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From an ongoing RP I'm doing with Nate the Great

Asema 5.1

Smoke from the multiple fires hung in the air like a fog. The sounds of hundreds of soul's had gathered in the field to begin their march to the capital. Sitting astride a massive draft horse on a slight rise stood a proud figure dressed in gleaming metal and chainmail. With his massive hand grasping the hilt on his sword, the knight surveyed the site of his rag tag army as they assembled. To his right stood a human and a blue dragon astride a white unicorn. To his left a Winged and a black bull. Dawn had just broke as the deep purple of night began to fade. Gesturing to the bull, a ram's horn was put to his lips. The great booming sound echoed throughout the green field. The silence that followed was almost deafening.

"My friends and comrades. Today we march together to the Azure City. Once there we will petition the King to listen to our pleas. We have with us someone of utmost importance to him." Aramis gestured towards the young dragon astride the horse. "I present to you Prince Nathan, son of Jack Frost, grandson of Emperor Eldor." Nathan came up on the white horse, which was a well disguised unicorn. He smiled as he looked up at Aramis and the crowd cheered loud and long as they shouted, "Hail Prince Nathan! Long live the Snow Prince!" As the crowd's cheers died down. "My friends, we are embarking on a dangerous journey. We are entrusted to deliver this young dragon to his grandfather. Once there, we will petition him to assist us in defeating Exotos and his evil minions." The crowd stood in muted shock at what was being asked of them. "But that's impossible," said one goat, "No one can get past to the serpent. Not with his daughter guarding his castle." Nathan looked up puzzled. "Exortos has a daughter?" he asked. "Yes," said the old goat, "Asema, queen of the vampires. She and her four grooms are the ones who captured those who have been made winged.

" Aramis continued. "Once and for all we must stop the approaching darkness before it engulfs us all. We stand between that and the light of purity. What say you all?" A moment of silence followed by a massive sound of cries. Nathan smiled seeing the many brave young men who would put themselves out there to protect him. But he noticed Harrod having a look of discomfort, fear and sorrow. "It's onward to Azure City" the knight added. Slowly but with purpose the cadre of fighters began to form line as moved down the road. As they began to disperse Harrod hung back as the others moved on. He looked at the young dragon astride the steed. "Nathan, you look quite dashing on your mount." The dragon blushed as Frostbite nickered in approval. "Thanks," said Nathan, "Aramis... Do you feel like there was something wrong with Harrod? He seemed a bit off ever since that goat mentioned Asema." "With good reason". It was she who had a hand in turning him and his fellow knights into the forms you see today." Nathan looked back at Harrod feeling concerned for the bat. "Aramis... is there anyway of cheering him up a bit?" he asked hoping to take their friend's sorrow way just for a while. The equine looked at the dragon with a slight smile. "Right now, the best thing you can do is be his friend. When we arrive at the City I have some important business to attend to, one of them involves Harrod. But for now, push all those negative thoughts out of your head and enjoy this beautiful day." "Alright," said Nathan as he patted Frostbite's neck and the unicorn looked back with what the dragon took to be a smile.

The knight turned and began to lead his troops towards their destination. He had knowledge concerning his friend Harrod that he didn't want to share anyone just yet. His main goal was to get Nathan to the city and into the trusted hands of his grandfather. "Ok everyone, time to move out. Everyone in their positions. We need to be ready for any type of attack at any time." Nathan was with Frostbite and he was marveling at how big Two Fang was growing. "Two Fang, I must admit you're growing like a weed," he said as he slid off his mount to hug, the somewhat fully grown Screecat. The feral purred and nuzzled the dragon even licking his face. The dragon giggled and kissed his cheek. "I'm sure you'd make a great alpha someday... if the time comes," he said knowing that he would have to let the feline go someday. Two Fang, sensing the depression in his foster parent, padded up to nuzzle him affectionately.

Aramis overhear the conversation Nathan was having with the cat. He felt a bit sad about what he said about letting the cat go. "Nathan" he called out. "You do know what happens to a Screecat that is adopted by a human don't you?" Nathan looked up while still holding Two Fang in a hug and shook his head. "What happens?" he asked. "You'll always be his master. It's a lifetime commitment. They are extremely intelligent creatures. He will love you and protect you for all time. Nathan smiled and looked to Two Fang kissing his face all over and the screecat came over to Aramis and gave him a big cat's kiss with his tongue. Aramis smiled at seeing the two of them interact. He was wrong to try and keep the two apart. Breathing a deep sigh, he scratched the head of the cat. "Your job is to protect him TF, with all your heart. Do you understand?" The cat nodded and nuzzled the stallion to show his affection for him too. "I guess he wants to protect you too," said Nathan as he came up to Aramis and kissed him. The knight pulled the dragon close. So much had changed in these past days.

The years of living a solitary life made him think back to the time when he had someone to share his dreams with. Doubts still clouded his mind. What if he was to suffer yet another tragic loss. A tear appeared at the edge of his eye. "Aramis? What's wrong?" he asked as he cupped the stallion's face and his thumb brushed away the tear. The equine pulled away from the embrace. Turning away from the dragon said, "It's nothing. All this dust being kicked up, it must have gotten some in my eye. We mustn't dally. We have long journey ahead of us and we need to get to 'The Deep' before nightfall. "But there isn't any dust out... The Deep?" asked Nathan curiously. The knight had walked ahead leaving his young charge with Two Fang. Calling out "You'll see soon enough. Now pick up the pace." Nathan was still stunned by the abrupt behavior, however, he knew better than to question Aramis when it comes to traveling.

Anyone traveling the road between Taverntown and the Azure City must have been awed by the mass of anthros, humans and ferals. And above, Winged and dragons filled the sky. Each small town and hamlet they passed, residents came out to watch the parade go by. Some even offering food and drink to the members of the army. At the front of this procession was a massive equine knight in gleaming armor, riding upon an equally massive draft horse. Following behind, a blue dragon astride a white stallion and a human knight upon a black steed. The weather was sunny and pleasant. Aramis was feeling hopeful. Something he hadn't felt in a long time. Turning his head to spy the long procession behind him he gave Nathan and his brother a slight smile and nod to each. A small chuff of laughter left his lips as he watched the screecat run and jump at the tails of the horses until one large bay bared his teeth and whinnied at the cat to remind him of his place. Watching Two Fang yelp out a cry of fright until his adolescent need to play took over once again. Luckily, Frostbite was more than happy to oblige as they picked up a vine to play tug of war. Nathan chuckled watching the two of them play wondering who would be the victor. Clouds drifted through the sunlit sky as the procession moved through the countryside. As they reached a rise in the road before them, spread out across the green valley erupted a wall of gray granite. Perched at the top of the ridge was a imposing castle cut out of the side of the mountain. Raising his right hand to signal the troops to halt, Aramis in his bass voice called out, "Behold, The Deep."

Cries of excitement erupted through the throngs of soldiers. Nathan smiled as he looked upward and he smiled down at Two Fang was walking along side Frostbite. Since he was fully grown now, he no longer needed to ride. But he did love to snuggle with the dragon. Moving forward, the group proceeds across the valley to the wall of granite. As they move closer, two massive iron doors reaching over twenty feet high begin to slowly open. A cadre of men and women perched on matching black feral bears come to meet them. The leader of the group calls out, "Aramis, so good to see you my friend. I see you brought a few friends with you." The anthro horse responded, "A few? Maybe a few more than that. Stretching out his arm in Nathan's direction he continued. "I bring the grandson of your esteemed Emperor and son of the Snow King." Everyone inside the fort gasped and bowed their heads and even the feral bears bowed low before Nathan.

The dragon felt embarrassed. "Is this going to be a regular thing now?" he whispered to Aramis. With a smirk on his face, "Get used to it kid. Good or bad your big time royalty." The knight climbed off Bay, moving to greet the flame haired woman. "Kara, you look lovelier each time I see you." "And you are still as full of dung as you ever been." The two grasped shoulders for a heartfelt embrace. "Torick arrived yesterday informing us your arrival. I just didn't know you would arrive with an army." Kara's credulous look at the blue dragon drew Aramis's attention. "This is the son of the Snow King? A bit of a runt I'd say." The knight responded. "Be careful, he might not look like much but he can pack quite the punch when riled. Nathan, meet Kara. She is Head of the Royal Guard here and an old friend of mine. "Pleased to meet yo- A runt?" asked Nathan and smirked as he shook her hand turning her glove to ice. "You were saying?" he asked with a smirk. The woman felt her hand grow numb from the ice that began encasing her glove. She pulled it back and began to shake her hand out of the metal covering. "By the moons of Agis" rubbing her hand with the other, trying to bring warmth back into the appendage. "Well that was unexpected." Aramis put his hand up to his face to cover it, "You have no idea" as shook his head back and forth.

He looked at the dragon, leaning in to say in a soft voice. "Nathan, as a royal you will need to learn to curb that temper of yours and be gracious even when you feel your being slighted, understood?" If looks could kill Nathan would surely have passed on from this mortal plain. "Fine... but Aramis, fish got to swim," he whispered, "And I thought it was funny." He snapped his fingers as the ice melted away from the glove. Two Fang smiled and he padded up to one of the feral bears curiously and sniffed them cautiously. The knight let his severe demeanor slip for a moment when he cracked a tiny smile. "Ok, I'll let you get away with it this time only because she can be a real pain in the backside sometimes. But promise me you'll be on your best behavior." Nathan smiled kissing Aramis on the lips. "I promise," he said softly winking at the tall stallion. Kara watched the interaction with her friend and the dragon. With arched eyebrows "I see" she quietly said to herself. "Aramis! Bring your new friend and we'll sit down for a drink and a meal and catch up on things. The dragon links his arm with Aramis and he looked at Frostbite and Two Fang. "Stay with Baylor, you two," he said, "Have fun but stay out of trouble." The two looked at each other and nodded.

As they entered the Keep cries and yelling erupted from the army. Turning in response, a dark cloud was growing in the distance. Finn called out, "That's no natural cloud." Aramis responded. "Get everyone inside, quickly. This is a attack!". It was then four winged figures flew up over the wall and one of them, a rabbit, bit into a guard's neck drinking his blood and leaving him dead. He looked to the side and ran fast as lightning knocking down the guards. Due to the last of the members of the army flowing through the gates they we're still open. "Knights Ho! Aramis yelled as he pulled his sword from his hilt. He pushed through the crowd, with Finn, Kara and others reacting to the threat. But the whole front of the army outside the gate was being parted with soldiers flying and then a bull roared showing vampiric fangs in his mouth and blood on his horns. Aramis slid to a stop as the others fanned out into a semi circle. Finn shouted, "Keep their minions at Bay but try not to kill them. They are under the control of the groom's." Meanwhile, Aramis prepared himself to battle with the bull.

Just then, a stag landed beside Finn and he grinned. "Hello, pretty boy," he said shoving Finn 20 feet away and into a wall, "Did you really think you pitiful mortals stood a chance against us?" As the words left the groom's mouth , a heavy hammer slammed into the back of the stag's back, driving him to his knees. "Don't be too sure of yourself demon" as the black bull shoved the groom to the ground, his muzzle filling with pebbles and dirt. Torick yelled to his friend, "Hey pretty boy, you going let this overgrown toad best you like that? Finn, shaking his head and getting his bearings shot back. "Save a piece of that walking sac of dung. I'll show what a knight of the realm is made of." Hearty laughter met with his reply. "Come on brother, let's dispatch this abomination with due haste. The stag stood up as his bones realigned and then the vampiric bull punched Toric hard and broke his hammer to pieces. "Hello, brother," he snarled as he head butted the other bull into a stone wall. Finn was about to shoot an arrow when a human vampire snatched up the bow and snapped it in two. "Aww," he said in mock sympathy, "Too bad. So sad." As the stag groom began to get his bearings a Lance whistled through the air, cleaving his antlers clean off as it imbedded itself and the antlers deep into the stone wall. Kara ran to Torick's side, helping him to his hooves.

The stag growled as he ripped his antlers off and then another pair took their place. "Now that was rude," he growled as he broke off a piece of his broken antlers and threw a sharp point at Kara piercing her right shoulder. She collapsed clutching her arm as Toro snarled a wicked a smile. Nathan was helping everyone else get to safety and then he created a blizzard to freeze all those who had been turned vampiric. All except the grooms. Nathan looked around and spotted Harrod. "Harrod! Where's Aramis?" he called but then he looked down to see the human vampire flinging Aramis around like a rag doll. For a human, he had the strength of 20 elephants! The equine had never in his life fought such an imposing foe. His own impressive strength was more than a match for anyone else. This vampire was in a league of his own. Nevertheless you continued to fight the foe with all his might. The human grinned as he made a super punch knocking the stallion's weapons out of his grip. Before Aramis had a chance to regain them, the vampire swooped in, grabbed his weapons and dropped them down a nearby water well. "Too bad. So sad," chuckled the human as he dove at the stallion and kicked Aramis hard in the jaw knocking him into another wall. The knight lay crumpled on the grown. Multiple bruises and wounds criss crossed his body.

Even with his vision blurred and his right eye swollen shut he proceeded to rise from the ground. All he had left was his ability to fight hand to hand. A bit shakily, he stood, his hands squeezed into fists. He thought, "If this is the end of my life, I will go out of it as a knight of the realm." "So long... glue boy," cackled the human as he made a dive at the stallion ready to give the final blow. But then something blue and bright stood in the way making the vampire recoil from his target as sharp projectiles shot outward and one got the human in the chest and it sent him backward until he screeched in pain when a stump pierced his chest. He looked what pierced him first and saw an icicle. He looked over as his vision blurred and saw the Snow Prince. He roared out in agonizing pain as he turned to dust.

After the human vampire was defeated, Nathan turned to Aramis and held him protectively. "It's okay," he said softly, "I've got you." The other three vampires were pained and furious to find that their human brother had been destroyed and they flew away to report back to their mistress. The grooms army watched as their winged brethren flew east into the darkening sky. Leaving there smaller numbers to continue the battle with the opposing army. Outnumbered, they soon found themselves at a disadvantage. It didn't take long before Aramis's army begun to turn the tide and one by one the enemy was either killed or captured. Finn, still shaken from his recent injuries spied Nathan crouched on the ground holding Aramis in his arms. "Brother" he cried. In a painful limp, he moved to be at his brother's side. This action caught the attention of everyone around him. Nathan, meanwhile, still had Aramis in his arms. "Harrod! Get a stretcher," he called, "Aramis needs medical attention quickly!" He looked down at Aramis, whose vision seemed to be blurred. "Aramis... Hold on," he said as his voice echoed in the stallion's head, "Hold on." The knight's vision began to slowly turn dark. The last word he spoke was "Nathan".