//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Charles Pathfinder - A Gryphon in Canterlot // by Xaratos //------------------------------// Charles Pathfinder Chapter 4 So we took a place for two. I don´t know why a place for two, but yeah I didn't care at this moment. At first it was really uncomfortable, but then she started to ask the first question. „So why Canterlot Charles? I don't know how long you have been here but it is a really uncommon place for a griffin.“ she said with a curious tone. „I didn't choose Canterlot. It was rather on my way. I was really young when I was sent to an orphanage. That’s why I started living here. I could imagine living in another place but now that I have a job to do I am going to stay a little bit longer.“ I explained to her „I also didn't want to stay that long in Canterlot. I want to explore the world and see what the world has to offer. I had a little accident in the Everfree Forest. I wanted to explore the world but without bits I didn't come to far.“ „What happened to you in the Everfree forest?“ „Ehm yeah Timberwolves.“ I replied quickly. „I hate them they hunt in packs and I didn't stand a chance against five of them. Thanks to Zecora I am still breathing“ I laughed „I still have some problems with my flying because they hurt my wings really bad.“ „Ouch that sucks. I mean I can´t imagine how it would be not to fly normally. I mean how did you came back here to Canterlot? You couldn't fly when you had been attacked. And I think Zecora – this was her name right?“ I nodded „She said you shouldn't fly back to Canterlot.“ „Yeah it was a long walk. Just telling you I like the ground more then the air. When I go hunting I do it the hard way. I am like a spy. I am very silent when I don´t want to be heard. I just have to train flying too now that I am doing a job in the weather patrol.“ I laughed. Then the waiter came and asked us what we wanted to order. She ordered Hay Fries and Orange juice. When the waiter looked at me and asked what I wanted he looked at me like I was an alien from another world. I order a salad and some black tea. Then the waiter disappeared as fast as he came to us. „You drink black tea?“ She asked surprised. „Yeah it is a leftover from my childhood. My parents made the best black tea I knew.“ I looked sad when I said that. „But what is in the past is over. I mean they gave their lives to free me. And I am sad that they died but they did it for what they thought was right.“ She didn't reply on that. She looked like she was thinking about something but I don’t realize what it was. Then the waiter came back with our order. Our meals have been placed in front of us and we thanked him. I started eating. But when I looked at her she was still thinking. So I asked her „Hey what’s on your mind Free?“ „I don´t know. It´s just I didn't realize how bad griffins are doing out of Equestria. I mean how many griffins are there left?“ she wanted to know. „I don't know a current number but I think there are only five thousand left. That’s not that many“ she looked really shocked as I said this „I mean through the danger of dragons and slavery through the diamond dogs we don´t have the time to make love or time for growing children. I mean working till death and only living to the age of forty is not that good.“ I explained. „Did you get into slavery or did dragons kill your parents?“ she asked with a look I didn't recognize. „I got into slavery when I was twelve.“ I sighed. „I was only there for 6 months. And that’s not a long time. I spoke to griffins who were there since they were born. I was lucky that my parents managed to get me out of there.“ I sighed and took a sip of my black tea. „Ah the tea is good but not as good as my parents used to make.“ I giggled. „You always see the positive sides of your life, don´t you?“ „I have nothing left. As I said what happened in the past stays there. I forgot to tell you that when I was younger the trip to the Everfree Forest was my last one.“ I added. „Why didn't you get a job? I mean you don´t seem like a bad griffin.“ she said rally interested. „Okay at first you have to know I tried getting a job. But the first problem is I don´t have an education. And that's because no school wanted me there. They said I was to dangerous. I was much more mature then most of the other fillies. You know bad past, and the slavery of griffins. The second thing is that I was arrested for being at the wrong place at the wrong time.“ I sighed „Just imagine a griffin with no education and he stayed in the prison. I don´t think getting a job is your first problem. I tried to survive and nopony realized that. So I went to the Princesses to ask them for help. And that's how I got this job.“ „Wow.“ was her only reply. „Yeah I know. But now lets start eating before the food is gets cold.“ I giggled and she just nodded. So we sat there just eating for about fifteen minutes. I was kind of really surprised how good the food was. I mean I never had a salad that good. It was like an explosion of tastes on your tongue. But, when I cook salad, thanks to a lack of ingredients, I couldn't make one anything like this. My salad was just for surviving. Just some basic vitamins and other things you need to survive. And water. A lot of water to drink. I laughed off that thought. „Why did you start laughing Charles?“ She asked as if she was wondering if I went insane. „I just thought about the salad I make all the time. I was on my way. It was just simple and not that, lets say luxury. That's what I thought about.“ „So what are you going to do today after we finish?“ „I think I am going to study again and ask the princesses for a little favour. Okay to be honest I want to ask them for two favours.“ I said „The first one would be if I could try and do the final exams for school. I am nearly finished with everything a normal pony knows. The second one would be if I can start a self defence course in the Royal Guard. Just claw to claw fighting or in this case claw to hoof combat.“ I explained. „Why do you want to do such a thing?“ „It´s just because I got attacked several times and I was beaten near to death. I want to defend myself. When the spirit is really good then you can fight without your body. But in my case I have a natural agility. It would be really stupid to ignore that. My agility saved me from the Timberwolves. I just want to expand my knowledge on that basic things.“ I sighed after that long explanation. „Okay now I am finished with my questions and our food is finished too.“ she giggled „So let's pay and get back to work. Waiter we want to pay.“ The waiter heard that and came to our place „That will be eight bits“ he said curtly. Free handed him the bits out. After that we left the restaurant. I only heard that the waiter said to another pony „I have never seen a griffin here in Canterlot and I don't like him. He seemed friendly but I still think he is a threat. I hope he isn't coming here often.“ I just sighed as he said that. Another place where I wouldn't want to go. Free recognized that and asked me „Hey something on your mind Charles?“ I said nothing and then we started flying back and grabbed a cloud on our way out of Canterlot. When we reached the place we did the training in the morning we started again. „Now that you know how to move a cloud and make rain I am going to show you how to make lightning and thunder. I am also going to show you how to make it snow.“ she giggled. `She is kind of cute when she giggles. But what am I thinking? Okay forget it Charles.` „Okay lets start.“ I replied quickly. „The first thing to know about thunder and lightning is that it's really hard to learn how to make thunder and lightning. There is a little bit of electricity in the cloud. You have to expand the electricity that is in the cloud and then the lightning is created.. The thunder is not much of a problem. It happens just after the lightning.“ she explained. „Now try it.“ The first thing I did was think about the cloud as a container again. But not for water this time. I thought about it as a container for electricity. And after several tries I made lightning followed by thunder. It only took me one hour to figure it out this time. I was surprised how fast this worked. I heard some claps from Free and I smiled. That was the first time I smiled truthfully. „I think we are finished.“ She said happily „I am going to show you how to make snow tomorrow. You are learning really fast do you know that Charles?“ I just nodded and was still smiling. „lets head back to the HQ. I think you need some rest after everything that happened today and you also have to do some preparations for tomorrow.“ She smiled and giggled. So we headed back to HQ or more like she flew with me as kind of an escort. That thought was kind of funny. When we reached my flat in the HQ we said our goodbyes and she flew home. I went into my flat and grabbed my library card and walked to Canterlot castle to make a appointment with the princesses. As I reached the palace I talked a little to a mare who made the appointments with the princesses. As I turned I faced princess Celestia. „Oh hello Charles Pathfinder. How are you doing in your new job?“ she asked with a really smooth voice. „I am doing really good, Princess.“ I beamed „I am happy now that I have a job. I also got a flat in the HQ. Never had a home for myself but yeah.“ „And I heard that you want to talk to me?“ She asked. I was really surprised and thought about what to do now. She was listening the hole conversation with the mare behind me. „Yes Princess Celestia. I wanted to ask you about two favours.“ „Since I am here now you can ask it now.“ She giggled a little bit. „The first thing I wanted to ask you if I can try the final exams. I want to make my graduation.“ „I am going to send a letter to my student Twilight Sparkle. I am going to ask her about taking the test with you. And the other favour?“ she asked interested. „My second question is about getting a self defence course at the Royal Guard. I have been attacked sometimes by ponies who don´t appreciate myself being here in Canterlot.“ I said really nervous because this is a little bit dangerous to ask her. „I am going to ask Captain Shining Armour about that. But the first one is okay.“ She said. So I thanked her and said my farewells to her. I have a library to visit. When I reached the library I walked into it. Still the place I liked the most. I waved at the librarian and she smiled when she saw me there „Ah still want to gain more knowledge Charles hmm?“ she asked me. „Yeah I asked Princess Celestia if I can take my graduation exam and she said yes.“ I beamed again „I just need some books to prepare for that graduation. Kinda hard if you want to do that when her protégée is going to do the test.“ I giggled. „Ah so you are going to meet Twilight Sparkle?“ she said interested „Can you tell her hello for me? She doesn't really visit this library any more.“ „I can do that for you.“ I smiled to her. After I said that I grabbed some books and said my farewells to her too. I have a really long evening if I want to get ready for the test. When I reached home I got into the shower and then made some black tea. After that I started studying and after the hours went on it got really dark. When I looked at the clock it was near midnight. `Damn I have to go to bed if I want to be fit for training tomorrow.´ I thought. And after fighting my mind for rest, I fell into a deep sleep. I had a bad flashback about the past in the mine.