When I woke up, I found my thoughts from last night were confirmed... I have become a teddy bear. I can't say I was afraid of this, because honestly I can't say it's bad to be cuddled by the Griffon next to me... But I can't say I hoped for it either, since I'm still working out my feelings on the idea of Gilda taking up space in my heart.
Nothing against her, but I guess I just never expected to even think of getting into any kind of relationship with a Griffon. I also never expected to think that she would look so cute and peaceful when she sleeps. The messy bed-head look her feathers took on somehow enhanced that image...
Somepony knocked on the door, *Knock Knock*
"Come in." I called softly, trying not to wake Gilda.
A mare with a silver coat and blue mane opened the door, dressed in a maid's outfit. "I was sent to escort you to breakfast..." She stated nervously, probably intimidated by the two Griffons. Especially me, since I was probably a good two feet taller than Gilda in this form. Plus the darker colors do a really good job of adding to that menacing look whenever I don't smile...
I sighed because I really didn't want to wake Gilda but my stomach growled, forcing me to agree. "Gilda..." I said, shaking her shoulder. "Gilda, it's time to wake up."
The female Griffin simply buried her head into my chest, letting out a muffled. "Don't wanna." I'm going to guess that she thought it was her blanket or something that she was burrowing into...
"Well, I guess you don't want breakfast then..."
Her head shot up, the previous drowsiness gone in record time. "Breakfast!?"
I laughed, getting up from the bed now that she'd relinquished her hold on me. "Yes, breakfast. We've even got a maid here to show the way."
"Oh, uh... Wait outside. I'll be there in a couple minutes."
I raised a brow, but shrugged and left the room to wait in the hall. I guess she felt the need to preen her feathers or something...
True to her word, she was out of the room about 3 minutes later with much straighter feathers and we followed the maid as she led us through the halls.
"How are your feathers still so straight?" Gilda asked curiously, wondering how my head had escaped any sort of ruffling.
I shrugged, "Just naturally resilient I guess..." Not sure if that's true, but it's the best I could come up with on the spot.
Once we'd arrived at what must have been the dining room, the maid retreated to the kitchens. The only ponies seated at the table at the moment were Luna, Sun Plot, Applejack, and Sparkles
Let's see... Celestia needs to be up early to raise the Sun, Applejack is likely used to getting up early due to living on the Apple Farm, and Twilight probably just read books all night long with the help of some sort of magic coffee spell or something...
But shouldn't Luna be asleep? Oh well, it's her choice I guess. For all I know, she sleeps a normal cycle just like anyone else and falls asleep after raising the moon. Maybe she checks on dreams when she sleeps? Either way, it's not really my problem.
"Morning!" I said cheerfully, grinning as Twilight winced at the excessive volume I used. She was definitely up reading all night... She's going to want some aspirin once Pinkie gets in here.
"Good morning Jet, Gilda." Celestia greeted. Luna seemed to grunt something with her head down on the table. She must be really tired...
"So, where's breakfast?" My stomach rumbled in agreement. Speaking of which, what is breakfast? If it's hay, I may end up looking around a few farms for a pig. Or maybe find a river with fish, which seems to be a sort of grey area... Though I was never a fan of seafood, maybe the Griffon taste-buds will make it taste better? Both cats and birds eat fish after all.
Celestia gestured to a piece of paper on the table. "You should look through and decide what you want." She explained.
So it's like a restaurant, huh? Alrighty, let's see here... Ugh, almost everything is vegetarian. Oh wait, here we go! Fish, hay-bacon... No real bacon? Blegh. Fish it is!
A butler came by to take everyone's order. I asked for deep fried fish with hay-fries and some bacon, just to try it. Gilda decided to do the same, but with a double serving of bacon.
Once we'd gotten our food, everyone dug in. At the beginning I was distracted from my food by the ravenous way Gilda ate her fish, it was oddly mesmerizing... If nothing else, at least now I know that she won't be disgusted by a lack of table manners.
After breakfast, Gilda and I decided to prank the castle employees and residents, starting with Blueblood.
"A little to the left..." Gilda called from where she was observing to make sure everything fit just right for the prank. "Stop! Perfect..."
"You remember the rest of the Plan?" She asked, grinning evilly.
Can I just say that I love her evil grin? "Yeah, don't worry." I shook my head, "If this works, we could be hailed as the best Pranksters of all time..."
Gilda laughed, "Yeah, I can't wait to see his fac-" Then the sound of hooves reached our sound-holes.
Hey, it's not like Griffons really have ears. I had to come up with something to call what we hear things with...
"Shh! Right on time, hide!" We both flew up and behind a tapestry, peeking out from behind it to see Blueblood walking down the hall. Guess the guards must really dislike Blueblood, considering they were willing to spill his schedule so easily.
"What in Equestria is this red 'X' mark doing on the floor? Have the servants been slacking yet again?" Blueblood complained, standing on the 'X' just as we'd planned.
Suddenly Blueblood heard an odd whirring sound from behind him. Turning to confront it, he got a face full of cake frosting. "Aahh~! I just had myself groomed!" The stallion shrieked.
He was unable to see due to the frosting all over his face and took a step back, tripping on a small and conveniently placed marble. "whoa!" He fell backwards, a shirt was pulled over is head and his hair landed in a small mixture of chemicals I had whipped up.
Standing up and attempting to wipe the frosting from his eyes, Blueblood was then assaulted by the swinging 'Boot-on-a-stick' that I'd set up earlier. The kick to his rump sent him flying, right into a set of pre-prepared pants.
Flashes that he couldn't see went off as we took pictures, attempting and nearly failing to keep ourselves from laughing.
Getting annoyed that he couldn't wipe the frosting off Blueblood, shook himself and sent frosting everywhere. Once his eyes were free, he looked around for the culprits though he couldn't find us.
Unable to see us, Blueblood ran off to tattle to his aunts. Of course, Gilda and I had to follow... Their reactions would be fun to watch.
"Aunt Celestia! I've been assaulted, we need to find the culprits and arrest them for attacking royalty!" Blueblood yelled, bursting into the throne-room.
Celestia and the guards turned to look at Blueblood and did a double-take. The Royal Guard who were some of the most composed ponies in Equestria - well, when on duty anyway - then fell over, laughing hysterically. Even Celestia couldn't help but giggle at her nephew's predicament.
Of course, being who he is, Blueblood didn't take that very well...
"What's so funny!?" He demanded, the angry contortions of his face serving to send the guards into further hysterics.
"You are!" I called from above, laughing as Gilda and I high-foured. Blueblood turned towards us, steaming mad.
I should probably explain why everyone was laughing. Blueblood was currently dressed up like a clown: His mane had been died and frizzed up into a large blue afro, he was wearing a clown's attire - Yellow pants and button up shirt with red polka-dots - and one thing I forgot to mention is that he was currently scratching his butt. Yeah, I put itching powder in the pants and I'm darn proud of it!
"You! YOU! YOU WOULD DARE DO THIS TO ME?!" He asked, his whole face turning red.
"Yeah. What's wrong, can't take a joke Pansy-Blood?" I asked, taunting the pretty-boy unicorn.
"Get down here!"
"Yyyeeaaa- No. "
"You arrogant Peasant!"
"Ponified Peacock."
"I'll have both of your heads for this!" Blueblood yelled after having apparently run dry of insults, I think that was literally the only one he had. Well that, or all his other insults were pony-related...
The air in the room grew cold and dark as the shadows began to writhe around, seeping up the walls and across the floor.
I glared at Blueblood, "Did you just threaten Gilda?" I asked quietly, though it was heard by the whole room.
I have to give the stallion a little credit, either he's braver than I thought or he's just too arrogant and stupid for his own good. I'm leaning more towards the later...
"Y-yes! I am! And if you don't want her starving in a dungeon, or dead, you'd best do as I say!" Blueblood seemed to grow more confident with every word of that threat... So yeah, he's definitely more arrogant and stupid.
The shadows grew longer and dark crystals began jabbing out of the ground around Blueblood, a result of my crystalline-based powers mixing with the darkness I had begun to radiate.
"Tell me Blueblood..." I began coldly, "Do you want to keep that pitiful life of yours? Because threatening my friend is a surefire sign that you're suicidal."
Celestia stood, her horn beginning to shine as she prepared a spell. "Jet that is enough, If you hurt Blueblood I will be forced to take action!"
I glanced at her, "Tch, fine. I'll just teach him a little lesson then..."
The shadows rushed forward, engulfing Blueblood before disappearing.
"AGH! THIS IS DISGUSTING!!!"
Celestia looked at me with a raised brow, a look of curiosity adorning her face as her spell dissipated.
"Don't worry; I just dropped him off in the middle of a large compost pile that I noticed earlier." I assured her dryly, still annoyed by the royal pain-in-the-plot.
"It's probably a good idea for him to stay away from Gilda or I from now on, otherwise I might end up doing something that I'm honestly not sure I'd regret." I suggested before turning and walking out of the room.
"Hey, you okay Jet?" Gilda asked, following me out of the room.
I paused in the middle of the hall as Gilda put her hand on my shoulder before turning to face her. "Yeah I'm fine Gilda, just a bit... Annoyed by that arrogant idiot. Sorry that you had to see me lose my cool like that."
Gilda shifted slightly as a nervous and somewhat embarrassed grin on her face. "Um, yeah... Actually..." She shifted again before looking away with a red blush showing in a stark contrast to her white feathers. "It was kinda... Hot...?"
I began to blush as well and was thankful that it didn't show very well through my black feathers.
Of course... I should have figured something like this would happen. I actually thought that she would be more scared or upset, in fact I half-expected her to yell at me about how she 'could take care of herself' or something. I'm actually not sure whether or not this reaction is better...
"Oh... Uh... Thanks." I replied, turning to continue my walk down the hall. I wasn't really sure what else to say in this situation... But I also didn't want to walk away without saying anything.
Gilda continued to follow through the hall, still blushing. I wonder where I'm going... I wonder if she wonders where I'm going...
"Soo... Where are we going?"
Yeah, she's definitely curious. "I don't know... I'm just walking for now, I guess."
"Alright, I'm going to get some grub then... Catch you later Jet!" She replied, flying down another hall. Nice to know that she knows where she's going at least, I still haven't figured out which way is up and which is down...
"See you later!" I called back, watching as her lithe form disappeared down the hall.
It was probably an hour later when found myself standing in an odd, nearly empty room. The only other thing I could see in the room was a table with an open book lying upon it. Getting closer to the book and flipping through it, I saw nothing but blank pages.
"Heheehhahahahaha~!" I turned around quickly, seeing 'Cadence' standing there. "You've fallen right into my trap!"
"This is a trap?" I asked, gesturing to the mostly empty room. "I only wandered in here by accident. Besides, if it was a trap... It's pretty bad. Well, unless you're fishing for Twilight that is."
"Inconsequential!" Chrysalis shouted at me, "Regardless of whether or not it is a 'good' trap, you have still fallen prey to it." She smirked, "You are an unknown and one that I cannot allow to roam around, especially since you know my true identity. But I won't kill you... You might make a good pet later."
The floor around me lit up in emerald fire, and I slowly began to sink into it. Chrysalis smiled darkly at me, until she noticed one little detail... I was smirking back at her.
Since I was actually sinking pretty slowly, I decided to talk to Chryssie a bit. "You know... I was going to be content to let things play out the way they were meant to." The Insect Queen looked confused at my declaration.
"Oh yes, I know what's going to happen. Or rather, what would've happened if you hadn't done this..." I gave her an evil smile, "But now I'm a bit annoyed. A bit grateful too I guess, since I did want to see the Crystal Caverns." Chuckling, I finished one last sentence. "But the next time I see you, be prepared to die."
I barely managed to catch sight of her shocked face before my head sank through the floor.
I woke up to the surroundings of the Crystal Caverns, it seems as though her spell knocked me out while transporting me here. "Ugh, my head..." And gave me a headache. Yeah, she's gonna die next time I see her... Or at least get a severe beating.
"H-hello?" A feminine voice called. "Is anypony there?"
If I hadn't watched the wedding episode then I would've thought it was Chrysalis calling out but I have seen it, so I knew it was really Cadence.
"Yea- er... Well... Yes and no, I guess." I replied, holding my head with a claw.
"Oh thank Celestia, I thought I'd been hearing things! Can you find me? I need help!"
I turned my head towards the sound of the voice or rather, the best approximation that I could get with the echoes distorting it... "Uh, yeah... Gimme a moment!" I turned intangible before beginning to walk through the crystals, looking for the pink Alicorn.
Something was wrong with Cadence; she wasn't anything like Twilight remembered... And this last event proved it; Cadence had Shining Armor under mind-control! Maybe that's why Shining had almost attacked John? Sadly, there wasn't much of anything Twilight could do at the moment. But maybe somepony - or rather someone- else could...
A crazed grin spread across the face of Celestia's student, "Cadence, I hope you're ready to have a meet and greet with my impossibly annoying friend..." She muttered to herself, trotting towards John and Gilda's room. "Because he owes me a favor, and I'm going to make sure that he pays up..."
Jeeze, how big are these caverns? I've been walking for what feels like hours! Then again, it's probably only been about half an hour.
"Hello? Are you still there?" She sounded really weak, almost like she was giving up...
Like hay I'm going to let her give up! She's way too selfless in the show to let her have her spirit broken like this! "Yeah, I'm here! Sorry, it's just a bit hard to tell if I'm going the right way. The echoes from the crystals... are...
That's it! I can use the crystals! "Try calling out again!" I requested, using my crystal-manipulation powers to prevent the crystals from vibrating and muddying up the sound.
"Okay..." There! I swiveled my head towards the sound and ran towards it, soon coming to a stop in a small crystal room.
Unfortunately, in the time it had taken me to arrive... Cadence had begun crying, obviously distraught. "I'm doomed... I'm doomed to stay down here until I die. I'm already going insane, there's no way anypony was really coming for me. Almost nopony even knows about this place after all..." She was telling herself, obviously sinking into a depression.
For a moment, I debated on changing forms before confronting her... But then I dismissed the idea, there was no real need unless she was afraid of griffons or something. Besides, if she sees that then she might mistake me for a changeling.
Walking over, I carefully tapped her on the shoulder. "Princess Cadence?
"What do you mean he's not here!?" Twilight shouted at the Griffon, "Where else would he be!?"
Gilda scowled, "How should I know?" She snapped, "Jet went for a walk an hour or two ago to clear his head, and I haven't seen him back yet."
"Arrgghh! I need him for my plan!" Twilight growled, angry that she would have to either go looking for John or figure out a new plan.
"Wait... What kind of plan?" Gilda asked curiously, raising a brow.
The Element of Magic blinked before grinning; maybe she wouldn't need to change her plans too much after all....
Cadence blinked away her tears as she felt a somewhat scaly appendage on her shoulder. Whirling around to face whoever had touched her, the Princess looked up in shock at one of the most intimidating Griffons she'd ever seen.
Normally Griffons weren't all that intimidating anymore... Sure they were a warrior race, but most of them had lost the darker and more intimidating colors. Though Cadence was always thankful for that when she went to a meeting with their kind, she never realized just how much she had taken that fact for granted until now...
Staring at her with golden eyes as well as razor sharp claws and a beak to match, was a larger than average griffon with dark-red fur/wing coloring and pure jet-black feathers covering its head. The sudden appearance of the Griffon had actually caused her to give an 'Eep!' and scramble backwards in surprise.
Wow Cadence is jumpy, "It's alright, I'm not going to hurt you..." I said, laying down on my stomach in a hopefully peaceful gesture. "Chrysalis sent me down here just a little while ago. She says it's because I'm an 'unknown'" - I made little quotation marks with my claws as I spoke - "But I think she's just mad that I scared her..."
Cadence looked at me with a strange expression, kind of like a mixture of surprise and understanding. "Well you do look a little... Intimidating..." She responded, looking to the side.
I couldn't help but laugh, "That's not why she'd be afraid. She's afraid of how much I know, of what I can do, as well as how easily I could kill her."
Upon Cadence's questioning look I rolled my eyes and flicked a talon upwards, causing a small spike of crystal to erupt out of the ground in front of her. I chuckled as she yelped and leapt backwards.
Cadence was a bit annoyed when the Griffon began to laugh at her jumpiness. "So that's why she's scared? You can control crystals?" She asked curiously, watching for a response from the large creature.
The Griffon seemed to pause before... Erupting into hysterical laughter. Cadence was getting a bit angry now, her eye twitching. "S-sorry, but no... I didn't mean to laugh at you, but that's barely even scratching the surface of my powers..." He informed the Love Princess. "By the way, sorry for not introducing myself earlier... You can call me Jet."
I couldn't wipe the smirk off my face at the look of surprise plastered on hers. Cadence was way too easy to surprise...
Then again, the smirk was wiped off my face completely when I noticed how malnourished she looked. Thinking for a moment how to fix this, I wished I had an apple from the kitchen... She could really use one right now.
Imagine my surprise when an apple materialized into my hand- er... Claw! I held it out towards Cadence, "Are you hungry?"
I didn't even see her move before the apple was gone and the Alicorn was giving a cute little burp. "Thank you..." She murmured, looking towards the ground.
I took several more apples from 'thin-air', setting them beside me. "Eat up, Tomorrow I'll take you back up to the surface.." I told the princess of Love.
"What! Why can't we go now?!" She asked, obviously upset by the idea of staying down here longer.
"Because you need some food and rest, and I'm a bit drowsy. I'll take you back up and 'deal' with Chrysalis tomorrow."
Cadence looked ready to protest again, but her stomach growled and she gave in. Snatching a few more apples, she ate her fill before falling asleep. I shook my head, wondering if she'd meant to use me as a pillow before allowing myself to fall asleep as well. I probably would've pushed her off first, but after what was likely several days of sleeping on hard crystal floors... I think she deserved something a little softer to sleep on.