After full meals, a complete night's rest, and another hot bath, Fyrenn was feeling almost normal.
Canterlot itself never really slept, so he wasn't surprised to find that there were plenty of Ponies out and about, despite the early hour.
By the light of the rising sun, he walked the streets idly, watching the Ponies and learning what he could of their routines and lifestyles from his observations. Early in the day there seemed to be more artists, service ponies, and middle-class citizens out and about.
Although he spotted a few more well dressed Stallions now and again, the morning otherwise seemed to belong to the less politically associated populace of Canterlot.
Some Ponies seemed relatively unfazed by the presences of a Gryphon, but others shot him wary looks, or made a point of avoiding his immediate vicinity.
He could have flown, observing the inhabitants from an isolated comfortable altitude, but he was interested in getting a feel for the atmosphere of the city.
Fyrenn knew the feel of a Human city well, and he had spent enough time in the Gryphon capital to begin to get acquainted with his future accommodations, but he had not yet had the chance to extensively see how Ponies lived, worked, and relaxed.
Canterlot was clean, bright, and well maintained. It suddenly occurred to Fyrenn that one contributing factor behind both Ponies' and Gryphons' seemingly universal penchant for clean, well maintained spaces was potentially their enhanced senses.
A Human could shut out the sight and smell of debris and dirtiness, to a certain point.
A creature with incredible eyes, or an incredible nose, could not. Thus it would be in their best interest to keep their living space as clean as possible. Clutter he had seen in places within both capitals, but filth, upon reflection, never once.
The streets were made of cobblestone, polished smooth by the passage of hooves until it shone like granite. Street lighting appeared to be mage-lamp based, but Fyrenn thought he spied a few gas powered lighting apparati in some of the shops he passed.
The influx of Earth technology had already begun, even here, where the populace was doubtless slow to adapt or adopt change.
After continuing his perambulations for a few more minutes, Fyrenn stumbled across a familiar face. Across a little square, mostly occupied by a small fountain, the Gryphon spotted Carradan looking more than a little downcast, munching pensively on an apple fritter.
Fyrenn set himself down on the bench beside Carradan with a sigh, "Where did you get the money for that Stan? Don't tell me you picked somebody's saddlebags..."
The words had their intended effect, bringing a small smile to the Pegasus's face, "Naah... Celestia lent me a few bits. She said to pass some on to any of you guys if I ran into you but after that grievous accusation of theft... I dunno... I'm tempted to see how many more of these," Stanley took a big bite out of the fritter, completing his sentence around the apple flavored mass, "Your money can buy."
Fyrenn snorted, "And when you get fat, slow, and lazy... I'll be waiting to swoop down and *splat.* No more nosy reporter."
Carradan laughed outright, "Me? Fat and lazy? After everything we've been through I'm at the *top* of my game. I deserve a little reward dontcha think?"
Fyrenn chuckled, "Note the use of the singular, and the modifier in that sentence. *A* reward. A *little* reward."
Carradan jerked his head down at the treat, "You and me? We have very different definitions of little. Which is kinda funny, because you're the big guy in this equation. I'm just a 'little' Pony."
Fyrenn smiled, and let Stanley finish his confection in peace. After he was done, the salmon Pegasus hoofed over a few bits, with mock anxiety worthy of a Shakespeare play.
As Fyrenn secreted the bits in his lower neck feathers, Carradan cocked his head, "How do you do that anyways?"
He gestured to his neck, "This? It's a trick I picked up watching the others. There's a little hollow created by the joining of the bones down in there. It's perfect for storing small things if you don't have a satchel, or don't want the items found. You get used to the feel of carrying lighter objects in there after a while. The feathers do a good job of making sure nothing falls out."
"Will you guys ever stop surprising me?"
"On the day *you* stop surprising *us.*"
"Touché."
Fyrenn shook his head, "No. in all seriousness. You've really come a long ways Stan. Its a little hard to believe; but when we met we really didn't like each other..."
Carradan smirked and rolled his eyes, "Perish the thought."
"...And you weren't exactly the type to walk into an active war zone. But you leapt head-first into Conversion. And you went right into the action out there," Fyrenn flicked his head in a vaguely northerly direction, "Without so much as a whimper. That takes brass Stanley, and I for one, am glad to call you my friend."
Carradan smiled and punched Fyrenn lightly to the side with a hoof, but the Gryphon saw the tears he was trying to hold back, "Awww shuddup. You beaks-for-brains did most of the fighting. But... Thanks."
Carradan paused and gazed up at Fyrenn, "Do you think she'll change? Do you think she'll be back?"
Fyrenn cocked his head, "Who? IJ?"
Stanley nodded wordlessly.
Fyrenn sighed and scratched his head, ruffling the feathers slightly, "I don't know if we will ever see her again in the normal course of events... But there's no reason we can't drop in on her one day. Will she change? I think she has already started to. Don't take what she did too hard. You and I, we have a coping mechanism the others lack..."
Carradan snorted, "Well I have this Pony 'love and tolerance' thing I guess.."
Fyrenn shook his head, "I'm talking about Human pragmatism. We may not physically be Humans anymore, but we can take a great many good, useful things from our Humanity besides memories and basic skills. *Trust* me, its a lot easier to forgive a certain blue and white Pegasus if you think about her actions from a Human perspective, especially as opposed to a Gryphon's."
Carradan inclined his head, "Anyone ever tell you that you should have been a psychologist?"
Fyrenn shook his head, "I've decided I'd rather have friends and family than doctors. Easier to relate to. Fewer bills."
Carradan burst out laughing, and for several seconds, Fyrenn joined him.
Their loud mirth even drew a bit of attention from other Ponies in the square.
When their guffaws finally died down, Carradan smiled, "Thanks. I guess going out for a lonely breakfast wasn't such a smart move after... well.. everything."
The Pegasus glanced around the square, then nudged Fyrenn, "You in the mood to do more cheering up? 'Cause I spy another headcase for you to take a crack at." He point with a hoof, and Fyrenn saw that Neyla was ambling slowly down one of the side streets, lost in thought, and judging by her expression recriminations.
Fyrenn swallowed, "I'm not sure that's a good idea. She has more reason than any of us to be upset."
Carradan scoffed, "Excuses excuses. Whether you wanna admit it or not, she's closer to you than the rest of us. Go on! Git!"
Fyrenn raised an eyebrow, "This had better not be you trying to play matchmaker, or so help me I will grind you up and send the pieces home in a match *box.*"
Carradan rolled his eyes, "Threats threats threats... I'm not worried. Go on now! Seriously. She needs someone, and it looks like it's either you or me. You don't wanna see me try to cheer somebody up. Besides, I can always hold hopes that you two will---"
As he started up the street, Fyrenn looked back over his shoulder, "You and I will have *words* about this later."
The Gryphon drilled Carradan with a death glare, and was rewarded by the slightest of nervous shivers from the Pony.
Neyla saw him coming, and moved to make space for him to fall into step beside her.
Fyrenn offered her a smile, "I have a few bits, if you want to get something to eat."
Neyla shook her head, "I'm not particularly hungry."
She glanced up, and caught sight of a bakery and Coffee house, "...But I could do with something hot to drink I suppose."
The eatery turned out to be called "Pony Joe's," which was apt considering the owner was named Pony Joe. It struck Fyrenn as an unusual name for someone who was presumably an Equestrian native, but he decided it was better not to further complicate his morning by asking Ponies awkward questions.
Aside from a Coffee so divine it threatened to make him forget the real reason he had brought Neyla to the bakery, there was also some sort of sweet baked good called a Donut.
Sugar-based synth foods were not easy to make palatable Earthside, and thus Fyrenn hadn't ever tasted anything on that level of sweetness before.
He bit into the baked, glazed ring with its peculiar trademark hole in the middle, and nearly dropped the coffee he was holding in his other talon.
Neyla chuckled softly, "What's the matter? First time eating sweet stuff?"
Fyrenn savored the bite for a few moments before swallowing and nodding, "Might as well be. Most of the synthetic stuff I had growing up was barely a *tenth* as sweet as this, and didn't really have good flavor or texture."
Fyrenn decided to order a whole box of the 'Donuts' and, as he had hoped, Neyla's curiosity eventually got the better of her, and she helped herself to a few of the treats.
She confessed that she had never had a donut before, but apparently Gryphons made sweet desserts as well, so it was less of a culinary revelation for her and more of a simple exercise in trying new foreign food.
Fyrenn spent a few uncomfortable minutes trying to decide how to start the conversation, and finally settled on a simple apology.
"I'm sorry."
Neyla cocked her head, genuinely baffled, "What for?"
"Siding with IJ. I know all this must bring back a lot of bad memories and feelings for you... Stuff you'd rather not dredge up. I've been there. By rights, she probably *should* be in prison. I guess, in a sense, she is---"
Neyla shook her head and cut the red Gryphon's increasingly rapid babblings short, "You have nothing to be sorry for. I'd be mad if you stood by her for no reason. But she gave you a reason, a relatively good one at that. I'm just..."
"...Not yet ready to be as forgiving."
She shook her head in wonder, "Sometimes I almost forget that you've been in almost the same place I have. How did you learn? You became part of a family. You put your fears aside. You are even trying to help me... Oh don't look so surprised, it was *painfully* obvious you were going to try and cheer me up."
She paused and sipped her own coffee pensively, before asking her question again, "How *did* you do it? How did you outrun yourself?"
Fyrenn sighed, and gazed down into his drink "It wasn't all me. Sure I had to reach a point where I was willing to take some risks again... All relationships bear risk... But Kephic and Varan also reached out to me. God only knows why."
He looked up at Neyla and grinned slightly, "Besides, I haven't put it all behind me. I'm still very *very* closed to the idea of... Well... A 'relationship' in the more aaah---"
Neyla shook her head and held up a claw, "I know what you mean."
She gazed out the windows morosely for several minutes. Fyrenn used the time to work up the courage to try a new tack.
He picked out four of his leftover bits, noting that one side of the gold coin bore a sun emblem, the other a moon. They would serve his purpose nicely.
He held up the four coins, "Ok tell me this... When was the last time you saw two Gryphons, excepting yourself and... Him... Lose a relationship? Or even a friendship?"
Neyla thought for a moment, then shook her head, "I can't recall an instance where it didn't all work out in the end."
Fyrenn grinned, "Alright. Now, I'm going to ask you to guess the odds that all four of these coins will land sun side up."
Neyla raised an eyebrow, "You know as well as I do that the chances are about one in sixteen occurrences on average."
Fyrenn smirked, and flicked each coin into the air in rapid succession. As they hung, spinning above his head, he reached out with all the speed he could muster, and slammed each to the table using his index talon. Sun side up.
Neyla glared, "That's cheating."
Fyrenn shook his head, "That's refusing to let chance dictate your future. There's plenty of things we can't control in life, but what I guess I've finally started to figure out, is that those 'chances,' if there is such a thing as luck, need not control *us*."
He swiftly gathered the coins into a pile, to leave as a tip, "As for me, I don't personally subscribe to coincidence, fate, luck, or chance at all. I believe there's a plan in everything. So my advice goes double for me, and anyone who thinks the same."
Neyla sighed again, "I agree... But I don't think my heart is ready to follow my head."
Fyrenn snorted, "The fact we're sitting here, having this conversation, proves that you're wrong. You think of me as a friend, or you wouldn't even think of discussing this with me. You're just afraid to admit you're slowly mending. I know. I've been there."
He rolled his eyes, "Well, really? I'm still there, I just pretend to be sage and wise because you needed a pep talk in the worst way, and you don't exactly have a gaggle of close friends."
Neyla giggled, " 'Pep talk?' "
"Human expression."
She grinned, "It sounds... A little funny."
Fyrenn smiled back, "It is. But you've just had one, so now you know and you don't have to take my word for it."
"I meant the word itself silly. Pep... peeeeepppppp..."
Fyrenn snorted, "Oh that's nothing. I'll show you a dictionary of Human colloquialisms sometime. You'd find it immensely amusing. Words like 'Head Honcho,' or 'lojack.' "
Neyla tried, with some success, to contain a full on outburst of laughter.
Fyrenn chuckled himself, "I know. Funny stuff right?"
The two Gryphons paid for their meal, and made their way back to the street, setting off in the general direction of the Palace. They spent most of the time discussing strange Human turns of phrase, much to Neyla's amusement.
It made Fyrenn happy to see her smile, and laugh. It reassured him that the damage done by IJ's revelation was neither permanent, nor severe.
As they neared the Palace, the red Gryphon stopped and turned to face his companion, "Look... I know you're going to be tempted to blame yourself for not figuring IJ out sooner. Then your head and heart will use that as an excuse to put up walls again. I'm going to tell you two things. First, I'm going to tell you what you already know; she fooled us *all.* It's not a reflection on *you.* No matter how much previous 'experience' you've had."
Neyla cocked her head and raised her eyebrow, "And second?"
Fyrenn gazed into her eyes, trying with all his might to impress his words upon her, "Second I'm going to tell you *exactly* verbatim what Kephic and Varan told me; 'You acted honorably, and as well as you knew how in both situations. You only indulge in self-deprecation now because you know the outcome. You didn’t then.' ”
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his beak, "It's a little scary to say this; But take it as coming from a friend and a friend only. You are too smart, too beautiful, too kind, and too skilled to live your life alone."
Neyla smiled mischievously, "At least you're honest."
The pair resumed walking, passing the time in thoughtful silence until they reached a side entrance to the palace. As one of the Royal Guards unlocked the door for them to enter, Neyla turned to Fyrenn and smiled, "Thank you."
Fyrenn cocked his head, "For what?"
"For the Pep Talk."
Varan was perturbed. Neyla was angry. Kephic was frustrated.
Fyrenn was a feather's breadth away from being in a killing mood.
The four Gryphons and Celestia had been conducting 'interviews' with the first two names from Carradan and IJ's list for over three hours. Carradan himself had opted out of the proceedings early. Apparently the true anger of Gryphons still awoke some fear in him, even if that anger was directed elsewhere.
Fyrenn decided he was wise to worry. Even the presence of a sympathetic demigod had done very little to mitigate the harshness of the Gryphons' questionings.
The harshness of the proceedings made the results all the more frustrating. The only information the two courtiers, a Baron and a Duke, had been able to give them were the names of more Diamond Dog Troll pack Alphas who were working for the PER. And it had taken three hours to elicit those facts, despite the relative cooperation their interviewees had shown.
They both claimed to receive all their orders from the final name on the list, a statement Fyrenn believed was truthful, given just how badly they had frightened the two traitors.
At first, both candidates seemed to be more nervous under Celestia's stare, but after a few moments of aggressive posturing from the leo-avian predators in the room, the two Ponies had considered Celestia the least of their worries.
Fyrenn even thought the second one had seemed *relieved* when Celestia ordered him, like his predecessor, consigned to prison for five years without parole, and loss of title, rank, and assets thereafter, followed at last by mandatory 'reassignment' to work on the frontier for the rest of his life.
Fyrenn noted, with some interest, that Celestia seemed to like unusual, creative, and non-aggressive punishments, preferring to treat even acts such as treason with a soft, but very firm hoof. He knew that by contrast, in the Gryphon Kingdoms, fully convicted treason or treachery without mitigating factors was punishable only by instant, non-commutable death, with no right to appeal. Earthgov's uniform code of military justice was only slightly more merciful.
Fyrenn felt like dishing out some death himself. Shroud had died, and he along with the others had endured severe trials to gain access to the three names. If the third was as evasive, and inanely babbling, and useless as the first two, Fyrenn decided he would take more drastic action to secure the truth. Celestia's merciful nature be damned.
Fyrenn sighed and sagged back into his seat.
The room was laid out with a semi-circular table, behind which Celestia, Fyrenn, and Kephic would sit, framed by the windows at the far end of the room.
Celestia had even had Gryphon chairs brought in from storage for the occasion.
Neyla and Varan stood in the shadows near the doors, ready to close the way behind the 'interviewee.' The move was more for physical intimidation than anything. The unfortunate Pony in question was then, forcefully if necessary, seated in an unadorned, uncomfortable chair of their own, set considerably lower than the already tall beings at the semi-circular table.
Fyrenn had been surprised to learn that much of the layout was Celestia's idea. He would not have pegged her as the sort to devise intimidation tactics. The more he considered it, however, the more it made sense. Intimidation could sometimes preclude, and negate the necessity for violence.
As the Gryphons finished preparing themselves for the final unlucky Pony, a Night Guard poked her head through the door, "Your majesty, guests, your final detainee has arrived. He is proving... Most uncooperative."
Celestia sighed, "Send him in nonetheless." She turned to Fyrenn, and then Kephic, "I'm afraid I may as well apologize on behalf of our next... 'Guest' and get it out of the way."
Kephic raised an eyebrow, "Why?"
Fyrenn growled, "Apologies aside, I may *dismember* him if he doesn't cooperate."
Celestia shook her head, "I would not be entirely pleased if you did. He is my nephew."
Before Fyrenn or Kephic could form a response to the new, and startling piece of information, the doors burst open and a white Unicorn, with a flowing golden mane, wearing a slightly bedraggled looking suit strode in, an expression of arrogant fury stamped on his muzzle as if it had been chiseled there permanently with a pickaxe.
"Auntie! What is the *meaning* of this inconceivable charade! I demand to know why I, Prince Blueblood Archduke of---"
Fyrenn snorted, interrupting the prince mid-sentence, "Yeah. I'm gonna vote we go with dismemberment."
"No! I care not for your idle threats, Gryphon." The Unicorn spat the word, as if it were an epithet, "I will *not* give over the leader of a worthy cause to your bloody, violent, ill conceived ministrations. And I intend to contest, strongly, the vulgar idea that aiding a group dedicated to our species' interests is treason."
If Fyrenn had thought his patience was being taxed before, it had been pushed far beyond recommended tolerances by Blueblood. The Unicorn princeling was arrogant, narcissistic, and delusional. The only thing they had learned after forty five minutes of belaboring him with questions and threats, both subtle and forward, was that he hated Gryphons almost as much as he hated Humans.
The only time he had shown any concern at all was when Neyla had bruised his jaw after a particularly snide remark had momentarily pushed her beyond her own tolerances. Fyrenn knew she had still been mostly in control however, otherwise she would have likely broken the Prince's neck with the mere torsional force of impact.
Unfortunately the move had only served to heighten Blueblood's self confidence, assuring him, in his mind, that the Gryphons were well under his Aunt's control, and would stop short of truly harming him.
Fyrenn had remained behind the table with Celestia, while Varan, Kephic, and Neyla constantly circled Blueblood, peppering him with questions. Fyrenn had elected to remain separate in order to maintain control of his own impulses, which were screaming at him to do things to Blueblood that would likely make him a permanent enemy of the Equestrian state.
He had been trained to extract information from targets with maximum efficiency, in the minimum amount of time, and then dispose of them violently. That Special Forces training was teaming up with his Gryphon instincts to set up quite the racket in his subconscious.
To distract himself, Fyrenn tried to imagine how far removed Blueblood must be from Celestia's bloodline, and tutelage, to have turned out so badly. If the other two courtiers had shown mild anti-humanist sentiment, then Blueblood was a full blown misanthropist.
The other Ponies on the list had little to no knowledge of the PER's terrorist actions, but Fyrenn ventured to hypothesize that Blueblood did, given his demeanor.
Fyrenn wondered how long one had to bask in one's own arrogance in order to be comfortable facing down four Gryphons, and the co-monarch of a nation imbued with enough magical capability to raise and lower the sun, or force a shape change in a species dedicated to shapeshifting.
Kephic leaned in close to Blueblood's face and growled, "One way or another, you're going to give us the name of the head of the PER. The red Gryphon beside your 'Auntie?' He's my brother.
And he's not the sort to follow the rules if you take my meaning. Now, your uncooperativeness is *upsetting* him. The last time he was upset, he beat one creature to death with his bare claws, then killed two more who were more heavily armed and armored than he, without picking up a weapon. Upsetting him is, as you can infer, unwise."
Kephic jerked his head at Varan, "My other sibling. Varan. He once killed a dire bear by hitting it so hard with a blunt slab of granite, that they never found the head. Neyla there? She has a bigger body count to her name than your 'Auntie's' entire Royal Guard."
Kephic leaned in even closer, "As for me? The last person who irritated me as much as you do had his personal weapon shoved so far through his chest cavity, that it came out the other side, after it pushed his spine aside. So when we tell you we will do whatever we have to in order to get this information out of you, we *mean* it."
Blueblood spat, missing Kephic by a wide margin thanks in no small part to his Gryphic reflexes, "You feathered abominations are all the same. Arrogant to a fault..."
Varan chuckled, "You're one to talk."
"...Constantly violent, uncivilized, stupid... Much like those filthy ape creatures you're trying so desperately to shield. Auntie? Please dispense with this ridiculous charade. Surely you agree? You are always the one championing Conversion...
Isn't your disdain for the PER merely an act? A necessary diplomatic machination to fool the humans?"
The mixed look of pity and disgust on Celestia's face was more than enough to answer the question. Blueblood stood, "I will not sit here idly, while you all advocate actions that are in the *worst* interest of my species! And to think we veritably *worshiped* you Celestia... I can see now that the company you keep has rubbed off on you in the worst way! You act like nothing more than a mere commoner. Well, *I* for one will not let this foolishness come to pass! If you can not do what is necessary..."
As the Prince babbled on, Fyrenn stood and began walking towards him. The actions appeared almost casual, and unhurried. Blueblood didn't see the danger, but the other Gryphons knew the signs, and they hurriedly stood back to give Fyrenn room.
Celestia, meanwhile, visibly tensed. She was no fool, and she knew Fyrenn had just snapped, even though it didn't look that way. Yet.
Blueblood continued blathering as Fyrenn stood over him. Finally, the red Gryphon shook his head, "We're finished here."
He stepped around Blueblood, as if to leave, then with speed that would have blinded a rattlesnake he snatched the princeling with his left claw, by the front of his suit, talons digging into flesh, fur, and clothing indiscriminately.
As Fyrenn began to drag the full grown male Unicorn across the floor, small rivulets of blood trickling from the gashes his claws were making, Blueblood yelped, and fired off a spell. Whatever the intended effect, it must have been tailored to alter Fyrenn in some way, because the bolt had no effect whatsoever.
Fyrenn continued to drag the struggling Prince, as if his contortions and weight were no more annoying than a gnat, until he had reached the window. Casually, Fyrenn slammed his fisted right claw into one of the panes, shattering every piece of glass in the entire bank of windows with the reverberation of the force.
Apparently, the unadorned windows weren't intended to be opened. That was of approximately as much concern to Fyrenn as Blueblood's shouted threats and insults, of which there seemed to be a great many.
With a swift flick of his wrist, and some exertion via his shoulder, Fyrenn forced the yammering royal out of the window, before anyone could even think of reacting.
Celestia's nephew was, consequently, hung by his tail, which was firmly clasped in one of Fyrenn's claws. There was no balcony, no ledge, and no railing, given that the windows were never meant to open. Merely a two hundred fifty foot drop.
Fyrenn chuckled, "Now, I'm no *expert,* but I happen to know from painful experience that Unicorns can't fly. But I'm willing to give that hypothesis a re-test if you don't tell me what I want to know right now."
Blueblood's only response was to scream, "Auntie! HELP!"
Celestia stepped forward, flaring her wings, "Fyrenn! Pull him back up this instant! I will *not* have you harming my nephew."
Fyrenn glanced over his shoulder with a look that startled even Kephic, he hissed at Celestia, "Keep your politics, pacifism, and family issues the hell out of my way. I did *not* lose a friend, get shot and stabbed, cross a frozen waste, battle terrifying creatures, lose an ally, and get betrayed by one of *your* own Guards after coming all this way, only to be stopped by his bloodlines. Stay out of this."
At that exact moment, Fyrenn didn't care that he had just told off a being who could likely kill him even with his immunity to direct magical interaction. All he could see was the clear line; A to B to C. Scare Blueblood, get answers, crush the PER.
He turned back to the dangling Prince, "Now you answer me, or I'm going to make a red white and blue flapjack out of 'Mighty Prince Blueblood.' " To lend his words weight, Fyrenn allowed the Unicorn's tail to slip a little through his talons, eliciting a cry of genuine panic at last.
"Alright! Alright! His name is Tiro! Tiro Vanberg!"
Fyrenn smiled, "Now was that really so hard? Give the pavement my regards."
He opened his claw, and stepped away from the window. Fyrenn didn't even need to see Blueblood fall, his screams of terror were music to his tufted ears.
Celestia rushed forward and her horn flared to life. A moment later a whimpering disheveled Blueblood was levitated carefully through the window, and deposited on the floor.
The sobbing Prince jerked a hoof in Fyrenn's direction, "He *dropped* me! He was going to *kill* me!"
Celestia glowered, "Blueblood, as much as I disagree with Fyrenn's methods, I think I despise what you have done more. You will be stripped of rank, title, honor, family name, and assets."
The prince winced at each word, moving closer to outright tears all the while.
Celestia glowered, "For acts of treason, sedition, treachery, and collaboration with terrorists, you are sentenced to ten years prison and hard labor, followed by indentured permanent servitude on the frontiers... To Converts. Your social status will be fixed by contract, you will never again occupy any position of leadership or wealth regardless of future work or merits."
Luna's Night Guards had to physically carry the wailing screaming ex-prince from the room.
Fyrenn had never seen an adult temper tantrum, and he never wanted to again.
For a moment, the room was silent, then Fyrenn gestured to the door, "I think the Princess and I need a moment. Please." The other Gryphons dutifully filed out. Neyla shot him an encouraging smile. Varan was too busy shaking his head and trying to contain his mirth to say anything. Kephic simply winked mischievously.
Once they were gone, Fyrenn held up a talon, "First, let me apologize for not letting you know what I was about to do, it would have saved a lot of trouble and worry on your part. Second, I meant nothing disparaging by my remarks, merely that I wanted a moment without interference. I needed to shake his belief that you could save him."
Celestia nodded, "I appreciate your apology. So you did not in fact mean to kill him?"
Fyrenn shook his head, "No. It wouldn't be my place, and he's not worth the effort. I knew you would catch him, and I much preferred watching you strip him of title and lands anyhow. I just wanted to see him truly scared."
Celestia sighed and hung her head, "He has been... Problematic for many years, but he's never crossed a line like this before. Do you know that, before you arrived yesterday, I wanted some excitement around here? I never imagined that would lead to exiling an extended member of my family."
Fyrenn chuckled, "Cheer up. Its not like you had to kill him."
Celestia nodded, "True enough. I must apologize as well. I very nearly did interfere with your... Interrogation. I should have trusted that you would do the right thing. I'd like to think I know your character better than that."
Fyrenn shrugged, "No apology needed. I'm a violent killer, from a violent race, born into a violent race. He wasn't wrong about that."
Celestia nodded, "True, but you can *always* trust a Gryphon's honor. Do not take it as an insult that worry for a subject eclipsed that fact in my mind temporarily."
Fyrenn nodded, "Naturally."
"So I presume you and your companions will be departing tomorrow?"
The Gryphon nodded, "Hopefully, with this information, we can cripple the PER."
Celestia smiled, "You know, I suppose I should thank you."
"For?"
"For not asking me if I *do* secretly support them."
Fyrenn smiled and shook his head.
"I know your character better than that."
Fyrenn was ready to sleep. The day had been long and tiring, and the next day loomed large with the promise of a long flight back to New York.
He was on the verge of collapsing into the bed that had been provided as part of his guest suite, when there was a knock at his door. It bore the distinct bass thump of a hoof, rather than the harder rap of a fisted claw.
When he opened the door, he was deeply surprised to behold Princess Luna waiting.
"Prithee may we enter?"
Fyrenn stood back and nodded.
Luna stepped in and shook her head, "I am sorry; I am not quite used to this new form of casual speaking, formal greetings are a force of habit for me."
Fyrenn wasn't sure how to respond to that. He knew the rumors. Supposedly Luna had once been possessed by a malevolent power, and banished to Equestria's moon. For a millennium.
A thousand years away doubtless meant a lot of catching up. It only made sense that language had changed, like everything else.
"What brings you here Princess?"
Luna continued walking, letting herself out onto the balcony.
Fyrenn followed, curious as to why the Princess of the Night had seemingly taken an interest in him.
He joined her on the balcony to find her staring down at the lights of Canterlot.
She spoke first, "Tell me what you see."
Fyrenn took the city in with a sweeping glance, "A wealthy, powerful, harmonious kingdom. Happy citizens leading peaceful lives. On Earth, this is thought of as an impossible paradise."
Luna shook her head, "You are only looking at the surface. If you dig deeper, you will find less savory things. Things my sister and I know well, but she is sometimes loathe to admit to others."
Fyrenn cocked his head quizzically, "Such as?"
"Stagnation. Do you know, Fyrenn, that this city has barely changed by so much as a brick in nearly eight hundred years? No expansion, no renewal, mere maintenance of the existing.
The Equestrian nation has not founded a new settlement since the very creation of this city.
We have made no effort to expand, or colonize, in a millennium."
Fyrenn whistled through his beak, "That's a long time for a society to be at a standstill."
Luna nodded once curtly, "Many things changed while I was away... But I was shocked to find that the sciences, magic, concepts of literature and art, our borders... None of it had changed in the slightest."
She cast an appraising glance at Fyrenn with her icy blue eyes, "Conversion is often seen as an avenue to the saving of Human lives, culture, art, literature, and knowledge. But what many do not yet understand is that we, and also your kind, are in as much need of salvation as they."
Fyrenn's eyes widened, "You... *need* this melding as much as we do... You're even hoping to improve both races through it... Aren't you."
Luna nodded again, "I think my sister has intimated all this to you before, but it is rarely spoken outright. The Human body is weak. Human morals are too flexible, and Human society often lacks harmony..."
Fyrenn saw where she was going, "All issues that are less of a problem, or even eliminated entirely, in Gryphons and Ponies."
Luna nodded, "But by the same token, we are slow to change. Inflexible in our society, sometimes uncreative in our art and culture, and often too complacent. While your species does not suffer the latter, you show significant signs of the former. Humans, on the other hoof, are supremely adaptable, creative, flexible, and artistic. Attributes that Conversion does not tamper with."
Fyrenn stared out at the city again, "So... What you're hoping to see are the results of melding the best qualities of each? Is *that* why Conversion is tailored to alter people on at least some level?"
Luna inclined her head, "A reasonable hypothesis, but no. It is rare, if not impossible, to create a Pony that is not inclined to harmony, or a Gryphon without morals. If the potion did not instill those qualities in the soul, along with proper instincts, the Convert would die a most terrible death as their body rejected them for lacking... Essence."
Fyrenn snorted, "Try telling that to the HLF."
Luna gazed up at the stars, then turned back to the Gryphon, "My sister informed me of the so called 'Wisps' you encountered."
Fyrenn raised an eyebrow at the sudden change of subject.
Luna continued, "I bear a warning, and a plea. I fear these creatures are more powerful, and numerous, than any of you expect. For reasons I am not willing to divulge yet, I am certain we will one day be forced to face them in war."
The azure Alicorn sighed and looked out over the city once more, "As for my plea, noble Gryphon, I would ask that you do me a favor. I am quite sure my sister has encouraged you to help along the friendship between our races. She is right, we will need each other all too soon.
But I wish to add to her request."
Luna sighed, "Celestia has always been the voice of peace, and harmony.
I am the voice of war, and guardianship. I would ask that, as in the old days, your people help train mine in the arts of violence. Weapons, tactics... Things we will soon need to defend our forthcoming expansion."
Fyrenn gaped, "I... Well I'd like to accept but... I'm not precisely in a position of authority..."
Luna smiled ever so slightly, "You have, I believe, more influence than you credit yourself with. Please, for both our sakes, use it. Diversity, and unity, are strength. We will need strength.
Of this I am sure. My sister means well in her peaceful ways, but sometimes war seeks us out whether we wish it or no."
Fyrenn inclined his head, "I'd be honored to try."
Luna returned the gesture, "Thank you. That is all I ask. That... And if you ever find yourself here again, share a hunt with me. So few truly appreciate the night the way a predator does."
Fyrenn continued gazing out at the starry expanse of Luna's sky, even after her hoofsteps faded away, "True..." he murmured, "True."