//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 – Fresh as the Sun // Story: Griffon of Canterlot // by Electuroo //------------------------------// Griffon of Canterlot Chapter 6 – Fresh as the Sun The golden glow around the quill as it's tip danced around on the piece of paper creating the signature of Princess Celestia. Little over two days ago Celestia wouldn't even thought she would become an guardian to a teenage griffon, yet as she signed the last of the papers her eyes trail from them to that very griffon sitting on top of the bed eating cereal. He was completely unaware of how sudden this was for the princess of the sun, the griffon happily chowing away with each spoonful of cereal and milk. Doctor Trace had to show him how, but as Celestia was told by the doctor. The teenage picked up quickly on how to use the spoon with the bowl to eat his breakfast. Pink Heart checked through the papers. “This all looks good Princess, you and the griffon may leave when your ready.” Celestia replies without taking her eyes off the teenage. “Thank you Nurse Pink Heart.” Celestia was still trying to wrap her head around all that happened in the last two days. “Nurse... Do you have any young foals?” As the griffon cheerfully eat away as Pink Heart responds to Celestia's question. “Yes, an eight year old colt. Love him with all my heart but tend to be a bit of a hyper little thing that gets into trouble.” She laughed softly. “I am gathering your asking me because of the young one?” Celestia turn her head to now focus on Pink Heart. “Yes.” “Am I rushing this? Am I doing right?” Celestia said with concern. “Princess. I can not exactly answer that.” Pink Heart glance over to Doctor Trace and the griffon. “He is far better than I first met him before you came. So...” She turn to Celestia. “What does your heart says?” Celestia put a right hoof on her chest. “I am doing the right thing. Yet I do not understand how or why...” Celestia lower her hoof. Pink Heart looked around for the Daring Do book. “That I can't answer Princess. Each answer to that differs.” Pink Heart look over to the griffon again at the end of the bed to see no book. “One thing I can say for sure. His a teenager and from what I seen his a fast learner via visual.” “So teaching him from right and wrong will be one of those top priorities?” Celestia asked Pink Heart nods. “Yes. That would be a good idea Princess.” Celestia noticed Pink Heart opening up a cupboard and closing it. “What are you doing? If I may ask.” Pink Heart sighed. “The book you read is missing.” Celestia noticed a dark blue feather under the bed. “I believe my sister has the book.” “Your sister?” Pink Heart look to where Celestia was looking at. “I see...” She took the feather in hoof. Celestia smiled. “She unaware that it most likely not allowed to leave the hospital. I will get Luna to return it.” Doctor Trace walked up to them. “That would be grateful Princess.” The mares turn to him. “Also the young one be free to go when you are ready.” He gave the discharge papers to Celestia. Celestia looked at the papers and made them disappear into a magic pocket dimension. “Thank you Doctor Trace, Nurse Pink Heart beat you too it.” Doctor Trace look over to Nurse Pink Heart with an smirk. Celestia continues to say. “Your services been amazing as always.” “Just doing my job Princess.” He replied and leave the room. Pink Heart smiled bowing. “I got my rounds to do. Hope that you and the griffon have a safe journey home.” Pink Heart lift her head up and leave the room. Celestia walk up to the bed. “Almost finished?” He nods. “We be flying back to the castle via chariot.” He tilted his head. “You will know what it is when you see it.” She smiled. Celestia turn to the door. “Guards. May one of you go and inform the Pegasi Chariot Guards we be departing in a few minutes?” One came into view and salute. “Right away Princess!” He turn and head off to the chariot outside the hospital. The teenage griffon drunk the last of his apple juice and removed the green hospital gown. That is when he noticed his own items were missing, looking around he pull the sheets up to see if they was in there but nothing was found. Celestia coughs and he pulled the sheets off his head looking at her. “I had Sargent Blue Star take them to be remade into something more presentable.” He gave her an annoyed look. “Do you want to walk around looking like your living on the streets to ponies?” The griffon eyes drift away before refocusing on her and lowering his head in defeat. “I promise you will like what I have in mind.” He rose his head with a hopeful nod. Grabbing the plush he jumped off the bed landing beside Celestia. “Eager to leave?” He nods. “Keep close to me and you will be fine.” Celestia starts to walk and he keeps up to her paste as they leave the room. Walking down the corridor the griffon look into the rooms that were opened to see all sort of injured to ill ponies in each of them from all ages. He look up at Celestia with an questionable tilt of the head in asking a question without words. “Am I to guess that you are curious about those in the wards you've looked into?” He gave a nod as they walked and turn to the stairs. He look down at it and carefully started to walk down them using the wall for support with each step of his three limbs. Celestia watched him walk down the steps. “Those ponies are ill or injured. Some even here to have treatments.” Celestia explained walking down following the young griffon. “You was brought here because of your reaction to my magic. We learned a lot about you, but at the same time we got more questions as well.” They arrived at the ground level walking by the reception desk with the guard behind them and two more now stood attention at the presents of Celestia. “Ready for a ride to your new home?” He tilted his head. “You are my responsibility now.” Upon exiting the hospital he got to see part of the city. “Impressive isn't it?” The griffon flapping his wings to hover a few feet to get a good look around at Celestia's eye level. “I take that as a yes and good to see you can use your wings.” She warmly smiled at him. He look around to his wings with each flap and turn to Celestia with a shrug before landing back on his paws and one talon. “You just know how to do it without knowing?” He nods. “Impressive instincts.” The griffon gave a toothy smile by that response. An guard came over to them. “Princess the chariot is ready.” “Thank you Private Wind Storm.” He salutes and flies off to clear the sky for the chariot flight path to the castle. Celestia lead the griffon to the chariot with four Pegasi guards standing ready for take off. The chariot was gold with purple between the gold star on each of the two largest wheels at the back with purple lining on the floor of it and backing. It had a star on the top of it with a flag pole and purple flag with the sun and moon displayed on it in gold. The griffon couldn't tell who was who from the four guards. They all look exactly the same from the helmets to the tails, armour, hoofshoes and their eyes. The guards seem to have two or three different colour of guards which confused him. But his attention shift to an uneasy feeling as he saw how open the chariot was. “It perfectly safe young one. Come on.” She walked onto it and sat down. Celestia tap her hoof down to her side and he reluctantly got onto it sitting close to her holding his plush tightly to his chest. “To the castle please.” They nod and with a short run up with a flap of their wings the chariot is airborne. At first the young griffon kept really close to Celestia's side as the chariot gain altitude, soon he started to get curious at the sights around them. He carefully moved to the edge of the chariot to look over it at the city below as the castle grew closer with every moment that past. As Celestia watched him move around her from left to front and then to the right looking at the view of the city she began to wonder. “Young one.” This got his attention turning to face her. “Is this your first time seeing the city?” He nods. She became even more curious. “Do you remember the bluish white aura and lightning two weeks ago?” He nods. “By any chance you remember anything before that?” He shook his head. “So your first memories was on the castle grounds.”Celestia rubbed the hoof under her chin. “Young one, you saw Shining Armor on that night didn't you?” He nods. Celestia came up with the conclusion from this. “It seem whatever happened to you, did an number on your memories before that night.” Celestia sighed softly. “I am sorry this had to happen you.” He rose up the plush to her with a smile. “You want me to hold your plush?” He nods and she took it with her hoof. “I guess we found rule one.” He tilted his head. “Letting somepony or in this case someone hold your plush means you trust them and feel that they would return it to you in kind. Such as this.” She gave it back to him. He happily chirped and went back to looking over the side at the view of the city passing by them far below. “Such a pure heart...” Celestia whispers to herself as she continue to watch him with an warm smile. Soon descending to the castle grounds the chariot touched down with hooves landing with a short gallop to a slow trot from the guards. They came to a stop outside the main entrance to the castle, Celestia got off and the griffon follows her into the castle to be welcomed by an orange Pegasus in the gold armour. He saluted and spoke directly to Princess Celestia. “Princess Celestia. By request of Princess Cadance and Captain Shining Armor, I am here to escort you and the griffon to the Royal Suites.” “What are you two up to?” Celestia thought. Celestia gracefully nod to the guard. “Very well Private Flash Sentry. Please lead the way.” Flash Sentry lower his hoof turning around to head up the stairs. “Come young one. Let see what the captain and my niece been up to.” The griffon follow the guard named Flash Sentry close to Celestia heading up first a set of stairs, a corridor followed by turning to a right down another hallway and up another set of stairs. They went to the left and down the next hallway past many doors till they came to another level of stairs finally coming up to the top. At the top two guards either side of two large doors salute and using their magic the doors open to the Royal Suite. The bedrooms of Celestia and Luna as well the guest rooms of the invited by the royal sisters. “This young one is the place we go to get sleep, I and my sister have our rooms on this level. Also there is a few guests rooms too for the more important visitors such as rulers of other lands.” Celestia explained to the griffon. “Though... Why would they be up here in one of those rooms?” Cadance emerges from one of those rooms. “Private we got it from here, thank you for bring my aunt and the young one.” Flash Sentry saluted once again. “I will be at my station.” He turn walking up to the wall, turning back around he stood attention. Cadance wave her hoof for Celestia and the griffon to come inside. “Mind the fresh paint smell and the mess Shining Armor got himself into.” Cadance walk back inside. Celestia raise an eye brow. “Fresh paint smell?” The griffon shrugged in confusion. “I am with you on that young one.” Celestia walk towards the door with the griffon. “Shall we see what they been up to?” He nods holding the plush close as the smell of something strong hits him as they about to enter the threshold. Upon entering the room both Celestia and the griffon were surprised at what they saw, the room had been painted with a massive picturesque landscape of snowcap mountains with forests, grass and an lake with flowers around it. Blue sky and white clouds were behind the mountains and beyond the horizon of the landscape to the very ceiling above them. Sheets covering all the furniture, bed and interior doors out the bedroom to the private bathroom. In the middle of the room was Shining Armor covered in different shades green, brown and blue paint on the mane, tail, fur and armour. Celestia laughed and Shining Armor rolled his eyes slightly. She calms down and speaks. “Captain... Did you and Cadance spend all night doing all this?” Celestia hints with her hoof to the whole room. “We did Princess.” Shining Armor replied. “It was Cadance's idea and I went along with it.” He smiled. “What do you think of the young one's room?” The griffon walking up to the wall to touch it with a talon got a white wing pulling him away. “Best not young one. It still drying, you want to be covered it paint like Shining Armor?” He look over to Shining Armor and back at Celestia with a shake of the head. With that said, like to reply how you like your room?” He tilted his head with a few confused blinks. “This room is yours.” He looked very surprised and point all around the room. “Yes it is.” She laughed. He squawked happily and rushed to give Shining Armor a hug, but got a white wing blocking him again. “Paint.” She giggled. He gave a O expression on from his beak and backed up from Shining Armor. “After the captain cleaned himself up than you can give him a thank you hug okay?” He nods happily to that idea. Cadance sat down on her hutches. “I am able to give you a hug if you wish.” Cadance open up her forelegs out to him. He look up to Celestia whom nods, he flew up at her and hugs her with Cadance returning it with her forelegs around him. “Happy with what we did for you?” He nods. She let go of the hug and turn to Shining Armor. “Come on Shiny, best get you cleaned up. We having lunch around your parents home aren't we not?” Shining Armor gasped. “I completely forgot!” “Luckily I didn't” She giggled. “Come on.” With a salute he left with Cadance in a hurry. “Hmm... They forgot to take the paints out.” Celestia using her magic to pick them up with the brushes and trays. “Come young one, best not to be in here too long. Best let the paint dry.” He took a good look around and with a nod they exit the room. “Private Flash Sentry can you get a guard or two to help you take this stuff back to the utility room please.” Celestia place them down by the room door. He salutes. “At once princess.” He leaves to find a few guards to help him out to clear up the paints, brushes and trays. Celestia look down to the griffon. “Come with me. I like to show you something.” Celestia walk away from the room and the teenage griffon following. A whitish grey unicorn with brown mane and tail wearing a glasses and a collar came up to them. “Princess there you are! I been looking all over for you! You've got three meetings to attend before lunch!” Celestia turn to her. “Raven! I do apologise. Unexpected events happened in the last 48 hours. I completely forgot about the meetings!” Celestia explained to Raven. Raven brought up a scroll looking over it. “Well we can make up for lost time by going now Princess.” Celestia look down at the griffon. “Whom will look after the young one. I can not possibly leave him alone.” Raven came up to him. “Don't worry I will get-” He growled at her and kept close to Celestia. “Really? Growl at me fo-” He quickly retreats and now directly behind one of Celestia's hind legs squawking at her to get away from him. Celestia sighed. “He only trusts a few and those he doesn't he acts in this manner. Shining Armor and Cadance just earned his trust with what they did to his new room.” Celesita explained. “His scared of you Raven.” Celestia turn to the griffon. “It okay.” She whispered to him. He calms down a bit but still staring at Raven as she step back a few feet. “What do we do Princess? These meetings can not be missed.” Celestia look over to her sister's bedroom door and an idea came to mind. “Hmm... I believe I got the solution to that.”