Ember awoke feeling warm and comfortable with something soft and equally warm behind her. It seemed that Quicktail had joined her in bed. Though what actually woke her was currently knocking on the door to her home.
“Ember? Are you home?” The voice sounded familiar and it took her a minute to realize who it was.
“Oh gosh! Witchy! I’ll be ready in a few minutes!” she shouted back, making the knocking stop, and also waking up her bed companion. The griffin yawned widely as he slowly opened his eyes, looking to Ember who flopped out of bed onto the floor.
“Why does your voice sound weird?” She heard through the door. Ember stopped and looked down at herself, she was in her natural form. She squeaked and quickly took on her unicorn form, glancing back at the griffin.
“Uh, it's the door. I kind of had a sound muffling spell on it. And before you ask, I had company over!”
“Oh?” She heard questioningly through the door. “Do we get to meet the lucky pony?”
Quicktail looked at Ember, who was still struggling with the blanket being wrapped around herself. He chuckled and glanced to the door. “Possibly.”
“...That sounded like a griffin.”
“Quite possibly,” chuckled Ember as she fumbled towards the door and unlocked it. She opened it and peeked out, seeing Witch standing there with a silly grin. She opened the door fully. “Sorry, guess I overslept.”
“Yeah! We had a tea date set up and we’re gonna be late at this rate.” She paused, looking inside to see Quicktail lazily getting dressed. “He can come too.” He stopped and glanced over.
“Come where?”
“The Fine Brew Tea Room & Pub.” She stated matter of factly. “All are welcome to come, and we are helping Leaf get ready for his trip to Saddle Arabia.” She grinned at him.
“Huh, I’ve heard of that place. Guess I’ll get to sample your fine teas.” He grinned back, “As soon as Ember untangles herself from the blanket.” He chuckled as Ember continued to flail around in the blanket. “Ember, magic.”
She stopped and looked up at him. “Oh, right.” She used her magic to untangle herself, grinning sheepishly as she did. “I sometimes forget I have magic, ok?”
Quicktail just chuckled, “I can join for tea, then I have to check in with the Embassy. They are probably wondering where I am.”
“Good! I am curious how you know Ember.” Witchy grinned at the griffin, “So you can tell me over tea.” She turned to leave the house, “I’ll meet you both there, since you need a few minutes to get cleaned up.”
“Okay.” They both said as Ember pointed to the bathroom.
“You first, Quicktail.”
“Yes ma’am.” He saluted with a joking smile as he scampered towards the bathroom.
“So you met her in the griffin kingdoms?” Leaf asked, sipping some of his tea. Leaf Wind, Witching hour, Ember, and Quicktail were all sitting around a table.
“More like on the edge of it, where my village was. She spent a few nights at my place because she overextended herself.” Quicktail chuckled as Ember watched him carefully. Quicktail looked at her. “It's true. All that running you did from your home.”
Ember let out a soft sigh, nodding some. “Yeah.” She took a long gulp of her tea as Quicktail just chuckled. Leaf and Witch looked at each other and shrugged.
“That was nearly two decades ago, and you just saw each other last night,” Leaf commented. “I know, me and Dee saw you two leave the castle last night. It was interesting to see you hug a griffin like that.” He grinned as Ember blushed, looking towards her cup.
“First friend outside of my home village and we got to know each other well. It was nice to see him again and obtain his dream,” Ember looked up at Leaf and Witch with a silly grin.
“Dream?”
“The Sky Wings.” Quicktail thumped his chest proudly. “Only a lieutenant right now, but…” he trailed off, glancing to Ember. “I may see about staying on with the Embassy now.”
“Why the decision?” Witch asked, tilting her head.
“It's nice and quiet here. Well, aside from the return of various figureheads anyway,” He chuckled with a shrug. “Otherwise, it beats the fangs and scales of our neighbors.” He grinned, looking towards Ember. “And the view is nice.”
Ember definitely picked up on that, her cheeks turning red as she eyed her cup. The amount of love getting directed at her from a single griffin was certainly something she wasn't used to.
“Right, uh. Quicktail. Shouldn't you go check in with the Embassy?”
“That I should.” He kept his grin as he gathered what little he brought with him. “I assume you have no plans tonight?” Ember nodded slightly, earning a chuckle from the others at the table. “Till then, madamoiselle.” He bowed slightly, leaving a few bits on the table for his tea, and left.
The moment he was gone, Leaf burst out laughing as Witch jabbed him in the side, knocking him out of the chair. Ember was unaware of what all was going on as she kept staring at her cup.
“Ember?” Witch asked gently.
“Mm?” Ember slowly looked up at her, her cheeks burning at the moment.
“First time dealing with a special some… griff?” Witch paused, chuckling to herself.
“Mmm.” Ember slowly nodded.
“Well, it's about time you found somepony worth it!” Leaf said as he picked himself up. “You’re, what? 35? A little past your prime, but I bet you know all the fancy techniques too MMPH!” He was suddenly cut off as a glow of magic closed his mouth. Witch’s horn glowing as she shot him a glare.
Ember looked between the two. “40, actually. But where I'm from, I'm still… in my prime, as you put it.”
They both looked at her wide eyed, Witch letting Leafs mouth go. “Really?”
Ember gazed upwards, “At some point in my family history, drakes mingled… Don't ask how, I'm sure magic was involved.”
“You look to be in your early 30s!”
“Would of been nice to inherit the scales, instead of the slow aging.” Ember shrugged some, taking a gulp of her tea.
“So, any techniques then that drakes would know?” Leaf casually remarked, nearly making Ember choke on her tea. Leaf started laughing again as he got pushed out of the chair by Witch, again.
Ember trotted up to the reception desk of the Clinic with a bit more bounce in her step then most ponies were used to seeing with her. She grinned as she looked at Light Gaze. “So, who's my first patient of the day?”
“Somepony had a nice weekend.” He chuckled softly, sliding over a folder. “A Mr. Lode Stone hurt himself mining out under the castle.”
“Oh. A mining accident and.. wait, he came here?” Ember raised an eyebrow. “Wonder why.” She shrugged and pranced her way over to the exam room. Light Gaze just chuckling as he watched her go.
She opened the door, stepped in and closed it behind her, “So. Lode Stone, you hurt -” She turned and stopped, her eyes going wide at the red and green spotted earth pony sitting on the exam bed. What made her stop was actually the fact the pony guise was faintly transparent, signaling her that this pony was a changeling.
But not just any changeling, its carapace on its back was a deep ruby red, and the wings folded at its sides appeared bat-like. It also had a thicker tail instead of the frayed horse tail. The earth pony disguised changeling kept grinning as he looked back at the shocked Ember.
“You were saying, Doc?”
“T...Torch? Is that you?” Ember took a step towards him. The pony just grinned wider.
“I haven't been called that in nearly a decade, I go by Lode Stone now,” He moved his arm, gesturing to his side. “And I appear to have hurt myself.”
Ember shook her head quickly, moving up to look at the wound. “Blunt trauma. You did say it was a mining accident…” she trailed off, looking up at him. “We can prescribe something to help mend the carapace in the area. How...did…”
“Are you open for dinner later?” He asked as he put a hoof to her mouth. She nodded faintly. “After your shift is over. You can take me to dinner and we can do all the catching up there, ok Ember?”
Ember squeaked and nodded. She levitated over a sheet of paper that had some scribble on it. “Here… I’ll be at the Fine Brew Tea Room and Pub tonight. If I'm not, look for a tabby colored griffin. That’s Quicktail.”
Lode Stone nodded, hoping off the table with a wince. He took the note and started towards the door, stopping once he heard Ember talk again.
“I’d suggest you stop working for a day or two, let that heal. Added to that is a note excusing you from work.”
Lode Stone nodded again and made his exit, leaving Ember behind. She eventually exited the exam room, looking incredibly distracted as she was the rest of the day. She was eventually excused early after explaining why she was so distracted.
That night, Ember was the first at the tea shop, sitting at a table by herself. She was staring at a cup until she heard someone clear their throat. She glanced up and saw Quicktail standing there.
“Are you okay, Ember?” he asked gently as he sat. She nodded slightly, going back to staring at her cup.
“I saw a… familiar face,” she sighed softly. “He should be here soon.”
“Was it Talon?” He tilted his head slightly. She shook her head.
“It was another from my hi… home…” Ember let out another soft sigh right as Quicktail perked up and glanced to his side just as a familiar red and green earth pony trotted up.
“You must be Quicktail,” Lode Stone extended a hoof, which Quicktail took with a nod.
“And you are…?”
“Lode Stone.” He grinned, sitting by the pair as Embers blush returned faintly.
“And you’re from the Ruby Home as well?” Quicktail grinned, leaning forward and resting his beak on a paw.
“Er, yeah. Haven't heard it called that before.” Lode Stone glanced to Ember. “How much does he know?”
“Everything.” Ember mumbled.
“So he..?”
“Yup.”
Lode Stone looked Quicktail over, “How long have you known?”
“I met her almost two decades ago. I’ve known since then.” Quicktail nodded.
“Well, I can go into detail later I'm sure. But for now,” Lode Stone looked at Ember, “You’re number four that I’ve found from our...home.” Ember quickly looked at him as he shook his head, “No, Talon was not among them.” Ember sighed.
“You and Talon must of been really close.” Quicktail said, looking away.
Ember let out a soft sigh. “Like a brother to me.” She reached across and put a hoof on his paw. “Nothing like what you feel for me,” she grinned warmly as he grinned back. Lode Stone looked between them, starting to chuckle.
“Our little Ember grew up and found a special somepony, hehe.” He grinned widely as Ember blushed and glared at him. “Anywho; I found Spark, Brimstone, and Gemstone. So you make number four that I’ve found.”
Ember gasped, “Brimstone was captured by the drakes when we returned just before that…”
“Rainbow streak thing, yeah. I felt it pass through us and I think it originated in the Queen's chambers.” Lode Stone shrugged. “I can tell you how I escaped the destruction after I let the others know I found you. It will take maybe two weeks for them to get here, maybe three.”
“Why so long?” Ember tilted her head, looking confused.
“Well, Spark and Gemstone are in the Crystal Empire. And Brimstone is basically next door. He’s in Ponyville helping out Nurse Redheart on occasion. He also bounces over to Cloudsdale to help there.” He shrugged slightly, “Getting him here isn't a problem, it's Spark that is.”
“Why is that?” Quicktail asked, finally adding into the conversation. “Also, why are two of... you… in the Crystal Empire?”
Lode Stone rubbed the back of his neck as he grinned slightly, “You know what we like best, right?” Quicktail nodded slowly, “Turns out the Crystal Empire, uh, tingles. Considering Spark is right under Shining Armor’s nose. He is one of the Crystal Guard. They can explain that better.”
“Ah, I’ll be out of Canterlot at that point. Returning to the Sky Wings and telling them that I’d like to stay here,” Quicktail glanced at Ember, “And… telling Light Feather who I found.”
Ember watched Quicktail, chuckling softly. “And who you wish to stay with? I’m sure she’ll love that.”
“Does she know too?” They both nodded at Lode Stone, who sighed and looked directly at Ember. “What, did you just go tell everypony on your way here?”
“No! I… er…” She looked down, “Maybe…A lot happened for me to get here!” She looked back to Lode Stone, “Drakes attacking, and… It’s a long story.”
Lode Stone put a hoof up. “Save it for when everypony is here, ok?”