Hello everyone! If this fic seems a little shaky to you, it's probably because I thought of it at exactly 12:37 in the morning. I have an excuse! Yay for excuses! They're always there when you need them most

Disclaimer: I own as many as four characters in this story, when you subtract two times two from that four. Meaning I don't own any.

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Chapter One

In which we meet a Pig

"I don't know!" wailed Sir Alanna of Pirate's Swoop and Olau. Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan, called Kel by her friends, winced. Alanna was infamous for her temper. As she opened her mouth to reply, their conversation was cut short when the door opened suddenly and a fat, pink pig entered the room and started searching around the room for food anywhere and everywhere it could get stick it's nose into.

"My, aren't you a cute little piggy!" Cooed Alanna, "Yes you are, yes you are! I wonder what your name is? How strange, it doesn't look quite like that of a regular pig you would usually see in the market."

They both stared dumbly as the pig opened its mouth and let out a giant snort, which sounded very similar to the words, "It's T'lulu."

"Kel, my love!" Yelled an oh-so-familiar voice, "Have you seen" But when Neal entered the room, and saw the sight to be seen, he let his question hang in the air, as he raised his eyebrow, while a look of confusing and humor flashed across his face.

"Don't say anything, Meathead" Warned Kel, "We only know as much as you see, no more."

"I see" exclaimed Neal, looking smug. He walked in and wrapped his arm around Kel's shoulder. Kel prepared for one of his cutting, sarcastic remarks.

"So you were just in a room, fighting with Alanna, as usual, and the door magically opened, allowing the pig to enter, and be snuggled by Alanna here" Alanna jumped away from the pig.

"I wasn't snuggling it. I was just making sure it wasn't hurt or had any cuts." muttered Alanna.

"While you stand there watching her. I find that kind of hard to believe."

"No! No, that's exactly what happened, I swear! It just entered and started walking around!" Protested Kel, desperate to get Neal to understand. He smiled mockingly, and stared into Kel's eyes, his own emerald green ones sparkling.

"I'm sure that's what happened. Oh, yes. I meant to ask you if you know where Yuki is. She just disappeared this morning, and I've looked everywhere. That woman is starting to annoy me."

"Have you checked the stables? She probably just went on a morning ride, to get away from you." Kel replied. Pushing Neal away, she headed towards the door. "Oh, by the way, Alanna, why don't we continue this argue about, whatever it was about, later?"

"Fine with me." Alanna murmured, glowering at Neal. She was still mad at her former squire for making fun of her.

Kel smiled and walked out the door, planning to go to the stables and take a morning ride with Peachblossom. Alanna had stormed into her room and grabbed her before she had a chance to do her morning exercises. Kel didn't realize it, but strangely enough the pig, whom, while Neal and Kel were talking, Alanna had dubbed Porko, followed her.

When she reached the stables, and was getting ready to saddle Peachblossom, Porko let out a high-pitched squeal. Kel, who had now idea it had followed her until now, jumped. However, when she realized what it was, she let out a loud curse.

"Is that Kel I hear cursing?" asked someone inside the stable.

Kel froze. It was Dom, whom she had had a crush on since she became a knight, about three years ago. She barely managed to shake her surprise off and put on her blank Yamani stare before the bright blue eyes of Domitan of Masbolle came into view.

"Kel! It's so nice to see you!" He grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her in a tight, friendly hug. Kel almost shivered with happiness. Laughing, she pulled away from him, only to be grabbed and wrapped up again, this time by huge hands.

"Raoul!" Kel squeaked. She turned around and smiled at the man that could be passed as a small giant. "When did you guys get back?"

"Just right now. The centaurs had already run away before we made it to Port Legann."

"I hate centaurs," Kel commented grimly, "They disturb me."

Raoul laughed. "So how's it been at the castle? Any important things we should know happened while we were gone?"

"Neal is back together with Yuki, but I wouldn't consider that important. It's been pretty boring here without you guys." Kel replied, "Oh, yes. There is a ball tomorrow. Jonathan said that he had something to tell the court. Maybe I will actually get to leave this place and finally go somewhere and help the kingdom."

"I'm sure you will. Eventually." Dom said, in attempt to comfort Kel. Kel looked at him, thankful that at least he believed in her. She was beginning to not believe in herself.

"Well, I am going back to my rooms to have a nice, warm bath, and get some sleep." Raoul

"I doubt you'll get much sleep, Raoul. Buri has been worried sick about you ever since you left. She trusts centaurs as much as I do." teased Kel.

Raoul grinned and walked away toward the castle. Soon Kel was alone with Dom. She looked around nervously, remembered why she was there in the first place, and started mounting Peachblossom.

"Kel?" Whispered Dom.

"Yes?"

"Mind if I come with you?"

"Yes! I mean no. I mean - oh nevermind. Do what you will. I don't mind."

"Great! Um, Kel?"

"What?"

"What's with the pig?"

"Oh, yeah. I forgot. C'mon Porko. You can come along too, if you can keep up."

Porko snorted happily, and then did something unexpectedly: He grew wings and started flying about the stables. Peachblossom snorted, not used to a flying pig. Kel and Dom stared at the zooming pig, looked at each other, and then shrugged. Many weird things happened in Tortall.

"Maybe Numair put a spell on it?" Offered Dom. Kel nodded. That had to be it.

While they rode out of the stables, a large, shadowy man crept out of the shadows.

"Blast it! Why does Dom have to ruin everything! Had he not been there, T'lulu could've had the ability to kill Lady Knight" - he spat out the lady knight as if it were a disease - "Keladry of Mindelan once and for all!" Cursing, the man attempted to return to his hideaway spot in the darkest corner of the stable, but walked into fresh horse manure. Cursing, the shadow-man wiped off the manure with his fingers, tripped, fell backwards, and landed right in another pile of manure. Curses sprang from the man's mouth.

"This is the last time I enter another stable without boots and a stable boy! Arg! I will get you Kel! It's all your fault!" bawled the man.

****

Just outside, Freckle and Peg were munching on berries when they heard the shadow-man talking about their friend and feeder, Keladry. Peg chirped in alarm. Freckle chirped in surprise. They both chirped in agreement that they should warn Kel of her unknown enemy, wanting her dead.