//------------------------------//
// Under the Concrete 
// Story: Invocation 
// by Paper Mache Man 
//------------------------------//

Heavy boots thudded against smooth, marbled floor, rousing Princess Celestia from her afternoon tea and scroll reading. She knew who it was - how could she forget the peculiar footsteps?
"James," she greeted in an even tone, not even bothering to look up from her scroll.

The ruffling of furniture and the squeaking of springs attempting to accompany his weight told the mare he had sat down, likely in his usual style; legs pressed together and hands folded neatly and respectfully in his lap. Her earlier encounters with the human had given her a good idea of his habits.

James himself was a lithe-figured man, standing just a hair below five foot eleven and wearing a neatly pressed and starched dark gray military uniform. He sported dark chestnut hair, and a deep, sea-green set of irises that held untold stories within those eyes. Wherever had the man been before meeting her Celestia shuddered to think about. Still, he was respectful - and above all else, an authoritative figure, what he lacked in grace he made up for by his sheer presence.

"Princess," the human replied in kind, and the mare knew he had given her a respectful nod. She could see just the faint traces of movement from his head out of the corner of her eyes.
Even still, she knew it was courteous to at least make eye contact with a dear friend, however unorthodox he may be. She set her tea and scroll down on her simple wooden table, and directed her eyes into his own.

James was wearing that same peculiar uniform she had met him in all those many moons ago. That patch on his shoulder bearing a terrifying lion against the two firearms, James had called them when she inquired about the patch, on a simple red background. Above his breast pocket was 'S.L.', the man refusing to tell her what it stood for, much to her own dismay.

It was a funny memory, meeting him in the castle gardens for the first time so long ago. He was standing there admiring the night sky, and he had been aware of her presence despite trying her best not to make any noise. He was an enigma, one that she was sure could put Discord to shame in the way he carried himself. He always seemed to know something that you didn't - that, or he was just really good at making educated guesses. Whatever the case, she was sure he wouldn't give her information about it even if she tried to bring it up in conversation.

"You're early. Our meeting wasn't supposed to be until next week," Princess Celestia pointed out, to which the man nodded and averted her eyes, casting his gaze to the door. Something was bothering him.

"Yes, I am aware of that," James nodded. "That, however, is not why I'm here."

That got her to pause. Why was he here then, if not to simply parlay with her?
The Princess of the Sun motioned for the man to continue. He nodded.

"You remember when I told you that there were others like us - like me."

"I remember, yes. It seemed quite..."

"Outlandish?"

Celestia nodded. She remembered clearly when he told him. She was good at that - remembering things as clear as the day they happened. Even as one as old as her the memories simply never blended together; she never understood why, but figured it had something to do with her alicorn nature.

James took in a breath, and continued after a brief bout of silence.
"Well, I found another one. A very good friend of mine."

If Celestia had still been drinking her tea, (which had gotten cold by now) she'd have spit it all over the room. James seemed to notice the surprise, however brief it was before she managed to get it back under control. He put up his hands in a soothing gesture.

"It's not what it seems like, Princess. He's not here to cause trouble, in fact I'm pretty sure he's here not because of his own free will."

"So he was... taken, then?" the Princess inquired, tilting her head ever-so-slightly. He had mentioned in passing, mostly under his breath, about something involving separate dimensions. She passed it off as a trick of the mind, though if it had turned to be true - and the evidence stacked up -, then she simply wasn't sure how she was going to react. She never had to deal with anything of this nature in her long life.

"Sort of. He wasn't taken by anything, just deposited here. It happens, sometimes."

Celestia frowned visibly, causing James to open his mouth to elaborate. She cut him off.
"While I admit my curiosities about your... peculiar nature. Where have you come from that these sort of things 'happen'?"
Princess Celestia inwardly winced at her own outburst, and attempted to correct the situation.
"I... apologize. You haven't given me much to work with."

It was James' turn to frown, and he simply cast a glance out of the window behind her. What he was looking at, she was unsure of.
"I know," he said softly. "I don't like keeping things from you, Princess. I don't like keeping things from anybody, but the nature of who I actually am, well... it's..." He cleared his throat, and locked eyes with Celestia.

"I can't tell you because it's information that's supposed to remain secret. The other one has been here since my arrival, maybe even earlier."

"Why have I not heard of them, then?"

"Because, Princess," he motioned, "he's extremely good at what he does."
'He'? So they were a male then, and if she hadn't gotten wind of anybody of James' nature, then it was most likely he was good at keeping himself hidden from anybody who'd like to be aware of his presence. Especially why it took James so long to find him.

Celestia took in a deep breath, and steadied her nerves - the first time James had seen something like that.
"If he is as important as you claim, then why do you need me? What's stopping you from going off and finding him yourself?"

"Absolutely nothing," James replied without skipping a beat, standing up from the armchair he situated himself on.
"I need resources I alone am unable to acquire."

Celestia really did not like this one bit. Every single part of her instincts told him to stuff it and do it on his lonesome. There was something very, very off about this entire ordeal. The way he carried himself - that hidden yet ever prevalent sense of urgency James had been radiating. There was more to it than he was telling her, and yet, he was a dear friend of her's. How could she, in good conscience, turn him down?

"What do you need?" he finally asked, giving in after a long moment of silence.

James grinned.
"I need a map and money."

"A map? A map of where?"

"Griffonia."

Celestia felt her blood turn ice in her veins, seeping down into her hooves. While not officially at war, it was no secret that the Griffons and Equestria were not on good terms with each other. The fact that James needed a map to their lands told the mare all she needed to know about where his peculiar 'friend' was. Her only hope was that the human didn't expedite tensions between the two countries. A war was something Equestria was wholly unprepared for, and she had to put the interests of her ponies above the interests of one of her friends.

"I can get you a map but Equestrian bits being seen in Griffonia are not taken lightly. You will have to do without them."

James seemed disappointed at that, but nodded anyways.
"I can make do, Princess. Allow me to collect some things from my room and I will be off in the morning."

After that, James simply exited her study, leaving the Princess to stew on her thoughts.

Just what had she gotten into?