Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned here.

This story was made only with entertaining purposes and is not intended to be taken seriously in any social, political or religious context under any circumstances.

"For Honor" and its characters belong to "Ubisoft".

"The Dragon Prince" and its characters belong to "Netflix".

Book Zero: War

Test Of Valor

Part I: Riders Of The Storm

Following an abrupt landing into the depths of the forest, Corvus rose from the soil, supporting himself in a hollow log lying beside him. Then he spun on his heel, lifting his sight towards the slender silhouette in the upper plateau.

"Savor your victory, elf, next time you won't be so lucky!"" Corvus exclaimed, his voice echoing far and wide across the woods.

"Says the guy in the ditch!" the elf shouted back tauntingly, swiftly vanishing from the scene.

Corvus huffed afterwards, frowning. With his target gone and the princes still missing, there was nothing left but to return and inform the general about his failure. He sighed, turning again over his steps as he started limping in the opposite direction. While the pain afflicting his being was great, it was his pride that took the most damage.

But suddenly, when he thought himself alone, the sound of bushes colliding with one another arrived to his ears. Corvus tensed, assuming a fighting stance.

"Returned to finish me off while I'm wounded and unarmed!?" he yelled, glancing desperately at his surroundings. "That's low, even for your kind!"

However, his taunts found no reply, and the strange noises unexpectedly ceased, letting a long silence seize the atmosphere.

He frowned once more, clenching his fists, his patience having grown thin.

"Show yourself, coward!"

Suddenly and before he could react, Corvus was struck by an arrow cutting across the wind, its sharp end effortlessly piercing through his right shoulder.

Following that, from the nearby bushes emerged several soldiers wearing metal-plated armor painted in bright orange with black details, wielding heater shields and arming swords. Sallet helms covered their heads while their mouths remained concealed behind chainmail.

"What is this!? Who are you!?" Corvus questioned his attackers as they gathered around him like vultures on a corpse. A couple of them approached, grabbing his arms, forcing him to kneel.

"Release me at once! You have no idea what you're doing!" he shouted, struggling to escape his captors' grasp. His resistance was met with a pommel fiercely clashing his cheekbone, the hit was strong enough to stun Corvus and bruise his skin. But he regained consciousness soon enough, with a sharp pull on his black, braided hair, making him lift his head.

"I demand to speak with your leader!" otnumbered many times, with his weapon lost and his body deeply wounded, Corvus acknowledged that the best course of action was, at least for now, submission. So he remained immobile, yet he refused to show neither fear nor doubt, even when two swords were dangerously pressed against his throat by the attackers holding him hostage.

Then, as if on cue, the soldiers at the background took a step back, clearing the way for a dark figure walking out from amidst the woods.

"Do you know what kind of creature waits for its own slaughter?" the newcomer spoke on a low, raspy whisper while she approached to Corvus, who could do nothing but stare powerless as she drew a longsword forth.

"Sheep..."

Before the Blackstone Legion took me as one of their own, I was already acquainted with their unorthodox methods.

Even so, the last place where I expected to find myself in, was in a hunt for children across the entire continent.

But the order has been given, and I am a Warden.

My oath, as my blade, will remain unbroken.

I watched silently as the entertainer shrieked after he was pushed into the wall of the alley. Holden tightened his grip around the poor man's throat, who kicked hopelessly while his feet were lifted from the ground, being suspended in the air.

"P-p-please..." the entertainer said between frantic gasps. "T-take the dagger, and my money! J-just don't hurt me! Please, I-I don't even know who you people are!"

"I never repeat myself," Holden growled. "Two boys traveling with an elf and a glow toad. Quite difficult to miss. Have you seen them?"

"Ack! … Y-yes-s..." the entertainer managed to pronounce in a feeble whisper. "The elf tried to... steal my dagger! I... I rallied the townsfolk to chase after them... but they ran into the... Cursed Caldera! They must be dead by now... The place is filled with monsters and... beasts! Please! That's all I know... Please... Don't kill me..."

"That's enough, Holden. We have our answers." I intervened, but Holden paid no mind to my protest, his stranglehold surrounding the man's neck remained immovable.

I heard Holden huff beneath his helm before letting go of the entertainer, he fell to his knees on the floor, coughing loudly while rubbing his throat with his palm.

"So? What's the plan?" Mercy questioned, stepping forth.

"Reinforcements are on their way," Holden replied, turning to face us. "They should be here around nightfall. If there's any truth in the words of this... excuse of a man, we can't afford to send a force after the princes, it's too risky, and would take too long."

"Sounds like another dead end." Mercy said, walking deeper into the alley.

"Not quite," Holden replied. "If we can't find the princes, we'll bring them to us."

"How?"

"The best way to catch a prey, is to burn its nest."

"Wait," I spoke. "This town? Burn it? Innocents would die."

"Believe it or not," Holden began, turning his back on me. "This small town is of great value as an strategic point across the continent. If we take it, our forces can use it as a transitional outpost for many crusades. Mercy, get to higher ground, give the signal."

"You... Monsters!" the entertainer exclaimed, by this point I had forgotten that he was still here. "You can't do that! When the people learns about this, they will-Argh-! Ah..."

Crimson splashed the surroundings, tainting the walls. The scent of burnt flesh filled the air as an incandescent blade burst out from the man's chest on a smoke-and-meat miasma.

After several seconds of choking with his own blood, life eventually abandoned the entertainer's body, which soon fell at the snow-covered ground with a sonorous thud when Mercy extracted the enchanted dagger from the corpse.

"'Sunforge blade', huh? I think I'll keep it." Mercy said nonchalantly, inspecting up-close the weapon she stole to the now deceased man. Then I watched as she abandoned the alley with a hastened pace.

"Now's not the time for hesitation..." Holden commented, approaching from behind, placing his palm on my shoulder. "Innocents die every day. Today will be no different, but their deaths won't be in vain... Come, we still have job to do."

He left my side, heading to the main street of the towm. I remained, motionless, silent, a thousand questions still swarming my mind. I glanced down at the husk of the innocent man that Mercy had ruthlessly slain.

The clearer my orders are, the murkier my end goal becomes. But Holden is right, doubts will only serve to get me killed before my duty is fulfilled.

I shook my head, and kneeled before the corpse. I closed his glassy eyes, then mine. I prayed for his safety in the afterlife, I prayed for my own safety. Then I stood, spun on my heel, and walked away.

I am a Warden.

My oath, as my blade, will remain unbroken.

Dawn was nigh.

Ever so slowly, the cerulean mantle encompassing the stars and constellations gave place to a brighter shade of blue. Still, a pale, gibbous moon reigned strong over the highest point in the celestial vault. The calm being disturbed only by a shooting star sailing across the cloudless sky, its burning journey abruptly stopping above the peak of the Cursed Caldera, where it shattered on a thousand purple light-particles gently falling into the earth as snowflakes during winter.

"It's beautiful." Callum said, watching with awe at the spectacle of alien glows floating around them.

"They're gentle, they even tickle a little." Rayla added, stretching her palm to touch one of the particles, then blew it away like a dandelion.

The atmosphere was jovial, with the successful birth of the new dragon prince, Azymondias. Today would make for a great tale, but it was far from over, Lujanne knew it. She knew the true nature behind the lights, as her gaze wandered over the mountain range, finding its source. Then her focus returned to the kids sitting in a circle, bonding, laughing gleefully without a care in the world.

After all they've been through, what right did she had to deny them this victory? She is a moon mage, master of illusion, and the illusion of triumph was among the purest and strongest, but the truth was another. The least she could do, was letting them be prepared for it.

"Um, guys..." Ezran stuttered suddenly, rising from the ground, pointing to the horizon. "Did the storm or the floating lights do that?"

Everyone's attention headed towards a wide pillar of dark smoke rising tall above the treetops, fuming into the heavens. Loud, sputtering flames blared through the nocturnal breeze while a fierce amber glow shone at the core of the forest.

"Oh no... Ava!" Ellis cried in sheer dread as she saw the fire rapidly spread, devouring her hometown. Right after the wolf reached her side, she swiftly climbed upon her loin, mounting her like a horse.

"Ellis, wait! What are you doing!?" Callum exclaimed.

"My family is there! I have to go!" Ellis answered before running away, fading in the dark of the night.

"Ellis! Damn!" Callum called again, but it was too late. "Ez, get Bait. Rayla, you get Zym, can you help us get down there faster?" he completed, turning to the moon mage.

"Actually... No..." Lujanne replied softly.

"Wait, what?"

"You mean you won't help? Why?" Ezran asked, approaching from behind.

"I'm sorry, child, but my place is here, guarding the nexus," the mage continued, patting the head of her moon phoenix standing beside her. "The only thing I can do for you, is keeping your path clear of any illusions. Even so, I'll pray for your safe return. You will always be welcome here, should you decide to come back."

"We appreciate it, but you can't extinguish flames with prayers." Rayla said, cradling the newborn dragon in her arms.

"It's alright, we understand," Callum replied. "Thank you for everything, ma'am. Let's go."

So, Lujanne stayed behind, watching silently while the princes and the elf descended the mountainous path, traversing the dry forest, then passing through the rocky valley as far and fast as their legs would take them.

After what seemed to be hours, they arrived to the village, encountering a nightmarish sight.

Black smoke and flames burned wildly within the buildings, some structures collapsing to pieces into the ground. Ash mixed with embers covered the streets, the sky remained dark. Cries, laments blaring clear like thunders in the background, yet there was no living soul visible across the alleys.

"This is bad, really bad." Callum stammered.

"Why would anyone do something like this?" Ezran murmured while Bait let out a small grunt, its skin shifting from yellow to purple.

"We'll focus on that later. Now, somebody sees Ellis or Ava?"

"Here, I'll go find them," Rayla spoke, handing a shivering Azymondias to Callum. "You two wait for me at the outskirts. If I'm not back by dawn, go."

"But Rayla," Ezran interrupted. "You-"

"I'll be fine, Ez. You need not to worry." she reassured the younger prince, kneeling before him as she placed her palm on top of his head, and began stirring his hair playfully.

"Be careful." Callum said somberly.

"You too." Rayla replied, rising from the snow, then she swiftly spun on her heel, pulling out her twin-blades, and ran towards the main square of the town.

"Ez, let's go, stay close." as soon as the elf vanished amongst the firestorm, the princes started walking downhill across the burning edifices surrounding them, through the flames and the thick smokescreen filling the atmosphere. The ambient growing increasingly darker with each step, breathing becoming more difficult while they continued delving deeper into the streets.

Nonetheless, the boys carried on.

"Callum! There's people over there!" little time passed until Callum and Ezran encountered tangible lifesigns on the village, in the form of three silhouettes standing at the bottom of a nearby alley.

"Wait!" Callum exclaimed, stopping dead on his tracks. When they arrived to the end of the avenue, the princes found that the strange shadows lurking in the background didn't resembled the townsfolk. So instead, they hid around the corner from a close building.

Callum cautiously peeked beyond their cover, spotting a couple of knights, but he wasn't able to recognize their affiliation, for their uniforms lacked any emblem or coat of arms; The unknown individuals wore full-body plated armor painted with a mixture of orange and black, wielding longswords while great helms concealed their identities.

However, the third figure differed considerably from the others. The elder prince looked carefully, it didn't take long for him to realize that the person between the knights was the doctor they met earlier, but his glasses were gone, his face badly battered and swollen, likely from physical assault.

"P-p-please..." the man stuttered, kneeling on the ground. "I'll give you e-everything I have, anything you want! But please, just don't-"

The knights glanced at each other, remaining silent for a moment until one hit the doctor in the head using his the pommel of his longsword, causing the man to lose his balance and fall. Then, the faceless warriors started kicking the doctor as he laid prone over the soil.

"P-please! I'm begging you!" the man cried, pressing his palms to his nape while he endured the abuse.

Shortly after seconds of incessant beating, a knight placed his foot upon the doctor's back, pinning him against the soil while he drew out his longsword, its elongated blade pointed at the earth. He slowly raised his weapon, gaining impulse, and before long, brought it down abruptly.

The doctor yelled as the cold, sharp steel pierced cloth, flesh, bone like a hot knife slicing through butter. He choked, struggled, but soon strength would start abandoning him, consciousness also leaving his body. And soon, he finally exhaled his last breath, fading into the eternal sleep, lying in a puddle of his own blood with a saddened expression graven on his face for the rest of eternity.

"Oh no..." Ezran gasped, watching frightened at the knight pulling out his sword from the man's lifeless body, then carelessly walked away alongside his companion. "We should've helped him."

"Close your eyes, Ez. There's nothing we could've done." Callum whispered, looking away. In that moment, Azymondias released a feeble whimper of fear, cuddling its head into the boy's jacket.

"Oh, don't worry, lil' guy, everything's going to be ok." he muttered, gazing down to the frightened dragon, gently rocking it in his arms.

"Hey, Callum, look." Ezran called, tugging lightly at his brother's sleeve.

Callum's sight followed the indication, finding an scarlet trail, still fresh, flowing across the alley into the depths of the village.

"A trail of..."

"Blood?"

"... Yes..."

"Should we... follow it?"

"Whatever gets us far from here suits me, come on." Callum commanded and, taking a final glance at the surroundings to reassure their safety, the brothers emerged from their hideout. Engaging in a rampant sprint through the burning streets, they chased the bloody path on the soil, which eventually led them to the outskirts of the town.

"Look! Ellis' home." Ezran exclaimed, pointing to a small house hidden among the trees. Both continued walking hastily across the snowy path towards the familiar building.

"There's someone inside." the younger prince said as they stood before the front door of the house, hearing low sobs coming from inside.

"Stay here, I'll go first." Callum spoke, turning to his brother. Then he went forward, carefully sliding the gate open, stepping into the building.

It took some time until his vision adjusted to the blackness filling the house, barely countered by the moonlight outlining the contours of the items and furniture sprawled across the room, pouring from a huge gap at the roof.

But then he stopped, the sight he encountered was something he would've preferred not to witness.

At the center of the main hall, he found Rayla and a crying Ellis kneeling over a blue rug, with Ava's head resting on her lap. A wide pillar of blue light cascaded upon them, highlighting the image like aerial lamps akin to a stage play.

Suddenly, as soon as Callum's footsteps creaked in the floor, the elf immediately stood, instinctively drawing out her twin-blades against him.

"Whoah! Rayla, wait! It's me!" Callum swiftly yelled, releasing one hand from cradling Azymondias, extending it forth in plea.

Rayla relaxed her stance when she recognized the prince, sheathing her weapons while she let out a deep sigh of relief. She walked towards Callum, pulling him into a tight hug. Soon after, Ezran and Bait entered the building, joining the scene.

"I'm so glad to see you all safe," the elf said, pulling out from the embrace. "Even you, Bait." she added teasingly, and the glow toad emitted a low growl in response.

"Ezran, bring that chair and block the door." Callum ordered. His brother followed the command, placing Bait on the ground, then picking up a wooden chair lying on the ground, jamming it under the doorknob of the front gate.

"Rayla, what happened?" the elder prince asked, turning to face Rayla. "What's going on here?"

"A knight attacked Ellis and Ava," she replied, there was a sorrowful tone in her voice. "Ava protected her at the… ultimate price. By the time I found them… there was nothing I could do… She had an arrow going through her neck. I pulled it out, carried her all the way, and we tried to search for the doctor, but those knights were still chasing our tails. Then we took shelter here, but it was too late. Ava had lost too much blood and…"

"She…"

Rayla gave a slight nod in reply, closing her eyes and crossing her arms.

Callum huffed, his sight dropping to the floor melancholically.

"The doctor is dead too," he spoke after a long pause. "We saw him being murdered by a couple of knights before coming here."

"That's horrible!" Rayla exclaimed, clenching her fists with a marked frown on her face. "And humans say we're the monsters. Things like that are happening all over the village. Houses being burned to the ground, knights murdering men, women and children indiscriminately, can you believe it!? I-I just don't want to think... what would've happened if I hadn't found Ellis when I did… Callum, I don't know what's going on, or who those people are, but we have to get out of here, now!"

"You're right, we're not safe here," the prince replied. "We'll stay hidden here for a while until we figure something out. Here, carry Zym for a second… I'll go to see how Ellis is doing."

Callum handed the small dragon to the elf. He breathed deeply, and exhaled slowly. Hesitatingly, he parted from the Rayla's side, approaching to the little girl drowned in tears.

"Hey, Ellis, are you alright?" Callum asked softly, crouching next to Ellis.

"I-I'm fine," the weeping girl mumbled between frantic sobs. "B-b-but Ava-a..."

It was in then that Callum could get a clearer picture of Ellis.

Her eyes were red, probably due to the prolonged crying, trails from dry tears stained her lightly-freckled cheeks, her hair was a mess, and her winter clothing, much like herself, was covered with dirt, as well as clotted blood.

Shortly later, his focus shifted to the deceased canine upon her lap. There was a gaping hole of furless flesh in the wolf's neck, surrounded with a wide crimson contour, leaking scarlet drops into the floor. Also, the moonstone collar given to her by Lujanne was gone, leaving bare the stump from her missing paw.

"I'm so sorry, Ellis... This should've never happened." Callum whispered, gently running his palm over Ava's pelage.

"It's my fault!" Ellis cried, leaning down, wrapping her arms around the wolf's neck. "It's my fault… I-I should've gone to find my parents alone. She w-would still b-be here if I-"

"No, Ellis, don't say that," Callum interruped, placing his hand on her shoulder, causing her to lift her head and stare back at him. "This is not your fault, none of this is. You only did what any of us would've done in your place. And Ava saved you, just like when you saved her when she was a puppy, remember?"

Ellis clamped her eyes tightly shut, letting out a small sob while nodding slowly.

"We're here for anything you need," he cooed, wiping away a small tear from the girl's cheek with his thumb. "We're going to-"

Suddenly, the thunder of cracking wood reverberated across the house, earning the attention of every soul inside. The front gate was slammed open, effortlessly shattering the chair blocking it in the process. A thousand splinters bounced on all directions as the amber glow of the fire outside poured into the house.

A dark figure crossed the doorframe with achingly-slow steps. At first, the incandescent flames rendered the princes and the girls unable of fathoming the stranger's appearance, to the point where they placed their hands ahead their eyes for protection against the bright blaze.

But soon would their gazes adjust to the sight of a knight standing menacingly before them, wielding a double-edged longsword on the right hand. However, this one was different from the others Callum and Ezran had encountered earlier, since said stranger wore a visored-barbuta helm, a white gambeson interwoven with several metal plates and chainmail, alongside a sole plaque upon the heart, strapped around the torso by a leather belt. Shoulder-pads, as well as iron gloves enveloped the arms while thick-steel guards firmly covered the legs. All of it sporting the now familiar orange-and-black color pattern.

"Whoah! Didn't anyone told you that it's unpolite to enter a room without knocking first!?" Callum said nervously in a failed attempt to ease the increasing tension of the moment.

"I trusted you would be found eventually. Surrender." the knight spoke solemnly, ignoring the teenager's comment.

"Not a chance, tin-can." Rayla retorted, placing Zym on the floor, then she stepped between the knight, the princes and Ellis.

"The egg. Where is it?" the stranger questioned.

"We don't know what you're talking about." Callum answered, rising from the ground, feigning bravery.

"Do not play dumb with me, boy!" the knight exclaimed. "We know who you are."

"Huh, that's funny, cause we have no idea who you people are. We've done no harm to you, why are you doing this?"

"I have my orders, prince Callum." the prince's blood froze at the mention of his name, his eyes widening as plates while his heart raced.

"I won't say it again! Surrender yourselves peacefully, and I give you my word, that none of you will be harmed." the knight concluded by extending a hand to Callum.

"Callum, I'm scared." Ezran murmured from behind, burying his head between his shoulders, tightly hugging Bait.

"Don't worry, Ez, I won't let anything happen to you." Callum replied softly, turning to face his brother.

"Stand down!" the stranger said authoritatively. "I do not wish to hurt you. There's no need for more bloodshed."

"And who says it's going to be our blood?" Rayla growled in reply, pulling out her twin-blades.

"Do not force my hand." the knight took another step.

"Go..." Rayla said, standing still before the stranger. "Take Zym as far as you can from here, I got this."

"Come here, lil' guy..." Callum mumbled, crouching to pick up the small dragon off the floor, cradling it in his arms. "Ellis, Ezran, let's go."

"B-b-ut A-Ava-!" Ellis stuttered, gazing above at the elder prince with watery eyes.

"Just go!" Rayla yelled exasperated, maintaining her stiff stance. Soon after, Callum and the children swiftly walked past the dueling duo, storming out from the house into the burning streets.

"No! Come back!" the knight shouted, looking away, focusing on the princes and the little girl abandoning the building.

But this proved to be a mistake, since Rayla took advantage of the distraction by lashing forward. The room illuminated, tiny sparks bouncing through the air when the twin-blades were swung against a longsword obstructing their path.

"You will stay away from them!" she xclaimed, stepping ahead, making the knight unconsciously retreat as they locked blades.

"Your friends are in great danger, elf!" the stranger retorted while being pinned into the wall by Rayla.

"I know. That's why you're going down..."

After that, the knight pushed the elf away, sending her to fly across the hall, her short-lived flight finding closure when her back abruptly collided with the wall at the other end of the room.

Rayla fell on her knees, facing the ground .She shook her head repeatedly, slowly easing the pain and disorientation inflicted by the impact. As soon as her senses readjusted, she gazed upwards, her blurred sight spotting the stranger rapidly lunging in her direction.

Her eyes widened, adrenaline rushed through her system, and she got out of the way, rolling backwards just a millisecond before the knight plunged the longsword in a powerful downward thrust where her head used to be.

Recovering her foothold the elf gave a small jump, swinging her leg on a semi-circular motion, then hitting the rear of stranger's head with her ankle in a high roundhouse-kick. A deafening, metallic noise sounded through the room, the knight stumbled backwards after the strike, but quickly spun, seemingly unharmed, re-assuming a fighting stance against Rayla.

"You… You know," the elf spoke, panting. "It both amazes and frightens me how accurate is my impression of humans. You don't look like a fan of bread, though..."

"Stop this!" the stranger exclaimed. "I am not your enemy, elf! We have no quarrel against your kind! Our only concern are the princes!"

"They're my friends!" Rayla retorted, tightening her grip around her twin-blades. "If you want to reach them, you'll have to go through me. But why are you even after us anyway!? Who are you!?"

"I am a Warden." the knight growled, aiming the longsword towards the elf's throat. "And you are in my way!"

Rayla let out a fierce battle-cry while she lashed at the stranger, swinging her blades forth.

Steel met steel as the knight blocked the initial strike, but shortly later, the first slash was followed with a second stroke coming from below in an upward motion, which was bounced off under the wire using the same method, much less efficiently however, for the tip of the elf's weapons managed to cause a slight dent on the Warden's helm.

Seizing the momentum from the last swing, Rayla swiftly raised her arms high in the air, bringing her twin-blades down against the stranger.

However, the Warden was prepared this time, and stopped their fall by holding the longsword horizontally overhead, deflecting the elf's attack, making her unwittingly reel as she lost her footing due to her strike being parried.

Then, while Rayla lingered stunned with her back turned, the knight rapidly threw a counterattack, inflicting a long cut effortlessly flowing through cloth, trailing a crimson path of lacerated flesh and warm blood on the elf's back.

Rayla cried until her throat was sore, wincing at the burning pain plaguing her being, rendering her unable of responding the offense and, before she could even react, the Warden mightily pushed her from behind into the wall with a strong shoulder-bash. The crash of her body against the wood echoed loudly across the hall.

"You fought well." the knight said, watching while the elf collapsed on her knees.

"…Cute…" Rayla mumbled, attempting to rise once more, but the strike had left her out of combat. "But flattery will get you nowhere, tin-can."

"Neither will your bravado."

Turning to the sound of hurried footsteps as much as her injured neck allowed her, the elf spotted the blurred image of the Warden rushing towards her, holding the longsword straight on a piercing riposte. The knight's blade broke through wood with little resistance, but Rayla lowered her head in the right moment, reducing the taken damage to just losing a few ivory hairs.

"The moment of truth!" she thought.

Then, in the split-second where the Warden's weapon remained stuck on the wall, she swiftly dug her blade deep inside the knight's hip, between metal plates of the gambeson. The stranger hissed painfully, pulling the longsword out from the wood as Rayla retrieved her own.

Scarlet droplets poured to the floor. The Warden retraced a trembling step, pressing a gloved hand against the fresh, gaping wound.

Yet, the elf wasn't done, for she advanced rapidly before the knight, and leaped backwards into the air, extending one of her legs while tucking the other during the brief jump, fiercely hitting the stranger's chin with an uppercut kick.

The Warden stumbled anew, falling supine to the ground upon the strike, stunned and defeated.

"Moon reflects sun," Rayla spoke, walking closer, pressing her twin-blades crosswise against the knight's throat. "As death reflects life."

Her eyes narrowing, she clutched tightly the grips of her weapons. Everything she needed was a gentle flick on her wrists and her enemy would stop existing, and her friends would be safe... but Rayla's body wasn't responding, her hands started shivering.

Her expression softened as flashbacks from her first mission plagued her thoughts. Rain drowning the earth, thunders tearing the skies, the fearful gaze of the human in the mud beneath her.

It was happening all over again.

She lowered her blades, letting her hands fall to her sides, her stiff stance relaxing. The Warden rose slightly off the soil using the elbows, staring expectantly at the elf standing oddly still. Neither of them moved a muscle, not a single word floated in the air between them. Time froze as they waited for the other to make the next action.

However, Rayla was abruptly pushed away by a black figure emerging from behind, landing into the corner of the hall with a loud thud.

In the ground she shook her head, weakened. Then she gazed above, encountering another knight before her. Despite wearing full-body armor, the newcomer had a feminine silhouette, clearly contoured beneath the obsidian brigandine encasing her torso. Thick metal plates ornate with razor-edged spikes wrapped around her limbs, and there also was an ominous helm hiding her face, which in itself resembled the shape of the death.

"On your feet, Blackstone." the dark knightess spoke, lending a black-gloved hand at the fallen stranger.

"Apollyon…" the Warden mumbled, accepting the assistance, being helped to rise from the wooden floor.

"Get the princes," the knightess said. "I'll deal with the brat."

The Warden nodded silently in reply and walked towards the front door, hastily abandoning the building, fading in the horizon beyond the blazing streets.

"That wasn't very 'knightly' of you." Rayla whispered, struggling to stand from the ground with slow and quivering motions.

"Virtue has never won battles, child..." Apollyon replied, drawing out a sawed-edged longsword. "Now… Come. Do your worst."

Rayla gritted her teeth, tightening her grip around her weapons. And without hesitation, she threw herself against the dark knightess, swinging her twin-blades forward.

Greetings, and welcome back!

I know it's been a while since my last upload, but I've been having a hard time with life in general, so I apologize from the get-go; Now, back to the matter at hand: There are a lot of things behind this tale: The idea for this fic just popped in my head and it was very good to let it be wasted on a "maybe later" promise; I watched the entire season of "The Dragon Prince" on Netflix and saying that I fell in love is an understatement, also, It's been a while since I wanted to write something about "For Honor", then I began connecting the dots, two plus two equals four and thus, here we are!

Please note that this is only a test, I WILL NOT UPLOAD ANYTHING TO THIS AFTER THE SECOND PART; I am planning to flesh out this concept on another story with the same premise, but I'd like to wait until "The Dragon Prince" gets more seasons and see how I can play with more elements from both fandoms (I'm also highly considering including the Vikings and the samurai into the story, but don't hold me to that statement.); If this was a T.V. show, this would be the pilot episode.

On a side note: I wanted to make of this story a nice "See you soon" for you guys because, after the next upload, I will disconnect from writing for an unknown amount of time; If you are here from my Destiny/Tangled series "Believe" (In which case I thank you greatly for your appreciation), please let me say that this new fic does not mean that I will abandon my previous story, I'm just taking a little break from that tale in particular, since I've been exclusively working on that for almost a year now, this is just a breath of fresh air for me, if you will; After I'm through with the second part of this new fic, I will return to work to my first story and hopefully end it before the year concludes, so don't fret!

So with nothing more on my part: I hope you enjoyed this little experiment of mine, let me know what you think in the reviews, criticism is gladly welcomed! Thank you so much for reading and I wish we meet again in the close future.

Peace and Success to you all!

Knight-Aedo-Rhapsodios