//------------------------------//
// Chapter 16 - Generally speaking 
// Story: A Bhaalspawn in Equestria 
// by Thadius0 
//------------------------------//

Y'know that old saying, Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned?  Yeah, I found something that can compare.  An angry griffon father.

Apparently sending Gilda back to her homeland to procure animal traps had not gone unnoticed.  I was in the middle of disassembling one when she burst into my room and essentially screamed into my ear.  "Marketh, I need you!"

I calmly lowered my tools from the bear trap I had been breaking apart and took a few steps back from it before turning to her with my best scowl on.  "What is it, Gilda?"

"My dad followed me back!"

I blinked at that, processing the data.  "Your father?  The one you have issues with?  The one who's in charge of training griffons to try and match the feats that earned me that title?  That father?"

She nodded rapidly.  "And he brought his champion as well, probably to try and 'convince' me to come back with him!  What do I do, Marketh?!"

I smiled at that and placed a hand on her shoulder.  She flinched at the sudden contact; usually it would only occur in a bout between us and would signify that she'd failed again.  "Relax, first of all.  Secondly, I have a plan.  Are you rested, do you feel like you could do a bout?"

She blinked and nodded slowly.  "Yeaaaah...but how is that-"

I cut her off with a finger to the beak.  She looked at it as though she were about to chomp it off for a moment, but my smile stopped her.  "We're going to put on a show."

A quick trip downstairs showed me a very pissed off elder male griffon in dress uniform and a few scars adorning his lion half.  I swear, the damn thing was more shiny than what the dogs find on a regular basis during their tunnel digging.  It was the griffon next to him that had my attention.

Black feathers, first off, which while unusual, did happen from time to time.  Dark blue crest on his chest.  Lithe.  Powerful.  I could see the muscles shifting under his skin.  There were a few faint scars, but they were all small and old.  Signs of training, those were, and as there were none more recent, he'd learned and become good over the years.

I smiled as I ran that thought through my head.  Here was someone who'd be fun.

The look of surprise in their eyes faded momentarily.  The champion got a look similar to the one I'd probably just graced him with, and the general was back to his angry expression.

"Are you the one who's been keeping my daughter away from returning home?"

I hummed at that and looked over at Gilda.  "Gilda, do you particularly want to leave?"

She shook her head.  "Not till I figure out how to beat you in a fight."

I smiled and looked back to the general.  "Which isn't happening anytime soon.  Might I inquire as to your name, trespasser?"

The general blinked at that, clearly taken aback that the response I'd given wasn't one he was looking for, and that I'd had the audacity to ask him such a question.  "I am Major General Behertz, trainer for every recruit that enters the Griffon Special Forces, and commander of its fifth division.  Who are you that you do not know of me?"

My smile only grew at that and I looked over to Gilda again.  "You didn't tell him?  I'm hurt!"

She shrugged.  "I didn't think he'd believe me anyways.  But look at like this, you get to do your fancy introduction again.  I know you like it."

I rolled my eyes and turned back to the general.  "Well, you all really already know of me, but I do tend to have to introduce myself."  Thus said, I drew my short swords, causing both of the griffons in front of me to widen their eyes slightly in alarm.  I smirked as I began to rattle off my titles.  "My name is Marketh Shadeblade.  Forestwalker, Ageless."  I paused again, wanting to savor the look that would appear in their eyes at the last one.  "Doom of the Diamond Dogs."

Just as I predicted, their eyes widened even more, their jaws dropped, and their eyebrows went through the roof.  Total, complete shock.  The champion recovered quickly and seemed to try and study me without looking like it anymore, whereas the general...

He wasn't happy that I'd claimed that title.  "How dare you claim to be that one!  We would know if you were!"

I pursed my lips.  "Reaaaaaally?"  I looked over to Gilda once again.  "Did you?"

She shook her head.  "Nope.  But, considering that even with your training, I haven't yet passed your first rung, I'm believing it."

I smiled and looked back to the General, who could not be more red.  He then turned to his champion and issued a command.  "Ignatius, teach this bipedal freak some manners."

The champion stepped forward, and I held out a hand.  "A proposition for you, sir."

He quirked one eyebrow, and I continued.  "I could do one of two things.  I could treat it like a normal bout that I would have with those under me.  In which case, your goal would be to hit me once without being hit yourself."

He held a talon to his chin, considering the offer.  I smiled then.  "Of course, in such a bout, I would sheathe my blades, and you your claws.  No unnecessary harm."

He waved his claw in a 'go on' motion.  I closed my eyes, opening them only when I was sure they would be black.  "Or I could show you how I earned that title."

At this, both griffons in front of me blanched, and I could see Gilda flinch.  I blinked again, returning my eyes to normal.  Ignatius gulped a few times and held up a single finger, indicating that he'd prefer the first option.  I smiled and sheathed my blades.  "A bout it is."

I turned to Gilda then.  "Mind starting us off?"

She nodded, and I turned back to face Ignatius.  We'd gotten used to having multiple trainees.  One would start us off whenever they wanted, to add a bit of surprise to the fight.

After a moment of waiting, Gilda said, "Go!"

It was a wonderful thing, this fight.  Limbs flailing, blows being exchanged, at times I thought I met my match.

...

At least, I would say that, but the damn bird had held firm to his training.  His blows were a little hard to predict, but his dodging left a lot to be desired.  I could harry him all day, and he wouldn't be able to touch me.

It was during a comparatively easy-to-see blow that I grabbed him and said my favored line for those that made it to regular member status.  "Come on!  Stop trying to hit me, and hit me!"

At that, I saw his eyes narrow in anger.  The blows became slightly easier to predict when he was under the influence of his rage at being told he was inadequate.  All too soon, Gilda yelled out "Time!" and the battle stopped.

I was none the worse for wear, and there were bruises forming on Ignatius.  He looked shocked and turned to Gilda, who shrugged.  "Time limit is five minutes.  His reasoning is that if you don't bring your best in that amount of time..."

"...Then you're taking too long, and in some cases, are dead," I finished.  "You don't think I became a Forestwalker or the Doom of the Diamond Dogs by acting nice from the get-go, do you?"

Ignatius nodded slowly as the reasoning sunk in, while the general seemed to get more and more puffed up with anger.  I turned to Gilda and cocked my head to the side.  "Think we can put a show on for your old man?"

At this, she smirked.  "Bring it, grandpa.  I'm ready for you."

I smiled, reached down, picked up a rock, and held it in one hand.  "This hits the ground, we go."

She walked over and nodded at me, already regulating her breathing.  I tossed the rock up, and when it hit...

She was perfect.

Absolutely, 100% perfect.

She'd been training, clearly.  It'd only been a day after we returned from the theft that I'd put a rudimentary obstacle course and target range in the basement, and every time I went down to fine-tune the course, I would find Gilda there, working on her reflexes.

It'd paid off.  Five minutes passed, and I hadn't landed a blow on her.  I pulled back and nodded at her, impressed.  "How goes your training with the rest of the facilities?"

She shrugged.  "Saddlebags are easy, suits are tricky, and dresses are nigh impossible.  Doors are child's play, safes are where it gets fun.  Haven't tried out your latest obstacle course yet, but last version only the last bit tripped me up.  And the target range is fun, I've got twenty-three targets out of thirty."

I nodded at the numbers.  "Congratulations, Gilda.  You're a full member now."

She blinked at that, then smiled wide.  "You mean?"

I smirked.  "Not getting hit is the member test.  Whenever you want, we can fight again.  Hitting me is the master's test."

Gilda smiled and all but pranced back to the house.  Her father, however, was less than happy.  He puffed up even more, somehow, and said, "You...pretentious biped!  You tell my daughter to purchase those...those slacker tools, go easy on her in your training, promote her in front of me...do you think I don't know grandstanding when I see it?!"

Interesting sidenote: Griffons view traps as 'lazy good for nothing mechanical devices' and heavily discourage others from using them...unless they're old or infirm.  I'd gotten a lecture on that when I'd asked Gilda to go get some for my obstacle course.

I narrowed my eyes at the general and spoke in my coldest voice possible.  "Sir, I will have you know that due to my extensive list of recruits over the ages, I know exactly where a griffon's pressure points are.  It may have been a hundred years, but I do believe I could disable you six ways to Sunday before you laid a claw on me."

He blanched at that and deflated slightly.  "But then...why did you go easy on her?"

I smirked.  "I didn't."

Both the griffons were dumbfounded at that, and I shrugged.  "Your version of training is easy enough to read, and it doesn't come close to what I can do.  I've just been teaching her to dodge what most foes can dish out, and I used the same on Ignatius here.  The difference is, Gilda let go of her training, and let her body tell her when to dodge, not what you taught her."

Both griffons blinked at that, and finally, Ignatius spoke.  "Were I to return, would you train me as well?"

That voice was the very definition of power.  I smiled a bit at him and nodded.  "I proffer training to those that need it."  I shot a quick glance at the general before continuing.  "And frankly, if you're the champion, you all might need it.  But then we'll have to talk compensation..."

Ignatius laughed then, a deep, rumbling sound that reverberated in my very bones.  "Very true.  I will see about returning and bringing others with me."

I held up a hand then.  "Discreetly.  I don't want the Sisters to find me because they followed the line of griffons to my door."

Ignatius nodded then.  "Fair enough."  And with that, he took off, leaving me and the general alone.  He looked at me with this...cold, calculating look before asking a series of questions.  "You're really the one who killed all those dogs a hundred years ago?"

I nodded at that.  "Yup."

"You're training my daughter in your combat techniques?"

I shrugged.  "Among other things, yes."

He paused before continuing.  "You promise to keep her safe?"

I smiled at that.  "As safe as I can.  None of those I've trained have wound up dead because of me, if that's what you're getting at."

He paused again before stating one final thing.  "If I find out that she's been hurt at all...you'd better run far.  You'd better run and hope and pray that I never find you, because retribution won't be enough."

I nodded.  "Understood.  And general?  Take care."

He paused, nodded, and flew off.  I groaned and went to take a short nap.  I was training Whispered tonight, and would need all the rest I could get...


-----


"Again!"

Whispered nodded and went to throw a knife, but just before he released, a torch flared up in the corner, instantly destroying his night-vision.  The flinch that came with that threw his aim off, and the knife flew far to the side, embedding itself in one of the fake houses I'd set up.  As the thestral rubbed his eyes, I chuckled.  He glared at me once he heard my laughter.  "Why'd you do that?"

"Because," I said while retrieving the knife, "if you can't overcome your weakness, someone will use it against you.  Your night-vision is a strength, but all it takes is one person with a sudden, bright light, and you're no good in a fight.  True thieves learn to either minimize their weaknesses, or work with someone whose skillsets can help plug the holes in their own."

Whispered seem to think it over before nodding, then frowning.  "How am I supposed to counter a big blazing thing of light, though?"

I smiled at that and motioned for him to come closer.  When he did, I leaned in and, heh, whispered the secret to him.  "Try fixing the target in your mind and closing your eyes when you notice light getting close or flaring up.  It only works for a short amount of time, but I can teach you other tactics once you can hit the target."

He backed up and nodded, committing the tactic to memory, presumably.  The thestral took his place again, and I pulled the appropriate lever.  The target flipped up, Whispered took his aim, the torch flared, the knife flew...

Thunk.

And hit the target successfully.  I clapped at that.  "Bravo, bravo.  Think you could do another?"

He hesitated for a moment, drew another knife, and hit the target again.  Not as well as the last hit, but a solid hit all the same.  I clapped again, then turned the torch off by pushing the lever back.  I poked him in the back of the head while I went to retrieve the knives.  "Light's off, you can look now."

He blinked and noticed the two clean hits.  "I...I did that?"

I nodded as I worked them out of the wood.  "Sure did."  I then turned to him and quirked an eyebrow.  "Ready for those other tactics?"

He nodded hesitantly, and I decided to pose it as a question he could try to answer.  "Well, if you know where the light's coming from, then why haven't you tried to put it out after it flares up?"

I love seeing that expression on a pony's face when they realize their way of thinking is no longer practical.  You could almost see the little TILT signs in their eyes, it was adorable!

I went upstairs to get some real sleep for tonight...


-----


I came to in my dreams on the outskirts of Ponyville, looking in at the nighttime scenery.  "A beautiful, lovely town.  Wish I could see it during the day again."

"Perhaps tis for the best that thou doth not, half-elf."

I sighed and turned to look at Luna, who was just landing behind me.  "Hello again, Mistress of the Moon.  Come to convince me again?"

She shook her head, which surprised me.  "Nay.  We have conversed with Our Sister, and she wishes to extend an offer to you in regard to this...creature."

That raised an eyebrow, certainly.  "And it would be?"

Luna looked askance for a moment.  "She is willing to halt hostilities for a moment, for a cease fire, so as to aid thou in restraining this beast.  For if it be as fearsome as you say, then We should aid in whatever manner We can."

I ruminated on that for a moment, then shook my head.  "Magic would only hold for so long.  It is only silent when I give in to the dark desires it whispers to me, or when I do enough good deeds that it can't get through to me.  It is born of hate, of evil, of the pure desire to take the life of another."

And at this, the damn lunar mare smiled.  "Perhaps not Us or Sister, then, but We still do know of a mare that could help.  Wouldst thou be adverse to meeting them?"

I shrugged my shoulders and pictured a glade in the Everfree that was halfway between where I was and the former castle was.  "Have her meet me here tomorrow at noon.  I'll wait for an hour, and if she hasn't arrived or can't help, then that's the last I want to hear of it."

She nodded at my ultimatum, and I smiled.  "I also get a head start on running away when she's done.  I have no desire to be taken in."

Luna let out a wan smile at that.  "Sooner or later, thou wilt slip up, and we will converse face-to-face."

"And may that day be looooong in coming," I replied as the dreamscape faded...


-----


The glade I'd picked out hadn't taken too long for me to get too.  On the way, I'd been accosted by a Timberwolf.  Turns out the Heart had taken notice of a particularly unruly manticore, and it wanted me to find out what was going on, as a way to repay my debt for the fillies.  When I got there and found out the poor thing had gone rabid, it thanked me for my work and let me continue on my way.

I didn't even want to think about the other eyes I'd seen as I left...

I had been waiting in the glade for only ten minutes when I heard wingbeats from above.  A small chariot, pulled by stallions in Royal Guard armor, descended from above, and out walked the pinkest pony I have ever seen.  And I've met Pinkie Pie.

The fact that she had both wings and a horn didn't escape my notice either.  A pretty pink pony princess.  Try saying that five times fast.  She took note of me lying against a tree near the edge of the glade.  After the initial shock wore off, she cleared her throat and smiled at me.

"Hello," she said, "My name is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, but please, call me Cadence.  My aunts Celestia and Luna told me you have a problem I could help with."

My thoughts at the time could be summed up quite succinctly:  Well fuck, she's royalty.  Followed by:  Well, fuck, she's royalty!