Me: Hey! This one is longer then the last and it takes place in the present. Sorry I couldn't post sooner, but I had a busy week. It's that time of the year again, EXAMS! DX So as a sidenote, I may not post anything next week because I have to study obsessively in order to get a go mark and pass my courses. So, if I do disappear for some time, don't worry. I didn't die or anything, I'm just in the corner being braindead thanks to exams. (-.-) Anyways, I only own Athena, Asarth, and Yuki. Everything else belongs to Artix Entertainment and support the original release!

I looked over the pure, untouched beauty of the natural scenery below as I stood on the rocky cliff. I was now eighteen and skilled when it came to combat, but I was also calm and cunning. I had learned how to see battle as a strategy. I had found that the knight that had met when I was nine was in fact a female. Her name was Yuki and she was one of the few knights that were female. She was like a mother to me and she took the liberty of teaching me how to handle a sword. I tilted my chin up to the clear sky as the wind stirred the loose hairs that weren't tied back in my long single braid. A small smile graced my lips.

'It's so peaceful. It's kinda nice to be away from the Keep every now and again.' A form flew passed me in a blur and when I opened my eyes, a large crimson and gold dragon was before me. My young dragon, Asarth snarled as he curled around my feet. My hand fell to my sword, out of instinct. The next thing I knew, the dragon lowered its head to reveal a small Moglin and a woman in a white and gold robe. The little red Moglin waddled until he was standing on the dragon's snout.

"Hiyas!" It chirped happily before hopped onto the cliff and turning.

"The path is clear, Priestess!" I looked up to see the woman stand and smile at me. It seemed to be like a knowing smile.

"Excuse us, dear friend. We were just passing through." Then the woman walked away with the Moglin. I blinked and glanced down at Asarth, who looked just as confused as I was. I heard the dragon snarl and I looked back to see that it looked angry. My own dragon growled deep in his throat. After looking into the golden eyes of the dragon, it snorted and flew off. Now I was even more confused.

"What was that about?" I wondered aloud, glancing down at Asarth, who snorted.

'I have no idea, Athena. However the woman did smell of other dragons.' I scooped the nature dragon up and placed him on my shoulder.

"Well, she was riding around on a dragon with a Moglin." I pointed out as I turned and started to make my way back to the Keep.

'It wasn't just that. She smelt of many dragons, rather then just one.' Asarth replied. He sounded sure that he was right.

"Okay, say that you're right, who talks to dragons besides Dragonlords and Dragonriders?" Asarth started to say something, but a scream ahead cut him off. I jumped and dashed towards the screaming for help. Asarth had almost fallen off my shoulders many times while I was running. I skidded on the grass to a stop when I saw a large Gorillaphant looking down on the seemingly tiny priestess. The Moglin was lying dazed on the grass a couple of feet away from the scene, his staff lying discarded beside him. The poor thing was probably tossed aside like a broken toy. I whistled, catching the beast's attention.

"Why don't you pick on someone your own size?" The beast snorted and charred towards me. I rolled, drawing my sword and slashing the creature in the side all in a single movement. The Gorillaphant ran into a tree and got its long tusks stuck in the bark. I turned to the Priestess, who was watching the Gorillaphant thrash about.

"Priestess! Take your friend and get away from here!" I called to her but she didn't move a muscle.

'ATHENA!' I cried out when tree collided with my mid-section and sent me flying back into the brush. I heard something snap under me and I groaned, rubbing my head as I sat up.

'Athena?! You alright?!' I could heard panic in my dragon's voice, but I brushed it off, shaking my head.

"I just had myself thrown into a bush. How about you do it and see how you like it." I growled and Asarth growled at me.

'Quit joking around.' It was my turn to growl.

"I'm not."

'Well you have a Priestess to help, so go now!' I shook off my daze, picked up my blade with my foot and dashed for the Gorillaphant. At first, the animal didn't give me a second glance, so I decided on a different approach. Some of the trees in Oaklore forest were known as 'benders'. They had an ability to snap back when bent far enough. I found one of these trees and used my own body weight to bend it back until it almost touched the ground. I whistled again.

"Hey Ugly!" The Gorillaphant turned and glared at me with golden annoyed eyes. It lumbered towards me and I allowed the tree to snap tout and slap the Gorillaphant. I smirked, pleased.

"That was for hitting me with a tree." The creature stumbled and fell down dazed. I drew my sword and stabbed it square in the chest. One less Gorillaphant to threaten the travelers passing through the forest. Asarth snorted as he trotted over.

"Some help you were." I muttered to him in Dragonian, the language of the dragons. Asarth snorted in laughter.

'Oh, you were fine. I knew you could handle it.' I rolled my eyes as he perched himself on my shoulders. I pulled my sword from the animal's chest and turned to see the Priestess smiling at me, holding the little red Moglin in her arms.

"I thank you, brave warrior for coming to my aid. May I know the name of my hero?"

"I'm Athena, and this is Asarth." The woman smiled kindly.

"I sense that there is something about you that is different." I lifted a puzzled eyebrow. That was a very odd thing to say. She seemed to catch it and shake her head.

"Forgive me, I am Lady Celestia." I vaguely remembered the name. She had come by the Keep on her way to her home in Sunbreeze Grove. She would always talk to Captain Rolith whenever she came.

"I remember you, you would visit the Keep often." She smiled.

"Yes, you were adopted by Yuki, correct?" I nodded. Her smile broadened.

"You've grown so much, the last time I saw you, you were still a small eleven year old." I smirked.

"Well, it was good to see you again, Athena." She turned and began to walk away with the little guy in her arms.

"Hey! Aren't you going to stop at the Keep?" I asked confused. Wasn't she headed for Oaklore? Lady Celestia turned and smiled.

"Actually, I was wondering if you could do me a favor? Can you please tell Captain Rolith that I am going to take a short cut through the forest?" My voice was lost and I stared at her with wide eyes. I just took down a Gorillaphant three times my size and yet she acts like nothing happened?! Despite myself, I managed to nod while staring at her like she was completely nuts. With a pleased smile, the Priestess turned and walked away. I watched her until her and her Moglin friend disappeared from my line of sight and I scowled, glancing at Asarth who was on his perch.

"That was the most eccentric woman that I've ever met."

'Yes well, I believe that we have a message to deliver.'

"Right." I turned and walked the opposite way of the Priestess. I couldn't shake what she had said.

'I sense something different about you.' The more I thought about it, the more I wondered what she had meant about that. I gave my head a shake.

"Hey, maybe Yuki's back!"