I proceeded into the town. All the residents were griffins, no ponies. Not that it bothered me. Looking around, I saw that the amount of living plant life was rather low. Not surprising seeing that the ground was almost nothing but solid rock. The way the structures were built showed just how poor the struggling settlement was. That, or they just don’t have access to a large variety of resources.
For a pride-filled race, this must be miserable.
The first area I entered happened to be a market district. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t bring any bit. Still, wouldn’t hurt to look. There were only a few places that were open. I entered a shop selected at random.
Upon entering, I was greeted with a “Welcome”. So I went to the counter to strike up some conversation. The griffin working the counter gold fur and white neck feathers. Taking a closer look at me, he asked: “a unicorn? We don’t see too many of you around. Here on business?” I smiled.
“Kinda. Celestia’s here for a meeting and brought me here. She kinda tricked me into it.”
“The Princess of Equestria? If you’re one of her subjects, why would she need to trick you into coming here with her? Also, how?” He sure is curious.
“About being one of her subjects…..that’s kinda complicated. I currently work for her as her butler. During meetings or day court she usually has me take notes for her. She tricked me by saying that she needed me for this meeting, but when we arrived in town she told me that she just wanted to get me to make some more friends.” the griffin chuckled.
“Sounds a little silly.”
“It is.” then I realized something. “By the way, griffins are carnivores right?”
“That we are.”
“Do you sell any meat here?” the griffin raised an eyebrow.
“That we do my ladd. Sorry if it discomforts ya.”
“No, not at all. Just curious. Alright, that’s a lie. I would buy some, but I haven’t got paid from work yet.” the griffin laughed.
“Ha! A pony wanting to buy meat? That’s a good one.” I shot him a look that told him I was being dead serious. “You’re not kidding? By the King’s feathers, that’s interesting. Hell, I’ll give you some chicken for free if I can see you eat it.” I extended a hoof over the counter towards him.
“Got yourself a deal.” I extended a hoof over the counter and he took it in his claw to shake.
Then minutes later, the griffin placed on the counter a plate with a chicken leg on it, freshly cooked. “Salt?” he offered.
“If you would be so kind.” looking impressed, he passed the salt.
“To be honest, I thought that you were lying your ass off and you would have bolted the moment you saw the chicken.”
“I won’t go into detail, but I’m not originally equine.” I stated, taking the chicken in my magic.
“What!?”
“I said I wasn’t going into any details about it.” dropping the subject, he let me eat.
The taste of the chicken didn’t register at first, but when it did, it tasted amazing. Though my stomach was having a hard time accepting it. The salt also helped enrich the flavor, so I took my time eating.
“What do you think?”
“I think you know your way around the kitchen.”
“Thanks.”
“I better get going,” I said as I finished the chicken, excusing myself. “Thanks for the meal.”
After a while, I found myself entering what looked to be a residential area. It was rather lively, even if half the griffins I saw did nothing but argue and insult each other. Suddenly, I found myself taking comfort in the fact that Celestia had me bring my weapons because a group of griffins looked like they were going to rob me or something of the sort. Thank god the didn't though.
How much longer is Tia going to be? It’s been a few hours since she left me. I need someplace to rest, but I knew that sleeping without being behind a locked door would be like begging to be robbed. I was going to sit down and rest when I heard something right behind me. Drawing all my swords, I thought: Oh great, now this. Turning around, I saw Celestia standing there.
“Fucking hell,” I began, sheathing my weapons. “Sneaking up on someone in a sketchy part of an edgy city. What did I tell you about thinking first when you last decided to toy with me? You really can be an idiot.” she ignored my comment.
“Have fun in the city?” she asked.
“Not really, though the walk kinda did some good I guess.”
“Happy to hear nothing went wrong, but we aren’t finished yet. There is someone who wants to meet you. That is if you don’t mind.” her face looked hopeful. I have no reason to say no.
“Sure, why not? I don’t have anything else to do anyway.” I didn’t ask who though, not like I would know if she told me.
Celestia lead me to the only part of GriffinStone I haven’t explored yet. The King’s Castle. It wasn’t really a castle, but more of a tall structure, which makes sense seeing how poor the place was. The inside of the structure consisted of the doorway, a long corridor, and a throne that the corridor lead to surrounded by a few tiny piles of gold. Sitting on the throne was an old looking Griffin, his feathers gray with a tint of gold and gray neck feathers with a tint of brown. The crown he had was small and looked to be made of a mix of silver with a small amount of gold.
Celestia and I were making our way to the king when I thought I saw something move behind the throne. What the hell? Whatever.
When we finally finished making our way to the king, we came to a halt. “I have brought Spirit as requested.” Celestia announced.
“Mmmm…...step fourth, young one.” the king requested, leaning forward as I approached to get a better look with his murky eyes.
“You called, your highness?” I asked with a bow. After he finished looking me over, he leaned back in his throne looking pleased.
“Such respect in such youth, I commend you for it. Yes, I have summoned you. Princess Celestia has told me about you. You’re an interesting fellow. Um….sorry, your exact age seems to have escaped me. Please, remind me.”
“Eighteen.” I answered hesitantly.
“Oh yes. Well, I have a….uniqe offer for you lucky ass.” he cleared his throat. “Come one out Keira. It’s rude not to introduce yourself to guests.”
After he finished speaking, a griffin walked out from behind the throne. So that’s what I saw. The griffin was female, black fur, gold neck feathers, and golden tail tip, gold wings, and dark rose pink eyes. Looking closer, I noticed that she also made me feel short because she stood about three inches taller than me. He had a shy expression on her face, but her eyes told me that that’s just a mask.
“Sorry about her, Keira’s usually more excited about meeting new people, but you’ll understand in a moment why this is different. It’s about the offer I mentioned.
“Go on.”
“I would like to offer you her claw.” an awkward silence followed as I went into a slight state of shock. Though the actual shock only lasted less than a second, I kept up the act to think. WHAT?!?! I felt my whole face hear up. My body was beginning to shut down because I didn’t know what the hell to do. Gathering whatever focus I could, I managed to speak.
“C-could you e-excuse us for a moment?” the King nodded and I took Celestia with me a few yards closer to the door before whispering to her. “You were in on this, weren’t you? This is a prank, right?”
“No, I’m not. I’m, just as surprised as you are.” Not a chance in hell you are.
“Okay then, what do I do about this? Because I don’t have a fucking clue on how to approach this.”
“Okay, let me explain.” she went back from a whisper to her normal volume. “This is an old tradition for the royal family of the griffins. When the King finds someone he finds fitting for his daughter, he offers him her claw. This tradition is optional and is rarely done, but when it starts, it has to be completed.”
“That still doesn’t tell me my options or what will happen.” she sighed.
“If you say yes, Keira will come back with us to Equestria and…..you’ll be engaged. If you say no, I think the tradition will call for your execution.” Sure, yeah, no pressure at all.
“Damn, I’m not looking for a relationship right now. Any Ideas?” she smirked. That’s not good.
“This is all up to you. Now, I believe you’ve been keeping them waiting long enough. It’s about time you gave them an answer.” she went back before I had a chance to protest any further. Fuck me!
“I returned to my position in front of the King. Fuck traditions. “Alright, I…..I think…..I’m ready to give my answer.” I announced, capturing the undivided attention of both the King and Keira.
“Well boy, out with it!” the King demanded.
I gulped. “I accept, your highness.” I damn near fainted on the spot. What have I done?
“EXCELLENT!” he shouted. Keira, now no longer looking as nervous, came up to me.
“T-thank you,” she told me, looking at me dead in the eyes. “Spirit, right?”
NOPE! Then I actually fainted, my body falling limp on the floor and a sharp pain where I felt a thud on the side of my head.
My eyes blinked opened an I took in my situation and environment. It seems that I woke up in bed on the ship with a feeling of drowsiness and light headed. How did I end up here? Due to a headache, it hurt when I tried to remember so I gave up on that. Deciding it was about time to get off my lazy ass, I used my magic to remove the covers and get out of bed
Bad idea.
I got on my hoofs and made my way to the door. However, I stumbled and fell like a ragdoll on the way. I laid there as I felt every muscle in my body ache like hell. I was basically left immobilized, doomed to lay there until one of those damn ponies show up.
My drowsiness, along with the fact that there were no windows, made it impossible for me to keep track of how long I laid there like that. Five minutes? Ten? Thirty? I couldn’t say. What I can say is that I was board out of my mind. I thought I was going to go delirium. So imagine my delight when the door opened and Celestia walked in.
“Spirit!?” Celestia said in a panic as she found me on the floor of the doorway.
“I’m alright…..physically, that is.” I insisted. “Could you help me get up though?”
“Sure.” she agreed, still looking concerned. Her horn lit up, encasing me in her magic aura. Slowly, I got back up on all fours. At first, when she released me from her magic, my legs wobbled a bit but given some time they were just fine.
“Alright, back in action. Hey Tia, did I hit my head on something again?” she gave me a confused look. “I feel like I did, but I can’t remember.” she smiled, realizing that I’ll be fine.
“Yes, you hit your head pretty hard when you fainted from a mental breakdown.” Okay, NOW I remember. Then, another important detail came to mind.
“What about…..what’s her name again?” I asked as I went to take a seat on the bedside.
“Keira, her name is Keira. She’s on board right now. I can call for her if you want.” FUCK NO!
“I’m not sure if that’s best right now. That’ll just make things awkward if both of us aren't ready.”
“From what I can tell, she is. She wanted to check on you earlier.” that’s a fucking guilt trip for what I’m going to say.
“I mean I’m not ready,” I confessed rather hesitantly.
“I know. I was just teasing you.” The fucking troll strikes again. She started to lightly laugh at me.
“What’s so funny?”
“Have you ever had a marefriend?” she asked in a teasing manner still once she finished her laughing fit. Way to get personal.
“N-no, I’ve never had a marefriend, and I don’t remember if I ever had a girlfriend in my past life, but I wasn’t planning on looking for one.” then I remembered my meeting with Harmony. “At least not anytime soon.” Never know what the future has in store for me.
“That explains a lot about you. Please, tell me what you are thinking.”
“Alright Tia, I’ve let you ask pretty personal questions so far, but aren’t you getting way to invasive?”
“I just want to help.” she countered, taking a seat next to me on the bed. Fucking hell!
“Well, the only thing left for me to say is that a romance is a bit over the top compared to what I need right now.” Celestia leaned her head closer to my own.
“What do you need?” usually, when I’ve heard her ask this to others in the past, I could always tell that she already knew the answer every time. This time, however, she didn’t. She actually did not know. What the hell?
“Tia, I thought that by now, if anyone could figure it out by now, it would be you.” Or Luna, but I guess not.
“Spirit, you are the only pony I haven’t been able to predict.”
“Maybe because I’m not truly a pony.”
“More so.” I didn’t mean to tell her my answer, but it sorta just came out.
“A family, Tia. now you know one of my deeper secrets. Oddly enough, what I truly desire is not returning home, but a family.” as I finished, I started to cry. slowly, she wrapped her forelegs around me, pulling me against her. I lost it there. She rested my head on her shoulder and started to stroke my back. I felt like a little kid. “H-hey Tia, w-what’s it l-like?”
“Come again?” I regulated my breathing before trying again, but I couldn’t stop the tear shed.
“What’s it like? Having a family, I mean.” I heard her gasp for the first time ever in my life, bringing me fear. Please don’t tell me…… I couldn’t bear to even finish the thought. After some time, she finally answered.
“I don’t know how to explain that.” and depression clenched it’s fist and drove it into my gut. “See, that’s something that can’t be put into words…..Sorry.” there was a silence before I responded.
“No. No, it’s fone.” I only need to stop depending on others all the time, every damn second. I yawned. It felt like we’ve been talking for hours. “I’m tired. I think I’ll go back to sle-” I fell unconscious before I could finish speaking.
(Celestia’s point of view)
“Come again?” I asked, unable to make out what Spirit said through his sobs. Spirit’s breathing slowed to a normal pace, but I could still feel tears soak into my fur. Let is out.
“What’s it like? Having a family, I mean.” I gasped. I wasn’t expecting that. I could tell that he needed an answer though. I racked my brain for anything, but I couldn’t think of anything. Maybe I shouldn’t have made him talk about this yet. But it was too late now.
“I don’t know how to explain that. See, that’s something that can’t be put into words…..Sorry.”I remained silent to let him process. I’ve always done my best to help him when he’s asked me for help, but this time I’ve failed. As he would say, I feel like shit.
“No. No, it's fine.” he yawned. What? “I’m tired. I think I’ll go back to sle-” he passed out. Slowly and gently, I laid him onto the bed and covered him with the blanket. I’ll check up on Keira later. This is more important. I laid down beside him, lost in thought about the conversation.
It never occurred to me even once that he didn’t even remember what having a family’s like. That by itself explains so much. I started to feel an even deeper sorrow for him the more I thought about it. How could I help him with this? He needs help. Needs somepony…..no, someone, anyone. Then, an idea came to mind. Yes, maybe she’s the key. Maybe she’s the one. Just maybe. I looked back at him. Besides, he told me he needs something to fight for. With my mood lifted on the matter, even though it was only by a small amount, I too surrendered to the temptation of sleep.
(back to Spirit)
I find myself once more standing on the large stained glass platform in the dreamscape. “Come on! I have enough to think about right now. Do I really need to put up with another solid dream?!?” I asked out loud, speaking to no one in particular. However, I did receive an answer.
“Why not have help processing it?” it was Harmony again, floating behind me.”
“It’s none of your business.” I snapped, but still not turning to look at her.
“Actually, I’m depending on you. So what affects you will affect me.” Fucking persistent bitch.
“It’s personal.”
“That’s plain to see.” she floated to the area of the platform that was decorated with my face. “Come here, you’ll see what I mean.” I made my way over and sat down. “See the circular space with the moon, representing the lunar princess” I directed my vision to the picture of Luna’s cutie mark.
“Yes, what about it?”
“Now look at the next space, right above it.” as I looked to the indicated area, I did indeed see what she was talking about, but didn’t understand the meaning behind it. The new addition was a solid black circle with eagle claws tearing through it.
“What an interesting development, though the meaning is still unclear to me,” I stated, looking up to her.
“You’ve reached a new chapter in your journey. This represents what’s most important about your time in GriffinStone.”
“Which is?” I asked, hearing her chuckles as she started to fade.
“I’ll let you figure out that one on your own,” she answered, completely fading away.
Fat load of help you are you bitch.
I laid down and just stared at the new art on the stained glass design of the platform. What could this mean? Before i could contemplate much longer though, I started waking up.
I woke up to a pair of dark rose pink eyes staring into mine, and because I just woke up my thinking was still a little slow. It took a good solid four minutes at least before I realized what was going on and was stuck in a flight or fight reaction. Unconsciously, I decided on option C. I activated my horn, surrounding itself in a black and purple aura when the intruder finally spoke up.
“Hey, calm down. Just relax already.” and I did. My muscles relaxed and my magic aura dissipated. Shit, it seems half the female population in this world has some sort of soothing power in their voice. Unfair! “Seems Princess Celestia wasn’t exaggerating one bit when she warned me,” she added, though I was too busy thinking to notice what she said. Wait a minute. Then I realized.
“Keira? What are you doing in here?” I asked. “And where’s Celestia?”
“She had something to do,” she explained, taking a seat on the bed. “ I wanted to see for myself that you were okay. You almost had a concussion.” I started to feel a little uncomfortable. Shit, what do I do now? My body started to shake and I couldn’t stop it. I guess I have to say something now.
“T-thanks, I guess.” I looked down at the blanket. God fucking damn it, this is so awkward. Then, a set of eagle claws entered my vision, startling my mind, also causing me to freeze.
“I…..also wanted to thank you as well.” one of her claws ever so gently grabbed my chin and lifted it so my head looked back at hers. “ You’ve given me an opportunity to go to a new land. That by itself is great, but a partner to experience it with makes it spectacular.” I could sense her gratitude and sincerity. Enough so that I didn’t want to ruin it. It was inspirational. Catching me off guard, she leaned in quickly and gave me a peck on the cheek. I felt my whole face heat up.
“Wha….hey! What was that fo-” but she placed a claw to my lips, interrupting me.
“Just rest. We’ll be in Equestria soon,” she added before leaving the room. What the hell just happened?