//------------------------------//
// Arrival 
// Story: A Secret in Shining Armour 
// by GermanBrony_12 
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Steel Hunk smirked. He lowered himself to the ground before lunging at Steel Hunk like a cat pouncing on its prey. Before he could even lift a hoof, Shining Armour was swept up into the sky by the remarkable pegasus. Shining Armour frantically swung his legs about in the air as he soared toward the heavens with his comrade. In the blink of an eye, the two had reached Griffonstone.

The impressive city  seemed to radiate prosperity, its coating of marble reflecting the sunlight to create a surreal appearance. Swirling towers of griffon nests pierced the clouds with their massive globe-like tops and all around them lay huge glass structures commemorating the ancient griffon heroes. A tall gate led to the city’s bustling street markets and thriving commercial districts where griffons of all kinds spent their day until the setting sun signalled the transition from busy day to an even more lively nightlife. 

Shining Armour and Steel Hunk approached this great gate with confidence. Steel Hunk firmly knocked on the door, fully prepared to be instantly let in, however, the result was just the opposite. A stern-looking griffon opened the door just enough to stick their arm through and point to a structure across the gorge. 

“Head over there,” said the griffon before closing the gate and returning to their post.

The two ponies looked to where the griffon had pointed. A cloud of dust obscured a collection of small structures in net rows. As the griffon had told them to, they headed toward the location.

There, they were met with a disappointing sight. The griffon had directed them to a large camp filled with starving, injured ponies from all over Equestria. Neat rows of poorly-constructed tents seemed to go on forever, seeming to disappear as clouds of dust swept in front of them. Garbage was everywhere and ponies could do little but lay in the sand and occasional patches of dirt that their tents shaded. It was unbearably hot everywhere outside of the shade and some ponies missed out on meals to avoid leaving the shelter of the shoddy tents of the refugee camp. A few griffons watched over the masses of ponies from their tall perches, observing every movement of those beneath them. The ponies had made it to Griffonstone, but how different was it from the lands they fled?

 Shining Armour and Steel Hunk entered the camp and began searching around. They asked the many ponies there about the situation so that they might learn why they could not enter Griffonstone, but no one knew the reason.
 
After an hour of questioning, the heat grew too unbearable and they settled down in one of the vacant huts. Exhausted, the comrades sat in the hut and watched the other ponies pass by. They watched and watched with nothing else to do. A certain pony caught their attention as they approached the tent of Shining Armour and his partner, one that caused Shining Armour to dart behind Steel Hunk, trembling. 

Twilight Velvet.