Dawn of Crystal Empire

by TopWanted

Lullaby/Gladius/Honey - Chapter 13

The big day arrived. Lullaby had decided to stay in the Training Area barracks the previous night since the griffins would be arriving to escort the pegasi to the racing grounds pretty early. She left Bedim with Honey last night, Honey promising to come see the race when the second group of griffins came to transport the citizens who wished to watch. Large chariots had been prepared weeks in advance to pull all the non-flying ponies.

Despite the nerve wracking anticipation that the race had created, Lullaby was still in the dark as to the location. Sariel had only shared it with Cloud Catcher and the other captains. Even Dachuur had been tightbeaked on it. When she questioned her captain, Cloud Catcher simply stated, “It’s a perfect area. Should be safe.”

Lullaby stood at the front in line as Cloud Catcher paced back and forth in front of his squad. Gladius stood next to her, his face nervous but determined. Many other ponies stood to the side in expectation including the two other captains, Javelin and Dusty Crop. Cloud Catcher checked the purple early morning sky.

“Not like him to be late,” Cloud Catcher muttered.

“You sure we can trust this griffin?” Javelin asked snidely.

“If you ever went to a damn meeting, you’d know we could. Sari is perfectly trustworthy.”

Lullaby’s image of the black slender griffin popped into her head. A face only a mother could love.

She chuckled and Gladius noticed, his firm expression breaking for a moment.

“Ah ha!” Cloud Catcher exclaimed. “There they are!”

He pointed to the north and everypony turned to watch as the three griffins everyone were most familiar with glided over the treetops and landed before them. Sariel stepped up to Cloud Catcher and gave him a friendly hug as the Pegasus returned it.

“Thought you weren’t going to make it,” Cloud Catcher said.

“We had a few… misgivings to deal with,” Sariel replied as he shot a look behind him toward Dachuur.

The usually boastful and grinning prince was now quiet and stone faced. He didn’t even pay her a glance. Lullaby knit her brow in confusion.

“Shall we?” Cloud Catcher asked as he signaled for the Wonderbolts began to get in a takeoff position.

“Not so fast,” Javelin shouted. The pegasi un-tensing their muscles with a sigh. “There’s some things we need to discuss.”

“We had the ten months to discuss things,” Cloud Catcher insisted. “You wanted to push your nose into the game then you should have been at the meetings.”

“This isn’t about the game,” Javelin remarked. “Not entirely anyway.”

He walked forward to Sariel until he was right in the griffin’s face.

“I need your word that no harm will come to anypony here,” Javelin said with a strong determination.

“The race is completely safe,” Sariel said. “No griffin has died so far.”

“Your word!” Javelin insisted.

“You have it!” Dachuur spoke up and everypony turned to face him. A stern look of determination plastered on his face. “You have the word of the son of Zenfon. No pony will be harmed in this race.”

Javelin turned his attention to Dachuur, scrutinizing him with eyes like daggers.

“Very well,” he said resignedly as he returned to his squad.

Sariel waited a moment for the tension in the air to dissipate. “If that’s all then I believe we should be going. The tribal elders are awaiting us for the morning rites.”

Sariel nodded to Cloud Catcher, who nodded in return. He signaled his squad to begin take off once more. Sariel turned once more to Javelin and the other soldiers. “A resolute of griffins will arrive in a few hours to take you to the racing site. In the meantime, the racers will be treated like any other griffin and have seats at our morning rites.”

The three griffins pushed off into the air and the Pegasus squad followed. Lullaby shot a glance back at the camp before breaking the tree line and then returned her attention to the formation.

After about twenty minutes of flight, having passed Crystal Falls and the other settlements, Cloud Catcher gave the signal to his squad that they could break formation. There was really no need to follow protocol at the moment. Lullaby took this opportunity to fly up to the three griffins. She came into line next to Soracen who greeted her warmly. Dachuur flew in the center with Sariel to his right.

Lullaby leaned over, “So anything you can tell me about the racing site? Cloud Catcher’s been keeping it pretty hush hush,” she asked Dachuur.

Dachuur did not reply, keeping his attention at the forefront. Sariel noticed this and began to answer her, “There is a gorge that is considered sacred to several griffin tribes just beyond the eastern mountain range. We kept it secret because of its revered status and we ask that you keep it that way.”

Sariel frowned slightly as he continued. “Some of the elders do not believe that this is a wise decision. It took quite a bit of convincing to even get you pegasi involved, let alone the others of your settlements.”

Lullaby frowned at Dachuur who refused to speak. “I assume you had something to do with convincing them?”

“The master hunter did have a claw in it,” Sariel admitted, recognizing that Dachuur would not speak. “But I must also take some of the credit. You ponies have begun to fascinate me and I truly believe that a harmonious existence with you is required if we are ever to see eye to eye.”

Lullaby’s frown did not go away as she continued to stare at Dachuur. Finally after getting nothing from him she simply talked to Soracen the remainder of the flight.

Close to an hour later the group emerged past the eastern mountains. Lullaby took in a deep breath as she explored the view before her. Past the snowy peaks lay a large series of crags and canyons. Plateaus were everywhere in various shapes and patterns. The gorge Sariel spoke of was truly something to behold. In the center of the vast patterns of canyons lay a large bowl shaped depression in the earth. It looked as if time and nature had smoothed the gorge into a near flawless surface. When they approached closer Lullaby could make out small steps carved into the walls of the concave crater.

This is where the group landed as Cloud Catcher signaled them to return to formation. Each Pegasus landed neatly in a row on one of the large stone steps. The three griffins flying just a bit further into the hollow bottom of the bowl. Awaiting them were two groups. One was a pack of younger, virile looking griffins. Lullaby assumed they had to be the other racers. The other was a group of five older looking griffins. This was the group that Dachuur and Sariel went to, Soracen returning to the racers’ pack. Those were most likely the griffin elders.

Cloud Catcher tapped his hoof gingerly as he waited for Sariel to return or tell them what to do next. Lullaby held her pose on the stone step and caught a glance at the griffin pack. They were staring at them. Though none seemed particularly angry to have newcomers here for their tradition, there were many skeptical, curious gazes thrown their way.

Sariel finally turned back to the squad as he waved a claw for them to approach. The squad lifted off once more and touched down on the bottom of the gorge next to Sariel and the elders. This was the first time Lullaby noticed but the ground seemed to be covered in some kind of gravel and it was perfectly even and flat. Now looking from the lowest part of the stone bowl she realized that it was shaped like a colosseum. The carved steps were seats for spectators and the bottom seemed to be shaped like a field or track. She also noticed the bowl was not complete. Six equidistant holes in the wall of spectator seats seemed to lead into the maze of plateaus and canyons. The six holes were topped with archways completing the illusion of a round colosseum from the birds’ eye view.

Sariel approached them, along with Dachuur and a member of the elders. “May I present Cloud Catcher and the Wonderbolts of the pony settlements,” he directed to the elder.

The elder held his gaze on the squad and began to hum softly to himself. When it seemed like he was done scrutinizing them he turned back to Sariel and whispered in his ear. Sariel sighed with relief.

“He says you are fit to join us in the race,” Sariel said.

A couple of pegasi whooped in excitement, earning a stern look from Cloud Catcher. Lullaby took this opportunity to look once more at Dachuur. He had his head down, an indecipherable expression on his face.

“Then with that settled,” Cloud Catcher stated as he walked forward to stand next to Sariel. “When’s breakfast?”

“The morning rites will begin when the gatherers return from the early morning hunt,” Sariel said.

“Wait,” a random Pegasus spoke up. “So morning rites are basically just a meal?”

“A very special meal,” Cloud Catcher winked. “You’ll see.”

After a few more minutes several griffins appeared over the horizon. Lullaby’s first thought was that these were the resolute of griffins bringing the spectators from Crystal Falls, however what trailed behind them was too large even for the chariots they had built. Trailing behind these griffins were nets full of fish of every color and hue, bags of fruit and vegetables never seen before, and trailing at the back was an enormous wart hog carried by ten different griffins. Cloud Catcher had certainly been right about it being a special meal.

Preparing the food did not take long at all as the hog already appeared to be roasted and the griffins seemed to prefer the fish raw. Pegasi gathered around the bags of vegetables and fruit, picking at them and finding them delicious. Lullaby grabbed a purple root-like vegetable from the bags and took a bite of it. A satisfying crunch accompanying her grin of pleasure.

Pretty soon the scene was like something from a party. Pegasi were talking to griffins quite casually. Though it was clear that only a few of the griffin participants actually knew Pony. Lullaby occupied herself by speaking to Soracen, often catching Gladius in her sights standing off to the side and not interacting with anyone. Dachuur seemed to be fine and talking to others but Lullaby knew that he exuded the same kind of solitude that she saw in Gladius. When Soracen broke off and began to talk to another group of pegasi mares, Lullaby took the chance to go speak to Dachuur once more.

The griffin now stood alone, having just finished a conversation he didn’t seem at all interested in. Lullaby approached him from behind and sat next to him as they both stared at the party before them.

“So are you going to talk to me or do I have to knock you in the head?” she asked jokingly.

When Dachuur frowned and didn’t respond Lullaby decided it wasn’t a joke anymore.

“Ow!” Dachuur cried as he rubbed the back of his head. Lullaby was now facing him, her amber eyes locked on his.

“What the hay is your deal?” she exclaimed. “This is what you wanted, right? We’re finally going to see whose best! Haven’t you been pestering me the entire past year just for this moment? I assumed you’d be happier.”

“I am!” Dachuur shouted angrily, drawing some unwanted attention to himself. He lowered is voice. “I am. It’s just… I’m a little on edge at the moment.”

Lullaby grinned. “Don’t tell me the prince is getting cold feet? What are you afraid to lose in front of your people?”

“I’m afraid to lose something,” he agreed.

Lullaby waited for a continuation, but none came. She decided that it was probably best to let it go. At least he was talking again.

“I haven’t known you that long,” Dachuur said finally, his face still turned away. “But I want you to know… I’m glad I met you.”

Lullaby eyes widened and she felt blood rush to her cheeks.

“You remind me of something that I always thought I would someday lose.” He turned his head to face her, eyes connecting again. “Never stop being free.”

A moment passed as the two simply stood still. All sound seemed to fade into the background and all that could be seen was right in front of them.

A loud horn broke the moment. Dachuur tore his gaze away from her and she slowly turned her attention away as well. The first of the spectators were approaching. Within thirty minutes the seats of the colosseum were packed with ponies and griffins.

Lullaby caught sight of Honey as she exited the chariot she was on. She waved at her as she took her seat far above. Honey saw her and responded with a wave as well. Bedim and Crisp securely fastened to the saddle bags at her sides.

The elder that had judged them before called the pegasi and griffins together to the center of the colosseum. Lullaby stood next to Cloud Catcher and caught a glance at Dachuur who stood next to Soracen. Sariel stood next to the elder, no doubt acting as a translator for the ponies. The elder cleared his throat and held his talons aloft, a signal for the crowd to grow quiet. Gradually the echoes died and silence filled the area. The old griffin lowered his talons and spoke,

“Let us begin with the rules,”

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Gladius moved his hooves impatiently. He stood three rows behind Lullaby who stood next to Cloud Catcher. Gladius felt his teeth grind against each other.

“The first rule and most important,” the elder spoke in a harsh dialect while Sariel translated. “Is no attacking. Attacking will mean automatic disqualification.”

The elder affixed a strong glare at the ponies before continuing. “Second is that there will be no use of short cuts. All must stay within the prepared corridor and not go above the plateau line.”

Gladius took a glance around him. The colosseum connected to the canyon corridors through several outlets. During the morning rites, Sariel had explained how the race would start by sending the racers through one outlet. The direct route would lead them back out through another outlet back into the colosseum and they would be directed to the next outlet. This would repeat until everypony had completed each of the three legs of the race. That meant no jumping ahead to the fifth outlet before completing the first or third. Further they should not try flying above the canyons to get to another outlet or even find their way out.

A random Pegasus looked around confused. “Hey, if were going into the corridors, how are the ponies in the seats going to follow the race?”

Cloud Catcher turned toward the pony and winked. “Oh, you’re going to like this.”

“If that is understood,” Sariel translated. “Then let’s begin!” A series of griffins flew into the air from stands and up into the atmosphere. They began to gather as many clouds as they could find pushing them together and working to form a large dense rain cloud. Then they began to pulverize it. The griffins sped through the cloud, bursting it into droplets of rain that seemed to form a mist that hung in the air. When they had finished destroying the giant cloud they had built a thin film of mist and rain had covered the top of the colosseum. Instantly the mirrored picture of the corridors surrounding the colosseum came into view in the mist. The griffins stayed in place, each at a corner of the mist and continued to blow against it with their wings to keep it steady. The crowd gasped with delight and began to stomp their hooves in applause at the display.

“Now prepare yourselves at the first corridor,” Sariel stated.

The racers proceeded to the southern outlet and lined up, ponies and griffins intermixed. Gladius stood by a fearsome looking green feathered griffin. He shot Gladius a look expecting him to startle. Gladius did not budge. He was focused.

Then another feeling swept through him. The world was watching right now but one pair of eyes seemed to bore into the back of his skull. He turned to look. Sitting on the sidelines, by where the other soldiers had taken seats, Javelin crossed his forehooves and watched silently. His eyes were indiscernible.

Gladius turned back to the corridor in front of him and bit his lip nervously. He tried to get his focus back but his mind fell flat. In a blaring moment, a horn sounded and the world rushed by him.

Feathers were everywhere as they pelted him in the face or pushed past him extremely fast. The world was a blur of hundreds of different colors and then it was gone. Gladius stood alone at the starting line for a brief second and then cursed as he pushed off. He wanted to hit himself for being so stupid. He was in dead last. Lullaby and Cloud Catcher were probably already a good mile in. He beat his wings furiously and pushed forward, regaining his focus.

The first few he passed were pegasi, the griffins trailblazing ahead. He kept his eyes on the griffins ahead following their every move. The griffins made a hard right turn that Gladius had not expected and he collided with a solid wall. Luckily his reaction was fast and he planted his hooves into the side of the wall, small fractures appearing beneath. He felt his entire body tremble a he pushed off the wall with great speed and propelled himself past the couple of griffins in front of him.

The corridor began to swerve and zig zag. Gladius was able to keep up a strong speed as he blew through it but those behind seemed to have a harder time maneuvering. He cleared the final turn and was greeted by blinding light and cheer. He was back in the colosseum. He looked down at the center to find the elder motioning to which outlet he should go through next. He peaked ahead and saw a few pegasi and griffins turning into the next corridor. He sped to catch up with them.

The next leg of the race was not filled with break neck turns but rather large obstacles. Rocks and boulders lay strewn about the canyon floor and blocked most ways to pass. Some griffins and pegasi had even come to a semi halt before a small hole in a wall of rocks they had to maneuver through. Gladius decided he didn’t have time for this.

He had practiced the maneuver only once with Lullaby. And that was only after weeks of begging. Lullaby never fully told him how to do it since the first time he tried he nearly wrecked his legs. Gladius steeled his resolve and began to spin in the air, gradually picking up speed.

The long straightness of the corridor made it easy to build up momentum. But he was taking a chance on whether or not the stone wall before him would be thin enough to punch through or thick enough for him to break every bone in his body. He continued to spin, a cone forming in front of his outstretched forehooves. A split second before hitting the wall he closed his eyes. The collision sent vibrations echoing through his body and the corridor but he felt the wall give way. He opened his eyes once more and stopped the spinning, straightening his path to compensate for the dizziness.

He had just blown through a stone wall. His muscles ached and his body screamed at him but he continued to persevere. He rounded a corner and saw the object of his focus. Lullaby flew at the head of the pack, neck and neck with the griffin prince. Trailing behind was Cloud Catcher. Gladius pushed a little harder to catch up to them.

Once again he burst through an outlet into the sun and the screaming crowd. Lullaby and the griffin prince had already gone into the final leg and only Cloud Catcher was still in sight. The two entered the fifth northernmost outlet, Gladius staying just behind Cloud Catcher unable to come up side by side. The last leg continued in a straight line for about a mile before splitting off into four different paths. Gladius was sure that all paths lead to the goal but he still cursed himself. He had lost sight of Lullaby.

Cloud Catcher took the right most path and Gladius swore under his breath as he decided to follow him. He grew closer and closer as they dipped and dodged new obstacles. He could even make out Cloud Catcher’s labored breathing as he came up closer. Just when he was about to touch the captain’s back hooves he was so close, a loud rumbling grew and echoed through the canyon.

The rumbling grew as they flew further ahead. Gladius shot a look up at the plateau line. Running above, just ahead in a huge stampede across the cliffs, were the yaks. Hundreds of them. Gladius braced his hooves over his head as they passed below the stampeding horde. Small rocks and debris fell on top of him as he flew. He heard a loud crunch as a boulder dislodged itself up ahead and fell. He dodged out of the way in time and let out a breath of relief. Then a cry of pain echoed through the corridor. Cloud Catcher was pinned below the enormous rock, his leg crushed.

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Honey’s expression darkened as she watched events unfold. The northern plateaus were now swarming with yaks, their heavy hoofsteps causing rocks to fall and injure the racers. She looked down at the center of the colosseum. The black griffin that translated before was waving his talons enthusiastically, trying to talk the elder griffin into something. A loud rumble echoed and one of the griffins controlling the mist mirror above lost concentration. The mist dissipated and all the spectators began to panic. The black griffin flew up to the mist handlers and called for them to get the mirror back up.

Honey brought her hoof to her mouth in horror as she stared northward toward where the action was. Beddy and Crisp began to cry.