Twilight looked at the beaked face of a grey and gold gryphon flapping its wings in front of her. It had bright green eyes which were flicking around frantically.
"Where am I?" The voice was defiantly male, it had a soft tone to it even though he was clearly worried.
"Who are you." Twilight said it like it wasn't a question, she held the blade outwards.
"My name's... Travis." The gryphon responded.
"Travis." Twilight said raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah... Why?" He said with his front claws in the air in surrender.
"How did you get here." Twilight asked, lowering the blade slightly but still looking fierce.
"I don't know," Travis flapped his wings and landed softly on the ground. "All I remember was..." The gryphon paused, seeming to choose his next words very carefully, "I was in a restaurant in Manehattan, then everything... Stopped. Then i ended up here, everypony was gone and Manehattan was gone as well. I flew around for a while until I saw some buildings here, I landed and started searching for ponies but all I found was a bunch of creepy pony mannequins in random places." Twilight slid the blade away and lowered the C.L.A.M.P.
"Yeah... I did that." The gryphon looked confused. "Sweetie Bell! You can come out now!" Sweetie Bell poked her head out of the door and trotted outside, she hid behind Twilight Peering over her shoulder. Though she looked grown up she still acted like a filly. The gryphon Inhaled deeply and looked between Twilight and Sweetie Bell. His face grew kind and he lowered himself to her level. Gryphons were usually much taller than ponies, and this one was just under a foot taller.
"Hi," he said in his soft voice, except now In a friendly tone. All signs of worry vanished from his voice. "I'm Travis." He held out his claw. Sweetie Bell looked out from behind Twilight and shook his claw with her hoof.
"Sweetie Bell." Once the gryphon let to of her hoof she hid behind Twilight again. Travis smiled at her shyness and inhaled slightly. His behavior was unusual from other gryphons Twilight had seen.
"And who's your sister." Said Travis. The gryphon's expression instantly changed back to it's tone of worry when he said this. It seems he unintentionally tried to flatter Twilight. Not that it mattered for her expression stayed flat and emotionless. Twilight raised an eyebrow and Sweetie Bell giggled.
"Twilight." She responded in a flat, intense voice. "My name is Twilight." She turned and began walking towards the cave. Sweetie Bell followed closely behind and Travis began to follow them both.
"So you live here?" He asked, trying to make conversation. Twilight didn't respond but Sweetie Bell did.
"Yes, well... Her a lot longer than me." She turned her head towards Twilight who was rummaging through the drawers of her desk. Travis gaped as he entered the cave and saw the carved walls and separate rooms.
"How long exactly?" He asked curiously, looking at Twilight with sincere concern on his face. She remained emotionless like a statue who's face was carved to represent emptiness.
"Fifteen years." Said Sweetie Bell, looking at Twilight as well. she smiled slightly. Proud that her mentor could survive as lone as she did with Nopony around.
"Wow... And how long have you been here?" Travis shifted his gaze towards Sweetie Bell.
"Just two years." She said. She was still looking at Twilight.
"Thirteen years alone... How did she do it?"
"She kept herself company." Travis thought for a second.
"The mannequins?"
"Yeah." Twilight pulled some rope from the drawer and pulled up a chair.
"Have a seat." She said, gesturing to the chair. The gryphon took a step backwards but Sweetie Bell shut he door behind him. He looked around, shocked. "We don't know if we can trust you yet, so we need to question you."
"How do I know I can trust you?" He asked.
"You don't." She responded.
"Fair enough." He slowly made his way to the chair and Twilight began tying him up. Then she pulled out what looked like a metal box with some paper coming out of it. She attached some suction cups to Travis and pushed a button on the machine, the paper began pouring out with red scribbles all over it.
"Is that a lie detector?" He asked.
"Yes." Responded Twilight. "Now... What's your name." The gryphon paused.
"Travis." The pin on the machine jerked.
"You're lying." Twilight responded. The gryphon paused again.
"The name I go by is Travis." The pin stayed still. Twilight raised an eyebrow.
"Where are you from." The gryphon paused again and he had that same expression of choosing his words wisely.
"Manehattan." The pin was still.
"How did you get here?"
"I don't know." The pin remained still.
"Do you know who I am?"
"No." The pin remained still.
"Are you here to hurt us in any way, shape or form?" Twilight stepped forwards.
"No." The pin remained still.
"Congratulations you're trustworthy." Said Twilight, removing the suction cups from the gryphon and untying the ropes.
"I think you need to tell him." Said Sweetie Bell.
"Tell him what?" Asked Twilight.
"You know... What happened before you got here." Twilight stopped dead in her tracks.
"And why would I need to tell him that?" She said, not looking at Sweetie Bell.
"Maybe he can help try to reverse it." The gryphon was confused.
"Uuuhhh... Reverse what?" He asked.
"I'm gonna tell him." Sweetie Bell said to Twilight.
"Fine," Twilight responded, "but I'm not going to be here when you do, I'm heading into town to help out at Sweet Apple Acres." Twilight slipped on her saddle bags and slammed the door. Sweetie Bell turned to the gryphon and sat down.
"You might want to get comfortable."