//------------------------------// // Princesses, Griffons and Wolves // Story: Of a German and American soldier in Equestria // by redspark //------------------------------// Chapter 3 Princesses, Griffons and Wolves   Davis sat uncomfortably on the only chair he had found on the entire library/house/palace? Of princess Twilight Sparkle. He tried to get himself comfortable on the little chair, but it was designed for ponies, and humans were larger than the average pony, which meant he felt he was sitting on a child´s chair. He looked at Louis who seemed to be more comfortable. He had sat on a couch, still pretty small, but absolutely comfortable. He groaned and stared at the books all around him.   As soon as they had knocked the door, a little purple and green (yes, it was a dragon even though it didn't looked like one) dragon. The dragon, which they now knew was called Spike, had stared at them exactly the same way the two soldiers had stared at him: astounded. Finally the trance was ended when a purple pony with wings and a horn appeared. She asked Spike the dragon what was keeping and then she noticed the two of them. She had taken some seconds to process what she was seeing, but apparently she took it in a faster, if not more mature, way. She had told them to get comfortable and had gone to fetch a paper and a quill… and that´s where the two were now.   Davis stared at the princess confused. Was that a princess of this land? Where was all the regal stuff and the super important thing in her? She seemed just like a normal pony, only with a pair of wings and a horn, what was special about her?   “Are you listening?” Davis heard. He almost jumped out of his chair.   “Yeah, yeah… I kind of zoned out for a second.” The officer answered hearing a chuckle from Louis. He sighed. “Sorry, what was that you said?”   Twilight cleared her throat. “I asked where were you from.”   Davis shrugged. “I´m from a country called United States of America, but I appeared here after a tank exploded beside me on France in a zone called the Ardennes.”   Twilight had his mouth slightly opened. Apparently that had raised more questions than the ones he had answered. She wrote something on the paper.   “You say you are from the United States of America. Both of you, then?   Louis shook his head. “No, I am from Germany.” He move himself in a more comfortable position on the couch. Twilight wrote that down.   “So you are both clearly not from Equestria nor any place near it… I wonder, where are you from on a map.” She thought for a moment. Davis was starting to get a little impatient.   “Sorry for telling this princess, but I think we have a more important matter on our hands…” He stopped and stared at the princess´ hooves for a second. “…or hooves in your case. We want to return to our world, if it so happens we're really on a different world, and to know if you would, by chance, know of any way to do that.”   Twilight sighed and dropped her quill and the paper on a nearby table. Davis looked as the purple aura of ´magic´ that surrounded that faded away. He would NEVER get used to that.   “I´m sorry to disappoint you, officer, but I have no clue to what brought you here. You say something exploded before you appeared here. I guess the explosion might have triggered some spell or enchantment on the area, or maybe somepony wanted you here and created a portal. I´m sorry of those are barely guesses, but I have nothing else.” She walked over to the window. “Not that I don't want to find out. I´ll help you, but I will need help.” She turned to Spike. “Spike, write a letter to princess Celestia.” The dragon appeared with a quill on his claws.   “Ready” he said.   “Dear Princess Celestia…” Twilight began. Davis didn't hear the rest. He looked at the ceiling, feeling for the first time a small spark of despair on his body. He was trembling slightly. What if he couldn't return? In the war, even a single soldier was important. What if he was needed and he was not going to be there to help? He thought about his house, not that it mattered much to him, he lived alone. Hi parents were dead and his brother was the worst person he had ever met. He was alone, but he loved his country. He couldn't just NEVER return.   Louis stood up and walked towards the door.   “And just where do you think you are going?” Davis asked.   Louis stopped as he opened the door. “I´ll take some air.” He walked out of the door and closed it. Davis noticed he had his rifle, but he simply groaned and closed his eyes.   *   *   *   *   *   Outside night was falling in. Louis looked around. Most of the ponies were already inside their houses. Good, he didn't wanted to get unwanted attention.   As he walked, his thoughts began to organize on his mind. He liked to walk because of that: it cleared his mind to think better. He thought on his first problem. He needed to find a way to return to Germany. There was no way on any worlds that existed that he would stay there. He would rather die than remain in there forever.   He reached the end of the town. In front of him was a dark forest. According to a map he had seen on the princess´ house it was called the Everfree.  Also, it wasn't a place one would want to go. That last thing made up his mind.   He was going there.   After looking back once he stepped into the trees that soon covered the sky and turned the world almost completely black. He took out a lantern and kept on walking. Strange sounds came from all around, and he instinctively took the rifle more firmly. He knew that whatever was out there wasn't dangerous enough to survive his rifle.   After some more minutes of walking he saw a little hut. He wondered what was in it and he walked closer. The smell of something cooking inside made him smile. It had been a long time since he had eaten something that was actually cooked and not baked. Meat, how much he desired some at the moment. He stopped in front of the door and knocked. He heard the sound of hooves inside moving and walking to the door. It opened, revealing a small-sized zebra.   Louis smiled kindly. “Good night ma'am. I’d like to know vat are you cooking.” The zebra stared a little shocked at him, but her face was more of a curious face than confused or scared.   “I will tell what I'm cooking, that is, if you tell me why on these woods you are wandering.” Louis shrugged.   “Don´t know, just bored I guess.”   “Bored you say, then enter you may.” The zebra said. “If meat you want, stop you I can´t.” Louis nodded.   “Thank you.” He said stepping inside. He smelled the meat and walked to a table. He stopped when he saw what else was in there.   He had read of those also on mythology. A griffon they were called. That was why a zebra had meat being cooked on her house: Griffon. The griffon stared at him, though more challenging than surprised.   “And who are you?” He said. His voice was rough, but still sounded a little young. “No, wait, first tell me what are you?” He had stood up and seemed a little tense. Louis knew what to do to relax things a little.   “I am a human, and my name is Louis, Private Louis.” He sat down in front of the table. There were no chairs, so he needed to sit with his legs crossed. He noticed that the griffon relaxed a little. He was definitely taller than the griffon, but that wouldn´t help on a fight. He saw the nasty looking claws on the legs. He kept his rifle close.   “A private you say? So, a military I guess.” Louis seemed confused at the griffon knowing that. “What, I guess you've only met ponies, no? We griffons are not ponies, Private Louis. We have a history of warriors. No other creature is better at warfare than us.” He said proudly.   Louis laughed. “Well, I think I'd doubt that. We humans are so bad at learning from the past that all our history is of wars. In fact, last time I was on my lands I was on a war.” The griffon moved closer.   “A war? You've been to an actual war? How are they like!?” He seemed strangely amazed by the prospect of war. Louis shivered thinking at what type of creature would feel amazed by the war… He shook the thought away. There were many humans like that, but he had never expected to meet a creature on that happy land with such thoughts.   “Yes, I was.” He smiled. “But before I tell you something about it I´d like to know your name.”   The griffon smiled. “I am Quick Claw.” He said. “Now tell me.”   Louis cleared his throat. It was going to be a long talk…   *   *   *   *   *   “…and so I ended here.” Louis finished. Quick Claw stared at him with a strange mixture of amazement and respect. That was something he had not expected from the griffon.   “You are an amazing griffon, err… human, Louis. It takes a lot of courage to fight in a war.” He said. “Even some griffons seem scared about it, and I had not known other creature to go for one with your mentality of victory. Still, with what you told me it seemed to me that you were losing the war.”   Louis sighed. “Even if I try not to think of that, yes, all my fellow men thought that. In fact the battle with which I was sent here was believed to be a desperate attempt to turn the tide of the war. I fear I won´t see if it works.”   Quick Claw shrugged. “I am sorry for that.”   They had already finished the meat, and the zebra, which now Louis knew was named Zecora and seemed to talk always in rhyme, had gone out to fetch some plants and was not going to be back until after the sun was out.   “I think I better be going Quick Claw. I and another soldier named Davis are trying to return and we got the help from one of the princess´. Quick Claw opened his eyes in surprise.   “Well then, don't let the princess waiting. I wish you luck Louis, and I Hope we meet again someday.” The griffon said. Louis nodded.   “I hope the same.” He said as he stood up and walked to the door. “Give my thanks to Zecora.”   Outside it was very cold. He walked fast towards the town. After some minutes he began to hear something following him. Then when he looked back he saw a pair of green eyes watching him from the shadows. He readied his rifle and walked slowly, keeping watch on the eyes. Then he noticed the second and third pair of eyes. That couldn't be good. As soon as he lifted his rifle a strange creature jumped into the little light his flashlight gave him. It seemed like a wolf, only made out of… wood?   He smiled. Piece of cake.   He pulled the trigger and the wolf groaned in pain as soon as one of its legs crumpled on the ground in a disaster of woods and sticks. Louis didn't stop to look at it though, because as soon as he shot he turned to the second wolf and shot, then to the third. He felt a sharp pain on his back as he felt his feet leave the floor. Soon he landed hard on his face, he  quickly stood up. He looked at the creature that had thrown him. It was the first wolf… and his leg was healed. He looked at the other two wolves and as he saw that their missing pieces slowly attached again to their bodies.   “Come on! That is definitely not fair.!” He shot again, this time three shots, at the first and to the head. It exploded and the whole wolf crumbled. Now, if it didn't remained that way he was sure he was screwed. The other two saw their fallen companion and growled, pouncing at him. He shoot twice at another wolf, hitting him once on the head and another on the belly. It fell hard on the floor. One of his eyes was no longer glowing.   The other managed to get to him and threw him against a tree. The rifle slipped of his hands and landed a good feet away from him. Now that was definitely not good.   He looked for his gun on his belt and pulled it out. It wasn't as strong as the rifle, but it would surely cause damage. He shot as the wolf pounced again at him. The wolf fell as five shots exploded its head. The only remaining wolf was the one with one eye. Louis smiled and picked up his rifle. After checking it was fine he pointed at his other eye.   “You should have chosen a different target, beast. Bad luck I vasn´t the normal easy prey.” He pulled the trigger as the head exploded in wood. He covered his head as small stick flew all around.   He walked away without looking twice.   *   *   *   *   *   Louis entered the library and noticed that Twilight and Davis were both sleeping. Twilight on top of a book and Davis on the couch. The dragon was nowhere to be seen. The German walked to the chair and looked at it. He sighed and laid on the floor.   “Twi!” came a shout that startled both soldiers and the princess. “The princess is sending a…!” He stopped in mid-sentence as he burped out some green fire and a letter appeared. Louis blinked twice, trying to make sure he had not seen wrongly. Davis seemed surprised as well, but he seemed to have known that would happen.   Twilight picked the scroll with her magic and read it. She looked at the two soldiers.   “What is it?” Davis asked, standing up.   Twilight cleared her throat. “The princess has said that she would like to meet you personally. We need to leave as soon as possible to Canterlot.”   She smiled. “And then maybe we will have the answer to take you back to your world…”