//------------------------------// // Intermisson Chapter three: The drums of Griffins // Story: Project Harmony One. // by Megaskullmon //------------------------------// It’s been a very long time since Rainbow Cloud has seen her griffin family. She is in a shuttle heading to the new Griffin stone. Sadly she hasn’t been able to tell her family that she is alive. She had to come alone is another thing she is upset about. It’s the festival of the drum and festival where the Griffins celebrate their freedom from the world of Equess of course there wasn’t a war or anything. Just the Griffins that left wanted to find a new world to live in. “Are you sure about this my love? I haven’t told our foals that you went to see their grandparents. They have been wanting to see them and meet them for the first time. I’m happy you’re going to see them but could you have told them the truth?” Rainbow sighs. “If I told them the truth Jigsaw they would want to come, you know this. I will try to convince my family to come to our world. I can’t promise much and it took a lot to get this shuttle to have the right codes and right homing beacon. They had to steal this one, remember? I am not happy that they had to steal from my family’s species.” Jigsaw shakes his head; he didn't look happy about it. All he was behind the bar that he ran and mixing drinks while he talked to his wife. “Well the others are worried about you and no pony has heard from Savannah since she left. We think she might be not calling because it would be tracked. Just please my love this war is causing so many problems with the main world. The stories I have been hearing from those that land here.” Rainbow shrugs her shoulders. “I will tell my parents about our foals and our marriage. I was upset that I couldn’t even tell them about that. We had to look like we died and we have to make sure it stays that way. Even though many rumors of us still alive have been surfacing.” Jigsaw nods, moving away from the screen a moment to mix a drink for a mare. Then going back to the screen. “I have been told by others that some have been talking about a peaceful world. Some of them get captured by the minions or those still working with Twilight's minions and disharmony there are also rumors that harmony is pushing up their game and trying to destroy worlds that offer a base to disharmony. We need to stop this war soon Rainbow or there will be no Galaxy anymore.” Rainbow nods before she left new Celestia Luna told her that she is going to start the end game of the war. The first part is searching for the first ones. Getting the alliance ready and freeing their planets. Then after all that is said and done, get back their world Equus and hope that the monsters of the gate haven’t destroyed everything. “Jig how are the kids handling a world getting ready for the endgame of the war? They know right I will have to be there at least with one of the other elements. I have a feeling like with Savannah they will be fighting their own battles. I don’t think I will be back till the battle is fully to end. I have my battle here Jig. I have to free my homeworld. I have to free my parents and my kind.”  Jig stares into the screen. “Rainbow you’re not a Griffin they aren’t your kind. You know this even though they did raise you. I know I will not win this argument. Please tell your parents I would love to meet them someday. But stay safe. If you feel that the griffin worlds need to rise. Don’t do anything stupid please my love please.”  Rainbow laughs softly. “Oh, you know me, I will be fine. I will not do anything crazy and you know full well I won’t.” Rainbow turns off the message clicking the buttons while she flys through hyperspace. She makes sure the code sounds through. That the automated message that this is a cargo vessel coming to unload. She has been on this flight for almost two days. She takes a deep breath knowing that soon she will be in the world of the parents who raised her. Her parents raised her to be a strong mare. Even though they raised her to dislike her species.  Her inner thoughts seem to be another matter. ________________ Through the eyes of Rainbow. I thought to myself, grunting angrily. I don’t know what to think. I am so stressed and worried that my parents have been hurt. I pace around the ship worried so much about my family. I need to call them. No no. I can’t. “Coming out of hyperspace codes will replay on a loop. On new Griffinstone the weather is warm and cool in the shade. It’s a perfect day for the drums festival. In the news, there have been no issues with any griffin being captured or put in prison. Equestrian forces have been easing restrictions on the planet.” At least nothing too bad is going on. My ship enters the planet and slowly lands. I quickly place a cloak over my body and put a mask over my face to look like a typical spacer. When I go out an Equestrian officer waits for me. “What is the cargo?” It took me a while to remember but then I did that the griffins placed real drums in the cargo hold. I forgot about that since I was too busy being worried. Many would remember my voice since I am sure it has been recorded all over. “Drums a bunch of drums these griffins ordered. I will be staying since I have been told this is one crazy insane festival.” The officer nods chuckling. “Yes, my kind can be a bit crazy when it comes to this.” “I have a question before I go through. Are the Equestrian soldiers here still oppressed in the name of Twilight and disharmony?” The griffin stares at me with a smile coming over his face. “No, this planet as well as other griffin planets fought for their freedom and many may have lost their lives. But Equss pulled out all their troops but most of us stayed. Other worlds though haven’t been so lucky. We have been the only ones able to keep our independence and not for a lack of trying. The ponies helped us fight for this. Every race did and we heard the war between Disharmony and Harmony is now reaching its end. We are expanding here and trying to be ready just in case either comes for us.” I nod walking away and the griffin laughs. “Welcome home Rainbow Cloud.” I stop turning to look at the griffin. “How in the world did you know?” The griffin laughs. “Oh come on Rainbow it’s not hard to tell from how you walk and present yourself. Also, you forgot to cover your tail.” I look to see my tail hanging out of the robe face hoofing sighing.  “Is my family doing alright?’ The griffin frowns. “Yes, they are but your father. He will never fly again during the battle to free this world he was shot and the lower part of his body is paralyzed he will never walk again. He will never fly again. At least he is alive.”  I nod trotting off quickly to find my way back home. But on the way, I see horror. Many buildings are burnt out, bodies are being cleaned out of the streets and many look sick. It looks like the griffins are doing all they can to help with ponies helping rebuild. I find the street my home is on. The streets are all broken and battered old ships of parts strewn all over the place, old battlements still lingering in the streets. It’s like hell opened up and brought nothing but death.  I quickly trot to the larger house at the end of the street block. The house is fine like it was one of the last stands. I quickly get to the house knocking on the door. A pink and brown female griffin opens the door staring at me. I remove my mask the griffin’s face turns from confusion to pure joy tears stream from her eyes. “You’re alive..” She goes back inside screaming. “Rainbow is alive!!” A bunch of other griffins of various colors and species comes rushing out of the house looking at me. They all hug me and laugh. Tears fall down my face while I do my best to hold my griffin family in my wings and hooves. They let me go when I see a white griffin come out of the house riding an automatic wheelchair. I could see the scars on his face. His feathers aren’t as pure and shiny as they normally are. But I still see the pure love in his eyes. “My little mare is alive?” I trotted quickly to my father, hugging him tightly. “Yes. I got so much to tell you. But...what happened here?” The griffin sighs as he looks to the others. “My darling Cat please get our daughter’s room ready for her to stay in. Everyone else please get the house ready for the festival I have a lot to talk about with Rainbow here.” My mother quickly nods and she scampers inside the house. My old room is still here? I remember my father threatening to turn into a man cave when he got the okay from my mother I guess he never did. I follow him to his study looking out the windows at the broken world slowly being rebuilt. “So much happened after we were told Project Harmony got destroyed in Twilight's attack. The Equestrian army started to wonder if what they were doing was right. So they turned on the others who had such strong loyalty with twilight and we even had to fight Disharmony All our worlds fought. This one got hit the hardest by both and we won just by luck.” I tilt my head at what he meant by that. When I walk into the study I see why they won. Sitting in the chair is the Nine Fangs race. The lizards we made contact with so long ago.  “He and the others from the alliance you formed came to our rescue. Without them, we wouldn’t have won this battle. The others went back home to get ready for the end of the Disharmony harmony war. This one Fire tooth stayed to help rebuild.” The large armored blue lizard stands bowing his head. “An honor great Rainbow Cloud. I have stayed not to only rebuild but to learn of your species.” I sigh looking at my father. “Dad, I got much to tell you and mother. Are you two willing to talk with me?” “I can leave SnowBreeze if you would like to talk to your daughter.” The white griffin nods. “ Please if you also could ask my wife to come, that would be great my friend.” The lizard nods. “Of course.” The lizard walks out of the study as we hear him call for my mother and she scampers in not before hugging the large lizard. The large lizard has a smile on his face. It seems my family is indebted to him and I don’t see anything wrong with that. “What can we do for you darling?” I glance at my mother then at my father. I pull out a photo from my cloak pocket for them to look at. It’s off me Jigsaw and our foals. “This is your stallion-in-law and your grand foals.” The two griffins laugh. “Are they with you?” I shook my head. “It’s not safe for them to come.” I glance outside while the sun is going down and fireworks start to go off in the sky. “You can tell us more about them after. It’s time we get to the festival.” I quickly nod. ____________ The drums festival. Even though the buildings around us have either been blown up or rubble all over the festival is as lively as ever as griffins and others cheering and laughing. I can’t help but worry though if this planet will ever be the same again. A young griffin gets on the stage clicking the mic to get the attention of the others around him. He waits for a while before speaking. “It’s time to thank the ones who started all this to free our world. Even though almost all of them but one are dead. Give a cheer for the one who started it all SnowBreeze.” Wait, I thought he was the one who started this fight? Why would he do such a thing then I realized oh it’s my father he even did this when Equestrian armies under Celestia tried to force their planet and other griffins like it under the rule. Of course, it wasn’t Celestia who did it or Luna. It was the elites who tried to force it and failed. Snow Breeze goes up to the stage and takes the mic in his claw. “I wish I could say I did this all on my own. But I didn't because the alliance that my daughter formed came in handy and was a great help in getting them off our world and the other griffin worlds. But to be truthful I doubt I could do this again. We need to build up our forces to make sure this never happens again. My daughter is alive and has children that are enough for me. But I feel the only way I can honor our dead is by a song. What do you say, everyone?!” The crowd cheers while griffins with many instruments including heavy drums start to play a heavy song that is not only strong but gentle. Snow Breeze, my father puts the mic to his mouth taking a deep breath. It’s been years since he sang and this would be the first time in those years he sings. “I wish I could say that the day is won. I can’t say those words for those that died. They all died for our freedom. Oh oh oh our freedom. It’s our freedom to never allow the drums of war to be sounded again. Everyone follow your hearts to peace. The griffins have come from a background of battle and strife and greed.” Everyone but me and my mother dance as I lean on her to watch my father sing. All I can do is smile for a broken bird that is a strong bird on that chair. “Most of us may be broken. Most of us may have lost our lives. But we are still griffins and not just griffins but we are all races in the grand scheme of trying to live peaceful lives. Oh, raise p to all who wish to fight for peace.” As I lean on my mother and the others I worry about what is going on in other planets of the galaxy I worry about Savannah and what may be going on with her. I worry about the new Celestia. I worry so much about the others. I just worry and worry that what may happen if we lose this war. ________________ In a prison on a zebra world. Savannah has her front hooves chained looking back at one about to whip her. She looks at Glyph who smiles with glee with the whip about to be struck on the back of the poor zebra mare. Discord in a zebra glimmer to look like one mouth to the poor mare. ‘Scream for the love of Celestia please scream.’ One war is over, another is about to start. What will happen to Savannah and the other elements? Will they win the battle to come ahead? What about Rainbow will she be able to lead this army to victory or fail? What about poor Savannah who is waiting to be tortured in the name of a pure zebra? Will Discord just sit by and allow it? Find out as the season premiere of season four at the final chapter of the zebra arc stay tuned.