The tiny fairy sighs and sits down more comfortably to tell those near a bit about themselves.  Kerwyn asking, Shavaris offering, many seeming fine leaving it to the fairy but Delph isn't comfortable making choices for their world without some input at least.  After all, he's got an entire separate world they can go to if this one falls.  Certainly, their mother would be sad but there is nothing preventing them all from returning to the feywild.

"Alright Kerwyn, I think you will get the most for understanding me.  We fought a lot in the labyrinth and I've come to learn you all just don't understand fey at all.  I guess I should begin by explaining I come from a split home.  My mother is the Lord of the Herd and my father the Lord of the Hunt.  Supposedly they got along really well at some point but I've spent my life living half the time with my mother in the Kokiri Forests and half the time with my father in the Summer Court, specifically in the Roots.  This was an agreement between the two so my sister and I had to follow their wishes until we were not kids anymore.  One thing I need you to understand about fey that you all always seem to struggle with is that our words are like actions.  If I say I will lift a rock.  I have to lift rock.  Not because I would want to but because I would have to.  It can be deadly for a fey to go against their word, let alone the fact we physically can't.  There is no difference to a fey between words and actions.  Lying is a very... human concept.  Deceit is the closest fey get to it.  Anyway, words matter."

"You know me now.  As a fey that cannot kill.  I literally can't.  Honestly, its a bit dangerous for me because if I accidently kill something it could hurt me a lot... even kill me.  I'd have to be really negligent for it to kill me though.  If I did kill something by mistake I'd probably be wracked up with pain and exhaustion for days though.  Luckily, I've been very good at not killing.  This was a major change for me though.  I was being trained to hunt and kill like a predator, like a hunter.  I loved the thrill of that chase.  The sense of fear the prey would give off.  The excitement of ending a life."  The fairy seems to work themselves up a bit in excitement as they described these feelings.  It might just be Kerwyn's imagination but did Delph's teeth get jagged and pointed for a moment?  They look to Kerwyn and smile and they seem fine. "It's why I try to get you all to stop killing.  It reminds me of that time.  Also, I've gotten used to a more peaceful life.  I've been starting to like it.  I probably got more mad at you then anyone Kerwyn because when you killed that creature after I saved it... it was like my predatory senses saw you steal a kill from me...Really hoping i never have to act on my words there.  I like you Kerwyn.  Heh, back when I was younger I never thought I'd even begin to like my mom's way's so much but here I am now.  You're all kind of like a small herd."

"My father was very proud of me back then.  Said I would be the greatest lord of the hunt ever... after him of course.  It was a lot of fun.  Not like we were killing indiscriminately or anything.  We always hunted for purpose.  Without purpose a hunt has no meaning.  can be to eat, to test yourself, to collect a trophy as proof of your might.  That last one is my dad's favorite reason to hunt.  Probably why I keep beating up trophy hunting hunters in your world.  They remind me of my dad and how mad I am at him.  Anyway, my mom got me a pet fairy dragon one day.  I loved Shine!  So adorable and cute.  They loved playing tag and hide and seek.  Terribly weak though.  They were the runt of a clutch.  My father hated them.  Would tell me they were useless and were the weakest of prey."

"A couple years in Shine and I still get along like two peas in a pod and my father and I had had quite a few arguments over Shine.  I didn't mind though.  At least not until my father had me on a special hunt.  Said I would have the honor of killing the prey this time.  My first kill.  You see before I wasn't allowed the final blow as I was too young.  So this was exciting for me.  I was about to become a fully fledged hunter!  I of course agreed when he asked "Will you make the final blow?" I didn't think twice when I say "I will dad!""

Delphinium looks very sad and says "Remember when I said our words are the same as actions.  When I agreed.  I already killed that prey.  Nothing could stop it.  No matter how much I cared.  No matter how much I pleaded.  No matter how much I wish I didn't have to.  I'll spare you the details but... Shine was our prey.  I killed them with my own hands.  A lesson from my father that I don't need weak friends.  That I should surround myself with strong predators so I don't have to suffer like that.  I swore at that time I would never kill again.  I can still see the shock on my father's face when I said it making it real for me.  He was really mad at me that day but he did try to reach out to me and get me to come back later.  He apologized and said my mother tricked him.  He said he would find a way to fix me.  I don't think I need fixing."

"So that's what he's doing.  He knows I'm still mad at him... but he wants me to be fixed and take my role as the Next Lord of the Hunt.  He has all kinds of powers over hunting and hunters.  He can know the location of any hunt.  Can summon spirits of fallen hunters.  Anyway, he was able to find the Stallion because it was hunted.  When he learned I was involved he took it knowing I might look for it.  Sure enough... here I am with the alicorn of them and I can restore the unicorn but... to get the body I need to use the alicorn to change my nature.  To allow me to kill again.  Honestly, I don't know what form that will take as I don't know any fey that have done that and I'll also have to pick up my training to be the Lord of the Hunt again.  He promises it won't stop me from helping you all in this world though."

Delphinium looks a bit apprehensive as they look to their friends gathered and listening. "I still be me.  I prefer having fun, I just might like different kind of fun after.  I can save your world's light right now.  I bet the unicorn revived can even push back this creeping twilight.  I've worked hard to get used to who I am now and I don't want to give my dad what he wants.  I'm not sure how much of the old me will return when I can kill again.  I was a bit violent back then.  As I said, words are like actions so when I said I would never kill again it also helped to shape who I am today.  So there you have it.  If you all want me to decide on my own I will but I'll probably need to think about it for a bit.  It's your world though, I feel you all should have a bit of a say in it."

Johnathan looks to the college in the distance and wonders if separating was the smartest idea. As he waits for the others to come along he hears Delph’s story. A story of loss and pain but also have happier times. He lets the fairy finish before he speaks. It sounds like your father had good intentions for you Delph. Yes his methods were cruel and harsh but he isn’t wrong. Having weak allies will only hold you back. I get that you are a gentle soul but to me it sounds like your father just wants you to have a successful future. Killing is natural, without it evil beings would never end their tyranny. If I had a chance to kill lord of darkness I would take it in a heart beat. How much safer would the world be? All the lives that would be spared from his evil is worth that price. The same can be said for an evil beats, like the red bull. Wouldn’t killing it make our world safer. And it doesn’t sound like your dad is evil either. From your story he sounded remorseful and he tried to stay in touch. He pauses as he tries to think how best to say this. Having the choice to kill doesn’t mean you have to kill brutally, you could learn to keep your composure. A true hunter knows how to respect the kill, and I bet that your dad just wants you to be free from an oath that you said when you were emotional. It’s just my opinion, in the end it’s your choice.

Ward invisibly in Bird form arrives just as Delph begins to speak, waiting until he stops to drop his Druidshape and Invisibility. "Firstly, **** your father. He does not realize the difference between what an ally can be, and if he continues that path he will be harmed by it. Firstly, we must go see the rest of the parties, then we can figure that out, as well, who has the bag of holding." Ward says, barely holding on before collapsing from the weight of everything he is holding. "Turns out the blacksmith was loaded and also a bit of a creep so I don't feel as bad about him getting fireballed now." Ward says from the ground

Kerwyn scratches his head under his headband, blows his nose (a few owl feathers come out), and then he looks hard again at Delph.  “Can’t you do both?  Can’t you make an exception in your rule for one time, in order to save this world, Delph?  Think of it, if you have the ability to act, the ability to cause all of this to stop - - and you don’t?  Aren’t you in effect killing all of the people of this world?  Wouldn’t you not be telling the truth if you indeed fail to act?  What would happen to you then?  If you have a chance to stop the actions of the Lord of Darkness, to prevent him from killing further people in this world, and you don’t do so - - aren’t you in effect killing those same people of this world?  Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.  Now now, don’t call me a consequentialist.  If there was some mass murderer in history that caused genocide and you had a chance to go back in time and stop him, I know that is a complicated matter.  Could you kill a baby if you knew that baby was going to grow up into a mass murderer?   Could you kill the baby Lord of Darkness?  I realize that this might change you.  Even if it is only one time, for this cause?  I know the argument about the slippery slope as well, first its stopping someone who murders a generation of people, then it is someone who steals from you, then its taking out the annoying git who sits in front of you at the play and farts while eating popcorn.  But no, no, no.  We are talking about the Lord of Friggen Darkness here, the Childlike Empress, and the possibility of our whole world’s survival resting in your hands.  If you can help.  If you choose to.”  Kerwyn stops and shakes his head, contemplatively.  The headband falls off of his head into his lap for a moment.  

Kerwyn looks up at Delph saying in a simpler voice, “Man, you’re father is a real dick dude.  A bona fide A-hole!  That sucks!”  He scratches his head for a moment, then puts the headband back on.

Travin listens to Delphinium, thoughtful, yet twitching every now and again. "It seems fireflights fear is, what becomes of fireflight after wordses are reversed, hmmm? The magics may change fireflights nature yeh, but it cannot change what fireflight has learned from his time without killing yeh yeh, this wills always be a part of fireflight, and fireflight can use that time to inform his decisions goings forward, hmmmm? To not be able to kill is to not needs restraint, but to be able to kill and choose not to, that is reals strength hmm?"

The moment Ward suggests he has things from the smithy shop, Travin is all over him like a fly on hot shit, trying to get a peek at the goods, trying to get any scraps of whatever other people don't want. 

To Johnathan the fairy seems to need a moment before replying, "I never said my dad was evil.  Just a jerk.  Perhaps it comes from my mother but I am very protective of my friends.  Even weak ones.  I guess I see my strength as something that protects others but I'm not totally sure on that.  I'm happy you still think I'm a gentle soul.  I was not always but sonce then It's what my mother says I'm becoming.  Can I still be gentle and a killer?  I'm not sure those mix well but I like it... I think.  You are right though, I can kill responsibly.  I can make up my own rules for doing so.  I guess I need to figure out what those are.  As much as i hate to admit it... my dad was right about me missing the hunts.  I wonder if I can come up with rules to kill, while still being the next in line for the lord of the hunt, that can piss off my dad still?"  Delph seems to think on this.

As Ward appears from nowhere Delph sees their copious amount of items as they collapse the fairy goes over to help get some of the items off him.  "Need some help there Ward?"  They move a couple items and for a tiny fairy they are unnaturally strong as they move the stuff off him.  Delph then says "I know I don't need to choose right now.  Johnathan gave me some things to think about though.  We can totally meet up with others and I can use the alicorn when and if I'm ready to accept his deal."

Kerwyn brings up taking action to prevent death.  Delphinium says "I'm not responsible for others actions Kerwyn.  I am responsible for my own actions and not the lord of darkness or anyone else.  I could simply leave and live in the feywild away from all this.  I don't want to though.  I want to help others because I want to not because it's some responsibility.  Even when I was brutally hunting some pray with my father I'd still be helpful to other people.  I like that feeling.  You're right though, I can do something to help your world.  I don't know how the alicorn will change me but maybe that's the best way to help you all."  Again delphinium seems to be deep in thought.

To travin the fairy says "Hmm,  you're not wrong about the fear of what ill become.  The alicorn is really powerful and im not sure what it'll do to me.  In some way fey are what we say so its like... im undoing a part of me to begin with.  I think you're on to something.  Kind of like what I was saying to Johnathan.  I just need to figure out what I want within his deal.  Maybe I can be both predator and prey but I'm not sure how to hit that mark yet."

"travin knows delphinium will choose what is rights for delphinium yeh, what matters is that after the choice is mades, Delphinium is happy hmm?" Travin speaks more or less over his junk laiden shoulder as he continues harassing Ward.

The world begins to shimmer.  There's a moment where the Dawn Guard can hear words, hear something happening around them, something like an incantation that is being whispered...mumbled...and things begin to change around them.  The dark green forest of the Faron Woods begins to fade away, disappear from reality, and then, for the briefest moment, they are awash in darkness.  Darkness so thick and black they cannot see each other.  Darkness that swallows sounds and voices.  Darkness that engulfs and drags, drags and drags, until emerald light begins to break the barriers.  

Then they're somewhere else.  Them, their wagons, their equipment; and there, before them, is a Luck Dragon, and next to the Luck Dragon is the man some of them remember from their original summons to the Ivory Tower...

Atreyu, the AURYN Medallion still in his hands as he stands at the top of the steps of the Hall of Celestials, the Owlin Elders behind him, Gandalf the Gray amongst the crowd of the other AURYN summoned standing in the courtyard before them.  Some of them recognize the faces of Rumble of Hunger, Jek Utinni, and Tuto, while others are new to them...

As items are handed out and passed around,. Travin is excited and very happy with the wand he receives from Ward and the shortsword that he takes from Kerwyn.

Once everything is done and people have taken what they want from the bodies now stiffening up on the battlefield, Travin sets about feeding his bag, talking gently to it as it devours bits of orc and ogres, travin having to dismember chunks of the massive ogres so that they fit.

Then as the world shimmers around him he looks around in confusion, still lowering what appears to be a soggy leg into his bag

AURYN

The Hunt for the Last Unicorn

Part IV

The Army of Eternia

Day by day...

...What you do...

...Is who you become.

"Just remember, it's likely the King and Queen won't know you, or even believe who you say you are."  Gandalf said as he looked over Kerwyn and did what he could to make him not look...well.  Like he'd been in the field for weeks with the Dawn guard.  "Trust Dageron as your military strategist, and Travin and Thea to help you smooth over your words.  Don't be confrontational.  Think about how you felt when you received this news.  Then think about what it must sound like to them, nearly three decades later.  It'll be a lot to take in.  There may be feelings.  They may be angry or accuse you of being an imposter or anything.  Travin, remember the word you wrote on yourself.  Now..."

Gandalf stepped away from them, showing them a mirror that was emanating an image; the evening reddening the sky as the Three Brothers crawled toward their nightly rest in that part of the world, the part of the world where Castle Eternia was the seat of power.  The room is huge, and every wall, even the floor and ceilings in some areas, are dotted with huge mirrors; the sort of looking glasses that one may use to get a full picture of themselves before a ball or banquet, or to see how dapper they appear before they set off to war.  The mirrors display images all across Hyboria, from the sands of the Shem, to the Faron Wood, the vast mushroom forests of Subternia, to the endless deserts of water that separate the continents.  The old wizard walks among the mirrors, holding a strange, folding mirror in his hand as he does so before offering it up to the makeshift band.

"Remember, time is not on our side.  I don't know how you want to convince the guards or whoever to give you an audience with King Randor and Queen Marlena, but I'm sure you'll come up with something.  That's part of the whole heroism bit, right Thea?"  

He hands them the big folding mirror, then a much smaller mirror on top of it.  

"The big one folds out.  You can lay it on the ground somewhere and slip through it to return to this room.  The small one is for passing materials and messages.  Don't break either of them, do you understand?  If you do, it should only be for an emergency.  Now, be careful with...oof, watch the snail and the Firey before they break these mirrors, Goddesses forbid...be careful leading your mounts through.  And good luck."  

And with that, Gandalf waved toward the mirror overseeing Eternia with one inviting hand.  

The air was hot, heavy, and humid as it flowed in from the nearby forests.  Saurians called in the woods, birds chirped, and the sounds of the distant city of Castle Eternia could be heard through the thick air.  A steady stream of foot traffic and carts rolled into and out of the castle, past the towns and farmlands surrounding the walls of the main city...

Travin gives the group an awkward thumbs up, as he is mentioned to be there to smooth things over "Travin's wordses are Smooths like butter yeh yeh!" He also gives a gentle and smug pat to the upside down scrawl of the word 'Mithrandir' on his patchwork robe.

At the direction of Gandalf, Travin begins barking orders at the giant firey in a gruff goblish language, it becomes apparent to the members of the group new to travin that there is not a single ounce of intelligence in the fiery troll like creature. In the end Travin decides it is easier for the troll to navigate the mirror without limbs and the firey pulls each of its limbs off tossing them through the mirror and letting travin pull it's torso through afterward, reconstituting itself on the other side, it's a real ordeal to watch.

Once on the other side, Travin shambles around and takes in his new environment and his new party members, "oooh fairy! What is fairies name? Hmmm? Would fairy like to ride on Travin's throne yeh yeh?" He directs his attention toward Skot and points to an upholstered chair that is mounted on Travin's crooked shoulders, along with a frankly ridiculous amount if junk and containers and random items.

Kerwyn would notice that Travin is not wearing his usual bulbous goggles but has now replaced them with some small round rose tinted glasses that perch on his stubby nose, and his usual spiky pile has now been a little more organised, no more scimitars and spears jut out at odd angles, but a new quiver sits behind the creatures head, the hilts of many weapons sticking harmlessly from it. He is also no longer covered in soot and blood, but the ground in remnants still stain the harder to reach places of his clothes and face and grey straw-like hair.

Kerwyn smiles at the familiar sights, he is pleased to be near his home, back among familiar settings.  He has visited Castle Eternia before, but he was not aware of his background at that time.  Now… things are different.  As he considers the situation, there is a small lump of uncertainty in his stomach.  How will I convince them?  Their son riding in on a flail snail?  His hand goes to his glaive, fingering it.  He begins to think of how he will do it, what he will say.  

He turns to his companions, appraising the lot of them and how they will present themselves.  He tries to remember what he can recall about the court of King Randor and Queen Marlena, their advisors and who might currently be the Hand of the King.  Will need to convince them too…. He was last here, 4? 5? years ago, so much has transpired since then.   As they ride toward the entrance, he says out loud to everyone, “Well, how should we go about this?  Ask for an audience with the King?  Perform some feat of magic in their courtyard?”  He looks over to Travin with a look of concern as he considers him, “Play ‘em a tune on the saxaboom?”  He grins.  

"Sax-a-Boom wents home with Gavin, hmm" the little junk man says sadly. "But Travin stoles a new instrument yeh yeh! A tooter froms the halls of Celestia!" With that he giddily unsheathes a very nice looking Shawm and gives it a blow, shrieking a high pitched note through the groups surroundings. "Yeh! If Travin can harmonise now, hmm ifs someone plays Travin's panflute yeh yeh" the turn around of Travin's mood is back and forth at break neck speed, enough to give anyone social whiplash, Kerwyn however must be used to it by now.

“I’ll give it a shot.” says Kerwyn, taking the pan flute from Travin.  “What do you want to play?  Not sure that I can do anything with this, but I’ll give it a try.”  They ride on and Kerwyn is obviously occupied with his own thoughts, trying to consider what to do when they arrive.  

Travin can easily one hand the Shawm, and so he leans over shifting the pan flute around under Kerwyn's lip helping him hit the right notes as they awkwardly harmonise a little ditty. After a minute or so travin gives up, and turns his attention to Thea and Dageron, "so!... Ah! I'm what's have Thea and Dageron been doings? Hmmm.  Travin is new to the bands, yeh yeh, Travin didn't knows about any darknesses or Ganonses til the Dawn Guard cames along, hmmm! And... And then Travin adopted thems to his collection yeh!" 

The road toward Castle Eternia is well populated.  Foot traffic comes and goes in the hundreds as people filter into and out of the city of trade and commerce.  Wagons of food, heaps of grains and hay go in, and all manner of tapestries come out, draped over the arms of their new owners, or happy farmers leading new cows and horses home on leads, carts full of bricks and hewn stones and masterfully crafted lumber and furniture.  The city is clearly wealthy and a hub for commerce.  Friendly guards smile and patrol the roads, talking to the passersby as they mill about.  These are men who clearly lover their jobs and their duty.  

Guards stood near the castle gates, all armed with long halberds.  They smiled and glanced at the people coming through the portcullis, waving them through after just cursory glances at their cargo.  

(( As before, Dageron will have covered his distinctive Imperial armor with the large sand-colored robe, and left his helm upon his head, visor down. ))

"I might suggest a somewhat different approach... Introduce me as a courier of the Empire to the palace guard. As a marked courier, I should be afforded some right to deliver my charge. If granted, I will reveal Mithrandir's purpose in sending us, and request you join."

Travin walks until he is stopped and even then doesn't really get it, "ah we have business in the castle again yeh! Travin's friend heres is a markeds courier hmmmm? Don't mind Birt, Birt is Ahhhhh securities yeh yeh! Securities hm!" If any soldier tried looking through what items travin has, the group would see the junkman grow very uncomfortable, very quickly and prepare himself to act on that discomfort.

"Well hello there fellow!"  One of the guards says as he approaches Travin.  He looks up and around the stack of things on the Junkman's back and seems...at a loss for words.  Curious.  Good natured but unsure what he's looking at.  "I see you've come to Castle Eternia to do some trading!  Why, you must be quite strong!  Tell me, friend, what business do you and yours have in our fair city?"  

He begins looking around the huge pile of miscellaneous things on Travin's back that the Junkman has picked up here and there.  As he looks, he tips his helmet back to scratch the top of his head. 

Kerwyn waves at the guard, stepping off of his flail snail, circlet on his head and a calm, easy smile on his face.  “We wanted to come see the castle of course!  My name’s Kerwyn, I’m from the Faron Woods, Falcon Crest - have you heard of it?  We want to look around, maybe see the King and Queen, who knows?  This place is awesome!”  He looks around, jaw open, mouth agape.