//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: A Tale of Three // by Brony Brush //------------------------------// Chapter 1 A unicorn sat at her desk, staring at a piece of paper, thinking of what she should write. Her coat was purple while her mane and tail were long light blue waves, like an ocean. Her cutie mark was of an inkwell. She had been thinking of what she should write for a few hours now, getting more and more frustrated by the second. She let out a growl of anger and hit her head onto the desk, thinking that she would never be able to write her first book. She lifted her head and sighed, thinking that she should leave her house and get some fresh air, that might help her get some ideas on what to write. She smiled and got up from her desk, using her magic to take her pencils paper and pens and a light blue saddlebag, she walked out of her room and out of her house into the light of the morning, and started walking towards the park. Sitting next to a tree in the park was a white and black painted Earth Pony with a short and spiky chocolate brown mane. On his flank was a flaming cleft. In his hooves was a brass saxaphone and a notebook with a pencil tucked away in the bind of it. Wetting his lips for a moment, he picked up the saxaphone and began to play a very soft and calm melody occasionally giving a few jumps in beat when he found it fit. After a few minutes, and a few random ponies tossing him bits, he stopped and picked up his notebook again and began to scribble in it. Occasionally he would pick the saxaphone back up and play it some more, either giving it a sour expression or a smile and a nod before picking up his notebook again and writing something down. He looked up from his writing to see a purple Unicorn take a seat at a bench a little down the road and raised an eyebrow as he saw her pull out some writing supplies. He looked around, seeing that nopony else was in the park at the moment, before giving a small shrug and waving at her. “Hello over there!” He said with a small smile. The unicorn looked up at him and smiled, waving back at him before frowning and looking back at the open notebook in her magical grip. He tilted his head in confusion before noticing her cutie mark and letting out a small chuckle. “Writer’s block?” He asked in a small shout as he picked up his saxaphone and dusted a bit of dirt off of the bottom of it. “A little bit yes!” She yelled back as she continued to stare at the notebook. “Need some background music?” He shouted again with a small chuckle following his words. “I don't think it will help very much, but sure.” The mare yelled back. Flaming Song just chuckled and put his Saxaphone to his lips again before playing a small relaxing tune, a bit louder than usual but relaxing nonetheless. A lone griffon was walking down the road, looking a bit worried and confused at the map in one of his claws, he looked up from the map and looked around the environment, then back to the map, and then up again. He came to the conclusion that he in fact, wasn't in his homeland anymore, and was really... Really.... Lost. He let out a heavy sigh before muttering. “Ugh... My partner is going to kill me for this.” He looked around a while before rolling up the map and putting it in one of his side bags. He then started to walk down the road, which happened to lead to the nearest village. He stopped quickly and looked up into the sky. “About midday.” He thought for himself before continuing. “Then I have about a whole day before everyone will presume I have died...Or just gotten lost again.... Well, better hurry then.” After about a half an hour on the road, he finally arrived at a village, filled with what seemed like ponies. Which seemed a bit unnatural to this lone griffon, seeing how he had grown up in the company of other griffons. And strangely the ponies seemed to keep their distance from him, like he was some sort of menace, this fact was a bit appreciated seeing how he was more or less confused of where he was, and just wanted to go home for now. He looked over his shoulder and saw that his hunting bow and iron sword were still attached to his back, he also saw that he had about ten arrows left, he made a mental note to restock on them later. When he looked forward again he noticed he wasn't standing at the entrance to the village, but in-fact in a park. He had accidentally strolled into the village like he owned the place. Immediately he started to look for the way out but just became more confused. “Uh.... Where in the divines am I?” The lone griffon asked himself before noticing a tune, he looked around to find the source and saw that a pony was playing some instrument... Seeing how he was lost he decided to walk up and ask where he was. As he walked over he noticed in the corner of his eye, another pony, with a horn on his/her head. A unicorn. “Uh... Excuse me, but um.... Where are we?” The Griffon asked as he arrived next to the pony, whom was still playing an instrument. The pony stopped and looked at the griffon before blinking and rubbing his eyes. “Okay, either I am going crazy again, or there is a griffon in front of me.” The pony said before lifting a hoof and touching the griffon’s beak. “Oh good, you are real... Wait what did you ask?” The griffon just backed a bit before saying. “Well I asked you where we are....” “Oh. Ponyville park.” The pony said shrugging before going back to playing his instrument. The griffon quickly took out his map and looked at it, before showing it to the pony. “Mind pointing out where Ponkyville was now again?” “Um... Sure?” The pony said as he took the map and set his instrument down. He hummed for a moment as he looked over the map and the stuck his tongue out in confusion as he looked over the map, turning it several different directions before setting it back down. “Sorry, but... I have no clue where Ponyville is on this map.” “Oh it’s Ponyville, not Ponkyville.... But that does not help in the slightest.” The griffon said scratching his head. “So, its safe to say that um.... I’m not in my homeland anymore?” “Well if you are in the griffon territories, then I am a pink elephant that pukes rainbows.” The pony said shrugging. “I hunted one of those once.” The griffon added quickly. “Elusive things, to be so big they move faster than the eye can see.” “Just like the slenderpony.” The pony said chuckling. The pony gave back the map before holding out a hoof. “Name’s Flaming Song by the way.” The griffon chuckled quickly before he grabbed his hoof and shook it lightly. “Windbeak, pleasure to meet you.” He said through a smile. The pony nodded before picking up his instrument and turning to the griffon. “Hey cover your ears for a second.” He said as he put the instrument back in his mouth. “Alright...” Windbeak said through a shrug, before standing up on his hind legs and holding both his claws over his ears. The pony let his ears fall against his head before he turned towards the unicorn on the bench and blew into the instrument as hard as he could producing a rather shrill, ear piercing noise. The unicorn’s magic wavered as she lost concentration and covered her ears at the noise and glared at Flaming Song as she let go of the magic so the notebook and pens fell to the grass. “Hey! Over here miss pony!” Flaming Song said with a rather stupid smile as he waved at her. “Rather unconventional way to get someones attention.” Windbeak said blinking a few times before dropping back to all fours. “But it worked.” “I think I’m deaf.” The unicorn complained once she walked over to them, her supplies trailing behind in a light purple glow before going into the saddlebag on her back. “Ah that only lasts for a few days... or years... Anyway, I am Flaming Song! Nice to meet you.” he said smiling. “It was nice talking to you until you almost burst my eardrums, I’m Pond Inkwell.” Pond said, frowning. “Pretty name! Now, meet this nice griffon!” Flaming song said gesturing to Windbeak. “Wait wha?” Windbeak muttered as he snapped his attention to Pond. “Huh?” “Hello.” Pond said. “Hello.” Windbeak said holding up a claw and slightly waving. “Name is Windbeak, you?” “My name is Pond Inkwell...” Pond repeated, “I haven't seen a griffon before, you're not what I thought a griffon would look like.” Pond observed. “What you mean the blue and the grey and all this?” Windbeak said gesturing towards himself. “Yes, you look nothing like the Gilda griffon I saw before.” Pond said. “Gilda? Huh.... Where have I heard that name before?” Windbeak muttered to himself before saying. “There was another Griffon here?” “She was here before she flew away huffy a few months ago.” Pond explained. “Huh.... Did she do something bad?” Windbeak asked a bit curious, as he looked around. “She was mean to everypony.” Pond said. “Explains why everyone is basically glaring at me.” Windbeak said looking around, with a small but visible frown. “Also the fact that you eat meat doesn't help you either.” Pond said, chuckling nervously. “What? Its not like I’m gonna eat you right here and now. I’d rather have my meat cooked.” Windbeak said with a raised eyebrow. “I mean, its not like I’m gonna kill you and rip out your still beating heart and eat it.” “Ya...” Pond said. “I like him. He is silly.” Flaming Song said chuckling. “I get that a lot from Rose... I really hate my sister, shes so annoying.” Windbeak muttered. “So you have a sister?” Flaming song asked with a coy grin. Windbeak just looked at Flaming before putting on a unamused face. “My little sister is not into perverts like you... But then again... I’m sure she’d still appreciate your humor.” Windbeak said with a smile. “Finally someone who gets a joke!” Flaming said smiling even wider. “Last time, I got a punch to the face... Eh, you win some you lose some.” Windbeak just burst out laughing at that. “Smooth operator my friend! I take it that you said something very wrong?” “Well... It did involve a Popsicle and lots of tape...” Flaming said tapping his chin. “Oh...” Windbeak said before continuing to laugh before he collapsed on the ground in the fit of laughter after a while he calmed down, and stood up again. “Oh... Not often you meet someone with the same humor as us.... We are a rare breed nowadays.” “Agreed.” Flaming said raising a hoof. Windbeak curled his claw into a fist and bumped his hoof. “And call me Song. It’s much easier than my full name.” “You can call me Wind or Beak... Or my full name. Doesn't really matter.” Windbeak said with a smile. “I am calling you Mister Windy Beakerton.” Song said with a serious face. Windbeak just stared at Song for a few minutes before saying. “How did you know my grandfathers name?” “Your grandfather was a parrot?” Song asked tilting his head. “.... He was called a parrot!” Windbeak said with a confused face. “And he lived in a cage?!” Song asked looking slightly horrified. “I think at some point my father locked him in a cage.....” Windbeak said slightly nodding his head. “That explains why there was a bunch of cat fur around him when I visited my grandma.” Song said scratching his chin. “But I never actually saw the parrot. She always said he was ‘Up in her room’. Never let me see him. Too bad really, I love birds.” “Suddenly I feel a little bit freaked out.” Windbeak said jokingly. “I hope you aren't planning on seducing me.” “Naw... I save that for practically any female I meet.” Song said with a stoic expression. “Well, cla-... Hooves off my sister.... Anyone else is okay.” Windbeak said pointing a finger at flaming. “Look, I don’t sleep with my friend’s sister... Although that one time with the popsicles and the tape.” Song said looking off. “Didn't think someone could literally change their fur color through rage...” This caused Windbeak again to start laughing out loud. “Oh... You are absolutely the best pony I’ve met so far! Not that I’ve met many but... Still.” “You honor me good sir.” Song said as he wiped a fake tear from his eye. “My pleasure.” Windbeak said as he calmed down. “Oh yeah, do you know if there is some sort of inn, or any place I can stay here... For a while?” “You can stay with me and my sister and eat her cookies!” “That sounded....” Windbeak tried to restrain himself from laughing. “Delicious? I know, they are all creamy.” Song said oblivious of what he had implied. “Oh my...” Windbeak tried even harder to restrain himself from laughing. “They are even better with the milk!” Song said happily. Now Windbeak was growing red from all the pent up laughter he had inside of him. “And don’t even get me started on how moist you can get them.” Song said. “THAT'S IT!” Windbeak shouted out before collapsing with laughter and rolling around. “Oh dear, best day ever.” “What? What did I do?” Song asked looking at Wind then to Pond who seemed to have zoned out. “I was just offering him a place to stay with yummy pastries.” Pond shook her head and looked at Song “I’m confused by this whole conversation, but I think he is misinterpreting the cookies for your sister and you're talking about her instead of the cookies.” she said as she moved out of the way of the rolling griffon. “It has been nice, but being out here hasn't helped me and I need to think of what to write for an adventure book, I’ll probably see you guys sometime later.” Pond said as she started to walk away. “Hey, Miss Inkwell, you aren't just going to leave this foreign guest here alone are you?” Song asked waving a hoof at Wind. “He needs to get to know the area he is in!” Pond looked behind herself, “I think you have that taken care of, since your going to bring him to your house to eat your sisters cookies.” She remarked. “Oh fine. Be that way.” Song said waving a hoof at her. “It’s not like he could have some interesting stories to tell or anything.” Pond sighed and turned around, “Fine, I'll help show him around.” She said as she walked back over to them. “Huh? … Wait what? I spaced out there.” Windbeak said as he had calmed down and was standing up. “We are going to show you around the town.” Pond informed him. “Well you don’t have to be all business about it.” Song muttered. “I can hear you, I’m not being business about it, I’m just telling him what we are going to do.” Pond replied. “Wait what?” Windbeak asked confused again. “I’m not going to stay here for very long, I need to get back home... Longest I can stay is probably a night.” “Well it still wouldn't hurt to look around. Maybe you’ll find a small trinket to take home.” Song said shrugging. “Always fun to have a souvenir of a new place.” Pond said smiling. Windbeak just shrugged before looking around quickly. “Is there by any chance a store that sells high quality arrows? I need to restock.” “Um, yeah. There is one right next to the place I buy reeds for my saxaphone.” Song said as he walked over and picked up his instrument, throwing it’s strap over his shoulder and neck. . “Oooh, now that’s convenient.” Windbeak said as he took out a water bottle from his bag and drank from it. “Anyhow, shall we get going?” “Mmmyes!” Song exclaimed “Still don’t like the glares I’m getting, its like I have kille-.... Wait I have done that already.” Windbeak said. “Its probably because they think you're like Gilda.” Pond said unconcerned. “Yeah, she couldn’t take a joke.” Song huffed as they all began to walk towards the town. “Bunch of hypocrites.” Windbeak scoffed, as he followed Flaming Song. “I mean really, they don’t even take the time to know me before judging me as a bad guy... Sounds like the justice system back home.” “Well to be fair... You are kinda dressed for a war.” Song pointed out. “You also talk about eating meat.” Pond said. “But I hunt things! And then I eat their meat if its possible, but mostly I hunt them for the pelt and valuable things like that.” Windbeak said. “Also, the reason why I’m dressed for a war, I can’t hunt with my claws now can I?” “Hmm. Point.” Song said nodding in agreement. “Just don’t be swinging that sword around and smile at ponies, and you should be fine!” “Well, I wasn't really planning on swinging my sword around unless something big decides to charge at me, and I can’t get a arrow off in time.” Windbeak said. “Now, which way is the store again?” “This way! Onto to!... Well it’s not victory... Onto the obtainable objects!” Song said pointing a hoof dramatically before he began walking down the street followed by Windbeak, and Pond.