The Traveling Tutor and the Royal Exam - Still Writing · 10:04pm Oct 5th, 2015
Just wanted to drop a note to remind people that I'm still writing on The Traveling Tutor and the Royal Exam, and that I really don't want to start releasing chapters until I can hit the END (which is about 30 hours from the attached clip below):
(Wasn't that a nice segue into the short snippet? Caution: Cliffhanger ahead.)
As they walked across the close-cropped grass of the municipal stadium floor, the feeling of hundreds of eyes peering down at her was getting to be familiar to Princess Twilight Sparkle, but plain old Twilight inside still felt the irrational urge to flee back into the darkened doorway they had just left, scoop up Spike, and teleport to a library somewhere for several days worth of intensive book therapy. She even had the teleportation destination fixed in her mind, but the responsibilities of her position precluded the possibility of escape. Besides, walking across the stadium floor with her soon-to-be-husband and soon-to-be-gone griffon emperor was really not that bad. Even the griffon Imperial Guards drifting by overhead were so much like the pegasus Royal Guards from the castle that she could almost put them out of her mind.
Almost.
The little twitch she hid whenever the shadow of one of the griffon Imperial Guards swept by overhead was not really that bothersome. Not really. Some of Fluttershy's mice reacted much the same way whenever a hawk or eagle would block out the sun for a second. The warm, feathered bulk of the emperor was a comfort to one shoulder just as much as the warm shoulder of Green Grass to the other side filled her heart with joy. And of course Spike, who preferred to walk just barely in front of them in such close proximity that at times he turned into a little bit of a dragon sandwich. Twilight still could not peg her exact relationship with the little dragon, whether just an assistant, closest friend, little brother or even somewhat of a son. To be honest, she never would have fallen for the big green goofball at her side if he had not struck it off so well with Spike. Other stallions who had attempted to gain her favor had either ignored the little dragon or treated him as some sort of guardian pet who needed to be bribed into passivity, but Green Grass had fairly adopted him as the little brother he never had.
Ever since the races of Dragons and Ponies had met, there had been conflicts due to their natures, and even today the few dragons who lived in pony towns and cities were treated differently. In a way, it had been the hardest lesson she had ever learned under the tutelage of Princess Celestia. You could not simply treat a pony like a dragon, or a dragon like a pony. Respect for their differences and awareness of their similarities had allowed the two races to live in grudging proximity ever since Twinkle Twinkle and Ruby had laid down the first building blocks towards their tentative interspecies understanding so many years ago.
Twilight Sparkle had hoped having the griffon emperor at her wedding would put another brick in that building of friendship, but it looked like that construction project would have to be put on hold. He would begin his trip to the High Nest in a few minutes, after a short speech, of course, and be far away by tomorrow. As much as she did not want to think about it, a griffon had been responsible for the murderous attack yesterday. Although Twilight would have been willing to put up with the stress of having the emperor in the audience, he had been adamant about her safety in case there was another attack. Emperor Ripping Claw had even ordered little Princess Sunny to accompany him away from Canterlot, despite her strident protests to the contrary. Having her as a flowerfilly would have been such a symbol of griffon-pony friendship, particularly with as close as she had become with the Cutie Mark Crusaders after just one day, even if it did mean rebuilding some of the Royal Baths.
The faintest of twinges from her belly reminded her of another construction project that would continue to grow regardless of her plans and she gave a brief shoulder-bump to Green Grass as they strolled along. Despite the bright attention of dozen of onlooking ponies, she smiled as she walked, in a pleasant royal decorum which vanished as she heard a strident cry from above that echoed around the stadium.
"Death to the pony-lover!"
It's gonna be an exciting next few seconds for whoever is doing that shouting.
Either the one shouting is a complete idiot, or he's designated bait...
Great snippet; eagerly awaiting the next chapter (but willing to wait)...
It's not the cliffhanger that gets my attention. No. It's this line:
This leaves me wanting to know what happened.
Not reading spoilers.
You are an awful person for leaving us on such a cliffhanger.
But thanks for the update. Keep it up.
Welp, some griffon's going to get plucked.
Looking forward to seeing this resolved.
I wish more writers would adopt this practice.
500 word chapters once a week are just killing me.