Chapter 1
Chrysalis thought back to how this all started in the first place, how starvation drove her and her hive to desperation. So much, that when he had appeared with an additional plan, with the sheer audacity to offer her help after so much aggravation and resistance on his part... she caved in and accepted. That damnable prince! She could always taste his emotions, the sweltering love of his subjects, the sheer arrogance in his abilities, the boiling rage beneath the surface, even when he would stand on the edge of the hive's territory.
“If he had just left me to my own devices... then I'd be slain once back in Canterlot...”
She kept running through the forest, twigs snapping underhoof, branches and leaves falling in her wake, leaving an obvious trail for the Guards approaching her. She could hear the beating of pegasi wings through the air, the shout of orders from stallions. All the while, she thought back to how this all began...
The hive was abuzz with activity, drones and soldiers swarming about with messages and news as their unwanted guest walked through the tunnels. The human kept a bearing of royalty about him, dressed in the finest clothes possible for the kingdom of Mana and wearing what few jewels that could be scrounged up from the withering mines. Despite being alone, the changelings kept their distance from him as he strode along into their hive, flashing a grin to the occasional creature to show off teeth too sharp for a human.
“He has arrived!”
“Alert the Queen!”
“Hide the larva!”
He ignored their cries of fear, head raised in pride as he entered the central chamber, the jagged, black throne of Queen Chrysalis in the center. She tried to look just as prideful, even with her carapace sunken in along the waist, her face near-skeletal. A low hiss came from the changeling queen as her eyes narrowed at him, wings flared out to the sides.
“Come to finally do the deed, Slaar? Burn the hive, butcher the queen?”
“It is nothing like that, my dear Chrysalis. I have need of your people's services.”
She rose from her throne and stalked over toward him, tail lashing irritably. “You put my people on the spiral to starvation, slaughter us whenever we are found in your lands, and you have the audacity to tell me to help you!?”
He looked her right in the eye and nodded, his grin falling in an instant. “I was merely protecting my people from yours, it was nothing personal Chrysalis. In fact, the solution to your problem is one that coincides with an issue I am having.”
“We are already working on our hunger, we do not need your help!”
“Equestria, I know. It's the only other nation near by that your people have any possibility of using as a food source... as well as mine. Equestria, is our common goal. Walk with me Chrysalis, this plan I have requires the both of us to be completely devoted to it.”
“And why should I trust you?”
His face softened, looking so much more tired than she had known him to look. “Because I am putting trust into you.”
She ran, had been running for some days now. The Royal Guard were swift to mobilize after the beaten Changelings, the failure of the wedding putting Plan B into effect. Her changelings were well trained, and not all were in Canterlot for the attack, that much she was grateful for. The thought of failure weighed heavily upon her mind still, her legs burning from the exertion of running. Her wings had been damaged in her fall, useless to her now. All Chrysalis could do is run until she fell and was captured, giving Slaar some more time.
“You think my invasion will fail? The plan is perfect!”
“You know as well as I do that plans fall apart in the face of the enemy. If your plan does work, then I'll admit that it was better, but for now just think of this as a backup.”
“What about the Cosmic Council?”
“They will not be an issue. This will be a purely Tribunal manner, and both sides have agreed to not interfere with the other, even if the Princesses themselves are involved.”
“I do not know about that.”
“Believe me, if any other group tries to bully their way into this, it would make Equestria look worse to the gryphons and minotaurs. Being able to fight your own battles is important to their cultures. Due to our history, I will have to be hostile to you during the proceedings so that no one will think we are working together.”
“You have little faith in me and my changelings.”
“On the contrary! It took me years to finally figure out how to set up a defense against your kind, and even then you find cracks in the wall. You changelings have my utmost respect in your abilities.”
“I do not like the idea of being put at the mercy of ponies, if, I fail. How do you know I will not be executed on the spot?”
“Stories of Celestia nowadays paint her as being kind and forgiving. That will give us this opportunity to stall until things are ready.”
Queen Chrysalis had gone down fighting, the royal guard using chains and ropes to keep her contained. The unicorns had focused their magic to keep her from controlling their minds or changing form as they wrapped a rope through her open mouth to keep her from speaking, her wings tied up to pain her on the trip. How surprising it was that her capture was so swift, not a single track of her changelings to be found through the whole of it. As only proper for a prisoner, she was forced to march back to Canterlot with the rest of the guardsponies, only allowed to rest when her captors would bed down for the night. Shackled as she was, it would be impossible to break free.
“Something's foul about all this,” one unicorn said to a pegasus, “we found her alone and easily subdued her.”
“Aye, but our mission was clear, capture the queen and drag her back to Canterlot in chains. The easier this is, the faster we can get home.”
“Right, but it's odd that Princess Celestia put Princess Cadance in charge of this. I mean, Cadance was just a foal-sitter for Captain Armor's little sister, she's not experienced in the matters of law and order like Celestia.”
The pegasus shrugged and shook his head. “Look, Discord himself could be in charge of all this, in the end her head's gonna be rolling off the chopping block when we get back to Canterlot.”
Similar conversations spread throughout the camp about their prisoner, all the while Queen Chrysalis watched and listened. Even with her muzzle tied the corners of her mouth twitched up in a smirk.
'Perhaps, Slaar, this plan of yours will work after all.'
*****
Canterlot was all abuzz as the royal guard returned to the city, triumphant in their mission. A week had passed since they left, and now lauded as heroes for the capture of the queen who tried to usurp their princesses. Despite the underlying feeling of dread through the guardponies, the citizens were cheering their success, quite a few throwing rotten fruit at Queen Chrysalis and calling for her head on a pike. The sentiments were infectious, and many of the guards themselves were eager for the spectacle of an old-fashioned execution.
She marched along with the guard, head held high even as the decaying produce was thrown at her. Each step of the way she was roughly pushed onward, ever closer to Canterlot Castle and the judgment of the Royal Sisters. Not a hint of fear was on her face as they passed through the doors to the throne room, filled to the brim with nobles and the royal family itself. Celestia, Luna, and Shining Armor were all there awaiting for the prisoner.
Princess Luna nodded to Celestia, the large white mare standing up and looking down at Queen Chrysalis. Normally so full of compassion, the Princess of the Sun regarded the changeling queen coolly and motioned for the guard to remove the mouth bindings.
“Queen Chrysalis, you impersonated my niece, invaded my city, and plotted to take control of Equestria.”
Princess Luna stepped up next, “For your crimes against the Crown, Canterlot, and all of Equestria, we have determined the manner of dealing with you.”
Shining Armor was the last to speak up, “You shall be executed by hanging, and your body left for the crows. The execution will take place two hours from now.”
Queen Chrysalis lowered her head, letting all the room gaze upon her with hate and contempt. Slowly she rose, holding her chin high as a cruel grin spread upon her face. “I call for the Right of Tribunal.”
Time seemed to slow down as she spoke those words, Celestia's eyes going wide with shock. The Sun Princess stomped her hoof on the ground, shooting a glare at the Changeling.
“Lies! The Tribunal does not recognize the Changelings as a chartered nation!”
“Then perhaps you should look over any messages you received while Canterlot was under lockdown,” Chrysalis hissed out, her condescending smirk never leaving her face. “Of course, if you don't believe me then you'll just have to send a message to King Agathon Goldenclaw. That could take some time... a matter of weeks even!”
“Guards, get her out of our sight!” Luna shouted.
The guards quickly muzzled Chrysalis and dragged her away toward the dungeons, the changeling queen laughing all the while.
Shining Armor had been pacing about, muttering curses of all kinds. Cadance stuck to his side, pacing with him and trying to comfort her husband, a wing draped over his side. The four had gathered in the 'war room', so long unused. Celestia herself had a hoof up to her head while she mulled things over.
“This, Tribunal, was created after my banishment?” Luna asked as she read over documents detailing the old laws.
“Indeed sister. There was an incident with the griffons, and so the Tribunal was made in order to settle international incidents, or to determine if war crimes were committed. It is an alternative to the Cosmic Council, for those nations who do not have beings like us ruling them. I never thought it would actually ever be invoked, but we cannot execute Chrysalis until we get a message back from King Goldenclaw. If the changelings did sign the treaty then I was not informed of such and I cannot take this letter as proof considering the time it was sent.”
“Why bother waiting? She invaded Equestria, assaulted you personally, let her hang!” Luna shouted as she stood her full height.
“It is not that simple Luna! She called for the Right in front of dozens of ponies, if we execute her then there will be sanctions against Equestria and it would make us look very bad, especially to the griffons! There is nothing we can do except go along with the Tribunal.”
The Moon Princess took in a deep breath and nodded slowly. “Forgive me for the outburst Sister, learning what happened was very trying on my nerves.”
Celestia smiled softly to her younger sister until Shining Armor spoke up with anger in his voice.
“The Tribunal is held on neutral ground and afterward she can be free to leave! We can't allow her to get away with what she's done!” Shining Armor snapped, stomping his hoof on the ground firmly.
Luna let out a sigh. “What we should do is contact the Cosmic Council for ass-”
“No, the Cosmic Council is forbidden from interfering with the Tribunal. Equestria is the sole participant of the Council and Tribunal both. It would be a disaster and show the minotaurs and griffons that we think ourselves above the laws I helped write.”
Finally Cadance spoke up. “What Chrysalis did to me, to Equestria, is awful and she needs to be punished, but she called for Tribunal. It will delay us for a time, but Griffdonia is across the sea, she will need to find some other manner of transport once it's finished.”
Celestia nodded to her niece before turning to Luna. “Luna, you shall represent Equestria during the Tribunal. I shall contact Twilight for her to let you have Spike so we may communicate with each other. Take your retinue with you, Chrysalis has prepared for this and we need more information. Under no circumstances is Chrysalis to be harmed. Now if you'll excuse me, there are other matters to attend to.”
“But Princess!”
“There are other matters to attend to Shining Armor,” Celestia said sternly. “This is not what you or Equestria may want but there is no changing what has happened. If Chrysalis truly is part of the Tribunal laws then we must act accordingly.” The Princess of the Sun stood up and began walking out of the room, leaving the others to their own aggravation.
I do not wish Chrysalis' death, not even Discord was warranted such, Celestia sighed to herself as she mused her thoughts, but the people called for blood, the changelings were something they could actually fight against... I should be thankful that she called for Tribunal, but something is definitely wrong about all this.
Within the dungeons of Canterlot, Chrysalis was imprisoned in a rather respectable cell, Princess Celestia affording the other monarch some luxury. The food was bland, but that was more from the changeling's inability to actually taste it. Still, the courtesy was something to appreciate. She shifted about as comfortably as she could, that ever present smirk still on her lips. The changeling queen looked up at the night sky, clouds blocking the light of the moon.
“They shall learn their lesson, they are but pawns in the game,” she hissed out, suppressing the desire to laugh at the situation.
“Shut up in there!” a guard snapped with irritation, the unicorn trying to focus on a spell. “Princess Celestia is too soft-hearted, should just string you up for all of Equestria.”
She scooted over toward the bars as best she could, letting out a low chuckle. “Perhaps then you should do the honors. Does your blade thirst for my blood? Or perhaps you'd like to do what even your Captain could not.”
“Shut up!” With a loud clamor his spear smacked against the iron bars. “I won't listen to you badmouthing my Captain.”
Chrysalis flashed her fangs in another grin of hers, tail twitching. “Come now, just jab your spear right into the cage, pierce my carapace and let me bleed out! It'll be an accident, and no one would know.”
The guard clenched his jaw and turned away, going back to attention to continue channeling the spell. “I will not betray Princess Celestia's trust in me. You will stay in there until we verify that you are indeed part of the Tribunal. Until then I suggest you shut your mouth.”
*****
Twilight Sparkle paced back and forth nervously, her tail giving a twitch every now and then. Princess Celestia mentioned that she needed Spike for an important mission alongside Princess Luna and she had been busy collecting everything she could to detail to the Princess on how to properly care for a baby dragon.
“She's going to need 'Dragons and You', 'How to Raise a Dragon', 'Dragons: A Reference', an-”
“Twilight, it's no big deal! I can take care of myself just fine, Princess Luna won't need all those books.”
“But Spike, you've never been on official Equestrian business outside of Equestria, and Princess Luna probably doesn't know how to take care of a baby dragon, I have to get everything in order first!”
“Come on Twilight, I'll be gone for just a week. I'll be back before you know it!”
The purple unicorn let out a soft sigh and pulled Spike into a hug, giving him an affectionate squeeze. “Oh I know Spike, but I can't help the worrying. Queen Chrysalis needs to be escorted, you'll be traveling across the sea to Griffdonia, and you know how I get when I worry!”
Spike gave Twilight a hug back, the little dragon smiling to reassure her. “Oh, don't worry Twilight, I'll be with Princess Luna! The only other pony I could possibly be safer with would be Princess Celestia herself!”
Despite his words, Twilight was still feeling the nerves twisting at her stomach. A million different scenarios played out in her head over and over at what might happen to Spike, Princess Luna, and all of Equestria! She shook her head and took in a deep breath, forcing out a smile.
“I'm sorry Spike, I'm just worrying so much! I can't imagine what'll even be going on at the Tribunal.”
“It's okay Twilight, I know you're nervous. I'll write to you every day, I promise! I'll even detail how the whole Tribunal stuff works for you to read over.”
A wide smile spread on the unicorn's face and she gave him an affectionate nuzzle. “Thank you Spike, now let's get your things ready, the Royal Carriage will be here any moment!”
As if on cue, the familiar sound of Royal Guard could be heard just as Twilight closed the bag full of Spike's supplies for the trip. One of Luna's Night Guards opened the door, the bat-winged pegasus standing off to the side as the princess herself entered the library.
“Twilight Sparkle, it is good to see you again, albeit briefly. Greetings Spike, I am glad to have you along with me, your talent in long-range communication shall be valued. Griffdonia is across the ocean as you know, a land of nothing but high mountains and fertile valleys. I suggest you do not leave the retinue, Spike, for griffons are vastly different than ponies.”
Spike nodded his head, a smile on his face. “No problem there, Princess Luna!”
Her guard coughed politely. “Princess, your sister shall be waiting in Manehatten with the prisoner.”
Luna nodded and turned around briskly. “Come along Spike, we shall talk more on the trip.”
Spike gave Twilight one last hug before picking up his case. “Goodbye Twilight, tell the others I'll be back soon!”
Twilight waved to the two as the carriage was loaded up and took off with the Night Guard pegasi carrying it along, tears welling up in the unicorn's eyes. “Take good care of him Princess!”
Luna's midnight mane flickered in the wind as she poked her head out of the carriage window, offering a smile. “I will treat him as if my own!”
A sense of dread never left the lavender unicorn, even as the carriage disappeared from view.
The trip to Manehattan was uneventful, but pleasant, as Spike detailed his life as he did when he had first met Fluttershy. Luna was polite, smiling and nodding as she listened but was quite reticent on her own life, preferring to just mention that there was much she had done that would be best left forgotten. For his part, the young dragon was tactful enough to know not to pry, knowing that everypony needs their secrets.
“I've never been to the Griffon Kingdoms before, what's it like Princess Luna?”
“It has been quite a long time since I was last there. From what I have learned however, because of the richness of the mountains, the griffons have began to mine their mountain homes on quite a scale. They say that thick plumes of black smoke erupt from factories as they mine iron and make it into steel on a level I never thought possible before my banishment.”
“Whoa, so kinda like having a bunch of dragons sleeping in one spot!”
“Yes, you could say it is similar to that. Of course, they do so out of their own will and it's more profitable for them as well as for Equestria. Equestria itself prefers to minimize environmental damage and have the griffons process the metals for us instead. We do not have such a sizable outfit as the griffons are working on.”
Spike nodded attentively, a spark of curiosity in his blood fueling his interest. Luna began to drone on and on about the various metals most common in Equestria as well as their uses and what other nations they trade with to keep their economy running. While most of it went over Spike's head, a natural greed kept him enthralled.
The carriage had begun it's descent toward the Manehatten docks where an airship was being prepared. Queen Chrysalis was led on board, chained and muzzled before taken to a cell below deck. Princess Celestia stood upon the deck of the ship, looking out toward the waters. Once the carriage had landed on the docks, Luna and Spike walked up the gangplank and to the Sun Princess as guards carried their things to their rooms. The young dragon had taken off below deck to leave the two sisters to their goodbyes.
“I'm rather glad that she called for Tribunal.”
The Princess of the Moon nodded as she stood next to her sister. “I know how you feel about execution. Shining Armor and Cadance were just so, incensed, I was too caught up in it. After all, I was not there to help you...”
“No, Luna, Chrysalis was powerful enough that neither of us would have made a difference, unless you would be willing to demolish half of Canterlot in the process.”
“To protect you, sister? I would have wiped out the entire changeling army with a falling star.”
“Luna...”
“Well, after we had routed them into a large, open field of course! I'd not risk that lovely bed in the northwest tower that I have after all.”
Celestia turned to smile at her younger sister, giving a soft nuzzling and wishes of a speedy journey before taking her leave. Staring out into the waters, Luna's ears twitched as the captain called for the gangplank to be hauled up and for the ship to depart. Her most trusted and loyal guards were keeping an eye on Chrysalis below deck, leaving the Moon Princess to her own thoughts.
With a lurch the airship began to drift out onto the waters, the propellers warming up. Luna looked up, watching with a bit of awe as the metal blades gleamed in the light as they twirled and helped lift the wooden ship out of the water and into the air. She glanced back briefly to see Celestia standing on the dock, her mane and tail flickering in the wind. Their eyes locked for a brief moment and they shared an uneasy smile as the ship took to the skies.
*****
King Goldenclaw had gotten preparations for the Tribunal underway, contacting several of the other Tribunal members as soon as he had received word of Chrysalis' imprisonment. Security was increased ten-fold since the announcement, griffon guards patrolling the skies and ground as they eagerly awaited the first Tribunal since its founding.
The king was an older griffon, his feathers fading to gray, beak and talons not as sharp as they once were and reflexes dulling with time. Despite these handicaps he could best any challenger to his throne, experience trumping youthful vigor as he would take their overconfidence as a weakness. He wore a crown wrought of iron rather than gold, signifying the griffon's as an industrial power with military strength. A cloak of the finest Equestrian silks, with a dizzying array of reds, purples, and gold, trimmed with fur from foxes in what used to be the Crystal Empire, went over his shoulders and down his back. On his wrists were two bracers of solid steel, much like a prisoner's chains, to show that he was to serve his people first and foremost.
A griffon guard approached the king as Goldenclaw carefully examined the High Judge's seat, the younger male standing at attention.
“Your Majesty, Prince Slaar of Mana has arrived.”
“Send him in at once,” he said with a smile.
With a trilling whistle the doors opened and in strode Prince Slaar and his retinue. The humans were armed with weapons and armor forged from griffon steel, a sign of good faith in their hosts. Prince Slaar took the lead, his face finely chiseled with well groomed facial hair and a crown of gold encrusted with rubies and sapphires upon his head. Two bracers of platinum were set upon his wrists, glowing with enchantment. Much like King Goldenclaw, he too wore finery, the best fabrics the weavers of his kingdom could provide for their liege and above all that he wore a fine breastplate with a rapier at his side.
The two rulers bowed before one another graciously, the griffon smiling as he spoke. “It's always wonderful to see you my friend! I hope the accommodations are suitable to you and your guards.”
“Hah! No one expected a dragon to ever join the Tribunal after all, let alone humans. Come old friend, we have much to discuss before the minotaurs arrive, as well as the Equestrians and changeling.”
As the 'human' prince put his hand on the king's shoulder they politely ordered their guards to wait outside. The lead human, an older man with graying hair and soft blue eyes, frowned slightly.
“Are you sure my lord? The men have been rather, anxious, around the griffons.”
“Please Vincent, the only one who needs to be worried about the griffons is Agathon here, and he's bested every challenger.”
The king laughed, the sound much like a bird song as he smiled and nodded. “Oh indeed! And as long as Slaar is around his magic can keep me safe too.”
Vincent bowed lowly at that, motioning for the men to leave. “Forgive me, it's just that we never left Mana before and we don't know a lot of these lands or their peoples.”
“Yes, well, that's a failing on my part, but Mana isn't exactly the place for international gatherings after all. I shall rectify the situation once we've returned home though! For now I must talk with Agathon, if you'd please, Vincent.”
He bowed once more and left with the other guards. Slaar kept a polite smile on until the doors were closed, then he turned to the king with a determined look.
“Who will be representing Equestria in the trial?”
“Princess Luna.”
“An interesting choice, though I would have preferred Celestia herself. Still, this may play in our favor.”
“Slaar...?”
Slaar grinned down at the griffon king. “Do not fret old friend, when have I steered you wrong?”
“Well there was that one time when we were exploring Zebrica and yo-”
“When have I steered you wrong politically.”
“Again, in Zebri-
“Bah! Always trying to undermine my point whenever we chat!”
“I can't help it, all the mistakes you've made before are just too amusing to forget!”
Slaar rolled his eyes and sighed. “Yes, yes. Now, seriousness. No changeling can be within the city during the trial. We must make every attempt to keep them out so that things can proceed smoothly.”
“But of course! We could not risk Chrysalis escaping after all.”
Slaar nodded, walking over toward a window. “She's planning something. I see no reason why her capture would be so easy otherwise.”
The griffon nodded as he began to sort out some files left on the High Judge desk. “Yes, something is amiss with this. Of course, the only ones that know what really happened with her invasion of Canterlot is herself and the Princesses, and I can be damn sure she'll be lying through her teeth the whole time.”
The prince continued to stare out the window, thick plumes of black smoke rising into the sky. With such a great altitude it was easy to see factories belching out the fumes for miles around.
“Chrysalis is a skilled manipulator. We must be better if we are to end this trial.” The griffon king approached the prince with a folder in hand.
“I've been in conflict with the changelings since I took control of Mana, I know many of her tricks. To think, abusing the Tribunal as soon as she could!”
“Indeed. I shouldn't keep up anymore of your time, you need to brief your men on griffon customs and the minotaurs should be arriving shortly as well. We can expect the Equestrians and Chrysalis tomorrow.” He handed the folder over to Slaar before moving toward the door by the judge's seats.
There was a series of irritated squawks and trills from the guards outside before the doors burst open, a young female griffon stomping inside toward Agathon, a fierce glare in her golden eyes. She was in similar dress to Agathon, bracers on her wrists, a similar cloak over her back and wings with the curious sign of a large bird as an emblem. She blew her purple crownfeathers out of her face and stood in front of the griffon king, a hind paw tapping the ground impatiently.
Agathon raised an eyebrow at her. “We have guests, you know. It's polite to introduce yourself to their prince.”
“Look, dad, I know this Tribunal thing is important and all but did it really have to postpone the Equestrian-Griffdonian contests?”
He frowned and shook his head. “We will not discuss this until you remember your manners young lady!”
She sighed and turned to Slaar, giving a bow. “Princess Ermengilda Roc, but just Gilda if would please, sir,” she said in a rather bored and practiced manner.
Slaar bowed back. “Prince Slaar of Mana, a pleasure to meet you Gilda. I didn't know you had a daughter, Aggie. Roc is certainly not your family name.”
Agathon scowled playfully and shook his head. “Gilda is not my blood relative, but she showed a rather remarkable skill connecting her to my family line. With the unfortunate death of my dearly beloved Alexis and no heirs, it was rather fortuitous that she was in Griffdonia.”
The prince nodded and offered a smile to Gilda. “I am sorry that these contests have been postponed. This whole mess is my fault, Chrysalis asked for support to join the Tribunal, and while I absolutely loathe the changelings I had thought that them joining the international community would help!”
She gave an idle shrug. “Eh, whatever. I was looking forward to watch, I'm not allowed to compete anymore. Those dweebs think I'd be too good for them.”
“Gilda's rather special gifts would put her above and beyond, if she kept practicing them that is.”
With an irritated huff Gilda rolled her eyes. “I'd be practicing the Cry more if it wasn't for that fucking violin.”
“We do not swear in the presence of guests young hen!”
“Please, Agathon, it's all right! I'm fine with breaches of etiquette so long as it's you or your family! Now Gilda, I understand you have your own wants and desires, but if you don't want to be a useless wastrel like some other nobles then it would be important to learn from Agathon.”
She ruffled up her feathers slightly before bowing to Agathon. “I'm sorry for my behavior, but I'm a griffon and we pride our freedom. Even the military couldn't take that from me.”
The king walked over and gently pulled Gilda into a hug. “I understand. Before I was king I went about exploring Zebrica's mysteries. I never told you the stories, have I? I'll do that once the Tribunal is over.”
Gilda gave a small smile as she hugged back. “That sounds good, Father. I'll go back to my studies then.”
With a nuzzle from Agathon, Gilda took her leave. Slaar watched her walk out before turning his attention back to his friend.
“You're close after, what, a year or so? It took me a decade or so before I got comfortable with my subjects. Longer for them to fully accept me.”
The griffon king smiled brightly and puffed out his feathers “She's the heir I've always wanted. Headstrong and impatient, but what good griffon isn't? From what she's said of her life, this is the best thing to ever happen to her, and she reminds me much of Alexis from our adventures in Zebrica." With a shake of his head he sighed, "I'm sorry, Slaar, but I need to get readied for the Tribunal, as should you. We'll catch up some more later.”
The prince and king both bowed as they made their exits, Agathon whistling a soft tune while Slaar read over the papers in his hand. He sighed to himself, a small grimace forming on his face.
'I'm sorry Agathon for dragging the griffons into this...'