AN: I recently got and beat Darksiders 3 (that final boss is bullshit) and it gave me the Darksiders bug so new chapter for you!

AN: the breed for Harry's horse is a blue roan, I'll post a picture for the regular version of the horse on the Facebook page for my stories.

Master of the Horseman

Chapter 4

-Harry-

The far fields were a strange but relaxing place. Despair seemed right at him, nickering happily as they walked through the waist high grass. "I wondered when you would come to me." A voice from beside them called out as Harry jumped startled, having not heard the other man. Looking to the source of the voice he saw a man with long blonde hair and a beard, a bullwhip on his waist and two swords at his back. "I didn't expect you to bring another with you however." The blonde man approached, going to Despair first.

"He's the reason we're here." Death spoke out, seemingly unphased by the man appearing from seemingly nowhere "He needs a horse."

"A fifth rider?" the Keeper turned to them, "Or has the Charred Council merely decided to replace War?"

"Never!" Death snarled, green aura flaring around the Pale Rider before he forced himself to calm "I will never allow War to be simply replaced. We are going to see him freed from the Void."

"So, a Human rider then." The Keeper inspected him before frowning, "A human mage, and one who time does not touch."

"The Council tried making relics to control me. They were lost and bonded to my newest brother." Death clapped a hand to his shoulder.

"I see." The Keeper nodded, leading them to a cliff side, an approaching dust cloud containing the herd from which his mount would come "New Rider, leave any weapons you have here. Taming these beasts will require a tool of far greater strength. They are ancient, the blood of creation flows through their veins. The winds of eternity blow through their manes. They will not yield to steel or whip, to gun or blade, to magic or might. Only to your will." At that, Death and the Keeper stepped back. This was Harry's task, not theirs.

Looking back to the approaching dust cloud he narrowed his eyes, for his friend. With a yell he leapt from the cliff, using the flight magic he had once seen Voldemort and Snape use he shot towards the herd, their thundering hooves shaking the earth. With a boom, he landed before the herd, staring down and mustering up his Gryffindor nerve. He felt fear, he wanted to run, but he refused to. The Riders were his friends, his family. They had become his brothers, his sister, his family. With a yell, Harry charged into the herd itself, he refused to lose any more family.

Surprised and startled, the herd parted around him, their charging heads and flanks coming within a hair's breadth of him. His eyes locked with one horse that refused to divert direction. Giving another yell, Harry grabbed the charging horse's flank and swung up onto its back, the other members of the herd scattering to reveal Harry on his mount. "Well done." Looking up, he saw Death on Despair and the Keeper walking abreast, "A display of courage as impressive as the magnificent creature you ride upon. It has known no name; until the one you are about to give it."

The horse met his gaze, eyes staring into his soul as the mount waited for its name. He frowned, trying to determine what to name his new steed when a word rang out in his mind as he knew it was this horse's name, "Desolation." He whispered as the horse became aglow with light, power pulsing out. When the light faded his horse was revealed, its hair a bluish color with golden flecks scattered along the flank, the hair of the main, tail, and hooves burning a brilliant gold, much as the flames he had once sent at Voldemort.

"A fine name." Death nodded as Despair approached it's fellow horse "Now we must ride. The Crowfather has the secrets we'll need to free War."

"Then let me help old friend." The Keeper spoke up, glowing with a brilliant amber light, "Change is coming Horsemen," the Keeper's voice echoed as the winds whipped around them "change and betrayal. All shall be forced to choose a side and I am no different. Know my side has already been chosen." Light shone from the ground bellow them as a serpent hole was forced open by the ancient Keeper of the far Fields "Now go!" with a bang, Harry and Death fall into the hole and are sent hurtling to the frozen lair of the Crowfather.

"Merlin damn its freezing." Harry hissed out, quickly applying warming charms to himself, Hedwig, Dust, Death, Despair, and Desolation, not wanting to risk things.

"Yes, the Crowfather has always favored the cold for some reason." Death lightly kicked his heels into Despair's sides as their flaming mounts took off running to the mountain in the distance.

"Will the Maker be willing to talk to us?" Harry called out to Death as they rode, the snow melting at the flames of their steeds, Despair and Desolation racing competitively to see who was faster.

"He will talk of his own volition or I will make him." Death growled out, Harvester pulsing hungrily on the Pale Rider's back.

"What the Keeper said back there," Harry grunted as Desolation leapt over a boulder, golden flames dancing around them as Hedwig swooped in a playful game with Dust "Am I actually one of the Riders of the Apocalypse now?"

"You are my brother Harry," Death spoke seriously "just was the others see you. You have the horse of a rider but not the weapons or form of one. But I am unsure if you could still become a full Rider." He nodded at that, trying to figure out what he would be the rider of if he did become one.

-Keeper-

Silently, the Keeper walked through the tall grass even as the servants of the Charred council tried to find Death and the new rider, Harry. "Find them." A watcher hissed out, the demonic and angelic war slaves that came with snarling even as the magic bindings flared at a twitch of the Watcher's fingers, "Don't test me worms." The watcher smirked "I'm the one with the power here."

"No, you're the fool who doesn't pay attention." His voice carried as he allowed them to notice him, just as his whip wrapped around the surprised watcher's neck. With a tug, there was a loud snap as the creature's neck broke and its body went limp. The angel and demon war slaves gasped as their bindings dissolved without the Watcher still alive. They backed up from him quickly, likely not wanting to risk angering him or appearing as a threat. "Go," he opened a series of serpent holes "change is brewing, and we must all pick a side soon. Remember who enslaved you and who set you free." He watched the angels and demons run into the portals without a second thought. He knew many of them would side against the Horsemen, but it would be worth it if any chose to side with them.

"You'll need all the help you can get old friend." He said softly, approaching a horse in the distance with a main of fire.

-Lilith-

Stalking through the halls of what had once been Samael's palace, the mother of the Nephilim smirked as she saw the lust and desire in the eyes of the demons she passed. It amused her how poor they were at hiding it, if they attempted to do so at all.

"Mistress." One of the warriors she had brought with her when she came to this place rushed over and knelt, "I bring news you need to know."

"Oh?" she asked, smirking as she stalked towards the kneeling demon "And what news would that be my pet?"

"I pretended to be one of the Charred Council's battle slaves mistress," he continued kneeling, explaining that first to likely excuse why he hadn't been around the palace even if she hadn't noticed the absence of a faceless grunt "Death has gone to seek the knowledge of the Crowfather to free War from their hold."

"I already knew he would," she sighed, so much for something interesting "my son is so predictable. It would be cute if it wasn't so sad."

"And he doesn't ride alone." The demon continued unswayed "He rides out with a human who has gained a horse from the far fields. The other sources I've questions show the human has access to magic and is immortal."

"Oh really?" now that bit was interesting, "And the Crowfather you say? I'll have to keep an eye on this."

"Say the word mistress and I will follow them. My eyes are yours, your will my own." The Demon kneels to her, unwavering loyalty in his voice as she smirked. Occasionally one found a rare demon who lacked the ambition to conquer and claim title but that made them very useful to those who did.

"Not quite yet," she traced her fingers under the surprised and confused demons chin "you may go do so in the morning. First, I believe you deserve a" she leaned down and whispered into his ear "reward." Turning, she swayed her hips as she went to her bed chamber, making it implicit what his reward was. It would keep him loyal and alleviate her boredom for a bit. That human though, that could be interesting, maybe even the start of something new like the Nephilim were. Hearing the frantic hurried footsteps behind her, Lilith smirked.

AN: Just to let you know I already have the whole 'will Harry be a full rider or won't he' decided. I'm willing to listen to opinions and suggestions but I already have a plan for it.