Revelations and Mysteries.
King Argent Glimfeather and his son-in-law, Abbadon Whitequill, walked through the halls of Whitequill Manor. The latter’s powerful muscles, earned from a lifetime working his family forge, rippled with each step he took. And despite every attempt that he made to be presentable, Abbadon still smelled like smoke and fire.
“I must say, Lord Whitequill,” the King said as they walked, “I've been very impressed with the latest batch of armor your forge has supplied to the army. It surpasses everything we've seen to date from all the other forges. Your work I presume?”
Abbadon chuckled softly as they continued. “Actually, your Majesty, it's Opal’s. She found a new method of heating the steel, making it lighter but stronger at the same time. Her mother and I are both very proud of her.”
“As well you should be after an amazing discovery of that nature,” King Glimfeather said with a smile. “I share your pride.” But then he noticed a strange look on his son-in-law’s face. “Is something bothering you, Lord Whitequill?”
Abbadon stopped in his tracks and quickly looked left to right. “Can I speak plainly with you, your Majesty?” A quick nod from the king gave the Lord of the House all the permission he needed. “I'm worried about Opal, Argent.”
“Is something wrong?” Argent asked, his concern for his granddaughter plain in his voice.
Abbadon shook his head. “No, she's fine, but I'm told that she's been seen out in the city late at night. At first, I just shook it off as rumors, but then I keep hearing more and more, and in each, they give a description of a she-griff who seems to fit Opal to a T.”
Argent thought for a moment before he spoke up. “Have you asked Opal about this? If it is her, then I see a conversation in the future that would hopefully shed some light on the reason.”
Abbadon slumped a little, a strange sight indeed seeing a griff with his impressive build. “I've asked her about it several times, but she always denies it. But the question keeps appearing in my mind, if it is Opal, why would she be spending her nights ‘out on the town’ as they say, instead of studying. I raised her better than that.”
“If it is Opal, as you yourself said,” Argent interjected. “Now, let's speak on more business terms. Forget this particular bit of hearsay for now. I wish to discuss your progress on the new suit of armor you have been working on for General Ironfeather,” he said as they began walking again.
***
Back at the House Path Manor, Noah had finally woken up after his early morning return. He didn't know what exactly to expect to see when he opened his eyes, but certainly not the purple eyes of Twilight Sparkle.
“Wha–?” he said in his groggy, heavily hungover state. Twilight stood up and coughed to clear her throat. It was a quiet little thing but to Noah, it sounded like a thunderclap directly in each ear. “Pleeeease don't be so loud,” he said, putting his taloned hands over his poor ears.
“Where were you today?” she asked in her regular tone, though to Noah it was as loud as the Canterlot voice. “We were supposed to study that sword you used to fight the strange pony, but you never showed up. I was really worried. So again, where were you?”
Groaning with the effort to move, the very hungover griffon opened his eyes and looked up at the Princess of Friendship and Lady of the House. “I was right here, trying to sleep off the mother of all hangovers.”
For a moment, Twilight was confused. “I don't understand. Any alcoholic drinks here have had spells put on them to prevent things like that. It helps keep the staff... and certain red griffons from drinking too much and getting so hungover they can't do their jobs in the morning.”
With a very slow nod of his head, Noah agreed. “That is very true, but I wasn't drinking the House's stock of drinks last night.”
Again, Twilight was confused. She began pacing the room as she mulled over the facts out loud. All the while, Noah carefully picked up a goblet of water and dropped a small tablet into it, which began to fizz gently. “But if you weren’t drinking from the House stock and you're hungover then...” She paused as it all came together finally. With a loud drawn-out gasp, she turned to look right at Noah. “You went outside the grounds!”
After taking a slow sip of the fizzing water, Noah put the goblet down. “Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!” he said slowly. “See, I was bored out of my skull last night and it was suddenly suggested to me that I wasn’t not allowed to leave – just that I shouldn't. So I did. I had a great night, then came home. No harm, no foul,” he said while he began to massage his temples.
“I'd say some harm was done,” Twilight said with a chuckle as she watched the griffon try to ease his headache. “Sooo…” she said almost conspiratorially “Did you meet anygriff?” Noah looked up at the young alicorn and smiled. Over the next hour, in spite of his hangover, he described in detail all that had happened the previous night.
***
While Noah and Twilight continued to talk about what had gone down last night, Opal Whitequill had just finished some of her duties as a Lady of House Whitequill. The young griffon was on her way to her own little study to continue her metallurgical research. When she entered the small room, she was startled to find the same griffon that she had bumped into the previous night when she had returned home. Her personal aid, Pike Notus. “What are you doing in here?!” she demanded. “This is my private space – no griff is permitted to enter!”
“I know, my lady, and I apologize, but I wanted to talk to you about last night. I mean usually you tell me all about what you do when you go out, but last night you didn't. I knew this would be the only place where I could bring up the subject without anygriff else overhearing and informing your parents.”
With a slight chuckle, Opal nodded. “You're right. I do, don't I?” she said as she took her seat and turned to face their other griff.
“So what happened last night?” he asked. “You came home a lot later than usual. Bad night?”
“Oh, it was very much the opposite,” Opal said with a smile as she thought back. “I had a great time.”
Upon seeing her mood change, Pike decided to ask something he had been wondering. “You met somegriff last night, didn't you?” The resultant Blush on Opal’s cheeks gave him all the confirmation he needed.
“How did you know?” she asked, still blushing.
“Well, when you came home you had a, shall we say, certain glow about you. You didn't...?” Once again Opal blushed, even brighter this time.
“Oh, gods! No!” she almost shouted. “We just danced and had a few drinks. He more than me, but that's all that happened.”
“I apologize, my lady,” he said honestly and bowed to show his respect.
After a moment Opal looked over to the other griffon. “Can I ask you something?”
“Always, my lady” he replied with a smile.
Opal took a moment to think about how to word her question. “When you and your wife first met, how did you know that she was the one?”
The male griffon paused for a moment and smiled as he recalled with perfect clarity the day, the very moment in question. She was a young handmaid and he was a simple butler, one among many. Their eyes met across the dining hall and at that moment they knew they were perfect for each other. “It was as if she were the only thing that existed in the world,” he said as he gazed back across the years.
As Opal listened to the description of her aid’s meeting with his wife so long ago, she recalled that the previous night when she first saw that strange blue griffon, and what had just been described was exactly the same way she felt. As soon as she saw that strange, handsome, griff, nothing else in the world mattered.
Seeing her dreamy expression as she was clearly looking back on events, Pike couldn't help but smile. “You felt it, didn't you?”
Snapped out of her reminiscing, Opal looked to her aid with confusion. “Felt what?”
Pike had a strange gleam in his eye. “An ancient calling – one that links two souls together and echoes across time.”
“What calling?” Opal asked, totally enthralled by Pikes mystery.
Smiling once again, Pike said the one word that gave a name to the feeling that Opal had been struggling with – “Destiny”
With a quick snort, Opal suddenly found herself laughing in her attempt to hide her belief. “Destiny? Seriously? Don't be ridiculous! Destiny isn't real; it's just something griffons made up to try to explain things they can't explain,” she said between fits of laughter. All the while Pike continued to look at her. Finally, once her laughing ended, he cleared his throat and locked eyes with her. “Mock it if you will, but there are greater forces in our world than you or I know. Remember that, my lady,” he finished with a smile and a bow and left her study, knowing full well his lady fully believed him.
***
The cold stone walls shone with purple light as the Hunter practiced his magic. In their first encounter, his magic did next to nothing to that accursed griffon, so he wanted to be ready for their next encounter,
which would be soon, he was certain. A knock on his door brought an end to his practice. His leg fully healed by now, he walked over to his door and opened it to reveal Storm Wind stood on his doorstep.
“I see your leg's feeling better,” the pony said as he entered carrying a fancy oak box with him. “These were just completed,” he said as he handed the box to the Hunter who took hold of it with his magic and opened it. Inside were six of the most amazing daggers he had ever seen, each was Identical to the last, the blades seeming to shimmer with the dark energy infused into them.
“Those should prove more effective against the Medallion Master than your last ones,” Storm said as he watched his friend admire the shining blades as he levitated them around him.
“I certainly can't wait to try them out against him,” the Hunter said with a cruel smile before he, with his magic, hurled all six at a crudely drawn image of Noah. Each blade buried itself into the center of the drawn griffon’s head.
***
It was getting late, and once again Noah was in the process of sneaking out of the manor to go to the club. Gliding on the wind as he made his approach to the city, he found himself hoping that he would meet the griffoness once more. Dancing with her had really been the highlight of that night and he wanted to feel that way again.
Once he entered the club, without hassle from the bouncer this time, he looked around for her. However, he saw no sign of her and his heart sank. He couldn't even ask about her because he didn't know her name. He slumped his shoulders and thought about leaving until he felt a bump against his left shoulder. Looking in that direction, he saw her standing there smiling at him.
“You weren't missing me were you?”
“Nah,” he said with a grin, waving a dismissive claw. “I was just not liking the music they were playing a moment ago.” He couldn't help but chuckle nervously. Deep down she knew he was lying, and he knew she knew too.
“So I forgot to ask last night – what's your name? I'm Noah,” he said as they both began moving their bodies to the beat of the currently playing song.
“I'm Opal, and it's nice to meet you, Noah,” she said with a smile.
As the night went on, Noah and Opal danced, ate, and drank, but thankfully not nearly as much as last time, and they laughed as they got to know each other better. Eventually, as it always must, the time came to make their way to their respective homes – or temporary home in Noah's case.
As they left the club together Noah turned to her. “It's pretty dark tonight; would you like me to walk you home?” he asked, smiling. Opal looked at him with her own smile and gently shook her head. “Oh, I don't think we're at that stage yet,” she laughed. “Maybe one day, but not today. Noah... what's your surname?”
“Bluecrest,” Noah said, puffing out his chest and looking as proud as he could which caused Opal to chuckle again.
“Well,” she said as she started to make her own way home while looking over her shoulder, “I hope I can see you tomorrow night, Noah Bluecrest.” She even gave him a small wink before she took flight. She circled above him once before flying away somewhere toward the outskirts.
“I hope to see you tomorrow too, Opal,” Noah said smiling as he watched her disappear into the distance.
With a contented sigh, Noah turned around and began walking back into the city he loved. He didn't really feel like going back to the manor yet, so he decided that he would go for one of his long overdue late night walks through the city like he used to do before all this craziness happened.
As he wandered the streets seeing all the sights that greeted him like an old friend, he wondered if he should go visit his apartment. While it was true House Path had made arrangements with the landlord so Noah wouldn't lose his apartment, he did feel somewhat homesick and just felt like dropping in for a little bit, maybe play his piano for a bit. He hadn't tickled its ivories for a while.
That was when a strange smell caught his nose. It was acrid and even smelled almost hot. Smoke! Looking skyward, the griffon saw a large pillar of smoke rising from somewhere in the center of the city. Throwing caution to the wind, Noah spread his wings, launched into the sky, and flew straight towards the pillar of smoke until he saw the building that was now fully ablaze. Landing near the fire he saw several of the city guards shouting orders to get the blaze under control. Feeling everything was as under control as a fire could be, Noah was about to turn and leave when a griffon couple ran up to one of the guards demanding that he help them.
“Our chicks are in there!” the female shouted.
Then her mate joined in. “They were fast asleep, so we went out to have a late dinner. Now, let us in there!” Before the guard could question why they would leave their chicks even if they were asleep, a bright, silver light distracted them all.
The three griffons turned to look and saw a larger, fully armored griffon standing nearby before it rushed over to them.
“What floor are your chicks on?” Noah asked in his double voice.
“The top floor, apartment six. They're in the back-most room. Save them!” the male shouted moments before Noah spread his wings and took off, making an almost ninety-degree turn in the air before crashing through the window in front of him.
Inside the burning building, Noah could barely see where he was going due to the smoke, but breathing wasn't a problem at least. And while he couldn't feel the heat of the flames, the endangered chicks certainly could, as the terrified shrieks attested. Quickly finding the apartment, Noah felt the door, testing if it was hot or not before he kicked it down. The shrieks were definitely louder and Noah made his way to the backmost room. This time, however, instead of kicking it down and possibly harming the young ones, he drew his sword and, with two diagonal cuts, sliced it open.
Inside the room against the furthest wall were three young chicks, one older than the other two, who were practically identical. Sheathing his sword in its pocket dimension, Noah made his way to the chicks and knelt down in front of them. “Don't worry, I'm here to help.”
Standing up from the wall, the three chicks made their way over to the armored griffon. Noah let the older one climb onto his back while he picked up the twins and held onto them tightly. Then he looked over his shoulder to the third sitting on his back. “Hold on tight now. I'll have you back to your parents in no time.”
The chick nodded his head and nervously tightened his grip.
Making his way out of the apartment, Noah found that the stairs that led to the lower floor were gone. Obviously, they had collapsed due to the fire and the window that he entered through was now also blocked by burning debris. He couldn't risk using many of his abilities because of his precious cargo, so he was running out of Ideas and the chicks were starting to cough from the smoke. A loud creak drew his attention and he looked up to see a large section of the ceiling collapsing. He quickly dodged the falling debris and looked up again.
If he was able to smile while in his Knight form, would have been grinning ear to ear. The hole in the ceiling was big enough for Noah to escape the blaze. Spreading his wings, he prepared to take off. Rather than his wings flapping to provide his lift, a strange energy was expelled from between his metallic feathers. Twilight had called it Magic Thrust, and it propelled him upward faster than any griff could fly. Wasting little time, Noah landed in front of the chicks’ parents, and as soon as he put the twins down and allowed their old brother to flutter off his back, they ran to their parents. However, Noah didn't have time to enjoy the adorable spectacle of the reunited family as he again turned his attention to the still-burning building. Once again he took off into the sky and began to hover just above the building as he thought of what to do.
The thought soon dawned on him. Fire needed air to burn, so he needed to starve it. So he angled his wings, one facing forward and the other backwards, and angling himself upright, he began spinning faster and faster, creating a vortex. All the griffons on the street below watched in amazement as the vortex began to suck up the fire and at the same time starving it. After several seconds, the fire was extinguished. Noah stopped his spinning and flew back down to the street to try and stop his own head from spinning. As the other griffons began to swarm him, he decided to not answer a lot of questions and started to dash into a nearby alley, only to lose his concentration due to his dizziness and the Knight form disappeared giving several of the onlookers a fleeting glimpse of a blue, white, and dark grey griffon.
Hiding in the alleyway, Noah took a moment to catch his breath. He was pretty sure no one had seen him, but not certain. He also knew that soon enough he would need to eat a lot of food. He decided that it was in his best interest to get back to the House grounds. As he prepared to take flight, a scream split the air. Noah couldn't help but wonder who it was and why they were screaming, so, against his better judgment, he took off and flew in the direction the scream had come from. Eventually, he came upon a scene he had not expected to ever see. Two males had a griffoness cornered and one of them had a crossbow to her neck and the other had a knife. What kind of lowlife would stoop to something as dishonorable as theft like this? Acting on instinct, he reached for his Medallion again and once more took on his Knight form. Then, leaping down into the alley, he landed with a loud crash, cracking the stone beneath him as he did.
The two thieves turned, the one with the crossbow keeping a tight grip on the female’s throat while he aimed the weapon at the new arrival. “What do you want?!”
Noah took a single step forward. “Let her go.”
The two looked at the armored stranger and laughed before the one with the knife also took a step forward. “Are you stupid or something? Let her go? What do we look like to you?!” he shouted.
Noah stood stock still for a moment, weighing up his words. He had to sound like he knew what he was doing and he had to answer the challenge and the insult they had given him. “You look like two cowards, so insecure that they only feel strong by ganging up on a griffon who can't defend herself.”
“Cluck you, bucket-head!” the one with the knife shouted then charged. Noah let him come, effortlessly dodging the clumsy attacks before finally catching the claw holding the knife at the wrist and gave a squeeze. The griffon cried out as he felt the bones in his wrist crack and splinter.
A twang and a metallic thunk signaled that the other griffon had loosed the bolt from his crossbow, which had become lodged into Noah’s front foreleg.
Dropping the first griffon who had passed out from the pain, Noah turned his attention to the other, and in an instant, he had closed the distance and had taken him out with a strong backhanded strike. The offending griffon lay in a heap on the ground, the slight expanding of his chest proof he was still alive.
Approaching the frightened griffoness, Noah kept his distance to show he meant her no harm. “You're safe now. Are you alright, my lady?” A quick, scared nod signified the affirmative. Noah looked about before returning his attention to her. “The City Guard will be here soon. I can hear them coming.” Turning away from her, he spread his wings to take off but stopped when he heard her call to him.
“Wait!” she said.
Looking over his shoulder, Noah waited to see what she wanted.
“Thank you,” she finally breathed out before quickly asking, “Who are you?”
For a moment, Noah was struck with uncertainty. He hadn't considered what he might call himself if anygriff asked something like that. After all, he couldn't very well tell them his name. Nor had he ever really expected to go about doing stuff like this. So he thought for a few moments, which to her must have seemed like a pause for dramatic effect. Finally, the image of what he resembled the most came to mind. “I am the Knight,” he said simply before taking off high into the sky.
When Noah finally arrived back at House Path Manor he was starving, more than he had ever been, having used the Medallion to transform twice in one night. He was so famished that he could no longer keep himself airborne and made an extremely unflattering landing in the house grounds. Luckily he was close to the front door, so he let himself in.
Of course, at this time of night, there were very few staff members about, most being asleep or otherwise standing watch on the walls that protected the grounds. But he could not wait until the kitchen staff awoke in the morning to prepare breakfast, and so the blue and white feathered griffon had very little choice in the matter and made his way into the kitchen, turned on the stove in preparation and located the refrigerator. Opening it, he saw everything he needed to sate his growling stomach.
The next morning, Noah was not found in his bed by the head butler who would come to wake the House guests. But instead, he was found by a highly annoyed and somewhat befuddled kitchen staff. Noah Bluecrest was found passed out on the kitchen floor surrounded by bits and pieces of the food he had eaten the night before. Of course, the fridge was now completely empty.
***
Noah awoke to find himself still in the kitchen where he had fallen into his food coma from his large meal the previous night. He looked around him to see that every pot and pan was still where he had left them. However, there was one new addition to the mess. On either side of his head he found a violet colored foot with naturally rose-colored talons, and the three on the right foot were tapping the tiled floor with a trace of annoyance.
That was when Noah looked up to see Lady Roseclaw herself standing over him and looking even less pleased than her tapping suggested.
“So, I have a feeling I maybe ate too much last night?” Noah said in a humorous tone, trying to relieve the tension. It was less than successful, the frown remaining firmly in place. However, when she spoke, there wasn't a hint of anger. Her voice was calm and even, and that somehow made it so much worse. “You ate everything in the larder. Did you forget we're hosting the King tonight?”
“Oh no,” Noah moaned as he slapped a hand to his forehead. “That's tonight! I am so sorry!” he said as he quickly got to his feet. “I'll go get more right now!” he said as he prepared to bolt from the room to make good on his promise. However an extended wing from Roseclaw stopped him before he could even move an inch.
“That is already being taken care of. The whole kitchen staff is down in the city right now replacing everything you inhaled. And they are not happy about it,” she said once again in the calmest voice ever.
“Again, I'm so sorry. I'll do anything to make it up to you and them,” Noah said, hanging his head. “Just name it and I'll do it.”
Rose sat on her haunches and rubbed a taloned foot against her chin in thought. “Well, there is something you could do. It was the staff who suggested it, actually.”
Noah raised his head with hope in his eyes. “Name it!”
Roseclaw smiled. It was a little unnerving, to say the least. “You, my blue and white friend, can do us all a big favor,” she said as she placed a claw on his shoulder and promptly turned him around to face into the mess that was once the House kitchen. “You can clean up after yourself.”
Noah saw the devastation he had caused and his hopeful smile faded a little until he remembered his medallion. With its powers, he could have the whole kitchen spotless in no time. That was when he felt it being removed from him. He turned and saw Lady Roseclaw wrapping the gold chain around her right forefoot as she smiled.
“Oh, and you'll do it without this. Wouldn't be a punishment if it was easy now, would it?” she said smiling as she turned around and started to leave. As she did she looked over her shoulder. “I expect you to have this room spotless by the time the kitchen staff returns in two hours. Happy cleaning!”
Noah turned back into the mess of a kitchen and sighed a little before he made a start by picking up all the pots and pans that lay strewn about the floor.
***
Noah had finished a mere five minutes before the kitchen staff had returned with carts full of supplies. The blue and white griffon made a point of avoiding them and opted for leaving an apology note instead.
It had been several hours since then and the party was now underway. As a guest of the House, Noah, Dusk, and Dial were invited and had some attire made for them in advance, courtesy of Twilight’s fashionista friend, Rarity.
Noah had never been more uncomfortable in his life as he stood in the main dining hall dressed up to the nines as he mingled with nobles he'd never even heard of before, pretending to laugh at what they considered jokes and maintaining a smile. On the other side of the room, Duskwing was loving every moment and had gathered quite a group of griffonesses to him as he talked on about all the odd adventures he and Noah had gotten up to in order to build the funds for their ultimately doomed business.
Dial Tone, on the other claw, was engaged in a pleasant enough conversation with another griffon male, the son of one of the guests, and the two seemed to be getting along quite well.
Noah looked at his friends and couldn't help but be a little jealous. ‘Why do they get all the good attention, and I'm stuck with the snobs,’ he thought to himself. Suddenly, a series of horns sounded and the head butler announced the arrival of none other than King Argent Glimfeather himself.
As the king entered the hall, Griffons parted and made sure to bow until he reached Long Path and the other House founders. Path kneeled first, followed by Roseclaw, Twilight and Free. After a moment the king smiled. “Rise, Lord Path.” The Earth pony and his herd did so, then turning to the rest of the guests, the king gave the same command and all in attendance did so. “Let the party continue as normal,” the king said with a smile, and after a moment it was almost as if he were not there with the way the guests behaved.
Not long after, the butler announced another set of guests. “Announcing Lord and Ladies Abbadon, Melfina, and Opal Whitequill.”
Noah heard the name and looked to the entrance hall, not believing that it could be the same Opal, but curious to know all the same. As the crowd parted to make way, he saw her. She looked gorgeous. Even more so than she had the nights he met her in the club. The dress she wore shone like a diamond with silver highlights, and she wore a sapphire necklace that matched the small tiara she wore and her eyes.
As Opal parted from her parents to mingle with the other guests, Noah made his way towards her, nervous all the while. Sure – before she had just been another griff in the crowd that he really liked; now, however, she was a noble griff that he really liked, not to mention her father was the strongest griffon in all Griffonia.
Of course, he had no Idea what to say to her now that he knew who she was or how to even strike up any kind of conversation, that was until the music started playing. Before he could overthink things, he gently coughed to get her attention. She looked his way and almost lost her composure at seeing her club dance-buddy at House Path’s party. A million thoughts ran through her mind as she tried to make sense of the situation until he held out a claw.
“May I have this dance?” he asked.
Her mind went blank as she accepted, placing her claws in his and he led her to the dance floor and began to move to the music as many other couples were.
“I always thought you were special,” Noah finally said after a minute. “But I never thought how special,” he added with that charming grin of his.
“I was going to tell you,” Opal said. “After we’d gotten to know each other a bit better, but I guess those plans went to Tartarus, eh?” she said with a slight chuckle. “So you're with House Path?” she asked after a moment of silence.
“I guess you could say that,” Noah replied. “I'm more a guest than a member. Lord Path took me and my friends in after we lost our business,” he explained.
“Oh! I'm sorry about your business. What did you do?” she asked, realizing that they'd never really talked about their personal or professional lives before.
“Well... me, Duskwing and Dial Tone... we were... We were tour guides,” he said then shut his eyes and waited for the inevitable laughter. But it never came. He didn't understand, she was a highborn noble whose family was known for making some of the finest armor in the Griffonian army, and he showed beings around the city telling them what they were. He would have been prime mocking material for other nobles. In fact, he had been several times before while taking groups out.
“I like that,” she said simply, causing Noah's eyes to snap open in surprise and see her genuinely smiling at him.
“Really?” he asked. “Most griffs usually laugh when I tell them what I did for a living.”
“Well then, they don't know what a noble deed it is, taking it upon yourselves to educate others about our city and culture,” she said while still smiling as they continued to dance to the music.
Noah smiled in return. “You know, just as soon as I think you can't get any better, you somehow surprise me,” he said, giving her a spin.
Noah and Opal continued to dance, talk and laugh. This did not go unnoticed by Abbadon as he sat on his haunches with a goblet of wine in one claw watching his daughter dance with somegriff who looked extremely familiar. All the while, another griff was speaking, saying nothing that Abbadon cared about in the least at that moment in time, his eyes fixed on the cock dancing with his daughter.
On the other side of the hall, Free Agent was happily chatting with Twilight and other guests, drinking in more than the wine. As a changeling, he was soaking up the positive emotions permeating the air. It was almost intoxicating. That, however, was when he felt it. Something was out of place. Among all the happy thoughts there was one of jealousy – extreme jealousy. The kind that would drive a being to any lengths. He looked around trying to pinpoint who it was but to no avail; there were simply too many guests. It gave him an uneasy feeling for the rest of the night.
Eventually, the dance ended and Opal and Noah made their way over to the buffet to get something to eat and drink. As the griffon poured some wine for himself and Opal, he noticed Duskwing looking at him and smirking. The thestral then gave a subtle ‘come here’ gesture and Noah nodded. “Excuse me for a moment, Opal – my friend wants a word.”
The white feathered griffoness nodded. “Alright,” she said with a smile.
Noah made his way over to Dusk, not noticing Dial Tone make her own way over to the buffet too, and she just happened to end up right beside the white lioness/sea eagle griffon. Although they had never met before, each felt strangely tense by the other’s presence.
“So... nice party, isn't it?” Dial asked, trying to break the ice that so far felt to be at least a mile thick.
“Yes, it is,” Opal replied. “This is the first of House Path’s parties my family have been invited too. My grandfather told me all about them but stories don't do them justice,” she said, then quickly took a sip of her wine. She was feeling really uncomfortable for some reason. Suddenly, Dial turned to face Opal dead on. “He's mine”
Opal nearly spat out her wine. “Excuse me?” she said as she looked at the determined pony in front of her.
“You heard me. He's mine. I saw you two dancing. So I say again. He. Is. Mine.” Dial then quickly about-faced and made her way back into the crowd, leaving a perplexed griffoness in her wake. Before Opal could make any sense of what just happened, another griff asked her to dance, and while she would have preferred not to, she agreed just to get her thoughts back in order.
The rest of the party went by smoothly. Opal and Dial didn't cross again and everyone had a great time. As the party came to an end, many guests left for their own homes including Opal and her parents, while some asked if they could be permitted to stay for the night. Seeing no harm in it, and also the chance to gain more allies for the House, Path allowed it. However, Free still tasted the tang of jealousy. Even though he couldn't pin it down, he knew it had to be one of the guests.
***
It was midnight. Every member of the house was asleep save for those who had the night patrol shift. The ponies and griffons patrolling were keeping a keen eye on everything that they could, especially those on the outside of the mansion.
Inside, a shadow moved through the hallways, evading any guards it saw, carefully searching every room, peeking in through the doors. At one point, the shadow almost woke Twilight and Free but fortunately only made the red griffon mutter something in his sleep about the pony princesses.
Eventually, the shadow found itself at the right door. Peeking in, it saw Noah asleep on his large guest bed. The blue, black and white griffon was on his back snoring while his wings were fully splayed out under him.
The shadow carefully tiptoed into the room and over to the bed and finally saw what it was looking for.
There, still around Noah's neck, was the medallion.
Using slow careful movements the intruder deftly extended a foreleg with their claws extended. The intruder carefully tried to loop a claw under the gold chain around Noah's neck so the medallion could be gently lifted away. Suddenly the intruder felt a very strong grip on their outstretched foreleg. Looking down they saw that Noah was far from asleep. In fact, his eyes were very much open and he was looking right at them, and he did not look at all pleased.
***
Two of the house guards working the night shift were walking through the guest wing corridors as part of their nightly routine, idly chatting. “I'm telling you, she won't care. It's a common problem; a lot of males have it,” the first, a griffon, said to his pony partner.
“That's easy for you to say, you don’t...” he was cut off as a strange griffon came crashing through the door that led to one of the guest suites. Moments after, Noah walked through the now thoroughly ruined door and looked at the two shocked guards.
“Get me Lord Path. Now!”
***
Long Path was, to be fair, in less than a good mood as he listened to the details of the attempted theft of his guest’s Medallion. That it was another guest who attempted the crime made it all the worse. Not to mention the grey earth pony was, until a few minutes ago, fast asleep.
What was worse was it turned out that particular griffon hadn't even been invited. He had gained access to the party by showing forged documents of invitation to the guards. Path made a mental note to have the
guards train a little more to learn how to spot such differences – or maybe some kind of magic detector – but that was for another time. For the moment he had to deal with this griffon who kept struggling against the guards holding him.
“Tell me who you are and where exactly did you come from?” the Lord of the House demanded, showing the trademark sternness that all griffons are known for.
“The first of many!” the prisoner finally spoke. “Surrender the Medallion or this house will lie in ruins!”
“You don't get to make threats in my home!” Long Path responded before gesturing to the guards holding the griffon down. “Take him to a holding cell. We'll see if a couple of days under lock and key will change his tone!”
“Unlikely,” the prisoner said before tossing off the guards holding him. He spread his wings and took flight, or at least he tried to. Something was holding him back. Looking behind him the griffon’s eyes widened in horror as he saw a silver-clad claw wrapped around his left hind leg.
Noah had transformed the moment the griffon broke free and now effortlessly hauled him out of the air. No sooner had the griffon recovered than an armored fist made contact with his head, sending the thief sprawling across the hall. The griffon was staggered only for a few moments, but in those moments Noah had closed the distance and now had a firm grip on both the griffon’s shoulders.
“TELL US WHO YOU ARE AND WHO SENT YOU!” Noah bellowed.
To everybody’s surprise, the thief smiled, “Oh, you'll find out soon enough,” he said sinisterly before turning his head to the right then suddenly whipped it to the left with such strength and speed his neck snapped.
Noah dropped the corpse and reverted to his normal self once again and turned to look at Long Path as the pony approached. “Looks like it's time for me to leave.”
“What are you talking about?” Path asked, confused.
“This griff came here for the sole purpose of trying to steal my Medallion, which means he knows what it is and who it belongs to. Plus he said he was the first of many. If I stay, more like him will come, and you saw how easily he threw your guards off him. It's safer for every being here if I leave.”
The tense moment lasted only for a few more seconds as it was interrupted by a low growling noise coming from Noah's stomach. “Of course, I'll have something to eat first,” drawing a chuckle from Path.
***
The next day saw Noah, Duskwing and Dial Tone all ready to leave. Dusk and Dial had both insisted on leaving with Noah, stating they wouldn't feel right leaving him to face the dangers on his own.
“Well, Noah, we'll miss you,” Twilight said. “I was looking forward to continuing our research together.”
“Don't worry, Lady Twilight – once we've dealt with these guys, whoever they are, we'll come right back,” Noah said with a smile. Then he, Dusk and Dial all bowed and turned to leave. Before they got very far, however, Noah stopped and turned around. “Oh! Right – before I forget. Lords Long Path and Free Agent, Ladies Roseclaw and Twilight Sparkle, I'm glad it was you who won my family home from Ravenwing. I know you'll take good care of it,” he said with a smile as he turned around again and walked away.
Every member of the Herd Path was dumbfounded; all except Free Agent. “See,” he said with his trademark grin. “I told you all he'd tell us in his own time,” he said then turned about and headed back inside, whistling all the while.
***
A familiar purple-coated unicorn sat on yet another rooftop looking down at the street below, or rather at a certain blue and white griffon who was walking calmly down the street, going about his daily business. “Found you again,” the Hunter whispered and he continued to observe his target, somehow missing the fact the griffon he had his eyes on was walking with a rather noticeable limp.
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Do you think you could link to A Different Perspective?
9066856
Sure thing.
https://www.fimfiction.net/story/246414/a-different-perspective
There ya go.
2 years....
It's a wonder I can remember any of this story. Still, I'm going to need a reread to recall all the goings on again.
9070606
Again I am very sorry it took so long.
But if I may ask, what do you think of this new chapter?
Is this story dead? I really hope not, it's got so much potential! You didnt abandon it did you?
9461865
No it's not dead. It's just taking longer then expected to get the next chapter (which I assure you is in progress) out. But fear not, I have not abandoned it.
I'm very sorry that I made you think it's been abandoned. And also thank you very much for liking it
9071191
Okay, finished the second rereading.
Hmmm.... with that suicidal griffon, It either looks like a new interested party is trying to get Noah's medallion or just that "Hunter" is patently incompetent in their group.
My money's on they're in the same gang--but it would be far more interesting if Hunter's employer was competing with another dangerous group for collecting those medallions. Three-way conflicts are always far more entertaining.