ALL STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLIED HERE.

This is my first attempt at a fan-fic story. Hope everyone enjoys it.

Will try to add more on a regular basis but updates may be sporadic sometimes as inspiration strikes. I am not sure what will happen with this story, it is writing itself, I am just the conduit that tells it to everyone. Again I hope you all enjoy. This first chapter is a bit of a slow start.

Chapter 1

Cold.

Why am I so cold?

I can hear voices.

What are they saying?

Why are they muffled?

Slowly I open my eyes but all I can see is a mist. I am upright but feel like I am lying down. Something comfortably grips my body holding me in place. I can feel some buttons under my fingertips. Slowly if feel the buttons wondering what they do. As I trace the buttons, memories start to make their presence known and I instinctively press one.

There is a hiss and a clank. Temporarily blind by sunlight, I squint my eyes close for a moment before slowly opening them and letting them adjust to the light. The mist that had previously held me floats away and dissipates to reveal the land before me. I collapse to the ground as the object that was holding me before releases me. Holding myself up with shaking arms, I look over my shoulder at the object behind me and I remember.

My stasis pod.

As the memories come flooding back to me, I look around.

Where am I?

What happened?

Where are the others?

I can see other pods lying around and here groans of other survivors. I try to stand only to collapse to the ground again as my legs give out. On hands and knees, I collect myself to try again. Standing again, I can feel my legs wobble and about give but through will and determination I stay upright. Finally I straighten myself and stand fully upright on my hooves.

"Vivian it is a wonder you made it, we were beginning to wonder if you would survive," exclaims Megelon.

"What happen," I ask.

"You have been in your stasis pod for a long time and much has happened," answers Megelon. "Proenitus asked me to send any survivors to him. Go now, he is down the hill waiting"

"May the Naaru protect you Megelon," I say.

"May the Naaru protect you as well," replies Megelon.

Quickly I make my way down to where I can see Proenitus standing in the distance. Behind him I can see pieces of a ship embedded in the ground. As I walk, I can see other stasis pods lying around, some open, some still closed. I can see other survivors scattered around the area that didn't fare as well as I did from the crash.

"Ahh Vivian, I am glad you are back amongst us," welcomes Proenitus.

"What happened," I ask him.

"Not sure, I remember going in the stasis pod and then waking up here. We have started gathering the other survivors here," he explains. "We could use some help bringing survivors."

"What do you want me to do," I ask.

"See if you can find any more survivors and use the ability the Naaru blessed us with to stabilize them and then bring them back here and we will take care of them till they are healthy."

Moving amongst the debris and wreckage, I come upon a survivor barely grasping on to life. As I move closer to him, a large, mutated creature moves towards the survivor and begins to drag him away. Without hesitating, I begin casting a lightning bolt at the creature. It drops the survivor as it turns to charge at me. I hit it with one more bolt before it reaches me. I try to cast again but am unable to focus enough to finish the cast with the creature hitting me. Using my mace and shield, I finish it off with a few swings while blocking its attacks. Stepping over the corpse of the mutated creature, I kneel next to the survivor and cast my gift over him. Soon, his eyelids flutter open as the heal takes effect.

"Can you stand," I ask him.

"I…I think so," he replies.

Slowly the survivor is able to stand on shaky hooves. Before he collapses, I move alongside him to support him. Draping an arm over my shoulders, I begin leading him back to where the other survivors are at.

Slowly I lower the survivor onto blankets laid out on the floor of the structure, helping him to get comfortable next to the other survivors. Standing, I make ready to head back out to find more survivors. On my way out, Proenitus stops me.

"I have a note here for you Vivian," Proenitus calls to me.

I look at him with a raised eyebrow.

"It is from Firmanvaur, one of your shaman trainers," he explains. "You can find him inside."

Taking the note, I turn and go back inside. Looking around, I find Firmanvaur off to the side quietly praying to the elements.

Quietly I approach him. "Firmanvaur?"

"Ahh, my child you have arrived. The winds told me you be coming," he speaks quietly.

"You wished to see me," I ask.

"The spirits have sent me here to train those that seek to follow the path of the shaman. The call of the elements is strong within you Vivian."

"I can feel their calling and wish to learn more," I say as I kneel before him.

"As you progress, I will teach you more. Come see when you are ready."

Standing, I bow and take my leave of Firmanvaur. Moving about the structure, I am flagged down by the people working in and around the building. They ask me to do various tasks; collect this, kill that, go here, and go there. My connection to the elements strengthens with each passing day. I also learn more about myself as each task is completed. The voice of the elements guide me in using their granted strength to strike down my foes in a more primal, direct approach.

"I have taught you all that I know young," Firmanvaur states. "It is now time for you to move on from this place. Master Tuluun in Azure Watch and Farseer Nobundo in the Exodar will continue your teachings."

"I thank you for your teaching and guidance," I say while bowing before Firmanvaur.

Taking my leave, I begin my trek towards Azure Watch and the Exodar. Upon reaching Azure Watch, I seek out Master Tuluun.

"Master Tuluun," I begin, bowing before the Broken, "Firmanvaur sent me to seek your wisdom and council to further my training."

"As always, Firmanvaur has done a wonderful job training the young that choose to follow the path of the shaman," says Tuluun. "At this time, there is nothing more I can teach you."

"My training is finished then?"

"No my child, far from it. I will teach you more in the ways of the shaman but not until you have expanded your mind and knowledge through experience," explains Tuluun. "Now go and explore, grow."

Moving throughout Azure Watch, I learn of various tasks from the residents requiring assistance. I also stop at the inn to inquire if any accommodations are available. Upon securing a place to stay, I stow the few belongings I have and continue my tour of the village. Coming upon the mining trainer, I stop and watch his actions.

"May I inquire what you are doing here," I ask.

"I am preparing this ore and stone for use by blacksmiths, engineers, and jewelcrafters in their wares," he explains.

"Where do you get this ore from?"

"It is a gift from the earth."

"From the earth…"

Pondering his answer, I watch as he pours the molten metal into molds, forming bars to be used later. Fascinated, I watch for a while as he melts more ore, controlling the temperature and removing impurities.

"Care to try?"

Broken from my revelry, I look up, "What?"

"Would you like to learn how, I can teach you," he says.

"Yes, I would."

Taking his time, he shows me how to take the copper he has collected and turn it into bars. At first, my attempts are clumsy and the results are poor. Showing a lot of patience, the miner gently corrects me and soon I am able to create nearly pure bars of copper.

"Excellent work, I thank you," the miner says. "Without your help, it would have taken me a couple more days to finish."

"You are welcome and I thank you for the knowledge. I can help you when you have more to smelt."

"I can teach you how to go out and find the ore on your own."

"Really?"

"Yes," he answers.

Sitting down, he proceeds to tell me how to find veins of ore. Reaching into a satchel next to him, he pulls out a handful of gems in varying colors. He then explains how that while mining, it is possible to find these sparkling beauties. It is rare to find them he states, but that one should always show caution when working a vein so as to not damage the gems found there.

Thanking him again, I take my leave to head out of town to look for more ore and to complete the tasks that people have asked me to complete for them. Reviewing the list of tasks, I equip my mace and shield and cautiously proceed into the wild.