"We are near a stepping stone, but we must be there at dawn. Come, we have no time to waste."
They continued their journey in the dark, with Breeks complaining all the way. As the soft glow of the sun was just appearing on the horizon, the trio found themselves at the foot of a thundering waterfall. Epona stepped forward and touched her horn to the fall just as the first rays of sunshine touched the shimmering water. Brightblade and Breeks gasped in awe as the waters of the fall parted, revealing a huge, dark doorway.
"Here we begin the next leg of our journey, in another world," Epona explained. "Now, Warpony, continue your tale as we proceed. It will help to prevent distraction."
"I... I am," I replied.
"Then defend yourself!" The unicorn guardian lowered his horn and lunged toward me. Ramon scampered off and hid behind a column while Breeks flew about overhead, kawing his encouragement. I sidestepped but almost tripped on my own hooves. The guardian swung his horn; I ducked and head-butted him, and nearly knocked myself out. The guardian, though moving like a living thing, was still as hard as stone.
I regained my senses quickly and jumped backwards as the guardian reared up and drove his fore-hooves down where I had been a moment ago.
"You're quick, but it will take more than that to prove your worth," the guardian taunted. I staggered backwards as the guardian advanced, swinging his horn to and fro. As I ran out of room to withdraw, I ducked under the guardian's horn and kicked him with my hind hooves, catching him on the side. The jade unicorn was knocked off his hooves but was back up in an instant. "Well done, Warpony, but it will take more than that to keep me down." With that the guardian renewed his attack.
I evaded the guardian and tried to keep to the center of the domed chamber. Though I was becoming somewhat fatigued by the constant dodging, I found it was becoming easier to anticipate the guardian's moves. I waited for the right moment, feinted to the right and quickly doubled back to the left and kicked the guardian in the side of his head as he turned to follow my feint. The guardian fell to the ground. I turned quickly, reared up on my hind legs, and drove my fore-hooves down hard on the guardian's whorled horn. The horn shattered and the guardian faded away.
I looked around the chamber. Ramon crawled out from his hiding place and Breeks perched on top of my head. "K'haar!" he cried. "You did it, Warpony! You won!"
A brilliant white light shone forth from the arched doorway to the temple's inner chambers. "I... won," I said, almost in disbelief.
Chapter IX * Back * Chapter XI