//------------------------------// // Beyond Equestria, Part 2 // Story: A new chapter // by Ponelover //------------------------------// While we all waited for Gallus. Myself, Starlight, Sonata, and Tempest were all talking with each other in my own hotel room about the events of the day. It’s been rather hectic, all things considered, but it ended well, and that’s all that matters for us. Tempest was busy telling all of us her stories during the war that we almost didn’t realize the phone rang. My horn lighted up and stopped the incessant ringing by picking up its receiver. “Hello, Sunset Shimmer here.” Not really expecting anything. “Hi Ms. Shimmer. This is the Coltdorf Ponystoria, we have here a staff member of ours telling that he is invited per your request, we are wondering if that is true or not.” “Oh yeah, send him in, please. I’ve been waiting for Gallus here to come.” “Of course, ma’am, thank you for the clarification.” The staff member said, closing the line. “Hey Sunset, did the hotel ask about Gallus or something?” Tempest asked, correctly deducing the conversation I just had. “Yeah, a bit concerned about strangers entering our room or something.” “Fantastic! Now that he's coming, what do you girls think his story’s all like? Perhaps something moody? Perhaps something sweet? Gosh, I can't wait!!!” Sonata screamed. Getting a collective nod from all of us. I’m personally curious as to why such an illustrious graduate of the Friendship Academy ended up as some hotel staff here. Seems like some job someone takes out of desperation rather than choice. Gallus could only stand there, the Royal Suite in the Coltdorf stunning the Griffon by the looks of it. He could only look in awe as the meticulously decorated room showered his eyes with views of luxury furniture, soft rugs, and the most advanced technologies Equestria has to offer. I personally think the interior decoration is a bit too tacky, but hey, who am I to judge? If Ponies want this kind of furniture then it’s the Coltdorf’s prerogative to provide it.” I said. Not really helping his sense of awe a little bit. And speaking of providing something to us. “Gallus, hello?” I asked the Blue Griffon. “Equus to Gallus?” “Wha? Oh, oh yeah. Hey there miss… Sunset?” “Correct! Welcome to our lil get-together.” I greeted the Griffon. “Come in, come in. We have a lot to talk about.” I brought Gallus towards the main living room where all my friends are hanging out. Talking with each other about their lives and some random miscellany, Sonata seems to be regaling the group about my exploits when I arrived with our featured guest. “And here is Gallus everypony.” I introduced him. “Gallus, please take a seat wherever you like. We’d love to hear your story.” Sonata was the first individual to greet Gallus. The Siren shaking Gallus’ claw like nothing else matters. “It’s lovely to meet you, Gallus, from one non-pony to the next, I’d love to hear many things about your life here!” Gallus could only give an awkward laugh, I don’t think he even knew what a Siren is. Good on him for keeping silent and nodding though. Tempest was the next. Offering a simple gesture with her left forehoof. “Pleased to meet you. I am Tempest Shadow. Former general in the Equestrian Army, I would be looking forward to cooperating with you.” Gallus could also give a nervous laugh. Perhaps it is the almost natural animosity Griffons and Ponies have for each other considering the recent history Twilight taught me, but it is certainly interesting to note. Then there was Starlight, and it seems that Gallus was at the most ease. She is the one control factor that Gallus is desperately looking for all this time. “Hi, Gallus! Been a long time since we met huh?” “Yeah. How’re things in Equestria Headmare Starlight?” “Oh well, same old same old. Trixie and Sunburst are always the best-worst colleagues I can ever have. I guess that comes into the territory of having your best friends by your work buddies, but anyway, let’s not talk about my boring old life here. Let’s talk about you! How’s life in New Manehattan Gallus? I can see that you’re working as a… hotel staffer. Not exactly a job I’d expect, but if that’s what you like, then uhh, good on you…” Even Starlight knew that being a hotel staffer ain’t exactly the job she envisioned someone like Gallus would undertake, and pretty much all of us agreed with her.  Gallus, in response, only muttered a sigh, sitting in one of the chairs in one of the living rooms. “I guess we’ll have to start with the mess after our ‘graduation’. I think all of you should take a seat for this one. This is gonna be very long.” As we all crowded the big couch surrounding Gallus’ single chair. The Blue Griffon started his story. “So we were supposed to graduate by… 1031 if I’m not wrong? Sadly things didn’t pan out and my friends and I were separated. Well, sad to say that I probably have the worst.” “Got denied job opportunities left and right due to that war thing between Equestria and the Empire. Even once the war’s over. I stayed a little bit in Ocellus’ apartment in Manehatttan. But I really don’t want to burden her even more, so I decided to take my chances and go to New Manehattan. And… eh, could be worse, but it could be better.” “Still. If I thought that New Manehattan would be different than old Equestria then boy am I wrong. More opportunities for sure, but… the same old speciesm, the same old bigotry I encountered back in Equestria. Decided to join an organization promoting Griffon equality here. And that’s what I’ve been doing ever since.” I turned my head towards Starlight and Tempest, and both seemed shameful when Gallus mentioned the fact. “It’s… a work in progress.” Starlight mentioned. “Do you know Ocellus is a labour organizer in Manehattan? Feels weird that both of you are championing the cause for better treatment of non-pony species.” “Wait… huh?” Gallus responded. “Ocellus is a labour leader? Huh… I guess we haven’t contacted each other for a looong time, but the thought that we’re doing something similar… feels nice.” I could only smile as Gallus smiled at the thought of Ocellus doing the things he’s doing, separated by an ocean, and yet united under a similar banner. That must feel nice for him. “Say, why don’t you take us to one of your Griffonian rights orgs right now?” I asked. “Perhaps we can help out on some stuff, right girls?” Earning nothing but interested nods from everyone. At the moment I mentioned it. Gallus’ face went cold all of a sudden. Is it the thought that we may not mix well with his friends? “Uhh… maybe let me make some calls first? We do need more Griffonpower right now, but I don’t think they might be imagining a former general joining their ranks to promote their cause right now.” That must’ve been an interesting phone call. All I can hear are screams and assurances from Gallus as he talked away on the phone on a bedroom he locked the doors on, owing to the fact that he can’t be there forever. The griffon quickly exited the room he was in, his face seemed pale. Must’ve been the thick air on the room and nothing else, I’m sure of it. “Alright. Sunset?” He mentioned me. “You can meet me other friends, but Tempest here’s the problem. You’re going to have to put a blindfold on all of your heads, they’re spooked Tempest might be an informant and will tell the authorities where our HQ are, let’s just say that we don’t have the best relationship with New Manehattan Cops.” Tempest’s head turned, her eyes blinked multiple times and a weird smile crept up her face. “So… like a ponynapping I presume?” “Heh… sorry.” The maroon mare put her hoof over her head, shaking her head and then turning towards me. “If things go south Sunset. We exfil immediately, no ifs and buts okay?” “So that means you’d agree?” A reluctant nod and a sigh came out of her. Pretty much a green light all things considered. “Alright, are we going tonight then Gallus?” “No Sunset, tomorrow night, I don’t have to work tomorrow, we’ll meet at the back entrance, you should see a van parked right next to the curb, enter it, put on the hood, and then we can go. Is that good for all of you?” Being ‘ponynapped’ is definitely not something I have in mind when we arrived at this city, but it would certainly be an experience I wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else. I nodded and then turned my head to see everyone else nodding with varying levels of anticipation. Sonata seems especially eager for some reason, nodding her head rapidly. “Ooooohhhh. I’ve only heard stories of girls being ponynapped and then whisked away like that. It’s something else let me tell you, to think that I’ll be the one to be kidnapped like this… ohhhhh.” The Siren smiles with a glee that shouldn’t be there. “Oh, just make sure you’re not actually ponynapping us, Gallus. I may not have the gem but I still do have my claws and pipes. And you don’t wanna know what a siren can do if she’s pissed. Okay?” Goodness, the whiplash! Turning from glee to threatening in a moment. Gallus only nodded eagerly, giving assurances to Sonata that yes, he’s not actually ponynapping anyone here. “Well alright then.” Sonata eased, seemingly content by the Blue Griffon’s fear. “Now… what do you girls think we should do tonight? Board games?” The night came, and we all stood by the curb of the hotel, all anticipating the white van to arrive, I was thinking of whipping up my smartphone for a moment, but I realized that Smartphones don’t exist back here. Leaving us only with each other, let’s just say that talking about the best pie recipe has never been more riveting with good friends at your company. And sure enough, the white van arrived, with Gallus opening the door. “Get in.” He mentioned, Quickly giving us black scarves once we got in. “Alright, This should be a short ride, so put those on and we’ll be on our way.” It turns out that the ride is much longer than expected. Not that we can complain about it considering that we were blindfolded along the way there, but, sure enough, we did arrive at our destination. And what greeted us there was… surprising, to say the least of it. It seemed that we are inside some building, on the outskirts of New Manehattan judging by the dense foliage I can see outside the building, but perhaps the most important individual I can see, however, is the Griffon staring right in front of me. She is wearing a top hat, with a rather dapper-looking tailored suit, complete with a monocle, and looking at us with curious eyes. “Say, Gallus. You mentioned that there will be a former general in front of us, someone that might be a threat to the movement, but from the looks of it. All I see are great and capable mares staring in front of us.” “Uhh, what? I didn’t lie Genevieve. The Pony with the Maroon coat is the general ma’am.” “Hmm… You might see a former general, but all I see is somepony that literally rescued me from the clutches of Griffonian Empire troops, somepony that liberated my homeland, and somepony that I am confident will have our best interests in mind. Am I right Fizzlepop?” The maroon mare only nodded and smiled. “Say, I didn’t realize that you are a Civil Rights organizer Genevieve. Has age treated you so poorly that you resigned from your position as mayor to lead this? I assume you desire a challenge?” The Griffon scoffed at Tempest’s attempts to annoy her. “Please, if that is your attempt at provoking me then you truly are beyond your best years now Miss Berrytwist. Where is that sass of yours when we were trading insults with each other over tea” “Same to you Miss Guildedwing. I didn’t know that the literal former mayor of the richest city in Griffonia is holed up somewhere in the wilderness, what happened to you? Did you lose an election perhaps?” Tempest retorted. Smirking as the Griffon rolled her eyes “Brute General.” “Snobby Noble.” “Uncouth barbarian.” “Stuffy Politician.” “... Friend.” And with that, the tension seemingly dissipated as both the Griffon and the pony rushed to hug each other. “Oh, how I missed you miss Fizzlepop. Liberator of Skyfall and Dear friend of mine. How are things?” “Oh well, same old same old. Still serving the crown but not in any official manner anymore.” “Oh pish posh Fizzlepop. If you’re not working for the crown then I must assume you’ve decided to take up my offer and become one of Skyfall’s many bankers no?” “Me? a Banker? C’mon Genevieve, I’d sooner die than become one of your insufferable bank tellers within your town’s gilded banks.” Both of them laughed as they traded insults and retorts to each other, and I couldn’t understand what is happening all this while. Are they friends? How are they friends? I turned to look at Gallus and my other friends and they all seemed confused at the sudden tonal change within the room. Surely enough, after some time reminiscing with each other, both Tempest and the Griffon motioned us to stand up. The monocle-wearing Griffon introducing herself to all of us. “Greetings all of you, if you're a friend of Miss Fizzlepop here then you are a friend of mine. My name is miss Genevieve Guildedwing. Former mayor of the Skyfall Trade Federation and currently the head organizer of the GEF, that’s the Griffon Equality Front if you don’t know what that means.”