"I guarantee this sword is durable, it was made by blacksmiths from Saddle Arabia using an ancient technique. You can see it in the pattern of the blade." Souvenir smiled at the griffon holding the sword, knowing this was an opportunity to sell it.
"Interesting, how much for it?" asked the griffon.
"Since it is rare in these lands, that will be...1001 bits!"
"1001 bits?! You can't be serious, pony...I have 1000 bits, can't we forget about that one bit?"
"Sorry, 1001 bits, not one bit less. Gotta make money somehow."
"Now that I think about it, not worth it. Do you have anything similar to this but less expensive?"
"Well, I have a dagger made with the same technique." Souvenir pointed at a dagger with a similar appearance. "Smaller, just as durable, easier to carry around. 750 bits."
"I'll take it." The griffon put the sword back in its place and took the dagger. Counting the coins in his bag, he gave her the money for the dagger and left.
"Thank you, kind sir!"
It had been a long day of selling rare items and Souvenir had made quite a bit of bits. She had been doing the same for one year, travelling from country to country collecting rare items and then selling some of them in the next country she visited. While her prices were high, no one could say it was a ripoff as her items were of good quality, something she herself checked before adding anything to her collection. Her job often involved dealing with thieves or the black market, but she always found a way to strike a deal with them, often offering one of her items in exchange for another. This was something even a brave pony would consider dangerous, but Souvenir had been travelling around the world for a couple years already and was used to this.
She looked up at the sky, noticing Princess Luna's moon was at the highest point, meaning it was midnight already. She decided it was time to return to Equestria after so long. She thought it would be good to see her friends again, but another reason was that she couldn't stand being in the Griffon Kingdoms much longer. While the griffons did not cause her any problems, she did not like them that much, or at all. After putting everything back in her cart, she headed back to where she was staying and paid some of the local griffon guards to keep an eye on her cart, knowing they would be outside all night, and they happily accepted.
Before going to bed she went to the tavern to ask if anyone knew the way to Equestria from the Griffon Kingdoms, since this was the first time she made her final stop there. While she didn't like asking griffons for help, she had no choice.
Souvenir stood at the entrance and cleared her throat. "Anypo-" Souvenir realized her mistake before finishing the word. "Anybody knows how to get to Equestria from here?" she shouted.
The griffons stared at her, then pointed at a single black griffon who either didn't hear her or simply ignored her.
Souvenir walked up to him. "Excuse me, do you know how to get to Equestria?"
The griffon put his drink on the table and looked at her, not happy to be interrupted. "Aye...why you ask?"
"Well, I am on my way there and I thought you could give me some directions?"
The griffon laughed at this. "Directions? You want directions? Alright, listen closely because I won't repeat it."
For the next few minutes the griffon talked, giving her an accurate but long description of the path she had to take. Unfortunately, the long talking plus his accent made it impossible for Souvenir to understand, and the griffon could see it in her confused look.
"...I won't repeat it." The griffon went back to his drink.
"Fine! I'll go ask somepo-...someone else!" said Souvenir, angry. "Even better, I'll go find the way myself! Souvenir turned around and began walking.
The griffon grabbed her tail and pulled, stopping her. "You really want to go out there and be free food for the beasts?"
"Let me go! I do what I want and-...wait...what beasts?"
"Nothing extraordinary." The griffon let go of her. "Just packs of timberwolves, manticores, hydras, giant spiders, rocs, dragons, ursas, nothing very uncommon."
Souvenir's jaw dropped. "JUST that?!"
"...I forgot, there are also diamond dogs and minotaurs."
"Where do you griffons live?! The Griffon Kingdoms or the Everfree Forest?!"
"Why do you think most griffons FLY to Equestria?"
"Great, now I'm stuck in here."
The griffon was starting to get annoyed. "Why don't you simply ask a griffon to fly you to Equestria? It is a long way but it is a couple days shorter by air."
Souvenir began to panic. "N-No thanks! I...I'm better off travelling by land, heh."
The griffon thought for a second and looked at her. "Look, pony...I don't like you, and you certainly don't like me, but let's face it, you are not going back to Equestria alone. Against my better judgement I will go with you, but only because I have some business to attend to in Equestria, and I don't want the beasts to have easy prey."
"Yay, me and my partner the griffon..." said Souvenir, sarcastic.
"I will leave tomorrow at sunrise. I will be waiting outside the inn, but if you are late I will leave without you, understood?"
"Yes...what's your name anyway?"
"Alastair the Third."
"Mine is Souvenir...'nice' to meet you."
Souvenir left shortly afterwards. She really disliked Alastair, and knew he disliked her as well, but thanks to their little deal they were now stuck travelling together whether they like it or not. She went to bed and slept for hours, though if it wasn't for her window letting the sunlight in directly at her face she would have slept much more. Remembering she had to be outside quick, she made sure she didn't forget to do anything and left the inn, finding Alastair with a bag next to her cart. At first she was confused as to how he guessed it was her cart, but then remembered that she wrote her name on the sides.
"There you are, ready to go?" he asked.
"Yes, let me get my cart."
As she began making the preparations, Alastair put the bag in the cart next to Souvenir's things. She noticed the added weight, and though it wasn't much, she still found it somewhat offensive that he didn't even ask for permission. Before she could say anything Alastair began walking in front of her, and Souvenir quickly realized it was pointless to begin arguing now and followed him.
"I want to make one thing clear, Souvenir. We don't have to be nice to each other for the sake of the journey, we don't even have to like each other."
"At least we agree on something..."
They left the town and walked into the woods. The townsfolk wished them a good trip, but they both knew they weren't going to like this journey.