//------------------------------// // Prologue 17 Months Later // Story: Carnivore // by Recteik Shade //------------------------------// Epilogue 17 Months Later Baltimare was a breathtaking sight as as always for the pair of pegasi the flew high overhead, passing the the bustling train station without even drawing a curious glance skyward. Which was what the had wanted, to enter quietly with getting mobbed by fans or paparazzi, they were after all here on serious business. They couldn’t afford to get distracted by their egos today. The pegasus that led the way was a mare, slender but powerfully built. Her coat was a warm yellow orange and like most ponies who flew professionally her fiery mane was permanently windswept. She wasn’t wearing her usual blue and gold flight suit, which would have cut down on their travel time but ultimately would have made anonymity impossible. Behind her flying in her slipstream was another equally talented and famous flier. His light blue coat contrasting sharply with the much darker navy blue of his mane and tail. Normally Spitfire would have made Soarin fly his own path instead of mooching off her effort. Today however was one of those rare instances where she would allow him an easy flight, he was carrying everything they would need for this mission after all. While the grey saddlebag was not heavy it as oddly shaped and not aerodynamic by any stretch of the imagination. “You ever think about retirement Spit?” Soarin asked ending what had been the longest stretch of silence this flight had yet to yield, a whopping ten minutes. “What!?” she snapped not believing that he would even suggest the topic. “I think about it.” Soarin continued completely oblivious to the fact that he had pushed one of his captain's button’s. “ I like to think about where i could go. Where i should settle down.” A great deal of Spitfires disdain vanished as she realized he meant himself and not her,”Oh… No I’m never going to retire.” She said matter of factly. “ I'll be flying a decade after i bite the bit.”(1) Soaring laughed hard at her comment,”Tell me something we don’t already know Spit! But i wouldn't mind spending my time on the coast with a pretty mare.” It was Spitfire’s turn to laugh,”As if anypony could put up with your goofy flank.” Soarin gaped at her making o show of mock shock and hurt,”Are you saying you think i’m unprofessional Spit?” “Does Discord have a Dodo bird?” she laughed back as she tucked in her left wing to pull into a steady downward spiral. In the brief time they had had their conversation they had flown over the city's docks and warehouses. The place and pony they were looking for was supposed to be here and if the obnoxious sign was any indicator they were in the right place. “I didn’t want to believe that anypony would actually name their tavern the Upchucking Sailor!” Soarin sighed shaking his head in disbelief even as he reached into the beg and removed a plain manila envelope. “Yeah, according to his file this guy is a real piece of work.” Spitfire said rolling her eyes alongside her second in command. With that she pushed open the door and stepped inside choosing to ignore the ‘Sorry we’re Closed’ sign. Inside they found a dingy establishment that was dim, despite the sunlight streaming in through the dusty windows. There were only two ponies inside, a light red Crystal Pony who was busy pulling chairs off of tables. On the far end of the room was the bar lined with stools made of a dark wood, behind it stood a mountain of a light green Earth stallion. The sort of pony a rowdy drunk would think twice about picking a fight with. A bell jingled over the door as they stepped in drawing both stallions attention, the one behind the bar had been cleaning out massive steins paused in his work and gave them a charming smile. “Sorry folks we’re closed right now, Don’t open till four, comeback then.” “If we wanted to get plastered we could’ve done that back in Cloudsdale.” Spitfire snorted in annoyance The large stallion raised an eyebrow before giving the pair of pegasi a more appraising look,”Hey don’t I know you?” “We had a show in Baltimare a few months back.” Soarin answered. “You probably saw us there.” “Show?” Stout questioned aloud as he narrowed his eyes to scrutinize the pair again. After a moment his eyes nearly popped ot of his head,”hey! You two are Wonderbolts!” “And the bit drops.” Spitfire laughed sarcastically. “What the hay are you doing here?” Stout asked,”Last I heard you guys were touring up by Trottingham.” “Still are.”Soarin answered,”But something came up that we’re looking into.” He then flipped through the papers inside the envelope and removed a photograph before stepping over to Stout and giving him a serious look,”Just to clarify your Stout Buckwheat?” The burly stallion nodded and Soarin laid the photo on the bar,”We need you to tell us when the last time you saw this pony was.” Stout raised a skeptical eyebrow when he looked at the photo to see it was of a friend,”You’re looking for Cumulus?” he asked confused. “You know he’s not a flier right? Guy’s gotta be the biggest egghead I know.” “This ain’t a recruiting mission Mr. Buckwheat!” Spitfire snipped. “Just tell us when was the last time you saw or heard from him.” Stout shrugged,”About a year and a half ago. He was on a bender because the university cut his funding.” He shook his head and sighed,”Bastards didn’t even bother to tell him until after he’d wasted six years of his life in the Everfree.” “So he was drinking?” Soarin asked,”The last time you saw him he was here getting hammered?” Stout nodded,”Yeah i was thinking about cutting him off when the Horse showed up looking for him.” Soarin and Spitfire exchanged wide eyed looks before Spitfire pressed on,”Horse? There was a Horse looking for Dr. Granted?” “Yeah!” Stout chuckled. “Damnedest thing too. I’ve been running this place for almost eight years and never seen one. I always heard they didn’t like coming to Equestria, something about pony magic rubbing them the wrong way.” “You're not wrong(2).” Spitfire replied. “What did the horse want with Dr. Granted?” “Well I don't know the details.” Stout explained. “ I guess he wanted Cumulus to go with him on some expedition south. Must have been pretty damned important too.” “What makes you say that?” Soarin asked. Stout snorted and laughed,”Cuz he didn’t hesitate to bribe me to find him. Paid me nearly five thousand bits! Nevermind that Cumulus was sitting five feet away watching the whole thing!” “And you’re friend didn’t find you taking that bribe odd?” Soarin asked as he reached into the envelope and removed another photo. “Cumulus knows not to get between me and a bit.” he said matter of factly and leaned forward to see the next photo as Soarin laid it on the bar. It depicted a blue roan and a pair of Jackals hunched over a table, the first thing Stout noticed was that this was not taken in his tavern.(3) The colour scheme was off, his place was made of much darker wood for one. And the tables were longer and set higher. Sitting across from the familiar trio was a Griffon,who the Griffon was he couldn’t say, the angle of the shot and the beaked hood it wore made that impossible though at the gape where the cloak clasped around its shoulders he could clearly see a tuft of silver-grey feathers. “Yup!” Stout confirmed. “Those Anubis were with him too.” He looked back at the pair of pegasi,”What’s this about? Is Cumulus in some kind of trouble?” ‘What makes you think that he might be in trouble?”Spitfire asked raising an eyebrow. “Cuz, about five Months ago a pair of Griffons came around asking about this guy.” Stout said tapping the photo with a hoof. “Not the sort of Griffons i like to know either.” “How so?” Spitfire pressed. “They came from one of the Holds that cling to the old Griffon ways.” He scoffed and shook his head,”Just called me and everypony else ‘meat’. I’ve served Griffons like that before but these two were different.” “Different how?” Soarin asked. “Because they thought I was on the menu.” Answered the Crystal pony who had until now been silently listening while he made the tavern ready for it usual patronage. Before the pair oof pegasi could inquire as to what he meant he motioned to a long pinkish line that ran from his withers to the dock of his tail. One of them, took the term meat too seriously! They had been drinking most of the night the the next thing I know im pinned and getting carved up!” “ You just stood by and let this happen!?” Spitfire demanded glaring at Stout. “Buck no I didn’t!” He snapped back with equal venom in his voice,”I jumped over this bar and bucked that pigeon(4) in the face! The other one dragged her out and the Guard had stopped looking for them by morning.” He saw Spitfire give Soarin a deadpan expression that spoke of the times the local Guard had proved useless if not counterproductive to their efforts. “If it weren’t for Cazembe there’s a good chance Adamant would have bled out.” “Who?” Soarin asked turning back to stout. “An Anubis Doctor who frequents my place when he’s in port.” Stout explained,”Just lucky he was in house when that pigeon went savage.” “Don’t suppose you know where we could find him to get his view on that night do you?” Spitfire asked. “Yeah,” Stout nodded. “He lives in a port village on Zuba Ril-ho(5), don’t know which he never said.” “Needle in a Haystack!” Soarin groaned. “And it’s been some time since I’ve seen him.” Stout added. “And when was that exactly?” Spitfire asked hoping for something useful. The stallion paused clearly thinking it over, trying to give the Wonderbolts something helpful to go on. Finally, after several minutes a pained expression came over his muzzle,”Not since the night he patched up Adamant.” Spitfire didn’t even try to stop herself, she groaned and face hoofed. “Sorry.” Stout offered feebly. “It’s not your fault.” She sighed. “And that’s too big a coincidence to not be suspicious.” “A lead’s a lead.” Soarin stated and gathered up the photos he had laid out for Stout. “Thank you for your cooperation Mr. Buckwheat.” “Wait a second. What about Cumulus? Is he in trouble for working with this horse?” Adamant asked looking from Spitfire to Soarin. The pair of Pegasi traded looks and with a silence that came from years of working together came to a mutual agreement. “We don’t think Dr. Granted is or was aware of who Jaffar Di-saad is. Nor his reputation with international Law Enforcement.” “Hold on!” Stout interrupted,”Are you saying I had some Most wanted crook in my tavern!?” “Short answer is yes.” SOarin replied and continued even as stout muttered to himself about bounties.”And a more accurate term is Extremist. This guy's family used to run a multi million bit slave empire in Saddle Arabia, Zebrica, Minos, and the Zuban Archipelago.” “But Slavery has been illegal for centuries.” Stout butted in again. “And it cost his family their fortune.” stated Spitfire rerouting the conversation. “When their empire collapsed they swore a blood oath on the Saddle Arabian royal line.” Soarin shrugged,”Some load or road apples about honour. So fast forward four hundred years and let me introduce Jaffar Di-saad. Slaver, Arms Dealer, Thief, Counterfeiter, excetera excetera.” Soarin rolled over some of his more classified titles and chose not to mention his ties to the Brotherhood of Assassins or The Circle. “And I sold Cumulus to him.” Stout said in a soft but horrified tone. “That definitely isn’t your fault.” Soarin reassured him,”THis guy has sweet talked mother’s out of children and whole cities out of their treasuries. I mean Tartarus we didn’t even know what this guy looked like a year ago!” Stout nodded but was clearly troubled by this news,”IS there anything else I can do to help?” “Contact us if you see the Anubis doctor, or your friend, or Jaffar Di-saad.” Spitfire explained even as she turned and made for the door. “Di-saad is a dangerous stallion.” She said pointedly at Stout,”If you see him you may be tempted to confront him on the whereabouts of your friend. That would be a fatal mistake.” She pulled the door open and stepped out, Soarin quickly thanked them and followed whizzing through the door before it swung shut. Stout and Adamant exchanged a look, after a moment the crystal stallion grabbed the keys to the tavern and went and locked the front door. In the brief span of time it took him to return to the bar there was already a pair of shots resting on the counter. Neither said a word as the liquor went down,oncce they set the glasses down with a clank Stout drug a hoof across his muzzle,”Buck!” ----- “That might have been a bit much, don’t you think spit?” Soarin asked flying behind Spitfire as they dipped between the cities towers. Granted they had been a little more forthcoming with information than the situation called for but his captain rarely tried to scare the witness’s. “On the off chance that Jaffar does come back I don’t want that blockhead trying to start something.” She explained with a backward glance while swaying her flightpath to the right to ovoid Baltimare’s bell tower. “Still that may have been a bit much.” Soarin protested as he followed her coarse correction. Spitfire turned back to respond but never got the chance as Soarin flared his wings. A bubble of pressurized air pulsed out at just under the speed of sound creating a shell of stagnant air roughly eight feet across. The curious look Spitfire gave him only lasted a fraction of a second as a large black wood arrow bounced off the air bubble. She blurred into action before the arrow had even plummeted a single story, Spitfire seemed to blur then vanished from sight. Familiar with her technique Soarin snapped his gaze to the shadow of the bell where the arrow had been fired from. Sure enough she had an Anubis dressed in familiar white robes pinned under her hooves. Even from his distance he could see the would be assassin pop one of his teeth out and crunch it between his molars. “No!” Spitfire wailed and shook the Jackal who was now foaming at the mouth and twitching. “No! Dammit! Talk you mangy scavenger!” “Spit!” Soarin called grabbing her shoulder and pulling her off what was now basically a corpse. “That’s not gonna help. He’s already dead.” As she stepped back he quickly rummaged through the bags on the Jackal's hip, other than a few vials of poison he could only find a small scroll. He sighed and passed it to Spitfire,”We’re definitely on the right track.” She took the scroll and read over,”The Circle.” “He must have been watching the tavern for months.” Soarin stated. “They must have unbelievable resources at their disposal to put a Brotherhood assassin on a stakeout.” “We need to get to Canterlot.” Spitfire said turning to the open sky. Soarin glanced at the dead assassin before followed his captain.” - - - - Iron Peak was one of the largest and oldest Holds in the shattered remains of the ancient Griffin Empire. As the name would suggest, it was home to the largest deposit of hematite on Equus and was responsible for the city that had been carved into its heart. Unlike Baltimare this city was not beautiful, or warm and welcoming. This city was cold, bleak and nearly all of the houses were carved from the mountain side. Only the Elitist of the cities families had homes built from the trees that had once grown in the river valley beneath the excavated mountain. The largest and most ornate(6) of these houses was settled at the very peak, walled in on all sides by thick granite walls reinforced with low grade steel. However at the moment most of the citizens were leering out of windows and half open doorways at the procession of warriors that were moving from the lower Air Docks. They were garbed in cruel black armour that helped to make these fearsome warriors all the more intimidating. More than a dozen Crows marched two by two sending harsh scowls anywhere their sharp eyes landed. At the end of the procession lagged four Crows, two of which were pulling on the leads tied to a Donkey's bridle, while the last two casually walked behind the Ass prodding his rump with the hafts of their spears. The Ass himself lumbered along slowly, be both pushed and pulled did little to speed up his pace. He walked with a limp in his left foreleg and his eyes were hollow and clouded over, much of his fur looked to have been burned away and open sore tricked blood at a steady pace. He was on his last legs and not long for this life, truly the only reason thee Crows had not left him for dead was because they had no intention of lugging the heavy metal crate strapped to the Ass’s back. Which set the young Griffon at marching proudly at the group’s head, he wore only light leather armour and steel bracers. An ornately carved yew bow was slung over his shoulder and a polished metal case hung on his haunches and he was clearly strutting like a peacock. On another day the older Battle hardened Crows would have laid into the cub about his prancing, today though they were going to let him have his moment. Odds are he’d have his wake up call real soon and it promised to be a good show. ‘Prince’ Talon, as members of his family had taken to calling themselves royalty, grinned proudly at any griffon who lingered in their path even as they approached the towering walls of his family estate. He had reason to be proud of himself, with Ripper still away tending to their father’s business south, Audun long overdue with his search in Zebrica, and Discord’s capture of his eldest brother Vanrook, his success,no matter how small, should please his father and earn him some favour. The group stopped at the heavy wrought iron gate, it was covered in the crest of his house a stylized griffon who’s wings were flared and curved in such a way that they made the top half of a circular crest that was typical of all Griffon nobility. The griffon depicted held a broken spear which was thrust through the gut of a long snake that coiled around itself three times to complete circle that was the crest. According to the histories, that griffon immortalized on the gate was Vanpelt the 1st, his ancestor and remembered as a great hunter. The grates jolted and the iron griffon folded open to reveal a wide courtyard more than a hundred yards wide but only about twenty yards long. Talon stepped through the gates and into his dilapidated ancestral home, cracks crisscrossed the stone paths, born of generations of griffons prowling on them. Clover and dandelions pushed their way up to soak up the weak light that shown under the midnight sun. The summers here were brief and mild and at present the sun was not due to set proper for another month, then would come the long night. This had been the only way Talon had known for fifteen years, he had been taught how nature worked in other parts of the world. However to be sent to the jungles of southeastern Minos had been like visiting another planet to the young Griffon. Now though he was just happy to be home. Directly before the gate at the other side of the poorly maintained courtyard was a set of steps that lead passed barracks and armoury to the main door of the Hold, aptly named Iron Pride. The stairway was meant for the grounded visitors that may have come to seek an audience with the Lord. Talon however just spread his wings and flew to the trio of elder Griffons who stood at the top of those steps waiting for him. The first to greet him as he landed was a coal black Crow who gave him a snakey grin,”Talon! My son good she you home safely.” Vannis welcomed in an oily voice. “Father.” Talon bowed and unclasped the metal case from his hip. “I am pleased to report that my expedition was a complete success. Though it didn’t come without price.” Talon saw his father raise a curious eyebrow,”Birger’s predictions proved true.” He flipped the case open and removed a clear crystal vial which contained a single large silverish lump of metal that might have weighed ten ounces. “Sun Silver is deadly to life and, by the time the excavators began showing signs of exposure, Bjarke had been poisoned.” He passed the vial to his father,”And again, as Birger predicted, magic beings like us are even more vulnerable to its ravishes. The dogs lasted a week before I chose to end their agony, as such I was only able acquire a little more than a hundred pounds.” “That looks a might less than a hundred pounds to me, cub.” Growled an elder griffon who’s head and neck feathers were an alabaster white, the rest of his feathers were a flat black. He nodded to the Ass standing in the courtyard with a wide braced stance as it drooled and wheezed. “Gods what a pathetic beast.” “It’s still alive and the meat is already spoiled.” Observed the eldest griffon who was much more muscular, stood a full foot taller, and had softly greyed feathers.. “With respect, Uncle Vanalen, Lord Bard.” he nodded pointedly at both of them. “I encounter a hostile tribe of Minotaurs while the excatation crew was being culled. They were none too pleased to find us trespassing and demanded that we leave.” “So you scrabbled up one crate and a display sample and turn tail and run!?” Lord Bard laughed. Talon laughed in turn unphased by the jab at his honour,”I made piece.” This caught the three elder Griffons off guard,”Explain.” Vannis instructed. “I told them the Sun Silver was sacred to us.” He reached to the quiver he wore opposite the metal case and removed a long black arrow fletched in bright red, metallic blue and fluorescent yellow feathers, the point ended in a simple triangle shaped piece of blue metal. “Mythril!” his uncle gasped Talon nodded, “So they showed us their sacred metal. They seemed to like that we had that in common so I gave them two thirds of what we found and told them it made beautiful jewelry.” He saw his father smile, and grinned in turn,”After a peace pipe ceremony, the Chieftain asked if we had a peace ritual.” His Uncle gave a long snorting laugh clearly amused by the concept. “So i told him we anoint the wells and rivers with Sun Silver! Told him it gave long life and health!” Vannis laughed unable to believe his ears, in the span of six weeks his youngest had acquired plenty of Sun Silver for research and take steps to obtain a Mythril deposit. ‘Ambitious! I like that!’ He reached out and jabbed at his son’s shoulder,”Well done young Hunter.” h He turned to the other to Griffins,”Come we must speak about this new development.” “Father we should commission more containment equipment from Birger at once-” That was as far as he got before his father’s hard scaled fist slammed into the underside of his beak making his vision flash white. “Know your place whelp!” Vannis hissed as he wrapped his claws around Talon’s throat and driving his skull into thee granite stairs. “You Delivered more than asked of you and I will remember that, but do not believe for a moment that one success has earned you any privilege!” Vannis pressed hard on his son’s skull once more as if to see if it would pop, before turning and prowling into Iron Pride without a backward glance. Talon lay still for a while, he wasn’t dead but he didn’t feel great at the moment, every time he opened his eyes all he saw was a painful white light. He should’ve known better to press his luck around Eagles, and he could hear the Crows snickering at him in the courtyard. Then through the steady throbbing in his ears he picked up the light clack of talons on the stone,”Well you always did know how to get yourself beat up didn’t you?” Talon just groaned, he was all too familiar with the musical voice of his elder cousin, and mentor. While he couldn’t see her with his eyes at the moment he could see her clearly enough in his mind. The stark white of her feather that played out grey dapples that transitioned smoothly into black dapples of her snow leopard hindquarters. “It’s a gift Valerie.” “Well as long as you're not dead.” She said casually and made down the stairs,”Berger wants the Sun Silver by the way.” with that she took wing and gently drifted to the courtyard. She landed softly and cast a sad look at the dying Ass, she clicked her beak and in a blurred motion threw a small dagger at the suffering beast. The weighted steel found its mark and buried itself deep into its head, The ass sighed and went limp. “One of you Crows can take it from here, the meat suffered enough.” - - - - -