After she asks of the roses, Lace tells her they are either their for the magic surging through from him, that they just wish to bloom, or that they are there to make her feel better, but they do not. Their sweet scent envelopes her, but they are so pretty they charm her to stay and admire their delicate petals. Lace's voice begins once more, and his time the girl turns her entire body to face him. As she spins around, her tail gets caught on the branches. She does not mind, however and lets her tail hang loosely in the thorn and roses. "When did I ever lie to you?" She is surprised by his words and speaks up as soon as the question has been asked. "Do you not remember why I scolded you? For pretending to be something else." That was the lie, and it wasn't the center of this conversation, though. It may seem the conversation spotlight was on Lace, but truly, the golden femme was looking for ways to escape, how to break past the roses and run. Run free, home. Upon returning home, she would tell whoever would listen that a stallion from the desert had effectively held her hostage in the pavilion type building, and basically forced her to tell him whatever he wanted to hear, but she couldn't quite figure out what he wanted to hear. He had not said a lie, but he had acted in an untruthful manner which is a lie.

He tells her that he will just have to no longer be a stranger, and both of her ears flick forwards, interested in what he will say. He starts by saying he was born in some faraway land, that he admits is called Gassul. This name is rather unknown to her, but she does not admit that yet. Instead, she offers a little nod, as if communicating that she is listening to his story very closely. He tells her that his land had no magic, no wings, no horns. Well, hers did. Her home was full of horses with feathers riddled on extraordinarily large appendages, unicorns with single daggers growing from their brow, and magic of war, health, anything anyone desired. She had never really thought of the gods in her home. Surely there were gods. How could the magic exist if there weren't? Lace's home seemed rather dull in her mind, yet some horses loved the simplicity of things, perhaps lace was one of them. At a young age, she learns that Lace was put into training, yet she does not feel sorry for him. Should he desire her to sob for him, he would need more than a separation, for that had happened to the golden mare, too. The program she had been put into was one that drilled intelligence into her, not war. Clearly her father, the leader of the land, knew she would not make a good fighter. When does a skittish mare ever make a good fighter? It is revealed that a volcano had split them up, and the girl figured her couldn't find them because they had drowned in the sea of ash and burnt dead bodies, trying to breath but unable get anything but ash into their lungs. She begins to pity him, but her parents (she assumes) are dead. Most likely, everyone's have also been murdered or have just died.

He turns away from her, staring into the bushes as she had been previously doing. Did he want her support? That was something she would not give to a stallion holding her hostage, forcing her to listen. He could pour his heart out all day, but that would not change the fact that she was stuck, a thorn rose bush between her and freedom. Each rose, though beautiful, has a thorn to call it's own. Yes,she could easily attempt to run through the bush, snapping branches as she escaped to freedom, but the horns would prick and cut her everywhere. The branches would rip her tresses out and leave her with an all around scraggly appearance, she did not want that.

He begins speaking about his travels to a land obsessed with power and control. He says names, but she doesn't bother to accept them into her memory for now. Aera is unimportant to her, only important to Lace. "So... they were racist? But you can't choose who your parents are. That seems narrow and closed minded of Aera and whoever stayed with her cause." Lace did not stay with her cause. He tells goldy that he betrayed her. Which wasn't the best way to handle the situation, but she doesn't argue with him-- the story far to interesting to argue with.

"Freedom is a nice thing." She remarks with a tone that borderline aggravation. He gets freedom and she doesn't. That seems fair-- not. He gets the freedom he desires and goldy doesn't. She is a simple mare, yet confined to a cage Lace has put her in. Lace continues, and she believes he has ignored her statement. He had let Aera fight some other lead and he didn't stay to find out what happened. He had made some deal, which it seemed he did not regret. The next events of his life were about war and betrayal. This did not surprise the girl. He spoke of himself as a cocky youngster, and she holds back her urge to say that nothing has changed. The stallion had come in here, right off the bat talking about his speed and calling her beautiful. Was the young mare not supposed to be lulled into his sweet words?

He left that home, a pattern beginning to become apparent to the girl listening to his quite long story. He admits it was just coincident (fate, the liars would say) that he ended up here. Was the story the same for the girl? She hadn't really thought about it, but now since the only thing she could do is think, that is what she does. She hadn't really expected to come to some majestic land. She wasn't really sure what she had thought. Exploring seemed like the only thing she could do and her exploration led her here. Until now, exploring had been kind to her, but this time it resulted in her being captured by some monster. Thus monster was unusual in his ways, and she wondered what someone like Elsa would do in this situation. She probably would have been smart enough to stay out of this situation. He glances at her and smiles. She cocks her head slightly in return. She hoped the story would continue. It couldn't just end there!

The thing Dröm doesn't realize is that the story is only halfway done.

Lace introduces a horse named Mirage. At first, Dröm thought she'd be another betrayed leader. Someone lace only used to get ahead, but it seems that was not the case. The mare named Mirage is actually a main point in Lace's life, it seems. He tells her that Mirage had nagged him to join her group, and eventually he did. He grew depressed and it was the persistent Mirage who was able to save him from the horrible depression. When she gave him a home, he realized that many isilme horses were here. It was strange that they all cane here. It seems as if everyone choose the beaten path and it brought them to Helovia. Though she continues to listen, his story is long and her brain begins mixing up facts and details, but one thing is certain... He should have stayed with Mirage.

In a twist of events, it seemed as if Mirage became a poor leader, her only solution was sleeping around and promotions. Did she not understand how to be rational? Why had no one kicked her out? She started a war, for heavens sake! She should have been kicked out as soon as possible. Lace acquired the crown, but it seemed his way was disliked by the herd. He protected then from northern unicorns, and they repay him with comments of racism. Was no one civil in Helovia? He speaks of some disease and himself succumbing to it. What disease? How had there been an outbreak? Why had Lace run? Why had he come back? Many questions bubbled in her mind, but the one she assumed most important screamed at her. Where is Mirage?

"Your story is long, yet fascinating. I do still feel somewhat like a stranger, though. My turn now?" She asked him softly, idly wondering if he would let her. In all honesty, she would say whatever she wanted and Lace wouldn't stop her. Rose bushes can't fix everything.

"words."