Foreword: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It belongs to Hasbro and Lauren Faust.
Passing of a King
By M1Garand8
Blurb
Princesses Celestia and Luna attend a State Funeral of a Griffon King. Entry for the World-Building Alliance March Writing Contest.
State Funeral
“We are almost there, your highnesses,” one of the pegasi pullers said and turned his attention back to flying.
“Thank you, Stout Heart,” Princess Celestia said. Her gaze fell on her sister, Princess Luna, who stared forward without a word. Celestia noted her stoic gaze and said: “Is something troubling you, Luna?”
Her words seemed to move Luna out of her pensiveness. Luna turned her gaze on Celestia. “Are you sure that it is safe to let Cadance run the courts alone while we attend this state funeral?” A look of worry crossed her face. “I have my doubts that Queen Chrysalis would rest upon hearing that two of the most powerful ponies in Equestria are out of country so shortly after her defeat.”
“Do not worry, Luna. Chrysalis does not have the power to strike so soon. Besides, I have been tracking her whereabouts and she has been keeping to herself in the San Palomino desert since she landed there after her defeat.” Celestia gave Luna a gentle smile. “On top of that, we will be away for only two days and Cadance will let us know if Chrysalis makes a move. So, please do not take this as a false assurance, Lulu.”
Luna shot Celestia a grateful look. “And for that, I thank you.”
Presently, the chariot the Royal Pony Sisters angled downwards, beginning its descent. Celestia and Luna could see the gradually closing plains and the looming capital of the United Gryphon Kingdoms. The view of wide open plains disappeared into large, utilitarian stone apartments, businesses and government buildings as the chariot angled for the designated arrival point.
With a thump, the chariot touched down and slowed to a stop at the head of a bright red carpet. Looking right, Luna was staring down the aisle formed by two long lines of griffons soldiers with their spiked coal scuttle helmets, armed with long, unfamiliar weapon of wood and iron, cradled in the crook of their clawed legs.
“Huh, the Gryphon Kingdoms has certainly changed since I was gone.” Luna disembarked the chariot along with Celestia. Leaning in to whisper in her sister’s ears, she said: “What are these weapons the soldiers are carrying? I have never seen anything like that.”
Upon touching down on the red carpet, the two griffon soldiers closest to them brought their weapons – topped with a gleaming solid triangular spike – vertically in front of them in three smooth moves which were obviously practiced. Luna realized it was the old salute soldiers gave to superiors and head of states while holding weapons, now barely recognizable after being adapted to a weapon that bore just a passing resemblance to a polearm.
Celestia bowed gently to the saluting griffons and Luna, in a momentarily lapse of attention, simply parroted her elder sister’s actions and bowed as well. As they trotted away, Luna spied the two soldiers returning their weapons to a position that held them angled upwards in front of their chests, it was a position shared by all the other griffon soldiers as they proceeded down the aisle.
Celestia leaned in Luna’s ears and whispered: “They are the latest iteration of a weapon they call a musket and they call the type of this weapon a firearm.”
Luna shot her sister a brief intrigued look. “I see.” A small smile formed on her lips. “Perhaps I shall ask more of this… firearm later.”
Celestia shared the smile. “A whole class of it, I believe. The griffons have had this weapon for the past three centuries.”
The look of intrigue returned to Luna’s face and she felt her smile widening. “It would be an enlightening topic to look at, I sincerely hope.”
There was a twinkle in Celestia’s eyes. “It would, Luna.”
The walk stopped at the other end of the red carpet, which a sharply dressed male griffon with grey tipped crest feathers waited patiently. He bowed deeply and then spoke:
“Greetings, your highnesses. The United Gryphon Kingdoms and the Kingdom of Saxony welcomes the Royal Pony Sisters to our fair kingdom.” His Common Equestrian was flavored lightly with the accent of Eastern Griffish.
Celestia and Luna both gave a gentle bow in return. “We thank you for hosting us, Lord Siegfried,” Celestia said.
Lord Siegfried, the Foreign Minister of the Court of Saxony, smiled and waved the princesses towards a carriage. “Your embassy has arranged transport to the hotel, your highnesses. Please be assured that you will be safe.”
Celestia returned the smile. “Thank you once again, Lord Siegfried. We will be on our way.”
The griffon bowed as the two princesses trotted towards their ride. Almost at once, Luna noticed something wrong with the carriage. It did not have the typical look of a pony-drawn carriage and… Where are the ponies pulling the carriage? A pale orange unicorn sat in the front seat, whose bored look brightened into a wide smile at the sight of the two princesses and waved at them, to the slight amusement of Celestia.
Luna turned to her sister. “Tia, where are the ponies pulling this carriage?” She frowned when the smile on Celestia’s face got wider.
“You’ll see, Lulu,” Celestia said enigmatically and trotted off.
Luna’s frown deepened as she followed her sister, who got on the carriage through the open door. Luna joined her an instant later.
“Good day, your highnesses!” the unicorn said enthusiastically.
Celestia beamed at the unicorn. “How has life been treating you lately, Long Chime?”
“Great! I get to stay abroad, do nothing all day except to ferry self-important ponies around and get paid large amount of bits. Not a bad life for a former student of yours, right princess?” Long Chime waggled his brows and gave the two princesses a smirk.
Luna stared incredulously at the middle-aged unicorn, whose messy, blond mane peeked out under a brown soft kepi in numerous spikes. Her eyes turned towards Celestia when her sister broke out in small laughter.
“I see you are still charming as ever, my faithful student,” Celestia said.
Long Chime smiled brightly. “Had to be when you’re in my line of work, princess.”
“I’ve heard you even charmed the tails off two griffonesses a while ago.” Celestia gave Long Chime a sly smile.
The unicorn laughed uproariously. “Nothing happened, if that’s what you mean but they were pretty nice ladies.” Long Chime’s expression turned serious for a moment.
Luna, with her frown etched so deeply in her brows that it might well be a canyon, leaned between her sister and her former faithful student and said:
“Should we not be off? Are we waiting for the pullers to arrive?”
Celestia and Long Chime shared a look before breaking into giggles.
Luna stared at them in turn. “Well?”
“You should fasten your seatbelt, Luna.” Celestia said when her giggles finally died down and lit her horn with her magic. “Here, let me show you.”
Luna jumped a little when she felt something brush against her barrel. Looking down, she saw a strap with a strange hook draping from her withers across her barrel and lap and clicked in a small lock beside her. When she looked up, she saw Long Chime lit his horn in a pale yellow glow and a rumble ran through the carriage. Luna would have jumped ten feet into the air if it wasn’t for the straps holding her in place. A panel lit up with strange gauges she could not decipher the purposes.
“So Long Chime, how are the griffons feeling with the death of their previous king?” Celestia said. The laughter in her voice drained away as she got down to business.
“Sadness, great sadness. King Gunther IV was greatly beloved by the griffons of Saxony.” Long Chime said, his hoof working a series of levers that Luna could not again tell for what purpose. “And they do seem to find their latest king a little lacking, though.”
“King Gunther V is a wise and just ruler. Perhaps he wasn’t as ruthless as his griffons wanted him to be.” Celestia ventured a small smile. “He did not get elected the High King by being a fool, after all.”
Long Chime worked his hind legs on some unseen pedal and placed both of his fore hooves on rounded slot on a wheel Luna only now have noticed. “Of course, princess.”
A chill ran through Luna as the carriage suddenly lurched forward. The carriage moves on its own! Yes, the United Gryphon Kingdoms had changed. A lot.
***
Luna was very grateful for the stay at the hotel, even if it was only for two hours – she had finally stopped shaking after the first hour. The shock of a self-movable carriage faded quickly but that was not what had gotten into this state. Although the machine – she knew now after a series of short, pointed question at her sister – was not as fast as the pegasi pulled chariots, Long Chime drove that thing as if he was possessed by Chaos and all the near-misses at high speed reduced even the normally fearless princess into a whimpering mare.
It took all of her dignity to keep herself from railing against her sister, who was no doubt quietly laughing at her expense, along with her former student. She had fared only a little better on the second ride to the place the funeral ceremonies were held.
The viewing gallery where all the visiting head of states were gathered for the funeral procession of the late king of the Kingdom of Saxony was a long rectangular room with several long benches for sitting and lounging. A clear floor-to-ceiling window ran the entire length of the room, giving any occupants an excellent view of the wide asphalt road flanked by tall stone buildings where the procession will be moving through.
King Rudolph, a heavyset brown reindeer with large pale antlers, a large black nose and a rather large pointed crown on his head, was already there when Celestia and Luna trotted into the room. Spotting the two sisters, the leader of the Kingdom of Antlatia turned towards them and bellowed:
“Celestia!” He galloped up and folded her into a ferocious bear hug. “How is little Cadance doing?”
Celestia laughed. “Cadance is well, Rudolph. She tells me to send you her regards.”
“Ah, a fine young mare she has grown into, I have heard.” Rudolph let go of Celestia. “I have also heard she had just gotten married. May I ask who the lucky stallion is?”
“The Captain of the Royal Guards and the elder brother of my current student, Shining Armor.” Celestia gave Rudolph a wide smile. “It was quite a wedding!”
Rudolph’s uproarious laughter reverberated through the long room. “I heard it was! Too bad I was too busy to attend!” His expression then turned serious. “It was also attacked, yes?”
A sheepish look crossed Celestia’s face. “Uh… yes. We received a threat and put up defenses but it turned out that the queen of the Changelings had already infiltrated in the guise… of Cadance.”
Rudolph’s eyes widened in shock and then narrowed in anger. “Oh, the galls of that insect! I would have pounded that puny little thing into the ground if I was there!”
“It all turned out well in the end, Rudolph.” Celestia gave him a placating smile. “My student, Twilight Sparkle, whom Cadance foalsat when she was a little filly, noticed the difference in character and eventually found the real Cadance and returned her to the wedding.”
“I see, I see.” Rudolph nodded. “I still wished that I was there to pound that puny thing into the ground, though. Cadance is such a delicate flower!” He waved a hoof. “She must be protected and that stallion better do or I will personally cross the ocean and pound him into the ground!”
Celestia let out a gentle laugh. “She is much tougher than you give her credit, Rudolph. It was the love between Shining Armor and her that ultimately banished Chrysalis from Canterlot.”
“Hah,” Rudolph smacked a hoof on the tilled floor, “I would not have expected less from her! She had come a long way since she was the scared little filly I saw twenty years ago.” He tilted his head and peered beyond Celestia’s withers. “And speaking of little fillies, here is another filly I have not seen since more than a thousand years ago!”
Luna, who had been still in shock from the ride, jolted at the sound of the voice directed at her. She looked up just in time for the looming sight of Rudolph.
“Luna!” Rudolph nearly crushed the poor alicorn in another bear hug. “It is good to see you back!” He let poor Luna go before she asphyxiated. “I heard you made quite the news when you returned!”
“Y-yes, we certainly did…” Luna felt her ears turned down. “W-we art thrilled to see thee again, Rudolph…”
Rudolph turned to Celestia, with a puzzled look on his face. “Celestia, you are sure Luna has learned the ways of modern Equestria? She still speaks in the old Common.”
“Indeed, she has.” Celestia’s smile was enigmatic now. “She is just in shock.”
Rudolph turned back to Luna. “In shock? What would put this fearless filly in shock?”
“Somepony driving a machine like a maniac, for one…” Luna muttered.
Rudolph laughed loudly at the remark. “I see you have met Long Chime and his sense of driving!” He leaned down and said: “I will have you know… Celestia was just like this after the first time she sat in that carriage Long Chime drove.”
“I did not cower like a filly who had a nightmare when I first took Long Chime’s carriage, Rudolph,” Celestia said coolly.
“Hah, no, you did not. However, you were still rather flighty that day, Celestia,” Rudolph countered.
Celestia’s expression was guarded for a moment. “Hmm, perhaps I was?”
“Perhaps, you were what, Celestia?” A new voice joined the conversation.
Celestia, Luna and Rudolph turned to the sight of a dainty little brown White-tailed doe trotting into the viewing gallery. Instead of a crown, the doe wore a wreath of woven brown vines with sprigs of green leaves, studded with emeralds, rubies and sapphires.
“Ah, good for you to finally join us, Clear Spring!” Rudolph boomed to the Queen of the Cervidae Union. “You Deers were always so late to the party! It is one thing to be fashionably late, as the ponies call it and another thing to be having no sense of time at all!”
Queen Clear Spring raised a hoof. “Strictly adhering to a template is not the way of the Six Earths, Rudolph and especially you should know that very well since you Reindeers are seasonal migrators and used to be part of the union.”
Rudolph bellowed laughter. “Ah, but our migrations are very consistent, dear Clear Spring!”
“Greetings, Clear Spring. Are the others coming as well?” Celestia said before the bull and the doe could escalate their exchange into an argument. “You were the only other head of state to arrive after so long.”
A griffon just behind the doe cleared his throat. “Excuse me, your highnesses and majesties but Queen Clear Spring is the final guest to arrive.”
“Oh, and why is that?” Luna spoke up.
“Your highness, we have been informed that Afri is currently under some situation and the head of states are trying to resolve the issue while the rest of the leaders of the Union and the Sultan of Saddle Arabia is on a diplomatic mission to the newly discovered nation of the Qilins and thus unavailable,” the griffon diploma said.
Celestia, Luna, Rudolph and Clear Spring shared a look. Luna spoke up: “I see. We thank you for your information, Mister…“
“Johann, your highness.” The griffon bowed. “I am a junior diplomat.”
“Thank you, Mister Johann,” Celestia said.
Johann waved the king, queen and princesses to the long benches. “Please take a seat, your majesties and highnesses. The procession is about to arrive and I will be around if any of you require anything.” Johann bowed once again and relocated himself to the entrance of the viewing gallery.
***
It started with drums alternating between beats and trillings. Soon, the horns joined the drums. Then the marching soldiers in their horned helmets started singing:
Ich hatt' einen Kameraden,
Einen bessern findst du nit.
Die Trommel schlug zum Streite,
Er ging an meiner Seite
In gleichem Schritt und Tritt.
Luna watched in rapt fascination as the griffons marched past the gallery from the comforts of the long bench. The drummers lead the entire procession; an officer off to its right gave commands. The horns followed after the drummers, after which was followed by blocks of soldiers cradling those intriguing firearms in the crooks of their left fore legs.
Eine Kugel kam geflogen:
Gilt’s mir oder gilt es dir?
Sie hat ihn weggerissen,
Er liegt zu meinen Füßen
Als wär's ein Stück von mir.
Luna counted five blocks of firearm carrying soldiers before it was interrupted by the casket of the late king Gunther IV – draped with the colors of the United Gryphon Kingdoms and the Kingdom of Saxony – lying on the open back on another of the self-moving carriage.
Will mir die Hand noch reichen,
Derweil ich eben lad'.
"Kann dir die Hand nicht geben,
Bleib du im ew'gen Leben
Mein guter Kamerad!"
Another seven blocks of soldiers followed and the procession’s end was marked by the griffons in dark suits – the ministers and courtiers of the Court of Saxony. Gears in Luna’s head started running. If each block was a platoon, then by griffon’s formation size – if it had not changed in the intervening thousand years – the late king was escorted by three companies of troops, essentially a battalion. It was a tradition of griffon military funerals and this left the alicorn puzzled.
A quiet inquiry with Celestia confirmed the suspicions: what Luna saw was a traditional griffon military funeral procession.
“But why would a king would want to be buried as though a common soldier?” Luna said.
Celestia smiled gently. “From what I have gathered, Luna, the late king was very proud of his service in the army and requested to be buried as a soldier.”
“Huh…” was Luna’s reply. She looked down at the now mostly empty road, her ears turned down. Luna could feel the familiar feeling of dislocation with the times creeping up on her. A hoof resting on her withers pushed her out of her reverie. She turned to the warm, kind look of Celestia.
“He did this so he may be closer to his subjects, Luna.” The smile on her face turned motherly. “It was for the same reason that I abolished the Royal Canterlot Voice so many centuries ago – so that I may be closer to my subjects.”
“Bah, it does not matter the volume of which you speak, Celestia!” Rudolph spoke up. “All you need is a big heart!” Now, he waggled a hoof at Celestia. “And you spoil your subjects too much! Now, I could not even speak properly without your ministers giving me an evil look!” Rudolph bellowed laughter.
Celestia joined in the laughter. “Ah, but I could not let you give all my little ponies heart attacks, lest I run out of ministers and courtiers to assist me running the government, Rudolph.”
“Then you should teach them to have big hearts!” Rudolph said.
It was then Johann appeared beside Celestia. “Your majesties and highnesses, I will now escort you to the receiving chamber for the king’s speech.” He waved them to the entrance of the viewing gallery.
“Thank you, Mister Johann,” Celestia said and the four leaders rose from the bench.
The griffon bowed and led the mini-procession out of the gallery and into the long corridors leading to the chamber where the last rites would be held.
***
The receiving chamber was a large, airy room. Made of white, polished marble, it was largely utilitarian in design, with a colonnade marking the wide main entrance. Johann led the princesses, king and queen in from a side entrance in the left wall and to two front row low benches split by a wide aisle. The griffon ministers and courtiers sat immediately after the foreign head of states, followed by the rest of the public. Their faces ranged from stoic to sadness and to open bawling.
Celestia and Luna sat together on the right of the aisle while Rudolph and Clear Spring sat on the opposite side of the aisle, already chatting and no doubt trading mildly barbed remarks. The casket lay on a veritable sea of flowers of black, red and yellow, layered from top to bottom, signifying the colors of the United Gryphon Kingdoms.
King Gunther V, the High King of the United Gryphon Kingdoms and King of the Kingdom of Saxony, soon stepped out of the same side entrance and ambled onto the podium and finally stopping at an ornately carved lectern which held a microphone. The low hub dub died down immediately with his appearance, with the exception of soft sobs, the audience now expectant of his eulogy.
There was a moment of silence before the king began. Celestia, Rudolph and Clear Spring, having attended functions with the griffons over the past millennium, had no problems understanding Eastern Griffish, leaving Luna out of the loop. Sensing her sister’s unease, Celestia asked for Johann to translate for Luna:
“Two days ago, the great Kingdom of Saxony suffered a great sadness. It was a great sadness that even now the country is going through. My father was a greatly beloved griffon and first and foremost a military griff. Entering the service of the army at the age of sixteen as a junior officer, he quickly rose in rank, owing to his brilliance and innovation. The current musket design and mechanism – the flintlock – was a product of his brilliant mind and greatly improved the efficiency of the matchlock muskets we previously carried.
“By the age of thirty-five, he was already a Colonel—” Johann had left the rank as “Oberst” then and Luna later knew that the rank was equivalent to an Equestrian Colonel. “—and a family griff. As a father, he was strict but fair, and always willing to see credit in other griffs’ work, including my own. He taught me much about discipline and solidarity to everygriff, lessons which he had learned from his time in the army.
“My father had not been a king for long – he abdicated in favor of myself after thirty years of reign at the age of seventy and returned to the love of his life: the army. He was promoted to Brigadier General—” Once again, as Luna knew later as Johann left the rank as “Brigadegeneral”. “—shortly after and by the age of seventy-four, he was a General, having contributed many written treatise on military tactics and strategy.
“It was of great sadness to everygriff and I that he passed on at the age of ninety-two, ten years after his retirement at age eighty-two. It was his personal wish that he was to be buried as a soldier and as such I have honored his wish and he is to be buried with full military honors.”
There was a pause.
“Please take a minute to observe a moment of silence in respect of a great griff who gave greatly in service of his nation and may he continue his path to glory on the Great Path. Thank you.”
Everyone – even the usually bombastic Rudolph – in the receiving chamber bowed their heads in silence and paid respect to the late monarch. Soon after that was over, King Gunther V stepped off the podium and two griffons dressed in white robes trimmed with sky blue entered with a thundercloud in tow.
One griffon lifted off and pushed the cloud into position over the casket while the other stopped facing to the right at the casket. Laying prostate, the griffon began:
“Dearest Sky Mother and Sky Father, we send to you a great griff who had performed greatly in his path in life. We beseech you to guide him to glory as well in death and may he not disappoint you in his eternal journey.”
The griffon kissed the wooden floor. There was a flash and crash of thunder as the griffon hovering over the thundercloud gave it a good kick. Rainwater fell over the casket for several seconds before stopping of its own accord.
“Greetings, Celestia.” A voice spoke in accented Common Equestrian.
Celestia and Luna looked up to the sight of Gunther V bowing.
“Greetings, Gunther.” Celestia bowed in return. Pointing a hoof to Luna, she said: “You have not met her before but this is my younger sister, Princess Luna.”
“Greetings, King Gunther V.” Luna bowed as well. “I am pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“And I as well, Princess Luna.” Gunther V waved a clawed hand. “If you are ready, we may proceed to pay the last respects for my father.”
“We are ready, Gunther,” Celestia said.
“Then, we shall proceed. Please follow me.” Gunther now led the procession of two monarchs, two diarchs, the ministers and courtiers of the court and finally the rest of the public.
Gunther was the first to stop in front of the casket. “I will remember your teachings and bring the Kingdom and the Confederation to greater glory, father.”
“May Harmony guide you well, King Gunther IV,” Celestia said when it was the sisters’ turn and both sisters bowed.
“May the Great Ice Mother hold you tightly in her bosom, Great King,” Rudolph said next and bowed.
“May the Earth Mother rejuvenate you and set you on an even greater path in your next life, King Gunther IV.” Clear Spring bowed.
The procession continued with the griffons paying their last respect to their beloved king. Finally, when everyone was in their benches, the national anthem of the United Gryphon Kingdom started. Celestia, Luna, Rudolph and Clear Spring listened politely in silence while the griffons sang the song of their sovereign nation with pride and gusto.
Soon after that was over, Johann reappeared and led the head of states to their transport. They would not attend the burial as it was to be a private ceremony and only held with close friends and family. Luna endured Long Chime’s reckless driving back to the hotel in silence, contemplating on what she had seen and heard today and wondered what would tomorrow hold.
Well, there were still the intriguing firearms to look into, after all.