Two weeks later…
Bucky and Phoenix woke up early. After talking it through and getting on the same page, it was decided they would make the trip. Seiryu had come back to get their response and then they planned out how the trip would go. The High King said it would be best for him to come in person and have Bucky ride him to All World. The reason was to ensure his safety on the Road and ease their passage into the Glade. Allianna was expecting them but her current sentries were up-and-coming members of the herd getting their hooves wet and would likely cause problems. Having the High King there would lend more clout. Bucky had arranged for Sam to keep an eye on the apartment and Alpine. He had a choice of staying in the place full-time or coming by over the course of the day to keep things settled.
Bucky was assured that his clothing needs would be taken care of so he didn't need to bring a lot. While Phoenix was being a nervous ball of energy, sitting on the bed, Bucky pulled the clothes he wore during the Flag-Smashers incident. He figured it would be the least jarring of any of his clothes. He packed a small satchel of essentials and shut his phone off before putting it on the dresser. He then took Phoenix's hand and pulled her to her feet. He kissed her deeply, the message being to relax. The two locked up (Sam already had a key) and headed for the roof. It was still dark out but off in the distance, the sky was lightening up as the sun began to ascend. Seiryu chose to come in the early morning to lessen the risk of being seen.
They weren't kept waiting long. A portal opened and a dark shape flew through. The portal slammed shut with a bang like thunder. The shape came closer and Seiryu came into focus. He landed quietly on the roof and looked around to make sure things were clear. "Excellent. Are we ready?" he asked. Bucky and Phoenix nodded. "Let's depart then," the dragon said. He lowered his head down and allowed Bucky on. The White Wolf sat behind the High King's head and took hold of his horns. Phoenix shifted back to her true form. "See you on the other side," she said before turning in place and vanishing. "How are you with heights?" the dragon asked. "Not really good but as a necessity, I can manage," Bucky responded. "Very well. Hang on tight," Seiryu said. He lifted off the ground and Bucky could actually make out clouds under his feet. The dragon started to fly into the air, causing the man to lean between his horns and grip them harder. "I'm about to open the portal. Hang in there," Seiryu said.
Opening his jaws, the High King roared and a portal opened. The two flew in and Bucky found himself in the familiar dimension of the Road. This time, instead of seeing the planet from a distance, Bucky watched in awe as it grew larger the closer they got. Seiryu was rocketing through space but his movements reminded Bucky of a flowing river. When they got close to the planet, Seiryu started to rotate so it was under them. "Almost there," he called. He roared again and another portal opened. They flew in and reappeared in the sky above moorland. Bucky forgot about how high they were when he saw the massive forest sprawling out before them. He saw massive redwoods sprinkled with other, albeit deciduous, trees. Seiryu came to a halt, floating in midair to let Bucky take it in. "Welcome to the Glade, James. We have entered the Flats of Byakko's West," he said.
"Seems like a misnomer," Bucky responded, looking at the gentle rolls of the moors. "The Flats spread further south for miles and flatten out into plains with more forests. The moorlands here were just bunched into the region because they're not as extensive as the rest of the Flats and they're a sign that the Western Range isn't far away," Seiryu explained. Indeed, far on the horizon, Bucky could see mountains. The High King then started going in for a landing. Bucky could see Phoenix waiting for them below. The dragon landed and Bucky got off, his legs feeling like jelly. "You okay?" Phoenix asked, slipping her nose under his arm. "I'll be fine. Now I'm just nervous about what's going to happen here," he said, looking at the forest. "That's where I come in. The sentries are young and not used to their role yet but they're not rash. I'm here to make things more official," Seiryu said. He lifted off a little from the ground and led the two towards the forest.
Bucky stuck to Phoenix's side and already noted that she was starting to seem more like herself again. They paused not far from the treeline. Phoenix's ears were perked forward and Seiryu was scanning the trees with his one eye. He then let out a roar and it echoed through the air. At Bucky's questioning look, the dragon smirked a bit. "Humans aren't always aware which forests are under unicorn control. But if one is known to be the home to a herd, it's always polite to announce yourself. Unicorns will let unknowing travelers pass through without revealing themselves but the Glade is a bit different. It's the Unicorn Nation's capital forest. The throne rests here and thus security is a bit tighter," he explained.
Bucky was prevented from asking further questions when a pair of unicorns stepped from the treeline. One was a bay stallion and the other was a younger pastel green stallion. "Your Majesty. Lady Phoenix. Welcome," the bay said with a nod. The pastel green gave Bucky a once-over. "So…this is the human Her Majesty has been telling us about?" he mused. "Don't be rude," the bay scolded before nodding at the High King. "This one has much to learn. Come. Queen Allianna will be pleased to see you have arrived safely," he said. Seiryu just nodded before looking at Bucky. "I should warn you that Tempest, Her Majesty's advisor, is normally indifferent to humans but he's not known for his patience with them either. He might get a bit snippy with you but just know it's not personal. Just stay out of his way and he won't give you any issues," he explained.
Bucky looked at Phoenix. "I do the same thing myself. Tempest is a good soul. He's just jaded. He tolerates me at best because of my mother and he's cordial enough. In all likelihood, he'll ignore us both. The other members of the herd will be curious. Most of them have gone their entire lives having never seen a live human before so you're going to get a lot of attention," she added. The White Wolf nodded in response and steeled himself. He had assumed as much. The sentries turned and led the trio into the woods. Bucky stuck to Phoenix's side, hand on her back scales as he looked around. Surface-level, the Glade was like any other forest he'd seen in his life. But under the surface, he could tell there was something special about it. All World in general was far cleaner than Earth was. He could tell just from breathing. The air was impossibly clean. The forest also carried a sense of serenity he never felt before anywhere else…except when he was with Phoenix.
The group eventually reached a large clearing, the canopies of large redwoods closing off the sky. Bucky's eyes widened when he saw the herd of unicorns of all ages and colors. There had to be at least forty of them. His eyes were then drawn to a black hole near a dais and stared. That had to be Tempest. He was a solid black unicorn and he stuck out like a sore thumb among unicorns covering the entire color spectrum of both natural and unnatural colors. The left side of his face, however, had bare puckered skin. It was a massive burn scar. Bucky swallowed hard the closer they got to the dais. Allianna was standing on it, looking every inch the Queen he knew her to be. Up close, Tempest wasn't hiding his annoyance.
"Welcome," Allianna said, coming down to cross horns with Phoenix. The chimera smiled genuinely. She then smiled at Bucky fondly. "I'm glad you could come, James. I hope my forest provides you with rest, shelter, and healing," she said. The White Wolf smiled and nodded. A somewhat aggressive snort caught his attention and Tempest approached. Seiryu, Phoenix, and Allianna all backed away a bit as the powerful stallion got into Bucky's face. To his credit, the former Winter Soldier didn't back down but he didn't square up either. He recognized Tempest was challenging him and wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of knowing he was cowing him or goading him into a confrontation. Instead, Bucky took in details. Tempest's eyes were as Phoenix described. They were the color of polished red garnets. He was tall, too. He had a powerful body and stood at 17 hands high. His coat was a shiny inky black and his hooves and horns were like obsidian. Beautiful animal all around, Bucky wasn't going to lie.
"You're the one she chose?" Tempest asked incredulously. Bucky just kept their eyes locked without a word. The stallion looked over at Phoenix who met his eyes, equally nonplussed. He then looked at the High King, the highest authority in the forest right now. "And you just let her go for this human?" Tempest questioned. Seiryu kept his silence. He answered to no one, least of all a fellow monarch's second. Allianna approached. "Theirs is not ours to know, my friend. Let it be," she gently chided. Tempest looked at her and Bucky could see his gaze soften a bit. "You know I don't approve of a human being here, Your Majesty. His kind brings trouble no matter where they go," he said. "I know but I made this call as a favor to both my daughter and His Majesty. Phoenix and James need peace and quiet and they weren't going to find it where they were at," Allianna explained.
Bucky was used to people questioning his actions. Sam had been the same but nothing ever stopped him from supporting his friends. Phoenix shifted into a human form, catching Tempest's attention. "I know my word isn't much to you but I can vouch for Bucky. You have no idea what he's been through," she said. The black stallion gave her a tired look. "Perhaps but you, of all creatures, choosing a human is almost ironic, considering his kind is why you exist at all," he said. Phoenix just shrugged with a knowing smile. "Believe me, I find it amazing myself. But since you clearly don't think things are serious…," she trailed off. Bucky watched as she closed the gap between them. Phoenix took him by the face and pulled him down to plant a deep kiss on him. Bucky was a bit stunned that she did but went with it.
Tempest just stared before he noticed Seiryu looking away. He didn't know the High King well but he knew dragons well enough to know their emotions were among the most powerful of any species. It was clear Seiryu was still in pain over having been passed over in favor of a mere human. Phoenix broke it before cocking an eyebrow at the powerful stallion. "Bucky is my responsibility, Tempest Revenge Seeker. A single human is of no threat to us," she assured him. Tempest just took a deep breath and let it out. "On your head be it, then," he said. He looked at Allianna and just nodded. His head swung in a random direction and he walked off to graze. Allianna came up to Bucky's side. "I hope you'll forgive him, James. Tempest hasn't had a good life before he came here. He was thrown out of his home forest about a few days to the east when he was 50 years old," she said.
Bucky looked at Phoenix who just smiled before turning away herself to speak to Seiryu. "I'm used to it. I just don't like how he looks at Phoenix. Like she's beneath him," he said. Allianna just hummed. "You're not native to this world, James. You're also compassionate to the plight of chimeras. One thing you must understand is that unlike your world, where humans fight over whether the universe was created by accident or a higher power, there's no such conflict here in this one. The existence of the World Weaver isn't a question. It's a fact. The High Kings and several other beings that survived from the Primordial World to today are collectively known as the Elders. They remember. Animals are inherently honest and Seiryu especially would never lie about where he came from. His memory is long and flawless. He never had a childhood. He never had parents. He just…awoke and his memory began. He was created with an inherent knowledge of the Weaver and he was created knowing what he was," Allianna explained.
She met Bucky's eyes. "Chimeras are not of the Weaver's design. That's why they're looked down on with contempt. Tempest is no different than the majority of the denizens here but trust me, he's got more of an issue with the Weaver than he does chimeras," she finished. Bucky just nodded before looking at the black stallion and noting he was separated from the rest of the herd. He could also feel the undercurrent of unease from the herd where he was concerned. "It's probably because I'm an outsider and a human but he's a beautiful animal. Hard to believe his colors are the result of a curse," he mused. Allianna just hummed and he noted the softness in her eyes. He recognized it for what it was because he saw it in himself whenever he looked in a mirror and thought about Phoenix.
Bucky looked over in time to see Seiryu and Phoenix bump noses before the dragon turned his long body around to leave the forest. The White Wolf felt a compulsion to follow and he quickly excused himself from the Queen. He passed Phoenix who watched him curiously but didn't follow. She looked at her mother. "I think James feels the need for reassurance. His Majesty is gracious but even the blind could tell he's in pain. Probably always will be," the unicorn said sagely. Allianna closed the distance to cross horns with the chimera. "None of you were wrong for the choices you all made. Don't let guilt consume you," she then said. "I didn't mean to hurt him," Phoenix said, quietly. "His Majesty carries more hurt than any of us can know. If I could venture a guess, I think the Downfall hurts him more than anything that's happened since then. The Primordial World sounds like a dream and then it was all gone, leaving him and the other Elders with only memories," her mother said. Phoenix just leaned her head to Allianna's shoulder, neither caring about some of the looks they were getting from the herd.
"Hey, Seiryu, wait a second," Bucky called as the dragon broke from the treeline. The High King paused and swung his head back to look at him. The White Wolf came up to him. "You okay?" he simply asked. The dragon blinked his single eye before it closed and a rumbling laugh issued down his serpentine body. "I can't remember the last time anyone asked if I was okay. Don't worry about me, James. I'm hurt but be assured that it's about a great many things, not just the situation with you and Phoenix. Nothing really compares to looking at the world around me and remembering the way it once was. But that was 6,000 years ago. As for the two of you, just remember that her happiness means more to me than my own and I've had to sacrifice a great deal," he responded.
Bucky watched as the dragon brought his head a bit closer. "Focus on why you're here, James. Phoenix is here to continue recovering and reclaim a bit more of her wild nature. You're here to decompress from your chaotic world and perhaps learn more about mine. You're in good hooves here in the Glade. There are few places as safe as this capital forest," the Master said. Bucky nodded slowly before stepping back. Seiryu brought his head back around to face forward. He lifted off the ground and started flying off. Bucky watched in awe but tilted his head when Seiryu stopped and turned back. The High King closed the distance a bit. "James," Seiryu said as he did. Blue-grey met deep blue. "Never feel guilty for having a good thing. So long as you remember this in your heart, you'll continue on your own road to recovery. You may not feel like you deserve her but I know in my heart of hearts that there is no one more worthy of her than you," the dragon said. With that wisdom imparted, the High King headed off back east.
Bucky turned to see Tempest at the edge of the forest, waiting. "The night will fall soon. Come," the stallion said. To his credit, Tempest didn't like him but he patiently waited for the White Wolf to join him in the treeline before leading him back along the forest paths. "Her Majesty is putting you and Phoenix up in one of the tree dens. Seiryu High King has provided a few necessities for you since it's not often the Glade plays host to a human," Tempest explained as they walked. They returned to the clearing under the boughs and Bucky just gasped. As the sun was setting, some of the unicorns were sending up magical lights from their horns to float over the herd so they could continue to see.
Tempest watched alongside him before taking a deep breath. He noticed Allianna looking at them with a knowing look on her beautiful face. The stallion didn't have it in him to glare. He loved her too much. He looked at James from the corner of his eye and noted the awe on his face. He wasn't hiding it at all. Tempest started forward and James followed when he noticed. Some of the herd elders shot looks at him but Tempest ignored them. He looked around before spotting the chimera grazing in front of the tree den the Queen was letting them use. Phoenix looked up when they approached. "Beautiful, isn't it? I wish my magic were as strong," she said wistfully. Bucky smiled before patting her neck. They watched Allianna walk among the herd, checking on the younger families as they ate before she joined them and Tempest who hadn't moved along.
"I'm very humbled and impressed with this place, Your Majesty," Bucky said. The Queen smiled serenely before lighting up the tip of her horn and moving to the tree den. The White Wolf and Phoenix joined her to take a look. Bucky could see some light garments on a pile of blankets over a bed of hay on one side of the den. In the middle of the floor was a large bowl of fruits and berries. "Seiryu brought all this from the East. The garments were gifts from the Imperial Family. His Majesty doesn't wear them often for reasons you already know thanks to Phoenix. You and he are the same height and build so they should fit. I had some of my herd members gather the food there for you tonight. Tomorrow, I'll personally show you the safest plants in the forest you can eat. You're permitted to hunt if you're able and so choose but my only stipulation is you hunt on the moors. Everything in my forest is under my protection and since you know a herd resides here, hunting isn't permitted," Allianna explained.
"I'm overwhelmed. You're too kind," Bucky said, looking at the beautiful mare. "Such is the hospitality of the unicorns, Bucky," Phoenix said as she rubbed her nose on his arm. Tempest just flicked his tail. "So do we have a plan for tomorrow?" the former Winter Soldier asked. Allianna sent the orb of light on her horn to the roof of the den. "I would like to take you to the Tree of History. It's a petrified redwood that perished during the Cataclysm that ended the First Epoch but was one of the few that wasn't uprooted during the flood. When the First Queen restarted the Unicorn Nation, she chose the tree to house our history. It's been tended to ever since," the Queen explained before looking at Phoenix. "You, my daughter, should spend time among the herd if only to remember what you are. This isn't a mark against the bond you and James have but should your courtship last to the end of his life, you need to be able to transition back to the Wilds when the time comes. You can't afford to become too domesticated," came the response.
Phoenix and Bucky looked at each other. The chimera could practically read his mind but before he could speak, Tempest did. "Her Majesty is right. It's beyond me what either of you sees in the other but that's neither here nor there. This is your life and we can only advise. Phoenix, you're a chimera but you're enough of an equine where you can be considered domesticated because of how long you've been in the company of humans. You're here to remember that you're as wild as anyone in the herd. James is here at Seiryu's invitation for reasons I don't understand or agree with. But here we are," the stallion said. Allianna and Bucky both cocked an eyebrow (or the equivalent in the Queen's case). "Why don't you say what you mean?" the man then said, crossing his arms.
Tempest just snorted. With no regard to the mares there, he stretched his neck out to look him in the eye. "Humans in this forest are highly irregular. I don't trust you or your kind. I'll be keeping an eye on you while you're a guest here. Put a toe out of line, you'll have me to answer to," he growled before turning away to head off. Bucky gave Allianna a slightly sour look. Phoenix looked mortified. The Queen's serene look dropped into an apologetic one. "I hope you'll hear me out about him but let's save it for tomorrow. Just be assured that he won't go out of his way to harm you on my watch. He's loyal to me and never acts against my orders unless there's some risk to life or limb. For now, just get prepared to bed down for the night. The light spell you see will go dim in the next half-hour while the herd turns in for the night. I'll see you both in the morning," she said before turning away. Bucky and Phoenix watched as she went to a tree den close to the dais before looking at each other.
The White Wolf met the chimera's eyes and just let the whole thing with Tempest go. He went into the den and started to pull his clothes off. Seiryu had outdone himself. He had enough outfits to last him several weeks. Bucky pulled on a pair of light pants and a long-sleeved top, both very airy, and looked over himself. Allianna was right. He and Seiryu were a match. "What do you think, Nix?" he asked her. "Very dashing. And those are just sleeping clothes. You got some good day outfits here, too," she responded. Bucky watched as she lowered herself to the ground, folding her legs under her. "Gonna stay in your true form while we're here?" Bucky asked as he knelt down to pull a couple of the blankets back and get into bed. "It'll be for the best. I'll probably shift into human form here and there but Seiryu is right. I do need to remember myself," Phoenix responded.
"It's up to you, Nix. I can go without kissing you for a time. We're here so you can get back in touch with your wild side," Bucky responded. Silence fell as the spell over their heads started to dim out. "Good night, Bucky. See you in the morning," Phoenix then said. "Night, love," he responded. Phoenix watched him drift off before her head swung over to look out into the clearing. The herd was growing still as sleep took them and her violet eyes found the black hole that was Tempest. The moon was full and was able to penetrate the canopy overhead but Tempest was so black, that it was like light died when it touched him. His eyes were glowing red but she got a sense that he was casting some sort of spell, probably for protection. Phoenix watched him for another minute before lowering her head to the ground. The sounds of the night slowly lulled her to sleep.