//------------------------------// // One of a Kind // Story: Chevalier // by TheFlyingHippogriff //------------------------------// My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: Chevalier Chapter 2- One of a Kind There are differences between griffins and hippogriffs. The most obvious being I have hooves and a tail in the rear. The other being that Hippogriffs can learn magic and earn cutie marks, and griffins cannot. Now that we have settled such things, it is time for my first day on duty. Since arriving in Ponyville, I have settled into my home, and now it was time to try and make friends with the townsfolk. For my first day, I settled upon wearing my armor, my blue surcoat, and having my trusty longsword at my side. "Right then, you are ready for work," I said looking in the mirror, and going out into Ponyville for the first time. Today is market day, and all the stalls were selling their crops to the public. It is one of those days that I find opportunities to be social with everypony, but also one of those day you have to keep your eyes focused. You never know. There maybe thieves lurking about in the crowds. My armor clinked and rattled with every step of my talons and hooves. This is why we knights do not make good spies. "Ah! There you are," said the alicorn mare, the same one I met the other day. "Hmm? Can I help you with something?" I asked her, "Yes you can, my name is Twilight Sparkle, I've notice you're having a little trouble fitting in," said Twilight Sparkle. I looked at one of friends, a pastel yellow Pegasus with a pink mane and tail. I offered her a toothed grin, and she in return fainted, "okay...you've got a lot of trouble, but it's nothing that can't be fixed," she added, and approached me with interest. Some of her friends had their doubts about me. I can see it in their expressions. Others seemed to be just as interested as the alicorn named Twilight. "Oh such luxurious suit of armor, tell me is this what you normally wear?" said the snow-white unicorn, my armor consists of steel plate armor on my entire frame except for the back of my flanks and tail. I also wear a hauberk of chainmail that goes to my midsection. The final touch is a blue and white surcoat that bares the coat-of-arms of my noble house, and a coif of chainmail with a steel gorget for added protection. My longsword and dagger never leave my side as they are strapped to a leather sword belt. "It is, my friend, for both ceremony and battle," I replied, "by the way, I forgot to ask for your name the other day," "How utterly rude of me, pardon me, my name is Rarity," she replied, a very beautiful mare she is. The pastel yellow Pegasus was coming to grips with herself, "don't worry about Fluttershy, I think this is the first time we've seen a...umm...what did you say you are again? Oh yes! A hippogriff," I nodded in understanding. Ponies need time to get used to things that are different. That is just a fact of life, "so what brings you to Ponyville? Surely, somepony of your merit does not come here without a proper reason?" "As I said yesterday, I was appointed by Princess Celestia and Princess Luna to be your town constable," I reminded them, "What the hay is a constable?" asked an orange earth mare with a blond mane and tail, "She's a police-mare, Applejack," said Rarity, "it is about time we have one to keep order in Ponyville, and one with a sense of fashion I might add," One thing I have noticed is that I am quite tall compared to most ponies. These six seem like they are a close-knit group of friends, "essentially, if you are friends with us, then we would be more than glad to be friends with you, Countess," I smiled and nodded to her words. Yet there was one Pegasus among them that seems to have a knack for getting into mischief. "Yes! Stick with us, and you'll make lots and lots of new friends!" said a pink pony named Pinkie Pie, jumping about like she put too much powdered sugar on her Beignets "Ha! Steel armor, hooves of lead!" she taunted, I lightly frowned at her, "I think this whole hippogriff thing is a cover up, there's NO WAY Princess Celestia or Princess Luna would let you in this town, are you a SPY?!" I tilted my head at the cyan-blue Pegasus whose mane and tail were as vibrant as a rainbow. I felt this one was going to be trouble, or a friendly rival. I am not one to turn down a challenge. There is a reason I was called "L'Orage" ('Tempest') among the brave knights for my respected homeland. "Ugh, Rainbow Dash show some respect to our guest," Rarity scolded, "Oh she'll have my props, if she can beat me in a race, what'd you say, Thunder Flanks?" Rainbow Dash challenged, "I say you should go and find someone else to meddle with," I said to Rainbow Dash, and went on my way to do my job, "you all have my utmost thanks, and my friendship, I bid you all a fond farewell," I left them, and went to do my duty to the village. Things seemed to be normal around the open market as closing time was approaching in the late afternoon. I have three shifts in the day: one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening. It was still the afternoon when I was making my rounds. "C'mon Thunder Flanks, race me! I bet you're chicken bock-bock-bock-bock!" Rainbow Dash taunted, A chicken just happened to be walking by. It is likely Applejack's, "Last time I checked, this is a chicken," I said showing the hen to Rainbow Dash, "now do I look anything like one? No, have a nice day," I decided to go to Sweet Apple Acres to return the chicken to Applejack, but Rainbow Dash was not giving up in her need to challenge me since I could hear her wings flapping behind me, "just how long do you intend on following me?" I asked turning to face the Pegasus whom had a cheeky little grin on her muzzle. "Until you challenge me to a race, I've heard you Hippogriffs are fast, I want to see for myself," Rainbow Dash replied, "how about this weekend?" "This weekend it is then, now please I have work to do," I said as my parting words to her, and returned the loose chicken to Applejack. Work comes first for me. if you do not work, you do not eat, you do not get money, and you do not make a name for yourself. My words sounded nonchalant at best, but I do intend to give Rainbow Dash a race she will not soon forget. I went home that night after an eventful day. I have started making friends, and friendly rivals. Then I realized that tomorrow is Saturday. I made a spinach and mushroom risotto for supper that night. I am off duty on weekends which will get me a chance to get to know my new friends. I feel like I can really talk with Rarity and Twilight Sparkle. Rarity is very creative, and always filled with new ideas. Twilight is very smart, and seems to know a lot about my kind. Applejack is hardworking, and Fluttershy well...that is going to take the most time to get to know out of all of Twilight Sparkle's friends. Still, these six ponies are a true blessing to me. I received a knock at the door. I answered it after washing dishes. It was Fluttershy. "Umm...hi," she said meekly, "I wanted to say...I'm sorry for fainting in front of you, Countess, it's just...I've had bad experiences with griffons...if you truly say that you're not a griffon then...umm...I think...we can be, you know...friends?" I wonder how long it took for her to build up the confidence to see me, and talk to me about this? None the less, I nodded 'yes'. Rainbow Dash, on the other hand, we will have to wait and see.