Chapter 5: A Villain Revealed
Scootaloo accompanied Spike and Rarity from the hospital, with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle following close behind. They first travelled to the Sugar Cube Corner together where they ordered a series of hayshakes (as Rarity’s treat). Afterwards, they decided to go for a quick walk around Ponyville. Scootaloo couldn’t help but notice that the group was doing their very best to keep her away from the center of town, and the town hall. She figured out the reason pretty quickly, but She had decided to keep quiet to humor the others. The birthday party and their efforts in trying to make her happy was so important to them, that she couldn’t disappoint her friends with her ongoing cynicism. As they made their way around to Apple Acres, they dropped off Apple Bloom with Applejack; the two farm mares waving their hooves in a goodnight and goodbye gesture as the rest of them moved back towards town.
When they all arrived back at the Carousel Boutique, Scootaloo stood to the side as Rarity came forward open the doors. As she passed inside the doorway Scootaloo was taken aback by the sight of two well trimmed gryphons, furiously arguing over the proper decorum for a pair of purple velvet drapes. The gryphon pair were both similarly colored (white with brown splotches) and their squawking was audible even from across the room. Scootaloo didn't know how to handle the sight of the gryphons before her, constant flashes of her recent nightmares beginning to flare across her mind. Stopping in her tracks she froze just as Spike and Sweetie Belle walked right into her tail end. The two gryphons seemed to notice the filly’s harrumph as her friends ran into her, their keen ears able to detect even the smallest grunt from across the room. In response to the noise their eyes swiveled over to fixate upon Scootaloo specifically.
The looks the two griffon’s were giving her made her stomach tingle and caused her worry to return, however, both of them soon turned away from her and went back to arguing over the drapes. Rarity rolled her eyes before she trotted over to them and the three “fashionistas,” became engaged in a deep conversation. The griffons both seemed to be presenting their case to Rarity, as the white and purple mare tried her best to arbitrate the discussion.
Eventually they came to some agreement because Rarity turned to head back over to Scootaloo and the others, while the gryphons started folding up the drapes, the older looking one seemed to have a beaming smile across his beak. Scootaloo watched the two gryphons as they folded up the materials and gave a wave over in her direction. She approached cautiously with a feeling of distress and the odd beating of fear in her heart. That being said she also felt an adventurous need to press on, something she reckoned that was in her head, something apart of her blood. She came up to the two gryphons and looked them right in the eyes.
“Hey kid, mind holding this cloth for us for a second?” asked the lead one, handing her the end of the heavy but soft feeling fabric. The heavy material was a bit much for her, but it was nothing Scootaloo couldn't handle. She nodded to the gryphon who fed her even more of cloth in response.
“Not the boss's daughter are you?” followed up the second gryphon, his claws expertly twirling a pair of custom handled scissors in one set of talons, while holding his piece of the cloth in the other.
“N-No, I’m just a friend… why?” followed up Scootaloo. Her eyes couldn't help but focus on the shining pair of scissors, the pointed tips glinting in the boutiques lamp light. The orange filly also was aware of the strange behavior of the gryphons, as she further noticed the way the two would often look at her then smirk to one another.
“Just asking. If you’re not one of hers then you wouldn't happen to be the one they’re throwing the huge party for tomorrow night, would ya?”
“That’s supposed to be a surprise,” muttered Scootaloo worried a bit from the gryphons deduction.
“You don't seem too surprised,” answered the second gryphon, making a show of carving into the ends of the balled up cloth with a passion. His scissors flying through the cloth watching her intently as his fellow helped her hold up the other end of the drapes.
Scootaloo looked away from the prying avian eyes, not liking the predatory glare in the back of those four blue irises. The gryphons themselves seemed to sense they were making her uncomfortable because they began to tone back the way they looked at her.
“Sorry to spoil anything for you little miss, we just wanted to know who we’re making these drapes for,” added the lead gryphon.
“That’s okay. Just a bit personal,” added Scootaloo, eying the cloth warily as the gryphons began snipping at it again. “It doesn’t matter much anyway, they’re working so hard on it, I guess come seven o'clock tomorrow, it will be party time for me as well.”
Scootaloo had to jump out of the way as both gryphons dropped the cloth with matching squawks of surprise. Both looking at the other with wide eyes and beaks open, there plumage ruffled and flustered. This sight made Scootaloo a bit nervous, clearly the gryphons were excited about something. However, neither of them seemed to have felt a need to elaborate further as they simply reached down and picked the cloth back up.
“Sorry about that little miss, me and my brother are not ourselves at night, heh heh.”
Scootaloo had no response to that, she just wanted to get out of there as quick as possible. Giving a miniature bow to the gryphons as a sign of respect, she quickly retreated back to where Sweetie, Rarity, and Spike had been congregating.
“Okay kids come along and we’ll have a glass of milk and some freshly baked hay cookies, then it’s right to bed for the night,” came Rarity’s sweet voice.
Scootaloo and Sweetie laughed as they watched spike try to down another jug of milk as they chewed on the last of the fresh hay cookies. Once they were done they headed up to their room, Spike and Rarity in tow.
Tired and all worried-out, Scootaloo was ready for sleep. She was tired after having enjoyed the time she had spent with Rarity, Sweetie, and Spike in the Carousel Boutique. Spike took a sleeping position at the foot of her bed, of course he had growled at them when Sweetie Belle made the comparison between him and a dog. The young dragon had only glared at them and replied, “Not in this world at least.” He had given one final growl and then fallen asleep soon after. Scootaloo herself had been just settling for bed, when Rarity came in too say goodnight. The orange filly looked on with some jealousy as she watched Rarity kiss Sweetie Belle’s cheek goodnight before tucking her in. The green-eyed monster in her heart lasted only a few seconds before with some surprise on her part Scootaloo watched as Rarity crossed over to her own bed. The white mare smiled down at her and leaned in to kiss her on the forehead. Scootaloo couldn't help but flashback to another mare kissing her on the forehead. A golden-brown mare who spoke soft and soothing words in her ears, despite the cold chill and the feeling of high winds blowing across her face.
“Goodnight there Scootaloo, have sweet dreams darling. Tomorrow is going to be great it’s your birthday sweetheart,” chimed Rarity. The white mare making sure to tuck the young filly in as she had done her sister.
The young orange filly really enjoyed the large beds with the soft satin sheets and high thread count pillows. Sleeping from the guest bed just across from Sweetie Belle's’ own, Scootaloo finally had a night of peaceful, nightmare-free sleep.
~
Rainbow Dash groggily opened her eyes only to find pure blackness greet her. Groaning she shook her head back and forth, trying to dispel the throbbing pain in her head and back. Whatever those griffons had hit her with had knocked her clean out and left quite an impact on her body.
She decided to wait until her eyes could adjust to the darkness, wondering where she currently was and if she was all alone? She soon began to focus on another feeling. It was the feeling of being stretched more than one’s body could handle. Coiling her muscles to curl up to end her extended stretch session, she found that she was currently immobilized.
Her front hooves she discovered were not by her sides, but were tied outstretched above her. Pulling at her bindings she made out the sound of chains clinking. Now starting to become aware of the feeling of cold steel around her fur. She gulped as she realized she was hanging from some sort of bar. On a hunch she tried wiggling and pulling her fore-hooves kicking downwards as hard and as fast as she could, swaying back and forth in place. The cyan pegasus was surprised to see she could do so with little incident as her feet were untied, yet, she found she could not feel or touch anything solid. Dash realized in that moment that she must be dangling over some sort of precipice or hole.
A second grunt followed by sounds of a mare waking up greeted the long silence; Dash’s eyes starting to scan the darkness for any sign of this companion. She was wondering who it possibly was, and if they might be Daring Do.
“Daring is that you?” asked Rainbow Dash hesitantly, her anticipation so high her ears were practically standing on end.
“R-Rainbow… Dash, Is that y-y-you,” came the very familiar and high pitched voice of…
“Twilight! Twilight it is you? Yes I'm here!” squeaked Rainbow in surprise.
“Dash, I’m here and I’m okay except for… ohh my head, it feels like someone clapped me like a ton of bricks,” groaned Twilight.
“That’s okay Twi, my head is ringing just as loud,” replied Rainbow Dash.
“So Twilight did you get to warn Celestia? Are we gonna have royal reinforcements crash in to save us anytime soon?” followed up Dash, flickering her head about as if she expected to see a legion of Canterlot royal guards bursting into wherever they currently were.
“Uh well um, not exactly Dash. They nailed me before I could get to the palace (actually they got her before she even made it to the gate, but no sense telling that embarrassing detail to Rainbow). What about Daring?” inquired Twilight.
“Last time I saw her she was battling some griffon, I think she got away okay, but i haven’t seen her since.”
“Where are we now then?”
“Don’t know. Somewhere dark and deep my best guess.”
“Quite astute for a flying blue throw rug,” came a third soft and yet cruel sounding voice.
Both mares gave a neigh of surprise and alarm as all of a sudden two pairs of bright colored eyes appeared before them. The first pair were bright blue while the other was golden yellow. Both sets of orbs peered at the mares as a sharp poke from what could only be claws made both ponies jump in shock and fear.
At their small shriek several torches all of a sudden sparked to life. The bodies attached to the eyes and the claws tormenting them, were now revealed to be two griffons. The blue eyed griffon was older looking, and very withered, a necklace of bones tied about his neck, while the yellow orbs belonged to the young griffon Twilight had captured in the street. Both of them gave the mares a nasty look, bringing their metal claws to strike together as they circled them.
The newly ignited light afforded Dash the ability to look down to find they were dangling over a hundred feet in some kind of stone circular spire. Torches having been lit all the way down the structure to reveal near the full extent of tower. It was quite a ways down and even then the actual bottom was blocked from view by shadow and darkness. She swiveled her eyes across from her and past the nasty flying pair who were glaring at them; catching sight of dozens of other griffons nestled into the small honeycomb-like compartments scattered around the tower’s walls.
“Wakey wakey princess,” gloated the young yellow eyed griffon flapping his wings, as he flew around Twilight. Every now and then he would prod her with his sharp claws. The warrior seemed to enjoy the sounds of discomfort and fear coming from the purple mare’s voice. The other griffon flew about them now as well prodding Dash who snorted threateningly at him.
“Leave us alone feather-brain!” snarled Rainbow Dash pulling at the chains holding her up.
Twilight was detained in quite the same manner as Daring. She also found herself hanging just a few feet away from Dash. Twilight could also feel something on her horn, some sort of cold metal. Dash had noticed it as well, it was some sort of metal band with a large purple crystal embedded in its center. Dash watched helplessly as the purple alicorn tried to pull herself away from the harassing claws, giving a deadly glare at her tormentor.
“You and I have some business to finish griffon!” she growled, kicking her hooves outwards to try and hit him. The young griffon easily dodged her flimsy movements, the alicorn lacking the leverage to allow much movement.
“I don’t think so princess. In fact you might find it better to comply with our wishes, it will definitely save you some pain.”
Twilight fumed until it dawned on her that she was a magical flying unicorn, “Duh.” and tried to summon enough energy to blast the smug right off this griffon, or at the very least teleport away from these chains. However, as she tried to summon her magic the crystal in the metal band about her horn lit up and began to hum. Twilight was desperately trying to summon as much magic as she could but nothing was flowing through her body. If anything it felt like her magic was being blocked and diluted back into her the harder she pushed it to come out. She had to give up after a rather draining feeling sapped her body.
“Nice try princess, but that magic inhibitor is there to stay. No magic from you,” came the withered griffon’s cold taunting voice as he flew around her once more.
Twilight just growled, joining Dash in rocking back and forth to try and dislodge themselves from the metal bar they were hanging from.
The young griffon all of a sudden flew in front of her and whispered into her ear, “You should answer all of his questions, right when he asks them. You don’t want to know what he’ll do to you if you don’t.” He gave her a solemn look, in which she thought she saw some level of concern in his eyes.
“Now ponies we have a few questions for you to answer and if you don’t, heh heh well,” smirked the blue eyed griffon as he uncoiled a long cruel looking whip from around his waist. “Let's just say we’ll get it out of you one way or another.”
Both Twilight and Dash looked with wide fearful eyes at the long leather whip, understanding exactly what the inquisitor meant. Neither pony could guarantee how they were going to handle this, looking at one another hoping to see some reassurance in the other’s eyes. There was none however, to be seen.
“Where is the key?” demanded the withered looking griffon.
Neither mares spoke making a big show of holding their tongues and turning their heads away. The griffon smiled and flew around the two dangling ponies twirling his whip expertly.
“In the Legion, failure to follow orders earns you ten lashes with the whip, but since the two of you are not in the Legion, I think you’ll share five each.”
Now he was behind them smiling with cruel mirth as he watched the mares trying their best to look back at him over their shoulders. Uncoiling the whip the griffon gave a few practice swings, the sharp cracks of the whip shaking the ponies to their very bones.
“Before we go through with this would either of you two want to re-think your silence?” he asked hopefully. The glare they gave in return only made him smile wider. “I thought not. Good.”
The first crack landed across Rainbow Dash’s back making the cyan pegasus cry out in shock and pain. Another blow struck her across the back again almost instantly after, this time from the opposite angle, causing her to once more squeal.
The first and second blows had caught Dash off guard, but she was now prepared for the third. As soon as the lash struck her thrice, she had managed to hold in her cries, while also relaxing her muscles so they were no longer tense. The griffon seemed to admire her for her resilience because he held off the fourth lash. Of course it was not that easy, for instead of lashing her about the back he chose the fourth blow to score along her flank right upon her cutie mark. Dash couldn’t hold in that scream; she absolutely erupted into cries of pain with tears streaming down her face from the sensitivity.
Twilight looked over and grimaced in shock as she saw the red cut mark across her friends cloud-Rainbow cutie-mark. Twilight heard the fifth crack long before she heard her friends final cry, her own tears forming as even she could feel Rainbows pain. Looking over she was shocked but not surprised to see the pain of the fifth blow had been so much for Dash that she had passed right out.
The young gryphon who had tormented her previously all of a sudden was there at Dash’s side, a bucket of water in his talons. He doused Rainbow with the ice cold water watching with solemn eyes as the pegasus spluttered and came back to reality. The inquisitor behind them flew now beside Twilight, pushing his fellow aside as his snarling beak came to rest against the fur of her cheek.
“Never whipped a princess before, but let me assure you I’m very professional… So this will hurt!” he growled into her ears. Twilight giving a meep as the cruel sounding griffon disappeared; the sound of his wings flapping grew almost silent in the the moment, Twilight now only focused on listening for the sound of the whip.
When the first blow struck her across the shoulders where her back met her wings she screamed. Pain lanced through her body up and through her spinal column and directly into her brain and nervous system. She struggled and pulled trying to escape the throbbing ache of the lash, only to have the second land again across her other shoulder. Like Dash, Twilight couldn’t get used to the whippings, the inquisitor alternating where he struck. As the fifth lashed out and licked across her already bruised hips she fell limp. The young gryphon was back in front of her this time with a fresh bucket and a ladle. He brought the ladle filled with cold water and drizzled it about her face and shoulders.
“I’ll ask another question,” continued the inquisitor, waving aside the younger griffon. “Where is the thief Daring Do?”
“Ha Daring did get away, I knew she would. I guess that’s bad news for you turkeys!” cried Rainbow in defiance.
Twilight had to admire her friends brazen courage in the face of such pain and despair. It was such a morale boost to her that the Princess managed to crack a smile of her own; Dash would be Dash no matter what.
The blue pegasus cried out instantly in pain from a rather well angled lash across the side. The griffons response reinforcing to both ponies that further defiance would be costly.
“I ask again, Princess this time you answer. Where is Daring Do?” came the gruff voice of the increasingly frustrated inquisitor.
“Go boil your head bird-brain, I don’t know,” spoke Twilight in equal defiance, earning herself a rather stinging blow across the flank. Her piercing shriek enough to make even a few of the nestled griffons around them clutch their ears.
“Did you warn Celestia, what does the Sun Princess know?” followed up the guard, both mares remaining silent. “Fine, ten lashes each, and for every other question not answered, we’ll add five more, sound good?” Screamed the increasingly angry Inquisitor.
Over the next half an hour both Rainbow and Twilight became covered in lash markings, their screams and cries long gone with their voices. Despite the pain of the whippings both mares managed to keep the strength to hold on. Their bodies had gone numb to the taste of the whip long ago.
The griffon Inquisitor himself was angry and exhausted, barely able to even hold the whip anymore. His talons were too sore from how long and hard he had used them. The younger griffon was quick to take opportunity of the lax in lashings, bringing a freshly filled bucket of water and dowsing the mares to keep them conscious and fresh.
He stopped in front of Twilight and the purple alicorn was amazed to see a sign of respect in his eyes. His talons came forward and on impulse she shrunk back as much as she could. His talons however, only wiped some of the blood and sweat from her brow, the griffon youth bringing the ladle up to her lips to let her drink.
“Quite impressive your highness, but it can’t last. I told you to give in, just tell the Inquisitor what he wants to know, or you won’t like the consequences.”
She merely shook her head, “I can’t do it. My friends are more important than my life.”
He looked at her with surprise and still that look of respect, but he too shook his head, “I warned you.”
The griffon inquisitor screeched in anger as he seized both mares by their shoulders, his beak nearly tearing at their fur.
“This is ridiculous, but if you don't spill your guts to me, then you can spill them to him!”
Both mares picked up on this and looked forward as an eerie glow at the back of the tower flickered to life, the blackness melting away to reveal a pair of green eyes. The black griffon seemingly erupted from the shadows themselves, his talons glowing with fiery green flames. His small body struck Twilight as odd, given the size of his wings, however, she could feel the magic emanating from him from even across the tower. What alarmed her most was that as soon as she could feel his magical energy, it disappeared as if it never existed. Griffon mages were a relative unknown for most of Equestrian scholars. It worried her for she could not plan against him if she was unable to see what he was capable of.
“Introductions are in order I think. I am Mordrue last of the gryphon mages and commander of the legion, and you are?”
“I am Twilight Sparkle Princess of…”
“Of nothing! That was rhetorical my dear, who you are doesn’t matter. All that matters is you are the ponies who are standing in my way, which does not bode well for you my dears. But if you would just hold on, I first need to teach an important lesson for the future. Inquisitor fly forward!”
The griffon in question looked quite alarmed as he was called up his wings fluttering nervously as he approached his commander.
“Yes sire?” he meekly asked, his previous arrogance and cruel stature lost to the cowards winds.
“Why were you asking them those particular questions?” Demanded Mordrue expectantly.
“Because, we need to know where the key is, if Celestia has been warned, and where Daring Do is, do we not?” squawked the Inquisitor timidly.
Twilight didn’t see where Mordrue’s talons came from nor did she know how the griffon could be that fast, but where once the Inquisitors neck had been bare, the dark griffons talons now held it in a fierce death grip.
“No fool, we don’t. I know where the key is, what I need to know is who’s guarding her? Second, Celestia no longer matters, I do not care if she knows or not. Finally, I do not give a flying monkey’s tail about Daring Do!”
“B-but, y-you said…”
“That was then, this is now. Had you and your friends been doing your jobs rather than pillaging frightened blue-bloods at that party, you would have realized that Daring Do is of no more consequence.” The black griffon snarled at his guard as he circled the quivering subordinate directly. Twilight couldn’t help but think it appeared quite comical, the larger griffon terrified of one so smaller then him.
“I had originally thought, the little thief might get in the way,” followed Mordrue. “ To have her head on a plate was always a preferred outcome, but it was never a prerequisite.”
Dragging the squirming Inquisitor with him he began to circle the dangling mares. His eyes scanning over their tortured forms even as his prisoner began to flap extra hard, desperately trying to give himself enough leeway to breathe.
“And so you have been asking the wrong questions, and wasting time. My time!”
“B-b-but, their pain…” squeaked the griffon, his own talons struggling in vain against his masters.
“Their pain may have amused me, it did not however, serve me. For the last half hour I sat and waited, hoping to see some sign of intelligence, one iota of initiative, and all you have provided me is a few whipped mares and utter failure!”
With that Mordrue brought his talons down with striking force, cracking upon the Inquisitor's back, where his wings met the shoulder, breaking the bone and shattering the tendons. The Inquisitor screeched in his own pain and from opposite him two aching mares slowly grinned in solidarity.
“Please, please master Mordrue, I’m begging you! I can do it again, ask the right questions this time! Just tell me what to ask them?” cried the sniveling Inquisitor, his wings now useless as he struggled with the grip about his throat.
“When I appointed you my Inquisitor, I assumed you would be smart enough to know what those were better than me…”
“Please, I ugh...”
“Don’t interrupt me,” snarled Mordrue, having nearly crushed the other griffons windpipe. “There’s no room in my legion for such bunglers. So I’m afraid you’ll have to go.” With that the black griffon let go of the Inquisitors neck who gave a cry of dismay as he plummeted down the spire, his cries echoing throughout the tower until they were instantly silenced following a loud crunching thud in the darkness below.
Turning to face the rest of his minions, the black griffon screeched a fearsome war cry as he took his place in front of the two tied up mares. “Let this be a lesson to all of you! From now on failure will have very serious consequences, understood!?” Grinning from his beak as a cacophony of hoots, clapping, and shrieks of approval roused from the legion all around them.
Focusing back on the prisoners, Mordrue flew around behind the two dangling mares and reaching forward, took both their shoulders in his talons.
“Have either of you ponies ever experienced the griffons’ cleansing fire? No? Well it’s an ancient purifying spell that was said to test one’s strength of will and spirit. Let’s give it a try shall we?”
As soon as he said it, his talons glowed burning green while pain beyond imagining, far greater than that of the whip erupted throughout their entire bodies. Both Twilight and Dash screamed beyond their normal capability as their entire bodies lit up in pain no mortal being (or immortal for that matter) should ever feel.
Releasing their shoulders after what seemed an eternity, Mordrue allowed both mares a chance to recover. Poking at their bruised and marked bodies he couldn’t help but find himself repulsed by their shape and puny size.
“I despise you ponies. I hate everything about you. Everything you are and represent reminds me of him. Even the way you smell and feel.” The black griffon sweeping between the mares, his constant movements keeping them from ever feeling truly comfortable. He almost resembled a shark circling its prey before going for the kill.
Eventually he came before Twilight, tracing the tip of her horn with one of his talons. “You especially alicorn. Damn you spawn of Allomane! You and all the other alicorns.”
Twilight gave a groan of force pleasure as his talons stroked around her rather sensitive area, nearly crying out for Celestia but catching herself in time. The black griffon however, as if he could read her mind made sure to press his questioning.
“Tell me Princess, how is old Celestia? Doing fine by the looks of things, you alicorns seem to be blooming like daisies. However, if i recall It’s been so long since she got herself a new pet. What’s wrong, that pink mare from the backwards of nowhere and that twisted moon sister of hers weren't enough I take it?”
Twilight struggled to breath, her mouth having gone dry and hoarse from all her screaming. She was only able to manage to glare defiantly into the green orbs of the dark furred tormentor before her.
The griffon merely snarled at her display. “Glare all you want alicorn worm it matters not to me, nor to you for you cannot escape your fate!”
Twilight shook her head and spat at the griffon just as his black head dodged in the nick of time. With a fierce growl Mordrue swung his talons and delivered a ferocious backhand to the purple mare’s face. Twilight coughing as she spat out blood but thankfully no teeth.
“Celestia is doing quite fine and still is strong you flying rodent,” she replied hoarsely, not breaking the fearsome glare with her captor.
Mordrue only smiled, his beak glistening in the torchlight as he once more brought his talons to bear on their shoulders. Both mares bracing for the next round of pain only for nothing to happen. The griffon merely laughed as his cunning green eyes winked playfully at them.
“Good for ol’ sun butt, I look forward to finishing what we started.” He gave a growl of excitement at the surprise flashing across both mares eyes. “Oh yes, you see I have had no fear of Celestia for quite some time now.”
Twilight felt it her turn to get one over on the griffon, giving him a massive grin. “Yeah, well we heard the last time you met you ended up a lawn ornament.”
“Yeah, she totally put you in your place!” squeaked Rainbow having recovered enough herself to speak again. Though both she and Twilight shared a puzzled look as the griffon didn’t react. Instead he only kept smiling.
“Ah but you see last time, she had a little help," he snarled. "It’s a powerful spell you know? To turn powerful beings such as I to stone. Your draconequus friend might know a thing a two about that. The Medusa’s stare they call it. Very ancient spell and very complicated; one your perfect little Celestia could never manage without her precious little jewels.” He sighed and stroked his mane in thought. Reminiscing of his previous encounter with the Sun Princess.
“No, to defeat me she needed some help. Someone to cast the spell for her to use. That someone however, is no longer with us, and without them she has neither the power nor the means to stop my destiny this time.”
Twilight gulped as she pulled on her bindings once more, quickly becoming aware of a slight bend in the metal of the cuffs she was wearing. The metals shape beginning to give under the stress of her frantic rustling. Deciding to keep this to herself and not give anything away, Twilight stopped struggling and began slowly working her hooves to try and bend the metal even further.
“Her intervention would have been a serious hindrance, but as of right now it is of no more consequence, and neither is that thief and upstart Daring Do.”
The griffon flew around the spire back into the shadows, returning nearly instantly with a book in his talons. Opening it up he read the title out loud, showing it to be the latest Daring Do novel.
“Ah yes the newest edition of our favorite pony heroines grand adventures, hahahahahahahahahahahahahah. I have to admit they are quite entertaining, but I have to say the, Griffon's Goblet is still my favorite.”
Both Twilight and Dash looked at each other with alarm. “You read Daring Do?!” shrieked both mares simultaneously.
“Heh heh, of course. Of course it started out simply to find the little thief, and then lo and behold we find A.k. Yearling, A.K.A. Daring Do. Some of my griffons wanted to gut her on the spot, of course I had to be the voice of reason. For you see she no longer had the key, and so was no longer of any importance. I had thought about forcing her to tell me its whereabouts, but then I remembered how hard she had fought on the mountain side… would that mother give up her only child to me? No, she would’ve died first. Much easier to let her live with her constant pain, never able to ever visit her child least-ways worried I might find her. One can kill one’s enemy only once, but get them through their children, and you can kill them everyday.”
“You’re a twisted monster Mordrue!” cried Twilight.
“Perhaps, but I am a monster with a plan. You thought you were dealing with some hack villain? Some two-timing fanatic with no brains? Think again Princess of Friendship. I am a warrior, I am a mage, I am not a clown. These griffons of mine may be simple creatures, so often or not they need simple direction, but never assume that I AM SIMPLE!”
The black griffin's’ talons lit up once more, this time both mares felt... well good. Their whip wounds beginning to heal as Mordrue infused healing magic throughout their bodies. The pain and ache leaving their bones and flesh as the griffon’s talons tightened about their shoulders. Both mares able to feel the energy moving throughout them, attacking their most sensitive and sore wounds.
“W-what! Why?” squeaked Twilight, thrown off by the griffon’s actions.
“I want you healthy, healthy enough so that when the pain really starts you’re not too numb to feel it. You think I haven’t been planning for this moment?” he snarled in her face as his beak nipped the air inches from her worried muzzle. “Once I knew Daring would never take me to the key, I lost interest in her, but not Celestia. No, never my old friend. You blame Daring Do for not seeking her guidance and her aid sooner don’t you?”
Twilight refused to nod, although the thought had been brooding in her mind for a long while now. Damn Daring for having to be so stubborn and foolish.
“Hahahahahaahha, you do, I can see it in your eyes just as plain as day. That is why you ponies are so inferior. Daring never went to Celestia because she was too ashamed and embarrassed. Too focused on her failures as a mother and how others would see her too even consider the bigger picture. That is why you are so weak; emotions cloud your judgement, imagine that, someone so ashamed that they refuse to seek the help of the one being who might help them. Pitiful.”
The alicorn could only stare and shake her head, trying to find something to distract her from the griffons uncomfortable words. “How do you know this?” she demanded.
“That bond I share with my key, well now I share such a bond with Daring Do. The moment she birthed my key into mortal form, she and I had a connection. Whenever I think of her I can feel her shame, I can feel her fear, her anger, it is quite amusing.”
Twilight could only stare in shock, while Rainbow furiously began pulling and even gnawing at her chains.
“But even if she had gone to the Princess, it would have availed her not. Another reason you ponies are so inferior is that you say you’re committed to loyalty, honor, and righteousness, and yet cannot live up to those standards.” He smiled as he twirled through the air in front of them taunting them with the suspense.
Twilight growled in anger, however, that part of her that was scholarly was intrigued to where the griffon was going with this.
“For you see,” continued Mordrue. “I have been bribing some of Celestia’s most honored royal guard for years now. They spy on the Princesses, make sure any news about us or our dealings never reaches their ears, and to make sure Daring Do should she ever grow a spine is found with a knife in the back, long before she can tell Celestia anything!”
Twilight and Dash traded another shared look of surprise and outrage; corrupt guards in Celestia’s ranks ha, that was impossible… right?
“Celestia is cut off, even if she does interfere now it will be to no avail. Her guards and the Equestrian army are ineffective and unprepared. They’ve never had to fight a real battle their entire lives, whereas my legion were forged in battle, even our youngest are battle hardened.”
Twilight gulped as she thought over Mordrue’s words. It was true, the royal guard and reserve army had not been in a real pitched battle for over 1000 years. Celestia’s magic could be the factor they needed to even the odds, but to do that they would need to contact her, without her guards knowing. Instantly she was struck by inspiration, her thoughts flying back to Spike.
Spike was back in Ponyville with a direct route to Celestia herself. She was about to think on how to exploit this further when Mordrue plopped himself right in front of her, his talons coming to grip her muzzle and pull her face close to his beak.
“You’re thinking about your little dragon friend aren’t you? Ah yes my dear I know all about him,” he chortled as he saw her eyes widen even further. “You don’t spend 13-15 years spying for nothing. Too bad you couldn’t wake him up after that long night of starring at fog huh? Hahahahahahahahahhahahahaha, oh the little fool actually stayed up all night.”
Twilight was shocked, the only way Mordure could know that was if he had been watching. Had Mordrue planned this all along?
“I can see you’re trying to figure this all out. Well yes it is true, I saw your little dragon friend and had to make sure he had plenty to focus on for the night. Manipulating fog is such child's-play, but oh so entertaining.”
Twilight couldn't help but mentally kick herself, she should have waited for Spike to have woken up, or at the very least have kept him awake long enough to warn Celestia.
“Your friend is now under close watch, he won;t be sending any messages without me being aware of it. For you see my griffons have already infiltrated Ponyville!”
“How?!” Demanded Twilight, alarm and fear pulsing through her, wondering what dangers her people were in.
“Why you invited them of course Princess, don't you remember? To help with the preparations for dear Scootaloo’s birthday!” laughed Mordrue briskly.
Twilight growled fiercely trying to swing her hooves to kick at him, only to find Mordrue was no longer in range. He was now hovering above her staring down into her yes as she looked up. His talons soon came about and waved condescendingly back and forth before her angry face.
“TUT TUT”
“You see one thing i have noticed about you Twilight, is that when danger happens to your friends, you wait until you have a plan of action, usually when you know what you’re dealing with. But when the threat is something different, something unknown? Oh but then you are too quick to act. I always expected you to overlook your dragon friend. Using time to think is such a problem when ponies you love are in danger, isn’t it?”
Twilight could only look down in shame and defeat, the griffons words ringing true in her head. She had no idea how to argue against that. Feeling his talons come about her shoulders once more she barley tried to shake him off, not even as his pointed beak moved along her neck.
“Aren’t emotions such a weakness?” He spoke directly into her ear. “Compassion is a liability. As I teach my boys, the only thing that matters is power and might.”
“You’re wrong,” snorted Rainbow defiantly from across Twilight.
Mordrue released Twilight’s shoulders looking over at the other prisoner with a smug grin. He now appeared before the winged pegasus, curling like a snake about Rainbow’s body. His large wings wrapped around her, enveloping her entirely.
“Am I? Tell me oh great element of loyalty, if you hadn’t gone back for your friend would you have been captured? Would you be feeling the pain and punishment you are now? Of course not,” he grinned.
“W-Why are y-you doing this?” moaned Rainbow trying to shake herself free of the black griffon. The cyan pegasus twisting back and forth in her bonds and his feathered wings.
“For my sword. The sword of my people, the only hope to make the griffon race great once more. Have you seen what has befallen us winged brat? Our cities have crumbled, or people live in squalor, leaderless aside from squabbling warring chieftains, and what’s worse, we have become lesser than you. No griffon should ever be lesser than a pony, not in my day, not now, not ever!”
Mordure released his hold on Dash and once more resumed his place beside both mares. His wings now enfolded over both of them, hanging in the middle like they were all good friends. The reality being the farthest from the truth.
“There was once a time when we griffons competed with Equestria to be the greatest empire on this planet! A time when even the most lowly griffon was on par with even the grandest of ponies. This was our time, my time, the time of the griffon mages, and the high empire, the likes of which we have never seen since.”
Twilight could see the sparkle in the griffon's eyes, the longing and desire building in his voice and even his body movements. His chest puffing out as his feathers and fur bristled with excitement.
“There was one pony though who I valued more than anything. The alicorn Prince, Allomane. Together we forged a bond unlike any other. It was he who chose to create the sword, he believed that if it was combined with the essence of the major races of our world, it would bring us all closer together. A way to unify our peoples, with his guiding light protecting it from abuse.”
The griffon’s hold on their shoulders tightened as his voice grew darker, and more angry. The males’ hot breath washing over the backs of their necks as he maneuvered his himself between them.
“Like a fool i believed him, I helped him forge the sword, I used my magic to shape it, to infuse it with the essence of the other races. For a time it was as he said, peace and prosperity, the sword wielded in our hands made us on par with even Allomane himself. Then weakness crept into our bloodline. Allomane allowed himself to be swept over by emotions, grief, pain, misery, all corrupted him. When he fell, everything broke down. No more togetherness, no more unity, but we were left with the sword. The ponies turned on us, Celestia my rival for Allomane’s affections and his successor demanded we hand over the sword to be locked away, it’s power to great without the Prince of Life to ensure it’s correct use. It would mean war if I were to refuse. In those days I was weak willed, and so I allowed compassion for others to overwhelm me. I complied with her demands and threw away our future.”
Both mares groaned as the talons dug into their shoulders, The griffons green eyes peering into those of his prisoners. The eyes could not lie and he wanted both mares to understand how serious he was.
“After that,” he continued. “Everything went wrong. Each griffon king was worse and less strong than the last, our people withered and our power and influence fell. It took quite a few hibernation spells, but i was able to last the ages, and watched my world crumble, while you ponies rose in our ashes! But now we shall rise again, like the phoenix we will once more be great again. All the world will bow before me, and the griffon race will be superior for all time!”
“Not if you don’t find the sword, and not if you don’t have Scootaloo,” groaned Twilight.
“Your little filly friend will be mine very shortly, don’t you worry about that. That is assuming of course, that the freak-show known as my soldiers can do one thing right,” growled Mordrue. “I have been a fool and no mistake, believing I was dealing only with lesser creatures. To underestimate an enemy in such a way, is a dishonor to my race. It won’t happen again, so you will tell me who you have guarding the little brat, you will also tell me everything you know about Celestia. What her powers are like now? what her best strategies are? What she eats in the morning!”
Touching upon their shoulders once more he activated the griffon’s purifying spell, both mares erupting in screams as he gave their now fully-healed bodies a full on dose of unbridled pain. Releasing them Mordrue gave a cruel smile beginning to laugh as the mares tried to recover from the new ordeal.
“Do you wish to be more helpful now?” he countered.
“Ugh, uh, we won’t talk freak-wing so do your worst,” spat Dash.
Mordrue’s talons lit up once more as he prepared to touch their shoulders again.
“My plan exactly.”
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Is it okay if I looked at the title and immediately thought of this?
vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/souleater/images/3/39/Excalibur_Render.png/revision/latest?cb=20141205042152
Because, for the most part,
ziboff.com/uploads/profiles/GeretWasntTIT/attachments/now-on-the-list-of-things-that-are-not-ok-that-was-really-not-ok_1_1444949021.jpg
Travelled is spelld with 2 Ls.
Sugar Cube Corner is a name, ergo a pronoun
that would be "lo and behold"
That would go better as "the most lowly of griffons"
7237620 Thanks for that, very appreciated, my editor has been sick so we didn't know if we had missed a few.
7240353 yeah, well, i'm a little under the weather myself.
Still, it's kinda my nature.
This sentence is confusing. You want to reword it.
7281863
Well there is always a first time for everything, especially in Fan-fiction, but it doesn't really fit what i wanted on reflection so I agree, I shall change it.
good idea.
If i was addressing humans in a real world setting and not ponies from a magical land in a fictional children's cartoon, I might of thought so too.
Okay I'm really loving this story. I even moved it from my 'liked' bookshelf to my 'Favorites' bookshelf. And I really what green eyes to die a slow and horrible death.
Also I need to know this. How many chapters are you planing on having left to this story? Like will there be 5?, 10?, 15? Maybe more? I need to know
or at least like to know because at this rate I think I might put this on hold and wait for the final chapter to be out. I love this story to death but I'm going to need a buffer of positive happy stories to counterbalance this feeling of despair and anger in me.
So what if I get worked up
way too muchlittle bit about fictional ponies.-BFBL
7312391 I am planning to do between 10-15 chapters, I just have been recovering from some sickness but I'm hoping to get back into it right away.
Glad you like it and thanks for the support.
7304016 Yes thank-you, i have really got to kick my editor into gear.
7314062 So just to clarify, 10-15 in total or 10-15 left? But yes this is such a wonderful. This is clearly a well thought out story. I'm glad that Twilight is the BEST pointed me towards this story. Would never have picked it up... if I would of ever came across this story. Mostly cause I make to avoid the dark tag like the plague but every now and then I make an exception. I'm glad that this was an exception.
Well have a good day
-BFBL
7317622 Oh no the dark tag is mostly for the parts of violence and some of the subject matter, especially in the Daring Do only chapters, but yeah Mordrue is similar to Mordu, except i was trying to make it a variation of Mordred. I also wanted some comedy in there hence why all the griffons are named after different terms for money, as well as some references to various characters and shows from my early years.
Yeah Mordrue's "fly fly fly" was both a reference to wizard of OZ and also this: