open Bangcolt Arena! (Fighting/Sol) (RP)

[Mars Orbit 729]

"Four minutes thirty seconds." He grabbed one more waffle and spun it on his hoof. "Ok. New plan." He threw a waffle aiming for the edge if the building where she was holding onto. The waffle whistled loudly as it approached it's destination. Skitz grabbed two more from his pouch. "Not much left."

[Vae Victis 742]

Darkrai sat down on the ground. They were near the forest, but in front of them was an open field with a few flowers and bushes. She looked around in awe at the landscape, something the likes of which she had never been introduced to before, "Such beautiful surroundings. But Kazy, I'm kinda tired too, so let's both take a daytime nap." she said as she curled into a sleeping position.

" Alright. I'm sure the Phoenixes can handle it for now. If they can't find him, we should at least make one round on the search ourselves. Sweet dreams, Darkrai."

 

He said as he also curled into a comfortable posture next to Darkrai. He put his tail over her back, in a cuddling gesture, and slowly closed his eye.

[J.R. 3,183]

" Alright. I'm sure the Phoenixes can handle it for now. If they can't find him, we should at least make one round on the search ourselves. Sweet dreams, Darkrai."

 

He said as he also curled into a comfortable posture next to Darkrai. He put his tail over her back, in a cuddling gesture, and slowly closed his eye.

Darkrai began to think to herself as she slept, "I wonder if that kid was right about my parents. If they were indeed criminals....maybe they weren't killing somepony else over. ....And Kazy...I can't believe I found somone as similar to me. And he's pretty dashing... I hope to set things right with that kid. We gotta find him. But hopefully Kaz will be ok...."

[Vae Victis 742]

Darkrai began to think to herself as she slept, "I wonder if that kid was right about my parents. If they were indeed criminals....maybe they weren't killing somepony else over. ....And Kazy...I can't believe I found somone as similar to me. And he's pretty dashing... I hope to set things right with that kid. We gotta find him. But hopefully Kaz will be ok...."

Kazas, having been as weakened as he was, fell asleep almost immediately, tail still wrapped over Darkrai's back. In his sleep, he was mumbling lightly, barely audible. He was dreaming.

 

---------------------

 

[ UNKNOWN ENTITY ]

 

Into Darkrai's mind, a voice, crackling like a campfire flame, was trying to establish contact with the Unicorn. It was muttering a strange, exotic name, almost as if it were searching for the one whom this name belonged. It was trying to speak to Darkrai unconciously, beckoning to be answered.

 

'Zephrael... Art thou returned to this world? I feel thine soul, racked with guilt and yet filled with love. Knight of Azure... hath thou come to see how thine bloodline fares? I fear that the most recent heir, Kazas, doth travel a path laden in suffering and destruction..."

 

It was clear that whoever this voice belonged to... was making a mistake in whom it was trying to find. Even still, it awaited a response.

[J.R. 3,183]

Kazas, having been as weakened as he was, fell asleep almost immediately, tail still wrapped over Darkrai's back. In his sleep, he was mumbling lightly, barely audible. He was dreaming.

 

---------------------

 

[ UNKNOWN ENTITY ]

 

Into Darkrai's mind, a voice, crackling like a campfire flame, was trying to establish contact with the Unicorn. It was muttering a strange, exotic name, almost as if it were searching for the one whom this name belonged. It was trying to speak to Darkrai unconciously, beckoning to be answered.

 

'Zephrael... Art thou returned to this world? I feel thine soul, racked with guilt and yet filled with love. Knight of Azure... hath thou come to see how thine bloodline fares? I fear that the most recent heir, Kazas, doth travel a path laden in suffering and destruction..."

 

It was clear that whoever this voice belonged to... was making a mistake in whom it was trying to find. Even still, it awaited a response.

While Darkrai was dreaming, the voice rattled within her head. It caused her to move uncomfortably in the real world, re-adjusting herself to sleep better. But in her dream, she was confused, she did not know who this was or what they wanted, so she answered with a simple response, "What da hell?"

Edited June 24, 2015 by Ice Blizzard

[Vae Victis 742]

While Darkrai was dreaming, the voice rattled within her head. It caused her to move uncomfortably in the real world, re-adjusting herself to sleep better. But in her dream, she was confused, she did not know who this was or what they wanted, so she answered with a simple response, "What da hell?"

[uNKNOWN ENTITY]

 

" Zephrael speaketh not in the language of the foul... nor was Zephrael's voice of such high tone. But thine soul, nearly identical to the most powerful knight of Phoenix that ever existed..."

 

In a blank, white space of nothingness, the entity was attempting to give itself a form in Darkrai's mind.

 

" Wait... could thou be the one who influences Kazas's soul as powerfully as you do?"

[J.R. 3,183]

[uNKNOWN ENTITY]

 

" Zephrael speaketh not in the language of the foul... nor was Zephrael's voice of such high tone. But thine soul, nearly identical to the most powerful knight of Phoenix that ever existed..."

 

In a blank, white space of nothingness, the entity was attempting to give itself a form in Darkrai's mind.

 

" Wait... could thou be the one who influences Kazas's soul as powerfully as you do?"

Darkrai smirked, "Ha! I was part of the P.O.W team throughout most of my life. They trained me to be resistant to any of your stupid mind breaking things. Now as far as Kazas, he and I understand each other and we love each other. What do YOU want anything to do with us for?"

[Fractured 2,684]

, 

"Attention, ponies, the match between Sleight Mist and Rune has been decided. Winner: Rune!"

 

The intercom fell silent. As the stage flashed back to normal, medical ponies headed by Nurse Redheart rushed in, carrying out the unconscious and still-smoking body of Sleight Mist.

 

Meanwhile, at the the princesses booth, Princess Celestia flipped the microphone off and turned back to Kevin.

 

"I'm going to start now."

 

She closed her eyes, and the room was silent for several seconds. Then, a rush of power filled the room, like gravity had tripled instantly. Magic flung itself off of her body in waves, powerful enough to move her desk back and fling papers everywhere. Celestia herself began floating, though she used no wings; her eyes slammed open, revealing solid white pupils with no irises. Her face was blank and expressionless.

 

In her mental state, however, Celestia was more than active. She could feel everything around her as if she were connected to it personally. Little soft blinking lights framed themselves as magical signatures: the two ponies standing in front of her, Applejack at the tavern, the two forms of Night Tracer and Luna on the training ground, and so many countless other ponies that had come to this arena for all reasons big and small. And she could see every one of them. Except one.

 

Suddenly, the waves began to die down as Celestia contained her power once more. She gently floated back down to the ground, and as her eyes faded back to normal, she gasped, tears welling up in the corner of her eyes.

 

"I can't see him."

 

-------

, 

-snip-

Luna was more than ready for this session, she was elated. This would be her first genuine fight in centuries, training or otherwise. She grinned and lifted off, only to pause as a familiar pony walked over towards her.

 

"Hello, Caliber," she began, gently touching back down onto solid ground. "It is...nice to see you. But, as you can see, we are in the middle of a training session. Do you require anything important?"

 

She saw a new mare approaching, and gave a customary bow in response to hers.

 

"It is as you say, we are training here..."

 

She paused, looking over the new mare's face, and realizing she couldn't attach a name.

 

"We have not met before yet, have we?"

 

-------

 

@Orion Caelum

"I haven't known Ice Blizzard very long, but he was kind to me. If he's out there..."

 

she paused, choosing her words carefully.

 

"I want to find him, no matter he is." Her dolls floated up around her, determined expressions on their faces. She took a step... and promptly toppled forward, gasping in pain.

 

-------

 

Trixie nodded her head behind Aknor. On the stage, the Trixie's on the stage dispersed in a flash of fireworks, filling the room with blinding light. When the light died out, Trixie had disappeared from behind the chair, as well.

 

Then, from the back of the shop, lights dimly turned on, lighting up the stage. From out behind the curtain, a small, multicolored rabbit hopped out from behind the curtain. It moved around the stage, sniffing innocently, before hopping its way over to Aknor. It leaped into his lap, curling up adorably, before its form shifted. It became a snake, wrapping its body around Aknor and tickling his ear with its multi-colored tongue.

Edited June 24, 2015 by Corona de Adamas

[Not Yellow Diamond 925]

@,

 

Night Tracer waited for Luna she was distracted; Night Tracer walked over toward Luna who was talking to some other pony, he punched her in the side lightly to draw her attention and her's alone. "Stab," He said, "See that, that tap on the side. If I weren't nice that could be my sword gutting you, as you entrails fall out onto the training ground. Now that wouldn't be very good for either of us? Would it? I'd be without my love and you'd be without a heart... Literally." He joked

He turned to look at the pony that was trying to talk to Luna, "You need something?" he inquired, as he waited impatiently.

Edited June 26, 2015 by louisvillepride

[J.R. 3,183]

@,

Kevin was virtually unfazed by the alicorn's efforts. He had some doubts of her abilities due to knowing very little about her. When she finally spoke, Kevin thought to himself, "Hmph. Not much expected from there. But apparently there's nothing else that can be done." "If that means he's really dead, then I am truly sorry. Although I have no clue who that was, so I can't really say much else. Thank you for your time princess." he said as he shrugged and walked out, leaving Celestia by herself.

[Vae Victis 742]

Darkrai smirked, "Ha! I was part of the P.O.W team throughout most of my life. They trained me to be resistant to any of your stupid mind breaking things. Now as far as Kazas, he and I understand each other and we love each other. What do YOU want anything to do with us for?"

[uNKNOWN ENTITY]

 

" So then, thou art she whom brings the maelstorm of change upon Kazas's conciousness... thou hath seen me before, however, only in the iteration of which has no physical bond to this world. I am he who grants Kazas lordship o'er the primordial flames of divinity. I, am Ezerepth. The Phoenix Lord. Or, more specifically, the remnants of what once was a great phoenix. Because his path now intersects with yours, so too, do I fly o'er that road. I am not your enemy."

[MozillaToast 233]

Aknor wiggled in his seat as the snake licked his ear and proptly fell off, hoping he hadn't crushed her snake-bunny-hybrid by doing so. He was used to snakes from living in a desert in fact he liked snakes now he thought about it, just not when the lick the inside of his ear. It was a weird experiance, odd and relaxing at the same time. He sat back up into the chair and awaited her next trick after realizing he hadn't squished the snake.

Edited June 24, 2015 by Tempest Shift

[J.R. 3,183]

[uNKNOWN ENTITY]

 

" So then, thou art she whom brings the maelstorm of change upon Kazas's conciousness... thou hath seen me before, however, only in the iteration of which has no physical bond to this world. I am he who grants Kazas lordship o'er the primordial flames of divinity. I, am Ezerepth. The Phoenix Lord. Or, more specifically, the remnants of what once was a great phoenix. Because his path now intersects with yours, so too, do I fly o'er that road. I am not your enemy."

Darkrai was a bit intimidated by whatever this thing was that she had come across. She didn't liked being questioned about her relationship with another pony, or griffon in this case. But when she hear that it posed no threat, she back up, "Uh....huh. Ok. Thanks...I guess."

[Vae Victis 742]

Darkrai was a bit intimidated by whatever this thing was that she had come across. She didn't liked being questioned about her relationship with another pony, or griffon in this case. But when she hear that it posed no threat, she back up, "Uh....huh. Ok. Thanks...I guess."

[EZEREPTH]

 

" Okay. You know what? To blazes with the old vernacular. I'll just speak to you like I speak to Kazas. A thousand years, and you'd think that elegant words such as ' prithee ' and ' thou ' would have made a comeback by now. Anyways, I assume that you want to know why I'm here, soul, intertwining with yours for no blatant obvious reason, so I'll cut right down to the ' nitty gritty ' as you mortals tend to say. I'm here for two reasons. The first, is because your soul is very much like a former master of mine. Related to Kazas of course, and I had to see for myself who exactly posessed that kind of soul. Turns out, it is my current knight's lover."

 

The disembodied voice slowly began to take shape, as a great phoenix of a golden body. However, in this dream, it was not made of ethereal fire like Kazas's form. This Phoenix was completely solid flesh. Unfurling it's wings, it let them spread as if to stretch. With eyes of crimson, the Phoenix looked down at Darkrai in this vision-like dream that he was trying to induce.

 

" The second reason... is because I need your aid. You have already helped Kazas a great deal, so much so that you do not know the kindness you have done him. However, if we do not act further, then we may very well be facing a crisis... the second coming of the Azure Terror must be prevented for his sake, and for the sake of many others as well. Kazas must not awaken the azure flame. I need your help to ensure that it never does."

[J.R. 3,183]

[EZEREPTH]

 

" Okay. You know what? To blazes with the old vernacular. I'll just speak to you like I speak to Kazas. A thousand years, and you'd think that elegant words such as ' prithee ' and ' thou ' would have made a comeback by now. Anyways, I assume that you want to know why I'm here, soul, intertwining with yours for no blatant obvious reason, so I'll cut right down to the ' nitty gritty ' as you mortals tend to say. I'm here for two reasons. The first, is because your soul is very much like a former master of mine. Related to Kazas of course, and I had to see for myself who exactly posessed that kind of soul. Turns out, it is my current knight's lover."

 

The disembodied voice slowly began to take shape, as a great phoenix of a golden body. However, in this dream, it was not made of ethereal fire like Kazas's form. This Phoenix was completely solid flesh. Unfurling it's wings, it let them spread as if to stretch. With eyes of crimson, the Phoenix looked down at Darkrai in this vision-like dream that he was trying to induce.

 

" The second reason... is because I need your aid. You have already helped Kazas a great deal, so much so that you do not know the kindness you have done him. However, if we do not act further, then we may very well be facing a crisis... the second coming of the Azure Terror must be prevented for his sake, and for the sake of many others as well. Kazas must not awaken the azure flame. I need your help to ensure that it never does."

Darkrai interally laughed when the age old voice pretty much said 'buck it I'm talking normal'. But she still remained at it's attention, even when it turned to solid gold. Once it was finished speaking, she replied, "I understand completely. If it's something that's a potential threat to him, I will make sure it won't happen. You can count on me."

[Vae Victis 742]

Darkrai interally laughed when the age old voice pretty much said 'buck it I'm talking normal'. But she still remained at it's attention, even when it turned to solid gold. Once it was finished speaking, she replied, "I understand completely. If it's something that's a potential threat to him, I will make sure it won't happen. You can count on me."

[EZEREPTH]

 

" I admire your enthusiasm, however, this is a threat that comes from within himself. Not from any external forces. You see, Darkrai..."

 

The Phoenix furled its wings and leaned in towards Darkrai, and spoke softly, much ike Kazas.

 

" Kazas IS potentially the second coming of the Azure Terror. You see, on the outside, Kazas is jubilent, even if stoic at times. However, his soul... he has been dealt a mighty claw of grief in his day. His soul is full of love, righteousness, kindness, and sacrifice. But it is also filled... with guilt, grief, sorrow, and despair. None of these, I can assure you, are your fault. In fact, what you have done for him so far, along with his friends that you will soon meet, are a blessing. But so far, it is still not enough. You see, Kazas is unable to let go many things from the past. Much like you were, he still is. I could go on explaining... but it would be better off if I showed you..."

 

In front of Darkrai, four orbs of black flame appeared.

 

" these, are the memories of Kazas. These moments are what defined him, and changed him into what he is. You can choose not to view them, but... I believe that you will understand why he is the way he is. From left to right, are his persecution, loss of innocence, loss of loved ones, and shattered bonds. These are the things Kazas would not want to burden you with. These are the things that weigh upon his soul. Wounds that only you could help to heal. Choose one. And it will be as though you are there, at that moment in his life. You will not be able to interact, but you will be able to see everything. The choice is yours."

[P-Jay 1,987]

caliber grinned at luna. "idea! we could all train together!" he said.

 

a small part of his brain was struggling to be heard, saying this was a bad idea, but caliber ignored it.

 

"you think maybe you could do a gravity spell? i hear thats the best way to train." he added.

 

he hadn't bowed, yet, but he rarely ever does. to any princess, in fact.

Edited June 25, 2015 by PeytonJay

[J.R. 3,183]

[EZEREPTH]

 

" I admire your enthusiasm, however, this is a threat that comes from within himself. Not from any external forces. You see, Darkrai..."

 

The Phoenix furled its wings and leaned in towards Darkrai, and spoke softly, much ike Kazas.

 

" Kazas IS potentially the second coming of the Azure Terror. You see, on the outside, Kazas is jubilent, even if stoic at times. However, his soul... he has been dealt a mighty claw of grief in his day. His soul is full of love, righteousness, kindness, and sacrifice. But it is also filled... with guilt, grief, sorrow, and despair. None of these, I can assure you, are your fault. In fact, what you have done for him so far, along with his friends that you will soon meet, are a blessing. But so far, it is still not enough. You see, Kazas is unable to let go many things from the past. Much like you were, he still is. I could go on explaining... but it would be better off if I showed you..."

 

In front of Darkrai, four orbs of black flame appeared.

 

" these, are the memories of Kazas. These moments are what defined him, and changed him into what he is. You can choose not to view them, but... I believe that you will understand why he is the way he is. From left to right, are his persecution, loss of innocence, loss of loved ones, and shattered bonds. These are the things Kazas would not want to burden you with. These are the things that weigh upon his soul. Wounds that only you could help to heal. Choose one. And it will be as though you are there, at that moment in his life. You will not be able to interact, but you will be able to see everything. The choice is yours."

Darkrai looked over the 4 orbs intently. On the one hoof, she could potentially be traumatized by one of Kazas's worst experiences. But on the other, she knew that she would never find out what made this griffon who he was. With her P.O.W training in mind to keep her stable in all sitautions, and her flaming love for the griffon, she made her decision..."Let's go." she said as she pointed to the orb on the far left.

[Fractured 2,684]

The snake turned into a tempest of butterflies upon being sat on by Aknor, which floated off into the air around him before disappearing into a small burst of sparks. The air was silent for a moment, and then a solid line of sparks shot out from behind the curtains and over the walls and ceilings, lighting up the room in a beautiful glow. Flares shot out from the curtains in droves, becoming a menagerie of shapes that danced around Aknor in the ghostly lighting: ponies, minotaurs, cockatrices, and even a dragon or two.

 

---------

, 

-snip-

 

As the two ponies left the room, Princess Celestia steadied herself, wiping her tears from her eyes with her wings.

She couldn't get needlessly emotional over things now; she needed the final verification, as it was entirely possible Ice Blizzard had simply left the arena. That meant talking to those close to him, Lektra and Caliber from what she could remember of her last hospital visit to see him. She still remembered their magical signatures being within the arena, so she teleported there, arriving in a burst of sunlight.

 

"Lektra, Caliber, I need to talk to you."

 

---------

, 

-snip-

"It is nice to meet you as well, Lektra. In response to your question, no, you do not need to worry about your machine; I can simply compensate with limiters, as I always have. I will be fine."

 

Luna turned to Caliber, looking him over.

 

"If you wish, I will create a personal gravity spell for you. It seems this will also be a good time to test the power of this machine, so I believe it helps us both."

 

She concentrated, magic filling her form. The air around Caliber twitched... before gravity suddenly increased to 30x its normal intensity. Before Luna could see the effects, however, she turned away as a burst of sunlight lit up the arena.

 

"Sister, what is the matter?"

[P-Jay 1,987]

caliber trotted over to the machine, and flipped the switch.

 

he was hit by luna's spell, and was immediately thrown to the ground. grinning, he started pushing himself back up, but it was slow going. like, really slow going. "this...is...more...like it!" he said. since it was 30x gravity, it was everything caliber could do to just breath. (seriously, do the math on that )

 

the spell was cut short by celestia coming to deliver some sort of message.

 

caliber narrowed his eyes. celestia doesn't normally seek out ponies...'what could she want?', he wondered.

Edited June 25, 2015 by PeytonJay

[Not Yellow Diamond 925]

@@Mars Orbit,

 

Pinkie Pie had a waffle coming right towards her so she pulled herself up with her uninjured hoof and flipped into the air. She did about 5 front flips in the air before she landed on her forehooves. She picked up some of the waffles with her hindlegs and started hurliing them at him rapidly and at very high speeds; nearly to the speed of  a light machine gun.

[Mars Orbit 729]

Skitz was surprised by one "what the" he lost focus and deactivated by accident. "Woop" he started dodging. "Zoom. Bam." He said as he was dodging. He flew straight down under where any waffles could hit and below where he could be seen. "Eeeggs and baaacon iiinn the pan." He said singing to himself while breaking the window in front of him and going inside the building.

[Vae Victis 742]

Darkrai looked over the 4 orbs intently. On the one hoof, she could potentially be traumatized by one of Kazas's worst experiences. But on the other, she knew that she would never find out what made this griffon who he was. With her P.O.W training in mind to keep her stable in all sitautions, and her flaming love for the griffon, she made her decision..."Let's go." she said as she pointed to the orb on the far left.

The great Phoenix resounded in a sad, almost despairing sigh.

 

" Mortals.... can be excessively cruel to each other for the most trivial of reasons. Even on the basis of belief systems, mortals will always find what they believe to be a justifiable cause to hurt one another. You shall see what I mean, soon enough."

 

It was then that the metaphysical area around them was warpped almost immediately. Almost as if they had teleported to a another location entirely. Except, Ezerepth had disappeared seemingly, to leave Darkrai to watch alone.

 

------------------

(Memories of Kazas, 24 years ago.)

 

The backdrop for the memory taking place seems like the outside area of a seemingly rural school house made out of wood. in the background, one could observe that there was a huge rock wall in the shape of a bowl encompassing a village, which was seemingly high in the mountains. The village was built deep in what was a dormant volcano, which had been inactive for so long, that vegetation had grown all around it, inside and out, with trees surrounding the village inside of the dormant volcano. It was quite a sight to behold.

 

" instead of cloudy cities, Leovians prefer towns built high in the mountains near forrested regions so they can more easily gain access to hunting grounds. This is Sebes village. Kazas's hometown. But that... is a story for another day. Darkrai, look to the playground of the school house."

 

A disembodied Ezerepth's voice proclaimed.

 

Meanwhile, a young griffon could be seen, kneeling with claws clasped together on his hind legs, standing. His feathers were ashen, and he seemed as though he was mumbling to himself. This, was Kazas. At six years old. Praying? Quite unorthodox for a child so young, but there he was. Doing his daily prayers near the walls of the school house, seemingly away from the other Griffon children who were all playing...

 

Except for two youngling griffons, watching Kazas with malicious smiles on their faces while eyeing him like a snake.

 

" Looks like mister All-Maker's angel is doing his little prayers again."

 

" pfffff. What a wimp. He really thinks some giant griffon that walks on two legs is actually going to ' come down and saaaavvveee ' him from his problems. Loser."

 

" hey, watch this. "

 

One of the young griffons picked up a nearby stone, and threw it as hard as he could at Kazas's head. The stone connected, sending the ashen griffon's head into the wall, as he had been praying with his back turned toward the others. From his scalp, he had begun to bleed somewhat from the impact, but... he remained still. Unmoving. And still praying. The two griffons were laughing at him, taunting him.

 

" little gentle angel of an imaginary 8-winged sky wizard doesn't want to fight back! Probably thinks that qn angel is gonna come and save him!"

 

" Hey Kazas, if your little all-maker is real, I challenge him to hit me with lightning or something! Ha ha!"

 

 

Very quietly, Kazas mumbled something. If Darkrai was any good at lip reading, she would have known that he said;

 

" All-Maker... please... don't hurt them... they aern't bad griffons, they just... don't think you are there..."

----------------------------

 

The memory fast-forwards, and spatial warping seems to occur again, in an instant, the setting changes once more, to the inside of the school house. Kazas is sitting alone, and it is after hours. The teacher, an old, female griffon, is combing through his head feathers, trying to bandage the wound. She speaks.

 

"... Kazas, if you wouldn't pray during recess and actually went to play, they wouldn't hit you like that. Shame on your parents... cramming an archaic belief down your throat like that..."

 

Angrily, the six-year-old Kazas retorted.

 

" father and mother have nothing to do with it. I choose Vakor because I like it. I like its meanings. It's all about peace, and loving your fellows, and being kind, putting others before yourself. What's so bad about that?"

 

The teacher responded.

 

" because Kazas, the world simply just doesn't work that way! One day you will understand that much. The world can be a brutal and dangerous place, where many are out for themselves. Kazas, you are kind. I'd bet you'd give a homeless griffon the tunic off of your back if he asked. But would you do if he turned around and... I don't know... hurt you for your money?"

 

Kazas responded.

 

" i'd be happy knowing that he could stay warm AND have something to eat."

 

The teacher seemed perplexed.

 

" someone help this child... "

 

----------------

 

The space warps once more around Darkrai, and the setting is now inside of Kazas's room at his home. A jet-black feathered griffon could be seen with his claw around his son's shoulders, wrapped around gently. He was comforting his son. This was Kazas's father. At his side, the same sword that Kazas now dons as his own could be seen.

 

" so... it happened again, son?"

 

" yeah..."

 

" why didn't you fight back? Its only natural. "

 

" because I didn't want to hurt them..."

 

" why not?"

 

" ' violence is reciprocated by violence, hatred rewarded with hatred..."

 

".... you've been studying? Son, you don't have to. You know that your mother and I don't expect you to-"

 

" father... its okay. I like Vakor. I like its teachings, stories, everything. I wanna be just like Tal' Laguul when I grow up."

 

"... be a great healer?"

 

" yeah! Ezerepth let's you do that, right?"

 

" he does son, but nowhere near that level... though, I suppose if you have enough kindness in your heart... maybe...."

 

" maybe I could be a great healer, then... then they would like me..."

 

" son... its getting late. We can talk about this tomorrow."

 

The jet-black griffon rose up from his son's bed, and began to walk out of the room, until Kazas beckoned him once more.

 

" Father... can Ezerepth... stay in here with me tonight?"

 

The father smiled.

 

" sure, but absolutely NO UNSHEATHING, and he stays hanging from the doorknob. Okay?"

 

" okay."

 

The father hangs the sword from the doorknob, as he then blows out the candles and exits the room.

 

A little while later, Kazas can be seen, in his bed, turned on his side. His eyes were full of tears, and he was crying. " Dear all-maker, please... protect me tomorrow..."

 

[END MEMORY]

__________________

 

Ezerepth's voice could be heard speaking to Darkrai again, in a sad tone once again.

 

" Kazas... suffered much persecution due to his beliefs in an old religion known as Vakor. Slowly, it has been dying out in Leovia, and many have turned their backs on it there. The Inaro family has practiced it for generations. Kazas is no exception. However, his parents did not force him to. He chose Vakor due to its messages of peace and love. Imagine waking up, going to school every day, only to be accosted by other students who were taught by their own parents that Vakor was for fools, and the Inaros were a bunch of zealots that deserved to be outcasts. He came home every single evening it seemed like with fresh cuts and bruises that he would try to hide. And yet, he never wished harm upon another. He is a true son of Vakor, and practices what he preaches. He... probably did not tell you because he was afraid that it would scare you away."

 

Three orbs left. The mental space returned to its original nothingness, with three orbs of black fire remaining.

 

" do you wish to carry on?"

[J.R. 3,183]

The great Phoenix resounded in a sad, almost despairing sigh.

 

" Mortals.... can be excessively cruel to each other for the most trivial of reasons. Even on the basis of belief systems, mortals will always find what they believe to be a justifiable cause to hurt one another. You shall see what I mean, soon enough."

 

It was then that the metaphysical area around them was warpped almost immediately. Almost as if they had teleported to a another location entirely. Except, Ezerepth had disappeared seemingly, to leave Darkrai to watch alone.

 

------------------

(Memories of Kazas, 24 years ago.)

 

The backdrop for the memory taking place seems like the outside area of a seemingly rural school house made out of wood. in the background, one could observe that there was a huge rock wall in the shape of a bowl encompassing a village, which was seemingly high in the mountains. The village was built deep in what was a dormant volcano, which had been inactive for so long, that vegetation had grown all around it, inside and out, with trees surrounding the village inside of the dormant volcano. It was quite a sight to behold.

 

" instead of cloudy cities, Leovians prefer towns built high in the mountains near forrested regions so they can more easily gain access to hunting grounds. This is Sebes village. Kazas's hometown. But that... is a story for another day. Darkrai, look to the playground of the school house."

 

A disembodied Ezerepth's voice proclaimed.

 

Meanwhile, a young griffon could be seen, kneeling with claws clasped together on his hind legs, standing. His feathers were ashen, and he seemed as though he was mumbling to himself. This, was Kazas. At six years old. Praying? Quite unorthodox for a child so young, but there he was. Doing his daily prayers near the walls of the school house, seemingly away from the other Griffon children who were all playing...

 

Except for two youngling griffons, watching Kazas with malicious smiles on their faces while eyeing him like a snake.

 

" Looks like mister All-Maker's angel is doing his little prayers again."

 

" pfffff. What a wimp. He really thinks some giant griffon that walks on two legs is actually going to ' come down and saaaavvveee ' him from his problems. Loser."

 

" hey, watch this. "

 

One of the young griffons picked up a nearby stone, and threw it as hard as he could at Kazas's head. The stone connected, sending the ashen griffon's head into the wall, as he had been praying with his back turned toward the others. From his scalp, he had begun to bleed somewhat from the impact, but... he remained still. Unmoving. And still praying. The two griffons were laughing at him, taunting him.

 

" little gentle angel of an imaginary 8-winged sky wizard doesn't want to fight back! Probably thinks that qn angel is gonna come and save him!"

 

" Hey Kazas, if your little all-maker is real, I challenge him to hit me with lightning or something! Ha ha!"

 

 

Very quietly, Kazas mumbled something. If Darkrai was any good at lip reading, she would have known that he said;

 

" All-Maker... please... don't hurt them... they aern't bad griffons, they just... don't think you are there..."

----------------------------

 

The memory fast-forwards, and spatial warping seems to occur again, in an instant, the setting changes once more, to the inside of the school house. Kazas is sitting alone, and it is after hours. The teacher, an old, female griffon, is combing through his head feathers, trying to bandage the wound. She speaks.

 

"... Kazas, if you wouldn't pray during recess and actually went to play, they wouldn't hit you like that. Shame on your parents... cramming an archaic belief down your throat like that..."

 

Angrily, the six-year-old Kazas retorted.

 

" father and mother have nothing to do with it. I choose Vakor because I like it. I like its meanings. It's all about peace, and loving your fellows, and being kind, putting others before yourself. What's so bad about that?"

 

The teacher responded.

 

" because Kazas, the world simply just doesn't work that way! One day you will understand that much. The world can be a brutal and dangerous place, where many are out for themselves. Kazas, you are kind. I'd bet you'd give a homeless griffon the tunic off of your back if he asked. But would you do if he turned around and... I don't know... hurt you for your money?"

 

Kazas responded.

 

" i'd be happy knowing that he could stay warm AND have something to eat."

 

The teacher seemed perplexed.

 

" someone help this child... "

 

----------------

 

The space warps once more around Darkrai, and the setting is now inside of Kazas's room at his home. A jet-black feathered griffon could be seen with his claw around his son's shoulders, wrapped around gently. He was comforting his son. This was Kazas's father. At his side, the same sword that Kazas now dons as his own could be seen.

 

" so... it happened again, son?"

 

" yeah..."

 

" why didn't you fight back? Its only natural. "

 

" because I didn't want to hurt them..."

 

" why not?"

 

" ' violence is reciprocated by violence, hatred rewarded with hatred..."

 

".... you've been studying? Son, you don't have to. You know that your mother and I don't expect you to-"

 

" father... its okay. I like Vakor. I like its teachings, stories, everything. I wanna be just like Tal' Laguul when I grow up."

 

"... be a great healer?"

 

" yeah! Ezerepth let's you do that, right?"

 

" he does son, but nowhere near that level... though, I suppose if you have enough kindness in your heart... maybe...."

 

" maybe I could be a great healer, then... then they would like me..."

 

" son... its getting late. We can talk about this tomorrow."

 

The jet-black griffon rose up from his son's bed, and began to walk out of the room, until Kazas beckoned him once more.

 

" Father... can Ezerepth... stay in here with me tonight?"

 

The father smiled.

 

" sure, but absolutely NO UNSHEATHING, and he stays hanging from the doorknob. Okay?"

 

" okay."

 

The father hangs the sword from the doorknob, as he then blows out the candles and exits the room.

 

A little while later, Kazas can be seen, in his bed, turned on his side. His eyes were full of tears, and he was crying. " Dear all-maker, please... protect me tomorrow..."

 

[END MEMORY]

__________________

 

Ezerepth's voice could be heard speaking to Darkrai again, in a sad tone once again.

 

" Kazas... suffered much persecution due to his beliefs in an old religion known as Vakor. Slowly, it has been dying out in Leovia, and many have turned their backs on it there. The Inaro family has practiced it for generations. Kazas is no exception. However, his parents did not force him to. He chose Vakor due to its messages of peace and love. Imagine waking up, going to school every day, only to be accosted by other students who were taught by their own parents that Vakor was for fools, and the Inaros were a bunch of zealots that deserved to be outcasts. He came home every single evening it seemed like with fresh cuts and bruises that he would try to hide. And yet, he never wished harm upon another. He is a true son of Vakor, and practices what he preaches. He... probably did not tell you because he was afraid that it would scare you away."

 

Three orbs left. The mental space returned to its original nothingness, with three orbs of black fire remaining.

 

" do you wish to carry on?"

Darkrai was astounded. Each living memory was a fatal mirror to her own past. She had no idea of this griffon's prior life experiences until now. 

 

As she predicted, Kaz's younger life wasn't easy. But she wanted to learn more about him, so without regrets, she pointed a hoof to the next orb, "давай"("Bring it on")

[Dust and Memories 557]

@

 

Wilhelm caught Annette as she fell, propping her up against him. Tersely, he asked "Why didn't you tell me you were hurt? I'll get you to the hospital; Ice can wait until tomorrow." Holding her at his side, he walked with her out of the Arena, aiming for the hospital. "You're certainly in no condition for adventuring, not if you'll pass out. I can't have you hurt more than you are."