//------------------------------// // A new ally // Story: Of a German and American soldier in Equestria // by redspark //------------------------------// Chapter 34 "A new ally" A faint warm light engulfed the gigantic throne room, a yellow light thanks to the candles lit all around it. The old stones that made up its legendary pillars and walls seemed to be holding their breath as the king, in full battle regalia and covered in green blood stepped forward and sat on the throne. A bunch of griffons stopped before him, all seeming tired and some also covered in changeling blood. His raspy breath and occasional coughs caused some griffons to cringe in worry. The king looked at the gathered griffons before closing his eyes and leaning back on the massive golden throne, the candles behind it casting a shadow across the room. The griffons seemed to expect him to say something, but after a few minutes of unbearable silence, they all began going their own ways. Some formed little groups and began speaking in low tones, others simply went on their own to some part of the castle, and others wandered around the room, lost in thought. One of those wandering the room on her own was a young griffon in battle armor that gleamed in the light as she stopped and sat down on one of the tables that lined the side of the room, generally used for celebrations. Its armor seemed to heavy the griffon down, its form looking tired and overwhelmed with fatigue. The large scabbard that hung from its side was slightly tinted in green changeling blood, as was part of the chest plates and helmet. “Seems like the battle didn’t go well,” a young female voice sounded from behind her. Gwydy, niece of the king, turned around and saw a pony. She was covered in a cloak and drinking something from a jug. Her voice had sounded slightly off, obviously drunk. Gwydy turned her seat and looked at the pony. “What are you implying, pony?” the griffon demanded, slowly taking off her helmet. The pony simply shrugged and drank some more. Her attitude didn’t look good, and Gwydy was ready to get angry. She needed to get angry and let some steam off her head. “I’m not implying anything, just stating simple facts. By all your faces you just suffered another defeat. Or,  blast me to tartarus… Don’t tell me you’ve finally won one?” The last caused Gwydy to leave her helmet hard on the table and stand angrily, her chair falling back and her armor rattling softly. “Careful with how you speak, pony,” she said. Her gaze was looking intently at the pony, her eyes seeming to try to blast her back to Equestria. “I’m…” “General-princess Gwydy, I know.” The pony interrupted, causing an angry snort from the griffon. Still, she wasn’t about to lose her temper… badly. “I’ve been here quite some time, and I’ve learned quite a lot from you all.” The pony raised her hood and revealed a mint-blue mane, blue coat and horn, her eyes a slight purple. “After all, I am the great and powerful Trrrrixie…” The last seemed like she was going to make it like a show, full with her jumping on the table and magical fireworks from behind. All that was interrupted by a hiccup from the mare and her falling backwards with a tired grunt. Her face was covered now by her unkempt mane. “That… was obviously *hic!* intended…” the mare said awkwardly, Gwydy only managing to see her legs from her position. The pony grunted once more. Gwydy stared in confusion at Trixie. “What are you doing all the way here, and in the throne room of an empire that’s not your home?” Trixie sat back down again, her mane all ruffled. She picked up the jug and drank some more. “My business doesn’t *hic!* involve you knowing what I’m doing. I just needed a change of scenery *hic!*” “Aha…” the griffon said. She saw the mare finish her jug before setting it down on the table. A bright flash from her horn and there it was, the jug filled up again. Before she could drink more, Gwydy stopped her with her claw. “You should stop drinking so much, pony.” Trixie shot her an angry look. “Nopony *hic!* tells the great and powerful Tri*hic!*xie what she can and can’t do!” Gwydy sighed. “Although…” The mare eyed her drink. “I guess I should.” Her ears dropped as she set the jug down on the table. Gwydy returned to her seat. “Sorry you had to see me like that,” the mare said sadly, before collapsing on the table, her snores loud. Gwydy sighed and took the pony’s jug, still full. The griffon looked around and drank from it. Her eyes lit up. It was good! She drank again. “Gwydy,” came an old voice from behind her. The griffon looked around. The king stood before her, eyeing her tiredly. “Follow me.” After that, the king turned around and walked away. Taking a second look at the pony’s jug before setting it down, Gwydy went after her uncle. The two walked in silence across the many rooms that made up the castle, all dark since no griffon had taken the time to light the candles in them. They finally stopped in a large hallway, decorated with crystal windows that depicted several images. The feeling that room gave the young griffon general was one of respect every time she passed through it. “Why… why are we in the glory hallway?” she asked, her voice low, as if should she speak loud it would disrespect those that the windows depicted. The king looked around solemnly. “Ponies have a similar room to this one, the royal throne room. It depicts every important part of their history.” Gwydy just looked at his uncle. “We have this room, the glory hallway. We have placed these windows for generations, thousands of years of history, depicted on these hundreds of windows.” He looked at his niece. “And so hundreds of battles, coronations, assassinations, losses, wins… Everything that’s meaningful to us as griffons is here.” Gwydy looked at him in confusion. “Yes, I know. I’ve walked this hallway for many years. I am well aware of its history and meaning.” The old king smiled kindly. “I know. I was the first one to explain to you this room, after your father died.” That made Gwydy look down slightly, sadness filling her. “And so I took you under my wing.” The king pulled her head up with his wing, so that the two looked at each other in the eyes. “You’ve been the daughter I never had, and you’ve not disappointed. If there is one I am willing to pass the throne to, it is you. My son is very likely dead...” The young griffon stared at the king dumbfounded. “I… don’t understand what you mean. You’re not going to die any time soon!” she exclaimed. “You are our king, our hope, you’re like a father to me! Are you saying you’ll die?!” “No,” the king said slowly. “But I’m not saying I won’t either. We both need to be prepared. Me for joining my ancestors in the eternal flight, and you…” He stared at her deeply, his gaze penetrating the poor griffon’s soul. “And you to become queen.” Gwydy didn’t move for a second, but then rushed and hugged him. “I don’t want to…” A tear formed in her eyes. “I don’t want you to die, and I don’t want to become queen. It’s too much… too much…” She slowly broke into tears, the king's wings wrapping the crying griffon as he smiled sadly. “Please…” she said. They stood there for a few minutes, just holding each other, the king smiling sadly and Gwydy slowly stopping the flow of tears. “Come now, we mustn’t wait. The enemy is approaching the city and we must prepare the defenses.” The king and his niece slowly parted the hug. “I need you to find a way to contact the Equestrians. We lost contact after the changelings began surrounding the city, and we need to know how much longer we’ll have to wait.” Gwydy nodded. “Alright, I’m on it.” The king smiled once more and turned around, walking away. Gwydy saw as he left. She turned her head slightly to the left and looked at one of the windows. It depicted the coronation of a king from ancient times. His wings were spread out in a glorious manner, and three words were written below him. “ASHRAGH MOTTASCH ASTORACH,” Gwydy read aloud. “Glory, Honor, Victory,” she said after. Old griffonian. She sighed and turned around. Yes, she was going to fight with honor, for glory and for victory. Once she was back on the throne room, she looked for the mint blue pony. She was still on the table, drool falling from her mouth as she slept. Gwydy approached her, just as griffons moved around. The king had given the order to prepare the defenses, and they all began to stack up food around, ready for a siege. A large ballista was being placed on the throne room’s balcony, and griffons worked rapidly to go and prepare more around the city. Gwydy paused to look at the sleeping unicorn, her from moving ever so slightly as she breathed in and out. Gwydy poked her. “Trixie, I need your help.” The pony didn’t move. “I need you to contact the ponies that are coming to help us.” Still, the unicorn remained asleep. Gwydy sighed and pushed the chair she was on. The pony fell back with a surprised yelp, her eyes unfocused. “Wha… what happened?!” she exclaimed. After seeing the griffon in front of her, she stood up. “I hope you didn’t push me…” She looked directly at Gwydy, angrily. Gwydy shook her head. “I need your help.” Trixie looked surprised. “Me? Whatever for?” “I need you to contact the Equestrians that are coming to help.” The pony shook her head as she heard the petition. “Do you know what you’re asking for? It’s not something simple. Why don’t you just send a griffon with a letter to come back with an answer?” “Because,” began Gwydy, “we’re surrounded by changelings and no griffon will be able to pass without being spotted or killed.” “And you want me to do what, specifically,” Trixie said annoyed. “To procure a letter in the middle of their camp? Or better yet, to send it directly to their general?” After watching the griffon’s head move in confirmation, she extended her frontal hooved to the air in an annoyed manner. She turned around and looked away from the griffon. “Even then I don’t want to be in any contact with ponies.” She sighed sadly, her ears falling. “Do you know why I left Equestria?” “Err… I don’t.” Gwydy said confused. Trixie turned back again, this time her face sad. “Because I was a failure in magic! I was a showpony, I did simple tricks and simple spells to entertain ponies. After I got totally beaten in a town called Ponyville, I took revenge on those ponies by getting an ancient artifact and using it against Twilight Sparkle, the element bearer!” With each word, anger and pain left the mare. She took a step towards the griffon as well with each word. Gwydy slowly moved back at the raging sad unicorn. “And now I’m here, because I can’t bring myself to return and ask for forgiveness! I’ve got too much pride in me!” She fell down on the ground, obviously still under the effects of the hangover. “So I doubt I will be of much assistance, griffon…” she finished weakly. Gwydy looked at the sad image in front of her. A pony, looking for redemption for past mistakes. Maybe she could help her, and Trixie could help them back… “I know you must be feeling terrible, Trixie,” the young griffon said. “But we griffons need you right now. You’re the only pony in all the city, and the only one capable of performing a spell that can let us communicate with the ponies. I can lend you a few magic books that we have in our library, so that you can learn how to do it.” The pony didn’t move. “And…” Gwydy was unsure if she should say the next part. “And you might have enough good things to make up for your past mistakes.” Trixie stayed in the floor for a few seconds, before chuckling weakly. “I must look pretty pathetic, don’t I? The great and powerful Trixie, reduced to a crying ball on the ground…” She looked at Gwydy. “I’ll help you,” she said, standing up. “But I hope I feel better after this!” she said weakly, but smiling a little. “And I’ll get a place in history books! Gwydy nodded, smiling. “Follow me,” she said chuckling. She walked away, the now happier pony imagining herself in history books. The two moved together, with Gwydy leading her towards the library. None of them knew the two eyes watching their every move, as a changeling hidden behind a pillar sneaked out of the castle and towards its army, ready to give important news to its general...