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It had been a few days since Arwen had seen Trickery and Medusa, but she missed them already. She wasn't sure exactly why--she had only just met them. But she journeyed toward their home, a strange sensation in heart. She was almost giddy

"Hey who are you " asked Fibula, suprised from scribbling on a paintboard.

Arwen watched the little pony scribble. "I'm Arwen." She watched a bit more. "That's quite lovely." Looking about her, she asked in a hesitant voice. "I'm looking for Medusa and Trickery."

Fibula stowed her pencil behind her ear. "Oh, right. Cool. Well Trickery's still asleep- he did a late show for us last night. And Medusa..." Fibula frowed.

Arwen frowned, "Are you sure that's okay? I mean, I dont' want you to get hurt or in trouble."

FIbula packed up her easle. "It's fine, as long as I tell someone I'm going."

Arwen nodded faintly. "Okay." She was a bit distracted. Originally, she had wanted to see them both, but Medusa was the one awake...But it wasnt' just that. She had some sort of allure that Arwen felt a pull toward. She was a unique individual.

Cool," said Fibula brightly. "Follow me." She walked through the small village to a largish bower. "Onii-Sama, I'm going up the mountain with this exalted kirin, if I don't come back, I'm dead," she called cheerfully.
Seto looked out. "Be back in two hours."
"Sure," said Fibula. "C'mon, Arwen." She lead her back out of the street and up into the forest.

Arwen followed Fibula into the forest. "Does she always live up this way?"

Yeah, she's a Gorgon," said Fibula nicely. They had reacjed the slope of the mountain. "She and Brittania are buddies, so she's allowed to live in the mountain. All the rest of the bad ponies live in the abandoned Kaiba mansion. I have no idea why we call it abandoned when the dEmons, vampires and mummies live there. Oh and our zombie."

Arwen's eyes got rather large, "Zombie
?" She wasn't trying to be rude, she'd just never met a real zombie

"Yup," said Fibula. "I'm not allowed near him. He's dangerous. Nearly there."

Arwen nodded again, "Oh." She was more than a bit nervous about seeing Medusa. This time, she'd be meeting her alone. It was odd but exhillarating.

They crested the rise and a hole loomed out of the face. "There you go," said Fibula. "I better go. I don't want to upset Onii-Sama. Byeee."

Arwen waved goodbye nervously to Fibula. She stood for several long moments outside the cave. Why did she feel so nervous? She felt all shaky inside. Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the cave wall. "Medusa...?"

"Who's there" asked a sharp little voice. It was male.

Julius snaked his way in Arwen's direction. "You're a bit too high society to be slumming with us."
"We are not the slums," retorted Boris.

Arwen edged slightly away from Julius. "I don't think you're quite that bad..."

Gloria sneezed. "Medusa's a gorgon. Duh. I don't even know what you are, but you look like... maybe even a demi-god, or a muse."

Arwen blushed, "I'm charmed I'm sure...but I'm not. I mean well, I'm rather important to my people but I'd rather not be."

"What are you, then " asked Bill weedily,

Arwen looked into the distance for a moment. "I'm an Exalted Kirin. A mother to my race..." She blinked and turned her face away.

"Ooooh," cooed Stephanie. "Nice. How many kids do you ave I do love kids."

Arwen's eyes burned a little in pain. "Several..." A single tear dropped down her cheek. "There were some I could have loved, but it never worked out. I mean ponies I could have loved. But instead, it always wound up being me and the kids...And then I was alone as they grew and left."

Stephanie sniffed. "Oh. Well-"
Julius bit her.
"Ow!"
Medusa rubbed her eyes. "you don't have to talk to them if you don't want to."

Arwen's eyes flashed with anger. "I don't mind. I'm asked questions all the time. Doesn't mean anything to me anymore. I simply cannot be loved."

You think that" scofed Medusa. "Mine was the most well-known rape in existance. I have not been touched in thousands of years. Top that and I'l feel sorry for you."

Arwen's face grew red with anger. Jumping out of her chair, her voice rose into a deadly pitch. "You think just because you screwed some god ages ago that it gives you the right to have the worst life in existence. At least you WERE loved! I was made to love one person and he along with his brother turned a blind eye to me and chased my sister. Killed for her! Don't you give me this holier than thou crap." Her nostrils flared in anger

Medusa's eyes narrowed momentarily. "Loved By Poseidon No. He raped me in the temple of Athena to get at her." Her voice rose a pitch; "And then she cursed me," she hissed and gripped her tail, "to have these things as company for eternity! I was beatiful once, I was mortal once, I could have had a mate and babies once. You know what happens to me in mythology"
The snakes were silent and curled in on themselves.
"Huh I get murdered by Percius!"

"My head is mounted into his shield by that fridgid b***h Athena!"

"At least you're not a hated villain."

Arwen's face paled at her insensitivity then grew even hotter with anger. "Well, boo hoo. You were killed in legend and mounted on a shield. You look pretty damn good after all that to me." She switched her tail as her temper rose. "I watched as my sister's lover was murdered. She blamed ME! She told me, she never wanted to see me again and she hated him, the one that killed her lover. But what
did she do? She bedded the one being in the world, who was supposed to be made to love me! She bedded him and had children with him! She took my destiny, my life, my future, and my children!" Her voice was shrill now. "She stole everything from me, I was the one who died that day."

Medusa leaned back in her chair. "You have children now. You still have your looks. And you don't turn ponies to stone by looking at them."

Arwen laughed, her voice echoing against the black walls of the cave. She stepped forward, very close to Medusa and leaned her face over hers. Her voice was low and it held a slight menace. "Do I look petriefied to you?"

Medusa smirked. "I have discovered restraint in the past three thousand years. I can dEmonstrate if you like."

Medusa smiled a small sincere smile. "Maybe with the letting, a wound can heal." She drew Arwen up. "But the discovery of solace is not the time for anything else." She kissed her on the cheek and turned her around. "Don't take it the wrong way, but I like the twilight time for myself, make sure next time, that you call either at full dark, or light."

Arwen was a bit surprised but pleased. Turning back to Medusa she looked into the interestingly beautiful face. “I’ll have to come for the night sometime.” Her cheek felt hot where Medusa’s lips at touched it.

Medusa walked Arwen into the circle of grey light that was the mouth of the cave. "You take all the left paths and you'll stay out of the thistles. Don't fall and break your pretty neck."

Arwen moved into the faint light of the cooling evening. There were many thoughts on her mind as she walked down the paths. She wasn't exactly paying attention when she discovered that she didn't know where she was at.

"You are not lost, are you?" asked a gravelly voice.

Arwen jumped at the sound of the voice. She turned about, not exactly seeing who had spoken. "I-I-I, no, not at all."

"Well you are certainly more lost than I am," said he. "And you are alone." He took a step forward, revealing blonde hair, silver skin, gold horns and great leathery wings.

Arwen jumped back at the sight of him. His golden hair flowing, his luminescent skin glowing in the quickly rising moonlight. "What are you? A demon?" She found herself shrinking away from him, maybe he was a vampire?

"No," said Jin, a smile on his face that, in the dim light, seemed wolfish. "I am not." He stepped towards her. "You seem to be at a loss for more than bearings

Arwen backed away at the frightening visage. Her voice seemed more than a whisper, "But then...what are you? I have never seen your like before."

"No, that's true. I'm the last of my clan," he said quietly. "I am a dragon. I live here, in this mountain." His tail lashed the litter strewn ground.

"A dragon..." The words came out a bit awe-stricken. "I had thought your kind were gone, but now I see that the same rumours were spoken of your clan as it was of my kind." She pushed her hair back from her face.

"You misunderstand," said Jin. "I am the last of my clan of the Metal dragons. There are different types. I have not heard of Kirins as having elemental types." He looked around. "You should go home. This is not a safe place foe one like you."

Arwen's brow furrowed a bit. "I thought you meant you were the last of the dragons." She tilted her head slightly, "I meant that I am one f the few Exalteds who still exist." Her anger flared again, anger at being lost and disoriented in the night and anger at this...this dragon for telling her what was best for her. "I think I'm fine, thank you." Her voice came off as rather cool.

Jin frowned. "I have asked you nicely once, but I won't again. If you don't leave I'll have to escort you out of my land. Exalted," his lips quirked quickly into a stifled smile, "or not"

Arwen nodded. "I did not intend to be rude. I will go now as you wish." She hesitated for a moment. "I do not know the way."

"I thought not," said Jin. "Come with me." He lead her down the paths. "You are too trusting in these parts. I could be leading you off a cliff into a raging sea, or into my cavern to trap you."

Arwen scoffed. "Trusting hasn't gotten me too far, but yet I seem to be constantly doing it."

"Well don't here," said Jin sharply. "It is not safe." He stopped and turned to her. "If you had run into the green dragon who is mistress of this mountain, she would be feasting on you now. And we have those demons and vampires you so fear in large numbers at night."

Arwen nodded. "I'll remember that. I hope not to get so lost again." She was lost in thought for a few minutes, before she spoke. "I'm Arwen."

Jin continued on the path. "My name is Jin Kyoshi. But I'm called Rock."

Arwen smiled, "That's rather cute."