//------------------------------//
// The Griffonstone Council 
// Story: What Lies Within 
// by KidatHeart5 
//------------------------------//

	As soon as they left the manor exactly as it should’ve been, Discord whisked the group to the entryway to Griffonstone.
Discord said, “Well, here we are, gang!”
Apple Jewel exclaimed, “Look! The night sky’s getting brighter!”
“I believe that’s the altitude, dear.”
Suddenly, a group of griffons landed in front of them and pointed spears at them.
“Whoa!” the royals cried.
Spike said, “Um…Hi. We come in peace and we mean you no harm.”
Discord face-palmed as he thought sarcastically, Brilliant job, Spike. You really outdid yourself. 
Just then, a female griffon flew down and remarked, “Boy, if that isn’t the lamest thing I ever heard.”
Discord agreed, “You and me both, sister.” Spike glared at him.
“Don’t call me that.” The griffon removed her helmet and revealed her white head with purple-tipped feathers as hair. “Name’s Gilda, Captain of the Griffonstone Guard. Who are you trespassers?”
Discord said, “Allow me to do the speaking.” He cleared his throat and said, “We are royalty. We grace your humble grounds to speak to your well-respected elders.”
Gilda scoffed, “If you’re looking for special attention, don’t come to us.”
Spike murmured, “Boy. She’s a lot gruffer than Rainbow Dash said she was.”
The Pegasus’s name reached Gilda’s ears and she said, “’Rainbow Dash’? You know Rainbow Dash?”
Discord clarified, “Well, yes. We’re her brothers-in-law, these are her nieces, and this is her sister.”
“I didn’t know she had another sister.”
Sunset explained, “I was kidnapped on my first birthday. The pony responsible took my family’s memories away so they wouldn’t remember.”
Gilda said in awe, “There’s just so much that’s happened since I last saw her and Pinkie Pie.”
Apple Jewel asked, “Wait, you know Aunt Pinkie Pie?”
“Well, duh! She tagged along when Rainbow Dash and I saw each other again.”
Snow Pea asked, “How exactly did you meet Aunt Rainbow Dash?”
The griffon explained, “Well, she and I went to flight camp together. She and I are best pals.”
One of the griffon guards asked, “Um, excuse me? Shouldn’t we ask why they’re here?”
Sunset explained, “A sleeping curse has taken hold on Equestria. It’s affected every pony except Snow Pea and me. That’s because we’re wearing powerful jewelry that keep us from being affected.”
Gilda put a claw to her chin and said, “Powerful jewelry, huh?” She then eyed the royals suspiciously and asked, “Did you even know that a sleeping curse was coming?”
Sunset said, “Okay, long story short: we didn’t know that a curse was going to hit. We didn’t even know what the jewelry was before they got stuck on us. After the curse hit, we found out they were pieces of Elemental Jewelry. We came to Griffonstone for the Air Vest. It’s one of two pieces that are missing. We can’t let Belladonna or the sirens get ahold of either piece. That’s why we need to find the Air Vest and the Water Necklace and fast.” 
Gilda contemplated this and then said, “Belladonna and the sirens, huh? That’s a new one.”
Screwball asked dejectedly, “You don’t believe us?”
“Tell you what? We’ll take you to Grampa Gruff. He was there when the Air Vest was made.”





As they walked through the village, the royals saw how desolate Griffonstone had become.
Sunset quietly remarked, “Wow. This isn’t anything like the illustrations in the books at all.”
Snow Pea asked, “Excuse me, Miss Gilda? What happened to Griffonstone?”
A voice then startled them, shouting, “I’ll tell ye what happened!”
The group turned to see an elderly griffin emerge from a second-floor window. He lunged out as he said, “It all started – Oof!” He landed on the ground unceremoniously. 
Discord whispered to Gilda as he pointed to Grampa Gruff, “Is this really him?”
Gilda sighed, “Yep. That’s him, all right.” 
Two griffon guards helped Gruff up, but he shooed them away as soon as he stood up. He continued, “I’ll tell ye the whole tragic tale…” He then giggled, “…for a couple of bits.”
Sunset gave him the bits and said, “So, do you know anything about the Air Vest?”
Gruff said in confusion, “I thought ye wanted me to tell ye about Griffonstone’s destruction. Oh, well. I suppose the stories are connected. Ye see, long, long ago, Equestria was in great peril.”
Discord interrupted, “Yes, yes. We know about the creation of the Elemental Jewelry, the defeat of the Windigos and Umbrum, yada, yada, yada. What is new?”
Gruff glared at him before he held out his claw again. Sunset sighed in an irritated way and gave the griffon two more bits. 
The elderly griffon gave a satisfied grin and then said, “After Equestria was saved from the Umbrum and Windigos, the griffons put the Air Vest in a secret hiding place. A decade or so afterwards, however, our impetuous King Guto wanted to restore the glory of Griffonstone after Arimaspi stole the Idol of Boreas. When he learned about the Air Vest, he turned to me to help find it again. Ye see, I was a strapping young griffon when the Air Vest was made, so the location of its hiding place rested on me. At the king’s insistence, I led him to the secret location and he wore the Air Vest. He raised the morale of the fellow griffons and led them into battle.”
Screwball asked, “But why would Guto fight against the ponies of Equestria? They needed Star Swirl to defeat the Umbrum and Windigos.”
“It was like I told ye. Guto was young, foolish, and in love…with pride. Yes, King Guto was much beloved…until one fateful battle. Aye, twas the same battle that took me eye!” When he pointed to his dead eye, the fillies cringed. The grown-ups glared at the old coot for scaring the kids.
Sunset asked, “Uh, the Air Vest?”
Gruff nodded, “Yes, yes, yes. I’m getting to it, all right?” He cleared his throat and continued, “We were battling in the Badlands. We held our offense until…it came. The Tatzlwurm appeared out of nowhere and grabbed our beloved king. Before it was able to swallow him, Guto took off the vest and flew out of the beast’s grasp. When we retreated that day, we left behind two important things: the vest…and our pride. Guto left no heirs and so all authority in Griffonstone falls on the council. I myself am a part of the council since I was there when the Air Vest was made. Tell me, what brings you all to our fair village?”
Sunset said, “We need your help. There are enemies out there who want the Air Vest and the Water Necklace. They’re the ones who cast a sleeping curse on all of Equestria. It’s only affected ponies, but my niece and I are immune because we’re wearing the Fire Tiara and the Earth Bracelets. We didn’t know they were the real things or even if there was going to be a curse. We need to get to the other two pieces before Belladonna and the sirens do.”
“Hmm…Big Bongo has the Air Vest now.”
The royals asked, “’Big Bongo’?”
“The Tatzlwurm, of course.”
Discord crossed his arms and said, “Oh, wonderful. It has a name?”
“Yes. It’s not like other Tatzlwurms, ye see. It has a mane like a lion’s and the beast is so huge, it could topple down buildings with one fall.”
Discord waved his hands in mock terror and said sarcastically, “Ooh! He sounds terrifying!”
Gruff said, “Look, do ye want to find the Air Vest or not?”
Sunset nodded, “Yes, we do.”
Spike apologized, “We’re sorry that Discord’s acting this way. He got sick by a Tatzlwurm a couple of days ago.”
Gruff said interestingly, “I see. Was this Tatzlwurm anything like Big Bongo?”
Discord replied, “None of the above.” 
“Well, all the same, we’ll take ye to the council. I’m sure they’d be pleased to meet you all.”





They went into a large building and saw a round table with several griffons seated around it.
“So you are royals from Canterlot?” asked Guffin, the head of the council.
“We just sent a delegate out recently!” squawked Gawain. 
“But His Highness Prince Discord can teleport anywhere he likes. He can get here faster than our delegate,” Gemma said. Discord liked the sound of “His Highness”.
“But how do we know to trust them? They wear two pieces of the Elemental Jewelry,” Grimm pointed out. 
Sunset bowed before the council as she said, “Wise elders, we did not know about anything until after the sleeping curse hit. 	There’s an Umbrum princess out there named Belladonna. She’s willing to get to the Air Vest and Water Necklace at all costs. Please help us in any way you can.”
The griffons stood silent for a moment before Guffin declared, “We shall discuss this amongst ourselves. Please wait outside.”
The royals nodded and complied.



 

Outside, Sunset paced while Spike and Discord were playing a card game.
Snow Pea asked Sunset, “Aunt Sunny, should we trust them?”
Discord answered, “Griffons love anything that glitters. If they do anything, they do it for the gold.”
Sunset countered, “That’s not exactly true. There are myths that dragons are greedy, but Spike, Firestone, and the other dragons we met seem nice enough. Besides, I’ve heard of a few noble griffons from legends.”
“Oh? And who might they be, pray tell?”
“Well, there’s Gump the Brave…”
While Sunset was talking, Snow Pea peeked up the table her uncles were sitting at. She saw that the king cards had her grandpapa and father on them and the joker cards had pictures of Cheese Sandwich and Pinkie Pie. When she glanced over to the queen card in Discord’s hand, she saw a picture of Aunt Twilight and…
“Hey, this has a picture of Mom on it!” the filly pointed out.
Discord said as he put down his cards, “Which reminds me…Royal flush!” 
Spike crossed his arms and said, “Aw, man!” When he noticed that Screwball and Apple Jewel were dozing off again, he said, “Uh-oh. I think it’s sleepy time.”
Discord said, “’Sleepy time’?” He conjured up a watch and said, “But it’s only an hour and a half before dinner. Well, I guess this calls for an energy-boosting drink.” He poured the potion into two cups and gave them to the drowsy fillies. 
When the girls’ energy was restored, Screwball said, “Thanks, Daddy.”
Apple Jewel whined, “I don’t like this trip anymore. It’s getting to be too much for me.”
Screwball nodded, “I agree. I wish it was all over soon.”
Snow Pea nodded with glistening eyes, “I wish the rest of our family was here.”
Sunset embraced the fillies and comforted them, “I know this is tough for you, but we have pull through for them.”
Apple Jewel sighed, “I don’t know what I’d do without my mommy.”
Screwy agreed, “Or mine.”
Snow Pea said, “Or my parents and sister.”
Apple Jewel then sang, “Always there to warm you in the winter…”
Screwy sang, “Always there with shelter from the rain…”
Snow Pea sang, “Always there to catch you when you’re falling…”
All three of them sang, “Always there to stand you up again…Family…”
Sunset joined in, “By your side in seconds if you ask it…”
Screwball then sang, “Arms out wide to welcome you to stay…”
Snow Pea sang, “Near enough to listen to your heart song…”
Sunset sang, “Always there to help you on your way…Family…”
Apple Jewel sang, “Family…”
Screwball and Snow Pea both sang, “Family…”
Discord sang, “What is a family?” 
Spike sang, “Caring and devoted hearts…”
Sunset sang, “With endless love to share…”
The grown-ups all sang, “Love that will follow you everywhere…”
Snow Pea sang, “Always there to welcome you in winter…”
Discord sang, “What is a family?”
Spike sang, “Arms out wide to welcome you to stay…”
Sunset sang, “Right by your side…”
Apple Jewel sang, “Near enough…”
Sunset and Jewel both sang, “To listen to your heart song…”
Spike sang, “Always there to help you on your way…Family…”
Snow Pea sang, “Always there…”
Screwy sang, “Family…”
Discord sang, “Family…”
All six sang together, “Family…”
Gilda then came out of the building and said, “Hey. Nice set of pipes. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that the council agreed to help you find the Air Vest. But they wanted a couple of griffons to accompany you, so Grampa Gruff, Greta, and I volunteered.”
Spike smiled, “Well, that’s great!”
“But you’ll need to do something for us.” The griffon then flashed a sly grin.