So our story begins...

The Birth of a God

A sweat drenched Courant paced outside the Oracle’s home, worry filling her mind. Her child was growing fast – too fast for everything to be alright. Arianah, Rapier, and Viriarus were there waiting for their elements or their chance to speak with Delphinium – at the moment she was unsure and did not care. Delphinium, having sensed the water goddess’ presence rushed out of her cottage with a concerned look on her face.

“Courant?” She asked, ignoring the presence of the mortals. She knew they were here for trivial things – new elemental stones or friendly visits – it was very rare that the deities came to visit her. "My child...it's been too short for it to come!" Courant gasped, her breath becoming labored as contractions moved through her body. "Your child has a new power Hoof Prince has never seen before, one more powerful than I imagined it would be. Come, your child has decided it's time to come into the world." Delphinium said, moving towards her garden. The cold winter weather had all but killed her once beautiful plants and flowers, but would now serve as a safe birth place for Courant's baby. "Wait... Paduan isn't here yet. He needs to be here..." Courant said, sounding anxious. Delphinium looked at her as she stood at the gate of her garden, finding Courant to be suprisingly out of character. "Viriarus, Guardian of Altus and Queen of the Valkyries... Use your wings to go get Paduan. You are the only one who could reach him with time to spare." Delphinium said, her attention shifting to Arianah and Rapier. "Stay here and stand guard. Only let Paduan, Elyria, or Galadriel through if they come." She said sternly, her attention back on Courant who had just laid down as her contractions started quickening.

After what felt like an eternity, Courant felt the contractions coming quicker and the child moving through her. "A few more pushes Courant, then she'll be out." Delphinium said encouragingly, watching the mare but not touching. "She?" Courant asked, looking at Delphinium as another wave of pain washed over her. "Yes, Courant... She." Laying her head back down, Courant concentrated and pushed a few more times. Arianah and Rapier watched on, each with their own mix of fascination and elation. Arianah was thrilled to be a part of this, to witness the birth of Courant's child! But Rapier found this trip to visit the Oracle much more useful to her than getting a new element.


As Courant pushed out the child, cleaned her off, and announced her name (Aprilia) Rapier retreated into the shadows that the quickly setting sun naturally offered and headed east.


To Rencor's temple.




Rencor's Confession

Altus stood at the edge of the mountain cliff, his head lowered and eyes closed. A dark figure stood behind him, watching the deity with sick amusement. "She never loved you Altus, it's obvious in the child she created with him." Rencor said, smiling handsomely. Lifting his head, Altus looked at the god of darkness as anger flashed across his face like lightning. "And you... She made a child with you as well." Rencor, ever the clever man just let his grin grow wider. "Oh, that? Don't let it get to you, Altus. She is a game to me; she's no better than any overly bred mortal mare. I just enjoy...torturing her, that's all." Turning fully on Rencor, a strong wind rushed over the mountain face blowing pieces of snow around them. "That's where you're wrong, Rencor. She is the reason I'm here still; she's my entire world. If you had any ounce of goodness in your soul, you would understand." His voice was loud and seemingly shook the base of the mountain.

Rencor laughed.

"Then your world has ended. She's with Paduan now, and obviously happy; can't you see how mild the winter has been? She doesn't need you... She doesn't want you anymore." Rencor said, his voice growing lower. "I have a way to get back at her, to make her hurt more than you do." At this, Altus raised his voice, looking at Rencor defiantly. "Get out of my temple. If you do anything to hurt her again, I swear it will be the last thing you do."
Again, Rencor laughed.

"I doubt that." Then, he was gone leaving Altus standing at the cliff watching Hoof Prince below.




Synyster's Quest

The dark, dappled form of the former Rajput King limped slowly into the area surrounding Rencor’s temple, the smell of burnt flesh and blood following him as he moved. It was dark and wooded, shadows hanging like low fog among the trees. The God of Darkness had called for him, finding that – with recent events – Synyster’s debt to him could finally be repaid. As Synyster stopped before the broken down structure that was Rencor’s temple, a low maniacal laugh filled his ears and sent shivers down his spine. Some shadows peeled back to reveal the forms of Discord and Adolf standing off to the side, watching him with the slightest hint of amusement on their faces.

They knew why he had been summoned here, even if he did not.

“Synyster,” A deep voice called from within the temple “I’m so glad you could join us. The time has come for you to finally repay your debt to me. I’m sure you remember our bargain.” Rencor said, materializing at the edge of the temple. “Courant has had her child – Paduan’s child – and I think it would be a rather nice collection to our army don’t you think?” He asked, grinning madly. “…I…” Synyster began, only to be interrupted. “I don’t care what you think. Either bring me the child, or you’ll find yourself… a very grave man.” He said, his last words drowned out by laughter.

Apollyon lurked in the darkness, watching the scene unfold. If Synyster was unable to complete the task assigned to him, the demi-god would.




Fire and Ice

“Are you really leaving?” she asked, watching him intently as dawn spread long pink finger tips across the sky. “You left.” He said sharply, his eyes on the edge of the lake. “You’re right; I have no place to say anything.” She said bitterly, turning away from him. The mare was hurt and upset, which was apparent in her voice and body language. He remained looking at the shores of the lake, seemingly mesmerized by the way the waves lapped upon the shore. “Everything that I touch turns to ash. My blind desire to protect something that does not even exist brought Hell to Paradise. This world has had enough of me.” Turning back to him, she kept her head low. “I’m never going to forget you. You’ll always be here, in my heart.”

A soft wind blew around her, caressing her softly. He smiled, albeit sadly. “You are one memory that can never fade. The details may go, the rain might take the etchings from the marble but the strength of it will still exist. My time here is over… this world does not need another monster.”

Lifting her head up, she looked at him with indignation. “I see you as a flawed man, but a man who knows compassion and love. I know this because you let me know you. Let them know you… give them a chance.” Looking at her, he shook his head once more. “They will never see me the way you see me.” He paused for a moment and moved closer to her, the rising sun illuminating their silhouettes. He reached out and touched her softly, letting his nose skim the side of her face. “Ou fay te loari, Farwyn.” He whispered in Ancient, his face still touching hers.

As small, silver tears fell down her face, she whispered softly back: “I love you too.”



After the Storm

Love is something that seems to be lacking in Hoof Prince lately, whether it be because of the long summer months raising our tempers or the bitter cold making it impossible for us to open up and share ourselves with someone else. We've always been a jaded people, love blooming in the most likely of places between characters we never thought would let that four letter word fall from their lips like rain from a storm cloud.

Wait...what is this?

Our attention turns to those hiding in the shadows, dancing around each other like moths waiting for the flame to begin burning to draw them in. They're willing to cross enemy lines and to throw their daggers to the side... Could the Valkyrie ever love a ghost, though? Or, could the slave ever love the master?

More importantly, will Moose and Osiris' budding relationship stand the test of Time? That is something we're all dying to know.




Amber

"Oracle, what stone is that" Arianah asked, stepping closer to the mother and daughter. Delphinium, rolling up her sleeves, looked closely at the tiny yellow stone on the filly's neck. "This... is a new element. The stone is amber, and the power... Aprilia can control time." Courant looked at Delphinium, a worried expression on her face. Whatever conversation passed between the two was silent, and unnoticed by Arianah or Aprilia. The Oracle and the goddess seemed concerned with such a powerful element surfacing now, in the wake of the two-legged creatures and all of the war passing through Hoof Prince. Neither could figure out what it means.

"She's beautiful." A rough voice said, flame ribbons circling around the silver child. She giggled, making her way onto her legs to play with the crackling creations her father had made. "Paduan." Courant said softly, making her way over to him. "Viriarus, thank you." She added, her eyes on the winged Valkyrie Queen who only nodded before turning and taking flight.

"What is her name?" Paduan asked, stepping closer to observe his daughter. "Aprilia" Courant answered, reaching out to lip at Paduan's shoulder.

"Come, Arianah, let us leave the happy family alone. " Delphinium said, leading the Northern Queen out of the little garden knowing full well that the peace between water and fire might not last for very long. Their elements were natural enemies, while their love for each other had sparked so long ago and could only be described as a raging sea or a wild fire. Neither lasted for very long, and left destruction in it's path.



Genesis

Aprilia moved through the area between her mother's temple and her father's, wanting to go talk to her father and find out more about the element she would grow up to control. The strange looking creature (who her mother had called 'Delphinium') had told her she controlled Time and that she would - one day - master it. She wasn't allowed to experiment with it, but would have to go talk to Delphinium and learn how to control it. Though, being her mother and father's child defiance obviously ran thickly in her blood. She would play around, here and there, without anyone noticing - setting birds back in flight, and snow back into the clouds and watching it fall again. This, of course was what she was doing when she came across the tall stallion headed in the direction of the water temple.

"Hi!" She said brightly, her voice still so much like a cherub's. "Who are you? Are you going to see my mother?" Innocence filled Aprilia's face, her eyes growing large with excitement. The dark form grinned, shadows curling out around them. "I am Apollyon."

Shadows continued to surround them, Aprilia's eyes changing from bright innocence to fear. "What are you doing, why...?" She asked, fear filling her voice. Suddenly, the form of Apollyon shifted and where the tall horse once stood was the form of a panther. As the shadows cleared, the screaming form of Aprilia could be seen running while her Amber was like beacon in the night.

Then, she pulled us back... back to the beginning.

She wasn't aware of what she had done, or the grave misjudgment she had made when trying to use her element to run away from the snarling jungle cat that had been chasing after her. She had only been trying to save herself, and in doing so took Hoof Prince back to a time when no deities ruled over us and no kingdoms were at war. This, of course is where our story begins...

Again.