Children of Aether

It was a beautiful day, as it usually was around the spring time, but it stood far more welcoming in a sense when avicula opened her eyes the sight of Regales Glade once again.

The sun shone bright in the midday blue sky, the clouds spread across it like a veil of thin waves, an ocean in the sky if one appreciated it long enough. The breeze was gentle, cool but not cold as it gently pushed Avicula's long blessed golden manes away from her face, giving off a billowing look should anyone else be present. The grass was soft under her hooves and the sight before her brought nothing but a soft calm to her quick beating heart. She had heard rumours, though out her kingdom that a new ballator roamed Regales glade, A ballator made directly from Lord Aether himself, her Patron, to whom she was most dedicated besides the people of their land. A golden stallion, blessed with Aether's gifts and a prideful streak that did not go unmentioned through whispers on the wind. She smiled at the memory, a few of the towns folk had said they had seen him, said he was awfully rude and full of himself, flaunting himself in front of others and disappearing in a glimmer of speed when they tried to befriend him.

A soft cooing chirp of sorts brought Avicula back to her senses and she chuckled softly as she glanced back over to look at Lyra her gorgeous golden flamed phoenix companion, a gift from high lord Aether in those trying times of the war. She smiled affectionately at the phoenix as it looked back at her again and chirped a little louder, walking along her back line and further to her withers, she stretched her neck to nuzzle at Avicula's cheek when she turned her head to divide her full attention to the phoenix.  "Lyra, What has your attention my friend?" Avicula cooed back softly, accepting the affection, The flames of the bird never burned Avicula, they wissped off her like mist over a mountain cliff, the slightest of cool breeze the only indication that the fire bird was of mystical decent. The phoenix plucked a little at Avicula's shimmering cosmic crown before taking off into the sky and circling her a few times, happily cooing, and then flying off north with a curious determination. Avicula giggled again and shook her head a little, resettling the cosmic crown back into a comfortable position before trotting off in the direction her companion.

It had only been a few minutes before Avicula came across a crystal clear stream, Lyra circled above her head again and then flew over it, landing on a stone just shore of the other side, she fluffed her fiery feather and began to groom as she await Avicula to cross. The mare snorted softly "Of course you'd want me to cross a stream" she scanned the steam with her good eye and found the shallowest route, the ends of her manes and tail would be dampened in the crossing, though she knew it would only be brief with the sun so hot and high in the sky. As she crossed a sense of knowing came to her, she felt it, eyes on her though nothing malicious or predatory, though it felt secretive, as if who ever was watching did not want to be seen yet. She often got this feeling early on in her relation with Regale, she could sense him but he refused to show until he was ready too, if at all. Regale and herself had been well acquainted over the years though now, and Avicula would call him a close friend and she was sure he would too, she never got the feeling from him anymore, so it wasn't him, no this presence felt new, curious and slightly mystical, much like Aether himself was when he showed himself to her.

She didn't show signs of acknowledging the new comer and continued through the stream to her companion on the other side. When she reached Lyra, she nudged the bird playfully  "cheeky of you to make me go through water Lyra" she softly reprimanded, though it had no heat and she was smiling. The phoenix only let out a few small chirps like she was laughing, but didn't move from her stone. Avicula looked out over the field of poppy flowers and admired the view, the forest breached the duo on her right side, though she remained relaxed. The feeling of being watched hadn't diminished, and a small snapping of a twig was all the tell she needed to know her mysterious new comer had decided to show them self. Her ear barely twitched back at all at the sound, but she chuckled softly as she spoke looking over the poppy field, truly her favourite flowers.

"Approaching a mares obvious blind spot comes across as a little rude you know? are you trying to sneak up and scare me?"  her blind eye glanced over to her right as if she could see through it and she heard soft stepping hooves come to a sudden stop. when they didn't answer her question she awaited a moment before turning her head fully to take in the new ballator still a fare couple of feet away. His expression was startled confusion, before it broke out into an arrogant kind of grin.  

"I didn't expect you to notice me so quickly, I'm impressed." the golden stallion spoke confidently, Avicula smiled herself "I've plenty experience of being gawked at, not many know how to be subtle when they look my way" The gold and blue eyed stallions eyebrows shot up quickly at the gentle jab his way. "I'd like to say the same, I mean look at me! Blessed and created by Aether himself! I'm a miracle to this world" Avicula tilted her head with a gentle smile "Indeed, Aether truly does create such beautiful beings, praise him" The golden stallion came closer after that, his ego apparently stroked "You seem to appreciate beauty in all its forms, i see Aether has blessed you with his phoenix companion... is that all he has blessed you with?" she asked.

Avicula laughed softly "Aether has blessed me with many gifts, maybe even more then you, as handsome as you are" The stallion scrunched his face up in obvious offence but didn't know what to say at the compliment, as backhanded as it was. To prove to the stallion she had been gifted, she summoned her Aetherian mutation, beautiful swirls began to light up around her body like burning hot white light before it faded to match the same black coloured patterns of Aether's own Aetherian mutation, her manes and tail taking on its usual dawn colouration and billowing out and around her as if a breeze had been pushed from her being. She locked eyes with the stallion again, her diamond like horns and cosmic crown glistered in the sunlight. Lyra let out a chirp as she came to land on Avicula's back. She stood proud with her gifts and tilted her head in a friendly gesture to look him over.  

The stallion squared himself up, He was a little impressed, the mare was adorned with his fathers blessings. "Truly a devout follower of Aether, He's rewarded you well i guess" he shrugged. If he was intimidated he wasn't showing it. Avicula nodded her head " Indeed, am I entitled to your name? or are you as prideful as the rumours say?" she asked. The poecilla stallion flicked his tail in consideration "I'll tell you what, If you can catch me before I reach the ocean, I'll give you my name" He said proudly a giant grin on his face "Gotta keep rumours mysterious some how" he winked at her. She rolled her eyes but was smiling widely herself. "You better be quick then Golden Child" she provoked. The desert stallion let out a laugh before spinning on his heals and dashing into the forest. Avicula was right on his heals the moment he turned. Her heart thundered in her chest in the thrill and excitement of the chase. Lyra flew fast over head, giving her clues when the stallion rounded a tree or she lost line of sight for a brief moment. Her eyes sparkled and the smile on her face would leave her check sore later in the day, but she couldn't help it, she was actually having fun. perhaps, she could ask this mysterious stallion to come to her kingdom, show him around maybe befriend him to stay. The thought made her pickup speed with glee.

The chase was on.