It was early in the morning when Pinkie left. She was among the first to leave the Doge’s palace, escorted by guards from the Great Tree to a supply wagon heading toward the border. There were about six or so Griffin guards and three earth ponies had dragged the supplies out into the vast and open countryside where the earth pony and other 'wingless' farmers were. The journey occupying the marjority of the morning, though Pinkie hardly noticed in her slumber.
Those who were in eyeshot of the caravan could be seen peering and gawking at the armored and heavily armed patrol marching along a long dirt road. The Captain, a Griffin named Gerhardt, a scrappy-looking black and brown Griffin clad in Griffish armor, wearing a red surcoat over his armor with a golden thread that resembled a large tree in the center.
With an eye patch and a large scar that raced across his eyelid and underneath the patch, a sizeable cavalier hat sat atop his head, with a crimson feather poking from the brim. The feather was symbolic, giving away his experience and suffering in this conflict away from home.
It was up to Pinkie to boost morale and brighten up these weary soldiers’ days. But something was off… something felt familiar.
A Griffin perked his head up and called out to the train, “Someone is running toward us ahead of the road.”
Gerhardt chuckled, “Relax, it’s just a civilian; we’re too deep in friendly territory for any Unicorns… whoever they are, they’re in a hurry...”
“... Sir, they’re not slowing down… I think they’re going faster.” Warned the Griffin trooper.
“... HEY!” called Gerhardt, “SLOW DOWN– … wait… is that– EVERYONE TAKE COVER!”
Several troopers screamed as they were tossed in the air and landed behind Pinkie’s wagon. Gerhardt included, “Augh....Oh… Paprika… good to see you… I thought you were….”
The springy Alpaca landed in front of Pinkie Pie as she hopped excitedly, scrambling her legs around as she raced in place, “Dead? Never! I just took a short vacation.” Giggled Paprika as she immediately hugged Pinkie in an iron grip, “Pinkie!!!!”
She quickly swung around wildly with the mare in her front legs as the Griffin guards got up and tended to their fresh wounds, “Well… I’m glad you knew of Paprika at least… (though that puts a wrench in my party plans....)” chuckled the Captain nervously.
Pinkie beamed excitedly, squeezing the Alpaca back with as much strength as she could possibly muster. She couldn’t help but snuggle her cheeky into Paprika’s coat, giggling joyfully.
Paprika snorted, “Sorry, Captain, but Pinkie already knows me! If anything…you should be afraid…” she blankly stared at the Captain with a large smile.
“Of course, I know Paprika; why, she’s practically my sister from another mister!” The pink mare turned just enough to face Gerhardt before snapping back to Paprika again, “I can’t believe you’re here; I was so worried we’d never see each other again!”
Slipping seamlessly from the Alpaca’s grip and the wagon, Pinkie flipped over Paprika, landing on all four hooves, “Maybe you can help me out! I’m gonna show the soldiers what a pony party is like! Ooh, maybe you can show me what an Alpaca party is like too! Eee, this is gonna be so much fun!” She sprung into the air, bouncing up and down with a bright smile.
Gerhardt adjusted his hat before sighing, clasping his claws together as he prayed, clenching his eyes shut as he hoped and wished that Boreas would spare him from any calamity that these two creatures could do in in a few days.
“Oh goodie, I was just coming up the road to make sure the supplies were on the way!” beamed Paprika clapping her front hooves together excitedly, “The camp is just a few miles up the road, should be there by lunchtime!” smiled the Alpaca.
Gerhardt wrangled his displaced and dazed Griffins back in line before the earth pony haulers pulled the wagons back on the road, and just as Paprika promised, they arrived at the large encampment just a few miles down the road. Massive tents crowded a large field that was separated by a large river that sat by a forest, where in the distance, several large mountains peaked above the tree line and into the horizon.
It had taken hours, but they made it to ‘Tent Town,’ or at least that’s what a small picket sign read that was riddled with powder and shot holes. Hundreds of Griffin, Harpy, and Pony soldiers walked around the camp, patrolling, guarding, cooking, cleaning, and maintaining the ‘town.’
Inside the town were non-combatants and civilians offering services to the soldiers. Food, jewelry, trinkets, and other goods were sold by merchants that passed through the camp. Farmers sold their food for bits, not only supplying the army with food but getting money from the exchange as well. It seemed Swallowtail’s mercantile sense never left any of its institutions, not even during a time of war.
A Pegasus, wearing a steel chest plate and a cloth cap, fluttered over. A distinctive gold cloth lined the trim of the cloth cap as she peered at the supplies, and then Pinkie smiled, welcoming who she assumed was a recruit.
“Welcome to Tent Town Priv–” Her expression changed in a split second, snapping, “YOU ARE OUT OF UNIFORM SOLDIER; WHERE IS YOUR ARMOR!?”
Pinkie seemed unperturbed by her shouting, a broad smile growing on her lips. In a split second, the mare zipped forward, nearly nose-to-nose with the Pegasus. Taking a deep breath, she boomed, matching her volume, “HI, IT’S NICE TO MEET YOOOOOU!”
“My name’s Pinkie Pie; what’s your name?” Her smile was bright and friendly, “Ooh ooh, can I call you Sollie? That’s a cute nickname, Sollie the Soldier! Hehe!” The party mare turned, gesturing to the Alpaca, “Hey Paprika, do you know this Pony? She’s shouty!”
A few of the griffins behind them cringed, shifting uncomfortably. Even the most mischievous of them wouldn’t be brash so openly like that. Pinkie Pie still didn’t seem to notice, bouncing up and down; her energy seemed to be unending. “Ooh, I didn’t know we get armor! I’d love to be a knight.”
Paprika had left Pinkie’s side, standing behind the shifting and cringing soldiers. The sherbet orange mare turned red, almost crimson with rage, as she bit her lower lip, seeming mere moments from exploding. The soldier's cowered in terror before the loudest tirade in the continent’s history came to fruition.
“DID I ASK FOR A NAME MAGGOT? I ASKED FOR YOUR ARMOR; BUT YOU WANT TO KNOW MY NAME RIGHT? MY NAME IS SARGENT SUNSET ORANGE. BUT YOU CAN CALL ME SERGEANT ORANGE OR SERGEANT. AND WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON’T HAVE ANY? YOU EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE ANY OF THAT MAGGOT!?” roared the Pegasus.
She instantly snapped, looming over Pinkie as she pressed her hoof repeatedly into her chest, “THE TRUTH IS YOU LOST, AN EXPENSIVE PIECE OF REPUBLIC ISSUED EQUIPMENT, AND THAT ARMOR IS GOING TO COME OUT OF YOUR POCKET! AND YOU WILL REMAIN IN THIS MARE’S ARMY UNTIL YOU ARE FIVE HUNDRED AND TEN YEARS OLD. BECAUSE THAT IS THE NUMBER OF YEARS, IT WILL TAKE TO PAY OFF THAT SUIT OF ARMOR AND TO RECOVER THE AMOUNT OF BRAIN CELLS YOU HAVE CLEARLY LOST.”
The Pegasus quickly scooped Pinkie up, cocking her in her right hoof like someone throwing a hoofball, “NOW GET OUT OF MY FACE AND DON’T COME BACK TIL’ YOU LOOK LIKE A SOLDIER!” And with one mighty swing, she chucked Pinkie Pie several yards into the camp, perfectly landing her right in front of a large tent that acted like an armory. Where, somehow, Paprika was expectantly waiting for her there.
“Hehe yeah… that’s Sargent Orange… she’s uh… all serious…” nervously chuckled Paprika.
“Wuhh…” The party mare managed to get to her hooves, stars filling her vision for a brief moment. Pinkie shook her head quickly, still a little dazed, “... p-pretty birdie….”
Snapping back to her senses, the mare looked up, “She’s got one wicked throwing hoof! She’d be great at hoofball!” Her smile returned quickly, shaking off the shock of the impact. Pressing a hoof to her ear, Pinkie winced softly, “Ooo, my ears are still a-ringing!”
“So, armor, right?” Trotting up, she curiously looked inside the tent, her tail swinging left and right. “You think they have anything in my color? Hehe, now I sound like Rarity….”
Paprika laughed, “If you think that’s bad, you should ask about the peach incident.”
“Let’s NOT do that!” Gerhardt flapped over, landing in front of the two before adjusting his hat, “Paprika, how did you? … Ugh… never mind, sorry about that, Pinkie. I had to explain to the Sergeant that you were just the entertainment, haha… (wait, how did Paprika get ahead of me?”
“Er, listen, Pinkie Pie,” explained Gerhardt, “We’re not exactly sure… look, the Doge said that you would know what to do once you got here? Just tell me what you need, and I can get the Sarge to help.”
“Ou ou!” bounced Paprika, “I can help too!”
Gerhardt let out an exhausted sigh, patting his face with a washcloth, “Er, of course, Paprika, you’re a favorite around here.” He gave the maiden a worn but genuine smile.
Pinkie Pie grinned, “Of course, I’ll need all the help I can get, and with a creature of your skills, I know this’ll be a cinch!” The party mare wrapped a hoof around Paprika’s shoulders, squeezing her to her side.
“Okay, we’re gonna need streamers, lights, party hats….” Pinkie began listing everything one might need for an extravaganza of a party, going rapidly, “Cake, cookies, confetti, sprinkles, sugar, oooh ooh, pudding of course, music….”
“Griffins like games, right? Ooh, maybe we can play Go Fish or Pin the Tail on the Pony!” Looking up at Gerhardt, the joyful look in her eye was completely sincere. “I love party games! Ooh, Paprika, what kind of games do you know?”
“Hmm… well, there’s this one game we Alpaca love! It’s racing stones down a mountainside or PRETENDING to be a stone tumbling down a mountainside; the second one is really fun!” giggled Paprika.
Gerhardt had been writing down Pinkie’s list of goods she’d requested, nodding to himself, “Games… got it…” scribbled the Captain before stuffing his paper into a satchel, “Well, I’ll go talk to the chefs then and see what we have if you two want there’s the small bazaar in the center of camp, and the chow tent is where I’m going.”
“Let the chef know if he needs any help. I’m a mean lean dessert-bakin’ queen.” The party mare looked rather proud of herself, “I can bake a cake in under thirty minutes!” Pinkie gave the Griffin a wink before nodding eagerly.
Paprika licked her lips, “It is lunchtime, and we could ask all the soldiers there what they want for their party!”
Gerhardt peered to the side, nervously chuckling, “They’re all gonna say booze….”
“That sounds great, we can see what the party guests will want, and we can eat. It’s a win-win!” Pinkie grinned, “Oh right, booze! Of course, we’re gonna need tooooooooons of that, rum, cider, whiskey… anything we got!”
Bouncing beside Gerhardt, she gave him an easy smile, “Lead the way, sir knight!” She bowed dramatically, giggling to herself.
Gerhardt tugged the cloth bodysuit underneath his armor around his neck as he blushed, nervously chuckling as he cleared his throat, “Right then, come along then, ladies.”
Paprika tilted her head curiously at the Captain, nudging him playfully as she gave the Captain a knowing look, causing the Griffin knight to squawk uncomfortably as his face burned red. As he escorted them to the Chow Tent.
It was a massive kitchen and banquet hall where dozens of troopers and guards sat and ate while a dozen chefs and cooks prepared pounds of food and gallons of juice for the soldiers. Today was vegetable soup and grilled cheese with apple juice, no less.
Gerhardt walked up to the chef, lifting his hat to the blue and cream Hippogriff cook wearing white work clothes stained with red broth, a feather net atop his head, “Gabriel, this is Pinkie Pie, you know Paprika….”
The Hippogriff grinned, “Oh yeah, how could I forget?” the Hippogriff looked down at the mare, “So what’s up?”
“Oh!” Gerhardt handed the chef a list of Pinkie’s requested supplies. The chef paused as he mumbled to himself, reviewing the list, “... Mhm… yeah, I can do that; just ask around to see what the grunts want.”
“Nice to meetcha! Oh, I don’t think I’ve ever met a hippie-griffin!” Pinkie Pie sprung forward, wrapping around, nearly tying herself into a knot to squeeze between him and list, pointing things out, “I’m a baker too, so if you need any help baking, I can do it, no problem! I make a mean flambé.”
The Hippogriff squealed and squawked as he was squeezed, causing his cooks and chefs to look in amusement and confusion at the display of affection, “What the Hell just happened?” replied Gabriel, gobsmacked.
Disentangling herself from… herself, she snapped back to her original spot next to Paprika, grinning as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. “Oh, and we’ll need plenty of booze– do you have any punch bowls? And maybe limes? Ooh, ooh, and cherries! Lots and lots of cherries!” The mare decidedly did not explain why she needed those items. “Hey, Pappy, what can you cook?”
With ruffled feathers, the chef stamped angrily as he shouted at Pinkie, “What was that!” he quickly blinked as Pinkie returned next to Paprika. The Hippogriff quickly face palming, “Oy vey… another Paprika in pony form.”
The chef sighed, “Alright, whatever, just don’t… don’t touch me…” shivered Gabriel.”
“Okey dokey, loki!” Pinkie didn’t seem bothered by his reaction if she seemed to notice it at all. Giggling softly, she nodded, “Sorry about getting all twisted up. Sometimes I get too excited meeting new friends, but I’ll be on my best behavior!”
The mare jutted out her jaw and snapped into a mock salute, looking incredibly serious. The expression quickly melted away, giggles wracking her form as she tried to hold back her usual overwhelming energy.
“Is there anything you’d like at the party?” She asked suddenly, “This is going to be a celebration of all the hard work everyone has been doing, so I want to make sure everyone is having the best time ever! So just let me know if you want anything super extra special, okay?”
She looked briefly between Gabriel and Gerhardt, “If a single creature isn’t having fun at this party, then I will have failed as the Party Planning Pony that I am!” She brought a hoof to her chest as if she were taking an oath, “I, Pinkamena Diane Pie, will not rest until every pony, griffin, and hippogriff has the greatest party EVER!”
Gabriel and Gerhardt looked between one another before clapping and applauding Pinkie’s speech, the soldiers in the banquet hall joining in as they cheered and toasted the pink mare.
“Hear, hear!” called the troopers.
Paprika giggled, “This is going to be so much fun!”
“Oh, you KNOW it, sister!” Pinkie zipped forward, wrapping a hoof around the Alpaca’s shoulders, “This party’s gonna outshine anything that’s on the branches of that tree; even Celestia’s gonna be like:”
The party mare seemed to jump up, hovering in mid-air before fluffing up her mane accordingly, doing her best impression of Princess Celestia, “Oh my, what an absolutively amazing fantastical party! I just know that’s Pinkie Pie and her friends!”
Plopping back down on the ground, she gave the troopers several bows before beaming once more, “So if any of you griffs or pegasi want something special, lemme hear it!!”
Paprika watched in pleasure and amusement at Pinkie’s reality-breaking display of prowess and power as the bewildered and now terrified Gerhardt was drenched in sweat as he helplessly patted his brow and face with a handkerchief, quietly praying and pleading in his native Griffish tongue as he swallowed back the fear and anxiety that had practically suffocated him.
Gabriel, who was also observing Pinkie, though he took note of the mare’s 'finer qualities', giving his Griffin comrade a playful nudge and a sly wink, “We certainly won’t be short on any kind of cake, right Captain?”
Gerhardt rolled his eyes, his face burning with embarrassment and slight frustration as he quickly attempted to take control of the situation once again, lest it spirals into madness, “Er, Ms. Pie!” called the Captain.
“Let’s just scale back the party. Make it like the one’s from your hometown in Equestria perhaps? I was informed by His Excellency that you were a Party Planner?”
“I sure hope we’ll have cake; it ain’t a party unless there’s cake involved!” The mare grinned, seemingly unaware of what his tone really meant. Turning to Garhardt, she nodded eagerly.
“Yeah, I was the resident party planning mare of Ponyville! Ooh… I hope nopony’s come by and taken my place!” A sudden concerned look passed across her face before her joyful gaze returned, “Ah well, Ponyville needs to have fun too, even when I’m away!”
“So you don’t want a big, fantastic, fantabulous party? Oooh… I just wanted to show everyone how excited I am to be here, my friends and me! But if you don’t want a big party, I understand….” Pinkie dug a hoof into the dirt, suddenly reminded of something, “My big sister doesn’t like big parties either…
“So it’s okay! I’ll make it the best, most fantabulous tiiiiiiiny party ever!!” She grinned, whispering as she picked up a small pebble, holding it like a precious stone.
Gerhardt shook his head as his head spun, to him she babbled, and Ponish wasn’t a first language. Despite his extensive use of the Equine dialect, he still had his cases of misheard, mistranslated, and misinterpreted exchanges. He didn’t want this mare of all creatures to be on the list of incidences. Less his head be put on a pike for failing a direct order given by the Doge.
Gerhardt adjusted himself as he affixed his hat properly before clearing his throat, “Er… tell you what. I have a feeling if I try to keep pulling you back and controlling this operation, I’ll be more twisted than a pretzel… you’re in charge of the entertainment. I’ll just stick by you for report purposes.”
Gabriel laughed, “C’mon Gerhardt, the party hasn’t even started, and you’re already folding over to her!”
Gerhardt grumbled as he placed a claw over his temple. Paprika snorted, “I think the Captain is giving us the go-ahead for the best party ever!” exclaimed the maiden.
The Chow Tent erupted into cheers and shouts for requests of booze, sweets, and a collection of hardy and fatty stews and meals from Griffin and Pony alike. It was going to be a busy day for the cooks and Pinkie.
“Eeeeee!!” Pinkie Pie zipped over, wrapping Gerhardt up into a signature pink hug, squeezing him tight (but not too tight!), rocking him around in her arms before setting him down. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I promise this is gonna be the best party ever! And I promise, it won’t get too out of control; it’ll be a regular… hoot!”
She giggled, taking a split second to nuzzle her face into his feathery chest before zipping to Paprika’s side, wrapping a hoof around her. Somehow Gerhardt was still in her grip, pressed to her side.
The Griffin puffed up into a feathery ball of fluff, his face, and cheeks a deep crimson as he nervously chortled and chuckled to himself. Squawking awkwardly as he was cradled like a hatchling, a sense of embarrassment washed over him as his comrades laughed and envied their Captain.
“C’mon, we got a lotta work to do, and daylight’s burnin’! Hehe, I sound like Applejack….”
To say that it was a lot of work was an understatement. After all, it’s not easy feeding an entire army and the civilian guests within it. Dozens and dozens of cakes were made, and hundreds of pounds of stock, fish, eggs, flour, and other ingredients went into making this entire banquet and celebration plausible. Gerhardt managed the chaos with a cool head and swift quill while Gabriel whipped the cooks into shape.
Paprika got a formal education in all things baking from the pink mare, and it wasn’t long before she was in on the baking and food prep. Conjuring fruity pastries and delicious salads from thin air with her basket of treats. With Pinkie seeming to educate the maiden on both pratical baking knowledge and otherwordly expliots against the very fabric of their shared reality.
Finally, the kitchen could take heart and a deep breath after that. Pinkie and Paprika were the star gals of the night, being the organizers and executors of such an elaborate and in-depth way of showing these weary souls a good time in between the conflict that consumed all of them. Its presence looms over the event like a shadow.
Tonight was an escape. Food crowded the dozens of tables with barrels of booze lining and crowded the tent’s rightmost corner as troopers lined the tent out into the camp. Games, gambling, drinking, and music filled the camp as the sounds of instruments, and folk songs filled the air.
For a night, they could enjoy themselves, the food, the drinks, and the company, and enjoy the company they did. However, alcohol did play a prominent role in aiding the event too.
Gerhardt rested atop a lone barrel, resting his weary claws on the large crate before him. Fishing a wood-carved smoking pipe as he began smoking, puffing on the pipe, he puffed smoke sighing in relief as the weary and exhausted Captain attempted to unwind with a quiet sigh.
Wiping the sweat from her brow, Pinkie took in their work with a bright smile. Had they had more time, she might have managed to find someone with construction experience to help build a Ferris wheel. Now that would have brought everything together.
Ah well, they did the best they could with the time they had, and she had spent the last hour or two serving food and drinks and helping with party games. It had been an exhausting amount of fun. With an exhausted sigh, Pinkie slunk to the ground next to Gerhardt, a satisfied smile on her lips.
“Good job, and thanks for helping out! Boy, that was a doozy….” She giggled, a slight snort following her laughter, “Gerhardt-y, are you not gonna join the fun? Oooh, you smoke? My pap-pap does that too!” Her grin was wide, but she was clearly a little tired. “Mmm… this pink Pony just needs a little rest, then she’s back on her hooves… Where’s Paprika?”
The Captain shook his head quickly as he chuckled softly at Pinkie Pie, “I’m not much of a…’ party animal’ as you ponies say. I did my job, the boys are happy, and I didn’t upset the Doge. What’s not to like…?”
The Captain slowly climbed out of his seat, hoisting Pinkie up from the ground and seating her atop the crate to rest before he sat down on the ground across from her, mimicking the posture and demeanor of a cat as he rested on the dirt.
“I believe I saw her-” a high pitch giggle echoed from a distance as the Captain was interrupted, “Er, I saw her in the bouncy castle you somehow packed despite not having a suitcase or wagon of your own. Are you going to explain how you do that, or am I just going to sit in mystery?” Gerhardt said, more as a question to the universe than Pinkie herself.
Pinkie laughed softly at the giggles in the distance, grateful that Paprika was enjoying herself. Half of the fun planning and making this party had been spending time with her. Rolling around to get herself comfortable, the mare turned to Gerhardt with a cocked brow, clearly not understanding he wasn’t speaking directly to her.
“What do you mean?” She considered his question momentarily, “You mean how I put the bouncy castle together, or how it works? Silly!” She giggled, shaking her head.
“If you mean how I can pull things outta nowhere….” She leaned forward, nearly tilting herself off of the crate, her neck seeming to stretch, so her snout met his beak, “....... I dunno! I’ve always been able to do this stuff, ever since I was an itty bitty lil twinkie Pinkie! Well, maybe not always. When I was super itty bitty, before I saw the rainbow, I don’t think I could do any of the stuff I can now. But after that, BOOM!”
“I tried asking Discord, he’s one of my friends who’s super duper smart, and he said he had no idea! Can you believe that? The Lord of Chaos not knowing? It must be a riddle trapped inside an igneous!”
Gerhardt simply glanced at Pinkie before blankly staring at the encampment as he processed all of that knowledge. Quietly whispering, “Discord?...not sure?....” in disbelief as he collected himself before sighing, “....Right… secrets we aren’t meant to know trapped away….”
Paprika trotted over, a party hat dropping to the left of her head. She honked and played with a party favor, “Boy Pinkie, this party thing is the bee’s knees! If only Alpace could know about this. But I’m sure we both know we’ll get to that in a few thousand words.”
Gerhardt raised a brow, “A few thousand words?... Do you mean hours or days?”
Paprika giggled to herself.
Pinkie grinned knowingly at Paprika, throwing her a wink before turning to Gerhardt.
“Oh, don’t worry about it, silly; some things are best left unsaid and better written!” Pinkie sat up, a new energy revitalizing her, “Besides, it’s time for you to enjoy the party too! Remember, this is a party for everyoooooone, including you!” She poked him gleefully.
“C’mon, I wanna see you smile!”
Gerhardt groaned as he was poked, grumbling as he slowly took off his Captain’s Cavalier cap before slipping it over past his face and resting it on his chest, offering the Pony the sweetest, most genuine, award-winning smile on the continent. The camp was quite literally illuminated by his bright smile.
Awe turned to chaos as several men began screaming and groaning in agony, with somepony screaming out helplessly, “MY EYES!”
Gerhardt quickly clamped his beak shut before slipping his hat on top of his head, “There…happy?”
“I sure am!” replied Paprika.
“That’s one pretty smile, Gerhardt! You should use it more often!” Pinkie grinned, “C’mon, let’s go eat or play some games. We can’t have put all this effort in just for you to be a party pooper.”
Jumping up from the crate, she landed beside Gerhardt and somehow slipped underneath him, lifting him easily, “Want a pony ride? We don’t have a carousel here, but I can make it work. Now hold on tight!”
Digging her hooves into the ground, Pinkie launched herself into a gallop, giggling joyfully. “Race you, Paprika!”
“Scheisse!” shouted Gerhardt as he was seemingly hoisted onto the mare’s back, instinctively flailing his arms in the air as they raced away, the other troopers laughing and gawking at the sight of the racing pony and Griffin. The Alpaca quickly galloped after her, panting happily; it reminded Pinkie of Winona.
“Let’s put him on the dance floor, Pinkie!” shouted the Alpaca.
Gerhardt grasped his cap as he buried his face into his hat as a terrified shriek left his body.
“Now, that sounds like a plan!” The party pony grinned, radically changing course as she zipped through the tents, the scent of frosting and booze in the air. Finally, they three landed in the middle of the dance floor, a band of griffins and pegasi playing up a storm.
Slipping Gerhardt from her back, she grasped the Griffin’s claw and pulled him into a dance, giving him a grin. “Don’t be shy,”
“It’s a party, after all! So let’s PARTY!”