Equestria was warm and bright and sunny, just as it always should be, and always will be. No matter what dark forces threatened them, no matter what perils darkened the skies and made its citizens afraid, Equestria always prevailed.
It was this hopefulness that inspired Larentia to make her home here. Not just her home, but her life. She wanted to be part of the sunny cycle that Equestria gave its citizens far and wide. Only four years ago, long after the change in leadership from the Princesses Celestia and Luna to Princess Twilight Sparkle, the gentle snow white giant had joined the royal guard. With her size and skill, the griffon was a valuable asset and member of the elite protectors of Equestria. She was professional. She could follow orders and fix problems without asking a senior member for advice. She was perceptive and strategic. She was fun to be around when off duty, and firm and unmoving when tasked with difficult situations. She was what new recruits aspired to be, and what made the older guards proud. Even Gallus, a senior officer and a fellow griffon (though he hailed from Griffonstone) acknowledged her as a valued member of the guard.
It was one of those perfect days in Canterlot. Even with winter heading their way, Equestria was sunny and bright. Not even the chilly breeze bothered anyone who was strolling about. Larentia was enjoying on of her rare days off. The giant griffon was basking in the sun, purring so loud that it rumbled the immediate area around her. Her long body was stretched out, taking up a good chunk of the main square in the middle of the city. The fountain trickled, and once in a while, ponies would toss a few bits in and make a wish. Larentia watched this with amusement. What could they possibly wish for? They had everything they wanted! It was a beautiful time to be living in Equestria.
A shadow fell over her head. Larentia looked up to see her best friend Dagmar standing there.
Now if anyone asked Larentia, Dagmar was terrifying to behold. The dragon stood at six foot five and bore scars all over her dark red, brown and black body from countless hunts and battles. She wore an eye patch to cover her right empty eye socket. Her arms and legs were covered in thick molten rock armor, that from what Larentia knew, were natural formations on Dagmar. Even her spine was covered in the thick plating, all the way down to the tip of her tail. One of her horns was broken halfway. She had long sharp claws on her hands and feet. She was lean and toned from years of traveling, and her muscles rippled with each movement. She looked like the embodiment of hell compared to Larentia, who looked like a sweet angel next to her friend.
The two had met upon Larentia's arrival to Equestria. Over ten years ago. She had been little more than a fledgling. Her body had been covered in down, but she had flown all the way to Equestria alone. Dagmar had been tracking a troublesome beast, and thought it was the young griffoness. They fought each other, and Larentia nearly died at the end of Dagmar's sword when the real beast appeared. Together, they took it down and forged a lasting friendship. Larentia had made her first friend that day, and looked up to the older creature with awe and respect. Dagmar was over one hundred and sixty years old at the time, but she looked so young and fit, so un-aged that many thought she was less, even with the scars and wounds that littered her body.
Even ten years later, Dagmar still looked healthy and young. Age didn't affect dragons the way it did other creatures. Larentia found herself smiling as she looked at her friend.
"Dag," She purred.
"Tia," Came the clipped response.
"I take it you are ready for our lunch?" The griffon asked. Dagmar nodded, but she didn't seem too happy or excited. Dagmar never was...at least outwardly. She was shockingly quiet for a dragon. Always thinking ahead. Always relying on her actions than her words. It had taken Larentia a long time to read her friend well enough to understand her. And while Dagmar would never admit it, Larentia knew the dragon appreciated having a friend who was patient with her. Someone who let her open up at her own, rather than try to crack her open and spill her contents all over the floor. Her appreciation and friendship was shown through the occasional lunch together, training, or even when Larentia felt bothered or bullied, Dagmar was there to set things right. She wasn't an affectionate dragon. She didn't like the idea of cuddling and hugging every five minutes. Unless it was her pet bunny, Leo.
Larentia yawned, her beak splitting wide open. She got up and stretched out each limb, wings included, before she stood next to Dagmar. While Dagmar was tall, Larentia was even taller. Larentia stood at a massive twelve foot ten, and her wing span was large enough to envelope an entire group of ponies... twice! She was what the Princess considered an evolutionary phenomenon; No other griffon could say where Larentia had come from, or what her breed was. Until her arrival to Equestria, the only griffons Equestria had ever seen had come from Griffonstone... and next to her, they looked like house cats! But even with all the curiosity surrounding her, Larentia refused to tell them about herself, or where she came from.
Now that she was up and stretched, she bounded along happily beside Dagmar. The dragon looked over her with an eye and offered a small, if faint, smile. The griffon's enthusiasm amused her. The pair made their way to their designated lunch spot; It was a large restaurant with an outdoor dining area. For the two large creatures, it was perfect.
"So what do you want?" Dagmar asked. It was routine now as they approached the doors to the restaurant. Larentia would hop the fence surrounding the outdoor area to get their seats while Dagmar ordered the meal. The staff weren't thrilled with it, but after some serious explaining from Dagmar, they reluctantly allowed it for Larentia alone. What was worse? A huge griffon hopping the fence to eat food that was being paid for, or that griffon trying to squeeze inside and navigate the many tables and chairs and other customers? They had agreed with some level of annoyance that the latter was the worst scenario. But Dagmar made up for it, but paying handsomely each time, and making sure that the food they made would be portion specific for the two overgrown creatures.
"You know, I think I want to try their salmon filet this time," Larentia replied. "Maybe with a side of lamb chops."
"Lamb chops aren't a side, Tia," Dagmar looked at the griffon.
"I know, but I don't really want the veggies. Hmm...maybe a double order of the baked potato?" Larentia looked at Dagmar hopefully.
Dagmar sighed. "I'll get you the lamb chops, and a baked potato to go with your salmon." Dagmar chuckled and went inside. Larentia giggled and turned. With a single, easy bound, she cleared the fence, landing in the corner of the dining area. They had cleared it specifically for her. Larentia shuddered at the memory of her first time doing it. She had landed flat on a couple and ruined their meals. After extensive apologies, they had their meals reordered and they were forgiven. It was one of the many things Larentia loved about her new home. Forgiveness was abundant, and she felt safe even when she did something wrong.
Today the outdoor area was empty. This was odd. Usually there was at least one other creature dining outside. Larentia chuckled and pushed away the thought that something was wrong. "Just a slow day," She told herself. She picked the best seat and made herself comfortable. She looked around as she waited, noticing that inside she could see at least ten other customers, and no sign of Dagmar. "Huh..." Larentia hummed. Why was she the only one outside? The griffon began to worry; her feathers began to fluff up, and she clucked deep in her throat, anxiously searching for any sign of Dagmar.
"Surprise!" Came a loud cry behind her. Larentia squawked and jumped. She twisted her head around to see Dagmar standing there with the plates, and balanced on her tail was a large cake. The dragon smirked and sauntered to the table, setting down their plates of food and the cake. Larentia was confused.
"What is this about?" She asked warily. Dagmar was not one for breaking routine or going out of her way to do something like this.
"It's the anniversary of your arrival to Equestria," Dagmar explained. She sat down across from Larentia and smiled. "I know it's the first time I ever brought attention to it, but I thought ten years later was a good enough amount of time to celebrate," She said warmly.
"You...remembered?" Larentia asked soberly. She hadn't known about dates when she arrived in Equestria. She didn't even know what day her actual birthday was. As a result, she had picked the first day of the new year to have as her birthday. It was a day of rebirth and renewal. The start of an entirely new year. Another year to make friends and enjoy a life she wanted.
"Of course I did, bird-brain," Dagmar said and pushed the cake to Larentia. It was coated in white frosting, with blood red decorative icing around the bottom and top of the cake. As she examined it, Larentia noticed that it was sprinkled with flakes of salmon and trout. The big white bird felt a soaring rush of affection for her best friend. It was so thoughtful and kind of Dagmar, who she knew was never good at showing her soft side. It meant a lot that Dagmar felt so at ease around Larentia.
"Oh...wow this is so amazing!" Larentia squeaked. She opened her beak to take a bite of cake, but was promptly rebuked by Dagmar, who, wielding a spoon, rapped it hard on her beak. "Ah-Ah. Eat your food first. Dessert is best when it is last." She sounded like a scolding mother. In some ways, Dagmar was like a mother to Larentia. She had been her mentor and friend since they met all those years ago. It was Dagmar who had inspired Larentia's choice in career. Dagmar was a mercenary who collected bounties on troubling monsters that were just asking for it. She wasn't against being bought to bulk up armies, or guard a home or homestead while the owners left either. Whatever it was, it was work she'd take as long as the pay was decent. It wasn't the same as being a royal, but it was what Larentia had wanted to do, with less killing involved. Dagmar had put in a good referral to a friend she had in the guard, and before long, Larentia was recruited. She had been in service for four years, and she loved it.
Larentia chuckled and dug into her meal. Her beak snapped up the salmon filets, and she swallowed them whole with gusto. Dagmar had gotten a more modest plate of steak and alfredo shrimp. They dined and chatted, enjoying the company of the other.
"So," Larentia paused long enough to speak, a filet skewered on her talon. "Any new jobs?"
"Only the occasional timberwolf or two for now." Dagmar replied between bites. "How's the guard? I've heard impressive reports about you." Her friend kept her updated.
"Oh, it's great!" Larentia snapped the filet up and swiped her tongue over her beak. "I managed to take down another criminal last week." She seemed to hesitate, then shrugged. "Then they sent me on a tracking mission...it was... for a pretty big baddie from Griffonstone. A wanted outlaw. He was making trouble in one of the northern towns bordering the Frozen North."
"A griffon...from Griffonstone.... was that far North?" Dagmar questioned. She was sniffing for the holes in the story. Dagmar had a way of just knowing when someone was lying to her. This was no exception. Larentia felt guilty, but she didn't want to explain it yet. She was still trying to tell herself it was just an abnormality...but deep down she knew otherwise.
"So did you find him?" Dagmar asked, sitting back and frowning. Larentia shook her head. "His trail disappeared once he crossed the border. Not even a feather. He didn't even seem to be in a hurry. Some of the trail seemed to be left deliberately. As though..."
"As though he wanted you to find him." Dagmar finished, and her frown deepened. "Be careful, Tia. When someone wants you to find them by laying out a trail, they aren't trying to make friends. It could have been an ambush, or a trap of some sorts." Dagmar growled, and Larentia swore she could see the air start to sizzle around her friend.
"I-I know, Dag..." Larentia reached a wing over to place on the dragon's shoulder, wincing as her feathers became singed from the heat. Dagmar seemed to realize her friend's discomfort and forced herself to relax with a long breath. The griffon continued. "I know how it might seem. They have me on this investigation fully now, but we haven't had a sign for a couple weeks since then. Maybe they are gone?"
"Doubtful, but possible." Dagmar grumbled. A silence fell between them, and they ate their food without so much as a word or glance to the other. Larentia knew Dagmar was onto her, but there was no way Larentia was ready to tell Dagmar about her suspicions, or what it might mean if they were right.
When they finished, they put the cake in a to-go case and left the restaurant together. The conversation had unsettled them, and Larentia knew there was going to be hell to pay when Dagmar learned the truth.