My comment was sarcastic but I could tell she thought on it momentarily.

"Exactly. Perfect. I like the way you think."

"Ok, but how? Only Ajiin and I know how to use its touchy nature. I'm chained here, unable to reach it, and Ajiin? Well, he...yeah, no."

"He mentioned a book."

"There was a black magic book I had him borrow, don't ask why, in the Canterlot Royal Library that contains information on items such as my pearl. Perhaps a thorough study would lead you to know how to use the pearl so you can replicate it properly."

"I will find that book and I will return."

"So aside from being your tool to save Equestria from a power that's too strong for you to fight why else did you suddenly decide to help? With the kind of stories Ajiin tells, with what he twisted from what I told him, there's no way anypony would suddenly just change their minds like that."

"I have my motives."

"Tell me, Galaxia."

"I do not feel at liberty to do so at this time." I stood and began straining against the shackles again. Letting my anger go I struggled furiously. At last the anchors creaked and shifted further. “Ok, ok, I'll tell you. You act like such a filly sometimes."

I collapsed back down, having spent my energy. "Storm. I went and talked to Storm about it. Cam spoke too. I interrogated a few others to see what they knew.”

“And you didn’t just get both sides of the story to begin with because…?”

“I don’t need that kind of input. Besides, more than not, the ponies of this land spoke highly of you. Those in the badlands said you weren't the same, bloodthirsty creature you were before.”

“A little late for the touchy-feely story of how you came to realise I’m not just some blood spilling monster.”

She rolled her eyes before continuing. “Duke said-"

"You asked Duke about me?"

"Yes. He said that he was not particularly fond of you but that you had killed nopony while he saw you. He did, also, say how he could see how you might do something similar."

"I'm surprised he spoke so gently."

"Yes, but I must go. I will return when all is ready."

"Galaxia?"

"Yes?"

"Do what you need to do quickly. I'm not sure how long I'll last like this, and there are absolutely no signs of any improvement."

"I'll do my best but even I have limits." She left. Her statement worried me a bit. Deciding to disregard it rather than waste what little energy I had in contemplation I went to rest once more. The stone floor certainly was not the most comfortable accommodation but I had to make it work.

As I had slept so much recently I couldn’t quite manage to fall asleep. Instead I sat aimlessly gazing out at the stone wall before me, or occasionally at the pearl and it’s dimly glowing aura. Ajiin's voice broke me from the kind of bored trance I was in. "Hm, Aqua, have you lost weight?"

I shot him a highly venomous, albeit tired, glance. It was true; my starvation had robbed me of a lot mass. At this point I was unsure whether or not I had the strength to leave even if somepony found me and freed me. "It's a good look for you."

"You're disgusting."

"I was just trying to cheer you up."

"You want to know how to cheer me up?" It was clear that my tone was one of frustrated spite.

"Ooh, how?" His was of deranged entertainment.

"Let me out of this cursed pit! Afterwards you are more than welcome to take my place here instead."

"Hm...No can do." He moved the tray of food, which I had hither to been oblivious to, closer. "You see, not even I can set you free. That's entirely up to Cam and Storm. I actually checked on them recently, by the way, which is why I hadn't come back in a few weeks. You see, they've only found a few of the many clues I left for them. I'm good at hiding things."

"And once they've managed to find your clues?"

"They get to traverse the labyrinths."

"Then what?"

"Then they push a button and you're free, I think."

"You think?"

"I've forgotten a few minor details. Nothing major."

"Yup. Nothing major. Not like I might get wiped from existence or anything along those lines."

"Nah, you're fine." I just shook my head in disgust. "So what's new with you?"

I didn't answer. I felt no need to communicate further. "Aw, is something the matter?"

Still no response. He sat for a while before getting up to leave. "You're no fun. Lighten up, sour puss."

I made no acknowledgement of his remark. He left shortly thereafter. Deciding it best I ate the food he had left for me before going to rest up once more on the stone floor.

It felt like a notably long time had passed in solitude before I was awakened next. Ajiin was nudging me. Again, his tone seemed more deranged than anything. "Hey, get up! They found it; they finally found the cave that leads to the labyrinths! We've got to be ready for when they finally make it down here. Sit up. Sit up!"

I didn't feel like moving. Existing hurt to begin with and moving was too much effort for me at this point. Eventually, after Ajiin's incessant pokes and repeated commands to arise, I sat up with a great effort. "Perfect! Now we wait."

We sat in silence for some time before Ajiin became impatient. "What's taking them so long?"

"Maybe it's the multiple labyrinths?"

"No, they're super easy."

"Because you have maps and designed them to begin with."

"Nah. They're probably making maps as it stands right now." I decided it best to not press the point. Speaking took energy I already didn't have. Accordingly, we spent the rest of the wait in silence.

It took a considerably long time before we saw torchlight enter a small enjoining chamber separated by glass. How I had missed it before I'm not sure. Storm, Cam and, surprisingly, Lance trotted in. It was clear to see that Lance was being held captive. When they were finally looking at us Ajiin spoke. "Well, well. Would you look at that? You finally showed up. Took you long enough."

"No fault of our own." Storm was predictably sharp.

"Well, it sure does seem the part. They weren't that well concealed. Plus you trotted by this place several dozen times. Seems you're not doing too well at helping her. Some husband you proved to be."

My anger kindled anew when he flung that insult. "Hey! Cant it, you pathetic runt!"

"The pathetic runt that pacified and captured the Sanguine Dragon because she was too animalistic and impaired to realize that I lured you perfectly into a trap according to plan." I could see Storm tense up, ready to pounce on Ajiin for his harsh words. He ultimately refrained from doing so.

"Just tell us what we need to do."

Ajiin turned back towards them. "Hmm?"

"We brought Lance. If you give us Aqua we will give you Lance in return. Do you accept?"

"Hmm..." He sat in idle thought momentarily, perhaps for no more than sadistic effect. "No."

"No?"

"Exactly. N-O. No."

"But the papers said-"

"Nope."

"We have your accomplice, your wingpony." Ajiin was shaking his head. "No? Why not?"

"Two things for you: one is that I can't actually free Aqua myself. Two: that's in your hooves. Before you is arrayed one-hundred twenty five buttons. Only one of them releases Aqua's shackles. The rest of them trigger the spring mechanism and, quicker than you can blink, this very special dagger will rend the pearl from existence. Aqua's soul will be no more. Her body would fall like a wet noodle. Heh, that'd be funny." I looked nervously at Storm who returned my feelings exactly. "Oh, and the third part is that I don't need you, Lance. I used you. You're actually worthless to me."

It was clear to see the devastation that had struck his face quickly turn to anger as the reality of the situation sunk in fully. "Thanks to your naive nature and blind vengeance you just imprisoned and doomed Equestria's finest protector in its entire history. Good job. That one's sitting on you."

"You lied to me?"

"Of course I lied to you! Did you actually think I was being honest?" Lance fell terribly silent. "The world is now safer thanks to my efforts. It feels good being the one-"

"Ajiin." I spoke this time.

"Ah, commentary from the peanut gallery?"

"Yes."

"Too bad. Keep silent."

"No."

He now turned fully to face me directly, my refusal offsetting him. "What did you say to me?"

"I will speak my mind."

"You will do no such thing."

I arose to a stand, albeit with extreme difficulty. "I...will not be still any longer."

"Try what you will. There's nothing you can do." He turned back to the others. As he spoke my anger would increase until I could contain it no more. "Before you touch any of those buttons ask yourself: will this permanently exterminate Aqua? If you think so-"

"Ajiin, I command you to be silent!" My tone was loud and harsh, filling the room. I'm not sure what caused it but it seemed as if Ajiin suddenly became afraid of my presence. Regardless, it had the effect I was looking for in the moment, as he ceased speaking. "Look at what you have done. Look at it! The Order has been torn apart-"

"No fault of my own."

"-because of your self-righteous, self-absorbed crusade of incompetence. I am on the brink of death-"

"Then how are you-?"

"Shut up!" My shout came in a manner brutish enough to get the needed effect. "Look at the pearl. Do you see how it glows so dimly? I'm dying, wasting away into nothing because of your poor management. You are literally murdering me. If the Order was run by somepony, even a gryphon, that was even remotely more competent than you, then you would have already been tried and killed according to not only Protectorate code but also Equestrian law for one of a few things: cruel and unusual punishment, assault, or attempted murder, which very well might shortly here after become an actual premeditated murder. What you have done here is not only illegal but, as well, irresponsible, unreasonable, selfish, a poor example of leadership and just downright idiotic. You let your emotions tear you to shreds. Because of that, the Order hangs by a thread. Had you gone any further you would have torn apart the nation and opened the door to our extinction, and I'm talking every stallion, mare and filly of any type that lives in this land or anywhere nearby.

"I don't think-"

"I don't care what you think! You will shut your whore mouth until I have finished! Do I make myself clear?!" He fell silent again. "There is a creature out there with an engendered hate larger than all the hate of the Protectorates you have brainwashed against me combined and multiplied several times through. It will stop at nothing until it has committed a genocide of billions of lives and has reclaimed this land. Even before now I wasn't sure whether or not I'd be able to stop it. Take me out of the picture and where does that leave our kind?"

He was silent; we all were. "Answer me! What would happen without me there to stop that dragon?"

He could not respond even if he wanted to. Perhaps my words had sunken in and taken root. It seemed like an eternity passed by, my frame quivering violently with the heavy effort I had given, until he simply turned and left without a word spoken. After he had finally left I half sat and half collapsed back down onto the floor. I looked over at Storm. Concern shown clearly in his eyes. What caught my attention next was the faint reflection of my body in the glass; I was a horridly thin creature, nearly every bone showing visibly despite the scales that lined my body, pathetically maltreated with the very guise of death hanging upon my face. The sight frightened me deeply and in a way I can’t begin to describe. My attention broke back to the three of them starting to look around the room they were in. After the most thorough search I have ever seen they looked at each other, then the buttons before finally turning to me. Storm spoke first. "Do you know which it is?"

"No."

"Any clues?"

"No."

"He must have hid something, anything, somewhere."

"The labyrinths." They all looked at me again, almost as if asking if there was another solution. "My only guess is within the labyrinths. Ajiin would hide something in them. A puzzle, an indicator as to which it is. Numbers, even. Something might be in there. Or he completely lost his mind and left nothing."

"At that point," Lance added quietly, "with the condition he's in, I mean, I wouldn't be surprised."

"Come on, you two, let's go back. We might even finish our maps." At Cam's request the three left again, heading back into the labyrinths. I was alone once more to wait. Rather than give in to sleep, I waited patiently, painfully awake.

It took what seemed to me an abnormally long amount of time until they returned. They looked both perplexed and frustrated. Eager for any news they might bring I spoke. "Did you find anything?"

"After scouring every square inch of that blasted maze, ceiling included, we found two numbers." Lance was clearly the most upset, even showing it in his tone. "The thing is: they were in the same maze, nearly equally far from both stairs. We can't even figure out how the two tie in or how we need to use them. Do we multiply? Add? Is one in the tens place and the other in the ones or are they both tens? I'm so lost..."

His head hung down low, leaving us to sit in silence momentarily. "I'm so sorry for all of this. I'm sorry for this nightmare I put you all through. It wasn't supposed to be like this. He told me we were simply going to send you somewhere else, like to the gryphons or the sphinxes or something...he deceived me."

"If it is any consolation," the voice coming from the stairs was Galaxia's, causing all of us to turn to see her trotting in, "he managed to fool me as well. I think my betrayal is worse than anything here."

"Did you get it?" I was hopeful again. "Did you learn how to do it?"

"No. The book was gone." Suddenly all light fled from me. "There was a vacant space in the shelf right where it should have been, and it was not in any other part of the library. I could only assume either Ajiin or somepony under him took it before this even started. I believe that it is probably in his possession as we speak."

Storm spoke as this soul crushing despair punched me in the heart. "So how do we get it back? That would be going into his territory looking for an object most of us wouldn't even recognise even if we saw it. This isn't even mentioning the fact that it’s been hidden somewhere, who knows where, by a master rogue, a pony whose job it was to do what we're trying to do right now."

"We need some kind of tracker." Cam, always filled with genius, threw the idea out there. It seemed to sink into Galaxia's mind, as she sat and thought on it momentarily.

"Hm...I could try some of my Void Hounds, see how they would fare in this task."

"Galaxia," she turned to me, "whatever you choose to do please do it quickly. I feel as if my life is drawing near to an end, as if my time is running out."

"I shall employ my best resources into this search. If the object is stationary it should be but days, maybe no more than one. If it is on the move, if somepony is fleeing with it, it will take longer based on their travelling speed and how big of a head start they have. I can make no promises." I nodded solemnly, almost apprehensively, before she turned and left. I looked over to the other three in their chamber. They sat in deep contemplation of what lie before them. After a very long while I addressed them.

"Hey." They turned their attention to me. "Don't worry. Galaxia should be able to track it down."

"We'll figure this out, Aqua. I'm not going to lose you yet again. Just wait there." They left, heading back into the labyrinths. I waited, as directed, because I had nothing else I could do.

I was awakened by Ajiin this time. "Hey. Hey! I need answers."

He helped me sit up. "To what?"

"Questions."

"Granted, but questions like what?"

"You said there was a power out there capable of making us extinct?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"What is it?"

"There was an ancient, dormant dragon that goes by the name of Flametread. He has a vindictive rage fuelled by events long in the past. His goal is our extinction, or in other words, the eradication of our race. He hopes to destroy every single last pony."

"How do you know all of this?"

"Because I was, guess I still am, his first target. I barely managed to defeat him when I was at full strength. In a wretched and pitiful state like this? Equestria might as well already be burning." Ajiin's usually playful, recently psychotic, expressions were utterly wasted into soberness. "The best part? He's probably just about recovered from our fight by now. Soon he will start his streak of destruction unhindered. Billions will be murdered in mass genocide while I sit here and rot. What's better? It will all be because of you."

"No. That's not true."

"You tricked Lance and Galaxia. You devised this plan. You imprisoned me. You orchestrated it all. This rests on you." One could almost see the weight of the situation fall upon him.

"I thought you were a monster. I thought you were going to kill us all like you did the others. I thought it best for you to disappear. I had no idea."

"So what now? You cannot free me. Storm, Cam and Lance cannot either, for they can't figure out the vague clues you put in the labyrinths. Galaxia can't for she does not have the book she needs to finish her part. I can't for obvious reasons; I sit here uselessly. All the while Flametread recovers further. Unless you can figure out a way to free me there's no hope for this race of creatures."

"There's one thing I can do."

"And what's that?" He looked over to the pearl. I knew in an instant what he was thinking. He was going to try and remove the pearl and risk eradication. "No. Out of the question."

"It's the surest way."

"Doesn't matter. You are not going to touch that pearl."

"I have to. We're all going to die anyways."

"You might be nimble but don't you dare risk it. Use something else, like a rope or something. Pull it out of there. Get a stick and push it out even if you so choose. I do not trust you enough to let you try by yourself."

"There's a chance it wouldn't work with another object.."

"There's also the chance of that if you try to get it out of there by yourself."

"I can do it."

"Even if you manage to, which would lead to your sure destruction, what would I do? I'm still chained up and far too weak at this point to try breaking free. If you're extinct I'll simply be stuck here until I die anyways."

"...I see. So then what?"

"Use a stick or a rope. Nopony will care if a stick is torn from existence or a rope permanently disappears."

"True, but what if I mess up?"

"My fate would be just the same as if you never tried." Ajiin nodded. He then turned and left. I sighed after he was gone. This had all turned into one oversized escapade, and only from a small set of lies. I sat back down and awaited the next pony to enter.

A short, relatively short, time later the trio reentered. I had a bit of hope to start but it was quickly dashed watching their hopeless canter. "Did you find anything?"

They all glumly shook their heads. It was easy to tell that the disappointment and grief of finding nothing from yet another search was hitting Storm the hardest. "That's alright-"

"No, it's not alright." Storm had had enough of it all. "Here we are banging our heads against the wall trying to figure out the deranged mind of a psychopath while on a very short time frame before all hope is lost. I can't lose you again, Aqua. I will not, under any circumstances, let you slip out of my hooves yet another time."

"Hey, it may look bleak right now but we must keep our heads high to see what is before us." That was a hypocritical statement, as I sat wallowing in crippling hopelessness, but I had to do whatever I could to try and keep him going. "Something will happen; it always does. Look at all the times I should have died, yet here I am. I don't know why, nor can I explain how, but despite fate's best efforts to kill me off there seems to be something that doesn't want me to pass yet. Why would this time be any different than the other hundreds?"

Storm's face was grim, almost darkened by the despair that gripped him so tightly at this time. "It will come one day."

"Yes, but today is not that day."

Cam spoke next. It almost seemed like she was on the brink of tears. "Is everything going to turn out alright?"

The honest questions hurt the most sometimes. As best as I could I smiled, albeit weakly, and responded in the most sincere manner I could muster. "Yes, my child. Don’t you worry yourself about it. I will return eventually."

"How are you so sure?" Lance spoke disdainfully. "How do you know?"

"I don't know and I can't explain it but this time I just feel like it will all turn out fine. Trust in my feeling. I'm trying to."

Storm, with his usual determination, asked the next question. "So then what do we do now?"

"Leave."

"Absolutely not."

"Storm, I mean it."

"I can't just leave you here like this. I can't just abandon you like this and leave you here to die!"

"There's nothing you can do, any of you, in this situation. You can either sit there in despair, moping over what this situation is until you make a rash action or you can leave and wait for me to come back."

"So then what are you supposed to do?"

"Your solution is not the only one I have working out right now. I have more in the works. They just have not come to fruition yet. As yours neared we saw that it could not have come to pass. So now we simply watch and wait."

"Wait for what?" Cam asked this question.

"Galaxia or Ajiin. One of the two has something working out right now. Unfortunately there is nothing else you three can do. Return home and await my arrival."

Lance, skeptical as usual, spoke up. "How do we know you'll arrive?"

"You don't. You'll just have to wait and see." Glumly, after a short period of silence, they began heading for their exit. "Oh, and Storm?"

He turned back to face me. "Don't do anything stupid, especially because of any bitterness you might feel towards Lance. Got that?"

"Yes."

"Good. Now, go." They turned again and headed out. Alone again I was in this pit of despair. I laid down, finally overcome by fatigued and starved drowsiness.

I was next being awakened by fervent shaking and a panicked voice. "Aqua! Aqua!"

I barely moved in some kind of effort to respond. The nudging ceased and the fear stricken voice calmed but there was still a sense of urgency about it all. "Aqua, get up! You have to get up!"

With a monumental amount of help I did manage to sit up once more. I was finally conscious enough at this point to recognise that it was Ajiin helping me. Noted also was the presence of Galaxia nearby. Once I had successfully become stable in my sitting position Galaxia spoke to Ajiin. "Good. She has not passed yet. Now, leave."

"Wait, what?" It was easy to hear in his tone that he had been caught off guard.

"You heard what I said. Leave immediately."

"But why?" He was distressed now.

"You have served your purpose in restitution. Leave now." Galaxia was frustrated if not angry.

"Galaxia, I must see her safely delivered!" She came marching up to him in full royal fury. "Please!"

"Absolutely not! You are to leave here at once!"

"No." I barely managed to speak. The effort to do so was unreal, almost impossible at first. My sudden response caused both of them to turn but Galaxia spoke first.

"What?"

"No." I was as firm as I could possibly be.

"What do you mean 'no'?"

"He stays."

"He's the one that got you stuck down here in the first place. He's the one that trapped you in this hole!"

"And?" Galaxia was silenced for a period of time. "Ajiin?"

"Yes?"

"Bring me food. I don't have the fortitude for what is about to come next. If you supply me with three meals, three actual, full meals, I think I should simply fall comatose for a short while instead of die outright." He nodded and quickly headed out. It was clear to see that Galaxia was still perturbed by something I had said. “You’re not fond of my decision. That’s very clear to see.”

"How can you still trust him?"

"Some effort is needed but it is doable."

"After all of this?"

"I've managed to forgive him and move on. What gives you any more right to hold a grudge?"

"He betrayed me and led me into this mess!"

"He betrayed me and led me into this mess as well, yet you're not the one in this mess that is shackled to a dead dungeon floor with their very soul and existence in peril. Galaxia, don't pick at this or it will fester, and we've both seen what that can do." She fell silent once more. Shortly thereafter Ajiin came bolting in, a large plate of food in his possession. "Thank you, Ajiin. This will help me greatly."

At this point if I wasn't eating, albeit painfully and with difficulty, the large plates that Ajiin would bring I was asleep to gain as much energy and strength as I could. Upon awakening the final time, once a little less groggy, I nodded to Galaxia. Shortly thereafter she began working on duplicating the pearl. After a long time, Ajiin watching by far the most intently, Galaxia finished. She held an exactly identical copy of the pearl. Both this copy and the original glowed dangerously dim. I almost couldn't believe it; she did it. She used the pearl's magic to make it replicate itself, something I hadn’t done in a very long time. I stood, barely, and nodded courteously at the two of them. Now my time had come. I began leaning, straining, against the shackles. At this point I was unsure of whether or not I could actually manage to do what needed to be done. I pushed even harder, shoving aside my thoughts and letting desperation fill my heart. When I was about to concede defeat I felt the anchors budge and heard the accompanying sounds of the bolts scraping out of the ground. Gaining enthusiasm as I heard this progress I pushed harder. I continued to move very slowly, snorting and grunting the whole time, until I heard either a snap or a click. I looked up and saw the dagger snap down onto the pearl, which seemed to instantaneously disappear. Immediately thereafter my body completely gave out and collapsed. As I fell the world turned black as pitch.

I awoke in my bed at home, groggy and disoriented beyond anything else I had ever felt before. I took note, at least, that Storm was nearby. Other than that, however, my surroundings were dull at best. Storm came over to the bed next. Leaning in he kissed my forehead and held himself there for a little while. He must have been crying, as I felt a few droplets land upon the crown of my head. He whispered in a hushed tone before pulling away. "Please stay. I can't keep doing this.

With that he sat back down where he had been before. Poor guy. I thought back on everything that had happened through the course of time since I had met him. No matter what the circumstances were he always seemed to end up receiving the worst part of the situation, almost entirely by my own fault. Time and time again it seemed like he would lose me forever more to the cold grasp of death, or occasionally worse. While all hope seemed lost, while he was stuck firmly in those agonising pits of despair, I would come back like some kind of phoenix, but it was never enough. He knew that it would happen again sometime later. He could never truly rejoice. I still have yet to figure out why he never left me, but this type of pessimism can be saved for another time. I must continue with the story. As my mind was engulfed in dark thoughts as such I ultimately succumbed to sleep once more, hoping to recover.

A long while passed while I was stuck like this in my poor physical state. Storm cared for me night and day. As I recall I never once saw him take a break, but perhaps Bane or Galaxia stepped in every now and then on his request as he dozed off. When I would sleep, and if he didn't decide to go and make something for me when I finally woke up, he watched over my pearl to assure himself that I was indeed alive and stable. He took good care of me while I was thus handicapped, but at the expense of himself. Half of the time he was worried sick, literally. The other half of the time he was preoccupied doing something to try and help me. As time progressed I eventually found more energy and was able to start using it. I would spend more time awake. I would also spend more time admonishing Storm to finally get some rest, which he did under one condition: he had to know I was still there beside him. I continued recovery, and it wasn't terribly long, until I could get up and move. It was with help at first but I quickly improved. As soon after that as I could I began training. To start I noted that my physical condition was both horrifyingly poor and detestably weak. Exercises to increase strength and endurance filled the entirety of my day. I put as much of my effort, both physical and mental, into recovering my former strength as possible from dawn until dusk. Unfortunately there just was not enough time. While training one day Galaxia interrupted me. As I slowed my efforts, and ultimately stopped, she drew near. "Aqua, there is no more time. My scouts just spotted Flametread in the southernmost boundaries of these lands. He has amassed an enormous army of dragons and has set his trajectory for Canterlot."

"Canterlot? But I thought-"

"That it had burned? No. I still cannot explain what happened in that chamber or why you saw that."

"But you said to Storm that-"

"I know. We were afraid that if you saw Canterlot whole and not razed that you would not be able to transform and stop Flametread the first time."

"Well enough. How much time do we have before he arrives this time?"

"In no more than a day he will arrive in the southern Badlands."

"Curses...there's just not enough time. Warn and prepare the others. We must head out immediately."

"But you do not have the strength sufficient for this fight. You have not fully recovered yet!"

"That's rather unfortunate."

"He will easily annihilate you."

"I have a plan."

"We can stall him while he is down there."

"For how long? A day? A week? Or perhaps months or a year? I don't know how long I’ll need."

"You can continue training until-"

"No. This cannot wait."

"It has to!"

"Galaxia, while I appreciate your concern for me we must still acknowledge that my life cannot come close to the value of all the lives in peril right now. If I go I'll probably die anyways regardless of whether or not I'm actually successful. If I wait I'll get to behold the soul crushing extinction of our entire species because I wasn't willing to fight. Flametread won't wait and neither can we."

"We will lose the best blood of Equestria."

"But which is more important? Keeping the best blood of Equestria or keeping the life blood of Equestria? If I go out there, stop Flametread and the two of us die everypony else will survive. Society would continue as normal, as if nothing had ever happened. But what if I stay in hiding, Flametread comes and everypony dies? What would happen then? I can't create a society alone. In fact, I can’t create a society at all. I’m barren, Galaxia. I can’t repopulate after a complete annihilation of our race. I would have failed in my duty, we would be extinct and Flametread will have won."

"Surely there is something-"

"No, Galaxia. I must go. There is no other way." She looked utterly downtrodden, an emotion I had never seen before on her face. "Gather the forces that you will need to fight his army of dragons. Just because I have to do this doesn't mean I have to do it alone. I need your help."

Galaxia nodded solemnly and warped away, most likely to rally her underlings for the fight. When I turned around I saw Cam standing a short ways behind me. She was staring up at me, sorrow clearly showing on her face. We sat in painful silence for a moment before she came over and hugged me, half collapsing with a few silent cries. I, myself, sat down and returned the hug in an attempt to console the sobbing pony. After a few moments more of comforting her, she pulled her head away to look up at me with tear filled eyes. She then buried her head into my scaled body once again and, with a whisper barely audible, plead quietly. "Please don't leave us, Aqua."

She knew exactly what was about to come and the prospect was breaking her heart. Seeing her like this both tore my heart asunder with grief and, at the same time, warmed my soul with gratitude. I did not want, any more than anypony else, to go and do what would come next. I did not want to leave these ponies, of which I had grown so fond, behind without guidance or experience. But then again it was never about what I wanted to do. Giving myself in the aid, service, and rescue of others brought the deepest joys I have ever felt. Peaceful contentment, despite my looming demise, came from knowing I had touched the hearts of at least a few and left behind a legacy to be followed. I had started this all alone with nopony to guide me. I now finished my life surrounded by friends and family. The absolute and undeniably powerful cascade of emotion brought a few tears to my own eyes. This time I gladly let them slip. After a few more silent moments I arose, Cam still attached firmly to my body. "Alright, with that precious moment spent we now must be on our way. I must tell Storm now. Preparations must be made for what is about to come next. Come."

She finally released her solid grip on me in order to begin trotting beside me. Poor thing was absolutely grief stricken and I can't blame her for being so either. If I had even one wing that I could still use I would have wrapped it around her to console her. Fate was not kind enough to grant me such an opportunity, unfortunately, so I had to refrain.

When we arrived at the house we found that Storm had already begun preparations. It was clear to see his mood was not the best. He turned to us once we were inside. "Galaxia filled me in. This is absolutely idiotic and pure suicide by any standards, but I suppose it's better than extinction. When do we head out?"

"When Cam has equipped her gear."

"You won't be bringing yours?" Cam was concerned about the fact that I would have neither armour nor weapons. She didn't know what was about to happen, and I’m not sure if she would have been ready for it either way.

"No."

"Why not?"

"I won't need it."

"Why not?"

"That, my child, you will have to see for yourself." She wasn't satisfied with my response but thought it better not to prod further. "We'll meet Galaxia near the entrance to the Badlands. We’ll see what happens from there."

Cam headed over to her armour and put it on while Storm finished his final preparations. Solemn silence reigned at this critical moment; I was silent in pensive fear for being underprepared and, in accordance, falling victim to death once and for all. Storm was silent for the impending loss of me, while Cam remained silent for the imminent loss of one of her only friends, not to mention her role model. Regardless of the sullenness of the moment, preparations continued. Once she was vested and ready she returned. Storm came over and we all nodded stoically before heading out. We were now heading out towards what could be summarised as my rapidly approaching demise.

After the long journey, a night filled with nothing but trotting across open landscape and train rides of painful silence, we arrived in the fertile little valley. This, too, we traversed in utter quiet. The first word was spoken by Cam after we broke into the Badlands, and only after watching the sunrise on the horizon for a moment. "Is she here yet?"

"I'm not sure. I don't see her yet, but she'll show up for this battle. Trust me." Almost as if on cue, while we were trotting the barren landscape, a massive portal ripped open the dry, arid air. From within came pouring out nightmarish creatures, a few too bizarre and frightening to even hope to describe. Some were our size while others yet were larger than entire buildings, with every size in between. We eventually saw Galaxia trot out surrounded by wickedly warped creatures that vaguely resembled dogs. She approached us as the last few creations trickled out and the portal closed. "Perfect. Here she is."

"These creatures have fought for the eternities for sport. It is time to see if they will fight for blood."

"Excellent. We'll wait here until..." My sentence trailed off as I focused on an object far in the distance behind her. Cam must have seen it also.

"What is that?"

Galaxia and Storm both looked towards it. "Aqua, Galaxia, I think that's it. This might be the end of the line."

"It has to be Flametread. Nothing else could possibly be that large." Galaxia was right. I swallowed hard, hoping to push my way through the undeniable wall of fear that stood so starkly before me.

"Well, everypony, it's been great, but it looks like the wait is over. He approaches; Flametread is upon us. If anypony wishes to back out and find shelter now would be the time." I heard Storm in response first.

"Aqua, I promised that I would stand by you through thick and thin. I intend to keep that promise."

"Ever since you rescued me I've tried to stay by your side. I won't leave you, no matter how scared I get."

"I always wanted to kill a dragon." I broke my gaze from the approaching dot to look at Galaxia; I'm almost certain we all did. Considering my nature it almost worried me, if Flametread hadn't already preoccupied all my concern. "To tell Flare that we killed an Elder Dragon will be bragging rights indeed."

If the situation hadn't been so bleak I'm sure I would have chuckled. Her answer was good enough for me regardless, so I turned my gaze back to the quickly approaching shape. As it continued to get closer it was unmistakable: Flametread was here. The time had now arrived.

Next Chapter: 8. The Grave's Voice Estimated time remaining: 9 Minutes