The endless pit seemed to stretch with my plummeting person as I continued to descend. My eyes were narrowed, body curled up slightly from the knock-back However, the falling wasn't terrifying. It felt amazing, calming, soothing. The pain I had recently endured through from the blast that had left a small scorch mark along my muzzle, seemed to fade and disappear from existence .. The aches from within myself also died down to a numbing feeling. It felt great. It felt... right.

However, due to the sudden relaxation from the enormously wholesome skydive, I was able to fully access the mental state of logic. With the specific circumstances taken into play, being knocked down a seemingly endless abyss probably shouldn't have been the most comforting of thoughts. But then again, why was it? Why did I feel so at ease, and my wounds and pains stopping during this situation? It was much better than forcing myself to deal with the agony. I wish I could just float forever... If there was a way for me to prolong this feeling I would immediately. It was much more satisfying than the event I had experienced a while back. How could I continue this feeling forever? Oh, how I wished I could...

Unfortunately, despite the comfortable sensation it produced, I had to acknowledge the danger I was in. To have this feeling run for eternity would forever trap me into a state of free-falling down an infinitely running shaft of black and depressing air. It didn't feel bad at first, but it was, and I couldn't allow it to drawl on. I had to go back to the original state I was in. The state of pain, the state of violence, the state of fear... Being offered the relaxing fall first, I couldn't help but hesitate. To have been recently beaten up, but then offered an escape of true comfort and tranquility after realising you had to return to that horrible place definitely would make it difficult for anyone.

However, nothing would move forward without the effort placed into making it change. Using the darkened room as a projector for my thoughts, I began to focus on the past event. The arrival to this harsh place. The determination I had to find change. The constant effort I placed within myself to find the difference.

The failure it produced.

I used the wind's upward momentum to my advantage as I tilted my head slightly, shaking the thoughts out from my mind. No, that's wrong thinking. I cannot think in that manner. Yes, it might have failed in the process of attempts, but even still, it was better to know the answer by experimentation than to stand lost with nothing but assumptions to fall upon. I allowed my head to fall limp, the velocity keeping it upright as I tumbled softly.

So, what was the correct response to everything I was going through? Everything I had gone through? How would I excess the situation and seek a positive answer to the questions that bogged so heavily within my head? Was there any hope?

As my mind continued to ponder intensely at each curious remark that never seemed to progress, my eyes softly glanced down at the drop-zone underneath my flank. A small, red dot began to increase in size, expanding into my vision. The landmark looked familiar in a way...

It hit me. I opened my mouth and gasped for air, the torrent of oxygen inflating my lungs automatically. It was where it all began! The blood smear! I was about-

Thud! Before my mind was able to hook the pieces together, I was greeted with a horrible reawakening. My body reacquainted itself itself with the flooring as it connected with the pavement. The area rumbled from my mass as a sonic boom echoed through the premises. My side was the first to connect, following my head and limbs in a very close second.

If the impact wasn't enough to startle me, there was one more point that it had to make known; the return of the traumatizing agony. Like an electric shock, the once dimmed sense of peace transformed into a pure paralyzing state. It raged throughout my system, intensifying the amount of hurt it produced. It hurt twice as much. No, it was much worse, to the point where it was barely comprehensible. All feeling in myself was gone, to the point where the pain began to draw me into a tired state. My eyes closed slightly, only to reopen as I kept myself awake.

Inhale, exhale... My chest inflated constantly to catch my breath from the dive, attempting to kill the pain enough for the ability of movement to be hoisted back upon me. However, I was completely handicapped on the ground, staring up in regret. As I blinked slowly along with each heartbeat that only brought more agony, I heard a voice call out from the shadows. A deep, demonic type of voice. I could tell who it was, just from the chills that reappeared on my scales from the tone. It was him.

Within a few seconds, he landed within a few metres of my position, proving my assumption to be correct. However, there was something different about his appearance... His own scar continued to dribble spots of black blood as it ran over his muzzle, quickly scooped up from his tongue and against his massive fangs. All markings were now changed into a violent and deep red as they slightly glowed to bring themselves known.

He looked at my position and status before chuckling out loud in his devilish tongue. "It appears that our friend has taken quite the damage during that descent... What's the matter? The fear is eating you up too quickly to react? Wanting to just let it go and lose it?..."

I wasn't going to lay around to this. Using all the strength I had left in my trembling body, I forced myself onto my paws, yelping slightly from the pain of the impact still lingering.

"Oh, what is this? Our little hero has found the courage to stand up for all of this? Don't waste your breath, worthless piece of existence."

With that comment, the systems inside me jolted all at once, regaining to full capacity. I confidently stood on all 4 paws, breathing normally and the pain mostly disappeared. "W-who are you calling 'worthless'?..."

"Hmm? So you might actually have some spunk left within yourself to attempt and redeem the words spoken?"

"Well, I'm standing now, aren't I?..." I responded in a snappy manner, my breath beginning to hasten.

"Mh, very well then..." He agreed with a small grin. "Enough standing around, then..." His diamond crescent began to glow out with the scars over his front paws, indicating his prepared state.

Following with mine, my markings of red and blue shone a bright illuminating light. We both remained motionless, staring into each other's eyes with a diligent glare of hate. This was the time for me to truly overcome him. I knew who he was now... He was my fears. My pains. My torment. He was the cause for everything I was feeling. Why I felt so lost. Worthless. Why everything seemed to never go my way. He was the enemy, and he had to be disposed of.

After a small silence of preparation, he opened his mouth to speak. "So, shall we stop standing around and begin our discussion?"

Taking the request lightly, I only smirked in his direction, my heart full of the returning confidence.

"Lets."