To Kill Without Victory

[fourth_rider]

You have a saying: the horse and the rider, as one.

[If one needs proof that Fyra had lost the exchange against the Second Rider, then look no further than the wreck of Morte that lies in one of the UG's hangars. The Steed remains in its bipedal mecha form, sat up against one of the empty walls.

The damage it received was severe, and nothing can be done to aid in its recovery. Only time can allow Morte to stand once again.]

We agreed to this course of action. Tver had to be stopped, and we knew that this would be the result.

Yet, I feel as if I should have found another way.

[Especially with that last bit from the hostile Rider about 'fixing' herself...whatever that entails.]

Comments

[dolorous_sensei]

Hey Morte. Are you in pain now?

[fourth_rider]

...He will not be able to respond for some time.

[dolorous_sensei]

Will he be alright though?

[fourth_rider]

He should be.

But I do not know how long that will take.

[dolorous_sensei]

How's he linked to you anyway? Do you share thought or pain or something? Like, a-girl-and-her-magical-death-pony type of link?

[fourth_rider]

It is...difficult to explain.

But, you are close.

[dolorous_sensei]

By the way if I may know... What did you do to that weirdo War? What happened with him?

Also I guess I should ask what did you do to Conquest as well.

[fourth_rider]

[She looks puzzled by the question.]

What did I do...?

[dolorous_sensei]

Well, that's what I'm asking. We were having problem fighting them and suddenly we... win.

[fourth_rider]

...I neutralized the enemy's defense system with my own, and eliminated them.

The Wraith Shield - it is something we all share, which I discovered against Ett.

Tver... did not see fit to have his permanently activated. Pushing him to deploy it was not as simple.

[dolorous_sensei]

So... you can't just do whatever you did to them from the beginning when we meet this next rider?

[fourth_rider]

Something like that... would depend on how they deploy their Shield.

If our next opponent uses it in the same way Ett did, it would be a simple matter of approaching them. But if they were to use it only against certain attacks, it would be much more difficult.

[empress_without_a_throne]

Maybe you could have... but I don't think you had to.

Stopping Tver was hard enough as it was, and if the fight'd gone on longer, someone might've died. But you and Morte still were able to do it and survive. You've got nothing to be ashamed of.

[fourth_rider]

It feels like losing a part of me.

Even though I know he is recovering, it is not pleasant.

[empress_without_a_throne]

I can imagine.

It's not the same as Morte, but the DuskBird is still a very physical part of me. When it's damaged, I can feel it. And when the damage is severe... it lingers. Even after it's been mended and should feel fine.

[fourth_rider]

That is not all.

Morte... is his own existence. Yet he follows commands without question.

I do not know if he agrees because he must, or because he wishes to. Nor have I given it much thought...until now.

Before Daniel leaves

[lostamigo]

Don't think you could. Not on such a short notice.

...How's Morte?

[fourth_rider]

...Recuperating.

It may be a while before he is able to stand again.

[lostamigo]

He's really loyal, isn't he. To agree to something like this without question...

[fourth_rider]

It is the reason for his being...I am the head, and he is the body.

If he is free to choose...or not...I do not know.

[lostamigo]

Why not ask him, when he wakes up?

[fourth_rider]

...I will.

When that happens.