Innocents

Note: Innocents is an unusual story in the sense it is a prequel - set when Inferno and Equis were still children in Avalon, King Equinox was still ruler and neither knew of the forces manipulating them: like all stories others are welcome to join however due to it being a prequel I'd ask those wanting to join to either consider making an alternate pegacorn character or having your character enter at a younger age (do not worry about time-line though, the events of this story are canon but will arrive at a conclusion where things will make sense.. trust me.. (can't explain it fully or it would ruin the entire story) )

Chapter 1
It was a bright summer's day and a young Inferno looked out from his window at the grand castle of Avalon, he was nearing his eight birthday and his small but functional wings spread out as he watched other children playing in the fields outside - eager to join but unsure as he was forbidden from leaving the castle by his father until he had finished his studies.. the proud Equinox had made sure their were enough books that it would be virtually impossible for his "foundling" son to do so..

Inferno sighed a little and folded his wings around himself like a small cape, a trait he had started to develop like all Pegacorns - although his wings were demonic rather than angelic, a fact he was all too aware of in the culture of Avalon, one that took great pride in physical beauty.

"..Inferno? what are you doing here? it's summer.." a female voice suddenly spoke out as a regal figure approached, she was a pegacorn of striking beauty and dressed in a blue dress - the small crown on her head signifying she was Queen Titania herself.

"..father says I need to study more" Inferno replied truthfully, sitting down at the large desk and opening one of the many dusty old tomes.

Titania narrowed her eyes slightly and snorted, "I'm sure he did.. Inferno.. go, have fun.." she replied.

Inferno suddenly perks up, his slightly pointed ears pointing up as his eyes grew wide "you mean it mother? I can go outside?" he said, excited.

Titania smiled to her son and nodded, "..your brother should be outside already, I'm sure he'll be happy to see you..".

Inferno ran over and hugged his mother by the waist before he ran out of the castle, a few of the guards leaping out of the way of the speeding youngster as some of the court officials watched disapprovingly - Titania didn't care, she simply smiled some more.

(edit below if you so desire: the scene will be in the fields - which are very large and filled with corn, it is a common playground for children of all ages as well as an obvious place of work for older inhabitants)

A young Pegacorn girl of no more than seven years of age plays in the field, although she is a little old she still carries around a small doll and can be seen playing with it - combing its hair: she has pure white pelt with silver hair worn in pigtails and dressed in a blue dress, her wings are small but resemble those of a dove and fold back quite happily when she's not using them.

A short distance away, a small golden dragon rests in the limbs of a tree. Unlike the pegacorns of Avalon, this dragon bears an appearance along the lines of the dragons of ancient Chinese myth.

"This place... there are dragons here, but they're not like me... they are more like the two-legged beings I once knew..." he thinks to himself as he yawns, revealing rows of sharp teeth.

Inferno runs into the fields, however in his excitement he trips and ends up rolling a considerable distance across the ground - sitting up as a few of the other children laugh: he dusts himself off and looks around, his eyes literally lighting up as he spots an older Pegacorn youth nearby.

"Equis! Equis!" Inferno yells, with the usual excitement of a younger sibling, getting up and running towards his older brother - who simply frowned at him as he leaned against an old tree.

"what are you doing outside? didn't father say to study?" Equis replied.

"mother said I could come outside, she said you'd be happy.." Inferno said.

"I was until you showed up" Equis snorted.

"..oh, well.. I'll be good.. I promise.." Inferno said, folding his wings back as he stepped back.

"..whatever, just go away before anyone sees you hanging around me -" Equis frowned.

"..okay.." Inferno replied, heading into the more secluded area of the field where the corn grew taller - away from the crowds, as he walks he hears a conversation behind him between Equis and another older Pegacorn.

"..your brother is a freak, Equis"

"..he's not my brother, I told you.. he's just another foundling.."

"Caw." A Raven crowed as it sat upon a branch, it's pure red eyes surveying the field below it, then turning it's head to look at Equis. "Caw." It crowed once more.