//------------------------------//
// Familiar Faces 
// Story: Around A World: Equus 
// by Dragon Shimmer 
//------------------------------//

The moon is rising. Spike and Icey are watching the police around the building. They kick the door to go inside the building. Spike analyzes the building and sees many magic circles drawn on the ground. The purple dragon turns to the brick and notices someone standing under the bridge. Spike and Icey fly to the bridge and see a gray griffin with her staff.

Spike throws a stone at the griffin. "Hey you. What are you doing here?"

The gray griffin turns to Spike and stands up. "Ah, handsome drake. I never thought we would meet so soon."

Icey forms an ice spear but many strings are wrapping around her body, then hangs on the concrete roof. The blue dragon struggles to break free. Spike takes her ice spear and swings it on her head, but nothing happens. Spike turns to the griffin and points the spear at her. "You will kill all dragon, aren't you?

The gray griffin giggles. "Ah... why keep those filthy creatures alive? They are bloodbath creatures."

The spear pierces through the griffin's neck, but there is no blood, no organs inside, just a hole in the griffin's neck. Using his breath of fire, Spike burns the griffin. 

Watching the fire burning the griffin, Icey sees the griffin's head falling out of the body. The purple dragon picks the head up, then throws it into the water. The rope slowly disappears and Icey spreads her wings to land safely. 

Spike folds his claws. "That griffin is just a mannequin."

"I see." Icey lands on the ground. "We should return to our airship."

Spike takes the map. "Nah, we will find somewhere to eat. I'm hungry now."

Icey's stomach growls for food. The blue dragon holds her stomach and turns away. "Goo... good idea. Let's go."

They spread their wings and fly into the night sky. The dragon duo doesn't know what to do next.





The gray griffin watches the dragon duo from the rooftop of an abandoned building and smiles at the beauty scene. Suddenly, a dark hand emerges from her shadows and grabs her. The griffin swings the scepter to cut off the hands, then flies high. She looks around to see if anyone is here. She sees an orange dragon with red horn and a black cat coming out from the door. 

The black cat throws the mannequinn's head away, then stares at the gray griffin. "Come down here so I can kick your butt."

The gray griffin points the scepter and blasts at them. Some smokes are appearing on their spot. The gray griffin turns away and flies, but a hand grabs her feet and pulls her back to the claw. The gray griffin cuts it by her scepter. Only bounced away. The gray griffin struggles to get out but is grabbed by a black paw. 

The black cat glares at her. "Give me your scepter or I will use brutal force."

The scepter glows but stopped by an orange claw. The gray griffin looks up and sees an orange dragon grabbing the scepter. The gray griffin struggles. "What... what are you?"

"A cat." The black cat points at the orange dragon. "And a dragon who is trying to get something from you."

The orange dragon opens the scepter head and sees the crystal shard inside. The gray giffin raises her claw to grab back the scepter. The orange dragon grabs the crystal but something eletrified her. The gray griffin pulls out some balls from her jacket. The balls is exploded, creating smoke around

The black cat casts a wind spell to blow the smoke away. All the black cat sees is the mannequin lying under her paws, but at least the orange dragon still has the scepter. The black cat stands up. "Hmm... wonder why she left her weapon like that?"

The orange dragon takes the crystal shard from the ground and says, "I don't know. I think that griffin have more than one of these."

The black cat takes the crystal and throws it into the head of the orange dragon. The orange dragon holds her head due to headache. The black cat folds her paws. "Not even close, Sunset."

"What a jerk!" Sunset glares at the black cat. "I wonder who was unlucky enough to marry you, Diana."

Diana jumps on the fence and looks around. "I believe that griffin got more than one shard, and more than one scepter."

Diana turns around and sees the orange dragon lying on the ground. Sunset is massaging her head and hopes this headache will be over. Diana lies next to the orange dragon and stares at the sky star.





In Canterlot, Celestia just finished a night party with a few nobles. The party is so stressful with the Griffonstone griffin. They always court her to have Equestria. A white alicorn lies on the bed and enjoys the peaceful atmosphere of the night. 

A knock on the door interrupts Celestia. The white alicorn huffs and opens the door. She sees a white unicorn with a yellow mane bringing a bow of soup. Celestia smiles and asks. "Hello Blueblood, what are you doing here?"

"I just want to bring you some things." Blueblood chuckles. "You did well, aunty."

Celestia giggles. "I see. How is your mare?"

"What mare?" Blueblood is confused. "I love no pony."

Celestia takes the soup. "Wait here." Then she walks inside. After a while, she brings the halberd out and points at Blueblood. Blueblood steps back as the white alicorn asks. "Who are you, Mr. Imposter?"

"It's me, your niece Prince Blueblood. Are you losing your mind?"

"Nice try." Celestia stares at the prince and puts her head close to him, "Nice try. Show me your true form or I will send you to the prison. I am not playing around."

Prince Blueblood gulps and his white skin slowly turns black. After a while, the prince transforms into Queen Chrysalis. Celestia flowns and puts the halberd near her neck. The changeling raises her hoof. "I did what you say here."

"Now I would appreciate it if you could go back to the jail." Celestia smiles. "Or I will execute you in public."

"I am not your pet." Chrysalis pushes Celestia's face away. "It's useless to ask you anyway."

"What do you mean?"

Chrysalis is changing into a maiden mare. "I will go back to the jail. See you again."

Celestia follows the mare. The mare glares at the white alicorn but walks to the jail. Celestia giggles. "So what do you want?"

Chrysalie sighs in frustration. "None of your business." Celestia steps on her tail to stop her moving. Chrysalis turns around. "I said clearly, don't you hear that?"

"No. My ears are deaf when I hear griffin nobles bashing about marriage." Celestia rubs her ears. "Tell me what you want?"

Chrysalis sighs. "Can you send me back to my kingdom?"

Celestia turns to the guards. "Guards. Catch this mare immediately. This is Chrysalis in disguise."

The guards chase the disguised changeling. Chrysalis pulls her tail off and changes into a bee to run away. Celestia creates an arrow and chases the queen. Chrysalis yells. "I hate you, Celestia."

Celestia laughs and returns to her room. The queen makes her night less stressful than before. 





Matt guards the roof of the building. It is a silent night, too silent that he wonders if everything Sassy Saddle told him was true or not. Suddenly, he hears something under the shop. The swordsman looks down and sees a minotaur are trying to cut the glass. Matt jumps down to the minotaur. 

The blue minotaur notices him but cuts the glass. "Nice to meet you, Matt."

"Nice to meet you too, Roger." Matt takes his broadword and points at the minotaur. "You know the rules."

"So I am." 

The minotaur swings the axe at the swordsman. The broadsword and the axe grind together. Roger uses more force but he can't. Matt quickly gives up the boardsword and jumps to the left, cause the minotaur falls on the ground. As soon as the swordsman picks up his sword, he places it near Roger's neck. 

Matt grins. "You should be more careful."

The minotaur laughed out loud, then suddenly his head falls off. Matt examines the body but it is just a minotaur mannequin. The swordsman kicks its head away.

"Having some battle?" Matt turns around and sees Twilight standing there. Twilight takes the mannequin. "I doubt this mannequin is not his."

"You say the most obvious thing." Matt sits down. "I doubt more about them. Anyway, why do you here?"

"I heard some weird noise so I check it out." Twilight rubs her ear. "This one is annoying."

Matt stretches his body and enters inside. He throws the hat to the purple alicorn. Twilight rolls her eyes and flies to the rooftop to guard the shop.