-=-=-=-=-Canterlot Castle-=-=-=-=-
"Sister I believe it is time to reform my guard." The dark Alicorn stated.
"Luna it's been a thousand years, are you sure they are still loyal? For that matter are they even still alive? I've heard nothing from them since the Nightmare Moon incident."
"All is well with them sister, I can still sense their bond to me and it is still as strong as it was back in that time. They may be of a different generation than my previous guards but I know they will have continued to pass down their knowledge and training. If they are anything like their ancestors then they already know about my return and are awaiting my summons. I feel it would be smart to have an extra line of defense while we are away."
"If that is your wish sister then so be it, call your guard home once again." Celestia knew she could trust Luna with keeping her guard in order but she was still unsure about the thestrals.
-=-=-=-=-Graphite-=-=-=-=-
I'm so excited to finally get to see the Griffon Kingdom, it seems like it took forever for the day to finally arrive. However while I may be excited to ride the airship, Luna apparently feels otherwise. One of my many 'friends' on staff at the castle let me in on a little secret. Luna gets motion sick very easily and hates having to travel anywhere in an airship. I plan to rectify this with a little magic, something to settle the stomach and ease stress.
It was almost time to leave by the time Celestia and Luna showed up, and I had already found my cabin. Celestia was all smiles on her way up the ramp looking ready for anything, a look which I matched. Luna looked anything but happy and if an inanimate object could die the ship would have long since imploded with the death glare she was giving it. Actually since magic is a thing that might still happen.
"Good morning Celestia, how have you been this fine morning?" I said.
"Good morning to you Graphite, I've been well. I hope we haven't arrived late, we had some last minute changes to make for our time away." Celestia returned with a smile.
"You are perfectly on time, the captain is working on final preparations for takeoff right now I believe." Turning my attention to Luna I saw her already starting to show symptoms of motion sickness. "Good morning to you as well Luna." I said giving a small bow of my head.
"It was a good morning until I had to climb aboard this infernal contraption." She grumbled slowly making her way past us and into the inner part of the ship.
Celestia looked to me and stated, "I'm sorry for my sisters lack of joy for this trip. Had there have been any other method of travel she would be much more cheerful and excited to return to the griffon lands."
"Not to worry Princess I admit I'm a bit nervous as well so I can understand her current demeanor. I assume she used to enjoy visiting the Griffon Kingdom?"
Celestia rolled her eyes. "Yes, my sister for whatever reason enjoys their brutish nature and tends to get along well with their kind. She even used to attend many of their arena events which used to consist of fights to the death. Nowadays they tend to only make their slaves fight until one is unable to continue and the other is deemed victorious."
Wait woah what? Since when where slaves a thing in Equestria? For that matter why the fuck were the princesses allowing this shit? I can understand that they don't have a say considering its not their land but seriously what the fuck. "I had no idea the griffons kept slaves."
Celestia must have noticed the change in my voice because she looked a bit concerned as she spoke. "They tend to use the term indentured servant but there's not much of a difference in the way they are usually treated. I don't like it either but I cannot change their way of life without risking another war. Did you really not know about griffon slavery? I thought it common knowledge these days. If you are uncomfortable with this information you don't have to go with us, it's not too late to stay behind."
"Apparently it is not as common a fact as you thought. As for being uncomfortable, I'll be fine but I can't promise that I'll be able to hold my tongue." I can already feel a headache forming. I'm actually a little worried now because if I see someone, somegriff, somewhatever, getting beaten or whipped I'm the type to go and return the favor to the one doing the beating. I knocked a bitch out once for openly punching her kid in the face in public, everyone else ignored it but I couldn't. "I think I'll return to my room for now. Cya around Princess."
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Luna had left the upper deck and into the lower portion of the ship to find somewhere she could sleep without being reminded of where she was. She had walked past the few crew members that were below deck looking for some place without other ponies beds or belongings. Eventually after opening nearly every door inside the ship she found one the was nearly completely barren except for a few crates and what appeared to be a net hanging from the rafters. Upon closer inspection she saw that it was actually a woven rope hammock. Secretly Luna had always wanted to try to sleep in a hammock but never wanted to try in fear of embarrassing herself while trying to get into one. She had seen ponies try and fail at getting into one in the past. 'Nopony is around so surely I can figure it out.' She thought.
Unbeknownst to her another pony slipped in behind her before she closed the door. Walking up the the hammock she used her magic to spread it apart before using her wings to boost her jump into the hammock. She landed on her hooves a little shakily at first but steadied herself before releasing her magic, which she immediately regretted. The rope enclosed around her legs and the now top heavy hammock flipped upside down leaving the startled princess hanging by her hooves from the now tangled hammock.
Just as the annoyed princess was about to start freeing herself she heard a snort of barely contained laughter. She froze expecting to see her sister standing near the door but instead saw Graphite Quill sitting beside one of the crates holding a hoof over his mouth and shaking with held in mirth. She immediately felt her face flare up in a deep blush as the stallion tried to speak.
"You o-okay? N-need any h-help Luna?" He was struggling to hold in his laughter and could barely form the question.
"I am quite fine I assure you and I can get myself out of this without your help." She said turning her head away stubbornly looking at nothing in particular.
Graphite couldn't handle the tsundere like attitude and lost all ability to hold back his raucous laughter.
"Shut up it is not funny!" Luna shouted blushing even harder from embarrassment and struggling to get free.
He continued to laugh and even had to wipe the tears from his eyes. Through his mirth he was able to focus enough to levitate Luna and the hammock back into a proper position.
Luna harrumphed and crossed her forelegs with a stubborn pout which only caused Graphite to laugh even harder.
-=-=-=-=-=-
After the hammock incident Graphite left Luna alone to enjoy his hammock in peace and returned to the upper deck. He still wasn't comfortable with the idea of 'indentured servants' but he was feeling more lighthearted after all that laughter and wanted to have a good view for when they finally left the ground.
After arriving at the main deck he found Celestia at the bow of the ship looking over Canterlot with a serene smile. Not wanting to disturb her he sat quietly beside her watching her mane flow in the nonexistent wind that always seemed to follow her.
"It's a spell," Celestia started without looking over. "it's a way for the excess magic my body produces to bleed out. I have noticed it draw your gaze in the past." She looked over giving him a mischievous smirk. "Unless I'm wrong in my assumption and you have instead been staring at my rear."
"A little of both if I'm to be honest. Though more often than not the second of the two is more common." Graphite said with a chuckle.
Having grown use to his comments Celestia simply giggled at his response. She enjoyed his lack of tact in the presence of royalty, he was a breath of fresh air in the staleness that is the nobles of Canterlot. She dislikes how everypony, friends included, agrees with everything she says. She could say the sky was purple and the clouds green and nopony would disagree, some might even try to make her statement true through magical means. It wouldn't weigh so heavily on her mind if it were true loyalty that caused them to act in this way.
"You seem in a much better mood than had been when you left. What happened in the short time you were gone?" She asked.
Graphite snorted and laughed remembering Luna's stubborn pout. "Oh you know just watching your sister fall into a trap I unknowingly set." He said waving as if shooing away a fly, indicating it wasn't a big deal.
Celestia was about to question him further when the captain of the ship announced that they were ready to take off. She was turning back to continue her conversation with Graphite when she saw a flash and felt a small surge a magic beside her. She looked to see Graphite holding a bundle of parchment, pure white with blue lines, and a pen in his magic. Briefly surprised by his apparent skill with magic she wondered what else he could do. Teleporting an item not within the casters sight tends to be much more difficult than teleporting ones self due to the extra calculations needed to find the sought item.
"Is there a map I could barrow around here?" Graphite asked to no one in particular.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Graphite had spent the better part of the first day making notes and sketching out specific locations every few miles. Only he knew the reason behind his actions, he was charting out the path he planned to take when he returned to the griffon lands by teleportation. When he grew weary of the task he paid one of the crew ponies to keep up the notes throughout the night. He made sure to remember to see the terrain for himself on the way back even though he had confidence in his abilities to find his way.
He left the top deck of the ship and returned to his procured room only to find the princess of the night still asleep in his hammock. Rather than bother her, Graphite flashed another hammock into existence and hung it up in the opposite corner of the original one that he set up. His silence was for not though as Luna shifted and spoke in a groggy voice.
"It seems I have not only stolen your room but also your bed for the night. I am willing to find other accommodations if you would prefer to be alone."
Graphite smiled at her then spoke "isn't that what I should be saying? You are the princess after all."
"You laid claim to this room before I was even aboard, so it is your room as far as I'm concerned."
She started to shift to get up but Graphite held a hoof up to stop her. "Woah Luna, careful now. You don't want to repeat what happened earlier do you?" He said smirking at her. Upon seeing her blush he interrupted her retort. "I'm just messing with you, please feel free to stay I'd prefer your company over none at all. Besides from what I've heard you rarely get to sleep when aboard one of these ships and I'd hate to have you lose any sleep because of me."
Minutes passed with the two conversing about nothing in particular until eventually they both fell into sleep.
-=-=-=-=-Two Days Later-=-=-=-=-
The days had passed in much the same way as the first, Luna below deck in her shared room and Graphite speaking to Celestia at the front of the ship. They had finally made it to the griffon lands early in the morning and were passing the smaller outlying towns around the Griffon Kingdoms Capitol city. The three were awaiting their arrival to the noble's land in silence as the ship started to descend at a measured pace.
The land of Brennus Blackwing sprawled out in front of them as they landed. Just before they touched the ground the large double doors at the front of the castle sized home opened allowing a group of griffons to exit. Two of the griffons stayed standing at the doorway while the rest lined up on either side of the door with their heads bowed.
"Welcome to my home your highness, please make yourself at home. Your wish is my command, you have but to ask and I shall make it so. My servants will take care of your belongings and bring them along when they escort you to your rooms, and after you have settled in join us for lunch." With that the noble snapped his talons, pointed at 3 griffons, then turned and walked back inside with the rest his servants trailing behind. The three chosen griffons lined up in front of the three ponies and bowed waiting for their orders.
"My luggage is in the royal suite, a crew member will show you the way." Celestia said to the first griffon who then walked off towards the ship.
"My personal effects are in a storage room below deck, ask for the captain and he'll tell you where to go." Luna said to the second griffon who then followed after the first.
Then there was a few moments of silence as the two sisters waited looking at Graphite, who only just noticed their gaze. "Oh I didn't bring anything on the ship, so I guess just go see if the other two need any help." He said with a shrug. The griffon left after a quick bow to help the other two.
"What of your notebooks and coin? We will be here for a few days and will likely visit the market before we leave. Didn't you bring some stuff with you?" Luna asked confused.
With a flash, a pile of notebooks, pens, pencils, and coins appeared on the ground between them. "I've got everything I need on me already." Another flash and it was all gone.
Celestia had a look of amazement on her face as she realized that he was using a summoning spell. The spell allowed the user to teleport nearby items to a new location and back, though it's only useful at a short distance before it requires too much magic. "I'm surprised you know such a spell, but wouldn't you feel more comfortable keeping your stuff in your room with you? Leaving it on the ship might not be the best idea, there are many thieves in these lands."
"You're assuming my stuff is here, but as I said before I took nothing with me on the ship. My coin is safe at home in Canterlot with the rest of my stuff." His anxious tone and shift in mood did not go unnoticed by the two alicorns. However before they were able to inquire about the change the servants returned to show them to their rooms.
-=-=-=- Graphite -=-=-=-
I might kill someone. I'm here for all of a minute and I already want to start knocking heads together, consequences be damned. Shit like this has always pissed me off, seeing people wrongly mistreated, abused, and especially slavery has always made my anger skyrocket. It makes me furious to see someone who did their best talked down to or blamed for something out of their control. Thankfully things have rather tame so far and that's a large part of why I haven't blown up yet. I hope the time spent here passes quickly because I'm actually starting to miss the nobles of Canterlot. At least they're harmless.
I have yet to see any abuse or yelling and most of the "servants" seem healthy if not happy doing what they're told. Even my magical scans have proven that they've been taken care of well enough. So why am I so infuriated right now? My mind seems set on what slavery meant back home, but this is Equestria not earth so maybe things aren't as bad as I'm imagining. I guess I'll find out as soon as I work up the nerve to join everyone else for lunch. I'm sure Celestia and Luna are already there waiting for me and talking about the trip here or something to that effect. On that note I'm glad I was able to help Luna with her airship problem. Turns out my trick for dealing with motion sickness on regular boats works with airships as well. Hammock for sleeping and distraction from the movement using conversation. I didn't give a chance to even think about where we were, I just kept asking questions and telling her about my life. Most of what I said was fact but with minor details left out or changed to fit in with pony customs.
I learned allot about her as well, more than the show ever mentioned. For better or worse my feelings her have changed, and I fear I might fall for her completely at this rate. However while I have always had a bit of a thing for her character, and while I would absolutely love to pursue a future with her, it can't happen. I already know I've involved myself far too much and I'm risking changing the future of this world, so I really need to distance myself after we return to Canterlot. Maybe after the changeling attack I can go explore for a while, see the world for what it is rather than the spotty info I have from the show.
With my mind calmed and thoughts on the future I feel my appetite returning and leave the room. Just outside was the servant I had asked to help the others waiting to bring me to the others. "Ready Sir Quill?" He asked.
"As I'll ever be." Was my reply. As he started to lead me down the hall I thought to ask about some things. "Does this Brennus guy treat you all well?"
"Of course Sir Quill." He replied without pause.
"Ok I'll have none of that shit. Don't tell me what you tell everyone else, answer honestly and don't just say what you think I want to hear. I don't care what you do or say, I have no reason to repeat it to anyone so speak freely. I'm not in the mood for word games either so be blunt."
He seemed flustered at first but then let out a hearty laugh. "I like your spirit, thats rare for a pony. I'm not one of the normal 'servants' I'm here at my own free will as a job, so I'm treated well. I even have some sway in what the other servant do, I'm their leader of sorts." He slowed his pace to match my own and started to walk next to me losing all pretenses of professionalism. "Honestly though it's not that bad here, be feeds us plenty and has rooms for those who have nowhere else to go. He can be a bit of an arse at times but its usually well deserved. I've worked for a few other families in my time and trust me, the griffs here are lucky in comparison."
"So everyone's treated fairly, that's a relief." Hearing this helped lift my mood allot.
Only for it to drop at hearing this. "Well now I didn't say that." He then paused for a moment to look for anyone who might overhear. "He has his 'favorites' that tend to his more personal needs when his wife is away, and to say he likes it rough is an understatement. Most of them are willing because of the extra benefits like food and more free time." A look of sadness flashed on his face for only a moment before he spoke again. "Then there's Blu."
He trailed off and didn't seem want to continue so I prodded for an answer. "Who is Blu, and why the hesitation when you mentioned the name?" I said glaring at him.
With a sigh he scratched his head with a claw and spoke in a low voice. "Blu is a young griff who wasn't born here, and because of that he doesn't trust her as much as the rest of them. If he hears us talking to or about her he gets angry and bad things happen. He blames nearly everything on her and on good days as punishment for her 'wrongdoings' he limits her food."
"And on the bad days?"
He started to answer when another servant came around the corner, he immediately stood straight and spoke. "If you'll follow me Sir Quill, my lord is awaiting your presence."
-=-=-=-=-=-
Lunch had been a big boring political shit show where I mostly sat and listened to an overgrown parrot repeating everything the princesses said and mentioning how smart or astute they are. I'm surprised his beak isn't covered in shit. Luna qnd I left as soon as decorum allowed while Celestia stayed to talk with the noble. She seems to enjoy talking to everyone regardless of who they are, so in other words the exact opposite of both me and Luna.
We both returned to our own rooms for the same reason, a nap. That was extremely tiring and I'd rather not have a headache later at dinner when I finally get to eat some meat for the first time in what feels like forever.
-=-=- Later in Brennus' Chambers -=-=-
"Cordelia my wife, what troubles you?"
"Oh my husband, it's that troublesome young wrech of a servant. I saw it staring outside again as if it were thinking of running. I fear with all that is happening it will try to escape while we are distracted with the princesses."
"Worry no more dear wife, I shall put a stop to any thoughts of escape at once." The griffon noble spoke as he stood, starting for the door. 'I'll make sure that worthless bitch never again thinks of escaping my hospitality.' Brennus thought.