//------------------------------// // The Hippogriff // Story: Chevalier // by TheFlyingHippogriff //------------------------------// My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: Chevalier Chapter 1- The Hippogriff There are times when there are changes in your life, and you have to make the best of them. That is the way life is. My name is Wilhelmina, Countess of Faucon. I am a Hippogriff from the Westland, and I was summoned to Cantorlot for a special assignment. As I am a countess, I am also a knight. I am no stranger to combat or adventures of any sort, but this was different from anything I expected. I met a special group of ponies that became some of the best friends I have ever had in my life as a soldier. I was in presence of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. I bowed before the rulers of Equestria, "Wilhelmina, Countess of Faucon, it is an honor and a pleasure to meet you," said Princess Luna, "your deeds of valor have become the reason for a special position, a member of the King's Swords, winner of the Westland Kingdom's medal of valor...but that is beside the point, what we are saying is that I have spoken with the King of the Westlands, he has granted you permission to live among ponies," she explained, "To do what, exactly?" I asked scratching the feathers on the side of my head, "Here, let me explain," said Princess Celestia, "You are a member of the King's Swords, a member of some of the finest knights in the whole of Equestria, we feel that your skills can be used to preserve peace, and now Ponyville is looking for somepony like you," I tilted my head bemusedly at Princess Celestia's explanation for why she needs me? Surely the clouds of war would never reach such a beautiful land like Equestria, but you never know who might desire power among these ponies, "so in other words…" "Yes?" I asked, still slightly confused, "You are going to be the keeper of law and order in Ponyville, a constable," said Princess Luna, my eyes slightly widened at the position they were granting me. I closed my eyes, and looked away. I still had my doubts about such a great honor being bestowed upon me, "countess, what is bothering you? You should be overjoyed for having a great honor given to you," Luna asked, when going into the army, some ponies have doubts on whether or not they can make it as a soldier. I had a feeling similar to that. "I am, yet…I still have my doubts, Your Majesty," I replied, "You are a brave and noble hippogriff, Wilhelmina Countess of Faucon, you have earned that cutie mark on your flanks, we would not have chosen you if we did not see the goodness in you, and I still see no reason for you to have any doubts in yourself or your abilities," said Princess Celestia with a reassuring smile. I looked down at my cutie mark of two crossed sabers and a shield, "I have complete confidence in the fact that you do a great job among the ponies of Ponyville," Princess Celestia praised to me. "I know you will do us proud, now off you go Countess and make lots of friends," Princess Celestia said as her concluding words. I unsheathed the longsword at my side, and bowed to the two princesses and flew off on my way to Ponyville. The sky is clear, and the air is fresh and clean and feels great on my wings. I was a long way from my home, and now I have a new home for a new task appointed to her. Celestia is right, I need to be confident. Even in full armor, I am still as swift as a bolt of lightning. I landed in Ponyville into the middle of Town Square, "Hello…I am-," I said before I was interrupted, "Griffon!" a pegasus mare yelled, and the town went into a panic. "No…wait, stop let me explain!" I said, but no pony listened. Ponies everywhere went as fast as they could gallop to their homes, closing shudders and doors until I was the only one in the Town Square. I looked at myself in the fountain. I had the head, the black beak, and front talons of a harpy eagle, and the other half of a mare all in a shade of light grey. Still, I have black hooves and a black pony's tail in the back, and that did not seem to change their minds. This was going to be tougher than I thought it would be. "Well this is a promising start," I said to myself, cradling my steel helmet. I wore a coif of chainmail under my helmet for added protection. I cleared my throat, and rested my talon on my sword, "My name is Wilhelmina, Countess of Faucon, I mean you no harm and come on behalf of Princess Luna and Princess Celestia," I stated, hoping that somepony would listen to me. For the firs few minutes, there was silence. I could hear the chirping of a few crickets in the background. Not a good way to start things here. An alicorn mare came out first. Her fur was colored in a shade of purple likened to a field of lavender in the summer, "Wait…Princess Celestia sent you?" she asked, I nodded 'yes' to her question, "hmm…I have never seen you before, so tell me why are you here in Ponyville? We've had enough trouble with griffons, and we don't need anymore," she scolded. I understand why she feels the way she does around me. If you faced me, you would look at the front and only see a griffon, and not bother seeing my hooves. "Well, I am not a griffon, my friend, I am a hippogriff," I replied correcting her, "Oh my, this is truly a pleasure to meet you," said a unicorn who was as white as winter snow. I soon found she has an interest in fashion, "this armor is truly a work of great craftsponyship, better than the ghastly armor the royal guards wear in Cantorlot," soon more ponies began to slowly come out of hiding, "my name is Rarity, you don't seem to be from around here, my dear," I am not sure I agree with her on that. Armor is supposed to be practical for battle, not flashy, but she is entitled to have her own opinion. "I am not, I come from the Westland, and I was appointed to be the town constable thus I need to speak with the mayor of Ponyville," I explained to the ponies gathered around me. I take it they have never seen my kind before. I suppose they have a right to distrust me. Back in the Westland Kingdom, there have been scuffles between Griffons and Hippogriffs. Now was my chance to get out and see the world for what it is and what it has to offer. Every journey must have a beginning, and mine starts in Ponyville. After settling down in my new home, I was told by the mayor to not wear my helmet in public for reasons being that I might scare the fillies and colts. As if I did not have trouble with that already. My new home is comfortable, and located near the edges of the village. For work, I carry a longsword and a dagger. Hopefully, I never have to use it. In battle, My main weapon is a lance, and that is not something I plan to lug around on my back all day. To these good ponies, I am called 'the countess' or 'the constable' The ponies in Ponyville live such happy and peaceful lives. It is going to take time before I can settle down socially among them, but I am making friendly progress with a few locals in the small town . It is my job to keep the peace, and settle down among the ponies. A town needs somepony to keep law and order, but never be overprotective because that leads to more problems. The last thing I want is to make a negative impression, and the first day of my job has not even ended. Until then, I have a job to do.