Equestria: Alexi's Journey

by OJ Orbit


Flying with Griffins

Dear journal, I have come across a griffin while wandering though desert. Marvelous creature it is. Its name is “Gilda” and I am suspecting that it is a female judging by pitch of its voice. We walked together through sand and heat, saying nothing. Tonight we are camping out in plain sight, it is unnerving, to say least. I do not know if she was “coming on to me” or not, she seemed to be too interested in me, it was odd. Hopefully in morning we can explain our situations. I hope that she can lead me to Rainbow Dash…


It was rough night…hardly slept. I could not do anything but stare at sky, and moon. They truly are beautiful, more so than moon and sky I am used to seeing. Now Gilda and I are walking what I can only guess is North, I do not know where she is taking me. Perhaps….



“Why don’t you put that book down? You’re nose has been buried in it since you woke up.”



“It is something important to me. I doubt you would understand.”



“I won’t even bother.”



“Good. If I may, where are you taking me?”

“You’ll see soon enough.”



Alexi didn’t like where this was going, she was being odd, dodging most of his questions, where exactly was she taking him? He assumed since she only seemed to dodge questions about their direction, maybe he could a little more information out of her, she had the same idea.



“You never told me your name.”



“Is not important.”



“I’m the one taking you to safety and you won’ even tell me your name?”



“Niet. Do not ask me again.”



“Maybe I won’t take you to our little safe spot then?”

“You could have left me for dead when you found me lying there. You did not, and I doubt that you would abandon me simply for not releasing my name. Whatever your plans were, getting my name is not part of it.”

“You’re not as dumb as I thought you were.”



“Spasibo…ya dumayu…”



“What?”



Alexi mentally slapped himself for a second. Of course it didn’t speak Russian, only Rainbow Dash to some extent could understand him, even if it was barely.



“You do not speak native tongue of my land. I apologize.”



Gilda just looked at him, examining his clothes.



“Care to explain why you have blood on your clothes?”

“Not important…”

“It’s important to me idiot! You look you came right out of Tartarus.”



Tartarus? William might know what that was. Alexi thought to himself it must be Equestrian Hell, or something of the sort. Certainly nothing he’d be experiencing. He was happy for that.



“Not gonna answer me eh?”



“Once you bring me to safety, I will release my information. Until then I will be asking questions.”



“That hardly seems reasonable.”



“This land is beyond reason to me. I am one in need of answers currently.”



“I don’t think so.”



“Want to argue with me?”



“Yes! I do! You’re so stubborn!”

“As are you.”



Gilda was getting fed up with this strange creature. The only thing that kept her with him was that he swore to give her answers when they reached…wherever she was taking him. She was hoping that when he asked questions, they wouldn’t be too personal.



They were getting close now, or at least, that’s what Gilda was telling him. He didn’t believe it for one second. He was 60% sure that she was leading him to his death, he knew that Griffins ate meat, it was the most likely answer. He was 20% on the fence that she might actually be leading him to safety, although he severely doubted it. The other 20%...well he never used 100% of his brain capacity…



“It’s just over this dune.” She said at last.



“How can you tell? There are dunes everywhere.”



“I just know.”



They passed over the dune, and Alexi couldn’t believe his eyes. It made absolutely no sense, he saw before him snowy mountains in the distance, easily within walking distance. He saw Griffins flying around them, with what appeared to be buildings built into the mountain. He didn’t ask questions.



“How are we to move up mountain?”



“Leave that to me. Hop on.”



“What?”

“I said hop on. We’re gonna fly up there.”



Alexi didn’t particularly enjoy flying, not that he was afraid of heights, he just hated the idea of flight. He really had no choice, he hopped onto Gilda’s back and she flew him strait to the cliff side. It wasn’t long at all, took then a little under 5 minutes, she was fast. He dismounted and walked carefully around, walking into a…gazebo area, or at least it looked like it. He sat down on a bench that sat on the side.



“Where am I?”

“You’re in the Griffin Kingdoms. You’re not from around here are you?”



“What was first clue?”

“For starters, you walk on two legs, that was the most obvious. Also, nobody goes wandering through the borderlands alone.”



“So that is where I was. It is huge.”



“Of course it is! Now, about your promise…”

“Fine, ask your questions…”



“Finally. What is your name and why are you here?”



“I am known as Alexi, and my business is my own.”



“Fine…don’t tell me…can I call you Alex?”

Alexi stared at her with a soulless gaze.



“No…” he said in an almost angry tone.



“Ok geez…”

"Any more questions?"

"Yeah um...what's with the blood and ash on your coat?"


"I was involved in little....accident not too long ago..."


"Any details?"


"Niet..."

"Ok...."


Alexi’s glare slowly subsided, and he began to relax again.



“Ok…so, what brings you here? Are you, like, and alien or something?”

“You could say that…”



“That didn’t answer my question.”



“I came through dimensional rift, through machine created by friend.”



Gilda stood dumbfounded, she was utterly confused. Machine? Dimensional rift? What in the name of Celestia was he talking about?

“What? You have never of alternate dimensions?”

“No, no I haven’t. I think you’re lying to be honest.”

“Well believe it, you cannot make this shit up!”



“Actually it’s very easy…”



“In any case…If your silly questions are through, I shall begin my interrogation.”



“Silly questions?”

“Da. Now, What is fasted way to Ponyville?”

The question shocked her. Ponyville? Why would anyone want to visit Ponyville?



“I don’t know what you mean.”



“How can I get to Ponyville without getting myself killed!”



At least he was being strait forward.

“Well, you can’t go back through the borderlands, you’ll die out there…”



Alexi pulled out his bottle of vodka and began to drink steadily from it, as if it was water. The smell was enough to make Gilda wince and stop her sentence.



“Sweet Celestia! That water smells horrible! What is IN that!?”

Alexi just started laughing.



“What’s so funny?”

“This is not water, it is drink known as vodka in my land. Want some?” he offered her the bottle.



“Depends, will it kill me?”

“It has not killed me…yet!” He burst out laughing.



“No thanks, I’ll pass.”

“More for me!” He chugged it again.



Gilda saw this as on opportunity to get a little more information, he was obviously enjoying himself, perhaps a little too much but still…



“Why are you here?”

Alexi lowered the bottle.



“I am here to find special pony. I made promise to her when I left last time…I came to keep promise.”



“What’s her name?”

“You would not know her.”



“Try me.”



“It is this little blue Pegasus with rainbow hair….”



Gilda didn’t let him finish his sentence.



“Rainbow Dash…” she said in a dry tone.



Alexi looked confused at her.

“Da…How did you know?”



“We go way back.”



Alexi’s attitude immediately changed to that of extreme happiness. A friend of Rainbow Dash’s could help him find her. Hopefully she knew the way to Ponyville. She could fly him there! Oh happy day oh happy day!



“Can you take me to her?!” he said nearly jumping out of his seat.



“No, I can’t. I can’t carry you all the way there, I’d break my back. If you were lighter maybe. I can only carry you as far as the Everfree forest. You’ll have to go from there.”



Alexi’s smile sank. “Oh…”



He walked out onto the cliff and looked upon the flying griffins.



“I do appreciate you saving my life. Spasibo…”



“It was nothing really. You’re kinda cute you know.”

“Sorry, my heart belongs to another.”



“I see, how about I get your mind off of her…ever wanted to fly?”

“I cannot say I have thought about it often, why?”



“I can take you on a little flight around the mountains…if you’d like.”



Alexi pondered the question for a little bit. He didn’t know why she wanted to suddenly take him flying, but he didn’t really think about it long.


“Da, I request to fly.”



“Cool. Meet me back here in 10 minutes, maybe you need some sleep.”



In fact, Alexi DID need sleep, badly. Almost instantly, he left the room to find a bed to sleep in. He didn’t even bother to remove his trench coat, he just lied under the covers and took a short nap…

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





He awoke shortly after, feeling much better than earlier. He left the bed and walked out to see if Gilda was still there. She was.



“Geez, do you sleep in that thing?”



Alexi chuckled to himself. “Of course not, I just do not enjoy removing clothing in company of strangers.”



“Odd, I don’t know anyone who sleeps in clothes.”

“Where I come from, it happens all of time. Are we flying or no?”

“Yes, we are. Get on.”



He mounted the Griffin and tried not to lose his grip as she took off. She flew farther up, and up, until he could barely see the ground. The sight was breath taking. He’d never been so high up, the wind in his hair, his face, it was amazing. He started to relax as Gilda flew around the tops of the mountains, next to fellow Griffins and allowing Alexi to examine the snowy giants. She dived down alongside the cliff, trying to scare Alexi. He never made a sound, but a smile did eventually creep its way onto his face. He’d never experienced anything like this, he never wanted it to end. Unfortunately, everything has to end.



She landed on the cliff side and allowed him to regain his footing.



“What did you think?”

“It was amazing. Thank you for opportunity.”



“You’re quite welcome. Say, could you do something for me….”



“What?”

“I know you have a special someone back home, but that doesn’t mean she has to know! C’mon, you know you want to.”

“Actually I do not. My heart belongs to another.”

Gilda leaned closer to him.



“No one has to know.”

“I would know! And I will not allow this to happen on my watch!”

“Who could be more special than me!”

“Rainbow Dash!”



Gilda’s expression dropped



“I…I had no idea…”



Alexi scowled, “No, you did not.”



Gilda turned around and started to walk away. “She is one lucky pony.”

Alexi silently nodded, still very angry.



“Now, How can I get to Ponyville?”

“You can go through the Everfree forest, its safer than the borderlands, but only slightly.”



“That is good enough for me. Let us go.”

“Now?”

“I do not have time for things like this, I need to get to her as fast as possible.”



“I see…”



“I am glad we understand each other.”



Alexi never noticed the tears in Gildas eyes, she wasn’t facing him, although be probably wouldn’t have cared, he didn’t mean to hurt her feelings, but he needed to stay tough and he certainly didn’t care if he had to break hearts to keep his love for Rainbow Dash.



“Get on. I’ll take you to the edge of the Everfree Forest.”

Without hesitation, Alexi climbed on top of Gilda, and they were off. This trip took significantly longer, and was a lot less fun. Alexi waited impatiently to arrive, which didn’t happen for a good half hour. She landed at the edge of a forest, made of significantly tall trees. He dismounted and looked at her.



“Spasibo, This will help me in my journey.”



“Just remember this…go about a mile in, then go directly left. That will lead you to the outskirts of Ponyville. If you get lost…Celestia help you.”

“Thank you for warning.”



Without saying another word, Gilda turned around and flew away, leaving Alexi alone.



Alexi could hear strange sounds coming from the Everfree forest, he wasn’t entirely sure what they were, but now he knew the way to Ponyville. His journey was that much closer to being complete.





Or so he thought…