Hello all you wonderful fans! Theo's back! At least for another update for this story. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Magic: The Gathering or its characters. All I own is Themis', any other made-up characters and the idea for this fic.

WARNING! Adult situations, violence, language and other such things contained within. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

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Chapter 26 – Genesis Among Them

Narkgul carefully smacked the shackle with a stone that was nearly as big as his fist. Zyerne winched at every swing the goblin made, but with skilled hands, he struck only the metal band around her ankle and not her. However, Zyerne could not toss off the fact that Narkgul might miss at anytime.

"Narkgul don't understand. Why goblins take friend?"

He asked as he made another dent at the shackles lock.

"I don't know either. All I know is they stuck me with a club, bound and gagged me, then chained me up to a wall in a dragons cave."

"That don't make sense. Goblins and Dragons don't get along well. Always fighting each other. Goblins run mostly. Dragons too big."

"You're telling me."

She could still feel the heat from the Dragons breath. She shuttered for a moment, if Themis hadn't somehow summoned that Circle of Protection, they both would be dead right now. She'll have to thank him for that.

Unfortunately, Themis laid on the other bed at the opposite corner of the small guest hut. He had fallen asleep on his side with his back towards them. The only sounds in the room were the small fire nearby and the rhythmic pounding of stone on steel.

Narkgul gave the shackle one last final smash with the rock and the lock shattered. With but a twist of the hinge, the band came off.

"Thank you."

She said as she inspected her ankle for injuries. All she found was a small bruise and some swelling, but nothing serious.

"Tell me Narkgul. Why is it you don't have a tribe of your own?"

Narkgul looked at her funny. Or at least as funny as a goblin would look at someone.

"Why does Zyerne want to know?"

Zyerne blinked at him. It was the first time the little goblin actually pronounced her name correctly.

"I'm curious."

She said simply, half expecting Narkgul to refuse an answer. But he surprised her even more.

"Narkgul once had family. Mother, Father, Brothers and Sisters. But that long ago."

He went beside the fire and began to warm up his back side.

"We live by selves. No care about world outside. Until Dwarves come."

"Dwarves?"

"Dwarves and Goblins no like each other for many years. Always fighting each other. Narkgul only infant when they come."

For a moment, Zyerne could've sworn Narkguls expression mimicked that of sadness, but she couldn't be sure.

"Mother hide Narkgul in hole when Dwarves attack. Only me and Nesbit now."

He gave the sleeping mouse a scratch along its furry back. Nesbit didn't even stir.

"I'm sorry Narkgul. That you're family was killed just because Dwarves hate your kind."

"Me no take it personally. Goblins not much favorite to other races. We have many enemies. But I no hate them. They just scared. Many kill those they scared of."

"These mountain people were scared of us, yet they didn't hurt us."

"That because they no longer scared. They trust us. But Narkgul is still uneasy here."

"I agree."

Zyerne said as she glanced out the nearby window. She didn't see anything of importance in the night sky, but that didn't keep her from thinking.

"What friend thinking so hard about?"

"Different things."

She said softly.

"When I came here from the Razor Fields of Mirrodin, I thought I could start my life over in this world. But I was scared at how different this world is from the one I left behind. Where I come from, almost everything is made out of metal. Even creatures."

"But me no see metal on you."

Narkgul said as he pointed at her. Zyerne looked down her arms as a memory flashed across her yellow eyes.

"No. I used to have metal arms, legs and tail. But I sacrificed those metal limbs for flesh ones in order to come here. That was the payment."

"So, you trade metal limbs for fleshy limbs to come here from home?"

"You can say that."

"Narkgul do not understand. Didn't Zyerne like herself before?"

"I did. And there are times that I miss having the metallic shine on my body. But I had to escape from my world. I could no longer live there until certain conditions are met."

Narkgul scratched his head. Zyerne doubted that the little goblin was able to comprehend what she's telling him.

"Narkgul want to ask. Why leave Mirrodin if that your home?"

'He said it correctly on the first try? Maybe there's hope for this Goblin.'

Zyerne laughed to herself, and then she said

"My family had different views about my future, and they didn't seem to care about what I wanted. It was like my existence never mattered to them. But here,"

She swept her hand over Narkgul and towards Themis' sleeping form.

"There are people here who actually care what I think and choose."

To her surprise, Narkgul hugged her leg

"Narkgul like Zyerne. Me don't have many friends. But me like to have you and Themis as friends."

"And friends we are."

She said back as she hugged the goblins head in return. His cheeks blushed a crimson red, which clashed with his green skin. He smiled and then withdrew.

"Narkgul sorry. Me no want to make Themis mad at me. Themis really like you. He tell me so."

He said modestly as he went to the nearby pile of straw and curled up next to Nesbit. Zyerne watched Narkgul as he fell asleep. That last statement he said made her smile happily. Themis had told her himself that he liked her, and hearing that Narkgul knew this as well made it all the more true.

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The crowd of the arena cheered as the fight went on through the night. A lone woman was pitted against a small army of beasts from the forests. None of them survived her assaults. She danced through the creatures, her arms spinning her Swallow about her form, cutting and slicing, tearing and severing.

(AUTHORS NOTE: A Swallow weapon is a staff with a blade at both ends. If you look at the Noble Templar card, a White creature from Scourge, The weapon the character is holding is an idea of what a Swallow looks like. A lot of people call it a double bladed staff or spear. But the proper name is Swallow.)

Her eyes, black as Nightshade showed no fear, as her long blonde hair flowed around them. She wore a black body suit, which she had cut open down the center from neck to waist. Scarred in the skin between her breasts was the five-point star of the Pentagram symbol that would still bleed from time to time. In the center of that Pentagram was an eye that had been embedded in the very center of her chest.

As she cuts down the last creature to oppose her, a Towering Baloth, the audience cheered in delight of the victor.

"And the winner, and still Head Mistress!"

Braids voice rang out as she ran over the concrete wall that separated the stands from the field.

"Belladonna Darklore!"

Belladonna bowed once to please the spectators. And to insult those who had betted against her. Braids continued to shout out above the roar and cheers.

"All winning tickets! Please collect your winnings, and begin to ponder on the next match!"

Braids loved her job. Belladonna had no doubt of that. No one could doubt that when Braids is doing cartwheels and back flips around the stands and arena. The little woman was constantly drifting between space and time as she skipped, hopped and jumped.

"We have Belladonnas own sister, Baraga Darklore, against the mighty armies of the Northern Plains! Ten to One! Who should prosper? Our mighty Sword Mistress? Or the Armies of the Templar? Place your bets now!"

Belladonna was already entering the dungeon where she had emerged when giant lizard men began to remove the dead bodies of those she had just slain. Waiting for her behind the door was her sister Baraga, who wore a mask on her head to hide her eyes. Where Belladonna's eyes were beautiful and deadly, Baraga's eyes were hideous and just as deadly. The metal mask had several horns flowing from the sides and curved around her head. And in the center of the headpiece was the diamond shaped crystal. Baraga's eye in which she substituted her true eyes for.

"Good luck big sister."

Belladonna told her as she walked by without even looking at her.

"Luck is wasted on the weak."

Baraga replied as she drew her short sword in her right hand, and the nails on her left hand grew into five inch claws. Baraga waited patiently for the match bell to ring. When it had rung, Baraga charged through the door into the arena and ran, unhindered, towards the numerous opponents that awaited her.

Sitting in the royal box, the First watched in enjoyment. So many slaughtered before him in entertainment. And money from the spectators flowed as they placed their bets like blind mindless servants. He smiled.

The match had started and Braids entered the royal box to announce herself to her lord. As she grew closer to him, his aura made her nauseous. She used all of her will power not to vomit before him. She bowed her head to the ground in respect.

"Braids, whose secret name is Garra, welcome."

He said without turning to her.

"The Cabal is here."

She greeted.

"The Cabal is everywhere little daughter."

The First replied. With a mere gesture, one of his attendants approached her and offered her a seat next to the First.

"Come. Sit. Speak with me."

Braids obeyed, despite the churning in her stomach when she came closer to him. His eyes stared at the field below him as Baraga cleaved her way through her foes.

"Do you like the show?"

She asked as she laid across the chair and twirled one of her long braids like an innocent child.

"They have put up an impressive show for us today little daughter."

"That they have. My girlfriend's do all they can to please."

"And I am pleased. Very much so."

Again, Braids fought off the urge to puke before the presence of the First. Even if she did so, the First would see the vomit as an offering of obeisance.

"And how is your schedule for this 'Off-Lander' Match you spoke of?"

"Forgive me, I have expected our guest to have arrived some time ago, but he has not."

Braids smile faded, which was a rare occurrence.

"There is nothing to forgive little daughter. Whatever you have planned shall be a spectacle."

"Excuse me, but the match is concluded. I must announce the next match."

"Then go Garra. And make me smile."

Braids jumped off the Royal Box to land on an empty seat in the stands. One would think this was an impossible feat for anyone, but Braids is a dementia summoner, she flashed in and out of being. She herself was half a dream. Impossible feats meant nothing to her.

"Behold young and old!"

She smiled, calling out in her barker's voice over the roar of the crowd.

"Baraga Darklore is once again victorious! Her title of Sword Mistress is again retained! Collect your winnings those of you with the winning tickets! And prepare the bets for the next match!"

God, how Braids loved her job.

TO BE CONTINUED

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Sorry if it seems short to you all out there, but I liked how it ended there. Besides, it was about time Braids made another appearance in this story.

Until Next Time

Theo