The train pulled into the station and eventually everyone onboard left the train as others got on. The elements got off alongside dumbbell and his two friends
“Hey thanks again for breaking us out of...whatever that was.” Dumbbell said
“No problem” Clearance said while scratching the spot the needle went into
The three Pegasi left and took the train back to Ponyville as the elements all began their trek over to the mansion. After half an hour of exploration, Stella bumped into Clearance with a joyous look on her face
She lead them to the mansion and Dagmire stood at the doorway alongside Glory.
“Hey! It’s great to see you!” Dagmire said giving Clearance a hug
Clearance gave out a toothy grin (well as toothy a grin as someone with a beak instead of teeth could give. Dagmire and the elements knew what it meant but to Glory it just looked like Clearance only opened his beak) and returned the hug. Dagmire noticed a stray scale poking him in the ribs and after saying hello to the other elements
“Why’s your scales all roughed up?” Dagmire asked
“We got attacked by someone on the train. He stuck a needle in me during the fight. Honestly it feels like it’s still in there.”
“Well jokes on him. You’re practically invincible on a harvest moon” Dagmire said
“Yeah... so what’s the big deal?”
“Well first of all I need you all to follow me. I got something special to show you” Dagmire said as he began leading them through the hallway. After many twists and turns Dagmire arrived at a doorway
“Alright. I need you to all quiet down a bit” Dagmire said gently as he lead them all to a trio of pedestal’s
“that’s it? What are you trying to show us again?” Rainbow said impatiently
“Look at what’s on the pedestal’s” Dagmire said
“...what did someone leave their breakfast on here? What’s with the egg shells?”
“Dagmire sir? Gilda wishes to speak” Glory said interrupting rainbow
“Well then. Great timing.” Dagmire said as he motioned the group to follow.
They walked around a bit more and Dagmire stopped outside of a room. He adjusted his mask and flattened his hair as he pushed through the door.
Twilight’s jaw dropped, Rainbow’s eyebrows shot to the sky, pinky suspended in mid air with a look of disbelief, Fluttershy was behind everyone and couldn’t see, rarity sprinted into the room and flopped on the trauma couch dramatically, applejack was wondering why her hat was missing and Clearance was busy staring in wonder.
“Go over and say hi!” Dagmire said to one of the tiny griffin’s with pride as another one perched on his head coaxing a giggle out of both the griffin and Dagmire
The little tyke waddled over like a cat with boots on and fell on his little rear in front of Clearance
“Unc!” The little bundle of fur said while raising his front claws wanting up.
Clearance’s heart exploded as he gently picked up the baby and noticed a few green scales on the underside of the tiny griffin and a fluffy patch of brown fur on his head
“I’m a dad!” Dagmire finally said
Pinky shot into the roof at this statement and with her head through the ceiling her overjoyed scream was muffled.
But not by much.
One of the tiny griffin’s was wearing Applejack’s hat while giggling.
“W-when did this happen?!” Rainbow said
“About a year ago on the twenty-second of September I saw a very lonely and sad griffin. I gave her some soup and whisky and eventually we had a one night stand... then a few weeks later we had another...it went like this until a few days ago when Glory brought me here and showed me the room with the eggs. Caught the things as they were hatching and the rest is history.” Dagmire said
“...so is she-?” Rainbow said before getting interrupted
“That would be a yes birdbrain” Gilda said while walking into the room
“Gilda...”
“So why did you come here?” Gilda asked
“Ma!” The small griffin in Clearance’s arms cried
“I’m here sweetie.”
Gilda picked up the griffin by the scruff of her neck and set her down on her back
“Well we thought Dagmire had been kidnapped and we all came here” Twilight explains
“Well it’s nice to know you all care” Dagmire said with a smile
“Dagmire it’s time for those trials we talked about” Gilda said
“Alright. Well let’s get this done and over with. Tonight I introduce the kids to garlic bread” Dagmire said with a little clap
Dagmire left through the window and the children giggled at their fathers antics as he descend towards the arena
“...so what’s their names?” Fluttershy asked
“The one on ms Gilda’s back is Leroy, the one wearing the Stetson is Hercule and finally the one sleeping is Ludwig” Glory explained
“...so...huh.” Rainbow said
“Yeah. I’ve grown up a little bit since...Ponyville” Gilda said
“Yeah. You even have a family now. Speaking of which...what did you see in him?”
“Dagmire? Well he’s charming, very carefree and caring, and he loves me for who I am. Why do you ask?” Gilda said
“...no reason”
“Are you ready?” Glory asked Dagmire as he slowly plummeted towards an gladiator-esq arena
“Nope. Here we go!” Dagmire said as he touched ground
The arena was large and full of dust. Many griffin’s and a few other creatures filled the rows atop the arena. Sir Gritty stood parallel to Dagmire with an angered expression. In one of the rows Dagmire spotted Stella with a hat on. Dagmire could faintly hear her among the roar of the crowd
”BUTT SCRATCHER! GET YOUR BUTT SCRATCHERS HERE!”
Dagmire giggled at Stella’s antics
A large robed griffin sat in the emperors chair as guards stood by him. The griffin got up and the arena went silent as the griffin prepared
”TODAY WE ARE GATHERED HERE TO HONOUR THE CHALLENGE FOR THE CLAW OF MS GILDA! WHEN SIR GRITTY OF GRIFFINSTONE IS READY. ARE YOU PREPARED SIR GRITTY?” the emperor shouted
“YES I AM!” Gritty said
”AND SIR DAGMIRE OF THE HOUSE OF ARKMOON! ARE YOU READY!”
“READY, WILLING, AND ALREADY ON FIRE!” Dagmire said as he dumped a bucket of water on himself to put out the fire
”CLAIM YOUR WEPONS AND STAND ON YOUR PODIUMS!” the emperor screamed
Gilda emerged with the group in one of the stands and she walked up to the emperor’s stand and took her seat beside the emperor.
Dagmire stood atop his podium with a weighted hammer holding him to the ground. He would have to fight without his trademark boots and mask. Praying for the best Dagmire chose a Helmet that covered his face and as the masks were made with long fronts to support griffin beaks Dagmire ended up transforming into a dragonborn in a burst of light. Without his boots he would have to use the wight of the hammer to move himself around
”YOU MAY BEGIN THE FLIGHT TEST ON MY MARK...GO!”
Gritty flew into the air and began flying through hoops and rings as he made his way across the arena. He was stopped in his tracks when suddenly he saw something unreal.
Instead of abandoning the hammer to gain more momentum in his flight Dagmire was using the hammer like a paddle in an invisible boat as he sat on nothing and sailed through hoops with style and a bit of chaos.
Infuriated by the sure display of mockery Gritty tripled his effort’s as he flew through rings without any issues. He dodged and weaved through the hoops and eventually completed the flight in record time.
Dagmire’s invisible boat seamed to clip one of the rings as he was launched forward and the ring shattered. Dagmire landed on the ground on his feat
”THE WINNER OF THE FLIGHT CHALLENGE IS SIR GRITTY!” the emperor said as the crowd lost their shit
Rainbow had a nervous expression on her face but Leroy decided now was a good time to take a nap on her head. Rainbow was briefly distracted from the competition.
”NOW WE TEST YOUR VALOUR WITH THE TEST OF SPIRIT!” the emperor said as an obstacle coarse more akin to a saw trap emerged from the sand
Dagmire and Gritty returned to their starting positions
”SIR GRITTY AND SIR DAGMIRE! FOR THIS CHALLENGE YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO USE YOUR WINGS! LET THE CHALLENGE BEGIN!”
Gritty blasted off and began dodging spears and flames as he slowly made his way through. Grabbing a rock Gritty threw it at Dagmire in a display of poor sportsmanship as he made his way.
{Dagmire has received a critical failure!}
Dagmire was hit in the head with the rock and although the helmet protected him the force of the rock sent him flying into the wall. Dagmire cartoonishly left an indent in the stone and he quickly freed himself from it. Using the wall to launch himself forward Dagmire blasted through the first obstacles only to lack behind Gritty.
{Gritty has received a critical failure!}
“Just give up now Dagmire. I’m clearly superior” Gritty said before getting hit in the back with a flame trap while he taunted
“WHAT KIND OF COMPETITION IS THIS?!” Rainbow screamed
“An honourable one” Gilda said
As Gritty put the fire on him out. Dagmire hit the ground and frantically began making his way through the traps getting flashbacks of his staircase as he caught up to Gritty.
Gritty quickly put out his flaming tail and began sprinting on all fours as Dagmire managed to not only catch up. But pass Gritty as he began swimming through the sand at breathtaking speeds
Dagmire finished the course first leaving Gritty in the dust
”SIR DAGMIRE HAS FINISHED THE TEST OF SPIRIT FIRST! HE CLAIMS VICTORY!” the emperor says now genuinely enthralled by the newcomers actions
Gritty seethed in rage as Dagmire spun on the spot and fell into a polite bow
Ludwig was watching his father from the crowd and suddenly something shiny caught his attention. He zoomed off in pursuit of the shining object as a hooded pony smiled. Clearance was already on the trail of the suspicious pony as he followed the hooded person baiting Ludwig down into the gladiator holding pen. As Clearance entered the pen he was smacked with a wood plank as Ludwig revealed blood red eyes.
Ludwig was bait! It was a trap!
”OUR FINAL CHALLENGE APPROACHES! THE TEST OF METTLE! BOTH OF YOU HAVE SWORN TO PROTECT MS GILDA FROM HARM BUT AS WE KNOW THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE! A SPELL HAS BEEN CASTED OVER YOUR WEPONS THAT WILL MARK YOUR QUARY WITH A “WOUND”. THE FIRST PERSON WITH THREE FATEL WOUNDS SHALL BE DECLARED THE LOOSER! ARE YOU PREPARED!” the emperor said
Both Dagmire and Gritty raised their weapons in the air and suddenly a large bang sound emitted from beside the stands
”YOU MAY BEGIN!”
Gritty and Dagmire began circling each other as they prepared for the first move. Confetti blasted underneath Gritty causing him to jump, using the distraction Dagmire dashed in and hit Gritty in the chin with the hammer before swinging it back around and slamming the hammer and Gritty into the ground causing Gritty to fly back. all that remained of the damage was two bright red marks indicating the hits. Dropping his sword Gritty slashed Dagmire with his claws causing real damage and drawing blood. A large blast emerged from the gladiator pit throwing Clearance out as well as a cloaked pony. The pony stomped on the ground and suddenly archers descended upon the arena and all took aim at Dagmire to Clearances horror.
“WHAT IS THIS?!” Dagmire cried out
“Oh a dramatic reveal. I heard how much you liked these” the cloaked pony said while a few archers fought the guards
Time seemed to slow down as the pony with his hoof on Clearance’s head took aim at Dagmire. Gritty stabbed Dagmire in the back with his claws and held him out as an easy target.
The pony’s hood fell off revealing a completely fine pony without blood red eyes
“Who said I was being controlled?” Dumbbell said pulling the arrow and taking aim as Clearance went wide eyed.
Gilda screamed in horror
”fire”